asked the Minister of Labour whether the new Control of Engagement Order, for use in the post-war transition period, will exclude from any action in respect of the specified classes any private employment agencies to which for various classes of workers the public prefer to apply.

I have noting further to add at present to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Tamworth (Sir J. Mellor) on 14th December, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour why boot and shoe operatives who become redundant in munition works are to be allowed to return to their own industry, whilst building trades workers in similar circumstances are still being directed into the fighting forces or into industries other than their own; and will he now issue an order that all such building trades workers shall in future be allowed to return to their own industry so that war damage repairs may be speeded up.

There is no such distinction between the rules governing the return of workers to the boot and shoe industry and to the building industry as is suggested in the first part of my hon. Friend's Question. Subject to the necessity of calling-up young men to the Armed Forces and to the retention on munitions work of men who have acquired valuable skill in munitions occupations, the existing arrangements provide for the return to their former industry of workers with previous experience in skilled occupations in building and civil engineering who become redundant in munitions works.

asked the Minister of Labour the percentage of youths directed to the mines in each ballot as compared with those who are conscripted into the Army.

The percentage of youths selected for coalmining in each ballot varies according to the current demands of the Armed Forces and of the coalmining industry. It would not be in the public interest to publish precise proportions.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the lack of maternity accommodation in Wednesfield and of the desire of the Wednesfield Urban District Council and the Wednesfield Council of Social Service that provision should be made for hospital accommodation of this type in terms that have been communicated to him; and what action he is taking.

Wednesfield is for maternity and child welfare purposes part of the county of Staffordshire. There is undoubtedly a need for more permanent maternity accommodation in the county which will be met as soon as labour and materials permit. In the meantime I am examining with the County Council the actual extent of the need and the best means of meeting it. We shall be assisted in this by the report on the Hospital Survey for Staffordshire, which I hope to receive shortly, and I shall also bear in mind the suggestions made by the Wednesfield Council of Social Service.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a recent circular of the Ministry to welfare authorities anticipating the closing of many war-time nurseries and curtailing the recruitment and training of probationer nursery nurses has alarmed these authorities; and will he take steps to satisfy the widespread public demand for the continuance of these nurseries on a peace-time basis under post-war housing conditions and for the welfare of mothers and children, in the absence of any provision for home helps, even if the mother is not employed outside the home.

War-time nurseries have been provided at the cost of the Exchequer as an aid to war production. Their purpose has been to enable women with young children to help in the war effort and where these facilities are no longer required their continuance for this purpose at the cost of the Exchequer cannot be justified. I hope, however, that it will prove possible for a number of the war-time nurseries, where the site and the premises are suitable, to be taken over by local education authorities as nursery schools.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the management committee of the Cotswold Maternity Home, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, have decided to close the hospital owing to the shortage of staff, with the result that 16 maternity beds will be lost to the area and 38 patients who were due to go to this hospital during December and January will have to go to Cheltenham; what steps he has taken to prevent the closing of this hospital; and whether, in view of the industrial activity in the Stroud valleys, he will reconsider his refusal to allow a new maternity hospital to be opened near Stroud.

I was not previously aware that the maternity home to which my hon. Friend refers was closing down. I am having urgent inquiries made in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service. In reply to the last part of the Question, I think it better to secure the use of existing accommodation by providing necessary staff than to provide additional accommodation in which similar staffing difficulties would have to be met.

asked the Minister of Health whether any restrictions are placed on the bringing home of parrots by Service men or by men in the Mercantile Marine in view of the danger from psittacosis.

Men serving in the Forces or the Merchant Service are subject to the Parrots (Prohibition of Import) Regulations, 1930, which make it in general illegal to bring parrots into this country because of the risk of psittacosis.

asked the Minister of Health how many deaths from vaccinia, vaccination, post-vaccinal encephalitis, or other condition caused by vaccination were registered in 1942 and 1943; and what were the ages of these fatal cases.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford Central (Mr. Leach) on 4th May last.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of diphtheria in immunised children under 15 years of age were notified during the first six months of this year; and how many fatal cases were recorded in immunised children.

According to returns received from all but a few local authorities in England and Wales, 2,243 cases of diphtheria among immunised children were notified during the first half of this year, as against 6,743 among non-immunised children. The number of deaths among immunised children was 16, compared with 368 among children not so protected.

asked the Minister of Health why a subsidy is being paid on houses built or sanctioned in Northern Ireland; what is its amount; and why this or some definite amount cannot now be fixed for houses to be built in this country.

The provision of housing in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Government. I understand that the subsidies proposed in Northern Ireland have been related to the basis of subsidy in force in Scotland since before the war. As regards the second part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Attercliffe (Mr. Hynd) on 7th December last.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the uneasiness of men serving overseas at the lack of some definite start in the building of houses, he will make provisions so that private builders who have land, material and labour which cannot be sent to the London area, may have permission to relieve this difficulty.

The arrangements which are being made for providing more dwellings in the immediate future and subsequently were explained in the statements made on behalf of the Government in the Debate on the Address on 7th December.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give consideration, with a view to meeting the shortage of houses consequent on bombing, to houses of the owner-occupier type.

If, as I presume, my hon. Friend has in mind the building of houses by private enterprise, I would refer him to the statement I made on 13th July last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether, when State and rate subsidies to fresh housing constructions are paid after the war, he will instruct local authorities to divide up, for public information, the cost of such houses under the separate headings of materials, labour and land.

The cost of land is always available separately, and it is already the practice for local authorities who use direct labour organisations to divide up their costs under the headings of materials and labour.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is yet in a position, as the result of his consultation with the Minister of Fuel and Power, to supply oil stoves and fuel for those people living in bomb-damaged houses.

I have been asked to reply. As regards fuel for oil stoves, I have arranged for persons living in bomb-damaged houses, who may not already qualify for priority under the scheme inaugurated last year by my Ministry to ensure priority of supplies to people solely dependent upon paraffin oil for cooking, lighting or heating, to receive similar priority, when this is considered necessary by the local authority. The provision of oil stoves is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works but I understand that he has arranged for priority of supply to be given to persons who produce priority record cards issued under the above-mentioned scheme and to endeavour to augment the supplies of stoves available for purchase in the areas principally affected.

asked the Minister of Health whether, as at the present time it is more in the national interest to rehouse families in the London region that have been made homeless by enemy action than to provide additional private educational facilities, he will reconsider the decision not to allow the local authority of Malden and Coombe to requisition a large house in the borough which will shortly be released by the War Department in order that the owner may re-open a private school which has been closed since 1940.

I have considered the matter further, but I cannot see my way to reverse the decision.

asked the Minister of Works what would be the cost of building a brick house of the same size as the prefabricated houses approved by his Department; and how such cost would compare with the cost of these prefabricated houses.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a similar question by the hon. Member for West Birmingham (Mr. Higgs) on 13th October, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give further consideration to the desirability of making a minimum rent allowance to supplementary pensioners, in view of the fact that in less desirable and very low-rented houses there is an absence of amenities which results in relatively higher housekeeping costs.

I cannot add to the reply I gave to a similar question by my hon. Friend on 8th June last, beyond pointing out that the circumstances in such cases vary widely and that they could not therefore appropriately be dealt with by a flat rate allowance.

asked the Minister of Pensions why, in many cases where a man has been down-graded and discharged from the Forces suffering from a particular disability, nervous or otherwise, his Department refuses to acknowledge that the disability is directly attributable to, or aggravated by, war service, even though in the first place the man was passed as Grade A1; and whether he will consider giving these ex-Servicemen the benefit of the doubt.

The fact that a member's medical category was lowered during Service is regarded as raising a presumption that there is a causal relationship between disablement and service, but where the evidence clearly shows that the conditions of service have played no part in either the onset or development of the particular disability it cannot be medically certified that the resulting disablement is attributable to or aggravated by such service. My hon. Friend may be assured, however, that in all cases full weight is given to the medical category on enlistment, and that in considering entitlement to pension the benefit of any reasonable doubt is given to the claimant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider appointing to the Advisory Council for the Treatment of Offenders a member of the subordinate grades of the prison service, who would be able to bring practical experience to the meetings of the council.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 10th November to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Westhoughton (Mr. R. Davies).

asked the Minister of Education if he will give a list, by admin- istrative counties, of those county districts, distinguishing between boroughs and urban districts, who have applied under the terms of paragraph 4 of Part III of the First Schedule to the Education Act, 1944, to be an excepted district by reason of special circumstances, together with the decision of the Minister on the applications.

Following is the list of boroughs and urban districts claiming, on grounds of special circumstances, to be excepted districts:

	Decision
Bedfordshire.
Bedford B.	Rejected
Berkshire.
New Windsor B.	Withdrawn
Buckinghamshire.
Chepping Wycombe B.	Awaiting L.E.A.'s observations
Slough B.
Cheshire.
Altrincham B.	Rejected
Bebington B.	Rejected
Crewe B.	Rejected
Ellesmere Port U.D.	Rejected
Derbyshire.
Buxton B.	Rejected
Glossop B.	Rejected
Ilkeston B.	Rejected
Dorset.
Weymouth and Melcombe
Regis B.	Rejected
Durham County.
Felling U.D.	Rejected
Hartlepool B.	Rejected
Jarrow B.	Rejected
Gloucestershire.
Cheltenham B.	Admitted
Hampshire.
Christchurch B.	Rejected
Gosport B.	Under consideration
Kent.
Erith B.	Rejected
Orpington U.D.	Withdrawn
Rochester B.	Withdrawn
Lancashire.
Accrington B.	Rejected
Ashton-under-Lyne B.	Rejected
Eccles B.	Rejected
Lancaster B.	Rejected
Morecambe and Heysham B.	Rejected
Nelson B.	Rejected
Stretford B.	Admitted
Lincs (Lindsey).
Scunthorpe B.	Rejected
Middlesex.
Friern Barnet U.D.	Rejected
Southall B.	Rejected
Wood Green B.	Rejected
Northamptonshire.
Kettering B.	Rejected
Northumberland
Wallsend, B.	Admitted

asked the Minister of Education to what extent education committees of local authorities are opening their proceedings to the Press.

Under the Local Authorities (Admission of the Press to Meetings) Act, 1908, the Press have a right, except when in view of the special nature of the business they are temporarily excluded by resolution of the committee, to be admitted to the proceedings of an education committee in so far as it is dealing with matters which it has not to submit for the local education authority's approval. I understand that in many areas it is the practice for the local education authority to allow the Press to be admitted to the whole of the proceedings of its education committee, but I am unable to give an exact figure without special inquiry.

asked the Minister of Education what effect he has given to his intentions to urge local authorities to provide in all cases special schools, notably for deaf and dumb children; and whether he has issued any advice to these authorities on the subject.

