asked the Secretary of State for War how many cases of smallpox in vaccinated persons had beer brought to the notice of the compiler; of the recently issued bulletin to Army medical officers, which states that small pox has been seen in soldiers who were said to have been successfully vaccinated prior to embarkation; and how many cases have been recorded in men who were stated to have been insusceptible to vaccination or unsuccessfully vaccinated.

Successful vaccination, or even an attack of the disease, may not provide complete protection in all cases against a massive and highly virulent infection. This was illustrated by the figures I gave on 25th February in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Bradford (Mr. Leach). I am not at present in a position to give any further figures. No specified number of cases was brought to the notice of the medical officers who assisted in the compilation of the Army Medical Department Bulletin.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that harmonicas are available for those of the troops overseas who would like to have them.

A substantial number of harmonicas and mouth-organs will, it is hoped, soon be available for distribution to the troops.

asked the Secretary of State for War how long it normally takes before the next-of-kin is informed when a soldier has been wounded or killed in the Italian campaign.

The time taken depends to a considerable extent on the circumstances in which the casualty occurs, and on the state of communications. Recently it has been about two to three weeks.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power in how many cases recommendations have been made by the production directors of his Ministry to close down pits and/or transfer men to more productive collieries; and in how many cases these recommendations have been acted upon.

I am having the information asked for collected, as far as it is available, and will send it to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the departure for Italy last week of the Marchese Malaspina, first secretary of the Italian Legation in Dublin; by what route enemy diplomats are able to return to report to their respective Governments; and whether, under present circumstances, they are exempted from the recent decisions regarding travel to and from Eire.

The Marquess Malaspina left his post at Dublin last week for England en route for Southern Italy on instructions from the Italian Government, who at the Allies' request, are for the sake of economy reducing the staffs of their diplomatic missions abroad. It is therefore hardly accurate to describe him as an enemy diplomat returning to report to his Government. The answer to the last part of the Question is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will follow the example of Field-Marshal Smuts and give orders that Government Departments will not engage anyone until they have made sure that no suitable discharged Service man or woman is available for the job.

I do not think that in the present condition of acute labour shortage any question of preference arises. Departments in general are unable to fill all their vacancies.

asked the Secretary of State for War what daily wages are paid to Italian prisoners of war for farm work.

Italian prisoners of war are paid at the rate of ¾d. an hour with a maximum of 6d. a day or 1½d. an hour with a maximum of 1s. 0d. a day, according to the nature of the work on which they are employed. Generally speaking, those on farm work receive the higher rate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of proceedings, convictions and charges proved, for drunkenness for the Metropolitan police district and/or the county of London and for the City of London, respectively, during the calendar year 1943 and the comparable figures for 1942.

The following table gives the available information: