asked the Minister of Labour if he will give an assurance that as Class A men on demobilisation are free to find employment for themselves without reference to the Ministry of Labour, women in Class A will be similarly treated.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give an assurance that men who volunteered and served in the Army or Navy, and, subsequently, in the national interest, agreed to work in the coalmines, will have an equal claim to release from their present occupation with those who are in the Fighting Services.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on Thursday last to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Ness Edwards),a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking to provide openings in agriculture for men and women returning from the Forces, who have previous experience in farming.

Men and women with previous agricultural experience who are released from service with the Forces will be able to exercise any reinstatement rights they may have under the Reinstatement in Civil Employment Act, or may in suitable cases be enabled to undertake further training in agriculture, under the Government training scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour how many workers, men and women, have been found redundant to requirements at an aircraft factory in the Northwest, the name of which has been supplied to him; how many such workers have been given notice to leave since 31st August; whether all concerned have had the cause of redundancy explained to them; whether work is available for those dismissed; and if he will give full particulars of the employment situation at this factory with a view to allaying public anxiety in the district.

Between 2,500 and 3,000 workpeople are expected to become available at the factory in question over a period of about five months; it is not possible at this stage to divide this figure between men and women. So far, about 300 men and 550 women have been given notice. The position has been explained to the workpeople's associations concerned and to the shop stewards at the factory who are co-operating with my officers in the arrangements for finding alternative employment for the workpeople released, in regard to which, no general difficulty is anticipated.

asked the Minister of Labour, what steps have been taken to meet the requirements of a firm in Lewes, of which he has been informed, who asked for permission from his Ministry to discharge redundant and unwanted employees to whom the firm has been compelled to pay wages over many months; and what assurance he can give that other employers shall not be placed by his Ministry in a similar position of having to retain unwanted employees.

This firm applied in January and in May of this year for permission to discharge two women on the ground of redundancy. Permission was refused by the National Service Officer and his decision on each occasion was upheld by the Local Appeal Board. The firm applied again on 29th June for permission to discharge them and this was again refused in the first instance. Permission was finally given in September. With regard to the first two applications these were properly dealt with in accordance with the Essential Work Order. I regret that there was delay in dealing with the third application and I have issued instructions which I hope will prevent such delay occurring in future cases.

asked the Minister of Labour how his Regulations define the obligations of an employer under the Reinstatement in Civil Employment Act in a case where both the employer and the employees are serving in the Forces and some of the employees are demobilised before the employer.

I have no power to make Regulations defining the obligations of an employer under the Reinstatement in Civil Employment Act. The Act itself places an obligation on an employer to make employment available at the first opportunity, if any, at which it is reasonable and practicable to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can now make any statement as to the orders and regulations which are no longer regarded as essential, in view of the state of the war in Europe; and whether early revocation of any of them can be expected.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 3rd October by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Penrith and Cockermouth (Lieut.-Colonel Dower).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will reconsider his decision not to entertain applications for naturalisation by enemy subjects during the war and will proceed now to examine such exceptional cases as arise among persons with long anti-Nazi records and good service to this country in the Armed Forces or other important capacity.

The current policy of suspension of naturalisation has at no time been confined to operate only against enemy subjects. It has equally affected nationals of Allied or neutral States, very many of whom have given valuable aid to the Allied cause in various capacities. As I have previously stated, in view of the need for concentrating the services of the Home Office staff and of the police on work which is essential in wartime, naturalisation has had to be suspended except as regards applications from British born women and a few exceptional cases where an individual's immediate naturalisation is required in the national interest for special purposes connected with the war effort.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the children of refugees from Nazi oppression who have only been granted temporary hospitality in this country acquire-British nationality by reason of having been born in this country.

Yes, Sir. The national status of persons born in His Majesty's Dominions is not affected by the fact that their parents may only be there temporarily.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he can make a statement on the present position and prospects of food supplies in India.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will give his latest information regarding the possibility of food shortage in India; whether he is satisfied that adequate arrangements now exist to meet this contingency and that the control of the price of grain is working satisfactorily; and what is now the controlled price of rice in Bengal.

