asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether it is the intention, under the Food (Feeding Stuffs) Order No. 798 of 1943, to coerce the provender millers, etc., to become members of Conpro, Limited; and why those who are members of this Government controlled company should have preference over those who are not?

The company to which my hon. Friend refers has been set up to administer a scheme for concentrating the manufacture of provender and compound and mixed feeding stuffs for animal feeding. The scheme provides for the payment of inescapable standing charges to members of the company who are required to cease production. The moneys for this purpose will be raised by levies on the members and the scheme cannot operate equitably or effectively unless all the larger manufacturers are brought into it. In accordance with the wishes of the industry, therefore, membership of Conpro, Limited, has been made compulsory upon these manufacturers. The smaller producers are not required to join the company, but may do so, if they wish, during the next three months.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, when the company named Conpro, Limited, was formed by his Department; who are the shareholders; whether his Department is represented on the board by any directors; and who are the members of the board?

The answers to the four parts of my hon. Friend's Question are as follow:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the disappointment to housewives on learning that there is to be no specific allocation of soft fruits, in however small quantities, to use for jam-making purposes the extra ration of sugar recently permitted, together with the sugar saved during the last eight months, which will now apparently benefit only the limited number of people who have their own fruit trees; and whether he will take immediate steps to remedy this?

The offer of extra sugar was made on 23rd March in a statement which emphasised that the offer was primarily intended to give people who grow their own soft fruit an opportunity of making preserves and that the general public would not be able to rely on obtaining supplies of soft fruit from the shops. There is a reasonable prospect of plums becoming available for home jam-making later in the year.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can give any information in connection with the charge made against the Amalgamated Caterings, Limited, for supplying and the Norfolk Hotel, Brighton, for receiving, an excess of fish amounting to 1,000 lbs.; and what action he intends taking about the matter?

When the books of the Norfolk Hotel, Brighton, were examined it was found that the authorised supply of fish had been greatly exceeded in four four-weekly periods and that certain material particulars were incorrect. The Norfolk Hotel, which is owned by Amalgamated Caterers, Limited, was accordingly prosecuted on 7th June at Brighton police court on four charges under the Fish (Supplies to Catering Establishments) Order, 1942, for obtaining more than the authorised allocation of fish. A plea of guilty was entered to each charge and a fine of £20 imposed on each summons, amounting to £80, with four guineas costs.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why no potato acreage payment has yet been made to Mr. A. Moverley, of Bunny Hill Farm, South Cliff, Hotham, East Yorkshire; and whether, as this farmer to whom some hundreds of pounds are due has written nine times to his Ministry, including registered letters, and has had no reply he will give an explanation for the delay and cause payment to be made forthwith?

The delay in making the potato acreage payment to Mr. A. Moverley of Bunny Hill Farm, South Cliff, Hotham, East Yorkshire, was due to no application form having been re- ceived from him prior to the receipt on 9th June of a duplicate form sent to him in response to a registered letter received on 31st May. Prior to that date two letters only can be traced, a further registered letter addressed to another Department and forwarded to my Department having arrived on 2nd June. Instructions have been given for payment to be made immediately.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food to what extent the co-operative societies are permitted, by his Department, to supply milk to customers in a road allocated under the scheme to other milk suppliers; and why the co-operative societies should have this privilege?

Co-operative societies may be excluded from schemes for the rationalisation of milk deliveries and permitted to continue to serve their existing customers. Where there are two or more societies delivering milk in an area, however, they are required to rationalise between themselves so as to eliminate any overlapping of delivery services. In reply to the last part of my hon. Friend's Question, the arrangements in force do not confer any special privilege on co-operative societies whose trade, in common with that of other milk distributors, has been "frozen" as from the date of the introduction of retail rationalisation. The arrangement, which was agreed to by the representatives of private and co-operative trade, was adopted in order to avoid, on the one hand, the complications which would arise in connection with the payment of dividends by co-operative societies if they had been prevented from continuing to serve their existing customers and, on the other hand, the objection which some persons would have against being required to trade with the co-operative movement and being given no opportunity of buying milk from any other distributor.

asked the Home Secretary what are the weekly rations of meat, jam, sugar, margarine and cheese supplied to persons detained under Regulation 18B in London and the Isle of Man; and whether these amounts are identical with those supplied to convicted persons?

The weekly rations to persons detained in London prisons are the same as those supplied to convicted prisoners, and are as follow:

			Ozs.
Meat	…	…	16
Jam, syrup or treacle	…	…	2
Sugar	…	…	8
Margarine and Lard	…	…	8
Cheese	…	…	3

The rations supplied in the Isle of Man are substantially the same; in either case, detainees receive approximately the same amounts of rationed foodstuffs as ordinary civilians. Detainees, whether in prison or the Isle of Man, have opportunities of supplementing official rations not available to convicted persons.

asked the Home Secretary in what categories there has been any reduction, since 1942 in the rations supplied for persons detained under Regulation 18B?

The only changes since 1942 have been the reduction of the bread ration by 2 ozs. a day, in lieu of which 4 ozs. of potatoes are given, and in prisons the substitution of 2 ozs. of lard for 2 ozs. of the margarine ration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many agricultural executive committees in England and Wales hold potato-spraying machines for hire by farmers; and whether any of these machines could be made available for transfer to the Department of Agriculture for Scotland if required?

Potato-spraying machines have been issued to all county war agricultural executive committees in England and Wales, who either undertake spraying work on a contract basis, or hire the machines to farmers or contractors. Whether any of these machines could be transferred to the Department of Agriculture for Scotland if required would depend on the extent to which they were needed in this country, but a small number of machines from the Government reserve have in fact been provisionally earmarked for Scotland and are immediately available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether a claim against a landowner under Section 23 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous War Provisions) Act, 1940, will arise in respect of work done by a county war agricultural executive committee while in possession of land under Defence Regulations if that work consists in making good defects in the condition of the land which had been taken into account when assessing the compensation or rent payable under Section 2 of the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939?

A claim under Subsection (5) of Section 23 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous War Provisions) Act, 1940, will arise when possession is given up if the value of the land is increased by anything done on the land for the purpose of enabling the land to be properly farmed. If, however, the landowner has accepted a reduction in compensation rental or in any compensation for tenant right which may be payable under the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939, for the purpose of enabling particular defects to be remedied during the period of possession, no claim in respect of the increase in the value of the land attributable to the remedying of these defects would be made when possession is given up.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether allied personnel, serving with British Armed Forces, pay British rates of Income Tax on their service salaries.

United Kingdom Income Tax is not charged on the Service pay of Allied nationals who are members of an Allied Force paid from funds of an Allied Government. Allied nationals who have joined British Forces direct and are not members of Allied Forces are liable to United Kingdom Income Tax on their Service pay in the ordinary way.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the second State War Loan issued by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on or about the 7th June, 1943, the terms of which were published in the "Soviet War News" of that date; and whether he will consider the advisability of floating a loan on similar terms in the United Kingdom, particularly the exemption from taxation of all moneys subscribed?

I am aware generally of the terms of the Soviet State War Loan referred to, but I think the terms of our war loans must be based on the accepted borrowing policy of this country rather than on the terms adopted in other countries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the patriotic efforts made by farmers and the consequent increase of demands on their capital resources, he will review their position as Income Tax payers; and has he any statement to make?

I am afraid that I could not, consistently with the general principles of the Income Tax, grant any special

					1940–41	1941–42	1942–43
					£	£	£
Gross total of Interest charges	…	…	…	…	232,105,000	274,875,000	329,055,000
In which there was included interest on:—
Treasury Bills	…	…	…	…	14,753,000	18,567,000	22,755,000
Ways and Means Advances	…	…	…	…	565,000	1,212,000	1,668,000
Treasury Deposits by banks	…	…	…	…	663,000	6,415,000	7,426,000
National Savings Certificates	…	…	…	…	8,950,000	8,600,000	8,750,000
Tax Reserve Certificates	…	…	…	…	Nil	Nil	1,225,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount paid from rates and taxes in social services for the years 1900, 1913, 1923, 1933 and the latest available date?

Information for 1913 is not available, but with the substitution of 1910 for that year, the following table shows the total expenditure on social services (other than expenditure out of loans or capital receipts) in the respective years:

			£
1900	…	…	36,010,000
1910	…	…	62,817,000
1923	…	…	338,319,000
1933	…	…	479,345,000
1940	…	…	507,756,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the annual interest charge of £212,957,000 for 1940–41, £257,207,000 for 1941–42 and £310,801,000 for 1942–43 represented for each year payments in respect of Treasury bills, Ways and Means advances, Treasury deposits by banks, National Savings Certificates and Tax Reserve Certificates, respectively?

The figures given in my hon. Friend's Question represent the net amount of interest and charges for management and expenses met from the Fixed Debt Charge after deducting interest payments met from receipts under the Defence Loans Act, 1937, and the Overseas Trade Guarantees Act, 1939. The gross totals of interest charges (excluding charges for management and expenses) and the amounts included therein for interest on the securities mentioned in the Question were as follow:Figures showing the extent to which funds to meet this expenditure were provided from rates, taxes and contributions, etc., respectively, are not available for 1900 or 1910. Such figures for 1923 and 1933 will be found in the Returns of "Public Social Services" for those years (House of Commons Paper No. 12 of 1924–25 for 1923 and Cmd. 5025 for 1933). Corresponding figures for 1940 are not available because compilation of the return has been suspended during the war as a measure of economy in labour and paper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that 100 per cent. Purchase Tax is charged to the Sunday School Union on Bible pic- tures, illuminated scripture text cards, etc., whilst the tax is not charged to the National Association; and will he take steps to secure that both bodies shall be treated alike and the tax applied equitably?

There is no disparity of treatment between these two bodies: supplies for both are taxed on the same basis.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what entertainments now being given in London are free from Entertainment Duty on the ground of their cultural and non-profit-making character?

The following entertainments now being given in London have been exempted from Entertainments Duty under the statutory provision relating to entertainments provided for partly educational purposes by a society, institution, or committee not conducted or established for profit: "The Russians," "They Came to a City," "A Month in the Country," "Love for Love," "The Moon is Down," "Tobias and the Angel," "The Tempest," "As you Like It," "The Judgment of Dr. Johnson," "The Imaginary Invalid," the Sadlers Wells Ballet, the Ballet Rambert, the Promenade Concerts, the Royal Exchange Concerts, the National Gallery Concerts.

Direct and Indirect Taxation per head.*
		Year to		In local currency.		In Sterling† (to nearest £).
				Direct.	Indirect.	Direct.	Indirect.
						£	£
Great Britain	…	31st March, 1943 (actual)	…	£34	£18	34	18
United States	…	30th June, 1943 (estimates)	…	§137	§28	34	7
Russia	…			Not available.
Canada	…	31st March, 1943 (estimates)	…	$122	$55	28	12
Australia	…	30th June, 1943 (estimates)	…	£A22	£A13	17	11
South Africa	…	31st March, 1943 (estimates)	…	£SA5	£SA2	5	2
Germany	…	31st March, 1943 (estimates)	…	RM227	RM185	23	18
Italy	…	30th June, 1943 (estimates)	…	Lira 222	Lira 503	3	7
NOTES: *The figures include only taxation levied by the Central Governments and therefore exclude State, Municipal and Local taxes.
† Converted at current rates of exchange without adjustment for differences in price and wage levels.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of Income Tax remains unpaid for the year 1942–43; and whether he can make any statement as to the prospect of recovery?

It is not yet possible to make any statement with regard to the amount of Income Tax outstanding in respect of the year 1942–43. A substantial part of the tax for that year is collectible by deduction from wages and salaries and the deduction periods will not end until 31st January, 1944, in the case of manual wage-earners, and 31st October, 1943, in the case of other employees. In the case of other individual taxpayers, the second installment of tax due for the year 1942–43 will become due on the 1st July, 1943.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total yearly amount per head of the population raised in direct and indirect taxation in Great Britain, the United States of America, Russia, Canada, Australia and South Africa, respectively; and whether any figures are available which would afford a useful comparison as regards Germany and Italy?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 22nd April, 1943; col. 1830, vol. 388], supplied the following statement:

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps are being contemplated by his Department to obviate the collapse, as happened after the last war, of the Welsh mining industry?

The future position of the Welsh coalfield cannot be considered in isolation from that of the industry as a whole. In so far as it is dependent on exports, it must be considered as part of the Government's plans for the general revival of the export trade. I should add that the two sides of the industry are at present giving their attention to the future of the export trade and that they will discuss their findings with me in the near future.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, whether he has considered the report on Coal Utilisation Research by the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee; and does he contemplate taking the appropriate steps to implement the report?

					No. of undertakings.	Loans.	Grants	Total.
						£	£	£
Scotland	…	…	…	…	23	3,045	477,459	480,504
Northumberland	…	…	…	…	4	4,000	92,647	96,647
Durham	…	…	…	…	4	16,500	150,441	166,941
Midland (Amal.) District	…	…	…	…	17	29,840	519,264	549,104
Lancashire	…	…	…	…	9	26,514	322,540	349,054
South Wales	…	…	…	…	17	27,006	329,301	356,307
Other districts	…	…	…	…	13	9,500	206,666	216,166
					87	116,405	2,008,318	2,214,723

The payments shown are those actually made in the year ending 31st May, 1943. They include substantial sums paid in respect of losses incurred by a number of undertakings in periods prior to 31st May, 1942. The payments into the Coal Charges Account are given up to 31st March, 1943—it covers approximately coal supplies for eight monthly periods up to 31st January, 1943. The first period at 7d. per ton, six periods at 3s. 7d. per ton, the last period at 5s. per ton.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether any-

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council and I have considered this report and hope to have an early opportunity of discussing it with members of the Committee.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of colliery undertakings which are at present necessitous undertakings under the Coal (Charges) Order, 1942, Clause 6, in the mining industry and for each district, separately; the amount of money collected under the Order; and the amount paid out to such undertakings?

In total the payments into the Coal Charges Account up to 31st March, 1943, the latest date for which complete figures are available, in respect of eight months coal production to 31st January, 1943, amounted to £19,250,000. The payments to necessitous undertakings during the year to 31st May, 1943, totalled nearly £2,250,000.The payments to necessitous undertakings during the year ending 31st May, 1943, were as follow:thing is being done by his Department to make a survey of the coal measures in the county of Durham, with a view to opening some of the pits now standing idle in the county, ready for the post-war period; and whether any steps are being taken to deal with the large area of coal which is at present waterlogged in the South-East part of the county?

No, Sir; the available resources of men and materials are urgently needed to obtain the maximum production of coal from the pits now being worked and the question of a survey such as that suggested by my hon. Friend does not therefore arise as an immediate issue. The waterlogged pits referred to have been in that condition for many years and I am advised that their reopening would be a major operation requiring considerable time and man-power.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the output of saleable coal produced in the year ending 19th June, 1943, and the corresponding figure for the preceding 12 months?

The estimated output of saleable coal produced during the 52 weeks ended 19th June, 1943, excluding the production of opencast workings, was 201,500,000 tons, compared with 205,300,000 tons in the corresponding 52 weeks of 1941–2.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the average number of persons employed in the year ending 19th June, 1943, and in the preceding year, with the average number of days worked per person per week in the two periods and the percentage of persons employed as coal-face workers in the mining industry, giving separate figures for each district?

The estimated average number of persons employed in the 52 weeks ended 19th June, 1943, was 710,700, compared with 704,400 in the preceding 52 weeks. The estimated average weekly number of shifts worked per wage-earner on colliery books, including those not effectively employed in any week, was 5.25; the Ministry's weekly returns of man-shifts were not available for the whole of the preceding 52 weeks, but calculations based on wages ascertainment results for the 12 months ended 30th June, 1942, show a weekly average per person of 5.37 shifts. Similarly figures relating to coal-face workers are not available in the year 1941–42, but on a man-shift basis the percentages were 36.35 and 36.03 for 1942–3 and 1941–2 respectively. It would not be in the public interest to disclose figures for each district separately.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will state in statistical form the production in tonnage per man employed in the coalmines of this country during each half year of the war of 1914–18 and the present conflict, respectively, setting forth percentages so as to provide comparisons as between the two periods; and whether production per man was higher or lower in 1942 than in 1917?

There is no information relating to the war of 1914–1918 on a basis comparable with the half-yearly statistics now available. Figures of the average output of saleable coal in tons per man per year can be derived from information supplied to the Coal Industry Commission, 1919, and are as follow:

		Tons per wage-earner per week.	Ditto expressed as percentage of last full pre-war year.
1913	…	5·02	100
1914	…	not available
1915	…	5·21	104
1916	…	5·03	100
1917	…	4·79	95
1918	…	4·45	89
My Ministry's figures for 1938–42 are:
1938	…	5·57	100
1939	…	5·81	104
1940	…	5·72	103
1941	…	5·67	102
1942	…	5·50	99

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that a trade circular giving a review of the oil-seed, oil and cake markets for 1942, an elaborately produced quarto of 68 pages, on high-grade paper, with cover, containing a number of blank pages and charts, has been sent to Members of Parliament by Messrs. Frank Fehr and Company, Holland House, Bury Street, W., at a postage cost of 4d.; whether authority was given for issuing the circular; and whether, in view of the inconvenience to which the House of Commons is put to secure minor economies in the use of paper and manpower, he will prevent repeated publication of the circular, at a probable loss to the Exchequer in Excess Profits Tax, next year, as contemplated by the publishers?

