asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that Civil Service officials serving at the Admiralty who may request to have interviews with the Secretary are frequently subjected to pressure by the heads of their Departments to withdraw such requests; and whether he will notify heads of Departments that such pressure should not be exercised, and that access to the Secretary is the right of all officials?

So far as I am aware, there is no foundation for the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion, but I should be glad to investigate any instances of the action alleged if he will send me particulars. The procedure for redress of grievances is laid down in Admiralty Office Instructions, and there is not, as the hon. and gallant Member supposes, any recognised right of personal access to the Secretary by every member of the civil staff. But I am satisfied that if there were reasonable grounds for an interview with the Secretary, he would not refuse to accede to a request to see him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the early ages at which men in different Departments of State are pensioned, he will investigate the whole issue with a view to seeing whether a later retiring age is advisable?

The general position is that the head of a Department may call upon an officer serving in his Department to retire at any time after reaching the age of 60; retirement is compulsory on reaching the age of 65. The Royal Commission on the Civil Service (1929–31) reviewed this arrangement and in paragraph 684 of their report they stated that they did not "recommend any change in the present position whereby discretion is left to heads of Departments to call upon officers to retire at any time between their 60th and 65th birthdays." I see no need for the further investigation suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will furnish a return giving a list of all the Additional Import Duties Orders, with their titles, which required affirmative resolutions, together with information as to the date on which, and the time at which, such resolutions were submitted to the House?

I am sending to the right hon. Member a statement containing the information for which he asks, and I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of accidents on and at level crossings during the year 1937?

Provisional figures for 1937 show that there were 156 accidents at public road level crossings in which trains were involved. There were casualties in 24 of these cases, nine persons being killed and 16 injured. The number of accidents at level crossings during 1937 involving road vehicles only is not known, but in the year ended 31st March, 1937, there were 26 such accidents involving personal injury.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of road accidents in the City and County of Leicester, respectively, for the years 1936 and 1937?

The numbers of road accidents involving personal injury in the City and County of Leicester respectively, during the years 1936 and 1937 were:

—	Fatal Accidents.	Non-fatal Accidents.
City of Leicester:
1936	21	1,339
1937	31	1,393
Leicestershire:
1936	46	965
1937	58	949

asked the Home Secretary what is the cost in England and Wales, separately, for the years 1926, 1930, 1936, and 1937, for the erection of police courts and county courts; whether they are grant earning and, if so, to what extent; and what was the amount of the outstanding loans on police buildings in 1937?

By "police courts and county courts," I presume the hon. Member is referring to the Petty Sessional Courts and Courts of Quarter Sessions. Apart from the special position of the Metropolitan Police Courts, no Exchequer contribution is payable in aid of the erection and maintenance of such buildings and I have no information as to the expenditure incurred by local authorities under this head. As regards police buildings, I regret that the available information does not enable me to state the amount of the outstanding loans.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can state the number of persons who have come from Eire to Great Britain and the number who have remained and obtained employment?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which I gave to my right hon. Friend, the Member for South Molton (Mr. Lambert) on 3rd December last and to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) on the 8th February.

asked the Home Secretary what has been the total capital expenditure by the Betting Control Board to the latest date for which figures are available; the amount written off for depreciation; the amount of debt outstanding; and the estimated assets?

The Board's cccounts for 1937 have not yet been audited, and I am therefore unable at present to give figures covering the Board's operations during 1937. At the 31st December, 1936, the position was as follows:—Total capital expenditure of the Board (including development expenditure) amounted to £2,547,807 4s. 3d. No specific provision had been made for depreciation, but sums amounting to £483,971 0s. 8d. had been provided out of revenue in reduction of the book value of the Board's assets, and in addition a reserve of £52,000 had been created for renewals and contingencies. The amount owing in respect of borrowed money was £1,761,351 17s. 10d. (of which £1,204,076 14s. 3d. represented registered stock issued by the Board and the interest accrued thereon); and in addition there were outstanding commitments to creditors and in respect of accrued charges and grants amounting to £170,152 8s. 10d. Full particulars of the Board's assets are given in the balance sheet published as Appendix I of the Board's Annual Report and Accounts for 1936.

asked the Home Secretary the number of sandbags for which orders have been placed by his Department during the past six months?

During the last six months orders have been placed for the supply of 28 million sandbags to the Air-Raid Precautions Department of the Home Office.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will give the total production of coal in this country for 1937, the average pithead price per ton, and the total amount exported?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply I gave on 4th February to my hon. Friend the Member for North Leeds (Mr. Peake).

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the total coal exports from Germany for each year 1932 to 1937; and the average price per ton each year received?

The information is as follows:

Year.			Coal exported as cargo from Germany.
			Quantity.*	Average export value per Statute Ton.†
			1,000 Statute Tons.	R.M.
1932‡	…	…	22,677	13.10
1933	…	…	22,602	11.48
1934	…	…	26,345	9.95
1935	…	…	26,749	9.58
1936	…	…	27,868	9.48
1937	…	…	37,636	11.23
* As from 18th February, 1935, the Saar has been included in the German Customs Union. For the purposes of comparison exports from the Saar to countries other than Germany are included and exports to the Saar from Germany are excluded. Exports from the Saar included above amounted to 4,860 thousand tons in 1932; 4,730 thousand tons in 1933 and 5,032 thousand tons in 1934.
† Prior to 18th February, 1935, the values shown relate to German coal exports only; particulars for the Saar are not available.
‡ Including Reparations.

asked the Home Secretary in respect of how many Metropolitan Police Section Houses the accommodation is reported to be unhealthy and unsatisfactory; and what steps are being taken to remedy these conditions?

The accommodation is not unhealthy in any of the Metropolitan Police Section Houses but in the majority of them it is not up to modern standards. For this reason a rebuilding scheme is now in progress and, as part of this scheme, it is intended to remedy the unsatisfactory conditions by erecting new buildings or, where practicable, reconstructing the existing ones. One of the new type, accommodating 101 men, has recently been completed and taken into use at Putney. Five others (two new and three reconstructed), providing accommodation for a total of 649 men, will be completed during the year. Plans for the remainder of the programme are in various stages of preparation and development. Pending completion of the work measures of a temporary nature have been taken to improve the conditions in the existing Section Houses.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the difficulty experienced by British exporters of certain engineering appliances and materials in obtaining licences for importation into Greece; and what representations on the subject to the Greek Government have been made or are in contemplation?

I am aware of the difficulties affecting all branches of the United Kingdom export trade with Greece, which arise from measures taken by the Greek Government to protect their currency. His Majesty's Government have made representations on several occasions with a view to securing amelioration of these restrictions and I fear that no useful purpose would be served by repeating them at the present moment. The position is kept under constant review, and no opportunity will be neglected of taking appropriate action in the interests of the United Kingdom export trade in engineering appliances as well as other commodities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the volume and value of industrial production in the United Kingdom for the year ended 31st December last, with a comparison between 1924 representing 100 (including mines and quarries); and the figures for manufacturing industries only?

Particulars of industrial production in the United Kingdom in 1937 were published in the Board of Trade Journal of 17th February. The index numbers relate to volume, not value, and the base period is the year 1930. Calculations are not now made on the 1924 base but, as compared with that year, the increase in production (including mines and quarries) in 1937, may be estimated at between 40 and 45 per cent., while for manufacturing industries only the increase probably exceeded 50 per cent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give the import and export figures for 1937 between this country and Canada, Australia and New Zealand, respectively?

The desired information is given on pages 186 and 187 of the latest issue of the "Accounts Relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom."

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total amount spent or allocated for housing subsidies or contributions in Scotland since 1918 by the State and local authorities, respectively; and how many dwellings do these payments represent?

It is estimated that the total cost to the Exchequer, and to local authorities in respect of the provision of new houses for the working classes in Scotland from 1918, up to the 15th May, 1938, will be £26,500,000 and £9,000,000 respectively. The total number of dwellings to which these payments relate cannot be stated, but up to the end of December, 1937, 225,418 dwellings had been completed, with Exchequer assistance, by local authorities and private enterprise under the various Housing Acts. These figures are exclusive of 25,380 dwellings reconditioned under the Housing (Rural Workers) Acts during the period in question at a cost to the Exchequer and to local authorities of approximately £275,000 from each source.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether school children in the Highlands receive milk on the same conditions as school children in Greenock or Glasgow; and whether he has any statement to make on the subject?

The Highland Counties, with the exception of the Western Isles and a part of Argyll, are within the areas of the Scottish Milk Marketing Board and the North of Scotland Milk Marketing Board. Throughout these areas the terms on which milk is provided for the milk-in-schools scheme are the same. In the rural areas, generally, however, difficulties have been experienced in getting the milk-in-schools schemes operating owing to the special problems of supplying milk to small schools in country districts, and there is accordingly a lower percentage of children receiving milk in schools in the Highland areas than in the towns referred to.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the increase in unemployment in the county of Carmarthen; and, in view of the fact that 25 per cent. of the insured population in the county is unemployed, what steps he is taking to deal with the position?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers which I gave to him and to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Hopkin) on 2nd December last and on 17th February respectively. I should add that I am authorised by the Secretary of State for War to state that it has been decided to erect a munitions factory in this district.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of representations which he has referred to the advisory committee in pursuance of Section 5 of the Special Areas (Amendment) Act, 1937; the names of the areas involved; and the recommendations of the advisory committee in each case?

Representations from 22 local authorities have been referred to the advisory committee appointed under Section 5 (2) of the Special Areas (Amendment) Act, 1937, as follow:

County Boroughs.
Birkenhead.	St. Helens.
Blackburn.	Wigan.
Municipal Boroughs.
Darwen.	Leigh.
Heywood.
Urban Districts.
Abram.	Ince-in-Maker-field.
Ashton-in-Maker-field.	Newton-in-Maker-field.
Aspull.
Blackrod.	Orrell.
Billinge and Win Stanley.	Stelmersdale.
Golborne.	Standish with Langtree.
Haydock.	Upholland.
Hindley.	Westhoughton.

The Committee has not yet made any recommendations.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of men and women employed in the aircraft industry in December, 1936, and December, 1937?

The aircraft industry is not separately distinguished in the statistics of employment and unemployment compiled by my Department. It is included in the group "construction and repair of motor vehicles, cycles and aircraft."

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether the committee, set up in 1930 to consider the recommendations of the Royal Commission on National Museums and Galleries that a national folk museum should be established in London and to advise on the practicability and cost of establishing such a museum, has made a final report; and, if so, with what result?

My Noble Friend understands that, in view of the financial situation then existing, the committee were of the opinion that no useful purpose would be served by proceeding with their reference, and no report was therefore submitted.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence the number of men and women employed at the munition works near Chorley; and if the construction of this factory and buildings will be completed in the time stipulated?

I have been asked to reply. The number of men employed at present on the construction of the Royal Ordnance Factory at Chorley is 6,350. No women are employed. The factory is being completed in groups: good progress is being made and it is hoped that the factory will be in production by the early months of 1939.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he can state the number of children who left school in the area of each of the local education authorities in South Wales, including Monmouthshire, at the end of the terms in July and December, 1937; how many of those children have since found employment; and how many are still unemployed?

My Noble Friend regrets that no information is available as to the number of children who left public elementary schools on the dates mentioned; but such particulars as are available of the number of children who left public elementary, secondary, and junior technical schools in 1937 are given in the following statement.The Board have no information as to the number of children who have found employment since leaving school, or how many are still unemployed; but included in the table are the numbers who left public elementary schools at the end of March, 1937, for employment or for home duties.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, in view of the fact that the herbarium at Kew Gardens contains over 1,000,000 specimens gathered over many years from all parts of the world, that these specimens have great scientific and educational value and are practically irreplaceable and uninsurable, he will have the herbarium fitted with sprinkler-apparatus against fire so that it and its contents may be protected against loss and damage?

I am aware of the great value and importance of the herbarium at Kew Gardens and its contents, and my hon. and learned Friend can be assured that the arrangements for safeguarding them from fire have received, and will continue to receive, my Department's most careful attention. I am advised that the existing arrangements are satisfactory. A sprinkler system has not been installed as, in the event of an outbreak, the water from it might easily do more damage to the contents, in this special case, than the fire itself.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to state if an area has yet been selected in Wales as the site of an experimental central slaughterhouse, as laid down in the Livestock Industry Act, 1937?

No, Sir. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for East Dorset (Mr. Hall-Caine) on 24th February, in which I explained the general position regarding proposals under Part V of the Livestock Industry Act.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the statement at Manchester of his chief town-planning inspector that some municipal housing estates were deficient in many ways and even badly sited, he can state whether his Department is consulted with regard to the lay-out of all such estates?

It is true that there have been defects of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers in some schemes but I am satisfied at present that the arrangements for consultation generally between my Department and local authorities on these matters are adequate and that full use is being made of them.

asked the Minister of Health how many dwellings built or allocated since 1918 and carrying State contributions or subsidies under any of the Housing Acts are on developed sites costing £1,500 to £4,000, £4,000 to £5,000, £5,000 to £6,000, £6,000 to £8,000, £8,000 to £10,000, £10,000 to £12,000, £12,000 to £14,000, and so on up to £28,000 to £30,000, and exceeding £30,000, respectively?

My departmental records enable me to give this information only in respect of flats approved by me from the 1st January, 1936, to date for the abatement of overcrowding under the Housing Acts. The figures for these are as under:

Cost per acre.	Number or flats approved.
£1,500 to £4,000	1,589
£4,001 to £5,000	Nil
£5,001 to £6,000	281
£6,001 to £8,000	200
£8,001 to £10,000	139
£10,001 to £16,000	Nil
£16,001 to £18,000	22
£26,001 to £28,000	4
£28,001 upwards	Nil
Cost not yet known	1,651

As regards flats for the rehousing of persons displaced by slum clearance, I have approved about 25,000 of which about 22,000 were on sites costing £3,000 an acre or more.