asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any communication from His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires in Berlin on the position in Danzig?

Yes, Sir; His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires has been on various occasions in communication with the German Government on certain aspects of Danzig affairs. I would prefer not to make a more detailed statement at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Ambassador in Paris has at any time informed the French Government that His Majesty's Government would not propose or was opposed to the application of oil sanctions against Italy?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in consequence of the failure of Germany to reply to the British questionnaire, it is intended to give notice that the terms of the letter quoted in the White Paper of 19th March, 1936, have come into force?

No, Sir; since, in the view of His Majesty's Government, the effort at conciliation initiated by the arrangements of 19th March cannot be regarded as having failed.

asked the Home Secretary how many towns have now been granted orders to open cinemas on Sundays?

Since the Sunday Entertainments Act, 1932, came into operation, 51 Orders empowering the licensing authority to grant licences for cinematograph exhibitions on Sundays have been approved by resolution of both Houses of Parliament. These Orders cover two county boroughs, 20 boroughs, 26 urban districts and three rural districts.

asked the Home Secretary in how many cases young persinse dealt with by the juvenile court under the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, as being in need of care and protection, either by being committed to an approved school or otherwise, have subsequently been committed to prison or Borstal notwithstanding the fact that they have committed no criminal offence; and will he state the age, sex, and prison to which he or she has been committed in each case?

Since 1st November, 1933, when the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, came into force, no boy or girl who was originally ordered to be sent to an approved school as being in need of care or protection has been subsequently committed to prison, but 10 girls, detained in approved schools, have been sent to a Borstal Institution (Aylesbury) by order of a court either for serious misconduct in the school or for absconding. Six were between 16 and 17, and four between 17 and 18 years of age. Three girls between 17 and 18 who were originally brought before the court by their parents as being beyond control and were ordered to be sent to an approved school have been subsequently ordered by the court to be sent to Aylesbury Borstal Institution for absconding.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Elsie Emily Mason, aged 18, who had been committed to an approved school on the ground that she was beyond the control of her parents, was recently committed to Borstal for a period of two years following her escape from the approved school, although she had committed no criminal offence; and will he make inquiries into this case?

I am aware of the case of this girl. She was brought before a juvenile court in April, 1935, under Section 62 of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, as being a girl who, having a parent not exercising proper care and guardianship, was falling into bad associations and exposed to moral danger, and she was ordered to be sent to an approved school. She required hospital treatment and was not admitted to the school until the 16th July, 1935. On her admission she was found by the managers to be a continual source of disturbance in the school, twice absconding and reaching London by obtaining rides on lorries. On the last occasion she was charged by the managers in accordance with the provisions of Section 82 of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, and was ordered at Bow Street Police Court to be sent to a Borstal Institution. She appealed against this sentence on the 8th May, but the appeal was dismissed by the London Sessions on 12th June last, the chairman stating that the decision of the magistrate was in the girl's best interests.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Frank Marett, 29, Prospect Road, Woodford Green, aged 15, was committed to a reformatory institution by the Stratford juvenile court on 10th February 1936, but that instead he was sent to Wormwood Scrubs adult prison and kept there for one month; that on being released from Wormwood Scrubs he was transferred to Romford workhouse where he became ill and was sent to the infirmary; that he was then transferred to Stamford House, Goldhawk Road, Shepherds Bush, W.12; and whether he will advise that this boy be released on probation?

On February 24th, 1936, this boy was ordered to be sent to an Approved School by the Stratford Juvenile Court, and as there was no immediate vacancy he was committed to Wormwood Scrubs Prison pending a vacancy, the Justices giving a certificate of unruliness in accordance with the provisions of Section 33 of the Children and Young Persons Act. Subsequently on the 20th March the Justices ordered his removal from Wormwood Scrubs to a Remand Home provided by the Essex Authority, and he absconded the day after his removal there. He was rearrested and was transferred to the hospital of the Institution under observation for cardiac weakness. He was under medical attention till May 5th, when he was transferred back to the main building. On June 3rd he was removed from this Remand Home to the Remand Home provided by the London County Council, from which he absconded on June 9th. He was re-arrested the same day and returned to the Remand Home, where he remained till July 3rd, on which date he was removed to an Approved School. I have no power to order the boy to be released on probation and the case is not one in which I feel justified in taking any special action. I am informed by the Police that this boy admitted five other offences in addition to the offences with which he was charged.

asked the Home Secretary what was the anaesthetic used in the experiments that have been recently performed on dogs at the London Central Throat, Nose, and Ear Hospital?

I am informed that the anaesthetic was nembutal.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the terms of reference sent from the Civil Service Clerical Association in regard to the pay of departmental clerks employed in the factory inspectors' offices; and whether he will see that there is no delay in the remission of these terms of reference to the Minister of Labour for adjudication by the industrial court?

Terms of reference have been received from the Civil Service Clerical Association, and are under consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the number of successful candidates from the open competitions to the clerical classes of the Civil Service actually appointed each year is determined by the needs of the various Departments; whether there is some minimum standard required at the examinations or whether the appointments are determined as a result of both considerations; and, if so, to what extent in respect of each factor?

The decision regarding the number of appointments to be made from open competitions for the clerical classes is made by the Treasury in consultation with the Civil Service Commissioners. It is determined primarily by the existing and prospective requirements of the various Departments after account has been taken of appointments to be made from contemporary competitions limited to members of the minor and manipulative grades and by the promotion of individuals specially recommended by their Departments. The number of appointments is further subject to the overriding condition, which is common to all competitions, that no candidate may be appointed whose performance in the examination, in the opinion of the Civil Service Commissioners, failed to reach a satisfactory standard.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the point in the list of successful candidates at examinations for the clerical class of the Civil Service at which the Civil Service Commissioners cease to allot successful candidates to vacancies in the general clerical class, and allot them thereafter to departmental class vacancies?

Subject to the requirements of Departments allotment is made in accordance with the expressed preferences of candidates, in their order of merit. Allotment to the general clerical class does not therefore precede allotment to departmental clerical classes in the manner assumed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the terms of reference sent from the Civil Service Clerical Association in regard to the pay of Departmental clerks employed in his Department; and whether he will see that there is no delay in the remission of these terms of reference to the Minister of Labour for adjudication by the industrial court?

The terms of reference sent from the Civil Service Clerical Association have been received by the Board of Trade and are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War the average age on promotion to second-grade clerkships, departmental, of third-grade clerks in the War Office promoted during the last five years?

The average age is 48.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many clerks in the bottom tier of the Departmental class structure in the War Office are stationary at the maximum £252 for men; and how many have been stationary for the following periods: one to two years, three to four years, five to seven years, eight to nine years, and 10 years or more?

The information asked for is not immediately available, but it is being obtained and will be communicated to the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of Grade I, Grade II, and Grade III departmental clerks employed in that section of his Department which is organised on the departmental class basis; and the number of "S" class clerks, clerk-typists and clerk-shorthand-typists, writing assistants, temporary clerks, and other sub-clerical agents employed in the same area?

The information is as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the terms of reference sent from the Civil Service Clerical Association in regard to the pay of departmental clerks employed in his Department; and whether he will see that there is no delay in the remission of these terms of reference to the Minister of Labour for adjudication by the industrial court?

The terms of reference have been received from the Civil Service Clerical Association and are now under consideration. The hon. Member can rest assured that the matter will be dealt with with all reasonable despatch.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has considered the terms of reference sent from the Civil Service Clerical Association in regard to the pay of departmental clerks employed in the Ordnance Survey office; and whether he will see that there is no delay in the remission of these terms of reference to the Minister of Labour for adjudication by the industrial court?

Proposed terms of reference have been received from the Civil Service Clerical Association and are under consideration.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that the widow of the poet, Sir William Watson, has decided to emigrate to South Africa, in view of the fact that the Civil List pension granted to her is insufficient to provide adequate support in this country for herself and her daughter; and whether the amount of the pension given can be increased?

I am aware that statements to this effect have appeared in the Press. The answer to the second part of the question is "No, Sir."

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the number of horses being imported into this country from Belgium; and whether he will make arrangements that all cavalry horses no longer required owing to the mechanisation of the Army shall not be sold for export, so as to discourage the importation of foreign animals and further the retention in England of our own horses?

The question of the import and export of horses is not a matter for my Department, but steps are taken to ensure that horses cast on account of age and fit for light work only are sold by private treaty to selected individuals. Animals cast as not fit for work are destroyed.

asked the Secretary of State for War what provision is made for the families and dependants of those who, as in the case of the explosion at Woolwich, lose their lives on experimental and similar work for the State?

Families and dependants of civilian employés to whom the Workmen's Compensation Acts apply, and who die from injuries arising out of, and in the course of, their employment, receive the compensation to which they are entitled under those Acts, or under the Government Scheme of Compensation framed under those Acts in cases where this scheme was accepted by the employé. Families and dependants of civilian employés to whom the Workmen's Compensation Acts do not apply are provided for by the Injury Warrants, 1935, framed and administered by the Treasury under the Superannuation Acts. If the deceased was a member of the Federated Superannuation System for Universities, the award under the Injury Warrants would be in addition to any amount due to the dependants under that system.