asked the Secretary of State for War whether arrangements will be made to allow A.T.S. girls serving as medical orderlies to be classed as trades-women?

Trade rates of pay are given to personnel whose work is specially skilled or technical and it is not considered that the work done by an A.T.S. medical orderly qualifies for this addition.

asked the Secretary of State for War the proportion of total civilian to total military personnel in home pay offices and the proportion of civilian officers to military officers in the same establishments?

The proportion of total civilian to total military personnel (including A.T.S.) in home pay offices is 1 to 4.4. The proportion of civilian officers to military officers at these establishments is 1 to 105.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will grant to relatives or prisoners of war associations the right to purchase Army clothing from War Office supplies on behalf of British prisoners who have been six months or longer in prison camps?

Supplies to provide all British prisoners with adequate clothing, underclothing and boots are despatched regularly through the British Red Cross, and, in view of the heavy demands on clothing which the Army has to meet, I cannot see my way to allow the duplication of the supply of clothing in the way suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for War what representations have been made by any of the allied Governments regarding the purchase of Army clothing for allied prisoners of war; and what decision has been made?

Requests have been from time to time received from Allied Govern- ments for the purchase of clothing from Army stocks for their nationals, who are prisoners of war. At one time it was often possible to meet these requests. In view, however, of the strict control of clothing supplies for the Army and the heavy demands on such supplies I regret that it is no longer possible to meet these requests. I understand, however, that clothing for allied prisoners of war in Europe is being provided from America.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any restrictions have recently been imposed on the publication and distribution of the "Eighth Army News"?

None, so far as I am aware.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many deaths from encephalitis following vaccination or inoculation of soldiers have been reported to his Department since the outbreak of the war; and how many cases did not result fatally?

The answer to the first part of the Question is 6 and to the second part 15.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the event of the failure of at least three attempts to vaccinate or revaccinate Service personnel, an entry is made in the records to the effect that such persons are in the opinion of the vaccinating officer insusceptible of successful vaccination; and whether, in the event of such persons contracting small-pox, their vaccinal condition is described in the hospital records as insusceptible?

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." No specific instructions have been issued on the Question raised in the second part, but all the relevant facts concerning the case are recorded in the appropriate documents.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers and how many men in the Army have been recorded each year since 1939 as unsuccessfully vaccinated?

I regret that these figures are not available. The fact that a vaccination is unsuccessful is entered only in personal documents of the officer or soldier.

asked the Secretary of State for War what instructions have been issued as to the action to be taken in the case of unsuccessful vaccination of service personnel?

Instructions have been issued to the effect that in all cases of unsuccessful vaccination the operation will be repeated until there have been three successive failures with calf lymph of known potency. The record of each failure is entered in the personal documents of the officer or soldier.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent soldiers rendered unfit for service in the forces for reasons of ill-health are being discharged under paragraph 390 K.R., 1940, a procedure which is also used for discharge for reasons discreditable to the individual; whether the cases of men in the first category come under review by the Ministry of Pensions and whether they are entitled to receive the silver badge; and whether, in the contrary event, he will rectify this injustice?

A soldier who has been found physically unfit by a medical board is discharged from Army service under King's Regulations, 1940, paragraph 390 (xvi) as "ceasing to fulfil Army physical requirements." Soldiers who on medical grounds are physically fit for further service but for whom no suitable employment can be found are discharged under King's Regulations 390 (xviii) (a) "Services no longer required." King's Regulations provide that this cause of discharge will be amplified in cases where it will benefit the individual concerned. In these cases the documents are not automatically sent to the Ministry of Pensions but this does not in any way preclude such soldiers from claiming pensions. A silver badge is only issued to a man who is granted a disability pension.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private William Logan, of 2nd Monmouthshire Home Guard, who is away from his home at Llanbradach 12 hours each day on important war work, is aged 58 years and served 3½ years in the last war, was fined at the Chepstow Court the sum of 20s. for absence from one Home Guard parade; and whether he will consider relaxing the requirement for parades in cases like this?

On the general question raised by my hon. Friend I would refer him to the answer I gave to-day to my hon. Friend the Member for Mansfield (Mr. B. Taylor). A report has been called for on the individual case referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider arranging that notifications of casualties to relatives of serving men shall, in future, be in some way entirely distinctive, either by adopting a different coloured envelope or by printing on the envelope the fact that the communication is from the casualties branch of the service, so as to avoid unnecessary anxiety to relatives of men on active service at the arrival of ordinary telegrams and letters?

