asked the Under—Secretary of. State for India the total amount of expenditure, and financial assistance given by the Government of India for the purpose of developing civil aviation in India, for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The ordinary expenditure on civil aviation during the year 1934–36 was Rs.14,35,220. In addition, a capital expenditure of Rs.73,876 was incurred during the year and was met from the special fund of Rs.92½ lakhs set aside by the Government of India from their revenue surplus for the development of civil aviation.

Were any of these sums given to the Light Aeroplane Club?

The hon. Member had better put that question down.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action the Danzig Senate has taken, particularly with regard to the protection of national associations, to the alteration in the penal code, and to the freedom of the Press, in pursuance of the recommendations of the League of Nations Council and in accordance with the promises made by the President of the Senate?

On 20th February the Danzig Senate issued four decrees by which the legislation of the free city has been amended on the points mentioned in the hon. Member's question in the manner recommended by the Council of the League of Nations. I will arrange for translations of these decrees to be placed in the Library of the House as soon as possible.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that all these decrees issued by the Senate are being implemented?

That is not a matter for me.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the French Government have refused permission to the Abyssinian Government to import arms by the Jibuti Railway; and whether, in view of the terms of the agreement, he will make representations on this subject to the French Government?

I am not certain to what agreement the hon. Member refers, but I cannot in any event undertake to answer for the action of a foreign Government.

Would it not be a breach of the sanctions policy agreed upon by the League to prevent munitions going by the Jibuti Railway? Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the point?

I do not think it can be so described.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action is being taken by the Government alone or through the League of Nations to protest against and prevent the Italian bombing of Red Cross hospitals and the use of poison gas, contrary to the 1925 Protocol?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any information in regard to the dropping of gas bombs by the Italian force in Abyssinia; and whether, seeing that the use of such bombs is contrary to the Protocol of 1925, which was ratified by Italy on 3rd April, 1928, the Government intend to make any protest?

On 22nd March I received from His Majesty's Minister at Addis Ababa the text of a, protest communicated to him by the Ethiopian Government on the previous day against the continuous use by Italy of asphyxiating gas and similar gases, in violation of the Hague Convention (No. 4) of 18th October, 1907, and the Geneva Protocol of 17th July, 1925. This protest, which had been preceded by a. briefer protest telegraphed to Geneva on 17th March, was addressed to His Majesty's Government, as a signatory of the instruments referred to above, as well as to the League of Nations and to the other Governments represented at Addis Ababa. These complaints, together with the protests which have been addressed to the League by the Ethiopian Government regarding the bombing of Red Cross units, were considered by the Committee of Thirteen at its meeting in London on 23rd March. The Committee decided to refer the complaints of the Ethiopian Government to the Italian Government and to remind that Government of the provisions of the Geneva Protocol of 1925 and I understand that this has now been done. The representative of His Majesty's Government associated himself with that decision.

Would not by far the most effective action be to put on oil sanctions and thus end the war?

Extend the war.

This is a matter for the Committee of Thirteen. As soon as the Italian reply has been received, His Majesty's Government will certainly do their best to see that the whole position is reviewed as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make clear to the French Government that action against an aggressor must operate equally everywhere, and that support for France against aggression by Germany is dependent in British public opinion on French support for sanctions against Italy?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a somewhat similar question asked by the right hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood) on 16th December last, of which I am sending him a copy. I have nothing to add to that reply, except that any question as to whether support is due to a country must be considered in the light of the circumstances of the case and of the relevant treaty provisions.

Is it not clear that France cannot have it both ways?

Will the right hon. Gentleman not consider that it is very discouraging to Powers outside the Locarno area to observe how this country and France carry out their obligations under the Covenant?

I hope there is no doubt anywhere that this country is prepared to carry out, and is carrying out, her obligations under the Covenant.

Will it not be possible for the members of the League of Nations to understand that the method in which they carry out their obligations to others must necessarily influence the way in which we carry out our obligations?

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the ill effects caused to ex-Service men suffering from neurasthenia or shell-shock by the non-permanence of their pension; and will he arrange for all such pensions that have been given continuously for eight years or more to be made permanent?

Of the total number of pensions in issue for neurasthenia and shell-shock over 91 per cent, have been made permanent. To make awards permanent in cases where the prognosis is still uncertain would not be in the interests of pensions, but awards for prolonged periods are given in all suitable cases.

Does 19 per cent. refer to cases under eight or 10 years duration?

Some cases are periodically under review. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, I will undertake to have it specially examined.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether London University will, in accordance with the terms of its lease, repair and repaint the buildings of St. John's Lodge, Regent's Park, this summer so that their present derelict appearance may be terminated?

The University are required by the terms of the lease to repair and paint St. John's Lodge both internally and externally within six months of the date of the lease, which was 20th February, 1936.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will transfer to the old Archery Garden the two red brickdust tennis-courts in the west portion of the Queen Mary Garden in Regent's Park, which are closed on Sundays and are restricted to the use of few persons on other days, in order that the space may be restored to the Queen Mary Garden for the enjoyment of the general public on every day, as a flower garden or as a screened-off lawn, with seats in either case?

I propose to devote the funds which are at my disposal for the Queen Mary Garden this year to the improvement of the north end of the garden, and this work is now in progress. The two long established courts to which my hon. Friend refers will be demolished in due course, but meanwhile are used, without any restrictions, for the playing of netball principally by school teams. After the close of the netball season, they will again be available for tennis. An additional netball court is at present being laid down in the old Archery Garden.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether fruit and vegetables grown elsewhere in Great Britain than England and Wales are contained in the cans bearing the National Mark.

The only exception to the rule that fruit and vegetables contained in cans bearing the National Mark applicable to England and Wales must have been grown in England and Wales relates to raspberries grown in Scotland but canned in England and packed under that Mark.

Do I understand that Scotland and Northern Ireland cannot grow fruit and vegetables of the requisite quality to be nationally branded?

No, I think that would be an incorrect assumption.

Then is the right hon. Gentleman aware of a brochure having been issued by the Ministry of Agriculture informing housewives that, if they see the National Mark, they can be sure it is produce grown in England or Wales?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has considered the latest report of the Herring Board; and whether, in view of the strong protests from the fishermen, he will consider making grants for reconditioning the fleet in view of the owners' inability to meet even their existing loans?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. and gallant Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland on Tuesday last in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. Gallacher), to which I have nothing to add.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the fleet is proposing not to go out to sea in view of the parlous condition of the trade?

I do not think that applies to the English fleet.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what were the earnings of share fishermen in the herring industry during the years 1933, 1934, and 1935?

I regret that the information desired by the hon. Member is not available.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will explain the circumstances in which, contrary to precedent, a Fascist procession was permitted to march along Constitution Hill past Buckingham Palace and along Birdcage Walk on the evening of Sunday, 22nd March?

I understand that the Commissioner Police, in the interests of law and order, directed the procession to take this route.

Should not the police have first obtained permission from the Office of Works for the procession to proceed in this way; and, if so, has the right hon. Gentleman made no protest to the Commissioner of Police against their having done this without his permission?

I understand that this happened late on Sunday night. Efforts were made to get into touch with me, but, unfortunately, I was dining out. I take full responsibility for what the Commissioner did in the circumstances of the case.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it is undesirable that this particular route should be used for processions as a general rule?

Yes, Sir, I am quite sure that that is the general view of the police. It so happened that the police who were conducting the procession found a crowd of the opposition in Grosvenor Place, and at the last minute they diverted it to this route, which would not normally be used.

A means of escape.

Are we to take it from the answer that if it were a Communist procession they would have taken it along that route?

I hope that in future it will be possible to avoid processions of any political character being taken past the Palace.

Does not the First Commissioner of Works think that Rotten Row would have been the best route?

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the report of the British Medical Association on the problem of maternal mortality and the further steps advised thereupon; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

Yes, Sir. As my hon. Friend is aware, a Bill has recently been introduced for securing an organised service of salaried midwives throughout the country, and my right hon. Friend thinks that before deciding what further action should be taken he should have before him the report on the investigation into the causes of maternal mortality which is now being made by medical officers of his Department.

While thanking the hon. Member for what he has said, can he give an assurance that, in dealing with this grave problem, the Minister will take into account all the relevant circumstances that may come to his notice with a view to fighting the disease of maternal mortality?

Yes, Sir, certainly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider introducing legislation with a view of improving the law relating to the issue of prospectuses and making it more difficult to obtain money from the public by fraud or other improper means?

This matter has been noted for consideration when the amendment of the Companies Act, 1929, is under review.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when it is proposed to frame revised regulations for the Mercantile Marine on the basis of the reports on manning and steering gear; and whether any legislation is required to implement the recommendations in the report?

Revised instructions on manning are in draft and will be referred to the Merchant Shipping Advisory Committee shortly. As the hon. Member was informed in a reply to a question on 25th February, no new legislation is necessary for this purpose. As regards steering gear, revised regulations cannot be prepared until the Supplementary Report promised by the Steering Gear Committee has been received. That question whether legislation will be required to carry out the recommendations of the committee is under consideration.

In view of the very great anxiety that exists with regard to this matter, can the right hon. Gentleman give any approximate date when the Regulations will be actually framed?

No, Sir, I cannot give any accurate date, but the matter is being pushed on.

Will it be this year?

Oh, yes.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recollect that he undertook to give consideration to fishing vessels, and can he now say whether they are to be included in the draft Regulations?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can give the House any information as to the accident in Coatbank Street, Coatbridge, whereby three persons have lost their lives through the collapse of a building in process of demolition; whether he is aware that there are a large number of tenement buildings in this street and its courts in a semi-demolished and dangerous condition; that these courts are the playground of large numbers of children; that a similar accident took place a month age whereby a schoolboy was badly injured; whether during the weeks of demolition the owners or contractors have put up any barricade or notice of warning or set any watchman to on the buildings; and whether he will take immediate action against the recurrence of such accidents?

The circumstances of the accident referred to are at present bring investigated by the Procurator Fiscal and may form the subject of a public inquiry under the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act, 1906. It would, accordingly, be inappropriate for me to make any statement at the present stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the average price of the English gas-mask compares with that used in other countries?

I understand that manufacturers and traders are for the most part awaiting the announcement of the Government's policy for the regulation of the sale of anti-gas respirators, and I do not consider that any useful comparison can be made between the prices now being charged for respirators in the present limited market and the prices in other countries, where plans for the Government approval of types of respirators are already in force. I hope to make a statement of the Government's policy at an early date.

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether any local authorities in the London area are operating his anti-gas Order; and whether he can give the names of such authorities;

(2) the number of local authorities who have taken any action in the direction of providing gas masks and providing anti-gas training?

A circular letter was sent to local authorities on 24th February last inviting them to submit the names of employés who should receive training as instructors in anti-gas measures at the Civilian Anti-Gas School. As the circular letter suggested consultation among neighbouring local authorities, it is too early yet to make any statement about the general response to the circular, but I am quite satisfied with the progress that has been made so far. It is hoped by the end of this year that approximately 600 qualified instructors will have passed through the school. The Government have undertaken to provide respirators and protective clothing at the cost of the Exchequer to persons employed on air raid precautionary services.

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many replies he has had from the local authorities?

No, Sir, not without notice.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the recent case at the Old Bailey in which a widow was sentenced to death for the murder of her eight-year-old daughter, and to the remarks made by the judge regarding the nature of the case; and whether he will give consideration to the possibility of introducing a modification of the existing law which will absolve a judge from the necessity of pronouncing the death sentence, and of going through the ritual connected therewith, in cases where such a sentence is repugnant to general public feeling?

I am aware of the circumstances of the case to which the hon. Member refers. The point which he raises is not one that can conveniently be discussed in answer to a Parliamentary question, and I can only say that the possibility of some modification of the law in the sense suggested has often been considered, but it has been found impracticable.

Will the hon. Gentleman convey to his right hon. Friend the fact that there is very strong public feeling on this matter, and urge him to see whether it is not possible to make some modification of the law?

Certainly, but those who have gone into this matter in the past, with the best will in the world, have found that the more they have gone into it the greater has appeared the difficulty.

Will the hon. Member ask his right hon. Friend to go into this matter? Seeing that he has broken all precedent by the rapid manner in which he dealt with this matter, for which everybody is grateful, may I ask the hon. Member to ask his right hon. Friend to approach this question in the same spirit?

