asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the acute shortage of domestic workers, he will consider setting up a committee to investigate the best way to organise this service?

I have this matter under active consideration, but am unable to make a statement at present.

If I put down the Question again in a fortnight, will my right hon. Friend be in a position to give me an answer?

I will try.

asked the Minister of Labour what Government subsidy or losses have been incurred, after including all charges such as rent, rates, lighting and heating, by the operations to date of the National Service Hostels Corporation, Limited?

In respect of industrial hostels, including those managed by private firms as agents, the excess of payments by the Hostels Corporation over receipts for the period from 23rd May, 1941 (the date of incorporation of the Corporation), to 31st December, 1942, was approximately £135,000, in addition to certain outstanding but unascertained liabilities for rates, lighting, heating, etc. The financial arrangements between my Ministry and the Corporation in respect of these hostels provide that no rent shall be payable by the Corporation and that the net losses shall be made good by the Exchequer. In addition, the Hostels Corporation are operating temporary hostels for the Ministry of Health and constructional camps hostels for the Ministry of Works. In respect of these operations, grants have been made to the Corporation by those Ministries, totalling £80,500 and £7,550, respectively.

Is there any reason to believe that these heavy losses have been incurred through inefficient management?

No, it has been a question of filling them, to a large extent, and of the constant movement of people.

About how much per head of the people in the hostels would the loss amount to?

I cannot answer that.

Would the Minister admit that in general the managements are inefficient?

I would not—not the managements of the hostels.

asked the Minister of Labour how many hostels are now operated by the National Services Hostels Corporation, Limited; the total number of beds available to residents; how many of these beds remained unlet on the 1st January last or any other recent convenient date; and what is the total number of employees of the Corporation, including the whole of the administrative staff?

On 5th February, 1943, the number of industrial hostels being operated by the National Service Hostels Corporation, direct or through agents, was 30, some of which had only recently been opened. The total number of beds available to residents was 17,727, of which 5,968 were unlet on that day. The number of direct employees of the Corporation at the hostels is 2,335, and 496 are employed at the four hostels managed by private firms as agents. The Hostels Corporation operates hostels also for my right hon. Friends the Minister of Health and the Minister of Works, and the headquarters and area staff of the Corporation, totalling 105, are partly engaged in administering these hostels, and also in preparatory work for the opening of further industrial hostels.

Are we to understand that the staff is in the proportion of one to five of the residents?

About that, I should think.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the hindrance to war production due to the fact that optical workers are still being called up into the Army, where no use is made of their special knowledge, whereas war workers are without spectacles, causing inefficiency of production; and whether he will temporarily defer calling up these workers?

As stated in my reply on 4th February to the hon. and gallant Member for King's Norton (Major Peto), my Department is in close touch with the Ministry of Supply and the Ministry of Health on the question of safeguarding labour in the optical industry. Deferment of calling up of workers engaged in this industry is not refused without consultation with those Departments.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider obtaining the release of some men now in the Army, so that industrial workers can have their glasses? Production is being seriously interfered with through men and women not having glasses and being unable to do their work properly?

The circumstances of the war are such that I am afraid there is very little chance of getting men out of the Army. The obligations of the services are so great.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is his policy to regard domestic work in hospitals and sanatoria as an essential service; and will he direct women who are called up to this work, so that all the beds in these institutions may be available to those who need them?

I am glad to have the opportunity of emphasising that domestic work in hospitals and similar institutions is regarded as vital war work for women of all ages. As I recently announced to the House, I am proposing to make a wider use of the power of direction to unscheduled work, and the needs of domestic work in hospitals are receiving urgent consideration in this connection.

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to use those wide powers immediately?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the resolution, dated 10th February, of the Eastbourne and District Chamber of Commerce requesting that female pivotal workers under 35 years of age be allowed to be retained for more than six months; and whether he has any statement to make thereon?

