asked the Minister of Information what arrangements have been made respecting the future of the films division after the termination of his Ministry; and whether it is likely to remain under Government auspices and control.

When the Ministry of Information ceases to exist so also will the Films Division. But film making by the Government began before a Ministry of Information was created and it is possible that the Government will wish to continue this activity after the Ministry is wound up.

asked the Minister of Information whether, in view of the serious shortage of paper, he will say what procedure is adopted to decide whether any particular pamphlet of limited interest is of sufficient importance to warrant the paper required for its publication.

The Ministry of Information has no control over the use by printers or publishers of their paper supplies for the production of pamphlets. Apart from official booklets printed and sold through the Stationery Office the consumption of paper by the Ministry in the production of pamphlets is negligible.

asked the Minister of Information what steps he is taking to ensure an interchange of news and newspapers between London and Paris and London and Brussels.

The widespread distribution of newspapers in Paris and Brussels on a commercial basis cannot be organised whilst these capitals remain in the military zone. But it has been possible for the Ministry of Information to arrange through Supreme Allied Headquarters for the daily delivery in these capitals of a fair number of newspapers. These are being distributed by the Press Attachés to French and Belgian editors who are most anxious to have them. Regular series of news summaries are being sent to the Press Attachés through the same channels.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now consider the question of removing the severe lighting restrictions imposed in the omnibuses used by the travelling public; and if, in view of the splendid service rendered by drivers and conductors during the last five years, and the great strain they have been compelled to endure, and the recent changes in the military situation, he will treat this matter as one of urgency.

The amount of lighting allowed in omnibuses was increased last year to a standard which was considered adequate to enable passengers to read with reasonable comfort, and was applied to the whole country except for certain coastal areas. This standard compares favourably with the relaxations which have since been allowed in other classes of lighting, and my right hon. Friend is afraid that the complete removal of restriction as suggested in the Question is not practicable at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the air-raid shelters built in industrial and business premises and now derated may, when the national emergency ceases, be demolished or used for industrial and/or storage purposes.

The policy to be adopted in regard to air-raid shelters in industrial and business premises when the national emergency comes to an end is under consideration, but my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to give any indication of the conclusions likely to be reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that ample mechanical equipment is available for the clearing and levelling of bombed areas in London; and if not, what steps he is taking to improve the position.

Mechanical equipment is available for this purpose and can be supplemented as necessary by equipment at the disposal of the Ministry of Works. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the existing arrangements are sufficient to ensure that mechanical equipment is provided on a scale sufficient to meet the needs of clearance and demolition.

asked the Minister of Health when he anticipates that substantial numbers of prefabricated houses will be available for Londoners.

My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Production during the recent debate on the Housing (Temporary Accommodation) Bill.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works how far it is his practice to requisition new houses and houses completed and reinstated by an owner; and whether, to encourage builders, an undertaking can be given not to requisition such newly-built property.

It is not the present practice of the Ministry of Works to requisition new houses or houses reinstated by an owner for housing purposes. Save in the most exceptional circumstances, the Ministry will not requisition newly-built house property.

asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements are being made for the release from the Services of building trade operatives required urgently for the repair of war damaged houses, including skilled operatives formerly self-employed.

It is not possible in present circumstances for the Armed Forces to release large numbers of their trained personnel for civilian work, however urgent. Considerable numbers of skilled building trade workers in trades in which the scarcity is most acute have, however, been and are still being released from the Army for work with contractors engaged on bomb-damage repairs in London and with the Special Repair Squads of the Ministry of Works. In addition a considerable number of men in uniform have been lent by the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force to assist in first-aid repairs. Skilled operatives formerly self-employed have not been released as a special class, but the cases of individual men are considered if application for their release is made by the Ministry of Works in the normal way.

asked the Secretary of State for War why he is unable to sanction the release from the Army of No. 14604343, Private Taylor, R. S., R.A.P.C., whose services are required for repairing damage in Bomb Alley, in view of the fact that this man, who is a master builder and whose request for release is supported by the Ministry of Works, would be of greater national value at his own work than as a private in the R.A.P.C.

