asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the inconvenience and loss caused to the owners of certain premises situated at the junction of City Road and Old Street, in the City of London, owing to the erection of traffic-control lights at that crossing; and whether, in view of the fact that property in City Road at that junction has become unlettable owing to the removal of loading facilities caused by the lights, he will take steps to consider either whether the lights can be situated elsewhere or whether compensation can be paid for the loss to property owners which has resulted?

The traffic light signals were erected four years ago at this junction, which was previously controlled by police. The removal of the light signals would not obviate in any way the necessity of control at a junction so congested by traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take steps to secure more consideration for the convenience and safety of the large number of pedestrians crossing Ludgate Circus, E.C., where insufficient exposure of the amber light and the dribbling of traffic to the left seriously restricts the time for crossing?

I will certainly request that the operation of this installation shall be reviewed as soon as experience has been gained of the effect of the signals now being erected at the northern approach to Blackfriars Bridge.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the total sum paid from Treasury funds for road purposes from 1st January, 1919, to 31st December, 1936; and how much of that total sum was paid for road purposes in Scotland?

From the 1st April, 1927, to the 31st March, 1936, the payment from the Road Fund for highway purposes amounted to £154,421,733, of which £22,117,138 related to Scottish highways. In addition £37,378,691 was paid from the fund from 1st April, 1930, to 31st March, 1936, towards the General Exchequer Contributions under the provisions of the Local Government Acts, 1929, the Scottish share of which was £3,978,671. The net collections of motor licence duties from the 1st April, 1927, to the 31st March, 1936, amounted to £252,891,209, of which Scotland contributed £20,936,004. Separate records of payments to Scottish authorities were not kept prior to 1927.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider the probable effect upon the number of motor accidents of amending the law relating to compulsory third-party insurance, with a view to placing upon car owners a proportion of the financial responsibility for accidents in which they are the guilty parties by limiting their ability to insure beyond 75 per cent.?

Even if it were demonstrable that the limitation of insurance cover would make the driver more careful, the effect of the proposal would be that in many cases an injured third party would be able to recover only 75 per cent. of the compensation awarded to him.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the concern among holders of "A" and "B" road haulage licences as to the constitution of the Transport Advisory Council; and whether he proposes to give them representation thereon?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 24th February to the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean (Mr. Price), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the number of young people transferred from each of the Special Areas who are living in lodgings approved by the Ministry; and the number between the ages of 14 and 16 years and the number between 16 and 18 years?

It is not possible, without a disproportionate amount of labour, to give the figures exactly in the form desired, but the following tables show the numbers of boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 16 years and between 16 and 18 years transferred from all Special Areas in 1936, and the numbers between the ages of 14 and 18 years from the four main areas. The accommodation is in lodgings or in residential employment or in hostels, and in all cases it is approved by my Department or by the local education authority concerned. The figures do not include girls transferred to private domestic service.

	Numbers transferred.
	14–16 years.		16–18 years.
	Boys.	Girls.	Boys.	Girls.
All Special Areas	3,090	1,318	2,956	1,273

Special Areas in	Numbers transferred.
	14–18 years.
	Boys.	Girls.
Wales	3,293	1,191
North East	2,095	1,194
Cumberland	314	129
Scotland	344	77

asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements has the Unemployment Assistance Board made so that able-bodied unemployed taken over as on the 1st April shall not have any delay in receiving pay on their usual pay day?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of Circular B.L.A. 1/37 issued by the Board to local authorities concerning the arrangements in connection with the Second Appointed Day.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements financially is he making so that public assistance cases transferring to the Unemployment Assistance Board as from 1st April shall be paid up to 31st March, 1937?

Local authorities have been informed of the arrangements made by the Unemployment Assistance Board in connection with the Second Appointed Day, and I have no reason to suppose that persons affected by the change will experience any difficulty in obtaining the appropriate payment of relief in respect of the full period up to the date on which the Board assumes responsibility for them.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now state the names of the members of the committee of inquiry to consider the question of holidays with pay; the terms of reference of the committee; the approximate date of the first meeting; and whether representations will be publicly received from all relevant sources?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the replies given to the hon. Member for Attercliffe (Mr. C. Wilson) and to the hon. Member for Hallam (Mr. L. Smith) on 4th and 5th March, respectively, of which I am sending him copies. The committee will doubtless receive evidence from all interested organisations.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any action has been taken to give effect to the recommendation of the governing body of the International Labour Office that a conference of experts should be called on the subject of migration with a view to settlement?

I am awaiting a communication from the International Labour Office on this subject.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has considered the resolution from the Sheffield disabled men's branch of the British Legion, re- questing that, as the Government are to spend so large a sum in preparation for war, some portion of the loan to be raised should be used to increase pensions for the men who fought in the last war, many of whom are still suffering great poverty; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

The resolution referred to has reached my Department today. I may point out, however, that the disposal of any loan raised for rearmament purposes is clearly not a matter within my province.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he can state the number of applications from the widows of disabled ex-service men for widows' pensions during 1936; the number of widows' pensions granted; and the number refused?

The number of applications from widows of disabled ex-service men for widow's pension which were dealt with by the Ministry during the year ended 31st December, 1936, was about 2,000. In 646 cases death was found to be connected in some degree with the man's war service and pension was awarded to the widow.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the probable heavy increase of motor traffic during the period of the Coronation festivities, he will, by circular or otherwise, draw the attention of the magistrates to the great increase of road accidents at festive seasons, when, as last Christmas, added drinking facilities are permitted, and recommend the closest scrutiny of the claims for lengthened hours of drinking during the Coronation celebrations, especially at times when larger crowds at a later hour of the day make caution on the roads specially necessary?

I feel sure that magistrates will not fail to take into account all relevant points when considering applications for such extensions during the Coronation festivities. The limited extensions which have been granted on similar occasions in the past are not, I am informed, shown to be the cause of increased accidents.

asked the Home Secretary how many prisoners in this country are not serving their full sentences in prison but have been released for reasons of health?

I presume my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind cases where a prisoner during the currency of his sentence has been removed to an outside hospital for treatment or operation. There are at present three such cases.

asked the Home Secretary how many children were born in His Majesty's prisons; and how many, if any, expectant mothers were released for the children to be born outside, for the 12 months ended December, 1936?

During 1936, the numbers were 16 and 10 respectively.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention h is been called to the disorder that broke out in Green Street and Blythe Street, Bethnal Green, in the early hours of Friday morning, 5th March, when damage to property was done and may have led to serious bodily injury to persons residing on the premises; can he say who was responsible for the outbreak of such disorders; and what action he has taken or is taking to see that occurrences of this kind should stop?

The Commissioner of Police informs me that plate-glass windows at II shops in Green Street, Bethnal Green, and two shops in Bethnal Green Road, were broken in the early hours of Friday morning, the 5th March, after the declaration of the result of the poll for the London County Council election at Bethnal Green Town Hall. In one instance the police witnessed the occurrence and arrested the offender. The other persons responsible for causing the damage have not yet been traced. The Commissioner has no information with regard to any disturbance in Blythe Street on the night in question. He states that he has, for the past five months, made special provision to protect property in the neighbourhood from sporadic occurrences of this sort, and that he will continue to do so.

asked the Home Secretary what steps, if any, His Majesty's Government intends taking to see that the gas masks for sale in this country conform to the Home Office specifications?

A procedure has been arranged under which private manufacturers may be licensed to affix a Home Office Certification Mark to respirators of their own or Government design, which comply with a Government performance specification. Under this procedure manufacturers are required to submit specimens for examination and a test of performance. If the article is satisfactory a licence is granted to affix the Home Office Certification Mark. This licence remains in force for six months and thereafter until brought to an end by the Government. The process of manufacture, the components of respirators and completed respirators are subject to Government inspection.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what provision is contemplated for the protection of the Members of this House in the event of an air raid whilst the House is sitting?

(for the First Commissioner of Works): I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 8th March to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Kelly).

asked the Minister of Health what is the average cash value of the additional benefits provided by approved societies under the National Insurance Acts; and what is the highest and the lowest additional benefit so provided by approved societies?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to increases in the statutory rates of sickness, disablement and maternity benefits. The average increase, covering some 70 per cent. of the insured population, is about three units, that is 3s. a week in respect of sickness benefit, 1s. 6d. in respect of disablement benefit, and 6s. in respect of maternity benefit. Some approved societies have made no increase, while some of the most prosperous have made an increase of five units and also devoted funds to various treatment benefits.

asked the Minister of Health what has been the annual saving to the employers that are rated under the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925; and what is the annual loss to the rating authorities that are affected by the 1925 Act?

If, as I assume, the hon. Member is referring to relief by way of derating, I regret that the information in the form desired is not available. The amount of losses on account of rates is £22,292,203, for which due provision is made in the block grant.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in connection with the schemes for increasing food production from the point of view of defence, he will give an assurance that preference will be given to increasing the production in this country of such items as dairy products, meat, vegetables, fruit, and other goods which are difficult to store?

I have taken note of my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the percentage of employment amongst the agricultural labourers in Wales; and whether, before approving the establishment of an additional beet-sugar factory in Wales, he will consider whether employment can be given in that area at less cost to the taxpayer by the alternative establishment of a factory for canning fruit, vegetables, or meat?

Statistics of employment amongst agricultural labourers in Wales are not available for a recent date. It is provisionally estimated that in July, 1936, there were approximately 25,000 workers aged 16 to 64 in Wales and Monmouth insured under the agricultural scheme of Unemployment Insurance. On the 22nd February, 1937, the number of insured workers of these ages recorded as unemployed was 1,682. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on the 23rd February to my hon. Friends the Members for Hallam (Mr. L. Smith) and King's Lynn (Mr. Maxwell), of which I am sending him a copy, and I can assure him that all relevant consideration will be taken into account before any decision is reached with regard to the suggestion that a beet-sugar factory should be established in South Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is prepared to make regulations for the adjustment of grants to large burghs similar to those made in 1934 to cover small burghs, if and so far as any such adjustment is required, under Section 70 (1) (b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929, to cover burghs created now under the same enacting provisions of the Burgh Police (Scotland) Act, 1892, but with a population within the police boundaries

		Quantity.			Value.
		1934.	1935.	1936.	1934.	1935.	1936.
		(In Thousand Tons.)			(In Thousand Dollars.)
Total	…	11,585	10,785	11,717	35,065	33,331	34,955
Of which from
United Kingdom	…	1,769	1,627	1,339	8,470	7,620	6,837
United States	…	9,736	8,894	10,004	26,317	24,704	26,515
Belgium	…	16	50	See footnote.	66	250	Not yet available.
French East Indies	…	—	32		—	70
Germany	…	64	182		212	686

NOTE.—The above figures represent coal cleared from Customs in these years. For the year 1936 particulars for countries other than the United Kingdom and the United States are not yet available but the quantities

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that import tax is being claimed on waste oil recovered by harbour separating

Provision is made by the existing regulations under Section 70 (1) (b) of the Act of 1929 for block grant adjustments required in consequence of any alterations of authorities and boundaries which can be effected under the present law. The creation at this date of a new "large burgh" within the meaning of the Act of 1929 could not be effected except by legislation. The need for regulations as to grant adjustments in such a case does not therefore at present arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the total quantity and value of coal imported into Canada during each of the last three years, giving separate figures for each of the exporting countries?

Following is a statement showing the quantity and value of coal imported into Canada during the years 1934, 1935 and 1936, distinguishing the principal countries whence consigned.barges, whether he will inform the House what total revenue has been obtained to date and what revenue will be obtained on stocks of such recovered oil now held by owners for future use?

I am not quite sure what my hon. Friend has in mind, but if he will write to me and give fuller particulars, I will have inquiry made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to state who will lead the United Kingdom delegation at the forthcoming conference at Montreux on the Egyptian capitulations?

My right hon. Friend is happy to be able to announce that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of the Department of Overseas Trade has consented to lead the United Kingdom Delegation at the Conference.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the Treasury agreement of March, 1934, men only are being asked to apply for transfer from other Government Departments to posts in the higher clerical officer grade of the Air Ministry; and for what reason such transfers have not also been offered to women?

In the present instance it was not considered that the introduction of further women Higher Clerical Officers was desirable, having regard to the claims of the women already serving in the Department.

asked the Postmaster-General what are now the hours of work for night operators in the telephone department in London and the provinces, respectively?

The hours of duty of full-time night telephonists in London and the Provinces are 45 weekly; those of part-time night telephonists vary according to the requirements at the particular exchange. The period of duty normally falls between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that the general officer commanding-inchief, Western Command, India, on 3rd November, 1933, laid an information against Major H. R. Sandford, R.E., to the superintendent of police, QuettaPishin, Quetta, alleging an offence against the Indian penal code; and whether he will ask for a report on the matter.(2) whether he is aware that, as the result of certain information laid against Major Sandford, R.E., by the general officer commanding-in-chief, Western Command, India, on 3rd November, 1933, Major Sandford and one Captain A. N. Youett were arrested by the civil police and charged, the former under Sections 420 and 471 of the Indian Police Civil Code and the latter under Sections 430, 109, and 468; will he state whether Major Sandford was brought before a magistrate in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Act, India, 1898; and, if not, will he state why the provisions of this Act were not complied with and how the charge against Captain Youett was disposed of, and by whom?

I am aware that a case was originally filed against Major Sandford in the Magistrate's Court at Quetta. The War Office has been in possession of an official report on the matter referred to since September, 1934. This report shows that the Magistrate referred the case of Major Sandford to the Military authorities who claimed him for trial by Court-Martial. I am not aware that any provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure (India), 1898, was not complied with. The charge preferred against Captain Youett in the Civil Court was withdrawn by the police for reasons which were explained to my hon. and gallant Friend in a letter addressed to him by my predecessor on the 1st of February, 1935. I see no reason for asking for any further report.