asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a number of the military tailors authorised to make uniforms under the terms of the Goods and Services (Price Control) Uniforms Order, No. 2556, are selling, contrary to specifications, factory-produced greatcoats at hand-made or be- spoke prices to officer cadets; and will he take immediate steps to terminate this practice?

If my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of the cases that he has in mind, I will have inquiries made into them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the great difficulties experienced by the Manchester licensed victuallers in securing the necessary supply of towels to cleanse the glasses used by customers; and whether, in regard to the interests of general health and in order to prevent the spread of disease, he will take steps to provide a more adequate supply of these towels?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Moss Side (Mr. Rostron Duckworth) on 2nd March, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the pending introduction of legislation which may raise important issues and affect large sections of the community, he will consider reverting to the pre-war system under which Bills were referred to Standing Committees for consideration and report to the House?

His Majesty's Government do not consider that it would be practicable under present conditions to refer Bills to Standing Committees, for reasons which will be readily understood.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the decision of the Fife Food Control Committee to postpone the rationalisation of retail deliveries of bread in the county until the rationalisation of wholesale supply is dealt with by the Government; and what action is proposed?

I am aware of the views expressed by the Fife food control com- mittee. An Order providing for the rationalisation of wholesale bread deliveries in England and Wales has been made and discussions between my Department and the trade are taking place on the subject of its application in Scotland. Retail bread distribution schemes will not in any case be made general throughout Great Britain until some progress has been made with the rationalisation of wholesale distribution.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he has considered the decision of the bakers in the county of Fife protesting against the congestion caused in yards and junctions by the alteration of the running times of freight trains; and, in view of the decision of the bakers that they were able to supply all the bread needed in the county, he will reconsider the running of a daily special train from Glasgow to Dundee through Fife?

No general complaint has reached me from the bakers of Fife against the 2.15 a.m. freight train from Glasgow, nor have I evidence that this train is causing congestion in yards and junctions. The Ministry of Food and representatives of the trade in Scotland are now discussing the question of rationalising the wholesale distribution of bread. I hope, therefore, that my right hon. Friend will agree that it would be unwise for me to interfere in one specific case, while these discussions are going on.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the shortage of fish supplies in the county borough of West Ham; and whether, in view of the waste of time for housewives queuing-up for fish not available, he will cause inquiries to be made and ensure early improvement in this highly populated area?

There has been a general shortage of fish supplies during the winter months, but it would appear that the county borough of West Ham received during the months of January and February its full proportionate entitlement of the limited supplies of fish then available. The increase in landings during the past few days has materially improved the position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of British or non-Maltese teachers in the elementary and secondary schools of Malta; and whether any information is available as to the qualification or remuneration of these teachers as compared with Maltese teachers of similar qualifications?

Information on these points is not immediately available. I have asked the Governor to supply it and I will communicate with the hon. Member when I have received it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any recent information is available about the position in Malta in the matter of education in the primary and elementary schools, denominational or otherwise, of the educational standard of pupils and teachers, of average attendances of schoolchildren in recent times of stress; and whether any plans are now being reviewed for uplifting the educational standard in the post-war period?

Yes, Sir. At the end of last year a visit was paid to Malta by an education inspector of the L.C.C. whom the council were good enough to lend at my request, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of his report, which is now under consideration. Post-war educational problems are being actively considered by the Government of Malta

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works whether he will arrange for the plans and drawings approved by his Department for the cottages about to be built in rural areas to be exhibited in this House so that Members may be afforded an opportunity to see them?

The responsibility for the plans of the rural houses lies with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, and as he has already informed this House, in reply to a Question on 18th February, copies of the type plans have been placed in the Library. The responsibility of my Noble Friend is in respect of matters of construction and design. A set of drawings was prepared to provide information as to general standards of economic construction and appearance, and I shall be glad to arrange for these drawings to be exhibited in a suitable place in the House.

asked the Minister of Health whether tenders for the new cottages to be built for agricultural workers are to be submitted on a county basis or on a general basis covering the country as a whole?

No, Sir. Tenders will be obtained and submitted to me by the individual rural district councils who will, as the local housing authorities, be immediately responsible for the provision of the houses allocated to their respective districts.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will introduce a service of airgraph letters to the United States of America; and what difficulties stand in the way of this step?

His Majesty's Government would welcome the establishment of an airgraph service to the U.S.A., but unfortunately the shortage of equipment is such that the U.S. postal authorities, whose co-operation is of course essential, have hitherto found it impracticable to agree to the introduction of the service.

asked the President of the Board of Education who are the present members of the Consultative Committee appointed to advise him; upon what system they are selected; and what other consultation is at his disposal?

