asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the recent considerable increase in the rates of the city of Glasgow; and whether he will take action to ease the financial burden of the ratepayers and alleviate the position of those property owners who, being liable for a share in the payment of rates, are left with an inadequate return on their capital and without the necessary funds to meet essential renewals and repairs.

My right hon. Friend has received representations indicating concern at the recent increase in rates by several local authorities, including Glasgow, but in no case has any evidence been submitted on specific questions which are held to require special investigation. If such evidence is forthcoming he will certainly consider it in consultation with the local authority concerned. As my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, there is a strict audit of all expenditure to ensure that it is in conformity with the statutory powers of the spending authority. As to the burden on property owners, my right hon. Friend expects to receive before the end of the year the report of the Committee presided over by the Dean of Faculty which has been considering whether it is practicable and desirable to limit the maximum amount payable in respect of owners' rates.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a rate of 16s. 4d. in the £ in Glasgow is, approximately, equivalent to 33s. in the £ under the English system, and is twice as high as the rate in Edinburgh? In those circumstances, is he prepared to set up an official inquiry? If that should be beyond his power, will he try to get the Corporation to set up an inquiry on their own account?

I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that this Question and answer were very carefully considered by the Secretary of State, whose attention I am quite prepared to draw to the supplementary question which has just been asked; but I cannot give any other answer than the carefully prepared answer which I have already given.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that, in the adjoining authority of Lanarkshire, rates are higher? Is he also aware that the hon. and gallant Member who put this Question was a member of the Glasgow Corporation until he came to this House, and that the rates have been increased only by is. 6d. since he left? Is it an inquiry into the is. 6d. increase which is being asked?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what answer he has given and what action he has taken regarding the memorandum from the Scottish Council of Industry on the subject of retaining Prestwick Airport as an Atlantic terminal.

My right hon. Friend understands that the Scottish Council on Industry have been giving further consideration to the question of Prestwick airport and are preparing a submission which he expects to receive shortly.

In view of the eminent suitability of this airport as an Atlantic terminal, and its importance to civil aviation and Scotland generally, may I ask that the Secretary of State should give this matter earnest consideration and warm support?

May I point out to my hon. and gallant Friend that the Secretary of State for Scotland is always giving careful and considerate attention to all questions affecting Scotland.

Will he do so to this specific question?

He has already done so, as I have indicated in my answer. I also pointed out that he is awaiting the memorandum from the Council on Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any decision has yet been taken on the proposal to operate, through local authorities in Scotland, a new scheme for the licensing of building repair and maintenance work.

No, Sir. An informal discussion was recently held with representatives of the Scottish local authority associations to ascertain whether they would be willing to take part in the operation of a wider system of licensing in the event of that becoming necessary. But the Government has not yet decided whether any modification of the existing licensing procedure would be desirable.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has any information about the discoveries that have been made at McGill University, Montreal, concerning the prevention and cure of silicosis.

I am aware of the experiments which are going on in Canada on the treatment of silicosis by the inhalation of aluminium powder, which are probably what my hon. Friend has in mind. These experiments are being closely watched, both by my Department and by the Medical Research Council, but I am advised that the results are not yet sufficiently conclusive to justify the adoption of this method of treatment at British mines.

Will the Minister get into touch with the McGill University to see whether these are the same experiments?

I certainly will do that; I think that our people have been in touch, as a matter of fact. As my hon. Friend is aware, a report was recently published in South Wales dealing with the question of silicosis, and as a result of that I am satisfied that every possible research is being made.

Is the Minister aware of what has been done at the University of Wales in this matter?

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what number of man-shifts is represented by the avoidable absenteeism in the coalmining industry, at present amounting to 5.8 per cent.

Avoidable absenteeism in the coalmining industry amounting to 5.8 per cent. represents the loss of approximately 230,000 manshifts per week.

Is the Minister aware that the Yorkshire returns this month show £43,000 paid to men who could not work when they got to the pit? Will he tell that to the chap over there who put the Question?

That is not avoidable absenteeism.

Is the Minister aware that quite a large number of shifts are lost for which no records are kept, and which are put down as being avoidable absenteeism, such as men not being able to have their clogs repaired or even to buy new clogs, or men being off for a day when they have a medical certificate? Is the Minister aware of all that?

indicated assent.

Is the Minister aware that the compilation of these figures is ridiculous, when they include cases of men who have to travel 14 miles in all for their work, half of it on foot and sometimes up a gradient of 1 in 3, at 60 years of age?

I do not accept for one moment the suggestion that the figures are ridiculous. I have investigators in the coalfields, as well as having the figures, and while there may be one or two cases such as have been mentioned, on the whole these figures are far better than the figures for any other industry, and far better than they have ever been before.

