asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give any indication as to the movement in the cost of living figures for the month of November, 1936, and the month of May, 1937?

According to the statistics compiled by my Department relating to the cost of maintaining unchanged the pre-War standard of living of working-class families, the average level of the cost of living of such families was approximately 51 per cent. above the pre-War level at 31st October and at 1st December, 1936, and 52 per cent. above the pre-War level at 1st May and at 1st June, 1937.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House the figures relating to the cost of food?

If the hon. Member will put the question down, I will certainly give them to him.

Is the right hon. Gentleman taking into account the increased cost of living?

The hon. Member knows that some time ago I appointed a very strong committee to prepare the way for an investigation into the problem.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that industrial concerns are being compelled, in order to continue their membership of the King's Roll, to discharge, amongst other employés, ex-service employés who are not in receipt of a pension in favour of ex-service men who are in receipt of a disability pension; and whether he will consider modifying, in this connection, the conditions which have to be fulfilled in order to qualify for membership of the Roll?

I am not aware of the circumstances my hon. Friend mentions, but I should be glad if he would supply me with particulars of any specific case he has in mind. With regard to the latter part of the question, I would refer him to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Birminghan, West (Mr. Higgs) on 3rd June.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of there being no regulations governing hours of employment for persons employed either as attendants or as operators at cinematograph theatres, he will consider appointing a committee to hold a comprehensive investigation into this subject?

No, Sir, but I propose myself to institute inquiries into the matter.

Has it been brought to the right hon. Gentleman's notice that many employés in cinemas work 16 and 17 hours a day?

A number of facts have been brought to my notice.

When will the inquiry take place?

I have instituted inquiries. I am now considering the best way of getting the facts measured and weighed.

Has not the right hon. Gentleman already got material as the result of the inquiry some years ago? Why does he not act upon that? Is he not aware that that inquiry was taken in co-operation with cinematograph employés?

I am making fresh inquiries.

Why does the right hon. Gentleman want a fresh inquiry when he has already had one?

Because that is several years old.

asked the Minister of Labour whether meetings are still being held between his Department and employers' organisations on the question of reducing the hours of labour; and whether any progress is being made?

The specific series of discussions of which a report was laid before Parliament last November in Cmd. 5317 has been completed. I should point out that these discussions related to the whole question of the absorption of the unemployed into industry, and not only to the reduction of hours of work.

Are we to understand that no discussions are going on now in order to try to get hours of labour reduced?

At the moment, no.

Has any employer reduced hours of labour as a result of these discussions?

If the hon. Gentleman looks at the Ministry of Labour Gazette he will see that there have been reductions.

Are we to understand that the Ministry of Labour do not intend to go any further?

The hon. Member must not understand anything of the kind. We made it clear that we had no desire to do anything but strengthen the machinery of collective bargaining and make it effective for the improvement of conditions.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Civil Service Insurance Society, which is a feeder organisation of the North British Insurance Company, has been afforded facilities by the divisional officer of his Department in Edinburgh for the distribution among civil servants of literature on life assurance; whether he is aware that, owing to the methods of employment of the North British Insurance Company, the Civil Service papers have decided to refuse all advertisements of the society; and whether, in these circumstances, he will terminate the use of the machinery of his Department for advertising this society?

The Civil Service Insurance Society is an independent society formed by civil servants; it has existed for some 50 years to encourage life assurance and other forms of insurance among civil servants and to provide favourable terms therefor by means of arrangements with commercial companies. The circumstances in which these facilities were given to this society and to two other organisations catering for civil servants were explained in my reply of 11th June to the hon. Member for the Shipley division (Mr. Creech Jones), in which I stated also that if I receive requests from other societies with like objects for facilities of the same kind I will consider them. Accordingly, while I am aware of the matters referred to in the second part of the question, I see no ground for terminating these facilities.

Is it a fact that an active civil servant is directly associated with this company?

I should like to know about that. I should like the question put down in specific terms.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of boys with one or both parents alive sent from approved schools into the Army. Navy, or Air Force without consultation with the parent or parents in the years 1934, 1935, and 1936, respectively?

I have addressed an inquiry to the schools on this point, and as soon as the replies have been received and summarised I will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to certain cases in which prisoners after conviction have requested the court, if sentencing to penal servitude, to pass sentence of not less than four years; whether he is aware that the purpose of such requests is to secure committal to a prison other than the local prison and that such requests have been granted; and whether he will, if recommended by the court, exercise the power to select the prison to which any prisoner is to be committed, conferred upon him by Section 17 (3) of the Criminal Justice Administration Act, 1914, in order to obviate the imposition of a term of penal servitude longer than the court would otherwise direct?

Apart from the case to which my hon. Friend referred in his question on the 3rd instant, there appear to have been two other cases in which a convicted prisoner has made such a request. In both those cases the prisoner subsequently petitioned for a reduction of sentence, and after consultation with the Recorder concerned, arrangements were made for the prisoner's release at a date corresponding to the sentence which it was originally proposed to pass. I do not think that these isolated cases afford any sufficient reason for altering the arrangements for the classification of prisoners sentenced to penal servitude which were adopted after full consideration in 1932.

Does not my right hon. Friend consider that the recent case at Birmingham Quarter Sessions proves the absurdity of the courts having to increase the sentence of penal servitude in order to determine the prison to which the prisoner shall he committed?

No, Sir; these are exceptional cases, and I cannot place any generalisation of that kind upon them.

asked the Home Secretary the latest available figures in his Department showing the religious beliefs of persons serving sentences in His Majesty's prisons; and which of the religious denominations has the largest number of adherents among the prison population?

The statements made by individual prisoners on reception as to their religious persuasion are on record at the different prisons, but the figures have not been collected since 1930 when a return was sent to the hon. Member. At that time over 75 per cent. stated that they belong to the Church of England, including the Church in Wales, and there is no reason to suppose that there has since been any substantial variation.

Will the right hon. Gentleman draw the attention of the Archbishop of Canterbury to this important fact?

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any statement to make regarding the protests by working-class organisations in Carlisle against recent attacks upon the Liquor Traffic State-Management Scheme on the ground that the scheme has been for the benefit of customers and the staffs employed; and whether he intends to give effect to the suggestion that the powers of the local advisory commitee should be extended?

I have received and noted the statement to which the hon. Member refers. As regards the second part of the question, I appreciate the valuable services rendered by the local advisory committee, but I do not think that it would be desirable to confer administrative powers upon them, and, as the hon. Member will recollect, the Royal Commission on Licensing did not favour such a proposal.

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to receive representations as to the way in which further powers being given to the advisory committee would add still further to the popularity of this scheme?

I shall always be pleased to receive any communication from the hon. Member, but certainly, as at present advised, I should say it is wiser to leave things as they are.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether anybody has ever said that it was popular?

Is the Secretary of State aware that when I was in Carlisle a few weeks ago I asked if I should go into one of these places to have a meal, and I was told by one of the local inhabitants, "For God's sake do not go near them."

I do not think my hon. and learned Friend would be right in attributing any responsibility for this to the advisory committee.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the only protest that has been made has been made by Socialists, who are supporting this Socialist scheme?

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the large number of houses that have been recently erected in the surburban districts of the Metropolitan police area and the complaints that have been made by residents as to the absence of adequate police protection in these districts, he will state in what manner he and the Commissioner of Police are considering increasing the strength of the police in these districts?

The question of police protection in the districts referred to is continually under review and the disposition of police resources is altered where necessary to meet changing local conditions. The number of complaints of insufficient police supervision in newly developed districts is relatively small; all such complaints are fully considered and remedial action is taken where it is required.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any estimate has been made of the number of police that will be required, so that these districts can have adequate protection?

We consider that they already do have adequate protection, but we follow the position very closely as and when these new districts develop.

Has the Secretary of State received many complaints about the insufficient protection?

Will the Home Secretary try the Carlisle scheme here? Then it will be all right.

asked the Home Secretary the number of complaints or prosecutions for young persons working overtime during 1935 and 1936 in factories engaged in engineering?

If by overtime the hon. Member means time over and above the normal 47 or 48 hour working week, I would remind him that the existing Factory Acts allow a working week of 60 hours in the case of young persons in non-textile factories, and that, so long as the limits laid down in the Act as to the daily periods of employment are observed, no question of any prosecution for "overtime" can arise. In 1936 there were prosecutions under the Acts in respect of the employment of 343 young persons before or after legal hours, the corresponding figure for 1935 being 312. These figures, however, relate to all industries, and I regret that no separate figures are available for particular industries.

In view of young people being worked overtime in defiance of the law, should not something be done to strengthen the law in order to prevent these young people from being exploited in this way?

That is exactly what we are doing in the Bill which is under consideration this afternoon.

You are weakening it.

asked the Home Secretary whether asbestos products now being manufactured for protective measures in air raid precautions have been tested and found to be impervious to all known forms of incendiary material?

Various asbestos products have been tested to determine their utility for protective measures in air raid precautions. The results have shown varying degrees of resistance to incendiary material.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that private tests have been carried out, and that it has been found that asbestos products are of no value whatever against incendiarism?

I do not think that the Air Raid Precautions Department would accept that view at all, but the matter is under test by them.

As the hon. Gentleman himself agrees that the results have been of a very indifferent character, does not that indicate that no complete protection has been afforded; and is it wise to mislead the public as to the efficacy of these air raid precautions?

I am not aware that a public statement has been made on the use of asbestos for this purpose. At the moment it is in the stage of confidential investigation, not at present it is under consideration to issue a performance specification for the guidance of manufacturers.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that certain firms producing asbestos products are claiming that these products are a complete safeguard against incendiary material; and is it wise that the public should be misled in these matters?

I am not aware that firms are making these claims, but I am not responsible for claims made by private firms. If and when a statement is made by His Majesty's Government on the subject, then will be the time for the hon. Member to criticise.

Do not hon. Gentlemen opposite claim to have a complete safeguard against war?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is satisfied that grey canisters issued to Air-raid Precautions departments, police, and ambulance corps are effective against known gases likely to be used in actual warfare?

The grey containers which have been issued with service respirators to the police, etc., are for training purposes only and give effective protection against most gases but not against all. In the event of emergency this container would be replaced by another container, similar in shape, size and resistance to breathing, but containing chemicals and pads which give protection against all gases likely to be encountered in war.

Is it not desirable that the canister used in practice should be an effective canister? What is the use of using a canister which is not intended to be used in the event of aerial raids?

Obviously, considerable value can be derived from the use in training of a canister very similar to that used in war, and I think the House will appreciate that it is desirable not to make too widely available the actual Service canister.

Is it not also true—

Order.

On a point of Order, may I ask by what rule of order an hon. Member is deprived of the right to ask a supplementary question which is quite relevant to the main question on a subject of such substantial importance?

The hon. Member cannot keep on asking the same supplementary.

I have not asked the same supplementary. With very great respect I deny that I have been asking the same supplementary question. The fact that the Under-Secretary has replied in a different fashion proves that I have not asked the same supplementary question. I object to the suggestion that I have done so.

I must be the judge in these matters.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in the case of anti-gas training recommended to the Civil Service, his Department proposes to suggest contracting out of the training on the part of the staff or contracting in?

Civil servants are being asked to volunteer for anti-gas training of a specialist kind, that is, for first aid duties in Government Departments. In addition instruction will be provided for the staffs as a whole in regard to personal protection against the effects of gas. This instruction will be in official hours and will not be compulsory, although it is hoped that staffs will avail themselves of the facilities provided. For this instruction it seemed most convenient both to Departments and to individuals to ask those who did not desire to take advantage of the arrangements to inform their Departments to that effect. Representations in a contrary sense have been received from certain staff associations and these are under consideration.

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that this matter is causing a great deal of discontent? Is he aware that practically the whole of the staffs are in favour of contracting in, but do not like the idea of contracting out, and that this may lead to serious difficulties?

As I said, certain representations have been received and are under consideration, but I am bound to express the view that, from the Departmental standpoint, the present arrangement seems the most convenient both for the people concerned and for those who have to run the scheme.

But does not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that there is always the possibility of the victimisation of those who may stand by certain principles?

I cannot agree with that statement. The hon. Gentleman must bear in mind that while it is possible to contract out of taking this instruction, it is not possible to contract out of the risk of air raids, and we desire to ensure that as many as possible shall receive this instruction, which is entirely voluntary.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give the House any information in connection with a man who was killed at the Fulham Gasworks on Tuesday.

I have received a preliminary report on this accident. I understand that the inquest will be held to-morrow and the hon. Member will appreciate, therefore, that it is not possible for me to make any statement to-day.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the strong feeling against childbirth taking place in prison; and whether he is pre-pared to introduce legislation to abolish such practice.

This would involve an amendment of Section 17 (6) of the Criminal Justice Administration Act, 1914, which gives the Secretary of State power to release temporarily a prisoner if he is suffering from disease which cannot properly be treated in prison or if he requires to undergo an operation which cannot properly be performed in prison. I will, of course, see that the question is not overlooked when any amendment of the Prison Acts and related legislation is under consideration, but I am not prepared to give any definite undertaking at the moment.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman prepared to use all the powers that he already possesses in order to prevent such occurrences?

I have no such powers. I am bound by Statute law, and have given the hon. Member the details.

I was under the impression that in quoting the law the right hon. Gentleman was indicating that he already had powers to deal with this matter.

No, I was indicating exactly the opposite and saying that I have not the powers.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recognise that this practice is a crime against the child committed not by the mother but by the Home Office, and will the right hon. Gentleman stop this criminal practice?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in 1924, 40,000 inhabitants of Reading petitioned the Socialist Home Secretary to release a woman in these circumstances and he de-dined?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the number of police and other civil life pensioners, excluding ex-service men, who are now employed in his Department as messengers and caretakers; what is the average pension received by such men; and what average salary is paid to them by his Department?

No caretakers are employed in my Department and all the messengers on the staff who are in receipt of police pensions are ex-service men.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many women 60 to 64 years of age, being wives of 65-year old pension recipients under the Contributory Pensions Act, there were in Durham County at 31st December, 1936; and how many of such women were in receipt of public assistance;

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many women 60 to 64 years of age, being wives of 65-years old age pensions recipients under the Contributory Pensions Act, there were in Northumberland County at 31st December, 1936; and how many of such were in receipt of public assistance;

I regret that the information asked for is not available in my Department.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that where a man joins His Majesty's Forces and marries before he is 26 years of age no marriage allowances are paid; that in many cases the wives of soldiers so married are now chargeable to public assistance committees; and whether any representations have been made to him on this matter, and, if so, by whom, and what is the nature of his reply?

Yes, Sir. From time to time instances have been brought to my notice of wives of soldiers who have married under the age of 26 seeking public assistance. Representations on the matter have been made to me in recent months by two local authorities. I have informed them that while the question of the age qualification for marriage allowances was not one for me, I was transmitting a copy of their representations to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War.

May I ask whether this regulation is not now impossible in view of the declining population?

Is there any claim against the board for the amount?

Will not the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the War Office?

asked the Minister of Health the number of unemployed in receipt of Poor Law relief who have been refused by the Unemployment Assistance Board, giving the figures separately for Great Britain and the county of Durham up to the latest available date?

I regret that the information desired by the hon. Member is not available.

asked the Minister of Health the number of men and women in receipt of old age pensions in Rochdale who also have their pensions augmented by relief from public assistance?

The number of persons in Rochdale drawing old age pensions under the various Acts who were also in receipt of poor relief was 453 on 1st January last, the latest date for which figures are available. I regret that I am unable to give separate figures for men and women.

As these old people have to go to the Poor Law authority for relief, will the Government consider increasing the amount of the old age pension?

asked the Minister of Health the number at the present time of husbands who have attained the age of 65 and are getting the 10s. a week contributory pension and the wife not getting it because she has not attained the age of 65; and how many of them seek assistance from Poor Law relief?

As I stated in reply to a similar question by the hon. Member on 28th January last, it is estimated that there are at present 250,000 wives of men in this class, and that the number is slowly increasing. I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the question is not available.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in Lancashire who are in receipt of old age pensions and the number of those who have to appeal for assistance to Poor Law relief; and what is the highest amount in any case granted to the 10s. pensioner from this source?

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the question is not available, as the records of old age pensioners are not kept on a geographical basis. The number of persons in the administrative county of Lancaster together with the associated county boroughs who were in receipt of old age pensions and also in receipt of poor relief on 1st January, 1937, the latest date for which figures can be given, is 30,785. The returns made to my Department do not show separately the amount of poor relief paid to those persons.

asked the Minister of Health whether he contemplates providing small bungalows for old people instead of having them sent into public institutions; if so, what are the conditions of tenancy, and whether he intends consulting local authorities on the matter?

A number of local authorities are providing dwellings for aged persons in the ordinary course of their housing operations, and there is every reason to think that local authorities in general appreciate the need for such provision. Up to 31st May last 25,016 dwellings of this type had been approved for erection by local authorities, who have ample powers to make such rebates of rent as they think desirable.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in some Sunday newspapers articles have appeared stating that he contemplated doing this? Was it a case of intelligent anticipation?

asked the Prime Minister whether he is in a position to define more exactly for the guidance of the House the limits within which he is prepared to answer questions relating to events in India; for instance, will information be given to Parliament in respect of any matter concerning which the Governors or the Governor-General are responsible to Parliament, either acting in respect of their statutory duty or in their individual judgment within the ambit of the India Constitution Act; whether in these respects information will be given as asked about facts and events in India in order that the House may judge the situation, and whether the special responsibilities of Governors are rightly exercised or not exercised; whether, for instance, any summoning of Indian Provincial Legislatures or any refusal to summon them is justified; secondly, whether information will be given on facts and events which lead or are likely to lead to the use of British or Indian troops, or concerning the protection of minorities, or to loss of life either to the troops or the civil population; further, whether provincial autonomy is deemed to be in operation for the restriction of Parliamentary questions in provinces where no Ministry has been formed which possesses the confidence of the Legislature; and whether provincial autonomy will still be deemed to be in operation notwithstanding executive power being resumed in any province by the Governor in accordance with the statute; lastly, in view of the ultimate responsibility of Parliament, as provided for in Section 93 of the Government of India Act, for the issue of any proclamation by a Governor of a province assuming to himself emergency powers in the case of a failure of the constitutional machinery of a province, and of the further responsibility of Parliament, as provided for by the said section of the Act, for the continuance of such emergency powers, whether he can assure the House that it shall be able to obtain regularly whatever information it may require for the discharge of its duty?

Before this question is answered, may I ask you, Mr. Speaker, how it comes about that this question which was on the Order Paper yesterday in the name of the right hon. Member for Epping (Mr. Churchill) and was not put on account of his absence, appears on the Order Paper to-day? Secondly, may I ask whether you can assure the House that questions of this length will not be ruled out if submitted by other hon. Members? In putting that point of Order, I am not making any complaint against the right hon. Gentleman whom I admire, but only to ensure that all hon. Members will receive precisely the same treatment.

This question, which appeared yesterday, was postponed by request, not because the right hon. Gentleman was not present. With regard to the other part of the hon. Member's question, all hon. Members will receive exactly the same treatment.