asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that monthly averages of patients awaiting admission to institutions for treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis in the county of Lancashire were 83 in 1941 and 89 in 1942; what is the average duration these patients have waited for such treatment; what steps are being taken to increase the number of institutional beds for the treatment of tuberculosis; and what arrangements are being made to relieve this situation?

The monthly average of pulmonary tuberculosis cases awaiting admission to institutions in the administrative county of Lancashire was 57 in 1941 and 89 in 1942. The average waiting period for ordinary cases is estimated to have been about 14 days in 1941 and about 21 days in 1942. Steps are being taken to relieve the demand for beds for tuberculous cases in various parts of the country by recourse to suitable beds in the Emergency Hospital scheme.

asked the Minister of Health why the less poisonous and more efficient drug used for anti-syphilitic treatment, marphaside, which is much cheaper than less stable arsenical preparations still on the market, in spite of an imposed 25 per cent. Purchase Tax, is not being used sufficiently in Great Britain; is it recommended by his Department; and, if not, for what reasons?

The choice of anti-syphilitic drugs for the treatment of civilians is in the discretion of individual medical officers in charge of treatment centres. It is not the practice of my Department to recommend particular preparations for use in such centres, but I am advised that the claim that this preparation is less poisonous and more efficient is not substantiated by the evidence.

asked the Minister of Health whether the cases of jaundice following administration of the drug neo-arsphenamine in veneral disease treatment are regarded by his Departmental advisers as due to the poisonous effect of this drug on the liver cells of patients or as due to a virus infection from contamination during injection treatment; and whether any recent investigations, consultations, or inter-departmental conferences have taken place with or at his Ministry on this question?

I am advised that the causes of jaundice following anti-syphilitic treatment are not known with any exactness, but that arsenical preparations such as neo-arsphenamine and the preparation known as mapharside undoubtedly play a part, though to what extent is not established. There is no clear evidence that virus infection during injection is a factor. My medical advisers took part in a recent conference at the War Office on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that marphaside, the drug known in the United States as marpharsen, has been recommended by the best venereal treatment opinion in the United States for the Armed Forces; that this recommendation has been accepted by the United States Government; whether every facility for the treatment of United States forces in Great Britain has been given; and whether this drug is now manufactured in Great Britain and available in sufficient quantities?

I am aware that the drug referred to is used for the treatment of syphilis in the United States Army. No suggestion has reached me that there is any lack of facilities for treatment of United States Forces in Great Britain. The drug in question is manufactured in this country, but I have no information about the extent to which it is produced.

asked the Minister of Health whether, for the treatment of venereal disease, the order for 250,000 ampoules of neo-arsphenamine, an arsenical drug, has yet been placed; and, as this drug is more toxic, less efficient, less stable and more expensive than the drug known as marphaside, will he say who recommended this drug to his Department for anti-syphilitic treatment and what is the exact monetary value of the proposed drug order?

I have no knowledge of the order to which my hon. Friend refers. My Department is not concerned to place any orders for anti-syphilitic remedies. I am advised that the use of neo-arsphenamine in the treatment of syphilis is recommended by the best medical experts in this disease.

asked the Minister of Health whether his Department has any statistics showing the incidence of jaundice, especially toxic jaundice, and recurrent or relapsing jaundice, from the use of the arsenical preparation, neo-arsphenamine, in venereal disease treatment; and whether he has obtained any information or statistics from the medical departments of the British Armed Forces, and or from corresponding sources in the Allied Forces, especially those of Canada and the United States of America?

Information obtained from venereal disease treatment centres in England shows that during the ten years 1932 to 1941 there were 86 cases of jaundice severe enough to require hospital treatment. In the same period the number of cases of syphilis dealt with for the first time at the treatment centres was close on 131,000, and the estimated number of injections nearly 2½ million. The answer to the last part of the Question is "No."

asked the Minister of Health what is the present age of the consultant adviser on venereal diseases to the Ministry, Colonel L. W. Harrison; how long has he been employed by the Ministry; what were the terms of his original contract, and what are the comparable terms of his present terms of employment; whether he is employed whole time or part time; and what is his present remuneration?

Colonel L. W. Harrison is 66 years of age. He was employed in the first instance by my Department in November, 1919, for a period of five years and this has been extended for varying periods up to the present time. He is and always has been a part-time officer and is allowed to carry on his clinical duties as Director of the V.D. Clinic at St. Thomas's Hospital. His remuneration is and always has been £1,500 a year.

asked the Minister of Health whether there is any age limit in the terms of appointment of the part-time consultant advisory staff now employed by his Department; how many such consultants exceed the age of 60 and 65, respectively; and what is the present age of the consultant adviser on orthopaedic surgery?

No age limits have been prescribed in the terms of appointment of part-time consultant advisory staff in my Department. Of those at present serving, 21 in all, seven are over 65 years of age and four are aged between 60 and 65. The present age of the consultant adviser on orthopaedic surgery is 66.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the total number of staff employed in his Department in September, 1939, and August, 1942, and if, in view of their restricted activities in war-time, a further reduction will now be made?

The number of staff employed on 1st September, 1939, and 1st August, 1942, was 423 and 124 respectively. Further reductions have since taken place and the present authorised establishment is 107.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he is aware that Thomas Henry Thomas, of 17, Penyrhyn Avenue, Cefn Forest, was dismissed from the Gwalodywaun Colliery on 8th November; 1942, and, under the Essential Work (Mining Industry) Order, the employer was directed to reinstate him on 29th November, 1942, and so far the workman has not been paid wages for the period of his unjustified dismissal; and whether he will take appropriate action in the matter;(2) whether he is aware that Trevor John was dismissed by the Powell Duffryn Company from the Windsor Colliery, Abertridwr, on 16th October, 1942, and on appeal to the Appeal Tribunal set up under the Essential Work (Mining Industry) Order, the employers were directed to reinstate the man on 24th November, 1942, and that the employers refuse to pay wages for the period of unjustifiable dismissal; and whether he will take appropriate action in the matter?

I have recently amended this Order so as to give the worker a statutory right to receive his guaranteed wage for periods such as those referred to. This Order, however, is not retrospective in its effect, and as regards the dates mentioned in the Questions the Order does not confer any right to such payments.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons employed in the brewing and distilling industry and the number of persons of military age who have been exempted for service in the industry?

I regret that separate figures for the brewing and distilling industry are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, when moving female assistants under the Registration of Employment Order, he will allow divisional employment officers some discretion where the taking of a person to another form of national work will result in the closing down of a small business; and whether employment officers are instructed that the calling up of a last employee, or proprietor, of a small business should only be carried out as a last resort?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my replies to the hon. Member for Holland with Boston (Mr. Butcher) on 17th December, and to the hon. and gallant Member for Accrington (Major Procter) on 28th January. Before persons of either sex employed in a small business are withdrawn from that business, they will be given an opportunity of representing that their withdrawal would result in exceptional hardship to them or to their employers, and such representations will be considered by an officer of the Ministry or, on appeal, by a local appeal board. A similar opportunity will be given to a person running his own business.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applications to the Sheffield Appointments' Board which have been made by persons whom the branch considers to be of administrative, managerial, professional or technical qualifications and ability, and whose remuneration would normally be in excess of £420 per year; how many such persons have approached the Board and have secured appointments; and in how many cases has the Department passed the cases on and no employment so far been found?