For over a year it has been the practice for Record Offices to stamp the word "Important" on the envelopes of letters to next-of-kin notifying the death or dangerous or serious illness of soldiers and members of the A.T.S. I am afraid that any special treatment of envelopes of telegrams would lead to frequent assumptions that they contained worse news than that actually being notified.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the organisation of the War Damage Commission is such that it takes considerably more than a year to pay accounts of builders and others in respect of work on war damage reinstatement; whether he is aware that the delays of the Commission cause great financial strain to firms so penalised; and what reorganisation is contemplated?

I have been asked to reply. I cannot accept my hon. Friend's suggestion that it takes the War Damage Commission a year or more to settle claims for cost-of-works payments. In fact the average claim is settled within five or six weeks of its receipt. Individual claims, of course, may be outstanding for a longer period for a variety of reasons, and if my hon. Friend has any specific case or cases in mind where there appears to have been undue delay, and will give me particulars, I will be happy to make inquiries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated loss to this country of annual income resulting from the sale of British securities overseas before the institution of lease-lend and from the loss of other items of invisible exports?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Seaham (Mr. Shinwell) on 9th November. [OFFICIAL REPORT, columns 1087–8, Vol. 393, No. 119.]

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many copies have been sold of the Beveridge Report and the abridged Report, respectively, giving the figures for this country and the United States of America separately?

The sales in round figures of the full report are 256,000, of the abridged edition 369,000, and of the American edition 40,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury into how many languages has the Beveridge Report, or the abridgement thereof, been translated?

Permission has been sought and given for the translation of the Beveridge Report into three languages, Spanish, Portuguese and German, and the translations have been published in Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, Mexico and Switzerland. Parts I and VI of the Report have, I understand, been translated into Czech. The abridgment has been translated into Italian and Chinese.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he can now state the views of His Majesty's Government on the recommendations of the Scott Committee?

Yes, Sir. The views of His Majesty's Government are set out in the following statement:"The Committee on Land Utilisation in Rural Areas, of which Lord Justice Scott was Chairman, was appointed by the Minister of Works and Buildings, in consultation with the Minister of Agriculture, in October, 1941, with the following terms of reference:

asked the Home Secretary whether, upon Sir Oswald Mosley's restoration to health, it is proposed to re-intern him under Regulation 18B?

As my right hon. Friend indicated, it will be his duty to review the case from time to time in the light of the circumstances and in relation to all the factors obtaining at the time of the review; but it would not be right for him to commit himself at this stage as to the decision which he may take in hypothetical future circumstances.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that there are some 13 German-run organisations now established in this country; and whether he is satisfied that their activities are purely in the Allied interest?

Yes, Sir. There are a number of small organisations formed by various groups of refugees from Germany for social, cultural and other purposes. Organisations of this kind do not require Government approval and my right hon. Friend has no reason to suppose that at present their activities are prejudicial to the Allied war effort. They will continue, however, to be closely watched.

asked the Home Secretary what procedure is at present adopted by his Department in the case of persons who claim exemption from fire- prevention duties upon certificates furnished by their family practitioners; upon what grounds such cases are referred to his regional officers or to medical referees appointed by the Ministry of Labour; and whether he will terminate the practice whereby registered medical practitioners are subject to revision by non-medical tribunals, to whom details of the patients' illnesses are thus disclosed, without reference to the doctors who gave the certificates and without the consent of the individual patients concerned?

The procedure for dealing with applications for exemption from fire guard duties on grounds of medical unfitness is governed by the Fire Guard (Medical and Hardship Exemptions) Order, 1943. Under that Order the Minister of Home Security has power to grant or refuse such exemption in England and Wales. This power I have delegated to regional commissioners who, in exercising it, will be guided by the medical evidence regarding the applicant's unfitness to perform fire guard duties. In discharging their task under the Order regional commissioners are assisted by regional medical officers of the Ministry of Health and where an independent medical examination of the applicant appears to be necessary, that examination is made by one of the medical referees appointed by the Minister of Labour and National Service. Experience has shown that great dissatisfaction is caused when persons obtain exemption from fire guard duties on grounds which fellow-workers regard as inadequate. I am not, therefore, prepared to amend the Order so as to secure the grant of exemption in all cases when the applicant submits a certificate from a doctor that he is unfit for fire guard duties. Such certificates are, however, regarded as essential both to check frivolous or fraudulent applications and to enable the regional commissioner, on the advice of the regional medical officer, to decide whether the applicant ought to be required to undergo an examination by a medical referee.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to announce the constitution and terms of reference of the proposed committee on rent control?

Yes, Sir. As already announced, the chairman of the committee which has been appointed jointly by my right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, will be Lord Ridley. The members will be:

• The hon. Member for Gravesend (Sir Irving Albery).
• The hon. Member for Gorbals (Mr. Buchanan).
• Mr. Thomas Cassells.
• His Honour Judge David Davies.
• The hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Viscountess Davidson).
• Mr. A. Endicott.
• Mr. J. I. Falconer.
• The hon. and gallant Member for North Hackney (Captain Sir Austin Hudson).
• The hon. Member for Perth and Kinross (Mr. Hunter).
• The hon. Member for Bow and Bromley (Mr. Key).
• Mr. G. H. Kimpton.
• Alderman Sir Miles E. Mitchell.
• The hon. and gallant Member for Carnarvon (Major Owen).
• Mr. D. C. L. Ward.

asked the Minister of Health the policy of his Department in regard to primary vaccination of adolescents and young adults and the possibility of encephalitis resulting?

The policy of my Department in regard to primary vaccination of adolescents and young adults remains as communicated to sanitary authorities in 1929 and referred to in the Chief Medical Officer's annual report of 1933, to the effect that it is not generally expedient to press for the primary vaccination of children of school age and adolescents in this country unless they have been in personal contact with a case of smallpox or directly exposed to smallpox infection. I would, however, call attention to the reply given by the Prime Minister on 2nd November to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Bradford (Mr. Leach) in regard to persons going abroad.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will give a list of those diseases which, in accordance with the consensus of current medical opinion, are not caused or aggravated by military service?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a reply on this subject which I gave to the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on 29th July last.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many applications for pensions in regard to members of the services whose illness or death was believed to be due to encephalitis following vaccination or inoculation have been received; and whether any and, if so, how many of these application have been granted?

I regret that the records of my Department do not enable me to furnish the information asked for by the hon. Member.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the county agricultural executive committee was consulted prior to the determination of the boundaries of the exercise area about to be taken over in North-East Scotland; and why it was found to be necessary to draw this line so as to divide not only farms but even farm steadings into two bits?

The county agricultural executive committee was not consulted prior to the general determination of the boundaries of the area because these were largely governed by overriding joint Service requirements for which the Admiralty is acting as agent. Such modifications of the boundaries as are compatible with those requirements are, however, now being made in consultation with the committee and the Department of Agriculture for Scotland. The division of farms is in some cases unfortunately unavoidable, but in the one case where the line originally fixed divided the farm steading into two an adjustment is being made to exclude the whole of the steading.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he was consulted prior to the determination of the area about to be taken over by the Services in the North-East Scotland?

Yes, Sir. I am in touch with my right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty about minor adjustments of the boundary line.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any statement to make, as regards Scotland, on the matters dealt with for England and Wales in the Scott Report?

The Scott Committee dealt only with conditions in England and Wales but, in February, 1943, I appointed a committee under the chairmanship of Lord Normand, Lord President of the Court of Session, to consider the English Committee's recommendations so far as they were applicable to Scots conditions. Lord Normand's Committee reported that the Scottish problems were being dealt with by the Committees set up by me in consultation with my Council of ex-Secretaries of State and by the Scottish Departments in consultation with the Ministries concerned and the appropriate Scottish organisations. The Committees which I have set up cover many subjects of vital importance to the Scottish countryside such as housing, education, hydro-electric development, hill sheep, land settlement, design of farm buildings and the herring industry. The Scottish Council on Industry is also concerning itself with the establishment and maintenance of rural industries, including inquiry into such matters as the wool industry, the white fish industry and canning. The Committee on Hydro-Electric Development has already reported and the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee have reported on two of the matters remitted to them for inquiry. The other Committees should be in a position to report at an early date. The Hydro-Electric Development (Scotland) Act passed this year is the first fruit of the work of those Committees. The Secretary of State exercises in Scotland functions parallel to those of the Minister of Town and Country Planning in England and Wales and the machinery of planning is similar in both countries. The Scottish Town and Country Planning (Interim Development) Act, which became law on the 11th November, is the counterpart of the English Act passed earlier this year. The Secretary of State, as the Minister responsible in Scotland not only for town and country planning but also for agriculture, education, housing and public health, is in a specially favourable position to secure the effective co-ordination of matters of policy on the main questions affecting land utilisation in rural areas in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether an official report on the Edinburgh smallpox outbreak last year will be issued, similar to that issued on the Glasgow smallpox outbreak by the Glasgow medical officer of health?

I am informed that an account of the Edinburgh outbreak was contained in the annual report for 1942 of the city medical officer of health.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the average number of shifts worked per week for all wage-earners in the mines for each quarter in the years ended 30th June, 1942 and 1943?

The average number of shifts worked per week by all wage-earners in the coal mining industry in each quarter of the years ended 30th June, 1942, and 30th June, 1943, was as follows:

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the percentage of absenteeism for all workers in the mining industry for each quarter in the year ended 30th June, 1943, with similar figures for the year ended 30th June, 1942?

The percentage of absenteeism for all wage-earners in the coal-mining industry in each quarter of the years ended 30th June, 1943, and 30th June, 1942, was:

asked the President of the Board of Trade who were the British directors of I.G. Dyestuffs, Limited, who carried out the discussion with Herr Kôhler, director of the I.G. German monopoly in charge of their interests in Eire, Australia, Canada and United States of America; to what extent I.G.D. was controlled by the German parent company; and what action he has taken in view of the fact that the whole of the stocks in this country were the sole property of the German I.G.F. and remittances from the sales were made through an account in Hambro's bank?

As I informed my hon. Friend on 9th November, the British directors of I. G. Dyestuffs were Messrs. A. H. George, Frederick Taylor and John Dalby. Herr Kohler, the German director, resigned shortly before war broke out. I do not know what discussion is referred to, but control over I.G. Dyestuffs previously exercised by I.G. Farben, ceased on the outbreak of war, when all shares suspected of being in beneficial enemy ownership were vested in the custodian, who placed the company in liquidation and now holds the proceeds of the liquidation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how far the I.G. German monopoly, the I.G.D. and the General Dyestuffs Corporation, New York, were linked up and maintained close commercial, technical and research relations; whether the General Dyestuffs Corporation exported to Britain after 1939; did Herr Kôhler make arrangements for Kleinwarts to finance the United States shipments; was Kôhler in touch with Britain though New York and Eire; did he arrange the meeting that took place on 24th January, 1940, in the Hotel Columbia, Italy; and what was the result on German interests in fine dyes and chemicals?

There was, no doubt, before the war, a close relationship between I.G. Farben and all its subsidiary companies. Certain imports into the United Kingdom from the General Dyestuffs Corporation of America were permitted, by special licence, on the ground that they were urgently required for the British war effort. As regards the latter part of my hon. Friend's Question, I am making certain inquiries and shall be grateful for any information which my hon. Friend can give me.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps during 1938 were taken by the I.G. German monopoly to put I.G.D. Limited, on a different basis in order to safeguard the German interests in this country; what banks financed the transaction; was he aware that the company was reconstructed by a Dutch finance company controlled by German interests and later reorganised to make further safeguards, the share stock being transferred to a nominee holder; and what action was taken?

According to the report of the inspector appointed by the Board of Trade in October, 1939, the business of I.G. Dyestuffs, Ltd., consisted mainly of selling on commission, dyes, chemicals, etc., received from I.G. Farben of Germany. In September, 1938, I.G. Farben sold the stocks of goods consigned to I.G.D. to a Dutch company, which, I understand, was closely associated with I.G. Farben, but in December, 1938, they bought them back and the old relationship between I.G. Dyestuffs and I.G. Farben was revived. There is no evidence that this transaction was carried out through any bank. There were several changes in the shareholding of I.G. Dyestuffs from 1926 onwards. Up to 1935, the majority shareholders were two German companies. From 1935, the majority interest was held, nominally, up to July, 1939, by one Dutch company, and thereafter by another Dutch company. As I informed my hon. Friend on 9th November, the Board of Trade had reason to believe that these shares were held on behalf of I.G. Farben. Accordingly, they were vested in the Custodian of Enemy Property and subsequently the company went into liquidation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the absence of uniform provision is hampering recruitment for the Scottish G.T.C.; and whether he can make any arrangements to help by providing coupons or arranging, in consultation with the departments concerned, for some uniform type of dress to be accepted as regulation dress?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to similar Questions on this subject on 12th October, to which I regret that I have nothing to add.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he has considered the proposals for the organisation of the cotton industry submitted by employers' and 'employees' organisations; and what conclusions he has reached regarding the post-war organisation of the industry;(2) what preparations he is making to enable cotton mills closed down under concentration schemes to be in a position to restart their machinery as soon as possible after the cessation of hostilities in order that they may be able to produce for world markets?

I received, last March, the Report of the Cotton Industry Conference, of which the President of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce was chairman. This Report dealt only with the question whether there should be after the war a statutory Cotton Board. Last May, the chairman of the Cotton Board, at my invitation, set up a committee to inquire into the wider post-war problems of the cotton industry, including de-concentration. I am promised a Report from this committee by mid January. I received last month from the United Textile Factory Workers' Association proposals regarding the post-war organisation of the cotton industry. I am considering these with close attention.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of firms in the United Kingdom employing approximately 5,000 men and over, together with the total number of persons employed by all such firms and the estimated proportion of these employees to the total number of people employed?

The total number of such firms in industrial production in 1935—the latest year for which particulars are available—was 98. The number of persons employed was 1,108,000 persons or 14 per cent. of the total number of persons engaged in these industries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a shopkeeper closing his business after 23rd October, 1941, does not require a licence to restart on the same lines as previously, nor does a trader who closed down between 1st December, 1940, and the said date in October, whereas a trader who closed down between 3rd September, 1939, and 1st December, 1940, must apply for a licence to resume; and whether, when the last named closures are due to war circumstances he will place them on the same footing as the other two?

The basic period, 1st December, 1940, to 23rd October, 1941, was fixed after very careful consideration. I have received no request from any representative body of traders for the change proposed by my hon. and Gallant Friend, and I should not feel justified in the circumstances in making it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider an alteration in the price limitation and distribution of razor blades; and whether he has examined the representations of the Price Regulation Committee of the North Midland region in this connection?

On questions of prices, I am advised by the Central Price Regulation Committee, to whom representations by local price regulation committees should be addressed. The prices of razor blades are regulated by the Prices of Goods Act, 1939, under which a number of convictions have been obtained. I have no reason to think that the present methods of distribution need to be altered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the scarcity of saucepans for sale, especially in the city of Birmingham; and will he do whatever is possible to increase the supply of these useful articles?

I am glad to say that the output of saucepans has increased considerably in the past year and is still increasing. This will ease the position in Birmingham as well as in other parts of the country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of anxieties concerning the Government's arrangements for the disposal of surplus Government stocks, which arrangements appear to confine the proposed distribution to restricted channels, he will make an announcement defining more clearly the proposed scope and activities of Surplus Textiles Corporation, Limited?

The function of the Surplus Textiles Corporation is to arrange for the distribution of such surplus Government stocks of new clothing and textiles arising during the war as may be offered to and accepted by the Corporation. As I explained on 2nd November in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Rhys Davies), before working out the plans for post-war disposals the Board of Trade, together with the responsible departments, will consult with representatives of the producers and distributors concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the Emergency Powers (Defence) Apparel and Textiles (Utility Apparel) Order (S.R. & O., No. 1444, of 1943), as printed, contained four errors as compared with the Order as signed, so that it was necessary to issue a corrigendum slip?

These errors were due to compositors' and proof readers' oversights. Although the greatest care is taken, occasional slips are, I fear, inevitable, even in Government publications.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements are made to ensure that members of the A.T.S., who are granted leave on account of pregnancy, are provided with clothing coupons and ration cards?

In cases where members of the A.T.S. are discharged on grounds of pregnancy they are given a certificate, which they can take to the local Food Office and obtain their combined civilian food and clothes rationing book.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why British subjects who have succeeded in escaping from German internment camps in France are charged, on their arrival in this country, with expenses to cover their cost of living in neutral territory and transport home?

It is not the policy of His Majesty's Government to meet the expenses of British subjects staying or travelling in a private capacity in foreign countries. His Majesty's consular officers in neutral countries and the representatives of the Protecting Powers in enemy and enemy occupied countries have, however, authority in suitable cases to advance funds for this purpose against signed undertakings to repay on demand. The claims are not pressed where the debtors are genuinely unable to repay even by instalments. In many cases, however, the debtors have ample funds in this country and are only too anxious to refund the advances made to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Britishers serving in His Majesty's Farces stationed in the United States of America are tried for civil offences by British military courts on the spot, as is the case of American troops stationed in this country?

His Majesty's Government have been advised that the United States authorities are of the opinion that British Service courts and authorities in the United States have the right under United States law to exercise jurisdiction over members of their forces in respect of Service offences. In some cases members of His Majesty's Forces in the United States charged with offences against United States law have already been tried by British Service Courts and in others by United States Courts. I understand that in order to facilitate the exercise of such jurisdiction, it is necessary for the United States Government to pass legislation, and that such legislation in the form of a draft Bill for Congress has already been prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is in a position to give any information as to the whereabouts of the 49 British prisoners of war who left Stalag 21D on 13th October to be repatriated and have since disappeared?

We did not receive from Germany the full number of those whom the German Government had given us to understand would be repatriated. The question was at once taken up with the German Government who replied that the deficiency was entirely due to technical reasons, and gave a formal undertaking that those not sent would be given priority in the next repatriation of seriously sick and wounded prisoners. If the hon. Member will give me all the information he possesses about the party from Stalag XXI D, I shall be grateful, as it will be valuable in connection with further representations to the German Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the prospect of further contingents of British prisoners of war being repatriated in the near future?

I am not yet in a position to make any statement. I can, however, assure the hon. Member that it is our firm intention, subject to agreement with the German Government, to proceed with further repatriations of seriously sick and seriously wounded prisoners of war and of protected personnel as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give any further information regarding the conditions of British civilian internees at Stanley Camp, Hong Kong?

In the reply which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War made to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Ilford (Mr. Hutchinson) on 19th October last, it was pointed out that the rations issued by the Japanese were inadequate to maintain the prisoners over a long period in reasonable health. This statement holds good also for British civilian internees in camps such as Stanley Camp, Hong Kong. There is no doubt that the Japanese failure to provide the diet and rations necessary for the proper sustenance of Europeans in such places as Hong Kong must have an increasingly serious effect upon the wellbeing of the internees, and the Government take this opportunity of reminding the Japanese Government that they will be held responsible for all results arising from their failure to accord proper treatment to the internees and to permit, up to now, the regular despatch to them of the necessary relief supplies.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare whether he will make a statement regarding the smuggling in Spanish ships of contraband of war from South America to Spain and Portugal for transmission to enemy occupied countries in Europe; and what steps have been taken to stop this traffic?

Yes, Sir. During the past few months our Contraband Control officers have discovered a number of attempts to smuggle contraband on Spanish ships sailing from South America to Spain and Portugal. These have involved goods of small bulk but high value such as industrial diamonds, platinum and liver extract, which is used for the manufacture of special tonics supplied to shock troops, airmen and submarine crews. As regards the second part of the Question, the number of ships intercepted and brought in for search at a British control base has increased. If we have reason to believe that a passenger or seaman has been involved in smuggling or attempted smuggling, we take steps, through our system of passenger and crew control, to prevent him crossing the Atlantic again. It is clear that, as a general rule, the shipping companies and masters concerned are ignorant of these attempts to defeat the blockade. I must, however, remind those concerned that, if in any case there were evidence of their complicity, both the cargo and the ship would be liable to be seized and placed in prize.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Mrs. Peter Lindsay, the wife of an officer serving in India, secured an air passage about two months ago to India; the reasons for which he found it advisable to give her priority over other applicants; and whether he has any statement to make as to methods employed in procuring the passage?

I have been asked to reply. This lady is employed by my Department and was given priority at our request.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare, in view of our recent aerial attack upon ball bearing factories in German territory, to what extent any ball bearings are being exported to Germany from Swedish factories?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave on 2nd November to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport (Sir A. Gridley).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he has examined the allegations supplied by an expert in wagon repairs and sent to him by the Member for Doncaster; and what action he proposes to take to end the elaborate and costly methods which now obtain in the general overhauling and repairing of railway wagons?

The allegations to which my hon. Friend refers are being investigated, and I will communicate the result to him as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Production whether he will ensure that as much notice as possible be given when and where it is intended to close factories which have reached saturation point in production, in order that more adequate time may be given to all concerned to slow down production gradually or to make alternative arrangements and avoid precipitate discharge of workers?

Yes, Sir, my right hon. Friend is very conscious of the importance of this point and will bear it constantly in mind. The cuts in production, however, which result in the closure of factories are dictated by alterations in the requirements of the Armed Forces, and in many cases must be made with the minimum delay once a decision is reached.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the issue of some distinctive badge to young men directed into essential work and thereby debarred from joining one of the Armed Forces?

The possibility of issuing a distinctive badge to persons engaged on essential war work has been considered on a number of occasions and found to be impracticable. My right hon. Friend regrets, therefore, that he cannot adopt this suggestion.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will reconsider the case, details of which have been sent to him, of a pupil teacher and external student of London University, who was refused registration as a conscientious objector and although he applied for work in coalmining this application was refused; and, as this student is carrying out useful duties as assistant master in a secondary school while studying for a science degree in London University, whether he will now allow him to return to his studies?

This young man's application for registration as a conscientious objector was rejected by both the local tribunal and appellate tribunal. His application for postponement of liability to be called up for service was refused by a Military Service (Hardship) Committee. I have no authority to interfere with their decisions. Mr. Buckley's application for work in the coal mining industry has not been refused. He has been found fit for the work and action to place him is proceeding.

asked the Attorney-General whether, having regard to the decision in Langford Property Company, Limited, v. Pajzs, His Majesty's Government will consider, when drafting future Acts amending earlier legislation dealing with war damage, the insertion of words making such amendment retrospective to the date of the principal Act?

It would, I think, be quite wrong to adopt a general principle that all Acts dealing with war damage or its effects should be retrospective. The case referred to arose out of Section 1 of the Landlord and Tenant War Damage (Amendment) Act, 1941. This, as submitted to the House, was not made retrospective for reasons which commended themselves to the Government, and no suggestion that it should be retrospective was made in the Debates.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there is much delay in the censorship of letters from Britain to prisoners of war in Germany; that letters to prisoners of war from relatives are held up in some instances as long as four weeks after date of posting in Britain, as shown by the British post-mark; that practically no Scottish letters were received during September in Oflag 1X/AH; and will he take steps to accelerate the censorship and despatch of letters which are eagerly awaited by prisoners of war from relatives?

Letters from this country to prisoners of war in Germany are not normally held by the British Censorship, for which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Information is responsible, for more than 48 hours and most of them are released within 24 hours. No distinction is made between letters posted in Scotland and those posted in the rest of the country, and I was not aware that Scottish letters had failed to reach Oflag 1X/AH during September. All practicable steps are already taken to accelerate the censorship and despatch of letters for prisoners of war, and there is ample evidence that such delay as occurs in their delivery is due to the deterioration of the German censorship organisation. At the request of the War Office, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, has recently caused representations on this subject to be made through the Protecting Power. A reply to these representations is awaited.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the concern in Blackpool, Lytham St. Annes and the Fylde area about the proposed plan for the distribution of turkeys and geese at Christmas which may leave these areas without any supplies; and whether he will arrange that these areas receive their fair share of the national supply at Christmas?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave On 23rd November to the hon. Members for West Edinburgh (Lieut.-Commander Hutchison), and Reigate (Mr. Touche). From this it will be seen that, while turkeys and geese from Northern Ireland will not be directed to Blackpool, Lytham St. Annes and the Fylde area, consumers and caterers there who pur- chased home-produced or Northern Ireland poultry from a retailer who is receiving Northern Ireland supplies in one of the selected centres will be entitled to share in those supplies. Moreover, retailers in the area who purchased imported poultry before the war from a wholesaler receiving supplies of such poultry in Manchester, Liverpool or others of the eleven centres will be entitled to a share of Eire turkeys and geese. Home produced supplies should also be available to retailers through the normal trade channels.

asked the Minister of Supply what financial assistance was given to the firm of British Celanese by the Government during the period 1941 to 1943 to construct a large plant for manufacturing alcohol from oil; and whether he is satisfied that the results justify continued confidence in the capabilities of this firm?

Financial assistance has been given to the company in respect of this plant by way of subscription to debenture stock, nearly all of which has since been disposed of through the Stock Exchange in the normal way. As regards the second part of the Question, there have been difficulties in obtaining from abroad supplies of the most suitable quality of oil, and it is consequently not yet possible to form a judgment on the results of the plant.