asked the Minister of Labour the total number of men, women, and boys partially employed and in receipt of unemployment benefit?

As the reply includes a Table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of insurable and insured workers at present dealt with at Tottenham and Ponders End Employment Exchanges, resident in Edmonton in 1931, and at the latest convenient date, respectively?

I regret that statistics giving the desired information are not available as regard insured persons. The total numbers of unemployed persons, insured and uninsured, resident in the Urban District of Edmonton, on the registers of Tottenham Employment Exchange and Enfield and Ponders End Employment Exchange respectively at 15th April, 1935, the latest date for which statistics are available, were 1,477 and 612 respectively. At 23rd January, 1933, the earliest date for which comparable figures are available, the corresponding figures were 2,784 and 1,155 respectively.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether, in view of the tremendous growth of the district and the fact that over a dozen new factories have been started since the introduction of tariffs, my right hon. Friend will consider the establishment of an Employment Exchange in Edmonton for dealing with this potentially very big area?

I will think over what my hon. Friend has said.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is proposed to publish the report made by the joint committee of the Institute of Chemistry, the Chemical Society, and the Society of Chemical Industry to Mr. Forbes Adams, as District Commissioner, Special Areas, North-East Coast?

I understand that this report was published in a Newcastle journal last Saturday.

Will my right hon. Friend have the whole of this report published? This is only an extract from it.

That depends upon the authors. It is a private report.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applicants have had deductions made from unemployment payments by the Unemployment Assistance Board in respect of meals granted to necessitous school children, giving figures for Liverpool and the country generally?

The Board inform me that these statistics are not available.

When will a statement be made on the general question?

I think on the Motion for the Adjournment next Wednesday.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that dock workers in Liverpool sign 11 times a week at the clearing house when unemployed; and whether he will take steps to reduce the number of signings?

The requirement that registered dock workers in Liverpool should sign twice daily, except on Saturdays, was introduced on account of the local conditions of the industry, and has been in operation for some 10 years. The question whether any reduction in the frequency of signature can be made is being investigated by the National Joint Council for Dock Labour. I must await the outcome of this investigation before taking any further steps in the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that temporary non-service clerks in the employment exchange service are rendered immune from discharge when raised to a higher grade; and whether, as the protection thus afforded to non-service men is contrary to the spirit of the recent agreement that non-service temporary clerks should be discharged before ex-service men, he will issue instructions that non-service temporary clerks, irrespective of grade, should in cases of redundancy stand first for discharge?

Temporary clerks are not rendered immune from discharge when raised to a higher grade, but it has never been the practice to regard them as liable to discharge owing to redundancy in a lower grade. My right hon. Friend is afraid that he cannot agree with my hon. and gallant Friend that a change in this practice is in any way required by the recent agreement to which he refers.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether as the food value of herring is so high and the quantity available so great, he will make arrangements to supply schools in a similar manner to that which is used for milk at the present time?

I am afraid it would prove impracticable to distribute herring in schools in the manner suggested by my hon. Friend. In view of the high food value of herring, however, I should welcome their increased use as part of the mid-day meals supplied at feeding centres and school canteens.

Will my right hon. Friend consult the several gentlemen who represent herring districts?

I shall always be glad to consult them, but until someone has found a herring that has no bone and does not require cooking I am afraid that the consultation would not be of much value.

Will the right hon. Gentleman communicate with the Herring Board, who may be able to satisfy him as to the possibility of getting over those difficulties?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that there is no elementary school in the whole of the Childwall Ward of Liverpool; that children between the ages of five and nine years have a 25 minutes walk to school; and, in view of the fact that secondary schools and training colleges have been or are to be erected in the district, what action he is prepared to take in the matter?

My attention has not previously been drawn to the point raised by the hon. Member, and I am making inquiries into it.

In view of the fact that this is a complaint that has stretched over a very long period, and secondary schools have been built in this area, will the right hon. Gentleman make specially strong representations?

I had better make inquiries first and representations afterwards.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that several hundred supply teachers in the Metropolitan area, who have hitherto been able to earn a living as supply teachers, have not during the last few months had an opportunity to earn anything owing to the altered circumstances in the schools; and whether, in any education scheme the Board has in view, consideration will be given to these teachers?

I have received representations on the question, and I regret that owing to circumstances, such as the fall in school population, supply teachers in the London area should be suffering hardship. It is, however, very difficult to suggest any method of remedying the position of these teachers in present circumstances, but the hon. Member may rest assured that the Board have not overlooked the existence of the problem.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the fact that much less than half the children in elementary schools are obtaining milk under the school milk scheme, he will cause inquiries to be made in a selected number of the poorer schools as to the reasons which are preventing the children from taking advantage of the scheme?

According to the Board's information, at the end of March last 51.5 per cent. of the children in public elementary schools were receiving milk at school, the milk being supplied in the great majority of cases under the Milk Marketing Board Scheme. I will consider whether it would be desirable to make the inquiries suggested, but I should expect to find that, as was revealed by an inquiry of this sort conducted by the London County Council, many of the children do not join in the scheme as they do not like milk.

While congratulating the right hon. Gentleman on the increasing number since his last statement, may I ask whether he is aware that the excuse that children do not like milk is the excuse given by parents when they cannot afford to pay for it?

That is not what was revealed by the inquiry of the London County Council. There are differences in taste among all of us. Some of us do not like beer.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is prepared to introduce legislation repealing the present Act of Parliament imposing compulsory vaccination upon infants providing the Minister of Health retained or obtained the power to order vaccination or revaccination in times of emergency, as recommended on numerous occasions by members of the British Medical Association?

I regret that I cannot give any undertaking at the present time as to the introduction of legislation on the subject of vaccination.

Does that answer mean that at some future time he will consider the matter? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is to-day a considerable feeling of hostility to the compulsory imposition of this Act? If vaccination is in some measure a contribution to health, why did the right hon. Gentleman not see fit to mention it in his statement last week in reviewing the past 25 years?

I had better do that in twelve months' time.

What percentage of the parents asked for exemption from vaccination and made formal application?

I have not those figures with me.

Sixty per cent.

As this matter is one of very serious consideration at the present time, has my right hon. Friend got investigations going on, especially by bodies like the Medical Research Council, into the possibility of an alternative to the present vaccination law?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, as a first step towards the establishment of a water grid for the north of the Isle of Man, a water board has been constituted and financial assistance will be granted by the Manx Government; and whether he will arrange to send one of his officials to the Isle of Man in order to learn how these modern methods are devised and carried through?

I do not think this necessary. My hon. Friend will appreciate that there are many Water Boards and authorities with more extensive limits than that referred to in the question.

Is not this a very suitable time of the year for my right hon. Friend to send his officials there?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is prepared to recommend special grants to be made for the purpose of research into the cause and prevention of the common cold?

I have no general responsibility for the allocation and administration of Government grants in aid of medical research. But from inquiries I have made from the Medical Research Council, I can assure my hon. Friend that research work on the problems to which he refers is proceeding in a number of directions and that that work is not hampered by lack of financial resources.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the report of the medical officer of health for the Cannock urban area regarding the unsatisfactory accommodation provided for the welfare centres in the area; and whether he can state what steps are being taken to provide better accommodation?

I have seen the reference to this matter in the report for 1934, from which I gather that the Council are seeking sites for the erection of new centres but have so far failed to secure suitable sites. I will ascertain from the Council the present position and inform my hon. Friend of the result.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the quantity of home-grown malting barley used for brewing in the years ended June, 1934 and 1935, together with the average price paid to the farmer; the number of standard barrels brewed for the same period; and what steps he proposes to take to secure that the present crop of home-grown malting barley will pass into consumption for brewing purposes?

With regard to the first part of the question, the official statistics do not distinguish between home-grown and imported malting barley used for brewing, and I have no information as to the average price paid to farmers for malting barley during the periods in question. With regard to the second part, the numbers of standard barrels of beer brewed were 15,132,000 in the year ended June, 1934, and 15,862,000 in the year ended June, 1935. With regard to the third part, I do not consider that any steps are necessary, as I understand that the Brewers' Society consider themselves still bound by the pledge they gave to me in 1933.

Could the right hon. Gentleman give the House the figure of the amount of barley bought by the brewers in the year ended June, 1934, as against the year ended June, 1933?

I have pointed out, that I have not got that figure.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is in a position to make a statement with regard to the policy of the Government in relation to imports of milk products, having regard to the expiry in August next of our obligation under Schedule A to the Ottawa Agreements?

Yes, Sir. The Government have given careful consideration to this question. The position of the home industry is safeguarded for the present by the provisions of Sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Milk Act, 1934, under which Milk Marketing Boards are guaranteed, by means of Exchequer advances, standard minimum prices for milk sold, or used, for manufacturing purposes. The Government have in mind, however, the fact that these provisions expire at the end of March next, and they propose to review fully the dairy produce situation before that date in the light of our obligations under trade agreements and of the recommendations of the Reorganisation Commission for Milk for Great Britain, whose report, it, is hoped, will be available before the end of the year.

I am, however, in a position to indicate generally the policy of the Government with regard to the problem created by butter and cheese imports. The Government are of opinion that if conditions should warrant continued assistance to the home industry, such assistance could best be afforded by a system of duties or levies. The possibility cannot be excluded that, in addition, some regulation of the market may be desirable in the general interest of producers in certain cases or at particular times, but, as in the case of meat, the Government would not regard as a satisfactory permanent arrangement a system under which the responsibility for the regulation of the market would rest on them alone. In accordance with the Ottawa Agreements, the incidence of any duty or levy upon foreign and Empire supplies respectively would be so adjusted as to maintain the existing preferential margin.

The position with regard to milk powder and condensed milk (skimmed and whole) will receive separate consideration. An application for additional duties on foreign imports of these commodities has been submitted to the Import Duties Advisory Committee by home interests. Future policy with regard to both foreign and Dominion imports will be considered when the report of the Import Duties Advisory Committee on that application is received.

Is the reply to that question intended as an electioneering leaflet for the National party?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the decision of the Import Duties Board is likely to be reached?

I am afraid not.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that no new duty on butter or cheese will be imposed while the House is not sitting; and that the House will have an opportunity of confirming or rejecting such a proposal?

I said we would deal with the situation after the present arrangements expired at the end of March.

Have the Government already decided that, in future, the burden of any assistance that may be required for the dairying industry, will be transferred from the Treasury to the consumers of butter and cheese?

No, Sir. I do not think my hon. Friend would be justified in interpreting my answer in that way. I said we should proceed by a system of duties or levies, and the question of the particular shoulders on which these fall is, as my hon. Friend knows, a subject of very vigorous controversy at the present time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury which Stationery Office publications are printed in Edinburgh?

It is the usual practice for all official publications (including Command Papers) emanating from Scottish Departments to be printed in Edinburgh. There are exceptions, namely, certain Scottish Office and Scottish Education Department publications emanating from the London offices of those departments which for reasons of urgency or expediency are printed in London and Statutory Rules and Orders which are necessarily printed in London as stated in the reply given to my hon. Friend on the 18th July.

Seeing that the Scottish Education Department is now being concentrated in Edinburgh, could arrangements not be made for all Scottish departmental publications to be printed in Edinburgh, which has a certain reputation for printing?

I cannot answer that question definitely without notice, but I should think that such an arrangement will probably be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether Scottish education authorities appreciate the advantages of parents' days and school exhibitions as a means of enlisting public understnding of and interest in the work of the schools; and to what extent such arrangements have been carried out in practice?

Yes, Sir. Education authorities are increasingly turning their attention to parents' days and school exhibitions to which my right hon. Friend attaches great importance. During the past year 12 special exhibitions have been held in different parts of Scotland, including the city of Glasgow and the counties of Kirkcudbright, Fife and Orkney. In addition, the Edinburgh authority have appointed a committee to organise an education week in the near future and many other authorities throughout Scotland have held exhibitions and parents' days at individual schools. All these exhibitions and parents' days have aroused great interest in the localities.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many accidents to civil aircraft in the last three years have, in the opinion of the inspector of accidents, been due to errors on the part of the pilots concerned, and in how many cases the licences of those pilots have been cancelled or withheld by the Air Ministry?

During the three years ending 31st December last, 116 accidents notifiable under the regulations were attributed by the inspector of accidents to error of judgment on the part of the pilot. Of these only 44 were of sufficient importance to justify a formal report by the inspector. These included pilots holding "A" as well as "B" licences, and only one of these accidents occurred in the course of regular air transport. In three instances a pilot's licence was suspended, but I should add that in many cases the question of suspension does not naturally arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the full report made by the inspector of accidents to the Air Minisry on the fatal accident which took place at Heston aerodrome on the 16th June will be made public?

As I informed the hon. and learned Member for East Leicester (Mr. Lyons) on 18th July, the conclusions of the inspector of accidents will be published in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will make arrangements for the weather conditions over the Channel and on the main air routes to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam to be broadcast at intervals daily?

I am investigating the possibility of giving effect to the hon. Member's suggestion, and will communicate with him in the matter shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether there are any regulations governing the hours of employment of pilots of commercial aeroplanes carrying goods or passengers; and, if there are such regulations, by what means are they enforced?

There are no such regulations, but pilots have to be medically re-examined in certain specified cases, e.g., if they have done 125 hours' flying within a period of 30 consecutive days since the last medical examination.

Do I understand that there are no regulations covering the hours and rates of pay, and is it not a fact that some of these pilots are very badly paid?

The question relates to hours. If the hon. Member wishes to inquire about wages, I should like to see the question on the Paper. As regards hours, I think the hon. Member will realise the extraordinary difficulty of laying down hard-and-fast rules. A pilot may encounter a good deal of bad weather and may have to get through with the mails, and it would be quite impossible always to comply with, say, an eight-hour-day rule, but the regulations show that care is taken to ensure that pilots do not have to fly too long hours.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will communicate with the Guild of Air Pilots to see whether some arrangement cannot be come to whereby at rush times, such as holiday times, when long hours are worked, steps could be taken to regularise the hours?

I think that if the Guild of Air Pilots has any suggestion to make it should communicate with me.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that in the case of flying, where so very much depends on the pilot, it is necessary to have some regulation of the number of hours that they may fly, in spite of the difficulties which the right hon. Gentleman has indicated?

I agree that it is of the utmost importance that pilots should not be overworked or over-flown, but the very fact that we have to provide for exceptional cases, such as come by a sudden accident of the weather, shows that it is almost impossible to lay down hard-and-fast rules.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what are the regulations regarding the loading of commercial aeroplanes and by what means are such regulations enforced, especially in the case of the smaller aerodromes?

The maximum total weight authorised for an air- craft is shown in its certificate of airworthiness, and the Air Navigation Order makes it obligatory for the person in charge of an aircraft to satisfy himself before commencing any flight that it is satisfactorily loaded for safety in flight. Non-compliance with the Order is liable to lead to prosecution. It is not practicable to institute a check by Government officials in each individual case.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the expansion of the Royal Air Force, it is proposed to increase the number on the list of approved firms for the supply of aircraft to the Royal Air Force?

No, Sir; so far as can be foreseen at present, the necessity will not arise.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the non-approved firms will have a fair chance of being able to supply the requirements necessitated by the extra Air Force?

If a firm submitted designs of great value to us, I should certainly consider them.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the fact that during the war, when there was dependence upon the maximum possible output of different firms, the prices obtainable by ordinary contract had to be substituted by others involving negotiations based on a power to investigate costs, and that reduced prices were then obtained which represented a saving of more than £400,000 per week, and that these savings were subsequently greatly increased, he will reconsider his attitude as to this method of ascertaining prices that are fair in the national interest as well as to the manufacturer?

As I have previously explained, the "Instructions to Proceed" now being issued to firms in connection with all major contracts contain a clause providing for costing and full examination of books, as neessary. In these circumstances I am unable to see what advantage there would be in securing by compulsion what is already available by agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) whether, in view of the evidence of the Secretary to the Air Ministry before the Public Accounts Committee on 14th May to the effect that 85 per cent. of the contracts placed during the current year will be on a non-competitive basis, he will say what steps he has taken to assure himself that the prices paid will be fair and reasonable;

(2) whether, in view of the evidence of the Secretary to the Air Ministry before the Public Accounts Committee on 14th May, to the effect that it may be necessary to apply to Parliament for additional powers to safeguard prices for aircraft supplies, he will state what powers are under consideration which the Minister does not at present possess;

(3) whether, in view of the evidence of the Secretary to the Air Ministry before the Public Accounts Committee on 14th May, to the effect that the position may require the whole maximum possible output of all the firms in the industry today, he will state what steps he will take to safeguard prices under these exceptional circumstances?

The steps that are being taken to safeguard prices have already been fully explained to the House. As I stated in the course of the Debate on the Air Supplementary Estimate last Monday, I have been assured (since the evidence referred to in the question was given) that all the information required as to costs will be forthcoming voluntarily from the contractors. In these circumstances there is no need for special powers.

But according to the evidence given before the Committee, is there not something in the nature of a monopoly existing; and, in reply to a question a few minutes ago, did not the right hon. Gentleman indicate that he is prepared to enlarge the number of firms competing; and, according to his own philosophy, does he think this non-competition is a good thing for prices?

The hon. Member is wrong in supposing that there is no competition. There are certainly 15 aircraft firms on the regular list. There is, therefore, competition. As regards costings and particulars, I have explained very fully to the House that Sir Hardman Lever and his associates are absolutely satisfied that we are going to get by agreement all the facts and figures out of the firms that we require, and it would surely be both a waste of the time of this House and, incidentally, discourteous, if we were to pass a perfectly useless Act of Parliament when we can get all that we want by agreement.

How can there be competition when it was stated to the Public Accounts Committee that last year competitive contracts were obtained to the extent of only 6 per cent., and it was estimated that the maximum this year, if it was reached, would be less than 15 per cent.?

Is it not a fact that until quite lately many aircraft firms were sadly in want of orders?

While we may be able to get only a certain number of contracts on a strictly competitive basis, the knowledge we have of past work and past prices makes it possible to judge, apart altogether from the inspection of accounts which we have now got, of what is a reasonable and fair price to charge.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give any information in connection with the accident to a Royal Air Force lorry at a level crossing, Fort Gomer, Gosport; and whether any of the Royal Air Force men with the lorry were injured?

I regret that I can give little information at present to supplement what has appeared in the Press, the official investigation being as yet incomplete. The accident was a collision between a 30-cwt. lorry, belonging to the Royal Air Force station, Lee-on-the-Solent, and a goods train locomotive. The lorry driver was thrown clear and suffered some bruises. The second man on the lorry was trapped for about 30 minutes and sustained injuries which necessitated his admission to hospital, but which I am glad to say are not regarded as serious.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that Aircraftman John Charles Ratcliffe, a native of Horwich, Lancashire, was killed in the Quetta earthquake, and that his parents have been refused any compensation of any kind in respect of his death; and whether, in view of the special circumstances connected with the case, he will consider granting a gratuity to this man's parents?

I regret that the regulations preclude any grant of pension or gratuity in this case. The hon. Member has already been in communication with me, and I have explained to him that awards in such cases are dependent on the pecuniary and other circumstances of the parents.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the facts as set out in the question as to the circumstances under which the man died are not rather an exception to the circumstances which are provided for by the ordinary regulations?

The circumstances are only exceptional in that this case occurred in India in the unfortunate earthquake disaster, but they are not different in kind from those in the case of any man who died anywhere as a result of an accident when on duty, and the rules are the same in all the Services as regards pensions and other allowances.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the districts in which merchant vessels are being constructed or modernised under the terms of the British Shipping Assistance Act, Part II; and the number and tonnage under construction in each area?

(2) the total number of applications received to date for financial assistance under Part II of the British Shipping Assistance Act, and the total gross register tonnage involved and its value; the number of such applications granted, the number sanctioned on which work had begun, the number sanctioned on which work had not yet commenced, with the tonnages in each case, the number of applications rejected, with the number of applications now under consideration by the Government; and the number of vessels with their respective tonnages now being constructed or modernised under the terms of the Act?

The total number of applications received under Part II of the British Shipping (Assistance) Act is 28, covering 43 vessels aggregating approximately 158,000 tons gross, of an approximate value of £2,600,000. Ten of these applications, covering the building of 13 vessels totalling approximately 63,300 tons, have been approved. The shipowners concerned are now making their arrangements with shipbuilders for the construction of these vessels, but I have no information as to the number on which work has actually begun. The total number of applications rejected is 10, and the number still under consideration is eight. Eight of the 13 new vessels are to be constructed on the North-East Coast. The builders of the remaining five have not yet been selected.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his extremely valuable information, may I ask whether the experience of the last six months indicates that in his judgment the scheme is quite satisfactory and does not require any amendment in order to achieve the results for which we had all hoped?

So far as it has gone, it has been productive, but of course, we cannot in this kind of business expect results immediately.

Have models of all the ships concerned been tank tested?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that contracts under the Government's £10,000,000 scrap-and-build plan have been placed on the North-East Coast, whereas no such contracts have been placed upon the Clyde; and, in view of the fact that public money is involved, will he take steps to hasten the placing of orders for the Clyde and thus remove the discrimination that at present exists between the shipbuilders in these two areas?

I am aware of the facts stated in the first part of the question. I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraph 3 of the White Paper (Cmd. 4647), issued a year ago, which indicated that a shipowner would be free to select the firm to carry out the work of building or modernising anywhere in Great Britain. I am not prepared to alter this provision of the scheme.

In view of the fact that eight vessels are being built on the North-East Coast, and £10,000,000 is being spent, and in view of the condition of Merseyside and other ports, is it not possible to spread these orders better?

The selection of the North-East Coast shipyards was a selection made by the shipowners themselves, not by the Government.

But my point is that, in view of the depression and the applications that are being made from depressed areas, is it not possible to make recommendations to get this money scattered?

It is possible for me to give advice to the shipowners, but they need not take it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a feeling abroad in Scotland that the interests of Scotland are not so well looked after in the Cabinet as, say, those of the Tyne and Birmingham, and what does he propose to do about it?

Is it not a fact that a quite disproportionate amount of work has gone to the Clyde in comparison with the Tyne, and will my right hon. Friend strike a balance as far as he can in giving these orders in the future?

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware of the fact that no orders have been placed either on the Clyde, or on the Mersey, or on the Bristol Channel, and that the only place where they have been placed is the North-East Coast?

Nonsense.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the representations that have been made to him as to the adverse effect upon the long-term interests of Lancashire of the proposals contained in the Cotton Spinning Industry Bill, he can now state whether it is still the intention of the Government to proceed further with the Measure before the Summer Recess or during the current Session?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the statement as to business made by the Prime Minister yesterday.

Arising out of the comprehensive answer given by the right hon. Gentleman, can he say whether such representations have, in fact, been made to his Department?

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can give the House any information in connection with the order for seven timber-carrying steamers which has been placed in this country by the Russian Government?

I have been asked to reply. My hon. Friend regrets that he is unable to give the hon. Member information beyond that which has already appeared in the Press, but he understands that the Press reports as to the number and value of the vessels involved are substantially accurate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken to tighten up the enforcement of the Merchant Shipping Acts; and whether any steps will be taken to restore the old load-line regulations?

If the hon. Member has in mind action arising out of the recent inquiries into shipping casualties, I would refer him to the statement I made in this House on the 18th July. As regards the last part of the question, I am not aware of any proposals to alter the present load-line regulations. I might refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Burnley (Vice-Admiral Campbell) on 20th March last.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government have yet decided to submit to arbitration the case of the motor-ship "Omar," which is detained by the Finnish authorities?

The matter is still under consideration, but my right hon. Friend hopes to be in a position to make a statement shortly.

Will my right hon. Friend do all he possibly can to make an early decision in this matter which has been on the tapis for a very long time?

I will, but the matter concerns several Departments of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he has any information to give to the House with regard to the proposed new uniform for the Army?

No, Sir. No decision has yet been taken.

Will my right hon. Friend inform the House when a decision is likely to be arrived at on this matter?

I do not think that my hon. and gallant Friend will have to wait very much longer for an answer to his question, but I doubt whether I shall be able to give a decision before the House rises for the Summer Recess.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the low price of home-produced beef, he will arrange that the Forces shall be supplied with home-produced meat for at least three days per week during the contract period of October, 1935, to March, 1936?

Apart from administrative difficulties, the extra cost of supplying home-produced beef as against frozen beef of Dominion origin would, I regret, still be prohibitive as far as Army Funds are concerned.

Would it not be wise for the War Office to feed the British forces with British beef instead of with frozen produce from abroad?

Yes, Sir, it would be desirable, but unfortunately the extra cost that would be entailed by the proposal of my right hon. Friend would be at least £100,000 a year.

Would not this be cheaper than a subsidy from the Exchequer?

If the right hon. Gentleman asked Parliament for a grant of this kind, surely he would get it?

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the renewed attacks upon Jews in Germany and of the frequent injunctions against respect being shown even for the dead, he will take steps to ensure that the graves in Germany of British Jewish soldiers who were buried during the War will not be desecrated as have been many others?

The Imperial War Graves Commission, which is responsible for the maintenance of all British war graves in Germany, whether of Christians or of Jews, is satisfied that no desecration or attempts at desecration of the Jewish soldiers' graves under its charge has taken place in Germany. The Commission has its own British staff caring for the majority of the graves, and I do not think that any special steps are necessary.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the graves are protected by a German Act of 1920, and will he bring this to the notice of the Graves Commission so that they may see that the brutalities and desecrations which take place in other cemeteries will not take place in the case of the graves of British Jewish soldiers?

There has been no desecration of British graves in Germany, and I do not anticipate that there will be.