asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Departmental Committee appointed by the Government to report on the continuance of the Rent Restrictions Act has taken evidence from Scottish tenants; and when the report will be circulated to Members for their consideration?

The report of the Committee on the Rent Restrictions Acts has now been published, and the hon. Member will have seen that the Committee heard evidence on behalf of tenants in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that a family has been removed from a condemned house in Shaftesbury Lane, Glasgow, to a 13-roomed house at Queen's Gate, Dowanhill, Glasgow, which they are occupying at the same rent as they paid for their previous house; and whether, in view of the large number of big houses standing empty in the city and the urgent need to replace slums and relieve overcrowding, he will consider the advisability of giving Glasgow and other local authorities power to take over large empty houses, so that they can be made available for occupation by-working-class families?

With regard to the first part of the question, I understand that a family comprising husband, wife, and four children, has recently removed from a condemned two-apartment house in Shaftesbury Lane, Glasgow, to a large house, which is in private ownership, at Queen's Gate, Dowanhill. I am not aware of the amount of rent which the family are paying. As regards the last part of the question, local authorities in Scotland already have power under the Housing Acts to acquire any houses or other buildings which are, or may be made, suitable as dwelling-houses for the working classes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the cost of house building is static as compared with the position as at 24th June, 1937; and what efforts have been made to control such inflated charges?

There has been a slight reduction in the average cost of houses approved by the Department of Health in recent months as compared with the cost of houses approved in June, 1937. With regard to the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for West Stirling (Mr. Johnston) on 14th December as to the measures taken to augment the supply of labour and materials.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his answer, does he remember his answer of 24th June, 1937, that it was not possible to control the rise in cost of materials, and may I ask him what the policy of his party is with regard to the new wooden houses to be erected in Scotland?

Is this a Scottish mutual admiration society?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the payments of removal expenses made to prison officers since 1st January, 1936, are still calculated with reference to the old rates of pay or on the new rates obtaining from 1st January, 1937?

The new rates of pay in the Scottish Prisons Service were applied with effect as from 1st January, 1936. The removal expenses of any prison officer transferred in the public interest are calculated by reference to his rate of pay at the date of transfer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to state the attitude of the Edinburgh Education Committee towards the proposal to place a commemorative tablet to Clarinda on the wall of Bristo school?

I am informed that the Edinburgh Education Committee decided yesterday to grant facilities for the commemorative tablet to be placed on the wall of the school referred to.

May I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his personal interest in this matter, and ask him whether he will be good enough to let it be known to some of his colleagues behind him that Clarinda was a lady whom Robert Burns met in Edinburgh, and to whom he wrote two of the finest love songs in the language?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the present stage in the proceedings in the Kelvin Valley scheme under the Land Drainage (Scotland) Act, 1930?

As indicated in my reply to the right hon. Member for West Stirling (Mr. Johnston) on 2nd November, statutory procedure has reached the stage of arbitration on claims lodged by parties affected by the scheme, and is making progress in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Scottish Records Advisory Council has been constituted; and whether he is in a position to announce the names and qualifications of the persons appointed?

This matter is at present under consideration, and I hope to be able to announce the appointment of the council at an early date.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean that he will be making this announcement during the Recess, or will it be convenient if I put down a question immediately following the resumption of the House?

I should like to discuss that with my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that headmasters in Perthshire and Kinross-shire schools have been instructed to exclude children from school because they had no school books, which had been withdrawn from the children by the instructions of the general purposes subcommittee of the education committee; and what action does he propose to safeguard the educational rights and progress of the children?

I understand that certain children whose parents refuse to supply the necessary school books, or to undertake to pay the appropriately modified charge made by the education authority for their use, have been excluded from school, but that the question is being further considered by the education authority. I am informed that books are supplied by the authority without charge in necessitous cases.

What action does the right hon. Gentleman propose to take to see that the children are at least educated during the time that the local authorities may be meeting in conference?

That is a matter entrusted by Parliament to the education authority, which is the appropriate body to consider it.

Is it not within the power of the Secretary of State for Scotland to withhold grants from an authority like Perthshire, if they will not see that the children are properly educated, not only through the provision of books, but through the provision of properly built schools?

A case with which the hon. Member will be acquainted is that of Haddow versus Glasgow School Board, in which it was held that the school board acted within its powers in taking this action.

Does the right hon. Gentleman know of the wide interest in this case as indicated by communications received by several hon. Members including myself, and does he not realise the importance of having a uniform practice in Scotland in respect of the provision of school books?

I am bound by Statute in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland for what purposes an emergency call may properly be passed by a member of the public at a police box in an area where there are no telephone kiosks in existence; and, in particular, if a member of the public is entitled in such an area to pass a call for medical assistance in a case of urgency where the medical practitioner is resident a considerable distance from the police box and the area in question, as is the fact in the case of the Gibbshill area in Greenock?

The public are entitled to use a police box or police telephone pillar in any area whether provided with Post Office call-boxes or not on occasions of emergency when requiring police assistance, the fire brigade, an ambulance, etc. As regards the second part of the question, I am informed that, pending the provision of a Post Office telephone kiosk in the Gibbshill area of Greenock, the Chief Constable has arranged that, so far as reasonably possible, urgent calls for medical assistance which would not in ordinary course be made from police boxes or telephone pillars will, if made through such boxes or pillars, be passed on by the police to the practitioner or other person named by the caller.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he and the Commissioner for the Special Areas in Scotland have considered the old Caird shipyard at Greenock as a suitable site for a new industry in Greenock; and whether the special inducements available at the Hillington Estate, or what other inducements, would be available to persons operating such a new industry that might consider coming to the old Caird shipyard?

Yes, Sir. Particulars of this shipyard, which is the property of National Shipbuilders Securities, Limited, are before the industrial sections of the Commissioner's offices in Edinburgh and London and the Development Council in Glasgow, and are kept in view in approaching industrialists with a view to the establishment of new undertakings. The facilities and inducements available, which are similar to those at the Hilling-ton Estate, are described in a booklet "New Fields for Industry" issued by the Commissioners, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

Will the right hon. Gentleman keep in mind what he said to the House on Thursday, that there were more applicants for Hillington than they had places for, and will he pass on to the Town Clerk of Greenock those industries which have not yet found a place at Hillington.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, for the information of the House, he can now make any detailed statement as to his plans for the re-organisation of Scottish Government offices?

No, Sir; I am not yet in a position to make any detailed statement.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he will be likely to be in a position to make a statement?

I certainly shall not be making any statement during the Recess.

In view of the fact that it is very difficult to get adequate replies in this House to Scottish questions, will the right hon. Gentleman hasten on this re-organisation?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any inquiry was made from prisoners as to the assault on Francis Healy at Barlinnie prison on 10th September, 1937; the names of prisoners to whom inquiries were made; and the number of prisoners who complained about the treatment of Francis Healy?

On 11th September 12 prisoners addressed representations to me. As the hon. Member is aware, these representations are not made through the Governor, who is therefore unaware of their contents. The Governor merely supplies on demand the form on which any complaint is made and transmits it in a sealed envelope not subject to any scrutiny by himself or any other of the prison authorities direct to the Secretary of State. No representations about this case were made to the Governor himself. The representations to me were carefully considered at the time, but as none of the prisoners who made these representations had been eye-witnesses of the struggle in the cell, and as the facts of the case were fully reported on by the authorities concerned, it was not considered necessary to make further inquiries from the prisoners. A member of the Prison Visiting Committee visited the prison on 22nd September when any prisoner had a further opportunity of making representations. On that occasion one prisoner did so. The member of the visiting committee decided that no action was necessary. I am at present reviewing the whole circumstances of the case, and if the hon. Member will put down a question for Thursday, I hope to be in a position then to give a detailed statement.

Am I to take it that when he said there were 13 people who complained about the treatment of this man, one of them claimed to have seen it, and the other 12 complained about the cries of distress of this man during the period of beating?

I shall be in a position to make a detailed statement on Thursday, but no prisoner claimed to have seen the struggle.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the names, ages, and length of service of the warders who assaulted Francis Healy at Barlinnie Prison, Glasgow, on 10th September, 1937?

Prisoner Francis Healy was not assaulted by warders, although, as I have already stated, he and one of the warders unavoidably received injuries in course of the entry to his cell and his forcible subsequent removal and search. The ages of the warders in question are 54, 46, 44, and 30, and their years of service are 29, 12, 7 and 2½ respectively. These warders were assisted for a short time by a fifth warder aged 44 with 13 years' service.

If in the original statement there were only four warders, when I claimed that there were six, how does it come about that now the Secretary of State says that there were five warders?

As I have said, I hope to make a detailed statement on Thursday, but the hon. Gentleman will see from my statement here that there were four warders and that for a short time they were assisted by a fifth.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the specified temperature at which the class rooms in schools are required to be maintained during the winter months; and what steps are taken by His Majesty's inspectors of schools to see that this is efficiently carried out?

The aim is to maintain a temperature of from 56 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and in the numerous schools where central heating is installed this is the specification for the apparatus. I am sending to the hon. Member a copy of the Department's recommendations to be followed in the planning and fitting up of schools. It is the duty of His Majesty's inspectors to report to the Department any case where the heating is insufficient and the matter is then taken up with the education authority concerned.

Is any special effort being made to deal with this matter by sending inspectors to take special notice of it?

Inspectors are always going out, and no doubt they will take notice of the conditions, particularly in the schools they visit during the cold season.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the temperature in many Glasgow schools is maintained by overcrowding the class rooms with children?

asked the Lord Advocate whether Law Reports are granted free of charge to all courts in Scotland; and, if not, is he prepared to place Scottish courts on a similar footing to those in England in this connection?

So far as I can trace, the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary are the only Scottish courts which are supplied with Law Reports at the public expense. With regard to the position in the inferior courts of Scotland and England, I am making further inquiry and shall communicate with the hon. Member in due course.

Can the Lord Advocate say why Scottish Law Reports do not find a place in English courts?

Arising out of the original reply, will the Lord Advocate keep in mind that there are at present a great many sets of reports on the market because there have been so many legal firms amalgamating recently. Is not this an appropriate time for the Government to purchase several of these sets of law reports and so equip the inferior courts with Law Reports.

asked the Lord Advocate, in view of the information supplied to him by the hon. Member for Shettleston relating to an alleged conspiracy entered into between Messrs. Henry McGhie and Company, solicitors, of 150, Hope Street, Glasgow, and Mr. Hughes, solicitor, of 180, West Regent Street, Glasgow, to induce Mrs. Gayne, of 7, Ardfern Street, Tollcross, Glasgow, to bring a collusive divorce action against her husband by contriving to make her lose poor relief, by suppressing evidence against her husband, which she had handed to Messrs. McGhie and Company, her agents, and by offering her a monetary inducement to agree to the divorce, whether he will inquire into the case?

Yes, Sir. I have instituted investigations into these charges.

Can the Lord Advocate say when he expects to be in a position to make a report, and if it is during the Recess, will he send me a notice whether he proposes to take any action?

Yes, I shall be glad to do so. I cannot at the moment name a particular date.

asked the Secretary for Mines particulars of the countries where Government monopolies have been set up to control the prices of petrol or which themselves engage in the refining or marketing of mineral oil products?

According to the information available, the only countries in which there are Government monopolies for the sale of petroleum products, are Spain and Manchukuo. In Russia, the petroleum industry is completely under Government control. In the Argentine, Egypt and Mexico, the Governments engage to a limited extent in the production, refining or marketing of petroleum.

Can the Secretary for Mines say which, if any, of these other countries subsidise their own refining plant?

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that the Scottish Coalowners' Committee have again intimated increases in the price of fuel supplies for municipal and public utility undertakings; if he has considered the representations from the Glasgow Corporation Electricity Committee protesting against a further advance of 2s. per ton for next year's supplies and suggesting that the Coal Mines Act should be amended to make it possible for consumers to be represented on the committee empowered to fix prices; and what action does he propose to take?

I was not aware of these price increases, and I have received no representations in the matter from the Glasgow Corporation electricity committee. If that committee considers that the increases are unfair, they should lodge a complaint with the Scottish Committee of Investigation.

Is it not a fact that under the terms of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, one-half of the committee of investigation, other than the chairman, has to be there in the interests of consumers?

Yes, that is the case.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the failure of the British coal exporters to secure the contract to supply coals to the French State railways, and that the contract has been given to German and Polish firms; whether he can state the price of the British, German, and Polish tenders; whether the German and Polish tender prices are high enough to cover costs of production and delivery or whether subsidies will be used; and, if so, what is the approximate subsidy per ton?

According to my information, the French State railways have placed orders for about 100,000–125,000 tons of South Wales coal for delivery over the next three months, while another contract for about 50,000–60,000 tons for delivery over the next six months has been placed in Germany. I am not aware of any similar purchase of Polish coal. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative, and I regret that I have no information which would enable me to answer the last two parts of the question.

Do I understand that the Mines Department have no knowledge at all of the amount of subsidy per ton on German coal for export purposes at the present time?

The hon. Member asks me for the price of the tenders, and I said that I cannot give it.

But I also ask what is the approximate subsidy per ton?

If I do not know the price of the tenders I cannot give the hon. Member the price of the subsidy per ton.

Is the hon. and gallant Member aware that the price quoted by German coalowners is 20s. 4d. per ton? Has not the Department got that information?

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been called to the reduction in the export of coal from this country by, approximately, 20,000,000 statute tons during this year as compared with 1930, whereas the export of coal from Germany is, approximately the same as in 1930; whether he can indicate the cause or causes of the decline in British coal exports as compared with German; and whether his Department contemplates taking any steps to recover the markets lost to the coal trade of this country during the past seven years?

I am aware that the position is, broadly speaking, as described by the hon. Member in the first part of his question. With regard to the remainder of the question, I would refer to the reply which I gave him on 15th June.

In view of the serious situation as far as the export trade of coal is concerned, and also in view of the fact that, apparently, the Mines Department has no policy with regard to it, will the hon. and gallant Member agree to appoint a committee to go into the whole details and see whether it is able to recommend to the Government some policy to deal effectively with the situation?

Am I correct in assuming that the party opposite passed the Coal Mines Act, 1930, in 1930?

Does the Department of the hon. and gallant Member get any information at all from the commercial people attached to the Foreign Office?

Yes, Sir. Commercial secretariats in all countries are there in order to assist British trade. As regards the question of the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. Jenkins) I do not think any useful purpose would be served by appointing a committee. The question is one of the general policy of the Government.

In view of the fact that this country has lost 20,000,000 tons of exports since 1930, and that Germany has maintained her 1930 quantity of exports, is it not a serious matter and will not the Government take some steps to bring about a remedy?

No one is more ready to agree with the hon. Member than I am.

asked the Secretary for Mines what progress has been made in arriving at an international agreement for the establishment of a 40—hour week in mines?

The International Labour Organisation proposes to hold a tripartite conference at Geneva in April next, at which the question of hours of work in coal mines, as well as wages and conditions of service, will be discussed between Governments, colliery owners and miners.

Seeing that the abolition of Sunday in Russia condemns—

The question has nothing to do with the hours of labour in Russia.

I have put a question which affects the conference regarding hours; is it not in order for me to put another question?

It is not the proper time to put a question dealing with Russia.

Is it not a proper time to put a question relating to this international conference on a matter of hours?

The hon. and gallant Member was asking about the hours of labour in Russia on Sundays.

With great respect, that was not what I was going to ask. May I put my question and frame it a little more carefully? In view of the fact that a week in Russia is calculated on a six-day week, whereas it is calculated in this country on a week of seven days, will the hon. and gallant Member take steps to ensure that the British position, which is calculated on a Sunday basis and gives the worker 1½ days' rest for his 40-hour week, whereas the International Labour Office—

"Speech!"

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has had any communications with the Governments of His Majesty's other Dominions regarding the position of the Irish Free State, in view of the fact that the new constitution of that State, which comes into force on 29th December, apparently creates a Republic; and has he any statement to make?

We are in communication with the other Dominion Governments on certain aspects of this question. In the meantime I cannot make any statement.

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman can give an assurance that the relations between the Crown and the Irish Free State will not be affected in any way by the new constitution?

I have said in my answer that I cannot make any statement in regard to it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware of the shortage of steel and of the effect on delivery dates of the shortage in the shipbuilding and engineering industry; and what action is now being taken to deal with this situation?

(2) whether he is aware that employés have been suspended in the shipbuilding industry due to lack of deliveries of steel; that firms complain they have only received 60 to 70 per cent. of the steel required for their contracts, and orders have had to be refused through the uncertainty of the supply of steel; and what further action is being taken or is contemplated to deal with this problem?

Increased supplies of steel are now available, and I am not aware of any general complaint of a shortage of steel for the shipbuilding and engineering industries at the present time. A few individual cases of difficulty have recently been brought to my notice and arrangements have been, or are being, made to assist the firms concerned through the special machinery set up by the British Iron and Steel Federation for the purpose.

Is it not a fact that delivery dates are now one of the most important factors in obtaining foreign orders, and in view of that, will the Minister take action for the purpose of increasing the output of steel so that this country may obtain the orders of foreign countries?

That is a most important point, but I would remind the hon. Member that the production of steel in this country has reached a record level.

If there is no shortage of steel, why it is so very difficult, and in fact almost impossible, for people desiring to establish new industries to get permits, and are there not certain cases now before the right hon. Gentleman's Department?

I gather that the question has reference to shipbuilding and engineering firms. If the hon. Lady has any other instance in mind, perhaps she will bring it to my notice?

Is it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman said definitely that there is no shortage of steel? If there is not a shortage of steel for building, does he mean there is no shortage of steel for any other purpose? That is infantile.

asked the President of the Board of Trade exactly what procedure is to be followed in regard to the negotiations of the Anglo-American trade agreement; and whether he can give an assurance that all the interested trade bodies in this country will be kept in close consultation?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Members for Woodbridge (Mr. Ross Taylor) and for West Birmingham (Mr. Higgs) on 16th December.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the contract for cinema equipment for the "Queen Mary's" sister ship has been allocated; and whether the order has been placed with a British company?

I am informed by the Canard White Star, Limited, that the contract has been placed with a company whose registered offices and works are in London. I am also informed that the suppliers have guaranteed that, with the exception of certain special parts which cannot be obtained in this country, all the equipment will be of British manufacture.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of British films, giving separately the number of long films, that were registered and/or produced in this country for the 12 months ending at the last convenient date; and the number of these films that were financed by foreign capital for the purpose of meeting quota requirements of foreign interests?

The total number of British films registered in the 12 months ended 30th November, 1937, was 447, of which 232 were long films. I have no information as to the number of films financed by foreign capital for the purpose of meeting quota requirements, but 173 of these films, including 137 long films, were acquired by the chief distributors of foreign films in this country.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information as to the number of these films that were financed by foreign capital?

If the hon. Member will read the answer, he will see that I have no information as to the number of these films financed by foreign capital.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether His Majesty's Government has yet been in communication with the United States Government regarding the Cinematograph Films Bill, in view of its possible effects on the forthcoming regulations for trade agreements between England and the United States of America?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the nature of the representations received from American official sources with regard to the proposal for separating the film quotas or for setting up a Films Commission in this country; and what reply has been made?

Representations have been received from the United States Government on the question of films on more than one occasion. They did not contain any specific reference to the separate quota scheme or to the establishment of a Films Commission.

Was the nature of those representations from the American Government such as to put any pressure on His Majesty's Government regarding what they will agree to in the cinematograph film industry, so that our committee is not to be free to decide without pressure from foreign Governments?

No, Sir.

Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that there has been no such pressure?

I answered in the negative.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that representatives of American interests in this country not only say that pressure has been put on His Majesty's Government, but are boasting of that pressure?

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the present trade agreements with Scandinavian and Baltic countries are to come up for revision?

The trade agreements to which my hon. Friend refers continue in force without renewal, subject to termination after four months' notice in the case of Denmark and six months' notice in the case of the others. No notice of termination has been given by either party to any of these agreements.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the present treaties severely handicap the timber trade in this country?

I have had a certain number of representations on that point, and I will bear it in mind.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a very serious adverse balance of trade with some of those countries, and will be take steps to remedy that position?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any licences have been issued for the export of arms to Japan during the last three calendar months?

One export licence for war material for Japan has been issued during the last three months.

Is it the principle of the Government not to issue such licences?

There is no prohibition on the export of arms either to China or Japan.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total value of the Japanese imports of all kinds purchased by His Majesty's Government Departments during the last six calendar months?

I regret that I am not in possession of the information asked for, as the trade returns of the United Kingdom do not separately distinguish imports on Government account.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the quantity and value of the imports of artificial silk gloves during the first 11 months of 1937, showing the countries of origin?

I regret that the information asked for by my hon. Friend is not available, as imports of artificial silk gloves are not separately recorded in the trade returns of the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the tariffs under which pilots are paid were cut owing to the slump in 1932 and have never been restored; and whether, in view of the improved position of the shipping industry, he will take steps to have the tariffs restored to the previous rate?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the discrepancy in the method under which pilots are paid, the practice in some ports being to pay them on a footage basis and in some on a tonnage basis; and whether he will take steps to ensure that the practice of paying on a tonnage basis is made general?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to ensure that a pilotage pension fund is set up in all those ports of the United Kingdom in which no such pension fund now exists?

I have no power to take the steps suggested by my hon. Friends, as any alteration of pilotage rates and of the basis on which they are charged, as also the introduction of pilotage pension funds, can only be dealt with by means of by-laws made by the various pilotage authorities under Sections 17 and 18 of the Pilotage Act, 1913.

Should there be any application to the Board of Trade for an inquiry by the Board of Trade, will my right hon. Friend see that the inquiry is carried out as expeditiously as possible, and by a fully qualified legal arbitrator?

That is rather a different point.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman receive these regulations and have to endorse them in each case, and will he see that some reparation is made in the case of these pilots?

If the hon. Member will look at the Act, with which no doubt he is familiar, he will see that Section 18 sets out the circumstances in which pilots can make representations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the case of the steamship "Mydol," which is a Greek vessel registered in Great Britain for its own purposes and which then reverted to Greek registration to save the wages of the officers; and whether he will take steps to stop bogus registration of this kind?

The steamship "Mydol" was granted a provisional certificate of British registry on 22nd May, 1937. This certificate automatically expired on 22nd November last, when the ship ceased to be entitled to fly the British flag. I have no information as to the flag under which she intends to sail. As rgeards the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement I made in reply to the hon. Member for Southampton (Mr. Craven-Ellis) on 28th October last.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in this particular case it was necessary for the chief officer concerned to cable home from the Azores in the following terms: "British registration finished. Unable sign off. No money. Owner telegraphs 'Mydol' now Greek steamer, and appointing Greek carpenter. Watchman to supersede master. Consul refuses to take any action whatsoever." Will my right hon. Friend do what he can to prevent such exploitation of British seamen?

I will certainly look into this case and see what the result is. My hon. and gallant Friend will realise that the result of the action we took was to obtain what I thought the House wanted, namely, that ships of this kind should be transferred from the British register.

Does not the article under which both officers and men sign on demand repatriation to this country and wages until they arrive in this country?

The hon. Member will realise that this is the first time I have heard the circumstances to which my hon. Friend referred, and I could not answer any questions on the matter until I have had an opportunity of finding out the facts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the recent loss of the steamship "Anagher" off Groomsport, County Down; whether he is aware that this vessel, carrying a cargo of scrap-iron, is reported by the only surviving member of her crew to have been heeling over prior to her foundering; and whether, in view of the fact that at the subsequent inquest on the nine members of the crew who lost their lives, the verdict was returned that there was no satisfactory evidence to show that loading was satisfactorily supervised, nor as to the seaworthiness of the vessel, he will have immediate inquiry made into the circumstances attending the disaster?

I have learned with regret of the loss of the steamship "Anagher," and I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my sympathy with the relatives of the officers and men who lost their lives. I am making a full inquiry into the disaster.

Will that inquiry be public?

At the present moment a preliminary inquiry is being carried out. After that, it will be decided what form the further inquiry will take.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take note of the fact that the jury made some specific remarks with regard to the loading of the vessel in an unsatisfactory manner and the unseaworthiness of the vessel?

I will bear that in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for War what part of Woolwich Barracks has been in use since the period of the Crimean War; and whether it is proposed to replace these buildings in the near future?

Yes, Sir. It is contemplated within the limits of a programme estimated at £7,500,000 to modernise old barracks as the situation permits.

Will the right hon. Gentleman also replace some of the Crimean veterans?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to give the Army School of Education at Shorncliffe more suitable accommodation than corrugated iron huts erected during the Great War; and, if so, whether such new accommodation will be provided at Shorncliffe or elsewhere?

The eventual re-allotment of accommodation for this school is considered desirable, but the best situation remains to be settled.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Cyril Francis Youngman, of 350, Woolwich Road, Charlton, aged 14 years, died from encephalitis resulting from vaccination, on 2nd December, the vaccination having been undergone so that the lad could take up a situation at Woolwich Arsenal; that the Minister of Health, in his recent annual reports, has recommended that children of school age and young adults should not be primarily vaccinated unless in special danger of smallpox, as this operation may cause or activate encephalitis; and whether, in view of this case, he will abolish the regulation requiring certain workers at Woolwich Arsenal to be vaccinated?

I have been made aware of the unfortunate circumstances in which this lad died, and would like to express my sincere sympathy with his family. Such cases are very rare, but I am considering whether the present regulation requiring the vaccination of entrants to the Royal Arsenal should be relaxed.

When the right hon. Gentleman's consideration of the matter is completed, will he let me know the result?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many cases of serious incapacity have resulted from compulsory vaccination at Woolwich Arsenal; and whether any case resulted in the death of the man vaccinated?

Before an employé is engaged at the Royal Arsenal he is required to be vaccinated. As the vaccination is done by his own private arrangement, I have no information such as the hon. Member desires.

Having regard to the fact that in many cases men are unable to be in employment for some days following vaccination, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to abolish this practice, especially as there is no epidemic at present nor has there been one for years?

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of male employés under the age of 21 years engaged on explosive work at the Department's establishment at the Royal Arsenal for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

At the end of November last there were approximately 960 such male employés. Included in this number are various employés engaged on such work as the weighing, gauging and packing of completed small arm ammunition.

Does the Minister consider this work suitable for boys of this age?

I do not see why it is not suitable. If the hon. Gentleman has any representation to make, I shall be most happy to entertain them.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the military authorities at Hong Kong have requested reinforcements?

Movements of troops are made on the responsibility of His Majesty's Government in accordance with the requirements of the situation.

Has the right hon. Gentleman inquired from the authorities at Hong Kong whether they are satisfied that the force at their disposal is sufficient to deal with incidents arising out of the extension of hostilities in the neighbourhood of Hong Kong?

I have answered the question.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider the situation at Hong Kong so satisfactory that no troop movements are necessary?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether soliders proceeding to India have now been relieved of the cost of the items necessary to complete their kit, referred to in his reply to a question on 22nd June, 1937?

I have been asked to reply. Yes, Sir. The Government of India have applied the principle that a soldier on transfer to India should pay nothing for the first issue of compulsory clothing. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the orders they have issued on the subject.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will endeavour to arrange that the Defence Departments, when considering the question of taking over land shall either enter into agreements under Section 33 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1932, or consult and co- operate with the local authorities to the utmost possible extent, and that, in any case, there shall be inter-departmental consultation and consultation with the local authority or relevant planning authority with regard to the layout, design, and materials of buildings, with the object of securing conformity with the requirements of local planning schemes, as far as possible?

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health is in consultation with the Service Departments with a view to considering how far the object referred to by the hon. Member can be attained without prejudice to the interests of National Defence.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the recent public statement of the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence to the effect that the expenditure on the rearmament schemes would be considerably more than the figure announced in Parliament when the proposals were approved; and whether this statement represents the policy of the Government?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the statement made by my right hon. Friend indicating that the total Defence expenditure in the ensuing financial year is likely to be substantially higher than in the current year. The hon. Member is not, however, justified in assuming from this statement that the total cost of the Rearmament Programme will be in excess of the figure given in the White Paper on Defence Expenditure presented to Parliament in February of this year (Cmd. 5374), in which it was stated that it would be imprudent to contemplate a total expenditure on Defence during the next five years of much less than £1,500,000,000. It was never contemplated by His Majesty's Government that the Defence Programme would result in an even spread of expenditure over the five years in respect of which borrowing powers have been authorised under the Defence Loans Act. Indeed, a clear indication was given in paragraph 41 of the White Paper referred to that expenditure in the ensuing two years would be much heavier than in 1936 and would rise to a peak figure.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advisability of so amending the regulations under which the Forestry Commissioners work as to require them to have regard to the amenities of a district when planting, and to give consideration to the advice of the Council for the Preservation of Rural England or such other body or bodies as appear generally representative of such interests?

The hon. Member is evidently under a misapprehension. Apart from the relevant Acts of Parliament there are no regulations affecting the work of the Forestry Commission. The Acts do not prevent the Commission from having regard to amenities, and the Commissioners can, and do, have regard to amenities in carrying out their operations, as was stated by my predecessor on 11th February, 1936, in reply to a similar question. The Joint Committee of the Council for the Preservation of Rural England and the Forestry Commissioners then mentioned is regularly consulted and I believe is working satisfactorily. I see no necessity to introduce amending legislation.

While appreciating the fact that the Forestry Commissioners do consult with the amenity authorities, does not the Prime Minister think it might be better if they did so under authority, and not purely as an act of grace, as at present?

I do not think so.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he is aware that an investigation has been conducted by a group of scientists at the McIntyre mine, Ontario, Canada, into the possibility of the prevention of silicosis by the admixture of metallic aluminium with silica dust; and, in view of the claims made that the initial experiments reveal possibilities of successful prevention, whether he will undertake to have these experiments studied by his expert advisers and consider the possibility of conducting similar experiments in this country?

The progress of these Canadian investigations is being followed with interest by the special committee advising the Medical Research Council in this subject, and some experiments on similar lines have already been initiated in this country.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, when entering into contracts involving insurance, such as that for the building of a battleship, it is made a condition of such contract of insurance that the principle of collective bargaining is recognised by the insurance company concerned?

The answer is in the negative.

What does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman mean by that?

I mean, "No, Sir."

In view of the fact that the Government themselves insert the fair wages clause in all their own contracts, why do they not insist on it being inserted in these contracts?

There is nothing in the fair wages clause which involves the recognition of this principle, but there is a committee inquiring into the working of the fair wages clause, and if the hon. Member wishes to make any representations, he can properly do so to that committee.

Is it not a fact that the fair wages clause is based on the principle of collective bargaining?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that Bruce Castle Museum, Tottenham, contains extensive postal collections of national importance used by persons from all over the country, and whether he will consider making a grant to this museum?

I am aware that the Union of Post Office Workers maintains a postal collection in the Bruce Castle Museum. No question has been raised of a grant from public funds to this Museum, and I cannot agree that such a grant would be justified.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that £1,500,000 is paid by the Government to museums; and why should all this money go to National Museums when a local museum, as in this case, is maintaining a national collection?

There are valuable collections of a variety of interesting articles in local museums in all parts of the country, but it would not be practicable to afford grants from Government funds to all of them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Lancashire cheesemakers have no direct representation on the Central Milk Distributive Committee; and whether he will make arrangements for this omission to be remedied at the earliest possible opportunity?

I have no information as to whether the Lancashire cheesemakers are directly represented on the Central Milk Distributive Committee which is a voluntary organisation elected by associations or bodies representing milk distributors and manufacturers of milk products, nor have I any power to intervene in the manner suggested.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that there are in the parishes of Barughs Ambo, Habton, and Kirby Misperton lands over 100 feet above sea-level that are assessable to drainage rates and other lands at a lower rate which are not so assessed by the Rye Drainage Board; and whether he will circulate to the drainage authorities a memorandum setting out the conditions when it is desirable to apply for a differential rating order under Section 24 (6), or for a review of an existing order under Section 24 (10) of the Land Drainage Act, 1930?

I am aware that there are lands included in the Rye internal drainage district which are situated at a greater height above sea-level than lands not included in the district, but as my hon. Friend knows, the inclusion of land in a drainage district depends, not upon height above sea-level, but upon local conditions with regard to land drainage. With regard to the last part of the question, I see great difficulty in adopting my hon. Friend's suggestion, but I am always prepared in individual cases to explore with the drainage authority concerned the possibility of an application of the kind referred to.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this Act, passed by a Socialist Government, is causing great hardship in many parts of the country?

Why not repeal it?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can make a statement on the Government's policy towards the poultry industry?

As I stated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Tonbridge (Sir A. Baillie) on 7th December, provisional proposals for the marketing of eggs recently submitted to me by the National Farmers' Union and the National Poultry Council are under consideration, and until that is completed I cannot make a statement.

Is the Minister aware that this delay is causing great dislocation in the industry, and that, meanwhile, imports from abroad are rising all the time?

I cannot agree that there has been delay in this matter. The proposals were submitted only this month, and they are of a very complicated character, and it is far better to examine them carefully than to proceed upon the results of a hasty consideration.

Is all this trouble due to the Labour Government?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Unemployment Assistance Board has reduced the allowance of an applicant at Llanelly from 54s. per week to 44s. per week because, being over 40 years of age, he is not likely to secure work at more than 46s. per week; and whether, as the applicant in question was last employed at 55s. per week, pays 13s. 10d. per week in rent, and so has only 30s. 2d. per week to support his wife and eight children, who are entirely dependent on him, he will take steps to have this case reconsidered?

I am having inquiries made into the case and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to carry out the recommendations of the report of the inter-departmental committee on road safety among school children for the augmentation of the police force by a contribution from the Road Fund for the protection of children when going to or from school; and what action has been taken to provide authorised adult patrols in rural areas?

No police force in England and Wales has been augmented at the cost of the Road Fund for the purpose of ensuring the safety of children when crossing the road to or from school; but requirements of this nature are put forward from time to time by police authorities and are taken into account with other needs in connection with ordinary increases of strength at the cost of the Police Fund. With regard to authorised adult patrols, I am informed by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education that he took steps to bring the recommendations of the committee to the notice of local education authorities, and understands that a number of authorities have provided such patrols as one of the measures for the protection of school children.

Are we to understand that the Government have no intention of implementing the recommendation of the inter-departmental committee as far as the service of police on point duty near schools is concerned?

We are trying to implement the report in principle, but in practice it is very difficult to distinguish between the time taken by the police in looking after school children crossing roads and the time taken in their other duties. We, therefore, came to the conclusion that it would be better to deal with it as part of the general police establishment, ranking for the police grant.

asked the Minister of Transport what considerations governed his refusal to the London Passenger Transport Board of any rebate of licensed vehicle duty on the board's central omnibuses in respect of the four weeks at the time of the Coronation of Their Majesties during which these omnibuses were not working owing to strike action?

I have no knowledge of any application for rebate having been made by the London Passenger Transport Board, and Parliament has given my right hon. Friend no power to allow a rebate of Motor Vehicle Licence Duty in respect of broken periods of non-user save where licences are surrendered for a complete month or complete months.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider that part of the fourth annual report of the London Passenger Transport Board, in which the board emphasise the unreasonableness of having to apply to taxation, apart from Income Tax, over 8 per cent. of their gross receipts, and claim that so heavy a burden prevents them from having that margin of resources which is necessary for the discharge of their duty to provide an adequate passenger transport system in the London area; and whether he will take steps to make some remission of taxation?

The taxation paid by the London Passenger Transport Board on their vehicles and fuel is in accordance with statutory scales applicable throughout the country. Any question of a variation of the existing scales of taxation would be a matter for consideration in connection with the Budget.