Recommendations for the release of Private Taylor and a very considerable number of other soldiers have been submitted by the Ministry of Works in order that they might be employed on work in connection with the repairs of bomb damage. Each case is carefully considered and a release is sanctioned whenever the men can easily be spared. I regret that in this case it was not found possible to make him available. He was, owing to his category, transferred to the R.A.P.C., which is finding the greatest difficulty in procuring adequate staff to meet its present commitments, and these are likely to increase.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the position of children who were born subsequent to date of accident and to their right of payment of workmen's compensation; and will he make a statement on the facts of the case supplied to him by the right hon. Member for Bedwellty.

The allowances under the Workmen's Compensation Act to a workman in respect of children are limited to children born to him before or not later than nine months after the accident giving rise to compensation. In the case referred to, particulars of which have been furnished by my right hon. Friend, the accident giving rise to compensation occurred in 1926 and the workman would not be entitled to allowances in respect of the children who were born to him in 1934 and subsequently. I am writing my right hon. Friend more fully in regard to this case.

asked the Attorney-General if answers have now been received from all the Dominions in respect of the question of domicile; and whether it is proposed to introduce legislation to enable women, who have always been resident in the United Kingdom but have acquired overseas domicile, to sue for divorce in United Kingdom courts.

As my Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor has already stated, answers have now been received from most of the Dominions and no objection to the proposals for legislation on this topic have been taken. In answer to the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Bill now under consideration in another place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Wood-Winterton Agreement in regard to the demarcation of land is still in operation in Kenya; and what is the estimated area of land suitable for European settlement in the Highlands which is still unoccupied.

As regards the first part of the Question, the policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to the reservation of the Highlands is as stated in the Devonshire White Paper of July, 1923, which of course was subsequent to the Wood-Winterton Agreement. As regards the second part, it is estimated that some 704,000 acres of the land reserved for Europeans are still unalienated, of which 650,000 acres are described as arid pastoral land.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the wife of a private soldier with one child receives 475. 6d. a week allowances; and whether, in view of this recent increase, he will raise the present limit of 46s. for free milk.

Under the Welfare (Foods) Scheme those who are not eligible for free supplies of milk are able to purchase their supplies at the reduced price of 2d. per pint. There is no evidence that families with incomes above the present levels at which free supplies are permitted are unable to meet this small expense.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the Government of Eire have given a firm assurance that in the event of any war criminals whom the Allies desire to bring to judgment landing in Eire they will promptly hand them over to the British Government.

I understand that in reply to a Question addressed to him on this subject in the Dail on 3rd October, Mr. de Valera has said that he hopes to make a statement on the subject in a week or two. Perhaps the hon. Member would put down his Question again, when I hope to be able to give him a fuller reply. In the meantime, I can assure him that we have left the Eire Government in no doubt as to our attitude on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will facilitate the provision for space in passenger aeroplanes for British business men desirous of proceeding overseas for the purpose of the restoration of export trade.

Yes, Sir, subject to war requirements. Air passages are allocated under a system of priorities, and I fear that with so many competing claims on the space available there is little opportunity for conveying passengers other than those travelling on public business.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport if he will facilitate the provision of passenger accommodation on ships for British business men desirous of going overseas for the purpose of re-establishing British trade.

My Noble Friend's suggestion will be most sympathetically considered so soon as military considerations permit, but I cannot now hold out hopes of increased facilities in the immediate future.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will ask the Royal Commission on Equal Pay as between men and women to make their Report within a reasonable period of time, say, six months.

I am not prepared to indicate to the Chairman of the proposed Royal Commission the precise period of time for his Report on these very important investigations.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the discontent among British troops in the S.E.A.C. at the high cost of parcel postage charged on small gifts sent back to this country; and whether he will take steps to abolish this grievance.

The question of reducing the postage rates on parcels sent to this country by British troops in the S.E.A.C. is already under consideration, in conjunction with the Indian authorities.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that temporary postmen-drivers are not given dust coats for summer wear, as are established postmen-drivers; and will he take steps to remedy the omission at the appropriate time.

The supply of dust coats to established postmen-drivers was discontinued in 1937 as being unnecessary. The second part of the hon. Member's Ouestion does not therefore arise.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any use is made of steel or concrete telegraph poles in view of the shortage of wood.

The answer is in the negative. The supply of home-grown timber has been sufficient to meet the needs of the Post Office.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport how much extra coal is consumed by heating an ordinary passenger train travelling, say 100 miles.

Approximately three pounds of coal per mile are consumed for heating an ordinary passenger train.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he has considered the ever-increasing rate of road accidents; and whether, in view of the likelihood of a more intensive road traffic after the end of the war in Europe, he will devise measures to reduce this heavy toll of life.

Yes, Sir. The Committee on Road Safety are hoping shortly to submit an interim Report to my Noble Friend on the measures which they consider necessary to deal with the grave problem of accidents on the roads in the specially dangerous period which will follow the end of the European war.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that many Irish workers are now refusing to pay Income Tax in accordance with the law of this country; and whether steps in such cases can be taken to repatriate these men to Ireland.

I have been asked to reply. My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. It is the statutory duty of the employer to deduct Income Tax from the pay of his employees, including employees from Eire, in accordance with the Regulations made by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. The Regulations give the employer no discretion in the matter, and if he fails to deduct the appropriate tax he nevertheless remains liable to pay the tax over to the Inland Revenue. There can, therefore, be no question of these employees refusing to pay tax in accordance with the law.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state to the nearest £1,000,000 the amount of debt held by Government Departments on 31st March, 1944, under the separate headings of Floating Debt and other Internal Debt, excluding bonds tendered for Death Duties, respectively, in continuation of the figures for previous corresponding dates, and the Departments whose holdings are thus included instead of the accounts whose holdings were excluded from his earlier figures.

The figures on 31st March, 1944, in continuation of those given in the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on 12th July last, are:

	£ millions.
Floating Debt	687
Other Internal Debt (excluding Bonds tendered for Death Duties)	1,596

The principal Government Departments whose holdings are comprised in the above totals are: Admiralty, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ministry of Fuel and Power, Crown Lands, Department of Health for Scotland, Treasury, Ministry of War Transport, Custodian of Enemy Property, Board of Trade, Ministry of Health, Post Office, Paymaster-General and National Debt Commissioners.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether in meeting claims for damage to bombed property, especially where a cost of works payment is allowable, the War Damage Commission will give priority to cases of hardship in which the claimant is elderly and derives his or her means of livelihood from the property.

Cost of works payments are made within a few weeks of the execution of the works and the submission of the claim. As regards value payments, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to a Question on this subject by the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. W. J. Brown) on 3rd October last.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether in cases of British officers and soldiers serving in India, who, before entering the Services had been temporarily resident in India and have thus been absent from their homes in the United Kingdom for an extended period, consideration will be given to their pre-service residence in India in determining the time when they are regarded as entitled to be returned to this country.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply I gave my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Major Keatinge) on 3rd October.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now state if any progress has been made in the matter of supplying religious films to chaplains of His Majesty's Forces serving with the Home Forces.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave my hon. Friend on 3rd August.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, in the interests of safety, the lighting restrictions in respect of military vehicles in Home Commands, the majority of which are now driven by A.T.S. drivers who have had no driving experience outside the Army, may be relaxed in conformity with the lighting now allowed on nonmilitary vehicles.

Instructions were issued on 30th September that masks are to be removed from sidelights. They will then be screened only by translucent material. At the same time two headlamps were authorised for use on War Department vehicles instead of one.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what plans have been made for dealing, after the war, with the land now farmed by war agricultural executive committees and with the agricultural machinery now controlled by these committees.

These matters are under consideration. As regards land, I would refer the hon. Member to my statement on the Second Reading of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill on 9th October, 1941. As regards agricultural machinery in the hands of committees, while it cannot yet be foreseen how long the present arrangements will continue any supplies that become available will be disposed of in accordance with the general principles and procedure set out in the White Paper on Government Surplus Stores (Cmd. 6539) published in July last.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the danger of an outbreak of rabies here resulting from attempts by members of the British and Allied Forces to smuggle dogs and cats into this country, he will co-operate with the R.S.P.C.A. in a Press campaign on this subject both in British papers and papers circulating amongst the Allied Forces.

