asked the Minister of Health whether it is intended that powers for safeguarding the quality of milk, at present vested in local authorities under the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, and Orders and Regulations thereunder, shall be transferred to the Minister of Agriculture?

The scope of the powers proposed in the recent White Paper to be transferred to the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries is at present the subject of discussions. Broadly, the object is to make the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries responsible for conditions under which milk is produced at the farm, but the existing powers of local authorities in respect of milk infected with disease or in respect of adulterated milk would not be affected.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in connection with the White Paper which he proposes to introduce with regard to the medical aspects of the Beveridge Report, he will provide a list of those organisations, in addition to the medical profession, from which he received evidence and representations with regard to the matters with which the White Paper is to deal?

I have had preliminary discussions on the question of a National Health Service with representatives of the medical profession, local authorities and voluntary hospitals. A number of other organisations have communicated with me on the subject. I made it clear, however, that when the White Paper is published I shall be ready to receive from organisations and persons interested any representations which they wish to make in the light of their study of the Paper. It would therefore, I think, be misleading to publish at the present time a list of those organisations who have communicated with me in advance of the Paper other than those whom I especially invited to enter into preliminary discussions.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the bad water conditions in the village of Priors Marston, in the constituency of Rugby, about which the hon. Member for Rugby has made representations; and whether he will take steps, or issue instructions, to relieve the present conditions?

I am informed that during four months in the year part of the village is inadequately supplied. A scheme to improve the supply was put forward by the district council in 1939, and was approved by my Department in principle in December of that year. Negotiations for purchase of the necessary land lasted until August, 1940, by which time necessary restrictions on the use of capital, labour and materials were such that the work could not then proceed. The execution of this scheme is a matter of relative priorities and I shall be happy to allow it to proceed as soon as conditions permit.

asked the Minister of Health what consultations were held with organisations and authorities affected before he decided to make local authorities the medium for distributing the so per cent. Exchequer grant to voluntary district nursing associations towards the extra cost of salaries under the Rushcliffe scheme; and why the Queen's Institute of District Nursing received no reply or acknowledgment to the requests which it made on 30th April and again on 13th May to be granted an opportunity for consultation with the Ministry before any definite decision was reached?

The method of distributing the Exchequer grant towards the increase in the salaries of district nurses which is anticipated as a result of the Rushcliffe Committee's forthcoming report has been discussed with representatives of the Queen's Institute of District Nursing, the County Councils Association, the Association of Municipal Corporations and the London County Council. A deputation from the Queen's Institute was received at their request on 1st April last, and after the view then expressed had been very fully considered and the other organisations named above had been consulted, a letter was sent informing them of the decision reached.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the grave criticism which has been made against the mass radiology scheme; and whether he is satisfied that more reliable and economical results could be achieved by clinical examinations?

I am not aware of any substantial disagreement with the recommendation of the Medical Research Council's Committee on Tuberculosis in wartime, which reported in September last year, in favour of the controlled use of mass radiography as a means of securing detection of tuberculosis at an earlier and more controllable stage of the disease. As regards the last part of the Question, it has never been suggested that Mass radiography can replace clinical examination: its function is to indicate the cases in which clinical examination is desirable.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of dysentery have occurred in the years 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942 and 1943 at the Watford Isolation Hospital; and whether any and, if so, how many cases of typhoid fever have occurred there in the same years?

I am making inquiries of the local authority and will send my hon. Friend such information as I am able to obtain as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether; having regard to the spread of veneral diseases, with their consequent menace to the nation, he will now introduce such legislation as will make the diseases compulsorily notifiable?

No, Sir, I am not at present satisfied that the result of making venereal diseases notifiable would be to help in the control of the disease. I am keeping the matter under consideration but there has not yet been time to judge the effectiveness of the measures already taken.

asked the Minister of Health whether, under his order for requisitioning empty houses for the duration of the war, provision is made for the occupants to have time to find alternative accommodation when hostilities cease?

The circular to local authorities which my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind related solely to the arrangements for requisitioning unoccupied houses for the accommodation of families at present inadequately housed. The point to which he refers is already under consideration in connection with the action to be taken when the time comes for the issue of directions regarding the release of these houses from requisition.

asked the Minister of Health how many empty houses in England and Wales, respectively, have been hitherto requisitioned by local authorities for housing purposes?

At the 30th June last, the latest date for which I have full information, 50,397 properties in England and 1,185 in Wales were held by local authorities under requisition or by agreement with the owners for residential purposes.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give instructions to local authorities to grant members of His Majesty's Forces and others engaged on war work vacant possession of their houses at the conclusion of hostilities if seized by such authorities on the grounds of their being empty?

It is my intention that any such house which is required by the owner for his own occupation shall be released at the earliest possible moment. Clearly, the greatest possible preference must be given to the returning owner-occupier and local authorities will be advised in due course on the steps to be taken to secure this end.

asked the Minister of Health whether, he is aware of land speculation throughout the country calculated to raise the cost of site values and handicap local authorities in the carrying out of housing schemes; and what further. action he intends taking to put a stop to site sales by speculators?

In authorising local authorities to purchase sites needed for a first year's housing programme, I indicated that the price paid should not exceed the 1939 value.

asked the Minister of Health what further steps he is taking to deal with the present housing shortage; whether his programme of urgent rural house-building is to be expanded; how many of these houses will be completed by 1944; and what effective action local authorities have taken under new powers of requisitioning houses recently conferred on them?

On the first part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on 22nd July. I am glad to be able to add that a draft scheme for giving housing work the first call on immobile building labour has been circulated to representatives of the associations of local authorities and will be discussed with them next week. I regret I am not in a position to make any statement on the second part of the Question. As to the third part, it is anticipated that 50 per cent. of the houses will be completed before the end of 1943. In reply to the fourth part of the Question I shall be obtaining preliminary information shortly, and will communicate with my hon. Friend in due course.

asked the Minister of Health what preparatory arrangements have been made by the Government for large-scale post-war construction of new and appropriate housing accommodation?

In March last all housing authorities in England and Wales were asked to prepare programmes showing the number of houses they thought it practicable to build in the first year after the general resumption of housebuilding had been authorised. These programmes were to he based, as a rough guide, on the annual output in pre-war years. I also asked local authorities to submit proposals for the acquisition of any extra land needed for carrying out the programmes, after local consultation with the authorities responsible for planning and agriculture. Up to the 15th September proposals for building 172,141 houses had been received from 846 authorities. 8,690 acres of land are already held by these authorities and proposals to buy a further 8,208 acres have been submitted. The part which private enterprise can play—in my view an important part—is now being considered by a Sub-Committee of my Central Housing Advisory Committee under the chairmanship of Sir Felix Pole.

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to appoint a committee to consider the establishment of rent courts for specified types of houses and flats?

As I have already announced, an Inter-Departmental Committee is being appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself to consider the question of rent control generally, and I have no doubt that the method suggested by my hon. Friend is one to which they will give consideration.

asked the Minister of Health how he proposes to implement his instruction that owners or tenants should be given an opportunity of repairing and letting or reoccupying their houses before they are seized on the grounds of their being empty if the repairs required to be done will cost more than the sum they are at present entitled to expend on such work?

I would ask my hon. and gallant Friend to await publication of the scheme for repairs, based on the recommendations made to me by the conference of representatives of local authorities' associations, which has been drawn up by the Ministers concerned and which is to be discussed with those representatives early next week. In the meantime my hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that full provision will be made for the carrying out of the work by the owners where they are able and willing to do so.

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to take any further action to prevent farm-workers' cottages being taken over by week-enders and other visitors?

I agree with the view which is implicit in the Question that the retention of cottages in agricultural districts for occasional use only can seldom be justified and I should be prepared in suitable cases to consider proposals by local authorities for the use of requisitioning powers under the Defence Regulations to deal with the problem to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Health, with reference to the two rural cottages recently completed at Hildenborough, Kent, how, after allowing for the subsidy of £150 per cottage, the rental of 14s. 6d. a week is arrived at, inclusive of rates and water charges?

After allowing for the special capital subsidy of £150 from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Rural District Council estimate that outgoings on these cottages by way of loan charges, and allowances for repairs and management will exceed the amounts to be received in contributions from the Exchequer, the County Council and the Rural District Council by £21 7s. 4d. per annum. Rates amount to £14 3s. 4d. per annum and water charges to £2 9s. per annum. The rent, inclusive of rates and water charges, is represented by these three sums, which together amount to £37 19s. 8d. per annum or approximately 14s. 6d. per week.

asked the Minister of Health how many old age pensioners receiving supplementary pensions are at present in full-time employment?

I regret that the information asked for is not available. As, however, supplementary pensions are granted on the basis of need it follows that cases of the type referred to in the Question must be wholly exceptional.

asked the Minister of Health why the statement of offences and warnings of punishment, which are printed under the heading "Notice" on the last page of the National Registration identity card, are not accompanied by any reference to the statutory authority under which the punishments threatened may be imposed?

It was thought preferable to utilise the very limited space available on the identity card by including as simple as possible a statement of the principal duties of the holder in regard to the card. This statement is far from complete; and any formal citation of the penal provisions of the National Registration Act would have abridged it still further.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the results of sampling of milk under the National Milk Testing and Advisory Scheme can be made available in all cases to the local authority in whose area the milk is retailed?

Most of the milk tested under the scheme is bulked with other milk before despatch to consuming centres. It would therefore not be practicable to carry out the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will take steps to put a stop to the practice of a certain firm, of which he has been informed, who keep horses for vivisection purposes in the neighbourhood of Runcorn and Frodsham and allow them to graze in fields used also by cows which feed on the grass impregnated with the pus dropped from the sores and incisions of the horses; and is he aware of the complaints made by land girls who work on the same farms?

The horses to which the hon. Member's question refers are used for serum production purposes and not for vivisection. They do not graze in fields occupied by other animals. I have been unable to obtain any evidence of complaints by land girls working on the farms in question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why the Emergency Powers (Defence) Threshing (E. & W.) Order (S.R. & O. No. 1073 of 1943), which was signed on 27th July and came into operation on 1st August, was not available in the Library of the House of Commons until 3rd August, and on what day it was available to the public at the Stationery Office?

Copies of this Order were sent by messenger to the Library of the House of Commons on the morning of 31st July. Copies were on sale to the public at the Stationery Office on the same morning. A warning of the main change in the Order was issued in a Press notice on 8th July with a statement that it would come into effect on 1st August.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of farmers who have been dispossessed on account of inefficient husbandry; the average acreage of their holdings; and what is the largest, smallest and the number under 200 acres?

Up to 30th August, 1943, a period of four years, the tenancies of 2,661 holdings in England and Wales covering an area of 244,477 acres have been terminated by notice under Defence Regulation 62. This is approximately 1 per cent. of the cultivated area in England and Wales. In addition, possession has been taken under Defence Regulation 51 in 6,332 separate cases, comprising a total of 371,040 acres. It is impossible to state the number of cases under either head which involve the dispossession of a farmer in the sense of deprivation of his home or his livelihood, or both. The first pair of figures includes numerous instances where the tenancy of the holding was subsidiary to some other occupation, and covers such cases as off-lying fields or even entire farms held by tenants who occupy and live on other farms, and land occupied by persons engaged in some trade or business which prevents them from farming the land properly. The second pair of figures includes a great many cases where part only of a holding is taken, or where the land was not occupied by a farmer, but was being used for some unimportant non-agricultural purpose or not at all; e.g., undeveloped building sites, golf courses, commons, parklands and extensive areas of derelict land. The number of such cases cannot be stated, nor would it be possible without a prolonged examination of the records to give the other details asked for by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has explored the use of serpentine with superphosphate as is done in New Zealand, seeing that superphosphate is essential on light soils on which basic slag has little, if any effect?

Experiments to determine the advantage; if any, of using a mixture of superphosphate and serpentine in place of ordinary superphosphate under conditions obtaining in this country are being made, but I am not at present able to make any statement with regard to the results of this work.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why the Emergency Powers (Defence) Onions (E. & W.) Order (S.R. & O., No. 1062 of 1943) prohibited the sowing of certain classes of onions more thickly than is usual in the respective districts of war agricultural executive committees; and how those who have not previously planted onions can ascertain what is the usual local practice?

The object of this provision is to prevent the wasteful use of bulb onion seed—supplies of which are limited—for growing green onions. Certain recognised varieties of green onions, the names of which are given in the Order, may be sown thickly for pulling in a green state. Growers who are in any doubt as to the local practice in regard to the sowing of bulb onion seed should apply for advice to their county committees.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he contemplates being able to make an announcement to the House on the Government's post-war agricultural policy?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to-day by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for the Isle of Ely (Mr. de Rothschild), to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why he has decided to stop recruiting for the Women's Land Army; and how far the number recruited since the start of the war has obviated the calling up of the wives and daughters of farmers for work other than on the land or for the landworkers?

As indicated by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour on 29th July, the Government decided that volunteering for the Women's Land Army and the Women's Auxiliary Services should be temporarily suspended in order to meet the urgent needs of the aircraft industry. Farmers' wives and daughters are not called up if engaged full-time on agricultural work or essential domestic work in farmhouses. That position has not been affected by the recruitment of the Women's Land Army.

asked the Minister of Pensions from what date payment will be made when a claim is admitted on review under the new provisions for entitlement laid down in Section 1 of Command Paper 6459?

As I explained in a statement which I made in the House on 23rd July, 1942, where entitlement arises from a modification of the provisions or of the interpretation of the pension instruments the date of such modification is normally taken as the earliest effective date. This is the well-established practice, but in the present case, although the revised instruments have not yet been issued, I am giving effect to the change as from the pay day in the week beginning 16th August, 1943, as with other provisions of the White Paper.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has yet reviewed rejected claims for war pensions in the light of the new proposals respecting the onus of proof and benefit of the doubt and with what result?

There has been a large number of applications for such cases to be reviewed on the basis of the revised standards of entitlement. It will take some time for these to be dealt with, but I am glad to say that, of those reviewed to date, quite a number have been admitted to pension.

asked the Minister of Pensions when the Royal Warrant embodying the recent changes in war pensions will be issued?

A comprehensive Warrant embodying the recent changes in war pensions announced in Command Paper 6459 is in course of active preparation and I hope that it will be ready by the end of next month. The changes in question are being implemented in the cases now being dealt with by my Department, and in order to assist the operation of the new Appeal Tribunals I am requesting His Majesty to issue immediately an interim instrument giving formal effect to the new entitlement provisions set out in paragraph 6 of the Command Paper.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will see that the doctor in County Down, whose claim has been brought to his notice, will receive adequate compensation for the attendance given and drugs supplied to the wife of a serving soldier during her illness?

Under the Emergency Grant Scheme referred to in Command Paper 6318, a grant can be made to meet medical expenses in respect of serious illness within a maximum of £10. A grant of this amount has already been authorised in the case to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the Government is prepared to raise the rate of pension to retired Service officers in view of the fact that since it was settled the cost of living has risen appreciably and that officers have to pay full Income Tax on any pension they may receive?

I am not responsible for the payment of the pensions in question but I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Petersfield (Sir G. Jeffreys) on 4th August, 1942, by the late Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will he will take steps to make it possible for appeals to be made to pension appeal tribunals in respect of ex-Service men who suffer from mental troubles by acquainting their relatives or friends of their rights in this connection?

The type of case to which the hon. Member refers was borne in mind when the Pensions Appeal Tribunals Act was being drafted and Section 9 provides that the statutory notice of the right of appeal can be sent to any person authorised to act on behalf of the claimant. The practice of my Department if the claimant is in a mental institution is to send the notice to the medical superintendent, asking him to see that it is sent to a suitable representative if the claimant is not able to attend to it. If no relatives or friends are known, the medical superintendent can himself act for the claimant. In other cases of mental trouble the notice is sent to the person who has conducted the claim with the Ministry.

asked the Attorney-General when the recently authorised appeal tribunals will start functioning?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander).

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is yet in a position to make a statement in regard to the position of men discharged from His Majesty's Forces owing to disability, who are refused the issue of the white badge signifying that they have been so discharged; why some men, although having seen service overseas, some of them at Dunkirk and in receipt of a disability pension, are refused such badge; and whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction caused by such refusal?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer on the subject given by the Prime Minister yesterday in reply to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Perkins). I might add in regard to the second part of the Question that the badge is withheld from a disability pen sioner only when the disability arises from misconduct. There are very few such cases.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state, as on the last convenient date, the balance at credit of the Unemployment Fund and the Agricultural Fund?

At 18th September, 1943, the balance of the Unemployment Fund, including investments at cost, was about £205,000,000 on the General Account and £7,000,000 on the Agricultural Account.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the feeling against the attitude of his Department that the duties of housewives form no part of the war effort; and whether, in view of the proposed registration of the upper age groups of women, he will issue instructions to the contrary to all concerned?

I am not aware of any such attitude on the part of my Department. Existing instructions provide that full account should be taken of household duties in assessing the amount of other work, if any, which a woman is called upon to do.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, before he inaugurates the proposed registration of women aged 46 to 50 years, he will obtain the considered opinion of impartial specialists in gynaecology and/or neuropsychiatry as to the deleterious effects, or otherwise, on the mental and physical health of women aged 46 to 50 years if they he harassed by this threatened calling-up?

No, Sir. The registrations have already commenced, the 1896 class having been registered on 11th September. As regards subsequent action, my hon. and gallant Friend may be assured that all relevant circumstances will be fully and sympathetically taken into account in each individual case.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can make any statement as to the present regulations about postponement of calling up for individuals running one-man businesses?

There has been no change in the National Service (Postponement Certificates) Regulations, 1939–1941, since December, 1941, when the maximum aggregate period of 12 months was abolished. This period had hitherto been the maximum aggregate period of postponement when applications were granted solely in respect of business responsibilities and interests.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there are over 200 male adults signing on at Leigh-Atherton in Tyldesley Employment Exchange who have been unemployed over six months; and will he have a special inquiry made to find out whether suitable employment can be found for them?

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

asked the Minister of Labour how many male adults are signing on at Employment Exchanges; and how many have been unemployed for over six months?

At 19th July, 1943, the latest date for which statistics have been collected, there were 39,735 men aged 18 and over registered at Employment Exchanges in Great' Britain as wholly unemployed (exclusive of 19,349 men classified by interviewing panels as unsuitable for ordinary industrial employment), 726 registered as temporarily stopped and 971 registered as unemployed casual workers. Particulars are not available as to the numbers of these men who had been unemployed for over six months.

asked the Minister of Labour how many strikes have taken place in Great Britain since 5th August; what has been the loss in output and man-power hours; and how many of them have had union support?

The number of stoppages of work due to industrial disputes begin- ning during the period from 5th August to 18th September, so far as at present reported to my Department, was 230. I am not in possession of statistics showing the aggregate loss of output resulting from these stoppages, or the number of man-hours lost, but on the basis of the information at present available the aggregate number of man-days lost in the stoppages, at the establishments where the disputes occurred, is estimated to have been about 270,000. As regards the last part of the Question, the answer is none so far as I am aware; indeed I have received every assistance from the trade unions in support of constitutional methods.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give full consideration to the increasing volume of registrations and the work it entails and the large numbers of personnel needed to carry out this work; and whether, in view of the favourable development of the war and the improbability of the registrations ever being made use of, he will consider rescinding the arrangements which were under contemplation, with a view to saving both time and labour?

The volume of work entailed was fully considered before these arrangements were made. The war situation is such that there can be no slackening off in the organisation of all our manpower resources.

asked the Minister of Labour how many cases have been brought to his notice of men and women being transferred to jobs at lower salaries than they previously received; how far this procedure causes serious family hardship; whether the persons affected have any right of appeal to an independent tribunal; and how far they are aware of this right?

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. In regard to the rest of the Question my local officers have instructions to avoid, as far as possible, the compulsory transfer of persons to employment which would result in a substantial loss of earnings. Such transfers may, however, be necessary in the national interest, but all persons who are directed under Defence (General) Regulation 58A to employment are ordinarily allowed to appeal o a Local Appeal Board and they are informed in writing of their opportunity to appeal.

asked the Minister of Labour how many conscientious objectors of military age, either in Government or other employment, have been directed to work in the coal mines?

I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind conscientious objectors who are exempt from military service on condition that they undertake work of a civil character under civilian control. Such men must do the type of work ordered by the statutory Tribunals. The actual number ordered to work in coalmines is not available, but it is certainly not considerable. The urgent need for additional labour in the mines has, however, led Tribunals recently to give special attention to the possible use of conscientious objectors and coalmining has been specified in some cases.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will investigate the case of a medical student, details of which have been submitted to him, who has been accepted for admission to study for a diploma of the Scottish Conjoint Board in Edinburgh, but was called up and given the choice of entering as a private in the R.A.M.C. or working in a colliery as a common labourer and was, after a month's trial, found unfit for this work by the colliery doctor and the panel doctor; and as he desires to qualify in medicine and has an opportunity of entering a medical school and, in view of the shortage of doctors which will become worse after the war, whether he can be permitted to do so?

I am having this case investigated, and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Education what towns and cities of Britain rank highest in the proportion of available places for higher education to the total school population; and what that proportion is?

I append a table giving the To urban areas which in 1938 showed the highest proportion of secondary school places per 1,000 of population in the area.

asked the President of the Board of Education what educational authorities, county, county boroughs and boroughs in Wales and Monmouthshire, in their expenditure for the year 1938–39, exceeded the amount expended in Rhondda for elementary and higher education, respectively?

The counties of Glamorgan and Monmouth and the county borough of Cardiff exceeded in 1938–39 the amount expended in Rhondda on elementary education. The counties of Carmarthen, Denbigh, Glamorgan and Monmouth and the county boroughs of Cardiff and Swansea exceeded in 1938–39 the amount expended in Rhondda on higher education.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will supply figures indicating the school population of Rhondda, elementary and higher, upon the last available date?

The average number of pupils on the registers of public elementary schools in Rhondda for the week beginning 5th July, 1943, was 19,241 including 1,705 evacuees. As regards higher education, the latest figures available are for 1st October, 1942, when there were 2,538 pupils in secondary schools and 218 pupils in the junior technical school.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the new district committees for education to be set up will, in appropriate instances, be given the power to levy the education rate for the area for which they are responsible?

This was not contemplated in the original proposals. My hon. Friend will be aware that the Government's final decisions will not be made available until they have had full opportunity of considering public reactions to the White Paper plan.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is now able to say when he hopes to be in a position to introduce legislation to give effect to the proposals in the White Paper on Education?

I will inform the House when the Government is in a position to carry the educational reforms outlined in the White Paper to their logical conclusion. The intervening time is being most valuably spent in considering suggested improvements of the plan.

asked the President of the Board of Education what steps are usually taken by the Board of Education to bring up to date authorities that are regarded as backward and inefficient?

The Board of Education have power under their grant regulations to withhold or make a deduction from the grant payable to local education authorities, which have not performed their statutory duties or complied with certain other requirements. Relations between the Board and authorities are, however, such that it is not necessary in any but exceptional cases to resort to this measure in order to secure efficiency.

asked the President of the Board of Education what advice is prescribed by his Department in respect of the teaching of caligraphy to left-handed children?

The Board have given no advice on this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will arrange for the parents of primary school-children who prefer to provide meals for them at home to receive a cash allowance so that they may receive equal treatment with the parents who take advantage of such facilities for their children?

No, Sir. The Education Acts do not permit of such allowances nor is such an arrangement contemplated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that people in the West Indies are not acquainted through their own Press of vacancies occurring for senior posts in different parts of the Caribbean, other than their own territory, but learn of these appointments through London papers, often after the date of application has passed; and whether he will take steps to remedy this situation?

I have been asked to reply. Vacancies in senior posts in the Colonial Service are very seldom advertised in the Press. They are normally filled by promotion from within the Colonial Service, and full consideration is given to the claims to promotion of all suitably qualified officers. There are, however, a few occasions when it is desired that a senior post should be filled by the selection of a candidate who has had some special experience in this country. In such a case the necessary steps to obtain a suitably qualified candidate are taken here, and there seems to be no reason to modify the procedure hitherto adopted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the renewed demand in Jamaica for the establishment of a cement factory to help in meeting the bad housing conditions there?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the interest in Jamaica in the establishment of a cement factory, and he agrees that in normal circumstances the proposal has much to commend it. As explained in previous answers, it is impracticable at present, owing to competing demands for materials such as steel and for fuel oil. As regards housing, the provision of cement only would be insufficient, since large supplies of lumber and other requisites, such as nails, would be necessary, and these are at present in very short supply.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the difficulty in obtaining surgical boots; and whether their manufacture will be regarded as essential?

I am aware of the importance of providing sufficient surgical boots, and am taking all possible steps to maintain the production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the desirability of a supplementary allowance of clothing coupons for agricultural workers, on account of the severe wear and tear to which their boots and clothing are subjected, by working long hours in the open in all weathers?

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend has decided, in consultation with the British Employers' Confederation arid the Trades Union Congress, to repeat in the present rationing period the issue of, 10 supplementary coupons which was made in 1942–43 to agricultural and industrial workers. The date of issue, and certain minor modifications of the scheme, are now under discussion and a further announcement will be made when these are settled.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the fact that traders who comply with official requests to give some classes of purchasers priority in the supply of certain goods are committing a technical offence against Section 9 of the Goods and Services (Price Control) Act, 1941, he intends to rectify this anomaly?

Yes, Sir. Owing to the increased stringency of supplies since the Goods and Services (Price Control) Act was passed, the restrictions which Section 9 of the Act imposes on the trader's right to reserve stocks for particular customers now require some modi fication. My right hon. Friend proposes, therefore, to introduce legislation to meet this difficulty.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he. has any statement to make regarding the supply of cycle and torch lamp batteries?

A production programme providing for a substantial increase over last year, particularly in cycle lamp batteries, has been agreed with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply, who assures me that, subject to unforeseen circumstances, it will be met in full. But the Services' need for batteries is very great and civilians will help the fighting men, as well as themselves, by using torches only when really necessary. I must, however, warn the public that the supply of No. 8 batteries will be limited. If they use the larger torches, they will find that the batteries have a longer life.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will reconsider his refusal to permit the purchase by members of the public, even on medical prescription, of barrier creams, produced by a private firm whose name has been submitted to him, in view of the demonstration that these protectives are commonly more effective in preventing the incidence of industrial dermatitis than the rubber gloves which the Ministry continue to supply.

There is nothing to prevent any registered manufacturer of toilet preparations, including the firm referred to in the Question, from supplying barrier creams for sale to the public provided that the total value of the toilet preparations which he supplies in any restriction period does not exceed the amount permitted by his licence; nor do members of the public require any permit to purchase any such creams offered for sale. Registered manufacturers may supply these creams without restriction to employers for distribution to their employees in all the industries mentioned in the second schedule to the Toilet Preparations (No. 3) Order, 1943.

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production why Is. an hour is paid for firewatching in a Midland factory, operated on his behalf, which has been identified to him by the hon. Member for the Tamworth Division; what rates are paid in other shadow factories; and whether the standard rate of 3s. a night will be substituted?

The rate paid at this factory is in accordance with the policy that rates of pay under firewatching schemes existing at the date which the Fire Prevention Order became operative, should continue. Comparable rates are paid in other shadow factories. The last part of the question is primarily the concern of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Home Security.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will make arrangements whereby those who are drawing sick benefit from Health Insurance will be supplied with free milk?

The object of supplying milk free of cost or at a reduced price under the National Milk Scheme is to ensure that it is consumed in sufficient quantities by very young children and expectant mothers, for all of whom it is an essential food. My Noble Friend would not feel justified in extending the arrangement to persons who are drawing sick benefit from health insurance.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the accountancy system of the Potato Marketing Board, which broke down last February, is now working efficiently; and whether all claims lodged by the board or the producer in respect to that period have been satisfactorily settled?

The Potato Marketing Scheme was suspended on 20th December, 1939, and claims for potatoes sold to my Department are settled direct with the grower and not through the Board. The Ministry's accountancy system did not break down in February, 1943, and is working satisfactorily at the present time. I am not aware of any payment outstanding in respect of a transaction which took place during that month.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, in view of the differences of opinion on the merits of pasteurisation of milk and of its effect on the milk trade, whether he will, before making the sale of non-pasteurised milk illegal, submit the question for examination to an impartial committee?

The Government's policy, which is set out in Command 6454, was adopted after a full consideration of all the facts, and no modification is contemplated at present.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the failure of many of the public to take advantage of the vitamin scheme for children, he will put large notices in all provision shops and public-houses urging mothers to purchase those vitamins for the sake of the health of their children?

My Noble Friend is eager to take every practicable step to encourage mothers to purchase the foods available under the vitamins scheme. Posters are provided for display in all food offices, maternity and child welfare clinics, welfare centres and food advice centres. Their use will be extended as far as the paper situation permits and in addition other publicity is being arranged.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the small honey harvest and consequent expected loss of bees during the coming winter, he will authorise increased sugar allowance per bee colony for autumn and spring feeding?

It has recently been announced that in view of the difficult seasonal conditions, it has been decided to increase the allowance of sugar to beekeepers in cases of need by 5 lb. per colony. The additional allowance may be taken either as an addition to the winter allowance of 10 lb. per colony or as an addition to the spring allowance of 5 lb. per colony, and is available on application to the Food Office concerned at any time up to 31st May, 1944.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food how far his Department regard this as a good vegetable year; whether he is aware of the resentment entertained by urban residents at the small quantities and high prices of vegetables; and whether he will take steps to remedy these matters in 1944?

I am aware of dissatisfaction among the urban population at the present general shortage of vegetables and at the consequent high prices of some of them. The principal green vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli, have been subject to statutory price control since January, but the partial failure of the summer cabbage crop, due to drought and pest damage, has produced conditions of general shortage in which such vegetables as peas and beans have commanded high prices. The question of introducing maximum prices for these vegetables has been carefully examined and my Noble Friend is satisfied that the disadvantages would outweigh the possible advantages. Growers have been advised by the Ministry of Agriculture, after consultation with my Department, as to the appropriate production of vegetables to be aimed at in each county next season; but vegetable yields are greatly influenced by the weather and no guarantee can be given that the supply next year will be sufficient to meet demands.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, as soon as opportunities permit, he will ensure the installation of sufficient refrigerating plant at Billingsgate to prevent the waste of food, quantities of which is still condemned?

I am informed that generally speaking fish condemned at Billingsgate in recent months has arrived at that market in a condition which was unsuitable for placing in cold stare and that the provision of additional facilities such as my hon. and gallant Friend suggests would not have the result either of reducing the quantity condemned or of increasing the supplies fit for human consumption to any considerable extent.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the shortage of containers to carry apples to the markets may result in a heavy wastage of fruit; and if his department can do anything to meet this position?

I am not aware of any general shortage of containers such as would prevent the marketing of apples. If the hon. Member is aware of a particular case of difficulty, I should be glad to have particulars of it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether 20 per cent. of Excess Profits Tax payable by farmers is to be returned to them in the form of post-war credit?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the provisions of Section 37 of the Finance Act, 1942, under which any person paying Excess Profits Tax at the 100 per cent. rate will be entitled to a postwar credit, subject to the conditions that are in due course to be laid down by Parliament being satisfied.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that his predesessors stated, on 16th October, 1941, that payments made to fire-watchers in respect of necessary expenses would not be subject to Income Tax and that the Government has recently appealed to employers not to reduce these payments when in excess of the Government subsistence allowance, he will instruct Income Tax officials not to subject such payments to tax wherever it can be shown they are necessary, having regard to the special circumstances of the fire-watchers concerned?

I understand that the practice of the Inland Revenue Department is in accordance with the reply given by my predecessor on the 16th October, 1941.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what are the conditions which affect the transfer of currency to Northern Ireland and Eire; whether there are any limits to the amounts transferred by draft or carried on the person; and whether Eire imposes any restriction on the export of British currency from Eire to neutral countries?

Since both Northern Ireland and Eire are within the sterling area, funds may be remitted through the banking channel, and it had been decided that no useful purpose would be served by restricting the amounts which can be carried on the person by travellers to destinations in Northern Ireland or Eire. As regards the last part of the Question, an exchange control essentially similar to our own has been imposed, and is exercised, by the Government of Eire.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what steps are being taken by the Treasury to prevent investments in War Bonds being quoted at a discount; and whether he realises that by the absence of official action future investments in Government securities may be jeopardised?

The object of the financial policy of the Government has been, and will continue to be, to secure conditions which will enable interest rates to be maintained at their present level, and events have proved the success of that policy. Minor fluctuations in the market values of Government securities cannot be avoided, but hitherto they cannot be said to have prejudiced the public response to our borrowing programme, and I do not think they are likely to do so in the future.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will introduce legislation to secure that a civilian killed by aircraft should have the same compensation rights as if knocked down by a service lorry?

No, Sir. Civilians injured by Service aircraft in wartime are eligible for compensation under the Personal Injuries Scheme in common with those injured by Allied or enemy aircraft or suffering other forms of "war injury" and the Government are not aware of any general desire to abandon this principle. Civilians injured by Service road vehicles, not in the course of actual operations against the enemy, may be in a position to recover damages for negligence in a particular case, but are not of course eligible for compensation under the Scheme.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to hardship caused to women, without other means, through Income Tax being lawfully deducted by their husbands from weekly payments made under separation orders; and whether he will expedite recovery by claimants of tax repayable by the Inland Revenue?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 12th May to the hon. Member for West Nottingham (Mr. Hayday) on this subject, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider allowing a rebate of Income Tax for a reasonable expense incurred by men who have been directed to work which necessitates their living away from their homes and who receive no additional subsistence allowance in consequence?

The Income Tax law does not enable any deduction to be made in respect of the subsistence expenses to which my hon. Friend refers. I may point out, however, that subsistence allowances which are paid when workers are directed by the Ministry of Labour to work at a distance from their home are not treated as taxable income.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how it comes about that, having received a number of old destroyers from the American Government in return for leasing bases for 99 years within the British Empire to that country, His Majesty's Government is now called upon to pay the sum of £1,400,000 in connection with the same transaction; and whether this is the end of His Majesty's Government's liabilities on this score?

Under the Agreement of 27th March, 1941, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy, the compensation due to owners of property expropriated in connection with the establishment of the bases was a liability of the United States; nor has His Majesty's Government any further liability under that agreement. However, since the date of the agreement, the system of Mutual Aid has come into, being, and in the spirit of those arrangements His Majesty's Government offered of their own free will to assume this outstanding liability under reciprocal aid. Their offer was accepted in the same spirit by the United States Government. His Majesty's Government will be prepared to extend this offer to any additional property which the United States Government may acquire under Article 27 of the Agreement.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is now prepared in the light of the present increase in the cost of living to make an adjustment in the, pensions of retired pensioners from the various State services?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which was given to him on 30th March last. There has been no appreciable change in the cost of living figure since that date.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what progress has been made in the improved arrangements and conditions for old age pensioners and elderly folk generally in providing them with reasonable and adequate pensions?

This matter is under examination in connection with the Beveridge Report.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what steps he has taken to inform the Government of the United States that the revised White Plan of international monetary stabilisation, with its increased emphasis on the use of gold, makes international co-operation for the stability of exchange rates more difficult for Great Britain?

Informal discussions are now proceeding in Washington between representatives of the British Treasury and members of the United States Treasury on various plans for post-war international co-operation in the monetary field and all relevant matters will be raised in these discussions.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether it is permissible for employers, if they so desire, to pay to the Inland Revenue quarterly in advance the Income Tax of their employees?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was approximately the amount of lend-lease from the United States of America to Great Britain to the end of June; and whether he will, in future, give the figures quarterly to this House?

No record is kept of the value of lend-lease aid received from the United States of America.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what steps he proposes to take in view of the fact that many companies continue to ignore the frequently expressed wish that no dividend should be paid in war-time higher than the pre-war standard?

The broad object of the Limitation of Dividends Bill introduced in 1940 was to prevent an increase in the amount of purchasing power in the hands of shareholders. The Bill proposed to achieve this object in the normal case by limiting the annual payment which any public company could distribute by way of gross dividends to the maximum amount distributed for any year ended between 30th June, 1936, and 30th June, 1939, adjusted for any changes in capital, or to 4 per cent. on its capital, whichever was the greater. There was provision for the consideration of an increase in the maximum in special circumstances. The Bill was withdrawn when its object was expected to be substantially attained by the increase of Excess Profits Tax to 100 per cent. But to the limited extent that the Excess Profits Tax did not have that effect, the Chancellor then expressed the hope, which he subsequently repeated, that the companies concerned would act in accord with the general principles underlying the Bill. On the whole, I think that they have adopted that policy and that any exceptions have not been sufficiently numerous or important to justify the revival of the previous proposals for legislation on the subject.

asked the Prime Minister what steps are being taken in the Fighting Services for the immediate treatment of wounds bacterially infected or contaminated by mustard gas or similar irritant gases through enemy action; if he will name the personnel of any expert body which has been consulted as to the most effective measures to be taken; what instructions have been issued to the medical staff who will be first called upon to deal with such cases; and whether attention has been directed to the Bunyan-Stannard envelope method of treatment applied with success in cases, details of which have been submitted to him, the extended use of which would largely avert the need to administer penicillin, now in short supply?

