asked the Minister of Labour whether he has further considered the communication from the Scottish Bankers' Association showing that the managements of the Scottish banks are intimidating their employés in such a manner as to prevent the men supporting their association in matters relating to their conditions of employment; and whether any steps can be taken to protect the rights of the employés?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has yet anything to report regarding the allegation of the Scottish Bankers' Association that members of the staffs in the Union and North Banks have been subjected to veiled intimidation by their employers in so far as the question of strike is concerned; and whether he is now prepared to set up a committee of inquiry to investigate the position?

The Scottish Bankers' Association are, I understand, sending me further information which will receive my careful consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that many local authorities in mining areas have waste heaps and waterlogged ground caused through mining; and what assistance can be given if they desire to reclaim the land?

There are no funds available from which local authorities outside the Special Areas can be assisted to carry out schemes of this kind.

Is it possible to get them included under the Commissioner for the Special Areas?

No, I do not think so.

May we hope that Clause 5 will be wide enough for us to get this in?

I would not like to give an unconsidered answer on that matter. There are certain things a site company can do, but I do not wish to mislead the House.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the Government's decision with reference to the ratification in the near future of the Washington Eight Hours' Convention; and whether it is the intention to introduce a Bill on these lines?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on this subject given to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, East (Mr. Mander) on 3oth July last.

Can the Minister say how far international co-operation has improved the standard of labour throughout the world?

There has been no change since I gave the answer to which I have referred.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state for the last avail- able year and for other than county boroughs the number of post-mortem examinations directed or requested by coroners; and in how many of these cases the examination took place in hospitals, in mortuary premises, and in other places, respectively?

Excluding the City of London, the County of London and county boroughs forming complete coroners' districts, the figure for 1936 was 10,274. I have no information which would enable me to answer the second part of the question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that on a recent occasion there was no fit place for a post-mortem examination, and that it was held on the village green?

I do not know that.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will take steps to ensure that, where the assistance of Scotland Yard is sought by Government Departments, all vital information accumulated by Scotland Yard should be made available to the Department concerned?

I am not aware of any case which would call for action such as my hon. Friend suggests. In the case which I understand she has in mind, the Department concerned, which is not the Home Office, is satisfied that the police gave it all the information they had.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the case referred to the Admiralty officials were ringing up Scotland Yard practically every day, and that vital information was withheld by Scotland Yard? Will he reconsider the statement he has just made?

Do I understand my hon. Friend to say that information was withheld by Scotland Yard?

Information was withheld from the Admiralty by Scotland Yard when they telephoned in connection with the disappearance of a naval boy. Scotland Yard withheld information which was either in their possession or in the possession of the local police who were in communication with Scotland Yard.

I was anxious to ascertain whether my hon. Friend has any complaint against my Department. I do not think she has any ground for complaint against my Department. The Admiralty are satisfied that the police gave them all the information they had.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I have a letter from the Admiralty stating that they were not in possession of all the facts? Otherwise my right hon. Friend knows that I would not have put down this question.

If my hon. Friend will let me see the letter I shall be glad to deal with it. I think Scotland Yard gave all the information it had, but it cannot be held responsible if it does not know all the facts.

asked the Home Secretary how many burglaries have taken place in the Metropolitan police area since 1932, each year inclusive; and how many of these have resulted in the conviction of the criminals?

Last week my hon. and gallant Friend asked for figures for London and the Home Counties. He now asks for figures for the Metropolitan Police District. Figures for the Metropolitan Police District, however, would be liable to be misleading because persons arrested for offences which were committed in the Metropolitan Police District may have been tried and convicted at courts outside that district, while offences committed outside that district may have been dealt with at the Central Criminal Court. I have, therefore, had a statement prepared giving the figures for which he asked last week, and, with his permission, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. It must be remembered that the difference between the number of crimes known to the police and the number of convictions obtained does not represent the volume of undetected crime, since a convicted prisoner frequently admits numerous other offences, and a single conviction may therefore dispose of a number of crimes.

Does not the reply indicate that it would serve the public service to withdraw a great many policemen who are arresting motorists and to let them concentrate on finding burglars?

I think my hon. and gallant Friend had better look at the figures, which are not very unsatisfactory.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give the House any information in connection with the explosion at the Darlington forge works; how many men were killed and how many were injured; and what was the cause of the explosion?

This regrettable accident occurred on 17th April. The casting of the stern frame of a ship was proceeding and had been almost completed when an explosion occurred and a jet of molten metal was projected upwards, with the result, I am sorry to say, that two men were killed and six others injured. It has not yet, I understand, been possible to expose the casting, and the causes of the explosion are accordingly still unknown.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give the House any information in connection with the manner that prisoners at Dartmoor can convey any genuine complaint to the chief commissioner of the prison?

The importance of securing to every prisoner full opportunity to put any complaint before the authorities is fully recognised. The Statutory Rules provide that every request by a prisoner to see the governor, or a prison commissioner, or a member of the board of visitors, is to be reported to the governor without delay; and the governor is required to hear the applications of all prisoners who have requested to see him and to report to the commissioner or member of the board of visitors at his next visit any applications to see them. It is part of the regular duty of the commissioners, assistant commissioners and members of the board of visitors at every visit to interview prisoners who may ask to see them. Moreover every prisoner can petition the Secretary of State and then has additional opportunity to bring any complaint before the highest authority. I think, however, that the hon. Member may be referring to a simpler point, and I would add that if a prisoner wants to complain, for example, of his food when it is being served, he can complain to the officer in charge at the time, and if he still feels dissatisfied, he can ask to see the governor the next morning.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider, having regard to the informed and ill-informed criticism of the prison system, appointing a committee to go into the whole matter and report to this House?

Does a prisoner require to give details of his complaint to junior officers before it is handed on?

There are two systems that go side by side. There are cases in which the prisoner prefers to make his complaint direct to the governor or visitor, and he is entitled to do that. There are other cases where he wants to make a complaint straight away, and then he has to complain to the officer in charge. I have looked into this matter pretty closely, and while there may be room for remedy in any system, I do not think there is a great deal to complain about in this matter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman appoint a committee to inquire into the matter?

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it advisable to set up such a committee in view of what I consider to be the wild statements made in a book written by Macartney, and would it not allay the sort of feeling that exists?

I do not think I could give a decision on an important matter like that in answer to a supplementary question. I think that a candid statement of the facts as to the practice does a great deal of good.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the continued widespread demand for the general improvement and standard of cinematograph sound films, he will consider the appointment of a committee to fully investigate the question of censorship of such films?

The hon. Member I think has already had a reply from the Under-Secretary about this matter on 20th January.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider in new legislation making provision for an appeal from the Board of Film Censors to one authority?

I did not know that the hon. Gentleman was suggesting legislation. Many things would have to be considered before legislation was undertaken.

Does not my right hon. Friend think there could be a great improvement of the censorship of films, and does he not have constant protests from different bodies, particularly of women, saying that they think there ought to be a stricter censorship?

A censorship is a very difficult question. The difficulty is that different people have different views.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can now state what will be the total estimated cost of the air-raid precautions scheme; and whether any decision has been reached as to how this cost should be allocated as between local authorities and the Treasury?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that many municipalities are not proceeding with the schemes required by the Air Raid Precautions Department on account of the uncertainty in regard to the propertion of cost to be borne by the national Exchequer; whether he can now make a statement as to the amount of charges which will be borne by the Government; and, if not, when is such information likely to be available?

Can the hon. Gentleman say when he is likely to be in a position to make a statement?

My right hon. Friend promised on that occasion that he would make an early statement.

Will the Home Office bear in mind the desirability of differentiating between areas on the vulnerable east coast where the cost per head is much greater and areas on the west coast where the cost per head is much less?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that nine boys were ordered to be birched by justices in the West Riding juvenile court, Doncaster, on 7th April; whether the sentences have been carried out; and whether, seeing that a committee is being appointed to consider the question of birching, he proposes to advise magistrates and others not to order birching between now and the committee reporting?

Yes, Sir, nine boys were ordered on 7th April to receive three strokes of the birch. Eight were birched on that day; a medical officer certified that the ninth was unfit for the punishment. As it must be widely known that I have decided to appoint a committee to consider the question, I do not think that further action on my part is required.

Will the right hon. Gentleman go a little further than that and advise magistrates not to order such sentences, having regard to the fact that a committee of inquiry is being appointed?

I do not think I can do that. The duty of the committee will be to ascertain and to advise, and I am hurrying up the appointment of the committee in every possible way. In the meantime I am sure that benches of magistrates will realise that I regard this subject as one which needs investigation.

Has the right hon. Gentleman decided upon any of the members of the committee, and have any of them been birched?

asked the Home Secretary whether he will make a statement concerning the death of one man two days after admission to Armley Gaol, Leeds, as a debtor, and another, 19 years of age, who has committed suicide in the gaol during this month; and will he institute an inquiry into the circumstances?

I have already made careful inquiry into both these cases. The first prisoner was a man of 43 who was received into Leeds prison on 2nd April. He was examined on admission by the medical officer and found to be suffering from valvular disease of the heart. In view of this it was arranged that he should be given no work requiring physical exertion. On the night of 3rd April he died—apparently in his sleep. The law requires that there shall be an inquest on every death in prison, and the jury found that death was due to natural causes. There is no suggestion that anything in his treatment in prison contributed to his death, and there is nothing the prison staff could have done to prevent or to render less likely this sudden heart failure.

The second case was that of a young man serving a sentence of three months in the second division. He was examined on his admission on 2nd April, and there was nothing wrong with him physically or mentally. His conduct while in prison was good: he gave no trouble and there was no question of any disciplinary treatment. On 12th April he was at work in the morning in association with other prisoners and there was nothing abnormal in his behaviour. At about 12.45 he was in his cell and was seen by the medical officer in the course of a routine round of the cells. He was then quite cheerful. At 1.15 the librarian officer who distributes books to prisoners visited his cell and the prisoner was then sitting read- ing. At 1.40 he was found dead, having hanged himself from the window bars of his cell. In this case also there was an inquest. There was nothing the prison staff could have done to prevent this tragic occurrence and there is no suggestion that there was anything in the nature of harsh treatment which might have contributed to this impulsive suicide.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is some uneasiness in the City of Leeds about these two tragic events and will the Home Office not call for some further inquiry into this matter, as well as other matters in connection with our prisons, so as to remove the possibility of such happenings as these?

I am not at all surprised that people in Leeds or elsewhere should feel anxious about these incidents, and they are deeply distressing, I need not say, to the Home Office, but I have, in what I have said, given information quite impartially, and I hope very much that, with the hon. Member's help, that will allay public anxiety about these two cases.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can now make a statement respecting the future of the Metropolitan Police Orphanage, especially in reference to the report of the committee of inquiry?

I am informed that the committee dealing with the affairs of the Orphanage made an interim report to the General Court on 30th March last and, subject to the Charity Commissioners establishing a scheme giving the necessary authority, the Orphanage will be sold. Provided that such a scheme is established it is hoped to be able to give a compassionate allowance of £36 a year to each child. This sum, however, will be liable to variation from time to time in accordance with the state of the funds.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Leigh Town Council have carried a resolution asking the Government to continue the Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions Act until June, 1943; and will he say what consideration the Government will give to this request?

I have received the resolution referred to by the hon. Member. As I have already announced, it is the Government's intention to set up forthwith a Departmental Committee to inquire into the operation of these Acts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give particulars of the present position in regard to all outstanding reparation payments, and the manner in which these payments have been suspended and/or modified?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for the Plaistow Division (Mr. Thorne) on 25th January last, of which I am sending him a copy.

Do the suspensions include cash or kind?

I suggest that the hon. Member should study the answer to which I have referred him.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the widespread anxiety that the miners' pension scheme, which was inaugurated to commemorate the Jubilee of King George V to provide pensions to raise the standard of living of persons who have been employed as miners in South Wales, has not been brought into action owing to the fear that the fund might be used to reduce allowances paid to families in need by the public assistance committees; and whether, in order that the large sum raised can be put to its proper use, he will give the assurance that the pensions will not be taken into account by the committees in assessing future applicants' needs?

There is no statutory authority which would entitle public assistance authorities to disregard pensions awarded under this scheme.

Does the Minister not think there ought to be alterations in regard to this matter?

Will the Government give consideration to relaxing the conditions in this case, seeing that the pension scheme, if it comes into existence, will save £37,000 every year to the Government in unemployment benefits and allowances? In view of that fact, will the Government seriously reconsider the matter before giving a final answer?

Would it not be wise to encourage voluntary effort in this matter?

Yes, but there are many issues which arise. It will, of course, involve legislation.

Is the Minister not aware that the Yorkshire Miners' Association pensions have been taken into account all the time, a fact which has resulted in much hardship?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the procedure is with regard to supervision by the Treasury of the acceptance by local authorities of tenders for road or other public works; whether acceptance of the lowest tendered price is ever insisted upon by officials of the Treasury; and whether he concurs with the views expressed on behalf of the Minister of Health, in answer to a Parliamentary question on 28th July, 1936, that questions of efficiency and running cost, durability of materials and freedom from repair should be considered in addition to price?

Responsibility for the administration of grants from public funds for schemes carried out by local authorities rests with the Department concerned under general conditions approved by the Treasury which vary according to the nature of the case. There is no insistence on acceptance of the lowest tender though, as was pointed out in the answer to which my hon. Friend refers, it is, other things being equal, a natural corollary of the system in use. I concur in the statement in that answer of the considerations which must be weighed and which may on occasion establish a case for passing over the lowest tender.

Is the Minister aware that one of the difficulties of local authorities is that they are receiving a series of tenders of exactly the same figure?

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that misconceptions continue to arise among local authorities as to the extent of their obligation to accept the lowest tendered price for public works; whether he will make it clear that durability of materials, non-skid qualities, and maintenance cost should be considered in regard to tenders for road works in addition to price; and whether his Department will give these considerations due weight also in approving contracts in connection with the trunk roads now under the control of the Ministry?

No, Sir, I am not aware that there is any general misconception of the position. When my right hon. Friend is asked to approve tenders other than the lowest, he is guided by the sort of considerations which my hon. Friend has mentioned as well as by the technical qualifications and financial standing of the contractors concerned.

Must we assume that, if the local authorities are not under any misconception, they have ignored the advice given by the Ministry of Transport?

We have issued a circular which sets out exactly what the position is, and I do not think they ought to be under any misconception.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the declaration of Herr Hitler that the German Government is willing to participate in a new world conference; and whether he will make a statement on behalf of His Majesty's Government?

Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Government have seen Herr Hitler's statement. The position of His Majesty's Government on this matter has been made clear from time to time, and I may, perhaps, repeat it. They would, of course, be willing to participate in a world conference provided that thorough and comprehensive investigation showed that such a confer- ence would be likely to succeed and provided that there had been adequate preparation.

Are the Government prepared to take action in order to implement the statement that the Prime Minister has just made by getting into touch with the German Government on this question?

I am not prepared at this moment to answer any supplementary question whatever.

Will the Government take the initiative, if they are satisfied—

Sir Cooper Rawson.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is prepared to consider endeavouring to effect an arrangement that Britain should settle her war debt to the United States of America on the basis of a 50-year loan, arranged in the United States, having due regard to Britain's capacity to pay?

As stated in the Note addressed to the United States Government on 10th December, 1936, His Majesty's Government will be ready to re-open discussions on the settlement of the British War Debt whenever circumstances are such as to warrant the hope that a satisfactory result might be reached. I am not prepared to express any opinion at the present time in regard to methods of settlement.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman compelled to admit responsibility for what has been taking place in these negotiations during the last few weeks?

Is not one of the great difficulties the fact that the United States will not accept imports from our country?

Will any settlement that takes place be comprehensive, including I he debts owed to this country?

That is a hypothetical question.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman say to other countries: "If the American Government are prepared to give Europe a clean slate, are you prepared to give us a clean slate?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that many internal drainage boards are unable to embark upon urgently necessary works of a capital nature owing to the impossibility of finding the necessary finance, and of the circumstances of the catchment boards, which prevent them from giving relief to the internal boards, either by a reduction of precept or by way of financial grants under Section 21 of the Land Drainage Act, 1930, he will consider amending that Act to enable him to make direct grants in appropriate cases in internal drainage boards towards expenditure on capital works such as are now made to catchment boards under Section 55 of the Act?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 8th April to a question on this subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr. Liddall), to which I am not at present in a position to add.