The need for preventing the smuggling of dogs and cats into Great Britain has already been the subject of discussions with the Service Departments and the Chief of the Veterinary Division of the U.S. Forces in Europe, and steps have recently been taken by the issue of an Army Council Instruction and Admiralty and Air Force Orders to remind all ranks that, except in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the proper authority, the bringing into Great Britain of dogs and cats from abroad is prohibited. Our American Allies have taken similar action to acquaint members of their Forces with the nature of the restrictions. Further publicity may be necessary in order to ensure that all members of the Forces overseas are made aware of the Regulations. That must, of course, be a matter mainly for arrangement with the Service Departments, but I shall be glad to bear in mind this offer of assistance from the R.S.P.C.A.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that under the B.S.I. Schedule No. 1048 (I.R.), 1942, Section 103, a firm has been forbidden to use for packaging purposes some tinfoil which was rolled in the period 1940–41 and is now useless to its present owners because they are no longer permitted to manufacture the product for which the tinfoil was originally prepared; and, as it is in the national interest for surplus material to be used in place of some other, rather than that it should remain unused, will he take steps to permit a procedure of this kind.

A relaxation of the restrictions at present in force under the Packaging Regulations, including restrictions on the use of stocks of materials in the hands of manufacturers, is under consideration. Meanwhile, if my hon. Friend will give me particulars, I shall be glad to examine the case he has in mind.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the provisions of the Control of Paper Order (No. 48) of 1942, as many firms have in stock, but are unable to use, large stocks of posters and showcards relating to the sale of their goods, and as such showcards and posters were printed before the Order came into operation and would still be of use to the firms concerned, subject to slight modifications to bring them up to date, he will take steps to permit such use.

As my hon. Friend will observe from Article 3 of the Order, the exhibition of such posters printed or made before the date of the original prohibition is not prohibited. The relevant dates are 14th September, 1942, for window bills, showcards and display cards, 27th May, 1940, for other posters advertising the sale of newspapers or periodicals, and 12th November, 1941, for other posters advertising the sale of goods other than newspapers or periodicals. While the interpretation of the Order would be a matter for the Courts on any case coming before them, I should not myself be disposed to take exception to a slight modification of a showcard or other poster to bring it up to date.

asked the Minister of Supply what action he has taken to enable former manufacturers of bath tubs, whose factories have been diverted to war production, to return to their normal activities so that the present approximate annual output of 30,000 bath tubs may be increased to about 250,000 in time to satisfy the Government's emergency post-war housing programme.

Steps are being taken to ensure that the necessary labour and capacity shall be available to meet the requirements of baths and other cast-iron goods for the Government's housing programme, as they arise.

asked the Minister of Health how many E.M.S. hospitals are now administered by his Ministry; how many of these are controlled by local authorities; whether the medical officers attached to these hospitals, but not forming part of the original staffs of the local authority hospital, come under the discipline of the hospital superintendent, as do members of the original staffs; and under what authority these hospitals are now undertaking medical services which were not contemplated when the emergency system was inaugurated.

Hospitals in the Emergency Hospital Scheme are administered by their normal governing authorities and not by my Department. The Scheme now includes 1,640 hospitals, of which 671 are controlled by local authorities. Medical officers attached to a local authority hospital are under the discipline of the hospital authority, which is generally exercised through the Medical Superintendent. As regards the last part of the Question, the scheme as originally planned provided for the treatment of civilian casualties from enemy action and of persons transferred from one hospital to another to afford accommodation for the treatment of such casualties. The treatment of these cases is provided for under Sections 50 to 53 of the Civil Defence Act, 1939. The scheme has since been extended under agency arrangements made with the Government Departments concerned and authorised by the Treasury, to include Service casualties and sick, members of the Merchant Navy and various groups of civilian patients engaged on work of importance to the war effort in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will request the Swedish Government to deliver the ex-chief of the Finnish State Police, Anthoni, who is at present under arrest in Sweden, so that he may be tried as a war criminal.

