asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the date upon which he received the Report of the Committee on Hydro-Electric Development in Scotland; whether the Report will be made available to the public, and when?

I hope to be in a position at no distant date both to publish the Report, which I received on 25th August last, and to indicate the Government's attitude to its proposals.

Have the main features of this Report been made available to local authorities in Scotland, or to any other body?

No, Sir, the Report has not yet been published.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it was stated in some of the Scottish papers that last Friday he had a meeting in Scotland with the local authorities to deal with this matter? Am I to suppose that that report is erroneous?

I am not responsible for the newspapers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the sale of 40,000 acres of the lands of Lochaber; and the name of the purchaser?

Yes, Sir. I am informed that the purchaser is Mr. H. J. Kennaway, a land agent in Edinburgh. But no disposition has yet reached the Sasines Office for recording.

Is it a tribute to the work of the 51st Highland Division that these vulgar sales should take place at a time like this?

I cannot express any opinion on that.

Do these purchases, according to my right hon. Friend's knowledge, precede any move for the setting-up of another power scheme, such as that which has been rejected three times in this House already?

No, Sir, I can give an assurance on that.

Has not the time arrived for the Secretary of State for Scotland to step in and take over this land? This matter is very interesting to Scotland at the moment, and the Secretary of State knows it. I want an answer.

The Question on the Order Paper is not whether this land is worth purchasing by the State or not. I cannot say whether it is.

All land is worth purchasing by the State.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what acre age of Scottish land has been sold since September, 1939; the total amount paid for it; and what estates have changed ownership more than once during that period?

Information of the kind desired by the hon. Member could only be obtained after many days' search in the General Register of Sasines; but it would be incomplete. In many cases the disposition in favour of a purchaser would not disclose the acreage disponed and in most cases the disposition would not contain a map from which acreage could be calculated. Further, there will be many cases of sale where dispositions have not yet been recorded; and others where no record is to be made, the transactions resting on correspondence or contracts of sale, or unrecorded dispositions.

Is it not a fact that all such land sales since the war started have required the sanction of the Secretary of State for Scotland, or must be made with his full knowledge? Has my right hon. Friend any powers to object to such sales taking place?

None whatever.

Can he explain how it is, then, that the Government state that they have passed legislation dealing with the taking-over of both labour and private property?

I cannot relate that Question to the Question on the Paper.

Surely the right hon. Gentleman is able to answer as to the amount of land that has changed hands more than once since the beginning of the war?

No, Sir; I have already given the reasons in detail.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any special measures are being taken to prevent speculative dealing in such land in Scotland as is likely to be affected by the reconstruction proposals of the reports of the Council of ex-Secretaries of State, with special regard to those areas in which hydro-electrical development is anticipated; and whether he will make a statement?

The Interim Report of the Uthwatt Committee recommended that, to obviate increases in the cost of land required for public purposes due to speculative dealings, the compensation payable in public acquisition or control of land should not exceed sums based on the standard of values at 31st March, 1939. The Government have already announced that they accept this principle and will in due course introduce legislation to give effect to it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman quite convinced that no danger can arise of speculation in land values, after the hint we had the other day in a speech by an ex-Secretary of State for Scotland?

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that the titles are in order, and would he refer to his own "Noble Families"?

The point is that the Sasines Office do not require to get all transactions to priority dispositions recorded there.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action it is proposed to take regarding the trawler against which a complaint was lodged some weeks ago by local fishermen for persistent illegal trawling in Broad Bay, Isle of Lewis; and what early action is proposed to safeguard the fish-spawning grounds and livelihood of the Isles fishermen at present on active service?

The complaint referred to in the Question has been reported to, and is now being investigated by, the Crown authorities. As regards the second part of the Question, owing to naval requirements, it has not been possible to maintain the normal fishery protection service, but the naval authorities are assisting in the patrol whenever possible. I am advised that the inshore fisheries are not being seriously affected by illegal trawling but the matter is kept under observation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that local officials on the spot have given practically no assistance so far, and that, under the very eyes of the inshore fishers and their families, whose livelihood is being spoilt, this trawler is getting away with it?

My information is contrary to that.

The right hon. Gentleman's information is wrong. I have seen it with my own eyes.

My information is directly to the contrary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the terms of reference of the revived Advisory Council on Education, and the names and qualifications of its members?

The general terms of reference of the new Advisory Council on Education are contained in the Education (Scotland) Advisory Council Order, 1942, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, and with his permission I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the members of the Council.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his persistence and practical interest in this subject have given great satisfaction in Scotland?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has had any consultations with the appropriate medical authorities in Scotland as to whether there is a sufficiency of doctors to serve should pensions hardship tribunals be set up by the Government?

rose—

On a point of Order. May I draw attention to the wording of the Question? I specifically asked the Secretary of State for Scotland

"whether he has had any consultations with the appropriate medical authorities in Scotland"

The right hon. Member must answer in his own way.

I am asking for your protection, Sir, to prevent a Minister sending a Question to another Minister when he is asked, as Secretary of State for Scotland, for a definite reply.

And that Minister is paid for the job, too, although he may not be drawing his salary.

We must get on with Questions.

I have been asked to reply. This is a matter in which the position in Scotland cannot be considered in isolation. When pensions appeal tribunals are established they must cover the whole of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the statements recently made in this House relate to the absence of the necessary personnel to staff an adequate number of such tribunals.

Has the right hon. Gentleman, in any decisions he has reached on this question affecting Scotland, ever consulted the Secretary of State for Scotland or the Scottish Office?

Yes, certainly. I might point out that the Medical Personnel Priority Committee, to which I have had to apply to see whether there was any medical personnel available, have two representatives for Scotland on that board.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many clothing coupons are demanded from Civil Defence personnel on the original issue of uniform including battle-dress, overcoat and boots; what subsequent demands are made, either at regular or irregular intervals; and whether he is aware that in some areas, after coupons have been surrendered on an original issue of uniform, subsequent substantial demands are made for coupons including coupons not yet valid?

Full-time Civil Defence workers obtain their uniform, consisting of battledress, overcoat and boots, coupon-free, provided that they refund yearly to my Department, through their Local Authority, 18 coupons. The uniform itself is worth 43 coupons. Since the refund is made on an annual basis, irrespective of the dates on which the uniform is issued or replaced, wearers may use for this purpose any of the coupons in their current ration book, including those which will not become valid until later in the period.

Can my right hon. Friend say what is the position of part-time workers?

Part-time Civil Defence workers have not been required to refund any of their basic ration on the ground that they wear their uniform for such a small part of their working time that their advantage over non-uniform workers is negligible.

In regard to the coupons which the Minister's Department is asking to be surrendered before their valid date, does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that it is an unfortunate example to ask for coupons before their valid date?

Not at all. It is a great convenience for the workers concerned. As I explained, this uniform may be required for issue or replacement at any time during the year. The coupons in question do not pass between traders, but local authorities act as agents for the Board of Trade, and that is a matter for the convenience of the workers concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the large increase in the incidence of verminous heads, chiefly due to the fact that hairdressers throughout the country have for some time been unable to carry out cleansing and shampooing treatment owing to the shortage of towels; and will he, in the interest of public health, cause towels to be released to hairdressers for the purpose?

No, Sir. I have no reason to think that the shortage of towels has resulted in an increase in the condition to which my hon. Friend refers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware the trade was approached some time ago by public authorities throughout the country to assist in this matter, and as towels are tools, will he consider it in that light?

I am informed that the Hairdressers' Guild, who have been in touch with the Ministry of Health on the matter, have not said that in their view this unfortunate condition is due to a shortage of towels.

Will the Minister consider issuing special coupons for towels, particularly for housewives?

That is another question, to which I have previously given an answer.

I know, but it was not a good answer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the reviews which have recently been carried out by certain chambers of trade throughout the country, which reveal the plight of small shopkeepers, especially those whose turnover is between £1,000 and £5,000 a year, he can now state what additional proposals the Government intend to make to prevent the further closing down of these old-established small businesses?

I am not aware of any recent reviews of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers, but I am keeping in close touch with the National Chamber of Trade. The proposals which I announced in this House on 13th October should be of material assistance to small shopkeepers, and, as I informed my hon. Friend on Tuesday last, I am now anxious fully to try out these proposals.

Surely, the right hon. Gentleman must be aware that comprehensive reviews have been made by various chambers of trade throughout the country, and further, that these disclose that little men and little women engaged in trade with a small turnover before the war are being exterminated and eliminated daily; and will he really give the matter further consideration?

