asked the Minister of Health whether and, if so, when he proposes to introduce a Public Health Amendment Bill which will embody in that general law and make generally applicable powers usually granted by Parliament as a matter of course in local Acts, as recommended by the Select Committee on Private Bills in 1930 for reference to a joint committee of both Houses, in the same way as Consolidation Bills?

My hon. and gallant Friend will be aware that a draft has been published of a Bill to consolidate with amendments part of the general Public Health law. In preparing this Bill account has been taken of the relevant provisions allowed by Parliament in local legisation. I regret that considerations of Parliamentary time have rendered it impracticable fully to implement the recommendation to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, but I recognise its importance and hope it may be practicable to take further action in an early Session.

asked the Minister of Health what number per thousand of the population of Wales are suffering from tuberculosis; what number under treatment at sanatoria or other suitable institutions; what number of recoveries; and what number of deaths under 12 years of age, under 20 years, under 30 years, and over for the years 1924,1926, 1930, 1934, and 1935, giving the figures separately for each county in Wales?

As regards the first three parts of the question, the following are the figures for which the hon. Member asks, according to the returns furnished by the local authorities and the King Edward VII Welsh National Memorial Association to the Welsh Board of Health in respect of the year 1934:

Tuberculosis in Wales.
Number of tuberculous persons on the Registers of Medical Officers of Health at the 31st December, 1934, per thousand of the population of Wales	9.64
Number under treatment or observation at sanatoria or other suitable residential institutions on the 31st December, 1934	1,650
Number of recoveries recorded during 1934	1,213

As regards the fourth part of the question, figures are not available for the age-groups specified. The available figures of tuberculosis deaths by ages in the 13 Welsh counties are published in the Registrar-General's Statistical Review, Tables, Part I, Medical, Table 20 for the years 1924, 1926 and 1930, and Table 24 for 1934. Figures for 1935 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has considered the report on the Physiological Bases of Nutrition, made by the technical commission appointed by the health committee of the League of Nations; and what action it is proposed to take?

I have received the report to which my hon. Friend refers, but I have nothing to add to the replies given to the hon. Member on this subject by my right hon. Friends the Minister of Health and the President of the Board of Education.

asked the Minister of Health what would be the additional cost to the Exchequer of allowing totally blind old-age pensioners to receive the old age pension in addition to 10s. per week blind pension?

My hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate that the present statutory qualification for a blind person's pension is not that the applicant is totally blind but that he is "so blind as to be unable to perform any work for which eyesight is essential." The additional cost of paying an old age and a blind person's pension to those persons over 70 who are known, from the statistics available, to be within the statutory definition, would be about £600,000 a year at the present time and would increase steadily in future, but having regard to the extent to which impairment of sight exists in greater or less degree among the aged, the actual cost would certainly be in excess and probably appreciably in excess of this figure.

asked the Minister of Health what was the average rate paid per acre of land in Glamorgan for county purposes in 1920, 1926, 1930 and 1935; and can he give the average paid per acre for land for housing purposes paid by local authorities in Glamorgan for the same years?

Following is the statement:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of another alleged case of sabotage at Chatham, he will state what steps are taken when casual labour is engaged for the dockyards to ascertain that the applicants employed are of British nationality?

Only men of British nationality are entered in the Home Dockyards and particulars of all entrants are reported to the Admiralty.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can make any statement regarding the case of suspected sabotage in His Majesty's Ship "Velox"?

The matter is under investigation and I regret that I am unable to give any further information while this investigation is proceeding.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that a decision has been arrived at to close down Ralston Hospital and remove ex-service men who are at present under treatment there to Erskine Hospital; and whether, as the Ministry of Pensions is responsible for those wounded ex-service men, he will take steps to have Ralston Hospital taken over by the Ministry or some other place equally accessible?

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his notice has been drawn to the decision of the Red Cross to close Ralston Hospital, Paisley, and transfer the patients to Erskine Hospital; is he aware that this transference may be detrimental to the welfare of the patients, who are all ex-service men, and that a public meeting was held last week in Paisley to protest against the decision; and will lie consider endeavouring to prevent this move?

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of the Red Cross to close Ralston Hospital, Paisley, and to transfer the patients to Erskine Hospital; and whether he has satisfied himself that this decision will be in no way injurious to the welfare of the patients who are all disabled ex-service men?

I apologise for the length of the answer but the question has excited much local controversy. Ralston House belongs to and is wholly under the control and management of the Scottish branch of the Red Cross Society. My position and interest in the institution are confined to arranging with the management to maintain and treat a limited number of patients. The patients for whom my Department is responsible are those, and those only, whose disability is accepted as having been caused or worsened by war service. They number 21 out of a total body of 40, the balance being maintained at the charge of the Red Cross. Ralston House was designed to accommodate some 60 patients but the beds have not for many years been fully occupied.The property is held on lease by the Red Cross Society who informed me in November last that they found it advisable to terminate their lease at Whitsuntide, 1936, and had arranged with the Princess Louise Hospital at Erskine to receive their patients. I was not in a position to interfere with this decision, even had I thought it desirable. But I took steps at once to make sure that the welfare and comfort of the patients would be adequately provided for and I am satisfied that this will be fully secured.The Red Cross Society have expended a considerable sum in having part of the premises at Erskine altered to accommodate the new patients. Further, they assured me, in response to my inquiries, that they intend to keep an ambulance at Erskine to take patients into town who wish to visit their friends and also to provide a regular omnibus service from Paisley to Erskine two or three times a week for those friends who wish to visit the patients. I may add that the Ministry's patients come from all parts of Scotland, but a majority belong to Glasgow, and only one to Paisley.I have satisfied myself by personal inspection that the patients will receive the best possible care at Erskine; while they will enjoy amenities and entertainments there on at least as good a scale as at Ralston.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the position to date of any losses made by His Majesty's Government for amounts guaranteed or advanced under the Trade Facilities Acts?

The total sum issued to date in fulfilment of guarantees under the Trade Facilities Acts is £6,542,962, of which £632,382 has been repaid, leaving a net total of £5,910,580. This figure does not, however, give any real indication of the final loss, since the amounts issued under guarantee constitute secured debts due by the companies concerned to the Treasury and large further sums will be repaid. The amount of the losses definitely known to be irrecoverable is approximately £550,000.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the number of unemployed persons who were transferred from the special areas in South Wales, either because of having secured employment themselves or were placed in employment by the exchanges, during the period December, 1934, to December, 1935?

During the year 1935, 3,253 men, 1,917 women, 1,678 boys and 1,559 girls, making a total of 8,407 persons, were transferred by the Departrnent from the special areas in South Wales to employment elsewhere. The number of persons who transferred on their own account is not known but is believed to be considerable.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will direct the Commissioner for distressed areas to consider the advisability of finding employment for unemployed persons in cleaning the Neath river from the sea shore, to make the river navigable, as hitherto, up to the Neath river bridge, thereby draining a considerable area of land suitable for erection of works; and whether he is aware that it is within easy reach of the Bristol Channel and the Great Western Railway main line?

I understand that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture is in communication with the Mid-Glamorgan Rivers Catchment Board in the matter, as promised in his reply of 17th February.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will estimate the saving in unemployment allowances that would take place if all children reaching 14 years in 1936 and 1937 were kept at school until they reached 16 years of age; and will he consider the advisability of establishing a scheme whereby continued attendance at school should be considered as part of a training scheme under which parents would qualify for a maintenance grant?

I regret that it is not possible to make any estimate of the kind asked for by the hon. Member. The second part of the question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the number of persons in receipt of transitional benefit in each employment exchange area in the counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, with the weekly cost of benefit, during the three months ended December, 1934?

supplied the following statement:Statement showing the average number of transitional payments and the average amount paid weekly at local offices of the Ministry of Labour in the counties of Glamorgan and Monmouth in the three months ended 28th December, 1934. Transitional payments made through Associations are not included.

	Average Number. (1)	Average Amount. (2)
GLAMORGANSHIRE		£
Aberdare	3,431	4,097
Aberkenfig	530	651
Bargoed	3,225	4,007
Barry	1,309	1,497
Bridgend	655	764
Bute Docks	2,189	2,383
Caerphilly	3,173	3,953
Cardiff	5,437	6,102
Clydach	237	265
Cymmer	499	638
Dow lain	2,509	3,112
Ferndale	2,777	3.355
Gorseinon	921	1,052
Llantwit Major	111	126
Maesteg	2,209	2,764
Merthyr Tydfil	4,895	6,008
Morriston	718	801
Mountain Ash	1,940	2,348
Mumbles	83	90
Neath	2,041	2,338
Ogmore Vale	695	850
Penarth	433	506
Pontardawe	472	535
Pontardulais	364	415
Pontlottyn	1,416	1,738
Pontyelun	607	732
Pontycymmer	879	1,070
Pontypridd	4,866	5,967
Porth	2,665	3,244
Porthcawl	96	107
Port Talbot	1,750	2,010
Resolven	263	303
Swansea	3,701	4,131
Swansea Docks	640	694
Taffs Wells	442	533
Tonypandy	4,340	5,268
Tony refail	1,103	1,318
Treorchy	3,735	4,402
Treharris	335	406
Ystalyfera	477	530
MONMOUTHSHIRE
Abertillery	2,916	3,574
Abergavenny	325	395
Black wood	1,255	1,550
Blaenavon	601	721
Blaina	1,528	1885
Caldicott	128	144
Chepstow	236	277
Crumlin	1,485	1,805
Ebbw Vale	2,485	3.043
Monmouth	247	'286
Newport	1,693	1,717
Newport Docks	856	783
Pontnewydd	1,048	1,237
Pontypool	2,564	3,102
Risca	1,226	1,445
Tredegar	1,661	2,026
Usk	80	94

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement regarding his consultations with representative organisations about the 1936 International Labour Office Conference?

The reports on the questions on the agenda of the 1936 session of the International Labour Conference which it is the duty of the International Labour Office to prepare have not yet been received When they are available I intend accordance with the usual practice to consult the National Confederation of Employers' Organisations and the General Council of the Trades Union Congress on all matters raised therein which are appropriate for such consultation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to authorise the Public Loans Board to reduce the interest charges on loans contracted for working-class dwellings, in order that local authorities may grant relief to poor tenants in special areas

The concession suggested by the hon. Member would involve the payment by the State of a subsidy to enable the Local Loans Fund to meet its existing obligations, and I am unable to entertain the suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Excheque: what amount has been expended by this country in the imposition of sanctions; whether he has any comparable figures of expenditure by other members of the League of Nations; and will all accounts for such expenditure be paid pro rata by all members of the League?

The cost to the Exchequer of the imposition of sanctions is not considerable and I should estimate it at well under £1,000. The answer to the second and third parts of the question is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the refusal of the French Government to agree to the request that British coal should be exported to France under the same system as is applied to other exporting countries, namely, under the system of certificates of origin instead of export licences; and will he state what action the Government propose taking in this matter?

His Majesty's Government's request in the matter is at present under consideration by the French Government and no reply has yet been received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the high prices ruling for potatoes and green vegetables; and whether he will take action to secure the immediate reduction of import duties upon these commodities which are keeping up prices in a period of shortage?

I am aware that the prices of potatoes and green vegetables have recently been higher than they were at the same time last year. It is open to the interests concerned to make an application to the Import Duties Advisory Committee for a modification of the duties. I understand that such an application is in fact being made in respect of the duty on potatoes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether steps are being taken to draw up a trade agreement between the United Kingdom and Turkey to take the place of the temporary agreement which comes to an end shortly; and if he will take into consideration the representations he has received from the British Chamber of Commerce in Turkey on this matter?

The Agreement in question does not terminate unless denounced by either party. The major difficulties in the operation of the Agreement to which the British Chamber of Commerce in Turkey drew attention, have been under consideration for some time past, and proposals for surmounting them have been made to the Turkish Government. The further suggestions of the Chamber will be taken into consideration in the event of it being necessary to re-negotiate the Agreement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in view of the widespread desire for fuller and more accurate information on all aspects of the distributive industry, he is now prepared to consider instituting a census of distribution comparable in character and scope with the census of production?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any report has been or is to be made following the visits and investigations of Commander Fisher and other Government officials in the outer isles, with a view to reviving the local fishing industry; and whether such a report is to be made public and, if not, upon what grounds?

The results of the investigations by the Departmental officers referred to in the question have been reported to me. These investigations were of a confidential nature and for that reason the reports have not been made public.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the copy sent to him of the resolution passed by a mass meeting of Buckie fishermen calling attention to the serious condition of the herring industry; what action he proposes to take; and whether, in considering the problem, he will have in mind the importance of a prosperous fishing community to the supply of recruits for the Royal Navy and Royal Naval Reserve?

