asked (1) the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the interests of British shipping and safety of life at sea, he will confer with the Minister of Transport upon any new projects for bridging the River Severn, so as to ensure that consideration is given to the navigational aspect before any further encouragement of financial support is given to the local authorities concerned;(2) the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the navigational interests view with concern that the Government will not recede from their offer of financial support towards the cost of a road-bridge crossing the River Severn; whether he will make clear to the local authorities that any grant from the Road Fund is dependent upon his being satisfied, after consultation with the Board of Trade, that the project would not materially prejudice navigation; and whether any provisional promise of financial aid would apply to the construction of a bridge above, as much as to below, the port of Sharpness?

I have been asked to reply. My hon. and gallant Friend may receive the general assurance that all road schemes involving the construction of bridges across tidal waters will not be approved for grant from the Road Fund except after consideration, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, of the navigation aspects involved.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the strain imposed by the noise of electric drills upon aged, feeble, and ailing members of the community as well as upon the robust; whether their use in urban areas is necessary; what additional cost would be involved by their abolition; what additional labour would find employment in consequence; and whether he will weigh the considerations specified above with a view to the abolition of the din caused by these implements?

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the intolerable noise frequently caused by pneumatic street drills; and whether there is any efficient silencer the fitting and use of which could be rendered compulsory?

I am most sensible of the disturbance caused by these instruments, which I have no legal powers to prohibit. In so far as my Department can encourage efforts to promote greater silence in pneumatic drills and otherwise it has done so and will do so to the fullest extent of its powers.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the location of the 30-mile limit signs in the village of Beaulieu, in Hampshire; whether he is aware that the parish council of Beaulieu and representatives of the Hampshire County Council who have visited the spot are in agreement that the signs are wrongly or badly sited; and whether he will now consider suggestions for alternative positions for the signs?

The initiative rests with the county council and I shall be happy to consider any proposals they may put forward.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can make any statement as to the effect of the new French coal scheme enforcing the carriage of coal imported by sea to the extent of 40 per cent. in French vessels on the South Wales coal trade and on British shipping usually engaged in this trade?

I have now received the text of the Bill which was voted by the French Chamber of Deputies on the 21st July and I am making inquiries as to its possible effect on the coal trade of this country and on British shipping. In the meantime, His Majesty's Government have the whole matter under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action, if any, is intended to be taken to prevent the importation of pig-iron into this country of the grades that can be produced here?

There is at present a heavy demand for pig-iron owing to increased activity in the steel industry. Production in the United Kingdom is increasing and the rate of production now exceeds seven million tons a year. Imports amount only to some 100,000 tons a year. Any application for increased duties should, of course, be made to the Import Duties Advisory Committee.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can supply the rates paid per unit for electricity for lighting under the distributing authorities in South Wales and Monmouthshire, and similar information for electricity used for power?

There are 46 separate distributing authorities in South Wales and Monmouthshire, and owing to the diversity of tariffs it is not possible to give properly comparable figures of the kind asked for.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the decision in the case of Bulmer's Trustees v. Greaves in the Bradford County Court on 23rd July; and whether he is prepared to introduce an amendment to the Companies Act prohibiting a bank from selling shares deposited with it as security without first giving sufficient and proper notice to the depositor?

My attention has been drawn to the case referred to by my hon. Friend. I am advised that the matter is not one affecting Company Law.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many members of the Consular Service, salaried or unsalaried, are neither British by birth or naturalised British subjects; and what proportion this constitutes in both grades of the service?

All members of the salaried Consular Service are natural-born British subjects. Of the 335 officers in charge of unsalaried posts 96, or about 28 per cent., are neither British by birth nor naturalisation. I would add that no foreigner is ever appointed to an unsalaried post if a suitable British subject is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is in a position to give detailed information with regard to the re-fortification of Heligoland and, in particular, whether concrete bomb-proof shelters for submarines have been constructed or are in process of being constructed?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information whether the process of re-fortification of Heligoland includes the mounting of anti-aircraft and low-angle guns?

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on this subject to the Member for Wolverhampton, East (Mr. Mander) on 14th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is proposed to add to the personnel of the British delegation in the Anglo-Egyptian negotiations when consideration of the political Clauses arises?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, on the completion of the discussions relating to the future of the Sudan, it is proposed to change the venue of the Anglo-Egyptian treaty negotiations from Egypt to London for consideration of the political Clauses?

Discussion of the Sudan Clauses has only just been begun; and it would be premature to make a statement on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any conditions are attached to the invitation to Germany to participate in a conference of the Locarno Powers; and if, with a view to securing German participation, he proposes to make it clear that the British questionnaire may now be regarded as cancelled and that Germany is invited on a basis of complete equality?

No conditions are attached to the invitation to Germany, as will be seen from a reference to the terms of the communiqué issued on 23rd July. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the statement on this subject made by my right hon. Friend in the course of last Monday's Debate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in reply to the invitation to Italy to participate in the proposed conference of the Locarno Powers, any expression has been received from Italy of her views relative to the recognition by this country of the annexation of Ethiopia by Italy or of our retaining a legation in Addis Ababa?

No reply has yet been received from the Italian Government to the invitation extended to them to participate in the proposed Conference of the Locarno Powers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government are in diplomatic relations with the Government of the Yemen; and, if not, what are their relations with that Government?

In reply to a question asked by my hon. and gallant Friend on 26th February last, I gave a list of countries, not members of the League, with whom His Majesty's Government normally maintain diplomatic relations. That list was intended to cover those foreign countries to or from which diplomatic representatives are accredited. The Yemen is a sovereign independent State with which His Majesty's Government are in cordial treaty relations, and I am happy to take the opportunity of making this quite clear.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will state the number of teachers who are leaving the training colleges this term; the number of those teachers who have obtained posts through education authorities applying direct to the college for teachers; the names of such education authorities; and the number of teachers taken by each?

The number of students who will have completed courses under the Regulations for the Training of Teachers this summer is estimated to be about 6,500. Different local education authorities no doubt employ different methods in recruiting their teaching staffs, and I am afraid that I have not the information which would enable me to answer the latter parts of the hon. Member's question.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the fact that, during the last year, 4,429 would-be recruits for the Army were refused on account of bad teeth; and whether he proposes to take any steps in the near future to improve the present arrangements in the schools of this country for inspecting and arranging for attention to be given to the teeth of children attending schools?

My hon. Friend appears to have misread the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War on the 14th July, which stated not that 4,429 would-be recruits had been rejected on account of bad teeth, but that 4.429 per cent. of the applicants examined were rejected for this cause. In Circular 1444 issued in January last, I called the attention of local education authorities to the fact that the School Dental Service is seriously incomplete in most parts of the country, and urged them to examine their present arrangements with a view to securing that their dental staff does not fall short of the requirements of their areas. Since the issue of that circular a considerable number of proposals for the appointment of additional school dentists have been approved.

asked the Minister of Health what proportion of local authorities have submitted reports on the results of their surveys of overcrowding under the Housing Act, 1935; and what proportion have submitted proposals to remedy the overcrowding revealed by such surveys?

1,524 local authorities out of a total of 1,536, or over 99 per cent., have submitted reports on the results of their surveys of overcrowding. Proposals for the abatement of overcrowding are not due until the 1st August.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the sum spent annually by the Government, including overhead charges, on the preparation of vaccine lymph at the Government lymph establishment at Hendon?

The gross cost of the Government lymph establishment in the year 1935–6 was approximately £14,000. No charge is made for vaccine lymph supplied to public vaccinators or to medical officers of health. Receipts from other sources amounted to £1,627.

asked the Minister of Health whether any experiments have been carried out in this country or elsewhere with a view to showing the difference between encephalitis in rabbits and post-vaccinal encephalitis in the human being; and, if so, where information as to the outcome of the experiments can be found?

I am not aware of any such experiments.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of State registered nurses appointed by him under the National Health Insurance Acts and the rate of remuneration paid to them?

I regret that this information is not available, but as indicated in my reply to the hon. Member on the 20th July these nurses are with few exceptions fully qualified. The rate of their remuneration varies according to locality from 6s. to 8s. 6d. per session of 2½ to three hours.

asked the Minister of Health whether having regard to the recent decision of the House of Lords to the effect that wounds pensions and national health insurance benefits are to be disregarded in the case of all applicants for public assistance, he will notify the public assistance authorities in England to the effect that that decision applies to cases within their jurisdiction?

As at present advised, I hardly think that any general notification is necessary. But I will bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind.

asked the Minister of Health whether under Part X of the Local Government Act, 1933, any regulations have been made by him with respect to the preparation and audit of accounts which are subject to audit by a district, auditor; and on what date any such regulations were laid before each House of Parliament?

Regulations as to audit of accounts were made on the 10th November, 1934, and were laid before both Houses of Parliament on 22nd November, 1934. I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether under Part X of the Local Government Act, 1933, he has assigned to district auditors their duties; and if he will state the duties that have been assigned?

The assignment to district auditors of their duties has been made by orders issued to the individual auditors. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a recent order.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps have been taken since last summer to improve the telephone service from London to the Isle of Wight?

New switchboard equipment permitting the full introduction of the most up-to-date system of trunk working was installed at Ryde Exchange on its conversion to automatic working in January of this year. Some 50 additional circuits have also been provided between exchanges on the island which facilitate the completion of trunk calls to other parts of the island. Additional trunk circuits between London and Ryde will be provided during the next few weeks, and a new submarine cable between the Isle of Wight and the mainland will be provided next year, as well as a new main cable from London to Portsmouth.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Jews are now in prison in Palestine as illegal immigrants, either awaiting trial or deportation or serving sentence; and whether, in view of the present situation in Palestine, these loyal elements may be set at liberty?

I have no in formation to show that there are any such persons as suggested in the first part of the question, but I am asking the High Commissioner for Palestine for the information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of Arabs and of Jews serving on the railways, including the railway along the Emek, both before the troubles and now, during the so-called Arab strike?

I will ask the High Commissioner to supply me with the figures for which the right hon. Member has asked.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Jews, Arabs, and British are now serving in the Palestinian police and as special constables; are the special constables armed; and whether the Jewish constables are paid for out of public funds or by the Jews themselves?

The strength of the Palestine police on the 31st December last was:

British	746
Arabs	1,465
Jews	365

Since that date the approved establishment of Palestinians has been increased by over 200 and that of British police by over 150. In addition, more than 2,000 supernumerary police have been enlisted, partly for close defence of Jewish settlements, thereby releasing regular police and troops for more active duties. The wages of some of these, but I cannot say how many, are paid by the communities concerned. I understand that the supernumerary police are armed with varying weapons, but I have no details as to the equipment of any particular numbers.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will supply particulars of the expedients adopted by Dominion legislatures to overcome the disadvantages of legislation by reference?

I have no information on this matter. If my hon. Friend will communicate with me and indicate in greater detail the kind of information which he desires, I shall be glad to consider whether there are any steps which I can take to obtain it for him.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will recommend that the Government of India should now dispense with all Regulations or Ordinances under which persons can be imprisoned for any period of time without trial?

No, Sir. My Noble Friend regrets that in the interests of the maintenance of law and order it is impossible to dispense with these Regulations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will give instructions that wives of persons entitled to vote for the new legislature shall be automatically placed on the register in view of the fact that no registration of marriages takes place under Hindu or Mohammedan law?

I am not quite sure what the hon. Member means by "automatically placed on the register." If he means without documentary proof of the marriage, I understand that no such proof will be required, and that in most Provinces the wife when entitled to vote in virtue of her husband's qualifications will be registered on an application by her husband, who will, of course, be subject to suitable penalty in the event of a false statement.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether those who possess qualifications enabling them to be placed on the electoral rolls for the new legislatures will be permitted to apply by letter and their personal attendance not be insisted on?

It is only in the case of certain qualifications that application is required, in many cases the voter being registered on the basis of Government or municipal records. Where application for registration is necessary I cannot say to what extent it has to be made in person, but in the case of women arrangements are being generally made enabling them to apply either by letter or through the husband.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India when it is proposed to lay before Parliament a draft Order in Council setting up the Federal Court as provided in Part IX. of the Government of India Act, 1935; and whether it will be necessary to make any preparatory arrangements after the passage of the Order before the court can be inaugurated?

His Majesty's Government consider that it will be necessary under Section 318 (1) of the Government of India Act to set up the Federal Court shortly after the commencement of Provincial Autonomy next year. Accordingly my Noble Friend hopes to lay before Parliament during the autumn a draft Order in Council for this purpose. As regards the second part of the question, my Noble Friend has under consideration the arrangements necessary before the court can be set up.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that proceedings may be taken against a newspaper for publishing reports of speeches made in the legislature in India and that Sections 67 (7) and 72d (7) of the Government of India Act do not offer any protection in this respect; and whether steps will therefore be taken to amend the law?

I have nothing to add to my reply of the 29th June on this subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what was the daily average number of persons over the age of 16 years undergoing any form of detention on account of criminal or political activities in British India and in the Native States for the last 12 months for which statistics are available?

Statistics are not available giving the daily average number of such persons but at the end of May, 1936, 75 persons were detained in British India as State prisoners, of whom 28 were in jail and the remainder domiciled in villages or houses under certain restrictions. In addition roughly 1,400 persons were under detention in Bengal under the provisions of the Bengal Criminal Law Amendment Act as terrorist suspects in jails and detention camps and about 1,200 were domiciled in villages or their own homes and subjected to certain restrictions on their movements. In Burma and Assam 18 persons were in jail and 32 were subjected to restrictions as to their domicile and movements under the Criminal Law Amendment Acts in force in those Provinces. I have no information as regards the Indian States. I have no reason to suppose that any of these persons was under 16 years of age.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence when it is proposed to put before Parliament the measures and take the necessary executive action, in view of the fact that as part of the defence policy of the Government decisions have now been taken which will secure for the country an increased output of agriculture in an emergency as well as a sufficiency of supplies of essential food products?

If my hon. Friend will refer to the statement which I made on the 20th July last he will see that I then indicated that I hoped that the report of the Sub-committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence dealing with food supplies would lead to a series of important decisions. I am not at present in a position to add to my statement on that occasion.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the re-enactment of such parts of the Defence of the Realm Act or other legislation as may suffice to restrain all persons attempting in a time of emergency in any way to impede the recruitment of the forces necessary for national safety?

My hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that suitable action will be taken at the proper time.

asked the Home Secretary whether arrangements have been made for the sale of gas masks to all those who wish to take this precaution, and through which channel can they be obtained?

The Government recently published a scheme by which manufacturers who make approved types of respirators and who accept various conditions, including liability to Government inspection, will be licensed to affix a Home Office certification mark to respirators placed on sale. So far no applications for licences have been received: but when the scheme is in operation respirators will be on sale on which the public can place full reliance.

asked the Secretary of State for War, under whose authority a large firm of whiskey distillers is permitted to depict celebrated regiments in the British Army marching past a large bottle of whiskey, thereby using His Majesty's uniform as an advertisement for commercial profit; if he can state the percentage of ex-service men employed by this firm; and whether he will take steps to prevent pictures of soldiers in uniform being used in this way?

No question of authority or permission appears to arise in connection with these advertisements. Such use of military figures is not uncommon and constitutes no infringement of the law, and while I think the practice is to be deprecated I do not think action is called for unless the Army is brought into contempt. I have no information regarding the staff employed by the firm which I think my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a firm of contractors to his Department have been advertising for lorries and vans with drivers for a military manoeuvres contract between 26th July and 18th September, vehicles to be not more than four years old and A, B or C licences to be eligible; whether he is satisfied that this work can be carried out by A and B licence-holders: and whether the firm of Government contractors has the approval of his Department in advertising for C licence-holders to make contracts in apparent contravention of the law?

My attention had not been called to this matter, as contracts for transport are placed by local military authorities; but, if the hon. Member will be good enough to furnish me with further details, I will look into the matter and communicate with him.

asked the Secretary of State for War, with reference to the proposed employment of C-licence holders under the Road Traffic Act, 1933, on Government contract work, what precautions have been taken by him to see that fair wages and conditions in accordance with the National Conciliation Board agreement will be adhered to?

It is a condition of all transport contracts placed by my Department that the contractor shall observe and fulfil the obligations of the Resolution passed by this House on the 10th March, 1909, and any alleged breach of this condition brought to notice is investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) what steps he is taking to make up the deficiencies, amounting to over 10,000 men, in the establishment of the 1st (London) Anti-Aircraft Division;(2) whether there has been any improvement in the number of recruits to the 1st (London) Anti-Aircraft Division in recent months; and, if so, whether that improvement is continuing?

This division was formed only in December last, and the recruits taken in each of the first six months of the present year were 43, 118, 303, 394, 278 and 297, respectively. While the division is at present, of course, much under strength, the rate of recruiting cannot be said to be unsatisfactory, and, while I shall watch the situation closely with a view to taking such further action as may be necessary, I think the matter can safely be left for the moment in the hands of the Territorial Army Associations and units concerned, who are using their utmost endeavour to obtain the necessary recruits.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any of the new defence companies of the Territorial Army will be allotted to the 1st (London) Anti-Aircraft Division, so that men of 45 and over may participate in the defence of London from air attack?

No, Sir. It is unnecessary to take this course, as the age limit for enlistment in coast defence and anti-aircraft units of the Territorial Army is 50 years.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the intention of the Government to bring the filling factory at Rotherwas, near Hereford, into full operation, it will give the first opportunity of employment to the able-bodied unemployed in the city and county of Hereford?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour the results of his consultations with the appropriate Departments as to the possibility of affording special opportunities of employment for unemployed men between the ages of 18 and 21 who have completed a course at an instructional centre and for whom the Commissioner for the Special Areas suggested employment for at least one year on works of public utility should be found?

I am happy to inform my hon. Friend that, largely as a result of the opportunities afforded by the general trade recovery, the number of men who have secured employment after a course at an instructional centre has increased substantially in recent months. I am continuing my consultations with the Departments concerned with a view to obtaining a full share of the employment on work under their control for young men from the centres. I may add that the percentage of men who secured employment after a course at an instructional centre has risen from an average of about 20 per cent. in 1935 to an average of nearly 30 per cent. in the first half of this year, and was about 44 per cent. in June last.

asked the Minister of Labour whether there has yet been any decision or report submitted to him with regard to the inclusion of gardeners in the unemployment insurance scheme for agricultural workers?

Yes, Sir. I have received the committee's report and copies will be available in the Vote Office this evening. The committee recommend the inclusion of private gardeners under the scheme of unemployment insurance for agriculture and I hope to be able to make a statement upon the subject when the House reassembles after the holidays.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the names of persons who will form the advisory committees and tribunals to be set up under the recently issued Regulations in Stoke-on-Trent and the North Staffordshire area?

Advisory committees and appeal tribunals are set up under powers contained in the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1934. One advisory committee is being set up by the Board to serve Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire. The Board have appointed Colonel W. J. Kent, J. P., to be chairman of this committee. Substantial progress has been made in the appointment of the other members of this committee, but the stage is not yet reached at which it would be proper to publish a list. The appeal tribunal serving this area was set up before the 7th January, 1935, and has been at work since that date. The chairman of this tribunal is Mr. R. B. Hind. The representative, of the Unemployment Assistance Board on this tribunal is Mr. Donald H. Bates, J. P. The third member of this tribunal at each sitting is a workpeople's representative selected by the Board from a panel of persons appointed by me for the purpose.

asked the Minister of Labour what amount Cumberland has received from the £17,000,000 that has been disbursed by the Commissioner for Special Areas?

I am afraid that I do not recognise the figure quoted by the hon. Member, which considerably exceeds the total disbursements of the Commissioner for the Special Areas in England and Wales. Moreover many of the Commissioner's grants are made to national organisations for use in the whole of the Special Areas and it is therefore not possible to give separate figures for individual areas.

asked the Minister of Labour why it is that youths from training camps who are on standard benefit when allowed to go to visit their homes are only allowed 2d. per day ration money, whilst those youths who are on Unemployment Assistance Board benefits from the same camps when visiting their homes receive 2s. 2d. per day ration money; and if he can see his way to make the same allowance to the youths that are on standard benefit as that paid to youths who receive benefit from the Unemployment Assistance Board?

There is no payment of "ration money" as such to trainees when allowed to visit their homes; the sums to which the hon. Member refers represent that proportion of the contributions made by trainees towards the cost of board and lodging at the Residential Centres which is waived during periods of temporary absence. These contributions are adjusted as far as possible to meet the circumstance that allowances in respect of the dependants of a married trainee in receipt of unemployment benefit are paid at the Centre whereas those in respect of dependants of a trainee in receipt of unemployment allowances are paid in the home area. I am considering what steps are possible to remove the apparent anomaly.

asked the Attorney-General how many persons are annually barred from instituting legal proceedings without the leave of the court under Section 51 of the Supreme Court of Judicature (Consolidation) Act, 1925; and how many of these are women who have been thus debarred on the ground that they have repeatedly taken out summonses against their husbands in the police courts?

Fourteen people have been debarred in the last 30 years under the section quoted, and as far as I am aware, in no case has the application to the Supreme Court by the Attorney-General for an Order under that section been based on the grounds mentioned by my hon. Friend.

asked the Attorney-General whether he can now state what steps he intends to take relative to the charges of ritual murder in a recent copy of the Fascist?

I have given instructions for proceedings to be instituted in this matter.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will consider some scheme of a periodical revision of appointment of those persons who hold His Majesty's commission of the peace?

My Noble Friend, the Lord Chancellor, is kept constantly in touch through the Advisory Committees with the position. It is already the practice to inquire specifically into the existing list of justices before any fresh appointments are made to any particular Commission of the Peace.

asked the Attorney-General on what date the Solicitor-General was instructed to appear for the Crown in the case of Rex v. Bryant; on whose instructions the brief was delivered to the Solicitor-General; and whether, seeing that it is not in the public interest that the Attorney-General should have the unquestioned right of refusing leave to appeal to the House of Lords when the counsel conducting the case is his colleague, the Solicitor-General, he will take steps to alter this position?

The date was the 4th May. The brief was delivered on my instructions. With regard to the last part of the question, in order that there may be an appeal to the House of Lords in a criminal matter the Attorney-General has to certify that the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeal involves a point of law of exceptional public importance and that it is desirable in the public interest that a further appeal should be brought. The fact that either the Solicitor-General or the Attorney-General have themselves conducted the prosecution does not appear to me to create any difficulty in the Attorney-General's fairly and properly deciding the questions set out above, and in view of this I do not accept the hon. Gentleman's suggestion that the present procedure as laid down by Parliament is against the public interest.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when it is anticipated that the decision will be announced as to the allocation of the air-mail contract for a British service to South America; what procedure will be adopted; what will be the amount of subsidy involved; and what is the comparable subsidy given by France in respect of her air-mail service to South America?

It is not possible to give a definite date for the announcement of the allocation of this contract, but there will, of course, be no avoidable delay. The closing date for the receipt of tenders is the 31st July and the schemes then submitted will be considered by the Inter-Departmental Committee on International Air Communications, whose recommendations will be conveyed to my Noble Friend. The amount of subsidy cannot yet be stated; it will depend upon the proposals made in the tenders of the competing companies under that head. As regards the last part of the question, the figures published indicate a payment to the company by the French Government in the neighbourhood of Frs.35,000,000 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that escorts to and from England at Barlinnie Prison, Glasgow, are nearly always confined to a certain first-class warder; and whether he will consider adopting, for reasons of safety, the policy followed in England in single escorts for two officers to be employed?

