asked the Minister of Labour the number of young men who, having completed a course at an instructional centre, have been placed in employment since 1st April, 1937, in the construction and improvement of trunk roads, in accordance with the arrangements come to between himself and the Minister of Transport?

No opportunities for placing men from the instructional centres in work on new trunk roads have yet arisen. I am, however, hopeful that, as my right hon. Friend's schemes develop, openings will be found for considerable numbers.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a Lancashire miner with a wife and six children was denied unemployment assistance on the ground that he had £15 in the Co-operative bank, and also that a Sunderland disabled ex-Service man with a wife and one child was denied unemployment assistance on the ground of the receipt of an Army pension of the amount of 30s.; whether particulars of these cases have been sent to him with a view to investigation; and under what authority assistance was refused?

I understand that the cases to which my hon. Friend refers are among those quoted in a recent book en-titled "The Problem of the Distressed Areas," where they are stated to be based on material collected as long ago as 1932. I have no information about these cases, and can say with confidence that they have no relevance to current practice in the administration of unemployment allowances.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these statements were made on the authority of the well-known Communist leader Mr. Wal Hannington?

I hope the question and the answer will help to correct any misrepresentation that has arisen.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consult with the Unemployment Assistance Board with a view to extending the ambit of their recent instruction, so that the increased cost of the necessaries of life may be taken into consideration in making determinations for single men under the Unemployment Assistance Board's regulations?

I am informed by the Unemployment Assistance Board that households consisting of a person living alone are regarded as eligible with others for consideration under the Board's recent instruction, but that increased allowances have, in fact, been granted in large numbers of such cases.

In view of the rise in the cost of living, is not the right hon. Gentleman prepared to recommend that the Unemployment Assistance Board should extend their regulations in regard to this matter?

That is another issue. The facts are as I have stated in my answer.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applications received for special and additional assistance since the circular for giving the officers discretionary power to deal with such applications was sent out in the Blyth, Ashington, Bedlington and Morpeth areas, respectively; and how many applications have been granted?

The number of additions made to assessments on account of the special circumstances dealt with in the Board's circular during the four weeks ended 30th November in the Board's administrative area of Blyth which includes Bedlington, Morpeth and Ashington, was 1,416. This total excludes cases in which the assessment already contains an equal or greater addition under the standstill arrangements. As regards applications, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths) on 18th November.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applications have been received for special and additional assistance, since the circular was issued which gave the officers discretion to deal with the growing needs of applicants for assistance, in the Stoke, Fenton, and Longton sections, respectively, of the Hanley administrative area of the Unemployment Assistance Board; and how many applications have been granted?

The number of additions made to assessments on account of the special circumstances dealt with in the Board's Circular during the four weeks ended 30th November in the Board's administrative area of Stoke-on-Trent which includes Fenton and Longton was 1,188. This figure excludes cases in which the assessment already contains an equal or greater addition under standstill arrangements. With regard to the number of applications, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 18th November to the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths).

asked the Minister of Labour the number of cases in which the Unemployment Assistance Board have included with the needs of an applicant for an allowance a sum sufficient to enable him to make to a separated wife the remittance which he was making when he was in receipt of standard benefit?

Precise information in the form desired by the hon. Member is not available, but it is estimated that the number of cases where the unemployment allowance includes a sum in respect of separated dependants is about 5,000. This figures includes cases of children as well as of wives.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons in receipt of standard unemployment benefit were in receipt of supplementary benefit from the Unemployment Assistance Board on 15th April, 1937, 1st May, 1st June, 1st July, 1st August, 1st September, 1st October, 1st November, 1st December, or other convenient dates in each of these months?

As the reply includes a table of figures, I will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that the time has come for a revision of the unemployment benefit scales?

I have already said that I do not, but as to the course of events during the next two months, I would not like to prophesy. It is a matter for the Statutory Committee.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed persons in receipt of standard benefit, not normally entitled to supplementary benefit from the Unemployment Assistance Board, have, however, received such allowances in order to meet special circumstances?

I regret that this information is not available. I am informed, however, that the number of current applications authorised for supplementation allowances on the register of the Unemployment Assistance Board increased by nearly 1,700 during the four weeks period of review, following the issue of the Board's recent circular, but it cannot be stated how many of these applications were due to the operation of that circular.

Will the Minister endeavour to get these figures, which would be of the very greatest value to the very reliable leader of the unemployed, Mr. Wal Hannington?

I pointed out in answer to a previous question that while Mr. Hannington may be reliable, those who draw deductions from what he said are likely to be very unreliable.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any steps have been taken to bring to the notice of unemployed persons on standard benefit their right to supplementary benefit in certain circumstances?

Notices as to making application for unemployment assistance are exhibited in Employment Exchanges and explanatory leaflets are also available on request.

Why "on request"? Is the Minister aware that the unemployed persons do not know about this, and in order that they may make the requests, ought not notices to be posted prominently advising them to make requests?

I have no understanding that they are not fully aware of this matter.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, in Durham and Tyneside in the decreases in unemployment during 1937, 55 per cent. took place in the 18 to 34 age group, while 8.7 per cent. was among men aged 55 years and over; and will he state what plans he has to deal with the question of the elderly unemployed in this area?

I have at present nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths) on 2nd December.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's Department any definite plans for dealing with this class of labour?

It is in reference to that point that I gave the answer.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider taking steps to induce employers of labour, when they employ fresh labour, to employ a fixed proportion of elderly unemployed men; and whether he will take steps to secure that some such provision is in- serted in Government contracts, and that the adoption of such a proposal is made a condition upon industries receiving Government assistance?

I have this, and other suggestions, in mind in connection with my general examination into the problem of the older unemployed, but I have not yet completed my inquiries and am not in a position to make any pronouncement on the matter.

In view of the fact that it is now four months since an announcement was made by the right hon. Gentleman, in an interview which he gave, that the Government were considering plans for replacing these unwanted workers in industry, how long shall we have to wait for action?

I pointed out that it was my intention to visit every one of the nine Ministry of Labour divisions. I have visited eight and have one more to visit; after that I shall consider all the evidence.

Since this problem is very largely one of the distressed areas, and as the announcement was made four months ago, how long shall we have to wait before some attention is given to this very serious matter?

If the hon. Member's suggestion is that nothing is being done now, I would point out to him that this is an administrative tour, and that a good deal is being done.

Has not the right hon. Gentleman already got all the facts bearing on this matter?

Is my right hon. Friend extending his inquiries to Government factories?

asked the Minister of Labour the estimated cost of abolishing the six days' waiting period in the agricultural unemployment insurance scheme, and also the estimated cost of reducing the waiting period to three days?

On such assumptions as can be made on the basis of unemployment so far experienced under the Agricultural Insurance Scheme, it is estimated that the cost of abolishing the waiting period of six days would be at an annual rate not exceeding £100,000, and that the cost of reducing the waiting period to three days would be at an annual rate not exceeding £40,000.

As there is a surplus of approximately £2,000,000 in the fund and agricultural labourers with their very low wages can less afford this waiting period, will the right hon. Gentleman invite the committee to make a recommendation on the lines of the question?

The hon. Member knows that the committee itself is taking evidence on the point, and I have no doubt that evidence will be given in regard to this matter. The point is that the payment of benefits to agricultural workers did not commence until November, 1936.

But as approximately there is a surplus of £2,000,000 in the fund, will the right hon. Gentleman expedite the committee's investigation of this problem?

The committee, I have no doubt, will do its statutory duty, examine the facts, take evidence and make its report.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that six days is too long for agricultural workers to wait?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of boys and girls from the depressed areas who have been found employment in the Greater London area through the Employment Exchanges and juvenile employment bureaux for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

2,138 boys and 1,117 girls from the areas scheduled under the juvenile transference scheme were found employment in the Greater London area through the Employment Exchanges and juvenile employment bureaux during the 12 months ended November, 1937.

Are there any special safeguards for these juveniles when they are transferred?

That is a large question, but I am not clear what the hon. Member means.

Are arrangements made for the care of these juveniles when they come to London?

The hon. Member knows that there is a most elaborate scheme in London.

Will the right hon. Gentlemen see that these youths are paid sufficient to keep themselves rather than have to be dependent on subsidies from their parents?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons who have left the borough of Merthyr Tydfil, whether transferred under the Ministry of Labour or voluntarily to seek other employment, since December, 1936?

I am making inquiries and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of insured persons, employed and unemployed, in the borough of Merthyr Tydfil in January and October this year?

The only figures available are the total numbers of insured persons whose unemployment books were exchanged at the Employment Exchanges serving the Merthyr Tydfil area at the 1936 and 1937 exchange of books, and the numbers of insured persons recorded as unemployed. The books exchanged figures gave a total, for persons aged 14 to 64, of 20,490 for July, 1936, and 19,150 for July, 1937. At 25th January, 1937, 10,098 insured persons, aged 14 to 64, were recorded as unemployed, and 7,437 at 18th October, 1937.

Will the Minister inquire into the figure he has given, which is totally misleading as to the number of insured workers living in the area mentioned in the question?

It is the latest figure based on the Employment Exchange books for July.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this figure, apparently, has been unchanged during the year from January to October, and that obviously it is incorrect?

That is not so. The figure given in July, 1936, was 20,490 and in July, 1937, 19,150. The hon. Member knows that we get the Employment Exchange books only annually.

asked the Minister of Labour the effect of the revised method of calculating the number of persons unemployed as compared with the old method; on what date the revised method was introduced; and why the old method was discontinued?

An article giving the information desired will be found on page 379 of the October, 1937, issue of the Ministry of Labour Gazette, a copy of which is in the Library.

Does it give an explanation as to why it was necessary to change from the old method and what benefit has been derived from the new?

Yes, it gives a most complete explanation.

asked the Minister of Labour what the present figure of unemployment would be if the calculation were made under the old method?

asked the Minister of Labour whether the latest figures of unemployment are based on the revised method, which is calculated to show a reduction in numbers in comparison to the previous method of computation; and what would the figures have been on the previous basis?

The unemployment figures for 15th November have been compiled under the revised procedure, introduced in September last, which ensures with closer accuracy that persons on the registers who are not actually unemployed on the day of the count are not included in the total. Information is not available that would show the numbers of persons in employment at 15th November excluded from the count under the new procedure, but at 13th September the change reduced the total figure by about 3.6 per cent. I should point out that the figures for October and November are on a comparable basis and the increase in November as compared with October would not have been materially larger if no change had been made in the procedure.

Are we to take it that the Minister cannot tell us what the figures of the unemployed would be if they were calculated on the old method?

In my answer, I said that there would be no material difference in the monthly comparison.

Does the Minister agree that if the figures had been calculated on the old method, they would have shown at least 50,000 more?

No, Sir. I said in my answer that that would have been so in September, but it would not be so now. This change affects the number of persons on the day of the count who are not actually unemployed, and who register on Friday, say, get a job on Monday, but do not register in the ordinary way at the exchange until one or two days afterwards.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the old method would show an increase of from 2 to 3 per cent.?

That was so in September, but it is not so now. If the hon. Member will examine the figures, he will find that a large proportion has regard to those who are temporarily stopped.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give us the percentage?

I could circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT, but I think the hon. Gentleman will find it in the article.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been directed to the large increase in the number of unemployed persons in the building trades; and to what extent, if any, this is due to the inability of firms to comply with deliveries of steel?

The increase to which the hon. Member refers was mainly due to normal seasonal influences. As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, a large part of the building industry is in no way dependent upon steel supplies, and I have no reason to suppose that any substantial proportion of the increase was accounted for by a shortage of steel. I should point out that, in spite of the very considerable increase in the number of insured persons attached to the building industry which occurred during the past year, the num- ber unemployed in the industry in Great Britain at 15th November was 1,840 fewer than at the corresponding period last year.

asked the Home Secretary since what date his warrant has been required to enable police or other Government authorities to listen-in to private telephone conversations; and what was the practice prior to that date?

It has always been the rule that listening-in to a private telephone conversation without the knowledge of either party should not be authorised except in special circumstances. There is no legal requirement as to the form in which authority should be given by the Secretary of State for this purpose, but in practice, if this authority is given, it takes the form of a warrant under the hand of the Secretary of State. The position is different if a subscriber himself asks the police to listen-in on his telephone. As my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General has already explained, there is nothing to prevent a subscriber from arranging for the police or anyone else to listen-in on his line through the agency of an extension line or other device, and in that case no warrant is required.

Are these warrants only granted in specific cases where criminal activities are suspected, or are they also granted when the political views of an individual are in question?

I have already informed the hon. and gallant Member that, in accordance with precedent, I am not prepared to give detailed answers of that kind to questions in this House.

Is it not the legal right of those concerned in the warrant to know that the warrant has been issued?

I am not prepared to give further information on a subject of which the essential characteristic is secrecy.

asked the Home Secretary whether, without stating the number of occasions upon which his warrant to open private postal correspondence has been granted, he will say if the frequency of granting such warrants is increasing or decreasing?

The hon. and gallant Member will appreciate that the number of occasions on which the public interest requires that this power should be exercised necessarily varies from time to time. To compare one period with another would, therefore, be misleading, and it would, moreover, be detrimental to the public interest to attempt to do so.

Must the circumstances under which a warrant is granted be laid before the right hon. Gentleman personally, or can they be dealt with by a member of the permanent staff of his Department?

I have already informed the hon. and gallant Member that the Secretary of State personally deals with matters of that kind.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. W. J. Lant, an employé of the West Hartlepool trackless undertaking, was ordered to attend before a justice of the peace of the Borough of Hartlepool to be sworn in as a special constable, and was compelled to sign the required declaration although he had not volunteered for this service; and under what authority the magistrate acted?

I have made inquiries and am informed that the justices were acting under Section 196 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1882, which provides for the appointment, in October of every year, of borough special constables who can be called on to serve on any occasion when the police force of the borough is insufficient to maintain the peace. I am told that Mr. Lant had been notified before his name was submitted to the justices and that he had then raised no objection: had objection been raised his name would not have been submitted to the justices.

If I inform the right hon Gentleman that Mr. Lant most emphatically protested, and was told he would be fined £5 if he did not sign will he take some other action to see that this matter is dealt with?

Is it suggested that in Hartlepool the police force is insufficient to maintain the peace?

This is a matter in which I have no responsibility. It is dependent upon the statutory enactments. I understand that under the Act of 1882 this procedure is practicable, but actually it has seldom, if ever, been used. I am also informed that in this case Mr. Lant was informed in advance of the proposal to include his name in the list of special constables, and it was only when he was asked to come up to make his declaration that he raised any objection. He was also told that no work was to be lost in order to put in an appearance, and that if he could not attend at the time specified, some more appropriate time would be arranged. He did not attend on the date of the summons, but he came to a later meeting of the court, and, after some discussion and explanation, he agreed to sign the declaration, intimating that next year he would prefer to be excused.

Will the right hon. Gentleman agree, since he has now told the House that this Act is seldom used, that the justices failed in their warrant to state that a case of emergency existed and that no such intimation was afforded to Mr. Lant; and that Mr. Lant did protest and was threatened with a fine of £5?

I must not be taken as in any way criticising or supporting the action of the magistrates. It is not my business to do so. I have given the House the information at my disposal. This is, I believe, the first case of the kind that has occurred, and I cannot imagine it is likely to be a case of common occurrence.

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I propose to raise the matter at the earliest possible moment.

rose—

On a point of Order. As the hon. Member has given notice to raise the matter on the Adjournment, is it in order for the right hon. Gentleman to ask another supplementary question?

Perhaps the hon. Member will leave that to me.

There is really no point of Order here. At Question Time, when an hon. Member says that he will raise the matter on the Adjournment the established practice is that no further supplementary questions are asked.

I asked the right hon. Gentleman, because he quoted the 1882 Act, whether there was a police force in Hartlepool insufficient to maintain the peace, which I understood from him was one of the grounds on which this man was made a special constable? Since this obsolete piece of legislation is rarely used, will he be prepared to repeal it in order to remove temptation from the path of local authorities?

I must apologise to the right hon. Gentleman, but another hon. Member asked a further question. As to the first question the right hon. Gentleman is, I think, under a misunderstanding. The enlistment of special constables does not imply that the local police force is insufficient, but it does imply that they may be necessary in a special emergency in the future, and it is only for the purposes of an emergency that special constables are enlisted. In answer to his second question, I am inclined to think that as this is the first case of the kind that has come to the notice of the Home Office, it is quite unnecessary to ask Parliament to go through the process of legislation.

I beg to give notice that on a suitable occasion I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give particulars of the constitution of the Metropolitan police disciplinary board; and will he consider the appointment of some independent persons other than police officers, and state if the present regulations give an accused officer the opportunity of being legally represented, and what further changes are contemplated in the method of procedure?

The disciplinary authority for the Metropolitan Police Force is the Commissioner, and from time to time he appoints discipline boards consisting of three members, a president of rank not less than deputy-assistant commissioner, a deputy-assistant commissioner or chief constable, and a superintendent, who exercise delegated powers on his behalf. In these circumstances it would be inappropriate to appoint persons who are not members of the Force. The present regulations allow a defaulter to have another member of the Force as friend to assist him, but not to have a legal representative. In exceptional cases, however, arrangements are made to have a legal adviser present for the purpose of advising both the president of the board and the defaulter. No change in procedure is contemplated at present.

Will the right hon. Gentleman have a full shorthand report taken in exceptional cases, so that the officers can have a copy of it?

The hon. Member had better put that question down.

asked the Home Secretary the present strength of police officers employed in the uniformed branch and Criminal Investigation Department of the Metropolitan district, and the number of these officers who are on a 10-year service agreement; and the amount of gratuity they receive at the end of such service?

The strength of the uniform branch on the 5th instant was 17,788, and of the Criminal Investigation Department 1,151. The strength of short service officers in the force was 1,135. On completing 10 years' approved service a short service officer will receive a gratuity related to his pay on leaving the force, amounting in the case of a constable to about £180 or £190, and to a proportionately larger sum in the case of a sergeant.

How many police officers have been released from traffic duty since the traffic signals came into operation?

No, Sir; not without notice.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that a lorry-driver was fined £2 and had his licence endorsed at Deddington, Oxon, Police Court on 26th November, for exceeding the 20-miles-per-hour speed limit, although the police admitted using stop watches which had neither been used nor tested for two years; and whether in view of this and similar cases, he will issue a circular to chief constables, calling attention to the desirability of all police watches being tested from time to time?

I agree with the hon. Member that it is desirable that stop watches used by the police for the purpose of detecting speed offences should be tested periodically, and I have no reason to doubt that that is the usual practice. I will, however, take an opportunity of reminding chief constables on the matter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that his wish is carried out by the authorities, and see that the watches are tested at definite times, say, once a quarter?

No, Sir. Apart from the Metropolitan Police I exercise no executive authority over the police, but it is customary in matters of this kind for the Home Office to furnish chief constables with advice from time to time. In London the police have their stop watches tested every six months.

Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to tender that advice to the authorities outside the Metropolitan Police area?

I have already said that I will take an opportunity of reminding chief constables.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has approved the appointment of Lieut.-Commander W. J. A. Willis, as chief constable of Rochester; whether there was no candidate from the police service who was considered sufficiently well qualified, or what exceptional qualification or experience specially fitting him for the post of chief constable was possessed by Lieut.-Commander W. J. A. Willis, in accordance with the requirements of Regulation 9 of the Police Regulations of England and Wales; and what were the special circumstances which led him to approve the appointment of a candidate over 40 years of age?

Yes, Sir. The Rochester Watch Committee, having chosen Lieut.-Commander Willis for appointment to the vacant post, satisfied me that his qualifications were exceptional and that I could properly give my approval under Regulations 7 and 9 of the Police Regulations to their appointment. Before coming to a decision, the watch committee gave careful consideration to applications submitted by serving police officers.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what experience Commander Willis had as a constable before this appointment?

Is it not the case that one of the chief qualifications of this officer is that he rose from the lower deck of the Navy by merit to the rank of Lieut. -Commander?

It is perfectly true that this officer had a very remarkable career in the Navy, ending up in a post in which he was responsible for the training of 1,500 men. These, I imagine, were the facts which were taken into consideration by the watch committee of Rochester, and are facts which enabled me to confirm the appointment under the regulations.

He had no police experience.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the fact that in the books recently published by his Department dealing with recreation and physical fitness for men and women, while extensive reference is made to gymnastics, ball games, athletics, swimming, boxing, hockey, cricket, lawn tennis, camping, and dancing, including ballroom dancing, no reference whatever is made to riding; and whether, in view of the great extension of riding facilities in this country during recent years, he will arrange to have this omission repaired in the next issue of these books?

My Noble Friend fully appreciates the physical and recreational value of riding, and recognises the increase of its popularity in recent years. It has not been found possible, however, to deal adequately with every sport and pastime within the limits of size and price imposed by the desirability of ensuring as wide a circulation as possible for these handbooks. The suggestion of my hon. and gallant Friend will, however, be borne in mind, if further editions are called for.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary issue a notice to the boys in the pits to ride on the ponies coming out?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether, in view of the discouragement caused to those now training for the teaching profession by the serious unemployment among recently trained teachers, he will communicate with local education authorities responsible for schools containing classes of over 40 children with a view to their increasing the number of classes and reducing their size?

The facts do not justify the discouragement alleged by the hon. Member, and in any case my Noble Friend does not see his way to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion. Such a course of action would be inadvisable at the present time, when the resources of the local education authorities are already being severely taxed to meet the requirements of reorganisation and the raising of the school-leaving age in 1939.

Is not the Board aware that many teachers trained two or more years ago have not yet obtained work, and that more than a quarter of those turned out of college during the last year have not received posts in public elementary schools; and does that not produce great depression in the teaching profession?

The answer to the first part of the question is that the position has got steadily better in the last two years. In regard to the second part, I cannot give full particulars, but I would remind the hon. Member, that on 4th January, as I promised him before, there will be more exact figures. In regard to the third part, quite a different question is raised by the limitation of the size of classes, affecting not only the number of teachers but the space available in the schools.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what conversations His Majesty's inspector of schools has had with the Reigate Education Committee about the scheme for the sale by the Reigate Town Council of a council school to the church authorities subject to the town council making a grant of 75 per cent. to the purchasers; and by what statutory authority this local education authority is selling a council school not surplus to requirements?

Representatives of the Reigate education authority discussed the general question of the reorganisation of the Reigate public elementary schools with His Majesty's inspector, who found that the authority were considering the possibility of selling the premises of the Cromwell Road council school to the church authorities. His Majesty's inspector made it clear that he could not express any opinion upon the legal aspects of this matter. Before the authority could effect such a sale in the manner indicated in the question, they would have to satisfy the Board on various points mentioned in Section 17 (4) of the Education Act, 1921, and in Section 8 (4) of the Education Act, 1936. The Board have not yet received any proposal for such a sale from the authority. If and when such a proposal is received, it will be for the Board to consider it in relation to the facts of the particular case. Pending the receipt of the facts it would be premature for me to make any further comment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the average cost for the last convenient three months of providing new elementary school places for children under 11 and and over 11 years of age, respectively, and the figures for the corresponding quarter 12 months before?

I have already supplied the hon. Member with the information for the second quarters of 1936 and 1937 respectively. Comparative figures for a later three-monthly period are not immediately available, but I will send them to him as soon as possible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what proportion of the elementary school population of England and Wales it is estimated will be taught under reorganised conditions on 1st September, 1939?

Reorganisation appears to be proceeding at the present time at the rate of about 100,000 school places per annum. If this rate of progress is maintained, as my Noble Friend sees no reason to doubt, the number of additional school places in reorganised schools should, by 1st September, 1939, have increased by 250,000 above the figure on the 31st March, 1937. At that date 69 per cent. of the public elementary school population was in reorganised schools, and the additional 250,000 places should raise the percentage to 78.

In view of the fact that the school-leaving age is to be raised, will the hon. Gentleman impress on local authorities the desirability of hastening this matter?

I would point out to my hon. Friend that the full effect of the raising of the school-leaving age will not be felt until a year after the appointed day.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether, in view of the fact that the conditions affecting the building of schools mentioned in paragraph 2 of Circular 1456, 1937, still prevail and are likely to continue, he will consider postponing the date, 31st December, 1940, as the end of the period during which the special rate of grant to local authorities, will operate.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent (Mr. E. Smith) on nth November, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that, under present conditions, local education authorities frequently are not informed of the projected building of houses likely to contain children of elementary school age in sufficient time to enable the authority to make adequate preparations for provision of school facilities; and whether he will make arrangements to ensure that such information is invariably given by a building promoter to the local education authority?

The Board are aware that local education authorities have, on occasions, not been informed of projected building developments likely to affect the supply of elementary school accommodation in their area. It is, however, open to any county local education authority to make arrangements with the appropriate local authorities within their area to ensure that adequate notice is given to them of any proposed developments likely to necessitate additional elementary school accommodation. My Noble Friend does not consider that any action is called for on his part in the matter, which is essentially one for mutual co-operation between the authorities concerned. In the case of county boroughs and boroughs and urban districts which are local education authorities for elementary education, no such problem should arise.