asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that a considerable number of ground engineers employed by Imperial Airways, Limited, at Croydon airport have recently been dismissed; and whether he will state the reason for this?

I understand that Imperial Airways Limited have recently discharged three ground engineers, two of whom were probationers. The reason for their discharge, I am informed, was that they were surplus to requirements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider allowing a remission in duty on petrol used in private flying, in order to stimulate the development of this nationally important branch of aviation?

My hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate my Budget statement.

asked the Home Secretary what instructions have been issued to superintendents of police in London regarding the granting of permission to the Fascist or Communist parties to organise processions after dusk; and whether exactly similar treatment is being accorded to both sides?

The Commissioner of Police has issued instructions to District Officers that in every case where there is reason to believe that a projected procession may lead to disorder the matter should be specially reported to him so that he may consider whether it is desirable to impose any conditions in respect of the procession under Section 3 (1) of the Public Order Act, 1936. In deciding whether any such conditions should be imposed in the case of any particular procession, the Commissioner—as required by the Act—has regard to the circumstances of that procession. He has no power to lay down rules for a uniform practice in this matter. In accordance with the provisions of the Act he must exercise his discretion on each occasion in accordance with the particular circumstances. In so doing he is, of course, indifferent to the political opinions of the organisers of the procession, and concerned only with the requirements of public order.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has had any reports during the last six months of violent attempts by either Communists or Fascists to interfere with each other's processions; and, if so, who were the offenders in each case?

During the last six months there has been only one occasion on which any violent attempt has been made to interfere with an organised Communist or Fascist procession in the Metropolitan Police District. That was the occasion on which proceedings were taken against a considerable number of persons for offences arising out of their opposition to the march of the British Union of Fascists from Millbank to Bermondsey on 3rd October last.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is satisfied that the provisions of the Shops Acts relating to half-day closing are being satisfactorily observed and that the maximum fines for breaches of the law in this respect are adequate?

I have no reason to think that, generally speaking, the provisions to which my hon. Friend refers are not being properly observed, or that the maximum penalties provided by the Statute are not adequate for their purpose.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the policy of the Government arising from the granting of the appeal of the Eldorado Ice Cream Company, Limited, against decisions of the justices at Marlborough and Scunthorpe under the Shops (Sunday Trading Restriction) Act?

I am not at present in a position to add anything to the reply which I gave to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Hillsborough (Mr. Alexander) on this subject on 16th February.

asked the Postmaster-General how many air mails leave this country without specified times at which the public can post with the certainty of catching these air mails; and whether, owing to the uncertainty thus caused to business firms, he is aware of the greater use being made of foreign air mails which fly according to a fixed schedule?

The only air services in respect of which full information as to latest posting times is not at present published are those provided for the conveyance of first-class mail to Empire countries on the routes to East and South Africa and to India and Malaya respectively. I hope that, when adequate experience has been had of the incidence of this traffic in relation to the aircraft capacity available, I may be in a position to publish such information, and I have already done so in the case of one of the weekly services to South Africa. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative, and I would add that the approximate weekly weight of United Kingdom mail carried by Imperial Airways on these routes is 15 tons as against about 30 lbs. carried by foreign air lines.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the practice of the Post Office in connection with the surcharge on air-mail letters brought about by the ignorance of the public; whether letters liable to surcharge are held up at the London General Post Office and returned to senders or whether they are sent forward for the addressee to pay the surcharge; and further, will he give an approximate figure of the total surcharge made during the last 12 months and the proportion it bears to the properly stamped air-mail letters carried to the same destination?

I assume that the hon. Member refers particularly to the services provided under the Empire Air Mail Scheme for the conveyance of all first class mail at the flat rate of postage of 1½d. per half ounce. Insufficiently prepaid letters addressed to countries abroad are, under international regulations, sent forward marked for collection from the addressee of a surcharge equal to double the deficiency. I regret I am not in a position to estimate the total amount of surcharges which have been collected on insufficiently prepaid letters posted in the United Kingdom since the Empire Scheme started, as these amounts are retained by the postal administrations of the countries of destination. I may add that, by agreement with the countries participating in the scheme, arrangements have been made to waive the collection of the surcharges due for short periods following the inception of each stage of the scheme.

asked the Postmaster-General in view of the rapid extension of the air-mail services to the Dominions and Dependencies and the fact that many people are unaware that the charge is 1½d. per half-ounce only, and the inconveniences and delay caused by the consequent surcharge, he will consult various business bodies such as the Association of Chambers of Commerce before further extensions are made?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question of 3rd February. I have been in the closest touch with the Association of British Chambers of Commerce and other business organisations since before the first stage of the Empire Air Mail Scheme was introduced, and I am much indebted to them for their valuable advice and assistance in facilitating the introduction of the scheme and in making known to their members the correct postage rate of 1½d. per half-ounce.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give urgent consideration to the special problem of the islands and highlands of Scotland in relation to the Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts, with a view to amendment or new legislation, in order to arrive at regulations suited to the conditions in those parts?

If the hon. Member will let me have particulars of the special problems which he has in mind, I shall be glad to consider them.

asked the Minister of Health (1) the number of persons in South Wales and Monmouthshire in receipt of old age pensions for 1930, and each year to date;(2) the number of widows and dependents in receipt of pensions in South Wales and Monmouthshire from the year 1930 to date?

I regret that the information asked for by the hon. Member is not available as the records of pensioners are not arranged on a territorial basis.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of ratings for whom special recommendation forms for commissioned rank now exist; and the numbers reported from the harbour training establishments and sea-going ships, respectively?

The number of ratings in question is 212; the number of reports which were started in harbour training establishments and depots is 76, and the number started in sea-going ships is 136. These numbers include both seaman and engine room ratings.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of writer and supply ratings, respectively, who have passed the higher educational rank for warrant officers; and the number of each branch between the ages of 24 and 30 who have qualified professionally for warrant rank?

One hundred and eighty writer ratings and 196 supply ratings have passed educationally for warrant rank. The number who have qualified professionally for that rank and who are between the ages mentioned by the hon. Member is 15 in the writer branch and seven in the supply branch.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty under what circumstances Mr. L. G. E. Ring, an assigned employé in Plymouth Dockyard, failed to secure the position of overseer, Grade II (Smiths), observing that a Mr. Bert Marsh was selected although many years junior to Mr. Ring?

Assistant overseers, Grade II, are selected principally on their qualifications and suitability for these special posts. All the candidates for the post referred to, including Mr. Ring, were fully considered, and the selection of Mr. Marsh for the appointment was made in the best interests of the service.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the extent of the property he is proposing to acquire in South Pembrokeshire for a tank school, where exactly the land is situated, and the circumstances under which his decision has been come to?

A proposal is under consideration for acquiring for the purpose of a tank gunnery range an area of about 6,000 acres in the south-west corner of Pembrokeshire in the neighbourhood of Linney Head. No decision has yet been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the delay in issuing mobile wireless equipment to Royal Artillery Brigades, Territorial Army; that necessary training is thereby being seriously handicapped; and when it is intended to remedy this shortage?

Training requirements are being met as far as possible by pools of wireless equipment, and my hon. and gallant Friend may rely upon it that the Territorial Army will receive the utmost consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give any indication as to when the committee of inquiry into the administration of the Territorial Army is likely to make its Report?

As this matter is in the hands of the committee itself, my right hon. Friend cannot precisely say.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he proposes to give effect to the holidays provision contained in the printing trades hours and holidays agreement, October, 1937, in the several departments of the Ordnance Committee Press?

Workpeople generally at the Royal Arsenal get the same paid holidays, and it would be unfair to give a preference to the class mentioned.

asked the Minister of Health what local authorities have power by private Act of Parliament to deal in milk and coal and to treat household, street, or trade refuse?

So far as I am aware, only the corporation of Sheffield have a local Act power to deal generally in milk. Five other local authorities have a limited power to sell prepared milk for infants. I am not aware of any local authority having such a power to deal in coal. The treatment of house, street, and trade refuse is ordinarily dealt with under general legislation now included in Section 76 of the Public Health Act, 1936. Express local Act powers have also been obtained for the manufacture and disposal of artificial stone from refuse by a number of authorities, the most recent case being in 1930.

asked the Minister of Health how many deaths from small-pox were registered during the year 1937 in England and Wales?

No deaths from smallpox were registered during 1937 in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Health how many death certificates were received during the year 1937 on which death was attributed entirely, or in part, to vaccination, post-vaccinal encephalitis, or vaccinia; what were the ages of the persons to whom the certificates related; and how many of them, and which, will be classified by the Registrar-General as deaths to be included in the vaccinia class?

The answer to the first part of the question is nine. The ages of the persons concerned were respectively three months, four months (four cases), five months, seven months, 14 years and 24 years. As regards the last part of the question, all the deaths except that of one child of four months have been assigned to the vaccinia class.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider amending Section 29 (1) of the Contributory Pensions Act, 1936, to enable claimants to obtain payment of widow's contributory pension from the date of the husband's death, instead of from a date three months prior to the claim being made?

The provisions in the Act referred to were carefully considered by Parliament and I do not as at present advised think it desirable to make any alteration.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will arrange for the lifts in the House of Commons to park, when not in transit, on the Library floor so that they may be of more use to Members?

I have consulted the authorities of the House and have arranged that the hon. Member's proposal shall be given a trial.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give the promised information regarding British combatants and non-combatants in Palestine killed or injured, respectively, by violence during the year to 30th November, 1937, or later convenient date, and relative particulars?

Casualties during the calendar year 1937 were as follow:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what indication there is that local education authorities are extending their activities under Section 86 of the Education Act, 1921, as a result of the amendment of that section by Section 6 of the Physical Training and Recreation Act, 1937?

Although the amendment to Section 86 of the Education Act, 1921, has only been in operation for a comparatively short period, there is already ample evidence that local education authorities are making use of their extended powers. In the seven months since 1st August, 1937, 43 proposals for the benefit of young persons and adults have been approved or are under consideration as compared with 18 similar proposals in the seven months immediately prior to That date.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that the increasing number of houses and the rebuilding on the cleared slum areas render it desirable that the advantages of the Land Registration Act, 1925, should be made more widely available without further delay; and will he request the Ordnance Survey Department to complete one or more additional surveys of the compulsory areas now being considered for selection by Mr. Attorney-General to enable Section 120 of the Act to be put into operation as soon as the next, and the next-after, areas are added to the land registry?

As I stated on the 23rd February, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-on-Tyne, West (Sir J. Leech) the question of the area next to be selected for an order under Section 120 of the Land Registration Act, 1925, is in an advanced state of consideration. Until that question has been decided, it is not possible to undertake any such special work as may be necessary for the preparation of maps for the area.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of persons in South Wales and Monmouthshire who have obtained an increase in unemployment assistance allowance for each month in 1937 to date, and the number who have sustained a decrease and the total sums, respectively?

I assume that the hon. Member's question relates to increases and decreases as a result of the operation of the Unemployment Assistance Regulations, 1936, as distinct from adjustments which are due to changes in applicants' circumstances. Figures are not available to show month by month the number of persons in South Wales and Monmouthshire who obtained increased unemployment allowances, but in the Unemployment Assistance Board's administrative districts of Cardiff, Newport and Swansea the number of persons whose assessments in December, 1936, when all cases had been reviewed under the new Regulations, were greater than they would have been under the standstill arrangements was about 29,800.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that he is not able to extend unemployment insurance to black-coated workers this Session, he will consider placing it in the forefront of legislation for next Session?

My hon. Friend's suggestion will be borne in mind.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give consideration to the need for the establishment of a trade board for the dry-cleaning industry?

I am not aware that conditions in this trade are such as to call for consideration under the Trade Boards Acts, but if the hon. Member has any relevant information, I shall be glad to consider it.