asked the Minister of Labour when the new regulations under the Unemployment Insurance Act are likely to be ready for submission to the House?

I presume the hon. Member has in mind the regulations under Part II of the Unemployment Act, 1934. I am not yet able to make any statement on the subject.

Am I to assume that it will not be before Easter?

I think it would be unsafe for the hon. Member to draw any assumptions from my reply.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the claims now being put forward by trade unions and trade councils that the scale of relief should be the same as the trade union rates of wages that a man would receive were he employed, he can state what would be the extra cost of unemployment relief on this basis over and above the normal average public assistance scales in force to-day?

I regret that there are not sufficient data for making a reliable calculation.

asked the Minister of Health how many public assistance committees have decided to make extra allowances for Jubilee week?

I regret that my right hon. Friend has not the information required to answer the hon. Member's question.

Is it possible to obtain the information?

I will see what can be done.

Can he say whether any allowance will be made to the income tax payer in order that he too may join in these celebrations?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that many public assistance committees have decided to make extra allowances for Jubilee week; and whether, in view of the consequent differentiation between sections of the unemployed, the Government will reconsider its decision regarding the question of extra allowances during Jubilee week for persons in receipt of unemployment benefit?

I am afraid that I cannot add to the replies which have already been given on this subject.

Are we to understand that legislation is necessary for this purpose, and, if so, are the Government prepared to bring in such legislation?

I think the hon. Member had better refer to the previous replies which have been given.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any local advisory committees have been set up under Part II of the Unemployment Act, 1934, and in what towns such committees have been established; or, if no committees have been established, can he state when it is proposed to set up this machinery?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Birkenhead East (Mr. White) on 25th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the reason for the recent prosecution of the trustees of the Boldon miners' lodge, County Durham, in respect to a film shown in their hall, and if he can state the charge; and why his Department instituted the prosecution?

Application has been made on behalf of the police, by whom this prosecution was instituted, for a case to be stated for decision by the High Court. As the question of law involved is of some importance, I am considering whether the Treasury solicitor should be asked to act on behalf of the police. In the circumstances it would not be proper for me at present to make any further statement.

I assume that it was the police who were making the prosecution. How did it come to pass that one of the chief expert witnesses was a representative from the Home Office, giving evidence of the type of film? I think the right hon. Gentleman ought either to answer that question or to make more inquiries into the matter, because, the chief witness being from the Home Office, it appears as if the prosecution was by the Home Office and not by the police?

asked the Home Secretary whether the time of the motor-police will be equally or equitably distributed between the duties of overtaking and passing motorists exceeding the speed limit in built-up areas, and of approaching and crossing pedestrian crossings in order to provide evidence of illegal crossing by pedestrians?

It will be the duty of the traffic patrols to deal with any offences that they observe both on the part of motorists and of pedestrians.

asked the Home Secretary what arrangements will be made by him to see that the police are supplied with speedometers tested by an independent authority so as to guarantee their exactitude, in view of the general liability of speedometers to error and variation; and whether, on demand by any person stopped for exceeding the speed limit, the police will be directed to produce a certificate as to the correct ness of the speedometer on the police car?

Police speedometers are regularly tested, and evidence as to their accuracy will be available to the courts if required. The evidence necessary to prove any speed which may be at issue is for the court to determine, and I do not think it is necessary to make any special arrangements of the kind suggested.

asked the Home Secretary how many drivers of public vehicles have been convicted under the Traffic Acts in connection with the speed limit of 30 miles per hour?

I must refer the hon. Member to the annual returns of offences relating to motor vehicles, the latest of which is for the year 1933. The corresponding return for 1934 is not yet available.

Is the Home Secretary not aware that in all these prosecutions the men in question come under the Act of 1930 and not under the recent order of the Minister of Transport; and may I ask whether he is in a position to obtain a time-table of the way that the men's hours are regulated, say, from London to Birmingham, and vice versa?

asked the Home Secretary how many summonses have been issued from 18th March to date against motorists for exceeding the 30 miles-per- hour speed limit in built-up areas; and what is the present average daily number of police officers engaged in speed-trapping work?

In view of the fact that the new speed limit has only been in force for three days, it is unlikely that any summonses have yet been applied for. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for the Elland Division (Mr. Levy) on Tuesday.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is now able to make any statement as to his communications with the British Medical Association and the Medical Research Council in relation to the question of alcoholic liquor and public safety on the roads?

I have been asked to reply. My hon. Friend is unable to add anything at present to the reply which he gave to the hon. Member on this subject on the 28th February.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the introduction of the 30 miles-per-hour speed limit in the London area, he pro poses to dispose of the specially fast stream-lined mail vans which were recently purchased by his Department to increase the efficiency of the air-mail department?

No, Sir.

Are these mail vans allowed to exceed the statutory 30 miles an hour?

The vans cannot, of course, exceed the speed limits laid down by law.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what number of certificated teachers are now unemployed in Wales; and what number unemployed in Glamorgan county, giving the males and females separately?

I regret that there is no information available regarding the number of certificated teachers now unemployed in Wales as a whole, or in Glamorgan county, but I am able to give the hon. Member an analysis of the employment position of those students who left university training departments and training colleges situated in Wales and the county of Glamorgan during the years 1933 and 1934. As the answer, however, contains a considerable number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will consider making an increased grant for the conveyance of children to elementary, senior, and junior schools in distressed areas similar to Glamorgan county?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on the 10th May, 1934, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what number of boys and what number of girls remain in elementary schools in Glamorgan after the school-leaving age of 14; and what number remain in school until 15 years of age and over, if any?

asked the Minister of Health whether he has seen the official statement by Mr. Hughes, Federal Minister of Health of Australia, that the Australian maternal mortality rate was 5.57 per 1,000 and that the English rate, if compiled on the same basis as the Australian, would be higher;

My Noble Friend regrets that information is not available in the precise form asked for in the question; but the number of children on the registers in public elementary schools in the geographical county of Glamorgan on 31st March, 1934, who were over the age of 14¼ years, was 3,731. Of these children 984 were aged 15 or over on that date. During the year ending 31st March, 1934, 5,671 children left the public elementary schools after remaining in the elementary schools for varying periods after attaining the age of exemption, and of these, 1,335 had attained the age of 15 or over. It should, however, be mentioned that the year in question included two Easter vacation periods, and consequently included an additional leaving date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the number of juveniles, over the age of 14, attending day continuation classes during each of the last five years provided by employers and by local authorities, respectively?

As the answer contains a tabular statement of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

My right hon. Friend has seen a report in the Press to the effect of the first part of the question, but the statement as to comparative rates in the two countries was not attributed to the Federal Minister of Health. There are known to be certain differences in the basis of calculation in the two countries, and my right hon. Friend doubts whether it is possible to establish the true relation between the English and Australian rates without much fuller comparison than has hitherto been made between the English and Australian procedure at all stages in the preparation of maternal mortality statistics.

Is nothing being done to get a system by which we can compare these figures with different parts of the Empire?

Not so far as I know.

Will my hon. Friend look into the matter with the Registrar-General and see whether such a very obviously elementary procedure could not be adopted?

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a report from his inspector in connection with the scarlet fever outbreak at Denham, Bucks; whether he can state the number of children affected; whether adjacent schools have been closed on account of the epidemic; and what action is being taken to prevent the outbreak spreading?

My right hon. Friend has now received a report from his medical officer on this outbreak. The number of children affected is 81. Only the two elementary schools affected have been closed on account of the outbreak. The outbreak was found to be due to the consumption of raw milk, which had been neither pasteurised nor boiled, and the medical officer of health at once arranged for the pasteurisation of all further milk from the dairy concerned. This precaution effected the immediate arrest of the outbreak. The source of the infection of the milk was later traced to a milker on a farm supplying the dairy, and he was removed to the isolation hospital for observation. My right hon. Friend is advised that adequate precautions have been taken to prevent any further spread of the infection.

Can the hon. Member tell us exactly what action the Minister of Health and the Minister of Agriculture are taking to put into operation the recommendation of the Hopkins report in regard to infected milk?

The hon. Member will realise that a very big issue is involved in that report, and I hope he will allow some time for its consideration.

Is the hon. Member not aware that his right hon. Friend informed an influential deputation that the two Ministers were expecting to take a decision almost immediately the report was made available?

Does not this show the dangers of milk as a beverage?

asked the Minister of Health whether the bacteriological examination recently carried out at the Devonport laboratory of eggs imported from China would indicate their food values?

No, Sir. The report which I have seen of this examination gives no indication of the food values of the eggs in question.

Will the hon. Member endeavour to persuade his colleagues in the Government to try some of these eggs themselves?

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the report of the Scientific Poultry Breeders' Association, a copy of which has been submitted, which contains evidence that Chinese eggs are often produced under insanitary conditions, and has had a bacteriological examination made of the contents of the tins containing Chinese liquid eggs as imported into this country; that this examination shows that bacteria causing decomposition are present in these liquid eggs; that such bacteria would become active as soon as the eggs are unfrozen and raised to room temperature, especially in summer; and whether in view of the danger to public health, he will hasten the inquiry he has been making since 11th February or take interim measures to safeguard the public?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on the 14th March to my hon. Friends the Members for Moseley (Mr. Hannon) and Blackburn (Sir W. Smiles) a copy of which I am sending to him. As stated in that answer, samples of Chinese eggs have recently been examined in the laboratory of my Department and nothing was found to show that any pathogenic organisms were present. The examination of further samples is being completed as quickly as possible.

Is the hon. Member aware that the examination showed that there were bacteria causing decomposition, and will he ask the Minister of Health to publish a fuller report than he has indicated to the House showing exactly the numbers of these microorganisms, the rate of decomposition, and other matters of importance to public health?

The Department of Health was asked to make this examination and did so; and the result does not confirm the fears of the hon. Member.

Is it not true that only one tin out of a whole lot was examined?

Does the Parliamentary Secretary suggest that his Department only condemns food when it has pathogenic organisms, that is organisms which produce disease, and does not mind organisms which only produce decomposition? That is his suggestion.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Cattle Diseases Committee reported in 1934 that the frequent infection by tubercle bacilli of milk sold from licensed and unlicensed pasteurisation and other heat-treatment plants constituted a disturbing situation; and what, if any, steps have been taken since the issue of the report to draw the attention of medical officers to the contents of this report?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to him on this subject on 14th March. The circular which my right hon. Friend is sending to local authorities will draw attention to the report of the Cattle Diseases Committee and copies of the circular will be sent to medical officers of health.

Will my hon. and gallant Friend ask the Minister to give the circular publicity in this House?

I will certainly convey that suggestion to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the present importations of foreign-made cars, he will consider confining the recent reduction in the horse-power tax to British-made motor cars?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer' given on the 6th November last by the Financial Secretary to questions by the hon. Members for Bradford Fast (Mr. Hepworth) and Hanley (Mr. Hales).

Is it not the fact that the sudden increase in the imports of foreign motor cars coincides with a reduction of the tax in relation to the high-powered motor cars coming into this country?

It coincides also with a change in the weather.

And with a fall in the value of the dollar.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now make any statement as to the representations which are being made in relation to the Italian quota restrictions imposed upon the import of pilchards and other commodities?

I have nothing at present to add to the replies I gave to questions on this subject on 19th March, except to say that the provisional arrangement which I then described has been embodied in notes which were exchanged between His Majesty's Ambassador at Rome and the Italian Government on that day.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give the figures of the exports to and imports from Poland of carpets and rugs during the last five years?

I am having a statement prepared which I will send to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Is it the case that the imports from Poland are increasing? Can the right hon. Gentleman answer that question?

I am afraid I cannot answer that question yet.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what is the percentage reduction, as compared with the 1930 level, of the duties on British exports to Poland which the recent treaty with that country reduces below the 1930 level; and what is the average percentage increase of those duties, as compared with the 1930 level, on British exports to Poland which are now to be higher than the 1930 level;

The Polish trade agreement provided for the reduction of 340 rates of duty in the Polish tariff. About 60 per cent. of the reduced rates of duty are below the levels in force in 1930. The reduced rates are for the most part 25 per cent. to 50 per cent. lower than the 1930 levels. The rates which still show an increase as compared with 1930 rates vary very widely, but do not for the most part exceed the 1930 rates by more than 50 per cent. It is estimated that, on the basis of the figures for 1930, from 40 per cent. to 50 per cent. by value of our trade with Poland will benefit by duties lower than those applied in 1930. In addition reduced duties will be enjoyed by various trades which have developed since 1930, or are now being developed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the large quantity of foreign-made goods exclusively suitable for trade during the Jubilee celebrations which are coming into the country; and whether he will take steps to check some of the harm these dumped goods are doing to British trade?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Accrington (Major Procter) on 5th March. I would add that if the United Kingdom manufacturers of similar goods consider the existing rate of duty inadequate, it is open to them to make representations to the Import Duties Advisory Committee.

Will my right hon. Friend consider the fact that there is not time, because it is an emergency, to make an application to the Import Duties Advisory Committee with any hope of stopping this abnormal import?

I have no doubt that, if there is an emergency and immediate action is necessary, such action would be taken by the Committee.

Would the right hon. Gentleman be good enough, in handling this problem, to find out the names and addresses of the patriotic persons who are importing these goods?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that cotton goods, copies of Lancashire textiles, are being dumped on the Home trade market at prices with which the Lancashire manufacturers cannot compete; and what steps he pro poses to take in the matter?

I am aware that there has been some increase in the imports of certain kinds of cotton piece goods into this country. The question of any increase in the import duty is, in the first instance, one for the Import Duties Advisory Committee, but I would point out that retained imports of cotton piece goods amount to a fraction of 1 per cent. of the United Kingdom production of similar goods.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a growing demand in Lancashire that such dumped goods be entirely prohibited, and can he say why such a policy could not be adopted?

The proper procedure is to go to the Import Duties Advisory Committee with a demand of that sort.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there has been a reduction in the number of eggs imported in February, 1935, as compared with February, 1934; and, if so, whether he can state the approximate reduction in foreign and Dominion eggs, respectively?

During February, 1935, aggregate imports of poultry eggs in shell amounted to 1,016,000 great hundreds, being 294,000 great hundreds less than in February, 1934. Imports consigned from British countries declined by 122,000 great hundreds, and from foreign countries by 172,000 great hundreds.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether this very satisfactory reduction is likely to continue or whether the operation of the ordinary quota will mean a rise in the imports in March?

I do not care to prophesy the output of our hens.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount spent and estimated to be spent by all the departments on the construction, equipment and defence of the naval base at Singapore; and will he give the amount for each department separately?

As the reply involves a tabular statement, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether there is any precedent for the Board of Admiralty reversing a verdict of not guilty found by a naval court; if so, will he give them: and whether, before this was done in the case of Rear-Admiral Bailey and Captain Tower, they were given any opportunity for making any defence, seeing that this overruling of the verdict of a judicial court by the executive authority to the detriment of the accused is opposed to the principles of British justice?

There are many precedents for the course taken by the Admiralty. In particular, I would refer the hon. Member to the Admiralty's dissent from the findings of the courts-martial which acquitted the captains of the "Conqueror" and "Howe" in 1862 and 1893. On both those occasions the course which the Admiralty had taken was considered by the House of Commons and was approved. On the first occasion Lord Palmerston and on the second Mr. Asquith vindicated with great force the right and duty of the Admiralty, as the authority supremely responsible for the safety and discipline of the Navy, to pronounce their opinion in a matter touching the safety of His Majesty's ships, quite apart from any decision which a court-martial may have reached.

May I ask the First Lord whether the precedent which he has quoted is the last precedent; also whether the naval officers who made up the court-martial were consulted by the Board before the Board arrived at the decision which has been announced; and what further action, if any, the Board intend to take against the naval officers concerned?

The second part of the hon. Member's question was, I think, whether the officers of the court were consulted before the Admiralty publicly dissented from their decision. They were not consulted; they were informed. As regards the last part of the question, the decisions of the Board have been announced by the Admiralty, and no further action is intended.

Was there not also a precedent on the occasion of the stranding of His Majesty's ship "Assistance" in the present century?

There are many precedents. Those I quoted were not the last precedents. There are many others.

Would it not be better to cut out these futile courts-martial if their proceedings are going to be overturned by the Board of Admiralty in this way?

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether pro vision has been made in current estimates for an improved water supply at Bourley and Porton in place of that now existing, which was officially reported in 1932 as giving rise to anxiety and a feeling of insecurity, as financial stringency precluded necessary improvements?

It has not been found possible to provide funds in the current estimates for the improvement of the water supply at Bourley; but the Porton supply which previously gave rise to anxiety, has been improved by the installation of a more powerful pumping unit at Porton North and work on an additional bore hole is in progress.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been drawn to the infestation of barracks in Egypt, Gibraltar, China, and Malta by bugs, and the statement made in the Report on the Health of the Army for 1932 that they are a source of great irritation, particularly to young soldiers; and what, if any, steps are in contemplation to provide better accommodation, particularly in Egypt where no improvement can be expected so long as existing buildings are in use?

Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will refer to the report on the health of the Army for 1933, which shows the varying success which has attended experiments to rid infested barracks and quarters of this pest. The problem, however, is a very difficult one and the only satisfactory solution lies in the replacement of hutted structures and the modernization of old-fashioned permanent buildings, which is being done as funds become available. At the present time extensive schemes are in contemplation in China and Egypt.

Is there any prospect of similar schemes in Malta?

No, Sir. I do not think so—not in this financial year.

On what date did this foreign army arrive here?

Does my right hon. Friend realise that there is a debugging parade every Thursday in Gibraltar, and does he not consider that this is a waste of time?

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the statement of the Director-General of Army Medical Services in his annual report on the health of the Army for 1932, that dental care of the women and children of serving soldiers is inferior to that available in civil life, owing to financial stringency precluding the appointment of more dental officers; and what steps are in contemplation in this connection?

The Army Council are aware of the situation, and it is their intention to provide for regular inspection and treatment of all children attending Army schools when financial considerations permit of the necessary increase in expenditure on dental officers, materials, etc. The wives and children of soldiers are, of course, already eligible for such dental treatment as the officers of the Dental Corps can give them at their surgeries, and I think that the report which my hon. and gallant Friend is quoting was a little too modest in suggesting that the wife in civil life has better opportunities of free treatment.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the Stanhope Committee on the promotion of officers in the Army has presented its report in the case of arms of the service other than the infantry; and what steps are proposed to carry out its recommendation?

The committee which has been dealing with this question has recently presented its report, and with regard to the Royal Artillery I hope next week to be in a position to give an outline of the decisions taken. As regards other arms the recommendations are still under consideration.

If I put down a question say in about a fortnight's time, will my right hon. Friend then be able to give further details about the scheme?

With regard to the Royal Artillery, I think I could give a reply on Tuesday.

What about the other arms?

With regard to the other arms, I would not care to give a reply at the moment.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether it has been decided to proceed with the construction of a drill hall at Merthyr Tydvil?

Yes, Sir.

Is the Department not prepared to reconsider this decision, in view of the fact that it involves spending a large sum of money on an entirely useless project, in a sadly distressed area?

No, Sir. I think if any people in the country desire to have the opportunity of putting themselves in a position to defend the country they ought to have that opportunity.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that similar buildings for similar purposes have been placed in that county within the last few years and are now worse than useless I emphasise the last sentence?

Will the right hon. Gentleman give us a new drill hall in Argyll where the men are all loyal and ready?

May I have an answer to my last question?

It seemed to me that the hon. Member's last question was giving information.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what percentage of the mechanised field brigades of Royal Artillery are commanded by officers who previous to their present appointments had not had regimental experience of mechanically-drawn artillery?

Fifty per cent., Sir.

In view of the fact that these are very technical and therefore important positions, is my right hon. Friend satisfied with these proportions?

Yes, Sir.