asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the apprehension felt by local authorities over the recommendations in the McGowan Report; and whether he has any statement to make on the matter?

Views expressed on behalf of local authorities will receive due attention.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the Electricity Commissioners are offering guidance and advice to authorised undertakers as regards future policy in view of prospective legislation anticipated by the Commissioners in accordance with the McGowan Report; whether this action on the part of the Commissioners has his approval; and, if not, whether he will inform them that, in view of the fact that they are a statutory body, they should refrain from such action until the House has had an opportunity of deciding what steps, if any, shall be taken in connection with the report?

I am not aware that the Electricity Commissioners have in any respect exceeded their statutory powers or duty.

asked the Minister of Transport how many appeals against decisions given under the Restriction of Ribbon Development Act have been received by his Department; and how many of these appeals have been decided in favour of the appellant?

Of the 54 decisions given, 20 have been in favour of the appellant.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can give the House

asked the Minister of Health whether he will at an early date cause to be prepared and issued by authority a new edition of the Statutes Regulations and Orders relating to National Health Insurance, with notes, cross-references, and an index to replace that last issued in 1926?

The coming into operation on 1st January, 1937, of the National Health Insurance Act, 1936, necessitates the revision of all the regulations and orders made under the Acts previously in force. Good progress has been made with this work and as soon as it has been completed the preparation of a new edition of the Statutes Regulations and Orders relating to National Health Insurance will be put in hand.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to a recent case of the death of a retired naval officer due to carbon monoxide poisoning occasioned by improperly combusted coal gas from the geyser supplied for heating the water in the bathroom; and whether, in view of the frequency of such accidents, he will take steps to prevent the sale to the public of geysers which are not properly ventilated or are likely to get out of order?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the latter part my right hon. Friend is considering in consultation with my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, what action can be taken.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he will give particulars of how many trees will be damaged or destroyed in the course of the present erection of seats in the Royal parks for the purpose of viewing the Coronation procession?

(for the First Commissioner of Works): My Noble Friend does not anticipate that any trees will be damaged or destroyed. Many of the trees will be pruned during the next few weeks, but only in such a way as will not be prejudicial to their growth.

asked the Lord President of the Council what arrangements are being made for old people, who cannot from age or infirmity stand in the streets, to be given seats to view the Coronation procession?

I fear that it would be impracticable to deal with individual cases. I have no doubt, however, that a number of old people will be included among the representative groups to which, as already announced, it is proposed that seats should be allotted.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the refusal of certain coroners to pay the usual fees to doctors in respect of statements made to the police as to the cause of death of infants; whether the Ministry has in any case advised doctors in such circumstances to refuse to make statements; and whether, having regard to the suffering involved thereby to the persons immediately concerned and to the importance of avoiding unnecessary in quests, he will endeavour to secure uniformity in the practice of coroners in this matter by introducing legislation if necessary?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the negative. As regards the last part, perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will supply me with particulars of any cases of hardship which he has in mind.

asked the Home Secretary whether consideration has been given to the use of underground garages as a protection for the population against aerial attack; and whether these are likely to be an adequate defence against thermite bombs or poison gas?

The whole question of air raid shelters affording protection against gas and against splinters from high explosive bombs is under examination, and the possibility of making use of underground garages and rendering them proof against splinters from high explosive bombs and against incendiary bombs and poison gas is being considered. My Department would be glad to advise the architects of any proposed underground garages and to recommend the extent to which such garages should be used as shelters, having regard to the various considerations of safety involved.

asked the Home Secretary whether and, if so, when legislation will be introduced to give effect to the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on the statutory definition and classification of firearms arid ammunition?

Effect was given to the great majority of those recommendations of the Committee which needed legislation by the Firearms (Amendment) Act, 1936, which received Royal Assent on 31st July, 1936, and which will come into operation on 1st May next. The Firearms Bill which was read a third time and passed on the 15th February is a consolidating Measure embodying the Act of 1936 and previous Acts. This Bill is also expressed to come into operation on the 1st May, 1937.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether John Henry Smith, private in the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, who died in Halifax Hospital on 16th December, 1936, from cerebro-spinal meningitis, had been vaccinated at any time; and, if so, when?

The late soldier was vaccinated on 4th September, 1936.

asked the Minister of Labour in how many cases in Birmingham have recipients of unemployment assistance received an increased allowance as compared to the amount they received under the standstill agreement; and in how many cases have there been decreases in the payments made to them?

When all cases had been reviewed under the new Regulations in December last about 2,800 persons in the Unemployment Assistance Board's two Birmingham areas were in receipt of more than they would have received under the standstill arrangements. In the week ended 29th January, which is the latest date for which information is available, one person was in receipt of less than he would have received under the standstill arrangements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what part of the sum of £243,450, lent or promised on loan by the Special Areas Reconstruction Association, Limited, has been or will be provided out of the subscribed capital of the company; and whether the present paid-up share capital, amounting to £145,000, is to be increased for this purpose by making calls on the 900,000 preference shares of £1 each, 1s. paid?

The whole of the authorised capital of £1,000,000 has been subscribed and will therefore be available to provide the loans already granted or which will be granted in the future. The uncalled capital will be called up as and when the business of the company makes it necessary.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will set up an inquiry into the dissemination of news and information by the British Broadcasting Corporation, in view of the reiterated complaints of political bias and propaganda?

As my right hon. Friend indicated in reply to a supplementary question on the 25th January, he is not prepared to recommend the holding of a further inquiry, seeing that the Ullswater Committee held an inquiry lasting for some months in the course of which this matter was thoroughly investigated and that the Government and the House have come to a decision on the committee's report.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the criticism now being directed against the bias alleged to be shown in political references by the British Broadcasting Corporation, he will arrange to have verbatim statements of all political news summaries and school broadcasts placed in the Library of the House of Commons for each day and night?

My right hon. Friend has already suggested to the British Broadcasting Corporation that copies of "The Listener," which contains the principal broadcast talks of the week, should be supplied for use in the Newspaper Room, and this is being arranged. It does not, however, seem reasonable to call on the British Broadcasting Corporation to furnish daily verbatim extracts from news summaries and school broadcasts, but I have no doubt that the Corporation would be glad to give hon. Members access, on request, to any individual items in which they may be interested.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, under the Anglo-Spanish Clearing Agreement, it is at present impossible for British creditors to receive either sterling or pesetas in discharge of debts subject to the agreement; and whether some more satisfactory arrangement can be made?

The position in regard to outstanding debts due from Spain to creditors in the United Kingdom was fully stated on 17th December last in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Sheffield Central. As my right hon. Friend, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, informed the House on 2nd February, this is a matter on which discussions with the Spanish Government are actively proceeding. I am not in a position, however, to make a statement.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the committee which has been investigating the problem of promotion to warrant rank has finished its work; and whether a detailed report on the result of their investigations will be published?

With regard to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty on the 27th January to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Parker), to which I am afraid I am unable to add anything at present. With regard to the second part, I would explain that reports of such committees appointed by the Admiralty are treated as confidential and are not therefore for publication. I hope, however, to be able in due course to give the House full information on the course of action proposed by the Board of Admiralty as a result of the committee's recommendations.