asked the President of the Board of Education which are the local education authorities which, up to date, have submitted no schemes for the reorganisation of elementary education in their areas; and will he state the steps he is taking to secure that reorganisation in those areas shall be complete by 1st September, 1939?

The Isles of Scilly and the urban district of Barry are the only authorities which have no schools, other than infants' departments, organised on the lines recommended in the Hadow Report and are not known to have reorganisation in progress or under consideration. The Scilly Isles present special difficulties, but proposals are in hand for the provision of practical instruction. His Majesty's Inspector has the problem of reorganisation in Barry under consideration with a view to advising the authority in the matter. It should not be inferred that all other local education authorities have up to the present prepared schemes which will secure the completion of reorganisation in their areas by 1st September, 1939, but I am satisfied that good progress is being made.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will give the average cost per place of elementary schools as shown by tenders received by local education authorities for the last convenient three months and the similar cost for the three months period a year before?

Since the type of school accommodation required for children of under 11 years of age differs widely from that required for children over ix years of age, I am giving separate figures for infant and junior schools and for senior schools. The average cost per place as shown by tenders received in January to March of this year, was, in the case of junior and infant schools, £40 13s. as against a figure of £33 8s. for the same period a year ago. The corresponding figures for senior schools are £62 2S. and;£41 14s., but in this case a comparison may be misleading as there has hen a change in the standard of provision required.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will give the average cost per place of secondary schools as shown by tenders received by local education authorities for the last convenient three months and the similar cost for the three months period a year before?

The average cost per place of new secondary school buildings for which loans were sanctioned by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health in December, 1936, and January and February, 1937, was 09 18s. The figure for the corresponding period a year earlier was £76 11s.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether a grant of 75 per cent., if approved by the local education authorities, would be sanctioned in the case of the purchase by a denomination of an existing school at present owned by the local education authorities for the purpose of conversion into a denominational senior school?

Before proceeding in such a case as is mentioned in the question, the local education authority would have to satisfy the board on various points mentioned in Section 17 (4) of the Education Act, 1921, and in Section 8 (4) of the Education Act, 1936. In these circumstances, it would be impossible for me to express any opinion except upon consideration of the facts of the particular case.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in accordance with the recommendations of the advisory committee on the scientific investigation of crime, it is proposed to establish a medico-legal institute for pathological research and as a training centre for experts in medical jurisprudence?

The committee's report is primarily concerned with measures for improving medical education in certain directions; while I am in sympathy with their recommendations they fall also within the province of the Minister of Health, with whom I am in consultation on the matter. My hon. and gallant Friend will of course appreciate that the committee's proposals would involve a substantial charge upon the Exchequer.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has yet come to a decision as to whether the case mentioned in the annual return of experiments on living animals in the year 1935, of an experimenter who performed some inoculation experiments without the necessary licence and certificate, was or was not in contravention of the Act, for which a penalty not exceeding £50 may be imposed?

The nature of this case is stated in the passage of the return to which the hon. Gentleman refers. It was carefully considered whether there should be a prosecution but, in all the circumstances, it was decided that the appropriate course was to suspend the granting of the licence, for which application was made, for six months.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered the resolution from the Dorking Urban District Council regarding the serious overcrowding of railway trains in the London area, and particularly as regards trains running between Dorking and London; and whether he will make representations to the Southern Railway Company on the subject?

I have already brought the resolution to the notice of the Southern Railway Company.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that clumps of trees have been, and are being, planted upon the verge of the new Glasgow-Edinburgh Road, and that in the event of these growing they will increase the risk of accidents being caused by children or dogs running out unexpectedly into the road; and whether he will consider discontinuing unnecessary expenditure on these plantations?

It is the policy of my Department to add to the attractions of highways by the judicious planting of trees, but in this case I have asked the county council to delay further action, so as to ensure that the sites chosen make full allowance for the vision of drivers and pedestrians and the other requirements specified in the memorandum on the layout and construction of roads.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the derestriction of the portion of the new Glasgow to Edinburgh Road running through the Carntyne housing scheme causes great anxiety to the residents whose children require to cross this road on their way to and from school; and whether he will consider re-imposing the speed limit in this highly populated area?

—		1932.	1933.	1934.	1935.	1936.
		£	£	£	£	£
Beet Sugar	…	2,356,207	3,332,910	4,449,883	2,285,570	2,980,978
Cattle (Payments to producers)	…	—	—	2,013,307	3,884,049	3,982,728
Milk	…	—	—	1,385,142	1,854,186	1,044,616
Herrings	…	—	—	14,747	12,140	47,440
Tramp Shipping	…	—	—	728	1,997,603	1,999,719
Civil Aviation	…	398, 343	399,959	442,110	325,328	317,996
Light Horse Breeding	…	10,549	—	5,000	5,000	5,000
Mechanical Transport	…	4,720	1,800	660	200	120
Wheat Deficiency Payments	…	4,510,946	7,179,748	6,812,785	5,636,642	—*
* The amounts of Wheat Deficiency Payments relate to the cereal years ended 31st July 1933, 1934, 1935 and 1936. Figures are not yet available for the cereal year 1936–37.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the announcement that the Government hopes to place 10,000 ex-service men in the Civil Service during the next two years indicates that any avenues of entry to the Civil Service will be closed to those for whom they have hitherto been available;

I have not received any representations from the corporation in the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he wilt set forth in tabular form the financial concessions made to land, agriculture, and industry each year from inception under the Agricultural Rating Acts, the 1929 Local Government Act, and the various measures instituted for the assistance of wheat, sugar-beet, cattle production, shipping, milk, meat, etc.?

It is not possible to give figures for the benefit which agriculture and industry, including transport, have derived year by year from derating. Under the Local Government Acts, 1929, the reliefs under the Agricultural Rates Acts were absorbed in the general de-rating provisions associated with the block grants. The amounts included in the block grants in respect of the year 1928–29 on the basis of the benefit in that year totalled approximately £25,650,000. The following table shows the amounts paid as subsidies from the Exchequer and the Wheat Deficiency Payments under the Wheat Act, 1932, during the five years 1932 to 1936:and whether this announcement will in any way prejudice the tenure of posts now held by non-ex-service men?

I would refer the hon. Member my replies to the hon. Members for Rochdale (Mr. Kelly) and Shipley (Mr. A. C. Jones) on 6th April. If the hon. Member has any particular grade in mind, perhaps he will communicate with me. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether women are eligible for the impending vacancy in the professional staff of barristers or admitted solicitors in the Charity Commission; and, if so, whether there is any difference in salary for male and female applicants?

The forthcoming vacancy on the legal staff of the Charity Commission was announced in the usual way as open to both men and women applicants. The scale of salary authorised for the post is £315 rising to £625 a year for men, and £315 rising to £510 a year for women.

asked the Minister of Transport the cost of production of an electrical unit by water power where the full load is taken up and also the same for a steam Station?

This would depend on circumstances.

asked the Prime Minister whether the speech made by the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence, at Newcastle, on 5th March, represents the policy of the Government, when he stated that he hoped that the community would forgo the pleasure of seeing new buildings erected or old buildings reconstructed, in order that the Government programme might not be handicapped and that there might be a flow of remunerative contracts when the peak of the Government's programme had been passed?

The statement of my right hon. Friend was, on the face of it, not a statement of policy but an indication, to which neither I nor, I am sure, my hon. and gallant Friend take exception, of one way in which the public might assist both in facilitating the progress of the Government's Defence programme and in promoting continuity of employment in industry over a period of time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether further steps have been taken for the creation of a reserve of wheat supplies for use in this country in time of emergency?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for South Salford (Mr. Stourton).

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether he is aware that between 31st March, 1936, and 31st March, 1937, MS joists and bars have risen over 100 per cent. in price, MS plates 75 per cent., electrolytic copper 98 per cent., copper (strong sheets) 85 per cent., standard tin 40 per cent., English lead 90 per cent., soft pig-lead 95 per cent., virgin spelter over 100 per cent., osmiridium 95 per cent., and hemp 60 per cent.; and, in view of the importance of these commodities on the national rearmament programme, what steps he proposes to take to protect the public from further price rises?

I am informed that the increase of price quoted for mild steel joists and bars and plates during the period mentioned has not exceeded about TO per cent., and as the right hon. Member is no doubt aware, the British Iron and Steel Federation is taking steps to prevent any undue increase in the prices of such goods. With regard to the other materials, I would point out that our supplies come mainly from overseas and that it is not within the power of the Government or industries in this country to control the prices of such supplies.

asked the Lord President of the Council what number of seats for the Coronation have been allocated to large trading organisations other than the co-operative societies?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Wycombe (Sir A. Knox) on 18th March last.

asked the Minister of Labour whether persons in receipt of standard benefit and also of a supplementary unemployment allowance from the Unemployment Assistance Board will receive the Coronation allowance of 2S. 6d.?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether extra precautions against fire are being taken in the case of the high stand erected outside St. Margaret's, opposite this House, seeing that a canopy is to be fixed in front of the stand?

(for the First Commissioner of Works): The question of fire protection in this and other stands in the vicinity has been discussed with the London Fire Brigade and all precautions practicable will be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for War what complaints he has received from the Australian forces at present in this country for the Coronation concerning the accommodation and the food provided for them by his Department; and is it his intention to see that the cause for such complaints is immediately removed?

I cannot trace any complaints of the kind suggested in the first part of the question: the second part, therefore, does not arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of arms and munitions, apart from aircraft and aero-engines, and spare parts, exported to destinations other than British during the calendar year 1936?

The total declared value of the arms, ammunition and military and naval stores exported from the United Kingdom to foreign countries during the year 1936 amounted to £1,303,000. This figure excludes exports of aircraft and parts thereof, but it includes sporting arms and ammunition and explosives for industrial use, the value of which cannot be precisely stated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any and, if so, what licences for the export of arms, including aeroplanes and component parts thereof, to Germany have been granted since 1st January, 1937?

No licences have at any time been granted for the export to Germany of either arms or aircraft armament. Unarmed aircraft may be exported under the open general licence of the Board of Trade to all destinations with a few exceptions, which do not include Germany.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the opinion expressed in the recently-published report of the Food Council that sufficient latitude should be allowed in regulating imports of bacon to prevent sudden or undue rises in prices which could check consumption; and whether, in view of the present high prices, he will take early steps to revise the present basis of the regulation of imports?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the opinion expressed by the Food Council, with which the present arrangements for regulating imports of bacon are not in conflict. As regards the present level of prices, I would refer to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Consett (Mr. David Adams) on 24th February.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will draw the attention of the Bodkin Committee on Share-Pushing to the activities of Confederation Securities, Limited, 4, Victoria Street, London, in circularising appeals to potential investors to purchase at 2S. shares in Zermopad (Overseas), which shares are described as shortly to be issued to the public at 12s. 6d.; whether he is aware that Zermopad is described as a permanent cure for rheumatism, lumbago, and coughs; and whether Zermopad (Overseas) is a registered company with an official address?

If the right hon. Gentleman will furnish me with the particulars of the offer to which he refers, I shall be happy to consider them. With regard to the remainder of the question, Zermopad (Overseas) Limited was registered under the Companies Act, 1929, on the 18th March, 1937, but has not yet filed notice of the situation of its registered office.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can state what agreement, if any, was arrived at with the Finance Minister of New Zealand with regard to trade between that country and Great Britain?

Discussions are still in active progress. The hon. Member will appreciate that no statement can be made until they are concluded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the resolution recently passed by the legislative council of Antigua requesting that no quota should be imposed on the production of Antigua sugar, and pointing out that the island would be in grave danger of becoming a distressed area if its principal industry were thus restricted; and whether steps were taken by him to consult Antiguan sugar producers before the British policy of restriction was decided upon?

I have been informed by the Governor of the passing of a resolution but have not yet received its text. As to the latter part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for Birkenhead, West (Lieut.-Colonel Sandeman Allen) on 24th February and to the hon. Member for Stourbridge (Mr. Morgan) on 10th March. The committee referred to in the latter question includes gentlemen appointed to represent the West Indies, including Antigua.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a person qualified to receive unemployment benefit by virtue of being unable to obtain work in his or her own particular calling who consequently enters on a course of training for alternative employment is treated as eligible for receiving benefit?

Such a person would not be debarred from drawing benefit on account of attendance at a training course provided by the Ministry of Labour or the Unemployment Assistance Board, or (in the case of juveniles) by the Local Education Authority, or at a course specifically approved in his case under Section 24 (2) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1935. In other cases the answer depends on the precise circumstances, in particular on whether the applicant remains available for other work and whether he has entered into a contract of service, and applicants wishing to remain on benefit in such cases would be well advised to consult the Employment Exchange beforehand as to their position.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will at an early date lower the unemployment insurance waiting period for agricultural workers to bring it in line with that of other workers?

The agricultural insurance scheme is on a separate financial basis. If the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee report in due course that the scheme has a disposable surplus, the question of applying this to the reduction of the waiting period will be considered.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Local Unemployment Index is now extensively used in universities and colleges and by other students; and whether, in view of the changed demand, this publication may now be treated as a Government publication on normal sale and made available to Members of Parliament on the usual green demand form; and if he will arrange for an annual summary of these unemployment figures?

The Local Unemployment Index was instituted in order to meet a demand for the supply of information of this kind for business purposes, and is issued at a price estimated to cover the cost of production. The great majority of the subscribers are business establishments and I regret that I cannot see my way to making any alteration in the terms of issue. The preparation of an annual summary would involve a substantial increase in cost, and I have no evidence that this would be likely to be covered by increased subscriptions.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered at the Walworth Road, Borough, Employment Exchange, as at the last convenient date, showing the figures, separately, of men, women, boys and girls; and the number of persons who have found employment for one month or more through this Employment Exchange during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of the Borough (Walworth Road) Employment Exchange at 15th March, 1937, were:

Men aged 18 years and over	8,035
Boys aged 14 and under 18 years	74
Women aged 18 years and over	2,190
Girls aged 14 and under 18 years	38
Total	10,337

The following table shows the number of young persons below the age of 21, who were assisted, through the Department, to obtain employment in other areas during the year 1936 from Liverpool, Bootle, St. Helens, Birkenhead and Wallasey.

—			Boys, 14 and under 18.	Girls, 14 and under 18.	Young persons 18 and under 21.
					Men.	women.
Liverpool	…	…	499	6	51	260
Bootle	…	…	49	8	8	134
St. Helens	…	…	15	26	5	48
Birkenhead	…	…	26	—	2	20
Wallasey	…	…	15	—	—	5
Total	…	…	604	40	66	467
NOTE.—The above table does not include young men aged 18–21 from the areas in question who have undertaken courses of training in Government Training or Instructional Centres and have subsequently obtained employment in other areas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to give details of proposals that will assist the poultry industry?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions on 6th April to my hon. Friend the Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton).

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?

pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 25th March, 1937; col. 3080, Vol. 321) supplied the following statement:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, before approving the establishment of an additional beet factory in South Wales, he will consider whether employment can be given in that area at less cost to the taxpayer by the alternative establishment of a factory for canning fruit and vegetables?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for East Cardiff (Mr. O. T. Morris) on nth March.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has, as yet, come to a decision as to the proportion of revenue derived from wireless licences which shall in future be passed on to the British Broadcasting Corporation, with a view to meeting the increased costs arising from the development of television?

No, Sir. Under the terms of the Government's decision set out in the White Paper on the Broadcasting Committee's report, it would rest with the Treasury, if at any time they were satisfied that the income of the British Broadcasting Corporation was insufficient to support their services, including television and Empire broadcasting, to approve an increase in the proportion of net licence revenue payable to the Corporation.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has yet come to a decision upon the question of introducing a Bill to secure the powers recommended by the committee of the Institution of Electrical Engineers to compel owners of electrical plant which causes interference with broadcast reception to instal suppression apparatus?

The preparation of a Bill to give general effect to the recommendations of the Committee on Electrical Interference with Broadcasting is under consideration, but I can hold out no hope of its introduction during the present Session.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the number of King's cadets appointed in each of the last three years to the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, respectively; the number of cadetships granted at the same establishments over the same period at reduced fees to the sons of officers, etc. (as described in paragraph 52 (d), on page 23 of the War Office publication, Regulations respecting admission to the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, 1936); and the number of cadetships granted at the same establishments over the same period by the nomination of the Army Council, on the recommendation of headmasters of approved schools (as shown in paragraphs 33 and 34, pages 18 and 19, of the afore-mentioned publication)?

Following is the information:

King's Cadets Appointed.
		Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.		Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
1934	…	…	4	5
1935	…	…	4	9
1936	…	…	2	7
Cadetships Granted at Reduced Fees.
1934	…	…	84	125
1935	…	…	78	129
1936	…	…	84	133
Cadetships Granted by Army Council Nomination.
1934	…	…	Nil	25
1935	…	…	Nil	27
1936	…	…	Nil	19

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether the oil produced from coal which costs the Admiralty three times as much as imported oil refers to the ordinary fuel oil produced by the low-temperature carbonisation process?

No, Sir, my statement related to some small purchases of a high grade liquid product of low-temperature carbonisation for a particular purpose, which purchases were made at about three times the duty-free price of imported fuel oil.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has any information as to whether any British Dominion has yet reached a decision in regard to the ratification of the Native Recruitment International Labour Office Convention, 1936; and whether the Convention will be ratified by His Majesty's Government in respect to the South African Protectorate?

I understand that the Government of the Union of South Africa have decided not to ratify the Convention. I have no information as to the intentions of the other Dominions. The question of the application of the Convention to the High Commission Territories in South Africa is at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the protests that have been made by women's and other organisations in Greenock, and elsewhere in Scotland, against the use of the birch on juveniles with judicial sanction; and whether he has any statement to make regarding the abolition of such judicial sanction?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, the hon. Member will be aware that a reply was given by the Home Secretary on 18th March, in which he announced that it has been decided to appoint a Departmental Committee to consider the whole question. My right hon. Friend is at present in communication with the Home Secretary on the general questions concerned.