asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Boy Scouts Association is doing a valuable work in training boys to be good citizens of this country; and whether he will take further steps to encourage the movement?

Yes, Sir. I am well aware of the valuable work carried on by the Boy Scouts Association in training boys in good citizenship. My Department are giving substantial assistance to the Association towards the maintenance and development of its activities, and my hon. Friend may rest assured that I shall continue to give it my support and encouragement.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of elementary and secondary school scholars in each education authority in Lancashire and Cheshire who receive free meals and purchased meals, respectively?

As the answer is long and statistical in form, I am sending direct to the hon. Member the information for which he asks.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will inquire into the case of Mr. C. Seymour, proprietor of the Bridge Garage, Holt Fleet, Worcestershire, whose livelihood is threatened at the present time as a result of being directed to take up employment at a salary insufficient to enable him to meet his living expenses, and which necessitates the closing down of his business?

I am making inquiries into this case about which my hon. Friend wrote to me on 5th February. I will inform him of the result of the inquiries as soon as they are complete.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to cases of women workers being sent from home under transfer although they are physically and even mentally unfit; whether in all doubtful cases there is an official medical examination prior to transfer or whether medical certificates submitted by potential transferees are accepted at their face value; and whether the existing procedure of examination and transfer can be improved?

Where workers allege that they are unfit for jobs in which the Employment Exchange proposes to place them, they are referred to an independent medical referee, unless they can produce satisfactory evidence from their own doctors. In addition, I have made arrangements that women called up to industry under the National Service Acts should be seen by a doctor, if the exchange has any doubt about their fitness, and I propose to apply these arrangements to other workers who are receiving National Service Officer directions or being transferred away from home. If my hon. Friend has any particular cases in mind, I should be glad to have them investigated.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Hospital for Natural Healing, of Forest Gate, London, E., is a recognised social service, has worked continuously throughout the war in a heavily bombed area, is always available for the treatment of the unwell or injured, but that the certificates for exemption from Civil Defence duties, issued by this authority, are not accepted by the tribunals; and whether he will consult with the British Medical Association and the Medical Practitioners' Union so that, for the duration of war, the certificates of this institution may be accepted?

I have been asked to reply. I am not prepared in the case of the Civil Defence Services to authorise the acceptance of certificates regarding the state of a person's health signed by any person other than a registered medical practitioner or in the case of pregnancies by mid wives.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether he is aware that windbelts in the Lake District and elsewhere are being removed for timber; and whether arrangements will be made to leave these where they are of definite agricultural advantage.

I have been asked to reply. If the hon. Member will let me have particulars of the cases he has in mind I will make inquiries. It is the practice to consult the local war agricultural executive committee where there is danger that felling may be detrimental to agricultural production.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the variation in the quantity and quality of work performed by Italian prisoners when hired out to farmers; and if he will devise some scheme to encourage the willing workers and to transfer the less willing ones to more suitable occupations?

I am aware that there is variation in the work and output of prisoners of war, as is only to be expected with a labour force of 20,000 prisoners divided between some 40 camps and over 30 hostels; and my Department, in conjunction with the War Office, constantly has under review measures, within the framework of the Geneva Convention, to improve the output. Provision already exists whereby satisfactory workers may be placed on better-class work and qualify for a higher rate of wages; and it is from the well-behaved and industrious workers that prisoners are chosen for billeting on farms and in hostels. Experience has shown that prisoners work best in small gangs and that good supervision by foremen or charge hands is the first essential. Cases of unsatisfactory work and conduct, if reported in writing to the camp authorities, will be dealt with and, where necessary, disciplinary action will be taken.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, the total number of acres taken over for afforestation in the county of Durham and the parts of the county in which planting is taking place?

The Forestry Commission own 6,285 acres in the county of Durham including 5,698 plantable, situated at Chopwell and Hamsterley. The planting programme for the former area this season is 40 acres and for the latter 200 acres.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what acreage was felled, thinned and planted, respectively, in the year ended 31st March, 1942; and what acreage is to be so dealt with in the current year?

The area felled, thinned and planted by the Forestry Commission, 1942, was 5,548, 6,883 and 17,636 acres respectively, the estimated corresponding figures for the current year being 6,355, 10,606 and 16,474.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the present prices of the differently dosed ampoules of neo-arsphen-amine; how the war prices compare with prices in pre-war years; whether these prices, as quoted by the manufacturing firm are net, without discount, in spite of the fact that there is no Purchase Tax on this drug; and why the price of this drug for venereal disease treatment is cheaper in British Colonies and other parts of the world than in Great Britain?

I have been asked to reply. The present prices which would be charged by retail pharmacists when a prescription is being dispensed for the differently dosed ampoules of neo-arsphenamine are as follow:

Grammes.				s.	d.
0.05	…	…	…	1	0
0.1	…	…	…	1	0
0.15	…	…	…	1	6
0.3	…	…	…	3	0
0.45	…	…	…	4	0
0.6	…	…	…	5	0
0.75	…	…	…	6	0
0.9	…	…	…	7	0

These prices do not exceed pre-war prices. The manufacturers allow the retailers a trade discount. Lower prices are charged to hospitals and clinics and under Government contracts. I am informed that it has been the custom of the trade to reduce prices for the Colonial market in order to compete with drugs of foreign origin.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he estimates that sufficient batteries will be available to provide bicycle lamps for Service personnel and also for the general public?

I am glad to say that we have recently secured a considerable increase in production of cycle lamp batteries. Output during January was 24 per cent. greater than in December, and equal to the highest monthly output since the beginning of the war. I expect a further increase this month. The speed at which stocks in the shops can be built up depends largely on the co-operation of the public. I would urge the public to exercise every economy in the use of batteries and not to buy more than they need for current use. The requirements of Service personnel are the responsibility of the Service Departments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange to have placed in the Vote Office copies of the Hire Purchase Order which is to come into operation on 1st March?

This has been done.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the measure of the demand for utility furniture?

Up to 29th January last, some 7,000 buying permits representing 219,000 units of furniture, had been issued. But, as the utility furniture scheme only came into operation on 1st January, it is too early to draw any reliable conclusions from these figures as to the extent of the demand.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is a member of the Ministerial Committee on Reconstruction Problems; and whether plans for the return to London of the established staff of his Ministry to enable re-evacuation to be completed by the close of hostilities are being formulated apart from security considerations?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. As regards the second part, as things are at present, I regret that I can hold out no hope of it being found practicable to arrange for the return to London of the evacuated staff of my Department by the close of hostilities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total number of men of military age employed in his Department; how many of these are under 30 years of age; and whether any of the latter are now about to be released for service in the Forces?

There are 655 men of military age employed in my Department, 125 are under 30, and about a quarter of these are awaiting call-up by the Services. Of the rest, at least 50 are in low medical categories, and 33 others, of whom 29 are accountants, have been deferred on the recommendation of Lord Kennet's Committee. Fit men below the reservation age are retained, only if this Committee are satisfied that they are, for the time being, indispensable to the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men of military age are now employed in the lands branch; and whether those who are physically fit will be released and replaced by men over military age?

The staff of the Lands Branch in the War Office and in Commands includes 219 commissioned officers under 41. All these are technical officers with professional qualifications for the work they are doing. In addition one clerk under 41 is employed in the Lands Branch at the War Office and there are some in Commands. There are not many but in the time available I have not been able to find out how many. As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, the War Department land and compensation interests are necessarily very extensive and complex in war time and it is essential for the Army and for the general public that the officers dealing with the problems which arise should in all respects be equal to their responsibilities. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to replace those officers who are medically fit for combatant service and I do not consider that their loss to the Lands Branch would on balance be justified.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works whether he will state six chief types of houses built by essentially rural district councils which he regards as both suitable to the locality and worthy of imitation under similar circumstances?

