asked the Minister of Health if he will consider adopting a long-term building policy of, say, 50 to 80 years, so that there will be a regular number of properties built and demolished annually, thereby avoiding slumps and booms which contribute considerably to high costs of building.

As already indicated in the White Paper on Training for the Building Industry presented to Parliament in February, 1943, it will be the object of the Government's long-term policy to maintain stability in the building industry, but it is not possible in present circumstances to make plans for a longer period than that indicated in the Paper.

asked the Minister of Health whether housing associations, as defined by the Housing Act, 1936, will have the same facilities as local authorities for acquiring land for their housing programmes; and whether they will be given the same rights as conferred on local authorities to join groups for the carrying out of site preparation for housing as outlined in Ministry of Health circular 14/44.

Housing Associations are free to buy land by agreement at any time and, subject to planning requirements, there are no restrictions as to the amount of land they may acquire. Where it is necessary to buy by compulsion, the local authority has power to acquire the land required compulsorily and resell it to the Association. If the local authority is unwilling to do this, the powers may, on the application of the Association, be exercised by the County Council. Sites owned by Housing Associations may, by arrangement with the local authorities for the areas in which they are situated, be included in the scheme for the advance preparation of housing sites and in at least one case arrangements have already been made for this to be done.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Government and local authorities have been called upon to make good any part of their guarantee to building societies for loans made under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1933.

Yes, Sir, in one instance.

asked the Minister of Health whether any progress has been made with plans for the provision of homes for aged sick persons.

Yes, Sir. Several local authorities have already acquired or leased country houses which have been converted for the use of aged persons who are infirm or chronically sick. In addition a number of schemes prepared before and during the war to build homes for such persons have been discussed with my officers in the light of recent experience, and there is reason to believe that, through schemes of this kind, full advantage can be taken of labour and materials as they become available for the purpose.

asked the Minister of Health whether the new housing pro- grammes include provision for the erection of houses by private enterprise; and of what types and under what conditions, in view of the essential contribution that has thus been made and must still be made to the solution of the housing problem.

I am afraid I am not yet in a position to add anything to the reply which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for North Kensington (Captain Duncan) on 30th March, and of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in what degree it is proposed to fix priorities of labour and materials for houses built by local authorities or the State, houses built by private enterprise, hospitals and health centres, and school buildings.

I assume the hon. Member has in mind the period following the end of the war in Europe. I am afraid the labour and supplies position could not at present be envisaged with sufficient accuracy to enable a scale of priorities to be fixed. The whole question of supply of labour and materials during that period is, however, under consideration by the Government.

asked the Minister of Health if, where villages lack adequate water supplies and are near or adjacent to aerodromes, he will authorise the connecting of the villages to the water supply of the aerodromes.

I am prepared to consider on its merits any such proposal submitted to me by a local authority in agreement with the Air Ministry, subject always to the necessary war-time restrictions on the use of labour, materials and capital. My hon. Friend will appreciate that it rests with the Air Ministry to say whether service needs will permit water being made available to the local authority in a particular case.

asked the Minister of Health in what administrative counties the 1,203 parishes having a privately-owned piped water supply are located and the number in each county.

The statement appended gives the information desired.

STATEMENT
County and Number of Parishes with private piped water supply.
Berks	15
Buckingham	3
Cambridge	3
Chester	9
Cornwall	13
Cumberland	7
Derby	33
Devon	28
Dorset	64
Durham	19
Essex	5
Gloucester	74
Hereford	73
Hertford	7
Huntingdon	3
Kent	5
Lancaster	11
Leicester	17
Lincoln, Kesteven	13
Lincoln, Lindsey	29
Norfolk	12
Northampton	41
Northumberland	210
Nottingham	8
Oxford	31
Rutland	11
Salop	67
Somerset	44
Southampton	25
Stafford	19
Suffolk East	8
Suffolk West	11
Surrey	4
Sussex East	9
Sussex West	17
Warwick	17
Westmorland	8
Wilts	58
Worcester	18
Yorks. E. Riding	8
Yorks. N. Riding	82
Yorks. W. Riding	64
Total	1,203

asked the Minister of Health to what extent the inadequate supply of water during the present drought in some areas is the result of the failure of the water authorities to employ proper qualified and experienced engineers; and if he will call the attention of those authorities to this problem.

The present shortage of water in some areas is due primarily to the lack of seasonal rainfall. I should hesitate to attribute it to the cause suggested, though some water undertakers are undoubtedly operating under considerable handicaps, due in part to the heavy demands on skilled personnel for the war effort. I have recently issued appropriate advice to water undertakers and have instructed my Regional Engineers to give all possible assistance in areas affected.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider the desirability of making it obligatory in all future registrations that all persons under 18 years of age shall indicate on their identity cards the date and year of birth.

If my hon. Friend refers to the issue of adult identity cards to young persons attaining the age of 16, I would point out that the new card issued on that occasion already bears particulars officially entered which go far to meet his object. In this connection I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of my reply to a similar Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Knutsford (Sir E. Makins) on 20th January.

asked the Minister of Health if he has considered the suggestion that it would assist both publicans and police in enforcing the drinking regulations if identity cards showed the date of birth of the holders.

Yes, Sir; this matter was considered in connection with a Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Knutsford (Sir E. Makins). As stated in my reply of 20th January last (a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member) the identity card of a young person over 16 already contains age particulars which should in my opinion go far to meet the object in view.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when an agreement was made with Southern Ireland providing that Southern Irishmen temporarily resident in this country should not be taxed by the British but only by the Southern Irish Government; what is the estimated net loss to the Exchequer resulting from this agreement; how soon it can be denounced; and whether he will give notice forthwith to denounce it at the earliest possible moment.

The double taxation agreement obtaining between this country and Eire was concluded on 14th April, 1926, and was confirmed by Section 23 of the Finance Act, 1926. The agreement is on a reciprocal basis, and not unilateral as my hon. Friend's Question would seem to suggest. Under the agreement, each country exempts from its tax persons who are not resident within its territory but are resident in the other country, while in the case of persons who are resident and taxable in both countries double taxation relief is given by both. No figures are available of the amounts of income exempted or relieved by the two countries. The agreement continues to have effect so long as legislation confirming it is in force in both countries, and I see no sufficient reason for terminating it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give an estimate of the reduction of the purchasing power of the public to be expected as a result of the "Salute the Soldier" weeks.

While it is impossible to give figures, there is no doubt that a large proportion of the subscriptions received during these special weeks represents savings out of income.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, instead of encouraging investment of surplus civilian earnings for private gain in Government funds, as in the recent "Salute the Soldier" campaign, he will, for the great national advantage, encourage the public to give or lend their surplus cash to the Government free of interest.

Loans free of interest made for the duration of the war count towards the totals of the "Salute the Soldier" weeks. I am glad to receive such loans when spontaneously offered on the patriotic initiative of private individuals, but I see no reason to vary the rule that they should not be the subject of an officially sponsored appeal.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements have been made under Pay-as-you-earn for the prompt repayment of Income Tax each week to wage earners who lose their employment.

Where a wage-earner becomes unemployed repayments of Income Tax deducted from his earnings will become due week by week; these repayments are the responsibility of the Inland Revenue. The normal Inland Revenue machinery for making repayments involves the issue to taxpayers of Repayment Orders cashable through a bank, and must obviously be supplemented to meet the need of weekly repayments. I am glad to be able to inform my hon. Friend that special arrangements are being made, in conjunction with the Ministry of Labour and National Service, whereby the repayments due to a wage-earner who is out of employment will be paid to him, if he so desires, along with any unemployment benefit or allowances payable each week at the exchange. Under these arrangements the responsibility of computing the repayments will remain entirely that of the Inland Revenue, who will certify to the, employment exchange in each case the amount of the weekly payment to be made. In order to obtain the first repayment, the wage-earner will have to complete a simple form of application. Employers will hold a stock of blank forms for this purpose, and are being asked to give to each wage-earner a copy when he leaves. Subsequent repayments will be made automatically each week without any further written application. For any taxpayer for whom this procedure is unsuitable or who does not wish to adopt it, a Repayment Order for the amount of the repayments due will be sent by post at four-weekly intervals.

asked the Secretary of State for War is he will simplify the rules for smoking in the A.T.S. by making one rule only, no smoking on parade or duty.

I have nothing to add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on Tuesday last.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many Army officers wish to provide themselves with a watch as an essential part of their equipment and are unable to do so because either they cannot afford the high cost of these articles or because of their scarcity; and what action his Department, in conjunction with others, has taken or proposes to take to assist in this matter.

Watches are issued by the Army to those who must have them for military purposes and adequate stocks are held. I understand that limited imports of watches for sale to the general public are being admitted and that the price of watches is controlled under the Prices of Goods Act, 1939, which brings them under the supervision of the Central Price Regulation Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many German prisoners interned in this country have at any time escaped; and how many of them have been recaptured.

Sixty-two German prisoners have escaped in the course of this war. All but two who were drowned while escaping have been recaptured.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in his estimates of the percentage of children inoculated against diphtheria, a considerable number are included who are now over the age of 15 years; and to what extent this fact vitiates the percentages of children inoculated between the ages of 5 and 15.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the explanation of the estimates mentioned which was given in the Summary Report of the Ministry of Health for the year ended 31st March, 1943. Account is taken of the factor to which he alludes.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of diphtheria were recorded in immunised children during the six months ended 31st December, 1943; and whether any of the immunised cases were fatal.

Figures supplied by local authorities in England and Wales for the six months ended 31st December, 1943, which are not quite complete, show that among the 10,238 notifications of diphtheria in children during that period, 2,676 were cases in which a course of immunisation had been completed; and that out of 336 deaths of children from diphtheria in the same period a course of immunisation had been completed in 24 cases.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent blood transfusions are needed from all over the country; and if he will make a statement about the present position.

Transfusions of blood or blood products are increasingly used in both civilian and Service hospitals, in ships at sea and on the battlefields. It is also necessary to build up large reserves of blood products against impending military operations, and to this end civil and military Blood Transfusion Services are working in close co-operation. More blood donors are, therefore, needed throughout the country to provide the necessary margin of safety and offers of such help will be welcomed by the Government.

asked the Minister of Health what he has done in response to the request from the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, for greater allocation of rubber operating gloves, in view of the large amount of major surgery undertaken by this institution.

I have very carefully considered the infirmary's request, but regret that I do not see my way to meeting it in existing circumstances. Heavy demands are likely to be made for surgeons' gloves during the coming months, and the existing supplies, which are, of course, scarce, must be conserved to the utmost possible extent.

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases of scurvy in the United Kingdom; and how this compares with April, 1943, 1942, 1941 and 1939, respectively.

Scurvy is not a notifiable disease, and accurate statistics of its incidence are not available. I regret, therefore, that I cannot give the figures asked for by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health if he can now give particulars of the recommendations of the Advisory Committees with regard to rent for the purposes of the new supplementary pensions regulations.

The following statement shows the recommendations of Advisory Committees regarding the amounts up to which in the respective areas and in the classes of cases mentioned allowances for rent shall be regarded as reasonable for the purpose of the Supplementary Pensions Regulations dated 16th December, 1943, and the Unemployment Assistance Regulations dated 21st December, 1943. The recommendations have been accepted by the Assistance Board and effect has been or will be given to them on the basis that if the household consists of more than two adults or one adult and two children larger amounts may be allowed and if in any case the actual rent exceeds the amount specified the case will be considered on its merits and a further addition will be made, if such is necessary in order to avoid hardship. Complete statistics are not available but it is estimated from a sample inquiry that under these arrangements the full amount of the actual rent will be provided for in over 90 per cent, of all cases.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make the register of conscientious objectors available for inspection by the public.

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether, when framing legislation to empower local authorities to purchase land at the 1939 value, he will undertake to give effect to the consideration that since 1939 the purchasing power of the pound sterling has depreciated, the cost of living has proportionately risen and that landowners must have a reserve of capital to recondition farms and cottages after the war.

In determining the application of the 1939 ceiling all relevant considerations will be borne in mind. I would ask my hon. Friend to await the Bill which will shortly be introduced.

asked the Minister of Pensions the sources and amounts of income taken into consideration in determining awards of allowances to disabled ex-Service men undergoing treatment of their war disabilities.

The principle underlying the grant of treatment allowances is to compensate a man for the loss of wages sustained through the necessity for treatment and, therefore, if he continues to receive wages, or receives sick pay or similar benefit, these payments, with the exception of National Health Insurance benefit, are taken into account in assessing his treatment allowances.

asked the Minister of Pensions the steps taken to implement his promise that his Department would go carefully into the 25,000 cases of 100 per cent. disablement and their eligibility for the new unemployable supplementary allowances.

