asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate figures, to the latest available date, of the estimated total amount of small savings in the Post Office Savings Bank, trustee savings banks, small Government holdings, railways savings Banks, National Savings Certificates, small investors, share of ordinary life assurance funds, industrial life insurance funds, building societies, share capital, industrial and provident societies, friendly societies, National Health Insurance approved societies, co-operative societies and under any other similar headings which have been initiated for this war?

The term "small savings" is customarily used to describe the Government securities in respect of which a limit is fixed to the amount of the individual holdings, namely, National Savings Certificates and 3 per cent. Defence Bonds, and deposits in the Post Office Savings Banks and the ordinary departments of the trustee savings banks. The estimated holdings on 22nd June, 1943, are shown in the first part of the table below together with the deposits in the special investment departments of the trustee savings banks and the nominal amount of Government stock hold on the Post Office and trustee savings bank registers. Small holdings of Government stock are held otherwise than on these registers

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of Government loans at the latest convenient date?

The net total of the National Debt at 30th June, 1943, after deduction of Victory Bonds, etc., purchased by the National Debt Commis- but it is not possible to estimate the amount.The second part of the table gives estimates of the funds accumulated in most of the other forms specified by my hon. Friend at the latest date for which figures are available in each case. These figures are subject to the qualifications which were made by my predecessor, when he gave similar statistics on firth July, 1939, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for South Croydon (Sir H. Williams):

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the valued service and unique experience of the international Labour Office in questions of health and nutrition, that body has been invited to co-operate in the implementation of the recommendations of the Hot Springs Conference?

The International Labour Office accepted an invitation by the Hot Springs Conference to submit papers for study by the Conference. While I understand that no special arrangements have been made for the future, I am sure that the possibility of associating the International Labour Office with the subsequent work of the Conference will not he overlooked by the Governments represented on the Interim Commission.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will take steps to obtain a return which will indicate the number of hours being worked at the face by coal-fillers in Staffordshire and Yorkshire at the present time?

No, Sir. I am not satisfied that the return would provide information sufficiently useful to justify the extra burden which would be thrown on the clerical staffs of the colliery companies and of my Ministry.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will again, in the interests of economy, reduce the allowances of petrol to taximeter-cab proprietors plying for hire in the City and Metropolitan areas and divert petrol supplies thus saved to industrial areas for the benefit of transport for war workers?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether his attention has been drawn to the consumption of petrol by the large number of private motorcars and taxi-meter cabs which travel over routes in the London area adequately served by underground trains, tramcars and omnibuses; and whether he will divert some part of this petrol to provide better transport facilities in the rural areas?

I do not believe that in present circumstances the public interest would be served by reducing the present petrol allowance for London taxi- cabs. Nor do I believe that the allowance represents an undue proportion of the petrol at present available. As regards private cars, I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for East Norfolk (Col. Medlicott) that a car may be on a journey for which other means of transport are not reasonably practicable, even if part of it coincides with a route served by public transport.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will ensure that when doctors discover, on medical examination, any latent disease of which a called-up man may be unaware, he is in all cases told the exact reason for his rejection so that he may take private advice?

It was formerly the practice to do this but the results were found to be unsatisfactory for various reasons. It is now the practice in such cases for the medical board to advise the man to consult his own doctor.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works how many men fit for service in the Armed Forces under 25 years of age and of registration age, respectively, are employed in the sanitary branch of the Ministry of Works in London and in the provinces?

There are 37 men in London and 47 in the Provinces who were under 43 on 1st July, 1943. None is under 25 years of age.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works whether he will take steps to improve the acoustic properties of the Chamber in which this House now meets?

I would refer to the reply given to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Dr. Morgan) on the 22nd April on this subject, of which I am sending him a copy. The acoustical defects of this Chamber were investigated most carefully and exhaustively by the National Physical Laboratory and the scheme which has been adopted is considered to be the best that can he devised as a wartime measure.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the stimulus to mental development in children given by training in handwork, he will take steps to make such training compulsory and adapted to the sex of the particular child?

