asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will reconsider the case previously submitted to him of a university honours graduate who was called up while carrying out research work with a professor at Cambridge University chemical laboratory; that this man, whose subject is physics and who is a wrangler, was filling a reserved occupation and would be performing services more valuable to the nation if allowed to continue his work as a physicist; that the fact of his being a conscientious objector would seem to have been the reason for his release being refused; and whether he will investigate these circumstances?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 17th December, 1942. No further application for this man's release has so far as I am aware been made.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the correct rationing allowance, nine days or 10 days, for men in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps stationed in England when proceeding on quarterly leave; and whether all Royal Army Ordnance depots are bound by the same rule in issuing the allowances?

The usual period of leave in all arms of the Service is nine days, but my hon. Friend will realise that it is impossible to keep to this period meticulously in every case. The leave rate of ration allowance is normally issued for every day of such leave.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is necessary for men over 40 years of age, recommended for commission in administrative duties, to undergo the same physical training as younger candidates?

It is unusual for candidates over 40 years old to be recommended for commissions. Physical fitness is essential for those who are but it is unnecessary for them to reach the same standard of physical training as younger men.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in order to give the Girls' Training Corps a sense of importance to the war effort comparable to that of the boys' training organisations, he will make a grant to enable all the members, irrespective of their financial position, to obtain essential uniform?

On the general question of the supply of uniform to members of Girls' Training Corps units I would refer the hon. Lady to the reply given on 30th September to the hon. Member for Bilston (Mr. Hannah), a copy of which, I am sending to her. On the question of grant in aid of the provision of uniforms it is not possible to discriminate between members of the National Association of Girls' Training Corps and members of the other uniformed voluntary organisations, whether for boys or for girls. I am well aware of present difficulties.

asked the Minister of Information what is the total number of persons at present employed by his Ministry; and how many of these are men of military age and women under 30 years of age?

On 1st February, 1943, the total number of staff employed in this country by the Ministry of Information (exclusive of staff employed by the Postal and Telegraph Censorship Department) was 2,824. Of these, 644 were men between 18 and 41 (including 142 medically rejected or discharged from the Forces) and 805 were women between 19 and 30.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Colonel L. W. Harrison, his consultant adviser on venereal diseases, resigned his post at St. Thomas' Hospital, London, some years ago, and has not been in recent years the director of St. Thomas' venereal diseases clinic; and whether his departmental records can now be corrected?

Yes, Sir. I have already apologised privately to my hon. Friend for the error in the answer given to him on 9th February.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consult with all Government Departments, with the object of saving man-power, as to the arranging of a system, through the Ministry of Transport of a commuted settlement basis for claims in respect of goods consigned on a G.1 note?

If my hon. Friend will let me have further particulars of what he has in mind, I will inquire into this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what use is now being made of the Department of Overseas Trade; and in what respect it is anticipated that its post-war activities will differ from its pre-war activities?

The Department of Overseas Trade administers the commercial diplomatic service in foreign countries and the trade commissioner service in Empire countries; it collects commercial and economic intelligence from overseas for present and future use; and deals with some 2,000 inquiries a month about current export trade. As I informed the House on 3rd February, in the course of my statement on post-war economic policy, my hon. Friend the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department is presiding over a committee on post-war export prospects, and discussions have already taken place with 52 export industries. It is not possible at present to anticipate the precise post-war arrangements which will be made for dealing with these exceedingly important matters.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of chairmen of medical boards and the number of consultants and specialists to whom doubtful cases were referred by medical boards; and the amount received by the chairmen, the consultants and specialists, respectively, out of the total sum so far paid to members of the medical profession forming the recruiting boards?

The number of chairmen of medical boards is at present 180. The amount paid in fees to consultants and specialists during the period 1st September, 1939, to 31st December, 1942, was £395,500. The remainder of the information asked for is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of medical men holding appointments, either whole or part time, under the Government or local authorities who are or have been at any time chairmen or members of medical boards or consultants or specialists to whom doubtful cases were referred?

With the exception of one member of a medical board who is a medical officer on the staff of the Ministry of Health and has been seconded to my Department for the duration of the war, no chairman or member of a medical board holds a whole time appointment under the Government or a local authority. The officer referred to does not receive any remuneration, in addition to his salary, for his medical board work. As regards the remainder of the Question, I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether wire-netting is made available for allotment holders with or without permits, or what alternative form of fencing is being provided?

Permits for wire netting for agricultural fencing purposes are issued by war agricultural executive committees. Wire netting, being a steel product, is scarce, and committees are obliged to exercise economy in distributing their limited allocations. Strand wire or chestnut pale fencing are recommended as suitable substitutes for wire netting for protection of allotments.

asked the Secretary of State for India what is the average life period for a man in India now; and what it was in the years 1901, 1911, 1921, 1931 and 1941?