Will the Government take into account and into serious consideration the recommendation of the Committee on Capital Punishment, which dealt with this whole matter?

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give particulars of the new standing order issued by the Prison Department requiring a prison officer to sign statements of evidence of a charge made against him?

There has been for many years an order that when an officer is charged with an offence he shall be allowed to see all the information against him. The new order merely provides that when for this purpose written statements or reports are shown to an officer charged with an offence, he shall initial such documents so that there may be a record of his having seen them. I will send the hon. Member an extract from the relevant standing order showing the addition which has been made.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received any report upon the trial and sentence of a number of citizens in the Taff Merthyr district of South vales at the assizes held at Cardiff; and whether, in view of the grave unrest which prevails in that neighbourhood, he will consider a review of the sentences imposed?

My right hon. Friend has seen Press reports relating to the cases in question, but he knows of no sufficient reason for advising any remission of the sentences imposed by the Court. It is open to the prisoners. or any of them, to apply to the Court of Criminal Appeal for leave to appeal against sentence if they or their advisers consider that there is good ground for doing so.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that these people are so very poor that they cannot even contemplate an appeal? Therefore, will he represent to his right hon. Friend the desirability of reviewing these sentences in a favourable light? May I also ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will be prepared to receive a deputation of Members of this House on this very grave and very difficult matter?

I would point out that there are provisions under an Act for making an appeal of this sort without cost to the person concerned. My right hon. Friend is always ready to receive deputations from hon. Members, but I would point out that there is at present no information before the Home Secretary which would justify any interference with the sentence which the court, after hearing all the evidence, thought it right to pass.

If the right hon. Gentleman receives a deputation I shall be able to put before him such information as is necessary.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the growing tendency, when evidence as to a prisoner's previous record is being given by the police in cases of riot or industrial disturbance, to make reference to a prisoner's political opinions; and whether he will take steps to secure that no allegations as to a prisoner's activities shall be made where no previous conviction for such activities has been recorded?

It is a well-established practice for the courts to call for information from the police as to the antecedents of a convicted prisoner before deciding what sentence, if any, should be imposed, and this practice has been specifically approved by the Court of Criminal Appeal. It is for the court to decide whether such information is relevant and what weight is to be attached to it, and my right hon. Friend does not propose to take any action in the matter.

Has the Under-Secretary appreciated the fact that it is a very serious matter for information to be adduced at this particular point of a trial in relation to a person's political convictions, and has any court the right to examine even the allegations of a person's previous activities when he has never been given an opportunity of answering them, and has never been before a court and been convicted?

Lord Chief Justice Alverstone made a governing statement on this matter when he indicated that the practice was desirable, and showed also what safeguards there were in its operation in the courts of this country. It is for the court itself to decide whether in particular circumstances the course should be adopted or not.

Is it permissible for a further series of allegations to be made concerning a prisoner, in regard to which he has never had a chance of giving an answer, and in regard to which he has never been previously convicted in the courts?

The Lord Chief Justice said:

"Very often it is in the prisoner's interests that his antecedents should be stated, and, if it is not so, it is not the fault of the police but the fault of the antecedents."

Can it ever be possible for a man's political opinions to have any relevance to his sentence?

I think the use of the words "political opinions" in the way they have been used in the House is not quite in accordance with the facts as they are brought before the court. In actual practice the police draw attention to certain acts which may have sprung from political opinions.

Is the Under-Secretary not aware that in this case evidence was given of this person's political convictions, and may I ask whether it is proper for such evidence to be given against a person?

The hon. Member's question was at first general, but he is now raising a particular question. If he will bring the circumstances to the attention of my right hon. Friend we shall be pleased to consider the case.

I beg to give notice that, owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I will raise the matter at the earliest possible moment, on the Motion for the Adjournment.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give the House any information in regard to the accident to a workman who was buried by the collapse of a trench in Hove Street, Hove, Sussex; and whether the trench was properly timbered?

No, Sir. Inquiry will, however, be made and I will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary whether notification is obtained from all employers by his Department when accidents are sustained by their workpeople that necessitate their being away from their employment three days or more; and whether the nature and cause of the accident are in all cases reported?

Accidents involving the disablement of a person employed for more than three days are reportable to the district inspector of factories when they occur in a factory or workshop or in certain other classes of premises to which the provisions of the Factory Act as to notification apply. Particulars as to the cause or nature of the accident are required to be given.

Then if I had waited a few more days, I should have got all the information about the accident?

That may be so.

asked the Prime Minister what is the procedure for filling a vacancy for the permanent head of a Department of the Civil Service?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given on the 25th and the 26th instant respectively to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Stirling and Clackmannan, Western (Mr. Johnston) and the hon. Member for Wentworth (Mr. Paling) by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and myself. As the hon. Member will see from those replies, moor posts in the Civil Service are tilled after the most careful review of the qualifications of all suitable officers irrespective of sectional considerations, with sole object of securing the appointment of the lest all-round men.

Has the right hon. Gentleman satisfied himself that the stipulations he has just read out were carefully observed in the recent appointment as chief civil servant at the Ministry of Agriculture?

Yes, Sir.

Has the right hon. Gentleman personally satisfied himself on that point?

Yes. During all the time I had been Prime Minister I have always been in the closest touch with every one of these appointments. It is one of the Prime Minister's duties to discuss with the In heads of the Civil Service; and every Prime Minister is always looking to the service to see who are the best of the younger men coming along in the hope that they may provide the right men for the responsible position 'as head of a Department.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to let us know whether he personally satisfied himself that, in the particular case to which I have referred, permanent officials who may have expected normally to receive promotion as the head of the Ministry of Agriculture were deservedly passed over in this case?

I think the best man for the appointment was selected, but no one has any right to expect any particular promotion to the head of his own office or to any other.

asked the Prime Minister whether questions may be addressed to the Minister without portfolio upon all matters which have been stated by Ministers to be receiving the consideration of the Government; if so, on what day such questions may be put; and, if not, on what questions the Minister in question may be questioned?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative: the second part, therefore, does not arise. As regards the last part of the question, as my right hon. Friend is not in charge of a Department, questions should continue to be addressed to Departmental Ministers.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the event of the contact between the General Staffs envisaged in paragraph 3 of the proposals of 19th March, 1936, maturing, the British General Staff will be accompanied by the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence or some other Minister?

No, Sir.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to bear in mind that French generals are frequently politically-minded while our own generals very wisely do not concern themselves with political matters, and that they are therefore likely to be at a disadvantage in such conversations with the French?

I do not think such a practice as the hon. and gallant Member suggests would be a good one, for the simple reason that the mere presence of a Minister at any conference of this kind would lend an importance to the conference in the public eyes and in other respects which the conference really has not. A technical conference in that way might become much more serious.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that these technical talks will not result in definite commitments until they have been considered by the Cabinet?

That particular point was discussed in the Debate, and an assurance was given to the House which I beg to confirm now.

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether he is prepared to consider the appointment of a representative Committee of the House to consider an amendment of the Standing Order allocating time for private Members' business in order that, if possible, more of the time of the House may be devoted to normal legislative business;

(2) whether he is prepared to consider the desirability of imposing by Standing Order a limitation on the time occupied by individual Members addressing the House in order to facilitate the avoidance of unnecessary repetition or, alternatively, to provide that typewritten and manuscript speeches should be printed and circulated instead of being read by Members in Debate?

The Procedure of this House was considered as recently as 1931 and 1932 by a Select Committee, and I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by a further inquiry. The question of a time limit on the length of speeches has been considered many times, and no satisfactory remedy has been found. The matter was dealt with in evidence given before the Select Committee to which I have referred. I venture to suggest to the House that the solution rests with hon. Members themselves, and, in this connection, I would commend to their notice remarks made on various occasions by Mr. Speaker.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bring these remarks to the notice of his right hon. Friends on the Front Bench?

asked the Minister of Health in how many cases of slum clearance the sites have been utilised for the erection of working-class dwellings which conform with modern requirements?

192 cleared sites have been used by 74 local authorities under the Act of 1930 for the purpose indicated by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many motor cars were imported into this country from Italy during the fortnight immediately previous to the imposition of sanctions, and of what make were such cars?

Apart from motor cars which may have been imported temporarily under the tourist regulations, as to which there is no information immediately available, I understand there were no importations of motor cars from Italy during the period to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers.