asked the Secretary for Mines when the annual report of the Department is likely to be published?

It is hoped to publish this report by the middle of September.

asked the Secretary for Mines (1) whether he is aware that the shipment of bunker coal from the River Tyne is less by 130,812 tons during the last six months compared with the same period of last year; and what steps his Department is taking to restore prosperity to the trade of this locality;(2) whether he is aware that the high prices fixed for bunker coal by the central selling committee have resulted in driving many vessels to the Continent for bunkers only; and what steps are being taken in the matter?

I am aware that the bunker shipments from the Tyne ports during the first six months of this year compared with the same period of 1936 were less by approximately the tonnage stated and that it is alleged that in some cases ships have bunkered at Continental ports because they were not prepared to pay the prices quoted on the Tyne. I do not know whether the prices complained of were the minimum prices fixed by the District Selling Committee or were higher prices charged by the Colliery Owners in the light of supply and demand. I have no power to determine these selling prices, but the minimum prices fixed by the Selling Committee can be challenged before the District Committee of Investigation. As regards the prosperity of the locality I would remind the hon. Member that the saleable output of the Northumberland and Durham coalfield during the first six months of 1937 was over 600,000 tons greater than in the corresponding period of last year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what arrangements are made at the present time by the several marketing boards to employ ex-service men whenever practicable?

I am informed that, for those posts for which men who were of military age in 1914 to 1918 would be eligible, the general practice of agricultural marketing boards is, other things being equal, to give preference to ex-service men.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any evidence to show the extent to which the grey squirrel has invaded Wales?

No official survey of the range of the grey squirrel in Great Britain has been made but from an article by Mr. A. D. Middleton, of the Bureau of Animal Population, Oxford, in the Journal of Animal Ecology for November, 1935, it appears that the animal had then been reported in a small area of North Wales contiguous to Cheshire.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that many local authorities are declining to proceed with schemes for air-aid precautions until the decision of the Government with regard to the financing of their schemes is made known; and when will he be in a position to make a statement on the subject?

I would refer my honourable Friend to the answer which I gave yesterday to a question by the hon. Member for Pontypool (Mr. A. Jenkins).

asked the Home Secretary whether finger-printing is resorted to in the case of children before or after guilt has been proved; how many juvenile delinquents have had their fingerprints taken since the beginning of the year; and how many parents have refused to assent to the finger-prints of their children being taken since the beginning of the year?

Where finger-prints are taken by the police they are normally taken before trial in the case of both juveniles and adults charged with criminal offences, if no objection is raised by the person concerned or, in the case of a juvenile offender, by his parents, it it is possible to communicate with them. If the person whose finger-prints have been taken has not been previously convicted of crime and is found not guilty, the prints are, of course, destroyed. I regret that the information asked for in the latter part of the question is not available.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can provide a list of the damages awarded against members of the Metropolitan police in civil actions during the past five years?

The records kept are in such form that considerable labour would be involved in obtaining the information for which my hon. Friend asks. The records for the past two years have, however, been examined, but during that period no case can be traced in which damages have been awarded against a member of the Metropolitan Police Force in a civil action arising out of his duty as a police officer.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give separate figures for England and Wales for each of the years 1935 and 1936, showing, in each case, the number of murders known to the police; victims in murders in which the suspected murderer committed suicide; persons proceeded against at the assizes for murder; persons charged with murder found insane before trial and on arraignment; persons charged with murder found by juries guilty but insane; persons sentenced to death; and the number of persons executed?

The figures asked for are as follow. Those for 1936 are subject to final correction.

	1935.	1936.
Cases known to the police of murder of persons aged one year or over	87	99
Victims involved	101	112
Cases in which the murderer or suspect committed suicide	41	32
Persons arrested	47	64
Committed for trial	43	58
Found insane on arraignment	6	11
Found guilty but insane	14	15
Convicted and sentenced to death	17*	23
Executed	8	9
* Including one case in which the conviction was quashed on appeal.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Non-Intervention Board have received any reports regarding the landing of war materials from German and Belgian vessels at the port of Pasajes?

No, Sir. I understand that as a result of reports published in the Press, the Non-Intervention Board made special inquiries into the alleged landing of certain consignments of munitions at this port, and found these reports to be without foundation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to when German aeroplanes of the Heinkel III type first appeared in large numbers on the Basque front?

No, Sir. There is some evidence, however, based mainly on Press reports, which tend to show that a few machines of this type were present on the Basque front at the beginning of April.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any response has been made by the Valencia Government to the suggestion emanating from General Franco that some agreement should be come to between the contestants for the withdrawal of volunteers from Spain?

His Majesty's Government have noted with satisfaction statements which are reported to have been made recently on behalf of both parties in the Spanish conflict to the effect that they would be prepared, in certain circumstances, to contemplate the withdrawal of foreign combatants from Spain. As the House is aware, this is a matter to which His Majesty's Government attach the greatest importance, and they are most anxious that it should be possible to proceed with the discussion of the detailed measures which are already before the Non-Intervention Committee as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any reports 9 have been received from British observers on the Portuguese frontier regarding the passage of arms across that frontier into Spain?

I am informed by His Majesty's Ambassador at Lisbon that he has received no reports of any attempt to pass arms or munitions across the Portuguese frontier into Spain, and that he is satisfied that during the time that the British observers have been on duty on the frontier, the agreement has been loyally carried out by the Portuguese Government so far as that frontier is concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made with the arrangements for facilitating the evacuation of refugees from Santander and their safe transit to or through France; how many refugees have been evacuated from Santander during the past fortnight in British ships and how many in ships owned by other nations; and whether the process of evacuation will now proced more rapidly?

The hon. Member was informed on 5th July that the French Government were now prepared to allow Spanish refugees, with the exception of males of military age, to pass in transit through France to other parts of Spain. I have definite information that seven British ships and one French ship have sailed from Santander with refugees, but it is probable that these numbers are not complete. It is estimated that on the average each ship can accommodate 1,500 refugees.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement on the meeting of the General Advisory Health Council of the League of Nations; and, in particular, what steps it is proposed to take as regards the proposal that the populations of tropical and sub-tropical territories should be included in the scope of the inquiry on nutrition?

His Majesty's Government have not yet received the full report of the meeting of the General Advisory Health Council. As regards the second part of the question, the Council of the League of Nations at its last Session referred to the Health Committee of the League the suggestion that the special problem of nutrition in tropical and subtropical territories should be included in the Health Organisation's inquiry into nutrition.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will inform the House as to how many of the British embassies and legations abroad have attached to them an official chaplain; and will he consider whether in future official chaplains may be supplied to all embassies and legations in cities where there is a substantial British community?

Chaplains, a part of whose stipends is paid from official funds, are attached to six missions. As regards the second part of the question, my hon. and gallant Friend will no doubt agree that in cities abroad where the British community is substantial, the community, if it desires the services of a chaplain, would itself be able to provide the necessary stipend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement regarding recent conversations with the Japanese Ambassador with regard to future relationships between the two countries?

I cannot at present add anything to the statement made by my right hon. Friend in the course of the Debate on 25th June.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether it is the policy of the Government, and on what conditions, to allow foreign officers to receive training and instruction with the various British services?

In accordance with the normal practice of international courtesy in such matters, foreign officers are from time to time accepted for training in the establishments of the Navy, Army and Air Force. Attachments to certain Army and Air Force units are also allowed for foreign officers whose countries offer reciprocal facilities. The reception of such officers is, in certain cases, specifically provided for under Treaty obligations.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any local authorities have suggested painting the background of halt-signs red or some other easily distinguished colour so that these signs may be more readily picked out by drivers?

One local authority has suggested a yellow background; but evidence is lacking that the change would be advantageous, or, that the cost of painting or otherwise converting signs throughout the country would be justified.

asked the Minister of Transport, whether he will explore the possibility of the village of Randwick, Gloucestershire, being supplied with electricity?

I am informed that the West Gloucestershire Power Company have already laid over 3,000 yards of distributing mains in the Parish of Rand-wick, but if the hon. Member will let me know what particular part of the Parish he has in mind, I will ask the Electricity Commissioners to take the matter up with the Company.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, whether any, and what, wireless facilities exist at the Brighton, Hove, and Worthing air-port at Shoreham?

No such facilities exist at this aerodrome at the moment.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether any night-flying facilities exist or have existed and, if so, the date and reason for their cessation, at the Brighton, Hove, and Worthing airport at Shoreham?

