asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the present daily ration allowance made to mechanics in the Royal Air Force; and will he give particulars of the last occasion that this allowance was reassessed?

The value of the current daily ration allowance issuable in respect of mechanics in common with other airmen varies according to circumstances between Is. 2½d. and 2S. 6½d. a day. These allowances, which are reassessed monthly, were last modified on 3oth April, 1938.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why Air Ministry warders who are counterparts of the Royal Marine and War Department constabulary, are not allowed to join a Civil Service organisation for the improvement of their position nor to take part in any Whitley Council business; and whether he will consider modifying the regulations accordingly?

In view of the special nature of their employment Air Ministry civilian warders are debarred, as are similar personnel employed by the War Office, from membership of the bodies referred to other than an association formed within the grade itself and with the approval of the Department. Apart from representations made through any such association it is always open to the men to present a case relative to conditions of service through the usual channels in accordance with normal rules.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the recent complaints of frequent low-flying of aeroplanes in the vicinity of the Croydon aerodrome and, in particular, as to the low flying on the evening of the 19th May, when, owing to excessive vibration, damage was done to the contents of a house in The Drive, Wallington; and will he take steps to ensure that this menace to the health and property of the inhabitants of Wallington and district is abated?

I have ascertained that a complaint of the nature stated was made to Croydon Airport on 19th May last but that the control officer on duty noticed nothing abnormal about the flight of the aircraft believed to have been the cause of the complaint. Representations are made to the operating companies from time to time and I am informed that the companies do all they can to avoid cause for complaint.

asked the Home Secretary what use has been made in the country, outside the London area, of the provisions under the Summary Proceedings (Domestic Procedure) Act, 1937; in particular, which courts throughout the country now hold special sessions for the hearing of matrimonial cases; to what extent the practice is prevalent of allowing probation officers to see all persons before these persons have access to the courts; and whether, in view of the recommendations of the departmental committee on the Social Services in Courts of Summary Jurisdiction, 1936, he will take steps to see that there shall be in every case a right of direct access to the court?

I cannot say precisely what steps have been taken by the many courts of summary jurisdiction outside London to separate the hearing and determination of domestic proceedings from other business. The attention of the justices was specially drawn to the requirement of the new Act in the Home Office circular of 6th September, 1937, and I have no reason to doubt that it is being carried out. Prominence was also given in the Home Office circular of 3oth July, 1936, to a recommendation of the Social Services Committee that applicants in matrimonial cases should be encouraged to approach the court direct and not through the probation officer. My right hon. Friend has no authority to lay down any rule, but I believe there is growing appreciation of the wisdom of the course recommended by the committee.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will establish a 3o-mile speed limit in Eastern Avenue, Ilford, between the Red House and Wanstead, in view of the fact that Eastern Avenue between these points is laid out as a single carriageway and that numerous accidents have taken place?

I am asking the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee for a report.

asked the Minister of Transport how many shelters at Green Line stopping places have now been erected in Greater London; and whether he proposes to erect such shelters at all Green Line and long-distance omnibus stops?

The London Passenger Transport Board have erected 153 shelters at Green Line stopping places and I am informed that it is their intention to continue providing shelters where circumstances justify such provision.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the imperfect method of the London Passenger Transport Board in notifying the public on the occasion of any accident on their system as to the nature and extent of the dislocation of the traffic; and whether he will consult with the Board with a view to making more adequate arrangements on these occasions for the information and guidance of the travelling public?

I am informed by the London Passenger Transport Board that when there is any extended disturbance of the Board's railway services all stations are notified by telephone from the central control office as soon as possible and special notice boards are prominently displayed at each station informing passengers which section of line is affected and what are the alternative routes available.I understand that in the case of the accident which occurred on the District Railway shortly before 10.0 a.m. on 17th May, the evening newspapers and Press agencies were informed, at 10.15 a.m., of the interruption to the train service and, at 11.0 a.m., were given details of the emergency bus services which were in operation.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can give the number of accidents in the London area on 17th May, 1938, in which skidding motor vehicles were involved, and what was the daily average for 1937; whether he can give separate figures showing how many such accidents took place on new non-skid-surface roads as against the old-fashioned surfaces; and what steps can he take to expedite the alteration of surfaces which, in wet weather, lead to skidding?

I regret that the details asked for in the first and second parts of the question are not available. As regards the last part, I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a memorandum on the layout and construction of roads which was issued to all highway authorities in January, 1937. In addition, my divisional road engineers continue to call the attention of highway authorities to any surfaces which appear to them to need improvement.

asked the Minister of Transport how many cases since the passage of the Ribbon Development Act have occurred in which persons have unwittingly constructed or commenced to construct buildings within 220 feet of the highway and have been compelled to remove them without any compensation; and whether, in view of the hardship which results in such cases, steps can be taken to provide compensation where the persons concerned are people of small means and can show that they acted in ignorance?

I have no knowledge of any such cases. Under the Act a person can only be required to remove, or to pay for the removal of, a building which has been erected in contravention of restrictions. I can see no reason why compensation should be paid for the loss which a person incurs as a result of his own illegal action.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement as to the date of beginning of work on the Redruth by-pass road?

I have advertised a draft Compulsory Purchase Order for the acquisition of the land required for this by-pass and the period during which objections may be submitted expires today. I expect that the works can be commenced about six months after confirmation of the Order, but at this stage I cannot give any precise date.

asked the Minister of Transport whether it is the intention of the Government to implement the Bressey Report; and would he undertake to study the scheme for the south side of the Thames sympathetically?

I shall do all I can to further the projects in the report, but the hon. Member will recognise that the initiative largely rests with the authorities responsible for highway development in the various areas, whose co-operation I have already invited in several instances. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Transport how soon he will make a pronouncement on his proposals for implementing the Bressey Report?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I have given to-day to the hon. Member for Rotherhithe (Mr. Benjamin Smith). It will be realised that the programme of works in the Bressey Report is based on a forecast of traffic requirements over the next 3o years, and must inevitably involve careful consideration and detailed discussion with the responsible authorities, particularly as to the order in which schemes should be undertaken. When these discussions, which I have already commenced, have reached a more advanced stage, I hope to make a pronouncement.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the amount paid to the local authorities in Wales out of the Road Fund for road construction and repairs for each of the past five years?

The ascertainment of the actual amounts paid to Welsh Authorities, including those in Monmouthshire, under grants from the Road Fund during each of the past five years would involve a considerable amount of labour, but the amounts of grants made to such authorities were as follow:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will take steps at an early date to set up an impartial inquiry into the matter of the Regent Street ground rents?

The question of ground rents in Regent Street was fully considered by my predecessor and myself after deputations of hon. Members had been received by my right hon. Friend on 19th December, 1934, and 20th July, 1936. As a result it was decided to grant ex gratia relief, exceptionally, to any trading tenants in Regent Street who paid a ground rent in excess of 25s. a square foot and submitted accounts showing that they were in straits. Claims for temporary remission of rent on this basis have been substantiated in a few instances and relief has been granted. I regret that I cannot agree to set up an inquiry to consider the question of remissions on any wider basis.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the decisions reached at the recent Empire Producers' Conference at Sydney to the effect that local producers have a right to the first place in their market, with second place to other parts of the Empire, and third place to the foreigner; and what machinery it is proposed to set up to bring these proposals into effect?

The resolutions adopted at the Empire Producers' Conference with regard to commodity councils do not appear to call for any action by His Majesty's Government at the present stage, but they will receive careful study.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what information has reached him recently as to the state of employment in Jamaica; and if he will supply the House with such information as may be available as to fluctuations in employment in particular works and factories?

The general situation as regards employment in Jamaica has been under consideration by my predecessor and the Governor of Jamaica for more than a year. A memorandum furnished by the Governor in March, 1937, set out the extent of the problem and indicated the steps that were to be taken to deal with it. A copy of this memorandum is being placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the British colonial sugar industry was persuaded to agree to the limitation of output provided for under the International Sugar Agreement in the hope that increased sugar prices would result; and, in view of the fact that prices have fallen substantially since the agreement was signed, what steps he proposes to take to provide alternative means to preserve and develop the economic position of the sugar-growing colonies such as the British West Indies?

I am aware that the object of the International Sugar Agreement is to secure increased sugar prices, and that this object has not yet been attained. The question of the possi- bility of providing alternative means to preserve and develop the economic position of the sugar-growing colonies, however, will not arise until it is known whether or not the further steps already taken or to be taken in the near future by the International Sugar Council are likely to achieve their object.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the low sugar prices which have obtained since the signing of the International Sugar Agreement can only be borne by the producers and employees concerned in the West Indies if some expansion of output is permitted; and whether steps can be taken to avoid the present combination of low prices and curtailed output which is otherwise likely to cause further trouble?

I am well aware that the present combination of low prices and curtailed output is bearing hardly on the sugar industry in the West Indies. As I have indicated in reply to other questions, the International Sugar Council is at present engaged in an attempt to improve the position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the persecution of Jews in Europe, particularly in Austria, he will now consider authorising an increase in the quota of Jewish immigration into Palestine?

I am unable to add anything to the reply which my predecessor gave on 13th April to the hon. and gallant Member for Coventry (Captain Strickland). That reply should be taken to cover all categories of immigrants.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, before the plans of the new Government offices in Whitehall are finally decided upon, it is proposed to take any steps to submit them to the advice of the air-raid precautions experts of the Home Office?

The precautions embodied in the plans of the new Whitehall building have been submitted to and agreed by the Air-Raid Precautions Department of the Home Office., and details of the precautions were given in the Debate on the Third Reading of the Air-Raid Precautions Bill on 7th December, 1937.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the serious plight of the unestablished local draftsmen in the Government service at Malta, who do very responsible work and are paid on a lower scale than the clerks; that the rates of pay range from 48s. to 66s. maximum after many years' service, and carry no pension; and whether he will look into the remuneration of these employés?

The rates of pay and conditions of service of the locally-entered drawing office staffs in His Majesty's Dockyard, Malta, were revised in 1931, in agreement with the men's accredited representatives. No representations from the dockyard officers as to the inadequacy of these rates have been received nor has any request been made by the staffs for a revision of the 1931 agreement.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any differentiation is shown in granting leave to ratings of the Mediterranean Fleet as between Spanish ports controlled by the Government of Spain and those controlled by General Franco?

The ports affected are Palma, Valencia and Barcelona, as His Majesty's ships do not normally visit other Spanish ports for sufficiently long periods for leave to be given. No differentiation is made between these ports in principle, but in practice the grant of leave at Palma has proved more convenient because owing to the size and position of the town it is practicable to recall men to their ships at very short notice.With regard to Barcelona, permission has recently been asked of the Spanish Government to land bathing parties on the beach at Caldetas. An additional consideration in the case of both Barcelona and Valencia is the constant danger of air raids.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether the Engineering Employers' Federation, on 5th April, invited the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions to meet them in order to discuss the speeding up of the armament programme; whether this meeting has yet taken place; and what is the cause of the delay?

I understand that a joint meeting took place to-day between the Engineering and Allied Employers' National Federation, the Amalgamated Engineering Union, the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions and the National Union of Foundry Workers. A statement was made on behalf of the employers and the conference adjourned to give the unions the opportunity of considering the statement and reporting to their executives.