asked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied that labour employed in the parks departments of local authorities is, in general, being used for the furthering of the war effort; and, in particular, what was the result of his enquiry into the circumstances in which, on Friday, 12th November, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, 10 men and one woman were raking leaves in Battersea Park and burning them.

I am satisfied that all labour which could better be employed elsewhere has been withdrawn from work in public parks, and that, having regard to the ages and medical categories of the persons employed, I cannot make a special point of the operations in Battersea Park to which my hon. Friend refers.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his reply, may I ask whether he will consider making representations to the London County Council, because of the unfortunate effect on the public of seeing numbers of people doing what appears to them to be work of less than national importance at this time?

I think the maintenance of public parks by people over military age and not fit for other work is a very essential thing.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the calling up of lorry drivers is affecting the distribution of coal to small consumers in Birmingham; and if he will suspend any further calling up of these men.

No, Sir; but if my hon. Friend will furnish particulars of any such cases of difficulty I will look into them.

asked the Minister of Labour what salaries are to be paid to the mining engineers who are to act as instructors under the training scheme recently instituted for new boy entrants into the collieries; and how these salaries compare with those of mining engineers employed as instructors for safety purposes under the Collieries Act of 1911.

Various grades of technical staff are engaged on instructional duties in the coal mining training centres I have recently established, and different qualifications, experience, etc., are required for the different grades. The salaries to be paid are on ranges extending from £5 per week, plus war bonus, to £600 per annum plus war bonus, and correspond, roughly, with earnings in the industry, but I will send my hon. Friend particulars of the grades, duties and pay of the staff in question.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any approximate estimate of the number of young people under 16 years of age now working more than 44 hours per week and those between 16 and 17 years of age working more than 48 hours per week; and what action has been taken to see that employers conform to the necessity of not employing young people for excessive hours of labour.

I regret that information on which to base such an estimate is not available. The hours of young persons in factories are closely watched through the factory inspectorate.

Is the Minister aware that complaints have been made in certain directions by organisations interested in young people, and that some of these young people are working very long hours?

A continuous watch is kept, and I keep asking for specific cases, but, in the main, I get only generalities. If hon. Members send me specific cases, I will look into them.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men are registered at the employment exchanges in the borough of West Ham for employment.

I will send the desired figures to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that urgently needed repairs to the roofs of bombed houses in Kensington, in order to make the buildings watertight, have had to be indefinitely postponed by reason of a recent Government Order commandeering all building labour in the Kensington area; and will he see that sufficient labour is left in the borough to enable the borough council to undertake all urgent work such as that referred to.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave on 27th January, 1944, to the hon. and learned Member for Ilford (Mr. Hutchinson).

asked the Minister of Labour if he will ask that an investigation be made into the conditions that gave rise to a stoppage of work at an aircraft factory, the name of which he has been given.

I understand that discussion on grievances is already proceeding through the normal machinery of the industry.

asked the Minister of Labour why workers were being sent to an aircraft factory while many employed there are working ordinary time, with a small night shift; what steps he has taken to remove the grievances which have subsequently arisen at this factory, of which he has been informed; if he has considered the correspondence sent him by the hon. Member for Stoke and with what result.

I am having inquiries made and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

In the inquiries which the Minister makes, will he have special regard to the need for consultation between production Departments like the Ministry of Aircraft Production?

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the shortage in accommodation in London, if he will now consider moving Gibraltar evacuees from some of the 19 hotels and 11 blocks of flats at present occupied.

I fully realise the shortage of accommodation in London, but I have no alternative accommodation at my disposal such as would be required to give effect to the suggestion of my hon. Friend.

Is it not a fact that some of the premises at present occupied are quite unsuitable and are badly needed for other purposes?

It is the best accommodation that we have been able to find, and I very much regret that there is no other alternative accommodation at my disposal.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in districts where overcrowding is acute, he will advise local authorities to release for occupation houses now held empty for emergency use.

I am afraid we have not yet reached the stage at which all accommodation reserved for the homeless could be released. It is a question of balancing the immediate needs of families unsatisfactorily housed against the potential needs of the homeless in the light of possible emergencies. The risk of attack is, of course, greater in some areas than in others, and, if my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind, I will certainly consider whether any further releases could be made.

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman say whether these houses are kept constantly under review, and whether it is considered that some of them could be released in certain areas?

The matter is kept under constant review.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman not aware that, in many areas, there is accommodation over shops which is quite empty or used for packing cases, and could he not make inquiries in that direction?

I know from my own experience in earlier years about that type of accommodation. It has been considered.

Does the Minister realise how annoying it is to those who are enduring the discomfort of overcrowded lodgings to see houses standing empty?

I fully appreciate that, but the embarrassment in the case of an emergency, for those who are bombed out, would cause even greater distress.

Is the Minister aware that there are many houses for sale, but none for letting?

asked the Minister of Health whether, as the Rent Restrictions Committee have decided to conduct their proceedings in private, the House can be assured that the Minutes of Evidence will be published in due course.

As the Committee have followed the practice of previous committees on this subject and decided that their proceedings should be private, I do not think I could properly give an assurance that the Minutes of Evidence will be published. Copies of the memoranda of evidence submitted to the Committee will, however, be placed in the Library of the House at the conclusion of the Inquiry and the Committee's report will, of course, be published in due course.

Is the Minister aware of the great importance of this matter to many hundreds of thousands of people in this country, and are they to be denied knowledge at any time of what is going on during the inquiry?

I have to take account of what is the normal practice with committees of this kind, of the wish and the decision of this Committee and also of the very great bulk of the evidence that will be submitted orally.

Is not the Minister aware that the conditions under which many hundreds of thousands of these people are living are not normal, and that, therefore, he ought to waive the normal procedure in their case?

The question of conditions is quite other than the question whether this very large mass of evidence should be published in full.

Is the Minister aware that the question of rent is perhaps one of the most important considerations in the income and life of the great mass of working people, and that evidence on the question whether an increase of rent should be granted is something of which the public ought to be fully informed?

The hon. Member will realise that the first part of that question is wholly remote from the question addressed to me. If the memoranda of evidence and the whole report are available, the public and Members of this House will have the full material.

If the Committee had decided to take the evidence in public the question of publishing the whole of the oral evidence afterwards would not arise; and is it not important that, while the inquiry is on, we should know what evidence is before it, so as to be able to deal with it and reply to it?

No, Sir, I do not agree.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the letter about consultant and specialist services appearing in the British Medical Journal and the Lancet of 15th January, signed by the presidents of the Royal College of Physicians of London, the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, of which he has received a copy and in which it is stated that these colleges are, at his request, making a survey of the present availability of consultants and specialists; and whether, in view of misunderstandings that have arisen on this matter, he will indicate the purpose and scope of the survey.

As the Answer is a long one, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I must comply with the Minister's request, but, in view of the great interest in this by the whole of the medical profession, will my right hon. and learned Friend see that the greatest possible publicity is given to the official reply and explanation, through medical and other journals throughout the country?

There is every reason to think that the right hon. Gentleman's wish will be gratified.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that Dr. D. Singh, of Kingstanding, Birmingham, charged one of his panel patients, Mr. W. R. Davis, of 432, Queslett Road, Birming- ham, 10s. 6d. for a doctor's note; and will he take steps to suppress such high charges.

I am not aware of the charge to which my hon. Friend refers, but if he will send me more particulars I will consider the matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has information respecting overcrowding in hospitals in the London and Greater London area; whether he is regularly supplied with reports respecting this and the increased burdens to which the staff are subjected; and whether he is taking any action to secure relief in those hospitals that are now seriously understaffed.

I am advised that there is no appreciable overcrowding in general hospitals in the area mentioned. When necessary, arrangements are made under the Emergency Hospital Scheme to transfer patients to outer hospitals for treatment. I regret that owing to conditions arising out of the War, unavoidable overcrowding exists in a number of hospitals used for the treatment of the chronic sick and for mental cases. The answer to the second part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." As regards the last part, steps are being taken by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service to assist hospitals with staffing difficulties. If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any individual hospitals he may have in mind, I shall be pleased to have inquiry made.

While I assure the right hon. and learned Gentleman that I shall do so may I ask him if he is aware that the nursing staffs in some hospitals are suffering from very severe strain and that if he does not supplement them by other nurses, many will break down under the strain?

We are all aware of the very great strain to which my hon. Friend refers.

Has the attention of the right hon. and learned Gentleman been drawn to the shortage of maternity accommodation in almost every hospital in the country?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consult with the appropriate W.L.A. authorities so as to ensure that all the W.L.A. groups in the country are allotted some wet weather employment in order to obviate the hours which at present are wasted.

County war agricultural executive committees have been asked to make whatever arrangements are practicable to ensure that members of the Women's Land Army in their employment are kept fully occupied in wet weather. If my hon. Friend is aware of any avoidable failure to provide such wet weather employment perhaps he will let me know.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is great scope for development in the organisation of these matters and that in a large number of districts they are not fully organised at this time?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will be good enough to let me have particulars.

I will.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consult with the Minister of Labour, so that if a farmer sends them home under the Essential Work Order, they will be paid for time lost?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that a member of the A.T.S. who lost an eye in the performance of her duties would, on discharge from the Service, receive a permanent pension of 16s. per week; and whether he will arrange for Miss Kathleen Giles, who has so far received only 25s. for each of the nine weeks during which she was unable to work after losing an eye when employed in the W.L.A., to receive on discharge from the W.L.A., a permanent pension of the same amount as if she had been a member of the A.T.S.

No, Sir. Members of the Women's Land Army are not dealt with on the same basis as members of the Women's Forces, but, as I have explained to my hon. and gallant Friend, on the basis of the Workmen's Compensation Act.

Does not my right hon. Friend think there is an important point of principle involved in this case? Is not Miss Giles, just because she is a member of the Women's Land Army, likely to be treated worse than a member of the Forces, or somebody in private employment?

Members of the Women's Land Army are dealt with in the same way as ordinary agricultural workers in regard to injuries arising out of and in the course of their employment.

But is not my right hon. Friend well aware that anybody in private employment, receiving such a terrible injury as this, would certainly be sure of some compensation?

No, Sir, certainly not.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the fact that a plague of rabbits were recently destroyed by gas; and whether this waste of food will be avoided by other methods of destruction.

I am not aware of the particular case referred to by the hon. Member, but the use of cyanide gas is strongly advocated as a means of exterminating rabbits. Having regard to the damage caused by rabbits to food production, I am quite satisfied that the need for their destruction by all available means, including gassing, overrides any consideration of their food value.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has given his public relations officer powers to inform the agricultural industry and public opinion of the implications of decisions taken by his Department affecting farm prices and food production.

The farming and general Press are informed of all decisions affecting food production, and facilities are provided in the Department for dealing with requests from the Press and the public for additional information.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are still large numbers of agriculturists who are not aware of the full facts and decisions with regard to these prices? Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that not only is it important to take a right decision but that it is also important to take public opinion on it? Will he take a leaf out of Lord Woolton's book?

asked the Minister of Agriculture if it is proposed to formulate and make public the Government's long-term policy for agriculture as soon as possible after the conclusion of the present discussions with the industry or to wait until after the end of the war in Europe.

As I stated on 28th October the discussions will be concerned with policy both in the transitional period and in the subsequent period; they will be exploratory and confidential and reports will be made from time to time to the War Cabinet on their progress. They will have to cover a wide field and I cannot say when it may be possible to make announcements on the various aspects of the problem.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one phrase which he used in his speech in the recent Debate caused some disquiet by suggesting that the formulation of policy would not take place until after the war; and will it not be necessary to relate this policy to the Government's general reconstruction and planning proposals which are to be discussed, we hope, this Session?

I think my hon. Friend had better let me see how I get on with the discussions before pressing me too far.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he proposes setting up the cost investigating system in conjunction with the National Farmers' Union and the Agricultural Workers' Union and other bodies in order that his Department, agriculture and public opinion may be fully informed of the facts in relation to the present commodity schemes and future long-term agricultural policy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he now proposes to have further discussions with the National Farmers' Union in connection with the adjustment of farm prices; and if at the same time he will consider the views of the National Union of Agricultural Workers.

I have nothing at present to add to the statements made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor and myself during the Debate on 26th January, but I have already had an informal talk with the President of the National Farmers' Union.

In the speech referred to, there is no mention of the Agricultural Workers' Union being consulted. Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is the intention to consult this Union?

I said some time ago that all sections of the industry would be consulted about post-war policy.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this is vital in the national interest for the restoration of confidence? Will he endeavour to exercise unshakeable sanity, invincible patience and tireless good will?

Will the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that on the specific question of setting up a cost investigating system, he will consult with the Agricultural Workers' Union?

I do not propose to limit myself in any way by giving assurances. I propose to carry out to the best of my ability the promise that I made.

On a point of Order. I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment at the first opportunity.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that there is considerable anxiety in the pig-producing industry as to its future in post-war years; and whether he will give an assurance that no action is contemplated which will not give opportunity for its possible expansion after war, in view of its great value and because it is a principal source of manurial humus.

As my hon. Friend will be aware, the whole question of post-war agricultural policy is the subject of exploratory discussions with representatives of the industry. The future of pig production will be considered in the course of those discussions.

asked the President of the Board of. Education on what occasions since 1921 the Board has exercised its powers under Sections 11, 12 and 15 of the Education Act of 1921 and required local authorities to submit schemes.

The Sections of the Education Act, 1921, to which the hon. Member refers, correspond to Sections of the Act of 1918. After the passing of that Act, local education authorities were asked to submit schemes for the organisation and development of education in their areas. In view of the financial position that arose, my predecessors in office did not feel justified in giving their statutory approval to the schemes submitted which would have made it obligatory upon the authorities to carry them into effect.

asked the President of the Board of Education the estimated number of children between 15 and 18 years of age who will be called upon to attend young people's colleges under the scheme outlined in the Education Bill, giving the total for each separate year; and what is the estimated financial burden to be borne by employers as a result of being called upon to pay the wages of young people attending colleges during the working hours of firms.

The average number in the age groups which will enter young people's colleges in each of the first three years from their opening is estimated to be about 500,000. My hon. Friend will realise I cannot undertake to give exact estimates for a long period ahead. I cannot furnish an estimate of the additional costs likely to fall upon employers as a result of the requirement to release young employees to attend college during working hours for the equivalent of one day a week. I am, however, advised that over the whole field of employment, juvenile wages ordinarily represent only a small fraction of total costs.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if the average wage of a young person is 50s. a week, the cost of absence for one day a week will be £20 a year; and that if 500,000 young people go to these colleges for three years each, it will mean a burden on industry of £30,000,000 a year? Cannot my right hon. Friend avoid that cost by making it compulsory to attend these colleges in the evening?

One of our objects is to avoid evening work for young persons, and while I do not doubt the figures which my hon. Friend has put forward, I would remind him that industry, and employers generally, have accepted this scheme extraordinarily well. If, however, he wishes to discuss costs with me I shall be only too glad to do so.

Is it not a fact that firms have been working this system for many years?

That is so.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that employers in Rugby regard this scheme as of immense benefit?

That is so; employers large and small in Rugby have co-operated in a magnificent manner.

asked the President of the Board of Education what promises with regard to status and control were made on behalf of the Board to endowed schools which relinquished direct grants in accordance with Circular 1259.

No general assurances were given to schools, but in reply to inquiries individual schools were informed that, while their status would not be affected by their relinquishment of direct grant, local education authorities could not be precluded from attaching conditions to their financial aid to the schools.

Was not a promise made by the Permanent Secretary to the Board at that time that they would not suffer any extension of control by local education authorities?

I have been at pains to go into this matter carefully and, as I have said in my answer, perhaps my hon. Friend would like to discuss with me some of the schools in which he is interested and investigate it in that way.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that there are a number of cases of superannuated teachers returning to teaching service during the present emergency owing to the difficulties of local education authorities regarding teaching staff; that, under Section 6 of the Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1925, their pensions, when they again ceased teaching after serving an additional 12 months or more, were reduced because over the last five years of service their average salary was lowered because a smaller salary had been paid for the additional service; and whether he will amend the provisions of this section and remedy this anomaly.

I am aware of the possible effect upon teachers' pensions of Section 6 of the Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1925, in the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers, though that effect is likely to be felt in only a few special cases. I have noted the point for consideration when opportunity offers in connection with any legislation to amend the Teachers (Superannuation) Acts.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he has made any representations with a view to securing the release, for educational purposes, of St. Katherine's College at Tottenham, Whitelands College, Putney, and the King's College of Household and Social Science, Campden Hill Road.

I am now engaged in reviewing the position of all the training colleges which, owing to war circumstances, are being used for purposes other than training teachers, with a view to recovering them for their normal purposes as soon as possible. Of those mentioned by my hon. Friend, King's College of Household and Social Science is a university institution and is not directly the concern of my Department.