asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is satisfied that, as a result of the recent Anglo-American protests, the Spanish Government is now pursuing strict neutrality.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Italian vessels detained by the Spanish Government have yet been released.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can make any statement about the stoppage of oil or other supplies to Spain; and if he has any information which indicates an abatement of activities in Spain hostile to the cause of the United Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any progress has been made in discussions with the Portuguese and Spanish Governments about the shipments from those countries of wolfram to Germany.

I would ask my hon. Friends to await the statement which my right hon. Friend proposes to make in the Debate to-day.

Will my right hon. Friend consider that if the Foreign Secretary follows that course, it will not be possible to ask questions about it except by the undesirable method of interruptions? Would he consider the alternative course of making a statement at the end of Questions, especially as these Questions have now been on the Order Paper for a long time?

No, Sir. These matters are of some delicacy and complication, and it would be better to allow the Foreign Secretary to deal with them in his own way.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that letters to British subjects in Spain are subject to a German censorship; and whether he can give any reasons for such action.

Yes, Sir. I am aware that a number of letters sent from this country to Spain have been censored in Germany; but I have no evidence that this is due to other than accidental mis-sorting. In response to inquiries made by His Majesty's Ambassador, the Spanish Government have undertaken to take all possible steps to prevent such mistakes.

Would my right hon. Friend say where the sorting takes place?

As far as we know, this sorting must take place in Spain.

But if the sorting of the letters takes place in Spain of letters sent from this country, surely it is not the Germans who are responsible but the Spanish authorities?

No, Sir. I think the hon. Member has misunderstood the tenor of my reply. The mis-sorting is that letters which should be delivered in Spain are sent to Germany. The hon. Member must realise that everything is not as efficient as the General Post Office here.

I am sorry to pursue the matter further, but could the right hon. Gentleman say where mis-sorting takes place? Is it in this country, in Portugal, in Spain, or where?

As far as we know, the mis-sorting takes place in Spain.

Surely it is strange that, letters going from this country, certainly not addressed to Germany, should be delivered to Germany by the Spanish authorities; and is this mis-sorting accidental or on purpose?

As I have said, we have no evidence to show that it is anything but accidental. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Yes, indeed, and the Spanish Government have undertaken to take all possible steps to prevent a recurrence.

Can we be assured that if that undertaking is not respected in the near future, and if any more accidental mis-sortings take place, we shall take prompt action with the Spanish Government? Can we have that assurance?

I can give the hon. Member the assurance that we shall, of course, take any action that is open to us.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the position regarding an aerodrome, particulars of which have been sent to him; what is the reason for the delay in coming to a decision; and what steps are being taken to compensate the company concerned for disturbance and loss on their farming operations.

I have been asked to reply. This airfield was released from requisition by the Air Ministry on 7th April, 1941. A sum in respect of compensation assessed under the provisions of the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939, was paid to the owners in March, 1942.

As I could not hear that reply, and in view of the unavoidable absence of the right hon. Gentleman the Minister, will my hon. and gallant Friend convey to him the desirability of coming to decisions as quickly as possible about aerodrome sites so that disturbance to farmers and other private individuals can be avoided?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if any decision has now been reached as to whether, in cases where an airman claims to be no longer responsible for the support of his wife and to withdraw his allotment, local inquiries or attempts at reconciliation will be made before the wife's allowance is withdrawn.

Yes, Sir. It has been decided that when an airman and his wife are estranged and the airman seeks to withdraw his allotment, attempts at reconciliation will be made before the wife's allowance is withdrawn unless the circumstances render such action obviously undesirable.

Is it right that even if an attempt at reconciliation fails, the wife's means of livelihood should suddenly be withdrawn without any effort being made to find out whether she is deserving of an allowance?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works if the costing section of his Department is now working; and if he can now explain the considerable rise that has taken place in the cost of house building, giving an analysis of its cause.

Yes, Sir. As my Noble Friend has explained in another place, one of the purposes of the erection of demonstration houses is to obtain comparative costs of house building on an accurate basis. I shall be pleased to let the hon. and gallant Member see the results after the houses are completed.

