asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate sums of rates and taxes paid in respect of premises which have become uninhabitable through enemy action; and whether he will consider the advisability of making such payments a charge on the War Damage Contributions Fund.

As my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Health informed the hon. and learned Member for Stoke Newington (Sir G. Jones) in answer to a Question on 20th July, a circular was issued by his Department to local authorities in November, 1940, with a view to meeting, with regard to rates, the circumstances arising from enemy action. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of this circular. Where a house is wholly uninhabitable and is in fact unoccupied, relief from Income Tax under Schedule A is allowed except so far as, in the case of property let to a tenant, rent continues to be payable. Where an owner-occupied house is damaged by enemy action but is rendered only partly or temporarily uninhabitable relief is allowed in proportion to any relief which may be given from rates. In the case of a house let to a tenant, account is taken of any abatement, waiver, or temporary reduction of the rent. No further action on my part would appear to be required.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will issue instructions to the effect that sums voluntarily paid to employees on national service to make up their remuneration to their peace-time volume shall be treated in the accounts of a business as wages and salaries paid in the ordinary manner.

I understand that where payments are made by an employer to his business employees who are in the Forces or are engaged full time on national service so as to bring their remuneration up to the remuneration of their civil employment it is the general practice to allow such sums as a deduction in computing the profits of the business for taxation purposes.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state for each of the last five years the number of fatal and nonfatal accidents in the factories of this country.

The number of fatal non-fatal accidents reported under Factories Act for each of the last five years is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider the advisability of granting British nationality to the remaining Jews in Nazi-occupied territories on similar terms to the offer of common nationality made to the French people in 1940, in order to maintain their morale and to help them in their struggle for freedom from destruction.

This proposal has already been carefully considered. His Majesty's Government are convinced that to give what in fact would be merely verbal British protection would bring no advantages to Jewish individuals in German-occupied territories. Although the Germans have specially attacked the Jews, they have also attacked and murdered many thousands of non-Jews (in Poland the proportions are said to be about equal). His Majesty's Government are pledged to aid and rescue, as far as military considerations allow, all the victims of German tyranny, and they are pursuing this object by every means open to them in close collaboration with the other Governments concerned.

asked the Minister of Health what facilities exist in the districts of the reception areas to enable evacuees, who, after suffering from the effects of bombing, make their own arrangements for evacuation to claim emergency coupons and the cash grant in the towns where they have found accommodation.

I have been asked to reply. Bombed-out people who have not applied to the Assistance Board in their home area for immediate help in cash and coupons may do so in the reception area after their arrival.

asked the Minister of Information why his Department authorised the broadcasting, on 15th July, 1944, of adverse criticism of the reception of evacuees at Hoole, near Chester.

The news item in question was not authorised by the Ministry of Information, nor was there any reason why it should have been. The B.B.C. included it in their news bulletins, which were intended to give a fair summary of certain facts and figures about evacuation which had been made public that day by the Minister of Health.

asked the Minister of Food whether it was with his authority that Mr. S. Foster, of the Milk Marketing Board, compiled and issued a scheme for post-war agricultural marketing.

No, Sir, and as Mr. Foster is not an officer of my Department it was not necessary for him to seek my authority.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of Government machines doing threshing in Derbyshire, North-East, the charges made for them per day, and the number of days they were in commission during last season.

Four Government owned threshing machines are operating in North-East Derbyshire; one of these is operated by the War Agricultural Executive Committee and the remaining three are hired to contractors. Charges made for all these machines are the standard rate for the county based for the 1943–44 season on a charge for threshing of £4 per day. The machines have been working continuously throughout the season, subject to weather conditions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) if he has considered the list of charges to operate in the two counties which he has had submitted to him, where the threshing-machine operators in North-East Derbyshire are at a disadvantage by the, sum of £1 10s. per day, as compared with those in a neighbouring county; if he is satisfied that the method of fixing prices in Derbyshire, at the discretion of the customer interest, is equitable; and, after considering the different prices paid, if he will ask the Derbyshire War Agricultural Committee to reconsider their findings;(2) if he will consider giving to the Local Threshing Machine Association representation on the county war agricùltural committee for the purpose of getting agreed prices.

Maximum charges for threshing for the 1944–45 season, at a rather higher rate than for the 1943–44 season, have recently been fixed for the county of Derbyshire with my approval, and were agreed between the County War Agricultural Executive Committee and representatives of both the threshing contractors and the farmers. I do not consider that any alteration in the present arrangements is required.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if any cases of grass sickness have been recorded this year among horses; and whether any cure for it is officially regarded as effective.

Cases of grass sickness continue to occur in several districts in Great Britain, but as the disease is not notifiable there are no reliable statistics as to its extent. No effective cure for the disease has yet been discovered, but the whole question is being re-examined with a view to determining the lines on which further research should be undertaken.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in making up military drafts for the Far East, he will abstain, when practicable, from sending men who have had several years' service in the Middle East without home leave, and will either grant such leave or select men who have not fought through the various military operations since 1939.

Officers and men who have returned to the United Kingdom after long service overseas are not sent back to Mediterranean and other distant theatres if others, equally suitable, are available. Even if such officers and men have to be sent, they are not considered for drafts for these stations until they have had at least six months' home service, including disembarkation leave. The above rules do not apply to those who volunteer to return to the Mediterranean, India or the Far East. When a man returns from overseas he is given disembarkation leave. He is then eligible for privilege leave in his turn. Before he is sent abroad he is given embarkation leave, provided the exigencies of the service permit.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it has now been agreed that Maltese women shall join the women's auxiliary Services.

Any woman in Malta who wishes to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service may do so, provided she fulfils the necessary conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, after consulting the Postmaster-General, he will consider sanctioning the sending of parcels of foodstuffs of reasonable size and weight by parents and others in this country to soldiers serving in Normandy.

As I said in the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgwater (Mr. Bartlett) on 18th July, it is a Board of Trade Regulation which prevents parcels containing foodstuffs from being sent to troops overseas. The adoption of my hon. and gallant Friend's proposal would increase considerably the traffic of parcels to Normandy and might well delay the service. Moreover, owing to changes of location and other disturbances which are inevitable in areas of active operations some delays in delivery cannot be avoided, and in the case of parcels of foodstuffs this would lead to waste. In these circumstances it does not seem to me that the time has yet come to consider with my right hon. Friend whether the Board of Trade Regulation should be relaxed.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange that at least one period of privilege leave shall be granted to men called up for the Forces at 18½ years of age before proceeding overseas, in addition to their normal embarkation leave.

Every endeavour is made to give privilege leave to newly joined soldiers during the first five months of their service, and also to give embarkation leave before they go overseas, but my hon. and learned Friend will appreciate that operational considerations must override all others, and for this reason I regret that I am unable to give an assurance that such leave can always be granted.