asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there has been any considerable increase in the production of motor spirit from molasses; and what proportion of the total production comes from imported raw material?

With regard to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to Part VIII in the January, 1935, issue of the Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom, where statistics of the quantities of spirits issued for the manufacture of power methylated spirits are given. With regard to the second part, the official statistics do not distinguish between spirits distilled from imported molasses and spirits distilled from home-produced molasses.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the communication made to him to the effect that a foreign country is assisting by varied methods its manufacturers of steel works plant to sell to British steel makers at uneconomic prices and so destroy the business of manufacturers of steel works plant in this country; and whether, in view of the danger to the country of being without adequate manufacturing facilities for steel works plant, he will take all possible steps to protect them from a competition directed to depriving Britain of a necessary part of her means of defence?

My attention has been drawn to the communication referred to by my hon. and learned Friend. If the United Kingdom manufacturers of the machinery in question consider the existing rate of duty inadequate, it is open to them to make representations to the Import Duties Advisory Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what products of the iron and steel industries of the United Kingdom and other producing countries are included in marketing schemes entered into by the manufacturers, giving the name of the product or products, the title of the associated manufacturers, and the countries represented in each case?

The following statement gives particulars of international organisations for the marketing of products of the iron and steel industry. It will be appreciated that my information on the subject may be incomplete.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that large quantities of Japanese grey cloth are being imported into this country for processing and re-exported as British textiles; and whether he will take steps to ensure that such goods will be conspicuously marked with the country of origin?

This question, in all its various aspects, is under consideration in consultation with the Lancashire interests concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any figures showing the quantity and value of British exports of pilchards to Italy for the years 1931, 1932, 1933 and 1934; and what proportion of these exports was sent from the county of Cornwall?

The exports of cured or salted pilchards (not canned) from the United Kingdom consigned to Italy during the years 1931 to 1934 were as follow:

Particulars in respect of other descriptions of pilchards are not separately recorded. The information asked for in the second part of the question is not available for years prior to 1934; almost the whole of the exports of cured or salted pilchards consigned to Italy during that year was cleared from ports in Cornwall.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will take action to relieve local authorities by way of a subsidy to enable them to repay the Public Works Loan Board their dues, thereby enabling the local authorities to take advantage of the cheap money now available and reduce the heavy burden of local rates, particularly in distressed areas?

No, Sir; the Government are not prepared to ask the taxpayer to provide a direct subsidy for the relief of local rates in the manner suggested.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the advisability of relieving local authorities (by way of a grant) of the Goschen Loan, placed upon councils, which is considered a very heavy burden upon local rates, particularly in distressed areas?

The repayments to which the hon. Member refers, which I may note cover principal only without interest, were provided for by the Local Government Act, 1929, after considerable negotiation with the authorities concerned, and legislation would be necessary to alter the settlement then made. I do not see any sufficient reason for considering the introduction of such legislation.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether his attention has been called to the microscopical and bacteriological examination of a 14-lb. can of Chinese frozen eggs which took place at the Devonport Pathological Laboratories, Greenwich, at the beginning of February, when the microscopical examination revealed the presence of swarms of bacteria, large and small gram-positive and gram-negative bacilli, sporing bacilli, cocci, and chain-forming cocci known as streptococci, and showed that this egg mixture was contaminated by too large a bacterial content to be regarded as a satisfactory production; and what action is contemplated to safeguard public health from imported articles of this nature intended for human food;(2) whether he is yet in a position to make a statement on the result of the bacteriological examination of Chinese eggs imported in the liquid or frozen condition into this country which was promised on 11th February last?

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the reports submitted to him of the Devon-port Pathological Laboratories on Chinese egg-mixture being contaminated with fæcal bacteria; and what action he proposes to take?

