asked the Minister of Labour whether it was with his authority that Dr. Robert McIntyre, secretary of the Scottish National Party, was informed by Miss Berry, of the women's department central office of the Ministry of Labour, Bothwell Street, Glasgow, that there were no vacancies in all Scotland at present for skilled mobile women of conscript age?

I understand a statement to this effect was made by a junior officer during the interview of a particular worker, and, on its being challenged by Dr. McIntyre, Miss Berry said that there were no vacancies in Scotland to which this worker could be sent. I know of no reason for supposing that this statement was not correct.

Am I to understand that we have gone a stage further, and that it is now recognised that there is no work for such women in Scotland?

No, Sir, that is not the answer. It is a particular kind of job that this woman wanted. She had already had other jobs submitted to her, but refused to take them.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this lady has three brothers serving in the Forces, and that it was necessary that she should live in her own home? In these circumstances are we to understand that this girl must cross the Border?

If the circumstances are such that directions have to be issued, I must carry on.

Is the Minister aware that in this case the officer made a general statement—not just affecting this girl—that girls might not be employed? Was it proper for an officer of this kind to make a general statement for the whole of Scotland when dealing only with the situation in that exchange?

The junior officer made a mistake, as many of us do. It was corrected by the senior officer.

Was the senior officer in any better position to know?

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) the number of women, under 40 years of age, who have been directed to work in England at each of the Employment Exchanges in Glasgow for each month of the present year;

(2) the number of women in England who have received directions to proceed to work in Scotland during each month of the present year;

(3) the number of women from England working in Scottish factories; how many such women are regarded as mobile; and whether they will be directed to work in English factories before Scottish girls are sent away from their homes to such work in the future?

The number of women registered under the Registration for Employment Order and the National Service Acts who were transferred from Employment Exchanges in Glasgow to employment in England from the beginning of 1943 to 12th June (the latest date for which figures are available) was 169. Figures for each month were: January, 6; February, 17; March, 42; April, 50; May, 29; June, 25. With possibly one or two exceptions, these women were all under 40 years of age.

During May and June, 23 women who had received special training on the repair and maintenance of aero-engines were transferred from England to undertake such work in Scotland. A further 33 transfers represent in the main transfers between towns on the Border. Since these women, apart from the Border town cases, were transferred for the special reasons I have mentioned, I could only pursue my hon. Friend's suggestion for retransfer to England when the need for their services is terminated. Information is not available as to the total number of women from England working in Scottish factories.

Am I to understand that there were no women in Scotland with those qualications who could have been employed?

As I understand, they were transferred for certain specialised work from one factory, where they had been specially trained, to another. I must again emphasise that this is a total war, affecting Scotland and England as well. We cannot deal with it on a nationalist basis.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is no reason why those girls should be taken to England when they have the qualifications for work in Scotland?

When we have put men or women in special training establishments of particular firms, I am sometimes asked to transfer these specialists from one place to another, and not to bring in fresh people to be trained on specialist work. That I must do in the interest of efficiency.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that girls in my constituency are trained in the West of Scotland, alongside other girls from towns in the West of Scotland, and that at the end of their training the other girls are sent to work in their own home towns while the girls from my constituency are sent to England?

There might not be munition works in my hon. Friend's constituency. I do not know about that. But I must again say that I cannot deal with this problem on a nationalist basis.

Would my right hon. Friend say that this total war does not affect Scottish girls more than English girls?

The English girls have to be moved about all over the country. I have not treated Scottish girls worse than English or Welsh girls or anybody else. I am not adopting the view that I should give Scottish girls a preference.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the experiment being successfully carried out in a Black Country foundry whereby deaf and dumb men are being trained under their own leader to do specially suitable work of national importance; and whether he will consider extending such a scheme to other districts?

Yes, Sir; I am watching this experiment with interest, and in the light of experience shall be glad to consider whether it could be extended so far as there is a need for it. In present circumstances, however, there is no great difficulty in placing able-bodied deaf and dumb persons in work.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider implementing, in full or in modified form, the post-war provisions of the Tomlinson Report in relation to the rehabilitation and resettlement of disabled persons, of whom there are already many thousands in need of such training and assistance, as is proposed, and since the early inauguration of the scheme will help to ensure its efficiency for the post-war period, when maximum numbers of disabled persons will have to be dealt with?

The proposals in the Tomlinson Report relating to the rehabilitation and training of disabled persons are already being implemented in modified form, and the arrangements proposed are being made as rapidly as war-time cir- cumstances permit. The proposals relating to resettlement of disabled persons in employment after the war are now under active consideration. I am in consultation with representatives of industry on this matter, and await their reply.

asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements he proposes to make to supply the labour needed by the perambulator firms whose production is to be increased?

I understand from my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade that he does not anticipate that any appreciable increase of labour will be required.

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate how very pressing this matter is in the South and West of England, where there definitely is a great shortage? Will he bear that in mind?

Yes, Sir. Not only are steps being taken to deal with the supply of more labour, but I understand that my right hon. Friend is introducing more standardisation in production, which reduces the need for labour.

Is there not a boom in babies, which has to be met by better perambulator facilities?

Will the right hon. Gentleman approach the President of the Board of Trade and draw his attention to the bad distribution of perambulators? In my constituency there are no perambulators, and in London there are plenty.

asked the Minister of Labour what further categories of workers in the distributive trades it is proposed to call up; whether the Ministry of Food, the employers and trade unions concerned are consulted in this connection; and, if so, whether they have satisfied him that the efficient distribution of foodstuffs will not suffer as a consequence of still further denuding shops of skilled staffs?

In agreement with my Noble Friend the Minister of Food, and after consultation with the employers' organisations and trade unions concerned, a limited number of workers is being withdrawn from certain sections of the food distributive trades. In some sections, as for example groceries and provisions, withdrawals are being made on a quota system: in others, such as retail fish, by age classes. There is provision in both cases for the retention of key workers. I am satisfied that these arrangements will not endanger the efficient distribution of essential foodstuffs.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the complaint of women, especially those of 50 or 60 years of age, that they have to stand for a long time in shops waiting to be served, and that shopping has become very arduous because there are not enough skilled people behind the counters?

I have to bear such a vast number of problems in mind with the man-power situation as it is at the moment, and the question of determining priorities is a very difficult one. I have had consultations with the food distributive trades, and I think that the way they have helped to solve this problem merits the gratitude of the country.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, when judging the efficiency of the particular shops that have to be dealt with, also judge the efficiency and ability of those who are to adjudicate on whether the shops can be efficient or not?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that youthful delinquency is attributable in some measure to the absence of maternal attention, now difficult owing to the lack of domestic help, whereby many mothers are compelled to spend their whole time upon shopping and household tasks; and what steps he proposes to relieve this situation?

I am not aware of any evidence that absence of domestic help is primarily responsible for any failure there may be in maternal attention or control. If my hon. Friend will give me evidence to the contrary, I will look into it.

Is the Minister aware of the cases of hardship in which women have been completely deprived of domestic assistance required for their families, and, as the Minister has made concessions to permit such labour to remain, could he not give a general instruction that in hard cases of this character his local officers should be tolerant to the applicants?

If my hon. Friend can give any particulars where they have been intolerant in this matter then I can look into them. I am not prepared in these matters to issue any more general instructions.

Is it not a fact that large numbers of women, in addition to performing these duties, have made a substantial part-time contribution to the war effort?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these children, owing to lack of parental control, are growing up into young hooligans?

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can now give the particulars respecting Indians holding His Majesty's commission, decorations or honours won, war casualties and treatment of prisoners?

It is not in the public interest to state the actual number of Indian officers in the Indian Army, but I can tell the hon. Member that 40 per cent. of the officers recruited since the outbreak of war have been Indians. I have asked the Government of India for complete particulars of decorations and honours won by Indians for meritorious or courageous conduct. Indian casualties, including casualties to British officers of the Indian Forces up to 31st August, 1942, were 3,286 killed, 9,168 wounded, 86,289 missing and 3,236 prisoners of war. I have reports received through the Red Cross and the Protecting Power regarding the treatment of Indian prisoners in Germany and Italy, but not in Japan.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his reply, might I ask him whether he has any evidence of unfair discrimination against Indian prisoners by the Italian Government?

I am sorry to say that so far we have not received direct information with regard to the treatment of Indian prisoners by the Japanese, and I am very anxious to secure it.

