asked the Minister without Portfolio if he is aware of the anxiety of those living in the development areas as to the future of the heavy industries; and if he will give an assurance that the Government is determined to proceed with measures to ensure a steady future for such industries.

Yes, Sir. The Government will certainly do all they can to help the heavy industries to promote their efficient development.

May the answer be taken to indicate that the Government will have this subject in mind, when making the necessary post-war arrangements with other countries engaged in the heavy industries?

Yes, Sir.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman appreciate that there is a very strong feeling in the development areas, in favour of an early statement on how the Government propose to ensure the future of the heavy industries?

I happen to know very well the particular area which the hon. and gallant Member represents, and I can assure him that its condition is ever present in my mind.

May I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman whether he has more than one area in mind; and will he indicate the nature of the measures which the Government are going to take?

I certainly have other areas in mind.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the future of the heavy industries can be secured only by their nationalisation?

asked the Minister without Portfolio whether in any schemes for the civil absorption of post-war demobilised labour any estimates have been framed of the man-power requirements of the chief basic industries of the country; and whether, in that case, he can give illustrative figures.

Estimates are being made of the man-power likely to be required by the principal industries in this country during the years immediately following the end of hostilities in Europe; but at this stage these are necessarily provisional, and I do not think it would be expedient to publish them.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that our American Allies have plans well cut and dried for the absorption of labour?

I do not think we can do more than we are doing in making provision. It must be very uncertain at present.

When will the right hon. and learned Gentleman be able to make a statement to the House?

I cannot give any promise of a date; the matter is receiving attention.

asked the Minister without Portfolio whether the plans of the Ministry of Reconstruction yet comprise any priority and special facilities for rebuilding the economic life of the regulated areas.

I can, assure my hon. and gallant Friend that we are giving due weight to the needs of these and other areas which have been specially affected by war conditions in planning the use of our resources after the end of the war.

In view of what the regulated areas have encountered because of the war, and the fact that the Minister of Labour has said that rehabilitation is an urgent need immediately after the war, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman take steps immediately to see that priorities are given?

Those areas that have been specially affected by the war obviously need special consideration.

Is there not a mistake in the Question? It refers to the "Ministry of Reconstruction." Can my right hon. and learned Friend say whether, in fact, there is a Ministry of Reconstruction?

No, Sir, there is not. There is a Minister, but not a Ministry.

asked the Minister without Portfolio whether his Department has under consideration the proposals for the industrial redevelopment of South Wales drawn up by Colonel E. C. Devereux, a copy of which has been sent to him; and what action is being taken to carry the necessary investigation further.

These recommendations are being considered together with other proposals for the establishment of our industries on a firm foundation after the war. I may add that these particular proposals were made available to the Welsh Reconstruction Advisory Council and Colonel Devereux has given evidence before that body. I hope shortly to receive from the council their first interim report.

When that report is received, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman make a limited number of copies available for persons interested in this most important matter?

Yes, Sir, certainly.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind that the report of this Council is widely expected in Wales and if only a limited number of copies is available, it might not be possible to give the publicity required? Will he consider the advisability of publishing it in the ordinary way?

Certainly. I have not yet seen the report, but, subject to the exigencies of paper and so on, I would like to give it the widest possible publicity.

May I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman to amplify his statement that these representations and advice are being considered? By whom are they being considered, and how, precisely, is the responsibility for postwar planning distributed over the various Government Departments?

It is being considered by a Committee of the Cabinet over which my noble Friend the Minister of Reconstruction presides.

Is there any likelihood of a decision being arrived at?

If the recommendations are generally favourable, will the Government consider making available the necessary money and technical information for the further exploration of this matter?

At the present moment that is a rather hypothetical question.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) what are the number of pensions granted and administered by the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, in respect of disabilities attributable to the Boer War; and what is the annual sum involved;

(2) whether he will secure for the Boer War pensioners, whose pensions are administered by the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, the benefits secured by Parliament and operated through the Ministry of Pensions for pensioners of the Great War, 1914–18, and of this war?

The bulk of Boer War disability pensions are administered by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions. The few administered by the Royal Hospital, Chelsea—I regret I cannot state without undue labour the exact number or present cost—are in respect of belated claims with which I understand my right hon. Friend is unable to deal. The awards by the Royal Hospital are made under the Boer War regulations with, in most cases, an increase of 70 per cent. over Boer War rates. I am considering whether the basis of award can be revised.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the fact that the Boer War pensioner has his disability pension reduced when he gets light work?

