asked the Minister of Transport whether the rates now being charged by railway companies for the transport of iron billets, bars, and sections from Poplar Dock, London, to Birmingham and other Midland towns have been approved by the Railway Rates Tribunal?

I understand that none of the rates is more than 40 per cent. below the standard rate chargeable and that the consent of the Railway Rates Tribunal is not required.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that competition between canal and railway companies is resulting in the diversion of traffic from one port to another, irrespective of the suitability of the ports, both geographically and in equipment, for the merchandise that is taken through them; and whether he proposes to call the parties together in conference to prevent a repetition of practices of this kind?

In their discretion canal and railway companies, like other forms of transport, quote competitive rates. The question of service and rates for goods transport is now being investigated by the Transport Advisory Council.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the complaints that the living conditions at certain Royal Air Force camps are inferior; and what steps are taken to ensure that defects are remedied?

The need for the rapid expansion of the Air Force has made it necessary to provide accommodation on a temporary basis at a number of stations, and this has inevitably involved some lowering of the normal standard of accommodation until the temporary huts can be replaced by more permanent buildings. The huts are far superior to those used during the Great War, and, so far as I am aware, have not given rise to any serious complaint. If my hon. Friend has any specific case in mind, perhaps he would let me have particulars.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether, as a fitter Grade I mechanic under his Department is called upon to take over the responsibilities of both fitter and rigger trades, there is, on promotion to this grade after a conversion course, any increase of pay to successful examinees?

The conversion course to which my hon. Friend refers is held in pursuance of the policy of re-arranging the duties previously performed by the separate fitter and rigger trades so as to allow of their being performed by one class of mechanic, known as fitters, and divided into two grades according to degree of qualification. This re-arrangement of duties gives no reason for altering the rates of pay, which are designed, with the opportunities offered for promotion, to provide a satisfactory career for the skilled men in question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he can state the number of lives lost through accidents to military aircraft during each of the last five years?

The numbers are 74, 54, 54, 31 and 43 for the calendar years 1931 to 1935 respectively. They include deaths from accidents during reserve training, etc., at civil flying schools. It should be borne in mind that the number of hours flown in 1935 considerably exceeded those flown in previous years.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what is the salary attached to the newly created post of director of production at the Air Ministry?

The salary is £2,000 a year.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the reserve pay of ex-Service men is taken into account when assessing means under the Unemployment Assistance Board regulations; and will he take steps to have this practice discontinued?

The practice of the Unemployment Assistance Board is in general to treat half the amount of the reserve pay as available for the applicant's needs and my right hon. Friend sees no grounds for making representations to the Board to alter such practice.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are taken at the juvenile training centres to see that no physical deterioration is taking place; and whether at any period a medical examination takes place?

Under the existing scheme local education authorities have power to make their school medical service available to such juveniles attending junior instruction centres as are referred by the superintendent of the centre, and a considerable number of authorities have made such provision. I may add that it has been found in practice that the terms of the Statutory Scheme governing the provision of those medical services are too restrictive, and my right hon. Friend hopes shortly to be able to announce to education authorities generally an amendment of the scheme to enable the school medical officer, if he finds it necessary to do so, to examine boys or girls other than those referred by the superintendent of the course.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will have inquiries made as to the reasons for the postponement of the claim of Miss E. H. Shoe-bridge, registered (209) at the. Borough Exchange, Walworth Road, S.E., employed as ledger clerk until the 13th February by Messrs. Harvey Carter, 113, White Lion Street, Norton Folgate, E.C.?

Miss E. H. Shoebridge was discharged from her employment on 13th February, 1936, and made a claim for unemployment benefit on the following day. Her claim was submitted to the Court of Referees on the question whether she had lost her employment in circumstances which would disqualify her for the receipt of benefit. She was summoned to attend the court but, as she was at work on the day of the hearing, her mother came in her place. The court on consideration decided that it would be desirable to hear the claimant's own evidence and adjourned the case to give her an opportunity of attending.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will issue a return showing the number of gold-mining companies now operating in Kenya Colony; and the number of those which have either gone or have notified their intention of going into liquidation?

This information is not available here, but I am asking the Governor to furnish the particulars desired by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received any interim report from Sir Alan Pim on the financial position in Kenya; and when he expects to be able to make a statement on the matter?

No, Sir. I have not yet received any report from Sir Alan Pim and am unable to say when I shall be in a position to make a statement on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will telegraph to the Governor of Somaliland, with reference to the sentences of death passed on Abdi Farah, Ali Abdi, Isman Ali, and Saliban Ahamed, that these sentences, if confirmed by the Governor, should not be carried out until these men or their representatives have had time to lodge an appeal to His Majesty in Council should they so desire?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that four men recently sentenced to death by the protectorate court established under the Somaliland Order in Council were refused leave to be heard by counsel; and whether he will give telegraphic instructions for execution of the sentence to be deferred until he has himself studied the proceedings in the case?

I myself have no power to review the proceedings of the court, but I have already asked the Governor by telegraph to arrange that if the appeal which is being made to the Protectorate Court of Appeal fails, the sentences should not be carried into effect until the representatives of the sentenced men have had time to decide whether to apply for permission to appeal to His Majesty in Council. It will be understood that the time allowed for such a decision is not unlimited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what water-boring experiments have taken place recently, or are in progress, in Uganda or Tanganyika; and with what results?

In Uganda a successful programme of water boring has been carried out in the northern part of the Protectorate since January, 1931, and this work is being continued and extended. Similar successful work has been carried out in the Tanga and Morogoro Districts of Tanganyika, and further extensive water-boring operations are about to be begun in the Territory.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the present number of submarines belonging to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; what is the number under construction; and whether consideration has been given to the desirability of including Russia within the ambit of any naval limitation agreement?

I regret that I am unable to give any reply to the first and second parts of the question, as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics do not at present release any information concerning their naval construction programmes. With regard to the third part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the last sentence of the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent (Mr. E. Smith) on 18th March. It is hoped to include Russia among the Powers mentioned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in giving names of towns to the 9,000-ton cruisers now building or projected, the name of Harwich, which has for so long been associated with the Royal Navy, will be borne in mind?

Cruisers of the type mentioned are named after cities of the United Kingdom and no departure from this policy is contemplated. The hon. Member may, however, rest assured that the possibility of using the name Harwich for one of His Majesty's vessels will not be overlooked when a suitable opportunity offers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total number of education authorities in Scotland; the number of these which gave exemptions from school attendance from the ages of 12 and 13, respectively, in the latest year for which figures are available; and the number of such exemptions, distinguishing the ages and exemptions which were temporary from those which were permanent?

There are 35 education authorities in Scotland. During the year ended 31st July, 1935, exemptions were granted to children between the ages of 13 and 14 years by all the authorities, although in two areas the exemptions were of a temporary nature only. During the same period 24 of the authorities granted temporary exemptions to children between the ages of 12 and 13 but no permanent exemptions were granted to children between those ages. The numbers of exemptions granted during the year ended 31st July, 1935, were as follow: