asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in consultation with the Minister of Health, he will grant emergency powers to local authorities to close public footpaths and tracks normally open to the public, at the request of landowners and occupiers, in view of the danger of foot-and-mouth disease being spread by hikers and others who may unwittingly traverse fields where stock have contracted the disease; and further, whether he will consult with the Masters of Foxhounds Associations so that steps may be taken to reduce the risk of infection in districts which are not at present affected by standstill orders?

:Powers already exist in the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Infected Areas Restrictions) Order of 1925 enabling an inspector of the Ministry or of the Local Authority to prohibit the entry of any person into any field or other place in an infected area, notwithstanding the existence of any footpath or right of way, by giving notice to that effect to the occupier of the premises. The inspectors of the Ministry exercise these powers in respect of all footpaths crossing premises where actual outbreaks of the disease have occurred, or where a footpath is so close to an infected farm as to render its use dangerous from the point of view of the conveyance of infection. Other footpaths may be closed where, in the inspector's judgment, it is desirable for the purpose of preventing the spread of infection. This procedure has been found effective for the purpose in view. The entry of persons into an infected place is prohibited and warning notices to that effect are exhibited.With regard to the second part of the question, the Order of 1925 also prohibits fox hunting in every infected area, but it is not considered necessary to extend such prohibition to a "controlled"area, in which no outbreaks of the disease have appeared. The reason for the prohibition of the hunting of deer in the "controlled"area is that deer, like cattle, sheep and pigs, are susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease, and their movements should, therefore, be limited as far as practicable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that in their bulletin of 25th March the Potato Marketing Board announced that as from that date they would not sell on the home ware-market any of the potatoes they purchased for March, April or May delivery until there is a marked improvement in potato prices throughout the country; whether the Board has obtained authority to withhold ware potatoes from the market for the purpose of forcing up prices; and whether he will consider referring this matter to the appropriate consumers' committee in the interest of the public?

:I am aware of the statement referred to. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I have given to-day to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Cardiff South (Captain A. Evans). With regard to the third part of the question, the Consumers' Committee are charged with the standing duty of considering and reporting on the effect of the scheme on consumers generally, and they are also required to consider and report on any complaints which may be made direct to them, but I have no power formally to refer a matter to the committee for consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the current standard rates of wages for various types of labourers in South Staffordshire covering, in particular, Wolverhampton, Wednesfield, and Willenhall?

:The standard rates of wages for unskilled labourers vary in different industries and, in some cases, for different areas within the same industry. I am sending the hon. Member a table which shows the minimum time rates of wages fixed by collective agreements between organisations of employers and workpeople for unskilled workmen in certain important industries in which such agreements specifically relate to localities in South Staffordshire. In certain other industries there are agreements which fix minimum rates of wages without specifying the areas to which they relate. The rates fixed by such agreements will be applicable in South Staffordshire in so far as there are employers located in that area who are affiliated to the employers' organisations concerned. The minimum rates of wages fixed under the Trade Boards Acts are also, in most cases, of general application throughout the country, and such rates are, of course, binding on all employers in the trades concerned in South Staffordshire.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the names of firms in Wolverhampton, Willenhall, and Wednesfield holding War Office contracts at the present time?

:To ensure giving a complete list would involve exhaustive examination of the Department's records, which are not arranged geographically; but, with this reservation, I give the following list of firms which are holding current contracts directly from my Department.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that many blast furnaces are being damped down in this country and men being thrown out of work; and whether he has any explanation to offer?

I am aware that a certain number of blast furnaces have gone out of operation and that there has been some increase in unemployment. The hon. Member will appreciate that the demand for pig iron is at present somewhat below the very high level attained last year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can make a statement regarding the activities of the International Meat Council; and whether he proposes to lay before Parliament an annual report relating to the activities of this body?

As the House is aware, the International Beef Conference was established last year by agreement between this country and the other countries represented on it to advise upon the quantities of beef to be shipped to this country from overseas. I do not know whether the conference proposes to make an annual report to the constituent Governments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now state the nature of the representations from the United States with regard to provisions in the Cinematograph Films Act placing obligations on the renters of American films in this country and designed to limit the importation of American films into this country; and whether these representations were in any way related to the negotiations for the Anglo-American trade agreement?

Representations have been received from the United States Government as to the effect of certain aspects of the Government's proposals on the American film industry. In the course of these representations, the trade negotiations were referred to. The object of the new legislation is not to limit the importation of foreign films but to ensure a gradually increasing production and exhibition of British films.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will state the present position with regard to the maintenance of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law at Rome and the International Educational Cinematographic Institute?

The Italian Government informed the Secretary-General of the League on 27th December, 1937, of its decision to denounce, with effect from 20th April, 1940, the undertaking given in its note of 31st March, 1926, regarding the foundation and maintenance of the International Institution for the Unification of Private Law at Rome.As regards the International Educational Cinematographic Institute, the Italian Government informed the Secretary-General of the League, on 27th December, 1937, that the statute of the Institute founded at Rome under the terms set out in the agreement of 27th January, 1928, includes provisions which made it clear that Italian membership of the League is a necessary condition of their fulfilment. In view of the withdrawal of Italy from the League the Italian Government accordingly concludes that the undertaking specified in this agreement has ceased to apply. Prior to the receipt of this communication, the president of the institute had informed the Secretary-General that the director and almost the whole staff of the institute had resigned and that he intended to take steps to close down the institute.

asked the Prime Minister what proportion of the cost of the observation scheme on the Spanish-Portuguese frontier is borne by the Portuguese Government; and what proportion by His Majesty's Government?

The cost of the observation scheme on the Portuguese-Spanish frontier is, by a special agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Portuguese Government, borne solely by these two Governments; and the Portuguese Government contribute 20 per cent. of this expenditure.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the delay in establishing a British air service to the West Indies is connected with the provision of suitable aircraft; and if the aircraft industry was made aware in 1937 of the demand for a type of aircraft suitable for this service?

A service to the West Indies must be dependent on the existence of aircraft suitable for maintaining a service across the North Atlantic, and hitherto no such aircraft have been available. The problem of crossing the North Atlantic is one which has been well known to aircraft constructors for many years.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what suggestions have been made by the Air Ministry, and on what date, to the owners of Gatwick aerodrome concerning the use of hard runways?

A suggestion in regard to the provision and use of hard runways on the Gatwick aerodrome was put forward, not by the Air Ministry but by the owners of the aerodrome, at a meeting held at the Air Ministry on 9th March, 1937. The proposal was dependent on certain financial measures of assistance which the Air Ministry were unable to entertain.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what types of altimeters are in use in commercial aeroplanes and by private owners; what is the degree of accuracy of such altimeters; and whether the directional system necessitates the employment in all such aircraft of sensitive altimeters?

Any type of altimeter may be used on commercial and private aircraft, but in practice an aneroid type is carried. The error of the aneroid type varies with the height of the aircraft, but in general this error is about 300 feet, which is equivalent to one layer of the directional system. This is an instrumental error which cannot be eliminated. The sensitive altimeter was introduced with the object of providing a more accurate height indication when approaching an aerodrome to land, and under these conditions the error may be as much as 50 feet. At greater heights the error increases, in common with other types of altimeter, but the improvement in accuracy of the sensitive type is not such as to necessitate its employment on aircraft unless blind approaches to earth are envisaged.

asked the Postmaster-General the approximate times for the carriage of air mails in view of the accelerated services about to be introduced by Imperial Airways, Limited, to Africa, India and Australia, and the average time which has to be added in each case to the transit of any letter in view of the absence of any definite time of posting in this country?

Under the accelerated time tables of the Empire air services which are about to be introduced, the scheduled times of air transmission from Southampton will be about 2 days to Khartoum, 2½ days to Kisumu, 4½ days to Durban, 2½ days to Karachi, 3½ days to Calcutta and 9½ days to Brisbane.So far as the second part of the question is concerned, I informed my hon. Friend in reply to his question of 3rd March that I had already published latest times of posting in the case of one of the weekly services to South Africa, and I have since done so in the case of one of the weekly services to India. As and when further experience of the incidence of traffic in relation to aircraft capacity allows, I hope to be in a position to publish similar information in regard to the remaining air services available each week to the countries in question. Latest times of posting for both the weekly services to Australia, to which country only letters prepaid at a special air postage rate are at present conveyed by air, continue to be published.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which county boroughs, urban district councils, and rural district councils in that country grade rents of their municipal houses according to the income of the tenant and/or the size of his family?

The Scottish Local Government system is different from that in England and Wales and there are no authorities of the kind referred to in the question. I am, however, sending the hon. Member a list of local authorities who have adopted schemes of rent rebates under Section 47 (5) of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1935, which empowers local authorities to grant rebates in consideration of the financial circumstances of the tenant.

asked the Home Secretary who appointed the special committee of investigation appointed to inquire into the psychological treatment of prisoners; when were they appointed; and how soon is it expected that they will make their report?

No special committee has been appointed. The investigation has been carried out by Dr. W. H. de B. Hubert, Assistant Physician to the Department of Psychological Medicine at St. Thomas's Hospital, in co-operation with Dr. East, the Medical Commissioner of His Majesty's Prisons. It is hoped to issue the report in the course of the next few months.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, during trials subsequent to the reconstruction of His Majesty's Ship "Warspite," any damage to plates or frames was reported; and, if so, what was the nature of the repairs carried out?

During the very extensive steering trials to which I referred in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member's question of the 24th November last, one of the plates aft and an adjacent frame, both of which were a part of the original structure of the ship, were found to be defective. These were repaired by fitting a strap over the short length of defect in the plate and renewing the defective part of the frame.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the f.o.b. price of Fifeshire trebles at the Firth of Forth ports on 1st August, 1936, and at the present time, and the comparative figures of coal for similar quality at the Humber ports?

F.o.b prices for specific qualities of coal are not available ii my Department.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the loss of income sustained by the clergy through the operation of the Tithe Act, he will consider the exemption from Income Tax of voluntary offerings known as Easter offerings presented as personal gifts to the clergy?

I cannot agree that the provisions of the Tithe Act of 1936 would warrant any alteration of the Income Tax law. It may be observed that under the Eighth Schedule to the Tithe Act power is given to Queen Anne's Bounty to make good any decrease in the emoluments of incumbents who were in office when the Act took effect.