I have considered the resolution to which the hon. and gallant Member refers, but I am not prepared to make any alteration in the arrangements for the withdrawal of women from the retail non-food distributive trades which I announced in the House on 17th December in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Holland-with-Boston (Mr. Butcher).

asked the Minister of Labour the number of names of ex-Service men now on the register of his Appointments Department; and, what steps he is taking to ensure the removal of those persons of military age who have been privately appointed to departmental positions by regional offices without reference to the claims and qualifications of ex-Service men?

In reply to the first part of the Question, I cannot add to my reply on nth February to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Lonsdale (Sir I. Fraser), of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. As regards the second part of the Question, no fit man of military age can remain in a particular employment without deferment obtained through the district manpower board or other machinery which is applicable to special cases.

Does that apply also to people in Government service?

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Labour what he intends doing with the case, details of which have been sent to him, of a woman, an experienced welfare supervisor, working for a Midland firm at a war factory for 4s. per week; and what steps he is taking to give her more suitable employment?

I am having inquiries made, and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has now considered making arrangements whereby the police shall be instructed to see that conscientious objectors directed to work put in the full hours of that employment?

Yes, Sir, but I do not regard police supervision as necessary or appropriate, nor can I suppose that these duties could be undertaken by the police without addition to their numbers. Periodical inquiries by my officers, and investigation of complaints are, in my opinion, sufficient to meet the needs of the case.

When there are local complaints about a man exempted from service and directed to work of national importance not keeping time, would the Minister wish the local tribunal to report the matter to him?

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the difficulty experienced by milk distributors in Lancashire, including co-operative societies, in getting supplies to their customers owing to the shortage of labour; and whether he can make arrangements for members of the Women's Land Army to be allowed to undertake this work, seeing that many producer-retailers are employing them for this work at rates of pay less than that paid by other milk distributors and as, according to the Lancashire farmers' chief executive office, there is a long list of Women's Land Army volunteers in Lancashire anxious to obtain other employment?

With regard to the first part of the Question, I am having inquiries made and will communicate with my hon. Friend. The second part of the Question is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture.

Can my right hon. Friend consult with the Minister of Agriculture and impress upon him the need for releasing some of these girls to do this work, in view of the vital importance of getting supplies of milk to customers?

I will discuss the matter with him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that the wardens' posts in Streatham and elsewhere are healthy and suitable for the long hours imposed on full-time wardens; and will he examine the possibility of adding a small room with windows where fresh air and sunshine may enter and where useful and remunerative work may be done?

Wardens' posts were not designed to provide accommodation for productive work, and, even if enlarged, such small units could seldom be used economically for this purpose. I have no reason to think, however, that local authorities generally are not doing their best under present difficult conditions to make suitable arrangements for the wardens on duty, whether whole-time or part-time. I am informed that the need for improvements in the area mentioned by my hon. Friend is recognised by the local authority, and the proposals which they have in hand will receive favourable consideration so far as the supply of labour and materials allow.

Is the Home Secretary aware that in the earlier stages when these cubby holes were built the local authority wanted to make them larger, but then-plans were turned down on the ground of expense; and will he take steps to ensure that that does not happen when the matter is reconsidered?

I was not aware of that, but, as I informed my hon. Friend, we shall take a favourable view of the application of the local authority.

asked the Home Secretary the number of alien waiters who were interned in the Isle of Man or shipped to Australia who have been released to serve again in hotels and restaurants; and whether these aliens are under police supervision?

The statistics desired are not available, but releases of interned aliens to resume employment in hotels or restaurants have, as a general rule, been made only after consultation with the Ministry of Labour and National Service, and after due consideration of the question whether the alien was not fit for some form of war work, and whether his employment in a hotel or restaurant would release someone else for war work. The answer to the last part of the Question is in the affirmative, and I may add that the International Labour Force (Registration of Austrians, Germans and Italians) Order, 1941, enables the Minister of Labour and National Service to keep under constant review the employments on which aliens are engaged.

