asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the price paid, or the price that has been agreed upon, by the Bebington Council for the house known as Plymyard, Eastham, and the 48 acres required for cemetery purposes; and the annual value at which this house and land has been assessed for local rates?

I am informed that a price of £25,000 has been provisionally agreed and that the net annual rateable value of the property is £196.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the price paid, or the price agreed upon by the Liverpool City Council, for the acquisition of St. Edward's College and 6.23 acres of land required for housing purposes; and the annual value at which this property has been assessed for local rates?

I am informed that the Liverpool Corporation have agreed a price of £42,000 for the property referred to by the hon. Member. I understand that the gross assessment of the property is £1,050 and the net rateable value £872.

asked the Minister of Health what was the price paid, or the price agreed upon, by the Luton Council for the acquisition of the house in Castle Street and 40 yards of land, formerly occupied by the late Mr. C. H. G. Knowles, the purchase being for the purposes of street widening; and what is the annual value at which this property has been assessed for local rates?

I am informed that a price has not yet been agreed upon for this property. The property is not separately assessed, and accordingly I regret that I am not in a position to answer the second part of the question.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give particulars as to the number of people in receipt of public assistance under the public assistance authorities of the borough of Merthyr and the city of Cardiff for the years 1920, 1930 and 1935, and the latest available date?

Information is not available in regard to the number of persons in receipt of poor relief in the county boroughs of Merthyr Tydfil and Cardiff on dates earlier than 31st March, 1930. The total numbers of persons in receipt of poor relief in these county boroughs (including dependants but excluding rate-aided patients in mental hospitals and persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only) on Saturday, 20th June, 1936, and the corresponding Saturdays in 1930 and 1935, were as follow:

asked the President of the Board of Education how many education authorities in England and Wales were providing free meals, other than milk meals, to elementary school children in March, 1934, March, 1935, and March, 1936, respectively, and the number of children receiving such meals at these periods?

Following is the information:

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will give statistics showing the number of unemployed teachers in Wales; and whether he will consider setting up a national register in order that the full extent of unemployment in the teaching profession may be obtained?

I regret that the Board have no means of ascertaining how many teachers in Wales are at any particular time definitely seeking employment, and I am therefore unable to supply the statistics for which the hon. Member asks. I doubt whether it would be possible to compile a national register of teachers of sufficient accuracy to secure the purpose which the hon. Member has in mind. The fact that at any moment there will always be persons qualified as teachers who are employed, or seeking employment, in other capacities, or serving as teachers in schools outside the Board's jurisdiction, indicates the difficulties in the way of ascertaining the number of teachers definitely seeking employment in grant-aided schools.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can state the number of nursery schools which exist in Wales and the localities where they are situated?

Three nursery schools in Wales, situated at Brynmawr, Brecknockshire, Merthyr Tydfil, and Ynyscynon, Rhondda, are recognised for grant by the Board of Education, and a school at Swansea has recently been opened and will shortly be formally recognised. The total accommodation provided by these four schools is 360.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the increasing use of the cinema as a method of education which is in practice in many schools abroad; and will he consider the appointment of a departmental committee for the purpose of examining and introducing this system of education in the United Kingdom?

I am aware that the cinema is extensively used for educational purposes in certain foreign countries. The use of the cinema in schools is increasing in this' country and developments are being carefully watched both by the board's officers and by local education authorities. T do not think, however, that any useful purpose would be served by the appointment of a committee such as the hon. Member suggests.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the distressing physical condition of the children in the Special Areas as revealed in the annual report of the National Council of Social Service, he can say what steps the Government proposes to take to secure an adequate daily ration of milk to babies, children of pre-school age, and nursing mothers?

I am unable to trace this reference in any recent report of the National Council of Social Service. With regard to the supply of milk to young children and nursing mothers, I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Prime Minister to his question on this subject on the 7th April.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the intention of the Government to continue in force the trade and payments agreement with Uruguay?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what commercial treaties fall due for revision in 1936 and 1937; and whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to renew or extend the duration of any of these with-out change?

As regards the trade agreements concluded by His Majesty's

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress is being made with the inquiry into third-party and workmen's compensation insurances; and when may the report be expected?

I understand that the Committee on Compulsury Insurance expect shortly to conclude the hearing of evidence, but I am not in a Position to say when they are likely to report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what the output of pig-iron, in tons, was in the West Cumberland and Furness district of Lancashire in the years 1913, 1920, and 1936, respectively;(2) what the output of pig-iron, in tons, was in England, Scotland, and Wales for the years 1913, 1920 and 1933, respectively?

According to statistics published by the British Iron and Steel Federation, the output of pig-iron in Scotland, South Wales and Monmouthshire, the North-West Coast district, and the rest of England, in 1913, 1920 and 1935 was as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the additional traffice congestion caused in Central London by the running of motor coaches in the day-time on sight-seeing trips; and whether he is prepared to place further restrictions upon the running of coaches for that purpose?

The Traffic Commissioner for the Metropolitan Area is the responsible authority and before issuing road service licences for coaches to operate in London, he consults the Commissioner of Police, who has the question of congestion always before him.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present policy of His Majesty's Government towards the maintenance of the independence of Austria?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Nuneaton (Lieut. - Commander Fletcher) on 20th May last, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet received information as to whether the German Government intends, or does not intend, to answer the questionnaire addressed to it by the British Government?

I have as yet no information.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is proposed to introduce legislation to give effect to the convention recently adopted by the International Labour Office Conference in favour of an annual week's holiday with pay for industrial workers?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Batley and Morley (Mr. Brooke) on 30th June, on the same subject.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the names of the authorities in the local government services which are not granting annual holidays with pay to manual workers in accordance with recommendations made by various national and district joint industrial councils?

I regret that details are not available showing the practice of individual local authorities in this matter.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the complaint recently submitted to him that the lodgings approved by the Ministry of Labour for a Monmouthshire secondary school girl who was transferred to London are verminous and insanitary; that there are 10 girls living in the house and also male lodgers; that there are six girls sleeping in the same room; and will he take immediate steps to remove this house from the list of approved lodgings?

I have fully investigated the complaint to which the hon. Member refers. I am sending him a detailed report, but I think it right to say that he will see from that statement that the information upon which his question is based is wholly misleading and in no way corresponds to the facts.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of persons on the registers of the Rochester and Gravesend Employment Exchanges at the latest convenient date, and give corresponding figures for the years 1933, 1934 and 1935?

The number of unemployed persons. aged 14 years and over, on the registers of the Chatham and Gravesend Employment Exchanges (including the Juvenile Employment Bureaux) at the relevant dates were as shown below:

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of persons employed in his Department who are in receipt of salary and pension, apart from war or disability pension?

Five temporary messengers employed by the Mines Department and the Coal Mines Reorganisation Commission are in receipt of Army Service pensions in addition to their salary.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India (1) whether he is aware that the joint secretary of the Bihar Congress Socialist party has been served with an order restraining his movements; whether he has knowledge of the reason of this order; and whether the order has been challenged or appealed against before a judicial body;(2) whether the house of the secretary of the Agra District Congress Socialist party was searched under a warrant issued by a first-class magistrate; whether any incriminating documents were found; and whether any publications were taken away?

I regret that I have no information, but I have made inquiries.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the officers of the Lucknow Textile Union which is a registered trade union as required by the Indian Trade Union Act have been ordered to give securities for good behaviour; and, if so, will he take steps to secure that such orders are rescinded?

I have asked for a report.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that His Excellency the Governor is the only person in Burma who is allowed to use a Union Jack on a motor car; and what steps he proposes to take to restore to British subjects their right to use the Union Jack at all times everywhere?

I have no information regarding the position in Burma as to the use of Union Jacks on motor-cars, but if the hon. Member will supply me with any information he may have on the subject, I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the War Memoirs of the right hon. Member for Carnarvon Boroughs, now appearing in a London daily newspaper, in which attacks are made on a retired British officer, contain extracts from the Secret Summary of the Military Situation prepared by the general staff for the confidential information of the War Cabinet in 1918; and whether he will allow the officer attacked to make use of these secret summaries in any reply he may desire to make?

The secret summaries in question have now a purely historical interest, and, in the circumstances, my right hon. Friend sees no reason why access to them should be denied.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many effectives were detailed for service in connection with the military tattoo at Aldershot; how many hours in excess of their normal employment the soldiers were on duty, both as regards the preparation and the execution of the programme; whether extra pay was granted for the additional duties and, if so, how much; whether the payment of compensation for hardship caused by the inclement weather will be favourably considered; and whether any additional furlough will be granted to men who were employed in the tattoo?

Approximately 5,600 troops took part in the Aldershot Tattoo. It has not been possible in the limited time available to obtain the details asked for by the hon. Member, but, as the tattoo is regarded in the nature of training and the profits are devoted to service charities, no additional emoluments or furlough are given. Provision is however, made for the supply of hot meals. Compensation as such will not be payable from public funds to participants in respect of hardship caused by inclement weather, but in the event of disablement or death due to participation in the tattoo or its preparation, they or their dependants would be eligible for benefits according to the scale, and under the conditions, of the Royal Warrant for the Pay, etc., of the Army, 1931.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can make any statement on the amendments to the Southern Rhodesia constitution which have been under consideration and which are explained in the despatch to His Majesty's Government from the Governor of Southern Rhodesia; and whether the White Paper containing the suggested amendments, the Governor's despatch, and discussions between the late Secretary of State and the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, can be published as a White Paper by His Majesty's Government?

As I stated in the reply yesterday to a question by the hon. Member for Rothwell (Mr. Lunn) the despatch from the Governor of Southern Rhodesia on this subject will be published as a Command Paper next week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the organised Arab community of Palestine will be permitted to lay a complaint of the conduct of affairs in that country before the Mandates Commission of the League of Nations; and whether the League of Nations will consider the question of withdrawing mandates from any Power whose administration creates dissatisfaction among the majority of the population under their control?

It is open to any of the inhabitants of Palestine either individually or collectively to address complaints to the Permanent Mandates Commission of the League of Nations, and it is the practice of His Majesty's Government to forward all such complaints and petitions when received by them for transmission. With regard to the second part of the question, I would remind the hon. Member that there are no provisions either in the Covenant or in the peace treaties or in the mandates relating to the withdrawal of a mandate from the Power to which it has been entrusted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of Jews who settled in Palestine in 1935; and how many of these came from Germany, Poland, and Russia, respectively?

The number of Jewish immigrants registered in 1935 was 61,854. As regards countries of previous abode the numbers were:

asked the Secretary, of State for the Colonies, whether, in view of the improvement in the economic and financial conditions of Malaya, he will now consider restoring the cuts in salary and allowances of the 450 Malayan Government's Professional Officers' Association to the scale recommended by the Bucknill Commission in 1919?

The facts are that certain temporary allowances drawn by public servants in Malaya were suppressed as a measure of economy in 1932, and that my predecessor at the time undertook to review the whole matter, in consultation with the local Governments, when economic circumstances should permit. The position is at present under consideration.

asked the first Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that the Board of Trade engage in the charter of vessels for the other defence departments and the India Office without incurring brokers' commission, he will, in the case of future charterings of Admiralty oil-tankers, seek the assistance of the Board of Trade?

No, Sir. The Board of Trade charter commercial vessels for the use of defence departments (including the Admiralty) and the India Office without incurring a broker's commission because it is the practice for broker's commission to be paid by the owners of the vessels. The Admiralty would, therefore, have nothing to gain by the action proposed by the hon. Member, as when Government vessels are chartered to commercial firms the Government Department concerned are the owners and would consequently pay broker's commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the extensive damage which is being caused by underground workings in the neighbourhood of Beath secondary school; that, in addition to the school, a large part of the municipal housing scheme is in danger of being ruined; and what steps he proposes to take to safeguard these properties which have been erected at considerable public expense?.

Yes, Sir. As regards the municipal housing scheme, the town council inform me that, while several blocks of houses in the vicinity of the school have been for some time affected by mineral workings, there are only two blocks in which damage has proved extensive. This damage has been progressive since 1926; the two blocks are under continuous observation by the burgh surveyor, and I am assured that if at any time the houses became dangerous the tenants would be immediately removed. The responsibility for safeguarding the local authority's houses is one for the local authority themselves, who keep the houses under continuous observation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the closing of Beath Secondary School, Cowdenbeath, owing to the damage done to the building by underground workings; what period is likely to elapse before the school is again fit for occupation; and what provision is being made for continuing the education of the pupils attending the school?

My attention has been called to the closing of this school, which would in any case have begun its summer holidays on 10th July. It is doubtful whether the building can again be made fit for occupation. The education authority are considering the question of alternative provision, and a careful survey of the accommodation available in the area is now being made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether there are issued from his Department any figures comparable to those published by the Ministry of Health in Costing Returns, Part III (Poor Law); and, if so, whether he will cause such figures to be placed in the Library of the House?

No separate costing return is published for Scotland similar to that published by the Ministry of Health, but a table is included in Appendix 45 of the Annual Report of the Department of Health for Scotland for 1935, which shows under various heads of expenditure the average weekly cost of maintenance of inmates in poor law institutions, including children's homes. This report is in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he expects that the Milk Re-organisation Commission, which was set up in February, 1935, will publish its findings?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave on Monday last to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for Harborough (Mr. Tree), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Home Secretary by what authority police officers act in usurping the professional rights of members of the legal profession in prosecuting, as advocates, in petty sessional courts?

Section 14 of the Summary Jurisdiction Act, 1848, provides that the justices are to hear the prosecutor and such witnesses as he may examine and such other evidence as he may adduce, and so far as I am aware the position of a police officer, when he is the prosecutor, does not differ in this respect from that of a private individual.