asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he has yet reached any decision with regard to the permitted number of houses per acre in reconstructed bombed areas.

No, Sir. The decision on this matter will depend on the circumstances of the particular area.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, due to the change over to motor cars, there are many stables with lofts over them in private ownership which are at present unused and which with proper expenditure could be converted into dwelling flats conforming in all ways to building by-laws; and whether he will arrange that the subsidy for private enterprise in housing will ensure a grant being available in respect of houses resulting from conversion of existing buildings.

I can assure my hon. Friend that the potentialities of conversions of old properties are not being overlooked.

Does the Minister realise that there is a great deal of accommodation of this sort which could be used? Will he give the matter his serious consideration?

Certainly, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health how many dwellings in habitable condition in the County of London have been unoccupied for three months or more up to some recent date for which a return can conveniently be made; whether he will encourage and facilitate the requisition of such dwellings by the Metropolitan borough councils in order to diminish the housing shortage; and whether he will seek additional powers of requisition to deal with such dwellings in cases where the owner or tenant cannot be traced.

Statistics are not available in the form required by my hon. and learned Friend in the first part of the Question. I am informed, however, that unoccupied accommodation in the London area which can be regarded as suitable for the types of persons to be rehoused has already been requisitioned, or is under consideration for requisitioning at the present time. If my hon. and learned Friend is aware of any property which is apparently unused, and he will give me particulars I will have inquiries made. In regard to the third part of the question, I am advised that the existing powers enable the competent authority to requisition in the circumstances envisaged.

Is the Minister aware that a certain number of local authorities have power but cannot proceed with requisitioning, because they cannot find anyone on whom to serve the necessary notices? Will he consult with the Attorney-General to see that that part of the law is altered?

I will look into the question of whether there is any misconception among local authorities, but I think my answer covers that point. I am advised in such cases the competent authority has power to requisition.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the unsatisfactory nature of the law relating to the making up of private streets; and it he will consider the introduction of new legislation on this subject before large-scale development of new housing estates takes place.

At the outbreak of war proposals for amendment of the law in question were under consideration by a Committee under the late Lord Amulree which had been set up by the then Minister of Transport to deal with the law relating to highways generally. That Committee has since been in abeyance, but the point raised in the second part of the Question is being borne in mind.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has decided upon the allocation of houses to Wales in the Government two years' programme; and whether local authorities have been advised to arrange and prepare sites for this purpose.

The same arrangements apply to Wales as to England. Local authorities have been asked to submit short-term housing programmes and are at present engaged in the acquisition and preparation of housing sites.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is yet in a position to make a statement of policy regarding control of prices of houses offered for sale by auction or otherwise.

No, Sir, I am afraid not yet.

The long time taken seems to indicate that this is an intractable problem. If the right hon. and learned Gentleman finds that he is unable to solve it by way of control, will he pass it back to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in order that at least the profit might be taken out of this ramp?

As I have told the hon. Gentleman the matter is being considered. I do not think I should take any further steps until that consideration is complete.

asked the Minister of Health if, with reference to permanent and to temporary housing, he retains full responsibility for planning and construction.

I cannot usefully add to the statement made on 10th December by my noble Friend the Minister of Reconstruction, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

As Members are in ignorance as to what the responsibilities of the Minister of Health now are for housing, can he not reply more explicitly to the simple Question on the Paper?

The question is not as simple as it might appear. A very careful statement was made on l0th December in another place. My hon. Friend can find a full answer to his Question there.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that, the longer the answer, usually the less the information given?

Is it proper to furnish Members of this House with information in another place? Are we not entitled to have it here?

I think a statement made on behalf of the Government in another place can be quoted here. That is the rule.

asked the Minister of Health if, pending receipt of the final Report, he will make available to the House any interim reports already presented to him by the Advisory Councils Sub-Committee on Temporary Houses so that the House may have authoritative advice on this problem before it is required to give a decision on the Housing (Temporary Accommodation) Bill, next week.

Yes, Sir. I will place in the Library copies of the two interim reports submitted by the Sub-Committee on Temporary Construction to the Central Housing Advisory Committee and also a memorandum prepared by the sub-committee on the emergency factory-made house and the permanent housing programme which has not, however, yet been considered by the main committee.

Will those reports be placed in the Library in time to enable us to study them before the Debate on Tuesday, and is the memorandum to which the right hon. and learned Gentleman referred the most recent report of the subcommittee on the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is "Yes." The documents to which the hon. Member referred are all the documents that have been produced by the sub-committee.

In view of the interest in Tuesday's Debate and the importance of the document, the provision of only one copy in the Library is not very adequate. Is there any way in which this valuable document could be made more available to the mass of Members?

I hoped I was being generous to Members in that I am taking a certain liberty, as Chairman of the Central Housing Advisory Committee, in making available a document of one of their sub-committees which they have not yet considered, but I will see that a number of copies are placed in the Library.

asked the Minister of Health what system he proposes to adopt with regard to houses in Suffolk and elsewhere which have been built for workers who now find the rents too high for them to pay.

Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will be good enough to let me know which houses he has in mind.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind that agricultural workers are asked to pay 17s. for a rural cottage? The wage committee asks for an increase of wages and the circle goes on. Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman do something to control rents?

The hon. Member knows the basis on which the extra subsidy was given in respect of these houses. I will look into his suggestion but, where the cottages have cost more than was anticipated, the decision to increase the rent has been that of the local authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place for looting of houses damaged and destroyed by enemy action; how many convictions resulted; and what were the lowest and highest penalties imposed during the years 1942 and 1943 and the latest possible date in 1944.

From July, 1940, when Defence Regulation 38A came into force, to the end of 1943, 4,927 persons, including 1,505 children and young persons had been prosecuted for looting under this Regulation, of whom 3,281, including 1,421 children and young persons, were found guilty. The highest penalties imposed during the years 1942 and 1943 were sentences of seven and five years' penal servitude respectively. I have no information as to the lowest penalties imposed, but I have no doubt that there will have been some cases that were dealt with by fines or by binding over under the Probation of Offenders Act. I regret that no statistics are yet available in respect of 1944, and the figures which I have given are provisional so far as they relate to 1943.

Will my right hon. Friend take into consideration making a strong recommendation to magistrates along the lines suggested yesterday that these cases should go to the assizes; and are not many of these people fifth columnists in this country?

We did give advice not out of harmony with the point my hon. Friend has raised some time ago and magistrates are well aware of it. On the other hand, it is only fair to say that some of this, while thoroughly objectionable, is in the nature of petty pilfering—some of it by children, unfortunately.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the sentence should be imposed on the crime itself, rather than on the value of the things that are stolen?

I am not sure about that. We are now getting to the point where, if I am not careful, I shall be telling the courts precisely how to do their own business. If I try to do that, I am sure that other Members of the House will pull me up.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will use his influence to see that the word "stealing" is substituted for the word "pilfering" or "pilferage," wherever that is possible, having regard to the fact that pilfering is regarded more like a game of cribbage, involving varying degrees of skill?

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that many people who have suffered the loss of their homes are now suffering the loss of everything they possess because of this looting which is going on; and does he also appreciate that it would be much worse were it not for the excellent work done by the Home Guard, who are trying to preserve the people's homes?

I quite agree that the police are doing all they can, but the police are fairly far stretched themselves; and I thoroughly agree that the Home Guard have been most useful on many occasions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the growing resentment of the public against those who pilfer after bombing attacks; and what further action he proposes to take to prevent such offences.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to my hon. Friend the Member for Attercliffe (Mr. Hynd) last Thursday, and to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Hornsey (Captain Gammans), yesterday.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider causing notices to be posted in some parts of the bombed areas warning people against looting? The police, as he says, are far stretched and are not able to deal with the matter adequately. Perhaps, if notices were posted, it might have a deterrent effect.

