asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, in view of the difficulty being experienced by his Department in obtaining flour from potatoes suitable for mixing with bread, when the experiments started and when he hopes to achieve success?

I am advised that there are various methods of producing a satisfactory potato flour My Department has, however, been anxious to avoid the construction of extensive new plant, and to find ways of utilising existing plant, designed for other purposes but having the requisite capacity. Preliminary experiments with this object were commenced at the outbreak of war. A fair measure of success has now been attained in large scale trials. It will be appreciated however that the production of a suitable flour is only one of the factors to be considered in deciding whether or not to include potato flour in bread.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, owing to the poor yield in 1942, he will import honey from abroad?

No, Sir. My Noble Friend can hold out no prospect of being able to supplement home-produced honey by importing supplies from overseas.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Planning whether, in order to give the longest possible notice beforehand and remove uncertainties, he proposes to make any statement as to possible post-war amalgamation of local authorities in the extra London County Council area?

My Noble Friend has no power to amalgamate local authorities, and I assume that what the hon. Member has in mind is possible combination of local authorities for the preparation or administration of schemes under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1932. In a circular to local authorities, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, my Noble Friend has stated that large planning units are desirable, and has expressed the hope that the appropriate method of co-operation will be worked out by the local authorities to the fullest possible extent. He cannot yet say how this principle will be applied in the particular area mentioned in the Question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that Italian prisoners, employed on drainage schemes, are given rubber boots to work in while agricultural labourers, doing similar work on farms, are forbidden to buy them; and whether, in future, he will give the agricultural labourer priority in articles necessary for food production over aliens and prisoners of war?

In issuing permits for rubber boots, county war agricultural executive committees give priority to applications from farm workers who require them for work on land drainage. There should, therefore, be no difficulty in obtaining rubber boots for that purpose. My right Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War is responsible for clothing prisoners of war, but I understand that rubber boots are not provided unless prisoners are working in water of appreciable depth.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent there is a shortage of seeds for local cultivation of any sort in the present year; and what efforts are being made to meet it?

Adequate supplies of agricultural and vegetable seeds should be generally available for sowing this season though not in all cases in the same variety as before the war. To assist the seed trade to provide the quantitites and varieties desired, growers should place their orders immediately with their usual suppliers; this is particularly important in the case of seed corn required for spring sowing.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many officers are now receiving war-service grants?

The number of war service grants in payment to officers on 16th January, 1943, was 1,749.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is now in a position to inform the House how far use is being made of the Liabilities (War-Time Adjustment) Act intended to meet cases of financial difficulty occasioned by the war: and the number of those who, having applied for help under this Act, have obtained it, and are still in business?

Under the Liabilities (War-Time Adjustment) Act, protection orders have been made in 776 cases, but in 109 of these cases the court has refused to make an adjustment order and has revoked the protection order. In 386 of these cases an adjustment order has been made. In seven of these cases the court has now revoked the adjustment order. The remaining 274 cases are under investigation. In 21 cases the debtor has carried out the terms of the adjustment order and has been granted an order of discharge. Schemes have been approved in 156 cases, in 35 of which a certificate of discharge has been issued. One scheme has been revoked by the court. Liabilities adjustment officers have given advice and assistance in very many other cases in which an adjustment order was not suitable or was not desired. Of those applicants who were in business when they applied for help, and who have obtained help, a large majority are still in business, but the exact number is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many forms must be completed and what is the value of the postage involved when, consequent upon a soldier in hospital losing a handkerchief, it is decided to debit his account by 2½d., this being the price of the handkerchief?

When an item of barrack hospital equipment is lost by a soldier in hospital and it is considered that its value should be recovered from him, two forms are filled in. One is sent to the soldier's commanding officer for recovery of the amount and the other is sent to the officer in charge of barracks as authority for replacement. These forms are often delivered by hand but when this cannot be done a penny stamp is needed for each form. This procedure applies to all items of equipment, many of which are expensive and difficult to replace, but the officers at the hospital can use their discretion about applying it in a case such as that quoted by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the shortage of electric batteries is making it impossible for some Home Guard members to use bicycles to get to their duties; that this means long walks after a tiring day's work; and whether he will issue orders to local commanders that these facts should be taken into consideration?

