asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has yet come to any satisfactory arrangement with the Norfolk County Council about the provision by his Ministry of a concrete road at Sedge Drove, Hilgay, as a hard road is urgently wanted by the inhabitants at

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of patrol shepherds employed in the counties of Yorkshire (North Riding), Yorkshire (West Riding),

asked the first Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of his Department to continue making appeals to charitable people to send vegetables to the Women's Voluntary Services for despatch to crews of minesweepers, as set out in the leaflet forwarded to him, in view of the reaction before the sugar-beet lifting season and the autumn rains, which reduce these fen droves to a morass?

The Norfolk County Council have now agreed to give up a strip of Sedge Drove for the construction of a concrete road under the Agriculture (Miscellaneous War Provisions) (No. 2) Act, 1940, and the work will be put in hand as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the annual number of outbreaks of sheep scab in the counties of Yorkshire (North Riding), Yorkshire (West Riding), Lancashire and Westmorland, during the five-year period, 1938–42, inclusive?

The number of outbreaks of sheep scab in these counties during the period specified was as follows:Lancashire and Westmorland, in each of the years 1938 to 1942, inclusive?

The number of patrol shepherds employed in these counties during the years 1938–42 was as follows:in the minds of the people on receipt of such a leaflet, which suggests that these men, doing such good work, have to be fed by charity?

It is incorrect to say that any appeals have been made by the Admiralty for gifts of fresh vegetables for crews of minesweepers or for any other naval personnel. The leaflet to which my hon. Friend has kindly drawn my attention is quite unauthorised and the Admiralty has invited the attention of the Women's Voluntary Services to this fact. The crews of all small craft are paid a money allowance to provide themselves with food. This allowance is sufficient to enable them to maintain an adequate and varied diet, including fresh vegetables, and at nearly every port in the United Kingdom they can obtain, under arrangements made by the Admiralty, fresh vegetables in season at very favourable prices. If the men receive gifts of vegetables it means that they are able to save part of their money allowance or spend it on other things. While the Admiralty does not wish to forbid gifts of fresh vegetables, provided that they do not involve any considerable use of the limited transport facilities now available and are likely to reach their destination in good condition, I wish to take this opportunity of making it clear that the Admiralty is in no sense seeking such gifts. I should perhaps add, however, that the Admiralty has associated itself with the Red Cross appeal for onions to be grown for the Fighting Services by means of onion-growing clubs. The Admiralty pays for such onions; the proceeds go to the Red Cross, and the Fleet benefits by getting onions in addition to its allocation from commercially grown crops administered by the Ministry of Food.

asked the Minister of Labour the percentages of men over 40 years of age just called up who have been rejected on medical grounds?

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to medical examinations under the National Service Acts. The percentage of men over 40 years of age rejected for service on medical grounds is about 45.

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production whether he can make any statement on the dissatisfaction expressed by workers at Short Brothers, Limited, with the Government appointed management?

I refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to-day to the hon. and gallant Member for Cleveland (Commander Bower).

asked the Secretary of State for Air to what extent he has sought the co-operation of the Army authorities in seconding units, such as the Pioneer Corps, temporarily to those operational stations where highly trained technicians are, due to shortage of staff, being used for such duties as cleaning hangar floors?

The services of the Pioneer Corps are needed by the Army. The requirements of the Royal Air Force for skilled tradesmen are met as far as possible by training men who are already employed in unskilled work in the Service. There is plenty of skilled work to do for all the skilled men available, but at this stage of the war skilled men in the Royal Air Force, as in every other walk of life, must be called upon from time to time to do unskilled work to a limited extent in addition to their normal duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in cases where an airman claims that he is no longer liable to support his wife, he will arrange for an independent inquiry or attempt at reconciliation to be made locally before the wife's allowance is withdrawn, as is already done in the other services?

My hon. and learned Friend's suggestion is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how far airmen and airwomen receiving treatment for venereal diseases in Service hospitals are made to pay hospital charges; and to what extent they are treated as far as fees are concerned differently from civilians?

Airmen and airwomen suffering from venereal disease are treated in the matter of charges in the same way as airmen and airwomen suffering from any other injury or complaint, that is to say, hospital charges of 1s. 6d. and 1s. a day respectively are made if the injury or disease is due in any way to the patient's own fault. Where it can reasonably be assumed that the injury or disease is not due to the patient's own fault, no hospital charges are made. Airmen and airwomen suffering from venereal disease must report sick, and are treated as in-patients. I am informed that treatment of civilians mainly takes place at out-patient clinics provided by local authorities, and that such treatment is given free.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the procedure for dealing with Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel who are taken ill; and whether any instruction has been issued to compel an airwoman to stay in bed until visited by a medical officer or a nursing orderly?

Airwomen who are taken ill report in person to the medical officer unless they do not feel well enough to do so, in which case arrangements are made for them to be visited by the medical officer, or in the first instance by a nursing orderly. As for the second part of the Question, instructions have been issued that the procedure for obtaining the services of a medical officer is to be made known to all airwomen. Further, all airwomen are instructed in sick parade procedure, including the necessity of remaining in bed until seen by the duty N.C.O. if, for any reason, they feel too unfit to get up.

asked the Home Secretary in how many cases, in executions in the prisons in England and Wales during the last five years, the executed person's heart action continued for one minute or longer after the drop; and in how many instances during the same period there have been of the heart's action continuing for as long as 15 minutes?

