asked the Minister of Labour the average wages of men employed in brick-making now and in 1939; what recent negotiations have taken place between the employers and the trade unions over wages and with what results; and is he aware of the dissatisfaction that prevails amongst the men.

Separate figures for brick-making are not available. The average weekly earnings for all classes of men employed in the manufacture of building bricks, roofing and flooring tiles, chimney pots, etc., in the first week of July, 1943, were 99s., the average hours of work being 52. The corresponding figures for October, 1938, the latest pre-war date for which figures are available, were 61s. 8d. and 50.3 hours. A dispute between employers and workpeople in the brick-making industry on a claim for increased wages was reported to me last month. This was referred for settlement to the National Arbitration Tribunal, who are hearing the case at an early date.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, in some parts of Durham, brickworkers are very discontented because of the delay in coming to a decision? Will he do whatever is in his power to expedite the decision of the tribunal?

The tribunal is taking this matter in its order. I cannot put it ahead of other cases.

Do these figures include Scotland?

Yes, Sir.

Can my right hon. Friend give the number of hand brickmakers and machine brickmakers?

I am sorry I have not got those figures.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will consider, on grounds of health and hardship, having cases for exemption from military service reviewed by committees more localised as, if this procedure were adopted, results would be more satisfactory and there would be fewer cases of attempted evasion of war service.

Medical boards and Military Service (Hardship) Committees are already widely localised, and I do not understand in what way the establishment of additional machinery of this sort would prevent attempted evasion of war service. Perhaps my hon. Friend could let me know more precisely what he has in mind.

asked the Minister of Labour how many building trades' employees have registered at employment exchanges during the last month.

I will write to my hon. Friend in a few days and give him such statistics as are available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will expedite the erection of houses for immediate post-war occupation and, as during 1925 to 1929 in England and Wales there were erected 2,335,600 dwellings without State assistance by private builders as compared with 942,107 by local authorities, will he arrange to enable private builders, particularly the smaller firms, to operate speedily in the immediate construction of dwelling-houses; and, to this end, will he cease calling up the principal and employees of one-man businesses in this industry.

The first and second parts of the Question are matters for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health. For some months past I have not been calling up for the Forces principals of one-man businesses in the building industry, and cases of transfer to other work have been quite exceptional. I am not clear what is meant by "employees of one-man businesses," but what I have said would apply generally if there is only one worker concerned, whether as employer or employee.

Will my right hon. Friend take note of the misleading nature of the comparison made in the Question between privately-built houses and those built by local authorities, in view of the fact that local authorities regularly get out of the way of private enterprise, when they ought to be doing their job?

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in cases where a person was employed in a factory managed by a company on behalf of a Government department, the agent or the principal is regarded as having been the employer for purposes of reinstatement.

It is not possible to give a specific answer to the question raised by my hon. Friend as the answer must necessarily depend upon the precise terms of the arrangements made between the company and the Government Department concerned. I may, however, remind my hon. Friend that the reinstatement obligations imposed by the Reinstatement in Civil Employment Bill rest upon the "former employer" as that expression is defined in Clause 7 of the Bill and that questions as to who is the former employer in any particular case will fall to be decided by the Reinstatement Committees and the Umpire under Clause 9.

What will happen to people who joined the Forces from shadow factories?

I think all those questions had better be raised when we get to the Committee stage of the Bill.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mr. F. A. Penny, employed by the Yeovil Corporation Gas Department for many years as works superintendent was required in June, 1940, to sign a declaration that he had not been since the outbreak of war a member of or actively engaged in support of the Peace Pledge Union, the British Union, the Communist Party or any other organisation whose objects are not in sympathy with the present aims of the British Government; that Mr. Penny, who could have replied in the negative, refused, considering such a declaration against public policy, and was dismissed on 26th June, 1940, with loss of superannuation right; and if he will secure this man's reinstatement in his previous employment, which was governed by the Essential Works Order.

No, Sir. The first Essential Work Order was not made until March, 1941, and I am not in a position to take action in respect of a dismissal which occurred in June, 1940.

Will my right hon. Friend inquire into this case, which is clearly one of persecution of a man because he holds certain opinions?