Can my hon. Friend say how soon I can put down a question in order that other Members may also see the results?

Provided that we do not get any unusual disturbance in the country and that the labour is available, I should say in about six weeks.

In so far as the increased cost of house building may be attributable to the increased cost of material, haw does that square with the Government's policy of preventing inflation?

To give a detailed analysis of the rising costs of building materials, transport and other things would require a long time indeed. Of course, any one thing that is inflated, tends to increase inflation.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give an assurance that arrangements will be made definitely permitting discharged Servicemen to regain possession of their homes and that they will not be prevented from doing so by virtue of any provision in the Rent Restriction Act.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for East Renfrew (Major Lloyd) on 10th February, of which I am sending him a copy.

Is the hon. Lady aware that inability to regain the use of their own houses is causing a lot of worry to men in the Forces? Will she see whether anything can be done about it?

If my hon. Friend will look at the reply I think he will see that those people can apply to the courts for an order. I would remind my hon. Friend that, at the present time, a Committee is sitting particularly to look into the Rent Restrictions Acts.

asked the Minister of Health whether he intends making it obligatory upon local authorities and landlords to give priority in leasing their houses to ex-Servicemen even though their financial position, on account of war-time activities may not be the same as that of the civilian.

As my right hon. and learned Friend has informed my hon. Friend in correspondence, the points raised are receiving careful consideration and he is not at present in a position to make any further statement on them.

Would the hon. Lady tell me when I could put down a Question and get an answer on this very important matter?

Of course it is a very important matter, and further consideration must be given to it. Perhaps I can inform my hon. Friend what would be an advantageous moment for him to put down a Question.

Does the investigation which the hon. Lady is conducting include the possibility of giving power to local authorities to compel estate agents and house agents to notify their vacancies to local authorities, so that they can give priority to the most deserving cases?

The whole question is being looked into, and the point raised by my hon. Friend will be borne in mind.

Is it the practice of local authorities to lease houses to tenants, as stated in the Question?

asked the Parliamenmentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works whether it is intended that the grates in the experimental houses at Northolt shall be either of the new non-smoke-producing type or suitable for burning smokeless fuel.

As my noble Friend has explained, in another place, the houses referred to are for the specific purpose of demonstrating alternative methods of house construction and ascertaining comparative costs. It is considered, therefore, that all questions of heating and cooking should be studied and dealt with separately, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think it is a pity that in these demonstration houses there is no sign whatever of any progress in smoke abatement, in spite of all the money which has been spent on research? Will the hon. Gentleman consider representations on this subject?

I cannot agree with the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, but in regard to the second part, the answer is, "Yes."

Has not the time come when houses all over the country should be all-electric?

I do not think that that would be universally accepted.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what is the use of erecting experimental houses which do not experiment?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is now able to make a statement with reference to the possibility of giving compensation to those who lost their luggage in the s.s. "Patria."

I have been asked to reply. No, Sir. I regret that my right hon. and gallant Friend is not able to make a statement, as there are at present two cases arising out of these matters which are sub judice before the Palestine courts of justice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the prewar agreements between Palestine Potash Limited, and the German-controlled European potash cartel as to production, prices and quota will be allowed to function at the end of the present war.

I am afraid that I can add nothing to the Prime Minister's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths) on 22nd July last, to the effect that the question of the participation of British firms in arrangements or cartels with British or foreign firms or associations for the purposes mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend is already receiving consideration.

Will my hon. Friend take into consideration the fact that potash is a fertiliser and that all food production must be increased after the war?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport if he can now make a statement on the findings of the inquiry into the causes of the railway accident at Ilford on 16th January.

No, Sir, I regret that the Report on the railway accident at Ilford is still in course of preparation. It will be issued as soon as possible.

Can the hon. Gentleman give any indication when the Report is likely to be received by his Department, and when he will be able to make a statement?

I wish I could. Apart from technical difficulties, our officers often have to wait until injured passengers have recovered.

In the near future?

I hope so.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport the amount paid over to the Minister of Fuel and Power under the Railway Freight Rebate Act of 1943, in connection with the coal rebates and other information coming under the schedule.

Nine hundred and one thousand and thirteen pounds have so far been paid to the Minister of Fuel and Power under the terms of the Railway Freight Rebates Act of 1943. The Railway Rates Tribunal have made the following estimates in accordance with the Schedule to the Act:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will state the circumstances under which the railway companies, on long-distance trains for London, may be requested to label carriages "Not for public use," other than in the case of the Admiralty courier, or official troop movements.

Among the other circumstances which are held to warrant labelling a compartment with the notice "not for public use" are the conveyance of prisoners and certain other special journeys about the nature of which I would ask my hon. and gallant Friend not to press me for particulars.

Why could not such compartments be reserved for Overseas Airways passengers, so as to avoid running special trains for them?

That is another question, which my hon. Friend would have to put to the Secretary of State for Air.

Would the Minister assure us that he will keep a close watch on these labels, as certain privileged persons seem, for a good-sized tip, to be able to obtain the use of the labels unlawfully?

Yes, Sir, I will watch the matter, and if my hon. Friend will give me any evidence of abuse I will go into it.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he intends to intensify in the coming months his warning against unnecessary rail traffic.

The need for economy in the use of the railways is greater than at any previous period of the war, and this is being emphasised, and will continue to be emphasised, as seems desirable.

Will my hon. Friend urge on the Service Ministers that they might send troops about the country on unnecessary journeys to a diminishing extent?

We are in constant contact with the Services and we must meet their operational requirements.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport why, under the instructions of his Department, road vehicle 5 S. 10/50 was sent empty from London to Wisbech, on 5th February, to fetch potatoes and carried a total of 16½ tons in two journeys which occupied the whole week to 11th February at a cost of £3 per ton as against the standing charges of 17s. 6d. and 22s. 6d. per ton under private enterprise and ran 188 unloaded miles in the two journeys.

Between 5th February and 11th February Lorry No. 5 S. 10/50 lost one and a half working days owing to unloading difficulties, for which the Road Haulage Organisation was not to blame. It carried, however, loads amounting not to 16½ tons, but to 35½ tons. Besides potatoes, the loads included paper and cement. The loaded mileage was 243. The rate charged by the Organisation for the transport of potatoes from Wisbech to London is 17s. 6d.

Has the hon. Gentleman endeavoured to compare this cost with the actual cost involved; and what steps did the Department take to provide a load to Wisbech?

They took every possible step to provide a load. On the question of cost, I have made inquiries and I am afraid the hon. and gallant Gentleman's intelligence service has let him down. Allowing for demurrage and overheads, the cost per ton was not £3, as he alleges in his Question, but 18s.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the owner of the vehicle asked the controller whether he could send a load and was told, "No"?

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will give me the information, I will make inquiries.

Can my hon. Friend give any indication whether the number of empty journeys run now is greater or less than before the war?

It may be greater than before the war because now we have to carry out urgent war jobs which are essential in the national interest. During peace time there are many empty journeys. Every operator knows the phrase "a lost journey."

Is my hon. Friend not aware that many hauliers throughout the country are complaining of wasted journeys and that a haulier carrying loaded cases from Liverpool to Scotland, is not allowed to pick up available empty cases for return load, while at the same time empty lorries are sent from England to carry these crates to English ports? There is a tremendous waste of transport hours and will the hon. Gentleman inquire into it?

I am inquiring into it every day. It is not in the public interest to carry goods by road if they can better travel by rail or canal.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is now in a position to explain the uneconomic use by his department of seven lorries sent empty from London to Warrington on 5th February, involving 1,500 unloaded vehicle miles and of two six-ton lorries sent from London during that week on a round journey involving 822 unloaded vehicle miles.

On 5th, 6th and 7th February, about 150 vehicles were sent from London to Warrington to help in clearing a heavy congestion of traffic. Outward loads were not available for all the vehicles; each of the six vehicles, belonging to O.N. Transport Company, Limited, and A. E. Taylor and Company, ran about 200 unloaded miles. One vehicle was loaded from Warrington to Birmingham with heavy packing cases, at the request of a Government Department. This movement was wrongly represented as urgent; arrangements have now been made for such packing cases to be dumped locally until they can be sent as back loads or by rail. The two six-ton lorries sent to Widnes were also engaged on urgent clearance work, and no outward loads were to be found. On their return to London they were sent to Cambridge; in their subsequent movements there was some avoidable empty running, due to the misunderstanding of instructions.

Is the Minister aware that these vehicles were sent to Cambridge on urgent business, and were expected to be packed up at Cambridge? How was it that they went from Cambridge empty, on to Bishops Stortford and afterwards to Epping empty? Is there not a telephone in the Department to see whether there was a load for them?

They went to Cambridge, in accordance with the usual practice, to collect potatoes. In Cambridge, owing to a misunderstanding, the driver went to the wrong office, and the office did not know that the vehicles had come from London and thought they were on ordinary business, to be operated in the ordinary way. We are carrying thousands of tons of potatoes every week from Cain-bridge, and occasionally a slip-up of this kind must happen.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether, in view of the fact the notice of "Major road ahead" is, owing to the high speeds of modern lorries and motor-cars, not sufficient protection to the public, he will instruct local authorities to erect warning signs on main roads where they cross a secondary road, especially where the crossing is blind.

I regret that I do not think it would be wise to adopt my hon. Friend's proposal to erect warning signs on main roads where they cross a secondary road. Accidents at such cross-roads will be most effectively prevented if drivers entering or crossing a main road from a secondary road remember that it is their responsibility to exercise all necessary care in so doing, and where "Major Road Ahead" signs exist, to comply strictly with the directions which the signs give. The drivers' sense of responsibility might be weakened, if the right of way of main road traffic were not fully maintained.

Will my hon. Friend have the attention of the military authorities particularly drawn to what he has said?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport (1) in view of the complaints that have been made in connection with the operation of the Road Haulage Scheme of his Department, what steps have been, or are being, taken to consult with the road haulage industry through the Standing Joint Committee of the national organisations so as to effect improvements;

Soon after the road haulage organisation began its work, the Standing Joint Committee, acting on the suggestion of my Noble Friend, set up consultative panels which are available for the discussion of any matter connected with the organisation. The panels meet at the request of either party. In addition, a local representative of the Standing Joint Committee attends a monthly meeting of the road haulage organisation officials in each area and division of the country. In these meetings the local working of the organisation is discussed. Useful discussion covering a number of matters, including methods of operation, have recently been held under these arrangements, and action has followed on the points raised.

Is it not a fact that the trade organisations themselves have given case after case in which there has been waste of money? Is the Department taking any steps to meet this position?

No, Sir. As I understand it, the organisations have made general allegations, such as are too frequently made in this House. When the details are given we always inquire, and usually we find a perfectly satisfactory explanation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport, how many persons now or formerly connected with the firm of Transport Services, Limited, are, or have been, in positions under the Road Haulage Scheme of his Department and the number salaried thereunder; and what number are in receipt of remuneration from that firm whilst holding such position in the scheme.

I am obtaining the information for which my hon. and gallant Friend has asked, and will write to him as soon as possible.

The proportion from Empire countries in 1943 was 62 per cent. and it is estimated that the proportion in 1944 will be between 70 and 73 per cent.

asked the Minister of Supply why his Department requisitioned certain premises, of which he has been informed; whether he considered, before doing so, the beneficent work done there; and when they will be returned to their owners.

In order to accommodate workmen engaged on certain very urgent work, it was unfortunately necessary to requisition for a short time the two convalescent homes to which my hon. Friend refers. One of these has now been released. The other will likewise be handed back before very long.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind the excellent work done by convalescent homes in restoring people to health?