As I have promised to consider the basis of awards generally, I am naturally, quite willing to take into account any factor brought to my notice bearing on the question.

Will my right hon. Friend appreciate that it would afford considerable satisfaction to hon. Members, and many people outside, if he considered the propriety of reviewing these pensions in order to bring them up to a higher level?

That is precisely what I have undertaken to do here.

Is it not possible for the right hon. Gentleman to give a figure of the total amount spent in a year on these pensions, and, in view of that amount, is it not possible to increase the pensions further?

Having promised to consider the whole basis of these awards, I do not see what more I can do at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in enrolling men and women for the Forces, only the date of birth and no more will be asked so that there shall be no chance of publicity of illegitimacy.

A man enlisting voluntarily in the Army may be asked to produce his birth certificate and women and youths must always produce them. This provisions is necessary as a check on false statements, particularly where the age limits for enlistment are narrow as in the case of young women and youths. Once recruiting officers have verified the date of birth the certificate is immediately returned, either to the parents of the boy, or to the recruit, and the possibility of publicity such as my hon. and gallant Friend fears is in practice very slight.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this is an opportunity of branding people whose illegitimacy would never become known but for this arrangement? Does it not mean that——

The hon. and gallant Member is now putting forward an argument.

Would the Minister consider, in these circumstances, accepting a certificate from the registrar as to the date of birth, without other arrangements being made?

I will certainly consider that but it does not seem to me that there should be, unless these regulations are broken, any opportunity for the kind of undesirable publicity which my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Handsworth (Commander Locker-Lampson) fears.

Is not the real remedy a definite change in the form of the birth certificate, as the difficulty applies to civilians as well as to people in the Services?

Luckily, that is one of the matters which is no concern of mine.

Would not the doctor's receipt be quite sufficient?

asked the Secretary of State for War if the Regulation prohibiting serving Members of this House from addressing political meetings in constituencies other than their own applies to members of the Home Guard.

No, Sir. The King's Regulation in question has not been applied to the Home Guard.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him how it squares with the statement made by the Prime Minister that the Home Guard is as much a part of the Army as the Guards?

That is quite simple. The Home Guard is part of the Armed Forces of the Crown, but the whole of the King's Regulations obviously do not apply to members of that Force.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the unsatisfactory situation in a company of the Home Guard, of which he has been informed, and in view of the need for maintaining the highest standard of efficiency, will he institute inquiries into recent promotions and dismissals in the battalion of which this company forms part.

Some complaints about this unit forwarded to me by the hon. Member were fully investigated and a reply dealing with them was sent to the hon. Member.

Is the Minister aware that so far as this Home Guard unit is concerned that answer is anything but satisfactory? Is he aware that there is an allegation that the commander of the battalion said to the lad who was entitled to promotion to second in command, that it was impossible to promote him because of the relations in the factory where the commander was manager and the lad was his subordinate, and that, on that ground, promotion was refused?

I sent a full answer to the hon. Member and I understand that the unit is now running perfectly smoothly.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider changing the official notification to the next-of-kin of wounded serving men so that it will show whether the wound was sustained in action and where further information can be obtained.

In practice the terms, "wounded," and, "wounded in action," in notifications to the next-of-kin, mean the same thing, as the expression, "in action," has been interpreted widely as covering certain casualties in the field, such as accidents with land-mines, not sustained in the course of actual engagement with the enemy. The telegram from the theatre of operations notifying that an officer or man has been wounded does not as a rule give any further particulars and until these arrive there is, I fear, no source in this country from which further information can be immediately obtained. When further information is received, it is automatically transmitted to the next of-kin as soon as possible.

Surely there should be some source in the Mediterranean from which information can be more readily obtained as to whether the wound is serious or slight?

I have not the slightest doubt that that would be possible in certain cases, but I do not think it is possible where operations are going on continuously.

Surely it ought to be possible to send a second notification. Is my right hon. Friend aware that I have had sent to me a case of a constituent whose husband was wounded last September and who has had no information as to where he is?

I do not, at the moment, recollect that particular case, but I have no doubt that in the conditions prevailing in the Mediterranean, as I have explained before, the arrangements for notifying casualties are not always up to date. I think there is a good deal of difficulty, owing to the rapidly changing scene of operations, in which the arrangements suitable at one time are not entirely suitable for another, until they have been brought up to date.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the terms wounded and wounded in action, used in communications to next-of-kin, indicate slight wounds; and whether, in the absence of further particulars, no news is good news.

The answer to the first part of the Question is No, Sir. If the degree of severity of a wound is not stated, it cannot be inferred that it is necessarily slight. But if, as a result of his wound, an individual becomes seriously or dangerously ill, a further telegraphic communication is despatched from the theatre of operations, and the fact is notified to the next-of-kin.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a mistaken impression abroad that the term "wounded in action" means something graver than merely "wounded"?

I was under the impression that the fact that it did not contain any indication of severity had led to the opposite impression. I hope this Question and answer will put the position right.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether, and in what way, hospital treatment still affects the ranking of either officers or non-commissioned officers.

Officers, warrant officers and non-commissioned officers wounded in action retain their temporary or acting rank as the case may be for 3 months while they are absent from duty. Sick officers retaining their temporary rank for 61 days and their acting rank for 28 days. Warrant officers or non-commissioned officers absent from duty owing to sickness for less than 21 days retain their acting rank.

Does not my right hon. Friend think it is very hard indeed when a man who has served his country very well and has been wounded as a sergeant finds himself de-graded to corporal when he has to go into hospital?

There have been recent alleviations of the rules, as my hon. Friend knows. It is a very large question, which I would be quite prepared to deal with on a more suitable occasion.

If a Minister gets influenza, does he become a Parliamentary Private Secretary while he is in bed?

Will the Minister give serious consideration to this matter because the cumulative effect of this grievance has great significance and is one of the matters which had a considerable influence in a recent by-election?

The Government, as a whole, gave every consideration to this matter in connection with the general debate and inquiry into these questions some time ago.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that officers and warrant officers serving in the M.E.F. who were receiving full rates of colonial and field allowances are now only receiving Mediterranean allowance since 1st December 1943, which means a reduction of from 2S. 6d. to 3d. per day according to their rank; and will he take the necessary action to increase the Mediterranean allowance scale as from 1st December, 1943, so that this reduction is restored.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the reasons why Mediterranean allowance has been substituted for field allowance and colonial allowance.

Mediterranean allowance was introduced in order to remove anomalies of treatment and complications of administration arising from the application in the Mediterranean area of the normal rules for the issues of colonial and field allowances. The changes made benefit junior officers serving in operational areas and sick and wounded in hospital. On the other hand some disadvantage as compared with previous treatment accrues to senior officers in operational areas and to all officers and warrant officers serving outside operational areas who are living under canvas or in unfurnished accommodation. The latter is the class to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. This consolidation of colonial and field allowances was introduced in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air and with the General and Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief in the Mediterranean area. It is not proposed to cancel the consolidation or to alter the amounts payable.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that it is either fair or necessary at this stage of the war to make this reduction, which affords a negligible saving of money and arouses a good deal of bad feeling on the part of the people affected?

My hon. and gallant friend is quite mistaken. There is no saving. On the whole, the average cost is increased.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a captain gets a reduction of 17s. 6d. a week, though his expenses remain precisely the same?

I very much doubt whether the hon. Member's figures are accurate.

In the course of the consultations in which my right hon. Friend indulged in arriving at this decision, has he considered the high range of prices ruling in the Middle East and the great financial strain on people who have to live there?

On the whole, junior officers get an increase.

What about warrant officers?

They get an increase, too.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in considering the transfer home of British officers and men who were mobilised from the reserves in India at the outbreak of war, consideration will be given, wherever possible, to the length of time they have been continuously out of England before the war.

In reckoning the period an officer or soldier of the British Army has served overseas the Army can, I regret, only take account of such time as they have spent on the active list.

Cannot my right hon. Friend consider, at least on compassionate grounds, allowing commanding officers to exercise their discretion?

I think when there is a shortage of ships, people who have actually served in the Army abroad must get first preference.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has made known, to all officers commanding units in the British Army, his wish that paragraph 541 of King's Regulations should not be interpreted too literally, or what steps he proposes to take to secure that all concerned may be so informed.

