asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that at the labour training centre at Chisledon, Wiltshire, the welding class now contains 30 trainees, whereas the proper number is about half the total; and whether, in the circumstances, he will take over the Army welding instructor who has just been discharged as a result of the closing of the Army vocational training centre at Aldershot?

I understand that the present strength of this class is 22. When the Ministry take over the centre the strength will be gradually reduced to 15. and the existing instructor at Chisledon should be able to supervise this number without difficulty. The redundant welding instructor at Aldershot will be kept in mind for future vacancies under the training scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he will give the number of applicants for assistance under the Unemployment Assistance Board in the Aberdare area for each week during 1937 and to date, with the total weekly cost of the assistance given;(2) the number of applicants for assistance under the Unemployment Assistance Board in the Cardiff district for each week during 1937 and to date, with the total weekly cost of the assistance given?

pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 2nd June, 1938, Vol. 336, cols. 2257–8), supplied the following statement:The following table shows the numbers of payments of unemployment allowances (exclusive of payments in supplementation of insurance benefit) and the total amounts paid at Employment Exchanges in the Unemployment Assistance Board administrative district of Cardiff and administrative area of Aberdare, respectively, in each week since the beginning of 1937:—

asked the Minister of Agriculture how long it will be, at the present rate of progress, before the soil survey of England and Wales is completed; and what steps can be taken to hasten the work, in view of the importance of the soil fertilisation policy and the improved results that must follow upon comprehensive statistics of soil deficiencies being known to occupiers?

A soil survey, properly so-called, is necessarily slow work. Facilities for the examination of soil deficiencies on behalf of occupiers are, however, available at provincial advisory centres and certain farm institutes. These facilities are being used to an increasing extent, and the analytical results obtained, which are available to the occupiers, are providing information of the kind referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health, whether he can state the circumstances under which a certain Mrs. Martha Brabben obtained a certificate of the death of Mr. James Alfred Douthitt, of Hamilton Street, Camden Town, registered his death, and caused arrangements to be made for his funeral when in fact he was still alive?

Full inquiry has been made into this matter. Mrs. Brabben, Mr. Douthitt's landlady, seeing Mr. Douthitt lying motionless came o the mistaken conclusion that he was dead. In this belief she informed Mr. Douthitt's medical attendant who, being acquainted with Mr. Douthitt's medical condition, issued a certificate of cause of death. Mrs. Brabben then took steps for the registration of the death; and since she was a fully qualified informant in her capacity as "the occupier of the house in which, to her knowledge, the death took place" the registrar duly registered the death upon her information. Mr. Douthitt proved to be alive on Mrs. Brabben's return home.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, whether he is aware that the British Air Line Pilots Association views with grave concern the notice to airmen No. 86 of the 17th May, 1938, allowing A-licence pilots to act as paid flying instructors at a time when B-licence pilots are unemployed; whether this step was taken with the consent of all the insurance interests; and whether the Air Ministry take full responsibility for all accidents arising from this policy of lowering the present standard of flying?

Yes, Sir. Representations have been received from the British Air Line Pilots Association on the amendment to the Air Navigation Order of 1923, contained in Notice to Airmen No. 86 of 17th May. I feel that these representations have been made under a misapprehension, and cannot accept the view that the revised arrangements will result in any lower standard of flying.The amendment, which allows "A" licence pilots to act as paid flying instructors to pilots under training for the Royal Air Force, its Reserve or the Auxiliary Air Force, limits their use to those who have obtained the special approval of my right hon. Friend, which will only be given to persons who are considered, after passing flying tests, to be fully qualified to give that instruction. They will also be subject to such medical supervision and examination as may be considered requisite by the Royal Air Force medical authorities. With the heavy training programme of new entrants, there should be no difficulty in suitable "B" licence pilots securing employment as instructors if they so desire.Insurance interests were not consulted; neither have any representations against this Order been received from them.In regard to accidents, the position of responsibility of the Department is in no way changed.