asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, whether he is aware that Messrs. Edmondsons have announced that they are to spend £20,000 on publicity in favour of private enterprise in electricity distribution; and whether he will take all steps necessary to prevent public utility companies diverting funds available for reducing charges to consumers for political purposes.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, No, Sir. As regards the second part, reasonable expenditure on publicity is legitimate and common practice in the case of trading concerns, including public utility undertakings, and the matter does not appear to call for any action on my part.

Would it be in order for municipalities also to advertise in favour of public enterprise in electricity, and would a body like British Overseas Airways Corporation, Ltd., be in order in advertising in favour of maintaining a public service of airways?

I could not answer the second part of the question. The answer to the first part is that it would be a matter for the local authority itself.

Is it not the case that the Government are spending large sums on publicity for their products?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when he expects to be in a position to announce the decision of the Government regarding the Severn Barrage.

As I informed the House on 30th November last, I have appointed a small Technical Committee to review the conclusions of the Severn Barrage Committee. The investigation is being undertaken by this Committee as a matter of urgency, but until they report and the Government have had an opportunity of considering their Report, I am afraid that no decision on policy can be given.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend get in touch with the chairman and see whether he has any indication that could be passed on to the House of the probable date when the Report will be received?

I should be glad to do that, but perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will wait a little, as they have not been at it very long.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what instructions have been given to electricity companies to cut off light and power from war production factories without any warning.

Conditions arising from the war produce from time to time local dislocations of electricity supply which, unless dealt with promptly by reducing the demand on the affected sections, may set up a cumulative disturbance, resulting in widespread stoppage of supplies. To guard against this, arrangements have been made whereby each undertaker, on receipt of instructions, switches out a proportion of his consumers (normally not exceeding 10 per cent.). The selection of the consumers is made by the undertaker, subject to a general direction that supplies to high priority consumers named by regional production boards must be maintained to the fullest possible extent.

Is it correct, as stated in the Question, that, without any warning to the consumer, electrical power is cut off?

I think that is so. It is not possible always to give a warning. For instance, if a barrage balloon cable fouls a high tension cable, it may be necessary to cut off the electricity without warning.

Is it not the case that cutting off electricity supplies without warning may involve much damage and danger to life, and will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman avoid that if possible?

As I pointed out, it is done only in very exceptional cases. It is due to circumstances over which we have no control, for instance, as I have mentioned, the fouling of a high tension cable and a barrage balloon cable.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will authorise local fuel overseers to use their discretion in making a slight increase in the monthly allocation of coal to householders without gas and who were unable to lay in coal in the summer months, either owing to lack of storage space or because, to the knowledge of the fuel overseer, the local merchant was unable to supply coal at the time.

For the reasons given in my reply to a question by the hon. Member for East Rhondda (Mr. Mainwaring) on 23rd November last, I can hold out no hope of any relaxation in existing restrictions on the supply of coal to the domestic market. Local fuel overseers, however, are authorised to grant additional licences where necessary on account of sickness, or where there is exceptional need combined with the complete absence of alternative fuels.

Will a householder who has no gas appliances be authorised, under this system, to obtain extra coal if he requires it?

If he can persuade the fuel overseer as to the need for it, I think yes.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that there is great dissatisfaction among consumers of coal who have not received their December supply, although it was ordered well in advance, and as a result they have lost the opportunity of obtaining extra coal and have only the January amount supplied?

I would be very glad if the hon. Gentleman would communicate with me on that point.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he is taking to make available for colliery workers houses built or owned by colliery companies and at present occupied by families not engaged in the coal industry.

The means to make available for mineworkers colliery houses at present occupied by families not engaged in the mining industry rest with the colliery companies which own the houses. My Ministry, through its regional offices, does, however, keep in close contact with the local offices of the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Health where difficulties in finding accommodation for mineworkers occur.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he has now investigated the complaints brought against a certain laundry, of which he has been informed, by 327 Oxford residents compulsorily assigned to this firm under the zoning scheme; and what steps have been taken to remedy the deficiencies in the service offered by this laundry;

(2) what steps he proposes to take to compensate customers of a certain laundry, of which he has been informed, to which they were compulsorily assigned under the zoning scheme, either by way of replacement or cash and coupons for the seven or eight per cent. loss of garments they sustained during the operation of the scheme.

