asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the widening interest displayed by the public in Government securities, he will issue an explanatory statement showing the modus operandi of the Treasury deposit receipts and the reasons which necessitated the Government sanctioning the conversion of these deposit receipts into Government securities ranking equally with securities subscribed for by the public?

No, Sir. I am not aware that there is any demand for such a statement. The details of the scheme were given in my reply to my hon. Friend the senior Member for the City of London (Sir G. Broadbridge) on 4th July, 1940. It was part of the original scheme that banks could encash Treasury deposit receipts before maturity for the purpose of investing the proceeds in new Government loans on behalf of their customers or themselves. I am of opinion that it is in the national interest that investment in longer term debt should thus be facilitated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will direct the War Savings Committee to confine their activities to small savings, as business people with surplus funds do not require any persuasion to invest their funds at 2½ per cent.?

My hon. Friend is mistaken in supposing that there is no need to encourage subscriptions from institutions and business undertakings, and such encouragement will continue to form part of the War Savings Campaign. The primary objective of the campaign, however, is as I have often stated, to secure a greater volume of saving and lending out of income by private individuals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that uneasiness prevails as to the destination of post-war credits in the event of the person owning them passing away before those credits are due to be repaid; and whether he will make a statement on that subject?

I am not aware of any uneasiness on this subject. I have in more than one answer to Questions emphasised that the taxpayer's right to Income Tax Post-War Credit is not lost on his death but passes to his personal representatives who may deal with it as part of the estate. The position is made clear in the explanatory notes issued with the post-war credit certificates, and in the "Income Tax Quiz." It has also been explained in broadcast talks on Income Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the purposes which are achieved by the collection of Customs duties on goods imported for account of His Majesty's Government and on Lease-Lend?

It has for some time past been the Government's policy as a wartime measure to exempt from the Customs duties chargeable under the Safeguarding of Industries Act and the Import Duties Act, classes of goods mainly imported for Government use, whether under Lease-Lend arrangements or otherwise, and Treasury Orders exempting the bulk of such goods have been made. In other cases it is simpler and more economical to levy duty on all goods in these classes rather than attempt to distinguish between goods of the same class according as they are intended for official or for private consumption.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether treasure trove from Wales is placed at the disposal of the National Museum of Wales on terms similar to treasures trove in Scotland and Northern Ireland which are placed, by grace of the Crown, at the disposal of the Royal Scottish Museum and Belfast Municipal Museum, respectively?

I assume that my hon. Friend is seeking to secure for the National Museum of Wales the first refusal of treasure trove in Wales. For very many years the Trustees of the British Museum have been given first choice of treasure trove from both England and Wales. I shall be happy to inquire the views of the Trustees and, when they have been obtained, to consider the matter further.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the urgent necessity for increasing the Income Tax allowance for dependent relatives to single sons or daughters who have to maintain a relative who is unfit for work because of old age or infirmity, as the present allowance of £25 for the year is totally inadequate?

As my hon. Friend will appreciate, I cannot anticipate my Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, as he has been unable to accept the scheme proposed to him for the deduction of Income Tax from wages to be based on current earnings, he proposes to deal with this problem in some other way in his forthcoming Budget?

As my hon. Friend will appreciate, I cannot anticipate my Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that it is the announced policy of the Government to ensure that over a period of 10 or 15 years there should be fair steady continuity of values, he is now prepared to revise the policy in respect of the pensions of retired State servants, the value of whose pensions has been depreciated by 30 per cent. or more since the beginning of the war and who have received no relief whatever in this respect?

No, Sir. For reasons which have been fully explained, Civil Service pensioners could not be selected for special treatment which cannot be given to other persons who have to live on fixed incomes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to make any sums of money paid as compensation for loss of office subject to Income Tax and Surtax?

As my hon. Friend will appreciate, I cannot anticipate my Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons paid the Armorial Bearings Tax during the last complete financial year and what was the total amount so paid?

20,648 people paid tax, and the amount so paid was £22,932.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer who is the chief adviser on cinematography to His Majesty's Government; the date of his appointment and his qualifications for the position?

I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the Government Cinematograph Adviser. This post is at present held by Mr. Hughes-Roberts, who was appointed to it on 6th May, 1934. His qualifications are his experience and knowledge of the requirements of Government Departments in cinematograph matters and of the technique and practice of the cinematograph industry bearing on these requirements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the advisory committees recommended in the Report of the Kennet Committee on man-power in banking and other businesses have yet been appointed?

Yes, Sir. I have appointed advisory committees to assist the Treasury and the industrial assurance commissioner in considering reports from the banking industry and from industrial assurance offices respectively, and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has appointed an Advisory Committee to assist him in considering reports relating to ordinary insurance. The following gentlemen have been good enough to agree to serve on these Committees:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the importance of the Army Cadet Force and Junior Training Corps as a potential recruiting ground for the Army both during and after the war, he is satisfied that all possible steps are being taken to bring this force as much before the public eye as possible?

Yes, Sir. The Press frequently gives details of the activities of the Army Cadet Force and the Junior Training Corps. Publicity is also given from time to time on the wireless and in the cinema.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that private soldiers are not allowed to use the saloon bar or dining-room at the King's Arms, Westerham, the use of which is restricted to officers only, and that the same rule applies at Pitt's Cottage Tea Rooms in the same locality; and whether he will take steps to end this discrimination?

A report on this matter has been called for.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether his attention has been drawn to hardships arising from the fact that recipients of Mercantile Marine pensions are not eligible for supplementary pensions; and whether he will arrange for these pensions to be paid weekly, in cases where it may be desired, as payment monthly causes unnecessary inconvenience to those accustomed to a weekly budget?

Widows' pensions under the 1914–18 War Risks Compensation Scheme for the Mercantile Marine have been assessed on the basis that the minimum pension is £69 6s. 8d. per annum which is more than the maximum to which supplementary pensions are related. I have, however, arranged that the position of all widow pensioners under this Scheme shall be examined in order to make sure whether any widows could benefit if the arrangements made by the Ministry of Pensions for supplementary awards for widows of ex-Service men were applied. If there are any such cases, they will receive sympathetic consideration. I am grateful to my hon. Friend for having called my attention to the point which he raises in the second part of his Question, and I am arranging that in future weekly instead of monthly payments, shall be made to the pensioners, if they so desire.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether, in view of the great importance of the Glasgow area from a transport point of view, he will consider increasing the powers of the Glasgow and West of Scotland regional transport officer or else make this officer independent of the regional transport commissioner in Edinburgh?

While, of course, I recognise the importance of Glasgow from a transport point of view, I am not satisfied that the separation of Glasgow from the rest of Southern Scotland for the purpose of transport control would promote either the general interest or even the interest of the travelling public of Glasgow. I shall be glad to receive any further evidence on the matter which my hon. and gallant Friend may send me, but, as at present advised, I think no advantage would be attained by altering the present administrative arrangements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department has considered and, if so, with what result, any scheme for the part closing of shops each week, with the exception of those selling perishable commodities?

Suggestions have been made to me for part-time closing of shops selling certain commodities in order to release man-power. My Department is in touch with the Ministry of Labour and National Service on the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the lines of the policy of his Department in closing down or consenting to the closing down of small businesses in which the called-up owner or manager is the sole proprietor and/or worker; and whether distinctions are drawn between types of businesses in this connection?

The arrangements for the calling-up of men for military service are in the hands of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service, but in cases where I consider that immediate calling up of the sole owner or manager of a small business would affect essential civilian production, I am prepared to make representations to him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of licences to trade granted by the local price regulation committee of a town, of which he has been informed, to tailors since the opening of an Officer Cadet Training Unit camp in the neighbourhood; whether licences are required for the said tailors to trade at a certain nearby village; and whether he will avoid trade concentration of this type and the waste of man-power involved?

I am making inquiries and will let my hon. Friend know the result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider providing extra coupons for towels to chimney-sweeps?

Chimney-sweeps already receive 10 extra coupons by reason of their occupation, and some of these they can use for towels.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the urgent need of getting supplies to China, the provision of large numbers of transport aeroplanes is being developed and the possibilities of utilising the ancient caravan route from Persia are being considered?

By arrangement between the United Nations, this is a United States strategic sphere, and the provision of transport aircraft for China is at present the immediate responsibility of the United States. I can assure the hon. Member that every effort is being made to organise and develop land routes to China, including the one to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can make a statement as to the qualifications, or exemptions from professional qualifying examinations which can be obtained by cadets selected for engineering cadetships under the scheme recently introduced by his Department in conjunction with the Ministry of Labour and National Service?

An engineering cadet will be examined by the authorities of the technical college which he is attending at the end of Part I and again at the end of Part II of his course. The following subjects of the examinations will be assessed by the Institutions of Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineers:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what were the causes of the delay in obtaining supplies of mapharside, the drug now used in naval anti-syphilitic treatment, and its distribution in 1942; to what extent the prohibition of the importation of this drug from the United States of America hampered treatment in this country; and whether ample supplies are now available?

There was no delay in obtaining supplies of mapharside nor in its distribution other than an inevitable but brief interval to allow a scheme to be drawn up and supplies of the drug to be distributed to naval establishments. With regard to the second part of the Question, prohibition on the importation of mapharside did not hamper treatment so far as the Navy is concerned as ample supplies always have been and are now available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that a Dr. Paul Frederick Gillett, of Rowan Avenue, Hove, was prosecuted at Hove on 8th March for alleged misuse of petrol; whether he will make an investigation into this and other medical cases with a view to a more tolerant attitude to doctors engaged on emergency medical work for which no extra petrol is allowed and to ascertaining if the medical liaison arrangements in different areas are generally working well?

I understand that the gentleman referred to pleaded guilty when charged with using fuel for a purpose other than that authorised. As regards the second part of my hon. Friend's Question, I am satisfied that the medical liaison arrangements referred to are working satisfactorily and ensure that medical practitioners receive sufficient petrol for their duties, including emergency work.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the collieries or districts where apprenticeship to coalmining has now been established; and when it is expected that this will become universal in the coalfields?

The importance of adequate training for coalmining is recognised by me and by all sections of the industry, and certain measures have been taken and more are to follow. But apprenticeship in the full sense of the word is commonly the practice in coalmining only as regards some of the ancillary crafts such as fitting and electrical work, and I am advised that any universal system would not be possible.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the collieries closed by his Department and whether the workers directed to employment at other collieries are being assisted where additional travelling expenses are incurred or in the cost of the removal of household furniture, etc., to other districts?

Up to the present eight pits have been closed by my Department. I am sending the names to my hon. Friend. A further 12 pits will be closed shortly. Arrangements have now been made whereby the fares to be charged to miners transferred under a concentration scheme shall not be greater than the cost which they incurred for transportation to their former place of work. Men so far transferred have been placed in other collieries in the neighbour- hood and there have been no cases in which household removal has been necessary.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the average number of workers in the coalmining industry for the 24 weeks ended 20th February, 1943, with similar figures for the corresponding weeks of 1941 and 1942?

The average number of wage-earners on colliery books in the coalmining industry in the 24 weeks ended 20th February, 1943, was 711,739. In the corresponding weeks of 1941–2 and of 1940–1, the average number of men employed was 706,986 and 713,561 respectively.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the average total output of saleable coal per wage-earner for the 24 weeks ended 20th February, 1942?

I presume that my hon. Friend is referring to the 24 weeks ended 20th February, 1943, since the corresponding 24 weeks of 1942 ended on the 21st February. The output per wage-earner employed for the 24 weeks ended 20th February, 1943, was 135 tons. The output per wage-earner employed in the 24 weeks ended 21st February, 1942, was 137 tons.

asked the Home Secretary whether the person responsible for the theft of 40,000 cigarettes, 52 lbs. of tobacco, 21 dozen of matches, 7 lbs. of snuff and several hundreds of cigarette papers has yet been arrested by the Canning Town police; and whether he intends making an investigation into the matter?

I am informed that no arrest has yet been made in connection with this case but that inquiries are still proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will arrange for the repeal of the Cyprus legislation whereby it is impossible for five people to meet together without express permission, for any speech to be made at a public meeting unless the text is previously approved word by word, and for any newspaper to publish any statement without permission; and whether he will restore the constitution of 1931?

