asked the Minister of Labour what powers he has to direct conscientious objectors from continuing in boys' clubs, in which they have been allowed by tribunals to continue as a condition of exemption from military service, into other occupations in which they have less opportunities of influencing boys' minds against military service?

Whatever may be the legal limits of my right hon. Friend's powers of direction he would not regard it as proper to use them so as to conflict with the order made by the statutory tribunal in the particular case.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he considers the regulations restricting the employment of persons, except through employment exchanges, are sufficiently well known amongst employers, particularly the responsibility of notifying vacancies; and what steps he contemplates taking against those deliberately infringing these regulations?

These regulations have been given full publicity and I have no reason to suppose that they are not sufficiently well known; infringements will be the subject of prosecution in all appropriate cases.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in the monthly review of trade disputes published in the "Ministry of Labour Gazette," he will in future attach to each dispute an indication whether it was officially supported by the appropriate union or not?

I am glad to say that almost without exception trade unions have not given official support to stoppages of work and my right hon. Friend sees no useful purpose to be served in making such an addition to the published information.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works when it is anticipated that the building of the promised hostel for war workers at Rugby will be commenced; and when it will be completed?

The site for this building was only approved by the local planning and other authorities on Tuesday of this week. Tenders are being invited and the contract should be placed in about a fortnight. At this time of the year a building of this kind wilt take at least seven months to complete.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the sentence of six months' imprisonment passed at Bristol on 14th October on Ruby Ayres, aged 18, factory worker, for being, persistently late at work; and whether he will call for the facts of this case with a view to remitting this sentence?

I am making inquiries and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are contemplated by the Government to improve the conditions of employment and status of domestic workers and their inclusion in schemes for unemployment benefit; and whether the establishment of Ministry of Labour domestic training centres is contemplated?

As regards unemployment benefit I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister without Portfolio on 21st September regarding social insurance and allied services generally. As regards the remainder of the Question, I hope to be in a position to make a statement shortly.

asked the Minister without Portfolio whether, in connection with the Government's plans for demobilisation at the cessation of hostilities, he will give an assurance that full consideration will be given to the future prospects of men in the Services who had just commenced training for professional careers which they had to abandon in order to serve their country and who are anxious to know the Government's intentions as regards their future?

Yes, Sir. In particular I would refer my hon. Friend to the announcement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service on 25th March last in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Pontypridd (Mr. Pearson).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether plans are being considered in British Guiana for the erection of aluminium refineries with a view to avoiding the shipment of bauxite to Canada?

I am not aware that plans such as those referred to by my hon. Friend are being considered. While the erection of a refinery in British Guiana would no doubt save shipping, it would involve a duplication of plant which could hardly be justified in present circumstances. The Aluminium Company of Canada, the parent company of the Demerara Bauxite Company which mines bauxite in British Guiana, has greatly extended its refineries in Canada in order to cope with increased production of bauxite in British Guiana for war purposes. The Aluminium Company's refineries in Canada are situated in the hydro-electric area of the St. Lawrence in Quebec where there is abundant and cheap power available. Some of the rivers in British Guiana could no doubt be harnessed for hydroelectric purposes but this would take some time, especially in the undeveloped hinterland of the Colony. The question of hydro-electric schemes in British Guiana will no doubt be further considered after the war.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Northern Rhodesian Government proposes to secure the Native Trust Land Ordinance; and what steps are being taken to conclude the work of the Land Commission?

The preparation of the Order in Council required to give legal sanction to the new land policy is proceeding concurrently with the work of the Land Commissions. This is being carried out as rapidly as circumstances permit and a third Commission has just been appointed to deal with the Northern Province. As I stated in my reply to the hon. Member for the English Universities (Mr. Harvey) on 1st June, a copy of which is being sent to the hon. Member, re-settlement of Africans is proceeding in areas which it is already known are to become native trust land.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider the selection and appointment in the early post-war period of an experienced man or woman organiser with experience in India for the further development of cottage and rural industries in the African Colonies?

I am obliged to my hon. and gallant Friend for his suggestion, and I shall see that it is borne in mind when the time comes to consider the making of such appointments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made in Kenya to counteract the serious deterioration of soil in the African areas of occupation?

Considerable progress has been made in Kenya with the conservation of the soil in both African and European areas in spite of difficulties of staff and equipment due to the war. The primary aim is to achieve conservation of the soil and its fertility by means of a sound system of mixed farming in all areas suitable to this type of agriculture. A special soil conservation branch of the Department of Agriculture was established in 1938 to perform advisory and experimental work and to supervise and carry out conservation schemes in native and European areas. In 1940 the Land and Water Preservation Ordinance and Rules were promulgated which gave wide powers for the protection of the resources of the country. New and more comprehensive rules under the Ordinance were promulgated this year. A Land and Water Conservation Committee was appointed in 1941, and in the same year the Control of Grass Fires Ordinance was enacted with the object of lessening the effects of grass burning on soil erosion.As an example of the progress which has been achieved, it may be said that in the Central Province by the end of 1940 narrow-based terraces had been constructed on 70,000 acres and live washtops on over 17,000 acres. During 1942 in the same province narrow-based terraces were made over 27,000 acres, 935 miles of terraces being constructed in Kiambu, formerly the most backward district. Other measures were also carried out on a large scale. The Governor of Kenya has recently informed me that he is submitting proposals for the extension of work on soil conservation and is applying for a grant under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act for the purpose. The proposals apparently contemplate operations on a much extended scale and will involve considerable additional staff and expenditure.

asked the Minister of Health when the task of codification and simplification of regulations by the Assistance Board will be completed and the result made known to this House?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 21st October to my hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker).

asked the Minister of Health why this year old age pensioners can only get their extra allowance of coal in November instead of October as in past years; and whether, in view of the hardship entailed, they can now receive it without delay?

Winter additions to supplementary pensions have always been payable from the week beginning with the first Monday in November. There has been no change of practice this year, and the additions will be made in appropriate cases during the week beginning 1st November.

asked the Minister of Health how many widows have been taken over by the Assistance Board under the provisions of the Pensions and Determination of Needs Act, 1943; how many have received increased allowances and to what extent?

Up to 24th September, 1943, the latest date for which information is available, supplementary pensions had been granted to 22,192 widows under 60 years of age in Great Britain, of whom 9,451 had been receiving outdoor relief from the Public Assistance Authorities. I regret that information is not available as to the extent of increased allowances in the latter cases.

asked the Minister of Health how many former recipients of supplementary pensions have received benefit by the passing of the Pensions and Determination of Needs Act, 1943; and to what extent?

Increases on account of the new treatment of capital and superannuation payments or both were given in 154,044 cases in Great Britain. In 87,831 cases the increases were 2s. or less, in 22,021 2s. 6d. and in 44,192 3s. or more.

asked the Minister of Health whether he possesses or will obtain an estimate from the leading housing societies of the extent to which the public will, in post-war days, be ready to embark on house construction and purchase under their auspices?

I understand that evidence on this point from the association concerned has already been taken by the sub-committee of my Central Housing Advisory Committee under the chairmanship of Sir Felix Pole which is considering the part which can be played by private enterprise after the war, and that further evidence has been promised.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can make arrangements to secure that nurses, who leave a superannuable post to take up Civil Defence nursing at a lower salary and thereby lose their superannuation rights, shall have this made clear to them before being appointed?

A nurse employed by a local authority is already carrying on an essential form of national service and should as far as possible remain in her present occupation. If she proposes to transfer to Civil Defence nursing, she would be well advised to consult her senior officer about her superannuation position.

asked the Minister of Health why tuberculous patients, who are considered hopeless cases and those suffering from non-pulmonary tuberculosis, are excluded from the benefit of the new financial allowances paid by local authorities?

The special arrangements to which my hon. Friend refers were authorised to enable persons to give up work temporarily for treatment which is in the interest of the public health no less than their own. The association with the war effort which has been the justification in such cases for making repayment from Exchequer funds under emergency powers is not applicable to the cases to which my hon. Friend refers, but the fact that certain limitations must on this ground apply to such repayment from the Exchequer does not affect the power of local authorities to grant assistance within the scope of their statutory powers.

asked the Minister of Health the approximate number of photographic machines necessary to cover the areas of England, Wales and Scotland, in order to make mass photography for tuberculosis available to the whole population?

No useful estimate can be made until experience has been gained of the working of mass radiography among a civilian population.

asked the Home Secretary whether, having regard to the severe condemnation uttered by High Court judges upon the manner in which police evidence was submitted in a recent Hereford case, and since this procedure is not at all singular, he will consider issuing a general instruction to the police of the country?

The inquiry which I announced last week will include the manner in which the case was conducted by the police, and I shall be in a better position to consider the point raised by my hon. Friend's Question when the inquiry has been completed.

