asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the parents and wives of those who have lost their sons and husbands are anxious to know if they will receive the war-service decorations and medals that would have been given to the Service men; and will he make a statement upon this.

Campaign medals will be manufactured after the war. In the case of an officer or man who has been killed the medals will be sent to the person named in his will as the person who should receive them. If he has not made a will they will be sent to the next-of-kin in the order of relationship laid down in the Regulations made under the Regimental Debts Act.

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his reply, as a lot of feeling is being caused among people who have lost husbands or sons about whether these decorations and medals would be passed on to them or not. That answer will give them satisfaction.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for sailors awarded after 15 years service with a grant of £20 and an increase of pension at the end of service, but that a similar medal for soldiers is awarded after 18 years' service with a grant and no addition of pension at the end of service; awl if he will raise the conditions of the Army award to those of the Navy award.

Is not this one of those small matters which quite a modest cutting of red tape would put right; and would it not give satisfaction out of all proportion to the amount of work involved, to assimilate the conditions for similar medals?

I understand that similar claims have been made on behalf of sailors for amelioration in respects in which the Admiralty regulations appear to be less favourable than those of the Army. It is not a question of cutting red tap. To assimilate the Regulations of the three Services is a very burdensome business.

asked the Secretary of State for War why restrictions have been imposed on the liberty of A.T.S. personnel to smoke when off duty.

A memorandum was recently issued which was intended to amplify the section in A.T.S. Regulations of 1941 'which lays down that "smoking in the street is forbidden," The object of this regulation was to ensure that the appearance of the auxiliaries did credit to their Service. Whether this object can best be secured by detailed instructions, or by relying on the good sense of the auxiliaries is a matter of opinion.

Would it not be better to rely on their good sense and discretion, as in the case of the other women's Services?

I had hoped I had so drafted my answer, that a wink would be as good as a nod to the hon. Member.

Why should there be any discrimination between men and women in. the Forces as regards smoking in the street? Why do not the Government get on with the war, instead of indulging in these pettifogging regulations?

The regulations were made in 1941, and the hon. Gentleman's question might have been more properly addressed to my predecessor.

Does that mean that because regulations were made in 1941, the right hon. Gentleman discards his responsibility in the matter? Is he not Secretary of State for War, and was he not in fact responsible for administration a the War Office at that time?

I am quite clear that it would be in accordance with the general sense of the public, that A.T.S. should not wander about the streets smoking.

Nonsense.

Is not the cigarette a social solvent, and should it not be encouraged?

asked the Secretary of State for War when it is intended to bring home Army personnel who have been in the Middle East since the early days of the war; and is he aware of the need, in the interests of health, to bring these men home in the summer months.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Prime Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker) on 22nd February. As to the second part of the hon. Member's Question, these men are necessarily brought home as and when the shipping is available.

What period have these men now, to serve before they are considered fully qualified; and has account been taken of the desirability of bringing them home from a hot climate, while we are approaching warmer weather here?

The second part of that question contains precisely the same point as that dealt with in my answer. With regard to the first part, I explained that the qualifying period for re-transfer to the home establishment has now got down to five years in India, as elsewhere. But I am certain that if it is a question of men waiting until climatic conditions are suitable to come home they would prefer to come home at the wrong season of the year, instead of waiting.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these men understood that they were being brought home during this summer, and that the period now seems to have been extended?

Certain progress is being made in catching up the lag in the operation of the scheme in India, compared with its operation elsewhere. We are doing the best we can with the shipping available, when operational needs permit.

Are there rest camps in the mountains of Lebanon to which the men in Palestine can go when necessary?

The hon. Member had better put that question down. I am afraid I do not carry all the details in my mind.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether British Valentine tanks have been used by the Russians in action with their armoured divisions; and whether he has received any reports on the rôle in which these tanks have been engaged in Russia.

