asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will ascertain and report how many vacant school places are to be found in non-provided and in provided schools, respectively, in the London County Council area?

On 31st March last there were 22,241 vacant places in non-provided public elementary schools in the area of the London County Council, and 99,358 in provided schools. The total recognised accommodation of the non-provided schools was 140,434; of the provided schools 502,680.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether the elementary school at Iver, Bucks, has been closed on account of scarlet fever at any time during the last six months; and, if so, for how long?

There are two public elementary schools at Iver, Bucks—the Iver Council school and the Iver Heath Council school. I have ascertained that neither of these schools has been closed on account of scarlet fever at any time during the last six months.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the percentage of children found with vaccination marks in the Hackney schools and in the Bethnal Green schools during medical inspections for the last 10 years?

I have ascertained that the percentages of children found with vaccination marks during medical inspections in public elementary schools in the boroughs of Hackney and Bethnal Green during the last three years are as follow:

			Hackney.	Bethnal Green.
1932	…	…	35.9	29.0
1933	…	…	34.8	25.8
1934	…	…	37.1	25.4

Corresponding figures are for any year prior to 1932.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether, in settling the sites of the new aerodromes to be erected, the views of the local authorities are in every case ascertained before any definite selection is made; and whether there have been any such objections within the last five years to the erection of aerodromes by his Ministry?

The selection of sites for Royal Air Force aerodromes is governed by strategic, physical and meteorological considerations. It follows that the occasion for special consultation with local authorities does not normally arise. There have been no cases in the last five years in which the establishment of an aerodrome has given rise to objections from a local authority.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now make obligatory the use of direction indicators on all motor vehicles?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for South-West Bethnal Green (Sir P. Harris) on 10th April last, of which I am sending him a copy. I may add for my hon. Friend's information that regulations will shortly be made prescribing the form which direction indicators must take when they are fitted.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the Traffic Commissioners are sanctioning motor omnibus routes along country roads where there is not sufficient width in any part of them for other vehicles to pass; and what is the policy of his Department in respect to the ensuring of public safety under these conditions?

—	Railway crossings.		Colliery crossings.		Total.
	Class I roads.	Class II roads.	Class I roads.	Class II roads.	Class I and II roads.
England (excluding Mon.)	500	375	157	90	1,122
Scotland	22	2	9	—	33
Wales and Mon.	91	63	26	50	230
Totals	613	440	192	140	1,385

As regards unclassified roads, separate figures are not available, but the total of all railway level crossings of public roads in Great Britain is, I am informed, 4,567.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the possible scarcity of skilled labour in the building trade, he will consider the advisability of adopting alternative methods of construction in which semiskilled labour may be employed?

My right hon. Friend will, of course, be prepared to consider any proposals in this direction which local authorities may think it desirable to put before him.

In deciding whether or not to grant road service licences the Traffic Commissioners are required to have regard to the suitability of the proposed route. They also have power to attach to these licences such conditions as they may think fit for securing the safety and convenience of the public. I have no power to intervene in any particular case unless the matter is brought before me formally by way of appeal.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of railway level crossings on Class A roads and on other roads, respectively; and giving separate figures for England, Scotland and Wales?

The figures in respect of first and second-class roads are:

asked the Minister of Health the number of schemes now being promoted by the London County Council for laying out new housing estates outside the Metropolitan area; the names of the local authorities which are affected by such housing schemes and the number of houses which it is proposed to build in the area of each?

My right hon. Friend is asking the London County Council to supply this information, and on its receipt he will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Health the number of men, women, and young persons in receipt of outdoor relief and the number of men classified as able-bodied at the end of March and April, 1935?

Figures for the end of the months are not available, but the average numbers of persons in receipt of out-relief in England and Wales in March and April, 1935, were as follow:

—	March, 1935	April, 1935
Men	328,615	322,514
Women	424,674	419,614
Children under 16 years of age.	429,877	416,768

The returns do not distinguish persons in receipt of out-relief classified as able-bodied. The average number of men ordinarily engaged in some regular occupation in receipt of out-relief in March, 1935, was 170,689, including 119,055 unemployed men registered at Employment Exchanges. The corresponding figures in April, 1935, were 162,991 and 112,665. Out of the remainder 51,634 in March, 1935, and 50,326 in April, 1935) approximately 90 per cent. were relieved on account of their own sickness, accident or bodily infirmity.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in order to avoid further delay in the presentation to Parliament of the Cotton Spinning Redundancy Bill and in order to obtain finance on the requisite favourable terms, he will resolve this difficulty by the provision of a Government guarantee?

I regret I am not yet in a position to make a further announcement on the subject of the proposed Measure to deal with surplus cotton spindles.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any provision has been made to recompense the owners and crews of fishing vessels invited to participate in the Naval Review at Spit- head for the cost incurred and the loss of earnings due to their taking part in the review?

An invitation has been extended to the British fishing fleets to attend the Naval Review, and I am glad to say that several ports have signified their intention of being represented. I regret, however, that there are no funds available at the Admiralty to compensate owners and crews of fishing vessels who accept the invitation.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what proportion of the light hydrocarbon oils charged with duty in this country during 1934 was refined in British refineries; and what proportion was imported in a refined state?

The accounts of light hydrocarbon oils charged with duty on delivery for home consumption do not distinguish between the light oils imported as such and those refined in this country. But it is estimated that out of the total imports and production of light hydrocarbon oils in 1934, available for home consumption or for exportation, the proportion refined in this country was not less than 12 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any information with regard to the experiments in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire in the use of cyanide fumigation for keeping down rabbits; and what degree of success has been achieved in dealing with large warrens in those counties?

I am aware that experiments of the kind referred to have been carried out, but I have no official information as to the success achieved. I am, however, arranging for one of the Ministry's officers to visit the locality.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the present position regarding the Departmental Committee on the Ordnance Survey maps?

The Committee, of which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has agreed to act as chairman, will hold its first meeting to-morrow. A copy of the Minute of Appointment, which is rather long, is appended. A report upon the major question of the general revision of Ordnance Survey maps will necessarily involve the consideration of a great deal of evidence, and it is not possible to forecast when the Committee will be in a position to make recommendations upon all the matters covered by the terms of reference. I am asking them, therefore, to expedite their consideration of the question of the preparation of maps for town and country planning, and to present an interim report on that matter as soon as possible.