asked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated cost of the works proposed to be carried out by the London Passenger Transport Board on the extensions of their railways to the Alexandra Palace, High Barnet, and Bushey Heath, and the value of the contracts already let; and what is the estimated cost of the works proposed to be carried out by the London and North Eastern Railway on the same line and the value of the contracts already let?

The estimated cost of extensions of tube railways to form junctions with the railways of the London and North Eastern Railway Company, of electrifying that Company's lines to High Barnet, Edgware and Alexandra Palace and of doubling the branch line to Edgware is £5,553,000 and the estimated cost of extending the London Passenger Transport Board's railway from Edgware to Aldenham is £1,230,000. The board is to carry out work to the value of £6,033,000 and the balance of £750,000 is to be carried out by the company. The value of the contracts placed for these works is approximately £3,000,000 by the board and £100,000 by the company.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, before the next Session of Parliament, he will cause to be prepared a statement showing what commons, open spaces, and playing fields will be bisected or otherwise injured by the new roads foreshadowed in the Bressey Report; and what arrangements will be made to mitigate the damage by providing equivalent areas in the immediate vicinity in exchange?

It is explained in the Bressey Report that the lines recommended for new roads can only be regarded as a basis for more detailed investigation. It would be impracticable, therefore, to prepare a statement of the nature indicated until the precise location of each scheme has been determined. The recommendations have been framed to reduce to the minimum interference with open spaces and similar lands, but where such interference cannot be avoided all practicable steps will be taken to mitigate the damage.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the number of accidents in 1937 involving motor vehicles and horse-drawn vehicles, respectively, and the number of people injured and killed?

The exact particulars for which my hon. Friend asks are not available, but during the year 1937 there were 5,067 fatal accidents, and 128,316 nonfatal accidents involving personal injury, in which mechanically-propelled vehicles were primarily concerned. Corresponding figures for horse-drawn vehicles were 69 and 2,275 respectively.The number of persons killed or injured in these accidents were:

—	Killed.	Injured.
Accidents in which mechanically - propelled vehicles were primarily concerned	5,254	158,805
Accidents in which horse-drawn vehicles were primarily concerned.	70	2,517

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the old town hall at Wrexham, built in the reign of His Majesty King Henry VIII, has been scheduled for compulsory purchase and demolition in connection with a proposed new trunk road from Swansea to Manchester; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent such an act of vandalism?

This building is in private ownership as a licensed house and bonded stores. It projects into Town Hill at four cross roads and reduces the width of the trunk road to between 14 feet and 17 feet. I am satisfied that the only way to improve traffic conditions and increase safety at this point is by removing the building and widening the trunk road. The present proposal has the support of the Wrexham Town Council, who have agreed to make a contribution towards the cost.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can give the total number of convictions against B and C licence holders for carrying goods contrary to the conditions of their licences and, in particular, in the last year for which figures are available?

So far as can be ascertained from the reports of the Licensing Authorities, the convictions resulting from proceedings initiated by the authorities themselves under Section 2 of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, against B and C licence holders for carrying goods contrary to the conditions of their licences were approximately:

Year ended 3oth September,1937			Total (three Year ended 3oth September, 1937).
B	…	200	290
C	…	110	190

There were, however, in 1937 in addition approximately five times these numbers of convictions under Section I of the Act for unauthorised use of vehicles, and it is not possible to say in what proportion of these cases alternative proceedings might have been taken under Section 2.No information is available as to the total number of convictions resulting from proceedings instituted by the police.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now cancel or modify Treasury Circular E/1206/4 of 10th September, 1929, which cancelled a previous undertaking that conscientious objectors in the Civil Service who have refused to serve in the Territorial or Regular Army shall not be promoted over the heads of civil servants who have served, or were then serving, in the Army?

The decision to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers is of long standing, and His Majesty's Government are not prepared to alter it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Treasury Circular of 1929, which allows time spent in prison by conscientious objectors to count for pensions, is still in force; and whether he will state the precise terms of the undertaking there given?

My hon. and gallant Friend would appear to be under a misapprehension. Treasury Circular of l0th September, 1929, which is still in force, does not allow time spent in prison by conscientious objectors who were civil servants to count for pension.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can state the number of visitors to the United Kingdom Government pavilion at the Empire Exhibition, Glasgow; and whether any photographs of that pavilion and the exhibits it contains are available?

It is estimated that since the opening of the Exhibition on 3rd May the number of visitors to the United Kingdom Government pavilion has exceeded 1,750,000. I will arrange for a selection of photographs of the pavilion and of some of its contents to be exhibited in the Tea Room.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is yet in a position to make any announcement as to the steps to be taken to provide a permanent air base, or bases, for the Empire air services in this country?

I am not yet in a position to add to the answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Hertford (Rear-Admiral Sueter) on 22nd June last, when he was informed that the examination of the various alternative sites for an Empire flying-boat base was proceeding as rapidly as possible but that no decision had yet been reached.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Government and local government employés who are serving in the Territorial Army no longer enjoy the protection of Section 3 of the Local Government Emergency Powers Act, 1916, with the result that periods of duty with the Territorial Army whilst embodied do not count for pension; and whether he will consider the introduction of legislation to remedy this handicap on Government servants?

