asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now state what plans and proposals have been adopted to deal with the replacement in industry of the elderly unemployed?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now make any statement following his visits to district and divisional offices of the Ministry of Labour?

I have still one division to visit, and this I hope to do before the end o£ the present month. The information which has been gained so far is under active consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make any announcement.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) the number of new industries located at the trading estate at Treforest, Glamorganshire, and the number of persons employed;

Twenty-two new industrial undertakings have leased or undertaken to lease factories on the Treforest Estate. Five factories are occupied, of which three are in production, and the number of persons now employed is 87. The number of persons to be employed by the 22 undertakings is expected to exceed 900. In addition, eight new undertakings, anticipated to provide employment for a further 1,700 persons, have been established or are in course of establishment in the Special Areas of South Wales and Monmouthshire under the arrangements provided by the Special Areas Acts.

Can the Minister indicate when the 22 factories now being erected will be completed?

I will see whether I can find the information.

asked the Minister of Labour when he expects to receive the report of the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee; and whether the House will be given an opportunity of considering the report before he decides his policy?

Under Section 59 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1935, the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee are bound to report to me before the end of February on the financial condition of the Unemployment Fund as at the end of the preceding December. In accordance with the provisions of that Section I shall lay the report before Parliament, and, if the Committee report that changes in the Unemployment Insurance Scheme are required to balance the income and expenditure of the Unemployment Fund, I shall in accordance with the Act lay before Parliament for approval a Draft Order to make the necessary adjustment.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the fact that in the past the publication of this report has prejudiced the consideration given to it by this House, and will he bear in mind that this House represents the people of the country and not a committee? Will he further bear in mind that there is a huge surplus in the Fund and a great need for an increase in unemployment benefit?

I disagree with the hon. Member. So far from prejudicing consideration of the case, the report of the Committee and the evidence in the report have been of great assistance to the House and the country.

Does the Minister disagree that there is a great need for an increase in unemployment benefit?

We will see what the report says. The hon. Member will remember that as a result of successive changes in the last three Sessions we have made additions to the payments to unemployed persons.

As the Minister says that the Committee has been of great service to the House, will he say whether the Committee has recommended any increase of benefit for the unemployed?

It recommended one shilling for children, three days off the six days waiting period, additional benefit to those contributors with a good record, and other changes, including one penny off contributions.

When the right hon. Gentleman gets this report will he allow it to be discussed by the House, whether he agrees with it or not, before he sends it back to the Committee?

That is not for me to decide. It is for me to report to the House whether I agree or disagree with the Committee in its findings, and, if I disagree, to produce to the House alternative proposals of the same financial effect.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons and families in the Glasgow area who have received increased allowances and the number who have had decreases since being taken over from the Glasgow public assistance department?

I regret that this information is not available.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how it is that I can get the figures at almost any Exchange? How is it that he, as the head of a Department, cannot get the figures?

It would require a definite and special inquiry to be made at every Exchange.

Surely the Minister is here for the purpose of supplying information that is of value to Members of the House, and this information being valuable, I ask that he should get it as quickly as possible.

I will look into it again, but the hon. Member will understand that I am charged with the public duty of deciding whether obtaining such information will mean an undue burden upon those who are responsible for the public administration.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider amending existing legislation to make provision for allowances being paid on behalf of permanently invalided adults who are dependent brothers or sisters of persons in receipt of unemployment benefit?

I would refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 473 to 476 of the report of the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance. I am not aware of any ground for departing from the conclusion reached by the Commission.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of registered unemployed in Glasgow up to the last available date?

At 13th December, 1937, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 79,203 unemployed persons aged 14 and over on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Glasgow.

When this figure is taken in conjunction with the tremendous increase in Poor Law relief in Glasgow, does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that representations should be made to have this city scheduled as a distressed area?

That has been decided in the recent Debate in the House.

In view of the increase in unemployment in Glasgow and the increase of £2,000,000 in Poor Law relief, will not the right hon. Gentleman reconsider that decision?

I cannot accept the statement of increase in general terms. In recent years there has been a heavy decrease in unemployment in Glasgow.

In view of the fact that there are 70,000 unemployed in Glasgow and large pools of unemployed in other parts of the country, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Government have any policy for giving employment to these workers?

That is much too large an undertaking for a supplementary answer.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of registered unemployed in Leith for the years ended December, 1933, and 1937, respectively?

The average numbers of persons registered as unemployed at Leith in the years 1933 and 1937 were 6,402 and 4,746 respectively.

Is the Minister aware that although the reduction of registered unemployed in this area has been slight, the increase in the number of people receiving public assistance relief has materially increased; and will he not, therefore, take some steps to publish the Poor Law relief figures along with the unemployment figures?

I do not accept either statement of the hon. Member. I know that it is not the common custom in this House for Members to interfere with other people's constituencies.

Is the Minister aware that when I stated there was an increase of Poor Law relief in this area I was quoting his own figures which were given to me in the House? Does he not think that if a Member neglects his own constituency Labour Members should attend to it?

I am quite prepared to leave that to the electors of Leith. They will look after me.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he is always butting in and interfering with other people's business?

asked the Minister of Labour the names of the urban authorities in Monmouthshire who have received grants from the Special Areas Fund, and the amount of each grant?

As the reply includes a tabular statement I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent the decline in employment is due to the effect of the hostilities in China on branches of our export trade?

I regret that I am not in a position to analyse the figures in this way.

Cannot the Minister obtain and supply at least approximate data?

If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, I will do my best to help him, but a general analysis of this kind is impossible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether unemployment benefit is being paid to men who have ceased work owing to the platers' strike at Wallsend-on-Tyne, and who are not parties to the dispute?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give an assurance that in future there will be no delay, other than the statutory period, in convening a court of referees where a decision has to be taken regarding the legality of paying unemployment benefit to men who have ceased work owing to an idustrial dispute to which they are not a party?

I am not aware that there has been avoidable delay in dealing with claims for unemployment benefit arising out of trade disputes, and do not anticipate that there will in future be any such delay.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if there is not a court of referees sitting and available to hear a case, there is a certain amount of delay until the next court, and will he make inquiries into this matter?

That is a general statement. If the hon. Lady has any particular facts relating to a case I shall be glad to look into them, but I have told her that I am not aware of any avoidable delay.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will request the Statutory Committee to examine the regulations at present governing the payment of unemployment benefit to workers engaged on work which is subject to weather conditions, in order to ascertain whether such regulations operate fairly and adequately?

If my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of the cases which she has in mind, I will consider her suggestion.

May I ask whether my right hon. Friend will consider it on the general issue and whether the trade union representatives concerned have any views?

I do not see that I can deal with that in general terms. It will depend on the nature of the occupation.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Government have yet decided to participate in the work of the proposed permanent international works committee which is to be set up in compliance with the resolution on planning of public works in relation to employment adopted by the 23rd International Labour Conference?

His Majesty's Government will participate in the first meeting of the committee, which is of a preparatory nature.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons are registered as unemployed in the Thorne area and how many are in receipt of unemployment assistance; and what percentage of the total insured population these combined figures represent?

At 13th December, 1937, the number of unemployed persons, aged 14 and over, on the registers of the Thorne Employment Exchange, was 1,388, including 801 persons with applications authorised for payment of unemployment assistance allowances. The percentage unemployed among insured persons, aged 16–64 (exclusive of persons within the agricultural scheme), was 16.9.

asked the Minister of Labour particulars of cases in which there has been a refusal by workers to load war and other material destined for Japan; and what is the policy of the Government in the matter?

I am not in possession of particulars other than those which have appeared in the Press. The alleged unauthorised refusal to handle cargoes is, in my view, a matter for the joint machinery within the industry to consider in the first instance.

Are not these workers taking a very natural and human action in doing the very thing the Government ought to be doing?

I do not think it is my duty or the hon. Gentleman's duty to act as loud speaker for Communist propaganda.

Do I understand from the reply that it is the policy of the Government, about which I asked, to supply the Japanese aggressor with all he wants to carry on his scheme?

The hon. Member must draw his own conclusions.

If there is an opportunity of serving as a loud speaker will not the right hon. Gentleman be very glad to take it?

Not for that purpose.

asked the Minister of Labour if and when he proposes to present to the House the report of the Special Committee on Holidays with Pay?

This Committee have completed the taking of evidence but have not yet made their report.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take steps to ensure that omnibus drivers and conductors are paid for the interval period between one omnibus journey and another in cases where such spread-over period is away from their home depôt?

The remuneration of omnibus drivers and conductors is a matter for negotiation and settlement between the employers and the employés or their respective organisations.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is no agreement where the journeys are based on day work?

As I have said, that is a matter for the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider appointing a Departmental Committee to inquire into the amount of compensation paid under the Workmen's Compensation and Employers' Liability Acts to persons injured or awarded to the dependants of those killed; and, if considered necessary, will he introduce legislation to amend the present Acts?

This is certainly a matter which will have to be further explored before any amendment of the existing provisions could be undertaken, but as at present advised I do not contemplate the appointment of a Departmental Committee for the purpose.

In view of the fact that many of these awards are totally inadequate, can the right hon. Gentleman say how the matter can be further explored?

Through my Department and the various interests concerned.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is proposed to publish any instructions for the use of householders in the event of air attack; if he can indicate whether these instructions will deal with high-explosive bombs, incendiary bombs, and gas bombs; and when the instructions are to be published?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is now able to state when it is proposed to issue the handbook for householders with regard to air-raid precautions?

asked the Home Secretary whether he intends in the near future to publish a handbook on air-raid precautions for householders?

asked the Home Secretary when he anticipates that the householders' handbook as to air-raid precautions will be available to the general public?

The Draft Regulations issued under the Air-Raid Precautions Act impose upon local authorities the duty of giving instruction and advice to the public on air-raid precautions. As part of this duty it will no doubt be necessary to give each householder some printed advice in simple terms as to the precautions he can usefully take for his household and his home. My Department will shortly issue to the local authorities a supply of the book that has been prepared which can then be circulated to the air-raid wardens. In the light of the experience thus gained it will be possible to decide in what form printed advice to each householder can most effectively be given and how and when it should be distributed.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the book will be issued during the present month?

Probably, Sir; at any rate, shortly.

In view of the gravity and importance of this matter will the hon. Gentleman direct that hon. Members shall be furnished with copies of these instructions and any other official literature issued by the Department, so that they may be fully informed of the activities of the Department and will know what advice to give to their constituents?

I will consider that point, but I hardly think that hon. Members would like to be furnished with copies of all the memoranda issued.

Will the hon. Gentleman give Members of the House an opportunity of testing it by experience?

Can my hon. Friend say how it is that this book has not been issued before, in view of the fact that we have been informed that it has been ready for more than six months?

The situation was altered by the passage of the Air Raid Precautions Act, and the responsibility is now definitely upon the local authorities.

Does the hon. Gentleman propose to issue any memorandum upon his visit to Berlin?

Does the hon. Gentleman propose to send a copy of these documents to the friends whom he has recently consulted in Berlin and Paris?

Do I understand that nothing is yet in preparation for the householder, and that it will be some months before any attempt is made in that direction?

I do not think the hon. Member would be right in drawing that deduction.

asked the Home Secretary whether any instructions or suggestions have been issued to local authorities regarding the size and type of building used for anti-gas schools and decontamination centres?

Guidance as to the requirements at places where local anti-gas training is undertaken has been given in circulars and is embodied in section 5 of the Air Raid Precautions Memorandum No. 5—Anti-Gas Training. As regards first aid posts at which facilities for the decontamination of the public would be provided, revised advice was issued to local authorities in a circular on 10th December, 1937, and the further details then promised will be issued shortly.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that certain local authorities are proposing to use derelict buildings for this purpose, and, in view of the importance of the matter, will he not give some lead to them on this question?

The regional inspectors of the Home Office Air Raid Precautions Department are always available for consultation by the local authorities, and I think the matter ought to be settled in that way.

But could not the hon. Gentleman give some lead in the direction of showing the desirability of having modern buildings for this purpose?

I think that a great deal would depend upon circumstances, and I am not sure that at this moment I should be doing the right thing in giving such a general lead.

asked the Home Secretary whether arrangements can be made for a section of the Home Office Industrial Museum to display, by means of photographs and materials, precautions in factory buildings and offices which the Government recommend as practicable against air raids?

My right hon. Friend will certainly consider my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is his intention that a borough or urban district administering its own approved air raid precautions scheme shall be required through the county precept to contribute also to the cost of similar services in the rest of the county; or whether he will make his approval of a county scheme conditional upon the cost of the scheme being treated as expenditure for a special county purpose to which only those parts of the county covered by the scheme shall be required to contribute?

My right hon. Friend has indicated in the circular issued to all local authorities on 28th January that where a direction is given that a borough or urban district shall prepare and submit its own scheme, it will be expected that, save in very exceptional circumstances, the borough or urban district will not be called upon to contribute to expenses incurred by the county council in discharging in respect of other parts of the county similar functions to those handed over to the borough or urban district.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any statement to make with reference to the visit of the Under-Secretary to Berlin to investigate the air raid precautions there in force?

His Majesty's Government much appreciate the courtesy of the German and French Governments in providing facilities for these visits, which were a most useful experience. While the different conditions in different countries necessarily result in different methods of dealing with air raid precautions, it will, I think, be agreed that in making our own preparations we should not ignore what can be learnt from methods which are being adopted elsewhere.

Might I ask the Home Secretary whether the Under-Secretary is satisfied that the population of Berlin are adequately protected against any British air raid?

That question should be addressed to the Minister responsible at Berlin.

Will there be a return visit?

No plan at present has been arranged for a return visit.

In view of the Alice-in-Wonderland sort of arrangement come to between the Under-Secretary of State and the authorities in Berlin for him to go there—I understand that he has been there—does the right hon. Gentleman think the public will have any confidence in this business in view of the fact that the Under-Secretary was sent to Berlin to find out how the German Government will protect their people against our air bombs—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why 'our'?"]—well, then, against the possibility of our bombing—and that he was sent there to inquire from them how we should protect ourselves against the possibility of their bombing us? If that is not the height and depth of tomfoolery I do not know what is.

I am afraid that I do not understand the right hon. Gentleman. I should have thought it was better to gather experience and knowledge from whatever quarter possible.

I should think it would be better to negotiate to stop the whole business.

asked the Home Secretary whether he intends that the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State should visit Valencia to inspect the air-raid shelters provided for the civilian population in that town?

asked the Home Secretary whether it is his intention that the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State should visit Barcelona and Valencia in order to study the operation of air-raid precautions in practice?

I am afraid it is not practicable to arrange the visits suggested, but the hon. Members may be assured that we are keeping in close touch with events, and a number of reports on the conditions produced by air raids have been received.

If it is desirable to visit Berlin, where they have no practical experience of air raids, is it not even more desirable to proceed to Valencia where they have had experience of intensive air bombing?

All these visits must be a question of time and opportunity.

Is it not likely that the Under-Secretary would have learned a great deal more in Valencia than in Berlin?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is considering the introduction of legislation in connection with the air-raids precautions schemes relating to protective measures to be undertaken by public utility undertakings?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on 23rd December last. The form of any legislation which might be required is under consideration.

asked the Home Secretary when he expects to be in possession of the schemes to be prepared by local authorities in accordance with the air-raid precautions regulations recently issued; and what steps he is taking to expedite the preparation of such schemes and their consideration by his Department?

The hon. and gallant Member will appreciate that local authorities only received the regulations a week ago. No general schemes have yet been formally submitted by authorities, but I have no reason to think that they will delay in submitting them, especially as they can be submitted in part. 160 Fire Precautions Schemes had already been submitted, of which a considerable number have now been settled with the local authorities and will be formally approved shortly.

Will the hon. Gentleman say what steps he is taking to impress upon the local authorities the urgency of dealing with this matter; and what steps he is taking in his own Department to expedite dealing with these proposals when they reach the Department?

I think the local authorities are thoroughly aware of the urgency of the problem. As regards the Department, the hon. and gallant Gentleman will remember that it was recently enlarged and reorganised.

Is it possible to do anything with regard to defective roofs which landlords are not repairing?

That does not arise on this question.

Are these instructions being sent to the Scottish local authorities?

Is the Under-Secretary aware that one of the largest builders in London desires to make a bomb-proof shelter and cannot get his plans approved; and that the owner of the building went to Berlin long before the Under-Secretary?

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to arrange a practice black-out and air raid in the Metropolitan area in the near future?

My right hon. Friend hopes shortly to be in a position to confer with the local authorities concerned with a view to concerting arrangements for an exercise in the Metropolitan area, but it has not yet been decided what form the exercise should take.

Does the Home Secretary propose to put such a practice into effect before receiving schemes from the various local authorities and before he learns what action they are taking in this matter? If that is not so, how is the hon. Gentleman able to organise a practice black-out and air raid in the event of the local population not having received sufficient instruction from the local authority?

I do not think the hon. and gallant Gentleman has given sufficient weight to the fact that these schemes may come in in part, and may be approved in part, and not necessarily as a whole, with the object of facilitating the work. It is a matter for consultation with the local authorities concerned.

Is it the intention that the population of London should in part be subjected to these black-outs and practice air raids?

No, Sir, but what might occur is that part of a scheme for a practice black-out might have been approved.

asked the Home Secretary what action he has taken to allocate between the London County Council, the Common Council of the City of London, and the councils of Metropolitan boroughs the duty of preparing and submitting air-raid general precautions schemes?

My right hon. Friend has indicated, in the circular letter issued to local authorities on 28th January, that, pending the issue of the formal Order under Section 2 of the Air Raid Precautions Act, the London authorities should proceed on the basis of the allocation already provisionally agreed between them, and will invite the authorities concerned to a discussion forthwith to settle the terms of the formal Order.

Have these councils advised my hon. Friend that this is a practical way of proceeding?

I understand that this procedure was based definitely on agreement with the local authorities themselves.

asked the Home Secretary when he proposes to inform the local authorities of the financial regulations which he intends to apply to air-raid precautions schemes?

My right hon. Friend hopes shortly to be able to consult the Association of Local Authorities on the form of the financial regulations. He would make it clear that the rates of grant are prescribed by the Act itself, and that schemes can be submitted for approval by any authority without waiting for the financial regulations which will not affect the question of approval of any scheme.

Is my hon. Friend aware that important councils take the view that it is impossible for them to put forward a complete scheme for submission to the Home Secretary until they are advised by the Home Office as to what exactly the financial regulations will be?

We are making it clear that the financial regulations are more or less technical, dealing with such matters as the form on which the application for grant is to be made. It will be possible for local authorities to prepare schemes and submit them, and, while we cannot give them formal approval, we can give a binding undertaking that they will receive formal approval in due course.

Will my hon. Friend circulate that most important information to the local authorities?

I do not think the misapprehension is very widespread. I think the effect of this question and the answer will be sufficient.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has now received the report of the committee on the question of miners' nystagmus and lump-sum settlements; and whether it is proposed to introduce legislation dealing with these matters?

Yes, Sir, I have received the report. It has been presented to Parliament and will be issued very shortly. I cannot make any statement at present about legislation.

asked the Home Secretary whether, under police regulations, residents in private streets are entitled to ask the police to request owners of cars parked in front of their houses to remove them forthwith?

If by "private streets" my hon. Friend means streets which are not highways or roads to which the public has access, the police have no power to take any action in respect of standing vehicles. As regards roads to which the public has access, the police are always ready to give attention to complaints made to them by residents who suffer inconvenience from vehicles left standing outside their premises: but the question whether the police can take any effective action depends on whether the presence of the vehicle amounts to an obstruction calculated to cause interruption of free passage or to an unreasonable use of the road.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the light sentences being passed on motorists convicted of drunkenness when driving and of causing the death of other road users; and whether, taking the whole of the road fatalities of 1937, he can state the number of prosecutions instituted in connection with them?

There is no possibility of relating figures of offences by motorists with figures of fatalities. There are, for example, many prosecutions for driving when under the influence of drink where no fatality has occurred; and on the other hand there are many fatalities where no prosecution follows either because there are no grounds for a criminal charge or because the driver suspected of an offence has been killed. The returns of offences relating to motor vehicles during 1937 are not yet complete, but a preliminary examination shows that during the year there were 15 convictions of manslaughter arising out of fatal accidents and that in 13 of these cases the defendant was sentenced to penal servitude or imprisonment.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider imposing the condition on all motorists that they shall be teetotallers?

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any information concerning the system of weekend imprisonment for traffic offences now operating in certain American States?

I regret that I have no information on this subject beyond the statements made in the Press, but I will see whether I can obtain more complete particulars.

asked the Home Secretary how many members of the Metropolitan Police Force sent in their resignations during the years, 1935, 1936, and 1937?

With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Home Secretary how many men offered themselves as recruits for the Metropolitan Police Force during the years 1935, 1936, and 1937?

The number of completed application forms received from men offering themselves as recruits in 1935 was 5,532; in 1936, 9,581; and in 1937, 8,768.

asked the Home Secretary how many men, having joined the Metropolitan Police Force under the short-term service scheme of 10 years, have resigned; and whether any such resignations have been expressed as due to the fact that their prospects were inferior to those prevailing in other departments of the same force and of the police forces in the provinces?

Out of 1,427 men who have joined the Metropolitan Police Force on short-service engagements, 261 have resigned. Of these, 20 resignations are recorded as due to dissatisfaction with the short-service engagement, and 138 as with a view to joining other police forces.

In view of those figures, is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that it is worth while continuing this short-term service?

It is too early, in my view, to draw any deduction. The short-service system has only been in operation, as the hon. Gentleman knows, for a comparatively limited time.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into the cost of this scheme, with a view to ascertaining whether the cost of finding these men for the comparatively short term that they are serving is justified?

I think it is too early either to make an investigation of that kind or to base any conclusions on the figures I have given.