Month					Nationality.			Totals.
					Allied.	Non-Allied.	Stateless.
January	…	…	…	…	1,701	418	38	2,157
February	…	…	…	…	1,552	231	26	1,809
March	…	…	…	…	2,720	309	59	3,088
April	…	…	…	…	1,928	380	30	2,338
May	…	…	…	…	1,858	553	25	2,436
June	…	…	…	…	2,661	449	19	3,129
July	…	…	…	…	2,181	364	21	2,566
August	…	…	…	…	2,453	243	22	2,718
September	…	…	…	…	2,818	386	20	3,224
Totals	…	…	…	…	19,872	3,333	260	23,465

The total of 23,465 includes 1,128 residents returning, 1,017 persons of diplomatic status, 767 business visitors, 231 other visitors, 409 persons in transit to other destinations and 5,145 seamen. The remainder comprised 13,657 men, of whom a large number came to join one of the Allied Forces, 853 women and 158 children. The statistics at present available do not distinguish those who were in possession of British visas nor those directly or indirectly escaping from Nazi persecution. The non-Allied total of 3,333 includes 1,757 aliens landing in the United Kingdom on release from internment in the Isle of Man.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the French Visiting Forces (United Kingdom) Order, 1943 (S.R. & O., No. 1379, of 1943) does not contain any explanatory memorandum?

asked the Home Secretary how many aliens, men, women and children, respectively, have been received into this country in each month of 1943, or to the latest convenient date; how many of these were admitted under United Kingdom visas or arrived unexpectedly; how many were of allied nationality; and how many were of other than allied nationality, or stateless, escaping from Nazi persecution?

The number of aliens to whom leave to land in the United Kingdom has been granted in each of the first nine months of 1943 are as follow:

Under the Allied Forces Act, 1940, provision had been made by the various Orders in Council set out in Article 1 of this Order for regulating the relations between the civil authorities of the United Kingdom and thee forces of our Allies in the United Kingdom, while separate provision for the same purpose was made in relation to French forces in the United Kingdom by the Orders in Council revoked by Article 2 of the Order. In consequence of the constitution and recognition of the French Committee of National Liberation it became appropriate to deal with the French forces in the United Kingdom upon the same footing as the forces of our other Allies, and the Order was made for this purpose. It is clear on the face of the Order that it does no more than effect formal alterations in the Orders relating to allied and associated forces in the United Kingdom and that these changes were required in consequence of the new status of the French Committee of National Liberation; in these circumstances the addition of an explanatory memorandum was considered unnecessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, when the British took over the naval bases in the Azores, there were any British subjects interned; and, if so, what has happened to them?

The hon. Member is presumably referring to the facilities granted to His Majesty's Government by the Portuguese Government in accordance with the agreement recently announced. As no British subjects have been interned in the Azores, the last part of the Question does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, without specifying names, he will state the rank, age, length of service and pension of persons retired under the Foreign Service Act?

No persons have yet been retired under the Foreign Service Act. The cases of certain persons which may be brought forward for consideration in connection with the Act are now under examination.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the case of a schoolgirl having her mouth plastered by a Luton teacher because she was clever in answering questions; and what he intends doing about the matter?

This matter has already been handled by the local education authority, and has come before the local magistrates, who dismissed the case, the teacher being required to pay costs. I do not think any further action is called for.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance now that plans for the retention of men in the Services, after the conclusion of hostilities, will not be introduced by means of an Order in Council or under the Defence of the Realm Act, in place of the normal procedure of legislation through the introduction of a Bill, which renders it possible for these matters to be debated by the House of Commons?

On the conclusion of hostilities no enactment will be immediately necessary to ensure the continuance in service of members of the Armed Forces then serving. There is a general obligation under existing Statutes to continue in service for the period of the present emergency and that period will not end until its termination is declared by an Order in Council.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why exchange control has been relaxed to enable the release of certain blocked sterling accounts owned by non-residents; whether the need for a foreign exchange reserve was taken into account; and how much sterling is involved by this relaxation of the control orders?

The restrictions which have recently been modified were imposed in 1940 and had the effect of deferring the transfer to non-residents of certain payments legally due to them. All relevant factors were taken into account including cases of hardship involved. The accrued liability is approximately £6,000,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether employers who make payments to employees engaged on firewatching duties, in excess of standard subsistence allowances, are required to make a return of such payments so as to ensure that those employees are assessed to Income Tax on such excess?

