asked the Under Secretary of State for Air, whether, in view of the relatively small number of firms engaged in the aircraft industry, he will state what action is taken by the Ministry to keep them all reasonably supplied with work in order to maintain their efficiency and to provide rapid production and expansion in case of emergency?

I do not think I can usefully add to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend during the Debate on the Report stage of the Air Estimates, and to my reply to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Hertford (Sir M. Sueter) on 14th March last.

May I ask my right hon. Friend categorically: Are all the firms concerned fully supplied with orders, so that they may be kept going in the most efficient way?

The Air Ministry are fully seized of the importance of all the points raised.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been called to a solo flight made at Abridge, Essex, aerodrome by a boy aged 14; whether any aerodrome licensing regulations exist for the prohibition of such solo flights by children; and whether he will consider fixing an age limit by which such flights can be prohibited at all aerodromes?

Yes, Sir; I have seen Press reports of this incident. The Air Navigation Directions provide that no licence shall be granted to persons under 17 years of age. There is no regulation which explicitly prevents a person under that age from making flights within gliding distance of an aerodrome, when flying for the purpose of becoming eligible for a licence. I should add that authority to give instruction in flying is vested only in specially authorised pilots who themselves would normally be the first to realise that solo flights by very young persons are obviously undesirable.

In view of the public interest which is being aroused by the fact of children using aeroplanes alone, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps, in the public interest, to require some age limit at all aerodromes before allowing children of tender years to go into a source of great danger to themselves and the surrounding localities?

I have indicated in my answer that no one is allowed to fly solo except within gliding distance of the aerodrome without a licence, and a licence is only issued at the age of 17.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the limit is three miles from the aerodrome, and that within that area not only can disaster overtake the infant, but grave damage to other people may ensue?

I think we can trust the discretion of these authorised instructors not to allow any passenger, of whatever age, to fly solo unless they are fully aware that he can fly with safety.

Who would be responsible for any damage that might occur as a result of these young fellows flying?

Does my right hon. Friend think it right in the public interest that a child of 14 should have unfettered control over an aeroplane in flight?

He would not be allowed to fly solo unless the instructor considered that he was capable of doing so.

Can he be capable at 14?

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that, as a result of the electricity supply in the Sutton and Wallington districts, previously supplied by the South Metropolitan Electric Light Company, being taken over by the London and Home Counties electricity authority, the price charged to consumers has been raised by 20 per cent. to 34 per cent. according to circumstances; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

My information is that the new tariffs introduced by the authority have led to a substantial saving to the consumers within the area previously supplied by the company. If, however, my hon. Friend will supply me with particulars of any cases in which the charge to individual consumers has been compulsorily raised to the extent he mentions, I will look further into the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has now received any reply from the Government of Japan upon his representations subsequent to the breakdown of the recent negotiations?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer given yesterday by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Members for Platting (Mr. Chorlton) and Ardwick (Captain Fuller).

In view of the uncertainty which is being caused to British industry, will my hon. and gallant Friend put a time limit upon these and all other negotiations with this country?

I cannot add anything to what my right hon. Friend said yesterday.

Is my hon. and gallant Friend aware that no answer was given yesterday?

Oh, yes, an answer was given:

"The Japanese Government's reply has now been received and is under consideration."

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the wearing of French berets by girls at Brownhills High School, Tunstall; and whether he will take steps to see that in all schools enjoying support from national funds wearing apparel manufactured in this country only is supplied?

My Noble Friend's attention had not previously been called to this matter, but he understands, from inquiries which have been made, that the wearing of a beret by the older girls at this particular school originated from a suggestion made by the girls themselves. The wearing of a beret is entirely optional, and the pupils are quite free to purchase them where they wish, provided only that, if worn, the colour matches the colour of the school uniform. In the circumstances, the question whether an article of British or foreign manufacture should be purchased is entirely one for the judgment of the parents concerned. No question of payment from national funds arises.

Will my hon. Friend see, when any contribution is made from national funds, that only British-made articles are obtained?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can now make a statement upon the position of the silk duties and the suspension of their consideration by the Import Duties Advisory Committee?

My right hon Friend is not at present in a position to make a statement on this matter, but he expects to be able to do so shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a full statement as to the present position of the negotiations in regard to the restriction of rubber, to counteract the speculation resulting from the contradictory statements which are being made from official and semi-official sources on the Continent?

As the House is aware, negotiations are proceeding; but I cannot make any statement at the present time. When I am in a position to make a definite statement, I will do so.

Can my right hon. Friend give any idea when he expects to be in that position?

No, Sir, I do not think that I can.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action is intended, in response to the invitations from the Danish, Netherlands, Norwegian and Swedish Ministers, to cooperate in remedying the evils from which the shipping industry is suffering, having regard particularly to the shrinking of world trade and the uneconomic competition of subsidised vessels; and whether the Government will convene a meeting with a view to discussing the abolition of subsidies in the industry and adjusting the supply of tonnage to actual world requirements?

The communications referred to are receiving consideration.

May I ask my hon. Friend if, when considering the matter, he will bear in mind the excellent speech of Sir Archibald Hurd on this very point?

Of course my hon. and gallant Friend will realise that these four countries who made the representations to which this question relates are the four countries who, at the World Economic Conference, supported the British Government in regard to their policy. The matter will be much more important when any country that is a subsidy-granting country is willing to make similar representations.

May I ask my hon. Friend if, in his opinion, any circumstances have arisen between the termination of the World Economic Conference and the present time which justify the present invitation from the countries concerned?

I think that that question hardly calls for a reply from me.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what arrangements are made under the regulations of administration of Sections 82 to 84 of the Education Act, 1921, for recording the effect of the meals on the physical and mental condition of the children?

The effect of school meals on the physical and mental condition of the children is observed by the school medical officers, but the nature and scope of the arrangements for recording the effect vary considerably from area to area.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what arrangements, other than routine medical inspection, are made by each local education authority administering Sections 82 to 84 of the Education Act, 1921, for ascertaining which children are in need of school meals?

Sufficiently complete information to enable separate particulars for each local education authority to be given is not available. Apart from cases discovered at routine medical inspections, children are selected for school meals by special medical examination, by nutrition surveys conducted by school medical officers, by recommendations of teachers and care committees, and on applications made by parents. All or any of these methods may be in operation in a single area.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether the Board of Education invites the medical officers to send in reports periodically with regard to the supply of meals?

I am not sure whether that is the case.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to fill the vacancy in the secretary-ship to the Department of Agriculture for Scotland caused by the retirement of Sir Robert Greig on 31st March; and whether he has further plans in view to facilitate the closest possible contact between the Department and representatives of all branches of the agricultural industry of Scotland?

As regards the first part of the question, after the fullest consideration I have appointed, as Secretary to the Department of Agriculture for Scotland, Mr. P. R. Laird, who since 1921 has been an Assistant Secretary in the Scottish Office.

Will there be a representative of smallholders on this body?

Yes, Sir. One of the members has been chosen specially because of his knowledge and experience and success in the matter of smallholdings.

Will it include a representative of the farm servants?

If any question arises respecting the interests of farm servants, two or three farm servants will be asked to come to the meeting, but I have been unable to obtain the name of a farm servant who would be able to give expression to the view of farm servants generally on matters affecting their interests. I can assure my hon. Friend that, when any question arises affecting their interests, two or more representative farm servants will be invited.

Has the right hon. Gentleman approached Mr. Duncan?

Yes, I have approached him.

If I can supply the right hon. Gentleman with the name of a farm servant, will he appoint him?

No individual has been appointed to the council to represent any interest.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the fee stamp office, which has been in existence in the Register House, Edinburgh, for many years, has been closed since January last, and that stamps are now procurable only from the Inland Revenue office in Waterloo Place, Edinburgh; that great inconvenience is thus being caused to law agents; and whether he will take the necessary steps to have the fee stamp office in the Register House reopened forthwith?

Steps are being taken to appoint a successor to the former Distributor of Stamps at the Register House and the office will shortly be reopened.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether his Department supplies any dust-allaying compound to Government Departments requiring this for the treatment of the floors of offices from which dust arises to an extent likely to endanger the health of the staffs employed there; and what answer has been given to the request for the treatment with such a compound of the floors of the Grimsby Employment Exchange?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am making inquiries with regard to the second part.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) whether any documents were signed by Maltese canteen contractors at the request of Admiralty officials when the former were to be superseded during the War; and, if so, is such document available for any hon. Member to read;

The canteens in His Majesty's Ships generally were taken over by the Navy and Army Canteen Board on 1st June, 1917, but an exception was made in favour of Maltese tenants on the Mediterranean station who were allowed to remain until the following year. As all the tenancy contracts were terminable at short notice, no question of compensation arose, but, for their convenience, Maltese tenants were given three months' notice of the termination of their contracts. The Admiralty have no knowledge of any documents signed by the tenants in this connection.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of a recent decision of the court of session, who held that a will, not containing in gremio a declaration that it was holograph, could not form a link in the title to heritable property, although confirmation had been granted by the commissary court proceeding on the affidavits of two witnesses deponing that the will was in the handwriting of the testator; that great trouble and expense is being caused in consequence of this decision owing to executors having to bring proceedings in the court of session and lead evidence that the will was holograph; and whether he will introduce legislation as soon as possible to provide that the affidavits in the commissary court of two witnesses deponing to the will being in the handwriting of the testator shall be sufficient to make the will a valid link in the title to heritable property?

I am aware of the decision referred to in the first part of the question. No representations have been made to me in the sense of the second and third parts of the question, and as at present advised I am not satisfied that such legislation is necessary.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to look into the matter again if further representations are made to him?

I shall be happy to do so.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any decision has been arrived at regarding a loan to herring-fishing-boat owners for the replacement of nets and gear?

I have been asked to reply. This does not appear to be a matter which can be considered independently of other questions relating to the herring fishing industry which fall within the reference to the Sea Fish Commission who are at present prosecuting their investigations of the herring fishing industry. In the circumstances, I think that consideration of this question must await the report of the commission.

Is not the matter one of extreme urgency, as the summer fishing commences in six weeks' time and the majority of the owners will not be able to partake in the fishing unless they have financial assistance? Could the right hon. Gentleman expedite the report on that one point?

I recognise that the matter is one of urgency. The Sea Fishing Commission are working very hard to prepare their report at the earliest date. I have already asked them to issue an interim report on this question at a very early stage.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will state the number of cases where royalties paid on coal produced in South Wales exceed 1s. per ton; and will he give the highest amount paid in royalties per ton of coal?

The only information available is that which was specially collected for the Royal Commission on the Coal Industry (1925). Royalties paid in 1925 on coal produced in South Wales exceeded 1s. per ton disposable commercially in nine cases, and the highest rate was 1s. 9d. per ton.

Has the hon. Gentleman any information that indicates that there has been a reduction in the royalties?

These facts were obtained by a very elaborate inquiry, and there has been no similar one since.

Do the Government intend to implement the recommendations of the Coal Reorganisation Committee with regard to mining royalties?

That is another issue.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the total number of patients in mental hospitals in Great Britain in 1931, 1932, 1933, and the latest date on which figures are available, giving separate figures for Lancashire?

I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate a tabular statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT giving the figures for England and Wales. As regards Scotland, a question should be addressed to the Secretary of State.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will give the figures for 1930, 1931, 1932, and 1933 of those who have joined the Army who later on have been found to be under the age of 18; and will he state how many have been discharged from the Army because of this?

I regret that I am not in a position to give the information asked for in the first part of the question. With regard to the second part, during the recruiting years ending on 30th September, 1930 to 1933, the number of recruits under 18 years of age who were discharged for having made a mis-statement as to age on attestation were 575, 637, 416 and 294 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state how many people were killed by road accidents in the period from midnight on Thursday, 29th March, to midnight on Monday, 2nd April?

Arrangements have been made between my Department and the Ministry of Transport for the police to furnish the Ministry of Transport, for the time being, with weekly figures of accidents, but I regret that no information is available for the particular period referred to in the question.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce legislation to standardise railway fares and to abolish the anomalies which arise owing to the practice of railway companies in providing cheap fares for certain minimum distances; whether he is aware, for instance, that on the Metropolitan Railway the fare from Baker Street to North Harrow is 2s. 4d., whereas the fare to one station beyond is only 1s. 3d.; and that the company refuse to permit a person holding a 1s. 3d. ticket to alight at North Harrow except on payment of extra fare?

The practice of issuing cheap return tickets between specified stations on certain days of the week is one which has been generally adopted by the railway companies in the exercise of their commercial discretion and as a means of attracting additional traffic. The Railway Rates Tribunal has jurisdiction over railway fares in the London Passenger Transport area, and I see no need for further legislation on the subject.

If it pays the railway company to run a passenger to one station beyond North Harrow for 1s. 3d., why should they charge 2s. 4d. to North Harrow? Is it not an excessive profit?

There is a provision in the Act by which matters of this kind can be brought to the notice of the Railway Rates Tribunal and dealt with.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ascertain what steps the city of Montreal has recently taken to obtain a loan in London; and will he, for the protection of the public in the event of a loan being obtained privately, take steps to secure that the relative securities shall not be issued in negotiable form for resale here to investors until the Canadian Dominion authorities have reported that the city of Montreal has balanced its budget?

So far as I can ascertain, no steps have been taken recently by the city of Montreal to borrow in London; and the second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order that the German authorities may be under no misapprehension prior to their forthcoming declaration, he will make it clear beyond doubt that the British Government will meet a policy of unilateral German default by applying the Anglo-German trade credit balance towards the full service of British-held German public debt?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the (hon. and gallant Member for West Birkenhead (Lieut.-Colonel Sandeman Allen) on 21st March.

Will not the hon. Gentleman be enforcing in a practical way the good faith of international obligations?

The answer says the Government have always been ready to take any action which may appear to them necessary to safeguard national interests.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion the token sum paid by Italy to the United States of America, on account of war debts, bears to her total annual indebtedness?

The payments made by Italy to the United States of America during 1933 represent 12.8 per cent. of the amount due during that period under the Italo-American Funding Agreement.

Could not the Government represent to the Italian Government that they might also make us a token payment in similar proportion to that which they make to the Government of the United States?

I am sure the hon. Gentleman is well aware of the general position with regard to debt.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the Macmillan Committee examined monetary policy only on the basis of the gold standard and that no alternative was examined or discussed, he will consider the desirability of appointing a committee to examine and report on alternatives to the present monetary system?

These questions are under constant consideration by His Majesty's Government both from their national and international aspects, but my right hon. Friend does not feel that any useful purpose would be served by setting up another committee on the matter.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what would be the gross loss to the Exchequer of reducing the standard rate of Income Tax by 1s. in the £, assuming that incomes assessable to tax remained at the same figure as in the past year?

I must ask my right hon. and gallant Friend to await the Budget Statement on Tuesday next, in advance of which I am not prepared to furnish any estimate relating in any way to the yield of taxation in the current year.

asked the Financial Sec- retary to the Treasury what would be the total present cost to the Exchequer of restoring the cuts made in 1931 (excluding cuts in unemployment benefit) in the emoluments of persons paid either out of voted money or out of the Consolidated Fund?

I would refer my right hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Hutchison) on the 29th November last.

asked the Minister of Labour the estimated annual balance of the Unemployment Fund on the basis of the present unemployment figures?

At the present time and under existing conditions for the payment of benefit, the surplus of income over expenditure of the Unemployment Fund is at the rate of about £16,000,000 a year. The hon. Member will realise, of course, that this figure would be substantially reduced under the provisions for additional benefits contained in the Unemployment Bill.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the total amount saved on unemployment benefit since the reduced rates came into operation in 1931 and the total amount saved since the operation of transitional payments?

Between October, 1931, when the new rates of benefit were introduced, and the end of March, 1934, the consequent reduction in the amount of insurance benefit paid to persons who continued in receipt of benefit averaged about £5,500,000 per annum. In approximately the same period, the amount paid under the transitional payments scheme averaged about £21,000,000 a year less than the sum that would have been paid if it had been possible to continue the payment of benefit to all claimants and to do so at the old rates.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the cost of restoring unemployment benefits to their 1931 standard on the basis of the present unemployment figures; and if he will state the cost of abolishing the means test on the same basis?

On the basis of the present Live Register, about 2,200,000, and with the existing conditions for the receipt of benefit, the cost to the Unemployment Fund of restoring the rates of unemployment benefit to the October, 1931, figures would be about £4,000,000 a year. If the needs test were abolished and the October, 1931, benefit rates were applied to transitional payments, the cost to the Exchequer would be about £20,000,000, per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, in connection with the collection of last year's tax from the Kavirondo tribe in Kenya Colony, an elderly native named Odera, son of Wandeda, while interned in a detention camp for non-payment of tax, also had his hut burnt to the ground by order, as a tax defaulter; and whether he will now issue instructions to the Kenya Government that the burning of huts of indigent African men and women for non-payment of tax is to cease absolutely?

I have no knowledge of the incident alleged in the first part of the question, but I am asking the Governor for a report. As regards the latter part, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to his question on this subject on the 31st of January.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if it is the custom in Kenya to burn down the huts of natives in respect of which tax has not been paid?

No, it certainly is not the custom at all. In the first place, the most careful care is taken of any necessitous cases to see if they ought to be relieved. In the second place, even if the tax is properly payable and ought to be received, there is a suspension of 21 days, and in the third place, it is not the practice to burn huts.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries into the case which is specified here?

That is exactly what I said I would do in the first part of the answer to the question.