asked the First Lord of the Admiralty to whom the con- tracts have been given for the cruisers, leader destroyers, and sloops of the 1932 programme; what is the total value of such orders; and will he state the total value of orders given to private firms and Government dockyards, respectively?

The orders for the Shipbuilding Programme of 1932 have not yet been completely placed. Contracts for hulls and machinery, of the approximate total value of £4,500,000, have been placed with the firms shown in the list which I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Apart from related contracts for armour, gun mountings and armament, there remain to be ordered the hull of the cruiser "Apollo," a destroyer depot ship, two sloops, three submarines and small craft. Of these ships, the "Apollo," two sloops and one submarine will be dockyard-built. The orders for them will be placed before the end of March.

Do I understand that the Government dockyards will have a fair proportion of the orders given?

Yes, that is so. Because of repair work which is looming very large in the programme, the dockyards are being very well dealt with.

Will my right hon. Friend remember that he

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can state the total quantity of oil produced from British coal which has been ordered by the Admiralty

Does my right hon. Friend's reply apply to the dockyard vessels, that is to say, will orders for dockyard ships be given at the end of March?

Yes, they will be placed almost immediately.

Before the end of the financial year?

Yes.

Is this programme related to the proposals that the Government will lay before Geneva?

Yes, very precisely related.

Is it not the case that the Government dockyards are getting a fair share of the work that is to be done?

That is what I endeavoured to say.

Is this programme actually below the standard permitted to Great Britain under existing treaties?

That is much too large a question to go into at Question Time.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will tell the House what quantity of oil produced from British coal was recently ordered by his Department, and at what cost?

It would be contrary to the established practice to disclose details of the quantity and price of oil purchased by the Admiralty.

Are the conditions of this purchase economical as against mineral oil?

I am answering a question on that subject later.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the order recently given for oil produced from British coal by a low-temperature carbonisation process was given as a result of experiments having proved that this method of producing oil suitable for consumption in His Majesty's ships is superior to any other method; whether the Admiralty considered buying oil produced by any hydrogenation process; and, if so, what were the comparative costs of oil produced by the two processes?

No, Sir. The order referred to was placed because an acceptable oil was offered in bulk at a price we were willing to pay in view of our desire to help this new venture. No such offer of oil produced by hydrogenation has yet been made. The last part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

The right hon. Gentleman says no such offer has yet been made. Is that because the hydrogenation has not reached a stage where they can make it a commercial success or is it because the Admiralty has not yet decided to encourage hydrogenation?

This is a very elaborate and difficult question. We are willing to take as much oil as we can get at a reasonable price from low temperature carbonisation, but the hydrogenation processes are far more expensive. We are experimenting with them, but at present we should not be able to buy at any reasonable price from any process of hydrogenation that I know of as yet.

I take it that the price is such as to constitute a subsidy on the process?

No, I should not call it a subsidy. We are very ready always to help anything in the direction that would be of tremendous value to the country and the coal-mining industry and, if we pay a little more, I am quite ready to defend that.

Then it is not an economical price as compared with mineral oil?

Has the Admiralty entered into a contract for a fixed period at a fixed price for the oil or is it just small portions of oil as they are delivered by the companies?

No, we have entered into a contract for a year for so many tons per month. It is not desirable to say how much we pay.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has yet received any report on an apparatus for locating, communicating with, and saving the crews of sunken submarines which was submitted by Mr. E. E. Beechey to the Admiralty Department of Scientific Research and Experiment in February, 1932, after a provisional patent had been granted; and whether it is intended to adopt this or a similar apparatus?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part of the question, it is not intended to adopt the apparatus to which my hon. Friend refers. The design of indicator buoy and escape apparatus fitted in His Majesty's submarines was adopted before Mr. Beechey originally approached the Admiralty.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the amount of fish purchased for consumption by naval personnel at home stations during 1932; and what was the average cost per pound?

Fish is not included in the Naval Standard ration. In ships, etc., victualled on the Standard Ration system, the men purchase the fish they require from the canteens out of their messing allowance. In ships, etc., victualled on the General Mess system, it is bought by the accountant officer as required. The information asked for is not readily available, but I may say that the fish consumed at the Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham, in 1932, amounted to about 10,400 stones, the average cost being 4s. l½d. per stone.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the estimated saving that will result from the Royal Marine police being employed in Portsmouth dockyard in place of the Metropolitan police; and when it is proposed to employ the Royal Marine police at Devonport dockyard?

The antipated saving in cost will amount to nearly £16,000 a year, although an immediate expenditure of about £4,000 will be necessary to provide additional married quarters for Royal Marine police. Moreover, the Admiralty liability for part pensions of Metropolitan police who have at any time served in His Majesty's Dockyard, Portsmouth, amounting at the present time to approximately £30,000 a year, will ultimately disappear. The question of making a similar substitution at Devonport Dockyard will be dealt with at the end of the year.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the new base at Singapore will be completed; what is the total estimated cost, including the floating dock; and whether it is intended to erect machine shops and other essentials for the repair of battleships?

The date for the completion of the Jackson contract is September, 1935, and we have no reason for supposing that it will not be completed by that date. The total estimate for the contract and contingent services, including the preliminary work carried out by the Admiralty, is £5,145,000; and the cost of the floating dock was £971,000. No decision has been made to erect machine shops, etc., for the repair of battleships.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, when he introduces the Estimates, give a little more information on the subject of machine shops and the like?

If the right hon. Gentleman will indicate what information he requires, I shall be only too glad to give it.

Will the Government press on with the work as rapidly as possible to deal with the situation in the Far East?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Jackson contract includes the machinery, etc., necessary to equip the Singapore Dock?

It bears on the dock itself and anything pertaining thereto.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fall in the value of the yen, the Parliament of Ceylon has taken any action, with the object of preventing the effect of Imperial preference being under mined or nullified, to limit the importations of Japanese goods?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state the total cost of subsidies, and other financial assistance, in respect of the production of sugar in British Colonies and Dependencies, and how much this amounts to per ton of sugar imported from these sources to this country; and whether, in view of the amount of British tonnage idle and the number of British seamen unemployed, he will take steps to see that these allowances are only paid in respect of sugar which is carried in British ships?

All sugar imported into the United Kingdom from the Colonies receives a preference at the rate of 4s. 9d. per cwt. for 96 degrees sugar, with an extra preference of 1s. per cwt. on a limited quota of imports, fixed at 275,000 tons for this financial year; but no subsidy or other direct assistance is given by His Majesty's Government to the production of sugar in the Colonies. The latter part of the question is covered by the reply which was given to another question addressed by my hon. Friend yesterday to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that when the Government of France makes contracts for South Wales coal for Government railways they enforce the carriage of that coal in French bottoms, and in those circumstances is it not about time that we looked after our own steamships in the same way?

As far as Government contracts are concerned, all Government contracts made by any Colony are always shipped in British ships, but I shall certainly look, on any matter as applying to the general interest of shipping, to be advised by the President of the Board of Trade, who knows more about shipping than anybody in this House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total amount of imports from all sources of oats and oatmeal products during the year 1932?

:As stated in the issue for December last of the monthly accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom, the total imports into this country during the year 1932 of oats (grain) and oat products amounted to 6,468,000 cwts., of a declared value of £1,835,000, and 779,000 cwts., valued at £720,000, respectively.

In view of the fact that, if given the chance, we could produce practically the whole of these oats and oatmeal products for ourselves, will the Government consider taking steps to regulate the importation of oats and oatmeal products to this country?

Such steps will certainly be taken into consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the German Government subsidises directly or indirectly the export of German oats?

I am not aware of any such subsidy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there was any disparity between the wholesale price of German oats marketed in Germany and Great Britain during the year 1932; and, if so, what was the extent of that disparity?

The average wholesale price of oats at Berlin in 1932, as recorded in "Wirtschaft and Statistik" was 147.5 Reichsmarks per metric ton, equalling at the average rate of exchange for the year 10s. 2d. per cwt. Market quotations for German oats in Great Britain in 1932 are not available. The declared value of the 86,943 cwts. of oats imported into the United Kingdom and registered as consigned from Germany during 1932 was £24,427, or 5s. 7½d. per cwt., but it would appear from the German trade accounts that such oats even though consigned from Germany were not of German origin.

In view of the fact that the wholesale price of oats marketed in Germany is from the figures given by the hon. Member nearly double the wholesale price of oats marketed in this market, how can the hon. Member say that there has been no subsidy, either direct or indirect, by the German Government on the export of oats?

I say so for this reason, that the German export assistance system does not apply to oats, but it applies to oat products and sowing oats, and none of the oats in the answer I have given are sowing oats.

In view of the fact that there is this discrepancy, will the hon. Member take steps to prohibit the importation of German oatmeal products under export licence and wholesale oats, provided there is a discrepancy of the amount indicated in his answer?

I think that question might be put on the Order Paper.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which British industries have made representations that their interests would be harmed by the abrogation of the Anglo-Japanese trading agreement; and will he give particulars?

No such representations have been received.

In view of the fact that representations from various important trade bodies for the abrogation of this Treaty have been made to the Board of Trade, and that the balance of interest is obviously in favour of the abrogation of this trade agreement, will my hon. Friend give some assurance to the House that a decision on this matter will be arrived at within a reasonable time?

I am most anxious to help the hon. Member. In by far the greater number of cases the object of the questioner becomes apparent, but I can assure my hon. Friend that I have not the least idea what he means by the question he has put on the Order Paper, or by his supplementary question. It is not a fact that there are requests for the abrogation of this Treaty. There are requests with regard to the Congo Basin Treaty, but not as to this. With great respect to the hon. Member, I think he is under a misapprehension. If he will confer with me, I shall be glad to give him all the information in my possession.

If I submit certain facts dealing with the situation as recently revealed, will the hon. Member consider the matter carefully with a view to getting a settlement of what is considered, particularly in respect to the cotton trade, a matter of outstanding importance?

I shall be most happy to do so.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the important position of the aerodrome at Sherburn-in-Elmet, he can say if the Secretary of State for Air proposes to include the York County Aviation Club among those clubs receiving subsidy from the Air Ministry?

At this stage I can only say that fresh applications for subsidy have been received from a considerable number of flying clubs. My hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that the case of the York County Aviation Club will receive careful consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, if his attention has been drawn to the trials of the "Westfalen," a Norddeutscher Lloyd steamer of 5,000 tons, which has been converted to serve as a fuel station for South Atlantic air traffic; and whether the Government has under consideration any similar proposals to assist British cross-Atlantic air travel?

I have seen reports in the Press regarding the conversion of this steamer for the purpose mentioned, and the Air Ministry will watch the experiment with much interest. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

Will the hon. Member or his Department take some steps to provide the same facilities for aeroplanes in this country as apparently have been provided in the case mentioned in the question?

asked the Minister of Transport the names of the counties in Scotland, England and Wales where special road maintenance grants up to 75 per cent. were made during the year 1931–32; and the amount of the highway rate and the total local rate levied during the year in those counties?

As the answer is a long one, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that, under Section 81 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, no right of appeal is given to a local authority objecting to variation of the conditions attaching to a road service licence unless the local authority has originally objected to the grant of the licence; and, in view of the case that has arisen in the city of Stoke-on-Trent and similar cases likely to result in injustice and hardship, will he take steps to introduce amending legislation?

I am aware of the provisions of the Statute, to which the first part of this question relates; but I am unable to agree with the suggestions of the second part. Where substantial variation of a road service licence is sought, the practice of the Traffic Commissioners is to require it to be submitted in the form of a new application, so as to ensure that potential objectors may have a right of appeal. The city of Stoke-on-Trent has exercised the right so given to them in this case and an Inquiry into their appeal will be held at a very early date.

As the Act is undoubtedly badly drawn and the result is a great injustice to the operatives, will not the hon. Gentleman take further steps to amend it, so that this injustice may be put right?

I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman that the Act is badly drawn, or that the Stoke-on-Trent Corporation have any grievance whatever. In fact, the inquiry is to be held at an early date, and we have just been informed that the corporation are now pressing for postponement, as they are not ready with their case.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the death from misadventure of Mr. Charles Edwards at Bagshot on the evening of 11th January last; and whether he proposes to take action on the jury's recommendation that the carrying of rear lights by cyclists should be made compulsory?

My attention had not been drawn to this accident. I have no power to require that rear lights should be carried on pedal cycles. Parliament decided in 1927, in the Road Transport Lighting Act of that year, that in the case of pedal cycles and tricycles an efficient red reflector might be carried in place of a red rear lamp. Legislation would be required to give effect to the hon. Member's proposal.

If such legislation will result in reducing the number of deaths on the roads will the Minister take steps to introduce such legislation?

If as a result of the investigations we are making into fatal accidents it is established that the use of the rear lamp would reduce the number of deaths on the roads, we should at once take steps to put that into operation.

Will the investigations which my hon. Friend is making show whether or not the rear light does have that effect?

The very detailed investigations that we are making into accidents upon the road as the result of a new system being put into force will, I think, establish that point.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will furnish figures showing the number of prosecutions for breaches of the hours regulations for drivers of commercial lorries; and if his Department will take further measures to secure the enforcement of the law?

No figures are available for the country as a whole, but in the Metropolitan Police district action has been taken in five cases, three of which concerned public service vehicles. Convictions were obtained against the principals in all five cases. Proceedings are pending in one further case. With regard to the enforcement of the requirements of the law, I cannot add to my recent answer to the hon. Member for the Thirsk and Malton Division (Mr. Turton), I am sending the hon. Member a copy of this reply.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the observations of various magistrates have found their way into his Department, and, if so, what effect are those observations likely to have upon him?

Can the hon. Gentleman say why the figures are not available for the whole country? He has certain responsibilities under the law.

I think that question should in the first instance be addressed to another Department.

May I have an answer to my supplementary question?

I think the hon. Member had better put his question on the Order Paper.

(for Mr. HICKS) asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that a number of Post Office and other workers in the London area have to travel to and from their work at varying times during the day on account of shift systems and are consequently unable to avail themselves of workmen's tickets; and whether he is satisfied that the transport undertakings in the area are carrying out their statutory duties in connection with the supply of workmen's trains?

I have no reason to doubt that the companies are discharging their statutory obligations as regards the running of workmen's trains; I understand that in some respects the facilities afforded by the companies for workmen are in excess of statutory requirements.

Will the right hon. Gentleman reply to the first part of the question, and say whether he proposes to ask the railway companies to give special facilities to those workmen who have to go to and from their work at an hour other than that at which workmen's trains are running?

If the hon. Member will put any special cases he has before me, I shall be glad to consider them.

May I ask whether he will put this particular point before the railway companies?

Yes, I will do so.

(for Mr. McGOVERN) asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of cases of tuberculosis in Scotland in the last 12 months?

The final figures are not yet available, but provisional returns show that the number of new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis notified in Scotland during the year 1932 was 5,512 and that the corresponding number of non-pulmonary cases was 3,888.

(for Mr. McGOVERN) asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of persons that have been charged in Glasgow courts with house breaking for each month since 1st January, 1932, to 1st February, 1933?

As the answer involves a table of figures I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

(for Mr. McGOVERN) asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of persons who have been charged with shoplifting in Glasgow during 1932; the number found guilty; how many were fined or sent to prison; and in how many cases were medical reports of mental trouble accepted as an excuse for these charges, and the names in each case?

The number of persons who were charged with shoplifting in Glasgow during 1932 was 670. Including those who were put on probation the number found guilty was 634. Of these 261 were fined, and 79 were imprisoned. In no case was a medical report of mental trouble accepted as an excuse for the charge. But in three cases mental disease was established either to the satisfaction of the Court or the prosecutor. The names were Mrs. Semple, who was acquitted on the ground of insanity, Colonel Watkins and James Dorcas.

Can the Solicitor-General give us any information as to the social status of the three people who were excused on medical grounds?

I can only give such information as the name Colonel Watkins discloses. I have no information about Mrs. Semple. As regards James Dorcas, I am informed that he was taken into the guardianship of the Poor Law authorities, from which I infer that he was a pauper.