asked the Minister of Labour whether scientific training of factory workers for domestic work will be available under any legislation contemplated by His Majesty's Government.

The question of the provision of training in domestic work is now under consideration in connection with post-war training schemes. During wartime, organised training courses for large-scale cooking are already in operation and plans for the extension of such courses to other branches of domestic work are under examination.

asked the Minister of Labour if it is intended that C.D. workers and members of the N.F.S., both volunteers and conscripts, should be provided for by the Reinstatement Bill.

I would refer my hon. Friend to para. (c) of sub-section (1) of Clause 6 of the Bill.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is in consultation with the Departments of State concerned with building with a view to providing work for the thousands of building trade employees who are threatened with unemployment; and if he is aware that building contractors in Middlesbrough are very short of contracts.

I have no reason to anticipate a substantial degree of unemployment of building trade workers and the information in my possession does not suggest that there is unemployment of these workers in Middlesbrough. There is a wide field of operation for the building contractors in Middlesbrough, including the repair and maintenance of housing, which has the first call on immobile building labour after demands for war purposes have been met.

asked the President of the Board of Education in how many single-school areas the school is a provided school; and what was the average attendance at such schools for the latest year for which statistics are available.

The number of provided public elementary schools in single-school areas in England and Wales on 31st March, 1935, the latest date for which statistics are available, was 2,125, and it is unlikely that this number has materially changed, though the tendency is for it to increase. For the purposes of these figures a single-school area is taken as a civil parish in which there is only one public elementary school. No account has been taken of the accessibility of schools in adjoining parishes. I regret that figures for the average attendance at these school are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, under the new Act, a homogeneous Catholic school, for which the Catholics concerned are unable to find 50 per cent. of the cost of rebuilding and remodelling authorised by the local education authority, will become a controlled school with the resulting change of religious instruction to an agreed syllabus and the appointment of undenominational staff.

I would draw the attention of the hon. Member to Clause 14 of the Education Bill.

asked the President of the Board of Education (1) the net sum paid by the Surrey County Council for 245 acres at Priest Hill Farm, Ewell;(2) if the sum paid by the Surrey County Council for 245 acres at Priest Hill Farm, Ewell, was based upon the value of this land in 1939.

I understand that negotiations for the purchase of this site are still in progress but that no definite figure has been submitted to the Board for their approval.

asked the President of the Board of Education on what date the McNair Committee on the training of teachers was appointed; and did he ask it to endeavour to present its Reports before the Education Bill was to be introduced.

I appointed the McNair Committee on 25th March, 1942. Everyone concerned is anxious to see this report but I did not give the Committee any particular date.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can state the number of additional teachers required per annum if the maximum size of classes in State-aided schools are not to exceed 30 pupils.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) on 8th July last, a copy of which I am sending her. In my speech to the House yesterday I gave some account of the active preparations now being made to recruit additional teachers required to meet educational developments.

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the last known average percentage number of children taking meals at schools; if he will give a list of authorities who are above the average, giving the percentage supplied by each authority; and a list of all local authorities who supply free meals.

The percentages of children attending public elementary schools and secondary schools respectively in England and Wales who received a midday meal at school on a day in October, 1943, were 26.5 and 52.2. A return, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, showing the percentages for the area of each local education authority in February, 1943, was published as a Command Paper last May and I propose to present a similar return relating to a day in February, 1944, as soon as the particulars have been furnished and collated. Of the 305 authorities which provided meals last October, all but 21 were supplying free meals.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider extending to crippled persons benefits similar to those now given to blind persons.

The question of assisting persons, such as the blind or cripples, who suffer from permanent disablement, whether total or partial, is engaging the attention of the Government in connection with the proposals in the Beveridge Report. The aim of the Government is to rehabilitate them wherever possible. In so far as hospital treatment will remedy or alleviate the condition, or, better still, prevent its occurrence, the measures already taken by hospitals will, I hope, be developed on the lines of the Memorandum on the Organisation of a Hospital Rehabilitation Department which I issued last week. I may also remind my hon. and gallant Friend that provision for the training and employment of persons with disabilities of this kind is made in the Disabled Persons (Employment) Bill now before Parliament.

asked the Minister of Health why a probationer nurse is not permitted to finish her course if she marries.

This is not a matter within my jurisdiction, but, so far as I am aware, it is not the general practice of hospital authorities to require the resignation of a nurse on marriage. If my hon. Friend has any individual case in mind and will send me particulars of it, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Health with reference to the scheme of financial allowances for certain categories of sufferers from tuberculosis, whether maintenance allowances paid by local authorities to married women who give up remunerative employment in order to undergo treatment qualify for reimbursement by the Exchequer if the husband is earning or if the husband is in the Forces.

It is the object of the arrangements which have been made to enable persons to give up employment and undertake treatment without anxiety as to the maintenance of their dependants. This would not ordinarily arise in the cases to which my hon. Friend refers, but if he has any particular case in mind, I shall be glad to have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Health whether any inquiry has been made regarding the effect of black-out upon health generally and eyesight in particular; and what results it disclosed.

No, Sir. I have no knowledge of any such inquiry.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the difficulty of obtaining staff for day nurseries and the consequent overstrain imposed on those employed in them; and what steps are being taken to deal with this situation.

I am well aware of the difficulties of obtaining staff for day nurseries. Many steps are being taken to deal with the situation. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service has arranged to provide trained women where possible, and women who have had practical experience with children in private households as and when they become available. War-time courses of instruction are being held for untrained women over 31 years of age, who form a corps known as the Child Care Reserve, and a year's training for a nursery diploma is provided in the nurseries for girls leaving school at 15 or 16. In addition experienced nursery nurses are being given short courses of special instruction in children's hospitals and nursery training colleges to fit them for responsible posts in the nurseries.

asked the Minister of Health whether Lord Horder's Committee has secured particulars of the cure for rheumatoid arthritis announced in Russia; and whether an early use and trial is likely.

I understand that the British Empire Rheumatism Council have not yet received a reply to their inquiries on this matter.

asked the Minister of Health if he has considered a resolution passed by the urban district council of Atherton, Lancashire, that the care and welfare of the blind should in all respects be the subject of a national scheme and the full cost be borne by the State; and if he will state his intentions upon this subject.

I have received several resolutions to this effect. The care and welfare of the blind are among the matters dealt with in the Beveridge Report and the Government's proposals with respect to them will be included in the forthcoming White Paper.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the action of directors of emergency public health laboratories in soliciting chemical and bacteriological practice in competition with public analysts, consulting chemists and bacteriologists; and since such action is contrary to the intention expressed in the circular-letter issued by the Minister on 5th September, 1939, that the scheme should not interfere in any way with the operation of normal services, if he will take steps to put a stop to this practice.

I have received representations to the effect stated by my hon. Friend, and my predecessor issued last year instructions calling attention to the purpose of the emergency public health laboratories. I am at present making inquiry into particular cases, brought to my notice by representatives of public analysts, in which they consider that work has been improperly diverted from public analysts.

asked the Minister of Health what number of new houses and flats he is planning to construct and complete within the first and second years after the termination of the war in Europe.

I am not yet able to give the information asked for, but I can assure my hon. Friend that my colleagues and I are hard at work assessing the many and complicated factors relating to labour and materials which have to be taken into account and that an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health if he has any estimate showing the approximate number of new houses and flats which would be required for an adequate housing policy if the war in Europe ended during 1944.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer, of which I am sending him a copy, which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Mathers) on 30th November last.

asked the Minister of Health how many of the agricultural cottages were completed for occupation by 31st December; and how many were occupied.

The figures are 105 and 49 respectively.

asked the Minister of Health what is the present position of the emergency scheme for 3,000 farm cottages and the average cost of land and construction, respectively.

Acceptable tenders have been received and approved for 2,830 cottages. At 31st December, 105 cottages were finished and work was proceeding on 2,397 others of which 1,279 were roofed-in or at a more advanced stage. The information so far available as to finished costs relates to 54 cottages only, all of parlour type, and shows an average all-in cost of £994 per cottage, of which £39 10s. represents the cost of land and £954 10s. the cost of construction, including roads, water supply, architect's fees, etc.

asked the Minister of Health what is the extent and general character of the development plans submitted by rural district councils for the post-war period.

My hon. Friend is of course aware that rural district councils, in common with other local authorities, are submitting short-term housing programmes to be put in hand as soon as conditions permit. Proposals so far received from rural district councils cover 37,700 houses. In reply to my recent notification to local authorities that I am prepared to examine proposals for urgently needed post-war schemes for water supply and sewage and sewage disposal I have so far received from rural district councils four schemes for water supply and 10 for sewerage and sewage disposal; the total cost of the water schemes is estimated at £66,677 and the others at £778,367.

asked the Minister of Health whether, when water mains and electric light cables pass unprovided houses and cottages in rural areas, he will consider calling on the owners to install facilities for both commodities.

Under the present law, owners of houses could be required to provide main water and electricity only if the absence of these services rendered a house in some respect unfit for habitation, but it will be appreciated that if alternative arrangements for the supply of water, lighting and heating were already in existence, the Courts to which the owner would have a right of appeal, might not uphold this view.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in Caerleon a house has been unoccupied for two years or more; that people, living with friends there since their home was demolished by bombs, have applied to the local authority to secure this house under the Acquisition Act, but have been refused, although the chairman of the Welsh Board of Health had promised them favourable consideration; if he will make inquiries into this case with a view to getting this house put into use; and whether, if there are no powers in that Act for dealing with cases such as this, he will secure such powers.

Approval has been given to the requisitioning of this house, and when certain repairs have been carried out the house will be let to the applicant referred to at an appropriate rent.

asked the Minister of Health if he is a ware that Winchester R.D.C., desiring to build 12 cottages, had to prepare 408 plans; and if he will take steps to prevent such requirements.

I am informed that the council prepared identical sets of six plans and working drawings for each of four sites on which cottages were to be built. These were supplied to the 17 contractors who had offered to tender, in order that they might know what work was involved and so have a basis for tendering.

asked the Minister of Health what are the planning grounds governing possible objections to housing sites purchased by local authorities; and will he publish them.

Planning requirements must depend on local circumstances and each case must therefore be considered individually. I am unable to make any general statement on the matter but I do not think that any difficulties ought to be experienced if the housing proposals are agreed with the local planning authority.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average rent of council houses in the most populous 20 towns in the country.

The information for which my hon. Friend asks is contained in the White Paper on the Rents of Houses and Flats owned by local authorities published in 1937, of which I am sending him a copy. I have no later information about the rents of local authorities' houses, but there is no reason to suppose that there has been any material change in the level since 1937.

asked the Minister of Health, what types of pre-fabricated buildings are under consideration for temporary housing; and the names of the manufacturers.

The general question of temporary dwellings is at present under consideration in consultation with my Noble Friend the Minister of Works, but no decision has yet been reached as to their practicability. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Health, how much was spent out of the rates by rural district councils in the 10 years before the war upon new housing, water and sewerage schemes, respectively; and what was the extent of further schemes which were in preparation when war broke out.

The following is the information desired by my hon. Friend:

Expenditure out of rates, block grant and other income not allocated to specific services by rural district councils in England and Wales on the undermentioned services.
Year ended 31st March.	Housing.	Water Supply.	Sewerage and sewage disposal.
	£	£	£
1930	334,522	407,674	940,149
1931	324,261	365,675	948,364
1932	281,827	373,747	1,013,318
1933	246,096	399,390	1,039,798
1934	226,535	421,224	990,807
1935	307,436	411,439	952,207
1936	410,834	390,234	901,466
1937	433,164	428,812	920,660
1938	451,083	458,663	969,933
1939	482,179	501,395	1,048,243
Total for 10 years	3,503,937	4,158,253	9,724,945

The extent of further schemes which were in preparation when war broke out is perhaps best indicated by the amounts of loans sanctioned during the period 1st April, 1938, to 31st August, 1939. These figures are £9,250,000 for housing, £2,000,000 for sewerage and sewage disposal and £2,150,000 for water supply services.

asked the Minister of Health, if he has considered the resolution of the Brynmawr Urban District Council on Government Evacuation Scheme, Billeting Allowances, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnor; and if he has any statement to make upon it.

Since the beginning of the war billeting allowances have been increased on four occasions, the last being on 1st May, 1942. I am not at present satisfied that there is a case for any further increase.

asked the Minister of Health, whether, to check bigamy, he will arrange that all identity cards state whether the holder is married or single and instruct any clergyman or registrar performing a marriage ceremony to inspect them.

Apart from the evidence required on the change of a woman's name on marriage, particulars of changes it marital status, whether on marriage on the dissolution of a marriage by death or divorce, are not obtainable or recorded under present conditions by the National Register. Moreover, the preliminaries to marriage whether ecclesiastical or civil are governed by provisions of the Law which cannot be varied by administrative instructions. I regret that it is not possible, therefore, to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion for any immediate or short-term purpose; but I will certainly bear the suggestion in mind in connection with any plans or developments which would enable this service to be rendered by the National Register or any similar system.

asked the Minister of Health how it is proposed to treat rent in excess of the reasonable rent figure; and whether in that treatment resources which are disregarded for scale purposes will be taken into account.

The Assistance Board inform me that they do not feel able to make any statement regarding the treatment of rent under the new Regulations pending the consultations with their Local Advisory Committees which will shortly take place in accordance with the undertaking given in the recent White Paper.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make available in the Library a complete list of the new rent rules provided for under the Supplementary Pensions (Determination of Need and Assessment of Needs) Regulations, 1943.

I will consult with the Assistance Board as to how the information for which my hon. Friend asks can most conveniently be made available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will explain the situation now existing regarding the various Building Acts and Regulations.

If I have rightly understood my hon. Friend's point, the situation is that outside London there are a few towns with special Acts of Parliament forming an exception from the general system. The general system is that building is controlled by local authorities by means of byelaws made under the Public Health Acts, and the byelaws everywhere in force are now of a modern type, unlikely to impose any improper restriction upon building.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can give the number of parcels which have arrived in this country from members of the Forces serving overseas and which have not been accepted on account of the inability of the recipients to pay the customs dues demanded, to the nearest convenient date; and if he will consider whether, in future, all such cases could be reported to the appropriate branch of the W.V.S. or some other such organisation for investigation before the parcels are returned.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available and the answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative, but my hon. and gallant Friend may not be aware of the concession to the Forces serving abroad introduced in the early part of 1943. The Chancellor authorised in the early part of 1943 an arrangement whereby men of H.M. Forces serving overseas may send to the United Kingdom, free of duty, not more than four gift parcels a year. Such parcels may not weigh more than 5 lb. gross or exceed 30s. in value and are subject to certain restrictions as to contents, for example, they may not contain more than 2 lb. of any one foodstuff. In order to obtain the benefit of the concession, a special label, obtained through the sender's unit, must be completed and affixed to the parcel by the sender. All Commands abroad have been notified of the concession.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a letter from Messrs. Maguire and Herbert, Solicitors, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, containing a brief for a criminal defence posted at Enniskillen on 21st October, 1943, and addressed to John G. Agnew, Esq., B.L., Eastlands, 10, Rosepark, Dundonald, Belfast, was not delivered until 26th October, 1943, having been opened in the course of post and delivered one day after the trial of the defendant; who was responsible for the opening and detention of the letter; and why he does not treat a brief on behalf of a defendant on a criminal charge as a privileged document.

I am aware that this letter was delayed and may have been tampered with in course of post. I greatly regret the inconvenience caused, which appears to have been due to the irregular action of some Post Office servant at present unknown. The suggestion implied in the Question that the letter was delayed and opened under authority is without foundation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware that Orders have been issued preventing motor-cars from travelling at a walking pace when taking part in funerals and thus interfering with an old custom; whether the Order was made for the purpose of saving petrol; is he aware that more motor-cars are now hired and consequently more petrol used; and will he take steps to rescind this Order.

So far as I am aware, no Order has been made which lays down the speed at which motor-cars may travel when they are taking part in funerals. In October, 1942, my Ministry discussed with the. National Association of Funeral Directors the loss of fuel which results from what are called "walking funerals." The Association agreed to discontinue them, as far as might be practicable; I have not heard that any difficulty has since arisen.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of barley were sold to the maltsters, brewers and process barley manufacturers during 1940, 1941, 1942 and 1943; and what was the price charged per ton.

With regard to the first part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for County Down (Dr. Little) on 21st October, 1942. With regard to the second part of the Question no information is available as to the actual prices paid by the particular users referred to, but following are figures of the average price of barley as shown by returns to the Ministry of Agriculture of sales on certain markets.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that much of the livestock graded class 2 in livestock markets is regraded class 1 by separate graders in the slaughterhouse market; and whether, in view of the profits accruing to the Government thereon, he will see a proper liaison is established between the two classes of graders so that consumers can share some of these profits.

I am aware that some regrading of meat takes place after slaughter, as carcases are sometimes found to be of better or worse quality than was expected when the livestock was graded at the collecting centres. The financial effect on the accounts of my Department is, however, extremely small. Steps are taken through visits of inspectors to secure that so far as practicable similar standards are adopted at collecting centres and slaughterhouses.

asked the Minister of Food if he can give any information about the 20 tons of sprats that were thrown back into the sea; and if he has considered the representations made by the fishermen at Brightlingsea on the matter on 15th January.

I am informed that at Brightlingsea during the past few weeks, chiefly on the 8th and 15th January, about 7½ tons of sprats have been thrown back into the sea and about 12½ tons sold for manure. These fish were extremely small and could not find a market for human consumption. My right hon. Friend has not received any statement on the matter from the Brightlingsea fishermen.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the system of paying Income Tax as income is earned will be extended to members of His Majesty's Forces; and what are the objections to a development which is widely desired.

As I stated in the course of the Debates on the Income Tax Employments Bill it would be quite impracticable to extend "Pay as you Earn" to the Forces. It would not be practicable for the Forces to operate under war conditions the cards and tables and accounts necessary for carrying out the system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the periods for which air bases have been leased by British Colonies to the U.S.A.; and whether these are regarded as satisfactory by both parties.

The only air bases in the Colonies which have been leased to the United States Government are those in Bermuda, British Guiana and the West Indies. As provided in the exchange of notes dated 2nd September, 1940, these leases run for 99 years and neither party has suggested any alteration of that period.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware that about 160 Germans from the Bay of Biscay battle have been interned in Eire; whether he is satisfied as to the plans for their safe keeping; and whether he will ask for a guarantee from the Eire Government that no attempt to have these men returned to enemy or enemy-occupied territory will be countenanced or sanctioned in any way.

I understand that about 160 German survivors from the recent naval engagement in the Bay of Biscay were picked up by an Irish ship and landed in Eire, where they have been interned. We have been in close touch with the Eire Government in the matter, and my Noble Friend is satisfied that the Eire Government are fully alive to the importance of keeping these men properly interned. I can assure the hon. Member that we shall continue to keep a careful watch on the position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make any statement regarding the dispute which exists between the sugar manufacturers in Jamaica and the sugar workers who are members of the Bustamante Industrial Union; if he is aware that some 40,000 sugar workers are on strike for better wages; that the wives and families of these workers are in extreme poverty; that a deadlock has been reached in the negotiations between the union officials and the employers; that two days ago a riot took place in Kingston in which one coloured policeman was injured and six persons were arrested; and what steps are being taken to meet the situation of emergency which exists.

I understand that a strike occurred in one area a fortnight ago, but I have no report that any large numbers were involved. Negotiations are now proceeding between the Jamaica sugar manufacturers and representatives of the workers, regarding wage rates, and I have every reason to expect an early and satisfactory conclusion. The Governor has reported that on 13th January an assembly had to be dispersed in Kingston, a district remote from the sugar area, and the occasion of which, as far as I know, was entirely unconnected with the sugar industry.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning, if he is aware of the proposal to open cement works near Waterhouses, in North Staffordshire, and of how such an undertaking would destroy the beauty of the surrounding country; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent this.

Yes, Sir. I am aware that an application for permission for the development referred to has been made to the Interim Development Authority. Since I may have to adjudicate on the matter later, it would be improper for me to comment on the matter at this stage.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he has prepared a master plan of Great Britain upon which is indicated the proposed new arterial roads, green belts and national parks; and, if so, will he make this available for public inspection.

No, Sir. It would be premature to attempt to make such a plan until the proposals of Government Departments and local authorities have been more fully worked out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if any principle has been agreed upon regarding the wish of some members of the Allied Forces to remain in the British Isles after the war;(2) if he is considering making arrangements to allow members of the Allied Forces who do not wish to return to their native countries after the war and who have a trade or profession to take up employment here.

As I have previously stated, it is not possible at present to announce plans as to the course to be taken after the war with regard to foreigners who have been admitted to this country on a temporary basis and have during the war rendered service to the United Nations either in the Armed Forces or in other ways; but in any case I do not think it would be possible to treat the wish of the individual as the overriding consideration. Account will have to be taken of the national interest and of any international plans for the resettlement of the many classes of people who have been driven from their homes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the serious increase in the number of cases of assault and robbery in the West End during black-out hours; and what steps he is taking to deal with this growing evil.

The suggestion that there has been a serious increase in offences of this type is not borne out by the figures. During 1943 the total number of cases of robbery with violence and assault with intent to rob in the West End of London during black-out hours was 35 as compared with 48 in 1942, but there was a slight increase in the number occurring in the streets, namely 34, as against 30 in 1942. All possible steps continue to be taken by the police to prevent these offences, and a number of arrests have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has considered the problems arising from the continued idleness of large numbers of skilled and semi-skilled operators who are employed in the heavy and light rescue services; and, having regard to the serious housing situation, will he consider releasing some of the men for local work in making habitable bomb-damaged properties.

Arrangements are already in existence whereby men of the type referred to may, subject to suitable safeguards, be released for short-term employment. Essential training and exercises, together with unavoidable routine duties, necessarily occupy part of the time of those retained in the Service; but in addition they are carrying out a large amount of useful work during their duty hours.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the fact that members of the Armed Forces discharged owing to wounds received in action are given a silver badge to wear when in mufti, he will authorise the issue of a similar badge to members of the C.D. services who are discharged through injury by enemy action when on duty.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to a Question on this subject by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Stroud (Flight Lieutenant Perkins) on 22nd September last. As the Prime Minister then suggested, this is a matter which might be raised when the subject of awards for war service is debated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the complaints made by women fire watchers that they are pestered and molested while proceeding about their duties; and what action he proposes to take to rectify this state of affairs.

I appreciate that women who have to go out at night, whether in connection with fire guard duty or otherwise, may well be apprehensive if they feel that they are liable to molestation, and it would be helpful if any specific cases where this has occurred were reported to the police as soon as possible. My hon. and gallant Friend may be assured that if the police witness acts of molestation or if complaint is made to them by women who are molested appropriate action would be taken by the police. I am informed by the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis that no complaints of the kind indicated in the Question have in fact been so reported.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that a private business calling itself the Air Raid Precautions Advisory Services, 92, Victoria Street, is causing unrest and disturbance by its methods of administration and threats of legal proceedings; whether he will ascertain if the methods of carrying out fire prevention measures in the buildings for which it has obtained appointment as organiser are adequate and in accordance with the requirements of the Orders; and whether all its charges are in accordance with the Fire Prevention Order and the regulations of the local authority.

An occupier of business premises is free to employ any organisation to advise him in making the fire guard arrangements for his premises, but in every case it is the duty of the appropriate authority to ensure that the arrangements made are in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Guard (Business and Government Premises) Order, 1943. I have asked for a report on the case referred to and, as soon as it is received, I will communicate again with my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what considerations are taken into account in deciding whether to issue a permit to a Member of Parliament to visit Eire.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on the 23rd September last to my hon. Friend the Member for Walton (Mr. Purbrick), when it was explained that in the matter of travel to Eire, as in the case of travel to foreign neutral countries, Members of Parliament were subject to the same rules as other persons. They are, therefore, required to show that some definite public advantage would be served by any proposed visit to Eire, unless there are special compassionate grounds for allowing a visit for private purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what objects made by female prisoners are disposed of by sale outside the prisons.

There are arrangements under which prisoners are employed in the manufacture of articles for the Supply and other Government Departments, but prisoners are not employed on the manufacture of articles for sale.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the numbers of children who have been evacuated and also have lost one or both parents, the procedure of adoption can be simplified.

If my hon. and gallant Friend will let me know the difficulties which he has in mind I will consider them. The procedure for legal adoption is by no means complicated and I doubt whether there is room for further simplification.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been directed to the registration under the War Charities Act of 1940, of untrustworthy or bogus organisations purporting to provide charitable projects in aid of the Services; and whether he will take steps to ensure that charitable donations are directed to such reputable and experienced bodies as the Red Cross and the Incorporated Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Help Society.

The object of the War Charities Act of 1940 was to prevent the exploitation of the public by "bogus and untrustworthy charities," and my information, which has been supplemented by inquiries of the Charity Commissioners and other Departments and authorities concerned, does not support the allegation made in the first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's Question. As regards the latter part of the Question, while I sympathise with the desire that public charity shall flow into right channels and while it is the policy of the Departments concerned to encourage the co-ordination of charities organised for similar purposes, it will no doubt be recognised that voluntary donations cannot properly be subjected to hard and fast directions from Government Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that registrars of the county courts in South Wales are refusing to record agreements in fatal cases made under the pneumoconiosis benefit scheme; and will he take steps to see that the benefits of this scheme are not withheld from the dependants by any technical hitch in the courts.

My hon. Friend is mistaken in thinking that agreements in fatal cases under this scheme have to be recorded in the county court. Under the scheme all awards of benefit are determined by an Administrative Board consisting of representatives of both the employers and the workmen and presided over by an independent chairman. The benefit payable in cases of death has to be paid to the person nominated by the Administrative Board and approved by the Secretary of State or, failing such person, to the Public Trustee, and subject to directions of the Administrative Board, is held and applied by him as he thinks best for the benefit of the persons entitled to the benefit under the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the wholesale thefts from shops whose windows have been blown out by enemy action as well as thefts from the kitbags of soldiers on leave, which are slit open in transit between the ship and the train, the soldiers being forbidden by dock regulations to transfer the bags themselves; and whether he is satisfied that the penalties for such thefts are adequate and, if not, will immediate steps be taken to deal with the matter.

I am informed that the reports published in the Press of widespread looting at the scene of the recent bomb incident which my hon. Friend no doubt has in mind are wholly unfounded. No looting took place and the soldiers and civilians who were seen taking property from damaged shop windows were helping the police to salvage it. I am glad to have this opportunity of paying a tribute to the work done on this occasion by the police, the Home Guard and the Civil Defence Services and of thanking those members of the public who assisted.From inquiries which I have made I have no reason to believe that thefts from soldiers' kitbags in the circumstances described are widely prevalent, but I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War will be glad to look into any case of this kind which is brought to his notice.The maximum penalty for looting is death or penal servitude for life. The maximum penalty for simple larceny is five years' penal servitude. I have no reason to think that it is necessary to increase these penalties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to recent cases of shop looting on the occasion of enemy bombing; and whether the police have instructions to prosecute in all such cases.

As regards the particular incident which my hon. and gallant Friend no doubt has in mind, I would refer him to the reply which I have given to-day to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Kensington, South (Sir W. Davison). The police know that it is their duty to institute proceedings, whenever sufficient evidence is available, for looting or for other offences; and are fully aware of the importance of doing everything possible to detect and bring to justice persons guilty of this particularly despicable offence.

asked the Secretary of State for War under what authority he caused direction to be given to the hon. Member for Skipton (Mr. H. Lawson) which prevented him from addressing a political meeting outside his own constituency; and if he proposes to withhold such direction in future.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for South Croydon (Sir H. Williams) yesterday.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether discussions are proceeding for the purpose of agreeing and announcing a long-term agricultural policy; and when such a statement is likely to be made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress he has made in his consultations with the industry on post-war agricultural policy.

Exploratory and confidential discussion have been opened with representatives of the agricultural industry on the subject of agricultural policy in the transitional and post-war periods. A wide field has to be covered and the discussions will necessarily take some time to complete. The results will in due course be reported to the War Cabinet, and I am not in a position at this early stage to say when a statement of policy is likely to be made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will confer with the Minister of Information and the Minister of Food with a view to widening the publicity on farming matters to the general public to enable them to understand and appreciate the position of farming throughout the country, with special emphasis on the subsidies which are a means of reducing costs to the consumer and are frequently not beneficial to the farmer.

We actively encourage publicity for agriculture and it is probably true to say that in the past year or two farming has received more attention in the Press and on the wireless than ever before.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give details of the method adopted by his Department in costing agricultural produce commodity by commodity; and can he furnish details of such calculations.

The methods used are the normal methods of cost and accountancy as used by agricultural economists.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is now prepared to make an increase in the price of the 1944 wool clip.

Prices for the 1944 wool clip will be discussed shortly with producers' representatives.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the danger to local dwelling-houses and the loss to food production caused by the seawater flooding of the Walberswick Marshes; and if he will consult the catchment and drainage boards and the local authorities in Order to take effective action to prevent the further deterioration of the position as described to him.

I understand that a number of huts and studios on the small area of outmarsh on the south side of Southwold Harbour which is not protected by any river wall and is consequently subject to tidal flooding and scour, have been damaged or destroyed, but that no agricultural land is affected. I do not consider that the diversion of labour and materials to protective work at this point would be justified at the present time, but works for the topping and facing of Walberswick wall, which protects the adjoining marshes, are included in a two-year programme of sea defence work submitted to me by the East Suffolk Rivers Catchment Board and approved for a 75 per cent. Government grant.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is prepared to examine the case of the substantial body of farmers who claim to be doing worse materially than in pre-war times.

Yes, certainly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will reconsider his recent decision on farming prices; and if he will meet the representatives of the industry for the purpose of reopening negotiations, with a view to arriving at an agreed settlement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in deciding upon the latest prices for cereals, he took into account the costs of production in those comparatively limited areas with large farms and big fields where a high degree of mechanisation is practicable or the costs of production in the far greater areas in which, owing to diversity of local conditions and other causes, farming has long been carried out in small farms with small fields where the facilities for mechanisation are more restricted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can give an official estimate of the gross value of agricultural products in any year immediately prewar: and what is the estimated value of such products in the latest year for which substantially complete figures are available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will make a statement or issue a White Paper giving particulars of the Government's decision in regard to meeting the cost of the last increase in the wages of agricultural workers.

I hope to deal with these matters in the forthcoming Debate on agriculture.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, as recruiting for the R.A.F. in Northern Ireland is on a voluntary basis, an opportunity will be given to all who wish to join the force to do so by withdrawing the present embargo and affording facilities for the recruiting of Northern Ireland volunteers into the R.A.F.

Except for a small number of skilled men in a few special trades, recruitment to the Royal Air Force in Northern Ireland is restricted to volunteers for aircrew duties and those with service in the Air Training Corps. These arrangements, which apply equally to the rest of the United Kingdom, cannot be modified in present circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has reconsidered the removal of the restrictions imposed on the holding of Sunday concerts for the troops in the light of recent events; and what action he proposes to take and when.

The restrictions to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers are the legal provisions which differentiate concerts from variety shows and theatrical performances. The removal of this differentiation would involve so amending the law as to authorise variety shows and theatrical performances on Sunday. On this matter I can add nothing to the reply I gave on 16th December to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a small number of men suffered accidents prior to 1924 and consequently do not come under the recent compensation Act; that these men are in receipt of 35s. a week only, without any hope of improvement unless they are brought within the latest Act; and will he take steps to do this.

The recent Act made provision for increasing the supplementary allowances payable under the Act of 1940, and the Act of 1940 applies only to cases occurring on or after 1st January, 1924. All recent workmen's compensation legislation has been limited in its retrospective application to cases occurring on or after 1st January, 1924, and it has not been found practicable to apply these war-time increases retrospectively beyond that date. Workmen injured before 1st January, 1924, are in a special position because they have continued to receive the additions provided under the War Addition Acts of the last war, and they were until recent years in receipt of compensation at a higher rate than workmen injured after 1st January, 1924.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in connection with electoral reform, he will consider the question of local government elections, especially as regards the distinction which is now made between the qualifications for a Parliamentary and local government vote: and whether in this connection he will now introduce legislation to apply the Parliamentary qualification to all classes of elections.

The question whether the local government franchise should be assimilated to the Parliamentary franchise would appear to be one of the matters appropriate for consideration by the Conference presided over by Mr. Speaker, to which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister referred in his statement of the 14th October last. There will be an opportunity for Members to express views on this matter in the proposed Debate on general questions of Electoral Reform.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he can state the annual amount spent in this country on dog-racing tracks for 1939 and each year afterwards; and whether he is satisfied that the continuation of this form of amusement is justified.

I have no official information which would enable me to answer the first part of the Question. As regards the second part, the position is that meetings for dog racing have been considerably restricted, and I do not feel justified in imposing any further restrictions.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare what increased supplies of food are being sent to Greece as a result of the recent request of M. Exiutaris for additional shipments of 4,000 tons monthly.

In recent months we have received a number of representations upon this subject from the Greek Government and also from individual Greek citizens. Such representations, of course, receive full and sympathetic consideration. It is, however, desirable that we should be largely guided by the advice of the Neutral Commission. It has been decided that shipments to Greece shall be increased by the allocation of approximately 900 tons a month of fish products, and it is expected that supplies will soon be available to bring the total figure of fish and other special protein foods to 1,600 tons a month, this being the amount requested by the Commission.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether any increase in the price of coal is contemplated in the near future.

Yes, Sir. The prices of coal and coke will be raised as from 1st February by an average of three shillings a ton. This increase in the price of coal has been made necessary by a variety of factors. The Coal Charges Account has been running at a loss for some considerable time, and it is necessary to repay loans made by the Treasury to the Account. It is also necessary to provide for the financial effects of recent legislation on Workmen's Compensation and to secure to the owners the credit balances promised by the Government. It is also anticipated that production costs will increase still further during 1944, owing to decline in productivity per head due to the increasing age of the miners, the wastage of experienced workers and the addition of new entrants into the industry.

asked the Attorney-General whether, in constituting pension boards after the war, preference will be given to medical officers who have served in the present war, as such officers would be in a better position to assess loss of fitness occasioned by war disabilities than medical men who have had no personal experience, and to allow, as these officers who have lost their private practices because of that service, some measure of compensation for their financial loss.

I have been asked to reply. I can assure the hon. Member that I am in general agreement with his suggestion that in constituting pensions boards after the war every opportunity should be taken to employ medical officers who have served in the Armed Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what local authorities have responded to the invitation conveyed in paragraph 2 of his recent Circular No. 148/1942, regarding the setting up of local rent courts; and how many authorities have asked for these courts to be set up.

So far, 173 of the 228 town and county councils in Scotland have intimated the result of their consideration of the Rent of Furnished Houses Control (Scotland) Act, 1943. Of these 173 authorities, 107 have represented that the provisions of the Act should be applied to their areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the requests from various agricultural bodies for a reduction in the hours of double summer time and when he will be in a position to make a statement.

I am aware of Scottish agricultural opinion on the question of double summer time and, as I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for Dumbarton (Mr. McKinlay) on 30th November last, the Government appreciate the difficulties caused to agriculture by this arrangement. As, however; the noble Lord is aware, there are other Departments concerned, and I am not meantime in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider and take steps to meet both the urgent need for anthropological research in questions of colonial development and the present lack of data both as regards physical development in various colonial races and the incidence of disease, the determination of which depends upon vital statistics, and the demand for which has constantly been stressed but has never been met; and whether he will institute a national anthropological survey board for the furtherance of which both material and personnel are now available at several British universities.

The Colonial Research Committee, whose first progress report was recently published, has in its preliminary survey of the present state of knowledge about the Colonies in every field of science given special attention to the necessity of increasing our knowledge in the anthropological field, and in other aspects of social science. In particular they have recently made a recommendation, which has been accepted in principle, for the temporary appointment of a distinguished expert in demographic statistics to draw up specific plans for action to be taken in the various Colonial Dependencies and I am confident that that will lead in due course to a considerable improvement in the standard of information available. The establishment of a national anthropological survey board is a rather wider matter, which does not fall entirely within my sphere.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of trade unions in Palestine and their total membership among the Arab and Jewish population, respectively.

I cannot give precise figures. But at the end of 1942 there were some 125,000 Jewish and 10,000 Arab members of trade unions or similar societies. Of the Jews about 100,000 were members of the General Federation of Jewish Labour or Histadruth. The balance were members of a number of smaller bodies. Among the Arabs there were three main societies and a number of smaller bodies.

asked the Minister of Information why the news bulletins of the B.B.C. refer to the Polish frontier as the 1939 Polish border.

This seems to be a convenient phrase for use at a time when there is open public dispute between the Governments of the U.S.S.R. and Poland about the Polish eastern frontier. Many newspapers use the same phraseology and I see no objection to it. I understand from the B.B.C. that the term "Polish frontier" is also used on occasion.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the shortage of antiseptic lozenges and pastilles held by chemists in industrial areas; that no increase in such chemical preparations has been authorised for the winter months; that welfare officers, nurses and persons responsible for works' clinics are experiencing difficulty in procuring sulphonamide preparations in order that factory workers engaged on war production may be provided with normal precautions against illness; and whether he will inquire into this matter with a view to supplying chemists throughout the country with their requirements.

I have been asked to reply. With regard to the first part of the Question, I have no evidence of any general shortage of antiseptic lozenges and pastilles in industrial areas, although in certain districts the demand may temporarily have exceeded the local supply. If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of the localities which he has in mind, I shall be glad to make further inquiries.Sulphonamide preparations are governed by the Poisons Rules and Regulations and can be purchased only on presentation of a prescription signed by a registered medical practitioner. There has been no general shortage of these preparations, except in the case of one recently developed type for which there has been a largely increased demand from the Fighting Services

asked the Secretary of State for India whether it is intended to provide that Indian lottery bonds will be available for purchase in this country.

No, Sir. No useful purpose would be served by subscriptions from this country to an issue which has been specifically designed as an anti-inflationary measure to absorb surplus purchasing power in India. The Chancellor of the Exchequer provides abundant facilities for United Kingdom citizens to apply their savings to the war effort.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider issuing identity cards of another colour to all young people between 16 and 18 years of age or, alternatively, extending the present child's identity card up to the age of 18, such cards to be produced on demand by a publican or the police.

The identity card issued to a person over 16 and under 21 years of age bears a code letter "B" indicating that age-group, together with the year and quarter of the year of the holder's birth as recorded in the National Register. This provision would apparently serve the purposes which my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind. The annual re-issue of new cards to young persons on attaining 18 as well as on attaining 16 years of age would add materially to the administrative burdens of local offices; and it would be by no means easy to secure the necessary attendances to render such an exchange even approximately complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government has yet been asked to consider the recent proposal of the United States Foreign Relations Committee unanimously calling upon the State Department to work out in co-operation with Britain, Sweden and Switzerland, a system for moving at once food supplies to the starving in the occupied European countries.

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now make some pronouncement regarding the progress that is being made in connection with the formulation for the future of a—single foreign policy for the British Commonwealth of Nations.

As the hon. Member is aware, the United Kingdom and the Dominions have an equal status in the formulation of foreign policy. The fullest consultation regularly takes place in regard to foreign affairs. The question of whether any further amplification of the present machinery of consultation is required is a subject which will no doubt be raised at the meeting of Prime Ministers, which it is hoped to hold in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if His Majesty's Government will consider inviting to this country on official visits after the war the heads of allied Governments, large and small, who have not visited Great Britain during the war.

His Majesty's Government will, of course, welcome personal contacts of this kind, but it will clearly be necessary to wait the end of the war before consideration can be given to the matter.