Yes, Sir. British Valentine tanks have been used with Russian armoured formations in action against the enemy. Our reports indicate that they have been employed in normal tank roles, and have given satisfaction.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the Centaur tank has been removed from the secret list; why it has been exhibited in "Salute the Soldier" demonstrations; and why has the sergeant in charge been allowed to give a description of the tank for publication in the Press.

The Centaur, mounting a 6-pounder gun, has been removed from the secret list because it is now being used for training. Photographs of it may be published in the Press, but no description of it may be given beyond the fact that it is a cruiser tank, mounting a 6-pounder gun. I understand that the sergeant referred to in the Question went no further than to give an estimate of its weight.

Does that mean that the Centaur tank is not being used as a fighting tank?

The hon. Member had better put that down.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any report to make on a fire-fighting practice on 22nd March, of which he has been informed, as a result of which a number of A.T.S. personnel were taken to hospital; whether he has any information as to the type of bombs used during the practice; whether a court of inquiry has been ordered; and what steps he is taking to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.

In order to make the firefighting practice, in which incendiary bombs were being used, more realistic, the instructor set off a smoke generator and some thunder flashes. A number of the auxiliaries were overcome by the combination of fumes, and were admitted to hospital. I am glad to say they have now all returned to duty, after a period of leave. A court of inquiry has been held into this unfortunate incident. The use of the smoke generator indoors is contrary to existing instructions, and I am considering whether any further steps are necessary to prevent a recurrence.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for the information, might I ask whether any steps are being taken to ensure that the medical records of these personnel are suitably marked, in case of after-effects on their health?

I have not the slightest doubt that they will be, but I will verify that.

asked the Secretary of State for War the procedure adopted in deciding claims for compassionate leave made by serving personnel in India.

If there are strong compassionate grounds for an officer or other rank of the British Army to return to this country from India, the facts of the individual case should be brought before the War Office by the man's relatives in this country, or before the military authorities in India by the man himself The final decision in either case rests with the military authorities in India, who must, of course, take into account the military situation.

Why does it so frequently take abnormally long for a decision to be given? Obviously, these cases are urgent, yet some take nine months to decide.

There are certain difficulties about communication with India, as the hon. Member knows; but if he has a specific case or cases which seem to him to have been unduly delayed, perhaps he will bring them to my notice.

There are in the right hon. Gentleman's Department now particulars of a case on which, after nine months, no decision has been reached.

Perhaps the hon. Member will remind me of that case.

Can the right hon Gentleman not speed up these cases, which are reported to him from time to time and on which, after nine or ten months, there is no definite decision?

I will certainly do my best, but, as I said, the final decision is with the authorities in India.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will recommend that a clasp to the Efficiency Decoration be issued in respect of service in the Territorial Army further to that for which an Efficiency Decoration has already been awarded.

Such a change in the Warrant, even were it desirable, could only be made in agreement with the Governments of the Dominions, and I hope my hon. Friend will agree with me that this is hardly a time to approach them with such a proposal.

Surely 40 years' service should be recognised? Cannot the matter be raised with the appropriate Dominions?

Without arguing the merits of the case, I honestly think that at this time we must put first things first.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is satisfied that the reports of the official war correspondents on the military situation at the Anzio and Cassino fronts now represent, on the whole, an accurate picture of the military operations in that theatre of war.

Generally speaking, Yes, Sir.

Why do the British war correspondents continue to protest vehemently against the official coloration and direction of the reports which they send, while the American war correspondents are giving full accounts of the fighting in Anzio?

I am not aware of any recent protests of that kind.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consult his Press department on the protests made by the British war correspondents about the coloration and direction given from the back areas?

Naturally, I did not draft this answer without consulting my officials.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, for the six months ended 31st December, 1943, the output of saleable coal per man-shift; and how this figure compares with the corresponding figures for the six months ended 31st December, 1942 and 1941, respectively

The provisional figure of output of saleable coal per man-shift worked during the last six months of 1943 is 1.03 tons. Comparable figures for the last six months of 1942 and 1941 are 1.03 tons and 1.05 tons respectively.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of the statement in the White Paper on coal, dated June, 1942, that output could be increased by concentrating the available men and machinery on the more productive pits and seams, what number of men and machines, respectively, have been transferred by the regional controllers in pursuance of this policy.

