asked the Minister of Health whether the Cotswold Maternity Home, at Tetbury, Gloucestershire, has yet reopened.

I understand that it is proposed to re-open this Maternity Home on 1st February.

asked the Minister of Health what are the arrangements whereby medical or hospital treatment is made available for wives and children of serving men called up since the outbreak of war.

The wives and children of men serving in H.M. Forces have the facilities for medical and hospital treatment ordinarily available to the civil population. In a few cases, e.g., the wives and families of soldiers serving on normal Regular Army engagements, there are special facilities also. This limited group are eligible to receive, subject to certain conditions, medical attendance by an Army doctor or treatment in a military or E.M.S. hospital.

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of persons in London aged 70 years and upwards who have been transferred from various institutions to observation wards; and why these aged people are not transferred to Tooting Bec Hospital direct instead of being placed in observation wards with suspected lunatics.

I am making inquiries and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that an application made on 30th March, 1943, to the Directorate of Medical Supplies of the Ministry of Supply by a firm directed by a Doctor of Science of London University for materials and equipment for increased production of a new antiseptic was referred to his Department and refused on the grounds that the antiseptic for which the equipment was required was not essential for medical purposes; that a further application on 5th May, 1944, and 28th October, 1944, was similarly refused; and, as several London hospitals have investigated the product and are using it to their satisfaction, will he review his decision on this matter.

I am aware of the applications referred to in the Question. The substance of the advice given by my Department to the Ministry of Supply was that there was not sufficient evidence to substantiate the claims made for the preparation, and it was suggested that the firm should be asked for full evidence consisting of published statements by those who have carried out tests, together with the submission of samples. I understand that this advice was communicated to the applicants and their application will be again considered when the requisite evidence is forthcoming.

asked the Minister of Health if small houses which are being reconstructed on a cost of works basis are reinstated in detail or whether obsolescent and uneconomical features are eliminated.

It is not intended that such features should be reproduced in houses owned by local authorities that are being reinstated. The question of reinstating a house in a form different from its form immediately before the occurrence of the war damage is a matter primarily for the owner to decide, but he would be well advised to consult the War Damage Commission, since the amount of the Commission's payment may be affected.

asked the Minister of Health if he will authorise local authorities in non-bombed areas to give priority to ex-Servicemen for houses which may be built by such local authorities.

The selection of tenants for Council houses is a matter for the local authority and no authorisation is therefore required. As regards the Government's views on the preference to be given to ex-Servicemen and the advice which has been given to local authorities, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Holland with Boston (Mr. Butcher) on 14th December, 1944.

asked the Minister of Health the nature of the instructions he has issued to local authorities with regard to the standards to be conformed to when houses are converted into flats.

Local authorities have been advised from time to time that proposed works of adaptation and conversion of requisitioned premises must be reasonable and sufficient to render the accommodation fit for occupation having regard to wartime standards. The most recent advice is contained in a circular issued to housing authorities in the London Civil Defence Region, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that following the Appeal Court decision in Winchester Court, Limited, versus Millar, landlords of men serving in the Forces are increasing rents by 12½ per cent. above pre-war, because they are liable for keeping the property in repair; that even where no such repairs are carried out by the landlords, the tenants cannot ensure that repairs are carried out or refuse to pay the increase if repairs are not carried out; and will he, by legislation, prevent landlords increasing the standard rent of premises above the amount fixed by the present Rent Restriction Act.

My attention has been drawn to the case referred to and I understand that representations concerning it have been made to the Interdepartmental Committee on Rent Control. As I have recently stated the Report of the Committee is expected next month and I will consider the matter in the light of their recommendations.

asked the Minister of Health what is the policy of his Department towards the adoption of national general rates.

Since rates are essentially local, I am not quite sure what my hon. Friend has in mind, but so far as he is thinking of the financial position of local authorities there will doubtless be an opportunity of discussing the matter in debate on the White Paper on Local Government which was recently presented.

asked the Minister of Health what is the present policy of his Department towards voluntary and compulsory amalgamation of small local authorities.

Proposals for the establishment of a Local Government Boundary Commission which would operate subject to general directions approved by Parliament are set out in the White Paper on Local Government, recently presented.

asked the Minister of Education if he will issue a White Paper on the recommendations of the Burnham Committee on Teachers' Salaries so that this House may have an opportunity of discussing them.

No, Sir. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Baronet the Member for Tamworth (Sir J. Mellor) on 21st December last, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Education whether he can make any statement as to the nature of the reception given by the various local authorities to the new Burnham Scale.

I have seen various references in the Press to the reception given by individual local education authorities to the new scales. This is a matter on which I could not now appropriately make a statement. When the scales are submitted to me by the Burnham Committee my function is limited to the approval or disapproval of them.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is now in a position to make a statement on his proposals in regard to direct-aided schools.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement on the Government's policy for direct grant secondary schools, but I hope that an announcement will be issued within the next few weeks.

asked the Minister of Food if he can state the details of Government contracts for the purchase of sugar; and whether the prices paid are in all cases adequate to counter rising costs.

For 1945, after a thorough investigation of various factors including rising costs, a general increase of £2 per ton over the 1944 price is being paid to Dominion and Colonial producers. There is every reason to believe that the increased price is adequate for the general body of producers.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in any further distribution of oranges or other commodity in short supply, he will, in order to avoid disappointment, refrain from saying there are enough supplies for everybody, since the Christmas orange allocation was only available to those people who were able to stand in queues for long periods and those workers only able to shop on Saturday afternoons could not obtain any.

I have never said that there are enough supplies for everybody. I have, however, said that sufficient oranges are being distributed to give a certain weight of oranges per head. Retailers of oranges are required to mark the ration books of customers during the first five days after the receipt of oranges in the shops. With such a perishable commodity this is as near as we can get to a strict system of rationing, and I am satisfied that it does secure a fair degree of equity in distribution. But I must give some figure so that retailers know what amount to issue per ration book presented.

asked the Minister of Food if it is his intention to control fruit prices in the coming season.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food why Canadian apples have been sent to Somerset and other apple-growing districts when apples in other parts of Britain were in short supply.

Nearly all the imported apples were of dessert varieties. The bulk of the home-grown crop still remaining was of cooking varieties. It therefore seemed desirable to me to distribute the imports as far as practicable over the country as a whole.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. R. G. Smedley, of 62/64, Cleveland Street, Hull, who has been refused a rebate of Purchase Tax in respect of chargeable goods stolen from his premises; and whether, having regard to the fact that the insurance company refused to insure the stock owing to the condition of the building following repeated enemy damage, he will arrange for a refund to Mr. Smedley of the amount of Purchase Tax paid.

There is no provision for refund of Purchase Tax where goods are stolen from a retailer's stock, as I understand occurred in this case; and I cannot sanction exceptional relief in the circumstances stated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will issue the necessary instructions that in future Ministerial announcements regarding the cost falling on the Exchequer he will substitute the word "taxpayer" for "Exchequer."

While I appreciate my hon. Friend's object, I think the point may be left to Ministerial discretion.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on what duties Sir Quintin Hill, the substantive Comptroller General of the Department of Overseas Trade, has been employed for the last 12 months; whether he has been in full attendance during that period; whether the duties on which he has been employed are those appropriate to his salary and status; and if and when it is intended to return him to his post as Comptroller General of the Department of Overseas Trade.

In the early part of last year Sir Quintin Hill was granted special leave, but since the end of July he has been employed on duties for the War Cabinet Office and the Office of the Minister of Reconstruction. While those duties would not in normal times require a civil servant of his status, the arrangement is considered to be fully justified under wartime conditions. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which was given to the hon. Member for Grantham (Mr. Kendall) by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 18th January of last year, to which I have nothing to add. [Volume 396, No. 15, Columns 20–21.]

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of persons now employed in the public relations and/or Press department in every Government Department together with the total cost of this provision.

The informatoin for which my hon. Friend asks is not immediately available. I will circulate particulars in due course in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether, in view of the growing importance of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in national affairs, he will consider appointing a public relations officer to increase the knowledge of industry and the public about the services they can provide.

The measures taken by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research before the war to extend knowledge concerning its work in industry and among the general public were meeting with considerable success, but the outbreak of hostilities naturally curtailed them. They are now being resumed and I am proposing on the recommendation of my Advisory Council to expand them very considerably in the post-war period. I do not feel that the appointment of an official with the title of Public Relations Officer would be appropriate, since many sections of the whole Department are concerned with making contacts with the public in order to make the results of its work more generally known, and it would be undesirable to make it appear that all contacts, lay and scientific, with the public had to pass through a single officer.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether prisoners of war will be eligible to study for and take the examinations for entry to the Civil Service referred to in the White Paper on Recruitment to Established Posts in the Civil Service during the Reconstruction Period while they are still in enemy countries.

The Civil Service Commissioners, in consultation with the Prisoners of War Department of the British Red Cross Society, are arranging to send out to the camp leaders of prisoner of war camps in Germany copies of the White Paper (Cmd. 6567) and as soon as possible copies of the regulations, application forms and other explanatory matter about the reconstruction competitions. Prisoners of war in Germany will, therefore, have an opportunity before the war is over of notifying their intention to compete and of preparing for the competitions by general reading; as the White Paper indicates, the competitions will be of a type for which no special academic study is required. I regret that since the Japanese refuse to allow communication through the Red Cross Society with prisoner of war camps in Japan or Japanese-occupied territory, similar arrangements cannot be made at present for prisoners of war in those camps.It will not be possible for any prisoners of war to take the examinations while still in enemy hands. But the Civil Service Commissioners will ensure that there is plenty of time for prisoners of war to compete after they have returned home and had full time to recover, and steps will be taken to reserve suitable proportions of vacancies to allow for this. As stated in the White Paper, late entrants will be at no disadvantage either in opportunity of competing or in pay if successful.

asked the Minister of Works whether any decision has yet been reached as to the extension of the period covered by the Historic Monuments Commission.

No decision has yet been reached, but I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the shortage of fertilisers in East Sussex owing to delay in delivery and that a good deal of winter corn has had to be planted without any; and can the supply be improved, if necessary by the use of sea transport.

Apart from a restricted supply of basic slag, my right hon. Friend is not aware of any general shortage of fertilisers in East Sussex. Sea transport has been employed for the movement of fertilisers to this county and will continue to be used whenever practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can now state what is the scale of assistance to be granted to breeders of hill sheep in respect of the year 1944.

The Government have given careful consideration to the economic condition of hill sheep farming in the United Kingdom during the past year. They find that there is justification for continuing assistance to the hill sheep farmer for a further year, and in all the circumstances have decided to grant a subsidy at the rate of 7s. 6d. for each eligible breeding ewe in the flock on 4th December last. The conditions of payment will be substantially the same as those in force last year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in cases where farmers are granted certificates by the war agricultural executive committees supporting claims to possession of cottages under Clause (G) (ii) of the First Schedule of the Rent Restrictions Act of 1933, he will order them, in the event of a disagreement between the representative of the employers and the representative of the farm workers on the housing panel investigating cases, to record the fact that the certificate was granted on the casting vote of the chairman.

No, Sir. The decision whether a certificate should be granted or refused is taken by the county war agricultural executive committee as a whole after considering the recommendation of the panel.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he has considered setting up in each coalfield a health and safety council, consisting of representatives of workmen, managements, His Majesty's inspectorate, workmen's examiners, and the medical service, charged with the duty of examining accident returns and recommending such steps as are necessary for reducing the accident rate; and if he has any statement to make thereon.

The joint study of accident causation and its remedies, on a colliery or coalfield basis, has been a feature of the coal mining industry for many years. As current instances, I may cite the advisory committees which are meeting regularly in every coalfield to consider the best methods of supporting underground workings and of preventing accidents from falls of ground; and the joint committee in South Wales which is doing such excellent work in fostering the development of practical measures to suppress the dust which is the primary cause of pneumokoniosis. I am glad to have the opportunity of paying tribute to the good work done by these and similar bodies, and I will certainly consider, in consultation with my advisers and the representative bodies of the industry whether the same method of attack could be applied by mutual agreement to other aspects of accident prevention and health improvement.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) whether he will give the figures of coal production for the 12 months ending 31st December, 1944, with separate figures for underground mines and opencast workings, respectively;(2) whether he will give the number of sites being worked far opencast coal getting for 1942, 1943 and 1944, respectively, with the number of persons employed and the annual output for each year, respectively.

I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works that operations were carried out at 56 opencast coal sites in 1942, 96 in 1943 and 154 in 1944. The number of persons employed, excluding those engaged on screening and transporting the coal, were respectively 2,050, 5,801, 9,278. These figures relate to the end of the year in each case. The production of opencast coal in 1942 amounted to 1,308,200 tons and in 1943 to 4,426,700 tons. Details of the production of mined and opencast coal in 1944 will shortly be published in the Board of Trade Journal.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if any plans are under consideration for integrating, co-ordinating and planning on a unified basis, fuel, light and power in any of the coalfields and unifying such production under a single overriding authority.

The future organisation of the whole of the coal, gas and electricity industries is at present receiving consideration, and it would be premature to consider regional plans such as those suggested in my hon. Friend's question.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether special provision after the war will be made for the welfare of the hill tribes who have greatly helped the British cause in Burma.

The loyal conduct and fine work of the hill peoples of Burma in the British cause are fully recognised, and plans for promoting the welfare of these peoples and improving their economic conditions are under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the acute shortage of writing paper and envelopes; and whether any steps are being taken to improve the supply in view of the great increase in private correspondence caused by war-time conditions.

Paper generally is in short supply. An increased allocation has, however, been made for stationery, and I hope it will be possible for a further increase to be made in the next allocation period.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will confer with the different Service Departments in order to avoid the serious mistakes in the last war of eventually throwing on the market filthy and harmful camp and hospital mattresses, pillows and blankets, etc., which are mostly used without proper cleansing treatment, for the manufacture of new bedding and furniture.

Arrangements have been made with the Ministry of Supply that used mattresses, pillows and blankets in Government ownership shall not be put on the market except after proper cleaning, and that dirty filling materials from Government stores will not be released for use in the manufacture of bedding or furniture.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he is aware that this country is considerably behind other countries in the standard of cleanliness required for the filling of bedding and upholstery and that British importers are being offered objectionable materials which those making the offer would not dare to use in their own countries; and whether he will take steps to prevent all such importations, even though their use is legal here;(2) if he is satisfied that in all cases the rag flock used to stuff children's toys is properly cleansed and free from disease.

The need for a comprehensive review of this subject led in 1938 to the appointment of a Departmental Commitee. The sittings of this Committee, as of other Committees, were suspended at the outbreak of war; but in view of the importance of the subject arrangements are now being made for the Committee to resume its work.

asked the Minister of Production if he can give an assurance that the gentlemen's agreement between liberated countries and the United Kingdom, U.S.A. and Canada, relating to the allocating of purchases of hides and leathers from Argentina and other South American countries through the agency of the combined Board safeguards this country's interests as the principal agent in handling these goods in peace-time.

The arrangement to which the hon. Member refers is an interim one designed to make available to liberated areas certain quantities of hides and leather, of which a part only will come from South America. In present circumstances it is not possible fully to use the normal channels of trade for the transactions, but the point raised by the hon. Member will be borne in mind in connection with any longer term arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that men on seven days' leave from overseas are being asked to pay 50 per cent. of the annual insurance rate to cover the use of a car for only 300 miles of travel; and, as many of the men are experienced drivers, will he sponsor a licence cum-insurance scheme at reasonable rates in those cases.

My hon. Friend will be glad to know that I understand that for cars the normal rate for one week is not 50 per cent. but 12½ per cent. of the annual rate. This is, of course, available to Service men on leave. For motorcycles, however, 50 per cent. is normal for one week, but my hon. Friend will, I think, find that most insurers will, as a special concession, charge Service men on leave 12½ per cent. In view of this, further arrangements should not be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, to avoid invidious differentiation, he will arrange for substantially the same official welcome to be accorded to all troops on leave returning from the different war areas overseas.

I am not aware of the differentiation to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. As regards the arrangements made when troops arrive on leave in this country I would refer him to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Gower (Mr. Grenfell) on 16th January. I have seen the reports of the welcome accorded by the public to some of the men returning from the British Liberation Army. This was spontaneous and unofficial.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any supplies other than cargoes of explosives have been sent to Yugoslavia; and, if so, what quantities of clothing and food up to the end of 1944.

I have been asked to reply. Yes, Sir. In addition to explosives a considerable variety of supplies, including arms, vehicles, petrol, clothing and foodstuffs, have been sent to Yugoslavia. My hon. and gallant Friend will understand that it would not be in the public interest to publish the quantities involved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, and on what lines, it is proposed financially to help the Bethnal Green Council to meet the air-raid claims against them.

The question whether the Bethnal Green Borough Council should be given Exchequer assistance in respect of their expenditure arising out of the recent legal proceedings, and if so to what extent, is under consideration, but I regret that I am not yet in a position to announce a decision.