asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the scheme for the rationalisation of the mineral water industry during the period of the war will need a statutory order or regulation to bring it into force?

No, Sir.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food can he now make a statement on whether, to help the distributors, he proposes after the new year further to control the sale of dead poultry?

No, Sir. I regret that I am not in a position to make a statement such as my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether Icelandic trawlers have agreed to discharge their cargoes at East Coast ports under the new Fish Distributive Zoning Scheme?

An agreement has been reached with the Icelandic Government for a partial change in the ports of landing, in the United Kingdom, of Icelandic trawlers, and it is anticipated that the Icelandic vessels now fishing will land their catches in accordance with the new arrangements.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the minimum size limit for the sale of sea fish has been raised from seven inches, the size limit fixed in Statutory Rules and Orders, 1942, No. 957, to nine inches, the size specified in Statutory Rules and Orders, 1942, No. 2102, for reasons of marketing and trade or from a desire to protect the fishing grounds from being unduly depleted?

The minimum length below which certain classes of fish may not be offered for sale for human consumption was increased from seven inches to nine inches chiefly because of the limited food value and the difficulties entailed in marketing these small fish. The operation of the amended Order is being carefully watched.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that there is at present a great demand, especially in the large industrial areas in the North, for flat fish which weigh from four to five to the pound; and whether he will consider meeting this demand for cheap sea fish by permitting the sale of flat fish from eight inches in length upwards?

While there may be some measure of food value in certain species of flat fish of eight inches in length, my Noble Friend does not consider that this constitutes sufficient ground for relaxing the existing Regulation which prescribes a general minimum limit of nine inches for fish which may be offered for human consumption.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that wholesale fish merchants in Manchester, who formerly received supplies from other ports, are not receiving a fair share of either quality or quantity from Fleetwood; and will be take the necessary steps to remedy this, including opening Milford Haven to Manchester, as there is a surplus supply at this port?

From the information available to my Department it would appear that the Manchester market during the first six weeks of the operation of the Distribution Scheme received its appropriate share of the total quantity of fish landed during that same period. As this market is now restricted to supplies from one port it may not now be getting such a wide variety of fish as under conditions of free sale but this restriction is a necessary accompaniment of the economy in transport which the scheme has achieved. I regret that I am unable to adopt the suggestion made for extending the sources of supply to the Manchester market.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what was the reason for selecting nine inches as the minimum size limit for the sale of sea fish, in view of the fact that flat fish such as plaice, dabs and flounders have a definite food value between eight and nine inches in length?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his other Question on this matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food under what authority the London Fish Distribution Committee, of Subscription Rooms, Billingsgate Market, E.C.3, is constituted; and what powers this committee possesses to transfer the customers of one fish-salesman to another?

I would refer the hon. Member to the provisions of Articles 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the Fish (Distribution) Order, 1942, Statutory Rules and Orders, 1942, No. 1982.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether it is the practice of bacon factories to slaughter pigs immediately on arrival; and, if not, are the pigs fed and properly cared for pending slaughter?

It is one of the conditions under which pigs are purchased by bacon curers that they shall be slaughtered as soon as possible after delivery, and I am satisfied that in general pigs are slaughtered without any undue delay after their arrival at bacon factories.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what percentage of hogs going through collecting centres go to the bacon factories and what to the Government slaughterhouses?

Excluding sows and boars, about 80 per cent. of the total pigs passing through collecting centres have been sent to bacon factories in recent weeks. The remainder has been sent to Government slaughter-houses.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what percentage of pigs travel in each of the distances in a table recently issued by the Ministry of Food, giving the revised allowances for transit shrinkage for pigs?

In the short time available since my hon. Friend put down his Question, it has not been possible to obtain precise figures. The following percentages, however, show the approximate proportions for the five weeks ended 31st October, 1942:—

Distance.		Per cent.
Under 50 miles	…	77
50–70 miles	…	9
70–90 miles	…	6
90–110 miles	…	5
110–130 miles	…	under 3
130–150 miles	…
150–170 miles	…
Over 170 miles	…	under ½

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, why he authorised the Lambeth and Brixton food controller to order the governor of Brixton Prison to prevent persons detained there under Regulation 18B from obtaining any greater proportion of their full quota of rationed foods than is included in the punitive diet limited to 4s. 11d. per week for convicted persons; and whether, in view of the fact that such an order runs contrary to the conditions of detention for persons under Regulation 18B as set out in Command Paper 6162, he will take early steps to regulate the matter?

The action taken by the Lambeth Food Executive Officer to which my hon. Friend refers was not the result of any specific instruction issued from my Department. On becoming aware of his action, however, my Department informed him that my Noble Friend did not, despite the technical breach of the rationing regulations involved, wish to raise any objection, subject to prison regulations, to persons detained under Regulation 18B receiving gifts of rationed foods from their families and friends. The food executive officer thereupon dealt with the matter accordingly. The regulations under which action was taken have since been formally amended.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that there is much unnecessary consumption of alcoholic and soft-drinks because of the practice at hotels and restaurants of making it difficult for guests to obtain drinking water so as to compel them to order paid-for drinks; and will he by regulation compel such establishments to supply drinking water on all tables where lunches and dinners are served, or if shortage of jugs makes that impossible, to supply water on central tables visible and accessible to all guests?

My Noble Friend sees no occasion for the making of an Order such as my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the amount of all capital expenditure in respect of building work for British Restaurants reimbursed to local authorities by his Ministry is repayable to the Ministry at the rate of three per cent. per quarter; and whether due repayment has, so far, been made?

