asked the Secretary of State for War whether firing is still taking place on the condemned rifle range at Warrington; and, if so, whether he is yet in a position to announce an approximate date when local residents will be relieved from the continuing annoyance caused thereby.

This range is at present being used for a few hours on about ten days in every month. When firing times are being arranged the convenience of those living nearby is met as far as possible. The range is urgently needed to train infantry instructors, and it is likely to be used for this purpose for some time to come.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he now has anything further to add to his reply of 17th October regarding the assessment of pre-war residence abroad in connection with overseas military service during the war.

I am still in consultation with Commanders-in-Chief, and I regret I am not yet in a position to add to the reply referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the leave recently promised to our soldiers stationed in the S.E.A.C. applies to the Royal Corps of Signals.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North (Sir C. Headlam) on 12th December.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will have an inquiry made into the number of huts at present not in use by the military and use them instead of tents; and will he have removed without delay 14 huts behind the residence of the hon. Member for Huntingdon, at Hilton, Huntingdonshire, which have been vacated months ago.

Many of the huts now empty in this country will be needed in the future. Those which are not needed are not as a rule suitably situated to take the place of tented accommodation. Labour and transport is not usually available to dismantle them and re-erect them elsewhere. The huts behind my hon. Friend's residence at Hilton are no longer needed by the Army. Three have been transferred to the Huntingdonshire Cadet County Association, and I hope that it will be possible to dispose of the rest soon.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the hardship and inconvenience which Southampton parents of secondary school-children have suffered for about four years arising out of the evacuation of their children; and will he take steps immediately to derequisition the secondary schools in Southampton so that educational facilities and family life may be restored to the parents at the earliest date.

I am fully aware of, and greatly regret, the inconvenience which has been suffered for so long by the parents and children of Southampton and other towns in a comparable situation as a result of the need to requisition schools for military use. My hon. Friend no doubt appreciates the great importance of Southampton to the prosecution of the war, and will agree that no steps can be taken which would decrease its efficiency as a military port. Of the four secondary schools now occupied by British and Allied military personnel connected with the port three must continue to be occupied for an indefinite period. The need to retain the fourth will be re-examined in a month's time, but no guarantee can be given that it will be possible to release it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make any statement as to the shortage of textiles in the different British Colonies and the prospects of meeting it.

There is a shortage of textiles, particularly cotton, in Colonies as in this country. I am satisfied that the Colonies are getting a fair share of the supplies which are available, although means of meeting future demands are causing concern.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colones whether plans for the rehabilitation of the economic life of the far Eastern territories are being worked out; whether long term development planning is being considered and what policy His Majesty's Government will adopt when the Japanese are defeated.

Yes, Sir. We have been working on rehabilitation plans for some time, and considerable progress has been made in spite of the difficulties. With regard to the second and third parts of the Question, account is naturally taken of long-term considerations and possibilities in working out those plans, but it would be premature to make any announcements about specific long-term development policies which can only take final shape after the ejection of the Japanese.

asked the Minister of Health what is the object of the Ministry's circular letter No. 136/44 of 5th October, regarding the derequisitioning of house property at present held by the War Office, in view of the fact that area quartering commandants are still refusing to derequisition houses even when houses have been empty for some time; and if he will confer further with the Secretary of State for War, with a view to having the terms of this circular letter implemented forthwith.

A considerable number of dwelling houses have been released by the military authorities. I am conferring with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War to see whether further releases can be effected. I shall be ready to look into any individual case if my hon. and gallant Friend will let me have particulars.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to state what steps he is taking to ensure preference in housing for ex-Servicemen where other factors are equal.

Local authorities are required by statute to give a reasonable preference in the letting of houses to persons who are "occupying insanitary or overcrowded houses, have large families or are living under unsatisfactory housing conditions." The Government's view is that the families of ex-Servicemen and of men still serving who are without a separate home of their own are outstanding cases of families living under unsatisfactory housing conditions, and that special consideration should be given to the families of those retained for service in distant theatres after the defeat of Germany. I have already issued to local authorities a memorandum on temporary houses, which deals with this question and of which I have sent my hon. Friend a copy. I intend also to refer to the question in a memorandum relating to permanent houses and to discuss with the associations of local authorities the best means of ensuring that this policy is adopted throughout the country.

asked the Minister of Health when it is anticipated that the Report from the Committee on Rent Control will be received.

I understand that the Committee hope to report next February.

asked the Minister of Health whether the proposed rent of 10s. weekly for Portal temporary houses is inclusive or exclusive of rates.