The Section in question does not apply to civil servants, and in their case the question of legislation does not arise. In the event of the Territorial Force being again embodied, fresh legislation will be required, if a similar concession is to be made to local government employés, and it will be for the Government of the day to decide whether such legislation shall be introduced.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether His Majesty's Government will now re-consider their decision not to purchase supplies of home-grown beef for the armed forces of the Crown?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on the 27th June to the hon. Member for the Barnard Castle Division of Durham (Mr. Sexton).

asked the Secretary of State for Air what purpose was served by the recent flight of Hawker aircraft to Paris?

The visit of Hawker Hurricane aircraft to Paris was to take part in the French Air Display as a courtesy visit made at the invitation of the French Air Minister. It offered an opportunity, which I was very happy to accept, of reciprocating the many courtesies shown by the French Government to the Royal Air Force.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can state the amount of compensation paid in each case to the dependants of the persons who lost their lives in the Kirkintilloch farm fire during 1937?

My right hon. Friend regrets that he has no information on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the hampering effect upon the milk industry of the practice under which the tinplate trade give better terms to foreign than to British Home producers of processed milk; and whether, in consultation with the administration of the tinplate distribution trade, he will take steps to carry out the Government's policy of first place to the Home producer in the Home market?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which was given to him on 5th July.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give an assurance that there will be a provision in the proposed Anglo-American trade agreement to enable it to be terminated at six months' notice?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his inspector in Edinburgh received a report during last month of a breach of regulations at the Aitlsen pit, in Fifeshire; and what steps he has taken to rectify matters?

I am making inquiries and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether the committee which is inquiring into the abortion laws has completed its investigations; and when he expects to receive its report?

I understand that the committee have recently completed the hearing of evidence. They are now engaged in consideration of the evidence and they hope to be in a position to present a report before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that it is more than two years since he announced that steps were to be taken to supply the Army with the Bren machine-gun; if he can explain why it is that arrangements are only now being made to give effect to this decision of two years ago; and whether there is any guarantee that deliveries will soon be made?

The plant has been completed, and, as forecast in connection with Army Estimates for 1937, deliveries commenced in September of that year. The plant is now working to full capacity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether an annual report on the progress of each of the Crown Colonies is printed and filed in the Colonial Office; if so, whether prints of these reports can be made available in the Library for the use of Members; and will be arrange that the reports for 1938 are available before the Colonial Office Vote is taken next year?

Each Colonial Government issues an annual report on social and economic progress, which is printed and copies filed in the Colonial Office. I shall be glad to arrange for a set of these reports, commencing with those for the year 1937, to be placed in the Library for the use of Members. With regard to the last part of the hon. Member's question, I appreciate the importance of arranging for these reports to be prepared as speedily as possible; but I fear that it would not be practicable to require Colonial Governments to furnish their reports each year in time for publication before the Colonial Office Vote is taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has now received a report from the Governor of Sierra Leone as to the detention of 2,000 copies of the "African Sentinel" by the authorities there?

The report has just arrived. I am informed that the issue in question was considered seditious, and that its importation into Sierra Leone was prohibited under Section 62 (I) (c) of the Customs Ordinance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that while the Tanganyika Labour Department was in existence it was found possible to abolish the penal clauses in native labour contracts, thus saving great numbers of natives from being branded as criminals, efficient labour being secured by more humane methods; and whether the Government will take early steps to abolish penal sanctions in native labour contracts throughout the Empire?

The penal sanctions applicable to labour contracts in Tanganyika Territory have not at any time been abolished; but the system has already been modified or abolished in a number of Colonies. Following upon the discussions at the recent session of the International Labour Conference, I am now in further communication on this question with all the Colonial Governments concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he is aware that in Tanganyika the Labour Department established in 1926 and abolished, on grounds of economy, in 1930 has not yet been re-established and that no other Department of a similar nature has been tried in any other part of British Colonial Africa, despite its excellent results; and whether special safeguards will be instituted to prevent the cessation of necessary social work in African Colonies on future occasions of declining revenue;(2) whether, in view of the possibilities of declining colonial revenues in Africa in the next few years, he will issue instructions that economies in necessary social services must be the last to be made, and that they should be made only after the matter has been placed before this House?

The functions of the Tanganyika Labour Department, which was abolished as a separate organisation in 1931, were taken over, in part by the Provincial Administration and in part by the Secretariat. Last year the formation of a separate organisation to deal with labour questions was approved, and a Chief Inspector of Labour and two Labour Inspectors have already been appointed.As to the establishment of Labour Departments and Inspectorates in other parts of British Colonial Africa, I would refer the hon. Member to the section dealing with the supervision of labour conditions on page 50 of the recent Command Paper 5760.I sympathise with the hon. Member's desire to preserve the social services in British Colonial Africa, but I am afraid that it would not be practicable to commit the Governments concerned to any specific undertaking in advance of the circumstances envisaged in the hon. Member's questions.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any arrangements exist, or are contemplated, for the carrying out by air-mail to Shanghai from Hong Kong of air-mail letters carried from this country to Hong Kong?

