asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make arrangements for presents sent by serving soldiers, sailors or airmen overseas to be admitted tax free to this country.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for York (Lord Irwin) on 10th October.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the net profits made by the Co-operative Societies from the outbreak of war to the present or nearest convenient date has been charged with Income Tax; whether, in view of the present high level of taxation and its serious effect on non-cooperative traders, he will, in the case of Co-operative Societies who trade with persons who are not members of such societies, repeal Sub-section (3) of Section 31 of the Finance Act, 1933, whereby such societies may deduct as expenses any sums which they pay as discount, rebate, dividend or bonus.

Since 1933 Co-operative Societies have been taxed on the whole of their profits in the same way as limited companies. The "divi." paid by such Societies, which is the sum paid as discount, rebate, dividend or bonus referred to in Sub-section (3) of Section 31 of the Finance Act, 1933, is allowed as a deduction in arriving at the assessable profits in the same way as a discount or rebate allowed by a company would be deducted, and I am not prepared to propose legislation to alter this position, which is in accordance with the recommendations both of the Royal Commission on the Income Tax and of the later Raeburn Committee. I must point out that the deduction admissible under Sub-section (3) of Section 31 does not extend to any sum calculated by reference to any share or interest in the capital of the Society.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will, in computing Excess Profits Tax, disallow expenditure incurred in advertising goods which are now unprocurable.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which my predecessor gave to similar Questions asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Newport (Sir R. Clarry) on 25th November, 1941 [OFFICIAL REPORT, Vol. 376, c. 597–8]and to my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Mr. Creech Jones) on 16th December, 1941 [OFFICIAL REPORT, Vol. 376, c. 1816.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if expenditure incurred during the period 1940–1944 onwards for purchasing new machinery, new motive power or extension of premises for the purpose of providing rest rooms, canteens and other amenities for the welfare of workpeople will be regarded by the revenue authorities as eligible to rank as a claim or set-off against accrued E.P.T. post-war credits.

I would refer my hon. Friend to Section 37 of the Finance Act, 1942, from which he will see that the Excess Profits Tax post-war credit is payable after the end of the war, subject to such conditions as Parliament may impose relating to distribution for the benefit of shareholders. The credit is intended to be available to meet post-war capital expenditure, including expenditure on rehabilitation, reconstruction and development.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the greatly increased cost of building, the Government will take steps whereby the owners of houses totally destroyed by enemy action will receive as compensation value payment under the War Damage Act an amount equal to the value of the house at the time of destruction instead of the March, 1939, value; and whether, in the case of owners of limited means, the Government will make provision for an immediate payment of the whole or part of such compensation.

A large number of totally destroyed houses will qualify for cost of works payments, that is, a payment of the reasonable cost of rebuilding when the work has been done. Where a value payment is to be made, assessment on the basis of the value at the time of destruction would tend to operate against owners in many areas of heavy damage and would be quite unfair as between one owner and another. With regard to the second part of the Question, I understand my hon. and learned Friend to have in mind owners formerly living on the rents derived from the properties concerned. While I sympathise with them in their difficulties, many other persons and classes of persons have sustained serious losses of income owing to the war, and I regret that I cannot take the course suggested.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why his Department refuses to admit claims for compensation for insurance of private chattels unless the premiums are paid on the due date without a day's delay however hard the circumstances of the case; why his Department do not give a month's cover which is sanctioned by all reputable insurance companies; and how many claims under the private chattels insurance have been rejected on the ground of unpaid premiums.

My hon. Friend is misinformed. A period of twenty-one days grace is allowed for the payment of premium from the date of expiry of the old policy in the case of renewals, and from the date of receipt of the application in the case of new insurances.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if consideration will be given to extending the period of insurance to the end of this year without extra cover in the case of the private chattels scheme in the same way as such consideration has been given to the business chattels scheme.

No, Sir. The circumstances of the two schemes are not comparable. Insurance under the private chattels scheme is voluntary and the policies run for twelve months. The great majority of existing policies provide cover beyond the end of the year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate number of State employees, together with their annual cost, who are engaged whole-time in the collection and administration of Income Tax and Surtax.

It is not possible to give separate figures for staff concerned solely with the collection and administration of Income Tax and Surtax as these taxes are administered concurrently with Excess Profits Tax, the National Defence Contribution and War Damage Contribution. The number of officials engaged whole-time in the collection and administration of all these taxes was 33,600 at 30th September, 1944. The estimated cost of their salaries for the year ended 31st March, 1945, is £11,200,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what arrangements are in hand or are being contemplated for the reduction of staffs in Government Departments.

It is the duty of every Department able to reduce staff to take the necessary steps to do so, either by discharging temporary staff, or by arranging for the transfer of established staff to other Departments in need; I can also assure my hon. Friend that every Department is acutely conscious of the man-power position and that staffs are being reduced or transferred to more urgent work whenever and wherever possible.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what are the duties and responsibilities of the Treasury representative who sits on the Crown Estate Paving Commission.

The Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury are among a number of ex-officio Crown Estate Paving Commissioners; they share the duties and responsibilities of the Commission which are laid down by Statute.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the hardship caused to many furnishing companies by compelling them, under the Furniture Order, to sell good furniture at a loss, he will consider modifications of detail from responsible firms and organisations if the facts, of which complaint is made, are laid before his Department.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer on this subject I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stourbridge (Mr. R. Morgan) on 26th September, of which I am sending her a copy. The suggestions made by the trade organisations concerned are now being considered by the Central Price Regulation Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now able to make children's footwear coupon free to ensure better health for children; and whether he will inquire into the poor quality of footwear so far available, in view of the approach of winter and the fact that the leather position is now improving.

I regret that, in view of the shortage of footwear, I cannot see my way to reduce the coupon rates of children's boots and shoes. But I am doing all I can to improve the quality. Leather supplies are still very short and this sets strict limits to what can be done.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to increase the import of sponges into this country and to reduce their retail price.

Prices of sponges are at present controlled under the Prices of Goods Act, 1939. Last year the Central Price Regulation Committee investigated, at my request, the possibility of a maximum price Order for sponges. But they advised me that, in view of the very wide variation in sizes and qualities, this would not be practicable. The supply of sponges is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply. Blight in the Bahamas fisheries and the enemy occupation of Greece and the Aegean Islands have seriously restricted supplies. But I hope that, as a result of events now taking place in the Eastern Mediterranean, imports will increase.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the wool control has made concessions whereby cloth manufacturers are able to advise pre-war customers that they can now accept orders for export; and will he make such concessions to the cotton trade as will enable that industry to prepare for supplying overseas markets.

I have been able recently to approve a limited amount of production of high grade wool piece goods for export to the United States and Latin America. But the output of the cotton industry is barely sufficient to meet essential home and Empire needs, and I regret that nothing can at present be spared for export to the United States and Latin America.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any definite plans to prohibit the further establishment of factories in areas which were officially declared to have reached saturation point before the war and where heavy building programmes have since been carried out; and when he will be in a position to make a definite statement on industrial planning.

I hope that legislation will be introduced next Session to give effect to the proposals in Chapter III of the White Paper on Employment Policy, including the point referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the recent announcement by the Controller General of Factory and Storage Premises that a large number of factories are to be leased at once; and whether, in view of the fact that the North-east area was deliberately deprived of war factories on grounds of vulnerability, he will give preference for the establishment of such factories in that area.

The statement made, on my authority, by the Controller General of Factory and Storage Premises relates to the terms on which existing Government factories in all parts of the country will be leased as they become surplus to Government needs. As regards future building, the Government, as indicated in paragraph 26(c) of Chapter III of the White Paper on Employment Policy, will give priority to areas in special need of industrial diversification, such as the North-East coast.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of people employed in the following basic industries when this country went on to the Gold Standard in 1925 and came off the Gold Standard in 1931: agriculture, collieries, iron-stone mines, blast furnaces, steel producing plants, coke ovens and shipyards and the corresponding figures for 1936.

I am having a statement prepared summarising such information as is available, and will send it in due course to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the dilapidated condition of agricultural buildings due to high taxation and inability to obtain either labour or materials for proper repair or reconstruction; that for the efficient condition of the industry it is essential that buildings should be modern in design; that building costs will throw such a burden on owners that to carry through this work, even with the aid of the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation or Land Improvement Company, will take a long period; and what special steps has he in mind to expedite this necessary work.

My right hon. Friend has appointed a Committee to consider the lay-out, design and construction of farm buildings after the war, whose work is nearing completion. My hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate the difficulties in the way of effecting at the present time all but the most urgent repairs and reconstructions, but I can assure him that the needs of agriculture in regard to labour and materials for building are fully appreciated by the Government.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can state the policy of his Ministry with regard to the maintenance and subsidisation of the British sugar beet industry after the war.

Not yet, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total number of agricultural holdings of 50 acres or over in the county of Shropshire at the latest available date.

In 1942 the number of agricultural holdings in Shropshire of 50 acres or over was returned as 3,584.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the present approximate annual value of our agricultural output.

The value of the agricultural output of the United Kingdom in 1943–44 is estimated to be somewhat over £540,000,000. In computing this figure Exchequer payments in respect of individual commodities such as wheat and potatoes have been taken into account. The estimate is preliminary and subject to revision.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what plan he has for the demobilisation of the W.L.A. after the war.

No plan has yet been formulated for the disbandment of the W.L.A. after the end of the war.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the service of men who went out of the Army on to W. (T) Reserve to assist the A.F.S. in 1940 can be aggregated for the purpose of demobilisation.

This question is under examination and a final decision has not yet been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the Government's proposals for demobilisation will permit of officers who are serving on permanent Regular commissions resigning their commissions, should they so desire, and being demobilised in accordance with the scheme.

Serving Regular officers are not subject to release as such, but applications from such officers to retire or resign their commissions will be considered on their merits according to the exigencies of the Service.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning for what reasons a cement works at Cauldon, Staffordshire, has not been allowed to erect the works it desires.

No decision has yet been reached on this proposal, which will be the subject of a public local inquiry. The inquiry has been fixed for 1st November, 1944.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the publication in the U.S.A. of the Joint Resources Board's Report on the Mechanisation of British Coal Mines, he will now make the Report available to Members in the Library of the House.

The Report of the United States Coal Mission to the Combined Production and Resources Board has not been published either here or in the United States, but a summary of the main findings of the Report was issued as an official release to the Press in both countries on 23rd August. On 3rd October I indicated to hon. Members that further consideration would be given to the proposal to publish this Report. The Government has now decided not to do so, because much of the information contained in this Report was made available on the understanding that it would not be published. Furthermore, it would be undesirable to set a precedent of publishing confidential joint reports to the Combined Production and Resources Board.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he can give the figures showing the number of boys directed to the mines who are now working underground; and what is the number in Lancashire.

The number of men who have completed training at coal-mining training centres and have taken up employment underground is nearly 24,400. The corresponding number for Lancashire is approximately 1,850.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has given an undertaking to act on the advice of the newly appointed Committee to advise on technical matters relating to coal production.

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will give an assurance that the advice tendered on technical matters relating to coal production by the newly appointed advisory Committee win be placed in the Library of the House.

I propose to publish the Report of this Committee when it has been received.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that the National Coal Board, established by the Government to assist him in the production of coal, has not met for over six months and that the Ministry have ceased the issue of up-to-date information on production to the members of that Board; and if he will take steps to see that this body meets more frequently in future.

Meetings of the National Coal Board and its Sub-Committees were temporarily suspended this summer in conformity with the general desire of the Government to curtail long distance travelling during the period prior to and following the invasion of the Continent. These considerations no longer apply to the same extent, and invitations have been sent to members of the Board for a further meeting to be held next month.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement indicating the number of persons employed in the industry below and above the status of colliery undermanagers in 1938 and at the present time; and whether the number of officials above undermanagers has increased since 1938.

I will have the figures collected and, with my hon. Friend's permission, will circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he has considered a Report on the experiments made in the U.S.S.R. in the de-gassification of coal; to what extent such reports indicate that the experiments have been made in the anthracite coalmines; and whether he will consider making such experiments in those anthracite seams in West Wales which have had to be closed because of the quantities of gas given off by the seams.

Whilst my Department has some information about proposals for de-gassification of coal in the U.S.A. I am not aware of the report relating to experiments in the U.S.S.R. to which the hon. Member refers, but if he will send it to me I will have it examined.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that boys directed to the mines are being pressed to join trade unions as a condition of working in the pits; and whether such procedure is approved by him.

I am aware that it is the practice of the trade unions to urge new entrants to the mining industry to accept union membership. No compulsion on them to do so is, however, exercised either by my Ministry or by the Ministry of Labour and National Service, and in this connection I would refer the hon. Member to a statement made by the Earl of Munster in another place on 22nd February.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what were and are the basic rates of pay, and what have been the increases in pay and allowances and the dates when these became effective for all grades of coalmine workers each, separately, since 1939; what increases in food rationing have been granted; and whether the recipients draw these extra rations whether they are actually at work or not.

Basic rates of pay for the many grades of workers employed in the coalmining industry vary greatly for different grades and in different districts. The following figures show the average earnings of men employed in the mining industry.

	Average weekly cash earnings.	Value of allowance in kind.
	£ s. d.	s. d.
During the year 1938.	2 15 9	2 2
During the year 1943.	5 0 0	3 3
During the first quarter 1944.	5 5 9	3 10
During the second quarter 1944 (estimated).	6 0 0	4 0

The wage increases during the war have been:Cost of living increases:

1st November, 1939		…	8d. per shift
1st January, 1940		…	5d. per shift
1st April, 1940		…	4d. per shift
1st October, 1940		…	5d. per shift
1st January, 1941		…	6d. per shift
1st July, 1941		…	4d. per shift
"Attendance bonus"
1st June, 1941		…	1s. 0d. per shift
"Greene award"
1st June, 1942		…	2s. 6d. per shift
"Porter awards"
	November, 1943, to January, 1944…	approximately 1s. 3d. per shift

Wages settlement 20th April, 1944, approximately 1s. 4d. per shift.Speaking generally, there have not been increases in allowance in kind, but value, particularly of coal allowances, has increased substantially during the war.With regard to the second part of the Question, it is the declared policy of the Government to provide miners with additional rational funds through the medium of colliery canteens. Any miner working underground and for whom canteen facilities are not readily available has been entitled, since 1941, to a special weekly allowance of cheese, at present 12 oz., for the preparation of packed meals. This allowance can be drawn so long as the miner is on the colliery books and is not affected by short periods of temporary absence.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the amount of money that has been spent in the various districts of the Miners' Welfare Commission by way of grants to mining students and other students, respectively.

Twenty-one of the District Miners' Welfare Committees have made grants, to the amount of £56,456, to 1,008 students. All the students were coal mine workers, or the dependents of such workers, and 181 of the grants, to an amount of £11,651, were for further education in mining. These grants from the district funds are in addition to the scholarships, exhibitions and other forms of educational grants made by the Miners' Welfare Commission out of its general fund.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give by mining counties the percentages of absenteeism in the mines.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the percentage of absenteeism at the coal face for 1944 to the latest available date.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the figures for the output per manshift worked at the coal face and overall for the year 1944 up to the latest available date.

I would ask my hon. Friends to await the publication of the document to which I referred in reply to two questions by my hon. Friend the Member for South East Essex (Mr. Raikes) on 10th October. This is being issued by H.M. Stationery Office in the near future and will contain the information required by him.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will grant the same concession to Austrian nationals serving with the British Armed Forces to wear a flash on the shoulder of their uniforms, denoting their country of origin, as has already been granted to Danes.

The Danes serve in units with British soldiers. Some did not understand English and it was found convenient to distinguish them with a flash. Austrians in the Army either serve in platoons with other Austrians or have a sufficient knowledge of English. The arrangements made for the Danes for administrative reasons do not therefore apply to them, and I see no reason to depart from the normal rules in their case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has received the evidence of the G.W.R. Police at the Cardiff Docks concerning the case of certain officers who were recently apprehended in an Army utility car leaving the docks and containing stores which had been taken from a dock warehouse and placed in the car for removal; whether he will state the value of the goods found illegally in their possession; what penalty was proposed to be administered; and whether the G.W.R. officials have been authorised to report all cases of delinquency whether by officers or rankers.

Inquiries have failed to reveal any recent incident of this kind. The answer to the last part of the Question is "Yes, Sir."

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men have been killed while engaged in moving minefields from our shores during July, August, September and the first 10 days of October.

Twenty-three.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether A.F. B2626 has now been distributed to all Army units.

Sufficient supplies of the form have been made available both at home and overseas to meet the requirements of all Army units, which are instructed to demand the numbers they need. I have no reason to suppose that by this time all demands have not been met.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there is any distinction in respect of war service increment between an officer who entered the Army on 3rd September, 1939, from the Territorial Army, the Officers' Emergency Reserve or the Supplementary Reserve of Officers and the officer commissioned from the ranks since the outbreak of war; and whether in the case of an officer commissioned from the ranks his total years of war service since 3rd September, 1939, count for war service increment or only those years since he received his commission.

Provided that in all cases the service as an officer has been on full pay and that in the case of an officer who has served in the ranks all his service is reckonable, the total service since 3rd September, 1939, of all officers of the same rank will count equally for the war service increments irrespective of the nature of their commissions.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether soldiers desiring to make a voluntary allotment to a dependant, in addition to a qualifying allotment for marriage allowance, are permitted to do so.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a house, of which he has been informed, was left without any caretaker for over three months from 6th May of this year, and that during that time damage was done to the interior of the building; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent a recurrence of a waste of public money which will have to be paid in compensation.

I understand that the property has been inspected several times a week in accordance with arrangements which have been in force for some time and I am not aware that any damage has been done to this house since it was last occupied. I regret that it is impossible to provide a full-time caretaker for every requisitioned building.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is now able to derequisition the hotels in Cheltenham the proprietors of which have been informed that they are no longer required for members of the U.S. Forces.

A number of the hotels used by the United States forces at Cheltenham were not requisitioned, but hired by agreement between this Department and the owners. It has been decided to terminate the majority of these agreements on or about the end of this month. A few hotels which are held under requisition will have to be retained for the time being to meet possible future commitments, but they will be derequisitioned as soon as the situation permits.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether soldiers who have been transferred to the Reserve during their period of service upon the ground that their services were more urgently needed in the Fire Service or some other branch of Civil Defence, will be entitled to count the period of Army service before such release in addition to the period after their return to the Armed Forces for entitlement to war service increments under paragraph 2 of the recent White Paper [Cmd. 6553].

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Bowles) to-day.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to confine the activities of E.N.S.A. exclusively to entertainments for those serving in the Forces.

While the great bulk of E.N.S.A. entertainment is provided for the Services, a certain additional amount is given, by arrangement with the Ministries concerned, to various classes of civilian war workers, the cost being borne by the Exchequer. It is advantageous that such entertainment should be provided under a co-ordinated scheme rather than that separate organisations should be set up for the purpose. I understand that these arrangements for co-ordination are working satisfactorily and I see no reason why they should be disturbed.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the continued shortage of artistes playing under E.N.S.A. arrangements in India; and if he will give an assurance that he will not take men out of the Forces to make good this deficiency owing to the higher pay which would then accrue to the men so taken and the consequent dissatisfaction that would be caused thereby.

I understand that action has been taken to meet the need for more artistes in the E.N.S.A. entertainment in India, but they will not be taken out of the Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any other soldiers on the Anzio beach-head refused to be vaccinated at the time Major Carson forcibly vaccinated Private Butler; and whether any of them were also forcibly vaccinated.

Apart from Private Butler I only know of one man who refused to be vaccinated on this occasion. He had conscientious objections and was not vaccinated.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider making a King's Regulation prohibiting the vaccination or inoculation by force of any member of His Majesty's Forces and the imposition of any punishment or disability on men who exercise their right to object to these operations.

King's Regulations lay down that inoculation against tetanus and the enteric group or fevers is voluntary and the Manual of Military Law states that a soldier cannot be punished for disobedience of an order to be vaccinated or for refusing to be inoculated. This is well understood, and I am not aware of any need for further regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British soldiers entered hospital for sickness, apart from wounds, in each of the years 1940, 1941, 1942 and 1943, in each of the war areas; and what was the nature of the illnesses from which they suffered.

Medical statistics relating to these years will doubtless be published in due course, but I regret that they are not readily available now.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) what is the minimum period of colour service a soldier must have to qualify for the issue of a civilian suit of clothes or cash in lieu on discharge;(2) what articles of Service clothing a soldier is permitted to retain on discharge, release to Class W reserve, or release under Class A or Class B of the demobilisation plan;(3) whether soldiers who have received a suit of civilian clothes or cash in lieu on release to Class W reserve and are subsequently recalled, will be entitled to a further issue of clothing or cash on demobilisaition; and whether they will be entitled to retain Service clothing on demobilisation if they have already done so on previous transfer to Class W reserve.

In order to qualify for the free issue of a civilian outfit on current discharge soldiers must, in general, have at least one month's service. On release under Class A or Class B six months' service will be required to qualify for the issue. No alternative cash allowance is now permissible. In addition to the civilian clothing, they are entitled to retain such of the following items of Service clothing and necessaries as may be in their possession:

Boots, ankle (pair)			…	…	1
Badge, cap		…	…	…	1
Bag, Kit, universal			…	…	1
Braces	…	…	…	…	1
Discs, identity (set)			…	…	1
Underwear (sets)			…	…	2
Gloves, knitted, drab (pair)				…	1
Housewife		…	…	…	1
Jersey, pullover			…	…	1
Shirts, angola, drab			…	…	2
Socks, worsted (pairs)			…	…	2
Towels, hand		…	…	…	2
Cleaning and Toilet articles.

These arrangements do not apply in certain special cases, for example, when a soldier is discharged for misconduct.On transfer to Class W of the Reserve soldiers are treated in the same way in regard to clothing as though they were discharged. On recall to the Colours within 12 months they are required to bring back their Service clothing and necessaries and are charged for any deficiencies. On subsequent release under the General Release scheme they will not be entitled to a further issue of civilian clothing, but will be allowed to retain such of the Service clothing and necessaries within the approved scale as may be in their possession, together with a suit of battle dress and the authorised headgear.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many German prisoners of war are now in this country; what arrangements are being made for their employment; and whether special steps will be taken to ascertain how many are trained in forestry work since that category of trained employment is not one of those on the list and there is ample scope for such employment in the woodlands of this country.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any of the German prisoners of war brought to this country are to be employed here.

There are 95,000 German prisoners in this country and arrangements have so far been made to employ 17,000 of them. 400 are doing forestry work now, and when further demands for this work arise steps will be taken to find more who are trained in forestry.

asked the Secretary of State for War who is responsible for the Italian prisoners in this country; who arranges for the various work they are supposed to do and sees that it is done.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service is responsible for allocating Italian prisoners of war to the various Departments which employ them. The War Department is responsible for their administration and discipline. Where there are large parties working together a military escort sees to it that they do a fair day's work. Otherwise they are supervised by their employers.

asked the Secretary of State for War under what circumstances Italian prisoners of war have been removed from camp into private billets in the town of Fakenham, Norfolk; and how long this arrangement is to continue.

These Italians had to be moved from their camp in order to make room for German prisoners. The accommodation into which they were to move was not ready and for a week or to days some 20 of them were housed in previously requisitioned property. There was no question of billeting.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Italian prisoners of war in Kent are making shopping and other household baskets of willow wood and reeds and are peddling them locally at high prices, while the Kentish basket makers are prevented by Government restrictions from carrying on their trade; and whether he will take steps to reverse this process.

I have been asked to reply. Prisoners are allowed to make baskets and sell them provided that the owners of the osiers and reeds do not object to the prisoners collecting them, that the prices they charge for the baskets conform to the statutory prices and that they comply with the relevant Statutory Rules and Orders. The proceeds of the sales go to the prisoners' welfare fund. The welfare fund pays the individuals such sums as are agreed between the Camp Leader and the Camp Commandant. In this case, when the Commandant learned that prisoners on working parties were cutting willows without consent, he issued orders that this should cease.

asked the Secretary of State for War why he is treating Italians engaged on essential work in the London area as prisoners of war.

Although the Italian Government are co-belligerent in the common war effort members of the Italian Armed Forces captured in arms against us remain prisoners of war.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the treatment of British prisoners of war in Italian camps was satisfactory.

It is impossible, I think, to give within the scope of an answer to a Question an account of the conditions in the many prisoner of war camps in various parts of Italy and North Africa. The treatment in the camps differed widely and depended in many cases on the personal inclination of individual commandants. In numerous cases, par- ticularly in the North African transit camps, the conditions were most unsatisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the supply of foodstuffs by the United Nations to the peoples of the liberated countries is resulting or will result in such peoples enjoying a better standard of rations than exists in this country.

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that improvements have been made in the conditions under which pensions are granted to unfit ex-Servicemen of the 1914–18 war and the present war, but that no improvements have been made in conditions for pensions for those ex-Servicemen who served between the two wars; and whether he will remove this anomaly in view of the hardship caused.

Considerations which apply in war do not necessarily apply in peace, and I regret that I am not prepared to accept my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion. But as he is no doubt aware, the rates of the awards made between the wars have been increased very considerably since the beginning of this war.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works whether he has had consultation with the light metal industry as regards the contribution that it might make to the solution of the housing situation; and whether he can make a statement on the subject.

There has been consultation between my Ministry and the Ministry of Aircraft Production and with the Light Metal Industry on the possibilities of using light alloys for house construction. It is too early to make a statement on the subject, but a prototype has been ordered, from which it is hoped to form a judgment of the possibilities.

asked the right hon. Baronet the Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, the area of land owned by the Forestry Commission in each of the years 1914, 1924, 1934, and on the latest date for which figures are available.

The Forestry Commission was not established until 1919. The area of land owned by the Department in each of the years mentioned was as follows:

1924	…	…	279,500
1934	…	…	891,600
1944	…	…	1,266,800

asked the Minister of Labour whether trained hosiery operatives who have been given, or can obtain their release from munitions, can be allowed to go back into the trade if and when they can be absorbed by their previous employers, up to the permitted labour force; and whether this permission can be given immediately.

The question whether trained hosiery operatives who are released from the munitions work on which they are engaged can go back to their old trade must depend upon the extent to which their services are required for war production of high priority for which the demands are still very heavy at the present time. In these circumstances it is not possible to give the general assurance for which my hon. Friend asks, but the possibility of effecting this return as and when the labour situation permits will be kept in mind.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the uncertainty and disturbance caused to the local authorities by the present practice of granting deferment to men engaged upon repair of war damaged houses for short periods only; and whether, in view of the urgency of this work, he will now give instructions that deferment in such cases will be granted indefinitely or for a longer period than is at present the case.

My right hon. Friend, in agreement with my Noble Friend the Minister of Works, is issuing instructions that applications for the deferment of men in the building and civil engineering industries need not be made, except in the case of apprentices. In view of the urgency of building work, the only men in these industries who are being called up are men born in or after 1924 who have not been granted deferment as apprentices. A few men may also be required from time to time for service as tradesmen in the Forces but an opportunity will be afforded for the consideration of appeals in these cases. Due notice will be given of any change in the position.

asked the Minister without Portfolio whether there has been any inquiry, either by, or on behalf of his office, into the attitude of working-class women to post-war employment, and if so, whether the results of such inquiry will be published or placed at the disposal of Members of Parliament.

At my request the War-time Social Survey have conducted a sample inquiry among women now working in industry to discover what proportion of them intended to remain in industry after the war. The reports of the War-time Social Survey are not published, but I am sending a copy of this Report to my hon. Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will consider granting an increase in the allocation of petrol to the Blackpool Corporation Transport Department to enable them to run omnibuses until 10.30 p.m. instead of 9.30 p.m. from the town centre for the general convenience of the residents and visiting workers.

The Blackpool Corporation have asked the Regional Transport Commissioner to allow them to run omnibus services until a later hour. The Commissioner is now considering their application in the light of present conditons; he will let them have his decision without any avoidable delay.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will state the total number of technical staff employed on the railways of Great Britain from the latest returns rendered to the Ministry of Transport by the various railway companies, including the L.P.T.B.

The latest returns from the various railway companies and London Passenger Transport Board show that on 13th March, 1943, 3,701 male technical staff were employed. This number does not include certain technical staff who are in receipt of salaries of £500 per annum or more. I am informed that on 9th November last the total number of technical staff, including those who receive salaries of £500 per annum or more, was approximately 4,300.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in the circumstances as at present known to him, he will order an investigation into the causes of the high level of rates in the city of Glasgow.

