asked the Minister of Labour how much money has been allocated by the Special Commissioner from all available sources in the establishment of new industries in the county of Durham; and how much in Northumberland?

Apart from the Team Valley Trading Estate, the sums allocated from the Special Areas Fund, including commitments, up to 31st October, 1938, for the provision of sites and factories and in respect of contributions under Section 3 of the Special Areas Act, 1937, for the purpose of inducing the establishment of new industries was £231,000 for the Special Areas in the county of Durham and £6,450 for those in Northumberland. In addition, there was a commitment of £2,336,500 in respect of the Team Valley Trading Estate, which is situated in the county of Durham but employs a considerable proportion of persons resident in Northumberland. The figures given do not include loans from the Treasury under Section 6 of the Special Areas Act, 1937, or from the Special Areas Reconstruction Association, or moneys made available by the Nuffield Trustees.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, as the fall in the unemployment figures in Wallsend is due almost entirely to the re-armament programme and not to the Special Areas Acts, he can say what steps the Commissioner is taking to provide against unemployment when the re-armament programme comes to an end?

The efforts of the Commissioner and of the North-East Coast Development Board are directed towards introducing work of a permanent character. Meanwhile, I am sure my hon. Friend will not wish to complain of the substantial reduction in unemployment arising in large part from the Defence programme, and I would point out that, given a proper degree of local initiative, this improvement should afford a better basis for attracting new industries to the area.

While thanking my right hon. Friend, may I ask whether, in view of the fact that he did not answer my question in the Debate last week, there is to be a policy in regard to the measures to be taken respecting shipping and shipbuilding, or is it to be a general policy?

That is a matter for the Board of Trade. Last week, in answer to a question, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade said that he was waiting for consultations with the shipping and shipbuilding industries.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these reductions in unemployment are almost entirely due to rearmament, and is he aware that this is causing very great alarm among people of all views in the north?

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to reduce the unemployment figures in Willington Quay, part of the borough of Wallsend?

I would remind my hon. Friend of her correspondence on this subject with the Commissioner, in the course of which she was informed of the efforts made to induce employers to establish new factories in this area, and was advised that if she wished to assist their efforts in a practical form her best course was to co-operate closely with the North East Coast Development Board.

Will the Commissioner send someone to investigate the causes of unemployment at Willington, so that we may have a little additional capital spent there, in view of the large amount spent in Durham County?

I do not think it is necessary to call the Commissioner's attention to this matter. The hon. Lady knows from correspondence she has had with me that a number of industrialists have been induced to look at Willington Quay, but up to the moment, apart from one, neither the efforts of the hon. Lady, the Commissioner, the Development Board nor myself have been sufficient to attract them there.

Has there not been a great deal of romance in the past, without any good?

It is a reality.

asked the Minister of Labour the total insured industrial population in the administrative county of Durham, and the county boroughs of Sunderland and South Shields, for the years 1931 and 1938, respectively?

I am having the figures extracted and will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is proposed to authorise universal payment of extra sums to, persons in receipt of Unemployment Assistance Board pay during the winter months?

No, Sir. I would refer the hon. Member to the Board's instruction on the subject, a copy of which has already been placed in the library.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that none of the recipients of allowances can get more than is necessary for the barest maintenance, and that it is agreed that there is need and hunger? Would it not be desirable to alter that?

I cannot debate that question. It has been often debated. I have answered the question on the Order Paper.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in connection with the Unemployment Assistance (Winter Adjustments) Regulations, 1938, fresh instructions, on the lines of those issued in the Circular dated 22nd October, 1937, have been issued to area officers of the Unemployment Assistance Board; if so, will he indicate in what way the two instructions differ; and whether any restriction is intended as compared with the 1937 Circular?

A copy of the instruction issued on 12th October, 1938, by the Board in connection with the Winter Adjustments Regulations has been placed in the library. Such differences as there are in the wording of the instructions arise mainly from the fact that the 1938 instruction is based on a regulation which had not been made when the 1937 instruction was issued. As regards the last part of the question, I am assured that the information so far available indicates that the percentage of cases in which winter additions have been granted is in excess of that of last year.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mr. R. W. F. Redding, of 6, Whippendale Road, Watford, had 1s. deducted from his Unemployment Assistance Board payment on 18th November, and was informed by the Unemployment Assistance Board officer that the deduction was made because the man had been seen selling the "Daily Worker" outside the Exchange; under what regulation this deduction was imposed; and will he take steps to see that there is no repetition of stoppages for such causes?

I am informed by the Board that there is no foundation for the allegation made in the hon. Member's question. The facts are that Mr. Redding has for some time past worked on Saturdays as a gardener, and the deduction of is, made from his allowance is in respect of his earnings in that capacity.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that it has become customary at some Employment Exchanges to call in police officers to the manager's room on those occasions when interviews are given to representatives of the National Unemployed Workers' Movement; and whether he will take steps to ensure that such action is not resorted to in future?

There have been one or two cases in which it has been necessary to call in the police, owing to the disorderly behaviour of the representatives of this movement on Exchange premises. I trust that such action may not be necessary in the future.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that in certain Exchanges a very harsh method is adopted towards those who apply for relief or assistance of any kind, and will he not see that different methods are adopted?

I am not aware of that, but I am aware that certain persons who do go tax the good humour and ability of the able managers of the Exchanges in an unfair way, compared with others.

If I supply the right hon. Gentleman with a list of managers who are completely lacking in humour, will he consider it?

I should not take the one-sided view of the hon. Member as evidence, although I am always willing to listen to ex-parte statements. The hon. Member is quite aware—

The right hon. Member's answer is too much like a speech.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now say what is the result of the experiment being tried at Hartlepool, by which unemployed dockyard workers have to sign on once a day instead of twice; and whether he is now ready to extend this improvement to Liverpool?

As I indicated in reply to the hon. Member for Birkenhead, East (Mr. White), on 21st November, no formal report on the Hartlepool experiment has been received. I think it would be premature to extend the experiment to Liverpool.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that it is a very great hardship to expect men to go sometimes six miles in order to sign on twice a day?

I agree that there are difficulties. Both at Hartlepool and Liverpool there is a joint registration committee. I am hoping to get a report. At the moment I have received no such representation.

When does the right hon. Gentleman expect the report?

I do not know. I have had one or two observations sent to me, but not the report.

As regards Liverpool, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this application has been before his Department for six years, and that people have moved out five miles in the meantime?

I am aware that this question has been often raised, and the fact that it has been often raised rather points to the intractable nature of the difficulty, rather than an easy method of solving it.

Can the Minister not say that he will solve it by one-Clause legislation?

asked the Minister of Labour what precautions are taken to ensure that trade union standards of labour and wages are observed in new industries which are assisted to establish themselves in trading estates and the Special Areas generally?

The wages and conditions of employment in factories established on trading estates and in the Special Areas are a matter for negotiation between the parties concerned in the usual manner, subject to the observance of such statutory conditions as may be applicable to particular industries, for example, the Trade Boards Acts.

Can we have the assurance of the Minister that proper trade union standards of labour and wages will be observed in the new industries which are set up, because there is a fear that they are undermining industries in other parts of the country?

That is not so. It is not only my desire that these standards should be observed, but the attention of employers is drawn to the recognised rate of wages.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to keep himself informed of the conditions in these industries?

The hon. Member knows that our Industrial Relations Department is very well informed of the conditions in all these cases.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of advisory committees set up under the Unemployment Assistance Board in South Wales and Monmouthshire; and the names of the chairman and members of each separate committee?

Nine advisory committees have been set up by the Board in South Wales and Monmouthshire. There are on the average 20 members on each committee and I am sending the names to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the severe hardships suffered, especially in winter time, by large numbers of unemployed and their families in the Western Isles owing to the discontinuance of the unemployment benefit and allowances and the inadequate rates of public assistance; and whether he is taking any special steps with regard to the unemployment position in the Western Isles?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave him on 3rd November and subsequent occasions. If he will let me have particulars of any specific cases which he has in mind, I shall be glad to have inquiry made.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is the general rule in some parts of the islands to cut off large numbers of people unless they can show that they have a good insurable record; and is not that impossible in view of the lack of work during the last 10 years?

The hon. Member's supplementary question shows how difficult it is to deal with this question at Question Time. Two or three issues may be involved. It may be an application of the Anomalies Act or it may be a question whether they are within the scope of the Act or not.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that insurance officers are taking decisions which cause great hardship to these people without anyone having a say in the matter?

I have repeatedly told the hon. Member that on questions of policy they are advised by the local advisory committee, and in this matter he should address his attention to those concerned in the Western Isles.

asked the Minister of Labour for what purpose he has placed, or intends to place, the National Unemployment Register at the disposal of the Lord Privy Seal?

The hon. Member is, I think, under some misapprehension. I have no intention of taking any such action as he suggests, and perhaps he will await the statement which is to be made a little later by my right hon. Friend.

If any such action is contemplated, will the right hon. Gentleman also consider placing before the Lord Privy Seal the allowances which are made to the unemployed so that he can judge as to their physical fitness?

The hon. Member is basing his propaganda on an assumption.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of registered unemployed in Scotland for the years ended September, 1937, and 1938, respectively?

The average numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Scotland for the years ended September, 1937, and September, 1938, were 248,111 and 250,559 respectively.

In view of the increase, may I ask the Minister if he will inspect these figures along with the increase in Poor Law relief in Scotland, and then issue a public statement admitting his complete failure?

I am always glad to examine all the facts and relate them accurately to each other. If that were done it would show a great success.

Can the Minister indicate to the House what increase in unemployment has taken place in Leith?

At the moment there is a slight increase, but there are 2,200 fewer unemployed than six years ago.

May I draw your attention to the fact, Mr. Speaker, that the right hon. Gentleman is making propaganda in answering these supplementary questions?

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of employés affected by his inquiry into conditions in the distributive industry and the estimated number of employés not inside the ambit of trade unions or trade boards?

The number of insured workers in the distributive trades at July, 1938, was about 2,300,000. Separate figures of trade union membership for the distributive trades is not available, but I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Labour Gazette for October last which gives the latest inclusive figures available for commerce and distribution. About 100,000 workers are covered by the milk distributive trade boards.

Will the Minister keep in mind, in view of possible regulations in the future covering distributive trades' workers, that the regulations will affect a considerably larger number who are outside trade boards and trade unions?

That is why I initiated discussions between both sides in the industry the employers and the employed, and that is why they have submitted a plan for the consideration of the conditions of those who are not in the statutory body.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of women who have been promoted to the Departmental clerical classes of the Ministry for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

Forty women were promoted to the Departmental clerical class of the Ministry during the 12 months ended 30th November, 1938.

Is this by competitive examination?

It is the usual way.

Were any men displaced?

That is an entirely different question. If the hon. Member wants to know how many men were promoted in the same period I will tell him—110.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the intensive studies into the question of international migration for settlement undertaken by the International Labour Office and presented to the Governing Body in April, 1938, he will instruct those who are studying the possibilities of oversea settlement to give full consideration to the concrete proposals made in this document, including financial proposals?

I presume the hon. Member refers to the proposal to establish a Permanent International Committee of Migration for Settlement made by the Technical Conference of Experts on Migration, which met in Geneva in March of this year. This proposal is at present under consideration by the Governing Body of the International Labour Office, and meanwhile the report of the conference of experts is being examined by the Departments concerned.

Is there any likelihood or hope of a report soon?

I would like notice of that question. I am not aware at the moment as to whether we are likely to get it soon. The hon. Member will realise that the migration problem has been rather overwhelmed by the refugee problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been directed to page 63 of the 1937 annual report of the Chief Inspector of Factories, to the high percentage affected in the pottery industry; what administrative action has been taken since the new Act came into operation; and what further action is it intended to take?

The statistical table referred to shows that a large number of deaths from silicosis occurred in the pottery industry over the period 1930–37. As the hon. Member knows, however, the disease generally develops over a long period of years—it appears from the table that in fatal cases in this industry, the average duration of employment was roughly 40 years. These cases cannot, therefore, be taken as an index to present conditions which, I am advised, have, in recent years, greatly improved. As regards the future, the most important development appears to be the substitution, where practicable of non-siliceous material. This is progressing satisfactorily and is being actively encouraged by the Department. Another special step contemplated is a conference between the Chief Inspector and representatives of employers and workers to review the conditions in the Earthenware Tile Trade; and the position in the industry generally will continue to receive close attention.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the Debate on the Criminal Justice Bill taking place in the near future, he is prepared to grant special facilities to hon. Members to inspect prisons and Borstal institutions?

I am always happy to arrange for hon. Members to pay visits to prisons and Borstal institutions, and if any Member wishing to pay such a visit will apply to the Secretary of the Prison Commission at the Home Office, the necessary visiting order will be issued to him.

Can the right hon. Gentleman undertake that similar facilities on a long duration basis will be extended to Ministers of the Crown?

My answer covered all visits of a temporary character.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any particular hon. Member in mind?

asked the Home Secretary whether, in connection with page 17 of the 1937 annual report of the Chief Inspector of Factories, he can state the proposed increase in the number of inspectors for the North Staffordshire area?

The staff of the Stoke-on-Trent district was raised in the spring of last year from three to four full-time inspectors, and I am advised that this compares favourably with the staffing of other districts. No further addition to the Stoke-on-Trent staff is at present contemplated.

Can we have an assurance that the Home Office is giving facilities to children of working-class people to graduate through secondary schools and become inspectors?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Home Secretary (1), when his Department expect to be able to give a decision in regard to the application of Messrs. Duromould Products, Limited, relating to Giovanni Guerci and Augusto Sacchet, as the application was made more than two months ago;

(2), whether he has considered an application from Messrs. Duromould Products, Limited, of New Bond Street, for permission for two Italian subjects to be employed by them; whether he is aware that these men are essential key men, and that failure to grant permission is holding up the employment of 60 men at the firm's Kettlebrook Mill, Tamworth; and whether, in view of the fact that the application is now two months' old, he will expedite the granting of the necessary permission?

Certain inquiries have had to be undertaken by the Home Office and the Ministry of Labour in dealing with this application. These have now been completed, and I am glad to be able to inform the hon. Member that permission has been granted to Guerci to enter the employment of Duromould Products, Limited, for a period of 12 months in the first instance and that a permit has been issued by the Ministry of Labour to enable the company to engage the services of Sacchet from abroad to assist Guerci in the work and for the purpose of training British subjects.

Is the Minister aware that the great delay which has taken place between his Department and the Ministry of Labour has resulted in 100 men being stopped to-morrow instead of additional employment for 60 men? Is it not a serious thing that a delay of 10 weeks in dealing with an application like this should have such serious effects on industry? Is it not possible for some steps to be taken to speed up the granting of these permits?

I do not think the facts are as the hon. Member has stated. The delay has not been due to unnecessary time being spent by the Home Office, but to the fact that a number of complicated inquiries were necessary in this case. The first application was for these two individuals to start business for themselves. The application was subsequently changed, and this change in itself meant further delay.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have telephoned both his Department and the Ministry of Labour and have failed to elicit any information from either, and that, in addition, I endeavoured to interview the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour, who was too busy to see me even on such a vital matter as this?

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information in connection with a man killed at Blackpool working in a water-main trench on 23rd November, and particularly whether the trench was properly timbered?

I understand that timbering did not appear to be necessary as the trench was quite shallow, only about two feet ten inches deep, with sloping sides, and some concrete fell from one side pinning down one of the workmen, who was at the time in a stooping position in the trench. The fatality was due to an altogether exceptional combination of circumstances.

Are we to understand that a trench about 2 feet 6 inches deep fell in and that there was sufficient dirt to kill a man? Surely, common sense would tell us different from that.

If the hon. Member will look into the full circumstances of this case, I think he will see that there was an altogether exceptional combination of circumstances which led to this fatality.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of a proposal, to which assent has been given by the Dorset County Agricultural Committee, of employing boys from the Borstal Institution at Portland on land-drainage schemes; what arrangements are proposed with regard to payment by the owners of the land; whether he is aware of the strong opposition to this proposal on the ground that unemployed men in Dorset should be engaged for the work; and whether he will have the matter reconsidered?

Yes, Sir; the idea is that if Borstal inmates were employed to clear certain waterways in the catchment area of the River Frome in Dorsetshire, this work would provide suitable occupation for some of these youths and would serve a valuable purpose. The Prison Commissioners are advised that this necessary work has for many years been neglected because of financial difficulties and that if the work is not done in this way it would not be done at all. In these circumstances the question of competition with the local unemployed does not appear to arise, while the reclamation of the land for agricultural purposes may well create ultimately an additional demand for local labour. Negotiations with the Dorset County Council are still in progress, and I regret that I am not in a position to give any further details of the scheme.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any information as to the general conditions on which this work is to be done by these boys?

We are at present in communication with the Dorset County Council on the subject, and I shall be happy to send the hon. Member the conditions when I receive them.

Who are the owners of this land?

I could not say without notice.

Should the ownership be in private hands, will the private owners make any contribution towards the work being done?

That is one of the questions we are discussing with the Dorset County Council.

asked the Home Secretary the number of persons who have been prosecuted in the Metropolitan area for the 12 months ended the last convenient date for exceeding the speed limit in built-up areas under Section 1 of the Road Traffic Act, 1934; and whether he can state from the records at his disposal the gross amount in fines imposed upon such motorists, and the number of police officers detailed for this special duty?

In the year ended 31st December last there were 31,507 prosecutions for exceeding the speed limit in built-up areas in the Metropolitan Police District. Fines amounting to £40,954 were imposed. The speed limit is mainly enforced by means of traffic patrols, and the work is only one item among their various duties. The number of traffic patrols in the Metropolitan Police District is approximately 630.

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform me how much time the traffic patrols spend on this work, and the cost to the ratepayers?

It is impossible to differentiate between this part of a policeman's duties and his other duties.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the copy sent to him of a resolution passed by the municipal delegates attending the British fire-week conference at Brighton requesting legislation to compel insurance companies to contribute to the cost of fire brigades; and what action he proposes to take?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The whole matter was considered when the Fire Brigades Bill was before Parliament, and the Government do not contemplate any further action.

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether his attention has been called to the delays which still continue in dealing with applications for visas for refugees, even when suitable guarantors and banker's references have been provided; and whether, in view of the danger involved in even a short delay to many victims of persecution and the acute mental suffering of others, he will take steps still further to increase the staff of the Aliens Department and shorten the period required before a visa can be granted;

(2) Whether he is aware that many offers of hospitality and guarantees of maintenance for student refugees have been received from the teaching staff and students of English universities, and that great disappointment has been caused by the long delay in obtaining visas for these refugee students; and whether he will expedite the granting of visas in such cases?

I am in full sympathy with the consideration to which the hon. Member calls attention, and I am most anxious that there shall be no delay in the granting of visas in cases when it is clear that admission to this country can properly be authorised. Further additions to the staff have been made within the last two or three days and other measures are being taken to accelerate the work.

Does the right hon. Gentleman now consider that the staff is adequate for the work in hand?

No, Sir. I have said that other measures are now being taken to expand the machinery.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into the question of removing some of the existing red-tape difficulties?

If the hon. Gentleman will send me details as to what he has in mind, I will certainly see what can be done to expedite the present machinery.

Is it not a difficult form of guarantee?

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give the names of those serving on the Co-ordination Committee, also those serving on the Inter-Aid Committee, dealing with the German refugee problem; and whether on these committees there are representatives specially selected because of their knowledge and interest in British labour questions?

As the list of the names of the organisations which are members of the Co-ordinating Committee for Refugees is rather long, I propose with my hon. Friend's permission to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Representatives of the Trades Union Congress and Labour party are included in the list.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether either of these committees deal with the evacuation of the children when the term of training and education is finished, and can he give a guarantee that when their term of training is completed, they will not be allowed to engage in work in competition with the youth of this country, who find it difficult to get employment?

I think my hon. and gallant Friend had better put down a specific question about these children. The question on the Paper deals with a much wider issue.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the general principle that every refugee received into this country is only an incitement to foreign rulers to get rid of people who, in their opinion, are either racially or politically undesirable, and that that makes great difficulties for this country?

It is impossible to deal with a general question of that kind in answer to a supplementary question. I have several times made the Government's position clear to the House, namely, that we deal with these cases individually on their merits. By that policy we stand.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a very great deal of public feeling in this country that would welcome these unfortunate people for the honour of our country?

asked the Home Secretary the numbers of German refugees admitted to this country since 13th November, and how many of the entrants were adults?

Among the numerous Germans who come into this country every day there are some who, having been admitted for a visit or as students, subsequently apply to be allowed to stay as refugees; and it is not possible to say how many of the arrivals recorded from day to day by the port officers can properly be classified as refugees.

Can my right hon. Friend say how many of those who have entered this country have been recommended by these committees?

I could not possibly answer that question without notice, but I can say generally that we find the advice of these committees extremely valuable in selecting cases and in deciding which of them are suitable for admission to this country.

When will my right hon. Friend be in a position to give the number of adult male workers who have come in, because the matter is exciting a very great deal of interest among the unemployed?

I have already given a figure of that kind, as I think my hon. and gallant Friend will recollect. What I did not do was to give a day-to-day figure. The Prime Minister said only a week or two ago that 11,000 refugees had been settled in this country, and I added the information that, as a result of that, as far as I could gather, about 15,000 British workers had been employed who would not otherwise have been employed.

Are these people allowed to take employment?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. Alfred William Green has instituted within the past 12 months 12 actions or more in the High Court as a common informer against different persons claiming penalties for alleged breaches of the Sunday Observance Act, 1780; and, as the use of the common informer is an archaic and unsatisfactory method of invoking the law, will he consider setting up a committee to inquire into the whole question of common informers?

I agree that there are objections to a system by which penalties or part of the penalties imposed for breaches of the law are payable to an informer; but I do not think it is necessary to set up a committee to review this system. It is already the practice when statutes authorising this system are brought under review by amending legislation to substitute penalty provisions in modern form.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider dealing with the Sunday Observance Act, 1780, in the near future?

Even so, I do not think a committee would help us much in finding a solution to these difficulties.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give it his consideration without a committee?

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is yet in a position to state the policy of the Government regarding the provision of permanent underground shelters for London and other large cities?

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he can make any statement upon the Government's programme of public air-raid shelter construction?

I am not yet in a position to add anything to the reply which I gave to a question by the hon. Member for the Everton Division of Liverpool (Mr. Kirby) on 21st November.

Can my right hon. Friend indicate, roughly, when he will be in a position to make a statement?

I can assure my hon. Friend that I have not been idle in the matter, but I would rather not be committed about a date at present.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the fact that, at the best, the construction of shelters will take a very long time, and that therefore the decision is all the more urgent?

I fully realise that fact.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are hundreds of thousands of miners idle who would be very pleased to do this work?

Will my right hon. Friend, when he does issue these instructions, kindly make a time-table and say when the work is to be completed?

I will bear that suggestion in mind.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the provisional arrangements made for the last crisis for each authority in the Metropolitan Police area to operate its own air-raid precautions scheme, he will permit all these authorities to prepare their own schemes when they are willing to do so?

For the protection of this area a policy of co-ordinated measures is obviously essential, and in the consideration of applications by boroughs or urban districts to be separate scheme-making authorities, attention must be paid to this most important point.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has considered, or will consider, making arrangements to secure that police boxes and telephone kiosks should be suitably strengthened arid re-designed for use as air-raid wardens' posts?

Careful consideration has been given to this proposal, but for a variety of reasons neither police boxes nor post office kiosks, even if strengthened, would usually be suitable as air-raid wardens' posts.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the dearth of materials and equipment for the construction of air-raid shelters, he will accumulate stocks which could be sold at a moderate profit in the event of an emergency?

I am at present reviewing the whole problem of air-raid shelters, and I will bear in mind my hon. Friend's valuable suggestion.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the vast increase in the price of this material which occurred during the last emergency will certainly recur unless the Government are prepared to take immediate action?

That is being kept in view.

Would it not be possible to fix the price of sand and cement, and things of that kind?

It might not be a question merely of sand and cement.

Is it not the case that the more shelters are built in London, the fewer people will have to be evacuated?

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether it is the policy of the Government that vehicles used for air-raid precautions work shall be secondhand?

In general it is unnecessary that vehicles should be purchased in advance for use in an emergency on air-raid precautions work. Arrangements will be made by which vehicles normally used for other purposes will be made available.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Home Office has been insisting that the vehicles purchased should be second-hand, and that these vehicles have proved to be highly uneconomic compared with new vehicles; and can he give an assurance to the House that, in future, his Department will authorise the purchase of new vehicles when the local authorities require them?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a great many Members of this House drive second-hand vehicles with great satisfaction?

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in cases where officers of the police forces are devoting the whole and/or part of their time to air-raid precautions work, grants will be paid on the salaries and other expenditure arising in connection with that work, under the provisions of the Air-Raid Precautions Act; and, if so, have the local authorities been advised to arrange their accounts accordingly?

A memorandum explaining the effect of the Air-Raid Precautions (Approval and Expenditure) Regulations was issued to local authorities in July last. As was explained in that memorandum, where police officers are seconded for A.R.P. duties, either whole-time or part-time, and the establishment of the force is brought up to strength by means of fresh appointments the whole or the appropriate part of the seconded officer's remuneration ranks for A.R.P. grant.

asked the Prime Minister when it is proposed to reconstitute the Select Committee on the Official Secrets Acts for the purpose of carrying out the second part of its task?

The Select Committee on the Official Secrets Acts has been reconstituted, and the Motion relating to its appointment appears on the Order Paper.

asked the Prime Minister in what instances, in addition to the case of the recent Paramount news reel, action has been taken by the Government to ask for the removal of parts of cinema films on political grounds?

I am not aware of any instances in which the removal of parts of cinema films has been asked for by the Government on political grounds.

Then there is no precedent for the request recently made to the American Ambassador to take action on those lines?

No such request has been made.

But is it not the case that the Chancellor of the Exchequer said quite clearly last week that he had got into touch with the American Ambassador and asked for the removal of certain items?

No, Sir.

Will the Prime Minister inquire and make certain whether the headquarters of his own political party do not take a hand in this unofficial censorship?

Do I understand the Prime Minister to say that the Government exercised no pressure of any kind whatever to ask the American Ambassador to get these items withdrawn?

The attention of the American Ambassador was drawn to certain items, and he was asked to look into the matter.

Is the Prime Minister aware that I shall call further attention to this and other matters next Wednesday?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will find time for a discussion of the Motion standing in the name of the hon. Member for Evesham relating to London Passenger Transport Board, Government Gurantee?

No, Sir. I regret that I am unable to afford special facilities for the discussion of this Motion.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the London Passenger Transport Board is an illustration of the unsatisfactory working of rationalisation, and that rationalisation has a demoralising and disturbing effect wherever it is introduced?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in addition to the technical conversations between the staffs of Great Britain and France, it is proposed to hold similar conversations between representatives of the staffs of other countries to which this country has military obligations, such as Portugal, Egypt and Iraq?

As the hon. Member was informed on 5th April last, a British military mission is at present in Portugal for the purpose of discussing matters of general interest to both countries. As regards Egypt and Iraq, there is already close and cordial cooperation between the British military authorities on the spot and the military authorities of the two allied Governments.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education how many local education authorities in Wales provide a school medical service for children attending secondary and intermediate schools; whether he will give the names of the authorities who do not provide such a service; and whether he will take steps to secure that a service is established in those areas?

With the exception of Carmarthenshire all local education authorities for higher education in Wales make some arrangements for the provision of a school medical service for children attending secondary and intermediate schools. The Board wrote to the Carmarthenshire authority on this subject in January last and again in October and their reply is at present under consideration. The Board have made it clear to the authority that they take a serious view of their failure to comply with their statutory duty of providing for the medical inspection of pupils attending secondary and intermediate schools in the county.

If this authority still refuses to act on the instructions of the Board, will the hon. Gentleman take the fullest possible action against it?

We shall continue to exercise pressure.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think that it would be better policy to have open-air nursery schools, so as to prevent these children needing medical attention?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether the curriculum prepared by the Central Welsh Board for the school certificate and matriculation is comparable to the standard set by other examining bodies; and whether he has received any representations to the effect that the Central Welsh Board curriculum is too heavy and the standard too high?

The one complaint received by the Board related to an alleged high standard in the mathematical papers set by the Central Welsh Board. The hon. Member is, no doubt, aware that one of the functions of the Secondary School Examinations Council is to maintain broadly equivalent standards between the various examining bodies. The Report of the Investigators into the School Certificate, issued in 1932, disclosed no appreciable disparity in standards between the Central Welsh Board and other bodies; and I am advised that the current syllabuses are no more exacting in the case of this particular examining body than elsewhere.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether, in view of the fact that two of the most important examining bodies conducting secondary school examinations, namely, London University and the Oxford and Cambridge Universities Joint Board, have demurred to accepting for adoption in 1939 the proposals contained in Circular 1463 for the alteration of the school certificate examination; and, in view of the fact that the circular, dated 18th July, 1938, could not receive consideration by the universities until the present term, commencing in October, he will postpone the operation of the new regulations for a year, to allow of a proper investigation by the examining bodies of the probable results of the proposed changes?

The official letter to examining bodies, which was afterwards reproduced as Circular 1463, was issued on 2nd July last. No reference was made in that letter to any date by which the revised conditions for the School Certificate were to be adopted. In accordance with a recommendation from the Secondary School Examinations Council the Board will not require the new conditions to be adopted before 1940, but examining bodies are, of course, at liberty to adopt them before that year.

Is my hon. Friend aware that arrangements are being made to conduct some of these examinations in 1939?

I said that there is no compulsion to adopt these changes at the moment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (1) whether he will state precisely the grounds upon which the university examining bodies opposed his request for an alteration of the dates of school examinations to assist the spread-over of holidays;

(2) whether he is prepared to recommend the partial withholding of grants from those educational authorities who refuse to co-operate with the Government in its policy of spread-over of annual holidays with pay by making the appropriate adjustments in the dates of their examinations;

(3) whether, in view of the attitude taken up by the university examining bodies on the question of altering the dates of their certificate examinations to suit the requirements of the spread-over of holidays with pay, he will consider the setting up of a special examining body to deal with school certificate examinations throughout the country?

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. Except in the case of one examining body, there has been no refusal to alter the date of the certificate examinations in 1940, though in some cases it was represented that the change would lead to financial and administrative difficulties. There is, however, evidence that a large majority of the schools were opposed to the date suggested; out of 530 schools in different parts of the country who were questioned, no fewer than 463 were against the proposal. My Noble Friend decided, for the reasons already given, not to press for any change in 1940, and in these circumstances no special measures of the kind suggested by my hon. Friend are called for. As already stated in the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on 17th November last, the question of possible changes in the date of the examinations subsequent to 1940 will need to be considered later in the light of experience.

Will my hon. Friend tell the university authorities that the change over involved in every important reform causes temporary difficulties, and will he ask them to reconsider the matter in the light of public need?

The only real change will be if these examinations are put off until the autumn. I would call the attention of my hon. Friend to the fact that this would be a very considerable change affecting not only the universities, secondary schools, and so on, in this country, but all over the world.

Can my hon. Friend suggest any plan to prevent the universities sabotaging important plans which he himself has announced in this House?

I cannot accept the assumption that they are sabotaging the arrangement. An advance has been made in allowing children at any time during the term to go away for one week and for it to be counted as attendance.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether the National Fitness Council has now arranged with the British Broadcasting Corporation physical fitness broadcasts in the early morning?

My Noble Friend regrets that it has not been found possible to arrange for such broadcasts.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that certain foreign commercial broadcasting stations have for a considerable time been giving early morning physical broadcasts without expense to the taxpayer, and does he not think that the British Broadcasting Corporation might do the same in view of the receipt of millions of money from the British taxpayer?

All I can say is that the negotiations broke down on the question of finance. The extra cost of providing such a service on a permanent basis would have entailed a substantial liability, and the British Broadcasting Corporation were unable to agree with the view that this liability should be met from their resources without fresh assistance from public funds. Although the extent of the demand is conjectural, I, personally, regret the decision.

In view of the Government's national fitness campaign, would it not be possible for the Government to implement the financial cost?

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that industrial workers get up much earlier than the B.B.C.?

In view of the great success of the foreign experiment, will the Minister take the matter up again with the B.B.C. and press them that at least an experiment should be made?

In view of the expression of the feeling by hon. Members I will look into the matter again.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the cost of the recently erected senior school at Stratton in the county of Wiltshire; and for how many pupils was provision made?

The estimated cost of the Upper Stratton Senior Council School was approximately £19,200, including £978 for furniture and equipment. It provided accommodation for 360 children.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the number of pupils estimated for is far short of that number? Could steps be taken to see that a similar waste of taxpayer's money does not occur in other parts of the country?