asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken in view of the export of Italian cheese to Switzerland to mature and the high percentage which maturing forms of its value on re-export to this country, to prevent this cheese from escaping sanctions?

Italian cheese, like other Italian goods, is subject to the prohibition of Italian imports from whatever country consigned, and the usual measures taken to prevent the evasion of the prohibition would apply. I shall, however, welcome any more detailed information which the hon. Member can give me with regard to this cheese.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the Committee of Eighteen is to meet at Geneva to consider the report of the committee on the feasibility of an embargo on the import of oil into the territories of the Covenant-breaking State?

No date for the meeting has yet been fixed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what contributions are being received from the League of Nations to defray the cost of the special measures taken by this country in the Mediterranean in defence of League principles?

No such contributions are being received.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that the export of coal to Italy fell from 316,112 tons in January, 1934, to 11,227 tons in January, 1936; and will he state in which way the miners are to be compensated for this reduction caused by sanctions?

I am aware of the decline in the export of coal from this country to Italy, but I cannot accept the hon. Member's statement that this is solely due to the application of sanctions. I would remind him that before sanctions were applied the export of coal to Italy was rapidly and consistently declining owing to the difficulty of securing payment. In these circumstances no question of compensation arises.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent the special measures taken in connection with the Italo-Abyssinian dispute represent an increase of overseas strength?

It would not be in the public interest to disclose this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government still adhere to that part of the speech delivered in their name at Geneva on 11th September last by the right hon. Member for Chelsea in which he expressed the willingness of the British Government to investigate in conference and in an atmosphere of peace better access for various states to colonial raw materials?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which I made on this subject on 5th February last, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn, in the Commissioner's Report for the special areas, to the grave difficulty that exists in obtaining the necessary finance for new and expanding industries in the special areas by normal channels unless some form of Government guarantee is given; and will he indicate what steps, if any, he proposes to take to overcome this?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative and to the second that the matter is receiving consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the commissioners of special areas are in a position to make grants to local authorities for the purpose of constructing playing fields, notwithstanding that the provision of such fields will not directly be a stimulus to attract new industries?

I would refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 265 to 299 of the Second Report of the Commissioner for Special Areas (England and Wales) which was presented to Parliament last week.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the burden of rates levied for poor law purposes in Durham county and the fact that it is a depressed area with large numbers of unemployed, he is prepared to give increased grants so as to make it possible for the county council to get on with its five-year roads and bridges programme?

I have already increased the rates of grants from the Road Fund available to certain counties, including Durham, for works on trunk roads and works on other Class I roads, which include dual carriage-ways and cycle tracks. In determining the rates of grant available for these purposes I have had regard to the relative financial position of each county as indicated by the formula adopted in the Local Government Act, 1929, for the purpose of calculating the General Exchequer Contribution to local authorities, and have accorded Durham the most favourable treatment.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the railway companies, in contravention of Section 11, Sub-section (2), of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, are lodging objections against applications for road service licences in those districts where they are not themselves providing suitable facilities; and whether he will take action to put an end to this?

I think my hon. and gallant Friend must be under a misapprehension. The Licensing Authorities are required to take into consideration objections by persons already providing transport facilities in the district or between the places which the applicant intends to serve. It is for the Licensing Authorities at the hearing to determine whether the already existing facilities are suitable.

asked the Minister of Transport with regard to the census taken of the vehicles which traversed the main road from Birmingham to Coventry how many vehicles used this road during a period of 24 hours on the most recent available date, and also the number of these vehicles which travelled during the night; and can similar statistics be supplied relative to the road from Birmingham to Stratford-on-Avon?

Following is the information:

In addition, the records show that the average number of vehicles which passed certain other points on the roads in question during the 16 hours from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. of each day in the week mentioned, were as follow:

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents, specifying deaths and injuries, occurred during the last 12 months of which he has statistics, on the main road from Birmingham to Coventry and also on the road from Birmingham to Stratford-on-Avon; and how many of these accidents took place during the hours when lighting was necessary?

I am asking the Chief Constables of the area concerned if they can furnish the information desired.

asked the Minister of Transport how many local authorities are responsible for the lighting of the main

According to the census of traffic on Class I roads taken last summer, the average numbers of vehicles which passed points on the Birmingham—Coventry Road (A.45) and the Birmingham—Strat-ford-upon-Avon Road (A.42) during each day of 24 hours in the week beginning on the 12th August, were as follow:

road from Birmingham to Coventry; and also for the road from Birmingham to Stratford-on-Avon?

Lighting powers are conferred upon the Councils of Non-County Boroughs and Urban and Rural Districts under the provisions of Sections 161 and 276 of the Public Health Act, 1875, and upon Parish Councils who have adopted the provisions of the Lighting and Watching Act, 1833. The number of authorities who have adopted these powers in respect of the lighting of the two main roads referred to could only be ascertained by local inquiries.

asked the Minister of Transport the total value of the orders, placed in South Wales in connection with the railway development scheme?

The railway companies are seeking in their Bills of this Session the powers necessary to enable them to implement the agreements made last year; naturally, therefore, few orders have yet been placed. I am informed that up to the present orders to the value of £46,000 have been placed in South Wales, but this figure is no indication of the value of the material for which orders will in due course be placed there as a consequence of the scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider introducing legislation to make compulsory upon railway companies the provision on all trains of flares to be used for the purposes of warning on-coming trains after an accident or other mishap?

The use of flares for this purpose has been fully investigated and after extensive experiments a year or two ago the conclusion was reached that the provision of flares as an additional safeguard for the protection of trains was not justified.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, to increase the speed of traffic in London streets, he will consider the issue of instructions, if necessary by by-law, that empty taximeter cabs plying for hire and in movement shall always give precedence to taximeter cabs actually chartered by members of the public?

I am advised that it is doubtful whether such a regulation would have the effect desired.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is prepared to consider vesting the control of motor traffic in a special corps recruited for that purpose and paid from the Road Fund, observing that county authorities everywhere have to recruit more and more police who, while forming a burden on the rates, are required only to deal with the growing volume of motor traffic and not for the detection and prevention of crime?

There are many difficulties in the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion, of which I have notwithstanding taken a note. The most efficient methods of controlling motor and other traffic on the roads is a matter in which I am in discussion with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that from time to time drivers of motor cars are prosecuted on the ground of being in charge of a motor car while under the influence of drink, and in defence it being stated that their condition was due to the effect of insulin dosage, whether he will make it a condition for granting a licence to a diabetic under insulin treatment that he should state this in the declaration as to physical fitness required when applying for a driving licence?

On the facts placed before me, I do not think that I should have sufficient ground for taking the course recommended by the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the number of bulk and standard barrels, proof gallons of spirits, and gallons of wine estimated to have been retained for consumption in Northern Ireland during 1935, and the estimated revenue in respect of each of the said items chargeable to Northern Ireland?

Estimated quantities of spirits, beer and wine retained for consumption in Northern Ireland during the calendar year 1935, and the estimated revenue attributable thereto:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to apply the principle of dealing with pension anomalies to all Pensions Acts?

I do not understand from the hon. Member's question what principle he is referring to, but if he will put down a question explaining more specifically what he has in mind I will endeavour to answer it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the difficulty experienced by middle-aged spinsters in finding employment and the consequent hardship which they suffer, he will favourably consider an amendment of the law to enable necessitous spinsters to become entitled to a pension at an earlier age?

No, Sir. Similar proposals have been made in the past and it has not been found practicable to adopt them.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider, when introducing legislation dealing with any extension of the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, the position of men reaching 65 years of age and getting the contributory pension, whose wives are not in receipt of it owing to not having reached the age of 65?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 9th December, 1935, to the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider altering the Old Age Pensions Act so as to allow a local authority maintaining an old age pensioner in one of its institutions to receive the amount of the pension thereby forfeited by the recipient?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 6th February to my hon. Friends the Members for the Central Division of Newcastle-on-Tyne (Mr. Denville) and for Dudley (Mr. Joel).

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the disqualification of men who attained the age of 65 during the last six months for the contributory pension, due to the applicants' failure to pay contributions in consequence of long unemployment; and will he make the necessary provision to enable such old people to draw their pensions, particularly where they have paid contributions to the fund for over 10 years?

No, Sir. Substantial provision is made in the Contributory Pensions Acts to safeguard the pension rights of unemployed insured persons. These provisions, which up to 31st December, 1935, were temporary, were made permanent on a new basis by the National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions Act of that year.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether his attention has been called to the recommendation of his inspector that he is not justified in directing a payment to be made under Section 64 of the Housing Act, 1935, in respect of 1 to 4, Lock's Square, Southwark; whether the inspector was aware that in 1934 an expenditure of nearly £200 was carried out on this property; and why, in the circumstances, effect is not given to Clause 64 of the Housing Act, 1935;

(2) whether he is satisfied that his inspector who viewed the premises at 1 to 7, Lock's Square, Southwark, in connection with an inquiry into the operation of a compulsory purchase order, inspected each house individually; and whether an inspector is required to inspect each house individually by personally viewing from the outside or by entering into the house?

