asked the Minister of Health why, notwithstanding the opposition of the county council, the rural council, and the parish councils, supported by a written objection of substantially all the local government electors of the district concerned, he has made his own proposals and directed a further inquiry by one of his own officials with a view to forcing on the county the extension of the boundaries of the Stroud Urban District, the result of which would be a serious financial loss both to the county and to the rural district concerned?

The Stroud Urban District Council submitted to my right hon. Friend a representation under Section 46 (5) of the Local Government Act, 1929, in opposition to the proposals of the county council, and it was his duty to consider the representation. My right hon. Friend came to the conclusion, after consultation with the local authorities concerned, that there was a prima facie case for an alteration of the urban district and he has accordingly issued a proposal for that purpose. If objections are made to the proposal and are not withdrawn an inquiry must be held, and all the evidence will be thoroughly considered before a decision is given.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give a list of questions which must be answered by an unemployed person applying for standard benefit?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the relevant forms of application.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether it is the practice of his Department, where a National Joint Industrial Council exists in an industry, to recognise the rate of wages fixed by it in connection with the fair-wages clause of the House of Commons, and only to place contracts with firms observing this rate

All War Department contracts placed with contractors in this country for the supply of stores and the execution of services include a clause embodying the Fair Wages Resolution of the House of Commons. In accordance with this clause, where a rate of wages fixed by a National Joint Industrial Council is commonly recognised by employers and trade societies in the trade in the district where the work is carried out, the contractor is bound by the terms of his contract to pay such a rate. In the absence of such recognised wages in the district concerned, the contractor is bound to pay those which in practice prevail amongst good employers in that district.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the practice of his Department where a national joint industrial council exists in an industry, to recognise the rate of wages fixed by it in connection with the Fair Wages Clause of the House of Commons, and only to place contracts with firms observing this rate?

All Admiralty contracts placed with firms in this country for the supply of material and the execution of services include a Clause embodying the Fair Wages Resolution of the House of Commons. In accordance with this Clause, where a rate of wages fixed by a National Joint Industrial Council is commonly recognised by employers and trade societies in the trade in the district where the work is carried out, the contractor is bound by the terms of his contract to pay such a rate. In the absence of such recognised wages in the district concerned, the contractor is bound to pay those which in practice prevail amongst good employers in that district.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether it is the. practice of his Department where a national joint industrial council exists in an industry, to recognise the rate of wages fixed by it in connection with the Fair Wages Clause of the House of Commons, and only to place contracts with firms observing this rate

All contracts for the service of the Air Ministry include a Clause embodying the Fair Wages Resolution of the House of Commons. In accordance with this Clause, where a rate of wages fixed by a National Joint Industrial Council is commonly recognised by employers and trade societies in the trade in the district where the work is carried out, the contractor is bound by the terms of his contract to pay such a rate. In the absence of such recognised wages in the district concerned, the contractor is bound to pay those which in practice prevail amongst good employers in that district.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of able-seamen and apprentices employed in the British mercantile marine in each of the last five years for which figures are available?

The number of seamen employed in British ships is ascertained only at a date when a census of seamen is taken, and the only census subsequent to that of 1921 at which any separate classification of able seamen and of apprentices was made is that relating to seamen employed on 26th April, 1931. On that date there were employed in sea-trading vessels registered in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, 12,378 persons classified as able seamen and 4,020 apprentices (including midshipmen and cadets).

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of lascars employed in the British mercantile marine in 1934 or the latest available date?

The latest information available relates to the census of seamen taken on 15th June, 1933. On that date there were enumerated as employed in sea-trading vessels registered at ports in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands 42,475 lascar seamen. Under the heading "lascars" are included Asiatics and East Africans employed under agreements for natives of Asia or East Africa, which open and terminate in Asia.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there is any international convention which prevents manufacturers in any one country from producing articles and labelling them as made in another country for sale in the latter country?

I would refer the hon. Member to the International Agreement of 1925 for the Prevention of False Indications of Origin on Goods.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make inquiries of the London Passenger Transport Board if the officials of the Board have been considering means of excluding patients suffering from facial deformity and disease from using tramcars and omnibuses to attend the London hospitals for regular treatment; and will he report?

I will send my hon. Friend a copy of the existing regulation of the Board dealing with this subject.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the suffering endured by cattle and the financial loss caused by the warble fly, he proposes to take any steps to eradicate this pest?

I am well aware how desirable it is that the warble fly should be eradicated. The hon. and gallant Member is no doubt aware that a committee established by the Leathersellers' Company have already done much to encourage voluntary action by farmers to deal with the pest. Any proposal to take general and compulsory measures would raise considerable practical difficulties, notably difficulties arising from the importation of cattle during a time of the year when it is impossible to tell whether or not they are infested with the pest, and on these and other aspects of the problem I am still in consultation with the interests concerned.