I have already stated that I am in very close touch with representatives of the National Chamber of Trade, who will no doubt bring to me the information that comes to them from chambers of trade locally.

But the National Chamber of Trade is not absolutely comprehensive.

Is the President of the Board of Trade satisfied that the National Chamber of Trade really represents the small people in business?

I have asked the various chambers of trade, and I have given an answer as to my relations with the National Chamber of Trade. I am very anxious to get into touch with all those who can assist me in this difficult problem.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this question of small traders is a very acute one?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the unsatisfactory position of the supply, of technical books; and whether he is prepared to arrange the supply of paper to publishers in such a way that all standard technical books may be available in sufficient quantities for students at technical schools and colleges?

As my hon. Friend was informed by my right hon. Friends the Minister of Labour and the President of the Board of Education, on 19th November, while there has necessarily been some reduction in the publication of technical books, there appears at present to be no serious shortage of such books. Special arrangements have already been made to assist the publication of books of particular importance to the war effort, including technical books, and I am considering further measures for increasing the supply of these types of books.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider increasing the number of coupons made available to bombed-out families to enable them to purchase curtains for one living room and one upstairs room, in order to save artificial light and black-out material?

No, Sir. No curtain material, other than black-out cloth, is now being made. Black-out cloth is not rationed. As regards rationed materials, most of which needs black-out backing in any case, the fairest plan is that which I have adopted, namely, to confine coupon-free purchase of curtain material to one living room, so that as many bombed out families as possible may have a share: of the limited stocks which remain.

Will the right hon. Gentleman put himself into the position of one of these unfortunate families having to live in an upstairs room without proper curtain material; and has he fully considered the possibility of still further reducing the production of luxury material in this country in order to have something like equality of sacrifice?

I have gone a great distance, so great as to provoke protests in some quarters from manufacturers of luxury material. If the hon. Member cares to assist me in more detail I shall be very glad. I am aiming at giving the fairest distribution among bombed-out families of the limited stocks which remain.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to increase the supply of rubber boots for agricultural workers in shops in small market towns in agricultural areas?

As I informed my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Newbury (Brig.-General Clifton Brown) on Tuesday last, supplies of rubber boots are very limited, as a consequence of the loss to Japan of our principal sources of rubber supply. A fair share of these boots has been allocated to agricultural workers. Supplies are too small to permit of stocks being held in all retail shops, but I have arranged that any particular shop which is without stocks shall be able to obtain the boots on presenting customers' buying permits to suppliers.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how it is that Italian prisoners are able to have rubber boots whereas a lot of our own men who are working on the land have not the same facilities; does it seem right that the Italians should have better treatment than those who belong to this nation?

I should like more evidence that that state of affairs is correct.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how it is that you can go into a town and see rubber boots in the windows of shops and that when an agricultural worker goes to a shop in a small market town in Suffolk he is unable to purchase them; and will the right hon. Gentleman try to rectify the matter?

I have already explained the means by which buying permits are issued to agricultural workers so that they can obtain boots.

Will the right hon. Gentleman come to Kent where he will see agricultural workers without rubber boots and Italians walking round in rubber boots?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider, as an experiment, the appointment of caretakers in a certain number of buildings requisitioned by the War Office?

A considerable number of caretakers is being employed by the War Department to look after unoccupied requisitioned houses.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers have been reprimanded for damage done to buildings by troops under their command; and how many have been compelled to make a contribution towards the cost of such damage?

There is no record in the War Office of any case in the last year of any court-martial or summary trial arising out of the responsibility of officers for damage to property by troops under their command. Nor are there any records readily available of the number of officers who may have been censured by their superior officers or incurred financial penalties for this type of neglect.

Does that mean that the War Office does not take this particular subject seriously?

Not at all; it means that there has been a certain decentralisation and that the records in some of the Commands do not come to the War Office.

In view of the damage which has been done, has the right hon. Gentleman in mind any means of preventing it and thereby removing a serious reproach on our troops?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the increase in the number of buildings requisitioned by his Department, he will increase the number of inspectors detailed to carry out flying inspections of all such buildings?

No, Sir. The staff at present engaged on the inspection of requisitioned buildings is in general keeping abreast of its work, and I do not consider that the employment of more officers and men is justified?