The Education Act, 1921, lays the duty upon local education authorities of securing that there should be included in the curriculum of public elementary schools, at appropriate stages, practical instruction suitable to the ages, abilities and requirements of the children. The importance of handwork is strongly emphasised in the Board's volume of suggestions for teachers, and in normal times some training in handwork, adapted to the sex and age of the children, forms part of the curriculum of all elementary schools in England and Wales.

asked the President of the Board of Education, in reference to the elementary schools, what proportion of school-time is allotted to elementary training in, respectively, observation and the correct interpretation of observation, religion, morality, personal cleanliness and manners, team-work, discipline and the power of clear and correct expression in the English language, spoken and written, as constituting important factors in the make-up of the good citizen?

It is not possible to answer the Question in the form in which it is put, since the time tables of elementary schools are not uniform throughout the country and, apart from religious instruction, none of the factors referred to would be shown as separate subjects of the curriculum. I agree, however, with my hon. Friend that they are important elements in the makeup of a good citizen and, as is emphasised in the Board's handbook of suggestions for teachers, it is an essential aim of all that is done in elementary schools to develop and train children to become good citizens.

asked the Minister of Supply whether his attention has been called to a statement issued by the Cotton Controller in respect of overtime in the cotton mills which, inter alia, stated that this overtime would affect 750,000 operatives; and, having regard to the fact that the number of insured operatives in July, 1939, was less than 400,000, why, under the concentration scheme for the cotton industry, over 350,000 operatives have been added to the industry?

No such figure was given in the statement issued by the Cotton Controller. My hon. Friend may have been misled by incorrect statements in the Press. The number of operatives affected is about 85,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will reconsider the question of granting a uniform without the full number of coupons to some or to all the young women entering women's services, seeing that the full outfit for girl officers costs 32 coupons and for girl cadets 25 coupons, so that young women services may be brought into line with men and boy services which receive uniforms?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the replies given to my hon. Friends the Members for East Islington (Mrs. Cazalet Keir) and for Attercliffe (Mr. Wilson) on Tuesday, 19th January, and Tuesday, 25th May, respectively, to which, in view of the ever-increasing stringency of supplies, I regret that I have nothing to add.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many thefts of clothing coupons there have been since the beginning of the year, the number of such coupons traced and the prosecutions instituted?

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, now that Algeria and Tunis have been liberated from the Axis, he will enable business men in this country, who wish to renew their pre-war connections, to communicate with their friends in those countries; and whether, for that purpose, he will ensure that the provisions of the Trading with the Enemy Act, 1939, are modified?

This question is at present under discussion between His Majesty's Government and the Government of the United States of America.

asked the Home Secretary for what reason the buildings in Abingdon Street are being demolished?

As my right hon. Friend explained in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for South Croydon (Sir H. Williams) on 1st July, the buildings are being demolished primarily to remove danger to the public.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether, as regards members of the three Services who may be on East Coast stations and who are returning from leave, he will consider making arrangements to run midnight trains so as to relieve congestion and enable them to get some seating accommodation; and whether he will confer with the appropriate heads of the Service Departments with a view to ascertaining the urgency of this matter?

If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of the routes and services he has in mind, I will make inquiries.

asked the Home Secretary whether the instructions to prison governors, dated 10th January, 1925, concerning their evidence at inquests on executed persons, still includes the direction that the manner in which an execution has been carried out should be confined to a brief general statement; and whether, in the public interest, he will consider giving the more precise effect of a judicial punishment, or let it be available on request for a legitimate sociological purpose?

It would be contrary to public policy to publish the terms of departmental instructions which are issued from time to time to prison governors, but if my hon. Friend fears that there may be something in the existing instructions to prevent the giving of full and relevant information at coroners' inquests, I can assure him that there is no ground for such apprehension.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport the names of the Regional Transport Commissioners in Great Britain; and how many are part time or full time officials?