The periods of office of members of the Consultative Committee have expired and the Committee is in abeyance during the war. The appointment of members of the Committee is governed by an Order in Council of 22nd July, 1920 (S.R. & O. 1920, No. 1582). As regards the last part of the Question, my hon. Friend will be aware of the several committees I have appointed to advise me on particular problems.

asked the President of the Board of Education which local education authorities have given effect to his suggestion that they should refund the cost of travelling expenses incurred by part-time students owing to the withdrawal of cheap-day tickets?

The suggestion which I made to local education authorities was that they should consider giving assistance where necessary in cases of hardship caused by the withdrawal of cheap-day return tickets, either by the remission of fees in whole or in part or by some payment towards travelling expenses. An inquiry into the position in 20 areas has shown that in all cases such arrangements have been made where circumstances demanded, and I do not therefore consider that I should be justified in asking for information on this subject from all authorities.

asked the Home Secretary whether the ban on visitors is intended to include or to exclude Hastings; and, if the latter, will he make it clear that intending visitors can, under present circumstances, go to Hastings.

The area subject to the visitors' ban in Kent and Sussex does not include Hastings. Hastings is, however, within a regulated area; and, as I explained in the statement which I made on 30th March, restrictions may be imposed for military purposes without warning at any place within a regulated area, and any person intending to visit a place in such an area would be well advised to ascertain beforehand from his local contacts whether any particular restrictions are in force at the time in the locality.

asked the Minister of Health, how many parents of evacuee children are still paying nothing towards the upkeep of their children.

The latest figures available show that at the beginning of October, 1942, approximately 25,000 parents of unaccompanied children then evacuated were paying nothing either because their means were below the adopted scale or because they were in receipt of assistance.

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to accede to the request from a number of members of the Merton and Morden Urban District Council for an inquiry under Section 290 of the Local Government Act, 1933, into a contract for insurances; and, if not, will he draw the attention of the district auditor to the facts which have been presented to him in relation to this matter?

The matter is not within the scope of an inquiry under the section to which my hon. Friend refers but I am bringing it to the notice of the district auditor.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport (1) the purposes for which his Department issued, or authorised, Statutory Rule and Order, 1943, No. 474;

(2) what distance limit is permitted to travel under Statutory Rule and Order, 1943, No. 474?

Horse racing is organised on a regional basis, meetings in the North being confined to horses trained north of the Trent, meetings in the South to horses trained in the South, and meetings at Newmarket to horses trained at Newmarket. Eight "Open" races, however, are also run at Newmarket, and any horses may be entered for them, wherever they are trained. These eight races are listed in the schedule to Statutory Rules and Orders, No. 474. To make it possible for horses to compete in these eight races, it was necessary to modify Order No. 1689, 1942, which prohibited the movement by rail of race horses to race meetings. The necessary modification was effected by Statutory Rule and Order No. 474. It will permit a horse to be moved by rail for any distance; but only when it has been entered to run in one of the eight "Open" races which I have mentioned.

asked the Minister of Health what he intends doing with 50 boys suffering from tuberculosis when the colony at Burrow Hill, Frimley, Surrey, is closed down; and why the colony is being closed?

The Burrow Hill colony was established by the National Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis for the training of young boys affected by tuberculosis but not requiring full sanatorium treatment. I understand that the main difficulty of the colony is that, since the outbreak of war, economic reasons have made such boys unwilling to leave work to undertake training. The colony has also shared the difficulty met by most institutions of obtaining adequate nursing and domestic staff. I have already been able to give them some help and I understand that the nursing staff is at present adequate but that domestic staff is short. Some help has been given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service and I have recently approached his Department again on this matter. I hope that it will be possible to keep the colony in operation for a time sufficient to settle how it can best be used until its original function can be fully restored, in which case the first part of the Question will not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that some military tailors who have supply depots near Officer Cadet Training Unit camps are still advising officer cadets that they must purchase a more expensive type and standard of uniform than is laid down in the Goods and Services (Price Control) Order, No. 2556, and that this condition purports to arise from instructions of commanding officers of 14 different line regiments; and whether he will issue definite guidance and information to all Officer Cadet Training Units that will avoid unnecessary expenditure by junior officers when ordering uniforms?

The instructions on this matter are quite clear and I have explained the position to my hon. Friend in answer to previous Questions. If, however, he has evidence that these instructions are being disregarded and if he sends me the particulars I will gladly have the complaints looked into. A complaint has in fact just been received and is being investigated. I will, in the light of the investigations into this case, consider whether any fresh instructions are necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the voluntary enlistment of Spaniards in North Africa into the Pioneer Corps has been suspended; and whether he will give orders for its resumption?

I have no information that this is the case but I will make inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the report of the Cozens-Hardy Committee on staffing of mixed civilian and military establishments has been issued; if so, whether he will acquaint the House with its contents; and what steps he proposes to take on the recommendations?

