asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, with reference to the rehabilitation of disabled persons, he can now state what steps are being taken to provide for the welfare of the war-blinded in the Colonial Empire.

I am greatly obliged to the hon. and gallant Member for the interests which he has taken and for the help which he has given in this important matter.The attention of all Colonial Governments has been drawn to the need for making provision for the welfare of Colonial persons who have been blinded by war service of any kind, and for their treatment on modern lines. With the assistance of St. Dunstan's and the National Institute for the Blind, a memorandum has been prepared which gives suggestions for the organisation of an Institute for the Blind, which might well be organised on a regional basis to provide facilities for blinded persons from adjacent Colonies where differences of language and customs do not stand in the way. Such institutes would, of course, be capable of development to serve long-term civilian needs. An estimate has been given of the staff, blind and other, which would be required for such an institution, and St. Dunstan's have offered to assist Colonial Governments in the supply or training of blind staff. Suggestions have also been given for the training and employment of blind persons having special regard to the less industrialised and mechanised economy of Colonial territories.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds the Deportation (British Subjects) Ordinance, No. 17, of 1944, in the Gold Coast, was passed; whether the Act will expire with the war; and what check exists on the arbitrary use of the Ordinance by the Governor.

This Ordinance was enacted because it was found desirable to provide for reasons of health for the removal to a more suitable climate of any British subjects, other than natives of the Gold Coast, whose detention in the territory under Defence Regulations was necessary. As stated in Section 1, the Ordinance will expire when the Emergency, Powers (Defence) Acts, 1939 and 1940, cease to have effect, that is, at the end of the present emergency. Section 10 of the Ordinance provides that the Governor shall report to the Secretary of State forthwith every deportation order made by him under the Ordinance, and the grounds therefor.

asked the Attorney-General why no explanatory memorandum was attached to the Supreme Court, England, Funds, Order (S.R. & O., No. 724, L.32), having regard to the fact that it relates to two Acts of Parliament and one earlier Statutory Rule and Order and that it involves eight amendments of earlier rules.

Explanatory memoranda have not so far been given with Rules of Court and this was not, I think, the type of Order which was under consideration when the question of these memoranda was discussed. My Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor is, however, considering whether it would not be desirable in proper cases (of which this may be one) to extend the practice to this class of Order.

asked the Minister of Food whether he can state the value of the economy caused by the nationalisation of transport in the collection and distribution of milk.

In regard to the collection of milk, rationalisation schemes at present in force save 433,000 miles of motor haulage and 30,000 gallons of petrol a week. In regard to the distribution of milk the figures are 879,000 miles and 39,000 gallons a week and 6,700 men and 2,150 women released for other work.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction among soft-fruit growers at the prices fixed this season for plums, raspberries and loganberries; and whether he consulted with growers' representatives before fixing those prices.

The answer to the last part of my hon. Friend's Question is "Yes, Sir." I am aware that the maximum prices prescribed are less than the growers' representatives proposed.

asked the Minister of Food if his attention has been drawn to the serious waste of human food, as disclosed at a recent meeting of the Birmingham City Council, when it was reported that nearly 1,000 tons of food was condemned as unfit within 12 months; that of this 597 tons consisted of meat which had to be destroyed because it was tubercular; that frequent representations had been made to the Ministry with no result; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent such waste in the future.

I have no reason to think that food is condemned which could be saved for human consumption. So far as tubercular meat is concerned, the loss occurs through the incidence of disease for which my Department is in no way responsible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state as on the last convenient date the amount of loans made to the Government since the outbreak of war.

The net total of Loans made to the Government from the outbreak of war up to the 30th June, 1944, was £12,010,000,000.

asked the Minister of Supply what uses sawdust is now being put to; and whether the waste in this direction has been met.

Sawdust is being put to a variety of uses, including the following:

(a) for firelighters and briquettes;

(b) for fish, bacon and ham curing;

(c) for butchers' shops, slaughter-houses, markets, etc., for use as an absorbent;

(d) for bedding in stables, cow sheds and kennels;

(e) in metal industries as a cleaning, drying or polishing agent;

(f) for packing material for fragile goods;

(g) for heat and sound insulation;

(h) in the toy industry;

(i) in certain paper mills;

(j) for use as fuel in heating-stoves;

(k) for mixture with cement.

In addition, sawdust ground into "wood flour" is used in various industries in the manufacture of inter alia linoleum, explosives, plastic wood and moulded products; and wood ash from burnt sawdust is a valuable constituent of fertilisers. These outlets are, however, insufficient to absorb the total quantity arising, especially in view of the difficulty of transport, and investigations into the Possibility of finding other economic uses are continuing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether facilities will be given children and young people to take their bicycles with them for the holidays so that they may be actively helpful in harvest work, etc.

In present circumstances my right hon. Friend would not be justified in asking for special facilities of the kind suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend for persons not actually travelling to take up agricultural work. Children and adults proceeding to agricultural camps are encouraged to take their bicycles with them, and the freight charge is refunded or a free voucher is given.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will enrol women cooks through the W.V.S. and other women's organisations to provide hot meals for building labourers directed to London for the repair of bomb-damaged buildings.

Steps have already been taken, in conjunction with the Departments concerned, to provide everything necessary for the feeding and welfare of these men. The W.V.S. have rendered valuable assistance. As, however, this work involves considerable additional staff, I should welcome any assistance.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether reservations on certain specified trains travelling to Chester and North Wales during the day may be made by Members of this House.

Seats are reserved for passengers travelling on urgent business of national importance on certain night trains to Manchester and Liverpool. If there were sufficient demand, I Would consider the transfer of this reserved accommodation to day trains serving Manchester, Liverpool, Stockport and Crewe.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether it is on his instructions that ticket collectors and other railway officials ask travellers, not only their name and address, but what salary they are earning and where they are working, or what business they are managing; and if he will put an end to this practice.

On the railways the London Passenger Transport Board travelling inspectors have for many years been instructed to put to passengers whom they suspect of defrauding the undertaking the questions to which my hon. Friend has drawn attention. I understand that the practice was originally instituted because magistrates frequently asked for this information when the defendant in a prosecution failed to appear in court. After full consideration, I have asked the Board to stop it.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that C. H. Sless, 128, South Portland Street, Glasgow, who was discharged on medical grounds from the R.A.F., has been refused permission to be trained as a wireless operator as his parents were born in Russia; and, as this lad's brother has served as an engineer in the Merchant Navy and been awarded the M.B.E. and the D.S.C., will he reconsider this case.

I am having inquiry made and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production how many copies of the handbook entitled "The Publication of Sheet Metal Details" have been printed; the number issued up to date; to whom they were sent; and why it was necessary to use such a high-quality art paper for this production.

Ten thousand copies have been printed and 7,000 have already been issued. The distribution covers a wide field, including contractors and sub-contractors; certain Government Departments; trade associations and technical journals; and professional institutions and Universities. The handbook was primarily designed for workshop use, involving constant handling. This, coupled with the importance of detail in the illustrations of equipment, etc., necessitated the use of good-quality paper.

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production the total number of Aeronautical Inspection Department employees; and what percentage are living away and receiving subsistence allowance who could be moved back to their homes.

The total number of employees, including industrials, is 16,800. As to the second part of the Question, I am not aware of any such cases. The policy of my Department is only to employ staff away from home on subsistence allowance when their return would impair the Department's efficiency. Individual applications for transfer near home are carefully considered, and, where the arrangement of the work permits, are granted.

asked the Minister of Production if he is taking steps to retain a nucleus of scientific research and experimental industry for aircraft and radiolocation development strategically disposed geographically throughout the British Commonwealth at the end of hostilities for the purposes of defence against aggression and for the development of civil aviation, wireless and television and other peaceful pursuits.

I have been asked to reply. I can assure my hon. Friend that it is the policy of the Government to ensure that there is maintained in this country after the war a strong nucleus of research, development and experimental work, both in Government establishments and industry, and to develop the fullest co-operation with the other members of the Commonwealth in any similar activities which they may decide to maintain. It will, of course, be the purpose of the Government in doing so to seek to make the fullest arrangements for defence against aggression, and also to assist to the utmost the development of the peace time uses of these devices.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the threatening advance of Japan into Northern China, the United Nations are proposing any special measures to deal with this danger.

I have no statement to make on this subject at present, but the situation in China is, of course, followed with the closest attention by the U.S. Government and ourselves and we supply the Chinese Government with every assistance that is in our power.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether, in view of the fact that the Government of the U.S.S.R. put its name to the Atlantic Charter, he will give an assurance that there will be no cession of either Polish or German territory to the U.S.S.R. without the approval of the indigenous population concerned;(2) why an undertaking has been entered into to transfer Koenigsberg to the U.S.S.R. after the defeat of Germany without any reference to this House.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister's statement yesterday in reply to a similar Question, to which I am not prepared to add anything at present.

asked the Minister of Information whether our pilots in Italy are dropping Jeaflets addressed to the civilian population of Italy, especially in the North, advising them to sabotage all German war efforts.

The civilian population of Italy are constantly being advised to take such action as is open to them to impede the German war effort.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any information as to what is now happening in Greece; and to which of the contending factions the Allies are now giving assistance.

I have been asked to reply. I have no statement to make at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the countries, including British Dominions and Colonies, to which permits for export are granted and the commodities for which such permits are granted.

I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend copies of the two Orders dealing with this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to increase the supply of utility furniture to those whose household has suffered from bomb damage.

Yes, Sir. I hope to make an announcement next week about the supply of utility furniture.