asked the Minister of Transport whether it is proposed to introduce legislation in the present Session to control extraneous lighting in so far as it is detrimental to street lighting and/or confusing to motorists?

I see no prospect of introducing legislation in the present Session.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that both up and down trains converge on a narrow single platform at Clapham North and Clapham Common underground stations; that during rush hours both platforms are congested and that there is danger of passengers being pushed on to the rail lines; and whether, in such circumstances, he is prepared to approach the London Passenger Transport Board with a request that separate platforms for the up and down lines should be constructed at the stations referred to?

I am informed that the board see no justification for incurring the heavy expenditure involved in making the alterations suggested.

asked the Minister of Transport what were the total payments by Scottish road users into the Road Fund and the total payments actually made out of the fund for all Scottish improvements over the last two years or similar convenient period?

Payments by Scottish road users into the Road Fund for 1933–34, £2.1 millions. Payments out of the fund to Scottish authorities in the same year £2,666,000. The corresponding figures for 1934–35 are: payments in, £2.1 millions; payments out, £2,449,000.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will represent to the Transport Board that it is undesirable to divert omnibuses permanently from their recognised route without either notifying or consulting with the local highway authority, as was done recently in the metropolitan borough of Deptford; and will he take steps to ensure that, in future, the local authority is notified prior to such action?

It is the practice of the board before varying routes to-notify local authorities at the same time as the proposal is submitted to the Traffic Commissioners for their approval. I am informed that in the instance referred to by the hon. Member the authority were not notified in view of the apparently unimportant character of the diversion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give the House information regarding the effect on the people in Palestine and Transjordania of the acts of repression of the mandatory power in the adjacent country of Syria; whether troops have been moved towards the frontiers of Palestine; and whether the right of asylum for political refugees will be strictly observed by the administration of Palestine and Transjordania?

Normal conditions have been little affected, and so far as I am aware, no troop movements have taken Place in Palestine or Transjordan in connection with the situation in Syria. Under the relevant agreements extradition will not be granted for a political offence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the granting of special treatment to political prisoners in Palestine, in view of the fact that after last year's hunger-strike in Jerusalem prison such treatment was promised, whereas there has, in practice, been no such change?

The law of Palestine, like that of this country, makes no discrimination between so-called "political" and other prisoners. The prison officer in charge is permitted to accord "special treatment" to any prisoner pending his first appearance before a Court. So far as convicted prisoners are concerned, the matter is one for the discretion of the Courts.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether wages in Majesty's Dockyards are intended to bear any relationship to outside wages paid for similar work; and, if so, whether it is proposed to make any increase in such wages following the decision of the Shipbuilding Employers' Federation to increase their rates by 2s. per week as from the first week in April?

Wage-rates in the Royal Dockyards are generally related to those in force in the shipbuilding and engineering trades. A claim for an increase of pay for mechanics employed in Admiralty establishments is now under consideration, and due regard will be paid to the decision of the Shipbuilding Employers' Federation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what alterations are contemplated in our naval warship programme as the result of recent events?

The additions to the 1935 new construction programme are to be found in the Supplementary Navy Estimates. No other alterations to this programme are contemplated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can give any information as to the prospect of reviving the kelp industry in the Western Isles?

The depressed state of the kelp industry in the Western Isles is due to the heavy fall in the price of iodine. The position was carefully examined last year, when consideration was given to the question of temporary financial assistance, but with all the facts before them the Government reached the conclusion that such assistance from public funds was not warranted by the prospects of the industry. Since then there has been no change of circumstances. I am, however, not without hope that some improvement in the industry may be brought about by the adoption of new methods of utilising seaweed for commercial purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will take steps to meet the existing need in the Island of Harris for justices of the peace who are permanently resident in the island and well known to people of Harris?

The question whether any additional justices of the peace are required in any particular place is a matter for consideration by the Advisory Committee. The attention of the appropriate committee is being directed to the suggestion that there is a need for the appointment of further justices resident in the isle of Harris.

asked the Minister of Labour whether medical inspection and treatment is now available for boys and young men attending instructional centres in the special areas; and, in that case, by whom is the cost provided?

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to persons in attendance at junior instruction centres and not to adults. Proposals submitted by education authorities for the establishment and conduct of authorised courses of instruction, including junior instruction centres, may include provisions under which any boy or girl may be referred by the superintendent of the course to the school medical officer, with a view to such inspection and, in England and Wales, such treatment as may be found desirable. I have approved proposals including provisions—of varying extent—for medical services from the following authorities in the special areas: education authorities for the administrative counties of Durham, Northumberland, Glamorgan, Monmouth, Ayrshire, Dunbarton, and from the education authorities for the county boroughs of Gateshead, South Shields, Sunderland and Merthyr Tydfil. I intend, at an early date, to issue to all authorities conducting authorised courses of instruction a memorandum dealing with the provision of medical services in connection with junior instruction centres, and it is my hope that this will lead to a marked increase in the number and scope of proposals of this kind.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of prosecutions which have been instituted against parents for not sending their sons to a training centre under the Unemployment Insurance Act; and whether he can give the reasons in each case for such parental action?

Proceedings in these cases are taken by the local education authority on behalf of the Minister of Labour. Up to 31st December, 1935, I had received intimation of the institution of proceedings in 59 cases in respect of the failure of parents or guardians to secure the attendance of juveniles at authorised courses of instruction conducted under the Unemployment Insurance Acts, 1934–35. I could not, without detailed inquiry, give the reasons advanced by the parents in each of these cases, but I can assure my hon. Friend that in every instance before prosecution was undertaken, the opportunity had been afforded to the parent to put his case before a court of referees or a board of assessors.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the number of persons registered as unemployed at Doncaster, Bent and Adwick, respectively, on the last available date; the number in receipt of unemployment insurance benefit; and the number in receipt of unemployment assistance

The total number of unemployed persons on the registers of the Doncaster Employment Exchange at 20th January, 1936, was 6,398, including 2,734 with claims admitted for unemployment insurance benefit, 2,245 with applications authorised for unemployment allowances, and 163 persons in whose cases the position under the first statutory condition for the receipt of benefit had not been determined. Separate figures are not available for Bentley and Adwick, which are within the area of the Doncaster Employment Exchange.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many countries are still outside the League of Nations; and whether any specific invitations are addressed to them to join or return to it and, if so, by whom and on what occasions?

There is no authoritative list of the independent countries of the world who are potential members of the League of Nations. Of the countries with whom His Majesty's Government normally maintain diplomatic relations, eight are at present not members of the League. These countries are Brazil, Costa Rica, Egypt, Germany, Japan, Nepal, Saudi Arabia and the United States of America. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has noted the intimation made by Mr. Norman Davis that the United States Government would like to see the life of the battleships extended from 20 to 26 years; and whether, in view of the heavy cost of battleships, His Majesty's Government has taken any steps to follow up this statement?

This particular proposal was first put forward by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom on the 20th June, 1927, during the Conference at Geneva for the limitation of naval armament which preceded the Disarmament Conference, and has been consistently advocated by them ever since. There is every reason to believe that it will prove acceptable to other Powers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what, if any, reply was received from the acting Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in reply to the oral protest made by the British congress of the Communist International of subversive activity by the Comintern in the British Isles?

The Acting People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs informed His Majesty's Ambassador that the Soviet Government could admit no responsibility for the activities of the Comintern. It was made clear to M. Krestinski, and to the Soviet Chargé d'Affaires in London at that time, that His Majesty's Government could not accept that contention.