asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the tax increases which the various Colonies have imposed for the purpose of the war effort?

Increases in taxation to meet wartime needs have taken place in all Colonies, including the introduction of Excess Profits Tax and Income Tax in many of them and increases in Income Tax rates in those where the tax already existed. It would involve a disproportionate amount of labour to extract detailed information about all the Colonies from the available records, but I should be happy to supply the hon. Member with. information about any particular Colony.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he proposes to take any further steps with a view to the full incorporation of the Colonies within the terms of the Atlantic Charter?

I have no statement to make on this matter at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that the maximum use is being made of Fijian natives for bush tracking, in which they have great experience?

Yes, Sir. The Fijian Commando troops have already established a reputation for themselves as redoubtable and skilful jungle fighters and are being used to the best advantage by the Allied authorities in operations against the Japanese. I am glad to have this opportunity of paying tribute to their work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received or will secure a further report on conditions of service, respectively, for British and African railway workers in West Africa; and whether substantial improvements have now been established?

There have been many improvements in conditions of service for the African staff on the railways in West Africa. A special railway welfare officer has been appointed in Nigeria and trade unionism is making progress on increasingly satisfactory lines. I am not aware of there being any special grounds for discontent with their conditions of service on the part of the European personnel. In the circumstances, I do not consider that it is necessary to call for any special report at the present time, but the hon. Member may rest assured that the position is being carefully watched.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what agreement has been made between the Government of Nigeria and the Spanish authorities in Fernando Po, concerning the recruitment of labourers for that island and the con- ditions of labour there; and whether the terms of the agreement will be published?

With a view to safeguarding the interests of Nigerian labourers, the Governor of Nigeria, after prolonged negotiations, has concluded an agreement with the Governor-General of the Spanish territories of the Gulf of Guinea to regulate the recruitment of African labourers in Nigeria and their working conditions in those Spanish possessions. The Governor has already been authorised to publish the text of the agreement in the Nigerian Government Gazette. Copies of the agreement have not yet been received here. But I will send a copy to my hon. Friend as soon as one is available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further progress has been made in securing an adequate supply of essential food to each of the West Indian Colonies; and whether a specific nutritional survey of the Colonies is to be made?

According to my latest telegraphic reports from the Governors, there is an adequate supply of essential foodstuffs in each West Indian Colony. In reply to the second part of the Question, I consider that a nutrition survey is very desirable. The hon. Member will, however, appreciate that it is far from easy at this time to find an expert whose services can be spared.

asked the Minister of Supply 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 empowered seven persons to grant inspection warrants under this provision. No increase in this number is at present contemplated.

asked the Minister of Supply upon what grounds he bases his refusal to reimburse the Hendon Paper Works Company, Limited, of Sunderland, in accordance with the terms of the contract between himself and the company, the cost of unloading straw stored on his behalf and subsequently removed upon his instruction after damage by fire?

I am afraid there is nothing I can add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on 16th December last.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will lower the maximum prices for fresh fruit this summer so as to bring this commodity more within the means of all classes?

My Noble Friend's endeavour is to fix maximum prices for fresh fruit at the lowest levels compatible with the costs of production and distribution.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the serious decline in the number of small producer-retailers caused by the new milk distribution arrangements, the consequent infrequency of the deliveries and sourness of milk delivered in many country districts; and whether he will take steps to see that the large combines who have bought up these small milk rounds in rural areas give the same daily deliveries of sweet milk to their customers in scattered country districts that formerly existed there?

I am not aware that the decline in the number of producer-retailers, which has been apparent for some time, has been accelerated by the present arrangements for distributing milk. My Department has no record of complaints from consumers of the character suggested by my hon. Friend as a result of deliveries being taken over by other distributors from producer-retailers. If my hon. Friend knows of any such cases and will send me particulars, I will have them examined.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (1) why a special self-wholesaling allowance is granted by his Department to the larger dairy companies and co-operative societies;(2) whether his attention has been called to the criticisms made by the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board of the policy of his Department; and whether he is satisfied that the present price structure for milk does not unnecessarily increase the number of middlemen and the cost of distribution and discriminate unfairly as between the producer-retailers and the big wholesale distributors?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to-day to the hon. and gallant Member for Newbury (Brigadier-General Brown) and the hon. Member for North Battersea (Mr. Douglas).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will arrange that soft fruits shall be available for making jam equivalent to the quantity of sugar which consumers were enabled to obtain for this purpose?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 22nd June to the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mrs. Wright).

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, when applications for war service grants are under consideration, any cognisance is taken by his officers of gratuitous payments from properly organised war relief funds?

In the assessment of war service grants, which are designed to replace, either wholly or in part, losses of income, cognisance is taken of payments from organised relief funds. My right hon. Friend regrets that he would not be justified in differentiating between income from such funds and other regular sources of income.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the daily or weekly allowance of tobacco at Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes canteens for the rank and file; and when it was last reduced?

Between 40 and 45 cigarettes or just under 1½ ounces of tobacco are available weekly for every man at special prices in Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes at home. I am not aware that there has been any reduction in supplies. In fact when the present scheme was introduced in May, 1942, only between 35 and 40 cigarettes were so available weekly for every man.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there is very little accommodation available for officers passing through Glasgow and that what there is in hotels falls very heavily on an officer's pocket; and will he, in order to meet the demand, arrange to start an officers' club, with sleeping accommodation, with an annexe for batmen accompanying officers on duty?

Officers on temporary duty and their batmen ate normally billeted, if there is no War Department accommodation which they can occupy. A hostel is being provided in Glasgow for the use of officers on leave or in transit when not on duty.

asked the Minister of Health what communications he has had from persons whose homes have been destroyed or so extensively damaged through enemy action that they had to be destroyed; what reply was given; and whether he will bring in legislation exempting them from paying ground rent until another dwelling is erected and securing that the years of non-occupation be excluded from the lease?

I have been asked to reply. I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health that he has received communications on the general subject of rebuilding after the war, but not on the suggestions made in the Question. The Landlord and Tenant (War Damage) Acts provide for remission of rents, including the remission of ground rents in the circumstances set out. They do not provide far an extension of the lease, and in the view of my Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor there would be objection to such a proposal.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of an accident mentioned at a recent Westminster inquest when Edwin Brown was killed after being struck by the conductor of an omnibus; what sort of omnibus it was and who are the proprietors?

I am informed that the omnibus in question was a double-decked vehicle owned by the London Passenger Transport Board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he has taken to ensure that in the control of mammalian pests the most humane methods are employed?

Information and advice on controlling mammalian pests are circulated periodically to county war agricultural executive committees. In view of the enormous loss of foodstuffs caused by these pests, the overriding consideration must be to secure effective control, but subject to that consideration the methods advised are as humane as practicable and all possible steps are taken to avoid unnecessary suffering.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will take steps to see that all sub-postmasters receive at least one week's paid annual leave per annum?.

Representations on this subject were recently made by the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters and these are receiving consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any steps are being taken or are contemplated to enable the Middle Eastern Supply Centre to undertake long-term development schemes, as soon as conditions permit, for the countries of the Middle East?

It is somewhat too early to make any statement on long-term development schemes for the Middle East, but His Majesty's Government, for their part, will certainly not overlook in this connection the experience which has been gained by the Middle East Supply Centre.

asked the Secre-of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Philippines are one of the United Nations?

Yes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will consider placing a luggage van on all long distance trains for the sole use of Service personnel in which they can place their equipment under the care of a guard and thus relieve the present congestion in compartments and corridors?

On almost all long distance trains there are already the maximum number of coaches which the locomotives can pull. An additional luggage van could, therefore, only be provided if a passenger coach were taken off. I regret that the result would thus be to increase, rather than to diminish the present congestion.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport on what date the Railways (Transport of Green Onions) Order (S.R. and O., 759, of 1943), which was signed on the 24th May and came into operation on the 28th May, was available to the public?

The Transport of Green Onions Direction, 1943, was on sale at the Stationery Office on 31st May.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport why the Railways (Transport of Potatoes) Direction No. 2 Order of 1943 was brought into operation on the day on which it was signed, and therefore before its contents could be known to those affected?

