asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total numbers of the personnel employed in each of the war-time Ministries and the total of the salaries paid in each Department concerned?

The numbers of whole-time non-industrial staff employed at 1st April, 1943, in the Departments which have seen set up since the war are as follow:

Ministry of Aircraft Production	16,026
Ministry of Economic Warfare	1,385
Ministry of Food	37,641
Ministry of Fuel and Power	4,816
Ministry of Information	2,805
Ministry of Information (Postal and Telegraph Censorship Department)	12,521
Ministry of Production	1,211
War Damage Commission	1,806
Ministry of War Transport	15,469

Some of those Departments, e.g. Ministry of War Transport and Ministry of Aircraft Production, have absorbed functions which formerly were performed by prewar Departments; the numbers given, therefore, include staff transferred from pre-war Departments and it would be a mistake to regard all of them as representing war-time staff increases. It would be impossible without unjustifiable expenditure of man-power to assess the staff costs of the above Departments, but I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement of services to be provided for in Votes of Credit 1943–44 (Cmd. 6445) which contains such particulars as can be given consistent with public policy, relating generally to the staff actually employed on 1st March, 1943.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total number of new officials employed in the older Departments of State and the total of the salaries paid applicable to each Department concerned?

Many Departments which were established before this war have expanded, some of them greatly, on account of taking on new duties connected with its prosecution. To determine with any accuracy the cost in man-power and in wages or salaries of this expansion, considerable inquiry would be necessary which I do not feel justified in undertaking in view of the labour involved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider appointing an advisory committee on the subject of tax freedom of certain plays and entertainments?

As I stated in the Debate on the Second Reading of the Finance Bill, I have in mind to appoint an advisory committee for this purpose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of each amount of redemptions of Treasury deposits by banks, recorded in the monthly return of debt operations before April, 1942, represented repayments before maturity to cover subscriptions to new Government issues?

The figures are as follow:

Period to			£
26th October, 1940	…	…	5,500,000
30th November, 1940	…	…	25,000,000
31st December, 1940	…	…	18,000,000
25th January, 1941	…	…	6,500,000
22nd February, 1941	…	…	11,000,000
31St March, 1941	…	…	2,500,000
26th April, 1941	…	…	5,000,000
31st May, 1941	…	…	41,000,000
30th June, 1941	…	…	27,500,000
26th July, 1941	…	…	8,000,000
30th August, 1941	…	…	32,500,000
30th September, 1941	…	…	2,500,000
25th October, 1941	…	…	45,000,000
29th November, 1941	…	…	10,500,000
31st December, 1941	…	…	23,500,000
31st January, 1942	…	…	67,000,000
28th February, 1942	…	…	81,500,000
31st March, 1942	…	…	119,000,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the prolongation of the war and the need for avoiding too great a strain on Transatlantic hospitality, he will consider allowing an increase in the monetary allowances which can be transmitted by parents to children or relatives in Canada and the United States of America?

This matter is kept constantly under review, but I am not in a position to make any statement at the present time.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider, when the war ribbon is issued, the issue to those concerned in the siege of Malta of a miniature George Cross to wear on the ribbon as is done with the rose on the 1914–15 star?

My hon. Friend's suggestion has been noted.

asked the Minister of Labour what immediate steps he proposes to relieve the acute shortage of domestic staffs in hospitals, schools and other institutions?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I have given to-day to the hon. Member for East Islington (Mrs. Cazalet Keir).

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Government have any scheme whereby temporary officers who have served both in the last war and in this war may, at the end of this war, be allowed either to remain in the Services or to be assisted so as to compete on equal terms with younger men in seeking civilian employment?

I cannot at this stage add to the statement upon further education and training and upon arrangements for assisting persons with qualifications for higher posts to find employment which I made in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Mr. Pearson) on 25th March last. The question of the retention of temporary officers in the Fighting Services is a matter for my right hon. Friends who are responsible for those Services.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether, in view of the need of using to the best advantage every available source of man- and woman-power, he will give consideration, in consultation with the other Departments concerned, to reducing, as in the last war, the minimum age for obtaining a driving licence to 16?

In consultation with the Ministry of Labour, I have carefully considered my hon. Friend's proposal that the minimum age for licences to drive motor cars should be reduced to 16. After examining the facts, I have come to the conclusion that it is not at present necessary or desirable to make this change.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed at present in Newcastle-on-Tyne?

I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the importance of an efficient mail service to and from our Forces overseas, he is taking steps not merely to maintain the recent improvements but to make further improvements still?

Yes, Sir. I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that we are in constant touch with the other Government Departments concerned with a view not only to the maintenance but to the improvement of the present mail services for the Forces overseas.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has any statement to make having regard to the representations recently made to him by the Scottish herring fishing industry concerning the compulsory reduction of the maximum price of herring from 98s. to 91s. per cran?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether any settlement has been reached in the dispute regarding the wholesale price of herring; and whether he will bear in mind the arduous and hazardous nature of the duties performed by the fishermen under present conditions?

My Noble Friend is fully informed of the views which were expressed on behalf of the industry before the present prices were brought into operation on the 12th instant, but has no statement to make on the subject at present.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that a large quantity of fish recently brought to Newhaven Market, Edinburgh, had to be destroyed because the zoning scheme made no proper provision for its disposal; and what steps does he propose to take to avoid such waste of valuable food in future?

I am aware that a relatively small quantity of fish was recently destroyed at Newhaven (Midlothian) as being unfit for human consumption. Full provision is made under the zoning scheme to avoid waste of fish and officers of my Department have definite instructions on the subject.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, when homeward shipping space is available from South Africa, he will give preference to jam instead of fruit?

Yes, Sir. All available supplies of jam are already being lifted from South Africa and oranges which are the only fruit being imported from that country are lifted only in space for which higher priority cargo is not available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what action a colliery manager should take at the time when a miner working underground is told to carry out a lawful order and refuses to do so; and whether the execution of that order, which may be intimately concerned with coal production, must be delayed until such time as action can be taken by the National Service officer?

There are two courses of action open to a colliery manager if a miner refuses to obey a reasonable and lawful order. He may report the workman's refusal to the regional authorities of the Ministry of Fuel and Power under clause 6 i (c) of the Essential Work (Coalmining Industry) Order. If, however, in the opinion of the manager the' workman's behaviour constitutes serious misconduct, he may discharge him summarily, in which event the worker has the right of appeal. It will be appreciated that no sanctions exist or could be devised to ensure that any order given will inevitably be carried out. All that can be done is to provide penalties for disobedience where the circumstances warrant.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the alarming and continuous increase in the number of dermatitis cases amongst the miners, he will have a scientific investigation made into the kind and quality of soap now being used at the pit-head baths in the coalfields to ascertain if that is one of the causes?

So far as I know, the soap which miners use at pit-head baths is much the same as that used by other people and certainly the medical investigations of dermatitis among miners have not hitherto brought the soap under any suspicion. I will, however, arrange that the matter shall be watched as the investigations proceed, and any information that my hon. Friend can give will he helpful.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the fact that it is an offence to run on tyres with the fabric showing and the frequent appeals to motorists to have their tyres retreaded before reaching that stage, he will take steps to remove the restriction which at present debars commercial representatives in receipt of "S" supplementary coupons from obtaining the necessary permit to have worn tyres retreaded?

I regret that in view of the serious shortage of rubber it is not possible to provide fresh tyres for holders of "S" coupons generally. Arrangements have, however, been made with the Ministry of Fuel and Power to give exceptional treatment, through the regional petroleum officers, to cases of special hardship, such as serious physical disablement, or complete dependence on the car for livelihood in a business of real value to the community.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in allocating paper to publishers, consideration is paid to the purposes for which it is demanded and preference given to those which aid the war effort; whether he is aware that supplies have been recently refused to produce the third edition of a British work on the "Surgery of Modern Warfare," in constant demand both in the British and in the American Army, which has placed an order for 1,700 copies of the current edition, 500 of which the publisher is unable to supply; and whether he will revise this decision?

Yes, Sir. A special reserve of paper is ear-marked to assist publishers whose normal quotas are insufficient for essential books, and I have the advice of a committee of publishers in allocating this reserve. It is not the case that an allocation has been refused for the third edition of "Surgery of Modern Warfare." I have already been approached on this matter by my hon. Friend the Member for Rochdale (Dr. Morgan) and the amount of this allocation is now under consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare the quantities of food supplied to Greece and Belgium by Allied countries; and whether any food or other supplies have been sent at the expense of the United Nations?

