asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware of the famine conditions in the Central Provinces in June last; that, in the village of Dhudia, in the district of Betul, a Gond woman sold her son for one rupee to save him and herself from starvation; and that a Korku tribesman named Mahasingh died of starvation in the same district; what action the Government of India proposes to take to meet the situation; and whether other provinces of India are suffering from famine?

Crop conditions in the Central Provinces have been generally satisfactory this year. I have no in- formation about the second and third parts of the question. As regards the last part of the question, conditions of scarcity exist in certain parts of Bengal where steps have been taken by the Government of the Province to meet the situation. I have not received any reports of serious distress from other Provinces.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that Amir Haider Khan has been detained in gaol since 1932 with only a few months of freedom in 1934, and that he had to be removed to the general hospital at Madras on account of bad health and is now in solitary confinement in Rajahmundry gaol, and all letters are withheld from him and interviews denied; what is the reason for this treatment; and whether, in view of the serious condition of his health, he may be released from gaol?

Amir Haider Khan was removed from Coimbatore to Rajahmundry owing to the difficulty of finding other prisoners with whom he could be permitted to associate at the first-named place. As he complained of ill-health, he was temporarily transferred to the Madras Penitentiary last autumn for medical examination, which showed that his health had not suffered by reason of his confinement. I have no information that restrictions of the nature stated have been imposed, but if the hon. and gallant Member will send me the evidence on which his statements are based, I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that in the last five years the number of consumers of electricity has increased by 3,428,957, while the number of users of the telephone has increased only by 605,120; and, under these circumstances, will he consult with representatives of the electricity supply industry with a view to accelerating telephone development?

The circumstances affecting the use of electricity and the use of the telephone are so different that I doubt whether any useful information can be drawn from a comparison between them. I will, however, consider my hon. Friend's suggestion if he will be good enough to communicate with me further about it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that at present a single woman, having a legally adopted child and being compelled to earn her own living, is not entitled to a housekeeper's allowance for Income Tax purposes even if she employs a housekeeper to look after such child, whereas widows and widowers similarly placed are so entitled; and whether he will take action to give for these purposes a single woman with a legally adopted child the same status as a widow with a child, especially in view of the public service she is performing?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative and to the second part in the negative. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave during the discussion in Committee on the Finance Bill on 16th June last of a Clause designed to extend the scope of the housekeeper allowance to unmarried persons.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give particulars of the subjects, also the amount of the receipts, received by the Government in respect of any films made with their assistance during the previous three years, and particulars of any films that are being made with the assistance of any of the Government Departments at the present time?

Following are the particulars of film made (I) by, (II) on behalf of, or (III) with the assistance of Government Departments in the last three years, or under production at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any representations have been made to the Dutch Government in connection with the proposed increase of import duties upon British goods being exported to the Netherlands; and, if so, what the results of these representations have been?

No representations have been made, but the matter is under consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the number of industrial employés that come under the control of the Admiralty, War Office, and Air Force; and what is the annual wages bill for such employés in the three Departments referred to for the years 1934, 1935, and 1936 to the nearest available date?

Following is the information:

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

As the hon. Member is aware, it was impossible for me to identify the person mentioned in his question without further information. I have only this morning received the relevant documents from the hon. Member, but the matter will now be investigated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to an agreement recently entered into by Chilnit, Limited, representing the principal banks, and the Anglo-South American Bank, Limited, whereby holders of partly-paid shares in the Anglo-South American Bank are released from any liability to pay up such shares in full; and whether the companies department will take any action in the matter?

I have seen a statement in the Press to the effect indicated in the first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question. As regards the second part, the answer is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the liquidation proceedings of a company trading as the Bank of London at which it was alleged that sums amounting to £153,741 had been obtained from the public by selling worthless shares in gold-mining companies; and what action he proposes to take?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The affairs of the company are being investigated by the Official Receiver and pending his report I am not in a position to say what, if any, action will be taken.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the terms of reference sent from the Civil Service Clerical Association in regard to the pay of departmental clerks, have been agreed by his Department?

A letter has been addressed to the Civil Service Clerical Association concerning the terms of reference to the Industrial Court on behalf of Departmental Class Clerks.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the proposed amendments to the Southern Rhodesian constitution have received His Majesty's approval or whether they are open to alteration?

My right hon. Friend has informed the Southern Rhodesia Government that he is prepared to accept the proposed amendments to the Constitution, but the instruments have not yet been submitted to His Majesty for approval.

asked the Attorney-General on what grounds he refused his fiat for leave to appeal to the House of Lords in the case of Rex v. Bryant, in view of the fact that the principles laid down for the guidance of the Court of Criminal Appeal on the question of onus of proof in capital cases by the House of Lords in the recent case of Rex v. Woolmington were departed from by the trial judge and the Court of Criminal Appeal in dealing with this case?

I do not accept the statement that the principles laid down in Rex v. Woolmington were departed from in the case of Rex v. Bryant, neither was any application for a certificate of appeal made to me on this ground. I refused my certificate because in my opinion the points raised did not involve points of law of exceptional public importance on which it was desirable in the public interest that a further appeal should be brought.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the number and the names of insurance companies doing motor insurance business which have gone into liquidation since the passing of the Road Traffic Act, 1930; the amount of issued capital of such companies; the causes of the insolvencies; the deficiencies in each case; and the number of persons who became uninsured as a result of these insolvencies?

Five companies transacting motor vehicle insurance business have gone into liquidation since the passing of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, and the desired information, so far as available, in regard to each of these companies is given below.

asked the Ministers of Pensions, as representing the First Commissioner of Works whether, in view of the increased demand for attendance in the Committee Booms and the inconvenience caused to Members by the dilatory progression of the lifts, he will take advantage of the Recess to make such improvements in the conditions as will remove the discontent amongst Members who have business to transact upstairs?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a similar question by him in 1934, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Pensions, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether his attention has been drawn to the bad wear of the morocco leather last used in re-upholstering the benches in this House; whether he can suggest any reason for this; whether it is the intention again to re-upholster the benches during the forthcoming adjournment; and, if so, whether he will consider making use of hide and not morocco?

My Noble Friend is not disposed to feel that after 12 years of hard wear the covering of the benches of this House has shown unreasonable deterioration. It has not been in contemplation to re-cover them during this financial year, nor has provision been made in the Estimates of the Department for this purpose. The relative merits of morocco and hide will be carefully considered before the benches are again re-covered.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps he is taking to secure that there shall be an adequate supply of seamen from the fishing fleets for defence services in time of war?

I can assure my hon. Friend that the numbers of seamen in the fishing fleet are constantly under review in relation to naval requirements in war. I would refer him to the answers given to his questions on this subject on the 22nd of July.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will make available as a White Paper the statements made by the hon. and learned Member for East Bristol and Mr. Harold Shawcross, arising out of the Gresford colliery disaster inquiry?

Typescript copies of these statements and of the evidence given before the Court are available in the Library. It is not proposed to issue a White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any steps have been taken to carry out changes and developments in the native administration organisation in Basutoland, in accordance with Sir Alan Pim's report, with the object of securing an effective system of indirect rule?

The question is under consideration locally. My right hon. Friend has not yet received detailed proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether steps are being taken to organise co-operative societies in Basutoland, in accordance with the suggestions made in paragraphs 314 and 315 of Sir Alan Pim's report?

Sir Alan Pim's report expressed the opinion that the first stage in the direction of organising co-operative credit societies among the Basuto should be that of familiarising their minds with the idea of introducing progressive methods; that this would best be done by demonstrating the economic advantages to be obtained from co-operative working on improved methods; and that under Basutoland conditions these could be most effectively demonstrated by a new system of classifying and marketing wool. The local administration are in full agreement with these views, and assistance has been obtained from the Colonial Development Fund for the purpose of reorganising the method of marketing wool on the lines recommended in the report.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what steps are being taken to give effect to the development proposals for the combating of erosion in Basutoland made in the report issued by Sir Alan Pim's Committee?

Application has been made to the Colonial Development Advisory Committee for assistance from the Colonial Development Fund to carry out these proposals and the Committee have agreed to recommend that the desired assistance should be granted.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give a list of the advisory committees set up in the county of Durham, with the names of the members of the committees?

Nine local advisory committees are being set up by the Unemployment Assistance Board to serve the County of Durham. With the hon. Member's permission I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the areas allocated to each of these committees and the names of the chairmen. Substantial progress has been made in the appointment of the members of all these committees, but it has not yet reached a stage at which it would be proper to publish a list except in the cases of the committees for the County Borough of Darlington and district, for the Hartlepools and for Middlesbrough, for which lists will be also circulated.

asked the Minister of Labour whether relatives of persons receiving public assistance from the Public Assistance Board, living as lodgers or tenants of such persons, will be considered as part of the household and thus become liable to contribute to the maintenance of their relatives in receipt of assistance?

A person is not treated as a member of an applicant's household if in fact he is a bona fide lodger or tenant. The question whether a person is a member of a household is one of fact and has to be determined by the Board's officer or, on appeal, by the statutory Appeal Tribunal.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the investigating officers employed by the Public Assistance Board will be instructed to inquire from the employers of those relatives of applicants for assistance whose earnings and other income must be taken into account when assessing need, what is the weekly income, wages, or other earnings of such relatives?

I am informed by the Board that statements regarding earnings are verified where necessary in a number of ways, such as by reference to pay notes. Where sufficient evidence is not otherwise available, it is found necessary to make inquiry of employers. The Board do not propose to change this practice.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he can state the difference in the amounts which would be paid to a family of father, mother, and son, son earning 40s. and the father idle, under the Unemployment Assistance Board scales and the Glasgow Corporation able-bodied scale;

It is not possible, in advance of the local advisory committee's recommendations on the various matters referred to them under the Regulations, including rent, to Say what would be the determination in a particular case. In the circumstances it is impossible to say what would be the relation between the amounts payable under the Unemployment Assistance Board's scale and the Glasgow Corporation able-bodied scale. It should be pointed out that the latter scale is also a guiding scale and each case must be decided on the actual facts. The responsibility to relieve need rests with the authority concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that changes have been made in dates for which wages are to be paid at the Glapwell Colliery, Derbyshire; that these changes substantially affect the income to homes where certain members of the household are dependent upon the Unemployment Assistance Board; and whether the board's officer in the area in question has dealt with the situation and with what results?

No representations on this matter have been made to the boards' local officer, and the effect of the changes referred to upon the amount of the allowances payable cannot be determined unless particulars are given which will enable the individual cases to be identified. It is open to any applicant who considers that in the light of the new arrangements some alteration of his assessment is required to report the change of circumstances to the board's officer, and a form appropriate to this purpose can be obtained at the Employment Exchange at which the applicant normally attends.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are being taken to increase the number of trainees at the different centres controlled by his Department?

The question of increasing the numbers at the Government training centres and the instructional centres is engaging the constant attention of any Department, and every opportunity is taken, by the exhibition of posters and leaflets, as well as by direct inquiry, to draw the attention of suitable applicants to the facilities provided. I should welcome the co-operation of hon. Members in the areas from which the men are drawn in making the facilities known to all those who are eligible for admission to centres.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the special facilities granted to civil servants' trade unions in connection with the use of Employment Exchanges apply identically to all recognised associations; and, if not, on what grounds does he justify differentiation?

Yes, Sir; except that meetings at Employment Exchanges of associations not recognised as representing Exchange staffs are confined to the association's members.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, when applications for employés are made at Employment Exchanges, there is any principle of selection which gives priority or otherwise to those who have been unemployed for the longest time; and whether the length of time during which a person has been unemployed is taken into consideration in the Employment Exchanges as a favourable or unfavourable factor?

Unless a different method of selection is desired by an employer notifying vacancies, the practice of the Employment Exchanges is to select those applicants for employment who appear to be best qualified to meet the employer's requirements, irrespective of the length of time during which they have been unemployed.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the total number of persons drawing unemployment insurance benefit and unemployment assistance, respectively, within the whole of the county of Lancashire on the last available date for the previous year?

On 16th December, the last date in the year 1935 for which these figures are available, there were 145,028 persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the county of Lancashire with claims admitted for unemployment benefit and 119,582 with applications authorised for unemployment allowances.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, seeing that the convention on holidays with pay recently adopted by the International Labour Conference requires States which ratify it to secure for the workers concerned a reduction in the annual hours of work without any reduction of their earnings, he will say if the British Government delegates voted in favour of the draft convention?

I am afraid that the hon. Member is under a misapprehension as regards the provisions of the draft convention to which he refers. States which ratify the convention will not assume any obligation to secure for the workers concerned a reduction in the annual hours of work without any reduction of their earnings. The British Government delegates abstained from voting.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the British Government delegates who attend the maritime session of the International Labour Conference in October, 1936, will be instructed to advocate a convention providing paid holidays for seamen?

This matter is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many fishermen depend for their living upon the use of the seine net in the Firth of Forth and how many upon line fishing?

Most of the fishermen in the Firth of Forth depend on more than one form of fishing, and it is not possible to state with accuracy the degree of dependence on any particular form, the operations varying from time to time with the fluctuations of the various fishings. It is estimated, however, that the number of fishermen interested mainly in seine net fishing for white fish is about 150, while the number of men interested mainly in small lining is about 160. Other fishermen are occasionally employed at small lining, and a substantial number at great lining for a short period of the year only.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether he is aware that the scheme for providing better cross-river facilities at Selby over the River Ouse involves the presence of three bridges over this river within a distance of less than a mile; and what steps will be taken to ensure that navigational interests are protected in this matter;(2) what is the total estimated cost of the scheme to provide better cross-river accommodation over the River Ouse at Selby, on the London-York trunk road; how the cost of this scheme compares with that of a scheme for improving the present road without recourse to a bypass; whether the report of the consulting engineers on the whole matter may be inspected by interested parties before any final decision is reached; and whether private legislation will be necessary before any scheme is permitted to proceed?

The county councils concerned have not submitted the scheme to me but I am expecting them to do so.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can now give a list of the works scheduled under the railway agreement which are now in progress of construction?

As the Railway Bills are either awaiting or have just received the Royal Assent, the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that his question is premature, but I will obtain from time to time for him information in regard to any works in which he is interested.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can now state when the reconstruction of the London and North Eastern station at Doncaster will be commenced?

The preliminary work is proceeding in anticipation of the Company's Bill receiving the Royal Assent.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the congestion on the Cambridge arterial road; whether he is aware that houses are being built along the road in a manner that will either prevent widening or cause additional expense; and whether he has considered any proposal for widening it to cope with the increasing traffic?

No houses can be built along this road in contravention of the provisions of the Ribbon Development Act. Further, under the Five-Year Programme the county council propose to provide a second carriageway along the road.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will arrange for a constable to be stationed in the Oxford Road, Putney, to direct the location of the taximeter-cabs on the rank in that road and the omnibuses on the omnibus terminus, so as to reduce to a minimum the inconvenience caused to moving traffic by the fact that two-thirds of the width of this road is permanently blocked by stationary taximeter-cabs and omnibuses?

In view of the difficulty of finding another standing for omnibuses in the vicinity, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis proposes to try a readjustment of the cab rank in Oxford Road which will reduce the number of places for cabs from nine to six, and thus prevent overlapping with the omnibuses if their number also is limited. This readjustment will necessarily take a little time to effect and meanwhile the Commissioner has given instructions to patrolling officers to pay special attention to the site with a view to minimising the inconvenience, but he informs me that he would not feel justified in stationing a constable on permanent duty there.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, in spite of the notice one-way traffic only at Shepherd's Bush Green and several other places, tramcars proceed in both directions; that this practice is dangerous and leads to considerable confusion; and has he any statement to make in regard to this matter?

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that, in consequence of road works at Shepherd's Bush Green, it has been necessary to introduce temporary one-way working for general vehicular traffic. This arrangement cannot be applied to the tramcars which use two of the roads affected, without a re-laying of the tracks which could not be justified to meet a temporary situation. These vehicles therefore continue to operate two-way. Similar conditions obtain at one or two other places in London, and in the view of the Commissioner the method of operation at present in force is the only practicable way of ensuring reasonably free circulation of traffic.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is in a position to make a further statement with regard to experimental schemes for the provision of cheap milk to nursing and expectant mothers and children under five years of age in the Special Areas?

I am glad to announce that the Milk Marketing Board, with the co-operation of the Commissioner for the Special Areas, England and Wales, the Rhondda Urban District Council and the local distributors have this week instituted an experimental scheme for the supply of milk to nursing and expectant mothers and to children under school age in the Rhondda Valley at the reduced price of 2d. a pint. I am arranging for fuller particulars of the scheme to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The following are the particulars:The price under the scheme is less than two-thirds the normal average retail price. Under the scheme the distributors accept a reduced margin of 8d. a gallon (compared with the normal average margin of over 10d. a gallon). The Milk Board and the Commissioner for the Special Areas each pay half the further amount (about 7d. per gallon) necessary to enable the milk to be sold at the reduced price. The Rhondda Urban District Council are co-operating in the local administration of the scheme.It is proposed that these facilities should be made available until 30th September, 1937. The minimum quantity per head to be supplied under the scheme is one pint per day. A greater quantity can be supplied to individuals on the certificate of the Medical Officer of Health. The milk is delivered to the consumer. The whole scheme, including approval of the sources of supply, is under the supervision of the Medical Officer of Health.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in order to show the real position in regard to agricultural wages, he will obtain from the county committees set up under the Agricultural Wages Act returns of the average of the weekly wages, including special rates and overtime, now being paid to adult workers in their areas?

I regret that, as I stated in a reply to my hon. Friend on 27th May last, statistics of the actual earnings of agricultural workers are not available. The Agricultural Wages Committees are not in a position to furnish particulars of the average wages actually paid to the various classes of workers in their areas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) the quantity and the value of the imports into the United Kingdom in 1931 and 1935, respectively, of cauliflowers, cabbages, carrots, beans and brussels sprouts;(2) the quantity and the value of the imports into the United Kingdom in 1931 and in 1935, respectively, of cucumbers, salads, market-garden peas, onions, tomatoes and turnips?

The following table shows the total quantity and declared value of certain vegetables imported into the United Kingdom during the years 1931 and 1935, so far as the particulars are available. The imports of cabbages and brussels sprouts were not recorded separately.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has yet reported to the Development Commissioners on the application for a grant towards the cost of reconstructing the boat shelter at Lympstone; and whether any decision on the application has yet been taken?

Yes, Sir. I reported favourably on this scheme to the Development Commissioners. Apart from the merits of the scheme, I have been greatly impressed by the admirable spirit of self-help and co-operation which has animated the promoters, and I should like to take the opportunity to congratulate them on what they have achieved. I am pleased to say that I understand that a grant of a sum not exceeding £500 from the Development Fund towards the cost of the work has now been offered.

asked the Minister of Health why his Department have requested the Hull Public Assistance Committee to increase the staff and number of relief districts when the Hull Public Assistance Committee already have sufficient staff and relief stations and the extra cost would mean an additional expense of £400 per annum; if he is aware that charges of extravagance have been made against the Hull Public Assistance Committee and yet they have been requested to make additional expenditure; and what action he intends taking in the matter?

My right hon. Friend does not agree that the existing relief staff in Hull is adequate to the needs of the situation, and he is satisfied that the steps which he has recommended the Council to take are necessary in the interest of efficient administration.

asked the Minister of Health whether, taking the different towns in Lancashire with a population of over 50,000 and the number of houses erected with the aid of the State subsidy in such towns, he can state the proportion of tenants with no children and who have one, two, three, and four children, respectively?

