asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will state the total amount of contracts placed by way of instruction to proceed for each quarter since that system was first acted upon?

I regret that it would be impracticable to compile the information for which the hon. Member asks. The procedure of placing contracts by means of an instruction to proceed pending a final agreement on price, has been in use over many years and separate records of the value of such contracts have not been maintained.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether steps can be taken to see that all aircraft on delivery to stations are equipped with wireless before leaving the manufacturer and that a competent and experienced Royal Air Force wireless operator is on board the aircraft to work with civil stations when flying through bad weather; and to take every possible step to avoid a repetition of the loss of the bombing machine that was recently wrecked on a delivery flight from Bristol to Scotland by the issue of clear landing instructions when very thick weather may be expected?

It would, I fear, be impossible to give effect to my hon. and gallant Friend's proposal. I may observe that the records of the Air Ministry show that serious accidents very rarely occur to aircraft in the course of delivery flights, and that it was not on a delivery flight that the regrettable accident to the aircraft referred to in the second part of the question occurred.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will consider bringing in regulations with the Royal Aero Club to compel pilots to turn round a pylon placed 1,000 yards from the aerodrome in all air competitions, and so avoid the steep turn on leaving the airport that caused the accident with loss of life at Hanworth on Empire day?

The accident at Hanworth is being investigated but the report of the Inspector is not yet available. Until it is, no conclusions can be arrived at, but I will see that careful consideration is given to my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Transport when legislation is likely to be introduced dealing with the reorganisation of distribution of electricity supply?

I am not in a position to add to the statement which I made on 16th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the housing overcrowding survey in Scotland has now been completed; and, if so will he state the position of the local authorities from which returns had not been received at the date of the publication of Command Paper No. 5171?

When Command Paper No. 5171 was issued there were 12 county councils in Scotland from which over- crowding survey returns had not been received. All but two of these, namely Orkney and Shetland, have now been

STATEMENT referred to.
Local Authority.	Number of Houses Surveyed.	Number and Sizes of Habitable Houses found to be Overcrowded.							Number of Families Overcrowded.*	Number of Overcrowded Houses belonging to Local Authorities.
		Number of Apartments.						Total.
		1	2	3	4	5	6 and over.
Aberdeen Co.	27,602	578	563	652	111	28	2	1,934	2,825	91
Angus	10,551	159	719	361	14	—	—	1,253	1,253	11
Argyll	10,069	56	550	232	34	1	—	873	901	10
Dumfries	8,663	6	796	375	42	2	—	1,221	1,684	15
Fife	24,253	234	4,187	1,759	159	12	6	6,357	6,873	402
Inverness	11,227	26	288	436	54	5	—	809	876	39
Peebles	1,791	7	151	46	8	1	—	213	171	3
Ross	13,308	155	1,103	399	121	3	—	1,781	1,781	5
West Lothian	9,926	211	2,383	700	79	5	2	3,380	4,326	267
Wigtown	4,522	5	133	176	13	1	—	328	495	—

Local Authority.	Number and Sizes of Habitable Empty Houses.							Number and Sizes of New Houses estimated to be required.†					Number of New Houses proposed to be provided by Local Authorities during the years 1936–1938 inclusive.
	Number of Apartments.						Total.	Number of Apartments.				Total.
	1	2	3	4	5	6 and over		3	4	5	6 and over
Aberdeen Co.	92	23	41	26	33	33	248	331	599	85	11	1,026	Not yet submitted.
Angus	158	224	165	48	28	68	691	117	417	49	—	583	Not yet submitted.
Argyll	34	269	164	89	47	64	667	166	211	53	3	433	52
Dumfries	—	1	—	—	—	—	1	249	513	131	15	908	Not yet submitted.
Fife	46	205	97	24	11	13	396	1,548	1,931	400	3	3,882	Not yet submitted.
Inverness	Not available							185	422	106	11	724	Not yet submitted.
Peebles	4	14	9	6	2	—	35	64	53	2	2	121	36
Ross	41	132	150	213	81	108	725	82	60	17	1	160‡	Not yet submitted.
West Lothian	6	18	11	8	1	4	48	1,074	1,067	231	16	2,388	1,280
Wigtown	4	22	85	27	16	55	209	88	167	38	2	295	20
* Includes overcrowded families living in uninhabitable houses.
† Excludes 605 houses of one apartment and 78 houses of two apartments estimated to be required.
‡ Does not include requirements for Crofters, Squatters and Tied Houses.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state the number of casual labourers who have

The Admiralty have always been Idly alive to the desirability of finding employment for ex-service men, and the policy is to enter:

(i) ex-naval men and ex-dockyard employés,

(ii) other ex-service men,

in preference to other candidates without Service claims. During the past six months, 593 casual labourers were entered at Admiralty industrial establishments in the Chatham district. Of these, 137 have been discharged and the yard has no record of their previous service. Of the 456 who remain rob are naval ex-service men, 92 ex-dockyard men and 121 ex-service men other than ex-naval men.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the danger to the public waiting for tramcars or attempting to cross the road opposite the Bow Read Underground Railway station, and that tramcars stop for passengers to board or alight 20 feet from the refuge provided; and whether he will initiate discussions with the local highways authorities to ensure a greater degree of safety at this spot?

The difficulties experienced by tramway passengers in this locality are well known and discussions are proceeding between the local authority and the London Passenger Transport Board. I am prepared to consider any proposal which the authority may submit.

asked the Minister of Transport why a portion of land, amounting to one-tenth part of an acre, situated in Ardrishaig and sought to be purchased by the County Council of Argyll for the purpose of erecting a public convenience and shelter, has been refused to them although there is a public need for such convenience and shelter; arid for what purpose connected with the operations of the Ministry does he insist on retaining this piece of ground?

The erection of a public convenience on the site suggested would have a detrimental effect on the value of the Ministry's adjoining building sites and property. There is no lack of such facilities at the place in question. The County Council have been offered an alternative site on the Ministry's property which is easy of access and situated near the Canal offices, Pier and bus stands.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the major items of improvement which he intends to carry out on the trunk roads under his control during the next 12 months; whether any schemes have had to be modified or cut down as a result of the increase in the cost of materials, and especially steel; and, if so, whether he can give particulars?

A list of major works authorised or in progress at 31st March, 1937, will be found in Appendix II to the Estimate for the Roads, etc., Vote (Class VI, 15). The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative and the third part does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is in a position to say when the Departmental Committee he has set up on lighting will issue their report?

I am informed that the committee hope to make their final report before the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the absence of omnibus shelters in some villages in East Yorkshire which are served by omnibus companies; and whether he will make representations to the traffic commissioners concerned to take this requirement into consideration when renewing licences?

While I appreciate the desirability of adequate shelters being provided, the provision of these shelters is a matter for the omnibus operators and does not come within the purview of the traffic commissioners when considering applications for road service licences.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the respective costs of the by-pass schemes recently announced by him in connection with roads through Rochester, Winchester, Maidstone, Selby and Tonbridge make allowance for the recent increase in the cost of structural steel?

The estimates of cost did not make allowance for an increase in the cost of structural steel. The Winchester by-pass is in course of construction and except for the final section will not be affected by rising prices. Estimates for the Rochester, Maidstone, Selby and Ton-bridge by-passes are approximate only and adjustment may be required when the schemes are approved for grant and contracts are entered into.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any estimate can be given of the revenue which has accrued to the Exchequer as a direct result of scientific research carried out by any Government Department?

The scientific researches carried out by Government Departments are not intended to produce a direct profit to the Exchequer, and charges for research undertaken on a repayment basis, or for the manufactured products of research, are fixed with a view to recovering only the actual cost incurred. On the other hand, the indirect gain to the Exchequer accruing from the increased taxable capacity of those industries which have turned to advantage scientific researches carried out by Government Departments into problems affecting industries as a whole must be considerable, but is impossible to estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the refusal on the part of the Foreign Transactions Advisory Committee to sanction certain foreign loans during the past 12 months was due primarily to the fact that, according to the information at the disposal of that committee, there is no surplus of gold in this country available for lending abroad; and whether he anticipates that such a surplus will be available in the near future?

In making their recommendations, the Foreign Transactions Advisory Committee have acted in accordance with the general instructions contained in their terms of reference which were published in the OFFICIAL. REPORT of the 7th April, 1936. The policy laid down in those instructions for the guidance of the committee is not based upon a single criterion such as the total gold holding of this country, and the latter part of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there is sufficient tanker tonnage under the British flag to import to this country the abnormal quantities of oil which will be required in war time?

There is enough tanker tonnage under the British flag to carry to this country the oil estimated to be needed here in war. To meet estimated total requirements, elsewhere as well as in this country, on present forecasts, the services of other tankers will be needed to some extent.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether replies have now been received to the protests addressed to General Franco on 12th January with reference to the "Bramhill;" on 13th February with reference to the "Havock" and "Gipsy;" and on 28th April with reference to the "Greathope"?

As regards the steamship "Bramhill," protest was delivered by the British naval authorities to the naval authorities at Cadiz on 15th January and a further protest was addressed to the Salamancan authorities by His Majesty's Ambassador at Hendaye on 19th January. Replies were received to both these communications. The Salamanca authorities regretted the occurrence and stated that further strict orders were being issued to Commanding Officers of insurgent patrol ships to avoid a repetition of such incidents.

. asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the Non-Intervention Committee propose to issue the appeal, as proposed by His Majesty's Government prior to 24th May, to the two parties in the civil strife in Spain to abstain from aerial bombardment of open towns and nonmilitary objectives?

The appeal, the terms of which were agreed to by the Non-Intervention Committee on 18th June, has already been addressed-to the two parties in Spain, on behalf of the committee, by His Majesty's representatives at Hendaye and Valencia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress is being made with the building of the new British Embassy at Nanking; and when it is anticipated that the Ambassador will take up his residence at the Chinese capital?

Negotiations are still proceeding with the Chinese Government with a view to the acquisition of the proposed site for the new Embassy. In the meantime the previous Consul-General's residence at Nanking has been specially adapted as a residence for the Ambassador, who spends a considerable part of the year there.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give an assurance that in any negotiations that take place with Germany no agreement will be arrived at that will be in any way inconsistent with our obligations under the Covenant of the League of Nations, the Pact of Paris, and to the French Government?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement on the discussions which took place at the recent League of Nations Council on the future of the International Office on Refugees?

In accordance with the Assembly's instructions, the President of the Governing Body of the Nansen Office presented a report to the Council at its last session on the liquidation of the Office. A resolution was submitted to the Council approving the transmission of this report to Governments with a view to its consideration by the Assembly, and asking Governments to submit any observations which they might have to make upon it before the opening of the next session of the Assembly. The Soviet representative pointed out that the report in question put forward a number of problems in connection with refugees. If the Council were to take account of those problems, it would either have to renew the life of the Nansen Office or create another similar body. The Soviet representative wished to make it clear that, by adopting the resolution, the Council was not expressing any opinion in regard to the problems put forward by the President of the Governing Body. The President of the Governing Body expressed the hope that Governments would submit observations on his report. He added that the problem itself could only benefit from previous study by Governments, which would enable the 1938 Assembly to take its final decision in the matter with the fullest possible information at its disposal. The resolution was adopted without further discussion.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that claimants in disputed compensation cases, where the medical referee ultimately certifies fitness for employment either partial or ordinary, are debarred from receiving unemployment benefit during the waiting period on the ground of incapability or unavailability for work; and what steps he is prepared to take to remedy this?

I am aware of the position; my right hon. Friend does not feel, however, that it would be possible to justify the payment of unemployment benefit in respect of days on which the claimant has declared that he is not capable of and so is not available for work.