Mr Francis Douglas: asked the Attorney-General whether, having regard to the many men and women serving in His Majesty's Forces who are concerned, he will take steps to reduce the interval between decree nisi and decree absolute in divorce from six months to three months?
Mr Francis Douglas: Is not the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that in order to expedite these cases very heavy fees have to be paid to the King's Proctor and that it is very unfair to those who are not well off?
Mr Francis Douglas: asked the Secretary of State for War what expense was incurred by the War Office in connection with the 4th June celebrations in North Africa?
Mr Francis Douglas: Is it the view of the War Office that the campaign in North Africa was won on the playing fields of Eton, and that that justified the issue of public stores for a private celebration?
Mr Francis Douglas: asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what expense was incurred by the Admiralty in the supply of material for the 4th June celebrations in North Africa; and whether this expense is being reimbused by anyone?
Mr Francis Douglas: asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will obtain fruit, or other foodstuffs, for use as ballast in vessels return-log from North Africa instead of Algerian wine?
Mr Francis Douglas: Will there not be an improvement in the food situation now?
Mr Francis Douglas: There is nothing in the Clause about a lump sum.
Mr Francis Douglas: I should like to be clear about one point. Is it correct that the arrangements under this Clause will not apply to local authority superannuation funds in respect of payments made into them to maintain their solvency as a result of the investigations made by the actuaries on the quinquennial valuation? That, I understood, was covered, though it was not expressly mentioned in what the...
Mr Francis Douglas: asked the Minister of Health whether any recent inquiry has been made regarding the effect of diet and housing conditions upon the incidence and prevalence of zymotic diseases?
Mr Francis Douglas: Is it not desirable that such an inquiry should be made?
Mr Francis Douglas: asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (1) by how much the cost of distributing milk has increased during the last six months; and what are the reasons for the increase; (2) why the price structure for milk gives the larger distributors an advantage of up to 1¼d. a gallon over their smaller competitors?
Mr Francis Douglas: Am I to understand that there is an advantage to the larger distributors on the ground of their costs being greater?
Mr Francis Douglas: I wish to switch the discussion now over to the question of food supply and distribution. I think no apology is needed for doing that, because it is a matter of universal concern. It matters not where one goes, food is the subject of discussion and conversation, and that fact in itself indicates what is the effect of the successive restrictions which have been imposed upon the supply and...
Mr Francis Douglas: I do not know whether the new recruit to the Government will be of help to the Parliamentary Secretary. I was about to point out that I do not raise any complaint with regard to the administration of rationing so far as it concerns staple foods of standardised quality, such as sugar, butter, margarine, and commodities of that kind where distribution can be made almost of a mechanical...
Mr Francis Douglas: Jam is not a substitute for fresh fruit, and one of the most serious deficiencies in our diet at present is that of all kinds of fresh fruit. In normal times it is possible to get fruit in some form or another at every season of the year, because it is imported from abroad. Therefore, the deprivation is felt all the more acutely. May I refer to the distribution of oranges, in which priority...
Mr Francis Douglas: I said with regard to rationed goods which were of uniform quality; I did not include all rationed goods.
Mr Francis Douglas: The hon. Member must not suggest that I was casting any aspersion upon Mrs. Roosevelt.
Mr Francis Douglas: I am sure we are all delighted to hear that statement. One can understand a little more perhaps the readiness of the right hon. Gentleman to accept the Clause when one realises that the cost will fall on the local authorities, and not on his Department.
Mr Francis Douglas: There is not a single argument which can be brought forward in favour of this proposal which cannot be brought forward for reducing the Death Duties on many other kinds of property. If it is true that they injure the interests of agriculture, it is equally true that they injure the interests of other industries. The hon. Member has attempted to escape from that dilemma by saying that in the...