asked the President of the Board of Education what local education authorities have recently erected schools built of timber; whether his Department made any grants towards the cost; and whether he has received any reports as to their suitability as permanent erections for educational purposes?

In addition to a number of proposals involving the use of timber for temporary school purposes, the board have, during the last five years, approved plans for permanent schools built wholly or partly in timber submitted by 17 local education authorities, the names of which I am sending to the hon. Member. The expenditure involved ranks for the board's grant at the normal rate payable in respect of school buildings. The information available in my Department suggests that timber buildings are suitable for permanent educational use provided that they are carefully designed and constructed with a view to avoiding heavy charges for maintenance and risks of fire.

asked the President of the Board of Education the total accommodation in Lancashire for secondary education and the number of scholars attending secondary schools at the latest date for which information is available?

The number of pupils attending secondary schools in Lancashire, including the county boroughs, on 1st October, 1935, was 54,726 in secondary schools on the Grant List, and 1,705 in secondary schools recognised by the board as efficient but not for grant, making a total of 56,431. Inasmuch as no recognised accommodation is laid down in the case of secondary schools, information as to the number of places as distinct from the number of pupils in such schools is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the growing seriousness of juvenile crime; and whether he will consider if the system of education in this country can be modified so as to produce more beneficial results than at present on character and training?

I am fully alive to the seriousness of the problem of juvenile crime. I can assure my hon. Friend that the great importance of moral training is fully appreciated by the board, the local education authorities and the teaching profession, and the methods of such training are continually under review.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of schoolchildren subject to dental treatment for the year ending 30th April, 1936, or the nearest convenient date, and the number who received treatment accordingly?

During the year which ended on the 31st December, 1935, 3,366,818 children in public elementary schools in England were subjected to dental inspection under arrangements made by local education authorities. Of these 2,290,404 children were found to require dental treatment and 1,474,083 were treated under arrangements made by local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give the number of Army stations of any sort, either actual or proposed, in the principality of Wales?

I am not quite sure what my hon. Friend would regard as an Army "station." A number of places capable of accommodating troops are now on a care and maintenance basis only. Apart from these, there are six stations in active occupation. No increase of this number is at present contemplated.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether, to allay public apprehension about conscription, he can make a statement that the War Office does not intend to attempt to introduce it?

I cannot do more than refer my hon. Friend to the assurance given by the Prime Minister on 1st April in answer to a question by the hon. Member for the Shettleston Division of Glasgow (Mr. McGovern).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that third-class engineers in the War Department Fleet are, unlike first- and second-class engineers, not entitled to pensions on retirement although they perform the same work and have the same responsibilities; and whether he will consider placing all these engineers on a pensionable basis, especially in view of the fact that third-class engineers in the naval armament are pensionable?

Third-class engineers in the War Department Fleet differ from first- and second-class engineers in the extent of their responsibilities, method of recruitment and qualifications demanded. They are classed as industrial employés, and are not eligible for pensionable status, as it is contrary to the general policy of the Department to accord pensionability to employés of industrial categories.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will make a statement about the proposal to recruit entrants for the Indian Civil Service by selection without examination during the current year?

My Noble Friend is of the opinion that it is a matter of such importance to correct the present deficiency of European recruitment to the Service that he hopes to make a beginning this year with the new system of recruitment by selection. Any men selected this year will not, of course, be ready for appointment until the autumn of 1937 as they will, in common with the candidates taken by examination, have to undergo a year's probation. It is anticipated that, subject to the approval of Parliament, by that time Section 244 of the Government of India Act, 1935, which is the authority under which the Secretary of State will be able to appoint them, will have come into operation. But should this not prove to be the case, my Noble Friend would be prepared to ask for authority to appoint men selected this year, by means of an appropriate amendment of Section 244.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of deaths from malaria that occurred in Ceylon in the epidemic of 1934–35; the number of deaths that have occurred in the corresponding period of 1935–36; and what measures have been taken to deal with any future outbreaks?

During the 15 months from September, 1934, to December, 1935, in which the malaria epidemic occurred, there were about 100,000 deaths in Ceylon in excess of the average of the five preceding similar periods. I will place in the Library of the House a copy of the report of the Commission for Relief which gives more detailed figures. The State Council have adopted in general the recommendations made by Colonel Gill the expert adviser to the Ceylon Government, and I understand that effect is being given to his proposals.

asked the Postmaster-General if any private telephone lines are now in operation between Leicester and London; and what is the cost of such a private line?

There are at present no private London-Leicester telephone lines in operation. The rental of such a line at the standard rate would be £720 a year; but in view of the requirements of the public service there would at present be some difficulty in sparing a line for private use.

asked the Postmaster-General the total number of depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank and the aggregate amount of their deposits at the latest convenient date in 1936?

The number of depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank on the 30th April, 1936, was approximately 10,100,000 and the total amount of their deposits with accrued interest was £409,145,000.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of Navy stations of any sort, either actual or proposed, in the Principality of Wales?

There are two naval establishments in the Principality, both in the Pembroke district, namely the naval store and fuel depot at Pembroke Dock and the mine depot now in course of construction at Milford Haven. Various sites in different parts of the United Kingdom are being considered for new establishments.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that on Saturday, 25th April, the customary open-air meeting of the National Unemployed Workers Movement held at Cleveland Park Avenue, Walthamstow, was forcibly concluded by the police in order that a meeting of Fascists could be held instead; and whether he will give instructions that organisations accustomed to hold meetings at a particular pitch shall not suffer interference by the police in favour of other organisations?

My attention was first called to this matter on the 30th April when certain statements were submitted to me from persons who were present at the meeting on the 25th April. I immediately communicated with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and asked that a special inquiry should be made into all the circumstances.I have carefully considered the reports which I have now received from the commissioner, and, though there is some conflict of evidence in regard to sonic of the details, I have come to the conclusion, in which the Commissioner of Police concurs, that on this occasion the police made an error of judgment in interfering with the meeting of the National Unemployed Workers' Movement. I am sure the House will recognise that the duties of the police in dealing with competitive claims for the same meeting ground are very difficult; and that it is sometimes easier to form a wise judgment after than before the event.I am satisfied that the error was due not to any element of favouritism but solely to the mistaken belief that, because the Fascists had publicly advertised their intention to hold a meeting at Cleveland Park Avenue on that evening and had informed the police of their intention, the Fascists had a prior right to the meeting place. There is, however, no right to reserve in advance sites for meetings in the public thoroughfares, and steps are being taken by the commissioner to give further directions to his force which it is hoped will avoid the repetition of any similar incident in future.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the hardship caused to persons charged with minor offences who are summoned to appear before magistrates courts on certain bank holidays; and whether he can see his way to make some alteration in the position?

I understand that it is the practice in London to limit the number of summonses returnable on the statutory bank holidays, and that an endeavour would always be made to meet the wishes of a defendant who represented that it would be inconvenient for him to attend on one of those days. It must be borne in mind that in some cases attendance on a bank holiday involves less hardship than on a working day when it may result in loss of work and earnings.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Prison Officers' Representative Board and that of the Broadmoor State Asylum have made repeated representations during the past 12 years for higher rates of pay without any apparent success; and whether, under the circumstances, he will consider revising the constitution of the representative board system in order that the officers concerned may be represented on the National Whitley Council?

The suggestion in the first part of the hon. Member's question is mistaken. Improved scales of pay have recently been introduced both for prison officers and for attendants at Broadmoor Asylum. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary the rate of pay of quasi-permanent and temporary prison officers as it stood on 31st December last and at the present time; the privileges and emoluments, if any; and the number of hours these officers now do within the prison walls per day or night?

The rates of pay of quasi-permanent officers on 31st December were 49s. 10d. a week for men and 39s. a week for women, and for temporary officers 7s. 8d. a day for men and from 4s. 10d. to 6s. 4d. a day for women. These are also the existing rates, but the question of their revision is under consideration. The hours of duty of quasi-permanent officers engaged as night patrols are six shifts of ten hours each a week, and for stokers and others not less than 48 hours a week. Quasi-permanent officers receive six working days' annual leave with pay, plus the usual public holidays, and temporary officers receive similar leave after 12 months service.

asked the Home Secretary the approximate amounts of the lowest and highest increases of pay and increments of pay for the under-mentioned ranks in connection with the recent consolidation of pay and emoluments of the prison staff: prison commissioner, assistant commissioner, governor Class I, steward Class I, and for an ordinary prison officer or an attendant at Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum?

Apart from the consolidation of pay and bonus which applied to all Government servants, there has been a recent improvement in the scales of pay for prison officers and for attendants at Broadmoor Asylum. In the case of prison officers this represents an increase of 4s. ld. weekly at the minimum of the scale and 2s. 9d. at the maximum. The corresponding increases for male attendants at Broadmoor are 4s. 2d. and 2s. 9d.; and in both cases the maximum is reached after 12;y ears instead of 20. In the case of prison stewards (Class I), the old consolidated scale of £456 rising to £516, plus quarters, has been replaced by one rising from 1575 to £650 without quarters. Apart from the consolidation of pay and bonus there has been no change in the remuneration of the other ranks mentioned.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any schemes, and what are the particulars thereof, are now under investigation by his Department with reference to the electrification of railways?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer which I gave on the 6th May to a question on the same subject by the Hon. Member for the Central Division of Southwark (Mr. Day), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will ask the Buckinghamshire County Council to expedite their decision with regard to the Stony Stratford-Shenley road in view of its dangerous state for pedestrians and cyclists?

Yes, Sir, I am doing so.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of its success in the Dominion of Canada, he will consider introducing legislation enforcing all cyclists to travel within three feet of the kerb?

I am not aware of any general requirement to this effect in Canada. I think that such a requirement would be difficult to enforce in this country and that the provision of separate tracks for cyclists in suitable circumstances is preferable. Cyclists are already advised in the Highway Code to keep as near to the left as practicable and to ride in single file when traffic conditions require.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses provided for rural workers in Lancashire during each of the last five years?

I regret that the information desired by the hon. Member is not available, but I will send him a statement showing the number of houses provided in rural districts in Lancashire by local authorities and by private enterprise, distinguishing in the latter category the houses of low rateable value.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state, in relation to the financial provisions of the Housing Act, 1935, for the relief of overcrowding, which towns in this country have obtained, or are obtaining, a subsidy by reason of flat construction and which towns have received, or are receiving, a subsidy by reason of the heavy rating burdens they are already carrying?

The only flats approved under the Housing Act, 1935, are those which are being erected by the London County Council. A subsidy in respect of houses has been approved under Section 32 of that Act in the case of five local authorities, Norwich and West Hartlepool County Boroughs, Thurnscoe and Royston Urban Districts and Sedge-field Rural District.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is the policy of his Department to recommend local authorities to deal with slum clearance rather than overcrowding, or whether priority in respect of action depends upon the circumstances of each case?

My policy in this respect has not changed. In Circular 1500A addressed to local authorities at the end of October last I stated that I saw no reason why, in most areas, the work of slum clearance and the work of abating overcrowding should not proceed simultaneously, but if by reason of local circumstances it is necessary to give priority to one of these tasks, the priority should be given to slum clearance.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, owing to the development works and general improvements now being undertaken by railway companies, the London County Council, and other city and borough councils, considerable speculation is now taking place in the increasing land values contiguous to these works; and whether he will take steps to recover these increasing values by authorizing local authorities to impose a special rate on land values?

No, Sir. The rating system is regulated by Statute and I have no power to take the action suggested.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the communication from the Ashton-in-Makerfield Urban District Council calling his attention to burning pit-heaps; and what action he proposes to take to deal with the matter?

I have received no such communication.

asked the Minister of Health the duties and powers imposed upon an auditor conducting the audit of a local authority?

I would refer the hon. Member to Part X of the Local Government Act, 1933.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of retained manufactured imports in 1932 and 1935, respectively?

The total declared value of the retained imports into the United Kingdom of articles classified in the trade returns as wholly or mainly manufactured was £146,015,000 in 1932 and £171,628,000 in 1935.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the value of British exports to Manchuria in the years 1933, 1934 and 1935?

Prior to the 1st January, 1934, the figures of imports from and exports to Manchuria were included in the statistics for China. I regret, therefore, that I am unable to supply the information desired in respect of the year 1933. In the years 1934 and 1935, United Kingdom exports to Manchuria were valued at £79,556 and £44,422 respectively. The principal port of entry for imports into Manchuria is Dairen in the Kwantung Leased Territory the figures for which are shown separately in the statistics. United Kingdom exports to the Kwantung Territory were as follow:

				£
1933	…	…	…	238,092
1934	…	…	…	370,388
1935	…	…	…	335,783

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department how many British firms were operating in Manchuria in 1931, 1933, 1934, and 1935?

From the information available in the Department of Overseas Trade it would appear that the numbers of British firms operating in Manchuria were:—28 in 1931, 30 in 1933, 26 in 1934, 24 in 1935.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount which would be received by imposing a tax of £2 per ton on foreign-imported newsprint, and a tax of £1 per ton on Empire-imported newsprint?

Newsprint satisfying certain conditions as to composition and weight is at present exempt from Customs Duty and this exemption is guaranteed in certain commercial agreements with foreign countries. It is not possible to forecast what would be the revenue effect of denouncing the agreements and imposing the rates of duty suggested in the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer who are the present Government directors of the Suez Canal Company; and whether he is in a position to state the amount of interest paid on the 176,602 Suez Canal shares for the years ended 1934–35 and 1935–36, and the present market value of the shares?

The present British Government directors of the Suez Canal Company are:—

• Sir Ian. Malcolm, K.C.M.G.
• The Right Hon. the Earl of Cromer, G.C.B., G.C.I.E., G.C.V.O., and
• Sir John Davies, K.C.B., C.V.O.

The amounts received by way of dividend and statutory interest on the shares held by His Majesty's Government amounted to £2,394,828 in the financial year 1934–35 and £2,449,073 in, the financial year 1935–36. The market value of the shares as at 31st March, 1936 is £88,345,135.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether there is any difference of opinion in different localities in respect of the deductions allowed by the appropriate General Commissioners of Income Tax in assessing local rates for wear-and-tear allowances in respect of particular classes of machinery; and, if so, whether he will state what these differences are and on what they are based?

Under the provisions of the Income Tax Acts the allowance for wear and tear of plant and machinery is to be such as the Commissioners having jurisdiction in the matter may consider just and reasonable. In practice a very large measure of uniformity is attained. In the case of many trades, as a result of negotiations between representatives of the trade and the Board of Inland Revenue, standard rates of allowance for particular classes of plant and machinery have been agreed and it is found that, in such cases, the Commissioners adopt the agreed rates. Furthermore, there is a provision in the Acts enabling the question of the rate to be allowed in a particular trade to be determined by the Board of Referees an application being made on behalf of a considerable number of persons engaged in the trade.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is prepared to amend the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts so as to provide for old age and contributory pensions to be payable to wives irrespective of age, providing that the husband was eligible to receive a pension under the Acts?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 9th December last to the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker).

asked the Minister of Agriculture the annual rent paid for Montagu House, Gwydyr House, Richmond Terrace and mews, and 85, Whitehall, and the annual value of these properties at which they are entered in the valuation rolls for the purpose of local taxation?

The annual rack rent paid to the Commissioners of Crown Lands for Montagu House (which is held under a building lease granted as long ago as 1870), Gwydyr House, Richmond Terrace and mews, and 85, Whitehall, is £14,363 5s, The annual value of these properties upon which rates, or contributions in lieu of rates, are paid is £15,358.