Mr Tom Driberg: Further to that point of Order. Did not the hon. Members who spoke first and second quote from speeches made in another place?
Mr Tom Driberg: asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of misunderstanding in regard to the ringing of church. bells on 3rd June, being Ascension Day, he will now regularise the position by allowing those responsible for the ringing of such bells discretion in the use of them on week-days?
Mr Tom Driberg: And will guarantee another war in 20 years.
Mr Tom Driberg: I do not want to say anything about personalities. I merely want to urge the right hon. Gentleman to repudiate most vigorously these attempts, which I regard as mischievous and ignorant attempts, by apparently influential groups in his own party, and other people, to prejudge what must surely be a matter for the whole of the United Nations to decide, and I want him to endorse the very wise...
Mr Tom Driberg: asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that agricultural and other war workers in some rural districts have to travel as much as 14 miles each way to collect the new ration books; and whether, in view of transport and other difficulties, he will make other arrangements as soon as possible for local distribution?
Mr Tom Driberg: If it is possible to make a block issue for factories, is it not possible to do so for remote villages; and for that purpose, could the hon. Member not use the emergency food officers in those places?
Mr Tom Driberg: In view of what the hon. Member said about security, will he take note of the second part of my former Supplementary, suggesting the utilisation of the existing emergency food officers in remote villages?
Mr Tom Driberg: Yes—parsons, school teachers and so on.
Mr Tom Driberg: I desire to raise the question of clothing coupons for the uniformed police. I will endeavour to allow the hon. Gentleman who is going to reply just a minute or two in which to say "Yes" or "No." I hope he will forgive me if I do not do much more than this, because it is a little difficult when almost half the very brief time has been taken up in this necessary and important business for the...
Mr Tom Driberg: In so far as they are not sedentary, they are surely less fortunate than others, since the wear and tear of their clothes is more. The mathematics of the situation are these. When clothes rationing started in July, 1941, civilians were allowed 66 coupons for a 12 months period. Of these, it was estimated that the police could reasonably be expected to surrender 18 coupons, thus leaving them...
Mr Tom Driberg: It may be, but it is rather an unfortunate situation that arises, I maintain, from the excessive demand for coupons from them—[Interruption.]—I want to get through this as quickly as possible, if the hon. Member will allow me. It is a situation, at any rate, which is not good for discipline. There is a second point, and another offence might come in here. I know of a young policeman who...
Mr Tom Driberg: I did not say that the police did not withstand temptation.
Mr Tom Driberg: I did not say that they would. On the contrary, I said that they were scrupulously honest.
Mr Tom Driberg: asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether, in view of the widespread anxiety caused by allegations made in evidence at the inquest on Rifleman Clayton, he will make a statement on conditions and methods of discipline and inspection in detention barracks generally; (2) whether he is aware that treatment, similar to that which led to the death of Rifleman Clayton, has been administered...
Mr Tom Driberg: Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is not the case that the inspectors' "frequent visits," of which he spoke, are always notified in advance to the responsible authorities in each barracks?
Mr Tom Driberg: asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that the two medical examinations of soldiers sent to detention barracks are carried out generally with sufficient care?
Mr Tom Driberg: Will the hon. Gentleman consider extending these improvements as soon as possible to the smaller minelaying craft, many of which have no equipment whatever in their lifeboats?
Mr Tom Driberg: asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the number of clothing coupons allowed to be retained by policemen, for the purchase of civilian clothing, underclothing, socks and household linen, is now approximately 33 for a period of 12 months; and if he will consider reducing the number of coupons which the police are required to surrender.
Mr Tom Driberg: Is the hon. Gentleman really suggesting that policemen, especially in rural areas, who have to cycle on an average 3o to 40 miles a day in the course of their duties, are sedentary workers?
Mr Tom Driberg: I have postponed the Question by arrangement.