As a result of the wide publicity given to this new provision my Department has received 9,000 applications, of which some 4,850 have been successful and 730 have not yet been settled. Fresh applications are continuing to reach my Department, which goes most carefully into every case.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what reduction in output is represented by the current strikes in the mines.

The estimated tonnage lost through disputes in the coal mining industry has averaged 385,000 tons per week during the last four weeks.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of the Tong distance from home to which young men conscripted by ballot for work in the mines are sent, whether he will arrange for a quarterly period of leave to be counterbalanced, if necessary, by an adjustment of weekly working hours; and if he will consult the miners' associations respecting this.

No, Sir. The many thousands of workers who have already been transferred away from their homes to work of national importance in other industries are not granted a special quarterly period of leave. There can be no reasons for according more favourable treatment to young men selected by ballot for work in the mines who, in common with other war workers transferred to

Department.	1939–40.	1940–41.	1941–42.	1942–43.	1943–44.
	£	£	£	£	£
War Office	7,838	7,898	130,063	72,736	4,488
Admiralty	21,832	6,085	20,090	21,910	4,836
Air Ministry	65,900	77,750	329,122	171,728	4,601
Ministry of Food	58,145	361,925	518,106	529,517	521,586
Ministry of Agriculture (and Department of Agriculture for Scotland)	21,630	62,762	110,408	151,154	194,232
Ministry of Health (and Department of Health for Scotland)	15,312	19,793	4,987	46,370	119,786
India Office	2,936	686	1,016	718	194
Board of Trade	699	2,810	54,668	91,517	99,318
Post Office	5,024	14,964	5,846	14,991	24,839
Home Office	101	88	447	234	148
Ministry of Fuel and Power	—	24,000	44,000	263,000	218,420
Ministry of Works	1,826	2,707	37,278	4,066	129
Ministry of Information	—	99,124	11,315	17,470	12,849
Ministry of Home Security	—	53,000	38,000	—	—
Inland Revenue	—	—	—	—	5,000
Ministry of Labour and National Service	10,681	25,422	149,385	22,338	142,830
Ministry of Supply	199	40,379	290	71,069	45,038
Ministry of War Transport	29,000	38,000	82,000	20,000	23,000
National Savings Committee	124,846	486,507	502,786	558,238	535,351
Scottish Savings Committee	10,527	24,594	29,252	27,628	27,467
Stationery Office	786	305	3,723	93	76
Totals	377,282	1,348,799	2,072,782	2,084,777	1,984,188

For the purpose of this statement the allied or agency services performed by the Ministry of Information and the Stationery Office have been allocated to the various Departments on whose behalf the services have been performed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the amounts spent on newspaper advertisements during each year of the war by the different Government Departments which make regular use of such advertisements.

Following are the particulars: the figures are necessarily approximate in some cases.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what steps are being taken to prevent the theft of parcels upon the railways.

My hon. Friend will appreciate that the railways are carrying an exceptionally heavy volume of traffic at the present time; that the war-time shortage of particular commodities provides a greater inducement to theft; and that the blackout and the shortage of railway staff render supervision of railway platforms and other places where parcels are handled much more difficult than in peace-time. Nevertheless, the railways are doing everything in their power to prevent the theft of parcels. In 1943 they prosecuted no less than 6,690 persons for theft.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what laws have been passed respecting the vaccination of the inhabitants of Gibraltar; whether these have been approved by the Home Government; and whether the right of objectors to vaccination to refuse the operation has been respected in Gibraltar as it is in this country.

No recent legislation has been brought into force regarding vaccination in Gibraltar apart from Regulations made by the Governor on the 9th March dealing with precautions against smallpox in the case of persons entering or leaving Gibraltar. No compulsion was applied in connection with the recent campaign for vaccinating the population of the Colony, who co-operated fully with the authorities. The Governor informs me that cases of conscientious objection were fully respected during the campaign, and provision is made for them in the Regulations referred to above.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that fire guards frequently have occasion to work in wet and muddy conditions, both during air raids and in the course of their exercises, a free issue of a uniform or, alternatively, overalls can be made to them.

Supply considerations preclude the further issue of uniforms, but local authorities are authorised to loan overalls to fireguards undergoing training. Protective clothing has also been made available for members of street fire parties who man power-driven pumps and for those who go out as reinforcements from reserve centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Allied Governments or Allied Command in the Mediterranean have any direct contacts with the Croat Peasant Party or its leaders, who represent the great mass of the Croat nation; and whether the Allied authorities are pursuing a policy of promoting co-operation between Dr. Matcek's Croat Peasant Party and the liberation forces under Marshal Tito with a view to establishing united action between them.

His Majesty's Government have at present no direct contacts with the Croat Peasant Party. They would certainly welcome co-operation between the Party and the liberation forces under Marshal Tito, but they regard this as necessarily a matter for the two parties to arrange between themselves.

asked the Minister of Labour if, when preparing his demobilisation proposals, he will give consideration to the claims of those members of the Forces who joined voluntarily prior to the declaration of war for a period of six years and whose contract will have expired at the end of the war.

Yes, Sir. Due consideration will be given to the position of the men referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has considered the representations regarding the lack of equipment needed for the training of those directed to the Creswell Training Centre; what action he has taken to give satisfaction to those responsible for giving the instruction; is he aware that there are daily parades in formation up and down the streets by these trainees; and will he take action to stop this exhibition of unwilling entrants to the mining industry.

There has been some difficulty, owing to shortage of supplies, in providing all equipment required at the Creswell Centre. The standard training equipment supplied to other Centres has, however, now been provided. The only parades of trainees of which I am aware are those connected with physical training instruction. These take place daily, and are under the control of an instructor.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will state the firms now engaged on the manufacture of penicillin; whether any, and which, firms are engaged substantially wholly thereon; whether any licence is necessary for such manufacture; and whether any, and how many, licences have been refused.

No licence is necessary for the manufacture of penicillin. I am in communication with the hon., gallant and learned Member about the other parts of the Question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will publish in HANSARD a statement showing the progress made in implementing those recommendations of the Oliver Committee on Military Prisons and Detention Barracks which concern the Navy.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on 15th December in reply to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Glenvil Hall). The necessary action has been taken, on the lines indicated in my statement, to implement those recommendations of the Oliver Committee which concern the Navy except for the question of education, but a good deal has been done about this, and further steps are under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will publish a comparative table showing the rates of pay of naval gunners serving aboard merchant ships and of merchant seamen, respectively.

Owing to the naval system of marriage allowance, it is only possible to make a comparison by taking examples. The following figures show the weekly emoluments of a naval rating (acting able seaman, acting seaman gunner) serving aboard a merchant ship and of a merchant seaman of the same grading. The latter is approximate as his pay is assessed at a monthly rate.

Single Man
Naval Rating:		£	s.	d.
Substantive pay	…	1	1	0
Non-substantive pay	…		1	9
War increase	…		7	0
Kit upkeep allowance	…		3	5
Grog money	…		1	9
D.E.M.S. allowance	…		3	6
		£1	18	5
Income Tax liability, nil.
Merchant Seaman:		£	s.	d.
Pay	…	3	5	4
War risk money	…	2	6	8
		5	12	0
Income Tax liability	…	1	4	0
		£4	8	0

Married Man with One Child
Naval Rating:		£	s.	d.
Substantive pay	…	1	1	0
Non-substantive pay	…		1	9
War increase	…		7	0
Kit upkeep allowance	…		3	5
Grog money	…		1	9
D.E.M.S. allowance	…		3	6
Wife's allowance	…		18	0
Child's allowance	…		9	6
Contribution to allotment	…		3	6
		£3	9	5
Income Tax liability, nil.
Merchant Seaman:		£	s.	d.
Pay	…	3	5	4
War risk money	…	2	6	8
		£5	12	0
Income Tax liability	…		8	2
		£5	3	10

(1) The post-war credit accumulated for the naval rating is not taken into account.(2) The merchant seaman receives overtime pay as and when earned.(3) The merchant seaman provides his own clothes and their upkeep. He has to meet National Insurance contribution and trades union subscription.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many rural parishes, being civil parishes within administrative county districts in England and Wales, are wthout a public supply of electricity; and in what counties are such parishes located.

I regret that the information is not available. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 25th January to the hon. Member for Birmingham, West (Mr. Higgs).

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will, in view of the present difficulties of railway travel, provide a modicum of petrol for Service men on embarkation leave wishing to pay farewell visits by motor-car to relatives and friends.

No, Sir. I have consulted the Service Departments, and share their opinion that the present is not an opportune moment for granting additional allowances of leave-petrol to members of the Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any information about the widespread resistance to Nazi occupation of their country amongst the workers in Northern Italy.

The House will understand my anxiety to avoid saying anything which might prejudice the future activities of our friends in German-occupied Italy. Enemy reports published in this country have admitted that strikes have taken place recently in Northern Italy. I do not propose to enlarge upon the facts stated in these reports, except to say that they probably minimise the extent and duration of these strikes. The latter are regarded by His Majesty's Government as a most encouraging sign of increasing unity, organisation and determination among the patriot elements in their resistance to the Germans and their Republican-Fascist accomplices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has taken any recent steps to get watch committees to appoint women police during the war emergency; and what action he has taken to see that suitable women are made available.

Yes, Sir, I have recently called the attention of all police authorities and chief constables, both in boroughs and counties, to the need for policewomen in those parts of the country where large numbers of troops are concentrated; and I have asked them to give urgent consideration to the question of employing policewomen, or of adding to the number already employed. As I have explained previously, it is not easy at this stage of the war to find suitable women for these appointments, but I am glad to say that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air has been good enough to assist by calling for a limited number of volunteers from the W.A.A.F., and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service has also undertaken to continue to give me all possible assistance. I hope that by these means it may be possible to provide policewomen at any rate in the districts where their services are most urgently needed. At the same time I must point out that the appointment of additional women police will not by itself solve the problem. We must in the main rely upon the influence of parents, teachers and ministers of religion, together with a sound public opinion, if we are to deal successfully with the social mischiefs created by the war emergency. I have no doubt that all these agencies will co-operate to the best of their ability.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state the amount of capital assistance given by the Government during the war to the shipbuilding industry in connection with general shipyard modernisation and development, including the extension of welding.

Since the larger part of this assistance has been given towards the cost of schemes initiated since late 1942, and since such schemes are still subject to modification and addition precise final figures cannot yet be given. However, the best estimate that can be made is that the capital assistance given by the Government totals some £6,500,000. The total estimated cost of the schemes towards which this assistance has been given is £9,000,000. In welding schemes the cost has generally been shared equally between the Government and the industry, but in the general development schemes the Government have contributed a larger proportion, and in some cases have paid the full cost and retained interest in the assets provided. These figures cover assisted schemes in shipyards and at the works of marine-engine makers. They do not cover assisted schemes specifically for the provision of facilities for boatbuilding and repairing where, towards a total expenditure of £900,000, the Government have given assistance estimated at £800,000.

asked the Minister of Health whether Sir Arthur MacNalty is being supplied with full statistics of the diseases which have occurred and are occuring in all the hospitals in every war area for the compilation of the medical history of the war.

Sir Arthur MacNalty, who is Editor-in-Chief of the Official Medical History of the War, informs me that selected hospitals are co-operating fully in an investigation which is proceeding concerning any changes in types of disease that may be occurring during the war as compared with a typical peace year, and that the Service Departments are obtaining medical data relative to the campaigns in all theatres of war. Statistics concerning infectious diseases are being furnished by the Registrar-General.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will reconsider the reduction in the cheese ration to civilians, in view of the fact that in the paucity of other foods it is a staple article of daily diet.

The amount of the cheese ration was cut from 3 oz. to 2 oz a week because there is not enough cheese in store or in prospect to meet the former ration over the remainder of the year. In these circumstances I am unable at present to cancel the reduction, but my hon. Friend will realise that the extra four points a month which have been provided contemporaneously are calculated to enable a consumer to make up any deficiency in protein intake due to the reduction in the cheese ration.

asked the Minister of Food if the increased ration of cheese to agricultural workers can be extended to the small working farmer.

The special cheese ration is granted to certain categories of employees for whom it is impossible to provide canteen or' other catering facilities. I regret that I cannot extend this concession to the working farmer whose home is in nearly every case situate where his work is.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in order that realistic evidence may be submitted to the Royal Commission on Population, he will arrange for any new and essential statistical information on fertility prepared by the Statistical Committee of the Commission to be made available to interested bodies and individuals desirous of contributing evidence.

I have communicated with my Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor, who is Chairman of the Royal Commission, on the subject of my hon. Friend's Question. It is not possible at this stage to say what new statistical information may be forthcoming from the Statistics Committee, but my hon. Friend can be assured that every possible assistance will be given to interested bodies and individuals who may be asked to submit evidence to the Royal Commission.