I have not the information to enable me to reply to the first part of the Question. The expectation of life at the earlier dates for males at age 0 is shown in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in order to avoid loss or delay in the delivery of Red Cross parcels to British prisoners of war, he will prepare a scheme whereby instead of despatching parcels from this country, parcels could be supplied by the British Red Cross to enemy prisoners of war in our hands and whereby, after evidence is produced to the German, Italian and Japanese through Geneva as to quantities and contents of such parcels, an equal number of parcels with equivalent contents should be distributed to British prisoners of war in German, Italian and Japanese hands by the Red Cross organisations of those countries?

My hon. Friend's suggestion has been considered but is, I fear, impracticable.

asked the Secretary of State for War who convened the recent conference, held at the War Office, on the subject of anti-syphilitic treatment in the Services and especially the incidence of toxic recurring jaundice after treatment by arsenical preparations; whether this conference was a departmental one; whether medical representatives from all the Service Departments were present as well as from the Ministry of Health; and whether any representatives, medical or lay, of the private firms manufacturing in this country the drugs used in anti-syphilitic treatment were present?

The conference held at the War Office on the subject of jaundice, following anti-syphilitic treatment by arsenical preparations, was convened by the Director of Hygiene, with the approval of the Director-General, Army Medical Services. Medical representatives of all the three Services, of the Canadian and U.S.A. Forces, and of several of the larger civilian clinics as well as of the Ministry of Health, were present. The answer to the last part of the Question is "No, Sir."

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that a high percentage, in one case as high as 20 per cent., of the imported canned fruit just released for sale in the Southwark area is unsaleable and unfit for consumption; whether the goods were imported in that condition or whether it is due to too lengthy storage; whether steps can be taken to prevent similar wastage of shipping and transport, either due to loading unsaleable goods or holding them until they become unsaleable, and also the wastage of labour involved through retailers having to report the unfit food to the food officer and the necessary transactions in re-issuing points?

No complaints have been received by the Ministry of any undue proportion of the imported canned fruit just released for sale being unsaleable or unfit for consumption. It is possible that during transit or storage a certain small amount of deterioration would occur, but this is inevitable, in view of the fact that stocks of such goods as canned fruit, which are packed seasonably, must be accumulated to reach a certain figure before a national distribution is possible. I am satisfied, however, that the percentage of unsaleable or unfit canned fruit of the total quantity just released, has been negligible. As no further importations of canned fruit are likely in the near future, the second part of the Question does not arise.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that on the release of tinned fruit, which was recently announced, only a small quantity of this commodity was allotted to Londonderry City and that some shops only received three tins; and whether he is satisfied that Northern Ireland was fairly treated in this allocation?

I am not aware of any reason why Londonderry City should not have received its due proportion of the canned fruit just released, and I am satisfied that Northern Ireland was fairly treated in this allocation. The Ministry allocated and delivered to Northern Ireland its fair proportion of the total allocation of the imported canned fruit owned by the Ministry. I would point out that the total quantity available was very small, particularly in comparison with pre-war importations, and where only a few tins were received by certain shops, this would indicate that every effort was made on the part of traders to see that the small quantity available was distributed as equitably as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that there are sufficient beds available in maternity homes; and what steps are taken to retain the services of skilled nurses, especially in areas where large numbers of women are employed in war factories and where the normal requirements of local authorities are insufficient to meet the demand for pre-natal treatment as well as nursery facilities?

The greatest difficulty in meeting the increased demand for inpatient maternity accommodation which has resulted from war-time conditions is due to the shortage of skilled staff and on this Question I may refer to the reply given on nth February by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Wallsend (Miss Ward).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the advisory committee appointed last March to act as a consultative committee with the Industrial and Export Council has presented its Report; and when will it be available to Members?

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the Central Commitee of Export Groups. This committee has presented a preliminary report which is now being considered. It is not proposed to publish it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied that adequate supplies of woollen underwear are reserved for children up to four years of age?

Yes, Sir. The production of infants' wool underwear is up to requirements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what mixture of wool and cotton he proposes to use for underwear for children above four years of age; and whether he is aware that it is generally considered that this underwear should contain a mixture of not less than 60 per cent. wool?

The proportion in which wool can be mixed with other yarns is determined by the supplies of wool available for civilian purposes and by the priority which I am advised it is right to give to the needs of children up to the age of four. In present supply conditions, the bulk of the production of winter weight underwear for adults and older children will have to be in mixtures in which wool is 50 per cent. or rather less, but I shall keep the proportion of wool in the garments designed for children as high as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the acceptance form on which claimants are asked to agree a sum in full settlement for chattels damaged or destroyed as the result of the war; and, as payment will not be made until after the conclusion of hostilities, whether the sum will be adjusted according to the purchasing value of the pound at the time payment is made?

Yes, Sir; but by signing the acceptance form claimants in no way prejudice their right to a re-adjustment of the settlement if the Government should decide after the war that, owing to the level of prices at that time, re-adjustment is necessary. I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement made by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade in the Debate on the War Damage (Amendment) Bill on 3rd June, 1942 [OFFICIAL REPORT, cols. 779–784; Vol. 380].

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in cases where a pawnbroker's premises have been destroyed by enemy action, separate claims for war damage must be made by each person whose property was on the premises?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the extent of the demand for utility furniture and whether the supply is sufficient to meet the immediate needs of the people requiring it?

As regards the first part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 16th February to my hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for Tonbridge (Sir A. Baillie). As regards the second part, substantial quantities of utility furniture are now being made and increasing supplies are becoming available. I hope that all who receive permits will be able to obtain their furniture without undue delay.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the occasions to date on which he has found it necessary to invoke the machinery of Statutory Rules and Orders No. 102 of 1943?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave to similar Questions on this subject to-day, including one by himself.

asked the Minister of Supply the names of the firms with whom orders for ampoules of neo-arsphenamine have recently been placed by his Department; the monetary value of the order and the date of the last order; and whether the order was for drugs to be used in Britain or for export?

It would be contrary to established practice to give the names of the firms with whom these contracts have been placed. The total value of current contracts is £11,513 18s. 8d., and the last one was placed on 4th January, 1943. The requirements are for the Armed Forces.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the parcels rates for the Forces in Rhodesia is many times higher than to other parts of Africa and will he readjust them?

The postage rates on parcels for His Majesty's Forces serving in Northern and Southern Rhodesia are 3 lb. 9d., 7 lb. 1s. 6d., 11 lb. 2s. These rates are the same as those operative for His Majesty's Forces in other countries except that the Rhodesian administration do not admit parcels over 11 lb in weight.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the considerable delay in air-mail letters to India; that the Christmas letters for the Punjab had not arrived in the middle of January; and whether he will inquire at the receiving end as to the causes of delay and remedy the same?

I am aware of the delay which has occurred recently to air-mail letters for India, particularly those intended for Christmas delivery there. The delay has been due to congestion of mail traffic on the air services from Africa to India, due partly to irregularity of arrivals in South Africa by sea from this country, and I would refer the hon. Member to the full statement as regards India given in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Taunton (Lieut.-Colonel Wickham) on 15th December. As regards the receiving end, responsibility for the treatment of mails in India is of course a matter for the Indian postal authorities; but, so far as mail for the Forces in India is concerned, a committee appointed by Field Marshal Sir Archibald Wavell has been reviewing the position with a view to effecting all possible improvement.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will authorise exemption from fire-guard duties of widowers who have young children in their care and who are unable to obtain the services of a housekeeper?

I recognise that there may sometimes be grounds for exempting widowers with young children living with them in their care but circumstances will vary greatly from case to case. I feel therefore that it would be better to leave such cases to be dealt with by the hardship tribunals which are in a position to assess the individual merits of applications submitted to them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether consideration will be given to the case of coasting masters who have joined the Merchant Navy Officers Pool, and who have been compelled to leave the pool on account of the shortage of berths for coasting masters; and whether, as some of them have been advised to retire but have no funds on which to do so, this aspect of the case will be given due consideration?

Arrangements are made wherever possible for home-trade officers who are surplus to home-trade requirements, and who are suitable for employment in foreign-going ships, to be offered such employment. The Merchant Navy Reserve pool authorities have found it necessary to ask a number of elderly officers to retire and to seek employment ashore, but this action is only taken when an officer has been on reserve pool pay for a considerable period and when there is no prospect of finding him further employment at sea.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware of the saving by railway companies through the discontinuance of the practice of heating trains; and whether he will consult the railway authorities so that such saving can be reflected in fares charged to the travelling public?

Normally trains are heated from 1st October until 30th April. In order to save fuel, the heating of trains, other than long distance night trains, did not begin this winter until 1st November, and will be discontinued after 31st March. Apart from other considerations, the saving in expenditure is relatively so small that it would not be practicable to reflect it in a reduction of fares.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Income Tax payers are entitled to post-war credits; how many have already been notified of the amounts of their credits to date; what is the total value of all post-war credits; between what maxima and minima do they range; and what is the average amount of the credits?

It is estimated that the number of taxpayers who are entitled to a post-war credit for the year 1941–42 is about 10,500,000 of whom 95 per cent. have already been notified of the amounts due to them. The aggregate amount of the tax credits for 1941–42 will be about £125,000,000. A taxpayer's post-war credit for the year 1941–42 may be any sum up to £65 according to his circumstances and the amount of his income. The hon. Member will find details of the particular amounts appropriate to the various classes of taxpayers and to selected incomes in the Tables printed in the "Financial Statement" for 1941–42 (H.C. 73). Figures for the current year are not yet available but the numbers of taxpayers and the aggregate credits will be greater than for the year 1941–42.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether an instruction has been issued on the basis of the Army Instruction that all cafés, restaurants and public bars shall be open to all ranks in the Air Force below the rank of commissioned officer; and, if no such instruction has been issued, whether he will do so?

A similar instruction for the Royal Air Force was issued in October, 1941.