asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to state when he hopes to make known the future policy in regard to the Pig and Bacon Boards, in view of the serious financial position that has arisen, which is causing not only a rapid decline in breeding sows but which also makes it impossible, at present prices of feeding stuffs, to rear bacon pigs at even a small margin of profit to the producer?

I am not at the moment in a position to make a statement, but I hope that it may be possible to do so before the House rises for the Summer Recess.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the increase in insect troubles, he has any information to show whether this is due to a reduction in the bird life of the country; and, if so, from what known cause?

I am aware that there has been a noticeable increase in the numbers of certain common pests during the current year, but I understand that there is no reason to attribute this to any decline in the bird population. The different pests fluctuate widely in numbers from year to year, and the situation during the present year is well within the normal range of fluctuation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is prepared to make a grant towards a scheme for encouraging the consumption of an increased proportion of British eggs in this country; and, if so, on what terms?

Eggs packed under the National Mark share in the publicity arranged by my Department on behalf of the National Mark movement generally, and this service is paid for out of Sub-Head M.1 of the Ministry's Vote. I have no other funds at my disposal out of which to make a grant for the purpose indicated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of the courts in the case of Thorne v. Motor Trade Association that it is not illegal for a trade association to demand of a trader, whether he is a member of the association or not, a money payment as the price of abstaining from putting him on its stop list; and whether he will consider the need for legislation on the subject in the light of the Report of the Departmental Committee on Restraint of Trade to restore the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeal in the case of Rex v. Denver, 1926, 2 K.B., 258?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I would, however, point out that the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeal in the case of Rex v. Denyer to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers was apparently in conflict with a decision of the Court of Appeal in another case, and I understand that the case of Thorne v. The Motor Trade Association was brought to resolve this divergence of view. With regard to the second part of the question, I see no reason to dissent from the view of the Committee referred to that legislation on this subject is not called for.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department how many countries still insist on fixed periods of credits governing payment for British goods; and whether he will give details in every case?

I am not aware that any country insists on a fixed period of credit governing payment for imported British goods generally. If my hon. Friend would furnish me with details of what he has in mind I shall be glad to make inquiries.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the approximate value of goods unconditionally exempt from duty under the Import Duties Act, 1932, which were imported into the United Kingdom during the year 1936?

The value of goods imported into the United Kingdom during 1936 unconditionally exempt from duty under the Import Duties Act, 1932, and not chargeable with duty under any other enactment is approximately £295,000,000. This figure does not include gold and silver bullion and coin, which are not usually regarded as merchandise, nor goods which are liable to duty but admitted free under various statutory conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will state, for each of the last five years, the number of emigrants to and from the Irish Free State and Great Britain?

The number of immigrants into the United Kingdom from the Irish Free State is not recorded, but the following table shows the passenger movement (British and aliens) by sea between the United Kingdom and the Irish Free State during the years 1932–36.

Year	Number of passengers from the United Kingdom to the Irish Free State.	Number of passengers from the Irish Free State to the United Kingdom.
1932	367,340	375,259
1933	356,519	363,726
1934	380,781	393,143
1935	416,546	433,575
1936*	460,039	489,005
*Subject to revision. Included in the totals for the years, 1933 to 1936, are passengers by air via Manchester and Heston aerodromes; totalling 559 outward and 580 inward.

The above figures include the traffic between the Isle of Man and the Irish Free State, but not the movement over the land frontier between Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State. The figures also include persons travelling between the Irish Free State and other countries via United Kingdom ports.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why classification as a new large burgh under Section 77 (1) and (2) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929, is being withheld by his Department from any burgh with a population of large burgh size which may be created now under the Burgh Police (Scotland) Acts where the population was adequate in 1921, where during the period such a burgh would be a populous place in the terms of Section 4 (26) of the Burgh Police (Scotland) Act, 1892, and where such a populous place is classified as a burgh under Section 4 (4) of the same Burgh Police Act when brought under that Act?

I have no administrative power to grant the status of a "large burgh" within the meaning of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929, to any burgh with a population of 20,000 or upwards, that may be created under the Burgh Police (Scotland) Acts. As explained in my reply to the hon. Member of 11th March last, this could not be effected except by legislation.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the work on the new cruiser to be built at Chatham dockyard will be commenced; whether extra local labour will be required; and, if so, of what nature?

The preparatory work in connection with the building of the new cruiser "Euryalus" at Chatham was commenced on 15th June, 1937. No extra labour will be required for the construction of this vessel.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the large number of refugees previously carried by British warships from Spanish ports held by General Franco and by the Government, he will give an assurance that vessels of all nationalities who undertake to bring out non-combatant refugees only from Santander will be given protection by His Majesty's Navy; and whether that protection will be offered within as well as without the three-mile limit?

As a general rule protection afforded by the Royal Navy is confined to British ships. In special circumstances, however, where satisfactory assurances can be obtained that a ship contains only non-combatant refugees such protection may be, and has been, extended to vessels of other nations. His Majesty's Government are prepared to consider all such cases on their merits. With regard to protection inside territorial waters, I have nothing to add to the answer given by my predecessor to the hon. Member for Kingswinford (Mr. A. Henderson) on 21st April last.

asked the Postmaster-General the terms and conditions of the contract held by Messrs. Weiners, Limited, for the advertising work connected with the Classified Traders and Commercial Telephone Directory?

I have been asked to reply. Messrs. Weiners, Limited, have the sole right to obtain suitable advertisements for display in and upon the Post Office Telephone Directories of Classified Trades and Professions for London and provincial districts for a period of five years from 1937, subject to extension by agreement for a further period of five years. A royalty, subject to a minimum amount, based on the gross value of the advertisements appearing in and upon these directories, is paid by the firm to His Majesty's Stationery Office.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any payment for the goodwill of the business was made to Buff Book, Limited, when the licence for the publication of the Classified Traders and Commercial Telephone Directory was withdrawn; and, if so, to what amount?

There can be no question of payment for goodwill where, as in the case now in point, a contract has expired and the work has passed to another contractor under a new contract secured as the result of public tender.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that it is proposed to close down the television broadcasting service for three weeks, in view of the fact that there is no possibility of providing holidays for the staff concerned without such action; and whether in view of the importance of developing this service, he is satisfied that adequate funds are available for its operation?

Some weeks ago I approved a proposal made by the British Broadcasting Corporation and concurred in by the Television Advisory Committee that, with a view to facilitate certain structural alterations at the Alexandra Palace Station and to permit of an overhaul of the equipment, television transmissions should be suspended for a period of three weeks beginning on the 26th July. The question whether the Corporation's income is adequate for the conduct of the service entrusted to them, including the television service, is at present under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when all-metal medium-sized air-liners of British construction will be available in production quantities?

I regret that I am unable to say.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when a specification for a medium-sized air liner was last issued by the Air Ministry after consultation with the principal civil aircraft operating companies?

Such a specification was last issued in 1929.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of patients discharged from orders under the Mental Deficiency Acts during the years 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935 and 1936, respectively, by each of the following authorities: Walsall County Borough, Plymouth County Borough, Oxford County Borough, Ipswich County Borough, Portsmouth County Borough, Bristol County Borough, Darlington County Borough, Buckingham County Borough, Leeds County Borough and Nottingham County Borough?

The power of discharge under the Mental Deficiency Acts is vested in the Board of Control and not in the local authorities. I regret that figures are not available for the years 1932 to 1935, but in 1936 the Board of Control discharged the following patients chargeable to the county borough councils indicated:

Walsall	…	…	…	0
Plymouth	…	…	…	1
Oxford	…	…	…	1
Ipswich	…	…	…	1
Portsmouth	…	…	…	7
Bristol	…	…	…	5
Darlington	…	…	…	0
Leeds	…	…	…	0
Nottingham	…	…	…	2
Total	…	…	…	17

As Buckingham is not a county borough it is not a local authority for the purposes of the Mental Deficiency Acts.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in areas cleared under the Housing Act, 1936, Manchester Corporation, in the purported exercise of the powers of the Manchester Improvement Act, 1851, is attempting to acquire sites of streets and, by so doing, is reducing the areas of cleared sites to sizes so small as to render them useless for any purpose, and thereby is aggravating the losses sustained by owners in demolishing their premises; and if he will take steps to prevent the abuse of the Act of 1851 by applying it for purposes for which it was not intended?

The Manchester Improvement Act, 1851, empowers the corporation to close streets. I understand that the corporation have been using these powers to close streets flanking houses demolished by the clearance of areas under the Housing Act, 1936. I am not aware that the council's policy is having the effect which my hon. Friend alleges, but if he has any particular case in mind I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Health whether any special inquiry is being made by his Department into the alleged existence of an exceptionally large number of applications for sick benefit, especially among women; and whether any conclusions have hitherto been reached?

An investigation is being made by my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Health for Scotland, into the general question of the expenditure of Approved Societies on disablement benefit, but no conclusions have yet been reached.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of young men and young women under 25, respectively, who are on the unemployment registers in Yorkshire and who, according to their statements, have never had an opportunity of doing any work?

I regret that statistics giving the desired information are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, although some minor improvements have recently been made to the Redhill Employment Exchange, these premises are still inadequate and unsuitable; and whether any steps are being taken to acquire new offices?

Yes, Sir. I recognise that even when these improvements have been effected these premises will still remain unsatisfactory. The possibility of finding a suitable site for building is therefore under active consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the satisfactory tenour of the recent report on the health of the Army, he will arrange to issue it in future as a Parliamentary paper and in other ways to secure greater publicity for it?

Copies of the report are issued to the Press by His Majesty's Stationery Office, and in future I will arrange that at the time of each issue the attention of the Press shall be specially drawn to points of interest. If there is any further demand I will consider suggestions that may be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the matters considered by Mr. Van Zeeland during his mission to the United States of America included any proposals for the deposit of gold with the Bank of International Settlements with the object of enabling the Bank of International Settlements to make loans upon terms to European countries?

Mr. Van Zeeland's mission is not yet concluded and I cannot meanwhile make statements as to particular discussions which he may have had with the Governments of other countries.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that on many roads where special tracks are provided for pedal cyclists the great proportion of these cyclists continue to use the main road; and whether he will take steps to stop this practice?

I am aware that pedal cyclists do not always use the special tracks where these are provided, but I understand that these tracks are appreciated by the great majority of cyclists. I am desirous that cyclists should use cycle tracks and am making arrangements for further and longer tracks to be provided. Until adequate facilities exist, no comprehensive steps with regard to cyclists can in my view be taken.