My hon. Friend is presumably referring to a remark I made with reference to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgeton on 12th October last about a case in which a soldier had been convicted by court-martial and punished on a charge arising out of a breach of paragraph 541 (a) King's Regulations. By a "too literal" interpretation of that Regulation I meant to the extent of making every minor infringement of it into a major disciplinary offence. The fact that the case then in question was the only one in which a soldier had been prosecuted in the last 12 months shows, I think, that the interpretation of the Regulation is not being overstrained. I therefore see no need to issue any fresh instructions in the matter.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman's statement a repudiation of his previous statement?

Not in the slightest. It is a complete re-affirmation of it.

In view of the unsatisfactory reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to a case in which some children of Nine Elms, Battersea, were convicted of stealing bombs from an Army dump; and what steps are being taken to make such dangerous articles inaccessible to children.

Extensive measures are taken to guard Army ammunition, partly by keeping it locked up in barbed wire enclosures and partly by organising mobile guards to watch the stores. But I regret that it cannot be stored in such conditions that no thief can possibly reach it. For example, I am informed that the boys involved in the theft to which my hon. Friend refers had to cross a strong barbed wire fence and break off a heavy padlock with a crowbar in order to get into the store.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these boys were only nine or 10 years of age?

I should think that their future is extremely unpromising.

What sort of watch is kept when boys can climb over such a fence and steal bombs?

Unfortunately, with the extremely high degree of mobilisation of man-power in this country, you cannot insure against every possible contingency.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that in a certain unit, the name of which has been set to him, in addition to church parade, men have to attend on Mondays for religious instruction and failure to attend means liability for fatigues; and, as this instruction is regarded by many as an imposition, will he take steps to make attendances voluntary.

I am inquiring into the facts of this particular case, and I will then communicate with my hon. Friend again.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what grounds the Marquess of Hartington was recently granted special leave to attend an emergency meeting of the council of the West Derbyshire Unionist League, before the resignation of the former hon. and gallant Member for West Derbyshire had been announced to the council or to the public.

An officer's leave is a matter between himself and his commanding officer so long as the regulations governing leave generally are observed. As no application for an exception to the regulations has been made to the War Office I can only assume that the leave was normal and not special.

Are we to take it, then, that any serving soldier who happens to hear privately that a by-election may be pending near his home can obtain leave to go home and try to persuade a group of people to nominate him as a candidate?

I should certainly take very great care, and the military authorities will take great care, before refusing an application for an officer to appear before a selection committee.

Has a candidate for Parliament the same rights as a Member of Parliament?

Not quite.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the A.B.C.A. talks through which information is given regarding the countries engaged in the fight for the allied cause, he will arrange that Northern Ireland gets a place.

Northern Ireland is treated as a part of the United Kingdom but I will certainly bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make arrangements whereby the members of His Majesty's Forces from Northern Ireland shall be permitted to wear on the shoulders of their tunics the name of their country.

My hon. Friend's suggestion would cut across the existing system of badges for units from all parts of the United Kingdom and would, I think, be undesirable.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a grievance about this and that I have received serious complaints?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which were the worst five counties and large burghs, respectively, in Scotland in 1941 for infantile mortality between the ages of one and 12 months.

The five counties and large burghs respectively with the highest death rates among children between the ages of one and 12 months in 1941 were:

Counties: Selkirk, Ayr, Kincardine, Dumbarton and Caithness.

Large Burghs: Port Glasgow, Dumbarton, Coatbridge, Glasgow and Hamilton.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, if he will consider the publishing of the Boyd Orr Report on Child Mortality in Scotland as a Parliamentary publication.

I have been asked to reply. This Report is one of a series supplied to the Department of Health for Scotland by its scientific advisory committee on medical administration and investigation. Some of these reports, for example one on a war-time bacteriological service, it has not been considered necessary to publish at all. The others have been issued as non-Parliamentary publications. In view of the special importance of the Orr Committee Report on infant mortality, I had copies sent to all Scots Members on the day of publication, and I have now arranged for copies to be placed in the Vote Office for the convenience of other Members.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities in Scotland have appointed post-war reconstruction committees within the areas of their jurisdiction.

Local authorities are not required to notify me of the appointment of Reconstruction Committees, and I have no information as to the number of Committees which may have been set up.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inject some stimulus into local authorities in this respect?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is contemplating setting up a special committee to consider ways and means of developing the tourist traffic and the tourist industry in Scotland after the war.

I am informed that the Scottish Council on Industry are at pre- sent considering the appointment of a committee to review the position in consultation with other interested bodies. The composition and terms of reference of the committee will be announced as soon as the arrangements have been completed.

Will my right hon. Friend draw their attention to the desirability of Scotland adopting the same regulations and laws as apply in England with regard to advertising?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total number of shops in Scotland which have in the last 12 months been reconditioned for use as dwelling-houses and the total number of other premises which have been reconditioned for use as dwelling-houses.

Since October, 1942, 44 shops and other business properties have been requisitioned and have been or are being reconditioned to produce 80 houses. In addition 188 other properties have been requisitioned and have been or are being reconditioned to produce 476 houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total number of applications received by the Glasgow Corporation since that body agreed to take fresh applications for new houses; and what number of houses will be available.

I am informed that up to date some 23,000 forms have been issued to new applicants, and that about 33,000 persons, whose names were already on the Corporation's list, have renewed their applications. In addition to any existing houses that may be vacated the Corporation are at present providing some 750 new houses which will be available for these applicants. The labour position will, I hope, make a further small allocation possible at an early date.

In view of the large balance between the number of houses which the corporation are building and the number required to satisfy the applicants, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the acute position in Glasgow and allow the corporation to proceed with the building of more houses?

I am sure the hon. Member will believe me when I say that the problem of securing the necessary labour for that purpose is ever present with us, and, as I have said in my answer, a further small allocation will almost immediately be announced.

Will the Minister arrange for the return of designated craftsmen who are now busy knocking around mixing mortar and carrying bricks?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now in a position to announce when Scottish local authorities will be given permission for further house building.

Yes, Sir. The labour position has made it possible for me to invite local authorities on Clydeside and elsewhere to submit proposals immediately for the erection of 1,000 additional houses.

Will my right hon. Friend take steps to see that the lag which occurs, and to which he has referred, between authorisation and the beginning of construction, is shortened on this occasion?

Every possible step that can be taken on that matter has been taken, as far as I am concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the consultative committee appointed by the Minister of Supply to minimise damage to timber is to have jurisdiction in Scotland.

I have been asked to reply. The committee already appointed will consider timber felling in England and Wales. The question whether a similar committee is desirable in Scotland is at present under consideration with the principal Scottish organisations concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many small traders have been registered up to date in Scotland under the Register of Small Traders closed through war conditions.

Up to the end of last week the number was 408.

The right hon. Gentleman will not suggest that there are not many more small traders who are unaware of the position. Is there any method by which these individuals can be contacted directly and shown what their responsibilities and privileges are?

We have applied all sorts of methods of publicity. I have referred to them in previous answers. Every Member can help by talking about this to his own constituents.

Has publicity been given in the Forces, so that men already in the Forces will not be at a disadvantage?

Yes, Sir. I answered a Question about a fortnight ago and I have taken special measures, as the hon. Member will see from my reply, to get this made known all through the Forces, including those in the Middle East.

Why not get the B.B.C. to do something about it?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the substantial rise in the price of coal, arrangements can be made to allow old age pensioners to obtain their small supplies at a reduced rate.

I fully realise the difficulties of old age pensioners, and others, in meeting the increased cost of fuel, but I fear it is impossible to make the arrangements suggested by my hon. Friend. In the first place I doubt whether it is appropriate for Minister responsible for supply of different commodities to fix prices varying according to the means of individual consumers, and in the second place I am sure that any attempt to do so would throw a burden on distributors and local government authorities which, in present conditions, they could not face.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many applications for release from the Forces for coalmining he has received since the present scheme for comb-out was announced; how many he has recommended to the War Office; and how many have since been released.

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not readily available but up to 1st February, 1944, 4,789 applications for the release of ex-underground workers were sent to the War Office under the present comb-out arrangements. The results are as follows:

On release at 1st February, 1944	2,448
Released and subsequently recalled	75
Rejected by the War Office	1,416
Under consideration by the War Office at 1st February, 1944	850

Is the Minister satisfied that he is getting the number of ex-miners to return that he anticipated when he made the announcement five or six months ago?

Yes, Sir; in view of the limitations then imposed I am satisfied.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that since the Prime Minister and I discussed this matter across the Floor last week I have had 65 applications? Is there any truth in the statement in a good deal of the national Press yesterday that ex-miners were to have the chance of going back to the pits if they chose?

There is no change in the position as laid down in this reply.

Then the statements in the Press yesterday were not true?

I am not responsible for the statements in the Press.

Can the Minister give any indication why 1,400 were refused release?

I cannot give the details, but in some cases the reason would be age limitation, or because they were key men. There are many reasons which I can give the hon. Gentleman if he will give me time.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that the £5 per week wages minimum awarded to miners, whilst causing an increase to lower paid workers in the industry, fails to increase correspondingly the earnings of higher paid and piece-rate workers; whether he is aware of the consequent feeling in the industry; and whether be is satisfied adequate steps are being taken to deal with the matter.

Yes, Sir. I am aware of the feeling in the industry to which my hon. Friend refers. I am advised that the recent award of the National Reference Tribunal was discussed at a meeting of the Joint Standing Consultative Committee of the Industry last week and that, by agreement between the two sides, anomalies arising out of the award in certain districts were referred to the districts concerned for adjustment by negotiation.

Is not the Minister aware that allowing this matter to be dealt with in the districts is bound to cause considerable delay in settlement? Is he further aware that before the coalowners agree to negotiate in the districts they must get some sort of sanction from the Government or some indication how they would be afforded the opportunity of meeting the increased cost? Since ultimately the Government will be responsible, does not the Minister think that his Ministry should take some responsibility in the matter?

No, Sir, I certainly do not. Both sides of the industry agreed to the machinery now in operation, and the best thing they can do is to carry out the decisions reached by the Tribunal at which both sides were represented.

Surely if this award is causing dissatisfaction and is impeding the production of coal which is so necessary for the war, my right hon. and gallant Friend must accept a measure of responsibility and must try to put the thing right?

I am always prepared to take my full responsibility, but I am sure my hon. Friend will agree with me that it is deplorable that, after the recent award which did advance wages, there should be a greater loss of tonnage than in any week since the war started.

When the right hon. and gallant Gentleman is considering the anomalies arising out of the recent award will he bear in mind the dissatisfaction among the pit brow lassies?

In view of the loss of tonnage since the award was made, and the fact that the Ministry is ultimately responsible, would it not be a good thing to relieve owners of their share of the responsibility?

The miners of the country have some responsibility too. This is an award which was made by machinery to which both sides agreed, and I do think that to have all this trouble within a few days of the decision, without an opportunty for anomalies to be removed in the districts, is most unfortunate, to put it mildly.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he has considered the letters sent to him by the hon. Member for West Fife regarding conscription of lads for the mines; and if the demand therein that conscription for National Service be for a service which is national has been accepted.

Yes, Sir. As I informed the hon. Member, men and women have been directed into various occupations, including those under private enterprise, during the past three years. No new principle is involved in directing youths into the mines.

Is the Minister incapable of understanding the difference—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—between an agreement made by employers and trade unions with the Government for the transfer of a man from one job to another job of the same kind, and a decision to conscript men for national purposes, and then to hand them over to private employers? Is it not the case that conscription for national service demands that the service should be national, and is the Minister prepared to face up to this matter? May I have an answer to my Question? In that case, in view of the inarticulate attitude of the Minister, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter at a convenient opportunity.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give the present output of coal per manshift at the Clifton Colliery, Nottinghamshire, and the total output per month since his department assumed possession of the colliery.

It is not the practice to give figures relating to individual collieries.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of persons directly employed in his Department.

The total number of persons employed by my Department is 5,157, of whom 230 are part-time employees.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a man described by the police as one of Britain's most adept pickpockets was recently employed and promoted in the Civil Service after being sent there by the employment exchange and that he was dismissed not because of any misconduct but because of police revelations as to his pre-service record; and what are the Treasury rules with regard to this matter.

The particular case mentioned has not come to my notice, but I can assure my hon. Friend that all reasonable precautions are taken in the engagement of temporary staff. Inevitably, under war conditions, mistakes occur from time to time, but there are no general Treasury rules to deal with such a situation. The dismissal of a temporary civil servant is within the discretion of the Department concerned, and the manner in which this discretion is exercised must clearly depend upon the circumstances in each individual case.

Can my right hon. Friend give an assurance that this gentleman was not employed as a tax collector by the Inland Revenue; or was he employed by the Board of Trade in designing the austerity suit?

Do the Government, in fact, encourage a statement of this kind by the police, because, if so, it is a very serious matter?

Surely, that is quite a separate question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the number of civil servants now employed; how many of this total number or un-established; and how many of the un-established are war-time appointees.

The most recent date for which exact figures are available is 1st October, 1943. With my hon. Friend's permission I will circulate these in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I regret that no figures are available showing how many of the un-established staff are war-time appointees, but I am also circulating the total figures for 1st April, 1939 (the last date before the outbreak of war for which figures exist), from which it will be seen that the very great majority of the un-established staff have been appointed since that date.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why women working in the Civil Service are prevented from getting married; and how many women are affected by the marriage ban.

Women working in the Civil Service are not prevented from getting married but they are not retained in established capacities after marriage except with the consent of the head of their Department and of the Treasury. There is no rule against the employment of a married woman in a temporary capacity in the Service, and during the war established women who get married are kept on in temporary capacities, if they are willing to stay. There are about 65,000 established women in the Civil Service at present. It is impossible for me to say how many of these women would be given permission, if they asked for it, to remain in an established capacity on marriage.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why marriage has not undermined the efficiency of women civil servants during war-time, but apparently has done so in peace-time?

I think it is clear that different circumstances apply during wartime, when there is a great shortage of labour.

What is the position of the head of a Department? From whom does she get permission?

At present there is no woman head of a Department.

Why not?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now had time to consider the report of the Cotton Board on the post-war organisation of the cotton trade; and can he make a statement.

Yes, Sir. I have been considering this report with close attention, and have asked representatives of the Cotton Board Committee to come and discuss it with me next week.

In view of the broad issues which are raised by this report, would it not be desirable to have a Debate in the House before the Government come to any formal decision?

Yes, Sir, but not before I talk to the Cotton Board Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why, in the case of a cotton-spinning company, of which he has been informed, permission to fit aspirator motions on two machines with a view to the improvement of working conditions, the installation of which has been recommended by the factory inspector, and the cost of which is less than £100, has been refused by his Department.

In the case of the firm, to which I presume my hon. Friend refers, it was found that several combing machines already fitted with aspirator motions were standing idle from lack of operatives. In view of this, and of the many demands by others firms for this type of equipment for running machines, it would clearly have been wrong to issue further licences to this firm at present, and it was unnecessary to consult the factory inspector.

Does not that really indicate that one of the main reasons why this much desired improvement of working conditions could not be introduced is because of my right hon. Friend's Department?

No, Sir. This firm is one of which my hon. Friend is chairman. I believe he made application for these devices. I sent one of my officers to his mill and I found that a number of machines already fitted with the device were standing idle. In those circumstances, I judged it more necessary to supply some other firms than to supply his firm.

Are not the facts that the reason why these machines were standing idle was because the workpeople could not work them because of the conditions; and is the right hon. Gentleman not badly informed on the matter because of his bureaucratic service?

No, Sir. I am extremely well informed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether is is aware that it is almost impossible to buy wristwatch glasses; and whether, in the interests of punctuality in the fighting forces and in civilian war-work, he will increase the supply.

No, Sir. I am informed that round watch glasses can usually be obtained, but other shapes are more scarce.

Does the right hon. Gentleman suggest that the owner of a square watch should try to fit a round glass into it? If not, will he consult the Minister of Labour about the serious shortage of labour for making wrist-watch glasses?

No, Sir. I was answering my hon. Friend's Question, which did not distinguish between round and other shapes, but I was distinguishing between them in the light of information which I had received. I understand that celluloid and other plastic watch covers can also be obtained without difficulty, in either round or fancy shapes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the extension of the War Damage Insurance Scheme to include losses by theft from premises damaged by enemy action.

No, Sir. The general principle of war damage insurance deliberately excludes such losses. I regret, therefore, that I could not adopt my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, in the Defence areas, there are people who were evacuated at the Government's suggestion, and that their houses have been bombed and their personal possessions have been stolen from them? Cannot he do something about it? It is not their fault.

No, Sir. Many misfortunes come in war-time which are not the fault of those upon whom they fall. I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement made by the Prime Minister, on 5th September, 1940, when this legislation was referred to, from which my hon. and gallant Friend will see that it is impossible to advance beyond the particular limits that have been laid down in regard to war damage insurance.