asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence how many cases of sabotage in factories manufacturing war supplies have been reported to his Department; whether in every case an investigation has been carried out; and whether he will issue a warning that such sabotage will involve the loss of employment to men who work in the factory concerned?

Such cases would not be reported to me but to the Service Departments, who have the executive responsibility for contracts with individual firms.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is taking any steps to secure the training of women in processes for which the experience of the Great War suggests that women will be needed in the event of another war and for which considerable periods of training are necessary?

I am satisfied that special action of this kind is not necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will ask the Traffic Commissioners to consider the suitability, in the public interest, of the omnibus service licensed on the road between Torrance of Campsie and Glasgow, seeing that the 14-seater omnibuses now in use are inadequate for the growing traffic and should be replaced by omnibuses with a larger carrying capacity?

The Traffic Commissioners inform me that they are making such an investigation.

asked the Minister of Transport what grants per mile were

asked the Attorney-General what is the total number of persons serving as unpaid magistrates in England and Wales; and what number of these are women magistrates?

I regret I am unable to give all the information asked for. There are 283 Commissions of the Peace in England and Wales, and my noble friend, the Lord Chancellor, has no facilities for ascertaining accurately how made to county councils for main trunk roads in England and Wales for the years 1930, 1931, 1934, and 1935, respectively; and what grants per mile were paid for Class II roads for the same period, giving England and Wales separately in both instances?

The average costs per mile of maintaining classified roads in counties are given in Appendix 14 to the Reports on the Administration of the Road Fund. The rates of grant from the Road Fund towards this expenditure are 60 per cent. for Class I roads and 50 per cent. for Class II roads. Class I roads in the figures given include trunk roads.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantities of beef and veal, in all forms, were imported into the United Kingdom from foreign countries during the year 1932 and each succeeding year?

The following table shows the total quantity of beef and veal imported into the United Kingdom during each year 1932 to 1935, consigned from foreign countries.many of the persons whose names appear on these Commissions are still serving as magistrates. The number of women magistrates in England and Wales appointed since the passing of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act, 1919, is 2,948 up to the 1st July, 1936.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the report of the committee which has been considering the conditions of Scottish farm workers may be expected?

The report has been presented and copies are now available (Cmd. 5217).

asked the Attorney-General what was the volume of each category of dealings with registered land in the Land Registry in January to May of last year and of this year, respectively, that was settled by each grade higher than that to which the work is classified as appropriate; and whether he will take steps to ensure that work of this nature deemed to be appropriate to particular grades in the department will normally be allocated to those grades?

The work going into the Land Registry is allocated to different grades according to the difficulty of each case and the capacity of the grade to deal with it, so far as this is possible with a fluctuating quantity of work in a constantly expanding office. Naturally, this operation cannot be conducted without modification to meet fluctuation of business, and it would be misleading, therefore, to attempt to set out a rigid classification.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that non-Civil Service staffs are employed at piecework rates upon certain registration work by the Land Registry; that this arrangement involves sending official documents to the private offices of the persons so engaged; and whether he will take steps to stop this arrangement, which is undesirable and contrary to Civil Service practice?

I presume that the hon. Member refers to the fact that in certain cases matters connected with the examination of title are sent to barristers in Lincoln's Inn to advise the Chief Land Registrar as to their fitness for absolute or good leasehold title. The remuneration for this work is on a fee basis, in accordance with the custom of the Bar. I am not aware that this arrangement is either undesirable or contrary to Civil Service practice. Moreover, it is in accord with the Land Registration Rules, 1925 (Rules 26 and 303).

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the total number of unemployed persons in Great Britain on the last available date; the number in receipt of unemployment assistance; and similar figures for South Wales and Monmouthshire?

At 22nd June, 1936, there was 1,702,676 unemployed persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain, of whom 616,122 had application authorised for unemployment allowances. The corresponding figures for South Wales and Monmouthshire were 180,717 and 92,709 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has formed an estimate of the amount by which the unemployment assistance which is made to the unemployed of South Wales and Monmouthshire will be reduced in consequence of the proposed new regulations?

As stated in the memoranda contained in the White Papers the increases in allowances arising under the draft Regulations are to be made immediately after 16th November, but save in certain limited classes of cases, the process of effecting any decreases which are found to be necessary after consideration of the advice of the local committees will be spread over a period of 18 months. In these circumstances, for reasons explained by the board on page 30 of their Explanatory Memorandum (Cmd. 5229), no reliable estimate of the amount of the decreases can be given.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a site for a trading estate has now been secured in the North of England; what is the locality of the same; and will he give relevant particulars?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Seaham (Mr. Shinwell) on 9th July, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state separately the number of persons in the County of Durham and in the boroughs in the county who pay less than 7s. 6d. per week rent and the number who pay more than 7s. 6d. per week?

I am not in possession of this information.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state separately the number of persons in the County of Durham and in the boroughs in the county who are receiving less payments than the Unemployment Assistance Board's scales owing to the operation of the means test?

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his Department have any statistics showing the number of alien immigrants admitted annually into this country during the past three years for permanent employment in British industries or private employment; and whether he can state the percentage of male and female immigrants?

Permission for foreigners to take employment in the United Kingdom is limited to 12 months in the first instance; exceptions to this rule are made only in rare cases. Where the employer is in a position to show that a continuance of the employment is reasonable, an extension for a limited period is granted. The question of unlimited permission for employment arises after a foreigner has been in authorised employment for a substantial period, usually not less than four years, and in approved cases of this kind the time limit on the foreigner's stay in the United Kingdom is removed. No statistics are available of such cases during the past three years, but the number is not large.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received from the Governments of the Crown Colonies of West Africa information as to how many sentences of death have been passed in each of the Crown Colonies of West Africa during the past 15 years; in how many cases these have been reversed or commuted on appeal; and in how many cases in each category the accused person was not allowed to be heard by counsel?

So far I have only received the desired information from the Government of Gambia. In that Dependency 18 death sentences have been passed during the last 15 years; in no case was the sentence reversed on appeal; in nine cases the sentence was commuted by the Governor; in every case the accused had the benefit of legal aid at his trial. When I have replies from the other West African Dependencies I will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will lay upon the Table the statement commending the Union Governments offer of £35,000, which the resident commissioners in the South African protectorates were instructed to communicate to the native authorities in the three territories?

The following is the statement:In the course of the discussion in May last between Mr. Thomas, then Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, and General Hertzog, the Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa, it was agreed that endeavours should be made to establish closer co-Operation between His Majesty's Government in the Union of South Africa and the Administrations of the High Commission Territories in matters affecting the Territories' interests. In pursuance of this aim the Union Government have volunteered to assist financially and in other ways with certain schemes for the improvement of conditions in the native areas of the Territories.As regards Basutoland it will be remembered that in the report of January, 1935, the Commission appointed by the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to inquire into the financial and economic position of that Territory recommended that the United Kingdom Government should make a grant for anti-soil erosion work in Basutoland. Recognising the urgency and importance of this work the Union Government have offered to assist financially to the extent of half the cost and have also placed the experience gained by their engineers who have been engaged on similar works in the Transkei and other parts of South Africa at the disposal of the Basutoland Administration in the carrying out of the scheme.As regards the Bechuanaland Protectorate, the commission which reported in 1933 on the economic and financial position of that territory stated that at every stage of their inquiries, whether they related to agriculture, to cattle or to human health and amenities, they realised that the absolutely essential condition to any progress was the improvement of the existing water supplies and the provision of new supplies. The commission suggested that improvement should be brought about by the provision of wells and dams and by the clearance of the main channels into which the river Okavango divides its delta. The improvement of these water supplies would benefit the Protectorate. The Union Government have offered to place their wide experience in regard to the provision of water supplies at the disposal of the Administration of the Protectorate and also to assist financially to the extent of half the cost of such works as may prove to be necessary.As regards Swaziland, the commission which reported in 1932 on the economic and financial position of that territory stressed the necessity for measures for the conservation of water in the native areas, particularly in the low veld, by the provision of dams. This question is now being investigated, and the Union Government have offered to provide half the expenditure involved if a satisfactory scheme for the purpose can be arranged.His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are convinced that the co-operation which His Majesty's Government in the Union of South Africa have thus most generously offered will be productive of considerable benefit to the three territories, and they feel sure that the offer will be cordially welcomed by the native population.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that 10 years have now elapsed since the passage of the Trade Disputes Act, and that, accordingly, few of the remaining established men of His Majesty's dockyards are members of trade unions, he will consider a complete revision of the existing negotiating machinery between employés and employers as far as these yards are concerned, in order to abolish the present anomaly that whereas a large number of men in the yards are not members of trade unions the only official negotiating machinery is between the Admiralty and a trade union body?

