asked the Minister of Labour what progress is being made towards the ratification of the Mines Hours Convention Bill; and whether he will place at the disposal of Members a full report of the discussions on this matter, including the material proceedings at the International Labour Office Conference?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Secretary for Mines to a question on 28th February last. The International Labour Office is now collecting information regarding the points raised at the meeting of representatives of certain Governments referred to in that answer and has asked Governments to supply this information by 15th September next. The International Labour Conference last month adopted a resolution on this subject. This resolution will be considered by the governing body at their next meeting in October. The resolution and a report of the short discussion which preceded its adoption will be found in Numbers 10 and 33 of the provisional record of the conference, copies of which are in the Library.

Have the Government made up their own minds on this matter?

That is a question which ought to be addressed to my hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that the Prime Minister promised the Miners' Federation 15 months since that the Government would do everything possible to secure the ratification of this 40-hour week?

Is it not the case that the coalowners are making strong representations against the operation of this convention; and is it not that fact which is chiefly influencing the Government?

Answer.

I think, Sir, we are entitled to an answer.

Both questions ought to be addressed to my hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a report on the working of totalisators in foreign countries?

I understand that the Royal Commission on Lotteries and Betting have already made arrangements for the publication at an early date of a summary of the replies furnished by the Dominions, India, and certain foreign Governments of their law relating to gambling and that these replies contain information as to the operation of totalisators in those countries.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will issue a circular to all chief constables recommending that police should not be employed in the collection of goods sold for tithe distraints unless a breach of the peace is threatened, and then only for the purpose of preventing such breaches?

The function of the police is limited to taking all possible steps to prevent disorder on these occasions, and if disorder occurs to taking proceedings against those who have been responsible for creating the disturbance. I have no reason to believe that the police exceed their proper functions and I do not think that a circular on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend is called for.

Has not my right hon. Friend received complaints with regard to the conduct of the police at the recent distress sale for tithe in the Eastern counties, whereby the police prevented the owner of the property from taking photographs of the proceedings?

No, I am not aware of any particular circumstances, but, if my hon. Friend will give me particulars of the circumstances, I will inquire into them.

asked the Home Secretary the number of aliens who have been given permission to land in Great Britain since the 1st January and the periods for which the licences were granted?

The number of aliens who were given leave to land in the United Kingdom during the six months ended the 30th June, 1933, was 138,938. This figure, which is less than the figures for the corresponding period of the two preceding years, is mainly composed of persons who came to this country for business or holiday visits of varying duration. It is riot possible to supply figures classifying the duration of visits.

Can my right hon. Friend say if any large number of those are going to be allowed to stay in this country with a view to naturalisation as British subjects?

No. T have said that the great bulk of these people are here for business or holiday visits of varying duration.

But on application are not these visits sometimes extended, so that they may stay the full five years and acquire British citizenship?

asked the Home Secretary on what grounds persons residing in Palestine for a. period of at least one month are permitted to land in Great 'Britain without a licence; and how many persons have been permitted to land under those conditions?

Aliens corning from Palestine and seeking admission to the United Kingdom must, like any other aliens, and irrespective of the length of their residence in Palestine, obtain leave to land from the Immigration Officer at the port of arrival. The statistics of alien passengers are classified on the basis of nationality and do not show the country from which the alien travels.

asked the Home Secretary the date of arrival and departure of Dr. Schwarz, an agent of the German National-Socialist Government, who recently addressed the international consultative group for disarmament; and whether Dr. Schwarz was required to give a pledge that he would refrain from political activity while in this country?

Dr. Wolfgang Schwarz, to whom I presume the hon. Member refers, arrived at Dover on the 5th July and stated that he was a publicist and proposed to attend the National Peace Congress at Oxford. He left the country on the 13th July. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary how many greyhound meetings were held in London on Saturday, 22nd July; how many of these meetings were in the afternoon and the approximate attendance; and what control, if any, is exercised by the local authorities.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that 26 greyhound meetings were held on Saturday, the 22nd July, in the Metropolitan police district, of which seven were held in the afternoon, and that the total attendance was in the afternoon approximately 7,000 and in the evening approximately 66,300. So far as I am aware, there is no control exercised by the local authorities over any of these meetings.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that still one more greyhound track will be opened in the Metropolitan area in the next few days, and does he not think it time, with 26 meetings on one day, that the Government speedily put into operation the recommendations of the Royal Commission?

As I have said, the Government will consider at an early date the report of the Royal Commission.

But during the time that they are considering the recommendations of the Royal Commission, will they also ascertain and take into consideration the profits that these various greyhound companies are making?

Every circumstance will be considered.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that persons in poor financial circumstances who receive injuries in road accidents experience difficulty in paying the fee charged by some police forces for an abstract of the police report containing copies of particulars of their accident and the names and identities of interested parties and witnesses thereto; and if he will issue a circular to all police forces recommending a standard nominal charge for persons in such circumstances?

Chief officers of police have a discretion to waive or reduce the amount of this fee in all suitable cases, particularly where the full charge would involve hardship. I have no reason to suppose that the existing practice does not work satisfactorily, and in the circumstances there does not appear to be any occasion for the issue of a circular to police.

Will my right hon. Friend make inquiries to see if in fact the right to reduce the charge is acted upon?

As I have said, I have no reason to suppose that it is not, but, if the hon. Member will give me any information, I will consider it.

Has the right hon. Gentleman made inquiries?

Oh, yes.

asked the Home Secretary by what authority members of the Metropolitan Police Force on duty in the Houses of Parliament have been forbidden to receive the usual annual testimonial given to them by Members of Parliament at the close of the Summer Session?

The Regulations of the Metropolitan Police, like the Regulations of other police forces, forbid members of the force to accept any gratuity without the consent of the Commissioner of Police. Hitherto, the Commissioner has allowed members of the force on duty in the Houses of Parliament to receive the gratuities referred to by the hon. Member, but after consultation with myself he decided this year that this practice should be discontinued. Arrangements have accordingly been made that the sums which were formerly given to the individual officers should be paid into the Commissioners' central fund for police charities and amenities.

Why should the privileges of Members of Parliament be interfered with in this way?

As I stated in this House in the general Debate on the Police Bill, it is essential that gratuities of all kinds to individual officers, which lead to very grave difficulties, should be discontinued; and I think that if the House of Commons would realise that this money is being contributed in the main for the benefit of the whole force—

No.

Is it not a fact that the gratuities are given for the valuable services and the courteous way in which the police deal with Members?

is it not a fact that this custom has obtained in this House for a long period of time and that these contributions are made for services rendered in this House; and why should they be put into some common fund?

Because you have a second Mussolini.

Is it not a fact that it has been proved highly undesirable throughout the whole country that any form of gratuities should be given to the police, and is it not therefore time that this House should set an example in the matter?

Will any portion of the sum subscribed be allocated to the Corps of Custodians?

That is another point.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that we are now to have no further instructions from Lord Trenchard?

asked the Home Secretary for what period was the present Chief Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police appointed; what is the retiring age of this rank; and what is the pension to which he will be entitled; and what is his present age?

It is not the practice to appoint the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis for a stated term, and no period was specified in the case of Lord Trenchard. Under the Police Pensions Act, 1921, the age of compulsory retirement of the Commissioner is 65, sub-to extension in the interests of efficiency for not more than five years. Any pension to which Lord Trenchard may be entitled would depend on a number of factors which will not be determined until he retires. He was 60 years of age in February last.

In the interests of the efficiency of the Force, will the right hon. Gentleman call for the retirement of this gentleman?

Would it he possible for this gentleman to draw a pension in respect of his services in the Metropolitan Police Force and at the same time in respect of his services in the Air Force?

As I have said, the pension to which Lord Trenchard may be entitled will depend on a number of factors which will fall to be considered.

Are we to understand that Lord Trenchard can take as many; tips and pensions as he can get?

asked the Home Secretary the total number of superintendents and chief inspectors in the Metropolitan Police Force; and how many of these will reach the age of 50 and 47, respectively, in the next three years?

There are 32 superintendents and 36 chief inspectors in the force. Twenty-five superintendents are already 50 and 22 chief inspectors are already 47. Three superintendents and 10 chief inspectors will reach the ages of 50 and 47 respectively during the next three years.

Cannot the same rule be applied to Lord Trenchard that he has applied to these people?

asked the Home Secretary by what authority the order has been given to retire superintendents and chief inspectors of the Metropolitan Police Force art the ages of 50 and 47, respectively, seeing that according to the Police Pensions Act the retiring age of these officers is 60.

The provisions of the order referred to are not completely stated in the hon. Member's question. The position is that the cases of those superintendents and chief inspectors who have attained the ages of 50 and 47, respectively, who are in receipt of the maximum pay of their rank and who are entitled to pension at the maximum rate of two-thirds of pay, are being examined in order to decide whether, in the in- terests of the general efficiency of the force, they should be required to retire under the powers given by Section 1 (2) of the Police Pensions Act, 1921.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any reason why these police officers are compelled to resign at 50 and Lord Trenchard is allowed to remain years longer than that?

What about the judges of the High Court of 80 years of age

asked the Home Secretary whether in future it is proposed to appoint any inspector in the Metropolitan Police Force who has passed the age of 4.3 to the rank of chief inspector; how many of the present inspectors will have passed that age in the next three years; and how many of these under present arrangements will be deprived of the prospects of promotion?

No age limit has been prescribed for future promotions to the rank of chief inspector. The second and third parts of the question do not therefore arise.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House whether all these changes are consequent on the passing of the Metropolitan Police Act, or are they irrespective of it?

The changes to which I think the hon. Member refers with regard to the inspectors are not due to the passing of that Act but to previous legislation.

Is this clearing the ground for getting a military police force in London?

Do not all these supplementary questions show what the position of the Indian police will be when they are handed over to the Indian politicians?

asked the Home Secretary the total number of superintendents, chief inspectors, and inspectors now serving in the Metropolitan Police Force; and how many of these under the new regulations will have reached the retiring age or have passed the zone for promotion during the next three years?

There are 32 superintendents, 36 chief inspectors and 676 other inspectors now serving. The measures which are being taken under Section 1 (2) of the Police Pensions Act, 1921, during the period of reorganisation affect five superintendents and eight chief inspectors, and may affect six more superintendents and 16 more chief inspectors during the next three years. No maximum age for promotion has been laid down for any of these ranks.

Does not this all mean an added cost to the Exchequer and the local authorities?

No, Sir.

asked the Home Secretary the ages of the present assistant commissioners of the Metropolitan Police; the retiring age of their rank; the term of their respective appointments z what pensions they will be entitled to on retirement; and what previous police service they had before their present appointments?

The Deputy Commissioner is 57 and the other three assistant commissioners are 53, 52 and 49 respectively. The age of compulsory retirement applying to them is 65, and they have been appointed to serve until that age unless voluntarily they retire earlier. If they serve as assistant commissioners until the age of 65 one would receive a pension of £1,200 a year, two pensions of £1,000 a year, and one a pension of £800 a year. The Deputy Commissioner had 22 years and the assistant commissioners respectively 30, 14 and 12 years previous service in connection with the force before appointment to the posts which they now hold.

Does it not appear anomalous, to say the least of it, that most of the assistant commissioners should be over 50 years of age and that 50 should be regarded as a reasonable retiring age for everybody underneath

Is the Home Secretary satisfied that 50 years is an age at which men of this type should retire from active life when we have High Court judges—

That supplementary question has relation to a question asked three or four minutes ago.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is the intention not, to promote in the future any officer who is over the age of 44 to the rank of superintendent in the Metropolitan Police Force; and whether he will state how many of the 38 chief inspectors will by this means be deprived of the chance of promotion?

No, Sir; there is no such intention.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the form in which recruitment for the Police College and short-term service men will take place; whether it has yet commenced;; if not, when it is expected to; and whether he will state the terms on which engagements will be offered to such candidates?

I am not yet in a position to make any statement on the subject of recruitment to the College, but when arangements are complete they will be announced in the Press. As regards short-term service, recruitment of constables will start shortly and the terms of engagement will be similar to those for long-term service, except that promotion will only be attainable to the rank of sergeant and retirement with a gratuity after 10 years' service will be provided for. A Press announcement will be issued on this matter also.

May I ask whether in the recruitment for this service the social position of the men in question will be inquired into?

All inquiries that are made as to recruitment of any person coming into the Police Force will apply to both classes.

Are they to have special uniforms—brown shirts?

asked the Home Secretary whether the appointment of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police is a full time and full pay appointment; whether his attention has been drawn to the engagement of the present commissioner on inspection duties of the Royal Air Force; and whether such duties call for the special appointment of a deputy or assistant at New Scotland Yard during such times?

Lord Trenchard's appointment as Commissioner of Police is a full-time appointment. With regard to the second part of the question, the facts are that he was invited to visit one of the depots of the Royal Air Force on the 25th July and that he accepted the invitation. It has long been customary to invite distinguished officers to pay visits of that kind; it is an honour to them, and I cannot think that any exception can reasonably be taken to the spending of a few hours in that way. No special appointment at New Scotland Yard was required on the occasion referred to.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that there is now no remand home accommodation for children within the area of the Becontree Division of the County of Essex, and that the justices are anxious about the bad effects of the lack of suitable accommodation; and, as representations made by the justices to the Essex County Council on the matter have not succeeded, will he take steps to ensure that adequate accommodation for children and young persons is provided within the area?

The responsibility for providing remand home accommodation for the Becontree Division rests at present with the Essex Standing Joint Committee who, I understand, made an arrangement last year with the London County Council for the use of the remand home in London. Under the provisions of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, which comes into force on the 1st November next, the responsibility for providing remand home accommodation for Becontree and other parts of Essex will be transferred to the Essex County Council who will no doubt take into consideration any representations made to them by the Becontree Justices. I may add that a Circular was recently sent from the Home Office to county and county borough councils on the subject of the provision of remand home accommodation under the Act and it was suggested that better and more economical arrangements could be made by the use of central remand homes serving a number of adjoining areas. It would not be consistent with this advice for me to propose the provision of separate accommodation for the Becontree Division.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the nature of the division itself Everybody will agree that a central home is a good thing, but would not that depend on the district, whether it is highly populated or sparsely populated, and is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in this case the justices are very dissatisfied with the accommodation provided in the London County Council home?

I think there is reason for criticism of the existing home, but I understand that that is going to be remedied.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the crew of the Greek steamer "Nikoe," which was in Barry on the 7th July, were asked to accept reductions of wages which they state to be contrary to Greek law; that the chief alien officer at Cardiff intervened in the dispute and ordered six firemen to return on board the steamer and, on their refusal, ordered their arrest and secured their detention for four days in Cardiff prison; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the circumstances of these arrests and the action of the chief immigration officer at Cardiff in the matter?

I have not had time to investigate this matter fully. I am informed that the immigration officer did not intervene in the wage dispute, but when it appeared that certain alien seamen who had been allowed to land temporarily on the usual condition that they would leave the country in the same ship had refused to comply with this condition, he felt it necessary to order their detention under the provisions of the Aliens Order pending arrangements for their repatriation on another ship. They were so repatriated on the s.s. "Cleanthis" on the 11th instant, but I am making further inquiry into the whole of the circumstances.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his promise to look into it, may I ask if he is aware that their contracts terminated automatically with the changes in the wages offered to them, and that they were entitled to depart from their ship and be shipped back to Greece?