I regret that the information my hon. Friend requires is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the average cost per head of the isolation hospitals in respect of which the Ministry have given approval during the 12 months ended the 31st March last?

My Department did not sanction any loans for new isolation hospitals during the period mentioned, and I regret that it is not possible to compute any figure of average cost per head in respect of the numerous extensions of existing hospitals for which loans were sanctioned.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether the experiments made during the past 14 months by the chief engineer of the corporation of Edinburgh and the chief chemist of the fuel research station into the hydrogenation of cannel-coal were conducted under the auspices of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research; and can he give any information as to the results of the experiments and the possible effect on unemployment in the Scottish coalfields if the process were exploited commercially?

The experiments were carried out in collaboration with the Fuel Research Organisation of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. They proved that, under certain conditions, Scottish cannel-coal can be used for the manufacture of coal gas and that the tar then produced is suitable for conversion into motor spirit by hydrogenation. Whilst this result is of undoubted interest, I am unable at this stage to offer any opinion on its effect upon unemployment.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence what opportunities there are under the new defence programme for the employment of ex-service men; and whether he will give preference to ex-service men for any employment under his control?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave as to employment of ex-service men to my hon. Friend the Member for Deritend (Mr. Smedley Crooke) on 27th May.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether, in view of the necessity of adequate supplies of tin being available at home in the event of war, he will consider what steps should be taken to secure a larger home production of this metal from the Cornish tin mines?

The Government are not contemplating any special steps of this kind. But as I explained during the course of the Debate on the 20th July, work is being undertaken to ensure a sufficiency of supplies of all essential raw materials in the event of emergency.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether any of his advisers are observing the present naval and air operations off the coast of Spain; and, if so, have they been able to draw any practical conclusion to assist him in the solution of the bomb versus warship problem?

No officers have been sent specifically to observe the operations for the purpose referred to by the hon. Member. Some reports have been received from His Majesty's ships which have been in a position to observe engagements. No bomb has been seen to hit its objective and no ship's gun has been seen to hit an aeroplane. As nothing is known of the efficiency and equipment of either the aeroplanes or the ships taking part, it is not possible to draw any practical conclusions from these inconclusive engagements.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the recent rulings and judgments in cases of infanticide; and whether he proposes to consider the introduction of any Measure to modify the present ambiguity in the law?

My right hon. Friend has this matter under consideration, and proposes to confer with the Lord Chancellor on the question.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the introduction of legislation to amend the Infanticide Act, 12 and 13 George V, c. 18, by the insertion of a definition Clause whereby it shall be enacted that for the purposes of the said Act a newly-born child shall be deemed to be any child whose death occurs within one month of birth?

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion and propose to confer with the Lord Chancellor on the question.

asked the Home Secretary how many members of the police force are compelled to be members of the local fire brigade; if he is aware that for six days and six nights every week men holding the dual position of police-firemen have on the conclusion of their police duty to remain within hearing of the fire bell; and whether he will take steps to remedy this state of affairs?

No member of a police force is compelled to be a member of a fire brigade unless, on joining the force, he accepted a condition that he would be ready to do so. The terms on which fire duty is performed are determined by the local authorities. The whole matter will come under review on the recommendations of the Committee on Fire Brigade Services, whose report my right hon. Friend recently received.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the chief constable of Eastbourne has objected to a number of special orders of exemption on the ground that the extension of hours added to the opportunities of drinking to excess; and whether, in view of the widespread protests called forth by the policy of special exemptions, he will secure and publish an official return which will indicate the general police view of the consequences of this policy?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, my right hon. Friend is not aware that there have been widespread protests, as stated, against the grant of special extensions of hours, and he does not think that any useful purpose would be served at the present time by the collection of such a return as suggested.

asked the Home Secretary whether and, if so, when it is proposed to give legislative effect to the recommendation of the Persistent Offenders Committee to enable courts to pass sentences of detention other than imprisonment on persons requiring medical treatment who are not certifiably insane or mentally defective?

I regret that I am not at present in a position to say when it may be possible to introduce legislation on the lines recommended by the Committee.