asked the minister of labour whether he will indicate the course of

asked the Minister of Labour what was the balance of the Unemployment Fund at the latest available date; what would be the annual cost of admitting seasonal workers to full benefit; and whether the cash position of the Fund justifies taking this step?

The total balance of the Unemployment Fund at the 16th October, 1937, was about £58,870,000. The amount of unemployment benefit which, but for the Seasonal Workers' Order, would be paid cannot be calculated with any accuracy, but is probably of the order of £250,000 a year. As regards the last part of the question I shall not be in a position to say whether the Fund has a disposable surplus until the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee makes its next annual report.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the present surplus of the Unemployment Fund on current account and also the present amount of the funded debt?

The available figures relate to the area served by the Leicester Employment Exchange and Juvenile Employment Bureau. The following table shows for this area:

On 16th October, 1937, the total balance of the Unemployment Fund was about £58,870,000, but this cannot properly be described as a surplus. The amount of the debt outstanding at that date was £103,122,000.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will indicate the course of employment, by numbers, industries, and percentages, respectively, for the city of Lincoln for the months of July, August, and September, 1937; and show comparable figures for the similar months in 1930; 1931, and 1932?

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 July, August and September of each of the years 1937, 1932, 1931, and 1930:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of young persons transferred from County Durham to other areas in the country during the year 1936 for the purpose of taking up employment under arrangements made by his Department?

During the period in question 3,459 juveniles under the age of 18 were transferred from County Durham to other areas under the Juvenile Transference Scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour how many sites and factories, respectively, have been provided by site-finding companies and taken over for new industries in the special areas of county Durham?

I presume the hon. Member is referring sites and factories provided by, or with the assistance of, the Commissioner for the Special Areas as the provisions relating to site companies do not apply in those areas. The position at the end of September on the Team Valley Estate, operated by North Eastern Trading Estates Limited, was that there were 22 factories built and occupied and 34 in course of construction, while a number of negotiations for further factories were in progress. The Commissioner has recently arranged to purchase the site of Palmer's Works at Jarrow with a view to the establishment thereon of a steel works. He is also in course of acquiring a site at Pallion, in Sunderland, which will be administered on his behalf by North Eastern Trading Estates Limited. One tenant has already arranged for a factory on this site, and negotiations are proceeding with others. The Commissioner has also in hand an important project for the clearance of a site at Gateshead, formerly accommodating large chemical works, which has been acquired by the Gateshead Corporation with the aid of grants from the Special Areas Fund, with a view to subsequent development.I may also refer to the large scheme being carried out by the South Shields County Borough Council with substantial assistance from the Commissioner, which provides for the clearance of an area of about 35 acres. A further scheme to be undertaken by that Authority, involving the clearance of an additional 21 acres is also under consideration. Assistance has also been given to the Tyne Improvement Commissioners for the clearance of sites at Hebburn and in the Albert Edward Dock. The Commissioner has also before him proposals submitted by the South West Durham Improvement Association, which has recently been set up for the purpose of clearing sites and carrying out other improvements in the south west part of the country.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can make a statement on the present position of holidays with pay in industry; whether the committee on the subject has yet reported; and whether he will publish the committee's findings together with the evidence?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has received or when he expects to receive the report of the Royal Commission dealing with the holiclays with pay issue; and whether the matter will be dealt with by the Government during the early part of next Session?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can make a statement as to any agreement which has been reached by any section of industry on the matter of annual paid holidays?

I am glad to say that during recent months there has been an increase in the number of collective agreements providing holidays with pay in industry, particulars of which I am sending to the hon. Members. I estimate that the number of workpeople now covered by collective agreements between organisations of employers and workpeople which provide for paid holidays is between 2½ and 2¿ millions. There has also been an increase in the number of individual firms giving holidays with pay, but there are no figures available as to the number of workers employed by such firms. The Committee, under the chairmanship of Lord Amulree, has a considerable amount of important evidence still to hear, but will, I am sure, make its report at the earliest possible date. I cannot make any statement as to consequent action till I have seen and considered its report.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has now been able to consider the advisability of issuing an order that all motor cycle and other motor vehicles shall be fitted with efficient silencers?

Regulations to this effect are already in force. Further, manufacturers have given an undertaking to do everything possible to reduce noise on their new vehicles and, to assist in the observance of the law and of this undertaking, I have made arrangements for facilities to be available to them to test the noise of new vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can now make a statement as to the prospect of issuing an order that all passenger motor vehicles plying for public hire shall be fitted with a speedometer which shall be visible to all passengers?

My Regulation requiring all vehicles with permitted speeds exceeding 12 m.p.h. to carry a speed indicator came into force on 1st October, and in accordance with the recommendations of the Transport Advisory Council I propose to gain experience of the working of this requirement before considering possible further action.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the opinion of local interests that the Liverpool-Hull trunk route through Selby could be made quite adequate for present traffic requirements and requirements in the immediate future, by the expenditure of less than £200,000 on the widening of approaches to the present bridge over the River Ouse, and the construction of a new and wider bridge on the same site; and whether, in view of the fact that the adoption of this scheme in preference to that recommended by Sir Alexander Gibb and Partners would result in a saving of some £800,000, which could be used to improve roads elsewhere, he will take no action in the matter until the full survey of the Liverpool-Hull trunk road is completed.

I must not be taken as accepting the assumptions on which this question is based, but, after considering the report of the local inquiry held in July, I have decided to suspend action on the proposed Order until I have had a further opportunity of examining alternative routes.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the indicated increase in railway fares, he will confer with traffic authorities with a view to a general agreement on the free carriage of children up to five years of age, when accompanied by an adult, on road excursions?

This matter is before me in connection with certain appeals from decisions of Area Traffic Commissioners upon which I hope to be able to publish my decision at an early date.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received the report of the Departmental Committee on the operation of the Rent Restrictions Acts, and whether, in that case, he can state its nature?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, but I understand that the Committee are making good progress in their investigation and that their report will be submitted to me as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, taking the averages for the last 30 years, although less than half the babies born in this country were vaccinated, the deaths caused by vaccination to children under five were more than twice as many as those caused by smallpox, he will take steps for the discontinuance of vaccination?

The answer is in the negative. The hon. Member's conclusions seem to have been arrived at by including among the deaths caused by vaccination all cases in which vaccination was mentioned on the death certificate, although in many of these the death was assigned by the Registrar-General to some other cause.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the serious inconvenience caused in holiday resorts during the past season by the operation of the Shops Sunday Trading Restriction Act, 1936; and whether he will introduce amending legislation to meet the needs of the holiday resorts?

During the early summer some representations were received alleging that inconvenience was caused, particularly in holiday resorts, by certain restrictions in the Act in regard to the employment of shop workers on Sunday. As my hon. Friend is aware, the House refused in July last to give leave for the introduction of a Private Member's Bill to amend these provisions of the Act in their application to holiday resorts. The representations which have since been received do not indicate any general dissatisfaction, and, as at present advised, my right hon. Friend does not contemplate the introduction of any amending legislation.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will recommend that magistrates' clerks should discontinue the now out-of-date practice of taking down in longhand the evidence of witnesses, and that, in order to avoid the waste of time of the whole court, evidence should be, as given, taken down by a shorthand typist or by dictaphone, and the transcript read aloud in court to the witnesses for confirmation?

I have been asked to reply. Attention has been given to the question of what is the most convenient and efficient method of taking depositions, and there is a recommendation in the report of the recent departmental committee on Courts of Summary Jurisdiction in the Metropolitan Area that the taking of depositions in shorthand should be tried experimentally at one or two London Courts. This suggestion is being considered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, what further progress has now been made in the establishment of a central airport for London?

The establishment of a central airport for London is not at present in contemplation. With regard to the site at Fairlop, to which my hon. and learned Friend has previously alluded in this connection, but which cannot be considered as a central airport, I am informed that negotiations between the City of London authorities and other parties for the purchase of the land are proceeding satisfactorily, and are understood to be approaching completion.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what was the number of fatal accidents which have occurred since the beginning of the year to officers of the Royal Air Force while on duty; in how many of these cases a pension has been awarded or a grant made to dependent relatives, and the average amount per annum awarded both in the case of pensions and grants; and whether he is satisfied that no hardship has been caused to dependants?

As regards the first part of the question, the number of fatal accidents from the beginning of the year to 14th October, was 53, of which seven were to officers of the Royal Navy attached to the Royal Air Force for service with the Fleet Air Arm. The awards to the dependants of these officers have been included in the information which follows. As regards the second part, four pensions have been awarded to widows, with children's compassionate allowances in two cases, and one grant made to the parent of an unmarried officer. In addition three claims for pensions to widows and three applications for awards to parents are under consideration. As regards the third part, the average rate of pension was £107 per annum; the average gratuity payable in addition to pension £212; the children's compassionate allowance is a fixed rate of £24 per annum and the parent's award was £45 per annum. As regards the last part of the question, I cannot say that in no case has financial loss been caused to the dependants, but the awards have naturally minimised the possibility of hardship.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is proposed to introduce amending legislation, as a result of the decision of the courts that motor accident claims may include damages to cover the loss of expectation of life; and, if so, whether it is proposed to admit the same principle in respect of claims under the Workmen's Compensation Act?

I have been asked to reply. The effect of the legislation introduced as a result of the recommendations of the Law Revision Committee is kept constantly under review by my Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor with a view to seeing whether in due course amendment of the law as passed by Parliament is required. The decision referred to will fall to be considered in this connection. The last part of the question does not therefore arise, but I might point out that the principle of the Workmen's Compensation Act is not based on the right to recover damages for negligence.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the percentage increase in the tonnage of lime and basic slag utilised or ordered by farmers in the country as a result of the State subsidy, as compared with the previous season?

Official figures are not available of the tonnage of lime and basic slag ordered by farmers last year, and it is too early to attempt to estimate the effect of the Land Fertility Scheme, which only came into operation on 6th September.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he anticipates that the proposed new legislation relating to bacon, pigs, and poultry will cause increases of prices of these commodities; and, if so, whether steps will be taken to protect consumers herein?

The position of the bacon industry is at present under consideration and the consultations with the industry, to which I referred in reply to a question put by the right hon. Gentleman, the Leader of the Opposition, on 29th July, are taking place. The form that might be taken by any proposals relating to the industry has not yet been determined, but I do not anticipate that they will result in any increase of prices to consumers. As regards poultry, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to previous questions on the Order Paper.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether all the articles of furniture and furnishings of the Coronation offered for sale by his Department have now been sold and delivered; and what is the aggregate amount received in respect thereof?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, except as regards a few odd cuttings of carpet now in process of delivery. The total receipts from the sale of Abbey chairs and stools amounted to £10,985 and of other materials to £5,821.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement on the progress of recruiting of officers and other ranks for the Territorial Army?

Recruiting for the Territorial Army has recently shown considerable improvement, the deficiency of all ranks on the 1st October, 1937, being 7,000 less than was the case six months ago.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the arrangements made in December, 1936, to inoculate against influenza 500 men from five corps were carried out; if so, whether any of them, and, if so, how many, subsequently developed influenza; and what was the interval in each case between the inoculation and development of influenza?

Six hundred and seventy-eight men who volunteered were inoculated against influenza; of these 18 developed illnesses diagnosed as "influenza," to during the first, two during the second week, and six more than two weeks after inoculation. The inoculations were carried out at the time when the influenza epidemic was at its height. Before any beneficial effects of inoculation could have had time to operate the general influenza incidence had become so low that no conclusions as to the efficacy of the inoculations can be drawn.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether temporary service as certificated teacher is counted towards superannuation?

Temporary service by a certificated teacher in a public elementary school, if full-time service while it lasts, is pensionable service under the Teachers (Superannuation) Acts.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will give an up-to-date list of the local education authorities providing maintenance allowances showing from what age, and up to what age, such allowances are made by each authority?

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to maintenance allowances for children attending public elementary schools, since all local authorities for higher education in England and Wales make some provision under the appropriate regulations for scholarships and maintenance allowances at secondary schools, universities or other places of higher education.The following list shows the local education authorities for elementary education which have arrangements for the award of maintenance allowances for children attending public elementary schools. These arrangements generally provide for the award of allowances to children over the age of 14, subject to an undertaking that the child will remain at school till the end of the term in which he becomes 15, or the completion of a four years' course. Those authorities which are marked with an asterisk are known to award allowances to children below the age of 14, but such allowances are not recognised by the Board of Education for grant.The allowances are presumably renewable, if need be, up to the maximum age limit for public elementary schools laid down in Section 26 of the Education Act, 1921.LIST of Local Education Authorities which provide Maintenance Allowances for children in Public Elementary Schools.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education how many and which schools in Kent have film proiectors for the instruction of the children?

The Board's records do not contain such information as would enable me to give an accurate answer to the hon. and gallant Member's question, but I have reason to believe that some 30 schools in Kent have film projectors.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has any statement to make in respect to the position of British traders in India since the introduction of the new Constitution?

No, Sir. I am not aware of any circumstances which call for comment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any statement to make in respect to the position of British traders in Ceylon since the introduction of the new Constitution?

No, Sir. There is no general statement that I could usefully make on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information to give the House with regard to the position of affairs in Abyssinia?

While there have been a certain number of minor attacks on Italian detachments and posts in Abyssinia, so far as I am aware no material change has taken place in the situation since the reply given to the hon. Member on this subject on 24th May last, of which I am sending him a copy.