asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the serious difficulties under which evacuee hostels are being carried on in the county of Perth owing to the lack of adequate staffing; and will he direct women to work of this kind?

I am making inquiries about the position in the county of Perth and will write to my hon. Friend in due course.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the copies, which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Cheltenham, of letters stating that women war workers in factories are not fully employed; and whether he will hold an inquiry into these allegations and take appropriate action?

My hon. Friend has sent me two letters, one of which was anonymous and made statements in general terms which could not be tested; in the other case inquiry showed that there was no foundation for the complaint. I am writing to my hon. Friend to explain the circumstances more fully.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that one reason I asked this Question was that these letters were published in the Press at the time of the campaign to encourage women to do part-time work? It was having a most serious effect on the campaign and I desired that publicity should be given to my right hon. Friend's reply.

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the Report of the Committee on Tuberculosis in war-time, in which attention is called to the serious depletion of skilled workers in the pasteurisation processing depots; and whether he is prepared to implement the proposals that specially skilled workers in these depots should be placed on the list of reserved occupations and that workers in this category who have already been called up should be returned to their posts?

My attention has been called to this Report, but I am not aware of any excessive depletion in the numbers of skilled workers engaged in milk pasteurisation. I consult my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food before calling up workers from this industry. As regards release from the Forces, it would only be in cases of clearly proved necessity that I should feel able to recommend such action to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War, in view of the requirements of man-power for the Forces.

Does the Minister not think the time has arrived to consult the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Food in order to secure the production of clean fresh milk instead of constantly subjecting milk to these artificial processes?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a dairy company operating in Hanley responsible for the distribution of 70,000 gallons of milk per week has only one qualified bacteriologist responsible for the chemical control of all that milk and who has already passed his Army medical examination; and, as the laboratory will have to be closed down on this man being called up, with serious consequences to the industry and the consumers, will he take steps to see that his services should be retained by the company?

I am having inquiries made into this case and will communicate the result to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour the policy of His Majesty's Government on the extended organisation of hostels and working girls' clubs for munition workers in industrial centres; and whether he is satisfied with the activities of the hostels and clubs already in operation?

With my colleagues who are responsible for the Supply Departments, I have the needs of transferred workers in these respects constantly under review, and where further provision is found to be necessary active steps are taken to see that it is forthcoming so far as is reasonably possible in view of the competing demands for building labour and material for other urgent national purposes. I am satisfied that the hostels and clubs which have already been established on a substantial scale in accordance with this policy are rendering very valuable service.

Is it the policy of the Minister of Labour to assist in the promotion of these institutions as far as he possibly can?

Yes, I am having a further survey made at the present moment to try and increase their numbers rapidly.

And to assist them financially?

Should individual cases where it is alleged that food in these hostels is not adequate be addressed to the right hon. Gentleman's Department?

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the recent strike of rivet heaters and catchers at Furness shipyard, Tees-side, during which they earned more remunerative wages by picking up potatoes, he will take steps to see that wages are fixed which do justice to all sections?

The wages and conditions of these workers are matters for settlement in the industry. I understand that following the recent strike the wages of the workers concerned were the subject of negotiations.

Was the Minister consulted before the wage of 1s. 3d. per hour for potato pickers was fixed by the Ministry of Agriculture?

No, the wages for the people engaged in agriculture are fixed by the Agricultural Wages Board.

Is the Minister aware that this is happening on the Clyde too, and will he take steps to try and make shipyard wages compare favourably with others?

The unions are still in existence, and are able to look after their members.

I know they are still in existence, but they seem to think, in this matter, that they have the whole of eternity in front of them.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied that the men and women whom it is proposed to withdraw from industry for service with the Forces can safely be so withdrawn without detriment to war production?

Since the total supply of man-power is limited, a balance has to be struck between the different requirements and the proposals are designed to make the best use of man-power as a whole, after consultation with all the Departments concerned.

Is the Minister aware that there appears to be a necessity for a common policy between his own Department and the Supply Departments? Is he not aware of the growing tendency, which is highly dangerous, to suggest that in 1943 production must be secondary in the war effort?

No, the Production and the Fighting Services have to march in step. I have no doubt that increased production in one direction must mean a cutting down in another direction.

Will the Minister give an undertaking to the House that where the Supply Departments insist on the importance of particular work, men and women will not be taken away before adequate substitutes can be proposed by his Department?

No, I am not prepared to give that undertaking. My fight is a constant one against all the Departments and the Fighting Services and, if I may say so, against a large number of managements, to make them use labour more efficiently and more economically.

Does the Minister take any interest in cases where the withdrawal of a negligible number of men is making a slashing reduction in output?

I do not think that withdrawals have affected output. When the Debate takes place figures will show that output has gone up. I cannot afford at this stage in the war to have any wastage of labour at all.

asked the Minister of Labour the approximate annual turnover for women in the engineering industry, up to the most recent convenient date, as a percentage of the average number of women employed during the year?

It would not be in the public interest to give this information.

Would my right hon. Friend watch this matter carefully, because this figure is growing, and it would appear that there is an increasing movement of women in industry, so that they are leaving jobs at which they have become semi-skilled and taking up new work where they clearly cannot give the same degree of productivity?

We are watching the process very carefully. If the employers would operate the Essential Work Order properly, the thing could be checked.

Does that not apply also to some of the National Service Officers?

asked the President of the Board of Education upon what dates the distribution in May or June, 1942, of Communist leaflets, by permission of the headmistress at Malvern Hall School, Solihull, came to the notice of the Warwickshire Education Department, the Board of Education and the Board of Governors, respectively; what action was taken by each of these bodies and when; and what assurances have been obtained?

According to my information, the incident to which my hon. Friend refers was reported to His Majesty's Inspector on 25th September and was brought by him to the notice of the chairman of the governing body on 28th September. The matter was not, I understand, laid by the latter before the governing body, and I have no evidence to show when it first came to the knowledge of the local education authority, though it was communicated privately to the chairman of the County Council in June last. The Board formally asked the authority in an official letter on 26th November for an assurance that no repetition of the incident would be permitted to occur and this assurance was given on 3rd December. I would add that my Department has always discountenanced the dissemination in schools under their jurisdiction of views which are distinctive of any political party.

In fairness to the Board of Governors of the school, will my right hon. Friend say why this matter was not brought to their attention by the county authority at an earlier date, and is it in, the public interest that an attempt should be made to hush up a matter of this kind?

I agree that it would have been preferable for the matter to have been considered by the governing body at an earlier date, but I have to leave discretion in this matter to the chairman of the County Council. As regards the incident in general, I have asked for and received an assurance from the authority. In the circumstances I think we had better regard the matter as closed.

Is it not a fact that the headmistress allowed posters issued by the Junior Imperial League to be shown on the notice board, and is this not an indication of some sort of personal vendetta between the hon. Baronet the Member for Tamworth (Sir J. Mellor) and the head mistress?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has considered the representations of the Essex Education Committee concerning the calling-up for military service of Dr. J. W. Pickup, senior school medical officer for the county of Essex; and whether he will reconsider his decision not to request this officer's deferment?

The most careful consideration has been given to the committee's representations. I have been obliged to reach the decision to which the hon. Member refers in view of the medical man-power position. The staffing of the school medical service in Essex is stronger than in other comparable areas. I have also had to take into account the age group into which this officer falls, and the decision of the Central Medical War Committee on his case.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this officer has effective charge of the health of 120,000 school children; and, whatever the shortage of doctors, is not the health of children of paramount importance?

Yes, the health of the children is paramount; and I am glad to say that it has been looked after extraordinarily well, despite the very severe position in regard to medical man-power at the present time. I am in touch with the authority about the arrangements they are making to replace this able officer. I very much regret that we have had to adhere to this decision.

Will my right hon. Friend reconsider this matter? If the senior medical officer of a county education committee has to be called up, we have got to a very bad stage.

Is not the health of the troops in the field even more paramount?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the increasing practice of parents, as in Wiltshire, to break their undertakings with the education authorities and withdraw their children prematurely from secondary schools, thus sacrificing the children's interests, wasting the school places which other children might have taken, and upsetting the educational programmes of the authorities; and what action he proposes to take?

I am aware of and deprecate the tendency under war conditions for parents to withdraw their children prematurely from secondary schools. The main deterrent against this practice lies in the enforcement of school life agree- ments. I understand that, in the case of the particular school which my hon. Friend has in mind, the agreements were so drafted and executed as to make their enforcement impracticable.

Will my right hon. Friend invite the Postmaster-General to instruct his local officials to desist from attracting these boys away from secondary schools in order to employ them as post office clerks?

I shall certainly do my best to make the attractions of education so great that even those offered by my right horn Friend cannot prevail.

Will my right hon. Friend ask him to do what I have suggested?

Will my right hon Friend, in the interests of the children and in the national interest, broadcast to parents on the undesirability of withdrawing children from school before the proper time?

It depends partly on the agreements to which I have referred and partly on the appeal which the hon. Member mentioned. I will certainly keep the matter in mind.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in considering the claim of the medical insurance practitioners for an adequate capitation fee, he has taken or will take into consideration the extra work thrown on them by the extension of the panel scheme to black-coated workers and the diminution of their private practices owing to the claims imposed on them by the war effort?

Yes, Sir; all relevant facts have been taken into consideration.

Does my right hon. Friend not think that the medical profession have had a very raw deal, in view of the fact that their better-paying patients have diminished in number and their poorer-paying patients have increased? If they had been a bigger body, would they not have had more chance?

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases of non- pulmonary tuberculosis in the London area in 1938 and 1941; and the difference as a percentage?

The number of cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis notified in the County of London was 1,281 in 1938 and 903 in 1941, representing a decrease of 29.5 per cent. as between those two years.

asked the Minister of Health the number of deaths due to tuberculosis in children under 15 years of age in the London area in 1938 and 1941; and the difference as a percentage?

Deaths from tuberculosis among children under 15 years of age in the Administrative County of London numbered 197 in 1938 and 220 in 1941, the latter figure being 12 per cent. in excess of the former. The classification in each case is based upon the rules adopted in 1940, following the Fifth Decennial Revision of the International List of Causes of Death.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement on the character of the representations made to him by medical authorities and welfare workers as to the best means to combat venereal disease?

I have received representations from a number of medical and welfare organisations recommending some form of compulsory treatment, particularly for known sources of infection. Some welfare organisations have opposed compulsion and have called for an expansion of treatment facilities, social work, and education of the public, all of which have been and are being expanded.

asked the Minister of Health whether, within his knowledge, any investigation has been made by any competent authority into the use of H.11 Extract in the treatment of cancer?

The only way in which it is possible for such a treatment to be investigated is for the records of all patients who have been submitted to treatment to be published and laid open to criticism and investigation by the medical profession. One such publication has already been made, in "Medical Press and Circular," 23rd April, 1941—"Anti-growth Substances in the Treatment of Cancer"—and I understand that another publication is in course of preparation.

Is it not a fact that the British Empire Cancer Campaign has a special investigation committee investigating every new form of treatment, and that it has gone very thoroughly into all the new methods brought before it?

asked the Minister of Health what investigation is being made as to the effect of diet upon fertility in human beings?

I am not aware of any such investigation in progress.

Will my right hon. Friend not initiate investigations of this kind?

Will the right hon. Gentleman have regard to the wider application of this Question to cover herds, and also note the herd mentality behind the Question?

There is another Hird—h, i, r, d.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the difficulty being experienced by officers and their wives in getting accommodation at reasonable rates in London, owing to the higher rents being offered by Allied Forces; and whether he will consider strengthening existing machinery by limiting rents of all houses and flats to the rents paid on 1st January, 1940, except where increases in the landlords' costs can be proved?

I have no evidence of any special difficulty arising from the cause to which my hon. Friend refers, but I will look at once into any complaint which he may care to bring to my notice. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I recently gave to a Question on the subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing (Sir F. Sanderson). I am sending him a copy of that reply, together with a copy of my recent circular to local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will extend the protection of the Rent Restrictions Acts at present applied to houses within the Metropolitan Police area, and of a rateable value not exceeding £100, to cover the home counties, in order to stop profiteering in this type of property?

I have no evidence which shows that the existing difference in limits leads to any serious anomalies and I do not consider, therefore, that the action suggested by my hon. Friend would be justified. I am, however, grateful to him for bringing a particular case to my attention. I am looking into this, and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a far greater grievance against tenants who, sublet than there is against landlords?

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that this is a very real difficulty for officers stationed in London? If a case is brought to his attention, will he take severe action against the landlord responsible?

Rents of houses and flats of the value of £100 and under are controlled in the London area.

Apart from rents of £100 and under, will my right hon. Friend take steps in the case of all houses and all flats?

My answer covers that point.

If the right hon. Gentleman does take action, will he see that it applies also to furnished flats?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Scott and Uthwatt Reports both urge a review of the existing rating and valuation machinery and, in view of this, as the publication of the Departmental Committee's Report on Valuation for Rates is an essential preliminary to the consideration of these matters, will he reconsider his decision in regard to their publication?

I have again considered my hon. Friend's suggestion, but see no reason to depart from the answer which I gave him and to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow (Mr. Norman Bower) on 10th November.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the keen desire that the Reports should be published, and will he consider doing so?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that one of the main reasons which gave rise to the alleged hardship among certain classes of ratepayers examined by the Departmental Committee on Valuation for Rates was due to the fact that the demand for houses available for letting was far in excess of the supply; and what he proposes to do to relieve the position?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on 19th November last, during the Debate on the Address, from which he will see that I fully appreciate the hardship caused to large sections of the community by the shortage of houses due to the war and that I am anxious that the building of new houses should be resumed immediately circumstances permit.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now come to any decision as to the steps he is prepared to take in order to alleviate the shortage of houses at Slough?

No, Sir, but the difficulties to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers have been, and are still being, discussed by my officers with the local authority directly concerned and the authorities of adjoining areas. I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that I have not overlooked my promise to discuss the whole question with him as soon as my inquiries have been completed.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give a date upon which he will discuss this matter? The position is very urgent in Slough. It is appalling how the workers are overcrowded.

I am hoping to see my hon. and gallant Friend quite soon.

Will the right hon. Gentleman also see what can be done about the Yorkshire people?

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the acute housing shortage prevailing in certain of the outer London areas and the difficulty being experienced by war-workers and others in finding satisfactory accommodation, he will consider modifying his present policy and authorising the local authorities in the areas concerned to reduce the quota of empty houses which they are compelled to keep for people who may be bombed out in the future?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to a similar Question by the hon. Member for North Tottenham (Mr. R. C. Morrison) on 21st May. If my hon. Friend will inform me of the names of the particular areas which he has in mind I shall be glad to investigate the situation in detail.

This position is much more acute than my right hon. Friend appears to realise. Cannot he do something to shorten the period of discussion and come down to decisions?

I will do so as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to extend the provisions of the Rent Restrictions Act so as to provide protection against exorbitant rents to tenants of furnished premises?

I would refer my hon. Friend to Sections 9 and 10 of the Rent Restrictions Act, 1920, and to the First Schedule to the Act of 1939, and to the circulars, of which I am sending him copies, in which I have asked local authorities to make full use of these powers.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that when tenants of furnished flats complain to the local authorities they are given notice to quit and the local authorities have no power to protect them in any way? Will he consider the matter?

I could not accept that general statement of fact. Local authorities have power to prosecute those charging exorbitant rents. They have been active and taken my advice in a large number of cases. I set up a small subcommittee to deal specially with the matter, and a large number of cases have been investigated. Many rents have been reduced by negotiation, and in the majority of cases where prosecution has been necessary penalties have been imposed.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether tenants have been given notice to quit the premises because of information furnished to the local authority?

I should like particulars of any such cases.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that whereas the City of London is regarded as a danger zone for the carrying out of fire-watching duties at night, the city of Westminster, which was almost equally badly bombed, is not so considered; and, on behalf of the women fire-watchers who have been compelled to do duty in the dangerous area of Westminster, will he consider the amendment of this Order to ensure that women will not be asked to do fire-watching until all available men have been utilised?

The special Compulsory Enrolment Order for the City of London, which applies only to men, was made because having regard to the extremely small resident population it was necessary to require persons working in the City to do fire-guard duty in any part of it even though they lived outside. I cannot say in advance what areas will be the subject of special schemes under the new Order, but in all areas women will not be required to do fire prevention duties at premises where they work until all available men who work at those premises are doing the full amount of duties for which they are liable.

Does not my right hon. Friend consider that it is both expedient and wise that all districts, as far as practicable, should be treated alike and that where there are men available no women should be called upon to serve?

I have already informed my hon. Friend that, if men are available, women will not be called upon to serve, but it is difficult for me to lay down any dictum that all districts should be treated alike, because unfortunately very few districts are alike.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the efficiency of street fire parties in London will be seriously weakened if all the experienced street fire party leaders and street captains are compulsorily taken away to do ordinary fire-watching in business premises elsewhere; and whether he will therefore arrange that they are not withdrawn from their special duties for this different purpose, especially as Circular 158/42, issued by his Department, describes them as the basis of the whole fire guard organisation?

I attach great importance to the efficient organisation of street fire parties through party leaders and street captains, and the point raised by my hon. Friend is being considered in connection with the pending changes in the Fire Prevention Orders.

asked the Home Secretary how many of the chairmen or members of the Advisory Committees dealing with detention under Regulation 18b have tendered their resignation, resulting from the non-acceptance of the advice tendered?

None, Sir.

In view of the apparent lack of confidence of the right hon. Gentleman in these chairmen of Advisory Committees, will he take steps to remedy the position?

I cannot see the point of my hon. Friend's Question.

The right hon. Gentleman must be well aware that he has frequently disagreed with the advice of his Advisory Committees and, therefore, presumably he has not sufficient confidence in them.

My hon. Friend and I often disagree, but it does not prevent us from talking to each other.

asked the Home Secretary whether before, and since, the introduction of the 48/24 hour scheme, statistics are kept of the incidence of sickness among members of the fire service; and can he give figures in this connection comparing them with the rate before that scheme was introduced and the known rate of sickness among the general public?

The 48/24 hour duty system has been introduced gradually and in some areas only very recently. No statistics at present available would form a reliable basis for a comparison such as my hon. Friend suggests, but the point is one which will be watched.

If the right hon. Gentleman cannot take a census of all the sickness before and after the introduction of this scheme, would he be good enough to select six or 12 stations and make comparisons between the incidence of sickness now and before the introduction of the 48/24 hour scheme?

I have said that the matter will be watched, and I will consider that point. We have some records, but they are not fully conclusive, though they are rather interesting.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that an issue of uniform clothing is now being made to young women performing telephone duties in the National Fire Service for 48 hours per month; and whether he proposes to continue such issue?

Yes, Sir. The scale of issue laid down for part-time women in the National Fire Service allows for the issue of one set of uniform. On recent reconsideration of the matter I have issued instructions that newly recruited part-time women should not be given uniform until they have undergone training, established their usefulness, and have given an indication that they will remain in the Service.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask whether he really thinks that the best utilisation of our resources is to supply these heavy uniforms for young women?

I think it is desirable that in a fine service a high degree of esprit de corps and discipline should be maintained, and I think uniforms are conducive to that.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any complaint about the London Telephone Service, which seems to get on quite well in ordinary clothes?

I have no complaint about the London Telephone Service, but a lot of other people have.

asked the Home Secretary the number of full-time Civil Defence workers on the latest convenient date who had been notified to the Ministry of Labour as available for transfer to other occupations but who had not at that time left the Civil Defence services; and what was the average number of weeks since such notification had been made?

I regret that the information is not available in the precise form desired by my hon. Friend. Approximately five-sixths of the programme of transfer from the Civil Defence General Services to His Majesty's Forces, or to industry, had, however, been completed at the end of October.

Would the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to give an assurance that he will review the situation personally in three or four weeks' time?

Yes, Sir. I do review it from time to time. The responsibility for transfer is on the Ministry of Labour, but I will keep informed on the matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the average weekly increase in the wages of agricultural labourers now as compared with 3rd September, 1939?

The average of the weekly minimum county rates for men fixed under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Acts has increased by 25s. 3d. since 3rd September, 1939. The average increase in actual wages and earnings has probably been higher than this, but statistics are not available of the actual wages paid.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is taking steps to ensured the utilisation of grass cut on all aerodromes as dried grass for stock thereby both saving shipping tonnage and aiding increased milk production?

Arrangements have been made with the Air Ministry for contact to be made locally between station commanders and the county war agricultural executive committees, whereby the latter assume responsibility for the use of suitable parts of aerodromes as arable, or as grass for hay, silage or drying.

Can my right hon. Friend tell me whether any of this grass—a most valuable food—has already been dried and utilised for cattle feeding?

I could not say without notice.

If I put a Question down, may I have a reply later?

I doubt it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is satisfied that foxes are being as rapidly and economically exterminated by foxhunting as they are by any other method; and, if not, whether he will instruct masters of foxhounds that they must either show better results or cease to operate during wartime?

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir;" the second part does not, therefore, arise.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the figures given by masters of foxhounds themselves show that this method is uneconomical? Will he inquire into these figures?

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that where foxes have been exterminated, the rat population, in many cases, has very much increased?

Will the right hon. Gentleman give me an answer? If not, in view of the unsatisfactory state of affairs, I must give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

I have had no complaint, but if the hon. Member has any specific complaint, perhaps he will let me know.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in connection with the milk recording scheme, which is to be introduced in 1943, he will make every endeavour to get 20,000 new milk recording herds; and, with a view to ensuring success and greater production, consider giving a higher price per gallon to those who adopt the milk recording scheme and maintain a high average of milk per cow?

The new scheme will be administered by the Milk Marketing Board. Every endeavour will be made to bring before dairy farmers the advantages of making full use of the extended facilities for recording the yields of their cows. As regards the second part of the, Question, I do not feel able to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion. The increased production and the saving of feeding-stuffs which should result from the adoption of milk recording will bring their own reward.

Does my right hon. Friend realise how much I want to help him? Further, does he realise how difficult it is to do so, because in all his schemes there is a financial restriction which does not encourage farmers to produce?

The whole object of this scheme was to encourage, farmers to produce more milk.

It is very difficult to help my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the average wheat yield per acre from land cultivated respectively by county war agricultural committees and by private farmers, and Essex in particular; and what is the total acreage in each case?