There is at present no mail service by air from Hong Kong to Shanghai and I am not in a position to say when it will be re-established.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in the absence of special marking upon parcels of goods consigned from this country through the General Post Office to Toronto, Canada, it is the general practice to send them by way of New York, thereby necessitating in some cases payment of duty; and, if so, what is the reason for this practice?

Parcel mails from this country for Canada are forwarded by the direct route only. Additional outlets are provided for letter mails by the use of the route via New York as well as the direct route, and persons sending dutiable articles to Canada by letter post who wish to obtain the benefit of the British preferential tariff should mark such packets "By Direct Canadian Ship only" in order that, if posted in time for despatch via New York, they may be withheld for despatch by the next direct outlet.

asked the First Commissioner of Works what was the price paid by the Middlesex County Council for the Westminster House site facing Parliament Square; what is the area of the site; what was the rateable value of the premises thereon when last occupied; what steps are being taken to secure this site as an enlargement of Parliament Square; and at what cost, respectively, to the Treasury, the London County Council, and the Westminster and Middlesex councils?

I understand that the amount paid for the freehold and leasehold interests in the site was £375,000; that the area of the site is about ir,11,000 square feet, and that the rateable value, prior to the demolition of Nos. 14 and 15, Great George Street, was £6,300. A proposal that a Government contribution should be made towards the cost of securing this site as an enlargement of Parliament Square was recently considered, but it was not found possible to accede to it. I have no knowledge of any undertakings by the London County Council, and the Westminster and Middlesex Councils to contribute towards the cost.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, to improve the surrounding amenities of Regent's Park which are affected by the condition of certain large houses and their gardens, held under Crown leases, which abut on the public boundaries of the park and which have been unoccupied for years and are in disrepair, and in view of the improvements now being carried out in all the Royal parks, he will take action either to re-let the sites or to include the areas in the public grounds?

I have been asked to reply. I presume that my hon. Friend refers or mainly refers to the property in the charge of the Commissioners of Crown Lands formerly known as Baptist College, a part of which is leased until 1948, while the remainder is vacant because no tenancy satisfactory from all points of view has yet been found practicable.

The Commissioners agree with my hon. Friend that an improvement of park amenities in this quarter is desirable, and they have arranged to paint the exterior of the house this autumn and hope shortly to open part of the grounds to the public.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will lay upon the Table before the Summer Recess a draft of the new Milk Bill, so that it can be fully considered by Members and their constituents before its introduction next Session?

As I explained in reply to the right hon. Member for Hillsborough (Mr. Alexander) on 22nd June last, it is not possible, owing to the pressure on Parliamentary time, for the Bill to which my hon. Friend refers to be considered this Session. In these circumstances I think it would he of greater advantage to defer the introduction of the Bill until next Session, so as to allow further time for informal consultation with representatives of the interests directly concerned and for consideration of the views that they may express.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the concern in the Navy and elsewhere about the Jellicoe Memorial Appeal for £50,000 launched over two years ago, of which £23,000 was to be devoted to one of the missing hostels at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, and the fact that the fund is now to be closed down owing to continued lack of support, he will inform the service in Fleet Orders, in the same manner as the officially-supported appeals were made, as to the present position and the intentions of the appeal officials as regards the disposal of the £14,800 so far collected from the public and the Navy?

I am not aware of any foundation for the hon. Member's sug- gestions, nor do I intend to take the action he proposes. In fact, an additional £3,000 has been collected during the last four months for this fund, and I hope that in course of time the full sum required will be subscribed.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the Admiralty intend to put the work in hand for building the two missing hostels of the Royal Hospital School. Holbrook, for the accommodation of a further 160 sons and orphans of naval ratings; and, observing that Greenwich Hospital, of which the school is a part, has capital worth about £6,000,000, with large sums on loan and in investments and an annual income of nearly £250,000, and that the late Mr. G. S. Reade left a legacy, in 1929, of £425,000 in trust to complete the school, why the missing hostels cannot be built without appealing to the public and the Royal Navy for charitable money for naval orphans?

As was explained to the hon. Member in answer to a question on 1st June, the income of Greenwich Hospital is at present fully spent. If a part of the existing capital were now to be spent on the provision of additional hostels there would be insufficient income to provide for the education and maintenance of the present number of boys bearing in mind the many liabilities which fall on the hospital in providing other benefits for naval personnel and their dependants.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what progress has been made with the erection of the swimming pool for the boys in the "Caledonia" at Rosyth; and whether any decision has yet been reached regarding the erection of a gymnasium?

It is hoped that the contract for the swimming bath will be placed and that construction will commence in October, 1938. The provision of a gymnasium has also been approved and its construction will be expedited as much as possible.