asked the Minister of Labour the average interval of time between an application for a permit for an alien immigrant to work as a domestic servant in Great Britain and notification of the Ministry's decision?

I regret that this could not be ascertained without a disproportionate amount of work.

In view of the shortage of domestic servants in this country, will my right hon. Friend endeavour to expedite the Ministry's inquiries as much as possible?

We are doing all we can to complete them as quickly as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Government intend to give effect to the findings of the committee which recommended the inclusion of non-manual workers under the Unemployment Insurance Act who earn up to £400 per annum?

asked the Minister of Labour whether His Majesty's Government have come to any decision as to the introduction of legislation to carry out the recommendations of the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Commission that the salary limit for unemployment insurance for non-manual workers should be raised from £250 to £400 per annum?

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply given on Tuesday last to the hon. Member for Enfield (Mr. Bull).

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to state when the South-west Durham Improvement Association will be set up; and can he now give the names of the persons who will be appointed to serve on this association?

I regret that I have nothing at present to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 16th March.

Seeing that the setting up of this committee may mean much to the people who are living in Southwest Durham, is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to get into touch with the Commissioner for the Special Areas with a view to getting the committee working at an earlier date?

I can assure the hon. Member that there will be no undue delay. The Commissioner is at the moment in the area, but as the hon. Member will understand, it is necessary to get the best possible members for this very valuable committee.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman know full well that nothing will be done for South Wales and Durham until this committee is set up?

asked the Minister of Labour how many occupied people have their wages regulated by collective agreements based on a cost-of-living sliding scale; and how many others among the occupied population, if any, have their wages automatically regulated according to the cost-of-living index?

The only arrangements known to my Department under which rates of wages are automatically regulated in accordance with movements in the cost-of-living index number are those embodied in collective agreements or in orders under the Trade Boards Acts. The total number of employés covered by these arrangements is estimated at between 1,250,000 and 1,500,000. A number of the agreements, however, estimated to cover nearly 500,000 work-people, are at present suspended or will not come into effective operation unless there is a substantial rise in the cost-of-living index figure above the present level.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the advisability of making arrangements by which it shall be an obligation upon any employer to state on the green card which a prospective employé brings to him from the Employment Exchange the wages he intends to pay to that worker?

I do not think this would be practicable.

Would not this be a very valuable means of keeping up the standard of wages, and will not my right hon. Friend consider the practicability of doing it?

There is a number of other factors to be taken into consideration. If the hon. Member will consult with me about it, I shall be very glad to show him why I say that there is a number of other factors.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state some of the reasons why it is not advisable?

Not in answer to a supplementary question.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the rising discontent among workers of all grades, and particularly in establishments engaged in the production of war-like material, owing to the low level of wages paid, the rising cost of living, and the belief that manufacturers and others are making large profits out of national needs; and whether he intends to approach the trade unions in the matter or take any other action which would lead to a more satisfactory state of affairs and secure for the workers a more reasonable standard of living?

There is in all the major industries machinery for collective negotiation, which, I am satisfied, can be relied upon to take proper account of all these factors without the necessity of prior approach by the Government. I should like to take this opportunity of paying a tribute to the manner in which this machinery has operated in the handling of the many difficult problems necessarily raised in a period of continuously improving employment.

Has not the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to the very large number of disputes now occurring in the industries of the country, particularly as regards armaments production? Moreover, is he aware that the cost of living has increased, and that wages are not following that increase, and does he propose to take any action in the matter?

I cannot accept the statement that there is a large number of disputes. I think that is a great exaggeration. I would like to add, as I pointed out in answer to a previous question, that whereas in March, 1937, the cost of living figure was 51, in March, 1924, when the hon. Member's party was in office, it was 78.

Will the right hon. Gentleman obtain information relating not to 1924, but to 1935 and 1936?

I have that information.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of firms registered on the King's Roll in each of the years 1928 to 1937; whether there has been any fall in the number; and, if so, whether, in view of the importance of this Roll to disabled ex-service men, he will take steps to restore the Roll to its former strength?

With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table of figures in answer to the first part of his question. A certain decrease in the membership of the Roll with the passage of time is probably inevitable. I am, however, most anxious that the maximum amount of employment should be available for disabled ex-service men and my Department co-operates to the fullest extent with the King's Roll National Council and the local committees which administer the King's Roll scheme and which are active in persuading employers to enrol or to continue their enrolment. My hon. Friend may be interested to know that at the beginning of January, 1937, the number of disabled ex-service men registered as unemployed represented 8.1 per cent. of the estimated number of men in receipt of disability pensions or allowances, compared with 14 per cent. of unemployment among insured men generally.

asked the Minister of Labour in what industries have the hours of work been reduced in the past five years; and what is the approximate number of workpeople covered by such reductions?

The principal industries in which normal weekly hours of labour were reported as having been reduced in the five years ended March, 1937, include boot and shoe manufacture, the mercantile marine, heavy chemicals manufacture (shift workers), pig iron manufacture (shift workers), flour milling, heating and domestic engineering, and newspaper printing (in England and Wales except London). There were also reductions in sections of some other industries in various localities. The estimated number of workpeople, in all the industries and services for which statistics are available, whose hours of labour were reported as having been reduced during the above period is about 260,000.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour, when opposing the proposed international 40-hour week at Washington for the textile industry, represented the views of the Government, or the employers, or the workers?

I have as yet received no report of the proceedings at this conference, but I may point out that at International Labour Conferences, employers and workers have their own representatives by whom their views are expressed.

Does not the Minister think that it is high time, for the good name of this country, to cease this opposition, and to be more in line with other countries and with progressive employers in this country?

I have said that I have received no report as to what was said, and I prefer to wait for that before making any remarks.

Has not the right hon. Gentleman seen a report of a speech made by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour in which he strongly condemned the 40-hour week proposals, and is that speech indicative of the Government's attitude on this question?

I have already said that I have received no report of it. I have seen certain Press reports, but surely the House would not expect me to accept them as necessarily being accurate.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state what were the instruc- tions given to the Parliamentary Secretary before he went to Washington?

If the hon. Member will put that question on the Paper, I shall be glad to give him an answer.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean to tell the House that he has to await a report of the conference before he can tell us how the Government representative votes on this matter?

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the strike of engineers at Park-head Forge, Glasgow, and the strike of apprentices in Clyde shipyards; and whether he proposes to take steps to bring the parties in the disputes together with a view to bringing the strikes to a satisfactory conclusion?

I am aware of the disputes to which the hon. Member refers. They are at present the subject of discussion between the workpeople and the organisations concerned, and I know of no obstacle to a meeting between the workpeople and their employers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a great extension of the strike among the apprentices and probably the engineers, and that there exists in the Ministry of Labour a Department for the purpose of bringing the parties together? Is he also aware that the great increase in the cost of living is much in the minds of the men at the moment?

With regard to the last point, I would remind the hon. Member that the cost-of-living figure for March was 51, while in March, 1924, it was 78 —a very different figure. With regard to the first part of the supplementary, I have nothing to acid to my original answer, except to say that it is important for the Ministry of Labour to know when to interfere and when not to interfere.

Is this not a reasonable demand on the part of the men?

The issue is one of constitutional procedure—a very different thing.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is the intention of his Department to make a grant for Coronation Day to all persons in receipt of unemployment standard benefits?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 4th March to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, East (Mr. Mander), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the intention to close some parts of the streets in the West End of London against vehicular traffic during Coronation week, any provision has been made for keeping open one or more through routes for cabs and cars conveying passengers to and from theatres and other places of entertainment; and can a public announcement of the detailed arrangements be made without further delay?

Yes, Sir; provision will be made to maintain access to theatres, and the Commissioner of Police is about to issue to the Press a communiqué on this subject.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will cause the necessary steps to be taken to ensure that the pending by-elections are completed by such a date as will obviate party controversy in the country during the period of national rejoicing attendant on Their Majesties' Coronation?

I fully appreciate the suggestion of the hon. Member. The matter had not escaped my notice, and arrangements are already being made for the new writs to fill the pending vacancies to be moved in the House at a very early date.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any information respecting the weekly hours of employment of attendants and others employed at cinemas?

The only information available respecting the weekly hours of employment of attendants and others employed at cinemas is that contained in a few collective agreements made between employers' associations and trade unions in certain districts. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving such information as is available.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make some inquiries into this matter? Is he prepared to set up an inquiry, and will he look into the conditions prevailing in Doncaster as far as cinemas are concerned?

Perhaps the hon. Member will read the rather long list with which I am supplying him, and then it he has any further points to raise with me, perhaps he will do so.

Is there not considerable information already at the disposal of the Minister of Labour? Was there not an investigation some years ago, and will the right hon. Gentleman continue that investigation in view of the fact that there have been complaints for many years?

The hon. Member will understand that I have been asked for information about trade conditions. That is what I have given, and perhaps he will look at it first.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not know that there were complaints about working conditions in cinemas some years ago, that the Ministry of Labour began an inquiry, and that there is at the disposal of the Ministry considerable information? Will he begin that inquiry again?

I prefer to wait for whatever remarks the hon. Member who put the question may have to make to me about the table I am submitting to the House.

Has the Minister's notice been drawn to the fact that these employés work over 70 hours a week in many of the small cinemas?

The fact is that none of the figures I have in these agreements approaches that figure.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can now state what will be the contribution of the Government towards the expenditure incurred by local authorities on the provision of air-raid precautions?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists amongst the local authorities of the country regarding the failure of the Government to indicate that the costs incurred in connection with air-raid precautions will be met from national funds and that the work is being delayed; and what action he proposes to take to remedy that position?

asked the Home Secretary whether, in order to encourage local authorities to proceed rapidly with their air-raid precautions, he can now state that the Government will bear the whole of the cost on the grounds that such precautions will be in the nature of national defence?

asked the Home Secretary whether he will make a statement as to the apportionment of the cost of air-raid precautions between the Government and local authorities?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the decision unanimously passed at a conference of representatives of important local authorities held at the County Hall, S.E.I, on 18th March, recommending their authorities to defer incurring further expenditure in respect of air-raid precautions, including the emergency fire brigade organisation, until His Majesty's Government has reached a decision upon the financial issue; and whether he can make a statement?

asked the Home Secretary what is the present position concerning the discussions between his Department and various local authorities regarding defrayal of the expenses involved in the organisation of defence against attack from the air?

The anxiety of local authorities with regard to the incidence of financial responsibility for air-raid precautions is fully appreciated. In order to obtain a complete picture of the probable cost of air-raid precautions for the whole country, it has been necessary to make a careful examination of estimates which have been submitted from various parts of the country, in consultation with the local authorities concerned. This has only recently become possible because, although good progress has been made in the preparation by local authorities of their schemes of general organisation, the detailed financial proposals which were necessary as a basis for the formulation of an over-all estimate of cost had not previously been available. The work has been pressed forward with the greatest energy, and it is intended that an early announcement will he made.

Can the hon. Gentleman give the House any indication of when he will be able to make a statement as to whether the Government are going to bear some of the expenditure or not? There is £35,000,000 that has to be paid.

Does the hon. Gentleman appreciate that local authorities are being held up in their efforts because they are waiting to know the Government's decision?

In view of the fact that the Government have already undertaken to provide the cost of respirators and the major part of the cost of anti-gas training, there is no reason why the formulation of plans and training should not continue.

But surely the hon. Gentleman appreciates the fact that, having regard to the emergency fire brigade organisation, it is impossible for local authorities to go further than they have already gone until they know the decision of the Government?

I see the hon. Gentleman's point. An early announcement will be made.

asked the Home Secretary which of the existing prisons the Government have decided to close or reconstruct in the near future, and the number of the same that have been closed or partially closed during the previous five years; and what provision has been made for the established staff so affected?

The closing of the women's wing at Hull is contemplated, but it is not proposed to close or reconstruct any other prison in the near future. During the five years ended 3rst March the women's sections have been closed at Liverpool and Winchester, and the established staff has been absorbed into vacancies at other prisons.

Will the same arrangements be made for the established staff at Hull?

Is the closing down of the women's wing of the prison due to the law-abiding nature of the female sex?

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the unpropitious weather which an early Easter usually involves, he will take steps, by legislation if necessary, to put into force the provisions of the Act for a fixed Easter now on the Statute Book, without waiting any longer for the other nations which have not yet signified their assent?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Mr. Lewis) on 26th November last. I will send him a copy.

asked the Home Secretary on what date Father Henry Gabana, a priest of Spanish nationality, was allowed to enter Great Britain; whether any conditions were imposed for his observance during his stay; whether any complaints have been received that he is addressing political meetings of which the chief feature is attacks upon the Governments of Spain and Catalonia; and whether His Majesty's Government propose taking any action to restrict his activities in this direction?

This individual arrived in this country on 5th July last for a few months' holiday and remained until 7th January when he left for the Continent. On his return on 18th January he was allowed to land on his statement that he wished to prolong his stay until the Spanish trouble is finished. No complaint was received with regard to him during his first visit, but my attention has now been drawn to his activities in addressing meetings on the subject of Spain. He is being warned that if he wishes to continue his stay in the country it can only be on the condition that he abstains from engaging in activities directed to furthering the cause of either side in the Spanish struggle.

Arising out of that answer, and in recognition of the fact that this propaganda has been going on, would the Home Secretary not be prepared to consider withdrawing the ban from representatives of the Government side and allowing all to have an opportunity of stating their views? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have no objection to this priest being allowed to state his views, if the same opportunity is extended to others?

Arising out of the question put by the hon. Member for West Fife (Mr. Gallacher), is it not a fact that Father Gabana took asylum in this country and that he has been speaking to his Catholic co-religionists in this country; and is not the pernicious propaganda of the hon. Member for West Fife to be accounted as worse than the propaganda of this father?

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of a mother in Burton-on-Trent, charged with receiving stolen milk cheques, valued at a few pence, obtained by her 11 year old son, and who was sent to prison for 21 days; and whether, in view of the fact that she is a mother of six children and that her husband had been out of work for two years, he will consider remitting the sentence?

My attention had not previously been drawn to this case, but on inquiry I find that on 25th March the woman in question pleaded guilty to two charges of receiving milk checks which had been stolen by her small boy, and that a further 20 charges involving 46 milk checks were also admitted by her and taken into consideration when sentence was passed. I am informed that these offences were committed during February and March at a time when her husband and eldest son were both in

asked ale Home Secretary whether he is now in a position to state the result of his inquiries into the case of the wrongful arrest of Mr. Alfred Henry Lane, of Shoreditch; and what action, if any, he proposes to take?

asked the Home Secretary how many persons were charged with frequenting or loitering with intent to commit a felony in the Metropolitan police district and in England and Wales outside that district in the years 1935 and 1936, respectively; and how many of such charges were withdrawn or dismissed?

As the answer involves a number of figures, with the hon. Member's permission I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I have made full inquiries, and I am satisfied that the officers concerned acted in good faith in arresting and charging Mr. Lane. While I much regret the inconvenience to which the defendant was subjected by reason of his arrest, I can find no ground for any action on my part in the matter.

Is the Home Secretary aware that cases of this kind are occurring with increasing frequency in the East End, where working-men walking along the street are taken up and charged with loitering and suspicious intent and the magistrates then find that there is no case against them?

I, myself, always watch these cases with all the care I can and it is very important, of course, that the police in these matters should act with discretion. At the same time, I think the hon. Gentleman should bear in mind that it is not necessarily a bad thing that the magistrate should feel free to say on occasion that he is not satisfied. If we proceeded on the assumption that every time a policeman arrested somebody that person should be convicted, I do not think we should ever get anywhere.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is very humiliating for a perfectly honest man to be arrested and detained for three hours, when there is no ground for his arrest?

I feel all that as much as anybody in the House, but I have satisfied myself here that the police acted in really good faith, and as long as the authorities are satisfied as to this, if they do make occasional mistakes, then I am afraid we must put up with them.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the time has now come for a review of all this penal legislation with regard to loitering?

asked the Prime Minister whether any representations have been made by Governments in other countries to His Majesty's Government regarding the possibility of international agreement on tariffs, quotas and other matters concerning international trade; and whether it is proposed to take any action?

asked the Prime Minister whether Monsieur Van Zeeland, the Belgian Prime Minister, has been approached by the British and French Governments with a view of discussing with him methods for the reduction of obstacles to international trade, and, if so, when a conference, if any, between the three countries is likely to take place?

No approach has been made to His Majesty's Government by other Governments regarding the possibility of an international agreement on trade matters, although various informal interchanges of views have taken place. His Majesty's Government and the French Government have inquired of the Belgian Prime Minister whether he would be willing to undertake preliminary informal investigations in various countries as to the possibility of securing a general relaxation of quotas and other obstacles to international trade. M. van Zeeland has been good enough to state that he is disposed to accept this invitation. No international conference is at present envisaged.

May we take it from that answer that the Government are fully conscious of the need for removing undesirable restrictions on international trade and will follow such a course in these discussions?

We are, of course, fully aware of it.

Will these inquiries include an inquiry into the possibilities of lowering some of the tariff barriers, as well as dealing with quotas and other restrictions?

We do not close our minds to those matters.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has considered the petition from the Civic South Wales Council of Action for Peace in connection with the abolition of gas warfare; whether he is aware that the signatories to the petition represent all shades of political and religious opinion in South and North Wales; whether he can state what was the text of the petition and what was the date when the petition was received; and whether any reply has been sent to the petitioners?

Yes, Sir. I received the manifesto from the General Secretary of the Council of Action for Peace and Reconstruction on 16th December last year. A reply was sent to the General Secretary on 16th January.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to advise the Foreign Secretary to put this subject of gas warfare on the agenda at Geneva to see whether there is any possibility of having such warfare done away with?

I will call the attention of my right hon. Friend to the matter.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange for time to be given for a Debate on the Motion standing on the Order Paper in the name of the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, and other hon. Members, relative to the Ministry of Pensions?

I am afraid in the present state of public business I cannot afford a special opportunity for the discussion of this Motion.

Is the Prime Minister aware of the deep feeling of suffering that exists throughout the country; and, in view of that, does he not think that the time has arrived when Parliament should be given the opportunity of considering this question?

The answer which I have just given is on all fours with one I gave yesterday. It is impossible in the next few weeks to find any time, but I would remind the hon. Member that this matter can be most suitably raised at any time when the Ministry of Pensions Vote is brought before the House. The case can then be put and answered, and I think that that would be much the best way to deal with it.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that, in a recent speech in New York, the United States Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, called attention to the need for increased economic co-operation between the nations of the world as a guarantee of peace; and whether he will consider extending the scope of the agenda of the Imperial Conference next month to include this question?

The scope of the agenda of the Imperial Conference as already announced is, I think, sufficiently wide to admit the general discussion of this question if the Governments represented at the conference so desired.

Is the Prime Minister aware that the Ottawa Agreements were one of the difficulties in the way referred to in the speech of Mr. Cordell Hull?

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he can give assurance to the House that, in the event of any limitation being placed upon the exports of Empire sugar, the Empire will be allowed to obtain the full benefit of any expansion of consumption which may take place in Empire markets?

I cannot at present anticipate the conclusions of the International Sugar Conference, but the suggestion made by my hon. Friend is one which, among others, is being borne in mind.

asked the Lord President of the Council what progress has been made by the Medical Research Council in their investigations into the problem of silicosis, and other lung diseases, among coal miners; and whether he can give any indication as to when the committee's investigation will be completed?

The standing committee appointed by the Medical Research Council to direct research into disease of the lungs among industrial workers has already promoted several investigations into silicosis and other conditions; the results have been published in a series of official reports and scientific papers. These researches were in most cases not specially directed to the particular problem of lung disease among coal miners, but during recent months attention has been concentrated on this, and a scheme of intensive investigation in South Wales has been initiated. The work already done shows the problem to be one of great difficulty and complexity, and the investigation is not likely to be completed in less than two years.

Is the Lord President aware that increasing numbers of men are being disabled from continuing their employment because of lung disease contracted in their employment and are becoming chargeable to public funds when they ought to be drawing compensation from their employers; and, in view of that, can we press that there should be a completion of this investigation in much less time than two years?

The hon. Member can rely upon it that, so far as pressure is concerned, it will be exerted, but these are very delicate and difficult scientific investigations, and the worst thing we can do if we want to get a real, good, sound conclusion is to press them too hard. We have already increased the staff of assistants engaged in this work.

Has the right hon. Gentleman read the report to the Lord President which has just been prepared by the Medical Advisory Council, and, if so, will he consult with the Home Secretary in order that we can have the best possible clauses placed in the Factories Bill in order to deal with this question?

I beg to give notice that, in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply and the position of the men who are affected, I will raise this matter at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has sanctioned the application of the Old Fletton Urban District Council to acquire land of about three acres at Coneygree Road and land of about 61 acres at London Road, Wood-stone; for what purpose these sites are wanted; if purchase has been effected, what prices have been paid; and whether these sites were previously agricultural land and therefore derated?

Proposals for the purchase of sites referred to have not yet been submitted to me.

asked the Minister of Health how many people have been refused old age pensions during the last five years on the ground that their contributions were erroneously paid; and in how many of these cases were contributions refunded?

I regret that the information asked for by my hon. Friend is not available. It is the practice, however, in such cases to refund the contributions, subject to deduction for health insurance benefits paid and the cost of medical benefit and administration.