asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the importance of encouraging landlords to recondition, he will ask local authorities to supply him with information on this subject for the purpose of keeping his housing records up to date, and also enabling him to form some reliable judgment as to the extent to which effect is being given to the reconditioning clauses in the Housing Act of 1936?

Though I cannot give complete information over a period of years past, arrangements are now in operation whereby I receive from local authorities information as to the action which is being taken to recondition houses in their areas.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the rate liability of each urban district council in Monmouthshire incurred in connection with assisted housing schemes?

The following statement shows for each of the urban districts in Monmouthshire the equivalent rate in the £ of the contributions made from the general rate fund to the Housing Revenue Account in respect of the year 1936–37, the latest year for which particulars are available:

Name of Urban District.	Equivalent rate in £.
	d.
Abercarn	2.3
Abertillery	2.3
Bedwas and Machen	13.3
Bedwellty	11.0
Blaenavon	1.0
Caerleon	1.3
Chepstow	1.8
Cwmbran	6.7
Ebbw Vale	2.4
Mynyddislwyn (particulars not yet available).
Nantyglo and Blaina	2.6
Pontypool	4.8
Rhymney	1.5
Risca	6.0
Tredegar	2.8
Usk	1.0

Notes.—(i) The Housing Revenue Accounts set up under the provisions of the Housing Act, 1935, relate to all houses (with a few exceptions) provided by local authorities as housing authorities, and may include a relatively small number of houses provided without State Assistance.(ii) The expenditure represented by the rates in £ shown in the table fell to be met out of the general rate funds of the Councils consisting mainly of rates and of the block grants under the Local Government Act, 1929.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can give any approximate numbers of those black-coated workers who have already expressed a desire to come under the new pension scheme, and specially those who are over 40 years of age?

Approximately 268,000 persons have already applied for admission to the new voluntary pensions scheme, of whom approximately 227,000 are either over the age of 40 or will reach that age before the end of the initial year.

asked the Minister of Transport, when it is proposed to build a dual carriageway on the Gallows Corner, Chelmsford Road, Essex?

Land is being acquired for the provision of dual carriageways on the section between Margaretting and Widford, and for the construction of a by-pass road, with dual carriageways, at Ingatestone, and the works will be commenced as soon as possible. A scheme for the construction of a by-pass road at Brentwood, with dual carriageways, is in preparation. Other sections of the road between Gallows Corner and Chelmsford will be dealt with in due course.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the recent fall in the price of eggs and of the increasing difficulties that now face producers as a result of the rise in the price of feeding-stuffs; and whether he will shortly be in a position to make a statement on Government policy relative to the poultry industry?

I am aware of the position in the poultry industry, both in regard to the price of eggs and of poultry feeding-stuffs. In regard to the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on

				Numbers employed.				Estimated approximate numbers to be employed in 1938.
Dockyard.				Jan, 1936.		Jan, 1937
				Estd.	Hired.	Estd.	Hired.	Estd.	Hired.
Portsmouth	…	…	…	3,016	11,414	2,961	13,478	3,075	14,300
Devonport	…	…	…	2,433	9,698	2,311	11,174	2,475	12,400
Chatham	…	…	…	1,933	7,923	1,820	8,352	1,875	9,100
Sheerness	…	…	…	698	1,422	676	1,588	675	1;600

I would add with regard to the difference in the numbers of established workmen shown in the table that in consequence of arrangements made during the war an exceptionally high ratio of established numbers to hired numbers arose in the early post-war years. The general reduction which was then necessary to restore the position has now been arrested and the revised quotas of established posts which have been authorised in the past year or so are having the effect of increasing established numbers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exhequer, whether his attention has been 14th February last in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. T. Smith) to which I have nothing at present to add.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will expedite inquiries into the case of Mrs. M. Read, 30, Mark Street, Stratford, for pension, case No. 48,425,608?

I have been asked to reply. The inquiries in this case have been completed and an award notice has been sent to Mrs. Read which will enable her to obtain payment of pension and arrears at the Post Office which she has selected.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, the number of men, established and hired, respectively, employed in each of His Majesty's dockyards in 1936 and 1937, and the estimated numbers for 1938?

The numbers of workpeople are as follow:drawn to the statement contained in the Finance Accounts of 1936–37 that other securities are held for account of the sinking fund of the Irish 2f per cent. Guaranteed Land Stock of 1921; whether, before the sinking fund moneys were employed in acquiring other securities, steps had been taken either by bidding in the open market or by invitation to holders to tender their stock at or under par and accrued interest in order to ascertain what stock was available before other securities were acquired and, in view of the fact that one per cent. sinking fund, payable by the Irish farmers and guaranteed by the British Government and interest thereon at 2¾ per cent. would enable the stock to be redeemed at par and interest in 49 years from the date of issue, whether steps will be taken to invite such tenders and on the acceptance thereof to realise the other securities now temporarily held for account of the sinking fund in order to pay for such tenders of stock as are accepted; and whether, as further sums accrue to the sinking fund, tenders of stock at or under par and interest will be invited from holders before making any purchases of other securities?

The main provisions relating to the redemption of the 2¾ per cent. Guaranteed Land Stock created under the Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act, 1891, are contained in Section 1 (2) of that Act, and Section 25 of the Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1896, to which I would refer the hon. Member.The moneys available for Sinking Fund on this stock are dealt with in accordance with the Rules made by the Treasury under Section 27 of the Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act, 1891, which prescribe that the sums paid to the National Debt Commissioners on account of the Sinking Fund shall, together with any income arising from investment on account of the Fund, be applied by them for purchase or redemption of Guaranteed Land Stock and until so applied shall be invested by them in securities charged on or guaranteed by the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom.I have considered the method of applying the Sinking Fund moneys suggested by the hon. Member, but I do not think that it would be desirable to adopt it.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is in a position to state the main reasons which have lead to an increase in the police rate levied on the Metropolitan boroughs in the current year?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. Thorne) on 17th March, 1938.