asked the Minister of Education what are the conditions upon which he approves, or intends to approve, loans to the managers and governors of aided schools to meet their capital costs and, in particular, what are the conditions for repayment and the provisions for default.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to Section 105 of the Education Act. These loans will be the subject of an agreement made between the Minister and the applicants with the consent of the Treasury. Loans of less than £500 will not be made and the period of the loan will in no case exceed 40 years. Loans will be repayable by equal annual instalments of principal and interest. The requirement in Section 105 that before making a loan the Minister shall consult with persons representing the managers or governors is designed, among other things, to obviate risk of default.

asked the Minister of Education if he will take the required steps, by consultation with the President of the Board of Trade, to increase the supply of paper for the purpose of increasing the supply of school books as the position has become serious, especially for the evening institutes and many of the elementary schools throughout the country.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware of the acute shortage of text-books for secondary schoolchildren; and what steps his Department are taking to remedy the present position, which is retarding the work of many teachers.

asked the Minister of Education if, in view of the impossibility of satisfying the demand from both the Forces and civilians for educational books, he will obtain more paper from the supplies Department, so that more paper can be more quickly released for books as distinct from periodicals.

There is unfortunately a general shortage of text-books due to restrictions on labour and materials imposed by war conditions, and it has been represented to me that the shortage is acute in some directions. I am constantly in touch with my colleagues on this very important matter, and, as my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade explained on 5th December in reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh North (Mr. Erskine-Hill), the paper quotas for the publishers and the Moberly reserve have just been increased by 633 tons, and a special allocation of 800 tons granted for the Services post-war educational scheme. It is too soon to judge the effect of these increases, but the situation is under review.

asked the Minister of Education what factors, in order of importance, are taken into consideration in determining the suitability of a student to enter a training college for teachers.

The conditions governing the admission of persons to training colleges are set out in Article 2 of the Training of Teachers Amending Regulations No. 2, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the fact that the Education Act of 1944 repeals all school attendance bye-laws made under the Education Act of 1921, including those raising the school-leaving age locally to 15 years, he will either introduce legislation or an Order under the Defence of the Realm Act to remove the anomaly and to safeguard during any interim period such bye-laws as anticipate the provisions of Section 35, paragraph 1, of the 1944 Act.

asked the Minister of Education if he will meet the difficulties created, for certain local authorities, by his decision to postpone the raising of the school-leaving age, by making an Order in Council to enable them to retain their existing bye-laws under which the school-leaving age in their areas has been raised to 15 years.

When Part II of the Education Act, 1944, comes into operation on 1st April next, it will still be open to parents to keep their children at school until 15, and much as I appreciate the hon. Members' motives I am not prepared to take special measures to compel parents to do so in particular areas pending the introduction of a general school-leaving age of 15.

asked the Minister of Education whether before his recent invitation to men and women to become teachers he had given consideration to those who had been called to the Services and had had their training interfered with; if he is aware that large numbers had commenced their college training when they were called up; and will he take steps to secure their release so that they may continue their studies and thus fit themselves for teaching before others are taken on.

When the time comes for releases from the Forces we shall not overlook the position of those students who joined the Forces from training colleges without completing courses qualifying them for recognition as teachers. There can, however, be no question of men being released now from the Forces to return to training colleges.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has accepted the recommendation of the McNair Report, namely, to set up a Central Training Council to advise him on the supply and training of teachers; and, if so, whether he can announce the names of the committee.

I am deferring my decision on this recommendation until my discussions with the universities on the McNair Report are further advanced.

asked the Minister of Education (1) how many independent schools have agreed to take 25 per cent. of their annual admissions from grant-aided primary schools; at what age they propose to select them; what is to be the basis of selection; and how many local education authorities have agreed to participate in the scheme;(2) whether he has accepted the recommendation of the Fleming Report, namely, to set up a central advisory committee to advise him on questions connected with schemes of associated schools; and, if so, whether he can announce the names of the committee.

I have already been in touch with the Associations of Governing Bodies, Headmasters and Headmistresses of Independent Schools in regard to Scheme B of the Fleming Report, and they have promised to let me have their views within the next few weeks. Until I have considered their views, together with those of other interested parties, it is not possible for me to reach a decision on the detailed recommendations of the Committee.

asked the Minister of Education what are the intentions of the Government in regard to the proposed new scales of pay for teachers suggested by the committee which has been sitting on this subject.

The proposed new scales of pay for teachers have not yet been submitted to me by the Burnham Committee.

asked the Minister of Works the total national expenditure of the building industry in the years 1936–37, 1937–38 and 1938–39; and what proportion of this was spent by the Government and by which Departments.

I regret that no accurate or detailed statistics of the kind asked for are available. It is, however, estimated that the total expenditure of the building industry in the three years 1936, 1937 and 1938 was £396,000,000, £429,000,000 and £461,000,000 respectively, and that expenditure on direct Government construction was of the order of £14,000,000 in 1936 rising to £42,000,000 in 1938.

asked the Minister of Works what percentage of the bomb-damaged houses in the London area have already been repaired; and if the rate of repairs is keeping pace with the estimates made by him in September last.

I should be grateful if my hon. Friend would await the detailed statement which will be made to-day.

asked the Minister of Health when he will be in a position to make an announcement regarding the Government's intentions concerning subsidies for non-temporary houses which many local authorities are desirous of building; and whether he is aware that local housing schemes are being held up pending such an announcement.

I cannot yet make an announcement regarding the terms and conditions of subsidy in respect of permanent houses, since these are still under discussion with representatives of local authority associations. There is no reason why local authorities should hold up the preparation of housing schemes pending such an announcement.

asked the Minister of Health the number of new houses built since 1st July, 1944; and whether reconstruction and building since that date have kept pace with destruction by enemy action.

The number of new houses completed since 1st July, 1944, is 902. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "No, Sir."

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the policy of the Government with regard to the participation of private enterprise in new house construction in respect of any subsidy from the taxes and rates, the supply of labour and materials and the price fixation of such materials as are controlled by the State, respectively.

The Government propose to introduce legislation to provide Exchequer subsidy for houses built by private enterprise during the early post-war period, subject to conditions as to size, construction, selling price and rent, and to enable local authorities to make supplementary contributions from the rates. Materials will be available for approved schemes, subject to such controls of price or otherwise as may be in operation at the time; and, as indicated in the White Paper on Re-allocation of Man-Power between the Armed Forces and Civilian Employment (Cmd. 6548), special arrangements are being made to supplement the labour force available for building houses after the defeat of Germany.

asked the Minister of Health if he will inform local housing authorities that he has no objection to building bye-laws which permit a minimum height of 7 feet as head-room in cottages which are built in rural areas.

The provision in regard to height of rooms is one of the matters which will be considered in connection with any revision of the model series of bye-laws issued for the guidance of local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that in some cases habitable houses, urgently needed, are standing empty in heavily bombed areas; that if the whereabouts of the owners, or in some cases the names of the owners, are unknown, the local councils have no power to requisition; and if he will authorise them to do so after advertisement in the local papers.

Local authorities already have the power to requisition suitable unoccupied premises for housing purposes in the circumstances mentioned. I am making inquiries into the particular case of which my hon. and gallant Friend has informed me.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have submitted their interregnum, two-year programme of houses, temporary and permanent; and how many of these schemes have so far been approved.

One thousand four hundred and forty-five out of 1,469 local housing authorities in England and Wales have submitted short-term programmes, covering over 260,000 permanent houses. I am not yet in a position to give formal approval to any of these programmes, as the number of houses which can be built in the first two years must depend on the labour and materials available. Over 90,000 temporary houses have been allocated to 395 local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health the number of local authorities in the county of Durham, up to date, that have submitted housing schemes for the post-war period; the number of houses asked for; the amount of land purchased for building purposes; the number of schemes submitted and rejected; and the number of houses required to meet the needs of the county.

All the 40 local housing authorities in Durham have submitted programmes for the immediate post-war period, comprising 19,086 permanent houses. The authorities already own 1,436 acres, and have so far submitted proposals for the purchase of a further 497 acres. In no case has a proposal by a local authority to build houses in the post-war period been rejected. No precise figure is available for the county's ultimate housing need, but it will be substantially greater than the immediate need for which the short-term programme of 19,086 houses provides.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that many local authorities and private landlords are charging full rents for war-damaged premises after first-aid repairs have been undertaken; that many such premises are still very draughty and uncomfortable; and will he taken steps to see that full rents and rates are not charged until they have been made really habitable.

I have consulted my Noble Friend, the Lord Chancellor, and would refer my hon. Friend to Section 1 of the Landlord and Tenant (War Damage) (Amendment) Act, 1941. The general effect of the Section is to provide for the suspension or reduction of the rent of a dwelling house let on a short tenancy which has been made unfit by reason of war damage. A house is deemed to be fit where such repairs as are reasonably practicable at the time have been carried out having regard to the amount of war damage in the area and the availability of labour and materials. Local authorities have power to issue a certificate that a house has been made fit to the extent practicable, such a certificate being prima facie evidence that the house is fit for the period to which the certificate relates. Local authorities must, however, revoke a certificate if on application by the tenant after not less than three months and inspection of the house they are astisfied that a higher standard is practicable or that the repairs carried out have not been efficiently maintained. I have no power, in the circumstances described, to require local authorities to accept reduced payment in respect of rates, but I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a circular issued in 1940 which indicates some steps which could be taken to help in cases of difficulty.

asked the Minister of Health what is the approximate proportion of residential property in England which is owned by local authorities; and what is the approximate debt still owing by such authorities in respect of the acquisition thereof.

Approximately 10 per cent. of houses in England are owned by local authorities. Their outstanding loan debt on 31st March, 1941, in respect of houses included in their Housing Revenue Accounts was £561,500,000.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state why in the Command Paper No. 6564 the statistics for males and females, on pages three and four respectively, in respect of the mid-year 1940 were omitted; and if he will publish the missing figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Statistics on the basis set out in the Tables to which my hon. Friend refers were first compiled in 1941. Estimates were then made for 1939 as a basis for comparing pre-war with war-time figures But any advantage which could be gained from preparing corresponding estimates for 1940 is outweighed by the large amount of work involved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it is that since policemen have to belong to the Police Pensions Fund, for which weekly deduction is made from their pay, no woman whom they marry after retirement is allowed to draw a pension under that Fund, or under the National Health and Pensions Scheme.

The Police Pensions Act, 1921, which provides that superannuation deductions shall be taken from the pay of every member of a police force, also includes the specific provision that the widow of a pensioner shall not receive any pension or gratuity under the provisions of the Act unless the marriage took place before he retired on pension. Any question as to the position of police pensioners in relation to the National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions Acts is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it is proposed to make any statement on the need or otherwise for further war damage contributions from the public after the conclusion of the current five years period.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given on 5th October and 26th September to my hon. Friends the Members for Bournemouth (Sir L. Lyle) and Tamworth (Sir J. Mellor) respectively. I cannot take a decision on this matter until I know more clearly than is at present possible what the total cost of Part I of the War Damage Act is likely to be.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, when payment of compensation under the War Damage Act is being considered, he will give priority of payment to those claimants in respect of property destroyed by enemy action in the first two years of the war.

Cost of works payments are made as and when the relevant properties are repaired, and I assume, therefore, that my hon. Friend has in mind the release of value payments. I have taken note of his suggestion, but if any system of priorities were found to be desirable I should expect that other considerations of perhaps even greater importance might arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total value of certificates of post-war credits issued to date; is he aware that hardship is inflicted upon persons with small incomes due to the fact that certificates for post-war credits are neither transferable or negotiable; and if he will remedy this.

The estimated total value of postwar credits in respect of Income Tax accrued up to 31st March last was given at the foot of Table II of the Financial Statement, 1944–45 (No. 71 of 25th April, 1944). The total value of the certificates actually issued to date is not available, but I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Chelsea (Captain Sidney, V.C.) on 9th November last as to the present position in regard to the issue of these certificates. I cannot see my way to accede to the suggestion made in the last part of my hon. Friend's question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider paying post-war credits to people on attaining the age of 70 as some of these people may not live long enough to enjoy the benefits.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a similar question by the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Cape) on 9th November, of which I attach a copy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that Scotch whisky traders, who provide annually a substantial contribution to the Treasury, are suffering prohibitive losses through pilferage from their consignments for export in the dock areas, for which losses the dock authorities will accept no responsibility and which the exporters are powerless to prevent; and will he consider the remission of the very heavy Excise Duty which the traders are obliged to pay when such losses occur.

I am aware that theft of spirits from export cargoes is occurring at the ports, but I am unable to accept the suggestion that the Excise Duty should be remitted in the circumstances mentioned by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that voluntary organisations in this country and the U.S.A. have large quantities of medical supplies, clothing and other much needed goods ready for shipment to Yugoslavia, but are finding great difficulty in getting transport facilities; what prospects there are of some shipping being made available for these much-needed supplies; and when the last shipping of these supplies to Yugoslavia took place.

The allocation of shipping in this area, for whatever purpose, is a matter for the Supreme Allied Commander. There are many claims on the limited amount of shipping available, and all offers of relief supplies from voluntary organisations in this country and in the U.S.A. are therefore referred to him. I have no precise information about the last parts of my hon. Friend's Question, but I am sure that the Supreme Allied Commander is doing what is possible to make these free gifts available in the liberated parts of Yugoslavia.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Report of the Departmental Committee on Valuation for Rates, which he announced on 19th October would be published, has yet been sent to His Majesty's Stationery Office to be printed.

Yes, Sir, and it was, in fact, issued and on sale on 29th November.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in considering plans for the recruitment of local government officers after the war, he will take steps to ensure that the fullest possible preference is given to former members of His Majesty's Forces and, in particular, to those who have been disabled.

I am sure that local authorities, with whom it rests to recruit their own staffs, will be sympathetic to the claims of ex-Servicemen and women. As regards disabled members of His Majesty's Forces, local authorities, like other employers may, under the Disabled Persons Employment Act, 1944, be required to employ a quota of registered disabled persons, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service is required to give a preference to ex-Servicemen and women in selecting registered disabled persons for submission to vacancies.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there is a shortage of accommodation and of staff at the Standish sanatorium at Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, and also a long list of tuberculosis patients awaiting treatment; and whether he will inquire into the matter with a view to early remedy.

Yes, Sir. This sanatorium has been seriously handicapped by the destruction of one of its ward-blocks through fire about a year ago. I have sanctioned the building of a new block. Steps have been taken with the help of the Ministry of Labour and National Service to remedy shortages in the nursing and domestic staff, and every effort is being made to fill the few vacancies that still exist.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons awaiting entry for sanatoria treatment from the Cleator Moor and Egremont districts; and how long the applicants have been waiting.

I am informed that there are four men and two women in the Cleator Moor and Egremont locality at present awaiting sanatorium treatment. The men have been on the waiting list respectively for eight, four, three and two weeks, and the women for 22 and 17 weeks. The two women have previously had substantial periods of sanatorium treatment and are chronic cases, which should not ordinarily be given priority over new cases.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a member of the R.A.F., of whose name he has been informed, who contracted tuberculosis nearly three months ago and was then promised early treatment with the prospect of an early recovery, has not yet been admitted to a sanatorium; and will he take action to ensure that this airman and other members of the R.A.F. in a similar position receive the medical treatment they require without further delay in sanatoria as near as possible to their homes.

This case was notified as one of tuberculosis on 23rd September, and arrangements were made for admitting the patient to a sanatorium near his home at the earliest opportunity after his discharge. In the meantime he is receiving in a Royal Air Force hospital treatment which I am advised is not materially different from sanatorium treatment and I am informed that his condition is improving. Apart from other difficulties of war-time, the present shortage of doctors and nurses, to which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service and I are giving anxious consideration, unfortunately make it impossible at the present time to avoid delay in admissions to sanatoria, whether of civilians or of ex-Service men.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to ensure that where an insured patient makes a complaint regarding his treatment by a dental surgeon, the dental surgeon against whom the complaint is made shall be furnished, either by the approved society or otherwise, with a copy of the patient's complaint before he is called upon to submit his observations to the regional dental officer of his Ministry.

Under the provisions of the National Health Insurance (Dental Benefit) Regulations dealing with the investigation of any question as to the treatment given by a dentist to an insured person the dentist must be supplied with a concise statement of the facts which form the subject matter of the question. If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any case which he has in mind I will make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that medical officers dealing with the personnel of the C.D. service in London during the air raids of 1940 and 1941 discovered that the effects of protective inoculation against tetanus were frequently far more serious than the effects of the wounds sustained; and, whether, in view of the possibility of the health of farm workers being injured by antitetanus inoculation, he will oppose proposals now being made to compel these people to undergo such inoculations.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No, Sir." As regards the second part of the Question, I am not aware of any proposals for the compulsory inoculation of farm workers against tetanus.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that his Department has refused permission to the authorities in the East Riding, in charge of emergency services hospitals, to admit merchant seamen who have been injured on the high seas by enemy action; and will he allow such hospitals to treat these British nationals with equal rights to those given to German and Italian prisoners of war.

No, Sir. Officers and men of the Merchant Navy are accepted for free treatment under the Emergency Hospital Scheme for any injury or sickness arising out of their service; and the second part of the Question, therefore, does not arise. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind and will give me particulars, I shall be pleased to look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Health what was the average number of vacant beds in the Orpington and Farnborough hospitals, respectively, for the month of November; will he release a large proportion for local patients; and will he consult with the Minister of Labour with the object of securing adequate nursing and domestic staff.

The average numbers of vacant beds in the Orpington and Farnborough Emergency Hospitals during November, 1944, were 104 and 161 respectively. By last Tuesday the figures for these two large hospitals had fallen to 69 and 122. I have already released part of the hutted accommodation at the Farnborough hospital for the treament of local sick and for the purpose of accommodat- ing the nursing staff, and I regret that, owing to the immediate needs of the Emergency Hospital Scheme, more accommodation cannot be made available at present. My Department is already in communication with the Ministry of Labour and National Service about the staffing difficulties of the hospitals in question.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the steps taken by the Gloucester City Council for a Bill to extend the city boundaries; and whether, in view of the Government's intention to publish a White Paper and to introduce legislation at an early date on the question of boundary extensions, facilities will be given to the city council to proceed in accordance with Sub-section (2) of the Section 254 of the Local Government Act, 1933, or otherwise, having regard to the opposition and extensive legal proceedings the Bill would involve at a time when local authorities are urged to observe the strictest economy in expenditure and their staffs are depleted.

Unless there had been failure to comply with statutory formalities, I should hesitate to withhold my approval under the provision mentioned and thus to debar a local authority from its right of access to Parliament. I hope, however, that, in the light of the Government's proposals, which will shortly be presented to Parliament, the City Council of Gloucester and the other local authorities affected will be able to arrive at some accommodation which will avoid the expense of controversial legislation.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the position of beekeepers and owners of bee gardens under the provisions of the de-rating law.

As my hon. Friend will appreciate, his Question involves the interpretation of the precise language used in Section 2 of the Rating and Valuation (Apportionment) Act, 1928. I do not find that the question has been before the courts, and I have no power to interpret the Section.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the serious loss in rateable value suffered by those local authorities who have been particularly subject to flying-bomb destruction, he will consider whether such loss should be borne entirely by the nation.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 9th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Balham and Tooting (Mr. Doland).

asked the Minister of Health whether, to avoid injustice to contributory pensioners, he can see his way clear to abolish the war-time restrictive provision which prevents undrawn pensions from being paid from date of entitlement and limits that payment to an arrears period of three months.

I am not prepared to introduce separate amending legislation on this subject whilst the general legislation required to implement the Government's scheme of national insurance is being formulated. I have, however, power to modify the application of the provision he has in mind where I am satisfied that by reason of conditions arising out of the present war there has been a reasonable excuse for not obtaining payment of a pension within the statutory period.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that an old age pensioner, drawing a supplementary pension allowed to earn 10s. 6d. per week in addition, is worse off financially when drawing 10s. per week from his friendly society; and if he will take steps to remove this anomaly.

The treatment of friendly society sick pay is governed by the Act, but I cannot agree that there is any anomaly in the fact that a pensioner is better off when he is working than when he is not.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give an assurance that the loans to local authorities in the coastal areas to enable them to lend £150 to traders will be granted on the merits of the case and not on whether they happen to be inside a geographical line arbitrarily drawn.

In deciding whether to authorise any particular local authority to make loans to small traders and to put the authority in funds for that purpose, I shall, of course, have regard to the merits of the case; but the Defence Regulation governing the matter limits my discretion to holiday resorts lying within a prescribed coastal area.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that negotiations for the sale of a site for the purpose of erecting a new factory in the northern area is being jeopardised owing to the delay in producing a district mineral valuer; and will he give an assurance that valuation which may result in providing employment in development areas will not in future be held up.

I am aware of the case in question, about which I have written to my hon. Friend informing her that the mineral valuer visited the area in question last Monday in order to deal with the matter. As I have explained, the district valuers are not on the staff of my Department, but I am assured that no avoidable delay occurs in dealing with these cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will add to his committee which is reporting on the police, representatives of the younger chief constables, especially those who have graduated through the Hendon Police College.

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend that the Police Post-War Committee should be representative of all points of view among chief officers of police, and, with this in view, the three working Sub-Committees into which the main Committee has divided itself were informed at the outset that it was open to them to co-opt chief constables who were not members of the main Committee but could speak for some particular interest or point of view not directly represented on that Committee. A number of chief constables have in fact been co-opted to the Sub-Committees under these arrangements. Amongst them are representatives of the smaller county and borough forces and also a chief constable who was a student at the Metropolitan Police College at Hendon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, before taking any steps to give effect to the recommendations as to the recruitment and training of police in the transition period after the end of hostilities in Europe made by the committee appointed jointly by him and the Secretary of State for Scotland, in September, 1943, he proposes to obtain the views of those police authorities by whom police training schools have already been established and give the House an opportunity of discussing the recommendations.

The Committee, which consisted of officials and chief officers of police, was appointed for the purpose of exploring certain technical problems affecting the efficiency of the police service which are likely to arise in the immediate post-war period; and the recommendations of the Committee were sent to the County Councils Association and the Association of Municipal Corporations in September last with a view to their circulation to all police authorities (including, of course, police authorities which had their own police training schools). It was then made clear that the views of the police authorities would be welcomed, and that, if desired, arrangements would be made for those recommendations to be discussed orally with representatives of the two Associations in the first instance. I understand that the two Associations have taken steps to obtain the views of police authorities and I hope that they will be in a position to discuss the proposals with my Department in the very near future. As regards the last part of the Question, I should certainly have no objection to these matters being discussed by the House if indication were given through the usual channels that this was the general wish. In any event, I should be very pleased to give full particulars of the suggested arrangements to any hon. Member who may be interested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, as the military operational necessities which caused him to make Orders under the Defence (Amalgamation of Police) Regulations, 1942, no longer exist, he will withdraw the Orders.

This is a matter which I have not overlooked, but I am not in a position to make any statement at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the nationality of Dr. E. Guttmann, the only doctor on the N.F.S. Officers Selection Board; and why he was appointed, in view of the fact that he is not a British medical officer, that his qualifications are inferior and that he only got on to the register in 1939.

The National Fire Service Officers' Board applies the procedure of War Office Selection Boards in assessing the qualities of officership in the individuals who come before the Board, and I am advised that, for this purpose, the occasional assistance of a psychiatrist is necessary. When the National Fire Service Officers' Board was set up, there was difficulty in finding a fully qualified psychiatrist who had the special experience required, and eventually an arrangement was made with the Mill Hill Emergency Hospital, which is a part of the Emergency Medical Service and situated within easy reach of the Board's premises, for Dr. Guttmann, who is a psychiatrist on the staff of the hospital, to assist the Board in an honorary capacity, as and when he can spare the time from his duties at the hospital. Dr. Guttman, who is a German refugee from Nazi oppression, has been in this country since 1934, and I am advised that his qualifications and reputation in this particular field are of the very highest.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to appoint the Boundary Commissioners for England and Wales under the Redistribution Bill.

The appointment of the Boundary Commissioners to consider the abnormally large constituencies was announced on 7th November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that in many instances older men are not being retained for C.D. purposes; and whether he will consider giving them preference should they desire to remain in the service, since they may find it more difficult to obtain civil employment.

The order of priority for release from, or retention in the Civil Defence (General) Services was communicated to local authorities in circulars from my Department of which I am sending my hon. Friend copies. After those members required for work of national importance have been selected for release, preference for retention among those who wish to remain will be given to those with the longest service. Length of service is, in my judgment, a better ground for retention than age alone, having regard to the often strenuous nature of the duties to be performed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now in a position to make any further statement with regard to the four members of the Emergency Committee of the Finsbury Borough Council who are employed in C.D. duties.

I regret that I am not yet in a position to make a further statement on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will appoint a small committee to consider the immediate difficulties of remand homes and approved schools and their future provision, nature and supervision; and, in view of the agreement among informed social workers that corporal punishment is not a reclamatory discipline among juvenile delinquents, whether particular attention will be given by that committee to this question and the present power of inflicting excessive corporal punishment.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer to the answer which I am giving to a Question to-day by my hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Mr. Keeling). As regards the second part, the question of corporal punishment was considered by a Departmental Committee which reported in 1938 and recommended that birching as a Court punishment should be abolished but considered that corporal punishment by a schoolmaster, if used with proper discretion, could be a suitable method of enforcing discipline in a school. Corporal punishment in remand homes and approved schools is strictly regulated, and I have no reason to believe that it is improperly administered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he contemplates the implementation of his undertaking to return the Fire Services to local control.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have had preliminary discussions with representative local authority associations about the post-war organisation of the fire service. The associations and their constituent members are now considering the problem in the light of the statements made by my right hon. Friend and myself and will meet us again to let us know their views.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Mr. Philip Hect, a leading member of the Hallé Orchestra, was born in this country; and, as he has long been a well-known and respected musician, why he is not allowed to travel with the Hallé Orchestra on the Continent.

With the support of the Service authorities, E.N.S.A. have applied for exit permits to enable the Hallé Orchestra to travel to Belgium to give a series of concerts for Servicemen and women and I have decided to comply with this application. Mr. Hect's name was not among those submitted to me for exit permits in this connection.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how much money is annually devoted to subsidise the Land Girl Movement; and whether post-war plans contemplate the continuance of this assistance.

The Women's Land Army is not, as the form of the Question suggests, an independent movement subsidised by the Exchequer. The organisation is part of my Department and the whole cost of it falls on public funds. This amounted in the financial year 1943–44 to £1,290,900. I am not yet able to make any statement about the post-war position of the Women's Land Army, but it will be necessary, in order to maintain essential food production, to retain this organisation for a considerable time after the defeat of Germany.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that merchants are selling salt for agricultural purposes which has been used for preserving imported hides on board ships from the Argentine; and whether, in view of the fact that many of these hides are infected with foot-and-mouth disease, he will take steps to have this salt thrown away at the ports and not used on the land.

There is no reason to suspect that outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in this country have been caused by the use for agricultural purposes of salt previously used for preserving imported hides. In the circumstances, I do not think there is any necessity to take action on the lines suggested.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can provide figures on an annual basis comparing war-time with pre-war agriculture as regards nutritional and monetary value of output, personnel engaged, and value of feeding stuffs and fertilizers, fuel and machinery imported and used.

The publication of the figures requested by my hon. Friend is under consideration at the present time. I expect to be able to publish figures in the fairly near future for the monetary value of output and for personnel engaged, but I am not at present able to say when it will be possible to compile and publish the other figures requested.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can now give an approximate comparison between the annual value of the output per head of employers and employed in British agriculture at the present time and that of the output in the immediate pre-war period, such comparison being adjusted for the change in values between the two periods.

No, Sir. I regret that my Department is not at present able to make calculations of the annual value of output per head in British agriculture in view of the difficulty of obtaining a common measure of work performed by a miscellaneous labour force of men and women, adults and juveniles, regulars and casuals.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the policy of his Department with regard to instruction in intensive cultivation of vegetables and fruit in the immediate post-war period.

The provision of instruction in the intensive cultivation of vegetables and fruit in the immediate post-war period will receive its due share of attention.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been directed to a report issued by the Hampshire branch of the N.F.U. criticising the action of his Department and of his agents, the Hampshire War Agricultural Executive Committee, for unnecessary interference with the farming activities of Mr. Rex Paterson, of Hatch Warren, near Basingstoke; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

I am glad to have an opportunity of making the position clear in this case, about which there has been a good deal of misunderstanding.The salient facts are as follow: Mr. Paterson is a large farmer. He farms a number of different holdings amounting in all to about 9,000 acres in Hampshire and he has large herds of dairy cows. He is graded as an "A" farmer. The Hampshire War Agricultural Executive Com- mittee as my agents are responsible for seeing that the farms in their county are farmed in accordance with the nation's war-time needs. While it is not their practice to serve cropping directions on "A" farmers, they agree a detailed cropping programme with each "A" farmer which will fit in with national requirements. This has been done each year with Mr. Paterson. The system obviously depends on farmers carrying out the detailed cropping programme as agreed with the Committee, and the great majority of farmers have loyally done so. Mr. Paterson has, however, made considerable variations from the agreed programme, and in respect of only a small part of these has he had the Committee's authority to make the changes.It appeared to the Committee, and to my Department when the matter was reported to them, that these variations in Mr. Paterson's cropping amounted to a deliberate defiance of the Committee. It is clear that neither the Ministry nor the Committee could agree that a large farmer, however capable, should be a law unto himself, and after reaching agreement with the Committee about the cropping of his farms required in the national interest, should feel free to vary it without authority from the Committee if this course appeared more convenient or profitable to himself. It was accordingly decided, both in the national interest and in fairness to other farmers in the country who were loyally complying with the requirements of Executive Committees, that directions should be served on Mr. Paterson covering the detailed cropping programme which he had already agreed with the Committee, and instructions were issued to the Hampshire War Agricultural Executive Committee to serve the necessary directions. I would emphasise that these were not directions to Mr. Paterson to do something which he had not already agreed to do; they were merely designed to ensure that he should comply strictly with the agreement which he had made.Subsequently, at the request of the Headquarters of the National Farmers' Union, officials of my Department had an informal meeting with the President and Vice-President and certain members of the Hampshire Branch of the Union, when it was represented that the situation which had arisen between Mr. Paterson and the Executive Committee may have been due to misunderstandings. At this meeting it was indicated that the Ministry would be willing to withdraw its instructions for the service of directions on Mr. Paterson provided that it was accepted by him and the National Farmers' Union that he, like other farmers, must meet the requirements of the County War Agricultural Executive Committee in the national interest and that he should not in future vary his cropping programme thus arranged without authority in writing from the Committee. From what transpired at this informal discussion my Department were led to expect that the necessary assurances would be immediately forthcoming from the National Farmers' Union and Mr. Paterson which would have justified my withdrawing the instructions to serve directions on Mr. Paterson. Instead, the Hampshire Branch of the N.F.U. decided to publish a report which had previously been prepared by one of their sub-committees attacking the Hampshire War Agricultural Executive Committee and the Ministry. At the same time they included a statement to the effect that the Ministry's instructions to the Committee to serve directions on Mr. Paterson were to be withdrawn, without any reference to the conditions which had been laid down.I frankly do not understand why the Hampshire Branch of the N.F.U. took this course. I can only regret it, as the result has only been to mislead the Press and public into supposing that I had been using my powers arbitrarily in the direction of interfering with the operations of Mr. Paterson, an "A" farmer, by requring him to do something which he had not agreed to do, whereas all that was being done was to ensure the carrying out of a programme to which Mr. Paterson had already agreed. In this matter the Hants. War Agricultural Executive Committee have throughout acted in accordance with my authority and full approval. I am glad to say, however, that assurances on the lines originally agreed have since been received on behalf of the N.F.U. and Mr. Paterson, and subject to the settlement of some points of detail with the War Agricultural Executive Committee I propose to withdraw the instructions I issued to the Committee to serve detailed directions on him.I may add that the report of the subcommittee of the Hampshire Branch of the N.F.U. contained certain vague in- sinuations against members of the Executive Committee's staff. These insinuations were a repetition of similar allegations which were made two years ago by Mr. Paterson, and which, at an independent inquiry which I caused to be held by a Past-President of the Surveyors' Institute, were found to be entirely without foundation. I am glad to say that the N.F.U. has informed me that it dissociates itself entirely from any insinuations contained in the Report. Finally, I hope that the settlement arrived at will put an end to any difficulties which have arisen.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that, in the considered view of the Agricultural Research Council and the National Veterinary Medical Association, the tuberculin testing of cattle is far from reliable; if he will take steps to speed up research into the production of an adequately-standardised tuberculin; and will he take steps to amend the law which permits the sale in open market of cattle reacting to the tuberculin test, thus contributing to the spread of the disease rather than to its eradication.

I think the point my hon. Friend has in mind is that no tuberculin yet produced is a wholly reliable specific diagnostic agent for bovine tuberculosis. The comparative test now employed, however, in which both mammalian and avian tuberculins are used, provides the most reliable means so far discovered of distinguishing reactions due to bovine tuberculosis from those due to other causes. Intensive research on tuberculin problems is continuing. With regard to the last part of the question, control on the lines suggested would, I am afraid, not at present serve any useful purpose in view of the much larger number of untested cows which, if tested, would react.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what county war agricultural executive committees have approved the use of steel-toothed traps; and what committees have not done so.

According to the information available in November, 1943, out of 61 County War Agricultural Executive Committees in England and Wales, 43 had, at that date, issued authorisations for the open trapping of rabbits. I am making inquiries as to the present position and will communicate with my hon. Friend when my inquiries are complete.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will arrange for additional shipping facilities between Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the Christmas traffic and to enable workers in Britain to spend the Christmas holidays at home with their friends.

Arrangements were made some time ago to increase the sailings on the Heysham-Belfast route from three to six a week in each direction. This change will be made as soon as we have completed the necessary alterations to the vessel released for the purpose. I hope this will be shortly before Christmas. I regret that it has not been found possible further to increase the passenger services for Christmas.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will now consider restoring the Sunday morning service of omnibuses in country districts.

I regret that it is not yet possible to restore the omnibus services on Sunday mornings.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether, in view of the continued high death rate on the roads he will consider reducing the speed limit in built-up areas where the roads through towns and villages are particularly narrow and making it compulsory for omnibuses, etc., to slacken speed when passing a vehicle which is stationary, putting off and taking on passengers.

Apart from the specific speed limits imposed in built-up areas or at particular times, it is a general obligation of all drivers never to exceed a speed which is safe in the circumstances. Apart from the difficulties of enforcing special reductions of the existing speed limits, I fear that the result might be to weaken the general responsibility of drivers. The Highway Code enjoins on drivers that they must take special care when they are passing a stationary vehicle or any other form of obstruction which prevents a clear view of pedestrians or oncoming traffic, but I doubt whether a regulation such as my right hon. Friend suggests would be effective in practice, or would be likely to further the object he has in view.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware that there is a system of bets between drivers of motor-omnibuses serving war factories as to which shall get to a certain place first and a fund raised among them from which to pay the fine if one is caught for speeding; and if he will take steps to see that such practices, which lead to road accidents, are put down.

I have heard reports that omnibus drivers have been guilty of the dangerous practices of racing and betting to which my right hon. Friend refers, but I have received no definite evidence that they exist. In one district, where there were grounds for suspicion, the police took special steps to check the driving on some of the works services, with good results. If my right hon. Friend can let me have any more information on the subject, I will see whether anything further can be done.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in order to enable full advantage to be taken of the dim-out, he will remove the requirement that houses be blacked out on an alert.

When the half light or dim-out relaxation was introduced it was made a condition that black-out must be reimposed between the sounding of the "alert" and the "raiders passed." In accordance with the policy of progressive relaxation of restrictions whenever circumstances permit, I am glad to be able now to withdraw this condition. As from the beginning of black-out on Saturday evening, 9th December, it will not be necessary to black-out premises when an alert sounds. In addition, public service vehicles need not reduce their interior lighting during an alert. In the event of a recurrence of piloted raids, it may be necessary again to apply the condition requiring black-out of premises and the reduction of lighting inside public service vehicles on an alert.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the greyhound totalisator receipts on 104 tracks during 1943 amounted to £59,668,800 or nearly £10,000,000 more than in 1942; and does he contemplate taking action with a view to reducing the waste involved in this connection.

I have no official information about the receipts by the totalisator on greyhound racing tracks. For wartime purposes the number of meetings for dog racing have been considerably restricted, but Parliament has legalised the use of the totalisator subject to certain restrictions on greyhound racing tracks and I should not be justified in imposing any further restrictions on the number of meetings merely for the purpose of reducing the receipts of the totalisators.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider the introduction of legislation prescribing that no alien of enemy nationality may hold the controlling number of shares in any company, and that under all circumstances an available British subject shall be given a preferential claim to employment over any such alien, providing he is capable of doing the work in question.

I cannot undertake to introduce legislation on these or related matters at present. In any case, the issues are not as simple as might appear from my hon. and gallant Friend's Question. For example, many refugees from Nazi oppression and other aliens of enemy nationality have materially contributed to the war effort of the United Nations as members of the Forces or as civilians, while others have rendered valuable services by establishing industrial enterprises giving employment to British workers to the advantage of the national economy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to announce the result of his considerations of representations made by an all-party deputation which waited on him some months ago, in respect of conciliation and arbitration machinery for the Auxiliary Police, the Police and the Defence services.

I am not at present in a position to add anything to the statement made on my behalf during the Debate on the Adjournment on the night before last.

asked the Secretary of State for War what period he is now aiming at as the normal maximum tour of service in India or Burma, from the date of leaving the United Kingdom to the date of return; and how soon is it expected that this aim can be fulfilled.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Oxford (Mr. Hogg) on 5th December.

asked the Minister of Supply what progress has been made in the construction and equipping of a factory for the production of penicillin at Speke, Liverpool; when it is expected that the factory will be completed; and how many workers it is expected to employ.

Building and civil engineering work is well up to schedule and plant and equipment are in process of fabrication. It is expected that the factory will be completed by the late spring of 1945 and will employ about 350 people.

asked the Minister of Production if he has any information regarding the invitation of the U.S.A. Treasury to the American woollen mills and their agents to submit proposals for supplying 14,000,000 yards of woollen goods to U.N.R.R.A.; and whether British woollen firms have been invited by His Majesty's Government to submit similar proposals.

The Combined Production and Resources Board has agreed to the allocation from United States production of 14,000,000 yards of woollen goods to U.N.R.R.A. It is for the U.S. authorities on the one hand and for U.N.R.R.A. and Allied Governments on the other to make arrangements for the manufacture and supply of the goods against this allocation, and my right hon. Friend has no detailed information. The Combined Production and Resources Board also approved a similar allocation of 10,000,000 yards of woollen goods from United Kingdom production. Some progress has been made towards carrying out this allocation but the production position has not yet allowed large-scale orders to be placed. The Government Departments concerned are discussing with U.N.R.R.A. and the Allied Governments the types of materials required.

asked the Minister of Labour whether facilities will be granted to agricultural machinery manufacturing companies to make use of the personnel of the N.F.S., as and when they are released, in view of the fact that additional labour is urgently required by many of these manufacturing companies.

I cannot agree to earmark persons released from the N.F.S. for any particular industry. As they are released they will be placed to the best advantage in the national interest.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider giving some priority of demobilisation to the owners of one-man retail shops who involve no necessity for placing in employment but for whom the immediate maintenance or re-opening of their business is essential to protect them against unfair competition of new shops opened up in their absence.

No, Sir. Men will be released from the Forces after the defeat of Germany by age and length of service, with the exception that a limited number will be released out of turn for urgent reconstruction employment. I should not feel justified in proposing a further exception to cover the type of case referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will specify the steps that he has taken and those that he intends to take to meet the acute shortage of domestic staffs in hospitals and sanatoria.

I am glad to have this opportunity of informing the House of the more important of the many steps I have taken to assist hospitals to obtain domestic staff. No women domestic workers have been withdrawn from hospitals, and throughout the war hospital domestic work has been regarded as work of national importance carrying the appropriate priority. Following the report in November, 1943, of the Hetherington Committee which I set up for the purpose of recommending wages and conditions for women domestic workers in hospitals, a special priority was accorded to domestic needs of hospitals, and I instituted a widespread publicity campaign, with special local campaigns in areas of particular difficulty, to bring the domestic staffing needs of hospitals prominently before the general public. I also made available the help of my Welfare Officers to assist hospitals in overcoming any difficulties hindering the recruitment or retention of domestic staff.Between the granting of the special priority and the 8th November, 1944, 38,000 women and 3,000 men have been placed as domestic workers in hospitals, sanatoria, mental institutions and nursing homes. Wastage has, however, continued to be heavy with the result that despite this large number of placings, the number of domestic workers employed in hospitals during the same period January to September, 1944, increased by less than 5,000. The special priority for hospital domestic work is being continued and my Department will continue to make every effort to fill outstanding vacancies.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will favourable consider, in consultation with the Service Departments concerned, the immediate temporary release of selected personnel whom the Services are prepared to release where the application is sponsored by the appropriate Government Department in order to assist in the re-establishment of our export trade in cases where the absence of such personnel is calculated to lead not only to the temporary but also to the permanent loss of export trade with consequent unemployment to our people.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Central Bradford (Mr. Leach) on 28th September, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Labour if employees, who, although they have no work to do and are therefore unemployed, but, at the request of his Ministry, are retained and paid by their employers, are included in the official figures of persons unemployed.

No, Sir. The official figures of unemployment represent persons who maintain registration as unemployed at local offices of the Ministry of Labour and National Service.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will cause inquiries to be made about the number of persons registering for employment at Wingate, County Durham, exchange; and whether any of the men are miners who could be employed at mines in the neighbourhood.

Inquiries are being made and I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour how many women workers have been discharged from war factories as superfluous; and what suggestions as to their future employment are being made by the various employment exchanges.

The information in regard to the first part of the Question is not available. As regards the second part, the employment exchanges endeavour to place all persons who are available for employment in the most suitable employment having regard to the overriding importance of war production.

asked the, Secretary of State for Air why the staging post at Djerba, Tunisia, is not provided with better accommodation facilities and amenities; and if he is aware that the main drain from the post is open, inefficient and the effluent not effectively carried out to sea, thus causing a nuisance.

Djerba is normally used by the British Overseas Airways Corporation as a fuelling station only and accommodation is limited to that necessary for emergency purposes. I am, however, looking into the matter referred to in the second part of my hon. Friend's Question, and will communicate with him in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now make an order releasing men of 60 years of age and over from fire-guard duties under the Business Premises Order.

The amount of duty performed away from home has already been greatly reduced for all classes of fire guard, and further relief will be given as soon as circumstances permit. Meanwhile any fire guard can apply for exemption on the grounds of medical unfitness or exceptional hardship. In these circumstances I do not consider it desirable to alter the age limits for fire guards now.

asked the Minister of Food if his attention has been called to the procedure prior to the slaughter of injured or diseased pigs whereby authority is required from a veterinary officer and food office; and is he aware that the delay caused by this double certificate is a cause of suffering and loss of food; and what steps he is taking to prevent this.

The owner of a pig, the slaughter of which is immediately necessary or desirable on account of either accidental injury or disease, may have it slaughtered without any prior certification.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state the value of machinery for output which has been installed in prison workshops since the Report of the Salmond Committee; the value of prison output in the year 1938; and the value of prison output in the last completed year.

The cost of machinery installed by the Prison Commission since 1933 could not be ascertained without considerable research, but the approximate valuation of all machinery and tools held on charge by the manufacturing and farm departments is estimated to have increased by some £22,000 between 1933 and 1943. The output value of the manufacturing and farm departments for the year ended 31st March, 1939, was assessed at £432,500, and for the year ended 31st March, 1944, at £1,106,000. These figures represent the cost of materials, free of labour charge. To the latter figure may be added £97,000 representing receipts from wages paid in respect of prison labour employed by War Agricultural Executive Committees, Government contractors, and the Timber Control.

asked the Minister of Information whether, in order that public opinion should have up-to-date information on the problems of liberated countries and knowledge of what it is practical to do to help them, he will consult with the B.B.C. as to the advisability of having regular background talks.

The hon. Member's suggestion will be conveyed to the B.B.C. who have, I understand, already given a number of talks about the problems of liberated territories.

asked the Minister of Production whether he is aware that the U.S.A. has already established a branch of the Office of Scientific Research and Development in Paris; and whether he proposes to make any similar arrangements for the scientific advisers of his Department to be represented either in France or Belgium in the near future.

I am aware that plans are being made to establish such a branch office in Paris. The question whether any corresponding arrangements are necessary on the British side is being considered.