The autumn months before the main rice harvest are the most anxious time in India and forecasts are dangerous things, but provided no unforeseeable calamity occurs in the next few weeks, and that, as I hope, we are able to continue the shipment of imports to India at the previous rate, I think we shall win through this year. The rains up to date have been patchy, but on the whole not bad. As regards next year, so much depends on the winter rice harvest that I prefer not to hazard a forecast.As regards the latter part of the Question by the hon. Member for Leyton West (Mr. Sorensen), the machinery of the Central and Provincial Governments is greatly developed from 18 months ago when the Central Food Department began its existence and is producing beneficial results. Rationing, in particular, has made great strides. All-India maximum prices have been established and are proving effective in the primary wholesale markets for wheat, barley, gram and millet. It has not yet been possible to fix a statutory all-India maximum for rice and in Bengal the price varies according to area. In the main markets of the producing areas in Bengal the price in the week ending 7th September was Rs.14.8.5 per maund.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the news of the illness of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, he will give further information about the health of Nehru and other members of the Congress Working Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's health is causing anxiety; whether he will secure reports on the health of this detainee, of Mr. Rajandra Prasad and other members of the Working Committee; and whether the release of all detainees can now be considered.

I have made special inquiries and am informed that with the exception of Dr. Ghose, who is suffering from a mild internal complaint, all the members of the Working Committee now detained at Ahmednagar are well. In particular I am informed that Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru is vigorous, alert and fit. I have not yet received a reply to my inquiry about Mr. Rajendra Prasad, who is detained elsewhere, but will communicate its substance to the hon. Member for Leyton, West (Mr. Sorensen) when received. I am not aware of any reason for relaxing the orders of detention of these persons, who have made no response to the Viceroy's invitation of February last to abandon their policy of non-co-operation and obstruction.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether leave stations are provided for troops serving on the Indo-Burma Front; and, if so, what daily charge is made to troops using them.

Yes, Sir. There are at present 42 leave centres maintained by the Government of India for the use of members of the British Services serving in the India Command and on the Burma Front in South-East Asia Command. These provide accommodation for 23,000 persons at any one time and it is planned to expand this to 52,000 for next year. These centres are free and rations are issued, but small charges are sometimes made for extras such as laundry. In addition, there is leave accommodation for 5,000 men provided by philanthropic organisations. Charges are made which vary from 4 rupees 2 annas a day to 2 rupees 6 annas a day.

asked the Secretary of State for India what was the total output of ore at the most recent date.

The latest published figure of All-India production of iron ore is for 1938, when the output was 2,743,645 tons. Corresponding figures for the war years are not available for public information.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will represent to the Government of India that they should now take the initiative in bringing about consultation and conference between representative leaders in India with a view to reaching the widest measure of agreement with regard to the framework of the future Constitution.

I understand from the published reports that the conversations between Mr. Gandhi and Mr. Jinnah broke down over the issue of Pakistan (that is, the claim that Indian Moslems should constitute a separate nation), but that both gave expression to the hope that this was not the final end of their effort. Pending further developments there would seem to be no useful opening for intervention on the part of Government.

asked the Minister of Supply to what extent the shortage of potash for agricultural purposes in this country is now being obtained from industrial waste products; and whether any steps are being taken by his Department to encourage such processes.

Industrial waste products, mainly flue dust, provide only a small proportion of the supplies of potash for agricultural purposes. Full consideration led to the conclusion that the erection of plant for the extraction of the potash would not be justified, but flue dust may be purchased by farmers without restriction and in addition to their normal potash ration.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that supervision is adequate to prevent unnecessary damaging of houses requisitioned by his Department; and what arrangements are in operation for having repairs effected where necessary and the fixing of responsibility for such damage.

Yes, Sir. Houses are normally requisitioned and managed on my behalf by the local authority of the district concerned, and the usual agreement made with the person licensed to occupy the premises empowers the local authority to enter them at all reasonable times to effect repairs and requires the occupier to make good any damage he may cause.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make arrangements with the Service Ministries to take over all hutting as it becomes vacant in the areas of overcrowded centres, arranging with the local government authorities to allot it to men invalided out of the Services or to workers and their families whose accommodation is at present inadequate.

I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that the possibility of taking over hutments no longer required by the Service Ministries, for use as temporary housing accommodation, is being actively pursued.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will establish rent courts or tribunals throughout the country for the purpose of preventing abuses of the Rent Restriction Acts and providing tenants with a legal form of appeal against overcharging by landlords.

I cannot consider what action should be taken in this matter until the Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Rent Control is available. I understand that amongst the suggestions which have been made to the Committee is that of the establishment of rent courts or tribunals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made by his Department in paying the increased pensions authorised by the recent Pensions (Increase) Act to prison officers.

Pensions of prison officers are paid by the Paymaster-General, who will assess and pay the amount of the increases authorised under the recent Pensions (Increase) Act. These pensioners are civil servants and are being dealt with by the procedure applicable to their case. The increases payable under Section 2 of the Act have been assessed and paid in the majority of cases, and the claims from the pensioners for the further increases to which they may be entitled under Section 1 of the Act are being examined. Payment will be made as quickly as staff difficulties permit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a future normal Budget, similar to that published by Sir Austen Chamberlain, on the assumption that major military operations have ceased by 31st March, 1945, and on the assumption of legislation at present on the Statute Book.

It would still be premature for me to attempt a statement on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can furnish an estimate of the increased permanent expenditure in a post-war year as compared with 1939, arising, respectively, out of the interest on the National Debt to be created up to 31st March, 1945; social legislation enacted since 1939; pensions arising out of the present war; Treasury contributions to the War Damage Fund; any other commitments incurred since 1939.

Such information as is available in reply to the various parts of my hon. Friend's Question will be collected and I will circulate it later in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he anticipates that after the payment of the fifth war damage contribution any further charge will be necessary, especially in view of the hardship to small house and shop owners who are paying on demolished property for which they receive no income and who are in many cases already much in debt.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 26th September to the hon. Member for Tarn-worth (Sir J. Mellor). I am not yet in a position to decide what, if any, action should be taken under Section 80 of the War Damage Act, 1943. With regard to the class of case mentioned in the Question, I would draw my hon. Friend's attention to Sections 63 and 64 of the Act, which provide for the suspension of collection of instalments of contribution in cases where it is likely that a value payment will fall to be made or where a property is rendered and remains unfit by reason of war damage.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present practice of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue in regard to instituting criminal proceedings for alleged frauds on the revenue.

The practice of the Commissioners in this matter is governed by Section 34 of the Finance Act, 1942, which makes provision for the admissibility in evidence of any disclosure made in the circumstances there set out. As the Section indicates, the Commissioners have a general power under which they can accept pecuniary settlements instead of instituting criminal proceedings in respect of fraud or wilful default alleged to have been committed by a taxpayer. They can, however, give no undertaking to a taxpayer in any such case that they will accept such a settlement and refrain from instituting criminal proceedings even if the case is one in which the taxpayer has made full confession and has given full facilities for investigation of the facts. They reserve to themselves complete discretion in all cases as to the course which they will pursue, but it is their practice to be influenced by the fact that the tax- payer has made a full confession and has given full facilities for investigation into his affairs and for examination of such books, papers, documents or information as the Commissioners may consider necessary.The above statement of the Commissioners' practice should be regarded as replacing the one made by my predecessor on the Second Reading of the Finance Bill, 1942, which has, I understand, given rise to some misapprehension.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any statement to make regarding monetary arrangements with Belgium.

I am happy to be able to announce that a Monetary Agreement is being signed to-day between His Majesty's Government and the Belgian Government. The following are the salient features:

1. The official rate of exchange between the Belgian franc and the pound sterling will be 176.625 francs=£1 and shall not be varied except after mutual consultation.

2. The sterling held by residents in the Belgian monetary area will be available for expenditure in the Sterling Area and, as opportunity offers, it will be sought, with the consent of other interested parties, to make sterling available for payments outside the Sterling Area.

3. It is provided that if the Contracting Governments adhere to a general International Monetary Agreement the terms of the present Agreement will be reviewed, with a view to making any amendments that may be required.

4. The Belgian Congo will leave the Sterling Area and be brought within the Belgian Monetary area.

5. The Agreement will remain in force for three years, unless terminated earlier by three months' notice given by either party.

Copies of the Agreement will be made available to hon. Members. The resumption of normal financial and commercial intercourse between the two countries must, of course, await the restoration of postal facilities. A full announcement in regard to this will be made in due course.I am also pleased to be able to announce that His Majesty's Government have reached agreement in principle with the Royal Netherlands Government for a Monetary Agreement on similar lines. This will be signed as soon as certain technical details have been worked out.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if any financial assistance will be given to local authorities who desire to purchase sites or clear existing sites for the purpose of bringing new industries into the blighted areas; and, if so, on what basis.

It is the Government's intention to introduce legislation to implement the undertaking in paragraph 26 (d) of the White Paper that they will continue and extend the policy of erecting in development areas factories on individual or collective sites, for sale or lease, including factories which can be rented in sections.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why he fixed the day for lifting the ban on central heating in the North of England seven days before that in the South; and if, in view of the exceptional conditions prevailing for many London shops, office and warehouse workers due to the effect of bomb damage to the premises where they work, he will again consider the lifting of the ban in favour of all Londoners on the same day as the North of England.

I have decided, on advice, that, in view of the present abnormal conditions in the South, the heating restrictions over the whole country shall be relaxed as from Sunday, 8th October. At the same time I would stress once again the grave difficulties of the fuel situation, and urge that no one should use heating unnecessarily or wastefully, especially if the weather improves.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what, under existing regulations or by-laws is the maximum number of standing passengers permitted on single and double-decker omnibuses, respectively, controlled by Wigan Corporation and by Ribble Motor Services, stating whether children count as full passengers.

The number of passengers who may stand in an omnibus varies according to the type of vehicle, the time of day and the nature of the service. It is governed by the Public Service Vehicles (Equipment and Use) Regulations, 1941, the Standing Passengers (No. 2) Order, 1941, and by the decisions made under that Order by the appropriate Regional Transport Commissioner. I am sending my hon. Friend a statement explaining the details of these Orders, and the decisions made by the Regional Transport Commissioner about the Wigan Corporation Undertaking and the Ribble Motor Services.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will now consider the desirability of immediate relaxation of the ban on civilian Press correspondents from Britain and other Allied countries in Paris, in view of the general anxiety of the British and Allied people for fuller current news and views on civil conditions and problems in the French capital, such as are not necessarily covered by reports of accredited war correspondents.

This is a matter for the Supreme Allied Commander, who is at present engaged in discussions with the French authorities as a result of which the existing restrictions may soon be considerably eased.

asked the Prime Minister what decisions have yet been reached concerning compulsory military service after the conclusion of hostilities; whether any pre-service training will be required; and in what organisations it may be taken.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on this subject to my hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Bellenger) on Tuesday, 3rd October.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what steps are being taken by his Department to provide for the setting up of commercial attachès of sound business experience on the staff of all British Embassies and consular offices.

The commercial work of His Majesty's Embassies, Legations and Consulates is performed by members of His Majesty's Foreign Service. The knowledge acquired by these officers in the course of their duties, which cover a wide range of economic and commercial subjects, is regarded as being a more useful qualification than a specialised business experience would normally provide. I am, however, considering the appointment of market officers with long experience of local markets to assist in the Commercial Departments of His Majesty's Missions and Consulates.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the amount of money, including the Absent Minded Beggar Fund, which was raised by public subscription for the benefit of men who served in the South African War, 1899–1902; how much of this money was handed to the Patriotic Fund Corporation and how much is still in hand; and in what manner it is being utilised for relief of these war veterans.

In general the War Office is not responsible for the administration of publicly subscribed charitable funds. I regret that the answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's Question is not readily available. The Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation only deals with widows and orphans, and no money raised for the benefit of the men who served in the South African War was handed to that Fund. The answer to the last part of the Question is not readily available, but I understand that the balance of the Mansion House South African War Fund is administered by Lloyds Patriotic Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the present position of British prisoners in the different enemy countries; and whether the need for Red Cross work is as great as ever.

I have no information of any recent change in the general treatment of our prisoners by the enemy Powers. In particular, the food supplied to them still remains deficient both in quantity and quality. Accordingly the need for Red Cross work still continues unaltered.

asked the Secretary of State for War the total number of casualties sustained by Welsh units in the Army since the commencement of the war apart from casualties caused to Welsh troops serving in non-Welsh units.

Casualties are not collated on a unit basis, and I regret that the information asked for by my hon. Friend is not available.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total number of beds at present contributed by institutions and hospitals under the control of local authorities in Great Britain and Northern Ireland; how many of these are general hospitals and how many institutions for the sick, the infirm and mental cases, respectively; and how many of this total are still administered under Public Assistance Regulations derived from the Poor Law.