I am anxious that local education authorities should make adequate provision for all categories of handicapped children, including special schools for the deaf, and when the Regulations under Section 33 of the Education Act are made early next year I propose to issue a Circular to authorities giving them encouragement and advice on this matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer Whether he expects to receive before Parliament reassembles the report of the University Grants Committee as to the increased post-war requirements of the universities; and whether, in view of the wide interest in this matter and its importance in connection with the expansion of scientific research and development in this country, he will be prepared to make public the nature of the recommendations and the Government's proposed action thereon.

I expect to receive the Report of the University Grants Committee early in January. As soon as the Government have reached conclusions on the Report, I shall make a statement on the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the the increase in rateborne expenditure due to rises in wages of roadmen, increased cost of materials, the anticipated large increase in teachers' salaries, all of which in Montgomeryshire will probably mean a county rate of 19s. in the £ for 1945–46 and to the increases under the Education Act, 1944, and the White Papers on National Insurance and Medical Services which will, without additional assistance, mean a county rate of at least 27s. 6d. in the he is now prepared to consider granting additional assistance to sparsely populated agricultural counties pending the promised revision of the general Exchequer grant.

I hope that the proposed review of the relations between central and local finance will have been carried out and its results put into operation before the various measures or reconstruction referred to have exercised their full effect on local expenditure. My hon. and learned Friend no doubt realises that the effect of the proposals in the White Paper on national insurance will be to relieve the rates by transferring the cost of outdoor relief to central funds.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now in a position to inform the House about the arrangements concluded recently by Lord Keynes in Washington under which the United Kingdom is required to pay cash for American goods formerly financed under Lend-Lease.

As stated by the Prime Minister on 30th November, the new Lend-Lease programme to come into effect after the end of the war with Germany will be at a rate not much more than half of what we have been receiving in 1944. This prospective reduction in the scalp of Lend-Lease after the defeat of Germany, and while the war with Japan continues, is due to three causes:

(a) a reduction in our requirements;

(b) our capacity to produce more for ourselves; and

(c) the removal of certain articles and materials from the Lend-Lease list.

Of these factors, the first is, of course, the main explanation of the expected reduction. After the defeat of Germany our requirements from the United States in the shape of supplies for the Armed Forces and of materials for the manufacture of such supplies will be considerably below the current level.There remain a number of items within our munitions requirements which, on any reasonable distribution of our combined production resources, can only be made in the United States. As a result, however, of (

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the state of privation under which large sections of the civil population of Yugoslavia are now living; to the great shortage of all kinds of medical supplies, food and clothing; that large sections of the people cannot work upon the land because of the lack of clothing; and whether, in view of the urgency of these conditions, he will take up with the Allied Military Command in the Mediterranean the necessity of supplying some shipping for the transport of supplies.

The need for relief measures in Yugoslavia has been realised and has received careful consideration for some time by the Allied Military Command in the Mediterranean. Stocks of relief supplies, including food, clothes and medical supplies, were accumulated within the theatre in anticipation of the liberation of the country. As soon as the Dalmatian ports were cleared some supplies were landed. I have no precise information as to the latest position but inquiries are being made.

asked the Secretary of State for India if it is his intention to publish the Report on Welfare in India and Burma submitted by Lord Munster as a result of his visit to that theatre of war.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Earl of Munster's Report on the Welfare of Troops in India will be published as a White Paper.

My Noble Friend's report was issued as a White Paper yesterday and is available in the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, with a view to meeting the need for creating an Indian Constituent Assembly to frame a Constitution, he will consider an amendment to the present electoral law so as to embrace a wider franchise than is admitted at present under the Government of India Act.

The suggestion in the so-called Cripps offer was that the constitution-making body should be elected by the members of the Lower Houses and the Provincial Legislatures. The franchise qualifications for the electors of these Houses inevitably vary from province to province but are already liberal. There would, I fear, be great practical and political difficulty in attempting to devise a variation of the existing franchise machinery as set out in Schedule VI of the Act of 1935.

asked the Secretary of State for India when publication may be expected of the Annual Reports of the Public Health Commissioner with the Government of India for the years 1941 onwards, the last Report published being apparently that for 1940 which was available in 1941; and of the Supplement to the Report of the Public Health Commissioner for 1940, to contain the statistics, which was referred to in the Regular Report of that year as being in preparation; and will he take steps to expedite in general the publication of the Government of India's health reports.

Publication of the Annual Reports of the Public Health Commissioner with the Government of India has been discontinued since the 1940 edition owing to shortage of skilled labour and of paper supplies. The Supplement to the Report for 1940 has not yet been received and has presumably not been published for similar reasons. I am asking the Government of India to consider resuming publication of these Reports. Provincial Governments are continuing to publish their annual health Reports although publication is somewhat delayed.

asked the Secretary of State for India why officers of the Indian Army, with over 30 years' service, who are invalided home, are required to pay for their passage at the full rate; and if he will grant free transport to officers of the Indian Army on active service, who require it, in the course of their duties.

The existing passage concessions for regular officers of the Indian Army were introduced in 1925, and provided for the opening of a passage account to the officer's credit to cover the cost of passages taken on ordinary leave, on sick leave, or on retirement from the Service. The number of passages varied according to the officer's age in 1925. If the officer exhausts this account in the earlier years of his service he must pay for subsequent passages himself. When, however, an officer is invalided home from a theatre of active military operations, he is given a free passage independent of the passage account. The reply to the second part is that if an Indian Army officer is travelling on duty he receives free transport.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether it is the Government's intention to publish as a White Paper the recommendations of Sir Reginald Dorman Smith on the future of Burma.

As I informed the House during the Debate on the Address on 12th December, the whole question of Burma's future is under active consideration by His Majesty's Government, and until this has been taken a good deal further I should prefer not to commit myself as to what should eventually be published.

asked the Minister of Food whether it is the policy of his Department to advocate the payment by local authorities of a small sum of money for each rat killed; and to what extent effect is given to this policy.

No, Sir, it is not the policy of my Department to advocate payment by local authorities for each rat killed. I am aware that some local authorities adopt such a system of payment, but I am not in a position to state to what extent.

asked the Minister of Food in view of the scarcity of knackermeat as food for dogs and cats, whether he will set aside for the feeding of animals some of the meat condemned in markets as unfit for human consumption.

Meat condemned in Government slaughterhouses as unfit for human consumption is used after the necessary and proper treatment for the production of feeding stuffs for cattle, pigs and poultry, and for essential industrial purposes. A proportion of the meat meal so produced is supplied to manufacturers of dog foods. Therefore practically the whole of the condemned meat is already being used in the manner sought by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider permitting the illumination of church and other public clocks at night.

Yes, Sir. Chief Constables will be advised that there is no objection to their authorising the illumination of public clocks on being satisfied that the light is not unduly intense.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether arrangements have been made to provide facilities after the Channel Islands have been liberated for the restoration of trade, agriculture and normal life.

Arrangements have been made to ensure that supplies and equipment required for restarting the staple industries are made available as soon as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it clear that the 300,000 food parcels and 10,000 medical parcels provided for the Channel Islands together with the chartering of the ship was paid for and given free by the War Organisation of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John.

I have already acknowledged the generous part played by the War Organisation of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John in these arrangements. The supplies of food parcels, invalid diet supplements medical requisites and soap, and the chartering of the ship, were paid for by the War Organisation, and have been given free.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the gramophone records of the radio speeches delivered under enemy auspices by Mr. P. G. Wodehouse, the author, referred to by the Under-Secretary to the Home Office, on 8th July, 1941, are still available; and whether he will cause transcripts of these records to be placed in the Library so that hon. Members may read them.

I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Information that texts of the broadcasts in question, five in number, appeared, almost verbatim in three cases and summarised in two others, in the B.B.C.'s Monitoring Service Daily Digest, copies of which have always been sent to the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is expected that the body inquiring into wage-earning children will report; and whether the Report will be published.

As I informed the House in answer to Questions put to me by the Noble Lady the Member for Sutton (Viscountess Astor) on 21st June and 27th July last, I invited all local authorities throughout the country to give me information on the working of the present provisions of the law about employment of children and for any suggestions, based on their practical experience, which they wished to make for its amendment. In the light of the information given by the replies from the local authorities I propose to arrange for consultation between representatives of the local authorities, and the Ministry of Education and the Home Office, with a view to seeing how far agreement can be reached as to future policy.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will remove the restriction imposed by Article 6 of the Control of Paper (No. 48) Order, 1942 (S. R. & O., 1942, No. 1817), so as to permit distribution of advertising circulars, printed before November, 1941, as large quantities of these circulars still have advertising value, although they will soon become useless except for pulp.

Twelve months were allowed from November, 1941, for the gratuitous distribution of advertising circulars printed before that date, and I do not think any further special treatment would be justified.

asked the Minister of Supply whether any investigation has been made since the outbreak of war into the possibility of developing mineral resources of certain areas in Wales, particularly North Cardiganshire; if so, whether any action has been or is going to be taken; and whether the results of such investigations are available for publication.

The possibility of developing the metalliferous minerals of North Cardiganshire for war purposes was investigated by mining experts on behalf of of the Ministry of Supply in the early years of the war, with special reference to the production of zinc. The conclusion was reached that, owing to the length of time and heavy expenditure needed for development, the scarcity of mining labour and the doubts as to the value of the minerals remaining, the re-opening of these deposits, most of which had not been worked since the last century, was not a practical war measure. Accordingly no further Government action was taken in regard to their exploitation. The technical information in the possession of the Ministry of Supply would be made available to the mineral owners or to any other interested parties, if desired.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what are the regulations governing the sending home or the bringing home of pet dogs by Servicemen overseas.

The regulations which govern the importation of dogs into Great Britain apply to all dogs, whether they belong to Servicemen or other persons. Those regulations require that every dog brought into Great Britain from anywhere outside the British Isles shall, on landing, be placed and kept, at the expense of its owner, in approved quarantine premises for a period of six months.

asked the Secretary of State for War, since many overseas Servicemen wish to bring home pet dogs, what steps are being taken to bring to their notice the condition of six months' quarantine and the consequent expense.

An Army Council Instruction was published in 1940 giving full information about bringing dogs into this country. A further instruction was issued on 2nd December of this year ordering units to repeat the original instruction in their unit orders.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make arrangements for the importation of Italian queen bees to assist the beekeepers throughout the country with a view to the increased production of honey at the earliest possible date; and whether he will review the whole question of the registration of bee-keepers with a view to securing increased efficiency and satisfaction to all concerned.

Encouragement has been given to the rearing of queen bees in this country, and my right hon. Friend does not anticipate any need for the importation of Italian queen bees. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "Yes, Sir."

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that many Italian and German prisoners of war are now employed on the land in this country, he will consider employing our British prisoners in the same way.

The employment of prisoners on outside work, including work on the land, has been developed during the war on a very substantial scale, and I can assure my hon. Friend that all prisoners who are available and suitable are already employed on agricultural work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether in answering the question put on 26th October, as to the number of children's homes or institutions under his control, he included all homes and institutions which made returns to him under Section 92 of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933.

My hon. Friend is quite right and I am grateful to him for having called attention to the point. By an oversight which I regret I included all the homes which send prescribed particulars to the Home Office each year. The number of homes or institutions subject to inspection by officers of my Department is 632 and the number of boys and girls living in them is about 26,000.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that many ex-Servicemen of the last war are unable to obtain necessary repairs to invalid chairs and, in consequence, are suffering considerable hardship; and if he will take steps to remedy this position.

I am not aware of any particular difficulty in the repair of invalid chairs when application is made to my Regional Officers. At present, as may be expected, repairs take longer than normally, but arrangements may be made in any special case for the temporary loan of a spare chair. I have no evidence of hardship being caused, but if the hon. Member will let me have particulars of any cases I will look into them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport when he will be able to give facilities for the conversion of a Liberty ship or other oil-fired freight steamer to coal-firing for the purpose of securing experimental data.

In present circumstances I am unable to predict when such facilities could be made available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any further information regarding the implementing of the offer by the Japanese to allow British prisoners of war and civilian internees to cable home.

There has been some delay in settling this question due to discussions between the International Red Cross Committee and the Japanese over the question of rates, but I am glad to inform the House that agreement on this question has just been reached, and we now only await confirmation from Tokyo that the service from the Far East has actually started. We hope, in fact, that the first confirmation will take the shape of messages from prisoners of war and civilians beginning to arrive. With regard to the outward service, the British Red Cross War Organisation have now set up the necessary machinery and are ready to accept telegrams from next of kin to prisoners of war and civilian internees in the Far East as from to-day. As in the case of inward telegrams from the Far East, the British Red Cross War Organisation have undertaken to bear the cost of telegrams to the Far East from next of kin of United Kingdom prisoners of war and civilian internees. Next of kin of each prisoner of war or internee will be allowed to send one telegram a year. Full particulars regarding the arrangements are being announced by the British Red Cross War Organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention had been called to the decision of the Australian Government to appoint a Scientific Attaché to Moscow; what is the present scientific establishment of His Britannic Majesty's Embassy in Moscow; and whether any plans are under consideration for strengthening it, in view of the importance of scientific relations with the U.S.S.R.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, there is at present no officer on the staff of His Majesty's Embassy in Moscow with this specific duty. His Majesty's Government have for long been aware of the desirability of keeping in close contact with the developments and achievements of Soviet scientific thought. To this end they suggested to the Soviet Government at the beginning of last year that a distinguished scientist should visit the Soviet Union for the purpose of discussing with Soviet officials and scientists the steps which might be taken for the improvement of scientific exchanges of a nonmilitary character. The Soviet Government felt, however, that, in view of the fact that many scientific institutions have been removed to different and often remote parts of the U.S.S.R., the visit should be deferred to a more favourable time. None the less, a certain amount of scientific information has been exchanged, as well as scientific periodicals, and the possibilities of increasing scientific contacts are constantly watched.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can now give particulars of the scheme for the demobilisation of doctors at the end of the war in Europe; and will he give an assurance that Service doctors will be given adequate representation on any committees that may be formed to carry it out.

The scheme outlined in the White Paper on the Reallocation of Manpower between the Armed Forces and Civilian Employment during any interim period between the defeat of Germany and the defeat of Japan (Cmd. 6548), applies to medical officers in the same way as to other members of the Forces. There is provision in paragraph 12 of the White Paper for the release in Class B, i.e., out of age and service order, of a limited number of individuals on applications made through Government Departments in accordance with the existing arrangements. In the case of medical officers, these arrangements provide for recommendations to be made by the Central Medical War Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a person who has bought a pair of boots which have quickly proved to be made of faulty material, is entitled to a return from the shopkeeper of the coupons expended thereon; or whether he should apply to the officials of his Department for extra coupons in order to purchase another pair of useful footwear.

If the boots are returned within 28 days, and the trader accepts them, the purchaser is entitled to a refund of coupons from the trader, but not from the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the footwear for children in the borough of Bootle is only of poor quality and, in view of the recent wet weather, there has been a considerable amount of absenteeism due to this fact; and whether he will make arrangements to improve the quality and quantity of footwear for children in this area.

As the House knows, I am doing all I can to increase the production of good quality shoes for children. The best leather must, however, be reserved for the Services, and this sets severe limits to what can be done. I am having an inquiry made into supplies in Bootle.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if adequate supplies of children's shoes are now available for purchase in the Stalybridge, Dukinfield and Hyde area, and in the London district.

I am not aware of any shortage of children's shoes in these areas, but, if my hon. and gallant Friend has had any complaints and will let me have details, I shall be glad to investigate them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will arrange for increased numbers of good quality children's toys for Christmas and New Year gifts to be made available at reasonable prices in the North-east Cheshire area.

As I have already informed the House, I have taken special steps by increasing the quota to make more toys available for the Christmas trade. North-East Cheshire has had an equal opportunity with the rest of the country to share in these extra supplies. The quality of war-time toys is, unfortunately, affected by shortage of materials and labour. Toy prices are controlled under the Toys and Indoor Games (Maximum Prices and Records) Order, 1943 (S. R. & O. 1943, No. 615, dated 22nd April, 1943).

asked the Lord President of the Council if he can give any indication of the pre-war and current annual expenditure of the Government and private interests upon all aspects of building research and what relation this expenditure bears to the pre-war and estimated post-war annual expenditure upon building in Great Britain.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Maidstone (Mr. Bossom) on 7th December. I have no information about the expenditure by private interests upon building research. Before the war the annual expenditure on building in Great Britain was of the order of £400,000,000. In a peace-time year after the war if 1,250,000 men are in the industry this figure can rise to about £700,000,000.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether, in tabulating losses of life and injuries sustained by accidents on the road, he will schedule the exact causes of such accidents, both those entailed by human responsibility, and by the state of the road surfaces and the configuration of roads.

The assessment of the cause or causes of an accident is often a complicated question, and to tabulate accidents merely according to what may appear to be primary causes may give rise to misleading impressions. Under present conditions it would not be practicable to require the police to compile and furnish the elaborate analytical returns of street accidents necessary to provide the information suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether any agreement or understanding was reached at the Chicago Conference as to the salaries and conditions of service of air-line pilots; and whether the British Air Line Pilots' Association will be consulted before ratification.

I understand that this subject was not discussed at the Chicago Conference.

asked the Minister of Information if he will give the names of the present Governors of the B.B.C.; for what individual merit, record and association each Governor was appointed; and to what extent they direct the political policy of the Corporation.

The names of the present Governors of the B.B.C. are as follow:

• Sir Allan Powell, G.B.E., D.L. (Chairman).
• G. H. G. Millis, D.S.O., M.C. (Vice-Chairman).
• Lady Violet Bonham-Carter.
• Sir Ian Fraser, C.B.E., M.P.
• J. H. Mallon, C.H., LL.D.
• A. H. Mann, C.H., LL.D.
• Hon. Harold Nicolson, C.M.G., M.P.

It is the policy of His Majesty's Government that Governors should be selected from persons of wide outlook and considerable experience of affairs, and the present Governors were appointed in pursuance of this policy. The Governors act as trustees to the public and Parliament for the maintenance of the integrity and high standards of broadcasting; but the Corporation does not adopt or espouse any political policy. The political policy of those special services that are directed to enemy or enemy occupied territories is a matter for His Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Report of the Scottish Land Settlement Committee will be available.

Arrangements are in hand for the printing, during the Christmas Recess, of the Report of the Scottish Land Settlement Committee, and I hope that the Report will be presented and copies made available immediately the House reassembles.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a number of parcels between the B.L.A. and this country, and vice versa, get lost; and whether he will initiate a system of registration at a normal fee which will ensure at least the tracing of any such parcels.

I have been asked to reply. As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given by the Secretary of State for War to the hon. Member for Northampton (Mr. Summers) on 28th November, which applies also, mutatis mutandis, to parcels from the B.L.A. to this country. In accordance with international practice the system of registration does not apply to parcels to and from British forces abroad, but packets up to 4 lb. in weight may be sent by letter post and can be registered, if so desired.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will again have inquiries made into the conditions still prevailing in the camps for wounded and sick in the Mediterranean area where there is room for considerable improvement.

It is clear from a letter the hon. Member has forwarded me that his Question refers to one camp only, the one which was the subject of a Question of his I answered on 14th November. The letter adduces very few new facts about the present conditions at this camp, but they have been referred to the local military authorities and such improvements as are possible will be made. I explained in my previous answer that the site is not entirely suitable for occupation in winter, but that for military reasons it could not be moved.

asked the Secretary of State for War, in view of the fact that British officer prisoners of war in Germany have frequently been made to travel under conditions of extreme hardship in cattle trucks, he will make certain that German officer prisoners of war when travelling in this country are not given facilities which deprive ordinary travellers of the limited first-class accommodation available.

Officer prisoners of war normally travel third class. Only if this would involve their travelling with other ranks do they travel first class.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give full particulars of the arrangements of the Civil Affairs Division of S.H.A.E.F. for operating the Aix-la-Chapelle collieries; and to what extent British coalmining experts will be called upon to give assistance in supervision.

S.H.A.E.F. is responsible for the operation of these collieries but not the Civil Affairs Division of that headquarters. I am not aware of the details of the arrangements made, but I understand that sufficient technical assistance is provided by the experts at present serving with S.H.A.E.F.

asked the Secretary of State for War 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.

The number of premises now under requisition by the War Department in the Weymouth Urban District Council area is 229. One hundred and forty-one of these are at present empty. They must, I regret, be retained to meet future military requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for War how long the present policy of requisitioning blocks of property for accommodation without occupying them is to continue; and if he will release a substantial number of houses that have been empty for a year or more in the North Wales area, in view of the urgent need of housing accommodation.

Unoccupied accommodation is retained on requisition by the War Department to meet known future commitments or to provide a reserve for sudden unforeseen contingencies. I regret the necessity to do this and as little accommodation as possible is so retained. As far as I am aware four houses in North Wales have been empty for more than a year, and they cannot at present be given up.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Miss Mayhew, of Redgrave, has not been adequately compensated for repairs and loss of rent, due to her property being requisitioned and damage caused by troops in occupation of the requisitioned premises; and if he will take steps to compensate her fully.