No, Sir. I regret that the time has not yet arrived for the repeal of this legislation. In the light of past experience, I am convinced that it is essential for the Cyprus Government to retain powers of control over public meetings. I have no evidence to suggest that the law is being administered harshly or oppressively, and I would point out that there is no legal restriction imposed on meetings called in pursuance of normal occupations, trade or business or for purposes of religion or social intercourse in private houses. Persons applying for permission to hold meetings are called upon to furnish copies of the speeches to be made in order to assist the authorities in considering the application. I am not aware of any legislation which forbids a newspaper to publish any statement without permission in Cyprus. As regards the last part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a similar Question by him on 25th November last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, on a comparison of 1939 with 1942, the price of bread in Cyprus has risen by 125 per cent., beans by 500 per cent., meat by over 300 per cent., olives by over 240 per cent., cheese by 450 per cent., and of a suit of clothes by 750 per cent., and that the wages of labour not in Government employment have in the same period increased by only 60 per cent. for unskilled labour and 72 per cent. for skilled labour; and whether he will take further and more drastic steps to eliminate the hardships caused by these disparities?

The actual percentages in March, 1943, are:

			Per Cent.
Bread	…	…	100	–125
French beans	…	…	114
Beef	…	…	126
Mutton	…	…	71
Olives	…	…	172
Cheese	…	…	119

asked the Minister without Portfolio what salary and allowances were paid to Sir William Beveridge in respect of the production of the Beveridge Report; and the names and salaries and allowances of persons, other than established civil servants, who assisted him?

Prior to May, 1942, no payments were made in respect of Sir William Beveridge's services in connection with the Social Insurance inquiry beyond travelling expenses on the usual scale. On the termination in that month of his work on fuel rationing, in respect of which the Board of Trade had reimbursed University College, Oxford, £100 a month towards the salary of Sir William Beveridge as Master, payment at this rate to the College was continued until the Report on Social Insurance was presented at the end of November, 1942. Apart from this subvention to the College and the travelling expenses referred to, Sir William Beveridge received no remuneration in respect of his work on this Report. With regard to the persons assisting him in his inquiry, I assume that the Question is not intended to refer to the Departmental representatives nor to clerical and similar assistance rendered by Departmental officers, not all of whom were established civil servants. Otherwise Sir William Beveridge was assisted by Mr. F. A. Pakenham from 29th June to 10th October, 1942, during which time he was paid salary at the rate of £800 a year with travelling expenses on the usual scale.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements are being considered to transfer from his Department to the Ministry of Works the administrative duties relating to the disposal of refuse by local authorities; and whether he will make a statement?

No such transfer is or has been contemplated.

asked the Minister of Health the reason for the change made in the number of live bacteria allowed in vaccine lymph; was a more potent lymph needed; and what safeguards are furnished for the protection of the public against the effects of lymph containing such large numbers of living bacteria?

The change to which my hon. Friend refers has been made to facilitate production of vaccine lymph, not to increase its potency. The increase of bacteria mentioned relates to harmless adventitious organisms found in lymph as taken from the calf, and the last part of the Question, therefore, does not arise. The safeguards against harmful micro-organisms remain as stringent as they have always been.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of diphtheria have been recorded in immunised persons between 1st January, 1940, and 3rd December, 1942; and how many fatal cases in the immunised were recorded during 1942?

Among approximately 3,731,000 children immunised against diphtheria under local authority arrangements in England and Wales during the three years 1940, 1941 and 1942, the number of notified cases of the disease was 7,286. The number of immunised children who died from diphtheria during 1942 was 41, as compared with 1,473 deaths among non-immunised children.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now satisfied that extortionate rentals are being had by tenants of unfurnished flats in the London district who have put in one or two articles of furniture in the rooms and sub-let them as furnished flats; and whether he will take steps to end this practice immediately and prevent any such renewals?

No, Sir, Section 10 of the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions Act, 1923, was designed to prevent action of the kind referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend. I have no reason to believe that it is ineffective in its operation, but I shall be glad to make inquiries into any case which my hon. and gallant Friend may bring to my notice.

asked the Minister of Health the number of local authorities in the county of Durham that have submitted housing schemes to be proceeded with at the end of the war?

I have not yet received any definite proposals in reply to my Circular to local authorities of the 4th March. Interim replies show, however, that councils have the matter under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health the number of local authorities in the county of Durham that have purchased land for housing schemes to be proceeded with at the end of the war?

I have only recently asked for this information in a Circular of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to a case at the Lambeth police court on the 24th March, when a man, aged 33, was convicted and sentenced on a charge in connection with trafficking in National Registration Cards, an Armed Forces certificate and a card of medical grading; and how, and by whom, these cards were improperly supplied and whether the source of the two blank cards has yet been discovered?

The blank identity card to which the Question relates appears to have formed part of a number of spoiled blanks which were duly delivered for destruction as confidential waste to a properly authorised person. Further investigation is proceeding. As regards the other blanks to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, he should address a Question to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service.

asked the Minister of Health whether, as an additional measure of identification and as a further check upon the misuse of identification cards, he will include the occupation of the holder as part of the particulars to be given in the new cards shortly to be issued?

In view of the difficulties of ensuring that a statement of occupation upon identity cards could be precise, expressed in uniform terms and kept up-to-date by an effective system of notification of all changes, it has not been found possible to utilise occupation as an element contributing to the establishment of personal identity.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the announcement that Members of Parliament will work with harvest volunteers at the rate of 1s. an hour, and that women will earn only 10d. an hour, it is proposed that Members of Parliament who undertake this work should be paid the same irrespective of their sex?

The rates of wages paid by farmers must be not less than the minimum rate fixed by the Agricultural Wages Board. Subject to this, volunteers are free to agree with their employers what their actual wages shall be.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of cases in which the war agricultural executive committees have dispossessed owners for the improper treatment of stock; and whether his attention has been called to a case of starving cows and calves which was recently heard at Bearsted police court?

The neglect or mismanagement of livestock is not in itself a ground for dispossession of an occupier under Defence Regulations apart from the state of cultivation of the holding, though it may well be a contributory factor. Improper treatment of livestock can be dealt with in other ways not necessarily involving dispossession of the farmer. The particular case mentioned is at present under the consideration of the Kent war agricultural executive committee from both aspects.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the importance to food production this summer and the anxiety on the subject, he will issue a statement to clarify the position of the part-time land worker as regards National Health Insurance and Unemployment Insurance, and that of the land worker from holiday camps under the Workmen's Compensation Act?

Part-time workers in agriculture are normally insurable unless they are engaged in one of the excepted employments. Orders have however been made excluding from the statutory insurance schemes persons working temporarily on the land under certain official schemes, including voluntary land clubs approved by the Minister of Agriculture. The Minister of Labour has also excluded from liability to make contribution under the Unemployment Scheme part-time workers whose employment in the Minister's opinion ordinarily involves not more than 30 hours' service weekly being employment which began on or after 3rd September, 1939, and the services rendered being such as in the Minister's opinion are not ordinarily performed, or would not but for the circumstances arising out of the war ordinarily be performed, by persons rendering not more than 30 hours' service weekly. With regard to the second part of the Question, most workers from holiday camps receive wages direct from their employer and there is a contract of service between them. The workers are therefore entitled to benefit under the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Acts.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that in a certain East Anglian town scrap merchants have been purchasing for private purposes iron railings at commercial rates; and whether these railings were surrendered by their original owners for war purposes?

I have made inquiries into the instance of which the hon. Member has given me particulars. Small quantities of iron railings, well within the limits of the quantity of iron or steel which may be bought without licence, were purchased for the manufacture of horse shoes. The purchases were made neither by nor from an iron and steel scrap merchant. There is no evidence that the material in question had formed part of railings requisitioned by the Ministry of Works.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it was with his authority that factory inspectors have been authorised to take part in meetings at which attacks have been made upon commercial caterers; what representations on this subject have been made to his Department and with what result?

The factory inspectors, in the normal course of their duties, have to attend many meetings and naturally cannot be responsible for everything that is said at such meetings. Representations on the subject have been made to this Department by the National Society of Caterers for Industry and I am considering whether any special instructions to inspectors are necessary in this connection.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give instructions that the work of group secretaries and collectors of street savings groups, in connection with the National War Savings campaign shall be regarded as work of national importance in the case of immobile women in the higher-age groups?

No special instructions are necessary. When such women are interviewed, the fact that they are doing voluntary work of national importance, such as war savings work, is taken into account. They may still be asked, however, to undertake other war work if there is need for their services locally and it is considered that they could reasonably be asked to do more than they are already doing. Women who cannot undertake ordinary industrial work are encouraged to undertake war savings, salvage or other voluntary war work if they are not already doing some such work.

asked the Minister of Information the number of men and women examiners now engaged in the Postal Censorship Department with the number of those within the age groups liable for National Service?

1,588 men and 5,640 women are now employed in Great Britain as examiners in the Postal and Telegraph Censorship Department. Of these, 283 men and 292 women are within the age groups liable under the National Service Acts.

asked the Minister of Information whether, in the case of new applicants for employment in the Postal Censorship Department, there is now in operation a course of lectures given, and followed by an examination prior to appointments being made; and whether preference is given to applicants who have been discharged from the Forces due to disabilities, or to persons over the age of recruitment for National Service?

The answer to both parts of the Question is "Yes, Sir."

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give particulars of the incidence of juvenile delinquency in the counties of Linlithgow, Stirling and Clackmannan, respectively, in the years 1940, 1941 and 1942; and what reasons can be adduced for increases or decreases?

The numbers of children and young persons in the areas referred to against whom charges have been proved during the years in question are as follow:

		1940	1941	1942
Westlothian	…	128	206	180
Stirling	…	361	471	498
Clackmannan	…	56	108	27

The causes of the increases in juvenile delinquency arise largely from war conditions, and are summarised in a circular issued by the Scottish Education Department and the Scottish Home Department on the 27th December, 1941, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. The decrease in the case of Clackmannan in 1942 is attributed by the Education Authority largely to the development of youth organisations under the new youth service scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for India how many cases have been decided by the Federal Court of India; and whether any cases are now pending?

Forty-six cases have been decided by the Federal Court since its establishment in 1937; six are now pending.

asked the Secretary of State for India (1) the cost to the British and Indian Exchequers, respectively, of the defence of India in each of the financial years of war; and the amount of the contributions to India from the British Exchequer in each financial year of war under the Garvan Award, the Chatfield Report and any subsequent wartime agreements;(2) the total amount of Indian sterling indebtedness repatriated in each financial year of war, distinguishing Government and non-Government debt; the total amount of British investments in India requisitioned in order to enable the British Exchequer to meet its liabilities in India; and the estimated liability in the coming financial year of the British Exchequer to India?

If what the hon. Member has in mind in speaking of the cost of defence of India is the total expenditure of the Indian Defence and Supply Departments, this is divided between the United Kingdom and Indian Governments in accordance with the war-time arrangement announced in the House on the 29th February, 1940. Under this arrangement the sums recovered from the United Kingdom during the war years, largely on account of supplies to theatres of war outside India, are as follow:

	£
1939–40	2,000,000
1940–41	29,250,000
1941–42	137,750,000
1942–43 (approx.)	240,000,000
A total of	£409,000,000

These figures do not include the cost of supplies sent by United Kingdom Departments to India. The sums borne by the Indian Exchequer during the war years, as compared with the pre-war budget of £34,000,000, are as follow:

			£
1939–40	…	…	40,000,000
1940–41	…	…	55,000,000
1941–42	…	…	78,000,000
1942–43	…	…	179,000,000
A total of			£352,000,000

These sums allow for the receipt of the annual grant-in-aid made in accordance with the recommendations of the Garran Tribunal, which has been stabilised for the duration of the war at the 1939 level of £2 millions. In the course of the wartime development of the Forces in India, the modernisation measures recommended by the Chatfield Committee have, broadly speaking, been carried out and their cost included in the recoveries from the United Kingdom in the above statement. The Government of India have refunded to the United Kingdom £9,000,000 in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee.The amounts of the sterling indebtedness of the Government of India repatriated during the last four financial years, and the portions of those amounts that were acquired under Vesting Orders issued in the United Kingdom, have been as follow:

asked the Home Secretary what proportion of the moneys controlled by the Welsh Church Commission, which have been or will be allocated to the Denbighshire County Council, is attributable to, or derived from, the parishes of Llansantfraidd, Glyn Ceiriog, Glyn Tyaian, Llanarmon, Dyffryn Ceiriog, the former civil parish of Llangadwaladr, and the former township of Rhiwlas, Uwchyfoel, in the parish of Llansilin?

I regret that the Welsh Church Commission is not in a position to give the parochial origin of the assets transferred by them to county and county borough councils in Wales for reasons which were explained in a memorandum issued in December last to the local authorities concerned. I will send the hon. Member a copy of this memorandum and of a Home Office circular dealing with the same subject. If he desires any further explanation of the position the Welsh Church Commissioners will be glad to discuss the matter with him.