asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider making an amendment to the Insurance Benefit Regulations, 1936, to provide that an unemployed insured man, whose wife is in receipt of health insurance benefit, shall be allowed to draw dependants benefit in respect of her from the date his unemployment commences instead of the date of his application for such benefit, if the application is delayed by reason of his lack of knowledge of his rights in this regard?

Regulations made under Section 39 (2) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1935, enable an earlier date to be substi- tuted for the date of an application for dependants benefit in cases in which good cause is shown for delay in making the application. The question whether in a particular case the insured contributor shows good cause for delay is, like all other questions of title to benefit, determined by the independent statutory authorities.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary apply himself to the question whether the Minister is prepared to amend the Regulations so that the statement he has read shall not apply?

The Regulations at present allow for delayed applications for benefit in cases in which good cause is shown for delay. As at present advised I see no reason for holding out any promise of a change.

Is not the hon. Member aware that these unemployed men are denied benefit because they are ignorant of their rights under the Statute to draw benefit? Will he make representations to his right hon. Friend the Minister to see whether an amendment cannot be made so that unemployed men are not denied their rights when Parliament has decreed that they shall have this benefit?

If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, I shall be glad to have it brought to my notice. In general, the fact that if reasonable cause is shown redress is possible meets the average good case.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in a number of cases unemployment benefit had been refused to workers who had received sums far less than their normal wages during the holiday period; and what steps he proposes to take to secure an alteration?

My right hon. Friend has under consideration the recent report by the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee on this and allied questions.

Is it proposed to introduce legislation on the subject during the present Session, or can it be done by administrative action?

We propose first to consider the report.

Can we expect an early decision by the Government based on that report?

As early a decision as is practicable.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the destitution suffered by many families by reason of prolonged unemployment, he will obtain powers to provide the unemployed and their dependants with increased allowances during the Christmas holidays?

My right hon. Friend has no power to increase unemployment benefit payments in Christmas week. As regards unemployment allowances I am informed by the Board that, while their officers are always prepared to consider cases of special need, it is not proposed to increase allowances generally during the Christmas holidays.

Do I understand that the Minister says that they have no power to make any additional allowances?

Not to increase them generally. This, of course, leaves the Board open to consider the question of personal allowances.

Will the Minister recommend the Board to do so?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of extra winter Unemployment Assistance Board allowances granted at the Jarrow-Hebburn Exchange and to the men in the Felling area, respectively?

These allowances first become operative in payments ending 14th November and information as to the number of such additions is, therefore, not yet available.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons signing on at the Romford Employment Exchange at the beginning of November in 1930, 1937, and 1938, respectively?

The total numbers of unemployed persons, aged 14 and over, on the registers of the Romford Employment Exchange were 715 at 27th October, I930, 1,574 at 18th October, 1937, and 3,174 at 17th October, 1938. I should add that the number of insured persons aged 16–64 in this area was about doubled between 1930 and 1938.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the full staff employed at the Romford Employment Exchange at the beginning of November in 1930, 1937, and 1938, respectively?

The total staff employed at the Romford Employment Exchange at the dates mentioned numbered 7, 22 and 32, respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour when a decision is to be taken as to the site for the proposed temporary employment exchange in Hornchurch; and when construction is to commence?

It is proposed to adapt premises for immediate use as an office as soon as they can be found. The search is being diligently pursued.

Will the Minister press the matter, as the present arrangements are entirely inadequate for the Hornchurch people?

I can assure the hon. Member to that effect.

asked the Minister of Labour how many citizens of Eire are now resident in Great Britain; how many of these are scheduled employed; and how many unemployed?

I regret that the information desired by my hon. Friend is not available.

Has my hon. Friend any basis on which to make any estimate of these figures?

It would be impossible without making inquiry of every person on the register, but I can assure my hon. Friend that the possible existence of these unemployed is appreciated.

Could not the Minister find out how many there are in Liverpool or Glasgow?

Has the Department any information of the influence of emigration from Ireland on the unemployed figures here?

It is impossible to say that without the figures, which are impossible to obtain at present. I appreciate the interest hon. Members are showing in this problem, and I can assure my hon. Friend that his observation will not be overlooked.

Does that mean that there is to be no work for the Irish in Liverpool, and that you will want them for the Army?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has observed that the number of unemployed persons registered at the Employment Exchange, Greenock, rose from 6,284 on 30th September, 1938, to 6,984 on 31st October, 1938; and whether he has any explanation to account for this increase of 700 in one month?

I fail completely to recognise the figures which the hon. and learned Member has quoted. The count of unemployed persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges was taken at 12th September and 17th October respectively. The numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of the Greenock Employment Exchange were 6,640 at 12th September and 6,538 at 17th October, showing a decrease of 102 in the month. Comparable figures for other dates in these months are not available.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I have in my hand a report of the chief public assistance officer in Greenock showing the figures which appear in my question? Is he aware that this matter is causing great concern in Greenock, and that business men there are willing to put up money for armaments work in the Caird yard if the Minister of Labour will give his assistance in the matter? Will the hon. Gentleman consult with his right hon. Friend the Minister so that he may make representations to the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence who has this matter before him?

I will take note of the hon. Member's observations. With regard to the figures, the only official figures that are published are those I have just quoted.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the present position of the Lancashire Site Company; and what steps have been taken, if any, to establish new industries in the depressed areas of the county Palatine?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many site companies have been established under the Special Areas (Amendment) Act, 1937; how many factories have been built by these companies; the number employed at these factories; and the total amount spent by the Government in connection with these site companies?

I have been asked to reply. The Treasury have received no applications for assistance to site companies other than the Lancashire Industrial Sites Company, the capital of which was finally subscribed about three months ago. The Treasury have agreed to find £64,166, one-quarter of the total capital of this company. The hon. Members will appreciate that the day to day progress of a site company's work is primarily the concern of its management. I understand, however, that the company is actively pursuing its objective and is in negotiation with a number of prospective tenants, though no factories have yet actually been built.

I am sorry to put this question to the hon. and gallant Gentleman, but would he ask his right hon. Friend how comes it about that the Treasury undertakes this task of dealing with the unemployment problem in Lancashire; and would he be good enough to tell us whether, since the site company in Lancashire has been established, it has done anything whatever except writing letters and publishing pamphlets?

I will bring the points of the hon. Gentleman to the notice of my right hon. Friend.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman convey to his right hon. Friend this position, that in 1937, when this Act was brought before this House, views were expressed that it would give new hope to those areas outside the boundaries of Special Areas; and, in view of the fact that only one site company has been formed and has not yet built any factory at all, will he reconsider the whole question, as the Act is a farce?

Is it not the fact that the site company is ancillary to the Lancashire Development Council, and that that council has in fact secured the establishment of many industries in that county?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total sum granted by the Special Areas Reconstruction Association in each of the Special Areas from the commencement up to date; how many new factories have been established by their existence; and the total fresh employment provided in each area, respectively?

As the answer contains a number of figures I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take the initiative to induce employers of labour to adopt the system now in operation in many industries of paying the weekly wage on Thursdays, especially when the five-day week is established and work ceases on Friday afternoon?

The day of the week on which payment of wages is made is a domestic matter which does not, I think, call for any action by my right hon. Friend.

Would it not be possible for the Minister to make representations to employers?

Conditions vary so infinitely in different industries that no such course would be helpful.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take steps to introduce legislation to reduce the hours of labour in the distributive and kindred trades?

Schemes for the regulation of wages and conditions in the retail distributive trades prepared by the English and Scottish Joint Committees of employers' organisations and the trade unions, were submitted to my right hon. Friend earlier in the year, and these schemes are now being re-examined in the light of subsequent discussions with my Department. My right hon. Friend proposes to consider the whole question in the light of these discussions. In the meantime I am glad to say that voluntary agreements are continuing to be made which, I hope, will provide the basis of general action.

Is the Minister aware that in this section of industry the hours are very much longer than in many other industries, and scandalously long in certain areas, and that there is room here for beneficial legislation to bring the distributive workers up to the average of productive workers generally?

The agreements which have been made are not confined to hours, but deal with conditions in general, and voluntary arrangements are gradually bringing the conditions up to other standards.

Is it not a fact that many of these people are unorganised and cannot get the benefit of voluntary agreements, and are not certain legislative measures therefore required?

Will the Minister see that if there is a reduction of hours they are taken off in the morning, because working people are engaged at their work all day and cannot shop until the evening? Cannot work in the distributive trades begin at 12 o'clock?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of three Communists who were fined £5 each for chalking certain words on a building in Stoke-on-Trent, and, if so, will he make inquiries with a view to reducing the sentences?

I have caused inquiry to be made, and am informed that the three men were convicted of an offence against a local by-law prohibiting the defacing of walls by unauthorised writing without the permission of the owner. The defendants did not appear in answer to the summons, but each sent a letter to the court. It was, of course, open to them to appeal to quarter sessions, but the defendants did not take advantage of the machinery provided by the law for persons who feel themselves aggrieved by the decisions of courts of summary jurisdiction. I regret that having given careful consideration to all the information before me I can find no ground on which I should be justified in advising any interference with the decision of the court.

Does my right hon. Friend recollect the case in which officers who painted Stonehenge, doing permanent damage, were fined £2 each, and does he think that £5 for putting chalk on walls is a proper punishment?

It is not for the Home Secretary to say whether a penalty imposed by a court, on whose shoulders is the responsibility, is right or wrong. In a matter of this kind I am acting in accordance with the precedent adopted by every Home Secretary in the past.

Will the Home Secretary reconsider this matter on the basis of an investigation of the accuracy of one of the statements in the question, and will he also take into consideration the ages of these boys who were fined £5?

I have said that from the information at my disposal there is no justification for my intervention. If the hon. Member will send me any additional facts, of course I will take them into account, without in any way suggesting what action I will take on them.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it was the first offence of these people?

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the tendency on the part of various branches of the judiciary to exclude reporters from different courts while certain cases are under consideration, he will set investigations on foot to ascertain whether, in all such recent cases which have occurred, the judicial authorities concerned are acting in accordance with the law?

My attention has not been drawn to any cases in which reporters have been excluded from court proceedings in contravention of the law, but if my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind certain cases in which reporters have been excluded from the preliminary investigations of indictable cases by examining magistrates, the position as I am advised is that when justices are making such a preliminary investigation for the purpose of determining whether or not a defendant should be committed for trial, they are not required to sit in open court though it is the practice for them to do so. In my view they should not sit in private save in exceptional cases such as those in which they are satisfied that publicity given to these preliminary proceedings will prejudice the ends of justice.

Will my right hon. Friend kindly investigate any specific case brought to his notice by the bodies representing journalists?

I will, of course, take into account any facts brought to my notice by responsible bodies or responsible individuals. Whether even in that case I should have any jurisdiction is another matter.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether his consent was obtained before a reporter was refused permission to see a charge sheet from which a defendant's name had been taken out and the number 35 A inserted instead?

I could not possibly answer a supplementary question of that kind without further details.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the inadequate accommodation for reporters in some of the London police courts; who is responsible for the provision of such accommodation; and whether he can make suitable representations to such responsible authorities for the improvement of working conditions?

The provision of these courts is a charge on the Metropolitan Police Fund. Most of the Metropolitan police courts were constructed many years ago and, as was pointed out by the recent Departmental Committee, the accommodation is in many respects inadequate for modern needs. A building programme has been adopted and I hope that within the next few years substantial progress will be made with the reconstruction of these courts. In this connection the need for improved accommodation for representatives of the Press will not be overlooked. The question of the provision of any accommodation additional to that specially reserved for the Press is one for the magistrates at each court. I am having inquiry made as to the general arrangements in this respect throughout the Metropolitan police courts.

Is it not possible to make a charge, so that the reporters could contribute to the fees which the unfortunate litigants have to pay?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the published complaint of the Metropolitain police magistrate who sits at the South-western police court, that he is persistently misreported in the Press in carrying out his judicial duties; that complaints have been made by representatives of the Press as to their treatment by the said magistrate; and whether, in the interests of the administration of justice, he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The first part of the question relates to a protest with which all public speakers will sympathise against a practice adopted by some newspapers of giving misleading impressions by headlines and by methods of selection and compression. The second part of the question relates, apparently, to the difficulty experienced at this court, as at others, of finding sufficient and suitable accommodation for Press representatives. As I have just stated, special attention is being given to this matter.

asked the Home Secretary particulars of what grants have been made with his approval by the Racecourse Betting Control Board from the totalisator fund for improvements in the breeds of horses and/or other reasons for the 12 months ended at the last convenient date?

Particulars of the approved grants made by the board out of the surplus in the totalisator fund arising from their operations during the 12 months ended 31st December, 1937, will be found in Part III of their Annual Report for that year, which was presented to Parliament and published by the Stationery Office in June, 1938. The amounts shown as "unallocated" in that Report have since been allocated with my approval. The grants given for purposes conducive to improvements of breeds of horses amounted to £8,485; those for purposes conducive to improvements in the sport of horse racing to £136,350; and those towards the advancement and encouragement of veterinary science and education to £5,165.

Can the Minister say whether any application has been made for a supplementary grant for the relief of jockeys in National Hunt races?

No, Sir, not without notice.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how much of the surplus is used for reducing the very heavy debt that was incurred in the past?

No, Sir, not without notice, and I must not be taken as accepting the hon. Member's assumption.

Is there any proof that the breed of horses has been improved by these grants?

That, obviously, is another question, and I should not like to be responsible for answering it.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the captains of Spanish Government vessels who have been dismissed from their posts are still residing in Cardiff; and whether he can explain why they have not yet been repatriated to Spain?

Yes, Sir, I understand that certain masters of Spanish ships requisitioned by the Spanish Government received notices from the Spanish Government to leave their ships. Some have left the country but about five remain in South Wales, where the ships of which they were masters have been laid up. As they have not become a public charge and are not seeking other employment, there has been no occasion to consider their repatriation.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make further inquiries into the operations of these gentlemen? It is alleged that they were dismissed by the Spanish Government because they were acting as agents for General Franco.

I have no information to that effect. If the hon. Member has any specific information and will send it to me I will consider it. My information goes to show that these particular individuals are not costing this country anything, they are not in employment, and there would be no justification for ordering their repatriation.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not consider it rather strange that these gentlemen have been residing in Cardiff for several months since their dismissal without any visible means of subsistence?

No, Sir. I have no information other than the information I have given to the hon. Member.

They are spying for General Franco.

Is it not a fact that these ships wore the property of supporters of the Nationalist Government in Spain and may it not be possible that they are kept waiting here till the ships revert to their rightful owners?

asked the Home Secretary when he intends to introduce the long-promised legislation to deal with bogus clubs?

The hon. Baronet will realise that the legislative programme foreshadowed in the King's Speech will make heavy demands upon Parliamentary time, and I regret that I am not at present in a position to make any statement in regard to the introduction of this Bill.

Surely my right hon. Friend realises that he gave us a promise that he would deal with the matter in the near future, and that was a long time ago? Does he not realise that the owners of licensed premises pay very heavy taxation, and that their livelihood and the revenue which the Government draw in taxation from these houses is being eaten into by these bogus clubs? Does he not realise, also, that half these bogus clubs exist in my constituency and another quarter in his own?

I am aware of the facts brought out in the last part of the question of my hon. Friend. None the less, I regret to have to say to him that it must depend on Parliamentary time, and at the beginning of the Session I cannot give him any answer other than that which I have given him.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these bogus clubs are not controlled by workmen at all?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of them are helped and paid for by the drink trade itself, particularly in Wales?

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information in connection with a. man who died on 2nd November after working in compressed air at the bottom of a 100-foot shaft at the tunnel extension of the Elephant and Castle sub-station; whether he has seen the recommendation of the jury at the inquest on the man, and what steps he proposes to take?

It appears that the recommendations of the Institution of Civil Engineers as regards the medical examination of workers engaged on this class of work were generally carried out, but that there was, unfortunately, some misunderstanding as to the medical examination of this particular man, who had assured the foreman that he was fit for the work. The matter will be further considered.

asked the Home Secretary how many aliens left this country on the three days 26th, 27th, and 28th September; and how many of those that left this country on those three days have now returned?

Every day large numbers of foreign visitors come into and go out of the country. The number of aliens who left the United Kingdom on the dates mentioned was 7,719, which exceeds the normal figure by about 4,300. The information asked for in the last part of the question cannot be given, as the passenger statistics merely record the number of arrivals and departures.

Will the right hon. Gentleman refuse readmission to these alien guests, who clearly have no desire to live in the country of their adoption?

I must decide these matters case by case. I cannot give a general answer.

asked the Home Secretary how many aliens there are at present in the administrative county of London; and whether there is any restriction placed upon the movement of aliens to this area?

The number of aliens registered with the police in the Metropolitan Police District is 59,077 males and 60,611 females, making a total of 119,688. There is no direct restriction on the movements of aliens into this area, but if an alien wishes to come to this country to start a factory or, having recently arrived, applies for permission to remain here for such a purpose, it is the practice to ask him to give full particulars of his intended business, and to call his attention to the resolutions of the House of 12th March, 1936, and 18th November, 1936, regarding the encouragement of new industries in the older industrial centres. In appropriate cases the question of the location of his business is then considered, amongst other matters, in consultation with the Ministry of Labour and the Board of Trade.

Will my right hon. Friend consider making this vulnerable area less vulnerable by evacuating these aliens before the emergency occurs?

That, again, is much too general a question for me to deal with in answer to a supplementary question.

If it had not been for the admittance of aliens, is it not the case that many Members now on the other side would not be there?

asked the Home Secretary when the committee appointed in March, 1937, to investigate the effect of dust in cardrooms on workers in the cotton industry will make its report?

Consideration of the report has, I understand, reached an advanced stage, and the committee hope to present it before the end of the year.

asked the Home Secretary whether, having regard to the shortage of skilled scientific man-power revealed in the speech of the Secretary of State for War of 3rd November, he will encourage the admission of refugees having specialist ability helpful to the rearmament programme?

Cases of refugees having special skill of the kind which my hon. Friend has in mind have been exceedingly rare, and he can be assured that if any person in this category wishes to come to this country his case will be carefully considered in consultation with the Service Department concerned.

asked the Home Secretary the number of school children employed for gain out of school hours; and whether it is on the increase?

Returns furnished by the education authorities in England and Wales show that the number of school children over the age of 12 who were employed on the 31st December, 1937, was 76,546 or 7.27 per cent, of all the children in that age-group. Similar returns in 1931 showed that the corresponding figure was 63,308 or 7·33 per cent, of the children then in that age-group.

In view of those figures showing an increase in the number of these children employed, is it possible for the right hon. Gentleman to take some steps to prevent the exploitation of school children, when we have so many other people unemployed?

The hon. Gentleman will see from my answer that the percentage has remained constant over these years—7.27 in this year and 7·33 in 1931, but I will take into account what he says in his supplementary question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman also take into account that during that period there has been a great improvement in the law regarding the conditions of young people employed in industry?

Will the right hon. Gentleman remember that although we are telling this nation to keep fit, it is almost impossible for these children to work and learn at the same time?

How many children are engaged in distributing the "Daily Herald" and other newspapers?

Will those who object to it make up the difference to the poor children who lose the money?

asked the Home Secretary what rules govern the holding of inquests in the case of deaths from postvaccinal encephalitis; and why inquests are held in some cases and not in others?

The circumstances in which coroners are required to hold an inquest are prescribed, not by rules, but by Section 3 of the Coroners Act, 1887, to which I would refer the hon. Member. The question whether an inquest should be held in any case is a matter for the coroner to decide.

asked the Lord Privy Seal the number and names of any voluntary organisations set up in Wales for air-raid precautions work; whether he will give the names of the principal officers of these organisations; and whether they are working under the control of the local authorities?

I have not been able, in the short time available, to obtain full information in answer to the hon. Member's question. Apart from any purely local organisations, the only voluntary association set up specifically for air-raid precautions purposes which is known to the- Department to be operating in Wales is the Women's Voluntary Services. The regional organiser of Women's Voluntary Services for Wales is Miss E. M. Owen. This organisation is not under the control of local authorities but works in close co-operation with them.

asked the Lord Privy Seal the proposed organisation for air-raid precautions purposes in Wales; whether separate regions are to be set up; and whether he will give the number of regions and the names of the counties in each region?

The details are now being worked out, and I regret that at the moment I am not in a position to give a specific answer.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see, in setting up the regions, that Wales is made a separate region for this purpose?

That suggestion will certainly be borne in mind.

asked the Lord Privy Seal the names of those local authorities who have not hitherto submitted to his Department any air-raid precautions scheme as requested to do so; and what steps are taken in such cases to accelerate progress?

As regards general air-raid precautions schemes, the procedure arranged with local authorities is that the various parts of a complete scheme should be submitted when ready, without awaiting the completion of a formal scheme. On this procedure parts of schemes have been submitted by the great majority of the authorities concerned, and it is known that other authorities will be submitting parts of their schemes in the near future. The inspectors of the Department are in touch with all local authorities to help them to expedite their schemes. As regards air-raid fire precautions, schemes have been submitted by 618 local authorities in England and Wales and are outstanding in the case of one county borough, 78 boroughs, and 267 urban district councils. Periodical returns are called for from all scheme-making authorities, and the opportunity is specifically taken to remind them of their statutory obligations in this matter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the setting up of a black list, after a reasonable lapse of time, of those authorities who have failed to present any scheme to his Department?

I will take note of that suggestion.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recollect that the Home Secretary once stated in this House that he had not received schemes from several towns?

Why has it been thought necessary to evacuate Spen Valley?

asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) whether he will take steps to provide means for the collection and official storage of gas-masks in densely populated areas;

On the 28th October a circular was issued from the Home Office advising local authorities as to the steps which they should take to ensure that respirators already issued are kept in good condition. Among other suggestions made in that circular, it was recommended that, where people had no facilities for keeping their respirators in their homes in conditions under which they would remain serviceable, the local authorities should arrange for the respirators to be returned to them for storage.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in the case of a number of authorities, the containers, which are an essential part of the respirators, have not yet been supplied?

They are in process of being issued as rapidly as possible.

Does not my right hon. Friend realise that a great proportion of these respirators are already unserviceable through not being properly looked after; and is it not ludicrous to leave them in the possession of individuals?

It seems to me that, if they are unserviceable, no harm is done by leaving them there.

Will they all undergo proper preparation before they are required?

Would it not be advisable to call them all in?

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that many young persons, especially girls, who are anxious to volunteer for air-raid precautions work have not signed on because, in the event of an emergency, they would still be dependent upon paid work for their maintenance and are not certain whether, in such event, their services in the air-raid precautions scheme would be paid for or be of such a nature as to prevent them from continuing to earn their living in other occupations; and whether he will endeavour to make this point clear at the earliest opportunity?

Yes, Sir; and I hope very soon to be in a position to make the situation clearer.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will immediately inform local authorities that they should revet those trenches which are suitable with concrete or steel and cover them with suitable materials so as to restore the amenities of the districts?

As was stated in the course of the Debate on Thursday last, it is intended that trenches which have been properly sited should be completed, covered and given a permanent structure. Detailed suggestions as to methods of construction will be issued in the near future.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what has been the cost of the provision of gas-masks for the use of the civilian population?

Approximately £5,000,000.

Is a further supply being manufactured?

Manufacture is proceeding continuously.