I am making further inquiries and will communicate with the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Health if he will agree to the publication of the whole of the correspondence relating to the appointment of a consulting engineer for the Board of Control in connection with the installation of heating apparatus in the extensions to the West Ham Mental Hospital?

The correspondence between the Board of Control and the West Ham Borough Council as to the appointment of a consulting engineer in connection with the extension of the West Ham Mental Hospital consists of two letters which refer to this matter incidentally, and give no support to the suggestion that the appointment was made under pressure from the Board of Control. I am sending the hon. Member copies of the letters, but I see no reason for their publication.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman where he finds anything about "pressure" in the question? I said nothing about pressure. I asked him about the invitation from the Board of Control. I did not say there was pressure. It was an invitation that was accepted.

I had some reason to think the assurance might be useful to the hon. Member.

Thank you.

asked the Minister of Health the number of men and women, separately, in receipt of in and out-door public assistance in the county borough of West Ham for the years ended 1924, 1929 and 1931, respectively?

In 1924 and 1929 the county borough of West Ham formed part of the West Ham Union and the desired figures are not available for these years. In the year ended 31st March, 1931, the average numbers of men and women in receipt of out-door relief in the county borough, excluding those in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only, were 2,140 and 3,431 respectively. Corresponding averages are not available as regards institutional relief, but on the 1st January, 1931, 960 men and 764 women (excluding rate-aided patients in mental hospitals and casuals) were in receipt of such relief.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his Department are quite satisfied with the way they are administering relief down there?

I have no reason for expressing any dissatisfaction. If the hon. Member desires a more considered answer, perhaps he will put a question.

No, I am satisfied with what you have said.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, before any authorisation is given to the Iraq Government for the flotation in London of an Iraq loan, guarantees will be obtained that the proceeds of such a loan, so far as it is to be used for the purchase of plant and machinery or any other goods obtainable in Great Britain, will be expended in this country?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave on the 3rd July to the hon. Member for Stockport (Mr. Hammerskley) of which I am sending him a copy

Will my hon. Friend see that it will be part of the policy of the Government to secure when these loans are floated that as far as possible they shall be expended so as to give employment in this country?

I think, if my hon. Friend looks at the answer to which I have referred, he will find a satisfactory assurance.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn by the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies to the recent payment by the Derbyshire Miners' Association of £995 in legal charges on behalf of one individual and whether he will institute an inquiry into the matter?

I have been asked to reply. I understand that information on this matter was recently laid before the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies and is under consideration by him.

Is the hon. Member aware that the individual on whose behalf this very large payment was made has been in no way connected with the coal trade for the past six years, and that the legal case on which the money was expended was in no way connected with union affairs; and does he not think some very urgent inquiry is necessary to prevent the dissipation of funds in this manner?

As I have said, the matter has been under the consideration of the Chief Registrar.

Is the hon. Member also aware that counsel was paid a fee of over £300 in this case, and is there any evidence to show that any of the miners who subscribed the money were consulted at all?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Derbyshire Miners' Association have no control over the trade union terms of the legal profession?

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has yet come to any arrangement with the French and Belgian Governments on the question of the size of mesh to be used for fishing nets?

No arrangement on this subject has been made with any foreign Government. The matter was, however, considered by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea at its annual meeting last May, and it was agreed that the question of minimum size limits for fish and regulation of the mesh of fishing nets should be specially discussed at next year's meeting of the council. I anticipate that, as a result of this discussion, a considered report with recommendations on the subject will be made to the Governments of the 14 countries, including France and Belgium, represented on the council.

Are we to understand that this is to last for a year, and will my right hon. Friend in the meantime issue strict orders to ensure that these foreign fishing boats are not landing undersized fish?

Oh, certainly, the law as to size will be strictly enforced.

Yes, but will the right hon. Gentleman be a little more energetic in this matter?

I do not think I can be more energetic in saying that the limits as to size will be enforced.