asked the Minister of Pensions the conditions necessary for an applicant to have his claim to a pension reopened under the scheme for the revision of erroneous awards?

In cases where a final award has been made, to which I presume the hon. Member is referring, the pensioner has his statutory right of appeal. Subject thereto the award is final and cannot be made the subject of further review on application by the man. He has, however, a right to medical treatment, as and when that may be certified to be necessary for the condition of disablement resulting from his war service. The only cases dealt with by way of further grant under special sanction are those in which, exceptionally, following such a course of treatment and observation, and having regard to all the circumstances of the case, it is found that the final award was erroneous as involving a serious and permanent under-estimate of the extent of the disablement experienced by the man.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether there are any voluntary funds to which an ex-soldier in receipt of a pension may apply for assistance to help him to emigrate to the United-States of America?

I regret that I have no information as to the voluntary funds which may be available for this particular purpose.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the possibility of giving some help in these cases, in view of the great disability imposed on a man who has friends in the United States but not in the Dominions and who is, possibly, on the parish council here?

There may be cases where it would be possible for friends to give help of this kind but I do not think that would be as good an object for State funds as helping emigration within the British Empire.

Are the circumstances of a man who has given service to his country not a matter of great importance?

Certainly and we do all we can fairly to carry out the wishes of the House in compensating them for any war disablement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any prosecutions for keeping gaming machines have been instituted in the Metropolitan Police area during the previous 12 months against small shopkeepers whose shops are frequented by children?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Home Secretary how much of the money spent in workmen's compensation in Durham County during May, 1925, shown under the heading costs of production other than wages, was devoted to the payment of fatal claims, non-fatal claims, medical fees, and lawyers' expenses?

I regret I am not able to furnish the information asked for.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be in a position to give the information, if I put down a further question?

I am afraid not. Owing to the method by which these returns are now made, the actual information asked for by the hon. Member is, I fear, not given in the returns.

Would it not be possible to show how much is put into expenses for the purpose of paying compensation under the heading of costs other than wages?

I think, if it were specially asked for, I could probably get that information for the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the number of persons who were removed from prisons to outside hospitals in order that operations might be performed during the year 1926, and the number of cases of childbirth, if any, that took place inside prisons including Broadmoor, during the year 1923?

98 persons were removed from prison during 1926 under Section 17 (6) of the Criminal Justice Administration Act, 1914, for surgical or medical treatment which could not be given in prison. The number of cases of childbirth in prisons (including two in the Aylesbury Borstal Institution) during the same year was 18. The corresponding figures for Broadmoor are, none and one.

Would an amendment of the law be necessary in order that cases of this character might be treated outside prison?

If it were compulsory, yes, an amendment of the law would be necessary. There is always a prerogative, which in certain cases is exercised, and in certain cases is not exercised.

How many of these 98 people were on parole and how many in custody during the operations?

I cannot say without notice. There is provision under the Act, as the hon. Member knows, for removal to hospital for the purposes of surgical or medical treatment which cannot be given in prison, and there are arrangements made for the persons concerned to go back to prison when the operation is over.

asked the Home Secretary how many agents of voluntary societies have been appointed probationary officers since the Criminal Justice Act came into force; and how many of these have been appointed by probation committees without the post being advertised or the candidates interviewed?

I regret that this information is not available. I hope to be able later in the year to give the hon. Member information in reply to the first part of his question.

Will the recommendations of the Departmental Committee be followed in regard to advertising these posts?

Perhaps the hon. Member will leave that point over until he asks his final question on the subject?

asked the Home Secretary what is the explanation of the considerable reduction in the average number of convicts in Parkhurst Prison attending lectures and concerts from the year 1925–26 to the year 1926–27?

Attendance at lectures and concerts is not being allowed to convicts who are unlikely to benefit thereby or who are ineligible under prison regulations.

If it will not inconvenience the right hon. Gentleman, may I be allowed to insert in this Question "Dock Regulation 36" instead of "Dock Regulation 19" as the former has a more direct bearing on the matter?

We shall see how the answer works out. There does not appear to have been any breach of the Regulations in this case. The report I have received from the factory inspector shows that the bale was being held, not by hooks, but by "dogs." I understand that this is the general practice in handling cargo of this kind, and the Conference on Dock Accidents, which sat in 1924, and in which the hon. Member took part, did not recommend any interference with it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that "dogs" is merely a technical term for hooks and that in this case there was a distinct breach of Regulation 36 which lays down the following conditions:

"When the working space in a hold is confined to the square of a hatch, hooks shall not be made fast in the bands or fastening of bales, etc."?

Is it not a fact that in this case there was no other space than the square of the hatch for the man to stand and that he had no room to get out of the way?

Knowing the hon. Member's interest in these matters, I took special care to find out the difference between hooks and "dogs." The hook is a hook in the ordinary sense of the word and is affixed into the rope and used in dealing with certain goods, while "dogs," as the hon. Member knows, are in the nature of clasps. This accident occurred while "dogs" were in use, and no alteration in regard to the use of "dogs" was recommended by the hon. Member's own committee in 1924.

rose—

I think this matter had better be discussed behind the Chair.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been directed to the action of the Merthyr Tydfil Education Authority in compelling teachers to retire at the age of 60; and whether, as such a regulation bears with especial severity upon secondary teachers, who enter upon pensionable service later than other teachers, he will inquire into the matter?

My attention has been drawn to the action of the Merthyr Tydfil Authority. The matter is one which lies within the discretion of the authority, so far as teachers in their employment are concerned, and I do not think that I can justifiably intervene.

In view of the fact that the policy of the education authorities is contrary to the spirit of the Pensions Act, 1925, will the right hon. Gentleman use his influence with them to modify that policy?

I do not think it would be possible to say that the Pensions Act, 1925, either in terms or by implication interfered with the discretion of the authorities in regard to the engagement of their teachers which was provided for in the Act of 1918, or rather in the Act of 1921. In view of the provisions of the Act of 1921 giving discretion to the authorities in this matter, I do not think I have any right to interfere.

asked the President of the Board of Education (1) what steps he is taking to require local education authorities to provide some form of post-primary education for all children over the age of 11 on the lines recommended by the Consultative Committee in its Report on the Education of the Adolescent;

(2) what administrative changes will be necessary to give effect to the recommendation that post-primary education should be of diverse types suited to the varying capabilities and future employment of the children, and should be given in selective and non-selective central schools as well as in those schools now classed as secondary, having regard to the fact that under the existing Education Acts authorities for elementary education can only establish and administer central schools but not secondary schools;

(3) whether he intends to take steps to put recommendation 34 of the Report into effect, namely, to introduce legislation to transfer to authorities for higher education all the powers and duties of the authorities for elementary education only in areas with less than a certain minimum standard of population, and to vest with full powers in respect of higher education the authorities in areas with more than that minimum standard; and, if so, what minimum standard does he propose?

As my Noble Friend the Parliamentary Secretary pointed out in the Debate on Tuesday, the provision of post-primary education for all children over 11 has been the main object of the Board's policy during the last 2½ years. The first step taken in this direction was the issue in March, 1925, of Circular 1358 calling for programmes from local authorities and, as I have stated, the trend of those programmes, which are now being actively carried out, corresponds closely with the recommendations of the Consultative Committee. Last March I took the further step of urging local authorities, through the County Councils Association, to undertake systematic surveys of the steps necessary in their areas

"to develop a course of study and standards of teaching which will make it worth while for the average child to continue his or her education up to the age of 15."

The questions as to the scope and curriculum of schools and as to the present distribution of function as between different authorities, to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, are under the constant consideration of the Board and local authorities, but their solution must inevitably be gradual. I think it has escaped the attention of my hon. and gallant Friend that Recommendation 34 of the Consultative Committee is not a recommendation for immediate action and must be read together with Recommendations 31 to 33.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that carrying out this reorganisation means considerable capital expenditure and alteration in buildings; and is he prepared to consider financial proposals involving calls for money from the Board to carry out these schemes?

Certainly, we are prepared to consider any proposals, but the point of the present situation is that I have already got the three-year programmes, all of which tend in this direction. If any local authority wished to put up to me a supplementary proposal, they would have, first, to undertake a further survey, which I have asked them to undertake. When I see the results of these surveys, I shall be glad to consider the situation again.

asked the Minister of Health on what date he gave his approval to the Chester City Council's proposal to increase the rents of tenants of houses who take in lodgers; and when the proposed increase took effect?

The Chester City Council were informed on 5th July last that I raised no objection to their proposal. It is understood that their proposals will have effect from an early date in August.

Will my right bon. Friend press this policy upon other local authorities?

No, I do not think I am called upon to do that.

asked the Minister of Health what are the number of county councils and the number of rural district councils who have schemes sanctioned by him for the operation of the Housing (Rural Workers) Act; and how much money has been applied for by county councils and how much by rural district councils for the working of this Act?

Schemes under the Act submitted by 40 county councils and five rural district councils have so far been sanctioned. I have already approved applications in these cases, covering upwards of 2,600 houses. One county council (Devon) have applied for, and been granted sanction to, a loan of £6,000 for the purposes of the Act. No other similar applications have yet been received either from county councils or rural district councils.

Does the right hon. Gentleman intend to publish the list of the councils concerned and circulate it to the Press?

I will consider that suggestion.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that if he sanctioned more of the rural district councils' schemes, the Act would be more operated by them than is being done by the county councils?

I am giving every attention to the rural district councils' schemes.

asked the Minister of Health if the housing subsidy is to continue after September; and, if so, will it be at the present rate?

The housing subsidy will continue after September. The rates of Exchequer contributions under the Housing Acts of 1923 and 1924 payable in respect of houses completed between the 1st October, 1927, and the 1st October, 1928, are set out in the Housing Acts (Revision of Contributions) Order, 1926, the draft of which was approved by Resolution of this House on 2nd December last.

Will special consideration be given to any case where houses were commenced and for various reasons will not be completed by the date referred to in the Order.

No. I have no power to vary the Order.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that many occupiers of houses owned by the municipality of Sheffield are in arrears with their rent, and that the County Borough Council of Sheffield are making large remissions of these arrears; and if he has received a Report from his inspectors on the matter?

I have no recent information as to the arrears rents of tenants of houses erected by the Sheffield City Council beyond that reported in the Press. My Department is only directly concerned with rents of houses erected under the Housing Act of 1919. The last audited accounts furnished by the council are for the year to 31st March, 1926, and in those accounts the net rental income in respect of houses erected under the Housing Act of 1919 was shown as £52,530. The amount written off in the year as irrecoverable was £529 and the balance of rents uncollected at the end of the year was £2,792.

Does my right hon. Friend not see that this practice of the local authorities of remitting the rents of houses which in effect belong to the ratepayers, which rents ought to go to the relief of the rates, means a fresh imposition on the rates?

That must be so.

Does not the answer given by the right hon. Gentleman prove that there were no large remissions of arrears in this case?

I think it proves that there were no large remissions of arrears in the particular year to which I referred.

Is it not a fact that where there are arrears of rent remitted in regard to houses built under the 1919 Act, a good deal of the charge may come on the Exchequer, and not on the ratepayers at all?

Yes, that is what I said, but it is only in regard to the 1919 Act houses.

Will my right hon. Friend take what steps he can to prevent this sort of thing?

Any remission of rents under the 1919 Act would have to come before me and receive my sanction.

Was it not the case that provision was made under circumstances over which nobody had any control for rents, which could not be collected, in the financial arrangements originally made?

I do not know that there were any special circumstances in Sheffield which differentiated it in that respect from other towns.

asked the Minister of Health whether the attention of the officers of his Department has been drawn to a small black spider, known to entomologists as Latrodectus mactans, and commonly called the Black Widow or Shoebutton, which has been introduced from Oriental ports into North America concealed in fruit and lumber, and has caused over 20 deaths during the last month; and whether any precautions are being taken by his Department to prevent specimens of these insects being brought into Great Britain?

As regards the first part of the question, the spider known as Black Widow is indigenous in North America. I am not aware of any authentic case of fatal results ensuing from its bite. As regards the second part, I am advised that there is no record of the Black Widow ever having been introduced into Great Britain. There appears therefore to be no need for special precautions against its appearance.

asked the Minister of Health whether, and to what extent, he is prepared to take responsibility for the acts of an approved society, acting as agent for the Ministry, in the administration of the National Health Insurance and Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts?

I do not think that approved societies can properly be described as agents of the Ministry in the administration of the National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions Acts, but I assume that the hon. Member has a specific case in mind, and if he will furnish me with particulars, I will look into it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he requires the compensation to be paid to assistant overseers under the Rating and Valuation Act to be submitted to him for his sanction or leaves it as a charge on the rates that can be assessed by a district council concerned without regard to other similar assessments; and what is the average amount imposed on the rates by rural district councils for compensation to their assistant overseers under this Act?