I am informed that constant contact is maintained with up-to-date medical practice and research and the instructions on the immediate treatment of wounds are amended as necessary. These instructions are contained in various official manuals issued to medical officers and are based on up-to-date medical practice and research. Various consultants, both service and civil, keep the Service Departments informed on such questions as the most effective measures to be taken. The War Wounds Committee appointed by the Medical Research Council and the Medical Sub-Committee of the Chemical Board are the expert bodies consulted, and the three Services are fully represented on these committees. Attention was directed some time ago to the Bunyan-Stannard envelope method of treatment and arrangements were then made for the supply of envelopes to medical officers. This method is, of course, only one of several lines of treatment recommended.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether it is intended to issue another warning to the public on the need for economy in the use of coal?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that the miners at a colliery in Nottinghamshire are now accepting savings certificates in lieu of that part of their wages formerly paid in coal; in view of this, can he now state the result of his deliberations with the miners' representatives and mine-owners on the suggestion recently submitted to him by the hon. Member for Deritend which would result in the saving of a considerable amount of coal?

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." As regards the second part, proposals have been prepared by my Department for a scheme on the general lines suggested by my hon. Friend and I understand that these proposals will be considered by a joint meeting of both sides of the industry at a very early date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the recent Report of the Forestry Commissioners and the importance of timber developments on the industrial chemical side, whether copies of the Report, and the Debate thereon in this House, have been circulated to all Colonial Governments; whether plans are being made by them to accelerate commercial timber planting in the post-war period on an organised and progressive basis; and whether he has considered the setting up of a Forestry Advisory Committee to provide them with advice and assistance to stimulate more active timber growing developments throughout the Colonial Empire?

The Report of the Forestry Commissioners has not been circulated to Colonial Governments as my right hon. Friend is advised that its recommendations are not generally applicable to Colonial conditions. Possible developments in the Colonies on the industrial chemical side are being kept in mind. The regeneration and improvement of the growing stock is one of the prime objects of forest policy in the Colonies. Planting is not necessarily the most suitable method of regeneration of tropical forests, but in sub-tropical areas it is being actively and successfully pursued. The scope of the Colonial Advisory Council of Agriculture and Animal Health has been widened to include forestry, and a forestry committee of the Council has been formed consisting of experienced foresters and other technically qualified persons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the aggregate total of loans and grants made by the Colonial Development Fund from 1929 to date to each of the East African Colonies, including Zanzibar; how much of the principal of all such loans has so far been repaid; and what interest rates are at present being charged for loans made by this fund to the various Colonies?

The aggregate totals of loans and grants made to the East African territories concerned to date from the Colonial Development Fund set up by the Colonial Development Act, 1929, are as follow:

		Loans	Grants
	…	£	£
Kenya	…	153,165	192,498
Uganda	…	Nil	24,651
Tanganyika Territory	…	78.554	537,860
Zanzibar	…	18,271	9,163
Totals	…	£249,990	£764,172

The loans to Tanganyika and Zanzibar have been wholly repaid. Repayments to date by Kenya amount to £20,923.With one small exception, the outstanding loans are bearing interest at the rate of 3½ per cent. per annum, which was the rate fixed at the time the schemes were approved. The one exception is that of a loan of £1,687 on which interest has been fixed at 4 per cent. per annum. The actual payment of interest in this case together with the question of repayment of capital has, however, been deferred until the end of the war.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Prince of Wales College, Achimota, Gold Coast, has been recognised since October, 1935, as an institution submitting candidates for external degrees of London University and represents the only existing attempt to give the African native a university education of any kind; and, as the college has fulfilled this function with success, will he add a representative of its governing body or of its educational staff to the commission appointed to inquire into higher education in British West Africa?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the standing of the Prince of Wales College, Achimota. The Commission on Higher Education in West Africa includes amongst its members Mr. K. A. Korsah who is a member of the Achimota council, the governing body of the college.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning when he contemplates being able to announce the Government's decisions on the Scott and Uthwatt Reports?

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he will now make a pronouncement confirming the pledges given during the past few years to the effect that local authorities and other public bodies should be enabled to buy land at approximately pre-war prices, with a view to ensuring reconstruction on a wide scale and eliminating undesirable speculative transactions?

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether his attention has been drawn to pronouncements by the Lord Mayor of Plymouth as to the difficulty of making plans for the rebuilding of bomb damaged towns without a decision by the Government on the recommendations of the committees which have reported; and whether such decisions will soon be made?

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave on Tuesday last to the hon. Member for East Birkenhead (Mr. Graham White) of which I am sending them copies.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the proportion of hospital accommodation to the total population for Scotland, giving, separately, the special provision for tubercular cases?

According to the information at my disposal the number of staffed beds in general hospitals represents about 7.8 beds per 1,000 of population. This figure excludes beds in sanatoria, mental and isolation hospitals and private institutions. Beds specifically reserved for tubercular cases number about 1.2 per 1,000 of population.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to colour bar discrimination against British colonial subjects engaged on National Service in this country; and whether he will take steps to prevent the proprietors and managers of hotels, especially in London, from making any such discrimination in future?

asked the Home Secretary how far licensed hotels are permitted under their licence to exclude coloured people; and what steps, in this connection, he proposes to fake to safeguard the liberties and privileges of British subjects of all races from indignities while resident in Britain?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that on 31st July the manager of a hotel in Russell Square, London, requested Mr. Learie Constantine, a British West Indian subject at present employed as a welfare officer in this country, to leave the hotel, together with six other British West Indians, on the ground that they were coloured subjects; that Mr. Constantine had a signed contract with the hotel for four days' accommodation; and will he take the necessary steps to prevent a repetition of such insults to British subjects?

As it is reported that this case may be the subject of legal proceedings, it would not be right for me to express any opinion on the legal aspect of any action taken by the management of the hotel in question, but I am advised that hotels which provide accommodation for travellers are under a common law obligation not to exercise arbitrary discrimination and not to refuse a traveller, for whom accommodation is available, except on some reasonable ground, such as that he is not in a fit state to be received. Apart, however, from any question of law the House will, I am sure, agree with me that there is a responsibility on all members of the community, including not only those who manage hotels and places of public resort but also their clients and guests, to avoid any discrimination against a fellow British subject on grounds of race or colour. If in this case there has been failure to accord to a British subject in this country the full equality of status and treatment to which he is entitled, I would assure him that any such failure is deeply deplored and strongly condemned by responsible public opinion throughout the United Kingdom.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will take steps to prevent a repetition of the incident in which Mr. Leary Constantine was obliged to leave a London hotel on account of colour prejudice?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I have given to-day to other Questions on this subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the changed situation in Europe and other relevant considerations, he is now prepared to consider the release from detention of the hon. and gallant Member for Midlothian and Peebles (Capt. Ramsay)?

As regards every person who is detained under Defence Regulation 18B, it is my duty to consider from time to time whether detention is still necessary in the interests of national security, and for this purpose to take account of all relevant considerations, including considerations which arise from change in the international situation. My hon. Friend can be assured that there has been and will be no failure to apply this procedure to the case of the hon. and gallant Member for Midlothian and Peebles.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered a letter from some internees at Camp P., Isle of Man, with regard to them registering for work; and what action he proposes taking in this connection?

Yes, Sir, and I have sent the hon. Member a copy of my reply to the letter in question.

asked the Home Secretary in respect of the 73 diamond workers recently fined at Bow Street for taking part in an illegal strike, what was the average wage of the persons concerned; how many were aliens; how many were enemy aliens; and whether it is intended to deport any of them after the war?

The number of workers recently convicted at Bow Street was 85, of whom 81 were fined and four discharged under the Probation of Offenders Act. Sixty-six were aliens, of whom four were of enemy and the remainder of allied nationality. These alien diamond workers are all or practically all war refugees who came here from the Low Countries after the German invasion of May, 1940, and they have since been carrying on their employment in London. They were admitted subject to conditions under which they can be required, at the proper time, to leave this country. No question of deportation arises in present circumstances. Information which is available as regards 72 of the persons convicted shows that their average earnings were about £15 a week.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the transference to a public hospital of pregnant women, who are undergoing sentence in prison for the period of their confinement, in order that the children may not be born with the stigma of prison birth attaching to them?

This suggestion would involve legislation as there is at present no authority for the temporary release of a prisoner for her confinement except in cases in which it is not practicable to give proper care and treatment in prison. The question will be borne in mind when it is possible to prepare legislation on prison matters.

asked the Home Secretary why, in view of the fact that the position of a Member of Parliament is one of national importance, he refuses to grant exit permits to them to leave England when they consider that their duty as such warrants it?

As I have explained to my hon. Friend in the correspondence which has recently passed between us, the view of His Majesty's Government is that the war-time restrictions on travel to neutral countries should apply to Members of Parliament no less than to other persons. I, therefore, felt obliged to refuse his application for a permit to visit Eire primarily for a change of air and environment, but I intimated that I should be very glad to reconsider the matter, if he wished to base his application on some ground of public advantage.

asked the Home Secretary if he will give a summary of the reasons for permits that have been granted to people to go to Eire since the 1st July 1943; and the number granted to applicants under such headings?

For the 10 weeks to 4th September the number of permits granted was 35,503. The reasons can conveniently be summarised under three heads, namely, visiting or returning to homes in Eire, or taking up residence there; compassionate grounds, such as the serious illness or death of a near relative; and official or other business of national importance. The figures under these three heads are 33,465, 1,321 and 717 respectively. The first group comprises mainly Irish workers engaged for employment in this country on the understanding that they will be allowed to pay occasional visits to their homes. Many of these travel with leave certificates, in lieu of exit permits, under special arrangements applying to firms who employ a substantial number of such workers. Returns as to the numbers who travelled with leave certificates during the period in question are not at present available.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give instructions to passport officials that parents in Britain who have a child or children serving in His Majesty's Forces in Northern Ireland will receive permits to enable them to visit Ulster?

No, Sir. As members of His Majesty's Forces stationed in Northern Ireland are able to spend their leave in Great Britain the rule is to grant permits only in exceptional cases where leave cannot be spent here.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the amendment of directions made under Defence Regulation 16A which provide for the taking up of residence in areas in certain exceptional cases, so that there may be also included cases where exceptional personal hardship is involved?

The directions to which my hon. Friend refers prohibit the taking up of residence in certain coastal areas. I am afraid that some degree of hardship in individual cases is inevitable if a restriction of this kind is to be enforced, and it would be impracticable and unfair to attempt to discriminate between individual cases on the basis of the degree of hardship involved. The directions already provide for exceptions for particular types of case, including those of persons taking up residence for the purpose of business or employment, and those of persons qualified by previous residence or ownership of property in the areas before 1941, and I regret that I do not see my way to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the action of the Nottingham magistrates in sentencing Sidney Page, aged 18, a surface worker, employed at Newstead colliery, to a month's imprisonment for refusing to work underground, and to the fact that this sentence has created indignation amongst his fellow workers; and whether, in view of the fact that this lad suffers from a form of neurosis or claustrophobia which renders him unsuitable for underground work, he will review this sentence?

Sidney Page was convicted and sentenced on 8th September, 1943, to one month's imprisonment for failing to comply with a direction given by a National Service Officer contrary to Regulation 58A of the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939. On 15th September, Page signed an unqualified undertaking to comply with the direction in question. In these circumstances it appeared that the sentence of the Court had achieved it's purpose and I decided to recommend the remission of the remainder of his sentence and to authorise his release. At no time did I receive any representations nor, I understand, was there any information given to the Court that heard the case, to suggest that Page was medically unfit for underground work.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the action of the Nottingham magistrates in imposing fines amounting to L35 on Sidney Gabriel Beal, a miner working at Newstead Colliery, for failing to attend Home Guard parades; and whether, in view of the. fact that this miner has been working for over 60 hours a week in the pit and has to get up at 4.30 o'clock every morning in order to get to his work, he will review this sentence?

I understand that Mr. Beal has lodged notice of appeal to Quarter Sessions and it would not be proper for me to make any comment on a case that is still sub judice.