I asked about the Italian Government.

No, Sir, I do not think there is any evidence of unfair treatment by Germans and Italians, as far as I am aware.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he is likely to have a report on these various matters about which I have asked in the Question?

I cannot be sure. We have been waiting for a long time to get information about Indian prisoners in Japanese hands. That is why I gave so large a number of missing, most of whom are believed to be prisoners, but their names have not come in.

Has my right hon. Friend received reports on the treatment of Indian prisoners at Tobruk who were recaptured after the battle of El Alamein?

I am not sure that I have; I will look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will give particulars of by-elections recently held in India, and particularly in South India, including the policy of the candidates and the polling figures?

I have no very recent official information. The Press reported early in June the result of a by-election in Madras for a seat in the Central Legislative Assembly rendered vacant by the death of a Congress member. The Congress candidate is reported to have been returned with 4,658 votes while his opponent, a member of the Justice Party, obtained 1,508 votes.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take that as an indication of the opinion of people at least in the area?

Apparently a member of the same political party was returned.

Is there any demand for an electoral truce in India? Have not they managed to get on very well without it? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that ours is the only country in the Commonwealth maintaining an electoral truce?

I would not draw analogies from Indian conditions.

Is it not also the case that the right hon. Gentleman's own leader, the Deputy-Prime Minister, founded the truce?

asked the Secretary of State for India where martial law is now in operation in India; where this is immediately contemplated; and the reasons for it?

Martial law has not been in operation in any district in India since its withdrawal on 1st June last from the disturbed areas in Sind and I have no information to suggest that its introduction is at present contemplated in any area.

asked the Secretary of State for India what steps, and in what Provinces and States, have been taken in India to control the price of rice; and whether the question of rationing has been considered?

I have no record of the Provinces and States, besides Bengal, which have sought to impose price control on rice. As far as I am aware, no such control has been effectively maintained in the absence of physical control of stocks. The present plans of the Government of India, based on earlier experiences in Bengal and elsewhere, are directed to the securing of physical control of stocks and to measures against hoarding, which is the policy accepted on the recommendation of the recent food conference. Rationing is in operation in Bombay City and one or two other towns and urban rationing is to be extended.

In view of the fact that the price of rice is now nine times what it was in pre-war times, surely rationing ought to be introduced all over the country?

That figure referred only to Calcutta. I think that the price of rice, though it is high, is by no means as high as is suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend's Question.

Why not ration it in Calcutta?

Is this a Central or a Provincial responsibility?

It is largely both. It is done to help the Provinces to improve the situation.

Is it not true that in some parts the price of rice is very much more than nine times the pre-war price?

I have not any figures to suggest that.

asked the Home Secretary whether facilities for adequate dental treatment are now available in all prisons; and whether any measures are being taken to secure that full use is made of them?

As regards facilities for dental treatment in prisons, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 15th April to my hon. Friend the Member for Rochdale (Dr. Morgan). My information is that generally speaking prisoners are ready to avail themselves of the facilities provided; but in considering to what extent treatment (including the provision of dentures) should be given at the expense of public funds, account must be taken of the length of the prisoner's detention. About 75 per cent. of the persons sent to prison are detained for short periods, varying from a week to two months.

Do not the present arrangements bear rather hardly on prisoners who have no private means? Will riot the Minister look into the matter again?

If my hon. Friend refers to the answer which I save to my hon. Friend the Member for Rochdale, I think he will find that the service is reasonable.

Is there any truth in the allegation that prisoners with acute toothache cannot get an extraction unless they are prepared to pay 2s. 6d. from their own private funds?

My information is that that is not true.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the glut of new potatoes, he will take steps to ensure that the remaining supply of old, and often black, potatoes now being served in prisons are disposed of for animal food, and that this year's crop of new potatoes be supplied to the prisoners?

Potatoes for use in prisons are bought locally, and I am informed that in most prisons the stocks of old potatoes are coming to an end and supplies of new potatoes are being purchased. Arrangements are made in all prisons for the supervision of food, and I cannot accept the suggestion that it is a practice to use potatoes which have become uneatable.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that soggy potatoes were dished up a few days ago in one of our prisons?

That is possible, but old potatoes are still wholesome and healthy food. On the ground of national food economy I should be wrong to order nothing but new potatoes, which, however, are now coming in. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind where the potatoes were uneatable, I would be glad to look into it.

I will send particulars to my right hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction caused among fruit-growers and parents by the change in holiday arrangements at Tiptree Council School; and whether the five weeks' summer holiday is to be arranged in future years, as in the past, to coincide with the fruit harvest?

I have seen references in the Press to dissatisfaction due to the holiday arrangements for the Tiptree council school, but I understand that in fact the need for help in fruit picking has been met by the three weeks' holiday which was given and the exemption of a number of older children from school at the beginning of the subsequent term. The local education authority concerned will, I am sure, continue to co-operate in meeting the Government's request to provide for the fixing of holidays for schools in rural areas by district committees or managers, who with their local knowledge and the advice of the war agricultural executive committee are in a position to assess the requirements for the assistance of children in urgent seasonal agricultural work in their neighbourhood.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the managers of the school concerned were unanimously opposed to the action taken by the education authorities? Will he look into this question again before next year's harvest?

This is a matter essentially for local arrangement in conjunction with the war agricultural executive committee, but I shall make myself fully acquainted with the situation, as the hon. Member has put it to me.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is now in a position to announce the steps he is taking to secure for teachers and pupils in England and Wales opportunities for fuller understanding of the term "Air Age," with its implications similar to the aviation education research project now being sponsored by the Civil Aeronautics Administration in the United States of America?

I am not yet in a position to add anything to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on 15th April. I am examining some of the literature on the subject which has been published in the United States with a view to considering whether any of the arrangements adopted in schools in that country could be adopted here.

While I thank my right hon. Friend for his reply, is he aware that in over half the high schools in America, apart from the universities, there is a course on aeronautics which they are extending to cover all the high schools there? Does he not think that active steps should be taken as soon as possible to do something in this country along the lines suggested in my Question?

It is because of the information contained in the first part of my hon. Friend's Question that I am investigating the subject more closely, after which I shall then be able to give an answer to the latter part of his Question.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the shortage of deputy sisters and nurses, amounting to over 120 and 65 domestic staff, at a hospital of which he has been informed; and what action he has taken during the past six months to ensure that the 700 military patients receive proper nursing care, service and attention?

I am aware that this hospital, in common with many others, has a shortage of domestic and nursing staff. According to my latest information, there are 893 patients at the hospital, of whom 534 are Service patients; and the staff consists of 348 nurses and 283 domestics. As regards nurses, my hon. Friend is no doubt aware of the measures which are now being taken by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service to improve the recruitment and distribution of nurses, and the needs of this hospital will continue to be borne in mind. As regards domestic staff, I understand from my right hon. Friend that his Department have over the past 15 months made substantial efforts to meet their needs. One hundred and fifty-three submissions of domestic staff of various categories have been made from which 86 placings have resulted. I am assured that these efforts will be continued.

While I thank the Minister for his very clear statement, will he consider transferring some of the staffs of some voluntary hospitals who do not seem to have as much work to do as they used to have?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the friction that has arisen in hospitals due to the difference in the pay of the ordinary nursing staff and that of the Civil Nursing Reserve; and whether he will take steps to expedite the settlement of the new rates?

Revised rates of pay for members of the Civil Nursing Reserve have now been settled and will shortly be communicated to the authorities who employ members of the Reserve.

asked the Minister of Health which recommendations of the Rushcliffe Report he is now implementing; and on what date those which are directly concerned with his Department have come into operation?

As I have already informed the House, I have commended to hospital authorities the recommendations of the Nurses Salaries Committee as to salaries, emoluments, and conditions of service. I am not sure to what my hon. Friend refers in the second part of the Question, but I take it that she has in mind the suggestion that an educational grant should be made to assist nurses to take courses of training as sister tutors. The Nurses Act, 1943, has given the General Nursing Council power to frame rules with a view to securing a recognised standard, and when these rules are made and approved I shall give further consideration to this recommendation of the Committee.

Has the specific recommendation in the Rushcliffe Report in fact been put into operation by the right hon. Gentleman's Department?

I have said not, for the reason that the General Nursing Council are considering the framing of rules. It is not a matter that can be done by a stroke of the pen.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the Rushcliffe Committee were aware of the position? Is the General Nursing Council going to report shortly?

The hon. Lady will understand that since the Rushcliffe Committee was appointed by me I will naturally do my best.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that it is anticipated that within the next few months at least Boo tuberculosis patients in Wales will be waiting for hospital accommodation; and what steps he is taking to meet this position?

Yes, Sir. The figure quoted is, I understand, an estimate, but I am aware that there is at present a substantial shortage of beds for tuberculosis cases in Wales, as in other parts of the country. The problem is greatly accentuated by the present necessary restrictions on new building, and by the difficulty of providing hospital staff. With the help of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service, I am actively seeking a solution of this staff problem in order to make it possible to use a certain number of emergency hospital beds for tuberculosis cases.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that there are hundreds in South Wales not occupied at all? Will he press on with placing at the disposal of the civil authorities these beds, both in military institutions and emergency hospitals?

We placed a large number at their disposal just recently.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he and his predecessor have been actively seeking a solution of the problem for at least 15 years and still these cases are allowed to remain in homes where they are in contact with healthy people?

I want all the nurses and all the domestic help that I can get.

Are not these homes generally owned by private enterprise?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that certain suppliers in this country of reputable appliances for the aid of deafness are threatening to close down owing to the restriction on the imports of essential parts; and what steps he is taking to meet the situation?

No, Sir. I have heard that one firm of importers is threatening to close down, but not for the reason given by my hon. Friend. I do not think it necessary for me to take any special steps in the matter.

Is it not the case that in regard to this particular apparatus supplies have been cut down to 37½ per cent. instead of the 50 per cent. mentioned by my right hon. Friend, and does not that mean very severe deprivation for these deaf people, to whom it makes the difference between an active life and almost retirement?

I think there is a misunderstanding. I did see the representative of the firm concerned.

asked the Minister of Health what further proposals have been submitted to his Department by the medical profession on the subject of a National Health Service; whether they will be discussed with local authorities and other interests before any decision is reached; and what is the present position of the general plans for implementing the Beveridge Report so far as health services are concerned?

As I have already made clear, the present preliminary stage of discussion is a confidential one. I am anxious that before any final decisions are taken there should be the very fullest opportunity of open discussion by everyone interested, and I hope before long to issue some general review of the subject, which will serve as a focus for this.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in recasting the medical services of the country, he will consider the abolition of the three-year waiting period before dental benefits can be received under National Health Insurance?

Not only this point, but the whole position of dental services in any comprehensive service of health is being fully considered.

Has my right hon. Friend considered the representations made by the Dental Association on this question?

We are considering the whole question and have had a number of representations.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the need for extending the dental service for young people in their teens, who do not now get dental service because they are at work and not at school?

The biggest problem is to get an adequate dental service.

asked the Minister of Health how often the Standing Committee on Nutrition meets; and what work it has achieved during the past 12 months?

The Ministry of Health Standing Committee on Medical and Nutritional Problems—to which I presume my hon. Friend refers—is an informal committee consisting in the main of medical and other officers of the Departments concerned, which meets at varying intervals as questions arise for its consideration. In the two years of its existence, it has met 17 times. It has given advice to the Departments concerned on a large number of problems submitted to it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will define clearly the field for local authority building?

The field for local authority house-building after the war will, in my view, as was the case before the war, depend to a large degree on the extent to which the housing needs are met by the erection by private enterprise of houses both for sale and for letting. As my hon. Friend knows, the policy of the Government for several years before the war was that local authorities, who are charged by Parliament with the duty of reviewing the housing conditions in their areas and of preparing and submitting proposals to the Minister of Health for the provision of new houses for the working classes, should build houses for the replacement of the slums and the abatement of overcrowding and also for meeting general needs for houses for the working classes in so far as they were not met by private enterprise.

Is the right hon. Gentleman correct in saying that local authorities after the last war built houses for the working people, as the poorest people were neglected? Further, will the right hon. Gentleman restrict local authorities to building houses to let at an economic rental of not more than 8s. a week?

What we really want after the war is to have such economic conditions that public enterprise and private-enterprise can make their maximum contribution.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the difference in price for flats erected by municipal bodies and that charged by private enterprise? There is no profiteering in municipal flats but there is in private enterprise.

asked the Minister of Health what will ultimately be the total cost to the taxpayer and ratepayer for the, subsidies granted to local authorities for the 1,000,000 houses built by local, authorities between the two world wars?

The liability in respect of Exchequer subsidies is estimated to be of the order of £600,000,000. That in respect of rate contributions will be substantially less, but sufficient data are not available for framing an estimate.

Has the right hon. Gentleman gone through all the records, because the total cost will be no less than £2,500,000,000. What has influenced the Government to pay subsidies on houses?

The answer is clear in the history of the 20 years before the war.

Is it not true that private enterprise proved totally incapable of providing the houses?

Private enterprise has provided 3,000,000 and public enterprise 1,000,000.

Over what period?

Twenty years.

asked the Minister of Health what part he intends to take to ensure the working people having an adequate wage income so that each family may be in a position to pay an economic rental and free this class from the hardship of not being able to live decently without Government assistance?

The determination of wage incomes for the population at large does not come within my sphere of responsibility.

If local authorities are subsidised, is it not a modern form of poor law relief on the large scale served out on the silver platter and is it not demoralising to this section of the community?

Is it not a fact that the reason why the workers have not had an increase in wages is that private enterprise has kept them down all the time?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is in a position to make a statement, both as regards financial assistance and availability of material, regarding the re-building of small houses which have been demolished at various times since the outbreak of war by enemy action?

Compensation in respect of houses demolished by enemy action is governed by the provisions of the War Damage Act. As regards availability of materials, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on 8th April last on the question of post-war building priorities, of which I am sending him a copy.

Would it be possible to ensure a certain amount of publicity, as there are so many people interested?

I will do my best.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that members of the Armed Forces are finding it increasingly difficult to obtain suitable housing accommodation for their families; and whether he is prepared to urge local authorities to give all possible preference to these families in the allocation of vacant dwellings on council housing estates?

asked the Minister of Health whether he will request local authorities to give priority, in allotting houses or flats, to men discharged from the Services from wounds or sickness if they were living in the area before they joined the Forces?

I am aware that the effect of the war on the housing situation is increasing the difficulties of all sections of the population in this respect. Local authorities are required by the Housing Acts to give reasonable preference in selecting their tenants

"to persons who are occupying insanitary or overcrowded houses, have large families or are living under unsatisfactory housing conditions."

I am sure that local authorities would consider with special sympathy an application from the family of a serving man or a man discharged from the Services for wounds or sickness which satisfied these conditions, but, having regard to the variety of ways in which vast numbers of people are now directly engaged in the war effort, I do not think it would be in the general interest to give an absolute preference to any particular section. I may add that I am meeting a conference representative of housing authorities to-morrow afternoon to discuss certain recommendations for improving the general housing position.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not convinced that special care should be given that members of the Forces shall be able to house their families?

I am sure local authorities have this always in mind.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his answer means simply nothing? It is impossible for local authorities to satisfy the claimants on account of the shortage of houses, and he is passing the buck.

I am doing nothing of the kind. The hon. Member is not paying a compliment to the representatives of all the local authority associations who suggested that they should assist me, when he speaks of passing the buck. We have been making a very serious attempt, despite the fact that we cannot build new houses, to see what other accommodation can be made available.

Will the right hon. Gentleman express an opinion whether a reduction in the number of vacant requisitioned houses will ease the pressure?

That is one of the major issues we are discussing.

Is there any way in which the right hon. Gentleman's Department can help in a case such as I sent him recently, where there was gross overcrowding of a soldier's family not due to the woman, and where the local authority after many months has not taken any action? Is there any way of jogging the elbows of local authorities?

We always draw the attention of local authorities to any cases brought to our notice by Members or from elsewhere, but it is not for the moment an easy matter to be chairman or member of a local housing committee.

asked the Minister of Health whether any decision has been come to in regard to the use of either timber or concrete in the construction of the proposed new rural cottages.

I am sending my hon. Friend the notes on specifications issued for the guidance of local authorities. I may add in particular, that as I stated recently in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for West Layton (Mr. Sorensen), timber is being made available, as a special measure, for the staircase, for the covering of the floor in the living room or parlour, and for joist and boarded floors for the bedrooms in all these cottages.