asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Lanarkshire County Council is considering the erection of 500 timber houses in certain areas of the county; whether he will consider recommending an emergency policy of this nature to different housing authorities in Great Britain; whether there is any objection to the erection of such timber houses; and whether the by-laws of most local authorities permit of their erection or would have to be altered for the purpose?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In regard to the second and third parts I am advised that suitably constructed timber houses are satisfactory but I do not think there is any necessity for me to issue any special recommendation to local authorities in England and Wales where the execution of housing programmes by normal methods has been less seriously hampered by shortage of bricklayers than has, I understand, been the case in Scotland. In regard to the fourth part of the question building bylaws should not generally provide an obstacle to the building of such houses.

asked the Minister of Health what local authorities have undertaken the building of at least 50 houses and/or flats by direct labour in the last five years?

The following table contains the information asked for in respect of the five years ended on 31st December,1937:TABLE showing the names of local authorities who have undertaken the building of at least 50 dwellings under the Housing Acts by direct labour during the five years ended 31st December, 1937.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of his recent decision that the quinquennial valuation shall be postponed for two years, he will consider the desirability of instructing local rating authorities to bring down the level of assessments now being applied to property erected since the beginning of 1937 and which are based on the anticipated valuation for 1939 which has now been postponed?

The determination of assessments for rates is entirely a matter for the local rating and assessment authorities, subject to a right of appeal to the courts and I have no power to give them any instructions in the matter. As I stated in the course of the Second Reading of the Rating and Valuation (Postponement of Valuations) Bill it would clearly not be possible to differentiate between recent amendments which brought the assessments to a higher level than the general level in the area and those which corrected assessments which were below the general level.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the number and names of councils which, under the new Food and Drugs Bill, will lose their authority in matters affecting the control of food and drugs in their respective areas?

I presume that my hon. Friend is referring to the councils of the 18 non-county boroughs, mentioned in the Third Interim Report of the Local Government and Public Health Consolidation Committee. These are food and drugs authorities under the existing law but which could not be such authorities under Clause 64 of the Bill so long as their population does not amount to 20,000.The names of these councils are:

Banbury.	Congleton.
Barnstaple.	Glossop.
Berwick on	Grantham.
Tweed.	Kendal.
Boston.	Newark on Trent.
Bridgwater	Newbury.
Bury St.	Penzance.
Edmunds.	Tiverton.
Carmarthen.	Warwick.
Clitheroe.	Wenlock.

The position of 23 other boroughs with a population between 20,000 and 40,000 would depend upon whether a direction were given under the proviso to the Clause that they should continue to be food and drugs authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the present position of progress in the matter of air-raid precautions among the various local authorities in Scotland; and what local authorities have made arrangements for the provision of underground shelters for protection against air attack?

Local authorities in Scotland generally are at the present time actively engaged in the preparation of air-raid precautions schemes and in the work of organisation and training of personnel. As regards the second part of the question local authorities have been instructed to make a survey of existing shelter accommodation which could be made available to the public and until that survey is completed it will be impossible to judge the extent to which special construction can be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether on account of the difficulties experienced by civilians in Scotland in attending anti-gas schools, the nearest of which is at Easingwold, near York, he intends to establish an anti-gas school in Scotland?

It is not considered necessary to establish any further gas schools on the lines of those at Falfield and Easingwold but the question of assisting local authorities to deal with the additional volunteers coming forward for training is being urgently explored.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any statement to make regarding further progress in the building of timber houses in Scotland?

The Department of Health had meetings with representatives of local authorities in the East and West of Scotland on the 23rd and 24th March respectively when the possibilities of proceeding with the erection of timber houses was discussed. The Department recently approved tenders for the erection of 38 timber houses in Ayrshire and I understand that the county councils of Fife, Lanark and Dumbarton, the Town Council of Greenock, and the Scottish Special Areas Housing Association have so far decided to build a total of 1,232 houses in timber. In addition several authorities have the preparation of schemes under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of old age pensioners in Glasgow receiving public assistance relief for the years ended January, 1935 and 1938, respectively?

The number of old age pensioners receiving relief in Glasgow at 15th November, 1934, was 11,618, and at 15th November, 1937, 14,474. January figures are not available.

asked the Prime Minister how many British lives have been lost in the Mediterranean before and since the Nyon Agreement as the result of Spanish insurgent action through aircraft, mines or submarines; and what compensation has been received in respect of these?

Eight British lives were lost in these conditions before the Nyon Arrangement came into force and three since. No compensation has yet been received.

County.			Number of attested Herds.	Approximate number of Cattle in Attested Herds.	Breeds of Cattle in Attested Herds.
England—
Somerset	…	…	60	3,050	Various.
Berks	…	…	34	2,450	Various.
Essex	…	…	36	2,150	Various.
Surrey	…	…	34	2,150	Various.
Hampshire	…	…	38	1,950	Mainly Guernsey and Jersey.
Gloucester	…	…	31	1,800	Various.
Wales—
Carmarthen	…	…	336	9,450	Mainly Shorthorn.
Pembroke	…	…	114	3,100	Various, with Shorthorn predominating.
Cardigan	…	…	72	1,950	Mainly Shorthorn.

With regard to the last part of the question, the herds most suitable for tuberculosis eradication are those maintained by breeding within the herd. Such herds are numerous in the counties of Carmarthen and Pembroke, in which the largest numbers of attested herds are located.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will further inquire into and make a statement as to the circumstances under which the late Lady Margaret Allchin was detained in French Morocco by British consular officials from 1928 to 1934?

As has already been stated in this House, Lady Allchin has never been detained by any British consular official.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what counties in England and Wales, respectively, contain the largest number of animals in attested herds; how many such animals are in each of these counties, respectively; to what breeds of cattle do these animals belong; and whether he has any statement to make on the subject?

The counties in England and Wales which contain the largest numbers of animals in attested herds are as follow:—

asked the With regard to the last part of the question, the herds most suitable Minister of Agriculture whether the appropriate consumers' committee has considered the recent practice adopted by the Potato Marketing Board of purchasing and selling potatoes of good quality in a speculative manner; and, if so, with what result?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the recently published report by the Food Council for the year 1937 on pages 20–21 of which the Food Council discuss the various steps taken by the board to improve growers' prices. The personnel of the Consumers' Committee for Great Britain is the same as that of the Food Council.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has received any representations from the potato trade with regard to the action of the Potato Marketing Board in purchasing and selling potatoes; and whether he will take action to put a stop to this unless it is proved that the potatoes concerned are surplus to the requirements of the people of this country?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, I would refer my hon. Friend to recent replies which I have given on the subject.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the difficulty of obtaining adequate supplies of

Assistance given under certain headings to the Agricultural Industry in the United Kingdom in each financial year from 1925 onwards.
Financial Year.	Wheat Act1932. Deficiency Payments to registered growers.*	British Sugar (Subsidy) Acts 1925 to 1935, and Sugar Industry (Re-organisation)Act 1936. Subsidy etc. on sugar and molasses.†		Cattle Industry (Emergency Provisions) Acts1934 to 1936 and Livestock Industry Act 1937. Payments to producers.	Milk Acts, 1934 to 1937.
		Subsidy.	Rebate
	£	£	£	£	£
1925	—	1,066,090	213,000	—	—
1926	—	3,225,859	583,000	—	—
1927	—	4,309,260	761,000	—	—
1928	—	2,854,239	678,000	—	—
1929	—	4,229,730	1,017,000	—	—
1930	—	6,022,972	1,525,000	—	—
1931	—	2,135,192	1,193,000	—	—
1932	4,510,946	2,356,207	1,288,000	—	—
1933	7,179,748	3,332,910	2,120,000	—	—
1934	6,812,785	4,449,883	2,882,000	2,013,307‡	2,250,937
1935	5,636,642	2,285,570	2,660,000	3,884,049	1,850,230
1936	1,340,367	2,980,978	2,407,000	3,982,146	1,025,131
1937 (approx.)	Not available.	1,217,904	2,147,000	3,943,657	689,785
1938 (estimate)		2,550,000	No reliable estimate yet available	4,395,700	430,300§
* These payments are made not out of public funds but out of the Wheat Fund. Periods covered are the cereal years ended 31st July, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936 and 1937.
† Great Britain only—no payments to Northern Ireland.
‡Payments in this year are for seven months only.
§ Provision is for the period ending 30th September, 1938.

Judging from the number of applications received for contributions under the Land Fertility Scheme, occupiers of agricultural land in Brecon and Radnor, and in Wales generally, do not appear to be at any disadvantage in obtaining supplies of lime and basic slag. The general position regarding supplies remains as stated in my reply to my hon. Friend on 3rd February last.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the amount of assistance given to the agricultural industry in each year since 1925 under the following heads: rating relief, wheat subsidy, beet-sugar subsidy and rebate, cattle subsidy, and milk subsidy?

As regards rating relief I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question asked by him on 2nd November, 1937.The amounts of the subsidies referred to are as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in future Reports on recruiting, he will resort to the practice in 1913 of stating the number of vacancies given to ex-soldiers by railway companies and add thereto the numbers of vacancies given by public utility companies and other public bodies?

I will certainly consider this suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether officers joining the Army are commissioned for a definite minimum period; what is the minimum; and what notice they have to give if and when they desire to resign their commissioners?

With a few exceptions in certain corps, officers joining the Regular Army are not commissioned for definite periods. Cadets gazetted to commissions in the Royal Engineers are required to give an undertaking in writing that they will serve for a period of not less than five years on completion of their course at Cambridge University. As regards the last part of the question, no period of notice is laid down. Applications to retire or resign are subject to the condition that the officers' services can be spared.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the names of firms in the City of Birmingham holding War Office contracts at the present time?

I could not furnish complete lists of War Office contractors in particular towns or districts without throwing an undue burden of work upon by Department, the records, of which are not arranged geographically. I will, however, send my hon. Friend a list of about Too Birmingham firms now holding War Office contracts, which I trust will serve his purpose, though it will not be exhaustive.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the unemployment in and around the Gwendraeth Valley, in Carmarthenshire; and whether he is now able to state what steps he proposes to take to alleviate such unemployment.

Yes, Sir. As stated in my reply to an earlier question to-day, a second Government factory is to be established in the Pembrey area.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in cases where an unemployed man, in addition to receiving standard benefit, applies to the Unemployment Assistance Board for an allowance, for which he produced a medical note, for nourishment for his child he is subjected to a reduction in the allowance because of the recent increase in dependant's benefit; and whether he is prepared to suggest to the Board that such a reduction is not in accordance with the sympathetic administration of the regulations announced by his Department?

The position in these cases is that a need previously met by an allowance from the Board is now met in part by the increase in the rate of insurance benefit. In taking account of the change of circumstances in such cases, the Board are acting in accordance with their statutory duties. Such action is in no way inconsistent with the continuance of a sympathetic administration.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any steps are being taken by the Commissioner for Special Areas to close the school camp at Pembrey, where 350 children from distressed areas are taken fortnightly for health purposes; if so, for what purpose; and is he making any arrangement for them in any other place to meet the needs of affected children?

The site of the school camp at Pembrey has been acquired by the War Office for defence purposes, and as a consequence the school camp is being closed not later than the end of June. In view of the short time available, it has not been possible to make arrangements for the provision of another camp to provide for the children who would, in the normal course, have been sent to Pembrey during the remainder of the season.

asked the Minister of Labour how many skilled engineers are out of work in the different industrial districts of Worcestershire and Staffordshire?

This information is being obtained and I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will indicate the course of employment by numbers, industries and percentages, respectively, for the city of Leicester for the month of March, 1938?

I am having the figures extracted and will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the loss of traffic to the inland waterways owing to the impossibility of finding sufficient experienced crews to man the boats; and whether he will institute an inquiry to see how this deficiency can be made good?

Yes, Sir. Representations have been made to my Department as to the requirements of employers for experienced crews, and particulars of available men registered at the Employment Exchanges have been supplied; the question what further action may be practicable is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the balance of the credit of the Unemployment Insurance Fund as on 1st April, 1938?

On 1st April, 1938, the total balance of the Unemployment Fund was about £43,520,000, after the application on 31st March, 1938, of a sum of £20,000,000 to the reduction of the debt of the fund in accordance with the recommendation of the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee.

asked the Minister of Labour what number of children of school age attended camps in South Wales for 1936, 1937, and up to date this year; what has been the cost for each camp; and the amounts paid by the Commissioner and the amounts paid by the local education authorities?

The approximate numbers of children of school age attending school camps in South Wales, provided and maintained by grants made by the Commissioner for the Special Areas in England and Wales, during 1936, 1937 and 1938 to date are as follow:

1936	…	…	10,000
1937	…	…	15,000
1938 to date	…	…	1,600*
* Winter session.

The cost of providing and maintaining the camps to date is £111,130, of which £60,574 represents capital expenditure, and £50,556 maintenance. Separate figures for each of the five camps are appended. The whole of this sum has been provided by the Commissioner. The expenditure incurred by Local Education Authorities is confined to purely educational services, e.g., educational equipment, salaries of teachers, etc., and I regret that information as to the actual amount of such expenditure is not available.

—	Capital.	Maintenance.	Total.
	£	£	£
Gileston	12,203	7,381	19,584
Ogmore	17,835	10,099	27,934
Pembrey	14,822	17,729	32,551
Rhoose	12,945	10,237	23,182
Barry(Y.M.C.A)	2,769*	5,110	7,879
	60,574	50,556	111,130
* Cost of adaptations to an existing camp.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, following the evidence submitted during the inquiry on the Castlecary railway disaster, any change is contemplated in the signalling system of the Scottish section of the London and North Eastern Railway?

I am informed by the London and North Eastern Railway Company that no change is at present contemplated in the signalling system on the section of the Company's lines in question but that if the report of my Chief Inspecting Officer makes any suggestions in regard to signalling, these will be carefully considered.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is now in a position to give the House any information as to the results of his promised review of the strength of the factory inspectorate?

Yes, Sir. In view of the passing of the Factories Act of last Session and of other developments, a scheme has been sanctioned which will have the effect of increasing the strength of the inspectorate by 62 or about 23 per cent. over a period of three years. The scheme includes the appointment of an additional Deputy-Chief Inspector, and, an additional superintending inspector to take charge of a new division which is being created in the Midlands, and the addition of three medical, one electrical, and seven engineering, inspectors. Some of the additional staff have already been recruited and further competitions are now being announced. It is difficult to forecast the effects of the new Act on the work of the Department, and the scheme is subject to review in the light of experience.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the extent to which British coastal trade is in Dutch hands; whether this is due mainly to the use of a particular type of vessel or to any other reason; and whether British firms are building more appropriate vessels for employment in this trade?

The net tonnage of vessels of all nationalities that entered and arrived with cargoes in the coasting trade of the United Kingdom, including their repeated voyages, during 1936 was 56,699,294 tons, of which 477,616 tons or less than 1 per cent. was Dutch, but the incidence of Dutch participation is greater in some trades and in some areas than in others. Information on the points referred to in the latter part of the question is being collected by a Committee set up by the Chamber of Shipping, but I understand that the answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in considering our trade relations with Russia, he will insist on a greater proportion of mutual trade than at present being carried in British ships?

As the hon. Member for Bradford, East (Mr. Hepworth) was informed on the 8th February, the whole question of commercial relations between this country and the Soviet Union is receiving careful consideration. The employment of British ships in the trade with the Soviet Union is an important aspect of the general question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can explain the reasons why 77.5, 90.8 and 92.3, respectively, of our coal exports to Denmark, Norway and Sweden are carried in foreign ships; and if he will state the percentage of such coal exports which used to be carried in British ships five years ago?

The percentage figures quoted, which relate to the year 1936, can be attributed to a variety of causes, such as the practice of selling coal for export f.o.b. and the availability of ships suitable for trade between this country and those specified. I regret that no figures comparable to those mentioned in the question are available for years before 1936.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the profits of the companies' and local authorities' gas undertakings in Great Britain for the years 1935, 1936 and 1937, respectively, and the price paid per ton of coal, and similar particulars with regard to the generation of electricity?

With regard to gas undertakings, the information for 1937 is not yet available and, in respect of 1935, I would refer to the answer given on 29th November last to the hon. Member for Spennymoor (Mr. Batey). Particulars in respect of 1936 are given in the attached tables, but I have no information with regard to the price paid for coal. Information regarding electricity undertakings for the Years 1935–36 and 1936–37

STATUTORY GAS UNDERTAKINGS.
Companies.
Year.			Total Capital (Share and stock) Paid up	Total loan Capital (including g debenture stock) issued.	Revenue Account.
					Receipts.	Expenditure.	Profit.
			£	£	£	£	£
1936	…	…	97,878,916	45,670,301	47,601,326	39,963,528	7,637,798

Local Authorities.*
Year	Total amount of money borrowed.	Total amount of loans repaid and balance in sinking fund.	Revenue Account.			Interest paid on loans, amount of loans repaid and amount placed to sinking Fund.	Net Profit.
			Receipt.	Expenditure.	Gross Profit.
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
1936–37	82,300,351	56,081,863	22,165,171	18,379,015	3,786,156	3,108,759	677,397
* The financial year of the Local Authorities Undertakings runs from 1st April to 31st March.

AUTHORISED ELECTRICITY UNDERTAKINGS.
(1) Company Undertakings.
Year.		Capital Expenditure at end of Year.	Gross Surplus.	Appropriation of Gross Surplus.
				Interest.	Dividends.	Depreciation and other Purposes.
		£	£	£	£	£
1935	…	193,048,518*	16,450,689	2,788,250	6,697,175	6,965,264
1936	…	207,644,892	18,124,452	2,977,681	7,269,485	7,877,286

(2) Public Authority Undertakings.
Year.		Capital Expenditure at end of year.	Gross Surplus.	Appropriation of Gross Surplus.
				Interest.	Sinking Fund.	Balance, other Purposes.
		£	£	£	£	£
1935–36	…	287,617,615	22,519,418	6,328,287	9,264,733	6,926,398
1936–37	…	309,033,892	23,699,827	6,454,962	9,817,100	7,427,765
* Exclusive of expenditure on two Company undertakings which were transferred to Local Authorities as from 1st January, 1936, the purchase prices of such undertakings being included in the figures for Public Authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet come to a final decision as to recommending that automatic machine tools be admitted duty free into this country; and, if so, for what period of time is this to operate?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the duty-free importation of automatic machine tools by virtue of licences issued on the recommendation of the Import Duties Advisory Committee under Section 10 of the Finance Act, 1932. Under that Section a separate recommendation is required in respect of each consignment far which a licence is desired; and before recommending the issue of a licence, the committee must be satisfied that similar machinery is not, for the time being, procurable in the United Kingdom, and that, having regard to all the circumstances, it is expedient that the consignment should be allowed to be imported free of duty. The answer to the first part of the question is therefore in the negative and the second part does not arise.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state

—	1934.	1935.	1936.	1937.	1938.
	No.	No.	No.	No.	No.
Motor cars, etc.—
Private cars (including cabs)—New:
From Germany—
January	3	13	13	23	1,067
February	1	18	22	95	1,272
March	2	27	8	177	635
From the United States—
January	122	573	760	1,107	963
February	121	853	658	621	396
March	379	736	1,348	1,030	548
Commercial vehicles (including motor omnibuses, motor fire engines and motor ambulances, but not including tractors)—New:
From Germany—
January	2	—	—	—	56
February	1	—	—	—	22
March	—	—	—	9	16
From the United States—
January	4	—	1	4	5
February	—	—	—	1	1
March	3	1	—	1	1

asked the President of the Board of Trade the approximate total value of armaments material, including the amount of import duties received in 1937 upon the following commodities: wheat, butter, and cheese?

The approximate figures are:

			£
Wheat	…	…	746,000
Butter	…	…	3,923,000
Cheese	…	…	146,000

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the number of motor cars and commercial vehicles imported during each of the last three months from Germany and the United States of America, respectively; and also give comparative figures for the first quarter for the last four years?

pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 13th April, 1938; col. 1119, Vol. 334, No. 95) supplied the following statement:The following table shows the number of motor cars (private and commercial) imported into the United Kingdom and consigned from Germany and the United States, respectively, as registered during the undermentioned period.military aeroplanes, exported to foreign countries during the year 1937 and the countries to which such exports have gone?

pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 13th April, 1938; col. 1118, Vol. 334, No. 95) supplied the following statement:The following table shows the total declared value of the exports of arms, ammunition and military and naval stores of United Kingdom manufacture during the year 1937, distinguishing the principal countries of consignment.

Countries to which consigned.	Declared Value.
	£
Irish Free State	46,072
Cyprus	18,764
Palestine (including Trans-Jordan)	10,592
British West Africa	239,747
Northern and Southern Rhodesia	76,220
Union of South Africa (excluding South-West Africa Territory)	568,256
Tanganyika Territory	21,274
Kenya	36,871
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan	25,863
British India and Burma	689,328
Straits Settlements and Dependencies (including Labuan)	54,350
Federated Malay States	42,040
Ceylon and Dependencies	28,479
Hong Kong	15,840
Australia	515,218
New Zealand	253,488
Canada	127,462
Trinidad and Tobago	11,050
Other British Countries	50,225
Total, British Countries	2,831,139

Countries to which consigned.	Declared Value.
	£
Estonia	78,852
Lithuania	48,432
Denmark (including Farőe Islands)	27,651
Poland (including Dantzig)	109,386
Netherlands	161,520
Java	38,604
Belgium	21,283
Portugal	18,775
Portuguese East Africa	22,246
Greece	127,307
Roumania	116,907
Egypt	192,727
Iraq	39,198
Iran	87,704
Siam	28,487
China (exclusive of Hong Kong, Macao, Manchuria and leased territories)	153,043
Japan (including Formosa)	58,728
United States of America	15,254
Colombia	41,446
Venezuela	19,251
Peru	46,657
Chile	12,341
Brazil	59,701
Uruguay	11,424
Argentine Republic	45,517
Other foreign countries	74,127
Total, foreign countries	1,656,568
Total	4,487,707

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will state for each administrative county of England and Wales how many schemes of reorganisation of elementary schools have been approved, and the percentage of the elementary schoolchildren in each county taught in schools to which reorganisation, as contemplated by the Hadow Report, has been applied?

The latest available figures, for the year ended 31st March, 1937, have been tabulated in a form somewhat different from that asked for by the hon. Member. As they constitute a very bulky document, I am sending them to the hon. Member separately.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the increase in juvenile crime, as disclosed in the latest statistics; and whether he will call a conference of the education authorities to consider how this development can be remedied so far as the schools are concerned?

As I stated in my reply to a question by the hon. Member for Moss Side (Mr. W. R. Duckworth) on 7th April the great importance of moral training is fully appreciated by the Board, the local education authorities and the teaching profession. In these circumstances, my Noble Friend is of opinion that the cause of the increase in juvenile crime is not attributable to any lack of proper instruction in the schools. He does not therefore think that a conference such as my hon. Friend suggests would be likely to serve a useful purpose.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he can give a list of the number of grants which have been provided up to date under the Physical Training and Recreation Act?

Capital grants have so far been allocated in 42 cases, covering eight swimming baths, 19 clubs and community centres, three camps and camping sites, one youth hostel and II equipment and other projects, and a large number of further schemes are under consideration. In addition, a substantial sum has been placed at the disposal of the National Playing Fields Association for the expansion of playing field provision, and 36 playing field schemes have either been dealt with or are in course of examination. Grants have also been made to the Central Council of Recreative Physical Training towards the training of teachers and

Quantity and percentage proportion of coal cut by machinery in each mining district of Great Britain during the year 1937,
District.	Quantity of Coal cut by Machinery.	Proportion of Total Output of Saleable Coal cut by Machinery.
	Tons.	Per cent.
Northumberland	12,949,405	91
Durham	13,311,246	40
Cumberland and Westmorland	898,146	67
Lancashire and Cheshire	9,245,659	61
Yorkshire, South	16,553,183	51
Yorkshire, West	6,480,860	51
Nottinghamshire	11,787,077	72
Derbyshire, North	11,587,359	84
Derbyshire, South	732,468	88
Staffordshire, North	6,631,811	92
Cannock Chase	2,994,168	57
Staffordshire, South, and Worcestershire	113,240	8
Leicestershire	2,244,018	78
Warwickshire	4,014,284	70
Shropshire	296,448	45
Forest of Dean	226,940	16
Somersetshire	48,766	6
Bristol	23,854	35
Kent	278,914	14
South Wales and Monmouthshire	9,151,252	24
North Wales	2,028,501	73
Fife, Clackmannan, Kinross and Sutherland	7,787,253	89
Lothians (Mid and East) and Peebles	2,860,747	60
Lanarkshire, West Lothian, Stirling, Renfrew and Dumbarton	11,715,772	83
Ayshire, Dumfries and Argyll	3,157,095	69
Great Britain	137,118,466	57

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the total quantity of coal produced; the amount per person employed below ground; and the amount per person employed in the mines in Great Britain and South Wales and Monmouthshire, respectively, during the year 1937?

In 1937, the output of saleable coal in Great Britain was leaders, and to 17 other voluntary associations towards the development of their work for physical training and recreation.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the quantity and percentage proportion of coal cut by machinery in each mining district of Great Britain during the year 1937?

The information is as follows:240,409,436 tons; the output of coal per person employed below-ground was 390 tons, and per person employed above and below-ground 304 tons. The corresponding figures for South Wales and Monmouth were 37,773,013 tons, 334 tons and 278 tons, respectively.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the total wage and salary bill and the earnings per person employed in the coal-mining industry in Great Britain and South Wales and Monmouthshire, respectively, during the year 1937?

The estimated total wages bill in the coal-mining industry in Great Britain during the year 1937 was £114,105,000 and the earnings per wage-earner employed, £149 10s, 1d. (including the value of allowances in kind): corresponding figures for South Wales and Monmouth were £19,597,000 and £145 16s. 10d.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the annual meeting of the St. James-the-Less (Bethnal Green) Sick, Burial, and Annual Division Society decided to change the name of their organisation to the St. James-the-Less Dividing and Approved Society; whether he has seen no objection to the change; and whether, seeing that the Registrar of Friendly Societies has declined to register the use of the word approved, on the ground that some other friendly societies who are not engaged on National Health Insurance might object, he will say under what Section of the Act this decision of the Registrar was taken and whether it has his approval?

The Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies was informed by the society in December last that the annual general meeting had passed a resolution to change the name of the society to "St. James-the-Less Dividing and Approved Society." Section 69 of the Friendly Societies Act, 1896, provides that a registered society may change its name, with the approval of the Chief Registrar. The Chief Registrar thus has a statutory discretion in the matter and I see no reason to intervene.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if the balloon-barrage system is to be established for the defence of Glasgow and the Clyde-side?

I am not in a position to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for the Consett Division of Durham (Mr. D. Adams) on 16th March last.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in how many instances since 1st January, 1937, have the complete noses and complete gear-boxes of motors belonging to Royal Air Force machines come off together with the air-screws; and will he state similar figures for civil aircraft?

The answer is four and two respectively. In no case was the engine reduction gear itself responsible on account of family design, material or workmanship.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many instances there have been since 1st January, 1937, of air-screws, belonging to Royal Air Force machines, coming off in the air; how many of these instances have resulted in fatal accidents; and how many of the air-screws concerned have been wooden, metal, and variable pitch?

The answer to the first part of the question is four, to the second one and to the last part two metal fixed pitch and two metal variable pitch air-screws.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will state the total number of air-screws belonging to both Royal Air Force machines and civil machines that have come off since 1st January, 1937, in the case of single-engined land-planes, single-engined float-planes, single-engined flying-boats, twin-engined land-planes, twin-engined flying-boats, and four-engined flying-boats, respectively?

The answer is two twin-engined land-planes and two twin-engined flying-boats of the Royal Air Force and two civil four-engined flying-boats. In the case of one of the latter the cause was a wave hitting the air-screw during the taking off.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether officers joining the Air Service are appointed for a definite minimum period; what is the minimum; and what notice they require to give if and when they wish to resign from active service?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is that short service officers are appointed for an initial period of four years (in some cases three years) but permanent officers are normally retained to complete time for retired pay for periods which vary in accordance with rank and duties; the minimum period qualifying for retired pay is normally 20 years, but voluntary retirement with gratuity may be permitted after 10 years' service. As regards the last part of the question, no period of notice is laid down but applications to resign or retire prematurely are considered on their merits and are approved or refused according to the requirements of the Service.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether he can give any information as to the export of military aircraft during 1937?

The total number of British military aircraft exported in 1937 was 264, including 70 supplied to the Dominions. Every inquiry has been examined by a committee set up for the purpose. Dominion orders have been given the highest practicable preference and particular regard has been paid to the requirements of countries with whom we have special treaty relations. The execution of foreign orders has with rare exceptions taken place during the changeover from one Service type to another and has had the advantage of keeping in employment during this interval men who might otherwise have been temporarily discharged. In this way it has been found possible to continue an export trade and to retain markets which it is most important for British industry to maintain and develop with little if any prejudice to the most rapid flow of deliveries otbainable for our own programme. Only in the case of 10 aircraft could it be said that Royal Air Force deliveries were affected and in all these cases there were special considerations which justified the action taken.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the position of the Post Office telegraphists working the cables to the Continent affected by the cable and wireless agreement has been discussed by the Government; and, if so, what decision has been reached?

asked the Postmaster-General whether all employés in the Continental section of the cable office are civil servants; and whether, under the agreement with Cable and Wireless, Limited, their position will in any way be affected?

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the anxiety of the Continental telegraphist staff employed by the Post Office regarding their future employment under the new cable and wireless agreement; and whether he can now make a statement on this aspect of the matter?

The employés in the Continental section of the Central Telegraph Office of the General Post Office are civil servants, but the staff of Cable and Wireless, Limited, are not civil servants. The position of the Post Office staff will not be affected by the arrangements with Cable and Wireless, Limited, to which the hon. Members refer.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in the interests of deserved promotion, he will consider selecting from the various grades of doorkeepers in his Department an inspector to fill the post of the retiring inspector of doorkeepers?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to-day to a question by the hon. Member for Willesden, West (Mr. Viant) on the same subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the age-limits of the men who are being invited to join the air-raid precautions volunteer service; whether these embrace persons of military age; whether, in the event of war, these persons would be required for military service; and what steps he is taking to avoid withdrawing from potential combatant service large numbers of suitable soldiers?

With the exception of the auxiliary fire service, for which men between 25 and 50 are required, the minimum age for men for the volunteer air-raid precautions services is 30, apart from some numerically unimportant exceptions. Reservists of the Fighting Services and members of the Territorial Army or Auxiliary Air Force are excluded. The majority of the men volunteers are required as air-raid wardens, for which service men considerably older than 30 are preferred. With regard to the last part of the question I do not think that any further steps are at present necessary.

asked the Home Secretary on what date he requested local authorities to undertake a survey of available blast-proof and splinter-proof shelters?

The circular of the 28th March recommended local authorities generally to undertake surveys but in many areas a good deal of surveying work was already in progress.

asked the Home Secretary why, during the past two years, British fire brigade authorities have been unable to obtain either thermite or electron incendiary bombs for practising in methods of fire extinction or carrying out research on new methods of fire extinction; if he is aware that the instruction bombs made at the Royal Arsenal were a failure, but notwithstanding they were issued to some 60 fire brigades; that there are private firms in this country who can supply practice bombs; and that a large number of varied types are manufactured in Germany which, pending the production of satisfactory practice bombs in this country, were not allowed to be used; and what is being done to remedy this unsatisfactory state of affairs?

It is not the case that fire brigades generally have been without supplies of practice electron bombs. Five hundred such bombs were issued to brigades in October, 1937, but some brigades have been awaiting a demonstration before using them. None of the bombs issued were manufactured at Woolwich Arsenal but a few of them were filled there. The bombs were quite effective when properly used. The bombs referred to in the question as supplied by private firms come mainly from abroad: they do not approximate in performance to the electron bomb which it is desired to demonstrate, and it would not be satisfactory to use them as their effects would be liable to be misleading. Further practice electron bombs are now being issued to fire brigades. A satisfactory air-raid precautions practice incendiary bomb for training purposes was approved in January last and is being made in this country.