asked the Postmaster-General what is the actual cost to the Post Office of a telephone call after 7 p.m. between Bodmin and Wick and between Liverpool and Belfast, respectively?

The cost of a call between two particular points at a particular period of the day depends on the routing, the incidence of traffic on that route, and the plant and staff available. It could, therefore, only be ascertained by an elaborate and detailed study, the cost of which would hardly be justified.

asked the Postmaster-General how many letters and parcels, respectively, were handled during 1935?

It is estimated that approximately 7,200 millions of letters, letter-packets, postcards and printed papers were delivered in the calendar year 1935; during the same period the total number of parcels handled was more than 158 millions, including 5½ millions of Imperial and foreign parcels despatched, received and in transit.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is the practice of his Department to telephone the contents of telegrams to recipients who are on the telephone; whether, in such cases, a copy of the telegram is posted to the addressee; and, if not, whether the addressee is entitled to request a copy?

Telegrams are telephoned to the addressees as far as practicable whenever delivery would thereby be accelerated. A copy of the telegram is then posted to the addressee, unless he says that he does not want it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will see that satisfactory conditions of employment are established in firms carrying out contracts for Government aircraft?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given to his oral question yesterday afternoon.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how much it would cost to keep the British Museum open till 10 p.m. seven days a week, and the number of extra staff which would be employed, on a week not exceeding 48 hours?

The cost is estimated at approximately £14,000 a year and the number of additional staff at about 100.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state, for the period 1st April to 31st December, 1935, the number of S-class clerks promoted to the clerical classes, the number of writing assistants, shorthand-typists, and typists promoted to the clerical classes, and the number of open competition recruits to the clerical classes, in each department of the Civil Service?

Statistics of this type are, in the interests of economy, compiled at intervals of 12 months only and are related to financial years. The figures for the period to which my hon. Friend refers will be included in the returns for the year ending the 31st March next, which will not be available for some months' time.

asked the Postmaster-General when steps will be taken to accord writing-assistant grading to women officers established under the 1934 temporary staffs Report and now engaged whole time on the duties of the writing-assistant grade?

The grading that will be accorded to the women officers referred to, who have been established under the 1934 Temporary Staff Report, is awaiting the determination of the future pay and conditions of service of the writing-assistant class in the light of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service, 1929–1931, to which consideration is now being given.

asked the Secretary for Mines what steps have been taken since the conference in June, 1934, with the then Secretary for Mines to reduce the risks of contracting silicosis in the South Wales anthracite area; what practical measures have been approved; and what new devices have been tried since the above named conference?

Since the conference referred to there has been effected in this area an extended use of the available measures for suppressing dangerous dust, these measures including approved dust traps for power drills, water feed drills, and improved ventilation of headings and other confined spaces. Simultaneously, active steps have been taken to improve and simplify available preventive methods, and to develop new methods, notably an effective dust respirator, an electric drill which produces very little fine dust, and a mist or spray projector to deal principally with the dust raised by shotfiring. Progress has been made and the work continues.

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether he will expedite the procedure for the examination of men suffering from silicosis before the medical board;

(2) whether he will appoint a committee to inquire into the complaints of miners from the South Wales anthracite district as to the delays in the certification and the general unsatisfactory working of the Silicosis Order?

No complaints of the kind referred to appear to have been received recently by the Home Office. On the question of delays, the desirability of applications being dealt with as expeditiously as the inquiries and examinations involved permit, is fully appreciated by the Home Office and the Medical Board and, as the hon. Member will be aware, the headquarters of the Panel of the Board dealing with South Wales cases was moved towards the end of last year from Bristol to Cardiff with a view further to expediting their work. If, however, the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of cases in which undue delay is alleged or other matters complained of, I shall be glad to consider them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will ensure that the questions of Saturday half-days and Sunday employment are included among the subjects now being considered by the committee of inquiry into agricultural wages and conditions of work in Scotland?

The reference to the Committee on Farm Workers in Scotland was purposely drawn as widely as possible in order to include all such matters as those referred to by my hon. Friend. I am sending him a copy of the terms of reference.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the suspension of the by-law with reference to ring-net fishing, any special precautions are being taken by patrol boats, or otherwise, to report on and, as far as possible to prevent, disturbances between drift and ring-net interests during the present herring-fishing season in the Firth of Forth?

The fishery cruisers, which patrol the Firth of Forth, have been instructed to keep the herring-fishing operations under close observation; and fishery officers have instructions to report all cases of damage to gear intimated to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of men time expired with pension for the years 1932, 1933, and 1934, with the minimum and maximum pension retired from the police force in Scotland?

The number of police who had retired on age grounds or on completion of 25 years service or over and who were in receipt of pensions as at 15th May in the years 1932, 1933 and 1934 is as follows:

The number who retired on age grounds or on completion of 25 years service or over during those years is:—

When retirement is not on medical grounds, the minimum pension is 30/60ths, and the maximum pension is 40/60ths, of the pensionable pay.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can arrange to issue a memorandum showing the effect in respect of the principal articles concerned of the trade agreements made with foreign countries which are due for revision or termination during the present year?

I am not clear exactly what my hon. Friend has in mind, but if he would care to communicate with me explaining what he wishes in detail, I shall be happy to supply him with any available information.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the position in respect of the balance of payments between this country and Soviet Russia under the provisions of the trade agreement of 1934?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on the 4th February to the question asked by the hon. and gallant Member for Lewisham, East (Sir A. Pownall).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an undertaking that the present restrictions on our freedom to adopt a satisfactory meat policy shall not continue beyond the period for which the trade agreement 'with the Argentine Republic was originally arranged; and whether, in order to ensure that result, he will give an undertaking to give notice of renunciation of the agreement not later than 7th May?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave on the 6th February to the hon. Member for Croydon, South (Mr. H. G. Williams).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the copy sent to him of a resolution passed at a recent meeting of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce urging the need of further expeditious action for the protection of industries threatened by the influx of subsidised commodities from foreign countries at prices at which British manufacturers cannot compete; and will he consider the advisability of taking action to prevent subsidised dumping outweighing the existing protective duties?

I cannot trace the receipt of such a resolution passed by the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. The question of the duties to be placed on particular classes of commodities is a matter for the Import Duties Advisory Committee in the first instance.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can give any estimate of the number of children who are receiving maintenance grants or financial help, over and above the actual cost of their education, who are attending secondary schools at the ages between 13 and 14, and between the ages 14 and 15, respectively, at the last available dates?

I regret that I have not the precise information for which the hon. Member asks. In the school year 1933–34 42,969 pupils in grant-aided secondary schools under the age of 14 years on 1st October, 1933, and 22,069 pupils between 14 and 16 on that date received maintenance allowances. In addition an unknown number of children received assistance towards their travelling expenses.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many children left school in 1933, 1934, and 1935; and how many are expected to leave in 1936, 1937, and 1938, respectively?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the Noble Lady, the Member for Kinross and West Perth (Duchess of Atholl) on 24th October, 1935, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Pensions the total number of widows' pensions granted under Article 17b of the 1924 Warrant; and the total number granted under Article 17a of the same warrant?

The total number of widows' pensions which have, up to date, been granted under Article 17a of the Warrant is 4,750 and under Article 17b of the Warrant 8,600.

asked the Minister of Pensions the total number of new awards of dependants' need pensions made during the 12 months ended 31st December, 1935?

Awards of dependants' need pension were made during the period referred to in 841 cases, including 229 cases in which a pension that had lapsed was restored.

asked the Minister of Pensions the total number of first claims to pensions, submitted outside the statutory time limit of seven years, that have been admitted by the Ministry; and, of that number how many pensions are still in issue?

The total number of cases in which pension or other form of pecuniary compensation has been granted to disabled officers and men who have preferred late claims is 3,251, of which about 2,260 are still in issue.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the appointment of a Territorial Army officer of senior rank to be an assistant to the Director-General, Territorial Army, and to advise him from the Territorial Army point of view?

An Advisory Committee, composed mainly of serving Territorial Army officers and representatives of Territorial Army Associations from different parts of the country, was set up only last year for the purpose of keeping the War Office in close touch with current Territorial Army problems and of representing the Territorial Army point of view. In these circumstances I think it would be well to defer further consideration of the suggestion put forward by my hon. Friend for the present.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will alter existing Territorial Army regulations to permit the enlistment of men up to 20 per cent. above establishment in Territorial Army units in order to ensure that such units may go to their annual training camps as nearly as possible up to the establishment strength?

The regulations already provide for enlistments, in certain circumstances, up to 5 per cent. above establishment, and until there is a marked improvement in recruiting, I am not satisfied that there is any real need to amend the regulations in the manner suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he intends to take any action to induce employers to encourage their employés to join the Territorial Army; and whether he will consider the establishment of a special roll of employers who assist their employés in joining the Territorial Army, with a distinctive badge and other privileges for its members?

I am always glad to consider any suggestion for encouraging recruitment, and that put forward by my hon. Friend will be borne in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the new financial arrangements which have been made governing the employment of military bands at seaside and health resorts; and whether and for what reason there has been any increase in the rates charged for such bands?

Experience gained over the last six years, during which the charges for civil engagements by Army bands have been more or less a matter of free negotiation in each case, has proved the necessity of reintroducing a minimum rate of charge. The rates now laid down approximate closely both to the old scale and to the average fees recently obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there are any British Colonies in which British purchasers of raw materials have an advantage over foreign purchasers; and what these raw materials are and what are the advantages accruing to such British purchasers?

There is no part of the Colonial Empire in which any legal discrimination in the purchase of raw materials is made on the basis of the nationality of the purchaser; but in three territories, Nigeria, the Federated Malay States and Johore, additional export duties are charged on tin exported for smelting in any country outside the British Empire.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the comparative numbers of men and boys, and also females, employed on spinning frames in the cotton trade in Lancashire?

I regret that I am not in possession of information showing the numbers of persons employed on cotton spinning frames in Lancashire. In the preparing and spinning departments of the cotton industry in Lancashire, the estimated total numbers of insured persons, and the numbers of such persons in employment, at the end of June, 1935 (the latest date for which figures have been compiled) were as shown below, but the available information does not enable these totals to be analysed so as to show the numbers employed in particular occupations.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will, at an early date, cause an inquiry to be held as to the practicability of introducing a scheme for unemployment insurance for those outdoor domestic servants on whom a duty of 15s. per annum is now paid, in view of the fact that their numbers and the average period of their employment can easily be ascertained from the licence holders, and thus the measure of their unemployment can be accurately gauged?

I do not think this question could very well be considered apart from the position of domestic servants in general.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give consideration to increasing the number of pages in passports in order to eliminate the bulky document which often now consists of two or three passports joined together?

British passports conform to the model recommended by the International Conference held in 1920. They consist of 32 pages of which 27 are available for visas. In the vast majority of cases this provides ample space for the full ten years validity of the passport. It is only in comparatively exceptional cases that it is necessary to attach a previous passport and even this is only done for the convenience of individual holders, in cases where the passport bears a visa which has not expired. My right hon. Friend does not therefore consider that it would be in the general interest of the travelling public to make passports more bulky by increasing the number of pages.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the events following a demonstration of unarmed Chinese students in the international settlement of Shanghai on 24th December last; whether he will inquire into the action taken by British police units in suppressing the demonstration; and whether he will take steps to prevent a repetition of the treatment meted out to youthful and weaponless demonstrators by the police concerned?

My right hon. Friend has no information on this subject beyond what has appeared in the Press, but he has requested His Majesty's Ambassador in China to furnish him with a report.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Customs revenue collected at the ports in the two provinces of Kwangsi and Kwangtung, in China, are still handed over to the Canton authorities; and can he state what deductions are made from the same?

I have no details as to the method of handling the customs revenue in these two provinces. Accounts published by the Chinese Ministry of Finance indicate, however, the receipt from Canton of customs revenue amounting to over nine and a-half million dollars for 1935 compared with eight million dollars for 1934. I have no information as to the last part of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any other country has given concessions to Yugoslavia similar to those given to her by this country under the Treaty of Peace (Covenant of the League of Nations) (No. 4) Order, 1935?

My right hon. Friend has no information on this point.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state the number of British subjects who are at present attached to the British Embassy in Moscow, and at Leningrad, Vladivostock, and other cities in Russia, and the number of Soviet citizens employed in similar positions in Great Britain?

There are at present 16 British subjects attached to His Majesty's Embassy at Moscow, including the military and naval attaches and the commercial counsellor with their respective clerical staffs, while five British subjects are employed at the two British Consular establishments in the Soviet Union, at Moscow and at Leningrad. There are, I understand, 16 Soviet citizens on the senior and clerical staff of the Soviet Embassy in London, while a consul-general and a vice-consul are employed at the Soviet Consulate-General in London, the sole Soviet Consular establishment in the United Kingdom. Other Soviet citizens may also be employed at the Consulate-General; but my right hon. Friend has no figures of these. None of the figures given includes domestic servants.

asked the Home Secretary how many children under 10 years are at present detained in approved schools; whether he is satisfied that in all cases the principle laid down in Section 44 (2) of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, to the effect that children under 10 years should only be sent to approved schools in exceptional cases, has been observed; and will he urge juvenile courts and local authorities to observe the provisions of the said Section, and also of Section 76 of the Act?

The attention of the Home Office was recently drawn to the number of young children in Approved Schools and it was decided to ask the schools for particulars. When this information is collected I will consider whether any circular can usefully be issued. I have no reason to think that Juvenile Courts and local authorities are unaware of the provisions of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, as to the boarding-out of children under 10.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the representations made to him in regard to the alleged existence of abuse in connection with the adoption of children; and whether he proposes to appoint a committee to inquire into this matter?

Yes, Sir. I have appointed a committee for this purpose and I have been fortunate enough to secure the services of the senior Member for Dundee (Miss Horsbrugh) as chairman of the committee. The warrant of appointment is as follows:

I hereby appoint: Miss Florence Horsbrugh, M.P., Mr. Benjamin Edward Astbury, Mr. John Henry Harris, Mr. J. J. Mallon, LL.D., J.P., Mr. Brian Manning, F.C.A., J.P., Mrs. Montagu Norman, and Mr. Geoffrey W. Russell, to be a Committee to inquire into the methods pursued by adoption societies or other agencies engaged in arranging for the adoption of children and to report whether any, and, if so, what measures should be taken in the public interest to supervise or control their activities.

And I further appoint Miss Horsbrugh to be Chairman and Mr. J. A. R. Pimlott, of the Home Office to be Secretary of the Committee.

(Signed) JOHN SIMON.

Home Office,

31st January, 1936.

asked the Home Secretary what steps, if any, have been taken to deal with bogus clubs, so strongly criticised by the Commissioner of Police in his last report?

I have this important matter under serious consideration, but I am not in a position to make any further statement at present.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will state the number of prosecutions of growers under the Potato Marketing Scheme (Statutory Rules and Orders), 1933, for failing to pay the levy enforced under those regulations?

Registered producers under the Potato Marketing Scheme cannot be prosecuted for failing to pay contributions under the Scheme. The procedure is for the Board to take proceedings in a Civil Court for recovery as a debt. I am informed that in 1,456 cases of unpaid contributions proceedings for recovery were begun, but in 768 of them payment was made without the necessity of a Court hearing. These figures relate to the period between the inception of the Scheme on 21st December, 1933, and the 31st August, 1936, at which date the number of producers registered under the Scheme was 66,077.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the increase in foreign-caught fish imported into this country from Iceland, Denmark, and Norway during the last year as compared with the preceding 12 months; and whether any of these countries have different interpretations as to the extent of territorial waters in which foreign fishing is not permitted from those which we have in this country?

The quantity of foreign-caught fish imported from Iceland in 1935 was greater by 26,253 cwts. than in 1934; the quantity imported from Norway increased by 285,590 cwts.; while the quantity imported from Denmark was less by 24,265 cwts. than in 1934. In reply to the second part of the question, the views of the Governments of Iceland and Norway to the extent of territorial jurisdiction in the sea are at variance with those of His Majesty's Government, which is endeavouring to negotiate with the Norwegian Government an agreement for the regulation of fishing in proximity to the coasts of Norway with a view to the avoidance of further disputes.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the recent disclosures at coroners' proceedings that doctors write prescriptions so illegibly that in many cases the address and signature are indecipherable and of the serious developments to which such practices are giving rise, especially in the issue of drugs, he will consider taking action to ensure that prescriptions shall not be dispensed unless easily legible?

I have no information that would lead me to suppose that the practice referred to is prevalent or has been productive of any harm to the public. There are, as the hon. and gallant Member will be aware, various legal requirements in regard to the dispensing of poisons and dangerous drugs which seem to provide such safeguards as may be necessary.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, when the charter of the British Broadcasting Corporation comes up for renewal, he will have provisions inserted therein that future appointments to all branches of the staff of the British Broadcasting Corporation shall be by competitive public examination as applies in the Civil Service?

I am not in a position to make any statement on this subject pending consideration of the recommendations of the Ullswater Committee.

asked the Postmaster-General when the report on the British Broadcasting Corporation will be published?

The Government is now considering the recommendations of the Ullswater Committee on Broadcasting, and I hope that I shall be able to present the Committee's report to Parliament in the near future.