The report of the Cozens-Hardy Committee on staffing of mixed civilian and military establishments has now been received. As I explained to the hon. Member last November the Committee was essentially a departmental one and I do not propose to publish its report. But when the report has been examined I will, as I promised, consider what information can usefully be given to the House as to action taken.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether men called up for service in the Army who suffer from various forms of foot trouble, particularly those suffering from flat feet, are given special treatment and consideration and supplied with any necessary appliances free of charge?

Yes, Sir. Foot trouble influences a man's medical classification. Specialist advice and treatment are available in the Army not only in hospitals but in physical development centres and in addition chiropodists are attached to medical units in this country. Light boots and special appliances are supplied free of charge if they are needed.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there is sufficient blood available for transfusion in all overseas theatres of war?

Yes, Sir. Every overseas theatre is supplied from this country with a stock of preserved blood substitute. These stocks are if necessary supplemented by whole blood obtained locally. According to reports from the Middle East and North Africa the present arrangements are entirely satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, according to information received by his Department, there are any hotels in this country which now distinguish in the use of lounges or bars between officers and the rank and file?

I am not aware that there are any.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there are any military prisoners detained or imprisoned in the Tower of London at the present time?

None, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War what signal will be given by way of warning of the approach of invading troops in a village or town, where the church or its belfry has just been destroyed by bombing?

It is the duty of the local military authorities to improvise the best alternative signal possible in case the bells cannot be used. The resources of the neighbourhood will determine what is the best signal in any particular place.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has yet considered the report of the National General Exports Merchants' Group, of which a copy has been sent to him, which contains a plea for the stabilisation of exchange rates; and whether he is in a position to make a statement?

I regret that I have not received the report to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will give a brief explanation of the reasons for the introduction by his Department of Statutory Rule and Order, No. 472;

(2) whether he will give a brief explanation of the reasons for the introduction by his Department of Statutory Rule and Order, No. 471?

The Import Duties (Exemptions) (No. 2) Order, 1943 (S.R. & O. 1943, No. 471) continues for a further year the exemption of fresh shell fish from the general ad valorem import duty. Prior to this exemption the catch of certain Allied fishermen operating from ports in this country was subject to 30 per cent. duty, a position inconsistent with the general policy of allowing them to operate as nearly as possible on equal terms with our own fishermen. The temporary removal of the duty was agreed to by the Dominions interested, and they have agreed to the extension of the period. The additional Import Duties (No. 1), Order (S.R. & O. 1943, No. 472) is ancillary to the above Exemption Order and is purely formal in character, since exemption from additional import duty follows automatically when imports are exempted from the general ad valorem duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Statutory Rule and Order, 1943, No. 371, is necessary, and what is the nature of the other arrangements which it is contemplated by the note to the order the National Debt Commissioners may make as to the receipt and repayment of money?

In reply to the first part of the Question, the Order is necessary to facilitate the participation of trustee savings banks in schemes for war savings in industrial establishments. In reply to the second part, as stated in Sub-section (1) of the Regulation, the arrangements in accordance with which the National Debt Commissioners may authorise the receipt and payment of deposits are the arrangements approved by the trustee savings banks inspection committee. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a circular giving details of arrangements so far approved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts pay Entertainments Duty on all of its productions, or any of them; and which productions are exempted?

Entertainments provided under the auspices of the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts are exempted from Entertainments Duty under the provisions of the Finance (New Duties) Act, 1916, Section 1 (5) (d). This statutory exemption is of long standing and of general application; no special exemption has been created for entertainments so provided. It is not possible to give a list of the productions which have been so exempted without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the case of the death of a person who is entitled to post-war credit under Section 7 of the Finance Act, 1941, the sum will be redeemed before the termination of hostilities in order that executors may wind up the estate of the deceased person?

No, Sir, but I would point out that the executors are not obliged to keep the estate open in the circumstances described by my hon. Friend as they may transfer the deceased's right to post-war credit to some other person (e.g. to the residuary legatee). They may effect such a transfer by applying to the Inspector of Taxes who issued the deceased's certificate, stating the full name and address of the person to whom the post-war credit is to be transferred: probate or letters of administration and the deceased's certificate should be sent with the application. The Inspector of Taxes will make the necessary record and issue a certificate to the person named, who will then become the person entitled to the post-war credit. If the personal representatives propose that the post-war credit should be divided between two or more persons the application to the inspector should state the amount appropriate to each, and each will then receive a certificate for his shares.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider the appointment of a Special Commissioner by Great Britain and the United States of America to assume control over all matters connected with the rescue of Jews, as this cause has suffered by the intervention of a multiplicity of institutions and Ministries?