Payments such as those to which my hon. Friend refers are required to be included in the returns made by employers in the same way as other payments to employees in respect of wages or expenses.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions were issued to inspectors of taxes in respect of the assessment to Income Tax of payments made to fire guards in excess of the approved subsistence allowances?

The practice of the Inland Revenue Department as regards this matter is in accordance with the then Financial Secretary's reply of 16th October, 1941, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether firms making payments in respect of firewatching in excess of the approved subsistence allowance are required to make a return of such payments so that the recipients are assessed to Income Tax?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. rind gallant Friend the Member for East Leicester (Major Lyons) to-day.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the report on native policy in Northern and Southern Rhodesia will be published?

I assume that this Question refers to the note prepared by Lord Hailey on the bearing of native policy on the proposed amalgamation of the Rhodesias and Nyasaland. In this connection, I would invite the hon. Member's attention to the reply made by the Lord President of the Council, then Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, to the hon. Member for Rhondda (Mr. Mainwaring) on this subject on 5th March, 1942, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many acres of straw crops were ruined by rain or flood in Wales during the past season?

It is well known that weather conditions have up to now prevented the harvesting of a certain amount of corn in Wales this season, but no figure of the acreage spoiled is yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether arrangements are being made to repatriate evacuees from Gibraltar; and whether he has any statement to make?

I would invite reference to the reply given by my hon. Friend on 14th October to a similar Question by the hon. Member for South-East St. Pancras (Sir A. Beit), to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether his attention has been called to a prize given by the Coalville, Leicestershire, whist drive, of four tons of coal from a local colliery company; whether the coal company are allowed to give a prize of that kind; and what action he intends taking about the matter.

I am making inquiries and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has considered a letter from the Bedwellty Urban Council regarding the need for retaining new industries in this district and the necessity for developing the grid system so as to provide an ample supply of cheap electricity at the lowest and a uniform price, not only to keep the present but to attract new industries; and whether anything is being done on these lines?

At present, the only developments possible in electricity supply are those which are imperatively required for the furtherance of the war effort. The resolution of the Bedwellty Urban District Council has been noted in connection with the post-war development of the Electricity Supply Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the date from which issue of Colonial allowance for officers and other ranks serving in Malta was first paid?

Officers, and married warrant officers and staff-sergeants in Malta have drawn Colonial allowance since 1931. The rates were fixed on a carefully prepared budget and it was considered that ranks below staff-sergeant serving in Malta did not require the allowance. Owing to the course of operations, the Egypt rates of Colonial allowance were extended to Malta in July of this year and the allowance is consequently now drawn by all ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for War how long lieutenant-paymasters in the R.A.P.C. must serve before receiving an increase of pay; and whether similar conditions exist in any other branch of the Service?

A lieutenant and paymaster in the R.A.P.C. is paid 16s. 4d. a day which is increased to 19s. 0d. a day after seven years' commissioned service. In addition to this increase a lieutenant-paymaster may be selected for a post of supervisory officer with the rank of captain and 21S. 0d. a day pay. The rates of pay and conditions under which they are granted differ in other branches of the Service.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there is considerable discontent among the lower commissioned ranks of the R.A.P.C. at the lack of means of advancement and promotion in that corps; and whether he will consider causing an inquiry to be held to investigate the whole question with a view to improving conditions if the evidence warrants it?

I am not aware of considerable discontent and I do not therefore consider that it is necessary to institute a full investigation as suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War the coupon value of uniform and equipment issued to a recruit on enlistment; the number of coupons issued to an officer on commissioning and the coupon value of equipment issued; the average per capita coupon value expended in replacements of other ranks' kit per annum and the yearly ration of coupons allowed to officers?

The answer to the first part of the Question is 131 and to the second 222. An officer is, however, required to declare any serviceable items of clothing which he already possesses and which are suitable to form part of such outfit, e.g., underclothing, dressing gown, handkerchiefs, pyjamas and sippers, and the coupon value of these items is deducted from the 222 coupons. These figures exclude a few items which a re issued both to officers and other ranks for which no coupon value is available. The answer to the third part of the Question is 57. For the first year of his service an officer receives 38 coupons for maintenance and for each subsequent year 76.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now received the Report of the Devonshire Insurance Committee which inquired into the circumstances connected with the death of Miss Sarah Ann Watts; and whether the report calls for any action on his part?

I have not yet received the report of the insurance committee in this matter.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many casualties there have been within the last six months due to the incautious handling by civilians of unaccustomed floating objects cast upon the beaches?

I have been asked to reply. I regret that separate figures of these casualties are not available.