asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the present wholesale price of butter in this country per hundred-weight and its equivalent in English money of the wholesale price of butter per hundredweight in Denmark, Holland, New Zealand, Australia, and Lithuania?

The statement below shows the average wholesale prices per hundredweight of butter in England and Wales during the current month, together with the wholesale prices for butter for the latest available date in the countries mentioned, expressed in their English equivalents.

—	Prices in England and Wales.		Prices in country of origin.
	Per	cwt.	Per	cwt.
	s.	d.	s.	d.
Danish	139	0	117	9
Dutch	113	6	173	0
New Zealand, salted	113	6	108	3
Australian, salted	109	6	129	0
Lithuanian	112	0	127	0

NOTE.—The above prices relate to a date in the present month, except for the price in Australia, which relates to mid-October.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the consumption of mutton and lamb in this country per head of the population for each of the last five years; and what percentages of these amounts represent the home-produced article?

The figures for which my hon. Friend asks are as follow:

Year.		Consumption of mutton and lamb per head of population of great Britain.	Percentage representing home produce
		lbs.
1933	…	32·5	46
1934	…	31·0	45
1935	…	30·5	42
1936	…	29·3	43
1937	…	30·1	41

NOTE.—I would point out that the consumption in 1931 was 31.3 1bs. per head and in 1932 32.2 lbs. per head, home produce representing 39 per cent. and 43 per cent. respectively of these quantities. Since 1932 the sheep population of this country has been experiencing a cyclical downward trend which now appears to have been checked.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the increased imports of mutton and lamb into this country, he intends to take any action to diminish the quantity in future?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my statement during the Debate on the Address on 15th November, and would remind him that during the first 10 months of this year, total imports of mutton and lamb were some 110,000 cwts. less than in the corresponding period of 1937. The question of imported supplies during 1939 is receiving consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his expert advisers have personally examined and conducted experiments in the problem of the pasteurisation of milk; and, if so, what conclusions have they reached?

Research into pasteurisation problems has been conducted at several centres including those grant-aided by my Department and the Department of Agriculture for Scotland. The Government's policy in regard to the matter is set out in the Milk Industry Bill now before Parliament.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will, in order to increase employment by an extension of the use of agricultural land, arrange for experimental planting of tobacco in Devon, Somerset or Cornwall on Government or privately-owned suitable land, as the tobacco plant grows well in some soils in South Oxfordshire?

No, Sir. The question of tobacco growing in this country was exhaustively considered in 1923 by a committee appointed by the Treasury. The committee, whose report was issued as a Command Paper (No. 1983) in that year, came to the conclusion, for reasons which are equally valid to-day, that assistance from public funds to further experimental work on this crop would not be justified.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has considered what is likely to be the effect upon fruit-growers in the Fens, and other parts of Norfolk, of the tariff concessions on American apples and pears foreshadowed in the Anglo-American Trade Agreement, especially in view of the adverse seasonal conditions which English fruit-growers have experienced this year?

I do not anticipate that the reduction of the duties on apples and pears will have any appreciable effect on the position of the home producer, whose returns are principally determined by the widely fluctuating yield of the home crop. I would, moreover, draw the attention of my hon. Friend to the exchange of letters attached to the Agreement, in which the United States Government recognises the desirability of regulating the flow of apples to the United Kingdom market, and undertakes to call the attention of United States exporting interests to the desirability of their cooperating with the Empire Fruits Council, to achieve this end.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the number of producer-retailers and of retail distributors of milk in England and Scotland, respectively?

The number of producer-retailers registered under the English Milk Marketing Scheme is 63,061. The number registered under the schemes in Scotland is 2,918, but my hon. Friend will appreciate that this number does not include producer-retailers who are exempted from registration under the Scottish schemes or those who operate in areas in Scotland which are not covered by a milk marketing scheme. I regret that I have no information as to the number of retail milk distributors either in England or Scotland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the price of imported wheat for the months of October, 1937 and 1938; and the price of bread for the same periods?

Following is the reply:

Average Prices of Imported Wheat and of Bread during the months of October, 1937 and 1938
Commodity.		October, 1937.		October, 1938.
Wheat (per cwt.):*		s.	d.	s.	d.
Australian	…	10	8	6	8
Canadian	…	12	2	6	4
Argentine	…	10	11	6	1
Russian	…	10	11	5	7
Bread (per 4 lb.)†	…	0	9½	0	8½
* Average prices at Bristol, Hull, Liverpool and London, ex store.
† Average retail prices at 1st November (Ministry of Labour Gazette).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to see that the lime supplied to the farmers in Angus under the land fertility scheme is up to standard; whether he is aware that one sample taken for the weights and measures department of the Angus County Council from a consignment of lime delivered to a farmer in that county was, on examination, found to contain large quantities of a hard blue material, and, on analysis, the lime was found to be 58.16 per cent. deficient and the blue material 78.42 per cent. deficient in calcium oxide (CaO); and will he look into the matter so as to prevent the Government and the farmers being made to pay for something that they have not received?

As my right hon. Friend indicated in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Stirling and Falkirk (Mr. Westwood) on 15th November the quality of lime supplied under the Land Fertility Scheme is receiving the constant attention of the Land Fertility Committee which is the statutory authority responsible for the operation of the scheme. I understand that under the committee's arrangements for the periodical sampling and analysis of lime supplies, all approved suppliers in the area have been visited by the committee's inspector, who has taken for analysis samples of the lime supplied under the scheme.As regards the last part of the question I am informed that the producer in question will make no charge for the materials supplied and that no contribution in respect of them will therefore be made under the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the price per cwt. at which oats were produced at each of the three agricultural colleges in Scotland, the Institute of Animal Genetics, and the Rowett Research Institute in the years 1936, 1937 and 1938?

I am making inquiries and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether adequate arrangements have now been made for the defence of the naval dockyards and armament depots against air attack; whether this matter is the sole responsibility of the Admiralty; and, if not, to what extent co-operation exists between the Admiralty and other Defence Departments to ensure their security?

The Admiralty are responsible for measures of passive defence of dockyards and armament depots against air attack. Comprehensive schemes to effect these have been drawn up and progress is being made to implement them. The War Office and Air Ministry are responsible for measures of active air defence of these places. The fullest co-operation exists between the Admiralty and these Departments.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the present estimated weekly amount paid in wages to employés in His Majesty's Dockyard at Chatham, and how this amount compares with that paid in a similar week in 1937 and 1930, respectively?

The estimated weekly amount paid in wages to employés in Chatham Dockyard in the week ended the 5th November, 1938, and in the corresponding weeks of 1937 and 1930 are as follow:

				£
1938	…	…	…	36,183
1937	…	…	…	33,555
1930	…	…	…	24,252

These sums which represent the wages of workpeople only, relate to workpeople serving in the dockyard proper, i.e., on shipbuilding and ship repairing, etc., and in the Works Department. They do not relate to the workpeople of the Armament Supply or Victualling Departments.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in consequence of the increased armament programme and the greater demand for skilled labour of all sorts, there has been any difficulty in retaining skilled workers in His Majesty's naval dockyards, and in attracting an adequate number of apprentices of the right type?

No difficulty has been experienced in retaining skilled workmen in the dockyards, but employment is available for a number of men in the engineering trades (particularly electrical fitters), and in the trade of shipwright. The numbers of apprenticeships offered have increased very considerably in recent years, and at some yards there has been some insufficiency of candidates qualified at the annual examination.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the number of experiments performed on animals at the Chatham Royal Naval Hospital and the number killed during the years 1935 to 1937; and the type of animals used?

The information required is as follows:

• In 1935, 65 animal experiments—62 killed.
• In 1936, 25 animal experiments—21 killed.
• In 1937, 14 animal experiments—13 killed.

The animals used in these experiments were all guinea pigs with the exception of two rabbits.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can give the House any information with regard to the suggested proposal to increase the licence fees for commercial motor vehicles?

When I circulated to representative organisations the draft regulations increasing the fees for carriers' licences I expressed regret at the necessity but informed them that the rates fixed in January, 1934, on the basis of necessarily imperfect information, had proved altogether inadequate to meet the administrative expenses of the system of licensing apart from the further increase of cost which must be anticipated in connection with control of wages and rates. The scale of fees will be reviewed when further experience has been gained.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that railway shopmen are being dismissed from Cowlairs and St. Rollox works, in spite of the fact that large quantities of railway stock require renewing and reconditioning; and will he consult with the railways concerned to get them to carry out necessary improvements and prevent skilled workers being thrown out of employment?

I am informed by the London and North Eastern and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Companies that, owing to the recent heavy decline in railway traffic and the consequent reduction in the amount of rolling stock required, it has been found necessary to reduce the staff in the companies' workshops at Cowlairs and St. Rollox. The companies assure me that no necessary repair work has been deferred.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can make any statement as to the present position of the proposal to build a new arterial road through Kent instead of continuing the building of by-passes to important towns on the London to Folkestone and London to Dover roads; and whether, in view of the fact that this problem is a major one, he will reconsider, in conjunction with the War Office, the whole problem from a different angle?

I do not contemplate the construction of a new arterial road through Kent such as my hon. and gallant Friend seems to have in mind. The improvements which I propose to carry out on the London-Folkestone-Dover trunk road will, in my opinion, bring that road up to a standard adequate for modern traffic. A by-pass to the Medway towns of Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham is under consideration and a survey is now being carried out.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that under Section 32 (i) (b) of the National Health Insurance Act of 1936 specific provision is made that sickness benefit, where otherwise payable, shall commence on the fourth day of the incapacity; and whether he will consider introducing legislation to reduce the period, in view of the hardship frequently involved to insured persons whose sickness lasts for a week or less?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part I would point out that payment of sickness benefit from the first day of incapacity may be made under the present law where an approved society is able to make the necessary financial provision out of a disposable surplus and the members decide to do so. Very few societies have, in fact, adopted this benefit which is a comparatively expensive one. Any general abolition of the normal waiting period of three days would require an increase in the weekly contributions. I do not think that there is any demand for such a change on the part of approved societies in general.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that less than 10 per cent. of the 12,000,000 insured persons in Great Britain who are entitled to dental benefit avail themselves of that service, and in view also of the additional cost thrown upon general health services through resulting lower standards of health, he will take steps to graft on to the health insurance system a scheme of statutory dental benefit under which dental treatment would be as freely available as is medical benefit?

The provision of dental benefit as a statutory benefit available to all insured persons would require an increase in the weekly rates of contribution at present paid by insured persons and their employers and the proposal could only be considered, when the time is opportune, in relation to demands for other major extensions of the National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions Schemes. In the meantime dental benefit must remain an additional benefit and as such available only to members of those approved societies which devote part of their surplus funds to its provision.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that thousands of lives have been saved by blood stored for transfusion purposes in the Spanish war; whether he is exploring the possibilities of the storage of blood in this country for transfusion in case of war; and whether he will consider, in the event of this being adopted, if the donating of blood for storage purposes might be officially recognised as a form of national service?

I am aware that the transfusion of stored blood has been extensively adopted in Spain and my advisers are in touch with the arrangements for blood transfusion which are proposed in this country by the British Red Cross Society and the hospitals. The valuable services rendered by blood donors are greatly appreciated but I am not sure what form of official recognition the hon. Member has in mind and perhaps he will communicate with me.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of houses built for rural workers in the county of Norfolk since October, 1931?

The number of houses built in rural districts in Norfolk from October, 1931, to March, 1938, was 10,869, but I regret that I have no information as to the number of these intended for or occupied by rural workers.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the hardships now suffered by widows who are not themselves qualified for old age pensions, but whose pension entirely ceases when their youngest child attains the age of 16 years, and who are thereafter left destitute; and whether he will bring forward legislation to do away with this anomaly?

As regards the first part of the question, the position is that these widows are, in general, entitled to a renewed pension on reaching the age of 55. As regards the second part, I am afraid that I cannot undertake to introduce legislation to make pension payable, in cases where it has lapsed, for these widows at an earlier age than 55.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons in receipt of workmen's compensation were, at the most recent date for which the figures are available, also in receipt of allowances from public assistance committees?

I regret that the statistical records available in my Department do not enable the information to be given.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons in the county of Derbyshire in receipt of workmen's compensation were, at the most recent date for which the figures are available, also in receipt of allowances from the county public assistance committee?

Year (1st January).					Number of old age pensioners and widow pensioners in receipt of poor relief.
					England.		Wales.
					Old Age Pensioners.*	Widow Pensioners.	Old Age Pensioners.*	Widow Pensioners.
1924	…	…	…	…	34,821	—	3,365	—
1925	…	…	…	…	42,446	—	3,939	—
1926	…	…	…	…	52,551	—	4,950	—
1927	…	…	…	…	61,794	—	5,968	—
1928	…	…	…	…	65,957	14,251†	6,190	1,927†
1929	…	…	…	…	82,954	13,784	8,614	2,218
1930	…	…	…	…	91622	16,218	10,584	3,195
1931	…	…	…	…	117,885	39,805	13,372	5,535
1932	…	…	…	…	131,661	35,266	15,622	7,115
1933	…	…	…	…	145,794	39,867	17,387	7,499
1934	…	…	…	…	150,666	40,951	18,966	8,624
1935	…	…	…	…	165,551	43,603	19,892	8,930
1936	…	…	…	…	180,920	49,157	21,518	9,894
1937	…	…	…	…	191,694	51,089	23,207	10,748
1938	…	…	…	…	205,558	49,736	25,094	9,997
* The numbers of old age pensioners shown for the years 1924 to 1928 relate to old age pensioners over 70 years of age. For later years the figures include old age pensioners between 65 and 70 years of age under the Contributory Pensions Acts.
† Pensions to widows under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, became payable as from 5th January, 1926. Information as to the number of widow pensioners in receipt of poor relief was obtained for the first time in 1928.

As regards Scotland, I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will inquire of local authorities who administer the armorial bearings licence duty whether the law is consistently operated or whether the collection of this duty has fallen into disuse and payment become optional in some districts; and, if so, will he consider introducing legislation to abolish this duty?

I regret that the statistical records available in my Department do not enable the information to be given.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of old age pensioners and widows in England, Wales, and Scotland, separately, in receipt of public assistance in supplementation to their pension for the year 1924 and each year to date?

Following is the answer:

The returns made to my Department show that with very few exceptions every local authority concerned receives an income from this licence duty. The second part of the question would not accordingly appear to arise.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of his reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Epsom on 17th February that the quinquennial re-valuation for local taxation was to be postponed for two years, he is aware that some local authorities are now proceeding with re-valuation of properties as if no postponement had been announced; and, further, is he urging local authorities to have their new lists completed by next year?

The local authorities referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend are no doubt continuing to prepare provisional valuation lists for the reasons given in a circular issued by my predecessor in March, a copy of which I will send him.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons have given notice of their desire to become contributors under the Contributory Pensions Act, 1937; the number that have been ineligible for admission; and the general nature of the causes responsible for their ineligibility?

Up to the 16th November, 1938, the latest date for which figures are available, 333,920 applications had been received in England, Scotland and Wales for admission to the new voluntary scheme established by the Contributory Pensions Act, 1937: of these 61,811 were found to be ineligible for admission: the main causes of failure to qualify were income and age, but in a number of cases failure was due to the residence condition and in others to the fact that the applicant or the husband of the applicant was already insured under the main scheme or was excluded from insurance because the terms of his employment provided benefits equivalent to the benefits conferred by the Act.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in deciding to purchase radium for the treatment of cancer, he has taken into consideration the fact stated in the reports of his Department, and in the writings of medical users of radium, that this substance may seriously damage healthy tissue; and whether, before establishing further centres for the treatment of cancer by radium, he will have an expert investigation made of the whole question of radium treatment?

The further centres proposed to be established are for the treatment of cancer not merely by radium but by every recognised therapeutic agency. Radium is generally agreed to be a valuable agent in the treatment of cancer in spite of the dangers attending its unskilful use, and I do not think that the establishment of more centres should be deferred on that account.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, since the Government have had stocks of wheat purchased on their behalf by large milling firms, he has exercised any control over the profits of such firms?

As my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, informed the House on 28th April, 1938, none of the milling firms concerned with the purchase of Government stocks of wheat is receiving any remuneration or commission whatever; they receive only their out-of-pocket expenditure. As I informed the House on 2nd June, 1938, this also applies to the custody of the wheat, to the undertaking to mill it when the time comes, and to purchases made by the firms concerned for replacement purposes. I might add that the out-of-pocket expenses are certified by Chartered Accountants employed for that purpose by the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of steel, steel-sheet, and tin-plate works closed in the past 10 years and the number of persons thus rendered unemployed in the counties of Glamorgan, Carmarthen, and Brecknock, respectively?

I regret that I am unable to furnish the precise information desired. The reports received in connection with the Surveys of Industrial Development, which began only in 1932, show that one such establishment was closed in Carmarthenshire during 1933 and that three have been closed in Glamorganshire during the first half of this year. It is estimated that these closures have involved the displacement of some 600 to 700 workpeople. The following table shows the numbers unemployed in the districts and industries concerned in 1928, 1932 and 1938.

Insured persons aged 16–64 recorded as unemployed.
—		Steel Melting.	Tin-Plate.
October, 1928:
Glamorganshire	…	4,333	4,646
Carmarthenshire	…	434	1,683
Brecknockshire	…	18	2
October, 1932:
Glamorganshire	…	6,102	8,438
Carmarthenshire	…	1,311	2,855
Brecknockshire	…	32	—
October, 1938:
Glamorganshire	…	3,109	6,187
Carmarthenshire	…	736	1,928
Brecknockshire	…	18	1

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what is the

—	From or to Great Britain.		From or to Northern Ireland.
	1937.	1938.	1937.	1938.
	£'000.	£'000.	£'000.	£'000
Imports into Eire:—
June	1,967	1,625	104	48
July	1,754	1,538	38	44
August	1,520	1,407	54	66
September	1,836	1,874	41	48
October	1,949	(a)	43	(a)
Exports from Eire:—
Produce and manufactures of Eire:—
June	1,569	2,060	211	300
July	1,686	1,805	218	250
August	1,591	1,904	195	232
September	1,638	2,039	196	237
October	1,633	(a)	188	(a)
Imported merchandise:—
June	58	22	9	3
July	50	22	5	5
August	36	19	8	4
September	26	20	6	5
October	40	(a)	4	(a)
(a) The figures for October, 1938, are not yet available.
NOTE.—Imports are recorded according to countries of origin while exports are recorded by countries of consignment.

asked the Prime Minister what steps will be taken to provide accommodation for secondary education in the Sudan when the proposals for converting Gordon College into a centre of higher education are put into effect?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of imports from Eire to Great Britain and to Northern Ireland, respectively, for the months of June to October, inclusive, in the years 1937 and 1938?

Separate particulars of the trade of Great Britain and Northern Ireland cannot be furnished from the trade returns of the United Kingdom, but the following table shows the total declared value of merchandise imported into and exported from Eire in trade with Great Britain and Northern Ireland, respectively, during the undermentioned periods as published in the official trade returns of Eire.

In accordance with the recommendations of Lord De La Warr's Commission, accepted by the Sudan Government and by the governing body of the Gordon Memorial College, secondary schooling is to be transferred from the building of the Gordon College, in order that this may become the central building of an institution for post-secondary education developments towards university college status. It is hoped to transfer part of the secondary school in 1940 to a new site outside the capital and the remainder in 1941 to a provincial site still to be determined.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make any statement on the proposals for carrying out the recommendations of the Educational Commission on Educational Development in the Sudan, including the university college at Khartoum; and from what sources the necessary finances will be found?

A comprehensive programme for educational expansion and reform based primarily on recommendations contained in the report of Lord De La Warr's Commission and in that of Ali Bey El Garem has been accepted in outline by the Governor-General's Council and is being embarked upon forthwith. The programme, which will be spread over the next eight years and cover the whole educational field, envisages capital expenditure of about half a million pounds and raises recurring expenditure on education, which was approximately £150,000 in 1936, to approximately £300,000 in 1946. The funds are to be found by the Sudan Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has been informed of the intention of the Japanese authorities in China to impose extensive import restrictions at the Chinese ports under their control analogous to the import restrictions recently introduced in Japan; and, if not, whether he will cause immediate inquiry to be made in the matter, particularly in relation to the effect on British trade?

My Noble Friend is in communication with His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokio in the matter, and I am not in a position to make a statement at present.

asked the Prime Minister which countries have granted de jure and de facto recognition, respectively, to the Government of Nationalist Spain; which countries have appointed official commercial agents; and which have adopted accredited diplomatic representatives?

The following have recognised the Spanish Nationalist Government as the de jure Government of Spain: Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Salvador, the Holy See, Albania, Nicaragua and Manchukuo. The following foreign countries have granted de facto recognition and appointed agents.—Czechoslovakia, Greece, Rumania, Switzerland, Turkey, Bulgaria, Holland, Uruguay, Yugoslavia, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Venezuela. In addition Chile and Poland have appointed commercial agents.As regards the last part of the question, all those countries which have granted

asked the Prime Minister whether he will state the last dates on which the Non-Intervention Committee and the Chairman's Sub-Committee of the Non-Intervention Committee, respectively, have held meetings; and whether any date has been fixed for the next meeting of these two committees?

The dates of the last meetings of the Non-Intervention Committee and the Chairman's Sub-Committee respectively were—5th July and 30th June last. I understand that no further meetings have yet been fixed.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will state the names of the countries who are now bound by the optional clause of Article 36 of the Statute of the Permanent Court of International Justice; what States have signed it within the last five years; and whether any have withdrawn their signature?

The countries which are now bound by the Optional Clause of Article 36 of the Permanent Court of International Justice are as follow:South Africa, Albania, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemberg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Portgual, Roumania, Salvador, Siam, Sweden, Switzerland and Uruguay.The following countries have signed the Optional Clause since the 1st January, 1933:Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Iraq, Monaco, Turkey.The following countries, which had signed the Optional Clause, have not renewed their signatures, which have therefore lapsed:China, Costa Rica, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Liberia, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Poland, Spain and Yugoslavia.Turkey has not ratified the Protocol of of the Statute of the Court. Iraq has recently signed, but not yet ratified.

asked the Home Secretary whether permits to come to this country can be issued in cases where responsible persons in this country guarantee that for two years the refugee will not become a charge on public funds or seek work?

Certainly such a guarantee would be a first ground for sympathetic consideration in such a case, but there are other factors that have to be taken into account. As my right hon. Friend explained in the House on the 21st instant, applications for the admission of refugees are considered on their merits, regard being paid not only to the provision of a temporary home but also to the ultimate prospects of emigration or settlement. It follows that the question of immediate maintenance of a refugee cannot be wholly divorced from the question of ultimate settlement. The attention of the Home Office has frequently been called to cases of refugees who, having been admitted to this country on the guarantees of private persons, have within a short time of their arrival become a charge upon the funds of the voluntary refugee organisations and are found unsuitable for emigration or settlement.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider admitting to this country a certain number of young Jewish refugees from Germany who are without means or prospects at present, on condition of their undergoing courses of instruction in trade and agriculture preparatory to emigration elsewhere; and whether he will assist in the provision of such instruction?

A certain number of young persons from Germany have been admitted to this country to be trained for emigration under schemes arranged and financed by the voluntary refugee organisations. I understand that these organisations are preparing to enlarge and extend their present schemes to bring over greater numbers, and facilities for the admission of young persons to be trained for emigration will be readily granted.

asked the Home Secretary how many Germans and Austrians, respectively, were employed as domestic servants in the United Kingdom and Scotland, respectively, on 31st August, 1938, and 3oth September, 1938; and how many have applied for leave, or have intimated their intention, to return to their respective countries during the months of October, 1938, and November, 1938, respectively?

Without examination of the records of aliens registered with the police, the information asked for in the first part of the question could not be given. As regards the last part of the question, during the period 1st October-19th November inclusive, the number of German and Austrian domestics, whose names were removed by the police from the register on departure from the country, was 1,190.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider circulating a draft of the long-promised Clubs Bill to the interests concerned prior to introducing the Bill into this House?

My right hon. Friend doubts whether circulation of a draft Bill would serve any useful purpose. He has already received detailed representations and suggestions as to the contents of the Bill from the interests concerned.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Ernest Arthur Friend, of 8, St. James Place, St. Andrews Road, Romford, has been sent for an indefinite period to an approved school at Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire, for receiving a cycle wheel valued 5s., and that his only previous convictions have been for stealing a quantity of brass fittings valued at 2S., the property of a person unknown, from the garden of an empty house, and a wooden packing case valued at 1s.; and whether he can look into this case with a view to remission of the sentence?

My right hon. Friend is having inquiry made into this case, and will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give any indication of the approximate amount of money lost in the United Kingdom in aircraft and allied industries during the first 15 years, or between any convenient dates since 1920?

I have been asked to reply. I regret that I am unable to furnish any estimate in the sense desired by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the advisability of arranging for the fiduciary issue of the Bank of England to be raised by approximately the amount of the reduction made last year; and, in so doing, strengthen the present gold holding of the Exchange Equalisation Fund?

The reduction of the fiduciary issue from the statutory figure of £260 millions to £200 millions, to which I assume my hon. Friend is referring, took place on the 15th December, 1936. It coincided with an increase of £65 millions in the gold held in the Issue Department of the Bank of England and the whole transaction was described as a temporary and flexible arrangement. As such it has been and is constantly under review, and my hon. Friend can thus rest assured that the question of its revision will not be overlooked.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will immediately move to set up the Public Accounts Committee and to instruct them to examine, before public money is expended, the decision to take Berkeley Square House for the Air Ministry; to advise whether it might be preferable on safety and financial grounds to clear a suburban area and put up a specially designed building rather than take over existing accommodation in a fashionable district; and will he delay further negotiations until the committee has reported?

The reasons for taking these premises were explained by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air yesterday in reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for the Chertsey Division of Surrey; I may add that the cost is approximately the same as that of the other headquarters accommodation already occupied by the Air Ministry. In these circumstances the First Commissioner of Works accepted the offer of the lease and entered into commitments in respect of the adaptations. These commitments will be provided for in a Supplementary Estimate for the Public Buildings (Great Britain) Vote next spring, but in view of the urgency of the need for the additional accommodation the Treasury, as frequently in similar urgent cases, have authorised the First Commissioner to proceed with the adaptations forthwith.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the number of estates of officers and other ranks of the Royal Air Force killed whilst on flying duty for the 12 months ended the last convenient date which have paid Death Duty to the Treasury, and the total amounts paid?

The number of estates of personnel of the Royal Air Force killed whilst on flying duty for the 12 months ended the 31st March, 1938, which have paid Estate Duty, is 25 and the total of the amounts paid is £4,825. The figures include personnel of the Royal Air Force reserve and Auxiliary Air Force.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the total amount paid out in subsidy to the British sugar-beet industry since 1924, together with the total amount of revenue lost to the Exchequer through the remission of excise duty?

The total of the subsidy for the financial years 1924–25 to 1937–38 was £40,958,834. Excise duty is levied on sugar manufactured in this country from home-grown beet, and by remission of excise duty I take the hon. Member to mean the difference between the amount of duty payable and the amount which would have been received had duty been charged on a similar quantity of British refined sugar of foreign origin. This difference amounts for the same period of 14 years to £19,532,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there is any restriction upon Government contractors, express or implied, against publishing the prices at which they sell to Government Departments, or disclosing to co-tenderers the amount of their tender?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the rule of all Government Departments never to publish to the House any contract prices, even in a case in which the circumstances indicate that the public interest would not suffer thereby, or whether the question of publishing to the House the prices paid to Government contractors is still one to be decided in any given case by the Department concerned?

It has been a long-standing practice to regard contract prices as confidential. The answer to the first part of the question is therefore in the affirmative, and the second does not arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement, in the interests alike of business and employment as well as to allay any fears as to the possible curtailment of the social services, as to whether Budgetary increases will, in view of the fact that the ordinary capital market is now employing £100,000,000 a year less than in 1936, be met next year by calls upon the capital market, thus bringing about a more full employment of resources and avoiding as far as possible the dangers of increased taxation?

I cannot adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any steps are contemplated to bring into use the moneys now managed by the Charity Commissioners, which have grown, through accumulations due to the rise in the value of investments and to the efficient management by the Commissioners, from about £40,000,000 in 1918 to £90,462,865 19s. 1d. at present; and whether, seeing that in the meantime many individual funds have been raised, some of which now have surpluses which can never be required for the original purposes, he will take legislative steps to apply the funds in the control of the Charity Commissioners to the relief of distress?

The moneys referred to by the hon. Member are presumably the investments held by the Official Trustees of Charitable Funds, who are not Managing Trustees but are in the position of Custodian Trustees, and have no power to interfere with the application of the income of the various charities whose investments are placed in their charge. The increase in the nominal value of these investments between 1918 and 1938 is due mainly to an increase in the number of holdings and not to an appreciation of capital value.With regard to the second part of the question, I understand the hon. Member to refer to charities wholly maintained by voluntary contributions. Such charities are not under the jurisdiction of the Charity Commissioners. On the other hand, if there is any surplus of a charitable fund of this nature which cannot be applied for the original purpose of the fund, the trustees thereof should apply to the court or to the Charity Commissioners for directions as to the application of the surplus. No legislation on this matter appears to me to be necessary.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has considered the need for the making of a special allowance at Christmas to all people who receive the old age or widows' pension; and with what result?

The Government do not feel able to introduce the legislation which would be necessary to give effect to this suggestion.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can give the strength of the Civil Service staffs in the Admiralty, Air Ministry, War Office and Home Office at the present time, as compared with the strength of the same Departments on 1st April last?

The latest complete statistics for Civil Service staffs are those relating to the 1st April, 1938. Approximate figures for the present strength of the Headquarters non-industrial staffs of the Departments in question are available and are as follow:

Non-Industrial Staffs in the Defence Departments Headquarters Establishments and in the Home Office at 1st April, 1938, and in November, 1938.
—		1st April, 1938.	November, 1938.
Admiralty	…	4,081	4,300
Air Ministry	…	4,317	5,280
War Office	…	2,348	2,680
Home Office	…	1,585	1,920

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Government proposes to adopt the recommendation of the second Report of the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries, that all entrance fees should be abolished at the National Gallery, the Tate Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, the Wallace Collection, the London Museum, the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew?

The Government do not regard the present as an appropriate time to abolish the small entrance fees which have been charged for a considerable period at these institutions. Except for two days a week the charge at the Royal Botanic Gardens is only one penny, and entrance to the other institutions is free except on certain days—generally two days in the week.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a firm named the Clyde Rubber Company, Dunlop Street, Glasgow, had a contract with the Home Office for a supply of gas masks, and that this firm were paying to a girl, Miss Beattie, aged 20, the wage of 20s. weekly; and whether he has taken any action on this complaint, in view of the fair-wages clause in the contract?

This contract was placed by my Department on behalf of the Home Office. The complaint referred to is under investigation, and I will in due course inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state the total amount expended since 1918 by His Majesty's Government by way of loan, grants, or otherwise for development purposes in African territories held under mandate by His Majesty's Government?

The reply is as follows:

A. Free Grants.
Tanganyika Territory 1920–21 to 1925–26:
£
408,109	in aid of expenses of administration; 1919–20 and 1920–21 (see under "Loans" as to subsequent years).
Loans:
43,489	Dar-es-Salaam Electric Power Station.
14,036	Nyanza Salt Mines.
2,002,415	Railways and Public Works (including £49,555 capitalised arrears of interest).
449,506*	Deficit in Railways Accounts 1921–22 to 1925–26.
448,093*	Deficit on Territory's Accounts 1921–22 and 1922–23.
177,909*	War damage restoration.
£3,135,448
* No terms yet fixed.
Togoland: Nil.
Cameroons: Nil.

B. Statement of Grants and Loans approved from Colonial Development Fund for Schemes in Tanganyika Territory.
Free Grants.	Loans.
£694,014	£92,183

As regards the Cameroons and Togoland, these territories are administered as integral parts of Nigeria and the Gold Coast respectively and, although grants and loans have been made from the Colonial Development Fund to the Governments of Nigeria and the Gold Coast, it is not possible to state what portion of the loans or grants have been applied to the Mandated sections of these Dependencies.C. Guaranteed Loans.Two loans, totalling £5,070,000, guaranteed by the United Kingdom Government under the Palestine and East Africa Loans (Guaranteed) Act of 1926 have been raised for railway, harbour, port, road and other works of development in Tanganyika Territory. An instalment of £500,000 on a further loan of £750,000 guaranteed by the United Kingdom Government under the Tanganyika and British Honduras Loans Act, 1932, was raised in June, 1932, far the purpose of refunding to the accumulated surplus balances of the Territory sums expended from revenue on capital works undertaken before the passing of that Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of recent events, he is now prepared immediately to increase the rate of the immigration into Palestine of Jewish refugees, both children and adults.

I would ask the right hon. Member to await the statement that I shall make at the beginning of the Debate this afternoon.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give any information in connection with a Territorial gunner who was killed by an anti-aircraft gun at the White City display; whether the man was married; and what amount of compensation will be paid?

As regards the circumstances of the most regrettable accident which resulted in the death of Gunner J. F. Watkiss, there is nothing I can usefully add at present to the information which was communicated to the Press at the time by my Department, and that which has since been published in connection with the inquest which was held on 21st November when a verdict of "accidental death" was returned, except that a court of inquiry has been held the report of which has not yet reached me. Gunner Watkiss was married and left a widow and two children. Subject to verification of particulars, an award of pension will be made under the provisions of the pay warrant, at the rate of 17s. 6d. a week for the widow, and 5s. a week for each of the two children until they reach the age of 16.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether he is aware of the large number of skilled engineers employed in small engineering works, which at the present time are almost entirely without rearmament work; and whether he will consider the desirability of instituting some system by which these firms can be brought within the rearmament scheme, other than through the present method of sub-letting work to them through larger firms?

The facts stated in the first part of the question have been repeatedly considered but it has so far been judged more effective and more economical to proceed on the method of sub-letting through the larger firms. I should, however, anticipate that the matter is one of those which will receive attention from the industrial panel to be set up in pursuance of the statement made in Debate on 17th November by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can state the weekly wage of postmen carrying out similar duties in Leeds, Pontefract, Castleford and Featherstone?

The scales of pay for established postmen at the offices to which the hon. Member refers are: at Leeds, which is a Class I Office, 31s. at 18 years of age rising by annual increments to 63s.; at Pontefract and Castleford, which are Class II Offices, 29S. 6d. rising to 6os. 6d.; and at Featherstone which is a Class III Office, 28s. rising to 58s. The wage scales of postmen in general are at present under the consideration of the Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has yet had a report from the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee on the question of holidays in relation to unemployment insurance?

Yes, Sir. I received the report on 7th October, 1938, and it was published on 4th November.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is yet in a position to make a statement in regard to those open spaces in London governed by special Act of Parliament which were utilised for trenches during the crisis, the work being carried out by local authorities; and whether such open spaces can be put back to their original condition?

So far as I am aware, trenches have been constructed on the open spaces referred to only with the consent of the controlling authority. The inclusion of trenches upon privately owned property as part of the permanent system outlined to the House on 3rd November must depend in each case upon a number of considerations of which the consent of the owners would be one. I hope to issue instructions to the local authorities on the subject shortly; but in the meantime I should be prepared to consider any case in which a local authority, as the result of representations made to them, proposes re-instatement of the ground.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether contractors were appointed directly by the Home Office to dig trenches in the London parks during the crisis; and under what Act and Section of such Act are Metropolitan borough councils held responsible for expenditure so incurred?

Contractors were not appointed directly by the Home Office. The Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors offered their services in connection with the digging of trenches and my right hon. Friend welcomed this offer. After consultation with representatives of the Metropolitan authorities, the services of the contractors were made available to the Metropolitan borough councils, but there was no obligation on the borough Councils to accept them, and, though the great majority did, one or two in fact did not. As regards the last part of the question, the responsibility for the provision of such shelters as may be necessary for the protection of the public is allocated to the Metropolitan boroughs by the Air-Raid Precautions (London) (Allocation of Duties) Order made under Section 2 (1) of the Air-Raid Precautions Act, 1937.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he would welcome proposals from the local authorities for air-raid precautions shelter accommodation for the population of their areas?

In a circular issued on 28th March last local authorities were invited to arrange for a survey to be made of accommodation in their area which could be used for air-raid shelters; and it was then pointed out that, until that survey had been completed, it was not possible to judge finally the extent to which the creation of special structures should be considered.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he proposes to collaborate with the local authorities in Mid-Glamorgan on matters of air-raid precautions owing to the special circumstances arising from the construction of a Royal arsenal in the district?

My officers are constantly collaborating with local authorities on the subject of air-raid precautions schemes and will do so with regard to the schemes which the local authorities in the area in question are required by Statute to prepare.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many sandbags were allocated for the defence of hospitals in Central and East Scotland; where they were stored; and whether they were available for the defence of these hospitals during the recent crisis?

I regret that I am unable to give the details asked for by the right hon. Gentleman. Sandbags were issued in bulk to local authorities and it was their function to allocate them as they thought best for the protection of premises in their area. The supplies available were issued to the areas which were considered to be most exposed to risk.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that in the borough of St. Pancras, where gas masks have already been issued to every household of the quantity and size required, a house-to-house canvass is now being carried out for the purpose of compiling a list of the names of all the separate individuals in each household with a note as to the size they take in gas masks; and as, owing to the changes in the composition of households, such a list must rapidly become obsolete, will he take steps to stop the waste of time and money involved in this canvass?

The canvass referred to is necessary, not only for the purpose of ascertaining the number of persons without respirators for whom provision must be made, but also for checking the sizes of those already issued and for seeing that they are, and are being maintained, in good condition. In the borough of St. Pancras it has been ascertained as a result of the canvass that in two areas where the distribution of respirators was believed to be complete some 10 per cent. of the population (excluding infants) were in fact without respirators; and I am satisfied that in this as in other areas the canvass is a necessary and valuable measure of precaution.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is satisfied with the respirator-census card already distributed; whether he has received suggestions for improvements thereof; and whether he will consider the desirability of adopting a new type of card on which fuller particulars are printed?

The card was supplied to local authorities for recording the numbers and sizes of gas masks required by residents as ascertained in the house-to-house fitting census. There is no objection to authorities using any other form of record if considered more suitable to their needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the Government fair-wages clauses has been, or will be, included in all contracts for new aircraft in Canada or in any other Dominion or foreign country?

A clause equivalent to the Fair Wages Clause is being included in the contracts for the manufacture of aircraft in Canada, requiring that the rates of wages and conditions of employment shall comply with the practice prevailing in respect of contracts to which His Majesty's Government in Canada is a party. The contracts with United States firms for the supply of training and general reconnaissance aircraft include an undertaking by the firms to pay rates of wages and observe hours of labour not less favourable than those commonly recognised in the aircraft industry in the United States. There are no other contracts for the manufacture of aircraft for the Royal Air Force outside the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the contracts for new aircraft being placed in Canada include any wood or wood and metal aircraft?

No, Sir. Aircraft ordered under the contracts in question will be all-metal types.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the official statements as to the shortage of skilled labour for undertaking Air Ministry contract work, he is aware of the large numbers of skilled workmen in small factories which are prepared but unable to obtain such work; and whether he will take steps to ensure that such small firms are better utilised in the rearmament programme?

As my right hon. Friend informed the House on 10th November he has paid special attention to the question of sub-contracting with a view to utilising the engineering resources of the country as widely as possible. He has requested aircraft firms to sub-contract a substantial portion of their work; he has recently concluded arrangements with large industrial concerns for the development of extensive sub-contracting systems for the production of aircraft, and there is a separate Directorate to develop subcontracting under the Director General of Production at the Air Ministry. He feels that all these measures should result in advantage being taken of suitable facilities which may be available in a factory such as my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether the Departmental Committee which has been conferring with representatives of local education authorities on the question of grants has made its report?

The hon. Member is mistaken in his reference to a Departmental Committee. Discussions are proceeding between representatives of local education authorities and officers of the Board with regard to the adjustment and equalisation of the various factors in the elementary grant formula. The present position is that various schemes for amendment of the formula have been laid before the representatives of local education authorities, and I understand that they are considering alternative proposals.