asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what facilities are given to married women serving with the W.R.N.S. to enable them to take their privilege leave at the same time as their husbands serving with the other two Services.

Members of the W.R.N.S. married to men in the Services are granted leave at the same time as their husbands where the needs of the Service permit and the notice given is sufficient to enable arrangements to be made.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, now that many R.N.V.R. officers have reached a high degree of efficiency, he will consider giving R.N.R. officers the opportunity of returning to their own service, which is badly in need of qualified officers.

At the present stage of the war, the Navy cannot in general spare the invaluable services of these experienced officers. Special cases, however, may be considered by the Admiralty and the other interested Departments.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the uneasiness on the part of allotment holders as to their security of tenure in their present allotments; and whether he can give some indication of policy regarding allotment holders in the post-war period.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Stratford (Mr. Groves) on 8th December last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for War if steps are being taken to make known to senior officers in prisoner-of-war camps in Germany the possibility of their remitting to their banks in London balances of their prisoners' pay to be converted from reichsmarks to sterling for investment.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War what complaints he has received from men serving in the Middle East about the high cost of living and the need for an increased allowance based on this principle; and whether, as the £ sterling is only worth 14s. compared with pre-war and the 4d. per day allowance is therefore inadequate to meet the extra cost, he will consider increasing this.

The allowance to which my right hon. Friend refers was intended to enable a soldier to make the necessary purchases from his pay in the Middle East to the same extent as he can in this country. I have no evidence that the 4d. a day granted to rank and file in the Middle East is inadequate for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can yet announce any improvement in the proportion of arrival of cigarettes despatched to the troops in Italy in view of the many complaints that cigarettes despatched do not arrive.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the replies which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for West Edinburgh (Lieut.-Commander Hutchison) on 7th March and which my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General gave to the hon. and gallant Member for the City of Chester (Major Nield) on 8th March. At present I have nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Production what percentage of British production is being diverted annually to the assistance of our Russian Allies.

To give an overall percentage figure as suggested by the hon. and gallant Member would involve a good deal of work which in the end would not give an accurate measure of the scope and value of British aid to Russia. From time to time specific figures of tanks, aircraft and other supplies to Russia have been published, in particular in a statement by my right hon. Friend last year. The question of giving a fuller and more up-to-date statement is now under consideration.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has considered a letter from the food executive officer of Liverpool, dated 7th March, complaining of the unfair distribution of fish supplies as between the London and Merseyside districts; what is the nature of his reply; and is he taking steps to ensure that Merseyside receives in future an allocation of fish commensurate with the population of that district.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Member for the Scotland Division of Liverpool (Mr. Logan).

asked the Minister of Food why the supply of biscuits has practically stopped in certain shops for the past month but not in others; and whether he is satisfied that distribution is working satisfactorily.

The supply of biscuits available for civilian consumption has been slightly increased since the beginning of the year, and I have no reason to believe that any shops are unable to obtain supplies. If my hon. Friend has certain shops in mind, and will supply me with particulars of them, I will cause inquiries to be made.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is yet in a position to make a statement about the extension to Edinburgh of the scheme for the distribution of poultry from Northern Ireland.

Discussions are now proceeding with the parties concerned, and I hope that means will be found by the end of April for the inclusion of Edinburgh in the scheme for the distribution of Northern Ireland poultry.

asked the Minister of Food if it is his intention to exempt agricultural workers from the recent cut from three ounces to two ounces in the cheese ration.

Agricultural workers who are eligible for the special cheese ration will still be able to obtain 12 ounces per week despite the cut in the ordinary cheese ration from three ounces to two.

asked the Minister of Health how far the reports of analysts show an increase in the distribution of unsatisfactory food compositions.

I append a table showing the total number of samples of food (excluding drugs) reported on by public analysts in England and Wales under the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, in each of the years 1938 to 1942, and showing the number and proportion of the samples reported against. It must, however, be borne in mind that reports are made against some samples because of contravention of some formal requirement, e.g., as to labelling, and not necessarily because of unsatisfactory composition. Again, in taking samples some authorities may have given special attention to sources where there was particular reason to suspect adulteration.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can now make some statement as to what steps he is taking to assist the local authorities at a place of which he has been informed in dealing with the water shortage problem; and what appropriate action he proposes to take in connection with the safeguarding from damage of the supply of water to a neighbouring borough.

I have not been asked to assist the responsible local authority. I am informed that the Council expect to obtain a bulk supply from another local authority and that they will be relieved of the necessity of supplying water for certain Service requirements. It is hoped that the difficulties will be overcome when these arrangements are in operation. I think my hon. Friend is already aware of the arrangements made in consultation with the Department concerned for the protection of the neighbouring supply.

asked the Minister of Health how many civil parishes, within the statutory water area of authorised water undertakers in England and Wales, are not yet supplied by the authority concerned.

I regret that information in the precise form desired by my hon. and pliant Friend is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Health how many rural parishes, being civil parishes within administrative county districts in England and Wales, are without a public supply of water and electricity, respectively; and in what counties are such parishes located.