Is it not true that a great deal of the looting is done the minute the "All clear" sounds, and that people have to sit up all night by their furniture to prevent it from being looted?

I will consider my hon. Friend's point about posters. But may I say this to the House? I do hope that hon. Members will not give an impression that this trouble is greater than it is. It does no good abroad and it causes great anxiety at home. As a matter of fact, it is limited, is definitely less than it was in 1940–41. I want to deal with it all I can, but we are really in danger of giving the impression that this country is more wicked than it is.

Is the right hon. Gentleman really satisfied with the penalties inflicted for this abominable crime?

It is not for me to say whether I am satisfied or not. I have given advice to magistrates. If Parliament wants the Home Secretary to run the courts of law, then Parliament must so enact, otherwise I do not propose to do so.

Is the Home Secretary aware that in one well-administered borough in London they were putting up posters immediately after there had been a bombing incident, and that that has already been done for some time? Perhaps he can tell me whether it has had a good effect?

I will try to guess which borough it is, and find out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now in a position to make a statement on a uniform system of air-raid warnings and visual signals.

I will make a statement on this subject after Questions on Tuesday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the type of home to which Morrison shelters can be issued; and whether all local authorities in the London area make the same conditions of issue.

The indoor table shelter is intended for dwelling houses of not more than three floors (including the basement if any) and is not supplied for larger premises. It is designed for erection on the lowest floor of the house and is a danger if used on any other floor. Local authorities have been informed of the general conditions of issue which leave a certain amount of discretion to them, and I have no reason to think that there is any substantial lack of uniformity on the part of local authorities in the application of the conditions.

Is the Home Secretary aware that there seems to be quite considerable variety in the conditions put forward by local authorities? If I forward them to the Home Secretary, will he be good enough to look into them?

Certainly, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he is now in a position to state whether arrangements have been made to allow night workers to sleep in Public shelters during the day.

I presume my hon. Friend has in mind the deep tube shelters. There are considerable difficulties in arranging for these shelters to be used by night workers in the day time. Owing to the internal domestic arrangements, accommodation for day time use could be provided only at the expense of a reduction in the amount of night time shelter. I am considering whether it would be desirable to make such a reduction, but I cannot reach a final decision until the necessary information is available from all the shelters, the last of which was opened a day or two ago.

Apart from deep shelters, has the right hon. Gentleman any advice he can give to local authorities in regard to this matter? Is he also aware that there are some people now, who have no homes at all, and have to sleep during the day?

I will do my best about that matter. I assumed that my hon. Friend was talking about the deep shelters, but if we get to the other types, I do not know quite how we are to distinguish. The last thing we ought to encourage is a permanent day-and-night population, with people regularly living deep under the ground. If that spirit gets abroad we are defeated.

Are these deep shelters fully occupied at the moment? If there is some space still vacant, could it not be used to allow night workers to sleep there during the day?

The whole of the accommodation has not yet been allocated, though a substantial proportion has, and I am glad that should be so because more people may be bombed out and I do not want to be in the position that I have no margin at all, though sooner or later I may get to that.

My right hon. Friend said that the last of these deep shelters was opened a few days ago; does that mean there are no more?

Presumably, if the last one has been opened there are no more.

My right hon. Friend has misconstrued my question. "The last" may not necessarily mean that they are all opened but that a certain shelter was the last one to be opened. Soon there may be another one opened, and that will then be "the last" one. Are they all open?

There is a series of shelters and there came a time when the last one was opened.

Are there no more?

It follows that they are all open.

Will my right hon. Friend look into the question of shelters in the outlying districts which could accommodate night workers? What is a man to do whose home is blasted, when he is a night worker and has nowhere to sleep?

