asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make arrangements which will permit discharged ex-Service men now to re-open businesses which they left or closed consequent upon entry to His Majesty's Forces if they so desire.

As I informed my hon. Friend, the Member for Bournemouth (Sir L. Lyle) on 29th June last, I gave instruction in 1942 for licences to be granted, as a matter of course, to disabled or invalided ex-Servicemen, who wish to re-establish themselves in their former retail businesses.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the two Trading with the Enemy Regulations, numbered respectively S.R. & O., 1684 and 1685, of 1943, deal in one case with Corsica alone and in the other case with Corsica, Syria and the Lebanon, French Somaliland, Algeria, the French Zone of Morocco and Tunisia; and if he can state the reason for the differentiation between the treatment of Corsica and the other French territories referred to.

There is no difference in treatment between Corsica and the other French territories. Order No. 1685 related only to Corsica because a similar Order had already been made for the other territories in July, 1943 (S.R. & O. 822), before Corsica was liberated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered complaints by London busmen as to the obligation to give up coupons in respect of articles of uniform even if they have no need to replace existing garments; and whether he will arrange that where there is no need to exchange old garments for new at their depot they need not give up coupons but be permitted to use them for other urgently needed articles of clothing.

The point raised by my hon. Friend has recently been fully discussed with the trade unions concerned. The present uniform arrangements for London busmen are similar to those for all other wearers of essential civilian uniforms. London busmen receive an initial uniform outfit worth from 33 to 42 coupons and necessary replacements coupon-free, in exchange for the surrender of 5 to 8 coupons a year, according to the type of uniform.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to how many radio retailers have licences been issued under S.R. & O., No. 2468, of 1942; and, since in some cases licences have been issued to new firms to the detriment of old-established concerns whose employees have been called to war work, what steps he proposes to remedy this grievance.

No licences are issued under the Order, which is a general licence enabling anyone to carry on a business of repairing his customers' goods without applying for an individual licence under the Location of Retail Businesses Order. This general licence does not, of course, absolve persons from the obligation to comply with the provisions of any other Order made under the Defence (General) Regulations. The General Licence was issued because, in present circumstances, it is plainly desirable that there should be the widest possible facilities for repairs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now received the Report of the Committee which has been inquiring into the herring fishing industry; and whether he proposes to publish it.

The Report of the Committee appointed by my right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Home Secretary and myself to consider the post-war problems of the herring industry has now been received. The Report will be published as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children are now receiving milk and meals in Scottish schools.

For October, 1943, the number of children receiving meals (dinners or lunches) in schools in Scotland was 159,364, representing 21.2 per cent. of the numbers on the rolls, as compared with 141,630, or 18.8 per cent., in June, 1943. The number receiving milk was 513,502, representing 67.6 per cent. of the numbers of the rolls, as compared with 520,124, or 68.5 per cent., in June, 1943.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, how many acres have been planted with forest trees in Scotland during the last three years, respectively.

9,511 acres, 7,112 acres and 5,832 acres have been planted with forest trees in Scotland by the Forestry Commission during the last three years, respectively, and planting grants have been paid by the Commission in respect of 4,427 acres, 3,681 acres and 4,244 acres.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the status and administration of the Royal Mental Hospitals was not considered by the Hetherington Committee although these hospitals are an integral part of the health services in Scotland; and if he has any statement to make on the matter.

I am informed that in refraining from making recommendations based on the evidence which they received on the subject of the Royal Mental Hospitals, the Committee had in mind that the mental hospital service rests on a special code of law which is at present being reviewed by the Russell Committee on the Lunacy and Mental Deficiency Laws of Scotland. The position of the Royal Mental Hospitals in relation to the proposed new health service is not being overlooked.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how far his efforts to find employment for Scotswomen in Scotland instead of their having to be expatriated for the purpose over the border have succeeded.

I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of a statement issued by the Scottish Council on Industry and published in the Press on 20th November, 1943.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that Messrs. Higgs Motors, Limited, Witton, Birmingham, did not pay their workpeople holiday pay for the Christmas holiday; that the I.C.I., the G.E.C. and many other firms pay their workpeople for this holiday; and what action he intends taking about the matter.

The question of payment for holidays is normally determined by industrial agreements. I understand that the two engineering firms mentioned by the hon. Member observe the Holiday Pay Agreement for the industry in which they are engaged which provides for a week's holiday with pay annually, but does not provide for holiday payment in respect of Christmas Day or Boxing Day.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will consult the Governor of Trinidad with a view to publishing the Report of Dr. Benham's Committee on the sugar industry at the earliest date, leaving, if necessary, the Government's proposals thereon to be published subsequently

After consultation with me, the Governor of Trinidad arranged for the Report, together with the Recommendations on the Report which had been made by the Trinidad Executive Council, to be laid on the table in the Legislative Council and published on 7th January, 1944.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he now has any statement to make regarding the repatriation of British prisoners of war who have been three years in enemy hands.

I am able to assure my hon. Friend that the investigations, on the basis of which a proposal might be made to the German Government, are nearing their conclusion. It will be realised that as German prisoners are interned in various parts of the Commonwealth greater time has been necessary to secure the figures relating to age and length of captivity than would have been the case if all the German prisoners had been interned in this country. It is on the basis of these particulars alone that any proposal for repatriation under Article 72 of the Convention can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the list of war criminals will include citizens of Great Britain who have committed acts of sabotage or fomented industrial strife or who have in any other way deliberately hindered the war effort.

No, Sir. Offences such as my hon. Friend has in mind are not war crimes. Persons who offend against the laws of this country are brought to justice as soon as detected. No question arises of compiling a list of such persons or dealing with them through any international procedure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has figures to show how many farmers pay Income Tax, how many pay Super-tax and how many pay Excess Profits Tax.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by me on 8th December last to a Question by the hon. Member for Holland with Boston (Mr. Butcher), of which I am sending him a copy, which gives estimates of the numbers of farmers paying Income Tax Schedule D and Excess Profits Tax. I regret that no figures are available as to the numbers paying Income Tax Schedule B or Sur-tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any decision has yet been reached as to whether men now serving in the Forces overseas will, after the war, be allowed to bring back to this country, duty free, a limited amount of dutiable articles as presents for their wives, relatives and friends; and if he has any statement to make on this matter.

I do not think that any special decision is necessary in this connection. It is the practice of the Customs to allow all persons arriving in this country to bring limited amounts of dutiable goods free of duty, and my hon. and gallant Friend need not apprehend that the Customs Officers will be unduly strict in the exceptional circumstances which he has in mind.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what plans are in preparation as an essential part of post-war development for cheap electricity for lighting, domestic and agricultural uses in rural districts generally.

The development of electricity supply in rural areas is an important aspect of the general problem of the improvement of the electricity services for the country as a whole, which is at present receiving the active consideration of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the reason for making the Gas Undertakings (Alteration of Declared Calorific Value) Order (S.R. & O., No. 1720, of 1943) under which gas undertakings are relieved of their statutory obligation to give a period of notice, usually of three months, before changing the calorific value of their gas.

From time to time unavoidable variations in the quality of coal supplied to gas undertakings, combined with run down conditions of plant and lack of skilled labour, result in fluctuations in the calorific value of the gas produced. Undertakings can sometimes meet these difficulties by reducing the declared calorific value of their gas. Such reduction can also, in some cases, promote economy in the use of fuel. The obligation to give a period of notice (usually three months) has been a hindrance to this course of action, and I have accordingly found it necessary to make the Order suspending the obligation. This Order should in no way prejudice the interests of the consumer.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will give the recent percentages of increase in the consumption of gas and electricity.

The consumption of gas and electricity in the last three months of 1943 was greater than the consumption in the corresponding months of 1942 by the following percentages:

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether copies of the plans referred to in the Coal Commission (Fees for Inspection and Copies of Plans) Rules, 1943 (S.R. & O., No. 1781, of 1943) can be reproduced photo-statically; and, if so, will he amend the Order so as to reduce the cost of plans below the charge of 5s. per hour when reproduced by hand.

I am informed that for the purposes of this Order a hand-made tracing is likely, in all cases, to be the most economical method of securing the requisite information. If, however, in any case it were found that photo-static reproduction saved man-hours, the charge under the Order would automatically be less.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the system of accounting for expenditure of county war agricultural executive committees; whether the accounting officer of the Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for the auditing of the accounts of all these committees; whether any published balance sheet is prepared; and, if so, in what form will it be submitted to Parliament.

Each committee has its own finance department and banking accounts. Committees render monthly accounts of all their receipts and payments which are incorporated in the Ministry's books and are included in the annual Appropriation Accounts relating to the Department's War Services Vote.The accounting officer of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is the accounting officer in connection with the transactions of the committees. Examiners from the Ministry visit the committees' offices periodically for the purpose of checking the cash accounts. In addition the Ministry has a small staff of qualified accountants who visit committees with the object of assisting them with their accounting and financial problems and of investigating their systems and records and their general arrangements for financial control. Generally, an audit in the strict sense of the term is not carried out by my Department, but in a number of cases a limited local audit is performed by County Accountants or local firms of professional accountants. As stated above, however, the committees' cash transactions form part of the Ministry's accounts which are, of course, subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.It is not proposed to prepare a balance sheet covering the whole of the committees' activities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will place farmers' wives or, in the case of bachelors, farmers' housekeepers in the same category as the W.L.A. for securing rubber boots and other farm clothing.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to similar Questions on 9th December.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mary Mills, aged 33, single, 12, High Street, Little Lever, Bolton, has been sentenced to imprisonment for refusing to return to the textile industry where she was employed as a weaver up to three years ago; that she was recently engaged on work of national importance in an aircraft factory; that her parents, with whom she is living, are old; that her home was near her recent place of work when the mill was closed; if this was her first appearance in court, what is the period of sentence; whether she was offered the alternative of a fine; whether a solicitor defended her; and whether, as weaving is detrimental to her health, he will allow her to return to her recent employment when released.

Mary Mills was employed in the textile industry up to August, 1941, when the mill in which she worked was closed under a concentration scheme. She then worked until July, 1943, in a Ministry of Supply factory and in that month was given a direction under Defence (General) Regulation 58A (1) to employment as a weaver with Messrs. J. C. Hamer, Radcliffe. This was in accordance with the procedure which I have had to adopt in a number of cases owing to the special need for experienced labour in certain branches of the cotton industry. Owing to her failure to comply with this direction proceedings were instituted and after an adjournment she was sentenced by the Bench on 6th December to a month's imprisonment without the alternative of a fine. She had not previously been prosecuted by my Department and, so far as I am aware, had not previously appeared in Court. I am informed that she was not defended by a solicitor. While the legal proceedings were pending my Local Officers placed her in temporary local employment on plastics for aircraft. The Ministry of Supply factory, the Plastics firm and Messrs. Hamer's are, respectively, 15, 5 and 30 minutes' walk from Miss Mills' home. I am not aware of the ages of her parents. As regards her state of health, independent medical examinations, including examination by a consultant, were made before proceedings were taken and the advice I received was that she was fit for employment as a weaver. I will now consider this aspect of the matter again in the light of any further information I can obtain.

asked the Minister of Labour what consideration is being given for postwar rehabilitation of the various classes of war-workers; and whether, as these workers are in the front line in civil defence, they will be cared for when the war ceases.

War workers who have suffered disablement of such a character as would handicap them substantially in obtaining other employment are covered by the provisions of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Bill.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport if he can state the number of bulbs in railway carriages stolen or broken every month on the four main-line railways and on the L.N.E.R. and on the suburban lines.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for this opportunity of calling attention to the widespread vandalism on railway trains, which has increased to serious proportions. On the London and North Eastern Railway alone, an average of 2,400 electric light bulbs in railway carriages are broken or stolen every month. The figure for the four main line companies is 14,500 every month. Unfortunately, it is not practicable to give separate figures for suburban services. I am unfortunately compelled to add that this wanton destruction is not limited to electric light bulbs. During 1943, over 25,000 carriage windows were smashed; 45,000 blinds were removed, stolen or destroyed; some 20,000 window straps were stolen or destroyed; over 13,500 seats were damaged by slashing, and many of the removable cushions were stolen; 13,000 luggage racks were rendered useless, mainly by cutting; and more than 3,500 mirrors were stolen or smashed. In addition, many other fittings have been wantonly wrenched off, or stolen. Even first-aid and A.R.P. equipment has been stolen. I need not say that this might lead to the most serious results, if a railway accident were unhappily to occur.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a number of soldiers stationed at Glasgow were granted a short leave on 26th November and decided to visit their homes in Monmouthshire, leaving the above place about 1 o'clock, arriving at Pontypool, Monmouthshire, at 11.45 p.m., too late to catch a train or omnibus so had to walk a distance of 10 to 12 miles; and will arrangements be made to allow men in such circumstances to start earlier in the day.

Under the existing regulations personnel who have to travel long distances are despatched as early as possible in the day and they are allowed to return late on the day on which their leave ends. Without further particulars of the men to whom my hon. Friend refers I regret that I cannot Say whether they were treated in the usual way.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, on the afternoon of Friday, 10th December, in a military camp, particulars of which have been given to him, a soldier undergoing detention was made to double around a square with a full big pack, small pack, a water bottle, a rifle and a steel helmet, under the orders of a company-sergeant-major and a military policeman; and whether he will immediately put a stop to this practice, which has previously been officially announced to have been given up some time ago.

I was not satisfied with the report rendered on this case and I am having it further investigated. I regret therefore that I cannot give the hon. and learned Member a full answer but as soon as the investigation is completed I will communicate with him.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that the ribbon of the 1939–43 Star is now being issued to the R.N. and R.A.F. personnel, he will arrange for the issue of this ribbon to those officers and other ranks who are clearly entitled to it under the terms of Command Paper No. 6463.

Yes, Sir. An announcement on the lines suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend was made at the beginning of last week.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that excellent results have been obtained by the use of police dogs for guarding such places as dumps against pilfering; and what steps are being taken to extend the scheme especially as the South African personnel who were to be used for handling are not now available.

Many dogs have already been provided for guarding places of importance both in the United Kingdom and overseas. Most of the men who handle dogs come from this country and I do not understand my hon. and gallant Friend's reference to South African personnel.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the necessity of continuing the existence of the separate organisations of British troops, Egypt and G.H.Q., M.E.F.; and whether he is satisfield that proper economies are being made in officers serving upon these establishments.

The establishment and organisation of the headquarters in Egypt are kept under constant review, and all possible reductions in manpower are made. The process of adjusting the staff and the forces in the Middle East to the military tasks which they are called upon to perform is one which has gone on constantly for some time and is continuing. Economies are made wherever possible, but for the reasons which I gave in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton) on 2nd November, I regret that I cannot give particulars.

asked the Secretary of State for War why operationally employed soldiers on the East Coast are still without their winter underclothing issue; and whether arrangements will be made for this issue to, take place immediately.

Winter underclothing is available for any man who applies for it. I understand that the Ordnance Depots in the Command concerned have met all demands, but if the hon. Member will send me particulars of the unit to which his Question refers, I will have further inquiries made.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a censoring officer dealing with the letters of a soldier written from India to this country struck out the word Fascism from a sentence referring to this war against Fascism; whether this was in accordance with his instructions; and whether he will make it plain to officers censoring letters in India that troops are allowed to assert that we are at war against Fascism.

The answer to the first part of the Question is No, Sir. This alleged action could certainly not be sup- ported by anything in military censorship regulations, and if the hon. and learned Member will send me sufficient particulars I shall be glad to have inquiries made.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now make arrangements for the accrediting of a war correspondent on behalf of the "Daily Worker"; and, in particular, whether he will cause a reply to be sent to the letters sent by the editor of the "Daily Worker" to the Director of Public Relations on the 13th August, 4th September and 29th December, 1943.

In view of the paramount importance of security measures in connection with military operations, His Majesty's Government are not prepared to accord special facilities to this newspaper which is the propagandist medium of the Communist Party of Great Britain. In recent times some of its members or adherents have shown that they are ready to subordinate the security of the State to the purposes of the Organisation. I have therefore caused a letter to be sent to the editor of the "Daily Worker" which reads as follows:

"It is desired to affirm the right to reject any candidate for the position of Accredited Correspondent to the Armed Forces without stating any reason. Such decisions are taken in the light of the overriding necessity to safeguard secret military information, and particularly that relating to future military operations.

It is for these reasons that your candidates have been rejected in the past. The question has recently been considered again and you are hereby informed that no correspondent of the "Daily Worker" will be regarded as suitable for the position of Accredited Correspondent to the Armed Forces.

Accredited Correspondents receive military information and facilities not available to other members of the Press or of the Public. Recent experience, drawn in part from the cases of D. F. Springhall and O. L. Uren, has made it clear that members and adherents of the Communist Party cannot be trusted not to communicate secret information to the Communist Party. It is in the light of this that the decision of His Majesty's Government has been taken."

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, in view of the inferior quality of Army towels, the present issue of two per man, one of which is always at the wash, is insufficient; and whether he will con- sider increasing the issue to three per man, especially in those units whose duty entails working in oil, grease and mud.

Extra towels are provided for men who need them owing to the nature of their duties, and I am not aware that the present scales of issue have been found inadequate. In view of the general shortage of towelling material, it is, I regret, unlikely that these scales will be increased.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are being taken to safeguard historic monuments, art galleries, museums and libraries, in enemy-occupied territories, including Italy.

In a reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury (Mr. A. Duckworth) on 7th December I said I would consider making a statement on these matters when the Archæological Adviser to the Directorate of Civil Affairs had returned from Italy and had submitted his report. He has now returned, and I propose to make a statement in the House shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent the statistics, relating to soldiers who have been recently demobilised, reveal the unpopularity of the civilian suit and the inadequacy of the additional attire at present being offered to discharged soldiers; and whether he is prepared to make drastic changes and improvements in the existing scheme and relate it to the pre-war needs of the average citizen.

The number of complaints received about the clothing now being issued to soldiers discharged from the Army is very small and no complaint from an actual recipient of the clothing can be traced. The whole question of the nature and extent of the civilian clothing to be issued to soldiers on demobilisation has been the subject of very full consideration and planning in consultation with other Departments concerned for many months past. I am not at the moment in a position to give full details of the proposed scheme, as one or two points still remain unsettled, but I can say that I feel sure that when details of the scheme can be made public, hon. Members will be agree- ably agreeably surprised both in regard to the quality and variety and to the scope of the outfit which it is intended to issue. The question of applying this scheme, not only to soldiers released on the termination of hostilities, but also as soon as possible to those who are discharged before that date, is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been drawn to the expressed wish of many members of the H.G. who are anxious to serve on the Continent in the forthcoming assault and who feel that as they now are so well trained and prepared they should be given the opportunity, if they so desire, to fight side by side with units of the Regular Army; and will he give consideration to this proposal.

While I appreciate the spirit of members of the Home Guard who wish to serve on the continent, such a suggestion is, I regret, not practicable. The Home Guard is a part-time force and a large proportion of its members is performing work of national importance in a civilian capacity. Such work will have to continue when the Regular Army goes overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether an orderly in the R.A.M.C. who objects to vaccination and inoculation is obliged by the rules of the service to assist at the vaccination and inoculation of other recruits.

A Royal Army Medical Corps orderly takes no part in the actual operation of inoculating and vaccinating soldiers. He may clean the site of the operation, apply such dressings as are needed, sterilise the instruments and check nominal rolls. The susceptibilities of an orderly who holds strong views about vaccination and inoculation are respected as far as this is possible.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many children are now receiving milk and a daily meal at school; and what percentage they represent of the children in attendance.

The following table gives the information asked for:

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will give an estimate, capital expenditure being expressed in terms of loan charges, of the ultimate annual cost of their schools to the religious denominations, respectively, on the assumption that, in aided or special agreement schools, they continue to educate the same percentage of all children of compulsory school age as in 1938.

The capital expenditure which will fall on the religious denominations in respect of auxiliary schools will depend on the manner in which the managers exercise the options offered to them under Clause 14 of the Education Bill. These options include that of the controlled school.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will give a list, by administrative counties, of those county districts, distinguishing between boroughs and urban districts, which may, if their respective councils so desire, become excepted districts under paragraph 4 of the Part III of the First Schedule to the Education Bill, giving in each case the population of the district according to the last census and the total number of pupils on the rolls of the public elementary schools in each district on 31st March, 1939, and indicating which of

asked the President of the Board of Education the public elementary school population and the number of children of comparable age attending other schools on 31st March, 1939, for the borough of Sutton Coldfield.

The total number of pupils on the rolls of the public elementary

Following is the information:schools in the area of the Sutton Coldfield local education authority on 31st March, 1939, was 3,077. I am unable to give the number of children of comparable age attending other schools, but on 1st October, 1939, the total number of pupils attending grant-earning secondary schools situated in the area was 794.

asked the President of the Board of Education the public ele- mentary school population and the number of children of comparable age attending other schools on 31st March, 1939, for the urban district of Solihull.

The total number of pupils on the rolls of the public elementary schools in the urban district of Solihull on 31st March, 1939, was 3,864. The number of children of comparable age attending other schools is not available, but on 1st October, 1939, the total number of pupils attending grant-earning secondary schools situated in the area was 891.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. Arnold Leese, who has been detained under Regulation 18B for three and a half years in Brixton Prison whence he was recently removed to a hospital for a serious operation; and will he consider granting to him conditions similar to those granted to Sir Oswald Mosley;(2) whether he is aware that Mr. Leese's wife wrote to his Department on 5th November, 1943, asking for a personal interview and again on 5th December, 1943, asking for a reply, but nothing beyond a formal acknowledgment of the first letter has so far been received; and will he give instructions for a reply to be sent to Mrs. Leese at an early date.

When in December arrangements were made to send Mr. Leese to a hospital I immediately called for a medical report with a view to considering whether his detention ought to be suspended on medical grounds. After the receipt of that report I decided to suspend the order of detention on appropriate conditions, so as to allow Mr. Leese to return to his home as soon as he becomes fit for discharge from hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Leese have been so informed.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the system of accounting for expenditure of the staffs of Regional Commissioners under the Ministry of Home Security; whether the accounting officer of that Ministry is responsible for the auditing of these accounts; whether any published balance sheet is prepared; and, if so, in what form will it be submitted to Parliament.

I have been asked to reply.The expenditure of all Regional Commissioners Offices is controlled by the Ministry of Home Security. The Accounting Officer of that Ministry is responsible for all accounts of the Regional Offices and audit is conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General. No separate published imlance sheet is prepared, the accounts being included in the Civil Appropriation Accounts (Unclassified Votes).

asked the Minister of Food whether he will institute an inquiry into the dietary of miners and other sections of the community engaged in hard physical labour, as there is evidence that a deficiency in energy-producing items of diet accounts for much of the absenteeism now impeding the production of coal and other vital war efforts.

The nutritional requirements of every class of consumer are always under constant review by ray Department, and special attention is now being given to the needs of the types of workers to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Health how many hotels, flats, schools and colleges are now occupied by evacuees from Gibraltar.

The evacuees from Gibraltar are now accommodated in 19 hotels, 11 blocks of flats, 3 schools or colleges and 4 other buildings.

asked the Minister of Health whether priority in respect of State subsidised houses will be given in post-war days to the families of men in the Fighting Forces.

There are existing statutory conditions which apply to the selection of tenants for houses erected by local authorities, but it will certainly be my right hon. and learned Friend's wish, as I have no doubt it will be that of the local authorities, that special consideration should be given to the claims of those returning from the Forces, and my right hon. and learned Friend intends to consider in what manner this object can best be achieved.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that no detailed health statistics have been published for several years; and whether he will give authority for the issue of up-to-date civil and medical tables or statistical reviews to supplement the summary reports of the Ministry of Health.

The Medical Section (Part I) of the Registrar-General's Statistical Review for 1940 was published in September last, and the Civil Section (Part II) of the 1939 Review in January last. Corresponding volumes for subsequent years are being issued as soon as possible; but their production is, unfortunately, conditioned by the very restricted printing facilities now available for this class of matter. I regret that during the present extreme shortage of paper the volumes cannot be placed on public sale, but the statistics may be consulted at the Office of the Registrar-General, from whom a temporary loan of any volumes desired can be had by those having occasion to refer to them.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the central medical committee is working a scheme with his Ministry which ignores the representations of the local medical committees and other committees concerned in East Sussex and, by designating too many local doctors for military service, is causing overwork and anxiety for those concerned with the health of the local population; and will he therefore adjust the situation.

My hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt referring to a plan which I have asked the Central Medical War Committee to put into operation, on the recommendation of the Medical Personnel (Priority) Committee presided over by the hon. Baronet, the Member for Norwich (Sir G. Shakespeare), as one of the steps to obtain the number of doctors which the Government has decided to assign to the Forces. The plan applies to any area which has not satisfied the quota of doctors required of it, that is to say, which retains a higher proportion of general practitioners to population than that normally adopted for the purpose of calculating the quota. The Central Medical War Committee issues recruitment notices to doctors of military age up to the number required to make up the quota, but it is open to the Local Medical War Committee, as well as to the doctors themselves and any employing authorities, to make representations to the Central Committee against the recruitment. These representations are then considered fully by the Central Committee, at an oral hearing if so desired, before a final decision is reached.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the current serious prevalence of airborne infections, which include influenza, he will give instructions for a short daily closing of cinemas between performances so as to allow of the ventilation and disinfection of the audience hall between sessions.

No, Sir. I am advised that adequate continuous ventilation is more effective than ventilation between sessions as a practical method of reducing the spread of infection. Inadequate disinfection would do more harm than good and it is doubtful whether disinfection by aerosols to an extent that would provide an additional safeguard would be practicable for large places of entertainment at the present time. I understand that London County Council Regulations and Rules for the Management of places of entertainment together require that adequate means of ventilation be provided in cinemas and adequate ventilation maintained while the public are on the premises.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the difficulties experienced by the parents of children in war conditions in personally attending at the registry to register births; and what instructions have been issued to deal with them

While it is very desirable, in order to obtain the correct information both for insertion in the Birth Register and for the purposes of the Population (Statistics) Act, 1938, that wherever possible one of the parents should be the informant, the difficulties of present-day circumstances are recognised and in June, 1943, a Circular was issued to Registration Officers asking them to use a wise discretion in deciding to what extent they should insist on the attendance of a parent.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that ordinary mails to the U.S.A. take about three weeks and that air-mail takes a little longer, in some cases as long as five weeks; and whether any improvement in either service can be expected in the near future.

With regard to mails sent to the U.S.A. by surface route, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply, of which I am sending him a copy, given on the 17th of December to the hon. Member for Bournemouth (Sir L. Lyle). I cannot accept the suggestion that the time of transmission by air mail to the U.S.A. is normally longer than by surface route. Such delays as occur in the case of air mail correspondence are due primarily to lack of sufficient aircraft capacity for mails on the trans-Atlantic air services, the difficulty in this respect being aggravated during the winter when flying conditions are less favourable and the intervals between flights longer because the aircraft follow a longer route. Owing to these difficulties I have had to warn the public, through the medium of the Press and by broad- cast, that air mails for the U.S.A. and Canada have sometimes to be sent by sea and to advise them in the general interest not to use the trans-Atlantic air mail service except for the most urgent correspondence.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the hardship imposed upon the relatives of Service men and women, especially those abroad, he will consider granting a reduction of the postage costs for letters, at least monthly.

Letters pasted in the United Kingdom for transmission by surface transport to members of His Majesty's Forces abroad, wherever they may be serving, benefit by a special reduced rate of postage, namely, the former Imperial rate 1½d. for the first ounce and 1d. for each additional ounce, which was maintained when postage rates generally were increased under the Budget introduced in 1940. In addition, airgraph and air letter services to the troops abroad have been introduced at the low rates of 3d. and 6d. respectively. Substantial reductions have also been made since the outbreak of war in the postage rates on parcels to members of the Forces overseas. I am sorry that I can make no further concession.

asked the Minister of Information if he will consult with the B.B.C. with a view to saving fuel by giving the last news broadcast not later than 10.30 p.m.

Yes, Sir. The hon. Member's suggestion has been examined in consultation with the Ministry of Fuel and Power. But it is not thought that its adoption would result in any appreciable saving of fuel.