asked the Home Secretary what was the amount of increase in wages given to the officers of the Metropolitan Police Force; and whether in view of this advance, any regard is being given to the constables?

The following table shows the increases of pay of the officers of the Metropolitan Police Force.to approximately £634. The corresponding figures for the chlorinating plant alone are £85 and £5 16s. 7d. including the cost of chlorine.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any information indicating the probable effect of the construction of air-raid shelters upon valuations of private property for rating purposes; whether the Central Valuation Committee or any county valuation committee has made any recommendation with regard to the valuation of shelters: and whether in view of the deterrent effect upon the construction of shelters of any additional valuation of property in respect of shelters, he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to secure that approved shelters shall be ignored for purposes of valuation?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The Central Valuation Committee have not made any recommendation in the matter, nor am I aware that any county Valuation Committee has done so. With regard to the last part of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 7th December last to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Hertford (Sir M. Salter).

asked the Home Secretary whether any provision is to be made for compensating or pensioning air-raid assistants or their dependants in the event of such assistants being injured or killed in the course of their duties during war-time?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave on 29th July last to my hon. Friend the Member for Duddeston (Mr. Simmonds).

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when he proposes to set up a licensing authority as recommended by the Maybury Committee?

The drafting of the Order in Council required for this purpose and prescribed by Section 5 (3) of the Air Navigation Act, 1936, is now nearing completion and it will be laid before Parliament as soon as practicable.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will consider the advisability of allowing station commanders the option of allowing school children to attend displays given by the Royal Air Force on Empire Air Day free of charge?

Children below five years of age will be admitted free to aerodromes on Empire Air Day and those above five and below 15 at a quarter of the adult rate. In addition station commanders have authority to admit organised parties of children at reduced rates.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the committee set up to consider the question of prices under non-competitive agreements has completed its work?

No, Sir. The discussions with the manufacturing interests concerned, which were initiated on the recommendation of the Standing Committee to which the hon. Member refers, are still proceeding.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that, since the undertaking given in October last to give prompt and sympathetic consideration to proposals for the reorganisation of the Lancashire cotton industry, unemployment in the cotton industry has increased from 47,500 to 99,800; and whether His Majesty's Government will expedite their decision on the question of introducing the necessary legislation?

I am aware of the increase in unemployment in the cotton industry since last October. With regard to the second part of the question, I regret that nothing can at present be added to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury (Mr. Chorlton) on 22nd March.

asked the Minister of Pensions what progress has been made respecting the application for a pension of H. C. Tilney, No. 11/M/105,229?

Mr. Tilney's application for transfer of his wife's pension to himself has been admitted and the necessary authority to enable him to draw the pension granted was sent to him seven weeks ago. Pension has been made payable as from 28th December last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information as to the progress of the negotiations between the Trinidad oil companies and their workers with regard to wages and conditions?

Yes, Sir. I am informed that the Industrial Adviser to the Government of Trinidad held joint conferences on the 29th March with the employers and employed in the oil industry. A further conference was arranged for to-day (4th April). As negotiations are still proceeding, it would clearly be premature for me to make any statement as to their progress.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state the rent paid by Mr. Bessin for his lease of Felicité Island; and whether the governor of the Isle of Seychelles has recently reduced the rent?

I have no recent information about the lease of Felicité Island, but I will ask the Governor for a report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when Mr. A. A. Mason was appointed supervisor of roads in the Isle of Seychelles; and whether he continues work as a telegraphist in the service of the Eastern Telegraph Company?

I have received no report of such an appointment. The matter is one that I should regard as falling wholly within the discretion of the Governor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered the petition from Dr. Van Haselberg and Mr. A. Romley asking that a doctor not a dentist be appointed to the Government hospital in the Isle of Seychelles; and what reply has been given to the petition?

A petition was addressed to me in November last by Mr. von Hasselberg and Mr. Rowley protesting against the employment of a Government dentist at the Government hospital in the Seychelles. The petition contained no reference to the appointment of a doctor. After considering the representations of these two gentlemen I did not see my way to intervene in the matter, and the Governor was asked to cause them to be informed to that effect.