As regards the first two parts of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which was given on Tuesday last to a similar question by the hon. Member for West Fife (Mr. Gallacher). With regard to the last part, I will certainly keep fully in mind my hon. Friend's point as to the supply of recruits from the fishing community for the Royal Navy and Royal Naval Reserve.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will instruct public assistance authorities to disregard valuation of sheep when assessing crofters' means, as there can be no guarantee what price sheep may fetch in the market or as to how long crofters may have to wait to secure fair prices, and in view of the cost and difficulty in marketing stock in some localities more than in others?

I have no power to instruct public assistance authorities to disregard any part of the resources of an applicant for public assistance. In deciding the amount of assistance to be afforded, local authorities are required to take into account all the resources of the applicant subject to certain statutory exceptions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he is aware that by the new working hours for the staff of the criminal lunatic asylum at Perth the officers are confined, on alternate weeks, to the precincts of the prison till after 8 p.m.; and will the new system of hours permit of the inmates having an extra hour's recreation without any increase being made in the numbers of the staff;(2) whether he is aware that the working hours of prison officers in the criminal lunatic department at Perth have been revised, and now for each division, on alternate weeks, extend from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., including meal times, and that officers for the week-end do 20 hours and 15 minutes actual duty, 10 hours and 15 minutes of which is Sunday duty; whether any time off duty, other than a day on the extended week, is accorded the staff for recreation; and whether, in view of the protests of the staff, it is proposed to make the times more convenient and the meal hours more regular?

The hours of duty of warders in the Criminal Lunatic Department are 96 a fortnight, comprising a short and a long working week alternately. In the long working week the week-end duty amounts to about 21 hours (including about 11 hours on Sunday), and one day off duty is allowed. In the short week the warders are off duty on Saturday afternoon, Sunday, and one other day. This arrangement, which in the long week involves attendance until 8 p.m. took effect last month and provides an extra hour of evening recreation for the inmates. One warder has been added to the establishment. Since the change came into force no representations have been made by the staff; but if any representations are made they will be carefully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the scales for outdoor relief of adult blind persons under the Blind Persons Act, 1920, at present in operation in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and Greenock, respectively?

The following table shows the standard allowances of domiciliary assistance under the Blind Persons Act, 1920, at present being granted to single adult blind persons in the five burghs mentioned:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can state the composition of the authority responsible to him for the general outline and supervision of the curriculum in State-controlled schools throughout Scotland?

I am advised in these matters by the officers of the Scottish Education Department and their inspectors. The Department's Statutory Advisory Council considers and reports on questions of the curriculum. I will send the hon. Member the names of the Council. The Department also keeps in close touch with the Educational Institute of Scotland and with the Scottish Universities Entrance Board.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will give the average output per person employed in the mines in South Wales and Monmouthshire; and the average wages paid in 1935?

This information will not be available until about the middle of March.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can make a statement as to any progress being made to erect a large plant for the extraction of petrol from coal in South Wales in the near future?

I am aware of certain local investigations which are being carried out by a Committee appointed by the South Wales Joint Industrial Development Council, but I am not in a position to make any statement in regard to the progress which has been made with this inquiry.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is now in a position to indicate when the Ullswater Report on broadcasting in this country will be made available; and what is the Government policy in this respect?

The Report of the Ullswater Committee is under consideration by the Government and I hope to be able to present it to Parliament in the near future.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many of the men and women who left training colleges and university training departments in July last are still reported as having failed to obtain employment as teachers?

The following table gives the latest figures available. For purposes of comparison I have added the comparable figures for those students who left the training colleges and training departments in July, 1934:

	Total number of students who left the training colleges and training departments.	Number of these students who were known to be seeking employment as teachers and who had not obtained employment by 31st December, 1955.
July, 1934	7,459	403
July, 1935	7,269	1,154

Many of the teachers in column 2 will by now have obtained posts. From the figures in that column there have been excluded 106 (1934 leavers) and 146 (1935 leavers) students who were known not to be seeking employment in the teaching profession immediately, and 160 (1934 leavers) and 260 (1935 leavers) students about whom no information is available.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the education policy of His Majesty's Government includes any proposals based on the report of the Departmental Committee on Private Schools?