I am advised that the number of bacteria found in the sample recently examined at the Devonport Laboratories, Greenwich, was not excessive in view of the fact that it was thawed some time before examination. Samples of frozen Chinese eggs have also been recently examined in the laboratory of my Department, and relatively small numbers of bacteria have been found. In both laboratories the kinds of bacteria reported were such as occur in other foods such as milk and cream, and there is nothing in either report to show that any pathogenic organisms were present. There is accordingly no information to show that these eggs are unfit for human consumption, and, as at present advised, I do not consider it necessary to take special action in the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that unemployed cases transferred from the Liverpool public assistance committees from 2nd January, 1935, to the Ministry of Labour are assessed at lower scales than those transferred before that date; and, in view of this anomaly, is he prepared to issue instructions to the employment exchanges to pay on a higher scale?

I am informed that the Unemployment Assistance Board has issued instructions that the higher scale adopted by the Liverpool public assistance committee should be taken as the basis for determining what amount would be payable in any case by way of transitional payments and that revision of existing determinations is being carried out accordingly, with retrospective effect in each case from the date when the board gave its first determination.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent and in what respects the position of insurance employés covered by the Insurance Unemployment Board is altered consequent upon the passing of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1934, especially in the case of an insurance employé who has exhausted his statutory benefits?

The Insurance Industry Special Scheme (Variations and Amendment) Order, 1934, made under the Unemployment Act of 1934 brought the arrangements under the special scheme regarding the payment of unemployment benefit into line with the improved arrangements made by the Act in the general scheme. Persons under the special scheme who have exhausted their benefit rights are entitled to extended benefit as provided in the Scheme, and thereafter are entitled to apply for unemployment assistance.

asked the Minister of Labour what would be the estimated decrease in the number of unemployed if all juveniles were kept at school until the age of 16?

I regret that it is not practicable to estimate the effect on the numbers of unemployed persons, if all juveniles were kept at school until the age of 16 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the Glasgow Public Assistance Committee have decided that all adults representing households on relief shall receive an extra half-crown during the Silver Jubilee week; and whether he will recommend the other local authorities to do likewise?

As regards the first part, I am aware of the proposal referred to. As regards the second part, local authorities have already been informed by a Scottish Office circular dated 18th February last of the conditions under which expenditure, including provision for children and for persons in poor circumstances, may competently be incurred by them in connection with the Silver Jubilee celebrations. It is a matter for the discretion of each local authority.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the only hall available to the staff at Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum in which the Jubilee of His Majesty the King can be celebrated has been officially refused for the purpose, and that this hall had been frequently used for many years for similar purposes; that the staff have offered to pay out of their own recreation club funds a sum, approximately £50, towards the expenses of the celebration; and what action, if any, he intends to take?

The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed. The use of the hall by members of the staff and their families for the purpose mentioned has not been refused.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the present position relative to the proposals to erect new senior schools within the areas of the Aspull, Blackrod and Westhoughton Urban Councils?

The board have approved preliminary plans for a new senior school for girls at Westhoughton and final plans are expected shortly. No definite proposals for senior school pro-vision at Aspull or Blackrod are at present before the board.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will consider having the public benches in the Royal parks painted the same shade of green as the seats provided for hire?

The darker green used for the public seats in the Royal parks is, I am advised, more serviceable than that used on the seats provided by the licensee, and I do not think that any change is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what countries have abolished the private manufacture of arms?

According to my information, the manufacture of arms, ammunition and implements of war is an absolute monopoly of the State in the Soviet Union, Greece, Lithuania, Panama, Persia, Portugal and Venezuela. State monopolies also exist in Turkey and Yugoslavia. But in Turkey the Government grants concessions to private industry, and in Yugoslavia the Government grants concessions to private industry for the manufacture of explosives and non-military arms.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in respect of what items, if any, the international embargo of arms to Bolivia and Paraguay covers arms; and whether material for aeroplanes, aeroplane motors, separate parts thereof or munitions differs from the articles enumerated in the Arms Export Prohibition Order of 1931?

As I explained in reply to a question by the hon. Member on 27th June last, the Chaco embargo covers arms, war material, aeroplanes, aeroplane motors, separate parts thereof and munitions, and His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom interpret this for their part as imposing upon them the obligation to prevent the supply of the articles enumerated in the Arms Export Prohibition Order of 1931, a copy of which I communicated to the hon. Member in June last. If the hon. Member will refer to the list of articles contained in this Order he will see that aircraft, assembled or dismantled, are specifically mentioned, as are appliances for use with arms and apparatus exclusively designed and intended for land, sea or aerial warfare.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will arrange that the annual report of the Chief Inspector of Factories and Workshops shall in future be published not later than 30th June?

The preparation of this report, as the hon. Member knows, involves considerable labour, and it has not usually been found practicable to issue it before the middle of July. I agree, however, that earlier publication is desirable, and every effort will be made to have it issued by the end of June.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the appointment of a medical board to inquire into the occurrence of diseases of the respiratory organs among stoneworkers, not specifically diagnosed as silicosis or silicosis accompanied by tuberculosis, but which may be caused thereby or associated therewith, with a view to extending existing legislation so as to provide for the payment of compensation to a workman incapacitated by silicosis accompanied by any other disease or diseases of the respiratory organs?

A committee has already been set up by the Medical Research Council for the further investigation of pulmonary conditions in addition to silicosis associated with the inhalation of dust arising from industrial processes, and if the hon. Member will send me particulars of the cases he has in mind, I will consult the committee about them.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the difficulties in the application of the silicosis schemes to workers who during their working lives are employed sometimes in processes or industries mentioned in one scheme and sometimes in processes or industries mentioned in another; and whether he will introduce legislation to consolidate and so amend the schemes as to prevent such workmen being deprived of compensation solely on account of their inability to prove that the disease was due to employment in any one process or industry when in fact the diseases may be due to employment in more than one process or industry, each of which is covered by a separate scheme?

If the hon. Member will send me particulars of cases showing that hardship has arisen in the manner suggested in the question, I shall be glad to consider them.

asked the Home Secretary the average weekly rate of pay, apart from emoluments, of male prison officers of the officer rank up to four years' service?

The present pay, excluding the value of quarters and other emoluments, of a male officer during the first four years of service is as follows:

asked the Home Secretary what percentage of male prison officers was promoted to the rank of principal officer during the past year ended on 28th February last?

During the year ended 28th February last there were 51 such promotions, this number being 2.7 per cent. of men prison officers.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will have further examination, including examination by independent medical authorities, made into the cases of Mr. R. S. Main, of 16, Chestnut Street, Ashington, Northumberland, and Mr. A. Hall, of 4, Ann's Row, Cowpen Square, Blyth, Northumberland?

No useful purpose would, I am satisfied, be served by a special medical examination of the kind suggested in these two cases. In the case of Mr. Main, as I have already explained to my hon. Friend, I am advised that, having regard to his pre-war tubercular infection and other evidence, the present condition of pulmonary tuberculosis cannot be certified as connected with the man's war service. In the case of Mr. Hall, which is one of a late claim for disablement first put forward in 1933, I am advised that there is no evidence to support the alleged connection of the present disability with his military service which terminated 16 years earlier.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that, owing to the restrictions of the royal warrant, the pension allowance that was in issue to Lily Oldis Nankervis (daughter of the late Thomas Nankervis, private No. 201506, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, who died in September, 1922, from the effects of war service) ceased at the age of 21, although she is unable to contribute to her own support as a result of pulmonary tuberculosis; and whether he will consider amending the royal warrant with the object of ensuring that allowances are continued to totally incapacitated war orphans for so long as such incapacity exists?

I have no authority to reissue allowances in favour of the young person referred to. It is a long established principle that pensions liability for children should not extend at the utmost beyond the attainment of their majority, and, although an exception has been made as regards the special and limited class of young persons who become total orphans before reaching the age of 21, I cannot hold out any hope of a departure from the decision of the late Labour Government that the concession must be limited to this class.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of manned and unwatched lights, together with lighted buoys, that have been extinguished during the past six months on the costs of Great Britain, and the reasons for their not operating correctly?

Three manned or watched lights, 20 unwatched lights and 45 lighted buoys have been extinguished for Varying periods during the past six months. The failure to operate is generally due to heavy weather.