asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that, following a visit by one of his wage inspectors to the Upton Manor Farm, Upton, Dorset, in the tenancy of R. Arnold, three agricultural labourers were dismissed because they were alleged to have complained to the Ministry; and what action has been taken to deal with this form of intimidation?

I have been informed that subsequently to inquiries by an inspector engaged in the enforcement of the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, into the wages paid on the farm referred to, certain of the workers concerned have ceased to be employed there. In one case the employer appears to have given a week's notice to terminate the worker's engagement, while in another it appears that the worker himself withdrew his services. In the third case it is not clear whether the worker was in the direct service of the employer mentioned.Dismissal of a worker as a result of an investigation under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act is very much to be deplored, but I have no power to prevent an employer from dispensing with a worker's services.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the Dutch discovery of a method of destroying insects by methallyl chloride; and whether he proposes to experiment with it in this country?

A preliminary note of the results of experiments with methallyl chloride carried out by a Dutch scientific laboratory has recently appeared in an English scientific journal, and it is understood that full results will shortly be published. The results will thus come to the notice of British workers on insecticidal problems, but I am not aware that any experiments with this material for agricultural or horticultural purposes have so far been carried out in this country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what amounts were expended by the Witham Catchment Board in each year since its formation and the sums contributed by the Exchequer each year; and if he will state the amounts each year of the total expenditure which fell to be contributed by the Third Witham District Land Drainage Board?

The figures required (to the nearest £ in each case) are as follow:

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many experts are now engaged on the soil survey of England and Wales; how long has the work been in progress; what districts have been surveyed; and what steps have been taken to co-ordinate the results of soil examination made on behalf of occupiers by provincial advisory centres and certain farm institutes, so that the comprehensive survey so necessary for the land fertility schemes may be expedited?

Soil surveys come within the duties of the advisory chemists at 12 provincial advisory centres, at six of which trained assistants have been appointed expressly for survey work. Work has been in progress for many years, but it is only recently that as a result of experience in this and other countries the basis of a surveying technique has been worked out which would fully satisfy scientific requirements and enable surveys to proceed on uniform lines. The work is now conducted under the general supervision of a conference of experts. As regards the districts surveyed, I am sending my hon. Friend a bibliography of literature dealing with soils in England and Wales, from which he will see that information has been gathered from many areas. As regards the last part of the question, the results of the testing of soil samples for deficiencies are being recorded in the various areas on uniform lines agreed upon by the conference of provincial advisory chemists.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether arrangements have been made for air-raid shelters and gas-proof chambers to be provided for the houses now being erected on the site of the new ordnance factory at Euxton, near Chorley?

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the quarters of the Factory Police. The roofs of these houses have been specially strengthened against air attack. In an emergency it should also be possible both to gas-proof a room and dig trenches in the gardens on the lines laid down in the Air-Raid Precautions Handbooks.

asked the Minister of Transport how many miles of that section of the great Cambridge road included in Middlesex are to be widened during the present financial year; and whether the Hertfordshire County Council are taking any steps to widen any of the considerable section of that highway which falls within their jurisdiction?

The Middlesex County Council have nearly completed the widening of one and a half miles of the Cambridge road, and they hope to complete a further one and a half miles during the present financial year. The Hertfordshire County Council propose to begin works on a length of three miles during the present financial year.

asked the Minister of Transport how long the main road from south to north, a quarter of a mile south of Newhouse cross-roads, Lanarkshire, has been closed to traffic; and when it is expected to be re-opened?

The section of road on which subsidence has occurred has been closed to traffic since the 19th January, 1938, and I am now informed that the county council consider it impracticable to carry out effective repairs until the mineral workings thereunder have ceased. The question of constructing a short diversion connecting A.73 and A.723 to provide for north-south traffic is being considered.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider giving some allowance for travelling expenses to Naval ratings to and from their homes when their ships are in home ports?

This matter has received consideration but it has not been found possible to take decision in the sense suggested.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the marriage allowance payable to a chief petty officer in the Navy as compared with that paid in the Army to the relative rank of colour-sergeant?

The rate of marriage allowance in the Navy is 17s. for all ratings. The rate of family allowance for a colour-sergeant in the Army is 19s. 6d.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the number of awards of the Military Medal since 31st May, 1920, and since 1st January, 1930.

Two hundred and thirty-three Military Medals and 16 first bars have been awarded since 31st May, 1920. Of these, 81 medals were awarded since 1st January, 1930.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that Italy is being permitted to obtain recruits for her Ethiopian army from the native population in British Somaliland; and whether he will take appropriate action in the matter?

It is not the fact that recruiting for the Italian forces is being permitted to take place in British Somaliland. The second part of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state, in the interests of all classes of coal consumers, the general procedure which is to be followed by committees of investigation, commencing with the first step to be taken by a potential complainant and particularly the disclosure and recording of information during the proceedings; how far such information is available to the public; and what minimum essential costs are involved by a complainant both to a committee of investigation and to a possible consequent appeal?

The procedure of the committees of investigation is regulated by the Coal Mines (Committees of Investigation) Directions, 1930, made under Section 5 (3) of the Coal Mines Act, 1930. In general, a complainant is required in the first instance to put before the committee, in writing, the act or omission of persons having functions under the scheme which he alleges to be unfair, inequitable or contrary to the public interest. Forms may be obtained from the secretary to the committees (the offices for all committees, except that for Kent (which is at Cromwell House, Dean Stanley Street, S.W.1), are at 55, Queen Street, Sheffield) indicating the nature of the information generally required. The committee then asks the executive board of colliery owners concerned to furnish its observations on the complaint and, as far as possible, those observations are passed on to the complainant. My hon. Friend will be aware of the amendment of Section 8 of the 1930 Act proposed by the Seventh Schedule of the Coal Bill, to permit of a wider disclosure than at present of the executive board's reply.Shorthand notes are taken of the examination of witnesses on behalf of complainants and respondents, but not of the deliberations of the committees. These notes are circulated to the parties to the complaint. In some cases, as they involve disclosure of information regarding individual businesses, they are circulated under a seal of confidence. When a committee takes evidence in private, the shorthand note is obviously confidential, but in respect of public proceedings, the parties to the complaint will of course get copies of the note to use as publicly as they like. I do not think that it would be worth while putting copies of the shorthand notes of public proceedings on sale, but I have no doubt that persons interested, other than the parties immediately concerned, could, on application to the particular committee, arrange to receive copies of such notes on payment of the cost thereof. It is impossible to indicate what are the minimum essential costs involved in making a complaint, or in lodging a possible consequent appeal. There are no fees payable, and the question of professional representation is one for the complainant to decide for himself.

asked the Postmaster-General what changes have taken place in the authorised posts of the telegraph staff for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; and can he give particulars of any further alterations that are in contemplation?

No revisions of telegraph establishments have taken place of late, but it is probable that such revisions will be undertaken shortly on the conclusion of current discussions with the staff associations concerned on telegraph staffing questions in general.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will take steps to ensure that all boy messengers employed by the Post Office throughout the country receive, on at least one week-day in each week, a continuous half-day and evening free commencing not later than 1.30 p.m.?

The question how far it may be practicable to provide a half holiday for boy messengers employed in the Post Office is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that nine girls have recently been denied unemployment pay in Dagenham because they refused to accept work at Army, Navy, and Air Force institutes many miles from their homes; and whether as it is not morally desirable that young girls should take jobs in such circumstances away from parental control he proposes to take steps to alter this practice and restore their unemployment pay to these girls?

Some young women, aged 18 and over, were recently disallowed benefit by the Dagenham Court of Referees on the ground that they had refused employment at Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes. My right hon. Friend has no power to interfere with these decisions. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the leaflet issued upon the subject of employment at these Institutes containing extracts from the reports of several independent inquiries into the conditions of employment.

asked the Minister of Labour when he hopes to implement the recommendations of the Holidays with Pay Committee that authority should be given to trade boards to establish holidays with pay?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Holidays with Pay Bill, which was read a First time last Thursday.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will state the number of ex-service men in the county of Durham in receipt of a disability pension and the number in receipt of a pension less than 100 per cent.?

I regret that the Ministry's records are not kept in a form which would enable this information to be given.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what progress is being made in the reduction of the noise of aeroplanes; what are the relevant regulations; what steps are taken to enforce them; and whether he is satisfied that every effort compatible with safety and efficiency is being made to reduce the noise and nuisance caused by service and private aeroplanes, respectively?

Research having for its object the reduction of noise of aeroplanes has for some time been proceeding. It is however impossible to hold out hope at the present time of a substantial reduction of noise.In these circumstances, there are no regulations specifically applying to the question of noise by aircraft, but any avoidable nuisance would bring an offender within the scope of disciplinary or legal prohibitions against low or dangerous flying. In all cases of proved infringement of such prohibitions as regards service aircraft the offender is adequately dealt with. As regards civil aircraft proceedings are taken in all proper cases and I believe pilots are in general mindful of the duty of flying in such a way as to minimise annoyance and disturbance. The question whether further measure can be taken is under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has now received the views of the Government of India on protests made against the cancellation of the presidency town's compensatory allowances by officers who were appointed by the Secretary of State in Council?

Yes, Sir. My Noble Friend is now considering the case.