In pursuance of the policy of concentration referred to, it is estimated that about 11,500 men and about r50 machines have been transferred to more productive pits and seams.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he can give any estimate of the annual cost of the increases in wages resulting from the recent agreement to accept the Government's proposals for the overhaul of the wage structure in the coal industry; and what increases this cost and the cost of the Porter Award, respectively, will cause in the price of coal to the consumer.

As regards the first part of the Question, the ascertainment of the appropriate percentage additions for each district, which the two sides of the industry asked me to undertake, is not yet complete, and until it is and certain additional information is available from the districts, a full estimate of the increase will not be possible. As regards the second part of the Question, the cost of the Porter minimum wage award is estimated at about £5,000,000 per annum, which is equivalent to approximately 6d. per ton for annual supply tonnage.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power for the period July to September, 1943, the wages bill of the coal industry; the output of saleable coal; and the average number of persons employed.

Information as to the wages bill for the whole of the coal mining industry is not available. Returns made in connection with the wages ascertainments relating to undertakings accounting for 96 per cent. of the total output show that the wages paid by those undertakings during the September quarter of 1943 were £42.75 million (excluding the value of allowances in kind which amounted to £1.29 million). The saleable coal output at these collieries was 45,279,000 tons and the average number of persons employed 667,200. The estimated saleable output of the industry as a whole during the same period was 46,468,000 tons and the average number of wage-earners on colliery books was 704,100.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of colliery undertakings in Northumberland scheduled as necessitous; how much was paid to them from the Coal Charges Fund and the amounts received, respectively.

There are five colliery undertakings in Northumberland which have been dealt with as necessitous. Payments made to these five undertakings out of the Coal Charges Account by way of War Emergency Assistance have amounted to A;238,000 up to the end of February, 1944. The amount paid into the Coal Charges Account by undertakings in Northumberland during this period was approximately £3,250,000, of which these undertakings contributed about £370,000.

Will the Minister answer the latter part of the Question?

Does the hon. Member mean each of the five? I have a list here, and I shall be happy to give it to him afterwards.

Is not this fund contributed by the general public, on the increased price of coal, and not by the coalowners?

It is put on the price of coal.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman circulate the particulars asked for in the Question, in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

I have no objection.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the percentages of the total output of coal that are mechanically cut and conveyed, respectively, at the present time; and how these percentages compare with those for 1he last available date before the publication of the White Paper on coal in June, 1942.

The latest period for which the information is available is the year 1942. In that year 66.44 per cent.

of the total coal output was cut by machinery and 64.84 per cent. mechanically conveyed. In the year 1941, the percentages were 65.67 and 63.70, respectively.

Is it not intended to keep these figures up to date?

They will be brought up to date as soon as information is received from all districts.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the total estimated tonnage represented by the domestic coal allowance of four cwts. per month in the southern counties and five cwts. in the northern counties.

If all controlled premises took exactly the quantities named in the Question, the tonnage would be roughly three million tons per month.

Does the Minister agree that it will be difficult to maintain even this modest allowance to households, unless strikes are reduced and output increased?

Obviously, any allowances of coal must be related to production.

I take it for granted that no distinction is made between good and bad coal? Is the Minister aware that much of the coal I have had is absolutely useless?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the total number of persons employed under his Ministry, the number in the department of the regional controller in each area, separately, and the percentage of males as against females.

As the reply involves a number of figures, I propose to publish it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what the present arrangements are for the issue of permits to workers entitling them to obtain alarm clocks; and, in particular, whether these permits are issued by the trade union concerned or by the management of the factory.

Since September, 1943, 557,000 permits for alarm clocks have been issued by the Board of Trade, mainly through the Trade Unions, to those who have to go to work between midnight and 5 a.m. All the most urgent claims should now have been met. I am not, therefore, issuing any further permits as from 1st April. But in order to give time for the outstanding permits to be cleared, unrestricted sale of these clocks will not be possible at present.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it better to issue these permits through the manufacturers concerned? I have a case of a man who works it hours in a factory, who has to get up at 3 a.m. in order to start work on the early shift, and who has been refused a permit, while other people, living very much nearer their work, can obtain permits. This man, however, happens to be not a trade unionist.

This House and the country, and I myself, owe a great debt to the trade unions. This arrangement was made in agreement with the British Employers' Confederation when the scheme was instituted in September last year. It has worked extremely well, and the trade unions have played the game throughout. They have met the claims of non-unionists in a great many cases. These arrangements have been carefully watched by my Department and I take this opportunity of thanking the trade unions up and down the country for what they have done.

As 60 per cent. of the people in this country who work for their living do not belong to a trade union, why has the right hon. Gentleman adopted the Fascist principle that you must act through a corporation?

I have already stated, and I repeat, that this was done in agreement with the British Employers' Confederation, who are acquainted, as are the trade unions, with the requirements of the case. Let me add that if this very effective method had not been adopted, I should have had to employ an extra horde of officials to do the work.

Will the Minister tell me, in the interest of my constituent, what steps I must take in order to enable this man to get a permit?

The hon. and gallant Member can communicate with me, as is common in cases of difficulty, and I will be glad to look into the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can arrange to place in the Library a copy of the complaint filed in the district court of New York against the Imperial Chemical Industries and other companies on 6th January, 1944; and what action his department is taking in respect of the British company involved.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been directed to the complaint, filed on 6th January, 1944, involving British interests by the special assistants to the United States Attorney General in the district court of the United States of New York, to the serious charges in the complaint, the allegations made of political influence and the charges made against the I.C.I., I.G. Germany and other concerns; and if he will have a full public investigation made.

This complaint, which alleges violations of American law, will be the subject of judicial proceedings in the United States Courts. In these circumstances it would be inappropriate, and, indeed, improper that it should form the subject of a public inquiry here. I have already arranged for a copy of this document to be placed in the Library.

In view of the serious allegations made against persons and organisations in this country, are not the Government going to take action?

As I have already stated, the Government are considering what changes if any, in the law regarding these matters are desirable, but this particular matter is sub judice in the American courts, and it would be very improper to have a public inquiry here.

Is there any reason why the British Government should not institute an inquiry, parallel with that which is proceeding in America?

American law differs from British law. Certain acts are violations of American law but not of British law.

The fact that a matter is before the American courts does not make it sub judice in Great Britain, and why should not the Government institute their own inquiries?

We have for a long time been making inquiries into this matter, and are satisfied that we know all the essential facts.

Is it not in the best interests of I.C.I. that an inquiry should go forward in this matter?

I have no knowledge of the arrangements about the American proceedings.

Can we have made quite clear the reason which induced the Government not to hold an inquiry? Is it because the matter is sub judice and before the courts in America? Surely it cannot be explained because of that?

The hon. Gentleman refers to a particular form of inquiry—a public inquiry—and that is covered by my answer. I have stated, in reply to previous questions on many occasions, that the Government and myself, as President of the Board of Trade, have been giving the closest study to this matter. We know a great deal about it, and at the right moment we will announce our policy.

May I ask whether I.C.I. have asked the Government to have an inquiry into the matter?

Not to my recollection.

asked the President if the Board of Trade whether he is aware of existing dissatisfaction in regard to the present quality of safety-razor blades; and whether, in the interests of economy, no will arrange for their improvement.

The supply of the special steel used for razor blades is limited by demands for urgent war production, but I am glad to say that I have had very few complaints about the quality of war-time blades.

Will the Minister consider a specific complaint?

Yes, but, so far, the public have been doing very well in making their blades last longer to help the war effort.

Is the Minister aware that there are many complaints from prisoners of war about blades sent out by the Red Cross?

I repeat that I have had very few complaints from any quarter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the number of full length films produced in this country in 1943 was only about 12½ per cent. of those produced in 1938, and, in view of the value of films for propaganda and for educational and cultural purposes, what action is he taking to encourage the British film industry and to prevent its being entirely dominated by interests outside the British Empire.

My hon. Friend is misinformed. The number of British long films registered during the year ending March, 1944, was 70, as compared with 103 for the year ending March, 1939. I keep in close touch with representatives of the film industry and shall continue to take any action open to me to promote and develop the industry in this country.

Owing to shortage of man-power and of studio space, production of British films has had to be curtailed during the war, but I am satisfied that there is no danger of the industry being dominated by foreign interests.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he is aware that the continued existence of the independent British film producer is dependent upon the continued existence of the independent British cinema owner, who often provides the only outlet for British-made films; and will he ensure the continued existence of the independent cinema owner by regulating the conditions of film marketing practised by non-British interests, which are making the continued existence of independent cinema owners more difficult;

(2) if he is aware of the grave dissatisfaction which British motion picture exhibitors feel against the conditions of sale which are being imposed on them by representatives of American film interests in this country; and will he take steps to prohibit the continuance of conditional selling and institute a system more in accord with British custom and the generally accepted standards of international trade.

As the House knows, I have obtained undertakings from the chief shareholders of the three major circuits, which effectively limit the number of cinemas they may control. As regards the conditions of sale imposed on exhibitors by film renters, I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Moss Side (Mr. R. Duckworth) on 4th November, 1943, and 10th December, 1943. This matter is, I understand, also under examination by the Committee of the Cinematograph Films Council which was set up, on my invitation, to consider and report on what further practical measures, if any, are necessary to check the development of monopoly in the film industry.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that hundreds, if not thousands, of our own small shopkeepers are being prosecuted every week for infringing the law and imposing conditions of sale, and that the conditions of sale imposed by these big industries are almost putting people out of business; why is one law applied to those outside this country and a more strict law enforced on our own people?

I do not think that my hon. Friend has quite fairly stated the position. It is not possible within the limits of an answer to go into the details of this matter, but I shall be very glad to discuss it with him, as I have given a good deal of thought to it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, following the undertaking he said he had received from the cinema proprietors and great undertakings, new cinemas are being acquired on a very considerable scale and new negotiations are being instituted even after the assurance he received and gave to the House?

No, Sir, I am not aware of that, and if my hon. Friend can assist me by giving me particulars, I shall be grateful to him.

I shall be happy to do that.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is not the people outside this country who are injuring the small trader, but powerful interests inside this country?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, as the National Whitley Council has been asked to make proposals regarding the post-war staffing of the Civil Service, he will also consult the Association of Ex-Service Civil Servants, which is not a member of the National Whitley Council, in order to ascertain the point of view of men and women now serving in the Forces.

The Association of Ex-Service Civil Servants is not entitled to speak for the men and women now serving in the Forces. The association in fact comprises only a small body of existing civil servants, and, I understand, includes few of the men or women now serving in the Forces. The association has been invited to submit to the Treasury its views on the matters referred to in the statement which I made on 17th February, so far as concerns those persons whom it is entitled to represent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the rise in the cost of living, he will take steps to alter the Treasury rule that now precludes a re-employed pensioned civil servant or teacher from receiving in salary and pension more than he or she received in salary prior to retirement.

I have been asked to reply. There is no such Treasury rule. A civil servant or a teacher who is reemployed after having been retired on pension is entitled to receive the full salary of his new post together with any bonus attaching thereto. What is limited, by Section 20 of the Superannuation Act, 1834, in the case of a civil servant, or by Section 6 of the Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1925, is the amount of pension (if any) which he is entitled to receive in addition to his salary.

But is not the Minister perfectly well aware that in the case of the Civil Service, at any rate, the jobs for which retired civil servants are brought back are invariably the jobs they were doing before they left?