asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the recently announced increases in the pay of naval officers will apply to officers of the Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve?

Yes, Sir.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has further information of the gallant action when the Royal Indian Navy minesweeper "Bengal" sank a Japanese raider, with the assistance of the Dutch tanker, "Ondina," in the Indian Ocean; and has he any statement to make on the work of the Indian Navy in eastern waters?

I am not able at present to add anything to the full account published of this gallant action. As regards the second part of the Question, I am glad to take this opportunity of expressing the highest appreciation of the efficient and wholehearted co-operation of the Royal Indian Navy. The part played by H.M.I.S. "Bengal" in this action against two heavily armed raiders, one of which was destroyed, is clear evidence of the quality of the Royal Indian Navy, whose service and loyal support in the war at sea have been of the utmost value.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the advisability of gradually eliminating Government indebtedness only redeemable at Government option and the interest on which is paid quarterly by a Local Loans Conversion Loan, with a fixed date of redemption at 2½ per cent., by arranging for the loan to be surrendered at par for Death Duties and for any sums so surrendered to be reissuable by the Treasury for the duration of the war?

No, Sir. I do not think such a proposal would be advantageous.

asked the Home Secretary whether medical officers of his Department are investigating an industrial lung disease described as bagessosis caused by the inhalation of dust from cane fibre or bagesse; and whether it is being considered as one of those suitable for inclusion in a general scheme of industrial lung diseases eligible for workmen's compensation?

I have received reports on this condition from the medical inspectors of factories, and I understand that it is now being specially investigated by the Medical Research Council. Pending this investigation, appropriate action cannot usefully be considered. I am advised, however, that the inquiries so far made suggest that the condition is not of such a character as to make it suitable for inclusion in a scheme of compensation on the lines of the schemes for silicosis and other forms of pneumoconiosis.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange for those now serving overseas, who have been mentioned in despatches by commanders-in-chief, to have the letter D placed against their name in the Army List?

In the case of regular officers, mentions in despatches are shown in the Half-Yearly Army List. In the case of other officers, a mention in despatches (or a decoration) granted in respect of service overseas in the present war is denoted by the symbol of "crossed swords" in front of the officer's name in the Quarterly Army List.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether supplies of sulphaguanidine, which has proved its efficiency in cases of dysentery, can be, and are, sent to the camps of British prisoners of war?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in connection with his Parliamentary reply to the Member for Rochdale on 6th October, 1942, the agreement with the Japanese authorities for the establishment, since July last, of a prisoner of war post from this country to Japan still holds good; whether letters are being forwarded at the present time to prisoners of war captured in Malaya, Java, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Burma; and whether any authoritative statement can be made showing that the position has been regularised?

The answer to the first two parts of the Question is "Yes, Sir," except that, as regards Java, letters are forwarded only to those listed as prisoners of war. I do not consider any further statement is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the censor has informed correspondents to reported prisoners of war in Java, a Japanese occupied territory, that, he has been directed by the Secretary of State for War not to forward correspondence to such prisoners in their own interests and that, up to now, such correspondence is being withheld; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made as to whether such instructions have been issued by his Department, to clear up the confusion in this matter which is causing anxiety to many relatives.

My hon. Friend appears to be misinformed. Correspondence for officers and men reported as prisoners of war in Java is not being held up by the censor and I have nothing to add to the answer given on 15th October. As fighting is still" going on in Java it is not possible in the interests of the men themselves to forward letters unless or until they are reported as prisoners of war. No reports have been received of the capture of personnel from any units from the United Kingdom.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food to what extent we are still importing eggs from overseas, including Eire?

No shell eggs are being imported into this country, other than from Eire. It is not in the public interest to disclose figures of imports, but I am in a position to say that, by agreement with the Eire Government, my Department is purchasing the whole exportable surplus of shell eggs from Eire.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps he is taking to prevent hotels and large dealers getting the prime fish under his zoning scheme, leaving only inferior fish and cuts for the smaller dealers?

I have no evidence that small merchants in particular are receiving an undue share of fish of the cheaper kinds. Fish is not sold in cuts, except by the fishmonger.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps he is taking to amend the zoning plan for fish in view of the fact that half the country is getting too much fish under the present plan and the other half is getting too little?

I shall be glad if my hon. Friend will supply me with the evidence on which he bases his suggestion that half the country is getting too much fish under the present plan and the other half is getting too little.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that in certain remote islands of Scotland the price of bread is higher than in other parts of the country and that this affects the standard of living to these islands; and whether he will take steps to level out the transport charges so as to enable bread to be sold at the same price throughout Great Britain?

The price of bread in certain remote parts of Scotland and the islands has always been higher than in the large centres of consumption, where much of it is produced and from which it is sent by rail and steamer to the North and West. The fixing of maximum prices for bread has, generally speaking, brought prices in these areas more nearly into conformity with those of the rest of Scotland, and my Noble Friend is not prepared to go further and to subsidise transport charges in order to secure a degree of uniformity which did not prevail before the war and could not be sustained in a free market.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why the large milk distributing concerns, such as the Co-operative Society and the United Dairies, are allowed free powers of distribution, which are denied to smaller dairymen and producer-retailers?

Local War Time Associations are permitted, in preparing schemes for the rationalisation of retail milk distribution, to exempt organisations, whether private or co-operative, which transact a considerable proportion of the total retail trade in the area. In schemes so far submitted two private firms operating in different areas—Howard Dairies of Southend-on-Sea and Pool Bank Dairies of Wrexham—have been exempted from zoning schemes. In both cases these firms are responsible for a considerable part of the trade of the area and are the sole suppliers of pasteurised milk. In regard to Co-operative Societies I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 21st October last to the hon. Member for South Croydon (Sir H. Williams).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the poor honey harvest and consequent threat of large colonies of bees dying of starvation, he will authorise a suitable sugar allowance to bee keepers on application; and, as lack of bees means poor pollination of fruit and other crops, will he safeguard these food supplies by making a spring allowance of 10 pounds of sugar per colony, the same as last season?

An allowance of 10 lb. of sugar per colony for the winter months was granted to bee keepers on application during the period August to October, and it is proposed to make a further issue between March and May, 1943, of 5 lb. per colony. I am advised that provided bee keepers have followed the advice given them only to remove surplus honey from the hive there should be no need to supplement these allowances.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the lessons of the recent fire at Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, and has ensured that proper exits, in accordance with normal regulations, still exist in public places in spite of boarding used for black-out and for temporary repairs to damaged premises?

I am obtaining a report on the Boston Fire and I can assure my hon. Friend that its lessons will be fully considered. War-time regulations and the fact that premises have been damaged and temporarily repaired in no way relieve occupiers from complying with essential requirements as to the provision of exits in case of fire.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the Report of the insurance experts on the question of whisky storage in Scotland?

I understand that the Regional Commissioner in Scotland has been pressing the insurance experts for their report and that he expects to receive it very shortly.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether, with a view to curbing the activities, information of which has been furnished to him, of bodies purporting to grant university degrees calculated to deceive students of allied nationality at present in this country, he will, by an Emergency Order in Council, or otherwise, restrain such activities by bodies not duly empowered to grant university degrees?

Action could not be taken under existing emergency powers but only as the result of legislation. While I sympathise with the hon. Memmer's desire to restrain the activities to which he refers, I am not satisfied, on the information at present before me, that the introduction of legislation for the purpose would be justified. The matter, however, will be kept under review.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many education authorities have amended their scales for school meals as a result of Administrative Memorandum No. 389, sent out by him on 22nd May, 1942?

The number is 62.