asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that the Northumberland and Durham miners' permanent relief fund has been compelled to cease the payment of pensions to aged miners owing to the depressed state of the industry; and whether he will take such steps as are necessary to enable the Miners' Welfare Fund to make grants to this and similar funds?

The answer to the first part of the question is, Yes. With regard to the second part, the Miners' Welfare Committee has been advised that such an object is not within the scope of the fund as at present constituted. Amending legislation would, therefore, be required to make grants for such a purpose permissible. My hon. Friend is no doubt aware that the recent Departmental Committee of Inquiry into the Miners' Welfare Fund advised against the extension of the scope of the fund in this direction, both as a matter of principle and also on actuarial grounds, even if the output levy were to continue at the penny rate. As I announced last April, it has been decided to introduce a Bill at an early opportunity to reduce the amount of the levy to one halfpenny, and in those circumstances I cannot see any possibility of extending the scope of the fund to pension schemes.

Cannot the hon. Gentleman hold out any hope for these aged miners?

I am aware of the difficulty. My hon. Friend will understand that the representative of the Miners' Federation on the Departmental Committee, while advising an extension of the principle in a minority report, specifically advised against it in the event of the levy being reduced.

Can the hon. Member suggest any way in which these miners could be helped?

None at all.

Did not the minority report also recommend the continuance of the ld., and is this not an argument for continuing the levy at ld.?

asked the Secretary for Mines (1) whether he will consider taking a national survey of the registers kept at the collieries containing the particulars of times of descent and ascent for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of overtime being worked and the nature of the work done;

(2) whether, in view of the great changes in coal production during recent years, he will consider the advisability of appointing a committee of inquiry to ascertain what alteration, if any, is necessary to the Coal Mines Regulation Acts, with especial reference to the working of overtime?

I have at present no adequate reason to think that the circumstances call for action along the two courses suggested in the hon. Member's questions. If the proposal to survey the registers were supported by the Miners' Federation of Great Britain and by evidence which satisfied me that such action could be justified, I would consider the proposal sympathetically.

When is the hon. Gentleman going to tackle this vexed question of overtime?

As the hon. Member knows, I am giving the matter my serious attention. Perhaps he will put a question down after the Recess.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether in future he will always consult with the official representatives of the district association of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain prior to deciding whether legal proceedings ought to be taken in a case of alleged illegal overture at a colliery?

No, Sir. I should consider any such action on my part most improper, and I think on reflection the hon. Member will agree.

As this matter arose last week, would it not have been wiser for the hon. Member to have consulted the district association of the Miners' Federation involved?

The Secretary for Mines has already adequate powers to get a full and impartial statement of the facts. The responsibility as to whether any legal action is necessary rests with the Government.

Is he satisfied that in the case dealt with last week he got an impartial statement of the facts?

Yes, I think so.

May I ask whether the Coal Mines Act enables the hon. Member to take proceedings in any reasonable case against a colliery company?

I should like to see that question on the Paper.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many cases have -been reported to his Department during 1932 and the latest figures for 1933 of overtime being worked when such overtime has meant the person or persons concerned returning to the mine before the statutory period stated in the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1908, has elapsed between the finishing of the shift and the commencing of the next?

No case was reported during 1932 where a workman was alleged to have been required to commence a shift before the expiry of twenty-four hours from the commencement of the previous shift. One such case has been reported during 1933 to date.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many cases of alleged illegal overtime have been reported to his Department in 1933; in how many of them has it been decided to prosecute in the law courts; and in how many has it been decided to warn the colliery owners against continuing the practice

Seven complaints alleging illegal overtime at individual collieries have been received during 1933 to date. In no case has it been decided to take legal proceedings. I am not quite clear what the hon. Member means by "warning" colliery owners. If something is discovered which, while not a breach of the law, is considered undesirable or contrary to the spirit of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, the attention of the manager is called to it. In the case of a complaint of illegal overtime or of a routine inspection of the register, even if no breach of the law is found, the investigation itself serves to direct the attention of the management to the subject. There is, however, no practice of issuing official "warnings."

asked the Secretary for Mines whether the Coalowners' Association have yet submitted proposals for amending Part I of the Coal Mines Act, 1930; and, if so, will he state the Government attitude towards them?

