asked the Home Secretary whether his Department has expressed concurrence in the terms of reference sent from the Civil Service Clerical Association in regard to the pay of departmental clerks?

A letter has been addressed to the Civil Service Clerical Association relative to the terms of reference in this case.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, whether he is aware that the Civil Service Clerical Association has claimed an improved scale of pay for superintendents of typing staff and that the last joint meeting, between representatives of the association and the establishments division of the Treasury, to discuss the claim, was held on the 5th February last; and when it is intended that a further joint meeting shall be held?

On 8th February a letter was addressed to the Civil Service Clerical Association making certain proposals regarding the pay of superintendents and chief superintendents of typists. For three months no action with the Treasury was taken by the Association. A further meeting to be held about a month ago was then arranged, but had to be deferred in view of the circumstances arising in connection with the discussions regarding certain departmental clerical classes. I am unable to say when it will be found convenient to hold a further meeting with the two Associations concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will represent to the Minister of Labour that it is the desire of the Treasury and the Civil Service Clerical Association alike that the cases involved in the departmental clerk issue shall be heard by the industrial court before the summer recess?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 22nd July to the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Banfield).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, whether a union composed of civil servants, but whose officers are paid officers of an outside union covering non-civil servants, which latter is affiliated to the Trades Union Congress, is permitted to receive a certificate of approval under Section 5 of the Trade Union Act of 1927 and regulations issued thereunder?

If the hon. Member will furnish particulars of the case he has in mind, the matter will be considered.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, with reference to paragraph 76 of the Civil Service Re-organisation Report of 1920, in what case it has been necessary to apply special methods of recruitment to departmental clerical classes?

The normal source of recruitment for the majority of officers in the Air Ministry and War Department Departmental Clerical Classes is from ex-airmen and ex-soldiers respectively.

asked the Home Secretary whether, as professional boxers are subject to injury and loss of employment as a result of injury sustained during the practice of their profession, their claims are in any way considered in administering the Workmen's Compensation Act; and, if not, will he take steps to rectify this anomaly?

Whether a professional boxer or other professional person such as an actor, football player, teacher, doctor or nurse is a workman within the meaning of the Act will depend on the facts of each case, including the terms of his or her engagement. Except in certain specified cases, the Act applies only if there is a contract of service or apprenticeship, and I do not think it would be possible to apply the Act generally to persons who have entered into other forms of contract, irrespective of the circumstances. Where a professional undertakes activities of a dangerous character, the risk involved and the possibility of taking out an insurance policy can of course be taken into account in fixing the terms of the engagement.

asked the Lord President of the Council, what regulations govern the procedure of the Fuel Research Board with respect to the testing of methods of extracting oil from coal by any process?

Up to the present, the only applications for tests have been for processes involving low temperature carbonisation of coal. A copy of the standard conditions upon which the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is empowered to test such plants is being sent to the hon. Member.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether the report of the test of any process for the extraction of oil from coal which is made by the Fuel Research Board is available to the public; and whether the patentees or proprietors of the patent rights in the process are always given a written copy of the report giving the results of the test?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of poisoning of inhabitants have been reported to him through pollution of wells during each of the last five years; and whether such well water is tested regularly or only when pollution is reported through illness?

During the last five years I have received reports of poisoning from pollution of wells in four localities, one in each of the five years other than 1934–35. Local Authorities and Public Water Companies are under an obligation to supply pure and wholesome water, and it is their usual practice to make periodic tests of their sources of supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any reply has been received from the Japanese Government concerning the infliction of water torture upon Mr. Hussein, a British subject, and the ill-treatment of Mrs. Hussein by the Japanese authorities at Hsingking?

Yes, Sir. I am informed that the Japanese authorities are making inquiries and that the result will be communicated to His Majesty's Government as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the number of men fully employed in agriculture, in mining, in engineering, and in shipbuilding in the United Kingdom in the years 1913, 1925, and 1935, and the average wages in each of these years; and whether he can give the figures relating to Scotland separately?

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 25th June, 1936; col. 1942, Vol. 313] supplied the following statement:The available information is shown below.

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 cucumbers, salads, market-garden peas, onions, tomatoes, and turnips?

The particulars required are available in greater detail in respect of the year 1935 than for 1931. So far as figures are available they are given in the following statement:

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he will state the quantity of barley arriving at Glasgow, Leith, Lossiemouth, and other important Scottish ports during the years 1913, 1932 to 1935, and the first six months of 1936;(2) the quantity and average price of barley imported into the United Kingdom during the years 1913, 1932 to 1935, and the first six months of 1936?

The following table shows the total quantity and the average declared value (c.i.f.) of barley imported into the United Kingdom during the under-mentioned periods, distinguishing the quantity entered at the ports specified: