asked the Secretary of State for War if, in view of the lifting of the austerity regulations by the President of the Board of Trade on suits for civilians, he can now give an assurance that demobilised soldiers will also receive non-austerity suits of their own choice or, alternatively, a cash voucher or allowance to purchase a first-class tailor-made suit.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to him on 18th January and to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mr. Ivor Thomas) by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 25th January. I hope to be in a position to give further details in the not too distant future.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, when the proposed changes are made in the style and design of suits to be offered to demobilised soldiers, he will exhibit in the Members' Tea Room samples of the full range of choice that are available for issue.

In due course, yes.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are being taken to place before our troops in the Far East the methods of Japanese treatment of our prisoners.

The Government of India have made a full statement on this subject and have published details of a number of authenticated incidents. I have no doubt that the Supreme Allied Commander, South-East Asia, and the Commander-in-Chief, India, have given this information wide circulation among British troops in the Far East.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, by whose advice raw material and labour, urgently requited for other purposes, were used to make austerity suits which have proved unsaleable and which it is now proposed to send to the Continent of Europe after the war to the detriment of our reputation for tailoring.

My hon. Friend is misinformed. Large quantities of austerity suits have been sold for 26 coupons since the style restrictions were introduced in March, 1942. At 20 coupons these suits are a very good bargain. Our supplies of cloth being strictly limited, it will not be possible to spare more than a proportion of these suits for relief in Europe.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that there is a shortage of batteries for cycle lamps in the Gosport, Fareham and Havant areas; and if he will take steps to remedy this shortage with a view to preventing hardship to cyclists.

I am informed that there was a temporary delay in deliveries to these areas, but supplies have now been sent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the chief conditions which distinguish a cotton-spinning company whose application for air-conditioning plant has been approved by the factory inspector and rejected by his Department from a company whose similar application has been granted.

I know of no case when the Board of Trade have refused such a licence contrary to the considered opinion of a factory inspector.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the list of the 50 cotton companies to which permits for the installation of air-conditioning plants have have been granted and a list of the 38 cotton-spinning companies that have been refused permits.

No, Sir. It is not in accordance with practice, and it would be undesirable to publish such particulars relating to the affairs of a number of companies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the policy adopted by his Department as regards the disposal of goods surplus to war requirements; and whether in this connection he acts in conjunction with the Ministry of Supply.

Small quantities of clothing and other articles of use to civilians, which become surplus to war requirements, are from time to time placed at the disposal of the Board of Trade by the Ministry of Supply. The policy of my Department is to arrange for the distribution of these articles at controlled prices. For example, 335,000 reconditioned battledresses have been issued at fixed prices to chemical and agricultural workers. As regards plans for disposal of post-war surpluses, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Westhoughton (Mr. R. Davies) on 2nd November last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider the desirability of giving additional facilities for the purchase of essential furniture to persons who are in a position to avail themselves of the increased limit of expenditure now allowed for the repair of premises damaged by enemy action, in order that they may be able to occupy the premises when restored.

Persons setting up house after losing their furniture through bombing are already included among the priority classes eligible for utility furniture. In view of the limited supplies available, I regret that I cannot increase the present allowance.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare whether he will state the amount of the contributions which have been made to the relief of famine in Greece and to the controlled distribution of food in Greece by Turkey, Canada, Sweden, Argentina and other countries, including Great Britain; and whether he can give any particulars as to the size and composition of the staff of the International Red Cross which is supervising the work of relief.

Between October, 1941, and August, 1942, there were sent to Greece approximately 20,000 tons of assorted foodstuffs from Turkey and approximately 22,000 tons of wheat and flour from Egypt, Palestine and the United States. These supplies have been to a considerable extent paid for by the Greek Government and the Greek War Relief Association of the United States. The Canadian Government has given 15,000 tons of wheat monthly since August, 1942. The United States Government has contributed on Lend-Lease terms 3,000 tons of dried vegetables monthly since November, 1942, except that 300 tons of this monthly amount has been replaced by dried soup concentrates. Since the end of 1942 the United States Government has also contributed tinned milk, the original rate of 300 tons monthly being increased to 600 tons monthly in July, 1943, and is now providing 900 tons monthly of fish pro- ducts. These foodstuffs are the basic constituents of the Relief programme. In addition, various occasional contributions of foodstuffs, and regular supplies of medicines and vitamins on a substantial scale have been provided by the National Red Cross Societies and the Greek War Relief Associations of the United States and of Canada.Further, the Argentine has recently given 50,000 tons of wheat to the Greek Government, and a cargo is likely to be shipped in the near future. The Swedish Government has loaded on a ship now proceeding to Greece some 2,000 tons of salt fish and 200 tons of dried milk. This is in addition to various smaller contributions of foodstuffs and medicines sent from Swedish sources in the past. Substantial contributions, of which I have not at present full particulars, have been made during the last two years from Switzerland. Contributions of foodstuffs and medicines on a smaller scale have reached Greece from many other sources, including Great Britain, South Africa, New Zealand, the Argentine, Egypt, Turkey, Portugal and the Vatican. In general however the transmission of gifts from sources other than the main sources of supply gives rise to increasing difficulties. Apart from these, vital contributions on an important scale have been made by the United States Government and donors in the United States, and also in Canada and Sweden, to the provision of transport and other accessories necessary for the work of the Relief Commission in Greece. Account must also be taken of the indispensable services of the Swedish Government and the Swedish Red Cross as also of the International and Swiss Red Crosses in the work of organisation and the provision of staff.As regards the second part of the Question, I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind all the neutral workers who are supervising the work of relief and not only those directly appointed by the International Red Cross. I cannot give an exact figure since the neutral delegates from time to time return to their own countries, while others come out to take their places. According to my latest information however, there were in Greece still 17 delegates of Swedish nationality, and 14 delegates of Swiss nationality. Numerous Greek administrators are of course working with the Relief organisation, and a very large number of Greek nationals are employed in its services.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare what proportion of the 1,800 deaths in Athens in October is estimated to be as a result of starvation and diseases consequent upon malnutrition and what proportion is the normal death rate for the population; whether an estimate can be given of the total number of deaths as a result of starvation and consequent diseases in the months of November and December; and whether any similar estimates can be given for the Greek Islands or for other cities on the Greek mainland.

The monthly death rate before the war in the Athens-Piraeus area appears to have varied between 900 and 1,500 for a population of rather over 1,000,000 persons. It is probable that the population is now higher. I regret that I have, as yet, no statistics regarding the months of October, November and December, 1943, either for the Athens-Pireaus area or for other cities on the Greek mainland or for the Greek Islands. For this reason, I cannot confirm that the figure of 1,800 deaths mentioned in the Question is correct.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare the estimated number of persons in Belgium, particularly children from six to 16 years of age, now reacting positively to a tubercular test.

I regret that I have no statistics on this subject; nor have I any information that a comprehensive test of the kind described in the Question has been carried out.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare what materials Germany has been seeking to import from the Far East by means of blockade runners.

As hon. Members are aware, four German blockade runners bound from the Far East to European ports have, during the last six weeks, been sunk by Allied Naval and Air Forces. The cargoes of these four ships consisted of, approximately, 16,000 tons of rubber, approximately 10,000 tons of tin, smaller quantities of edible oils, gum, resin and quinine, and consignments of wolfram which may have amounted to as much as 1,000 tons. I have also received information that before the Italian Armistice a number of Italian submarines were withdrawn from operations and specially adapted by the Germans for the carriage of cargoes from the Far East. The quantities of rubber or tin which could be carried in these craft would be so small in relation to the enemy's requirements as hardly to justify such an undertaking. It is therefore highly probable that the intention was to provide a more regular and safer method for the importation of wolfram.

asked the Minister of Labour how many training centres for ballotees have been opened up to now; how many are in process of preparation; how many he intends to have in Scotland; and whether the Scottish ballotees training in England will be returned to Scotland after training.

Ten Coalmining Training Centres have now been opened and three are in course of preparation, of which one is in Scotland. A number of Scottish volunteers and optants are training in England, and arrangements are being made to place them in Scotland on completion of training, if they so desire. Scottish ballotees who express a preference for employment in Scotland will also be placed there if possible, but no guarantee can be given that this will be practicable in all cases.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether underground gasification is being at present studied in any British coalmines; and whether investigation is being made of this development in Russian coalmines.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. As regards the second part, I have so far received no detailed information about the Russian work.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of men released from the Forces for work underground who have not been employed owing to being rejected by the colliery doctor.

Forty-four of the 2,523 men released between 17th November, 1943, and 1st February, 1944, have been recalled to the Army following reports from collieries that they were unfit for underground work.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is satisfied with the present output in the Scottish mines and with the coal supply position generally in Scotland.

No, Sir, I am dissatisfied with the present output of coal in Scotland, but every effort is being made to secure an increase. The supply position generally is one of acute difficulty, and not less so in Scotland than elsewhere. Every effort is being made to secure equitable distribution, and I look

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to state, for each period of six months from January, 1941, to December, 1943, the average number of wage-earners employed in the coal industry, the total wage bill of the industry, including the value of allowances in kind, and the output of saleable coal raised.

The following is the information:to all consumers to co-operate by practising the most rigid economy in the use of all forms of fuel, including gas and electricity.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that British investments in Latin America total £928,579,674 and that for the year ended 31st December, 1943, there was paid dividend or interest to the extent of £23,003,026 or an average of 2.4 per cent., and that no interest or dividend was paid on £404,736,305; and what steps he is taking to recover this interest.

I am aware that a computation has been made by the "South American Journal" and published in the Press giving the results to which my hon. Friend refers. While I cannot accept any responsibility for the accuracy of these computations, it is a fact that very large sums of British capital have been invested in South America, and that in respect of a large part there has been a failure to pay dividends or adequate interest. A single average figure for the return from so many different types of investment in a number of different countries is, however, apt to be misleading. In so far as defaults have occurred in respect of obligations of Governments, States and municipalities, the Council of Foreign Bondholders is recognised by His Majesty's Government as the proper body to conduct negotiations with debtors and His Majesty's Government are prepared to give them every assistance possible. Payments on this class of investment have in fact been increased since 1943. With regard to other classes of investment, which account for two-thirds of the total figure, and many of which are shares

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether farm employees working extra time for their regular employers are liable to pay Income Tax on

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the difference in crops allowed to be grown in glasshouses as between England and Scotland; and to what special circumstances the difference is due.

The answer to the first part of the Question involves a detailed comparison of the glasshouse provisions of the two Horticultural Cropping Orders applying respectively to Scotland and England, and a summary of the position is set out below.With regard to the second part of the Question, the reason for the differences lies in the differing climatic conditions in the two countries.

Additional earnings from working extra time are liable to Income Tax in the same way as ordinary wages, whether or not the employer is the regular employer, and there is no exemption from tax for earnings from casual work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Report for 1943 of the State-owned public houses in the Carlisle, Gretna and Cromarty districts will be published.

The Report was published last week and a copy has been sent to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power in how many cases his Department has granted petrol allowances at the special rates authorised for hiring to ex-Servicemen disabled in the present war; and in how many of these cases was the applicant not engaged in motor-car hire service before the war.

Records of hire-car applications are not kept in such a form as enables me to answer my hon. Friend's Question as it stands. As to the first part, if an applicant is eligible under the existing rule he receives an allowance without needing to mention his disablement; and I am therefore unable to judge how many holders of such allowances are ex-Service men disabled in the present war. As to the second part, it has been possible to trace 27 cases in which a hire-car allowance has exceptionally been granted to an ex-Service man disabled in the present war, who was not eligible under the rule as operator of a hire-car immediately before the war; but this figure is certainly short of the total.

asked the Minister of Health how many casual wards for vagrants have been closed in the six North Wales counties since the beginning of the war; how many are still open; where they are situated; and what is the daily average number of users of these casual wards.

The seventeen casual wards in these counties open at the beginning of the war have been closed and there is now no casual ward open in the area.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his intention to encourage "Salute the Soldier" weeks in support of the National Savings Campaign; and the date when these functions are to commence.

The "Salute the Soldier" Campaign has my warm approval, and I am confident that it will receive the fullest possible measure of public support. It will open on 25th March and close on 31st July, 1944.

asked the President of the Board of Education the names of the counties and county boroughs with a population at the 1931 census of less than 70,000 which are to be local education authorities under the Education Bill and in each case the population at the 1931 census; and the number of pupils on the rolls of public elementary schools at 31st March, 1939.

I append a list of the counties and county boroughs with a population at the 1931 census of less than 70,000 which are at present local education authorities, together with particulars of their population at the 1931 census and of their public elementary school population on 31st March, 1939. Certain of these local education authorities may be combined under the provisions of Part I of the 1st Schedule to form a joint education board, but it is not possible to say which, since under paragraph 1 of that Part the Minister is precluded from making an order establishing a joint board except after a local inquiry, unless all the councils concerned consent to the making of the order.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that a number of men of military age have been seconded for the corporation of Liverpool for service in the Ministry of Food in that city and have thereby become protected from call-up for military service; that there are women members of the Ministry's staff in Liverpool willing and able to undertake the duties performed by these men; and if he will have an investigation made into the circumstances in which these men secured their present posts and the practicability of releasing them.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes" but this does not automatically exempt them from call-up for military service. They are subject to the ordinary rules governing the reservation of civil servants which are related to the posts they hold, and I am satisfied that the officials exempted under these rules are necessary for the performance of the work of the Liverpool Food Office. They became members of the staff owing to the Liverpool Corporation agreeing to their being seconded to the Ministry. I am indebted to local authorities such as the Liverpool Corporation for such assistance in the staffing of local food offices.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the recent demonstration, details of which have been submitted to him, before a scientific society that the added calcium was due to a misconception, if, as the increased consumption of calcium salts raises the blood pressure from which condition every fourth person of late middle age dies, he will institute an inquiry on the subject independent of the Medical Research Council; and, until the findings of this inquiry are available, stop addition of calcium to bread.

I am not aware of the demonstration to which my hon. Friend refers. I am advised on the best authority that the addition of the small amount of calcium now added to bread is beneficial for the continued good health of the nation and has not the effects which my hon. Friend's question would seem to imply. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No, Sir."

asked the Secretary of State for War what allowances are payable to the dependants of members of the Home Guard who may be mobilised for military duties; and what is the employer's liability for the salaries of his employees during a temporary mobilisation period.

Members of the Home Guard who lose their earnings as a result of being mustered for an actual or apprehended invasion will be entitled to compensation within certain limits, and those so situated and who, in addition, are likely to be separated from their families will, on mustering, receive an advance of £5 in respect of the compensation, to enable them to provide their families with funds during the initial period of separation. There is no liability on private employers to pay the salaries and wages of their employees after mustering, but it is hoped that employers will do their best to see that salaries and wages continue unaffected, at any rate for a period after mustering.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, seeing that when the tuberculin test is made upon any herd the cows will be in various stages of milk production, and in view of the fact that cows in the middle of the milk period are unsaleable, will he consider instituting some reception centres where re-actors could be sent by the small T.T. milk producer away from the farm to await their disposal.

No, Sir. The premium of 4d. per gallon now paid to the producer of T.T. milk is intended to cover the extra cost of producing such milk, including losses incurred in the disposal of reacting cows.