asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that troops in the Middle East now have adequate supplies of books, magazines and newspapers?

The supply of books, magazines, and newspapers for these troops is now, generally speaking, satisfactory, subject to the dissatisfaction expressed by my hon. and gallant Friend who asked the last Question, but I should perhaps remind my hon. Friend that the difficulties of distributing these supplies once they reach the command are in some cases very great and individual units may still be rather short. All possible steps are being taken to overcome these difficulties.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the hon. and gallant Gentleman who has just asked a Question is not the only Member who is dissatisfied, because the British United Press correspondent has written describing the shortage?

I still maintain that, generally speaking, my answer is correct.

asked the Secretary of State for War, to what extent talks on religion are now being given to troops by officers other than the chaplain of their respective denominations?

To the extent suggested in the notes for instructors contained in "The British Way and Purpose" No. 12, of which there is a copy in the Library of this House. It completes the series of talks on "the Responsible Citizen."

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these talks have been in many cases distasteful both to the troops and to the officers who have had to give them?

I do not accept that in the slightest degree. In fact, the testimony is the exact reverse.

asked the Secretary of State for War, the qualifications of the officers selected for liaison duties with the American forces; and whether he will give special consideration in their selection to those qualities of human understanding and good fellowship, apart from military ability, which are most likely to build up friendship between the forces of the two countries?

A liaison officer must in general be willing and able to give all possible personal help to the forces to which he is attached, and it is recognised that officers selected to hold these appointments should possess the qualities mentioned by my hon. Friend in the last part of his Question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is, aware of the hardship being caused among members of the Home Guard, especially those working long hours and in the heavy industries; and whether he will consider issuing instructions with a view to a relaxation of duties and less frequent attendances at parades and exercises?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Prime Minister on 11th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Weston-super-Mare (Mr. Orr-Ewing).

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the unrest in the coalfields because of the too frequent attendance at parades and exercises, and will he reconsider the matter in the light of that? Also has he seen the comments of the Coal Controller in to-day's papers in the North Midland Region on the subject?

I am aware of the particular case to which the hon. Member refers. I have just had a full report on it, which I am studying. With regard to the first part of the supplementary question, I think that was covered by what the Prime Minister said in his answer.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any statement to make concerning the result, of his inquiries into the circumstances which caused a number of officers in a certain battalion of the Home Guard to tender their resignations?

The Commander of this battalion resigned on 2nd October. His successor was unfortunately wounded in an air raid a few days after he had assumed command and has been unable to go into the difficulties which had arisen in the unit. This has now been done by higher military authorities and I am glad to say that all the officers, have withdrawn their resignations although one has only done so verbally. The one warrant officer and 17 non-commissioned officers who asked to be reverted to the ranks have withdrawn their request.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the small quantity of beer provided for the troops in Italy; and whether he will see that N.A.A.F.I. improve the supply?

I am aware that the supply of beer for the troops in Italy is very limited. The difficulties in the way of increasing the supply to an appreciable extent are very great, but efforts are being made.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a considerable time after the Salerno landing there was only one bottle for every four men? Is he not aware that beer is very necessary for troops undergoing such conditions?

I am quite aware that after an opposed landing, such as Salerno, quite a number of things are in short supply for some time, and not only beer.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many quartering commandants have been accorded the rank of lieutenant-colonel and been instructed to wear command signs whilst they are paid as regimental majors; and whether he will take the necessary steps to secure that, after 21 days, pay follows the grant of rank and that quartering commandants and assistant quartering commandants receive the staff pay of their rank?

Sixty-eight quartering commandants have been accorded the local rank of lieutenant-colonel. This rank is given to confer additional status on them in dealing with civil authorities and other bodies. It is not given because they have greater responsibilities than majors, and they therefore continue to be paid as majors. This question and the question of granting them staff pay have been exhaustively examined, and I am advised that the duties and responsibilities of these officers, whether considered in themselves or in comparison with other officers, do not justify a departure from the present rules.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that officers of the Claims Commission with similar responsibilities are better treated as regards rank and staff pay and will he try to get similarity of treatment between the two branches of the staff?

That is what I always try to do. The War Establishment Committee exists to secure parity of treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a certain unit serving in North Africa, the identity of which he has been informed, has only one wireless set among 800 men; and whether he will take the necessary steps to increase the allocation of welfare wireless sets to troops on active service, so that every sub-unit of 100 men may have a wireless set?

As regards the general question of the supply of wireless sets, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Tonbridge (Sir A. Baillie) on 12th October. Inquiries are now being made into the position in this particular unit.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange that any man of good conduct discharged from the fighting services, no matter what the cause or his length of service, shall be given the King's Discharge Badge?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given by the Prime Minister to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Perkins) on 22nd September.

What possible reason can there be for refusing to give the King's Badge to every man?

That seems to be an appropriate question to ask in the course of the Debate to which the Prime Minister referred in his answer.

asked the Secretary of State for War what complaints he has received regarding the poor quality of the V brand of cigarettes issued to the Eighth Army; and what action he proposes to take?

In the past cigarettes for the Eighth Army had of necessity to come from India, but I hope it will be possible before long to supply them with English cigarettes.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these cigarettes cannot be described in Parliamentary language, and will he take steps to see that in future the soldiers are supplied with cigarettes of good quality?

I have answered the second part of the supplementary. As regards the first part, I am given to understand that the Eighth Army have had the cigarettes for a long time, and their discontent at what they were missing only became manifest when they had a small consignment of English cigarettes.

Would it not be possible for the Government to purchase from Canada some of the marvellous "Sweet Caporal" cigarettes which are supplied to the Canadian Forces?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that for two or three years these V brand of cigarettes have been called "Spitfires" and that the soldiers do not wish to see or hear any more of them?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take the necessary steps to see that men are not employed as nursing orderlies in A.T.S. wards of military hospitals?

Men are not employed for nursing in A.T.S. wards of military hospitals, but since R.A.M.C. orderlies are sometimes used to carry coal and to do other such hard manual work in the hospital they may also have to do this in the A.T.S. ward.

Is not the Secretary of State aware that I have given him full particulars of a man who was ordered to act as a nursing orderly and was punished for not obeying the order? It was not a question of carrying coal.

My present information conflicts with that, but I am going more fully into the matter and I will deal with that particular case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the general dissatisfaction resulting from the failure to bring home those who have been in hospital in the Middle East or South Africa for many months; and whether he has any statement to make on this question?

At one time all hospital ships had to be routed via the Cape, and owing to the shortage of shipping the return of hospital patients to this country was delayed. I am glad to say that the position has now improved, and the patients for the United Kingdom still in South Africa should leave shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will cause inquiries to be made with a view of improving conditions under which A.T.S., especially telephonists, work in underground offices of the War Office departments; and is he satisfied that their health is not suffering from insufficient time for exercise and sleep?

It is necessary for A.T.S. auxiliaries to work in these underground offices but particular attention has been devoted to the conditions under which they do their important work. These conditions have been considerably improved in the course of the last year or so and I am glad to say that the health of these auxiliaries has proved to be better than the average for the A.T.S. generally. Further measures of improvement are now in hand.

Cannot the ventilation of these underground offices be improved?

I understand that it has been very materially improved. I know that before the offices were occupied considerable tests by medical officers were undertaken.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in some cases there is not sufficient time for them to take exercise in the eight-hour period which is supposed to be available for sleeping and that much of the time is taken up in going to their billets?

The question of giving them more time off is one of the measures of improvement now in hand.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Lance-Corporal J. W. Westhorpe, D/3879, 4th Company, C M.P., T.C., age 41, grade BX2, applied recently for his discharge from His Majesty's Forces to return to the mining industry, where he had been employed for 15 years; that, in spite of the intervention of the Ministry of Fuel and Power, the man's application was refused and, in view of the need for greater coal production, what are the qualifications for the success of such an application?

The general conditions governing the release of miners from the Army were announced by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for East Rhondda (Mr. Mainwaring) on 19th October. It was then explained that certain categories of men would be barred from release for military reasons. This man falls within the excluded categories.

How is it that one Department of State is crying for the return of ex-miners from the Army and that the right hon. Gentleman's Department is doing its best to prevent them coming out? How is it that it is as difficult for an ex-miner to get out of the Forces to work in the mine as it is for the proverbial camel to go through the eye of a needle?

If the hon. Member wishes to suggest that the War Office are not doing all they can, consistently with military necessity, to assist the needs of the coalmines, I suggest he should ask my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power and see what answer he gets.

I have been in negotiation with the Ministry of Fuel and Power, and they blame the right hon. Gentleman.

I should be very surprised if that were so, because the testimony given to me is exactly the contrary.

On what principle was it laid down that men except those in the Pioneer Corps should have to be over 36 before they could be released from the Army?

These men have been trained for the Army. They may at any time now have to undertake definite military operations, and the principle which was laid down was that there should be no prejudice to these military operations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the working of small refrigerating, canning and dehydrating plants recently developed in the United States of America with a view to ascertaining if similar plants would be suitable for installation on the West Coast of Scotland?

The Scottish Council on Industry have set up a Committee to consider the possibilities for the development in Scotland of canning, dehydration, freezing and similar methods of food preservation. This Committee will be examining the type of development mentioned in the Question, and among other evidence a report is being got from Newfoundland. I shall be glad to pass to the Committee any information on the subject of which my hon. and gallant Friend is in possession.

If and when such development is possible, will my right hon. Friend give consideration, among other places, to the fishing port of Carradale for the establishment of one of these plants?

All these considerations will be borne in mind.

Is my right hon. friend aware that there is a big freezing factory for fish at Yarmouth, and would he advise the Committee to investigate the possibility of that process as well as of the Canadian and American processes?

We are examining all the evidence available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pupils in primary schools in Gaelic-speaking areas of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland are taught Gaelic under the provisions of the 1918 Act?

The latest statistics available show that in session 1938–39 4,259 pupils in primary schools in Gaelic-speaking areas of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland received instruction in Gaelic.

Is it the policy of the Scottish Office to introduce compulsion for the teaching of Gaelic in the schools of these Gaelic-speaking areas?

No, Sir, not as at present advised.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to announce the scale of payments to be made under the Hill Sheep Subsidy Scheme in respect of the current year?

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and I have this matter under examination. I hope to be able to make an announcement at an early date.

When examining this question will my right hon Friend bear in mind the further losses sustained by hill sheep farmers owing to the new regulations regarding transport of sheep stocks from the farms to markets?

I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that all relevant considerations are borne in mind in the discussions which take place between us and the Treasury.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is in consultation with the Minister of Reconstruction on the subject of the proposed Forth-Clyde canal and similar schemes of national development in Scotland after the war?

I am in consultation with the Minister of War Transport on the subject referred to in my hon. Friend's Question, and with the Minister of Reconstruction in regard to Scottish reconstruction questions generally.

Can my right hon. Friend say when he expects anything to emerge from the consultations?

The Minister of War Transport, who sits in another place, has set up a small group to examine this question departmentally, and obviously it will be done as speedily as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will be in a position to announce the policy of His Majesty's Government with regard to Scottish education; and whether he will issue a White Paper on the subject?

I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to his Questions of 12th and 19th October on these subjects, to which at present I am unable to add.

Can my right hon. Friend give an assurance that in the event of the English legislation being passed this Session the Scottish legislation on education will also be passed before the end of this Session?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is preparing plans to deal with the serious housing shortage which will exist in Scotland after the war; and whether these plans include the establishment, with adequate powers, of a Scottish National Housing Corporation?

Comprehensive plans are being made to meet our grave housing problem. The plans include measures for the necessary expansion of the building industry, for the acquisition of sites, for alternative methods of building, and for the provision of emergency housing accommodation. As regards the second part of the Question, we already have a national housing building agency in Scotland—the Scottish Special Housing Association. This association is a non-profit-making body which supplements the operations of the local authorities. The association can provide houses in any part of Scotland and I am at present planning for a large-scale programme of building by the association after the war.

Will my right hon. Friend take into consideration the possibility of extending the statutory powers of this association if that should prove to be desirable?

Certainly, but I have heard no suggestion that its statutory powers are unnecessarily limited at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the committee appointed by him to advise on housing has now completed its work?

The Scottish Housing Advisory Committee was reconstituted in August, 1942, and was asked to report on the design and layout of houses, on the provision of furniture by local authorities for their houses and on the measures required to secure the most appropriate distribution of houses in the immediate post-war years. I have just received the Committee's Report on the first two of these inquiries. The Report on the distribution of houses should be completed by the spring of next year.

Will a section of this Report, which I assume is to be published, although the right hon. Gentleman does not say so, deal with the immediate requirements of Scottish housing?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of new pulmonary tuberculosis cases notified between 1st June, 1943, and 1st November, 1943; and the numbers for the comparable periods in 1942, 1941 and 1940?

Notifications between 1st June and 1st November, 1943, were 3,073. The corresponding figure for the same period in 1942 was 2,633, in 1941 2,361, in 1940 2,118.

Will my right hon. Friend now agree, from the figures he has supplied, that his scheme for dealing with tuberculosis by excluding chronic sufferers has obviously failed to restrict the spread of infection in the country?

The two things have no necessary connection whatever.

Will my right hon. Friend tell me to what he attributes the increase, since he thinks he has cut out an area of infection?

My hon. Friend asked for statistics going back to 1940. The scheme to which he alludes now is another matter altogether. It is dealing entirely with war-time temporary conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the rate of infant mortality among the poorer classes has, according to recent medical-statistics, been since the last war the highest in the civilised world; and what steps he is taking to remove this disgrace from the social life of the country?

According to the latest information available to me, the Scottish figures, bad as they are, are not the highest even among the nations of Western Europe. The causes of the variations in these infant mortality figures are not always apparent, but a Report on the subject by a Committee under Sir John Orr's chairmanship, set up at my request by the Scottish Scientific Advisory Committee in June, 1942, will shortly be published.

In view of the very serious character of the situation in Glasgow and throughout Scotland as a whole, and the difficulty that is being experienced in dealing with the growth of infant mortality and disease generally, will the Minister not consider calling a meeting of Scottish Members and representatives of the local authorities to discuss this very serious question of health?

That is one of the considerations to which I have been giving attention, but it is obvious, as the hon. Member will find when he reads the Orr Report, that there are many causes contributing to these alarming figures.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman agree that this Question is accurate so far as it relates to children under one month old?

I could not say that without notice. That is not the Question on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the child death rate in Glasgow is higher than it is in Tokyo; and what immediate plans he has for the rehousing and rehabilitation of the workers in the Glasgow area in order to save the lives of the children on whose survival the prosperity of Scotland depends?

Figures for 1936 relating to the cities of Glasgow and Tokyo are to the effect stated. But the official statistics published by the League of Nations show that, for the five year period 1934–38, the infant mortality rate for the whole of Japan was half as high again as for Scotland. As for the second parts of the Question, bad housing is not the sole cause of a high infant mortality. Regarding the immediate provision of more housing beyond that already under construction, I am afraid I can add nothing to the explanation given to my hon. Friend on 11th November by the Prime Minister.

Arising from that reply, in which the Secretary of State for Scotland does not deny the statement made in the "British Medical Journal" that the death-rate among children in Glasgow is worse than in Tokyo, may I ask what steps he is going to take to remove this terrible and disgraceful situation in the West of Scotland?

As I have already indicated, the figures for one year are as stated in the Question, but over five years the figures for Tokyo are 50 per cent. worse than in Glasgow. The steps we are taking to deal with this matter are, first, to find out what are the deficiencies in the way of homes, housing and so on—to find out what were the causes of it. The Orr Committee was set up for this purpose, and the Report is now in hand and I expect it will be published.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Question, again, is accurate if it relates to children under a month old? I believe that is what the "British Medical Journal" referred to. Is he aware that the admission he has made is a reflection on the public health services of the whole country?

I do not admit that at all. I have said that the figures are those which the League of Nations have supplied, and I have said that over a five years' period the Tokyo figures are 50 per cent. worse.

Does the right hon. Gentleman take consolation from that fact?

No, I take no consolation from it. That is a quite unworthy Supplementary Question. I am doing my best to give an accurrate statement of the facts.

Is this Question likely to be helpful to Japanese propagandists, who may take note of the form of the Question rather than of the substance of the reply?

Does the fact that in one year, as the right hon. Gentleman admits, the rate was higher in Glasgow than in Tokyo mean that in Tokyo they had taken measures to reduce the death-rate, or that the Glasgow authorities had failed to stop a great increase in the death rate?

I have no information of what happened in Tokyo. The figures were supplied by the League of Nations, and I have given them.

May we take it that the right hon. Gentleman is going to move heaven and earth to remove this evil from the West of Scotland?

We are already taking every possible step within our power.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations have been made by the National Farmers' Union (Scottish Branch) on the question of double summer time; and will he represent to the appropriate Government Department the views of the agricultural community in Scotland?

I recently received a deputation from the National Farmers' Union and Chamber of Agriculture of Scotland at which there took place a full discussion of the disadvantages of double summer time to the various branches of agriculture. The Government appreciate the difficulties, and they will be fully taken into account before next summer.

Is it not now time that more consideration was given to agriculture in this question?

That question is obviously already answered in the answer I have just given.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any measure of priority is given in Scottish schools to lantern or film lectures on the British Empire over similar lectures on foreign countries; and whether he is satisfied with the present situation in this regard?

The main source of film supply for most Scottish schools is the Scottish Central Film Library. I am informed that in this library, which last year distributed over 40,000 reels, films on the British Empire greatly outnumber films on other countries, and that these Empire films are in constant demand. Another widely used source is the film library of the Imperial Institute which deals exclusively with Empire subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the loss sustained by the destruction of crops in Dumbartonshire due to flooding of areas contiguous to the River Kelvin; and whether he will take the necessary steps to ensure that the Kelvin Valley Drainage Scheme is put into operation at the earliest possible date?

There was considerable flooding in the Kelvin Valley early last month caused by the heaviest rainfall that has yet been recorded in the catchment area. This resulted in damage to agricultural crops, but fortunately most of the harvest had been ingathered. The River Kelvin drainage scheme works, as originally designed, have practically been completed. I called for and have now received a full report on the flooding, and I am in communication with the National Farmers' Union with a view to local consultations on the whole matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the purchasers of Rosneath Estate sold all the growing timber; that the timber in question is being removed; and what steps is he prepared to take to have the cleared areas replanted?

Yes Sir, I am informed that the Home Timber Production Department of the Ministry of Supply issued licences to fell timber on Rosneath Estate in November, 1941. I understand that the post-war plans of the Forestry Commission envisage the planting of cleared woodland areas in private ownership, and I have drawn their attention to the position on this estate.

Is the Minister aware that the people who purchased this estate have taken everything out and put nothing in, that they removed the drainage tiles from the estate and that the agricultural land suffered accordingly? Is there no protection against this kind of thing?

The precise Question on the Order Paper deals with forests, and, as I have indicated, I have drawn the attention of the Forestry Commission to the position on this estate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the machinery now existing for the collection of tax contributions by pay-as-you-earn, he is considering the possibility of abolishing the poll-tax method of stamp contributions for the health and unemployment insurance services and avoid triplicate deductions from weekly and other wages?

If I understand my hon. Friend's proposal aright, it is that provision for ill-health and unemployment should no longer by made by contributory insurance schemes, but that payments in respect of such contingencies should be made at the expense of the general taxpayer. The Beveridge plan is based on the view that "benefit in return for contributions, rather than free allowances from the State, is what the people of Britain desire." The Government share this view, and have accepted the recommendation that provision for such contingencies should be made by continuing and extending the system of contributory insurance.

Since only about a fifth of the insurance services are in the form of contributions and the rest are paid by the same people in taxation, and in the case of the Beveridge scheme only half is allowed for in contributions and the other half would have to be raised from the same people by taxation, may I ask the Chancellor whether some method of co-ordinating all this taxation could not be adopted to save duplicating and triplicating the collection of money from the population?

We follow the well-tried and sound practice of keeping taxation and expenditure separate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered further schemes for simplifying the work of deducting pay-as-you-earn tax; and whether any decisions have been reached?

Subject to a recasting of the Tax Tables to ensure greater accuracy in the weekly deductions, the scheme for deduction of tax under the Income Tax (Employments) Act will be that explained in the White Paper and will be set forth in the Regulations to be made under the Act. Alternative methods of deduction which were referred to in the course of the Parliamentary Debates on the pay-as-you-earn proposals have been found on examination not to lead to any simplification and have been rejected after consultation with representatives of employers and employees.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether visiting seasonal Irish workers are included in the pay-as-you-earn scheme for the payment of Income Tax?

Under the Income Tax (Employments) Act, 1943, deduction of Income Tax from wages will be a statutory duty of all employers and will therefore apply to wages paid to all workers in this country. The ultimate tax liability, if any, of an Irish worker depends upon a number of factors, including the length of stay in this country, which can only be ascertained at the end of the year, i.e., after the deductions have taken place. If any tax is deducted from a person who is not liable to United Kingdom Income Tax by reason of the Double Taxation Agreement existing between Eire and the United Kingdom, repayment would be made at the end of the year.

The men are referred to here as being only seasonal workers. Does the payment of Income Tax apply to them?

Yes, it applies to all.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether an inventory exists of all property secured by His Majesty's Government since the outbreak of war; and, if so, whether each Department retains its own, or whether a complete inventory is held by the Treasury?

It is the responsibility of each Department to maintain records of assets belonging to it, and there is no central inventory kept in the Treasury, for the reasons explained in the appendix to the Sixteenth Report from the Select Committee on National Expenditure. The recommendations on the subject contained in that Report are now under consideration.

The right hon. Gentleman has told us that it is the responsibility of each Department to keep an inventory; what I want to know from him is, is he satisfied that every Department knows what it owns?

Yes, Sir.

Further to that point, does the Chancellor think it is satisfactory that such huge sums of money should be allocated to spending in the Departments, without any central control being exercised by the Chancellor himself?

That is an assumption for which there is no foundation at all.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the difficult position of owners of dwelling-houses when their property is completely destroyed by enemy action, owing to the continuing liability for repayments under mortgages granted by building societies; and will he take steps to relieve such owners from their responsibilities to continue to pay interest as payments envisaged by the War Damage Act, 1943, give full security to the building society for the money lent and the owner has the added expense of providing other accommodation for his family, or will he make arrangements for the War Damage Commission to pay the money owing on the claims and thus enable the owners to pay off the mortgage?

As my predecessor informed the House, he received assurances on behalf of building societies that they would extend the most sympathetic treatment possible to borrowers whose property has suffered war damage and that they would not ask the borrowers to pay more on account of their debt than was in the circumstances clearly within their resources. Moreover mortgagors who are unable to meet their liabilities in respect of war-damaged houses receive a measure of protection under the Courts (Emergency Powers) Acts and the Liabilities (Wartime Adjustment) Act. I should not feel justified in introducing legislation to give automatic relief to all mortgagors at the expense of their creditors. In answer to the last part of the Question I would point out that the fact that a dwelling house is completely destroyed by no means necessarily implies that it will not be qualified for a cost-of-works payment. I should not feel justified in anticipating the general release of value payments in this particular class of case, but I would refer the hon. Member to Section 22 (2) of the War Damage Act, 1943, which provides for the making of payments to persons in need of funds to secure alternative housing accommodation.

Is it not very difficult for these people to get any concession from the building societies? Is it not true that they are more hard hit than any other section of the people who have had property destroyed, because they have to provide a new home for themselves, very often at an excessive rent? Could not the right hon. Gentleman make some concession to them?

There is no obvious reason why it should be made easier for people who have purchased houses with other people's money than for those who have purchased houses with their own money. So far as building societies are concerned, if the hon. Member will give me particulars of the case which has led to his Question, I will try to look into the matter.

When is the Memorandum which was adumbrated in the Press that, although their houses were totally destroyed, the owners might yet be eligible for a cost-of-works payment, likely to be published?

That has been published.

Has the right hon. Gentleman satisfied himself that the assurances given on behalf of the building societies cover the whole of the building societies?

I will look into the point.

Is not the Minister aware that the Courts (Emergency Powers) Act is no remedy at all because people do not go to these courts unless they are absolutely on their beam ends? Is this not very hard lines on mortgagors, and will he bear this matter in mind?

I have the point in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the number of people of all classes who have now acquired National Savings Certificates to the nominal value of £500, and in order to encourage a continuation of this form of saving, he will now raise the limit of such investments to the nominal value of £750 or £1,000?

Statistical inquiries have shown that the number of holders of the permitted maximum is a small proportion of the total number of holders of Certificates. But holders of the maximum of 500 units of the seventh and previous issues can continue to save in the form of Certificates by the purchase of up to 250 units of the Certificate of the £1 issue. My hon. Friend will appreciate that a limit must be fixed to holdings of a security which carries a favourable rate of interest free of tax. Given the alternative forms of investment available, I do not consider that the present limits hamper saving by the small investor.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government have yet received a Report by Lord Keynes on the recent financial negotiations in Washington; and whether this Report will be published?

Reports upon these discussions have been received and are under consideration. As already indicated, the Government will in due course submit their conclusions to Parliament; but, in accordance with the usual practice where submissions by the Government's technical advisers are concerned, the reports themselves will not be published.

Would the right hon. Gentleman give further consideration to the question of whether these conclusions will be submitted in the form of a statement to the House or in the form of a written document? In reply to a Question the other day he said that he would consider issuing them in writing.

I will later on. I shall endeavour to meet the wishes of the House.

Will the Chancellor bear in mind the categorical assurance by his predecessor that no undertaking of any kind will be given to a return to gold in any form without first consulting the House?

I have repeated those assurances myself.

Do we understand that we shall not be faced with definite conclusions but that the matter will come forward in a way in which the opinion of the House can be taken?

The House will not be faced with commitments. I hope that the conclusions which will be put to the House will be as definite as possible.

If conclusions are to be submitted to the House are not Members entitled to have the information and the facts before them on which these conclusions are based?

I will endeavour to see that the House has full information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is in accordance with the policy of the Government that banks should be asked to make advances for the purpose of subscriptions to Tax Reserve Certificates?

No, Sir. As my predecessor stated in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for East Birkenhead (Mr. Graham White) on 19th February, 1942, it is entirely contrary to the wishes of the Government that subscriptions to Tax Reserve Certificates should be financed by borrowed money. The main purpose of the Certificates is to help taxpayers who have material sums to meet by direct payment to set aside those sums as their profits or incomes accrue and are available in cash.

May I ask the Chancellor whether in fact by borrowing money for this purpose from the banks the banks do not themselves thereby earn more interest, and therefore as they then pay it away in Excess Profits Tax the Exchequer benefits? Is it not all humbug?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount per annum of the present non-effective Vote of the Civil Service; and by how much this amount would be increased if pensions were adjusted to present cost of living?

I assume that what my hon. Friend wishes to know is the total amount provided in this year's Estimates for Civil Service pensions, disregarding non-recurrent payments and injury grants. On this basis the answer to the first part of his Question is approximately £8,500,000. If for the sake of convenience the increase in the cost of living since the war is taken as 30 per cent., a corresponding increase of these pensions would cost about £2,500,000 per annum.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will give for the country as a whole and for each district separately the number of shifts worked per wage-earner per week in October, 1943, and in the priod 1st January to 31st October, 1943?

As the answer involves a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.