Local authorities are instructed to charge such prices for meals at British Restaurants as will cover all running costs and provide in addition for the amortisation of capital expenditure at the rate of 3 per cent. per quarter. The allowance for amortisation forms part of the gross trading profits, and, since these are at the disposal of the Ministry, capital expenditure reimbursed initially by the Ministry will be recovered automatically at the rate of 3 per cent. per quarter in the case of all British Restaurants the profits on which are equal to or exceed the amortisation charge. In any case where the surplus on a local authority's British Restaurant trading account is insufficient to provide the full amount required for the amortisation of the capital expenditure at the prescribed rate the local authority concerned is under no legal obligation to make good the balance out of its own revenues. But in suitable cases the local authority concerned, would be urged by the Ministry to reduce its operating costs and, if necessary, to increase the prices charged for meals so as to provide a gross trading profit sufficient to meet the full amount required for amortisation. No repayments have so far been made by local authorities; recoveries will not begin until the final reimbursements of capital expenditure have been made by the Ministry after the audit of local authorities' claims.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Planning what sum has been permitted by his Ministry to be spent upon repairs and decoration to No. 3, Avenue Road, Penge, S.E.20; and for what purpose these premises will be used?

No permission has been given by my Department for the execution of any work on this property, which I understand is to be used for social purposes.

asked the Minister of Health how many deaths from small-pox were registered in 1941 and the ages of the fatal cases?

No death from smallpox was registered in England and Wales during 1941.

asked the Minister of Health how many death certificates were received during the year 1941 on which vaccination, vaccinia, or other sequelae of vaccination were entered as the cause of death, and the ages of the victims?

Six deaths were registered in England and Wales during 1941 in respect of which the causes were certified as vaccination, vaccinia or other sequelae of vaccination. The sexes and ages of the deceased were three males aged five months, 19 years and 30 years, and three females aged nine weeks, five months and two years. In addition, inquiries resulted in one other death certified as due to meningo-encephalitis being classed to vaccinia. The deceased was a male aged 29 years.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will investigate the case, of which he has been told, in which the County of London Insurance Committee has informed insured persons that, in the absence of their own doctor and of any specified locum tenens, they cannot obtain treatment from a National Health insurance practitioner who is not a member of the Protection of Practices Scheme conducted by the British Medical Association; and is he aware that some insured persons have had to wait some months before getting treatment from the practitioner of their choice and have, in the meantime, had to pay private fees for medical attention near their homes?

I am informed that insured persons on the lists of absentee practitioners who are participants in the London Protection of Practices Scheme are not directed to go to any particular doctor, but are informed that they can apply to other participating doctors the nearer of whom are named. Doctors who participate in the scheme and are on service have agreed to accept other participating doctors as their deputies during absence, and the regulations provide that an insured person on the list of a practitioner who has appointed a deputy can transfer to another practitioner only at the end of a quarter and after a prescribed length of notice, except where the former practitioner agrees to an earlier transfer.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has authorised local authorities to requisition houses which have become vacant due to damage by enemy action where the owner neglects to carry out temporary repairs?

Local authorities already possess ample powers under the Repair of War Damage Act, 1941, for the repair of war-damaged housing accommodation: the exercise of requisitioning powers for this purpose is not, therefore, necessary. I have delegated to clerks of local authorities my powers under the Defence Regulations of requisitioning unoccupied houses required for the accommodation of evacuees, war workers, or persons rendered homeless by enemy action, and it is open to the clerks to exercise these powers in respect of war damaged houses which have been repaired.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the many negotiations in real estate now taking place in which land is being sold for three or more times its pre-war value; and, in view of the disquiet this is causing and its effect on post-war housing and rents, he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The whole question is being considered by the Government in the fight of the Uthwatt Report.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Planning why he has authorised a charge of 1s. 6d. per ton on all cement; from what date does such increase in price operate; and whether additional charges have been authorised upon any other building materials?

The addition of 1s. 6d. per ton, which applies only to Portland and-rapid hardening cement, took effect as from 27th August last and was authorised on account of increases in production costs. My Noble Friend has not, since the date mentioned, authorised increased selling prices of any other materials controlled by the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he gave approval to the action of the East Riding Agricultural Committee in dispossessing Mr. W. E. Cook, Broadgate Farm, Walkington, East Yorks, from his holding in order that the farm might be farmed by a son of a member of the agricultural committee of the name of J. V. Huzzard?

My consent to the application of the East Riding War Agricultural Executive to terminate Mr. Cook's tenancy was given because the holding was not being cultivated according to the rules of good husbandry. The landlord submitted the name of Mr. J. V. Huzzard to the Executive Committee for approval as the new tenant. After making careful inquiries regarding the condition of another farm occupied by Mr. Huzzard, the Committee approved of his becoming the tenant of Broadgate Farm. Mr. Huzzard, Senr., is not a member of the executive committee, but is the secretary of the Beverley district committee.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the shortage of expert thatchers of corn stacks; and what steps he is taking to train new men?

I realise that the large increase in the acreage of land under cereals calls for additional skilled thatchers. County War Agricultural Executive Committees recognise the demand and are making such arrangements as are practicable in their respective areas to meet it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is satisfied that all the Italian prisoners of war that he requires will be placed at his disposal for agricultural work?

A programme for bringing over more Italian prisoners in 1943 has been provisionally arranged, but it is not certain how many can, in fact, be transported. The majority of those already here are working on the land, but I shall be able to make use of as many more as can be made available.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why Vincent Furlong was placed in charge of important Admiralty stores two months after his release from prison; whether any inquiries were made about him previous to his appointment; whether the police communicated with his Department; and whether, in view of the loss of £3,000 of the nation's property, any disciplinary measures have been taken against those responsible for this appointment?

Vincent Furlong assumed responsibility for important stores for the first time in August, 1941, after 10 months' continuous service in the Department, during which he had shown marked ability for the work. Before his entry as a labourer, in October, 1940, all the usual inquiries were made, including reference to the local police authorities; but nothing to Furlong's detriment was revealed. Most of the misappropriated stores have been recovered, and the value of what has been lost is not £3,000, but about £350. I am satisfied that the Officer responsible for the engagement of Furlong took all the precautions that he could reasonably be expected to take, and that no disciplinary action is necessary in this case.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty in how many canteens for which his Department is responsible are alcoholic beverages supplied; and whether he is sponsoring the effort to secure such supply to the hostels of the Marine Friends?

There are approximately 300 beer bars in naval establishments in the United Kingdom. No representations to afford assistance of the kind mentioned in the latter part of the Question have come to my notice.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps he is taking to deal with officials guilty of carelessness which has resulted in several lives being lost through the explosion of explosive pipes?

The incident to which my hon. Friend refers is at present the subject of inquiry, the result of which I will communicate to him in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the large number of accidents, involving fatal injuries in which drivers of Army vehicles are concerned; and what steps he proposes to take to reduce the number of cases?

My information is that the number of accidents, involving fatal injuries, in which Army drivers are concerned has substantially decreased during the past year, while the standard of Army driving has much improved. By intensive training, strict discipline and incentive to care we shall hope to carry this improvement further.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that, in these days of reduced transport at night, service men and women on leave or joining up have decent sleeping accommodation available for them at the chief stations at which many only arrive late at night?

Decent sleeping accommodation for Service men is provided at or very near some 70 of the railway stations which they use most and at or close by some 45 for Service women. When a more or less permanent change in the direction of troop traffic creates a need of the same order at a new station, accommodation is provided there. There are other stations where troops are stranded occasionally, but the provision of dormitories at these could not be justified in the present shortage of labour and materials. There are, however, hostels providing beds in most of the larger towns.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the general price of beer in the Middle East is about 4s. a pint; and what is the price when sold by Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes?

I was not aware that the general price of beer in the Middle East was as high as 4s. a pint, but I am glad to be able to tell my hon. and gallant Friend that Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes prices, at any rate, are much lower, ranging from about 8d. to 1s. 6d. a pint.

asked the Secretary of State for War, in view of the fact that such volumes as the Penguin series cost 3s. 6d. in Palestine, whether Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes are permitted to sell these books and, if so, at what price?

Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes do not sell Penguin books in Palestine, but arrangements exist for then supply to units both at home and overseas from the Services Central Book Depot on very reasonable terms. Under this scheme large numbers of such books have been sent to Middle East for distribution to Palestine among other places.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what are the reasons for demanding from coastguards and auxiliary coastguards 18 clothing coupons for battle-dress, overcoat, cap and boots and a further four coupons for winter comforts, comprising balaclava helmet, scarf and gloves; and whether, in view of the fact that uniform is compulsory and is supplied by his Department, he will issue instructions that no further coupons will be demanded, thus placing the coastguards and auxiliary coastguards on the same footing as the other Armed Forces?

I have been asked to reply. Unlike members of the Forces, coastguards and auxiliary coastguards receive a civilian ration book to cover all their clothing requirements. For their uniform they give up coupons at the same reduced rate as members of the Civil Defence services.

asked the Postmaster General whether he is aware that letters and newspapers despatched by sea mail to India are arriving more quickly than air mail letters; and as this is not conducive to improving the morale of the troops, and in most cases the cost of airborne mail is a considerable hardship for a soldier's family, will he cause an investigation to be made to remedy this state of affairs?

The time of transmission of letters and newspapers sent by surface route to India varies between somewhat wide limits as the ships conveying the mails are liable for security reasons to be detained or diverted en route; but the average transit time from port to port is at present about 10 weeks. Owing to the limited amount of aircraft accommodation available for mail transport between this country and Africa, ordinary air mail letters for India, as for the Middle East, have to be conveyed by sea over that portion of the route; and the time of transmission, which is subject to variations due to sea transport conditions to which I have referred and to occasional delays due to congestion of urgent priority traffic on the onward air services, is on an average about 7½ weeks. A reduction in the admittedly high air postage on this relatively heavy type of correspondence would increase the weight of the mails, and, consequently the difficulty in arranging for their conveyance by air over the latter part of their journey. I share to the full my hon. and gallant Friend's opinion as to the importance of providing a cheap and speedy means of communicating with the Forces and I have been able with the co-operation of the other Departments concerned to provide an airgraph service to the Forces in India at a cost of only 3d., and, more recently, to introduce the light-weight air letter service for which the charge is 6d. Airgraphs, because of the lightness of the films, are invariably, and air letters are normally carried all the way by air; and these two services thus provide a much cheaper and speedier form of communication than the ordinary air mail letter.

asked the Postmaster-General whether letters addressed to prisoners of war in Japanese hands, through the Red Cross Society or otherwise, are now being received by the prisoners?

Mails containing letters for British prisoners of war in Japanese hands, posted in accordance with the instructions given in the leaflet obtainable at Post Offices, have been despatched as opportunity offered since July, 1942. Some months would inevitably elapse before the letters could reach their destination and I regret I have no information whether any letters have actually been delivered. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs is having inquiry made in the matter through the Protecting Power.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank and the aggregate amounts of their deposits as at 8th January, 1943?

The number of depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank at the 8th of January, 1943, was approximately 16,250,000 and the aggregate' balance due to them was £1,011,500,000 in round figures.

asked the Attorney-General the number of holders of justices' on-licences appointed to the Commission of the Peace in each of the last 10 years; and the nature of any bar, statutory or non-statutory, which operates against the appointment of such licence holders to the Commission of the Peace?

It is not possible to state the number of holders of justices' on-licences appointed to the Commission of the Peace in each of the last 10 years. The number so appointed is, however, very small indeed. The holder of such a licence is debarred from part of the functions of a magistrate by Section 40 of the Licensing (Consolidation) Act, 1910, and whilst there is no complete statutory bar, it has been for many years a practice for the Lord Chancellor not to make such appointments, save in the most exceptional circumstances. The occupation of a licensed victualler is one amongst others which successive Lord Chancellors have felt not to be suitably combined with the position of a magistrate.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will give further consideration to a case, details of which have been furnished to him, in which an appeal is made, supported by medical authority, for the release of the wife of an invalid officer employed by the Czechoslovak Central Government in London?

The application for the discharge of this airwoman from the W.A.A.F. has been sympathetically considered. I regret that the circumstances of the case do not justify her release but a compassionate posting to a unit in London has been arranged.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many elementary and secondary schools, respectively, have been destroyed or seriously damaged by enemy action?

970 public elementary schools and 133 secondary schools including non-grant-aided efficient schools have been destroyed or seriously damaged.

