asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the representations of the Carmarthenshire County Council and other local authorities within the county requesting that certain depressed areas within the county be scheduled as Special Areas and brought within the ambit of the proposed legislation; and what action is proposed?

I have received the representations referred to. They are under consideration, and I must ask the hon. Member

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether, in view of the fact that 40 per cent. of the insurable population of Penarth, Glamorgan, is unemployed, he will consider the inclusion of this district in the list of Special Areas when framing the new Bill to be introduced shortly;

(2) whether, in view of the large number of unemployed on the South Wales seaboard, he will consider the inclusion

Do I understand that these representations are being taken into consideration by the Minister of Labour?

Yes, with many others.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Commissioner for the Special Areas has made any grants to voluntary hospitals towards the alteration or extension of their buildings; and will he give particulars?

I would refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 247 and 248 and to Appendix XI of the Third Report of the Commissioner for Special Areas (England and Wales) Cmd. 5303, which covers the period up to the 3oth September, 1936. I will, if I may, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT brief particulars of schemes for assisting voluntary hospitals which have been approved since that date.

Can the Minister say whether there are many applications for grants by voluntary hospitals in these areas?

That is another question.

In framing the new Bill, the representations made by my hon, and gallant Friend will be borne in mind.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the resentment caused to unemployed men resident in the distressed areas by the influx of competing labour from the Irish Free State; and whether he proposes to take any action to prevent employment being obtained by the Irish visitors while the local men are unemployed?

I have no authority to act in the manner suggested by my hon. Friend. In the case of vacancies notified to the Employment Exchanges, first consideration is given to local applicants and afterwards, as far as practicable, to suitably qualified persons from areas of heavy unemployment in this country.

Is any record kept of how many are taken on?

I would like notice of that question.

asked the Minister of Labour the amount standing to the credit of the Insurance Fund at 1st January, 1937, or the latest convenient date?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will instruct his local Employment Exchange officers, when recruiting labour for the new munition factory at Chorley and the aircraft factory at Bolton, to bear in mind the very heavy rate of unemployment prevailing at Aspull, Blackrod, Hindley and Westhoughton?

When vacancies at these factories are notified to the Employment Exchanges, and suitable

On 9th January, 1937, the total balance of the Unemployment Fund was about £40,000,000.

Now that the Minister is in the happy position of having a substantial credit balance in this fund, is he also in a position to give the House any information as to the proposed allocation of the balance?

The Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee has recently been considering a report on this matter, and I expect it shortly.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed on the register of the Employment Exchanges at Maesteg, Pontycymmer, Ogmore Vale, Aberkenfig and Bridgend, for each year from 1924 to date?

As the reply includes a table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

When the right hon. Gentleman refers to depressed areas in this connection, does he regard the areas mentioned in my question as being depressed areas for this purpose?

The hon. Member knows that they are already in the Schedule for contracts as depressed areas under the Ministry of Labour.

But when the right hon. Gentleman talks about contracts does he not know that there are no undertakings to get contracts in this division? What is the use then of talking about contracts at all?

That makes it a little awkward.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman consider any area which is so represented a depressed area?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can indicate the approximate upswing of wages for the year ended 31st December, 1936?

In those industries for which statistics are regularly compiled, the changes in rates of wages reported to my Department during the year ended 31st December, 1936, are estimated to have resulted in a net increase of about £487,000 a week in the full-time weekly rates of wages of about 4,000,000 work-people. These statistics are exclusive of changes in the rates of wages of agricultural labourers, domestic servants, shop assistants, clerks and Government employés, and they relate in the main to changes collectively arranged between organised groups of employers and work-people. It is estimated that, in the industries for which information is available, the average level of full-time weekly rates of wages rose by about 3 per cent. during this period, this being the largest proportional increase in any single year since 1924.

Is not this record figure a reflection of the confidence created by the National Government?

The House and the country will draw their own conclusions.

Is the Minister aware that there are very few instances of employers of labour giving advances of wages until they have been compelled to do so by organised labour?

I think one of the striking and welcome facts about this situation is that that is not so.

Are we to take it from the answer that the only reliable information at the Ministry is that based upon the organised workers?

This information has been given for years on this basis.

And it refers to collective bargaining?

It shows of course, the great advantage of collective bargaining.

Arising out of the original answer, does the Minister not consider that he would give real wages a real upward swing by pushing forward with payment for holidays?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider the request of the licensed trade to extend to them, free of cost to licence-holders, by Order in Council, the hours for the sale of excise-able beverages so as to cover the period 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, except the Sunday, during Coronation week; and is he aware that the method by Order in Council, instead of by application to magisterial benches, will save expense and avoid variations of the terms of the permission to be granted in various localities?

My hon. Friend is, I think, under some misapprehension. Extension of hours cannot be effected by Order in Council.

asked the Home Secretary when the report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Young Persons in Unregulated Occupations will be published?

I expect to receive the report in the course of the next few days, and it will be presented to Parliament, and published as soon as possible thereafter.

Is it intended to implement any of the recommendations in the report?

I think we must await the report.

asked the Home Secretary the reasons why action was not taken under Section 7 of the Foreign Enlistment Act, 1870, to prevent British ports being used for the departure of General O'Duffy's Irish Brigade to fight in Spain?

Before proceedings can be taken for an offence it is necessary, first, that evidence should be available which is likely to satisfy the Court that an offence has in fact been committed, and secondly, that after that evidence has been collected the person to be accused is within the jurisdiction. My information is that these conditions were not satisfied in the particular case referred to.

asked the Home Secretary when the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown was first taken and considered with reference to the application of the terms of the Foreign Enlistment Act, 1870, to the civil war in Spain; and under what authority the application of this law has been suspended since July, 1935?

The suggestion that the application of an Act of Parliament has been, or could be, suspended by the Executive Government is, of course, unfounded. I understand that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary was advised not long after the outbreak of the civil war in Spain that it had from the beginning been illegal for any British subject to take service in the combatant forces of either of the parties engaged in that war, or for any person to induce others to take such service. That no proceedings have hitherto been taken for offences against the Foreign Enlistment Act is due, I understand, to the fact that the necessary information and evidence has not been available; but if some offenders have for that reason escaped as yet the legal consequences of their actions, it is important to dispel any idea that such offences can be committed with impunity. For this reason a public notice was issued by the Foreign Office calling attention to the law on the subject.

Would it not have been better if the notice had been issued at the outset of the civil war in Spain?

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider introducing legislation for the regulation of private employment agencies?

A number of local authorities have already obtained, by local Act, powers to deal with this matter and I am not aware of any necessity for the introduction of general legislation on the subject.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one effect of trying to deal with this matter by a local Act is that the more undesirable kind of private employment agencies simply move to the nearest convenient point outside the area of the local Act?

No doubt that is theoretically possible, though I have not had that result actually brought to my attention, but this does appear to be a matter for the localities and not for general legislation.

Has the Minister's attention been drawn to the fact that many agencies which have been refused licences to operate in the London area have moved just outside that area?

No, Sir.

And when Surrey obtained an Act they moved out of Surrey into an adjoining county.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give the House any information relative to the death of Thomas Hurley, who was killed by the fall of a jib from a crane at the Hamburgh Wharf, London Docks; if he is aware that the jury brought in a rider to the effect that the accident was due to defective wiring and insufficient attention to the crane; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I understand that the wire which lifts the jib broke and that the jib fell into the hold where the deceased was working and crushed him. The cause of the breakage is at present under investigation.

asked the Home Secretary whether any steps have been taken, or whether it is proposed to take any steps, to carry out the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on the social services in the courts of summary jurisdiction; and is it his intention that any proposals arising from the report shall be considered by the House for approval before being adopted?

The report of this committee is receiving my careful consideration. A circular has already been issued by the Home Office to justices on the subject of matrimonial jurisdiction and steps have been taken to give effect to certain other recommendations of the committee which are of an administrative character. Some of the recommendations of the committee cannot be carried out without legislation and these would naturally require the approval of this House.

Have any appointments been made in the courts arising from these recommendations?

Perhaps the hon. Member would be kind enough to communicate with me, or to put a question down, and I will let him know.

asked the Home Secretary whether in response to complaints by a public authority, he is taking steps, with the help of the local police, to abate the nuisance arising from the stream of motor-cyclists at motorcycle trials on some of the public roads and lanes in Surrey?

I have been in communication with the Chief Constable of Surrey who informs me that the police pay close attention to these trials and take appropriate action to deal with any infringements of the law.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these motor-cycle trials in the lanes of Surrey are actually imperilling the lives of pedestrians?

I am sure the police have that consideration in mind, but, of course, if the matter is one of the regulation of traffic, I rather think that it must come under the Road Traffic Act or the local by-laws.

Will the right hon. Gentleman get into touch with the proper authorities and ask them to see that people's lives are no longer imperilled by this nuisance?

I think the fact that my hon. Friend has asked this question, will call attention to it. No doubt the matter is being considered.

Will the right hon. Gentleman arrange for one of these trials to take place at Walton Heath where he can watch it?

I always keep my eye on the ball.

asked the Home Secretary the number of fatal accidents during 1936 among men working the electric and acetylene welding and burning machines in confined spaces in shipbuilding and boiler-making establishments?

During 1936 no fatal accident occurred to workers engaged on electric welding in shipbuilding or boiler-making establishments: there is, however, record of the death of one worker who had been working on an acetylene welder on repair work to a ship, and according to the verdict at the inquest this death was due to heart disease accelerated by gassing.

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to take any action to prevent the recurrence of cases in which members of the medical profession have had dangerous drugs stolen from their motor cars.

No, Sir; I have no grounds for thinking that these thefts are other than ordinary cases of petty larceny, and I do not think there is any action I can usefully take in the matter.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that some responsibility ought to be placed upon the medical profession for neglecting to take care of these dangerous drugs?

I think that the remedy here is the exercise of care by the individual who has such a package in his charge. When we consider what a large number of people are moving about—skilled doctors who are attending medical cases—very many of whom have something of the sort with them, I do not know that the number of cases is very surprising.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will make representations to the Carmarthenshire County Council to abolish the differential education rate which they levy, inasmuch as it is the only education authority that persists in retaining this method of rating for educational purposes and in view of the fact that this differential rate presses most heavily on the depressed areas within the county?

The Board have drawn the attention of this authority, on more than one occasion in recent years, to the prejudicial effect on educational developments in their area of the policy of charging capital expenditure on localities which cannot afford the additional cost. The matter is, however, entirely one within the discretion of the county council under Section 122 of the Education Act, 1921, and they have not so far been willing to make any change. I am afraid that I can see no grounds for thinking that further representations from me at the present time would serve any useful purpose.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, in view of the effect, not only educationally but industrially, of this rate, consider the possibility of renewing his representations to this authority?

I think that the possibility of renewing my representations depends more on the chance of their being successful than anything else. I have already said that I should like to see them accepted.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that if he renewed his representations now they would stand a better chance of success than they did last time?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the action of the Lincoln Education Committee in insisting that the whole of its employés shall reside within the city boundaries has his approval; and under what statutory authority are such conditions of employment enforced?

I understand that the conditions as to residence mentioned in the question are to be incorporated in the contracts between the employés and the local education authority, subject to special consideration of cases where it is represented that they would cause hardship to existing employés. The inclusion of such conditions in contracts needs no statutory authority or official approval.

The Minister did not answer the first part of my question as to whether this practice met with his approval or not. I would like to ask him also what is the limit of power possessed by a local education authority over the bodies and souls of its employés?

That is an entirely different question which perhaps the hon. Member will put down. With regard to the question whether I approve, I say that this is a matter for local decision, and whether I approve or not must depend on the circumstances of the locality.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman a partner in finding the expenses of teachers' salaries, and does he not think he is entitled, at any rate, to give a lead to local authorities against this interference with the lives of private individuals?

It is definitely a matter that ought to be left to the localities.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the actual date of the appointment of this insignificant, unofficial and, therefore, irresponsible spokesman of Lincoln?

On a point of Order. I understood from a Ruling of yours the other day that epithets were out of order.

The hon. Member was too quick for me.

Is it not very possible, indeed probable, that practices of this sort by local authorities will prejudice the quality of the material that goes to the teaching profession there? Does it not, therefore, become at once a matter of great importance to the Minister that he should deal with it?

If it had that effect on the quality of the teaching profession it might become my business, but I have

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has given consideration to the recommendations

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will give, with figures to 31st December, 1935, and, if possible, 1936, the table of schools removed from the black list which appears on page 10 of the 1934 Report of the Board of Education?