This information is not available. I am advised that in judicial execution unconsciousness is instantaneous.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will have the Utility Furniture Scheme extended at once to Northern Ireland, where serious hardship is being suffered owing to inability to purchase utility furniture which is not available?

I am already in touch with the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland on the possibility of extending the utility furniture scheme to Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the commissioner of Income Tax in Jamaica sits as a member of the Assessment Committee, whose function is to hear objections to rulings by the commissioner; and whether, as it is not in accord with British justice for the same individual to be both judge and advocate, he will recommend that the Assessment Committee be reconstituted?

I am inquiring of the Governor of Jamaica about my hon. Friend's Question and I will communicate with him when I have the Governor's reply.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, in connection with the agricultural hostel for 60 persons which has been erected at Inberrow village, Worcestershire, under the auspices of the Ministry, what steps were taken to ascertain whether a supply of water was available; and whether, in view of the fact that there is at present an inadequate water supply, what steps he is taking to rectify this?

The Geological Survey advised that water should be available on the site which was selected by the war agricultural committee for the hostel, under the 1942 programme. The well when sunk to 30 feet gave plenty of water. The hostel was occupied after a long, dry spell and the yield of the well under those conditions proved insufficient for 50 people. The occupants were accordingly moved temporarily to accommodation which had been prepared for harvest workers in order that the well might be deepened. This has now been done and should provide a sufficient supply of water with reasonably careful use in dry weather. As a further safeguard, a second well will be sunk as soon as possible. This will not involve the removal of the occupants.

asked the Postmaster General whether, having regard to the fact that the replacement of male personnel at Crown post offices by female personnel does not involve any increase in numbers, he will pay the female personnel at the same rates as male personnel, on the basis of equal pay for equal work?

Differentiation in pay between men and women in the Civil Service is a matter of general Government policy, and I would refer the noble Lady to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17th November last and 1st July to Questions on the same subject by the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. W. Brown) copies of which I am sending to her.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why the use of semolina as a filler in sausages had been forbidden while the use of rusk is still permitted, as both semolina and rusk are prepared from wheat, and more labour, fuel, etc., are used in the preparation of rusk than in the production of semolina?

Semolina was prohibited as a filler for sausages because it was expected to be needed for milk puddings. The matter is now under review in the light of the supply position.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps have been taken to prevent the dumping, for use after the war, of turnings and residues containing high percentages of tin and copper, by firms engaged on machining work on nonferrous materials?

The Ministry of Supply is in close touch with the main consumers of non-ferrous metals and ensures, when releasing virgin metals, that full use is made of any scrap available. I have no reason to suppose that there is any undue accumulation of scrap by machinists, but if my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind I shall be glad to make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Supply, how many present and former employees and directors of Imperial Chemical Industries are engaged in his Department in an executive or advisory capacity?

There are 61 officers in the Ministry of Supply, holding senior posts remunerated at £600 a year or more whose services have been made available by Imperial Chemical Industries. There are also a number of former employees of the company who have been engaged in the normal course of recruitment, mainly for service in the Ministry's industrial establishments.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state for the years 1939–40, 1941–42, 1942–43, the additional cost incurred to the Exchequer by the payment to men and women withdrawn for service in His Majesty's Forces and auxiliary Services of the difference between Service pay and allowances and salaries; and the number of persons involved in each year?

The payments of balance of civil pay in question have never been separately accounted for, and I regret that I have not the necessary information to answer the first part of the Question. With regard to the second part, the numbers of civil servants serving with the Forces and in receipt of, or eligible for, balance of civil pay have been as follows:

These numbers include some who receive no balance because their Service pay exceeds their civil pay.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the approximate total sum advanced by the Treasury for the necessities of allied Governments and the forces under them now co-operating with British forces, apart from Lend-Lease; and what financial arrangements have been made for the ultimate adjustment of their accounts with the Free French, the Poles and the Yugo-Slavs?

The total amount so far advanced to Allied Governments, exclusive of Lend-Lease, is approximately £195,000,000. The question of repayment of the advances made to Free French and the Polish Government will be a matter for discussion at the end of the War. Apart from a small credit in January 1940 for the purchase of aircraft and spare parts, which is now subject to a moratorium until the end of the war, the Yugoslav Government has not had recourse to His Majesty's Government for financial assistance during the war.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any announcement to make regarding the Government's further intentions with reference to the recent proposals for currency stabilisation?

I have no further announcement to make at present.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Trans- port whether he is aware of the disadvantages suffered by locomotive and other railwaymen by the absence of canteen facilities at main depots, such as St. Margarets, Edinburgh, King's Cross, &c.; and whether he will take steps immediately to have this service brought into line with other necessary war work?

I am aware that railwaymen want more canteens than it has been possible to provide. A large number of canteens, however, are already in operation; more are now under construction; and plans are being prepared for a much larger number still. They are being built under a system of priorities which depends on the supplies of labour and material which are available. The priority allotted to different places is decided by the railway companies in consultation with the Railwaymen's Trade Unions.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport how many deck officers, engineers and seamen, respectively, of the British Mercantile Marine have been lost at sea, injured or taken prisoner for the war period up to 1st May last?

The request contained in my hon. Friend's Question has been carefully considered again, but the Government have regretfully decided that it would be contrary to the public interest to publish the numbers of officers, engineers and seamen of the British Merchant Navy who have been lost, injured or made prisoner during the war.