asked the. Minister of Labour (1) whether he is aware that Ultra Electric, Limited, by persistently refusing to establish a joint production committee, to meet any trade union officials or to recognise its workers' memberships of their trade unions, by its treatment of Mrs. Birch and Mr. Jenkins which is already known to him, and by numerous other acts of hostility to its workers, has created feelings of discontent and indignation calculated to injure production in spite of the workers best efforts to maintain morale; and whether he will take steps to make this concern behave reasonably to its workers;(2) whether he is aware that Ultra Electric, Limited, when recently ordered by one of his National Service officers to reinstate one of its workers named Jenkins, whom it had dismissed without justification, locked its gates and sought to prevent him entering the factory to do his work, and that when it was compelled to admit him, it shortly afterwards made a false charge against him to the National Service officer and then refused him permission to leave the factory to attend the employment exchange at the National Service officer's direction to make his answer to the charge; and what steps will he take in the matter?

I am aware that various difficulties of the kind mentioned are reported to exist at this firm and efforts are being made to arrange a, joint conference under the auspices of my Department between representatives of the management and officials of one of the unions concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered a recent decision of the High Court to the effect that employers ordered by his National Service officers to reinstate workers whom they have dismissed without justification can comply with the law by paying such workers wages whilst refusing to allow them to work; and, as such a practice enables any employer to get rid of any workers he dislikes in most cases at the public expense and is destructive of morale and otherwise wasteful and antisocial, will he take steps to amend the Essential Work Order so as to make it unlawful for the future?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Huntingdonshire (Dr. Peters) on 22nd April, 1943.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he will consider amending the regulation that permits a woman, having opted for one of the Services, to change to industry but does not equally permit a change to one who has opted for industry;(2) whether he will consider issuing an instruction that women having taken up industrial work and later, on medical advice, having to abandon their occupation, be permitted, on fulfilling the necessary standards, to join one of the Services?

In deciding whether to permit women who have opted for industry or are employed in industry to transfer, on any grounds, to the Women's Services I must be guided by the relative urgency from time to time, of the demand for industry and the Services respectively. At the present time the needs of industry are very heavy and I am not therefore prepared to issue general instructions on the lines suggested.

asked the Minister of Labour when he expects to receive the Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories for 1942?

I am afraid I cannot forecast a date at present.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Barking local Employment Exchange Committee has not been meeting regularly recently; and whether he can take steps to make it function properly?

The normal activities and meetings of local employment committees have, of necessity, been restricted by wartime conditions, but provision exists for meetings to be held as may be necessary. The Barking committee is fully constituted and I am satisfied that the committee can function properly when required.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the leaflet "Further Education and Training Scheme" has now been issued to the public through the Stationery Office; why it appeared in the Press several days before it was available to Members; and whether steps will be taken to ensure that the. House is informed on these matters at least simultaneously with the newspapers?

This leaflet was issued on 29th April for distribution by my Department to persons specially interested in the matters with which it deals. Its substance had already been made known to the House in a lengthy reply which I gave on 25th March and my hon. Friend is therefore mistaken in supposing that the newspapers had prior information. I am placing copies of the leaflet in the Library.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why the Stroud laundry is without any supply of starch; and when he expects supplies to arrive?

The application from the Stroud laundry for the ration period commencing 28th March was not received by the Ministry until 3rd May. The necessary authority for the release of the starch was given by telegram on 4th May and the starch is now on the way. I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as my inquiries have been completed.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the Report on Education in the United Nations, recently issued by the Joint Commission of the London International Assembly and the Council for Education in World Citizenship, setting out the results of recent investigation by educationalists of the United Nations, including certain allied Ministers of Education, of which a copy has been sent to him; and whether he proposes to take steps to put any of the regulations into effect?

