Written Answers To Questions
Demobilisation (Farm Workers)
asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will support applications for the release from the Forces of all skilled farm workers, and especially cowmen, in view of the fact that herd owners are being compelled to dispose of their cows owing to lack of cowmen.
All applications for the release of skilled farm workers submitted through War Agricultural Executive Committees are, of course, sympathetically considered. In accordance with the conditions and rules applicable to release under Class B, however, my Department can recommend the release out of turn on food production grounds of only a very limited number of farmers and farm workers who are individual specialists.
Milk (Pasteurisation)
asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the figures recently furnished showing the incidence of tuberculosis attributable to infected milk, he will immediately make compulsory the provision of pasteurised or otherwise adequately sterilised milk for children at school and introduce legislation requiring all milk for home consumption to be pasteurised.
I understand that as regards school milk a high proportion is now either heat-treated or tuberculin tested. I am consulting my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food with regard to what further action can be taken respecting the supply of adequately heat-treated milk.
Medical Practices (Protection)
asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the British Medical Association's scheme for the protection of absentee practitioners' practices forbids other doctors from attending a demobilised practitioner's patients for a period of twelve months after the close of hostilities, thereby depriving insured persons on his list of their right to a free choice of doctor for that period; and as this constitutes a violation of the National Insurance Act, if he will take remedial action.
I am in consultation with the British Medical Association on the subject and will communicate further with the hon. Member.
Post Office
Postal Facilities (Westmancote)
asked the Assistant Postmaster General whether it is now possible to consider setting up a sub-post office and telephone kiosk at Westmancote, in view of the complete lack of amenities in this neighbourhood.
I have looked into the position at Westmancote and regret that the circumstances are not such as to warrant a sub-post office being provided in the village. The question of erecting a public telephone kiosk will be further considered as soon as the man-power and equipment position permits.
Pen Nibs
asked the Assistant Postmaster General whether he will supply better pen nibs in the post offices throughout the country and ensure more frequent renewal of these nibs, in view of the great difficulties the public have experienced in writing with the nibs at present available.
The pen nibs supplied for use in Post Offices are similar to those supplied by His Majesty's Stationery Office to all Government Departments and I am satisfied that they are as good as those offered by retailers to the general public. Arrangements will be made for more frequent renewal of these nibs as soon as the supply position permits. In the meantime I will call attention to the need for keeping a close watch on the condition of the pens allocated for public use.
Retail Deliveries (Petrol Restrictions)
asked the Minister of War Transport whether he will give an assurance that retailers now have adequate petrol allowance to enable them to make the necessary deliveries in the rural areas, in view of the difficulties of motor omnibus transport and the many hours which rural residents have to spend in waiting for transport and standing in food queues.
For the past four months motor fuel has been available to enable any retailer to deliver groceries once weekly, or meat, fish or greengroceries, twice weekly. I have recently decided to remove even these restrictions, and fuel will, in future, be available for any reasonable retail deliveries. I must, however, warn the hon. Member that retailers have hitherto found it difficult, in many cases, to make use of the fuel already available to them owing to shortage of labour.
Aliens (Exit Permits)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will arrange for exit permits to be given to friendly aliens to visit relations, liberated from concentration camps, who are on the danger list on the Continent.
Aliens are eligible for the grant of exit permits in the same way as other persons who have urgent compassionate reasons to travel, but I must point out that entry into foreign countries is controlled by the grant of visas by the Governments of the territories in question.