No, Sir. I can, however, inform the hon. and gallant Member that, in connection with the proposed immediate construction of 3,000 houses for agricultural workers by rural district councils, my Noble Friend in consultation with the Minister of Health, has arranged for the preparation of typical designs of houses to suit various circumstances and requirements. Account has been taken of the best existing rural building, of the advice as to standards of accommodation of the Minister of Health's Central Housing Advisory Council and of the availability of various essential materials.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of persons employed at the collieries where he has taken over either by transferring the shares to his nominees or putting in authorised controllers; and what financial arrangements have been made with the owners of such collieries?

As I informed my hon. Friend, the Member for Plaistow (Mr. Thorne) on 19th January, the amount payable to the former shareholders of the Clifton Colliery, the only undertaking whose shares have been transferred to my nominees, is to be assessed by the Treasury. Six other undertakings at which authorised controllers have been appointed, under Defence Regulation 55, remain responsible for their own financial affairs. If an undertaking is unable, however, out of its own resources to carry out instructions as to production, arrangements are available for assistance to be given out of the coal charges account. The total number of employees in the seven undertakings referred to is 10,957.

asked the Minister of Information what steps are being taken to pay tribute to the achievements of the Red Army on the occasion of its anniversary, 21st February?

An official celebration will be held in each of the Civil Defence Regions on the Saturday or Sunday, 20th or 21st February, in each case centring around a meeting, addressed by a Cabinet Minister. The London celebration will be of a national character and the Foreign Secretary will make a speech at the meeting. Regional celebrations will, for the most part, include processions representing the Fighting and Civil Defence Services and war workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many countries were allied to this country immediately following the declaration of war; what is the number now; whether any of the then Allies have joined up with the enemy; what countries remain neutral; what countries are now fighting against the Allies; and how many countries are at war with Finland, Hungary and Rumania, respectively?

Immediately after the outbreak of war two countries besides this country were fighting as Allies against Germany, viz., France and Poland. His Majesty's Government had and still have treaties of alliance with Egypt, Iraq, Portugal and Turkey. His Majesty's Government had also given unilateral guarantees of assistance against aggression to Greece and Rumania. As regards the third part of the Question, the French Government signed armistices with Germany and Italy in June, 1940, and Rumania has joined up with the enemy. As regards the second part of the Question, treaties of alliance have been concluded with Persia and the U.S.S.R. since the outbreak of the war. The number of countries now fighting with Great Britain against the Axis is 25. They are:Belgium, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Greece, Guatemala, Hayti, Honduras, Iraq, Luxemburg, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Philippine Islands, Poland, Salvador, U.S.S.R., U.S.A. and Yugoslavia. All French overseas territories except the French West Indies and French Guiana are also now fighting against the Axis.The following countries remain neutral:Afghanistan, Argentina Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Iceland, Liechstenstein, Liberia, Nepal, Paraguay, Persia, Peru, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay and Venezuela.The countries now fighting against the Allies are:Bulgaria, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Rumania and Siam.The number of countries at war with Finland, Hungary and Rumania is three, eight and seven respectively. This reply does not take into account the Dominions, for the position in regard to which I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the hon. and gallant Member for South Nottingham (Major Markham) on 15th December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give consideration to the anomalies in the relief from tax afforded for housekeepers; and whether he will sympathetically review the position of working spinsters and others who seek relief on account of employed or dependent housekeepers?

My hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate the Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has given his consideration to the resolution on old age pensions, passed at a conference in Edinburgh, endorsed by the Lochgelly Co-operative Women's Guild and sent to him by the hon. Member for West Fife; and what statement he has to make on the Government's readiness to grant these demands?

I have considered the resolution referred to. The matter will no doubt be discussed in the Debates this week.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated extra cost of raising old age pensions to 30s. per week at the ages at present covered, based on no other condition that retiral from gainful work; and what this amount would represent in additional contributions from existing contributors or, alternatively, what it would require as an additional Income Tax charge per £1?

The annual cost of paying pensions of 30s. a week to all men over 65 and all women over 60, subject to no conditions except retirement from gainful occupation, is estimated to exceed by about £300,000,000 the annual cost of contributory, old age and supplementary pensions under existing arrangements to persons of those ages. This, excess would rise with the growth of the population of pension age. £300,000,000 a year is equivalent to about 6s, per week per head of the population now insured for contributory pensions, and about 5s. per week per head of the population of working age, other than housewives. As regards Income Tax, 1s. in the £ on the standard rate of tax may be regarded as equivalent to about £100,000,000, and on this basis an additional charge of £300,000,000 would involve a rise of 3s. in the standard rate of tax.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the recent fatal accident to a civilian in Snowdonia, he will immediately issue instructions for all notices to the public giving warning of firing with live ammunition to be published in Welsh as well as in English in all areas in Wales?

Yes, Sir. Instructions have now been issued for these notices to be published in Welsh as well as English in all parts of Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will reconsider the provisions under which an unmarried wife of a soldier is debarred from receiving any dependants' allowance if, before the claim for dependants' allowance is made, the soldier has not paid her regular contributions in excess of the qualifying allotment required had the allowance been claimed and admitted at the proper time; and is he aware that this provision penalises unmarried wives who have temporarily gone into industry and subsequently have been unable to continue their occupation?

I understand my hon. Friend to refer to the procedure adopted in cases of belated claims to Special Dependants' Allowance. The primary condition of issue of this allowance is that the man must have maintained the woman as his wife immediately before he joined the colours. If he failed to claim the allowance on joining he must also show that he has continued to contribute to her support since his enlistment so far as his means as a soldier permitted. This is the normal rule and is a necessary one to safeguard the public against claims which are not genuine. But if in a specific case a soldier could show good reason for not claiming the allowance when he entered the Army and could prove—this is an indispensable condition—that he maintained the woman before he entered the Army an exception could be made to the normal rule.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there is still a lack of variety in the supply of rationed sweets for the Army in this country; and will be take steps to ensure that a regular and varied, supply is forthcoming?

N.A.A.F.I. are doing their' best in the increasing difficulties of the present time. Retail shops, however, started rationing with the advantage of a reserve stock which has so far enabled them to supply a greater variety of sweets. N.A.A.F.I. were only allotted enough sweets for their needs and were unable to build up a reserve.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the method of promotion to non-commissioned and commissioned rank in the War Department Constabulary; and whether full consideration is given to previous police or military experience?

There are no promotions to commissioned rank, i.e., assistant chief constable, in the War Department Constabulary. Assistant chief constables are appointed direct by the War Office from suitable candidates: promotions to noncommissioned rank are made by the chief constable from lower grades on merits and in the light of recommendations made by local stations. Where possible, candidates selected as suitable for the first step in promotion to police serjeant are subject to an examination in police duties. Consideration is given to previous police or military experience in so far as such experience is regarded as productive of the qualities required in a supervisory rank.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any information as to why the issue of battle-dress to British prisoners of war in Italy has not been received; and whether he will make immediate inquiries through the Protecting Power to ascertain the reason why British officers and men are not provided with proper clothing, especially at camp P.M. 3200, Italy?

To make good the failure of the Italian Government to make adequate provision of clothing for all prisoners of war in their custody in accordance with Article 12 of the Prisoners of War Convention, supplies of clothing and under-clothing for all British prisoners in Italy have been despatched to the International Red Cross at Geneva and the bulk of these supplies has reached Geneva and has been despatched from there to the camps. But transport difficulties in Italy are considerable and delays have occurred. The International Red Cross has been and is doing its best to overcome them. P.M. 3200 is a postal district covering more than twenty camps. If my hon. Friend will send me the number of the particular camp he has in mind I will gladly let him know what the clothing situation is there.

asked the Secretary of State for War who constitutes the Forces Book Club and by what method and by what officials the books are selected; whether the Director of Army Bureau of Current Affairs is a director of the Forces Book Club; whether those subscribing for the books of the club receive a batch of books selected by the club or choose the books for themselves; how many copies of "Is To-morrow Hitler's?" were distributed to subscribers; and why that book was selected by the club at all?

The members of the Forces Book Club are the units and establishments in the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Dominion and Allied Forces who subscribe to the club. The titles are chosen by a panel on which the Admiralty is represented by their Director of Education, and by a member of one of their welfare organisations; the R.A.F. by their Director of Education' and their Director of Welfare; the War Office by the Director-General of Welfare and Education (who is chairman), the Director of Army Education, and the Director of A.B.C.A. The Officer in charge Services Central Book Depot and the chief librarian there are also members of the panel. I may add that the librarian of the Royal United Service Institution has just agreed to consider as an independent reader such books as are referred to him and to draw attention to any reasonable objection to the inclusion of those books. Ten books are produced and despatched to the subscribers every month. It is impossible for the subscribers to choose the titles but it is the policy of the panel to choose such books as the average soldier might be expected to buy for himself if he could. Of the 10 books about seven are works of fiction and three are non-fictional works of general interest which aim at giving a broad range of opinion and comment upon world affairs. It is rightly assumed that soldiers can make up their own minds and are not liable to swallow whole any single presentation of controversial matters. The Forces Book Club propose shortly to issue Charlotte Haldane's "Russian News Reel" as well as a book by Leonard Barnes about the solution of the problem of nationalities in the Soviet Union. If the short chapter about Soviet Russia in "Is To-morrow Hitler's?" has caused any misapprehensions about that country these books should amply correct them, 5,932 copies of this book were distributed to subscribers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will take steps to organise the maximum possible supply of casual labour to meet the requirements of the forthcoming harvest in the North of Scotland?

Plans for the provision of the maximum possible supply of labour for agriculture in the North, as well as throughout the rest of Scotland, are already well in hand. They include schemes for increasing the forces of regular supplementary labour such as the Women's Land Army, prisoners of war and agricultural executive committees' gangs. In addition to these forces, we are endeavouring to organise students and the many other thousands of extra hands needed for harvesting the grain and potato crops. These plans are being developed in close co-operation with the Ministry of Labour and National Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the appeal of the Scottish Wholesale Clothing Association, and associated bodies, against the withdrawal of labour from their factories, with consequent loss of immediate employment in Scotland and the danger of destruction of an important light industry in the post-war period; and what steps he is taking to prevent this?

The Scottish Wholesale Clothing Association have written to me and I have advised them to submit a full statement to the Scottish Council on Industry from whom I await a report. In the meantime I have consulted my right hon. Friends the Minister of Labour and the President of the Board of Trade and am assured that arrangements have been made whereby any concentration decided upon will be effected with the least possible disturbance to industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that officers of the Royal Air Force have appeared on public platforms in support of the Common Wealth candidate at the Northern Midlothian by-election; whether the King's Regulations relating to personnel taking part in political meetings have been changed; and, if not, whether he will take steps to see that the Regulations are observed?

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No, Sir." If my hon. and learned Friend, will let me have particulars, I will have inquiries made. As regards the second part, the regulations which forbid officers and men of the R.A.F. to take an active part in the affairs of any political organisation or party have only been relaxed in the case of Members of Parliament and of candidates for Parliament. As regards the third part, the attention of all concerned is again being drawn to the regulations on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is satisfied that the arrangements for co-operation between the Air Training Corps and the Boy Scouts Association are working satisfactorily, and will he consider extending the scope for the further development of the Air Scouts?

The arrangements for co-operation between the Air Training Corps and the Boy Scouts Association are in general working satisfactorily and I shall continue to encourage this form of co-operation as far as is possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the grant to soldiers of leave on account of damage to homes or injury to near relatives as a result of enemy air action applies to the Royal Air Force?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of officers of the Auxiliary Air Force who have been promoted to the rank of temporary wing-commander, temporary group captain and temporary air-commodore respectively?

113 Auxiliary Air Force officers have been promoted to the temporary rank of wing-commander and 24 to the temporary rank of group captain. No Auxiliary Air Force officers have been promoted to the temporary rank of air commodore.