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    <title>Sitting of 4 March 1941</title>
    <dateCreated>Tue, 04 Mar 1941 00:00:00 +0000</dateCreated>
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    <outline id='884776' text='[Mr. SPEAKER &lt;i&gt;in the Chair&lt;/i&gt;.]' title='Preamble' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/preamble'></outline>
    <outline id='884805' text='ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.'>
      <outline id='884808' text='BRITISH ARMY.'>
        <outline id='884810' text="Captain Duncanasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now, in the light of the information given him by the hon. Member for North Kensington, in a letter dated 21st February, 1941, willing to review the arrangements made for the payment of allowances and allotments to the next-of-kin of men missing from the British Expeditionary Force and North-West Expeditionary Force, so that these may be continued in full until the men are either discovered or presumed killed in action; and, in the latter event, will he see that no gap is left between the last payment of the allowance or allotment and the first payment of pension?&lt;br/&gt;The Financial Secretary to the War Office (Mr. Richard Law): The arrangements referred to in the first part of the Question are under review. As regards the second part of the Question, every effort is already made to prevent any gap between the cessation of allowance or allotment and the issue of allowance at pension rates if pension is admissible.&lt;br/&gt;Captain Duncan: Can my hon. Friend say when the review of the arrangements will be completed; if I put a Question down, say, in two weeks' time, will it be completed by then?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: I should think that it would certainly be completed by then, if not before.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Robert Gibson: Is the Minister aware that this is a matter of very great urgency and that many people are looking forward to the results of this inquiry?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: Certainly, Sir." title="DEPENDANTS' ALLOWANCES." type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/dependants-allowances'></outline>
        <outline id='884812' text='Mr. Wedgwoodasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will ask for a return, not to be published, showing, for each zone of the Home Guard how many have been enrolled; and of these how many have passed through each course on rifle shooting, grenade throwing, bayonet fighting, field-craft, street fighting, signalling and gas drill, with a view to stimulating backward areas?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: I am afraid that a return of this nature could not be compiled without throwing a disproportionate amount of clerical labour on Home Guard units. A system of inspection already exists, however, by which the standard of training in various parts of the country is kept under constant review.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Wedgwood: Is there any method whereby the backward zones can be brought up to the standard of, say, the Eastern Command; is there any sort of comparison formed whereby people who are not doing their training and pulling their weight can be brought up to scratch?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: Yes, Sir. There is a Director of Military Training who is responsible for Home Guard training and inspection, and who covers the whole country, and he, of course, can make his own comparisons and draw his own conclusions.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Garro Jones: Is the Minister aware that members of the Home Guard coming under the jurisdiction of other Departments, such as the Board of Education, have instructions to rejoin their schools in the event of a grave emergency, and will he look into any possible depletion of forces of that kind?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: I was not aware of that and will look into it.' title='HOME GUARD.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/home-guard'></outline>
        <outline id='884815' text='Mrs. Tateasked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that troops stationed at Timsbury House, Timsbury, Somerset, throw away a large proportion of the bread issued to them which is baked by the Army, as they declare it to be almost uneatable, and buy most of their bread from the village canteen; and whether he will take steps to put an end to this wastage of food;&lt;lb/&gt;&#x000A;&lt;image src="S5CV0369P0I0379"/&gt;&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;745&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;(2) whether he is aware that the meat and vegetables issued to the troops stationed at Timsbury House, Timsbury, Somerset, are prepared by Army cooks in such a manner that the men find that they are almost uneatable, and have to buy food at a local canteen; and what steps he proposes to take to stop this wastage of food and to improve the cooking?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: I have made very careful inquiries into the messing arrangements of the unit in question, and I have been unable to discover any grounds for the complaints referred to. A recent surprise inspection has confirmed that the fond of this unit is properly cooked and that their bread supply is satisfactory.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Mathers: Does the Minister admit bad cooking and waste because of bad cooking in any unit whatever?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: I have no doubt that there is &amp;#x2014;&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Speaker: The hon. Member cannot pursue that question.' title='MESSING ARRANGEMENTS, TIMSBURY.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/messing-arrangements-timsbury'></outline>
        <outline id='884817' text='Major-General Sir Alfred Knoxasked the Secretary of State for War whether his inquiries into the publication of the article on Armistice Day, printed in a magazine described as the "Chronicles of No. 6 Company, Non-Combatant Labour Corps," have now been completed; and whether he can make a statement?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: If my hon. and gallant Friend will repeat his Question on the first Sitting Day after the end of this week, my right hon. Friend may then be able to make a statement.' title='PUBLICATION (INQUIRY).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/publication-inquiry'></outline>
        <outline id='884818' text='Lieut.-Colonel Sir Assheton Pownallasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange to give further publicity, either through the British Broadcasting Corporation or in other ways, to the arrangements by which the relatives in this country of those serving abroad can enjoy cheap cable facilities in view of the anxiety caused by enemy air raids?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend refers to the cheap tele-&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;746&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;gram facilities available to the next-of-kin of troops serving in the Middle East. Publicity has already been given to this scheme through the Press and the B.B.C., and I understand that it is being used to an extent which suggests that further publicity is unnecessary. Advice as to the details of the service can be obtained at any post office which accepts telegrams. Moreover, soldiers who do not receive telegrams by this service need feel no anxiety regarding their relatives if advantage is taken of the scheme whereby soldiers are specially notified in the event of a near relative becoming a casualty as a result of air raids on this country. I will send my hon. and gallant Friend full particulars.' title='CHEAP TELEGRAM FACILITIES, MIDDLE EAST.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/cheap-telegram-facilities-middle-east'></outline>
        <outline id='884820' text="Mr. Manderasked the Secretary of State for War how many men have been discharged, or granted leave pending discharge, under Paragraph 39c (XVI) King's Regulations, 1940, permanently unfit for any form of military service, from the November, 1940, and the December, 1940, intakes?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: It would not be in the national interest to disclose the information asked for, since it might be of some value to the enemy." title='DISCHARGES.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/discharges'></outline>
      </outline>
      <outline id='884821' text='Sir A. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any information regarding British prisoners of war camps, Stalag IX B, where there is a large hospital, where no parcels except half a pound of chocolate per man had been received from the Red Cross up till 26th December, and where cigarettes, tea, tinned milk and beef extract are urgently asked for?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: I am informed that Stalag IX B consists of a prisoners of war camp for other ranks, and two hospitals to which patients are sent from other camps. It appeared from a recent report by the Protecting Power that individual parcels were not being received at the hospitals. The attention of the International Red Cross has been drawn to this matter and arrangements made for the despatch of collective parcels direct to these hospitals.&lt;br/&gt;Sir William Davisonasked the Secretary of State for War for what reason the War Office have declined to allow Mrs. Ian Campbell, of Estoril, Portugal, to continue the arrangement she has made privately for the supply of food and clothing parcels to some hundreds of prisoners of war in Germany; and whether a similar intimation has been sent to the prisoners of war organisation in Budapest?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to my hon. Friend the Member for Denbigh (Sir H. Morris-Jones) on 5th December, of which I am sending him a copy. If Mrs. Campbell is willing that her parcels should be addressed to the Senior British Officer at Oflag VII C/H and not to individuals, the War Organisation of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John will bear the cost. The restriction on the provision of funds from the United Kingdom, and of the despatch of parcels to individuals, applies to all neutral European countries and to Turkey.&lt;br/&gt;Sir W. Davison: Is my hon. Friend aware that Mrs. Campbell could probably get finance from America in order to continue her service of parcels, which is much smaller than that of the Red Cross, if some secretarial provision was made for her through the Red Cross Fund or the War Office?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: I do not think that Mrs. Campbell&apos;s organisation, at any rate, on its past record, would be able to cope with the parcels in the quantities necessary for the purpose of the Red Cross. Even at the height of its activity, she was sending only about 200 pounds&apos; weight of parcels per week, whereas the Red Cross was sending 200 tons&apos; weight. As my hon. Friend will see, Mrs. Campbell&apos;s problem was a very different one from that of the Red Cross.&lt;br/&gt;Sir W. Davison: Surely, every little helps, and most people wonder why even a small help should be refused.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: It was because small help was competitive with the greater help, and in some cases threw out the arrangements.&lt;br/&gt;Sir A. Knox: Is it not true that Mrs. Campbell got the parcels through, and the Red Cross did not?&lt;br/&gt;Sir W. Davisonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now give the House information as to the actual arrival of Red Cross food parcels, and also of new uniforms and greatcoats, at the various prisoners of war camps in Germany, and in particular at Oflag VII C/H, at which camp scarcely any Red Cross parcels had been received by the beginning of December?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: According to latest information I have, receipts have been obtained for 78,345 food parcels and 3,172 clothing parcels which have reached the prisoner of war camps in Germany, and of this number 8,431 and 1,129, respectively, were received in Oflag VII C/H. In addition, the receipt of a further 6i tons of bulk provisions has been acknowledged by this camp. I am unable to say how many uniforms and greatcoats were included in the clothing parcels received. Endeavours are being made to obtain information on this point through the International Red Cross.&lt;br/&gt;Sir A. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet received from the protecting Power, or from the International Red Cross, the dietary showing the food issued daily to British prisoners of war in Germany; and whether he will give this dietary, and state how it compares with the food issued daily to German prisoners of war in Britain or to alien internees in the Isle of Man?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: With my hon. and gallant Friend&apos;s permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a representative daily menu served to British prisoners of war in Germany which has been received through official channels. German prisoners of war in the United Kingdom receive rations at the current scale for British troops, with certain variations made at their request to suit their national taste. As regards alien internees in the Isle of Man, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given on Tuesday last by the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department to my hon. Friend the Member for Plaistow (Mr. Thorne).&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Shinwell: If the diet provided for German prisoners of war in this country is superior to the diet provided for British prisoners of war in Germany, why should we not broadcast the fact throughout the world?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: We are fulfilling our obligations under the Prisoners of War Convention, and in so far as the German Government are not fulfilling their obligations every pressure is being put upon them to do so.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Shinwell: Are we making it known everywhere that the German Government do not fulfil their obligations to prisoners of war in that country and that we do, and ought not we to make it widely known?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: My right hon. and gallant Friend has stated more than once in this House that in his opinion the German Government are not fulfilling their obligations, and I imagine that the fact is widely known.&lt;br/&gt;Sir A. Knox: Have you considered a threat of retaliation?&lt;br/&gt;Sir Irving Albery: Is the diet issued to British prisoners of war in Germany on the same scale as that which is issued to German troops, which, I believe, is in the international agreement?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: It is in the International Convention, and, as I have said, my right hon. and gallant Friend has stated more than once that the provisions are not being fulfilled in all cases.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;table&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Following is the representative Daily Menu of Food issued to British Prisoners of War in Germany.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Morning:&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td align="right"&gt;Grams.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Coffee &lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td align="right"&gt;7&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Sugar &lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td align="right"&gt;15&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Honey &amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td align="right"&gt;24&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Mid-day:&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Beef &lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td align="right"&gt;70&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Fresh beetroot&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td align="right"&gt;350&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Potatoes&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td align="right"&gt;1,000&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Flour&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td align="right"&gt;10&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Salt &lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td align="right"&gt;15&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Evening:&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Coffee &lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td align="right"&gt;7&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Sugar &lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td align="right"&gt;15&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Bread &lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td align="right"&gt;300&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Fat &lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td align="right"&gt;25&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/table&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Parkerasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many friends and relatives of prisoners of war have been unable to obtain the&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;750&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;"Monthly Review" of the International Red Cross, and whether he can see that supplies are made available?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: I understand that the "Monthly Review" of the International Red Cross is published in French and is intended primarily for National Red Cross organisations rather than for the general public. Copies take about two months to reach this country from Switzerland, and I regret that I am not in a position to ensure a speedier arrival.' title='BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/british-prisoners-of-war'></outline>
      <outline id='884826' text='SCOTLAND.'>
        <outline id='884827' text="Mr. Leachasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the sub-committee which recently reported on the practical application of diphtheria immunisation in Scotland, and ascertained the number of children immunised in Edinburgh and other particulars in regard to diphtheria immunisation in that city, did not also obtain details, known to be available in the medical officer's office, of the number of cases of diphtheria and deaths from that disease in immunised and non-immunised children?&lt;br/&gt;The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. T. Johnston): In Edinburgh much of the diphtheria immunisation has been done by general practitioners, and accurate information whether individual children were or were not immunised was not available either to the Public Health Department or to hospitals where cases of diphtheria were treated. Such particulars as were available were approximate only and were therefore not regarded by the Scientific Advisory Committee as appropriate for inclusion in their report.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Leach: Will my right hon. Friend take care to be on the look-out for medical testimony which is suppressed when it turns against the particular views held by those suppressing it?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Johnston: Yes, Sir, and I may say that since the start of the present immunisation campaign steps have been taken to see that Edinburgh maintains its record on a proper statistical basis.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Maxton: Are not the doctors instructed to report all cases of immunisation?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Johnston: I think that that is so." title='DIPHTHERIA (IMMUNISATION).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/diphtheria-immunisation'></outline>
        <outline id='884829' text="Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that straw in Scotland was sold around 15s. per ton before the war; that it is urgently needed now for the manufacture of substitute esparto paper in Scotland, but that supplies for that purpose are not being made available because farmers are holding the straw for a price of &amp;#x00A3;5 per ton; and what steps he proposes to take to end this profiteering?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Johnston: Without further specification I would prefer not to comment upon my hon. and learned Friend's comparison of prices of straw. He will no doubt be aware that a large proportion of the straw produced in Scotland is required for agricultural purposes. I understand that there has been some difficulty in the supply of material for paper-making and I am in communication with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply on the subject.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Gibson: Will my right hon. Friend keep in view this fact, that workers in the paper-making industry are being thrown out of employment through the holding-back of the supplies? Will he take steps to see that the workers in this industry in Scotland are not made scapegoats for the depredations on the farmers by the bankers, as alleged in this House?&lt;br/&gt;Mr, Johnston: I can only repeat that I am in communication with the Ministry of Supply on the subject and that I propose, after communications have been held, to write to my hon. and learned Friend.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Mathers: Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is some surplus straw in Scotland that could be used for paper making but that is being withheld from the paper-makers through farmers not being willing to accept the English figures of 65s. and 70s. a ton for the straw? Is he aware that we are thereby losing a tremendous opportunity of exporting paper and that workers in the paper mills in my constituency are working only two days a week?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Johnston: If my hon. Friend has any specific information of that kind, I shall be glad to have it.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Gibson: Did my right hon. Friend look into the information which I sent him on this subject?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Johnston: I did." title='STRAW (PRICE).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/straw-price'></outline>
      </outline>
      <outline id='884832' text='COAL INDUSTRY.'>
        <outline id='884834' text='Mr. Cocksasked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been called to the scheme at Plymouth where all the coal coming into the city is pooled and distributed on a rationing basis to the dealers; and whether he will instruct the local coal controllers to institute similar schemes in other centres?&lt;br/&gt;The Secretary for Mines (Mr. David Grenfell): I have been kept fully informed of these pooling arrangements by my local representatives who have given them their full support, and I am glad to say that they have led to a considerable improvement in the distribution of house coal in Plymouth. These arrangements are voluntary; and I look forward to their extension to other suitable areas, through the operation of the House Coal Distribution (Emergency) Scheme. The authorities of the Scheme are aware of the importance which I attach to the matter.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Cocks: Will the Minister convey those opinions of his to the local authorities?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Grenfell: Yes, Sir, I am in touch with them about the scheme, and they say that they are well aware of its importance.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Culverwell: If the scheme is such a success, will the Minister endeavour to utilise it elsewhere and, if necessary, use compulsory powers?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Grenfell: Yes, Sir, I shall not shrink from using compulsory powers if necessary.' title='POOLING ARRANGEMENTS (PLYMOUTH).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/pooling-arrangements-plymouth'></outline>
        <outline id='884836' text='Mr. Cocksasked the Secretary for Mines what steps have been taken to improve the position in the Nottinghamshire coalfield with regard to the shortage of wagons and the consequent limitation of coal production?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Cocksasked the Secretary for Mines whether he has considered an&#x000A;&lt;image src="S5CV0369P0I0383"/&gt;&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;753&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;appeal from the Executive Board of the Midland (Amalgamated) District under the Coal Mines Act regarding the insufficient supply of wagons resulting in the under-production of coal and short time; whether he is aware that a relatively small number of additional wagons would enable the Midland collieries to produce the requisite tonnages; and whether he is taking steps to move wagons from South Wales and the South of England to meet the requirements of the Midland coal industry?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Grenfell: I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. T. Smith) on 4th February, and I am informed by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Transport that a special scheme of wagon control came into operation on 1st March which it is hoped will result in an improvement in the wagon position generally.' title='WAGONS.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/wagons'></outline>
        <outline id='884837' text='Mr. T. Smithasked the Secretary for Mines (1) what percentage of pit-props now being used for lining permanent roadways in damp coalmines is receiving any form of preservative treatment; and whether, in view of the rapid decay which occurs in such mines with the type of timber now available and the need for conserving pit-wood, he will consider insisting on some tested preservative treatment being applied before such timber is used underground;&lt;lb/&gt;&#x000A;(2) whether he is satisfied with the extremely low cost of preservative treatment of pit-timber claimed in the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Records, No. 3; and whether, in view of the conclusions reached that this treatment improves and increases the life of the timber, he proposes to call the attention of the mining industry by circular or otherwise to the process?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Grenfell: Under present circumstances the preservative treatment of mine timber is a question of supply rather than of safety and is one which does not affect the mines only. Owing to the increasing use of steel arches on the main roads, less timber is being used for supporting such roads, and it is mainly on such roads that preserved timber is needed. No accurate figures are avail-&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;754&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;able as to the percentage of timber that receives preservative treatment, but it is of the order of 2 per cent. of the quantity used in mines. I am in consultation with the Timber Controller on the matter which raises wider issues than mining.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Smith: Does my hon. Friend or his Department accept the conclusions reached by the Research Board, which have been public property for five years? Has the Safety in Mines Research Board taken this question into account?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Grenfell: It is largely a question of providing timber for immediate safety purposes. It is well known that certain timbers in certain areas require treatment and that they are receiving it.' title='PIT TIMBER (PRESERVATIVE TREATMENT).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/pit-timber-preservative-treatment'></outline>
        <outline id='884839' text='Mr. Emeryasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that executive boards set up under the Coal Selling Scheme have adopted certain standard conditions for the sale of coal without any consultation with the owners of public utility undertakings, or anybody representative of any class of consumers; and what action he proposes to take to secure public protection and especially to public utility undertakings?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Grenfell: I understand that some consultation did, in fact, take place without, however, any satisfactory result. A further meeting to discuss this matter has now been arranged for 7th March between the Conjoint Conference of Public Utility Undertakings and owners&apos; representatives of the colliery districts concerned.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Emeryasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the serious position which is likely to arise in Salford if supplies of coal are not available for the gas undertaking; that the Midland (Amalgamated) Selling Scheme refuses to accept the usual conditions of the corporation when placing contracts, including the fair wages clause; and will he give a general direction, under the Coal Supply Order, 1940, which will prevent coal- owners varying, to the disadvantage of the consumer, conditions on which coal is offered for sale during the present emergency?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Grenfell: The question of contract conditions is primarily one for discussion and settlement between the parties, and I trust that negotiations will not be so&#x000A;&lt;image src="S5CV0369P0I0384"/&gt;&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;755&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;prolonged as to involve any dangerous diminution in stocks which at present are exceptionally good at Salford.' title='SELLING SCHEME.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/selling-scheme'></outline>
        <outline id='884841' text='Mr. Culverwellasked the Secretary for Mines how many tons of house coal and industrial coal, respectively, are now in Government dumps as a reserve for use in an emergency; and how many tons does the Government hope to accumulate before next winter?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Grenfell: There are now rather more than 1,000,000 tons of coal in Government stock, of which more than half is house coal. It is the intention to add considerably to these stocks during the summer.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Culverwell: Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in a speech he made in the recent coal Debate he misled the House into thinking that the Government and not private individuals had nearer 30,000,000 tons than 20,000,000 tons of coal stocked, and is it right that the Government should rely on private householders to get them out of their difficulties? Should not the Government have more adequate stocks themselves?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Grenfell: The hon. Member has been long enough in this House and present enough times during Debates to know thoroughly well that he is misleading the House at the present time. He is well aware that the best place to stock coal is at the point of consumption, and if private householders are to be supplied with coal, what is the good of stocking elsewhere?' title='STOCKS.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/stocks'></outline>
      </outline>
      <outline id='884843' text='Mr. Wedgwoodasked the Undersecretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will approach the Australian Government as to the settlement in Australia of those landed from the "Dunera" who would have been eligible for release if they had remained in this country?&lt;br/&gt;The Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (Mr. Shakespeare): His Majesty&apos;s Government in the Commonwealth of Australia have already indicated that they are not prepared to allow persons sent to Australia as internees to be released for settlement there.&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;756&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;In the circumstances I do not consider that an approach on the lines suggested by my right hon. Friend would serve any useful purpose.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Wedgwood: Is that the best the hon. Gentleman can do in view of what happened on the "Dunera"? Would he approach Mr. Menzies who is now in this country on the question to see whether some solution can be found?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Shakespeare: I understand that an officer has been sent to Australia by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to interview each case and see whether it is a fit subject for release and return to this country.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Wedgwood: But will the hon. Gentleman see the Australian Prime Minister who is now in this country?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Shakespeare: The Australian Government offered to take internees and not settlers.' title='INTERNEES (AUSTRALIA).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/internees-australia'></outline>
      <outline id='884845' text='TRADE AND COMMERCE.'>
        <outline id='884846' text='Mr. A. Edwardsasked the President of the Board of Trade how many licences for export of gears have been applied for by a firm of which he has been informed in the last 12 months; how many have been granted; and how many refused?&lt;br/&gt;The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Lyttelton): I regret that I cannot disclose information about the business of individual firms.' title='GEARS (EXPORT).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/gears-export'></outline>
        <outline id='884847' text='Sir Patrick Harmonasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether, with reference to the Board of Trade Order which places all exports to Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru subject to licence, his attention has been called to the case of firms which have orders extending over prolonged periods and the limitation of whose business with those countries will mean inconvenience and loss; and whether he will consider such cases of hardship when brought to his notice;&#x000A;&lt;ol&gt;&#x000A;&lt;li&gt;(2) whether in the cases of orders in hand for South American countries which will become subject to export licence and where such orders relate to goods which are in process of manufacture. special&#x000A;&lt;image src="S5CV0369P0I0385"/&gt;&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;757&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;consideration will be extended to the exporters to enable the orders to be completed;&lt;/li&gt;&#x000A;&lt;li&gt;(3) whether he is aware that many firms in Birmingham and the Midlands have built up efficient sales organisation in South American countries with local representatives and travellers sent from this country, and whether in the case of those countries to which licensing regulations will apply, he can give a general indication of the extent to which export limitation will be imposed?&lt;/li&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/ol&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Lyttelton: I am well aware that firms in the Midlands and other parts of the United Kingdom have built up systems of trade in South America with great efficiency and success. We are, however, making more and more weapons and we can only use materials, productive capacity and labour on manufacture for export if the exports are necessary to secure indispensable goods. Exports to those countries must, therefore, be strictly controlled. I appreciate the need to give guidance to industries affected by the Order, and I am arranging to communicate information, confidentially, to Export Groups. While I am ready to consider special cases on their merits, I cannot undertake to issue licences automatically in the circumstances to which my hon. Friend refers.&lt;br/&gt;Sir P. Hannon: Will my right hon. Friend keep in touch with the Associated Chambers of Commerce so that certain exceptional cases can be considered when they arise?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Lyttelton: Certainly, Sir.' title='SOUTH AMERICA.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/south-america'></outline>
        <outline id='884848' text='Mr. Silverman(&lt;i&gt;for&lt;/i&gt; Mr. Rhys Davies)asked the President of the Board of Trade the restrictions already imposed on the Lancashire cotton industry and those which it is intended to impose in the near future?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Lyttelton: On the restrictions imposed by the Limitation of Supplies Orders, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for East Renfrew (Major Lloyd) on nth February. I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply that, in order to save shipping space and conserve supplies of&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;758&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;cotton, it has been necessary to reduce the total quantity licensed for use by spinners during March to about 2/3 of the monthly consumption in the winter. The general basis for licensing has been the amount of Government and other essential orders, including export orders held by firms.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Silverman: Having regard to the anxiety which the right hon. Gentleman knows is felt throughout the industry, would be expedite any statement which he proposes to make to the House, in order to show how the difficulties occasioned by this Order are to be apportioned?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Lyttelton: I hope to make a statement to-day.' title='LANCASHIRE COTTON INDUSTRY.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/lancashire-cotton-industry'></outline>
      </outline>
      <outline id='884849' text='ECONOMIC WARFARE.'>
        <outline id='884850' text="Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Minister of Economic Warfare what policy is being adopted by his Department towards Bulgaria; what departure from previous policy is covered thereby; when such departure was made; and whether he will make a statement regarding the immediate and the prospective courses respectively of the policy of his Department towards Bulgaria and other Balkan countries?&lt;br/&gt;The Minister of Economic Warfare (Mr. Dalton): Since Italy entered the war, His Majesty's Government have authorised the import into Bulgaria of only two comparatively unimportant consignments of goods. Towards the other Balkan countries, except Greece, our policy has been and still is to let no imports through our controls where there is a risk of important goods falling into enemy hands. Nor have we authorised imports except in cases where the countries concerned have shown their independence by permitting the export of goods which we wish to deny to the enemy. On the other hand, we are doing all we can to meet Greek requirements both for war and for civilian needs.&lt;br/&gt;Sir Percy Harris: Does the same apply to Turkey?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Dalton: No, Sir. I was not intending Turkey to be included as a Balkan country. Of course, we are doing our utmost to assist Turkey." title='BALKANS.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/balkans'></outline>
        <outline id='884852' text="Rear-Admiral Beamishasked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he will give an assurance that there is no change of policy in regard to allowing ships from the United States of America to pass our blockade carrying food for enemy-occupied countries in Europe; and whether there have been any recent official exchanges between this country and the United States of America on this subject?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Dalton: There is no change in the policy of His Majesty's Government in this matter. The question of allowing ships from the U.S.A. to pass our blockade carrying food for enemy-occupied countries in Europe is, of course, like other questions of common interest, discussed by His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington with the United States authorities from time to time.&lt;br/&gt;Rear-Admiral Beamish: Is it not a fact that but for enemy influence Europe would have no need to fear a food shortage?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Dalton: The Germans have frequently stated that there is enough food to feed all their subject populations.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Shinwell: In that case, is it necessary to have any negotiations on the matter with other countries? Why should we allow any foodstuffs to pass?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Dalton: Perhaps my hon. Friend did not listen to the Answer which I gave. I said that there was no change in the policy of His Majesty's Government on the matter referred to in the Question.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Shinwell: But the Minister did indicate that discussions might proceed on matters of common interest, which seemed to imply that this was a question which might be discussed. I ask him why, if the Germans say there is sufficient food for subject peoples, there should be a question of discussions?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Thurtle: Is it not a fact that the Germans sometimes do not tell the truth?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Dalton: I was about to make the same sugestion to my hon. Friend, and I would also add that many discussions take place which, as he well knows, lead to no results.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. McGovern: May we take it that one of the hopes held out of starving the&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;760&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;Germans into surrender is now completely gone by the board?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Dalton: No, sir. No hopes that I have ever held have gone by the board." title='UNITED STATES FOOD SHIPS.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/united-states-food-ships'></outline>
      </outline>
      <outline id='884854' text="Mr. Crowderasked the Minister of Information how many propaganda films are being shown in the London cinemas at the present time; and whether arrangements could be made for at least one such film to be shown at each performance?&lt;br/&gt;The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information (Mr. Harold Nicolson): Arrangements have been made with the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association for the inclusion in each programme in almost every cinema theatre throughout the country, including the London area, of a short Ministry propaganda film. In addition there are many longer films of propaganda value made by commercial producers either for, or in co-operation with, the Ministry. These are regularly released and shown by cinemas in the ordinary course of their business, but it would be impossible without a great deal of research to say how many of all types are running in London cinemas at the present time.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Crowder: Is the Minister satisfied with the arrangements made?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Nicolson: My right hon. Friend is never satisfied that all arrangements are perfect, but the arrangements now made are a great improvement on the former ones.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Noel-Baker: Is it not a fact that these films have a great success both at home and abroad?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Nicolson: Yes, Sir." title='PROPAGANDA FILMS.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/propaganda-films'></outline>
      <outline id='884856' text='FOOD SUPPLIES.'>
        <outline id='884857' text='Mr. R. C. Morrisonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why the price of sausages was recently advanced by 2d. per pound retail pork, and beef 1d. per pound; and whether there has been any advance in the price of the raw material?&lt;br/&gt;The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Major Lloyd George): The increase in the price of grade "C" sausage was authorised after an inquiry had shown that the previous price, which was fixed in March, 1940, was insufficient to allow a reasonable margin to the trade when unsupported by profits from the sale of grade "A" and grade "B" sausages, the manufacture of which is now prohibited. There has been no recent increase in the price of meat, but the cost of certain other items and labour has advanced.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Morrison: Is it not somewhat significant that after the big sausage manufacturers got the trade into their own hands, an increase in price immediately took place?&lt;br/&gt;Major Lloyd George: When grade "A," "B" and "C" sausages were available, the amount of grade "C" sold formed a small proportion of the whole. It is not now practicable, when only grade "C" sausages are available, to retain the previous price of that grade.&lt;br/&gt;Sir Herbert Williams: Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman tell us what are grade "C" sausages?&lt;br/&gt;Major Lloyd George: I suggest that my hon. Friend should buy some and find out.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Thorne: How do the Ministry know that this percentage of meat is actually put into the sausages?&lt;br/&gt;Major Lloyd George: I should require notice of that Question.' title='SAUSAGES (PRICE).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/sausages-price'></outline>
        <outline id='884861' text='Mr. Manderasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps he is taking to supply a ration of feedingstuffs to members of the National Homing Union; and whether he is aware of the grave difficulties being experienced by pigeon fanciers in feeding their birds which both actually and potentially are a valuable asset in our war effort?&lt;br/&gt;Major Lloyd George: Owing to the limited shipping space available for bringing foodstuffs to this country it is not possible to provide food for pigeons except those that are registered for the National Pigeon Service, which are required for the fighting Services. A limited increase in&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;762&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;membership of the National Pigeon Service has been authorised. I am sending to my hon. Friend copies of recent Press notices giving further particulars.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Mander: If the priority pigeon corn is now available for birds on active service, will the balance of existing stocks be made available for other pigeons which may be wanted for service later on?&lt;br/&gt;Major Lloyd George: I am afraid I cannot hold out any hope of any balance existing, but the pigeons required for national service will be looked after.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Mander: Cannot the existing stocks be drawn upon for the other birds?&lt;br/&gt;Major Lloyd George: There are other more important uses for existing stocks. There has been a very drastic cutting down in feedingstuffs for pigs and poultry, and if there are any reserves they had better go there.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Cocks: Why is there a limitation imposed in the matter of national service, since a good many pigeon owners want to join and are not able to do so?&lt;br/&gt;Major Lloyd George: The limitation is one of numbers, and is governed by the amount of pigeons required.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. R. Gibson: Are feedingstuffs earmarked for this purpose?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Maxton: Is the Minister aware that only 5 per cent, of the total number of homing pigeons are in national service, and that all the others available are now to be deprived of any feedingstuffs?&lt;br/&gt;Major Lloyd George: I am not sure about the figure which the hon. Member has given, but I appreciate that there is great hardship upon the people who have these birds. However, we have to deal with the situation as it is, and the fact is that the feedingstuffs which are available can be better utilised in the national interest in other directions.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Mander: Are the birds to be destroyed?' title='PIGEON FEEDINGSTUFFS.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/pigeon-feedingstuffs'></outline>
        <outline id='884867' text="Sir Henry Morris-Jonesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what scale of rations is allowed to merchant seamen when on leave in this country?&lt;br/&gt;Major Lloyd George: Merchant seamen when ashore in this country receive the civilian scale of rations.&lt;br/&gt;Sir H. Morris-Jones: Will my hon. and gallant Friend see to it that merchant seamen, who go through such hardships and render such good services, are treated on the same basis as the three Services?&lt;br/&gt;Major Lloyd George: I fully share my hon. Friend's views with regard to the merchant service and I am anxious to treat them on the same basis. My hon. Friend may have observed during the last few days notices to the effect that men from the Services, when on leave, will get the same rations as the civil population." title='MERCHANT SEAMEN (LEAVE RATIONS).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/merchant-seamen-leave-rations'></outline>
      </outline>
      <outline id='884868' text="Mrs. Tateasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that if the clock is put forward two hours this summer as suggested the cost of food production will be increased, farm labourers rendered discontented, farmers' difficulties greatly augmented and children's health impaired; and whether he will assure the House that this proposal will be dropped?&lt;br/&gt;The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Herbert Morrison): A number of considerations arise in connection with this question to which the Government have been giving careful attention. Examination of the problem has shown that the addition during the summer months of an extra hour's daylight in the evening would be advantageous to the war effort in many ways, particularly by enabling work to be continued in the loading and unloading of ships at the docks and in the railway marshalling yards. In many factories it would also enable two shifts to be worked in daylight. On the other hand the change would cause difficulties in connection with farming operations which the Government would have wished to avoid especially when food production is so important a factor of the war effort. On balance, however, it has been found that the advantages to transport and the production of munitions would be such that the scheme ought not to be set aside, and the conclusion of the Government is that provided the period during which the&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;764&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;changed time operates is so limited as to mitigate the agricultural disadvantages, the scheme ought to be adopted. It is accordingly proposed to make a Defence Regulation advancing the clock by another hour from the night of Saturday, 3rd May, to the night of Saturday, 9th August.&lt;br/&gt;Mrs. Tate: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this announcement will be received with horror by the agricultural industry and by all who are interested in food production? Will there be an opportunity of expressing one's disapproval of this Regulation?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Morrison: I can assure the hon. Lady that the Government did take the very important agricultural and food-production point of view into account, and that the view of agriculture was consulted and every account was taken of it. Admittedly it is a matter of balance of advantage and disadvantage, but on the whole the Government thought that the advantage was in the direction of making the Regulation. As the decision will be implemented by a Defence Regulation, it would be competent for any hon. Member to put down a Prayer against the Regulation if it were so desired.&lt;br/&gt;Sir Joseph Lamb: Is there to be any limit whatever to the difficulties put in the way of the production of food?&lt;br/&gt;Mrs. Tate: In view of the extremely unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I propose to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity." title='SUMMER TIME (EXTENSION).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/summer-time-extension'></outline>
      <outline id='884870' text='Mr. Parkerasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the London Passenger Transport Board has refused workmen&apos;s tickets to the Auxiliary Fire Service; and whether he will take steps to have this anomaly removed and grant this facility equally to the Auxiliary Fire Service as it is granted to other workers who earn far higher wages?&lt;br/&gt;The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Mr. Montague): Members of the Auxiliary Fire Service have the same facilities as other members of the public for obtaining workmen&apos;s tickets during the normal hours of issue&#x000A;&lt;image src="S5CV0369P0I0389"/&gt;&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;765&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;on weekdays and at any time on Sundays. Any who are employed as artisans, mechanics and labourers can obtain workmen&apos;s tickets outside the normal hours on weekdays under the same conditions as other artisans, mechanics and labourers.' title="AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE (WORKMEN'S TICKETS)." type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/auxiliary-fire-service-workmens-tickets'></outline>
      <outline id='884872' text='Mr. A. Edwardsasked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that by increasing the selling price of steel to absorb the extra cost of imported steel, the Government pay an exorbitant price for British steel; and will he consider selling all steel for Government work at the normal price based on actual British cost of production?&lt;br/&gt;The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply (Mr. Harold Macmillan): There are obvious practical advantages in establishing a uniform price for all steel, whether home-produced or imported, and whether or not the steel is ultimately used for work under a Government contract. If all steel were sold at a price based on British cost of production, the higher cost of imported steel would become a charge on national funds which the Government are not prepared to accept. The arrangements made do not involve an exorbitant price for British steel.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Edwards: Is it suggested that the whole cost of this increase does not come from the Government? If so, does the Minister not realise that every time he allows an increase in the price of steel every industry depending on steel must raise its prices, and they come back on the Government?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Macmillan: It would be of more advantage to have a uniform price of steel, whether British or not.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Edwards: Cannot the Minister consider having a uniform price based on the price of British steel?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Macmillan: That would involve, as I said in my Answer, an additional cost borne entirely on Government charges which they are not prepared to accept.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Edwards: Does the Minister not realise that when he puts this price on,&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;766&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;there is a profit on the increased price which comes back as an increased price to him?' title='STEEL (PRICE).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/steel-price'></outline>
      <outline id='884873' text='Mr. Stokesasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty&apos;s Government intend to carry through the transfer of land in the Colonies and the completion of the terms in connection with the leasing of naval bases to the United States of America, without first referring to Parliament?&lt;br/&gt;The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Attlee): I would invite attention to the Reply which I gave to the first part of the Question asked by the hon. Member on 3rd December, which applies equally to questions arising out of the leasing of the areas referred to as to the leasing of any further areas for naval or military bases.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Stokes: Are we to understand that the Government feel free to dispose of British Colonial possessions without reference to this House? Is the Lord Privy Seal aware of the genuine concern felt by the inhabitants of some of these possessions at the clandestine way in which their revised constitution has been dealt with?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Attlee: In reply to the second part of the supplementary question, the answer is "No." In reply to the first part, I can only refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Stokes: I beg to give notice, in view of the very unsatisfactory nature of the replies I have had on this subject, that I shall raise the matter at the earliest possible moment.' title='EMPIRE BASES (LEASE, UNITED STATES).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/empire-bases-lease-united-states'></outline>
      <outline id='884875' text='NATIONAL FINANCE.'>
        <outline id='884876' text="Mr. A. Edwardsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, since the abolition of Import Duty on machine tools, a great deal of time has been saved at ports as a direct result; and whether he will now consider abolishing all Import Duties for the duration of the war?&lt;br/&gt;The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir Kingsley Wood): The abolition of any Import Duty naturally results in some saving of time at the ports, but I could not for the sake of such saving contemplate the loss of revenue that would be entailed if my hon. Friend's suggestion were adopted.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Edwards: Is it not a fact that every payment collected is paid back again by the Minister's Department, which is unavoidable? Is it not important that the three days saved by the abolition of Import Duties on machine tools should be saved now?&lt;br/&gt;Sir K. Wood: The hon. Member will appreciate that I must take into account the financial situation.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Shinwell: What possible advantage can accrue in relation to the war effort by retaining the Import Duties? Is it of any definite advantage to the Exchequer?&lt;br/&gt;Sir K. Wood: Yes, Sir. I must look after the revenue.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Edwards: Does the Chancellor not realise that all the money goes back again from his Department?" title='IMPORT DUTIES.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/import-duties'></outline>
        <outline id='884878' text='Mr. Stokesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that banks holding certain American securities on behalf of their depositors, and in the names of the depositors, have parted with those securities without any reference to their true and lawful owners; and whether it was with his authority that this action has been taken?&lt;br/&gt;Sir K. Wood: Yes, Sir. A full statement in this matter was made in my reply of 18th July last to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Mr. Lewis).&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Stokes: Does not the Chancellor consider that this action of the banks will have a very bad effect, the result of which will be that people will remove their securities because they are no longer in safe keeping?&lt;br/&gt;Sir K. Wood: Perhaps my hon. Friend will look at the reply to which I have referred.' title='AMERICAN SECURITIES.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/american-securities'></outline>
      </outline>
      <outline id='884879' text="Major Milnerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, having regard to the&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;768&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;inclusion of the name of the right hon. Member for Kelvingrove (Mr. Elliot) in Command Paper 6255, in what respect the employment of the right hon. Gentleman differs from that of other hon. Members serving with the Forces?&lt;br/&gt;Sir K. Wood: As was announced by the Secretary of State for War on 11th February, the appointment of my right hon. Friend the Member for Kelvingrove (Mr. Elliot) as Public Relations Officer of the War Office is a military one, and he is receiving the pay and allowances of a colonel serving at the War Office. The inclusion of my right hon. Friend's name in Part II as well as in Part I of the White Paper was, I am afraid, misleading, and I am grateful for the opportunity of clearing up any misunderstanding which may have been caused." title='PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, WAR OFFICE.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/public-relations-officer-war-office'></outline>
      <outline id='884881' text='Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in the case of Members of each House of Parliament holding salaried appointments under His Majesty&apos;s Government, and not either Ministers of His Majesty or serving in His Majesty&apos;s Forces, he will state the amount of the emoluments payable; and whether, and to what extent, these are being received?&lt;br/&gt;The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Captain Crookshank): As the answer is in tabular form, I will, with my hon. Friend&apos;s permission, circulate it in THE OFFICIAL REPORT.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Gibson: Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say why this information was not available in the White Paper which was a partial answer to a Question I put on the Order Paper for answer on 29th January?&lt;br/&gt;Captain Crookshank: The White Paper was published as a document of its own nature and had no particular reference to the hon. and learned Gentleman&apos;s Question, although it dealt with some points he raised. However, the information now asked for will be available to him, and I hope that that will satisfy him.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. McGovern: Will the Financial Secretary also include the list of expenses paid in each case?&lt;br/&gt;Captain Crookshank: It will include exactly what I have been asked for by the hon. and learned Gentleman.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Maxton: Do I understand from the Financial Secretary&apos;s reply that he is giving a private answer to the hon. and learned Member, or is he making a state-&lt;br/&gt;&lt;table type="span"&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td align="center" colspan="3"&gt;Name.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td align="center" colspan="3"&gt;Post.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td align="center" colspan="3"&gt;Normal Emoluments of Post.&lt;sup&gt;*&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td align="center"&gt;Emoluments Actually Drawn.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ministry of Agriculture.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="7"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Cedric Drewe Esq., MP&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Liaison Officer&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Various&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Expenses only.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Earl de la Warr&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Liaison Officer&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Various&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Expenses only.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ministry of Aircraft Production.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="7"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Sir Peter Bennett, M.P.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Director General of Emergency Services Organisation.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&amp;#x2020;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Nil.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Commdr. Stephen King Hall, M.P.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Director of Factory Defence Services.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&amp;#x2020;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Expenses only.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Assistance Board.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="7"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Lord Rushcliffe&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Chairman&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;5,000 salary&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;5,000 salary.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Dominions Office&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="7"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Rt. Hon. M. Macdonald, M.P.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3" rowspan="2"&gt;U.K. High Commissioner in Canada.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;2,500 salary&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;2,500 salary.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&amp;#x00A3;2,500 representation allowance.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;2,500 representation allowance.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="6"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Free Residence.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Free Residence.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Lord Harlech &lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3" rowspan="3"&gt;U.K. High Commissioner in Union of South Africa, and High Commr. for Basutoland, Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&amp;#x00A3;2,500 salary&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;2,500 salary.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&amp;#x00A3;2,500 representation allowance.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;2,500 representation allowance.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&amp;#x00A3;1,000 additional allowance.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;1,000 additional allowance&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Nothern Ireland&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="7"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Duke of Abercorn&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3" rowspan="2"&gt;Governor, Northern Ireland.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&amp;#x00A3;8,000 salary.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;8,000 salary.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="6"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Free Residence.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Free Residence.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ministry of Economic Warfare.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="7"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Earl of Drogheda&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Joint Director&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;1,700 salary &lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;1,700 salary.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Lord Farrer&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Assistant Secretary&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&amp;#x00A3;1,150-&amp;#x00A3;1,500 (scale)&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;1,150-1,500 (scale).&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Lord Hawke&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Head of Section&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;600 salary&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;600 salary.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Foreign Office and Diplomatic Service&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="7"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Viscount Halifax&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3" rowspan="2"&gt;Ambassador at Washington.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;2,500 salary&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;No salary.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&amp;#x00A3;13,750 frais de representation. &amp;#x2021;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;17,500 frais de representation.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="6"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Free Residence&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Free Residence.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Rt. Hon. Sir Samuel Hoare, Bart., M.P.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Ambassador at Madrid&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;2,500 salary&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;No salary.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="6"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&amp;#x00A3;3,500 frais de representation.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;8,100 frais de representation.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="6"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Free Residence.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Free Residence.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Hon. Sir Stafford Cripps, K.C. M.P.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Ambassador at Moscow&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;2,500 salary&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt; &amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;No salary.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="6"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&amp;#x00A3;4,150 frais de representation.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;4,150 frais de representation.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="6"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Free Residence&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Free Residence.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ministry of Home Security.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="7"&gt;Regional Commr.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Lord Trent&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Nottingham&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Up to &amp;#x00A3;2,500 salary&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Petrol only.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Earl of Dudley&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Birmingham&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Up to &amp;#x00A3;2,500 salary&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Petrol only.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;C. W. Key, Esq., M.P.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;London&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Up to &amp;#x00A3;2,500 salary&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;400 expense allowance.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;R.Richards, Esq.,M.P.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Cardiff&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Up to &amp;#x00A3;2,500 salary&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;400 expense allowance.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Earl of Rosebery&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Edinburgh&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Up to &amp;#x00A3;2,500 salary&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;500 expense allowance.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Earl of Cranbrook&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Deputy Regional Com. Cambridge.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Up to &amp;#x00A3;1,000 salary.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;300 expense allowance.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/table&gt;&lt;br/&gt;ment available to all Members of the House?&lt;br/&gt;Captain Crookshank: What I stated was that it would be available in the Official Report. I do not think that is a private answer.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;i&gt;Following is the statement:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;table type="span"&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td align="center" colspan="2"&gt;Name.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td align="center" colspan="3"&gt;Post.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td align="center" colspan="4"&gt;Normal Emoluments of Post.&lt;sup&gt;*&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td align="center"&gt;Emoluments Actually Drawn.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ministry of Home Security&lt;/i&gt;&amp;#x2014;cont.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="7"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Viscount Knollys&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Deputy Regional Com. Tunbridge Wells.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="4"&gt;Up to &amp;#x00A3;1,000 salary.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;75 expense allowance.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;J. J. Lawson, Esq., M.P.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Deputy Regional Com.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Newcastle&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Up to &amp;#x00A3;1,000 salary.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Nil.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;H. U. Willink, Esq., K.C., M.P.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Deputy Regional Com.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;London&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Up to &amp;#x00A3;1,000 salary.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;1,000 salary.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;R. H. Bernays, Esq.,M.P.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Deputy Regional Com.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Reading&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Up to &amp;#x00A3;1,000 salary.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;500 expense allowance.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Edward Dunn, Esq., M.P.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Deputy Regional Com.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Leeds&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Up to &amp;#x00A3;1,000 salary.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;500 expense allowance.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Earl de la Warr&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Asst. Deputy Reg. Com. Tunbridge Wells.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Up to &amp;#x00A3;1,000 salary.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Nil.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Viscount Mountgarret&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Deputy Principal Officer, Leeds.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Various&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Expenses only.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ministry of Information&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="7"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Viscount Hood&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Principal&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&amp;#x00A3;800&amp;#x2014;&amp;#x00A3;1,100 (Scale)&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;800&amp;#x2014;&amp;#x00A3;1,100 (Scale).&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Lord Swinfen&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Asst. Press Censor&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;&amp;#x00A3;500 salary&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;500 salary.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ministry of Labour and National Service.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="7"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Lord Terrington&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Principal Asst. Secretary (temporary).&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;&amp;#x00A3;1,500 salary&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;1,500 salary.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ministry of Pensions.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="7"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt; Lord Rotherham&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Clerical Officer&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="4"&gt;&amp;#x00A3;85&amp;#x2014;350 (Scale) plus allowance.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;85&amp;#x2014;350 (Scale) plus allowance.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ministry of Supply.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="7"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Lord Weir&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Director General of Explosives.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2020;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Nil.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Administrative Assistant.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;&amp;#x00A3;800 salary&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x00A3;800 salary.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Col. Ropner, M.P.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;Liaison Officer for Dominion Forestry Companies.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2020;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Expenses only.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="3"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ministry of Works and Buildings.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="7"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Lord Wolmer&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="2"&gt;Director of Cement&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2020;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;&amp;#x2026;&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td&gt;Expenses only.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="10"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Notes.&lt;/i&gt;&amp;#x2014;Posts of Governor-General or Governor of Dominions or Colonies, and Viceroy of India, where the emoluments are not borne on United Kingdom funds, are not shown. &lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="10"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;*&lt;/sup&gt; In the case of home appointments, subsistence and travelling expenses arc normally payable, in addition to salary, on the regulated Civil Service scale if they are incurred in the performance of official duties. Cases where the gentleman concerned has declined to claim any expenses are shown in the fourth column.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="10"&gt;All the posts shown, except Chairman of the Assistance Board, Governor of Northern Ireland, Regional Commissioners and Deputy Regional Commissioners, are, or might be, normally held by established Civil Servants, and would then be pensionable on the Civil Service scale. No question of pensionability arises, however, as regards the gentlemen shown in this list, except Lord Farrer, Viscount Hood and Lord Rotherham, who are established Civil Servants.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="10"&gt;&amp;#x2020;Occasion has not arisen for fixing a normal salary for these posts.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;td colspan="10"&gt;&amp;#x2021; This is the amount fixed on the last occasion when the post was held by a married man: it would fall to be increased by about &amp;#x00A3;2,000 in present circumstances owing to exchange and cost of living considerations.&lt;/td&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/tr&gt;&#x000A;&lt;/table&gt;' title='MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT (GOVERNMENT SERVICE).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/members-of-parliament-government-service'></outline>
      <outline id='884882' text='Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the extreme urgency of the need to increase the benefits payable under the National Health Insurance, in particular, sickness, maternity and disablement benefits; by what amounts it is intended to increase the benefits; and can he make a state-&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;772&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;ment on the matter in view of the urgency?&lt;br/&gt;Dr. Littleasked the Minister of Health whether, as sick persons drawing the small weekly allowance of Health Insurance benefit, and specially those suffering from chronic illness who are drawing even a smaller benefit, are facing much hardship through lack of proper&#x000A;&lt;image src="S5CV0369P0I0393"/&gt;&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;773&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;nourishment, he will, by the grant of a war bonus or otherwise, increase the weekly allowance to these sufferers who are undergoing much privation owing to the serious increase in the cost of living?&lt;br/&gt;The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Miss Horsbrugh): My right hon. Friend expects to be able to make a statement on this subject at an early date.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. E. Smith: May I point out that we have had that answer before? In view of the urgency of this matter, if I repeat this Question about a week hence, does the hon. Lady think that the Minister will be able to make a statement?&lt;br/&gt;Miss Horsbrugh: It would be difficult as my hon. Friend will realise, to say the exact date. However, I think we are as anxious as he is to have a statement made as soon as possible.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Thorne: Will the hon. Lady "ginger" up her chief on the matter?&lt;br/&gt;Miss Horsbrugh: He does not require it' title='NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/national-health-insurance'></outline>
      <outline id='884884' text="Mr. David Adamsasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the warrant issued by the Governor of Jamaica for the arrest of the native leader, Alexander Bustamente, stated that he was to be in-interned indefinitely, with a view to preventing him acting in a manner prejudicial to public safety; and whether as an offence has not been committed, he will be given a trial and not interned possibly for his lifetime?&lt;br/&gt;Major Dugdale (Lord of the Treasury): I have been asked to reply. As my hon. Friend was informed on 6th November last, in reply to a Question, Alexander Bustamante was detained by an order of the Governor under the Defence Regulations for inflammatory utterances, and he will therefore not be brought to trial. He will be detained for as long as is necessary in the interests of public security, but, as I informed my hon. Friend the Member for North Lambeth (Mr. G. Strauss) on 19th February, the Governor wil keep his case under review.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Adams: In view of the fact that the Governor of Jamaica is in this country, will the Minister consult him as to whether it is intended to review this sentence after so many months' duration?&lt;br/&gt;Major Dugdale: I understand that my right hon. Friend is in touch with the Governor at this moment on the subject." title='JAMAICA (DETENTION ORDER).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/jamaica-detention-order'></outline>
    </outline>
    <outline id='884885' text='The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Lyttelton): The aim of. the Government&apos;s economic policy in war-time is to facilitate the fullest possible transfer of resources to war production. This policy demands the severe cutting-down of civil consumption and the release of labour, materials and factory space for more essential purposes. Substantial cuts have already been made, and these may well have to be extended. In particular, the Government are concerned with the group of industries manufacturing consumer goods affected by the Limitation of Supplies Orders or by the rationing of raw materials&amp;#x2014;hosiery, pottery, the major textile industries, boots and shoes and some others. These industries provide the main sources of factory-trained labour for munitions, and their consumption of imported materials must be kept down to the minimum required to meet essential needs.&lt;lb/&gt;&#x000A;If they consulted only their own interests, these industries might wish that all their component firms should carry on with their remaining share of the trade in the hope that conditions might improve. From the point of view of the national interest, however, it is most undesirable that cuts in civil consumption should be met by large scale part-time working. A spreadover of this kind results in an uneconomical use of certain types of labour. It does not free the factory and storage space which will, in many cases, be needed for Government use. The effect of a diminished turnover on costs may, in some instances, have serious repercussions on prices which the Government cannot ignore. Finally, it would be worse than useless for firms to allow their working capital to be eaten up in the vain hope that the position might become easier. The policy of the Government must, therefore, be to concentrate production in a reduced number of factories&#x000A;&lt;image src="S5CV0369P0I0394"/&gt;&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;775&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;working full-time. These factories should be able to produce the output required for Government orders, the greatest practicable export trade and the minimum needs of our population, while at the same time preserving the goodwill of the factories closed down. The closed factories should be kept ready to start up again as soon as possible after the war. The Departments concerned will then take all measures open to them to assist their speedy re-opening; meanwhile the Board of Trade will keep a record of factories closed down and the Ministry of Labour will keep a record of transferred workers so that they may be able to resume their old employment after the war.&lt;lb/&gt;&#x000A;The Government will facilitate this concentration by granting to groups of undertakings which fulfil the necessary conditions special help to safeguard their requirements of labour and of raw materials. Losses due to the war assume various forms, and His Majesty&apos;s Government regret that they cannot contemplate the use of public funds to relieve the position and provide compensation. In this matter the Government&apos;s policy remains as stated by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in his statement on the War Situation on 5th September last. Where, however, business losses are due to a process of industrial consolidation, under which certain firms by closing down permit more work to be undertaken by others, there is a clear duty on the latter to provide a measure of compensation for the former. The Government feel confident that those concerned will carry through these group arrangements in a manner that will mitigate the hardships inevitable in the process of contraction.&lt;lb/&gt;&#x000A;In pursuance of this policy, the Board of Trade, in association with the Ministry of Labour, will open discussions as soon as possible with representatives of employers and workers in the industries concerned as to the degree of concentration which they should achieve, and the other matters arising; for example, the factories to be left in production should not be in districts where the demand for labour for munitions is relatively heavy.&lt;lb/&gt;&#x000A;In order to help the Board of Trade in carrying out this task, the scope of the Export Council is being expanded, and it will be re-named the Industrial and Export Council. A Committee of the&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;776&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;Council will be formed, which will include the Parliamentary Secretary for Raw Materials of the Ministry of Supply and a representative of the Ministry of Labour. The number of business members of the Council is also being increased, so that men themselves experienced in business may advise and guide the industries concerned in carrying through this difficult work of reorganisation.&lt;lb/&gt;&#x000A;As I have indicated, the Government are looking to the industries themselves to co-operate by formulating proposals for effecting the necessary measure of concentration, in consultation with the Government Departments concerned. The firms themselves should be in the best position to frame plans in the light of their knowledge of their own capacity and circumstances. At the same time, the Government accept ultimate responsibility for seeing that the necessary measure of concentration is achieved; and, where firms are either unwilling or unable to meet the situation by their own efforts, the Government will be prepared in the last resort to impose the re-organisation which circumstances require.&lt;lb/&gt;&#x000A;There is one further matter. The Board of Trade are being entrusted with the task of co-ordinating the requirements of all Government Departments for factory and storage accommodation; an executive organisation is being established under a Controller-General of Factory and Warehouse Accommodation. It will be our purpose to meet the requirements of the various Departments as far as possible without interference with the factories in which work is being concentrated under the arrangements described above.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Shinwell: The right hon. Gentleman will appreciate that this action, which, though belated, is very necessary, was advocated many months ago, but I should like to ask two questions. The first is with regard to compensation to firms regarded as redundant. Will the right hon. Gentleman consider, in lieu of Government financial assistance&amp;#x2014;though on that point the matter might be reconsidered&amp;#x2014;the creation of holding companies in which redundant and closed firms will have a share in the financial stake? Secondly, has he taken into consideration the importance of speedy absorption of the labour which is dispossessed?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Lyttleton: In regard to the first point, the nature of the scheme is that redundant firms or members of redundant firms should be compensated by those who are going to be able to work at full capacity. The appropriate machinery for securing that profits are distributed in an equitable way will vary in each industry, and nothing would necessarily preclude the distribution of profits by the holding company, but there may be even better methods. The second question is really more a matter for the Minister of Labour.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Shinwell: Is there to be anything in the nature of legislation, or is this to be left entirely to the voluntary efforts of the industries concerned?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Lyttelton: No legislation is required, because the supply of raw material and of labour and plant is already under Government control.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Higgs: Will the right hon. Gentleman state that it is still the Government&apos;s intention to encourage export trade, as they have done in the past?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Lees-Smith: May I ask the Lord Privy Seal whether, if there is a desire, he will arrange for a Debate on this subject?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Attlee: Certainly, but we have to have regard to the pressure of Business. Perhaps my right hon. Friend will discuss the matter at the appropriate time, but we are rather pressed now with financial Business before Easter.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Granville: Will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the urgency of carrying out these regulations, and cannot we have a Debate at a reasonably near date?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Silverman: Will my right hon. Friend consider the advisability of having such a Debate, at any rate, before the policy outlined by the right hon. Gentleman is put into operation?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Attlee: The questions of the two hon. Members cancel each other out. One says it must be done at the earliest possible moment, and the other wants to wait for the Debate. It is obvious that in a matter like this action must be taken at once. Hon. Members may be agreed on the need of concentration, but the question of how it is done might well be debated.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Mander: If agreement is not reached in an industry or among the remaining firms to compensate the firms that are closed down, will the Government hold themselves responsible for imposing some form of compensation?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. A. Bevan: May I ask the Lord Privy Seal, in view of the extreme urgency of this scheme being carried out at once, and of Parliament having a discussion, whether there is any reason why we should not meet on extra days? The House is perfectly prepared to do that.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Attlee: That is a different matter.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Ellis Smith: Will the right hon. Gentleman consider, before the Debate takes place, the need for trade union representation on the new Committee, in view of the effect of the scheme on the workpeople, and also pay special attention to those industries which do not need to import raw material and which play a big part in the export trade?&lt;br/&gt;Colonel Sir John Shute: In view of the gravity of the statement of the President of the Board of Trade, may we ask him and the Minister of Supply to meet those in charge of these great businesses before these drastic alterations are carried into effect?&lt;br/&gt;Sir Frank Sanderson&lt;member&gt;Sir Frank Sanderson &lt;/member&gt;&lt;i&gt;rose&lt;/i&gt;&amp;#x2014;&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Speaker: Further questions should be postponed until the Debate takes place.&lt;br/&gt;Sir F. Sanderson: May I not ask a supplementary question? It is in the national interest that I should do so.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Speaker&lt;member&gt;Mr. Speaker &lt;/member&gt;&lt;i&gt;rose&lt;/i&gt;&amp;#x2014;&lt;br/&gt;Sir F. Sanderson: Am I not in order in asking a question which is of the utmost importance to industry, seeing that I have risen several times since the statement was made? The statement I wish to make is in favour of the Government.' title='WAR PRODUCTION POLICY (GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/war-production-policy-government'></outline>
    <outline id='884887' text='The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Attlee): My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, in the Debate on the Second Reading of the House of Commons Disqualification (Temporary Provisions) Bill last Thursday, read to the House the suggested&#x000A;&lt;image src="S5CV0369P0I0396"/&gt;&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;779&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;terms of reference to the Select Committee which the Government promised to set up to inquire into the matter. The Government had in mind that the Committee would examine the problem in relation to peace-time and normal conditions. Several hon. Members suggested that the Select Committee should be free to make recommendations, not only as to peace-time conditions, but as to our future war-time policy on this matter. We propose to give the Select Committee by the terms of reference power, if they are so minded, to make recommendations under either head. The amended terms of reference are as follow:&#x000A;&lt;quote&gt;"To inquire into the law and practice governing the disqualifications for membership of the House of Commons by reason of the holding, or the acceptance of, offices or places of profit under the Crown, and to make recommendations."&lt;/quote&gt;&#x000A;I think it may meet the convenience of the House if the Motion for the Select Committee were considered to-day after we have disposed of the remaining stages of the House of Commons Disqualification Bill. I would like to ask you, Sir, whether you will allow the Motion to be proposed without notice at a later stage in our proceedings?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Speaker: That step would be unusual, but, in view of the urgency of the matter, and if the House is willing, I will not stand in the way.&lt;br/&gt;Hon. Members: Agreed.' title='OFFICES OR PLACES OF PROFIT UNDER THE CROWN.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/04/offices-or-places-of-profit-under-the'></outline>
    <outline id='884888' text='ORDERS OF THE DAY.'>
      <outline id='884890' text='Considered in Committee.&lt;br/&gt;[sir DENNIS HERBERT &lt;i&gt;in the chair.&lt;/i&gt;]&lt;br/&gt;CLAUSE 1.&amp;#x2014; (&lt;i&gt;Prevention of disqualification.&lt;/i&gt;)&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Lewis: I beg to move, in page 1, line 5, to leave out "First Lord of the Treasury," and to insert:&#x000A;&lt;quote&gt;"Committee of Privileges of the Commons House of Parliament."&lt;/quote&gt;&#x000A;I do not know whether it is your intention, Sir Dennis, to select this and the following Amendment which stands in my name&amp;#x2014;in line 5, at the end, to insert:&#x000A;&lt;quote&gt;"owing to the fact that no one else with suitable qualifications is available."&lt;/quote&gt;&#x000A;If so, I would like to suggest, for the convenience of the Committee and with a view to saving time, that discussion on them might be taken together, as they are related.&lt;br/&gt;The Chairman: As far as I can understand them, I do not see the slightest connection between the two Amendments, and, therefore, I cannot see how the Committee can debate them together.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Lewis: I will speak then only on the first of the Amendments. Its purpose is to obtain from the Government a clearer statement as to their intention in inserting in the Bill the proviso that the First Lord of the Treasury should issue a certificate with regard to an appointment under the Bill. At first sight it would seem absurd to suggest that the Prime Minister, having made an appointment, should be asked to say that in his view the appointment was in the public interest. We must assume that no Prime Minister would make an appointment which he did not consider to be in the public interest. The Attorney-General evidently felt there was something in this contention, because on the Second Reading of the Bill, when he was asked by the hon. Member for Mossley (Mr. Hopkinson) what the use of the certificate was, he replied shortly, "To inform the House." I take it from that&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;796&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;reply that the Government do not attach any importance to the mere statement of the First Lord of the Treasury that in his opinion the appointment he has made is in the public interest. With regard to the purpose which the Attorney-General apparently has in mind, it might be helpful if we had a clearer declaration from him about it. When he was being questioned as to the purpose of this provision in the Bill, the right hon. Baronet the Member for South-West Bethnal Green (Sir P. Harris) asked him whether the information would appear on the Order Paper and be subject to discussion. The Attorney-General replied:&#x000A;&lt;quote&gt;"Yes, I think that is right."&amp;#x2014;[OFFICIAL REPORT, 27th February, 1941; col. 663, Vol. 369.]&lt;/quote&gt;&#x000A;I ask the Committee to notice the word "think." When a right hon. Gentleman of the learning of the Attorney-General uses the word "think" in such a connection, it is a little disquieting. Since the Second Reading no doubt he has had further opportunity of considering the point, and I should be glad&amp;#x2014;indeed, it is one of my purposes in moving this Amendment&amp;#x2014;if he would tell us definitely what the Government had in mind regarding the presentation of these certificates.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. A. Bevan: On a point of Order. Is this transgressing the discussion we are to have on a future Amendment, if you propose to call it, Sir Dennis, asking that an opportunity should be given to the House, if it wishes to discuss the certificates issued by the Prime Minister?&lt;br/&gt;The Chairman: I will bear that matter in mind.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Lewis: I would ask that the Attorney-General should tell us definitely what is in the mind of the Government with regard to the presentation of these certificates and the particular procedure that would follow. I ask whether the certificate would be debatable and, if so, how a Debate would arise?&lt;br/&gt;The Attorney-General (Sir Donald Somervell): If I were to keep strictly to the terms of this Amendment, my answer would be irrelevant to the observations which my hon. Friend has made, but I will do my best to enlighten him on the&#x000A;&lt;image src="S5CV0369P0I0405"/&gt;&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;797&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;points on which he desires a further statement. He asked what is the purpose of the: Government in putting into the Bill this provision as to a certificate. In the first place, it will be noted that the certificate has to state not only that the appointment is required in the public interest, but also that it is for purposes connected with the prosecution of the war. Those words were inserted in order to make it clear that the Government did not intend and had no desire to use this power except for a purpose connected with the prosecution of the war. I think it is important and desirable to have those words in the Bill, and they ought to remain there.&lt;lb/&gt;&#x000A;Then my hon. Friend points out that the certificate is to be issued by the First Lord of the Treasury, the Prime Minister. That provision was inserted because it was realised that this is not only an important matter in itself, but one to which the House of Commons naturally attaches special importance. Everyone would assume that an appointment made by the Prime Minister, or, indeed, by any other responsible person, would be an appointment made in the public interest. The importance of inserting the provision that the Prime Minister, the head of the Government, has to give the certificate, lies in the fact that many appointments&amp;#x2014; hundreds&amp;#x2014;even thousands&amp;#x2014;are made without the knowledge of the Prime Minister. He is not the only person who can make appointments to offices or places under the Crown, but in regard to this matter, having regard to its importance, it was thought right that any case in which it was proposed to appoint a Member of this House should be brought to the personal attention of the Prime Minister. That is why it is provided that the certificate shall be in his name.&lt;lb/&gt;&#x000A;The question of procedure arises in more detail, I think, on a later Amendment, but let me take the earliest opportunity of correcting a slip I made in the Debate on Second Reading. I said that I thought that notice of the issue of the certificate would appear on the Order Paper. As a matter of fact, it will not appear on the Order Paper, but it will have to be presented to the House, as many other documents are presented, thus giving Members an opportunity of seeing them and asking questions about them. But it&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;798&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;will not appear on the Order Paper and be subject to a Debate as such.&lt;br/&gt;Sir Percy Harris: I am much obliged to the learned Attorney-General for his explanation, and I hope I shall not be thought to be meticulous in a further little point I am raising. I always understood that these appointments were made by the Crown on the advice of the Prime Minister. It is a departure from practice to introduce the phrase "appointments to be made by the Prime Minister &apos;&apos; in regard to the appointment of High Commissioners or Ambassadors. I raise this point so that it shall be recorded in the Official Report. As a matter of fact, I think it is a great concession to have a certificate that these urgency appointments are made for the purposes of the war only. The insertion of that phrase is a very useful contribution to protecting the interests of the House.&lt;br/&gt;The Attorney-General: I quite agree that some of the appointments would be appointments made by the Crown on the advice of the Prime Minister, but some appointments to other offices under the Crown are not necessarily appointments made by the Crown, though they would be offices under the Crown. May I add to what I have said that a document presented in this way, though it would not appear on the Order Paper, would appear in the Votes and Proceedings, and hon. Members would have that notice of it.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Bevan: When we discussed the Second Reading a great deal of doubt was expressed as to which officers were subject to disqualification. Do I understand that the Prime Minister will not take a narrow and technical view of the cases in which he will feel under an obligation to issue a certificate, and that it will be issued in all cases? As the right hon. and learned Gentleman has pointed out, Ministers themselves make appointments without the Prime Minister&apos;s knowledge, and it has been found that some of those appointments subject Members to disqualification. Are the certificates to be necessary in all cases and not merely in the cases covered by the Bill?&lt;br/&gt;The Attorney-General: Yes, I think so. I have read the Clause as meaning that a certificate would be given in all cases where the office clearly disqualified a&#x000A;&lt;image src="S5CV0369P0I0406"/&gt;&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;799&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;Member, and think it would be equally right to give it in any case which might conceivably be regarded as a borderline case. Of course, the form of the Clause would not be appropriate if you were dealing with an appointment which was plainly outside the disqualifying provisions, because the object of the certificate, and of this Measure, is to provide against the disqualification. Suppose, for example, that a serving Member of the House got an appointment on the Staff or something of that sort, nobody would suggest that a certificate would apply in such a case. We shall certainly bear in mind what the hon. Member has said and will see that the certification is used in all cases which could possibly be regarded as coming within the disqualifying provisions.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Mander: This raises a wider point, in connection with the White Paper which was published last week giving the names of a large number of Members holding all sorts of positions. The question was asked during the Debate, and we have not had a full answer to it yet, whether in the case of a Member who was serving on, say, a local committee of the Ministry of Information or on a food control committee, any doubt was involved about his ability to retain his seat in this House. Some hon. Members went so far as to say that they thought that no such disqualification was involved and presumably the list of such hon. Members would not have been included in the White Paper, unless the question had, to some extent, been raised in the minds of the Government. I should like to know whether it is intended to make use of this certificate in the future in cases such as those set out in the White Paper, like appointments to a local food committee, or an advisory committee of the Ministry of Pensions, or a Ministry of Information Committee, or bodies of that kind. That is a point on which we ought to have more information because it is not clear at present. In any case, where there is the slightest doubt concerning an hon. Member&apos;s ability to retain his seat, surely a certificate ought to be given.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. G. Strauss: The Clause provides that a certificate is to be given on the appointment of&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;800&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;&lt;quote&gt;"any person being a Member of the Commons House of Parliament to any office or place under the Crown."&lt;/quote&gt;&#x000A;There is nothing about an office or place of profit. I had assumed that to mean any Government appointment of any sort. If that is not so, the Attorney-General ought to inform us about it. We should be clear on this very important point.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Pickthorn: I should like to ask the Attorney-General a question which has some connection with that already put by the hon. Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. Bevan). The Subsection provides:&#x000A;&lt;quote&gt;"If it is certified by the First Lord of the Treasury that the appointment &amp;#x2026; is required in the public interest for purposes connected with the prosecution of any war."&lt;/quote&gt;&#x000A;When the First Lord of the Treasury gives that certificate, does he thereby certify, not merely that it is requisite to the prosecution of the war that Mr. Blenkinsop should occupy a particular post, but also that it is requisite to the prosecution of the war that Mr. Blenkinsop should be and should continue to be a Member of this House, while holding that office. The two things are rather different, and it seems to me that the words of the Bill do mean that the First Lord of the Treasury is required to certify, not merely that the services of Mr. Blenkinsop are necessary but that the services of Mr. Blenkinsop, M.P.&amp;#x2014;and continuing to be M.P.&amp;#x2014;are necessary for the prosecution of the war.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. MacLaren: What is his division?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Pickthorn: I think we ought to know a little more clearly whether or not that is the meaning of the words in the Subsection.&lt;br/&gt;The Chairman: I think I ought to call the attention of the Committee to the fact that we are getting a long way from the question of whether this certificate should be given by the Prime Minister or by the Committee of Privileges. Some of the remarks which have been made could hardly be ruled as definitely out of Order and I rise only to express the hope that the Committee will not discuss these matters again on the Question, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill." If that is generally understood, then I should not seek unduly to curtail this discussion.&lt;br/&gt;Sir Irving Albery: I wish to ask the Attorney-General to make one point clear. It appears to me that if this certificate were not given, on a Member of this House being appointed to some Government office, the only party at risk would be the person so appointed. Therefore it will be up to any Member of this House who receives such an appointment to satisfy himself whether he ought to obtain a certificate or not.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Maxton: I am very disturbed by all this talk about "certifying" Members of Parliament, because in Scotland we talk about "certification" only in a certain sense. It has struck me, however, that there is one point in this Bill which concerns the only way in which I am likely to be personally affected by it. One can retire from membership of this House only by applying for a certain office of profit under the Crown.&lt;br/&gt;The Chairman: I must remind the hon. Member that there is an Amendment on the Order Paper which specifically deals with that question. I should add that, at present, I am doubtful whether that Amendment is within the scope of the Bill, but I propose to ask the hon. Member in whose name it stands to try to justify it to the Chair.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Maxton: I merely wish to ask whether it would be necessary for me, if I were desirous of retiring from membership of this House&amp;#x2014;a step which I am not contemplating at the moment&amp;#x2014;to have a certificate from the Prime Minister before I could do so?&lt;br/&gt;The Attorney-General: The hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander), the hon. Member for North Lambeth (Mr. G. Strauss) and the hon. Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. Bevan) all referred to the scope of the places in regard to which this certificate would be given and the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton referred to the list in the White Paper. I would draw his attention to the fact that the White Paper was not confined to offices under the Crown, and the list included those who were assisting the Government in various ways in a civil capacity. Clearly, by its terms, the White Paper list is much wider than actual offices and places of profit under the Crown. I am quite ready to say, however, that having regard to the obscurity&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;802&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;of the law on this matter, in cases in which an appointment might be an office or place of profit under the Crown, a certificate would be given&amp;#x2014;subject, of course, to the point about the Chiltern Hundreds. The hon. Member for Cambridge University (Mr. Pickthorn) asked whether the certificate implied that the Prime Minister was certifying that it was in the public interest that the Member concerned should remain a Member of this House. I think the right way to put it is the other way round. If the Prime Minister felt that the office which he was asking the person to undertake would involve his leaving the House&amp;#x2014;and one can imagine cases where the man himself might say that he wanted to go&amp;#x2014;then the certificate would not be given.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Bevan: Not necessarily.&lt;br/&gt;The Attorney-General: Not necessarily. The way I would put it is this: The certificate would be given in cases where the Prime Minister, or the Government, or the Crown as advised by the Government, wants a Member to fill an office which might disqualify and when, in the view of the advisers of the Crown, there is no reason, if war conditions continue, why he should be required to vacate his seat.&lt;br/&gt;Earl Winterton: The relationship of the White Paper to the Clause raises a number of really important questions. The White Paper was not carefully prepared, because there are omissions. In my own case there is an omission. I hold an office, as representative of the Government, upon an International Committee, and I think it will come under the Clause. I held the office when I was a Minister, and I still hold it as a Private Member. If membership of a local information committee comes under the Clause, then &lt;i&gt;a fortiori&lt;/i&gt; representation upon an international committee does so, but there is no mention in the White Paper of my appointment. When the Bill comes into operation a new White Paper should be prepared, showing exactly which hon. Members come under the Clause. It is inconceivable that membership of a local information committee should be described as an office of profit under the Crown. Local information committees elect their own members, and there was a desire expressed by the Ministry of Information that Members of Parliament&#x000A;&lt;image src="S5CV0369P0I0408"/&gt;&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;803&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;should be members of these committees in their own localities. This White Paper was a somewhat unfortunate publication, and I ask that there should be a fresh statement as soon as the Bill becomes law, showing how far Members of this House are affected by the Clause.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Bevan: I hope that no such White Paper will be issued. I do not think the Noble Lord sees that if such a White Paper were issued, the offices would be regarded as circumscribing the application of the Clause. We cannot permit any circumscription of the meaning of the Clause or of its scope, such as would be indicated by any attempt to define the offices coming under the Clause. It would be far better to accept the suggestion of the Attorney-General. I understand that the certificate is to be an instrument of exemption, in the case, say, of a Member appointed to what was not thought to be an office of profit, but which turned out subsequently to be an office of profit, and it is thought that he might be liable to disqualification. We therefore have a guarantee that exemption may be applied to all Members, and that certificates will be given fairly generously. I hope that v/e shall not have the issue of a series of rolls of honour.&lt;br/&gt;Sir P. Harris: Will the Clause be retrospective and apply to persons already holding office?&lt;br/&gt;The Attorney-General: Yes, under Subsection (3).&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Lipson: Can the Attorney-General give a definite ruling whether, in his opinion, membership of a local information committee is or is not an office of profit?&lt;br/&gt;The Chairman: That would be out of Order.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Lewis: In view of the statement made by the Attorney-General, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the Amendment.&lt;br/&gt;Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Lewis: I beg to move, in page 1, line 5, at the end, to insert:&#x000A;&lt;quote&gt;"owing to the fact that no one else with suitable qualifications is available."&lt;/quote&gt;&#x000A;We do not know whether as many as possible of these appointments are to be made, or as few as possible, but I was somewhat disturbed by the observation of&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;804&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;the Prime Minister in the closing passages of his speech. Hon. Members will remember that he waved the White Paper and told the House that he regarded it as a roll of honour. Having looked through the White Paper I feel bound to say that I regard that description of it as ridiculous. At the present time, over 100 Members are serving in the Armed Forces of the Crown, and their names might fairly be described as a roll of honour. When I read that an hon. Member is a member of a local information committee I feel it rather hard that he should be entitled to have his name inscribed on a document described as a roll of honour. The Prime Minister seemed to take the view&amp;#x2014;if I am correct in this matter it appears to be extremely serious &amp;#x2014;that it is desirable in war-time to get as many Members of Parliament as possible away from their ordinary duties. He used these words:&#x000A;&lt;quote&gt;"There are many traditions which justify the desire of the Government to find useful employment for hon. Members."&amp;#x2014;[OFFICIAL REPORT, 27th February 1941; col. 733, Vol. 369.]&lt;/quote&gt;&#x000A;The most useful employment for the ordinary Member of this House is his duties as a Member of Parliament. It is very unfortunate that the Prime Minister took the line that he did upon that point, and if it is to be the basis of the Government&apos;s policy, it may lead to very undesirable&amp;#x2014;perhaps, indeed, ultimately dangerous&amp;#x2014;consequences. We are often reminded, when the Government come to us to ask for exceptional powers, that we retain in this House the ultimate responsibility and the ultimate power. That seems to make rather important the question of who remains in the House. Over 100 Members are serving in the Armed Forces of the Crown, and many of them find it difficult to attend important Debates. If they were serving overseas, they could not attend. Members have been given appointments of various kinds of a civil nature, which partly or entirely prevent attendance here. The number of private Members is being reduced, and the number of Members in the service of the Government is being increased. Since the war began, there has been a considerable increase in the number of Ministers, secretaries, Parliamentary private secretaries and others, and I think I might, without offence, describe them as to some extent tied to the Government of the day.&lt;lb/&gt;&#x000A;&lt;image src="S5CV0369P0I0409"/&gt;&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;805&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;The Prime Minister would not be Prime Minister, and certainly would not have been made Prime Minister at the time he was appointed, if it had not been for the action of this House. It was the vote taken in a Debate in this House which caused the late Prime Minister to retire and make way for the present Prime Minister. I believe we are satisfied that we have the right man in the right place. But the war might go on for a long time, and there might arise circumstances in which it might be thought that the Government had not in mind the wisest proposals for the conclusion of the war. The Press to-day is so regulated that this House is the only place in which public opinion can be brought with any force to bear upon the Government of the day. If that force is to be effective, it is essential that there should be present in this House a large majority who are not Ministers, Under-Secretaries, private secretaries or others connected with the Government. What is happening to-day is that that proportion is being steadily reduced.&lt;lb/&gt;&#x000A;Take the case which is the immediate cause of this Bill. If the right hon. Gentleman is sent to Canada, at first sight it would seem that we should lose a Minister. We should not. If another Member is appointed in his place, what happens is that by his going to Canada we lose, not a Minister, but a private Member. If the policy is to be followed of seeking room for a Member of Parliament, where&amp;#x2014;to use the Prime Minister&apos;s expression&amp;#x2014;useful work can be found for him to do, and if that process does not stop, circum-stances might arise where we should find the majority of Members holding office under the Crown or intimately connected with the Government. That would be very undesirable and might be a source of danger. One hon. Member alluded to that point in the Debate on the Second Reading, and he seemed to describe it so well that I will quote what he said. The hon. Member for East Ham, South (Mr. Barnes) said:&#x000A;&lt;quote&gt;"When the Government of the day provide endless possibilities of appointments for Members to positions of profit, that will, in time, undermine the freedom and the virility of Parliament."&amp;#x2014;[OFFICIAL REPORT, 27th February, 1941; col. 673, Vol. 369.]&lt;/quote&gt;&#x000A;I believe he is right. It will undermine it because there will not be left a large enough body of independent Members effectively to exercise their influence if&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;806&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;need be. I would say that it is most desirable that the powers under the Bill should be used, not as often as possible, but as little as possible. The Prime Minister should not spend his time trying to find useful work for hon. Members to do, but should confine himself to appointing in some exceptional case some Member who, by reason of his previous experience, exceptional capacity or knowledge, is pre-eminently suitable to fill that post. Those are two very different views.&lt;lb/&gt;&#x000A;Let me take the case of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Ross and Cromarty (Mr. M. MacDonald). If it be desired that he should have useful work to do, no one would question that the position of High Commissioner in Canada is one in which he can do useful work, and no one questions the fact that he has the qualifications and gifts necessary to fill that office with distinction and effect. But if we look at it the other way and ask whether there is no one else who can fill the office, what answer can we give? Take the Diplomatic Service. We see all over Europe our embassies being closed because of the war, and people with the right kind of experience and capacity without employment. Is it suggested that not one of those would have the qualities sufficient to fit him for the position of High Commissioner in Canada? Is it that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Ross and Cromarty is the only or, indeed, the best man to fill that post? We should bear that distinction in mind. I do not say for a moment that he cannot do the job perfectly well. I have no doubt that he will make a success of it, but it is absurd to suggest that he is the only man who can do so or that it was necessary to come to &apos; the House to find anyone to fill the appointment. I would urge the Government, if they resist this Amendment, at any rate to give up the idea that it is their job to seek employment outside the House to occupy the time of Members, and that they should regard the Bill simply as a permissive Measure to enable them to make use of a Member&apos;s capacity in some exceptional post.&lt;br/&gt;Earl Winterton: I believe that it is now the practice of a large number of members of the public, being unable to obtain any accurate report of Parliament in the Press by reason of the curtailment of space owing to the war, to buy the&#x000A;&lt;image src="S5CV0369P0I0410"/&gt;&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;807&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;OFFICIAL REPORT. I hope that, if they do so, they will read the speech which has just been delivered by my hon. Friend opposite. It is of great, and almost of historic, importance. I desire to refer to a point which was not made clear by the Prime Minister&apos;s speech; in fact, the Prime Minister adopted the almost complete alternative. It is this: I have always understood that it was held as a general principle that while it was honourably right for Members of this House, to whatever party they belonged, if they were in agreement with the Government of the day, to hope that some day they might hold office under that Government, and that office would be confined to service in this House. That is the object of serving in Parliament, to serve the Crown as a Minister of the Crown, junior or senior, in this House. But my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has gone much further. He suggested that in war-time, at any rate, it should be the object of the Government to co-operate in endeavouring to find positions outside this House for Members of Parliament. That is a completely wrong principle. There may be exceptional cases where it might be justified. I make no reflection upon the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Chelsea (Sir S. Hoare) or the right hon. and learned Member for East Bristol (Sir S. Cripps), but what my hon. Friend opposite said is perfectly true, and the Amendment is a desirable one for the Government to consider. It would be difficult for the Attorney-General to go against what the Prime Minister said, and I do not ask him to do so, but I deplore the suggestion that it is the duty either of the Government to appoint, or of Members of Parliament to seek, work for the Crown outside this House in time of war, with the sole exception of service in the Armed Forces of the Crown.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Craven-Ellis: And to retain their membership?&lt;br/&gt;Earl Winterton: Yes. If they choose to give up their membership, that is a different matter. I would commend what my hon. Friend opposite has said about service in this House. It is of great national importance that there should be a sufficiency of private Members in this House who do not seek office, who are&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;808&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;prepared to put their points of view and to be present during Debates. I do not think that the Committee has realised the immense importance of these questions. After all, for generations this House has been fighting for the freedom of its Members and for their right to express their points of view, irrespective of personal considerations. It always has been so in the past, and unfortunately independence has become rare. I say, therefore, that even if the Government cannot accept this Amendment, they should give consideration to it and to the most important considerations which were raised by my hon. Friend opposite.&lt;br/&gt;Sir P. Harris: I should like to endorse what has just been said by my noble Friend about the speech we had just previously heard. With the gist of his arguments I think the whole Committee will agree, namely, that the main duty of a Member of Parliament is to attend to his duties in this House. It is all the more so in war-time, for two, among many, good reasons. The first is that a very large number of our Members have not gone through a process of election or examination by the electors. They have not even had to make speeches from platforms, but have come in merely on an automatic recommendation of a party caucus. The second reason is the tremendous extension of the duties and responsibilities of the House in war-time, when many matters affecting almost every elector have to be attended to.&lt;lb/&gt;&#x000A;Whether this particular Amendment is the right way or not to achieve the purpose, I am not going to say, but I think it can be argued that this Clause goes a long way to meet the desires of the House, because under it the First Lord of the Treasury has to say that an appointment is required in the public interest, for the purpose of the prosecution of the war, before a Member of Parliament can be appointed to a particular post without forfeiting his seat. That is a great recognition of the fundamental, paramount duty of a Member of Parliament to carry on his responsibility of criticising the Executive. It is good for the Executive, and it is good for the country. However capable, however brilliant Ministers are, they sometimes become intoxicated with power, or slack or inefficient in the discharge of their duty, and nothing keeps Ministers up to&#x000A;&lt;image src="S5CV0369P0I0411"/&gt;&#x000A;&lt;col&gt;809&lt;/col&gt;&#x000A;the job more than the fear of this House. I will go further, and say that nothing keeps 