Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller: Is it not a fact that all men serving overseas have a free ration of cigarettes every week?
Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller: Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that in this country farmers are supplying hunting establishments with forage free to enable them to carry on fox hunting?
Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller: asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that farmers are being refused any supplies of sugar-beet pulp unless they guarantee to grow a certain acreage of sugar-beet for 1940; and whether this is in accordance with instructions issued by his Department?
Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller: Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are many areas that are unsuitable for growing sugar-beet where sugar-beet pulp is required for feeding purposes?
Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller: asked the Minister of Transport the number of accidents on the roads during the last three months in which motor-lorries and motor-cars, respectively, were involved?
Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller: Does not the Minister think that these statistics would be worth collecting, in view of the number of occasions on which one sees lorries driven in an unsatisfactory way and no action is taken?
Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller: asked the Minister of Supply what provisions exist, or are proposed, for the collection of paper and scrap-iron in the rural areas?
Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller: Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are now large accumulations of waste paper in many villages and that there is no means of disposing of them?
Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller: asked the Secretary of State for War whether a decision has yet been reached regarding the issue of a badge for Army reservists?
Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller: asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that New Zealand has prohibited imports of boots and shoes; and, in view of this prohibition, what steps he proposes to take bearing in mind the terms of the Ottawa Agreement?
Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller: Is it in accordance with the terms of the Ottawa Agreement?
Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller: I beg to second the Amendment. The object for which this Bill is introduced interests me as one who has had to do with horses all his life. It is unnecessary, however, to achieve the object which the framers have in mind, which is simply to deal with the undesirable schools and riding establishments which exist. It seems to me quite unnecessary for that purpose to bring in fresh legislation...
Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller: A great many charges have been made by the mover and seconder of the Bill as to the conduct of these riding establishments, but the seconder admitted that when he was asked to provide evidence it was difficult to do so.
Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller: If my hon. and gallant Friend's inspector was able to get into 150 riding schools, I do not see how there should be such an overwhelming difficulty in any other inspector getting access to these establishments. I do not think that what he has said alters my point. Surely the people who live in the neighbourhood of a riding establishment would soon know if there was any ground to think that it...
Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller: With all deference I took some notes, and I think I am correct in saying that my hon. and gallant Friend said there were a very large number of prosecutions.
Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller: "Prosecutions" was the word used, of that I am convinced; and he went on to say that convictions were not obtained in many of those cases, and that many of them were cases dealing with riding establishments. I repeat that, in my opinion, the existing powers are sufficient to deal with a man who maltreats his horses or works them when they are in an unfit condition, and if any further...
Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller: What I suggested was that if there was prima facie evidence, there was power to go and inspect the premises.
Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller: I did not raise an objection to the charge of one guinea. I objected to the farmer having to be registered at all. I said that the Bill should not apply to him in any way. I cannot see why a farmer who lives in a hunting country and hires horses for the purpose of hunting should be registered.
Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller: May I ask whether a recent committee did not report very adversely on the use of basements and cellars as air-raid shelters?
Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller: asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the proved value in Barcelona of underground air-raid shelters, he has considered the feasibility of constructing such shelters under the squares and open spaces in London and elsewhere, and reducing the cost of such shelters by utilising them normally for parking motor cars?