Apart from specialised institutions, such as mental hospitals, maternity hospitals, infectious diseases hospitals and sanatoria, the number of beds asked for in the first part of the Question, so far as England and Wales are concerned, is 131,440, of which 73,921 are in 154 general hospitals and 57,519 in 376 institutions of the kind mentioned in the second part of the Question. Of this total of 530 hospitals and institutions about 390 are administered under the Poor Law. I am not in possession of corresponding figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of Health if he has in preparation any scheme to grant extra allowances to people suffering from tuberculosis who have been discharged from sanatoria so that they may be able to afford adequate treatment in their homes and not be forced to seek work in places where they may spread the infection.

The existing scheme extends to persons receiving approved treatment in their homes, subject to the same general conditions as apply to persons under treatment in sanatoria. If my hon. Friend has any individual case of difficulty in mind and will let me have particulars, I shall gladly look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is in a position to make a statement about the result of the inquiry made by General Eisenhower into the question of American officers conducting private business activities in Paris.

I am aware that stories have been circulating for some weeks past in Great Britain to the effect that United States officers employed by Supreme Headquarters have been taking advantage of their military position to engage in private business activities, either on their own behalf or on that of business organisations by whom they were employed in France before the outbreak of war. I understand that similar stories are circulating in the United States alleging that British officers are engaged in the same improper activities. I learn on the authority of the Supreme Commander that after investigation no facts in support of these stories have been brought to light.In the selection of both British and United States officers for service with the Civil Affairs Division of Supreme Headquarters and its subordinate commands due regard was naturally paid to the knowledge which candidates might have, both of the language of the country in which they would be employed and of local conditions there. All officers employed under the authority of the Supreme Commander are under the strictest orders against engaging in any occupation other than their military duties. If any infractions of this order should be discovered, suitable disciplinary action against the officer concerned would at once be taken.It is a matter of regret that the military pressure on communications from Great Britain and the United States to the Continent of Europe is still so great as to prevent the effective resumption of business contacts. This question is engaging the close attention of the authorities concerned, and every effort is being made, as soon as circumstances permit, to enable such contacts to be resumed.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the fact that the cost of assimilating war disability and widows' pensions granted in respect of previous wars to the rates in respect of the present hostilities is only £150,000 a year, he will take the necessary powers to do so.

I am considering this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the total financial commitment of the Government of the United Kingdom and the Dominion Governments, separately, in U.N.R.R.A., as defined at the plenary session now being concluded at Montreal; how many Allied Governments are now parties to. the scheme; which liberated Governments have indicated their desire to be aided from this source; and in how many of these cases will value for goods advanced be repaid and over what term of years.

The amount of the financial commitment of the Government of the United Kingdom to the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration is approximately £80,000,000. The Dominion Governments have agreed to contribute on the same scale, which represents approximately one per cent, of the national incomes of their countries for the year ended 30th June, 1943. The forty-four United Nations are parties to the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action it is now proposed to take to inform public opinion in this country and throughout the Empire of the intentions of the Director-General of U.N.R.R.A. for the relief of liberated countries; and to what extent the production of such goods will have priority over the manufacture of articles required for our own populations.

As regards the first part of my hon. Friend's Question, I would refer him to the last part of my previous reply. As regards the second part, the needs of liberated areas must, of course, be fairly balanced against other requirements, among which the accumulated needs of our own population must have their proper place, and it is not possible at present to lay down any general priority of the kind suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the inquiry to be made into the employment of schoolchildren will cover children employed in film studios.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Education under what circumstances he will approve arrangements made by local education authorities to continue to assist grammar schools, as contemplated in Clause 9 (1) of the Education Act; and whether, in view of the distant date of the raising of the school-leaving age to 16 years, he will discourage premature change to the status of a maintained school until both parents or local government electors have had a chance of expressing their views.

It will be necessary for the governors of grammar schools which are at present deficiency aided by a local education authority to decide whether or no they wish their schools to be maintained as voluntary schools under the provisions of the Education Act, 1944. They cannot reasonably be expected to do so until the Government have received; and considered the views of the Governing Bodies' Associations and the Headmasters' Conference on the Fleming Report. I indicated during the proceedings on the Bill that it is not intended that schools shall have recourse to Section 9 (1) merely in order to continue to charge fees.

asked the Minister of Education what is the estimated cost, on current numbers of fee-paying students, that would be borne by ratepayers and taxpayers, respectively, if the payment of fees in the grammar schools of Penrith and Keswick were compulsorily abolished and the same number of students had to be paid for by the local education authority instead of the parents.

