asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the shortage of nurses, he will take steps to release from industrial occupations trained nurses who have left the nursing profession for industry and direct them into the Nursing Service?

The question of the better distribution of nurses wherever they are employed, is under review at the present time by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and myself. With regard to releases, I would refer to the reply given to the hon. Member for North Camber-well (Mr. Ammon) on 16th July last.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, in the case of the London Passenger Transport Board, an undertaking whose established machinery he has approved of as taking the place of the local appeal board under the Essential Work Order, men are being discharged without their cases being represented by an officer of their own union, without knowing the dates of the boards which have discharged them and without being given an opportunity of being present at the hearing of the case; and whether, in these circumstances, he will cease from recognising the established machinery of the board as being an acceptable alternative to the local appeal machinery provided for under the Essential Work Order?

I have approved, for the purposes of the Essential Work Order, the disciplinary machinery under the existing industrial arrangements. The worker may be represented by an official of a Union which is party to the arrangements. There was, until recently, a certain class of case in which the machinery did not permit the worker to be present personally on consideration of an appeal, but I am assured that this has now been remedied and that the worker is in all cases given the opportunity of being present.

Is it not the most elementary principle of English justice that citizens are equal before the law, and is the Minister justified in using his powers to frustrate that principle?

I am not aware that I am frustrating anything.

Are women equal before the law?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will confer with the Minister of Food with a view to seeing how to save the small one-man food shops that are performing useful work in supplying large numbers of munition workers and other customers from being compelled to close down by reason of the call-up and the inability to find a substitute?

I am in constant touch with my Noble Friend the Minister of Food on the question of withdrawal of men and women from food shops. Where such withdrawal might result in the closing down of a one-man business, the person concerned may apply for postponement of call-up on grounds of exceptional hardship.

Can my right hon. Friend tell me whether their applications are really given sympathetic consideration, because there are a number of cases which I shall be pleased to let him have, where no notice has been taken of their difficulties?

I am sure that the hardship tribunals are doing a very difficult job with sympathy.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is prepared to give any relief to a man who, in sole charge of a business and called up for the Army, loses his trade to one who, as a conscientious objector, can continue his work?

I would remind my hon. Friend that application for the postponement of liability to be called up may be made on account of business responsibilities and interests if the circumstances are such that the business cannot be carried on in the applicant's absence unless and until alternative arrangements have been made, and the necessary arrangements either for carrying on the business or for its disposal cannot immediately be made. The question of reinstatement at the end of the war is part of a much wider problem which is engaging the attention of the Government.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any steps are being taken to avoid the calling up for the Services of certain skilled operatives in the building industry who, in addition to per forming essential war work during the war, would form an essential labour nucleus for the resumption of rebuilding war- damaged houses immediately on the cessation of hostilities?

No, Sir; there will remain a nucleus of men for the purpose my hon. Friend has in mind after the industry has supplied its quota of men for the needs of the Forces.

May I assume that the men will not be called up indiscriminately? May I have an assurance from-the right hon. Gentleman that discrimination will be permitted, particularly on the part of the employers?

I do not know what my hon. Friend has in mind. They will be called up in accordance with the general rule dealing with the call to the Forces.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the importance of starting housing, particularly in the rural areas?

Yes, Sir, but I have also to keep in mind that before we can do that we must find sufficient men to win the war.

asked the Minister of Labour, whether, in his recent special call-up of 28,000 key operatives, born in June, 1910, in the building and civil engineering industries, adequate consideration has been given to the slowing up of vital and urgent constructional Government work; and whether the Government Departments concerned are being consulted and have agreed to the delayed completion of their contracts?

Yes, Sir. These arrangements have been approved by the Government as a necessary part of the programme of recruitment for the Forces after careful consideration of the manpower requirements for constructional work.

asked the Minister of Labour, whether the 23,793 women unemployed on 17th August and who were married or for other reasons immobile, mostly live in industrial districts; and whether there is any chance of their being employed even in view of war pressure and great demand for labour?

The 23,793 women unemployed on 17th August mostly live in industrial districts. The total is less than half of what it was last January and not much more than a quarter of what it was in the preceding August and I could not safely predict any substantial further reduction. My hon. Friend will appreciate that the total consists of constantly changing individuals owing to the movement in and out of employment.

asked the Minister of Labour, what representations he has received from the Board of Trade on the call-up of key-workers, without any opportunity in certain areas for firms to obtain any deferment, in the un- designated section of the light clothing industry, with a view to slowing down temporarily such call-up pending concentration and to avoid the extinction of almost all undesignated firms?

This matter has been under discussion between my Department and the Board of Trade. I am willing to allow reasonable time for concentration arrangements to be completed, but in view of the demands for man-power quick decision on the part of all concerned is imperative.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that there is no intention of squeezing out any small firms?

I assure my hon. Friend that these powers are not being used to squeeze out anybody. They are only being used to get the necessary manpower for the Forces.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now completed his inquiry into the decision of the General Nursing Council to prevent persons from sitting for examinations under the auspices of the Council without giving any reason for refusal; and with what result?

I regret I have not yet received the observations of the General Nursing Council on the matter to which my hon. Friend refers.

In view of the fact that I asked this Question many weeks ago, and especially in view of the effect of this decision upon girls who want to enter nursing, when does the right hon. Gentleman think he will be able to complete his inquiries and reverse this decision?

I hope to get the observations of the General Nursing Council soon, but I do not control that.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that owing to the growing increase in the cost of living the recipients of health insurance benefit are finding it difficult to obtain the necessaries of life, to say nothing of additional comforts; and whether he will arrange from 1st January, 1943, to have their benefit increased?

I must ask my hon. Friend to await the Government's consideration of Sir William Beveridge's Report on Social Insurance and Allied Services.

In view of the statements in the Beveridge Report, cannot something be done at once to increase the Health Insurance grant to these persons incapacitated for work as the matter is urgent?

Was not the right hon. Gentleman's answer drafted before the Beveridge Report was published?

I can assure my hon. Friend that that is not so. In answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Down (Dr. Little), all students of the social services understand that one of the greatest gaps has been the lack of sickness benefit for dependants.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that adequate diet is provided for persons suffering from tuberculosis and their contacts; and will he take measures to assure that these persons shall be provided with extra rations of milk and eggs?

The special dietary needs of tuberculous persons have been carefully considered by the medical committee, including medical officers of my Department, which advises my right hon. and Noble Friend the Minister of Food. Persons with active tuberculosis have a priority right to an extra allowance of milk, but I regret that limitations of supply and the necessities of others which have also to be considered do not at present permit an extra ration of eggs to tuberculous persons, nor provision of extra milk for their contacts.

asked the Minister of Health whether the reports received by his Department show an increase of the disease of shingles and the cause?

No reports have been received in my Department indicating an increase in the incidence of shingles.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any recent report?

Yes, Sir, we have some reports, but I have not received any showing an increase.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the offer of the present Minister of Aircraft Production took full notice of the treaties between the Crown and the Princes of India; whether these treaties remain valid in their integrity; and whether he will undertake that they will not be changed by any constitution-making body without the assent of the parties concerned?

The hon. Member is no doubt referring to the various Treaties, Engagements and Sanads defining the relations of the Crown with Rulers of Indian States. The interpretation of the original terms of certain of these engagements has, as is well known, been affected over a long period by usage and sufferance; but subject to that qualification the answer to all three parts of his Question is in the affirmative.

Thank you very much.

Does that answer indicate that there has been any change in the offer which was made by the late Lord Privy Seal?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for India the number of persons now detained for political offences and the total number of Indian and British casualties arising from disturbances during the past six months?

I am still awaiting information from the Government of India regarding the number of persons under detention. As regards casualties, I have at present nothing to add to the reply which I gave the hon. Member on 8th October.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any reply which he expects from the Government of India will include information on all these events up to date, and can we expect that the report will be made public?

The Government of India obviously endeavour to keep these figures up to date, but it takes time to communicate them to us here.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state in general terms the reasons for his recent disagreement with the advice tendered by the Advisory Committee in the cases of four persons detained under Regulation 18b?

The reasons are that on consideration of the same facts I have formed a different judgment as to the necessity of detention for the time being in these cases.

Owing to the fact that the effect of that reply will be to remove the existing protection, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has yet designated the target areas in the large industrial cities in which women will not be called upon to do fire-guard duty; and whether the centre of Birmingham is such a target area?

No, Sir. This cannot be done until the necessary orders, which are in active preparation, have been made. I am glad to have this opportunity of making it clear that the special provisions to which my hon. Friend refers will relate only to fire guard duty by women in business premises. Their liability to, duty in respect of residential premises under the Compulsory Enrolment Order will be unaffected.

Does my right hon. Friend know that women are being called as fire watchers in the centre of Birmingham and that many of them consider, in view of the statement made by the right hon. Gentleman, that it should not take place?

I do not think that the women are nearly as worried about it as the men are, and in any case the old Orders at the moment operate, and they must march. I will get the new Orders made as quickly as I can, but a considerable drafting problem is involved. I can assure the hon. Member that there will be no undue delay.

asked the Home Secretary the salary attached to the position of Regional Commissioner for Civil Defence in Scotland?

The salary attached to the position of Regional Commissioner for Scotland is the same as for other Regional Commissioners, namely, a maximum of £2,500 a year. It is left to individual Commissioners to decide what remuneration, if any, they will accept within the maximum allowable.

Will my right hon. Friend confirm the fact that, from the establishment of this office, none of this salary has been drawn by either of the two holders of the office?

This issue has arisen, and it is natural that, at the end of the day, I must give the House an account of the disbursement of public money, but, having given to the House what the maximum salary is, I must bear in mind that as the personal financial circumstances of Commissioners vary and that some do the work for nothing or for very little, it would be invidious if I gave the details of each case.

I recognise what the Minister says, but if I can show him how unfair reflections have been made on the holders of this post, perhaps he would be willing to reconsider, his decision.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will withdraw Circular 1604, which recommends the curtailment of medical inspection of children in elementary schools so that there will be no routine medical examination of schoolchildren from their entry to school at five years of age until their last year of school life?

No, Sir. My hon. Friend will be aware that the medical man-power position has necessitated the recommendations made in the circular, In some areas the staff is insufficient to carry out the full programme of medical inspection, a fact which I regret as much as does my hon. Friend.

Is the Minister aware that some local authorities believe that regular, medical inspection is as necessary in wartime as in peace and have the staffs to do so? If the purpose of the circular is that more school medical officers will be called up for military service, may I ask him to say whether that is the intention or not?

Is it not a fact that nurses and teachers can exercise extremely good supervision over the children and that there is probably very little difference in the routine?

The answer to the latter question is that there is special reference in the circular to the work that nurses can do, and I hope they will take the work up. The answer to the first question is that it is not the object of the circular to make the service more restricted, but to make the best use of the man-power available. I undertake to do my best for the service in war-time conditions.

Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to prevent more medical officers being called up?

I have said that I will do my best, but I must tell the House that the medical man-power position is very severe. Nobody regrets it more than I do, and I will certainly do my best.

Why do we not use some of the foreign doctors who are interned?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will consult with local education authorities with a view to ensuring that supplementary teachers should be given a bonus at least equivalent to that paid to teachers covered by the Burnham award?

My Department have already notified all local education authorities that they will not take exception for grant purposes to the payment to supplementary teachers of war bonus at the same rates as those payable to teachers covered by the Burnham Report, provided that their basic rates have not otherwise been increased as a result of war conditions.

In view of the fact that supplementary teachers, many of whom are very good teachers, receive less favourable rates of pay than those covered by the Burnham award, will not the Minister take some positive action and suggest that this bonus be paid to the lower paid teachers?

I think if my hon. Friend studies my answer he will find that although the language may not be as forthcoming as he might desire, the result will be satisfactory.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the decision of a borough education committee to hold a course of instruction in religious knowledge for which a small fee would be charged to those attending, but an expenditure incurred involving expenditure by the local authority and the Board; what is the nature of the course and the theological or ecclesiastical authority accepted; who supplies the instructor; and whether this is in accordance with the policy of the Board?

I am not aware of the particular case which the hon. Member has in mind. If he will give me particulars I will endeavour to furnish the information for which he asks.

Has not the President of the Board of Education already received a letter bearing the name of the borough which I have in mind?

If I had, I would not have given that answer. I will bear in mind the hon. Gentleman's communication and will try to give him more information next time.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will consider the advisability of consulting with his colleagues in the Allied Governments with a view to concerting measures for the re-education after the war of the youth of Germany and all others who have been subjected to Nazi propaganda?

As the hon. Member may be aware, I am in touch with the Ministers of Education of certain of the Allied Governments and it is clear from my contacts with them that they have this question very much in mind. The reeducation of the youth of Germany is a task of which I recognise the importance, and which will have to be considered at the appropriate time.

In view of the great importance of this question and the necessity of doing something in this direction long before the war is over, will the right hon. Gentleman ask his colleagues to give it immediate or early attention?

Will the Minister catch the young Germans before he tries to educate them?

Has the Minister ever thought how many youths there are in Germany who require this education and how many teachers will be required to educate them, and are those teachers starting now, in advance, to learn German?

Will the Minister see that lectures are given to the Nazi youth after the war, showing how we built up our Empire and how to avoid these perils?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the information now available as a result of the registration of boys and girls of 16 to 18 years of age, he will publish a White Paper giving a survey of the returns, with special reference to the excessive hours of work which are now in force in a large number of cases?

I hope to be able to furnish a statement as early as possible in the New Year covering both the registrations which took place during January to April last and the further registration held in September, reports on which local education authorities have been asked to submit to my Department this month. Information of excessive working hours of young people is one of the points to which authorities are asked to pay special attention.

Is the right hon. Gentleman in communication with the Minister of Labour about the revelations that have already been made as to excessive hours of labour which are at present being worked.

Yes, Sir, and the next Question refers to that matter.

Has the right hon. Gentleman come to a decision about the registration of youths between 14 and 16 years of age?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the large number of education authorities who have reported long hours of work among juveniles; and what action he is proposing to take?

I am aware that a number of local education authorities have reported evidence of long hours worked by some young people in their areas and this evidence has been brought to the notice of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service.

In view of the fact that this information has now been with the Ministry of Labour for six months, would the right hon. Gentleman consider the suggestion that a maximum number of hours be fixed for young people under 18 years of age henceforth, because the results of the registration will not be available until next year?

I cannot exaggerate the importance of the point made by my hon. Friend, but he may rest assured that this information, which is very valuable for the purpose which he has in mind, is being considered by my right hon. Friend, who is certainly giving it his earnest consideration and will continue to do so.

May I press the right hon. Gentleman upon one further point and ask him to institute a maximum number of hours, because this really is important? Boys are coming to the A.T.Cs. and other organisations completely tired, and they cannot join in the ordinary activities of these organisations.

I will certainly discuss the matter with my right hon. Friend, as I have already done.

Has it not been a repeated recommendation of the Select Committee on National Expenditure that excessive hours are non-productive?

I very much welcome the interest shown in this matter to-day. It is a very important matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give an approximate estimate of the extent to which the reduction of the milk allowance to two pints per person per week is due, respectively, to failure of production and a higher consumption?

The reduction in the weekly allowance to non-priority consumers is not due to any failure of production but to the necessity for meeting the requirement of priority consumers and to an increased demand, compared with prewar, from the non-priority consumers. The quantities of whole milk available for sale so far this winter are well up to pre-war standards, although naturally they follow the normal seasonal trend, which means that the winter supply is always less than the summer supply.

Can the Minister state the extent of the increase of the consumption of milk?

The extent of the increase in the demand for milk may perhaps be gauged from the fact that the consumption in July last was 40 per cent. greater than in July, 1939. Obviously an increase of this dimension far outstrips the pre-war margin between consumption and winter supplies, which can be put at about 20 per cent.

As everybody I know is getting less milk and more is being consumed, who is getting it?

A very large number of people in this country who before the war were not in a financial position to buy milk are now taking their supply.

Would the Minister use his influence to see that as far as possible the limited quantity of milk available is fresh, clean milk which has not been tampered with?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has considered the complaints that the supply of Women's Land Army uniform, particularly greatcoats, waterproofs and boots, is unsatisfactory and inadequate; and whether he is satisfied with the present position?

With your permission. Sir, I propose to answer this at the end of Questions.

I am afraid that with the very rapid growth of the Women's Land Army this year some delay has been caused by the need to wait for the manufacture of suitable material, particularly in the case of greatcoats. We have however been fortunate in obtaining some thousands of coats from the Auxiliary Territorial Service, though we might have got more had it not been for the unexpected fact that the conformation of members of the Women's Land Army in material particulars is substantially different from that of the A.T.S. and because the A.T.S. is itself short of the sizes we most need. I am satisfied that adequate supplies are coming in and are now on order for the further large expansion of the Women's Land Army which I expect in coming months.

Following some unfortunate experiences with light-weight mackintoshes and oilskins, which although satisfactory for a time appeared to deteriorate, orders were placed for heavy-weight mackintoshes. Unfortunately the ban that had to be imposed earlier this year on supplies of rubber proofing prevented the fulfilment of these orders. Actually 51,000 oilskins and over 10,000 strong mackintoshes have been issued to the counties since 1st January, 1942. Mackintosh shortages seem, therefore, to be entirely due to the need for replacing faulty garments. The position is now much improved since, in addition to substantial quantities of heavy oilskins supplied through the good offices of the Admiralty, we are now obtaining good supplies of strong mackintoshes made up from stocks of ready proofed material which has been bought up specially for the Women's Land Army.

There is some conflict of evidence on the subject of Land Army footwear. There was a very awkward period of shortage following the cancellation of all gumboot contracts last April on the instruction of the Rubber Control as it took time before leather boots to replace gumboots could be manufactured in sufficient quantity. The rubber shortage has made it necessary for us to conserve the limited supplies of gumboots available for those workers for whom their use is virtually essential. Supplies of leather boots are now adequate and under recent rubber allocations for the Land Army it is possible to provide gumboots for a fairly high proportion of employed Land Army vounteers. A member of the Women's Land Army who does not receive gumboots may receive as her footwear issue two pairs of stout leather boots, one pair of shoes and a pair of proofed canvas legings. If two pairs of Land Army boots are kept for use at work and are well greased and worn with proofed leggings, they should in my view prove quite satisfactory.

There were other temporary and troublesome shortages this summer of items of uniform containing cotton, e.g. breeches, shirts, dungarees and milking coats, cotton being in particularly short supply owing to military requirements for tropical kit. These deficiencies are now almost all being made good although there are still shortages in particular sizes.

I am satisfied that the Women's Land Army authorities, in collaboration with the Ministry of Supply, who are responsible for placing the orders, have been and are taking every possible step to secure adequate supplies of suitable garments.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state how soon these overcoats will be available for the girls of the Land Army? Is he aware that the Italian prisoners have all got long rubber boots, and why cannot they be given to the girls who work on the land?

There are 53,000 members of the Women's Land Army in employment, and over 57,000 greatcoats have been issued to counties, and if at the present time anyone cannot get a greatcoat, it is due to the fact that the particular size required cannot be obtained. As far as Italian prisoners are concerned, it is not the fact that they all have boots; on the contrary a great deal of drainage work is being held up because we cannot get enough boots for them.

Will the Minister come down to Kent and see all the Italian prisoners walking about in their rubber boots?

Will the Minister explain how the conformation of members of the A.T.S. differs from that of the personnel of the Women's Land Army?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether a free railway warrant is given to all members of the Women's Land Army when proceeding on their seven days' annual leave?

Every member of the Women's Land Army working 20 miles or more from home is entitled to receive a free railway warrant covering her journey home as soon after the completion of each six months period of satisfactory service as her employer can arrange for her to have leave.

In view of the fact that those working less than 20 miles from their home are obviously penalised because of that fact, will the Minister agree that in all cases this free travel warrant should be allowed?

Does not the Minister agree that seven days' leave per annum for these girls who are working seven days a week is inadequate? No other class of worker in the country has so short a holiday when working seven days a week.

Those are the days to which they are legally entitled under the orders of the agricultural wages committee in the particular county.

Will the Minister not take steps to make things a little more comfortable for those who are doing such useful work?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether members of the Women's Land Army receive any payment of wages or compensation during the period they are unable to work through meeting with an accident during the course of their employment?

An employed member of the Women's Land Army has precisely the same right as any other agricultural worker to compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act in respect of the result of an accident occurring during the course of her employment.

Can the Minister, assure me that the members of the Women's Land Army are aware of these rights which they have? I have been informed of a case where a young lady has been out of work for a month through an accident at work and has not been in receipt of any pay whatever.

Are women not entitled to a pension from the Ministry of Pensions if they fall ill as a result of work?

I must ask for notice of that question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what he intends doing to stop the toy profiteering; and whether he is aware that 25s. is being charged for a rag doll and of the loophole in the Maximum Prices Order which limits retailers to a profit margin of 33⅓ per cent.?

My right hon. Friend made an Order on 12th October controlling the prices of toys at all stages of manufacture and distribution. The Central Price Regulation Committee went into the matter very carefully and I am satisfied that the margins fixed are reasonable. I know of no loophole in the Order, but if my hon. Friend will tell me what he has in mind we will look into it.

I think it is quite evident, according to the Question about the charges made for dolls, that there is a loophole somewhere.

If my hon. Friend will send me particulars of any doll in which he is particularly interested, I will have the particulars looked into.

All children and all parents are interested in dolls, and I have sent along all the information I had.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the register of small traders promised by him on 13th October is likely to be ready; whether he can state what action small traders should take to secure admission; and what qualifications are necessary for their inclusion?

My right hon. Friend has been in consultation with the principal retail trade organisations and will make a statement at the earliest possible moment, He will announce the procedure whereby application for admission to the Register may be made by traders who have already withdrawn, or who may be forced by circumstances to withdraw from retail trade in future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Report by Sir Frederick Leith-Ross on the Organisation of International Trade has yet been presented; and if and when it will be published?

I presume that my hon. Friend is referring to the Inter-Allied Committee on Post-War Relief Requirements, of which Sir Frederick Leith-Ross is Chairman. The Committee has not yet presented a Report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what part of the country he proposes to remove the hat trade from Luton; and the reasons for his decision?