There is adequate shelter for the whole of the population of Greater London. Of that I am satisfied. If my hon. Friend has any particular problem relating to a certain locality and will let me have particulars, I will have it examined.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is satisfied that arrangements have been made to ensure that sufficient teachers are available for evacuated schoolchildren; that suitable accommodation is provided for those teachers; and that married women teachers over 40 years of age are given the option of remaining in their own district or of being evacuated for teaching purposes.

I am not satisfied that the number of teachers who have so far gone to the reception areas is adequate, and I have sent to local education authorities for evacuation areas an urgent reminder of the importance of securing that the needs are met. I hope that the arrangements now made will ensure sufficient teachers for the evacuated children. Evacuated teachers are entitled to be billeted in the reception areas and it is for the billeting authority to find them suitable accommodation, I am sure local education authorities would not press for the evacuation of a teacher to whom it would cause special hardship to leave home.

Is the Minister aware that there are married women teachers of 50 to 55 who have come back to assist the nation at this time, and who are being pressed, even compelled, to leave home and go to the country?

I think that is a rather gloomy view of the situation. I have perfect confidence in leaving this matter to the administration of the local education authorities, and I think that the plans which are at present under consideration will result in the necessary number of teachers.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements are in existence for conveying from their London homes to their new addresses the luggage of mothers evacuated with children and for meeting the cost of such conveyance; and whether he is satisfied that such arrangements are working well.

A scheme has been made to provide for packages to be collected and forwarded at the cost of the Government evacuation scheme where mothers are unable to make their own arrangements for this purpose. Particulars are being sent to-day to the local authorities, and I believe that the arrangements will meet the need in question satisfactorily.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the establishment of camps to accommodate evacuees either adults, children or both; and whether, where necessary, he will secure tents or tenting from America for this purpose.

Yes, Sir. I am making the fullest possible use of camps and hostels surrendered by the Services and other Departments to accommodate old people and organised parties of children with their own staffs for whom this is the most suitable type of accommodation. We can do better than tented camps for the aged or for mothers and young children.

Does the Minister appreciate that there are many people who would be only too glad to live in a tent for the summer? Could he not make a special effort to secure tentage for this purpose?

No, Sir, I think that for the present we can do better than tented accommodation, for old people and mothers with young children.

asked the Minister of Health, if special facilities for evacuation can be provided, with their families, for men who have been discharged from the Forces on account of shock or other forms of neurosis.

Free travel vouchers and billeting certificates are available for invalids who can arrange to go to relatives or friends in a reception area; and if there is a child or the wife is an expectant mother, the family may accompany them.

Cannot there be a little more elasticity in providing accommodation for these hard cases?

I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that there is a most remarkable degree of elasticity being shown in our arrangements for evacuees.

What happens if people have no friends or relatives in reception areas?

asked the Minister of Health the number of evacuees who have been provided with billets in Wales; whether an effort has been made to acquire hostels and camps and with what results.

Approximately 30,000 evacuees have been provided with billets in Wales. Close contact is being maintained between the Welsh Board of Health and Government Departments who have freely offered vacant accommodation in hostels' and camps. Such accommodation is being made available forthwith for the use of evacuees.

asked the Minister of Health why, if evacuees are billeted at lodging houses they are not also billeted at hotels.

The word "hotel" covers a wide variety of premises, but Defence Regulation 22 permits the service of a billeting notice on the occupier of any premises. This applies equally to the occupier of a boarding house and an hotel.

That is no answer to the Question. Is it not a fact that very few evacuated children are billeted at luxury hotels? Why penalise those who are in a small way of business for the benefit of big business.

I feel sure that local authorities are seeking to billet evacuees in places most suitable for them. I cannot imagine that there will be many circumstances in which a family party would be happily quartered in the premises to which my hon. Friend refers as luxury hotels.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the decision to bring back civil servants to London was governed by the necessity for making room in reception areas for evacuated children; and at what date the decision was reached.

There has been no general decision of this character. On the contrary, there are still very large numbers of evacuated staffs in the provinces. Such limited returns as have been sanctioned during the last two or three years have been necessitated either by operational developments or by reasons connected with the efficiency of the public service. They have not been affected in any way by the question of making room in the reception areas for evacuated children.

