asked the Minister of Labour whether it is proposed to continue the call-up of small building contractors over 40 years of age, fully employed as contractors to local authorities for repair of damaged houses urgently needed in industrial areas?

Under present arrangements building contractors over 40 years of age are not being called up for the Forces. When it is proposed to transfer such men to other work the value of the work on which they are engaged is taken into consideration, and the need to repair damaged houses is not overlooked.

Would my right hon. Friend give his attention to these questions, because quite a number of small building contractors have been urged by other Government Departments to undertake contracts, and also by local authorities, to undertake the repair of damaged houses, and are in a quandary because they do not know whether they can enter into any undertakings from the point of view of whether they will be called away either for the Forces or for other purposes?

The building situation is very difficult, and the first consideration I have to give is to the needs of strategy in view of forthcoming events.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the refusal of Messrs. Desoutter to reinstate Mr. V. S. Jackson after being authorised to do so by the local appeals board and the National Service officer; and whether he is aware of a similar case in the hosiery trade where an employer has refused to reinstate three girls whose appeal against dismissal was upheld by the board; and will he inform the House what steps he intends to take in the matter?

I understand that while Desoutter Brothers Limited have paid Mr. Jackson his wages since they were directed to reinstate him, they claim that at present they have no work for him. I am taking steps on the lines of the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for West Willesden (Mr. Viant) on 10th June, 1943, so as to secure that work as well as wages may be found for Mr. Jackson. I cannot trace the case in the hosiery trade to which my hon. Friend refers; perhaps he will send me identifying particulars which will enable me to inquire into it.

When the right hon. Gentleman says that he intends to endeavour to secure work for Mr. Jackson does that mean that he will see to it that Mr. Jackson is returned to Desoutter's firm and not someone else?

If I am told that there is no work for a man under direction, I withdraw some other person to make a vacancy.

Should not the aggrieved party sue on his contract of service for the wages due to him?

He can sue for his wages which are due, but he is getting his wages.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has concluded his investigations into the case of the discharged member of the W.A.A.F. for whom suitable employment could not be found by the Caerphilly employment exchange; and what are the conclusions?

I have written to my hon. Friend about this case.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the difficulties that landlords are experiencing in getting essential repairs done to roofs, etc., of farm buildings; and will he therefore discontinue the calling up of building operatives in country districts who are engaged on this work?

Under present arrangements building operatives who are not in the lowest age groups are not being called up, but they may be considered for transfer to work of higher priority. The importance of essential repairs to farm buildings is fully recognised and would be taken into account before any man engaged on that work was withdrawn.

Is the Minister aware of the short determent—three months—that has been given to these men when in business on their own, and does he think it reasonable for them to enter into contracts for repair to buildings with such a short term of deferment?

I am afraid I cannot increase deferments for 1944.

asked the Minister of Labour what redress or compensation is available to a worker with a family who is directed from his usual employment to work of national importance on the Clyde and is then deprived of his employment and remuneration owing to local strikes in which he is not directedly interested?

In the kind of employment to which I think my hon. Friend is referring, the Essential Work Order provides that the worker shall, in these circumstances, continue to be entitled to his guaranteed wage unless the employer has given him four days' notice of its suspension. If the guaranteed wage is suspended, the worker is free to leave the employment immediately without special permission and can take other work.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman why in that case, when I drew his attention to a case in particular where a man had been refused permission to take up his original employment, which was again offered, and also got no wages, he made the reply which he did?

I do not quite remember the case.

The point is that in his reply the right hon. Gentleman did not state what he stated to-day, neither has that action been carried out.

I will look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour how many rehabilitation centres have been opened, or are to be opened, in Scotland for the training of repatriated Scottish prisoners of war; and where they are, or are to be, situated?

There are no special centres for repatriated prisoners of war, but facilities for the training of those who are disabled and discharged from the Forces are available in Scotland at one Government training centre and nine technical colleges.

Would the right hon. Gentleman really direct his officers' attention to the fact that returned prisoners of war should be better treated than other people who go to the exchange?

They have instructions that the men who have returned from the Forces either as prisoners of war or wounded men shall be specially treated, and I should like any evidence that they are not being so treated.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Messrs. Barr and Stroud, Glasgow, lock out workers who are 15 minutes late; that many workers have to travel long distances and cannot always get on omnibuses; and will he take steps to have this practice stopped which hinders production and is unfair to the workers concerned?

I am informed that an agreement was reached in April, 1943, between the management of Messrs. Barr and Stroud and workers' representatives under which the gates are closed at 8.15 a.m. and 1.45 p.m. It is understood that the agreement has been working satisfactorily since that date and that provision is made in it for workers being allowed entry if late through transport difficulties.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that my information from his own Department is that no provision or allowance is made because of transport difficulties? If the workers are not there at 8.15, they are locked out, and some workers have to travel distances of from 5 to 15 miles to reach their work. There is a case of one man who arrived at 8.18 and who had forgotten to bring the proper document that he should have done, and he asked to be allowed to bring it the next day, but still he was locked out. Will the right hon. Gentleman not make some other arrangements?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give consideration to improving the Essential Work Order, so as to make it compulsory on an employer not to discharge a man when the National Service officer has sanctioned his release, if the man objects to being released, until the tribunal has reached a decision as this change would prevent the loss of man labour which happens now?

My hon. Friend's suggestion would mean that action would have to be suspended for a substantial period in all cases when an employer wished to terminate an engagement, and similarly a workman who applied for release would have to wait for a corresponding period in case his employer wished to appeal. I regret that I cannot see my way to introduce these general delays for the sake of meeting the small number of cases of difficulty which arise.

When my right hon. Friend comes to examine the Essential Work Order, which wants some improvement, will he consider this point and try to get it remedied?

I have considered it, and I do not want the House to be under any delusion. This is a two-sided case. No one would complain more bitterly than the workman at having to wait for the result of an appeal, which would arise if I amended the Order on the lines suggested.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of women employed in his Department and in employment exchanges throughout the country under 45 years of age?

The number of women under 45 employed in my Department (including employment exchanges throughout the country) is 14,990, of whom 1,832 are employed part-time. Of the total number, 8,828 are 30 and over, and 7,068 are married.

Does my right hon. Friend not think it would be more appropriate to use the experienced women of over 45 to undertake this delicate and difficult task of interviewing, rather than using younger women?

I undertook that no one under 30 should do the interviewing; but I repeat what I said on a previous occasion—that my experience is that older women are not always the best interviewers of other women.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking, in conjunction with the Minister of Pensions, to extend the interim scheme, based on the Tomlinson Report for the rehabilitation of men and women discharged from the Forces because of wounds or other physical disabilities?

The Tomlinson Report is concerned with the post-war problem, and plans for giving effect to it are well advanced. In the meantime, the Interim Scheme is being developed to the fullest possible extent for the benefit of men and women who have become disabled, as a result of service with the Forces or for other reasons. The Scheme provides special assistance towards employment, and also vocational training for those who require it.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that many of us consider that the rehabilitation scheme has not advanced far enough, considering that we expect fairly heavy casualties from Italy and very heavy fighting next year?

Preparations are all made for the expansion which I explained last week, when I gave figures for the various places.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the value of occupational therapy in that it is a step towards rehabilitation? Can he connect up the occupational therapy departments of the hospitals with his already-established centres?

Such a scheme is being worked out as well as we can do it.

But there are not the necessary centres.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress has been made in devising a scheme for directing young men into the mining industry which will avoid any discrimination between different classes; and whether he accepts the principle that until such a scheme comes into operation the practice of directing surface workers against their will to underground work will be suspended?

The matter raised in the first part of the Question is under consideration. The answer to the last part of the Question is in the negative. As I have informed the hon. Member, I cannot treat the movement of a worker from one job to another in the industry as if it were the same thing as compulsory recruitment from outside the industry.

Even if the Minister cannot recognise the principle, will he suspend the practice, in view of the fact that there is a far greater difference between surface work and underground work than there is between work in one department and work in another department of a factory?

That raises a very big question—which I am sure my hon. Friend would not like to have to settle—in connection with the Miners' Federation. Their claim has been all through that "in and around the mines" is the mining industry.

So far as the first part of the Question is concerned, does responsibility lie with the right hon. Gentleman or with the Minister of Fuel and Power?

I am the agent of the Minister of Fuel and Power, giving the actual directions; but he determines who shall go below ground.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these people engaged on surface work do not in any circumstances go below ground? Why should they be treated differently from the others?

I can only repeat that Members ought not to speak with two voices, one outside the House and the other inside. The claim is that "in and around the mines" is the mining industry, and I have not heard the Miners' Federation go back on that.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the correspondence sent to him relating to the shortage of mental nurses, particularly women, at the Gloucester County Mental Hospital, which has 1,600 patients, including 300 evacuated ones and has now 35 per cent. fewer nurses than pre-war; and what action he proposes to take to remedy this deficiency in the nursing staff?

I am making inquiries into the matters dealt with in the correspondence referred to, and will write to my hon. Friend.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his reply, might I ask him to bear in mind that the strain on the reduced staff available is very great?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Miss Scott, a girl of 19 years, despite three medical examinations by different doctors within three weeks, certifying her as fit for light employment only, has been twice ordered to undertake heavy factory work and turned down by doctors; that on two occasions she has been offered light employment on war work, which the local National Service officer forbade her to take up; and what action his Department now proposes to take?

I am unable to identify this case. If my hon. Friend will send me further particulars, I will have inquiries made, and will write to him.

asked the Minister of Labour the personnel of the committee dealing with deferments now functioning under Lord Lytton; its functions; the date of its establishment; and how many sittings it has had to date?

With my hon. Friend's permission I will circulate a list of the members of this Committee in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The functions of the Committee are to advise my Department on applications for the deferment of men and women subject to the National Service Acts who are employed in the commercial theatre. The Committee was set up on 5th March, 1942, and has held 32 meetings.

asked the Minister of Labour the date of constitution and functions of the May Committee dealing with deferment of service; the number of sittings of this Committee; the date of its last sitting; and the number of deferments it has recommended, male and female, respectively.

The May Committee was set up in June, 1941, to advise my Department on applications for the deferment of men subject to the National Service Acts working for E.N.S.A. or C.E.M.A., and its terms of reference were subsequently widened to cover female artistes subject to the National Service Acts. There have been 30 meetings of the Committee, the last of which was held on 27th October, 1943. The number of men and women at present on deferment upon the recommendation of the Committee is 507 and 548 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of male and female persons, respectively, under the age of 38 who have been given deferment to work for E.N.S.A. and of these the respective numbers whose work for E.N.S.A. is not full time; and what steps he is taking to secure replacements of these in clerical and administrative positions by persons of a higher age or discharged from military service.

Deferment of calling up has been granted for 178 men below the age of 38; 548 female artistes, born between the years 1918 and 1924 inclusive, are retained for work with E.N.S.A. All of these men and women are working full time for E.N.S.A. In addition, there is a number, not readily ascertainable, of older female artistes and of female administrative and clerical staff of all ages retained for work with E.N.S.A. The possibility of finding substitutes for persons employed in an administrative or clerical capacity is kept under review but is at present limited by the demands for additional staff to meet the expansion of entertainment for members of the Services at home and abroad and for workers in industry.

asked the Minister of Labour under what authority an officer, discharged from the Army for his own fault, is called up for military service?

The authority for calling up for further military service a person who has been discharged from the Armed Forces of the Crown is Section 4 of the National Service (No. 2) Act, 1941. The term "discharge" in this connection is defined as including cashiering, dismissal, removal, retirement and resignation.