I am aware of the difficulties referred to by my hon. Friend. I do not consider that special orders need be issued. Local commanders will, I am sure, take these difficulties into consideration. I understand, moreover, that the supply of batteries has lately improved.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied with the flow of tanks described by himself in Cardiff on 20th September, 1942; and whether any of that type of tank has been used in the North African campaign?

Delivery of the type referred to has commenced, and output should steadily increase. It is not in the public interest to publish information about the employment of new types of equipment and I regret that I cannot give my hon. Friend the information he asks for.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now satisfied that there is an effective system of defence of all aerodromes in this country against enemy attack by air and land?

I am satisfied that the necessary measures against enemy attack by air and land have been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet considered the book, "Is To-morrow Hitler's?"; and what steps he is taking to stop its being circulated to the troops?

I understand that in the absence of my right hon. Friend the hon. and learned Member would prefer to postpone his Question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to difficulties in securing adequate supplies of clog soles in West Cumberland, where footwear of this type is used by farm and coal workers; and if steps are being taken to alleviate the position in the near future?

I am aware that there is a shortage of clog soles in West Cumberland and elsewhere. There has been a large increase in output in recent months, and I am doing all I can to raise production still further.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied that a sufficient number of frost cogs and nails have been released for the use of horses in frosty weather?

I have received no complaints that present supplies of frost cogs and nails are inadequate, but if my hon. and gallant Friend will send me any information on this subject he has at his disposal, I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the great shortage of children's shoes in many districts; and whether any steps are being taken to increase the supply?

I am aware that there is still some shortage. The production of leather footwear for children has for some months been in excess of pre-war production and steps have been taken further to increase it so far as the supply situation allows.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he will effect economies, in man-power and expenditure in the higher posts, of his Department, since, at the moment, of the two officers remunerated at £1,953 a year as Comptrollers-General, the substantive holder of the post is carrying out inferior duties in the office of the Paymaster General, and another officer draws £1,700 as deputy Comptroller-General; and what was the amount of annual leave and sick leave taken during the leave year 1941–42 by each of the two senior officers in his Department?

Only one officer receiving an annual salary of £1,953 is now borne on the Vote of the Department of Overseas Trade and the services of both this officer and of his deputy are essential to the efficient working of the Department. The following table contains the details asked for:

	Sick leave.	Annual leave.
Comptroller-General	6	44
Deputy Comptroller-General	93	1

The extent of the annual leave taken by the Comptroller-General was mainly due to the necessity for periodical medical treatment rendered necessary by the after effects of concussion caused by enemy action. The sick leave taken by the Deputy Comptroller-General was due to his having to undergo an operation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the protests in the Legislative Council of Sierra Leone and elsewhere of paramount chiefs, that they are frequently treated by district commissioners with discourtesy and even violence before their subjects; and, as the policy of the Colonial Office is that paramount chiefs remain heads of native administration with the district commissioners as advisers, will he end these grievances and secure the requisite change of attitude by some officers towards these ruling chiefs?

I have seen certain newspaper references to this subject, but have had no report from the Governor. I am asking him to furnish me with one: and when I receive it, I will communicate further with the hon. Member. If the hon. Member has any further information on this subject I shall be grateful if he will send it to me.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether his attention had been drawn to the effect upon the cost of electricity for industrial purposes of the increase in the cost of coal in the last 10 years and to the fact that electricity undertakings, municipal and company alike, have incorporated in their agreements a coal clause which only takes account of the cost of coal per ton, and not of the increased thermal efficiency of generating stations; and whether he will direct the Electricity Commissioners to discuss with the industry a form of coal clause more suited to the circumstances?

As my hon. Friend will appreciate, this subject is somewhat complex, and even if it were possible in present circumstances to agree a coal clause of substantially general application, it could not be made generally operative without interfering with numerous existing contracts entered into freely between industrial consumers and electricity undertakings. Further, the benefits derived from improving thermal efficiency, to which my hon. Friend refers, have unfortunately during the war proved less substantial than in peace-time conditions. If, however, my hon. Friend will send me particulars of any case where, in his view, a coal clause is not working equitably, I shall be pleased to refer it for consideration to the Electricity Commissioners.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many owners of commercial motor vehicles now receive supplies of coupon-free petrol; to what type of firm does this privilege apply; and what are the reasons for continuing this practice?

Apart from certain vehicles engaged solely in the distribution of petroleum products or benzole, which are covered by a licence under the Motor Fuel Rationing Order, no commercial motor vehicle is fuelled without the surrender of coupons. The application of the licence to certain vehicles was recently withdrawn and the question of withdrawing it from others is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health the number of nursery homes and maternity hospitals in Hull, Lincolnshire, Manchester, Cheshire, Sheffield, Bradford, Glasgow and the county of Essex?

According to the returns for the year 1941 which are the latest in my Department, the hospitals with maternity provision carried on by local authorities, or with which the authorities have arrangements, and the nursing homes registered with them in the districts named are as follow:

—		Maternity Hospitals	Nursing Homes
Hull	…	1	7
Lincolnshire	…	14	10
Manchester	…	3	19
Cheshire	…	12	70
Sheffield	…	4	15
Bradford	…	1	8
Essex	…	18	81

In addition my right hon. Friend has set up emergency maternity homes in the rural areas for use in war-time, and of these there are three in Cheshire, one in Lincolnshire and one in Essex.From information obtained from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland it appears that there are eight maternity homes or hospitals in Glasgow and 27 nursing homes.

asked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the risks, inherent in the modem treatment of syphilis by drugs containing arsenic, he has considered the probability of action for damages or legal suits against the special practitioners in connection with their work under the compulsory treatment powers of Regulation 33B and the position if a breadwinner dies or can prove permanent disability as the result of enforced treatment; and whether legal help will be afforded to such individuals in prosecuting claims in forma pauperis?

I have been asked to reply. The construction of the regulation to which my hon. Friend refers is a matter for the courts and not for me to determine, but I do not think that a patient who is treated under the regulation is in a different position as regards claims against the practitioner than a patient who is treated by a practitioner who has been consulted in the usual way. As regards the second part of the Question, the rules as to proceedings by poor persons will apply to a person who desires to bring an action in the High Court in the circumstances assumed as they apply in the case of other actions in the High Court.

asked the Minister of Health (1) the death-rate per 1,000 of the total population from non-pulmonary tuberculosis in the following counties, excluding county boroughs, in 1938 and 1941: Huntingdon, Radnor, Rutland, Pembroke, Devon, Somerset, Westmorland, Buckingham, Dorset and Bedford;(2) the death rate per 1,000 of the total population from non-pulmonary tuberculosis in 1938 and 1941 in Glasgow, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Edinburgh and Bristol?

The death rates per 1,000 of the total population from non-pulmonary tuberculosis in 1938 and 1941 in the specified areas were as follow:

—			1938.	1941 (Civilians only).
Glasgow	…	…	·24	·33
Birmingham	…	…	·08	·11
Liverpool	…	…	·13	·24
Manchester	…	…	·14	·19
Sheffield	…	…	·08	·11
Leeds	…	…	·12	·10
Edinburgh	…	…	·16	·18
Bristol	…	…	·10	·15
Huntingdon	…	…	·14	·10
Radnor	…	…	·10	·18
Rutland	…	…	·002	·10
Pembroke	…	…	·13	·15
Devon	…	…	·10	·12
Somerset	…	…	·08	·08
Westmorland	…	…	·08	·14
Bucks	…	…	·08	·09
Dorset	…	…	·10	·07
Bedford	…	…	·10	·11

The rates shown for 1941 must be regarded as being subject to varying and unknown degrees of distortion owing to the fact that deaths occurring in institutions will have been assigned to the former areas of residence while the populations of such areas may have been materially diminished or augmented through evacuation or other war conditions. The Scottish figures have been supplied by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Health the number of children under 15 years of age evacuated from the following towns from 3rd September, 1939, to 31st December, 1940: Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Bristol, Edinburgh and Glasgow?

I regret that the information is not available in the precise form required by my hon. Friend, but I am sending him certain particulars as to the number of unaccompanied school children of all ages evacuated from the first five towns mentioned, together with similar information relating to Edinburgh and Glasgow supplied by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. Bristol was not an evacuable area during the period under review.

asked the Minister of Health the number of children under the age of 15 received from the evacuation areas into the following counties, from 3rd September, 1939, to 31st December, 1940: Huntingdon, Radnor, Rutland, Pembroke, Somerset, Westmorland, Buckingham, Dorset and Bedford?

I regret that the information is not available in the precise form required by my hon. Friend, but I am sending him a statement showing the number of children of all ages billeted at various dates in these counties.

asked the Prime Minister whether any agreement has been reached, or is under negotiation, with the United States of America for the establishment, after the war, of a world bank entrusted with the right to issue and recall the currency and credit of this country?

I have been asked to reply. The answer is "No, Sir."

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the figures of expenditure on Public Social Services in 1940 and 1941?

I append a statement giving the figures for 1940 (or latest available year) and 1941. These should be compared with those published in the OFFICIAL REPORT for 24th March 1942, in respect of 1939 and 1940.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that monoglot Welshmen, more particularly in the Welsh rural areas, have special difficulty in filling up Income Tax forms in English and that many accountants in these areas act as unofficial interpreters, thus throwing an extra burden on their small staffs; and whether he will issue some forms in Welsh as is done by some other departments of the Government, like the Ministry of Food?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Caernarvon (Major Owen) on 19th January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now make a statement as to his intentions regarding the forthcoming grant to the universities?

Yes, Sir. The House will recall that, although the impact of the war on university finance has so far been less severe than was expected, the Government has maintained unchanged the annual provision for university grants at £2,149,000. This policy was adopted in view of the vital part played by the universities in the life of the country, their essential contributions towards the national effort in war-time, and the prospect that immediately after the war they will be faced with very large demands on their funds in order to resume normal activities. These considerations have lost none of their force and the Government, after considering a report from the University Grants Committee, have again decided to maintain the provision at its existing level.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of Income Tax and Excess Profits Tax credits up to date?

It is estimated that the total of the post-war credits in respect of Income Tax for the year 1941–42 will be about £125,000,000. An estimate for the year 1942–43 is not yet available, but the figure is expected to be slightly larger. The total of the post-war credits in respect of Excess Profits Tax does not depend upon the assessments for a particular year but upon the final amount of Excess Profits Tax paid at the 100 per cent. rate for the whole period during which the tax is in force at that rate and after taking into account any repayment due to deficiencies. For this reason no figures of the amount of the Excess Profits Tax post-war credit are available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any statement to make regarding an increase in widows' pensions with the extension of the scheme to all widows and spinsters?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave him and my hon. Friend the Member for Dumbarton Burghs (Mr. Kirkwood) to-day.

asked the Minister of Labour the names, together with their qualifications and remunerations, of the members of his technical personnel committee?

The membership of this Committee consists of civil servants and serving officers representing the Service, Education and Supply Departments, the Ministry of Labour and National Service, the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Works and Planning, together with Mr. Clement Jones, C.B., a Director of the Booth line, and Dr. A. P. M. Fleming, C.B.E., a Director of Metropolitan Vickers Electrical Company Limited, and a member of the Engineering Advisory Committee. None of these members receives any remuneration in respect of his membership of this Committee.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any recent visit has been paid by the factory inspectorate to the establishment of the Metropolitan Plywood Company, Leonard Street, City Road, E.; whether he is aware that the statutory regulations regarding washing facilities for employees are not being observed by this firm doing contract work for the Ministry of Aircraft Production; that on one floor only one water bucket is provided for 50 employees to wash the glue off their hands; whether cases of skin irritation are frequent; and whether he has considered the prosecution of this firm for breach of the factory laws?

The factory was visited by an inspector in December as well as several times previously last year, The lay-out and work have lately been altered and I am advised that, partly as a result of this, the arrangement and other features of the washing facilities are at present unsatisfactory. There are wash-basins, though they are unevenly distributed about the factory, and new basins, each with a hot and cold water supply, are now being installed throughout the factory. There have recently been some cases of skin trouble connected with a certain kind of work, and the question of further precautions against this is being gone into by a medical inspector. As at present advised I do not consider that the case is one for prosecution.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the reason for the continued closure of all parts of the Natural History Museum?

My hon. Friend is misinformed. The Natural History Museum has been partly open to the public for some considerable time.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will review the scale of compensation paid to officers and other ratings in the Merchant Service for loss of uniforms, other clothes ordinarily carried on voyages, sextants, tools and other necessary equipment, with a view to raising this to figures comparable with those paid to similar ranks in the Royal Navy?

Certain rates of compensation for the loss of effects by officers and men of the Merchant Navy were fixed at the beginning of the war. Some of these rates were increased in 1940, as a result of representations made by the Officers' Societies and the Seamen's Trade Union. A further increase of 33⅓ per cent. was made in April, 1941, in order to meet the increased cost of kit due to the Purchase Tax and to the rise of prices. Since that date, no further representations on the subject have been received by my Department from the societies or the union, but I understand that the subject is now being discussed by the National Maritime Board. Careful consideration will, of course, be given to any proposals that may be laid before us by the Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any departmental advice has been given as to the meaning of the phrase "subversive activities"; whether the scope of the meaning has been limited to alleged anti-British disloyal activities or is equally applicable to expressions of disaffection regarding sordid Colonial conditions remaining unremedied, to trade union organisational methods, or to constitutional political efforts; and whether any circular or instructions have recently been sent to Colonial governors as to the interpretation to be elastically applied by them to offences covered by Colonial Defence Regulations?

The powers conferred upon Colonial Governors by the Emergency Powers (Defence) Acts and in the Orders made thereunder to restrict the movements or activities of persons, have been closely modelled upon those possessed by the Home Secretary and Governors of Colonies have from time to time been informed of the practice of the Home Secretary in the administration of the various United Kingdom Defence Regulations; I am confident that Colonial Governors use their powers only for the purposes for which they are intended as expressed in the text of the various Regulations, and that these powers are not used to suppress legitimate social criticism, trade union activity, or constitutional political efforts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has approved the scheme for a central water board for the Colony of Trinidad, British West Indies; whether this water board is to be set up by legislation in the Local legislative council or by war defence regulations under the Governor's powers; whether, in any such scheme, powers of control will be afforded to local municipalities over the supply of such water as is available to different areas; and whether he will consider appointing elected representatives as far as possible to the directorate of the board?

No scheme has been submitted to me by the Trinidad Government and I have no information on the points mentioned by the hon. Member, but I will ask for a report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the report of Mr. G. Humphreys, the consulting engineer to the Crown Agents for the Colonies, on the water supply of the Colony of Trinidad, British West Indies, will be made available to interested Members of Parliament, or whether it is a confidential document open only to Government officials?

I understand that Mr. Humphreys' report has been published in the Press in Trinidad. Only one copy, which is in typescript, is available in the Colonial Office, but I will gladly forward it to the hon. Member for his perusal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the salaries of Governors of British West Indian Colonies are subject to Income Tax and what rate of tax is imposed, whether at British or local rates; whether he is aware that at a meeting of the Legislative Council of the Island of St. Kitts-Nevis, in August or September last year, a resolution was proposed, by a nominated member and passed, that the local government should introduce legislation forthwith for the purpose of ensuring that Income Tax should be charged upon the salaries of the Governor of the Colony and the Administrator of the Presidency, and has any further step been taken?

I have heard that a resolution in the sense suggested in the Question was proposed and passed at a recent meeting of the Legislative Council of the Presidency of St. Kitts-Nevis, but I have not yet received a copy of the proceedings. It has, however been the universal rule throughout the Empire for many years that a Colonial Governor should be exempted on grounds of public policy from liability to local Income Tax in respect of his official salary and allowances. I regard it as important that this well established principle should be maintained, and I should be opposed to any suggestion to depart from it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the rice ration in Jamaica which had been cut by half in August, 1942, has yet been restored; whether any scheme for increased rice production has been put in operation; and whether there are any possibilities of imports of surplus rice from British Guiana when available?

I am awaiting up-to-date information regarding the rationing of rice and other commodities in Jamaica. Steps have been taken by the Jamaica authorities to increase the cultivation of rice so far as local conditions allow. Part, at any rate, of Jamaica's requirements for 1943 will be met from British Guiana, but the final allocation of supplies from that source is at present under discussion with the Combined Food Board at Washington and has not yet been decided.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reports on the social and economic conditions in the West Indies, and plans for their amelioration, have been received by him from the Comptroller of the West Indies Welfare and Development Fund; and whether the approved plans for the different islands, their details and estimated cost will be made available to Members?

I would refer to my reply to the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mr. Riley) on 20th January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will fill the next vacancy among the Crown Agents for the Colonies with a colonial-born individual or one with prolonged colonial non-business association rather than with a civil servant?

To fill any such vacancy my aim will be to appoint the candidate who possesses the best all-round qualifications for carrying out the duties of the post.