asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, in a case recently submitted to his Department by the hon. Member for Whitechapel, over two-thirds of a man's weekly pay was deducted in respect of a civil debt, leaving him with only 4s. 1d. per week; and will he reconsider this policy with the object of making a smaller weekly deduction in such cases?

I have looked into this case and do not consider that a change would be justified in the normal rule whereby a soldier repays his debts as soon as possible, so long as he is left with at least 4s. 1d. a week.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that a man with just 4s. 1d. a week has hardly anything at all with which to be able to meet his expenses, and could he at least make the figure a litle bit higher?

I have looked into this particular case, and I do not think it is a very meritorious one.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in connection with the proposed transfer of the Record Office of the Royal Army Service Corps to its new location, he is aware that a number of married women now serving in the office will not be willing to move, resulting in a loss of efficiency; that there is a considerable housing shortage in the new area so married staff will be unable to move their homes and will be entitled to a number of free and partly-free travel passes, placing additional burdens on the railways; and whether, in view of the long distance proposed in this transfer, he will ascertain if suitable accommodation can be found nearer to the town where the office is at present situated?

I am aware of the objections advanced by the hon. Member to the move of this office. These objections were taken into account before the move was finally decided on, but it proved impossible to find any suitable accommodation nearer to the town where the office now is.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to state the nature of the official recognition of the 250 units of Women's Home Defence, most of which are working with the Home Guard; and will he make a comprehensive statement thereon?

This question is still under consideration.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that that was the reply which he gave to me some time in October, and in view of the fact that already two months have passed, cannot he hurry his decision?

I am quite aware of the fact that this decision has been about a long time, but the question has been caught up in a much larger question which is now under review.

In view of the admirable service which these women are giving to the Home Guard, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the question of making a statement shortly?

I will do my best, but I am not entirely free in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement on how leave is given to men serving overseas as there is concern on this matter?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether relatives of men serving abroad may apply direct to the War Office for the return of men on compassionate grounds; and whether he will make a statement as to the general conditions on which such leave may be given?

I regret that owing to shipping limitations and operational needs no leave can in general be granted to personnel serving abroad to visit this country. Very occasionally it is possible to transfer individuals serving abroad to the Home establishment. Each case is dealt with on its merits. Such a transfer can only be considered in cases of ill-health, if the officer or soldier has served abroad continuously for at least seven years, or on extreme compassionate grounds when the physical presence at home of the officer or soldier is essential. Applications for such transfers should be made to the War Office. A recommendation for the individual's transfer may then be made to the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Command in which he is serving, but the final decision rests with the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief and depends on the military situation and on the availability of shipping. Personnel serving abroad are given up to 28 days a year of local recuperative leave. They are given free travel to the nearest health resort. As such facilities are limited, particularly in the Middle East, rest camps are sometimes provided by the Army where officers and men can have a rest and a change.

asked the Secretary of State for War, upon what basis is the selection made of men and women to broadcast messages to their parents and friends; is he aware that recently in a broadcast not one private spoke; and will he take steps to see that all ranks are dealt with in proportion to their numbers?

The number of privates selected is, generally speaking, in proportion to the number of privates in the Command. I am not sure which particular broadcast my hon. Friend has in mind, but if he will send me particulars I will look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the position of men under compulsory stop pages from their pay in connection with court orders?

I have had this question under consideration, and I have decided to make certain concessions in the amount payable by soldiers in these circumstances. The subject is too intricate for a short answer, and I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will institute an expert inquiry into the modernisation of the methods used in the Army Pay Department?

The Royal Army Pay Corps has handled a very difficult problem with conspicuous success. The system governing the work of the Corps was the subject of an expert inquiry two years ago which reported to the Standing Committee on Army Administration that it is as expeditious and fool-proof as is possible in war time conditions. The system has since continued to be the object of constant study, and improvements in the way of modernisation of processes, including the utilisation of mechanical side, are introduced whenever their value is proved. I do not think there is any need for such an inquiry as is proposed by my hon. Friend.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that all the most modern business machines and appliances are available to the Corps, on whom I make no reflection?

"All" is rather a great deal to ask, but I am satisfied that a great many modern aids are adopted, and adopted with reasonable promptitude.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether in view of Mussolini's recent broadcast, he proposes to make any statement on the treatment of Italian prisoners by our troops?

