asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of retail business premises, in the following categories, which have been opened since the outbreak, of war; branches of multiple stores, branches of co-operative societies and shops of all other types, respectively.

Between 1st January, 1942, when the Location of Retail Businesses Order came into force, and 31st December, 1943, 4,848 licences were granted for the opening of new retail businesses. Of these, 165 were granted to branches of multiple stores; 59 to branches of cooperative societies; and 4,624 to other traders.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, bearing in mind the necessity for making replacements of furnishing fabrics and the need for providing such materials for the new houses built under the Government's two year programme, and having regard to the acute shortage of curtains, window nets and upholstery fabrics, he will now release yarn to enable production of these materials to be resumed.

Yarn is already being released for upholstery fabrics for utility furniture. For some time past, those entitled to utility furniture have also been able to apply for permits for curtain material. But the stocks are running down and I am, therefore, arranging for some new production, to be sold under the same conditions.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his reply, may I ask whether, in view of the great importance of the subject, he is prepared to discuss this further with me?

Yes, Sir, I shall be glad to have a talk with my hon. and gallant Friend about it.

Will the new fabrics be equitably distributed, particular regard being had to those areas where there is very great need for them?

They are to be distributed strictly along with utility furniture; they will follow the distribution of utility furniture which, of course, goes to certan priority classes, as my hon. Friend knows.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that many of the so-called safety boots now being sold are made of shoddy material and that this is causing grave dissatisfaction amongst workers in the heavy industries; and if he will remedy this.

No, Sir. But if my hon. Friend will let me have some definite evidence, I shall be glad to have inquiries made.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some of these boots, which are normally supposed to last for 12 months, do not last for that number of weeks, and an impression is being created that there is a racket in these boots, as they are the shoddiest possible material?

I made a Regulation last November, of which I have told the House, that every boot manufacturer has to stamp his mark upon the boots he makes and we can, therefore, trace any shoddy footwear to the maker, and further measures could be taken if necessary. lf, therefore, my hon. Friend will produce to me evidence, in the form if he likes, of some samples of these boots he speaks about, I will go into it.

I shall be delighted to do so.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the leather and shoe industries will resent these accusations that are being put forward?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make an allocation of clothing coupons to hospital nurses for the renewal of uniforms.

Hospital nurses are entitled to an initial outfit of uniform worth 94 coupons, and to annual replacements thereafter worth 28 coupons. In return, they are required to give up six coupons a year out of their basic ration. This, as my hon. Friend will recognise, is equivalent to a substantial allocation of clothing coupons.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, because of the need for absolute cleanliness, nurses have to keep considerable stocks in reserve, and, in addition to uniform, have to wear black stockings and shoes, which are, normally, not regarded as suitable for outside wear; and, in view of the arduous nature and the value of their work, will he look into the question again?

I am anxious to do all I can to help the nurses. With regard to stockings, if my hon. Friend will put down a question to me in a fortnight's time, I may be able to add something. I am looking into this particular matter carefully, but I do not think that, even now, nurses are ungenerously treated.

Will my right hon. Friend consider the allocation of further coupons to Cabinet Ministers, some of whom are looking rather shabby nowadays?

I always try to set a good example.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give an assurance that adequate scope and opportunity is afforded to all serving officers with specialised knowledge and that unorthodoxy and initiative do not preclude the employment of officers from appointment to higher command.

I gladly give my hon. Friend the assurance for which he asks.

Can my right hon. Friend tell me whether there was not some considerable delay in recognising the brilliant technique of the late General Wingate? Is it not vitally necessary to give the fullest possible scope and opportunity to young serving officers? How many generals under 40 are there to-day?

The hon. Member had better put down a Question.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many complaints he has received as to the lewd nature of many of the turns provided in the E.N.S.A. shows for the troops.

In the last six months, during which period some thousands of shows have been given by E.N.S.A., 21 such complaints have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can give any information in connection with the accident when a three-ton Army lorry carrying troops overturned on a hill at Ipswich; and how many Service men were injured.

Three people were killed in this accident, of whom two were civilians, and fifteen were injured, of whom one was a civilian. The inquest has been adjourned until 27th April and I cannot therefore add to the accounts of the accident which have appeared in the newspapers.

May I take it for granted that the soldiers concerned are receiving free medical attention?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the complaints of officers and other ranks that personal items of kit are missing from kit bags despatched from the base stores in Cairo to this country; and if he will investigate the cause.

Yes, Sir, I am aware that there have been some complaints and I hope that the arrangements now being made in Egypt to improve the packing, stowing and guarding of articles despatched to this country will have a good effect.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that men who took part in the battle of E1 Alamein, and who left their kit at Cairo, now find that a good deal of it is missing? Is it right that they should have to make this good out of their pay? Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is the intention of his Department to make some allowance?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put down that Question. As far as my recollection goes—I am speaking from memory—there are regulations covering such cases.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into it?

asked the Secretary of State for War why special pay, such as engineering pay, signal pay or corps pay is paid to all officers up to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the R.E., R.C.S. and the R.A.S.C., but is not payable to officers of the corps of R.E.M.E.; and, in view of the fact that officers of that corps require to have technical qualifications of the highest order, whether he will consider putting them on the same footing as officers of the R.E.

Fully qualified R.E.M.E. officers draw consolidated rates of pay which include an element of corps pay. These rates are higher than R.E. rates, including the higher rate of corps pay, for lieutenants and captains, the same as R.E. rates for majors and lower than R.E. rates for lieutenant-colonels.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that English soldiers stationed in Scotland are paid in Scottish banknotes and that on returning to England they lose 1s. on exchanging each £1 note; and what steps has he taken to rectify this.

Since June of last year the banks in this country have accepted Scottish bank notes from the public generally at par. There is, therefore, no justification for the deduction made in the case the hon. Member has in mind. Instructions have, moreover, been in force for some time that whenever a soldier is going on leave outside Scotland payment for the leave period is to be made in Bank of England notes.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that, in fact, has not been observed?

I dare say it is always possible to find the exception which proves the rule, but the general practice is as I have described.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the hardships caused by the regulation that the wife of a soldier who is an absentee or a deserter, or is sentenced to detention, automatically loses her family allowance and her war service grant; and what steps he proposes to take to remove these hardships.

Family allowance and the qualifying allotment from the man's pay remain in issue throughout the period he is undergoing detention unless he is discharged or transferred to the Reserve. Any voluntary allotment remains in issue in addition for the first 28 days and then ceases. The allowance ceases to be paid when a soldier has been absent without leave for more than seven days and in this connexion I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stratford on 24th June last.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the offences for which corporal punishment may be administered to West African troops are similar in other colonial regiments; and if he has, or will secure, any record of such punishments respecting their nature and frequency.

The only Colonial Forces which have provision for corporal punishment are those in West and East Africa. The nature of the offences for which East African troops are liable to corporal punishment is similar to that in the West African Forces.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say why there is this discrimination between West and East African troops on the one hand, and other Colonial troops? Could he also say when this barbarous and sadistic punishment arose?

The hon. Member must be aware that the War Office has merely taken over these Forces since the outbreak of war, and took over with them the disciplinary codes, which are matters of Colonial legislation. If the hon. Member wants any information on both the matters he has now raised, he had better address a question to the Colonial Secretary.

Surely the right hon. Gentleman realises that he, as Secretary of State for War, has a great deal to do with this matter? Can he not himself consult the Colonial Secretary on what I have described as sadistic punishment?

I have naturally consulted the Colonial Secretary. What I said was that when the War Office take over Forces in time of war, it takes over their disciplinary codes with them, and their disciplinary codes are matters for Colonial legislation.

Why does not the right hon. Gentleman alter the codes himself?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that His Majesty's Stationery Office poster No. 51–4512 is resented by many members of the Home Guard; and will he endeavour to prevent any further copies from being issued.

The poster was issued originally in response to a request from a Home Guard source, but, in view of the difference of opinion about it, instructions were sent out on 6th April that no further copies of it should be issued.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied, generally speaking, that the attendance of the Home Guard at parades is satisfactory?

Generally speaking, yes. There are of course exceptions.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many men of good standing in the Home Guard approved of the poster?

asked the Secretary of State far War whether he is aware that the German and Allied, including British, soldiers joined in the same religious service on the Garigliano front on Easter Sunday; that Protestant and Catholic services were broadcast to German troops who, within sight of the field altar, held their fire; whether this was done with the consent beforehand of the officer commanding; and whether religious services on these lines at any time violate King's Regulations.

I have no information about this.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen a report sent by Reuters correspondent dated "With the Fifth Army on April 9th," and is he aware that the report of this service appeared in the most reputable newspapers in this country?

The Fifth Army, as my hon. Friend may remember, is under American Command.

In view of the fact that British soldiers were involved in this service, will the right hon. Gentleman inquire whether the report is true or not?

I will certainly see if I can get any information, but I am bound to say that there are many other more urgent messages passing to that theatre of war.

Can we take it from the right hon. Gentleman's reply that no steps will be taken to interfere with this method of holding united services?

The hon. Member can understand nothing of the sort.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he will arrange for the Indian General Service Medal to be awarded to troops who have served in the North-West Frontier Province during the present war.