Can we have an assurance that officers or other ranks discharged from the Army for their own fault will not therefore escape their obligations for military service?

The hon. Member may have that assurance.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that only about one word out of three of his replies can be heard by some of us who have by no means faulty hearing, and will he model himself in his answers on the hon. Member for Bilston (Mr. Hannah)?

asked the Minister of Labour whether a survey has yet been completed or undertaken of women in the Services, so as to ascertain whether they are fully and usefully employed; and, if so, with what result?

The efficient use of women allocated to the Women's Auxiliary Services is primarily a matter for my right hon. Friends the Service Ministers. A joint inquiry into the use of Service women in static establishments, and their replacement, as far as possible, by immobile civilian labour, on a whole or part-time basis, was conducted early this year by my Department and the three Service Departments, with useful results.

In view of the many cases of wastage of labour in the Services which are brought to the notice of Members of Parliament, will my right hon. Friend try to maintain a fair balance between the requirements of the civil population and the demands of the Service Ministries?

As is the case with all armies, I have to keep people who sometimes are not fully engaged as fighting units. But the day will come very soon when there will be none idle.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give some idea of how much usefulness resulted from that review?

asked the Minister of Labour whether the estimate, in Command Paper 6481, paragraph 20, of the value of certain emoluments of domestic service, is based on the assumption that such emoluments are, or are not, assessable to Income Tax?

I understand that the value of the emoluments in kind set out in paragraph 20 of Command Paper 6481 which are received by domestic staff resident in institutions is not assessable to Income Tax as part of their income.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of prosecutions of workers during the war of 1914–18 for offences similar to those instituted by his Department during this war?

The procedure during the war of 1914–18 was to bring these cases before munitions tribunals. The only statistics I have are for a period of rather less than a year up to the end of June, 1916. In that period 21,115 cases of complaint against employers or workpeople were brought before the tribunals.

How many of those were prosecuted by the Ministry of Labour at the time and sent to prison?

I do not think that there was a Ministry of Labour then.

How many were prosecuted by the appropriate Department of State?

As far as I know, there are no statistics which we can dig up on the matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether any Government scheme or schemes laid before the Government, proposes the systematic provision of suitable houses for workers needing recuperative changes without loss of pay?

I am considering, with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service, arrangements for supplementing the present facilities for convalescent treatment of industrial workers, and hope to be able to make a statement on the subject before long. My hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware of the scheme for providing industrial workers with rest breaks, which is being developed with the support of the Ministry of Labour.

asked the Minister of Health what guarantee have men serving in His Majesty's Forces, with wives on work of national importance, that homes left unoccupied in order to help their country shall not be requisitioned by local councils under the new Act?

The object of delegating to local authorities the powers to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers was to enable them to bring into use houses which were unoccupied and in this way to relieve as far as possible the needs of those who are badly housed, including the families of serving men. Under present conditions I should not be justified in excluding from these powers individual unoccupied houses on the ground that they belonged to or were let to any particular class of owner or tenant. I have, however, asked local authorities before considering the requisitioning of a particular property to ascertain the intention as regards re-letting or occupation by the owner or tenant. If my hon. and gallant Friend has any particular cases in mind and will send me particulars I will look into them at once.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the findings of the Assistance Board bearing on the co-ordination of grants and allowances to the supplementary pensions to old age and widows' pensions?

Not yet, Sir. But the Government hope to be able to lay draft Regulations before the House early in the new Session.

I hope that the Government will get a move on, as I have been waiting for months, and the matter is deferred repeatedly. Is the Minister aware that I want it to go forward?

My hon. Friend will understand that the legal responsibility here is not with the Government in the first instance but only in the second instance, and he must also understand that consolidation, simplication and modification of no fewer than 76 Regulations are forecast.

Will the Minister be in a better position to make a statement early in the new Session? What does he mean by "early in the new Session"?

Just that.

Will the Minister guarantee that this question of old age pensions will be dealt with in the King's Speech?