Following is a statement as to rural parishes without a public supply of water. So far as the Question relates to electricity it should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the serious shortage of water in many rural areas and will he take steps to remove all unnecessary legal obstructions which at present prevent local authorities from augmenting and improving their present supplies.

I am aware that there is a shortage of water in a number of rural localities and that this has been accentuated by the war, which has prevented the carrying out of many schemes that were in an advanced stage of preparation in September, 1939. The White Paper which will shortly be laid will contain proposals for the improvement and simplification of law and procedure in relation to public water supplies. A Bill which I hope to introduce this Session as part of the general reconstruction programme will also facilitate the provision of piped supplies in rural localities.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons under 16 and over 16 years of age, respectively, at present on waiting lists for admission to sanatoria in counties and county boroughs in England and Wales.

I have not the exact information asked for in the Question, but the returns made by local authorities distinguish children under 15, and those over that age, to whom for this purpose I shall refer to as adults. At 31st December, 1943, the latest date for which figures are available, the numbers of tuberculosis cases awaiting institutional treatment pro- vided by tuberculosis authorities in England and Wales were 529 children and 2,752 adults, of which 233 children and 189 adults were non-pulmonary cases.

asked the Minister of Health what plans are in progress for an intensification of sewerage extension in rural districts.

Rural district councils, in common with other local authorities, have been asked to submit to me proposals for urgently needed works of sewerage and sewage disposal to be carried out immediately after the war. I have so far had replies from 64 councils who desire to carry out 81 schemes.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied with the progress made in dealing with venereal diseases under Regulation 33B; and if he will take further measures to prevent this evil from spreading further.

In my view Regulation 33B has been of considerable help to local authorities in tracing and securing treatment of persons who do not voluntarily seek and undertake treatment. The Regulation was not designed to do more than deal with a comparatively small class of infected persons, who have always been a special problem I have at the moment under special consideration the question what further effective measures can be taken to deal with these diseases, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that many hotels and licensed premises are finding it necessary to close down owing to the direction of staff into war industries; whether he appreciates the inconvenience caused to members of the public who are obliged to travel on business connected with the war; and what is the policy of His Majesty's Government in this matter.

In consultation with my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Food I have already made arrangements which should enable hotels to retain essential domestic staff. If my Noble Friend will give me particulars of any hotel which has been forced to close down through the withdrawal of staff I will have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Health how many of the new occupied agricultural cottages have been let at economic rents; and whether he will take steps to ensure that all such rents are fixed to avoid subsidies, which bear heavily on the poorer ratepayers.

As subsidies are payable on all these cottages under the Housing Act, 1938, none is being let at economic rents. The normal contribution from the district rates is small—£1 per house per annum. If the cost of building in any particular case is exceptionally high and would entail an undue burden on the rates, I should be prepared to entertain an application for a supplementary contribution from the Exchequer.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works whether, in the plans for building both temporary and permanent houses after the war, full advantage is being taken of the fact that ample supplies of timber are now known to be available for the purpose.

All the plans which have been, or are being, developed by my Ministry for post-war houses make full use of timber to the extent that it is, or will be, available. As to availability, perhaps the hon. Member will address a question to the Minister of Supply.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will consider the establishment of cottage homestead schemes, similar to those in operation at Dunstable, organised by the Land Settlement Association as post-war plans to assist partly disabled ex-Servicemen.

Yes, I will consider this.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works why the Government buildings damaged in air raids are given priority in repair; and if he will ensure that small dwelling-houses are not depleted of labour for their repair in order to find the necessary labour for Government buildings.

Houses damaged in air raids have absolute priority for first-aid repair, and labour is not diverted from this work for the repair of Government buildings.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects that arrangements can be made for work to be restarted on slum clearance plans in the Stalybridge, Hyde and Dukinfield areas.

The work of slum clearance will be resumed as soon as it is practicable to build the necessary replacement houses, but as my hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate, such new houses as may be built in the earlier part of the period following the end of the European War may well be required to meet the needs of families who have never yet had houses of their own.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will give an assurance that the dental and optical professions as well as the medical profession were consulted when framing Clause 46 of the Education Bill; and who are his medical, dental, optical and ophthalmic advisers respectively.

The dental profession were not consulted before the Bill was introduced, but the terms of Clause 46 have subsequently been discussed with them. No consultation has taken place between my Department and representatives of the opticians. I have the advantage of being advised in these matters by the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health and Board of Education.

asked the President of the Board of Education the length of time allotted for examination to each individual child in the school ophthalmic clinic at present; the length of each session; how many children are examined per session; and whether he can give an assurance that not less than half-an-hour is devoted to the examination of each child's eyes.

The length of time allotted to an individual examination varies according to the nature of the case. Some cases need much more than half-an-hour and for some much less suffices. On an average about 8 cases are examined in a session which usually last 2½ hours.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will specify the duties which teachers are, at the present time, called on to perform, other than the actual imparting of knowledge to the children.

Teachers in common with other citizens are liable for war-time Civil Defence, fire guard and Home Guard duties. In the schools, besides their teaching duties and work directly connected therewith, such as the preparation of syllabuses and the keeping of registers and records, many teachers supervise school meals and help with the Milk in Schools Scheme, the success of which owes a great deal to their enthusiasm and spirit of service. Other voluntary duties undertaken at present are connected with national savings, the organisation of school salvage collection, the supervision of evacuated children's well-being, the running of holiday clubs and classes for those whose parents are engaged on war work, the supervision of children employed in agriculture and the measuring and recording of certain classes of children for additional clothing coupons. The conditions vary in different areas and schools, and sometimes paid or voluntary helpers afford relief from much of the non-teaching work undertaken by teachers elsewhere. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a Memorandum which my Department has issued to local education authorities recommending that such help should be available.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether it is proposed that Schick-testing, tuberculin-testing or any similar test that necessitates puncturing the skin will be compulsory on all schoolchildren when compulsory medical inspection is enforced.

No, Sir.

asked the Minister without Portfolio if he can give an assurance that the special claims of ageing unmarried women both insured contributors and those ineligible for insurance though in poverty circumstances are receiving sympathetic examination at his hands in relation to the forthcoming proposals respecting the Beveridge Report; and does he hope to incorporate measures to deal with their case.

I can assure my hon. Friend that the position of unmarried women is being fully considered in the framing of the Government's proposals for social insurance, but I cannot anticipate the White Paper in which those proposals will be presented to Parliament.

asked the Minister of Supply if he can now make a statement regarding the post-war existence of the Royal Ordnance factories; and whether it is intended to retain them as part of our industrial life or whether it is intended to absorb them in privately owned organisations.

A number of the Royal Ordnance factories will undoubtedly be required after the war to supply the continuing needs of the Services and to provide a reserve of manufacturing capacity available for use in an emergency. It is not possible, at present, to estimate how many factories are likely to be needed for these purposes.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why it has been found necessary to curtail the supply of coke to domestic consumers.

Restrictions have been placed on the delivery of coke to controlled premises, including domestic consumers, in order to arrest a serious depletion of stocks since December last and to ensure equitable distribution of the limited supplies available. The fall in stocks is due to progressive substitution of coke for coal by Service and civilian consumers and also to increased consumption of coke by gas works which produce water gas.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of accidents, fatal and non-fatal, in the mines of this country for each year 1939 to 1943, inclusive.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Information if he will state the number of persons, excluding clerical and messenger staffs, now employed in the regional offices of his Department and the number of discharges that have taken place during the last six months.

The number of persons employed in Regional Offices of the Ministry, excluding clerical and messenger staffs but including operators of mobile film units, is 352, as compared with 385 six months ago.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that naval ratings have recently been attacked by what are known as razor gangs in the Glasgow and Greenock areas; and what steps are being taken to make these ports safer for visiting service personnel.

There has been no case of razor slashing in Greenock for a number of years, and only one case of assault against a naval rating in Glasgow during the past year in which a razor was used.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish the reproduction rate for Scotland for the five years 1938 to 1942.

The net reproduction rates for Scotland for the years 1938 to 1942 inclusive, as provisionally estimated on the method used by the Registrar-Generals of Scotland and England, are as follows:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what are the time minute intervals now agreed with the L.P.T.B. on the various underground electric railways and at what hours of the day; and what are the total number of each section, respectively, of set trains for operating these services.

I am making inquiries and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will issue a White Paper giving the texts, together with Basic English versions, of the Atlantic Charter and his statement of 9th March on Basic English.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour if an employee who, by reason of age, is not liable to be called up for service with His Majesty's Forces, or who by reason of employment such as a nurse is not called up but resigns for the purpose of undertaking war service, will be allowed to claim reinstatement in the employment from which such employee resigned.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the proposals in the Reinstatement in Civil Employment Bill, which would cover cases such as those described in the Question if the war service was one of the forms specified in Clause 6 of the Bill, but not otherwise.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will set out, in the form of a table, the reproduction rates, for the five years 1938 to 1942 for England and Wales, the Dominions, India, the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R., respectively.

The calculation of a reproduction rate is an involved operation and the result depends to some extent upon the method and assumptions adopted by the calculator According to a procedure employed by the Registrar General, the annual births of England and Wales since 1938 have been provisionally assessed in terms of the following effective reproduction rates:

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any information regarding fluctuations in the reproduction rate in countries occupied by Gerany.

So far as I am aware any available statistics of births and deaths in respect of the countries occupied by Germany are not sufficiently complete or trustworthy to justify any attempt to assess them in terms of reproduction rates.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the difficulty of obtaining a licence to purchase an alarm clock; and, as there appear to be plenty of clocks but few licences, will he do something to facilitate the purchase of these clocks by people who require them.

No, Sir. As I said yesterday in answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) all the clocks so far imported will be needed to meet the permits already issued by the Board of Trade.

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the difficulty experienced by women members of the Services in carrying the Service type of kit-bag, he will consider issuing something in the nature of a hold-all with a handle.

I have been asked to reply. Yes, Sir. Such a bag has been approved for issue to the women's Services and it is now being manufactured.