The average number of persons on the register of the Sheffield appointments office has been 258, and the number on the register at 31st January was 207, of whom 23 were unemployed, the remainder being persons who were seeking alternative employment. The total number placed in employment from the register during the period from March, 1942, when the register was set up, to 31st January, 1943, was 269. As regard the last part of the Question, I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to arrangements recently put into operation by which persons enrolled on the register who are subject to the Registration for Employment Order are referred to the appropriate local office for treatment in the ordinary way under the Order, if the appointments office is unable to place them in employment within a reasonable period. The number of such persons referred to local offices by the appointments office up to 31st January was 52. I should add that their names are also retained on the register of the appointments office.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will authorise importation of 500 copies of the third edition of a small medical book, written by a British woman consultant now in charge of a department of an emergency hospital, and published in the United States of America owing to the shortage of paper here for which an import licence has been refused on the ground of shipping stringency, notwithstanding protests, of which he has been informed, from experts of the Mayo clinic and other recognised authorities?

No, Sir, I see no reason for departing from the general practice in this case. Within the limits of their respective quotas, it is open to any of the usual importers to import copies of this book from the United States. Alternatively, the publishers of the previous editions in this country can, if they wish, publish a third edition here, using for this purpose part of their paper quota.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that owing to restriction of trade and limitation of sales of articles to which registered designs have been applied, manufacturers are paying fees for which they get no return; and whether he will consider suspension of payment for designs which can be established as in abeyance for the period of the war?

No, Sir. Designs are registered for a first period of five years. Registrations can be renewed for second and third periods of five years each but, in practice, only a small proportion are renewed. The renewal fees are very moderate.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will, to allay public uneasiness, make a statement as to the extent to which shops and business establishments, closed by reason of war concentration, will be subject to continued official control after the war?

I presume that my hon. Friend refers to businesses closed under the policy of concentration. This policy has been applied only to manufacturing industries and not to the retail trade. As stated in the White Paper on Concentration of Production (Cmd. 6258, March 1941) the Government Departments concerned will take all measures open to them to assist the speedy reopening of closed factories as soon as possible after the war.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food to what extent it has been possible up to date to apply concentration and pooling arrangements to the manufacture of food and medicinal products, and to what extent these arrangements have released technical and scientific man-power for war purposes?

Concentration schemes are already in operation for most of the food manufacturing and processing industries that are capable of concentration. My Department has no responsibility for the concentration of industries engaged in the manufacture of medicinal products, but I understand from my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade that concentration has, not been applied to these industries. The food schemes in operation have resulted in the release of considerable numbers of workers of all types for other essential purposes, but I have no information regarding the specific classes mentioned in the last part of my hon. Friend's Question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the Hull Fish Merchants' Protection Association is circularising its customers asking for further statistics on the distribution of fish to customers; that this is the third compilation of such figures; what is the effect of the proposed changes on distribution; and whether he will ensure that these are the final statistics to be compiled on this subject?

The circular in question has been issued by the association after consultation with my Department with a view to obtaining more detailed and re- liable data as to the quantity of fish sold by primary wholesale fish merchants during the datum period, which, by agreement with the trade, has been adopted as the basis on which entitlements of fish supplies are now determined. This further information is required in order to make the distribution of the present supplies as equitable as possible and will, it is hoped, assist the consideration of complaints by certain traders that they are not receiving the supplies to which they are entitled. If adequate information is elicited by this circular, final adjustments of entitlements should be facilitated.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the milling firm of Messrs. Carr, Limited, at Carlisle, which has been making a Vitamin B food for the last two and a half years, has been ordered to cease production and offer their supplies of wheat germ to a competitor firm that does no milling; what extra transport is entailed by transporting the wheat germ from Carlisle to the South of England, processing and packing it there and sending it North for distribution; that the new price to the public is 25 per cent. higher; that anti-vivisectionists, who do not buy goods produced by firms like this associated with experiments on animals, will have to go without; and can he take steps to annul the arrangement?

I am aware of the fact that the firm mentioned by my hon. Friend, subsequent to the outbreak of hostilities, commenced marketing a Vitamin B food similar to other brands which had been in production for some years. So long as white flour continued in distribution and germ was available, no restriction was placed on this operation, but with the advent of national flour in which the germ is included, supplies of germ for manufacturers became short. It was therefore decided to permit only pre-war manufacturers of Vitamin B foods to operate, and these on a much restricted basis. My Noble Friend considers that the advantages of concentration outweigh the other factors mentioned by my hon. Friend in the second part of his Question. In so far as the third part is concerned, I am aware that there are differences in price, and, as regards the fourth part, anti-vivisectionists can obtain a Vitamin B product made by a firm not associated with animal experiments. The answer to the last part of the Question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any decision has now been arrived at regarding the payment of allowances to officers and men whose families are in countries to which remittances cannot be made at present?

The normal family allowances payable to married officers and men are intended to assist them in meeting the current costs of maintenance of their families. They are not admissible in respect of families in enemy, enemy-occupied, and other countries outside the sterling area to which, owing to their occupation by the enemy, or to currency restrictions, remittances cannot be made because it is physically impossible for the officer or man to contribute to the maintenance of his family. To meet such cases a war time scheme known as the Special Separation Grant Scheme was introduced in February, 1941, under which those officers and men so affected were enabled to accumulate a credit, if they elected to do so, to be paid out when the War Office gave permission, i.e., normally when the family returned to the sterling area or in any case as soon as circumstances permitted after the war, under such conditions as might then be prescribed. The credit is built up by contributions in the case of an officer of 2/7ths of his pay by the officer and 21s. a week by the State, and, in the case of a man, of the normal "Qualifying Allotment" for family allowance by the man (now varying from 3s. 6d. to 24s. 6d. a week according to the scale of pay) and by the State of 13s. a week, plus a state allotment of 3s. 6d. a week.Since this scheme was introduced it has become possible, in accordance with the concessions announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer early last year, to send as from 1st January 1942, limited remittances to families, other than adults not in charge of children, in countries outside the sterling area, other than in enemy or enemy-occupied territories. In such cases family allowances are admissible provided that remittances are made to the extent of the allowances or the maximum limit of remittance, whichever is the less. There still remain, however, families in enemy or enemy-occupied countries and in other countries outside the sterling area to whom money cannot be remitted. As explained above, family allowances cannot be issued in such cases and to cover these the Special Separation Scheme was initiated. The position of the officers and men who are still prevented from maintaining their families has now been re-examined.It is necessary to consider separately the cases of families in enemy or enemy-occupied countries and of those in other countries outside the sterling area to whom money could not be remitted prior to 1st January, 1942, or to whom money still cannot be remitted. The families in enemy or enemy-occupied countries can usually receive no remittances but, in many cases, distress payments are made to them through neutral Consuls. The conditions of their maintenance differ widely and in many instances the full facts are not known. In the Channel Islands, for example, it seems probable that the Islands are currently supporting the Service families, and the obligation to the Islands may possibly be a matter for State settlement. There may be other instances in which an international settlement will prove to be the best method of adjusting any payments made to the families. In such cases, no pay ment of family allowance will be made to the officers or men concerned. In other cases, if an officer or man desires to make a payment for the past maintenance of his family at the time when remittances in respect of such maintenance become legally possible and, in fact, makes such payment, the Government will be prepared to issue to the officer or man a sum sufficient to cover the payment within the maximum limit of the amount of family lodging allowance or family allowance which has been inadmissible under normal rules. This maximum limit may be abated by the amount of any distress payments which have been met by the State and have not subsequently been repaid by the officer or man, and by the amount of any other claim upon the State which arises in respect of their families. Further, it must be understood that no assurance can be given as to the time when such remittances might become possible and, in particular, that no claim whatever to priority can be recognised in the immediate post-war period for such remittances in competition with remittances for purposes of national importance.It is an essential condition of the grant of family allowance by the State that a soldier must add a contribution from his pay, and in so far as it is not proposed to collect a qualifying allotment from pay, a substantial concession will be made to the soldiers concerned. In the case of families living in other countries outside the sterling area to whom money could not be remitted prior to 1st January, 1942, or to whom money cannot still be remitted, it is to be remembered that certain service personnel in common with civilians who have sent their wives and children to these countries, in particular to Canada and the United States of America, have signed an undertaking not to remit money for their maintenance directly or indirectly. The making of payments after the war for the maintenance of the families of such personnel in these countries can, therefore, hardly be felt to be as necessary as it may be in the case of other families in a similar situation, for example, in enemy or enemy-occupied countries. It has been, however, decided to grant in such cases under the same conditions, the same concession as has been described in the preceding paragraphs.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he has considered the letter from the Bedwellty Urban Council requesting him to increase the allowances to men serving in His Majesty's Forces and thus make it unnecessary for local authorities and others to supplement their pay or to make it up to previous earnings; and what answer he has given?

I cannot trace having received any such letter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Departmental Committee on Infant Mortality is nearing the completion of its work; and whether their Report will be presented to this House?

The Sub-Committee of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Department of Health for Scotland that is considering the question of infant mortality hope to submit an interim Report in the near future. When I receive the Report I shall consider whether it should be laid before the House.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what are the latest figures showing the number of towns in Scotland with populations of 5,000 and over having no retail delivery rationalisation schemes approved by the Ministry in operation, having voluntary schemes providing at least one weekly delivery of provisions without limitation of weight, having approved schemes providing at least one weekly delivery by pooled vehicles without limitation of weight, having approved schemes providing at least one weekly delivery with restrictions as to weight and having approved schemes prohibiting all deliveries, respectively; and if he will give examples of towns coming under each of these categories?

The records which are kept of rationalisation schemes do not fall within the categories set out in my hon. Friend's Question. My officers, however, have extracted the following figures:Number of towns in Scotland with populations of 5,000 or more—72.Number of these towns

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many students there were in divinity, law, medicine, arts, pure science, applied science and all faculties, respectively, in each of the Scottish universities for each of the sessions 1913–14, 1923–24, 1933–34, 1938–39 and 1941–42, showing men and women students separately?

The figures for which my hon. Friend asks are given on the attached table:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will explain the method of assessment of British Restaurants to Income Tax and Excess Profits Tax; and whether amortisation of capital expenditure is taken into account?

The rules for computation of profits for taxation purposes are general in character and there is no special provision relating to concerns of the kind which my hon. Friend has in mind. The taxation code does not generally make any allowance in respect of amortisation of capital but there are special war-time provisions to be found in paragraph 3 of Part I of the Seventh Schedule to the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1939, and Section 19 of the Finance Act, 1941, under which special allowance is made for the depreciation of buildings, plant and machinery provided since 1st January, 1937.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the position of owners of property damaged by enemy action in 1940 whose claims received formal acknowledgment and nothing since, while the local authorities have executed first-aid repairs but have not restored the property to its pre-raid condition; and whether the property will now be renovated, in view of the deterioration owing to lack of thorough repairs?

The extent of repairs (either first-aid or more permanent repairs) carried out by local authorities to damaged houses, for which the appropriate payment is cost of works, depends on circumstances, the extent of the damage and the availability of labour and materials. Where these repairs are insufficient to render the houses habitable, it is always open to the owner to arrange with his own builder to do the further repairs required and to submit a claim to the War Damage Commission on completion of the work. If the work is likely to cost £100 or over, a licence from the Ministry of Works is necessary. Complete reinstatement necessitating extensive repairs may not be practicable at present in view of the shortage of labour and materials.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the uplift for Purchase Tax values have recently been increased from 7½ per cent. to 12½ per cent. on sales of certain non-utility apparel by manufacturers, who normally sell to ordinary retailers?

The adjusting figure of 7½ per cent. was related to an assumed wholesale margin of 20 per cent. The figure of 12½ per cent. is related to the margin of 25 per cent. now permitted by the relative Board of Trade Order—Statutory Rules and Orders, 1942, No. 1407.

asked the Lord President of the Council what amount of money the Government are spending on geology; whether he is employing a qualified geologist with a view of making a large geological survey; and whether he has studied the experiences of the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics who have geological departments?

The main direction in which, so far as this country is concerned, public expenditure is incurred on geological investigation is in the establishments of the Geological Survey of Great Britain and the Museum of Practical Geology. Details will be found under Subheads D₁–D₆ of the Vote for the D.S.I.R. In the current year the total is £77,542 and this provides for a staff of 56 fully qualified geologists with ancillary staff. The survey has been in existence for more than 100 years and occupies an outstanding position among similar organisations throughout the world. The staff have always made it their business to keep abreast of developments in other countries including of course the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. Separate organisations are maintained in India and in many of the Colonies and Protectorates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the special subsidy of £20 an acre that is to be given to the smaller flower growers in respect of land freed from flower crops and planted with food crops will be taken into account in the assessment of Income Tax, National Defence Contribution and Excess Profits Tax?

It is a general rule of the Income Tax to treat any payment made towards revenue expenditure, as a trading receipt and the subsidy to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers would be treated accordingly.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of cases of sabotage perpetrated in Monmouthshire coalmines during January, 1943, and, as such cases both impair the war effort and misrepresent the patriotic efforts of the great majority of miners, whether he will prosecute the offenders?

No such cases during the month of January have been reported to my regional officers.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of collieries in the county of Durham now supplied with pit canteens and the number still under consideration by his Department?

Out of 140 collieries employing 50 persons or more, 120 have canteens in operation, and 6 have canteens under construction or in preparation. These collieries together employ 96 per cent. of all the workers in the county of Durham.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many collieries he has found it necessary, in the national interest, to take over from private control; and where these are situated?

I have made an order transferring the shares of the Nottingham and Clifton Colliery, Limited, to my nominees; this colliery is near Nottingham. Authorised controllers have been appointed at six other undertakings:Allerdale Coal Company Limited, Cumberland.J. & J. Charlesworth Limited, Yorkshire.Crawshaw & Warburton Limited, Yorkshire.Glasshoughton & Castleford Collieries Limited, Yorkshire.Locke & Company (Newland) Limited, Yorkshire.Point of Ayr Collieries Limited, Flintshire.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of mines at work in South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, North Derbyshire, North Staffordshire and Warwickshire, respectively; the number using ponies in each of these areas; the percentage of the output in each case carried by conveyors in 1941 and 1942; and the number of mines using power loaders?

Information relating to the number of mines at work, the number using pit ponies, and the percentage of output carried by conveyors, is not yet available in respect of last year. The figures relating to the year 1941 are as follow:

Area.	Number of Mines at Work.	Number of Mines using Ponies.	Percentage of District Output carried by Conveyors.
South Yorkshire	113	59	74·81
West Yorkshire	109	40	49·34
North Derbyshire	90	51	87·54
North Staffordshire	53	4	92·26
Warwickshire	20	5	71·01

The number of mines where power loaders are in operation at the present time in each of the areas named are South Yorkshire, 3; West Yorkshire, 1; North Derbyshire, 3; North Staffordshire, 2; and Warwickshire, nil.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of mines in the various divisions that are using British or American power loaders; and what proportion of the respective outputs is dealt with by them?

The number of mines in the various regions using power loaders are as follow:

Scotland	3
Northern "A."—(Northumberland and Cumberland)	—
Northern "B"—(Durham)	1
North Western.—(Lancashire, Cheshire and N. Wales)	1
North Eastern.—(South and West Yorkshire)	4
North Midlands.—(N. and S. Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire)	6
Midlands.—(N. and S. Staffs., Warwick, Cannock Chase and Shropshire)	3
Wales.—(South Wales, Forest of Dean, Somerset and Bristol)	—
Kent	—
	18

The figures given cover loaders for which returns have been received showing that they are in actual operation. Information as to the proportion of the respective outputs dealt with by these loaders is not yet available. There are no official returns for the year 1942 and the majority of the above loaders are still in the experimental stage.