Do we understand from the reply of the right hon. Gentleman that the delay has been due to the Assistance Board?

I have not said that, but my hon. Friend well knows, as we all know, how difficult and complex is the solution and simplification of these Regulations.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is in a position to state when he hopes to be able to present his proposals in regard to the health services?

No, Sir. But I trust it will be quite soon.

asked the Minister of Health why a gas and air apparatus for the purpose of easing the pains of childbirth is not provided in every maternity hospital and home where the Government has made provision for expectant mothers?

A gas and air apparatus has been supplied to every emergency maternity home where a request has been made by the local authority administering the home and where the staff included a midwife holding the special certificate for the administration of gas and air analgesia. In these days of shortage of midwives it is not always possible to spare a member of the staff to take the special training.

In view of the fact that anaesthetics were introduced into this country 100 years ago, can the right hon. Gentleman explain why the Government still allow women in their own establishments to have their babies under primitive conditions?

That is not the Question on the Paper.

asked the Minister of Health when the Report of the Rushcliffe Committee dealing with male nurses and nursing orderlies will be issued?

I have received within the last few days the Second Report of the Nurses' Salaries Committee, which deals, among other things, with the salaries of male nurses employed hospitals other than mental hospitals End in public assistance institutions. I am arranging for the publication of the Report as soon as possible.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, before the Government adopt this Report, we shall have an opportunity of discussing it and not find ourselves committed without a discussion, as we were on the First Report?

That does not rest with me, but I will have the Report published as quickly as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether any machinery has been erected to obtain statistics showing the incidence of tuberculosis among the nursing staffs of tuberculosis sanatoria separate from those in general hospitals in England and Wales; and, if so, whether figures will be given showing the death and case rate?

No such machinery has yet been established, but I share the desire of my hon. Friend to obtain reliable statistical information on the point to which he refers. I am consulting my Medical Advisory Committee and my Standing Advisory Committee on Tuberculosis as to the scope and form of the inquiries which ought to be made to attain the object.

asked the Minister of Health the names of those county and county borough councils which have not yet appropriated, in whole or in part, their institutions under the Act of 1929?

With permission I will circulate the list in the OFFICIAL REPORT. It contains 30 county councils and 30 county borough councils.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider extending the option of local authorities in the matter of giving pocket-money to inmates in their institutions to other than aged persons, to whom it is at present confined?

The Statute authorising the payment of pocket-money applies only to persons aged 65 years or upwards, and I have no power to extend its application to other persons.

Has the right hon. Gentleman been approached by local authorities asking for a change in the law in this matter?

I have had one or two communications from them.

What reply did the right hon. Gentleman make?

I was only able to tell them what I have told the right hon. Gentleman to-day.

Is it not the practice in many institutions to grant pocket-money to young persons and to middle-aged per- sons, and does the answer mean that that practice is illegal?

The hon. Member must put down that question.

Is the Minister aware that this practice prevails only in public assistance institutions, and can he make it possible for it to prevail in public health hospitals?

That is one of the points among a vast number that I have been considering.

In view of the rather serious reply of the Minister, will he take steps to see that none of the institutions which have been granting small amounts of 1s. 6d. or so to their inmates shall now have to cease that practice, and will he look further into the matter?

The hon. Member, as I said, had better put that question on the Paper.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether any decision has been made with regard to the appropriate compensation to be paid to two airmen discharged on account of serious injuries and to the dependants of eight airmen who were killed as a result of a motor-omnibus accident at Knottingley, Yorkshire, on 6th February, 1943?

Entitlement under the Pensions Order has been admitted in respect of this accident. Two of the three airmen who were injured in the accident have been admitted to pension, and in the case of the third, a medical examination has been arranged. Of the eight airmen who were unfortunately killed, only one left a widow, and she has been pensioned; the dependants of the other seven are regarded as having established their title to pension if they should become in need, and one such pension has been authorised. No award can at present be made in four of the cases as the dependants are not in pecuniary need and in the remaining two there has been no application.

Is it not time the position was changed where a statement is sent to a mother that she has established her claim and that if she becomes poverty- stricken later on they will consider giving her something?

There is no question of becoming poverty-stricken at all.

"Pecuniary need." What does that mean?

Not poverty-stricken.

Of course it does.

asked the Secretary of State for India how many persons of British nationality have died from starvation in the present Indian famine?

I have not heard of any deaths of European British subjects amongst the victims of the present famine, if that is the information desired. His Majesty's Indian subjects are also of British nationality, no less than those of European descent.

Are we to understand from the answer that where there is a will there is a way and that the organisation of food can take place if the Government want it to be done?

asked the Secretary of State for India when the report of the Food Grains Policy Committee, presided over by Sir Theodore Gregory, will be available; why only 150,000 tons of wheat was received out of the full amount asked for; what action is being taken to secure the 500,000 tons to create a central food grains reserve and the 1,000,000 tons for current consumption as recommended in the report; and whether shipping is being made available to convey the 100,000 tons of wheat offered by the Canadian Government and the 500,000 lbs. of condensed milk offered by the South African Government?

The report of the Food Grains Policy Committee was to be published in India at the end of last week, and a summary was included in the recent White Paper. The report in referring to the winter and spring of 1942–43 includes a statement that more than 150,000 tons of wheat were imported into India. Further shipments were suspended in May, 1943, with the concurrence of the Government of India in view of the excellent Punjab wheat harvest. As regards current imports I have nothing to add to what was said by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and myself in the Debate on 4th November. His Majesty's Goverment appreciate the generous offer of the Canadian Government to present 100,000 tons of wheat to the Government of India. The shipping position presents great difficulties and the broad position is that wheat can be shipped from Australia in under half the time and, therefore, with much greater economy in shipping. This consideration is likely to make it impossible to move any great part of the Canadian offer at present. Substantial quantities are already being shipped from Australia and further shipments have been planned. The milk products offered by the South African Government will be shipped.

While joining with the right hon. Gentleman in appreciating the offer of these Dominion Governments, may I ask him whether he was aware in the Debate last of the complaint of. Sir Theodore Gregory that only 100 tons had actually been delivered in India, and, if he was aware of it, may I ask why he did not state that fact?

No, Sir, it was not a complaint but a statement of fact, and in answer to an interjection during the Debate I actually gave the figures.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the disparity between that which was asked for and that which was received? Did he bring that out in the Debate last week?

I brought out quite clearly what had been done and that it was all that was required to meet that situation.

With regard to the point on shipping, ought not the needs of the starving peoples in India to have first priority?

Undoubtedly, but if one ship takes the same wheat from Australia in less than half the time, it is better to ship from Australia.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can give figures showing the relative prices in Bengal of rice to-day and in November, 1938; and similar figures for the general index of commodities?

The average wholesale price of the main varieties of rice in Calcutta in November, 1938, was Rs. 4 per maund of 82–2/7ths lbs. The present controlled price is Rs. 20 per maund. The Indian Economic Adviser's General Index stands at 241 on the base mid-August, 1939=100. There was no considerable change between November, 1938, and August, 1939.

When the right hon. Gentleman speaks of the controlled price, does he mean that rice is obtainable at that price or is that the price which is fixed and against which it is marketed at some other price?

I understand that it is now obtainable at that price and that the controlled price will be fixed lower before long.

Is it not true that a good deal of rice has been sold at much more than 500 per cent. increase on the prewar price?

I believe that in some cases that has been true.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, in the work of relieving victims of famine in Bengal, full use is being made of voluntary organisations and bodies such as university students?

A great deal of relief work is being done in Bengal by voluntary organisations and I am satisfied that every possible use will be made of such help. I do not know the extent to which University students organised as such are participating in this work but am making inquiries.

Will the right hon. Gentleman use his influence to push this, because officials everywhere, not only in India, are apt to be over slow in times of special emergency in using voluntary workers?

Yes, that is why I am making inquiries.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that many Calcutta University students, especially those of the Science Departments, are already doing very valuable work in co-operation with the authorities?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for India what progress has been made in the organisation of military relief measures in Bengal?

Troops are being located throughout the worst affected districts in Bengal to assist the civil authorities in the movement of grain to the villages, using military transport where possible. They will also assist in providing temporary shelters for the people. Arrangements for close liaison with the civil authorities have been made and medical appliances and personnel are being made available. The military arrangements were reported at the end of last week as having started working with encouraging results. Dispatches of foodgrains from Calcutta has increased more than 50 per cent. and the military machinery for detailed distribution was already working. I think there is good reason to be satisfied with the progress made.

Will my right hon. Friend convey to the Indian military authorities the appreciation felt in this country at their action?

I have already done so.

Would the Minister contradict the rumour abroad that we in Britain are responsible for the starvation of these people?

Both my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and myself made that clear in the Debate the other day.

Cannot there be some propaganda in America to tell the truth?

That is too dangerous.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give time for the consideration of the Motion on Housing, standing in the name of the hon. Member for Cheltenham?

No, Sir. No time will be given for a Debate on this Motion. The Ministry of Health does not and cannot in time of full war mobilisation possess the facilities which are necessary for a satisfactory handling of the domestic housing problem. I cannot hold out the slightest hope that peace-time requirements can be met as they should be under present intensifying war conditions.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that the Ministry has made the best possible use of such accommodation as is available?

Yes, Sir, I am.

Is the Prime Minister aware that thousands of young people are getting married and have no homes to go to? Surely that is a serious situation in war-time. How can we fight the war when people have nowhere to lay their heads?

We are in the middle of an intense man-power stringency—nearly 1,250,000 more urgent approved needs than our population enables us to meet. I have to think of the overriding priority of war needs and to provide for many needs which must take precedence even over those which naturally commend themselves most to our inclination.

asked the Prime Minister what will be the duties of General Carton de Wiart in Chungking; and to whom he will be responsible?

General Carton de Wiart will act as my personal representative with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, and he will also be under Admiral Mount-batten's orders as Principal Liaison Officer at Chungking. It is hoped that this additional contact between me and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek will be helpful in promoting close relations between us. It has been cordially welcomed by the Generalissimo.

May I ask the Prime Minister what General Carton de Wiart's relations will be with General Stilwell? Does he mean that we are in a position to give more direct aid to China as well as the indirect aid we have been giving?

Would the hon. Member repeat the second part of his Supplementary Question?

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean that we shall now be able to afford direct aid to China in addition to the invaluable indirect aid we have already afforded?

The relations of General Carter de Wiart with General Stilwell will, I trust, be of the greatest comradeship and amity. I cannot make any statement on the forms of military aid that we intend to give to China except to say that everything in human power is being done.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make on the proposals contained in the Motions standing on the Order Paper, in the names of the hon. Member for Marylebone and others, relating to Standing Order No. 1 and Business of the House, in order to secure more time for Private Members?

My attention has been drawn to the Motions to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. The Government desire that Private Members should have reasonable facilities for raising matters on the Adjournment and will consider proposals with this object in view at the beginning of next Session.

Is the Prime Minister aware that his encouraging reply will give hopeful satisfaction to many Members of this House, especially to back benchers?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the recent increase in the number of air raids on this country, and especially on London, and the proximity of the enemy, he will make it clear that the duties of Home Guard and fireguards are still of great national importance and encourage them in the performance of those duties?

His Majesty's Government attach the highest importance to the work of the Home Guard and fireguards, who have played and continue to play so important a part in our home defence. In my speech at the Mansion House on Tuesday last I gave reasons why in my opinion this is no time to relax any of our precautions or discourage our Auxiliary Services. On the other hand, I have asked that steps should be taken to ease up, as much as public safety allows, the strain upon efficient members of the Home Guard who are working long hours a day.

Cannot something be done to discourage the wide publicity which has been given—for instance, by the B.B.C. in their nine o'clock news last Sunday—to the statement by a well-known but unimportant individual, which was exactly in the contrary sense to the words which my right hon. Friend has just used?

I cannot sit over the B.B.C. to check what they publish and what they do not, but I expect they will give wide publicity to what I have just said.

Is the statement the Prime Minister has just made to be regarded as a reply to the semi-mischievous statement made by a prominent member of the Trades Union Congress?

I do not want to fasten particular blame on particular people.

asked the Minister without Portfolio on how many occasions interviews have taken place between him or his principal officials and representatives of organisations of building societies, builders and property or landowners on the question of the Uthwatt recommendations?

Neither I nor any of my officers have had any interviews whatever with representatives of building societies or builders. Before the appointment of the Minister of Town and Country Planning I had had about half-a-dozen interviews with representatives of associations concerned with the ownership of land in regard to the Uthwatt recommendations. Since that date I have had no such interviews because, as I informed my hon. Friend on 23rd September, the Ministry of Town and Country Planning is the Department now primarily concerned with the Uthwatt Report.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will authorise local Land Army officers, in areas where members of the Land Army are employed at hotels, to press for the provision of lunch and/or tea, free or at a reasonable charge, and thus avoid their having to seek these meals at varying distances from their place of employment and at some inconvenience and loss of time?

Difficulties of the nature the hon. Member apparently has in mind have not previously been brought to my notice. If he has any special case in mind and will let me have details, I shall be glad to have inquiries made.

Is it not rather unfortunate that members of the Land Army engaged in the production of food for a hotel should have to leave that hotel to find a lunch, knowing that the hotel was being well supplied?

No such case has been brought to my notice, but if the hon. Member will send me particulars, I will have it looked into.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is in a position to make a statement about the proposal to set aside a further area of land in an area of which he has been informed for special military exercises on a scale so large as to destroy crops and necessitate the transfer of dairy and other cattle?

I do not think I can usefully add to the reply which was given yesterday by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary, War Office, in regard to this matter.

Will my right hon. Friend take into account the permanent loss of livelihood of a large number of people if this scheme goes through as at present arranged, and will he press for a further reconnaissance to be made?

My hon. Friend can well imagine that I regret this extremely from the food production point of view, but, after all, we have to win the war, and military priorities must take precedence.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the great concern caused in many parts of England at this taking of land, in view of the statement of the Minister of Food regarding our difficulties next year?

Yes, but meanwhile we have not won the war.

We quite appreciate the importance of this training, but this is an area of 150,000 acres, and it means the loss of a large number of accredited tested dairy herds. Can some adequate arrangement be made to secure the milk supply?

I am aware of all those facts. For what it is worth, the original area demanded was very much larger, and we have succeeded in cutting it down.

Nevertheless we cannot win the war without food.

Can it not be arranged to have these exercises on foreign soil?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the war and its effects have produced any deterioration in the quality of our livestock?

No, Sir.

Is there not a considerable falling off of our herd book entries, and will my right hon. Friend see that British livestock does not lose its place as being the best in the world?

asked the Secretary of State for Burma the intentions of His Majesty's Government regarding the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Burma after her liberation from the Japanese occupation; whether it is proposed to ask Parliament to allocate money for this purpose; and whether he is able to supplement the statement made in April last concerning the future form of government in Burma, having regard to the assurance given by the Secretary of State for India, in January, 1931, that the separation of Burma from India would not prejudice Burma from realising a constitution similar to that India was likely to enjoy?

As regards the first two parts of the Question I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Stoke (Mr. Ellis Smith) by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer on 18th February. With regard to the last part of the Question, there is nothing to add to the reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 22nd April last.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that a statement regarding the future political and economic position of Burma would do a great deal to counteract Japanese propaganda?

No, Sir.