asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the proposed superannuation scheme of the Sugar Corporation provides pensions for members of their staff who are not naturalised British subjects; and, if so, to how many?

I understand that the corporation's superannuation scheme does not discriminate between British and alien employés, and that 17 of the latter are eligible for inclusion within it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the fact that the proposed superannuation scheme prepared by the Sugar Corporation is confined to members of the office staff, some of whom have only served for a very short period; and whether he will make representations to the corporation to extend their superannuation scheme to workers employed in the factories, some of whom have been employed since the year 1912?

The superannuation scheme prepared by the British Sugar Corporation covers the permanent full-time salaried employés of the corporation between the ages of 18 and 64½, but does not extend to other workers, except for certain key workmen, such as foremen and time-keepers. It does not appear to be the general practice either in private industry or in Government industrial establishments to include industrial employés in the pensionable establishment, and I do not feel able, therefore, to make the representations suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the number of prosecutions for under-payment of wages for the 12 months ended September, 1936, and for the subsequent period to the end of Mareh, 1937, the fines inflicted, and the amount of arrears ordered to be paid?

During the 12 months ended 3oth September, 1936, the number of prosecutions instituted by the Ministry for failure to pay wages at not less than the minimum rates fixed under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, 1924, was 93; the total amount of fines imposed by the courts in the cases in which conviction was secured was £251 4s., and the total amount of arrears awarded was £2,232 15s. 4d. For the six months ended 31st March, 1937, there were 62 prosecutions, fines amounting to £260 3s. were imposed, and the total arrears were £1,635 8s. 1d.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the present number of approved applicants for small holdings under the Small Holdings Acts; and the number of applicants awaiting interview or standing over and not yet approved?

The number of applicants approved and awaiting small holdings under the Small Holdings and Allotments Acts, on the 31st December, 1936, as returned by the small holdings authorities, was 1,515, and the number of applicants awaiting interview or standing over, and not yet approved, was 3,325.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the total amount paid by his Department to date to the Land Settlement Association under the £1 for £1 arrangement for the establishment of 3 to 10-acre co-operative small holdings; and if he can state the number of holdings established to date under this scheme?

The total amount of the grants from the Development Fund paid, to date, to the Land Settlement Association, under the £for £ arrangement, is £81,976 l0s. 4d. The number of holdings provided under the scheme is 151; in respect of 75 of these, additional assistance, over and above the £ for £ grant, is provided by the Commissioner for the Special Areas, in view of the fact that the settlers on these 75 holdings have been drawn from those areas. The major part of the association's work is at present devoted to the settlement of men from the Special Area on holdings which, apart from the 75 holdings to which I have referred, are financed entirely by the Commissioner for the Special Areas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any statement to make about the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at Woodbury, near Exeter; and whether he has been able to discover the source of infection?

Foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed on Sunday, the 6th June, at Webber's Farm, Woodbury, near Exeter. The outbreak involved 38 cattle, 5o pigs and 131 sheep on the farm, among which some 6o animals were affected. All these animals were slaughtered and also, on other premises, 18 cattle and one pig which had been exposed to infection. Disease had existed unreported for several days and as affected animals were moved from outlying premises to the farmstead along a public highway, further local outbreaks may occur. Prompt steps were taken to disinfect the roads. No suggestive evidence pointing to the source of infection has yet come to light but inquiries are proceeding.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the fish and potato friers of the country are perturbed at the poor quality, scarcity, and increasing cost of potatoes; whether he appreciates that potatoes form an important part of the diet in working-class homes; and whether he can make a statement as to Government policy in relation to quality, scarcity, price, and importations?

As regards the first part of the question, I understand that the National Federation of Fish Friers and the Potato Marketing Board have set up a Joint Committee to deal with matters affecting the supply, quality and prices of potatoes. The answer to the second part is in the affirmative; and as regards supplies and prices, I would refer the hon. Member to replies given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to the hon. Member for the St. Rollox Division of Glasgow (Mr. Leonard) on 20th April and to the hon. Member for the Tradeston Division of Glasgow (Mr. T. Henderson) on 3rd June, copies of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give any information as to plans for avoiding a repetition of the floods in the fenland district of the Ouse Catchment Board?

The responsibility for the preparation of plans to secure the fenland district of the River Great Ouse Catchment Area against floods rests with the Catchment Board and I understand that the Catchment Board are giving anxious consideration to the problem. I have not yet, however, received any details of their proposals.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has considered the request from the poultry industry for the compulsory sale of eggs by weight and grade; and, if so, can he now state what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The proposal referred to, which would involve legislation affecting numerous interests, is under consideration together with other proposals that have been made to me relating to the poultry industry. I am not in a position at present to make any statement with regard to it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, whether he can supply any figures showing the effect of the cheap milk supply schemes in the Rhondda and Jarrow upon the total consumption of milk in these areas; and whether the Milk Marketing Board and the dairymen distributors have, in fact, received an increased income as a result of the cheapened price of 1s. 4d. per gallon of milk in the Rhondda area?

I am informed by the Milk Marketing Board that no figures are yet available as to the effect of the cheap milk schemes in Rhondda and Jarrow upon the total consumption of milk in those areas. On 29th May 6,358 persons were participating in the Rhondda scheme, the total consumption of milk under the scheme for May being approximately 152,000 pints; the corresponding figures for Jarrow are 1,412 person participating in the scheme on 29th May, the consumption of milk during May being approximately 34,000 pints. I understand that no reliable information is yet available on the points raised in the second half of the question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, whether he is aware of the frequent infringement of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, in respect of the exposure for sale of imported meat without an indication of the place of origin; and whether he will remind local authorities of their duty in this matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, but if my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any case where the requirements of the Order are not being complied with I will look into the matter. Inspectors of the Ministry are in constant touch with Local Authorities responsible for the enforcement of the Order.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is prepared to set up a committee to consider the effect of the cessation of the purchase of gold by this Government and the Government of the United States of America upon the prices of other raw materials and upon industry, both economically and psychologically?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the increased danger to pedestrians desirous of crossing the Embankment caused by the traffic lights erected at Temple Gardens, inasmuch as the apparatus controlling the Cross-now sign is not in working order, as no response can be obtained upon pressing a button as directed; and whether he will take immediate steps to have the apparatus rendered effective or, alternatively, removed?

Arrangements have been made for the notice on the post to be covered up until the traffic light signals are brought into operation.

asked the Minister of Transport whether investigation is made by his Department into all motor accidents in which loss of life occurs; and whether, if such is the case, he can say how many inquiries have been held in Lancashire during the last 12 months?

No, Sir. The evidence at inquests normally indicates the cause of the accident and this information can be supplemented in suitable cases by informal investigation. It is only when the holding of a formal inquiry on my behalf is likely to result in useful information that such an inquiry would be necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the approximate cost of each of the major bypass schemes carried out in Great Britain since 1930, together with the approximate average traffic which passed through the town by-passed at the time each scheme was approved?

I am not quite clear to what this question is intended to refer, but if my hon. Friend has any particular scheme in mind I shall be happy to obtain such information as may be available.

asked the Minister of Transport, apart from the improvements on the Edgware-Morden line and the electrified service over the London and North Eastern Railway line, if there are any schemes under consideration for the improvement of travelling facilities in the northern sector of London, particularly from Hendon and Mill Hill?

I am fully alive to the need for improving travelling facilities wherever possible, but I am informed that, owing to the heavy financial commitments undertaken by the London Passenger Transport Board and the Main Line Railway Companies in connection with the new works programme already announced, they cannot consider any further proposals at the present time.

asked the Minister of Transport whether arrangements have now been made to bring about a measure of uniformity in the fares from Stanmore, Metropolitan Railway, and the Edgware and Morden line?

I understand that discussions are proceeding between the board and the railway companies concerned with a view to the introduction of a greater measure of uniformity of fares when the works now in progress to enable trains to be run from the Bakerloo tube section of the board's lines on to their Stanmore section are completed.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how much coal is used annually by ships of the Royal Navy and in what form?

In the financial year 1936 the consumption was, in found figures, 44,000 tons of steam coal for steaming, and 125,000 tons of furnace coal for auxiliary purposes. These figures cover, in addition to His Majesty's Ships, coal used in Fleet Establishments, Dockyard craft, and certain Fleet auxiliaries, the consumption in which cannot readily be separated.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how the average wages paid at the present time in His Majesty's Dockyards compare with those paid in private shipyards in respect of approximately similar work; and how these figures compare with those for 1927 and the immediate pre-war period, respectively?

The following are the time wage rates of shipwrights (representing the skilled trades) and labourers in His Majesty's Dockyards, and the principal shipbuilding centres on the 1st July, 1914, 31st December, 1927, and 1st June, 1937:

1st July, 1914.
His Majesty's Dockyards.	Principal Shipbuilding Centres.
(For a 48 hour week.)	(For a 53 or 54 hour week.)
Shipwrights:
38s. a week	41s. 7d. a week
Labourers:
23s. a week	23s. a week
31st December, 1927. (For a 47 hour week.)
Shipwrights:
62s. a week	55s. 10½d. a week
Labourers:
47s. a week	38s. 6d. a week
1st June, 1937. (For a 47 hour week.)
Shipwrights:
65s. a week	64s. a week
Labourers:
50s. a week	45s. a week

An application for an increase in the pay of the skilled workmen in the Dock- yards is at present under consideration by the Shipbuilding Trades Council.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what progress has been made in the inquiry into the question of marriage allowances for naval officers; and whether any arrangements are being made to obtain evidence from those directly concerned?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for East Dorset (Mr. Hall-Caine) and the hon. and gallant Member for Cambridge (Lieut.-Commander Tufnell).

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the latest information available as to the number of aircraft now at the disposal of the British, American, Italian, Japanese, and German navies; and what has been the approximate change in such numbers during the past five years?

The figures for the Royal Navy are, in 1932—139 aircraft; at the present date—204. As regards the foreign navies, according to the latest information at my disposal, the figures are:—

• American Navy: 1932—464. Now—709.
• Japanese Navy: 1932—250. Now—461.
• Italian Navy: 1932—30. Now—60, plus on each date a certain number of shore-based reconnaissance aircraft.
• German Navy: 1932—Nil. Now—16.

The British figures are not comparable to those given in respect of the other countries, as aircraft not allotted to His Majesty's Ships are under the control of the Royal Air Force.