asked the Home Secretary what has been the additional cost upon local authorities of mobile police in England and Wales since 1931, giving each year separately to date; and what grant has been allowed from the Road Fund for each year?

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the question is not available. As regards the second, following is a statement giving the amounts paid from the Road Fund year by year from 1931 to 1936 on account of police vehicles used on motor patrol. The hon. Member will, of course, appreciate that these payments are made only in respect of the cost of the vehicles used on motor patrol, and not the cost of personnel.

Motor Patrol Vehicles.
Payments of Grant from Road Fund.
	£
1931	63,298
1932	98,590
1933	89,62o
1934	134,016
1935	133,183
1936	176,377

asked the Home Secretary whether the police give any kind of receipt to an arrested person for such property as is taken from him or her; and, if not, will he issue regulations that this shall be done in future, so that there may be no dispute as to whether everything has been returned to the owner when the charge has been disposed of?

The general practice is that property taken from prisoners at police stations is listed on the charge sheet in their presence and in the presence of the various officers concerned with the case, who have to account for it later. I do not think any further safeguard would be secured if a formal receipt were to be given to the prisoner.

asked the Home Secretary what percentage grant is paid by the Home Office to county councils on buildings for police cottages, police stations, police courts, county courts, and magistrates' clerks' offices; and what grant is paid for maintenance, if any, on all buildings other than the aforementioned which are required for police administration?

The Exchequer grant paid by the Home Office in aid of the cost of police includes one-half of the net expenditure in providing and maintaining all buildings required for police administration, including police stations and cottages. No grant is paid in respect of county or police courts or magistrates' clerks' offices.

asked the Home Secretary what steps the Government propose to take with regard to the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on the hours of employment of young persons in unregulated occupations?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I have given to-day to questions on the same subject asked by the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Mr. Walkden) and Leeds Central (Mr. Denman).

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the present position with regard to the fixing of minimum prices for potatoes in the West Midland area; whether he is aware that the prices fixed by the Potato Marketing Board are not being obtained or adhered to even by authorised potato merchants, and that there are large numbers of unauthorised merchants also selling potatoes below the rates fixed; and whether, in the interests of poor consumers, he will consider the abandonment of the scheme, as has been done in other parts of the country?

I am informed by the Potato Marketing Board that, under the Market Plans scheme sponsored by them, the authorised merchants in the West Midland area have set up a committee for the purpose of recommending, from time to time, minimum prices, wholesaler to retailer, for potatoes sold by the authorised merchants in the area. The board are not aware that unautho- rised merchants are selling potatoes at less than the minimum prices, As to the last part of the question, the operation of these plans is a matter for the board and the merchants concerned.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the total quantity and value of coal exported during the last six months from the Humber ports, respectively; and the comparative figures for 1934 and 1930?

The information is as follows:

Quantity and Value of Coal exported from the Humber Ports during the six months ended February, 1937, 1935 and 1931.
Port.	Quantity.	Value.	Average Declared Value per ton (f.o.b.).
	Tons.	£	s.	d.
September, 1936, to February, 1937.
Goole	356,658	308,159	17	3
Grimsby	37,774	31,778	16	10
Immingham	749,458	630,223	16	10
Hull	307,454	317,781	17	4
Total	1,511,344	1,287,941	17	1
September, 1934, to February, 1935.
Goole	347,672	256,006	14	9
Grimsby	53,191	37,893	14	3
Immingham	810,162	593,736	14	8
Hull	415,689	326,518	15	9
Total	1,626,714	1,214,153	14	11
September, 1930, to February, 1931.*
Goole	750,728	507,321	13	6
Grimsby	123,049	87,162	14	2
Immingham	1,133,552	757,656	13	4
Hull	1,002,408	709,436	14	2
Total	3,009,737	2,061,575	13	8
* It should be noted that the figures for September to December, 1930, were affected by the Central Collieries Commercial Association's Voluntary Scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether there is any margin for the expansion of the home production of food on the basis of the present yield of agricultural land?

On the basis of existing yields per acre of individual crops, the total production of food could be increased by the ploughing up of grassland for the production of arable crops.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Belgian Government has made any official or semi-official proposals for a modification of Article i6 of the Covenant of the League of Nations?

The Belgian Government communicated its views on the application of the principles of the Covenant in a letter to the Secretary-General of the League dated 10th November last. Copies of the League publication containing this document are in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the interpretation placed by the British Government upon the words une action commune in the French text of Article 16 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, observing that the English text contains no precise equivalent of these words, while the Belgian Government takes the French text as authoritative, and that a conflict of opinion may therefore arise?

I do not think that there is any inconsistency between the English and French texts of the passage in question, and both texts are in any case equally authentic.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will take advantage of the visit of Judge Michael Hansson, President of the Nansen Office for Refugees, to this country to discuss with him the future policy of His Majesty's Government on the question of the refugees who come under the Nansen office?

Arrangements have already been made for a conversation to take place with Judge Hansson during his visit.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present position with regard to the regulation of the fisheries off the Norwegian coast?

His Majesty's Government communicated recently to the Norwegian Government the terms of a draft convention providing for a comprehensive settlement of the whole question, and are now awaiting the views of that Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Powers mainly interested in trade with China regard spheres of influence as still existing; and whether, in that case, he can state what these spheres are?

No, Sir. Spheres of influence are expressly excluded by the Nine Power Treaty.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any assurances from the Egyptian Government that there will be no unfair discrimination in the imposition of new taxes on British and foreign subjects living in Egypt under the new régime?

Yes, Sir. Such assurances are given in paragraph 6 of the Annex to Article 13 of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of Alliance signed on 26th August last.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of agricultural workers in each of the six North Wales counties who have registered under the Agricultural Workers Insurance Act?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the number of persons registered under the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance (Agriculture) Act, 1936, in each of the following counties: Carmarthen, Cardigan, Pembroke, Brecon, Radnor, and Glamorgan; and what was the number of such persons unemployed in each county, respectively, on the last available date?

Estimates of the total numbers insured under the agricultural scheme, compiled on the normal basis, will not be available until after the general exchange of unemployment books which will begin in July next. The only figures so far available for each county are those showing the numbers of agricultural unemployment books issued up to the end of August, 1936, and these figures exclude private gardeners, who were brought into insurance as from 1st February, 1937.The approximate figures for the counties referred to are as follow:

Anglesey	1,650
Caernarvonshire	2,150
Denbighshire	2,850
Flintshire	950
Merionethshire	1,200
Montgomeryshire	2,250
Carmarthenshire	2,350
Cardiganshire	2,750
Pembrokeshire	2,450
Brecknockshire	1,500
Radnorshire	850
Glamorganshire	3,250

The number of persons insured under the agricultural scheme (excluding private gardeners) recorded as unemployed at 22nd February, 1937, at Employment Exchanges in the six counties of South Wales were:

Numbers and percentages of insured persons, aged 16–64, in the undermentioned industries recorded as unemployed in Great Britain at 25th January and 22nd February, 1037.
Industry.	25th January, 1937.		22nd February, 1937.
	Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.
Construction and repair of motor vehicles, cycles and aircraft.	16,319	5·2	13,960	4·5
Manufacture and repair of boots, shoes, slippers and clogs.	17,146	12·8	14,191	10·6
Hosiery	10,976	9·3	10,640	9·0
Silk manufacture and artificial silk weaving	5,256	10·6	4,838	9·7
Artificial silk yarn manufacture	3,052	10·1	2,971	9·8
General engineering, etc.	36,085	6·5	33,959	6·1
Printing, publishing and bookbinding	20,996	7·6	19,994	7·2

Separate figures are not available for the manufacture, as distinguished from the repair, of boots, shoes, etc.; for artificial silk weaving; or for light engineering and machine tools.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give the figures of disabled ex-service men registered for employment at the Walworth Road (Borough) Employment Exchange who were placed in full-time employment for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The total number of placings of disabled ex-service men by the Borough Employment Exchange during the year ended 4th January, 1937, was 22. The statistics do not distinguish full-time from other employment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the average monthly number and percentage of insured persons, respectively, scheduled as unemployed in January and February, 1937, in the following groups of industries: construction and repair of motor vehicles, making of boots and shoes, hosiery, artificial silk, light engineering and machine tools, and printing, respectively?

The following table gives the information desired, so far as it is available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the managers of branch employment offices are paid in proportion to the number of unemployed men registered at those offices, and therefore receive less salary the more men they find employment for; and whether he will take steps to remedy this anomaly?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Putney (Mr. M. Samuel) on 18th February.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he will consider arranging periodic annual visits by British diplomatic and commercial representatives in China to the chief hinterland cities with the object of stimulating and encouraging British trade?

Every effort is made to allow of such visits being paid by diplomatic and commercial diplomatic officers, but the number and scope of their visits must be limited by the exigencies of the Service as a whole. During the years 1935 and 1936 visits to various places in China were made by these officers, and they will be continued so far as possible in the future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the number of gallons of crude oil, motor spirit, and lubricating oil imported into this country during 1934, 1935, and 1936, and the amount produced at home?

The following statement gives the required information, so far as it is available:

Imported.
—	1934.	1935.	1936.
	(Million gallons).
Crude Petroleum	476·0	488·5	511·9
Motor Spirit	1,125·9	1,231·0	1,273·2
Lubricating Oil	103·4	103·4	118·2

(The figures for 1936 are provisional.)

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider making some provision for the case of an importer of fruit, on which duty has been paid, when the fruit on arrival at the warehouse is found to be unsound and is consequently condemned; and will he enable the importer to obtain a refund of the duty paid thereon when such goods are of no value whatever?

I regret that I am unable to accept my hon. Friend's suggestion. I understand that it is already the practice of the Customs to repay duty paid on perishables which are found to be unsound before delivery out of Customs charge, provided they are destroyed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the serious coast erosion at North Blyth; and what steps he proposes to take to remove the danger to the port of Blyth?

I am informed that the erosion to which the hon. Member refers, which appears to be due to natural causes, takes place on private property. The question whether any action is necessary to protect the port is one for the Blyth Harbour Commissioners, and any proposals put forward by them which fall within the purview of the Board of Trade will receive sympathetic consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is within his knowledge that it is practically impossible for the owner-occupier of a dwelling-house to insure his property against the risk of destruction by the enemy in war; and whether, in view of the large number of persons who have invested their life savings on purchasing their houses, he will consider the advisability of instituting a scheme of state insurance to cover these risks?

I cannot at present add to the answers given on the 3rd February and 2nd March to the hon. Member for Attercliffe (Mr. C. Wilson).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the extent of the food storage capacity in this country in addition to the normal storage that is required for day-to-day use, either in food months or in tonnage; and whether this surplus storage capacity, as well as the day-to-day requirements, is fully protected against contamination from either local sabotage or enemy aircraft attacks of poison gas?

With regard to the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which was given yesterday to the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton). As regards the second part, all aspects of the question of safeguarding food supplies in this country during an emergency are receiving attention.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how long it would take to secure an increased yield of home-produced beef, mutton, wheat, potatoes, bacon, sugar, and milk, respectively, in the event of a national emergency?

The time required to increase the home output of wheat, potatoes and sugar would depend largely upon the time of year when the emergency arose. Increased output of beef, mutton and bacon would require approximately three, two and one years respectively to bring into effect. Some increase in milk production could be achieved in rather less than a year, by continuing the use of cows which would normally be drafted out of the dairy herd.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the difficulties at present being experienced by our farmers and the fact that the workers are to-day leaving the soil, he intends to increase the home production of food; and, if so, by what means?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Central Southwark (Mr. Day) on 11th March last.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether, following the protest by Lord Weir, the composition of the committee to inquire in to the future of the Fleet Air Arm has been changed; and what will be the composition of the committee which will inquire into the question?

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether he can state the composition of the committee to inquire into the position of the Fleet Air Arm; whether Lord Weir is a member of it; and what are its terms of reference?

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement which I made on the 11th March, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether promotions effected in his Department are in accordance with the agreement reached with the Departmental Whitley Council of his Department; why the recent promotion of a staff clerk to head of section, whilst still serving his probationary period as a staff clerk, was made; and, further, whether pledges given to ex-service men were considered when making this promotion?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. There is no probationary period of service for staff clerks and the staff clerk in question was promoted to be head of section because he was regarded as the officer best qualified for the particular vacancy in that grade. There was nothing inconsistent in this promotion with any pledges given to ex-service men.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any and what overtime was worked in 1936, by hours, in the London telephone service by the following sections, respectively: higher clerical, executive and clerical officers, and writing and typewriting assistants, distinguishing each main branch?

During 1936 the amount of overtime performed by the clerical and typing staffs in the London telephone service was 128,800 hours, of which 700 hours were performed by higher clerical officers, 71,900 hours by clerical officers, 47,400 hours by clerical assistants and 8,800 hours by the typing staff. These figures represent an average of about 15 or 20 minutes of overtime a day for each officer. The higher clerical overtime was all performed in the sales branch, in which branch 12,000 hours and 1,000 hours were performed by clerical officers and clerical assistants, respectively. The bulk of the overtime was, however, in the accounts branch, where 56,000 and 45,800 hours were performed by clerical officers and clerical assistants, respectively. The amount of overtime performed by clerks in the traffic and staff branches was 2,000 and 1,900 hours respectively; and 600 hours of overtime were performed by clerical assistants in the traffic branch.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give an approximate estimate of the total sum expended annually on betting in the United Kingdom; and whether, in view of the increasing burden of taxation upon productive industry and the earnings of the people, he will prepare a plan for the effective imposition of a tax upon this indulgence?

As regards the first part of the question, I regret that I have no information which would enable me to furnish an estimate of the total sum expended annually on betting. The suggestion made in the second part has been noted.

asked the Secretary of State for War what land has been acquired by his Department in the past 12 months under the provisions of Sections 19 and 23 of the Defence Act, 1842; and whether, in the case of agricultural land, the Ministry of Agriculture has been consulted before his Department has exercised its powers of compulsory acquisition?

One hundred and sixty-five acres of land have been compulsorily acquired during the last 12 months, and "notices to treat" have been served in respect of a further 420 acres. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War how much of the money allocated by the Treasury to the Imperial War Graves Commission is expended upon the salaries of the respective employés in that Department?

The funds of the Imperial War Graves Commission are provided partly by Treasury grant and partly by grants from the Dominions and Colonies. If the total expenditure of the commission on salaries, wages and allowances is allocated in the same proportion, the figure corresponding to the Treasury grant is approximately £163,000.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the complements, scales of pay, and other conditions of service of the clerical staff employed in the Imperial War Graves Commission?

The clerical staff employed by the Imperial War Graves Commission in London and in their branch offices in other countries numbers 32. Their scales of pay and conditions of service are modelled generally on those applicable to the Home Civil Service.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the numbers of British subjects now serving in the Bolivian Navy?

Bolivia possesses no sea coast, and I have no information that she maintains a Navy.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he can give the House any information in connection with the contract for the supply and erection of steelwork for 38 hangars and 41 tenders; how many firms quoted for the work; what was the difference between the lowest and highest tender; how many of the quotations were identical; and what was the observation of the Comptroller and Auditor-General about the matter?

The hon. Member will find all the available information on this subject in the report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General prefixed to the Air Services Appropriation Account, 1935, which was recently presented to the House. As the hon. Member is doubtless aware the Appropriation Account will in due course be examined by the Public Accounts Committee.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will state the names and qualifications of the Hardman Lever Committee on Royal Air Force contracts?

Following is the information required:The Committee consists ofSir Hardman Lever, Bt., K.C.B.Mr. P. Ashley Cooper, andMr. H. O. Judd, C.B.E.Sir Hardman Lever was at one time Financial Secretary to the Treasury, having previously served in the Ministry of Munitions, where he was concerned inter alia with costing work upon contracts. Mr. Ashley Cooper is a director of the Bank of England and Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company; he was a member of the May Economy Committee in 1931. Mr. Judd is an expert on cost accounting and held important Government posts concerned with contract finance during the late War.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the Air Ministry is prepared to represent to the Portsmouth City Council that, inasmuch as the British, taxpayers' money will be devoted to the scheme for establishing the Langstone Harbour air base, invitations to tender for all work involved should be restricted to such British firms as are in fact under British control, having regard to the desirability of the proposed Government grant being wholly expended in and for the benefit of this country?

The agreement between the Air Ministry and the Portsmouth City Council in regard to the finance of this scheme will provide for a joint review of tenders so as to ensure the maximum utilisation of British resources required by the standard conditions appropriate to Government and municipal contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that Nigeria is no longer bound by the provision for commercial equality in the Anglo-French Convention of 1898, it is now proposed to introduce Imperial preference in Nigeria?

No substantial tariff changes are contemplated in the Nigerian Estimates for the coming financial year. Nor is it proposed to make any change in the system of textile quotas which was recently introduced. Having regard to the importance on general grounds of avoiding fresh interference in the flow of international trade, His Majesty's Government do not think it desirable that a system of Imperial preference should be introduced into Nigeria at the present time.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the recommendation of the stopping places advisory committee that the old town hall at Reigate should be demolished in order to increase traffic facilities; and whether, in view of the resentment that is felt by many persons at this proposed destruction of a building of historical interest and architectural value, he will make a statement on the subject?

Any decision would lie with the town council.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the present refusal of the omnibus companies in Scotland to grant a living wage to the workers, whether he will consider the immediate introduction of legislation making it a condition of the granting and retention of a licence to operate an omnibus service that the fair-wages clause of this House shall operate with regard to the remuneration of workers?

I would refer the hon. Member to the provisions of Section 93 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the Traffic Commissioners in Scotland have taken any action in connection with the motor-omnibus strike which is causing great dislocation of trade in Scotland?

The powers and duties of the Traffic Commissioners are laid down by Parliament.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the action taken in connection with distressed areas, whether he will now consider re-opening the question of constructing the Severn Bridge; and will he receive a deputation upon the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 22nd February to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Hopkin), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can make a grant to the Glamorgan County Council or local authorities in Glamorgan, towards making a road to each of the elementary and secondary schools in the county where there is no properly constructed road leading to such schools?

Any application by the council for a grant will be considered on its merits.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he is aware that the statistical position of sugar has so much improved during the past few years that requirements in the coming year are likely to be actually in excess of production, thus bringing about a further reduction in the visible supplies which have already been reduced to manageable limits; and whether, in these circumstances, he will suggest a postponement of the International Sugar Conference?

I am aware of the fact that the statisical position of sugar has improved, but capacity for production still substantially exceeds current consumption. I do not consider that the improvement referred to affords any reason for postponing the proposed International Sugar Conference.

asked the Minister of Agriculture Whether he will consider making immediate representations to the governors of Queen Anne's Bounty that they should defer seizure of livestock for arrears of tithe, in view of the fact that the Act making tithe a personal liability comes into force on 1st April?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave on 18th February last to a similar question put to me by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Ashford (Mr. Spens), a copy of which I am sending to him.