Is the Minister aware that in one Command there are no fewer than 13,000 requisitioned buildings and that there is only one inspector, who has been able to cover only 300 buildings in three months?

The Claims Commission, too, assist in this work and have been doing so for a year.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the report of the Cozens-Hardy Committee on the employment of military personnel on civilian duties in War Department establishments will be made available to Members of the House?

The Committee is essentially a Departmental Committee, and I should not propose to publish any reports it may render. Perhaps I may add that the hon. Member's Question does not accurately represent the Committee's terms of reference, which are, in short, "to examine the methods of staffing certain mixed military establishments."

If the report itself cannot be made available to us, will the Minister take an opportunity at a later stage of telling us what action was taken?

I will certainly consider that.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether in connection with the recently-established Sergeant-Photographer Corps in the Middle East for the supply of newspaper photographs to London and New York, he will consider allowing the names of the photographers, who for the most part do their work in the fighting-line, to appear on the photographs which they transmit?

As far as individual publicity is concerned, soldiers equipped with cameras are treated in the same way as the rest of the Army. It is not customary, therefore, publicly to connect the names of officers and men of the Army Film and Photographic Service with photographs taken by them in the normal course of their duty.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these specially trained photographers were given the rank of sergeant in order that they should mix with soldiers in the front line, the only difference being that they are armed with cameras instead of rifles; and as they cannot be identified with any military unit, what service could it be to the enemy if their names were published on the photographs?

My answer was not based on the security question but on the very sensible, or very appropriate, rule that all ranks of the Army do their work anonymously.

But was not the rule made so that the enemy should not be able to identify particular units at the front, which does not apply in this case? Is there not far too much concealment of individual gallantry at the front, which could well be made public?

If it is a question of mentioning individual gallantry, I think it should be done for the fighting men first. One has only to consider the impossibility of doing that to answer my hon. Friend's question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now reconsider his decision about placing Army Council Instructions in the Library of the House of Commons for the private reference of hon. Members?

Under an arrangement introduced in September last Army Council Instructions of general interest to all ranks are now summarised in the form of notices which are issued for posting on the notice boards of units throughout the Army. These summaries, which include summaries of Army Orders also, are issued in a series called "Notice Board Information." Copies of each of these notices on issue are placed in the Library of the House. I do not consider it desirable to go beyond the above arrangement, which I trust will enable hon. Members to keep themselves acquainted with the principal Army Council Instructions of general interest issued from time to time.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the women in the Auxiliary Services of the United States of America are being paid at the same rates as the men in the Services; and whether he will consider adopting the same principle?

As regards the first part of the Question, I have heard that this is so. I am not considering a departure from the present basis of paying women in the Army.

Does not the Minister think, in view of, the fact that these women are serving the country so magnificently, that the time has now arrived when they should be dealt with equitably in this matter?

That is a matter of opinion. I should be the last in the world to belittle or not to give full credit to the services that women are rendering, but the question of pay concerns many other Departments than mine.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many cases involving the consideration of soldiers' debtor balances arising through overissue of cash have been dealt with since Army Council Instruction 368 was published on 18th February, 1942, and the total sum written off due to causes outside the soldier's own control; and whether he has any statement to make as to the working of this procedure?

I have no precise information as to the number of cases or the total sum written off, as separate records of cases dealt with under this Army Council Instruction have not been kept. From the general reports received on the procedure introduced as an experiment by this Army Council Instruction, it is clear that it has effected considerable improvement and is working smoothly. A considerable number of soldiers has been relieved of the effect of charges due to causes outside their own control. The new procedure is being continued.

As the Army Council itself issued these Instructions and, therefore, should have reports as to how the experiment is proceeding, will the Minister give instructions that the number of cases dealt with and the total amount of public money involved shall be available both to himself and to Members?

I do not think that would be in keeping with the policy of decentralisation which the Array Council has adopted during the last 18 months.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give an assurance that, in the absence of security reasons, opportunities will be afforded to Austrians serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service to do work other than as cooks, orderlies and storekeepers, to which they are restricted at the present time?

I am afraid I cannot usefully add anything to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 10th November.

Does that mean that the Austrians referred to have no possibility of being employed other than in the instances described in the Question?

No, Sir. If the hon. Member reads my answer, he will see that that is not the case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his Department has now a definite fixed policy regarding the age at which a soldier can be sent on foreign service?

A soldier is not sent overseas until he is 19. This is the limit observed when whole units are sent abroad. Soldiers are, however, not usually sent overseas in drafts until they reach the age of 19½.

If cases are submitted to the right hon. Gentleman concerning boys under that age and men of 47 years of age, will they be treated sympathetically by the War Office?

I will certainly look into them.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have in my pocket particulars of the case of a lad of 18 years of age who was sent abroad? Will he look into such cases?

I have said that I will.

If a boy under 19 years of age is sent overseas and attention is drawn to the matter, will the right hon. Gentleman have the boy brought back?

I should require notice of that Question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that misunderstandings have arisen regarding the position of Civil Defence workers who are eligible for enrolment in List 2 of the Home Guard; and whether he can make a statement defining the obligations undertaken by such persons on signing the enrolment form?

A Civil Defence worker who is eligible for voluntary enrolment in the Home Guard must obtain the consent of the head of the Civil Defence service to which he belongs before enrolment. By signing the enrolment form he undertakes the same general obligations as other members of the Home Guard. But in practice he is placed in list (ii), which means that he will not be called out for Home Guard duty immediately the Home Guard is mustered, but will be released from Civil Defence to Home Guard duty when that course becomes operationally necessary. He is unlikely to be called out unless fighting breaks out in the vicinity. Until so called out he retains as a Civil Defence worker his obligations to his own service and the allocation of time between Civil Defence and Home Guard is a matter for local agreement. It is provided that, except in an emergency, no such individual should be required to carry out more than 48 hours' training and duty in all (whether Civil Defence including Fire Guard duty or Home Guard) in any period of four weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that tradesmen in the Army skilled in trades in which there is a surplus are being used for unskilled work, whilst unskilled men are being trained as tradesmen; and will he take steps to give opportunity for these skilled tradesmen in surplus trades to be trained in other trades before calling for unskilled men?

It is not clear to me to which tradesmen my hon. Friend refers. All mechanical and electrical tradesmen are, or shortly will be, employed in their trades. Most men mustered as such in the building trades are in the Royal Engineers, which must always have a large number of skilled men of this type immediately available when engaged in active operations. All men in this corps are classified by the Army as tradesmen. Others have become fully trained soldiers in fighting units and cannot at this stage in the war be removed without impairing the efficiency of those units. I am satisfied that no change is justified in the policy now followed by the Army in this question, a policy which was explained in some detail in Command 6339, but if my hon. Friend has any particular cases in mind which he considers should be looked into I will gladly do so if he will send me details.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a large number of surplus woodworkers doing unskilled work and that these' men could be very quickly and easily trained to work in metal, in which trade the Army needs men?

This is a subject which has been debated very thoroughly and gone into very thoroughly, and I am afraid I could not deal with it within the limits of a Parliamentary answer, but I am quite ready to discuss it with my hon. Friend if he likes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take in hand the reorganisation of the Civil Service with a view to securing an end of the situation in which the establishments of all Departments are controlled by the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury; the separation of the function of Permanent Secretary from that of the Head of the Civil Service; the establishment of a properly constituted personnel department in the shape of a reconstituted Civil Service Commission; and the abolition of the caste system of recruitment to the Civil Service?

There are various implications in the Question, and more especially in the fourth part, which I cannot accept. Subject to that qualification the answer is in the negative.

Will the Chancellor make representations to his right hon. Friend the Leader of the House with a view to the House being given an opportunity to discuss the whole question of the organisation of the Civil Service?

The hon. Gentleman had better take up that matter through the usual channels.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the Deputy Prime Minister informed me in the House some weeks ago that the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury had no direct control over the head of any Government Department?

I am sure that whatever my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister said is correct.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give an estimate of the point to which the cost of living must rise before he will consider a review of the pensions of retired State servants?

No, Sir. The question is hypothetical.

How long does the Chancellor of the Exchequer intend that the present situation of pensioners of the public Services should go on without any sort of remedy? Cannot he do something about this matter?

I am afraid I have nothing to add to my answer.

Is it the Chancellor's policy to give old age pensioners priority?

