asked the Home Secretary whether the face-pieces of gas masks have hitherto been stored in cans from which the air has been extracted and the inner gas or nitrogen substituted while the filters have been stored in air-tight cylinders; and what steps it is proposed to take to ensure the reasonable preservation of the gas masks which have already been distributed?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, steps have been taken to impress on the public the need to take proper care of their respirators, and my right hon. Friend has urged upon local authorities the desirability of regular inspections to see that this is being done. Boxes to contain the respirators are in process of issue and the whole position is to be reviewed in six months' time.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the water difficulties that would have arisen in Crawley and in the surrounding rural areas if billeting of any refugees had become necessary; and will he consult with the Minister of Health with a view to ending the hold-up of water supplies in that area due to the failure of the plans of the Horsham Rural District Council's water engineer?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the difficulty as to water at Crawley and he is already in communication with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health in the matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the number of air-raid wardens that have been enrolled under the air-raid protection scheme, separately, for the city and county of London and provinces; and will he give particulars of whether a comprehensive survey has been made for the purpose of affording shelter accommodation in the case of emergency?

Up to 30th September, 28,526 wardens had been enrolled in the city and county of London, and 372,000 outside. Two hundred and fifty thousand additional enrolments have been made since that date, but it is not yet known how many are wardens. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made in the Debate of Thursday last.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can state the numbers of London children whose parents refused to permit them to be evacuated on the occasion of the last emergency; and what proportion of the whole number of children were thus affected?

I understand that the parents' meetings organised by the London. County Council during the recent emergency showed that the parents of 80 per cent. of the schoolchildren were in favour of a scheme for their separate evacuation, and that subsequent communications from parents suggested that the percentage would have become higher than this at later dates.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the total number of persons recruited for air-raid precautions in Scotland, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Greenock, respe?tively; and how many in each case are air-raid wardens?

Figures distinguishing the particular services for which volunteers have enrolled are not available for any date later than the 30th September. Up to that date the numbers of volunteers generally and as air-raid wardens were as shown below:

—		Total volunteers to 30th September.	Numbers of air raid wardens included.
Scotland (whole)	…	62,260	33,218
Glasgow	…	7,926	3,327
Edinburgh	…	7,233	3,249
Greenock	…	598	331

During October it is understood that 2,839 more volunteers have been enrolled in Glasgow and 144 more in Greenock, but it is not known how many of these are for the wardens' service. No figures

Nature of Accident.	1937–38.	1936–37.	1935–36.	1934–35.
Collision with other vehicles	134	100	94	124
Collision with spur posts, standards, walls, etc.	21	24	26	18
Collision with pedestrians	4	4	4	Nil
Total	159	128	124	142

My right hon. Friend is informed that the great majority of the above accidents were of a trivial nature and that, of the total of 159 accidents which occurred in the year 1937–38 (when vehicles in use were augmented by a number of Auxiliary Fire Service appliances), 35 took place while appliances were proceeding to fires, 18 in answering malicious fire alarms, and the remaining 106 while appliances were being used for instructional purposes.As a result of these accidents in the year 1937–38 19 persons were injured and

asked the Home Secretary what would be the cost of a test evacuation of school children from the London area, provided this test was limited to taking the children to the stations to which they would normally be sent in the case of an emergency; and whether, if this cost were not prohibitive, he will arrange for such a test to be carried out on one Saturday in the Spring?

I regret that I cannot give an estimate of cost. The question whether any arrangements for the separate evacuation of London school children in time of war can be tried out, in whole or in part, will receive careful consideration in consultation with the London County Council.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give detailed particulars of road accidents in London in which the London Fire Brigade was involved during the past 12 months, with comparative figures for the previous three years?

My right hon. Friend has obtained from the London County Council the following analysis of road accidents in which London Fire Brigade vehicles were involved in the years mentioned, the period?covered being 1st November to 31st October in each year.two were killed; in the year 1936–37, 13 persons were injured; and in each of the years 1935–36 and 1934–35, 12 persons were injured.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give detailed particulars of road accidents involving injury or death of adults and young persons in the Metropolitan Police area south of the Thames during the past 12 months, with comparative figures for the previous three years, and separate particulars pertaining to the Metropolitan Police area north of the Thames?

Separate figures for the areas north of the Thames and south of the Thames respectively are not available for any period prior to 1937. The following

METROPOLITAN POLICE DISTRICT.
—	Pedestrians.		Pedal Cyclists.	Other Road Users.	Total.
	Aged 5–14.	Other Ages.
Twelve months ended 31st December, 1937:
North of river	3,842	11,280	11,192	11,550	37,865
South of river	1,994	5,200	6,521	5,804	19,519
Total—Metropolitan Police District	5,836	16,480	17,713	17,355	57,384
Nine months ended 3Oth September, 1937:
North of river	2,936	8,222	8,454	8,392	28,004
South of river	1,560	3,811	4,971	4,272	14,614
Total—Metropolitan Police District	4,496	12,033	13,425	12,664	42,618
Nine months ended 30th September, 1938:
North of river	2,831	7,818	8,383	8,402	27,434
South of river	1,492	3,583	4,758	4,356	14,189
Total—Metropolitan Police District	4,323	11,401	13,141	12,758	41,623

NOTE.—62.9 per cent. of the Metropolitan Police District lies north of the Thames and 37.1 per cent. south. Accidents are in the proportion of 65.8 per cent. north and 34.2 per cent. south.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Metropolitan police have any instructions at the present time to take action against persons who keep pythons and other pets which constitute a public danger; and, if not, whether he proposes that any instructions should be given?

The answer is in the negative. As far as I am aware, there are no statutory provisions governing the subject, but I?m advised that any person who keeps a wild or potentially dangerous animal may be held liable for any injury or damage it may cause.

asked the Home Secretary what is the number of trainees who entered Hendon Police College in each of the years since its establishment, the number of those who came from the

Particulars of the trainees are given in the accompanying table; but it is regretted that information as to the number of trainees from outside the Metropolitan Police Force who were educated at State-aided secondary schools is not available.

Course commencing.	Entry from the ranks of the Metropolitan Police Force.	Entry from outside to Metropolitan Police Force.
10th May, 1934	22	10*
1st Sept., 1934	23	6
16th Sept., 1934	22	10*
I3th Jan., 1936	19	11*
18th Jan., 1937	20	9†
6th Sept., 1937	24	6
12th Sept., 1938	11	4
* Includes one with service in another Force.
† Includes two with service in other Forces.