The Regional Transport Commissioners in Great Britain are:Region and NameNorthern: Sir John Maxwell, C.M.G.North Eastern: F. S. Eastwood, Esq.North Midland: J. H. Stirk, Esq., M.Inst.T., J. P.Eastern: Sir Alfred Faulkner, C.B., C.B.E.London: Gleeson E. Robinson, Esq., M.C.,. LI.B.Southern: Sir Henry Piggott, C.B., C.B.E.South-Western: Sir Alfred Robinson, K.B.E., C.B., M.Inst.T.Wales: H. Trevor Morgan, Esq., M.C., K.C., J.P.Midland: Sir Arnold Musto, C.I.E., M.Inst.C.E.North-Western: Sir William Chamberlain, M.Inst.T.Scotland: Archibald Henderson, Esq.South-Eastern: Lieut.-Colonel F. Gordon Tucker, O.B.E., T.D.All these are full time appointments; but for the time being the Regional Transport Commissioner for the Eastern Region continues to act, in addition, as director of alternative motor fuels.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what is the present staff in the Department dealing with alternative motor fuels?

The staff which deals with alternative motor fuels consists of the director, two staff officers, four technical officers, and seventeen technical and clerical assistants.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what war bonus has, in the last few weeks, been granted to civil servants whose salaries range between £5oo and £85o per year; and whether he will take steps to obtain the same treatment for the senior staffs of the British railways who, so far, have had no advance in remuneration to meet increased costs due to the war?

As stated in the official announcement issued by the Treasury, which appeared in the Press on 9th June, a war bonus at the rate of £25 per annum has been granted to non-industrial male civil servants whose salaries range between £500 and £850 a year. My hon. Friend will, no doubt, have seen the announcement in the Press on 3rd July that a war advance equivalent to that paid to the lower grades of the railway staffs is being extended to the special class staff of the railways on salaries up to £1,000 a year.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether it has been brought to his notice that two appeals by shipmasters from courts appointed by his Ministry from judgments wherein they had been adjudged guilty of incompetency, and their certificates suspended, have recently been sustained by the Admiralty Divisional Court when the President criticised the methods of the lower courts; and whether he is satisfied that the constitution of the lower courts is adequate?

Yes, Sir. My attention has been called to the cases to which my hon. Friend refers. The Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, enables the Minister, when he has reason to believe that a certificated officer is from incompetency or misconduct unfit to discharge his duties, to cause an inquiry to be held. When such inquiries are held, as they were in these cases, by a local marine board or a person appointed by the Minister provision is made for competent legal assistance but no provision is made for the assistance of professional assessors, as in the case of an inquiry into a shipping casualty, nor are there any prescribed rules of procedure. The Divisional Court regarded this as unsatisfactory. Although my Noble Friend is satisfied that for certain types of cases these courts are satisfactory as regards both constitution and procedure, he had already come to the conclusion that cases such as those mentioned by my hon. Friend should be referred to a differently constituted tribunal and, accordingly, Regulation 47CA of the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939, was made in April last. This enables the Minister, by appointing a Wreck Commissioner to hold an inquiry of this kind, to provide a court which, as regards its constitution and procedure, would be the same as in the case of an inquiry into a shipping casualty.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what action is taken against any person who using, for purposes noninsured, a motor car earmarked and insured for air-raid precautions emergency work, kills a pedestrian?

The Road Traffic Act, 1930, provides for compulsory insurance of motor vehicles against third party risks, and if a motor vehicle is used in contravention of these provisions the user is liable to proceedings under Section 35 of the Act.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any statistics to show the relative length of sickness absence of those workers who receive full pay during sickness compared with those who do not; and whether there is any evidence of correlation between the length of sickness absence and the financial resources of the absentee, such as continued pay, sick clubs, or high wages?

I regret that statistics of this nature are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is with his knowledge and approval that the manager of an allocation office under his Ministry has addressed a request to a hospital surgeon concerning a private patient under his care regarding the nature of his patient's illness; and whether he will give consideration to the difficulty in which this request places doctors, whose relations with their patients are confidential?

If my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of the case he has in mind I will have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the financial hardships inflicted by the Derating Act upon local authorities; and whether he will cause the Act to be repealed?