The position is as it was when I replied on 27th June to similar questions by the hon. Members for Widnes (Mr. Robinson) and for Aberdare (Mr. G. Hall). I am sending the hon. Member a copy of that reply.

Did not the hon. Member lead the House to believe that unless the coalowners made up their minds to some amendment of Part I the Government had made up their mind that they would take action?

If my hon. Friend will consult me, I will send him the statement made by the President of the Board of Trade on that question.

How much longer is the hon. Member going to allow the coal-owners to destroy themselves, and the miners as well, in this process before doing something?

There are times when patience is the best policy.

Will the hon. Member do his best to get this question settled?

My hon. Friend knows that I am fully aware of the urgency and difficulties of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, if he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to the Canadian import duties on British bituminous coal?

I am not yet in a position to add to the answer which was given to the hon. Member for the Colne Valley (Mr. Mallalieu) on 20th June. The matter is receiving close consideration.

Having regard to the delays which have taken place, will the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the Dominion Government?

Since the arrival in this country of the representatives of the. Dominions almost daily conversations have taken place, and there is an arrangement to discuss this and other matters outstanding while the representatives are in this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many new companies have been formed as selling agencies to distribute coal since the passing of the Coal Mines Act, 1930; and how many of the said companies are subsidiary where all the capital belongs to colliery companies?

I regret that the information desired by the hon. Member is not available.

Will the hon. Gentleman tell us how we can ascertain how many selling agencies have been established in the past few years? Is he aware that selling agencies are being established all over the country with a definite view of avoiding the terms of the 1930 Act?

The question asked was about new companies. Since the time mentioned in the question something under 30,000 companies have been registered. It is obviously impracticable to go through those and endeavour to correlate them to colliery companies. The practice to which the hon. Member refers is not unknown.

Will the hon. Gentleman take steps to ascertain exactly how many of these selling agencies have been already established so that the Secretary for Mines will know whether, and if so when, he can take action to see that Part I of the Coal Mines Act is carried out?

Any proper collaboration with the Secretary for Mines will certainly be undertaken.

asked the Secretary for Mines, whether he will give an estimate of the coal to be utilised in the first five years following the introduction of the guaranteed preference for the production of oil from coal; and whether it is intended to set any limit to the quantity which may be produced by any method of oil production

I regret that it is not practicable to prepare an estimate on the lines suggested. It is not intended to set any limit to the quantity of motor spirit which may obtain the advantage of the guarantee announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in the reply he gave on Monday, 17th July, to my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow (Sir A. Baillie).

asked the Secretary for Mines how many men were employed in the shale-mining and oil industry at the end of the War; how many are at present employed; and whether any estimate has been prepared of the increased number of men who will be engaged in the industry within a reasonable period as a result of the new guarantee given by the Government?

Just after the end of the War it is estimated that about 9,500 persons were employed in the Scottish shale oil industry. Since December last a scheme has been in operation under which as many employs as practicable work three consecutive weeks and are idle for the fourth week. Under this scheme employment has been found for nearly 900 additional men, making the present total numbers employed about 4,100. I am unable to give any estimate of the probable effect of the guarantee on future employment in this industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to make any statement with regard to the possible convening of a conference between British and Japanese industrialists with regard to Japanese trade competition?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to make any statements with regard to the progress of the preliminary Anglo-Japanese commercial negotiations?

My right hon. Friend was able to send a reply on 20th July to the Note from the Japanese Government on this subject which was received some little time ago. I should explain that in that Note the Japanese Government indicated that the Japanese interests con- cerned agreed, subject to certain limitations which have since formed the subject of informal discussion, to the proposed meetings between industries so far as they might relate to cotton textiles.

The proposal which is under consideration is that there should be a tripartite discussion in India in the near future between representatives of the industries concerned of Lancashire, India and Japan, covering the whole field of all classes of textiles in which of these countries are interested. These discussions will relate to the Indian market and to the British Colonial markets in which India is interested. The proposal is made on the understanding that the discussions in India would be followed immediately by discussions in this country in regard to other textile markets between industrial representatives of this country and of Japan.

His Majesty's Government sincerely hope that the Japanese Government will be able to accept this proposal on behalf of the Japanese industry, and that by means of discussions of the kind contemplated it will be possible for the interests concerned to arrive at a satisfactory agreement.

