asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the alarming increase in the number of dermatitis cases in the coalmines of this country, he will take steps to have investigations made into the kind of stone dust which is being imported and used in the coalmines?

There are no grounds for attributing any recent increase in dermatitis among coalminers to the importation of stone dust; as there has been no change for several years in the type of stone dust used.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the average output of saleable coal per annum, per wage-earner employed, in the years 1940, 1941 and 1942?

The figures of average output of saleable coal per annum per wage-earner are as follow:

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the output of coal per man-shift worked at the coal face for the 24 weeks ended 20th February, 1943, with similar figures for the corresponding weeks of the two previous years?

The output of coal per man-shift worked at the coal face for the 24 weeks ended 20th February, 1943, was 2.90 tons. Comparable figures for the corresponding weeks of the two previous years are not available, but estimates based on information supplied by the industry on a calendar monthly basis give results for both periods almost exactly equal to the figure given above.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the average percentage of shifts lost at the coal face in the 24 weeks ended 20th February, 1943?

The total number of shifts lost at the coal face in the 24 weeks ended 20th February, 1943, including shifts lost through sickness and accident, were 14.2 per cent. of the possible face-shifts.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will arrange for the maintenance grant at the rate of £90 a year payable in London to youths selected for engineering cadetships by the Minister of Labour, who continue to reside in their homes, to be paid to selected cadets residing at their homes in Ilford who, at present, receive the lower grant of £75 a year, in view of the fact that the cost of living in the area of Greater London, including Ilford, is not less than in those parts of London where grant at the rate of £90 a year is payable?

Yes, Sir: arrangements are being made to pay these boys the grant appropriate to the London area.

asked the Minister of Health how many tubercular cases are awaiting admission to a sanatorium in Derbyshire; and what steps are being taken to increase the number of beds available?

The number of cases of pulmonary tuberculosis awaiting admission to the Derbyshire sanatorium as at 19th March was 30. Of these six had then been on the waiting list less than ten days and none more than 45 days, the average waiting period being about three weeks. Reports received from the county medical officer suggest no immediate necessity to increase the number of beds available, the 137 beds at the sanatorium being supplemented by accommodation, if required, at seven other institutions which I understand there is little occasion to use.

asked the Minister of Health whether a report by Professor G. S. Wilson on pasteurisation of milk was commissioned by the Minister directly or through the Medical Research Council; and what fee was paid for the preparation of the report?

Professor Wilson was asked in 1939 by my predecessor to undertake the collation and review of the existing evidence on the whole subject of pasteurisation and the safety of milk supplies. He was paid a small grant for expenses. Owing to the outbreak of war, publication of the report by the Department was deferred and in 1942, Professor Wilson was given permission to bring the report up to date and to arrange for its publication privately.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of overwhelming scientific opinion in favour of pasteurisation as a means of destroying pathogenic micro-organisms productive of many diseases in consumers, it is now intended that all milk for human consumption shall be pasteurised and by effective handling thereafter rendered safe for the nation?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 3rd March to the hon. Member for Southampton (Dr. Russell Thomas).

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the case of Roland Stafford, aged four, of Southwich, Wilts, recently awarded £100 for the loss of a leg, the money to be held in trust; and whether the duty falls on the local or the national health authorities to provide an artificial limb in such cases in view of the circumstances of the parents?

My attention has not been called to the particular case mentioned but the Maternity and Child Welfare authority has power to make such provision and I am at present considering, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education, the issue of advice to authorities on the general question.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the insanitary conditions of many hundreds of farms in the country devoted to milk production, together with lack of modern cowsheds, apparatus and requisites for this purpose; and what effective steps are being taken to rectify this situation?

Provisions relating to sanitary and other conditions at dairy farms are contained in the Milk and Dairies Order, 1926, and are enforced by local authorities. Compliance with those provisions is becoming increasingly difficult owing to shortage of labour and materials and other factors directly associated with the war. The attention of local authorities has recently been drawn to the position and they have been asked to concentrate attention upon cleanliness and methods of production.

asked the Minister of Health what medical organisations have been called into consultation on proposals for the future national health service; and whether it is his intention to afford equal facilities to all medical organisations?

I am at present consulting a representative group of medical men and women brought together by the British Medical Association with the cooperation of the three Royal Colleges. It is, however, fully understood that views expressed by members of this group at this stage cannot be taken as committing the profession as a whole, any more than views expressed by me to the group at this stage represent the final conclusions of the Government. I should be glad also to hear the views of any responsible organisation which may have bearing on the planning of a comprehensive medical service, and I contemplate, a little later on, publishing a statement on the general nature of my proposals so that all concerned—including the profession and particularly its members serving in the Armed Forces—may have equal opportunity to consider them.

asked the Minister of Health what statistics, reports or publications have been, or are being, received by his Department from the medical departments of the British Armed Forces or other Allied Forces in Britain as to the incidence of incapacitating jaundice following anti-syphilitic treatment with the different drugs containing arsenic, with comparative results between different drugs?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the second part of his Question about this matter on 9th February last.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Crown has undertaken to bear the responsibility for costs and damages in the event of a claim for damages being made against a special practitioner giving compulsory treatment under Regulation 33B?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in many hospitals within the Emergency Medical Service the data relative to the previous investigations concerning a patient are not made available to the hospital medical staffs, so that when a patient has had a radiological examination or a fractional test meal no information is at hand and the work has to be undertaken anew; whether he will take steps to avoid this unnecessary duplication and ensure at least that Form AFB 178 is available for every service case?

The instructions issued to E.M.S. Hospitals provide for the assembling in one envelope (M.P.C. 47) of all documents, including case sheets and X-ray films, relating to the treatment of casualties or Service sick. This envelope is retained by the hospital as long as the patient is under treatment, is transferred with him if he is transferred to another hospital, and is, on his recovery, passed to the Ministry of Pensions for safe custody. That Ministry will on written or telegraphic request produce extracts from the previous medical history to any hospital to which the case may go for further treatment at a later date. Particulars of previous investigations of the kind referred to in the Question should therefore be available if the patient has previously been treated under the Emergency Hospital Scheme. In military cases A.F.B. 178 is not sent to E.M.S. Hospitals, but an adequate record is made on A.F.I. 1220 and photostatic copies of this form can be obtained from the War Office by any hospital on written or telegraphic request.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any information as to the extent and severity of the present epidemic of diphtheria in Germany; and whether the epidemic has spread to enemy-occupied countries?

Such information as is available leaves no doubt that there has been a big increase in the prevalence of diphtheria in Germany. I understand that diphtheria has similarly increased in some at least of the enemy-occupied countries.

asked the Minister of Health whether any woman architect, especially conversant with the wishes of working women for the maximum of cupboards and a preference for coal grates, was associated with the evolution of the designs for rural cottages?

The type plans sent to local authorities for their guidance included plans recommended by my Central Housing Advisory Committee. The subcommittee which prepared these plans included women members fully qualified to represent the point of view of working women and also received evidence from representative women's organisations. The secretary to the sub-committee is a woman architect on the staff of my Department.

asked the Minister of Health whether there is in existence in the vicinity of London a full-scale replica of the flat-roofed cottages which it is proposed to construct in the rural areas?

No, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the 100,000 wireless sets promised by his Department will be available to the public who, in thousands of cases, have no wireless sets at all owing to the inability of firms to effect repairs, and who thus are unable to listen to any news or official broadcasts, even of the greatest importance?

Out of the 125,000 wireless sets for the civilian population, which I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Clackmannan (Mr. Woodburn) on 21st April last, were then in process of manufacture, 65,000 sets had been made available up to 31st December. According to information furnished by the trade, the number of wireless sets in process of manufacture on 1st January last were 125,000. I hope that these will be completed and released at the same rate as last year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what special arrangements were made between the Treasury and the banks and other institutions to enable large sums of money, which would not otherwise have been available, to be contributed to the London "Wings for Victory" campaign?

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider intensifying the "Wings for Victory" campaign in each town visited by enemy aeroplanes?

The conduct of each "Wings for Victory" week is in the hands of the local savings committee and I am sure that the committees in the raided towns are most anxious to "hit back with war savings." The headquarters of the savings movement will give them every encouragement and assistance in the campaign.

asked the Home Secretary the purpose of Statutory Rule and Order, 1943, No. 332, entitled the Regional Commissioners (Power of Detention) Order, 1943, under Regulation 18BB of the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939?

An Order made in September, 1940, conferred on Regional Commissioners (other than those in the London Region) certain limited powers of temporary detention pending consideration of the question whether a detention order should be made by the Secretary of State under Defence Regulation 18B. The purpose of the Order to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers is to enable a deputy regional commissioner to act if necessary at a time when the Regional Commissioner is not available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare whether his attention has been drawn to the request expressed by the Belgian Prime Minister on behalf of his Government that the ss. "Caritas," now at Philadelphia, be granted a navicert to enable her to convey food to Belgium; whether the German Government have been approached for a guarantee; and what is the attitude of Majesty's Government to the proposal?

The ss. "Caritas" is owned by the International Red Cross, and is engaged in carrying parcels provided by the American Red Cross for transmission to prisoners of war of Belgian and other Allied nationalities. The Belgian Prime Minister recently requested that on her next voyage she should be permitted to carry a consignment of powdered milk for despatch to Belgium. Since the sending of foodstuffs from overseas to Countries in enemy occupation is contrary to the policy of His Majesty's Government and of the United States Government, we could not see our way to permit this shipment through our controls. The "Caritas." sailed from Philadelphia on 10th March. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative. As regards the third part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on 16th March to my hon. Friend, the Member for the English Universities (Mr. E. Harvey).

asked the Minister of Pensions whether full-time members of the Civil Defence services receiving war service grants of 3s. a week or over from his Department have been permitted to benefit in any way from the recent increase in Civil Defence pay, or whether he has automatically deducted the whole of the increase from the amount of the grant in all cases?

No automatic deduction of the kind mentioned by the hon. Member has been made. All the cases have been re-assessed in the light of the increased household incomes on the one hand and the various concessions which have been introduced on the other.

asked the Minister of Supply in what parts of the country the collection of tyres from laid-up motor cars is now in force?

Requisitioning of tyres of certain sizes from laid-up motor cars has just been completed in the Wokingham and Ascot areas of Berkshire and in the postal districts N.W.1, N.W.3, N.W.5, and N.W.8 of London. Similar action will shortly be taken in other areas.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the advertisement of an orphanage which claims to have trained thousands of incurably crippled women in the work of making artificial flowers and whether it is possible to train some of these women in work more directly contributory to the war effort?

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

asked the Home Secretary how many cases there are or male detainees who have been refused permission to leave prison to marry a woman who is pregnant as a result of their cohabitation?

The case of the alien to whom I referred last week in reply to a Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Chippenham (Colonel Cazalet) is, so far as I know, the only case in which a man is alleged during his detention to have found opportunities to produce such a situation as that referred to in this Question.

asked the Minister of Health whether, to economise paper pulp and facilitate use, he will make the coming issue of new identity cards approximately the size of the blue cards carried by Members of Parliament?

In view of the provision which the new identity card must make for entries of name, National Registration number, address and changes of address, signature, brief instructions and, in some cases endorsement, it has been found necessary to adhere to the size of the existing card.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider the allocation of wire-netting to domestic poultry keepers in order to prevent damage by fowls to gardens and allotments?

The allocation of the limited supplies of wire netting available for agricultural purposes is constantly under review, but at present I am afraid I can hold out no hope of releasing wire netting to domestic poultry keepers.

asked the Attorney-General what use His Majesty's Government proposes to make of the experience, machinery and the staff of the Land Registry in connection with devising and carrying out post-war town and country planning?

The staff of the Land Registry, already greatly depleted by calls of national service of various kinds, is very fully occupied with the work laid upon it by the Land Registration Act, and may be expected to be still more fully occupied when, after the war, the work of extending compulsory registration is undertaken, I cannot make any general statement as to the extent to which the work done in the Registry can be made available for the purpose indicated in the Question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport (1) the total net revenue earned by the railway companies for the year ended 31st December, 1942; the amount of profit which will fall to the Exchequer; and whether the amount will be used towards the cost of the development of electrification of the railways and development generally after the war;(2) the total amount of preference stock of the railway companies that has not received its full rate of interest during the financial year ended 31st December, 1942; and the amount of shareholders' capital which has received no return on the investment?

For the year 1942 the following stocks received less than the full rate of interest:£66,142,180 London and North Eastern Railway 4 per cent. Second Preference, on which a dividend at the rate of 2⅝ per cent. was paid, and £25,698,802 London Transport "C" stock on which interest at 3 per cent. was paid.No dividend was paid on £42,360,925 London and North Eastern Railway 5 per cent. Preferred Ordinary Stock or on £35,923,810 Deferred Ordinary Stock of the same company. A White Paper will shortly be issued showing the estimated pooled revenue receipts and expenses and the resultant net revenue of the controlled railway undertakings for the year 1942. The net revenue will accrue to the Exchequer and no question of its appropriation arises.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether the Forestry Commission has now completed its investigations into the question of post-war policy of replanting areas where timber has been cut down during the war; and when the House can be told the result of such investigations?

The Forestry Commissioners have completed preliminary investigations into post-war forest policy including the replanting of felled areas. This, as the Chancellor of the Exchequer informed the hon. Member on 18th inst., will form one of the topics for consideration in the Government's post-war plans, the result of which will no doubt be intimated to the House in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a Home Guard battalion, whose name has been given to him, is still without a supply of anti-gas ointment in spite of repeated requests; and whether he will see that an issue is authorised?

Arrangements have been made to issue the ointment to the unit concerned without delay.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the War Office does not recruit chiropodists direct from the Joint Council of Chiropodists of Great Britain instead of indirectly through the British Medical Council?

Before a chiropodist, or other medical auxiliary, is employed in his special trade in the Army it is necessary to ensure that he has attained a satisfactory standard of training and general proficiency. The chiropodists admitted by the Board of Registration of Medical Auxiliaries must comply with the Board's standards in these respects and it was decided that it would be convenient and in the interests of efficiency to employ as tradesmen chiropodists only those civil chiropodists who are registered with the Board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consult with the Essex War Agricultural Committee with a view to the cultivation of the large pieces of undeveloped land in and around South Benfleet, Essex?

The Essex war agricultural executive committee are already cultivating some 1,500 acres of undeveloped land in the district concerned. Some of the improved land has now been let to tenants, and the committee contemplate taking over and dealing with further land in so far as their resources of machinery, man-power and fertilisers, which are not of course unlimited, will permit.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Kent police superintendents who have been compulsorily retired under his police amalgamation scheme have received pensions for the long services they have rendered?

I understand that the superintendents in question had previously applied to retire, but it had not been found possible to release them. The scheme of amalgamation which comes into force on 1st April has, however, made it possible to meet their wishes, and they have accordingly been allowed to retire. All three will receive pensions at the maximum rate.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. Esland Echlin, who is still detained at Brixton, asked the chairman of the Advisory Committee at his first interview, on 6th March, 1941, whether he might be confronted with his accusers, question hostile witnesses, call witnesses in his defence, be shown the evidence against him, have the assistance of a lawyer, have access to his own material then in Government possession, know the finding of the committee, or have a right of appeal; that he was refused in each case; that he has since had two interviews with the committee, at which the only restriction relaxed was that affecting his own material; and whether in future detainees may demand as a right the relaxation of any of the other restrictions?

Subject to the re-requirement laid down in Defence Regulation 18B itself, the procedure followed by the Advisory Committee is left to the Committee to determine, and in dealing with the various requests made by Mr. Echlin, the Committee explained their practice and procedure. I am satisfied that the procedure adopted by the Committee affords to a detained person full opportunity to know what is alleged against him and to offer any explanation, and I am not prepared to propose any alteration.

asked the Home Secretary the number of proceedings, convictions and charges proved for drunkenness for the Metropolitan Police District and/or the County of London and for the City of London, respectively, during the calendar year 1942, with the comparable figures for the calendar year 1941?

The following table gives the available information: