asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the military obligations imposed on Great Britain by the ancient treaty to come to the aid of Portugal and her colonies if attacked remain effective?

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) on 11th November last. I am sending the right hon. Gentleman a copy of the answer to which I have referred.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information to give as to the objects and results of visits of military missions from Italy and Germany to Portugal?

No Italian or German military missions have, so far as I am aware, visited Portugal during the last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to statements in the Government-controlled Press of Germany that the Spanish war has occasioned a deflection of Portuguese policy from Great Britain towards Germany, and that Portugal has thrown off the fetters of her connection with Great Britain; and whether he has any statement to make?

The answer to the first part of the question is No, Sir. The hon. and gallant Gentleman's apprehensions will, however, have been allayed by the very cordial terms in which the Portuguese Prime Minister was reported to have referred last week to the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance and by His Excellency's statement that the Alliance continues on a solid basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which are the principal countries which have not subscribed to the international convention for the use of broadcasting in the cause of peace; whether this convention will prevent the signatory countries from arranging for broadcasts in foreign languages for counter-propaganda against propagandist broadcasts by non-signatory countries; and if not, whether he proposes to ratify this convention so long as undesirable propaganda broadcasting is continued by countries which are not a party to it?

The list of countries which have signed this Convention will be found in the text presented to Parliament as a White Paper (Cmd. 5505 of 1937). Since this paper was laid, Australia has acceded. As regards the second part of the question, the Convention imposes no prohibition on broadcasts in foreign languages. Its main provisions are in the form of mutual undertakings which apply only between signatory Powers; the only obligations which could possibly be held to affect their relations with non-signatory States are those contained in Articles 3 and 4: these articles do not affect the right of propaganda but merely, in the general interest of accurate information, prohibit falsehoods on questions of fact. It is proposed to proceed to ratification on behalf of the United Kingdom at an early date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that certain contracts for the supply of iron and steel goods and of coal have first been offered in this country and, due to failure of supply, have since been placed in Germany; and what steps he is taking to prevent any further cases of this happening?

I am aware that certain orders for iron and steel goods have been placed in Germany after they had been offered in this country; but I am not aware of any recent instance in which owing to inability to obtain coal in this country contracts have been placed in Germany. Every endeavour is being made to increase the supplies of iron and steel available in this country to enable all home and export orders to be met. I would point out that exports of iron and steel manufactures for the first five months of this year exceeded those of the same period for each of the preceding six years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the growing shortage of iron ore, he will again consider the report of the departmental committee of 1916 that investigated and reported on the iron and steel trades with particular reference to paragraph 7, and consider its application to the rich resources of Australia in consultation with the Australian State Governments and prepare a co-operative trading arrangement?

I cannot usefully add anything to the answer which my predecessor gave to the hon. Member on 25th May.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how the potential output of iron and steel in Great Britain compares with that in 1919; and, in view of the fact that the present shortage of steel in this country is mainly due to our increased reliance on imports of foreign steel which in turn have obliged many iron and steel companies in Great Britain to close down, what steps are being taken to ensure that our present condition will be so remedied as to prevent a recurrence of the difficulties at some future date?

Information as to the potential output in 1919 is not available. The actual output of steel ingots and castings in 1936 was 11¾ million tons as compared with 7·9 million tons in 1919 and the rate of output is still increasing. For further information on the subject I would refer my hon. Friend to the recent report (Cmd. 5507) of the Import Duties Advisory Committee on the present position and future development of the iron and steel industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) from which country it is proposed to obtain the mining machinery for the mining of the iron ore of the Yampi Sound;(2) whether the company that intends to mine the iron ore of Yampi Sound is a British company with British capital?

I understand that the Yampi Sound iron ore deposits are being developed, under leases granted by the Government of Western Australia, by a company registered in Australia, which is in turn controlled by a company registered in this country. As regards the necessary mining equipment and machinery, I am informed that preference is being given, so far as is practicable, to products of British Empire manufacture and that considerable orders have been placed in this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the negotiations to replace the existing trade agreement with Norway by a new agreement have been entered into; if so, what stage have the negotiations reached; if not, when does the Government expect to commence negotiations; what reductions in the import of Norwegian herring during the months of January and February of each year have been made or are proposed; and does he expect that these reductions will take place in time to benefit British fishermen during the forthcoming winter season?

I regret that I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 26th January.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the retail prices now charged for the chief vegetables and fruit consumed by the people, and their equivalent prices last year?

According to the monthly average retail prices published by the Ministry of Labour the average price of potatoes was 8½d. per 7 lbs. on the 1st June, the latest available date, compared with 8d. on the 2nd June, 1936. No information is available from official sources with regard to the retail prices of other fruit or vegetables, but I am sending the hon. Member some information which may be of interest to him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that exports of jute cloth from Bengal to the United Kingdom in the year 1936 were 132,833,893 yards, being an increase of 375 per cent. over the figures for the year 1928; and whether he has given consideration to the effect of these exports upon the figures of recent unemployment among the jute workers in Dundee?

I am aware of the recent increase in imports of jute cloth from India and I have arranged to receive a deputation from Dundee to-morrow to discuss the position.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether most-favoured-nation agreements operate between this country and the Oslo Convention States; and whether, arising out of the Oslo Convention, any representations have been made to any of these States as to Great Britain's rights under the most-favoured-nation clause?

I assume the hon. Member has in mind the Convention recently concluded at the Hague by the so-called Oslo States. The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative and to the second in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the desirability of a special trade conference with representatives of the Dominions, with a view to paving the way for a trade agreement with the United States by the removal of such obstacles as arise from Empire trade agreements?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to an official statement made on Wednesday last by the United States Under-Secretary of State to the effect that the United Kingdom and Dominions of the British Empire, in addition to Canada, are prepared to consider favourably the negotiation of a trade agreement with the United States; and whether he is prepared to make a statement on the matter?

I have seen the statement referred to in the Question of the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Bellinger). As was stated in reply to a question put by the hon. Member for Seaham (Mr. Shinwell) on 8th June, His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have informed the representatives of the Dominion and Southern Rhodesian Governments, who were in London recently, of the informal and exploratory discussions with the United States Government, the object of these exploratory discussions being to determine whether a basis can be found for the negotiation of a trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the United States. The representatives of the Dominion and Southern Rhodesian Governments expressed full sympathy with the desire of the United Kingdom and the United States Governments to expand world trade. As a next step further discussions are taking place between representatives of the United Kingdom and the United States Governments, in the hope that the common desire for a practical step towards the promotion of trade may make it possible to find a basis for trade negotiations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give figures and any other information in his possession regarding the dumping of goods in British markets by Japan?

I doubt whether this matter can be dealt with by question and answer. If, however, the hon. Member will give me a specific instance of what he has in mind, I will try to provide him with information.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether, in view of the difficulties created by Germany in mutual trade with this country, he will look into the whole matter with the object of seeing whether any action could usefully be taken to do away with enforced long-term credits;(2) whether his attention has been called to the fact that Germany is intimating to Lancashire textile exporters that permits to ship cotton yarns will not be granted unless 90 days' credit is given; whether he is aware that there is strong opposition in Lancashire to any such proposal; and what steps he will take to ensure that such action is modified or cancelled?

The arrangements for the use of the sterling earmarked to pay for exports of United Kingdom goods to Germany under the Anglo-German Payments Agreement of the 1st November, 1934, are based on the issue by the German authorities of foreign exchange certificates which guarantee that sterling will be available to pay for the goods to be imported. When foreign exchange certificates for the whole of the amount of the sterling available for payment in any quarter for a particular class of goods have been issued German importers cannot obtain sterling to pay for goods until the following quarter. Consequently the German customer who wants further supplies of that class of goods must accept later delivery if he cannot obtain extended credit. I am assured that no influence has been exerted by the German authorities to have the normal terms of credit extended.In the case of cotton yarns, foreign exchange certificates for the whole of the amount of sterling available for the third quarter of this year have been issued and exchange certificates are available only for payment from October onwards.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether permission was given to Dutch manufacturers of milk powder to increase their shipments of milk powder to this country and, if so, on what grounds; whether the Ministry of Agriculture and English manufacturers were consulted; and whether there were any special conditions imposed relating to the proposed increased quota?

The quantity of milk powder that may be imported from the Netherlands during July, August and September has been increased from the level of the past nine months, but is below the quantity that would be admitted if the basis of regulation up to the end of June, namely, 50 per cent of imports during the corresponding months of the basic year 1932–33, had been continued beyond that date. This arrangement was made after full consideration of the supply position and consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture, English manufacturers and other interests affected. It is conditional on the taking of immediate steps to prevent evasion of the quota by shipments of Dutch processed milk through a third country and to facilitate the negotiation of a price agreement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the House any information regarding changes in shipping freights for 1935, 1936 and 1937?

The Chamber of Shipping Index Number of Shipping Freights for each month since January, 1935, is shown below (1929 = 100):

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the dues levied for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date on loaded vessels and/or vessels in ballast paid to the Suez Canal Company by British subjects; and whether any records are kept by his Department during the same period showing purchases from British subjects on materials required for the use of the Suez Canal Company?

The information published by the Suez Canal Company does not show the amount of the dues paid by British merchant vessels, but from particulars of tonnage passing through the Canal published by the company it is estimated that during the year 1936 the dues paid by such vessels, with cargo and in ballast, would amount to nearly £5,000,000, exclusive of dues paid in respect of passengers. With regard to the second part of the question, I am not in a position to state the value of the purchases made from British subjects of materials required for the use of the Suez Canal Company, but I am communicating with the company to ascertain what particulars may be available for publication.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the number of ships which have been sold to foreign countries in the past two years; whether any part of the subsidy was paid in respect of any of those ships; and, if so, whether he can state the amount of subsidy and the owners of those ships?

During the years 1935 and 1936, 306 ships of 100 tons gross and over were transferred from the United Kingdom register to foreign countries. This total relates to vessels of all kinds. In so far as the voyages made by any of those ships while under the British flag fulfilled the conditions laid down in the British Shipping (Assistance) Acts, tramp shipping subsidy would be payable, but I fear the information asked for in the last part of the question is not readily available and could only be obtained at the expense of considerable labour. No ship built with Government assistance under Part II of the British Shipping (Assistance) Act, 1935, has been transferred to a foreign flag.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the feebleness and lack of character of the minor lights at Balta, Vaila and Whitehill of Vatster, which make it difficult to distinguish them from the incandescent paraffin lights now generally used in crofters' houses in the vicinity, he will arrange to have them improved in intensity and converted to character lights, so as to render them more useful to fishermen and masters of local steamers?

The improvement of these lights is primarily a matter for the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses, who inform me that the power of the Whitehill light is being increased and its character made flashing this year, and that the other two lights are being considered for a similar improvement next year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the present position of the statutory powers requested by certain Lancashire textile industries; and whether any enabling Bill will be brought in in the near future?

I can add nothing at present to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Burke) on 15th June and to my hon. Friend on 1st June.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether he is aware that ex-prison officer J. S. Maslen was on the official roll of the prison staff from 1911 till January, 1937, making 26 years' service; that he served about four years in the Great War, remaining on the establishment of the prison service, and was pensioned on 22 years' service only; and if he will reconsider the pension of the ex-soldier so that he may not be penalised for having served his country in the Great War, having regard to the fact that he had been in receipt of a 20 per cent. disability pension;(2) whether he will state the amount of pension and gratuity, respectively, awarded to prison-officer J. S. Maslen, who retired from Bristol Prison in January of this year; and the amount of pension and gratuity he would have received had he remained at home during the Great War?

This officer was awarded a pension of £47 11s. per annum with an additional allowance (lump sum) of £126 15s. 11d. He served in the Prison Service for 25 completed years, during some four of which he was absent on military service.Section 5 of the Superannuation Act, 1887, provides that a person shall not be entitled to reckon the same period of time both for the purpose of a superannuation allowance under the Superannuation Act and also for the purpose of naval or military non-effective pay.The officer has since 8th April, 1919, been in receipt of a military service pension under Army Order 330 of 1918, which was calculated upon a service of 19 years, including his service in the reserve and with the colours from 13th June, 1911, to 12th June, 1918, which was also civil service. It was therefore only possible to award him a civil pension calculated upon his subsequent service, which amounted to 18 years. The officer was given the option of surrendering his military pension and refunding the amounts already paid, in order that his whole service might be reckoned for civil pension. In that case, it would have been possible to award him a civil pension of £79 4s. 11d. per annum with an additional allowance of £211 6s. 5d.I regret that the civil pension payable under this alternative was erroneously calculated upon a service of 26 years, and the alternative figures consequently overstated to the officer. He decided, however, not to adopt the alternative.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that authority was given by the Home Office in March, 1936, for a prisoner named Wicks, then at Wormwood Scrubs Prison, to be allowed to prepare a petition to this House, and that in connection therewith a letter written by the petitioner to his solicitors on 28th March, 1936, was held up until 24th April, 1936; and who was responsible for the holding-up of the letter after the Home Office had authorised the forwarding of such letter?

I find that in March, 1936, a firm of solicitors then acting for this prisoner were informed in reply to an inquiry by them that they would be given facilities to visit the prisoner in connection with the preparation of a petition which he wished to present to Parliament, and such visit took place. The prisoner then wrote a letter to his solicitors. As there was doubt whether this letter came within the purposes for which letters are authorised by the Prison Rules it was sent to the Home Office for instructions. It was decided that the letter might be sent and it was transmitted by the Home Office to the solicitors with a covering communication.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will appoint a committee to inquire into the operation of the Superannuation Act for the Civil Service and, in particular, to examine the possibility of counting temporary service for pension purposes?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 8th July last to the hon. Member for the Everton Division of Liverpool (Mr. Kirby) and other hon. Members.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the present intentions of the Government towards demolishing the existing railway bridge at Charing Cross, and replacing it by a road bridge and/or a new railway bridge; and what is proposed to be done with the site of the Southern Railway terminus at Charing Cross?

As my hon. Friend is aware, the questions involved in the project to which he refers are extremely difficult and far-reaching. It has not yet proved possible to reach a decision on them.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has any statement to make as to the freeing of the Selby toll-bridge?

I have nothing to add to the replies which have recently been given on the subject of the Selby toll-bridge.

asked the Minister of Transport what canals it is proposed to close; to whom do they belong; and if any other facilities will be provided to replace those done away with?

Following is the information:1. The following applications have been received for Warrants and Orders authorising abandonment under Section 45 of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888, and are now under consideration:

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the number of road accidents in the city and county of Lincoln, respectively, for the six months ended 30th June, 1937, and corresponding figures for a similar period in 1935 and 1936?

The number of road accidents involving personal injury which occurred in the city or county of Lincoln during the six months ended 30th June, 1935, 1936 and 1937 respectively were as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the result of his inquiries into the causes of motor accidents on the main Brighton road between Star Inn and Church Lane, Hooley; and whether he has considered the advisability of the re-imposition of a 30-mile speed limit between these points?

My inquiries do not show that accidents on this section of road have been due to excessive speed and I am not satisfied on the evidence at present before me that the re-imposition of the 30-milesper-hour speed limit upon it would be justified. I will, however, continue to watch the position.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the village of Sutton-on-Derwent, East Yorkshire, is unable to obtain electricity, although all the neighbouring villages have it; and if he will take steps to expedite installation there?

I have no information on this matter, and I have asked the Electricity Commissioners to make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any estimate has been made of the amount of skimmed milk which will be run to waste this year?

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend is not aware of any such estimate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can make any statement with regard to the success of the working of the Warble Fly (Dressing of Cattle) Order, 1936; and, in particular, which of the two methods has been most used and with what results?

Information with regard to the working of the Warble Fly (Dressing of Cattle) Order of 1936 during last year indicated that the requirements of the Order were generally well observed and that the method of applying dressings was much more popular than squeezing out the maggots. Information with regard to the working of the Order during the current year is not yet available. It is too early to look for any improvement in the condition of hides as the result of the Order. Its beneficial effects should, however, become evident when the hides of cattle which have been born since last year's dressing season come into the market, and it is hoped that each successive season will show a progressive improvement.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will recommend to local authorities the use of school yards as playgrounds for the children during holidays as well as after school hours, the children to be under the supervision of trained older playmates?

Recommendations for the opening of school playgrounds outside school hours and during holidays in congested districts, and for the appointment of suitable play leaders, wherever practicable, were made in the Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Road Safety Among School Children and the board informed local education authorities in Circular 1449 on 24th April, 1936, that reasonable expenditure incurred by them for this purpose would be recognised for grant. The attention of local education authorities was again drawn to the recommendations of the Inter-Departmental Committee generally in Circular 1455 last month, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes at an early date to make a statement as to the intentions of the Government in regard to the Report of the Royal Commission on Local Government in the Tyneside Area?

I am afraid that it must be some time vet before my right hon. Friend is able to make such a statement.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are being taken to encourage the drinking of milk for health purposes by the youth of the nation?

I am sending my hon. Friend a note on the subject.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to state whether Edna Nelmes, formerly of Lydney, Gloucestershire, now in the Rampton State Institution, Retford, has shown any

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what rates of wages are being paid by the Forestry Commission to the men employed on their estate in the valley of the Duddon; whether the men have to stand off in wet weather; and what proportion of their time they have had to stand off during the past 12 months?

I regret that this patient has not shown any improvement in recent months, and the reply to the second part of the question is, therefore, in the negative.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state, for the years ended 31st March, 1924 and 1934, in respect of all cemetery undertakings in England and Wales, the total working expenses, loan charges, income of undertaking and contributions from rates, amount of loans outstanding, and average amount per pound of contribution from rates; and the total number of cemetery undertakings of all kinds rendering returns?

The following statement gives the information desired by my hon. and gallant Friend in regard to the cemetery undertakings of local authorities in England and Wales. The number of such authorities who furnished returns to my Department for the year ending 31st March, 1934, was 1,895.

The rate of wages paid by the Forestry Commission to the men employed on their estate in the valley of the Duddon is 37s. per week. The men have to stand off for weather only in periods of heavy snow; during the past 12 months this was 6 per cent. of their time.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether he will state the maximum number of men that have been employed at any one time by the Forestry Commission on their estate in the valley of the Duddon; the number of men employed there at the present time; how much additional employment it is estimated would be given by the extension of planting to the 300 acres it is proposed to plant on the estate of the Forestry Commission in Eskdale; and at what date the Commission proposes to begin planting in Eskdale?

The maximum number of men that have been employed at any one time by the Forestry Commission on their estate in the valley of the Duddon is six. Three are employed there at the present time. The amount of additional employment which would be given by the extension of planting to the land it is proposed to plant on the Commission's estate in Eskdale would depend on the rate of planting and would average a year's work for one man for every 25 acres. Planting in Eskdale will be started in six or seven years' time.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what action is being taken by the Commissioners to destroy the plague of grey squirrels which

The Forestry Commissioners are systematically killing grey squirrels on the areas in their charge.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether, in devising any scale of compulsory rations, he will bear in mind the needs of those who abstain from the use of fish- and flesh-foods and include in the ration allotted to them extra supplies of vegetable foods equivalent in protein and fat-forming value to the meat and fish ration which may be fixed?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give particulars of the salary scales of civil surgery staffs in Royal Ordnance factories?

The following is the answer:

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what number of emigrants from this country was admitted into each self-governing Dominion for the half-year ending at the latest convenient date; and the number of returning emigrants from the same during the like period?

The number of British subjects who were recorded in the passenger lists furnished to the Board of Trade as leaving permanent residence in the United Kingdom (by which is understood residence for a year or more) to take up permanent residence in the undermentioned Dominions in the six months ending 31st March, 1937, and the numbers of such persons who were recorded as leaving permanent residence in those countries to take up permanent residence in the United Kingdom in the same period are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has received from any of the Dominions definite proposals or schemes for the resumption of migration; and whether His Majesty's Government has formulated any such schemes?

His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are ready at any time to co-operate with oversea Governments in suitable schemes under the Acts which would offer good prospects for migrants overseas. Discussions which I had with Dominion Ministers at the time of the Imperial Conference showed, however, that none of the Dominion Governments is ready at the present time to co-operate in schemes of assisted migration.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is aware that the export of coal from South Wales and Monmouthshire fell by more than 2,500,000 tons in 1936 as compared with 1935, whereas the export of coal from Germany for the same period increased by nearly 2,000,000 tons; whether that is due to price-cutting by the use of subsidies or other causes; and, in view of the serious injury to the South Wales and Monmouthshire export coal trade, will he appoint a departmental committee to inquire into the causes of our declining share in the export coal trade as compared with Germany, and make recommendations as to the measures necessary for regaining our former position in the export of coal?

According to my information, if allowance is made for the return of the Saar to Germany as from the 18th February, 1935, the increase in German coal exports in 1936 over 1935 amounts to about 1¼ million tons. As regards the second part of the question, the decline of just over 2½ million tons in South Wales exports for the same period is principally accounted for by the interruption in 1936 of trade with Italy and Spain. With regard to the last part, I do not see that any purpose would be served by the adoption of the hon. Member's suggestion. The facts of the position are well known, and I stated the views of the Government in regard to them in reply to questions by the hon. Member on 15th June.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will state the number of hours per week normally worked by the indoor and outdoor staffs, respectively, of those hospitals and institutions controlled by his Department?

The hours worked weekly by hospital staffs vary with different grades. Nurses duties vary from 57 to 61 hours a week for day duty and 78 hours for night duty, both inclusive of meal times. Massage staff and X-ray assistants attend for 36 and 35 hours respectively, exclusive in both cases of meal times. Stewards, clerks and orderlies are employed from 44 to 48 hours and domestics from 48 to 72. The only staff on outdoor duties are orderlies employed as gardeners, ambulance drivers, etc., who are subject to a 48 hour week.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the different treatment meted out to coloured seamen as compared with white men in the matter of unemployment assistance in the city of Cardiff; that the coloured seamen receive considerably less than the scale under the regulations; and will he take the necessary steps to discontinue this practice?

It has been the practice of the Public Assistance Authority in Cardiff to distinguish in the rates of assistance given to single coloured seamen living communally. The local advisory committee has now considered the matter and has advised that where the single coloured seamen are living communally the normal rate of allowances should be 12s. weekly. The Board has informed me that it has accepted this advice.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of young persons placed in employment during 1936 by the juvenile advisory committees of Rochdale, Oldham, Ashton, and Manchester?

The number of juveniles under the age of 18 placed in employment during the year 1936 were as follow:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of insured persons between the ages of 16 and 64, excluding agricultural workers, in the boroughs of Greenwich and Woolwich, respectively, on the register of the Employment Exchanges on the 21st June, 1937, and on the same date in 1931?

This information is being compiled and will be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the percentage of unemployment in each of the exchanges of the scheduled areas at June, 1937, and in Hindley and Westhoughton, respectively?

I would refer the hon. Member to the local unemployment index which is in the Library of the House for convenience of reference. I assume that by the words "Scheduled Areas, the hon. Member means the Special Areas. If so, he will find a list of the relative exchanges set forth comprehensively in my reply to the hon. Member for Belfast South on 22nd February last.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the percentages of unemployment at June in each of the last five years in Hindley and Westhoughton, respectively?

This information is being extracted and will be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many housing schemes submitted by local authorities have been rejected or modified by his Department; and for what reasons this action has been taken?

As the hon. Member is aware, housing schemes of local authorities are often the subject of discussion with the Department of Health and when tender prices are high it is the practice of the Department to suggest for the consideration of the local authority minor modifications in construction by which saving can be effected. In no case, however, has the Department rejected tenders for housing schemes submitted by local authorities or required a local authority to reduce the number of houses contained in a scheme.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will take some steps to make available a supply of fresh fruit, such as plums, etc., for the Air Force during August when the supplies of Home-grown fruit are plentiful and cheap?

Fruit in season is always obtainable from the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes and can be purchased from messing cash allowances according to the wishes of the men as expressed by the Airmen's Messing Committee.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that approximately one-third of the Barking urban district lies within the Dagenham postal area, causing considerable inconvenience and delay in the Barking postal services; and whether, in view of the recent residential and industrial development of the area, he is prepared to rectify the present state of affairs by including all the Barking urban district in the Barking postal area?

I am not aware that the inclusion of part of the Barking Urban District in the Dagenham postal area causes inconvenience and delay in the postal services. The proposal in the second part of the hon. Member's question has had exhaustive and sympathetic consideration on several occasions, but for the reasons given in the Postmaster-General's answer to his question of the 9th of November, 1936, I regret that it is not possible to accede to it.