The award of the Indian General Service Medal was suspended on 1st January, 1940, and it has been decided to award the 1939–43 Star to those who have taken part in the campaigns on the North-West Frontier since that date.

asked the Secretary of State for War, what is the value from a rental point of view of married quarters occupied in barracks by soldiers' families; and will he give specimens of value of differing accommodation in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The rent of quarters is assessed, when necessary, by the Command Land Agent on the basis of the commercial figure obtaining for such accommodation in the locality at the time. I regret that no such figures are available in the War Office but I will certainly consider the suggestion in the second part of the hon. Member's Question when the figures reach me.

Is it true that there is a reduction of family allowance for soldiers or their wives and families who occupy married quarters?

I am not sure of the details, but there is a set-off consequent on the occupation of married quarters. But it is by no means a question of losing anything.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has yet appointed a Scottish liaison officer to represent Scottish interests in the Board of Trade, Ministry of Pensions, Ministry of War Transport, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Works and Ministry of Food.

Each of the four Scottish Departments for which I am responsible has a liaison staff in London which maintains the necessary contacts with other Government Departments including the United Kingdom Departments to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. In addition senior officers representing the Ministries of Production, Supply, Aircraft Production, Labour and National Service, and Works, and the Admiralty and the Board of Trade attend regularly the meetings of the Scottish Council on Industry, while representatives of other Departments attend when necessary. There is, of course, also the closest contact between the Scottish Office in Edinburgh and the representatives of the various United Kingdom Departments.

While appreciating what my right hon. Friend has said, does he not feel that there is greater scope for more direct representation of Scottish interests through him than through any Government Departments in Whitehall?

I would be glad to discuss this matter with my hon. and gallant Friend, but I think it is more important that senior officers representing the various Departments should be in touch with us in Edinburgh.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that all Scottish interests get the consideration they deserve?

No, Sir, not in every case.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the police in uniform twice visited the home of W. Christie, 6, Birch Street, Glasgow, late one night and demanded from him the sum of over £2 for an alleged debt of his son who had joined the Merchant Navy; that within two hours of his son returning home after his ship had been torpedoed a uniformed constable, for the third time, called and demanded this sum and threatened him with certain penalties; why no account was rendered to Mr. Christie of the sum due; and if he will take steps to have the police stopped from becoming debt collectors and render any account due in writing.

The police officers in question had been seconded for duty with the Warden's Service and were acting as members of that Service on the occasion referred to. I am assured that no threat of penalties was made; that none of the visits was later than 6.30 p.m.: and that the visit to Mr. Christie's son. of whose circumstances the Civil Defence authorities were completely unaware, was made because his father on the occasion of the previous visits refused to discuss the matter. When the circumstances of the son became known the Chief Constable, as chief Civil Defence warden, decided to take no further action. The chief Civil Defence warden has arranged that in similar cases in future the matter will in the first place be taken up in writing and that any necessary visits by Civil Defence officers are not made in police uniform.

Will the Minister say why police officers, who now ought to be doing much more important work than collecting £2, got to know that this boy was home after being torpedoed two hours after his arrival?

I cannot answer that without notice.

But I wrote to the right hon. Gentleman telling him the facts and giving him notice. If these people were supposed to be air-raid wardens can he say why they were able to trace this boy two hours after his return, and were able to demand this money?

I have no recollection of that precise point having been put to me, but previous visits had taken place to the father's home and it was because the father had declined to discuss the matter that the police officers visited the boy.

Is not the Minister aware that the father was acting completely in accordance with his rights? How was it that these people were able to trace the boy in this way if they were not acting as police officers? Since when have police had the right to stand at a person's door any time they like?

These men were not acting at that time as police officers [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh"]. I have said that these men were acting as Civil Defence wardens and were wearing uniform and that instructions have been given that in no future case are they ever to go in uniform in this way.

As this raises a question of principle I will bring the matter up again on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many war pensioners and recipients of other allowances under the Ministry are there in Scotland; and whether there is a Ministry of Pensions Administrative Office situated in Scotland.

I regret that the detailed information desired by the hon. and gallant Member could not be obtained without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour. With regard to the second part of the Question, I have offices at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, if he will give the statistical basis for the claim in the advertisements issued by his Department that the greatest emergency which industry has had to face since Dunkirk is now before it as a result of the critical coal shortage.

My hon. Friend has not quite correctly quoted the advertisements issued by my Department. What these advertisements stated was that the coal shortage is now critical and that this crisis was the greatest emergency that industry has had to face since Dunkirk. The statistical evidence for this statement is based on full figures of the consumption and stock position of every industrial establishment in the country which I keep constantly under review. I regret, however, that it would not be in the public interest to disclose this information.

