asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give an assurance that, despite our other preoccupations, the defence of London against any form of aerial attack is as effective as ever.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that in convenience, expense and distress are caused to families and relatives of deceased airmen owing to the uncertainty of the times of arrival of the bodies at the arranged railway station; and if he will in future detail an escort to accompany the coffin to its destination.

I sympathise with my hon. and gallant Friend's anxiety in this matter, but I regret that the shortage of man-power precludes the provision of escorts. Difficulties due mainly to heavy railway demands do undoubtedly occur in isolated cases. These are always investigated, but I have no evidence of any general complaint. Careful arrangements are made in co-operation with the railway companies to ensure transport as rapidly as present circumstances permit and to keep relatives informed as closely as possible of the expected time of arrival. If my hon. and gallant Friend has a par- ticular case in mind, I will gladly look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Air for how long he proposes to keep the Balloon Command in operation; and what the future of the personnel is to be.

The future of Balloon Command, as of other forces concerned primarily with the defence of this country, has been under review in the light of the changed strategical position. A proportion of the personnel is already being diverted to other employment in the R.A.F., and this process will continue to the maximum extent possible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works how many volunteer house repair workers have reached London from Manchester.

Four hundred and seventy volunteers have reached London from Manchester. In addition 225 men have been directed by the Ministry of Labour.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that to provide a specimen of a factory-made house at Cardiff will be of no assistance to housing authorities in the six North Wales counties; and Will he, therefore, reconsider the allocation of a factory-made house at a convenient centre in North Wales.

In advance of general production my right hon. and Noble Friend the Minister of Works cannot undertake to increase the number of models already allocated, but he will be pleased to consider the transfer of the Cardiff model to North Wales at a later date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works whether the lighting of the Commons Chamber in the Palace of Westminster will be improved during this winter.

In view of the urgent need for fuel economy it is not proposed to alter the general standard of artificial lighting at the present time but if the hon. and gallant Member has any specific complaint it will be considered in consultation with the authorities of the House.

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production if he will make a statement on the progress now being made in this country in the production of jet-propelled planes.

Production of jet-propelled aircraft is making good progress in this country. The hon. Member will fully appreciate that it would be contrary to public interest for me to make any more detailed statement.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a pamphlet entitled "Twenty Questions about Russia," composed almost entirely of abuse and misrepresentation of the U.S.S.R., was offered for sale at half-price to men attending the Roman Catholic Church, R.N. Barracks, Chatham, on Sunday, 1st October, and strongly recommended to the troops by the Chaplain conducting the service; and whether he will take steps to see that conduct of this sort is not permitted, or alternatively, to provide to those who believe in friendship with our Soviet Allies an equal opportunity for counter propaganda.

I am glad to assure my hon. and learned Friend that if the pamphlet to which he refers was sold in the vicinity of the Roman Catholic Church at the R.N. Barracks, Chatham, on 1st October, this was done without the consent or knowledge of the Roman Catholic Chaplain or the naval authority in charge of the barracks. The reference in the Chaplain's sermon was to a Catholic magazine of 20 years' standing which is now printed for the Forces only. The article in question with the title "Can a Catholic be a Communist?" could not by any stretch of imagination be described as abusive or offensive to our great Ally. Communism is here treated as a philosophy of life incompatible with the theological concepts of Roman Catholic Christianity.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that inconvenience, expense and distress are caused to families and relatives of deceased naval personnel owing to the uncertainty of the times of arrival of the bodies at the arranged railway station; and if he will in future detail an escort to accompany the coffin to its destination.

Every effort is made to give to relatives arranging the private burial of naval personnel ample notice of the anticipated time of arrival of the body at the railway station, and the expense of conveyance, not only by rail but from the station to the home of the deceased or the place of interment, is met from naval funds. Very few complaints about these arrangements have reached the Admiralty. The shortage of manpower would make it impossible to provide an escort for the coffin, and in any case it is not clear that an escort could prevent any inconvenience or distress should the coffin fail to arrive at the expected time.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that owing to a mistake, Andrew Morton JX 308824, of High Bonnybridge, was posted as an absentee and later as a deserter and that distress was caused thereby to his mother and family; and whether any steps have been taken to clear the honour of this gallant seaman put under a public cloud by this error.

I am aware of the circumstances of this unfortunate mistake. By a clerical error, this rating was listed in a Seamen's Mess instead of a Signals Mess. He reported quite correctly to his own Mess, but was posted as absent in the other Mess. As soon as it was discovered steps were taken to cancel the warrant for Able-Seaman Morton's arrest, the cause of the mistake was explained to him, which explanation he accepted, and a letter of apology and regret was sent to his mother. My hon. Friend will understand the exceptional circumstances created by a clerical error which is rare considering the hundreds of thousands of leave periods dealt with every year. I should like to express the Board of Admiralty's regret for any distress that has been caused and to assure my hon. Friend that Naval records have been corrected so as to remove any mention of the charge made in error against A.B. Morton.

asked the Attorney-General if, in view of the recent revelations made by the ex-ambassador, Mr. Kennedy, about the activities of Tyler Kent, he intends to prosecute any of Tyler Kent's British asociates.

The evidence on the matter has been considered and proceedings taken in cases in which the evidence justified it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in September, 1940, the Barrow Haematite Steel Company sustained war damage; that the liability for such £14,624 (M 3515) was not admitted until June, 1944; that no payment has yet been made in respect of this claim nor has there been any promptness of reply to correspondence; and whether he will expedite matters.

My right hon. Friend does not think he could properly undertake to answer questions relating to individual war damage claims. He is, however, asking the War Damage Commission to write to my hon. and gallant Friend explaining the position in the particular case to which he refers.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps he is taking to remove the wire netting near gun sites which takes up large tracts of agricultural land and thus restore the land to use for the next season.

At gun sites which are no longer needed the wire is being removed as soon as it can be with the very limited supply of labour available. At sites which are in use or which may have to be used my hon. Friend will appreciate that the wire must remain.

asked the Secretary of State for War what restrictions there are in regard to the sending of food or other presents to troops in the European theatre of war; and whether the same restrictions apply to American troops.

As I informed the hon. and gallant Member for the City of Chester (Major Nield) on 28th July, parcels of food may not be sent from this country to troops overseas. This restriction applies to troops of all nationalities and also to civilians. Other parcels are subject to the general postal restrictions. For example, they may not contain matches.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if His Majesty's Government are now in possession of an up-to-date list of British civilians and prisoners of war in Japanese hands.

While it is believed that the names of the great majority of British prisoners of war in Japanese hands are known, the Japanese authorities have largely failed to comply with their obligations in connection with the notification of camp transfers and deaths. His Majesty's Governments are therefore unable to regard the lists of prisoners of war which are in their possession either as complete or up to date. As regards civilian internees, only one list has been received from Burma, and in Malaya there are a large number whose whereabouts have not been officially reported. Lists for these two areas are neither complete nor up to date. Lists for Hong-Kong are practically complete. So far as non-British territories are concerned, i.e. Japan, occupied China, French Indo-China, Siam, Philippine Islands and the Netherlands East Indies, practically complete lists of British civilian internees are in our possession.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that a citizen of this country, of whom he has received details, has received no news from a relative in Egypt for more than a year, and that all attempts to send messages have been frustrated; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.

Yes, Sir. In this case the relative in Egypt is an Egyptian subject, and His Majesty's Government cannot with propriety intervene if the Egyptian Government choose to prevent correspondence from reaching or leaving an Egyptian subject in Egypt.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give an assurance that the cultivation of cotton in the West Indies is being extended.

West Indian cotton production is at present being taken entirely for war purposes, and it is considered that for these purposes production should for the time being be maintained at present levels.

asked the Scretary of State for the Colonies what interest charge per annum would be the equivalent of the interest of 1 per cent. to be paid on the new Palestine Loan plus the amounts to be paid in premiums on redemption on drawn bonds.

I am advised that the figure is approximately 3 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the Palestine Police Force, British, Arab and Jewish, respectively, have been killed by terrorists in the course of their duties during the last 12 months; and what provision is being made for the widows and dependants of those who have been so killed.

Since January last, when the recent terrorist campaign commenced in Palestine, 10 British, 3 Arab, and 2 Jewish police have been killed by terrorists. As regards the last part of the Question, I would invite my hon. and gallant Friend's attention to the statement given in reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Abingdon (Sir R. Glyn) on 11th May. The question of the improvement of the provisions under the Palestine Police Ordinance for the award of pensions to these categories is at present under consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport why on Sunday, 8th October, no underground services were running on the London system before 8 a.m.

In May, 1940, in order to carry workers engaged in war production, arrangements were made for the Sunday train services of the London Passenger Transport Board to begin about an hour and a half earlier than before. This earlier operation has placed a heavy strain on the train crews and on the station staffs of the Board. Consultations with the Local Transport Groups have shown that, generally, these earlier trains are no longer required for workers, and it was accordingly agreed that, as from the 2nd of October, the starting times of services should revert to the hours that were in force before the special emergency arrangements had been made. There are, however, certain exceptions to this new rule, in which earlier local services are being run, and consideration is being given, in the light of experience, to the provision of earlier services at certain other points where they appear to be necessary.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport, in view of the overcrowded condition of trains, whether he can arrange for sleepers for wounded Service men and women travelling home on sick leave or for discharge.

Under arrangements which are already in force, seats on trains can be reserved for wounded Service men and women travelling from hospital to their homes. These arrangements, I understand, are working well.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware that lengths of canal are still little used; and if he is satisfied that one power barge per week makes sufficient use of this cheap way of transport.

If my hon. Friend will let me have particulars about the lengths of canal which he has in mind, I will inquire whether the traffic could be usefully increased.

asked the Parliamenary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport the `purpose of the Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (No. 2) Order, 1944 (S.R. & O., No. 1105, of 1944); and whether these vehicles are likely to cause danger to pedestrians and other vehicles.

This Order allows the Petroleum Board to use vehicles specially designed for fuelling aircraft, although the vehicles do not in all regards comply with the Regulations in force. I am satisfied that the use of these vehicles is required; there are not many of them, and, in view of the circumstances in which they operate, I think they cause no undue danger to other users of the road.

asked the Minister of Health what percentage of infants were vaccinated in England and Wales in the year 1942.

The percentage of births registered in England and Wales in 1942 returned as having been successfully vaccinated was 39.6.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of smallpox and deaths from that disease were recorded in England and Wales in the year 1943.

No notifications of cases of smallpox were received and no deaths from smallpox were registered in England and Wales in 1943.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases notified as diphtheria were withdrawn from the diphtheria classification as unconfirmed in the first quarter of each of the years 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943 and 1944.

Returns of the numbers of cases of notifiable diseases originally notified and the final numbers after correction are not available before 1st January, 1944. The number of cases of diphtheria in England and Wales returned as originally notified in the quarter ended 31st March, 1944, was 9,137 and the final number after correction was 7,328.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can give an estimate of the sums involved in rehabilitating the Jamaica banana industry after the recent hurricane damage and of the total amount of help to be given in the year ending. June, 1945, to this industry, both under the guaranteed purchase commitment and the rehabilitation grants and loans; and how does this compare with the funds involved for this period by his earlier undertaking in 1943.

On the assumption that production has been reduced by the hurricane from 8,000,000 to 1,500,000 stems per annum the estimated expenditure under the proposals set out in my answer to the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mr. Riley) on 27th September is approximately as follows:

	£
1. Purchases in July and August 1944, under previous guarantee scheme	215,000
2. Purchases from date of hurricane to 30th June, 1945	157,000
3. Free grants for resuscitation and replanting	196,000
4. Loans for resuscitation and replanting	204,000
5. Loans for new planting	250,000
Total	£1,022,000

This sum will be reduced by the amount realised from the sales of bananas purchased under the scheme. I regret that it is not possible to estimate revenue from this source at present.Under the guarantee scheme in force prior to the hurricane His Majesty's Government had guaranteed the purchase of

a maximum of 24,000,000 stems over the two years ending 30th June, 1945. On the assumption that production had continued at the pre-hurricane rate of 8,000,000 stems per annum during the year ending June, 1945, and that sales in this period had also continued at previous levels His Majesty's Government's liability under this scheme may be estimated as follows:

			£
Purchase of Fruit	…	…	937,000
Less Sales Receipts	…	…	400,000
Total Liability	…	…	£537,000

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, following the example of the Buluwayo and Salisbury municipalities in Southern Rhodesia, he will make arrangements to locate and build primary schools for African boys and girls in or near all the new urban locations that are being built, or are proposed to be built, in the large centres in the African Colonies.

Primary schools for Africans are provided in or near urban centres and this policy will continue in the case of new centres. The arrangements will be based on the experience already gained and will be adapted to the conditions prevailing in different territories and centres.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average amount of Tax Reserve Certificates outstanding in each quarterly period during the three years to 30th September, 1944.

To work out the averages asked for by my hon. Friend would entail an expenditure of time and labour which would hardly be justified by the results. The amounts of Tax Reserve Certificates outstanding at the end of each quarter can however be calculated from the published monthly debt statements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amendment is necessary in order to revise to date the information relating to tap Treasury Bills given on 20th July, 1943.

No amendment is necessary.

asked the Minister of Food if he satisfied himself that there were no available home supplies of sage, thyme or marjoram before he caused orders to be placed for shipment from Cyprus, Spain and Portugal; and if he will investigate the possibilities of those herbs being grown in this country.

It was only because home supplies were inadequate that orders were placed abroad. I should be glad to see a larger home production of these products in such condition as to be marketable.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the latest figures or the percentage increase of domestic assistance supplied by his Ministry to institutions and households according to the most recently available date.

The number of women placed in domestic work in institutions and in private households for the eight months ended 13th September, 1944, was:

Hospitals, mental institutions, sanatoria and nursing homes; institutions and homes for children—34,211. Private households and Home Helps service—11,967.

Figures for the five months ended 30th September, 1944, are available for men and these show that during this period 2,287 men were placed in the institutions mentioned above. These figures represent placings effected through Employment Exchanges and not net increases. My hon. Friend may, however, be interested to know that during the first six months of this year the net increase in full time domestic staff in hospitals and similar institutions was approximately 5,500.