asked the Postmaster-General whether he will take steps to ensure that telegrams shall not be telephoned to members of the household staff of domestic telephone subscribers in cases where such subscribers have requested that telegrams shall not be so telephoned?

Telegrams are not offered for delivery by telephone if the subscriber has requested that that form of delivery should not be adopted. In regard to subscribers to whom telegrams are delivered by telephone the Post Office cannot undertake to ensure that telegrams shall be dictated only to the addressee personally, or to the head of the household, or some person definitely authorised to receive telegrams on his behalf. It is, of course, open to a subscriber to instruct his domestic staff that telegrams are not to be accepted by telephone on his behalf, in which case they would be delivered by messenger.

asked the Postmaster-General, what complaints he has received that letters conveyed between this country and South America by the German air service have been opened in transit through Germany?

I have received a number of complaints to this effect. I should, however, point out that the public have the choice of an alternative air service across the South Atlantic.

asked the Minister of Agriculture (i) Whether he can make any statement regarding the application of monthly quotas for the importation of fish; and, if not, whether he hopes that any statement may shortly be possible; (2) whether he is investigating the problem caused by the landing of foreign fish in filleted form; and whether he can yet make any statement?

I am investigating the questions of monthly quotas and of imported fillets in consultation with the Board of Trade. I am not yet in a position to make a definite statement, but I hope to be able to do so in the near future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the exports and imports of goods during the half-year ended the 30th June, 1939, between Great Britain and Spain showing the categories of such goods?

Complete particulars of the trade of the United Kingdom with Spain during the first six months of this year are not yet available, but I will send a statement to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps have been taken up to date under the Milk Marketing Scheme and what steps are in contemplation to advertise the desirability of drinking more milk and, in particular, milk that is safe, tested and tubercle free, with the object of accelerating the movement to clean up dairy herds in this country?

The Milk Marketing Board has carried out widespread advertising campaigns, with which my hon. and gallant Friend will probably be familiar, in the Press and through posters, has, in conjunction with the National Milk Publicity Council, organised "milk weeks," lectures and cinema shows and has distributed propaganda material for dairies and milk bars.The Board has also raised funds for an educational campaign to assure parents of school children that the source and quality of school milk supplies are approved by the school medical officers. In addition, special literature dealing with tuberculin-tested and accredited milk has been provided for dairymen for distribution to consumers and a news service has been organised on behalf of producers of graded milk. In view of the encouraging results, the Board contemplates a continuance and extension of the work.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the numbers of disabled ex-service men registered as unemployed at employment exchanges at 1st July, 1938, and 1st July, 1939; the numbers of the adult male general insured population registered as unemployed at the same dates; and the percentage of reduction in the numbers registered as unemployed in each group?

At 4th July, 1938, there were 29,925 unemployed disabled ex-service men on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain. The corresponding figure for 3rd July, 1939, was 26,220, showing a decrease of 12.4 per cent.Figures in respect of all unemployed insured men aged 21-64, are not available for these dates, but at 18th July, 1938, and 10th July, 1939, the totals were 1,226,908 and 884,096 respectively, showing a decrease of 27.9 per cent.The rate of unemployment among disabled ex-service men in July, 1939, was 7 per cent. as compared with 9.7 per cent. among all insured men aged 21 to 64.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the numbers of disabled ex-service men employed under the King's National Roll Scheme in the services of Government departments and local authorities, respectively, at July, 1938, and July, 1939; and the numbers of men in categories B and C who have been found employment in those services during the past 12 months?

The numbers of such men employed by Local Authorities at 4th July, 1938 and 3rd July, 1939, were 35,745 and 36,743 respectively. The numbers employed in Government Departments are recorded to April of each year; no information is available relating to July. I regret that records are not kept containing the information asked for in the last part of the question.

The figures given in the Table below relate to unemployed disabled ex-service men in Great Britain whose disability would prevent them from returning to their usual occupation but would not preclude them from employment on light work under ordinary industrial or commercial conditions.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will bring to the attention of the Trustees of the Czech Refugee Trust Fund the urgent need of some 750 Czech refugees from Prague, most of whom are Jewish, who have been wandering for 11 weeks in the Mediterranean on board the small collier "Frassola," and were under orders to leave Beyrouth, on 31st July, after a period of quarantine; and whether assistance can be granted from the fund towards the settlement of these refugees?

My right honourable Friend understands that the Trustees of the Czech Refugee Trust Fund have had their attention called to the question of the refugees on board the "Frassola," who are stated to have come from Prague, but there is at present no evidence before them that any of these refugees come within the scope of the Trust Deed.

asked the Home Secretary how many miners have been blinded in either one eye or both eyes in the mines of this country during the last 10 years; and the amount of compensation paid for the loss of one eye or, in case of total blindness, if any compensation has been paid and what amount?

I am afraid the statistics as to compensation do not enable me to give the details asked for.

asked the Home Secretary whether, when insisting on the rebuilding of the existing headquarters of the police at Lewes, at a cost which it is estimated will amount to at least £ 45,000, he has given full consideration to the present need for conserving our national resources, the rival claims by rearmament for constructional work of this kind, and the need for reserving public works to provide employment when the peak of rearmament is passed?

My right hon. Friend is advised that the provision of new headquarters is essential in the interests of the efficiency of the East Sussex Constabulary and he does not think that any of the considerations mentioned would justify further delay in this case.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in connection with the forthcoming investigation into old age pensions, he will call for a report from the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee as to the advisability of reducing the contributions of employers and employed persons to the Unemployment Insurance Fund, with a view to the transference of some part of the contributions to old age pensions insurance?

No, Sir. The contributions under each of the State Insurance Schemes should, in my view, be considered solely in relation to the needs of the particular scheme.

asked the Minister of Health, whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Wandsworth Borough Council has renewed, for a period of 15 years, a contract for the removal and disposal of house refuse with Mr. F. W. Surridge, involving payments of £ 77,000 per annum without any competitive tender being invited; and whether he will take such steps as may be necessary to protect the interests of the ratepayers and maintain a proper system of open tender for public contracts of this magnitude.

Yes, Sir. The question, however, is one for the borough council and I am not empowered to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the discussions regarding burning pit heaps have reached a satisfactory conclusion; and whether refuse is still being tipped on burning heaps in Scotland?

All burning pit heaps in Scotland have now been visited and surveyed and remedial measures suggested to the colliery companies, and discussions are still proceeding. I am informed that while tipping is still going on in certain cases it has been abandoned in a number of others.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the respective prices to be paid for the six vessels to be purchased for the merchant ship reserve?

I regret that I shall not be in a position to state the prices of these vessels until the contracts have been signed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, how many factories or workshops or other employment-giving establishments have been established in this country by aliens since 1933; from what countries of origin these aliens came; and how many aliens and British nationals they employ?

I regret that the precise information is not available. According to particulars collected in connection with the annual Surveys of Industrial Development, which relate only to factories employing 25 or more workpeople, the number of factories established by or with the assistance of foreign concerns during the six years 1933 to 1938 was 140, providing employment, according to the latest information available, for between 14,000 [and 15,000 workpeople. No information regarding the number of aliens included in this figure is available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he can state any figures for any or all of the Colonies showing the total number of deaths by violence coming to the notice of the Government in each of recent years; and the comparable numbers of offenders brought to justice?

I regret that the information desired by the hon. Member is not readily available, but I will look into the matter and consider whether a statement can be prepared, giving the figures for which he asks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state the amount of enlisted labour used during the past 12 months in Nigeria on public and other works and the amount of remuneration paid for such work?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to his question on 24th July. I will communicate further with him as soon as I receive a reply from the Governor of Nigeria.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, what is his policy with regard to recent archaeological finds at Sutton Hoo, Suffolk; whether adequate public notice will be given of any treasure trove inquest; and whether East Anglian institutions will receive an adequate proportion of the finds made?

In reply to the first and third parts of the question no decision can be taken as regards the disposal of such part of these finds as may possibly be judged to be treasure trove, pending the holding of the Coroner's Inquest.In reply to the second part, I understand that though the proceedings at a Coroner's Inquest are open to the public, it is not the practice to give any public notice of the holding of an Inquest, whether on treasure trove or otherwise. I am informed, however, that it is the provisional intention to hold the Inquest in the present case about the middle of this month.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he can now give the House any further indication of his intention with reference to the Medicine Stamp Duties?

Yes, Sir. I have been in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, and we propose jointly to appoint a Committee to examine the whole question. I am not yet in a position to announce the precise terms of reference, but the intention is that the Committee's Inquiry shall cover both the control and the taxation aspects of the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the body styling itself the Committee for Holders of Czecho-Slovakia Financial Obligations, of 1 and 2, Finsbury Square, E.C., has any official status; and whether claimants who do not invoke the assistance of this committee will be in any way prejudiced as regards consideration of their claims?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative. All claims registered with the Bank of England in accordance with the request made by the Treasury on April 3rd will receive equally careful consideration.

asked the Prime Minister, what is the reason for British subjects in Czecho-Slovakia being compelled to sell their property; on whose orders it is being carried out; and whether any steps can be taken to ensure that forced sales are not imposed?

Two decrees have recently been published in Prague, one of which introduces certain restrictions on property in Jewish ownership and requires Jewish owners to register certain classes of property, while the other requires all owners of foreign valuta and precious metals to register such possessions with the National Bank.My Noble Friend has not, however, received reports that any British subjects have been compelled to sell their property and the second and third parts of the question do not, therefore, arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India, whether he can give an assurance that the pledges given during the passage of the Government of India Bill that no pressure will be brought upon any Prince or Ruler of Native States to enter Federation have been, and will be, honoured, and that no attempt will be made to prevent free choice of action by the use of any influence on the part of the Government of India?

I can certainly give the hon. and gallant Member this assurance. The policy of His Majesty's Government remains as stated by my late Noble Friend in reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Woodbridge (Mr. Ross Taylor) on 6th December, 1937.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that the county borough of West Ham has constructed trench accommodation for 6,000 persons, and the provision for fixing Anderson shelters had been carried out in 34,900 cases; that over 1,000 had been erected for the aged and infirm by the council's workmen; and whether this degree of progress is general in London and Metropolitan areas?

I am informed that public shelter in West Ham has been provided in the form of trenches for 5,800 people and that the work of covering the trenches is nearly complete. 28,094 steel shelters have been supplied to West Ham by my Department, out of an estimated requirement of 39,000. I understand that it is the practice of this Council to leave it to the householder to erect the shelter except in cases where there is no able-bodied man in the household capable of erecting it, and to assist by indicating the proper site. I have no precise information of the number of shelters erected or of the cases in which sites have already been marked out, but I understand that the Council have had applications from 4,300 householders to have the shelters erected by the Council, and that these applications are being investigated. The hon. Member will appreciate the difficulty of making any exact comparison between different parts of the Metropolitan area in this matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether, when he has received from local authorities lists of suggested members of appeal tribunals to decide billeting and evacuation issues, he will publish the selections he finally approves so as to enable all such matters to be settled in anticipation of any emergency?

The lists to which my hon. Friend refers are lists of names out of which the tribunals will be appointed by the mayor or chairman at the time of an emergency. The individual names do not require my approval but I have asked to be informed that the necessary action has been taken by the authority. The publication now of lists of names from which selections would be made would I fear lead to confusion.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that during 1938 the United States, British, French, and Dutch empires provided Japan with 86 per cent. of her essential war materials, including 77 per cent. of her aircraft, 99 per cent. of her oil and petroleum, and more than 90 per cent. of all her metals and oils, he will consider the advisability of entering into consultations with the Governments of the United States, France, and Holland, with a view to considering the possibility of taking action to discontinue the encouragement of aggression in this manner?

The figures quoted are not borne out by information available from official sources; and, as the Japanese returns since July, 1937, have not shown the country of origin, statistics of this sort must necessarily be largely conjectural. If at any time it appeared to His Majesty's Government that consultation with other Governments on the subject would be useful, they would naturally be ready to undertake it.

asked the Prime Minister what reply has been received to the renewed representations made to the' Japanese Government by His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo, on 24th March, with regard to the interest due to British bondholders of the Shanghai-Nanking Railway at present controlled by the Japanese?

The position remains as stated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stourbridge (Mr. R. Morgan) on Monday.

asked the Prime Minister whether the British Government is, in view of the adoption of the Anglo-Japanese formula, requesting the suspension of the blockade of the British Concession at Tientsin; and if not, whether he will consider doing so?

His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo is continuing to press for the removal of all restrictions.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied that all German, Italian and Portuguese troops, airmen, and military technicians have now been withdrawn from Spain?

While I cannot give exact figures, my Noble Friend is satisfied that the vast majority of Germans and Italians were withdrawn some time ago. and that there are no Portuguese troops in Spain.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make a statement on the Anglo-Turkish negotiations for a mutual-aid agreement?

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to my speech on 31st July. I am glad to be able to add that the negotiations are proceeding smoothly.

asked the Prime Minister what is the present state of the Lee Stack Memorial Fund; whether annual reports are published; and whether any portion of the fund has been earmarked for museum purposes?

On 31st December, 1938, the Lee Stack Memorial Fund had incurred expenditure on capital works of £ E82,123 and at that date possessed net assets to the value of £ E418,332 at cost, invested almost entirely in British Government securities. The reply to the second part of the question is in the negative, but a copy of the accounts, audited by the Auditor-General of the Sudan Government, is rendered to my Noble Friend and is forwarded to the Comptroller and Auditor-General. The sum of £ E40,000 was allotted for the construction of a Library and Museum at Khartoum, but in order to provide the revenue necessary to continue work on combating disease all outstanding capital services were cancelled in 1936.

asked the Secretary for Mines, whether he has given consideration to the gradual rise in the rate of eye accidents to miners in this country, which show that between 1920 and 1937 injuries to miners' eyes had increased from 3.71 in 1920 to 5.42 in 1937 per 1,000 persons employed; and what recommendations he proposes to put forward?

The following table shows the eye injury rate per thousand coal miners employed for the years 1925 to 1938. No official figures are available for earlier years.

asked the Secretary for Mines, what steps he has taken to ensure an adequate supply of oil from coal in this country; and what process is to be adopted?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which I gave on 2nd May, 4th July and 1st August to the hon. Member for Stoke (Mr. E. Smith).

asked the Secretary for Mines, what financial interest the Government has in any process of producing oil from coal; and if it is their intention to encourage the development of British processes rather than foreign processes?

The Government has no financial interest in any oil from coal process. Other things being equal, British processes are obviously to be preferred to foreign ones.

asked the Secretary for Mines, how many plants there are in England for producing oil from coal; and whether there are any in Lancashire?

Apart from the large number of coke ovens, gas works and tar distilleries and the production, from Scottish oil shale, which together provided in 1938 58 per cent. of our supplies of home produced motor spirit, there were in operation in that year 13 low temperature carbonisation plants and one hydrogenation plant. None of these latter plants is in Lancashire.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that at the conference of the Lancashire and Cheshire miners, held on Saturday, it was carried unanimously to ask him to give full consideration to the appeal that an inquiry should be made under Section 83 of the Coal Mines Act of 1911 into the cause of the disaster at Astley Green collieries on the 6th June; and will he state whether he has arrived at a decision to follow this course?

Since I was informed of the resolution of the conference of the Lancashire and Cheshire miners on Saturday last I have further considered this matter and have had an opportunity of studying the proceedings at the inquest. After considering all the circumstances I have decided to direct that such a formal investigation under Section 83 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, shall be held. This will take the place of the special report to which I referred in reply to a question by the hon. Member on the 4th July.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, having regard to the continued increase in the number of certified cases of silicosis, and to the time that must elapse before a new Coal Mines Safety Act can come into operation, he will consider taking steps to secure power to enforce the adoption of such preventive measures as his inspectors recommend as desirable?

Yes, Sir, this is one of the matters under consideration for action by way of regulation in advance of general legislation.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that workmen are employed for shifts of 10 ½ hours duration at some of the underground excavation works in connection with munition storage works in South Wales; that these men are engaged in boring and blasting operations and are exposed to dust; whether these mines have been visited by his inspectors; and whether he will investigate the conditions in which these men work?

The Mines and Quarries Acts do not extend to such excavations, and therefore neither I nor the Mines Inspectorate have power to deal with them; but if the hon. Member will let me know privately what works he has in mind, I will endeavour to make some enquiries into the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now state the result, of the Ministry's approach to the Great Universal Stores, Limited, with respect to their action in dismissing employés for joining their trade union?

I am not in. a position to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on Monday last.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will give the names of the members of the Central Advisory Committee on Pensions; how many of the present members formed part of the committee when it last met in 1927; and the names of the members of the Standing Joint Committee for Ex-service Questions?

The members of the Central Advisory Committee when they were last appointed, were the following: —