asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the yield of coal from British mines is still pooled by zones for distribution to consumers; and whether the latter, when ordering coal, have any voice as to the nature of the coal desired or must take what is provided at the cost prescribed by the dealer for the particular delivery.

I understand that my hon. and gallant Friend refers to the distribution of house coal. House coal supplies to merchants are regulated by programme arrangements under which certain coalfields supply only into certain Regions; and each merchant has a weekly allocation of coal which is arrived at by an assessment of the quantities and qualities required for distribution to premises registered with him. Merchants' allocations are determined by the Officers of the House Coal Distribution (Emergency) Scheme, which is an organisation set up by the coal distributive trade to assist the Ministry in regulating domestic coal distribution in war time conditions. My right hon. Friend has repeatedly urged domestic consumers not to insist on particular grades of coal, but to accept whatever supplies merchants have available for distribution. Genuine difficulties about quality can be adjusted through the normal commercial channels, or by reference to the Ministry if necessary; but in the present state of coal production it is impossible to supply every individual consumer with the particular kind of fuel to which he may have been accustomed in the past. The retail prices of coal are controlled by the Retail Coal Prices Order, and price complaints can be investigated and dealt with by the Local Fuel Overseer.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will consider extending the period of training given to boys directed to the mines; whether he is aware that many are being sent to highly mechanised mines, and that the present period is much too short to learn anything about these machines.

My right hon. Friend does not consider that there is any need in present circumstances to extend the four-week period of pre-employment training for directed entrants. This cannot be more than a general preliminary introduction to work below ground, and the proper place for detailed training is the mine itself. Under the Coal Mining (Training and Medical Examination) Order, 1944, persons without previous experience of any class of work in or about a coal mine have to be given adequate instruction under competent supervision until competent to do that class of work without supervision, and no new entrant can be employed at the coal face without at least 16 weeks' experience of other work below ground and further suitable training on each class of work he has to do at the face.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if there is any opportunity for tradesmen, fitters, etc., to volunteer for the coalmines as they become redundant in their present occupations.

It is unlikely that tradesmen will be needed in excess of the numbers obtained as a result of training within the industry.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent the petroleum got from deposits in Great Britain during the war was obtained under licences granted under the Petroleum (Production) Act, 1918; and what royalty was paid to the owners of the land.

Only a very small proportion of the total quantity of crude oil produced in Great Britain during the war has been obtained from an area covered by a licence granted under the Petroleum Production Act, 1918. The area concerned is that covered by a licence granted to my Noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Colonies. I am not aware of the financial considerations entered into between my Noble Friend and the D'Arcy Exploration Company, Limited, in respect of the assignment of this licence. In view of the provisions of Section I of the Petroleum Production Act, 1934, this is entirely a matter between the two parties.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many licences granted under the Petroleum (Production) Act, 1918, are still in force; who was the original licensee and who is the present holder of each licence.

The Schedule to the Petroleum Production Act, 1934, gives particulars of three licences issued under the Petroleum Production Act, 1918, which were still in force at the date of the passing of the 1934 Act. One of these (granted to my Noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Colonies) was assigned, with the approval of the Government, to the D'Arcy Exploration Company, Limited, and is still in force. An- other (granted to the N.M.D. Syndicate, Limited) was revoked in 1940. In the case of the third licence, granted to Mr. Henry King Hiller, consideration is at present being given to the question whether the conditions under which the licence was granted are still being complied with.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will endeavour to increase the speed of repairs to petrol pumps where persons affected desire to be their own suppliers; will he consider deferring the date, 1st November, 1944, when the increased charges from Is. 11d. to 2s. 1½d. per gallon are to be imposed, as this is a hardship on contractors and others who use hundreds of gallons of petrol in a month and have no say or responsibility for putting the necessary work in hand.

The responsibility for maintaining petrol storage equipment on sites closed under the Petroleum (No. 3) Order, 1940, rests with the owners, and it is for owners to take their own steps to get such equipment into working order. In order, however, to assist owners as far as possible, the Petroleum Board have agreed to make available the services of their fitters for the execution of any necessary repairs, provided the cost of any materials or spare parts is defrayed by the owners. As many thousands of sites are involved, it will under present conditions be a considerable time before all applications for assistance can be dealt with. A large number of pumps have, however, been put into operation by the Board's staff in the past four weeks, and the work is continuing as quickly as possible. As regards charges, every commercial consumer with a bulk storage who has an equipment in working order is able to purchase his supplies of petrol from the Petroleum Board at the current wholesale price (Is. 10d. per gallon), less any rebate to which he may be entitled; every commercial consumer who is entitled to a rebate on account of the quantity he buys can obtain supplies from the Petroleum Board's depots at the price of Is. 11d. per gallon: and all other commercial consumers pay the current retail price (2s. 1½d. per gallon). In these circumstances I do not feel that any change in the date specified in the revoking Order is justifiable or practicable.

asked the Minister of Labour if any decision has yet been reached with regard to the employment of German prisoners in clearing bombed sites in London and in assisting in repairs and rehousing.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member on 10th October.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the recent discharges of workers from aircraft work in London; and what action it is proposed to take to reabsorb the discharged workers in other employment.

Yes, Sir, and as there is some concern in various quarters arising out of a recent demonstration by certain workpeople employed in aircraft work in London who are apprehensive about their becoming unemployed in the near future, I think the House would like to know the facts. About 1,800 workers are expected to become available from the main factory of the group in question over the next two months—about 300 of them almost immediately. Consultation is taking place with the management and representatives of the workers regarding the selection of workers for release. Workers from the other factories of the group will become available at later dates, spread up to March and April of next year. At one factory releases in any number are not expected to begin for two or three months. No special difficulty is anticipated in finding the workers concerned alternative employment, as there is still a great need for workers for war and other work in London.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that 300 men were discharged from the East London Dock on Friday night; if they will be entitled to unemployment pay if they sign on at the Freemason's Road Exchange at Customs House, East; and if those men can be employed on house repair work in the county borough of West Ham.

Some reduction in the London Dock labour force is contemplated, but I am not aware that any notices of discharge have yet been issued. When any such reduction is made there should be no difficulty in placing the men affected in alternative employment.

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production why the aircraft production factories at Chiswick and the White City and six other factories have given notice to close down; and as this means that some hundreds of men and women will be thrown out of work what kind of alternative employment will be found for these people.

The necessity for reducing the output of aircraft from these factories arises from the changing needs of the war. As regards the second part of the Question I would refer my hon Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Southwark, South East (Mr. Naylor) by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service to-day.

asked the Minister without Portfolio what would be the actuarial contribution required from the unmarried woman to secure a pension of £1 at 55 years of age; and what this contribution would be if she were credited with the estimated amount paid in taxation towards the cost of benefits, such as family allowances set forth in the White Paper, to which she is the only contributor with no possibility of benefit.

The further contribution required to be paid by or in respect of an unmarried woman, from the age of 16 onwards, in order to secure a pension of £1 a week from age 55 to age 60 in addition to the benefits provided for in the Government's social insurance proposals, is 1s. 2d. a week, allowing for the Government subsidy of one-sixth. As regards the second part, it would be quite impossible to adjust the burden of taxation on individuals by reference to the varying extent to which they may expect to enjoy the services provided from it. Anyhow, I feel confident that the whole community—including bachelors and spinsters—will benefit by any improvement in children's health and physique.

asked the Minister of Food what is the cause of a shortage of potatoes in some districts.

Unfavourable weather has recently interfered with the movement of potatoes off farms into consumption. The shortage caused was of limited extent and is being steadily corrected.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has taken steps to arrange future contracts with growers for home supplies of sage, thyme and marjoram.

The Ministry of Food does not itself purchase herbs, whether home produced or imported. Wholesalers of herbs and manufacturers who use them in their products will no doubt continue to make contracts with growers themselves, as has been their custom in the past.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give a list of committees advising his Ministry at the present time, naming the members and stating the latest dates at which each committee was consulted.

With regard to the first part of the Question, I am sending my hon. Friend the particulars for which he asks and am also having copies placed in the Library of the House. With regard to the final part of the Question, the information required could not be obtained without undue expenditure of time and labour. All committees are reviewed at regular intervals so that only those which are regularly consulted are maintained in being.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that proper treatment is being given to wounded soldiers; and whether his Department has a long-term policy of hospital and nursing treatment, so that soldiers are not discharged from hospital before proper remedial measures have been taken.

The answer to both parts of my hon. Friend's Question is "Yes, Sir." As long as soldiers remain in the Army they are not discharged from the medical units until proper remedial measures have been taken. If they are discharged from the Army as unfit for further military service they continue to receive treatment under arrangements made by the Ministry of Pensions. The needs of these men are always made known to the Ministry before they pass to their care from the care of the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that although many members of the Home Guard did not resign when compulsory parades were abolished, they were ordered to hand in uniform and equipment and are therefore deprived of the privilege given to others since that time of retaining their uniforms; and if he will remedy this.

As I said to my hon. Friend on 17th October, I am not aware that any members of the Home Guard handed in their uniforms. But if he will sent me particulars of the cases he has in mind I will have them investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to re-issue civilian respirators to members of the Home Guard in place of the Service pattern now in their possession, or whether they will be permitted to retain the latter until the end of hostilities in Europe.

Instructions have been issued to the Home Guard that members will retain their Service respirators as long as respirators are retained by the population in general.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is satisfied that adequate fuel is provided and allowed to be used to keep men and women reasonably warm and to enable them to dry their clothing.

Individuals concerned may hold individual views on this subject, but, in general, the answer to the Question is "Yes, Sir."

asked the Secretary of State for War why no foodstuffs can be sent to members of the Forces; and what steps are taken to see that this regulation is not infringed.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave the hon. and gallant Member for the City of Chester (Major Nield) on 28th July. All parcels despatched to members of H.M. Forces overseas must have on the outside a signed declaration showing what they contain. The accepting officer of the Post Office satisfies himself from these lists that they contain no prohibited articles.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that civil servants are being required, in an office of his Department in Bedford, to serve under a German national, who is a commissioned officer of the R.E., who would be ineligible under the nationality rules for appointment in the Civil Service; and whether, in view of this anomaly and the feelings of the staffs concerned, he will transfer this German national to another sphere.

My hon. Friend is no doubt referring to a commissioned officer of the Royal Engineers who was a German national and served for some time as a Garrison Engineer at Bedford. He was transferred to another station on 18th September, and he has since left this country for service in a theatre of war overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements have been made for the re-issue of the ribbon of the Africa Star to replace worn out issues.

Ribbon for this purpose is issued free to serving soldiers from stocks which are held in all commands at home and overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to increase the sleeping accommodation at the recently opened hostel at Warrington, in view of the fact that each night the demand for beds exceeds greatly the number available.

Inquiries are being made into this.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will, on compassionate grounds, arrange for the release from the Army of a medical practitioner, a university graduate, details of whose case have been submitted to him, seeing that, although not actually liable for military service, he joined the Army in December 1940, his practice in his absence has largely disappeared, he is £5,000 in debt for its purchase in 1938, and his wife is in ill-health and unable to sustain herself and her family.

Medical officers are released from the Army only at the request of the Central Medical War Committee and no such request has been made in this case. A Commander-in-Chief in a theatre of war has full discretion to revert an officer to the Home Establishment and this case has been referred accordingly to the Commander-in-Chief concerned. I will communicate with my hon. Friend when a decision has been reached.

Rank	R.A.M.C.			A.D.C.			R.A.V.C.			A.E.C.			R.A.Ch.D.
	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Colonel or Chaplain, 1st Class.	3	3	4	3	1	2	2	9	10	2	9	10	2	5	4
Lieut.-Colonel or Chaplain 2nd Class.	2	12	0	2	9	10	2	4	4	2	3	0	1	16	2
Major or Chaplain 3rd Class.	1	14	9	1	11	8	1	8	0	1	8	6	1	7	2
Captain or Chaplain 4th Class.	1	4	6	1	2	8	1	2	8	0	19	0	Temp.	15	4
													Perm.	19	0
Lieutenant	0	19	10	0	18	2	0	18	2	0	13	0	—
2nd Lieutenant	—			—			—			0	11	0	—

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware of the feeling of disappointment and acute distress felt by the South African war veterans, as shown in the Reports of the S.A.W.V. Associations throughout the country, many being in public assistance institutions and having no income beyond the old age pension; and whether he will consider the advisability of setting up a committee to consider the position of these men so that steps can be taken to ensure that the closing years of their lives shall be such as the British taxpayers would desire.

I have been asked to reply. As I said in my reply to my hon. Friend on 12th October, if he will send me particulars of cases he has in mind I will bring them to the notice of the organisations concerned. I am not at present aware of any need for the special measures suggested in the last part of this Question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a comparative table showing the basic rates of pay per day of colonels, lieutenant-colonels, majors, captains and lieutenants, in the R.A.M.C., Dental and Veterinary Corps and A.E.C. and the corresponding rates of pay for Chaplains, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th class.

The following is the Table: The above excludes any normal increments of the current pay code and the special War Service Increments.The above rates are those which were in force in peace, except that in the case of the A.E.C. the rate for Second Lieutenant has been increased from 10s. 0d. to 11s. 0d., and for Lieutenant from 11s. 10d. to 135. 0d.; and in the case of the R.A.Ch.D. the temporary Chaplain 4th Class has been given an increment to 18s. 2d. after three years' service.I would also refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave to-day to the hon. and gallant Member for Kincardine and Western (Lieut.-Colonel Thornton-Kemsley).

asked the Secretary of State for War how many members of the A.T.S. were serving in the canteens in India or Burma on any convenient date.

None, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to ensure the maintenance of graves of serving soldiers in this country when the deceased has left few or no relatives behind.

The Imperial War Graves Commission, in discharge of their duties under their Charters, are caring for the graves of all serving officers and men of the Armed Forces who die in this country except in cases where the relatives desire to assume this duty. The Commission are marking the graves with inscribed wooden crosses, arranging for their perpetual maintenance, and preparing to mark them with permanent headstones as soon as circumstances permit.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will extend the nurses' uniform concession scheme to make it apply to probationer nurses employed in nursing homes.

Nurses employed in nursing homes are included in this scheme, provided that they have received at least two years' hospital training.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the conditions attaching to the granting of priority dockets for the purchase of household goods to those needing them for furnishing a home for the first time.

Permits to buy Utility Furniture and Priority Dockets for Mattresses, Sheets, Blankets, Curtain Material and Floor Covering will be issued only to:

(a) People who are about to furnish a home for the first time since losing their house through bombing or who need to replace articles destroyed in recent enemy attacks on their homes.

(b) People with young children who are about to furnish a home for the first time.

(c) People about to furnish a home for the first time because they are expecting a child.

(d) Couples married since 1st September, 1939, who are about to furnish a home for the first time.

(e) Couples who propose to marry and furnish a home of their own in the immediate future.

(Applications will also be considered from persons in this class who are going to live with friends or relatives but have to buy furniture for their own bedroom).

(f) People who have to provide an extra bed for their growing child.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that the rise in the prices of sponges continues and are now 300 to 400 per cent. over prewar prices and of an inferior quality; and if he will give consideration to the bulk purchase of sponges by the Government with a view to reducing the price to the pottery operatives who use considerable quantities of soft sponges in the manufacture of pottery as the present excessive prices are causing hardship.

Blight in the Bahamas fisheries and the outting off of supplies from the Aegean and Greece owing to enemy occupation have greatly raised prices to importers, but I hope that the progress of the war will ease the position. In the conditions of this trade I do not think Government purchase would be more economical than importation through trade channels. The supply of sponges to pottery operatives at specially reduced prices would appear to be a matter for the pottery industry itself, which has, I understand, taken some steps in that direction.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the White Lead Convention and the National Federation of Paint, Colour and Varnish Manufacturers have arrangements for price fixing within the paint manufacturing industry; whether he has any information as to the differences between the selling prices so fixed and the cost of production in 1938 and at the present time; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that a reasonable relationship is maintained between costs and prices during the course of the Government's post-war building programme.

I have been asked to reply. I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave to a similar question by him on Tuesday last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, with a view to simplicity in calculation and greater convenience for foreign countries as well as for the United Kingdom in commercial transactions, he will consider the introduction of the metric system of weights and measures, which would conform with the general use in other parts of the world.

My hon. Friend will no doubt be aware that the Weights and Measures (Metric System) Act, 1897, permits the use of the metric system of weights and measures for trade purposes in Great Britain. I do not contemplate any further legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will arrange for the same amount of extra clothing coupons to be given to taxi-cab drivers this winter as are given to motor-omnibus drivers.

No, Sir. I regret that, in view of the very limited supplies available, I cannot see my way to adopt my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of films shown in the United Kingdom in 1943 were of British origin.

During the year ended 30th September, 1943, films registered as British accounted for 20.13 per cent. of the total footage of registered films (including all performances) shown in Great Britain by commercial cinematograph exhibitors.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has had any official report on the scheme to subsidise textile exports from the U.S.A.

No, Sir, but I have asked for a report from His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the British-American Trade Agreement of 1938 is due to expire; what arrangements exist for its renewal; and whether he is considering changes in its terms on the occasion of its renewal.

This trade agreement remains in force until six months after the date on which either party gives notice of intention to terminate it. No arrangements are, therefore, necessary to renew it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the extreme shortage of toilet paper in many parts of the country and that many shopkeepers are compelled to ration it to customers; and whether he can take steps to increase the supply of this article.

Yes, Sir. But I am glad to say that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Production has now increased the allocation of material to the manufacturers of toilet paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Report of the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee on the distribution of new houses in Scotland will be published.

This Report is being presented to the House to-day and copies will be available in the Vote Office to-morrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of houses in Glasgow of from one to 20 apartments, respectively; the number of houses built over 50 and 100 years ago, respectively; the number of houses that have an inside w.c.; and the number with hot and cold water and bath-rooms, respectively.

I am making inquiries to ascertain what information is available and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what complaints have been received on the ill-treatment of British prisoners of war during their incarceration by the Bulgarian guards; and what action is contemplated.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State on 1st November to a similar question by the hon. and gallant Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore).

asked the Secretary of State for War how long British repatriated prisoners of war who have arrived in this country this autumn and whose next of kin live in Scotland have had to wait for transfer to hospitals in Scotland; what is the reason for the delay, in some cases of many weeks, in effecting these transfers; and if arrangements can be made to allow next of kin free-travel warrants to visit repatriated prisoners of war who cannot at once be moved to hospitals near their own homes.

I understand that most of these men had either gone home on leave or had been transferred to hospitals in Scotland within eight days of their arrival and all but seven had been so moved within 14 days. The reasons for keeping these men in England varied but some were at the time unfit for travelling and for others suitable hospital accommodation was not immediately available in Scotland. In reply to the last part of the hon. and gallant Member's Question I would refer him to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Bellenger) on 21st March.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men suffering from tuberculosis and repatriated from prisoner of war camps are still retained in the Army.

The answer to my hon. Friend's Question would involve a detailed examination of the records of the medical boards held on all prisoners of war who have returned to this country. But as soldiers suffering from active pulmonary tuberculosis are not normally retained in the Army the answer to my hon. Friend's Question is probably "Very few, if any."

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent the parcels sent to prisoners of war are dependent upon the amount of money subscribed by the public to the Red Cross funds.

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to food parcels. The whole cost of these is borne by Red Cross funds subscribed by the public.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what circumstances family allowance paid to British officers in the Indian Army by the Indian Government are included in the computation of their total income for the purposes of a British Income Tax claim for proportionate relief in respect of their British taxed income, while family allowances paid to officers in the British Army are not subject to Income Tax.

Family allowances paid by the Government of India to British officers in the Indian Army form part of their income on which Indian Income Tax is paid and are properly taken into account, together with any other income from sources abroad in computing the proportionate relief to which my hon. Friend refers. Family and other allowances paid to members of the British Forces are not in general charged to tax in present circumstances, but, as my predecessor stated in a reply which he gave to the hon. Member for Gravesend (Sir I. Albery) on 10th February, 1942, the position in this respect will have to be reviewed after the war. The inclusion of the Indian family allowances for determination of proportionate relief does not, of course, bring those allowances under charge to our Income Tax.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that an appeal made in April, 1938, by the Gold Coast Selection Trust Company against certain tax assessments was not, despite pressure from the Company, heard by the Commissioners until June, 1944; and whether he will take steps to assist taxpayers in cases of this type.

It is regretted that there was, unfortunately, considerable delay in the hearing of the appeal referred to by my hon. Friend. The delay was largely due to exceptional circumstances which are unlikely to be found in other cases.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how much has been spent on food and other subsidies during each financial year since the outbreak of war.

The amounts of the food and other subsidies are shown (for the calendar, not the financial, years) in the Budget White Paper (Cmd. 6520) as follows:

				£ millions
1939	…	…	…	20
1940	…	…	…	70
1941	…	…	…	140
1942	…	…	…	175
1943	…	…	…	190

For the current year the present estimate is £225,000,000. The subsidies covered by these figures are set out in Note 14 at the end of the White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for India how many steel works there are in India; how many tons of steel are made in them; and what amount of steel is exported.

There are six open hearth steel producers in India and eight firms operating electric furnaces. For the year ending 31st March, 1940, the output of steel ingots was 1,070,355 tons and of finished steel 804,469 tons. Exports of steel bars were 9,250 tons. Correspond- ing production and export figures for later years are not available for public information.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether there is on record any case in which the Treasury Solicitor has been requested to advise the officer responsible for convening a court-martial on serving officers whether a court-martial was warranted by the summary of evidence.

No, Sir; but I would not exclude the possibility of circumstances arising in which such action might be helpful.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the fact that, during the past 20 years, a considerable number of inoculated men in the Army and R.N. have suffered from typhoid fever and that no man invalided in consequence has had his pension reduced because he suffered from typhoid fever, he will give instructions that no difference is to be made between inoculated and uninoculated officers and men invalided out of the Services in consequence of the effects of enteric fever.

In dealing with pension claims in respect of the effects of enteric fever no difference is made between inoculated or uninoculated officers and men.

asked the Minister of Education how many teachers are now available to carry out the provisions of the Education Act; how many are still engaged in war service; and how many he estimates will be required to operate the new Act.

The total number of teachers in schools within my Department's administration is approximately 200,000. It is estimated that the number of teachers who have left the schools to serve in His Majesty's Forces or on other war work is of the order of 22,000, and that a total of 270,000 teachers may eventually be required to operate the new Act.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what are the approximate costs to date for the charter of Norwegian merchant shipping operating under Admiralty instructions; and if such costs are regarded as reverse lend-lease or as a debit to the British Exchequer.

No distinction is made between the charter hire of Norwegian Merchant Shipping operated under Admiralty instructions and the charter hire of Norwegian Merchant Shipping operating for the purposes of other Departments of His Majesty's Government. If my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to Norwegian Merchant Shipping used in the recent invasion, these vessels were hired on bare-boat charter in much the same way as British vessels which were similarly employed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he has considered representations from the Methodist Missionary Society to facilitate the return journey of their missionaries at present on furlough and whether any decision has been made.

Yes, I have considered the representations made by the Methodist Missionary Society, and I am advised that during the past month my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for India, who is responsible for the allocation of passages for missionaries to India, has allocated 106 berths for missionaries whose field of work is in India. Of this number it is understood that 15 are Methodist missionaries, but I have no information to show how many of them are returning from furlough.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that no mention was made on the death certificate, relating to George Bass, of the R.A.P.C., who died On 21st November, 1943, of the fact that the cellulitis that caused his death started at the site of anti-typhoid inoculation, although this fact was stated in Orders of the man's unit after the second inquest was held and the coroner was informed of it; and what steps he proposes to take to secure greater accuracy of the Registrar-General's Returns by noting cases of this kind and inquiring why the fact that some form of inoculation was concerned was omitted from the death certificate.

I would remind my hon. Friend that entries in the Death Register, which serves important purposes other than mortality statistics, are strictly governed by statute. The law requires that the cause of death entered in the register should be that certified by the coroner if an inquest has been held; and in any other case the cause as certified by the medical practitioner in attendance during the deceased's last illness. Further, any correction of the cause of death as certified by a coroner after inquest is prohibited. On the other hand, while the Registrar-General's statistics of mortality classified by causes are based primarily upon the death register entries, it is possible and customary to take into account much supplementary information which is forthcoming either in reply to inquiries by the Registrar-General's Department for which the contents of particular entries have appeared to call, or from other sources. No occasion for inquiry arose on the contents of the certified cause in the case to which my hon. Friend refers; and no information as to the particulars mentioned in the Question had previously reached the Registrar-General. Inquiry is now being made, however, in order that any further relevant information obtained may be taken into account in connection with the statistical assignment of this death.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of diphtheria in immunised children were recorded by medical officers of health in 1943; and how many of these cases were fatal.

According to returns received from all but a few local authorities in England and Wales, the number of notifications of diphtheria in 1943 among immunised children was approximately 5,050. Information in the precise form referred to in the last part of the Question is not available, but according to the same returns, of 1,079 children who died from diphtheria in 1943, 42 had been immunised at some time. To make the general position clearer, I should add that, in the two years 1942–43, the annual rate of incidence of diphtheria among immunised children, based on the estimated time of exposure to risk, was rather more than a quarter of that among those not immunised, and the corresponding mortality ratio was about one to twenty-three.

asked the Minister of Health whether any priority will be given to ex-Service men in allocating newly built houses; and whether any circular on this subject has been issued to local authorities.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Holland with Boston (Mr. Butcher) and for Rugby (Mr. W. J. Brown) on 26th October last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works whether, in view of the difficulty under present conditions that members of North Wales local authorities have, in travelling to London, he will arrange an exhibition in some convenient town in North Wales, such as Wrexham or Colwyn Bay, of factory made houses and demonstration houses.

I have been asked to reply. I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Caernarvon (Sir G. Owen) and my hon. Friend the Jg'-rqber for Wallsend (Miss Ward) on 18th October and 2nd November, respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour why the National Service officer at Ilford is sending building trade workers to work outside London, in view of the fact that their labour could be used in Ilford and West Ham to repair houses, and if he will remedy this.

According to my information, the National Service officer at Ilford has not during the past few months issued any directions to building trade workers to work outside the London Civil Defence Region, except in one case of a man who was directed to first-aid repair work in the adjacent district of Romford.

asked the Minister of Labour if medical students will be released from the Army as a No. 1 priority under category B; under what circumstances a grant will be made for the student to complete his education at a university; and whether it will be possible for the student to use the grant to complete his education in one of the Dominions.

As regards release, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on 2nd November to the hon. Member for Southampton (Dr. Thomas). The conditions on which grants may be made under the Further Education and Training Scheme for students to complete their training at universities, whether at home or in the Dominions, have already been published, and I will send the hon. and gallant Member a copy of the relevant pamphlet.

asked the Minister of Labour the figures of registered unemployed for Britain as a whole, for Scotland and for Lanarkshire; and the percentage relation of these figures to the estimated insurable population in the respective areas.

I am writing to my hon. Friend.