asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of cinematograph films that have been made in which Government ships or material have been used or Naval assistance given during the three years ending at the last convenient date?

During the past three years considerable Naval facilities have been given for four cinematograph films. In addition, some minor facilities have frequently been afforded.

Do the Admiralty receive any payment for the use of these ships or materials?

Yes, Sir. In the normal course, if a firm is supplied with facilities payment is made, but on occasions when films are produced in collaboration with the Admiralty which, for propaganda purposes, are valuable to the Admiralty, facilities are afforded free?

Is this a fixed payment, or is it a percentage of the profits of the film?

No, Sir, it is not a percentage.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many capital ships are at present unable to go to sea; and how long it will be before each of them is ready for service?

Two battleships and one battle-cruiser are undergoing large repairs. The date of their readiness for sea depends on the progress of the work and the need for their services. In addition, two battleships are refitting, both of which will be ready for sea in the near future.

Is it not possible to arrange these refits in such a manner that one-fifth of our capital ship force shall not be out of action at the same time?

If it were arranged in a different manner, obviously it would take us very much longer to complete the refits.

May I press the question, and ask the First Lord whether it is not extremely undesirable that one-fifth of our capital ship force should be out of action at the same time?

Before my right hon. Friend replies, are we to understand that one-half of that number is ready to proceed to sea very quickly in case of emergency?

Yes, Sir. Two battleships undergoing refits will be ready for sea in the very near future. The three undergoing substantial repairs will not be ready for some time. I realise the force of the hon. and gallant Member's argument, but equally he will understand that if you spread repairs over a longer period, and, instead of doing all three at one time, do one at a time, it will take three times as long to carry out the repairs.

Is it proposed, in view of the present situation, to refit the "Iron Duke" on a war basis?

Not at present.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when it is expected that the "Warspite" will be ready for sea; and what is the cost of the repairs necessary since her refit?

His Majesty's Ship "Warspite" is ready for sea. The amount spent on the repairs to the vessel since the completion of her reconstruction is £16,600 which was included in the total cost of reconstruction given in my reply of 24th November.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether these delays in the "Warspite" being ready for sea after the refit were not due to very serious miscalculations on the part of the constructors in connection with the refits?

No, Sir. The difficulty was due to the interaction of the propellers. There is no criticism of the engineers or of the firm of Messrs. Parsons, which carried out the installation of the machinery. It was quite satisfactory.

Were no difficulties experienced in connection with the rudders after this refit?

I have explained what the difficulties were.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of ships in the Navy at present driven by coal power; and whether any of these ships have been using pulverised fuel?

Excluding small auxiliary craft such as trawlers and drifters, there are at present 50 vessels of the Royal Navy fitted to burn coal. None of them is fitted to burn pulverised coal.

Are further experiments being made with pulverised coal?

I think that such experiments as have been made have already convinced the authorities that pulverised coal is not desirable as a fuel.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has now considered the memorandum from the Convention of Royal Burghs with regard to the extent to which the Admiralty proposes to make use of the personnel of the herring fleet in time of war; and whether, in view of the importance of Admiralty co-operation in this matter, if the industry is to be restored to a reasonable degree of its pre-war prosperity, what steps he proposes to take to deal with the matter?

The memorandum referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend has only recently been received and is now under consideration. I am, therefore, not in a position to make a statement on the subject at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Commission on settlement now sitting in Kenya are to give consideration to the settlement of other than white people?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to three questions on this subject by the hon. and gallant Member for South-East Leeds (Major Milner) on 25th November, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the anxiety among inhabitants of Nigeria respecting the effect of the produce pool agreement recently entered into by European merchants; and whether he will make available the terms of this agreement?

I have received no reports in the sense indicated in the first part of the hon. Member's question. I understand that the purchase and export of the Nigerian cocoa crop is proceeding as usual. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 16th December to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr. Liddall).

Will the right hon. Gentleman take this assurance that in fact there is considerable disagreement among the natives in this part of Africa regarding this projected arrangement, and will he make further investigations, in view of the considerable apprehension that exists?

I fully realise the considerable apprehension that exists on the Gold Coast, but not in Nigeria, and the matter is receiving attention.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take any information that I send to him?

Certainly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the death rate, birth rate, and infantile mortality rate among the Indian natives on the Ceylon tea plantations?

For 1936 the death rate among Indian natives on Ceylon estates was 19.4 per 1,000 of the mean population, the birth rate 37.9, and the infant mortality rate 172 per 1,000 births.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with these conditions, and can he not initiate or encourage some action to reduce this rather drastic rate of mortality?

I think the rate of mortality is not very high, seeing that it is a tropical country. The birth rate is double the mortality rate. This is entirely a matter within the province of the responsible Minister of Health and the Ceylon Legislature. I have no power to take any action.

Do I understand that the right hon. Gentleman has no power even to encourage or make suggestions to the Ceylonese?

No, Sir. The Ceylonese Minister of Health is responsible for this matter under the Ceylon Constitution.

Do I understand that the right hon. Gentleman has never given advice to the Ceylonese Government?

Yes, Sir, frequently on matters within my province under the Constitution, but agriculture, health and matters of that sort, under the Constitution, are definitely the responsibility of the Ceylonese Ministers.

Is this not a matter of health?

Yes, Sir. It is definitely part of the duties of the responsible Minister of Health in Ceylon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has recently been in consultation with the Indian Government on the question of the franchise of Indian workers in Ceylon; and what representations from the Indian Government have been made to him on the constitution of Ceylon?

I am not aware that any representations have recently been made by the Government of India on the subject of either the general franchise or the constitution of Ceylon. The hon. Member may have in mind proposals recently before the State Council in regard to the election of village committees, about which the Government of India have, I understand, been in correspondence with Ministers in Ceylon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there is anything to prevent a non-Cypriote being elected to the vacant Archbishopric of the Orthodox Church in Cyprus?

Yes, Sir. A law enacted in Cyprus in November, 1937, provides that no person who is not a native of the colony shall be capable of being elected Archbishop.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the absence of proportionate retiring pensions in the Colonial Office, such as exist in the fighting services, results in the retention, to enable them to reach pensionable age, of persons who have shown themselves to be unsuitable for the highest posts, thereby, inter alia, blocking promotion; and whether he will take steps to remedy this state of affairs?

I assume that this question refers to officers in the Colonial Service and not to the Colonial Office. The pension conditions of such officers are regulated by local laws, the provisions of which vary. In most colonies officers may retire with pension at 55. In several colonies there is provision, in special cases, for retirement on pension at the age of 50, and it is my policy to extend this arrangement to other colonies as opportunity offers. I do not consider that any further action is necessary or desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information to give on Sir Robert Bell's inquiry into the finances of Nyasaland?

Sir Robert Bell is still pursuing his inquiries in Nyasaland. I cannot yet state when they will be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds £4,000 has been granted to the Arabs of Beersheba to help with their planting; and whether he is satisfied that such payments are desirable in the interests of law and order?

Expenditure of £5,000 in relief works in the Southern District of Palestine has recently been approved. Part of this sum will be applied to the relief of widespread distress in certain areas of the Beersheba Sub-District due to a 75 per cent. crop failure. As regards the second part of the question, I am certainly satisfied that the prevention of distress is in the interests of law and order.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that this is not a payment in order to prevent the cutting of telephone wires?

Certainly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the new Commission will proceed to Palestine; and what steps are being taken to formulate the new policy authorised by the Council of the League of Nations?

I expect to be able to announce the character and terms of reference of the new Commission shortly, and there will be no avoidable delay in sending out the Commission to Palestine. Meanwhile the Government of Palestine are preparing data for its use.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the boycott of Zanzibar cloves by Indians continues; what financial effect it has had on the colony; and whether any recent steps have been taken by the colony to conciliate Indian opinion?

I regret that the reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part of the question, owing to the reduction in exports there has been a shortfall in the revenue derived from the export duty on cloves, which is estimated at £30,000 for 1937. This revenue will, however, be collected in due course, when the cloves now accumulated in Zanzibar are exported. With regard to the third part of the question, the Resident is at any time open to receive for consideration any suggestions from the Indian community in Zanzibar, provided that they are compatible with the maintenance of the present system of marketing cloves which was introduced, after the fullest consideration, to protect the interests of the native growers.

In view of that heavy loss of revenue, is it not possible for the Resident to initiate further representations to the Indian community with a view to getting this matter settled?

No, Sir. There was a prolonged inquiry by the Government and it is more for the Indian community, who have been met very generously by the Government, to put forward further suggestions. We are there to protect the interests of the native growers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Under-Secretary of State has been given any special subjects for investigation in his forthcoming visit to certain colonies and protectorates; and whether he will, in particular, be requested to report on the labour situation in Mauritius and on methods, such as the development of housing schemes, by which it could be met?

The purpose of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State's forthcoming visit to certain Dependencies is not to investigate any special problems, but that he may have the advantage of acquainting himself at first hand with conditions as a whole. Any report he may make at the conclusion of the tour will, no doubt, contain some reference to the subject mentioned by the hon. Member in the second part of his question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the fact that natives owning undipped cattle have been removed from the land in Southern Tanganyika which has been conceded for Lord Chesham's settlement scheme, under what powers such natives have been removed; what compensation has been awarded to them; and what steps are being taken to provide an adequate labour supply for the intending settlers?

As the answer is a long one, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in connection with the recently published annual report of the Colonial Development Advisory Committee, he will ask for the name of the Tanganyika African who is mentioned as having allowed himself, in the course of investigations into the transmissibility of sleeping sickness, to be infected with the disease, in order that his service to the cause of science and public health may be recognised?

The name of the volunteer in question was Ngasa. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation of the bravery which has been shown by this man, and others connected with this sleeping sickness research, in exposing themselves to infection. Ngasa made a most satisfactory recovery.

Have similar cases occurred in other colonies of tropical Africa?

Yes—certainly in Uganda some time ago, when Dr. Duke was in charge of a similar research.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make a statement regarding the recent disturbances in Barbados; how many persons were killed; how many wounded; and what number of those arrested are still in prison?

The total casualties were 14 killed and 47 injured. I have no information with regard to the last part of the question.

Is it not possible to do something to alter economic conditions there, and to make life more bearable for these people, instead of developing a situation like this?

The hon. Member knows that the island is fully developed and very densely populated, and that the population is dependent entirely on the price of the sugar which is their only export.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that sentences totalling 20 years' imprisonment have been imposed on three negroes, two of whom were convicted of sedition and one of incitement to riot in connection with the recent disturbances in Barbados; and whether, in view of the previous good records of the three men convicted, he will review these sentences with a view to mitigation?

I have no information regarding the imposition of the sentences to which the hon. Member refers; but, with regard to the second part of the question, I would point out that the exercise of the prerogative of pardon in respect of sentences imposed by a court of justice in a Colony is delegated to the Governor of the Colony, and does not rest with the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Is it not possible for the right hon. Gentleman to make recommendations to the Governor, in view of the fact that sedition is merely the expression of political opinions that the ruling class do not like?

No, Sir. Sedition is certainly not that. Sedition under the law of the land, and particularly under many Colonial laws, is usually incitement to violence, and it certainly would be most unconstitutional, and a thing which is never done, for me to make representations to a Governor as regards the exercise of the prerogative of pardon.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that one of these men was charged with sedition and another with inciting to violence, and, therefore, sedition is not incitement to violence?

The hon. Member has had his answer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there is any proposal in the coming year to repatriate a further number of Indians from British Guiana?

Yes, Sir. Arrangements for chartering a ship for that purpose are at present under consideration.

In view of the anxiety felt by the Indians in this territory in regard to this proposal, should there not be some hesitation before repatriation is carried out; and will the right hon. Gentleman receive representations on the matter?

I understand that no Indian is repatriated against his will. I also understand that there are 600 Indians who wish to return to their homes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that the annual current revenue of the Kenya and Uganda Railway is expected to be £2,500,000, he will represent to the local Government the desirability of considering improved conditions for the staff?

The conditions of service of certain classes of the staff employed on the Kenya and Uganda Railway have recently been reviewed by the railway administration, and I see no reason to suggest a further review of these conditions at this juncture.

In view of the fact that there has been considerable increase of revenue, will the right hon. Gentleman not consider advising that the cases of those members of the staff which have not been reviewed, should now be reviewed?

To the best of my knowledge, there was a comprehensive review, but if the hon. Member has any individual cases to bring to my attention, I will look into the matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many Royal Air Force officers who have been members of the Air Council during the past five years have subsequently been appointed to Royal Air Force commands at Home or abroad?

The answer is two.

