asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the position of companies with Excess Profits Tax post-war credit which go into liquidation during the war; and if the liquidator is permitted to count such credits as assets?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the provisions of Section 37 of the Finance Act, 1942, from which he will see that repayment of the E.P.T. Post-War Credit is dependent upon conditions to be determined hereafter by Parliament being satisfied. Until those conditions have been defined I am afraid that it is not possible to say how companies going into liquidation will be affected, but I would point out that Section 37 contemplates conditions relating to the distribution and application of profits for the benefit of shareholders.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Income Tax relief is allowed in the case of persons whose homes have been destroyed by enemy action and have been at considerable expense in replacing furniture and effects lost?

No, Sir. As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware Part II of the War Damage Act provides compensation in respect of furniture and effects lost through enemy action.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that persons in the service of the Colonial Office in various parts of the Empire who have returned to this country since the war have, in many cases, been forced to remain here through no fault of their own, awaiting passages to the Colonies until the six months' sojourn allowed by the Board of Inland Revenue has expired; that many of them have had to meet heavy and unexpected taxation out of their savings; and whether steps can be taken to remove this hardship?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my predecessor gave to the hon. Member for Oxford (Mr. Hogg) on 27th July last. [Volume 391, No. 95, columns 1412–13.]

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of considerable resentment among men of the Merchant Navy arising from Income Tax being levied on war risk money, including shipwreck pay and shipwreck leave pay; and whether consideration can be given to this grievance with a view to its removal?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given by the late Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. and gallant Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore) on 9th February last and to the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on 13th April last. It would not he possible to discriminate in favour of a particular type of earnings by reference to the risk or hardship attached to the circumstances in which they are earned.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is now in a position to make any further statement about the charges for the encashment of banknotes in Scotland and Northern Ireland?

As I stated in my reply to my right hon. Friend on 24th June last, the terms on which banknotes are cashed in Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the banks operating in those parts of the United Kingdom. The banks concerned were invited to review their practice. The Irish Banks' Standing Committee, however, do not see their way to agree to a proposal for a reciprocal arrangement for the free encashment of Scottish and Irish banknotes on the ground that, in view of the expenses involved, such an arrangement would operate to the disadvantage of the Irish banks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the ban imposed on civil servants in giving assistance to Sir William Beveridge on his full employment inquiry will also be made to apply to giving advice or assistance to the Federation of British Industries and trade research organisations such as that proposed on the possible development of the plastics industry?

I do not know precisely what kind of inquiry the hon. Member has in mind. The ruling to which he refers has no bearing on cases where civil servants take part in discussions or negotiations with outside bodies as part of their official duties.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the principles which govern the selection of districts as reception areas for evacuated civil servants?

The areas to which Government Departments have been evacuated were selected before the war. The main considerations which were borne in mind were the availability of accommoda- tion and adequate means of communication and the relative security from interruptions due to air-raid warnings.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that private contractors for food supplies to the Army in certain Indian stations charge exorbitant prices; and will steps be taken to have N.A.A.F.I. canteens established throughout the Indian camps?

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to foodstuffs sold in canteens. As I indicated in my reply on 9th November to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Ness Edwards) the policy of the Government of India is to provide canteen facilities to the utmost extent possible and to fix reasonable prices. Canteens in India are run by the Indian Canteens Department under the supervision of the Defence Department of the Government of India: to establish N.A.A.F.I. side by side with that Department would involve complications in administration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that serving men have to wander about Manchester vainly seeking shelter for the night because of the shortage of accommodation; and whether he will assist local effort to meet the urgent needs of these men?

I have only recently heard the suggestion that there is a shortage of accommodation in Manchester for members of the Services. The military authorities have been asked to report on the matter and to suggest any necessary remedies.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the coming winter, he will institute a national inquiry into the adequacy or inadequacy of accommodation in all towns and cities frequented by travelling Service men so as to allay the widespread uneasiness which exists on the subject?

I am regularly informed of the need for such accommodation and a special inquiry is not, I think, necessary. About 29,000 beds are now available for personnel of the Services who are travelling and a further 600 are being provided. My hon. Friend will appreciate that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find suitable accommodation for additional hostels where the need for them arises and the shortage of labour and materials, which are needed for many essential projects for the prosecution of the war, may often delay their equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether members of His Majesty's Forces serving in India and the South-east Asia Command who have been abroad for six years or longer are being transferred to the Home Establishment; and, if so, at what date it is anticipated that it will be possible to reduce the qualifying period of service in this area to five years?

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." In a reply I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chester (Major Nield) on 23rd November I said that men who had been overseas for five years would begin to be brought home at the end of this year. I am afraid, however, that in the case of India the transition from the six to the five years' qualification will be some months later than in the nearer theatres.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that no pathological services are available during the week-end at University College Hospital, but in cases where the patient does not respond to sulphothiazole a blood count is necessary; why this was not taken in the case of Private Sheridan; and whether he will have the case fully investigated?

My right hon. and learned Friend is informed that although the laboratory at the hospital is closed for routine work during the week-end, facilities for emergency pathological work are available and that in the case to which my hon. Friend refers a blood count was, in fact, taken. Medical officers of the Department, after examining the detailed hospital notes, advise that the patient's condition appears to have been hopeless from the time of admission, and that all possible treatment and attention were given by the hospital staff. I am sending my hon. Friend further particulars.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what are the average daily figures for the sale to the public and the distribution officially of the Lords and Commons Hansard for the months of June, 1943, and November, 1943, respectively?

The average disposal of each issue of Hansard published during June and November, 1943, was:

asked the Minister of Health whether it is his intention to have a complete survey made of present and potential water supplies in this country?

It is the duty of every local sanitary authority to take such steps as are necessary from time to time to ascertain the sufficiency and wholesomeness of the water supplies in their district. The systematic long-term measurement of water resources is a matter for the Inland Water Survey whose work consists of recording, collating and publishing measurements of the flow of rivers and, in conjunction with the Geological Survey, estimates of yield of underground sources. The activities of the Inland Water Survey have been generally suspended during the war, since the central and local personnel concerned have necessarily been engaged on work more closely related to the war effort but will be resumed as soon as practicable.

asked the Minister of Health in how many instances women have been appointed to advisory housing committees?

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the Central Housing Advisory Committee and its various sub-committees. There are five women among the members of the Central Committee and a further five women serve as additional members on the various sub-committees.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now name the British experts sent to Italy for the protection of historic buildings and works of art?

The British officers appointed, or to be appointed, for this work will in the main be members of the Allied Control Commission, and I am not sure that it is desirable in the case of that Commission any more than in that of Military Headquarters or Government Departments to publish the names of all those engaged within the organisation's framework on any particular duties. In any case I should wish to await the report of the War Office adviser who is at present visiting North Africa and Italy before making any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether arrangements to be made for the supply of clothing to personnel demobilised from the Forces will enable those demobilised to buy their clothes as and where they wish?

The arrangements to be made are under consideration now.

asked the Secretary of State for War how far men in the Home Guard above registration age who voluntarily joined that force can be compulsorily transferred to other units against their own desires?

A man who joins the Home Guard voluntarily, accepts the same conditions of service as a man who is directed to enrol. Those who were in the force before 16th February, 1942, were deemed to have accepted the new conditions of compulsory service if they did not exercise their option to resign by that date. They are, therefore, liable for compulsory transfer subject to the general conditions of service which prevent them being ordered to live away from home before mustering or to give whole time service.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give instructions to all officers commanding exercises in agricultural training areas to fill in all dug trenches when exercises are at an end as this is carried out by many units, but not by all, open trenches being dangerous to cattle, sheep and individuals?

Instructions on these lines are already in force and when it is brought to the notice of the military authorities that they have been disobeyed, disciplinary action is taken against the individuals responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has considered the particulars taken by the police of an accident which occurred in the morning black-out on Wednesday, 6th January, 1943, when Mrs. E. Hart, of 161, East Street, Southwark, was knocked down by an Army lorry as she was about to enter a tramcar in the Old Kent Road, Southwark; and whether he will consider the desirability of making a grant to Mrs. Hart, whose head and leg injuries necessitated her detention in hospital until November and whose clothes and other personal belongings were destroyed as a result of the accident?

This case is at present under consideration with Mrs. Hart's representatives.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers and other ranks of the R.A.P.C., in medical categories A1 to B7 inclusive, remain in home pay offices; and what steps he is taking to transfer them to more active duties?

It would not be in the public interest for me to give the actual numbers. As regards officers now employed in Pay Offices at home, 42 per cent. are in medical category A, 41 per cent. in category B and 17 per cent. in category C. Of the category A officers, 83 per cent. are over 35 years of age, and their average age is 43½; the average age over all officers in the Corps is 41 years. Of the total clerks employed in home Pay Offices, 36 per cent. are soldiers of medical categories A to B7. These include instructors, supervisors and other non-commissioned officers and men classified for employment on non-combatant duties. A number of category A soldiers are, however, being transferred to other arms as soon as suitable replacements can be obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the controlled prices at which officers can obtain khaki uniform dress caps and coloured or other side caps; and are military tailors or hatters entitled to charge £4 5s. and £2 12s. 6d. respectively, for these compulsory articles of equipment?

Arrangements have been in force for some time whereby officers may buy from retailers service dress caps and field service caps made up in whipcord obtained from Army stocks at a controlled price of 18s. 6d. each. This price does not include the purchase tax which is due or the cost of the badge. It is not proposed to control the price of the drab field service cap made up in other materials as this cap is being replaced by the new general service cap which officers will have to obtain from War Department stocks. The Central Price Regulation Committee are investigating the prices of the service dress cap made up in material other than whipcord from Army stocks and will shortly make recommendations. The purchase of coloured field service caps is optional and the price is controlled under the provisions of the General Cloth and Apparel Order 1942 (S.R. and O. 1942/1407).

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the arduous nature of their work, he has considered supplying those employed in and around coalmines with food rations not less than those provided for men serving in His Majesty's Forces in this country; and, if so, with what result?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Keeling) on 10th November, last.

asked the Minister of Food in how many schools in Gloucestershire the milk in schools is provided in a separate bottle for each child?

Of 391 schools in Gloucestershire which have completed returns under the recent census of School Milk, 357 stated that the milk was being provided in a separate bottle for each child. The total number of schools in Gloucestershire covered by the census was 706. It will be possible to give more complete information when the returns from the remainder of the schools have been received.

asked the Minister of Food whether, as farthings are in short supply, he will so far as possible, avoid fixing prices in values of this coin?

I am not aware that traders have experienced any difficulty in obtaining adequate supplies of farthings from the banks. The maximum prices permitted under Ministry of Food orders only make use of farthings in those cases where avoiding the use of a farthing would unjustifiably reduce the trader's remuneration or, alternatively, would result in an unduly high price to the consumer. Indeed, in certain cases where maximum prices have been laid down covering a whole range of grades and quantities, compensatory adjustments have been introduced in order to reduce the number of prices in which a farthing occurs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans in West Africa are at present under detention without charge or trial; and, in particular, whether the cases of M. A. O. Imondu and Wallace Johnson have recently been reviewed?

I am asking the Governors of the West African Colonies to supply me with an up-to-date return of all Africans at present being detained or subjected to restrictions under the local Defence Regulations as the information in my possession does not differentiate between Africans and persons of other race. As regards the second part of the Question, the hon. Member is no doubt aware that Mr. Imondu and Mr. Wallace Johnson are no longer under detention but were released under Restriction Orders some time ago. I have no doubt that the Governors of Nigeria and Sierra Leone respectively will reconsider these cases when circumstances justify their doing so.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport by what date does he expect that all tankers will have complied with his Order of July, 1942, to have steel lifeboats installed; and whether wooden lifeboats fitted with the new protective devices count as steel lifeboats for the purpose of this Order?

As I informed my hon. and gallant Friend on 3rd November, half the tanker fleet was already provided with steel lifeboats in July, 1942. It is estimated that the figure now approaches two-thirds. The object now in view is to provide tankers as rapidly as possible either with steel lifeboats of the new design embodying special fire protective devices or with converted boats embodying similar devices. Wooden boats so converted will be accepted in lieu of steel boats. The date when all tankers will be so provided cannot be estimated until further experience has shown how rapidly new boats can be produced and existing boats converted. In the meantime, I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that all tankers have long been provided with special equipment for protecting their crews against fire, including water sprays and asbestos blankets in the lifeboats, and fire-resisting hoods for all members of the crew.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport who authorises the use of omnibuses to take workers from Bridgend to Porthcawl for dances; and whether he will inquire why two double-decker omnibuses were at Pyle on Friday night last to take 20 workers home from the dance?

The Regional Transport Commissioner is not aware that any authority has been given for special omnibuses to take workers from Bridgend to Porthcawl for dances, nor is he able to trace the case to which my hon. Friend refers. If my hon. Friend can let me have further details I will cause further inquiries to be made.

asked the Lord Advocate whether his Department sanctioned the recent prosecution of a firm of stationers in the Border District of Scotland on the grounds of an overcharge on notebooks supplied to the Selkirk education authority; whether he is aware that the firm in question amended the price on the day following the sending of the original invoice and before any complaint had been made; and whether he will take steps to prevent the prosecution of firms in such circumstances where no intention to overcharge existed?

I gave instructions for this prosecution. At that time I was not aware that the price had been amended on the day following the sending of the original invoice. The information before me was to the effect that a credit note had only been received by the purchaser after a complaint had been made. It was proved at the trial that this information was wrong. On the facts disclosed at the trial I would not have ordered prosecution. The last part of the Question therefore does not arise.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in the pending Workmen's Compensation Bill, there will be any arrangements for changes in medical procedure in dealing with cases of workmen's compensation arising from accident or disabilities sustained in the course of Post Office employment, so as to reform the present inequitable arrangements?

I am unable to accept my hon. Friend's suggestion that the present arrangements are inequitable. I am not responsible for legislation relating to workmen's compensation, but in my opinion it would be inappropriate to legislate specifically for Post Office servants.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether, in any Government social security scheme now being planned, he will ensure for Post Office employees medical services equal to any available for the rest of the community so that these medical services will be no longer on a capitation-fee basis without the patient's choice of doctor; and what measures of rehabilitation, surgical and medical, are being planned for Post Office workers;(2) what consideration has been given or plans prepared for changes in the Post Office medical services and for variations in the medical contracts of local Post Office doctors, and if he has consulted the Minister of Reconstruction with a view to the inclusion of Post Office employees in the advantages of the proposed National Health service?

I am unable to make any statement at the present time in regard to the position of Post Office servants under any Government health scheme.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Post Office medical service is still considered primarily supervisory rather than curative or ameliorative; whether this service is still confined strictly to a general practitioner service; and whether extension is contemplated to consultant or institutional medical services?

The Post Office medical service is primarily curative and not supervisory. It is limited to general practitioner service. The position will be reviewed in the light of any arrangements which may be introduced under any general Government health scheme.

asked the Postmaster-General whether a strict record is kept in the Post Office medical statistics of complaints against Post Office medical officers in the course of medical attention given to Post Office employees under the Post Office medical arrangements; and what arbitration machinery is available in cases where the patient's health is damaged?

A record is kept in the Headquarters medical branch of the Post Office of complaints against Post Office medical officers in regard to the medical attention given to Post Office servants. No arbitration machinery is provided.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the rates of pay for schoolchildren who assist with the Christmas mail will be the same for both sexes?

No, Sir. The rates of pay for school children who will assist with the postal work at Christmas are fixed within prescribed maxima which provide for differential rates for boys and girls. The rates for individual towns are settled in consultation with the local employment exchange authorities and after discussion with the head masters or head mistresses concerned.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what are the results of the inquiries which he began to make nine months ago on the gasification of coal underground in Russia, the extraction of fire-damp from coalmines in the United States of America and the tests made in Scottish mines?

I regret that so far no information about the Russian work on underground gasification has been received. The U.S. authorities have kindly supplied my Ministry with some information about the proposals for the extraction of fire-damp from coalmines in the U.S.A. and this is being examined. As far as I am aware, no tests on underground gasification are in progress in Scotland but I am informed that for some years methane issuing at the surface in a coalfield area in Scotland has been used for the heating of glasshouses.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has considered the suggestion recently sent to him that it should be made known to the general public, through broadcasts, posters and newspaper advertisements, that by going to bed half an hour earlier each evening for the next few months they may save enough coal in the form of electricity and gas to remove all anxiety about the adequacy of supplies for munitions and the great offensive; and whether he will now act on the suggestion?

My hon. Friend's suggestion has been under examination in my Department, and while the annual saving in fuel that would result if everyone went to bed half an hour earlier might be of the order of a million tons of coal a year—a very valuable saving—only a relatively small amount of this total would be in a form of gas and electricity. Such a saving would not relieve anxiety in regard to these fuels, especially, as the greatest demand for electricity is in the morning. Publicity from my Department is therefore being directed first towards the need for general economy in the use of fuel, and secondly towards economy in gas and electricity, in the latter case particularly between 8.30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has now received from the North-western Regional Controller a Report of the Controller's Conference with the Lancashire and Cheshire Colliery Deputies and Shotfirers' Association, the Lancashire and Cheshire Collieries' Undermanagers' and Under-lookers' Association and the Lancashire Branch of the National Association of Colliery Managers on discipline in coalmines and the adverse effect of the Essential Work Order as applied to coalmines; whether he has considered the proposals made at this discussion; and whether he intends to adopt them?

I have seen the memorandum submitted by the bodies referred to and the report of the meeting between them and my Regional Controller. Proposals similar to some of those suggested in the memorandum have been under consideration in my Ministry and will be the subject of discussion in the near future with the national representatives of the employers and the men.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of each sex transferred from Northumberland to work in other parts of the country for the years 1939 to latest date?

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, as is the case with the mining industry, comparable figures are available indicating for other industries, the numbers employed, number of shifts worked per week, absenteeism, &c.; and if so, will he give a statement showing these details for the years 1941–2 and 1943 to date?

I regret that these statistics are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, since one of the reasons for the inability of his Department to supply the Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, G.T.C. and other British youth organisations with the cloth and material for their uniforms is that the British Government have agreed to supply cloth produced in the United Kingdom for the use of American troops, in view of the changed circumstances and the surplus quantity of cloth in the States, this position can now be reviewed?

While we are able to help to meet the needs of the United States forces over here, the United States, on their part, provide for large British requirements, particularly for overseas theatres. These arrangements are constantly under review in the light of all the circumstances, but having regard to the many and varied calls on the supplies of the two countries it is clear that there is no surplus above essential needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the total number of officers and airmen of the R.A.F. in Japanese hands; what information has, so far been received affecting how many officers and airmen; and what steps the Air Ministry have taken to obtain confirmation of such information as has been received and to obtain further information?

Full details of Royal Air Force personnel held by the Japanese are still not available but reports so far received show that 323 officers and 4,483 airmen are recorded as prisoners of war. These figures are based partly on notifications received through the International Red Cross and partly on unofficial notifications, including postcards, received by next-of-kin. The only other information received concerns the deaths of 302 officers and airmen. Strong representations have been made through the Protecting Power about the failure of the Japanese Government to furnish complete lists of prisoners of war, but these have so far proved unsuccessful.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will provide information showing what is being done throughout the country by loyal education authorities and by employers by way of part-time education and special training of young workers, together with a statement as to the nature and extent of the assistance given to these activities by his Department?

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind part-time education and vocational training in courses held in the day-time. The number of persons attending such courses in the year ended 31st July last was a little over 48,600, and the great majority of these were young workers released by their employers during working hours for attendance at schools conducted by local education authorities. I am glad to say that this represents an increase of nearly 5,000 as compared with the total for the last year before the war and of over 11,000 as compared with 1940–41. The Board pay grant at the rate of 50 per cent. of the net cost to the local education authorities of this service, and they do everything possible to facilitate the provision of these courses to meet the wishes of employers.