Will my hon. Friend tell me whether the Governments will also be represented at these industrial conferences

I could not do so without notice.

Can the, hon. Gentleman give us some indication as to the time it will take to conclude the proceedings and when we may expect a decision at the end of it all?

I can only say that the matter will be dealt with as expeditiously as possible.

Will the Japanese Government be asked to give an undertaking that it will in future honour its obligations?

In these discussions will the Empire markets, other than this country, also be dealt with, as far as the Japanese menace is concerned?

I cannot say whether that will take place in these discussions. It certainly will be borne in mind. My main answer related to a particular discussion.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in the Dominion markets Japanese competition is so fierce that 21-piece services can be sold at 2s. 5d. a set, whereas the lowest price at which they can be produced by British labour is 12s. 6d.?

The Department is fully alive to the matters to which the lion. Lady refers.

Will this conference deal not only with textile goods but also with engineering?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the effect on the sale of British motor cars of the new Franco-Spanish trade agreement; and whether he can make any statement on the subject?

My attention has been drawn to the effect of the agreement referred to, and representations in the matter have been addressed to the Spanish Government.

Seeing that the British motor car industry has been so successful recently in extending its export trade, including that to Spain, will the hon. Gentleman take any possible steps to remove this handicap which has been created in favour of France

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken by his Department to prevent the injury to the export cotton trade of Lancashire by the imposition of new duties by China?

Questions arising out of these new duties have been discussed with the Chinese Minister of Finance during his recent visit to this country, and these discussions will be continued.

Has it been pointed out to China that in attempting to hurt an enemy country she is penalising a country that has been one of her best friends in the past?

I have no doubt that that consideration has been borne in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the House the weight and value of the imports of plumbago during 1932; what proportion came from Ceylon; what duty is charged on the imports from foreign sources; and if any duty is charged on supplies received from Ceylon?

During 1932, the total imports into this country of natural plumbago amounted to 9,019 tons, of a declared value of £126,196, of which 1,196 tons valued at £13,526, were consigned from Ceylon. Duty at the rate of lo per cent. ad valorem is charged on plumbago of foreign origin on importation into this country. Plumbago from Ceylon would be eligible for admission free of duty subject to compliance with the statutory conditions of Imperial Preference.

Will my hon. Friend point out to Ceylon how impossible the present position is, seeing that they are playing fast and loose? They are trying to be inside the Empire and out of it. They must stop in or get out. They cannot have all the advantages of Imperial Preference and yet penalise our goods going into their country?

That is a matter of policy which hardly comes under the Board of Trade. The question I answered was a specific question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many cases have been brought to his notice, during the present year of applying to goods of foreign origin the title British; and what action has been taken in each case?

I have received a number of complaints alleging the misuse of the description "British." Many of these allegations prove on investigation to be groundless, but in four cases proceedings have been instituted and convictions obtained.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that tooth brushes with the handles marked faintly "Made in Japan" and in heavy lettering" Made in Canada," enclosed in cartons also marked" Made in Canada" are being sold in London to-day?

I understand that samples of the goods to which the hon. Member refers are obtainable. The case is under consideration.

When the Board of Trade are making an investigation in a case of this kind, do they go to the culprits themselves for information

I think there is no limit to the resources of the Board of Trade in obtaining information.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that there has been a large increase in the import of Australian rabbits into England as a result of the Ottawa Agreements, while British rabbit traps are still excluded from Australia by a prohibitive tariff; and whether he will take steps to remedy this state of affairs?

I have been asked to reply. There has been a continuous increase in the importation of Australian rabbits into the United Kingdom during the last five years. This trade is not, however, directly affected by the Ottawa Agreements. With regard to the last part of the question concerning the importation of rabbit traps into Australia, I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs.

Will my hon. and gallant Friend give the House an assurance that this matter will be borne in mind when the question of revising the Ottawa Agreements comes up in 1934

Can my hon. and gallant Friend inquire from his right hon. Friend why only one-tenth of the rabbits were imported in June this year as compared with June of last year?

(for Mr. JAMES DUNCAN) asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if be will make a statement as to the future of the London Quarantine Station after the termination of the period covered by the grant made by the Empire Marketing Board?

The continuance or otherwise of the grant made from the Empire Marketing Fund to the London Quarantine Station, as of other grants made from the fund, will fall to be considered when a decision is reached as to the future of the Empire Marketing Board. I am not in a position to say more at present.

Does the right hon. Gentleman keep any greyhounds there?

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many foreign ship-owners have been summoned, during a period of 12 months to the nearest convenient date, for bringing grain cargoes in bulk to the United Kingdom without shifting boards; and in how many cases was the full penalty imposed?

During the past 12 months proceedings have been taken against 22 masters of foreign ships for failure to comply with the precautions required by the Merchant Shipping Acts when carrying grain cargoes. In all cases convictions were obtained and in 15 cases the full penalty was imposed.

Is the hon. 'Gentleman aware that it is cheaper to break the law than to keep it, and does he propose to make the penalty heavy enough to deter this lawbreaking?

I think all that is matter for discussion. The penalty when the case is tried summarily is £100. When proceedings are taken by indictment the penalty is £300. But proceedings by indictment are not really applicable in cases against foreign shipowners.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the number of ships flying the British flag which are not registered at ports in Great Britain?

The number of vessels registered under Part I of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, that remained on the register at ports of the British Empire, outside Great Britain, at the end of the year 1932 was about 18,550.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the prejudicial effect of the intervention of foreign vessels, particularly motor vessels, in the home-coasting trade; and whether he proposes to consider remedial measures?

Tills matter has received very full consideration, but I do not think that it would be to the advantage of British shipping as a whole to take the remedial measures which have been suggested.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the representatives of the Russian Soviet Government, with whom he is negotiating, have yet defined their attitude with regard to the claims of British nationals?

The attitude of His Majesty's Government in this matter, as set out in the reply given on 10th July to my hon. Friend by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, was made clear to the Soviet representatives at the outset of the negotiations for a new trade agreement. I am not in a position to say anything further on the subject.

In view of the fact that in previous negotiations the Soviet representatives have declined to define their attitude—that is the phrase used by the Foreign Secretary—is it not desirable, as a preliminary to any further negotiations, that they should be finally asked to define their attitude to the claims of British nationals?

Have the British Government defined their attitude towards Russian claims?

My answer is quite clear. The whole attitude of the British Government in this matter was made clear to the Soviet representatives at the outset of the negotiations for a new trade agreement.

The hon. Gentleman realises that what I am asking about is the attitude of the Soviet representatives to British claims?

The answer to that question is that the negotiations are proceeding.

What reply have the Soviet representatives made?

That Britain is to hand over Constantinople to Russia.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in the trade agreement now under negotiation with the Government of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics he will retain for our Government the power to prohibit the import of goods the price of which would endanger the standard of living of British workers?

As my hon. and gallant Friend has already been informed, his representations on this point have been noted.

Will the hon. Gentleman convey to the President of the Board of Trade, who is absent from the House today, the great difficulty of controlling imports from Russia merely by tariffs, owing to sweating conditions in Russia?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the communication sent to him from the Midland and Scottish Air Ferries, Limited, with regard to the proposal for an air ambulance service between the Western Isles and Glasgow for the conveyance of urgent cases to the city hospitals; is he aware that the company are prepared to co-operate with the Department of Health and the St. Andrew's Ambulance Association in any scheme which will facilitate the removal of urgent cases to the hospitals; and will he call a conference of the parties con- cerned with a view to the establishment of the service?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the remainder of the question, the Department of Health propose to arrange a meeting with representatives of the Midland and Scottish Air Ferries, Limited, to discuss the experience which the Company have already gained in operating an air ambulance service in the Highlands and Islands.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the British Red Cross Society, in conjunction with the Government, has already supplied an aeroplane for the Manchester district and that there is also one flying from Croydon on a service of this kind; and Willy then should there be this holding-up of something similar in Scotland?

So far from there being any holding-up of the matter, we are engaged in inquiring into it.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that I have been raising this matter on the Floor of the House for the past two months; and has he only reached the stage of inquiring into it?

I am much obliged to my hon. Friend for the steps he has taken.

Will the hon. Gentleman see, that in all matters affecting the medical and surgical services of the Western Isles, due regard will always be paid to the views of the local medical officers and of the boards of management of the various hospitals in the Isles, who have had practical experience of such cases in the past; and will he also consider the views of the local district councils who know the geographical and transport conditions?

In previous answers to the hon. Member for Dumbarton Burghs (Mr. Kirkwood) I have laid emphasis on the difficulties. All relevant considerations will of course be taken into consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that on 16th January, 1933, a sample of veal was extracted from a consignment at Leith Docks, ex steamship "Horsa," from Copenhagen, in pursuance of the Public Health (Preservatives, etc., in Food) Regulations (Scotland), 1925; that the authority concerned has failed to make any payment for the said sample; and whether he will take steps to ensure that in future payment shall be made for any samples extracted from consignments of imported articles?

I am informed that this sample of tinned veal, of which the approximate estimated value is ls. 6d., was taken by an officer of the local authority acting under the powers conferred by Part III of the Regulations dealing with the importation of articles of food, and that the Act under which the Regulations are made does not require payment for samples of such imports.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think it desirable that when samples are taken they should be paid for?

And does he not think the Danes send so much over here that they could afford an occasional ls. 6d. tin of veal as a sample; and is not better veal to be had in this country, in Scotland as well as England?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he is aware that, owing to the vacancies on the staff of the Register House, Edinburgh, serious arrears have accumulated in the recording of deeds in the Sasine Register; and whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the question of staff reorganisation proposals and recruitment;

(2) if he can state the present position as regards the negotiations for improving the conditions of service of the second-class clerks at the Register House; and if he is aware that until this is effected there can be no prospect of recruiting this department up to strength with suitably-qualified personnel?

I am aware of the arrears of work in the Register of Sasines and of the urgent necessity for the recruitment of additional staff for both the Sasines and Record Departments of the Register House. The proposals for staff reorganisation have been further discussed with the staff representatives and I hope that a conclusion will be reached at an early date and that it will be found possible early next month to invite applications from suitably-qualified persons to fill the vacancies in the new establishment.

In view of the fact that the negotiations have lasted now for over two years, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps, when a final settlement is reached, to have it 'ante-dated to April of this year?

I am afraid I could not give my hon. Friend that undertaking.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure us that, if the additional staff is taken on, they will be able to deal in an adequate way with the Scottish records which are now in a disgraceful condition?

I hope so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many 1930 Act houses have been completed in Johnstone and Kilsyth; how many are in course of construction; what are the rents charged for the different classes of houses in the respective burghs; and will he consider the advisability of urging other towns to proceed with schemes similar to those of Johnstone and Kilsyth?

I am sending the hon. Member a statement giving the information asked for in the first three parts of the question. As regards the last part, the Department of Health keep constantly under review the housing situation throughout Scotland and draw the attention of the local authorities to the conditions in their areas wherever that appears to be necessary. I should add that the response of local authorities is in general satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what price per acre was to have been paid to the owners for the plots in December, 1932, offered to unemployed miners in Galston, Ayrshire; whether he is aware that many applications from miners were received but were unanimously refused when the Department asked them to pay at the rate of £2 8s. per acre; and whether steps will be taken to supply suitable land for unemployed Galston miners at a reasonable rent?

The average rent per acre payable by the Department was £1 17s. 5d. equivalent to 4d. a week per half acre. In addition the Department had to meet charges for compensation to agricultural tenants and equipment. Plots were offered to applicants at a rent of 5½d. a week for a half-acre plot, including equipment, or £2 8s. per acre per annum, the first season to be rent free. As the result of representations by the applicants it was decided, as a special concession, to reduce the charge to 4d. a week per half acre which covered only the rental payable by the Department without any consideration for other outlays. This offer was not accepted and no further application for plots have been received from the Galston area. As the hon. Member is aware, I am anxious to encourage -unemployed persons to take up these plots, but I am not in a position to authorise more favourable terms than those already offered by the Department in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is in a position to state the result of his investigations as to the advisabiliy of taking steps, by regulations or otherwise, for preventing children and young per sons attending cinematograph exhibitions of films which have been passed by the censor as suitable for adults only; and whether he is prepared to introduce legislation to enable suitable regulations for that purpose to be brought into operation?

As I stated on the 11th instant in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Guy) there is a possibility that the need for legislation way be avoided That aspect of the matter is now being explored, but I am not yet in a position to make any further statement.

When is the right hon. Gentleman likely to get some definite information on this question.

I can assure the hon. Member that no time is being lost in this matter. We are in touch with the representatives of the various associations every week.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, with reference to the sentences passed at Glasgow Central Police Court on 13th July on Thomas Hendry and six others, whether he has any information as to the number of occasions on which each of the boys, respectively, was warned by the police in respect of conduct similar to that for which they were convicted and as to the number and character of the complaints from local residents; whether he can say how many of the boys had never previously been charged in court with any offence; and whether he has any information as to the number of playing fields or other recreational facilities in the neighbourhood?

All the accused referred to, with one exception, had been repeatedly warned by the police against disorderly conduct in the streets, and, in particular, with the foresaid exception, they were all so warned on the night when the offence was committed. During the month previous to the commission of the offence, 67 complaints were received from householders and others in the Central Police Court area of football playing by youths in the streets, of disorderly conduct, and of the use of obscene language, which was causing great offence to people in the neighbourhood. On one occasion the complaint of a householder was followed by a reprisal, the door of the house being smeared with filth.

In the present case the accused were charged with disorderly conduct and breach of the peace. The evidence disclosed that not only did they not desist from their disorderly conduct when warned, but that they used language in the presence of passers-by and children of so filthy and disgusting a description that it cannot be repeated in this House. In that situation, and having regard to the previous warnings and the numerous complaints from the neighbours, the magistrate imposed a sentence of 14 days' imprisonment. As regards the last part of the question, there are no less than 16 football pitches on Glasgow Green, which is within 300 yards of the locus of the offence.

Since this question was first raised, I have given the matter further consideration in the light of fuller information which has been put before me, and after consultation with the Law Officers I have decided to advise remission of the remainder of the sentences in the case of five of the accused, namely, Lavelle, Cairns, Wilson, Beattie and Chance, none of whom has a previous conviction. The sentences upon Hendry and O'Neill, each of whom has a previous conviction, must stand. I would add that I would not have advised remission of the sentences but for the absence of previous convictions in the case of the five accused, whose liberation has now been instructed.

These remissions, however, must not in any way be taken as indicating that I do not take a serious view of the offence of which the accused were convicted. On the contrary, it must be clearly understood that disorderly conduct of this kind in the streets of Glasgow will not be tolerated, and that the public will be protected against such disorder and obscenity as occurred in the present case.

asked the Minister of Pensions (1) how many applications he received for pensions from ex-service men during the financial years ended 1931, 1932. and 1933; how many of the applicants were granted pensions in each of these years; and what was the cost;

(2) the number of men who served in the Great War who were in receipt of pensions at the end of the financial year 1923, and the corresponding number for the years ending 1931, 1932 and 1933; and what was the amount paid to these men in each of these years?

As the answers to both these questions involve some detailed particulars, I propose, with the permission of the House, to circulate the replies in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education how many school places are to be provided in the proposed new elementary school at Stainforth; and how many children are at present being taught in temporary schools?

I have been asked to reply. In reply to the first part of the question, it is understood that the local education authority now contemplate that the new school should provide accommodation for 560 senior children. As regards the second part, as my hon. Friend informed the hon. Member when he wrote to him on the 1st May last, the number of children then accommodated in temporary buildings was 1,055. I understand that the new school will replace part of the temporary accommodation. The remainder is, I believe, in the adjoining Hatfield and Dunscroft district, and I am informed that the authority propose shortly to submit proposals for the reorganisation of the schools in that district.

Will the hon. Member invite the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education to try to inspire the West Riding Education Committee to make ample accommodation for all these children?

I will certainly convey that request to my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister whether the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown was obtained before the cuts in the Judges' salaries were made?

It is not the practice to obtain the formal opinion of the Law Officers in advance of legislation, and the Law Officers of the Crown were not asked to give an opinion in this case before the reductions in the Judges' salaries were made. The matter was, however, considered by a committee of which the Attorney-General (Sir William Jowitt) was a member in September, 1931, when the Economy Bill and the reductions in the Judges' salaries were, with other matters, taken under consideration. The opinion of the Law Officers was taken after the Act and the Order in Council had become law.

In view of the situation which has arisen, will my right hon. Friend consider the advisability of making an appeal to the Judges to make such voluntary sacrifices of income as the national situation seems to demand, and restore the cut?

I am obliged for my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Prime Minister on what occasions since the present Government took office civil servants have been left in charge of Government Departments during the absence of a Minister for any length of time

In all cases of Ministerial absences of any length of time, arrangements are made for matters requiring a Ministerial decision to be referred to some other Minister or Ministers.

Will my right hon. Friend say why Sir Robert Vansittart, a permanent civil servant, has been placed in charge of the Foreign Office, and whether the very competent Under-Secretary of State should not be in charge of it? Who is the Minister responsible for the Foreign Office while the Foreign Secretary is away?

The Prime Minister or myself.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this rather reprehensible habit was, in all probability, started by Mr. Gladstone in 1880 something?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can make any statement as to the tieing of sterling to the franc and the attitude towards this stabilisation of the Dominion Governments and the Governments of those countries in the sterling area?

There is no truth in any suggestion that sterling is tied to the franc. The policy of His Majesty's Government, as my right hon. Friend has often stated, is to prevent frequent and wide fluctuations in the exchange due to purely speculative influences. No inference can be drawn from the fact that the fluctuations in the gold value of sterling are not very wide at this particular time. My right hon. Friend has no reason to suppose that the Dominion Governments and the Governments of countries in the sterling area see any objection to the policy stated above.

Is it not a fact that during the last six months the £ has remained constant in value of francs; and will he answer the second part of my question, as to whether the Dominion Governments particularly wish that constant valuation with the franc to remain, or whether they are anxious to see a more suitable and lower valuation of the £?

The answer to the second part of my right hon. and gallant Friend's question depends on the first part, and, as I have informed him, the first part is unfounded. Sterling is not tied to the franc.

Has it not in actual fact remained constant in relation to the franc for the last six months?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that the price of the unrevised proofs of minutes of evidence taken before the Joint Select Committee on Indian Constitutional Reform is in some cases as much as 2s. for one day's evidence; that this is the same price as that charged for the Proposals for Indian Constitutional Reform, Cmd. 4268, to the price of which exception was taken before by hon. Members; and, seeing that the evidence published at 2s. contains about half the number of pages of Cmd. 4268 and is an unrevised proof on cheap paper with a paper cover, whether he can see his way to getting the price reduced?

The price of the 24 daily parts of the evidence so far taken before the Joint Select Committee on Indian Constitutional Reform, and its Sub-Committees, has ranged from 6d. to 2s. in accordance with the authorised scale for pricing Parliamentary Papers. The evidence is printed in double columns and in smaller type than Command Paper 4268, which was priced at 2s. under the same scale, and I see no sufficient reason for departing from the scale in this case.

Does not my hon. Friend realise the great importance of the evidence that is being laid before the Joint Select Committee, and that it is the first time the discussion of this very important question is being heard; and how is it possible to expect the circulation which he wishes the evidence should have if the price remains as high as it is?

I am quite aware of the importance of the evidence, and I think it highly commendable that these papers should be read by everybody, but at the same time the taxpayer cannot be expected to subsidise everybody's literary tastes.

Is it not the case, however, that the prices of these publications are based on the assumption that each of them will have the same circulation, and that no provision is made for selling more cheaply when a larger circulation can be obtained?

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stockton-on-Tees that the average death-rate of a population transferred from slum areas to new hygienic conditions showed an increase; and whether his Department possesses information substantiating this conclusion or the reverse?

This report has been fully considered and as promised in his reply of the 11th May to the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson) my right hon. Friend has caused inquiries to be made in other areas. These inquiries tend to show that the conditions reported in Stockton-on-Tees are exceptional. The experience in other towns where inquiries have been made shows that slum clearance and re-housing are normally associated with a substantial improvement in health, particularly in the case of children.

Will my hon. Friend cause to be published the health reports to which he refers?

I will consider that.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that Liverpool needs at once 10,000 to 15,000 houses at an inclusive rental of 10s. to 12s. per week and 2,000 additional per year; whether he has considered the resolution submitted to him of a eonTerence of house builders at Liverpool repudiating the possibility of houses being built in that area at economical rents within the capacity of the working classes without reasonable revision of the restriction on density; and what action, if any, does he intend to take in regard to restricting the density and assisting the Liverpool authorities to get out their own plans to meet the housing shortage I