The assessment of compensation in the circumstances referred to in the question is a matter to be dealt with by the rating authority concerned in accordance with the provisions in the Sixth Schedule to the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925, and does not come before me for decision unless an appeal is made either by the officer affected or by not less than one-third of the members of the district council concerned. I regret that the information asked for in the last part of the question is not in my possession.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a good deal of dissatisfaction in rural areas by ratepayers at the amount of compensation that some rural district councils are distributing for this purpose, and could he not introduce some system of uniformity?

I have to be guided by the Act in this matter. If any ratepayers are dissatisfied with the action of the local authorities, they have the remedy in their own hands.

asked the Minister of Health whether steps are taken to prevent grain passing into consumption from ships which are certified to contain vermin infected with bubonic plague, e.g., certain ships now in or entering the Port of London; and, if not, what is the reason?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and to the second, because there is no evidence that the infection of plague can be conveyed by means of the consumption of grain.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is rather desirable that this vermin should be crawling over the food of the people?

That is quite a different question.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he is able to announce the composition of the Royal Commission on London Squares, whose appointment he foreshadowed recently;

(2) whether he can announce the terms of reference of the Royal Commission on London Squares; and, if so, whether it will be able to inquire into the question of making arrangements for the opening of various squares and gardens in London to school children during the months of August and September?

The terms of reference of the Royal Commission on London Squares are:

"To inquire and report on the squares and similar open spaces existing in the area of the administrative county of London with special reference to the conditions on which they are held and used and the desirability of their preservation as open spaces and to recommend whether any or all of them should be permanently safeguarded against any use detrimental to their character as open spaces, and, if so, by what means and on what terms and conditions."

It seems to me doubtful whether a question such as that mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend would be within these terms of reference.

The composition of the Commission is as follows:

• The Most Hon. the Marquess of Londonderry (Chairman).
• Alderman C. H. Bird.
• Mr. Frank Briant.
• Dame Caroline Bridgeman.
• Sir George Duckworth.
• Sir Howard Frank.
• Mr. M. L. Gwyer.
• Mr. F. W. Hobbs.
• Alderman Sir Henry F. New.
• Mr. R. C. Norman.
• Councillor the Rev. A. G. Pritchard.
• Mr. H. Snell.
• Mr. Carmichael Thomas.
• Colonel K. P. Vaughan-Morgan.
• Mr. I. F. Armer, Secretary.

Has my right hon. Friend considered the question of opening the London gardens? Cannot that come within the competence of this Royal Commission? As it is a matter which raises great interest all over London, will he use his good offices and influence with the people concerned to see if something could be done, both this summer and in the future?

Owing to the great urgency of this problem, and the fact that some of the squares have already been threatened to be built over, cannot the right hon. Gentleman make a similar reference as was made to the Bridges Commission, so that there will be an early report? Is that possible.

I had nothing to do with the appointment of the Bridges Commission. As regards the question put by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Gainsborough (Captain Crookshank), I have no reason to suppose that I have any influence in this matter, which is one for private owners.

Is it not a fact that the Terms of Reference read out by the right hon. Gentleman are only in the direction of preserving the squares and not of opening them up to the people who could use them, and would he consider some slight amendment to the Terms of Reference to allow that aspect of it to be examined by the Commission.

I did not give a very definite answer on the subject. What I said was that it appeared to me to be doubtful whether this particular question would be within the Terms of Reference, and I think it would be for the Commission themselves to consider that matter and to decide whether or not it was within their purview.

May I press the right hon. Gentleman to give an answer to the question put by my hon. Friend the Member for South-West Bethnal Green (Mr. Harris)? We are aware that he is not responsible for the Bridges Commission, but can he take such steps as are possible to expedite the Report of this Squares Commission, in view of the urgency of the matter?

As it has nothing to do with me, I cannot take any steps.

I do not think the right hon. Gentleman realised what my question was. Would he suggest to this Squares Commission that they should expedite their Report to prevent these squares being built on, in the same way as the Bridges Commission were asked to expedite their Report?

I beg the hon. Member's pardon; I did not understand that. Certainly, I will do that.

Can the right hon. Gentleman put in the terms of reference the question of the opening of these squares?

That would necessitate a fresh submission of the terms of reference to His Majesty.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that unemployed persons in receipt of relief from the Bristol Board of Guardians are compelled to report and sign twice daily; and whether, seeing that it is impossible under such circumstances for men or women to seek for work, he will recommend the guardians to reconsider their policy?

I am aware of the requirement of this board of guardians, and I understand that they are at present considering whether any modification of that requirement is necessary on the ground that it places an unnecessary obstacle in the way of the obtaining of employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the reason why he has instructed the parish council of Bonhill to reduce scales of relief to able bodied unemployed and, if so, what is the amount of reduction involved?

I am informed that at a meeting of the Bonhill Parish Council held on the 4th instant the parish council resolved to reduce the scale of relief to married able-bodied unemployed by one-third and to single, able-bodied unemployed by two-thirds. The reduction was not the result of any recommendation or instruction by the Scottish Board of Health. The action taken by the parish council was fully within their discretion, but any dissatisfied recipient of relief has a right of appeal to the Board.

Am I to understand that the Scottish Board of Health did not instruct the parish of Bonhill to reduce their scale of relief?

Yes, absolutely.

Is it not a fact that this reduction is due to the circular issued by the Scottish Board of Health advising all parish councils to pay only the unemployment benefit as relief.

No, Sir. It has nothing to do with that. It is a question of a reduction which, I believe, is under the scale of unemployment relief.

Will the Under-Secretary reply to the last part of my question as to what is the amount of the reduction involved?

I think I have given that information given that information in my answer.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman state what amount a married man and his wife and two children now receive in parish relief? Will he state the actual figures?

As the hon. Member knows, the amount of monetary reduction may vary in each particular case. I was asked the amount of reduction involved, and I gave an answer to that question.

Is the Under-Secretary aware of the fact that the reduction is from £2 per week down to 27s. per week in the case of a man and his wife with a large family?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that standard benefit was refused to Mr. Clifford Hodge, of 4, Rodney Road, Kings-wood, Bristol; that on receipt of representations from the hon. Member for East Bristol (Mr. W. Baker) it was found that certain contributions had not been taken into account; and whether an apology has been officially tendered for this mistake?

Mr. Hodge applied for and obtained a new unemployment book in 1924 without disclosing that he had previously held books from 1915 to 1919. The stamps in the earlier books were consequently not brought into account till the fact that they belonged to Mr. Hodge became known owing to further information supplied through the hon. Member. In these circumstances I do not think there is any occasion for a Departmental apology.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the taxation of advertisements; and whether the Treasury can give an estimate of the amount of money spent in the country on advertisements?

As my right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member for the Gorton Division (Mr. Compton) on 15th February last, this matter has already received close examination in the Treasury. As regards the last part of the question, it is stated in the preliminary Report of the 1924 Census of Production that the total receipts from all sources, including advertisements of newspapers, magazines, etc., amounted to £42 millions. The receipts from advertisements are not given separately, nor, of course, would expenditure on hoardings, etc., be included.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of typewriters of foreign manufacture that have been purchased by the Stationery Office since November, 1918, giving the names of the makers of these typewriters and the country of origin, together with the gross amount paid for the same?

As the answer is a long one and contains a table of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman give me the number of typewriters of foreign manufacture which have been purchased?

Yes, 124 in 1925–26 and 78 in 1926–27.

I asked for the numbers since November, 1918. Is that the whole of the foreign typewriters purchased?

No, I am afraid it is not possible to give details since 1918.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many boys and girls it is proposed to recruit to the general and departmental clerical classes of the Civil Service by means of the open competitive examination to be held on the 29th November next; and whether, in determining

The number of candidates to be recruited by the examination referred to in my hon. Friend's question has not yet been determined, but, whatever the decision may be, it will be entirely without prejudice to the promotion of members of the permanent non-pensionable class to the general and departmental clerical classes.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether it is proposed to make any payment under the Superannuation Acts in the form of compensation, pension allowance, or gratuity to a Treasury official who is resigning his post in order to take up an appointment in the Bank of England?

No, Sir.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether it has now been decided to grant a Civil Service pension to Sir Frank Baines; and, if so, upon what grounds?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given by the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department on the 22nd and 29th June, and to the Financial Secretary's reply to him of the latter date.

asked the Secretary of State for War the cost of the personnel of the Army and the cost of the staff of the War Office for the years ending March, 1914 and 1927?

I have put into tabular form the provision in Estimates, 1913 and 1926, for the War Office staff and for the Army, and will circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that the great overstaffing at the War Office, both with officers and men, is becoming notorious?

No, Sir, I am not at all aware of that; it is not true.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will state for 1925 and 1926 the production in Great Britain and Northern Ireland of wheat, barley, oats, and potatoes?

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

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is preparing an agricultural credit scheme for Wales; and, if so, when it may be expected to mature?

No special credit scheme for Wales alone is in preparation, but the scheme, which we are now working out and hope to place before Parliament next year, will be applicable to Wales equally with the rest of the country.

Will that be early next Session?

I cannot yet give a date.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many applications for loans, and for what amounts, have been received by the Gillett Committee from farmers' trading societies during last year and this year; and whether he will call for a report from the Committee upon the reasons why these credit facilities are not more largely used by the farming organisations?

Two applications were considered by the Committee in 1926 for loans of £2,500 and £10,000, respectively, and one application for a loan of £3,000 has been considered this year. In addition to these applications a number of inquiries for details of the scheme have been received during the period referred to. I will invite the Committee to make a report of the nature suggested.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell me what steps, if any, have been taken to make these facilities known to farmers' societies?

I think they are generally known and that the agricultural co-operative movement is well aware of them.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Farmers' Union have ever taken any steps to acquaint their members with the advantages to be obtained?

I have no such information.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the source of infection of the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease; and how many cases there have been since the recent period of immunity?

No source of infection has yet been discovered in the case of the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Kent. There have been four cases in all since the recent period of immunity.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has fully considered the leasehold and building projects now contemplated by the Commissioners of Crown Lands in the Swinley Forest district, between Bracknell and Bagshot, which has hitherto been one of the most beautiful open spaces in the country; and whether he can give to the residents in Berkshire and to the public generally some assurance that the amenities of the district, especially trees and other natural forest beauties, and access for the public to this part of Berkshire will be preserved?

I have fully considered the proposals for the development of the Crown estate in the Swinley Forest district. The Commissioners have not lost sight of the fact that it is their duty, not only to the general public, but also for the purpose of improving the property under their charge, to preserve the rural amenities of the estate. No public rights exist over the land, but the Commissioners are not proposing at present to exclude the public from the unenclosed parts.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many regular aerial passenger services are now in operation wholly or principally within the British Empire or wholly or principally British-owned in other countries; and on what routes do they operate in both cases?

As the answer is in tabular form I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether permission has now been received from the Persian Government for British aeroplanes to fly over Persian territory between Cairo and Karachi; whether the Cairo to Baghdad route is in operation; how often the aeroplanes fly; how many flights have been made since the route commenced; and what number of passengers and weight of mails has been carried?

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

Could the hon. Gentleman reply to the first part of the question, as to whether permission has yet been received?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is now in a position to make a statement on the results of the test operations which have just taken place in connection with the aerial defence of London?

The answer is in the negative.

Can the hon. Baronet say when he expects to be able to give a statement as to these operations?

I am afraid I could not say that now. Of course, a great deal has appeared in the papers.

Can the hon. Baronet say whether, if this had been actual warfare, the population of London would have suffered immense casualties?

I must leave that to the hon. Member's imagination.

Will a report on the operations be issued?

Perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman will put a question down.

Is it our practice to tell all the world what we have found out for our own information?

A great many statements have appeared in the Press, and would not an authoritative statement be very valuable?

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is prepared to frame regulations making a knowledge of the Welsh language an essential qualification for all new appointments to postal staffs in the predominantly Welsh-speaking parts of Wales?

After carefully considering the hon. Member's suggestion I do not think that there are adequate grounds for introducing special regulations for the purpose he has in view.

Does the noble Lord not think it very discourteous not to have Welsh-speaking civil servants in the areas where the people speak that language?

In those areas where a knowledge of the Welsh language is necessary we always insist on it. If my hon. Friend has any cases in mind where this is not the case, I will go into them.

Does the noble Lord not realise that this is not a question of necessity but of courtesy?

Where it is thought to be desirable we insist on it.

Is there any regulation that Welsh Members should know the Welsh language?

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider the possibility of allotting to ex-service auxiliary postmen who have completed more than six years' service some proportion of the 50 per cent. of the annual vacancies for permament employment at present set apart for post-War ex-service men?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in supposing that vacancies in the Post Office are set apart for post-War ex-service men, and I would refer him to my reply to a question asked by the hon. Member for Stroud (Sir F. Nelson) on 25th instant, of which I am sending him a copy.

Is it not the fact that a certain number of vacancies are given to post-War ex-service men?

No, Sir, they are given to all ex-service men, and ex-service men who fought in the War receive a priority of consideration over those who enlisted subsequent to the Armistice?

Is the Noble Lord aware that his right hon. Friend in reply to a question in this House some time ago, made a statement totally different from the one now given, and will the Noble Lord give us an assurance that auxiliary postmen who are ex-service men with six years' experience will be considered for vacancies?

Auxiliary postmen who are ex-service men are considered on the same basis as other ex-service men, and I can assure the hon. Member that there is no discrepancy between the statement of the Postmaster-General and that I have just made.

Could the Noble Lord say whether he or his right hon. Friend is giving special attention to the question of improving the conditions of auxiliary postmen?

That question does not arise out of the answer.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that 6½ hours are allowed under the terms of the mail contract for the journey between Stornoway and the mainland, a distance of only 60 miles, he will take steps to shorten this time allowance, in view of the need for the restoration of the early morning train connection to the south which existed before the War?

I have been asked to reply. The time allowance will require adjustment when a faster boat is put upon the service, but as my right hon. Friend indicated in his reply to the hon. Member's question of 12th April, the expense of providing and running a vessel fast enough to ensure the connection with the early morning train would be unduly heavy and greater than would be justified by the traffic and other conditions of the service. I would point out that the time allowed in the contract for the voyage from Stornoway to Kyle is 6 hours 10 minutes, including provision for a stop Applecross, and that the distance is approximately 70 statute miles.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that on the Sabbath day, 17th July, a Dutch trawler was trawling with the otter trawl in prohibited waters, about 11 miles within the limit and six miles south of Ailsa Craig, and was discovered so trawling by the fishery cruiser "Vigilant," who, however, did not arrest her but arrested the Fleetwood trawler "Alida," who was near the said Dutch trawler; and will he take steps to have the law altered so as to enable foreign trawlers to be subject to the same Regulations as British trawlers?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the cases referred to. The Dutch trawler in question was reported under the Trawling and Prohibited Areas Prevention Act, 1909, in terms of which she will be prevented from landing a catch at a British port during a period of two months. As the hon. and learned Member is doubtless aware the enforcement against foreign vessels of the law which prohibits trawling in such areas raised difficult questions of international law and the Act of 1909 was passed as an alternative remedy in the case of foreign trawlers.

Cannot the hon. and gallant Gentleman get that law altered? Is it not absurd that while Russia has a 12-mile limit for foreign trawlers and America has a 12-mile limit in regard to bootlegging we cannot do anything to protect our own fishermen?

As the hon. and learned Member knows these matters have been subjects for discussion with foreign countries for many years, and we do our best to see that these Regulations may be made applicable and it is only by the consent of foreign countries that this can be done.

Is the Under-Secretary not aware that this is a question which we have raised here time and again. These foreign trawlers can afford to pay the £100 fine, when they can get away with a cargo of the value of £1,000; consequently, they pay no attention to this matter? Can tale hon. and gallant Gentleman not devise ways and means of withdrawing the certificates in such cases?

"Wrong question!"

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that John Crewdson, trawl fisherman, Fleetwood, master of the steam trawler "Alida," FD. 192, was, on 17th July, caught fishing in prohibited waters near the south end of Arran on the Clyde Estuary, about six miles from Ailsa Craig, and further was found to have covered or concealed the name letters and the number of the said trawler by painting them out; that the said trawler was 11 miles within the limit; that the sheriff substitute, on convicting him of both offences, said that such offences were frequent and fined the accused £100, with forfeiture of net, for the one offence and £20 for the other; and will he now seek statutory power for the imposition of penalties sufficient to stop such offences?

In this case the supplementary question has come before the main question but the same answer will do for both. My right hon. Friend is aware of the case referred to. There has of late years been a considerable falling-off in the numbers of trawling offences in Scottish waters generally and my right hon. Friend does not consider that legislation for the provision of increased penalties is at present urgently required. The matter will, however, be kept under careful observation.

Has the Under-Secretary noticed that the Sheriff substitute who tried this case, and has tried a considerable number of these cases recently, says that they are very frequent, and does that not show that the penalties are inadequate, especially when compared with foreign countries like Iceland and Denmark?