asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the average cost of the electricity meter supplied to small domestic consumers and the average quarterly rent charged therefor; and whether, for the purpose of this information, he will take the statistics of six of the leading electricity companies?

The present average cost of a ten ampere ordinary (non-prepayment) electricity meter is £1 19s. The practice of electricity undertakings in charging meter rents varies considerably. Some make no charge at all, and recover the cost of the meter, its installation, etc., in their other revenues. Some charge a separate meter rent of anything up to 3s. a quarter, which appears to be the maximum. Generally where the charge is made it is intended to cover some or all of the general costs of the undertaking in connection with the meter, e.g. the costs of fixing, reading, maintenance and renewal. Consumers who pay for their supply on an all-in or two part tariff are not normally charged any meter rent.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what he attributes the reduction in coal output per man from 298 tons in 1940 to 29a tons in 1941 and 289 tons in 1942; and what immediate action he proposes to take?

As my hon. Friend will appreciate, it would not be possible to give the information which he desires within the bounds of question and answer without running the risk of serious misunderstanding regarding the relative importance of the various causes of the decline. As regards the last part of the Question, new measures designed to meet the situation are constantly being taken by my Department.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will be in a position to permit a supply of towelling to the dairy farmers of Kent?

Arrangements for meeting the needs of dairy farmers are practically complete and full details will be published shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of cases in which licences to start new businesses have been refused by local authorities; and what, in the main, are the reasons for this decision?

I assume my hon. Friend refers to licences under the Location of Retail Businesses Order. The information available shows that during the six months ended 31st March, 1943, approximately 2,100 applications for licences were rejected, including applications for new businesses. Applications are in the main dealt with by the Local Price Regulation Committees, who ordinarily do not grant licences unless the applicant can establish that the proposed business is necessary for the essential needs of the public in the area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department dealing with the Registration of Business Names Act has ever taken any and, if so, how many, proceedings on its own motion and not on a complaint made by a person during the past six years; and what steps does he propose for the provisions of the Act being more rigidly enforced?

Proceedings under the Registration of Business Names Act, 1916, have on a number of occasions been initiated by the Board of Trade, but to extract the figures required by my hon. Friend would entail a volume of work which I could not justify under present conditions. As regards the second part of the Question, I do not consider that any such steps are called for.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that during 1942 only 10 extra clothing coupons were issued to Forest of Dean miners as against 30 in 1941 and that so far none have been issued this year; and whether he can give assurance that the miners will receive first consideration in all allocation of extra coupons?

For the present rationing period, which began on 1st June, 1942, miners have already received 10 supplementary coupons. In addition, as stated in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Mr. Creech Jones) on 7th April last, a small pool of coupons is now available to any colliery to meet individual cases of hardship among miners. Arrangements have also been made whereby miners can obtain certain essential occupational clothing and footwear without the surrender of coupons.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in all cases the conditions passed at the Geneva Conference concerning the treatment of prisoners of war are now being observed; whether the Article affecting conditions of employment, under Section 3 of Part III, is being carried out; and whether Article 4 has been generally applied?

I presume that the hon. Member is referring to the treatment of British prisoners of war in enemy hands. I regret that the information available to His Majesty's Government is too incomplete to enable me to give a reply to this general question which would not be misleading. As regards the particular provisions of the Convention to which the hon. Member refers, however, and which stipulate that work done by a prisoner of war shall have no direct connection with the operations of the war, my information is that, with certain exceptions which have been made the subject of representations, the principles of the Convention have in this respect been generally observed by the enemy Powers. If there is any particular case which the hon. Member has in mind and if he will be good enough to send me details, I will gladly go into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what provision is being made for the teaching of Oriental and Slavonic languages in this country in view of the importance assigned to these studies in the Command Paper 6420, Clause 21; whether he is aware that the only two schools in this country reading these languages, the School of Oriental and African Studies and the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, of London University, are handicapped by the action of the Government in depriving the first of the larger part of its special building and in removing the second from the Bloomsbury site to inadequate accommodation in the damaged portions of University College; and whether he will take steps to remedy this position?

Provision is being made for the teaching of Oriental and Slavonic languages in this country in the School of Oriental and African Studies and in the School of Slavonic and East European Studies. I take interest in both schools and appoint representatives to sit on the Governing Body of each. With regard to the latter part of the Question, I am glad to inform my hon. Friend that the question of the housing of the School of Oriental Studies has now been satisfactorily settled. I understand that the School of Slavonic Studies made their own arrangements for leaving London and have now made their own arrangements to return.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any evidence to show whether the absence of tank minesweepers in Tunisia has, or has hot, led to the slowing up of the successful operations there?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave last week to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Bellenger).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether officers or men who are disabled through enemy action and, after recovery, suffer from some continuing disability and are retained in the Service, receive any compensation for the injury sustained?

The answer to this Question is the same as the answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend on 14th April.

asked the Minister of Health the annual cost of running sanatoria for surgical tubercular patients?

