asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average housing subsidy paid for houses completed in the years ended December, 1934, 1935, 1936, and 1937, respectively?

The information desired by the hon. Member is not available for the calendar years, but the average subsidy paid for houses completed in the years ended 15th November, 1934, 1935, 1936 and 1937 was respectively £10 9s., £10 14s, £12 6s. and £11.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that there is no lack of joiner labour and that there are large supplies of timber of building sizes in Scotland available for the erection of timber houses in the event of a decision to erect same; and whether he will agree to meet representatives of the employers' and employés' organisations before agreeing to approve of the importation from Sweden of houses in a pre-fabricated condition?

With regard to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for East Fife (Mr. Henderson Stewart) on 17th February. With regard to the second part of the question, the importation from Sweden of prefabricated timber houses is, as the hon. Member will recollect, not subject to my approval. If it is desired to secure any alteration of the existing protection enjoyed by British manufacturers, the proper course is to bring the matter to the notice of the Import Duties Advisory Committee.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that employers are very anxious to meet and discuss with him the provision of this type of house in the interests of housing in Scotland?

I think that my Department has already met them, but it is important in a matter of this kind that specifications and plans should be laid before those who are dealing with housing matters in the local authorities.

Seeing that my constituency, particularly Clydebank, is the most overcrowded part of the British Isles, will the right hon. Gentleman recommend this type of house which can be rushed up in three weeks?

I would recommend any type of house which can be properly inhabited in view of the frightful overcrowded conditions which exist in the hon. Member's constituency.

Will the right hon. Gentleman remember that these timber houses can now be built in the space of not more than 11 days?

Surely it is desirable to bring that to the notice of local authorities.

I hope the right hon. Gentleman will not take too much notice of these arch-protectionists because Lancashire wants to export her cotton goods to Sweden.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the communication addressed to him from the Bathgate Town Council regarding the high costs of house building; and whether he will indicate what action he is taking in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 24th February to a similar question by the hon. Member for Dumbartonshire (Mr. Cassells).

Does not the fact that the Bathgate Town Council's refusal to proceed with a scheme six weeks ago has had the effect of bringing down the costs on the second lot to the extent of £55 per house give the right hon. Gentleman a hint that if he took action he could bring down costs?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is yet in a position to state what action, if any, he proposes to abolish the birching of children and young persons in Scotland?

The report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Corporal Punishment has just been received, and until the Government has had an opportunity of considering it I regret that I am unable to make any statement on the matter referred to in the question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the protests continually coming to Members of Parliament because of the application of sentences of this kind on young children?

It is very desirable to consider the report of the Committee which went exhaustively into this matter.

Can we have an assurance that there will be no undue delay in coming to a decision?

I think I can give the hon. Member that assurance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the increasing financial difficulties and debts of Scottish infirmaries and hospitals, showing that the system of voluntary contributions is no longer sufficient to meet the growing pressure of work in those institutions; and whether he is contemplating action on the lines of the report of the Committee on Health Services, published in 1936, with an increased measure of State aid?

In reply to the first part of the question, I am aware that some of the voluntary hospitals have financial difficulties, but there is, I believe, no evidence that the voluntary system as a whole is unable to meet its commitments. As to the second part of the question, the many important and difficult problems involved are being carefully examined, but I am not in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the request for financial assistance for the hospital in Buckhaven, Fife; and whether, in view of the difficulty of adequately maintaining this hospital, he will take steps to assist in its maintenance?

No request for financial assistance from the Buckhaven Hospital has yet reached me. There is, however, I fear, no provision under which I could give assistance towards its maintenance.

In view of the fact that subscriptions are made by the workers in order to keep the hospital going, if a request comes will not the right hon. Gentleman consider whether there are some ways and means of providing assistance to the hospital, or of recommending the local authority to take it over, with the promise of some State assistance?

I cannot give any undertaking as far as legislation is concerned. I do not know of any provision under which I could give assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many organisers are employed for the purpose of advising smallholders in Scotland regarding methods of cultivation, marketing, etc.; and how many visits on the average are made to each holder by the organisers annually?

Thirty-four organisers and 49 instructors on the staff of the agricultural colleges, and five organisers employed by the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society, are at present available to advise smallholders in Scotland. In addition, holders on the schemes of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland are advised by the Department's 32 land officers. I regret that the records kept do not enable me to say how many visits annually are made to each holder, but every effort is made to meet any application for information or advice.

With regard to the organisers employed by the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society, for whom the Government are largely responsible, does the right hon. Gentleman think there are sufficient of these organisers to enable a proper service to be given?

I should not like to say offhand, but we do our best to meet all applications for advice.

Must there always be an application from the smallholder before an organiser visits the area?

No, Sir. We do our best to meet any application.

Is the right hon. Gentleman calling the special attention of organisers to the serious position of the poultry industry in Scotland, and will he see that no more smallholders are encouraged to go in for poultry fanning until some attention has been given by the Government to the industry?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to keep the islands of the Outer Hebrides populated; and, if so, what policy and programme he has for this purpose; and what immediate plans he has in view to alleviate distress and the prolonged unemployment?

I am afraid it is impossible to deal with a subject of such wide scope by means of question and answer in the House. As the hon. Member is aware, however, the special circumstances of the Highlands and Islands have been, and are, constantly kept in view by the Departments under my charge.

In view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman and his Government have been in office since 1931 and that no policy has been produced, and that the tendency is towards the depopulation of these areas, can he not give us some indication of his policy, some simple statement of policy, and whether he has any plans at all on the matter?

That is impossible within the limits of question and answer. The matter can be discussed on the Estimates.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman indicate whether the policy which he is following now is taken with a view of keeping the population in these islands?

Certainly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the water supply in the district of Garrabost, Isle of Lewis, is contaminated through lack of proper drainage; whether the Stornoway Trust, as proprietor, is responsible for communal drainage; and what assistance can he offer in having the work carried out in the interest of public health?

The Department of Health for Scotland have asked for a report from the county council on the matters referred to in the question and as soon as this is received I shall communicate with the hon. Member.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure us that he will take the same steps as he promised in every other case of water contamination brought to his notice, of which there are many?

That is a different question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that several districts in the Western Isles have inadequate and contaminated water supplies; whether his promised review of this matter is yet completed; whether he will treat it as a matter of great urgency; and what practical steps he is at present taking to provide for safe and convenient supplies?

I am aware that the water supplies at a number of places in the Western Isles are not satisfactory. I understand that the County Council of Inverness expect shortly to have before them the results of the engineering survey into the water supplies and resources in North Uist to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member on 30th November, 1937. As regards the last part of the question, it is for the local authorities concerned to consider the provision of proper water supplies in their area.

In view of the fact that in many areas local authorities have not taken any steps for many long years, during which there are these glaring instances, will the right hon. Gentleman bring some pressure to bear on these local authorities whose attitude is one of utter irresponsibility?

I think their responsibility in the first instance, as is ours, is to the electors.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his reply is quite inadequate as this is a matter of public health? Will he not give some more definite reply as to what action he intends to take in the interests of the health of the population?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses in Scotland will be affected by the proposal of the Government to adopt the recommendation of the Inter-Departmental Committee to decontrol houses rented at £35 a year and over; and what action the Government propose to take to prevent the rents of these houses being increased following decontrol?

The estimated number of houses in Scotland with a yearly value exceeding £35 but not exceeding £45, and at present subject to rent control, is about 50,000. The Ridley Committee found that there was no longer any serious shortage, even in Scotland, of houses of this class. No general action of the kind suggested by the hon. Member is, therefore, proposed.

In the event of the property owners raising the rents of those houses, what action do the Government propose to take to protect the tenants?

That is a hypothetical question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pre-war houses in Scotland have had rents increased under the Rent Restrictions Acts since 1921; what is the estimated total amount of the increased rent per annum paid by the tenants; and is he aware that numerous organisations and local authorities are requesting a reduction in the postwar rents of pre-war houses because of the reductions in wages which have taken place since the property owners were permitted to raise rents by 47½ per cent. over the pre-war standard?

The estimated number of pre-war houses in Scotland to which the Rent Restrictions Acts originally applied is 986,000. No information as to the total amount of rent paid by the tenants in excess of the 1914 rent is available. I have not myself received any representations to the effect suggested in the last part of the question.

Am I to understand from the Secretary of State that he has not received representations from various organisations with a view to securing a reduction in the rents of this type of house?

No, Sir. I think representations were made to the Ridley Committee, but I have not received any.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that the supply of houses in Scotland is such as to justify decontrol?

That is a question which the House will debate to-morrow afternoon.

Surely I am entitled to have from the Minister a reply to my question?

I agree with the Ridley Committee that as there is no serious shortage, even in Scotland, of houses in that class, it is reasonable that they should be decontrolled.

Surely the Minister will give a more adequate answer, because although there is to be a Debate to-morrow—[Interruption.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of subjects registered as decontrolled in Scotland under the Rent Restrictions and Mortgage Interest (Amendment) Act, 1933, Section 2?

Information as to the number of houses registered as decontrolled by local authorities in Scotland is not available. The Ridley Committee estimated that 140,000 pre-war houses in Scotland with a yearly value of £26 5s. or less have become decontrolled.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many dwelling-houses in Scotland do not have a rateable value of £35 sterling?

It is estimated that the total number of houses in Scotland with a yearly value of £35 or less is about 994,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the fact that any system of decontrol of dwelling-houses in Scotland would favour landlords, with serious consequences to the tenants affected, he is prepared to extend the scope of the present Rent Act to all houses in Scotland let at a rental up to and including £35 per annum, exclusive of rates?

Under the Government's proposals all houses in Scotland with a yearly value of £35 or less, and at present subject to rent control, will remain controlled and will not be subject to decontrol when the proprietor obtains vacant possession. It is not proposed to extend the area of control to houses not at present controlled.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that, now that more economic prices are being obtained for public utility and industrial fuels, it is necessary that the price of household coal to the public should be reduced; and what steps his Department are now taking to ensure that such reductions will come into being to an effective extent at an early date?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given by the Prime Minister to a question asked by the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Grenfell) on 17th February, in which he stated that the question of safeguarding the interests of the consumer was receiving his attention.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has received information regarding the increase in coal prices in Glasgow and the West of Scotland; and whether he will give the comparative prices paid by industrial and domestic users for the years 1935 and 1936, and the latest available date?

The net proceeds per ton for all coal produced in Scotland and disposed of commercially was 12s. 3d. in 1935, 13s. 8½d. in 1936 and 15s. 7¾d. in 1937. The information asked for in the second part of the question is not available in my Department.

Will not the hon. and gallant Gentleman make further inquiries into this matter, because the figures which I have show that the ascertained price at the pithead is 13s. 1¼d., whereas in the West of Scotland we are paying £2 6s. 8d. a ton for the same coal?

The Minister has said that he cannot give the information.

On a point of Order. The question which I asked has not been-answered.

The Minister has said that he has no particulars on this subject.

Surely it is his duty to get them. That is why we pay him £2,000 a year.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether the Government intend to introduce legislation to restore the ½d. per ton levy for the Miners' Welfare Fund; and, if so, is it intended to use such restored levy for pensions for aged miners?

The matter is being considered in connection with the pit-head bath programme.

asked the Secretary for Mines what are the arrangements for giving facilities for the carrying out of Section 76 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, and Statutory Rules and Orders 106 (a) (b), 107, 108, 109 (a), 110, 111, and 112 at Adventure Colliery, in the County of Durham?

Sanitary conveniences required in accordance with the General Regulations made under Section 76 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, are not at present provided at this colliery, but appropriate action is being taken.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has considered the representations made to him as to the value of the Voortman shot-firing appliance which is inserted in the drilled hole before stemming; and will he make a statement?

This is one of a variety of methods by which it is sought to improve the safety and efficiency of

asked the Secretary for Mines (1) the number of persons who were engaged in the South Wales and Monmouthshire coalfields for each year from 1927 to date;

As these questions involve a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, answer them together by circulating a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken or are contemplated, to carry out the recommendations contained in the report by the Council for Art and Industry on design and the designer in industry?

Most of the recommendations contained in the report to which the hon. Member refers are directed to industrialists and do not call for specific action by the Government. The remaining recommendations relate to education and are primarily for the consideration of the local education authorities and governing bodies responsible for schools of art. I understand that my Noble Friend the President of the Board of Education will be glad to encourage any developments on the lines of these recommendations.

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman inform the House what steps the Department are taking with a view to getting industrialists to act on the lines indicated?

Cannot the right hon. and gallant Gentleman secure greater publicity for these proposals among industrialists through the chambers of trade and the chambers of commerce?

The report was published in January, 1937, and received a considerable measure of publicity. If any hon. Member has any practical suggestion to make as to what we can do in this direction, I shall be glad to have it; but the matter does not seem to be one for any specific action by the Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will assure the House that, before the suggested reduction in duty is effected on the Colonial and American types of canned fruits, due regard will be given to the security of market required by the English canned fruits, in order that the English fruit-canning industry may not be prejudicially affected thereby?

I can assure my hon. Friend that due regard will be given to the representations received from the English canned fruits industry in any discussions that may affect it.

Will the Minister bear in mind the essential point that the home producer should receive a preference over the overseas producer, especially the home producer in the Vale of Evesham?

All relevant considerations will be borne in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the representations from the Joint Committee of Cotton Trades Organisations embodying draft proposals for an Enabling Bill; whether it is his intention to promote such a Bill; and, if so, when it can be expected?

My right hon. Friend informed the Joint Committee of Cotton Trade Organisations on 20th December that the Government hoped the Committee would continue their consultations with various sections of the industry on certain important questions of policy in order that, provided these questions were settled to the satisfaction of the Government, it might be possible to proceed with the drafting of a Bill. Representatives of the Committee recently discussed their proposals again with my right hon. Friend, and the Committee are now continuing their discussions with various interests on the questions of policy referred to in December. The question as to whether or when legislation will be introduced must depend largely upon the result of these discussions and I regret that in these circumstances, I cannot at present give any undertaking.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman make known to the President that there is a big volume of opinion in Lancashire which thinks that unless something is done speedily in this direction, there will be no trade left to reorganise?

I think the President is perfectly well aware of that, and he is equally well aware of the fact that the next move is with the Committee.

Is this another Bill to prevent people having a free choice as to which industry they shall enter?

I am afraid that is a hypothetical question; the Bill has not yet been printed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the price per stone of 8 lb. of the following classes of meat at Smithfield market on 21st February of this year and the corresponding Monday in 1935: Argentine chilled hindquarters, Argentine chilled fore-quarters, Uruguayan hind-quarters, Uruguayan fore-quarters, and Brazilian hind-quarters, respectively?

As the answer involves a table of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the negotiations with the director-general of the Italian Ministry for foreign trade and exchanges for an extension of facilities for obtaining credits for British exports to Italy?

The negotiations on trade matters which are proceeding with the Italian Government are concerned with the revision of the Clearing and Commercial Agreements of 6th November, 1936. These agreements have now to be revised because the outstanding trade debts have now been practically settled. I hope that the discussions will facilitate a mutual increase of trade, but they raise no question of the extension of credit facilities for United Kingdom exports to Italy.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, as a result of these transactions, take steps to secure that British exports to Italy will not exceed Italian exports into this country in such a way as to facilitate Italian campaigns and expeditions in Spain and Abyssinia?

I should be very happy indeed if, as a result of the negotiations, our exports to Italy even reached the figure of our imports from that country.

Will the right hon. Gentleman explain more fully his statement that—

Not at Question Time.

Then can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that neither directly nor indirectly in these negotiations are we extending credit to Italy?

I have already said that the question of credit does not arise at all in these negotiations.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can undertake that no decision to sign a trade agreement with the United States will be taken until it has been published in draft and discussed in Parliament?

No, Sir. It is, however, the practice of His Majesty's Government, in order to provide opportunity for Parliamentary consideration in ordinary cases, to lay treaty engagements for 21 Parliamentary days before ratification by His Majesty in all cases when the continuance of the Parliamentary Session makes this course practicable. When it does not, or when considerations of urgency require ratification without this preliminary, action would be taken accordingly and Parliament would be notified as soon as may be afterwards.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the overwhelming majority of industrial and agricultural opinion is gravely perturbed about these negotiations, and does he realise the grave anxiety that those concerned should have some opportunity of knowing to what they are committed before His Majesty's Government sign a document which, in honour, they will be compelled to proceed to ratification?

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the vast majority of people want a good understanding and desire the treaty to be made?

I do not think there is any foundation for the anxiety of industry and agriculture. In any case, I imagine there will be opportunities for discussion before ratification.

Is it not the case that every responsible industrial organisation in the country has made urgent representations to His Majesty's Government on this matter and up to now has received no satisfaction whatever?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of exports of machine-guns or machine-gun parts to Japan during the month of November, 1937?

I regret that in present circumstances it would be contrary to the public interest to publish such information respecting arms of a particular category for such a short period.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has now reached a decision regarding the relaxation of the regulations which require the vaccination of entrants to the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich?

Yes, Sir. Instructions will be issued that, except in the event of a small-pox epidemic, persons under 21 years of age are not, in future, to be required to be vaccinated or re-vaccinated before entering civilian employment at the Royal Arsenal or other War Department establishments in this country. Similarly, in the case of boys enlisting in the Army or entering Army schools, vaccination or re-vaccination will not be required on enlistment or entry.

While thanking the Minister most warmly for that excellent answer, may I put to him the question whether he is prepared to make any compassionate allowance to the bereaved family of the young fellow who lost his life in seeking to enter Woolwich?

That is another question.

I think the Minister was prepared to answer it, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the report of the Willingdon Committee will be published before his statement on the Army Estimates?

No, Sir.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this Committee was appointed as a result of a discussion in this House, and in order that light might be thrown on the subject; and will he also bear in mind that unless we have a report on this subject the discussions on the forthcoming Estimates will be largely vitiated in advance?

No, Sir, I do not think that that is the case. My right hon. predecessor announced in the summer that he was appointing a Departmental Committee to advise him, and that report has been received. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, any proposal affecting Army officers has reactions upon other Departments. We are expediting our investigations, and I shall in due course announce to the House our intentions in the matter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this Committee was appointed as the result of a debate in this House, and if he denies that, I may say that two of its members were appointed as a result of my own suggestion? In these circumstances, will he bear in mind that the last Committee dealing with the education of officers did issue a report, which has been of enormous assistance, and also to the discussions in the House; and will he reconsider his determination to preclude this House from having this information?

I do not wish to preclude the House from having information, and I wish to act in the interests of Army officers. I have said that the report has been received, but it has certain reactions upon other Departments, which must be consulted; and if and when its proposals are published, I would naturally, in the interests of the officers, like to announce our intentions in regard to the report at the same time.

Then will the right hon. Gentleman issue the report?

I will consider that.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider measures for bettering the conditions and prospects of the Army Educational Corps, especially of those ranker officers overseas; and whether he is aware that their prospects compare unfavourably with the ordinary elementary schoolmaster in civilian life?

The answer to the first part of the question is "Yes, Sir," though my hon. and gallant Friend will be aware of the special conditions of service and retirement in this Corps which make a solution difficult. I will, however, cause the matter to be again examined. As regards the second part

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give particulars of the steps that are taken to encourage of the question, the highest pay of an elementary school headmaster is about £600 a year, applicable to a few of the highest grade schools. Officers of the Army Educational Corps after 10 years' commissioned service, receive time promotion to captain, with emoluments rising to about £660 per annum (married), or £550 per annum (single).

asked the Secretary of State for War what British troops are stationed in China at the present time and how these forces compare with those maintained at the same date the previous year?

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is it proposed to increase the force in Shanghai?

Does my right hon. Friend recollect the occasion in 1926 when this side was censured by the side opposite for increasing the garrison in Shanghai?

I understand that home and Empire products are indicated as such in the quarterly price lists of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes and form the great majority of the articles included in those lists. In addition, during the week in which Empire Day has occurred annual displays of home and Empire products have been given in the grocery shops of all institutes, the country of origin of the products being clearly shown in each case.

Is it found that soldiers prefer to buy goods of Empire origin?

Do they not prefer to have home-produced meat?

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that the products of the Vale of Evesham are put on sale?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now give the number of commissioned officers who have been promoted from the ranks during the past 10 years?

On 8th February the hon. Member asked me to state the approximate number of officers of the British Army who have risen from the ranks. The number is 2,090, which is about 17 per cent. of the total strength of officers in the British Army. The hon. Member now asks for the number promoted from the ranks during the last 10 years. It is 981.

Do not these figures indicate that the possibility of a ranker rising to be an officer is really quite remote, and, in these circumstances, cannot the right hon. Gentleman take some steps to propose a fairer means of promoting rankers to the officer class?

The contrary is the case, for nearly 17 per cent. of the officers in the British Army have risen from the ranks.

Does not that mean that 83 per cent. have not risen from the ranks?