asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that there is pollution of the River Thames; and what steps are being taken to deal with it.

I am aware of the difficulty of maintaining the standard of effluents discharged to the Thames, and that the effect of pollution is accentuated by the low flow of the river. As the Thames Conservators recognise, little new work can be done during the war, since there are many competing claims for labour and materials, but certain more urgent works have been carried out. A number of authorities have also had difficulties in obtaining labour for maintenance, and in some of these cases the District Man Power Boards have been able to assist.

asked the Minister of Health if he can see his way to alter the terms of the grant to local authorities for the rehabilitation of tuberculosis patients so as to obviate the unfortunate results of its discontinuance when the patient is found incapable of restoration to full remunerative work.

The scheme for reimbursing local authorities' expenditure in making allowances to tuberculosis patients, to which I assume my hon. Friend refers, provides for the continuance of allowances during the period of restoration to capacity for suitable work after successful remedial treatment.

asked the Minister of Health whether any reliable information exists to show that aerial transport is causing or can cause the diffusion of disease by transporting maladies from one country to another.

I am not aware that air transport is at present causing diffusion of disease. The risk that infectious disease can be thus conveyed from one country to another is, of course, recognised, and is the subject of an international sanitary convention regarding aerial navigation which provides for safeguards. I would add that every precaution is being taken against the incursion of epidemic disease into this country by this means.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of his appeal to chemists to recommend parents to have their children immunised against diphtheria, to what extent this disease is increasingly prevalent; and whether such increase is especially noticeable in any particular areas.

The incidence of diphtheria is decreasing. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Huntingdonshire (Dr. Peters) on 14th June last.

asked the Minister of Health, why he is insisting under the group schemes that only one tender, covering the whole work of preparing sites for houses, shall be allowed; and, as this favours the large contractor to the detriment of the smaller one, will be permit contracts, either for the whole or part of the work, to be placed by the authorities concerned.

The object of grouping is to produce a contract of sufficient size to allow the application of economical and labour-saving methods. Economy in labour is especially important in present circumstances. This object would be defeated if groups were split up into smaller contracts. The tenders recently obtained by one large group will, I believe, be found to justify the Government's view as to the economy of this method in present circumstances.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is satisfied that the prices fixed this year for loganberries, cultivated blackberries and raspberries, in England and Wales, are remunerative to growers; and if he has had any consultations with the various growing interests before such prices were decided upon.

I have been asked to reply. The answer to both parts of the Question is "Yes, Sir."

asked the Minister of Food whether, since the Milk Marketing Board has been given control of milk haulage from farms to points of first delivery and as it pays the Board to extend hauliers' rounds to capacity, he is satisfied that due consideration is paid to the effect of such control on the dairy industry, firstly through having plant and staff standing idle during a hiatus of intake and secondly through having to deal with untreated milk which has suffered through delay in reaching its first processing point.

I am satisfied that every effort is made in arranging for the haulage of milk to avoid the consequences to which my Noble Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that despite the recently lowered allocation of coal to householders in Scotland, merchants in Fife are receiving less supplies than to allow delivery of one cwt. of coal per week per household, namely, some 50 per cent. less than the maximum amount mentioned in the recent Ministry announcement; and whether, since the bulk of houses in the landward areas of Scotland have neither gas nor electricity, he will consider issuing special licences in such cases for extra supplies of coal and take steps to ensure that in all cases adequate supplies of coal are made available to merchants.

The maximum permitted quantity in every region is intentionally fixed above the average programmed supply in the summer, when some consumers cease to take coal, so that those who have storage space may build up stocks to meet their winter needs. The restrictions in winter are designed to keep off the market those who have laid in stocks so that supplies can be diverted to those unable to stock in summer. I am aware that supplies in Scotland have fallen short of the programme, but it is impracticable to supplement them from other sources, The issue of licences will, therefore, not meet the situation until the supply position improves; in the meantime merchants have been asked to share out their supplies as fairly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British news photographers have so far been accredited to the Normandy front; how many of these have actually left England; how the number of British photographers on this front compares with the number of American photographers; and what steps are being taken to ensure that a satisfactory supply of photographs of British operations in France is made available to the Press of this country, the Empire and Allied countries.

Three British Press photographers and three British newsreel cameramen are accredited for service with the Second British Army. All these are in Normandy. I am informed also that two Press photographers and two newsreel cameramen are accredited for service with the R.A.F. Second Tactical Air Force. Of these one photographer is in Normandy and the remainder are due to leave shortly with the groups to which they are already attached. These are, of course, in addition to the service cameramen, British and Canadian Army, and R.A.F. There are at present 12 United States still "pool" photographers and three United States newsreel cameramen with the Allied Forces in Normandy. The United States Army has in addition an Army Photographic Service.As regards the last part of the Question, during the week ending 11th July the British Army Film and Photographic Service alone sent back 574 still photographs and 15,280 feet of film of British operations in Normandy—an average of 82 still photographs and over 2,200 feet of film a day for world distribution by the Ministry of Information.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet been able to arrange for a postal address for those serving in Normandy to enable them to obtain cigarettes free of duty.

Yes, Sir. The postal address of these troops will be "British Liberation Army."

asked the Secretary of State for War, in view of the confusion and frequent distress caused by the present regulations governing entry into protected coastal areas, he will consider amending the system so that any person wishing to enter such area shall make personal application for permission beforehand and be granted or refused a permit by the military or civil authorities.

I regret that owing to the shortage of man-power it is impossible either for the civil or the military authorities to undertake the issue of individual permits to enter the protected areas.

asked the Secretary of State for India in what proportion the cost of the war against Japan is borne by the Imperial and Indian Exchequers, respectively.

The incidence of military defence expenditure between His Majesty's Government and the Government of India during the war, including the war against Japan, is determined by the agreement announced in the House in February, 1940. In accordance with that agreement the cost of operations that can be regarded as the local defence of India falls on Indian revenues. Expenditure relating to the expulsion of Japanese Forces from Indian territory obviously falls in that category. I am not in a position to translate the effect of this arrangement, in relation to the whole eventual cost of operations against Japan, into any specific proportions as between the British and Indian Exchequers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware of the present conditions of travel in the North-Western areas, particularly at Crewe, Chester and North Wales coast stations; and what provisions he is making to enable officers and men of the Services to secure entrance and egress to and from congested compartments and train corridors.

I am aware that there has been congestion at Crewe, Chester and other stations, and on the trains in the North-Western area. I am informed that this congestion has been largely due to holiday travel. So long as great numbers of people disregard the appeals made and the warnings given by the Government, it will not be practicable to ensure that passengers engaged on urgent business of national importance, whether Servicemen or civilians, will be able to travel on any particular train. I would remind my hon. Friend, however, that arrangements are in force for the reservation at terminal stations of accommodation for duty parties of Servicemen when the numbers are sufficient to fill one compartment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he can state the number of people who travelled to and from Crewe and Chester stations, respectively, during the past week and the proportionate number of trains, excluding purely military trains, daily as compared with pre-war average; and the number of railway employees engaged at these two stations as compared with pre-war.

The number of railway employees on Crewe Station in 1939 was 263; to-day it is 313. On Chester Station the number in 1939 was 172; now it is 176. I regret that the other information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will institute a system of priority permits to those who have to travel on duty or on business or other bona-fide reason; and what provision he is making to enable Members of Parliament from the North-Western areas to reach their constituencies and to attend the House.

I am afraid that, for the reasons which I have explained in answer to previous Questions, it is not practicable to institute a system of priority permits for railway travel. I regret the inconvenience which my hon. Friend and other hon. Members have suffered. When, however, they are travelling between their constituencies and the House they can obtain sleeping berths on certain night trains and can reserve seats both at night and during the day from terminal stations on certain specified trains on which accommodation is reserved for priority passengers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport if he is aware of the conditions in which the women employed on railway sidings have to work and particularly the bad washing and lavatory conditions at the sidings at Stratford, in the borough of West Ham; and, as these sidings are not covered by the Factories Act of 1937, what action he intends taking about the matter.

Seventy-five women are employed in Stratford sidings, but not more than fifty of them are on duty at any one time. There are six wash basins with hot water and two lavatories. Instructions were recently given for six additional wash basins and one additional lavatory to be installed, and the work will be carried out as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of Kesselring's threat to General Alexander that there will be savage reprisals on Italians who help the Allies, he will ensure that so far as possible the names of all German officers guilty of such deeds will be obtained and kept for future action when the war ends.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that there are still in Germany Toc H workers who were taken prisoner in the early days of the war; and whether he will make every effort through the Protecting Power to have them treated as protected personnel and to get them repatriated.

I am aware of the fact that there are some Toc H workers who have been in German hands since 1940. The question as to whether they qualified as protected personnel under the Geneva Convention was very carefully examined soon after their capture and again at a later date, but it was found impossible to claim that status for them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a senior official at Walton Gaol, Liverpool, is conducting a tobacco business involving the sale of cigarettes to subordinate officers; and if he has sanctioned this activity.

The facts of this matter are that a senior officer at Walton Prison, with the knowledge of the Governor, has been obtaining cigarettes and tobacco for a small number of the staff from his tobacconist at the ordinary retail prices. There is no question of the officer carrying on a business or making any profits out of the transactions, which were undertaken solely for the convenience of the staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make any statement as to the future association of the Seychelles with any adjacent part of the Empire so as to ensure better economic and social development.

No, Sir, but the policy of the Government of Seychelles is directed towards economic and social development, and if for particular purposes some practical and satisfactory associations can be planned with any neighbouring territories which will assist such development, I shall give all assistance in my power.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he can give figures showing the total number of owners of land in Great Britain and the numbers owning less than five acres, 10 acres, 100 acres, 1,000 acres, etc., respectively.

No, Sir. These figures are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he anticipates that he will be able to make a statement on the measures to be adopted to assist the resettlement of ex-Servicemen; and whether it can be expedited so as to enable all those affected to understand their position and to make arrangements for their future.

I regret that I am unable at present to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Balham and Tooting (Mr. Doland) on 27th June last.

asked the Minister of Health what revisions of the areas and boundaries of local authorities have been carried out under Clause 46 of the Local Government Act of 1929.

As a result of the county review carried out under the Local Government Act, 1929, 206 urban districts and 236 rural districts were abolished, while 49 urban districts and 67 rural districts were created—a net diminution of 157 urban districts and 169 rural districts. Adjustments of the boundaries of the majority of county districts were also affected. The principal alterations made are summarised in the Annual Reports of the Ministry of Health for the years 1930–31 to 1938–39. A general appreciation of the review will be found on pages 154–157 of the Annual Report for the year 1936–37.

asked the Minister of Health how many people are in receipt of pensions in respect of injury sustained during the 1914–18 war; and whether he will consider increasing such pensions of these people in order to bring them up to the same rates as those now obtaining in respect of people injured in air-raids in this war.

Of the ex gratia awards in respect of personal injuries caused by air raids in the last war 33 are still being paid in the form of pensions. I cannot undertake to reconsider the amounts of these pensions at the present date.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that girls under 18 years of age, employed by manufacturers of surgical goods, are engaged in handling and packing contraceptives; and whether, in view of the undesirable nature of such employment for young girls, he will arrange with the Board of Education, or with other authorities concerned, that firms engaged in manufacturing surgical requisites should not be permitted to engage young girls through the employment exchanges or the juvenile employment bureaux.

Employment exchanges and juvenile employment bureaux do not submit girls under 18 for vacancies of the kind referred to.

asked the Minister of Labour whether in view of the repair work arising from flying bomb attacks, he will review, as a matter of urgency, the present shortage of labour available to local builders in the parts of the country affected.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Acton (Captain Longhurst) on 5th July last.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Ministry is evolving any post-war policy with regard to the stimulation of intensive horticulture.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave my hon. and gallant Friend on 25th April last.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he will give the names and business connections of the Export Trade Consultative Committee; state their terms of reference; and when they are expected to report.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the names of the persons appointed to the consultative committee of business men with special knowledge of export trade.

The purpose of the Committee, which has no formal terms of reference, is to review with the senior officials of the Department its practice and procedure in order to improve the services available to exporters. It will meet frequently and will complete its work as soon as possible. Two meetings have now taken place.The following are the names of the Committee:

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will take steps to restore the air-mail to our prisoners of war in Germany, especially in view of the propaganda in that country regarding events in England.

I am glad to say that this service has now been restored.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the partial breakdown of the delivery of telegrams and messages owing to the shortage of boys, he can arrange with older men, of whom there are an ample number, to take over this work.

There is no evidence of a partial breakdown of the delivery of telegrams, as suggested by my hon. Friend, although at individual offices there has recently been some unavoidable delay in delivery. The need for handing over this work to older men does not therefore arise.