No, Sir. The de-rating provisions of the Local Government Act, 1929, were enacted as a measure of reform of the system of local taxation and were accompanied by Government grants, which are subject to periodical revision.

asked the Secretary of State for War the nature of the various punishments and impositions prevailing in the Army; and whether, in all cases, punishments awarded are submitted for confirmation to an officer of commissioned rank?

The punishments which can be awarded summarily are for private soldiers, admonition, detention, forfeiture of pay, confinement to barracks, extra guard duties and field punishment, and for non-commissioned officers reprimand and deprivation of acting or lance rank. These are usually awarded by the commanding officer. Other punishments can only be awarded by courts-martial whose findings are confirmed by the officer who convenes the court, and are reviewed by Command Headquarters.

asked the Secretary of State for War what advice and assistance is given to officers regarding needed outfit when they are ordered to report for draft?

Every officer on first appointment receives a copy of a pamphlet with the title "Instructions Regarding Kit and Equipment for Officers." Certain paragraphs of it deal specifically with outfit for service overseas. Instructions issued when units or drafts are under orders for embarkation also direct the attention of officers to an Army Council Instruction issued last summer which specifies what clothing is needed by officers overseas and reminds them that they can if they wish buy other items of other ranks' pattern from the R.A.O.C. The instructions vary according to the theatre of operations and if they are entitled to some items of clothing and equipment free their attention is also drawn to this fact. Officers are also advised to limit their purchases before they embark to the needs of the voyage. They can complete their requirements when they arrive at their destination.

asked the Secretary of State for War which regiment of the British Army, namely, Lancer, Hussar, Dragoon and Yeomanry are compelled to wear blue patrol jackets and dress overalls for evening mess wear and from what Department of the War Office such dress regulations are issued; and whether he will issue to commanding officers further advice that such regimental practices are not approved by him?

Instructions lay down clearly that the wearing of undress uniform by those who have it is entirely optional and I do not think any further instructions are necessary. If my hon. Friend will send me particulars of cases where this instruction is not being carried out I will gladly have inquiries made.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the licences granted to certain firms to manufacture Guards' barathea will ensure control at the Priority A Scheme price throughout, from the weaver to the wearer; and whether he will ensure that the officers of the Brigade of Guards and the 12 other regiments who wear uniforms made of Guards' barathea are informed of the maximum prices to be charged for such uniforms under Order No. 2556?

This material is not included in the Priority A scheme. The order to which my hon. Friend refers does not therefore apply to it. As, however, my hon. Friend already knows, no officer can he compelled to have a uniform made of this material.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether parachute pay of 25. a day continues while a man is held as a prisoner of war in enemy hands?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War under what circumstances and in what event the terms of Defence Regulation 51 will be applied to the military training area in the East Riding of Yorkshire at present held under the terms of Defence Regulation 52; who will decide the necessity for this further application; and, in the event of its being enforced, what provision will be made for the welfare of the population concerned?

The Training Areas Selection Committee, on which the Ministry of Agriculture are represented, are charged with the duty of considering which of these two Regulations is appropriate in any particular case. The main factors to be considered are the extent and intensity of the training carried out by the Army and the disturbance caused to the lives and occupations of the persons within the area. Defence Regulation 51 will not in any event be applied before this year's harvest has been gathered. If in any case evacuation is necessary, arrangements for assisting the inhabitants are concerted with the Regional Commissioner.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the German Government fulfilled its obligation in the last war, 1914–18, in the matter of payment to British officers, who were prisoners of war, of salaries due to the officers, according to Vienna Convention; and, if not, by what amount did the German Government default?

The German Government did issue pay to British officer prisoners of war in the Great War but at much lower rates than would have been payable under the annex to the Hague Convention respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land which was the operative instrument. No record was maintained of the difference between the pay actually issued and that which was properly issuable under the Convention.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many potato-spraying machines have been issued to the Hampshire war agricultural executive committee and of what types; and whether any of these machines have been withdrawn?

A total of 37 potato-spraying machines has been issued to the Hampshire war agricultural executive committee made up of the following types: