asked the Minister of Health what action has been taken, up to date, by his Department to deal with the question of burning refuse heaps in many parts of the country which are a serious menace to the health of the people living in those particular areas?

A systematic investigation of burning spoil-banks by my alkali inspectors is proceeding. One hundred and fifty-one out of a total of 266 reported to me have been visited. Further visits will be necessary in some cases to ascertain the practicability of remedial measures. Wherever remedial measures have been recom- mended by the inspectors, further visits are being undertaken to determine the efficacy of the measures. I estimate that the completion of the survey will take approximately another 18 months.

asked the Minister of Health under what Act of Parliament or Ministerial order a borough council is acting when paying vaccination fees to persons other than public vaccinators and vaccination officers?

The Public Health (Smallpox Prevention) Regulations, 1917, authorise the payment of fees to medical officers of health for the vaccination and re-vaccination of contacts, and the Vaccination Order, 1930, empowers local authorities to appoint "assistants" to vaccination officers. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind as regards which he is doubtful of the action of the local authority, perhaps he would let me have full particulars.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that employers who decline to engage individuals unless they can show evidence of successful vaccination usually act on the advice of medical practitioners, he will consider the desirability of issuing a circular to all medical practitioners drawing their attention to the views of the Ministry's Chief Medical Officer, as expressed in his recent annual reports, deprecating the imposition of such a requirement because of the risk of postvaccinal encephalitis?

The attention of local authorities has already been drawn to this matter in circulars issued by my Department, and it has been repeatedly emphasised in the annual reports of the Chief Medical Officer, including the report for 1937, issued last month. I think the present question and answer will probably be the most efficacious form of the further publicity for this point which the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the last annual report of the county medical officer for Lancashire showing increases in the number and percentage of non-pulmonary tuberculosis cases among children; if so, will he state how these figures compare with other industrial areas; and what steps will be taken to deal with this problem?

There was a certain increase in the number of cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis notified, consequent upon the medical examination of the school children; but the annual report of the county medical officer does not indicate any increase in the total number of cases among children. Indeed, the figures show a slight decrease as compared with the preceding year.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the other part of my question, as to how the figures for Lancashire compare with those for similar industrial areas?

For the country as a whole there was a slight rise in the number of notifications of deaths at all ages. For Lancashire, I think the figures were rather more favourable.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there is a serious shortage of housing accommodation in the area of the Esher Urban District Council; whether he has considered a petition signed by about 550 people living in the area in August, 1937, asking for an inquiry into the matter; and what steps he is taking to relieve the overcrowding?

I have received certain allegations on the subject to which the hon. Member refers, and have also considered the petition. I understand that the urban district council are about to seek my approval to a scheme for the erection of 124 houses in different parts of the district. The number of cases of overcrowding in the area has been reduced from 67 to 32, and the remaining cases will, I understand, be relieved as soon as the new houses are ready.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider making arrangements whereby the wives and children of persons insured under the National Health Insurance scheme may become entitled to medical benefit under the panel system?

I regret that I cannot hold out any prospect of the introduction of legislation for this purpose at the present time.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the vast amount of preventable sickness and illness among women and young children in view of the fact that they cannot afford to pay for doctors? Does he consider that this should go on?

We have to do one thing at a time. I hope very much that we shall be able to do something about this before very long.

asked the Minister of Health whether Circular 1857 or any similar circular, requesting particulars of five years' schemes of proposed capital expenditure, has been sent to publicly-owned utility companies in addition to local authorities?

No, Sir.

Would not the Government be able to get a much more complete picture of the proposed capital expenditure during the next five or six years if they included the public utility companies?

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have submitted five years' schemes of proposed capital expenditure in accordance with Circular 1857; and whether it is proposed to publish the list of authorities and the amount of their proposed expenditure?

Returns showing provisional programmes of capital expenditure covering the five years commencing 1st April, 1938, have now been received from 440 local authorities, representing one-fifth of the whole. I will consider the question of the publication of details in due course.

What will be the position now of the plans that have been sent in that cater for the provision of secondary education, which has since been banned by the Board of Education?

It has not been banned; but I think it would be better if such a question were addressed to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the public assistance committee of Liverpool took into account in assessing relief the 5s. war pension allotted to Mr. J. Finnigan, 23d, Woodstock Gardens, for the loss of his son in the War; that on production of a doctor's certificate they refused him extra nourishment; and whether he will inquire into the administration of public assistance in Liverpool, with a view to remedying this and similar grievances?

I am making inquiries, and will communicate with the hon. Member immediately I receive the information.

Will the Minister make inquiries about relief not being given in regard to under-nourishment? This is a case of a person who had lost two sons. I hold in my hand a bronze tablet showing that one son died on the field, and the other died also as a result of the War. They died for freedom and honour, and this man has waited 14 days and cannot get a doctor's certificate accepted by the relieving officer. What steps does the Minister intend to take in this matter?

I said that I would make inquiries and communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Regarding a man who is waiting 14 days on a doctor's note, if he dies is not the officer liable to be indicted for manslaughter?

If the officer is liable it is obviously very undesirable for me to make a statement on a matter which I know nothing about.

Owing to the unsatisfactory answer, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to give particulars of the Government's plan for providing compensation for damage to private property or land in this country arising out of an outbreak of hostilities?

I am not yet in a position to give this information, but I hope to be able to do so shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of credit which, up to date, has been granted to Czechoslovakia by the Bank of England under Treasury guarantee, and for what purposes that credit has been used?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the extent to which the Government of Czechoslovakia have used the special credit of £10,000,000 opened for them by the Bank of England?

Up to the present, the Bank of England advance has been drawn on to the extent of £5,000,000. I have not yet received a detailed statement of the purposes for which it is being used.

Will the Chancellor give an undertaking that this money will not be used for the purpose of advancing German trade in Czechoslovakia, at the expense of our own?

The hon. Gentleman is probably aware that we have appointed a liaison officer, who has gone to Prague for the purpose of providing us with detailed information on the purposes for which this money is being used.

In view of the terrible position in Czechoslovakia at the present time with regard to refugees, will the right hon. Gentleman give this matter consideration, with a view to ensuring that a considerable proportion of this grant will be utilised to help these refugees to come to this country and other countries?

It has always been understood, and indeed stipulated, that the primary purpose of the grant of this money is for assisting refugees.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the French Government have now indicated their attitude to the proposal that they should join with His Majesty's Government in the proposed guaranteed loan of £10,000,000 to the Government of Czechoslovakia?

This matter is at present being discussed with the French Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider abandoning the principle of taxing motor cars on their horse power in view of the heavy handicap this places on manufacturers in competing with foreign types?

I cannot see my way to abandoning the principle of taxing motor cars on their horse power, but I would remind my hon. Friend that the tax was reduced as from 1st January, 1935, by 25 per cent.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware of the very strong tendency of buyers of high-powered engines to go to America instead of to this country, and is not this progressive tax on the horse power a reason for it?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the advisability in connection with the refugee problem of taking steps to see that for every German refugee received into this country an appropriate sum shall be secured from German Nazi sympathisers living in this country, and that for the effective carrying out of this purpose a declaration of property held by Germans in this country shall be made?

The answer is in the negative.

In view of the continued action of the German Government in expelling its citizens and refusing to allow them to take any of their property to the countries to which they go, would it not be a very appropriate manner to deal with that situation by the only sort of argument that the Germans would understand?

I can see many objections to the proposal which the hon. Member has made.

Is not the real reason because Hitler has forbidden it?