The Railways (Transport of Potatoes) Direction (No. 2) of 1943 revoked an earlier Direction which controlled the movement of seed potatoes during the recent winter season. This earlier Direction was complementary to an Order made by the Ministry of Food. As this Order lapsed on 30th April and the movement of seed potatoes had ended, the Direction to which my hon. Friend refers had no further significance and no public inconvenience could be caused by the fact that it became operative on the day it was signed.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why no explanatory note was attached to the Air Navigation (Amendment) Order, 1943, in order that its purport might be ascertained without reference to the principal Order and the amendments which have been made by subsequent Orders?

No explanatory memorandum was issued because the Order in question was not made under powers conferred by the Emergency Powers (Defence) Acts, but under the Air Navigation Act, 1920. While its purport would, I think, be clear to the limited class of persons whom it affects, I appreciate the desire of hon. Members to be able to ascertain easily the meaning of subordinate legislation of this kind. I shall endeavour to ensure for the future that Orders for which my Department is responsible are drafted in terms which give a clear indication of their effect. I must express my regret for any inconvenience which may have arisen in this particular instance.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what warning he has issued to the National Farmers' Union on the subject of flower transport in the coming winter to avoid confusion on the subject?

On 11th May I warned the National Farmers' Union and other bodies interested in the growing and marketing of flowers that it might be necessary next winter to re-impose the prohibition on the transport of flowers by rail. I told them that whether this will, in fact, be necessary, will depend on two things; first, the general transport position which we could not now foresee; and second, the efficacy of the arrangements made to ensure that flowers shall not impede the movement of foodstuffs or other essential goods. I told them that in any case, only a small quantity of flowers could be carried; and I suggested that growers in each area should devise a quota system, and that this quota system should be flexible enough to allow the tonnage of flowers tendered to be adjusted at short notice to the transport space available. I understand that growers in the principal areas are taking action to this end.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction in Scotland regarding the compulsory requisitioning of land by Departments and of the concern regarding the possibility of Departments continuing to acquire land for permanent use after the war against the wishes of the owner; and whether he can make a statement regarding post-war arbitrary acquisition of land?

I am aware that the compulsory requisitioning of land may in some cases give rise to inconvenience and even hardship, but it is an inevitable feature of a war of the dimensions of the current one. The question of the acquisition of land for post-war needs and also in order to conserve the large sums of public money which have in some cases been expended on works on requisitioned land is one of considerable complexity. It is being carefully studied, but I am not at present in a position to make a statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that farmers who have suffered damage to their property as a result of bombs jettisoned by the Royal Air Force are unable to ascertain the Department with which their claims for compensation should be lodged; and which Department is concerned with claims arising out of incidents of this nature?

Damage caused by bombs jettisoned by Royal Air Force aircraft on operational flights is war damage. Notifications of such damage to land and buildings should be made to the War Damage Commission and notifications of damage to goods (including growing crops) and chattels to the claimant's insurance company as agents for the Board of Trade in the same way as for other war damage.

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

I have empowered persons holding any of the following offices to act on my behalf under the provisions referred to:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the favourable or unfavourable national balance of trade for the years 1900, 1913, 1923, 1933, and the latest available date?

I have been asked to reply. In the years mentioned the excess of imports over exports of merchandise amounted, in million £, to 169, 134, 210, and 258 respectively, and in 1938, the latest year for which a figure is available, to £387,000,000. After allowing for invisible exports and imports, the amount available for investment overseas, as set out in the Statistical Abstract for the United Kingdom, was £194,000,000 in 1913, £140,000,000 in 1923, nil in 1933, and minus £55,000,000 in 1938. No corresponding figure is available for 1900.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what was the death-rate for children in Scotland of the ages of one to five years for the years 1938 and 1942, respectively?

The death rates for children in Scotland aged over one year and under five years for the years 1938 and 1942 were respectively 6.6 and 4.3 per thousand of the estimated populations at these ages.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether the wages of forestry workers normally march in line with those of agricultural workers; whether proposals are yet before the Commissioners for increasing minimum wages to £4 per week; and what is the present scale of wages and overtime payments?

The wages of the Forestry Commission workers are in accordance with the orders of the agricultural wages boards. No proposals are before the Commissioners for increasing the minimum wage. The present minimum rate and overtime payments are in accordance with the said orders.