asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps, if any, he is prepared to take forthwith to develop the tourist industry in Scotland?

The development of the tourist industry in Scotland is in the hands of the Scottish Travel Association which co-operates with and receives a grant from the Travel and Industrial Development Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as subscriptions from local authorities and other interests concerned. I fully appreciate the importance of the work which has been done by the Scottish Travel Association. In recent years the tourist traffic in Scotland has steadily increased and I hope it will be further stimulated by the Empire Exhibition to be held in Glasgow in 1938. One of the objects of that exhibition, in which His Majesty's Government has decided to participate, will be to focus attention on the tourist attractions of Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is prepared, in the light of the many undeveloped and derelict areas in Scotland, to institute a general survey of that country in an effort to ascertain as to what undeveloped resources, such as coal, granite, lead, copper, and oil, still exist?

The Geological Survey of Great Britain has for many years been conducting a general survey such as the hon. Member has in mind and already possesses a large and steadily growing volume of information upon the natural resources of Scotland. Much of this information has been published or is awaiting publication and the survey makes every effort to assist those engaged in the development of such resources. In these circumstances it does not appear that any advantage would accrue from the institution of a separate survey of the kind suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the average costs of seasonal and all-the-year-round production of milk, respectively, in the eastern and western districts, respectively, of the area of the Scottish Milk Marketing Scheme?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the total number of children in primary schools in Scotland; and the number of children supplied with milk under the milk-in-schools scheme on the latest date for which figures are available?

As my Noble Friend is aware, a joint inquiry into the costs of milk production is being carried out by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland and the agricultural colleges. The inquiry has not yet reached a point at which it is possible to give the information desired.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total amount of milk sold for liquid consumption and for manufacture, respectively, in 1933–4, 1934–5 and for 1935–6, in so far as completed; also the highest, the lowest and the average monthly figures for each of these three periods?

I take it that the Noble Lady has in mind the area of the Scottish Milk Marketing Scheme. Following is a tabular statement giving the information desired in respect of that scheme:

At 31st March, 1936, there were 647,662 children in primary schools in Scotland of whom 283,378 were receiving milk under the milk-in-schools scheme. More recent figures of the numbers supplied with milk in primary schools are not available, but in September approximately 321,000 children out of a total school population of 807,000 were supplied with milk under the milk-in-schools scheme.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state in percentages the numbers, respectively, of rural district councils, urban district councils, and municipal corporations which have built accommodation specially designed for aged persons since the War?

Since the Act of 1930, which permitted small houses suitable for aged persons to rank for subsidy, one bed-roomed dwellings have been or are being provided by 13.2 per cent. of the rural district councils, 22.1 per cent. of the urban district councils and 45.5 per cent. of the municipal corporations. Information is not available with regard to any such dwellings provided under earlier Acts.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in the cases of those local authorities who have not been able to complete their housing programme by 31st March, 1938, for the purpose of re-housing those persons displaced from houses dealt with under the Housing Act, 1530, any assurance can be given that they will not suffer financially in a review of the Exchequer contributions required to be made then under the Act?

I cannot anticipate the Government's decision in this matter, but I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that when the time comes to review the situation I shall approach the question with a full sense of all the issues involved including the importance to the health services of the country of the completion of the slum clearance campaign.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give the following particulars with regard to local authorities in England and Wales up to the latest available date; the total capital value of all property owned by them; their gross debt or capital; the total of debt or capital used for trading concerns; the total debt or capital used for housing; and the total debt or capital used for highways and bridges?

The returns made to my Department do not contain information as to the capital value of property owned by local authorities. The total gross outstanding loan debt for capital purposes of local authorities in England and Wales. at 31st March, 1935, was £1,421,501,979. Of this total £480,032,174 was in respect of trading services, £536,466,423 in respect of housing (including £44,029,311 in respect of small dwellings acquisition), and £115,864,682 in respect of highways. and bridges.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will make a tabulated statement showing the number of collieries in each of the mining areas that have been closed during the last 10 years. through being waterlogged and the number of persons put out of employment. through this?

I am making inquiries and will let the hon. Member know the result.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether overtime working in Yorkshire coal mines is increasing or decreasing; how many managers or proprietors have been prosecuted during the present year; the number of convictions registered; and the 'average fines. imposed?

I have no reason to think that overtime working in Yorkshire coal mines is increasing. The subject is constantly engaging the attention of His Majesty's inspectors, and. representations are made to managers wherever there appears to be reason to do so. The answer to each of the last three parts of the question is, none.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that before May, 1936, many persons were killed and injured on the Kingston bypass road; will he find out why the Surrey County Council has not yet made the necessary alterations although between May and September, 1936, there were 100 non-fatal accidents and two fatal accidents, and that three more persons were killed between the 13th and 22nd November last; and whether he will order the closing of the Kingston by-pass until the Surrey County Council has made alterations to render it less unsuitable for motor traffic?

I have already indicated a grant for part of the improvement scheme and the necessary preliminary work is in hand.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is now in a position to make a statement concerning the case of Frederick Joseph Swain?

In the wholly exceptional circumstances of this particular case I have come to the conclusion that a small monetary payment would be justified and I propose to give instructions accordingly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, how many acres of agricultural land were taken over in 1934 and in 1935 by the Secretary of State for Air, by the Minister of Transport, by the Minister of Health, by the War Office, and by the Forestry Commissioners for purposes other than agriculture; and what is the acreage of agricultural land annually lost to agriculture by being absorbed for other national purposes?

As regards the first part of the question, the following information has been supplied by the Departments concerned.Air Ministry.—Approximately 4,000 acres were acquired during the financial year 1934 and approximately 9,000 acres in 1935, making a total of 13,000 acres, of which approximately 8,000 acres (site of landing grounds, etc.) remain in grass. A further 700 acres is let off for purely agricultural purposes.War Office.—1,352.5 acres of agricultural land were acquired in 1934, of which 43.75 acres were absorbed for purposes other than agriculture. The comparable figures for 1935 were 1,500.75 acres and 42.75 acres, respectively.Forestry Commission.—No land in cultivation was taken over in 1934 or 1935 for purposes other than agriculture, except land for nurseries, of which 94 acres were taken over in 1935.Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Health.—None. Land for road and housing schemes is acquired by or on behalf of the local authorities concerned and the Departments have no information as to how much agricultural land was acquired by the authorities for these purposes.As regards the second part of the question, the agricultural returns collected by my Department show that in the last five years there has been an average net reduction of 59,900 acres per annum in the total area of land used for agriculture in England and Wales. The information collected does not, however, enable me to say to what alternative uses the land has been put.