asked the Minister without Portfolio if expert medical advice has been sought or taken as to the level of sickness likely to prevail after the war is over; and, if so, will he state the names of the persons or bodies so consulted.

No, Sir. If my hon. Friend has in mind the probable volume of sickness claims under the proposed new insurance scheme, he will find in paragraph 7 of the Government Actuary's Memorandum appended to the White Paper an explanation of the assumptions made on this point.

asked the Minister without Portfolio what is the estimated number of staff to be employed by the Ministry of Social Insurance; and what is the estimated cost.

It is not possible at this stage to give an estimate of the number of staff required, but Table IV in the Government Actuary's report appended to the White Paper includes an estimate of the costs of administration.

asked the Minister without Portfolio what is the margin allowed in the social insurance schemes as to the inability of citizens of this country to pay their contributions.

Under the proposals in the White Paper the insurance benefits of a person who for any reason has a deficient contribution record will be scaled down, according to the extent of the deficiency. It is, therefore, unnecessary to provide the margin to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether his Ministry has kept close control over the R.A.F. fishing boats at Scarborough; whether there have been any inquiries into the nature of its transactions, especially of an extra R.A.F. character; whether the Regulations have been closely adhered to in all cases; and what is the present position of this organisation.

This enterprise was started in 1941 by the R.A.F. flying training units at Scarborough on account of difficulties then being experienced in obtaining regular supplies of fresh fish through normal channels. Supplies of fish were subsequently extended to R.A.F. hospitals and to a limited number of other R.A.F. units. The scheme brought into use fishing boats which at that time were not fishing, and operated at a profit to P.S.I. funds. It gave rise, however, to some complaints locally, and was accordingly the subject of a careful inquiry by the Air Ministry and Ministry of Food in 1942, when its continuance was approved subject to regulations and modifications which were laid down. These regulations provided for an equivalent deduction from priority supplies of fish distributed by N.A.A.F.I. to units receiving supplies under the R.A.F. scheme and applied equally to the distribution of fish from Torquay, where the whole catch of four boats was purchased. A further review of the arrangements was made in 1943, when they were again modified. From the outset, it was a rule that sales of fish were to be confined to R.A.F. personnel and I have no reason to believe that this rule was not strictly adhered to. At one time, small supplies of fish were made free to the fishermen employed and to the members of the local board of management, but orders were given that this practice should be discontinued. At the inception of the scheme, prices charged to R.A.F. messes compared favourably with N.A.A.F.I. prices; as the price of fish fell, however, it was found that a corresponding reduction in the prices of fish supplied from R.A.F. sources could not be made without running the organisation at a loss. The scheme was accordingly discontinued some months ago.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what are the basic rates of pay for the different grades of the chaplain branch of the R.A.F.

R.A.F. chaplains are paid on an incremental scale according to length of service and irrespective of relative rank held. The daily rates of pay are:

asked the Minister of Production whether he can state the nature of the new rubber agreement which has been concluded between Britain, the U.S.A. and the Netherlands.

By agreement between the three Governments, committees composed of United Kingdom, Netherlands and united States members, representing both civil and military Departments, have for some time been working on plans for organising the purchase and shipment of rubber from the enemy-occupied territories in the Far East during the initial period after liberation by the forces of the United Nations.