I have no information to show whether Anthoni has or has not been guilty of any war crime, so far as His Majesty's Government are concerned. Any information tending to prove that he has should be forwarded in the usual way to the United Nations War Crimes Commission.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will reconsider the case, details of which have been submitted to him, of a medical student who failed in the examination after his preclinical course at Oxford University, but passed the English Conjoint Board examination and was then admitted to Guy's Hospital Medical School, where he has been training for nine months satisfactorily, but he is now informed by the Ministry that he is liable to be called up for military service although he should be medically qualified in 18 months.

The student concerned was reported by Oxford University as having failed to make satisfactory progress in his studies, and I should not feel justified in making an exception in this case to the usual rules which I explained to my hon. Friend when dealing with a similar case in my reply of 29th July, 1943, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when he anticipates that conditions in France will permit of a Member of Parliament being allowed an exit permit to visit that country.

I cannot add anything to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister gave yesterday on this subject to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Hornsey (Captain Gammans).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can now make any statement on the concluded negotiations for the repatriation, on an exchange basis, of prisoners of war who have been over three years in captivity.

Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Government made certain proposals last April through the Protecting Power to the German Government. The Swiss representative at Berlin has at our request pressed hard for a reply throughout the summer but so far none has been received from the German Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any further statement to make on the Conference at Dumbarton Oaks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the result of the Dumbarton Oaks Conference.

I have at present nothing to add to the statement issued on 9th October and containing the text of the recommendations agreed on the official level at Dumbarton Oaks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any information as to what steps are being taken by U.N.R.R.A. to assist in the care of such refugees as cannot or do not wish to be repatriated to their own countries.

I assume that what my hon. Friend has in mind is that refugees who either cannot or do not wish to be repatriated to their own countries will require to be maintained until such time as the Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees is able to remove them to new places of settlement. The situation is that at the Conference held at Atlantic City last November, U.N.R.R.A. agreed to accept the responsibility for assisting in such maintenance for a reasonable period. I understand that U.N.R.R.A.'s present schemes for care and maintenance of displaced persons provide generally that persons in the category mentioned by my hon. Friend will receive the same treatment as those who are nationals of any of the United Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will give an assurance that the W.A.A.F. who serve with the S.E.A.C. will receive, as they do in the United Kingdom, two-thirds of the rate of pay of the R.A.F., in the equivalent trade or officer branch and all full allowances other than batmen.

Yes, Sir, but the precise method is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why cadets of the A.T.C. who were in reserved occupations were induced to volunteer for the R.A.F. and after being enlisted were later transferred to the Army; is he aware of the deep feeling this action has caused; and will he consider allowing such cases to return to their former civilian employment until the R.A.F. requires their services.

A.T.C. cadets in reserved occupations were accepted for aircrew service when the situation demanded the recruitment of every available man who could qualify for aircrew training. The circumstances of the war have changed. Our air superiority over the enemy has increased. Consequently our casualty rate has been lower than was forecast and we have an excess of potential aircrew over immediate needs. The Army, on the other hand, needs reinforcements and it would be impossible to justify the retention on deferred service for aircrew duties of more men than are likely to be able to fight in the Royal Air Force in this war. Men on the deferred list, including members of the A.T.C., were accordingly given further interviews, with educational, aptitude and medical tests and selections were made up to the numbers required. The remainder were released from Air Force service and their disposal became a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Labour and National Service. I regret the disappointment caused, but my hon. Friend will, I am sure, agree that the needs of the Armed Forces as a whole must transcend individual preferences.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that men serving in the Army, Navy and R.A.F. whose wives are also members of the A.T.S., W.R.N.S. or W.A.A.F. are becoming anxious lest these Service women be ordered overseas for service with their units without the previous knowledge and consent of their husbands; and whether, under these circumstances, an instruction will be issued to the three Service Departments to that effect and that in no case shall Service women with families be ordered overseas.

A married W.R.N.S. officer or rating who proves that she has a claim based on family responsibilities towards her husband or children is always granted deferment for overseas service (or total exemption, if appropriate). W.R.N.S. ratings for overseas draft are all summoned before an Overseas Selection Board at which they have the opportunity of explaining their home circumstances and requesting deferment of draft, if neccesary. In the A.T.S. and the W.A.A.F. service overseas is at present restricted to volunteers.