I fully appreciate that it is generally undesirable to requisition premises of this kind. It was only done because of urgent necessity.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has considered the petition from the Heighington Women's Institute and others, drawing his attention to the fact that there has been no fish in Heighington since Good Friday 1940; and what action will he take to see that this village of over 1,000 people shall be no longer deprived of fish supplies.

Yes, Sir. The only supplier in in the village closed through lack of support early in 1940 and I presume that between that time and September 1941—the end of the qualifying period for allocation to fishmongers and fish-friers—fish was obtained from nearby towns. I doubt whether I should be justified in depriving traders in these towns of a part of their supplies to enable a shop to be re-opened in this village.

Is the Minister aware that the reply given to the people of the village was that it was because the man who formerly supplied fish had died? As a man is now available, why should the people of this village have to go to Darlington and other places for fish? Surely when a man is available he ought to get the available supplies.

The allocation of fish is made in sub-zones throughout the country and this village is in the Darlington district sub-zone. It is quite true that if there had been a fishmonger or a fish frier there at the datum period the village would have got its supplies of fish. If my hon. Friend would like to discuss it with me and there really is a good case for opening a fish shop in this village, Which will mean depriving other traders of some of their supplies, I will look into it.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the shortage of fish supplies in the Birmingham district; and what steps he is taking to increase these supplies.

I am investigating this matter and will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the fish famine in Birmingham is more acute than ever and that the zoning system acts very unfairly?

I would not call it a fish famine. Unfortunately in the last month Birmingham has not got its full allocation, and I am looking into it with a view to remedying it. In November, however, it got 2 per cent. more than its allocation.

Is not the situation due to the fact that the Government have pursued the wrong industrial policy and have transferred hundreds of people to Birmingham instead of bringing work to the people?

What is a fish frier supposed to do with his fat, when he cannot use it owing to fish not being available?

That is a different question.

Does not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman recognise that it is now necessary to reorganise the zoning scheme in view of the fact that many areas cannot get supplies of fish and that advantages obtain in other areas? Cannot the scheme be related to mouths to be fed?

That is what the scheme is based on. The supplies are distributed on a population basis according to the number of sugar registrations in each district. It is impossible with the pressure on our inland transport to get rid of the zoning scheme.

Is the Minister aware that almost every month Glasgow Health Department give a list of hundreds of tons of fish destroyed in Glasgow, and will he look into it?

I would certainly like to look into that and perhaps my hon. Friend will give me particulars.

Would it not be better to return to distribution by the wholesalers who, before the Food Ministry undertook this work, were efficiently distributing fish all over the country?

asked the Minister of Food what prices f.o.b. are paid by his Department for palm oil imported into this country from British West Africa, French West Africa and the Belgian Congo, respectively.

I regret that I do not consider that it is in the national interest to disclose the particulars asked for by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the manner in which oranges are being distributed; that the food offices are being given a lot of extra work because people tear off the back pages of their books and then call for another voucher; and if he can stop this practice and prevent some people getting more oranges than they are entitled to.

A number of applications have been received by some food offices for replacement of the back pages of ration books. Unauthorised defacement of a ration book is an offence under the Food Rationing (General Provisions) Order. Replacements are not made automatically. Applicants are required to sign a declaration giving details of the loss and, as far as possible, these are verified before replacement. A replacement fee of one shilling is charged.

Would it be possible for the Minister to allocate some sugar to Scotland in order that the marmalade oranges available could be made into marmalade?

asked the Minister of Food whether he can provide an estimate of the percentage ratio of each of the rationed foods which are consumed by the public off the ration in all catering establishments as distinct from the normal domestic supplies issued through a ration book.

As the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

While thanking my right hon. and gallant Friend for the information he is about to give, may I ask whether it will include food provided for school feeding, Civil Defence canteens, and, in fact, every form of catering provided off the ration?

Yes, Sir, every form. It includes all industrial canteens, British Restaurants, ordinary restaurants, and even the dining room of the House of Commons.