Does not the Minister realise that when these aliens are employed in preference to British workers there is great danger, especially when they have not been naturalised and still owe allegiance to their mother country?

I can assure my hon. Friend that that point is kept in mind.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any statement to make about improved lighting for pedal cyclists?

Yes, Sir. I am amending the Lighting Order to permit an alternative method of screening bicycle lamps. The top half of the front glass will be blacked out as at present, but the inside of the top half of the glass and the whole of the reflector will be whitened. This can be done either with paint or white paper. I am advised that the driving light thus produced is a considerable improvement on that obtained by the existing method, and is welcomed by representatives of the cyclists associations.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this concession will give great satisfaction to thousands of cyclists all over the country; and is he also aware that we are hoping for another instalment later on?

Thank you very much; I will do my best.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can now make his promised statement upon police widows' pensions?

The position hitherto has been that the Police Federation do not feel able to accept the principle recommended by the Snell Committee that the cost of increased pensions for widows of police officers should fall not on public funds but mainly on the police themselves and, in the absence of agreement on this fundamental point, I can see no prospect of legislation to give effect to the Committee's proposals.

In view of that statement, will the right hon. Gentleman consider dealing with the existing police widows, who cannot possibly be affected by any contributions from serving officers now?

That is a separate question which should be put upon the Order Paper.

asked the Home Secretary whether in view of the man-power situation, he will consider the possibility of further economies in wholetime police establishments?

I have recently considered this matter in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, and we have decided that whole-time police strengths should be reduced in order that the police service may make a further contribution to the needs of the Armed Forces and of industry. It would not be in the public interest to give details of the reduction, but the contribution which will be required from any particular force will depend mainly on its war-time responsibilities, and steps will be taken to revise establishments on this basis. In informing police authorities and chief constables of this decision, it being made clear that the Government recognise that some reduction in the services rendered to the country by the police may have to be accepted. The Government are satisfied, however, that this is a risk which is justified at the present stage in the war, and that they can rely on the loyal co-operation of the whole service in securing that the reductions shall result in the least possible diminution of efficiency.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether, in connection with the arrangement he has just announced, there was prior consultations between the different bodies in order to obtain some co-operation?

There has been suitable consultation, which obviously has had to be on a confidential basis.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the communication sent to him by the chairman of the Cheltenham General Hospital drawing attention to the acute shortage of domestic staff; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

Yes, Sir. I have been in touch with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service. Owing to the calls upon woman-power, there is a shortage of domestic staff in many hospitals, but priority is given to finding women for such work, and he will give the hospital whatever help he can.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the great delay taking place in the supply of spectacle lenses to insured persons; and will he consider a scheme of priority distribution for workers in other war factories, similar to that existing in the Royal Ordnance factories, to prevent the present hindrance in war production?

Yes, Sir. I am well aware of the difficulty referred to in the first part of the Question. My Department has been in consultation with the Ministry of Supply on the general question, and that Department is now engaged in securing additional labour and factory space in order to increase production so as to avoid delay in the supply of spectacles to all classes of the community. With regard to the second part of the Question, I am afraid that it would not be practicable to arrange for a scheme of priority distribution of spectacle lenses for workers in all war factories.

asked the Minister of Health (1) why the Rushcliffe Committee recommendations on the nursing services are not made obligatory on all hospital authorities;

(2) whether he is satisfied that potential nurses will be attracted to the profession at a standing salary of £40 a year, and that £55 is an adequate salary for the assistant nurse, Category E;

(3) whether he is satisfied that £70 a year is a fair salary to offer a fully qualified State-registered nurse?

I have no power to impose the obligation suggested by the hon. Lady, but I do not in any case believe that such action would be necessary to secure the adoption of recommendations made by a Committee so fully representative of hospital authorities and of nurses. I think that the adoption of the recommendations will materially assist in recruitment for the nursing profession, and I see no reason to dissent from any of them. As indicated in the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stone (Sir J. Lamb) on nth February, I have indeed already commended these recommendations to hospital authorities, and have informed them of the Government's readiness to give financial assistance towards the substantial increase in cost which they will involve.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that unless he makes these recommendations compulsory, certain reactionary authorities will not adopt them? Furthermore, will he give me a specific answer? Does he approve of these low salaries suggested for lower-grade persons?