I am aware of the facts in the case to which my hon. Friend refers. All seven houses were viewed by my inspector: it was not possible to gain access to two of the houses but the representative of the owner who accompanied my inspector informed him that these two houses were in a similar condition to the other five houses. These five were inspected both externally and internally and were found to be very poor houses in a bad state of repair. I am satisfied that these houses had not been well maintained.

asked the Minister of Health which rural district councils in England and Wales have made arrangements with private builders under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1933; and the total number of houses involved in such arrangements?

The following Rural District Councils have given guarantees in respect of a total of 1,568 houses:

In addition guarantees have been promised, or are the subject of active negotiations with the Local Authorities in respect of 1,306 houses in the following rural districts:

asked the Minister of Health whether his Department has received any statistics to show the extent of overcrowding under the Housing Act of 1935; and, if so, whether he can give details?

I have fixed, after consulting the local authorities, the 1st April as the date by which the overcrowding surveys in all areas are to be completed. My information is that these surveys are proceeding satisfactorily, and I have already received statistical reports from 17 local authorities. It will not be possible to give general overcrowding statistics until the reports from all authorities are in my hands.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has given consideration to the desire of the Bootle corporation for an extension of the borough boundary and to the request of the Liverpool city council for an inquiry into the possibilities of co-ordination or amalgamation of the public services carried out by local authorities on the east side of the Mersey estuary; when will the inquiry be held; and when will the findings be published?

A Bill for the extension of the boundaries of the Borough of Bootle was presented to Parliament in its last Session but was not passed. As regards the remaining parts of the question I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the letter addressed by my Department in May last to the Corporation of Liverpool in reply to the request to which he refers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of the First Division of the Court of Session in the appeal by Aberdeen County Council against the decision of a sheriff who held that the Poor Law Act of 1934 prohibited local relieving officers from taking into account the first £l of a disability pension; and whether he will introduce amending legislation at an early date to carry out the intention of the Government to disregard such disability pension payments in granting public assistance?

My right hon. Friend has seen a report of a decision pronounced by the First Division of the Court of Session on 13th February relating to the rights of a disability pensioner to poor relief Close investigation is being made into the circumstances of the case and the precise import of the decision, but in the meantime it is impossible to express any view as to what action, if any, may be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the fishery drifters, which took up patrol duty in 1934 to prevent illegal trawling, are still in service; and, if not, whether, in view of their extra efficiency, being indistinguishable from ordinary drifters, all of which were widely avoided as a result, he will renew and extend their operations?

The arrangements for employing steam drifters which were made in 1934 have been continued and four drifters are at present in service. The second part of the question does not therefore arise, but arrangements for securing the greatest efficiency in the patrol are receiving my constant attention and the new cruiser, "Vigilant" has begun her duties on the West Coast.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in view of the cost and difficulties in policing the three-mile limit in the Western Isles, whether he will consider closing the Minch to trawlers from a line between Cape Wrath and Butt of Lewis to a line between Barra Head and the Rhinns of Islay, in the same way as the Norwegian Government has successfully closed to trawlers the Vestfjord, between the Lofoten Islands and the mainland?

Parliament has conferred no powers for the closure of the straits in question to trawling and in the circumstances the suggestion made in the question is not one which I can consider.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the decision of the House of Lords in the rating appeal of the Southern Railway Company under which its rating has been reduced by about 50 per cent., and also in view of the consequent heavy reduction in the case of all the railway companies similarly affected of the amounts available for rebating the railway-carriage charges on the selected traffic, he will take the necessary steps to ensure that the maximum benefit shall accrue to farmers in the circumstances brought about by the said judgment?

I have been asked to reply. My hon. Friend may rest assured that the interests of agriculture in the railway freight rebate scheme, as it may be affected by the decision of this and other pending cases, is not being overlooked.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the present low price of oats; and whether he is contemplating any steps to improve the position of the oat producer in the United Kingdom?

I have nothing to add to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen East (Mr. Boothby) on the 19th December and 18th February last, copies of which I am sending to him.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the greatest number of gallons of milk in any summer month and the smallest number of gallons of milk in any winter month in respect of which advances under Sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Milk Act, 1934, have been paid?

The greatest summer gallonage on which advances have been paid was produced in May, 1935. Advances have been paid under Sections 1 and 3 in respect of 28,771,828 gallons of milk used for manufacture in that month. Claims for advances under Section 2 in respect of May, 1935, have not yet been received, but it is estimated that they will relate to a further 350,056 gallons, making a total of 29,121,884 gallons. The smallest winter gailonage on which advances have been paid was produced in November, 1934. Advances have been paid under Sections 1, 2 and 3 in respect of 10,678,319 gallons of milk used for manufacture in that month.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any estimate can be given of the quantity and value of British exports carried in foreign ships during the past four years; how many of these ships are subsidised by foreign countries; and whether he will take measures to prevent British exports being carried in ships owned by foreign owners in which the wages and working conditions of those employed in them are not equal to the wages, etc., paid by the best employers of labour to workers in British ships carrying similar cargoes?

There are no official statistics showing the quantity and value of the exports loaded at ports in the United Kingdom in foreign ships during the past four years, but some indication of the extent to which foreign ships engaged in the export trade of this country is provided by the figures relating to the net tonnage of foreign ships clearing from United Kingdom ports with cargo. The Governments of most of the countries specified in the table provide financial assistance to a greater or a less degree for their mercantile marines, but it is not possible to say what proportion of the foreign vessels clearing from United Kingdom ports with cargo are subsidised.

With regard to the last part of the question my right hon. Friend does not consider it feasible to discriminate

asked the President of the Board of Trade the percentage increase in wholesale prices of basic materials, intermediate products and manufactured articles, respectively, during the last 12 months?

The Board of Trade index numbers of wholesale prices of industrial materials and manufactures (except fuel), classified according to the stage of completion which the products have reached, showed the following increases in January, 1936, as compared with January, 1935:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that an Association of Fixed Trust Managers is now being constituted which will provide a standard of control which will afford adequate protection for the

against foreign ships in United Kingdom ports on the grounds suggested by the hon. Member.

investing public; and, under these circumstances, will he now reconsider his intention to appoint a departmental committee to examine the activities of fixed trusts?

My right hon. Friend's attention has been drawn to the proposed formation of an Association of Fixed Trust Managers, but he sees no reason for modifying the decision which he announced to this House on the 11th. February.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the exports of coal to France, Germany, Denmark and South America for each year since 1930?

The following table shows the quantity of coal exported from the United Kingdom during each of the years 1930 to 1935, and consigned to France, Germany, Denmark and countries in South America.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that the export of coal to Canada fell from 29,553 tons in January, 1934, to 18,261 tons in January, 1936; and can he give any reason for the reduction?

Yes, Sir. The reason is that the Canadian winter of 1933–34 was severe, while this winter, up to the end of last year, was mild and the accumulation of stocks affected the January demand.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of persons under 16 years of age killed, and seriously injured, in the mining industry during each of the last four years?

I am obtaining this information and will send it to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement showing the total amount of mining royalties paid in the last full year, the names of the recipients, and the amount received by each?

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will endeavour to persuade the colliery owners in the North Derbyshire coalfield to so organise the operations of their industry as to provide full shifts of work rather than part shifts on successive days when a full week's work is not available; and will he recommend that Sunday work shall only be undertaken when absolutely necessary?

With regard to the first part of the question, this appears to be a matter for arrangement between employers and employed, and not one in which I can interfere in any way. As to the second part, I have no reason to believe that productive work is being carried out on Sundays at collieries in North Derbyshire. I may perhaps add that in this matter I am fully in accord with the views expressed more than once in this House by my predecessor in office, and I should strongly disapprove of work other than necessary maintenance work being done on Sundays.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will satisfy himself that no person is working underground at the Pilsley colliery, Derbyshire, who is not 16 years of age?

I am not clear as to the hon. Member's meaning. The law provides that no boy under fourteen shall be employed belowground in a mine. There is nothing illegal in so employing boys over that age.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that a number of men from 25 to 35 years of age are being certified as suffering from silicosis in the anthracite district of South Wales; and will he say what practical steps are being taken to deal with the prevention of this disease?

The answer to the first part of the question is yes. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question of 13th February.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has any information about the barrier of coal left unworked between the different colliery company workings in the Forest of Dean; and what is the approximate tonnage of this abandoned coal?

I regret that I have no information.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many foam-traps are used in the collieries in the anthracite district of South Wales; and will he state the names of the collieries where they are so used and the dates when such traps were introduced?

I am informed that no foam-dust traps are in use at present in the anthracite district of South Wales. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary for Mines the amount of overtime worked at the Blidworth colliery, Notts, during the month of January, 1936, giving the number of shifts on which it was worked, the number of men involved, and for what reasons the overtime was worked?

I am in formed that the total amount of overtime worked during the month of January, 1936, was 575½ hours. The number of shifts on which it was worked was 10; the number of men involved was 375; and the reasons were as follows:

(1) electrical trouble on two occasions;

(2) bad roof conditions on seven occasions;

(3)shortage of wagons on one occasion.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the number of days during the months of November and December, 1935, on which overtime was worked by the underground employés of the Babbington Colliery Company, Limited, at the Tibshelf Colliery, Derbyshire; how many man shifts were involved; and the percentage number of men employed who worked at some period between the normal termination of the day shift on Saturday and the normal commencement of the day shift on Monday during the months in question?

The following is the information:

The number of men employed who worked at some period between the normal termination of the day shift on Saturday and the normal commencement of the day shift on Monday:

The weekly average for the nine weeks was 81.

The majority of these men were working on the ordinary Sunday night shift.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has knowledge of the death of two men at the No. 2 Pit, Wyndham Colliery, Ogmore Vale, alleged to be due to faulty electric winding signalling-appliance; whether an inquiry has been held by His Majesty's Inspector of Mines; what are the findings; and what action he proposes to take to prevent the recurrence of these accidents?

Yes, Sir, very full investigations were made by His Majesty's inspectors into the two accidents at this colliery in July and December last, referred to in the question, and no defect in the electrical shaft signalling apparatus which would have rendered it liable to give a false signal could be discovered. The management have, however, agreed to adopt a scheme for the systematic testing and examination of the signalling apparatus, which has been prepared by the Electrical Inspector of Mines, and is designed to ensure that no latent defects in the installation which might give rise to a false signal will escape notice.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that plants have been, and are being, erected in Germany which will bring the capacity for the production of synthetic petrol before the end of 1936 to some 900,000 to 1,000,000 tons per annum; and will he state the process operated, with the average cost per gallon of the petrol produced to date?

It has been reported that plants for the production of from 900,000 to 1,000,000 tons of synthetic petrol per annum are either in operation, under construction, or projected. While definite information is not available of the quantity of synthetic petrol at present being produced, it would appear that the larger proportion of the output capacity quoted relates to plants under construction or projected, and I am not able to say whether these plants will be completed by the end of 1936. The production cost of synthetic petrol by these processes is not known, but the measure of preference accorded to home produced motor spirit in Germany is substantially greater than in this country.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether he can give particulars of the disaster at the Loyabad colliery of the Barrakar Coal Company, at Jharia, on 30th January; what were the casualties; and whether any women and children were included among them?

A serious fire, the cause of which is not yet known, was discovered at the Loyabad Colliery at 5 a.m. on the 30th January. All the miners of the night shift in all the seams were withdrawn before 6 a.m. and the management then attempted to isolate and control the fire by the usual method of erecting stoppings. About mid-day ignition of gas appears to have blown out some stoppings and filled a large part of the workings with poisonous fumes. Rescue parties brought up to the surface a considerable number of persons engaged in fighting the fire, of whom 23, suffering from gas poisoning, were taken to hospital and survived. The number of fatalities was 35, of whom 30 were entombed and five bodies recovered. No women or children were involved.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can now see his way to restore telephonic communication between the mainland and the Island of Fidra, which communication, following a breakdown two years ago, is still out of order?

There has never been a public telephone service to the Island of Fidra which is inhabited solely by two lighthouse-keepers and their families. The cable formerly connecting the island with the mainland was provided for naval purposes during the War. When it was no longer required for those purposes the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses arranged with this Department that it should be retained for the service of the lighthouse; but when it broke down in 1930 the Commissioners decided that they would not be justified in bearing the cost of renewal.

asked the Secretary of State for War how much frozen and chilled beef is imported yearly from foreign countries, apart from the Dominions supply, for the purpose of feeding the Army and Royal Air Force; what price is paid for this beef; and how much saving is effected on the lowest British tender?

Approximately 99 per cent. of the meat purchased for supply to Army and Air Force stations at home is frozen meat of Dominion origin. The balance of 1 per cent., amounting to approximately £4,000 annually, consists of local purchases by hospitals, schools and small stations. Details of these purchases are not readily available, but little of this meat, if any, is of foreign origin.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the amount of money spent by the Unemployment Assistance Board under the pot-and-pans regulation during the year 1935, giving the amount separately spent in providing clothes and boots for applicants to enable them to take up employment?

I am in communication with the board with a view to seeing whether any specific figures under this head are obtainable.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the number of able-bodied persons in Scotland in receipt of assistance through the Unemployment Assistance Board who have 20 stamps or over to their credit, but less than 30 stamps for the two years preceding their claim for unemployment benefit?

At 20th January, 1935, there were 97,559 applicants for unemployment allowances on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Scotland in respect of whom less than 30 contributions had been paid during the preceding two years. I regret that I am unable to say in how many of these cases 20 or more contributions had been paid.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now make a statement upon the result of his conversations with representatives of industry upon the matter of the five-day working week: whether he can state when these discussions were, or are likely to be, completed, and the respective dates of the first and last of such conversations; and whether he will arrange to publish some memorandum dealing with the non-confidential parts of the conversations?

My discussions and those of my predecessor with representatives of industry have not been on the question of the five-day working week but on the general question of absorbing more workpeople into employment. The first of the conversations took place on 24th January, 1935. As indicated in my reply of 6th February to the hon. Member for Southwark Central, further meetings are in contemplation and I am accordingly unable to state the date on which the conversations are likely to be completed. The discussions are of an exploratory nature and are being conducted on a confidential basis.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the insurance officer's decision in respect to the case of R. Brook, claim No. 14,377, classification No. 434, was, on the 13th January, 1906, that the claimant was not entitled to dependant's benefit in respect to his mother, on the ground that she maintains herself with her war pension; whether he is aware that the total amount of the pension received by the mother is 9s. per week, resultant from the loss of one of her sons in war service; and whether, as 9s. per week is inadequate for the maintenance of a person, he will have this case re-examined?

I am having inquiries made into this case, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of applicants for transfer and instructional centres in the special areas rejected on medical grounds during 1935?

Separate figures in respect of the special areas are not available prior to September, 1935. During the five months September, 1935, to January, 1936, 624 applicants from the special areas were rejected for admission to instructional centres on medical grounds.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of persons in the special areas for whom employment has been found after attendance at instructional centres and the percentage thereof to the total number of persons who have passed through the centres?

Separate figures in respect of the special areas are not available prior to July, 1935. During the last six months of 1935, 840 men from the special areas have passed from instructional centres into employment, this representing approximately 18 per cent. of the total number of men from those areas who passed through the centres during the period. In addition, during the same period, about 1,700 men from the special areas were placed from Government training centres—this figure representing approximately 95 per cent. of the number of men from the special areas who passed through these centres during the period.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Barrow Education Authority has raised the school-leaving age to 15 and has exercised its powers under the Education Act to give maintenance allowances to necessitous children over the age of 14, applying to the Board for a grant in aid; and will he encourage other authorities to administer the Act in the same way?

I am aware that the Barrow Education Authority have raised the school-leaving age to 15 by by-law and have applied to the Board for approval to a scheme for awarding maintenance allowances to children remaining at school after the age of 14, but I am not aware that the authority have, in fact, awarded any such allowances. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on Monday to the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. Thorne).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the continued annual surplus balances in Uganda, it is proposed to reduce taxation on the native or European population?

The whole question of taxation, native and European, will form one of the many questions to be investigated in the light of the full inquiry into the revenue position now being undertaken by the Government of Uganda.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in which towns in Uganda the proposed drainage scheme and water supply systems are to be carried out?

The drainage scheme is for Kampala and the water supplies for Kampala, Entebbe, Jinja and Mbale.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state, among those Arabs who have sold their holdings in Palestine, how many desire to be resettled upon the land?

I regret that I have not the information that would enable me to answer the hon. and gallant Member's question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air on what terms Pan-American Airways leased or purchased land and ground equipment for their seaplane ports in the Bahamas, Jamaica, Antigua, Trinidad and British Guiana?

I have been asked to reply. Copies of agreements concluded between the Government of the Bahamas and Pan-American Airways, and of a lease granted by the Government to the Company, will be placed in the Library of the House. As regards the other colonies mentioned in the question, I am not aware of the precise terms upon which the company have leased or purchased land, but I am making enquiry.