asked the Minister of Labour how many site companies have been formed in England and Wales; and whether they have been able to assist the distressed areas outside the Special Areas?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Consett (Mr. David Adams) yesterday.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that site companies were promised when the Special Areas (Amendment) Act was passed, and is he satisfied that the formation of one company to date can be considered satisfactory?

I will deal with that point later in the day.

asked the Minister of Labour how many site companies have been formed in Scotland; how many of these are operating in the unscheduled portion of the county of Linlithgow; and what numbers of men have thus been afforded employment?

The answer to the first part of the question is that no site companies have been formed, that is, under Section 5 of the Special Areas (Amendment) Act, 1937, in Scotland. The second and third parts of the question do not, therefore, arise.

Does the Minister not think that this points to the ineffectiveness of the legislation regarding site companies, and will he not, therefore, take into consideration the desirability of introducing amending legislation, particularly bringing the whole of the county of Lithlithgow under one form of means of assistance?

That is a matter, as the House well knew when it debated the subject, which depends in the first instance upon local initiative.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state, as on the last convenient date, the number of able-bodied unemployed who, since the second appointed day, have sought allowances from the Unemployment Assistance Board and have been disallowed on the ground that they are out of scope?

Between the second appointed day and the 26th November last, the Board received about 37,700 applications for assistance from persons to whom the Unemployment Assistance Act did not apply, but the Board is not able to say how many of these applications were repetitions of previous applications to the Board, nor how many of the persons concerned might be described as able-bodied unemployed.

Is the Minister aware that a great many men have been turned down by his Board, but that a great number of them have been able to find work since, which goes to prove that they are able-bodied when they can get work?

I am very glad to hear that.

Why did you turn them down, then?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Unemployment Assistance Board officer is sometimes compelled to base allowances on artificial calculation of the household income, as that income is later reduced by payment of Income Tax by some member of the family; and whether he will take steps to assess allowances on the real household income?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for West Fife (Mr. Gallacher) on 9th November last year, in which it was explained that provision is already made for deducting Income Tax in calculating net earnings. I am sending the hon. Member a copy. If he is aware of any specific instance in which a suitable deduction does not appear to have been made, the Board will be happy to inquire into it.

Is it understood that the officers are instructed to review particular allowances in the light of Income Tax?

If the hon. Gentleman will look at the answer he will see the matter is explained quite clearly, as I say that that provision is already made for deducting Income Tax.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applicants who have received an increase of their allowances from the Kirkcaldy Unemployment Assistance Board on account of the in creased cost of living; the number of applicants on standard benefit who have received increases; and the increase in the amount received by applicants up to the end of November last at Kirkcaldy?

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 Kirkcaldy, was 438. The average rate of increase was, approximately 2s. a week. The figures exclude cases in which the assessment already contains an equal or greater addition under stand-still arrangements. As regards the second part of the question, I regret that statistics are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the practice of the Unemployment Assistance Board in applying the additional cost-of-living allowances in those cases where reductions of the allowance are being made over a lengthy period?

I assume the hon. Member refers to the adjustments in allowances which are being made in the course of the transition from the stand-still. Where an applicant is in receipt of an allowance which is being temporarily increased in accordance with standstill practice, any addition due under the recent instruction is set off in the assessment against the stand-still increase, so that any reduction of the allowance which would otherwise take place is diminished in amount or cancelled.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons who are in receipt of unemployment benefit at Blaenavon, Pontypool, and Pontnewydd who, during the month of November, applied to the Unemployment Assistance Board for assistance; and the number of such applications granted?

In the Board's administrative area of Pontypool, which includes Blaenavon and Pontnewydd, the number of applications for unemployment allowances in supplementation of payments of unemployment benefit during the four weeks ended 30th November was 37, in 27 of which an allowance was authorised.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applications made for additional assistance and the number of applications granted since instructions were issued to the district officers of the Unemployment Assistance Board instructing them to take into consideration the increase in the cost of living and the greater need of the winter months, at Blaenavon, Pontypool, and Pontnewydd, respectively?

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 Pontypool, which includes Blaenavon and Pontnewydd, was 2,217. 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 whether he has arrived at a decision in respect of the letter which has been addressed to him by the Chairman of the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee and issued as a White Paper; and, if so, whether he will state the nature of such decision?

Yes, Sir. Clauses 3 and 4 of the Unemployment Insurance Bill which is before the House propose to give effect to the recommendation made in this letter.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the great pecuniary hardship experienced by young workers sent by Exployment Exchanges to distant jobs when desirous of returning home; and whether he will take steps to issue free return railway warrants to these workers at Christmas time?

Young persons under 18 transferred under the official scheme, normally receive assistance towards fares home at Christmas if they have been in the new area less than 12 months and the amounts of the fares exceed certain limits. This arrangement has been in force for a considerable period, and I have no reason to suppose that it does not do all that can reasonably be expected.

In view of the inconvenience that is caused to these youths from Lancashire towns when they find themselves stranded, is it not possible to issue to them some railway warrant or pass so that they may be able to get home at Christmas time?

As the hon. Member is aware, there is an elaborate arrangement to meet cases of real need, and, as a matter of fact, it does seem to meet the need.

May I inform the right hon. Gentleman that only three or four weeks ago a young man came up here who, in order to get home, would have had to pay the sum of 33s. 4d., which it was not possible for him to pay out of his income. Can nothing be done to meet these exceptional cases?

I could not answer that question without making a much longer draft on the time of the House than I feel justified in making, but I shall be very glad to print a statement of the arrangement in the OFFICIAL REPORT if hon. Members desire it.

Hear, hear.

Is it not a fact that many of these lads do not go home for holidays because they have no pocket money?

I have no evidence of that at all.

I know of half a dozen cases.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of normally Welsh resident men engaged in the construction work on the Treforest estate and the number of those introduced from the outside?

I am making inquiries, and will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Home Secretary how many persons have been committed for trial on the charge of manslaughter arising out of motoring offences during the year ended 30th November, 1937; how many of these have been acquitted; how many have been fined; and how many have been imprisoned?

Figures relating to these offences are collected and tabulated only for the calendar year. Those for 1937 will be included in the Annual Return of Offences relating to Motor Vehicles which will be presented to Parliament as soon as possible after the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Transport which of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Transport have been given effect to and which have been disregarded?

Substantial effect has been given to practically all the recommendations in the three reports presented by the Royal Commission on Transport, but if my hon. Friend has any particular point in mind perhaps he will communicate with me.

asked the Minister of Transport what number of committees and other official bodies are engaged upon inquiries into, and giving advice upon, road traffic problems?

There are three such committees. Parliament has by statute provided for two advisory bodies, the Transport Advisory Council (set up under Section 46 of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933) and the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee (set up under Section 1 of the London Traffic Act, 1924, as amended by Section 58 of the London Passenger Transport Act, 1933). There is a Standing Committee known as the Experimental Work on Highways (Technical) Committee which advises me upon technical matters concerning experimental work and full scale tests on roads. As my hon. Friend will be aware, it has recently been decided in another place to appoint a Select Committee to inquire into the steps which can be taken to reduce road accidents.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (1) whether he will reconsider Circular 1457 with particular reference to paragraphs 15 and 16, having regard to the opinions expressed by many industrial and educational organisations in regard to the Education Act, 1936?

Circular 1457 was considered very carefully in consultation with representatives of the local education authorities before it was issued, and my Noble Friend does not consider that anything has occurred which makes it desirable to modify or supplement it.

Is it a fact that the Board's policy is to encourage exemptions, and, if so, will not this lead to preferential treatment for children living in the South of England, as compared with those living in the North, and has the Board considered the memorandum prepared on this question by the Trades Union Congress?

I would refer the hon. Member to the exact paragraph, which says that it would be contrary to the intention of the Act for the local committee actively to encourage applications for employment by children who have not reached the age of 15.

Does the circular correctly interpret the spirit of the Act in that way?

It not only interprets the spirit of the Act, but I think it is by far the best method of ensuring proper selection of posts, from the point of view of both the parent and the boy.

Is the hon. Member satisfied that there is likely to be uniformity of administration and interpretation between the authorities in Greater London, inside the county and outside the county, and is he aware that last time we had a similar experience with the continuation schools there was difference of interpretation, which led to chaos?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will await my reply to the next question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what steps he proposes to take with a view to securing the maximum uniformity in interpretation and administration throughout the country of Section 2 of the Education Act, 1936, and of the Circular 1457 of the 9th August, 1937?

In the circular to which the hon. Member refers the Board drew attention to the desirability of avoiding a situation in which adjoining authorities took different views as to the beneficial character of the same types of employment, and discussions between authorities are at present proceeding with this object in view.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether, as regards certain hardships which have arisen to a small number of pensioners under the improved scheme of School Teachers Superannuation Act, 1918, something will now be done to assist them?

My Noble Friend has no power to increase the pensions of the teachers in question, nor can he undertake to introduce legislation for the purpose. In general these teachers are in receipt of larger pensions than a very considerable number of pensioners of all classes, including teachers, who retired on pre-war scales of pension.

Does not the Minister think that it is somewhat inconvenient and unsatisfactory that these poor people can have nothing further done for them?

You are always liable to have a small group of anomalies in connection with pensions. This is a very small number, and the position does not only apply to teachers.

If it is only a small number, why cannot something be done for them?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what is the percentage of schools in which the Highway Code is taught; and whether, in view of the number of road accidents caused by ignorance of the code, he is prepared to take steps to ensure that it is taught in all schools?

No precise information is available as to the percentage of schools in which the Highway Code is taught. A great many local education authorities have, however, already included definite lessons on road safety in the curriculum of the schools in their areas and the matter, as my hon. Friend will see from Circular 1455 of which I am sending him a copy, is being kept before the attention of local authorities by the Board. The form and content of the instruction given in the subject are primarily matters for the discretion of the local education authorities and teachers in the light of local circumstances and the age and capacity of the children.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is now able to state what arrangements have been made between the Liverpool City Council and managers of non-provided schools in Liverpool to implement the provisions of the Education Act, 1936?

So far as my Noble Friend is aware the Liverpool local education authority have not yet exercised the power conferred on them by Section 8 of the Education Act, 1936, to enter into grant agreements with the managers of non-provided schools.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in Liverpool the slogan now is, "No grants for schools," and in view of the delicacy of the situation there, is he prepared to take up the question with the authorities in Liverpool with the view to an amicable settlement, as I fear that very shortly there will be sectarian difficulties in that city?

My Noble Friend is aware of the difficulties and also of the deficiencies, and the authority recently has been asked by the Board for a statement of the steps which it proposes to take to improve the position.

If I bring this question forward after the Recess, will the hon. Gentleman be ready to give an answer as to what has been done?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (1) whether he can make a general statement on the measure in which the teaching of the history, economic conditions and forms of government of the various parts of the Colonial Empire are being taught in secondary and elementary schools in Great Britain; and whether any special steps have been taken by the Government to encourage instruction of this nature in all State-aided schools;

As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the Board do not prescribe any particular curriculum for the schools, although publications are issued from time to time designed to help the teachers to frame curricula most suited to the needs of their particular schools. The teaching of history, like other subjects of the curriculum, comes under inspection in all State-aided schools in the normal course and reports furnished by His Majesty's inspectors to the Board show that the subjects mentioned by my hon. Friend are taken into account. A number of references to various aspects of Empire history are included in the chapter on history in the Board's Handbook of Suggestions for Teachers in Elementary Schools published at the beginning of this year. So far as the secondary schools are concerned, some suggestions with regard to the subject were made in the report of the investigators into the school certificate examination published in 1931. In 1930 the Board published an educational pamphlet on the teaching of Empire geography in post-primary schools. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of each of these publications.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the immense importance, from the point of view of the promotion of the interests of the British Commonwealth of Nations, that our Imperiol history and the constitutional structure of our Dominions and Colonies should be taught in our schools in this country?

Will the hon. Gentleman consider giving to the pupils some history of how Colonial labour has been exploited by Members of this House?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what percentage of county education authorities in England normally provide canteens in their senior elementary schools in rural areas; and what is the average weekly charge per child in the elementary school canteens?

The latest returns available, obtained in the summer of 1936, showed that 34 county local education authorities were then providing canteens. Of the 14 other county authorities, many at that time had no rural senior schools. As reorganisation has progressed the importance of providing canteens for school children who cannot return home at midday has become generally recognised, and it may be assumed that canteens will form a normal part of senior school provision for such children wherever necessary. It is, of course, the Board's policy to press for such provision to be made. As I stated in my answer to the hon. Member for Hemsworth (Mr. G. Griffiths) on 18th November last, the weekly charge is usually from 1s. to 1s. 6d. for five meals.

asked the Prime Minister, whether he is yet in a position to state the recommendations of the Departmental committee set up to investigate the possibility of a scheme for pension for ex-Members of Parliament?

I propose to present the report of this committee to the House as soon as the necessary printing has been completed I anticipate that copies will be available to hon. Members early next week.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that evidence given by civil servants before the Cadman Committee will not be used in any way against them or communicated without their consent to anyone in the Department?

I have already stated on 30th November that the inquiry by the Cadman Committee will be a private one and that evidence given before it will not be made public. In these circumstances, I think it is clear that the apprehensions implied in the last part of my hon. Friend's question are groundless.

Can the Prime Minister say what will be the position of a civil servant under the Official Secrets Act?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put that question down.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air on what date the radio beacon at Speke aerodrome will come into use?

It is expected that the radio beacon at Speke aerodrome will come into use this month.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed to give the Bill concerned with the supply side of the electrical industry a First Reading before the Recess, so that its terms may be known to the industry at the earliest date now possible?

No, Sir. Ample time will, however, be given to the industry to consider the terms of the Bill before it is debated in this House.

Does the right hon. Gentleman hope to secure that this legislation will be passed into law during the current Session, in view of the delay in introducing it and the magnitude and variety of the interests involved?

I am hoping that it will be possible to introduce it in the current Session.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether any progress has been made in the search for a remedy for Johne's disease in cattle?

Until a completely satisfactory diagnostic agent for the detection by specific reaction of this disease is available, little progress can be made towards its cure. The Committee on Johne's Disease of the Agricultural Research Council have been engaged for some time in a careful comparative test of certain diagnostic agents. The work is progressing satisfactorily.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that the Sugar Industry Reorganisation Act, 1936, empowers him, in con sultation with the Commission, to deter mine the extent of bonuses up to is. per ton in respect of a poor sugar-beet crop, and that the Norfolk growers received a lower contract price than those in other counties, and the inadequacy of this season's prices has been recognised by the announcement of higher prices next year, it is proposed to pay the maximum bonus of is. per ton to the Norfolk growers this year since the crop has been exceptionally poor?

I have been asked to reply. The question whether any supplementary payment is justified in respect of the 1937 sugar-beet crop will be considered, in consultation with the Sugar Commission, early in the New Year in the light of the information which will then be available as to the results of the crop as a whole. I would remind my hon. Friend that any such supplementary payment must be distributed proportionately among all growers of sugar-beet under contract in Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many gallons of milk were dealt with by the Milk Marketing Board during the months of September, October and November of this year; and how many during the same months last year?

As the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what negotiations are going on between his Department and the representatives of the bacon curers with a view to eliminating uneconomic units in the curing industry; and whether any agreement has been reached?

Consultations with the Pigs and Bacon Marketing Boards with regard to the future organisation of the bacon industry are at present proceeding, but they have not yet reached the stage at which it is possible to make a statement.

Can the hon. Member tell us when there is likely to be some results from these discussions, and when something may be done to revive the activities of the Pig Marketing Board?

I cannot give an exact date, but I hope it will be very soon.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in the consultations which are at present taking place with the associations of local authorities in respect of grants for houses completed between 31st March and 21st December, 1938, he will endeavour to afford some facilities for the purchase by market gardeners and agricultural labourers of their own homes, as the existing facilities under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts are not sufficiently wide to cover many of the applications which are put forward?

I will give careful consideration to my hon. Friend's suggestion.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the requirements of the residents of the Vale of Evesham are worthy of every consideration?

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of circulating those local authorities who have not taken advantage of the favourable terms offered under this Act for the purchase of dwellings for the working classes?

I will consider that matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to ensure that in future fertile land suitable for market gardens, especially round London, is preserved in town-planning schemes from being built on?

The reservation of land for specified purposes in a planning scheme is a matter in the first instance for the planning authority, but if any proposal of the kind mentioned by the hon. Member were submitted for my approval, it would receive my careful consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what acreage of market gardens in the counties adjoining the London County Council area has been built on since 1st January, 1919?

I regret that the information desired by the hon. Member is not available.

asked the Minister of Health the number of old age pensioners in receipt of public assistance in the counties of Glamorgan, Monmouthshire, and Carmarthenshire, respectively?

As the answer contains a statement of figures I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the hardship caused to a large number of employed persons by the fact that the out-patient departments of hospitals are usually only open during the hours when they are employed in their daily work; and whether he will take steps to encourage the provision of facilities for such out-patients to be received at an alternative time?

In the case of voluntary hospitals, as the hon. Member will appreciate, I have no jurisdiction, but so far as hospitals provided by local authorities are concerned, I shall be glad if the hon. Member will send me particulars of any cases he has in mind, and I will make inquiries.

Would not the Minister consider making a recommendation which would carry great weight with regard to the voluntary hospitals?

Is it not the case that the King Edward Hospital Fund held a detailed inquiry on this subject and issued a report and advice to all voluntary hospitals, of which great use is being made by these hospitals?

Perhaps the hon. Member for the English Universities (Mr. Harvey) will give me any information he has on the matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the question of giving insulin free to the de pendants of State insured persons?

This suggestion can hardly be considered apart from the general question of providing medical treatment and medicines for the dependants of insured persons, which raises financial and other issues of great importance.

Did not the Parliamentary Secretary in the answer he gave me last week say that these dependants would get insulin, and that the Minister himself would bring in legislation on the matter? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that insulin is now being sold about 28 per cent. cheaper, and I am desirous that these dependants who are dying like flies should be able to have it?

I can only repeat that we cannot differentiate in this matter. We shall have to consider the whole question of the provision of medical treatment and medicines for the dependants of insured persons.

asked the Minister of Health whetther he pro poses to take steps to improve the co ordination of health services with a view to securing the more satisfactory co operation between general practitioners and medical officers of health, and between the institutional, domiciliary, consultant, and specialist services?

As I have stated in reply to a previous question, every opportunity is taken by my Department to emphasise the need for co-operation between the various branches of the medical profession, and I am glad to say there is an increasing recognition of this need on the part of local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that shipowners are declining to defray the hospital expenses of members of their crews suffering from infectious diseases and admitted from the ship to the hospitals of local and port sanitary authorities, and that certain shipowners rely for the evasion of these costs on the practice of informally paying off the patient when he is removed from the ship and thereafter claiming that he was no longer a member of the crew; and what advice has been given to local authorities in any such cases upon which the Ministry has been consulted?

I am aware that questions of the kind to which the hon. Member refers have arisen from time to time. The legal position is not free from doubt, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the letter sent to a port health authority which consulted me in the matter.

Is it not a fact that some shipowners are relying on the reluctance of local authorities to take proceedings, and will the Minister not associate himself with local authorities in taking action to prevent these evasions?

Perhaps the hon. Member will kindly study the document to which I have referred and then have a word with me.

Are these the same shipowners who have been receiving large subsidies out of the public purse?

Will the Minister of Health discontinue the practice of recommending local authorities to allow shipowners to get away with these evasions?

asked the Minister of Health (1) the number of areas in which the water supply is derived from chalk or similarly fissurated strata; whether he calls for analyses from these areas and at what intervals of time such are taken; and whether, as a safeguard against the effects of any unexpected contamination, he is prepared to order regular returned analyses, both chemical and bacteriological, to be made in such areas;

Generally speaking, the areas depending on fissurated strata for water supplies are those in the eastern part of Lincolnshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire, and those south-east of a line drawn from King's Lynn to Bridport excluding large parts of Sussex and Kent. I am not empowered to call for analyses or to give directions as to the intervals at which they should be made, or as to the installation of purification plant. It is the statutory duty of water undertakers to provide wholesome water and the responsibility for taking the necessary steps for safeguarding the supply rests with them.

In view of the recent report and recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, and in the light of the most recent epidemic, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to have these powers in order to remedy these defects?

That matter is now being considered by the Central Advisory Water Committee.