asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any information as to the increase or decrease in the overtime worked in any industry in this country?

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to ascertain the extent of overtime worked throughout industry?

The Department's information as to the extent of overtime worked is limited to particulars supplied by some firms in the wool textile, boot and shoe, pottery and brick industries, who furnish voluntary returns relating to the state of employment at their works in one week of each month. This information is summarised regularly in the "Ministry of Labour Gazette."

Will the right hon. Gentleman keep his eye on the problem whether excessive overtime is not detrimental to the absorption of unemployed workers?

In the discussions that are going forward with the various trades with regard to the absorption of unemployed workers, this point is regularly brought forward.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are complaints in all the coal-mining areas about the excessive overtime that is being worked?

As the hon. Member knows, special inquiries are being made with regard to coal-mining, and questions relating to that industry should be addressed to the Secretary for Mines.

Could not the right hon. Gentleman collect, through the machinery of the Employment Exchanges, or through the employers and trade unions concerned, some fairly accurate information on this most important matter?

I have already said that I am discussing the matter with these various industries, and I should prefer to await information from them before proceeding further.

Are we to take it that the only information that the right hon. Gentleman has on this matter is obtained from the employers?

That is the usual practice.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is intended to introduce legislation during the present Session extending unemployment insurance to agricultural workers?

I am afraid I cannot add anything at present to the answer given on this subject by my predecessor on 16th May.

Are we to take it, then, that there is no intention on the part of the Government to introduce legislation this Session; and, if that be so, will the right hon. Gentleman say what the Government intend to do in regard to unemployment in agriculture during the coming winter?

If the hon. Member will study the answer to which I have referred him, he will see that a decision on, the principle has been made, but that my right hon. Friend then said—and I cannot add anything to it—that he was not in a position to say when legislation would be introduced.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that this proposal has long been before the Ministry of Labour; and, if any decision is going to be taken on this very belated matter, will he tell the House when it is likely to be taken?

A decision has been taken.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman know that principle will not pay those people who are out of work?

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee has yet considered the inclusion of pit-head bath attendants as insured contributors to unemployment insurance; and, if so, with what result?

The inquiries which are being made with a view to submitting to the Statutory Committee the question of the inclusion of these workers (and certain other groups) in the unemployment insurance scheme are not yet completed, but no avoidable delay will occur in obtaining a report from the Committee.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many miners have lost their unemployment benefit, after having paid contributions for many years, as a result of the present situation?

The inquiry is nearly completed.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now state when the report of the commissioner for the special areas will be published?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now state when the report of the commissioner for special areas will be available to Members of the House?

The Commissioner informs me that I shall receive the report this week-end. I propose to publish it without any avoidable delay.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether we shall have the report in time for the debate next Tuesday?

The hon. Gentleman will see that, if I only get it this week-end, it will be quite impossible to print it in time for Tuesday's debate.

asked the Minister of Labour what results have been obtained from experiments made in any district from sharing of work schemes?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on the 3rd April, 1935, to a similar question put by the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker).

Will the Minister consider a scheme of this nature if I submit one?

I am always prepared to consider a scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in considering assistance to schemes for the provision of employment, he will bear in mind the desirability of taking steps to deal with erosion on many parts of the British coast?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the replies given by my predecessor on 15th May, and by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade on 8th May to the hon. and gallant Member for Blackburn (Sir W. Smiles). I am afraid that I have nothing that I can usefully add to these replies.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether he can amplify those replies?

I will do my best, but, as my hon. and gallant Friend will see, they are very long and full replies.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the advisability of using the accumulated surplus of the Unemployment Insurance Fund in granting bonuses to all insured men and women on reaching the age of 65, providing they have drawn nothing from the fund during their period of insurance?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on the 2nd July to the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. Thorne), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour the practice adopted by the Unemployment Assistance Board in the relief of needs arising under hire-purchase agreements?

I understand from the Board that the practice adopted by it is based on the view that, as a general rule, an allowance under the regulations cannot properly be increased to enable the recipient to make payments under a hire-purchase agreement. In special cases, if hardship would result from failure to complete the agreement, the practice is modified.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the resolution passed by the Association of Education Committees calling upon the Government to introduce legislation to enable local education authorities, if they so desire, to provide mid-day meals for necessitous unemployed juveniles attending approved full-time courses of instruction, and empowering the Ministry of Labour to bear the whole or part of the cost of providing such meals; and what reply does he intend to give?

I am not satisfied that a case has been made out for introducing the legislation which would be necessary to enable local education authorities to provide meals at junior instruction centres, but I can assure the hon. Member that the position is being, and will continue to be, carefully watched.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries in the various localities and ask the authorities to send him cases in which it is felt that it is necessary that something should be done?

That has been done. If the hon. Member will consider the report of the National Advisory Council for Juvenile Employment in England and Wales, which is composed of representatives of the Associations of Education Authorities, the National Confederation of Employers' Organisations, the Trades Union Congress General Council, the teachers' organisations, and the juvenile advisory committees, he will find that that report, dated the 20th January, 1934, unanimously recommended against this course.

I beg to give notice that, as I am not satisfied with the reply, I shall call attention to this matter at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in Clydebank persons have been asked to go to training camps and, when they refused to go, an official of the Clydebank Employment Exchange informed unemployed men that the camps were good, and that three local Members of Parliament had visited the camps, one of whom was the Member for Shettleston (Mr. McGovern) and that they had all recommended the camps; and whether he will make inquiry into this misstatement and prevent its repetition?

I am making immediate inquiry into this matter and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

Will the Minister of Labour undertake to see that no mistakes of this kind are made in future?

I could not answer that question, but if the hon. Member will put down another question in regard to it I will have further inquiry made.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many private schools have been inspected by representatives of local education authorities during the past 12 months, and how many such schools have been found to be inefficient?

The information asked for is not available in my Department.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many private schools have asked for a visit from a representative of the board during the past 12 months and how many such schools have been certified as efficient?

During the year ended 30th June, 1935, 17 private schools were declared open to the board's inspection under Section 147 of the Education Act, 1921, and in all these cases a satisfactory report was issued. During the same period 73 private schools applied for recognition as efficient, and of these 21 were so recognised. The remaining cases are either under consideration or are awaiting inspection.

Is not the trouble with the present system that the efficient schools ask for inspection, while the inefficient schools do not ask for inspection, and therefore escape coming under the supervision of the Board of Education?

The hon. Gentleman will realise that the inspection referred to in the second part of the answer carries no legal sanctions.

asked the President of the Board of Education how long the wooden hut has been in use as an elementary school at Warmsworth, near Doncaster; and when a permanent building will be provided?

The present premises of Warmsworth Temporary Council School have been in use since January, 1921. No proposals for replacing them by permanent accommodation have been submitted to the board.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these temporary premises bid fair to become permanent, and that they are wholly inadequate and unfit; and will he use his influence with the local education committee to have a permanent school erected?

I am not aware that this building is so defective as to justify me in pressing the local authority on the matter. If the hon. Member has any information, I shall be glad to receive it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman come with me to a public meeting, and sit on the platform for a few hours? Then he will see.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many elementary school classes there are with more than 50 pupils on the roll; and what progress is being made in reducing this number?

On 31st March, 1935, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 4,262 classes with over 50 children on the registers as compared with 6,194 on 31st March, 1934. These over-large classes have thus been reduced by 1,932 in the last year, or over 30 per cent. This follows on the reduction of 25 per cent. in the previous year, and these classes now form only 2.8 per cent. of the total number of elementary school classes.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the amount owing to local authorities by miners on account of relief granted during the 1926 strike; the number of miners involved; the rate at which these amounts are being paid off; and the cost of collection, including office expenses?

I regret that the particulars desired by my hon. Friend are not available.

In any case, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability from every point of view of urging upon local authorities to wipe out such sums as are still outstanding?

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has received the amended scheme for the drainage of parts of the South Wales coalfield by means of adits which would carry the water to the sea by gravity; and what action is proposed by the Government concerning this matter?

I understand that a mining engineer was asked to advise the South Wales Drainage Committee on the suggested scheme and that the Committee promised the Commissioner for the Special Areas a report by the end of June. I have no later information than this.

Will the hon. Gentleman inquire of the Commissioner for special areas whether a copy of the scheme has been received by him, and will the Department co-operate with the Commissioner in this very important matter?

I think we had better wait until we know that the Commissioner has a copy of the report, and then, perhaps, we can ask him for it. Whether he will wish to give it to us, I do not know.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether there has been any improvement in the matter of Sunday work in pits in Scotland?

I am making inquiries, but I am afraid I shall have to ask for longer notice. If the hon. Member will put down his question again in a week's time I hope to be in a position to answer.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether the report of the inspectors appointed to inquire into overtime working in the Scottish mines has been completed; and, if so, whether it is to be published, and when?

The answer to the first part of the question is "Yes." With regard to the second part, I hope that the report will be ready for presentation to Parliament, and publication, before the end of this month.

Will these inspectors be permitted to make inquiries in all mining areas, or is it exclusively Scotland?

This was a special inquiry into Scotland. The inquiry has been completed. This is only a question of the publication of the report.

Is it not the case that the hon. and gallant Gentleman's predecessor indicated that the question is still open for consideration for inquiry in other districts?

Perhaps the hon. Member and the House would like to see this report when it is published, and then we can discuss the matter further.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state in percentages the number, respectively, of rural district councils, urban district councils, and municipal corporations, which have built special housing for aged persons since the War?

The percentages of local authorities who have built, or are building, accommodation specially designed for aged persons, are as follow: Rural district councils, 9 per cent.; urban district councils, 14 per cent.; borough and county borough councils, 31 per cent.

In view of the fact that great interest was expressed in this question at recent conferences of rural and district councils, and, in view also of the fact that there is not an adequate supply of houses for the old, would the right hon. Gentleman consider having a conference of local authorities and, if it is found satisfactory, encouraging them to include an adequate proportion of houses for the old in all future housing schemes?

I shall gladly consider whether any further useful steps can be taken as the hon. Member desires.

asked the Minister of Health when he anticipates the completion of the survey by local authorities under the 1935 Housing Act?

No, Sir. I am not yet in a position to make an announcement on this matter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that several local medical officers of health are now claiming that the survey will last for as long as two years?

I cannot say that.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the fact that the corporation of Glasgow is proceeding to replace their £2,500,000 loan by the issue of mortgages; and what is the policy of his Department with regard to this scheme?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which was given to him by the Secretary of State for Scotland on 2nd July. With regard to the second part of the question, the scheme referred to lies outside the scope of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's public requests with regard to new capital issues.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the protest from the Blackface Breeders' Association with regard to the damage done by straying deer; and if it is the Government's intention to take any steps to protect sheep farmers' crops and pastures from damage by these animals?

The representation referred to has been received and will have the consideration of my right hon. Friend, but it is not possible to introduce legislation on the subject in the present Session.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is in a position to state in detail the circumstances under which three unemployed men were imprisoned for failure to pay rates to the Fife County Council; whether these men have now been released; and whether the rates have been or are now being paid?

Decrees were given on 21st May, 1935, in the Sheriff Court, Dunfermline, at the instance of Fife County Council, against the three men referred to for failing to pay arrears of Fife county rates. The arrears dated from 1929–30, and the decrees were for amounts varying from £34 10s. to £39, plus in each case £4 17s. of expenses. Enforcement of the decrees was in due course instructed on behalf of the county council, the men being apprehended on the 17th June and committed to Perth Prison to serve six weeks' imprisonment under the provisions of the Civil Imprisonment (Scotland) Act, 1882. I understand that the county council have accepted guarantees signed by the men and their relatives for payment of the arrears of rates, and of current rates, by instalments and that in consequence the men were released, two on 27th June and one on 28th June.

Is it not time that imprisonment for debt was abolished?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any inquiry has been made by his Department into the position of the squatters in the burgh of Hamilton and the county of Lanark; and whether there is any likelihood of their being offered any kind of housing accommodation that will avoid further breaches of the law?

Investigation is being made by an officer of the Department of Health, and I will communicate further with the hon. Member when I have received the officer's report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the four Lanarkshire county councillors who were charged with fraud at the recent sitting of the High Court in Glasgow were after a trial lasting four days found not guilty; can he state at whose instance the men were prosecuted; whether the Procurator Fiscal of Glasgow was engaged in any respect in the case; whether he is further aware that in consequence of delay in the arrangements for the trial the counsel and witnesses for the defence had to be in attendance from the opening of the court until it closed; and, since the men affected are poor men who are unable to meet the heavy expenditure involved, whether he will consider the desirability of relieving them of the cost of the trial?

Four Lanarkshire county councillors were indicted at my instance on separate charges of fraud at the recent sitting of the High Court of Justiciary in Glasgow. In the first case the trial lasted two days and the accused was by a majority found not guilty of fraud but guilty on a charge of uttering forged documents. The second and third cases together occupied two days. In one the accused was found not guilty by a majority. In the other after some evidence had been led the charge was withdrawn. In the fourth case the diet was deserted on account of the illness of the accused. The Procurator Fiscal in Glasgow in the ordinary course of his duties was engaged in the preparation of the cases. There was no avoidable delay in the hearing of the cases, which were taken immediately on the conclusion of a murder trial, at the same circuit. As regards the last part of the question there is no precedent for the Crown meeting the costs incurred by the accused in such cases.

Would it not be advisable to create a precedent in cases of this kind, and may I ask on what grounds the Procurator Fiscal of Glasgow appeared in a case outside his area? Further, may I ask whether it is not the case that the accused persons had to provide their counsel for two weeks before their case was heard. Is it unreasonable to ask that when the prosecution fails in a case of this sort they should be held responsible for the expenses?

The Procurator Fiscal prepared the case as the alleged crime was said to have been committed in Glasgow. The offices of the County Council of Lanark are in Glasgow. As regards the other supplementary question, I see no reason to depart from the ordinary rules. As regards the question of delay, the cases were put down in the ordinary order in circuit courts.

May I draw attention to the fact that the Procurator Fiscal of Glasgow is an entirely different authority from an officer of the Lanark County Council, and will the Lord Advocate tell me on what grounds he interfered in a matter outside his own area?

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to state whether he is prepared to release Mrs. Kelly, who is an expectant mother and due to give birth to a child in five weeks' time, and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for alleged perjury in the Garngad rioting case?

A medical report which I have obtained and examined shows that Mrs. Kelly's confinement is not expected until about the end of September and that she is well in good general health and doing light work in the prison, and as stated in my reply to the hon. Member yesterday she will be removed to a hospital outside the prison for her confinement. The doctor will keep her under particular care and she will receive special medical attention. In no case can I find that pregnancy by itself has been regarded as a reason for release from prison. Having given further consideration to this case I regret that I can find no special circumstances which would justify me in recommending the release of Mrs. Kelly from prison at the present time.

In connection with this case, is the Secretary of State aware that this lady's husband was sentenced previously at the same court for alleged perjury, and that as Mrs. Kelly is now in prison the children are deprived of their mother? Although there may be no precedent for the release of a woman on the ground that she is an expectant mother, is this not a case for clemency? Could he not exercise his clemency to the extent of releasing the woman, seeing that the husband is undergoing a term of imprisonment? The law is satisfied. Cannot he therefore release the woman?

I will certainly see that the woman is watched over and will make special inquiry into the case. Perjury in a court of justice is a grave crime, and in no case can I find that pregnancy by itself has been regarded as a reason for the release of an expectant mother.

Is not a woman in this state of health notoriously unreliable?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a rebate of 10 per cent. is being refused on foreign pitch-pine decking for supply to local shipyards when it is cut in British mills, whereas in the case of the United States of America, decking cut in American mills for supply to local shipyards 10 per cent. rebate is given; and will he take action in the matter in the interests of the British saw-milling industry?

If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of the case he has in mind, I will have inquiry made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the result of his representations to foreign Governments regarding their failure to observe the limitations of exports of food products to this country, as laid down in gentlemen's agreements; and whether, in the total shipments of the year, these limitations will be respected?

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the arrangements in regard to imports of eggs in shell. I should explain that there are no definite quotas, but that, while the response of foreign countries to the request that they would limit their exports of eggs to this country voluntarily has not resulted in reduced imports in all cases, the imports of eggs so far this year from most foreign countries have shown a substantial reduction. As regards the last part of the question, every effort is being, and will be, made to secure a satisfactory response to the proposals made to foreign exporting countries.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether we are representing to the Netherlands Government that this year should see the introduction of the quota which was voluntarily agreed to by them?

I cannot say whether representations of that nature have been made, but communications have passed between ourselves and that Government.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make such representations so that the agreement can be observed?

I will consider that matter.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what revenue would have been derived if an import duty of 4d. a pound had been imposed on liquid and frozen eggs from China during 1934?

It is impossible to estimate what effect so heavy a duty as 4d. per pound would have had on imports of liquid or frozen eggs, or on the revenue derived from them.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has given any further consideration to the traffic congestion and consequent danger arising from omnibus and tramcar stops being located on the near side of traffic lights; and whether he has any statement to make on the matter?

Yes, Sir. A practical examination has been made, and the conclusion reached, from close observation, is that it is better to site stopping places before the crossing of a junction, and the reason is that it is more expeditious as well as safer to avoid the necessity for tramcars and omnibuses which have been stopped by signals having to stop again for passengers after crossing the junction, thereby holding up traffic which has been released by the signals and blocking the cross-roads.

Would it not be possible to have stopping places some way before the light signals?

asked the Minister of Transport what is the approximate total sum payable to the London County Council from the Road Fund in respect of the rebuilding of Lambeth Bridge, and how much has been paid?

The answer to the first part of the question is £413,800, and to the second £372,420.

Will the right hon. Gentleman agree with what the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport stated in the House on 3rd June that the London County Council had not applied for money in respect of this bridge and that he was therefore not justified in using this argument to support the raid on the Road Fund?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has in mind any regulations to deal with the question of lights at abnormal levels at the front and rear of motor vehicles?

Yes, Sir. I am to-day circulating to representative organisations for their comments draft regulations which provide, inter alia, that front lights shall not be more than five feet above the ground and that red rear lights shall not be more than three feet six inches above the ground unless a red reflector and white patch are also carried. The regulations also contain provisions to mitigate the danger of dazzle.

Will this also apply to Post Office vans?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can make any statement with regard to the proposal to amend the motor car registration methods at Hove to enable the owners and residents of Hove to register their cars at Brighton instead of at Lewes, which involves a journey of 20 miles and considerable and irrecoverable expense and loss of time to motor car agents and other traders?

If a vehicle is sold by a dealer in Hove which is in the East Sussex County Council area, it can be driven, if so desired, under trade plates to Brighton and registered and licensed there. Applications for renewals would of course be directed to the East Sussex County Council. There is no need for a personal application.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider exercising the powers inherited by him from the Road Board under the Act of 1910 to build and maintain, entirely at the cost of the Road Fund, a new road, free from ribbon development, from London to Brighton, in view of the fact that the major portion of the traffic originates in London and terminates in Brighton?

In addition to the fact that the Southern Railway have provided a regular, frequent and fast service of electric trains from London to Brighton, grants have been and are being made on a considerable scale to improve and in some places to by-pass the existing highway, and in these circumstances it would seem at the present moment uneconomic to embark upon the construction of an entirely new road.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the evidence and findings of the inquiry into the loss of the "Blairgowrie," "Usworth," "La Crescenta," and "Millpool," presided over by Lord Merrivale, will be presented to Parliament?

The reports of the court on the loss of each of the ships in question will be published by the Stationery Office in the usual way, and will be obtainable through the Vote Office. The report on the "Usworth" was published yesterday.

Will they be presented to Parliament in view of the importance of this investigation?

I think that the report is available to any Member of the House who cares to ask for it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information concerning the case of Captain A. W. Kane, the master of the British steamer "Brompton Manor," who was recently sentenced to imprisonment at Palma, Majorca?

Yes, Sir. Captain Kane was sentenced to two years and eleven months' imprisonment on a charge of assaulting the police. An immediate appeal is being lodged against the sentence, and Captain Kane is provided with good legal advice. Pending the result of the appeal the case is still sub judice, but the British Vice-Consul at Palma is in touch with Captain Kane, and my right hon. Friend is also in communication with His Majesty's Ambassador at Madrid.

Is he still in prison or has he been allowed out on bail?

I am not certain of that, but I have received a telegram from His Majesty's Ambassador since I came into the House, saying that he has communicated with the Spanish Government and hopes that a solution will be found whereby, whilst respecting Spanish law, any undue severity will be mitigated.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Captain Kane was arrested as the result of some small fracas in a cafe, and is not a sentence of two years' imprisonment for an offence of that sort extraordinary? Is he still in prison, and will the Government take every possible step to secure that the appeal is brought on as quickly as possible and that the best legal aid is given to Captain Kane in order to enable him to vindicate his character?

The answer I have given shows that we have already taken steps in this case.

Will the right hon. Gentleman address himself also to the question of bail, pending a further decision?