I am at present receiving reports of the local rates being fixed for the year 1944/45 by local authorities in Scotland. These show considerable increases in many cases. When complete particulars of the rates fixed have been received I shall certainly consider them in order to see whether any special investigation is necessary in any area. Meanwhile, as I have already informed the hon. Member, if any evidence is submitted on particular aspects of local authority expenditure which are held to require special investigation I will consider it in consultation with the local authority concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give the production in Scotland of lime for agricultural purposes for the years 1943 and 1942, respectively; and whether there is any increase in lime production in the county of Dumfries for the period in question.

The production of lime in Scotland for agricultural purposes for the twelve months ending June, 1942, 1943 and 1944 was 110,000, 290,000, and 365,000 tons respectively. I regret that I cannot give figures for the production for agricultural purposes in the County of Dumfries, but I can say that deliveries in the county for the years ending June, 1943 and 1944 were 22,239 and 31,056 tons respectively.

asked the Minister of Food what are the ingredients of the new national loaf; what proportion of the wheat grain and the wheat germ respectively is retained in the flour from which it is prepared; and what proportion of this flour goes into the composition of the loaf as compared with other ingredients.

Apart from water, yeast, salt and various improvers which are the recognised adjuncts of bread baking, the national loaf is made from national flour, which is milled solely from a pure wheaten grist except in a few areas where the inclusion of 2 per cent. rye is authorised. Imported white floor is being mixed into national flour at the rate of 5 per cent. of the output, and calcium is added at the rate of 7 oz. per 280 lb. of flour. In addition, the baker may use potatoes, potato flour and fat as permitted in the Bread (Control and Maximum Prices) Order, 1943. With regard to the second part of the Question, from 1st October the extraction of national flour from wheat has been 82½ per cent. and when milling to this figure approximately 75 per cent. of the available germ is retained in the flour. With regard to the last part of the Question, approximately 97 per cent. of the dry ingredients of national bread is flour.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in consultation with the Dominions, he will endeavour to arrange the reciprocal enforcement of maintenance orders.

Arrangements for the reciprocal enforcement of maintenance orders have for many years been in existence between this country and the Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand and the Union of South Africa. No legislation similar to the Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act, 1920, has been passed in Canada, where the matter falls within the jurisdiction of the several Provinces, and accordingly no Order in Council extending the Act to any part of Canada has been issued. I understand, however, that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs will consider the possibility of taking up the question with the Canadian authorities.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether shops or business premises which have been closed for more than 18 months as a result of war conditions, over which the tenant or owner has no control, are now regarded as ceasing to possess their original character and can be eliminated from any planning scheme without reference to the intentions or wishes of the said tenant or owner.

I would refer my hon. Friend to Clause 41 of the Town and Country Planning Bill as amended in Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why the wife of a man serving in the R.A.F. is having 3s. 6d. per week stopped from her allowance because she is living outside London.

The position of airmen's families in respect of the London allowance is the same as that of soldiers' families. I would accordingly refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War on 1st August, 1944. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind, I will, of course be glad to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is proposed to demobilise education officers, R.A.F.V.R., under the conditions laid down in the White Paper, in the same manner as combatant officers, having regard to the fact that these officers are regarded as having a civilian status and are employed under agreements which provide for determination by three months' notice.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker) on 11th October.

asked the Minister of Labour whether pamphlet P.L. 120/1943 will be published in the Welsh language, as Welsh is the normal language of many people who may wish to take advantage of the schemes outlined therein.

I sympathise with my hon. Friend's suggestion, but as only persons of secondary school standard will be interested in the Further Education and Training Scheme and all Welshmen of that standard of education are familiar with English, I do not feel, especially in view of the present scarcity of paper, that a Welsh edition of the pamphlet would be justified.

asked the Minister of Supply whether his attention has been drawn to the economies in material and time in the manufacture and erection effected by the new Ramzin steam generator now being installed in power stations in the U.S.S.R.; and whether he will inquire into the matter.

I have been asked to reply. The principle of the Ramzin steam generator is understood in this country, and is exemplified in certain boilers already in use. I understand that other than in exceptional circumstances it offers no advantage over the more usual type.