asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the demand in certain quarters for the return of the mandated territories to Germany, he will arrange to place in the Vote Office a supply of copies of the Report on the Natives of South-West Africa and their treatment by Germany, Cmd. 9146, which was originally presented to Parliament in August, 1918?

I regret that I am unable to arrange exceptionally for copies of the report to be placed in the Vote Office.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what has been the cost to the Exchequer since 1919 to the nearest available date for the scrapping of all out-of-date armaments, including guns, ships, and airplanes, for the three fighting Services?

Subject to over-riding operational requirements, it is the general practice of the Services to endeavour to arrange that new types of equipment are introduced in such a manner that old types are not displaced until they have become unserviceable from causes other than obsolescence. It would therefore be impracticable to distinguish between the cost of replacement of equipment on account of obsolescence and on account of other causes.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will supply a statement showing the period covered by State financial assistance to homegrown sugar prior to 1924–25, together with the amount and form in which that assistance was given?

Home-grown sugar was free from duty before 22nd September, 1915, chargeable with Excise duty at rates lower than the Customs rates from 22nd September, 1915, to 19th July, 1922, and again free from duty from 20th July, 1922, to 30th September, 1924. The advantage which it thereby obtained in comparison with imported sugar liable to the full Customs duty was as follows per cwt. of refined sugar:

Between 30th April and 30th September, 1924, no sugar was produced from home-grown beet; if it had been, the duty advantage on the same basis would have been 11s. 8d. per cwt.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the number of ex-service civil servants known as S-class men that have been awarded a 5s. increase by a decision of the Industrial Court; the total cost of the award to the Exchequer; and what other cases, if any, are pending decision by the Industrial Court that affect the ex-service civil servants?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the recent award of the Industrial Court (No. 1,640) relating to the special class clerks employed by the War Department and Air -Ministry. I am sending him a copy of this award, from which he will see that the increases granted affect a section, numbering about 1,800, of the special class clerks employed by the War Department and Air Ministry. The total cost of applying the award is estimated at £14,000 spread over about two years. As regards the last part of the question, the pay of the "S" class generally was settled by Industrial Court Award No. 1608, dated 11th March, 1935. I should explain that, although the large majority of the members of the "S" class are ex-service men, the class is not confined to this category.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will give the figures for the latest dates available of the number of school children who receive a free supply of milk and the number who receive milk at schools at the reduced price, and the total annual consumption of each category?

The number of school children receiving free milk in all types of grant-earning schools in England and Wales was about 300,000 on 1st October, 1935, the latest date for which figures are available. The number who received milk at school at that date at the reduced price under the Milk in Schools Scheme was about 2¼ millions. The annual consumption by the children who pay for milk is about 22,500,000 gallons. The annual consumption by the children who receive free milk cannot be accurately estimated, as these children receive varying amounts of milk, but it is probably about four million gallons.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will bring up to the latest available date the information given to the hon. Member for South Shields (Mr. Ede) in column 49 of the OFFICIAL REPORT for 15th July, 1929?

The information for which the hon. Member asks is given in the following table:

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will inquire into the reason for the serious delay in the erection of the new council school at Kingsbury, N.W.?

I assume that the question refers to the proposed new public elementary school at Springfields, East Kingsbury. Plans for this school were approved by the Board in June last, but the local education authority have experienced unexpected difficulty in obtaining possession of the site. I am informed that every effort is being made by them to secure completion of the necessary formalities as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will bring up to the last available date the information given to the hon. Member for South Shields (Mr. Ede) in columns 1643–44 of the OFFICIAL REPORT for 4th April, 1930?

The information for which the hon. Member asks is given in the following table:

asked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes to take to apply the recommendations contained in the interim report of the departmental committee on street lighting?

I have circulated copies of the report to all highway authorities and urban district councils in Great Britain who will, I trust, adopt the standard of street lighting recommended by the Committee.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can give any reason for the delay in announcing the result of the inquiry held in October last into the Marquess of Bute's objection to the local authority's proposal to extend the Kyles Road in the Island of Bute; and whether he can say when his decision will be given?

There are important questions of principle involved in this proposal, and I am about to announce my decision.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the recent accidents which have occurred on the Sennen Cove hotel road; and what steps he can take to have a safer and wider road made in this district?

I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend refers to the private road, known as Trinity Road, which leads to the Sennen Cove Hotel, and I am informed that only one accident, of a slight nature, is known to have occurred on the road in recent years. As the road is in private ownership I am afraid that I cannot intervene in the manner suggested, but I am looking into the matter and will communicate with him as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will take steps to include the River Neath and its tributaries in the catchment board; and will he state what acreage of agricultural land in the area has been destroyed by the overflowing of the Neath River within the last 20 years?

The River Neath (with two of its tributaries) for the greater part of its length is already part of the main river of the Mid-Glamorgan Rivers Catchment Area, and therefore under the control, for land drainage purposes, of the catchment board for that area. As to the second part of the question, I regret that I have no information, but I believe that the area of land on either side of the River Neath which is liable to be flooded is small.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is prepared to clear the silt in the Neath River from the sea shore at Briton Ferry, to make the river navigable as hitherto up to Neath River bridge; what number of unemployed persons could be employed to complete this work; and what acreage of land would be made available for the erection of works?

I have no power to take the action suggested in the first part of the question, and I regret that I have not the information asked for in the second and third part. I shall, however, be happy to bring the hon. Member's suggestion to the notice of the Catchment Board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the total pig population of Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk, and the total maximum throughput of the bacon factories in each of the above counties?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give the amount of subsidy expended in the conversion of liquid milk into dried milk for the export market and the gallonage of milk so converted?

£61,902 has been advanced to the Milk Marketing Board for England and Wales (under Section 1 of the Milk Act, 1934) in respect of 19,140,130 gallons of milk converted into milk powder. Total exports of milk powder from the United Kingdom as a whole during the period covered by these advances amounted to 5,365 cwt., the equivalent of 421,000 gallons of milk.

asked the Minister of Agriculture on what grounds the precedent set in the Wheat Act in having various interests represented has been departed from in connection with the sugar commission proposed to be set up in the Sugar Industry (Reorganisation) Bill?

The following statement shows the number of pigs returned by occupiers of agricultural holdings exceeding one acre on 4th June and 4th December, 1935, in each of the counties named. These figures exclude pigs kept by cottagers and others on small areas of land outside the scope of the agricultural returns. The statement also gives the annual curing capacity of the bacon factories in each of those counties, as stated to the Bacon Development Board by the curers concerned.

There is a precedent for both the representative and non-representative type of organisation. For example, while interests are represented on the Wheat Commission, they are not represented on the Cattle Committee. As it would not be possible to give an explanation of the reasons for the proposed constitution of the Sugar Commission within the limits of a reply to a Parliamentary question, I will make a statement on the Committee stage of the Sugar Industry (Reorganisation) Bill.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many more officers and men have been employed in consequence of the shipping subsidy?

No official statistics are available showing directly the increase in employment amongst officers and seamen as a result of the subsidy to tramp shipping, but the figures given in paragraph 7 of the Second Report of the Tramp Shipping Administrative Committee (Cmd. 5084) show that between the 1st April and the 31st December, 1935, the number of deep-sea tramps in commission increased by 57 vessels of 188,000 gross tons. The number of officers and seamen for whom employment was thus provided may be estimated at about 1,500. Additional employment would also be afforded in so far as tramp vessels were more regularly employed as a result of the subsidy.

The Tramp Shipping Administrative Committee estimate, in the above-mentioned paragraph of their report, that the increase in employment of deep-sea tramps since the 1st April, 1935, has accounted for an increase in employment of about 2,000 British officers and seamen. The official statistics of the number of engagements of officers and seamen at Mercantile Marine Offices in the United Kingdom for service on British foreign-going vessels of all kinds show that the number of engagements during the last three quarters of 1935 was 8,024 more than in the corresponding period of 1934. It will be appreciated that these figures relate to engagements and not to individual seamen, and may thus include several engagements of the same individuals.

asked the President of the Board of Trade under what Section of the Treaty of Peace Act he has authorised the reduction of duties imposed under the Import Duties Act?

Under Section One.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has been called in to intervene in the dispute which has arisen between the Dronfield Urban Council and the Chesterfield Rural District Council as to the terms of their water supply; and is he aware that a deadlock appears to have been reached in the negotiations and that the Chesterfield Rural District Council are threatening to cut off the supply of water to Dronfield?

This matter was discussed last November at a conference between the authorities concerned, held under the chairmanship of the clerk of the County Council, after which definite proposals were submitted to the Dronfield Urban District Council by the Chesterfield Rural District Council. I have received from the Dronfield Council a request that I may be represented at a further conference, but I am not aware that the other authorities concerned concur in this proposal. I have requested the Dronfield Council, if they are now unwilling to accept the proposals already mentioned, to formulate precisely their alternative proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the action of the Glasgow Corporation in withdrawing all facilities for officers' training corps and cadet corps in the Glasgow city schools; whether any other local authorities have taken similar action; and what do the Government propose to do in this matter, seeing that the officers' training corps are an integral part of the scheme for national defence?

Yes, Sir, my attention has been called to this matter, which is not the first case of its kind, and I am considering what action can be taken.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will give particulars and state the estimated cost of the ships now under construction, or about to be constructed, for His Majesty's Navy; and can he say how long these vessels are expected to be fully efficient?

For particulars of war vessels under construction, or about to be constructed, I would refer the hon. Member to the publication "Fleets" (Command Paper 5038) issued in December last, which also contains information as to the length of life assumed for each class of vessel. Estimates of cost of new construction are shown annually in the Programme Statement printed in the Navy Estimates, the 1936 issue of which, containing the latest information, will be available to Members early next month.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the cost to the United Kingdom of maintaining the naval squadron and establishment at Simonstown during each of the last three years?

The cost to the United Kingdom of maintaining the ships of the Africa Station and the establishment at Simonstown during the last three years was approximately as follows:

Differences in the constitution of the Squadron account for the variations in cost.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many men entered hospital on account of the results of vaccination in the 10-yearly periods 1915 to 1924 and 1925 to 1934?

I regret that the figures required are not available. In the period 1921–1934, however, the average number of men sick daily in hospital on account of the results of vaccination was approximately 0.017 per thousand of the total Force.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will consider the advisability of asking the Government of India in view of the failure of the duty on foreign linseed imposed as a result of the Ottawa Agreements to bring the expected benefit to Indian linseed growing, if they would be prepared to agree to the removal of this duty on any conditions?

I have been asked to reply. The imports of linseed from different countries vary considerably from year to year. The imports from India in 1933 were disappointing, but those in 1933 and 1934 greatly exceeded the figures for the years before the Ottawa Agreement with India came into force. My hon. Friend's representations will, however, be borne in mind in any discussions with the Government of India regarding the future of the Trade Agreement.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether he is aware that on the 12th November last the Travancore government cancelled the licence of a Christian newspaper of nine years' standing, the Kottayam Patrika, published at Kottayam by the Catholic Press, owing to an article defending the right of members of the depressed classes to become Christians; that this followed a government pronouncement promising religious toleration, and has caused widespread fear and protests; and whether he will ask the government of India to endeavour to induce the Travancore government to withdraw the cancellation and so restore confidence in their impartiality?

My noble Friend has no information on the subject. Since, however, the action alleged relates to internal administration in Travancore I must refer the noble Lady with reference to the last part of her question to the answer which I gave to her question on the 1st April last on a similar subject.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can give any report as to the sale of lower-priced postal orders in book form; and whether he would be prepared to authorise the issue of five-shilling and ten-shilling orders in similar book form?

About 22,000 books have been sold during the three months ending the 31st of January, 1936. I will consider the possibility of issuing books for higher denominations when the results of the present experiment are known.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he proposes to request householders to use letter boxes and to fix these letter boxes in a position in the front door where they will be reasonably convenient to the postman serving the district?

I am considering this question and I am glad to say that the Architectural and Building Trade Associations have already expressed their wish to co-operate in ensuring the provision of letter boxes with an aperture measuring at least eight inches by one and three-quarters inches, which is the most suitable size.

asked the Postmaster-General when the Report of the Ullswater Committee, regarding the future of the British Broadcasting Corporation, will be available for Members of the House?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for East Fife (Mr. J. H. Stewart) on Thursday last.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the cost of administration of the Unemployment Assistance Board for last year?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 11th February, 1936; col. 736, Vol. 308] supplied the following statement:

The administrative cost incurred directly by the Unemployment Assistance Board in respect of the financial year commencing 1st April, 1935 (including payments of £11,000 out of the Consolidated Fund) is estimated at approximately £1,700,000; this total includes about £1,400,000 for Headquarters and Outstations Staff, including travelling, etc., expenses, and about £300,000 for the services rendered by other Government Departments, including accruing liability in respect of superannuation allowances. This expenditure (apart from the charge on the Consolidated Fund) is borne on the Vote for the Unemployment Assistance Board.

In addition to the above charges, it is estimated that during the same period an expenditure of about £2,000,000 will be incurred by the Ministry of Labour in respect of work in connection with the receipt of claims for, and payment of, Unemployment Allowances; to this figure should be added a sum of about £550,000 in respect of the related costs of other Government Departments for services rendered to the Ministry (e.g., Premises, Postal Services, Stationery). This expenditure is borne finally on the Vote for Unemployment Assistance Allowances. The estimated total cost of administration of the Unemployment Assistance Scheme for the present financial year may be stated, therefore, at approximately £4,250,000.

asked the Home Secretary who was the first Prison Commissioner sent to inquire into the circumstances under which Sullivan escaped from Oxford Prison about two years ago; and if he will give the name of the official who went to Dartmoor to take charge just prior to the mutiny?

The original inquiry at Oxford was conducted by Colonel Turner, one of the Assistant Commissioners of Prisons. Amongst the prisons regularly visited by this Assistant Commissioner in the course of his duties are Oxford Prison and Dartmoor Prison, and he was visiting Dartmoor Prison on the day when the mutiny occurred in January, 1932. Colonel Turner has the complete confidence of the Prison Commissioners and of myself; and if there were any intention of making any imputation against him, I would ask that it may be made openly so that it may be answered.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attentian has been drawn to the confusion which has arisen as to whether cross-word puzzle competitions in the Press are to be considered as lotteries within the meaning of the Betting and Lotteries Act, 1934; and whether he will bring in a short explanatory Bill making clear that the Lotreries Act of 1934 is not applicable to cross-word or picture-puzzle competitions?

The question whether any particular competition is unlawful is a legal question which could be decided only by a competent court in the light of the particular facts, and my right hon. Friend does not see his way to propose legislation for the purpose of legalising all competitions of the kind referred to.

asked the Home Secretary whether scheme No. 107, registered by the Registrar of Friendly Societies, pursuant to Section 31 of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1925, has ever been materially amended since it was first certified in 1898 and, if so, at what dates and in what respects; whether he is satisfied that it provides a satisfactory alternative to the Workmen's Compensation Act; and whether he is aware that it is not made sufficiently clear to the workmen affected that they are contracting out of the Workmen's Compensation Act?

These schemes are renewed every five years, and I am informed by the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies, on whom the whole responsibility for certifying the schemes rests, that the scheme in question has been amended on each occasion of its renewal. It would not be possible to set out the various modifications within the limits of a Parliamentary reply, but in every case the amendment was in favour of the workmen. The Chief Registrar has certified on each occasion that the scheme provides scales of compensation not less favourable to the workmen and their dependants than the corresponding scales contained in the Act, and that it confers benefits at least equivalent to the workmen's contributions in addition to the benefits to which the workmen would have been entitled under the Act. The Chief Registrar has no reason to think that this is not still the case, or that proper steps have not been taken to acquaint the workmen with the effects of accepting the scheme.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that passports of refugees from Germany are now expiring and the consequent difficulties of securing visas on expired passports, the Government will be prepared to grant interim facilities pending the settlement of this problem of refugee passports by the League of Nations?

Facilities are already provided for the issue of travel documents by the Home Office to any foreigner in this country who wishes to go abroad and is unable to obtain a passport or renewal of an expired passport.