I have received a copy of this Report. I met a deputation from the Joint Commission yesterday. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the notice issued on this occasion, which will show him my interest in the work of the Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, for the provision of the land necessary to enable the scheme, known as the School Base, to be carried into effect after the scheme has received the approval of the authorities responsible for education?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Bilston (a copy of which I am sending to him) on 18th February.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Sergeant V. R. Wilks, No. 1263603, Royal Army Medical Corps, was killed in action in April, 1942; that notification of his death was sent to his mother on 15th January, 1943; that on 12th February, 2nd March and 16th April further notifications were sent; that on each envelope was writen, in red ink, the word "Killed"; and whether he will see that no further such unnecessary communications, which are resented by the mother of the man killed, will be sent?

The R.A.M.C. record office was first informed of this casualty by the military authorities in India in January of this year. A telegram was sent on 15th January to the next-of-kin as well as a letter which expressed the sympathy of the officer in charge of the record office and explained that no details were yet available. On 3rd February a further letter was sent quoting a cable received from India giving the reasons for the unavoidable delay in notifying the casualty. On 16th April a third letter was sent forwarding the soldier's effects. I am not aware that any other letters were sent or that the envelopes were marked in the way suggested by my right hon. Friend. Such marking is contrary to the practice of the War Department and if my right hon. Friend will forward me the envelopes I will gladly investigate the matter further.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that officers on the lodging list in the London district experience great difficulty in securing accommodation within their means; and will he take steps to secure the piovision of more residential clubs or hostels available to British officers in view of the greater facilities now provided in London for officers of other countries;(2) whether he is aware of the exorbitant charges now being made for furnished accommodation in London; and whether he will consider making a special supplementary allowance available to officers on the lodging list in the London district in order to obviate the financial hardship from which so many junior officers are suffering?

A special centre will shortly be opened by the Army where officers sent to London for short periods of duty will be able to stay. I am not aware that officers permanently stationed in London are unable to make suitable arrangements for their accommodation within the total of the allowances to which they are at present entitled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is recommending artificial insemination of cattle on the lines adopted in Denmark and America to all Colonies where the importation of pure bred sires is restricted owing to war conditions; and whether any Government subsidies are given for this purpose?

Artificial insemination has been practised for some years in Kenya and experiments are still being conducted in that Colony with a view to extending operations over wider areas than are at present possible under existing climatic conditions. Sir Frank Stockdale has proposed that artificial insemination should be undertaken in certain of the West Indian Colonies in order that the improvement of stock, particularly dairy herds, may be accelerated. So far as is known, no subsidies are given for artificial insemination, but facilities are provided by the Government in Kenya where the work is carried out by the veterinary staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, as all aliens under British law who serve in His Majesty's Forces may, within a defined period, apply for British nationality including those who originate from mandated territories, why exception was made to would-be applicants serving in Palestine; whether he is aware that legislation for naturalising, voluntarily, inhabitants of mandated territories is effective in nearly all such territories, excluding Palestine; and will he introduce legislation to confer British nationality on the inhabitants of Palestine, the majority of whom have been anxious for it since the occupation by the British in 1917?

For the purpose of applications for naturalisation on the basis of Crown service, I am not aware that any distinction has been drawn between applicants serving in Palestine and those serving elsewhere, nor am I aware of the existence of any such legislation as that to which the hon. Member refers in the second part of the Question. Palestinian citizenship can be conferred by certificate of naturalisation granted by the High Commissioner to inhabitants of Palestine who are not already Palestinian citizens, provided that they satisfy the conditions laid down in the Palestinian Citizenship Orders. The answer to the last part of the Question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the petition submitted by Mr. Isaac David Ketter, a Jerusalem barrister, through the Colonial Office to the Permanent Mandates Commission, on 17th September, 1939, has been considered by the Commission; and whether any reply to the mandatory Power for the petitioner has since been received?

The petition was submitted to the Permanent Mandates Commission in January, 1940, but no reply has been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether petitions, addressed by the inhabitants of British mandated territories to the Permanent Mandate Commission will, in the present crisis, be forwarded by the mandatory Power to the offices of the League of Nations, now transferred to Canada; and, as the aggrieved inhabitants of such territories may not petition Parliament or its Members postage free, will he ensure the exercise of this normal pro- cedure in petitioning directly the Mandates Commission?

Owing to the war, the Permanent Mandates Commission has not met since December, 1939. It has always been customary for petitions addressed to the Commission from communities or sections of the population of territories in respect of which a mandate is being exercised by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to be transmitted to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations as soon as they are received from the officers administering the Governments of the territories in question, and this procedure is still being continued. The second part of the Question accordingly does not arise.

asked the Minister of Health whether there is any likelihood of his changing his attitude towards osteopathy in war time; and whether it is his intention to recognise osteopathy as a legitimate branch of medical science?

No, Sir. It is not my intention to propose any amendment of the law on this matter.

asked the Minister of Health when the promised legislation dealing with old age pensions is likely to be introduced.

It is hoped to produce the Bill within the next few days.

asked the Minister of Health what was the cost of billeting schoolchildren during the year ended 31st March, 1942; and what amount was recovered from the persons liable to maintain them?

The cost of billeting unaccompanied children is not separately recorded but the estimated cost during the year ended 31st March, 1942, was £11,000,000. The gross amount recovered from liable persons during the same period was approximately £2,120,000,

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the speculation in buying houses at a easonable price and putting up the sale price to a high figure, especially in districts where housing accommodation is scarce, he will institute some control to protect the public?

The inquiries which I have made do not indicate any general increase of prices which is disproportionate to war-time variations of costs and wages generally. The increases are confined in the main to houses which are sold with vacant possession for occupation by the purchaser, and in existing circumstances the number of such houses is limited. In view of this, and of the powers of requisitioning and billeting which are available to me to meet the needs of person who are required to move in connection with the war effort, I do not consider that I should be justified at the present time in seeking the new powers which would be necessary to control prices. I agree however that the position needs to be closely watched, and I am making arrangements accordingly. I should not hesitate to consider appropriate action if circumstances warrant it, and I should be obliged if my hon. Friend would send me particulars of any instances of unreasonable prices which come to his notice.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works whether he is aware that 4,000 unwanted motor-cars and vans are at the Crystal Palace; what method is used to flatten out the bodies; and what he intends doing with them?

The arrangements for dealing with unwanted motor cars at the Crystal Palace are under the control of the Ministry of Works. Any spare parts which appear suitable are removed and handed over to the Ministry of Supply. Thereafter the cars are broken down and the various constituents sorted, suitably treated and subsequently distributed in accordance with the instructions of the appropriate Ministry of Supply authorities. For example, steel bodies and wings which are only valuable as scrap steel are flattened on the site by steam roller and sent direct to the manufacturers.

asked the Postmaster-General the purposes of Statutory Rule and Order, 1943, No. 580?

Statutory Rule and Order, 1943, No. 580, has been made in accordance with the Post Office Act, 1908, to give statutory authority for (1) the institution of the airgraph service, (2) the introduction of the air letter service to the Forces, and (3) certain postal concessions granted in respect of correspondence sent to and from men of the merchant navy. As regards (3) the concessions have been granted so that merchant seamen may, as far as practicable, have the same postal facilities as are enjoyed by the Royal Navy. The concessions are, mainly, as follow:

(i) Reduced postage rates on letters posted in Great Britain addressed to the crews of any British merchant ship abroad, namely, 1½d. for the first oz. and 1d. for each additional oz. (postcards id.).

(ii) Free postage in respect of letters not exceeding 2 oz. in weight, and postcards, addressed to Great Britain and Eire posted on their ships by

(a)the crews of all British merchant ships abroad employed on Government non-commercial service;

(b) the crews of all British merchant ships employed on ordinary commercial service provided the correspondence is posted on the high seas and handed over at Empire ports or at ports in the U.S.A. or Egypt.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of duty per proof gallon chargeable on spirits on 1st August, 1914, 1st August, 1939, and at the present time; and the comparative consumption in proof gallons in the years 1914, 1939 and 1942, respectively?

The amounts of the basic (Excise) spirit duty per proof gallon have been and are:

	£	s.	d.
1st August, 1914		14	9
1st August, 1939	3	12	6
13th April, 1943	7	17	6

Comparative consumption:

Calendar Year	Proof Gallons
1914	31,660,000
1939	10,750,000
1942	9,730,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of duty on beer per standard barrel on 1st August, 1914, and 1st August, 1939, and at the present time, and the comparative consumption in standard barrels in the years 1914, 1939 and 1942?

The amounts of the beer duty per standard barrel have been and are:

	£	s.	d.
1st August, 1914		7	9
1st August, 1939	4	0	0
13th April, 1943	14	1	10½

Comparative consumption:

Calendar Year	Standard Barrels.
1914	34,190,000
1939	19,350,000
1942	18,670,000

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total tithe-remission granted each year under Section 14 of the 1936 Act; whether the Report of the Redemption Annuities Account under Sections 25 and 27 of this. Act are still presented to Parliament; and, if so, on which dates?

The amount or remission granted to date in respect of each year 1937 to 1942 is as follows:

	£
1937	57,450
1938	64,404
1939	69,435
1940	69,240
1941	69,195
1942	68,553

Accounts prepared pursuant to Section 27 (1) of the Tithe Act, 1936, together with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon, are presented annually to Parliament. The last Accounts and Report in respect of the financial year 1941 were presented to Parliament on 9th February, 1943, and were published on 24th February as a House of Commons Paper (H.C. 44).

asked the Home Secretary in how many cases have His Majesty's subjects been tried in camera and sentenced to imprisonment where the fact of conviction and the nature of the sentence has not subsequently been made public?

I know of no such cases.

asked the Home Secretary how many prisoners have been punished during 1942 for failing to complete their cell task; and how many of these cases came from Maidstone and Wormwood Scrubbs prisons, respectively?

During 1942 there were 901 disciplinary awards for idleness, of which 40 were in Maidstone Prison and 38 in Workwood Scrubs Prison. These figures include disciplinary awards for idleness in the workshops as well as those for idleness in relation to cell tasks. I regret that separate figures are not available in respect of the latter offence alone.

asked the Home Secretary whether the hours of cellular confinement have yet been reduced in all prisons of England and Wales by one hour as compared with the increased hours of separate confinement which have prevailed during the first years of the war?

Yes, Sir. With the cooperation of the prison staffs the new arrangements which I announced on the 1st April in reply to my lion. Friend the Member for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) were introduced last month in all prisons, except four, in which a longer time-table was already being worked.

the Home Secretary what communications he has received from local authorities regarding the reimbursement of the fire brigade authorities of any payments payable by them under the Fire Brigades Pensions Act, 1925, on account of the results of a war injury; and the nature of the reply sent?

I have received communications from a considerable number of local authorities on this subject. I dealt fully with the matter in a reply which I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend, the Member for North-East Derbyshire (Mr. H. White) on 15th April, and I have arranged for these local authorities to receive a copy of that reply. I am also sending a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the large body of opinion concerned at the refusal to appoint a woman inspector of constabulary, he will give his reasons in detail?

The duties of H.M. Inspectors of Constabulary, which are prescribed by statute, are to visit and inquire into the state and efficiency of police forces other than the Metropolitan Police, and for this purpose they are called upon to deal with all questions relating to the police service, including that of the employment of women police. If the suggestion is that a woman inspector should be appointed to deal primarily with the question of the employment of women, I do not think that there would be justification for the appointment of a woman inspector at the present time.

asked the Minister of Information whether he has recently consulted representatives of Allied Governments regarding the publication of alleged national newspapers; and has he any statement to make?

Yes, Sir, but I am not in a position to make any statement at present.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the difficulty of training linotype operators, he will arrange for the maximum deferment to be accorded to selected boys learning this trade in newspaper offices?

In view of the urgent needs of the Forces I am unable to agree to defer the calling up of young men in order that they might continue their training as linotype operators in newspaper offices.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in connection with the nursing profession, he has taken into consideration the fact that qualified nurses may hesitate to qualify as midwives in case they are compelled to take up midwifery instead of being allowed to practise general nursing and will he give an assurance that they will be allowed to practise both sides of their profession?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave him on 14th April on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can given any information in connection with the four balloons which exploded on a North London site, on the night of 1st May; the estimated damage done and the total number exploded on the same site since the war started?

Two balloons flying from North London sites were struck by lightning on the night of 1st May. There was no damage to adjoining property. Two other balloons flying from one of these sites were lost in similar circumstances in the preceding week, trivial damage being caused in one instance. The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now make any further statement regarding men previously in Malaya, Java and Singapore and now missing?

Notification of names by the Japanese Government is still proceeding, but the number so far notified is still less than half the number we hope eventually to receive. Otherwise I have nothing to add to the answer given on 16th March to my hon. Friends the Members for Linlithgow (Mr. Mathers) and Wycombe (Sir A. Knox).

asked the Minister of Agriculture approximately the amount of agricultural land which has changed hands through sale since 1914?

I regret that no statistical information is available on this subject.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether members of the Women's Land Army, having been injured at their work, necessitating hospital treatment and operation, having also been dismissed by their employers to avoid having to pay double wages, are expected to meet all hospital expenses?

Any member of the Women's Land Army working away from home who requires hospital treatment on account of injury or ordinary sickness is entitled to be treated under the Emergency Hospital Scheme for transferred war workers. Like other such workers she would be required to contribute to the cost of such treatment is so far as her means allowed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is taking steps to promote the establishment of further village pig clubs?

The Small Pig Keepers Council, which was set up for the express purpose of organising the pig club movement, is continuing as opportunity offers to encourage the formation of such clubs by individual domestic pig keepers, and in particular by agricultural workers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the difficulties, especially in the Greater London area, encountered by students desirous of taking higher courses in agriculture, owing to the limited facilities at present available at universities and county agricultural institutes; and what steps he proposes to take to extend existing facilities?

Facilities for higher agricultural education have been somewhat curtailed during the war, mainly owing to the urgent need for trained technical staffs for advisory work among farmers. The position has been aggravated in southeastern England through the closing, for military reasons, of Wye Agricultural College. I fear I cannot encourage the hope that any extension of facilities is likely while the present emergency continues.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will increase the supply of children's shoes up to size lo in the Cheltenham area as there is a great shortage at present?

I have made inquiries about the stocks of children's shoes in retail shops in Cheltenham, and find that they are not lower than in other parts of the country. I regret that I cannot see my way to direct special supplies to Cheltenham, as these could only be at the expense of other areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange for school children, when helping in farm work, to be supplied with suitable footwear?

I am taking all possible steps to ensure adequate supplies of strong leather footwear for schoolchildren, and have already increased the proportion of children's sizes in the total output.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will explain the notes to Statutory Rule and Order, 1943, No. 536, and indicate more clearly the effect of, and necessity for, the Order?

This Order amends the Machinery, Plant and Appliances (Control) (No. 3) Order, 1942 (S.R. & O. 1942, No. 2487) and the General Licence (S.R. & O. 1942, No. 2488), which is printed with the No. 3 Order. The amendments are described in the Explanatory Notes. The No. 3 Order prohibited the supply and acquisition of the classes of machinery set out in the schedule thereof, except under licence issued by the Board of Trade. The object of this prohibition is to concentrate manufacturing capacity on direct war work.