asked the Minister of Labour, whether in view of the long-continued unfilled demand of the catering trades for British-born waiters, he will devise fresh plans for replacing foreign waiters by recruiting unemployed youths from the special areas and by selecting and training from the general registers of unemployed persons suitable adults who are physically unsuited for heavier employment?

There is a waiters' class at the Park Royal Government Training Centre which is open to young men from the Special Areas and which is adequate for the number of such persons from those areas at present willing to undertake this form of training. Every effort is made to obtain suitable persons for this form of training, and if a larger number could be obtained provision of additional facilities would be put in hand.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the total number of persons transferred by the Ministry of Labour from South Wales and Monmouthshire during 1937; the number between the ages of 14 and 16; the number between the ages of 16 and 21; and the number receiving financial assistance?

Figures are not available showing, separately, transfers of persons in the age groups 14 to 16 and 16 to 21, but the following table shows the number of boys and girls aged 14 to 18 and the number of men and women over 18 transferred by the Department from South Wales and Monmouthshire during January and February, 1937.

Month.	Men.	Women.	Boys.	Girls.	Total.
January	603	128	310	189	1,230
February	475	149	193	137	954
	1,078	277	503	326	2,184

Persons transferred under the Department's Transference Scheme in general receive financial assistance, for example,

		Castleford.			Normanton.			Pontefract.
Age group.		Men.	Women.	Total.	Men.	Women.	Total.	Men.	Women.	Total.
18–20 years	…	36	24	60	7	16	23	33	25	58
21–24 years	…	178	37	215	53	12	65	144	28	172
25–34 years	…	579	54	633	152	17	169	380	16	396
35–44 years	…	564	12	576	167	—	167	412	4	416
45–54 years	…	740	8	748	173	—	173	411	4	415
55–59 years	…	434	2	436	114	2	116	272	1	273
60–64 years	…	348	—	348	93	—	93	192	1	193
65 years and over	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	1
Total, aged 18 and over.		2,879	137	3,016	759	47	806	1,845	79	1,924

Corresponding statistics for juveniles under 18 years of age are not available in respect of 2nd November, but at 26th October the numbers wholly unemployed,

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of young persons below the age of 21 years who have been transferred for work in other areas during the year 1936 from Liverpool, Bootle, St. Helens, Birkenhead, and Wallasey, respectively?

I am having this information extracted, so far as it is available, and will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can make a statement on the age distribution of the wholly unemployed registered at Castleford, Normanton, and Pontefract, respectively, at the latest convenient date?

The following table shows the numbers of wholly unemployed men and women in each age-group for which particulars were obtained, registered at the Castleford, Normanton and Pontefract Employment Exchanges, respectively, at 2nd November, 1936, the latest date for which these figures are available:registered at the above Exchanges, in each age-group for which particulars were obtained, were as follow:

asked the Minister of Labour whether in the case of domestic service, his Department has definite standards regarding wages, hours, holidays, living accommodation, etc.; and, if so, can he state what these are?

Before notifying a vacancy to an applicant for domestic employment, my officers inquire about the matters referred to in the hon. Member's question, and satisfy themselves that the conditions are not below those current in the district. Conditions naturally differ according to the locality, the nature of the post, the experience required and other circumstances, and it is therefore impracticable to lay down any rigid standards.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress is being made in the prevention of the entry into Spain of foreign nationals intending to engage in the civil war in progress there, and in the recall by the several Governments concerned of their nationals at present engaged in that conflict?

If my hon. Friend is referring, in the first part of his question, to progress made in connection with the operation of the scheme of observation, I would refer him to the reply given by my right hon. Friend yesterday to a question on this subject put by the hon. and gallant Member for Nuneaton (Lieut.-Commander Fletcher). As he is aware, the prohibition of the departure for Spain of non-Spanish nationals for the purpose of taking part in the present conflict entered into force as from midnight 20–21st February. As regards the question of the withdrawal of such persons from Spain, I have nothing to add to the terms of the reply to which I have just referred.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has considered the note from the Spanish Government informing His Majesty's Government that they cannot admit control of the coasts of Spain by nations which are intervening in favour of the rebels; and, if so, whether he can make any statement as to the bearing of this note upon the future of the Merchant Shipping (Spanish Frontiers Observation) Act?

No such note has been received from the Spanish Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government have now finished their consideration of the note presented by the Spanish Government to the effect that four Italian divisions have been in action on the Guadalajara front, that two more are due to arrive, and that the Italian and German fleets are planning to attack Barcelona and Valencia; if so, whether the Government are taking any action in the matter; and whether lie can make any statement on the subject?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on this subject by my right hon. Friend to a question asked by the hon. Member for Kingswinford (Mr. A. Henderson) yesterday, to which I have nothing at present to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement regarding the inquiries he has been making concerning the report that Italian forces have landed in Spain since 20th February?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Rotherham {Mr. Dobbie) yesterday, to which I have nothing further to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now received a reply from General Franco's authorities to the protest addressed to them by His Majesty's Ambassador at Hendaye in reference to the laying of mines?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the question of the gold of the Bank of Spain has been discussed by the chairman's sub-committee of the Non-Intervention Committee; by whom was such discussion initiated; whether any objection was made to such discussion; and, if so, by whom and for what reason?

As has been pointed out on several occasions, the discussions of the Non-Intervention Committee and its sub-committees are confidential and I am not, therefore, in a position to disclose details. I understand, however, that the question of the gold of the Bank of Spain has been raised on several occasions in the Chairman's Sub-Committee and, as the hon. Member will doubtless have seen from the communiqué which was issued to the Press on 23rd March, it was then decided to submit the whole question of Spanish capital assets, including the gold of the Bank of Spain, for examination by a special sub-committee of juridical experts.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the need for the expansion of our textile exports, the British Government still regards the policy of the open door as valid so far as our trade is concerned in China and in Manchuria?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information and, if not, whether he will endeavour to procure it, concerning the departure of Abyssinians from Port Said and their intended destination?

I am not aware what precise occurrence the hon. Member has in mind. Perhaps he will be so good as to communicate with me.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state the names of those who are to compose the French and Italian delegations, respectively, to the conference at Montreaux regarding Egypt?

I am informed that the head of the Italian delegation will be Count Aldrovandi, a former Ambassador and at one time Italian Minister in Cairo. I have at present no further information on the composition of the Italian delegation and none on that of the French delegation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the total of foreign eggs imported into this country last year; and how many of these were imported from countries with which we had trade treaties?

I have been asked to reply. The total number of foreign eggs in shell imported into this country in 1936 was 19,941,251 great hundreds: of these 11,919,926 great hundreds were imported from countries with which we have trade agreements specifically precluding increased import duties on eggs in shell. It should be noted, however, that most of the countries with which we have no trade agreements specifically mentioning eggs have most-favoured-nation rights. Increased import duties on eggs not in shell are not precluded by any trade agreement; the quantity imported last year was 882,953 cwts.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the superintendent of one of the Japanese Government hygienic institutions has reported that Chinese eggs have been found in certain instances to contain the bacilli of tuberculosis, of syphilis, and of typhoid fever; and what action has been taken in this country to ensure that eggs of this kind imported here are not so infected?

I am not aware of the report referred to but if my hon. Friend will furnish me with the information in his possession I will have inquiries made. I may add that the examinations of Chinese eggs which have been made in the laboratory of my Department have not revealed the presence of any disease-producing organisms.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the accidents from machinery met with by agricultural workers, the factory inspectors visit the farm works to inspect for health and safety?

The Factory Acts do not apply to agriculture and the factory inspectors do not therefore inspect farms or farm works used for agricultural purposes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any return showing the number of farm workers who met with injury from accidents whilst operating agricultural machinery during 1935 and 1936; and how many of these accidents proved fatal?

There is no statutory provision requiring agricultural employers to furnish particulars with regard to accidents to their employés, and I am, therefore, unable to supply the hon. Member with an official return giving the figures for which he asks.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the arrangements for improving the quantity of home-grown food can now be made public?

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend is not in a position to make any further statement on agricultural policy at the present time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the total amount of the deficiency in the payments to milk producers in England and Wales, under Section 1 of the Milk Act, 1934, for the period 1st October, 1934, to the 31st December, 1936; whether he is aware that the effect of such deficiency has been to deprive milk producers in England and Wales of the full benefit of the standard prices of 5d. and 6d. per gallon in the summer and winter months, respectively, guaranteed by the Milk Act, 1934; and what steps he proposes to take, when the provisions of the existing Acts expire in September next, to remedy this anomaly?

I have been asked to reply. If the payments to the Milk Board under Section 1 of the Milk Act, 1934, as extended by the 1936 Act, had all been at a rate equal to the difference between the net cost per gallon of the milk to the purchaser and the standard price, they would in respect of milk manufactured during the period mentioned have amounted to £2,541,418 10S. 5d. The Act, however, provides that if the cheese-milk price, as defined in the Act, is higher than the net cost per gallon to the purchaser, the rate of payment is to be the difference between that price and the standard price, and accordingly the actual payments to the Board for the period mentioned amounted to £1,717,179 7s. 4d. As regards the last part of the question, my right hon. Friend cannot at present make any statement with regard to future policy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Downham Market Fen Drainage Commissioners, the Bardolph Fen Drainage Commissioners, the Stoke Ferry Fen Drainage Commissioners, the East of the Ouse, Polver, and Nar Internal Drainage Board, and the Hilgay Great West Fen Drainage Commissioners have passed a resolution urging the Government to make grants available immediately so that the heavy burdens at present placed on internal drainage districts arising out of the operation of the Land Drainage Act, 1930, may be substantially relieved; and whether he will give sympathetic consideration to this appeal, in view of the fact that the thinly-scattered populations of these areas make it impossible to raise the necessary funds, a 1d. rate in the Hilgay or Stoke Ferry areas only yielding approximately £4 per annum?

I have not yet received the resolutions to which my hon. Friend refers, but I am not prepared to reopen the question of making grants to drainage boards (other than catchment boards) by considering grants in these particular cases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that certain countries such as Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Esthonia have in the past used their geographical position to obtain favourable trade agreements, and that trade agreements with these countries are generally commercially unfavourable to this country, he will review these treaties with a view to their denunciation?

I am unable to accept the premises on which my hon. Friend's question is based. I would add, however, that the position of the export trade of this country with the countries he mentions is kept under constant review.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will request the Export Credits Advisory Committee to examine the reasons why British shipbuilders fail to obtain a fair share of foreign orders and then to report to what extent international barter transactions, or payment by blocked foreign currencies or by frozen credits against ships, or foreign Government subsidies and other financial assistance put us out of the market; and will he then consider a remedy by which to meet these forms of competition?

A general investigation of the kind suggested by my hon. Friend would not fall within the province of the Advisory Committee of the Export Credits Guarantee Department. A deputation from the Shipbuilding Conference on the subject was received recently in the Board of Trade and I am prepared to consider any practicable suggestions for helping British shipbuilders to obtain foreign orders.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether His Majesty's Government is aware of the acute and growing scarcity of flax; and what steps, if any, they propose to take to facilitate the growing of flax in this country?

I am not aware of a scarcity of flax. The Linen Industry Research Association, which is supported by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Government of Northern Ireland, are improving the strains of flax seed, and I hope that this work will assist the growing of flax in the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the value of goods purchased from Great Britain by Cuba during the past 10 years?

During the 10 years ended 1936 the total declared value of merchandise exported from the United Kingdom and consigned to Cuba amounted to 12,122,000, including re-exports valued at £298,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that many steel and iron manufacturers have chartered foreign-owned vessels in recent months for coastwise traffic at Grangemouth; that these vessels carry fewer seamen than British vessels are compelled to carry; that many of these vessels, and in particular those flying the Dutch flag, escape payment of British Income Tax; and whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of such foreign vessels chartered at Grangemouth this year, with the names of the charterers?

The records of shipping at Grangemouth show that since the beginning of this year the number of entrances and clearances at that port of foreign vessels making coastwise voyages with cargo is 10, the corresponding figure for British vessels being 149. There is no difference in the statutory provisions applicable in the United Kingdom to British and foreign vessels in the coasting trade with regard to manning. A vessel may be detained if, by reason of under-manning, she is unfit to proceed to sea without serious danger to human life.On the subject of Income Tax, I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer given to his question of the 2nd March.I fear I am not in a position to give particulars of the charterers of the vessels.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what important maritime countries voted with Great Britain against the convention on seamen's hours of work and manning;(2) what British Dominions voted with Great Britain against the convention on seamen's hours of work and manning?

Financial Year.			Income Tax.	Super-tax or Surtax.	Nominal total of National Debt at beginning of financial year.	Interest and Management.
			I.	II.	III.	IV.
			£000	£000	£000	£000
1875–76	…	…	4,109	—	720,037	27,120*
1891–92	…	…	13,810	—	684,071	25,905*
1913–14	…	…	43,929	3,320	656,474	16,894
1925–26	…	…	259,411	68,510	7,597,848	308,229
1936–37	…	…	259,000†	56,500†	7,795,855‡	211,500†
* Approximate figures.
† Estimates.
‡ Includes £350 millions borrowed on Treasury Bills for the Exchange Equalisation Account and more than offset by corresponding assets.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is now prepared to make the necessary order for the scheduling of spirochaetal jaundice as an industrial disease, as recommended by the Home Office Committee?

The drafting of this Order has been found to raise some points of difficulty, which are being gone into, but it is hoped that the matter will be settled at an early date.

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to introduce legislation to deal with the

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Seaham (Mr. Shinwell) on 17th November, 1936, on this subject. As there stated, the Japanese Government representatives voted against the Convention, the Australian Government representative voted in favour of it, and the representative of the Canadian Government abstained from voting.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was our Income Tax and National Debt in the years 1875, 1891, 1913, 1925, and 1936, respectively?

The following table gives the information asked for:general conditions of employment in the retail trade?

Conditions of employment in the retail trades are already regulated in large measure under the Shops Acts, 1912 to 1936. So far as the Home Office is concerned no further legislation is at present in prospect; but if my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind certain discussions which are taking place on the question of further regulation of wages and other working conditions in the retail trades, I would suggest that he should address his question to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of subsidies paid by the Government to agriculture and industry since 1931; and what is the approximate number of workmen employed in those industries and on the land in the occupations covered by the subsidies?

The subsidies paid and estimated to be paid from the Exchequer to agriculture and industry from 1st October, 1931, to 31st March, 1937, amount to £38,786,000, the total being built up as follows:

	£
Beet Sugar	17,720,600
Cattle (payments to producers)	9,921,400
Milk	4,996,400
Herrings	78,800
Tramp Shipping	3,998,300
Civil Aviation	2,018,200
Light Horse Breeding	39,000
Mechanical Transport	13,300
	38,786,000

I regret that it is not possible to state even approximately the total number of persons employed in occupations affected by the subsidies.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the number of

Age group.		Estimated number of persons of each age group in England and Wales.		Number found guilty of indictable offences.		Number of offenders per 100,000 of the population in each age group.
10 and under 14	…	M.	1,347,600	Under age 14	13,248	983
		F.	1,322,400		625	47
14 and under 16	…	M.	792,200		7,966	1,006
		F.	774,800		586	76
16 and under 21	…	M.	1,487,000		10,712	720
		F.	1,476,200		1,373	93
21 and under 30	…	M.	3,024,400		13,268	439
		F.	3,163,900		1,931	61
30 and over		M.	9,894,000		16,101	163
		F.	11,524,200		4,039	35
All ages population		M.	16,545,200		61,295	370
aged 10 and over.		F.	18,261,500		8,554	47
Figures for the year 1936 are not available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state in two sums the total remunera-

The number of persons found guilty in 1935 of indictable offences was 69,849. Of these offenders 25,543 were under the age of 17. Of the offenders under the age of 17, 9 per cent. were sent to Home Office schools, 51 per cent. were placed under the supervision of a probation officer, 8 per cent. were bound over without an order for supervision, and 24 per cent. were dismissed. Figures for 1936 are not yet available.

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether he will state the sex and age, in groups, under 14 and aged 3o and over, of persons found guilty of indictable offences during 1935 and 1936, respectively;(2) the number of persons in each age-group, as set out in Appendix 1 of Criminal Statistics, 1934, guilty of indictable offences, with the number of persons in each group for England and Wales for 1935 and 1936, respectively?

Following is a statement showing the number of persons found guilty of indictable offences in England and Wales during the year 1935, together with the number, sex and population in age groups and the number found guilty per 100,000 population in each age group.tion, inclusive of salaries and fees, enjoyed by the successive Attorneys-General and Solicitors-General for England during the 10 years ended 31st December, 1936?

The total sums received by the Attorneys-General and Solicitors-General for England for salaries and fees during the 10 years ended 31st March, 1936 (the latest date for which figures are at present available) are as follow:

	£	s.	d.
Attorneys-General	176,493	19	0
Solicitors-General	104,984	9	8

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to a booklet entitled "Road Sense for Children," by the chief constable of Salford; and whether he will consider the possibility of arranging for a distribution thereof, at the public cost or otherwise, to watch committees, chief constables, and educational authorities throughout the United Kingdom?

Yes, Sir, and I am sure that it will be widely read by those specially interested in the safety of school children. I do not, however, see my way to circulating it officially.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether he will state the number of omnibuses licensed for use in the London traffic area in the years 1934, 1935, and 1936, respectively, distinguishing between the omnibuses belonging to the London Passenger Transport Board and those belonging to other operators;(2) how many road coaches were licensed for use in the London traffic area in each of the years 1934, 1935, and 1936; how many of them were operated by the London Passenger Transport Board; and how many by other operators?

The following table shows the numbers of public service vehicle licences issued by the Metropolitan Area Traffic Commissioner in the years 1934, 1935 and 1936, to the London Passenger Transport Board and to other operators.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the lowest cost per electrical unit when produced by steam and the lowest cost per unit when it is produced by water in this country?

The relative costs of production of electricity at hydro-electric and coal-fired stations depend mainly on the load factor at which the stations are operated; and no general comparison can usefully be made unless the conditions of operation, and the conditions under which the electricity is used, are comparable.

asked the Minister of Transport what actuarial examinations of the superannuation fund have been made under Section 65 of the Schedule annexed to the London Midland and Scottish Railway (Superannuation Fund) Act, 1924; what was the amount of the deficit shown at each of the said statutory actuarial examinations; if the company has, in respect of such deficits, made to the fund the payments required by Section 7 of the said Act to secure the solvency of the fund; and if he has any statement to make relative to the present position of the fund?

I have no powers of inspection or otherwise in relation to this matter. The solvency of the fund is guaranteed by the London Midland and Scottish Railway Company, and I understand that the practice of the company is to meet their liability currently upon actuarial advice as to its extent.

asked the Minister of Transport what extensions have been carried out by the Port of London Authority in the last five years; and if any further extensions of docks are in progress, or are contemplated?

I am sending the hon. Member a detailed list supplied to me by the Port of London Authority.

asked the Minister of Health when he is likely to set up a commission of inquiry for the purpose of investigating the future co-ordination of local government services on the Merseyside?

I am not at present in a position to make any statement on this matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that cases exist of manufacturers who make synthetic or semi-synthetic products labelled as genuine fruit juice, or prepared fruit juice, which contain no foundation of real fruit; and whether he will take steps to prevent such mis-description?

On the facts as stated, it would appear that the matter can be dealt with by the responsible local authorities under the Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act, 1928, and I do not think, therefore, that any special action on my part is necessary.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the total amount of capital on loan to county councils, county boroughs, municipal boroughs, and urban district councils, respectively; and the amount of such capital applied to education, roads, transport, electricity, and gas services?

Following is a statement showing the gross outstanding loan debt

—			County Councils.	County Borough Councils.	Non-County Borough Councils.	Urban District Councils.
			£	£	£	£
All services	…	…	195.364,590	582,809,997	175,195,444	167,048,772
Amounts included in preceding total in respect of—
Education	…	…	40,175,450	26,831,364	7,882,243	1,457,462
Highways and bridges		…	35,594,422	54,335,408	9,973,739	6,419,290
Transport	…	…	7,858,644*	18,552,565	1,617,652	571,440
Electricity	…	…	—	90,701,286	22,067,391	6,425,527
Gas	…	…	—	16,593,037	4,569,469	2,967,407
* Of this amount, £7,793,969 relates to undertakings transferred to the London Passenger Transport Board, in respect of which stock has been received by the County Councils concerned.

asked the Minister of Health whether, taking the figures for the last five years, he can state the average number of insured persons who have never used the services of their panel doctor?

In each of the five years 1932 to 1936 the number of insured persons in England and Wales who, although entitled to medical benefit, had not chosen an insurance doctor, was on the average about 495,000. I cannot give a similar figure of the number of persons who have chosen a doctor but have not used his services.

asked the Minister of Health how many clinics are operating, under the control of his Department or the Board of Control, for persons suffering from incipient mental or nervous diseases, together with their location and availability?

I am having this information compiled and will send it to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether any report has been received from his Advisory Committee on Nutrition; and, if so, whether it will be published and when it will be available?

Yes, Sir. I hope that the report will be published shortly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether, in view of the large number of visitors who will be in London during Coronation week and who will be anxious to see over the Palace of Westminster, he will consider whether arrangements can be made to extend the facilities usually accorded to the public on Saturdays to as many other days as possible during that week?

My Noble Friend will consult the proper authorities in regard to my hon. Friend's suggestion, but he foresees great difficulties in the way of its adoption. It would also involve considerable increases in expenditure on attendants.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in the interest of the nation, especially in time of war, he will secure that low-temperature carbonisation oil from coal is further produced in this country, such production to be instituted in the Special Areas by the Government?

In their consideration of the possibility of securing a further development of the production of oil from coal and other indigenous materials the Government will have regard to all known processes.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that the Glasgow Corporation Health Committee, which is responsible for the administration of hospitals and institutions with over 13,000 patients, invited tenders for 100,000 tons of coal for this year's supply, and did not receive a single offer; and what action he proposes to take to ensure that the Glasgow Health Committee and similar committees in other parts of the country will be assured of the necessary fuel and other supplies to maintain the hospital and institution services in a state of efficiency?

I understand that the invitation to tender was in respect of supplies from June next. I am informed that the tenders are under consideration by the Scottish coalowners concerned, and that offers for the full quantity will be made in good time.

asked the Prime Minister whether any rules exist for the guidance of Ministers on the question of whether they should disclose to Members, upon inquiry, what prices have been paid by Government Departments for various types of armaments, raw materials, and other Government purchases; and, if so, whether he will define such rules?

It is the general practice to regard contract prices as confidential, and my right hon. Friend is satisfied that the continuance of this longstanding practice is in the public interest.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether in view of the official announcements on Christmas Day last that all the men of the Royal Army Service Corps who went out to Egypt and Palestine in February, 1936, would be sent home as soon as possible and by 31st March, 1937, at the latest, he will state when it is hoped to give effect to that undertaking?

It is intended that all Royal Army Service Corps emergency reinforcements, serving in Egypt and Palestine, who embarked from the United Kingdom on or before 31st March, 1936, and do not volunteer to remain overseas, shall be withdrawn to the United Kingdom by the end of April next. I do not know to what official announcement my hon. and gallant Friend refers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will give the latest figures of the number of women, and their average ages, still employed underground as a labour force in the coal and salt mines in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, and the Central Provinces and the Punjab?

During the year 1935, the latest year for which figures are available, the daily average number of women employed underground in mines in the provinces specified was 9,551, distributed as follows:

In Coal mines in—
Bengal	3,575
Bihar and Orissa	5,136
Central Provinces	765
In Salt mines in—
Punjab	75

I have no information regarding their ages.The Government of India have recently issued a notification prohibiting the employment of women underground in mines on and after the 1st July next.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are being taken in drawing up contracts to ensure that contractors engaged on the construction of new War Department works in rural districts provide adequate and proper accommodation for workmen, and also arrange for their transfer on the completion of the work whence they came or to another site; and whether he is aware that the plan of depending upon local labour is having a serious effect on agricultural production and is not in any way helping to find work for unemployed persons in the Special Areas?

I am having inquiries made regarding the matter and will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend as early as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he has received the report of the court of inquiry on the accidents to certain aircraft of No. 102 (Bomber) Squadron, on the 12th December last; and whether he can now make a statement on the matter?

The Air Council have considered the report of the court of inquiry on the accidents to certain aircraft of No. 102 (Bomber) Squadron and the comments thereon of the Air Officer Commanding No. 3 (Bomber) Group and the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Bomber Command.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that, in connection with the removal of the Royal Air Force works from Kidbrooke to Coventry, craftsmen now employed at the former place are being invited to volunteer for transfer at their own expense; whether volunteers will be entitled to receive the same rates of pay as hitherto; and whether those who do not volunteer because of the expense of removal will be prejudiced in their present employment?

I am aware that, in connection with the removal of certain Royal Air Force stores from Kidbrooke to Coventry, it has been announced that applications will be considered from craftsmen in certain trades who are prepared to transfer to Coventry at their own expense. The rates payable to men who transfer will be the local rates appertaining to the respective trades in the Coventry district. Men who do not desire to volunteer will not be prejudiced on that account and every effort will be made to absorb them, but it will of course be realised that some discharges may be unavoidable.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what steps are being taken in drawing up contracts to ensure that contractors engaged on the building and preparation of new aerodromes provide adequate and proper accommodation for workmen and also arrange for their transfer on the completion of the work whence they came or to another site; and whether he is aware that the plan of depending upon local labour is having a serious effect on agricultural production and is not necessarily in the best interests of the agricultural worker?

It is the practice in issuing tenders for contracts for the construction of new aerodromes to include an item for the provision of the necessary housing and canteen accommodation, or for equivalent services. The transfer of men on the completion of the work is not, however, a matter in which the Air Ministry intervene. I have no evidence that the utilisation of local labour is having any serious effect on agricultural production but in all building contracts the attention of the contractor is specially drawn to the desirability of utilising the Employment Exchanges and of avoiding the withdrawal to the temporary work involved in the contract of men who normally are permanently employed in agriculture.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether the Admiralty pay the penny a gallon import duty on imported oil used by the Navy?

The Admiralty, in common with other consumers, pays the tax on the relatively small amount of fuel and lubricating oil which is consumed ashore. No tax is paid on imported oil consumed afloat.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the number of agreement men employed in the dockyard at Malta; and what increase has taken place during the last year?

There are at present 130 English workmen serving under agreement in His Majesty's Dockyard, Malta, this number representing an increase of three over last year's figure.

asked the Lord President of the Council which of those countries participating in the International Sugar Conference have in operation schemes to ensure to their producers a price for sugar in excess of the world price; and if he can state what that price is in each case?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Stourbridge (Mr. Morgan) on 18th March. I am not able to say what price is secured by producers in each of the countries within this category.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether, in view of the recent increase in the price of sugar, the rapid reduction in world stocks of sugar, and the fact that Great Britain is still dependent upon foreign sources for a large proportion of her sugar supplies, he will now reconsider the decision, which he recently announced, that it will be the policy of the British delegation to the International Sugar Conference to limit production within the British Empire?

The factors to which my hon. and gallant Friend draws attention were already known to His Majesty's Government when the decision he mentions was taken, and I do not think that any reconsideration is necessary.

asked the Lord President of the Council what is the approximate production and consumption of sugar within the French, Dutch, and British Empires, respectively?

The following are the approximate figures in metric tons for the latest convenient year:

—	Production.	Consumption.
British Empire	6,305,000	7,191,000
France and Dependencies.	1,017,000	1,405,000
Netherlands and Dependencies.	831,000	624,000

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that an application to fit a telephone at the house of Mr. W. J. Sharp, 57, Ravenscourt Drive, Hornchurch, was made early in January and that, despite repeated promises, nothing has yet been done; and whether he can take steps to hasten telephone installation in the rapidly growing areas round London?

The rapid increase in growth of telephone subscribers resulting from reductions in tariff has exhausted the capacity of underground cables in certain areas. Plant is being provided to accommodate additional subscribers but it is unfortunately true that in a number of areas subscribers have had to wait for some time for service because of the extensive operations involved. The Post Office is fully alive to the need for minimising the inconvenience caused to Mr. Sharp and other prospective subscribers and every effort is being made to expedite the provision of plant. It is expected that Mr. Sharp will be given service within the next fortnight.

asked the Postmaster-General when it is proposed to convert Tottenham telephone exchange to the automatic system?

Arrangements are in hand for the extension of the Tottenham exchange building to accommodate automatic plant; and I hope that it will be possible to effect the transfer to automatic working about the end of 1939.