asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a reply has been received to the seven questions recently put to the German Government through diplomatic channels, with a view to getting some precise information on some of the points raised in Herr Hitler's spceeh of 21st May; and whether the questions and answers can now be published?

His Majesty's Government have in fact asked for elucidations of a number of points raised in the speech in question, but the replies which they have received have not yet brought matters to a point where they could suitably be made public.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the proposal to send a delegation of ex-service men to Germany; whether the proposal meets with the approval of His Majesty's Government; and whether the proposal was made with the knowledge and consent of the Government?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second and third parts, His Majesty's Government were and are aware that it is the policy of the British Legion to establish friendly relations with corresponding organisations in all countries. They regard the matter as one entirely for the ex-servicemen's organisations.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that exception is not taken to the sending of the delegation, but to the manner of doing so, and to the place and authority which give the proposal a diplomatic significance which it ought not to possess; and will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to see that when the delegation visits Germany it will visit the ex-servicemen in concentration camps and prisons?

I can only repeat that this is essentially a matter for the ex-servicemen's organisations and is not one in which the Foreign Office, as such, can intervene at all.

Does the right hon. Gentleman approve or disapprove of a proposal of this sort being made by a person occupying the position of the Prince of Wales?

I can neither approve nor disapprove. It is not a matter within the competence of my office.

Can we take it that the visit has no diplomatic significance?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can give the House any information in connection with the death of a Royal Marine sentry, Reginald Mason, who was struck by lightning at Deal; whether he is aware that the deceased soldier was carrying a bayonet in a leather sheath, the bottom of which was tipped with steel; whether the exposed steel on the bayonet was the cause of attracting the lightning; and what action he intends taking in the matter to prevent a similar accident?

I regret that I have no information beyond that which was given in evidence at the inquest. Marine Mason's injuries were very extensive, and the position of certain of them seems to show that the bayonet, the scabbard of which is tipped with steel, was not the cause of attracting the lightning. The sentry box, in which Mason was apparently standing at the time of the accident, was splintered, and a tree on the other side of the road was also struck. According to a medical opinion expressed at the inquest this tree had nothing whatever to do with the accident, but the question of removing it and another tree in the vicinity is nevertheless under consideration. I do not think that any further action can usefully be taken.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any further consideration has now been given to the reduction in the effective pay received by officers of the Royal Navy on the China station, in view of the depreciation of the Chinese dollar in terms of pounds sterling; and whether, in view of the fact that the rates of allowances to Army officers on China stations have been increased on this account, he can state whether equally sympathetic treatment can be accorded to naval officers?

A scheme of exchange concession to meet the depreciation of the Chinese dollar was announced by telegram on the 25th May, and is now in operation throughout the area in which the Hong Kong dollar is current. The scheme is designed to compensate for changes in the dollar by paying, in dollars at a standard rate of 2s., that fixed proportion of the pay which is estimated to be spent on the station. The case of military personnel is met by modifying from time to time the rates of colonial allowance payable on the station, and it is therefore not possible to make any exact comparison between the two systems. I am satisfied, however, that the naval scheme gives fully adequate compensation.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether any special designs for hangars for aeroplane storage have yet been got out to overcome the risks of earthquake disturbance?

So far as the Royal Air Force is concerned, it may be said that the necessity for hangars specially designed to withstand earthquake-shock arises only in India. The responsibility for provision there rests with the Government of India, and experience to date has shown that the steel-framed hangars which have been adopted by that Government are the type best fitted to meet this risk. I may add that steel-framed hangars are in general use in all Air Force commands and not in India only.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire how it is that the Royal Air Force buildings in Quetta were not earthquake proof?

That is a rather separate question, and I should prefer to see it on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the Air Ministry have decided to purchase at Church Fenton, Yorkshire, for the purpose of a flying school and aerodrome, land on which valuable crops are growing; and why the Ministry cannot make use of land only two miles away which was used as an aerodrome from 1914 to 1919, and on which no crops are growing?

The Church Fenton site is at once much cheaper and more suitable for present requirements than the land at Sherburn-in-Elmet, previously in use as an aerodrome. The latter site was considered first, but was found open to serious objections owing to buildings near the boundary. Had it been selected, the purchase would have had to include some 150 acres under crops.

Is any provision being made for farmers who are being dispossessed of land of which their families have been in possession for generations?

I am not sure what my hon. Friend means by "provision," and whether he means compensation or alternative land. All that one can do when buying a site is to pay the purchase price and compensation. I shall be very glad, if my hon. Friend will communicate with my Department, to give him all the information available on this subject.

Is it proposed to grant compensation?

I would like notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether any further concessions are to be made or are under negotiation whereby married Royal Air Force officers serving with the Fleet Air Arm will be able to draw increased allowances; and whether he is satisfied that service at home or abroad in the Fleet Air Arm does not in any way penalise a married officer as compared to continuing his service with the Royal Air Force?

Certain aspects of this matter are still under consideration, but I am advised generally that, as a result of recent concessions, married officers of the Fleet Air Arm are not penalised. If my hon. and gallant Friend has any specific case in mind, perhaps he will communicate with me.

asked the Secretary of State for Air at how many permanent Royal Air Force home stations officers' and other ranks' married quarters still consist of wooden huntments; and whether it is proposed to replace these by modern brick quarters as part of the works and buildings expansion programme?

At 15 (out of 65) Royal Air Force stations at home there are still a few wooden married quarters, though the bulk of the married quarters at these stations are now of permanent construction. At eight of the 15 stations replacement by permanent quarters is being taken in hand, and the balance will be dealt with in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is his intention to consider designs for machines submitted by persons outside the present Government suppliers; and whether, in the event of acceptance, any stipulation will be imposed as to the area of manufacture?

As regards the first part of the question, the Air Ministry will be prepared to consider designs put forward from any responsible source. As regards the second part, I do not think I could give an answer to a hypothetical question on a matter which could only be dealt with in a concrete case in the light of all the circumstances.

May I have an assurance that, if a concrete case in relation to depressed areas is put forward, it will have the unprejudiced consideration of my right hon. Friend?

Of course, I will certainly promise to give unprejudiced consideration to any proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will consider allowing the aircraft industry a bigger share in the inspection of aircraft, with the object of preventing an increase in the staff of the Air Inspection Department?

It is the policy of the Air Ministry to delegate as much as possible of the work of inspection to the staff of approved firms, the official inspection staff being used mainly for supervision. The question of further delegation is constantly under review.

May we take it that the Air Ministry still reserves the right to satisfy itself that the product is in accordance with the Air Ministry's specification?

Of course, inspection is an absolutely vital part of that process.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is his intention to increase the number of inspectors in the Air Inspection Department, and, if so, by how many?

An increase in the inspection staff will be necessary, but I am not in a position to give exact numbers. My hon. Friend may rest assured that the numbers will not exceed the minimum really necessary.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that at this moment there is a great shortage of highly skilled people in the aircraft manufacturing industry; and does he not realise that to take such people from the aircraft industry into the Air Inspection Department would be to intensify that shortage? Will he not consider the whole situation, with a view to allocating still further responsibility to the manufacturing side of the industry?

The next question that I have to answer deals with the subject of shortage of labour. It will be absolutely impossible to put the inspection staff below what is really necessary, but I can assure my hon. Friend that I have been into this question with Lord Weir, who has an unrivalled experience in this matter, and what I am saying represents his view as well as my own.

Will the increase in staff be of a permanent or a temporary nature?

I should like notice of that question.

With regard to the question of shortage of labour, will my right hon. Friend consult with the Minister of Labour as to whether it would be possible to start training any people in the depressed areas?

My answer to the next question will indicate to my hon. Friend that we are in very close touch with the Ministry of Labour on that matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the shortage of skilled men in the aircraft industry; and whether, seeing that any increase in the staff of the Air Inspection Department will increase the shortage, he will look further into the matter?

My Department is in close touch with the Ministry of Labour, and arrangements are under consideration which will, I hope, help to overcome the difficulty to which my hon. Friend refers.

Will the right hon. Gentleman put himself in communication with the Amalgamated Engineering Union, and find out from them whether there is any shortage?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a large number of trades are affected, and will he put himself in touch with the official organisations that speak for them, and who could help him in this direction?

The Ministry of Labour are very expert in all these matters, and I thought that the most practical thing I could do was to ensure that the liaison between my Department and the Ministry of Labour was complete.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the President of the Amalgamated Engineering Union, which I represent, has stated time and again that there is no shortage of skilled labour? The difficulty is that the wages are too low for men who are to be uprooted from their homes and taken all over the place with no guarantee that they are going to be constantly employed.

I was under the impression that my hon. Friend represented Dumbarton Burghs—

So I do, and if you represent your constituency as well as I do mine, you will do well.

Could the right hon. Gentleman indicate the districts in which there is a shortage of skilled labour, as that statement is often being made, and there are many people who doubt its reality?

I have not made any statement beyond the statement that my Department and the Ministry of Labour are in the closest and most constant touch, in order to see that every labour vacancy of any kind is filled to the best possible advantage.

Has the Air Ministry had any real experience of a shortage of skilled labour?

That question does not arise.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made on the reconstruction of weak bridges?

During the last two financial years schemes for the reconstruction of 129 bridges in private ownership were approved for grant. During the current financial year I have already been advised of schemes for the reconstruction of 242 other bridges, which are to be put in hand during the current financial year.

Has the Minister any figures to show the total number of such bridges that need improvement and ought to be improved?

I am always ready to give such particulars as I have.

Could not the right hon. Gentleman have done a good deal more if it had not been for the Chancellor of the Exchequer "pinching" £5,000,000 from the Road Fund?

Will my right hon. Friend take into consideration the repairs necessary to railway canal bridges in country districts?

That is a different question.

Do the schemes involve, not merely the reconstruction or reinforcement, but the widening of bridges?

Yes, Sir, in some cases they do.

asked the Minister of Transport when the report of the Committee on street lighting will be published?

I understand that the Departmental Committee on Street Lighting expect to make an interim report by the end of next month.

asked the Minister of Transport the estimated expenditure during the present financial year of the Road Fund on capital works and maintenance, respectively?

The payments out of the Road Fund during the current financial year in respect of grants to highway authorities for the maintenance and minor improvement of classified roads in county areas are estimated to amount to £7,600,000. As regards major works of improvement and new construction, pending the receipt and examination of the five years' programmes which highway authorities have been invited to submit, it is not possible to estimate the amount to be paid out of the Fund during the year in respect of such schemes.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the total amounts spent on road construction in the counties of Ayr, Dumbarton, Lanark, and Renfrew, separately, for each year from 1929 to 1934?

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Transport the total amounts spent on road construction in Scotland for each year from 1929 to 1934?

The amounts spent by highway authorities in Scotland on new construction of roads and bridges during each of the three years ended on the 15th May, 1931, 1932, and 1933, were approximately £647,000, £1,106,000 and £632,000 respectively. These amounts are exclusive of administration expenses. Comparable particulars are not available for the financial year 1929–30, and those for the financial year 1933–34 will be published in the Road Fund Report.

asked the Minister of Transport the total amount spent on new arterial roads since 1931, and the number of miles constructed?

Expenditure on arterial roads is not separately recorded, but the hon. Member will find information as to the expenditure on the construction of new classified roads and bridges in the annual reports on the administration of the Road Fund.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will invite the London Midland and Scottish and the London and North Eastern Railway Companies to initiate a joint investigation of their lines in the West Riding, North Derbyshire, and North Nottinghamshire, with a view to early conversion under a similar guarantee to that just promised by the Government in the London transport area?

I have been in communication with the two railway companies mentioned, and am informed that as regards the West Riding of Yorkshire a joint examination is being made by them of the possibilities of railway electrification, but as regards Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, it is considered that these areas do not afford scope for any remunerative scheme of this nature. The initiative for submitting schemes for the consideration of His Majesty's Government naturally rests with the undertakings concerned.

Does the Minister's reply refer also to the South Lancashire area? A fortnight or three weeks ago the Minister answered that question by saying that there was no such scheme going on.

The question on the Paper refers to the West Riding of Yorkshire, North Derbyshire, and North Nottinghamshire.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he proposes to ask local authorities to submit schemes for the abolition of level crossings; and, if so, whether any financial grants will be made towards the cost of the work?

Yes, Sir. I have reminded highway authorities that I am prepared to entertain applications for grants up to 75 per cent. of the net cost falling upon them of constructing bridges in lieu of level crossings.

Will the Minister of Transport consider making it a condition of the Treasury guarantee that, where there are level crossings on existing railway routes which are to be electrified, they shall be abolished?

I would like an opportunity to consider that question when I have read it.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will assist motor drivers to carry out the speed limit regulations by urging upon local authorities the need for the erection of proper speed limit and de-restriction signs?

I do not cease to press on local authorities the urgent necessity of remedying any defects that may still exist in the areas in question.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a number of motorists are being prosecuted for exceeding the speed limit upon roads where no signs exist at all, and does he consider that that is in accordance with the principle of justice in this country?

I was not aware of that fact.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of persons, male and female, that have been summoned for exceeding the 30-miles-per-hour speed limit in the Metropolitan area since the 18th March; the number that have been convicted in each case; and the total amount of fines?

The total number of cases heard between 18th March and 31st May was 5,829. In 5,721 cases the Court found the charge proved. In 585 of these cases the defendant was dealt with under the Probation of Offenders Act, and in the remaining 5,136 cases fines were imposed amounting to £5,683. Separate figures for men and women are not available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in order to save confusion, he will remove the pedestrian crossing beacons at places where traffic light systems are installed?

I am not aware that any confusion has arisen but I will willingly investigate any particular case which my hon. Friend has in mind.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the point that a pedestrian arriving at a crossing marked with studs imagines it to be a safe place at which to cross and, therefore, is inclined to neglect the protection of the police or lights, and, in these circumstances, will he have crossings marked only at places where there is no other means of control?

There must be places where the police are on duty at certain hours of the day and not at certain other hours, and, therefore, it would be difficult to take up the studs during the periods that the police were there.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the scant attention paid by motorists at the recognised crossing-places for pedestrians; and whether, in view of the large number of accidents at these crossings, he proposes to take further steps to safeguard the rights of pedestrians?

I think that the hon. Gentleman's assumption is too wide, but I agree that there is room for improvement in the observance of the crossings by all concerned. I hope that drivers and pedestrians alike will progressively realise that the crossings, being laid down for their mutual benefit, should for the common advantage be invariably respected.

Will the Minister of Transport communicate with the Home Secretary on this point?

Yes, Sir. A question of the enforcement of the law is entirely for my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport the results to date of his invitation to local authorities to submit schemes of five-year transport development; to what extent the authorities in England and Wales and Scotland are responding; and what are the principal types of developments which they propose?

I have so far received programmes of work proposed to be put in hand during the next five years from 52 counties, 56 county boroughs and nine large burghs in Scotland. The programmes include improvement of existing roads and the construction of new roads and by-passes, and the reconstruction of weak bridges.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with the response to the invitation and with the character of the schemes suggested?

I cannot say that my satisfaction would extend to the programme of every local authority. It certainly does to some, and I think that the programme as a whole will meet with the approval of the House, and that it will be larger than any previous programme undertaken in a similar period.

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose, in case of a response which he does not regard as satisfactory, to urge the authorities to extend their proposals?

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, having regard to the fact that many drivers of vehicles and other users of the roads in the principality of Wales are ignorant of the English language, he will consider the desirability of publishing an edition of the Highway Code in the Welsh language?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Hone Secretary the number and nature of the accidents in which police cars have been involved during the past 12 months in the Metropolitan police area?

Metropolitan police vehicles were involved in 1,188 accidents during the 12 months ending 31st May, 1935. The great majority of these accidents were of an entirely trivial nature, such as scratched mudguards, etc., and over 92 per cent. involved no personal injuries.

Can the hon. and gallant Member say which mudguard was damaged?

Sometimes one and sometimes the other.

Can my hon. Friend say how many police vehicles there are?

Not without notice.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of men and women that have been examined for the new driving test, and the number that have failed, giving separate figures for men and women?

Up to and including 15th June, 50,712 persons have been examined, of whom 5,036 failed to satisfy the examiners. From 6th May, since when separate records for men and women have been kept, to 15th June the figures are:

asked the Minister of Transport whether the new automatic signals for pedestrians which have been fitted to existing traffic-light standards in Trafalgar Square have been a success; and whether it is proposed to extend the system?

I am not satisfied with the experiment at Trafalgar Square, and while it may be desirable to try out similar signals in other localities with a view to obtaining more experience, I should not, as at present advised, be prepared to extend the system generally.

Will the Minister of Transport consider another experiment, of putting the lights down on the stem of the standards instead of at the height at which they are now in Trafalgar Square?

I am most willing and anxious to try these experiments, and I will take the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion into review.

asked the Minister of Transport how many persons were employed by the London Passenger Transport Board on its formation; and how many are now employed?

I am informed by the London Passenger Transport Board that, exclusive of railwaymen employed on joint lines, the total number of staff employed when it began operations was 70,500, and that at the 18th May, 1935, the total was 76,802. A number of additional undertakings have been transferred to the Board since it first began operations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that Brazil does not honour her debt obligations raised in London by public subscription, and as the conference of 27th March had the object of obtaining payment for British exports to Brazil, he will now discuss Anglo-Brazilian trade on the basis that British exports to Brazil have been gifts to Brazil and constitute losses of British savings; and will he discourage exports to Brazil except against cash or its equivalent?

The Anglo-Brazilian Payments Agreement of 27th March provides for payments of all outstanding commercial goods. Goods imported after 11th February last are paid for by the purchase of exchange on the free market, and I am informed that few, if any, complaints are being reseived with regard to payment for current trade. I should be reluctant to discourage exporters from taking steps, within the limits of ordinary commercial prudence, to maintain their place in what is normally a valuable market.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered the examples submitted to him of the effect of the subsidisation of industry in respect of German exports to this country and the effect upon our export trade to foreign countries; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take in the matter?

As was stated in reply to the hon. and learned Member for Argyll (Mr. Macquisten) on 3rd May, there is at present no reason to think that the home market cannot be adequately protected under existing powers. As regards competition in third markets, my hon. Friend will appreciate the difficulty of taking effective steps.

Is my hon. and gallant Friend aware of the fact that very large orders for schemes and goods have been obtained by Germany as a result of the subsidy?

Certain information has been sent to the Board of Trade in that connection and is being examined, but in general the export trade of this country has made more rapid progress than the export trade of the country in question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the increased value of British exports to the latest available date in respect to the following countries: Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Germany, the Argentine, and any other country with which trade agreements have been concluded since December, 1933?

As the answer in is the form of a tabular statement, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

May I ask whether the comparative figures will merely be figures for the year subsequent to the trade agreements or from the year 1931 to the year subsequent to the operation of the trade agreements?

The figures given in answer to the question will be those for

asked the Prime Minister what further steps the Government propose to take to deal with the distressed areas?

I have no further statement to make at present.

Are we to understand from that reply that the Government are not in a hurry to do anything for the distressed areas?

No.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the case of W. D. Bell, of

Will the figures also include the export of cattle.

The hon. Member must wait and see.

I would remind my hon. Friend that the responsibility for dealing with individual cases rests with the Unemployment Assistance Board, subject to the statutory rights of appeal. The basis on which the Board deal with Army Reserve Pay is set out in the Appendix to Command Paper 4791. I am informed by the Board that if any case has special circumstances they are taken into account, and I would point out further that the allowance cannot in any case be less than the amount which the applicant would receive by way of transitional payments.

May I ask for an assurance that the principle contained in my question will be considered before the new regulations are introduced into the House? As it stands at present, the man's Army Reserve pay was taken into consideration while he was on standard benefit. It does not relate to the period when he is on transitional payment.

It relates to transitional payments which vary in different parts of the country.

Is it legal for the board to take into account any sum received in income when the man was on standard benefit? Is it not the practice of the board only to take into account such sums as are due after the transitional period has started?

I cannot answer that question by way of a supplementary. There is a long series of propositions involved. If my hon. Friend will put the question down, I will answer it.

Have the board any right to take into account the income which was due while the man was on standard benefit? Have they the right to interfere with the man's income during the standard benefit period?

This has to do with Army Reserve pay.

On that point the question is, have the board any right to inquire into the question of the man receiving pay during the time that he is in receipt of standard benefit? Have they any right to include that income during his standard benefit period?

I cannot answer the question in that simple form. If the hon. Member will put it down in that form, I will give him an answer, with all the propositions in mind.

Is the Minister aware that the latter part of the question asks whether this policy has the approval of the Ministry of Labour? Are we to take it that this question has not been considered?

This is a matter for the board, subject to the statutory right of appeal.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the Government's attitude to the proposal to pay to local authorities the equivalent of part of the transitional payment in respect of every unemployed man in receipt of such benefit who is given work by the local authorities on approved schemes and under approved conditions of employment?

Proposals of this kind have been considered on a number of occasions and have always been rejected on account of the dangers apprehended from the subsidising of wage rates out of funds provided for the relief of unemployment. I do not know what particular proposal my hon. Friend has in mind, and I may say that I am not aware of any proposal of this kind which is free from the objection I have indicated, but my right hon. Friend will be glad to discuss the matter with him if he so desires.

Is the hon. and gallant Member aware that there are many local authorities who, if given assistance of this kind, could carry out urgent and useful works which would employ numbers of idle men, and would not be open to the objection to which he has referred?

If the hon. Member will give specific cases my right hon. Friend will look into them.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the total number of persons who have been deprived of benefit by the Anomalies Act, 1931, since it became law, up to the latest date?

Between 13th October, 1931, and 31st May, 1935, 379,776 claims were disallowed under the anomalies regulations by courts of referees in Great Britain. This figure relates to the total number of claims disallowed; statistics are not available as to the number of separate individuals concerned.

Were the regulations referred to in that reply regulations which were passed by the National Government?

The hon. Member had better put that question on Paper.

May we not secure from the Minister a reply which he actually knows without having any notice given—whether the regulations referred to in that reply are the regulations passed by the National Government?

The Anomalies Act was passed by the Labour Government.

These people have been disallowed under the Act without Parliament being consulted, and have any steps been taken to see that they are granted any kind of benefit at all?

The hon. Member knows that the seasonal workers' case is under consideration by the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee.

How many of these people are seasonal workers?

83,863.

Can the Minister state roughly the main causes of these disallowances?

We cannot debate the matter now.