Mr Cyril Culverwell: Does the hon. gentleman suggest that the sole duty of the Ministry of Information, when it hears that morale is bad, is to ascertain what is being said in the way of tittle-tattle and scandal? Having found out that there is tittle-tattle and scandal, suggestions of inefficiency and of workmen making toys in- stead of aeroplanes, and so on, did not the Ministry take any steps to counteract...
Mr Cyril Culverwell: Surely if you are trying to improve morale the obvious thing is to get a report on the scandal that is being put round in publichouses, to submit it to the management and to ask whether there is any truth in it, and if there is not any truth in the statements that are being made, to say so publicly. Otherwise, the scandal goes on, the tittle-tattle does not stop, you do no good at all, and it...
Mr Cyril Culverwell: Did they report back to you?
Mr Cyril Culverwell: The Parliamentary Secretary has not answered my question whether this action was taken only in Bristol. It seems rather remarkable that the Bristol Aeroplane Company alone should receive the attentions of the Ministry of Information.
Mr Cyril Culverwell: I do not wish to make a speech but only to ask a question of the Home Secretary. I do not know what authorities or organisations he consulted before bringing forward the Bill, but I understand that the Association of Municipal Corporations does not consider the Bill necessary so far as their boroughs are concerned, because constables there have a right of appeal to the watch committees....
Mr Cyril Culverwell: asked the Minister of Information for what purpose and on whose authority has a confidential Report on the Bristol Aeroplane Company been prepared by officials of his Department; what is the nature of the material contained in this Report; and have Reports of a similar nature been compiled regarding other industrial undertakings?
Mr Cyril Culverwell: Why is a Member of Parliament not allowed to see this Report, which, I understand, was unauthorised by my right hon. Friend?
Mr Cyril Culverwell: My right hon. Friend is surely aware that this activity on the part of his local officials was not authorised by his Department? They compiled a dossier, which I have asked to see, because I cannot criticise it unless I know the nature of the contents. I beg to give notice that, owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.
Mr Cyril Culverwell: asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has considered the telegram from the Lord Mayor of Bristol complaining of the inadequate volume of fish coming to Bristol since the inception of the Zoning Scheme; and what steps is he taking to increase the supply?
Mr Cyril Culverwell: Is my hon. Friend aware that since the Zoning Scheme came into operation, the supply of fish in Bristol has been reduced to less than half, and will he take fairly active steps to see that Bristol has a supply?
Mr Cyril Culverwell: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the shortage of paper, he will consider amending His Majesty's Customs and Excise Regulations so as to allow plastic tokens to be used in theatres and other places of amusement instead of paper tickets?
Mr Cyril Culverwell: Is my right hon. Friend aware that an important group of cinema theatres is prepared to use this substitute for paper? Does he consider that a pre-war regulation of this kind should stand in the way of a measure which would certainly economise a commodity of which we are very short?
Mr Cyril Culverwell: If I bring the matter to my right hon. Friend's notice, will he go into it further with the group to which I am referring?
Mr Cyril Culverwell: Is my right hon. Friend aware that it is not so much a question of his being blamed as the fact that these miners are still in ordnance factories? The point is that they were available, and the Ministry of Labour did not take them away. It is a question of divided responsibility between Government Departments.
Mr Cyril Culverwell: Will the hon. Member say what they were doing?
Mr Cyril Culverwell: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a great number of men of military age visited the House of Commons yesterday, and will he take steps to de-reserve those who are so anxious to form a second front?
Mr Cyril Culverwell: asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider amending the Rent Restrictions Act, 1939, to permit of a member of His Majesty's Forces, who is demobilised during the war, regaining possession of his house in cases where he has let it?
Mr Cyril Culverwell: Is my right hon. Friend aware that a friend of mine who was mobilised and discharged from the Army was unable to regain possession of his house? If I send him particulars of this case, will he look into it?
Mr Cyril Culverwell: Is it a fact that since we began to evacuate the Libyan desert we have despatched heavy long-distance bombers to Africa? Would it not have been better to drop the strategic bombing in Europe in order to send them earlier?
Mr Cyril Culverwell: asked the Minister of Labour how many miners, who are fit for work in mines, are now employed in Royal Ordnance factories; and how many it is proposed to release?