I am afraid I had no power to intervene before the Order was made.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of persons signing the unemployed register at the employment exchanges serving the parliamentary division of Seaham; how many of those signing are mine-workers; and why these men are unemployed.

I am obtaining the desired information and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now introduce legislation to enable public assistance committees to make small grants of pocket money to penniless persons under 65 years of age in public assistance institutions on account of prolonged ill- health.

No, Sir. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which was given to my hon. Friend the Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) on 2nd December last, of which I am sending him a copy.

Would the right hon. and learned Gentleman re-consider the matter as it does seem a little mean?

asked the Minister of Health whether further Government grants will be available towards expenses incurred by local authorities in the extension of rural water supplies; and whether he has any statement to make as to long-term water policy with a view to securing an adequate survey of the country's resources and planned and economic utilisation thereof.

Yes, Sir. The Government propose as part of their general reconstruction programme to introduce legislation empowering them to give further Exchequer assistance for the extension of piped water supplies in rural localities; and I hope it will be possible during the current Session to introduce this legislation which will also extend to sewerage in such areas. I propose also to lay a White Paper as soon as possible outlining the Government's general proposals with regard to water. These will include provision for an adequate scientific assessment of resources and for the control and co-ordination of their use and distribution.

Will my right hon. and learned Friend consider including in the White Paper consideration of the Milne Report, especially the third report on Rivers Boards?

Yes, Sir. This is rather a separate matter from the question of water supply, but the third report is under consideration, and will be dealt with in the White Paper.

Does my right hon. and learned Friend anticipate that the White Paper will be available before the probable early Debate on the Private Water Bills that are before the House this Session?

I have no information when these Debates, if they do take place, will take place.

Apart from that, does my right hon. and learned Friend think that he can lay the White Paper soon?

Will the White Paper cover only schemes by local authorities, or will it cover, as well, schemes by persons other than local authorities?

I think that my hon. Friend must await the White Paper on that subject.

Does my right hon. and learned Friend realise that the opposition to these Private Bills is due to the feeling of hon. Members that the matter ought to be dealt with on national lines? Could he, therefore, give some indication when the White Paper will be published?

I do not want to pledge myself too closely, but my object is to lay the White Paper at, approximately, the same time as the introduction of the Bill I have indicated. It will deal with the whole matter on national lines.

asked the Minister of Pensions what steps are taken by his Department in the case of disabled men discharged from the Forces unable to follow any employment, without pension or allowance from his Department because their disability was neither caused nor aggravated by military service, who are entitled to small weekly sums, or none, by way of disablement benefit from their approved societies, who are beyond rehabilitation and who must, therefore, resort to Poor Law relief or become street pedlars.

With one exception I have no power to deal with the case in which the disablement is unconnected with service. The exception is that of a member of the Forces who is under treatment which requires to be continued on discharge. In this case, although the disablement is neither attributable to nor aggravated by service, special allowances may be paid whilst treatment is being continued for a period not exceeding 26 weeks from the date of discharge. The rare case which is beyond rehabilitation does not differ from those arising exceptionally among the civil population, for which the general social service schemes are intended to provide.

Has the Minister ever considered the real problem arising here, which is that, at the end of every war, ex-soldiers have been compelled, because they had no income from any source, to become beggars and pedlars? Is he aware that Members of all parties, and the whole nation, do not want to see that occurring again? Can he do anything about it?

Yes, Sir, I am well aware of that position. I have it in mind. I am as anxious as anyone in the country to avoid these men becoming pedlars or street musicians. We shall do everything we can to assist these men, so that they can be rehabilitated and trained to do a useful job of work.. In the very rare cases I have mentioned, that is a matter which will have to receive close consideration.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will state the circumstances in which there is sent to ex-Servicemen a printed form stating that the application for a pension has been considered and refused, prior to any such application being made; and in relation to a certain case in the Midland region, particulars whereof have been furnished to him, when and by whom the application was made, which was stated to have been considered and declined.

When a member of the Forces is discharged on medical grounds his papers are referred automatically to my Department for consideration, and no formal claim to pension is required. Except where the papers show beyond doubt that the member does not consider himself entitled to pension it is clearly in the interest of all that prompt information as to the Ministry's decision should be sent, together with notice of the right of appeal when that decision is unfavourable. By no means all of these cases are rejected, however, and pensions are awarded in many. This procedure avoids correspondence and belated claims; it should cause no inconvenience to those who did not wish to claim since no action need be taken by them.

Could not the form have been more happily worded? As it is, it indicates to the man that his case has been turned down before it has ever been put, and before his statement has ever been made to the Ministry. Will the Minister be good enough also to answer the second part of my Question?

We instituted this procedure in the interests of the men themselves, and this is the first time I have had a complaint about it. Indeed, I have had many letters thanking my Department for having considered these claims, particularly in the cases where the pension has been awarded. I do not think that it would be wise to alter this procedure, in the best interests of the men themselves.

May I have an answer to the second part of the Question on the paper?

I think I have answered that Question completely.

On a point of Order. May I ask for a reply on the specific case mentioned in the Question?

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that ex-constable Perrins was dismissed from Ipswich police force in October, 1941, arising out of charges of theft made by the chief constable; that Perrins emphatically denied these charges, of which no proof was ever offered; that since that time he has tried by every, means to get the matter considered in an open public court; and will he give this man the right to clear his character from these charges.

After an investigation by the watch committee of a disciplinary charge against Mr. Perrins, the committee found the charge proved and called upon him to resign. He appealed against the decision and I arranged for an inquiry to be held by an experienced barrister and one of the inspectors of constabulary. At this inquiry, which took the form of a re-hearing of the charge, Mr. Perrins was represented by counsel. After considering the report of the inquiry I dismissed the appeal. Subsequently, Mr. Perrins applied to the divisional court for leave to apply for an order of certiorari, and his application was refused. I am quite unable to accept the statement that no proof was offered to support the charges, and there is no further action I can take.

In view of the experience of the John Syme case, would the Minister not consider that this man, who has a charge of theft placed against him, should have been tried in an open public court, instead of the responsibilities and duties of the public court being taken over by the watch committee? Will he not now try to give this man the elementary right of public trial, on the charge of theft made by the chief constable?

I have no power to order a public trial. The matter was one for the watch committee and the point is one which watch committees should take into account. In fact, there was an inquiry, in which he did not succeed, and he made an appeal to the divisional court on an issue related to the point which my hon. Friend has raised. In the divisional court his case failed.

Has not the Minister power over a watch committee that takes upon itself the rights of judge, jury, etc., and constitutes itself a secret court?

No, Sir. The hon. Member will learn one of these days that this country is largely run by local self-government and not by the dictatorship of Ministers. This is a democratic country, a fact of which the hon. Member takes full advantage.

In view of that appalling answer, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this question on another occasion.

On a point of Order. As the hon. and learned Member is not here to ask Question No. 27 and as many hon. Members desire to hear the answer, would it be possible——

If the hon. and learned Member is not here, his Question cannot be asked.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the regulations restricting letters written by persons detained under Regulation 18B to two a week can now be amended so as to admit of their writing a greater number provided it is done at their own expense.

The facilities are the same both for persons detained under this Regulation and for aliens who are interned. Camp commanders have discretion to allow additional and longer letters for special purposes and this discretion is exercised liberally. Letters to Members of Parliament, Government Departments and Advisory Committees are allowed in addition to the two weekly letters and are not limited as to length. One of the considerations to be kept in mind is that any increase in the number of personal letters permitted would throw additional labour on the censorship staff, and I do not think the existing facilities are inadequate.

May I ask my right hon. Friend to reconsider his decision, in view of the fact that there are so many fewer people detained under this Regulation, and that it is really punitive to prevent them from writing more than two letters a week? There have been complaints, as my right hon. Friend knows.

I cannot see that there is any great grievance. As I have indicated, we do allow letters in special cases, and there is great freedom in writing to Members of Parliament, the Advisory Committees and so on. In these circumstances, I do not think that the rule is unreasonable.

If the right hon. Gentleman were detained under Regulation 18B, would he consider it fair not to be able to write more than two letters a week?

Why have certain camp commandants told these people that they must not typewrite letters, but must write them by hand? As the main burden falls on Members of Parliament, will not the right hon. Gentleman give instructions for that instruction to be withdrawn?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will give me particulars, when I will be glad to look into that point.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have already sent him two lots?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the exemption of street party leaders or sector captains from business premises duty applies to business premises situated in the City of London as well as to the Palace of Westminster as stated in the Explanatory Memorandum issued by the Stationery Office.

Any person who works at the Palace of Westminster is exempt from fire guard duties there outside his working hours if he is appointed a sector captain by a local authority. Similarly, any person who works in the City of London is exempt from liability to be enrolled for fire guard duties by the Common Council if he is appointed a sector captain by a local authority. In neither of these cases is there a corresponding exemption for street fire party leaders or block leaders.

Is the Minister aware that it seems somewhat contrary to the undertaking which he gave in the House of Commons, in answer to a Question of mine, stating that street fire captains and sector captains would be exempt from fire duties elsewhere than their residential duties?

I will look that up, but my recollection is that it relates to sector captains. However, I will make sure about it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that in some cases fire guards using assembly points have arranged their own accommodation and paid the expenses, including heating, lighting, etc., out of their own pockets; that they feel aggrieved that the refund of these expenses is refused; and if he will arrange for a refund to be made where such expenses have fallen upon fire guard personnel in the carrying out of their fire guard duties.

The assembly point is only used during alerts or attacks at night, and its purpose then is to ensure that at such times fire guards may know where to report to the street fire party leader or his representative. It is not necessary that an assembly point should be a place indoors, though this is often found convenient. In these circumstances I fear no expenditure from public funds on accommodation for assembly points would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will remind all public authorities that under the powers given in the 1933 Local Government Act, all candidates at local and parliamentary elections are entitled to the use of schoolrooms in non-provided and provided schools free of charge.

As local elections are at present suspended I presume my hon. Friend has Parliamentary elections in mind. The right to use public elementary schools for meetings was given to parliamentary candidates by Section 25 of the Representation of the People Act, 1918. I have no reason to believe that the responsible authorities are unaware of this provision, but if my hon. Friend knows of any instance in which facilities were refused and will let me know, I will make inquiry.

Do I understand my right hon. Friend to say that under the Act of 1918 they are allowed to use these buildings free of charge?

My recollection, as a Parliamentary candidate some years ago, is that it is for one meeting only. That is my recollection, but at any rate it is not under the Act of 1918.

Is it not a fact that, under the Local Government Act of 1933, both for municipal and Parliamentary elections, every candidate has the right to use council schools?

No.

I think there is a maximum out-of-pocket charge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, as difficulties have arisen and disappointment has been caused by the refusal of the passport officials to issue permits to Canadians serving in His Majesty's Forces in Great Britain, he will arrange for travel permits to be granted to enable them to spend their leave with friends in Northern Ireland.

Members of the Canadian Forces in Great Britain are subject to the same rules regarding taking leave in Northern Ireland as other Service personnel. No applications to the Passport and Permit Office from Canadian Service personnel for permits to visit Northern Ireland can be traced. If any were made, the applicant would be referred to his Commanding Officer, with whom the question of granting the necessary leave pass rests.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a young man serving in the Canadian Forces recently made arrangements to spend his leave with his sister in County Down, Northern Ireland, and that this was cancelled at the last moment? He was debarred on the ground that his father and mother had passed away. I think it is intolerable, and I would ask my right hon. Friend to see that this question of permits to Canadian Servicemen is investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many girls and young women under 21 years of age first committed to prison since 1939 have subsequently received one, two, three or more prison sentences.

In the criminal statistics for 1938 an analysis was published showing how many of the persons first convicted five years earlier had been subsequently convicted and giving separate figures for those who had been dealt with by sentences of imprisonment, by fines or by probation; but the preparation of such an analysis—which involves an elaborate examination of records—is laborious, and I regret that in view of the need for economising in clerical labour, it has not been practicable to make a similar analysis for the more recent period.

In view of the fact that other Government Departments issue reports in simple form will my right hon. Friend be good enough to bring these criminal statistics up to date in a modified form?

In relation to the Question on the Paper, which I was answe- ing, the compilation of statistics really would involve a great amount of clerical work which, with the strain of the war effort, I am afraid it is quite impossible for me to contemplate at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present daily average number of young prisoners in Holloway Prison; how many of them are aged 16 and 17, respectively; what extra allowance of food is made to these young prisoners beyond the adult prison diet; how many classes are held for them and what subjects are taught; and on how many nights in the week are these young prisoners finally locked in their cells at tea-time.

The daily average of women under 21 has been, during the last nine months, about 120, of whom about 50 are serving prison sentences and the remainder are persons who come in and out for short periods on remand or on committal or recall to Borstal Institutions. A separate daily average for girls of 16 or 17 cannot be given, but on 8th February there were in the prison 5 girls aged 16 awaiting removal to Approved Schools or Borstal Institutions, and 14 girls aged 17, of whom 7 were on remand and 3 awaiting removal to Borstal Institutions. I am advised that the prison diet is fully adequate for these young prisoners, but the medical officer can order extra nourishment whenever necessary. The evening arrangements have been a matter of anxiety to the Prison Commissioners and myself. Owing to the shortage of staff and the difficulty of finding suitable recruits, evening activities have had to be drastically curtailed. There is a class in toy-making and special arrangements are made from time to time to get young prisoners out of their cells, but many of them have to be locked in their cells from the time when the last meal is served, because it is impossible to find, amongst a staff which has for a long period been working very hard, persons to supervise them. Arrangements have, however, been made, which I hope will be completed in the next few days, to appoint a housemistress whose special duty will be to look after the welfare of the younger prisoners, and as soon as this appointment is made it should be practicable to make substantial improvements in the evening routine.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his reply, and for this new arrangement which should prove valuable, may I ask him to bear in mind that the unsatisfactory hygienic and educational arrangements at Holloway make it very desirable either to improve arrangements or to limit as much as possible the number of young girls sent there?

I can assure the hon. Lady that I am conscious of certain deficiencies which arise out of war circumstances, and I will do my very best to improve conditions.

May I take it from the right hon. Gentleman's statement, that classes for these young women will be resumed under the new arrangements?

I am not quite certain but I am very anxious to do so.

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider having the prison dietary examined by experts of the Ministry of Food to see whether it contains the necessary vitamins?

I will look into that. I thought we had expert advice.

Is not the basic weakness, shortage of staff, and cannot my right hon. Friend arrange with the Minister of Labour to see whether special efforts could not be made to secure extra staff?

That has been done and my right hon. Friend is doing his best, but he also has his difficulties, as have other Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can give any information in connection with the police raid on the Wardour Social Club, Gerrard Street, Soho, charged by the police with being a club used as a gambling house; and if he intends closing the club.

This club was entered by the police on 4th February, and the proprietor and ten other persons found on the premises were arrested. On the following day the proprietor was sentenced to four months' imprisonment with hard labour and ordered to pay £6 10s. costs. He has given notice of appeal against the sentence. The ten frequenters were bound over. There is no power to order the closing of a club of this character.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that one of the reasons why I take such an interest in these gaming clubs is because that when I was a boy I saw men come out of the factory, play pitch and toss and lose all their money?

Is a proper check made on the persons who frequent these clubs in view of the fact that so many are salesmen and people not essential to the war effort?

If my hon. Friend is contemplating that it is at all possible for the police to make a full check on everyone who goes into a club I can assure him that in the existing man-power situation it is quite impossible.

Do you check up when a raid is made?

When we make a raid we find out all sorts of interesting things.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the growth of smuggling between Eire and Northern Ireland, he will adopt such measures as will put an end to this evil.

I am aware that goods are smuggled across the Northern Ireland land boundary, but vigorous preventive measures are already in operation, as a result of which numbers of offenders have been brought to book.

Cannot my right hon. Friend do something stronger? Does he not consider it the duty of the State to prevent these robbers escaping?