asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the statistical returns during this war of the treatment of syphilitic cases in the Navy shows treatment with marphaside or with neoarsphenamine as giving the best results?

The decision to introduce mepharside as a form of treatment for syphilis in the Royal Navy was taken on 27th March, 1942. The drawing up of a scheme of treatment, and the obtaining and distribution of the drug delayed its introduction on any extensive scale for a few months. As the treatment of syphilis is normally spread over two years (although this period may be reduced by mepharside), no naval statistics are yet available to indicate the efficacy of the drug.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether an instruction has been issued on the basis of the Army Instruction that all cafes, restaurants and public bars shall be open to all ranks in the Navy below the rank corresponding to commissioned officer in the Army and, if no such instruction has been issued, whether he will do so?

The practice in regard to hotels, bars and restaurants is governed by the instructions issued by the military authorities, and the Admiralty have not found it necessary to issue any separate instructions on the subject.

asked the Prime Minister the average age of the professional members of the Board of Admiralty, the Army Council and the Air Council, respectively?

The information asked for by my hon. and gallant Friend is as follows:

• Board of Admiralty—56 years 2 months.
• The Army Council—54 years 9 months.
• The Air Council—51 years 3 months.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the calling up of Mr. Howard, of Framlingham, harness maker and repairer, has left local farmers unable to obtain urgent repairs, resulting in serious loss to agricultural production; and whether he will take steps to remedy this position?

I am aware of the circumstances, and am glad to say that Lance Bombardier Howard has now been granted a further three months release from the Army.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in addition to advising people to grow green vegetables instead of potatoes, he will provide means of getting rid of any surplus which, even last year, exceeded the public ability to absorb it?

As to my Department's policy for food production in allotments and private gardens, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for West Nottingham (Mr. Hayday) on 11th March, 1941, of which I am sending him a copy. I have no evidence that the adoption of the plan of orderly crop-ping, set out in my Department's "Dig for Victory" Leaflet No. 1, has resulted in any surplus which cannot be absorbed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether anything is being done to arrange for further repatriation of British nationals in occupied China; and is he considering trying to exchange these civilians, with women and children, for any Japanese nationals that may be in different parts of the Empire?

The Swiss Government, as Protecting Power, have intimated to the Japanese Government the desire of His Majesty's Government to arrange further exchanges of British nationals in Japan and Japanese-occupied territories, including occupied China, against Japanese held in the British Empire. As my hon. and gallant Friend will have seen from the reply given to a Question by the hon. Member for Hornsey (Captain Gammans) on 17th February, the Japanese Government have not yet replied to the Swiss Government's inquiries

asked the Minister of Information whether the publication "Review of World Affairs" is passed for export through the Postal and Telegraph Censorship Department, as the name of this publication is not included in the current list of publications which cannot be sent out of this country; and why this privilege is accorded to this journal?

No privilege is accorded to this journal. Like other journals, its export is allowed under a permit issued at the beginning of the war, and it has not been prohibited under any Control of Communications Order since.

asked the Minister of Information whether he will arrange with the appropriate Departments and with the Government of India for much wider publicity being given, by means of radio and films as well as Press articles, here and overseas, of the daily work and duties of the British and Indian fighting troops quartered in India and Assam, so far as national security permits, together with more detail of India's war effort in general?

Yes, Sir. The Ministry of Information share the desires of my hon. and gallant Friend and are doing everything possible to fulfil them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food on what basis the allocation of male assistants in food distributing businesses is made as between one shop and another in the village of Stradbroke; and whether the number of customers served, together with the advice of the local food officer, is a relevant consideration?

My Department does not allocate either male or female assistants to food distributing businesses. It advises the Ministry of Labour and National Service on the question whether food distribution in an area will be seriously disturbed if a particular person is taken away from food distribution or is not released for a period from the armed forces to return to it. Wherever necessary the food executive officer is consulted and the number of customers to be served is one of several matters which are taken into account in retail cases.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will consider withdrawing the order which prohibits the conveyance of flowers by train, having regard to the fact that the order, instead of diminishing traffic, has had the effect of increasing it?.

No, Sir. The order prohibiting the carriage of flowers by rail has saved a great deal of transport, and I should not feel justified in accepting my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the current issues of National War Bonds and Savings Bonds will be continued after the forthcoming interest date?

Yes, Sir. But for technical reasons it will be necessary to adopt the usual practice of issuing a new series of each security. Two and a half per cent. National War Bonds 1951–53 were first issued in December, 1942, and the first interest payment will fall due on 1st March, 1943. Bonds issued after 28th February will be designated "A Series," with a first interest payment due on the 1st September, 1943, on which date they will be amalgamated with the original issue. Three per cent. Savings Bonds 1960–70 were first issued in May, 1942, and a new series called "A Series" was issued as from 1st September, 1942. The first interest payment on the "A Series" will fall due on 1st March, 1943, and on that date the series will be amalgamated with the original issue. Bonds issued after 28th February will be designated "B Series" with a first interest payment due on the 1st September, 1943, on which date the series will be amalgamated with the earlier issues.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the rate of interest payable upon arrears of Death Duty is at present 3 per cent. without deduction of Income Tax, and that with the standard rate of tax at 10s. in the £ this is now equivalent to a rate of interest of 6 per cent. gross; and whether, having regard to prevailing rates of interest on Government securities, he will consider a reduction in the present gross rate of interest on arrears of these duties?

Representations have been made to me on the subject which my hon. Friend raises in his Question, and I will bear them in mind in framing my Budget for the forthcoming year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in the work of transporting 4,000 Jewish children and 500 accompanying adults from Bulgaria and the 500 Jewish children from Hungary and Rumania, for whom entry to Palestine has been promised: how many are believed to have arrived or to be on the way; and what prospect there is of further transportation of Jewish refugees to Palestine up to the limit recently announced by him?

Steps are being taken to select Jewish children with accompanying adults for admission to Palestine under the arrangements which I announced in the House on 3rd February, but I understand that no movement of these persons has yet taken place. As regards the last part of the Question, I am not yet in a position to make any statement on the prospect of the transport of further Jewish refugees to Palestine.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is intended to frame and issue a Charter relating to all peoples of the Colonial Empire, giving a declaration of the Government that to these Colonies shall apply the principles enunciated in the Atlantic Charter, of freedom, justice and security?

I have at present no statement to make on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has satisfied himself that plans have been prepared by each individual Colony for the early employment or resettlement of returning ex-soldiers of all races and colours, fit, unfit or disabled, as the case may be, on the cessation of hostilities, and that such plans will not be based on what was done in this direction after the last war?

The matter is being considered both here, in relation to the Colonial Empire generally, and in individual territories where the problem is likely to be appreciable. Plans will be framed with sole regard to the needs of the situation expected to arise at the end of the present war.

asked the Home Secretary whether information is available as to the extent of venereal diseases in His Majesty's prisons or the percentage of known venereal disease cases in the different sexes and classified prison groups; and whether figures are available for different years or periods?

Although there is in the prison records relating to each individual prisoner information as to the diagnosis and treatment of any disease, statistics have not been collated to give the information for which my hon. Friend asks. The question whether without undue clerical labour some sample figures can be got out showing how the incidence of venereal disease among the prison population to-day compares with its incidence in the years before the war is at present under consideration.

asked the Home Secretary whether new steps are now being taken to ensure the proper diagnosis of cases of venereal disease in His Majesty's prisons, either on reception or subsequently; whether any medical examination for this purpose is made on discharge; whether any prison medical officers have yet been recognised as special practitioners under Regulation 33B by the Ministry of Health; and whether facilities exist in prisons for up-to-date treatment of both long and short term prisoners of both sexes?

All prisoners are subject to medical examination both on admission to prison and on discharge. For many years special care has been taken by the prison medical officers to diagnose cases of venereal disease, and whenever such disease is diagnosed to take proper steps for its treatment. At all prisons there are arrangements for securing that appropriate treatment is given. The question whether it would be advantageous that medical officers of prisons should be registered by the Minister of Health as special practitioners for the purposes of Defence Regulation 33B is at present under consideration.

asked the Home Secretary the number of registered clubs which were in existence throughout the country at the end of the years 1939, 1940, 1941 and 1942?

The numbers of regis-clubs at the end of the years mentioned were as follow:

asked the Minister of Supply what is the reason for his Department's refusal to permit the managements of agency factories to extend contributory accident and sickness schemes to such factories on the same conditions as those which apply in their own works?

It is not considered that, in general, expenditure from public funds to augment the benefits payable under the National Health and Workmen's Compensation Acts would be justified.

asked the Lord. President of the Council whether, having regard to paragraph 427 of the Beveridge Report, medical herbalists, osteopaths, naturopaths, homoeopaths and others, engaged in healing the sick, will be officially recognised and their patients permitted to receive treatment from them under the future medical service scheme?

I have been asked to reply. The arrangements necessary for ensuring a comprehensive health service in the sense envisaged by Assumption B of Sir William Beveridge's Report are at present under consideration, and I am not yet in a position to make any further statement on the matter.