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production what positions in his Department are held by Marion Stormonth and Joan Dickinson; and what are their qualifications?

Mrs. Stormonth was released from my Department for duties with a firm of propeller manufacturers last November at their request. This release was made only because it was considered she could utilise her qualifications more advantageously with the firm. Miss Dickinson is employed in a junior executive capacity in my Department to which she was promoted as the result of the good work that she had done as part of my staff at an engine manufacturers factory. She has proved herself fully qualified for the duties she is performing.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the growing importance of the fishing industry, he will consider separating the fisheries section of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries from the agricultural and making two Departments?

I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that there is already a separate Fisheries Department within the Ministry of Agriculture. The appointment of a separate Minister would not be justified.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can give an assurance that all persons employed in the Civil Service in Press and Public Relations positions who previously held posts with advertising concerns have relinquished all financial interests in those concerns?

I have been asked to reply. The principles regulating the appointment to posts in Government Departments during the war of individuals with interests in outside industry, etc., are set out in a Treasury Circular, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. Every individual with active business interests to whom it is proposed to offer official appointment is required to state fully and precisely the extent of his business interests and the degree to which he proposes to retain them after appointment. The employing Department must then consider whether the retention of these interests is compatible with the official duties to be assigned and whether it is practicable or desirable to lay down any particular conditions as to the conduct of these duties. As circumstances vary greatly from case to case, no fixed rules can be laid down and it is the responsibility of employing Departments, in the light of the general principles set out for their guidance, to satisfy themselves on any particular case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what considerations were held to justify the decision to expend materials, labour and £35,000 of public money on the building of temporary hutments as office accommodation for the evacuated civil servants who are to be removed from Bromsgrove School house, so as to permit of the return of the school from its present accommodation in Wales?

The decision in question was taken after careful consideration of representations made by the school to the appropriate Departments. In those representations the decline in pupils and the financial difficulties consequent on the prolonged evacuation were set out, and it was indicated that, failing an early return to Bromsgrove, the existence of the school would be in serious jeopardy.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of persons in the employment of his Department; and how many are of military age?

The total number of staff employed in my Department at 1st January, 1943, is 4,647. Of these, 339 are men of military age—just over 7 per cent. of the total: this figure includes those officers in low medical category and those totally unfit for service in the Forces.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give any information in connection with two men who were killed in East Ham on 20th December when they fell from a gas-holder that they were repairing?

I understand that the suspended platform on which these two men were working collapsed owing to one of the suspending ropes coming loose at the top. The coroner stated that there was no evidence as to how it came loose.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps are being taken to ensure an adequate supply of accumulators being available for replacement in private motor cars used for essential services?

No evidence has come to the notice of the Ministry of Supply of any inadequacy of supplies of accumulators for replacement in private motor cars used for essential services. Requests for specific makes of accumulators may hot always be satisfied readily, but alternative makes, to the appropriate specification, size, etc., and suitable for the same purpose, are, in general, available.

asked the Minister without Portfolio when, and in what form, was the decision published that the Report of the Beveridge Committee would be the report of the chairman alone?

While there have at times been references in this House to the Report as that of Sir William Beveridge, I find that no specific announcement of the decision was made before the publication the Report on 1st December last.

asked the Minister without Portfolio whether he is now in a position to make any statement in regard to Government plans for the reinstatement and resettlement of discharged and demobilised men and women?

As regards resettlement I am unable at present to add to the statement which I made in the course of the Debate on the Address on 1st December last. In regard to reinstatement, which is primarily the concern of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service, I understand that he will be dealing with this matter in answer to a Question to-morrow.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power on what principles allowances of extra petrol are made; and whether returning home by motor-car for a midday meal, thus doubling the number of daily journeys, is treated as a permissible use of petrol by any class of the community?

Allowances for travelling by private car are intended only for genuine needs, which do not generally include return home for a midday meal.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that not more than 50 per cent. of the paper contained in Fuel Efficiency Bulletin No. 7 is printed upon; and when re-issuing this document will be eliminate this waste?

Apart from the printed cover of the bulletins, there is only a portion of the last page which does not contain printed matter. Moreover, in the interests of economy, only small type has been used. It was thought desirable that the bulletin should have a durable cover, as it will, I hope, be constantly consulted by the fuel watcher as he makes his tours of the factory. I have arranged, however, that any reprints of this bulletin shall not have the printed cover.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that the voluntary transport service in Birmingham has ceased to function owing to the petrol allowance being discontinued and, in consequence, many men and we men on leave from the Forces are stranded each evening at the leading Birmingham railway stations; and will he sanction further supplies forthwith?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the hardship during winter nights occasioned to men and women of the Forces by the withdrawal from the Birmingham section of the voluntary transport service of permission to receive petrol coupons for night transport services from railway stations; and whether he will authorise the reinstatement of these services?

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War and I promised, on 6th October and 10th November, respectively, the discontinuance of the "Get-You-Home Service" has been reviewed. It has been decided, however, that allowances for this service are no longer warranted, in view of the need for petrol economy. This decision applies to the country as a whole and I can find no reason for a departure from it in the case of Birmingham.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he can give details of why the Government decided to take over the Nottingham and Clifton Colliery; whether it had been badly managed; who will be the new manager; how many men were employed at the pit below and on the top; the number of tons of coal produced weekly; whether it is house coal or steam coal; what rate of pay will the men get working below ground and on the top; will they be paid weekly; and what amount of compensation was paid to the owners?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what reasons made it necessary to acquire the shares of the Clifton Colliery, Nottingham, in addition to the assumption of management?

In order to keep the Clifton Colliery in production and safeguard supplies essential to the city of Nottingham, certain trading losses of this company had been met from public funds since September, 1941. On 4th November, 1942, an authorised controller was appointed under Defence Regulation 55 whose duty it was to endeavour, by improvements in management and mining practice, to secure the maximum output in return for the continuing expenditure of public moneys in carrying on this undertaking. At the same time, Mr. J. T. Dixon was appointed as manager of the company. Effective control could not, however, be secured while there existed an issue of debentures (with arrears of interest) whose holders were entitled at any time to appoint a Receiver and thus render the authorised controller powerless to act. I therefore decided, with the consent of the Treasury, to make an Order under Defence Regulation 78 transferring the shares in the company to my nominees. The replies to the further detailed questions by the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. Thorne) are as follow:

The number of men employed is about 425 underground and about 120 on the surface. The weekly production is about 3,300 tons. The coal produced is mainly steam coal for industrial purposes. The men receive wages fixed in accordance with the Nottingham District Agreement and are being paid weekly as heretofore. The amount payable to the former shareholders will, in accordance with the provisions of Defence Regulation 78, be assessed by the Treasury.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that shortage of coal for household consumers is not always the result of shortage of supplies; that it arises on occasions because dealers cannot retain enough men to deliver coal; that coal deliverers, in the nature of their employment, are prone to a heavy rate of sickness and absence; and will he consult with the Ministry of Labour to see that enough men are available to carry on this necessary task, especially during winter months?

Yes, Sir. I have been in consultation with my right hon. Friend and the scope of the Essential Work Order has been extended to meet the situation.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he intends taking to lay down more strictly what is an essential journey, in view of the fact that Mr. Cope, a turf accountant, was recently acquitted on a charge of causing motor fuel to be unlawfully used for a journey from London to Newmarket for the St. Leger, on the ground that he was on an essential journey, having missed his train at Liverpool Street, and his firm having commitments of £300,000 or more on the St. Leger?

None, Sir. Neither the charge nor the Court's decision involved any interpretation of the term "essential journey."

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in districts where pit ponies are still used extensively, adequate supplies of fodder are made available for them?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the reasons for the accidents to horses in the mines of South Wales which caused death and unfitness for work at the rate of one in every five in 1942: and whether he is satisfied with the present arrangements to reduce the numbers of these accidents.

The chief causes of the fatal and the more serious accidents to horses are falls of roof and haulage mishaps resulting in the trams getting out of control; the figures include, however, a large number of less serious accidents in the shape of cuts, bruises and sprains. The Inspectors of Mines give constant attention to the conditions of the haulage roads and to the prevention of accidents on these roads whether to horses or to the persons employed.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what are the main causes of the high annual rates of injuries to boys under 16 years of age employed below ground in mines; the reasons which have still further increased the rates of injuries in 1940 and 1941; and if there are any reasons to account for the injuries to boys under 16 years of age in the mines of the northern division being twice as high as those employed in the mines of Scotland?

Most of these accidents occur on the haulage roads, where the great majority of the boys are employed; exceptionally in South Wales most of the boys are employed at or near the working face and most of the accidents are due to falls of ground. The rise in the non-fatal accident rates in 1940–1941 was general and not confined to boys, and is considered to have been due to complex effects of the war. The high accident rate in the North of England as compared with Scotland is mainly due to differences in the systems of haulage and the conditions of the haulage roads, differences which have had their origin in different geological conditions and different customary methods of work.

asked the Minister of Production what steps have been taken to extend what is known as the C plan already utilised by the Minister of Supply?

An analysis of a number of shift rota schemes, including the C plan, was prepared under my authority and circulated to the Supply Departments and others interested. Conditions vary very widely between one firm and another and no one scheme is suitable for universal adoption. Each of the Supply Departments is engaged in encouraging and assisting firms to make arrangements appropriate to their particular circumstances.

asked the Minister of Production whether he is aware that before the war the average annual increase in productivity of the worker over the whole field of production was about 2½ per cent.; and whether he can state the corresponding increase since the war?

I am advised that the estimate given by my hon. Friend of the average annual increase in productivity of the worker over the whole field of production before the war is probably too high, and that a cumulative annual increase of 1½ per cent. would more nearly represent the rate of progress of those years. For the period since the outbreak of war it is difficult to calculate precisely comparable figures; but, quite apart from the increased output resulting from overtime working, there is every reason to believe that the average annual increase in productivity has been fully maintained.

asked the Paymaster-General what local government bodies are entrusted with the preservation of the amenities of the Thames above Richmond; whether he possesses or is exercising the right of supercontrol; and whether any information on riverside planning is specially brought to his notice?

I have been asked to reply. The Thames above Richmond is within the area of 11 Joint Planning Committees, which have prepared, or are preparing, schemes under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1932, with the object, inter alia, of preserving amenities. Such schemes require the approval of my Noble Friend, and, until they come into operation, applications for permission to develop land are dealt with by county borough and county district councils, which have power to grant them, either unconditionally or subject to conditions, or to refuse them. The applicant has a right of appeal to my Noble Friend against a refusal to permit development, or against conditions subject to which approval is granted. Except in these cases, my Noble Friend has no jurisdiction. As regards advertisements and petroleum filling stations, there are, in addition to the powers under the Town and Country Planning Act, powers to make by-laws conferred on Local Authorities by the Advertisements Regulation Acts, 1907 and 1925, and the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act, 1928, respectively. The Port of London Authority and the Thames Conservancy also have powers to make bylaws relating to the amenity of the Thames within their respective areas of control. My Noble Friend has recently appointed Planning Officers with headquarters at convenient centres, whose duty it is to keep him informed of the problems of the authorities in their areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any further action has been taken to give immediate assistance to Jewish, Polish and other victims of Nazi oppression; whether he has been in communication with neutral and allied governments on the matter; and what representations he has received from representative organisations respecting aid to be given immediately including the possibility of migration under guarantees to neutral countries?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Deputy Prime Minister earlier to-day to Questions on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is making further urgent appeals to the Iraqi Government to grant transit visas to the 1,000 refugee Jewish children stranded in Teheran, en route to Palestine under the terms of the White Paper?

Arrangements have now been made by His Majesty's Government for the transport of the refugee children from the Persian Gulf to Haifa by sea. No further approach to the Iraqi Government is consequently necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if negotiations are now being conducted with other countries so to alter the present extradition treaties as to make it impossible for the perpetrators of international crime to escape trial at the end of the present war as was the case in 1918?

I am fully aware of the importance of ensuring that war criminals shall not escape punishment after the war owing to the difficulty of obtaining custody of the criminals in question. The matter is under discussion with the Allied Governments concerned and my hon. Friend may rest assured that all possible steps will be taken to ensure that the criminals do not escape justice.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make in regard to the assassination of Admiral Darlan?

No, Sir, there is nothing I can usefully say on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to the wholesale thefts and removal to Germany of pictures and other works of art of great value from German-occupied countries, a special corps of German art experts, known as the Art Korps, having been formed for this express purpose; and whether steps will be taken to publish particulars of the works of art which have been stolen in order to prevent their sale in neutral countries?

The attitude of His Majesty's Government towards all forms of plundering by the enemy in the occupied countries has been made clear by their participation with the Governments of 16 other United Nations and the French National Committee in making the joint Inter-Allied Declaration which was published on the 5th January. The text of this Declaration, together with an explanatory memorandum and a statement by His Majesty's Government are contained in a Command Paper which my hon. Friend has presented to Parliament. As regards the second part of the Question, the Inter-Allied Declaration constitutes a direct warning to persons in neutral countries to take all possible precautions against acting, wittingly or unwittingly, as receivers of stolen property. The question of publishing details of individual stolen works of art is primarily one for the Allied authorities in whose countries the particular thefts have occurred. The Declaration moreover makes it clear that His Majesty's Government are pledged to collaborate with their Allies in defeating the spoliation of occupied countries by the enemy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the "Review of World Affairs," published by the Imperial Policy Group, now has an export permit and facilities to cable the text to Canada; that this publication recently falsely alleged that an official of His Majesty's Government in Ethiopia translated certain libels concerning the dynasty and government of Ethiopia and circulated these amongst Ethiopians to cause disaffection; and whether, as this publication persists in publishing libels respecting Ethiopia and concerning our ally Czechoslovakia and President Benes, he will now withdraw the export permit and cable facilities to Canada?

I have been asked to reply. No export permit or special cable facilities are required to enable the "Review of World Affairs" or its text to be despatched from this country to Canada. His Majesty's Government have not accorded any special rates or facilities to this publication and certainly have no intention of doing so.

asked the Minister of Labour the average rise in wage rates, including agriculture, which has occurred since the war, in England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States of America?

On the basis of such information as is available to my Department, relating mainly to rates of wages fixed by statutory orders or by collective agreements between organisations of employers and workpeople, it is estimated that the average increase in weekly full-time rates of wages in the United Kingdom between the beginning of the war and the end of December, 1942, was about 32 or 33 per cent. For Australia and New Zealand the most recent particulars in my possession relate to the first quarter of 1942, and to the end of June, 1942, respectively. In Australia, statistics published by the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics show an average increase, in the weekly rates of wages for adult workmen, of approximately 13 per cent. between the third quarter of 1939 and the first quarter of 1942. In New Zealand, statistics published by the Census and Statistics Department show an average increase, in the weekly rates of wages for adult workmen, of approximately 11 per cent. between the end of June, 1939, and the end of June, 1942. Corresponding particulars are not available as regards all classes of workers combined, but in Australia the official statistics show an increase of approximately 11½ per cent. in the weekly rates of wages of adult women, between the end of June, 1939, and the end of December, 1941. For South Africa and for the United States of America statistics are not available showing the average amount of increase in wage rates generally during the war.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he expects to publish further lists giving names of British civilians captured at Singapore and if these lists will be comprehensive?

Up to the present no lists of civilian internees in Malaya have been received. Information has been received from the Japanese Government that full lists of prisoners of war and civilian internees are being compiled, but that owing to movements of prisoners of war there will be some delay before the lists are completed. The names of about 600 members of the local volunteer forces and eight civilians have appeared in the lists of prisoners of war received by the War Office up to date. The next of kin where known have been notified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken for ensuring that an adequate number of doctors are recruited for the Colonial Medical Service during the war?

Under arrangements made with the Central Medical War Committee, which is the official agency for the supply of doctors, a sufficient number of suitable candidates has hitherto been forthcoming to fill declared vacancies for medical officers in the Colonial Medical Service. A scheme for the building-up of a reserve of medical officers is under active consideration

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a decision has yet been reached concerning payment of interest on holdings of Singapore municipal loans to people resident in this country and dependent on such interest for their living; and whether such payments when made will be taxed at source?

As the former Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies stated on 5th August, interest on Malayan municipal dollar loans will be paid subject to certain reservations. My hon. Friend will appreciate that, in the very special circumstances, the examination of the large number of applications for the payment of such interest has involved a great deal of careful work. The greater part of this work has now been completed and payments in respect of interest on the loans will be made very shortly. The question of deduction of Income Tax is one for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but I am advised that tax will be deducted from payments representing interest made in this country to stockholders resident here, but not from ex gratia payments made to the dependants in this country of stockholders resident abroad. Where there is a title to repayment of Income Tax a claim should be made to the Inland Revenue authorities who are arranging to deal specially with such claims.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the discontent and numerous resignations of doctors from the public hospitals and services of Jamaica, petitions of nurses against mismanagement resulting in overwork and under-payment and the alleged neglect of patients and inability of hospitals to give proper attention to serious cases; and will be accede to the public demand for an impartial and comprehensive inquiry with a view to remedying the grievances and inefficiency in these services?

I am aware that some dissatisfaction exists in the Jamaica Government Medical Service. I understand that the pay and conditions in that service have been investigated by the local public service committee, and I am awaiting its report with the Governor's recommendations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number and value of dressed and undressed furs imported into the United Kingdom in each year since 1937; the countries whence the furs are obtained; and the chief kinds imported?

Particulars of the number and value of undressed and dressed fur skins imported into the United Kingdom in 1937, 1938 and 1939 and the principal countries whence consigned may be found on pages 116, 332 and 333 of Volume II of the Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom for 1939. Details of individual kinds of furs, other than rabbit skins, are not separately recorded. The publication of detailed information relating to imports has been suspended since 1939 on grounds of security.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether all parts of a house used for letting to boarders must be insured as business premises under the War Damage Act, 1941, Part II; whether the landlady must specify her personal effects in her private apartments in order to obtain free compensation; and whether he is satisfied that the law and other provisions on this subject are sufficiently well understood?

Where a person carries on the business of letting accommodation to boarders, the equipment used for the business is insurable under the Business Scheme of Part II of the War Damage Act, 1941, compulsorily if the equipment exceeds £1,000 in value, and otherwise on a voluntary basis. In order to obtain free compensation under the Private Chattels Scheme for his personal effects, it is not necessary for the owner to specify them in advance of a claim. I am satisfied that, in general, the war damage provisions are now understood, but my Department and the Insurance Companies and Lloyd's, who act as agents of the Board of Trade in the issue of policies under the Schemes, are always ready to answer any points of doubt which may be raised by interested persons.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that unemployed persons are required in some cases to report at Employment Exchanges daily; that some of them have to travel long distances for this at considerable expense although they are on unemployment benefit; will he state the reason for this; and will he consider reducing the demand, say, to reporting every other day?

Daily attendance of unemployment benefit applicants at the Exchange has always been the ordinary rule, but those living more than two miles away need only attend on alternate days and those living more than four miles away less frequently than that. Attendance is required both in order that no opportunity for employment may be lost and that unemployment may be verified. If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of cases where considerable expense is occasioned by the present requirements I will have inquiry made.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has yet considered the Report Of the Committee on Electoral Machinery; and whether it is proposed to take the necessary steps to remove, at an early date, the anomalies disclosed in that Report?

The Report is under consideration. I am not yet in a position to say what action the Government will propose.

asked the Home Secretary why women deputy-governors of prisons do not appear to be graded in the same way as men?

There are only two women serving as deputy-governors of prisons. As my hon. Friend knows, it is the general principle in the Government Service to differentiate between the salary scale of men and women, and in fixing the salary scale for the women deputy-governors of prisons regard has been given to this principle and also to the nature of the duties and responsibilities falling on the holders of these two posts.

asked the Home Secretary under what regulation or other legal provision he is withholding from an alien medical practitioner possessing a registered British medical qualification, permission to engage in private practice in a certain town, on the ground that this practitioner acted for some months as an assistant to a doctor there without entering upon any agreement restricting him from subsequent independent practice; and whether he is making it a condition that duly qualified foreign doctors who wish to practise in this country must join the British Medical Association's voluntary scheme for local protection of practices?

As stated in my reply to my hon. Friend's Question on 1st October, I did not feel justified in agreeing that the Austrian doctor to whom he refers should be allowed to establish himself in private practice close to a practice in which he had recently been employed as an assistant, but I have now approved of his setting up in practice in a town some distance away. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative, and I am taking steps to correct a misapprehension on this point to which my hon. Friend has drawn my attention.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can make a statement on the possibility of putting into effect the provisions of the Child Adoption (Regulations) Order, 1939?

I am not yet in a position—as I hoped to be—to make a statement on this point, and shall be grateful if my hon. Friend will defer her Question for a week.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will make arrangements before municipal elections are resumed for election days to be fixed during the spring or summer months in preference to the unsuitable month of November?

This proposel has been noted for consideration when electoral matters are under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the great hardships imposed upon people who have their savings invested in property which has been destroyed by enemy action; and will he consider amending the present legislation to remove this hardship?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has now been able to give further consideration to the hard case of persons whose property has been totally destroyed by enemy action but who do not receive the 2½ per cent. interest allowed on the agreed value payment until after the war, and are in the meantime, in many cases, without means while liable for the payment of interest on any mortgage on the property destroyed; and will steps be taken to remove this injustice?

The suggestion that advances of war damage payments should be made in cases of hardship was considered when the Amending Act was before the House last year. I have examined the matter again, and have again come to the conclusion that the balance of advantage is against such a course. The Acts do a great deal to safeguard the interests of persons whose savings are invested in property, and other legislation has been passed to protect people who, for reasons arising out of the war, are not immediately able to meet their liabilities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that in the case of a lump sum payment by the War Damage Commission in respect of claims relating to a number of different financial years, such lump sum will not be added to a Surtax assessment for the year in which the lump sum payment is made, but will be apportioned to the years in respect of which the payment is due?

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the interest which is payable on value payments to be made in due course under the War Damage Act, 1941. This interest will be subject to deduction of Income Tax at the rate in force at the time of payment and will constitute income for taxation purposes of the year of payment. Where, however, the conditions of Section 34 of the Finance Act, 1927, are fulfilled, relief for Surtax purposes will be available on the basis of spreading over the years of accrual.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to cases in which companies have been required to pay, in respect of part of their profits, such amounts of United Kingdom Excess Profits Tax and Income Tax that, after including Dominion Income Tax and allowing for Dominion Income Tax relief, aggregate taxation exceeded 100 per cent. on such part of the profits; and what steps he has taken to remove this discouragement of production?

The incidence of the tax must, I think, be judged by reference to the relation between the total tax payable and the total excess profit and I am not aware of any case in which the aggregate of the Dominion and British Income Tax exceeds 100 per cent. of a company's excess profits after double taxation relief has been given. It would be misleading to look only at the incidence of the tax on one part of the profits and not take into account the measure of relief given on other parts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provisions authorise any corporations or statutory bodies to make deductions of Income Tax which will bring the amount paid to an employee below the minimum applicable to ordinary employees?

I understand that my hon. Friend is referring to salaried employees of railway companies, whose tax is deducted from their salaries under special provisions of the Income Tax Acts which have been in force for many years and not under the ordinary deduction scheme. As my hon. Friend is aware, the question is at present under consideration of the extension to the salaried employees of the railway companies of the same benefits as regards the restriction of deductions as are enjoyed by employees generally.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Tax Reserve Certificates were not available for purchase on 1st January, 1943; and what steps he has taken to provide a remedy for this omission?

The Bank of England like the other Banks was closed on the 1st January, and no Government Securities were issued bearing that date. As at present advised I see no reason for making any exceptional arrangements for the benefit of investors in Tax Reserve Certificates outside the favourable terms accorded to them in the prospectus of the issue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the matter of Income Tax post-war credits, any concession is made to individuals of advanced age to enable them to enjoy the use of taxed income at the present time; and, if so, what is the nature of these concessions?

It is of the essence of the scheme for Income Tax post-war credits that the tax put to the post-war credit should not be made available to the taxpayer until after the war, and I could not agree to make an exception to this rule for a particular class of taxpayers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the response of women to the appeal for the maximum of war effort, he will consider revising in the next Budget those sections of the Income Tax Acts which debar working wives at present from receiving post-war credits for the money they have actually earned and on which tax has been paid?

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension in thinking that a wife with income of her own is debarred from receiving a post-war credit. I am sending him a copy of an answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Chislehurst (Sir Waldron Smithers) on the 10th November last, in which I explained the

Class of Estate.			1939–40.	1940–41.	1941–42.
Small Estates not exceeding £500 gross.			61,334	64,039	63,275
exceeding £ net	but not exceeding £ net
100	1,000	…	38,768	42,419	45,419
1,000	5,000	…	37,915	41,318	44,053
5,000	10,000	…	8,307	8,842	9,379
10,000	20,000	…	4,806	4,708	5,211
20,000	50,000	…	2,867	2,870	3,239
50,000	100,000	…	775	765	838
100,000	250,000	…	332	344	360
over 250,000		…	111	108	99
Totals		…	155,215	165,413	171,873

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of estates of over £20,000 that have paid Death Duties during the years 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941 and 1942?

In reply to the hon. Member for Lewisham (Mr. Brooke) I have given a table which contains the information asked for by my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered issuing a loan at a very low rate of interest under par, definitely surrenderable at par against Death Duties, any amount

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give, classified according to their net values, the average numbers of estates liable to Estate Duty in the three years ended 31st March, 1939, and also the numbers for each year since that date?

My hon. Friend will find details of the number of estates paying duty in the three years ended 31st March, 1939, in the table on pages 24 and 25 of the 82nd Annual Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revene (Cmd. 6099 of 1940). The Reports of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue for the later years have not been published, but the following table shows for broad classes of estates the figures for the past three years:surrendered to be reissuable during hostilities and the maximum being limited?

I have considered my hon. Friend's proposal, but I fear that I cannot adopt it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to pave the way for the closest possible economic collaboration between Great Britain and Russia after the war, he intends to initiate in the near future any further discussions with the Soviet Government with a view to reaching a mutually satisfactory solution of the Russian debt problem?

No, Sir. I do not think that the present would be an appropriate time to take up this question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer is he now in a position to state the result of the inquiry whether, in assessing dependants' allowances for members of His Majesty's Forces, pensions, awarded under the Royal Warrant, will be disregarded?

This matter has now been reviewed by the Service authorities who have decided, in assessing means for the purpose of Service Dependants' Allowances to disregard dependants' pensions to the extent to which the Assistance Board disregard them in assessing need for unemployment assistance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total number of savings groups in the United Kingdom on 31st December 1940, 1941 and 1942, respectively; the weekly average of savings over the same years; and the estimated annual national income for the years ended 1940, 1941 and 1942?

In reply to the first part of the Question, the figures are: for 1940, 169,911; for 1941, 255,395; for 1942, 304,315. In reply to the second part, my hon. Friend will realise that savings take many forms and for an estimate of total savings in 1940 and 1941, I would refer my hon. Friend to Table D of the White Paper entitled "An Analysis of the Sources of War Finance and an Estimate of the National Income and Expenditure," published in April, 1942, as Command Paper 6347. Table I of the same Paper gives, corresponding estimates of the National Income. Figures for 1942 are not yet available, but I shall consider the question of their publication in connection with my next Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that many industrial workers escape payment of Income Tax owing to moving from place to place, and that this especially applies to the wholesale clothing trade where cutters are constantly changing their employment; that in some such cases 50 per cent. of the workers cannot be traced when the question of tax payment arises; and whether he will take additional powers, if necessary, to enforce legal liability?

I would refer my hon, Friend to the reply which I gave to a Question on this subject by the hon. Member for Stourbridge (Mr. R. Morgan) on 15th October, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange for the printing of Income Tax forms in the Welsh language?

I am advised that no special difficulties arise in Wales because of the use of the ordinary Income Tax forms and in these circumstances I do not consider that it would be reasonable especially in wartime to incur the considerable additional expenditure involved in the production in Welsh of the Income Tax forms and the accompanying explanatory literature. I may remind my hon. Friend that the broadcasts in explanation of the Income Tax have been in Welsh as well as in English, and that the staff in appropriate tax offices in Wales include Welsh-speaking officials.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to impress on registrars and other registry authorities the possible economy to be effected by insisting on dividend instructions being given on transfers?

As I informed my hon. Friend on 24th November last, there are technical reasons which make it impossible to adopt this proposal in cases of transfer of stocks and shares.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what allowances are made to officials and business men visiting the United States of America and Canada; if these allowances are based on the equivalent allowances made by the United States Government to men visiting this country; and why are different allowances made to single men and married men travelling alone?

It is assumed that the question relates primarily to the two highest grades of Civilian Mission Allowance issued in North America to persons sent from this country on Government business. The full rates for those grades are as follow:

Grade I.	Married.	Single.
(applicable to certain senior posts only)	$10·00 a night.	$8·00 a night.
Grade II.	Married.	Single.
(applicable to officials—other than those in Grade I—who are eligible for the highest subsistance rates in this country)	$8·00 a night.	$6·50 a night.

As regards the second part, the Mission Allowances are fixed in relation to the extra cost to which officers sent from this country are put by reason of their service in North America, and not in relation to allowances made by the United States Government for visits to this country.The answer to the third part of the Question is that the differentiation between married and single, officers takes account of the special expenses to which the former are put by reason either of having two separate households to maintain or, if the family accompanies them abroad, of bearing a double incidence of the cost of living in the overseas country. The differentiation is not applied in the case of visits to North America of less than three months' duration.