As I informed the hon. Member for South Shields (Mr. Ede) on 11th December last, I can hold out no hope of Parliamentary time being at present available for what will be a complicated and probably contentious Measure. In addition, the local education authorities will be fully occupied during the next few years in giving effect to the Government's policy of educational reforms, and I should be reluctant to add to their burdens at the present time by legislation in the direction which the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will ensure that the horses of units stationed in Egypt are brought home when such units are mechanised, so that there may be no risk of the horses passing directly or indirectly into native ownership?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered, under the plans for the mechanisation of cavalry units in Egypt, the question as to the disposal of the displaced Army horses; whether the horses will be sold to Egyptian peasants; and whether he will see that the hard fate which befell the horses and mules sold in Egypt at the end of the War is not repeated by the present displacement?

I would refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave on Monday to similar questions by the hon. Members for Reigate (Mr. Touche) and Islington, North (Colonel Goodman).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the court-martial of a guardsman for refusing to shave off his moustache; whether he will state under what Army regulations this was done; and how the regulations are administered for the various regiments of the Army?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the court-martial at Windsor on Guardsman Arthur Leslie Bursell, who was charged with refusing to shave off his moustache; and whether, as this was not a lawful command, he will direct that the finding of the court-martial be quashed?

My attention has been drawn to this case. The matter is still sub judice, but if the hon. Members will repeat their questions in a week's time, I hope then to be in a position to give them an answer.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give the names of those War Office out-stations where messengers and/or women cleaners are employed either in a full-time or part-time capacity, and the number of such employés, together with the number of weekly hours worked and the rates of pay of each?

The detailed information sought by the hon. Member is not available at the War Office and could only be obtained, with a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour, by circular inquiry of all military stations. The total number employed at the present time, excluding stations abroad, is probably about 700. The wage-rates and hours of work, which are governed by the principles of the Fair Wages Resolution, vary according to area and local circumstances.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will state the number of fatal accidents to members of the Royal Air Force this year, as compared with similar accidents up to the same time last year; and whether he can give the reasons for the number of accidents in 1936 to date?

The number to date in 1936 is nine, as compared with six during the corresponding period in 1935. The period is too short for any useful comparison to be made.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the Air Staff have considered the problem of carrying out aerial attacks upon naval units lying in an open and undefended anchorage, and armed with similar anti-aircraft protection to that carried by British naval units; and if any definite opinion has been formed as to whether or not the British Air Force could undertake to carry out such attacks with success?

It would not be in the public interest to say more than that the questions to which the hon. and gallant Member refers are constantly under examination by the Admiralty and Air Ministry.

asked the Attorney-General how many petty sessional divisions now exist without any women magistrates; and what decrease in this number has taken place during the past 12 months?

There are 1,006 petty sessional divisions, of which 746 are county divisions, 251 are boroughs and towns, and nine divisions have special jurisdiction. Of these, according to the latest figures available, there are 45 county and eight borough divisions to which women justices have not as yet been allocated, showing a decrease of eight in the counties and one in the boroughs.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the value of detailed information supplied in the annual licensing statistics previous to the introduction of the abbreviated reports now published, he will restore the publication to the fuller form of the original volumes?

No, Sir. I do not think there is any sufficient reason for extending the present volume of licensing statistics which retains, so far as I am aware, all the information which is of general interest and importance.

asked the Home Secretary on what basis witnesses were selected to appear before the recent committee on the functions of coroners; and if he is satisfied that all suitable qualified witnesses were called before the committee?

I understand that the committee decided that the most convenient arrangement would be to ask potential witnesses to submit statements summarising the evidence which they were in a position to give and that the witnesses were selected after consideration of these statements. A list of witnesses and of associations and individuals who submitted statements but did not give evidence will be found in the appendix to the committee's report. The selection of witnesses was a matter for the committee's discretion, and I have no reason to think that the field of their inquiry was not adequately covered.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is satisfied with the working of the existing Regulations regarding the admission of aliens for week-ends without the usual passports; and, in particular, if he can state in how many cases last year aliens so admitted, who failed to leave within the prescribed time, succeeded in eluding detection and consequently remained in this country, contrary to the terms of their admission?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which the Parliamentary Under-Secretary gave on the 10th instant in answer to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) regarding the arrangements made for checking the departure of aliens to whom no-passport facilities are granted. During the year 1935, 6,967 aliens were admitted for weekend visits without passports, and the coupons surrendered by them on arrival were cleared in all cases except 37, which represents only half of 1 per cent. of the traffic. These 37 may have left as ordinary passengers, but if any of them are found to be still in the country appropriate action will be taken.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the original cause of infection which resulted in the series of foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in the Malmesbury district of Wiltshire in January and February?

Exhaustive inquiries were made as to the source of infection of the outbreaks to which my Noble Friend refers, but I regret to say that no evidence has been obtained as to the origin of the initial outbreaks at each centre.

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) whether he will state the total value of cash bonuses distributed in 1935 by sugar-beet companies in receipt of the subsidy to the shareholders; and what proportion of these bonuses was paid to foreign shareholders;(2) what the total value of the capital holdings is in the 15 sugar-beet companies which are proposed to be amalgamated; what is the value of the foreign capital holdings in these companies; and what is the proportion of this foreign holding to the whole?

The total amount of outstanding share and debenture capital in the beet-sugar companies on the 31st March last amounted to £5,864,554. This figure is made up of £4,550,954 of paid up share capital and £1,313,600 of debenture capital. The amount of cash bonuses distributed to shareholders in these companies in 1935 amounted to £740,000. I regret that no information is available as to the proportion of foreign holdings or the proportion of the bonuses paid to foreign shareholders.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to state the terms upon which the beet-sugar factories will be acquired by the British Sugar Corporation Limited; whether such terms have been submitted to the shareholders of the individual companies; can he state the total amount of share capital and debentures of the companies now operating sugar-beet in this country; and what amount will be paid to the factories in cash, debentures, or shares?

Discussions regarding the amalgamation of the beet-sugar manufacturing companies are still proceeding between the Sugar Tribunal and representatives of the Beet Sugar Factories Committee, and pending the outcome of these deliberations it is not possible to give details of the terms upon which it is proposed that the companies should be merged. As regards the total amount of share capital and debentures of the companies, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I have just given to my hon. Friend the Member for South-West Norfolk (Mr. De Chair).

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that imports of barley have doubled in the last month; and, since this is due to importers anticipating a rise in the duty on barley, whether he can take any steps to check this pre-duty increase in imports of barley, which threatens to depress still further the market for home-grown barley?

I am aware that the quantity of barley imported in January, 1936, was double the quantity imported in January, 1935, but imports in January, 1936, were less than in the preceding month and less than in January, 1934. So far as I am aware, there are no grounds for thinking that the increased importation is due to the reason given by my hon. Friend, but in any case, I have no power to take the steps he suggests.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made by the Departmental Committee on the ordnance survey; and when their report is expected to be available?

The Departmental Committee of which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is chairman, have presented an interim report covering the preparation of maps for town and country planning and the conditions upon which the reproduction of ordnance survey maps should be permitted. The Government have accepted the recommendations contained in the report, and provision is being made accordingly in the Estimates for 1936 for accelerating the production of maps for town and country planning. I am arranging for the publication of the report at an early date.

asked the Minister of Transport what answer he has received from the Birmingham City Council with regard to the adoption of his recommendation that certain roads in the city should be derestricted from the 30 miles per hour speed limit and what action he now proposes to take in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is that I have received a negative answer, and to the second part, that my hon. and gallant Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry, is proposing to visit Birmingham on the 18th March to confer with representatives of the city council.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that private motor car drivers are being prosecuted by the Manchester city police for exceeding the speed limit on certain roads in Manchester which he has recommended should be derestricted; and what action he is taking to give effect to his recommendation

With regard to the first part of the question motorists are naturally liable to be prosecuted if they exceed the speed limit on restricted roads. With regard to the second part of the question, my hon. and gallant Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry, is arranging to visit Manchester on Friday, 6th March, to confer with representatives of the City Council.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the number of occasions during the last six months when either of the two ferry boats operating between North and South Queens-ferry were prevented from making the scheduled crossing, either because of the weather conditions or for any other reasons?

I am informed that from the 4th August, 1935, to the 1st February, 1936, both dates inclusive, the ferry boats missed 120 trips out of the 11,648 which should have been made according to schedule.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the attention that the question of unification of Scottish transport is receiving, he will consider investigating schemes of unification in all areas where such schemes appear practicable?

The Transport Advisory Council, with a view to advising me, is at present studying the coordination of transport. If the hon. Member will let me know whether he has any particular scheme in mind I will be glad to receive details.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents, specifying deaths and injuries, occurred during the years 1933, 1934 and 1935 in the City of Stoke-on-Trent and the number of children injured under 14 years of age?

The following particulars have been furnished to me of road accidents in the City of Stoke-on-Trent during the years, 1933, 1934 and 1935:

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will publish the text of the case for the Forth road bridge submitted to him by the local authorities concerned, so that Scottish Members of Parliament and the public in Scotland may be able to appreciate the character and extent of the further economic and traffic justification for the project which he has now invited local authorities to produce?

As the authorities are at the present moment under an invitation to prepare a case, I hope my hon. Friend will agree that his proposal is at this stage premature.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any decision has been arrived at by the London Traffic Committee with regard to the suggestions made by his Department to erect subways for the purpose of relieving very heavy traffic at the Elephant and Castle and other congested traffic points; and will he make a statement?

In order to encourage the use of the existing subways in the locality of the Elephant and Castle a proposal to erect special notices at the entrances is now under discussion between my Department and the Southwark Borough Council. I am at all times prepared to consider proposals from the responsible authorities for the construction of subways. A scheme which has been agreed with the London County Council, the Westminster City Council, the Southern Railway Company and the London Passenger Transport Board provides for the construction of subways across Vauxhall Bridge Road, Victoria, and it is expected that the work will be put in hand in the near future. Subways have been provided in connection with the London Passenger Transport Board's stations at Marble Arch, Piccadilly Circus, Hyde Park and Leicester Square, and the Corporation of the City of London have recently provided a subway at the Monument. Schemes are in hand for the provision of subways at King's Cross and Aldgate East.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the number of railway accidents caused by stray railway trucks and coaches being left standing on the lines by the breaking of couplings, he will make inquiries into the American and Canadian system of strong headlights being carried on the engines, thus enabling drivers to see any obstacle a long way off?

This question was dealt with in the final paragraph of my chief inspecting officer's report on the accident at King's Langley in June, 1935, from which the following is the relevant extract:

"My attention has been called to a suggestion that these collisions would have been prevented by the use of searchlights on the engines. Owing to curvature of the railway at the site, I think it very doubtful whether such equipment would have had even preventive effect; but, in any case, in main line operation in this country, it would not be desirable from a safety point of view. Apart from the well known inherent disadvantages of an intense beam of light, not only to the approaching driver but to the driver using it, steps are having to be taken to-day to safeguard the view of enginemen from interference by extraneous road light signals and by street and sign lighting."

asked the Minister of Transport for how many hours the elec- tricity supply in Bradford was totally cut off, as from 6.20 p.m. on 24th February; the cause of the failure in the corporation's Valley Road power station; why the interlinking of so important a city and its electricity supply with the main transmission grid was not such as to secure alternative and effective supplies from other selected stations in such circumstances as occurred; and whether, in view of the importance at all times of the maintenance of supply to large industrial areas, and especially in the event of war, he will call for a thorough inquiry into the breakdown at Bradford and give publicity to the same?

I understand that the failure of supplies at the Bradford station occurred shortly after 6 p.m. on Monday, 24th February; that a limited supply was made available at 6 a.m. on the following day, 25th February; and that further supplies were restored the same night enabling about half the normal requirements to be met. The chief engineering inspector of the Electricity Commissioners visited Bradford the day following the failure and a full investigation will be made. The Commissioners propose to publish a report on the matter in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Wulff Maximilian Heinrich, Baron von Bultzingslowen, who was first sentenced in the district officer's court at Moshi for flogging a native; whether he is aware that medical evidence showed that the flogging was so severe as to endanger the life of the native; that the sentence imposed included a recommendation for deportation after the sentence; whether an appeal has been lodged with the governor against the order for expulsion; and what action has been taken in the matter?

The answer to the first four questions is in the affirmative. The Governor of Tanganyika has reported that, apart from the appeal after consultation with the executive council, he decided on the merits of the case not to accept the recommendation for deportation.