asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can state the amount of the element-of-danger money officially declared to be contained in the emoluments of the officers of the Royal Air Force; whether the amount is the same in the case of wing-commanders, squadron-leaders, and flight-lieutenants; arid whether it is differentiated between married and single officers?

The rates of pay of Royal Air Force officers, which are the same for married and single officers, take into account the flying risk element as well as other relevant factors, but it is not possible to affix precise figures to each of the various elements.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is now in a position to make a statement respecting the future of the Royal Air Force ex-officers' emergency reserve?

It has been decided that the Air Ministry shall assume responsibility for the organisation and administration of the Royal Air Force ex-officers' emergency reserve. Members of the reserve are being notified of this decision and their subscriptions are being returned to them, all expenses incurred up to the present having been met anonymously.

asked the Secretary of State for Air 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?

Paragraph 861 of King's Regulations and Air Council Instructions forbids the employment of aliens in any Royal Air Force quarters or establishment in this country without prior approval of the Air Ministry. At the present time one Swiss national and two German (ex-Austrian) subjects are employed under this authority.

asked the Home Secretary what steps have been taken to co-ordinate his appeal for women volunteers and the proposal to establish a women's Territorial Army?

The appeal of the Women's Voluntary Services for air-raid precautions is on lines distinct from the formation of a small uniformed force of women to serve with the Territorial Army, and this distinction is preserved by the co-ordination between my Department and that of my right hon. Friend.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will introduce legislation to provide that, where a leaseholder spends a considerable amount of money in response to the Government's appeal for protection of premises against damage by hostile aircraft, a specified proportion of that cost should be borne by the ground landlord?

There are in the existing law provisions as to compensation to tenants in certain circumstances for improvements which they make in properties, and the considerations to which my hon. Friend calls attention do not seem to provide grounds for fresh legislation on this subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the copy sent to -him of the resolution passed by the Islington Borough Council, at their meeting on the 17th instant, in which they enumerate the matters which in their opinion, require the immediate attention of the Government with regard to air-raid precautions in general; and will he outline the proposals of his Department to deal with the complaints and proposals contained in the resolution?

I have seen the resolution to which the hon. Member refers. On a number of proposals from Islington there have been correspondence and discussions with the Home Office, but there are now no questions awaiting reply; and the general problems of policy mentioned in the resolution have received and are receiving the attention of the Government.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any bomb-proof shelters are being erected in His Majesty's dockyard as Chatham?

Certain arrangements for the protection of employès of His Majesty's Dockyard, Chatham, against air attack, have already been made and others are under consideration. It would not be in the public interest to disclose details.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the grave waste of time and the annoyance caused to the public, especially in industrial districts, by the existence of a great number of level-crossings, he can state what progress is being made towards their elimination and how many have been so eliminated in each of the last five years?

I am prepared, upon application from the appropriate highway authority, to consider making a grant from the Road Fund at the rate of 75 per cent. towards the elimination of level-crossings on roads which have sufficient traffic value. During the past five years grants have been made from the Road Fund towards the cost of eliminating or avoiding 29 level-crossings, the numbers for the financial years 1933–34 to 1937–38 being 2, 10, 5, 7 and 5, respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the public demand, he will press for the abolition or modification of the practice of cutting down the accommodation in trains after 10 a.m.?

I have no evidence which would justify me in pressing the railway companies and the London Passenger Transport Board in this matter. My hon. Friend will appreciate that the jurisdiction in regard to services or facilities in the London transport area is vested in the Railway Rates Tribunal on application being made to them by a local authority.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the present position of the proposed Maidenhead by-pass; when the work is expected to be commenced; and what are the reasons for the delay in making a commencement?

Detailed plans have been drawn up and the necessary land is being acquired. Part of this is common land which raises additional complications. I hope that tenders will shortly be invited for the bridge over the Thames so that construction can be begun in September next. The constructional works on the road cannot be begun until entry on the land has been secured and the negotiations for this are likely to take some months.

asked the Minister of Transport whether it is his intention to issue regulations to the effect that speedometers shall be affixed in a position where passengers in vehicles plying for hire and carrying more than eight persons can see the rate at which such vehicle is travelling?

The present regulations as to speed indicators came into force on 1st October last and I do not think that sufficient experience of their working has yet been obtained to justify me in asking the Transport Advisory Council to reconsider the question at this moment.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the number of children who have met their death during the last 12 months resulting from contact with the live rail on electrified railways in this country?

During the 12 months ended 31st May last 10 children, all of whom were trespassing, were fatally injured through coming into contact with the live rail on electrified railways in this country.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the number of instances in which coroners' juries have adversely criticised the Southern Railway during the last 12 months in respect of deaths of children to which inadequate protection of electrified lines have contributed?

During the 12 months ended 31st May last eight children were fatally injured through coming into contact with the live rail on the Southern Railway. In two cases the coroner's jury commented adversely on the fencing provided.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that the present condition of the West Indian Colonies is due in part to world economic conditions and the economic policy adopted in the Colonial Empire as a whole, adequate facilities can be given to the proposed Royal Commission to enable it to deal in general with such Colonial economic policy?

Every facility will, of course, be given to the members of the proposed Royal Commission for the study of general Colonial economic policy so far as it affects the Colonies into whose affairs they are inquiring.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can provide a list of the committees and commissions which have investigated problems in the West Indies during the present century?

I doubt whether any useful purpose would be served by the compilation of a list of local or other committees or commissions of inquiry which have investigated a great variety of West Indian problems during the last 38 years. I shall, however, be glad to supply my hon. Friend, if he wishes, with a list of the more important commissions which have been sent to the West Indies from this country in recent years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, despite the state of emergency existing in Palestine, a large number of the senior personnel of the Palestine Government have gone on long leave during the past quarter for periods varying from three to seven months; and whether, in view of the fact that, so far as the military garrison is concerned, duty in Palestine is regarded as active service and leave only granted sparingly, he will consider whether the present arrangements for maintaining an adequate civil administration are sufficient?

The matter is one which I must leave to the discretion of the High Commissioner, but I am not aware that recent leave arrangements have been exceptional. I would remind my hon. Friend that the Palestine Administration has been working continuously for more than two years under conditions of very great difficulty and strain, and its officers have fully earned the leave to which they are entitled. I am satisfied that the arrangements for maintaining an adequate civil administration are sufficient. As regards the comparison with the military garrison, I understand that there are no special leave restrictions applicable to troops in Palestine, and I would point out that the tour of service of military personnel in that territory is at present limited to one year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what date the view that partition offers the best and most hopeful solution of the Palestine deadlock was, as stated by Sir John Shuckburgh before the Mandates Commission of the League of Nations recently, reaffirmed in the House of Commons?

The reference was to the reply given by my Noble Friend, Lord Harlech, to the hon. and gallant Member for Chippenham (Captain Cazalet) on 9th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give any information about the labour troubles in connection with the sugar estates in Berbice county and Port Mourant, British Guiana?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any statement to make regarding the recent disturbances in British Guiana; and what immediate action he proposes to take to deal with the economic distress in this Colony?

There has been an interruption of work on the Albion and Port Mourant estates in British Guiana, and some disorder and threatening conduct on the part of the crowd, which the police were able to control. I am glad to say that according to the latest report which I have received from the Governor it appears that the efforts of the recently appointed Commissioner of Labour, assisted by the representative of the trade union, to secure an amicable settlement of the matters under dispute, which related chiefly to wages, have met with success. In both cases there have been slight increases of wages, and work has been resumed by the great majority on the estates. As regards any further action, I cannot add anything at present to the statement which I made in the course of the Debate on 14th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what interest has been and is being paid on the £81,000 maize advances in Kenya; if any of the £81,000 has been repaid; whether those who received the £81,000 are being asked to repay what was lent them; and, if repayment is not expected, how the loss is to be made up to the Treasury?

The advances were a loan free of interest, to be repaid by a cess on the export of maize as soon as the price exceeded a certain figure. I regret that I am not in a position to reply to the remaining parts of the question, but I am asking the Governor for the information desired by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the governor of Northern Rhodesia has completed his consideration of the Report of the Commission appointed to inquire into the financial and economic position of Northern Rhodesa; and what steps are to be taken to implement the recommendations in the report?

I am not yet in a position to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 18th May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the proposed amendment of the Penal Code (153A) of the Straits Settlement is likely to lead to further restrictions on the right of free speech; and whether he has approved of these changes?

