asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he is proposing to take in consequence of the submission, on 30th June, 1936, to the High Commissioner in Palestine of a memorandum signed by 137 Arab senior officials, including judges and administrative officers, condemning the policy of the Government in respect of the Jewish national home, the attempts to suppress the disorders by force, justifying the conduct of the Arab leaders, and urging the suspension of Jewish immigration?

A considered reply was returned through the High Commissioner to the memorial in question on 14th August, 1936. It is not proposed to take any further action in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he will state the pension awards given to the dependants of the four police officers killed at Rosh Pina, Palestine, on 9th September, 1936;(2) whether he is aware that Raymond Elliott, a police officer in Palestine, was killed by armed Arabs in September, 1937, and that his widow has been offered a pension of £48 per annum with no pension allowance for her child; and whether he will have this and similar cases reconsidered?

In accordance with the Pension Ordinance no award was made in the case of three of the police constables referred to, since none of them left a widow or a mother who was wholly dependent on him for her support. The widow of the fourth constable, Raymond Elliott, has been awarded a pension of £48 a year and a compassionate gratuity of £115 4s. A gratuity of £14 was also awarded to the only child. The amount of the pension payable to the widow of a non-pensionable member of the Palestine Police Force, who dies from injuries received in the course of duty, has recently been doubled and now amounts to one-third of the husband's salary. As at present advised, I see no ground for further revision of the scale.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the French Government is founding a chair at the Hebrew University at Jerusalem, allocating funds for the purchase of books for the university library and establishing scholarships to enable teachers or students of the university to study in France, and that the Italian Government has established an Italian lectureship; and will he say what similar encouragement the British Government has given to the university, and what future plans the mandatory government have under consideration in this connection?

I understand that the facts are as stated in the first two parts of the question. So far as I am aware, no question has arisen of similar action on the part of His Majesty's Government and no such action is in contemplation. The Palestine Government have made grants from time to time to certain departments of the university.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the negotiations about the oil exploration licence issued to the D'Arcy Exploration Company, Limited, and the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company, Limited, in Kenya have yet resulted in the determination of that licence by mutual consent; if so, what are the reasons for this step; whether any applications have been made by other oil concessions; and, if so, whether licences have been granted?

In August last the companies in question gave three months' notice of their desire to surrender their licence on the ground that the results of their survey had proved unfavourable. As other applications for oil exploration licences were pending, the three months' notice was waived by mutual consent, and the companies' licence was determined with effect from the 30th September. I understand that the other applicants for oil exploration licences have been informed that the Government of Kenya is now prepared to consider their applications, if they so desire, but the Governor has not reported the issue of any further licences,

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the loss from time to time of deadly poisons which necessitates the broadcasting of warnings to the public; and whether, when such poisons are similar to certain sweetmeats, he will take steps to ensure their being so coloured or wrapped that there is no possibility of their being mistaken for confectionery?

I am aware of the occurrence to which my hon. Friend refers, but I do not think that the steps proposed in the second part of his question would be practicable, or likely to provide any real safeguard. As has been pointed out in reply to previous questions on this subject, the true remedy lies in the exercise of greater care by persons who have charge of these dangerous articles.

asked the Home Secretary how many resolutions requesting improvements in the scales of pay have been submitted to his Department during the past 10 years by the Prison Officers' Representative Board; and if any improvement in the scales has been effected apart from the increases of January, 1936?

During the past 10 years 26 resolutions submitted by the Prison Officers' Representative Board to the Prison Commissioners were concerned with the scales of pay of various classes of Prison Officers. During this period there has been no general revision in the scales of pay apart from those introduced in January, 1936, but there have been increases in the maxima of the allowances payable in lieu of quarters.

asked the Home Secretary how many temporary subordinate prison officers are employed in the prison service who are in receipt of Army or police pensions up to or exceeding £3 per week?

There are 43 such officers at present in receipt of Army pensions, all of which are less than £13 per week, and 18 in receipt of Police pensions, of which 11 are £3 per week or less and seven exceed £3 per week.

asked the Home Secretary whether the terms of the Prison Service, Standing Order No. 670, requiring an officer to see and initial any evidence against him is being carried out in all cases?

I have no reason to think that the requirements of the Standing Order are not observed. If the hon. Member has any evidence to the contrary, I shall be glad if he will communicate it to me.

asked the Home Secretary the number of quasi-permanent prison officers employed in London and in other prisons and the approximate number of temporary officers employed in London and in other prisons; and if he will consider the possibility of appointing certain of these grades to the established staff in order that these officers may be allocated posts of responsibility and thus relieve the present tension caused by a shortage of staff?

On the 15th instant, 56 quasi-permanent officers were employed in London prisons and 181 in other establishments, including Borstal Institutions. The corresponding figures for temporary officers were 74 and 149. Suitable persons from the unestablished staff are eligible for appointment to the established staff, but it would not be right to lower the standard of qualifications for appointment to the established staff for the purpose of admitting men engaged for less responsible duties. There is no foundation for the suggestion that there is a general shortage of staff.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what sum of money has been expended by His Majesty's Government during the last 20 years on compensation for cattle suffering from foot-and-mouth disease?

The total sum expended on the payment of compensation for animals slaughtered on account of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease during the 20 years 1917–1936 amounts to £4,900,223. This figure includes compensation payable in respect of animals (cattle, sheep, goats and swine) slaughtered on account of their exposure to infection as well as animals actually suffering from the disease.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what sum of money was expended by His Majesty's Government during the last financial year upon research into the causation, prevention, and cure of foot-and-mouth disease?

The total expenditure by His Majesty's Government during the financial year ended 31st March, 1937, upon research into the causation, prevention and cure of foot-and-mouth disease was £16,591.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that cyder apples are being imported from France at the present time; and whether he is satisfied that this may not be a possible source of infection of foot-and-mouth disease?

There is no evidence to indicate that imports of cyder apples or other fruit have been associated in any way with the present series of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, nor has such evidence been forthcoming in connection with outbreaks over a period f many years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Milk Marketing Board is allowing one-third pint bottles of milk to be sold in mills and workshops in the Accrington area at 1d. per bottle, representing a rate of 6d. per quart; and that this milk is bought in the mills and workshops and taken home for use; and whether he will investigate the extent to which this policy is affecting the smaller retailer producers who are not allowed to sell at 6d. per quart legal measure?

Under the Milk in Industry Scheme inaugurated by the Milk Marketing Board in conjunction with the National Milk Publicity Council, milk is being supplied to workers in industrial premises at the price of 1d. per third-pint bottle, or 6d. per quart. Since the milk is delivered by the distributor in substantial quantities to the workshops, the costs of distribution are less than those of ordinary retail sale; the transactions are more in the nature of semi-retail than retail sales. The board have informed me that they are not aware that milk so supplied in the Accrington area is being taken home for domestic use, but I shall be glad to convey to them any information which my hon. and gallant Friend may be able to furnish with regard to this matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will inquire from the Milk Marketing Board the number of distributors in the Accrington district who are in favour of the increase in the winter retail price of milk to 7d. per quart from the previous price of 6d. per quart; whether he will state the percentage of milk supplied in the district by the Wholesale Co-operative Society; what was the retail selling-price recommended by this society, and the number of farmers who are ready to sell at a profit milk at 6d. per quart?

I am informed by the Milk Marketing Board that they have no information on the points raised by my hon. and gallant Friend. In accordance with the terms of the wholesale contracts and producer-retailer licences, the Board may reduce the appropriate minimum retail price of milk in any area if a majority of the retailers, representing the greater part of the milk sold in the area, resolve in favour of reduction at a meeting called for the purpose.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will investigate the effect of increases in the retail price of milk upon the position of the small producer-farmer in the north-eastern district of Lancashire; and whether he will inquire into the effect of the present milk policy in many districts in favouring the formation of large milk-selling trusts?

The question of the effect upon registered milk producers of increases in minimum retail prices is primarily one for the Milk Marketing Board. I see no need for the inquiry suggested in the last part of the question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will suggest to the Milk Marketing Board the desirability of holding an inquiry in all towns where there is a demand by milk producers for the retention of 6d. per quart as the selling price instead of any increase to 7d. per quart, with the object of ascertaining whether any increase is needed by the real requirements either of the producers or of the distributors?

In reply to an earlier question by my hon. and gallant Friend, I have explained the provision in the current milk contracts and producer-retailer licences under which the appropriate minimum retail price of milk in any area may be reduced by the Milk Marketing Board on the initiative of the retailers in that area.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that five milk-producer retailers have been summoned to appear before the Milk Marketing Board in London for alleged undercutting of price in Accrington; whether there is any reason why milk producers should be compelled, at great inconvenience, to leave their business and incur the expense of travelling to London in such cases; and whether he will represent to the Milk Marketing Board that their inquiries in matters of this nature should be held locally and in public?

I am aware that it is the practice of the Milk Marketing Board to hold hearings regarding contraventions of the Scheme in London. Careful consideration was given some time ago to the possibility of arranging local hearings, but the Board came to the conclusion that such an arrangement would be impracticable. Under the provisions of the Milk Marketing Scheme, penalties can only be imposed by the full Board and not by any Committee; and if the Board were to sit in the producer's locality on every occasion on which a breach of the scheme is alleged, considerable expenditure would be entailed and it would he impossible for the Board to carry out their normal work.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider facilitating an increased acreage of potatoes with a view to ear-marking the increased acreage specifically for supplying potatoes to a suitable factory for the manufacture of feeding-meal for pigs, and with a view to providing a suitable supply of home-grown feeding-stuffs?

The problem of finding additional outlets for home- grown potatoes is essentially one for consideration by the Potato Marketing Board; but it will be apparent that producers would need to be satisfied that they would receive a remunerative price for any potatoes grown expressly for manufacture. In this connection, I understand that the Board are co-operating in a factory experiment into the economic possibilities of drying potatoes for use as feeling stuffs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many acres of land during the last three years have been acquired by the Commissioners of Crown Lands, either by private purchase or in payment of Death Duties; and whether he can give the acreage in each county concerned?

Since the 1st April, 1934, the Commissioners of Crown Lands have acquired no land in payment of Death Duties. The following areas have, however, been acquired by private purchase:

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of colliery amalgamations which have taken place in this country during the past five years; the number of collieries involved, with the coal output, the number of men employed in the year before the amalgamation, and for the last quarter in each case?

I will circulate as soon as possible in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving all the available information.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been called to the fact that, during the first eight months of this year, German coal exports have increased by 7,803,709 metric tons, equivalent to 43.67 per cent. over the corresponding period of 1936, whilst British shipments, on the other hand, rose by only 3,836,134 tons or 17.13 per cent. within the same period; and whether, in view of the fact that this increase of German exports is mainly due to the subsidising of their exports, he will endeavour to arrange an early conference of British and German experts to see whether arrangements can be made to end this subsidising of exports which is proving so expensive to Germany and so damaging to the coal trade as a whole?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 2nd November.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has considered the unanimous resolution of the conference of Scottish local authorities, held in Glasgow on 23rd October, requesting the Government to increase old age pensions to an amount which would obviate the necessity of application being made to the public assistance committees for supplementary aid because of the inadequacy of the present pensions; and what action is contemplated by the Government to give effect to this request, in view of the heavy cost to the ratepayers of having to provide supplementary allowances to pensioners and others in receipt of State grants?

I have not received the resolution referred to in the question but I am aware of the position as regards the supplementation of old age pensions by means of public assistance. As regards the question of increasing rates of pension I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leeds (Mr. V. Adams) on 28th October, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider amending the non-contributory Old Age Pensions Acts so that disability pensions should be disregarded in the calculation of means under them, as they are under the Unemployment Act of 1936 as administered by the Unemployment Assistance Board?

I regret that the Government cannot see their way to promote the legislation which would be necessary to give effect to the change suggested.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has considered the communication from certain pensioned civil servants who retired between February, 1922, and July, 1934, in which it is alleged that pensions were unjustifiably cut by 25 per cent.; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I have not received the communication referred to by the hon. Member; nor is it accurate to say that pensions were reduced in the manner suggested. I have, however, received representations from certain civil service pensioners who while serving were in receipt of cost-of-living bonus. They asked for the retrospective revision of lump-sum awards made on their retirement in so far as relates to such bonus. I have replied that I regretted to be unable to accede to this request.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many civil servants have, within the last three years, been removed from the service or requested to resign owing to bankruptcy or matrimonial troubles, respectively?

In the absence of a central record relating to enforced retirements of civil servants I am not in a position to supply the hon. Member with the information he desires. I must not be understood to accept the suggestion that a civil servant should be required to resign for something so indefinite as the lion. Member's phrase "matrimonial troubles." Unless public scandal prejudicial to the Service is involved, the normal departmental policy is non-interference in matters affecting a civil servant's private life.

asked the Postmaster-General why the application of Mr. James R. Sutherland, an ex-service man with a 60 per cent. disability pension, for the sub-postmastership at Evie, Orkney, was not entertained; and whether his application for any future vacancies that may occur in the Post Office service in Orkney will be favourably considered?

Mr. Sutherland's application for the sub-postmastership of Evie, Orkney, was fully considered with due regard to the fact that he is a disabled ex-service man. The premises which he offered were, however, in an unsuitable position, at a considerable distance both from the pier and from the former office. The selected candidate offered suitable premises in a convenient position. Any applications Mr. Sutherland may make for future vacancies will receive due consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General when the committee appointed to investigate the question of staff organisation in the British Broadcasting Corporation was set up; how long it has been sitting; and when it is likely to report?

The committee began its investigations last March. I understand that its report is now in draft form and is expected to be completed in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether deductions are made for national health insurance and unemployment insurance from the moneys paid to men who are given direct employment under Government assistance schemes; and, if so, whether provision is made in such moneys to allow for the deductions so made?

I am not clear as to the precise kind of employment which the hon. and learned Member has in mind. I would, however, explain that the National Health Insurance Act, 1936, empowers employers to recover by means of deductions from wages the employe's share of contributions payable under that Act. The Act draws no distinction between works carried out by direct labour and by contract, or between work on state-assisted and on other schemes. Any question as to the position under the Unemployment Insurance Acts should be addressed to the Minister of Labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sentences of birching have been inflicted in the burghs of the county of Ayr during the last ten years; whether there has been any demand from the local magistrates to inflict the penalty of birching; and whether it is with his approval that these new instructions have been issued?

In reply to the first part of the question, I am informed that no whipping order has been made by any Court in Ayrshire during the last ten years. I have no information on the point raised in the second part of the question. As regards the last part, I assume that the right hon. Member refers to a recent communication from the Sheriff Clerk regarding local arrangements for carrying out any whipping orders which might be imposed. My approval was not required to the issue of this communication.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the making of a national appeal and the setting up of a King's Roll or Roll of Honour for the purpose of enlisting the co-operation of employers in the re-employment of persons over 55 years of age?

The suggestion made by my hon. and gallant Friend is not free from difficulty, but I have it in mind with others, in my consideration of the problem of the older unemployed. As I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member on the 4th November, I have not yet completed the inquiries I am making.

asked the Minister of Labour, for the latest date for which figures are available, what number and proportion of those on the live registers of Employment Exchanges had been continuously on the register for periods of one week, one month, six months, 12 months, and more than 12 months?

The available statistics for 18th October, 1937, are given on page 438 of the November, 1937, issue of the "Ministry of Labour Gazette," a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of male and female textile workers, respectively, signing on at the Dewsbury Employment Exchange in the months of October, 1935, 1936 and 1937?

The following table shows the numbers of insured males and females, aged 14–64, in the textile industries, recorded as unemployed at the Dewsbury Employment Exchange at a date in October of each of the years 1935, 1936 and 1937:

asked the Minister of Labour the number of coal miners unemployed in the Dewsbury Employment Exchange area in the month of October, 1935,:1936 and 1937, respectively?

The numbers of insured males, aged 14–64, in the coal mining industry recorded as unemployed at the Dewsbury Employment Exchange at 21st October, 1935, 26th October, 1936, and 18th October, 1937, were 545, 125 and 117 respectively.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence if he is now in a position to make any statement with regard to the report of the Calcium Carbide Factory Investigation Committee; and whether it will be possible to make arrangements to encourage the erection of such a factory in South Wales?

Yes, Sir. The committee, after full consideration of a number of schemes submitted to them for the production of calcium carbide and allied products in the United Kingdom, recommended the scheme submitted to them by the British Oxygen Company. This scheme provides for the erection of two factories, one at Port Talbot in South Wales, the other at Corpach in the West Highlands. The company have assured me that pending their obtaining the necessary powers for the Corpach factory they intend to proceed at once with the erection of the factory at Port Talbot. On this basis the scheme is regarded by the Government as satisfactory and I understand that the company are taking the necessary steps to re-introduce the Caledonian Water Power Bill.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement of the actual position to date of the five-year programme for highway construction and the progress made?

At 31st October, 1937, the highway authorities had submitted programmes of works on other than trunk roads estimated to cost £129,000,000, of which £80,000,000, involving Road Fund commitments of £47,000,000, had been approved.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has any information regarding the prohibition of the use of motor horns enforced in Paris, and whether there has been any change in the accident figures since the enforcement of that regulation?

The use of motor horns is prohibited in Paris between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. I will make inquiries as to the effect which this prohibition has had on accidents.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can give the House any information in connection with the accident at Wimbledon Station on Monday night when a man was badly injured; and whether he can say what was the cause of the accident?

I have not yet received full details of this accident, but I am appointing an officer to hold an inquiry and await his report.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the proposed amalgamation of electricity concerns in South Wales in any way conflicts with the proposals of the Government for giving effect to the McGowan Report?

I have no official information of the proposed amalgamation referred to by the hon. Member. I would add that in advance of a detailed investigation and without hearing the views of all interests concerned, it will not be possible to say to what extent particular proposals could be accepted as giving effect to the principles of the McGowan Report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with reference to the report of the Mui Tsai Commission, whether he proposes to ensure that a new ordinance shall be passed whereby every transferred child must be notified to a Government authority and, if necessary, inspected?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply to his question on this subject on 3rd November, to which I have at present nothing to add.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will give detailed information of the results of his Department's investigation into the extent to which canteens in public elementary schools have been provided, distinguishing between the numbers provided in central and senior schools in extension of his reply on 26th July, 1937, stating also which local education authorities provide canteens, the type of service and meals provided, and the cost?

I am sending the hon. Member a list of the local education authorities in whose areas some provision is made for school canteens as distinct from feeding centres. Apart from the fact that in London provision is made for school canteens in selective central schools but not in ordinary public elementary schools, no information is available as to the extent to which such provision is made in central and senior schools as distinct from other public elementary schools. The meals provided at the centeens are in all cases dinners, and the charge made to the children is usually from 2½d. to 4d. a meal, or from 1s. to 1s. 6d. a week for five meals.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware of the grave dissatisfaction which exists at Highworth over the decision of the Wiltshire County Council to transfer large numbers of pupils several miles daily from Highworth to Stratton for their education; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy the unsatisfactory position which now exists?

The Board are aware that dissatisfaction has been expressed with the decision of the local education authority for Wiltshire to provide for the older children of Highworth at the senior school at Stratton. The number of senior children at Highworth, however, is not sufficient to justify the provision of a separate senior school for them at High-worth, and it is only by attending the school at Stratton that they can obtain the educational advantages of a properly organised senior school. The matter has been carefully considered, and my Noble Friend sees no ground for intervening.