asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the amount of the reduction in unemployment figures, permanent and temporary, from 1st July, 1936, to 1st July, 1937, at each of the exchanges within the districts scheduled as Special Areas in the County of Glamorgan?

The following table shows, for each Employment Exchange in the Special Areas in Glamorganshire, the decrease in the numbers of unem- ployed persons on the registers at 21st June, 1937, the latest date for which

Employment Exchange.						Decrease in numbers wholly unemployed.	Decrease in numbers temporarily stopped.	Total decrease.
Aberdare	…	…	…	…	…	1,626	449	2,075
Aberkenfig	…	…	…	…	…	141	39	180
Bargoed	…	…	…	…	…	1,076	3,283	4,359
Bridgend	…	…	…	…	…	322	35	357
Caerphilly	…	…	…	…	…	666	257	923
Cymmer	…	…	…	…	…	244	546	790
Dowlais	…	…	…	…	…	420	44	464
Ferndale	…	…	…	…	…	1,265	703	1,968
Llantwit Major	…	…	…	…	…	56	1	57
Maesteg	…	…	…	…	…	759	1,613	2,372
Merthyr Tydfil (including Juvenile Employment Bureau).	…	…	…	…	…	999	320	1,319
Mountain Ash	…	…	…	…	…	883	3,064	3,947
Ogmore Vale	…	…	…	…	…	246	750	996
Pontlottyn	…	…	…	…	…	445	648	1,093
Pontyclun	…	…	…	…	…	345	26	371
Pontycymmer	…	…	…	…	…	169	992	1,161
Pontypridd	…	…	…	…	…	1,265	67	1,332
Porth	…	…	…	…	…	989	171	1,160
Port Talbot	…	…	…	…	…	147	1,180	1,327
Resolven	…	…	…	…	…	144	86	230
Taffs Well	…	…	…	…	…	167	35	202
Tonypandy	…	…	…	…	…	1,571	106	1,677
Tonyrefail	…	…	…	…	…	341	6	347
Treharris	…	…	…	…	…	159	194	353
Treorchy	…	…	…	…	…	1,276	2,946	4,222

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will indicate the course of employment in the City of Lincoln by industries, numbers, and percentages, respectively, for the month of June in 1931, 1932, and 1937?

pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 9th July, 1937;

Industry.	22nd June, 1931.		27th June, 1932.		21st June, 1937.
	Number.	Per cent.	Number.	Per cent.	Number.	Per cent.
Building	206	16·5	339	23·4	103	5·0
General Engineering etc.	2,561	29·2	2,796	33·9	451	6·9
Sawmilling and machined woodwork	54	15·0	106	28·6	24	5·0
Hotel, Boarding House, etc. Service	86	21·5	72	14·1	66	12·2
Miscellaneous Food Industries …	107	23·8	163	30·8	94	16·5
Distributive Trade?	397	12·4	379	11·1	246	6·7
All other industries and Services …	1,335	18·8	1,686	20·8	791	8·8
Total	4,746	22·1	5,541	24·5	1,775	7·8

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of per- unemployment figures are available, as compared with 22nd June, 1936. col. 750, Vol. 326), supplied the following statement:

The available figures relate to the area served by the Lincoln Employment Exchange. The following table shows the numbers and percentages of insured persons, aged 16–64 years, recorded as unemployed in the principal industries in Lincoln at a date in June, 1931, 1932, and 1937.

sons registered for employment in the hosiery and underwear trades who were unemployed, wholly or partially, in the whole country and in the City of Leicester, respectively, at the latest convenient date in June, 1937?

The following table shows the numbers of insured persons in the hosiery industry, and the shirts, collars, underclothing, etc., industry, respectively, recorded as unemployed (a) in Great Britain and (b) at Leicester, at 21st June, 1937:

—	Great Britain	Leicester.
	Hosiery.
Aged 16–64 Years:
Wholly Unemployed	3,742	708
Temporarily Stopped	4,011	1,099
Aged 14 and 15 Years*	142	5
	Shirts, Collars, Underclothing, etc.
Aged 16–64 years:
Wholly Unemployed	2,343	5
Temporarily Stopped	1,499	1
Aged 14 and 15 years*	228	—
* Separate statistics of the numbers wholly unemployed and temporarily stopped are not available for persons under the age of 16.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why candidates for the Scottish prison service are required to attend a training school at an English prison; whether the Scottish prison service is considered incapable of training its own candidates; and what is the reason for training candidates under one system for acceptance into another where the conditions of service and the laws of the countries offer so much contrast?

The Imperial Training School for Prison Officers at Wakefield Prison offers special facilities for the training of candidates for prison appointments both in the United Kingdom and overseas and arrangements have been made by which the advantages of this training centre may be made available to the Scottish Prisons Service. Candidates for appointment as warders in the Scottish Prisons Service were formerly trained at a Scottish prison; and while this was efficiently done within the limits of the available resources, I am satisfied that the use of the wider resources of the Imperial Training School will be of benefit to the Scottish Prisons Service. I may add that the period of training at the school is followed by a short period of training at a Scottish prison.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he is aware that the system of training candidates for the Scottish prison service at an English prison offers financial difficulty to those who come from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland; and can he say what allowance of fares and expenses is made to candidates who have to travel such long distances;

(2) what is the reason for the rule that single fare from Glasgow to Wakefield is allowed for candidates for the Scottish prison service attending the imperial training centre for prison officers; that this decreases if the journey commences from points south of Glasgow but fails to increase if commencing from points north thereof; and whether he will arrange for full expenses to be allowed?

It is the general practice of the Civil Service that candidates for first appointment should bear their own travelling expenses when joining for duty or training. Thus it is understood that candidates for the English prison service who are sent to Wakefield for training pay their own fares; and when candidates for appointment to the Scottish prisons service were formerly assigned to Barlinnie Prison, Glasgow, for probationary service they joined at their own expense.

When arrangements were made recently for the use of the Imperial Training School for Prison Officers at Wakefield for the training of candidates for appointment to the Scottish prisons service it was provided exceptionally that such candidates living in Scotland should be allowed the cost of the railway fare from their home to Wakefield, within the limit of the amount of the railway fare from Glasgow to Wakefield. This provision ensures that they are in no case put to greater expense than if the place of training were Barlinnie Prison, Glasgow; and it does not appear that any modification of this provision is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that certain prison officers may complete, in civil and military service, 35 years under the Crown, but receive less than 25s. per week pension on retiring at the age of 55 years; and whether he will take steps to increase the pension for such long service to the State?

The pensions payable to prison officers on retirement under the Superannuation Acts are related to the period of Civil Service and there is no provision by which a period of military service before appointment to the Civil Service can be taken into account for civil pension. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Banfield) by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 1st June.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he can state the total number of cases which have appeared before the Sheriff Court in Glasgow in each of the last four years where the summonses were issued for arrears of house rent?

The estimated number of actions in the Sheriff Small Debt Court at Glasgow for arrears of rent in each of the last four years were as follow:

1933	…	…	…	12,000
1934	…	…	…	9,968
1935	…	…	…	10,280
1936	…	…	…	11,846

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that a considerable number of male teachers in Scotland are desirous of making contributory provision for pensions for their widows; and if he can form any estimate of the actuarial possibilities based upon an additional contribution by the teachers of r per cent. of their salaries?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Teachers (Superannuation) Act, recently passed by Parliament, which will permit the allocation of part of a teacher's annual retiring allowances to a spouse or dependant. In the event of the death of a male teacher who has taken advantage of these provisions, the benefits so allocated could continue to be paid to the widow or dependant. The principles of the Bill were agreed with representatives of the teachers. I am not aware of any general desire for further provision of the kind indicated in the question. I would also refer the hon. Member to the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions (Voluntary Contributors) Act, 1937, which received the Royal Assent on the first of this month. Under this Act male teachers will have the opportunity of insuring for widows' and orphans' pensions. In view of the foregoing facts I do not feel that an actuarial investigation of the effect of an additional contribution by male teachers is called for.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department has had occasion in the past 12 months to put into operation the provisions of the Assurance Companies (Winding-up) Act of 1935?

Inquiries under the provisions of the Assurance Companies (Winding-up) Acts, 1933 and 1935, have in the past 12 months been made in certain cases, but it has not so far been found necessary in any case either to appoint an inspector or to present a petition for the winding-up of a company.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any scheme is in contemplation for the establishment of any system of steel rationing so as to ensure preference for national urgent requirements?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer I gave On 12th July to the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle).

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he intends to take to implement the recommendations in the report of the Import Duties Advisory Committee on the steel industry?

This report is now under consideration, and no decision has yet been reached on its recommendations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to take any action arising from the report of the Food Council for the year 1936, having regard to the opinion expressed by the council that consumers have legitimate cause for complaint in so far as marketing schemes confer powers of intervention in subsequent stages of treatment and distribution?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, East (Mr. Mander) on 4th May, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Home Secretary the number of girls who have, within the last 12 months, absconded from the Northenden Road approved school, Sale, Cheshire; and how many transfers have been made as a result?

Eight girls absconded in the last 12 months. Three girls were transferred to other schools, and a fourth, on being certified mentally defective, was removed to an appropriate institution.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will initiate inquiries to ascertain whether the food and treatment of girls at the Northenden Road approved school, Sale, Cheshire, has been the subject of any complaints within the last 12 months; and, if so, whether he can give details?

The only complaint received at the Home Office during the last 12 months was made by the father of a girl in a letter asking for her release. This complaint is being investigated. I may add that during the same period five visits of inspection were paid by Home Office Inspectors who were satisfied both as to the dietary and treatment of the girls.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that serious delays occur in the refunding of duty at the port of Glasgow; and if he will make inquiries with the object of expediting clearance with the same rapidity which obtains at other ports?

My hon. Friend has been good enough to let me have details of the particular case which has given rise to his question. I have made inquiries, and will write to him shortly.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, taking the figures for the year ended 31st March, 1936, he will state the exact amount of overtime in terms of finance paid to members of the clerical and sub-clerical staff in the taxes branch of the Inland Revenue Department; and whether he can equally give the cost of overtime per head of the staff over the whole service as compared with the cost of overtime in the taxes branch of the Inland Revenue?

The total amount of the overtime payments to the staff in question during the year ended 31st March, 1936, was about £140,000, averaging £10 16s. per head. The average overtime payment to members of the clerical and sub-clerical staff over the Government Service as a whole during the same period was £47s. per head.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction throughout the country at the continued refusal of the Treasury to allow temporary service of ex-service civil servants to count towards pension rights, and that numerous resolutions have been passed by meetings in various places of the men concerned calling upon the Government to take steps without delay to redress this grievance; and whether he will set up a committee of inquiry to consider and report on the matter;

(2) whether he will set up a court of inquiry to deal, not only with the need for allowing temporary service of ex-service men in the Civil Service to count towards pension, but also to deal adequately with the case of ex-service men who have been denied pensionability on the ground of age, but who were serving in the Civil Service within the prescribed age at the time of joining?

I would refer the hon. Member 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 Pensions how many ex-service men pensioners died during the eight years from 1929 to March, 1937; if he can give the mortality per 1,000; and how does the mortality rate compare with the adult males of the same age of non-ex-service men?

The number of disability pensioners who died in the eight years ended March, 1937, was 56,468, the annual mortality rate being about 15·7 per 1,000 pensioners. Comparative figures are not available for the year ended March, 1930, but during the next seven years, the average mortality rate of disability pensioners was 16 per thousand, whereas that of the general male population of corresponding ages in England and Wales during the same period was approximately to per thousand.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the London Passenger Transport Board are withdrawing a number of omnibuses from the streets of London; whether he has been consulted in regard to the withdrawal; and whether he has agreed to the reduction in the transport services for the London public?

I understand that in view of the reduction in the number of passengers on omnibuses during the summer holiday period it is the usual practice of the Board to adjust the services accordingly. My agreement to the reduction is not necessary and I have not been consulted.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the cause of the delay in commencing the necessary works for the improvement of traffic conditions at Victoria Gate, Hyde Park; and when it is expected the works will be commenced and completed?

I referred this proposal to the London County Council, who are the executive authority, on 18th March, 1937. I have made inquiry of the council and I am informed that the proposal is under active consideration along with other schemes in the current programme of works, and I am assured that there will be no avoidable delay.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will hold an inquiry into the great loss of sheep and cattle on the new and improved roads in the Highland counties, losses which cannot be recovered from insurance companies or from motorists who disappear; and whether he will consider adequately fencing all such roads?

I am investigating the complaints which my hon. Friend has recently sent me, but I would explain that there is no obligation on highway authorities to provide fences alongside roads for the protection of animals.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps have been taken to organise the road transport system of the country in case of the main task of transporting food and other vital supplies devolving upon the road system through other forms of transport having been rendered inoperative owing to enemy action in time of war?

I can assure the hon. Member that these matters are being carefully examined.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can forecast the date by which all tramcars will have been replaced within the London area?

The London Passenger Transport Board anticipates that, with the exception of certain short sections, trolley buses will be in operation, in less than a year, on the whole of the 219 miles of route for which the Board has already been granted powers. The Board is seeking powers in the present Session of Parliament for the conversion of the remaining 132 miles of tramways to trolley bus operation. The Board state that it is impossible to forecast the date by which all the tramways covered by the Board's present Bill will have been replaced.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the inadequate accommodation on the Underground system during rush hours, he will ask the London Passenger Transport Board to instruct ticket inspectors not to claim excess first-class fares from third-class ticket holders who have been forced to enter first-class carriages or lose their trains?

I am informed by the London Passenger Transport Board that their ticket inspectors do not claim excess first-class fares from third-class ticket holders in the crowded east-end sections of the line between Bow Road and Mansion House during the morning and evening rush hours. The Board do not consider that the loading of trains on the western sections of the line are such as to justify third-class passengers travelling in first-class compartments, but if the trains are especially crowded during the rush hours excess fares are not demanded from third-class passengers standing in first-class compartments.

—	Mileage.	Estimated cost.
(1) Schemes in progress (and probable dates of completion).		£
Old Cock Inn-Auto's Cafe, Warwickshire. Widening (31st April, 1939).	2·9	71,700
Pickford Green Lane. Junction. Warwickshire. (31st July, 1937)	·1	328
Park Street Bridge, St. Albans. Widening and re-decking (30th September, 1937).	·1	1,563
(2) Schemes approved not yet commenced.
Edgware Road, widening Montrose Avenue, Hendon to Stanmore	2·12	25,000
Road A.41 (probable date of commencement 1st December,1937).
(3) Schemes for which survey has been made, not yet approved.
Roundabout at Meriden (junction with B.4102)	—	1,500
Markyate By-pass	1·00	72,000
Loughton-Stony Stratford (Reconstruction with dual carriageways)	3·00	150,000
Loughton By-pass	·76	70,000

asked the Minister of Transport whether his technical advisers

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet taken any action upon the petition from Leven Town Council regarding the dangerous state of two railway crossings?

I have had the crossings inspected and have been in correspondence with the railway company. After careful consideration of all the circumstances, I have now written to the Leven Town Council and I have sent my hon. Friend a copy of the letter.

asked the Minister of Transport the names of the schemes of road works for the improvement of so much of the trunk road A.5 and A.45 between Edgware-Coventry-Stonebridge as was transferred to the Minister of Transport by the Trunk Roads Act, 1936, distinguishing schemes where the work is in progress with the probable date of completion, schemes which have been approved but on which work has not yet commenced and the probable date of commencement, and schemes for which a survey has been made and submitted for approval and showing in the case of each scheme the mileage, the estimated expense, and the names of the by-pass roads which are included in the scheme?

The following is the information:—are satisfied on grounds of safety with the latest railway practice of using a combination of wood and steel in the construction of main line rolling stock?

My technical advisers are of opinion that there is no justification on grounds of safety for pressing the main line companies to depart from their present practice. I would add that in any case I have no power to compel a change of practice.

asked the Minister of Transport when the final report of the Committee on Road Lighting is expected?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker) on 23rd June, from which he will see that the Committee hope to make their final

Six months ended 30th June.			City of Leicester.			County of Leicester.
			Fatal accidents.	Non fatal accidents.	Total.	Fatal accidents.	Non fatal accidents.	Total
1935	…	…	8	553	561	22	434	456
1936	…	…	8	587	595	19	407	426
1937	…	…	10	653	663	28	434	462

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will inquire from the Electricity Commissioners by whose authority a letter was sent, on 8th June, 1937, from sub-committee E of the Electricity Commission, Savoy Court, W.C.2, to the heads of electrical supply undertakings in the London area asking for the number of naval ratings and volunteers required to maintain essential services in the event of a strike or other emergency?

This inquiry was made of all owners of large generating stations in the London area as part of the ordinary routine for periodically bringing up to date the information necessary to ensure continuity of this essential service in times of emergency.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that many firemen are engaged for part of their hours of report on street lighting before the end of this year.

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

The numbers of road accidents involving personal injury in the city and county of Leicester respectively during the six months ended 30th June in the years 1935, 1936 and 1937, were as follows:service upon ambulance duties and similar work; that in a recent decision it was ruled that these men do not rank as professional firemen and are thus not covered by any pensions scheme, and that discontent has been caused by this ruling; and whether he can introduce legislation in the near future to right this grievance?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to a question by the hon. Member for North Tottenham (Mr. R. C. Morrison) on Thursday last.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the shortage of officers and men on 1st July last as compared with 1st June last and 1st July, 1936, in the Regular and Territorial Army, respectively; and the figures of establishments at the relative dates?

The figures are as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the total number of men in Glasgow who have offered themselves for the Army, and the number rejected on physical grounds?

1,456 men offered themselves for enlistment in Glasgow during the year ending 30th June, 1937. Of this number 266 were rejected on physical grounds, and a further 242 on medical grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the number of hours per week normally worked by the nursing staffs employed in Army hospitals showing, separately, the hours of serving-soldier male nurses and female nurses, respectively?

The number of hours normally worked by the nursing staffs employed in Army hospitals is as follows:

Female Nurses, i.e., members of Queen Alexandra's Imperial Nursing Service:

On day duty, an average of 47 hours a week.

On night duty, an average of 71 hours a week.

Serving-soldier male nurses, i.e., personnel of the Royal Army Medical Corps:

On day duty, an average of 56 hours a week.

On night duty, an average of 65 hours a week.

Night duty is not performed by nurses, male or female, for more than two months consecutively. The total period spent on night duty varies with the size of the staff but averages two months a year. The hours staled are actual hours spent on duty after deduction of time allowed for meals, recreation, etc.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will request the South African Government to assist him with suggestions for a plan to reduce the surfeit of gold now having to be bought for sterilisation, owing to the price being $35 or 140s. per oz. on a cost of production of approximately $22.50 or 90S. per oz.?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the total number of persons employed in the coal-mining industry in Lancashire and Cheshire in March, 1931, and in March, 1937, specifying the number employed underground in each case?

There were 72,700 wage-earners on the colliery books in Lancashire and Cheshire on 14th March, 1931, and 59,300 on 13th March, 1937. It is estimated that the numbers of wage-earners employed underground at these dates were 56,200 and 44,700 respectively.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state in tons the annual output of carboniferous limestone from Weardale and Teesdale quarries for the years 1916, 1918 and 1936, respectively; and the average number of per-

Output of Limestone from Quarries under the Quarries Act, 1894.
Year.					County of Durham.		North Riding of Yorkshire.
					Output.	Persons Employed.	Output.	Persons Employed.
					Tons.		Tons.
1916	…	…	…	…	1,761,172	1,667	339,715	377
1918	…	…	…	…	1,894,948	1,784	354,536	362
1936	…	…	…	…	1,237,601	1,071	544,795	449

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state in tons the annual output of lead in County Durham for the years 1916, 1918 and 1936, respectively; and the average number of persons engaged in the industry in the same county for each of the said years?

Following is the information:

County of Durham.
Year.			Output of Dressed Lead Ore.	Number of persons employed.
			Tons.
1916	…	…	4,045	267
1918	…	…	3,369	225
1936	…	…	230	41

asked the Attorney-General whether it is the usual practice for advisory committees to meet within a year of any new appointments to such committees; and whether such newly appointed member or members usually occupy a position on the bench in place of the person or persons they supersede?

There is no settled practice as to the date of the meeting of an advisory committee. The sons engaged in the industry in the same quarries for each of the said years?

Information is not tabulated for the Weardale and Teesdale areas. Following are figures of the limestone output for the county of Durham and the North Riding of Yorkshire. I regret that separate figures for carboniferous limestone are not available.chairman. calls it together when circumstances require it. A newly-appointed member of a committee, who is not already a magistrate, is usually appointed to the bench on the next occasion of additions to the commission. But in no case does he supersede his predecessor.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether instructions are given to the British Navy to afford protection to all ships sailing under the British flag on all occasions from attacks by forces of no recognised nationality?

The Royal Navy will render protection to British ships on the high seas against illegal interference on all occasions, no matter what the nationality of the aggressor.

asked the Attorney-General whether he can give any indication to the House when the appeal case from the recent convictions of miners and others in connection with the disturbances at Harworth is to be heard?

I am unable to give the exact date, but am informed that the appeals will probably be heard during the week commencing Monday, 26th July.

asked the Attorney General, whether, in view of Section 120 of the Land Registration Act, 1925, the extension of the system of registration of land to the County of Middlesex in January last may be regarded as an indication that the authorities were satisfied, after the expiration of the 10 years mentioned in the Section, as to the desirability of extending the system; and whether steps are being taken to ensure further extensions?

My Noble Friend, the Lord Chancellor, took such steps as are directed by the Statute to extend the system of compulsory registration of land in the County of Middlesex because he was satisfied that it was desirable to extend that system to that county at that time, and that the necessary machinery was available for the purpose. The question of any further extension is under close examination by my Noble Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will cause further consideration to be immediately given to the municipal area of Jaffa with a view to bringing into Tel Aviv those Jewish districts adjoining Tel Aviv but detached from quarters in Jaffa?

I append, for the hon. Member's information, an extract from a recent despatch from the High Commissioner for Palestine, in which he furnished a report on two proposals which have recently been under consideration for extending the municipal boundaries of Tel Aviv. It will be seen that it was not possible, for the reasons given in the despatch, to pursue either proposal, and in present circumstances I should not feel justified in asking the High Commissioner to take any further steps in the matter.

EXTRACT from a despatch from the Officer Administering the Government of Palestine to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Dated 3rd April, 1937.

"I should explain that there have in fact been two proposals for the extension of the area subject to the jurisdiction of the Tel Aviv Municipal Council. These proposals are explained in the following paragraphs of this despatch.

The first proposal arose from the fact that, following the enactment of the new Town Planning Ordinance on the 8th August, 1936, under which the Municipal Council is ex officio the Local Town Planning Commission, it became necessary to reconsider the area which would be subject to the jurisdiction of the Municipal Council of Tel Aviv for town planning purposes.

The Local Town Planning Commission of Tel Aviv thereupon submitted to the District Town Planning Commission a proposal that the Town Planning Area should include lands to the north east of Tel Aviv, with the avowed intention of extending town planning control over a large area to the north.

This proposal at once evoked a strong opposition and protests to Government on the part of Arab landowners north of the Auja River.

The matter was carefully considered by the District Town Planning Commission, which finally decided that the new town planning boundaries of Tel Aviv should not embrace the land referred to in the preceding paragraph, but should follow the former town planning boundaries subject to the exclusion of the lands of the German Colony at Sarona.

All lands north of the Auja River have been expressly excluded from the area of the town planning jurisdiction of Tel Aviv, and it follows that no lands have been removed from the Ramleh Administrative Area; nor have they been placed under the jurisdiction of Tel Aviv for any purpose.

The second proposal arose from the fact that in May, 1935, the Mayor and Municipal Council of Tel Aviv submitted representations that the area of jurisdiction of the Tel Aviv Municipal Council should be enlarged, and a Committee was appointed to examine and report on their submissions.

At an early stage in the proceedings of the Committee, it became necessary to obtain detailed information in regard to the eastern area, and to impress upon the Mayors of Jaffa and Tel Aviv the need of reaching an agreement in regard to the adjustment of the boundary between Jaffa and Tel Aviv. The Mayors were unable to arrive at an agreement and as a result no further progress has yet been made in that portion of the boundary.

The proposal to alter the less contentious eastern boundary is, however, still under consideration and it is only to this extent that the extension of the municipal boundary of Tel Aviv has been under consideration; no decision has as yet been reached, nor is it probable that in present circumstances an early solution of the problem will be found."

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, for the information and convenience of Members, he will arrange that the lighting of the electric signal on the Clock Tower shall in future synchronise with the striking of the Union Jack on the Victoria Tower?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the placing of orders by Portugal in Germany for aeroplanes; if so, what numbers of aeroplanes have been supplied?

I understand that the Portuguese Government purchased 10 Junker bombing machines early in the present year, but they have not, so far as I am aware, subsequently placed any further orders for aeroplanes in Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has information to give as to negotiations between Germany and Portugal respecting economic opportunities in Angola on a basis of exchanging raw materials from Angola for armaments from Germany?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in any cases the insurgent authorities at Bilbao have forbidden British business men with interests in Bilbao to return there?

A few of the British members of the staff of companies operating in Bilbao were able to return to their posts after the capture of that city by Nationalist forces. The decision was subsequently taken by the Salamanca authorities not to allow any persons of foreign nationality to return to Bilbao pending the return to more normal conditions. His Majesty's Ambassador at Hendaye has made representations to the competent authorities at Salamanca with a view to obtaining permission for British members of companies operating in Bilbao to return to their work.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the names of the various countries which are members of the Non-Intervention Committee; and what effective strength each nation could provide in naval, army, and air force, men and equipment?

The following list of the 27 countries represented on the committee, comprises, with one exception, all the European countries possessing diplomatic representatives at the Court of St. James. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the information contained in the Armaments Year Book for 1936, copies of which were placed in the Library of the House on 3rd November last.The 27 countries are as follow:

United Kingdom.	Union of Soviet
Albania.	Socialist Re-
Belgium.	publics.
Czechoslovakia.	Denmark.
Estonia.	Finland.
France.	Germany.
Greece.	Hungary.
Irish Free State.	Italy.
Latvia.	Lithuania.
Luxemburg.	Netherlands.
Norway.	Poland.
Portugal.	Rumania.
Sweden.	Turkey.
Austria.	Yugoslavia.
Bulgaria.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) whether, if a serving airman is killed in the course of his ordinary duties, any compensation is payable to his estate under any legislation;

(2) whether, if a serving airman is killed in the course of his ordinary duties, though his death is caused by the negligence of another airman. compensation is payable to his estate under any recent legislation?

The answer to both questions is in the negative.

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 I cannot at the moment add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member last Wednesday.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been drawn to complaints of low flying in the neighbourhood of Penrhos aerodrome and particularly over the village of Abersoch; whether he has investigated these complaints; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy the practice?

My attention has been drawn to the letter which the hon. and gallant Member wrote to my predecessor on this subject. No complaints have since been received and I could not usefully add to the full reply which was sent to him on 26th May last, except to say that every specific case of alleged low flying will, as stated in that letter, be investigated on receipt of particulars.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he can give the salary scales payable to civil surgery assistants employed in the various establishments connected with the Royal Air Force?

One civilian surgery assistant is employed, at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, and is paid on a weekly scale rising from 63s. 6d. to 67s. 6d. by increments of 1s.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the strength both of the adult Nazi and of the Hitler youth movements in Tanganyika; whether he is satisfied that their activities at Mweka and elsewhere in the territory are consonant with the proper development of British culture in British mandated territory; and whether he will recommend some restraining action on the part of the Tanganyika Government?

My hon. Friend can rest assured that the Government of Tanganyika maintains a careful watch on the activities of these organisations and would not hesitate to intervene if they engaged in subversive action. There have, however, been no indications in the reports from the Governor that any such action has been attempted. I am asking the Acting Governor to furnish a report on the particular incidents at Mweka to which my hon. Friend refers, together with the details for which he asks in the first part of the question.