No authority was given by the Ministry of Supply in connection with the issue of this review, and the paper was, I understand, obtained from the printer's stock. In so far as it can be held to be an advertising circular relating to or in connection with the acquisition or disposal of any goods, its gratuitous distribution is prohibited under the Control of Paper Orders, and this aspect of the matter is being taken up with the publishers.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that frequently 75 per cent. of components of the Sten gun made by sub-contractors and assembled at a North-west Ordnance Factory have to be rectified; that it has been found useless to send back rectifiable work to the sub-contractors although they get paid in full and that for at least a year all components have been so bad that they have had to be inspected at the Ordnance Factory even though they had been previously inspected and passed; and what action he has taken to remedy the situation?

The statement that 75 per cent. of the components referred to have to be rectified is not correct. Only about 4 per cent. of these components receive some polishing or other minor adjustments at the Royal Ordnance Factory. Samples of each consignment of components received from sub-contractors are examined in this factory, as in all other factories, as part of the normal routine. In these circumstances no special remedial action is called for.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is satisfied that the recently increased prices of tyre wire, as proposed by the Wire Association, are justified, as a large number of suppliers were entirely satisfied with the old prices, and as identical wire is being produced in America, where labour costs are more than double, at less than the old prices?

There has been no increase in the controlled maximum price of tyre wire, but prices of iron and steel wire as a whole are at present under review.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he can now make a state ment as to his intended reforms on pensions pay and allowances and administration?

My right hon. Friend's examination of these matters is not complete, but I can, however, assure the hon. Member that he will make a statement at the earliest possible date.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he can give an assurance that the minimum adequate financial assistance, even on a provisional basis, is at once accorded to wounded men not sufficiently ill to be treated in a hospital but unable to carry on without help?

If, as I assume, the hon. Member is referring to the wounded man who after discharge from the Forces requires treatment but not in hospital, and is thereby unable to follow any remunerative employment, I can readily give the assurance that suitable financial assistance in accordance with the provisions of the Royal Warrant is forthcoming at the earliest possible moment. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind I shall be pleased to look into it.

asked the Attorney-General the total number of magistrates for Stoke, Fenton and Longton, respectively; the number of magistrates who live in each town; and the number associated with the trade union, labour or co-operative movement?

The total number of magistrates who act in the divisions of Stoke, Fenton and Longton, is 18, 7 and 19 respectively. Eleven justices live in Stoke, 4 in Fenton and 11 in Longton. It is not known how many of these magistrates are associated with the trade union, labour or co-operative movements.

asked the Lord President of the Council why the machinery for the consideration of petitions for the grant of charters of incorporation has been in abeyance since September, 1939: when it is proposed to raise this ban; and whether petitions presented in the meantime but not considered will receive priority?

Consideration of petitions for the grant of prerogative charters of incorporation was suspended in September, 1939, because it was neither desirable nor appropriate that the numerous Departments affected should be required in the present emergency to undertake the necessarily detailed examination of such applications. I am unable to indicate when this decision will be rescinded or to give an assurance that any particular applications will then receive preferential treatment. It is, however, undesirable that petitions should be submitted in the interim since the particulars contained in them may well be out of date before it is possible for the petitions to receive consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will consider supplying all men in the Mercantile Marine with the shark-repellent mixture developed by the United States Navy?

The question of affording seamen protection against sharks and other voracious fish has been considered on several occasions, but the evidence available up to the present has not demonstrated the need for such a measure. Recent investigations have indicated that these creatures are not as dangerous as is commonly believed. They rarely attack a boat and can usually be scared off by vigorous splashing or by a crack on the snout. Advice to this effect has been given to merchant seamen. I keep matters of this kind under constant review, however, and I am making inquiries about the shark-repellent mixture to which my hon. Friends refers.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to what extent there are reciprocal agreements between His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and His Majesty's Governments in the Dominions whereby contributory pensions qualified for in the Dominions are payable in the United Kingdom should the recipient return to this country; and whether he will take all steps to extend such agreements?

There are no such agreements at present and in the absence of schemes for contributory pensions in certain Dominions no reciprocal arrangements could be made. As regards the second part of the Question, the adoption of such schemes would be a matter for the Dominions themselves.

asked the Minister without Portfolio whether he will now cause to be distributed among the Welsh Members of Parliament the Interim Reports issued by the Welsh Advisory Council?

I have personally discussed this matter with the members of the Welsh Advisory Council. They think, and I agree with them, that in view of undertakings given by the council to those who gave evidence, it would not be right to publish the reports as they stand. I have, however, arranged with the council for the preparation of annual reports in a different form, which, without any breach of confidence, can be made available to Members who are interested. As soon as I receive any such report I will at once arrange for the necessary distribution.

asked the Minister of Information the approximate number of papers and periodicals still published by foreign interests in this country without any assistance from the British Government and the names where these are known; and whether he will consider the advisability, where such secretly printed papers continue to conduct propaganda hostile to the Soviet Union and the cause of the United Nations, of taking drastic action against the persons responsible?

I am aware of 94 papers and periodicals which have been, and so far as I know still are, published by foreign interests in this country without receiving assistance from the Ministry of Information or other Government Departments for obtaining special supplies of paper. I append a list. With regard to the second part of the Question my right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement in reply to the Question which my hon. Friend has put down for answer tomorrow?

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production how many persons he has empowered or proposes to empower to act on his behalf under paragraph (2) of Regulation 55AA of the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939?

My right hon. Friend has not so far empowered any of his officers under the provision referred to. He proposes shortly to give the necessary authority to a limited number of his officers to act on his behalf. None of the officers so empowered will be below the rank of assistant secretary or equivalent rank.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps has been created for the purpose of maintaining in technical efficiency the electrical and mechanical equipment of the Army, steps will be taken in the interests of the men of the corps for ensuring their eligibility for, and easy access to, satisfactory industrial employment after service; and that, as far as possible, only skilled men who have served an apprenticeship will be recruited for the corps?

The resettlement of Service personnel in civilian employment must he considered as a whole and my bon. Friend will appreciate that the personnel of one corps cannot be considered separately. As regards the second part of the Question, the supply of men who have completed an apprenticeship is by itself quite inadequate in war-time to meet the requirements of the R.E.M.E. as well as of the other services and of industry, but I can assure my hon. Friend that so far as is possible preference is given to skilled men.

asked the Secretary of State for War, in view of the probable immediate development of workshop committees and resuscitation of trade union organisations in areas as they are liberated, what methods of recruitment and selection are employed for recruitment to the section of the British Army, which it is intended shall be responsible for administration of relief and rehabilitation; and whether adequate recognition is given in that selection to those who have know- ledge of, and experience in, negotiation with such workers' organisations?

Relief and rehabilitation in areas which may be liberated by the British Forces in the period before Allied Governments concerned are in a position to resume authority are the responsibility of the military authorities only in so far as they affect the successful conduct of military operations. In the selection of officers to deal with this aspect of such operations diverse sources are being tapped, and the particular qualifications to which the hon. Member refers in his Question will no doubt be among those looked for and possessed by many of the personnel selected.

asked the Secretary of State for War how Army welfare officers are recruited; and what steps are taken for the training of these officers, by means of lectures, classes, or conferences, with a view to making them efficient in the execution of their special duties?

Army welfare officers are appointed by Territorial Army Associations in consultation with General Officers Commanding-in-Chief, Commands. They are not specially trained for their duties, but attend conferences convened by the county welfare officer concerned, who is responsible for controlling and co-ordinating their work. They receive a monthly directive from the War Office and attend lectures on subjects of importance for their work. The county welfare officer is assisted by a welfare committee appointed by the Territorial Army Association.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will furnish a tabular statement showing the present establishment of command welfare officers and administrative welfare officers at headquarters, county welfare officers and local welfare officers, respectively, serving in each Army Command, including London District, in Great Britain; and how many Army welfare officers serving at headquarters of the commands or elsewhere in Great Britain receive pay and/or allowances from Army or other public funds?

Following is the information:

ARMY WELFARE OFFICERS.
Command.	Command Welfare Officer.	Assist. Command Welfare Officer.	Administrative Officers.	Attached for special duties.	Area Welfare Officers.	County Welfare Officers.	Local Welfare Officers.
Eastern	1	1	2	1	3	10	193
London District	—	1	4	13	—	3	84
Northern	1	1	2	1	—	9	135
Scottish	1	1	1	1	4	33	136
Southern	1	—	3	—	1	9	217
South Eastern	1	—	5	1	2	4	113
Western	1	1	5	—	1	22	315
Northern Ireland District	1	—	2	1	—	—	27
Anti-Aircraft	1	1	5	—	—	—	—
	8	6	29	18	11	90	1,220
No Army Welfare Officers serving at the headquarters of the Commands or elsewhere in Great Britain receive pay from Army Funds with the exception of five paid staff officers on the headquarters London District who have been appointed in addition to the unpaid staff shown on the above table.
A grant-in-aid of £300 (£50 for London District and £100 for B.T.N.I.) has been authorised towards the personal expenses of the Welfare Officers in the Headquarter establishment of each Command with the addition of £50 if a woman administrative officer has been appointed to the Headquarters.
County Territorial Army Associations may claim a grant on the basis of £30 in respect of each Area, County and local Welfare Officer. The grant is distributed at the discretion of Associations among the Welfare Officers in the County in accordance with their individual requirements and having regard to the expenses to which they are put.

asked the Secretary of State for War when it is proposed to publish the full story of the first journey of a convoy of vehicles for 4,000 miles across Africa from Kano, in Nigeria, to Cairo.

This move was carried out by Belgian Forces in Africa and I regret that details of it are not at present available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works whether, in the plans for the restoration of the Palace of Westminster, he will consider including the installation of a small cinema in which Members of Parliament can view documentary and other topical films privately?

I am grateful to the hon. Member for his suggestion which, with others, will be borne in mind when proposals for the repair and reconstruction of the Palace of Westminster are under consideration. As has already been announced, the House will be consulted before final plans for rebuilding are made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider issuing a statement that certificates of good behaviour demanded by individual Germans from inhabitants of the occupied territories for use against the day of reckoning will be regarded as valueless by the United Nations after victory?

So far as His Majesty's Government are concerned, such certificates can have no validity in themselves and their existence will not prevent each case being dealt with on its merits.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now had further inquiry made into the case of Mr. C. Broad, of 3, Sugworth Crescent, Radley, near Abingdon, who, having had evacuees billeted upon him, had furniture, etc., damaged to the value of over £25; and why, in such circumstances, the householder cannot be compensated either by his Department or by the local authority on whose orders the evacuees were put into Mr. Broad's house whilst he was away on war work?

As my right hon. Friend has already explained to my hon. and gallant Friend in letters he has sent to him on this matter, Mr. Broad's claim has been very fully investigated. I am advised that the sum offered to Mr. Broad is reasonable, and my right hon. Friend is unable to re-open the matter.

asked the Minister of Health how many Orders were made under Section 193 (3) of the Local Government Act, 1933, enabling parish councils in England and Wales to levy a higher rate than 8d. in the £ how many of such Orders applied to Wales and, of these, how many applied to North Wales?

Sixty-eight, 14 and five Orders respectively.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can give the House any figures showing the effect on the incidence of venereal disease of the measures applied some time ago by the Government?

No, Sir. There are no such statistics available because venereal diseases are not notifiable; but I am in no doubt that in dealing with this problem local authorities are deriving assistance from the steps recently taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will consider the advantages to the public of publishing, one month in arrear, the statistics on a weekly basis of the number of British aircraft of several types that took part in operations over enemy territory, the number of machines that did not return, the percentage this represents of the number engaged, the number of airmen saved and returned to this country; and whether some similar figures could be published, after a suitable interval, of operations in other theatres?

I am satisfied that the publication of such a comprehensive series of figures as that for which my hon. and gallant Friend asks would be of considerable value to the enemy, and I regret that, on that account, I am unable to adopt his suggestion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider issuing clothing coupons to all Service men and women coming home on leave who wish to re-equip themselves with civilian clothing to use upon their return to civil life, thereby relieving the strain on the production of clothing when the war is over.

No, Sir. In view of present stringency of supplies, I regret that I cannot give facilities now for the purchase of clothing, which will not be worn until after the war.