asked the Prime Minister whether witnesses called to appear before the committee of inquiry into British civil aviation are bound by the Official Secrets Act?

The Official Secrets Acts are binding at all times and in all places, but they do not prohibit any disclosure which is duly authorised. It is the desire of the Government that the committee should have all possible assistance in their investigation, and any official witnesses who may be called to appear before the committee of inquiry will be authorised to disclose to the committee such relevant facts and documents as the committee may require.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will state the total number of passengers who have lost their lives while flying in Air France machines, D.L.H. machines. Imperial Airways machines, and K.L.M. machines, respectively, during 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, and 1937?

The number of paying passengers who have lost their lives while flying in aircraft of the under-mentioned air transport companies during the periods specified in the hon. Member's Question is as follows:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education when the new school will be provided at Cusworth, near Doncaster?

The local education authority have recently submitted to the Board a proposal to erect a temporary hut for elementary school purposes at Cusworth. The Board have approved the proposal in principle, and they are now awaiting further information with a view to considering it in detail.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will state the number of education authorities which have reported schemes for operating the Education Act, 1936, in the matter of exemptions for beneficial employment?

As I explained in my answer to the hon. Member for Neath (Sir W. Jenkins) on nth November last, there is no obligation on local education authorities under the Education Act of 1936 to submit schemes for granting certificates for beneficial employment. No authorities have, in fact, reported to the Board the arrangements they propose to adopt for this purpose when the relevant part of the Act comes into force.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether it is the general practice of local authorities to take advantage of the powers conferred on them to pay personal allowances to ex-service men with disability pensions at present in institutions; and if he can give the number of such authorities?

I am glad to say that judging from the information I have received local authorities generally have acceded to the suggestion which I made to them in April last, to pay a small personal allowance to disability pensioners in their institutions. I could not, I am afraid, give the precise number of authorities who have in fact already acted on the suggestion as accounts for a complete period since I communicated with them have not yet been rendered.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will state the number of first applications for pension that have been admitted during the last two years from ex-imperials resident in each of the following Dominions; Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand; and also the number of final awards that have been amended under the correction of errors procedure during the last two years in each of the Dominions referred to?

The total number of (a) first applications on the score of disablement by war service admitted during the last two years in Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, and (b) of final awards amended in each of these Dominions were as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether in respect of Captain L. M. Ommanney, who put forward, in March, 1936, certain schemes and suggestions with a view to assisting recruiting in connection with reconditioning the unfit, any recognition of his services will be forthcoming, in view of the adoption, along somewhat similar lines, of a centre which is being established at Canterbury to deal with the reconditioning of the unfit?

Proposals for the special training of recruits to bring them up to the desired physical standard were under consideration by my Department before Captain Ommanney put forward his suggestions in March, 1936, for which he was duly thanked.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received from the United States a list of the commodities on which they are seeking concessions in connection with the coming trade agreement; and, if so, whether he can state the chief ones?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, it is not the practice of His Majesty's Government in trade negotiations to disclose the commodities in respect of which concessions from this country are being sought.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he has considered the representations in regard to the joint income limit of£250 a year which is imposed on a married woman applicant when her husband is over 55 years of age under the recent Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1937; and whether he will consider taking steps to remedy this hardship;(2) whether he will consider taking steps under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1937, to ensure that, where only the wife is of an age to apply for a pension and where the joint income is under;£400 a year, only half of this income should be taken into consideration?

I am giving consideration to the position to which my hon. and gallant Friend calls attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the serious shortage of houses in Bonnybridge and Fishcross; whether he can say what is causing the delay in house-building in Stirlingshire and Clackmannanshire; and whether he proposes to take any steps to remedy it?

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

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information, beyond that already given in connection with the protracted imprisonment of Mr. Webster and Mr. Ashton by the Bolivian Government, when these British subjects are likely to be tried?

I regret to state that in spite of constant pressure on the Bolivian Government by His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires there have not yet been further developments in this case. His Majesty's Minister has now, however, arrived at La Paz and has been instructed to take the earliest opportunity of making strong representations, both to the President of the Republic and the Minister for Foreign Affairs with a view to securing the provisional release of Mr. Ashton and Mr. Webster without further delay.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in remodelling any television estimates of the British Broadcasting Corporation, he will take into account the revenue derivable from the display of televised programmes on screens in cinemas and elsewhere?

As I informed my hon. Friend on 16th December, I have not so far been consulted about any proposal to use the television broadcast pro-grammes in connection with other forms of entertainment. Any such receipts as my hon. Friend mentions would naturally be taken into account in the preparation of the estimates.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Irish persons are employed in the construction of munition works in the neighbourhood of Bridgend and Aberdare; and whether it is proposed to take on any more Irish persons in view of the local unemployment?

I have been asked to reply and am making the necessary inquiries. As soon as I have the information, I will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied that the trainees in instructional centres are properly supplied with clothes?

All trainees at instruc-tonal centres are supplied with a working outfit of clothes, including a pullover in winter, and where necessary certain additional clothing is supplied. I am satisfied that normally this provision is adequate, but in view of the recent severe weather in certain areas, I am re-examining the position.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is in a position to state the result of his inquiries into the working conditions of cinema employés and what steps, if any, he intends to take to deal with the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given on 16th December to the hon. Members for Doncaster (Mr. Short) and Central Southwark (Mr. Day). As regards the second part of the question, I think that the hon. Member will agree that it will be necessary to consider the position in the light of the facts which are at present being collected.

asked the Home Secretary whether the payments for removal expenses to prison officers since 1st January, 1936, are calculated on the old scale of pay or on the new rates obtaining from 1st January last?

Removal expenses are calculated according to the new scales of pay which came into operation on 1st January, 1936.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the wages cost per ton of output in the mining industry for each of the years 1937, 1936, 1935, and 1934, with the average rate of wages per shift in the same period?

The information is as follows:

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the existing facilities for the safe return of the Basque children to their own country, he will consider the desirability of placing these children from a diplomatic and police point of view on the same plane as other alien children?

The position of these children under the Aliens Order is in no way privileged or different from that of other foreign children.