I have already answered the second part of that question. With regard to the first part, I was told precisely the same with regard to holidays with pay, but it did not work out that way. Good-will did more than compulsion.

Is the right hon. Gentleman trying to evade the question?

Not at all. The hon. Lady had better wait. Some 20 representatives of nurses and 20 of employers signed a unanimous report. I have no doubt that nurses will agree to the procedure that has been adopted, especially in the light of the fact that I have no power of compulsion.

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to recommend to local authorities that they should put this Report into operation?

I have already done so.

Is it not a fact that these salaries acre still much too low?

I agree with the Report which was made by those concerned after 12 hard months of labour. Complete agreement was reached, and I hope' my hon. Friend will not disturb the recruiting campaign by such a suggestion.

Give the members of the Cabinet 12 months' hard labour.

asked the Minister of Health the number of deaths in mental and mental deficiency institutions for each year from, and including, 1938 and onwards; and the percentage for each year to the total population of those institutions?

As the answer involves a tabular statement, I will with permission circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is there anything in the nature of an alarming increase in the percentage of these deaths?

No, Sir. The hon. Gentleman had better look at the answer.

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases of diphtheria notified in the county of Durham during the years 1930 to 1942; and the number of fatal cases?

As the reply involves a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the menace to post-war agriculture and food supplies in enemy-occupied allied countries and the probable need of introducing mechanical cultivation into those countries where few mechanics will be found, in consequence of which the Technical Advisory Committee on Agriculture has recommended provision for the training of Allied nationals now in this country in mechanical services in agriculture generally, his Department are taking steps to carry out this recommendation?

The possibility of making arrangements for appropriate training is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount of the present demand for Women's Land Army labour; whether the requirements can be fully satisfied; and, if not, what steps he is taking to secure the volunteers needed?

The Women's Land Army has already been notified of over 6,000 vacancies to be filled over the next two months. Additional recruits are needed now to meet immediate demands, and increasing numbers will be urgently required during the months ahead. Recruiting has been re-opened all over the country except for certain industrial areas. Women of 19 years and over should apply through the local offices of the Ministry of Labour. Young women who are not yet of registration age can apply direct to their Land Army county office. It is still hoped that an adequate number of volunteers will be forthcoming without opening recruiting in the more industrial parts of the country, but the position in this respect is being carefully watched.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that farmers are now willing to accept the services of members of the Women's Land Army?

Yes, Sir, I think the prejudice that once existed has disappeared and that proof of that can be found in the fact that there are 6,000 vacancies to-day which we cannot fill and for which we want recruits.

Do I understand that applicants from industrial areas are precluded from joining the Women's Land Army?

No, Sir, I do not think applicants will be precluded, but we have an arrangement with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that in certain areas we shall not recruit.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that adequate arrangements exist for dealing with complaints of members of the Women's Land Army?

I am always trying to improve the administration. Any girl who has, or feels she has, any cause for complaint should apply to the county secretary, who will make an investigation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the subsidy of 75 per cent. for agricultural lime is still available and whether it will be available till the end of 1943?

No, Sir. The increase in the rate of subsidy to 75 per cent. last summer was restricted to deliveries made during the period from 18th May to 31st August, since when the rate has been 50 per cent.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is some dissatisfaction about this?

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will now, as a possible contribution towards ending the present deadlock in India, allow influential non-party men, like Messrs. Sapru and Rajagopalachari, to confer with Mr. Gandhi?

I am content to leave the question of interviews with Mr. Gandhi to the discretion of the Government of India.

In view of the appalling and dangerous deadlock in India, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it would be wise to use the advice of such men in an important matter of this kind?

No, Sir.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that a new situation has been created by the resignation of three members of the Viceroy's Council, and will he make suggestions to the Viceroy that the contacts suggested in the Question should be allowed?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for India (1) whether he will arrange to place at the disposal of Members of Parliament the whole of the correspondence that has recently passed between the Viceroy of India and Mr. Gandhi;

(2) whether he will arrange for the correspondence that recently passed between the Viceroy and Mr. Gandhi to be published in full in the newspapers circulating in India?

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the recently-published correspondence between Mr. Gandhi and the Viceroy represents and includes the whole of the correspondence or only a selection; and whether this and other relevant matters are to be published as a White Paper?

The recent correspondence between Mr. Gandhi and the Viceroy has been given in its entirety to the Press, both in India and in this country. It has been made available in the Library and I will readily supply a copy to any hon. Member who desires it. It is not proposed to lay a White Paper.

Will my right hon. Friend be good enough to supply a copy of the correspondence between Mr. Rajagopalachari and Mr. Gandhi?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are references in the correspondence to other letters which apparently have not been published?

There may be, and in those letters there may be references to other correspondence.

Will the right hon. Gentleman publish those letters?

asked the Secretary of State for India the total number to date of British and Indian killed and wounded arising out of disturbances in India during the preceding 12 months; and how many punishments by whipping have been imposed?

My information relates only to the period from 9th August to 30th November during which 1,028 persons lost their lives in connection with the disturbances and 3,215 were more or less seriously injured. The number of casualties among European British subjects was naturally very small in proportion to the total but precise figures are not available to me. During the same period 958 sentences of whipping, or as it should be described, of caning, were imposed in British India, excluding the United Provinces for which figures have not been supplied.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that if these floggings had been imposed in this country, the whole House would have felt outraged?

I hope the hon. Gentleman appreciates the seriousness of the situation.

What kind of cane is used?

It is, I believe, a thin rattan cane of under half-an-inch diameter.

Do not Questions of this kind on the Order Paper create very serious disturbances in India?

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer with whom he has consulted about interests in the Far East, Malaya and other places; what are the proposals that have been made; has any assurance been given by him; and whether he will make a full statement?

The hon. Member will no doubt have seen in the Press the correspondence which has taken place between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies and his predecessors and a Committee presided over by Sir John Hay on the subject of the loss and damage in the territories of Malaya, Burma, Hong Kong, Borneo and Sarawak. In this correspondence my right hon. Friend has referred to and confirmed the following assurance which was given to Colonial Governments in June last and applies also to Burma:

"It will be the general aim of His Majesty's Government after the war that, with a view to the well-being of the people and the resumption of productive activity, property and goods destroyed or damaged in the Colonial Empire should be replaced or repaired to such extent and over such a period of time as resources permit. If the resources of any part of the Colonial Empire are insufficient to enable this purpose to be achieved without aid, His Majesty's Government would be ready to give what assistance they can in conjunction with such Common fund or organisation that may be established for post-war reconstruction."

Will my right hon. Friend do everything he can to maintain our overseas air services so that after the war we shall be able to pay for the social services which we all desire for the people of this country?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the particulars sent to him of an advertisement for a youth, 16½ to 17 years of age, to work in a factory at a commencing wage of £4 4s. a week; will he take steps to ascertain the name of the factory and whether it is engaged on Government contracts; and, if so, have the prices of the contract specially investigated?

Yes, Sir. I have considered these particulars, but there are many objections to proceeding on the lines proposed by my hon. Friend.

Will not my right hon. Friend make an appeal to employers that in determining the wages of youths under 18 without special qualifications, they will have full regard to the national interest?

That is a matter which, of course, comes within the province of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour. I understand that a number of trade unions are taking certain steps to deal with matters of this kind.

Will the Chancellor draw the attention of his right hon. Friend to this matter?

Did the advertisement state how many hours of overtime were included in the wage?

I have not seen the advertisement.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many middle-class people pay more per week for the education of their sons?