asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the large housing estate in the neighbourhood of the junction of Clayponds Lane with the Great West Road involving pedestrians crossing this junction frequently, he will consider the installation of traffic-control signals at that place?

As my hon. Friend will be aware, the reconstruction of the Great West Road has been commenced near this junction, and in these circumstances it is not practicable to provide traffic lights at this crossing at the present time. I further understand that the existing volume of traffic in Clayponds Lane at its junction with the Great West Road does not justify the provision of light-control signals. I am, however, keeping the position under review.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that in the Ministry of Transport Estimates, ordered by the House of Commons to be printed on 22nd February, 1938, there is a list of major works authorised or in progress at 31st March, 1938; whether, under the circumstances, this list is complete and accurate; whether there are any schemes not referred to in that list which have been authorised; and whether he proposes to authorise or commence schemes other than those in this list during the current financial year?

The list of works to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers con tains only works estimated to cost individually £100,000 or over. In addition a very large number of smaller schemes have been authorised or are in progress. As indicated in Appendix I to the Estimate for the Roads, etc., Vote, it is contemplated that new commitments of the Road Fund for improvements and new construction amounting to about£30 millions will be entered into during the financial year 1938.

asked the Prime Minister which States have informed the League of Nations that they propose or are considering a limitation of their fulfilment of their obligations under the Covenant, giving as their reason for this action his statement that weak nations could not expect the protection of the Leagues against aggression?

None, Sir

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that 32 German steamers landed war material in ports under the control of the Spanish insurgents between 2nd January, 1938, and 14th March; and whether, on account of these breaches of the Non-Intervention Agreement, he will inform the French Government that he will raise no objection to any war material passing over their frontier into Catalonia that they may think advisable for their own security?

No evidence in support of the facts alleged has reached His Majesty's Government from the Bureau of the Non-Intervention Board. As the House is aware, the improved international scheme of observation which His Majesty's Government would like to see adopted has not yet come into force. As regards the second part of the question, the policy of the Government was made clear in the course of last Monday's Debate.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that, from 21st February to 14th March, 27 Italian ships bringing war material to the Spanish insurgents entered various Spanish ports; that on 26th March the steamship " Franca Fasscio" arrived at Seville with 250 Italian aviators; that on 27th and 28th March the Spanish ships "Andraea Mendi," "Vlia Mendi," and "Jupiter," escorted by two Italian destroyers and several aeroplanes, arrived at Cadiz, together with the Italian hospital ship "Trieste "; that these ships had on board 4,500 Italian infantry, 500 Blackshirts, 200 artillery men, 15 chaser aeroplanes, five heavy tanks, 10 small tanks, three petrol lorries, eight chassis for heavy lorries, 300 very heavy aviation bombs, and many cases of small shells, machine guns, and projectiles; and whether, in view of these violations of the conditions on which he entered on negotiations with the Italian Government, he will bring these negotiations to an end?

From the inquiries which I have made I can find no foundation in fact for these allegations. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Prime Minister whether any approach has been made by the German Government to afford facilities to German citizens resident in Great Britain to record their votes at the forthcoming plebiscite; and, if so, whether he will state the nature of the approach?

The German Embassy have inquired whether there would be any objection to the procedure which it was proposed to adopt in order to enable German nationals resident in this country to vote in the plebiscite on 10th April. The proposal was that the voting should take place outside territorial waters on board a ship which would bring a party of German tourists to this country, take the voters on board, and then return to port to disembark the latter on the same day. The German Embassy have been informed that His Majesty's Government have no objection to the arrangements proposed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the fact that the losses incurred on the operation of municipal aerodromes during 1935–36, according to Ministry of Health Re/urns, led to balances falling on rates to the extent of nearly £100,000, he can give any assurance that during the current year steps will be taken to place these airports on a more remunerative basis?

As has been previously stated it is not the policy of His Majesty's Government to give financial assistance for the construction or enlargement of municipal aerodromes or to grant annual subsidies for their upkeep. The Government, however, assists by the provision of wireless, meteorological and control facilities, and has accepted in principle the payment of a contribution towards the capital costs of night-lighting equipment at selected aerodromes.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether all the operational and intelligence officers in the Department of the Director-General of Civil Aviation will be called to give evidence to the full extent of their knowledge before the committee now inquiring into the working of the directorate of operational services and intelligence?

It is for the committee to decide what witnesses they shall call but it will be open to any operational and intelligence officers in the Civil Aviation Department who wish to give evidence before the committee to apply to be allowed to do so.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, with reference to the report by the Cadman Committee that the Air Ministry has been lacking in the initiation of policy and in forward planning with regard to the development of new routes, whether Imperial Airways, Limited, has at any time been consulted as to an air service for the West Indies; and, if so, what has been done in respect of the advice received?

Yes, Sir. Imperial Airways were consulted on the matter in 1936. The conclusion reached by the Inter-departmental Committee on International Air Communications was that in the then existing circumstances the expense involved in the institution of such a service would not be justifiable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Maltese have signed on British ships during the last 12 months who were not actual seamen before that period; and how many coloured seamen were unemployed in Malta during the last 12 months?

I am informed that of 248 Maltese who signed on United Kingdom registered ships during the last 12 months at least 218 were qualified seamen. There are no coloured seamen in Malta. Coloured seamen who are dig-charged in Malta are repatriated.