asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the average number of persons in receipt of transitional payments in the Employment Exchange area of the Borough of Southwark; and the average amount paid during the three months ended to the last convenient date?

During the three months January, February and March, 1936, the average weekly number of persons receiving unemployment allowances at the Borough Employment Exchange, Walworth Road, was 2,419, and the average amount paid per week to such persons was £2,628.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the four urban districts of Aspull, Blackrod, Hindley, and Westhoughton, covering a population of about 50,000, with an unemployment rate in some parts of about 70 per cent., are suffering from the industrial depression as much as those parts of South Wales, Durham, and Cumberland which are scheduled as distressed areas; and will he take steps to extend the same financial provisions to these townships as are now covering those other areas that have been scheduled?

The unemployment percentages at 23rd March, 1936, at Hindley and Westhoughton, the only two of the four areas mentioned for which separate figures are available, were 36.0 and 29.8 respectively. As regards the latter part of the question, there is nothing which I can add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 12th December.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that on 22nd November, 1935, a traffic examiner visited the premises of Messrs. Herbert W. Clarke and Sons (Erith), Limited, discovering six cases of drivers' records upon which summonses were subsequently issued under the Road Traffic Act, 1933; that the said six summonses were not heard until 27th March, 1936 and can he state the reasons for the delay of five months from the time of discovery?

The hearing of the summonses, to which the defendants pleaded guilty, was delayed, I understand, pending the decision of a Divisional Court regarding the admissibility of records as evidence.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the poor state of the Stony Stratford-Shenley road; and whether any proposals are being considered for its improvement?

The county council of Buckinghamshire have under consideration a proposal to widen and reconstruct a section of Watling Street (A.5) between Stony Stratford and a point near the village of Shenley, and I have offered a grant of 75 per cent. towards the cost of the works, estimated at £150,000.

asked the Minister of Health whether any insurance committees have brought to his notice an expression of opinion that there is unnecessary prescribing by doctors; and whether any action being taken by his Department on the subject?

I have received a report from the Lancashire Insurance Committee to the effect stated in the first part of the question. As to the action taken by my Department, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 1st May to the hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Rhys Davies), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health the total amount spent by approved societies and branches on ophthalmic benefit, showing the amount separately that was spent on the provision of glasses for the two years ended to the last convenient date?

The expenditure in England and Wales on ophthalmic benefit, which includes payment towards the provision of glasses as well as ophthalmic treatment, was £355,000 in the year 1934 and.360,000 in the year 1935. Separate figures are not available of the sums expended in the provision of glasses.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the danger to public health through the inability of the voluntary hospitals to meet the demand for accommodation or beds by persons who urgently require them; and will he consider the appointment of a committee with the power to investigate these difficulties, with a view to introducing legislation to remedy this situation?

I have no evidence of such a general shortage of beds in voluntary hospitals as is suggested in the question. The accommodation available in voluntary hospitals has to be considered in conjunction with that provided by local authorities. The Local Government Act, 1929, provides for the cooperation of the Local Authorities with the voluntary hospitals in the development of the hospital accommodation required to meet the needs of their areas. To this end steps have been, and are continuing to be, taken to provide increased accommodation both in voluntary and in municipal hospitals where necessary, and as at present advised I see no necessity for further legislation or for the appointment of a committee as suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether there is any prospect of the Government, in continuation of the policy of giving assistance for the proper provision of water supply in rural areas, contemplating the allocation of money towards sewerage and sewage disposal schemes under similar safeguards as were agreed in the case of water supply, in order to assist rural district councils and county councils who now have power to contribute but have not adequate funds to carry out thoroughly comprehensive schemes?

No proposal on these lines is at present in contemplation.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is yet in a, position to make any report upon the work of the psychiatrist appointed to deal with delinquents?

As is indicated in the recently published report of the Prison Commissioners, this work is still in an experimental stage, and the material obtained will require careful analysis before any conclusions can usefully be formulated. It will not, therefore, be possible to issue any report for some tune to come.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give a return for London and for the country showing the number of licensing divisions which in 1936 extended the permitted hours for the sale of intoxicants for the whole year; for part of the year; made no change; and reverted to the hours of two years ago, respectively?

Following is the information:

Changes of latest permitted hour on weekdays as compared with 1935.
—	London.	Remainder of England and Wales.
Extension for whole year.	3	6
Extension for part of the year.	Nil.	75
No change	15	901
Reversion to latest hour as fixed in 1934.	Nil	8

asked the Home Secretary whether he will inquire into the grounds supporting the publicly expressed views of scientists that there is no real defence whatever against attack of burning gases and incendiary bombs; and whether, in view of the efforts of his Department to popularise gas drill, he will publish the results of his inquiry so as to reassure and inform the public?

I am advised that defensive measures against poison gas and incendiary bombs are practicable provided that adequate preparation is made as regards equipment and organisation. Research into these problems is always being carried on, and my right hon. Friend sees no reason for conducting a special inquiry of the kind suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the introduction of legislation to prevent the wearing in this country of uniform, especially of a military design, by unofficial organisations of a political character?

The Uniforms Act, 1894, makes it unlawful for any person not serving in His Majesty's military forces to wear without His Majesty's permission the uniform of any of those forces or any dress having the appearance or bearing any of the regimental or other distinctive marks of any such uniform. My hon. Friend will appreciate that his suggestion would raise very difficult questions of definition, and, while the position will continue to be carefully watched, my right hon. Friend cannot undertake in present circumstances to introduce legislation on this subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has yet received the result of the inquiry made into the case, to which his attention has been drawn, of the prosecution of three motorcyclists charged with a road offence committed jointly on one day, for which summonses were issued returnable on different dates for each defendant; and whether he proposes to direct the attention of magistrates to the undesirability of such a practice?

I find on inquiry that on the application of the solicitor acting for the defence in these three cases it was arranged that they should be heard together. The hon. and gallant Member will appreciate that when a driver is stopped for an alleged traffic offence, it is often necessary to make preliminary inquiries before a summons is applied for and that the time occupied in making such inquiries varies in different cases. This may lead to different dates being fixed for the hearing of charges originating on the same day, but I am informed that an endeavour is always made to meet the wishes of defendants who represent that it is in their interest that the charges against them should be heard together.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether any estimate has been formed of the amount of money that would be needed to ensure that the wife of every ex-service man treated in his Departmental hospitals was in receipt of an adequate allowance during the absence of her husband?

No, Sir. I am satisfied that the financial arrangements made by the Royal Warrants and by the concession which I announced in the House on the 22nd October last afford adequate provision in the circumstances referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how rates of pay, accommodation, food, and hours in the British mercantile marine compare with the Dutch marine service?

Monthly wages of able seamen and firemen on British foreign-going cargo vessels are £8 11s. and £9 1s., respectively. According to the latest available information the comparable Dutch rates, at current rates of exchange, are £10 19s. 8d. and £11 10s. 8d. Information to enable a comparison to be made regarding accommodation is not available, nor is any available about food in the Dutch marine service. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a Board of Trade Notice dealing with provisions for crews of British ships. As regards hours of labour, it is not possible to make a brief statement but I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the current National Maritime Board Year Book on which are indicated references to hours of labour on British ships, and also a copy of a publication issued by the International Labour Office in 1929 which gives the latest available information regarding hours of labour in the Dutch marine service.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many British tramp steamers are receiving Government assistance; and what is the number of vessels registered under the British flag, with the total tonnage, distinguishing between passenger liners, oil tankers and cargo vessels?

The number of vessels in respect of which tramp shipping subsidy for 1935 was paid under the provisions of the British Shipping (Assistance) Act, 1935, was 1,391. As required by the Act these consisted

Tramps.	Cargo Liners.	Passenger Liners.	Mixed Cargo Passenger Liners.	Tankers.	Total.
1,670 vessels totaling 4,395,000 gross tons.	1,232 vessels totaling 5,542,000 gross tons.	127 vessels totaling 1,252,000 gross tons.	720 vessels totaling 3,702,000 gross tons.	401 vessels totaling 2,242,000 gross tons.	4,150 vessels totaling 17,133,000 gross tons.

The total tonnage on the United Kingdom Register on 1st October, 1933, was 18,389,000 tons gross.The statistics of Lloyd's Register of Shipping show that on 1st July, 1935, the number of vessels registered under the British flag (including those registered outside the United Kingdom, but excluding steamers and motor ships of less than 100 tons gross and sailing vessels of less than 100 tons net) was 9,832 of 20,510,921 gross tons, including 434 oil tankers of 1,000 gross tons or over with a total tonnage of 2,638,657 gross tons.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether his attention has been called to the fact that, although temporary bridges have been built over some of the brooks in Richmond Park for the express convenience of equestrians, in some important cases, notably the brook near Roehampton gate, the bridge has been officially closed for many weeks, thereby causing riders, who are forbidden to jump the brook, to use a very busy tarmac road; and whether he will take immediate steps to have these temporary bridges re-opened?

The bridge to which the hon. Member refers has been closed to horse traffic owing to the low-lying and swampy nature of the land. In this, and in other cases, the turf had become so badly cut up by horses that it

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether his attention has been drawn to the condition of some of the public car parks in Richmond Park; and whether he will take immediate steps to repair the deep ruts and drain the water-logged parts which at present render it impossible to park cars in those particular places?

I have hitherto regarded these car parks as being in the nature of an experiment, but the work of improving them is now being carried out within the limit of the funds available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, in spite of the continuous requests of business firms and tradesmen in Cumberland, there is no telephone installation in the offices of Customs and Excise in Whitehaven; and can he state when there will be one?

I am aware that no telephone is installed at the Customs and Excise office at Catherine Street, Whitehaven, but the question whether, having regard to the limited attendance given at the office by the Customs and Excise staff, the provision of a telephone would be justified is under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount and value

Period.				Slates for roofing.		Granite setts and pavement kerbs.
				Quantity.	Declared Value.	Quantity.	Declared Value.
				Tons.	£	Tons.	£
1931	…	…	…	37,443	216,538	111,680	304,158
1932	…	…	…	19,959	99,792	51,705	127,802
1933	…	…	…	27,205	122,098	68,370	159,200
1934	…	…	…	32,314	152,511	82,376	172,038
1935	…	…	…	32,074	146,512	71,173(a)	154,854(a)
(a) Imports of granite setts amounted to 8,878 tons, valued at £15,606. Separate particulars for previous years are not available.
Note.—The figures for 1935 are provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland under what statutory or other authority Glasgow Corporation have put into operation a by-law compelling owners of property to put the windows into a condition where they would open inwards for cleaning purposes; and whether he can state the number which have been altered and the number yet to alter and when these windows will be dealt with?

The requirement as to the opening inwards of the windows of dwelling houses or habitable rooms in Glasgow is contained in Section 68 of the Glasgow Corporation Order, 1927, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. The provision does not apply to any buildings erected before 1st January, 1928, and no notice has been sent to any owner of such property calling upon him to alter any existing windows.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amounts in sterling received by this country in dividends from the Suez Canal Company for each year from 1929 and the amounts that would have been received at par of

The following table shows the quantity and declared value of slates for roofing and of granite setts and pavement kerbs imported into the United Kingdom during each year 1931 to 1935.exchange had this country remained on the gold standard?

The figures are as follow:Amounts received in dividends from the Suez Canal Company in each calendar year from 1929, and the amounts that would have been received at par of exchange in the years 1932 to 1936 bad this Country remained on the former Gold Standard.

Calendar year.	Received.	At par (124·21).
	£	£
1929	1,833,273	—
1930	1,885,094	—
1931	1,882,945	—
1932	2,440,251	1,759,665
1933	2,057,112	1,423,421
1934	2,309,921	1,464,093
1935	2,436,816	1,463,093
1936 to date	871,735	522,639

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now satisfied that the powers of the Herring Board are inadequate for the proper discharge of its functions; and whether His Majesty's Government will introduce legislation to give to the board the powers recommended in the Duncan Report?

I would refer the hon. Member to the full statement of the position which I made to the House in the Debate on the Adjournment on Tuesday night. There is nothing meantime that I can add to that statement.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the report recently submitted to the Devon Education Committee on the lack of proper sanitary arrangements, the inadequacy of the water supply, and other defects in the buildings of certain schools in the Okehampton area; and, in view of the fact that attendance at schools where such unhealthy conditions exist is detrimental to the physical and moral welfare of the children, what remedial action is he prepared to take?

:I have seen a reference in a newspaper to the report in question, and I am making inquiries.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether in view of the importance to the nation of healthy conditions for the school child, he will furnish the numbers of elementary schools and the numbers of children on the registers of such schools in rural and in urban areas in which, respectively, the sanitary arrangements are unsatisfactory, the water supply is inadequate and piped water is not provided, the ventilation is defective, the lighting is defective, there are no playgrounds or inadequate playgrounds without prepared (tarred) surface, or the building is damp or faulty and needing structural repair; and how many of these schools are non-provided and how many provided?

I regret that the information asked for by the Noble Lady is not available in a collected form. The nature of the sanitary arrangements and water supply and the condition of individual school premises are among the matters to which His Majesty's Inspectors give attention when inspecting schools, and appropriate action is taken where necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is contemplated that in issuing invitations to His Majesty's coronation such invitations shall be sent not only to Indian rulers but also to distinguished African rulers, such as the Alake of Abeokuta, the Kabaka of Uganda, and the Regent of the Bamangwato in Bechuanaland?

I regret that it is not possible at present to make any statement as to the arrangements contemplated.