asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that during the first four months of this year coal exports from Germany to the Argentine increased by 74 per cent., while the increase in the quantity of coal supplied to that country from the United Kingdom was only 7 per cent.; and that British coal exports to Canada were considerably reduced while from Germany there was an increase compared with the corresponding period last year; if this is due to price cutting and heavy subsidisation of German coals; and, if so, what steps does he propose to take to ensure to the British coal export trade the maintenance of its normal markets?

While I am aware that the position is as stated by the hon. Member, I would point out that in the case of the Argentine the actual increase of coal exports in tons from the two countries is approximately the same, although when expressed as percentage increases over the corresponding period of the previous year the figures are as quoted. As regards Canada, which is a seasonal market, the hon. Member no doubt appreciates that no reliable inference can be drawn from a comparison based on the first few weeks of the shipping season. With regard to the third and fourth parts of the question, I have nothing to add to the replies which I gave to the hon. Member and to the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths) on 15th June.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents for the two years ended at the last convenient date due to falls from working places and roads leading thereto in coal mines situated in the following counties:

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the high percentage of fatal accidents in coal mines in the county of Stirling, due to defects in roof supports, during the past three years, he is prepared to advise special steps in the interests of safety being adopted?

The fatal accident rates from falls of ground in Stirlingshire during the years 1934–36 have not been appreciably different from those in other Scottish counties though during the current year there have been four deaths from accidents attributed to defective roof supports, compared with three for the whole of 1936, and four in 1935. I might add, however, that the accident rate from all causes in 1936 was considerably higher for Stirlingshire than for the rest of Scotland.With a view to improving the position, the Divisional Inspector has been having intensive inspections made at a number of collieries in the area, and appropriate action is being taken on the results of these inspections.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, when the sinking of new coal pits and the surface arrangements are being planned, and when old coal mines are being re-opened and the surface organisation remodelled, provision

The following are the figures:is made for a site for pit-head baths; and,. if not, will he take steps to see that a site for pit-head baths is provided so as to avoid the difficulties and the expense which often arise from the omission to provide a site?

It is very desirable that, in the circumstances mentioned by the hon. Member, a suitable site for pit-head baths should be reserved by the colliery owners. There is no statutory obligation, but I am glad to say that in several instances the colliery owners have made this provision after consulting the architects of the Miners' Welfare Committee. I hope that this will always be done.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been called to the high price of foreign pit-props; whether he is aware that the quotations for the current year have gone up between ma per cent. and 150 per cent. over normality; whether he can take any action to reduce this heavy burden on the industry; and whether he can state the reasons which justify such an increase?

The answers to the first two parts of the question are in the affirmative. With regard to the remainder of the question, there are no doubt several contributory causes of the price increases, but the principal one appears to be that demand has outstripped supply. I regret that there is nothing that I can do in the matter.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is at present in communication with the Coalowners Association or the Coal Exporters Association regarding the declining share of this country in the sale of coal to France, Holland, Canada, the Argentine, and other countries; and, if not, will he take steps to call the attention of the coalowners to the present unsatisfactory position?

I am continually in communication with both these Associations on all matters affecting the position of the coal export trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of the total imports into the United Kingdom during the first five months of 1932, 1935, and 1937, respectively?

Total imports of merchandise into the United Kingdom registered during the first five months of 1932, 1935, and 1937, were valued at£302,965,000,£302,073,000 and£394,631,000 respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which were the four countries which were the largest importers of goods of all kinds in the years 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, and 1937; and what was the value of their imports, respectively, in those years?

The following statement, based on statistics published by the League of Nations, gives the information asked for:recent information is not available. I am also informed that up till quite recently there had been no serious interruption of supplies from Northern Spain.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what proportion of the£10,000,000 credit to Soviet Russia, agreed upon in August, 1936, has been utilised up to date?

The Export Credits Guarantee Department has been notified that contracts amounting to over£5,000,000 have so far been placed, under the Soviet Guarantee Agreement, with manufacturers in this country, and in accordance with the provisions of that Agreement the Department will, in due course, guarantee the Promissory Notes issued in connection with the payments to those manufacturers.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the total number of disabled ex-service men still unemployed and if their trade qualifications can be stated?

The number of disabled ex-service men registered at Employment Exchanges in Great Britain as unemployed on the 5th April, 1937, was 33,398. If the information asked for in the second part of the question refers to the occupations followed by these men, it is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the number of persons over 65 years of age employed in the principal industries in England, Wales and Scotland, separately; and what is the percentage of persons unemployed in each of the industries specified?

As regards the first part of the question, statistics in respect of persons over 65 years of age are not compiled by my Department, but some information on the point may be obtained in respect of April, 1931, from the Industries Volumes of the 1931 Population Census. As regards the second part of the question, a table showing the percentages unemployed among insured persons aged 16–64 for each of 107 industry groups is published each month in the Ministry of Labour Gazette, of which a copy is in the Library.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that all able-bodied unemployed have not been taken over from the Liverpool Public Assistance Committee by the Unemployment Assistance Board; and what action, if any, does he intend to take to remedy this injustice?

My right hon. Friend is, of course, aware that the provisions of the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1934, are not applicable to all persons NA ho are now in receipt of relief on account of reasons other than sickness and age. My right hon. Friend cannot accept the hon. Member's description of this state of affairs as an injustice and he would refer him to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour to a question by the hon. Member for Stratford (Mr. Groves) on the 17th instant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is the practice never to appoint any women who are successful in the Civil Service examination to administrative posts in the Colonial and Dominion Offices?

It is the practice that administrative posts in the Colonial Office should be reserved to men and since the staff of the Colonial Office and Dominions Office up to the rank of Assistant Secretary are interchangeable this reservation necessarily applies to all posts on the joint establishment of the two offices.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will publish a schedule showing recent variations in the main classes of materials required by His Majesty's Office of Works?

The majority of the services for which my Department is responsible are carried out by contractors on the basis of lump-sum tenders for the completed works, and the Department has no information as to the prices paid for materials in such cases. Materials purchased directly by the Department cover only a small range of mainenance services, and an analysis of the prices would be of little or no value as a guide to general price variations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the recent arrangement which has been arrived at between the Air Ministry and the railway booking offices with regard to facilities for booking passages on air-lines other than those operated by Imperial Airways and Railway Air Services will apply to British air-lines flying to Dublin?

I understand that the recent arrangements between the railway companies and British Airways Limited in regard to booking facilities apply only to the continental services of the latter company.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can state the number of houses required in each of the counties and principal burghs in Scotland as a result of the recent overcrowd- ing survey, and to what extent progress is being made?

The following table gives the number of houses which the overcrowding survey showed to be necessary to relieve overcrowding and the number of houses completed and approved since the passing of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1935. Since the passing of the Housing (Scotland Act, 1935, local authority housing schemes have usually been for the joint purpose of remedying overcrowding and replacing unfit houses, and I regret that separate figures as to the number of houses erected to relieve overcrowding are accordingly not available. Returns received from local authorities show, however, that from 1st April, 1936, to 3oth April, 1937, 7,662 families have been removed from overcrowded houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of beds available per cases of infectious disease in Scotland at the end of the years 1935 and 1936?

The number of beds available in local authority institutions in Scotland for cases of infectious disease, including tuberculosis, was approximately 11,350 at the end of 1935 and 11,600 at the end of 1936.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the number of persons now in receipt of Poor Law relief in Dundee, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glosgow, respectively, and in the whole of Scotland, and the number of their dependants; and the corresponding figures in each of the last six years?

The following table contains the information desired:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the hardship imposed upon applicants for special campaign pensions for old soldiers who have received war medals as a result of their inadvertently stating their age incorrectly on enlistment; and whether he will consult with the Lords Commissioners of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, to see if in future the actual age as shown on birth certificates shall be accepted?

The change proposed would operate to the disadvantage of some old soldiers, and my right hon. Friend is not persuaded that there are grounds for making it.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, in view of the fact that the Customs House wharf in Lower Thames Street is to be opened to the public on Sundays, he will allow one of the Royal parks' bands to perform there at a certain time during the summer?

In view of the restricted space available, and the cost involved, I regret that I am unable to arrange for band performances at the Custom House Quay on Sundays.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there was any discussion with the representatives of the Dominions at the recent Imperial Conference with regard to the future of outstanding war debts due from the Dominions to this country?

No, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is correct to infer from Command Paper 5480 that the arrears of principal and interest now due to the United States in respect of British war debts amounts to approximately£174,000,000; whether it is proposed to continue to allow the arrears to accumulate; or whether it is proposed to reopen discussion of the matter with the United States Government in connection with any proposals for a trade agreement?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and that to the third part is in the negative. In reply to the second part of the question, I would refer the right hon. Member to the terms of the Note addressed to the United States Government on the 14th June.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received the Report by the Workmen's Compensation Committee, 1935; and, if so, will copies of the committee's findings be available to Members of this House?

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend has not yet received the report.

asked the Home Secretary when the proposed Clubs Bill is to be introduced?

I. would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which was given to my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. R. J. Russell) on 3rd June.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether negotiations are taking place, or are contemplated, with China for the abandonment of British extra-territorial jurisdiction, or whether the British Government will be willing to give favourable consideration to the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is No, Sir. The second part does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action is being taken, internationally or otherwise, to remove the threatened civilian population of Bilbao?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement on this subject made by the Prime Minister in the House yesterday in reply to a question asked by the right hon. Gentleman, the Member for Wakefield (Mr. Greenwood). I understand that the Prime Minister hopes to make a further statement on the subject this afternoon.