asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that his Department, in advertising for a woman medical officer and a woman inspector in the children's branch with special experience among adolescent girls, states that the applicant is required to resign on marriage, and that the Royal Commission (1929) recommended that the power to recruit or retain married women should be specially applicable to higher administrative staffs, to medical officers, factory inspectors and inspectors of schools; and whether, as this point of view was equally urged by the Committee on Women's Questions (1934), he will review the condition compelling resignation on marriage in these cases?

I am aware of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service and the Committee on Women's Questions in this matter. The advertisement states the normal position regarding employment of women inspectors in the children's branch, but there is a discretionary power to retain any inspector in this branch on marriage of it is considered advisable in the light of her special qualifications or special experience in relation to the duties or the special requirements of the Department, and in, a suitable case I should not hesitate to consult with the Treasury as to exercising this discretion.

asked the Home Secretary whether the London County Council is co-operating with the air raid precautions department of the Home Office?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Home Secretary whether he continues to receive reports from His Majesty's inspectors of constabulary regarding the suitability of the accommodation provided by local police authorities in the provinces for stray dogs; and whether he is satisfied that suitable accommodation is provided?

Following the hon. Member's previous questions, His Majesty's inspectors of constabulary (in the course of their inspection of all county and borough forces) paid special attention to the suitability of the accommodation provided by police authorities for stray dogs. Steps were taken to rectify any defects that were observed, and I am satisfied that the arrangements may now be regarded as generally satisfactory. A report would not now be made unless some unsatisfactory feature were encountered which called for special attention.

asked the Minister of Health what is the present position of the experiments which have been undertaken at the suggestion of his medical department with a view to finding some means of protecting against smallpox other than that of the direct introduction of a living virus into the human organism?

I assume that the question refers to the experiments undertaken at the instance of the Committee on Vaccination in 1929 and 1930, with a view to testing the possibilities of killed or modified virus as an immunising agent against smallpox. If so, I would refer the hon. Member to the report on this subject which was published in the Journal of Hygiene, 1932, Volume XXXII. So far as I am aware, no similar experiments have since been undertaken in this country.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases have been brought to his notice where corporations have acquired property condemned for slum clearance, and have subsequently made money out of it by permitting its occupation at current rents?

Two cases have recently been brought to my notice, in which this suggestion has been made. I feel sure that local authorities are alive to the undesirability of continuing slum property in occupation longer than is necessary, but if my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind I shall be happy to look into it if he will let me have particulars.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the gap that exists after the cessation of sickness benefit at 65 years of age for a person who does not qualify for the contributory old age pension until some time after that age; and whether he will arrange to continue sickness benefit in such cases until the pension is payable?

I am aware of the position to which my hon. and gallant Friend calls attention. On the introduction of the scheme of contributory old age pensions the health insurance contribution was readjusted to cover liability for sickness and disablement benefits up to the age of 65 only, and I have no power to authorise the payment of those benefits in particular cases after attainment of that age.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state his policy with regard to the approval or disapproval by his Department of the inclusion in contracts for public works carried out for local authorities of a clause providing for alteration in the event of a rise or fall in the cost of wages or materials?

It is my policy to discourage the adoption by public authorities in contracts for public works of a clause providing for alteration in the event of a rise or fall in the cost of wages or materials. A provision of this character inevitably reduces the incentive to the contractor to exercise proper economy in regard to the employment of labour and purchase of materials, and its general adoption would merely encourage, at the expense of the public authorities concerned, unrestricted competition amongst contractors in securing by whatever inducement the necessary labour and materials.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he will give particulars of the number of commercial counsellors and commercial secretaries his department is at present represented by in the United States of America; and by how many similar officials the United States of America is represented in this country?

There is one Commercial Counsellor and one Commercial Secretary on the staff of His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington. There is in addition one Honorary Commercial Secretary. The United States of America is represented in the United Kingdom by one Commercial Attaché, and two Assistant Commercial Attachés.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will state the number of cases of contempt of court which have resulted in convictions in the province of Punjab since the establishment of the present high court of judicature in 1919 and up to May, 1934, and since the present chief justice was appointed in May, 1934, respectively; and whether he will give the particulars of the dates of the cases and convictions since May, 1934?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 8th February. The information asked for is not yet available.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can state the figures relating to traffic and extra staff during the Christmas period for the country as a whole?

The numbers of extra staff employed for Christmas pressure in 1934, 1935, and 1936 were approximately 74,000, 79,400 and 86,000 respectively, the numbers of letters posted at the larger offices were 169,500,000, 185,000,000 and 232,000,000, and the numbers of parcels delivered were 14,000,000, 15,500,000 and 16,000,000.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as repre- senting the Forestry Commissioners, how many men from the distressed area of Haltwhistle are now employed by the Forestry Commission?

Four men from Halt-whistle are now employed by the Forestry Commission.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether any consideration has been given to the distressed town of Haltwhistle as a possible site for a factory for the manufacture of aeroplane parts?

Yes, Sir, but I am afraid that it has not been possible to arrange for the location of a factory in this town.