That seems to go a little outside the Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to pre vent the rising trend on the Stock Ex change from developing into a dangerous boom, he will consider the adoption of a tax on capital appreciation on all trans actions or take other steps to the same purpose?

I am not prepared to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion, and I do not think it necessary to take any other steps in this matter?

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it is as wrong to make profits out of Stock Exchange booms in war-time as to make profits out of munitions?

I shall have to ponder over that.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the official rediscount rate of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York was recently reduced to one-half per cent.; and whether, in the light of this fact, he will cause the Bank of England to reconsider its decision to maintain its Bank Rate at 2 per cent.?

I am aware of the change mentioned, but am not prepared to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion.

Arising out of that most unsatisfactory reply, will the right hon. Gentleman explain for what reason it is necessary to maintain the Bank Rate here at 2 per cent. when the Federal Reserve Bank of New York can reduce it to a half per cent.?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the special money issued by the Bank of England for our troops to spend in Morocco and Algeria is part of the fiduciary note issue authorised by Parliament?

No, Sir. These notes, which are not issued by the Bank of England, but by the military authorities, are not legal tender in this country, and the question does not, therefore, arise.

Are not these notes issued by the military authorities dangerous? What is the backing for them?

I could not accept my hon. Friend's suggestion about danger. It is very necessary for the military authorities. The backing is the obligation of the Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the introduction of a Bill to extend the principle of the Bank Charter Act, 1844, to govern the activities of the banking department of the Bank of England and the clearing house banks as to secure to His Majesty's Treasury the profits arising from the creation of bank credit in excess of a total volume to be determined and to provide for the control by Parliament of the volume of bank credit similar to that exercised over the volume of the fiduciary issue?

No, Sir.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that our post-war programme of reconstruction will be considerably handicapped unless we have a comprehensive reform of the monetary and financial system?

I know that is my hon. Friend's view.

Is it my right hon. Friend's view?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will alter the regulation whereby servants of the Crown giving a broadcast, which does not form part of their official duties, have paid to them only half the fee that they would normally get for such a broadcast, so as to make it permissible for members of His Majesty's Forces to receive the full fee since, in many cases, they are stationed at some distance from the broadcasting station and incur expenses in excess of those which would be normally incurred by servants of the Crown who are not members of the Armed Forces?

In all cases where a servant of the Crown, whether military or civilian, receives half fee for a broadcast talk, free travelling and subsistence allowances on the appropriate scale are payable from official sources.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that this is really an inter-departmental ruling which has never received the sanction of the House of Commons?

No, it is my responsibility.

The House of Commons is not responsible for my right hon. Friend's actions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the scarcity of copper, he will consider withdrawing the bronze coins from circulation and substitute smaller coins of a suitable alloy?

A considerable economy, estimated at over 800 tons a year, in the consumption of copper for bronze coinage has already been effected by discontinuing the minting of pence. The withdrawal of existing coin and substitution of lighter pieces has been considered, but the saving in material would not justify the inconvenience to the public of the change and the expenditure of labour involved in recall, melting and re-coinage.

Is this not a favourable opportunity to consider getting rid of the dirtiest, most insanitary and most cumbersome bronze coinage in the world, especially as so many automatic machines are out of service?

I am sure my hon. Friend will appreciate the difficulties I have mentioned.

Could not my right hon. Friend make one single coin of 2½d. instead of three coins of two pennies and a halfpenny?

I must ask for notice of that Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in the United States of America no duty is charged on parcels of limited value received from American soldiers and sailors in Asia and Africa; and whether he will arrange for a like exemption in respect of small presents sent to this country by British troops, etc., abroad?.

I have no information on the subject of the first part of the Question. With regard to the second part, I regret that I cannot see my way to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion.

Is it the loss of revenue or administrative difficulties which prevent the proposal being adopted?

If my hon. Friend will put a Question down, I will give a full explanation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to lighten the burden upon parents of young children, he will consider the removal of Purchase Tax upon articles, such as perambulators, solely used for infants?

Perambulators, and garments and footwear suitable for young children's wear, and not containing silk or fur skin have always been exempt from Purchase Tax. I am afraid it would not be possible to provide for the exemption of every kind of domestic article which may be used for infants.

Would it not be possible to exempt perambulators? They are of enormous value, and they are difficult to get?

They are already free of Purchase Tax.