The abolition of fees would involve increased expenditure from public funds of about £3,000 in the case of Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith, and £3,500 in the case of Keswick School. Under the present grant regulations this additional expenditure would be borne equally by rates and taxes.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will state the cost of supplying milk and meals to children attending schools.

According to the estimates submitted by local education authorities at the beginning of the present financial year, their net expenditure for the year on the provision of meals and milk for children attending public elementary schools will amount to about £9,000,000. This figure does not include the provision of premises and equipment free of cost by the Ministry of Works under the arrangements set out in Circular 1629, a copy of which I am sending my hon. Friend, nor does it include the cost of enabling the schools to obtain milk at the special rate of ½d. per ⅓ pint under the Milk in Schools Scheme. Corresponding figures for secondary schools are not available.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is now in a position to make an immediate declaration of the policy of the Government on the subject of the reintroduction of imports of vegetables and give an assurance that no order restricting trade by licence will be maintained and that the fixing of maximum prices for produce shall be amended.

The answer to the first and second parts of the Question is "No, Sir," but the earliest possible notification will be given when any change of policy regarding imports of vegetables or the licensing of traders is contemplated. If my hon. Friend will indicate what amendments he has in mind in the fixing of maximum prices, I shall be glad to consider them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has yet issued instructions to the Devon County War Agricultural Committee for the utilisation after the war of areas reclaimed for cropping in the county including the moors of Hatherleigh, Beaford and Hollacombe; and, if not, when such instructions will be issued.

The Devon War Agricultural Executive Committee, as my agents, are cultivating the moors at Hatherleigh, Beaford and Hollacombe to ensure maximum food production during the emergency period. They cannot remain in possesion after the end of the war period unless I have given a certificate under Section 23 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous War Provisions) Act, 1940, that the land was not being cultivated, or was not being cultivated in accordance with the rules of good husbandry at the time of taking possession. In the cases of the moors at Hatherleigh, and Beaford, where such certificates have been issued, possession is limited to a further three years after the end of the war period.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the bad hay crop and the poor prospects for milk yield in some areas during the coming winter, he will arrange for emergency issues of feeding stuffs to dairy cattle where necessary.

Yes, Sir. This has already been done. I have reminded farmers that the feeding stuffs rationing scheme already provides for the issue of supplementary rations for dairy cattle where loss of fodder crops has occurred, and have urged them to make applications to their Committees where, owing to these conditions, there is a risk that milk yields may suffer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give careful consideration and all possible assistance to all local efforts to promote further industrial development and the establishment of new industries in North-East Cheshire.

It is the Government's intention to do all they can to check the development of localised unemployment and to improve the balance of industry throughout the country, and I shall certainly consider sympathetically any proposals having these objects which my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the cost of supplying milk and meals to children attending school in Scotland.

According to the estimates submitted by education authorities at the beginning of the present financial year their net expenditure for the year on the provision of meals and milk for children attending their schools will amount to about £720,000. This figure does not include the provision of premises and equipment free of cost by the Ministry of Works under the arrangements set out in Circular 4, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend, nor does it include the cost of enabling the schools to obtain milk at the special rate of ½d. per third of a pint under the milk in schools scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the German commander of Calais allowed several of his big long-range guns to be fired several times on Dover on Saturday, 30th September, 1944, during the time that the armistice was granted; and what punishment will be meted out to this officer.

My hon. Friend is misinformed. I understand that the last round was fired on Dover on 26th September. The armistice at Calais lasted, for 24 hours from mid-day on 29th September.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now make a statement about constitutional reform in the Gold Coast.

Recommendations for constitutional reform in the Gold Coast have recently been submitted by the Governor, after full consultation with representatives of African political opinion, and have received my approval in principle.It is proposed to grant an unofficial majority on the Legislative Council of

the Gold Coast, and to include on the Council representatives of Ashanti as well as of the Colony with a corresponding extension of its legislative authority. Under the proposals the Legislative Council would consist of the Governor as President, without a vote, and of the following Members: