asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if it is intended to allow representatives of the Royal Air Force to visit Germany during the present year, and for what purpose?

No arrangements have so far been made for representatives of the Royal Air Force to visit Germany during the present year.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air from what points in Great Britain are upper-air observations taken to assist in the analysis and forecasting of weather?

Sounding balloons with instruments are sent up in accordance with the programme of the International Aerological Commission from either Kew or Sealand. Regular aeroplane ascents are made for meteorological observations once or twice daily (Sunday excepted) from Mildenhall in Suffolk and Aldergrove in County Antrim, Ulster, and occasional flights are undertaken from the following stations:

South Farnborough.	Old Sarum.
Boscombe Down.	Mount Batten.
Driffield.	Bicester.

In addition, pilot balloon ascents for determining the direction and velocity of the upper winds are made at 35 meteorological stations in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the names of which are:

Abbotsinch.	Finningley.
Aberdeen.	Hemswell.
Abingdon.	Holyhead.
Aldergrove.	Hucknall.
Biggin Hill.	Hythe.
Bircham Newton.	Lee-on-the-Solent.
Boscombe Down.	Leuchars.
Bristol.	Lympne.
Calshot.	Manchester.
Catterick.	Manston.
Cranwell.	Mildenhall.
Croydon.	Mount Batten.
Dishforth.	Pembroke Dock.
Driffield.	Sealand.
Eskdalemuir.	Shoeburyness.
South Farnborough.	Thornaby.
	Upper Heyford.
Felixstowe.	Upwood.

asked the Prime Minister whether before starting the conversations with Italy, the British Government is in possession of reliable information as to the numbers of foreign troops in Spain either on one side or the other?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave on 28th February to my hon. Friend the Member for Middleton and Prestwich (Sir N. Stewart Sandeman).

asked the Prime Minister what reports have been received from His Majesty's Consular Agents in Spanish territory controlled by General Franco concerning recent arrivals of war material from Italy and Germany?

No recent reports of this nature have been received.

asked the Prime Minister whether the formula for the withdrawal of the foreigners from Spain, as accepted by the Italian and German Governments, provides for the proportionate withdrawal of members of the various grades of all the technical services in the land, sea and air forces, and of the armaments of which such technicians have charge?

I have nothing to add to the reply given by the late Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on 14th February to similar questions put by the hon. Member for Derby (Mr. Noel-Baker).

asked the Prime Minister whether, in considering the grant of belligerent rights to Spanish insurgents, there will be a thorough investigation as to whether they have observed the laws and usages of war, not only in regard to maritime warfare, but in regard to attacks on non-combatants and on the Red Cross by their air force, and also in regard to their lack of observance of the conditions under which Santona was surrendered by the Basque army, with a view to withholding belligerent rights from them if they are found not to have observed the laws and usages of war?

No, Sir. The conditions on which belligerent rights are to be granted to both sides in Spain are substantially those detailed in the British plan of 14th July, 1937.

asked the Prime Minister why he will not inform the House what questions Lord Perth, our Ambassador in Rome, has been instructed to discuss with Count Ciano, the Italian Foreign Secretary?

I have already stated that we hope that all questions which might form the subject of possible disagreement between the Italian Government and ourselves will be discussed during the forthcoming conversations, but I do not think it desirable at this stage to publish a list of such subjects.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in connection with the policy of direct conversations, it is proposed to make any changes in the British diplomatic staffs in the countries mainly concerned?

No, Sir.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the declaration of the Assembly of the League of Nations on 11th March, 1932, to the effect that it is incumbent upon the members of the League of Nations not to recognise any situation, treaty, or agreement which may be brought about by means contrary to the Covenant of the League of Nations or to the Pact of Paris; and whether His Majesty's Government still accept this statement of their international obligations?

The hon. Member will recall that he asked a similar question on 16th December, 1936, referring on that occasion to a declaration by the Committee of 12 members of the Council on the 16th February, 1932. The declaration of the Assembly of 11th March, 1932, was of a similar character. As was stated by the then Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on 16th December, 1936, His Majesty's Government adhere to the principle enunciated in these declarations, which were made in connection with the particular case of the Sino-Japanese dispute. But the Secretary of State went on to indicate that in its application to any case His Majesty's Government must be entitled to take account of the facts of the situation and of the necessity of adequately protecting British interests. Any such action on their part would not imply approval of the methods by which the situation was brought about. These views still correctly represent the attitude of His Majesty's Government on this subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many directors are on the board of the Suez Canal Company; how many are British, how many are French, how many are Dutch; and what amount of money is invested by the British Government in the Suez Canal Company?

There at 32 directorships on the Board of the Suez Canal Company, of which 19 are French, 10 British, two Egyptian and one Dutch. One of the French and one of the Egyptian directorships are at present vacant. His Majesty's Government hold 353,504 shares, of which the market value is about £55,000,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has now considered what it is practicable to do by way of special measures to give taxation relief in respect of expenditure by employers on air-raid shelters; and can he make a statement?

The admissibility or non-admissibility for Income Tax purposes of expenditure by employers on air-raid shelters and other Air-Raid Precautions measures is governed by the relevant provisions of the Income Tax Acts. The extent to which particular items of expenditure on Air-Raid Precautions may be allowable deductions in the computation of business profits is at present under consideration by the Board of Inland Revenue, and I hope that a statement of the position can be made shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the extended periods for A and B licences allowed for in the new regulations will be made retrospective in their application to existing licences?

No, Sir, I have no power to apply the regulations to existing licences.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered the census recently taken by the Automobile Association of traffic in Oxford Street and in Piccadilly for the times between 9 and 10 a.m., 1 and 2 p.m., 3 and 4 p.m., and 6 and 7 p.m., which showed that out of 2,226 motor cars which passed in Oxford Street 1,157 were taximeter cabs, of which most were disengaged, whilst in Piccadilly the number was 5,049 vehicles, of which 3,172 were taximeter cabs, of which 2,365 were disengaged; and whether he can take any steps to deal with such unnecessary road occupation?

The results of the census to which my hon. Friend refers have not been furnished to me. Regulations prohibiting taxi-cabs from loitering are already in force in Oxford Street and in Piccadilly, east of Stratton Street.

asked the Minister of Transport when the work of connecting the Island of Benbecula with South Uist is likely to begin?

I hope that this work will be commenced by September next.

Rural District of			Number of Parishes.	Number of Parishes in which mains were laid at—
				31st March, 1935.	31st March, 1936.	31st March, 1937.	1st March, 1938.
Caister	…	…	39	2	5	8	11
Grimsby	…	…	21	12	13	13	13
Louth	…	…	79	3	9	16	25
			139	17	27	37	49

Of the 90 parishes in which no mains have been laid 77 have a population of less than 250.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take steps to secure through the International Labour Office, or otherwise, a report on the new code of labour and social legislation introduced during the past year in French North Africa?

I have not been able to trace the existence of such a report.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in connection with the proposed postponement for two years of

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make representations urging the provision of shelters where they are required for people who intend to travel by omnibus in the area covered by the City of Stoke-on-Trent, Longton, and Fenton?

I gladly take the opportunity afforded by the hon. Member's question of expressing my appreciation of the public-spirited action of all those who provide shelter for intending passengers, but I have no further powers.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give the number of parishes supplied by electrical undertakings in Caister, Louth, and Grimsby Rural District Council areas for 1935, 1936, and 1937, respectively, and those which were not provided with electrical supply?

The following is the information:the new valuation lists under the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925, he will provide that all rateable hereditaments of every description throughout the country (excluding London) should fall within the scope of the postponement for revaluation; that the effective date of valuation lists throughout the country (excluding London) should uniformly commence at the 1st of April, 1941, and subsequently at five-yearly periods therefrom; and that, during the period of postponement, no rateable values for existing hereditaments should be increased except in respect of substantial structural improvements, provided that rating authorities should not be debarred from making an assessment on any new or unrated hereditaments nor ratepayers from seeking a reduction of any existing rateable value where the hereditament is deemed to be over-assessed?

I will give careful consideration to these suggestions, but I cannot anticipate the provisions of the Bill to be introduced.

asked the Minister of Health how many inoculated persons developed typhoid in the recent Croydon epidemic; and whether these persons were inoculated with anti-typhoid vaccine or anti-typhoid serum?

I am making inquiries from the local authority and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether water from the Addington well still forms part of Croydon's water supply; whether this water is chlorinated; and, if so, why is chlorination necessary?

The water from this well has not yet been brought back into supply.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Instruments of Accession, when finally agreed upon, will be communicated to the Ministers of the various Provincial Governments in India and laid upon the Table of this House?

As required by the Act, the Instruments of Accession, when accepted by His Majesty, will be laid before this House. They will of course deal only with the powers of the Federation in the States and their contents cannot affect the powers or jurisdiction of the Provincial Governments or Legislatures.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what percentages of those who sit satisfy the examiners in the school certificate, matriculation standard or its equivalent, and graduate examinations, respectively?

70.9 per cent. of the candidates who entered for the school certificate examination in 1937 satisfied the examiners. Information as regards the other examinations is not available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (1) which of the local education authorities in Wales and Monmouthshire are providing feeding, other than cooked meals, for pupils in elementary, secondary, technical, and other schools; the terms upon which the food is supplied; and the income test, if any, now in operation;(2) which of the local education authorities in Wales and Monmouthshire are at present supplying cooked meals to pupils in elementary, secondary, technical, and other schools; the terms upon which the meals are supplied; and the income test, if any, now in operation?

The following table shows in which areas the local education authorities make some provision for free milk, free solid meals and solid meals on payment in public elementary schools, and for solid meals, free or on payment, in secondary schools. In a number of areas school dinners in secondary schools are provided by the local governing bodies, but these are not shown in the table. No information is available as to the provision by local education authorities of free milk in secondary schools. In addition to the provision of free meals in secondary schools maintenance allowances are sometimes given which are intended to meet the whole or part of the cost of school dinners. Provision for the supply of milk on payment is made in all areas though not in all the schools. The income scales in force for the provision of free milk or solid meals cannot be conveniently set out in a tabular form. So far as the Board are aware provision for milk and for solid meals, free or on payment, is made in all special and nursery schools. The Board have no information as to the provision in technical schools.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will state the number of days holiday with pay granted per annum to the different grades employed in Kingsway?

The maximum number of days holiday with pay which may be granted to civilian members of the staff of the Air Ministry headquarters, in addition to public holidays, varies between six, in the case of women cleaners, and 48 days a year in the case of senior staff. Holidays are allowed only if the exigencies of the Service permit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give the total value of exported coffee from Tanganyika during the 12 months ended at the last convenient date; and whether he has any figures showing the amount of native-grown coffee that was exported during the same period?

The total value of all coffee exported from Tanganyika in 1937 was approximately £430,000, as compared with £343,000 in 1936. Figures distinguishing native exports are not yet available for 1937: but in 1935 and in 1936 approximately 70 per cent. by weight of the coffee exported was native grown.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the approximate cost of the conversion of five river gunboats from the China station from oil to coal owing to a shortage of oil supplies; and whether arrangements are under consideration to facilitate similar conversions should need arise?

The cost of the alterations in the five gunboats referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend was approximately £400. I should add, however, that these vessels were originally designed to burn coal as well as oil, so that the change was merely a reversion to the original arrangement, involving very little work. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any index is compiled for the Orders-in-Council issued in response to memorials from the Board of Admiralty; and, if so, will he cause a copy to be supplied to the Library of the House?

There are 14 volumes of Admiralty Orders-in-Council, each with an index, covering the period 1663 to 1932. I shall be pleased to arrange for the Library of the House to receive copies of these volumes, and of the further volume covering the years 1933 to 1937, which is shortly to be printed.