asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether, in view of the educational and health benefit to be derived by the youth of Great Britain by having swimming lessons, and as the poorest children are unable to afford same, he will consider recommending that a grant be made to local authorities which will enable them to include swimming lessons in their ordinary curriculum?

Expenditure by local education authorities upon the teaching of swimming to children attending public elementary schools is recognised for grant from the Board of Education under the Elementary Education Grant Regulations, and I am glad to know that such instruction is being given to an increasing extent as part of the ordinary curriculum of the schools.

Is it proposed to increase the grant made to these schools?

No. The provision of swimming instruction for elementary school children is a matter for the local education authorities. In most cases the school children, as in the hon. Member's own constituency, are already attending public swimming baths.

What is the hon. Gentleman's attitude towards those places where there is no swimming bath of any kind for the children?

I am very glad to say that, through the National Fitness Council, large numbers of swimming baths are being provided in those areas.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that on 31st October, the eve of the municipal elections, a mock election was held in the St. Bridget's Schools, Liverpool, the alleged purpose of the election being the teaching of civic pride; that the election was directed by a Conservative alderman and two Conservative councillors, both of whom are elected representatives of the ward in which the school is situated, and was attended also by the Conservative candidate for the same ward; and will he, while not forbidding such useful lessons in citizenship, inform the local education authority that he disapproves of the attendance of elected political representatives and candidates on such occasions, particularly at election times?

My Noble Friend's attention has been drawn to the mock election to which the hon. Member refers. He understands that in this school special attention is devoted to the teaching of citizenship, and that the election was part of such instruction. It appears that the arrangements were under the full control and direction of the headmaster, although members of the city council were present and acted as returning officers. While it is not suggested that any statements of a political character were made in the school, or that any improper use was made of the occasion, my Noble Friend thinks it undesirable that persons publicly associated with any political party should be present at school activities of this sort, during the progress of elections.

while thanking the hon. Gentleman for his reply, may I ask whether he could suggest to the local authority that in this particular case, where they take special interest in this matter in the schools, the mock election should take place not within, say, three months of the ordinary November election?

I should hardly like to interfere with the local authority's discretion.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the municipal elections were a mock election?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether the restriction of capital expenditure on the provision of secondary education outlined in Circular 1464 is applicable to all local education authorities, or whether it applies only to those authorities who seek an extension of time for the carrying out of reorganisation schemes in connection with elementary education?

The temporary restriction on the replacement, improvement and enlargement of existing secondary schools is of general application, but the hon. Member will be aware that the restriction may be waived in exceptional circumstances.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary make that circular available to Members of this House who desire information?

Yes, Sir, I shall be very glad to let any hon. Member have a copy of the circular.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether the absence of any reference to technical education in Circular 1464 indicates that the Board desire local education authorities to submit schemes for the expansion of that form of education?

Yes, Sir. The Board are anxious that local education authorities should proceed, with as little delay as possible, with schemes to provide the accommodation for technical education required in their areas to meet the needs of industry.

Will the hon. Member consider issuing a circular supplementary to Circular 1464, giving the information he has just given?

I should like notice of that question.

Is my hon. Friend considering the diminished demand for technical education owing to the fall in the birth rate since 1920?

I am afraid I cannot agree with the hon. Gentleman. From the point of view of bricks and mortar, there is a definite shortage of facilities for technical education in this country, and the clear policy of the Board is to make that shortage good. That is why steps were taken some years ago to survey the country and to provide for additional expenditure in each area.

Have the Board taken into account the heavy fall in the birth rate which took place subsequent to 1920?

Fletcher asked the Prime Minister what staff will be allocated to the Lord Privy Seal for the performance of his duties in connection with civil defence; and on what day questions should be addressed to him?

For the bulk of his work the Lord Privy Seal will rely upon the services of the organisation which has hitherto served my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department. This organisation has, by mutual arrangement, been placed at his disposal, and it will be adjusted and expanded as experience may show to be necessary. In addition, the Lord Privy Seal is assembling a special staff, mainly for co-ordination purposes. As regards the last part of the question, I have consulted Mr. Speaker, and it has been arranged that the Lord Privy Seal should answer questions on Thursdays. Questions addressed to my right hon. Friend will, therefore, appear third on the Paper, immediately after questions addressed to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. This, I think, will be a convenient arrangement.

Does that mean that the Lord Privy Seal will answer in Parliament for A.R.P. services in Scotland,including fire services?

May I ask what address the Lord Privy Seal will have—where his office is to be?

His office is at the Home Office.

Is the Prime Minister incapable of answering the question of the hon. Member below the Gangway?

It is quite customary, when supplementary questions are asked which have not been put on the Paper, to ask that they should be put down.

As this is an important matter, would it be possible for a statement to be made to the House at the earliest convenient moment, so that we may understand to whom we should address questions?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that His Majesty's Government intends no transfer of British Colonial or Mandated Territories?

I have nothing to add to previous statements on this subject made on behalf of His Majesty's Government.

In order that we may be quite clear on the matter, may I ask whether His Majesty's Government adhere to an answer given to me by the Noble Lord the Member for South Dorset (Viscount Cranborne) in February of last year, when he said:

"His Majesty's Government have not considered and are not considering such a transfer."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 15thFebruary, 1937; col. 815; Vol. 320.]

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which was given on 30th November, 1937, which contains a statement of the present position.

How far have the Government moved from the position stated by the present Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he was Foreign Secretary and said that the question of the ex-German Colonies is not discussible?

Is the Prime Minister aware that any policy of colonial concession to Germany would meet, throughout the country, with tremendous opposition?

In consequence of the importance of this question, will the Prime Minister, when he meets Herr Hitler, find out from him what he really wants, so that he may be able to tell the House?

Can the Prime Minister give me an answer to my question?

I have done so in the statement I have made already.

Will the Prime Minister be in a position to make a clear statement on the Government's position as regards ex-German Colonies?

I have made a clear statement.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that, in any measures to be brought forward by the Government for placing the resources of man-power at the disposal of the State in a system of national service, similar appropriate measures will be introduced to make wealth equally available for national service?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on this subject on 1st June last, to which I have nothing to add.

Will the Prime Minister bear in mind the fact that there is a widespread feeling among the electorate that these two matters are inseparable?

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make a statement on the forthcoming visit of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and himself to Paris at the invitation of the French Government?

My Noble Friend and I have accepted with great pleasure the very kind invitation of the French Government to visit Parish from 23rd-25th November. We shall hope to take advantage of the opportunity thus offered to review the international situation, in the light of recent events, with Members of the French Government.

In view of the great importance of the conversations that are to take place in Paris, will not the Prime Minister give to the House a general outline of the subjects he proposes to discuss?

I hardly think that that would be in the public interest.

Will the Government's Chief Diplomatic Advisor accompany the Ministers on that occasion?

No, Sir.

Will any expert from the Foreign Office accompany the Prime Minister, or, perhaps, Sir Horace Wilson?

:Will the colonial question be discussed during this visit to Paris?

asked the Prime Minister whether time is to be found this Session for legislation on the subjects dealt with by the McGowan Committee on reorganisation of the electricity supply industry?

In view of the heavy programme of domestic legislation already before us this Session, I regret that I see no prospect of time being found for the legislation to which the hon. Member refers.

Is the Prime Minister aware that the Government, by their attitude, condemn large areas of agricultural land to having no electricity?

No, Sir.