asked the Minister of Health where the seven cases of scarlet fever notified in the Eton rural district for the week ending 23rd February 1935, occurred?

I am informed that these cases were notified from addresses in the parish of Iver.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a sample of milk taken at Denham school about 4 p.m. on 6th March, having been in the school since 9 a.m., was stated by the medical officer of health for the Eton rural district to be negative so far as disease germs were concerned; and whether this fact was stated in the report to the Eton Rural District Council on the Denham scarlet fever outbreak furnished by the local medical officer of health?

As regards the first part of the question, I am informed that the medical officer of health has no knowledge of a sample of milk having been taken at Denham school on 6th March. The second part does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that after the two bottlers at Mount Dairy Farm returned to work, one on 12th March and the other on 16th March, the medical officer of health for the Eton rural district refused to issue medical certificates, but subsequently agreed to issue a certificate to say that the men had negative swabs on a certain day; that on 8th March medical certificates were issued, and whether he is satisfied that proper precautions have been taken in this case?

According to the information available to me, the facts are as stated in the first two parts of the question. The answer to the last part is in the affirmative. I would point out that the medical officer of health was under no obligation to issue medical certificates in this case.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has seen a copy of the annual report of the medical officer for South Shields in regard to infant vaccination; and whether he can state the views of his Department on this matter?

I have not yet seen a copy of this officer's annual report for 1934.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses involved in slum clearance orders in which owners have come forward with alternative schemes for reconditioning; and how many such proposals for reconditioning have been approved by his Department?

No exact statistics are available, but proposals of this kind are not uncommon and are accepted where-ever satisfactory results can be expected.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the difficulties experienced by rating authorities in consequence of the uncertainty as to the correct legal basis of valuation for railways; whether he is aware that the decision of the Railway and Canal Commissioners in the case of the Southern Railway, having been applied by the railway assessment authority to the London and North Eastern Railway, has resulted in a nil assessment of that railway; that under these decisions rating authorities must make great increases in the rates in order to repay the railway companies; and whether steps can be taken to expedite a final decision in the Southern Railway case so that rating authorities may ascertain what, if any, increase should be levied in the next rate period?

My attention has been called to the facts stated in the question. While I am not myself in a position to take any steps to expedite proceedings which are already before the Courts, I have no doubt that the parties themselves are fully alive to the importance of obtaining a final decision as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has consulted the officers of his Welsh department, or what representations he has received from Wales, regarding the appointment of representatives of Wales on the committee set up to inquire into the British nation's diet?

The only representation which I am able to trace on this subject is one from a sub-committee of the Swansea Town Council.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can make any statement as to the progress of his inquiries into the possibilities of the absorption of more workers into employment in certain selected industries?

Since my consultation in January last with the National Confederation of Employers' Organisations and the Trades Union Congress General Council, I have had meetings with representatives of employers' organisations in 12 important industries, and have made arrangements to see representative bodies of employers in a considerable number of other industries. It is hoped shortly to have a further meeting with the Trades Union Congress General Council. As the discussions which have already taken place have been of a preliminary nature, and further meetings with the representatives of the industries concerned are in prospect, I am not at the moment in a position to make a more detailed statement.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, as a gracious act this Jubilee year, he will now issue the award of the Meritorious Service Medal to old soldiers whose names have been recommended by the commanding officers of their respective units, in accordance with the King's Regulations, paragraph 1,747, instead of their having to wait so many years after their discharge before the issue of the medal?

This proposal has already been considered, and it has been decided not to make any special increase in the awards of the Meritorious Service Medal this year. Vacancies for the award already occur at frequent intervals.

asked the Home Secretary whether juvenile courts have now been established in all parts of the country; and whether they are operating satisfactorily and according to the law, or whether he has had to make any representations for improvement in the procedure of the magistrates?

Juvenile courts have now been established in all parts of the country, and so far as my information goes, there is no doubt of the beneficial effect of the provisions of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, which affect these courts. Shortly before the Act came into operation I addressed a general circular of advice to justices, and since that date no supplementary circular has been issued.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can state in percentage form the amount paid away out of every £1 premium received by insurance companies covering workmen's compensation risks, in respect of payments to injured workmen and their dependants, and legal and medical costs, respectively?

I would refer the hon. Member to the particulars given on page 7 of the Workmen's Compensation Statistics for 1933 (Cmd. 4784) from which it will be seen that for that year 61·66 per cent. of the adjusted premium income of all the insurance companies furnishing returns to the Board of Trade was expended in payment of compensation (including legal and medical expenses incurred in connection with the settlement of claims), and 35·17 per cent. in payments for commission and expenses of management. I regret that the figures for 1934 are not available, nor are separate figures for the medical and legal expenses, but as regards the companies belonging to the Accident Offices Association such expenses are estimated at about 4¼ per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give an assurance that before any decision is reached with regard to the recommendations contained in the report of Sir Felix Pole on Palestine Railway Development the contents of the report will be published, so that interested bodies may have an opportunity of expressing their opinion in the proposals contained therein?

The question of the publication of Sir Felix Pole's report will be considered when the views of the High Commissioner for Palestine have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Japan has made any new demands for the extension of her influence on the mainland to the Peking and Tientsin district; and whether, in view of the British trade in those areas, he can state the nature of the demands?

It would appear that my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind the reports which have appeared in the press that the Japanese military authorities in North China have demanded the inclusion of Peking and Tientsin in the present demilitarised zone. According to my information, no such demand has officially been made.