Surgical cases of tuberculosis are dealt with in a variety of municipal and voluntary institutions which are usually concerned with other types of patient also. To obtain the information desired by my hon. and gallant Friend would necessitate a special detailed inquiry which I should not feel justified in instituting at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health what steps have been taken to call the attention of all local authorities to the urgency of all places supplying milk to schools and institutions of all kinds being regularly inspected by sanitary inspectors and by medical experts; and is he satisfied that there are sufficient inspectors employed to cope with this important work under local authorities?

A communication was sent to local authorities in the course of last year impressing upon them the necessity of taking all practicable steps to secure the due discharge of the duties of inspection imposed upon them by the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, especially in relation to cleanliness in methods of production, treatment and distribution of milk. As regards the second part of the Question, this service is of course subject to the exigencies of the general man-power situation, but arrangements have been made by which sanitary inspectors will not be recruited for military service except in special cases in which their professional qualifications are required in the Armed Forces.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will ensure that this House has a further opportunity for discussing the introduction of a universal free medical service after the medical organisations have carried out the consultation of the rank and file of their members and before he formulates the actual methods to be adopted?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 15th April to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now able to state the cost of the recent "Wings for Victory" week in London; and whether he will give an analysis of the total showing the amount of genuine savings invested?

In reply to the first part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker) on 10th March last. In reply to the second part I would refer him to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for East Middlesbrough (Mr. A. Edwards) on 16th March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the expression of hope by the Institute of Taxation, of which a copy has been sent to him, that in these days of shortage of staffs and overwork, inspectors of taxes will be instructed to show the maximum consideration to those engaged in accounting work in connection with the compilation of tax returns; and whether he will give instructions accordingly?

The Board of Inland Revenue's instructions to their inspectors of taxes expressly provide that in view of war-time conditions, inquiries, detailed calculations and correspondence should be reduced to a minimum and I have no reason to believe that these instructions are not being generally observed.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give the House an opportunity of discussing the Motion standing in the name of the hon. Member for West Belfast?[

Sir. The present state of public business affords no opportunity for discussion of the Motion standing in the name of my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he is aware that local authorities, who were recently directed by the Minister of Health's Circular No. 2778 to concentrate on the preliminary arrangements necessary for a one-year's house-building work and to prepare and submit draft programmes for such work, are finding it difficult to proceed with this task in the absence of information as to the Government's intentions in regard to the Reports of the Barlow and Uthwatt Committees; and whether he is now in a position to make any statement on the Government's policy in regard to the control of the use of land, including town and country planning?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House gave to the hon. Member for Central Leeds (Mr. Denman) on 10th March, 1943, to which I have at present nothing to add.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has considered the protest made by the Dorking and Horley Food Committee against the proposed merger of the Dorking urban and Dorking and Horley rural food offices; and whether he has any statement to make thereon?

Yes, Sir, the protest has been carefully considered but no grounds have been disclosed which would warrant a departure from the policy of amalgamating local food offices where two exist in one town. This policy has achieved material saving of man-power as well as economy in other directions.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that there are at present abnormal stocks of split lentils in this country which are elbowed off the market because they are on points in competition with other more favoured comestibles; and whether he will consider temporarily taking them off points so that people may have the benefit of this cheap and excellent food before it spoils from keeping?

The supply of split lentils is not more than is required to meet estimated future demands. While the situation will be closely watched, my Noble Friend sees no reason at present for adopting my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether there is any prospect of olive oil being imported into this country from Africa?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave him on 8th December last.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether any priority is given to education authorities to put up temporary buildings for the purpose of providing cooked dinners for schoolchildren; what number of domestic subject centres have been utilised for the purpose in Wales; and how many schools have been compelled to abandon teaching domestic subjects in order to arrange for cooking dinners?

With the concurrence of the Ministry of Works, the Board have afforded every facility to enable local education authorities to obtain huts for school kitchens, and have given help when they have encountered labour difficulties. Unless the building labour position in a particular area is exceptionally difficult owing to direct war requirements, the Board are now able to secure a high priority for the work. I am not in a position to give numerical answers to the second and third parts of the Question; cases have occurred in which the teaching of Domestic subjects has been restricted or interrupted by the use of domestic subjects' rooms for cooking school meals, but this practice is contrary to the Board's policy.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is prepared to approximate the conditions under which regular soldiers become entitled to war service grants to those applying to soldiers enlisted after the outbreak of war?

Command Paper 6318 of 1941, which extended the scope of the scheme of war service grants, made no distinction between soldiers serving on a regular engagement and those serving on a temporary engagement; accordingly, the scheme now applies to both classes.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are being taken to ensure that the best use is made of the services of women being called up at the present time; and what form of inspection of their duties exists?

The primary responsibility for the efficient use of women's labour, whether in industry or the Services, rests with the employer and the Department concerned. Officers of my Department are in addition constantly undertaking inspections of firms and Government estab- lishments employing civilian labour in co-operation where necessary with the Department concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of women chairmen and men chairmen, respectively, of the hardship committees and local appeal boards in London and the main industrial centres?

The number of women chairmen and men chairmen respectively of hardship committees and local appeal boards in London and the principal industrial centres are as follow:—

asked the Minister of Labour why nurses are compelled to register up to the age of 60 whereas women in other occupations need not register after 45 years of age?

The age limits for the registration of nurses and midwives were those recommended to me by the recently formed National Advisory Council for the recruitment and distribution of nurses and midwives. In the special registrations of men belonging to certain occupations there was an age limit of 60 or over. In such registrations it is obviously necessary to include all persons of working age and not to limit them to the age so far reached by the general registrations.

asked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the proposed amendment of the Evidence and Power of Attorney Act, 1940, empowering classes of persons unspecified and possibly unqualified, to administer oaths, he will consider including in any orders to be made under the proposed amending measure, in addition to a statement in the jurat, of the qualifications and capacity of the person administering the oath as may be specified by the Lord Chancellor, a provision that such person has an interest in the subject-matter of the affidavit or other document, and thus bring such persons within the scope of Section 1 (3) of the Commissioners for Oaths Act, 1889?

My Noble Friend has power to include in any Orders made under the Evidence and Power of Attorney Act, 1940, provisions corresponding to those of Section 1 (3) of the Commissioners for Oaths Act, 1889, and this suggestion will be borne in mind in making any Order under that Act as amended by the Bill now before the House.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, why only 20 per cent. of all trees planted by the Commission during the past year are hard wood?

A far greater proportion of softwoods than hardwoods is utilised in this country. The proportion of the latter planted by the Forestry Commission is in fact weighted on the side of the hardwoods.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Builth Rural District Council has passed a resolution recommending that, in order that fire brigade authorities may be relieved of an unfair liability, the Government should reimburse the fire brigade authorities for any payments by them under the Fire Brigade Pensions Act, 1925, on account of the results of a war injury; and whether he has any statement to make thereon?

I am aware of this resolution. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for North Eastern Derbyshire (Mr. H. White), on 15th April, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it has been brought to his notice that approximately 900 naval auxiliary and merchant vessels built in the United States of America in 1942 are electrically driven; and whether this method of propulsion is being adopted to any extent in British shipyards?

The Admiralty are aware that propulsion by means of electric drive has been adopted to a rather greater extent in the United States of America than in this country. Electric drive is not acceptable for the propulsion of major naval vessels in view of the additional weight and volume of the machinery required and because it is less efficient than the system in use. It is being fitted in a considerable number of smaller naval craft in the United States of America, but production and fitting out facilities in U.S.A. are greater than exist in this country. It is also used in some submarines, which in any case require to be fitted with electric motors. The system is being adopted in merchant vessels building in United Kingdom shipyards where production can be linked up with fitting out facilities.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of unemployed reporting at each exchange in the county of Durham?

I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that boots and shoes issued to members of the Women's Land Army, though they remain the property of the Women's Land Army, have to be repaired at the girls' own expense resulting in repairs being postponed frequently, until the boots and shoes have to be replaced; that the members of the Women's Land Army regard this regulation as unfair and unjust; and whether he will consider making such repairs a responsibility of the organisation or of the Department of Agriculture?

Members of the Women's Land Army are expected to keep their equipment in repair at their own expense, though an exception has been made, for special reasons, in the case of rubber boots. The Women's Land Army work under the ordinary conditions of farm employment and their wage-rates are fixed on that basis. Accordingly, while it was felt to be reasonable that as newcomers to agriculture they should receive a free issue of uniform equipment, it was not considered necessary to give them privileges in regard to maintenance which are not available to other farm workers. I am informed that there is no evidence of undue delay in providing repairs to boots and shoes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the introduction of a Bill for Scotland similar to the Nurses Bill?

The Scots Committee presided over by Lord Alness took, on some aspects of the problem of State recognition of assistant nurses, divergent views from those adopted in England by the Athlone Committee. I am endeavouring to see how far it is possible to bridge the differences prior to the formulation of a Bill dealing with Scotland. I should be glad if the hon. Member would repeat his Question after the Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received any further recommendations from the Scottish Nurses Salaries Committee regarding those classes of nurses which are not dealt with in the committee's interim report; and, if so, when will it be presented to the House?

Yes, Sir. In a second report the Committee have made recommendations regarding the salaries of nurses employed in general hospitals other than approved training schools, and in fever, sick children's and tuberculosis hospitals; and on the conditions of nursing employment generally. All the matters remitted to the Committee have now been covered with the exception of superannuation, and of questions relating to assistant nurses and nurses employed in public assistance institutions and mental hospitals. The report is being presented to Parliament and copies will be available to-day in the Vote Office. I am communicating with local authorities and voluntary hospitals commending the recommendations for adoption.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements have been made with the coal industry in Scotland for collaboration regarding the miners' fitness centre at the Emergency Medical Service Hospital, Gleneagles?

After consultation with the Minister of Fuel and Power I have appointed a consultative Committee under the chairmanship of Sir Robert Bruce consisting of five members nominated by the miners' organisations, five nominated by the mineowners' associations, one from the Ministry of Fuel and Power and one from the Ministry of Labour and National Service. The terms of reference of the Committee are: