asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider arranging that the grants available under the Government scheme for further education and training of those whose professional training has been interrupted by National Service should be available for such persons now employed in the N.F.S. but about to be released on grounds of redundancy, without requiring these persons to await general demobilisation.

At present only men and women who have been discharged from their war service through disablement or on medical grounds are entitled to apply for awards under the Further Education and Training Scheme. An extension of these awards at the present time, to cases such as those mentioned by my hon. Friend, is a matter of some difficulty, particularly as regards the effect it might have on the opportunities likely to be available for others later on, but I have the matter under consideration in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Minister of Education and the Minister of Agriculture.

Will my right hon. Friend remember that later on, when general demobilisation takes place, there will be people crowding into universities and other educational centres, and that if persons who have finished their training can be got out of the way, it will facilitate the training of demobilised persons at the end of the war?

It does not quite work out like that. I cannot at the present moment release personnel to teach them. These two things, in the re-creation of university facilities, have to go together.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has considered representations from a number of ex-Servicemen undergraduates of the University of Durham with regard to the delay in the award of further education and training grants to ex-Servicemen; and whether steps are being taken to expedite awards in future in order to avoid the inconvenience and hardship involved to students who have to commence their university courses without financial aid.

I have received representations on this matter from seven students, and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of my reply. I fully appreciate the need for avoiding hardship to applicants, and my hon. Friend will no doubt see, when he reads my reply, that every effort is made to obviate delay both in deciding applications and in making payments when an award has been made.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that applications made in June last year were not finally dealt with by the Ministry until December; and should not delays like that be avoided in the future?

I would not like it to be assumed that there are avoidable delays in the administration of this scheme. The cases of these students are gone into with great care, in the interests of the students themselves, but I would not accept the suggestion that there is any avoidable delay.

Would the right hon. Gentleman ask his people to have regard to the period when the university term begins, because if these matters are not dealt with some time near the beginning of the university session, decisions may be delayed for the whole year?

I will certainly see that nothing of that sort happens, because it would upset one of the objects of the scheme.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has received the report of the Committee on the Spare Time Activities of Children between 11 and 14 years of age; and what action he is proposing to take.

Yes, Sir. I have read the report with interest; and propose to issue a circular to local education authorities drawing their attention to the need for more adequate facilities for the social and recreative training of schoolchildren aged 11 to 14, both as a permanent service and especially during the coming winter months.

Will the right hon. Gentleman put a copy of that circular in the Library of the House?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now take steps to get completed the houses at Weston Rhyn, near Oswestry, which were left unfinished at the outbreak of war.

A great deal of work remains to be done on these houses, which, on average, are not above ground floor window-sill level, and in view of the overriding present need for concentrating available labour and materials on the repair of war damage, I should not yet feel justified in agreeing to their completion.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he is aware that Mr. J. McCormack, a transferred war worker from Glasgow to Luton, is occu- pying requisitioned property at 24, Chapel Street, for which he is paying 31s. per week rent and 22s. per week rates; and whether he proposes to take any action with a view to lowering these charges;

Mr. McCormack and his family were placed in occupation of the house at 24, Chapel Street, Luton, under the power delegated to the Town Clerk to requisition premises for the occupation of families inadequately housed. The payments required from him are correctly stated by my hon. Friend, and I have no reason to think that the amounts are excessive. The owner of the house is Miss Elizabeth A. Smith, of 4, George Street West, Luton, and the compensation rent payable to her is £80 per annum.

Is the Minister aware that this case has been going on for some considerable time, and does he not think that to ask a war worker who has been transferred from one town to another to pay such an exorbitant amount is a shameful thing on the part of a local authority?

No, Sir—it is not easy for local authorities to find the exact accommodation that people want at the moment. The hon. Member should realise that there are four wage-earners in this family, and they are paying no more for the house than the owner is getting for it.

Does the Minister accept these figures; and does he say that those figures are reasonable for a working man to pay—31s. per week rent and 22s. per week rates?

No, Sir, but as I pointed out a moment ago, there are four wage-earners in this family.

What is the size of the house?

The size is one for which £80 is being paid. [An HON. MEMBER: "How many bedrooms?"] I am afraid I have not the details. Small houses are not plentiful nowadays and, so far, it has not been possible to find for this family just what they want.

Does the Minister appreciate the fact that Mrs. McCormack has stated before the assessment committee, as has Mr. McCormack, quite definitely that there has been plenty of property requisitioned in the Luton area at a rent much below that which Mr. McCormack has been asked to pay? Will the Minister not look into this matter again?

I am quite prepared to ask the local authority if they can meet the wishes of this family; but the charge being made for the house, taking into account the fact that there are four wage-earners in the family, is not, in my view, really burdensome.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the proposed transfer to a Minister of Social Insurance of many of the functions of the Minister of Health, it is now proposed to give the Minister of Health overriding responsibility for housing; and if he will consider designating this Minister in future as the Minister of Health and Housing.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has no changes in the structure of the Government or the arrangement of Ministerial responsibilities to announce to the House this morning.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it is desirable that there should be some Minister fully responsible to this House?

If the Prime Minister has no announcement to make this morning, if a Question is put down this day week, would the Prime Minister then indicate what his intentions are?

There is no harm in trying.

asked the Secretary of State for India (1) whether the additional £5 Indian allowance for the purpose of purchasing tropical kit has been paid to the officers of the A.T.S.;

The position requires some clarification. Officers proceeding to India, including those of the Auxiliary Territorial Service, receive the tropical kit allowance which is admissible under War Office regulations to officers going to any other tropical country, i.e. £10. If my hon. Friend wishes to pursue the general question of the adequacy of the allowance I must ask her to approach my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War, whose Department is responsible for the regulations. As regards those officers of the Auxiliary Territorial Service who have been lent to the Government of India to assist them with the Women's Auxiliary Corps (India), I am in telegraphic correspondence with the Government of India and on receipt of their reply will communicate again with my hon. Friend.

Would it not be a good thing for my right hon. Friend as Secretary of State for India to advise the Secretary of State for War that the allowances are not sufficient? Is it not a fact that he is supposed to know the conditions in India, and would be the suitable person to give advice?

As I said, I think this is a matter in which my hon. Friend should deal with the Secretary of State for War.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his right hon. Friend refused point-blank yesterday to say what clothes were needed, what was the purchase price of these clothes in India or London, or whether the amount given covered the purchase price? Is it not a most unsatisfactory situation?

I cannot answer my hon. Friend on that point.

asked the Secretary of State for India when he expects to receive the Report of the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department on welfare conditions in India and Burma; and what arrangements he is making to enable the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department to give continuous co-operation and consultation in the improvement of those welfare conditions.

I expect that my Noble Friend will return to this country about the end of this month and will report to me very shortly thereafter. By permission of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department I shall consult him as and when necessary in following up the recommendations which he makes.

Arising out of the second part of the reply, will my right hon. Friend give an assurance to this House that the one Minister who has now firsthand knowledge of the conditions in South East Asia should continue to work out with him a policy for the improvement of the welfare of the troops in that Command?

My Noble Friend will certainly report to me fully, and will be in the closest touch with me in the implementing of his recommendations.

In view of the very great importance of this matter—it is much more important than some people think—could the right hon. Gentleman see that the report is made available to the House, and also state what action he proposes to take? Will he at least make that information available to the House at the earliest possible moment so that we may know not merely what is in the report, but what steps will be taken to improve conditions?

I have already said that I must consider the question of the publication of my Noble Friend's report when I have received it, but in any case the fullest information will be given to the House of the action which is being taken, or which it is proposed to take.

Is my right hon. Friend aware how much Members who have taken an interest in this matter regret Lord Munster's transference from the India Office after the experience he has gained there; and will my right hon. Friend see if there is some way in which his services and experience cannot be made available to the India Office?

As I say, his experience will continue to be available.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether full consideration has been given to the effect of increased currency in India due to the expansion of Anglo-American Armies; and what action is being taken to deal with the economic problem involved.

The expansion referred to by the hon. Member is undoubtedly one of many contributory factors in the increasing economic strain upon India. The Government of India and His Majesty's Government have, for a long time, been engaged in measures to offset this strain. I refer in particular to the efforts made to remedy the shortages in India of transport and mining equipment, of food grains and of consumer goods generally. The success of these efforts is evident from the considerable degree of stability which has been maintained for more than a year past.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that many specialists in these matters are very apprehensive regarding the future, and will he not take further steps to try to offset the danger of inflation in the months to come?

I also am naturally apprehensive and concerned about the future, and we are doing all we can to avert the difficulty.

Does not my right hon. Friend recognise that the only real solution is the release of further exports from this country to India?

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, following the decision at Montreal that U.N.R.R.A. is competent to undertake work in India, any request for assistance from U.N.R.R.A. has been made by the Government of India; and whether, if that Government is unable from its own resources to cover the minimum food programme recommended by the Central Food Advisory Council, a request for assistance from U.N.R.R.A. will be made without delay.

No such request has so far been made. The hon. Member will appreciate that the supply of goods to India through the machinery of U.N.R.R.A. would not increase India's total imports as the limiting factor on these is the shipping available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can give, for the last 12 months for which figures are available, the number of cases of industrial dermatitis, certified as such by the certifying surgeon, which have occurred in Nottinghamshire; and the number against which appeals have been lodged by the employers.

The figures for 1943 were 272 and 160 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state, for the last 12 months for which figures are available, how many cases of industrial dermatitis, certified as such by the certifying surgeon and sent on appeal to Dr. Airey, the medical referee at Leicester, have been decided in favour of the worker, and how many against.

During the 12 months ended 30th September, 1944, 453 cases, certified to be due to the scheduled disease—dermatitis produced by dust or liquids—were sent on appeal to Dr. Airey. Of these 140 were decided in favour of the workman, and 313 against.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that after some of these cases have been rejected, doctors have again examined the men, and have certified that they are suffering from industrial dermatitis? As the workers have no confidence whatever in Dr. Airey, will my right hon. Friend take that fact into consideration and appoint someone else in his place?

I have made inquiries, and I have really no evidence that this doctor is incompetent or not impartial. I do not think that I should take steps such as my hon. Friend has indicated.

Do not the results of appeals show that he rejects more cases than he accepts, even when other doctors have certified that the men are suffering from this disease? Does not that indicate that there is something wrong?

Doctors frequently disagree. I think it would be wrong to assume that, because decisions by a majority are of a certain character, there is something wrong with this particular doctor. Doctors acting for the men may take a different view.

Would it not be sufficient to accept a certificate from a doctor, showing that the man is unable to work, without all these inquiries?

asked the Minister of Food whether he proposes to consult the War Cabinet Scientific Advisory Committee and the Scientific Food Policy Committee on the subject of a post-war scientific policy for national nutrition.

I have been asked to reply. The Government have every intention of securing the best possible scientific advice in connection with their policy for national nutrition and whenever necessary will consult the appropriate one of the two bodies referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister whether, as a complement to the White Paper on Social Insurance, a statement can be published outlining the Government's policy in relation to post-war nutrition.

No, Sir, not at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the position of students who can only proceed with their university careers through the aid of loans, and to the burden which the repayment of these loans involves on a limited income; and whether any relief from Income Tax is allowed in respect of such annual repayments.

The repayments to which my hon. Friend refers are repayments of capital, and no relief from Income Tax is allowable in respect of them.

Will my right hon. Friend reconsider the position in his next Budget, as the amount involved will be very small?

I should be very sorry to hold out any expectations that the well-recognised distinction between income and capital, which is the foundation of our Income Tax law, will be departed from.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the present position in regard to the issue of Income Tax Post-War Credit Certificates.

The issue of Post-War Credit Certificates has been practically completed for the years 1941 and 1942, and it is estimated that some 12,500,000 taxpayers now hold certificates showing the amount to be repaid to them after the war in respect of those years. The issue of Post-War Credit Certificates for last year, the Income Tax year 1943–44, may be delayed in many cases, for, owing to the great pressure of work involved in working out the cancellation of tax under "Pay-as-you-earn" and to the shortage of man-power, it will be impossible to issue the certificates at as early a date as in previous years.

Does the Chancellor's expression "after the war" mean after the war in Europe, or after the war generally?

That is a matter of law, but I should have thought it referred to the war generally.

Will these payments be made out of taxation, or by the issue of new money?

That is an entirely separate question.

Is it the intention to repay these credits in lump sums, or in some other way?

That is a matter still to be determined. It will be within the control of this House.

If people leave these credits later than the time when they are due, will they receive 2½ per cent. from the Post Office?

There is no specified time at which they are due.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is proposed to issue coding notices for next year to all taxpayers coming under Pay-as-you-earn.

Taxpayers under Pay-as-you-earn for the current year have received notices showing the code number by reference to which their tax under Pay-as-you-earn is calculated, and it is the intention normally to issue notices for every year to all taxpayers even though there may be no change in the code. Owing to the great pressure of work now prevailing in the Inland Revenue Department and to the shortage of man-power, it has been decided to issue notices for next year only in those cases in which a change of code number is being made, and accordingly this year's code number will continue in force for next year unless a new coding notice is issued. If, by reason of change of circumstances, any taxpayer thinks that his existing code number is incorrect, he can, of course, apply to the tax office to have it corrected.

May I ask the Chancellor whether he is satisfied with the method of Pay-as-you-earn as it is being done weekly?

Yes, Sir, I think it is working very well indeed.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department how many applications have been received by his Department for permission to proceed to France on business grounds; how many have been granted; and how many individuals have in fact been able to travel.

I will, with the permission of the House, make a rather longer statement on this Question than is normally given in an Oral answer.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I, in view of the necessity and advantage to both countries of trade with France, ask him to give an assurance that only military security and transport difficulties will hinder the natural intercourse between the two countries?

So far as is possible, I will certainly do that.

As it appears likely, from the life-work to which we have just listened, that trade relations will not be resumed before 1980, will the right hon. Gentleman get the necessary Departments together and consult with the French Government to see if it is not possible to do something instantly?

Consultation with the French Government has already been undertaken, and this is the result of it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will define the division of responsibility between his Department and the Department of Overseas Trade; and with what industries and with what countries, respectively, each is concerned.

The Board of Trade is responsible for formulating and carrying out industrial and trade policy. The main function of the Department of Overseas Trade is to provide assistance to exporters within the framework of that policy. The two Departments work in close collaboration and there is no division of functions by industry or by country.

Can the right hon. Gentleman indicate what assistance is being afforded to exporters at the present time?

If my hon. Friend will put that question down, I will be very glad to answer it.

It has been put down.

The supplementary question is not relevant to the original Question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the large amount of utility cloth available in the country, he will grant permission for mills to spin some quantity of non-utility, that is in general, non-standard yarns in order further to assist the weaving of experimental and sample cloths for future exports.

As my hon. and gallant Friend has already been informed, my right hon. Friend is anxious to do all he can to assist the weaving of experimental and sample cloths. I am advised, however, that the spinning of fancy yarns would result in a disproportionate loss of output, and, in view of the very great shortage of cotton yarns for essential purposes, including production of utility cloth, I regret that my hon and gallant Friend's suggestion cannot be accepted for the present. But the possibility will be borne in mind.

As the number of spinning mills involved is very small, will not my right hon. and gallant Friend reconsider this matter, because the advantage that would be gained would be very great?

Both my right hon. Friend and I are most anxious that these samples should be made, but, unhappily, at the present moment, we are so very short of labour in Lancashire that it is quite impossible to use any of it for this purpose.

Is not my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that no increased labour would be necessary if the suggestion outlined in the Question were adopted?

No, Sir. On the other hand, I am informed that increased labour would be necessary, and that that labour would be disproportionate to the small number of samples which could be used. We hope to be able to do it shortly, but we cannot do it yet.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether there has been a reduction in milk production during September and October; and, if so, what are the causes.

My right hon. Friend is very glad to have this opportunity of removing a widespread misapprehension on this subject. Supplies of milk in England and Wales during September and October, so far from showing a reduction on the corresponding months of 1943, showed in each case some increase. They were substantially greater than pre-war supplies in those months.

The Parliamentary Secretary mentioned the figures for England and Wales; can he give the figures with regard to Scotland?

I am afraid that the hon. Member will have to put that question to the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why the non-priority ration has been reduced, particularly in view of the not very good quality of the forage crop this year?

I am afraid that that Question will have to be put to the Minister of Food. I repeat, however, that the output in England and Wales was increased in September and October of this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that in some areas divisional inspectors are demanding the double fencing of farm boundaries as a pre-requisite for herd attestation; and if he will make it clear there is no authority for this demand, and no need for it, where fences are strong and well maintained.

The rules of the Tuberculosis (Attested Herds) Scheme require that boundary fences shall be maintained in such a condition as to prevent the infection of an attested herd by cattle on adjoining land. I am not aware that additional fencing is being demanded by my Department's officers where existing fences fulfil this requirement.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary bring that reply to the notice of divisional officers in view of the fact that they are, in many cases now, demanding some increase automatically?

This Question and the reply will again bring the point to the notice of the officers referred to, but if my hon. and gallant Friend has any particular case in mind and will let us have particulars, we will gladly look into it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of us are put to quite unnecessary expense by the way that these regulations are carried out, and that it is most desirable for him to go into the matter very carefully and make it clear that, provided the fence keeps the cattle out and they cannot communicate through the usual channels, the fencing is perfectly all right?

If the Noble Lord or any hon. Member will bring any particular case to our notice, we will gladly look into it.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that there is really any point in having T.T. herds, when we indulge in the disgusting practice of pasteurising milk?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that the agricultural industry in this country is under-capitalised and a large number of small farmers require additional working capital, will he consider making a pronouncement regarding the provision of further capital for the purpose of assisting the farmers and, additionally, to create a home market in which our industrial goods can be sold.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend gave him to a similar question on 20th July last.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that there is an unprecedented need for further capital in the agricultural industry to-day, and will he take up the matter seriously with his right hon. Friend?

There may be a need for more capital but at the moment we are more concerned with farmers' credit balances.

Surely my right hon. Friend will realise that that is by no means a satisfactory answer.