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Copies of the report of the committee were circulated to all local education authorities and schools in England and Wales in April last and at the same time I sent a circular, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, to all local education authorities asking them to give most careful consideration to the recommendations of the report.

Was there any consultation with the Ministry of Transport in connection with the recommendations?

Of course, consultations took place on the committee which issued them.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can make any statement respecting the recent outbreak of scarlet fever in Doncaster and area; whether any proof has been obtained as to whether the outbreak was due to a polluted milk supply; and, if so, what steps are being taken to prevent similar outbreaks in the future?

Some 160 cases of scarlet fever occurred in Doncaster and the adjoining rural district in the recent outbreak, together with a considerable number of cases of sore throat. I am advised that the outbreak was due to the infection of milk from one farm. When the particular milk supply had been identified as the source of infection arrangements were made for the pasteurisation of all milk coming from that source. As regards the general question, I cannot add anything at present to the answer I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for North Tottenham (Mr. R. C. Morrison) on 12th November, of which I will send the hon. Member a copy.

Will the milk producer be prosecuted in this case?

No, he will get a subsidy.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any statement to make regarding a Government scheme for national physical training?

The Government hope very shortly to lay before Parliament a full statement of their proposals, and I would ask the hon. and gallant Member to await its issue.

Will that include the reinstatement of cadet corps where they have been discontinued?

Will it also include the abolition of the means test?

asked the Minister of Health the object of the amalgamation of the Walmer Urban Council with Deal Corporation in 1935; and whether that object has been successfully achieved?

The object of the amalgamation was that the single urban aggregation formerly divided between these two councils should form a single unit for the purposes of local government. This object was achieved by the Order made in 1935, and I have no reason to suppose that the operation of the Order is presenting difficulty.

May I ask whether the rates of Walmer have gone up or down since the amalgamation, and whether the people of Walmer are paying more?

I shall be glad if my hon. Friend will give me notice of that question.

Has not the Walmer Urban District Council had a fair deal?

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether consideration has been given to the position which may arise on 31st March, 1938, when the Exchequer contribution in respect of the provision of re-housing accommodation for persons displaced from houses dealt with by local authorities under the Housing Act, 193o, will have expired?

(2) whether he can give an assurance that local authorities will not suffer financially where they have not been able to complete their housing programme under the 1930 Act before March, 1938?

Exchequer contributions will continue at the present rate until 31st March, 1938. The contributions in respect of houses which are not completed until after that date will depend on the result of the review which has to be undertaken after 1st October, 1937, and will be provided for in an Order to be made after that review. As I stated in reply to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Coventry (Captain Strickland) on 8th December, I will 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 suggest to local authorities and others the desirability of marking the Coronation year by improving the appearance and the condition of houses and other buildings by a general repainting and redecoration, and of beginning the work forthwith so as to stimulate employment during the slack months of the year and to prevent congestion of orders at a later date?

I do not think this is a matter in which I could usefully approach the local authorities, but I have no doubt that the advantages resulting from repainting and redecoration as suggested will be generally appreciated by local authorities and the public. The consideration referred to in the latter part of the question will, I am sure, not be overlooked.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a majority of the Leeds City Council are refusing to allow their housing director to undertake the building of municipal houses, notwithstanding his undertaking to erect them at rates considerably lower than those of the tenders received from any other source; and will he represent to that body that they should act so as to save public money in the matter?

The matter is one for decision by the city council in view of all the circumstances affecting building in the locality. I understand that at the present moment the council have in hand about 5,400 houses, for which contracts have been let but which are not yet completed.

Is it no concern of the Department what these houses cost?

Yes, certainly.

Is not the recent unhappy experience of Leeds under a Labour council a justification for the action taken in this case?

asked the Minister of Health whether he will explain the reasons why seasonal workers employed in picking beans are subject to the provisions of the National Health Insurance Act while workers similarly engaged in picking peas are not subject to such insurance; and, the two occupations being practically identical, whether steps can be taken to remove the existing anomaly and to treat both these employments for the purpose of health insurance similarly?

The relevant provision is an Order made under the National Health Insurance Act specifying the gathering of peas as an occupation that is ordinarily adopted as a subsidiary employment only and not as the principal means of livelihood. That is to say, it is ordinarily undertaken by persons who have some other regular occupation which they follow throughout the year. The evidence considered in connection with the making of the Order showed that bean-picking was not such an occupation, but was ordinarily undertaken as one of a series of casual employments on which, taken together, the persons employed were dependent for their livelihood. I shall, of course, be pleased to consider any representations which my hon. Friend may wish to make on the subject.

How many beans will a man have to pick before he is entitled to be insured?

Five.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied regarding the accommodation of the staff at the Ministry; how many of the staff work in basement rooms and for what periods of time; whether there is overcrowding in any of the rooms; whether all rooms occupied by staff have direct communication with the air; whether any of the rooms necessitate the use of artificial light throughout the working day; and what representations regarding the office accommodation have been received from the staff associations?

I have from time to time received representations from the Departmental Whitley Council about the accommodation provided for the staff of my Department. All such representations are carefully considered and, where necessary, brought to the notice of the Office of Works. In general the accommodation in the Ministry is satisfactory. About 50 to 55 clerks spend a normal working day of about six hours for three months at a time in the basement courts, which are large, light and well-ventilated rooms. About 30 other clerks work in a basement court about one hour every morning. There is no overcrowding in any part of my Department; the only staff rooms not in direct communication with the open air are five messenger boxes—

And the Minister's office?

Natural lighting in the rooms is generally good and in only a very small proportion of cases is it necessary for any officer to resort to artificial light all day under normal weather conditions.

Are there any complaints outstanding at the present moment?

I am not aware that there are, but I will inquire and inform the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether His Majesty's Government will consider reserving a larger proportion of vacancies in the Post Office and other Government departments for members of the armed forces upon the completion of their service?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Prime Minister on 7th December last to the hon. and gallant Member for Wycombe (Sir A. Knox), of which I am sending him a copy, which indicated that the whole matter is being specially considered.

Will the right hon. and gallant member keep in mind the thousands of ex-Service men who are already walking the streets?

All the relevant facts will be kept in mind in connection with the inquiry.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of typewriters purchased for and by all departments of State for the year 1936, and the number of British manufacture so purchased?

The total number of typewriters purchased by the Stationery Office for all Departments of State during the year 1936 was 3,734, of which 3,698 were of British manufacture.

In view of the fact that this state of affairs has beneficial repercussions on the industries concerned in making these machines in this country, will the policy he has just indicated be continued?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the intention of the Government to take any further steps with the object of encouraging a closer relationship between the banks and industry in order that the advantages obtained by industry abroad may be available to those who require same in Great Britain?

While the relations between banking and industry vary in different countries, I am not aware, broadly speaking, that advantages of the kind indicated in the question are obtained by industry abroad but are not available to industry in this country at the present time. The question does not, therefore, appear to arise.

Will the Minister investigate the conditions in Germany and the United States?

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend ask the hon. Member to produce evidence in support of his imputation that credit worthy borrowers in British industry are not receiving support from British banks?

The experience of the crisis of 1931 and since has been rather to confirm the soundness of British banking practice and, certain other countries have assimilated their practice to it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the recent increase of one halfpenny per gallon on home-produced as well as imported petrol is being accompanied by an equal reduction in the amount of subsidy payable by His Majesty's Government?

No subsidy is payable in this connection, but my hon. Friend may have in mind the provisions of the British Hydrocarbon Oils Production Act, 1934, under which, subject to certain limitations, light hydrocarbon oils manufactured in the United Kingdom from indigenous materials are guaranteed a preference of not less than 4d. per gallon until 31st March, 1944. These arrangements are not affected by increases or decreases in the price of petrol.

Does that mean that every time there is an increase in the cost of imported petrol, with a consequent rise in the combine prices in this country, the increase in price will be equivalent to profit to the home-producing companies?

The hon. Member should study the provisions of the Act. I can hardly be expected at Question Time to explain all its provisions. His original question related to a subsidy, and I have pointed out that a subsidy is not payable.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will take steps to see that all firms who secure Government contracts will, in future, purchase machines which have been manufactured in Britain or in other countries approved by the Treasury?

No, Sir. I would remind the hon. Member that any firm importing machinery is required to pay the appropriate rate of duty, unless it can be established that similar machinery is not for the time being procurable in the United Kingdom.

Is the right hon. and gallant Member aware of the setting up of a company known as Compensation Company? Are the Government aware of the objects of this company and do they approve of the policy being pursued by the company?

That apparently raises a separate matter.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount of profit made by the Royal Mint for the year ended 1935–36 to the nearest available date; and also the amount paid to the Treasury?

In the financial year 1935–36, the Mint's cash receipts in excess of those applied as appropriations in aid to balance expenditure amounted to £320,647 18s. 6d., which was duly paid to the Exchequer as surplus receipts.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Milk Reorganisation Committee's Report will be followed by legislation to amend or alter the present Milk Board's scheme; and, if so, will he bring in that legislation before the summer Recess in 1937?

I am not yet able to make any statement upon the subject.

Will my right hon. Friend remember that the contract period begins next October, and that something must be done before then?

I am aware of the fact that some legislation will be necessary before the House adjourns, but I am not prepared to say whether it will be of the scope which my hon. and gallant Friend indicates in his question. The report raises a number of issues, and consultation with other Departments will be necessary.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware how many Members have read that enormously long report? Is he aware that the only one who is likely to have read it is the Noble Lady the Member for West Perth (Duchess of Atholl)? Nobody else has the time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he intends taking any steps to protect the poultry industry in view of the fall in the price of eggs and the rise in the cost of feeding stuffs?

An application for increases in the import duties on foreign eggs imported into the United Kingdom was recently lodged with the Import Duties Advisory Committee, and I am not at present in a position to make any announcement on the subject.

Would the Minister not give special attention to this question as it affects Scotland?

Questions relating to agriculture in Scotland are answered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Has the Minister received the report from the Advisory Committee? If not, can he say when he expects to do so?

No, Sir, I cannot say that.

Is the Minister aware that the fall in the price of eggs lasted only five days?

I am aware that the monthly figure for the price of eggs last year, except for August and December, was higher than in 1935 and 1934.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now state when the Royal Commission upon Tyneside Local Government is expected to make its report?

I am not in a position to add anything to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on l0th November last in reply to a question on this subject.

In view of the considerable number of industrial undertakings, municipal and private, which have been held up pending the report of this commission, may we not have some approximate date?

I do not think it will be very long, and I will see that the hon. Member, who has displayed some interest in this matter, is communicated with when I am ready to answer a question.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the rapid and widespread destruction of the beauty of Great Britain, he will consider the appointment of a Minister of Amenities to combat this destruction?

While I have every sympathy with the object which my hon. Friend has in view, I do not consider that the appointment of an additional Minister for the purpose would be justified.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will promote legislation authorising county councils or some other competent authority to make a survey of common lands in accordance with the recommendation of the Departmental Committee on National Parks?

As the hon. Member is aware, such a survey would be bath complicated and lengthy, and I regret that I cannot at present promise legislation on the lines suggested?

Is not the fact that it would be complicated and lengthy an additional reason for getting on with it quickly?

We are certainly not losing sight of the matter. We are considering it, but the hon. Gentleman asked me whether I could promise legislation, and I regret that I cannot.

Can the Minister say to the nearest hundred how many matters are now under serious consideration?

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that the shipments of Welsh anthracite coal to the Dominion of Canada during the shipment season of 1936 showed a reduction of 113,217 tons as compared with 1935 and of 172,317 as compared with 1934; that during the same period the shipment of coal from Germany to the Dominion increased from 31,000 tons in 1934 to 266,913 tons in 1936; and, in view of the fear that next year there will be a further serious reduction of shipments in consequence of the agreement between the Governments of the Dominion of Canada and of Russia to permit of the importation of 250,000 tons of Russian anthracite coal to Canada, what steps he proposes to take to protect the Welsh anthracite coal trade, which depends for regular working during the summer months on the trade with Canada, and to protect the livelihood of thousands of Welsh anthracite coal miners?

I have been asked to reply. My hon. and gallant Friend is aware of the position to which the hon. Member calls attention, and recognises its effect upon the Welsh anthracite trade. As regards the second part of the question, he would refer the hon. Member to the full statement which he made on 12th November in reply to a question by the hon. Member for East Cardiff (Mr. T. Morris). The Government are continuing their efforts to safeguard the position so far as possible.