asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Joseph Bowie, of Buckie, has been refused dependants' benefit for his two children, without right of appeal, by the Banff Court of Referees on the grounds that his children were not wholly or mainly maintained by him, in that a son made contributions while the father was employed as a wage deck-hand; and whether he will, at the earliest moment, introduce legislation to amend the anomaly disclosed by this and similar cases?

Mr. Bowie's application for dependants' benefit for his young children was disallowed by the court of referees on the ground that he had not shown that the children were wholly or mainly maintained by him. He has been given the opportunity to apply to the chairman of the court for leave to appeal to the umpire against this decision. I do not think that the law should be altered so as to make benefit allowances payable in respect of children who are not wholly or mainly maintained by the applicant.

Is there a uniform rule throughout the country to determine household income?

Each particular case is judged on its merits.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are hard cases in my division, which have been brought to his notice, of people of similar income, some of whom are getting it and some not?

Income is not the sole test.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is contrary to what it was thought the Act of Parliament meant, and will he not give consideration to various appeals that are being made for an alteration in the law in this respect?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered as unemployed and the number who have been totally unemployed for more than two years in the following exchanges: Llanelly, Burry Port, Amman-ford, and Garnant?

As the reply includes a number of figures, I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now state the result of his inquiries into the malnutrition existing among trainees attending juvenile instruction centres; and whether he is now prepared to recommend that local authorities be empowered to supply meals as well as milk in such cases?

In reply to a question by the hon. Member on 27th February I said that I was making inquiries into the adequacy of the existing arrangements for the provision of milk in the junior instruction centres in the county of Glamorgan. An inquiry into the question has been made in collaboration with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education and I am satisfied that the arrangements for the provision of milk as medical treatment are adequate. I am now extending the inquiry to other areas. As the hon. Member is aware, local education authorities have no power to provide ordinary meals in junior instruction centres, and the decision not to seek such power was in accordance with the recommendation of the National Advisory Council for Juvenile Employment. I propose, however, at an early date to ask the council to review the operation of the system of authorised courses and the question of providing meals in centres will no doubt be considered by them.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that milk has been supplied to the trainees attending the centres for some time, and, notwithstanding that, 57 per cent. of them have been certified to be suffering from malnutrition? Is not that matter sufficiently serious for the right hon. Gentleman to complete negotiations to provide meals as well as milk?

I have no powers, but I propose with these facts in mind to ask the advisory committee to go into the matter.

It has been before the right hon. Gentleman for the last 12 months.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware fiat many of these centres are a long distance from where the young people live, and will he bear that in mind when considering any scheme for providing meals?

Is the right hon. Gentleman asking the advisory committee to deal with this matter immediately?

At an early date.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has anything further to report regarding the application of the Beamish miners for a rehearing of their case?

I understand that the umpire has decided that he would not be justified in granting a rehearing of this case since the relevant facts were fully before him at the original hearing.

There is no question that additional evidence has been submitted and that the men are suffering great injustice owing to the refusal of the umpire to have a re-hearing, and will the Minister see that a re-hearing is granted?

The hon. Member knows that I have no powers at all in the matter. The umpire has final statutory authority. The hon. Member asked a question and I have given the answer.

Is it not usual in a special case to have a re-hearing, and seeing that this case is so important, would it not be wise to have a re-hearing?

It is a question whether or not there are any new relevant facts, and in this case the umpire has decided that there are not.

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to examine the case, and if he agrees that the evidence is new, will he agree to a re-hearing?

I have had a good deal of correspondence about it with various hon. Members, including the hon. Member who put the question.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the question at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Minister of Labour whether recruiting posters are displayed in the Employment Exchanges?

asked the Minister of Labour whether employment exchange officials are at liberty to call the attention of those seeking employment to the opportunities presented by enlistment in the Royal Navy, Army, and Royal Air Force; and whether the recruiting branches of these three services are given facilities for the display and circulation of printed matter at employment exchanges?

A poster is exhibited at every employment exchange which gives the addresses of the appropriate recruiting offices for the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force, and advises applicants that leaflets and booklets about conditions in the three services may be obtained at the employment exchange counter. These leaflets and booklets are distributed on request to any applicant making enquiry. I am considering, in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Ministers for the three Service Departments, whether any modification in these arrangements is desirable.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these posters are not exhibited in every exchange, and will he give instructions that they should be? May I also ask him whether it is true that coloured posters are not allowed?

That is not so, and I am not aware of any exchange where posters are not exhibited. If my hon. and gallant Friend knows of any, I shall be glad if he will let me know.

Does the right hon. Gentleman know that at my local exchange there were no posters exhibited when I visited it?

I only wish my hon. and gallant Friend had let me know that.

Can the Minister say whether these advertisements are distributed free, or are they paid for at advertisement rates?

Will the right hon. Gentleman instruct the officials to distribute leaflets to men of suitable age?

Will the right hon. Gentleman give reasons why the Government cannot obtain all the recruits they want?

Because you people want us to go to war.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give comparative figures showing how many more men are now employed in the Special Areas as the result of the work of the Special Commissioners and the diversion of contracts for constructional work for hangars and temporary buildings into these areas?

I regret that the information which my hon. Friend desires is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applications during the last two years for benefit made by married women under the Anomalies Act allowed by the courts of referees have been subsequently dismissed by the umpires on the application of the insurance officers; and whether he will express the figures in bulk and in percentages and to relate to the country as a whole and Willington Quay in particular?

During the two years 1934 and 1935 there was 359 claims allowed by courts of referees in Great Britain which were disallowed by the umpire under the Anomalies Regulation relating to married women, on appeals by insurance officers. This figure represents about 1 per cent. of the total number of allowances by courts of referees of claims referred to them under this Regulation, and about 73 per cent. of the number of appeals by insurance officers against such allowances. Corresponding figures for Willington Quay are not available.

Would it not be possible to get the figures for Willington Quay?

I doubt whether that could be done without a good deal of labour, because the statistics are compiled district by district.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that if you cannot get the figures for one area you are not in a position to be able to say whether one area is functioning satisfactorily in relation to the whole of the country? Will my right hon. Friend consider whether it would not be better to get all the figures, so as to be able to come to some definite conclusion?

I cannot agree with the conclusion drawn by my hon. Friend. I will look into the matter to see whether it is possible to do what she asks, but she will understand that when a practice has been followed for a very long time such a variation may involve a great deal of labour.

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that an ancient practice is always the best one?

Not always, but sometimes.

asked the Minister of Labour what amount of money has been handed over from the Commissioner for distressed areas to the national social services in South Wales; what amount of money has been handed over to the local authorities up to the last available date; what amount has been promised to each, separately; and to what purposes such moneys are to be devoted?

I am having this information collated so far as it is available and will communicate it to the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the formation of a police reserve, formed of police pensioners, on similar lines to that which is in existence in the Army, so that these officers can be called upon to act should circumstances arise?

A First Police Reserve of pensioners or other suitable men is maintained in any force where it is considered practicable. They number about 6,000 men in the county and borough forces in England and Wales. The Com-

Will the Minister consider the use of these men to direct traffic on the occasion of Royal processions or other ceremonial events?

I do not think that that point arises out of my answer.

asked the Home Secretary under what statutory authority the police are required to keep the offices of certain political and working-class organisations under observation, including tampering with the post and telephones at such addresses; what is the number of the staff employed on such jobs, and are they drawn from police or post office personnel; what is the cost to the Departments involved and the approximate delay to mail so dealt with; what measures are taken to prevent theft or damage to valuable articles or specie in transit; and whether registered letters and the correspondence of Members of Parliament are inviolate in this respect?

No statutory authority is required to enable the police to keep observation upon premises or individuals, but the hon. Member is mistaken if he thinks that the police recognise any class distinction in this respect. The police have no authority to interfere with the post or telephones, and they do not, of course, so so. The Postmaster-General may be authorised, by warrants under the hand of a Secretary of State, to detain and open postal packets, but it would be contrary to the public interest to give information as to the operation of such warrants.

Is the Minister aware that very often when I am on the telephone from the headquarters of my party I hear a connection being made with other people; and is he further aware that on one occasion when we opened one of our letters we got the record and the signature of the official who had examined the correspondence which had been dropped into the letter by mistake?

As regards the telephone, that, of course, concerns another Department, but I think it is the experience of all of us that sometimes we do not find the connection is as precise as we would wish it.

Is not the general policy of the Cornmunist party the sharing of all things, including conversations?

I should like to have a direct and categorical answer to the question about the correspondence of a Member of Parliament. Is my correspondence interfered with?

Will not the right hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance that he will represent to the responsible authorities that the correspondence of a Member of this House should not be interfered with in this way?

I do not know why the hon. Member should assume that it is so interfered with. I am certainly not aware of anything of the kind. I decline, in the public interest, to give a list of all the details that have to be considered in the exercise of the general discussions of the Secretary of State, but the rights of a Member of Parliament are, of course, fully recognised.

Are not Members of Parliament immune in this matter?

I can say quite confidently that the rights of a Member of Parliament are invariably remembered.

asked the Home Secretary for particulars of the new wireless broadcasting station that the Metropolitan police authorities have decided to open at Denmark Hill, S.E.?

The station is not a broadcasting station but a receiving station. The hon. Member will find a full description of it, with pictures, in the newspapers. I shall be happy to send him a copy if he has not seen it.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will instruct the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to station a sufficient force of police at or in the vicinity of political meetings held in connection with the Peckham by-election to prevent breaches of the peace occurring?

The Commissioner of Police informs me that the usual police precautions have been taken in connection with this by-election. No serious disorder has been reported to the police and no requests have been received for additional protection.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware of an incident in which apparently serious assaults were committed by one member of the audience upon another, and that the police had to be telephoned for, indicating that there were not sufficient police in the vicinity

I have made inquiries and I have given the House the answer which I have received, but I will gladly inquire about this further matter.

Is not all this talk about political rowdyism at elections intended to stir up political prejudice?

Perhaps various Members of the House have means of knowing whether that is so or not.

Is not this exactly on a par with the talk about political rowdyism at Fascist meetings?

Would it not be a good plan that hon. Members opposite should be enrolled as special constables?

asked the Home Secretary the number of gaming or fruit machines reported by the police as having been operated in the Metropolitan area; whether he is aware that these machines appeal particularly to young persons; that the small fines imposed on the operators thereof do not act as a deterrent; and whether he proposes taking further action to stop this form of gambling?

The information asked for in the first part of the question is not available. As regards the remainder of the question, I would point out that in addition to prosecuting offenders, the police have certain powers under Section 6 of the Gaming Act, 1845, of entering premises and seizing gaming machines. These powers are exercised in suitable cases, and I have no reason to doubt that the police will continue their efforts to enforce the law.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the United States have taken drastic action in such matters, and would he not recommend to the Metropolitan Police that they should consider similar methods?

I think, on the whole, that the methods of our own police are to be preferred.

Does the same power of the police apply to the proceedings on the Stock Exchange?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the recommendations passed at the International Labour Office Conference at Geneva in June, 1935, with respect to the school-leaving age, etc.; and what action, if any, he proposes to take on the matter?

The recommendation passed at the International Labour Office Conference at Geneva in June, 1935, has been brought to my notice. In so far as this recommendation is directed towards the school-leaving age, I would refer the hon. Member to the Education Bill now before the House.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the difference between the recommendations at Geneva and the Government's Education Bill?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the considerable and growing opinion in favour of a spread-over of school summer holidays with schools in different parts of the country closing at different times, he will suggest to local education authorities that they consider the matter with a view to their easing the August holiday congestion?

The fixing of school holidays is a matter which lies within the discretion of the local education authorities, and I believe that it is already the general practice of authorities to adjust the school holidays to local needs.

asked the Minister of Health, whether he will submit a statement of the number of houses built for letting and for sale for the period 1932–36?

As the answer involves a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

The latest date up to which statistics are available is 30th September, 1935. During the four years ended on that date, 211,937 houses were provided by local authorities, and 7,923 houses were built by private enterprise with State assistance. Practically the whole of these houses were built for letting. During the same period, 830,222 houses were built by private enterprise without State assistance. Statistics of the proportion of such houses built for sale and for letting, respectively, have been available only since 1st October, 1933, and relate only to houses of rateable value not exceeding £26 (£21-£35 in Greater London). Of the 532,748 houses built between 1st October, 1933, and 30th September, 1935, 469,453 were houses of a rateable value not exceeding the figures mentioned, and of these 104,987 were in the occupation of persons other than their owners.

asked the Minister of Health whether a local authority will receive the financial benefit arising from houses built by a housing association in a Special Area after the houses built are paid for; and, if not, who will receive the financial benefit?

No, Sir. So long as the houses in question belong to the housing association, any excess of rents over outgoings would be the property of the association, and would be devoted by them to housing purposes, in accordance with the terms of the trust deed or other document constituting the association.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he is aware that injustice is being done to many farmers owing to the lack of uniformity of standard of farm buildings required by different county councils as a condition of the grant of an accredited milk licence; and whether he will take steps to investigate this matter;

(2) whether he can explain why there are 2,092 farmers in. Cheshire licensed for accredited milk production, whereas there are only 447 in Lancashire and 427 in the West Riding of Yorkshire; and to what extent this is due to the lack of uniformity in the standard of farm buildings required as a condition of the grant of an accredited milk licence?

I am aware that there is said to be a lack of uniformity between the requirements of certain county councils for the granting of Grade A milk producers' licences which are necessary before the producers are included in the list of accredited producers kept by the Milk Marketing Board. I do not consider it practicable to lay down a detailed code, but in a recent circular, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy, I have drawn the attention of local authorities to the principles by which they should be guided. I have offered to give the authorities such assistance as I can, with due regard to the exercise of my jurisdiction in the matter of appeals upon individual cases, and I will have special inquiries made in the counties referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can make any statement with regard to the efforts being made to eradicate the warble fly?

An Order applicable to the whole of Great Britain was made on 31st January, 1936, and widely promulgated, requiring the periodical treatment of cattle infested with the warble fly maggot during the period from March to June in each year, when the maggots are ripe for destruction. Similar Orders were made by the Governments of Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State. The Orders require the destruction of the maggots either by the removal of the maggots from the back of the cattle by mechanical means or by dressing the cattle at monthly intervals with a prescribed derris preparation. No estimate can be made as to the beneficial effects of the Order until after the warble season of 1937.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give details of licences granted to erect or extend bacon factories by the Pig Industry Development Board, together with the dates on which they were granted?

As the reply involves the statement of a considerable number of details, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Has not a licence been refused for the erection of a bacon factory in the county of Durham, where new industries are needed?

One of the difficulties in connection with the county of Durham is, of course, that Durham has had a much larger share in the export of coal, in return for imports of bacon, than some other localities.

Is it to be assumed that people in the county of Durham do not eat bacon?

Following is the answer:

The Bacon Development Board have supplied the following information:

Licences in relation to new premises have been granted in five cases in which a licence had not previously been held. Two of these licences were issued on 17th. December, 1935, and three on 13th January, 1936. One is in respect of premises in replacement of a factory destroyed by fire some years ago, another is for the production of hams only, a third is for the production of bacon for export or ships' stores, while the remaining two are for the production of bacon generally. In addition, the Bacon Development Board have undertaken to grant licences in respect of one new factory and the extension of an existing factory, subject to the observance of certain conditions, which are at present the subject of discussion with the applicants. In seven cases in which the applicants already held licences, the board have granted new licences, subject to the surrender of the existing ones, for the transfer of factory accommodation to new premises in order to secure greater efficiency or to meet special circumstances, and in nine cases licences have been granted for the extension or alteration of existing premises subject, inter alia, to the condition that the total productive capacity of the individual factories is not increased. In these 16 cases the licences were issued between 1st November, 1935, and 31st March, 1936.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether it is now the intention of the Milk Marketing Board to launch out upon a widespread butter manufacturing policy; how many butter factories will be set up; and whether such a policy meets with his approval?

I am informed by the Milk Marketing Board that it is not their intention to engage upon a widespread butter manufacturing policy, but they are proposing to handle some of the manufacturing milk themselves so as to ascertain at first hand the costs of processing and manufacture and the net realisation value of such milk. They have in contemplation the erection of two butter factories, and others will be erected if necessary. As to the last part of the question, my approval of the board's policy in this matter is not required.

Is the establishment of any other factories contemplated?

I have made inquiries, but the board cannot say at the moment whether any additional factories will be required.

Is it the case that no more factories will be required until the Army gets butter instead of margarine?

Could my right hon. Friend furnish an estimate of the loss per gallon of milk for each pound of butter that is manufactured, and how many pounds of butter the factories will have to make before they ruin the dairy farmers?

If my hon. Friend desires fuller information, perhaps he will put down a question, when I will do my best to give him the information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the advisability of extending the powers of the Foreign Loans Advisory Committee to cover short-term banking and commercial credits?

No, Sir. I do not think this proposal is practicable. I should be sorry, moreover, to impose any restriction which would interfere with the normal and legitimate business of the London market and would only aggravate the difficulties with which British traders have to contend.

asked the Chancellor of the Ex- chequer, (1) whether he will state for each year since the operation of the Finance Act, 1927, the number of cases referred to the board of referees, under Section 31 (7) (c) of the Act, and the number of cases in which the board determined that there was not a prima facie case of liability;

(2) whether he will state, for each year since the operation of the Finance Act, 1922, the total number of cases heard by the board of referees; how many cases in each year were brought before the board by the Inland Revenue, and the number decided in favour of the Inland Revenue; and how many cases were brought before the board by the taxpayer, and the number of such cases decided in favour of the Inland Revenue?

As the answer to these questions is somewhat long and contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Without pressing my right hon. Friend for details, may I ask him whether the number of cases in which decisions in favour of the taxpayer have been given represents a very small proportion of the total number of cases submitted?

Yes, I think that that is so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in 'view of the inadequacy of the present procedure before the board of referees, both under the Finance Act, 1922, and the Finance Act, 1927, he will take further steps to protect the taxpayer against adverse decisions by the Special Commissioners of Income Tax?

I am afraid I do not appreciate the point of the hon. Member's question. The Special Commissioners of Income Tax are the tribunal appointed by law to hear all appeals relating to the Surtax, and if either the taxpayer or the Revenue is dissatisfied with the decision of these Commissioners on a point of law, there is a right of appeal to the Courts. As regards questions of liability to Surtax arising under Section 21 of the Finance Act, 1922, as amended by the Finance Act, 1927, both the taxpayer and the Revenue enjoy, in addition, rights of appeal on both law and fact to the board of referees, and I am not aware of anything to justify the suggestion that these rights of appeal are not fully operative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the action of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in inviting applications for posts of junior scientific officer in the food investigation stations at the Low Temperature Research Station, Cambridge, the Covent Garden Laboratory, the Torrey Research Station, Aberdeen, and the Ditton Laboratory, East Mailing, Maidstone, at a salary scale of £275 — 18 — 347 for men and £275 — 12 — 320 for women; whether the qualifications required for men and women are identical in respect of a good honours degree; and whether the duties performed are the same?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has had his attention called to the action of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in inviting applications for the post of junior scientific officer (physicist) at the fuel research station, East Greenwich, at a salary scale of £275 — 18 —347 for men and £275 — 12 — 320 for women; whether the qualifications required for men and women are identical in respect of a good honours degree or equivalent qualifications in physics and some research experience; and whether the duties performed are the same?

The scales of pay are correctly stated in the questions, and are those appropriate to the posts. The qualifications and duties expected of men and women are similar, the relation between their pay being fixed in accordance with normal Civil Service practice.

Seeing that the starting rate is the same, the qualifications are the same, and the work is the same, why is it that the women do not receive the same maximum rate as the men?