asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons under 16 years of age who have been transferred from the provinces to the Metropolitan district of London for various kinds of employment since the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1934, came into being; and how many of these persons who have not obtained work on their transfer to London have their expenses paid to enable them to return home?

I regret that I cannot give separate figures for this period for persons under 16 years of age. Since January, 1934, 6,608 boys and 3,339 girls under 18 years of age have been transferred from the areas scheduled under the juvenile transference scheme to employment in the Metropolitan area. Of this number, only five failed to obtain suitable employment and had their expenses paid to enable them to return home.

Can the Minister inform the House what sort of after-care is given to these boys after they are transferred to London?

I could not possibly do that without making an elaborate statement, but, as the House knows from successive Debates, the utmost care is taken.

If these boys fail to obtain employment, are they sent back home and their expenses paid?

They are looked after in the most meticulous fashion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the correspondence forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Stoke dealing with the decision of the Longton magistrates to send a boy of 10 years of age to an approved school; is he aware that the representative of the education committee advised against the course adopted, and that it was stated that the Home Office advice was against the decision; and what action he intends to take?

On receipt of the correspondence, I caused inquiries to be made which have only just been completed. I have not yet been able fully to consider the case, but as soon as I have done so I will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary whether the evidence given to the Stewart and Rolleston Committees on workmen's compensation, so far as not given in confidence, will be published simultaneously with the reports?

I presume that in referring to the Rolleston Committee my hon. Friend intended to refer to the Rehabilitation Committee under the chairmanship of Sir Malcolm Delevingne. It is only in very exceptional circumstances that the publication of evidence given before Departmental Committees is authorised. While, therefore, any representations that might be received in favour of publication of the evidence before these two committees would be carefully considered, a strong case would have to be shown to justify a departure from the established practice.

Will my right hon. Friend be willing at least to put this into the Library in order that hon. Members may have an opportunity of judging the nature of the evidence presented?

I will consider my hon. Friend's request, and see whether that is possible.

asked the Home Secretary when he proposes to issue Home Office circulars to magistrates so far as still in force in the form of a single consolidated code of guidance for magistrates?

Many of these circulars are now obsolete and others may become obsolete as the result of proposed alterations in the treatment of offenders which are now under consideration. If effect is given to these proposals in new legislation an explanatory circular will clearly be required and should go far to meet the object which my hon. Friend has in view.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the great majority of the circulars are, in fact, out of print at the present moment, and that it is quite impossible for justices either to buy them or to be aware of the contents, not only in regard to the treatment of matters dealt with under legislation, but in regard to the actual legislation itself?

I will keep in mind what my hon. Friend has said.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not overlook sending these circulars to stipendiary magistrates, who need them badly sometimes?

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the continued high number of accidents to adolescents and others in charge of or in connection with the repair of lifts; and what progress has been made by his Department in investigating the best manner of dealing with this matter?

As my hon. Friend is aware, as far as factory premises are concerned, the law on this subject was considerably strengthened by the Factories Act of this year. I presume, however, that he is referring to accidents on non-factory premises. There are no statistics available to show whether such accidents are increasing or decreasing, and, while no doubt a number of these accidents occur to adolescents, my information does not bear out the suggestion which has been made that these form the majority. Whatever the actual figure may be, I fully sympathise with the desire to reduce it. It will be appreciated that the compulsory safeguarding or expert supervision of such lifts would require legislation, and I am not in a position at present to say more than that I have not lost sight of the prospect of legislation on this subject.

If I sent my right hon. Friend 200 cuttings dealing with these accidents all over England, showing the completely inadequate nature of the investigation made at the present moment by coroners' courts, will he be so good as to reconsider the matter in the light of the accumulating evidence of these lifts in non-factory premises, which are becoming an increasing danger?

I should be very glad to have the information, which I would certainly study, and then communicate further with my hon. Friend.

asked the Home Secretary the cause of the accident at West Thurrock, Essex, when a man was killed by a coal grab on Tuesday, 14th December?

I presume that the hon. Member refers to the accident which occurred on the steamship "Corbridge" on 8th November when Joseph Bird sustained injuries from which he died on 11th December. I am informed that the ship was discharging coal, that Bird, who was employed as a signaller, signalled from the hold to the crane man to lower the grab and then slipped so that the grab came down on his leg. There does not appear to have been any breach of the regulations under the Factory Acts.

asked the Home Secretary the conditions on which Prince Frederick of Prussia has been allowed to take up his residence in this country; and whether he has been granted a permit to work here?

Prince Frederick has been permitted to occupy for a short period the position of a student employé with a banking firm. The concession is no more than that accorded to any young foreigner who wishes to acquire some knowledge of business methods in an English firm.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to the statement in the "Daily Express" made by this individual, that he was here to work for from one to two years in Schroeder's Bank, and can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any labour is being displaced, and whether there is different treatment for those who are the victims of the Nazi terror, and those who perpetrate it?

I have no idea of what the "Daily Express" said on this subject. As far as the facts of the case are concerned, this young man is not displacing any British labour.

May I take it that he has the permit to stay for only three months?

I said that the permit, in accordance with the usual precedent, is for a short period.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case in which three miners from Pontyberem, Carmarthenshire, were summoned at the petty sessional court at Llanelly recently for taking coal valued at 2s. 11d.; and, as there were no previous convictions against these men, will he consider remitting the fine of £5 imposed on each man?

No, Sir; but if the hon. Member thinks there are grounds for the exercise of the prerogative of mercy, perhaps he will give me the names of the defendants and a statement of the considerations to which he thinks attention should be given.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the considerable public indignation regarding this matter?

I cannot possibly express any opinion if I do not know the names or the circumstances.

asked the Home Secretary whether persons who are in police custody before being committed to prison are informed that it is not obligatory for them to have their finger prints taken; and on how many occasions the individual's consent has been withheld in the Metropolitan area for the 12 months ending at the last convenient date?

Yes, Sir; notices to this effect are posted in all police stations and cells in the Metropolitan police district. It is quite exceptional for consent to be withheld, but the exact number of cases could not be ascertained without the examination of a large number of documents.

In what way is this notification given to juveniles charged at the juvenile courts?

I cannot say without notice, but I will look into the question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider having this notification brought before the parents of the juveniles concerned?

I do not know what the circumstances are until I have considered the case.

May I ask whether in all circumstances where finger prints are taken and the individual is afterwards found to have no criminal record and to be not guilty of the offence, the finger prints are then destroyed?

I could not say without notice.

May we have an assurance that children's finger prints will not be taken unless the parents have an opportunity of objecting?

That is really another question, and I cannot answer it in detail without notice.

When these finger prints are taken, can anyone tell whether they are honest or dishonest ones?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is yet in a position to make any statement as to the grant of financial assistance by the Government to public utility undertakings in respect of air raid precautions plans?

The Government have been considering the position of certain essential public utility services, the continued functioning of which is essential in war-time. The exceptional position of the industries concerned places upon them a special responsibility for doing their utmost to ensure continuity of service in all circumstances, including those of war. These industries will have to incur considerable expenditure on the measures necessary to ensure continued functioning in war-time; and the Government have accepted the principle of a contribution towards expenditure of this nature on precautions additional to those falling on industry generally. The actual details of any such arrangement must be worked out in close consultation with the undertakings concerned. These consultations will begin as early as practicable in the New Year.

Can my right hon. Friend inform me whether claims for connecting up services and other such matters will be made direct to his Department, or whether they will be made through the local authorities in the districts in which the particular services are?

My Department will be communicating with the various public utility services.

What are the particular categories of public utilities to which the right hon. Gentleman referred in his reply?

I had better have notice of that question, but, speaking generally, water, gas, electricity and certain kinds of transport.

In view of the fact that a certain number of public utility undertakings may be private enterprise, when details are being worked out will the Home Secretary also consider the interests of relatively small tradesmen, owner-occupiers and people of that sort?

I made clear in my answer that the public utility services will have to undertake the ordinary obligations undertaken by any ordinary factory or employer. The question deals with the additional duties that will be imposed upon them as a result of their rather special position.

asked the Minister of Health the number of old age pensioners in receipt of public assistance in the borough of West Ham?

The latest date for which figures are available is 1st January last, and the number of old age pensioners in West Ham who were in receipt of poor relief on that date was 2,595.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there was an outbreak of typhoid on board the steamship "Strathaird" on her last homeward voyage in October; whether any passengers suffering from typhoid were landed at Marseilles; whether the members of the crew were inoculated against typhoid; whether the passengers and crew landed in London who were possible contacts were followed up; and whether or not any of them were traced to Croydon?

I am aware of the outbreak to which the hon. Member refers. From the information in my possession it does not appear that any passengers suffering from typhoid were landed at Marseilles. I understand that the members of the crew were not inoculated. The names and addresses of the 329 passengers and of the 233 European members of the crew were sent by the London port health authority to the medical officers of health of the districts of destination. Three passengers and two members of the crew gave addresses in Croydon, and I am informed by the local authority that they were followed up and are reported to have remained in good health.

Does not such a question as this tend to drive people to travel by foreign lines?

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the condition of the freshwater tanks aboard the Peninsula and Oriental ships; and what precautions were taken, in view of the suspected cases of typhoid on board the steamship "Strathaird," when the tanks were cleaned in London, to ensure that tainted water was not pumped from one tank to another?

I am informed that the drinking water on the ship to which the hon. Member refers was adversely reported on when she arrived at Aden, and in consequence the water in all the tanks was chlorinated. On arrival at Tilbury instructions were given that all fresh water tanks should be emptied, cleansed and cement washed, and then refilled from the quay hydrant and the water chlorinated. Precautions were taken to the satisfaction of the port health authority to prevent tainted water being pumped into a tank which had been cleansed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman convinced that the water was not pumped from one tank to another and was, in fact, emptied away?

If the hon. Gentleman will communicate with me, I will gladly make any further inquiries which he would like to have made.

asked the Minister of Health how many prosecutions there have been in London during the last 12 months under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, and the Public Health Smoke Abatement Act, 1926, for chimneys sending forth smoke in such quantities as to be a nuisance; whether there are any officers of his Department detailed to see that the provisions of these Acts relating to smoke abatement in London are enforced; and whether he is satisfied that all the London boroughs are making full use of the powers entrusted to them?

The latest information I have is for the year 1936, when two prosecutions were reported. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. The statutory responsibility for enforcing the smoke abatement law in London rests on the Metropolitan Borough Councils. The London County Council have certain default powers and also powers of making complaint to me. I have received no complaint of failure by the councils to use their powers.

Is the Minister not aware by the evidence of his own eyes and nose that these powers have not been enforced by the borough councils; and will he, therefore, detail an officer to investigate the whole problem of smoke in London so that next year we may not continue to have these unpleasant and unsatisfactory conditions as a result of failure by local authorities to enforce the by-laws in many parts of London?

I am looking forward to the formation and the meeting of the Joint Smoke Abatement Committee for London, and, as a result, I hope that something may be achieved during the New Year.

Is the Minister aware that a good deal of the smoke complained of in this question is due to the fact that a very large number of factory owners use dirty, beastly coal for generating steam?

I have heard all sorts of suggestions including the suggestion that the smoke is due to the coal fires which we all like to have in our own homes.

Have there been any prosecutions in connection with the smoke nuisance arising from Government buildings in Whitehall?

None have been brought to my notice.

asked the Minister of Health whether steps are being taken to deal with the shortage of accommodation in Lancashire for mental patients?

Yes, Sir; steps are being taken to extend the existing mental hospitals and the Brockhall mental deficiency colony, and to provide a new mental hospital and a new mental deficiency colony.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when these additions and extensions are likely to be completed?

I will make inquiries and inform the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Health what has been the result of the conferences held with local authorities in the Tyneside area on the report of the Royal Commission on local government there; and whether he will make a statement on the intentions of the Government on this subject?

I regret that the proceedings at the conference held at Newcastle on the 16th instant do not support the view that there was any substantial agreement as to the line of action to be taken with regard to the future local government of Tyneside. At the same time there was, I am glad to say, considerable general support for the view that arrangements for the joint operation of certain large-scale services should be further explored by the local authorities, and I understand that this will now be undertaken and in this exploration the Government will render all possible assistance.

Am I to understand that the Government do not intend to introduce legislation either in the current Session or the next Session to implement the findings of the Commission?

No, Sir. The object of the conference was to see whether we could get some measure of agreement, either on the majority or minority reports, but from the proceedings over which I have presided and the proceedings which were held on the 16th instant I am afraid there is no likelihood of any common agreement, and I would not myself wish to impose something on the local authorities which they did not desire.

Was there not some measure of agreement between two of the large authorities and two of the lesser authorities?

Yes, there are hopeful signs which I would like to see pressed forward. The matter is dealt with in the last part of my answer which indicates what I think, at the moment, is the most favourable line that can be developed. I need hardly say, speaking for a great many Members of this House, that we would like to see something done in this direction.

Are we to take it that the joint boards alluded to, are the joint boards under the existing law, mainly the Act of 1933?

I would not like to define that. I was not present at the final conference, but I hope we shall be able to do something on those lines and, no doubt, I shall be able to report to the House later.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will publish a financial statement showing the probable effect of the various proposals for reorganising local government on the Tyneside on the rates in each local government area affected?

The financial effect of the schemes of local government submitted by the Majority and the Minority o£ the Royal Commission on the future government of Tyneside depends as was stated in these reports upon certain consequential arrangements which were in either case left for further consideration by the local authorities concerned, and in these circumstances I am afraid that any statement which could be prepared on the available information might be misleading.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, owing to the absence of dates in the indexes to birth, death, and marriage certificates at Somerset House, persons wishing to know the date of a particular birth, death, or marriage are obliged to pay a fee of 1s. to inspect the index, and then a further fee to inspect the certificate; and whether he will take the necessary steps, by legislation or otherwise, to enable the public to obtain this one piece of information without the inconvenience and additional expense involved in the present practice?

The index to which my hon. Friend refers enables members of the public to trace the entry in the register of which they wish to obtain a certified copy. The suggested addition to the index could not replace the certified copy which is the only authentic evidence of an entry in the register, and might give rise to unfortunate errors. I may add that, as my hon. Friend is probably aware, certified copies can be obtained for many specified purposes at reduced fees.

Is it not rather unnecessary to make the public pay two fees to get one piece of information? Is it not true that Parliament could not really have intended that that should happen, and cannot my right hon. Friend take some means to obviate it?

I used to be very familiar with the practice in days gone by, and I think that what happens is that you pay a fee to see whether the birth, marriage or death is recorded, and when you have ascertained that it is at Somerset House you then pay a fee for a certified copy, which, of course, is available as evidence. If the suggestion were adopted that the date should be placed on the index, somebody might make a note of it and go away, and I can foresee a good many difficulties arising from some imperfect or incorrect statement of what, in fact, appears in the index. It is always convenient to have a certified copy of a matter of this kind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any further statement to make with regard to the sterling credit to France; and whether the gold reserve in the Bank of France is in any way charged with security for this credit?

These questions do not arise, as the credit is in course of repayment, the final payment being made to-morrow.

Can the Minister say what was the total amount?

The hon. Member can obtain that information from other sources.

asked the Prime Minister what action the Government intend to take on the Departmental Committee report which has been recently issued on the question of a pensions scheme for ex-Members of Parliament?

My right hon. Friend is making some inquiries, but is not yet in a position to make any statement on this subject.

May I ask my right hon. Friend meanwhile to convey to members of the Departmental Committee thanks for the work they did in the production of their report?

I will draw my right hon. Friend's attention to my hon. Friend's observations.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the proposed establishment by the Post Office of a public wire-broadcasting service at Southampton?

It is proposed to introduce a public experimental wire-broadcasting service at Southampton during the course of 1938. The service will be undertaken as a part of the practical experimental work in wire distribution of broadcast programmes, with which the Post Office has been charged, in accordance with the Government's proposals in the White Paper on the recommendations of the Committee on Broadcasting, 1935 (Cmd. 5207). In addition to the main public service distributed by means of a special wire net work, a limited experiment will be made in the distribution of broadcast programmes over the telephone wires. Subscribers will have a choice of several broadcast programmes; and I am in consultation with the British Broadcasting Corporation concerning the arrangements for their selection. The charge for the service will be 1s. 6d. a week plus a small initial payment. This does not include a loud speaker which will be provided or paid for by the subscriber. It is hoped to start work on the laying down of equipment within the next few months and to open the service in part of Southampton in the late summer or the autumn. The total capital cost of providing such a service in the Southampton area will, it is estimated, be about £200,000, of which only about £2,000 will be spent during the present financial year, and for which a supplementary estimate will be presented in the spring.

Will this wireless telephone service be open to all telephone subscribers all over the United Kingdom?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, with a view to encouraging the manufacture of jam from fresh home-grown fruit, he will introduce legislation to ensure that jam manufactured from pulp preserved in sulphurous acid should be labelled as such and should not be allowed to be sold as fresh fruit jam?

The labelling of jam in the manner suggested is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, who informs me that in the light of information at present before him he does not consider it necessary to require declaration of the presence in jam of the amount of sulphur dioxide now permitted by the preservative regulations.

Is the Minister aware that in the Vale of Evesham they do require this, and that where there is a will there is a way, and will he give it a second thought in February when we return?

asked the Minister of Transport what is the present position with regard to the removal of the block of offices known as Westminster House from Parliament Square, and the improvement of traffic conditions and amenities at this central point in the immediate vicinity of the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey?

I am advised that informal discussions are taking place between the various parties concerned, but no decision has been reached.

Do the Government realise the great importance of securing the amenities of this central spot of the Empire, and will they push forward the negotiations with all practicable urgency?

Yes, Sir; the clerk of the Middlesex County Council has recently conferred with representatives of my Department and the London County Council, and is meeting representatives of the Westminster City Council in the early part of the New Year.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the expressed intention of the Oxford Electric Lighting Company, in connection with the proposed sale of their undertaking to the Wessex Company, to liquidate the company and pay off the preference shareholders at par; and whether, in drafting the proposed Electricity Bill, he will, in the interests of preference shareholders in electricity undertakings which it is proposed should be absorbed under the forthcoming Bill, take powers to promote amalgamation rather than liquidation?

I am aware that proposals have been made for the winding-up of the company. My hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion has been noted for consideration, but he will not expect me to make any statement in advance of publication of the proposed Bill.

While thanking the Parliamentary Secretary for the reply, may I ask him to draw the attention of the Minister of Transport to the serious effect that such an inequitable settlement of the interests of certain types of shareholders in electricity undertakings may have on the easy passage of this forthcoming Bill?

I will convey that view to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Pensions the names of those at present constituting the Special Grants Committee and any sub-committee or committees thereof; the number of times they have met during the year 1937; and the average attendance at each meeting?

The Special Grants Committee consists of 14 members under the chairmanship of Sir Edward Troup, K.C.B., K.C.V.O. I propose, with the hon. and gallant Member's permission to circulate the full list of members in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The committee and its sub-committees have held 50 meetings during the present year and the average attendance of members was rather more than four.

Do I understand that the average attendance was four out of 14?

That is so.

How are the number of meetings divided as between the main committee and the sub-committees?

We are to debate this matter in a short time, and perhaps the hon. and gallant Member will raise it then.

asked the Minister of Pensions particulars covering the three years prior to the last convenient date of the number of cases of alleged unworthy conduct on the part of widows in receipt of pensions reported to the Special Grants Committee; the general nature of such reports; the number of such reports originating in anonymous letters; and the action taken on such reports?

As the answer includes a table of figures, I propose, with the hon. and gallant Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the hon. Gentleman see that I have a copy before the Debate?

I have already arranged that.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the maximum rate of profit permitted in War Office contracts during the past two years in the three highest cases, and the amount of contracts in each case?

It would be contrary to the public interest to disclose specific rates of profit, but the hon. Member may rest assured that the general level of profits allowed is no higher than is fair and reasonable having regard to the circumstances of each particular case.

Is the Minister aware that the Air Ministry found no difficulty in providing this information; and, in view of the fact that one Defence Department can do it, is it not obvious that others can do it; and will he be good enough to reconsider the matter with a view to supplying the same information?

My answer to the hon. Gentleman is exactly in line with the answer given to him on 7th April by the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence.

But is the Minister aware that I am referring to an answer given to me by the Air Minister in the last few weeks, when the information asked for in this question was given in respect to the Air Ministry; and will the hon. Gentleman be good enough to reconsider the matter and consult other Departments?

The hon. Member had better put a question down, to the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence. I cannot answer for other Departments.

I do not want information from the Air Ministry or the Ministry for the Co-ordination of Defence. I want the same information from the War Office with regard to War Office contracts as was given to me by the Air Ministry. Surely that is the reasonable demand?

I cannot give any undertaking of that kind. The hon. Member knows perfectly well that it would be undesirable to give the information.

I have already been given it by the Air Ministry.

I do not think the questions are exactly parallel. It is not a question of my Department wrongly withholding information. The hon. Member knows that to give these profits would not be in the public interest.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter later. The answer is entirely unreasonable.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in regard to the promotions recently made to the posts of superintendent of stores at Chilwell depot, Army Ordnance Service, and superintendent of sales yard, Woolwich Arsenal Army Ordnance Service, the individuals appointed were recently serving in the armed forces of the Crown; whether, as they are junior in service and experience to a number of supervisory employés who could be regarded as eligible for promotion to these posts, any examination or consideration of the senior staff available was undertaken before the appointments were made; and what steps he is taking to allay the discontent amongst supervisory grades who could normally look to further promotion?

I think the hon. Member has been misinformed. Both the individuals referred to are ex-service men who left the Army shortly after the War. The records and capacity of all eligible men were taken into careful consideration before these two appointments were made. I am not aware of any discontent, nor can I sec that there are any grounds for such on the part of other supervisory grades in the Army Ordnance Services.

Will not the claims of the length of service and the capacity of the men engaged in the stores be considered so that people who come in later will not be promoted over their heads?

These individuals have had long experience in the Service and have not just come out of the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the League of Nations Assembly resolution of 6th October expressing moral support for China and recommending that members of the League should refrain from taking any action which might have the effect of weakening China's power of resistance, and thus increasing her difficulties in the present conflict, he will arrange that no further licences for the export of arms to Japan shall be granted?

As my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade stated on Tuesday in reply to the hon. Member for Derby (Mr. Noel-Baker) only one licence for the export of arms to Japan has been issued in the last three months. While His Majesty's Government have every intention of continuing to give effect within the limits of their power to the resolution to which the hon. Member refers, the action which he suggests would involve difficulties particularly in connection with the Anglo-Japanese Commercial Treaty of 1911. The resolution in question does not absolve His Majesty's Government from their treaty obligations.

Can the Noble Lord give an assurance that the Government are doing, and will do, everything possible to carry out the resolution of the Assembly?

I should be glad to give that assurance.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the maximum rate of profit permitted in Admiralty contracts during the past two years in the three highest cases, and the amount of contracts in each case?

It would not be in the public interest to give the information asked for in the question. I would refer the hon. Member to the replies to his questions of 7th April last given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this information with regard to Air Ministry contracts was given here in the last few weeks by the Air Minister, and is there any reason why the same information should not be given in the public interest with regard to Naval contracts? Will my hon. Friend be good enough to reconsider the matter?

I will always reconsider anything, but my firm opinion is that whatever is done in other cases, it would be a grave departure if we were to give the rate of profits with regard to Admiralty contracts. I am sure that the interests of the taxpayer are best served by this rule.

Why is it more dangerous to do it in the case of Admiralty contracts than in the case of Air Ministry contracts.

We have had long years of experience in the Admiralty, and we have devised a system which we think does justice to all.

Does the hon. Gentleman mean that they have had years of experience of contractors who cannot be trusted to do the fair thing?

Does the hon. Gentleman suggest that it was not in the public interest for the Air Ministry to give that information?

Is it not a fact that the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) asks an enormous number of questions?

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.

May I ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether you would be good enough to see that none of the terrible wooden structures which have been put up behind you are erected in the House of Commons during the vacation, while Members are away, and that if you should have any doubt about the matter yourself you would be kind enough to consult the Fine Arts Commission on the matter as I, for one, should not like this Chamber to be disfigured, as it would be if any of them were erected?

I will have a look at the clocks.

May I ask the First Commissioner of Works whether any decision has been arrived at about the face of the three imitation clocks that we have in front of us, and the dummy moon, and where the new clock is to be erected? So far as I am concerned, the clock should be where the dummy moon is.

No.

I have not made up my mind, and hope to get the assistance and guidance of hon. Members.

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider the possibility of trying a clock in the centre of each side Gallery?

I will look into the matter.