asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to a letter published on 2nd February in the "Manchester Guardian," over the name of R. A. Whitson, of Keswick, of which a copy has been sent to him, complaining of the administration of the eggs branch of his Ministry and specially of the wastage of 300 dozen eggs due to inadequate arrangements for marketing them; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent such wastage in future?

I am glad to have an opportunity of commenting on this letter, as it is grossly misleading. The eggs to which Mr. Whitson refers were not new-laid eggs, as might be supposed from the letter, but eggs which had been incubated for 18 days at a temperature of over 100 degrees. The quality of the eggs then was so bad that the majority were not even fit to be broken out as liquid, and the staff at two packing stations refused to handle them. Out of two consignments totalling 128 dozen eggs, it was possible to salvage only 17½ dozen as low grade liquid, the remainder being condemned for destruction by the local sanitary inspector. An officer of my Department visiting Mr. Whitson's premises, broke some of these eggs in his presence, and they contained dead embryo or were otherwise in various stages of decay. I am advised that Mr. Whitson has little experience of candling eggs. My Department did all they could to find an outlet for these eggs, but their efforts to help were not assisted by Mr. Whitson's practice of leaving his eggs in the incubator for 18 days before testing.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will agree to an option being given to the mothers of children up to three years of age to take the children's sweet ration in sugar, as young children do not all suck sweets and often the mother denies herself the sugar she should have for the benefit of her children?

My Noble Friend has no evidence that the present sugar ration is inadequate and regrets that he cannot see his way to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the number of British Restaurants established in the city and county of Leicester, respectively; and the numbers of meals served in the year 1942 in these establishments in each of these areas, respectively?

At the end of January, 1943, 14 approved British Restaurants were operating in the county borough of Leicester, and 11 in the administrative county of Leicester. The average number of mid-day meals served daily from these British Restaurants during specified months of 1942 was as follows:—

1942		County Borough of Leicester.	Administrative County of Leicester.
March	…	4,020	1,113
June	…	5,200	1,586
September	…	5,332	1,741
December	…	6,534	2,399

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the number of British Restaurants now established in the administrative county of Durham and the county boroughs of Sunderland and South Shields respectively, and the number of meals served during 1941 and 1942?

At the end of January, 1943, 74 approved British Restaurants were operating in the administrative county of Durham, 7 in the county borough of Sunderland and 8 in the county borough of South Shields. The average number of mid-day meals served daily from these British Restaurants during specified months of 1941 and 1942 was as follows:—

—	Administrative County of Durham.	County Borough of Sunderland.	County Borough of South Shields.
1941
March	Nil	Nil	Nil
June	1,261	135	681
September	4,134	135	1,126
December	8,952	1,344	2,273
1942
March	7,379	1,536	2,320
June	9,794	1,372	1,973
September	11,365	842	1,762
December	12,877	1,197	2,182

asked the Home Secretary how many aliens have been naturalised under Section 3 of his Order published to the Press on 20th November, 1940?

On 20th November, 1940, an announcement was issued of the policy to be pursued in regard to naturalisation. Forty-one certificates have been granted since that date in exceptional cases where I was satisfied that naturalisation was a matter of direct national interest.

asked the Home Secretary the purchase price of buildings and land paid for the Stanhope Castle approved school; the cost of additions to and alterations of the structure; the cost of educational equipment and the annual average cost per head of the pupils in respect of food, clothing and education, respectively?

The purchase price was £6,123 and the cost of repairs, alterations and additions was £30,653. The total cost of equipping the school was about £4,000 and the average costs of food, clothing, and education are approximately £18, £12 and £17 per pupil per annum.

asked the Home Secretary to what extent there has been a fall in juvenile crime; and what are the latest police reports on this subject from the Home Counties?

The number of boys or girls under 17 found guilty of indictable offences in summary courts in England and Wales during the first eight months of 1942 was less by nearly 18 per cent. than the corresponding number for the first eight months of 1941. No later figures for the whole country are yet available, but the reports received from the police authorities in Kent, Surrey, Essex and Hertfordshire show a decrease of 12 per cent. in the total figure of 1942 as compared with 1941. In the Metropolitan Police District the figure for juveniles aged 14 to 16 was about 11 per cent. less in 1942 than in 1941, but there was an increase of over 18 per cent. for children under 14.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many temporary civil servants of the grade of principal and upwards have, respectively, resigned, or been dismissed, since the beginning of the war?

I am afraid that the information desired by my hon. Friend is not readily available and could not be obtained without inquiry in each individual Department.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give an estimate of how much it would cost the State if civil servants were allowed to retire earlier than at the present age limit of 60 years?

No, Sir. This would depend upon the number of civil servants who elected to retire and upon the age limit and rate of pension fixed for such earlier retirements.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works the proposals of his Department for additional canteen facilities for Government staffs in the City of London; whether he Is satisfied that the further provision will be adequate bearing in mind that a census shows that 250 people amongst the Income Tax staffs alone will regularly use the canteens; and when, in view of his answer on the 7th November, 1942, he expects the facilities to be completed?

It is proposed (a) to set up in Nos. 51–54, Gracechurch Street a new canteen capable of serving 1,000 lunches daily; (b) to enlarge the existing canteen in City Gate House to enable 200 more lunches a day to be served there, and (c) to provide further facilities elsewhere in the Finsbury Square area. The provision of all these additional canteen facilities should meet the present need. Subject to the necessary labour and materials being forthcoming, it is hoped that the additional facilities under (a) will be available in three or four months time. Those under (b) should be ready earlier. The question of how to provide the facilities under (c) is under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider if the grant of an allowance on industrial alcohol under Section 15 (2) of the Finance Act, 1921, should be continued in present conditions?

Yes, Sir. Conditions have altered greatly since 1921, and I have appointed a committee to examine the question. The members (who were formerly members of the Import Duties Advisory Committee) are Lord May (Chairman), Sir Percy Ashley and Sir Allan Powell, with Sir Harold Howitt as assessor. The Secretary is Mr. W. Rendell, Treasury. The Committee has begun to sit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the loss to the Exchequer if all local authorities were relieved from chargeability to Income Tax and were required to account only for tax deducted by them at the source, namely, from yearly interest, annuities and other annual payments?

I regret I am not able to furnish the estimate desired by my hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government will consider granting to all medically certified incurable civilian cripples a State pension, subject to reductions where they may be gainfully employed and secure for these persons benefits not less favourable than those proposed to be granted to insured people?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 10th December to my hon. Friend the member for Southend-on-Sea (Mr. Channon).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give an approximate estimate of the probable national expenditure to be provided by the first post-war Budget, assuming the National Debt to be then £20,000,000,000; and what rate of Income Tax would need to be imposed to raise such estimated sum if all taxation was direct?

As I explained in a reply on 21st January to my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) the settlement of policy on most important post-war questions has not yet reached a stage at which it is possible to publish estimates of cost. I regret, therefore, that I cannot supply the estimates asked for in the present Question.

asked the Minister of Health what sum is paid to the Central Council for Health Education for education in the prevention of venereal disease?

The Central Council's receipts in the current financial year by way of grants from the Exchequer and from local authorities are estimated at £19,000, made up of Exchequer grants not exceeding £5,000 and £6,000 for general and venereal disease work respectively, and local authorities' grants of about £1,000 and £7,000 respectively. The Central Council's function is to provide facilities for the use of local authorities and other local bodies. Its grant income of £13,000 for venereal disease educational work represents working capital for local efforts in support of the Ministry's central propaganda, and is only part of the total expenditure from public funds on education in the prevention of venereal disease.

asked the Minister of. Supply whether he is aware of the shortage of therapy tubes for X-ray treatment and tubes for diagnosis in many hospitals of the country where treatment of patients has been reduced by 50 per cent. and in others abandoned; and whether he can secure supplies of these appliances from the overseas market by air?

I am aware of the shortage of therapy and diagnostic tubes for X-ray apparatus and steps have been taken both in this country and in the United States of America to remedy the position as far as the exigencies of the war will permit.

asked the Minister of Health what is the allocation for Wales in the 3,000 cottages for rural workers proposed to be built, if possible giving the percentage or actual number for each county; and whether there is any provision in this scheme for a supply of electricity to each cottage?

The numbers of cottages allocated to each county in Wales and to Monmouthshire are as follow:

Anglesey	…	…	…	16
Brecon	…	…	…	16
Caernarvon	…	…	…	26
Cardigan	…	…	…	30
Carmarthen	…	…	…	30
Denbigh	…	…	…	30
Flint	…	…	…	16
Glamorgan	…	…	…	30
Merioneth	…	…	…	16
Montgomery	…	…	…	30
Pembroke	…	…	…	30
Radnor	…	…	…	20
Monmouthshire	…	…	…	26

Electricity will be supplied to these cottages wherever it is reasonably available.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he expects to be able to reply to a letter, dated 16th November, 1942, from the hon. Member for Everton, enclosing a letter dated 11th November, 1942, from Mr. A. J. Bailey, sports outfitter, of Liverpool, on the subject of the sale of sports goods to troops by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes; and has he any further statement to make on the subject?

I am very sorry that my hon. Friend has received no reply to his letter. The system of distribution which has been in force since September, 1942, is working satisfactorily. It is not proposed to introduce any change in the system.

asked the Secretary of State for War at what age officers of the rank of lieutenant-colonel and upwards are now placed on the retired list; and whether he considers that an automatic retiring age is desirable at a time when man-power and experience are greatly needed?

The ages for compulsory retirement of officers of the rank of lieutenant-colonel and above are as follow:

Lieutenant-Colonel	50
Colonel	55
Major-General	57
General or Lieutenant-General	60
which may be extended to	62

During the war these age limits are not applied automatically. Officers who reach these ages, and whose services are still required, are retained on the active list, supernumerary to establishment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether facilities are available for former Army commanders or members of the Army Council who have been retired upon reaching the age limit to have access to secret and confidential documents about matters upon which they may be experts, so that the benefit of their experience and advice may not be lost to the country?

If a retired Army officer is employed by a Government Department as a member of a committee or to write a book on a subject on which he became an expert before retirement, he is allowed access to such official documents as may be necessary to enable him to carry out his duties.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the distress of the relatives and friends of men serving in the forces in North Africa, who have for some time been sending airgraphs to these men, at the announcement that there is no airgraph service to North Africa; and why they were not so informed at the time of the despatch of the airgraphs?

For security reasons ail letters for North Africa go under an Army Post Office number. The destinations covered by these numbers cannot be disclosed to the Post Offices up and down the country, who must therefore accept airgraphs without knowing whether there is an airgraph service to these destinations or not. If there is no airgraph service the airgraph is sent by ordinary surface mail and the sender is advised by post-card that this has been done. Preparations are, however, in hand to establish an airgraph service between this country and North Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of women joining the' Auxiliary Territorial Service as volunteers in each month during 1942 and for January, 1943, in respect of the whole country, and separately for Wales and Newport, Monmouth; and what direct expenses, rent, rates, salaries, etc., are involved in maintaining special recruiting centres in the three areas for obtaining volunteer recruits for the Auxiliary Territorial Service?

I regret that it is not in the public interest to give any figures of enlistments. The figures of direct expenses are not readily available and I trust my hon. Friend will agree that the time and labour required to obtain the information should not in present circumstances be devoted to this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give any information about the organisation and duties of the Maritime Royal Artillery; and whether they are awarded naval or military decorations?

The personnel of the Maritime Royal Artillery serve side by side with the personnel of the Royal Navy and of the Merchant Navy in the defence of merchant ships against air attack. The members of the three Services work in perfect harmony, normally under the order of the master of the ship. They have thus been engaged during the past year in all the convoy operations, including those to Malta and Russia, so vital to waging and winning the war. The decorations awarded to personnel of the Maritime Royal Artillery reflect the nature of their duties and their intimate connection with the other Services and with our Allies. They have so far received 46 civilian awards (including one George Cross), 41 naval awards, 14 military awards and four awards from our Allies. Since January, 1942, they have been eligible only for naval awards and in certain exceptional cases for military decorations.

asked the Secretary of State for War by whose authority firing has been resumed on the rifle range at Warrington, notwithstanding the condemnation of this range by his Department as unsafe; and whether, in view of the danger involved, he will issue instructions for firing on this range to cease forthwith and to be carried on, as it has been until recently, solely on the new range provided at public expense in substitution for the range so condemned?

I am investigating this matter, and will communicate with my hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps his Department is now taking to survey the water-power resources of North Wales, especially for conversion into electric light and power; to secure priority and control of water sheds for just distribution; and whether he will give power to counties to acquire and carry out comprehensive schemes in their area?

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 20th January. The second and third parts of the Question would appear to refer to the distribution of water supplies for domestic and other purposes and should, therefore, be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of officials employed by the Ministry of Fuel and by fuel controllers under local authorities, respectively; and how the number compares with those employed say 12 months ago?

The total staff of my Department is now 4,800. I am unable to give comparable figures for January, 1942, as the Ministry was not formed until nth June last, on which date the staff totalled 4,067. The increase of staff between June, 1942, and the present time has been almost entirely due to the setting up of the regional organisation outlined in the Government's White Paper on Coal (Cmd. 6364). As regards the staff of local fuel overseers employed by local authorities, the total number of whole-time, part-time and voluntary officers of all grades for the 1,620 authorities affected is 7,403. Of these, nearly 2,000 are employed part-time or in a voluntary capacity. I regret I have no comparable figures available indicating the position at January, 1942.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will consider how best to secure the utilisation of the hundreds of fallen or likely trees for domestic fire-heating; and whether he will consult with the Minister of War Transport in order to arrange for the delivery of such to local authorities from whence they could be made use of?

Yes, Sir. My Department has given a great deal of attention to this problem in consultation with other Government Departments concerned. The problem is not an easy one, however, because the majority of this timber is situated in rural areas, is widely scattered, and it would obviously not be possible, under present conditions, to employ a great deal of labour and long transport hauls, in order to bring it into urban areas. Local collection schemes have been organised by Local Authorities in response to my appeal, 65 such schemes are at present in operation. I am giving my continuous attention to this matter and I hope to be able to extend these schemes during the coming months.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the distress and uncertainty which exists in families in many constituencies in the country to-day as a result of the call-up of young girls from homes which are entirely dependent on their services, he will issue instructions to the hardship committees to adopt a more considerate attitude to the appeals for deferment and postponement which come before them?

The committees are statutory bodies and I cannot give them instructions. The umpire, however, has recently given a leading decision with regard to cases of domestic hardship and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the war agricultural executive committees ensure that farmers keep hedges trimmed and the ditches clear to improve cultivation and reduce flooding?

Executive committees take the necessary steps to ensure that hedging and ditching are carried out so far as is necessary in the interests of food production and having regard to labour limitations. They have power to issue directions under Defence Regulations for the carrying out of the work.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in order to secure the most able representation, he requested the National Farmers' Union, the Central Landowners' Association, or his agents, the Hampshire War Agricultural Executive Committee, to submit for his consideration names of individuals to serve as his nominated members of the Hampshire Rivers Catchment Board?

In appointing the lowland members of a catchment board, my right hon. Friend is required by statute to consult the drainage boards within the catchment area. In the case of the Hampshire Rivers Catchment Area there are no internal drainage boards, but my right hon. Friend consulted various interests and among the names suggested were two put forward on their own initiative by the National Farmers' Union, one of whom was selected. The five members whom my right hon. Friend was required to appoint had to be representative of all the rivers under the jurisdiction of the Catchment Board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in connection with the official announcement that a number of rural houses are to be constructed this year for the benefit of land workers, he can state the principle upon which preference is given to the different agricultural districts; and what is the anticipated allocation of such houses to Essex?

In allocating the provisional number of houses which it is hoped to build this year under the recently announced building programme I have had regard to the relative needs of the various counties in connection with the food production programme and to evidence of exceptional shortage of houses in particular rural districts. The provisional allocation for Essex is 66.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will take steps to free the dependants of members of the Mercantile Marine who lose their lives at sea from the obligation to pay a fee to the General Register and Record Office for a certificate of the supposed cause of death?

The dependants of seamen who lose their lives at sea are supplied free of cost with an informal certificate of death. This informal certificate is generally accepted for the purposes of small insurance claims. For purposes of probate and for the larger insurance claims, a formal certificate of death is required. This can be obtained from the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen for the charge of 2s. 6d. No death certificate is required for any claim by dependants for a pension under the Merchant Navy Pensions Scheme.

asked the Secretary of. State for Scotland whether he has yet received a report from the committee appointed to inquire into nurses' salaries in Scotland; and whether it will be presented to the House?

Yes, Sir. I have received from Professor Taylor an interim Report by the Committee which has been sitting under his chairmanship on the salaries, emoluments and other conditions of nurses. The main part of the Report deals with nurses in general hospitals. The Report is being presented as a White Paper and copies will be available to-day in the Vote Office. I am communicating with local authorities and voluntary hospitals commending the recommendations and with the agreement of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer I am informing them that the Government are prepared to pay both to local authorities and to voluntary hospitals 50 per cent. of any increased expenditure in which they may be involved in giving effect to the recommendations relating to nurses in hospitals. The Report also makes recommendations regarding the salaries of midwives, health visitors and district nurses. The Committee has not yet concluded its negotiations on the salaries of nurses in certain other hospitals, for example, fever, sick children's and tuberculosis hospitals, but I hope Jo receive recommendations for these hospitals at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the estimated percentage loss of last season's potato crop owing to shortage of labour for lifting; and in which counties this loss was highest?

Exceptionally wet and broken weather conditions in some districts delayed the grain harvest and, consequently, the lifting of the largest acreage of potatoes ever grown in Scotland. Spasmodic demands for supplementary labour were thus created, but were met as rapidly as possible and, on the whole, successfully. A short spell of frost early in November caused slight damage. While it is not possible to separate the loss attributable to labour shortage from that due to weather conditions and disease, the total loss in last year's potato crop is estimated not to have exceeded 3 per cent. The areas most affected were in the counties of Perth, Orkney, Dumfries, Argyll and the Western Isles.