asked the Secretary of State for War, what is the nature of the work now in progress at the Duke of York's headquarters, Chelsea, involving throughout the day the use of drills driven by electric power; how long such work is likely to continue; and whether, in view of the inconvenience and annoyance caused to residents in the immediate vicinity, he will take steps to have the noise modified or, alternatively, to have the carrying out of said work expedited?

Some buildings at the Duke of York's headquarters, Chelsea, are in process of demolition to make way for a new anti-aircraft building, and the use of electrically driven drills is necessary to remove concrete floors and stanchion bases, etc. Every effort is made to reduce the amount and duration of the drilling, and I anticipate that the use of these drills will be discontinued in a day or two.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Italian and German representatives on the Non-Intervention Committee have made any proposals for recognition of the so-called Franco government or for according belligerent rights to both sides in Spain; what is the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards such proposals; and if he will give an assurance that such steps will not be taken until this House has had an opportunity to debate them?

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

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress had been made by the Non-Intervention Committee in arranging for the withdrawal of non-Spanish nationals from the theatre of the Spanish civil war?

I would refer my, hon. Friend to the reply given to a question asked by the hon. Member for Derby (Mr. Noel-Baker) on Wednesday last.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that there has been a considerable increase in the amount of traffic on the main road from Tring to Watford due in the main to extensive factory development in the neighbourhood of Hemel Hempstead; and whether he proposes to take any steps in the immediate future to widen the road, which is becoming extremely dangerous, or to construct a by-pass?

The responsibility for the initiation and execution of any scheme for the improvement of this road rests with the Hertfordshire County Council as the highway authority concerned. I understand that they propose to widen it to 100 feet where practicable and to carry out, during the next three years, works involving an expenditure of £100,000.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that serious complaints have been made by the inhabitants of Beverley and Hull at the noise made by aeroplanes during the night and also on Sundays; and will he give instructions to obviate the disturbance and especially to regulate Sunday flying during the hours of divine worship?

No such complaints have been made to the Air Ministry, but I will endeavour to ascertain the facts and will communicate with the hon. Member later. As regards divine worship, a Notice to Airmen has in fact been issued strongly urging pilots to avoid the possibility of disturbance.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the estimates of future expenditure contained in the Return of Expenditure on Social Services (Cmd. 5310); and whether he will consider the desirability of having a distinction made in such estimates between automatic and optional expenditure?

The whole of the expenditure dealt with in this Return is governed by legislation, and there is not so definite a distinction between automatic and optional expenditure as would justify an atempt to sub-divide under these heads.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is now in a position to report on the proposed alterations of the House of Commons' fair wages clause?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour to the hon. Member for the Chester-le-Street Division (Mr. Lawson) on 25th March last, of which I am sending him a copy. I have at present nothing to add to this reply.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the desirability of promoting legislation to amend the Trade Union Act of 1927 so as to make it unlawful for a strike to be declared by the employés of a public authority unless and until a ballot has been taken under the supervision of an independent returning officer to be appointed by Parliament, whose duty it will be to satisfy himself that every such worker has a fair opportunity of voting under statutory safeguards, that the ballot is held in accordance with the provisions, mutatis mutandis, of the Ballot Act, 1872, and that a majority of the workers involved is in favour of the proposed strike?

I have been asked to reply. No legislation for the amendment of the Trade Union Acts is at present contemplated, but my hon. Friend's proposals will be borne in mind.