I will take note of my hon. Friend's suggestion. But he will realise that concrete measures such as he proposes for the relief of the Jews and other refugees will depend upon the recommendations, which I am unable to anticipate, of the Anglo-American Conference upon the refugee problem, which is due to be held shortly in Bermuda. In the meanwhile measures of assistance have been carried through, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained in answer to a Question on 7th April, and I cannot agree that the cause of the refugees has suffered in the manner suggested.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) whether he will explain the full implication of Statutory Rule and Order, No. 504; and how the sum of £500,000 mentioned in Clause 1 has been ascertained;

(2) whether he will explain the full implication of Statutory Rule and Order, No. 503; and how the sum of £1,500,000 mentioned in Clause I has been ascertained?

These Orders arise under pre-war legislation. Under Section 24 of the Coal Act, 1938, I am required to prescribe the minimum amount to be held for the time being to the credit of the Coal Commission's reserve fund. I am also required to prescribe the minimum annual appropriation to be made by the Commission to this fund. The purpose of the reserve fund is to enable the Commission to meet any deficiency arising on its revenue account and any extraordinary claim or demand. The sums prescribed in the Orders are those which, in the opinion of those responsible, are appropriate in the present circumstances.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether there has been any increase in the consumption of petrol by taximeter-cabs during the past six months in Hull; and is he aware that the Hull authority is of opinion that the use of petrol is being abused by taximeter-cab owners?

The answer to both parts of the Question is in the negative. During the last six months the number of cabs rationed in Hull has remained constant and the petrol issues for them have fallen. I have not received any representations on the subject from the town council.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what was the average output per person employed, surface and underground, at the Point of Ayr collieries over the last six months; and what was the average output per person employed, surface and underground, in the whole regional area concerned?

I must refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Heywood and Radcliffe (Mr. Wootton-Davies) on 6th April. It is clearly not in the public interest to give figures relating to individual pits.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the purpose and effect of Statutory Rule and Order, 1943, No. 434.

This Order was made in conformity with normal security procedure.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will investigate the case of a medical graduate of London University employed by his Ministry, whose treatment by the Accountant General's Department, details of which have been submitted to him, has occasioned this officer's resignation?

I am well aware of this case. This officer's resignation was not warranted by any action taken by my Accountant General's staff, who merely declined to allow him to contravene without explanation an instruction regarding travelling expenses of which the officer was well aware, and which is of general application throughout the Civil Service.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, on the complete recovery and consequent cessation of pension payable to a person serving in His Majesty's forces who has recovered damages from a civilian in respect of injuries sustained whilst on duty through the negligence of such civilian, the amount of moneys deducted from the pension of such person during the period of incapacity is repaid to such person so injured, or whether the amount so deducted is retained by his Department thereby depriving the injured person of any compensation awarded in respect of pain and suffering?

While the negligent third party should not escape the financial consequences of his negligence, the injured serving member cannot, on the other hand, expect to be compensated, whether for pain and suffering or for a continuing impairment, from two sources in respect of the same accident. Accordingly, on the cessation of the pension on the injured person's recovery no repayment is made to him of the partial deduction made during the currency of the pension, but I cannot agree that this practice has the effect suggested by the hon. Member in the second part of the Question, particularly in view of the fact that, as I explained in my answer of 9th September, 1942, to the hon. Member for Moss Side (Mr. Rostron Duckworth) a proportion of any damages awarded is disregarded in the calculation of their annuity value. I see no grounds for modifying these existing arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when he will be in a position to announce the appointment of a permanent chairman for British Airways?

I have no statement to make on this subject at the present time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, as a result of the mild winter and early spring, there has been any increase in insect pests; and, if so, whether moderation will be observed in the destruction of birds?

I have no reason to sup-pose that the mild winter and early spring will cause any general increase in the number of injurious insects, since a mild winter favours some kinds of insects but is unfavourable to others. I strongly deprecate the destruction of mainly insectivorous birds.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether pack drill is now carried out in the Royal Air Force; and, if not, on what date this form of punishment was abolished?

I have no evidence to show that punishment drill is awarded In the Royal Air Force although it is permissible under the regulations. I am making sure of its abolition by arranging for an immediate amendment of the regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) whether he is aware that since November, 1042, a number of officers in transit by air have been periodically immobilised at a place of which he has been informed; and whether, in order to prevent waste of officer man-power, he will ensure that officers are not despatched by air for transit through the place in question unless there is a probability that they will be able to complete their journey within a reasonable time;

(2) how many officers in transit by air have, since November, 1942, been immobilised for more than seven days, at a place of which he has been informed?

Since the beginning of November, 128 officers in transit by air remained at the place in question for more than seven days. No officer begins the journey unless it is probable that he can complete it in reasonable time but the availability of air passages on the last stage of the route may be affected at short notice by operational and other factors which cannot be foreseen.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is proposed to replace field service caps by berets in the Royal Air Force and Royal Air Force Regiment?

The beret is to be introduced in the R.A.F. Regiment, and its suitability for the remainder of the Royal Air Force is under consideration.