asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, the names of the persons to whom financial assistance has been provided in pursuance of Section 6 (1) of the Special Areas (Amendment) Act, 1937, the sums provided in each case, and the places where their industrial undertakings are situated?

It would, I think, be undesirable in the interests of the undertakings assisted to disclose their names and the amount of the assistance. The Treasury has entered into definite agreements with eight companies to provide assistance to a total of £392,500 and provisional agreements have been reached with a further five companies to provide assistance to a total of £390,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, whether he will make a statement regarding the committee set up to consider certain aspects of the hops marketing scheme?

Yes, Sir. The Committee of three appointed recently to review the quota provisions of the Hops Marketing Scheme was a non-statutory body. On further consideration I decided that the enquiry would be facilitated if it were conducted by a statutory body and I have accordingly re-constituted the Committee as an Agricultural Marketing Reorganisation Commission under the Agricultural Marketing Acts. For this purpose it has been necessary to add two further members, and the Commission has been constituted as follows: Mr. A. W. Cockburn (Chairman), Mr. A. F. Forbes and Mr. T. W. Haward, the members of the original Committee, together with Mr. C. J. T. B. Grylls and Mr. R. D. Peck. The Commission has been directed to consider—

asked the Home Secretary when the last increase in pay to the Metropolitan constabulary was made; and when the last increase in pay was made to the inspectors and higher paid officers?

The rates of pay of sergeants and constables in all police forces in England and Wales are governed by the Police Regulations. There has been no increase since the introduction of the Desborough scale in March, 1919. The last increases in the pay of ranks between Deputy Assistant Commissioner and Sub-Divisional Inspector was in August, 1936; and of Inspectors was in August, 1937.

asked the Home Secretary whether the inquiries by the criminal investigation department of the Metropolitan police force into allegations of bribery of City of London police by book-bakers, sharepushing firms, club proprietors, etc., which were instituted during last year, have now reached the stage where a Report can be made to this House as to any disciplinary action taken; and whether it is proposed to take criminal proceedings against those persons offering bribes, and/or against the acceptors of the bribes?

I am informed that, as a result of inquiries made by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis at the request of the Commissioner of Police for the City of London, disciplinary action has been taken against two detective inspectors of the City of London police force, both of whom were reduced to the rank of constable and have since left the force. Two other resignations have followed. The Director of Public Prosecutions was consulted, but advised that the evidence was insufficient to warrant any criminal proceedings in the matter.