The Governor has informed me of the proposed amendment which is designed to prevent the fomentation of enmity between the various races and classes of the community and is based upon the corresponding section of the Indian Penal Code. The right of non-malicious criticism is preserved, and no Court will be empowered to take cognizance of any offence under this section unless upon complaint by the Attorney-General or on his authority, and I would draw the hon. Member's attention to these safeguards. The question of formal approval does not arise unless and until the Bill is passed by the local Legislature.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that for the three years 1935 to 1937 we imported sugar from Cuba to the extent of about 600,000 tons per annum and approximately the same amount from British sugar-producing colonies; and, as during this period we sold £1,000,000, worth of goods to Cuba as against £7,000,000 worth to the sugar-producing colonies, what steps are possible under the international sugar agreement to reduce our imports of Cuban sugar and to increase our imports of colonial sugar?

Under the International Sugar Agreement Cuban exports of sugar into the free market have in fact been fixed at a figure very considerably below their peak export figure, whereas Colonial exports have not suffered any such considerable reduction, and Colonial imports into the United Kingdom market have been maintained at a level as high as they have attained at any time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will hold a special inquiry into the social and housing conditions prevailing in St. Helena, and also into other British colonial possessions apart from the West Indies?

The new Governor of St. Helena has been asked to give special and early consideration to the question of social and housing conditions in the Colony. I am awaiting his report. As regards other Dependencies, the question of social amelioration is one which has to be considered separately in relation to each territory or region; and I do not therefore contemplate a general inquiry such as the hon. Member appears to suggest.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that repeated attempts have been made by the British authorities in British Somaliland to induce Ethiopian refugees, including Fitamen Baede, an Ethiopian chief, to return to Abyssinian territory; and whether he will give an assurance that such pressure shall not be exercised in the future?

I cannot accept the suggestion that any pressure has been brought to bear on any of the Ethiopian refugees in Somaliland to return to Ethiopia. The Governor's instructions are that no pressure of any kind should be put on them to return, and as I said on r5th June, none of the refugees will be sent back against their will.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the reorganisation of the judicial arrangements in the Protectorate of Somaliland has now taken place, and if provision has yet been made in the Protectorate for making free legal advice and assistance available to accused persons in the Protectorate?

The draft of an Order-in-Council making the necessary provision for the reorganisation of the judicial system will be submitted to His Majesty in Council this month, and will become effective as soon as the Order-in-Council is passed and proclaimed in the Protectorate. As I announced on the 25th May, advocates will be allowed to appear in cases of murder and manslaughter, but I am not in a position at present to say whether it will be practicable to supply accused persons with free legal aid.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider the advisability of arranging at an early date for a colonial economic conference to be held in this country, to be attended not only by representatives of colonial producers and administration but by representatives of industry in this country, with a view to working out plans for the better development of the Colonies and the more extensive use of colonial products by industry in this country?

I am in entire agreement with my hon. Friend's attitude towards Colonial development; I also agree with my hon. Friend's view that the closest co-operation between Colonial Governments and producers on the one hand and United Kingdom industry on the other is a very effective means of promoting this aim, but I doubt whether a conference of the kind which he proposes would serve a useful purpose at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the reason for the repeal of the Malta Act of Parliament excluding lawyers from the Trade Union Council of Malta?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to one of the provisions relating to the Trade Union Council in Malta which were incorporated in the Malta Constitution Letters Patent, 1921, by the Malta Constitution Act, 1932. Under those Letters Patent the Trade Union Council was, in common with certain other sections of the population, entitled to elect Special. Members of the Malta Senate, and the effect of the provision referred to was to exclude from membership of the Trade Union Council members of any other class of persons which was entitled to be represented by Special Members of the Senate. With the introduction of the present Constitution in Malta, the Senate was abolished, and there was therefore no longer reason to maintain the provision referred to with regard to the Trade Union Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Society of Pilots in Malta is confined to pilots; and if Dr. E. Mizzi, who represents the society on the Malta Trade Union Council is a qualified seaman member?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative. The Malta Trade Union Ordinance provides, among other things, that not less than 95 per cent. of the membership of a trade union shall be workmen.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the registrar of trade unions in Malta accepted the Society of Pilots for registration as a trade union?

The Society of Pilots was registered as a trade union in Malta on loth August, 1937.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the list of removal allowances for Colonial civil servants given in the Civil Service Report on removal allowances is fully operative?

I assume that this question refers to the reports of the Committee of the Civil Service National Whitley Council on subsistence allowances, etc. These reports concern only members of the home Civil Service, and have no application to officers of the Colonial Service, whose allowances are governed by the regulations of the particular Colonies in which they are employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been called to the recent increased imports into South Africa of cheap Japanese clothing mostly made of imitation wool; and whether, in view of the potential menace of this development, both to the South African wool industry and to the Bradford woollen trade, he will approach His Majesty's Government in the Union of South Africa with a view to taking remedial action?

I have no information of a recent increase in imports into South Africa of cheap Japanese clothing, but, if my hon. Friend will communicate to me any information which he has on the subject, I will consider, in consultation with my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, whether any action in the matter could usefully be taken so far as United Kingdom interests are concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether His Majesty's Government is taking steps to consult the Dominion Governments with regard to the reception and absorption of refugees with a view to submission at the Evian Conference of a concerted plan for the Empire as a whole?

As explained by the Prime Minister on the 23rd May, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for the English Universities (Miss Rathbone), the admission of refugees from any particular country and their subsequent employment are matters for each of His Majesty's Governments to decide in the light of the conditions obtaining in their respective countries at the time. I do not feel, therefore, that the hon. Member's suggestion is a practicable one. The Dominion Governments have, however, been invited to be represented at the Evian Conference, and the United Kingdom delegation to that Conference will keep in close touch with the Dominion delegations there.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware of the increase in the imports of dairy produce, especially milk-powder, from Australia during recent months; and whether he will make representations to ensure that the interests of British farmers and manufacturers are in no way prejudiced?

It is the case that imports of milk-powder from Australia have recently shown some tendency to increase, but, on the other hand, imports of butter, which is by far the most important item of dairy produce imported from Australia, were lower during the past five months of this year than the imports in the corresponding period of 1936. The situation will continue to be closely watched.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the numerous objections which have been made in recent months to the erection of the King George V Memorial on the Abingdon Street site, he can arrange for the committee to publish a letter referring to these objections, and asking whether subscribers would or would not disapprove of a change of site if, on investigation of all the facts, that were found desirable?

I have been in communication with the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Lord Mayor's Fund. The smaller site which has now been chosen by the Executive Committee, as recently announced in the Press, affords a position and setting for the late King's Memorial which has been described by the Royal Fine Art Commission as unexcelled, and, in the circumstances, I do not think that the Memorial Committee should be asked to adopt my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion.

asked the Prime Minister what effective steps are being taken to secure appointments for the four members of the British consular Bar in Egypt who were affected by the recent change of regime in Egypt; and, in particular, whether it is proposed to waive, if necessary, in their cases any age-limit which constitutes a bar to their receiving appointments under the Cown?

Since my reply on 18th May to my hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Sir J. Wardlaw-Milne), further efforts have been made on behalf of these gentlemen, but have unfortunately been unsuccessful for the reasons previously given. As regards the second part of the question, the regulations governing the appointment of Junior Legal Assistants in Government Department lay down a definite age-limit which can only be extended in favour of candidates who have served in His, Majesty's Forces during the Great War, and who are or have been employed in a Government Department. I am advised that it is impracticable to waive the regulations in favour of these gentlemen.

asked the Prime Minister who is to represent His Majesty's Government at the forthcoming conference at Evian to deal with the question of refugees?

My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Mr. C. M. Palairet, K.C.M.G., until recently His Majesty's Minister at Vienna, will represent His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom at the Evian Meeting.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Robert Watson, who was separated from his wife and family and deported from the United States of America after being in America for a number of years; and, in view of the hardship involved in this case, will he make representations to the Government of the United States of America with a view to having the matter reconsidered?

This case has already formed the subject of correspondence between His Majesty's Embassy at Washington and the competent authorities of the United States, and it is clear that the latter's decision to proceed with the deportation was only reached after full consideration of the facts. In these circumstances and in view also of the fact that this man has now landed in the United Kingdom, it does not seem that further representations to the United States Government would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Prime Minister what reply was given to the representations made by Señor Don Marsano, one of the representatives of General Franco in this country, on the subject of tourist traffic to those parts of Spain held by the insurgent forces; whether passport facilities will be granted for this purpose and the visa given by the representatives of the insurgent authorities will be recognised; and whether, in view of arrangements being made for visits of British holiday makers to the battlefields of Spain held by General Franco, he is satisfied that such facilities are consistent with the non-intervention policy of His Majesty's Government?

In response to an inquiry, General.Franco's agency in London was informed on r9th May that, as it was the present policy of His Majesty's Government to discourage British subjects, so far as possible, from visiting Spain unless they had some urgent business reason for wishing to proceed there, no special passport facilities could be given to persons intending to take part in a proposed tour organised by the National Association of Tourism of Nationalist Spain. It was added that all British subjects, without exception, desiring to proceed to Spain must make a separate application to the Passport Office for an endorsement.In accordance with practice, such British subjects as may apply for an endorsement in connection with the tour in question will be required personally to sign a declaration stating that they undertake that nothing will take place in the course of their visit that can be considered as implying any intervention by them on behalf of either side in the present dispute in Spain, that they have been warned of the dangers and difficulties they may encounter in Spain, and that they acknowledge that they have no cause for complaint if any of His Majesty's Representatives do not afford them protection or assistance in case of need. Endorsements will not of course be issued to any persons suspected of intention to enlist. No question of recognising visas issued by General Franco's agency arises in this connection.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give the names of the companies, and the names of the directors, in which the Government have the right of approving certain members of the board, as distinct from the companies on which the Government have a direct right of appointment or nomination?

So far as I am aware, the only cases in which the Government have the right to approve the appointment of directors, as distinct from the right to nominate or appoint them, are Cable and Wireless, Limited, and the British Sugar Corporation, Limited. The names of the directors so approved are as follow:Cable and Wireless, Limited:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that British export trade is being seriously damaged by the fall in the price level of primary commodities and this in turn is largely the result of adverse developments in the United States, he will consider the desirability of recommending action designed to alter the present sterling-dollar exchange rate and to raise the sterling level of commodity prices?

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend does not consider that the action suggested by my hon. Friend would be likely to achieve the purpose which he has in mind, and it would be contrary both to the Tripartite Currency Agreement and to the statutory provisions governing the use of the Exchange Equalisation Account.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the nature of the changes in the conditions under which female civil servants receive a gratuity on marriage and the reasons for these changes?

The Treasury Minute of 6th December, 1934, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, provides that, subject to certain conditions, if a woman civil servant who has retired with a gratuity on marriage is re-employed in an established capacity, she may refund the gratuity in order that her previous service may be aggregated with her subsequent service for superannuation purposes. I am not aware of any other recent change in the conditions subject to which marriage gratuities may be granted.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the Employment Exchanges and the total insured population where the unemployment rate at the last count exceeded 40 per cent. in the case of males or females?

pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 2nd June, 1938, Vol. 336, col. 2259), supplied the following statement:The Table below shows for the Employment Exchanges at which the number of unemployment books exchanged in 1937 was 3,000 or more, those at which the insured persons aged 16–64 recorded as unemployed at 16th May, 1938, represented over 40 per cent. in the case of males or females of the numbers of books exchanged. The figures exclude persons within the Agricultural Scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he is prepared to inquire into the application of the Unemployment Insurance Acts to continuous process workers on the seven-shift system, with a view to clarifying the regulations, and, if necessary, amending the legislation;(2) whether he is aware that continuous process workers on the seven-shift system registering at different Employment Exchanges are receiving varying amounts of benefit, although they may lose the same number of shifts and register the same number of signatures; and whether he will take steps to remove this anomaly;(3) whether he is aware of the injustice caused to shift-workers on the continuous process system whose working week is calculated on the basis of seven consecutive shifts and who, because of the special provisions for counting their signatures to the unemployment registers, are deprived of unemployment benefit to which they would have become entitled if their employment had been based on the normal working week; and whether he is prepared to take steps to have this injustice removed?

The benefit position of shift-workers employed in the continuous process system is governed by decisions of the Umpire. These are briefly to the effect that the periods between changes of shift are not counted as unemployment if the man is in full work, but in the cases to which the hon. Member refers, they may be so counted if he has done less than the full normal week's work. I am advised that this position is not less favourable and may in certain circumstances be more favourable than that of other workers. I am not aware of cases in which the rules are applied differently at different exchanges. The whole matter is necessarily somewhat complicated and I could go into it in more detail if the hon. Member would be good enough to see me.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of unemployed in receipt of unemployment assistance in the Blyth area; how many received the winter increase; what was the total amount paid; and are any of the recipients still receiving the allowance?

On 17th January last, which is the latest date in respect of which information is available, the number of current assessments in the Board's administrative area of Blyth was 2,371. In 1,043 of these cases the assessment included a winter addition. The total amount paid by way of winter addition cannot be stated, but the average weekly value per case was approximately 2S. 2d. Winter additions as such have ceased to be payable, but, in certain cases in which a winter addition had previously been made, the Board's officers, in the exercise of their general discretionary powers, have maintained the previous allowance or have reduced it by less than the full amount of the previous addition.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the decision of the Glasgow Corporation that time occupied by employès of the corporation who are members of the Territorial Army at camp should be considered as part of their annual holiday; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

Yes, Sir. I have seen this decision with regret.

asked the Postmaster-General when a Crown post office is to be built in Upminster; and how long the matter has been under consideration?

A suitable site has not yet been found. Search has been proceeding for some three years.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in connection with the forthcoming all-flying-boat service between this country and Australia, he will arrange for the flat-rate postage system to be introduced throughout the route between Australia and England as well as between England and Australia?

The determination of postal rates on correspondence posted in countries participating in the Empire Air Mail Scheme is a matter for the individual Governments of those countries and I regret that I am not in a position to intervene.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many men were on board His Majesty's Ship "Walrus" when she went ashore at Scarborough; what gale warnings had been received prior to the ship being taken to sea in tow or were issued while she was at sea; if the contract for refloating the ship was put out to competition; how long it took the firm employed to refloat the ship; and if he is satisfied that this firm made a seamanlike job of the operation?

There were four riggers on board His Majesty's Ship "Walrus" when she went ashore on the 12th February last. Four gale warnings were received during a period of 32 hours before "Walrus" put to sea and three more while she was at sea.

In view of the serious damage sustained by "Walrus" when she went ashore after breaking adrift, it was decided not to salvage and repair this 20-year-old ship but to sell her as she lay for breaking up, after guns and certain fittings had been removed.

She was sold to the same firm which undertook the contract for removal of the guns and fittings. In view of the danger of the ship breaking up where she lay under stress of weather, immediate action was necessary and it was not possible to proceed by way of competitive tender. The Admiralty is not concerned with the operations of the contractors subsequent to the sale.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether further consideration has been given to the adequacy of the destroyer strength of His Majesty's Navy; whether any further construction of destroyers is to be authorised during the current financial year; and, if so, where they are to be built?

Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Government have decided not to include a flotilla of destroyers in the current year's new construction programme.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any of the aeroplanes to be obtained from the United States of America are to be used in connection with the Naval Air Arm; and, if so, to what extent?

The reply is in the negative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when light work is to be found for Mr. W. J. Earland, who was injured while employed at the Royal Naval Armament Department, Woolwich, in May, 1936, who is now only receiving 6s. 7d. a week compensation, and who was told a year ago, and at subsequent intervals, that he would be offered light work in the armament department when an opportunity occurred?

The possibility of finding a place for Mr. Earland at the Royal Naval Armament Depot, Woolwich, is always borne in mind by the responsible officer. The work of labourers at Woolwich, however, is, generally, fairly heavy work, and such light posts as exist are already filled by disabled men, ex-service and others. If a suitable opening occurs, Mr. Earland will be given employment again.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on what lines the reconstruction of the advisory committee for the city of Liverpool was made, what changes in personnel have taken place, and can be give his reasons for making such changes in view of the good record of public service rendered by the old committee?

Owing to vacancies caused by deaths and resignation I had to decide whether to make additions to or to reconstruct the old committee. I recognise the public service rendered by the members of this committee, but I felt it my duty to reconstruct it, a course which is not unusual in Lancashire. I have accordingly invited the following to form the new committee, Miss E. E. Banister, Lieut.-Colonel Albert Buckley, Mr. E. J. Deane, Mr. A. N. Denaro, Mr. J. R. Hobhouse, Sir Sydney Jones, Mr. F. T. Richardson and the hon. and gallant Member for the Exchange Division of Liverpool; all have accepted. Of these Colonel Buckley, Mr. J. R. Hobhouse and Sir Sydney Jones were members of the old committee. The new committee will, in my judgment, be thoroughly representative of the public life of the City and of the various shades of opinion within it; furthermore it will be numerically more in accord with the committees in the rest of Lancashire.