asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will try to arrange the return to England, on compassionate and family grounds, of a limited number of troops who have served for long periods in the Middle East?

This is being done in so far as operational needs and shipping limitations permit.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether arrangements have been made to secure that the rates of pay for civilian jobs shall also be paid to Service men working with civilians on the same job; whether this principle applies to musicians: and whether this principle will be applied in film production when exceptional circumstances make necessary the employment on the same job of both civilians and soldiers?

The Answer to the first and third parts of the Question is "No, Sir." Soldiers must receive their emoluments under the Army pay code. Under a long-standing arrangement Army bands are allowed to accept a very limited number of outside engagements at fees approximating to civilian rates, otherwise musicians in the Army are treated in the same way as other soldiers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any statement to make with reference to the appointment of caretakers for houses occupied by troops?

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave my hon. Friend on 24th November.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many members there are on the directorate of quartering in the War Office; and how many of this number have held positions of quartering commandants during this war?

There are 37 serving officers on the establishment of the directorate of quartering. One of them has been an assistant quartering commandant.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now see his way to increase the billeting allowance to householders in view of the steadily increasing costs they have to meet.

The billeting rates are at present being re-examined and I will communicate with my hon. Friend in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War what action has been taken with regard to the case put to him by the hon. Member for London University on 22nd October?

It has been possible to release the man referred to, to enable him to return to his civilian employment but he is liable to be recalled if at any time in the future his services are required in the Army in a capacity where full use can be made of his qualifications.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in any schemes for reconstruction, consideration is being given to Royal Ordnance Factories with a view to keeping them fully employed after the war?

Yes, Sir. Careful consideration is being given to this important matter.

asked the Minister of Supply whether motor cars owned by Service personnel and used when on leave under AFO, 1303/40 and AFO. 2254/40 for which special road licences are issued, are to be regarded as laid up vehicles for reporting on Form T.C. 1?

Yes, Sir. Such cars, if they are unlicensed or not in receipt of motor fuel, are laid-up vehicles in respect of which a return must be made.

asked the Minister of Supply whether paint and varnish manufacturers of Leeds, who are well occupied on war contracts and whose premises would provide no useful storage space, may be assured of licences to continue in production in all cases in which he is satisfied that no economy in labour, material, cost or transport, outweighing the advantages of dispersal, ease and rapidity of delivery and the efficiency that results from long established relations between consumers and producers working in close proximity, would be gained by compulsorily closing them down?

I understand that the whole question of the concentration of the paint and varnish industry is under reconsideration by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, in consultation with the industry itself and the Ministry of Labour and National Service. I will arrange for my hon. Friend to be kept informed on this matter.

asked the Minister of Information whether he will arrange for copies of the paper, "Parade," produced by General Headquarters, Middle East, to be circulated to editors in England, the Dominions and the United States of America, with permission for reproduction of articles, and for copies to be placed in the Library of the House?

This admirable paper is not in any way under the control of the Ministry of Information. It is produced for the benefit of Forces in the Middle East and as it is in great demand by them, I should not like to ask for any substantial number to be diverted from their proper purpose. Arrangements can usually be made for the reproduction of particular articles. I will certainly try to arrange for copies to be placed in the Library.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has yet any statement to make on the chaining of prisoners of war?

We are in communication with the Protecting Power on this subject but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a letter from Camp VII B in Germany states that 200 prisoners of war in that camp are manacled for 12 hours a day and at night sleep in a cold attic on the floor; and whether he will make representations through the Protecting Power?

I am aware of the reports to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. I have nothing to add to the answer given to-day by the Deputy Prime Minister to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Lichfield (Captain Poole).

asked the Minister of Pensions, in the case of a widow of a second-lieutenant killed in action, who has no other means of support and who is precluded from taking up work owing to a child who is under 12 months of age, whether there is any war relief grant or other organisation from which the pension can be augmented?

I do not know of any organisation which will make a continuing grant, but there are a number from which help may be obtained for temporary needs, and if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind and will send me particulars I will have inquiries made. I would, however, remind the hon. Member that arrangements have been made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, whereby children of women war workers may be cared for in war-time nurseries during the time their mothers are at work.

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to take powers in the coming winter to open Sunday cinemas where such a step is supported by the Fighting Services?

I understand my hon. Friend's suggestion to be that in the rare and exceptional cases of a local authority deciding not to apply for power to open cinemas on Sunday notwithstanding the receipt from a competent authority of a certificate under Defence Regulation 42B I should take power to override the views of the elected local representatives. As I have previously stated, I do not think this would be desirable.

asked the Minister of Health what representations he has received in regard to the water supply at Corsham, Wiltshire; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy the shortage?

I have received representations from the Calne and Chippenham rural district council and from some individual consumers as to shortage of water in part of the parish of Corsham which is within the statutory limits of supply of the Corsham Water Company. A deputation from the rural district council is being received at the Ministry to-day.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state for the years 1938, 1939, 1940 and 1941, respectively, what percentage of the milk sold in London was pasteurised?

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether cases sent to Birmingham Infectious Diseases Hospital as diphtheria and notified as diphtheria are still Schick-tested; and whether those giving a negative result of the Schick-test are re-diagnosed as tonsilitis or some other disease?

I am making the necessary inquiries and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether any of the six fatal cases of the 78 rediagnosed during the last seven years at Darlington were immunised children; what cause of death was given in the six fatal cases; how many of the 78 had been sent to hospital as clinically established cases of diphtheria; how many were rediagnosed during the last two years; and whether any of the six fatal cases had been sent in as clinically established diphtheria?

It will be necessary to seek the detailed information requested by my hon. Friend from the local authority concerned, and I will communicate to him such particulars as can be obtained as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will publish the statistics on which he bases his campaign for the inoculation of children against diphtheria; and whether he will inquire how Sweden has brought its diphtheria cases down to about 100 a year from 25,000 cases in 1920 and 15,000 in 1921 without any inoculation against the disease?

The campaign for immunisation against diphtheria was initiated on medical advice which was overwhelmingly in favour of this protective measure against a disease which has been the cause of so many deaths. Experience gained in a number of other countries which have carried out immunisation to the extent regarded as necessary has confirmed this view and I shall be ready to let my hon. Friend have particulars of a number of such instances. With regard to the second part of the Question I will see what inquiries are possible in present circumstances.

asked the Lord President of the Council what progress has now been made in the work of the Industrial Health Research Board since its reorganisation and expansion; whether fresh problems are being tackled and adequate personnel made available for the purpose; whether there is satisfactory co-operation with other Government Departments; and whether steps are now being taken to carry knowledge of the board's work in simple terms to both employers and employees?

The Industrial Health Research Board, since its recent reorganisation by the Medical Research Council, has initiated investigations into a number of new problems, in addition to continuing work on earlier lines. Work on further subjects is being planned. Additions to the investigating staff are being made as required, although there are naturally difficulties in the way of securing suitable personnel under present conditions. The work of the Board is conducted in close touch with the Factory Department of the Ministry of Labour and National Service, and facilities for investigation have been given in establishments under the control of the Ministry of Supply. The policy of the Council is to publish the results of research work, both old and new, in brief emergency reports written in simple terms.

asked the Minister of Health what was the death rate from tuberculosis in London, and outside of London, during each of the years 1938, 1939, 1940 and 1941?

The numbers of deaths from tuberculosis (all forms) in London and in the remainder of England and Wales during the years in question were as follow—the figures being inclusive of deaths of non-civilians prior to the outbreak of war and exclusive thereafter:

			London.	Remainder of England and Wales.
1938	…	…	2,861	22,634
1939	…	…	2,875	22,722
1940	…	…	3,005	24,866
1941	…	…	2,895	25,378

The corresponding death rates per million population in 1938 and 1939 were 704 and 760 in London and 609 and 606 in the remainder of England and Wales. But for 1940 and 1941 comparable rates are not available on account of the heavy evacuation of London residents which attended the outbreak of war. Considerable numbers of London residents who were then in institutions outside London and died there during 1940 and 1941 would continue to count as London deaths while a large proportion of the population had been transferred and credited to areas outside London; and the rates obtained by relating such deaths and populations would be entirely misleading as indexes to the true incidence of tuberculosis in the two areas.

asked the Minister of Health under what powers officials of his Department are empowered to dictate to patients as to what doctors they are allowed to consult, or to doctors as to what patients they are allowed to treat; and as instances of this of which he has been informed have occurred will he take steps to prevent their repetition?

Officials of my Department are not empowered to dictate either to patients or to doctors in the manner suggested by my hon. Friend. I understand that the Question refers to an incident which was mentioned in recent correspondence in the Press and is connected with arrangements which have in many areas been made by insurance practitioners for the purpose of protecting the practices of doctors who are on service.

asked the Minister of Health how many wartime nurseries have been, or are being, opened in the county of Somerset; what has been the cost of building and equipping these nurseries; the number of staff employed, and to be employed, in them; and the number of children at present in daily attendance?

Sixteen wartime nurseries have been opened in the county of Somerset, and two more are in preparation. It is not yet possible to give exact figures for the total capital cost, but for those so far opened the cost of site preparation, erection of huts, adaptation of existing premises and laying-on of services has been roughly £10,000. The total staff in the nurseries opened is about 75, and the present average attendance of children is about 340. Equipment is provided centrally and costs about £10 a place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any medical reports or statistics are available contrasting the measures taken for health protection and malaria control in Dakar and in Freetown; and whether appropriate measures have been taken to avoid a high casualty sick list and a high malarial incidence rate amongst European troops in the strategic areas of West Africa?

I am not aware of any reliable and up-to-date information being available about health measures at Dakar. As regards the second part of the Question, the problem of malaria control in West Africa is formidable and is rendered more so by exceptional difficulties arising from war conditions, but my hon. Friend can rest assured that strenuous efforts to combat this disease are being made in close co-operation between civil and Service authorities and that this matter is a special concern of the Resident Minister.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the present method of sewage disposal in Sierra Leone and especially Freetown; whether the sewage canals in the town are still open, and the nightly emptying of buckets therein still obtains; whether the sewage disposal in troop areas as contrasted with civilian regions have been improved by the building of an Otway pit; and whether such methods are being more extensively used in West Africa?

The existing methods of sewage disposal in Sierra Leone are by bucket in urban areas and by pit latrines in rural districts. There are a few septic tank latrines in urban areas but these are exceptional. The method of disposal of sewage from the buckets is by emptying into the sea or into covered earth pits. It is understood that the Otway pits installed by the military authorities have proved satisfactory. Improved and more modern methods of sewage disposal are being considered in the British West African territories.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons of West Indian birth have been chosen to represent or do work for the British Council in the West Indies; how many such persons have been selected since the war by the Colonial Office for special investigation in the West Indies; and what special inquiry is being conducted by Mr. Evans, a late ex-Colonial Secretary of one of the Caribbean Colonies, in that area?

The answer to the first and second parts of the Question is "nil," though such persons who have been chosen to represent or do work for the British Council in the West Indies, or have been chosen by the Colonial Office for special investigation in the West Indies invariably consult local organisations and bodies at every stage of their work. Mr. E. W. Evans, C.M.G., who is the gentleman referred to in the third part of the Question, is a retired officer of the Colonial administrative service. He was recently appointed by the British Broadcasting Corporation to collect information in the West Indies concerning the effectiveness of the programmes sent out by the B.B.C. His main function is to find out who in the West Indies listens to programmes from London; what their reactions to British programmes are; how the Corporation can improve the value of programmes to those who already listen to them, and how a wider audience can be secured

asked the Attorney-General whether any rule or regulation exists covering the wearing or non-wearing of headgear by women in the Law Courts?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for the Park division of Sheffield (Mr. Burden) on 25th November, of which I am sending him a copy. There is no rule or regulation covering this matter, which is one for the discretion of the presiding judge.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will keep in mind, when calling up for service building trade workers, the need for such workers, particularly in bombed areas and where the housing shortage is serious?

Yes, Sir; as stated in reply to the Question put by the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. W. Brown) on 19th November, in calling up building trade workers I act in consultation with my Noble Friend the Minister of Works and Planning.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the large number of unemployed men in the borough of Merthyr Tydvil; and what steps he proposes to take with a view to their labour being utilised?

Yes, Sir. I am in consultation with the Minister of Production with a view to placing productive capacity in those areas which still have immobile workers available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take steps to remedy the anomaly by which men who have been directed to work away from their own homes receive a lodging allowance while those who found work for themselves, who are doing the same work at the same bench for the same wage and have the same lodging expenses, do not receive this allowance?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 4th June to my hon. Friend the Member for East Fife (Mr. Henderson Stewart), a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Labour the names of members of the Technical Personnel Committee charged with the general direction of the allocation of men with technical qualifications, together with the date of its appointment; and how far this committee supersedes the joint university recruiting boards whose original reference covers the same field?

The Technical Personnel Committee, of which Lord Hankey is chairman, was formed in August, 1941, and deals with all questions relating to the demand for and supply of technical personnel of professional or approximately professional standards, including the determination of priority of demands for suck personnel, its economic use and measures for increasing the supply. The membership consists of representatives of the Government Departments concerned and of the Engineering Advisory Committee. These functions do not conflict with those of the University Joint Recruiting Boards, whose responsibility it is to make recommendations with regard to the initial allocation of young graduates and undergraduates in order that their qualifications may be used to the best advantage.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport if he is aware of the delay in obtaining satisfactory transport for the workers engaged in the factory, the name of which he has been informed; and whether the regional representative of his Department has visited the works and settled this matter?

I am advised that there has been some difficulty about the transport of workers to the factory to which my hon. Friend refers due to the fact that the workers live in a number of widely dispersed villages. The Regional Transport Commissioner held a meeting this week with the management and the omnibus operator to discuss arrangements for dealing with this traffic. Negotiations are continuing and I will inform my hon. Friend as soon as a settlement is reached.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a colliery company has the right to decide how many shifts constitute a normal week under the Essential Work Order; and whether he will review the circumstances which have led to a continued misgiving and disquiet at Bullcroft Colliery, near Doncaster?

This Question, which arises out of an opinion given in a private arbitration case, is at present under active consideration, and I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power, about it.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many children are receiving dinners in elementary and secondary schools, respectively; and what percentages these represent of the school population?

According to a census taken on a day in the early part of October, for which almost complete returns have now been received, the number of children having dinner at school in England and Wales was approximately 653,000 in elementary schools and 205,000 in secondary schools; that is 16.6 per cent. and 41.8 per cent. respectively of the children present in school on the day of the return.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many schools there are in the county of Ross-shire, including the Isle of Lewis; in how many of these schools prepared hot meals are being provided daily; what percentage of the total of the children is thus served; and how the progress in the county in this direction compares with that of Scotland as a whole?

There are 132 schools in Ross and Cromarty, including the Isle of Lewis, the great majority of which are one, two or three-teacher schools in sparsely populated areas for which hot meals are difficult to arrange. In two schools hot dinners are provided daily. The percentage of children in the county who were receiving such meals at school in October, 1942, was 2.3, compared with 13.4 for the whole of Scotland. Proposals are at present under consideration to supply hot dinners at another two schools for a further 2 per cent. of the total school population. In addition substantial uncooked lunches, which have been devised by arrangement with the Ministry of Food to meet the needs of rural areas, are provided at seven schools for 2.1 per cent. of the school children in the county while in 25 schools, 8.5 per cent. of the children are being supplied with hot drinks, such as cocoa.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will consider framing regulations for qualifications of teachers in secondary and central schools following the example of the recognised public schools which insist upon their teachers possessing accredited university degrees; and whether he will limit secondary education to scholars who have gone through the primary stage so that no children begin their education in secondary schools and arrange that salaries paid to teachers shall depend on experience and qualifications and not on the social status of the school?

It would be impracticable in present circumstances to prescribe minimum qualifications for teachers in secondary schools: in central schools the qualifications of teachers are prescribed in the code. The whole question of the recruitment and training of teachers is at present under consideration by a committee under the chairmanship of Dr. A. D. McNair. According to the latest returns 77 per cent. of the pupils in grant-aided secondary schools had previously been educated in public elementary schools; as at present advised I am not prepared to restrict admission solely to children of that type. In answer to the third part of the Question salaries of teachers in schools for which local education authorities are responsible are a matter in the first instance for the Burnham Committees whose present scales for secondary and public elementary schools respectively are variable according to experience and qualifications. The rate of salaries in independent schools is a matter for the discretion of the governors.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Stockport Military Hardship Committee have rejected the appeal of Miss Selby, of 1, Crosby Street, Stockport, the only daughter left to do all the domestic work for a family of eight; that the father is 72 years of age; that the mother is 61 and suffering from severe heart trouble; that four daughters, without outside help, are running a food supply and bakery business on which the family depends; that four sons are in the Forces; and what action he proposes to take in this case?

I am having inquiries made and will communicate with my hon. Friend, but I should point out that these Hardship Committees are independent tribunals.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Harry Woodford Mellor, of Whitfield Bank Farm, Glossop, Derbyshire, who chose the alternative of 10 months imprisonment to paying a fine of £13,000 when convicted at Bow Street, London, on 12th November 1942, for failing to offer 35,821 United States dollars for sale to the Treasury, bought a farm after war broke out; and whether he is satisfied this man is a bona fide farmer or whether steps will be taken to annul his occupational reservation under the Armed Forces and National Service Acts?

I am making inquiries in this case and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he contemplates the issue of a publication which will deal with the work and achievement of the coastwise shipping trade, on lines similar to that followed in the brochure, "Transport Goes to War"?

For reasons of security, it may not be possible to issue a publication about coastwise shipping on lines exactly similar to those followed in "Transport Goes to War," but I am making arrangements with the Minister of Information for a book of this sort to be written, and I hope it may be a worthy tribute to the arduous work of the men engaged in this service.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he can make a statement about the progress in regard to concrete sleepers for railways; and what will be the approximate saving of timber if they are successful?

Experiments are being conducted with 17 different types of concrete sleepers. While it is not yet possible to indicate the full extent to which they may be used in substitution for timber, those at present laid on railway tracks represent a saving of some 200,000 timber sleepers. In addition, more than 650,000 concrete sleepers have been laid in private and other sidings.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he can give the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents on the roads in Great Britain for the months of October, 1942 and 1941, respectively; and whether he can state the number of licensed vehicles for each of the respective months?

In October, 1941, 857 persons were killed in road accidents, and 17,650 were injured. The figures for October, 1942, were 697 killed and 13,218 injured. It has not been the practice since the war began to publish the numbers of vehicles which are licensed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport how many local authorities have claimed grants from the Road Fund in respect of snow-ploughs purchased; and how many of the claims were not admitted?

In the year 1941–42 296 authorities claimed grants in respect of snow-ploughs. Between 1st April last and 31st October 218 other authorities have applied for grants. Seven claims were not admitted because it was considered that sufficient plant was already available. Fifteen claims were not admitted because the ploughs had been purchased before grants were available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider allowing sufficient feeding-stuffs to Mr. Wooley, of Green Farm Cottage, Benhall, Saxmundham, to enable him to continue to maintain enough livestock to provide a living, in view of the fact that he is crippled in the legs as the result of wounds from the last war and his health will not allow him to do other work?

In view of the serious feeding-stuffs position I regret that it is not possible to allow extra rations for livestock on the grounds of hardship to the owner.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to a recent case deciding that, under existing regulations, it is illegal, involving liability to punishment, for anyone to give away to another or to exchange any portion of his legally obtained rations; and whether the necessary steps will be taken to amend the law in this regard?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Walton (Mr. Purbrick) yesterday.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the complexity of the enactments, he will introduce a measure to consolidate the War Damage Acts?

Such a Measure is in the course of preparation.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in how many Government Departments, and which, Departmental Committees have been set up to examine present methods of discharging the work, and present dispositions of man-power, with a view to effecting savings of man-power; and in how many, and which, Departments where such committees have been set up, representation has been given to the associations having members in the Departments?

The information for which the hon. Member asks is not readily available. It would take considerable time and trouble to collect and I do not think I should be justified in asking Departments to furnish it.

asked the Minister of Production (1) how many Furber machines there are in use in the Navy, Army, Royal Air Force, Commandos, Home Guard, police forces, air-raid precautions, British Red Cross Society and hospitals other than London County Council;(2) how many Furber machines have been sent to Russia?

It has not proved possible to assemble the information asked for by my hon. Friend in the short time available. I will, however, communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can inform the House of the decision reached in regard to the proposal that members of the Royal Observer Corps over 50 years of age should be retired?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Members for West Edinburgh (Lieut.-Commander Hutchison), Bilston (Mr. Hannah), South Cardiff (Colonel A. Evans), and Lincoln (Mr. Liddall), and to the further statement made during the Debate on the Motion for the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what arrangements are now being made for members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force to be supplied with service shoes of unusual sizes, in view of the fact that coupons are no longer issued to enable those who take unusual sizes to buy their shoes in civilian shops?

Royal Air Force units are authorised, on production of a medical certificate, to purchase suitable shoes locally for W.A.A.F. personnel who cannot be fitted from the extensive range of sizes and fittings in Service stocks. Under arrangements made by the Board of Trade, the appropriate official form is accepted by retailers in lieu of coupons.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the nature of the administrative council which has just been appointed by Admiral Darlan for the government of French North Africa; has the appointment of such council been approved by the Allies; and of whom is it composed?

My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement on this subject.

asked the Minister of Information whether he has any information as to who operates, and in what interest, the Radio Morocco; and what value should be attached to its utterances?

I have been asked to reply. I understand that Radio Morocco is operated by the local French authorities, but I am not in a position to assess the value of its broadcasts.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is satisfied that the campaign against rats is being intensified; and what methods are proposed in country areas to deal with this menace against the nation's food supply?

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." The number of persons employed by county war agricultural executive committees on rat destruction work, while it falls short of the total number that could effectively be employed, has more than doubled during the past six months. The most effective method that is being employed is for farmers to enter into contracts with county committees to destroy all the rats on their premises.