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    <title>Sitting of 19 March 1941</title>
    <dateCreated>Wed, 19 Mar 1941 00:00:00 +0000</dateCreated>
    <ownerName>UK Parliament</ownerName>
    <ownerEmail>mail@robertbrook.com</ownerEmail>
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    <outline id='1134466' text='ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.'>
      <outline id='1134467' text='Mr. Wedgwoodasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to a recent broadcast by the Polish President, which was transmitted in a translated version over the Home Service, in which unsuitable references to Russia were made, giving the impression that we were involved in war with that country; and will he convey to the Polish authorities now in England that every endeavour ought to be made to improve Anglo-Russian relations?&lt;br/&gt;The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Butler): This broadcast was addressed by the President of Poland to the Polish people, and I can find no passage in it which conveys the impression derived by the right hon. Gentleman. The responsibility for Anglo-Soviet relations rests with the two Governments concerned.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Wedgwood: Has the right hon. Gentleman seen a translation of this broadcast?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Butler: Yes, Sir, but I did not derive from it the same impression as did the right hon. Gentleman.' title='GREAT BRITAIN AND RUSSIA (POLISH PRESIDENTS BROADCAST).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/great-britain-and-russia-polish.opml'>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134468' text="Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for what reason
      &lt;col&gt;136&lt;/col&gt;
      His Majesty's Ambassador in Madrid, though drawing no salary, receives in allowances a sum, &amp;#x00A3;8,100, which exceeds by more than 25 per cent. the combined amount, &amp;#x00A3;6,000, which was drawn in salary, &amp;#x00A3;2,500, and allowances, &amp;#x00A3;3,500, by his predecessor?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Butler: The emoluments of His Majesty's Ambassador at Madrid have been fixed at such a figure as will enable him to discharge the duties of his Mission in a suitable manner. The emoluments of his predecessor were, in fact: salary, &amp;#x00A3;2,500; and allowances, &amp;#x00A3;4,125.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Stokes: Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the salary paid to the Ambassador is subject to British Income Tax?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Butler: I should prefer to see that question on the Paper.&lt;br/&gt;Major-General Sir Alfred Knox: Are we not getting full value for this money?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Butler: The question of my hon. and gallant Friend gives me the opportunity of saying that we are getting excellent value from the signal services performed by our Ambassador.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Stokes: Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that I am saying nothing about the value received for the money but am speaking of the principle of paying people outside the Diplomatic Service more than the ordinary Diplomatic servants get?" title='BRITISH AMBASSADOR, MADRID.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/british-ambassador-madrid.opml'>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134469' text="Mr. Manderasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make with reference to the seizure of Greeks, over 1,000 in number, as hostages by the Italian forces in Epirus and Albania, concerning which the Greek Red Cross Society has telegraphed to the International Red Cross Society, Geneva, and the British Red Cross Society?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Butler: According to information supplied by the Greek Government, up to February of this year the Italian army took as hostages about 200 Greek subjects and 250 Albanians belonging to the Orthodox Church. These came from 54 towns and villages in the Greek province of Epirus and in Southern Albania. They
      &lt;image src=&quot;S5CV0370P0I0075&quot;/&gt;
      &lt;col&gt;137&lt;/col&gt;
      consisted of leading citizens and priests, together with a number of old men, women and children. They were marched to concentration camps situated in Northern Albania. His Majesty's Government naturally condemn this action.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Mander: Is this the ordinary usage of war, and does it not show that the Fascists are very good Allies for the Nazis?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Butler: In the circumstances in which they took place, these deportations were a contravention of the ordinary rules of international law.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Hannah: Is it not time that the noble Italian nation had another Government?" title='ITALY (GREEK AND ALBANIAN HOSTAGES).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/italy-greek-and-albanian-hostages.opml'>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134470' text='Mr. Martinasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give any information on the numbers of German personnel now in French North Africa and the avocations in which they are known to be engaged?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Butler: Delegations. of the German Armistice Commission are established in Algeria, Tunis and in the French zone of Morocco. The delegation which has recently been sent to Casablanca is said to consist of about 60 men. These include members of the German army, navy and air force, and it may be assumed that technical experts of various kinds are also included. No details are available of the numbers of the German Commissions elsewhere in North Africa. Their ostensible, though not, I am sure, their only, object is to supervise the execution of the Armistice terms.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Martin: Are the Government prepared to take further action in this matter?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Butler: We are watching the situation very closely, as it develops.' title='FRENCH NORTH AFRICA (GERMAN PERSONNEL).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/french-north-africa-german-personnel.opml'>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134471' text="Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the annual amount
      &lt;col&gt;138&lt;/col&gt;
      of money that the Governments of countries who are under the military control of Germany have to pay to that country?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Butler: The Reply to this Question is necessarily long and includes a number of figures. I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;i&gt;Following is the reply:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br/&gt;The burden imposed on the occupied territories can be reckoned only partly in terms of money paid by the Governments of the occupied countries to the German Government. The greater part of the burden consists essentially of various obligations exacted in kind. In the first place, the territories have to contribute directly to the cost of the army of occupation; this charge includes generous pay for the troops. The following are the estimated annual costs of occupation in the Western occupied territories, the sterling equivalents being based on the rates of exchange prior to the occupation. The figures must be treated with reserve in the case of Holland.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;table&gt;
      &lt;tr&gt;
      &lt;td colspan=&quot;2&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;Total (in Millions).&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;td align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;Total (in &amp;#x00A3;Millions).&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;td align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&amp;#x00A3; per head of population.&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;/tr&gt;
      &lt;tr&gt;
      &lt;td&gt;Norway&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;td align=&quot;right&quot;&gt;1,200 crowns&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;td align=&quot;right&quot;&gt;68&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;td align=&quot;right&quot;&gt;25&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;/tr&gt;
      &lt;tr&gt;
      &lt;td&gt;Denmark&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;td align=&quot;right&quot;&gt;540,,&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;td align=&quot;right&quot;&gt;26&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;td align=&quot;right&quot;&gt;8&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;/tr&gt;
      &lt;tr&gt;
      &lt;td&gt;Belgium&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;td align=&quot;right&quot;&gt;9,000 francs&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;td align=&quot;right&quot;&gt;75&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;td align=&quot;right&quot;&gt;8&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;/tr&gt;
      &lt;tr&gt;
      &lt;td&gt;Holland&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;td align=&quot;right&quot;&gt;405 guilders&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;td align=&quot;right&quot;&gt;54&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;td align=&quot;right&quot;&gt;6&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;/tr&gt;
      &lt;tr&gt;
      &lt;td&gt;France&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;td align=&quot;right&quot;&gt;14,600 francs&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;td align=&quot;right&quot;&gt;827&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;td align=&quot;right&quot;&gt;20&lt;/td&gt;
      &lt;/tr&gt;
      &lt;/table&gt;&lt;br/&gt;It will thus be seen that the German occupation is estimated to be costing the Western occupied territories annually a sum in the neighbourhood of &amp;#x00A3;1,050,000,000. In addition Germany receives certain amounts, estimates of which are not yet available, from Poland, Czechoslovakia, Rumania and Bulgaria. Relatively, Norway suffers the heaviest burden per head of population, which amounts to over one-third of her pre-war national income. It may also be noted that the maximum annual demand from Germany ever contemplated under the Young Plan was &amp;#x00A3;125,000,000, which, even taking into account the change in the sterling price of gold since that date, amounts to less than one-third of the present French payment.&lt;br/&gt;The second form of burden arising out of the German occupation is that the occupied territories are obliged to send to
      &lt;image src=&quot;S5CV0370P0I0076&quot;/&gt;
      &lt;col&gt;139&lt;/col&gt;
      Germany more goods than they receive from her in return. This surplus of exports is paid for in blocked marks from which no benefit is, or is likely to be, derived. Under this heading may be reckoned the value of goods requisitioned in the country by the German authorities and sent to Germany, including articles belonging to individuals, such as gold and jewellery. This second type of burden is considerably less now than it was in 1940 owing to the fact that the territories have to a large extent been denuded of readily exportable surpluses. Even so, the total annual loss to the Western occupied territories may still be estimated at about &amp;#x00A3;100,000,000 a year.&lt;br/&gt;The estimated total burden is thus in the neighbourhood of &amp;#x00A3;1,150,000,000 a year, and this does not take into account the many indirect losses caused to the territories concerned by the German occupation, for which no estimates are available." title='GERMAN-OCCUPIED COUNTRIES.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/german-occupied-countries.opml'>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134472' text='Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the out standing difficulties preventing a settlement with the Mexican Government in connection with the Shell Oil Company?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Butler: As the hon. Member knows, the Mexican Government expropriated the oil companies in 1938. Hitherto, no suggestion for a fair and equitable settlement has been made by the Mexican Government.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Thorne: When does the right hon. Gentleman think we shall be able to get this unfortunate job settled?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Butler: When a suggestion such as I have intimated is made.' title='MEXICO (OIL DISPUTE).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/mexico-oil-dispute.opml'>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134473' text="Sir Edmund Brocklebankasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any action has been taken by the Italian Government as a result of the Prime Minister's announcement on 21st January, concerning the safety of Italian non-combatants in Abyssinia, Eritrea and Somaliland?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Butler: Any suggestion for securing the safety of these persons would have to
      &lt;col&gt;140&lt;/col&gt;
      come from the Italian Government or from its commanders on the spot. No such suggestion has reached His Majesty's Government. In any case, it will be clear that while operations are actively proceeding, His Majesty's Forces can do nothing to protect non-combatants behind the enemy lines, who might, in certain circumstances, be menaced by the collapse of internal order. It is the duty of the enemy High Command to ensure the protection of such persons.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Mander: Is not the murder of women and children absolutely abhorrent to the feeling and tradition of the Abyssinian nation, and has not the Emperor himself issued a proclamation on the subject?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Butler: Yes, Sir." title='ITALIAN NON-COMBATANTS (ABYSSINIA).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/italian-non-combatants-abyssinia.opml'>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134474' text='Mr. Liddallasked the Secretary of State for Air why serving and other ranks are not permitted to apply for vacancies for which their civilian knowledge is required, as this procedure puts volunteers in an unfair position as compared with those who await call-up; and whether he will issue instructions to prevent positions with commissioned rank being readily available to those not serving when the same suitable experience is available from those already serving, and who, in addition, have some military record?&lt;br/&gt;The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Captain Harold Balfour): It is already the practice to meet officer requirements in the R.A.F. as far as possible by promotion from the ranks, and airmen can be recommended for commissions at any time, irrespective of length of service. Commanding officers have recently been instructed that no obstacle is to be placed in the way of an airman who wishes to state his case if he considers that he has special qualifications or feels that he has been overlooked.' title='ROYAL AIR FORCE (COMMISSIONS).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/royal-air-force-commissions.opml'>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134475' text="9. Mr. Simmonds: asked the Secretary of State for Air whether fire-watching at civil establishments, under the control of the Air Ministry, is performed on a paid or on a voluntary basis?&lt;br/&gt;Captain Balfour: Fire-watching is performed on a voluntary basis at all Air Ministry civil establishments, except in one building where special circumstances necessitate the employment of paid fire watchers.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Simmonds: In that one case, are the paid fire-watchers members of the Ministry's staff who are paid extra overtime for fire watching, or are the fire-watchers solely engaged for that purpose?&lt;br/&gt;Captain Balfour: I should like notice of that question." title='AIR MINISTRY ESTABLISHMENTS (FIRE-BOMB FIGHTERS).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/air-ministry-establishments-fire-bomb.opml'>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134476' text='Mr. Wedgwoodasked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether any progress can be reported with regard to allowing some of the Jews driven out of Rumania to enter Palestine; and will he also extend the same permission to Jews in Bulgaria, who have just now passed under Nazi rule, and to those in Yugoslavia before it is too late?&lt;br/&gt;The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. George Hall):The Jewish Agency have been informed that Jews in Rumania who received Palestine immigration certificates before 15th February will be admitted to Palestine, provided that satisfactory arrangements can be made to prove their identity and bon&amp;#x00E2;fides. Practical arrangements for applying these safeguards are now being worked out. My Noble Friend has not received any representations regarding the position of Jewish holders of Palestine immigration certificates in Bulgaria since the German occupation of that country, but in the event of this question arising, consideration will be given to the possibility of making similar arrangements. With regard to Yugoslavia, the High Commissioner for Palestine proposes, at the request of the Jewish Agency, to issue a limited number of &quot;replacement certificates&quot; for veteran Zionists in that country.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Wedgwood: Is my hon. Friend aware that the number of certificates granted in Rumania bears no relation to the number of Jews who have been exterminated in that country recently, and will he see that steps are taken to help the people concerned to find a refuge?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Hall: There is a certain number included and agreed to by the High Commissioner.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Wedgwood: Can the hon. Gentleman tell me how many?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Hall: Including dependants, something over 700.' title='PALESTINE (BALKAN JEWS).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/palestine-balkan-jews.opml'>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134477' text='TRANSPORT.'>
        <outline id='1134478' text='Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Mooreasked the Minister of Transport to what extent &quot;Help Your Neighbour&quot; petrol is available for motorists who can only give casual lifts as opposed to regular assistance to definite persons; and whether he will arrange that potential passengers for cars using such petrol shall congregate at specified places on the recognised routes out of London, so that they can be quickly picked up by motorists?&lt;br/&gt;The Minister of Transport (Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon): The &quot;Help-Your-Neighbour&quot; scheme does not apply to casual lifts. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.' title='&quot;HELP-YOUR-NEIGHBOUR&quot; SCHEME.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/help-your-neighbour-scheme.opml'>
        </outline>
        <outline id='1134479' text="Sir Patrick Hannonasked the Minister of Transport whether he is in a position to make a statement on the result of recent investigation into the development of canal transport; whether he can state the number of barges now lying idle at various important centres where transport facilities are an outstanding necessity; and whether any special effort is being made to recruit and train crews for the navigation of canal traffic?&lt;br/&gt;The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Mr. Montague): The investigation by Mr. Frank Pick into the carriage of traffic by canal is being pursued energetically, and as a matter of urgency, but I am not yet in a position to say when it will be completed. The matters referred to by my hon. Friend are covered by the investigation, but I should like to make it clear that concurrently with Mr. Pick's inquiries all possible steps are being taken, by reconditioning of barges and other means, to enable the canals of this country to make their maximum contribution to the war effort&lt;br/&gt;Sir P. Hannon: When will the report from Mr. Frank Pick be received?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Montague: I cannot answer that Question with any degree of accuracy, but I do not think it will be long.&lt;br/&gt;Sir P. Hannon: Is my hon. Friend aware that this question has been neglected shamefully for years, and that it ought to be tackled with energy and rapidity?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Montague: Yes, Sir, I agree with you; but my hon. Friend will realise that the reconditioning of some canals, not to speak of barges, is an old story, and one of great importance at the present moment.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. R. C. Morrison: Is Mr. Frank Pick's investigation intended to be of service in the present war?" title='CANALS (INQUIRY).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/canals-inquiry.opml'>
        </outline>
        <outline id='1134480' text='Mr. Tinkerasked the Minister of Transport on whose authority the notices, &quot;Not for public use,&quot; are placed on railway-carriage windows; and whether he will find out whether regard is given to ordinary travelling persons when such notices are being used?&lt;br/&gt;Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon: Under certain conditions, compartments have to be set aside. When this is done, the sign, &quot;Not for public use,&quot; is employed.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Tinker: What conditions are laid down, and to whom do they apply?&lt;br/&gt;Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon: They are rather curious. The categories are: Broken windows, infectious diseases, corpses, high Service officials, lunatics, convicts and Cabinet Ministers.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Tinker: May I point out to the Minister that on Thursday last I saw three compartments of a train at Euston Station which were labelled &quot;Not for public use,&quot; and that one of them bore the name of a lord who does not occupy any official position? Half-way on the journey, and before we reached any station, two of the labels were taken down, and it appeared to me that some kind of trickery was going on in reserving them by the use of those notices.&lt;br/&gt;Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon: I will look into the matter.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Leach: How do the railway officials distinguish all those categories?' title='RAILWAY COMPARTMENTS (RESERVATION)' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/railway-compartments-reservation.opml'>
        </outline>
        <outline id='1134481' text="Mr. Butcherasked the Minister of Transport when instructions were given to the London and North Eastern Railway Company that sailors, soldiers and Air Force men should be permitted to travel first-class when sufficient third-class seating accommodation is not provided; and whether he will have inquiry made as to whether these instructions were observed on the 5.50 train from King's Cross on Friday, 14th March?&lt;br/&gt;Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon: The instructions were given on 23rd July, 1940, and I am advisd that there is no evidence that they were not observed on the occasion to which my hon. Friend refers. The passengers who joined the train were, however, 300 in excess of the seating accommodation available, and arrangements have been made to run a relief train on Friday next, 21st March.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Butcher: While thanking my right hon. and gallant Friend for his reply, may I ask whether he is aware that two naval ratings were removed under the direct supervision of the stationmaster from the carriage in which I was travelling? Will he take steps to prevent this sort of thing happening again?&lt;br/&gt;Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon: Did my hon. Friend say there was no alternative accommodation?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Butcher: Yes.&lt;br/&gt;Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon: And that the ratings stood in a corridor?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Butcher: They were removed from the first-class accommodation.&lt;br/&gt;Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon: Where were they put?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Butcher: I understand they were turned out on to the platform.&lt;br/&gt;Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon: I will look into that matter." title='ARMED FORCES (FIRST-CLASS COMPARTMENTS)' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/armed-forces-first-class-compartments.opml'>
        </outline>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134482' text='MINISTRY OF INFORMATION.'>
        <outline id='1134483' text="Mr. Priceasked the Minister of Information whether his attention has been drawn to the refusal of Sir Walter
        &lt;image src=&quot;S5CV0370P0I0079&quot;/&gt;
        &lt;col&gt;145&lt;/col&gt;
        Citrine to broadcast on account of the censorship of part of his statement by the British Broadcasting Corporation; and whether, in view of the importance of Sir Walter's visit to the United States of America, he will take steps to see that his views are given adequate publicity?&lt;br/&gt;The Minister of Information (Mr. Duff Cooper): I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) on 13th March.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Price: Was there any further discussion in this matter with Sir Walter, in view of its importance to America? Can nothing he done about it?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Cooper: No, Sir. There was nothing further to discuss. As the House is already aware, there was in Sir Walter's broadcast a passage which came under the Defence Regulations, and it had therefore to be cut out.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Cocks: What is this subject which nobody is allowed to mention?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Noel-Baker: Will the Minister look into the way in which this matter was dealt with?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Cooper: It was dealt with in the only possible way. The situation was very properly explained to Sir Walter, and I think he understood that he could not expect to enjoy privileges which were denied to the Press and to others.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Mander: Was not the subject in the Question already well known in America?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Noel-Baker: Will the Minister discuss it with Sir Walter himself?" title='SIR WALTER CITRINE (BROADCAST CENSORSHIP).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/sir-walter-citrine-broadcast-censorship.opml'>
        </outline>
        <outline id='1134484' text='Mr. Stokes(&lt;i&gt;for&lt;/i&gt; Mr. Cove) asked the Minister of Information by whom, and on what date, was the case for a statement of peace aims made on behalf of the Government over the British Broadcasting Corporation?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Cooper: I am not aware of any occasion on which the case for a statement of peace aims has been broadcast on behalf of the Government.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Stokes: Is the Minister not aware that the hon. and gallant Member for Epsom (Sir A. Southby) recently broad-
        &lt;col&gt;146&lt;/col&gt;
        cast a statement on why peace aims should not be announced? Is it not fair that an opportunity should be given to a Member of this House holding the opposite point of view to broadcast that view?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Cooper: The other point of view has been stated by Mr. Priestley very eloquently.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Stokes: In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Reply, I beg to give notice that my hon. Friend or I will raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.' title='PEACE AIMS (BROADCAST).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/peace-aims-broadcast.opml'>
        </outline>
        <outline id='1134485' text='Major Milnerasked the Minister of Information whether he is aware that meetings have been promoted in the City of Leeds under the auspices of his Ministry for a Conservative speaker, after consultation with the Leeds Conservative Association alone, and without reference to, or approval by, the local information committee; whether such meetings were at the expense of public funds and whether this political preference had his approval?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Cooper: The two meetings to which the hon. and gallant Member appears to be referring were recently held in N.E. Leeds, when, owing to the shortness of notice, it was impossible to consult the local information committee. The clubs of the Conservative, Labour and Liberal parties were, however, asked to assist. At the first of the two meetings, although the Labour party found it impossible to be represented, there were two members of the Liberal party on the platform. At the second meeting the chair was taken by a member of the Liberal party, and the vote of thanks was seconded by a member of the Labour party. The only expenditure involved was a small amount on a Press advertisement, and a few handbills and invitation cards. I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that there is no desire to show political preference in arranging these meetings, although it is not always possible to assure that all parties shall be equally represented.&lt;br/&gt;Major Milner: Is it not a fact that the meetings were arranged at the request of the local Conservative Association, and what was the difficulty in communicating with the local Labour party?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Cooper: The hon. Member for the constituency gave short notice that he was going to be in the constituency on that day, and the local information committee could not be convened in time to be consulted; and so the meetings officer of the Regional information office got on to the three clubs of the three parties and did his best to arrange matters.&lt;br/&gt;Major Milner:Are we to understand that any local Member of Parliament may, by arrangement with the local office of the Ministry, have meetings arranged in a constituency at the expense of the Ministry of Information?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Cooper: If a Member of Parliament wants to arrange an all-party meeting, the machinery of the Ministry of Information will be put at his disposal to assist him to do so.&lt;br/&gt;Major Milner: Is it not a fact that this was not an all-party meeting, that no steps were taken to make it an all-party meeting, and that, no communication having been sent to the local Labour party, only the Conservative Association was consulted?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Cooper: The local Labour and Liberal clubs were consulted, and both parties were represented at one of the meetings.' title='MEETINGS, LEEDS.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/meetings-leeds.opml'>
        </outline>
        <outline id='1134486' text='Major Milnerasked the Minister of Information whether he is aware of the existing acute dissatisfaction with the political partisanship and lack of consultation with the local information committee practised by the Leeds Regional Office of his Ministry; and whether, having regard to the number of complaints made as to the operations of this office and the resulting effect on national unity, he proposes to take any action to avoid such complaints in the future?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Cooper:I am not aware of the dissatisfaction to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. On the contrary, my information is that the Regional Information Officer works in close and amicable contact with the Leeds Information Committee. Nor have I any evidence that the work of the Regional office has any but a beneficial effect on national unity. If the hon. and gallant Member has any such evidence, I should be very glad to consider it.&lt;br/&gt;Major Milner: Will my right hon. Friend obtain from the local Information Committee their opinion as to the usefulness of this office?' title='REGIONAL OFFICE, LEEDS.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/regional-office-leeds.opml'>
        </outline>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134487' text='Mr. Manderasked the Postmaster-General what limit is placed upon the number or sizes of parcels which may be despatched by persons overseas to persons in this country?&lt;br/&gt;The Postmaster-General (Mr. W. S. Morrison):The maximum size for parcels sent to this country from overseas is 3 feet 6 inches in length and 6 feet in length and girth combined, or appropriate equivalents in the case of parcels from countries using the metric system of measurement. There is no postal limit to the number.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Mander: Is there not the possibility of an abuse of this privilege by people with rich friends abroad who send numbers of parcels each day, thus taking up shipping space?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Morrison: I do not think that is a matter for the Post Office.' title='POST OFFICE (PARCELS FROM OVERSEAS).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/post-office-parcels-from-overseas.opml'>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134488' text="Mr. Wedgwoodasked the President of the Board of Education whether he will consider, at this appropriate time, commencing the teaching in all State schools of the virtues of freedom; whether local education authorities have been, or will be, circularised accordingly; and what steps he proposes to take?&lt;br/&gt;The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (Mr. Ede): I hope that the terms of my right hon. Friend's Question are not intended to suggest that the virtues of freedom are not at present inculcated in the schools. This is far from being the case. These virtues are the very basis of the conception of education embodied in the Board's handbook of suggestions for teachers. They underline the whole training and outlook in ways intelligible to children through the discipline and life of the school as well as through the ordinary classroom teaching. While the importance of liberty and the recognition of the responsibilities and privileges
      &lt;image src=&quot;S5CV0370P0I0081&quot;/&gt;
      &lt;col&gt;149&lt;/col&gt;
      which it entails are in these ways brought constantly before the minds and into the lives of schoolchildren, there are other opportunities, such as discussions on current affairs and the celebration of appropriate anniversaries, of making a more formal and direct approach to the subject. I share to the full my right hon. Friend's sense of the importance of this matter, but I do not think that it lends itself to treatment by circular. It is essentially a teachers' problem, and teachers can be in no doubt as to the importance which the Board attach to it.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Wedgwood: Has my hon. Friend's attention been drawn to the valuable anthology on freedom which is on the bookstalls, and will it be possible to recommend it for this purpose?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Ede: I have received two free copies of the book in question, one direct from one of the joint authors. It is not the practice of the Board to recommend particular textbooks&amp;#x2014;that is part of the freedom that we are allowing local education authorities&amp;#x2014;but anything that can be done to bring children of appropriate ages into touch with the English literature on the subject of freedom would, of course, be regarded by the Board as a very appropriate step to be taken.&lt;br/&gt;Colonel Sandeman Allen: Is that textbook looked upon as literature?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Ede: I do not wish to give the book any further advertisement in the presence of the Minister of Information, but I would say that, from my perusal of it, it appears to include all the classical utterances of the English-speaking races on this particular subject." title='EDUCATION (TEACHING OF FREEDOM).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/education-teaching-of-freedom.opml'>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134489' text="Mr. Lipsonasked the Secretary of State for War whether the officer in charge of a military camp has the authority to enable him to inspect the kitchens and other quarters of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes in his camp, and to satisfy himself that these are kept clean and that there is no unnecessary waste?&lt;br/&gt;The Financial Secretary to the War Office (Mr. Richard Law): Yes, Sir.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Lipsonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give par-
      &lt;col&gt;150&lt;/col&gt;
      ticulars of the constitution of the committee which is responsible for the administration of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: The Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes is a corporation consisting of a council of 12 members, four appointed by each of the Service Departments, and the management is in the hands of a board which includes an officer appointed by each of the Service Departments. The management is subject to directions of the council as regards policy, scope of trading, limitation of financial and commercial operations and any other matters which the Service Departments may instruct the council to reserve. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the present constitution of the council and the board of management.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Lipson: Can my hon. Friend say whether there are any women on the council or on the body responsible for the institutes? If not, will he consider appointing some practical women?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: No, Sir. There are no women on it at the moment, and I cannot see any need for them.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Lipson: In view of the fact that there are so many women serving in the Forces, would it not be desirable to give consideration to the question, as this is a matter in which women's advice would be very useful?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: If any need for women advisers on this board should be proved, certainly it will be considered, but so far there is no proof that there is any such need.&lt;br/&gt;Sir Herbert Williams: As this board is the largest dealer in alcohol in the country, could not the hon. Member consider appointing the Noble Lady the Member for the Sutton Division of Plymouth (Viscountess Astor)?&lt;br/&gt;&lt;i&gt;Following is the list&lt;/i&gt;:&lt;br/&gt;NAVY, ARMY AND AIR FORCE INSTITUTES.&lt;br/&gt;MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.&lt;br/&gt;Appointed by the Admiralty.&lt;br/&gt;Rear-Admiral F. H. W. Goolden (Vice-President).&lt;br/&gt;C. R. B. Lane, Esq. Brigadier A. P. Dawson, O.B.E.,R.M.&lt;br/&gt;Captain D. de Pass, R.N.&lt;br/&gt;Appointed by the Army Council.&lt;br/&gt;General Sir Reginald S. May, K.C.B., K.B.E., C.M.G., D.S.O.(President).&lt;br/&gt;Major-General M. S. Brander, C.B.,O.B.E., M.I.Mech.E.&lt;br/&gt;Major-General R. F. B. Naylor, C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C.&lt;br/&gt;Colonel R. E. Barnwell.&lt;br/&gt;Appointed by the Air Council.&lt;br/&gt;Air Vice-Marshal E. W. Havers.&lt;br/&gt;Sir Harold G. Howitt, D.S.O., M.C, F.C.A.&lt;br/&gt;Croup Captain F. C. Halahan, C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O., M.V.O. Wing Commander E. G. Keeping.&lt;br/&gt;Members of the Board of Management.&lt;br/&gt;L. C. Royle, Esq. (Chairman).&lt;br/&gt;R. G. Erskine, Esq. (Deputy Chairman).&lt;br/&gt;Paymaster Captain E. W. Whitting-ton-Ince, R.N. (nominated by the Admiralty).&lt;br/&gt;Colonel J. Benskin, D.S.O., O.B.E. (nominated by the Army Council).&lt;br/&gt;Group Captain W. G. W. Prall (nominated by the Air Council)." title='NAVY, ARMY AND AIR FORCE INSTITUTES.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/navy-army-and-air-force-institutes.opml'>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134490' text='Sir William Davisonasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the serious delay in paying compensation in the case of houses requisitioned for military purposes and subsequently given up, the property being left in a dilapidated condition after the departure of the troops, and the owner being consequently unable to let the same to a new tenant; and whether more prompt payment will be made in cases of this kind in future?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law: I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for South Croydon (Sir H. Williams) yesterday. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind and will send me details, I shall be glad to look into it.&lt;br/&gt;Sir W. Davison: Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the answers given yesterday were very unsatisfactory and did not meet the point at issue, namely, that people have houses which are left in a damaged condition when the troops are removed and which take many weeks to be put in
      &lt;col&gt;152&lt;/col&gt;
      order so that they are in a fit state to live in again; and is he aware that one reason for this is that these houses are left with a considerable number of soldiers with no officer in charge?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Law:With regard to the time which elapses before any allowance is made, I am informed that there is no reason for delay. In a great many of the outstanding cases the fault does not lie with the War Office, the delay being due to the form sent to the owner not having been returned.&lt;br/&gt;Sir W. Davison: Is there any reason why these houses should be in a seriously dilapidated state, as they are, by reason of bad usage when in the occupation of the military?&lt;br/&gt;Sir A. Knox: Is it not entirely owing to lack of proper supervision by the officers?' title='BRITISH ARMY (REQUISITIONING CLAIMS).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/british-army-requisitioning-claims.opml'>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134491' text='TRADE AND COMMERCE.'>
        <outline id='1134492' text="Mr. Craik Hendersonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that recently Leeds has had practically no pipe tobacco or cigarettes for sale in tobacconists' shops; what is the reason for this; and whether he will see that this city is treated fairly in comparison with other parts of the country?&lt;br/&gt;The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Captain Waterhouse): I have made inquiries among manufacturers and distributors and am assured that supplies of tobacco and cigarettes sent to Leeds have represented a fair share of the total output. As I have stated in reply to previous Questions, demand throughout the country exceeds supply, and there is a tendency in many areas for retailers to sell out their stocks before fresh supplies arrive. I can assure my hon. Friend that the Board of Trade are fully aware of the difficulties of the general situation.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Henderson: Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman realise the acute shortage there is? Out of 11 shops that I visited last month 10 had no pipe tobacco or cigarettes and the other had no cigarettes or matches, and cannot something be done about it?&lt;br/&gt;Captain Waterhouse: I realise that in certain areas, especially towards the end
        &lt;image src=&quot;S5CV0370P0I0083&quot;/&gt;
        &lt;col&gt;153&lt;/col&gt;
        of the month, there is an acute shortage, but we are doing what we can to get round the difficulty.&lt;br/&gt;Sir T. Moore: Is not the reason that an unfairly large proportion is sent to N.A.A.F.I.? That has been suggested in many parts of the country.&lt;br/&gt;Captain Waterhouse: I do not think that is the cause." title='TOBACCO SUPPLIES, LEEDS.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/tobacco-supplies-leeds.opml'>
        </outline>
        <outline id='1134493' text='Sir H. Williamsasked the President of the Board of Trade why, having regard to the shortage of shipping space, licences have been recently issued for the importation of large motor cars of a luxury type?&lt;br/&gt;Captain Waterhouse: Since the outbreak of war it has been the policy of the Board of Trade, in view of shipping and currency considerations, to prohibit importation of private motor cars. The only licensed importations have been a few cars the property of refugees which were brought into the United Kingdom at the time of the attack on the Low Countries.&lt;br/&gt;Sir H. Williams: Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman tell us whether the two enormous cars I saw in Wiltshire on Sunday were smuggled?' title='MOTOR CARS (IMPORT).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/motor-cars-import.opml'>
        </outline>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134494' text='Mr. David Adamsasked the Minister without Portfolio what steps are being taken to ensure that satisfactory international economic controls shall be ready for operation immediately upon the cessation of hostilities; and whether, in view of the disastrous consequences of the breakdown of these controls after the last war, and of the even greater need for the reconstruction of Europe after the present war, he will state as soon as possible his intentions in this respect?&lt;br/&gt;The Minister without Portfolio (Mr. Arthur Greenwood): The economic problems involved in international reconstruction after the war, including those of currency, finance and trade, are among those which are being carefully studied, but, as the circumstances in which they
      &lt;col&gt;154&lt;/col&gt;
      will come up for solution are still uncertain, any statement at present would be premature.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Adams: Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he considers such a statement may be made&amp;#x2014;will the date be remote, or fairly early?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Greenwood: I think that must depend on the turn of events, and that, I am not in a position to forecast at the moment.' title='INTERNATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/international-reconstruction.opml'>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134495' text='FOOD SUPPLIES.'>
        <outline id='1134496' text='Mr. T. Smithasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the fact that in the present circumstances margarine of the superior quality cannot be obtained in some areas, he will consider the desirability of issuing only one grade of margarine of good quality, so that there may be equal treatment all round?&lt;br/&gt;The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Major Lloyd George):No, Sir. The price of second-quality margarine could not be kept at its present low figure, if the special quality was withdrawn. Increased supplies of special quality are now available and should be obtainable everywhere. If my hon. Friend will provide me with particulars of areas where it cannot be bought, I will make inquiries.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Woodburn: Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman tell us whether there is the same quantity of vitamins in both qualities of margarine, or is the lower grade deficient in vitamins?&lt;br/&gt;Major Lloyd George: They are equal.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Garro Jones: The Ministry have decided that all people should eat the same kind of bread; why should not the two grades be mixed and sold, in industrial areas, at the same price?&lt;br/&gt;Major Lloyd George: The lower priced grade has been provided for those who cannot afford to buy the better quality at the higher price.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Garro Jones: Yes, but I would suggest that the time has come when we should all eat the same quality, for the national convenience.' title='MARGARINE.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/margarine.opml'>
        </outline>
        <outline id='1134497' text='Mr. Oliverasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that, due to maldistribution, there is a serious shortage of cheese in the mining areas, and although this commodity is available in restaurants elsewhere, it cannot be acquired in many shops in these districts; and whether steps will be taken to remedy this complaint?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. A. Edwardsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps he is taking to remedy the serious shortages of essential food in Middlesbrough, where the majority of workers are engaged in heavy steel industry?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Gallacherasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has considered a resolution sent to the Ministry from a conference in Kirkcaldy, called by the Fife and Kinross Co-operative Conference Association, in which the present food policy of the Government is condemned, while a demand is made for a new policy that will give adequate supplies to Co-operative societies on the basis of their registrations; and what steps does he propose to take?&lt;br/&gt;Major Lloyd George: Inquiries I have made do not substantiate the suggestion that any particular area or distributive organisation is less favourably placed than others. Shortages of some unrationed foodstuffs are general, and manufacturers and distributors have been informed of the movements of population in order that they may adjust their distribution of such supplies as are available. Rationed foods are distributed in exact relation to the number of registered customers. With the object of securing more satisfactory distribution to the consumer in all parts of the country, my Noble Friend has recently announced the introduction of a scheme for distributing jam, marmalade, syrup and treacle on the basis of registrations and has indicated that this scheme may be extended to other unrationed foodstuffs if it proves successful. My Noble Friend has also announced the forthcoming rationing of cheese, with special allowances for specific classes of workers who have not the advantage of industrial canteens.&lt;br/&gt;Miss Rathbone: Has my hon. and gallant Friend considered the hardship which
        &lt;col&gt;156&lt;/col&gt;
        the rationing of jam is likely to impose on households composed largely of women and children, who have not the means or the time to attend any kind of public eating place?' title='ESSENTIAL FOODSTUFFS (DISTRIBUTION).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/essential-foodstuffs-distribution.opml'>
        </outline>
        <outline id='1134498' text='Mr. Higgsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (1) whether he is aware that the National Federation of Fish Friers consider that the allocation scheme to be adopted does not go far enough, nor does it ensure that the already established retailers will secure their supplies; and will he undertake to make the distribution equitable?&lt;lb/&gt;
        (2) whether he is aware that the National Federation of Fish Friers consider that margins could be reduced if a compulsory scheme of price-fixing was brought into being; and will he take steps to fix prices forthwith.&lt;br/&gt;Major Lloyd George: I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the basis of allocation and margins included in the voluntary scheme for the control of Icelandic cod, which has been drawn up by representatives of the fish trade, including the fish friers. The scheme is the result of a considerable effort among different sections of the trade and in order to give it a reasonable prospect of success my Noble Friend has agreed to embody prices suggested by the trade in a Maximum Price Order. This will, at least, put a stop to the constant rise in price, and if the distribution scheme is not operated successfully by the trade on a voluntary basis, my Noble Friend will take other steps to see that the interests of the consumer are safeguarded.' title='FISH FRIERS.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/fish-friers.opml'>
        </outline>
        <outline id='1134499' text='Mr. Simmondsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will arrange, in regard to food supplies, that rescue and demolition workers who have their own canteens shall be treated in the same way as industrial workers?&lt;br/&gt;Major Lloyd George: I have no reason to believe that canteens, registered as catering establishments which supply rescue and demolition workers with rationed food, are not treated in the same way as similar canteens which supply industrial workers, but I shall be glad to
        &lt;image src=&quot;S5CV0370P0I0085&quot;/&gt;
        &lt;col&gt;157&lt;/col&gt;
        inquire into any particular case of difficulty if my hon. Friend will send me full particulars.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Manderasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether arrangements are being made by his Department for the supply of food required for meals in canteens for fire watchers when on duty in factories?&lt;br/&gt;Major Lloyd George: I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Dumbarton Burghs (Mr. Kirkwood) on 26th February, to which I have only to add that canteens registered as catering establishments should have no difficulty in obtaining the supplies of rationed food required, except perhaps meat.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Mander: Can my hon. and gallant Friend say whether arrangements have been made in conjunction with the Home Office for the supply of special rations to fire watchers? It is quite a different thing from ordinary meals for workers.&lt;br/&gt;Major Lloyd George: The general supply position makes it very difficult indeed to grant any further concessions.' title='CANTEENS.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/canteens.opml'>
        </outline>
        <outline id='1134500' text='Mr. Price(&lt;i&gt;for&lt;/i&gt; Sir Ernest Graham- Little) asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in spite of the order just issued prohibiting the use of home-grown wheat by the producer for his livestock, it is still the policy of the Ministry to permit millers to sell 28 per cent. of the wheat they purchase to feeding-stuff merchants and patent food manufacturers?&lt;br/&gt;Major Lloyd George: No, Sir. Since my Noble Friend now requires every controlled flour miller to supply national wheat meal, of a minimum extraction of 85 per cent., the amount of wheat offals available for the purposes mentioned by my hon. Friend have declined in proportion to the quantity of national wheatmeal required to meet the public demand for long-extraction flour.' title='WHEAT.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/wheat.opml'>
        </outline>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134501' text='Sir Adam Maitlandasked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that dumps of scrap metal are still lying
      &lt;col&gt;158&lt;/col&gt;
      about in rural districts; and whether he will take steps to have this material collected forthwith?&lt;br/&gt;The Minister of Supply (Sir Andrew Duncan): Yes, Sir. New dumps are, of course continually being formed. The total number of uncleared dumps has been considerably reduced in recent months, and there will be still more rapid clearance with the better weather. I am looking into the question of the particular dump about which my hon. Friend has written to me.&lt;br/&gt;Sir A. Maitland: May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, if he is short of scrap iron, he has noticed the huge columns and girders which still remain in the ruins of buildings destroyed by enemy action?&lt;br/&gt;Sir A. Duncan: I am very happy to say that we are not short of scrap, but we have to take a long view and always keep that in mind.' title='SCRAP METAL DUMPS.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/scrap-metal-dumps.opml'>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134502' text='Mr. Scottasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider increasing the present inadequate food ration for sheep dogs, in view of their importance in animal husbandry and of the extra strain which will be placed upon them during the coming months?&lt;br/&gt;The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture (Mr. T. Williams):My right hon. Friend will be very glad to consider this suggestion in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Scott: Does my hon. Friend realise that his Reply will give very great satisfaction to farmers and shepherds, and cause much tail-wagging on the part of the other parties concerned?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Williams: That is why I gave the Reply.' title='SHEEP DOGS (FOOD).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/sheep-dogs-food.opml'>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134503' text='CIVIL DEFENCE.'>
        <outline id='1134504' text="Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether persons detained under Regulation i8b, who appealed to be heard before an Advisory Committee, and were then released months after the date of their
        &lt;image src=&quot;S5CV0370P0I0086&quot;/&gt;
        &lt;col&gt;159&lt;/col&gt;
        detention without going before an Advisory Committee, will receive compensation for wrongful detention?&lt;br/&gt;The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Peake): Persons detained under this Regulation are detained as a preventive measure, and every person so detained has a right of making representations both to the Secretary of State and to the Advisory Committee appointed for the purposes of the Regulation. The fact that my right hon. Friend has felt justified in certain cases in authorising release before the persons detained have had their cases reviewed by the. Advisory Committee does not imply that the original order for detention was unjustified, and does not give rise to any claim for compensation.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Stokes: Is the Under-Secretary aware that some of these people have been detained for as much as six months, and that, on release, they have found themselves destitute? In view of the fact that in some cases it is quite clear that they have been detained by mistake, should not something be done to set them on their feet again?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Peake: My right hon. Friend has taken the final responsibility in some cases of authorising the release of a man without waiting for him to go before an Advisory Committee, and, as a result of the action taken by my right hon. Friend in these cases, a number of persons have been released very much sooner than they would have been had they gone before the Advisory Committee.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Silverman: Is the hon. Member aware that no one is complaining of the Secretary of State releasing people whom he has detained; that, in fact, hon. Members would rather encourage such action when he is satisfied that the detention ought not to continue? The argument is that when a mistake has been made the whole burden of the mistake ought not to rest upon the unfortunate victim, and something should be done for him.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Peake: Perhaps my hon. Friend would produce an individual case where he alleges that a mistake has, in fact, been made.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Graham White: Is it not a fact that the Advisory Committee has now disposed of all these cases; and is there any
        &lt;col&gt;160&lt;/col&gt;
        reason why cases should not be settled at once, one way or the other?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Peake: Yes, Sir, all the cases have had the opportunity of going before an Advisory Committee. In a number of cases the committee's finding has only recently been received by my right hon. Friend, and those cases will be decided very shortly.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Stokesasked the Home Secretary when the hon. Member for Ipswich may expect to receive a reply to his letters of 17th and 20th February dealing with conditions in York racecourse camp; the reasons for detention and lack of information supplied to detained persons prior to their appearance before the Advisory Committee; and observations regarding certain individual cases?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Peake: My hon. Friend's letter raised a number of points, which are being examined, and I hope shortly to be in a position to let him have a reply.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Stokes: Can the hon. Member give some indication of what he means by &quot;shortly&quot;? It is now a month since I wrote to him.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Peake: I think hon. Members generally will testify that answers to letters which they have sent to the Home Office are now being received by them more expeditiously than in the past. At the same time, my hon. Friend's letters are not quite like those of the average hon. Member, in that they raise a large number of points, both of principle and of detail." title='DETENTIONS.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/detentions.opml'>
        </outline>
        <outline id='1134505' text='Mr. Simmondsasked the Home Secretary what provision in waterproof clothing he has made for workers in rescue parties?&lt;br/&gt;The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Security (Mr. Mabane): Groundsheet capes have been provided for rescue parties.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Simmonds: Is my hon. Friend aware that these groundsheets are not suitable for rescue workers, who have to lift great weights, and that frequently they have to remove the groundsheets in the pouring rain, in order to proceed with their duties? Will he consider providing a certain number of mackintoshes for these men?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Mabane: This matter has been carefully considered, and, for operational reasons, the groundsheet was decided upon as being the most suitable garment for rescue parties.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Simmonds: Would my hon. Friend look into this matter again, because some of the rescue parties feel very strongly that these groundsheets were given to them merely because they were available some months ago, and that the matter should be looked into again and some new arrangement made?' title='RESCUE PARTIES (WATERPROOF CLOTHING).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/rescue-parties-waterproof-clothing.opml'>
        </outline>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134506' text='Mr. Liddallasked the Minister of Health whether he will, as part of the physical reconstruction planning, arrange with the London County Council gradually to abolish the derelict houses in slum areas around the Baker Street district of Marylebone which have been converted for use as private nursing homes and to replan the whole private nursing home system and location in Central London?&lt;br/&gt;The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Miss Horsbrugh): The needs of adequate medical services will be borne in mind in the plans for physical reconstruction of large areas, but my hon. Friend will appreciate that it is too early to make any statement on the position of particular areas or particular services after the war.' title='PRIVATE NURSING HOMES, LONDON (RECONSTRUCTION).' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/private-nursing-homes-london.opml'>
      </outline>
    </outline>
    <outline id='1134507' text='BILLS PRESENTED.'>
      <outline id='1134508' text='&quot;to enable persons detained under powers conferred under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Acts, 1939 and 1940, or the Aliens Restriction Act, 1914, to be removed to and detained in the Isle of Man,&quot; presented by Mr. Herbert Morrison, supported by the Attorney-General and Mr. Peake; to be read a Second time upon the next Sitting Day, and to be printed. [Bill 18.]' title='ISLE OF MAN (DETENTION) BILL,' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/isle-of-man-detention-bill.opml'>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134509' text='&quot;to make provision for calling up men for Civil Defence and to amend the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, 1939,&quot; presented by Mr. Bevin, supported by Mr. Herbert Morrison, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Ernest Brown, the
      &lt;col&gt;162&lt;/col&gt;
      Attorney-General, Captain Crookshank, Mr. Mabane, and Mr. Assheton; to be read a Second time upon the next Sitting Day, and to be printed. [Bill 19.]' title='NATIONAL SERVICE BILL,' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/national-service-bill.opml'>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134510' text='&quot;to grant money for the purpose of certain local loans out of the Local Loans Fund, and for other purposes relating to local loans,&quot; presented by Captain Crookshank; to be read a Second time upon the next Sitting Day, and to be printed. [Bill 20.]' title='PUBLIC WORKS LOANS BILL,' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/public-works-loans-bill.opml'>
      </outline>
    </outline>
    <outline id='1134511' text='That they have agreed to&amp;#x2014;&lt;br/&gt;Land Drainage (Scotland) Bill, with Amendments.' title='MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/message-from-the-lords.opml'>
    </outline>
    <outline id='1134512' text='Lords Amendments to be considered upon the next Sitting Day, and to be printed. [Bill 21.]' title='LAND DRAINAGE (SCOTLAND) BILL.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/land-drainage-scotland-bill.opml'>
    </outline>
    <outline id='1134513' text='ORDERS OF THE DAY.'>
      <outline id='1134514' text='Order for Second Reading read.' title='CONSOLIDATED FUND (No. 2) BILL.' type='link' url='http://hansard.millbanksystems.comhttp://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/mar/19/consolidated-fund-no-2-bill.opml'>
      </outline>
      <outline id='1134514' text='CONSOLIDATED FUND (No. 2) BILL.'>
        <outline id='1134515' text="The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings (Mr. Hicks): I beg to move, &quot;That the Bill be now read a Second time.&quot;&lt;lb/&gt;
        I should be less than human if I did not appreciate the position that I am occupying here to-day, making a statement on behalf of my Ministry. I am aware of its importance: this is the giddiest height I have yet reached; and I am very grateful for the opportunity of making this statement. When my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal made a statement in this House on the setting-up of the Ministry of Works and Buildings on 24th October last, he gave a detailed account of the work which the Ministry would undertake. I should like to give the House, first of all, some account of the extent to which we have taken over the functions of the Office of Works, as then described, and to give some information about some new services for which we have been made responsible during the intervening months.&lt;lb/&gt;
        First of all, we took over all the functions which belonged to the Office of Works, including their responsibilities for the erection of buildings for other Civil and Service Departments. A great deal of the work for Civil Departments which the Office of Works used to do in days of peace has, of course, been suspended now that we are faced with the necessity of limiting building operations to those which are not only urgent, but also vitally necessary for the prosecution of the war. But we have continued to press on with those works which satisfy this condition, and we have in hand a large programme of hospitals, food stores and general storage accommodation in various parts of the country. We shall also shortly be building hostels for workers in war factories; and we, of course, retain responsibility for the maintenance and adaptation, not only of all Government
        &lt;col&gt;172&lt;/col&gt;
        buildings throughout the country, but for all those which it has been necessary to requisition or hire for war purposes. This work, which amounts collectively to a very large annual sum, includes the provision of air-raid shelters for Civil Service staffs and other Civil Defence measures.&lt;lb/&gt;
        The work of providing office accommodation for the staff of all Civil Departments, although it is not a spectactular one, involves an enormous amount of detailed arrangement. Before the war, headquarter staffs of Departments were concentrated in London, except that the Scottish Department had headquarters in Edinburgh and the Welsh Board of Health in Cardiff. The war has brought great expansion in staffs, and a number of new Ministries have been created, such as Food, Home Security, Shipping, Information and Economic Warfare. A good deal of work has been regionalised, and the removal from London of headquarter staffs whose work can be performed outside it has lead to a greatly increased demand for accommodation in the Provinces. The headquarter staffs which we removed from London were removed from London in accordance with plans carefully prepared before the war and, should it be necessary, other staffs could be removed also, but we are not keeping buildings empty for this purpose. They are lent to the Services for temporary housing of personnel. Wherever practicable, new centres of work have been set up in the Provinces instead of London. Steps have been taken both in London and the Provinces to create a reserve of office accommodation with the object of ensuring that the machine of Government shall be able to function in all circumstances. At present the staff for which we are responsible for providing offices, numbers about 400,000 in London and the Provinces.&lt;lb/&gt;
        Besides office accommodation, the Government have considerable demands for storage space which it is the duty of the Ministry of Works and Buildings to provide. Food depots, training centres, A.R.P. schools, coastguard staffs and requirements for refugees are other demands which we have to be prepared to meet at a moment's notice. The number of premises which we have under our charge at present is about 15,000, though by no means all of these are complete buildings.
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        We are paying some &amp;#x00A3;4,000,000 a year in rent.&lt;lb/&gt;
        Allied to this job of providing accommodation to meet the needs of the Government is the task of acting as a clearing house for the demands of Government Departments as a whole, including the Service Departments. This is a work which we have carried on since the outbreak of war and which, I think, deserves rather more publicity than it has had. In the last war there were frequent complaints that inefficiency and waste of time were caused by overlapping between Departments in their search for accommodation, so that two Departments might mature plans to a considerable extent on the assumption that both of them were going to make use of the same building, until they discovered that two into one would not go. The Central Register of Accommodation, which we are keeping in my Ministry, has proved an essential method in this war of ensuring co-ordination between Departments requiring accommodation. In the event of a clash of interests, Departments are brought together at a very early stage before loss of time has been incurred. Some idea of the smoothness with which the system has worked is given by the fact that the Ministerial Sub-Committee, which exists as a court of appeal, has had to be called on one occasion only. At present the Central Register receives requests for earmarking of premises from Departments at the rate of about 4,500 a week, and the total number of requests we have received since it was set up is in excess of 300,000. At present the number of live entries is nearly 150,000.&lt;lb/&gt;
        The Ministry of Works and Buildings has also inherited from the Office of Works very considerable responsibilities in the way of providing supplies to cover Government needs. We have to design, supply and maintain furniture and office equipment for all Civil Departments, official residences, embassies, legations and certain consular buildings overseas. Equipment required for special purposes, for example, post offices, Ministry of Pensions hospitals, Ministry of Labour training centres, is also provided. In addition to this, we undertake the purchase and distribution of a wide range of general stores, including fittings and accessories for the engineering and building work of the Department and also the purchase
        &lt;col&gt;174&lt;/col&gt;
        and delivery of fuel to all Government buildings in Great Britain.&lt;lb/&gt;
        Besides this, we have for many years undertaken the supply on an agency basis for certain Civil and Service Departments, of furniture, equipment, household articles and fuel, and this centralised purchase has enabled us to secure uniformity and economy. More recently, the nature and extent of these services have been considerably increased, and among the more important additional services carried out are the provision of furniture and operational equipment for Royal Ordnance Factories on behalf of the Ministry of Supply and the supply of furniture, floor covering and certain domestic equipment to military and Air Force Commands. We also supply all equipment, except medical stores, for emergency hospitals on behalf of the Ministry of Health, and bedding, furniture and domestic equipment for evacuees and homeless civilians. Recently, we have been asked to provide bunks for Anderson shelters. Perhaps the most vital and urgent of our supply services is the central purchase of all fire-fighting equipment required by Government Departments, vital factories and the emergency fire brigade organisation of the Home Office. The expenditure on these agency services was &amp;#x00A3;800,000 a year before the war; it was &amp;#x00A3;10,000,000 in 1940 and will probably exceed &amp;#x00A3;16,000,000 in the current year.&lt;lb/&gt;
        As regards Ordnance Factories, it was stated that we would also be responsible for the work formerly dealt with by the Ministry of Supply, which dealt with the building of new Ordnance Factories and the approval of plans for new private factories or extensions to existing private factories. With the exception of a few cases where the swapping of horses in mid-stream would have been unjustifiable, we have taken over the construction of new factories, and we have also assumed responsibility for examining and approving in advance proposals from munition firms to extend their works to meet expanding Government requirements as we have a large programme in hand. I know that the House will forgive me if, for obvious reasons, I do not give any figures with regard to this service.&lt;lb/&gt;
        Another important feature is the licensing of private building and the determination of priority of proposals for re-
        &lt;image src=&quot;S5CV0370P0I0094&quot;/&gt;
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        building buildings damaged by air raids. First of all, I will say a word about the licensing of civil building, since this is a service which naturally exposes us to a good deal of unpopularity. Building materials, and more especially building labour, in the country, are only sufficient for a limited programme, and it became quite clear during last summer that they were being used to quite a considerable extent for private building which might not be making any contribution towards the war. It was therefore decided that a system of licensing for private building should be established under the auspices of the Works and Buildings Priority Committee. This was then an Interdepartmental Committee presided over by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour to whose excellent work I can testify. This Committee dealt with building priority questions and other general questions which arose out of the Government building programme. On the formation of the Ministry of Works and Buildings, the secretariat of the Committee became part of the Ministry, and I took over the chairmanship from the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour. The Office of Works, and subsequently the Ministry of Works and Buildings, was entrusted with the task of bringing the system of licensing into operation and a Defence Regulation was made.&lt;lb/&gt;
        The system came into operation on 7th October. Wide publicity was given at the start both in the Press and by circulars sent to architects, builders, local authorities and other interested parties. All building operations costing more than &amp;#x00A3;500&amp;#x2014;which will shortly be reduced to &amp;#x00A3;100&amp;#x2014;except for those paid for by a Government Department, or which consist merely of roofing repairs or first-aid repairs, require a licence from the Ministry of Works and Buildings, or in the case of local authorities and public undertakings, an authorisation from the appropriate Government Department. The Ministry of Works and Buildings has licensing offices in each of the 12 Civil Defence Regions. Our local licensing officers have fairly wide delegated powers which they are encouraged to use. Their duty is to ensure, in consultation with interested Departments, that only work which contri-
        &lt;col&gt;176&lt;/col&gt;
        butes something specific to the war effort should be allowed to continue or to be started. As I said, the operation of this Regulation&amp;#x2014;making buildings subject to licence&amp;#x2014;has not increased our popularity. Actually, the applications which we have granted exceed by many times those which we have been compelled to refuse. I would ask those who have been disappointed to remember that supplies of building materials and labour are limited and that we should not be doing our job if we did not make every effort to see that they are used in the best possible way.&lt;lb/&gt;
        I would like to say a word or two about factories and stores for Service Departments. In his statement the Lord Privy Seal accounced that we might arrange, by agreement with the Service Departments or the Ministry of Aircraft Production, to erect on their behalf new works and buildings not of a highly specialised character, such as storage or depots, or houses and buildings of an architectural nature and for the supervision of contracts for the erection of private factories or the extension of private factories required for war production. We are at present doing a number of camps for the War Office and supervising a very large aircraft factory scheme on behalf of the Ministry of Aircraft Production. Work is also under construction for the Ministry of Supply, Air Ministry and Admiralty. On the basis of the work that we have already undertaken, we shall be carrying out new works at the rate of over &amp;#x00A3;1,000,000 a week.&lt;lb/&gt;
        With regard to building priorities, it was next stated that the Minister of Works and Buildings would determine the application of the directions of the Production Council to the appropriating of particular buildings subject to appeal, if necessary, to the Council. As hon. Members are aware, the Production Council has been superseded by the Production Executive. Although my Noble Friend is not a member of the Production Executive, he has access to it and receives from it instructions as to priorities to be accorded to various component parts of the Government's building programme and the methods by which these priorities are to be applied.&lt;lb/&gt;
        The Priority Department of the Ministry of Works and Buildings was creates at the end of October with sections to deal with the examination of proposals.
        &lt;image src=&quot;S5CV0370P0I0095&quot;/&gt;
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        estimates, designs and labour statistics Since my Ministry has taken over this question of buildings priorities, we have made a radical change in the system which will, I hope, make for better results all round. Previously a priority system in the strict sense of the term had been operated, by which I mean that certain classes of work were given specially favoured treatment as regards labour and materials as compared with others. The danger of this system, as we found to our cost, is that it is almost impossible to prevent such a large number of works getting priority that the whole system defeats its object. In other words, the number of jobs that had priority labour attached to them was so great that there was hardly any priority in labour or materials. By the end of last year we found that we were trying to build considerably more than the capacity of the building industry could carry. It has been estimated that we were putting upon the market at least 30 per cent. to 40 per cent. more than the resources of the industry would be able to execute in any one year.&lt;lb/&gt;
        We have, therefore, instituted a new system which is just coming into operation, whereby we first estimate the total quantity of building of which the resources of the country is capable in each given period. We measure this by value and, in accordance with the instructions of the Production Executive, we allocate it between Departments so that each Department knows what share of the building capacity of the country it will have at its disposal for a given period&amp;#x2014;three, four, or six months, whatever the period may be. It is the job of the Departments to arrange within their own allocation which jobs are to be speeded up, which to be stopped, and so on. We are limiting the programme so that the amount of construction work to be undertaken will be as closely as possible related to the labour and materials available, and, as far as possible, only those works which will be effective before or by the end of the summer are being proceeded with. Works requiring a longer period for their completion or new works, are only being permitted if they are of great strategic importance. Let me say here that the more efficiently Departments use their labour, the more of their programme can be completed.&lt;lb/&gt;
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        I should like now to say a few words with regard to the control of building materials generally. Bound up with this task of arranging building priorities is the job of controlling building materials to which the Lord Privy Seal referred in his original announcement. When my Ministry was formed, timber and steel were already rationed, the control being vested in the Ministry of Supply, and this position has remained unaltered. The Ministry of Supply still control steel and timber. The Materials Committee, which is presided over by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aircraft Production, gives us a block allocation of these materials for distribution among the various building Departments. As regards the remaining building materials, the basis of control is at present the willing co-operation of each industry. For the purpose, each industry is being in turn invited to turn itself into a unit for war purposes under the direction of the Controller of Building Materials. No statutory control has been established, but all are aware that it would be at once if found necessary. We have appointed Directors to deal specifically with cement, bricks, roofing and other building materials.&lt;lb/&gt;
        The question of cement supplies has aroused considerable public interest and I hope the House will forgive me if I give them a few facts about this all-important commodity. After the shortage last summer, which was due to a number of factors of which I have already informed the House, we have taken all possible steps to see that no such thing can ever occur again. Very large stocks have been built up and we have seen to it that these are distributed in such a way that in the event of difficulties with transport, we hope cement would be available all over the country. I am aware that allegations have been made in various quarters that the output of cement is being restricted by a ring of fat, top-hatted and frock-coated gentlemen who watch their own bank balances swell while the man in the street suffers the full rigours of enemy bombing which he could have escaped had cement been available to build him an air-raid shelter. I can assure the House that there is very little truth in this grisly picture. What we need from the cement manufacturers is
        &lt;image src=&quot;S5CV0370P0I0096&quot;/&gt;
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        an output of cement as great as, or possibly a little greater than, the total which the building and civil engineering industry of this country can possibly use; and that we have got. None the less, my Noble Friend is well aware that when the war ends, the capacity of the building industry will be largely increased and that when this time comes the output of cement might not be equal to the demand made upon it. He has, therefore, appointed an independent committee under the chairmanship of the hon. Member for Hampstead (Mr. G. Balfour), which has already held many sittings and from which we hope to get a report next month. As soon as a report is available the results of that examination can be announced either by Question and Answer or by a statement in the House.&lt;lb/&gt;
        Bricks, too, were giving trouble last autumn. There was a serious shortage in many districts, mainly due to maldistribution and transport difficulties. This shortage has now been largely cured. The Director of Bricks is organising the industry on a national basis. Reports and statistics are becoming available for the first time, and it is hoped that the future allocation of orders and the rational control of brick works will prevent any shortage recurring. We are accumulating stocks in zones or regions at the present time, so that if transport difficulties should arise as the result of some circumstances at present unforeseen, these stocks will be available in the various regions to supply building jobs not only with bricks but with other materials as well.&lt;lb/&gt;
        Then, on the question of roofing materials, the weight of enemy air attack on various parts of the country has been such as to produce a considerable shortage in this respect. We have, therefore, appointed a director to deal with these commodities, and arrangements have been made for a control of specialist roofing contractors so as to avoid shortage of labour which has impeded air-raid damage repair. We are also developing methods of emergency roofing repair. We have built up an organisation of specialists, both employers and operatives, to deal with this problem. In passing I ought to say with regard to the Service Departments that they have been most helpful. They have assisted us to get the necessary personnel, although it meant that a number of men had to be released from the
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        Services. This has helped us considerably in building up the organisation which is necessary to meet the demand, particularly as far as roofing materials are concerned.&lt;lb/&gt;
        Another feature to which I am sure the House would like me to refer is the efforts which are being made to bring about standardisation in the building industry and thus to help towards greater efficiency. As an essential part in the control of materials, the Standardisation Department has been created, the object of which is to secure the maximum and most economical use of the raw materials and building materials available. The standardisation of roofing felts has, for instance, at once increased output by 25 per cent. with an actual reduction in the raw materials required. We shall follow this policy through every field of work and type of material. A good deal has been done, but there is plenty more to do, and this section of the Ministry, like every other section, is hard at work.&lt;lb/&gt;
        In passing, I can assure the House that every one at the Ministry of Works and Buildings is engaged full time on his job. Among other major steps, we are hoping drastically to reduce the number of sizes of bricks manufactured in the country. At present there are 16 or 17 different sizes. We hope to be able to standardise bricks so as to make bricks available equally for the North and the South. Some of my hon. Friends are probably aware of the many different sizes of bricks now manufactured. My hon. Friend the Member for Plaistow (Mr. Thorne) worked at brick-making in his early boyhood&amp;#x2014;so I understand from his life-story. I do not know what size bricks he was engaged in making, but he would appreciate the fact that there are variations in size. We think that is all wrong and ought to be rectified at the earliest possible moment. Extensive consultations on this subject have already taken place and a great measure of agreement has been arrived at, and my Noble Friend expects shortly to be able to make a statement on the subject.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Mathers: Will these standardised bricks be known as &quot;Hicks bricks&quot;?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Hicks: I do not know what name will be applied to them. I have had some experience in connection with this
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        matter and as an illustration of the existing state of affairs I would mention one actual case. One particular type of bricks was being used on a job in a certain part of the country. The job was brought to a standstill because there was not a sufficient supply of bricks of a particular type, yet in an adjacent neighbourhood there were at least 500,000 bricks available which could have been put into that Job. But, because the sizes did not properly interlock, the work had to be interrupted.&lt;lb/&gt;
        With the exception of the large question of reconstruction, I have, I think, now covered all the points which arise out of the Lord Privy Seal's statement, and I would like to go on to give the House some account of the further steps which we have taken to meet the changing situation. One of the difficulties which faces us in getting through the vast programme of building with which we are dealing at present is the extent, scope and complexity of the building industry. I have been in the building industry for nearly 50 years and can claim to know something about it. It is one of the, most important industries in the country and yet until the appointment of my Noble Friend as Minister of Works and Buildings there was no Minister specifically charged with the duty of seeing to its efficiency and welfare. Before then a number of building departments on the Works and Buildings Priority Committee did this job jointly. I would be the last to underrate the value of what they did, but I think it is, as far as practicable and possible, a job for one Minister to have charge of and one Department to deal with.&lt;lb/&gt;
        I do not think enough has been said about the work which building trade operatives are doing for their country at the present time. We have all read of and admired what has been done by munition workers, police, Civil Defence and the Fighting Services. I do not mention Members of Parliament&amp;#x2014;they can speak for themselves. None of these could get on without bricklayers, carpenters, masons and the rest, to put up buildings for them to work in, or factories where their weapons are to be made. The building industry has a fine tradition dating back over centuries, and it is my belief that the British craftsman of to-day is capable of work every bit as
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        good as his predecessors who built our great cathedrals and public buildings. The building or civil engineering worker of to-day is faced with sterner tasks than his predecessors, particularly at the present time. They built churches and cathedrals; he must build munition factories. They laid out parks and squares; he must lay out runways in aerodromes.&lt;lb/&gt;
        It is to the problem of how to guide and assist the building industry in performing this great task which the country expects of them, that my Noble Friend and I have given our close attention&amp;#x2014; not casual attention, but deep and concentrated thought. At this stage I should like to pay tribute to the organisation, both of employers and workers, and to the professional bodies for the great assistance they have given us. I am not sure that the House realises what a great value it is to the country at the present time to have labour organised and helpful. But our load is becoming heavier, and we have fewer men to bear it; this means that every man's work must be organised with the maximum of efficiency if he is to do what is expected of him. My Ministry will work in understanding and co-operation with the great industry. Therefore, my Noble Friend and I, with my Right Hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, are at present in close consultation with the industry, discussing proposals which I hope it may be possible to announce in the House before very long. As the basis of these proposals, we are trying to get a complete census of building capacity, and the aim of the proposals will be to increase efficiency, particularly by avoiding senseless competition between firms for work and for labour. We hope also to bring in the smaller builders for work which they can handle. I should like to give the House fuller details of what we are planning, but I think it will be agreed that we should not bring the dish out of the oven until it has been cooked or bad digestion might follow.&lt;lb/&gt;
        Next I should like to give some account of what we have done by way of first-aid repairs, both to houses and factories. When the Government were making their plans for dealing with air raids in the days before the war, it was decided that local authorities, under the direction of the Ministry of Health, should be responsible for what came to be known as
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        &quot;first-aid repairs&quot; to houses. The coming of the &quot;blitz&quot; proved that insufficient account had been taken of the fact that modern aerial bombardment makes temporarily uninhabitable a vastly greater number of houses than it actually destroys. The result was, after a few weeks of '' blitz '' that a number of local authorities in the Metropolitan area found themselves overwhelmed with repair work. My Noble Friend, therefore, made arrangements, with the active and willing co-operation of the War Office and Ministry of Labour, for the withdrawal from the Army of a number of building trade operatives, who would be formed into a mobile corps of house repairers, working directly under the Ministry of Works and Buildings. While I am speaking a squad is on its way to Scotland to give assistance in temporary first-aid repairs to houses which have been bombed there. If a local authority wants help, it applies to the Ministry of Health, which in turn asks us to take over part of the field of work. We have at present about 3,000 men working in London and upwards of 1,000 in provincial towns. These men are employed strictly in accordance with the rules of the building trade, with the exception that they are guaranteed a 44-hour week and paid fares home once every six months during their period of work. They are also paid subsistence allowance where they are compelled to maintain two homes. We do not discharge these men, except for misconduct, but, if we no longer require their services, they are recalled to the Army. The men started arriving early in December, and tools and equipment were provided for them. A number of depots were set up for the London area, and during the last three months we have been hard at it. We have thus a select corps of shock troops which can be rushed in at any point where the enemy attack becomes too much for the first-aid repair organisation of the local authority.&lt;lb/&gt;
        So much for houses. For the repair of factories, there has been in existence for some time an excellent organisation which was worked out at the Ministry of Aircraft Production by the hon. Member for Edgbaston (Sir P. Bennett). With a view to helping this organisation, we have set up a Department of Emergency Repairs. We are establishing a nation-
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        wide organisation with emergency works officers in all important target towns and areas which are controlled by several assistant directors covering one or more Civil Defence Regions. These officers are highly qualified men whose duties are to give technical advice to the local reconstruction panels of the Emergency Services Organisation, and to war factories and others whose work is of national importance. They have also studied all available sources of supply of materials in large demand after air attack, and my Ministry will arrange, in conjunction with the Ministry if Labour, for an adequate supply of labour for first-aid repairs. They direct the use of any military units which may be brought in to assist and organise the supply and release of materials from outside sources, and ensure the most economical use in both materials and man-power.&lt;lb/&gt;
        The organisation, if required, is at the disposal of local authorities and other Departments. In connection with this organisation, we are making use of an arrangement which was made at the outbreak of war, whereby what was then the Office of Works set up dumps of building materials in target towns for air-raid repair. These are being extended, and arrangements are being made for the creation of strategic dumps, located so as to be able to serve more than one of the great industrial areas of the country. Materials will be released and labour allocated in accordance with priorities decided by the Regional Commissioners as between civil and war factory requirements, and by the local reconstruction panels and area officers of the Supply Ministries as between one war factory and another. As part of this scheme, lists of architects, surveyors and engineers are being prepared, who will be instantly available to the emergency works officers of my Ministry, to assist in giving technical advice and watching repair work through to completion with a view to ensuring that it is done in the most rapid and economical way.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Cary: Will men be taken away from important Government work to do these emergency repairs?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Hicks: It depends whether the men will be able to continue their important Government work unless the emergency repairs are put in hand. Where men
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        have been taken away from other work for a temporary period to give assistance in repairs they will be returned. This section of the Ministry has only been in existence a short time, but a number of appointments have been made, and the organisation is rapidly taking shape. It has already been in operation in certain areas and is proving to be of considerable assistance. We have undertaken to be responsible for selecting, sorting and disposing of all salvaged building material.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Silkin: Will the hon. Gentleman explain this? Does he mean that his Ministry will take over from the debris disposal authorities the waste and salvaged material which they collect?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Hicks: That is what we are hoping.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Thorne (Plaistow): Does it apply to private property?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Hicks: Yes. We have established a statistical department, which in the first instance collects facts, figures and data of this great, widely ramified industry. The industry can do with detailed examination, and everyone will be the better for it.&lt;lb/&gt;
        I have left the subject of reconstruction until the end because I feel that we should deal with immediate issues first before turning our thoughts towards the time after the war to which we are all looking forward, but which we must not allow to distract our gaze from the more immediate and urgent problems. As hon. Members may be aware, my Noble Friend recently gave an account, in another place, of the progress which we have so far achieved, and I will not go over again in detail ground which he then covered. Broadly, the functions which the Minister of Works and Buildings will undertake in connection with reconstruction have emerged as part of a general framework of post-war planning, which will be under the general control of my right hon. Friend the Minister without Portfolio, and we have labelled this group &quot;The Physical Reconstruction of Town and Country.&quot; We have to remember all the time when we are dealing with this vast and complicated subject, that the results of our deliberations have to emerge some time in the future in the shape of bricks and mortar, streets and terraces, towns and cities. But as we are, or try to be, first and foremost a practical Department, we have to think of the practical details and difficulties first. All
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        of us must have thought, when looking upon the results of the brutal and savage attack to which our towns have been subjected and to which for some time to come may continue to be subjected, that here in the midst of destruction is an opportunity such as never occurred before of making a bold and challenging start. So far, well and good; but as soon as we begin to examine the problem more closely difficulties begin to show their heads and the best way of dealing with the problem is to hunt out these difficulties and run them down. It is with this end in view that my Noble Friend has appointed a special expert committee, under the chairmanship of Mr. Justice Uthwatt, to investigate compensation and betterment problems and the difficulties which may arise from speculation in land values. I informed the House of the appointment of this committee on 29th January.&lt;lb/&gt;
        The problems to which we hope this Committee will offer some solution are ones which go right to the root of our economic life, and I know that some quarters of the House hold strong views about them. These I would ask not to press me too closely at present. We cannot solve these difficulties in a few weeks, and for that reason any answers which we are able to give to-day are likely to be uninformative or premature. As a further step in the direction of finding out the difficulties which lie before us and in order to surmount them, my Noble Friend has had test surveys made in co-operation with the local authorities in certain heavily damaged areas. We have the first reports now; and when they are fully examined we shall be in a better position to see exactly what legislative and administrative changes may be necessary to enable redevelopment to be undertaken. In this work we are receiving the full and active co-operation of the other Departments concerned. A wise man once remarked that genius was an infinite capacity for picking other people's brains, and this is at present what we are trying to do. In particular we have invited to assist us a Consultative Panel, consisting of some of the best-known experts on the subjects with which we have to deal, and we are steadily recruiting a small nucleus staff inside the Ministry.&lt;lb/&gt;
        I have tried to give the House some picture of how the Ministry is tackling its problems, present and future. Naturally,
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        it is the present to which we must devote our full energies, but I do not think on that account that there should be any criticism if we spend a little of our time thinking ahead. I think it would be one of the greatest incentives we could have to put our best foot foremost in the march to victory if we could have before us an ever-clarifying picture of the Britain which we want to build up after this struggle and the time when we shall have a great and victorious people worthily housed. If we can achieve this ideal it will be our proud boast that after beating the most powerful enemy from without which has ever come against us, we have gone on to win an ever greater victory at home.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Denman: The hon. Gentleman asserted that his function was the physical reconstruction of damaged areas. Will he make it clear that that includes planning?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Hicks: Yes.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Lawson: The House very much appreciates the thorough review which the Parliamentary Secretary has given it, particularly the detailed explanation of the functions of his Department, and it appreciates that the business of the Minister, of himself and of the Department is to deal with immediate things. But, as he himself appreciated before he closed his remarks, what the Department does to-day and during the war will to a great extent affect what happens after the war. I gather that the functions of the Department cover practically the whole range of building, some of it to be done directly on behalf of Departments, but even private buildings to be under the control of the Ministry of Works. But there is one outstanding exception to that arrangement, and that is that the Defence Departments, as far as specialised work is concerned, are outside the control of the Ministry of Works. I know that there has to be some discussion between the Ministry of Works and the Defence Departments as to what are specialised works. One quite understands that, if the War Office, for instance, is building fortifications, generally speaking that would be specialised work, for which they have specialised knowledge. Then there are the Air Ministry and stores for the Navy. But I
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        suggest that even these Defence Departments ought not to be allowed to go where they like, building where they like, even with their specialised work, unless there has been very close collaboration and all the social implications of their action have been taken into consideration. I realised this at once when the Lord Privy Seal made his statement, for the simple reason that the Defence Departments have been the biggest sinners in the lack of planning and in placing works where they ought not to be. Those of us who have been in the Special Areas for years and have looked at this thing have seen it more pointedly than a good many other people. We saw it, for instance, before the agricultural element began to feel the weight of it. We had an instance in White Waltham, where the Air Ministry proposed to build a shadow factory in an area of the best agricultural land in the country. They were going to do it without any regard to the fact that there were no houses in that area, no schools, and practically no services.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. McGhee: It is still going on.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Lawson: I agree, but I am pointing the moral by this particular case. There was to be a population at this place of about 20,000, school buildings and all kinds of services would have had to be provided, and it was only because the agricultural elements in the House joined with the representatives of the industrial areas in the North that we were able to stop that outrage upon the social life of the country. It has been going on on a wide scale, and it is going on still. That is why I say that the Ministry of Works ought not to accept, merely because the Defence Services are doing a great work which we all appreciate, the mandate laid down by these Departments that they are specialised works and must be placed in certain parts of the country. What the Ministry of Supply, the Ministry of Works and the Defence Departments decide in this matter to some extent decides the trend of the population in the future. Communities grow up and have to be looked after, and I say that this is not merely a matter of building immediately but a matter of deciding what is to be the future shape of this country.&lt;lb/&gt;
        I want to make another point, which I think is important. It looks as though the
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        contracting side of the Ministry's work is getting into a few hands and into the hands of monopolists. It also looks as though those monopolists are financiers. I would ask the Ministry to have a proper look at that matter. There is a good deal of ill-feeling and, I think, righteous indignation among highly experienced contractors about the fact that financial companies can be formed and, by using the names of certain contracting companies, get tenders and great orders. In the long run the financiers have to go to the actual men who are capable of doing the work and ask for their material, plant and equipment. One case is that of the Bernard Sunley Company. They were in financial difficulties before the war, and financiers took them over. They had an aerodrome to build, but they had not sufficient equipment. They tried to use the powers at their disposal to get lorries and excavators from certain people who, when they knew the work was in the national interest, were willing to lend the equipment, but then they found who the company were, and it was a horse of another colour. Then there is Earth Movers, Limited, which has now become Bowmakers.&lt;lb/&gt;
        I want to warn the Ministry that if they are not careful, they will find themselves in the hands of monopolists who are not familiar with the contracting business. I will not say anything about material except that my hon. Friend was right when he said that it was not a question in the cement world of fat gentlemen in top hats finding great satisfaction that they were getting profits by taking no notice of the people above. As a rule some of these people are rather slim than fat, but there they are, and you cannot with regard to the immediate needs of the nation, and particularly with regard to the work that has to be done in the future, allow equipment and material to get into the hands of monopolists so that they can use them in order to get their full price and perhaps hinder development.&lt;lb/&gt;
        The right hon. Gentleman the Minister without Portfolio is to speak at the end of this Debate, because his Department is closely interwoven with the Ministry of Works. In the two years before the war there sat a great Royal Commission which was a kind of inquest upon the state of the nation socially and economically. That was the Royal Commission on the Distribution of Population, and its business was
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        to inquire into the geographical distribution of the population, its probable direction in future, the social, economic or strategical disadvantages arising from the concentration of industries or of the industrial population in large towns. The evidence given before that Commission covered a wide range. If the war had not broken out before they reported, their findings would have been among the most important matters of discussion and controversy in this nation. As a matter of fact, their Report was a Domesday Book of social and economic conditions in this country. Every Department gave valuable evidence before the Commission.&lt;lb/&gt;
        I will not go into the findings of the Commission except to say that every member of it agreed that there ought to be a central planning authority in the country. The majority, I believe, suggested that the authority should be an advisory body, but a minority proposed that it should have executive functions. Is there anybody now who has any doubt, in the light of our experience, that we need that authority and that it should have power to act? Local authorities have been doing a good deal of planning themselves, and under the Town Planning Act a few of them have done extremely well, but a good many have simply passed resolutions without implementing them. All of them, or at least most of them, had their eye on the fact that they not only wanted to provide congenial living conditions for their people but wanted to attract industry to their areas.&lt;lb/&gt;
        I do not know whether the Commission meant to be humorous in their Report, but they pointed out that, totalling up the number of people for which the local authorities were planning, they found that they had planned for a population of no fewer than 291,000,000. Each area was looking to its immediate interests. There were differences between the Ministry of Agriculture and some of the planning authorities as to whether we should have what is called fringe building or distribute the population through the country. One thing did stand out, that whatever virtue there was in whatever town planning authorities had done, they had not had the slightest regard to the national interests as regards planning the nation as a whole, for example, saving agricultural land or directing certain industries to places where they should be located,
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        so far as it is possible to regulate them. In some cases their work had been actually adverse to the general principle of planning. For one thing, there was no control.&lt;lb/&gt;
        I was pleased to hear my hon. Friend make a statement about the appointment of the Uthwatt Committee. The report of the Royal Commission had something to say upon the exploitation of land values, and suggested what was pretty much a development commission. Although it is finished for the moment, I hope that both Ministers will make up their minds that there is to be no more ribbon-building in this country. I have spent a great part of my life in colliery villages and, in fact, spent half my life in a colliery house. Critical things have been said about some of these colliery villages and rightly so, and bitter things have been said about them by colliers, but I tell the House that I would rather live in a colliery area than in one of these ribbon-built areas. One can at least get away from a colliery area, get into the fields, get among the woods and forget it for a short time; but who can forget the Great West Road, that monstrosity of our present-day social life? I hope there will be an end of that business once and for all. What hypocrisy there was when this House put through the ribbon-building Act. Everybody knew that the local authorities, the county councils, could not give the necessary compensation. The Act was meant to be a kind of moral gesture. I think the only effect of it was to expedite the race along the roads, and if it had not been for the war, we should hardly have been able to see a field by now.&lt;lb/&gt;
        It may be the business of the Minister without Portfolio, but I hope that some Ministry is keeping a register of the woods which are being destroyed as a result of the demand for timber. In some industrial areas, sometimes through the wisdom of the local authority, sometimes because landlords had good sense, woods have been left here and there, and they break the harshness of those areas. I spent a great part of my life in an area in which there were no woods. Then it happened that I moved into another mining area where there were fringes of woods. They broke the harsh effect of the long lines of dull houses, sometimes
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        they hid the pit-head gear. Boys and girls and men and women could go into the woods in the Spring, see a few flowers, and watch for the blue-bells coming. I saw a wood destroyed in my immediate neighbourhood. I remember a little boy of 10 years of age watching, as beech trees were being cut down. Why they should cut down beech trees I do not know, because the wood is not hard. The boy was almost in tears, and he said: &quot;They are destroying our woods, Mr. Lawson.&quot;&lt;lb/&gt;
        After the destruction of timber all round this country during the last war, very few of the places affected were re-planted. We reafforested on a very limited scale. I remember the Comission suggesting that we should plant 100,000 acres a year. Then came the axe, and it was decided to plant only 10,000 acres a year. In 1935 we were told by the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye (Sir G Courthope), who sits here as head of the Forestry Commission, that we had to grow the proper seed. In 1931 no fewer than 50,000,000 saplings were destroyed. I want the Departments responsible for rebuilding to take stock of the places where timber has been destroyed. In whatever way we plan to rebuild in future, let us give the youngsters some trees. Let us give them some of the amenities. Let us get away from the idea that trees are only for some gentlemen's parks; let us have regard to the deeper spiritual needs of our people.&lt;lb/&gt;
        There is the question of drainage. It was discovered that there is no central drainage system in this country, and no central water authority. I was present at a discussion some months ago, I will not give details of it, but it was of great importance to the area concerned and to the nation. Representatives of the electricity authority were asked what reserves they had in hand for use if destruction came to certain land. They said they were all right because the Central Electricity Board had promised to arrange to supply what was needed. We turned to those responsible for water supply in the area, and asked, &quot;What is the position with regard to your reserves?&quot; They said, &quot;I am sorry, but there is no central water board.&quot; The reserves were there, but it was clear that centralisation in this respect would be of very great value indeed in the hour of the nation's need. There certainly needs to be consideration of a central authority for drainage.&lt;lb/&gt;
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        A great deal of discussion has taken place about the aesthetic side of building in the future. No one undervalues that matter, and I sometimes think it is a very cynical comment upon modern civilisation that we have to go back to the buildings of 1,000 years ago for anything of real grace and beauty. [&lt;i&gt;Interruption.&lt;/i&gt;] I am not ignoring the fact that attempts have recently been made to alter this position, but the results are prominent by their exceptional character.&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Henry Strauss: Does the hon. Gentleman, with a great deal of whose speech I agree, entirely ignore the glories of the 18th century? Does he wipe out Bath?&lt;br/&gt;Mr. Lawson: I was well on in my teens before I saw a beautiful building. Then I emerged, like one from a far journey, to see Durham Cathedral. I remember, too, when I had the privilege of a little education, how overwhelmed I was by the High in Oxford. The beauties of 18th century architecture are limited to certain areas. The great bulk of the working-class population of this country are utterly poverty-stricken in respect of architecture of any beauty at all. They set: endless miles of squalid streets. There are whole towns without a building of which we might be proud. I agree with those who talk about the need to build beautiful and gracious buildings, but I hope they will bear in mind that such rebuilding should not be limited to certain parts of the country, such as older areas that have hitherto had the privilege of possessing great architecture. Regard must be paid to the people who do the rough and ready work of the country and who have hitherto been starved of good architecture.&lt;lb/&gt;
        In this age of wealth, which is so great that we have had to destroy great masses of it, it is remarkable that we have produced hardly anything worth while in the realm of architecture. I hope that landlords will not be allowed to make profit out of the coming times. If you are to prevent exploitation in this respect, I do not see any way out of it but by frankly and simply nationalising the land. Whatever the Government do, I hope no profit-making will be allowed to take place out of the nation's need in the days to come. We have heard a lot from Germany about wanting more room, but no one wants
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        more room than do the people of England. The report of the Royal Commission on the Distribution of Population pointed out the comparison of the population of Europe per square mile. Belgium had a population of 702 people per square mile, France 197, Germany 353, Italy 360, and Great Britain 518. I believe that the population per square mile in England alone was 766, as a matter of fact.&lt;lb/&gt;
        The right hon. Gentleman has a very difficult task in trying to shape the community of the future and spreading it out over the country. There may have to be some fringe building and also some dispersal, with due regard to the needs of agriculture. I do not want to see Britain all straight lines. I want to see the rural areas preserved, as far as possible, on the lines of those old lanes in England, Scot-land and Wales. The personality of a country is as important as the personality of its people. We need playgrounds, preserved areas of mountain and fell, in order that the industrial population may find recuperation.&lt;lb/&gt;
        I do not wish to take up too much time, but here is the economic side of the matter. I do not envy the right Hon. Gentleman nor the Government their jobs, but I would like to point out that after the last war this country did some stupid things. Take my own industry. After bitter struggles and much suffering in the mining industry, right up to 1939, the Government of the country have been driven back stage by stage to do the very things that they were asked to do after the last war. It has been my lot recently to go very closely into the history of this matter. It is a remarkable fact that personal and capitalist interests resisted not only what they have had to accept but what they asked for as the result of their own doings. I do not see any way of avoiding the situation in which the nation owns&amp;#x2014;let it be in what form it likes&amp;#x2014;the land and the great industries and takes some very strong control over finance. This is the first of our Debates, and I think it is a tribute to the House and to the country that when we are fighting for our lives we should try to look into the future and make our contribution towards deciding what things are to going to be.&lt;lb/&gt;
        To-day we live in a very exalted frame of mind. We are not a people who wear our hearts upon our sleeves, but I think
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        that if the hearts of the people in this country&amp;#x2014;rich and poor, in cottage and palace&amp;#x2014;could be read, there would be found there a sense of faith and duty, and a capacity for sacrifice almost unparalleled in the world's history. But some of us in some areas in the years since the last war have gone through woe and bitterness. We have seen neighbours, workmates, friends and old schoolmates go to pieces before our eyes. We have felt neglected and bitter at times. There is all the danger in this war of the development of more Special Areas. The experience which we have had during the last 20 years ought to be of service to us in teaching us to avoid the sufferings and bitterness of those years. I sometimes think that it is a marvellous thing that in those very areas, somehow or other, by a veritable miracle, the sense' of faith and loyalty to the nation and a belief in things that matter have survived. If we can maintain our present mood and prosecute peace in the same spirit of adventure and determination as we are prosecuting this war, there is no problem over which we cannot triumph, and we can give the world in the future as we are giving it today a story of achievement which will be worthy of these days of our testing. If we have the same courage, vision and capacity for sacrifice in the days to come as we have now, I think that we can give the world a lesson and something to wonder at for centuries to come.&lt;br/&gt;Sir Percy Harris: I would like to congratulate my hon. Friend, whom I have now known for a good many years, on his most interesting survey of the activities of his Department. If he would allow me to say so, his is a case of poacher turned gamekeeper. I remember on one occasion going with him in critical attitude as an independent Member to see certain Ministers and to press their Departments into greater activity. Now he has the opportunity to carry out the work himself. No one is more qualified. During his half-century's experience in the building industry he has always taken a wide view of the industry, and has stood up not only for the operatives but the architects and engineers. The Noble Lord who presides over his Department is lucky to have a practical man with a wide knowledge to represent him in this House of Commons.&lt;lb/&gt;
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        I was interested in many of the details he told us of the activities of his Department. I was particularly pleased by his reference to the shock salvage workers who are to go down to the destroyed areas and help the local authorities. He has many difficult tasks which want tact and wise handling, particularly the difficult task of deciding on priorities. I am satisfied that as an old politician and an old trade union leader he will show impartiality and wisdom in discharging that part of his work. I would like to see his Department even more glorified, and to see the new Ministry of Works and Buildings working for all the Service Departments. In doing contract work, the Admiralty, the War Office, the Air Ministry and the Ministry of Supply, instead of starting their own sections and engaging emergency staffs, would be much wiser to employ the Ministry of Works and Buildings to carry out all their building work. The old Office of Works&amp;#x2014;if I may be allowed to call it by its former name&amp;#x2014;has accumulated knowledge and experience; it has competent experts, and I believe that many of the scandals connected with some of the building work which has been improvised under the most difficult circumstances would have been' avoided if it had been allowed to carry out the work. I have myself seen excellent work done by the Ministry for the Admiralty in the design and construction of camps, and this shows that it would be wiser to make this the building Department for all Services except under exceptional conditions. I am speaking now as a member of the Select Committee which has issued voluminous reports on all kinds of contract work. My hon. Friend, in his excellent speech, made some reference to the big contractors who are carrying out some of the jobs, but if we had one Department coordinating the whole of the building effort, I believe that not only would these scandals be prevented, but there would be greater efficiency, and competition for labour and material would be avoided. Further, there would be more planning in the location of camps and in the creation of new factories.&lt;lb/&gt;
        I know that a great number of hon. Members are anxious to speak, and I believe that almost every Member present is capable of making a contribution if he has the opportunity, and so for a few moments I wish to concentrate on the very difficult problem of reconstruction which we shall have to face when those
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        happy days come&amp;#x2014;I am afraid we shall have to wait some time for them&amp;#x2014;when peace is declared. We can learn from the experience of the last post-war years. I was a Member of this House during the last war, and directly afterwards I was a member of a great local authority. We had great expectations. We were going to make this a land fit for heroes, and those were not merely empty words; we really believed it. But what disappointments. My hon. Friend painted a very lurid picture of some of the tragedies of ribbon development and so on. I remember the tremendous difficulties we had. There was a terriffic housing shortage. For four years during the last war building had stopped, and from the ordinary wastage, and various other causes, there was a house famine. The whole country was determined to build a new and pleasant land, but when we began to get to work we found a shortage of everything&amp;#x2014;of skilled labour and of material, as my right hon. Friend will remember, because he was then very active in the building industry. We could not get bricklayers, joiners or plasterers; in the same way, there was a shortage of bricks and tiles. We even had to import tiles from abroad. There was a shortage of light castings and inevitably of timber as well.&lt;lb/&gt;
        All these things will recur, unless very great foresight is shown when we begin reconstruction after this war. The prices of houses soared up, and you can still see to-day working-class houses which cost &amp;#x00A3;1,250 or &amp;#x00A3;1,300 each, and not too well built at that. We tried all sorts of substitutes; we tried building timber houses, concrete houses, steel houses&amp;#x2014;all kinds of fantastic houses&amp;#x2014;but when it came down to bedrock we found that on the whole, except in certain areas like the Cotswolds, where stone is available, no real, comfortable substitute for British brick houses could be found.&lt;lb/&gt;
        I am glad the hon. Gentleman is in his present position, because he is no idle dreamer, but a realist of practical experience. I hope he will work out his plans now for the supply of material and the necessary skilled labour. Perhaps in some ways he is more fortunate, because to-day more building is going on, and there is not likely to be the same diversion of skilled labour to other industries
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        during this war as there was before. But undoubtedly connected with the problem is the question of local government and the purchase of land. We in London had big ideas. I remember that we bought some 3,000 acres, now entirely built over, at that delectable spot called Becontree. We had large views, and we wanted to create there a new town with all the amenities of local government and variety of development, but we found ourselves up against a brick wall. We were not allowed to have a local authority; we had to divide responsibility for all our services between three local authorities&amp;#x2014;Ilford, Barking and Dagenham. We had all sorts of difficulties which held up our development, difficulties of water supply, drainage and education. We had vision and understanding of the problem, and if Parliament had authorised the setting-up of a 