asked the Minister of Agriculture whether there are any specific cases of pollution of rivers by war-time factories and what steps are being taken to deal with such instances.

I have been asked to reply. I am aware that there have been cases of pollution of rivers by war-time factories and processes. In general suitable action has been or is being taken to deal with these difficulties, either by the carrying out of works or by connecting the effluents to sewers.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will issue to all medical officers of health a statement showing what condition justifies a diagnosis of smallpox; and what differences should be noted between a case of smallpox and other diseases which it may resemble.

I have already arranged to do so.

asked the Minister of Health how many prosecutions for selling

The amount of total redemptions of Tax Reserve Certificates for each of the 10 quarterly periods to 30th June, 1944, applied to tax payments was as follows:dirty milk or keeping milk by retailers under unwholesome conditions have been instituted during the last twelve months; and by whom.

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that under existing Statutes and Regulations milk, after it has left the producers and the creamery or milk centre, is kept clean and under proper conditions by wholesalers and retailers; and, if not, what steps does he propose to take that will ensure clean milk to the consumer after the new proposals affecting the licensing of dairy herd keepers become effective.

The enforcement of the relevant statutory provisions in relation to wholesale and retail premises, other than dairy farms, will under the proposals at present before Parliament remain (as now) the responsibility of local authorities. I have no reason to doubt that these provisions are adequate to ensure satisfactory conditions in the sale and distribution of milk from such premises.

asked the Minister of Health whether any Regulations are in force to ensure that milk in process of delivery is so kept as not to become affected by sun heat and thus tend to sour; whether milk-bottles and churns have to be protected against rain and dirt containing the cardboard caps, etc.; and whether milk is inspected in retail shops; and why such retailers are not licensed and subject to conditions ensuring cleanliness.

With regard to the first two parts of the Question, there are specific provisions in the Milk and Dairies Order, 1926, requiring every person engaged in the conveyance or distribution of milk to use all practicable precautions for preventing the milk from being unnecessarily exposed to heat and from being contaminated by dirt, dust, rainwater or otherwise. The Order also requires that churns shall be so made as to prevent access to the milk of dirt, dust or rainwater. As regards the third part of the Question, it is the duty of the local authorities to enforce the Order and to make such inspections as they think necessary for that purpose. As regards the last part of the Question, the Order requires all dairies, and dairymen, to be registered by the local authority, and Section 22 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, provides that a local authority, subject to an appeal to a court of law, may refuse or cancel the registration of a person who applies to be or is registered as a retail purveyor of milk if, in their opinion, the public health is, or is likely to be, endangered by any act or default of that person.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to announce the constitution of a Government Committee, as recommended by the Loveday Committee on Veterinary Education, to inquire into the question of unqualified veterinary practice.

The Secretary of State for Scotland and I are appointing a Committee to inquire into the extent and effect of veterinary practice in Great Britain by persons who are not registered veterinary surgeons and to make recommendations as to any measures which may be desirable to limit or regulate such practice, constituted as follows:

• Lieut.-Colonel Sir John Chancellor, G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., D.S.O., (Chairman),
• A. C. Brown, Esq.,
• Sir Daniel Cabot, M.R.C.V.S.,
• J. W. Salter-Chalker, Esq., J.P.,
• Charles Dukes, Esq., C.B.E.,
• Professor James Gray, M.C., M.A., Sc.D., LL.D., F.R.S.,
• C. M. Holmes, Esq.,
• W. F. Holmes, Esq.,
• Robert Hobbs, Esq.,
• W. D. Jackson, Esq.,
• Sir Louis J. Kershaw, K.C.S.I., C.I.E.,
• Lieut.-Colonel P. J. Simpson, D.S.O., F.R.C.V.S., T.D., J.P.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give an assurance that domestic water supplies will be adequately safeguarded in the administration of the Hydro-Electric Development (Scotland) Act.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prescriptions were dispensed under the National Health Insurance Act in Scotland, for the latest convenient period of 12 months; approximately how many individual items this represents; and how many insured persons there were during the same period.

The number of National Health Insurance prescriptions dispensed by Insurance Chemists in Scotland during 1943 was about 3,970,000. I regret that I am unable to say the number of individual items represented. The estimated average number of insured persons in Scotland entitled to medical benefit during the year 1943 was 2,030,000.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that a mixture of whisky and soda is being sold in small bottles at 15s. to American troops, amongst others; and if he proposes to take steps to stop this form of black marketing.

If my hon. Friend will send me particulars of the mixture to which he refers, I will have inquiries made and communicate with him.