Is the Chancellor aware that his answer is completely different from the one given to me last Friday by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, who said that the reason civil servants had been brought back to London prior to the arrival of the flying bomb was in anticipation of making room for evacuated children?

Obviously I shall have to look into that, but I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that the answer I have given is a correct answer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the concrete cylindrical containers, depth and diameter approximately four feet, are for fire-fighting purposes; who is responsible for making them useful seeing some of them have been placed in position for a long time; and whether he is aware that wardens and other C.D. personnel are unaware of the use for which they have been provided.

The containers to which my hon. Friend refers are presumably the small static water tanks provided for the use of fire guards operating wheelbarrow pumps, which are power driven appliances manned by specially trained teams of fire guards. The local authorities to which these appliances have been allocated are responsible for seeing that the static water tanks are maintained ready for immediate use. If my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of any case where this is not so, I will inquire into it.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that within the distance of a short walk I found 12 of these containers with no water in any of them, that nobody seemed to know what they were for, and that I asked the Civil Defence and they did not know who was responsible for them?

I will look into that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to make any statement on the relaxation of the black-out regulations during the coming winter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to make a statement on the possibility of modifying the black-out regulations during the coming winter in order that factories and the transport authorities may make the necessary arrangements.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement on the possible relaxation of black-out restrictions.

Does my right hon. Friend feel that he can make a statement before the House rises? Does he not realise the importance of doing something better this winter; than we have done in the past?

It is also important that we should think about all phases of it, before we decide what we are going to do. There are a number of considerations. I doubt very much whether I can make a statement before the House rises, but, if circumstances should allow me to do so, I shall be glad.

Will my right hon. Friend consider increasing the lighting of vehicles, if he cannot increase the lighting in localities?

That question is reviewed from time to time and, as my hon. and gallant Friend knows, material concessions have been made. I will see, however, that that aspect of the matter is considered.

Arising out of the answer to my Question, will the Home Secretary bear in mind that we lose an hour on 13th August, and the nights are already getting longer? Factories will require reasonable notice of any change. Can the right hon. Gentleman say if he could give some information before 13th August?

I cannot be sure. There are a number of factors, conflicting in character, which have to be considered. I will do my best. I quite agree that it is desirable to make an announcement as soon as possible, but I do not think I ought to rush it unduly.

asked the President of the Board of Education what action his Department are taking with a view to the development of the film as a medium of education.

My Department, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information, are arranging for the production in the current year of a limited number of educational films. They are in consultation' with the Board of Trade about the use for educational purposes of film equipment which will be released by the Services and by the Supply Departments after the war, and about the demand which will have to be met in the postwar period for new school projectors. The Board have recently appointed a staff inspector with special responsibility for advising them on visual methods in education, including the use of films. In these developments, the Board hope to have the advice and assistance of the British Film Institute.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his statement will give great encouragement to those who are anxious to see the use of visual aid in schools, and that the British Film Institute is most anxious to help in every way?

Is it not the case that what is called the film strip is even more valuable in education than the ordinary film? Will my right hon. Friend see that that aspect is not neglected?

I am glad to say that we have already made a great deal of progress with the film strip.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in connection with town replanning, he is calling the attention of local education authorities to the need to ensure the provision of adequate playing grounds for all schools.

The need for adequate playing fields is generally recognised by local education authorities, and the building regulations which I am proposing to issue at the earliest possible date after the passing of the Education Bill will set out fully the areas of playing fields which should be provided for primary and secondary schools. It is not practicable to issue a similar early statement to cover the requirements of other educational institutions. My right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Town and Country Planning is, however, taking steps to ensure that the public open spaces provided by planning authorities will permit of the necessary playing fields being made available for educational purposes, and planning authorities are being asked to keep in close touch with education authorities in this important matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in order to make full use for educational purposes of war-time build- ings and camps which will cease to be needed for military purposes after the war, he will institute a survey which will bring to the attention of local education authorities buildings and camps which can with advantage be used for educational work.

There are a number of other Departments also interested in these wartime buildings and camps and their most advantageous use is receiving consideration. I will, however, bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the Fleming Committee Report states that a number of these buildings, especially Royal Air Force buildings, are especially suited for educational purposes, and for temporary schools?

Yes, Sir.

Will my right hon. Friend see that he has the first refusal of all these hostels and war-time camps at the end of the war, for use for educational purposes?

I will try to see that I have the usual priority with my colleagues in this important matter.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the Government have always said that the children must come first? Now let them prove it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider extending the powers of local authorities over milk found to be infected with certain specified diseases by making such powers applicable to all diseases communicable to man by milk.

I shall take an opportunity of reconsidering this matter in connection with revision of the Milk and Dairies Regulations. There are, however, practical difficulties in extending the existing powers to all diseases.

In view of the misleading impression among a large section of the public about the provisions of the Food and Drugs (Milk and Dairies) Bill, will my right hon. and learned Friend issue a public warning that clean milk is not necessarily safe milk?

That is a different question.

asked the Minister of Health how many X-ray installations there are in the county of Buckingham available for tuberculosis patients.

I am informed that six X-ray installations are available for the examination of tuberculosis patients in the county of Buckingham, including one at Northampton, which is used by arrangement with the Northampton Corporation.

asked the Minister of Health what was the death-rate from tuberculosis in the London area from 1939 to the latest convenient date; and how does that compare with a similar pre-war period.

As the reply involves a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

That happened yesterday. If the answer is circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT what chance have I, Mr. Speaker, of raising the matter on the Adjournment, as I wish to do?

The hon. Member must not ask a leading question like that.

Then I beg to give notice that at the earliest opportunity I shall raise, on the Adjournment, the whole question of the treatment and care of tuberculosis.

asked the Minister of Health when the Report of the Rushcliffe Committee will be available respecting the new scale of salaries for mental nurses.

I hope to be able to make a statement on this matter on Thursday of next week, by which time I expect that the Report will be available.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether the research conducted by the Medical Research Council has yielded any information about the causes of catarrhal jaundice.

The Committee appointed by the Medical Research Council to investigate jaundice has collected much information, but the causes of the disease are still not fully known. Research is being continued.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Agricultural Research Council has yet reported on the use of dried-sewage material on the land in place of imported inorganic fertilisers.

The investigations of the Agricultural Research Council on this subject are still in progress and final conclusions have not yet been reached.

Does my right hon. Friend agree to the importance of a decision being made, in view of the many plans being made by rural district councils and those connected with sewage disposal?

We are hurrying on the investigation as much as possible, but it is bound to take a certain length of time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in connection with the consultations he had with the Minister of Food regarding the fixation of prices for plums, he can state why, since the delegates representing the fruit growers were not in agreement with the suggested prices, the matter was not put to arbitration; and if he can give an assurance that in all such future cases where agreement cannot be reached facilities for arbitration will be afforded.

No, Sir. I am not prepared to give any such assurance. The final responsibility for fixing the prices of agricultural produce rests with the Government.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a very important point of principle involved here? Is it not a fact that he, together with the Minister of Food, rode roughshod over the delegates from the official body, notwithstanding the protests of certain delegates? Are we to understand that they are going to be ignored and denied the right of arbitration?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in one district the Minister of Food pre-empted a non-existent crop?

May I make a very vigorous protest?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make an announcement as to the Government's intentions for their future policy of wheat growing in this country, with special reference to the question of whether the existing wheat acreage is to be maintained.

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make a pronouncement of Government policy as to their intention to replace as far as possible the meat imported from overseas with home-grown meat during the period of the next three years.

I have nothing to add to the statement I made in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Chippenham (Mr. Eccles) on 25th May.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that statement really told us nothing at all?