asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that many girls come up to London without availing themselves of the facilities offered by his Ministry and that the consequent wastage is serious and what steps he is taking to make these facilities better known and to impress on parents the danger of allowing their daughters to come up to London through unregulated sources?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, every practicable step is taken by my officers and by juvenile advisory committees to make known, both to parents and children, by addresses and personal interviews, as well as by leaflets, posters and films, the facilities which the Department offers, including the arrangements for safeguarding the welfare of young girls taking employment away from home. I am grateful to my right hon. and gallant Friend for enabling me to draw attention once more to these facilities.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of aliens working in Great Britain under permits, distinguishing the number of extended permits, and giving the number employed in each industry during the three months ended 30th December, 1936?

I regret that the Department's records do not enable this information to be given in the form asked for. Perhaps the hon. Member will have a word with me, so that I may see whether I can assist him.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will cause a White Paper to be published indicating the number of insured workers in Great Britain who regularly receive holidays with pay, together with the nature of their employment and geographical distribution when at work?

My hon. Friend will find an account of the arrangements in operation with regard to payment of wages for holidays, under the provisions of collective agreements between employers' and workers' organisations, in a special article in the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" for April, 1936, which gave particulars, so far as available, of the industries and localities covered by these agreements. The number of workpeople concerned cannot be stated exactly, but is estimated at about 1,500,000. I am not in possession of information showing the extent to which paid holidays are granted to wage-earners in industries not covered by such collective agreements.

Has the right hon. Gentleman received any representations from industries or trade unions on this subject since the House approved the principle of annual holidays with pay?

I have received some representations.

Can the right hon. Gentleman supply hon. Members with a copy of the article?

asked the Minister of Labour when the new Special Areas Bill will be ready?

There is a later question to-day on this subject addressed to the Prime Minister.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now state when the Special Areas Bill will be introduced?

I hope that it may be possible to introduce the Bill at the end of next week.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the Bill will be at the disposal of hon. Members?

I think the introduction of the Bill and the supply of it go together. When the Bill is introduced it will be immediately available. But I will look into that point.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take note of the fact that it is really important that the House should have time to consider the contents of a Bill of this nature?

asked the Minister of Labour the average retail price of white bread per 4-lb. loaf in Great Britain, Germany, Italy and France as at the last convenient date; and has he any statistics that will show the relation which the wheat bread bears to the average weekly wage of the industrial workers in the respective countries?

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of men now

As the reply contains a table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Has the Minister any information concerning the quality of the bread supplied?

It is a very long answer of nearly a page and a half.

Does the answer deal with the last part of the question?

Yes, Sir.

The numbers enumerated as gamekeepers and game-watchers at the Census of 1931 (in England and Wales, and in Scotland) and at the Census of 1926 (in Northern Ireland) were, at those dates, as follow:

England and Wales	…	10,706
Scotland	…	4,050
Northern Ireland	…	151

Are the Government making any arrangements for these men to be more usefully employed in the event of an outbreak of war?

That is a matter of opinion.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether these men are likely to tie included in the unemployment insurance scheme at an early date?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any information as to how many possession orders have been obtained by Messrs. Barber, Walker, Limited, against their tenants involved in the present trade dispute at Harworth, Nottinghamshire; and when the earliest order is due for execution?

I have no information on these matters.

As I originally addressed this question to the Home Secretary, and as it has been referred to the Minister of Labour, will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to obtain these particulars, since I ask the question for a special reason in view of the special circumstances?

I have no responsibility for and no information on this matter.

On a point of Order. May I ask why this question was passed over to the Minister of Labour if he has no information on it and no responsibility for it? To whom should I address the question?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a hunting incident, on the 9th instant, when a stag was chased through West Wycombe across a railway line into the main street of High Wycombe, and subsequently captured by the aid of a police patrol car and handed back to the hunt; and whether he is prepared to consider introducing legislation that will make all such acts of cruelty illegal?

I have obtained a report from the Chief Constable of High Wycombe, which states that on 9th February two constables were on motor patrol on the main London to Oxford road and, at a point about 1½ miles from West Wycombe, overtook a stag running along the centre of the road. No hounds or huntsmen were to be seen. The stag entered the garden of a house, jumped through the fence and then through a second fence on to the railway line. It travelled towards High Wycombe along the railway line for some 500 yards and, on reaching the railway goods yard, returned to the main road. Apparently confused by the volume of traffic at this point, the stag jumped a fence and landed in the adjoining stream where the water is about 18 inches deep. Having crossed the stream, it found its way into the back garden of one of a row of houses bordering the stream and entered a shed, where it was secured. The animal was in a nervous state and bleeding from both forelegs. After an interval of about an hour, six persons arrived with a box van, into which the animal was loaded. The hon. Member will, therefore, see that the constables were not taking part in hunting the animal at all.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that I was not suggesting in any way that the constables were responsible for hunting the animal, but that the Berks and Bucks staghounds were the hunt? I was asking whether the right hon. Gentleman will consider introducing legislation to prevent in future occurrences such as this, which outrage the feelings of all decent people?

I have stated the facts, as it was my duty to do, fully and impartially, and everybody can form his own opinion on them. I am afraid I cannot take upon myself to add to the crowded programme of Government legislation.

Will the Home Secretary be so kind as to suggest to certain hon. Members sitting behind him the impropriety of laughing at the idea of a bleeding animal?

asked the Home Secretary whether he will without delay introduce legislation to prohibit the infliction of repeated sentences of corporal punishment upon children by juvenile courts, in view of recent cases which have occurred at Aldershot and elsewhere; to which his attention has been drawn, and in view of the growing public dislike of the infliction of corporal punishment?

The question of amending the law was fully discussed in 1932 in connection with the Children and Young Persons Bill, and the proposals contained in the Home Office Bill are well known. Parliament, however, then decided that the power to order birching should be retained. The Government cannot undertake further legislation on this subject at present.

Does the right hon. Gentleman really think that birching a bad boy will make him any better?

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the communication sent to him in respect to the alleged spread of cock-fighting in Cumberland and Westmorland; and whether any special steps are being taken by the police to deal with it?

The communication to which the hon. Member refers gives no details of any kind, but I have communicated with the chief constable of Cumberland and Westmorland who informs me that all possible action is taken to enforce the law.

Has the right hon. Gentleman not seen Press cuttings relating to these cock fights, and the difficulty of getting information because of the fears of the informers; and will special steps be taken by the police to deal with this matter?

I did see a Press cutting, but it was of an entirely general kind, and did not contain any detailed information at all. As I say, I have made special inquiries and the chief constable is conscious of the importance which I attach to the matter.

If I forward particulars of definite cases, will the right hon. Gentleman consider them?

Certainly.

asked the Home Secretary what arrangements have been made by the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis for the parking in the West End of motor cars belonging to seat-holders occupying seats in the stands in the Royal parks, or otherwise, on the occasion of the Coronation procession of Their Majesties on 12th May?

Under the arrangements contemplated by the Commissioner of Police, only cars provided with special windscreen labels will be admitted to the Coronation area on 12th May. The means of access to each section of the route will be designated on the label, each section having a label of a special colour, and setting down places will be allotted to each section. Arrangements will be made for parking to be permitted in certain streets which will be sign-posted. When the available parking space has been filled drivers will have to proceed outside the Coronation Area by the sign-posted routes. The available parking space will, of course, be very limited, and it is to be hoped that spectators and seat holders will use public vehicles as far as possible in preference to private vehicles. The question of the provision of certain additional parking space in the Royal parks for seat holders in the parks is at present under consideration.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when there will be a notification as to where the parking places are?

Will special accommodation be reserved for Rolls Royces?

asked the Lord President of the Council whether any arrangements are being made to reserve an adequate number of Coronation seats in Parliament Square or elsewhere which Members of Parliament may purchase for their relatives or friends?

As I have already stated, it is proposed to allocate the seats in such a manner as to provide representation of the various aspects of the national life. The number of seats to be reserved for the two Houses of Parliament under these arrangements is approximately 2,500.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the nature of the criticism of air-protection plans by the Cambridge scientists anti-war group, he proposes to take any steps to reassure the public as to the efficacy of the Government's proposals?

I am advised that the experiments carried out by the persons referred to depend on academic assumptions and have been interpreted on purely theoretical lines. Both the experiments themselves and the deductions made from them are consequently open to grave criticism. The Government's recommendations on the other hand are based upon carefully conducted experiments employing actual war gases liberated under practical conditions, and having particular regard to the circumstances in which gas can be discharged from aircraft. My right hon. Friend is satisfied, as I stated on 15th February in reply to a question by the hon. Member for North Kensington (Mr. Duncan) that the recommended methods of gas-proofing would be effective in affording a very great measure of protection and would reduce materially the number of casualties which might otherwise occur.

asked the Home Secretary (1) when it is proposed to take action arising out of the recommendations of the Fire Service Committee;

(2) what are the arrangements proposed to organise the fire service of the country in units and collectively against fires, etc., arising from hostile attack?

With regard to fire brigade co-operation for emergency purposes, schemes on a regional basis will be submitted to the local authorities concerned for their consideration as soon as the necessary preparatory work can be completed. With regard to the extension of local fire-fighting services to meet the risk of incendiary attack from the air, the action already being taken was summarised in a reply given to the hon. Member for Norwood (Mr. Sandys) on 2nd December, 1936. A memorandum on the whole subject of emergency fire brigade organisation is about to be issued to local authorities, together with a circular indicating the extent to which, and the conditions under which, Exchequer assistance will be given to fire brigade authorities in connection with their emergency schemes. The memorandum and the circular will be placed on sale, and copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

When will the memorandum be issued?

Next week or the week after.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can make a statement respecting the future of the inmates of the Metropolitan and City Police Orphanage; whether any decision has been reached respecting the amount to be allocated for maintenance of each inmate discharged; whether members of the police forces have been consulted; and whether they are willing to contribute to enable adequate maintenance to be provided?

The Commissioner of Police informs me that these and other questions arising out of the decision to close the orphanage are still under consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that people have been offered £20 per annum to maintain these children in their own homes; and does he think that this is an adequate sum?

I do know that a committee is considering the whole question, and that it has not yet made its recommendations.

Have members of the respective police forces been consulted as to whether they are willing, if the necessity arises, to make these contributions?

I could not answer that question—certainly not without notice. I repeat that there is a committee considering the matter, and that their recommendations have not yet been made.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to recent cases of death through fire caused by the accidental ignition of children's toys made of celluloid; and whether he proposes to take action to prevent such articles being exposed for sale?

asked the Home Secretary how many accidents, fatal or otherwise, to children occurred in each of the last three years through the use of celluloid toys; and whether he will consider the practicability of preventing the sale of inflammable toys?

I have no statistics on the point, but accidents of this kind have been brought to the notice of the Home Office from time to time. I am afraid that the practical difficulties in the way of controlling the sale of celluloid toys by means of legislation would be very great.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is the intention of the Government during the current Session to introduce legislation dealing with the registration and licensing of clubs?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for Bermondsey (Dr. Salter) on 25th January, to which I have nothing to add.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Crosville Motor Services, Limited, are about to establish a licensed club at their depot in Carnarvon; and in view of the danger that may arise to the travelling public owing to the taking of intoxicating drinks in that club, does the right hon. Gentleman not think it an urgent matter to bring in legislation to deal with such cases?

Of course I know nothing of that case, but I may inform the hon. and gallant Gentleman that it is not contemplated that the proposed legislation will prohibit the consumption of any intoxicants in any club.

Does not the proposed legislation contemplate giving some power to licensing authorities to refuse or grant such licences?

asked the Home Secretary whether in view of the fact that the majority of Continental countries have adopted the 24-hour clock for official use and train services, he will consider the appointment of a Departmental Committee for the purpose of reporting on the advantages of the same for Great Britain?

No, Sir. I do not think that there is any wide public demand for the suggested change.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any proposals to make for more effective use of police patrols in encouraging the observance of the Highway Code by all classes of road users?

The answer is a very long one, Mr. Speaker, but the matter is of importance.

Yes, Sir. I have had this matter under examination for some time, in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Transport, and have formed the opinion that good results would be achieved by augmenting the personnel available, not so much with a view to more frequent penal action, but primarily for the purpose of inculcating a higher standard of road sense and behaviour on the part of all classes of road users, including cyclists and pedestrians. With the concurrence of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, it is proposed to arrange for an experiment, involving a substantial increase in the number of patrols, to be carried out for a limited period in a few selected areas, including the Metropolitan Police District. For this purpose it will, of course, be necessary to secure the co-operation of any police authorities and chief officers of police who may be concerned, but I have no doubt that this will be forthcoming. The process of recruitment and the necessity for special training will make it impossible to put the full additional force on the roads before the autumn. It is contemplated that when the experiment is in full operation, it will allow for an increase of about 800 men. It is proposed, without prejudice to any permanent arrangement, that the cost of this experimental increase should be borne by the Exchequer, and the necessary Estimates will be presented to the House in due course.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and myself are anxious that it should be appreciated that, whilst there is, of course, no intention of relaxing the enforcement of the law, the experiment is designed primarily to assist and educate the road user, and not to increase the number of prosecutions. The effect upon accidents will be closely watched. In order that effective touch may be maintained with the progress of the experiment and the work of the patrols generally, arrangements are being made for the appointment of a joint consultative committee which will consist of representatives of the Departments concerned and a number of chief officers of police.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his very clear answer, may I ask whether he will consider impressing upon the police the importance of warnings in cases where there is a real element of danger, as against merely technical prosecutions or warnings?

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that these police patrols appreciate that pedestrians still have the right to use the roads of this country?

I think it may be safely assumed that they will remember that.

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the question of introducing legislation to place the onus of non-fault upon the shoulders of motorists?

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to prevent the Minister of Transport from de-restricting roads in defiance of, and against the wishes of, local watch committees?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the education of pedestrians in road sense will include lessons in skipping?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the importance of securing national unity in support of our Defence programme and foreign policy, he will issue a definite invitation to the leaders of the parties in Opposition to consult with him on the subject?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to a question which he addressed to me on 10th November last, and to the supplementary question arising therefrom.

In view of the extreme gravity of the situation, does not the Prime Minister think it worth while to make the attempt at any rate to achieve unity rather than that we should remain a disunited nation?

As the hon. Member knows from the supplementary answer I gave him last November, I think the initiative should come from hon. Members opposite. There is no one more accessible than I am.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make with reference to the proposals of the Government to be laid before the Imperial Conference respecting a greater share in the cost of Imperial Defence being borne by the Dominions?

While welcoming the opportunity afforded by the Imperial Conference for the discussion of defence and other common problems, I would remind the hon. Member that the defence expenditure of the Dominions is entirely a matter for His Majesty's Governments in the respective Dominions.

Did not the Prime Minister see the speech of the First Lord of the Admiralty on this subject, which created widespread comment throughout the Empire, and will he not give us some information on this subject?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put that question down.

Can the Prime Minister say whether the First Lord of the Admiralty was speaking on behalf of the Government on that occasion?

asked the Prime Minister whether he is now able to accede to the request of the Lord Mayor of Newcastle to receive an influential deputation from Tyneside with regard to the steelworks at Jarrow?

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the deputation which I was asked to receive following a conference held at Newcastle-on-Tyne on 5th February. I regret that the pressure upon my time makes it impossible for me to receive this deputation, but I have informed the Town Clerk of Newcastle-on-Tyne that my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade would be prepared to do so.

As the Prime Minister has just assured us that he is the most accessible of all the Ministers, may I ask why he continually refuses to hear the case of this Special Area, in view of the fact that on his own suggestion we have already exhausted all the departmental channels, and the steel situation is now becoming so serious that Cabinet action is obviously required?

I should perhaps have said "necessarily accessible" In regard to a deputation like this, the Board of Trade is the proper Department to see. I would remind the hon. Lady that all Cabinet Ministers are co-equal but, fortunately, not co-eternal.

While regretting, of course, this suggestion of political mortality on the part of the Prime Minister, may I ask him whether he is aware that the Departmental channels concerned have said on certain matters which were put forward "This needs Cabinet action," and is not the Premier the only person who can decide upon Cabinet action?

No, that is not in accordance with the constitutional practice. If the Prime Minister were to undertake to see deputations which might come to him from all over the country on subjects which are exciting interest, he would be able to do nothing else. The Departmental Minister brings the subject to the Cabinet. That is what he is there for.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the indulgence by Ministers in the practice of addressing unofficial committees or meetings of Members within the precincts of the House during the time the House is sitting; and whether, having regard to the fact that such meetings seriously deplete the attendance at other important business in the Chamber and provide sections of Members, such as, for example, the Conservative Air Committee, with information not vouchsafed to the whole House, he will recommend Ministers to avoid this practice?

I think it is well known that many meetings are held in committee rooms upstairs while the House is in session, and, so far as I am aware, such meetings are not confined to Members of any one party in the House. My Noble Friend the Secretary of State for Air informs me that, in addressing a meeting upstairs recently he did not do more than amplify and explain information which has been given in Parliamentary Debates. The main purpose of these meetings is to enable Members to keep themselves informed on various aspects of public affairs, and I do not propose to take any step to interfere with the discretion of those hon. Members who call these meetings in asking whoever they consider most qualified to address them. I am sure that my Noble Friend the Secretary of State for Air would welcome an opportunity of addressing Members of the Opposition if the hon. Gentleman would make the necessary arrangements.

While appreciating the remarks which the Prime Minister has just made, may I ask whether he has observed the strange contrast between the reluctance of the Air Ministry to give information from the Treasury Bench with the readiness of the Secretary of State for Air to give that information before unofficial meetings of Members upstairs.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can now state what action he proposes to take on the representations made by the Joint Council of Qualified Opticians against the draft regulations for the administration of ophthalmic benefit which were issued on 27th November, 1936?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given on 26th January to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Captain Macnamara). The substantive Regulations will be issued without any avoidable delay.

asked the Minister of Health the approximate number of persons between the ages of 60 and 65 years who are at present insured under the National Health and Contributory Pensions Acts?

In the middle of 1936, which is the latest date for which information is available, the number of persons between the ages of 60 and 65 who were insured under the National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions Acts was, estimated to be 850,000.