asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can make any statement as to the publication or otherwise of the Willingdon Report and as to the action proposed to be taken as regards the recommendations of this report?

I hope to be in a position to make an announcement on this subject before the end of July. It will cover both the points raised in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, on 4th March, 1918, Mrs. L. Bailey was advised by his Department that a sum of £11 2s. 2d. due from Army funds to the estate of the late Private George Bailey, No. 46016, Royal Army Medical Corps, was the property of the deceased's son, George Thomas Louvain Bailey; that it was proposed to invest the amount in the orphans savings bank for his benefit, there to remain at compound interest of 2½ per cent. until he attained the age of 21 years; that when the orphan attained that age application was made for the amount in question, but the widow was informed that in May, 1918, a sum of £11 2s. 2d. was paid to the Rev. Samuel Hosking to be used for the benefit of the late soldier's son; that the widow had never at any time authorised the War Office to pay this money over to the Rev. Samuel Hosking; that the latter gentleman is now dead, and no information can be obtained as to whether he received the money or not; and that, in view of all the circumstances, will he see that the money due to the orphan is paid to him?

The actual correspondence relating to this case was destroyed after retention for the period prescribed in the Schedule laid before Parliament under Section 1 of the Public Record Office Act, 1877. There is, however, a record that four days after the despatch of the War Office letter of 4th March, 1918, a letter was received from Mrs. Bailey and the Rev. S. Hosking, and a further record that in May, 1918, the sum of £11 2s. 2d. was paid to him to be used for the benefit of the son of the late Private George Bailey. The inference is that this payment was made with Mrs. Bailey's consent at the time.The action taken was in accordance with the usual practice of the time in the matter of disposing of sums due to orphans to be applied for their benefit, if such course was considered advisable, and it would not have been in accordance with that practice to make such payments without the knowledge of the parents or guardians. Such payments may be properly made under the provisions of Section 9 of the Regimental Debts Act, 1893, and the regulations made there under, and I regret that the money cannot be paid a second time.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Army vocational centres at Aldershot, Chisledon and Hounslow are to be finally closed down; and, if so, whether the instructors at Hounslow have received notice terminating their services?

The Army Vocational Training Centre at Aldershot will be closed, and those at Chisledon and Hounslow will be transferred to the Ministry of Labour on 1st July. All of the instructors at Hounslow will be reemployed by the Ministry of Labour and notice of termination of their employment by the War Department has been given as a necessary formality.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the present shortage of personnel in each of the principal branches of the Army, and how the shortage compares with that obtaining at the same date in 1937?

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to give particulars respecting the proposed Territorial Army for women?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on this subject on 14th June in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bodmin (Mr. Rathbone). The discussions are still proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the issue of badges to the Territorial Army has begun; and, if so, how many badges have so far been issued?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave this afternoon to the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for Wandsworth, Central (Colonel Nathan).

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government has prepared a detailed scheme for submission to the secretariat of the League for the constitution of a refugee organisation to replace the Nansen Office and the High Commission for refugees from Germany?

As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Hitchin (Sir A. Wilson) on 16th May, the task of drawing up a detailed plan on the basis of the proposals made in the report adopted by the Council of the League on 14th May was delegated by the Council to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations in consultation with the President of the Governing Body of the Nansen Office and the High Commissioner for refugees coming from Germany.

asked the Prime Minister whether further consideration has been given to the means of ensuring that British ships in Spanish ports shall not be attacked by foreign aircraft?

Perhaps the hon. Member will be good enough to await this afternoon's Debate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state, in categories, the value of imports to and exports from insurgent territory in Spain to Great Britain during the last six months or the six months ended 31st December, 1937?

As I have previously explained, particulars of the trade of the United Kingdom with individual parts of peninsular Spain are not separately recorded, and the desired information is accordingly not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the number of British ships at present engaged in trade with insurgent Spain, and the number of foreign ships similarly engaged for any convenient recent period, together with similar figures for a similar period in 1935, stating the nationality in each case?

According to the entries in "Lloyd's List," the number of arrivals of British and foreign (non-Spanish) ships at ports under the control of the nationalist authorities during the month of May, 1938, was as follows:

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the overflowing of the Yellow River in China and the widespread waste and suffering resulting from this and the Sino-Japanese war, he will take immediate steps directly through the League of Nations, or in concert with the United States of America and other Powers, to propose to the Chinese and Japanese Governments the immediate cessation of hostilities, the withdrawal of the Japanese forces, and the offer of assistance, other than military, to the Chinese Government for the restoration of civil life and order, and to both Governments for the meeting of their legitimate economic needs?

His Majesty's Government would gladly take any steps in their power, either alone or in conjunction with other Powers, which would be likely to lead to a cessation of hostilities in China as a preliminary of an equitable peace settlement. They have, however, no information which would lead them to suppose that any proposal which involved the withdrawal of the Japanese forces would be likely to be accepted as a basis for mediation. As recently as 17th June, the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs stated publicly that he did not think it possible for any Power to mediate between China and Japan.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the difficulties and financial burden incurred by any family in which there is a case of sleeping sickness, he will consider the provision of free treatment and care for persons suffering from this disease?

So far as my right hon. Friend is aware, no serious difficulty has been experienced in securing suitable accommodation for persons suffering from this disease, and where the accommodation is provided by a local authority the authority have power to remit any charges if they are satisfied that the financial circumstances of the patient justify this course. If the hon. Member has any case in mind in which difficulty has been experienced, perhaps he would send me particulars.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in sanctioning a scheme under the Housing Acts of 1936, or earlier, or confirming an order submitted to him for confirmation, it is the policy of the Department to consider the facilities for recreation existent in the area in respect of which the scheme or order has been submitted; whether his Department considers any objections to the said scheme or order that may be raised with a view to maintaining existing facilities or promoting fresh facilities; and whether in these respects he is co-operating with the Board of Education and other bodies charged with the administration of the Physical Training and Recreation Act, 1937?

The selection of sites for the building of houses by local authorities is primarily a matter for the authorities, but my right hon. Friend encourages them in providing houses on new estates to have regard to facilities for recreation. In 1935 my Department and the Board of Education jointly issued a memorandum to local authorities with this object, with special reference to the recreational needs of young persons, and the answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative. While information on this subject is not necessarily complete, my right hon. Friend is aware that a number of local authorities have either provided or assisted in providing facilities of the kind for both young persons and adults, and that many others are in course of doing so.

asked the Minister of Health what progress is being made by the Wycombe Rural District Council in obtaining land for housing purposes, namely, at Flackwell Heath, at Hughen den and Tylers Green, at Piddington and Lane End, and at Skirmett, the last named being on land owned by Lord Parmoor; what area is being sought in each case; what price is offered or demanded; and what is the present rateable value of each site?

I am not in possession of all the information asked for in the question, but I am making inquiries and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of insured persons, male and female, who were receiving pensions under the Old Age Pensions Acts, and the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act at the end of 1937; the amounts received during that year; the sources from which the money came; the capital sum set aside as an assurance; and what bearing that has on the assured persons?

At 31st December, 1937, 1,067,887 men and 914,461 women, in Great Britain, were in receipt of old age pensions under or by virtue of the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1936. Of these, 506,638 men and 302,700 women were in receipt of pensions between the ages of 65 and 70, and 561,249 men and 611,761 women of over 70 pensions under the Old Age Pensions Act, 1936, by virtue of the Contributory Pensions Act. In addition, pensions or allowances were in payment, at 31st December, 1937, in respect of 797,611 widows and 298,054 children and orphans.All the men concerned were insured persons. Of the women, some were themselves insured, while others received pensions as the wives, or widows, of insured men.It is estimated that the amounts paid in respect of pensions of these types during the year ended 31st December, 1937, were as follow:

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many inoculations are given in protecting Darlington children against diphtheria; and what is the period considered necessary before immunity develops in that city;(2) how many cases of diphtheria have been recorded at Huddersfield in immunised children; and whether any of these cases have been fatal;(3) how many cases of diphtheria have been notified at Wakefield since immunisation started in respect of patients who had attended the immunisation clinic; and whether there have been any fatal cases;(4) whether any cases of diphtheria have been reported in immunised children at Darlington and in any children who had been partially immunised;(5) how many persons attended the immunisation clinic at Wakefield during 1934, 1935, 1936, and 1937, respectively; how many of these attended for preliminary Schick testing; how many were immunised; and how many attended for post-immunisation Schick testing?

I am making inquiries from the local authorities concerned, with regard to these five questions and I will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary when the Report of the Prison Commissioners will be published?

The report for the year 1937 will be published with the least possible delay, but it is unlikely that the necessary work will be completed before the autumn.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the remarks of Mr. Justice Greaves-Lord at Carlisle assizes, on the 26th May, to the effect that he hoped that in future the police, in preparing their records, would not make a record appear long simply by putting into it a number of minor offences which bore no reflection at all upon a man's honesty; and whether he will issue a circular to local watch committees to see that such recommendations are put into practice?

When the jury have found the prisoner guilty and the Court calls on the police for information as to his antecedents, the important point is that the information given shall be full and trustworthy and shall not omit anything which is in favour of the prisoner. How far the Court may want details of previous convictions or may be content with some general statement that there have been previous convictions for minor offences of a different type from the offence before the Court will depend on the circumstances of the individual case. The police are well aware of the general principles to be followed, and I do not think it would be advantageous to attempt to prescribe in detail the form which such statements should take.

asked the Home Secretary whether any charitable funds exist for the assistance of dependants of pre-War police pensioners left entirely without means?

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has at his disposal a Relief Fund from which assistance may, in a case of need, be given to a Metropolitan police pensioner or to his widow; this Fund cannot, however, be used to assist a dependant other than a widow. I have no explicit information as to the position in the County and Borough forces.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has held any consultation with the authorities of the British Broadcasting Corporation with a view to ensuring that the arrangements for broadcasting and televising plays on Sunday are kept within the scope of the Sunday Entertainments Act?

As I am informed that members of the public are not present on Sundays in studios from which plays are broadcast or televised by the British Broadcasting Corporation, the provisions of the Sunday Entertainments Act would not appear to have any application to the studio arrangements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the recent troubles in the West Indies and the difficulties of the sugar industry which provides the principal means of support for the Colonies, he will review the adequacy of the provisions of Section 1 of the Finance Act, 1934, under which additional preference was given to a limited quantity of Colonial sugar?

I am unable at the present time to add anything to the statement on this subject made in the Debate on 14th June by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue is raised annually by way of Income Tax charged upon Easter, Whitsun, or Christmastide offerings contributed for the support of the clergy of parishes or the ministers of parishes?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to make a statement as to the Government's action, if any, in connection with the recommendations of the Poultry Commission?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Sir J. Wardlaw-Milne) on 19th May.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will undertake that he will not assent to any proposal to scrape and treat the woodwork in the Chamber, Corridors, and Library of the House of Commons as has been done in the dining rooms before the Members of the House have had an opportunity of discussing such proposals?

As regards the Chamber and Library of the House of Commons, I have no intention of treating the woodwork. In the matter of the corridors, I do not consider that a discussion, as suggested by the hon. Member, would be practicable, and I hope that I have the confidence of hon. Members and that they will trust me in making what improvements I consider desirable.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he intends to introduce legislation designed to require precautions to be taken to prevent interference with radio and television reception?

The necessary inquiries regarding the possible scope and operation of a new Wireless Telegraphy Bill to deal, inter alia, with the question of electrical interference with wireless reception are being actively pursued. Consultations are proceeding with the commercial arid other interests affected; but in view of the complexity of the questions involved the inquiries will necessarily take some time to complete.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the number of types of warships building for foreign countries in British shipyards at the present time?

The number of warships building for foreign countries in British shipyards at the present time is 22, consisting of three types, namely, cruiser, destroyers and motor torpedo boats.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the circumstances under which serving officers are permitted to employ aliens in this country; and to what extent at the present time permission has been granted for the employment of German subjects and other aliens?

All officers, whether naval or civil, resident in naval establishments at home are forbidden to employ aliens as domestics without Admiralty approval. Records show that in the last 18 months five applications for such permission have been received, of which three have been approved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to a new scheme for the settlement of Palestine, which has been put forward from an authoritative Arab source, for the creation of a united state of Palestine and Transjordania, in which certain districts, to be fixed by a mixed commission of Arabs, Jews, and British representatives, which should be allotted to the Jews, and in which they should have sole administrative rights, with provision for their proportionate representation in the legislature and the cabinet, the whole scheme to be tried for 10 years under British direction before the granting of complete autonomy; and if he will give due consideration to the proposal?

My attention has been drawn to a Press summary of a proposal of this nature. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to recent statements made on behalf of His Majesty's Government regarding policy in Palestine; and remind him that a commission is now engaged in investigations in Palestine with a view to framing an equitable and practicable scheme of partition.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many officially recognised air-routes there are at present over this country, how many of them are habitually used by scheduled air traffic in conditions of good visibility and in conditions of bad visibility; and what is the definition of an officially recognised air-route as referred to in the Air Navigation (Consolidation) Order, 1933, and the Air Navigation (Amendment) Order, 1937?

There are seven officially recognised air routes of which one is habitually used by scheduled air traffic in all conditions of visibility. The remaining six are occasionally used by scheduled air traffic under conditions of bad visibility, and when so used it would generally be by arrangement with the Air Traffic Control. In fine clear weather conditions scheduled air traffic usually flies from the coast keeping to the direct track between the aerodromes of departure and destination.There is at present no published definition of an officially recognised air route, but any air route which is specified as such in an Air Ministry publication is regarded as an officially recognised air traffic route. The question of providing a specific definition of officially recognised air routes is still under consideration, in consultation with operating companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether instructions were given for designs to be made at Farnborough for an illuminated wind stocking for Croydon airport; and, if so, on what dates the instructions were given and the designs completed?

Instructions to the effect referred to were issued in January, 1927. There is no record now available of the date when the design was completed but the wind sleeve (which however was not adopted for use) was installed and tested at Croydon in February, 1928.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether his Department is consulted by local authorities before these incur expense by laying out aerodromes which may not conform to the type advocated by the Maybury Committee for use by commercial aircraft in all conditions of visibility; and, if not, whether he will consider issuing a general warning?

The Air Ministry is normally consulted and in addition the Ministry of Health, whose sanction for raising loans in the case of England and Wales is necessary, consult the Air Ministry in regard to applications relating to the establishment of aerodromes. A pamphlet entitled "The principles governing the planning and zoning of land aerodromes" has been prepared by the Air Ministry and is in the course of issue to local authorities. Further the local authorities specified in Section 8 of the Air Navigation Act, 1920, as amended by the Air Navigation Act of 1936 can establish and maintain aerodromes only with the consent of my right hon. Friend and this in itself constitutes a warning. I do not think that any further action is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the heavy and long-persisting unemployment in Greenock, he will consider, with the Commissioners for Special Areas in Scotland, the utilisation of the old Caird shipyard as a site for a new industry or industries in Greenock; and if he has any statement to make on the subject?

The Commissioner informs me that he is taking every opportunity of bringing this site and other suitable sites in the Special Areas to the notice of industrialists with a view to the establishment of new industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the store-warden grade of the prison service was not permitted to be assimilated with the clerical grades of the Civil Service generally as was done in the case of the similar grade, the clerks and schoolmasters, of the English prison service; and if he is aware that the pay and general conditions of service of the Scottish prisons were assimilated with those obtaining in the English prison service?

The store warders in the Scottish prison service were not assimilated to the clerical class of the Civil Service because, unlike the former grade of clerks and schoolmasters in the English prison service, they are a uniformed disciplined grade. I am aware that the pay and conditions of service in the Scottish prisons were assimilated to those obtaining in England so far as the circumstances allowed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether all the officers at the Criminal Lunatic Asylum, Perth, who come under the benefits of paragraph 18 of the Stanhope Report, 1923, were, on transfer to the asylum service, deprived of those benefits and placed on the same basis as officers who joined after the date of the report; if this was taken into account on the transfer of the officers concerned; and what savings, if any, were involved in the policy?

Under paragraph 18 of the report referred to, warders serving in Scottish prisons on 27th July, 1923, were allowed in lieu of certain miscellaneous payments a basic increase of 1s. a week, subject to the maximum of the scale of pay; and as recommended elsewhere in the report the special allowance payable to warders serving in the Criminal Lunatic Department was increased to 3s. a week basic. These allowances are not payable concurrently to the same officer and consequently a prison warder in receipt of the basic increase of 1s. a week who was transferred to the Criminal Lunatic Department would receive the special allowance of 3s. a week basic, in lieu of the basic increase of 1s. a week. The financial adjustment involved in such cases was not a factor in the selection of individuals for transfer and there was no question of savings.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that officers at the Criminal Lunatic Asylum, Perth, perform within 14 days four days of eight hours each and six days of 10 hours and 40 minutes each; and if he will have these hours reviewed, in the interests of the health of the officers and the efficiency of the service?

The period of duty of the officers referred to is 96 hours a fortnight and the rotation of duties in force is as suggested by the staff themselves. On the information before me a review of the existing arrangement does not appear to be necessary; but it is open to the staff to make any representations which they may think fit through the usual channels and if any representations are made they will receive due consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the present hours of duty of the officers at the Criminal Lunatic Asylum, Perth, were introduced as an economic measure so that the extension of the prisoners' working would not involve any addition to the staff?

The hours of duty were rearranged in consultation with the staff, consequently upon the decision to allow the inmates an extra hour of evening recreation. The rearrangement involved the addition of one warder to the establishment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the total number of persons under the jurisdiction of each of the police divisions of Glasgow?

As population statistics are not compiled on the basis of police divisions I regret that the information desired by the hon. Member is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of persons who have applied for old age contributory pensions and have been refused, and also the same figures for widows' pensions during the past 12 months?

The number of claims for old age contributory pension received by the Department of Health from persons between the ages of 65 and 70 during the year ended 2nd June, 1938, was 24,816; the number of claims rejected was 1,588. The corresponding figures for widows' pensions are 9,269 and 1,132.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that at arbitration the Kirkcaldy Town Council has been required to pay £13,270 for 67 acres of Smeaton Farm, belonging to Colonel St. Clair Oswald, and wanted as a housing site; and what was the net rateable value of this land previous to acquisition?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, the net rateable value of the land before acquisition was £17 15s. I understand, however, that the main consideration in determining value in such cases is the annual rental, which was £156 0s. 10d.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many British shipping companies were operating in the Pacific Ocean on 31st December, 1930, 1934, and 1938, respectively, or other approximate convenient dates; and how many vessels, and aggregate tonnage and total personnel, British and non-British, respectively, were engaged there at the said dates; and whether he is taking any steps towards improving the present position?

The particulars asked for in the first two parts of the question are not available. The position of British shipping in the Orient has been referred to the Imperial Shipping Committee, whose report is awaited. The position of British liner shipping between the West Coast of North America and Australia and New Zealand is under consideration by those Governments of the British Commonwealth concerned.