asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that Mrs. O'Dowd, 16, Hillside Street, Glasgow, was refused her claim for a widow's pension; that her late husband was employed for over 30 years with the Glasgow Corporation; that he was retired from work owing to having reached the age of 65; and if he will cause further inquiry to be made into this case and have representations made to the referee to have an oral hearing of this case?

The hon. Member is, I think, familiar with the details of this case. The difficulty, as he knows, arises from the fact that Mr. O'Dowd was held by the referees to have been under the age of 65 years when he retired, and not to have entered into voluntary insurance before reaching that age with a view to continuing his pension rights. I have sympathetically examined the case; but the questions at issue having been determined by independent referees whose decision, under Statute, is final, I regret that there are no further steps I can take.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is the policy of the Department of Health for Scotland to encourage the utilisation of sites left after the clearing of condemned buildings for rebuilding new houses to rehouse working-class families displaced from the condemned buildings or other working-class families; and, if so, how many such schemes are being developed, or are contemplated, in Edinburgh at the present time?

Yes, Sir. I am informed that there are 14 cleared sites of varying areas in Edinburgh on which the Corporation are erecting, or propose to erect, houses. On 10 of these sites it is estimated that over 400 houses will be built.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many new houses are required to replace unfit houses in Edinburgh; how many houses were built for these purposes during 1935, 1936, and 1937; and how many it is estimated will be built for these purposes during the current year;(2) what is the percentage of overcrowded houses in Edinburgh; and how long it will take to eliminate overcrowding at the present rate of building?

The report on the overcrowding survey carried out by the Corporation in the winter of 1935, which contains the latest information available on the subject, shows that 18.4 per cent. of the fit houses in the city were overcrowded, and that 13,594 new houses were required to put an end to overcrowding and to replace unfit houses. For these two purposes the Corporation completed 858 houses in 1935, 402 in 1936, and 618 in 1937, and they expect to complete about 'moo in 1938.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses in Aberdeenshire, exclusive of the city of Aberdeen, are unfit for human habitation and how many are overcrowded?

According to information obtained as a result of surveys made in the winter of 1935–36 and allowing for new houses subsequently provided, it is estimated that there are approximately 120 unfit and 3,300 overcrowded houses in Aberdeenshire, exclusive of the city of Aberdeen.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction in the Western Isles among local authorities and the communities concerned at the refusal of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland to recognise its liability for maintenance in proper condition of certain roads, including Orinsay and Glen-Gravir, in Lewis, originally constructed as light roads by the Department; and will he now take steps to reconstruct these roads for modern transport for the use of the tenants on Department schemes who have to maintain the roads by free labour?

When the Department of Agriculture for Scotland construct roads in connection with their Land Settlement Schemes to the Outer Islands it is made plain that they are not responsible for their future upkeep. As regards the Gravir road the Department are in touch with the county council as to what steps may be necessary to complete its construction.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the position regarding the proposed pier at Port naguron, Isle of Lewis?

I would refer to the reply given to the hon. Member on 8th March last. Since then the county council have completed their investigations into the question of an adequate local contribution towards the cost of the proposed pier at Portnaguran. The possibility of a Government grant is under consideration but the project is a costly one and I am unable in the meantime to announce any decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the Department of Agriculture's tenants at Luskentyre, Isle of Harris, are unable to make reasonable use of their land owing to the lack of about half a mile of road to the seaweed manure supplies; that some of the holders this year were unable to plant crops as a result; and what early assistance he proposes to afford them?

I am aware that seaweed for manure is required on the sandy soil at Luskentyre and that the holders are somewhat handicapped by the distance of the gathering ground from their holdings. The Department of Agriculture for Scotland recently decided to give assistance towards the provision of a track and one of their officers is now making the necessary local arrangements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that strong discontent is being expressed by rubber manufacturers in this country because of the increasing volume of imports from Hong Kong and other Empire countries, and that recently many workers have been discharged from rubber factories here; and what action is being taken to prevent further inroads being made into the home market?

I have received representations from the United Kingdom industry in this matter. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 14th June to the hon. Member for Croydon, South (Mr. H. G. Williams).

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the imports, in quantity and value, of calcium carbide for the first quarter of 1937 and 1938, respectively, from Poland, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, and the Soviet Union; and what were the total imports, and their value, from all sources of supply?

The following table shows the total quantity and declared value of calcium carbide imported into the United Kingdom during the three months ended

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the Cuban customs and excise duties on cider discriminate in favour of French, Spanish, and United States cider and against cider from the United Kingdom, His Majesty's Government intend to take any action in retaliation against Cuban products?

Representations on this subject have been made to the Government of Cuba. The whole question of trade relations with Cuba is under consideration in connection with the failure of the Cuban Government to ratify the Anglo-Cuban Trade Agreement signed in February, 1937.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the heavy competition in the British coastal trade by foreign-owned vessels which have a lower standard of manning equipment and pay than that which British vessels in the same trade are compelled to comply with by his Department; and is he prepared to take action to put a stop to such unfair competition?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 17th May, to a question by the hon. Member for Seaham (Mr. Shinwell) about foreign vessels in the coasting trade.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of persons in the city of Liverpool in receipt of public assistance during the years 1935 to 1937 to the present date; and the amount spent in the periods, respectively?

During the year ended 31st March, 1936, the average number of persons in receipt of out-relief in money and kind in the city of Liverpool was 89,271 and the cost of the relief afforded was £1,786,978. The corresponding figures for the year ended 31st March, 1937, were 86,840 and £1,736,694 and for the year ended 31st March, 1938, 49,891 and £971,226. During the nine weeks ended 28th May, 1938, the latest date for which information is available, the average number of persons in receipt of out-relief was 46,793 and the cost was £152,850.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any record of the number of widows receiving Poor Law assistance because, although throughout their lives they had assumed either that they themselves had been properly insured or that their husbands had been properly insured, they have been told, on eventually making their claim, that their circumstances did not warrant their coming under the scheme?

I regret that the information desired by my hon. Friend is not available in my Department.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he will state for each of the last five years the number of contributors to national health insurance who, on claiming the benefits of such insurance, have been informed that their circumstances did not qualify them to become insured, with the result that they have been unable to obtain pensions;(2) whether he will state for each of the last five years the numbers of widows who, on claiming the benefit of national health insurance, have been informed that the circumstances of their husbands did not qualify them to become insured, with the result that they are unable to obtain pensions?

I regret that the information desired by my hon. Friend is not available in my Department, and that the cost, in time and labour, of obtaining it would be so considerable that I should not be justified in incurring it. It would involve the detailed examination of each of some 140,000 cases.

asked the Minister of Health whether his approval has been sought for the purchase by the Whittlesey Council of three acres of land wanted for addition to the cemetery, in which the council could not agree to the owner's price of £250 per acre; and, if the land has since been acquired, what was the purchase price paid; also, if he will state what was the previous rateable value of this land?

An application for my approval was made but withdrawn. The land has not been purchased.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many persons are in receipt of an annuity of £20 as holders of the meritorious service medal; and how many awards have been made since 1st June, 1920 and 193o, respectively?

750 ex-soldiers are in receipt of the Meritorious Service Annuity, which is limited to £10. Details of the numbers by Arms will be found on page 299, Army Estimates, 1938. Since 1st June, 1920, 1,447 awards have been made, of which 650 were made since 1st June, 1930.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has given further consideration to the suggestion that an Imperial Service Medal should be inaugurated?

There is already a medal known as the "Imperial Service Medal" which is awarded to members of the Civil Service for long and meritorious service. There is also a General Service Medal awarded for military operations otherwise than in East, Central and West Africa, India or on the Indian frontier, for which other medals exist. If my hon. and gallant Friend is suggesting the inauguration of another medal, this would affect all three Defence Services.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many regiments of the Territorial Army are below strength to-day; and what steps are being taken to ensure that employers take all possible steps to induce their employés to enlist in the Territorial Army?

Of Yeomanry, Artillery, Engineers and Infantry, 155 principal units are under, and 131 are over, establishment. I am glad to say that employers in increasing numbers are facilitating service in the Territorial Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the advisability of forming a reserve for selected Territorial non-commissioned officers and men who have already completed their service?

This suggestion has been considered but no practicable scheme has been evolved.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether wages in Malta were based on a cost-of-living scale prior to 1925 for War Department employés, and, if so, will he publish the particulars of such scale?

On the assumption that the hon. Member refers to locally-engaged employés, the answer to the first part of the question is "Yes, Sir." The following is the scale referred to in the second part of the question:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how long the "Warspite" was at Portsmouth for the purpose of repair and refit; and was the Admiral Superintendent in charge of that yard a shipbuilder?

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will

As I stated in reply to questions on 9th February and 30th March last, His Majesty's Ship "War-spite" was in hand at Portsmouth for reconstruction from April, 1934, to June, 1937. The Admiral Superintendent of the dockyard is responsible for the general administration of the dockyard and all its attached establishments. The officer responsible to the Admiral Superintendent for the shipbuilding part of the work at the dockyard is the manager of the Constructive Department who is a member of the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the rates paid in Gibraltar to fitters, shipwrights and skilled labourers?

The normal rates of pay of locally-entered fitters, shipwrights and skilled labourers at Gibraltar Dockyard are:give an estimate of the number of persons to be employed permanently at the Bridgend munition works upon completion?

I have been asked to reply. The numbers to be employed at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Bridgend, will necessarily depend on the work required to be done at any given time.