asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made as regards the cleansing of the Ogmore River, Glamorganshire?

A scheme of works for the improvement of the River Ogmore, estimated to cost £5,700, was approved by me on 30th April for a grant of 60 per cent. under Section 55 of the Land Drainage Act, 1930.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he proposes to take any steps in the immediate future to fortify the price-level of mutton and lamb, which is at present quite unremunerafive?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my remarks during the Debate on the Motion for the Adjournment on nth May, and to the reply given on 23rd May to my right hon. Friend the Member for South Molton (Mr. Lambert) and my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Tiverton (Lieut.-Colonel Acland-Troyte).

asked the Minister of Agriculture if and when it is proposed to raise the maximum quota payment under the Wheat Act?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 29th May to my hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Sir J. Wardlaw-Milne).

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Corporation of Nottingham, through its estates committee, declines to appropriate for the purposes of the Small Holdings and Allotments Acts any portion of the 470 acres of land acquired under other powers and used temporarily for the pur- pose of allotments, and that a large area of this type of land, cultivated as allotments for a lengthy period, has been sold to speculative builders; and, in view of the unrest amongst the majority of allotment holders in this city on account of their allotments being held by the corporation for the purposes of speculation, what steps, if any, does he propose to take in order to make their tenure more secure?

I am informed by the Corporation that the position with regard to allotments in Nottingham is that approximately 50 acres are controlled by the Allotments Committee, 385 acres by the Estates Committee of the Corporation and 380 acres are let by private owners to plot holders or allotment associations, excluding railway company allotments. That part of the land at present used for allotments which is controlled by the Estates Committee has not been appropriated for allotments and is not vested in the Council for allotment purposes.I am further informed that some six months ago the Corporation sold for building development approximately 55 acres of land which had not been appropriated for allotments, but was being so used until it became ripe for development; that all the allotment holders concerned were offered alternative accommodation in the vicinity, that no holder who required alternative accommodation was refused, and that financial compensation was paid to all holders who did not take alternative accommodation.The City Council further informs me that it is not aware of any unrest amongst the majority of allotment holders in the city. The Council is satisfied that the allotment needs of the city are adequately provided for, and in this connection it is stated that at the present time the Corporation has more than 200 vacant allotments which are available for the public.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the quantity and value of basic slag and lime used in the county of Denbigh calculated on the basis of the Exchequer contribution under the Agriculture Act, 1937, according to the latest available figures?

The Land Fertility Scheme came into operation on the 6th September, 1937. Up to and including 21st May, 1938, 2,346 applications for contribution under the scheme had been received from the county of Denbigh, covering 9,353 tons of lime and 3,721 tons of basic slag, of an estimated value (delivered) of £18,600, and £12,000 respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether in co-operation with the Trent Fishery Board, he will take steps to establish a central laboratory in Nottingham to study fishery problems in the industrial Midlands?

Certain members of the Ministry's scientific staff have been transferred to Nottingham for a limited period for the purpose mentioned by my hon. Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will state the number of junior and infant schools which are combined in a single department under one head teacher?

On 31st March, 1937, the number of departments containing both infants and junior children was 4,080.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education, what is the number of infant schools which have no inside lavatory accommodation?

I regret that the information for which the hon. Member asks is not available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education, what is the percentage increase in school-building material from 1935 to the latest available date?

Precise records of the fluctuations in the cost of materials used for school buildings are not available. Different authorities employ different materials and methods of construction arid the prices of the material vary noticeably from one part of the country to another, according to such factors as freight charges and accessibility. It is not possible, therefore, to give any accurate answer to the hon. Member's question, but from such partial information as is in the Board's possession it would appear that there has been a general increase in the price of materials during the period in question of the order of 15 per cent.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education, how many schemes for the establishment of Church central schools under the Education Act, 1936, have been received by the Board; against how many have objections been lodged; how many public inquiries have been held; in how many cases after public inquiry has the scheme been sanctioned; in how many cases after public inquiry has the scheme been rejected; in how many cases after an objection has been lodged has the scheme been approved without public inquiry; what is the total number of schemes sanctioned and rejected respectively; and in how many cases is a decision outstanding?

Notices under Section 18 of the Education Act, 1921, have been published in respect of 113 proposed new voluntary senior schools and of 39 proposed enlargements of voluntary senior schools. In some of these cases the statutory three months' period of publication of notices has not yet expired. Appeals have been made to the Board against 20 of these proposals and public inquiries have been held in two cases; one of these has been rejected and on the other a decision has not yet been reached. In four cases, in which appeals have been made, the proposals have been approved without a public inquiry being held. The total number of schemes so far approved is 37, and the number rejected one. In 114 cases a decision has not yet been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for War under which statutory enactment a Territorial Force Association can acquire land compulsorily?

Territorial Army Associations have powers of compulsory acquisition of land under the Military Lands Acts, 1892 to 1903, as adapted by Regulations made under Section 4 of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act, 1907. In practice it has generally been found more convenient for the Secretary of State for War to exercise the powers of compulsory acquisition conferred on him by the Defence Act, 1842, the property acquired being vested in him, and used for the purposes of the Territorial Army.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give any information collected by his Department which shows that expectant mothers employed in factories suffer injury consequent upon the nature of their employment?

The Home Office has not collected any information on this subject.

asked the Home Secretary how many volunteers have presented themselves for air-raid precautions in the city of Birmingham up to the 1st May; and how many instructors were engaged up to that date in teaching them?

I am informed that 8,265 volunteers for all air-raid precaution services including the auxiliary fire service had been enrolled on 1st instant and that 33 instructors were then available to instruct them.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the proposed co-ordination between the Post Office and Cable and Wireless, Limited, will entail the suppression of any circuits at present operated by them; and, if so, what provision will be made for the staff who would be affected?

I am not in a position to forecast the extent to which the co-ordination of the Anglo-Continental telegraph services will lead to the suppression of existing circuits; but I have no reason to suppose that the arrangements made with Cable and Wireless, Limited, will have an adverse effect on the staff concerned.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the resolution from the Inland Water Survey Committee; whether he has come to any decision upon it; and, if so, whether he can state what his decision is?

My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to announce a decision shortly.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet received the report of the Coastal Preservation Committee; and, if so, what steps does he intend taking to deal with their conclusions?

I have received this report, and I have arranged to see a deputation of the Coastal Preservation Committee about it shortly.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to make any statement with regard to the action he proposes to take to deal with the problem of increasing rates in all parts of the country?

I am asking all local authorities to prepare and submit to me programmes covering the next five years, so as to secure that new capital expenditure is carefully planned and entered into with due regard to the general economic circumstances as well as the financial position of the local authority concerned. As my hon. Friend will appreciate the level of the rates is primarily a matter for the several local authorities. Although increases have recently been made in many areas the general level is still below that of some few years ago.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the extent to which rural electrification is proceeding in Wales?

The latest figures available show that the mileage of low tension distributing mains in parishes in rural districts in Wales increased from 895 miles in 305 parishes at the end of March, 1936, to 998 miles in 322 parishes at the end of March, 1937.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the amount of tons of coal consumed by electricity undertakings for the year 1934 and up to

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the retired pay of a captain, Royal Marines, and a lieutenant promoted from the ranks?

The rates of retired pay vary according to the length of service and the circumstances of retirement. These rates are set out on page 54 and follow

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the profits of electricity undertakings for the year 1934 and up to the latest available year?

The following is the information:the latest available year; and also the average price per ton of such coal?

The quantities of coal and coke consumed in each calendar year in the generating stations of authorised electricity undertakers were as follow:ing pages of the Appendix to the Navy List for December, 1937.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the average value of the main Continental imports of foundry iron and of basic iron during each of the years since 1929; and what has been the average Home price of the comparable commodities in the same period?

No strict comparison can be made between the average value of im

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the principal raw materials required for the manufacture of foundry iron or basic iron; and

The principal raw materials required for the manufacture of pig iron, whether foundry or basic, are iron ore, limestone, and coke. With the hon. Member's permission I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible a table showing the principal price movements of these materials since 1929.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make an estimate of the cost of customs and excise supervision over the production of power alcohol in this country?

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the cost thrown upon distillers by restrictions imposed by law for purposes of revenue control. Any such estimate must necessarily cover all alcohol whether used in the manufacture of power methylated spirits or industrial methylated spirits or used duty-free in arts and manufactures under Section 8 of the Finance Act, 1902; it could only be made after prolonged inquiry at the distilleries, upon which I am not, as at present advised, satisfied that there is ground for embarking.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give a list of the companies to which the bounty of 8id. per gallon on power alcohol is paid, and of the sums of money paid to each during the last financial year?

It would be contrary to practice to disclose particulars relating to the business of individual firms