Has the Minister been in touch with the Mineworkers' Federation on this matter?

I often meet the Federation on this and other matters, and I have had no complaints from them as to the method by which we reached these conclusions.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) what tonnage of coal is lost per annum through avoidable absenteeism at the rate of 5.8 per cent;

(2) what is the latest available figure of avoidable absenteeism among workers at the coal face; and what is the annual resulting loss of coal output.

The rate of voluntary absenteeism at the coal face in the June quarter of this year was 6.6 per cent. Figures for the September quarter are not yet available, but a preliminary estimate is in the neighbourhood of 7.6 per cent. against 6.2 per cent. for all classes of workers. Arithmetical computation of the resulting loss of coal output would be misleading in view of the many factors involved.

Has the Minister any idea what percentage of absenteeism there would be on the part of the hon. Member who put the Question, if he had a job down a pit?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will consider placing certain extra supplies of fuel at the disposal of local authorities in those areas which have suffered severely from flying-bomb attacks, with a view to its being allocated to those homes which cannot be made weatherproof before the approaching winter.

The regions which have suffered from flying-bomb attacks have already had priority in house coal supplies during the summer, with the result that the merchants' reserve stocks in these regions are higher than they would have been if the general shortage of house coal had been allowed to fall equally on all regions. In addition to the merchants' stocks substantial tonnages are also held in Government reserve stocks in the areas affected and will be released for distribution if necessary.

In the creation of these Government reserve stocks, I have already received valuable assistance from local authorities, but I do not propose to ask them to undertake the distribution of coal because they are not normally equipped for this work. The local fuel overseers; however, who are officers of the local authorities, will be generally responsible for ensuring that the supplies and stocks in their areas are fairly distributed, having regard to the special needs of persons living in damaged premises, and I have already been promised the full co-operation of the distributive coal trade in carrying this policy into effect.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, if during this winter, before allowing any coal produced in this country to be sold abroad, he will see to it that the reasonable requirements for comfort are available for our own people.

As I have informed the House on previous occasions, we are not exporting any coal except what is necessary for the war effort. Subject to this qualification the answer is in the affirmative.

May I take it that any coal which is exported to Italy is in conformity with and in pursuance of the Prime Minister's statement that our policy is to "let them stew in their own juice," and that we heat it up for them?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) whether he proposes to publish a further issue of the Statistical Digest including the figures of output, etc., for the quarter ended 30th June, 1944; and, if not, whether he will issue in the OFFICIAL REPORT at once the figures for that quarter for output, number of workers, absenteeism at the coal face and overall, and the output per man-shift at the coal face and for all workers;

(2) if he is aware that no statistics concerning the output of coal have been published in the Board of Trade Journal since his promise on 9th May that this would be done; and why it is that no information is available to the House regarding production for the quarter ended 30th June, 1944.

As my hon. Friend will recall, the principal figures of production for the June quarter were given in the House on 13th July by my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary. Fuller figures are being printed in this week's "Board of Trade Journal," and a fuller statement of the statistics, including all district figures, will be issued by the Stationery Office in the near future.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he can estimate the amount of extra coal which will be consumed as a result of the increase in electric and gas lighting recently sanctioned by the Minister of Home Security; and whether he is satisfied that this extra coal can be provided without serious diminution of the amount reasonably required for purposes of heating.

As I informed my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Stafford (Major Thorneycroft) on 3rd October, it is not possible to estimate the amount of additional fuel which will be consumed as a result of the recent relaxation of lighting restrictions. If street lighting were resumed on a pre-war scale it would involve the consumption of additional coal of the order of a million tons a year. At present, however, street lighting is on a much more limited scale than in pre-war days and I have arranged to find the additional supplies required.

In view of the fact that a large amount of coal is to be used for extra lighting, which we all welcome, will my right hon. and gallant Friend consider very carefully the relative value of heat and light?

I do not want to go into that question now. My right hon. Friend has said that we all welcome the increased lighting, and I think that is a true observation; the whole country does welcome it, and I wish to do all I can to ease some of the strain from which our people have been suffering now for over five years of war. The amount of fuel involved is not comparable with what is required in peace-time, and I think it is a national service to find it.

Will my right hon. Friend ask local authorities to take every precaution to see that street lights are not left burning throughout the day?

My hon. and gallant Friend will probably be surprised to hear that some street lights have been burning throughout the day practically throughout the war. That is because of the system in use. I am most anxious that every possible economy should be exercised now that the relaxation has been allowed, and I am perfectly satisfied that local authorities will do that.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that so far as the House of Commons Library is concerned, we could save fuel by having no fires but central heating?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the gross increase in profits of the colliery companies contained in the latest returns over those disclosed immediately before 3rd June, 1942.

There has been no gross increase in profits but a decrease. I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is to be the future of the Coal Commission set up under the chairmanship of Sir Ernest Gowers; how far the work he undertook was completed before the outbreak of war; and whether any amalgamations have resulted during the war.

Under the Coal Act, 1938, the Coal Commission became the fee simple owner of all unworked coal in the United Kingdom, on the 1st July, 1942, and its principal function is to exercise all the duties of unified ownership of the minerals. The Commission has also, however, a second function, under Part II of the Act, which is to endeavour to bring about the amalgamation of colliery undertakings, where they think it desirable. I assume that my hon. Friend is referring only to this second function. The Commission stated in their first annual report that they did not propose during the war to proceed with any proposals for amalgamations which might require the making of an Order by the Minister, but the future of Part II of the Act is now under consideration. With regard to the last part of the Question, a few colliery amalgamations have been made or are in course of preparation by the parties concerned.

Am I to understand that Sir Ernest Gowers' contract for looking after all the minerals in the country is the same as his original contract was for being chairman of the Coal Commission, which was associated with amalgamation?

There are two Parts of the Act, and the duties of the Chairman of the Coal Commission in the first Part of the Act are, as I have indicated, clearly laid down. In Part II also there are duties one of which is to form amalgamations wherever possible.

The chairman is the same, with the old conditions of service?

Can my right hon. and gallant Friend say how many amalgamations have taken place since 1942?

I cannot without notice. There are not very many, but I will get the figure for my Noble Friend.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman sure that Sir Ernest Gowers is earning his comparatively high salary?

The hon. Member will appreciate that a tremendous lot of work which the Commission could do is inevitably held in abeyance during the war.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what the Government receive in exchange for the coal they export to various foreign countries.

The limited quantities of coal shipped to foreign countries are exported either to meet the operational needs of our Forces overseas or in order to obtain supplies essential to the United Nations' war effort. My hon. Friend will realise that I could not on security grounds give details of these supplies.

In view of the right hon. and gallant Gentleman's answer to a previous Question to-day are we to take it for granted now, that we do export coal for sale abroad, in return for supplies coming into this country for the war effort?

There is nothing inconsistent in this reply with the one I have given to the hon. Member. I have always said in this House that we export the minimum which is necessary, that is either for operational purposes directly, or for the furtherance of the war effort of this country.

What is the difficulty in giving a return of the export of coal?

The trouble is that a great deal of this coal is directly concerned with operations and, therefore, I cannot disclose the figures.

On what basis are we supplying coal to the civilian population of Italy, and are we getting anything in return for it?

We have not supplied any coal to Italy since January.

Can my right hon. and gallant Friend give us an assurance that every effort is being made to produce coal in those countries where mining areas have been liberated?

I can assure my hon. Friend we are doing everything we possibly can to increase the output of coal in these various districts, and also to increase that of other parts of the world. I assure him that I am doing everything I possibly can to make them as self-supporting now as possible.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that, in the extensive woodland districts of Southern England, a quantity of wood suitable for fuel but not for other purposes is at present allowed to waste because no organisation exists to instigate or compel its collection and distribution; and if he will take steps to collect and distribute this fuel.

Three years ago all local authorities were asked to organise schemes on behalf of my Ministry for the collection and storage of waste timber for use in time of emergency, and I am glad to say that since that time considerable quantities of waste wood have been utilised in this way. Special attention has been given to the abundant supplies available in the Southern Counties, where the collection and sawing of this wood is now being carried out on a fairly extensive scale. In addition, coal and timber merchants are also taking advantage of available supplies of wood in this area.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that these logs, collected in various parts of the country, are being sold by the people concerned at very high prices? Has he no control over those prices? They compare unfavourably even with the high price of coal. Will he look into that?

I think that is so. I do not dispute that at all, but my experience at the Ministry of Food, if I may draw on it, was that, when things were in very short supply, control tended to make them disappear altogether. In view of the very limited supply the same thing might happen here.

In view of the difficulty of dealing with this matter by question and answer, and in view of the fact that my information is exactly contrary to that given by the Minister, I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will consider restoring the basic petrol ration for motor cycles so as to enable war workers to travel more easily to and from their work.

Petrol coupons have always been given to workers for journeys between their home and their place of work wherever public transport between those places is not reasonably practicable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there is still any reason for complete secrecy with regard to the United Kingdom's imports and exports; and when does he intend to resume publication of this information.

As stated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for South Croydon (Sir H. Williams) on Tuesday last, I propose to publish shortly particulars of our export trade in 1943 and preceding years.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when they will be published? They have already been published in the United States.

No, Sir. What. we shall publish has not all been published in the United States. What we are publishing is now with the printers, and it rests with the printers when it can be put out.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that long-term contracts running into millions of pounds are being made between the U.S.A. and British Dominions and that similar contracts for purchases in Great Britain are being lost through lack of facilities and policy within his Department; and what steps he is taking to save these contracts for British manufacturers.

No, Sir. There is nothing to prevent United Kingdom manufacturers discussing post-war contracts with prospective customers in the Dominions and in other overseas markets; and, indeed, I am most anxious that they should do so, even though in many cases firm commitments and delivery dates may not yet be possible. Facilities are now being granted to manufacturers, subject to the over-riding priority of war work, to prepare for peace-time production; and also for visits to overseas countries.

Would the Minister like to meet a gentleman from the Dominions, who has already spent a considerable amount in America and has been promised delivery date, and who has not been able to spend one penny in this country, or to get any indication of delivery date?

I should be happy to meet anybody who could help me. I should have been even happier to have met this gentleman before he had done what the hon. Gentleman says he has done.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the difficulty that people who are endeavouring to obtain trade in other countries have in obtaining materials? I am not asking for bulk supplies, but only for samples.

Yes, Sir; we shall do the best we can to help them.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the American industrialists have a decided advantage over the industrialists of this country, because they have fairly ample supplies of material and ample reserves, while we have neither? How are we to redress the balance? What is the good of talking about long-term contracts with the Dominions or with other countries, unless we have a reasonable assurance of supplies?

Does the Minister realise that this is only one of dozens of such cases? Is he so out of touch that he does not realise that the Overseas Trade Department is a standing joke? It is no good the Minister losing his temper; we want something done.

My hon. Friend should be aware that the Department of Overseas Trade is partly responsible to the Board of Trade and partly responsible to the Foreign Office. I am concerned to do all I can to assist British exports, and that, I venture to say, in spite of my hon. Friend's long supplementary question, I am doing, having regard to the difficulties which arise from the fact that in this war, and at the last stage of this war, everything is short and the whole community is under stress.

In order that the Minister may have an opportunity to do what he says he wishes to do, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he anticipates cancelling wholly or in part the regulations which made France enemy territory.

The liberated areas of France are no longer enemy territory. But control still continues over French property in the United Kingdom. Discussions on this question and on that of British property in France are now proceeding.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many persons have been prosecuted by his Department for offences that were not punishable before the present war; how many of those were employed persons; and how many were imprisoned, giving the number of employed persons separately.

The collection of all these particulars would be a formidable piece of research, which would not justify the time and labour involved.

May I take it that there is a record in the Department of all these prosecutions? May I also ask the right hon. Gentleman what becomes of the large sums imposed in these cases in fines? Does his Department get the money?

The Treasury gets it, and, although there are records, I repeat it would mean taking staff off much more important work in order to elaborate all these particulars.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied that the cotton textile machine industry is in a position to fulfil the urgent demands that are likely to be made upon it after the war, given the vital need of equipping mills and the most modern machinery.

Yes, Sir. I have recently discussed this matter with the Cotton Board and with the textile machinery makers, for whom I have since arranged an increased allocation of iron and steel. In proportion as they are released from war contracts, on which they are still largely engaged, they should be able to provide an increasing quantity of machinery for the re-equipment of the cotton industry. But I hope that cotton spinners and manufacturers will not delay in placing their orders.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied, not only in respect to materials, which he has told us about, but also in respect to prices? Will they be really competitive prices?

We are here speaking of supply to the home markets; the question does not relate to export.

I want to know whether the right hon. Gentleman is satisfied that the supply of materials for the manufacturers of textile machinery will be available not only in due time, but at a price which will be world competitive, so that the reorganisation of the cotton trade can proceed along world competitive lines?

I hope so; but I am in constant touch with the industry, and various sections of it, and if they have any suggestions to make to me, I shall be only too glad to hear them.

As the extent to which the industry will avail itself of the opportunity to instal new machinery will largely depend on my right hon. Friend's attitude to the industry, does he think that his statement on the Report on the Cotton Industry is adequate in that connection?

I think it provides a good start; and there is a further Question about that later on.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for the reopening of the cotton spinning companies closed down in the concentration scheme.

As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Moss Side (Mr. Rostron Duckworth) and my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for East Leicester (Colonel Lyons) on 26th September, complete deconcentration of industry is unlikely to be possible until after both Germany and Japan have been defeated; but, as soon as sufficient labour and material become available, a start will be made with reopening some closed firms. The Cotton Board is now considering the matter, in consultation with representatives of both running and closed mills.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that such delay may be extremely dangerous, in view of the fact that he must make every effort to increase our cotton exports? Cannot something be done sooner?

It is not a question of something being done sooner: it is a question of the available labour being employed. The running cotton mills are short of labour, and they can absorb all the labour immediately available without other mills being opened.

Will my right hon. Friend approach the Minister of Labour, to get more labour?

Yes, Sir; but always subject to the requirements of the war effort.

Is the right hon. Gentleman combing out Government offices for surplus labour?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can make any statement of post-war export policy for the cotton industry.

As has been frequently stated, it is the aim of the Government, after the war, that exports shall be increased by at least 50 per cent. over their pre-war volume. The Government count on the cotton industry, as I said at Manchester last month, to play its full part in this expansion. With a view to this, I urged the industry to take certain immediate steps to increase its efficiency.

Has my right hon. Friend received any representations from any commercial attaché?

We are constantly receiving representations from commercial attachés on this subject.

How does my right hon. Friend intend to increase our exports by 50 per cent. in the absence of any discriminatory commercial agreement?

That question raises wider issues of commercial policy generally, and goes beyond cotton.

Does my right hon. Friend not realise that it is useless merely to exhort the industry to increase its exports, unless the Government provide some facilities for the industry to get into foreign markets and the markets of the Empire?

As I also stated on the occasion referred to, when I visited Man- chester, it is the view of the Government that for some time to come after the war the cotton industry should be able to sell overseas, at good prices, all it can produce. I see no reason whatever for any pessimism in the short run, and I hope we are going to co-operate to make a long run policy that will be satisfactory. The immediate issue before the cotton industry will not be to find markets, but to have the labour and materials made available in order to enable it to sell in overseas markets.

Would it not be a good economic policy to ensure that every consumer of cotton goods-in this country was served before any cotton goods were exported?

No, Sir, that would not be a good policy. It would mean that the people of this country would fail to secure the imports necessary in order that they should have a proper standard of living. The policy of the Government, which has been frequently indicated, is to keep a proper balance between home and export trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is taking any steps to implement the five point policy for the cotton trade which he recently put before the Cotton Board.

These five points call for action by the industry itself, and I am glad to hear that the Post-War Committee of the Cotton Board are losing no time in starting work on them. I shall, of course, keep in close touch with the Committee.

Would my right hon. Friend consider the desirability of asking the industry to set up a specific committee to deal with the problem of a better integrated selling organisation?

That was the third point which I put to the Committee—to overhaul the merchanting organisation—and I am very anxious that they should do it, but I think I had better not dictate to the industry what committees they should set up. The Cotton Board has already set up a committee to deal with post-war problems, and we had better leave it at that.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will re- establish the practice of issuing permits and coupons for utility furniture from Assistance Board offices in South Wales, rather than Southport, to avoid errors and delay.

These permits are issued, on my behalf, by the Assistance Board. In order to economise staff, this work has been centralised in London and Southport. Steps have recently been taken to speed up the issue of permits and to overtake the arrears.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to ensure that there will be sufficient furniture available to supply both temporary and permanent post- war houses by the time they are ready.

The number of firms making utility furniture is steadily increasing, and I look forward to a further rise in production, as more furniture makers are released from war contracts. I arm confident that there will be sufficient furniture for these new homes.

Is the Minister aware that, as a result of the prefabrication system which has been adopted, there will be something between 4,000 and 4,500 houses a week coming into production; that they will require a lot of furniture, and that they will be useless unless my right hon. Friend has the furniture ready?

I keep in close touch with the Ministers responsible for the housing programme, and I do not think that my section of production will lag behind theirs. I would also remind my hon. Friend that a lot of the furniture, particularly in prefabricated houses, will be built in, and I am very glad that this is so, and that this furniture will be provided by a different section of industry.

Is the Minister aware that the co-operative societies have a monopoly—[Interruption.]

It is time they had.

Why?

Because they belong to the people.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the comments of the Controller-General of Factory and Storage Premises respecting the Report of the Cinematograph Film Council; whether that Report has now been considered by him; when he is likely to make a pronouncement on the matter; and will he then indicate his own views on the matter.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." In reply to the rest of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 26th September to my hon. and gallant Friends the Members for Sudbury (Colonel Burton) and Wellingborough (Wing-Commander James).

Does my right hon. Friend not think that critical comments of this nature should not be made by a gentleman occupying that office?

No, Sir; I welcome comments from all quarters on films. We still have a system of free speech in this country, and I think it is very advantageous that anybody who has anything to say about films, particularly if he has any knowledge of the subject, should be free to do so.

Does that apply to one who is involved, and whose duty is to support a point of view with which he is associated?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of men's hats and caps available for sale to the public; and when he anticipates that larger supplies will be made available to retail traders.

I have no evidence of any serious shortage, but fresh supplies will become available when the new quota period begins next month.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the imminent acute shortage of infants' and children's wear, he will consult with the Minister of Labour with a view to such restoration of skilled labour as will bring the manufacturers' approved labour force at least to the level of October, 1943.

In order to achieve the maximum war effort against the enemy this year, there have been considerable withdrawals of labour from the clothing industry, on which the Ministry of Supply is still making heavy demands both for Service clothing and for suits for demobilised soldiers. As a result, the production of civilian clothing has fallen in recent months, but there is no reason to fear any acute shortage, and I am giving special priority to supplies of infants' and children's wear. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour has already arranged to suspend temporarily any further withdrawal of labour from nucleus firms in the industry and I am in touch with him about the need to increase the labour force of the industry to the fullest extent that war production permits.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply may I ask would he not agree that, unless this skilled labour is restored to manufacturers very shortly, they will be completely unable, once existing stocks are exhausted, to renew them, and that there will be a very serious shortage very soon?

No, Sir. I think—indeed, I know—the position is not as bad as has been suggested in some quarters, but I repeat that I am closely in touch with the Minister of Labour, and we are anxious to do everything possible to maintain, and, as soon as possible, to increase, the labour force in the industry.

Will the Minister bear in mind that there is likely to be an increased demand on account of the Secretary of State for War bringing soldiers home?

asked the President of the Board of Trade is he aware of the considerable difficulty that is being experienced by smokers in obtaining pipes at the present time; and if he will increase the supply available to tobacconists.

Yes, Sir. But I am glad to say that I have arranged for a resumption of imports of briar from North Africà and increased supplies should be arriving shortly.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask if it is possible, when travel conditions allow it, for somebody to go over to the town where the pipe bowls are made—I think it is in the Jura mountains—to find out if there is not a large supply of half-made ones there at the present time?

If my hon. and gallant Friend will keep in touch with me on that matter, I will try to facilitate a visit.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the announcement of the chairman of the U.S.A. War Production Board that 380 of the 500 restrictions placed on American industry during the war would be relaxed when Germany has been defeated; and whether he is yet in a position to give a picture to British industrialists as to what will be their position as regards war-time controls in similar circumstances.

I have seen this announcement. No similar arithmetical statement can be made as to restrictions in this country, and, even if it could, it would have little meaning. But my hon. Friend can be assured that the Government will continue, after the defeat of Germany, only those wartime controls on industry which are necessary in the national interest, including, in particular, the need to bring about the speedy defeat of Japan.

May I ask my right hon. Friend, apart altogether from control of personal liberty, which should be done away with at the earliest possible opportunity, does he not think it high time that the Government instructed the Department to make out a list of the things which might be decontrolled in Business, so that those businesses could get on with peace-time production? [Interruption.]

So little done and so much to do.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the announced procedure for granting licences to disabled ex-Service men for the opening of shops applies to all disabled ex-Service men or whether it is restricted to those who have suffered their disabilities as the result of their service in the Forces during the present war.

The latter, Sir. But any application made by a disabled ex-Service man of the last war will have sympathetic consideration.

Will this also apply to men invalided out of the Forces?

Yes, Sir.

And to those disabled in Civil Defence?

I hope my hon. Friend will put that question down.

Will this also apply to men disabled in the minor wars between the two great wars?

No, Sir. We are primarily dealing with this war, and the representations made to me have been on behalf of men disabled in this war. The more we travel in the direction of bringing in other categories, the less priority can be given to men disabled in this war. I think we had better leave the thing as it is.

asked the Prime Minister what will be the role and authority of Sir Malcolm Trustram Eve regarding rehousing in London; and to what Minister should questions regarding his work be addressed.

Sir Malcolm Eve has been appointed by the Minister of Reconstruction with executive responsibility for concerting the activities of the various agencies—both Government Departments and local authorities—which are concerned in the London area with the repair of war damage and the provision of as much temporary living accommodation as can be made available for use as soon as possible. Questions relating to the work of a single Department should continue to be addressed to the Minister responsible for that Department. Questions of a more general character should for the time being be addressed to the Minister without Portfolio.

In view of the really serious situation prevailing in London, may I ask my right hon. Friend two paints? Would he arrange for regular, periodic meetings between Sir Malcolm Trustram Eve and London hon. Members; and, secondly, would he consider setting aside a day for the House to debate the situation in London?

In regard to the first point, I would like to see that question on the Paper, and give it a full answer. The second point must be considered with regard to the other claims on the time of the House at present.

Is the Minister aware that conditions in some boroughs of London are so chaotic, that volunteer builders from the West country think it is an absolute waste of time to be there?

In view of the fact that Sir Malcolm Trustram Eve has already met representatives of the London Labour Party, would it not be right that he should also meet hon. Members who represent London constituencies?

I have not said that he should not. I only want to see the Question on the Paper.

Can the Minister say whether arrangements are already in hand to meet that point?

asked the Prime Minister whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer's recent statement at the Mansion House, that we are opposed, in principle, to all discriminatory commercial and currency agreements of a permanent character and intend to work for their elimination, represents the policy of His Majesty's Government.

My right hon. Friend informs me that the purpose of the part of his speech referred to was to call attention to the effect of the Mutual Aid Agreement which His Majesty's Government entered into with the United States Government in February, 1942. In it we agreed to work for the elimination of all forms of discriminatory treatment in international commerce. As stated by the Prime Minister on 21st April last, in the Debate on Empire and Commonwealth Unity, this is qualified by an understanding that we are not committed to the abolition of Imperial Preference. The policy of His Majesty's Government is to carry out in letter and in spirit the provisions of the Agreement, to the terms of which I invite the attention of my hon. Friend.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether this does not constitute rather a serious departure from the policy of this country since he has not yet received the authority or sanction of the House; and in view of his statement, does he not think that we ought to have an early Debate on the whole question?

I should doubt whether an early Debate would be useful. Perhaps my hon. Friend would discuss the matter with me.

Is it not true that the Chancellor of the Exchequer was speaking entirely for himself, and without any authority from the House, and apparently without any endorsement of the Government; and why does he not say so and let us know exactly where he stands? He has no authority to make any such statement without the consent of this House.

No, Sir, I cannot agree entirely that a responsible Minister like the Chancellor of the Exchequer is not entitled to make a speech without having it vetted, first of all, by the whole House.

Of course, he is entitled to make a speech but, if he makes a statement of principle that commits this country and this House to a line of policy upon which the House has not expressed an opinion, surely that is most undesirable?

An agreement has been discussed in the House.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the maintenance of the sterling area is still an object of Government policy; and how, in the absence of a discriminatory currency arrangement for the sterling area, he proposes to deal with the sterling balances now held in London.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. In regard to the second part of the Question it is important to keep in mind the distinction between arrangements which will be necessary and appropriate in relation to the post-war transitional period and to international indebtedness arising out of the war on the one hand, and the ultimate objectives to which the policy of this and other countries should be addressed on the other hand. It is clear that the question of the sterling balances now held in London belongs to the former category.

May I ask my right hon. Friend how he intends to maintain the sterling area without some kind of discriminatory currency arrangement?

That is a matter which might very appropriately be cleared up some time in the course of Debate. I personally see no difficulty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the discriminatory commercial and currency agreements to which the Government is opposed include all forms of clearing and payments agreements, bulk purchase contracts and import control; and whether the effect of the application of the principle of non-discrimination upon our long-term agricultural policy has been taken into consideration.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative and to the second part in the affirmative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reconsider his decision not to extend Pay-as-you-Earn to serving men and women so as to avoid any accumulation of heavy indebtedness which they will otherwise have to defray at the end of their service.

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension in thinking that the existing basis of taxation of the Forces leaves an accumulation of arrears of tax at end of service. As I explained on the Second Reading of the Income Tax (Offices and Employments) Bill last February, the Forces already pay as they go inasmuch as the tax chargeable on them is deductible within the Income Tax year; the system of collecting tax many months in arrear which formerly applied to most civilian employments does not apply to the Forces. The Forces were excluded from the full "Pay-as-you-Earn" system because of the practical difficulties of bringing them in under war-time conditions, but it was specially provided that they would enjoy the current year basis of income instead of the preceding year basis if more favourable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will facilitate the provision of foreign exchange to British business men who wish to go overseas for the purpose of reestablishing export trade.

Yes, Sir, in appropriate cases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Government Departments which have requisitioned private houses and other properties for war purposes have, in many cases, failed to do the ordinary year to year maintenance work, outside painting, inside painting, pointing, etc., which would have been done had the property not been requisitioned; that this failure has substantially increased the deterioration of such properties while in Government occupation; and whether, in assessing fair wear and tear under the Defence (Compensation) Act, 1939, for assessing compensation payable to owners when such properties are relinquished, this factor will be taken into account.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3rd October. Due regard will also be given to damage caused by failure to carry out necessary maintenance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Regulations allow a fanner, before striking his balance of profit or loss for tax purposes, to debit his account with any salary or wage for his own services.

The deductions admissible for taxation purpose in the computation of profits of a business are governed by Statute law and not by Regulations and the law allows no deduction in respect of salary or wages drawn by the proprietor of a business.

In those circumstances, would the Chancellor of the Exchequer kindly oblige by arranging for an early alteration of the Act?

I see no point in that suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to assisting British trade recovery, he will consider a readjustment of the Excess Profits Tax.

Questions relating to changes in taxation are proper for discussion on the Finance Bill and I am unable to anticipate my Budget Statement.

Is the Chancellor of the Exchequer aware that, unless some hundreds of small firms, especially those firms which started business after 1938, get some E.P.T. relief, they will have to go out of business, with the subsequent result that thousands of workers will be unemployed? And will he consider this question one of great urgency?

These are all matters for consideration in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the position of British trading firms with regard to the renewal of equipment and machinery; and does he propose to render any financial assistance to such firms.

I have nothing at present to add to what is said in paragraph 6 of the White Paper on Employment Policy (Cmd. 6527).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the widespread dissatisfaction with the present method of assessing compensation for war damage, he will assure owners of business premises destroyed by enemy action that it is the policy of His Majesty's Government that, provided those premises were of up-to-date and sound construction, they will qualify for compensation on a basis no less favourable than those who have suffered partial loss only and who qualify for a cost of works payment; and that the financial result to the owners of interests in war damaged premises will be the same whether such owners receive a value payment, a converted value payment or a cost of works payment.

The assumption that a war damaged building must be a "total loss" as defined in the War Damage Act if entirely destroyed is incorrect, and premises which immediately before damage were structurally sound, were adequately equipped by modern standards for their purpose and did not represent a wasteful use of the site should qualify for a cost of works payment under the formula prescribed in Section 7 of the Act, whatever the extent of the damage. As regards the second part of the Question, the value payment prescribed in the Act is not related to building costs, but to the depreciation in the capital value of the property caused by the war damage calculated as at the 31st March, 1939.

While thanking the Chancellor for that enlightening answer, will the new rule as he now states it, in regard to qualifying for a cost of works payment under Section 7 of the War Damage Act, apply to a building which has been totally destroyed if it conforms to the definition that the Chancellor has given?

Yes, certainly, Sir. that was the point of my answer.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are large numbers of houses in London that will not possibly qualify under the conditions laid down by my right hon. Friend because they are 60, 70 or 80 years old? Is he aware that in those cases the amount of compensation now being offered as a value payment by the War Damage Commission is totally unrelated to what the person had to pay even in March, 1939?

There is a provision in the Act by which the question of whether a payment proposed to be made is adequate according to the terms of the Act can be submitted for independent adjudication. I believe I am right in saying that the Commission have recently made it perfectly clear that the first proposals made to claimants are subject to further consideration by the Commission itself if a case can be made out.

May I further ask the Chancellor whether a building which otherwise qualifies for a Cost of Works payment would also qualify if, for town planning or other reasons, it could not be built on the original site?

I think my hon. Friend must be well aware that there is a special provision in the War Damage Act dealing with that case, and when a property which has been damaged is the subject of a notice to treat, the only payment which can be made under the War Damage Act as it now stands is a Value Payment.

Sir. William Wayland.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman—

On a point of Order. Mr. Speaker, is an hon. Member entitled to ask a supplementary question after a subsequent Question has been called?

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether it is not the object of the review which is to be undertaken on the principle of compensation to remove this kind of grievance, as it will be necessary to do if the code is changed under the Planning Act?

I think that it is rather anticipating the course of events. The review to which my right hon. Friend refers is a review of the compensation proposals embodied in the Town and Country Planning Bill. How far the result of such review will have a bearing on this very special technical problem raised by my hon. Friend is a matter for subsequent consideration.

Further to the reply given by the Chancellor, is he aware that in a large number of cases, some of which I have brought to his notice, the payment being offered is 25 per cent. of the cost which would be required to replace these totally destroyed buildings? Could he ask the War Damage Commission to make their first offer somewhere nearer the independent valuation, and not force all these people to appeal?

It ought to be quite clearly understood that compensation under the War Damage Act, so far as Value Payments are concerned, has nothing whatever to do with the cost of replacement.