These escorts are not confined to one particular first-class warder. There have in fact been only two such escorts from Barlinnie in the past twelve months. In the normal case the practice of sending one officer has been found to be efficient, safe, and economical, but two officers are always sent in the case of a prisoner known to be troublesome.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether there are any unqualified officers acting as instructors in trades in the Scottish prisons; if so, will he consider the question of employing officers for this work who are trained in the various trades in which they are called on to give instruction to prisoners; and whether there are facilities for tradesmen becoming engineering officers, as is the case in English prisons, through trades tests by his Department?

All officers employed as instructors in Scottish prisons are qualified to teach in their respective trades. As regards engineer officers, no trades tests are held in the Department. Each engineer officer has served an apprenticeship at a trade prior to his enlistment, and each has acted as an instructing officer before being appointed on probation to the engineering staff. The ability and power of instruction, combined with power of supervision, of these officers are thus well tested and known to the Department before appointments are made as engineer warders.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the object for which the Prison Officers' Representative Board was formed; and if the Prison Department is carrying out the terms of its constitution?

The Prison Officers' Representative Board was constituted to represent prison officers in matters connected with their conditions of service and general welfare, other than questions of discipline. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there have been any further consultations between the Government and the Cunard-White Star Company with reference to the building of the sister ship to the "Queen Mary" under the North Atlantic Shipping Act; have any contracts been submitted for the Government's approval; and will he give particulars of the present position?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on Tuesday last to my hon. Friend the Member for Faversham (Mr. Maitland).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the revenue from the medicine stamp duty for the years 1920–21 to 1935–36?

The net receipts from the medicine stamp duty for the years 1920–21 to 1985–36 were as follow:

	£
1920–21	1,369,730
1921–22	1,328,448
1922–23	1,219,703
1923–24	1,306,776
1924–25	1,323,317
1925–26	1,290,007
1926–27	1,295,139
1927–28	1,249,445
1928–29	1,333,512
1929–30	1,234,199
1930–31	1,097,601
1931–32	974,955
1932–33	882,006
1933–34	777,131
1934–35	709,046
1935–36	747,930

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether in view of the report of the Committee of Public Accounts calling attention to the faulty execution of a foreign coinage order by the Mint and its inability to secure from a sub-contractor the cost of replacing the coins rejected, he can state the loss to the British taxpayers; and what steps are being taken to avoid any similar action in future?

The cost of replacing the defective coins was £1,905 but assuming that payment for the order is ultimately made in full there will still be a small profit on the transaction. In reply to the latter part of the question, I would ask my hon. Friend to await the Treasury Minute on the report of the Public Accounts Committee which will be issued later in the year in accordance with the usual practice.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what were the total numbers of candidates in the clerical class open competitions who were taken into the service in each of the following years from the September examinations: 1932, 1933, 1934 and 1935?

The number of candidates assigned from the clerical class open competitions held in September, 1932, 1933, 1934 and 1935 is as follows:—

Year.	Number assigned.
1932	281
1933	894
1934	1,496
1935	1,613*
* A few assignments remain to be made from this competition.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what were the numbers of established typists, established shorthand-typists, temporary typists and temporary shorthand-typists, respectively, controlled by each of the chief superintendents of typing staffs employed in Government Departments at the 1st April, 1935?

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Pensions, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether it is proposed to use Empire-grown timber in the building of stands and enclosures and for other purposes of a similar nature, in connection with the Coronation festivities where such are under the control of, or can be influenced by, his Department?

The answer is in the affirmative, but it will be appreciated that the Department will, to a large extent, be dependent upon the stocks available in the country at the time.

asked the Minister of Pensions, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he will consider flood-lighting the Palace of Westminster on the Thames front, as well as on the Parliament Square front, during the Coronation celebrations in 1937?

My Noble Friend will be happy to consider my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion when he is reviewing the programme of flood-lighting in connection with the Coronation celebrations.

asked the Minister of Pensions, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is now in a position to make any statement regarding the improvement of the ventilation of the debating Chamber?

The First Commissioner of Works has prepared a note on this subject for the information of Members, and copies may now be obtained in the Vote Office.

asked the Minister of Pensions, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he can re-arrange the tables in the Library so as to afford greater seating accommodation and greater comfort for Members writing there?

Consideration will be given to the question of re-arranging the tables in the Library. The First Commissioner will be glad to receive any suggestions which my hon. Friend may wish to make.

asked the Minister of Pensions, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he will gave the cause for the delay in deciding on a new building to house the Income Tax officials in Louth; how long the project has been considered; when new accommodation will be provided; and whether he is aware that the present building is affecting the health of those using it owing to damp and various causes?

There has been no avoidable delay in deciding upon a scheme for rehousing the Inland Revenue staff in Louth, although the project has been under consideration for some time. It is hoped that a new building will be ready for occupation within the next six months. My Noble Friend is aware that the present premises are unsatisfactory, but he is informed that the health of the staff has been good.

asked the Minister of Pensions, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what progress has been made, if any, towards the erection of the new Employment Exchange buildings at Rotherham and Maltby, Yorkshire; and if it is contemplated that the new buildings will be erected in this financial year?

Tenders have been invited for the new Rotherham Employment Exchange, and it is expected that work will begin about the end of September. An offer of a site for a new Employment Office at Maltby has been accepted. Plans have been settled, and it is anticipated that building work will commence in a few months time. It is hoped that both buildings will be completed before the end of the next financial year.

asked the Minister of Pensions, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether, in view of the final approval of the plans for the extension of the National Library of Scotland by the Fine Art Commission, the National Library Trustees, and Sir Alexander Grant, any decision has been made as to the commencement of the first stage of the extension before the demolition of the existing sheriff court?

No, Sir, but a building programme will be arranged to meet the requirements of the Trustees of the National Library, if necessary, by the commencement of a portion of the stackage accommodation before the demolition of the old Sheriff Court House.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made with a soil survey in this country; and what reports are available to the general public?

Work has been in progress for many years in this country and Scotland, under the supervision of an Interdepartmental Committee. The essential value of this work lies in the detailed and local character of the reports issued. A large number of such reports have been published, and I am sending a list of them to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether there is any estimate of the cost of a complete survey of the soil in this country; and whether the Government have considered any such undertaking?

No estimate has been prepared of the cost of a complete soil survey of the whole country which would depend upon many factors related to the amount of information it was desired to obtain and the purpose the survey was intended to serve. Information regarding work accomplished and in progress is being sent to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) when the last survey of veterinary services in England and Wales was made; and whether he is satisfied that there is an adequate number of veterinary surgeons established throughout the country qualified to assist breeders of livestock, bearing in mind that many of these are small occupiers unable to afford to pay a high fee;(2) whether he will consider the appointment of a committee to ascertain whether veterinary services could be made available to agriculturists by means of a scheme similar to that of national health insurance and panel doctors, so that for a fixed contribution farmers and smallholders could obtain assistance of a qualified veterinary surgeon at uniform rates?

No formal inquiry of the kind mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend has, so far as I am aware, taken place; and there is no evidence of a general desire for a scheme for an assisted veterinary service on the lines suggested. The Ministry is able to keep in touch with the position and it does not appear that there is any serious shortage in the number of veterinary practitioners; while I am informed that the number of students at the veterinary schools is at present increasing. In the circumstances I feel that no advantage is likely to be served by appointing a committee as suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will inquire into the grounds of the complaints of small farmers in the West of England and in Wales that the Government measures for the benefit of agriculture have been without effect on their financial position?

I fear I could not undertake a general inquiry such as is suggested by the hon. Member, but if he has any particulars and will communicate them to me, I will, of course, consider them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps are being taken to improve the supply, and co-ordinate the sale, of United Kingdom butter; and whether he has any statistics to show the percentage of shops selling butter which do not stock the United Kingdom commodity at all?

A scheme under the National Mark for grading and marking creamery butter produced in England and Wales has been in existence since January, 1935. Further, I am glad to say that after a great deal of consideration a draft scheme under the Agricultural Marketing Acts for regulating the marketing in Great Britain of certain milk products, including butter, which it is hoped will have the effects referred to, has been submitted to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself. It will now go through the procedure for examination laid down in the Acts. The scheme is submitted by the National Association of Creamery Proprietors and the principal manufacturers of milk products who are not members of that association, including the Co-operative Wholesale Society. For information as to the position in Northern Ireland, I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department. With regard to the last part of the question, I regret that I have no such statistics.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can undertake to hold the adjourned annual conference of Sea Fishery Authorities of England and Wales shortly after the summer Recess, with the object of announcing, as soon as possible, the decision of his Department on the recommendation of the Sea-Fish Commission that the local sea fisheries committees in England and Wales should be abolished and their functions and duties transferred to the Ministry?

I hope to meet the adjourned conference at some date in October. A letter on the subject of the recommendations contained in the second report of the Sea-Fish Commission in so far as they affect sea fisheries committees and their work will be addressed to the committees in the course of a few days.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the statement, in his annual report, of His Majesty's chief inspector of factories that gross cases of overwork of young persons continue; and what action he proposes to take?

Cases of the kind referred to by the chief inspector appear fortunately to be quite exceptional and my right hon. Friend does not see how any action taken by his Department can prevent them altogether, but legal proceedings are taken in such cases wherever possible and this should act as a strong deterrent.

asked the Home Secretary the number of accidents reported in 1935 due to unprotected overhead shafting and extruding mechanism; whether steps have been taken to enforce precautions in such cases; and how many prosecutions have followed?

Separate figures for overhead shafting and extruding mechanism are not available, but in connection with shafting generally 26 fatal and 129 nonfatal accidents were reported for 1935, and proceedings for inadequate fencing were instituted against 61 firms in respect of 77 offences with, in some cases, alternative charges. Prosecutions are not confined to cases in which an accident has occurred, and of course there are some accidents in connection with which proceedings are not appropriate.

asked the Home Secretary the number of factories and workshops coming under the purview of his Department in which safety committees operate; and whether he is satisfied that the workers have adequate representation on such committees?

I cannot give a figure for factories and workshops generally, but as will be seen from the account on pages 34 to 37 of the Chief Inspector's Annual Report, about 90 per cent. of the works in certain of the chief accident producing industries have safety committees or other forms of safety organisations. How far the workers are adequately represented in the various organisations it is difficult to say, but it is obvious that the success of any safety organisation must largely depend on its being such as to secure their interest and support.

asked the Home Secretary whether his Department has taken any steps to encourage provision for outdoor exercises for young persons in the intervals of work in factories and workshops; and, in view of the importance of this in relation to the number of industrial accidents to young persons due to skylarking, will he take action in the matter without delay?

The Factory Department is instituting a special investigation into the causes of accidents to juveniles, and methods of preventing them will be further reviewed in the light of the result. My hon. Friend will appreciate that the provision of facilities for outdoor exercises is beyond the scope of the Factory Acts.

asked the Home Secretary whether his 'attention has been drawn to the increasing number of accidents to riders on speedways; whether he is aware that is due to a lack of elementary precaution; that, because the riders are not regular employés, very little regard is paid to their safety and riders, unfit to take part on account of previous injuries, are even encouraged to continue riding; and whether he will consider the desirability of instituting an inquiry into the conditions which prevail?

No, Sir. I do not think an inquiry into the sport of motor cycle racing is called for.

asked the Home Secretary what are the present rates of pay for quasi-permanent and temporary prison officers; how many hours duty per day do they perform; and whether he can consider putting these officers on the basis of the eight-hour day and take some of the men from the Employment Exchanges to fill vacancies that would be created?

The rates of pay have recently been increased and are now, in the case of quasi-temporary officers, 53s. 6d. a week for men and 40s. 6d. for women, and in the case of temporary officers 8s. 4d, a day for men, and for women from 5s. 2d. to 6s. 4d. a day, according to locality. The hours of duty are as stated in the reply which I gave to a question by the hon. Member for West Islington on the 13th February last, and, as I then indicated, I do not think that a reduction of these hours could be made to contribute to the relief of the problem of unemployment.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider revising the regulation which prohibits prison officers from joining or rejoining the Territorial Army, especially where the men have gained substantial rank and are prepared to give up their annual holidays for Territorial work in which they are keenly interested and where their experience is of advantage to the Army?

My right hon. Friend regrets that for the reasons which have been fully explained in reply to previous questions, he is unable to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the prison officers' representative board has again expressed serious dissatisfaction at the new scales of pay; and whether he will consider the matter further in order that the staff pay and conditions of service in the prisons and Broadmoor Asylum may be brought up nearer to a level with those of the police?

Much consideration was given to this question before the new scales of pay were settled and my right hon. Friend cannot agree to a reopening of the question. He believes that when the effect of the new scales is better understood, the advantages will be more widely realised by the officers.

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to take any further action with regard to the statement in a report issued by the League of Nations to the effect that there are 30,000 drug addicts in the United Kingdom?

As I explained in my reply on the 27th May to a question by the hon. Member for Kingswinford (Mr. A. Henderson) the statement in question purported to be based on a report of the Opium Section of the League of Nations Secretariat. The report, which has now been withdrawn from circulation, included a statement showing for each of 59 countries (including the United Kingdom) how many drug addicts there would be in each of these countries on the assumption that the proportion of addicts to population was the same as it was estimated to be in Germany, the United States and Egypt. On this wholly unfounded assumption it was calculated that the figure for the United Kingdom would be 4,600, 46,000 or 92,000, according as to whether Germany, the United States or Egypt were taken as the basis of computation. My right hon. Friend does not propose to take any action in the matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the report from the Council of Civil Liberties on the disturbances in Thurloe Square last March in which the police are alleged to have misused their powers; and whether, in view of the evidence so presented, he will now have an official inquiry made?

I received the documents referred to only a few days ago and am not at present in a position to make any further statement.