Compensation for damage to the requisitioned premises falls to be assessed in accordance with Section 2 (1) (b) of the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939, and I am advised that the offer made to her is fair and reasonable within the terms of that Act. If she considers it inadequate she is, of course, at liberty to refer her claim to the General Claims Tribunal. A claim for damage done on unrequisitioned property is being considered, and I understand that the claimant's agent has been invited to discuss it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether housing property requisitioned for the Home Guard can now be given up and returned to the owners who, on many estates, require it back for housing their employees.

I am hopeful that it will in most cases be possible to relinquish the requisition on these buildings. But in some cases it may be necessary to retain them for other Government uses.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he proposes to de-requisition the battle training area in South-west Norfolk; and, if so, how soon the ejected inhabitants will be allowed to return to their homes.

No, Sir. The area is still urgently needed as a battle training area.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Government can give an assurance in connection with the seven days' leave of the troops from the Western theatre of war that there will be no compulsion for troops to take this leave in Paris or elsewhere on the Continent in lieu of leave at home.

Yes, Sir. This leave scheme is designed to give men a period of leave in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are being taken to return sporting firearms and cartridges to those who voluntarily placed them at the disposal of the L.D.V. when first formed.

When the appeal for shot-guns was issued to the public in 1940 lenders were asked to take them to police stations. The police passed them direct to Territorial Army Associations, with a note of the lender's name and address. In the early part of this year most of them were returned by Territorial Army Associations (or in some cases by Home Guard Unit Commanders) direct to the lenders, so far as these could be traced. Shot-guns required for operational reasons could not, of course, be returned at that time, while some shot-guns had become damaged or had been destroyed, in which case compensation was payable. I understand that cartridges were used for training, but I am inquiring into this.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many sporting guns were loaned to the Home Guard; and how many have been subsequently returned to their owners.

When the appeal for shot-guns was issued to the public in 1940, lenders were asked to take them to the police stations. The police passed them direct to Territorial Army Associations with a note of the lender's name and address. In the early part of this year most of them were returned by Territorial Army Associations (or in some cases by Home Guard Unit Commanders) direct to the lenders so far as these could be traced. Shot-guns required for operational reasons could not, of course, be returned at that time, while some shot-guns had become damaged or had been destroyed, in which case compensation was payable. I regret that the figures asked for by my hon. and gallant Friend are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will issue instructions that all members of His Majesty's Forces shall on discharge receive full information as to the steps they should take to secure reinstatement in work with their former employers, particularly so far as their own obligation is concerned to make their claim before the fifth Monday from the date they begin their leave pending discharge.

I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of a leaflet which has been prepared for this purpose. It is given to every soldier when he is discharged.

asked the Secretary of State for War what allowances are paid to Army officers free of Income Tax.

The following allowances are paid to Army officers free of Income Tax: billeting allowance, family lodging allowance, field allowance, fuel and light allowance, furniture allowance, servant allowance, travelling allowance, outfit grant for initial provision of uniform, special separation grant to families, value of quarters or lodging allowance issued in lieu, ration allowance, station pay, table allowance, groom allowance, half of Command pay, Colonial allowance, Mediterranean allowance, Far East allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many light horses were requisitioned for the Army in 1939 and 1940.

9,517.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will reconsider his refusal to permit Austrians serving in the British Army to wear a flash designating their country of origin, in view of the fact that Marshal Tito has granted this concession to Austrians serving in the Yugoslav Army of Liberation.

I am afraid I have nothing to add to the answers I have previously given my hon. and gallant Friend on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will arrange to place the profits made from N.A.A.F.I. canteens at the disposal of the British Legion and kindred organisations, as at the end of the Great War, so that ex-Servicemen and women can be helped when in need.

In the last two years of account grants have been allotted to Service benevolent and welfare funds. The question of the disposal of net surpluses at the end of the war will be for consideration then.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, in British currency, he will state the relative rates of pay for officers, non-commissioned officers and men in the Russian, American and British armies, respectively.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Barnard Castle (Mr. Sexton) on 2nd May.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the recent announcement that Italian prisoners of war working on farms are to be replaced by German prisoners of war applies to Norfolk; and, if so, by what date he expects the change-over to be complete.

For the reasons I gave my hon. Friend on 5th December it is, I regret, not possible to extend the employment of German prisoners of war in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps have been taken by S.H.A.E.F. to harvest and convey to sugar refineries the beet crop in Normandy.

The French Provisional Government, not S.H.A.E.F., is responsible for this work.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that since the beginning of September last prisoners of war in Germany have not been receiving the minimum vitamin requirements laid down by his nutrition experts, while they have had to live on the poor diet provided by the Germans supplemented by short Red Cross parcel rations; and, as the position is increasingly serious for men who have been prisoners of war for several years and the Red Cross Society have ample supplies available of special packets of vitamins to help make up the deficiency, if he will arrange for these to be despatched without further delay as special consignments.

I am advised that such special measures are not necessary. In this connection I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave him on 28th November.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what allowances are paid to naval officers free of Income Tax.

The following allowances payable to naval officers are exempt from Income Tax at present: lodging allowance; marriage allowance; children's allowance; Colonial allowance; Far East allowance; travelling and subsistence allowances; entertaining allowances; provision and victualling allowance; outfit allowance. A few other allowances of limited application are also issued tax-free.Small elements of marriage and children's allowances are in certain limited circumstances subject to tax. Details of these exceptions to the general rule are shown on pages 21 and 22 of the current Navy List Appendix.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he has any further statement to make with regard to the explosion which took place on 27th November near Burton-on-Trent.

A Court of Inquiry has been held and its findings are under consideration. I regret that a small increase in the number of injured has been reported. I am glad to have this opportunity of paying tribute to the invaluable and heroic work carried out by the Mines Rescue Organisation. In all, 15 Mines Rescue Brigades, totalling some 100 men, were in action. Unhappily, one of the rescue workers lost his life.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present position in regard to the affairs of the Brazil Land, Cattle and Packing Company, whose bonds and shares are registered in this country as dollar securities; and whether a settlement has been arrived at in regard to their claim against the Brazilian Government which would enable dollar funds to be placed at the disposal of this country.

The Brazil Land, Cattle and Packing Company was expropriated by the Brazilian Government along with certain other enterprises, under Decree Law No. 2436 of 22nd July, 1940. Representations were made to the Brazilian Government at the time by His Majesty's Ambassador, calling attention to the British interests involved and request- ing that the assets of the Companies concerned should either be returned to their owners, or fair compensation paid in respect of them. The above-mentioned decree law provided that a Commission nominated by the President of the Republic should prepare an inventory and valuation of the assets and properties of the incorporated undertakings, and the Minister of Finance was authorised, on completion of the inventory, to negotiate liquidations of the amounts recognised as being due. In February, 1944, the Ambassador called the attention of the Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs to the fact that the Commission had completed their task in respect of the Company mentioned in the Question, and asked him to be good enough to take the necessary steps to arrange for an early settlement. Since then His Majesty's Embassy have on several occasions drawn the attention of the Brazilian authorities to the importance of effecting a settlement without further delay, and my hon. Friend can rest assured that sight will not be lost of this matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he can make arrangements for railway warrants to be issued to members of the Merchant Navy when going home on leave in order to save them the trouble of paying their own fares and subsequently claiming refunds.

I am glad to inform my hon. Friend that my Noble Friend has recently made arrangements for seamen who are proceeding on authorised leave from their ships, and who are eligible to travel at Government expense, to obtain leave travel warrants on application to Mercantile Marine Office Superintendents. If a seaman is unable to obtain a leave travel warrant, he can still get a refund of the reduced fare paid by him on the expiration of his leave.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he can give any estimate of current annual expenditure on all branches of medical research in this country, including expenditure by Government establishments, including Service and Supply Departments and the Colonial Office, on physiology, pharmacology and pharmaceutical preparations, biochemistry, pathology, bacteriology, nutrition, ophthalmology, ophthalmic optics, clinical medicine and surgery, dentistry, public health and all other questions involved in the promotion of health and prevention of disease; and what approximate proportion of such research is financed or controlled directly by the Medical Research Council.

It is not possible to give any comprehensive estimate of current annual expenditure on medical research in this country, as investigations in this broad field of inquiry are financed not only out of public moneys but also by private funds administered by universities and hospitals and by independent research institutes and organisations. No complete information is available about these latter resources, and only a relatively small part of the total expenditure from funds of private origin is controlled by the Medical Research Council.As regards public funds, the main item is the expenditure of the Medical Research Council, amounting to about £290,000 in the current financial year; of this £250,000 is provided by the Parliamentary grant-in-aid and the remainder from contributions and repayments from various Government Departments and sundry credits. The total expenditure directly allocated to medical research through other Government channels is at present about £100,000 per annum, mainly on special investigations by the Services into war problems. This takes no account, however, of research undertaken by the members of medical services, with the Armed Forces and otherwise, in addition to the other duties for which they are primarily employed; nor does it take account of research done by institutions in receipt of Government grants for mainly educational work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can make any statement regarding a further alleviation of the present black-out.

No, Sir. The matter is engaging my constant attention, but at the moment I have nothing to add to the information which I gave the House on 8th December on the Motion for the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the rates at hostels in London are higher than many native soldiers, including those from the West Indies, can afford; and whether he will investigate the circumstances under which many live.

Colonial members of the Forces who visit London are accommodated in the ordinary Service hostels and institutions. In addition there are three special hostels which cater for their needs. The charges at these institutions range from 1s. 8d. to 1s. 10d. a night for dormitory accommodation, including bath, and from 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d. a night for more superior accommodation such as single rooms and cubicles, including bath and breakfast. In addition to their Service pay and allowances, Colonial members of the Services—other ranks only—who spend their leave in the United Kingdom receive a special leave allowance of 5s. a day whilst on leave. This allowance, which is granted in circumstances where ration allowance is issuable, is for the specific purpose of assisting them to meet their living expenses during leave having regard to the fact that they have no relatives or homes in the United Kingdom.I have no reason to believe that they find it difficult to meet the modest charges of the institutions to which I have referred, and I am satisfied that their living conditions in London compare favourably with those of other Servicemen. I can assure my hon. Friend that these and other matters concerning the welfare of Colonial members of the Forces have been, and will continue to be, closely watched in consultation with the Service Departments. If the hon. Member will give me particular cases which seem to require investigation, I will gladly look into them.