asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the inquiries into the alleged violation of the fair wage clause by Messrs. F. W. Rigby and Company have been completed; and, if so, with what result?

I regret that although further progress has been made with the inquiries in this matter they are not yet completed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he can state the cost of constructing the air base at Singapore; and how this has been met?

The total estimated cost of the military air base at Singapore is £4,500,000. The cost incurred up to 31st March, 1937, was £1,394,000. This has been met by contributions from New Zealand, the Federated Malay States and His Highness the Sultan and State of Johore amounting to £250,000, and the remainder out of Air votes. In addition there is a gift of land by the Government of the Straits Settlements.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he can state the basic trade union rates of wages paid to skilled and unskilled labour employed on the construction of the air base at Singapore?

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

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will state the number of accidents in which members of the Royal Air Force were involved arising from the pageant held at Hendon on 26th June, especially in connection with the parachute descent, and also the nature of the injuries?

No accident occurred on Saturday, 26th June, in connection with the Royal Air Force Display.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are being taken to implement the findings of the Royal Commission upon Tyneside Local Government: and whether the Government have now arrived at any decision as to either the majority or minority report?

I am not yet in a position to add anything to the reply given to a similar question put by the hon. Member on 27th May last.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what would be the cost of an increase in the following payments: 3s. a week to old age pensioners, 5s. a week to old age pensioners, 3s. a week to widow pensioners, and 5s. a week to widow pensioners, respectively?

The immediate additional cost of an increase of 3s. a week to old age pensioners (including widows over 70) would be about £20,000,000 a year, and of an increase of 5s. a week about £33,000,000 a year. The cost of corresponding increases of pensions to widows (of all ages under 70) would be about £6,500,000 and about £11,000,000 respectively. In 10 years time the additional annual cost would be about 25 per cent. greater than these figures.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the resolutions forwarded by the Old Age Pensioners' League and other bodies relating to the increased cost of living; and if it is the intention of the Government to provide a corresponding increase in the amount of pensions allowed?

My right hon. Friend has seen and considered the resolutions to which the right hon. Gentleman refers. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer him to the answer which I gave on 18th March last to the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths).

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now give the names of the members of the Royal Commission upon the location of industry; and when the Commission is expected to commence its labours?

I regret that I have still not quite completed my preliminary inquiries about the personnel of the Commission, but I hope to be in a position to announce the terms of reference and composition shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport whether application has been made to him by the highway authority for a grant towards the cost of a footpath for pedestrians at the side of the main road A 419 leading from Swindon to Cricklade, between the Turnpike and Kingsdown Lane and the top of Blundson Hill?

No, Sir. No such application has been made.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can give any estimate of the reduction in the consumption of coal by railway companies in this country as a result of improvements in the design of railway locomotives during recent years?

The consumption of coal per engine mile is given in the Annual Railway Returns issued by my Department and shows some reduction over the last ten years, but I am unable to isolate the effect of improvements in locomotive design from other relevant factors.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can give a list of toll roads and toll bridges which have been freed during the past ten years, together with the total cost of the schemes which have resulted in such freeing and the actual cost of purchasing the toll rights of each of the bridges or roads referred to?

The following are the particulars:I. Amounts paid since 1927 for purchase of toll rights of toll roads and bridges and (in brackets) the total cost of the scheme where the purchase formed part of a larger scheme.