Can the Under-Secretary of State say what proportion that bears to the total number of members of the Air Council, and can he give the House an assurance that it is the policy of the Air Ministry that service on the Air Council is not the ultimate aim to which an officer can rise, but is only a part stage through which he may pass to higher commands?

There are four service members of the Air Council who have relinquished that appointment during the past five years. That makes the proportion subsequently appointed to commands 50 per cent. I think my hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that the procedure followed hitherto will not be departed from.

Are the two officers in question still regarded as eligible for appointment?

For a further appointment?

Yes.

I do not think they are ineligible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many persons now attached to the Royal Air Force stations at Turnhouse and Donibristle, respectively, will have their services terminated as the result of the changes in disposition which are to take place; and what arrangements will be made to provide suitable alternative employment?

The numbers as at present anticipated will be 35 at Turnhouse and 11 at Donibristle. As regards the second part of the question, the normal procedure is for industrial employés to be obtained locally through the Employment Exchanges, and the names of those concerned will be reported to the exchanges with a view to their absorption in other employment.

Is it not clear from the hon. and gallant Gentleman's reply that this indicates that there is a serious lessening of the value of the Air Force at these two stations, and may I ask whether this is a purely Air Force move or whether the matter may be further considered by the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence?

There is undoubtedly a lessening of the Air Force strength at these places. With regard to the wider issue affecting the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence, perhaps the hon. Member will put that question to him.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air to what parts of the country the Royal Air Force units now stationed at Turnhouse and Donibristle will be removed; how many officers and men will go from each station; and whether special monetary consideration will be given to those who have to leave their homes?

Nos. 22 and 42 Squadrons will move from Donibristle to Thorney Island and No. 83 Squadron from Turnhouse to Scampton. Twenty-two officers and 224 airmen will go from Donibristle and 15 officers and 146 airmen from Turnhouse. Provision is made for payment of removal expenses to qualified officers and all airmen on the married establishment and for rent compensation in certain cases and no special monetary consideration in connection with these moves is contemplated.

Can the Minister say how many officers and men will replace those who move?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put that question down.

Does the Minister realise that by these answers he is adding to the perturbation that is felt in the area, and that many people are apprehensive about the way in which the Air Force is making its dispositions in that area?

I can appreciate that the residents in that neigbour-hood are sorry that part of the Air Force is leaving. I am sure that they will recognise the tribute which the hon. Member pays to the popularity of the Air Force in those parts.

Does not the Minister realise that it is much more serious than that?

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that no machinery exists either at the Scottish Office or the Treasury for calculating the amounts of State expenditure upon old age pensions, widows' pensions, or pensions under the Blind Persons Act in the city of Glasgow or in any other geographical area; and whether, in view of the social and statistical importance of this information to Members of this House and to the public in general, he will give instructions that the information referred to is to be collected and made available to questions in this House?

Pensions records, for reasons arising out of the need for expeditious and accurate administration, are not kept on a geographical basis which would be necessary to provide the information which the hon. Member desires. I do not think the importance of the information is such as to justify the labour and expense which would be involved in obtaining it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I placed three questions down to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, who transferred them to the Secretary of State for Scotland, and that I have been utterly unable to obtain any information in regard to pensions, under the headings in my question, paid in the City of Glasgow; and does he not think that if the local treasurers can submit this information, Members of Parliament should be able at least to have that information verified from either the Treasury or the Secretary of State for Scotland?

I do not understand what the hon. Member means by saying that the information has been given by the treasurers. In any case, it does not affect my answer.

I mean by the local treasurers. The treasurers of local government give a report, sometimes in the public Press, and does the right hon. Gntleman not think that the figures of these local treasurers should at least be verified or able to be verified by Members of this House?

The question deals with expenditure upon these particular pensions, and I do not see how the local treasurers can have access to that information.

They must have more ability, apparently, than the members of the Government.

asked the Prime Minister when he expects to receive M. Van Zeeland's report; and whether he will obtain M. Van Zeeland's consent to its publication in order that public opinion in this and other countries may be informed as to the proposals contained therein for securing economic appeasement?

In reply to the first part of this question, I would refer the hon. Member to what I said on this subject in the course of the Debate yesterday, and in reply to the second part, I would refer him to the answer given on 7th December to the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Grenfell), to which I have at present nothing to add.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the fact that very great public interest has been taken in M. Van Zeeland's mission and that his report will be of very great public importance, and will he not, therefore, consider giving full information to the public in due course?