Has the Minister read the advertisement which says that the cause of the coal shortage is simply due to the fact that the war is now reaching its climax? Is he aware that it threatens efficient and inefficient people with the same penalties—use less coal or go without?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that there are a number of experienced colliers in the Services in this country who are anxious to return to underground work in the mines but, owing to not being able to get a promise of work from the manager of the mine, cannot get their release; and will he give consideration to this matter and see if employment can be found for suitable men.

I am aware that it is not possible to find employment for all the men claiming previous underground experience whom the Service Departments are willing to release. The collieries are not able to engage unlimited numbers of men not qualified to work at the face and it is particularly difficult to place men of this kind who left the industry many years ago or whose previous experience was short. I can assure my hon. Friend that every effort is made by my Regional Controllers to find employment for suitable men. If, as is suggested, men with face experience whom the Service Departments are willing to release have been refused employment at the face, I should be glad to have details.

Is the Minister aware that the present situation is very unsatisfactory? Men write to us saying that they cannot get consent from the colliery manager. Cannot he give power to the Regional Controllers to say whether a man should be employed or not? As to work not being available, this is the first time I have heard this lately in connection with the mines.

I can assure my hon. Friend that my Regional Controllers do not accept the simple statement that there is no room in the mine or anything of that sort, without a careful investigation. If my hon. Friend can bring to me any cases where that has happened I will be glad to look into them.

Is the Minister aware that there is a great deal of delay and frustration in the mining industry because of the lack of organisation of the Ministry's labour department? Will he take steps to see that this work is speeded up and get these men released?

I cannot possibly accept that statement. Indeed, in regard to one particular Service, during the last fortnight over 1,000 men were submitted and they have to be checked. We cannot allow people indiscriminately to leave the Forces. They have to be checked as to whether they were colliers before or not, and all that takes time.

Is the Minister aware that an application for release from the Armed Forces has to be made to the colliery manager who will only apply for those men he wants? For that reason this machinery is breaking down and there are scores of qualified men in the Army who could be released for the mines.

These things have to be checked. It has come to my knowledge in the past that people have put themselves down as having been employed in certain collieries when, in fact, they were not so employed at all.

I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment, because it wants clearing up to the satisfaction of mine workers.

asked the Prime Minister how many men serving in the R.N., the Army and the R.A.F., respectively, have volunteered in recent months for work in the coalmines; how many such applications have been accepted; and how many of the men concerned have now been actually transferred to the industry.

I have been asked to reply. As the reply is rather long and contains a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the damage and destruction caused to lambs by foxes, he will consider exempting from the payment of licence dogs kept by gamekeepers for the sole purpose of destroying foxes and so bring them into line with farmers who keep dogs for use with sheep.

I regret that I am unable to adopt my hon. Friend's proposal.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that great destruction is caused by foxes and that terriers are kept for the purpose of destroying them, just as farmers keep dogs to look after their sheep; and cannot something be done to help in this matter?

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that if there are more dogs in the country there will be fewer sheep?

The facts may be as stated, but the suggested exemption would be exceedingly difficult to administer and would open the door to extensive evasion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what way Government contractors who are paying excess profits tax and whose acumen and efficiency result in lowered costs are permitted to share with the State the financial benefits of their successful efforts.

If my hon. Friend's suggestion is that some special taxation relief should be granted to efficient businesses, I am afraid that that would be quite impracticable. I would point out, however, that the payment of Excess Profits Tax at 100 per cent. is subject to the allowance in due course of the Excess Profits Tax Post-war Credit of 20 per cent. of the tax paid at that rate, while Government contract policy is designed wherever practicable to give higher rates of profit to the more efficient contractors.

Is it not a fact that the acumen and efficiency of many Government contractors enable them to avoid paying Excess Profits Tax?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that up to now no firm has taken into its account as a credit the 20 per cent. to which he refers and that it has been regarded as a free sum of money with which firms can do anything?

A definite assurance has been given.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will in future have recourse to the creation of new money without interest instead of adding to the volume of bank advances to the Treasury as this would be no more inflationary and would cost the country less.

No, Sir.

Will the Chancellor explain why it is preferable in the national interest to create new money with interest rather than create new money without?

My hon. Friend knows very well that I do not accept his monetary theories. He really cannot expect me to argue the matter with him at Question time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied that the absence from the Department of Overseas Trade of its substantive Comptroller General is not acting as a deterrent to the development of a vigorous post-war policy on export trade; and if steps will be taken to return this official to his appropriate post where his experience can be fully utilised in the national interest.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Grantham (Mr. Kendall) on 18th January last, to which I have nothing to add.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are many restrictions on the export of our goods and, as it will require £200,000,000 per annum new exports to get the standard of life we had before the war, will he see—

rose.