asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to state the result of his inquiries into the wages and conditions of employment in the French firm at Mossley, Lancashire?

My authority in this matter is limited to the issue of permits for the employment of aliens, and the information which I have obtained does not appear to me to justify the withdrawal of the permits which have been issued to this firm for the temporary employment of a limited number of aliens on the salaried and supervisory staff. I should perhaps add that the whole question of working conditions in this industry, in which general wages and hours agreements have been terminated, is receiving my consideration in consultation with employers' and workers' representatives.

Does the Minister realise that the question is directed to find out whether the Ministry of Labour will lay down conditions so that foreign capitalists shall not exploit the labour of British subjects? It is not directed against aliens coming here to work under certain conditions.

The hon. Member must understand that the only power I have is with regard to the employment of certain specified aliens who are working in this factory.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to inquire into this problem of foreign capitalists exploiting our own workpeople and degrading their conditions of employment below the standards which are ordinarily applicable to British firms?

The general question of the hon. Member is one which is worthy of consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has received any of the reports of the commissioners appointed to investigate conditions in certain distressed areas; whether he intends to publish these reports as and when received; and whether he expects to be able to make a general statement before the House rises for the Autumn Recess?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday by the Lord President of the Council to the hon. Member for Spennymoor (Mr. Batey), of which I am sending him a copy.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the second part of the question, as to whether he intends to publish these reports when they have been received? I do not think that is covered by the previous reply.

I believe that one report has been received, but it has not yet been studied.

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform the House when the further reports will be received, and whether they will be published?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say from which district a report has been received?

Not without notice.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that the money to be collected through pilgrimages to cathedrals is intended to be of benefit to the unemployed, he will take steps to see that no money distributed to unemployed persons under this scheme shall be taken into account under the means test?

I have no power to apply any special rules in this connection, but, having regard to the manner in which I understand this money is to foe allocated, I see no reason to anticipate that difficulties in connection with the assessment of transitional payments are likely to arise.

Does the Minister of Labour realise that unless he takes some steps in the matter of this organised effort for the unemployed the amount they receive will be deducted from any benefit they get under the means test?

In view of the particular allocation indicated for this money, I think that is a difficulty which is not likely to arise.

Are we to understand that this money to be given to the unemployed will not be deducted from them under the means test?

The hon. Member is assuming that the intended allocation of the money is to the individual unemployed man or woman.

Are we to understand that that is not the case; that this organised effort is a fraud? In their advertisement, they say that the money is being received for the benefit of the unemployed.

I understand that the actual allocation is 50 per cent. to the Personal Service League, 25 per cent. to the National Council of Social Service, and 25 per cent. to cathedrals cooperating.

Does it follow that these organisations will disburse that money to the different individuals? I have a case where 5s. was deducted—

The hon. Member must ask his question.

I want to know whether the right hon. Gentleman is going to protect an unemployed man who gets a sum of money from this organisation from having that sum deducted under the means test?

I cannot answer a hypothetical question.

This is so important a matter and the answer of the Minister of Labour is so strange, that I beg to give notice that if there be an opportunity to-night I shall raise it on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that certain applicants for transitional payments in the County of Durham, who have been receiving the maximum amount to which those in benefit are entitled, have been refused the 1s. 9d. per week increase in their allowance; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

I understand that the Commissioners for County Durham have revised their scale as from 1st July, but it must be borne in mind that transitional payments are determined with reference to an applicant's needs and there are, no doubt, cases in which the applicant's circumstances do not justify an increase in the amount previously allowed.

Does that mean that a man may be on transitional payment, receiving the full amount, and that he does not get the 1s. 9d., the 10 per cent. cut, restored to him automatically?

If the hon. Member will read my answer, he will be able to form his own judgment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Newcastle-on-Tyne Public Assistance Committee has refused to increase assessments of need for transitional payments by amounts corresponding to the increase in standard benefit, on the ground that such increases would be illegal, as they are bound by the Order in Council, 1931, to assess transitional cases on exactly the same standard as that applying to ordinary able-bodied relief; that the public assistance committee claims that this interpretation has been confirmed by the Ministry of Labour; whether he confirms such interpretation; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take to remedy the matter?

I understand that the Newcastle Public Assistance Authority have, except in one limited class of case, restored the scale which they had in operation prior to the "cuts" made in November, 1931. The Order in Council of 1931 does not prescribe any scales, but it expressly requires public assistance authorities to deal with applications for transitional payments as if they were estimating the need of an unemployed able-bodied person who had applied for public assistance. I have no power to dispense with this requirement, which must therefore regulate the position, as it has done for the last two or three years, until the new arrangements under the Unemployment Act which has just been passed come into force.

Am I to take it that the public assistance committee have deliberately refused to restore the 1s. 9d. on transitional payment?

I do not think the hon. Member is justified in reading all that into the answer I have given.

We really must have an answer to this question, because I have the case of a man in Durham who is only receiving 9d., and there is another case at Newcastle—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"] May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to give us a plain answer on this matter, because the report and the correspondence issued shows that the public assistance committee have refused to restore the full 10 per cent. to people on transitional payment and rest their decision upon the Order-in-Council. Has it been confirmed by the Minister of Labour?

May I ask whether, in view of the contradictory interpretations with regard to this Order, my right hon. Friend will once for all lay down a rule by which various organisations and societies will be guided?

In answer to the last question, a circular wes seent out on the 24th May and a copy of it is in the Library. The hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson) will find all the information he requires set out in the answers I have given.

Does that mean that the public assistance committee were within their rights in refusing to restore the 10 per cent. to people on transitional payment?

The hon. Member will see that clearly set out in my answer.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to state when Part II. of the Unemployment Act will come into operation?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the appointed day under the Unemployment Act?

I cannot say definitely when these dates will be, but every effort will be made to complete the necessary arrangements at the earliest possible date, so that the first appointed day may be fixed shortly after the regulations have been approved by Parliament after its reassembly in the Autumn.

Are we to understand from that reply that the appointed day is not likely to be fixed until after the House meets in November?

I do not think I am entitled to assume that the House is going to meet in November, but, in view of the immense amount of preparatory work that has to be done, there can be no question of the appointed day before the House rises.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the names of the persons that he has selected to serve on the Statutory Committee under the Unemployment Act, Part I, and also the names of the persons to serve on the Unemployment Assistance Board, together with the names of the Chairmen for both positions?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to announce the names of the members of the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee and of the Unemployment Assistance Board, respectively?

I hope that it will be possible shortly to announce the membership of the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee to be appointed under Part I of the Unemployment Act. The membership of the Unemployment Assistance Board, under Part II of the Act, was stated by the Prime Minister in reply to the hon. Member for Chesterle-Street (Mr. Lawson) on Friday last.

asked the Home Secretary (1) what progress is being made with the scheme to provide modern section houses, or, alternatively, reconditioning the existing one, in which about a quarter of the constables of the Metropolitan Police reside and which are at present out of date from the point of view of comfort, privacy, and feeding arrangements;

I am glad to have an opportunity of making a statement on this important matter, which I am aware has aroused a great deal of public attention. I have myself visited a number of these houses, and am convinced that the need for improvement is urgent. The Commissioner in his Annual Report for 1933 suggested the provision at an early date of two new up-to-date section houses. I have now approved the provision of four such houses to be constructed as soon as possible. Two will be reconstructions of existing section houses north of the Thames, and the third, a new section house on the south side. They will comprise all the various improvements which were referred to in the Commissioner's Annual Report as necessary to bring the present section-house accommodation thoroughly up to date. At the same time, a general programme is being drawn up with all possible speed for the building or reconstruction of other section houses on modern lines.

Will my right hon. Friend say when the general scheme is likely to be put in hand? Will it be this year or next year?

Yes, I hope that with regard to four houses immediate steps will be taken to deal with the matter.

What about the general scheme?

As soon as I am able to get it finally settled.

asked the; Home Secretary how many short-service constables have joined the Metropolitan Police since the inception of the new system; and whether he is yet in a position to state if the system is working satisfactorily?

On the 2nd instant, 103 short-service constables were serving in the force, 35 undergoing training as candidates and 30 accepted and waiting to commence training. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will furnish the House with a return of the total strength of the Northumberland County Police Force and with a return of the number of dismissals, rank reductions, and voluntary resignations in that force during the last two years?

The authorised strength of the Northumberland County Constabulary is 331 of all ranks. The Chief Constable informs me that during the last two years one man has been dismissed, three were required to resign, and two resigned voluntarily; and that there were no cases of reduction in rank.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education how many children are concerned where the local authorities have put in operation the raising of the school age from 14 to 15; and how many cases are there where maintenance allowances have been made?

Approximately 13,200 children are affected during the current school year, 1934–35. During the year ended 31st March, 1933, the latest period for which figures are yet available, (maintenance allowances were granted by one of the six local education authorities concerned to 378 children over the age of 14.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary bear in mind, as the Labour party have agreed, when they raise the school age, only to give maintenance in necessitous cases, that if the Government decide to raise the school age it will not be half as expensive as it would have been if the Labour party promised maintenance grants to all?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that, although the film "Invisible Man" is not permitted for exhibition to children under 16 years of age, the book is used in the elementary schools; and whether he will state the grounds upon which such permission is granted?

As regards the first part of the question the use of particular books in public elementary schools is not subject to the permission of the Board of Education. The second part of the question therefore does not arise.

But surely the elementary schools are under the supervision of the Board of Education, and when any such pratice as this is adopted the Board should put it right?

If His Majesty's Inspector found an unsuitable book in a school, he would report the fact and steps would be taken to secure its withdrawal.

How is it that the British Broadcasting Corporation, or rather the Film Board, decided that this film was not suitable for children, while His Majesty's Inspectors decided that the book was fit for school?

It cannot be assumed that the film corresponds to the book.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether the conversations have taken place between the West Riding, Yorkshire, Education Committee and His Majesty's Inspectors; and, if so, whether a report has been submitted to his Department?

The Board have received a report of the discussion between representatives of the local education authority and His Majesty's Inspectors, and are now in communication with the local education authority in the matter.

Will the hon. Gentleman communicate with my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Mr. T. Williams) when a decision is reached?

Yes.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that many of the tenants affected by the Birmingham Corporation's scheme of slum clearance in Emily Street are desirous of staying in their present houses; and whether it is the intention of the Government that the owners of well-kept property in that area shall have the same treatment as is to be shown in respect to property which has been neglected?

The Emily Street Compulsory Purchase Order is the subject of a public local inquiry being held this week by one of my inspectors, at which all those concerned may appear and make objections which will be carefully considered before my decision is reached. The compensation payable in respect of houses which are not unfit for human habitation or dangerous or injurious to health but are required for the proper development of the cleared area will be on the basis of market value.

asked the Minister of Health whether he received a report from the general inspector of the district referring to the action of the Colne Town Council in evicting people from houses in the Windybank area of the Colne slum-clearance scheme without providing alternative accommodation; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

I have received a preliminary report from the general inspector who is still in touch with the town council who are the responsible authority in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that landowners in Skye have been relieved by the Department for Land Settlement from their obligation to take over sheep stock from their tenants at way- going; and under what statutory authority are State funds being used for this purpose?

My right hon. Friend is not aware that landowners in Skye have been relieved by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland from any obligation to take over sheep stock from their tenants at waygoing. The second part of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that a smallholder on State-owned land in Glenelg, Inverness-shire, who vacated his holding a year ago, has not yet received payment from the Department of Agriculture for the sheep stock he was compelled to leave; and if steps will now be taken to pay the ascertained value of the sheep retained by the Department?

The hon. Gentleman's question appears to be framed under a misapprehension. No payments are due by the Department of Agriculture to the outgoing smallholder in respect of sheep stock. The sheep stock on the estate is held by a club, in which the smallholder had a share. On vacating the holding the smallholder was tendered the value of his share, which was determined in accordance with the rules of the club.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the observations of the Scottish Land Court upon the management of the sheep stocks on State lands controlled by the Department of Agriculture; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy the defects indicated by the court?

The attention of my right hon. Friend has been drawn to the terms of the observations of the Scottish Land Court, dated 9th June, to which the hon. Member probably refers. These are at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport what has been the average number of vehicles carried per day and per week by the Firth of Forth ferries at Queensferry since the new ser- vice began; and what was the latest ascertained total of vehicles crossing the Forth by the Stirling road bridge?

I have been asked to reply. My hon. Friend has no particulars as yet of the volume of traffic carried by the ferries. At the point nearest to the Stirling road bridge at which figures were taken in the traffic census of August, 1931, the daily average number of motor vehicles was 5,531, and of horse-drawn vehicles, 71.

May we take it that there are no figures for this service for later than three years ago?

That is so. It is a new ferry service, and I understand my hon. Friend has not yet got the figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that a member of the Glasgow Town Council was present in a public house in Bridgeton on Saturday evening, 23rd June, and mainly responsible for the rioting that occurred; and the reason why the police failed to arrest him when they arrested others responsible for it?

I am informed that no member of the Glasgow Town Council was present in the public house referred to when two men were arrested on a charge of breach of the peace but one member is alleged to have taken part in a disturbance which subsequently occurred outside the public house. The police having recognised him and being fully occupied in dealing with the disorder and retaining custody of 12 prisoners, decided not to arrest him. They have, however, reported him to the Procurator Fiscal of Police.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the producers of certified and Grade A milk in Scotland have requested an opportunity of being heard by the Departments of Agriculture and Health for Scotland on certain matters affecting their position; and whether he will arrange that such an opportunity should be given at the earliest possible date?

Yes, Sir. Arrangements are being made for the producers of certified and Grade A milk to be heard by the Departments at the earliest possible date. My right hon. Friend desires me to add that they were not, he finds, received by the Investigation Committee on 3rd July, as stated in his reply to the Noble Lady last week.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether one-half of the pay of officers in the Royal Air Force has now been restored as compared with the time when the cuts were made in 1931; and to what extent colonial allowances have been reduced and at what date?

The economy cuts in the pay of Royal Air Force officers made in 1931 have been restored to the extent of one half. As regards the second part of the question, certain reductions of colonial allowance have been made in Egypt and other commands where the Royal Air Force allowances follow the Army rates. I am sending particulars to the hon. Member as the details are too long for a Parliamentary reply.

Is it not a fact that the net result of all this is that Air Force officers are substantially worse off, even allowing for the 50 per cent. restoration, than they were in 1931?

Perhaps my hon. Friend would wait until he gets the full reply.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he has any information to give regarding the proposed aerial bombing station at Luce Bay, Wigtownshire?

I can only say that a proposal for establishing an additional range for armament training is being examined, and Luce Bay is one of the sites under consideration,

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has any information to give regarding the recent accident at Polmaise Colliery, Fallin; and what inquiries are being made to ascertain the cause of the accident?

asked the Secretary for Mines if he can make any statement regarding the serious cage accident at Polmaise Colliery, Stirling; will he state whether the accident happened on a Sunday morning; whether the men who had already gone down the pit or were involved in the accident were expected to work as miners at the coal face or repairers; whether his attention has been called to the suggestions made at the annual conference of the National Union of Scottish Mine Workers on 30th June on the subject of cage accidents; and whether any consideration will now be given to such suggestions as a means of avoiding such accidents in future?

I very much regret that a serious overwind took place at Polmaise No. 3 Pit on the afternoon of Sunday, 1st July. The shifts were changing at the time and 13 men were involved, six in the ascending cage and seven in the descending cage. All of them were injured, and two, I am sorry to say, have since died. The House will, I am sure, join with me in sympathy with the relatives and friends of the deceased. With regard to the detailed points, I am informed that the day shift, which was ascending, had been engaged in the full work of the mine, including coal-getting, but that the afternoon shift was to do preparation and repair work only, and that no coal-getting or coal winding was intended to be done on that shift. Inquiries by the Divisional Inspector into the cause of the accident are still proceeding. I have seen a Press report of the proceedings at the recent conference referred to, but I have not yet received any communication on the subject. I would point out, however, that the subject of precautions against overwinding is already being thoroughly investigated by a Departmental Committee which has nearly completed its inquiries.

Were the men on the forenoon shift engaged on the coal face?

I have answered that question in the reply already given.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell me whether these men had been working from 7 o'clock on the Sunday morning until 3 o'clock in the afternoon?

I cannot answer a de tailed question of that kind until my inspector's inquiries are complete.

Will the hon. Gentleman say whether his Department approve of Sunday work?

I have said many times from this place that the Department do not approve of it, but I have always pointed out that under the law we have no power to prevent it.

Will the hon. Gentleman take steps to expedite the report of the Departmental Committee which has now been sitting for 14 months?

The hon. Member knows that this is a very difficult and complicated question, and I have already told the hon. Members to whom I gave the original reply that the inquiries are almost finished and that the report may be expected soon.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that it is only two months since the hon. Member for Bothwell (Mrs. Shaw) raised this question in connection with a case in her division of a miner who was killed where there had been work on Sunday; and that a week before I raised the matter of excessive overtime being worked in the mines outside Glasgow on Sunday, and that nothing is being done, and here we are raising another question—

The hon. Member must not use the opportunity of putting a Supplementary Question for the purpose of making a speech.

There are others who make their questions far longer, with all due respect to you, Mr. Speaker.

I am always very particular about this.

I want to ask the Minister himself if he is aware that it is quite impossible for the mines to be looked after in the manner they ought to be when they are being worked every day in the week; and what is he going to do to see that the machinery about the mines is looked after in the way it was looked after before they worked so much on Sundays?

The hon. Member and the House will know well that my Department is persistently at work seeing that the law is enforced.

May I ask when the hon. Gentleman is going to go into this matter of regular Sunday working?

This is only incidental to the major question raised, and I could not debate it at Question Time.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to the inquest held at Haydock, near St. Helens, on Thursday, 28th June, on a man who was killed at Old Boston Colliery on 25th June, when the evidence given proved that the deceased and his workmate had commenced work at 7 a.m. and the accident happened at 6 p.m., 11 hours underground; and will he say what steps he will take in the case as this was a breach of the 7½-hours Act?

It appears from the evidence available that there was a breach of the provisions of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1908, in this case, and I am considering the question of taking proceedings.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this is the second accident in a short period when overtime has been proved, and will he ask his inspectors to pay close attention to this matter?

The hon. Member knows that they are paying close attention to it, and, not only so, but we have recently made the most exhaustive inquiry into the whole problem throughout the county of Lancashire.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that the coroner who conducted the inquest on this man intimated that he was staggered to know that men were working 12 hours at the coal face, with only half-an-hour break, and that this man was killed as a result also of working on a Sunday? What is the hon. Gentleman going to do about it?

I have already informed the hon. Member who asked the question that I am considering taking proceedings, and the House will not expect me to say-more than that.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will cause inquiry to be made into charges of breaches of the Mines Act at Bothwell Castle Colliery, Bothwell, Lanarkshire; and, if it is found that they have occurred, will he state what action he proposes to take to ensure that the law will be properly observed at that colliery?

I do not know to what the hon. Member refers. No allegations of breaches of the Coal Mines Act at this colliery have reached my Department. Perhaps the hon. Member will let me have any facts in his possession.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a telegram has been received stating that there has been no breach of the Mines Act at Bothwell Castle Colliery?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that men went down the pit at seven in the morning and worked there till five in the afternoon, and will not that be considered as a breach of the law?

The hon. Member is making allegations of which he has not given me evidence. If he will give me facts which I can have investigated, I will give him a reply, but I cannot reply to these vague assertions.

I am asking the hon. Member to make these inquiries through the mines inspectors. I am not engaged at that colliery. I can only give the information that is supplied to me, and I am asking that the mines inspectors should inquire at that colliery whether those allegations are true or not.

I have asked the hon. Member if he will give me the information, and I shall then be very glad to make the most exhaustive inquiries.

asked the Postmaster-General the amount held by the Post Office from telephone sub- scribers' deposits at the end of 1933; and the approximate amount of revenue derived as interest on the deposits for the year 1933?

The amount was £2,936,519. No part of the deposits is invested, the money being largely used as working capital and consequently no interest is received.

asked the Postmaster-General the principle upon which some telephone kiosks in rural areas are erected without guarantees being required?

The present practice is to provide one kiosk without guarantee in association with each rural automatic exchange. Otherwise a kiosk is not provided without guarantee in replacement of an open telephone call office in a rural area unless the estimated annual receipts will suffice to cover the full annual costs of the kiosk.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the Department does in fact put up kiosks in other neighbourhoods without a guarantee?

There are exceptional cases in which, I am sorry to say, we make mistakes. We over-estimated the amount that was going to be received from a kiosk in two cases, but in those cases we have faced up to the fact and borne the loss. The two villages are Christmas Pie and Send Village.