It will be for the local authority to fix the rents to be charged for the temporary houses in the same way as for permanent houses. I have suggested to authorities that it would be appropriate to charge approximately the same rent for temporary as for permanent houses.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are being taken to permit local authorities to raise the amount of mortgage on house property beyond the present limit of £800, in view of the enhanced values of such property over pre-war values.

The Government have decided to introduce legislation to increase the limit.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses were built in this country from 1st January, 1919, or other convenient date, and the outbreak of the present war; how many thereof were built by private enterprise and local authorities, respectively; what assistance by way of subsidies was given to private enterprise and local authorities in respect of such building; and whether those built by private enterprise show a lower cost price and, if so, to approximately what extent, than those built by the local authorities.

4,104,560 houses were built in England and Wales in the period; 1,136,457 by local authorities and 2,968,103 by private enterprise, of which 431,678 were subsidised. A total of £212,000,000 was paid in Government contributions. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the Report on Private Enterprise Housing, which gives in Appendix III details of the subsidies payable to local authorities and private enterprise under the various Housing Acts. It is not possible to give the comparison asked for in the last part of the Question, since information is not available regarding the cost of houses erected by private enterprise.

asked the Minister of Works what steps are being taken to produce smoke-reducing grates at reasonable prices; and why none of the most modern types of grates have been included in recent housing exhibitions.

Grates suitable for burning smokeless fuels are already available. A grate for burning bituminous coal with the minimum emission of smoke of a type and at a cost suitable for housing is being actively developed along lines that my Ministry have encouraged. The use of grates of these types is advocated in the "Housing Manual 1944," and they were exhibited at the recent Housing Equipment Exhibition at Birmingham. It is hoped that local authorities will instal them on a large scale. As explained in my reply on 1st November to the hon. Member for Yardley (Mr. Salt) the demonstration houses at Northolt were erected to show alternative methods of construction and not to exhibit appliances. The plans for the factory-made house include an openable stove from which smoke emission should be small.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that certain officials in towns in the reception areas, especially in Dukinfield, are bringing pressure to bear on parents in the London area to bring home their children before Christmas; and whether this action has been approved by his Department.

No, Sir, I am not aware that action of the kind suggested by my hon. Friend is being taken by officials in Dukinfield or elsewhere. I have not approved, and certainly should not approve, such action, and if my hon. Friend will furnish me with particular instances I shall be glad to investigate them.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the institution of a post-graduate course and the granting of a diploma for T.B. nursing as proposed by the General Nursing Council will have a serious effect on the recruitment of T.B. student nurses; that the proposal is opposed by the Tuberculosis Association and other T.B. specialists in the country; and if he will take steps to suspend the scheme pending consultation with the bodies engaged in the specialised treatment of T.B.

The General Nursing Council have not submitted any rule to me on the matter referred to by my hon. Friend, and their rules require my approval before they become operative. If I receive any such rule I will consider the points raised by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the recommendations sent to him last August by the Northern branch of the British Medical Association that trained midwives should no longer be accepted for the Services or industry and that those already accepted should be released or directed to their proper work; and whether he has taken any action thereon.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." I have consulted with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service and have communicated with the British Medical Association. The nursing services of the Crown have, since May, 1943, been precluded from recruiting practising or newly-qualified midwives or midwives with recent experience. Similarly as regards industrial nursing, experienced or practising midwives are not admitted to posts, unless they are immobile and there is no prospect of using their services in local midwifery work. A review of all qualified midwives already employed in industry has already taken place and those with good or recent experience are withdrawn, though there is sometimes a little delay in withdrawal where replacement is necessary. In view of the present operational needs and the fact that any midwives now in the Services must have qualified some time ago and will be scattered all over the world, I do not think I could press the Service Departments to make releases of midwives at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total number of children in the day nurseries throughout this country; the number of the staff; the total cost; and the average cost per child per week.

The number of places in war-time nurseries was, in November, 1944, 68,548. In addition there were 3,570 places in the more informal nurseries established primarily for evacuees. The number of children on the register according to the latest complete return—for April, 1944—was 61,316. The number of staff at the same date was 13,126 nursery staff and 3,562 domestics. The amount paid to local authorities in England and Wales in the year ended 31st March, 1944, in respect of war-time nurseries was £3,453,000. This figure comprises both running costs and capital expenditure incurred by the local authorities. From an examination of expenditure in a selected number of nurseries it is estimated that the average net cost per child attendance, including amortization of capital costs, is 25s. a week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the number of American Congressmen visiting France, when does he propose that British Members of Parliament may be given exit permits for the same purpose.

I am afraid that there is nothing which I can add at present to the statements on this subject which my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I made in the House in the week before last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the case brought to his notice of children from two years of age being employed to display clothing for export at shows arranged by a Government Department; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent very young children being employed in this way.

The organisation which arranged the display to which the Noble Lady refers is not a Government Department. I understand that the London County Council, the authority responsible for the administration, in their area, of the provisions regulating the employment of children have already drawn the attention of the organisation concerned to the provisions of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, which prohibit the employment of children under the age of 12, and have warned them against any further infringement of these provisions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that under Section 22 (2) of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, the participation of children of any age in charitable clubs or similar performances is permitted without a licence; and what steps he proposes to take to amend the Act so as to prevent such exploitation of young children.

The law relating to children taking part in entertainments of a charitable nature was reviewed when the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, was under consideration. The Section to which the Noble Lady refers imposes certain conditions especially by limiting the number of occasions on which a child can take part in such entertainments. I have no information to suggest that children are being exploited; but as I promised the House when the Education Bill was being discussed, the law relating to the employment of children is now under examination and the consideration of this particular Section will be included.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Depart- ment whether he is aware that a number of motorists never use hooded lights and that the use of ordinary undimmed headlights is a danger to the public; and whether he is satisfied that the police are vested with sufficient powers to deal with offenders.

I am aware that the regulation requiring head lamps to be masked is sometimes infringed and that infringements are a danger to other road users. I am satisfied that the police have sufficient power to deal with lighting offences and are paying special attention to the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will inquire into the case, details of which have been submitted to him, of a young man who has been in prison for five years and who is regarded by independent civilian doctors as suffering from schizophrenia, but who has received no adequate medical examination by the prison medical officer and is receiving no medical treatment.

The prisoner to whom my hon. Friend refers was sentenced to two years' imprisonment in February, 1944, though it is true that he has served other sentences of imprisonment and Borstal detention during the last five years. His case has been very carefully investigated by the prison medical authorities and by the consulting psychiatrist at Wormwood Scrubs Prison, but the conclusion reached was that psycho-therapeutic treatment could not be given to him in prison with any prospect of success.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he has considered representations from the Ely Diocesan Association for Moral Welfare and similar bodies, urging the amendment of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1922, so that the age of consent may be raised to 17 years; and whether such an amendment will be made as soon as possible so that girls up to the age of 17 years can be dealt with by the juvenile courts; (2) whether he will take steps to amend the present law so as to abolish the defence permitted to a person of or under the age of 23 years of reasonable belief that a girl was of or above the age of 16 years and that the consent of a young person under 17 years of age shall be no defence to a charge of indecent assault.

I have considered the representations referred to by my hon. Friend. Legislation on this subject would be highly controversial and would not, in my opinion, be justified in present circumstances. As regards the question of the age up to which girls can be dealt with by the juvenile courts, a girl up to the age of 17 can, under the existing law, be brought before a juvenile court on the ground that her parent or guardian is not exercising proper care and guardianship or that she is exposed to moral danger.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he appreciates that workpeople who successfully appeal under the Reinstatement in Civil Employment Act, 1944, cannot be granted legal costs by the committee before whom they appear and, as this adds to the hardship of those whose reinstatement has been delayed, if he will introduce legislation to remedy the position.

Neither a worker nor his former employer is entitled to be awarded the cost of being legally represented before a Reinstatement Committee or the Umpire, but this does not seem to me to give rise to any particular hardship. Neither party need be legally represented on these occasions unless he chooses to do so. On the contrary, he is expressly empowered to conduct his own case or to be represented by his trade union or employers' organisation or by a relative or personal friend or, in the case of an employer, by a director, partner, manager or any member of his staff. In these circumstances I am unable to agree that further legislation is called for.

asked the Minister of Labour whether students of military age who have been awarded scholarships in the humane subjects are now permitted to attend courses at the university for one year before being called up for service in the Armed Forces.

No, Sir; except in the case of those students who are placed in medical grades III or IV.

asked the Minister of Labour whether students of scholarship standard who, between September, 1942, and July, 1944, were called up for service and were not permitted to attend university courses will be released from the Services on the re-allocation of man-power at the end of the German war; and will he grant facilities for continuing their education in the way now enjoyed by students awarded scholarships since July, 1944.

The question whether in the national interest a limited number of university students should be released at an early date after the end of the German war is under consideration, and I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Labour how many young men have been directed to the mines as a result of his ballot system up to the latest available date; how many have refused; and how the system in general has worked.

Up to the end of October, 1944, nearly 16,000 youths selected by ballot had been directed to coalmining. Up to the same date approximately 500 ballotees had been prosecuted for non-compliance. The system in general is working quite satisfactorily.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been called to the case of Mr. M. P. Giles of Hull, who volunteered and was accepted into the service of the Merchant Navy and served until July, 1943, and who now desires to return to his former employment as a joiner; why the application was refused; and whether he has any statement to make.

I am informed that Mr. Giles does not wish to return to his former employer but wishes to work in another district on domestic grounds. His appeal against the National Service Officer's refusal of permission to leave his present employment will be heard shortly.

asked the Minister of Labour the ages of the members of the Hardships Committee for the Pontefract district.

I have no record of the ages of the members of the Military Service (Hardship) Committee for the Pontefract district.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will reconsider the decision of his Ministry regarding the requisitioning of Wesley Chambers, Union Street, Dewsbury, which were already being used by Messrs. Harrison, Hansen and Brooke, accountants, who before the requisitioning order had entered into an agreement of tenancy with the owners.

I have been asked to reply. I am advised that Wesley Chambers, which are vacant, are the only premises available which meet the requirements of the Ministry of Labour for the purpose of establishing a Resettlement Advice Office in Dewsbury and it is regretted that the requisitioning order cannot be withdrawn.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the number of men now employed in agriculture who have made application to their county councils for small holdings who are considered by the county committees as suitable applicants, but for whom no provision has yet been made.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 9th November last to my hon. Friend the Member for Holland with Boston (Mr. Butcher).

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now able to announce his proposals for improving the poultry breeding industry.

In my statement to the House on 5th December I stated that it was the Government's policy to encourage an expansion of poultry and egg production to the fullest extent permitted by the supplies of feeding-stuffs which can be made available. In order to prepare for this expansion, I am taking certain steps designed to encourage and improve the production of sound breeding stock. These include:(1) The setting up of a Poultry (Stock Improvement) Advisory Committee, with the following terms of reference:

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the unfair allocation of grants available for transport of sugar beet in Norfolk; and whether he will arrange a more equitable distribution, proportionate to the distance from the factory.

I am aware that there has been some dissatisfaction on the part of growers situated at a distance from the sugar beet factories who would not normally grow sugar beet but have been required to do so as part of the war-time sugar programme. I would point out, however, that the disparity m transport costs as between the near and distant grower has been considerably reduced by the special provision under which growers are relieved of rail transport costs in excess of 7s. per ton and growers who send their beet by road receive a similar benefit. I am satisfied that the terms of the contract, including this special freight concession, are reasonable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why land girls are not allowed to keep their greatcoats on leaving the W.L.A.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 28th November last to my hon. Friend the Member for Faversham (Sir A. Maitland).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will inform the House what were the dollar amounts spent by this country for war purposes in the U.S.A. from the outbreak of war up to the effective application of the Lend-Lease Act, 1941; and if there is any possibility of a retroactive working of Lend-Lease or its equivalent.

As stated in the second paragraph of the Report on Mutual Aid published in November, 1943 (Cmd. 6483), we had, up to that date, spent some £1,500,000,000 in the United States since the outbreak of war on supplies of all kinds. The greater part of this expenditure was incurred in connection with contracts placed before the application of the Lend-Lease Act. As regards the last part of the Question I have nothing to add to the statement made by the Prime Minister on 30th November last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that under the Pay-as-you-earn scheme a person earning over £110 and less than £133 per annum has to pay Income Tax at the rate of 15s. in the £ as soon as earnings exceed £110 and consequently there is much absenteeism among female workers in certain industries essential to the war effort; and whether he will take steps to amend this anomaly as soon as possible in order that fuller production may be encouraged.

I am aware that the operation of the Pay-as-you-earn system gives rise to certain anomalies in cases which fall within the application of the provisions of the Income Tax Acts governing the charge of tax in marginal cases where the taxpayer's income slightly exceeds the exemption limit of £110. The matter is a difficult one, but the Board of Inland Revenue are examining the possibility of arranging for the deductions of tax to be adjusted so as to remove or reduce the anomalies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is proposed that the intended children's allowance to be provided in the promised Bill shall be subject to Income Tax.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which was given to the hon. Member for East Middlesbrough (Mr. A. Edwards) on 5th December. I am sending her a copy of that reply. [OFFICIAL REPORT, 5th December, 1944; c. 354.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in order to check the Continental black market in sterling, the domestic black market in goods, and Income Tax evasion, he will consider calling in bank notes of all denominations and making a completely new issue.

While not unmindful of the considerations which the hon. Member has in mind, I do not think the action which he proposes is either necessary or desirable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that children's toy cotton Union Jack flags on sticks, size not exceeding 12 inches by 6 inches, retailing for 6d. each are subject to a Purchase Tax of 100 per cent., whilst the same articles, size not exceeding 20 inches by 10 inches, retailing for 1s. each are only subject to 33⅓ per cent. Purchase Tax, but the same flags measuring 40 inches by 10 inches, retailing at 2s. each, are entirely free of tax; and will he explain the reason for this anomaly.

These apparently anomalous distinctions arise from the fact that a small "flag" may be either a "fancy article" or a "toy" within the meaning of the schedules to the Act relating to Purchase Tax. I will consider whether the classification so far adopted is satisfactory, and will communicate further with my hon. Friend.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can give the figures of expenditure on public social services in 1942 and 1943.

Yes, Sir. Appended is a statement giving the figures for 1942 (or the latest available year) and 1943. These should be compared with those published in the OFFICIAL REPORT for 16th December, 1943, in respect of 1941 and 1942.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can make any statement on the proposed decentralisation in peace time of offices manned by civil servants.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wallsend (Miss Ward) on 5th December [Volume 406, No. 4, Columns 388–9].

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, as a stimulus to private employment, he can state how many disabled ex-Servicemen have as yet been placed or replaced in Government employment.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he is aware that American aeroplanes are hired to the Egyptian Government or Egyptian companies; and if similar arrangements have been made for manufacturers of British aeroplanes.

I have been asked to reply. I am not aware of the transaction mentioned in the Question. Certain British aircraft have been sold to an Egyptian company to enable them to undertake essential war services. I have no information that any hiring arrangement is contemplated.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what are the functions of the Overseas Trade Development Council; how it is constituted; what are the terms of reference to the Council, the names of its members and the interests they represent.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on Tuesday last to my hon. Friend the Mem- ber for Wolverhampton, East (Mr. Mander), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that a committee has been set up in England to inquire into the question of legal aid; and if he proposes to set up a similar committee for Scotland.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, a Committee inquired into this subject in Scotland in 1937, but it was not found practicable at that time to take action upon their recommendations. During the past two years the Lord Advocate and I have been endeavouring to find means for improving the existing scheme without legislation, but this has not so far been found possible. We propose, however, to give further consideration to the position in Scotland, when the Report of the Committee now sitting in England has been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the office of the Department of Health in Glasgow was situated in Bothwell Street, Glasgow, and was removed about five years ago to Renfrew Street; that the Bothwell Street office is vacant and if it is proposed to return the Department of Health to this office.

Only part of the accommodation in Bothwell Street formerly occupied by the Department of Health for Scotland Insurance Inspectorate has been freed, and this has been allocated by the Ministry of Works to the Board of Trade to meet an urgent need. Other proposals for rehousing the Department of Health for Scotland office in Glasgow after the war are now under consideration.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what special steps he has taken to secure a fair distribution of coal to people living in tenement houses who have no place of storage, particularly in Glasgow.

My right hon. Friend announced on 6th November the introduction as from 1st December of arrangements to give priority of delivery to domestic consumers without storage space, such as the occupiers of tenement houses in Glasgow. These arrangements should ensure that such people get their fair share of the supplies available. The general supply position in Scotland is tight, but my right hon. Friend has authorised exceptional measures, including a programme of regular withdrawals from Government reserve stocks in order to make slightly more coal available than was the case last year. Similarly, the maximum permitted quantity of house coal has been fixed at a slightly higher level for the first half of this winter than it was last year. Consumers who are unable to obtain enough coal for their reasonable needs should approach the Local Fuel Overseer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the figure of 840,000 immunised children in the Summary Report by the Department of Health for Scotland for the year ended 30th June, 1944, includes all children immunised in 1940, 1941, 1942 and 1943.

Yes, Sir. I regret that through on oversight on this occasion an adjustment was not made to allow for children immunised in previous year who were no longer under the age of 15 in 1943. As I explained in reply to the hon. Member for West Willesden (Mr. Viant) on 6th December this adjustment cannot be precisely calculated, but it is

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that stocks of toys are being held in Curry's warehouses at Leicester; and estimated that the average number of immunised children under the age of 15 in 1943 was about 700,000. Correspondingly, the number of non-immunised children in 1943 would be 540,000, not 400,000 as stated in the Summary Report. These figures make no allowance for the unknown but relatively small number of immunisations performed by private doctors outside local authority arrangements. In place of the incidence rates quoted in that Report, therefore, it appears that approximately one in every 160 non-immunised children took diphtheria during 1943, as compared with only one in every 430 immunised children. The case mortality rates quoted in the Report, of one death in 18 cases for non-immunised children as compared with one death in 163 cases of immunised children, are not affected by this adjustment. The adjusted figures contained in this reply will be published in next year's Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the ages of the 195 fatal cases of diphtheria in children recorded in 1943; how many fatal cases were recorded over the age of 15 years; and how many fatal cases of diphtheria have been recorded during the first six months of 1944 in children aged under five years, five to nine years, 10 to 15 years and over 15 years, respectively.

The following analysis of deaths registered in Scotland as due to diphtheria gives the desired information:whether steps are being taken to release these for sale at reasonable prices in the near future.

As far as I am aware, there is nothing to prevent Curry's, Limited, as unregistered wholesalers or as retailers, from selling as many toys as they have in stock, so long as the toys do not contain more than 10 per cent. by weight of metal.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will consider introducing a scheme whereby R.A.F. personnel not fully employed may be released from the Services for return to civil employment in cases where this is available subject to 14 days' notice to return to the Services when required.

Arrangements already exist whereby R.A.F. personnel who are required in the national interest to undertake essential civilian employment can either be released outright or for a period, provided the requirement is endorsed by the appropriate Government Department. I regret it would not be practicable to extend these arrangements on the lines envisaged by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many premises in Weymouth and district are now requisitioned by his Department; how many are now occupied; and whether he will release a proportion of those unoccupied at an early date.

No property in the Borough of Weymouth or in the immediate vicinity of that borough is held on requisition by my Department.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has considered the proposals submitted to him by organisations representing the wholesale and retail trade in the Brighton and Hove district concerning the distribution of Christmas poultry; and whether he is prepared to give effect to these proposals.

I have examined the proposals referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend, but regret that, for reasons which I am communicating to him, I cannot adopt them.

asked the Minister of Food over what period 347 British Restaurants have sustained a loss of £175,000; how much of this loss has been borne by the Treasury and local authorities, respectively; and whether in the current year the Treasury has met or is meeting any losses and to what amount.

The aggregate loss of £175,000 referred to in the Question was sustained in 1942£3 by 347 local authorities operating British Restaurants. For the same year, 351 other local authorities made aggregate profits of £273,000. In both cases the amount has been arrived at after providing for amortisation of capital expenditure. Up to 30th November, 1944, the total amount paid to local authorities out of the Exchequer on account of losses incurred on British Restaurants and Cooking Depots from the inception of the scheme was £31,019. No amount has so far been paid in respect of losses incurred in the current financial year. Losses are reimbursed by the Ministry of Food only to the extent that they can be regarded as unavoidably incurred; payments by a local authority to the Ministry in respect of amortisation of capital expenditure are, however, postponed if that local authority sustains a loss.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will establish a secretariat which will give information to inquirers who will need guidance as to their individual position under the social security scheme.

I contemplate that it should be part of the machinery of the new scheme, when it is brought into operation, to provide a convenient means for enabling information of this kind to be readily obtained. Meanwhile arrangements have been made to answer any inquiries addressed to my Department in relation to the proposals set out in the White Papers.

asked the Minister of Education whether the new recruit under his emergency training scheme is to take part in the teaching immediately upon conclusion of one year's training and without passing any qualifying examination; what is to be the style, status and scale of salaries for such teachers on admission and until completion of a probationary period of two years' service; what means he will adopt to cause such teachers to follow a course of part-time study while they are engaged in teaching; and how he will enable them to undertake this study during that occupation.

The results of courses of training under the Emergency Scheme for the Training of Teachers will be assessed in the manner described in paragraph 18 of the report embodied in Circular 1652. Students who successfully complete one of these courses will be recognised as qualified teachers on the understanding that recognition will lapse if they do not satisfactorily complete their period of probation. On the successful completion of their probationary period this recognition will be confirmed. They will receive the remuneration appropriate to their status. It is not possible at this stage to give any more detailed information as to the course of part-time study to be undertaken during the probationary period beyond that contained in paragraph 4 of Circular 1652 and paragraph 21 of the report embodied in that Circular.