Mr Reginald Purbrick: Does that mean that in the meantime we have to go thirsty for whisky while Australia is flooded out with it?
Mr Reginald Purbrick: asked the Minister of Aircraft Production what disciplinary action, apart from the fine in the police court, has been taken in regard to the case of Mills and Fern in a West Midland town, with which he is acquainted?
Mr Reginald Purbrick: asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport, whether, in view of the proposed curtailment in the distribution of petrol, he will institute a speed-limit throughout the country for commercial vehicles, whether private or Government, of 25 miles per hour, and for other vehicles of 35 miles per hour, thus ensuring a large reduction in the consumption of petrol?
Mr Reginald Purbrick: Are steps being taken to see that the Regulations as they now exist are being enforced and to stop lorries being driven along the roads at 40 to 50 miles an hour, which is quite unnecessary?
Mr Reginald Purbrick: asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will now take steps to discontinue the system of paying overtime to civil servants except in isolated cases of urgent necessity, which should be subjected to strict scrutiny; and by this means increase the efficiency of the Service and effect a saving of some millions of pounds per annum?
Mr Reginald Purbrick: In view of the fact that the Civil Service have adequate staff, what is the necessity for the large amount of overtime?
Mr Reginald Purbrick: No doubt if the Minister would refer to the Ministry of Supply, he would get sufficient evidence.
Mr Reginald Purbrick: asked the Under-Secretary of State for War the cost of the damage done to Army motor vehicles, through accidents during the last three months for which the figlres are available?
Mr Reginald Purbrick: Is it not the view of the Financial Secretary that a considerable amount of damage is done and that a great deal of this is due to the excessive speed at which these vehicles are frequently driven? Would it not be possible to make some regulation to curtail the speed except in cases of urgency?
Mr Reginald Purbrick: asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of overtime paid in his Department for the last month for which figures are available; and has any improvement been made in the peace-time system of checking overtime to ensure that the worker has fully worked 100 per cent. in his ordinary time before working overtime?
Mr Reginald Purbrick: asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the amount of overtime paid in his Department for the last month for which figures are available; and has any improvement been made in the peace-time system of checking overtime to ensure that the worker has fully worked 100 per cent. in his ordinary time before working overtime?
Mr Reginald Purbrick: Are there no special measures taken now, in view of the large amount of overtime that is paid, to find better methods than were used in peacetime?
Mr Reginald Purbrick: asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether, with a view to saving petrol, he will reconsider the opening for public use by light motor traffic of the private road in Palace Gardens between Kensington and Bayswater?
Mr Reginald Purbrick: In view of the fact that nearly all the houses in this street are unoccupied, and the traffic for which the road was made thereby reduced to a minimum, surely its condition would permit of other light traffic without any great expenditure?
Mr Reginald Purbrick: asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport the amount of overtime paid in his Department for the last month for which figures are available; and has any improvement been made in the peacetime system of checking overtime to ensure that the worker has fully worked 100 per cent. in his ordinary time before working overtime?
Mr Reginald Purbrick: asked the Minister of Information the amount of overtime paid in his Department for the last month for which figures are available; and has any improvement been made in the peace-time system of checking overtime to ensure that the worker has fully worked 100 per cent. in his ordinary time before working overtime?
Mr Reginald Purbrick: Is the Minister satisfied that no overtime is paid until a full day's work is first performed?
Mr Reginald Purbrick: asked the Minister of Labour whether he will organise the workers under the National Dock Corporation, so that when they are unemployed they will do casual labour in other occupations and so relieve the lighterage, wharfage and stevedoring rates which have been increased under the Essential Work (Dock Labour) Order, 1941?
Mr Reginald Purbrick: asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount of overtime paid in his Department for the last month for which figures are available, and has any improvement been made in the peace-time system of checking overtime to ensure that the worker has fully worked 100 per cent. in his ordinary time before working overtime?
Mr Reginald Purbrick: In view of the large amount of overtime that is paid, should not the Minister introduce some special system of checking overtime?