asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in connection with the installation of electricity in farms and buildings in the rural areas, he will consider convening a meeting of the electricity undertaKinģs throughout the United Kinģdom with a view to abolishing the high charges for installation and the long term guarantees which are at present demanded by.many undertaKinģs.

Electricity undertakers are under no statutory obligation to afford supplies to individual premises situated more than 5o yards from a distributing line. This point is one of the matters which is being taken into account in the general reorganisation of the industry now under consideration by His Majesty's Government.

Does my hon. Friend realise the very strong feeling that exists in rural areas because farms are not able to get a supply of electricity on account of the very heavy charge for installation? Will he make a very vigorous request that these undertaKinģs should do something in the matter, in view of this widespread feeling?

I can assure my hon. Friend that we are aware of the feeling, and that it is one of the matters which are being Laken into account.

Is the Minister aware that, under the Electricity Act, 1882, his Department and the undertaKinģs concerned are not permitted to do what the hon. Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère) has asked?

I pointed that out in the reply which I gave.

In the considerations which are before the Department, will the Minister include the question of a regional organisation under national control, as the only method by which the country districts can get cheap electricity?

I shall have to rouse the "Daily Express" to another campaign of enlightenment.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement of the Government's intentions following upon consideration of the Report on the Severn Barrage.

The report is primarily on the technical aspects of the scheme, but there are also many economic and other issues involved. In particular, the merits of the scheme depend largely, as the authors of the report make clear, on the view taken as to likelihood of a further substantial rise in the price of coal. My hon. Friend will realise that this aspect of the question needs very careful inquiry and an early decision on the barrage scheme is therefore not likely.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what plans are being prepared by his Department for the development of coal by-product industries and, in particular, fuel from coal in the post-war period.

My Department is worKinģ in close collaboration with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in regard to the further development of processes for the extraction of oil from coal. Much progress has in fact taken place during the war. Byproducts from coal are already produced on a large scale by the carbonisation industries, and the production of coal tar oil, as a substitute for imported liquid fuel, has been expanded during the war from less than 100,000 tons to over 100,000 tons.

Has the Department prepared its own plan for national development in this matter?

I could not give my hon. Friend any assurance on the point at the moment.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the Regional Controller in Edinburgh, at a meeting with the Sub-committee of the Angus County Council in July 1944, when the seriousness of the coal situation was considered, suggested purchasing a maximum of 4,000 tons of wood to be sawn into blocks, and 981 tons were obtained to be used where authority for its disposal was received from London; that on 2nd February last, owing to the serious shortage of fuel, application was made to the Regional Controller in Edinburgh asKinģ for authority to sell hard wood fuel stocked by the county council and other applications have subsequently been made but, so far, the Regional Controller in Edinburgh has not replied; and if he will investigate this matter with a view to securing a more businesslike procedure in future.

My right hon. and gallant Friend is maKinģ inquiries into this matter, and will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend.

Is the Minister aware that in the country, trees have been cut down and sites have been cleared of wood that many people could use?

I can assure my hon. Friend that we have this matter in mind. As a matter of fact, we have more than 100,000 tons in stock on the site he has in mind.

Is there any possibility of supplying, say, one cwt. of wood to people who are only entitled to 5 cwt. of coal, to 'help them to eke it out?

That is a question of the locality where the wood may be. We are taKinģ all those possibilities into consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominions Affairs whether his attention has been called to cases where members of the Canadian Forces serving in this country, being the fathers of babies born to British girls to whom they were not married, have refused to accept airy liability in respect of the child; and whether, in view of the hardship and injustice thereby entailed, he will approach the Canadian Government with a view to maKinģ arrangements whereby in such cases where legal action has been taken and paternity proved, the legal liability shall be discharged by the Canadian citizen.

I understand that if an affiliation order is made by a court against a Canadian soldier the Canadian military authorities make such deductions as they deem appropriate from the pay of the soldier concerned for the benefit of the mother. Once, however, a soldier has been discharged, there is no way in which payment of the order can be enforced by the Canadian authorities. Civil proceedings could then be taken against the man in the courts of the appropriate Province in Canada.

Does not the Minister appreciate the complete impossibility of any English girl taKinģ proceedings in a court in Canada? Will he not make representations to the Canadian Government that this is a liability which they should properly accept on behalf of their men fighting overseas?

While fully appreciating the points raised by my hon. and gallant Friend, I must point out that this is a question which will require legislation both in this country and in Canada, and that until we have passed legislation here it will be difficult to take up the matter with the Canadian Government.

Is the Minister taKinģ any steps to put this matter right? Is it not very serious that these girls should be put in this position in this country? Has any proposal been made to the Canadian Government to adjust this difficulty?

As I have pointed out, legislation would have to take place in this country in the first place, as well as in Canada.

Is it not possible for the Minister to regard this as a general issue, especially as girls cannot get any money in respect of babies born of American soldiers, let alone Canadian soldiers, and raise the problem with His Majesty's Government, so that representations can be made to the several Governments abroad involved in this connection?

That point should be raised with the Home Secretary.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he has considered the statement on the colour bar and racial discrimination issued by the Conference of Missionary Societies in Great Britain and Ireland and circulated to all hon. Members; and if he will endeavour to secure the observance of the principles therein outlined in Southern Rhodesia and in any other parts of His Majesty's Dominions in which current practice falls short of these principles.

So far as self-governing territories are concerned, this is essentially a question of domestic jurisdiction. My Noble Friend is accordingly not in a position to take action in the sense suggested.

Cannot the hon. Gentleman's Noble Friend at any rate communicate with, and make representations to, the authorities concerned?

No, Sir, it would be very undesirable, from every point of view, to interfere with the internal affairs of the Dominions.

Does the Minister endorse—

I did not hear what the hon. Gentleman asked me.

I asked whether the Minister at least endorsed the sentiments contained in this noble document?

Is it not the case that few, if any, of the signatories of this document have had recent experience in Southern Rhodesia and South Africa, and consequently are entirely ignorant of the more tolerant attitude which is growing up there?

Is not the hon. Member aware that that is quite misleading? Is it not the case that Dr. Broomfield, for one, has a close acquaintance with conditions in Africa?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the nature of the arrangements for the dsitribution to the civil population in liberated Burma of such supplies as can be made available.

Relief supplies for the civil population in Burma are distributed by the military authorities in liberated areas. The limiting factor is not so much the availability of supplies as the long line of communications through difficult country over which they have to travel.

Does that apply to the whole of Burma? Are the military authorities responsible for supplies for the whole of Burma or only for the forward areas?

At present the whole of Burma which has been liberated is in what is known as "the military period."

How soon will it become the responsibility of the civil authorities?

I cannot possibly say how soon further large tracts of Burma will be liberated.

asked the Secretary of State for War by how much the weekly allowances of rationed commodities to German prisoners of war exceed those issued to British civilians.

While no one wishes to act harshly towards German prisoners of war, is it not rather absurd that they should get a bigger ration?

The ordinary German prisoner does not get a bigger ration. Those whom we call upon to work do get a larger ration, and the question is whether you want work from them or whether you want to give them less rations.

Is not the position that His Majesty's Government, like other Allied Governments, are bound by the Hague Convention?

Yes, Sir, that is so. We are applying the Geneva Convention rigidly. Whether the Germans are equally rigid in applying it is another matter.

Does the same scale apply to the Italians who have now, I take it, ceased to be prisoners of war and are co-belligerents?

No, Sir, their status is still that of prisoners of war, but a large number of them are co-operating. I would like to have notice of the Question, so that I can give my hon. Friend the facts about their ration. I may give the hon. Member a categorical answer.

Is it a fact that German prisoners of war are receiving the full American Army ration, which is bigger than the British? Surely, something ought to be done in that matter.

It is certainly not the case, as the hon. Member will see if he looks at my answer.

rose—

I think we have had enough of this.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he is aware of the disappointment and dissatisfaction of Scottish local authorities on account of the recent change of policy regarding temporary houses, causing further delay in the provision of housing accommodation in Scotland; and since many of these authorities have incurred substantial expenditure in the preparation of sites for temporary houses, what steps he proposes to take to protect the authorities against claims for breach of contract and otherwise in loss of revenue.

My right hon. Friend is not aware that the position is as stated in the first part of the Question. Only one local authority, namely Fife county council, have made representations in the sense of the second part with regard to five temporary sites to be developed in 1945. As, however, the statement made on 23rd February by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works does not affect the temporary housing programme already intimated to local authorities for the current year, the council have been informed that there appears to be no occasion for contemplating a breach of contract such as is referred to.

Does that mean that the Fife county council may proceed with their plan?

Definitely that means that they may proceed with the plan of the five temporary sites, at Crosshill, Lumphinan, Thornton, Methilhill, and East Wemyss.

When are the houses going to be built?

That does not arise on this Question.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government have in mind, in connection with the British share of the indemnity in kind to be imposed on Germany after her unconditional surrender, the desirability of supplying Britain over a period of years with timber, whether sawn or otherwise, large amounts of which will be required in Great Britain for housing and other purposes on the cessation of hostilities.

Yes, Sir.

May I ask the Prime Minister whether it will be borne in mind that timber in Germany is largely used for war purposes, and that it would be quite impossible for us to obtain from normal sources the exceptionally large amount of timber which we shall require after the war in connection with our building effort?

Yes, Sir.

My Question is deferred.

I could give my hon. Friend an answer—

Answer.

with your permission, Mr. Speaker, but, if the hon. Gentleman refuses to put it—

A Question cannot be answered if it is not asked.

Answer.

I have been requested to defer the Question.

By whom?

Would it not be in Order for the Prime Minister to make a statement at the end of Questions, if he wishes to?

asked the Prime Minister what steps he is taKinģ to meet the need of men and women in all the Services, many of whom have never voted, for elementary factual political information which will enable them to judģe intelligently between the election addresses submitted to them at the General Election.

In spite of the unavoidable limitations imposed on members of H.M. Forces from time to time by distance and dispersal, and the late arrival of newspapers, they are, in general, probably at least as well informed on these matters as most other classes of the community, and I do not consider any special action by Government Departments is necessary.

Would the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the fact that Members of Parliament get a great many letters from the Services asking; for elementary facts about politics, and would he suggest to the Secretary of State for War that it might be a good idea to devote an A.B.C.A. bulletin to this matter?

I think that shows that the process is going forward of inquiries being made and answers given. I do not think that it leads to the necessity of any special organisation, except, perhaps, trying to fly out newspapers in as great a degree as circumstances render possible. I do not think the hon. Gentleman should suppose that soldiers of the British Army do not keep themselves very well informed, and do not have a strong opinion on the course of events.

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider the possibility of sending out to the troops reprints of his own speeches and copies of my pamphlets? Thus they would be completely well informed.

I am not proposing to enter into so limited a partnership with the hon. Gentleman.

Will the troops and others be informed of the names of the seven Ministers and 12 Under-Secretaries who voted for a Vote of Censure against Mr. Baldwin for rearming, in 1936?

I have not the slightest idea who these gentlemen are, but I think it would be very invidious to put out little, spiteful, picked-out pieces of information of this kind, of a one-sided character. Indeed, I should certainly not lend my support to it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman awere that hon. Members get many letters from soldiers expressing elementary political facts, particularly directed against hon. Members on the other side?

asked the Prime Minister what are the Government activities of the Lord Privy Seal and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

In addition to discharging the formal duties of 'his office, the Lord Privy Seal undertakes such other tasks as may be assigned to him, in Cabinet Committee or otherwise.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster primarily controls the management of the Duchy estates and revenues, and, within the County Palatine, performs various duties which in other counties devolve upon the Lord Chancellor and the Home Secretary. Besides these duties, he is Chairman of the European Committee of the Council of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. In addition, he is available to perform a variety of pressing and temporary duties which are not assigned to any particular Minister such as membership of Government Committees and assistance in the work of this House.

Does my right hon. Friend suggest that these gentlemen are fully employed?

Certainly, I do. Indeed, it used to be pressed upon me most vigorously in the first two years of the life of the present Government that we should have a War Cabinet entirely composed of persons who had no duties at all except to brood at large over our for- tunes. We have followed, in general, the opposite principle, but there is great advantage in having one or two Ministers in an Administration who have no heavy Departmental duties, and are available for all kinds of other tasks, and these two particular offices, which have long traditions behind them, are extremely suitable for those who discharge such functions.

Could the Prime Minister inform us of the names of any Ministers who are more harmlessly employed than the two mentioned?

But is my right hon. Friend aware that neither of these members of the Government is in the War Cabinet, whereas in the War Cabinet there are right hon. Gentlemen engaged in Departmental duties?

I know, but it is a good arrangement, and it has not led us to a bad spot so far.

May I ask whether anybody can imagine the Lord Privy Seal being engaged in anything except promoting the interests of this country and the British Empire?

That certificate could be given to all His Majesty's Ministers.

asked the Prime Minister how many hon. Members he has appointed to positions abroad representing His Majesty's Government; and how many of them were members of the Labour Party.

Excluding members of His Majesty's Forces posted abroad, 17 Members of this House have been so appointed since the present Government took office. Of these, six have given up their appointments, maKinģ a total of II at the present time. One of them was, at the time of the appointment, a member of the Labour Party.

Does my right hon. Friend regard that as a fair proportion; and does he not agree that there are hon. Members associated with the Labour Party who have all the qualifications necessary, or at least as good qualifications as hon. Gentlemen on the other side, and who could be sent abroad?

These appointments were made without any regard to Party at all.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will publish in HANSARD a list of the despatches received from commanders-in-chief during this war, with the dates of their receipt.

No, Sir.

Would my right hon. Friend give any explanation of why he is not prepared to give this information in HANSARD?

I see no particular purpose in giving a list of these various despatches. I have studied the best of them, and, if there is any general desire for their printing, it could certainly be granted.

May I ask if my right hon. Friend can make it clear that the fact that the dates and contents of the despatches are not being published during the war, does not mean that the usual principle will be departed from that there will be full publication after the war?

That is quite true. These despatches have passed away, in many cases, from the sphere of immediate action. Nevertheless, they are an extremely important contribution to the history of the war, and it is certainly the intention of the Government to make them public, but I do not think this is the best time, when our eyes are fixed upon the extremely rapid development of military events. I think it is much better that, in some moment when there are no new facts to be recorded about the progress of our Armies, that should be the period when they should be published.

Might I ask my right hon. Friend whether these despatches are for the information of the War Cabinet or whether this House has not some interest in having them published, as was indeed done on every occasion during the last war?

The despatches are, of course, to His Majesty's Government. There might easily be things in them that would not be suitable for publication. It might give great information to the enemy. We have nothing to fear from any disclosures, I can assure the hon. Gentleman, and if it would give him satisfaction that a list of the despatches should be published, I should be quite ready to alter the sense of my answer and meet his wishes and have them published, but I think I should like to hear from him that he really does consider that it is a necessary step to take.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give an assurance that the House of Commons will be informed as soon as any proposals for laying down their arms are made by the Government of the Reich, and of the nature of such proposals, and that Parliament will have an opportunity of discussing them.

No, Sir.

In view of the importance of bringing the war to an early close, does my right hon. Friend think it fair that this Parliament should not be told, if and when the Germans are proposing to lay down their arms, and the conditions under which they would be prepared to do that?

The hon. Gentleman had better ask his questions one.at a time.

The right hon. Gentleman's mind is surely clearer than mine.

I cannot remember them all. Would the hon. Gentleman be so good as to let me know the first question?

I will, if I may, repeat the two points separately. In view of the importance of bringing the war to an early close, does my right hon. Friend think it is fair that this Parliament should not be told immediately—

The hon. Gentleman is asKinģ about a matter of opinion and not of fact.

Such matters, if they arose at any time, would, first of all, enter immediately into the province of inter-Allied discussions. We should not be in a position at all to decide any matters of that kind, except purely military surrender at the front. Anything that touched peace negotiations, and so on, we should immediately communicate to our Russian and American Allies, and the House would have to wait, necessarily, until those discussions had taken place. They all lie in the power of the Crown, which is vested in the Executive.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that one soldier's life is more valuable than a day's talk in Parliament, and that we have got to stop shooting first and talk afterwards?

That is very good; I like it very much.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any news as to when this event is likely to happen?

The news is good.

asked the Prime Minister whether a decision has yet been reached by the Government as to setting up a court of monopolies or some similar body to examine or otherwise to deal with cartels and monopolies.

I have been asked to reply. The form of legislation necessary to give effect to the policy contained in paragraph 54 of the White Paper on Employment Policy is now being worked out.

Although it is very necessary to control forms of monopoly, including that of the Executive, is it not for Parliament to deal with matters of this kind, and not a court, for which there is no precedent so far as I am aware, except that of the Star Chamber?