All complaints made by prisoners of war or by the Italian Government through the Protecting Power are fully investigated whenever sufficient details are given in the complaint to enable this to be done, and a full answer is invariably sent. As no details were given, it has been impossible to inquire into the allegations made in Mussolini's recent broadcast. No such complaints have been received from the Italian Government, and I should be very surprised if there were anything in the allegations made except propaganda. Our treatment of prisoners of war is based on the scrupulous observance of the Geneva Convention, and I do not consider any statement on the subject is necessary.

Has Mussolini a high reputation for truthfulness?

asked the Secretary of State for War, what objection there is to enlisting doctors from Palestine in the British Army for service in India; and whether he is aware that such applications have been made to Army Headquarters in Jerusalem and the services declined?

Hitherto Palestinian doctors commissioned in the British Army have been retained in the Middle East, where their services are required. Should there be at any time a surplus there of suitable candidates, there would be no objection to appointing them in the Middle East and sending them to India for duty. I am not aware of the facts referred to in the second part of my hon. Friend's Question, but inquiries are being made into this.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make inquiries into the circumstances in which an arrangement was made between his Department and Cable and Wireless, Limited, in accordance with which 17 employees of that firm were engaged for censorship duties in Hong Kong; and whether he will call for a full report in respect of the treatment of those men, with a view to those who have returned to England receiving forthwith full allowances due to them and also with a view to provision for reimbursement, when they are released, to those who are at present prisoners of war?

I have been asked to reply. Yes, Sir. The matter is being investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention had been drawn to the grievance that whereas Army officers who had previously been qualified pilots in the Royal Air Force are permitted to wear pilot's wings on Army uniforms those qualified as observers in the Royal Air Force are not permitted to wear the observer's "wings" on Army uniforms; and will he reconsider the question of observer's "wings"?

I have been asked to reply. R.A.F. flying badges are not personal insignia. They are a part of Royal Air Force uniform, and the right to wear them with other types of uniform cannot be admitted. Army officers who were qualified pilots were allowed to wear "wings" while seconded to the R.A.F. or while liable to be called up for service with the R.A.F. on mobilisation. This arrangement was later extended to permit all Army personnel qualified as pilots to wear "wings" on Army uniform. No Army personnel qualified as observers have ever had mobilisation liability to the R.A.F., and I do not consider that in the circumstances any alteration in the present regulations is called for.

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that there is a sense of grievance that one lot of people should be qualified in one way and are permitted to wear this badge and others are not? There is a sense of injustice.

It is the policy of my Department to resist claims by non-Royal Air Force personnel to wear flying badges. Applications from the Royal Observer Corps and A.R.P. organisations to certain permission have been consistently refused. The only concession is as regards the pilot's badge for Army personnel who have had a mobilisation liability, and which was later extended to other Army qualified personnel.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the discretion to accept or reject application for compassionate release rests with commanding officers or the Air Ministry?

Authority to grant compassionate release rests solely with the Air Council, but a commanding officer may reject an application if he considers that the grounds do not warrant a recommendation to higher authority. If an airman feels himself aggrieved by the action of his commanding officer in rejecting his application, he has the right of appeal to the Air Officer Commanding under Section 43 of the Air Force Act.

Has the right hon. and gallant Gentleman now traced the application to which I referred his Department a few weeks ago?

If the hon. Member means the case which he raised recently by Question and on the Adjournment, I have found that at no time has this airman applied for his release from service in the R.A.F. At no time has application been made for permanent release. If he makes one, it will be considered fairly and reasonably.

In view of the fact that I have a copy of the Department's acknowledgment of this application, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has extended the area of the experiment in diagnosis and treatment of workers initiated in the Clyde Valley; and whether he will give the areas which the scheme now covers?

Yes, Sir. The supplementary medical service which has operated in the Clyde Valley since January last has now, I am glad to say, been extended to cover workers of all ages in the industrial areas of Scotland.

I should like to ask two Supplementary Questions on that answer. Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has the concurrence of the medical profession in this matter? Secondly, what is the approximate number of workers affected by it?

The answer to the first Supplementary Question is "Yes, Sir." I have the entire concurrence of the medical practitioners. I cannot, in reply to the second Supplementary Question, give the precise number of workers who are covered by the extended operations of this Act, but the first experiment covered 44 per cent. of the insured workers.

Does this extension also include dependants?

It deals only with workers.

Is a housewife a worker?

Yes, Sir, she is.

It includes her?

Yes, Sir, if she is a war worker.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that there are sufficient beds to meet all kinds of cases referred for hospital treatment under this scheme?

