asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the East Ham Borough Council has passed a resolution calling the attention of the Government to the growth in the number of road accidents caused chiefly by the ever increasing use of mechanically-propelled vehicles upon the roads, and which resulted during the year 1926 in 4,886 deaths, and injuries to 133,883 persons throughout Great Britain, an average of nearly 400 per day, and impressing upon the Government the urgent necessity of adopting such remedial measures as will reduce this alarming rate of casualties to a minimum; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, proposals for the amendment of the law relating to dangerous driving are set out in the Draft Road Traffic Bill. One of the effects of the Road Transport Light- ing Act, which was passed last Session, and which comes into force on 22nd April, should be to increase the safety of the public roads. Grants are also made from the Road Fund, to assist local authorities to carry out road improvements which are desirable on grounds of public safety. The London Traffic Advisory Committee, again, always have this consideration in mind in the recommendations which they make from time to time for the improvement of traffic: conditions in the Metropolitan area.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of accidents for the last three years, respectively, caused by defective brakes on trailers?

As road accidents are not systematically reported to my Department, this information is not in my possession.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a resolution from the Hull local pensions committee, passed on the 2nd February, 1928, and directed to be forwarded to him, to the effect that His Majesty's Government be asked to promote legislation to amend the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, so as to remove the existing anomaly under which the wife of a man who was over 70 years of age on 2nd January, 1928, will not be entitled to an old age pension in the right of his insurance until she herself attains the age of 70 years, whereas the wife of a man who will have attained the age of 65 years but not attained the age of 70 years on the 2nd January, 1928, will be entitled to an old age pension in the right of his insurance on attaining the age of 65 years; and what action he intends to take in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the Prime Minister's answer on the 23rd November to a question by the hon. Member for Elland (Mr. W. C. Robinson).

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the suggestions which he has received from the Incorporated Society of Auctioneers and Landed Property Agents for the amendment of the Town Planning (Interim Development) Orders, with the object of securing better protection for the character of residential zones, and of the recent difficulty at Stanmore, whether he is now prepared to take some action along these lines?

The matter is at present receiving my right hon. Friend's attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs- whether he is aware of the increasing use of the port of Grimsby by trawlers of Russia, and of the hardship imposed upon British trawlers by being excluded from Russian waters; and will the Government consider the re-establishment of commercial relationships with that country?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the circumstances brought to his notice by the hon. Member, but cannot take the responsibility of encouraging British trawlers to fish in waters where His Majesty's Government are not in a position to afford the support and protection of which they might stand in need. In reply to the latter part of the question, I must point out that commercial relations with Russia do not require to be re-established, since they have never been broken off. The conditions which would admit of the restoration of diplomatic relations have already been stated in this House, but they do not at present exist.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British subjects are resident in Shanghai?

As stated by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in reply to the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley (Mr. Lansbury) on the 10th February, 1927, the total number of British subjects resident in Shanghai is about 9,300. No data are available for a revised estimate.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether an answer can now be given to Item 53 of the 1926 General Welfare Requests?

"With reference to the Welfare General Request No. 53, the Board of Trade state that there are no appointments under that Department of such a character that preference could be given in filling them to ex-naval ratings holding the higher educational certificate in navigational subjects. The higher grades of the Coastguard Service are at present normally filled from the ranks of coastguardsmen."

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the naval contribution for the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, is the same as the civilian rate; and, if so, what is the meaning of the second part of the reply to Item 52 of the 1926 General Welfare requests?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, full benefits are obtained under the Act by naval contributors except in the special circumstances provided in Section 24 of the Act, i.e., where a rating's death is attributable to the Service. In the latter case the widow or dependants obtain greater benefits from Service sources by means of Service dependants' pensions than those obtainable under the Act.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the fact that a signal boatswain is not borne in H.M.S. "Effingham" is to be taken that the established number of these officers has been reduced by one; if so, whether the port number of chief yeoman of signals allowed at the Portsmouth port division has been increased by one; and whether, in view of the small number of warrant officer ranks open to the signal branch, he will consider filling this vacancy, observing that such important squadrons in stations carry signal boatswains?

This is a temporary arrangement due to lack of accommodation in the present flagship. A signal boatswain will be reduced in March, and the port division numbers of chief yeomen will be correspondingly increased from April on account of this change. It is the intention to revert to the usual practice when "Effingham" is replaced by another vessel as flagship.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that Pilot Officer Peter John Basil Chalmers, the pilot and sole occupant of a Gamecock machine, was killed on 8th February by a crash which occurred about nine miles from Chichester; that there was a thick fog, with rain falling, at the time of the accident; that Mr. Chalmers was Gazetted as recently as 17th December, 1927; and what steps are being taken to avoid accidents of this type?