As I have already said in my answers, I will bear these points in mind.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an early date for the discussion of the Motion standing in the name of the hon. Member for Evesham relating to the home production of feeding stuffs?

No, Sir. In the present state of public business I can hold out no hope of time being available for the discussion of this Motion.

Are the Government aware that the financial resources of the poultry keepers are in many cases exhausted, and that it is essential that cheap feeding stuffs for poultry should be secured; and may I say, For the love of Mike, do something soon?

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether he is now in a position to give any information regarding the report of the Falmouth Committee?

The report is still under examination. Consideration is being given to the possibility of publishing as a Parliamentary Paper the substance of the report in such a way as not to disclose confidential information contained in the report.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence the names of the witnesses who were asked to give evidence before the Falmouth Committee; who suggested themselves; and who, in fact, did give evidence?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to him on 1st December in answer to a similar question.

As the answer to which the right hon. Gentleman refers me did not say anything, can we not have an undertaking now that when the report is published this information will be given?

No, I can give no promise that I shall be able to disclose the names of the witnesses who asked to give evidence or who in fact did give evidence.

Is there any reason why the names of witnesses, as asked by my hon. Friend, should not be given?

As I have said to the hon. Member, the report is still under consideration, and in the answer to which I have referred I said that I was not in a position to answer questions about the evidence except in connection with the question of publication. The position at present is that I cannot give a definite answer or an undertaking such as that asked for by the hon. Member.

In view of the enormous numbers of matters under consideration, does the right hon. Gentleman not fear for his sanity?

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence (1) what steps are being taken to provide adequate anti-aircraft defence of munition and railway centres; whether sites for antiaircraft guns have been surveyed and selected; and whether the Territorial and Regular Forces are responsible for antiaircraft defence;

I can assure the hon. Member that steps are taken and appropriate dispositions are made according to the circumstances of each case, but it would not be in the public interest to disclose the character or extent of preparations for the defence of particular localities. As regards the second part of the first question, the answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether he hopes to be able to make a statement on food storage when the House reassembles after the Christmas Adjournment?

I regret I am not in a position to give any undertaking.

May we not at least have an assurance that the Government are actively busy on this matter?

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether, in view of the recent report of the Committee on Calcium Carbide Production, he will give careful consideration to the coke-oven gas method of carbide production, having regard to the fact that this latter method can be operated in most of the depressed industrial areas, and will also give a stimulus to the production of pig-iron in certain of these areas?

I am advised that a scheme for the production of calcium carbide by means of coke-oven gas was submitted to and given very careful consideration by the Calcium Carbide Committee before they made the recommendation which has been accepted by the Government.

Am I to understand that the Government have accepted the recommendations in that report, and can I have an assurance from the right hon. Gentleman that there is no intention on the part of the Government to give a monopoly either to one system or to one factory for the production of calcium carbide?

I answered a question on 18th November as to the decision of the Government upon the report. With reference to the part of the hon. Gentleman's question concerning monopoly, there is no intention of giving a monopoly to anybody.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether any decision has been reached as to whether the Cadman Committee may inquire into and report upon the present difficulties with which British civil aviation companies are faced in obtaining efficient and rapid supplies of up-to-date aeroplanes from aircraft manufacturers in this country; and, if not, whether, in view of the dependence of the prestige of British civil aviation upon such supplies, he will reconsider such a decision?

I understand that the Cadman Committee will investigate the matters referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is prepared to set up an inquiry into the desirability of establishing a Tyneside passenger transport board, as suggested in the findings of the Royal Commission on the Unification of Tyneside Areas; and if so, whether an opportunity to prepare a case will be given to all those persons most vitally concerned?

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is prepared to set up an inquiry as suggested in the findings of the Royal Commission on the Unification of Tyneside Areas; and, if so, whether an opportunity to prepare a case will be given to those persons most concerned, that is to say, all omnibus operators?

Before deciding how this matter can best be examined, I shall desire to be informed as to the views of the various local authorities and other interests concerned, which I am awaiting.

Will the Minister also bear in mind that his own supporters were responsible for turning down a similar application in the North Staffordshire area?

Is the Minister seeking information from the various constituent boards in that area?