asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will give the number of sites for playing-fields attached to schools which have been approved by the board during the three years ended, to the last convenient date?

During the three years ended 31st March, 1936, the board approved 565 sites either for playing-fields, or for school sites with areas of over two acres large enough to provide playing-field facilities. The board's records do not enable me in all cases to distinguish between playing-fields which do and those which do not adjoin schools.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the consultative committee set up to consider the question of home-work for school children has yet reported; and, if so, whether he will publish the report?

The report of the investigation by the board's inspectors to which my hon. Friend refers is under preparation, but it has not yet been completed. When it has been completed, I shall consider the question of publication.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the majority of women civil servants have recently indicated to the Treasury that they prefer the advantages of the Superannuation Act of 1887 to those conferred under the 1909 Act, he will take steps to ensure that future women civil servants may be covered by the Act which, in the opinion of the majority of women in the service, confers the greatest benefits on women on retirement?

I am not aware that any representations have recently been made to the Treasury by women civil servants in the sense indicated in this question, and I assume that the Noble Lady refers to the extent to which advantage has been taken of the option given to established women civil servants by Section 1 of the Superannuation Act, 1935. The application to women civil servants by this section of the modifications of the previous superannuation system which had been effected for men civil servants by Sections 1 to 4 of the Superannuation Act, 1909, carried out an agreement with the staff side of the Civil Service National Whitley Council, which represents a considerable majority of the organised women civil servants. As was the case with the men, the change is obligatory as regards women entering the established service after the passing of the Act and optional for women already in that service. The proportion of the latter, namely, about two-fifths, who exercised their individual options to adopt these provisions, does not in my view justify reversing the legislation of 1935.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the letter from the Civil Service Clerical Association appealing to him to ask the Industrial Court to dispose of the

My right hon. Friend, by letter dated the 15th July, informed the Civil Service Clerical Association that, while decisions on matters of procedure rested with the Industrial Court, Departments would have no objection to the court being advised that the parties desired that the cases should be dealt with consecutively and that all the cases should be heard before any award was given. He further informed the association that the dates of hearing were for the court to fix and that the Departments affected would not feel justified in representing to the court that arrangements should be made to permit of all the cases being heard by the middle of August. My right hon. Friend received a further letter from the association dated the 16th July, but he sees no reason to modify, or add to, his previous reply to the association.

asked the Home Secretary the number of Grade I, Grade II and Grade III Departmental clerks employed in factory inspectors' offices under the Home Office: 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?

Particulars of the various grades employed in the offices of the inspectors of factories are given in the following tables.

asked the Home Secretary the average age, on promotion to posts rising to £337 for men, of Departmental clerks in factory inspectors' offices promoted during the last five years?

There were two such promotions: the average age was 40.

asked the Home Secretary how many third-grade Departmental

asked the Minister of Labour whether, with a view to the early settlement of the Civil Service dispute on the pay of Departmental clerks which it has been agreed between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Civil Service Clerical Association should be referred to arbitration without delay, he can make arrangements with the Industrial Court to hear the cases involved before the court adjourns for the summer Recess?

The date of hearing of a case referred to the Industrial Court is fixed by the court.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air 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?

No terms of reference to arbitration have been received from the Civil Service Clerical Association in regard to the pay of Departmental clerks employed under the Air Ministry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many third-grade clerks employed in the Ordnance Survey Department, on the scale raising to £252

The information desired is given in the table below:for men, are stationary at the maximum; 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 and over?

Of the lower-grade clerks employed in the Ordnance Survey Department, 28 are stationary at the maximum salary. The reply to the second part of the question is 11, six, eight, and three respectively, in the first four categories specified: no lower-grade clerk has been stationary at the maximum salary for 10 years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the average age on promotion of third-grade clerks employed in the Ordnance Survey Department, on the scale rising to £252, who have been promoted during the last five years?

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to lower-grade clerks, whose average age on promotion during the period in question has been 52 years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the number of lower-grade departmental clerks, higher-grade departmental clerks, and superintendents employed in the Ordnance Survey Department; 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 reply to the first part of the question is 51, 11 and 6, respectively. As to the second part, there are nine temporary clerks employed in the Ordnance Survey Department, and none of the other classes specified.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will indicate the number of staff clerks, senior staff clerks, assistant principals, and principals, department by department, employed in the Civil Service?

I would refer the hon. Lady to Estimates in which are set out the particulars she requires.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the last available bound and indexed volume of the House of Commons Debates extends only up to 9th May; and whether, in view of the inconvenience entailed to Members of the House and others by the great and increasing delay in the issue of bound and indexed volumes, he will take steps to speed up the production of these volumes?

Bound volumes of the OFFICIAL REPORT are normally published six weeks after the date of the last daily part included; but it is sometimes necessary to exceed this period by a few days at times of pressure, or when a holiday period occurs immediately after the closing of a volume and longer time than usual is given to Members for corrections. I am aware that one or other of these causes operated to delay the publication of the last three volumes; but I have received no general complaints of inconvenience to hon. Members, and I see no reason to suppose that the tendency to delay will increase. The latest volume, covering the period up to 29th May, was in fact published on 16th July. While every effort will be made to prevent delay in publication in future, it would not be possible to reduce the normal interval without incurring considerable extra expense, which in all the circumstances I could not regard as justified.

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether his attention has been called to the judgment delivered at Manchester Assizes by Mr. Justice Atkinson on 17th July, in the case of Lowick versus Philip and Adolph Lazarus; and whether he proposes to revoke the certificate of naturalisation of Philip Lazarus;(2) whether his attention has been called to the facts disclosed by the judgment of Mr. Justice Atkinson at Manchester, in the case of Lowick versus Lazarus and Lazarus; that the plaintiff, a young married woman, was arrested on a charge of forgery and falsification and was harshly treated by the police; and whether he will take steps to initiate a public inquiry into all the circumstances of the case, including the action of the police in their treatment of a girl of 19 of previous unblemished reputation, whilst under remand after the refusal of bail upon their recommendation?

I understand that notice of appeal has been given in this case, and as the case is still before the Court it would not be proper for me to make any comment on the matters raised.

asked the Prime Minister whether facilities are to be granted before the Recess for a full debate on the international situation?

I would remind my hon. Friend that further opportunities remain for this subject to be debated on allotted Supply days and on the Appropriation Bill.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents occurred at level crossings during 1935, the number of persons killed and the number injured; and whether the figures show an increase on previous years?

The information required is set out in full in the Annual Report on Railway Accidents for 1935 which I recently presented to Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for War which divisions of the Territorial Army are proving most successful in their efforts to recruit up to establishment?

On 1st March last the 51st (Highland) Division held pride of place with a strength of approximately 8,630, its nearest competitor being the 50th (Northumbrian) Division with a strength of 8,380. The 51st Division is still in the lead with a strength on 1st July of 9,070, but the 50th Division has narrowed the gap slightly, with a strength of 8,890, while the 53rd (Welsh) and 42nd (East Lancashire) Divisions, with 8,800 and 8,770, respectively, are hot on the heels of the leaders. Particular credit is due to the 52nd (Lowland) Division, which has risen in four months from 7,290 to 8,260, and to the 1st (London) Anti-Aircraft Division which has risen over the same period from 5,270 to 6,450.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what is the German reply to the inquiry of His Majesty's Government regarding the flight of the airship "Hindenburg" over British soil?

The German Air Ministry state that the normal route selected for the flights of the "Hindenburg" across the North Atlantic Ocean avoids British territory and that it has been impressed on the Zeppelin Company that British territory may be crossed only in case of emergency.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that an ex-office holder in Nigeria, the Ex-oshile of Abcohuta, was deported from his area in 1925; and whether he will now recommend the Governor to revoke the deportation order?

I cannot find any record of this matter, and I would be grateful to the hon. Member for any information in his possession bearing upon this case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the Arab industries are working normally; whether Arabs are still working at the Nescher cement works, at the potash works at the Dead Sea, at the port of Haifa, and on the railway, postal, and telephone undertakings; and how many Arab workers are employed in each case?

I have no recent or detailed information on this matter and accordingly I am asking the High Commissioner for a report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the official communiqué issued by the Palestine authorities on 6th July reports three cases of accidental shooting in one day, two of them fatal, the victims being two Arabs and one Egyptian; that the two shot Arabs were engaged in their normal duties at the time; and will he secure a full report of these incidents?

The Palestine Government communiqué to which the hon. Member refers reported that a watchman at Dilb was wounded in the leg when a British police patrol was fired on; that an Egyptian labourer at Lydda Station was shot by mistake and seriously wounded by a British soldier, and that a Jewish watchman reported to the police that he had accidentally shot near Zichron an Arab who was fatally wounded. I have no doubt that both the accidents referred to have been properly investigated and that I shall receive reports in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that Communiqué 174, issued by the Palestine authorities, reports the killing of a two-years-old baby, a six-years-old child, and two women while asleep in their homes; and, as such people could have had no connection with rioting, will he secure a report of the incidents and the events leading to them?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the incidents reported in the two Palestine Government communiqués of the 12th July. The following are the facts reported. About midnight on the 11th-12th July a military patrol was fired on heavily near the village of Qula. The troops replied and later searched a house from which firing had come; some live and expended ammunition was found and four arrests were made. Subsequently, when the whole village was searched, it was found that during the firing a man and a woman were seriously wounded and two men slightly wounded. On the night of the 11th July a police patrol car was fired on near Acre and the police replied. During the shooting a child, asleep in a hut near by, was accidentally killed by a stray bullet. Greatly as I deplore the loss of life and suffering entailed by the necessary use of force, and in particular the death or wounding of innocent persons, it will be appreciated that the Government has no choice while the present campaign of violent disorder persists, and that it is impossible to ensure that no innocent persons will suffer.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will cause the British Ambassador in Brazil to inquire of the Brazilian Government if Arthur Evert and his wife Elsie are alive, having regard to the fact that their relatives have had no news of them since March, 1935, and have no diplomatic representative through whom they can make such inquiries?

No, Sir. Evert is not a British subject and the matter is not one in which His Majesty's Government can intervene.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty to what expenditure this country is committed in connection with the decision of the Government of South Africa to develop a considerable naval base at Cape Town; and whether any undertaking exists whereby this country when at war will be assured of the unrestricted use of African ports under the control of the South African Government?

I am not aware that any decision has been taken by His Majesty's Government in the Union of South Africa to develop a naval base at Cape Town. As regards the second part of the question an agreement was made with the Union Government in 1921 in regard to the use of the naval base at Simonstown.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of local authorities which have adopted differential rent schemes; and what resolutions he has received protesting against the operation of the same?

My right hon. Friend has recently asked local authorities to submit particulars of any scheme adopted for the purpose of granting rebates from rents under Section 51 of the Housing Act, 1935. Returns have so far been received from some 600 local authorities and show that of these 50 are administering rent rebate schemes. My right hon. Friend is not aware of any protests against the operation of such schemes.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that when a recipient of relief from a public assistance committee is granted assistance from the Prince of Wales's Fund the sum so received is taken into account by the committee as part of the income of the recipient, and that the amount of relief is thereby reduced by the amount of the grant received and the recipient of a grant in consideration of services rendered during the Great War is deprived of the benefit of such grant; and whether he will take steps to empower public assistance committees to ignore the amounts of such grants in calculating the total income?

The payments referred to are not among those which local authorities are authorised by Statute to ignore in considering applications for relief. My right hon. Friend has no authority to adopt the suggestion contained in the second part of the question; but in so far as these grants are made to meet a special need, an authority can properly take into account such a need in determining the amount of relief to be given.

asked the Minister of Health whether, having regard to the number of road accidents and the services voluntarily given to injured persons by members of St. John's Ambulance Brigade, he will now consider issuing a circular to local authorities asking them favourably to consider applications received from branches of the brigade in their respective areas for the use of sites for casualty stations and/or ambulance depots, and generally to render such help

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will approach the Government of the United

As at present advised, I do not think it is necessary to issue a circular to all local authorities on this subject, but if my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any case in which difficulty has arisen I shall be happy to make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the annual sums at present payable by county ond borough councils in respect of Goschen loans under Section 114 (1) (b) of the Local Government Act, 1929; and the grants at present payable to county and borough councils under Section 114 (1) (c) of the Local Government Act, 1929?

Following is the answer:States of America in order to see whether arrangements can be made for a substantial reduction or waiving altogether of visa fees on passports of British and American nationals desiring to visit Great Britain and the United States of America, respectively?

I cannot at present add anything to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for East Willesden (Mr. D. Somerville) on 13th July.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of immigrants who have entered this country from Southern Ireland during each of the last three years?

The number of immigrants into the United Kingdom

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the average wholesale prices in the United Kingdom for the years 1931 and 1935, respectively, of cauliflowers, cabbages, carrots, beans, and brussels sprouts?

Seasonal average prices at representative wholesale markets in

asked the Minister of Agriculture the average wholesale prices in the United Kingdom for the years 1931 and 1935, respectively, of cucumbers, salads, market-garden peas, onions, tomatoes, and turnips?

Average seasonal prices at certain representative wholesale markets in England are given in the following statement:England and Wales are calculated each year for cauliflowers, cabbage, carrots and brussels sprouts, but not for beans. In the following statements, which show the particulars required, monthly average prices of beans are given for those months for which quotations are available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the acreage under cultivation in the United Kingdom during the years 1931 and 1935, respectively, of cauliflowers, cabbages, carrots, beans, and brussels sprouts?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the acreage under cultivation in the county of Hampshire during the years 1931 and 1935, respectively, of cauliflowers, cabbages, carrots, beans and brussels sprouts?

The particulars required are given in the following statement:—Acreage of certain vegetables on holdings over one acre in extent as returned on 4th June, 1931, and 4th June, 1935, in the county of Hampshire (excluding the Isle of Wight).

Information is not available in respect of the acreage of certain of these crops on agricultural holdings in the United Kingdom as a whole. The available figures are given in the following statement:

asked the Minister of Agriculture the acreage under cultivation in the county of Hampshire during the years 1931 and 1935, respectively, of cucumbers, salads, market-garden peas, onions, tomatoes and turnips?

The information available, which is greater for 1935 than for 1931, is shown in the following statement:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that many local and other authorities are deterred from adopting a more active policy in regard to allotments by the complicated state of the law on that subject which has not been consolidated for England and Wales since 1908; and whether he will endeavour to promote at an early date a fresh Consolidation Bill on that subject?

I was not aware of the difficulty referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend, but I will carefully consider his suggestion for consolidating legislation.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the highway rate for each county in England and Wales?

I am sending the hon. Member a statement which gives the desired information.