As I informed the hon. and gallant Member on the 9th April last, the Board of Admiralty is not in a position to take any action inconsistent with the agreement between His Majesty's Government and the trade unions for the application of the Whitley Report to Government industrial establishments. Under the Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Act of 1927 it is still legal for established workmen to belong to trade unions under certain conditions and for all hired workmen (who are in a great majority) to do so.As I stated in my reply of the 4th March to the hon. and gallant Member, there is no divergence of interests between established men who belong to trade unions and those who do not. There seems to be, therefore, no need for a separate organisation for this particular minority. It is, however, open to any body of workpeople, who are not represented on the Whitley Councils, to make representations to the Board of Admiralty on their conditions of employment, either through their officers or through one or other of the associations approved under the Act of 1927, and in fact full advantage is taken of these facilities.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what progress has now been made to provide for night-flying facilities on the African routes of Imperial Airways?

The provision of night-flying facilities on the flying-boat route which Imperial Airways will operate under the Empire air transport scheme is actively proceeding. The necessary arrangements cover a large variety of special equipment and the selection and provision of that equipment is in train.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the nature of the contracts entered into between his Department and the High Duty Alloys Company, Slough?

High Duty Alloys, Limited, are not direct contractors to the Air Ministry, but they supply aluminium alloys to companies manufacturing aeroplanes and engines for the Department.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he can give the House particulars of the performance of the Empire flying-boat which made its trial flight on Monday last?

The flight referred to was of a preliminary character, and no official performance figures are as yet available.

asked the Home Secretary whether the new safety regulations for cinemas have yet been compiled; and when they will be published?

Consultations are proceeding between the Home Office and an advisory electrical panel on a number of points which require further examination before a draft of regulations for quick-burning films can be issued. I cannot at present say when these consultations will be completed.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will call for reports from the police authorities of all counties and boroughs as to the number of cases since 1918 in which they have exercised their powers to prohibit at their discretion processions, meetings and demonstrations whenever such gatherings are likely to lead to a serious breach of the peace?

I do not think that I should be justified, having regard to the expenditure of time and money that would be involved, in calling for reports of this extensive character from the 180 separate police forces of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to how many Japanese troops are at present in North China and where they are stationed?

According to a statement issued to the Press by the local Japanese military authorities on 5th July, the total Japanese troops now in North China number slightly more than 4,000 men. I understand that the bulk of them are stationed in the Peking-Tientsin area and in the neighbourhood of the Great Wall.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it was by the advice of His Majesty's Government that the former governor of Gore, when sent back by the Emperor to become civil governor of Gore, has been held up at Cairo for some weeks by the refusal of a visa?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can assure the House that His Majesty's Government do not, and will not, recognise the Italian Ambassador in London as representing Abyssinia in any way whatever?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Nuneaton (Lieut.-Commander Fletcher) on 6th July, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Minister of pensions, as representing the First Commissioners of Works, whether he will consider, in conjunction with the police authorities increasing the provision of seats in and surrounding Trafalgar Square?

(for the First Commissioner of Works): The First Commissioner has given his consideration to this matter, but he is satisfied that the number of seats already provided is sufficient.