Yes, Sir, I am aware of and deeply regret this sad accident. I am unwilling to say anything which might prejudice the report of the Court of Inquiry which is being held, but should perhaps point out that my information is that although there were low clouds with slight mist and rain or drizzle at the time, there was no thick fog, and the ordinary flying of the unit was being carried out at the time. With regard to the third part of the question, I might observe that although this officer only recently received his commission, he had previously passed through the normal two years' training course at the Royal Air Force Cadet College, which includes instruction in practical flying, and was a fully qualified pilot. In answer to the last part of the question, I can only repeat that all possible precautions are taken to avoid accidents, and due consideration is always given to the weather and other conditions in which flying is carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether an agreement between the British, French, and American Governments in respect of the Iraq oilfields has yet been signed; and, if not, are negotiations now in progress?

An agreement between the British and French Governments relating to the Iraq oilfields was signed at San Remo on the 24th April, 1920. That agreement, which has been published as a Command Paper (Cmd. 675) made provision for French participation in the Turkish Petroleum Company. The United States Government was not a party to the agreement. I understand, however, that negotiations are in progress between the various commercial interests concerned for the participation of American capital in the Turkish Petroleum Company.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received the draft legislation for the registration of domestic servants in Kenya Colony; and whether, in view of the advantages which are stated to attach to the practice of taking the fingerprints of domestic servants by the police, he is prepared to give an undertaking that such legislation, if sanctioned, will be binding upon all sections of His Majesty's subjects in Kenya Colony, regardless of race?

I have seen the original draft of this Bill, which has since been referred to a Select Committee of the Legislative Council. Until it has assumed its final shape and been passed into law, it would be premature for me to express any views in regard to it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing amongst traders owing to the difficulty they experience in securing drawback under the safeguarding of industries duties in respect of glove exports, and particularly as to the long delay experienced in recovering the tax under the system; and whether he will take steps to have the administration in this case improved as early as possible?

Representations as to the period elapsing between the date of shipment of exported gloves and the payment of drawback thereon have already been under consideration, and arrangements have been made for accelerating payment. I am not aware of the other difficulties referred to, but if the hon. Member will furnish particulars I will have inquiry made.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the number of controllers, deputy-controllers, principal clerks and other classes of clerical officers and servants employed by each Ministry at Bromyard Avenue, Acton?

The Departments concerned are the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Pensions, and I understand that the Ministers concerned, to whom this Question should have been addressed, are arranging to send to the hon. Member statements giving the information desired.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has received representations on behalf of temporary typists in the various Government Departments as regards the uncertainty of their employment and their claim to be put on the permanent staff after a reasonable period on the temporary staff; and whether he proposes to investigate these grievances by receiving a deputation of the staff or by appointing a committee of inquiry?

Representations have been received in regard to the position of temporary shorthand typists and typists, and the position of these grades has been under consideration. I have been asked by the association concerned to receive a deputation on this matter, and I have agreed to do so.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is proposed to open a training centre in the Bristol area for unemployed men; whether it will be residential or non-residential; and on what date it is hoped that the experiment will commence?

The premises formerly used as a Government Instructional Factory at Radnor Road, Bristol, will shortly be opened as a non-residential training centre for unemployed men.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is now an instruction that unemployed men of 65 years or over are to be denied the facilities of Employment Exchanges; and, if so, will he state the reason?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on Thursday last to a similar question by the hon. Member for the Ilkeston Division (Mr. Oliver).

asked the Minister of Agriculture why petty sessional areas are selected as areas under foot-and-mouth disease restrictions; and whether steps will be taken to nave these clearly defined on ordnance maps?

The Ministry has found from long experience that the most convenient method of describing districts subject to foot-and-mouth disease restrictions is by boroughs, petty sessional divisions and parishes, as these areas are familiar to the public and to local authorities and the police, who have to administer the Orders under the Diseases of Animals Acts. These areas are clearly denned on the special Ordnance Survey Maps, showing petty sessional and other divisions for each county, which are obtainable from the usual agents, price 6d. each.

asked the Home Secretary the number of uniformed police and officers in the Criminal Investigation Department that are regularly employed in the Metropolitan Police area at the last convenient date, giving comparable figures for 1927?

The following are the number of men employed on the dates stated:

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government's proposals for amending the law relating to the Parliamentary and local government franchise will be confined to the granting of the franchise to women between the ages of 21 and 30 years; and, if not, whether he will arrange that the other proposals shall be incorporated in a separate Bill to enable a clear issue to be decided on the proposals contained in each Measure?

I must ask the hon. Member to await the introduction of the promised Franchise Bill.