The Oxford laundry zoning scheme has recently been modified. The laundry to which the Questions refer is now concentrating on work for the Forces. I regret that I cannot make special arrangements for replacement, whether by cash or coupons, of articles unfortunately lost in this particular case.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the laundry in question managed to lose between 7 and 8 per cent. of its total wash every week, and is he also aware that the laundry was compulsorily allocated to its customers? Does he not think himself responsible, therefore, for the loss?

Is this another lost cause for Oxford?

Lost drawers.

I regret very much the lost drawers, but I cannot regard myself as being personally responsible for one of these minor mishaps in a great war.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the present scale of compensation for laundry losses can be increased in order to prevent it continuing to operate as an inducement to the theft and black-market sale of customers' garments.

I do not think that my hon. Friend's proposal would achieve the object which he has in mind. Raising the present scale of compensation would not diminish theft or black-market sales where, as in the great majority of cases, laundry losses are not attributable to laundry proprietors, but to other ill-disposed persons.

In view of the unsatisfactory position disclosed by the answers to the last three Questions, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how it is that Woolworths have been able to obtain permits to enable them to acquire home-manufactured enamelled ware for retail in their multiple shops, as they imported this ware pre-war, and as retail ironmongers are severely restricted from obtaining other than a small percentage of their pre-war home manufactured supplies of such ware.

No permits are required for the purchase of enamel ware or other types of hollow-ware. Any retailer of hollowware with a turnover up to £2,500 in the standard year who thinks that he is getting less than his fair share of such goods, should take the matter up with his suppliers. If he is then still dissatisfied it is open to him to put his case to the Hollowware Distribution Committee. I am informed that Messrs. Woolworth obtained their supplies pre-war from British manufacturers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is proposed to fill the post of assistant controller of factory and storage space in the North Midlands area at Nottingham, now vacant consequent on a recent resignation; and, if so, will he give directions that search should be made for a suitable established civil servant to be promoted.

This vacancy was filled on 23rd November last by the promotion of a temporary officer, who was already serving on the Regional Controller's staff and was considered best fitted for the post.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the 70,000 wireless sets of British make approaching completion in this country and the 14,000 sets of American manufacture bought in the United States for civilian use here will be released; and whether he is satisfied with the quality of the American sets our manufacturers are being asked to recondition.

The British sets are put on the market as soon as they are completed. As my hon. Friend knows, there are very heavy demands at present for wireless equipment of all kinds for the Fighting Services, and these demands must have first claim on our supplies. Eighteen thousand American sets have now arrived in this country. These sets are similar to those which were imported from the United States before the war and were found to be of good quality.

Does the right hon. Gentleman control the prices of these sets?

Yes, Sir, in the sense that it is open to me to issue an order controlling them.

Why is there a shortage of valves for many of these sets?

The short answer is that there is a shortage for civilian sets because the demands of the Services, as will be readily understood, are great and are increasing, and operational requirements must take precedence.

Will my right hon. Friend control prices, because when they are sold to civilians they are sold at exorbitant figures?

That is not part of the Question on the Paper; but I am going into it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the Ministry of Labour's announcement that preference will be given to those volunteers for the Women's Services who have served for at least six months in the G.T.C., he will now consider again the possibility of granting members of these corps some clothing coupon concession.

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

Has not the position been changed by the new announcement of the Ministry of Labour?

No, Sir; the only change is that supplies are shorter than ever.

Should not those responsible for recruitment for the G.T.C. impress upon their recruits that it is not the uniform which makes the soldier, but the spirit and body inside the uniform?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of H.T. radio batteries, particularly in rural areas; and if he will arrange for an increased supply and better distribution.

These batteries are being produced in accordance with a programme, undertaken on my behalf by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Supply, under which the maximum possible output for civilian needs is being obtained. The demands for the Services for essential operational purposes are very great, but I shall continue to keep a close watch on civilian supplies and their distribution, in consultation with my right hon. Friend.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise how serious it is, as all batteries in use now are at least three years old, and some of them about ten years old?

We are doing our best, but I know that my hon. and gallant Friend understands the reasons for the difficulties.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a shortage of exercise books, stationery, drawing instruments, etc., is handicapping the work of schools and technical colleges, and whether he will take steps to increase the supplies available.

I have been asked to reply. The work of the schools and technical colleges is inconvenienced by the shortage of exercise books, stationery and drawing instruments, but the shortage is not at present so severe as to jeopardise its efficiency. My right hon. Friend fully appreciates the importance of the matter and is keeping it under review, but he does not consider that he would be justified in pressing the Ministers responsible for the supply of those articles to increase the supplies available for educational needs. There is a general restriction of supplies necessitated by war requirements and any improvement in the Board's quota could only be made at the expense of other important services.

Is my hon. Friend aware of the shortage of lead pencils required for this class of work?

The shortage is generally in this type of supply, but up to the moment no serious inconvenience has really been caused.

If the hon. Gentleman will take a look at some of the bookstalls he will see some really disgusting things that are being printed now; and will he put a stop to this sort of thing and help to provide more books that are educational—even Bibles would be better than some of the filth displayed on the bookstalls?

Why "even"?

I must ask the Noble Lady not to lead me into temptation.

Do not books come before bombs in this country?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Industrial Supplies Department of his Board continue to refuse permits for the installation of equip- ment however trivial intended to improve working conditions in cotton spinning mills; and will he give instructions that this attitude, which is hindering the normal development of the industry as well as jeopardising the efficiency of an essential export trade, should be replaced by one of co-operation in time of war.

The issue of licences to install such equipment is strictly limited by the capacity of the manufacturers, many of whom are engaged on urgent war production. Nevertheless, during the first eleven months of 1943 more than 40 per cent. of the applications for air conditioning plant in cotton mills were granted, in addition to many licences issued to factories in other essential industries. I am most anxious that the working conditions in the cotton industry shall be made as attractive and healthy as possible and, with my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Labour, I am looking into the possibility of increasing the capacity for making the necessary equipment.

Have we not reached a ridiculous situation, if the right hon. Gentleman says that improvements are desirable, when employers are very anxious to put in new equipment, which factory inspectors are pressing for, and which involves amounts of labour and material which are quite unsubstantial, still little or nothing is done?

I have explained that there are many claims. The cotton industry ranks high but other war factories rank no less high, and I must balance one claim against another; we are doing our best with the resources available.

Does the right hon. Gentleman take note of what happened in this great industry—the largest export industry in the country—as a consequence of the last war, when it was reduced to about half its size?

Yes, Sir, but I do not think that that was entirely due to the lack of air-conditioning plant.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to clear up misconceptions, whether every trader on the register of his Department will be entitled, without question, to return to his business after the war on the same site he occupied prior to his enforced closing down.

Licences will be granted after the war to traders on the Board of Trade Register of Withdrawing Retail Traders who wish to re-establish their former businesses at premises in respect of which they have registered. Should these premises not be available, licences will be granted for other premises in the same shopping area.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, in the case where a man has left the premises and they are let to an alien, that man will be allowed to have the same premises back again, as, otherwise, the goodwill will have gone with the business?

All that my Department can do is to issue licences to trade at the same premises, or, failing that, at premises in the near neighbourhood or the same shopping area.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare whether he will give the latest available information as to food conditions in Greece, Belgium and France under German occupation, especially in relation to the needs of the child population; and whether any further proposals for controlled food relief have been considered by His Majesty's Government.

As the answer is a long one I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary answer the last part of the Question, which is very important?

Of course, proposals are constantly under consideration but I am afraid I have no fresh decisions to announce.

Does the answer indicate whether or not the Belgian Government have made any fresh report to His Majesty's Government? Is the hon. Gentleman afraid to answer that Question?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare if, in view of the fact that French nationals in this country can send personal parcels to relatives in occupied France, he will now extend the same facilities to Channel Islanders in this country to their relatives in occupied territory.

Except for parcels sent to prisoners of war the dispatch of parcels either from this country of from anywhere else outside the blockade area to persons in enemy-occupied territory is not permitted. I assume therefore that the parcels which my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind are those sent to France from Portugal. Unfortunately there is no parcel postal service between Portugal and the Channel Islands.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare what proportion of her annual supply of steel it is estimated that Germany now obtains from Sweden, of wolfram from Portugal, of wolfram and tin from Spain and of chromium from Turkey; and what steps are being taken to reduce this assistance to the enemy afforded by our Allies or neutral countries.

In 1943, in addition to small quantities of special steels, Germany imported from Sweden approximately twenty per cent. of her total consumption of iron in ore. The House will, however, have observed from recent announcements in the Press that Swedish deliveries of iron ore will be substantially lower in 1944. In 1943 Germany obtained from Portugal about fifty per cent. of her total consumption of wolfram, from Spain about forty per cent. of her wolfram and an insignificant quantity of tin, and from Turkey in terms of chromic oxide content about thirty per cent. of her chrome. As regards the second part of the Question, the House is already aware that steps are taken to pre-empt wolfram in the Iberian Peninsula and chrome in Turkey. It would not be in the public interest to announce what other steps His Majesty's Government are taking, or contemplate taking in the future, but as regards Portuguese wolfram I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs during the Debate on the Address of 15th December.

What beneficial effects have been derived as the result of the steps taken by the Government in the matter of the exportation of wolfram from Portugal and Spain to Germany? Has there been any reduction?

We have not achieved anything like all that we would wish to achieve, but as a result of the steps we have taken in the Iberian Peninsula it has been necessary during the last 12 months for Germany to try to bring wolfram from the Far East in blockade runners.

Does it not follow from the answer that has been given, that 90 per cent. of Germany's wolfram to-day comes from the Iberian Peninsula and that if it were cut off, Germany's war industries would be entirely crippled?

Yes, Sir.

If the reply is in the affirmative and this matter is so important, is it not time that we informed both Portugal and Spain, particularly Portugal, which is an old Ally and pretends still to be an Ally, that we are not going to stand for this much longer?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare, if he has any information as to what is the food ration, respectively, of the British, German and United States coalminer employed under similar conditions.

I am afraid that no exact comparison is possible. The British miner can obtain rationed foodstuffs in canteens or restaurants without giving coupons, and bread and potatoes are unrationed. The German miner, although he receives substantial supplementary rations over and above those of the normal German consumer, must surrender coupons for all meals eaten in canteens or restaurants; bread is included in his ration, and there is also local rationing of potatoes. The United States has a system of global rationing which is wholly different from the British and German systems.

When the hon. Gentleman says that it is difficult to answer my question, how comes it about that he is answering other questions about wolfram and the rest of it?

asked the Minister without Portfolio, if he will have a survey made, and consideration given, to the plans drawn to scale sent to him by the hon. Member for Stoke, having for their object the development of the Morecambe Bay area, the establishment of a miniature Tennessee Valley scheme providing a causeway for rail and road transport opening direct access to Barrow and district and a more direct north road from Lancaster, the construction of a system of dams for hydro-power production, the construction of a power plant, seaplane base and an aerodrome, a light industry estate, the modernisation of Heysham, and the reclamation of land.

This scheme would, if found to be practicable, offer facilities of diverse kinds in which a number of Government Departments and other interests would be concerned. As a first step I have forwarded copies of the sketch and the other papers which my hon. Friend was good enough to send me to the various Departments for examination. The question whether or not a more detailed survey should be made will depend upon the view taken as to the advantages of the facilities offered. I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as my inquiries are completed.

asked the Minister without Portfolio, if he will publish the interim Reports he has received from the Welsh Advisory Council for Reconstruction and indicate any action which has been taken to give effect to recommendations which have been made.

The Welsh Advisory Council do not consider that, in view of the undertakings which they gave to those who submitted evidence, it would be right to publish as they stand, the communications which they have made to me since they were appointed, and I agree with that view. The Council have, however, in an advanced state of preparation a first interim report in a different form which, without any breach of confidence, could be made available to hon. Members who are interested. I expect to receive the report in the next week or so, and I will then arrange for the necessary distribution.

While thanking the right hon. and learned Gentleman for his reply may I ask him, in the absence of any guidance from the Welsh Advisory Council, how it is possible for local authorities and others who are anxious to formulate their own plans, to form them?

I quite appreciate that.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that messenger W. Barrett, employed in his Department, has completed 50 years' service but still remains unestablished; and what he proposes to do about this case.

Messenger Barrett has been employed for most of his life outside War Office Headquarters and it is not the practice to establish messengers serving at outstations. When he was transferred to headquarters, he was, I regret to say, too old for establishment. He is now over 65 and I am sorry that establishment is out of the question.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it most undesirable that men who have served for such long periods as this should be sent out at the end of their career without a penny, and will he not, in his capacity as War Minister, do something to override these stupid Treasury regulations?

My hon. Friend knows as well as I do the powers of the Departments in the matter of overriding Treasury Regulations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that there are now two officers holding the rank of Comptroller General of the Department of Overseas Trade at a salary of £1,953 per annum; and whether he will arrange for the substantive holder of the post, Sir Quintin Hill, to return to his proper employment from his work on post-war planning with the Minister of Reconstruction so that the Department may have the benefit of his long experience of commercial problems gained in the Board of Trade and the Department of Overseas Trade in its recently increased activities on planning for post-war export trade.

I am aware of the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers. Arrangements of this kind are an inevitable accompaniment of war-time conditions and where, as in this instance, they affect officers of high rank they are naturally kept under constant review by the Ministers concerned. I can assure the hon. Member that that is so in the case of the Department of Overseas Trade.

In view of the limited extent of overseas trade, is there any need for this Department at all?

That is another question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the scale of salaries of temporary civil servants is in some cases below that of regular members of the staff; and whether he will consider in such cases increases required to bring the two scales into parity.

I am afraid that I could not agree to the wholesale revision suggested by hon. Friend. In some cases temporary civil servants are less valuable to their Departments than permanent civil servants, partly because of their lack of experience, partly because, having been recruited in great numbers and not through the usual national competitions, their average quality is not as high. On the other hand, where appropriate, the rates of pay of temporary civil servants have been brought into line with those of their permanent colleagues; and there are cases in which temporary civil servants are paid at higher rates.

Is it not a generally accepted principle that a temporary civil servant on equal terms as far as qualities are concerned ought to be paid more since he does not have the advantage of superannuation as well as other advantages?

There are other differences in the basis of payment, and the complications of implemental scales have to be taken into account.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any retired civil servant, at present employed on Government work, is drawing his full pension in addition to the emoluments of his present office.

Section 20 of the Superannuation Act, 1834, provides (in effect) that if a pensioned civil servant

"shall be appointed to fill any office in a Public Department,"

he may draw only so much, if any, of his pension as when added to the pay of his new office does not exceed the pay of his old office. An appointment paid from public funds is not always an office in a public Department within the meaning of the section.

May we take it from that answer that retired members of the Civil Service are treated in exactly the same way as retired officers of the Army Navy, and Air Force?

No, Sir, I would not like to commit myself to that without considerable thought.

Can my right hon. Friend say why not?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will remove from the cover of the A.B.C.A. pamphlets the intimation that their contents must not be communicated to the Press or other un-authorised persons, since these pamphlets have a considerable circulation among editors, educationists and others, and contain no matter whose reproduction would endanger security.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my right hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Sir D. Hacking) on 19th October.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps have been taken to remedy the conditions arising from inadequate water supplies at an ordnance depot of which he has been informed.

Yes, Sir, I am aware of the severe shortage of water at this carne which has been greatly aggravated by the unusually low rainfall. The public supply authority, from whose resources the depot is supplied, is constructing new permanent works to augment the present supply and in the meantime has constructed temporary works which will be put into service as soon as possible. Local arrangements have also been made by the War Department to ease the demand by carting drinking water from other sources and by making use of local streams for other purposes. Until the normal supply is increased the strictest measures of water economy must necessarily remain in force in the depot.

Will it be impossible to have one of these artesian wells sunk at this camp?

I have not the slightest doubt that the authorities have considered all possible sources of supply, but I will make certain that that particular possibility has not been overlooked.

Does not the reply indicate that insufficient attention was given in planning this camp to the necessity of seeing that a water supply was available?

No, Sir. Such trouble as occurred is entirely due to the fact that, for operational reasons, the camp had to be occupied rather earlier than the expected date.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many awards or decorations, other than for special cases of conspicuous gallantry, have been made since the outbreak of war to officers or late officers and other ranks of the R.A.M.C. and the A.D.C., respectively; and what proportions do these awards represent to the number of officers or of men employed.

204 awards and decorations other than for cases of conspicuous gallantry, have been made to R.A.M.C. officers and 22 to R.A.M.C. other ranks. In addition 499 officers and 381 other ranks have been mentioned in despatches. No citations accompany recommendations for Mentions and it is impossible to say how many of them are for cases other than gallantry. The corresponding figures for the Army Dental Corps are 4, none, 9 and 8. The answers to the second part of the Question would disclose the strength of the two Corps and I hope my hon. Friend will appreciate that I cannot give them to him.

Will my right hon. Friend tell us why there is this extraordinary difference in the recognition of the two branches of the health service of the Army?

I have not the slightest doubt that the reason is because the R.A.M.C. operate very much further forward than the Army Dental Corps.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that 350 soldiers were recently sent late at night to Wallasey where no preparations for sleeping and rationing had been made for them; and what disciplinary action he proposes to take against the officers in movement control responsible for the welfare of these men.

The investigation which is being carried out into this case has not yet been completed, but if it shows that disciplinary action is called for such action will certainly be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that A.C.I. 442, of 1942, lays down that retired officers whose pay and emoluments exceed £350 per annum may forego the payment of national health and pensions contributions, he will consider with the Ministry of Health methods of securing that such officers who happen to be employed in civil capacities should not have this deduction made.

The Army Council Instruction to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers relates to a limited class of retired officers who are re-employed under Pay Warrant, 1940, Article 498(a), on special terms as to pay and emoluments, and if their total emoluments including retired pay are in excess of £420 per year they are excepted from insurance. The ordinary statutory provisions, however, apply to ex-officers employed in an ordinary civilian capacity in exactly the same way as they apply to other persons working for private or commercial employers and consequently such ex-officers cannot be excluded from compulsory insurance unless the salary paid in respect of their employment exceeds £420 per year.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether all men who have been serving with the Army abroad for six years or longer have now been brought back to this country; and how far he proposes to develop this process in the future.

The speed with which men being returned to the Home Establishment are in fact returned varies in the commands abroad according to the shipping available from the area and the local military requirements, but except in the case of India practically all men who have been abroad for more than six years have been brought home. A start has already been made with men who have been abroad under six years and I hope in due course that the qualifying period will be further reduced.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in Manchester the hostels providing sleeping accommodation for members of His Majesty's Forces are insufficient; that as a result many Servicemen in transit and on leave in the city cannot get a bed and have to sleep on chairs or on the floors of hostels or canteens, or in air-raid shelters or on railway platforms, or to walk the streets all night; that this state of affairs is known to the Army Welfare Committee for the Manchester area and to the command welfare officer, Western Command; and what steps are being taken to improve conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that at a recent representative meeting, held under the chairmanship of the Lord Mayor of Manchester, at which representatives of the Army Welfare Committee were present, it was admitted that there was an acute shortage of hostel sleeping accommodation for members of His Majesty's Forces in Manchester; that, subsequent to the meeting, the Army Welfare Committee made suggestions that one of the hostels in Manchester should provide the capital expenditure for the provision of 600 additional beds; and whether he will bear this financial responsibility and not leave it to the ratepayers of Manchester or the charitably minded citizens of Manchester and district.

The shortage of sleeping accommodation in Manchester arises mainly from the influx of Allied and British troops on leave in the city. The Minister of Works is now providing 1,000 additional beds for American personnel, which it is hoped will ease the general situation. I am endeavouring to find suitable premises for extra dormitory accommodation near the railway station, but as all building labour available to the War Department is at present concentrated on most urgent operational work I am afraid it may not be possible to make any extra provision in the near future.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that as recently as last Saturday night 75 British soldiers had to be housed in an air raid shelter in the centre of the City, that this situation has been going on for some time, and that there will be no improvement until the officer in charge of welfare at Chester has been removed?

asked the Prime Minister if he will close the gap between pay and pension by giving directions to the Service Departments on the one hand and the Ministry of Pensions on the other, to come to an arrangement for the retention on the strength and on full pay and allowances of a serving man or woman, even if he is unfit, until his rights to compensation have been finally decided by the Minister or by an appeals tribunal.

I understand that entitlement to pension is determined in the majority of cases before the man has completed discharge furlough. The Minister of Pensions also has power to make a provisional award in cases where it appears likely that entitlement will be granted but where a final decision may be somewhat delayed. Where a decision is delayed, payment is made with effect from the date of discharge. In cases where pension is awarded on appeal to the Minister or to an appeal tribunal, payment is also made retrospectively from the date of discharge unless the man concerned has allowed a period of six months or more to elapse before making representations to the Ministry as to their failure to grant a pension. I see no reason to assume that these arrangements are inadequate.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that there are a fair number of cases where doubt about a man's entitlement cannot be resolved until the appeal tribunal sits and that since he has left the Service and has lost his pay there is sometimes a gap of weeks or months during which he has to go to public assistance for his only means of support? If that could be bridged does not my right hon. Friend think that that would meet public opinion?

I think it might be a useful thing if my hon. and gallant Friend had a talk to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions and laid before him any instances he has in mind.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to give up-to-date statistics covering the casualties among British Forces since the outbreak of the present war.

As was explained to my hon. Friend on 14th December, work is in hand on the preparation of a statement of casualties of the Armed Forces of the British Empire for the first four years of war. But, having regard to the considerations to which attention was then drawn it is unlikely that this statement can be published before April.

Is it not very strange that the American Government are able to announce these casualties regularly every month?

I cannot be answerable for the American Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, under U.S.A. income tax laws, brain-workers, such as writers and others, who may have been engaged on a particular piece of work for some years and then sell it for a lump sum are allowed, for purposes of taxation, to spread their remuneration over the period of production instead of, as here, having to account for it in the single year of receipt; and whether he will consider introducing some similar system in this country.

I am aware of the provision of U.S.A. Income Tax law to which my hon. Friend refers, but I am afraid that I cannot see my way to adopt his suggestion that a similar provision should be introduced in this country. Such a provision would involve a departure, in the case of fluctuating incomes of particular professions, from the general principle of the United Kingdom Income Tax system under which income is taxable as and when it arises.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that our present system presses heavily upon British authors, who are a poor but highly deserving section of the community? Will he not consider it a little further?

We all realise that it presses very heavily.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the terms of reference of the recently reconstituted University Grants Committee; and whether its functions have been or will be enlarged, in view of the educational and financial problems confronting the universities.

No change has been made in the terms of reference of the University Grants Committee, which are—"To enquire into the financial needs of University education in the United Kingdom and to advise the Government as to the application of any grants that may be made by Parliament towards meeting them." It seems to me that these terms of reference are wide enough to enable the Committee to report on any problem on which the Government might need advice in connection with the making of grants to Universities. I may add that there has grown up between the Committee and the Universities an accepted custom of constant informal consultation on matters of University policy, and it is contemplated that this will be continued and developed.

Is there any probability of the formation of a University Council in the not distant future in order to get that consultation more effective?

I am afraid I cannot say anything about that.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the 28 days' period in which to appeal after the determination of a price for a value payment on bomb damaged houses will apply to owners and tenants engaged on National Service either overseas or in this country who, in consequence of such service, have neither the information or the facilities available to lodge an appeal within the specified time.

The War Damage (Appeals and References) Rules contain provisions enabling the time limit for an appeal against the War Damage Commission's determination of the amount of a value payment to be extended where there are reasonable grounds for granting such an extension. Extensions may be granted even though the application for the extension is not made until the ordinary time limit has already expired.

I hope my right hon. Friend will appreciate that in many cases these notifications do not reach personnel of the Services until after the period for appeal has expired?

And for that reason provision is made for an extension.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that toilet articles, including cosmetics, manufactured and sold by unregistered makers are at present exempt from purchase tax up to the value of £500 sales per annum; and if he will consider utilising this new source of revenue.

Yes, Sir. There would be great difficulties in bringing a large number of small manufacturers under effective Revenue control, but the whole matter is being carefully watched.