Yes, Sir, absolutely.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the names of the members of the reconstituted Scottish Youth Advisory Council; their qualifications as members; and the terms of reference given to the Council?

In selecting the members of the committee, I have had regard to their personal knowledge of and interest in the problems of adolescence and to their experience of youth service activities in one form or another. The terms of reference to the committee are to advise the Secretary of State on all questions affecting the welfare of Scottish youth. With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate the list of members in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Do I understand that the Scottish Home Department Committee, under Mr. Troup, has now been amalgamated with the education department through this committee?

I do not appreciate the point of the hon. Member's Question.

I understood there was a committee dealing with the Home Department side of this work in Scotland hitherto, and that members of this committee have been absorbed in this committee. Is that so?

There were two committees before, and they were both scrapped, and there is now this committee.

As a result of that, who is to be responsible for something like 8,000 or 9,000 delinquents in Scotland under the age of 14?

If the hon. Gentleman will put a Question down, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many schools and schoolchildren there are in the. Outer Islands of Inverness-shire; how many of these schools are providing substantial hot meals for the children; what percentage of the children are not being so served; and is he prepared to meet any special difficulties in this area;

The records of these services in the Scottish Education Department are available only for counties as a whole. I have, however, asked the education authorities of Inverness and Ross and Cromarty for the required details, and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as they are received. The lack of suitable accommodation and labour makes it difficult to arrange a scheme for the supply of hot meals in remote areas, but I will be glad to do anything in my power to overcome any special difficulties in the Outer Islands.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether his attention has been drawn to experiments being conducted in Norway with the object of extracting oil from peat, which tend to show that after refinement the oil is particularly suitable for lubrication; and whether any experimental plants are similarly contemplated in this country?

As Norway is enemy-occupied territory, my information about these experiments is naturally meagre. I understand that the yield of lubricating oil from this process is likely to be small. In view of this, and of the labour required for the winning of peat, it is not proposed to erect experimental plants of this type at the present time.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the basis of profits paid by the Petroleum Board to the oil industry; and whether he will name the figure arrived at for the value of capital employed in the industry?

In authorising prices to be charged by the Petroleum Board I have decided on the amount to be included in these prices to represent the remuneration of the Petroleum Board which they will distribute among their member companies. This remuneration will be at the rate of 7½ per cent. on the adjusted value of the physical capital of the Board and on the working capital ascertained as employed before the war by the companies which came together to form the Petroleum Board. In view of the advent of Lease-Lend, deductions will be made from that working capital as from July, 1941, to make allowance for the fact that some petroleum products are supplied to the Board by H.M. Government. Arrangements are now being made for the accounts of the Board to be drawn up retrospectively on this basis, except that, to allow for the transition from peacetime to war-time working, the provisional arrangements hitherto authorised will be allowed to stand for the period September, 1939, to June, 1940. The adjusted value of the physical assets of the Petroleum Board is approximately £23,000,000, and the peace-time working capital has been assessed at £28,000,000.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the grave dissatisfaction existing amongst the workers engaged in the by-product plants owned by the coalowners and situated on colliery premises, arising out of the refusal to apply the Greene Award to these workers; and whether he has any statement to make thereon?

I understand that in some areas additions have been made, following the Greene award, to the wages to workers in coke ovens, but in South Wales, which I assume my hon. Friend has in mind, the question was referred to an independent arbitrator appointed by the parties, who decided, after hearing all the facts of the case, that there should not be any additional payment.

Is not the Minister aware that the workers in South Wales are the only group in the by-product industry who do not get this increase, and that there is grave dissatisfaction which may burst out any day, despite the formal legal findings of the arbitrator? Will he take steps to see that the men are satisfied?

I am prepared to do anything I can, but, as my hon. Friend realises, both parties agreed to arbitration, and the decision was made on that point. I am aware that other districts are receiving this award. I have been asked to receive a deputation, and this I am prepared to do.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman remember that it is extremely difficult to keep these men working on very important work, and will he expedite the talks which are now going on?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps are being taken to replace the surface removed to get outcrop coal as this process causes disfigurement to the locality?

The existing contracts for opencast coal working cover the back filling of the excavations, levelling and restoration of the top soil. Subject to the local circumstances, all sites are restored, as far as possible, to their original conditions.

I can understand the difficulty at the present time, but I would like to see the right hon. and gallant Gentleman keep his eye on this matter, because in the locality where it is happening it is very unsightly to see huge heaps being left. I want the right hon. and gallant Gentleman to pay attention to this matter.

Certainly, Sir, and I fully appreciate what my hon. Friend has in mind. There are six sites already restored as near to their original condition as possible, and personally I will do everything I can to see that it is done everywhere.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is now satisfied that in response to his appeal for economy the various measures adopted by the larger industries engaged in munitions production are effecting substantial savings in the direct use of coal as well as in gas and electricity?

I am never satisfied, but the reports which I am receiving show a growing response by industrial undertakings, including those engaged in the production of munitions, to my appeal for economy in the use of all fuels. As the work of the fuel efficiency committees, which I have appointed, is extended, I expect that even greater savings will be made.

Is any form of propaganda being carried on by the Ministry in these large works on the subject of the consumption of gas and electricity?

Yes, Sir. Not only are we in constant touch with the industries of the country through the local fuel efficiency committees, but courses are also given to engineers so that they shall get the latest information upon fuel efficiency.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give the names of those appointed to the committee which he has set up to deal with diverted cargoes originally intended for the Far East; and will he state the bodies which they represent?

I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate the information asked for in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to compensate the owners of shops and small businesses when their livelihood has been lost owing to the fact that they have volunteered for the Fighting Forces and the assistants left in charge have been called up?

The policy of His Majesty's Government is that no compensation can be paid from public funds, except in respect of loss or damage directly due to enemy action or to counter-action. As regards the calling-up of assistants left in charge of small businesses, this raises the question of hardship procedure under the National Service Acts, on which I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.

The right hon. Gentleman is, of course, aware that there were many cases of extreme hardship after the last war, and will he confer with the Service Departments to see whether something can be done in specific cases to prevent that happening after this war?

Have the Government taken any responsibility for getting them back in their jobs after this war?

That is a question of post-war policy which, I think, might be addressed to my right hon. and learned Friend the Paymaster-General.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is in the Rugby district a shortage of batteries suitable for lamps for bicycles, which is causing difficulties in this district which depends largely upon bicycles for transport; whether this shortage is general; and whether he will take steps to remedy it?

Steps have been taken which should lead to a substantial and early increase in the total output of batteries, and particularly of cycle lamp batteries, but the requirements of the Services for batteries must continue to have first call on the available production. I have arranged an inquiry into supplies in the Rugby district.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether there is any chance of increased production of No. 8 batteries?

There is an increased production of No. 8 batteries; I answered that the other day, but the limiting factor in the civilian supply must be, of course, Service requirements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the altered financial conditions arising from the war, whether any steps are being taken to prevent the settlement of foreign debt owing to this country on a basis likely to react unfavourably upon such other foreign assets as are still held by this country?

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to debts due to private individuals, including bondholders, in this country. I fully recognise the importance to this country of safeguarding its invisible receipts from foreign investments, and it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to give all proper support to British holders of foreign bonds.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether all universities in Great Britain are receiving grants from the University Grants Committee at the present time?

Yes, Sir.

Does this include the great and famous University of Sulgrave?

No, Sir, I would hardly include that under the title of "university."

Because it is not a university at all?

My hon. Friend must be the best judge of that.

Can the right hon. Gentleman not do something to warn the country about this bogus and discreditable university?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he is aware of the hardship of widows of superannuated persons whose death terminates payments; and whether he is prepared to facilitate some arrangement for superannuation payments being modified and payable to widows;

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the widows of Civil Service pensioners. Provision already exists for the payment of Pensions to such widows. Under Section 2 of the Superannuation Act, 1935, a retiring civil servant may, subject to proof of good health, surrender part of his pension in order to secure a pension for his widow or other dependant.

Would the Chancellor keep in mind all these superannuated persons, because great hardship exists when suddenly superannuation payment ceases and the widow is, perhaps, left destitute? When the proposals come forward for a reconsideration of the general pensions scheme, will these widows be kept in mind?

I have no doubt that my hon. Friend will remind the House on suitable occasions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Treasury received last year from their half-share in the fees paid to serving officers and men for broadcasting?

I am afraid that the figures for which my hon. Friend asks are not available.

If I put down a Question in the next series of Sittings, will my right hon. Friend find the figures?

I think it hardly worth while asking the officials for these figures. It is not a matter of money; it is a matter of equity.

If the figures are so insignificant that the right hon. Gentleman does not know them, is it worth while taking these sums from serving officers and men?

I said just now that it was not a question of money, but one of equity?

Equity towards whom?

All parties concerned.