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to supplies from outside the blockade area. Between March and August, 1942, 13,315 tons of wheat were shipped to Greece from British stocks in the Middle East at the expense of the Greek Government, while 2,285 tons of wheat and 3,200 lbs. of vitamin products were shipped from the United States and made available to the Greek Government by the United States Government under Lease-Lend. Since September, 1942, when the present relief scheme came into operation, shipments from Canada to Greece have included 142,435 tons of wheat, 20,751 tons of pulse and soup concentrate and 2,174 tons of powdered and condensed milk. The wheat is a gift from the Canadian Government, while the pulse and milk have been made available to the Greek Government by the United States Government under Lease-Lend. In the case of Belgium, for reasons which have frequently been explained, I regret that we have not felt justified in relaxing the blockade.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare whether he can give any further information as to the food ration now available to civilians in Belgium?

Since I last answered a Question on this subject information has been received that the weekly meat ration of the Belgian normal consumer has been reduced from 7½ oz. to 5 oz.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the issue of handkerchiefs to men of His Majesty's Forces or, failing this, will he advise the granting of coupons to enable them to be purchased?

A soldier who presents a note signed by his commanding officer is at present able to buy handkerchiefs from retailers without coupons.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the wife of Private M. Newman, 6917448, has been requested by the regimental paymaster at Marylebone Road, London, N.W., to return her Army allowance pay-book on the grounds that her husband has deserted his unit; whether this action is part of Regulations or is administrative only; and, in view of the hardship imposed upon this woman, will he take steps for mitigation of effects of circumstances over which she has no control?

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." Although in time of war family allowance is paid direct to a soldier's wife it is a part of his own emoluments and the issue of the allowance ceases under the Regulations when he has been in a state of absence without leave for more than seven days. The issue is resumed as soon as he rejoins his unit or is apprehended. My hon. Friend will appreciate that there is no reason why the wife of a man who has deserted his unit should be supported from Army funds for more than a limited period.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any evidence that letters written by relatives to those who are prisoners in Japanese hands are being delivered by the Japanese authorities; and whether he advises parents to write regularly to such prisoners?

The answer to both parts of the Question is "Yes, Sir." In view of the censorship difficulties in Japan it is, however, thought inadvisable for a family to write more often than once a fortnight.

asked the Minister of Labour the special reasons which exempt from military service a young man of under 30 years of age, whose name has been handed to the Minister privately, employed by an aircraft firm as publicity manager; and what technical qualifications he has?

I am having inquiries made and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Home Secretary in how many cases applications for the collection of subscriptions were approved during the year 1942 under the Metropolitan Police General Orders and Regulations, Section 5, paragraph 161 and Section 6, paragraphs 123 and 124, and in how many cases such applications were refused; why an application for a subscription to raise funds to meet the expense of testing before the courts the right of certain police officers to pensions under the Police Act, 1921, was refused; and whether he will now approve it?

I am informed that during 1942, 273 applications were approved under the first mentioned section of General Orders and 18 applications were approved under the second. No applications under either section were refused. The application referred to in the second part of the Question stands on a different footing. It was an application by the Police Federation under the mistaken impression that it might be possible, by some action in the court, to test the question whether Parliament had acted legally in enacting the provision in the Police Pensions Act, 1921, under which the Act is applied to men who joined a police force after the 1st July, 1919. As this was not a question of law which could be brought before a court, the Federation were informed that authority could not be given to the raising of a fund for the purpose suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when his Department will reply to a letter, dated 11th November, 1942, regarding rotary airports, sent by Mr. Charles Frobisher to Mr. P. Hildred, Civil Aviation Department of the Air Ministry; and what are the reasons for this lengthy delay in replying upon such an interesting and important project?

The letter referred to dealt with a scheme for elevated rotary airports which has been brought to the notice of my Department on a number of occasions in recent years. It was one of several letters received from the same writer over a period and made technical claims which required further examination in detail. I am arranging for a reply to be given forthwith. I regret that no acknowledgment was sent to this particular communication and that the reply has taken so long to prepare.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will investigate the number and nature of those towns which have ample spare accommodation for house construction without any encroachment on rural land or the creation of new public utility services?

This is already being done jointly by the Ministry of Town and Country Planning and my Department in consultation with local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health what instructions or guidance have been issued to local authorities regarding the relaxation of the regulations affecting overcrowding which were in force immediately prior to the war?

I have issued no general instructions to local authorities on this subject. I have no power to authorise a local authority to refrain from enforcing the overcrowding provisions of the Housing Act, 1936, and it is for local authorities to determine how far it is possible under existing conditions to secure observance of these provisions.