asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can provide particulars of the data used in order to arrive at the decision that a sum of 94s. 9d. per cwt. was the appropriate initial bacon price for initiating the bacon industry scheme; and if he can indicate the reasons for which this figure was decided upon?

The figure of 94s. 9d. per cwt. of bacon was based on information and costings given to my right hon. Friend in confidence by members of the industry. My right hon. Friend regrets that he cannot disclose either the source or the nature of that information. He is, however, satisfied that the margin that that price will allow is a fair one and that it will be sufficient for any curer of a reasonable efficiency.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give the names of the present members of the Witham Catchment Board and indicate at the same time the appointing authorities in each case?

The names of the present members of the Witham and Steeping Rivers Catchment Board together with the appointing authorities are as follow:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the introduction of the use in Germany of a new immunising agent for inoculation against foot-and-mouth disease; and whether it is proposed to carry out any experiments with this agent in this country?

I have seen reports on the active immunisation of animals against foot-and-mouth disease in Germany. I understand that the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research Committee have decided to initiate experiments on the lines adopted in Germany.

asked the Home Secretary why the particulars as to the number of summonses issued in respect of offences connected with private motor vehicles, cabs and public carriages other than cabs, have been given under the single heading of mechanically propelled vehicles in Table No. 5 in the report of the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis for the year 1937; and whether he will give the details under the three headings as in previous years?

The form of this table was changed because it was thought that the new sub-division would be of greater of general interest than the old. Of the 116,566 summonses in 1937 in respect of mechanically propelled vehicles, 112,977 were in connection with private motor-vehicles, 2,734 were in connection with cabs and 855 were in connection with other public carriages.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that circulars are repeatedly issued by debt-collecting agencies demanding payment of expenses before any action has been taken and no legal expenses incurred, and that some of these agencies also issue letters for payment of debts framed so as to mislead the debtor into accepting such as an official communication; and what steps is he prepared to take to remedy this growing practice?

Yes, Sir. Various cases of this type have been brought to the notice of my right hon. Friend and are at present under examination. Except under a decree for expenses pronounced by a competent court, a debtor is under no legal liability to pay any sum in respect of the alleged expenses of recovery of the debt; and I hope that this answer may remove any misconception which may prevail upon this point.

asked the Attorney-General for what reasons the ban on Mr. Compton Mackenzie's book, "Greek Memories," is still in force, notwithstanding the fact that the author, after having paid a fine, has intimated his willingness to the authorities to publish the book with the offending passages omitted?

The book as originally produced was the subject of a prosecution under the Official Secrets Acts and was withdrawn. After the prosecution the publishers communicated with the Director of Public Prosecutions with a view to getting approval of an expurgated edition. The Director of Public Prosecutions pointed out, among other things, the impossibility of his undertaking duties of censorship and as far as I know the matter then dropped.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware of the practice of certain hire-purchase firms who use agents for the disposal of their goods and, when the purchaser has made full payment to the agent and the agent has failed to forward the money to the company, claim further payment from the customer on the strength of a signature to a series of conditions not properly explained to, or understood by, the customer; and will he take immediate steps to check this practice?

Although it is impossible to provide for all cases, the Hire-Purchase Bill now before Parliament contains provisions for the protection of hirers in the circumstances mentioned.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Nottingham Corporation has acquired the following areas of land from Messrs. T. Jackson, approximately, 201.859 acres at £100 per acre; approximately, 19.140 acres from the Grange Estates (Wollaton), Limited, at £150 per acre; approximately, 29.055 acres from Mr. S. Taylor at £128 per acre; and 8,769 square yards on Valley Road as a schools playing field at a price of £2,500; and what was the rateable value of each of these areas of land previous to purchase?

All the areas mentioned have been acquired at the prices stated. The Valley Road land was rated at £45 The others were not rated being agricultural lands.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the result of the arbitration case to decide the price of a little over three acres of land acquired in 1931 at Rottingdean by the Brighton Corporation for purposes of housing; and what was the rateable value of this land previous to purchase?

The amount awarded by the Official Arbitrator in respect of this land was £2,820. Before the purchase the land was derated as agricultural land.

asked the Minister of Health whether, after a decision to refer back a proposition to purchase 6½ acres at Shen-stone Wood End for £1,250, the Lichfield Rural District Council has since been able to acquire that land or other suitable land at a lower price; and, if no site has been secured, what steps the Ministry proposes to take to help the council in providing much needed houses for the agricultural workers in the district?

The council were unable to obtain this land by agreement at a price which the district valuer would have been able to approve. They accordingly made, and submitted to me, a compulsory purchase order in respect of it, and I informed them yesterday of my decision to confirm the order.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Nuneaton Town Council referred back a proposal of its property committee to pay £1,110for a little over one and three-quarter acres of land at Attle-borough wanted for a road improvement; whether there have been any further negotiations, and with what result; if the land has been acquired, and at what price; and what was the previous rateable value?

I understand that the land was acquired for £660, and that being previously agricultural land it was de-rated.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Derbyshire County Council, on the recommendation of the county mental hospital committee, has now acquired 29 acres of the Mickleover Manor House Estate; what price has been agreed upon and paid; and what was the rateable value of this land when last occupied?

The Derbyshire County Council have acquired 29½ acres of the Mickleover Manor Estate for the sum of £4,285. I have no information as to the rateable value of the land when last occupied.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that most of the inhabitants of the village of Cow-cliffe are threatened with removal from the village, although many of them have lived there for generations, to another district; whether it is in accordance with the policy of the Department to cause the disturbance of ancient and historic communities of this character; and, if not, whether he will examine the position to see whether any alteration of existing plans can be made to secure the survival of this village?

I understand that it is necessary for the council to rehouse the occupants of 74 houses in the Cowcliffe district. They propose to do so on a site half to three-quarters of a mile away. My hon. Friend will appreciate that the selection of sites is a matter primarily for the local authority who are, I understand, about to receive a deputation from the persons affected.

asked the Minister of Health how many applications under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions (Voluntary Contributors) Act have been approved?

Up to the 29th June, 1938, the latest date for which information is available, 207,442 applicants in England, Scotland and Wales had been found to be qualified for admission to the new voluntary pensions scheme.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that on 4th July at 10.30 p.m. a delay of 40 minutes was advised in a telephone call from London to Alloa; and whether he will take steps to increase further the trunk lines to Scotland?

It is unusual for a delay of 40 minutes to be advised on a call from London to Scotland at 10.30 p.m. Unfortunately there was a number of circuit faults on the evening of the 4th July and some congestion resulted. Arrangements were made some time ago for additional circuits to be provided between London and Scotland and it is anticipated that these will be available before long.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will give the figures on which it is calculated that 42 per cent. of the entrants to the Universities come from public elementary schools?

The figure of 42 per cent. was arrived at on the basis of the returns supplied to the University Grants Committee by the Universities for the academic year 1934–35. For that year out of some 10,500 new entrants to the Universities in England and Wales coming from homes within the United Kingdom, about 4,400 began their education in a public elementary school.I would also refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for the Shipley Division of the West Riding of Yorkshire (Mr. Creech Jones) on 30th June last, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that further trouble is expected to break out in Jamaica unless employment conditions are drastically improved in the near future; and whether, in these circumstances, he can give an undertaking that no reduction in the Colonial sugar export quota will be agreed to at the next meeting of the International Sugar Council?

The general situation in Jamaica is, I am aware, causing the local Government concern, and they are doing everything they can to improve the position, especially regarding employment. I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that the Colonial sugar export quota for the coming year will be the maximum allowed by the International Sugar Agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that certain British sugar-producing colonies have been unable to fill the quotas allotted to them under the internal arrangement for distributing the total British Colonial Empire quota permitted under the international agreement, arrangements can be made to redistribute these unfilled quotas to Jamaica and such other sugar-producing Colonies as have already filled their quotas and have substantial surplus stocks on hand?

Pending the conclusion of the meeting of the International Sugar Council which is now taking place, I am not in a position to make any statement on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now make any statement as to whether any cut is to be made in the Colonial sugar export quota for the year ending 1st September next; and whether, in view of the fact that such a cut in their quotas would leave Jamaica and British Guiana with large surplus stocks of sugar on their hands, special steps can be taken to sateguard the position of these Colonies in connection with the negotiations at the next meeting of the International Sugar Council?

I am not at present in a position to predict what the Colonial Sugar export quota for the coming year will be, but I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that every step compatible with His Majesty's Government's obligations under the International Sugar Agreement will be taken to safeguard the position of the Colonial Empire.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the finances and incidence of liability as between the imperial and Kenya Governments in respect to the Uganda-Kenya Railway will come under review this year; and whether a statement on the matter will be made?

The answer to each part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what are the regulations under which compensation is granted to workmen in the pay of the Admiralty in respect of injuries arising out of and in the course of their employment?

Compensation is granted to workpeople employed by the Admiralty in respect of injuries sustained by accident arising out of and in the course of their employment either under the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Acts (or Government Schemes framed thereunder) or in accordance with the Treasury Warrants framed under the Superannuation Acts.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the number of Members of this House now serving in the Navy or Naval Reserve and, therefore, subject to naval discipline?

No Members of this House serve in the Royal Navy, the Royal Naval Reserve or the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. A naval officer is not subject to naval discipline unless he holds a full-pay appointment and is borne on the books of one of His Majesty's ships.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any work centres have as yet been established; and, if so, in which districts they are situated?

No work centres have yet been established by the Unemployment Assistance Board, but I may, perhaps mention that arrangements have been made with a few local authorities for the use of centres already maintained by them.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in the recruitment of unskilled labour for Government contracts, he will take steps to prevent the men in Lancashire who are scheduled as weavers being debarred from consideration because of their being so scheduled?

There is no such restriction. Unemployed men who are classified as weavers, may be considered for any vacancies for which they are suitable.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has completed his inquiry into the question of under-employment in the manufacturing section of the cotton industry; and whether he can now make a statement thereon?

I dealt with this matter in the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 12th May. I then stated that claims to benefit by cotton weavers employed upon less than the full number of looms were dealt with in the light of the special circumstances of each particular case in accordance with the law as interpreted by the umpire. As regards the question whether the law should be altered, I am, as I promised, giving the matter attention.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of days lost for each year due to unemployment since the inception of the Unemployment Insurance Fund, and the number of days lost for each year because of strikes and lock-outs during the same period?

I am having the available statistics extracted and will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the amount of money paid from the Unemployment Insurance Fund and the Unemployment Assistance Board to persons in Great Britain for each year from 1933 to 1937; and will he give similar figures for Wales and Monmouthshire during the same period?

I am having this information extracted and will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the amount of contributions made to the Unemployment Insurance Fund by employers, employés, and the State, respectively, during the year 1937?

In the calendar year 1937 the approximate amounts paid by way of contributions to the Unemployment Fund were as follow:

	£
By Employers (including payments by the Defence Departments in respect of men discharged from the Forces)	22,094,000
By Employés	21,932,000
By the Exchequer	22,013,000

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of a trades dispute at Kingston-upon-Hull between the Electrical Trades Union and the Hull Cinema Exhibitors' Association, which has lasted for a period of 12 weeks; and whether he will use the offices of his Department to bring the parties of the dispute together with a view to a settlement being arrived at?

I am aware of this dispute. Officers of the Department have been in regular touch with the parties concerned, but I regret that it has not been found possible to promote discussions for a settlement of the differences between them.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state for each of the last four years the number of applicants for enlistment under 18 years of age whose application was without their parents' consent; in how many of these cases was application made for release on compassionate grounds or on other grounds, respectively; in how many cases was release granted without purchase; in how many cases was release purchased; and in how many cases was the applicant finally approved with the parents' consent?

I regret that I am unable to furnish the information asked for as I have no means of knowing the annual numbers of applicants for enlistment as men who were in fact under 18 years of age. The number of soldiers discharged from the Regular Army on account of having made a mis-statement as to age on enlistment during the last four years were:

1937–38	…	…	…	545
1936–37	…	…	…	521
1935–36	…	…	…	431
1934–35	…	…	…	278

I am unable to say in how many of these cases compassionate grounds existed.The numbers of recruits who purchased their discharge within three months of enlistment during the last four years were:

1937–38	…	…	…	356
1936–37	…	…	…	281
1935–36	…	…	…	299
1934–35	…	…	…	318

I am unable to say how many of these were under 18 years of age.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has received complaints about the continuous flying exercises carried out over the village of Stanton Harcourt, Oxford; and whether it is necessary to concentrate these exercises over that village?

Yes, Sir. Some complaints regarding flying at Stanton Harcourt have been received by the local Royal Air Force authorities. The Cambridge University Air Squadron is at present located at Abingdon, and until its period of attachment is completed, which will be by the end of the present month, I fear that essential training requirements will ncessitate an abnormal amount of flying and the use of forced landing areas in the neighbourhood.