Some night flying equipment has been provided by the owners of this aerodrome. On account of certain obstructions, however, the aerodrome has never been available for night flying.

asked the Minister of Health what relation does the Central Valuation Committee bear to the local assessment and rating authorities; to what extent is it empowered by his Department to override their decisions or impose its will upon them; and have the local committees any responsibility to the central committee other than to submit reports of their proceedings?

The Central Valuation Committee, which consists largely of members of assessment committees and rating authorities, is a body appointed under the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925, for the purpose of promoting uniformity in valuation for rating. To that end the committee are invested with certain powers by the Act and the statutory scheme made under it, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. The committee have no jurisdiction with regard to the determination of individual assessments, which are matters for the local rating and assessment authorities, subject to the right of any person aggrieved to appeal to the courts, but they have issued a number of recommendations on points of principle designed to promote uniformity of valuation which have been widely followed by local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the number of private families consisting of four or more persons at present occupying one room in the borough of Southwark?

The most recent figures available are those of the 1931 census, from which it appears that 761 families of from four to nine persons were then living in one room in Southwark. It is not possible to obtain strictly comparable information from the overcrowding survey of the county of London, a report of which was published by the London County Council in 1936, but the figures then obtained indicate that the number of families of four persons living in dwellings of one room is not more than 170 and may be considerably less.

asked the Minister of Health whether any changes have been made in his Department during the current year as regards the employment of a greater number of ex-service men; and, if so, of what nature?

The majority of the appointments made in my Department are to established posts and are therefore recruited through the Civil Service Commissioners. The grade of temporary messenger is recruited exclusively from ex-service men, and certain other temporary posts have been similarly filled. No change of practice has taken place during the current year.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of midwifery schemes which have been submitted to him for any of the districts in Wales; and which of these schemes he has sanctioned?

Proposals under Section of the Midwives Act, 1936, for a service of salaried midwives have been submitted by all the Local Supervising Authorities in Wales, numbering 19. My formal sanction is not required to these proposals, but in three cases I have already informed the authorities that in my opinion their proposals are satisfactory, and in these and other cases the authorities are proceeding to put the proposals into operation. In some cases I am still in communication with the authorities regarding particular points affecting their proposals.

	1930.		1935.
	Quantity.	Value	Quantity.	Value.
	Th. cwts.	£'000.	Th. cwts.	£'000.
Preserved meat and fish	613	6,447	641	5,787
Preserved vegetables (including pickles, sauces and condiments (excluding table salt.	1,260	5,268	2,567	6,559
Preserved fruit (including marmalade, jams and fruit jellies).	3,968	9,758	4,302	8,942

Firms making their returns on schedules for the preserved foods trade and employing more than 10 persons possessed 350 establishments in 1930 and 419 in 1935. These firms were engaged in the manufacture of a much wider range of products than those mentioned above, but they did not manufacture the whole of the above output.According to the information collected for the purpose of the Surveys of Industrial Development, the number of new factories employing 25 or more persons set up in Great Britain during the years 1932 to 1936 for the production of canned or preserved food was 25, of which four are in Greater London, five in the South and South-West Region, 10 in the Eastern Counties, and one is in a Special Area, namely, Tyneside.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of tuberculous patients receiving open-air treatment in Leicestershire, and how many

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the increase in the production of canned or preserved food in this country in the past five years; what has been the increase in the same period in the number of factories engaged in this production; and how many of them have been established in the London and Southern areas and how many in the Special Areas?

Information regarding the past five years is not available. The output of preserved meat, fish, vegetables and fruit, as returned at the Censuses of Production for 1930 and 1935 by firms employing more than 10 persons, was as follows:such patients there are who are on the waiting list?

The number of tuberculous patients receiving treatment in residential institutions under the arrangements of the Leicestershire County Council on the 1st of this month was 168, and there were at that date 21 persons on the waiting list. The corresponding figures for the City of Leicester were 301 patients in institutions and 24 patients on the waiting list.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to state the result of his inquiries into the case of alleged water pollution at Weston-on-the-Green, Oxon?

I understand that the effect of the reports made to the local authority in this matter is that they would not expect to be successful in proceedings taken by them for the abatement of a nuisance in this case. It is, however, open to the complainant himself to take such proceedings if he takes a different view.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the economic committee on the Highlands and Islands is likely to complete its investigations and report; whether he is satisfied that the powers and terms of reference of the committee are sufficient, with a view to early and substantial development of the Islands and Highlands; and whether he will set a time limit to the period of investigation?

I understand that regional inquiries by the committee are actually proceeding but I am not in a position to make any statement. The committee have undertaken a heavy and methodical programme of work and I do not think it would be advisable to hasten unduly their investigations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make inquiry into the notices which have been sent to the tenants of the property at 155, Orr Street, Glasgow, warning them to seek other accommodation; whether such houses are controlled and the notices invalid; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take to see that the tenants are provided with houses at rents within their capacity to pay?

I have no information regarding notices sent to the tenants of the property at 155, On Street, Glasgow, and I have no power to intervene in a matter of this kind. Any question as to the right of the owner of a house to obtain possession thereof can, in the event of dispute, be determined only by the courts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that a large number of skippers and mates of steam trawlers in Aberdeen, over the period April to June, inclusive, received wages of less than £3 per week and that a substantial number received average wages over this period of less than £2 per week; that a large number of masters, mates, and crews are losing their employment owing to the laying-up of unprofitable trawlers, and that this situation is bringing distress upon a valuable class of industrial workers; and whether he contemplates any immediate measures to meet the situation?

I have received statements from the Aberdeen Skippers and Mates Association which show in a considerable proportion of cases rates of remuneration such as those mentioned in the question; I am also aware that it is unfortunately the case that a considerable number of trawlers are at present laid up at that port. As regards the last part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 29th June to the hon. Member for South Aberdeen (Sir J. Thomson). I am still awaiting the information referred to in these answers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what information he has as to the present position regarding rights of use, ownership, etc., of the jetty at Portvoller Point, Isle of Lewis?

In 1929, the Board of Trade conveyed to Mr. J. Macleod an area of Crown foreshore at Portvoller, on which he constructed a jetty. Six years later a dispute arose between the local fishermen and the owner as to the use of the jetty, and arrangements were made for the Board's local officer and the District Fishery Officer to meet the interested parties. As a result, the owner offered to surrender his rights in the jetty and to allow the fishermen the free use of it, provided that he was adequately reimbursed for his expenditure, but this offer was not accepted by the fishermen. So far as I am aware, the position remains unaltered.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in order to stimulate recruiting, he would be prepared to restore the red tunics and other uniforms for infantry and cavalry to be used for walking-out purposes?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle) on 17th June.

asked the Minister of Labour the amount standing to the credit of the Insurance Fund at the 30th June, 1937?

On 30th June, 1937, the total balance of the Unemployment Fund Was about £49,750,000.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that men on the South Lincolnshire land settlement scheme, near Spalding, are being subjected to a means test after 15 months' training; and whether, in view of the assurance given that it would not apply after 15 months, he will state what steps he proposes to take to discontinue this practice and remove the cause of present unrest?

I think the hon. Member is under some misapprehension. Applicants to the Unemployment Assistance Board who come in to these Land Settlement schemes receive their allowances during the period of training. At the end of this period they become independent small holders and pass out of the scope of the Board. The period of training is usually not more than 15 months but in a small number of cases the Land Settlement Association recommend that in the interests of the men concerned the period of training should be extended for a short time until they have reasonable chances of becoming self-supporting from their holdings. This is what has occurred in the Land Settlement Association estate at Fulney and the action taken is in the interests of the men concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a person is deprived of unemployment assistance allowance for a period of unemployment should be at work when the investigating officer calls to ascertain the particulars of his household; and whether he will take steps to rectify this hardship on the unemployed by withdrawing Instruction 38 B 1 to unemployment assistance officers?

I assume the hon. Member refers to the provisions of Section 38 (1) (b) of the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1934, which requires an applicant, before he becomes eligible for an allowance, to prove that he has no work or only such part time or intermittent work as not to enable him to earn sufficient for his needs. The Board have no power to modify the provisions of the Statute, but if the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of any case he has in mind, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will indicate the course of employment in the city of Leicester by industries, numbers, and percentages, respectively, for the month of June, 1937?

The available figures relate to the area served by the Leicester Employment Exchange and Juvenile Employment Bureau. The following table shows for this area (a) the numbers of insured persons, aged 16 to 64 years, recorded as unemployed in the principal industries in Leicester at 21st June, 1937, and (b) these numbers expressed as percentages of the estimated numbers insured at July 1936:

—	Number.	Per cent.
Building	500	6·6
General Engineering, etc.	226	2·1
Printing, Publishing and Bookbinding.	123	3·6
Hosiery	1,807	5·8
Boots, Shoes, etc.	2,163	11·0
Distributive Trades	836	5·7
All other industries and services.	2,494	6·9
Total, all industries and services.	8,149	6·6

NOTE.—The figures given in the Table above are exclusive of insured agricultural workers; the number of such workers, aged 16–64, recorded as unemployed at the Leicester Employment Exchange at 21st June, 1937, was 31.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any new schemes to encourage unemployed persons to consider the possibility of adopting the Services as a career have been adopted during the current year; and, if so, of what nature?

I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the steps taken at Employment Exchanges to supply interested applicants with information about service in the Forces. Under arrangements agreed with the Service Departments which came into operation early this year, coloured pictorial recruiting posters for the three Services are exhibited in Employment Exchanges and pamphlets regarding service in the Forces are available for applicants to take.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state, approximately, the total wages increases and decreases, respectively, for the year ended December, 1936, and the first six months of 1937?

A summary of the changes in rates of wages reported to my Department during the year ended 31st December, 1936, is given on page 130 of the April, 1937, issue of the Ministry of Labour Gazette. A similar summary for the first five months of 1937 is given on page 236 of the June, 1937, issue. Particulars for the first six months of 1937 are not yet available, but will be included in this month's issue.

asked the First Commissioner of Works what changes it is proposed to make in the interior arrangements of the House of Commons and by whose authority; and whether the opinion of the House will be taken before any such alterations are made?

It is proposed to rearrange the refreshment rooms of the House of Commons in accordance with a scheme recommended by the Joint Committee of the two Houses appointed in 1935 to consider the Refreshment Rooms and Lavatories in the Palace of Westminster: the proposals have been considered by representatives of all parties in the House and plans have been exhibited in the Tea Room: so far as I am aware they meet with the general approval of Members.

asked the First Commissioner of Works how many tax offices are housed in Crown buildings, and how many are in buildings rented from private contractors?

There are 115 offices of Inspectors and Collectors of Taxes housed in 72 buildings, and 755 such offices in 481 buildings.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that increasingly and for longer periods of time the public are being requested not to walk on the lawns at Hampton Court Palace Gardens; whether it is intended that such restrictions shall become permanent; and whether he will take immediate steps to secure the restoration of amenities formerly enjoyed?

Some increase has been necessary in the number of notices asking the public to keep off the grass in certain areas owing to an increasing tendency for worn tracks to appear. The notices are not intended to apply to the lawns as a whole and the public: will not be restricted more than is essential for the preservation of the turf.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will issue an up-to-date report on the social and economic condition of the Protectorates in South Africa, together with a statement as to any long-term programme now in contemplation tor the economic development of these territories and the social advance of the Africans to whom these Protectorates belong?

Full reviews of the general economic position of the High Commission Territories in South Africa, with proposals for their development, to which effect is being given, are contained in the reports of Sir Alan Pim's Commissions published between 1932 and ]935. Annual reports on the social and economic progress of the Territories are also issued, and details of the assistance given from the Colonial Development Fund for the various development works can be found in the Annual Reports of the Advisory Committee. In the circumstances, my right hon. Friend does not consider that the preparation of a further special report regarding the Territories is required at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government has yet reached a decision regarding the establishment of a broadcasting station in Cyprus?

As I informed my hon. Friend on 16th March, what the Government have under consideration is the question of the issue of broadcasts in languages other than English. The possibility of utilising Cyprus in this connection is not being overlooked; but the whole question raises a number of difficult technical and other considerations, which require examination. I can give no indication as to when a decision will be reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements have been made for the publication of the minutes of evidence given before the Royal Commission on Palestine?

The public evidence is being printed and will be published in due course as a non-Parliamentary paper. I understand that the production is not likely to be ready for at least a month.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the activities of the Victory Housing Association at Portsmouth for the provision of low-rented houses for the families of naval ratings; whether he is aware that this association is anxious to build more houses to meet the great demand but is finding difficulty in negotiating the necessary loan; and whether he will consider whether there are any steps, such as guaranteeing a loan or making Admiralty land available, which his Department can take for the furtherance of this work?

No application for assistance on the lines indicated has been received from the Victory Housing Society. The loan with which the existing houses were built was, I understand, negotiated by the society with the Public Works Loan Board through the Portsmouth Corporation, and I presume that any further loan required will be similarly negotiated. There is no Admiralty land which could be made available for this purpose.