asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the heavy burdens thrown upon the community by the emergency expenditure on defence and also of the great increase in educational expenditure in rates and taxes in recent years, the Treasury has set a limit and, if so, what limit to the new expenditure under the five-year programme of the Board of Education?

This question seems to be put under some misapprehension as no occasion for Treasury action has arisen. The Ministry of Health under Circular 1687 has invited local authorities to submit five-year programmes of capital expenditure, and the aspect of this matter as affecting education was dealt with by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education in his answer to my hon. Friend on 7th July.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is making any arrangements with the British Broadcasting Corporation to include shortly in their programmes early morning broadcasts of physical exercises in connection with the Keep Fit movement?

This question has been discussed by representatives of the National Fitness Council and the British Broadcasting Corporation and the provisional arrangements suggested as the result of those discussions are now under consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what price was paid for the 4⅓ acres of land belonging to the Penglaise Estate, Aberystwyth, and acquired as a site for the new girls secondary school?

No information has yet been received as to the price to be paid for this site.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether he has given further consideration to the Metal Clad Company, Limited, Neath, who supplied satisfactory munitions to the Ministry during the whole of 1937 and are idle this year; and will he give reasons why contracts have not been renewed, having regard to the large number of unemployed skilled workers in the tin and steel trade in this area?

I have been asked to reply. As the hon. Member was informed on 4th May last, the firm referred to carried out work some time ago on a sub-contract for a main Air Ministry contractor. Up to the present requirements have not made it practicable to place further contracts with the main contractor, but he has been invited to tender in connection with further requirements that have recently arisen and the allocation of orders as the result of the competitive tendering is now under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will state the precise dates of the appointment to the board of Imperial Airways, Limited, of the Government directors at the time of the Cadman Report?

The dates of appointment of the two Government directors on the board of Imperial Airways at the time when the Cadman Committee report was issued are as follows:

• Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John M. Salmond, 22nd May, 1933, and
• Sir Francis L. Joseph, 17th July, 1937.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is the intention of the Air Ministry to increase the number of auxiliary squadrons during the present year?

Yes, Sir, it is proposed to form one additional auxiliary squadron this year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the number of works in the steel and tinplate industries which have been rendered idle this year in the Pontardawe and Neath areas; what are the numbers of unemployed persons in these areas for April, May, June, and the latest available date in July; and what steps he has taken to get the works restarted?

According to my information, 10 steel and tinplate works have been rendered idle in the first six months of the present year in this area. This figure does not include works which have operated intermittently. 4,532 persons were registered as unemployed on the 4th April in Neath; 4,821 on the 11th May and 5,021 on the 13th June. The comparable figures for Pontardawe are 1,452, 1,544 and 1,479. With regard to the last part of the hon. Member's question, I would refer him to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths) on 5th July.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that two persons working at the works of Messrs. MacLellan and Company, Limited, Mary-hill, have, during the past few months, been discharged from their employment because they refused to attend morning prayers in the works due to their being members of a different religious faith; that they were refused benefit at the labour exchange; and will he see that persons discharged for refusing to attend religious services at their employment are not deprived of benefit?

Geo. MacLellan and Company have informed me that no member of any religious faith has at any time been dismissed by them for refusing to attend the services held at their works, nor can I trace any case in which unemployment benefit has been refused to any person alleged to have been dismissed by this firm in such circumstances. If the hon. Member will give me particulars of any case he has in mind I will make further inquiries.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the names of the representatives of the trade unions who are serving on the courts of referees at Parkhead Employment Exchange, the number of hearings each representative was cited to during 1937, and the number each representative attended?

I will send the hon. Member a list of the trade union representatives. I do not think the record of their attendances should be published without their consent.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what was the total sum deducted from unemployment benefit in respect of holiday pay from unemployed persons in Greenock for the week ended 9th July, and the corresponding sum deducted from Unemployment Assistance Board allowances in Greenock for the same period; (2) how many unemployed workers in Greenock have had deductions made from standard benefit and unemployment assistance allowance, respectively, in respect of holiday pay credits; and whether he has any statement to make regarding the position in Greenock in the matter of such deductions?

I regret that none of the figures asked for are available. As regards the second part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 30th June last and to my replies to various questions on Thursday last relating to unemployment benefit and holiday payments.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of persons who have been affected by the ceiling rule of the Agricultural Unemployment Insurance Act?

At 23rd May, 1938, out of approximately 20,000 persons with claims admitted for agricultural benefit, 375 would have qualified for benefit at a higher rate but for the operation of the rule which limits the weekly amount payable to a maximum of 30s.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider making a grant to the Neath Town Council and the Pontardawe Rural District Council for the purposes of carrying out essential schemes which are urgently required in the public interest in view of the large number of persons in these districts being rendered idle through no fault of their own?

I have no funds at my disposal out of which such a grant could be made.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are taken to see that firms on the King's National Roll maintain their obligations under the scheme from year to year?

Enrolment on the King's National Roll is normally for a period of two years at the end of which the employer again furnishes information as to the number of disabled ex-service men employed, and renews his undertaking. The employer is also under an obligation to notify the local committee if the conditions of his undertaking cease to be fulfilled, and to give the local committee any reasonable information it requires in order to see that the conditions of the undertaking are being fulfilled.

asked the First Commissioner of Works how many persons are employed in erecting the new ordnance factory at Euxton, near Chorley; and how many persons have been recruited through the Employment Exchange?

The number of men at present employed in erecting the new ordnance factory at Euxton is 9,942; 3,425 men have been recruited for this work through the Employment Exchange.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any scheme is under consideration by his Department for improving the facilities for crossing the Tyne east of Newcastle so as to prevent traffic having to go from Jarrow, Sunderland, and South Shields to Newcastle in order to get to North Shields, Tynemouth, and the North generally; whether any consultations have taken place with the local authorities north and south of the Tyne and his Department in regard to this question; and with what result?

A proposal that a road tunnel should be built under the Tyne at or near Jarrow has been submitted for my consideration by a Joint Committee consisting of representatives of the County Councils of Durham and Northumberland and the Newcastle Corporation. In April last I informed the Joint Committee that in my opinion the views of the County Boroughs of Tynemouth and South Shields, who are interested in the construction of a tunnel east of Newcastle, should be obtained, and the Joint Committee promised to call a meeting of these and other interested authorities. I am now waiting to hear from them regarding progress of discussions on this matter.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered the Nottingham County Council's proposed road improvement scheme between Six Hills and the Fosse-Melton Road cross-roads to Widmerpool; what is the length of road involved; how much land it will be necessary to acquire for carrying out the scheme; and whether he can state the estimated total cost, showing separately the expenditure necessary on the purchase of land or compensation to property interests affected?

Preliminary discussions are now proceeding between the technical officers of my Department and the county council and the final details of the scheme have not yet been settled. The length of the road involved is approximately five miles and a provisional estimate of the cost is £150,000 (including £5,000 for land acquisition).

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that compulsory and request omnibus stops are being placed throughout the Metropolitan area by the London Passenger Transport Board without any reference to the wishes or convenience of the occupants of residential and business premises adjacent thereto; and whether he will take steps to ensure that in future no such omnibus stops are so placed until the wishes of the occupiers of such adjacent premises have been ascertained?

The "Compulsory" and "By Request" stops now being placed throughout the Metropolitan area are part of the scheme to provide fixed stopping places and have been approved by me after consultation with the local authority concerned, the police and the board. Any representations made by frontagers receive the fullest consideration. The hon. Member will appreciate that traffic and other over-riding considerations do not always permit of effect being given to those representations.

asked the Minister of Health whether any estimate has been prepared of the cost of providing medical benefit to the dependants of persons insured under the National Health Insurance Acts?

On the assumption that the term "dependants" is restricted to wives and children up to the school-leaving age, the cost of providing medical benefit to the dependants of insured persons would be about £10,000,000 per annum if the annual charge per head were the same as that now applicable to insured persons themselves.

asked the Minister of Health (1) under what rules or orders regional medical officers carry out their duties under the National Health Insurance Acts, and to whom they are responsible; (2) under what authority medical referees are appointed to examine insured claimants for benefits under approved societies rules?

Regional medical officers are responsible ultimately to me. As regards the authority for their appointment and their powers and duties I would refer the hon. Member to Section 6 of the Ministry of Health Act, 1919, and the National Health Insurance (Medical Benefit) Regulations, 1937. The principal duty assigned to these officers is the special examination at the request of approved societies, in accordance with their rules made under Section 79 of the National Health Insurance Act, 1936, of insured persons claiming sickness or disablement benefit.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, in October last, the Burnley Town Council referred back a recommendation of the general purposes committee to purchase 48½ acres of land to the north-west of the corporation's smallholdings and at the rear of Brunshaw Road at a price of £210 per acre; and whether the land has since been acquired, at what price, and what was its previous rateable value?

According to my information the committee's recommendation was not referred back to them by the council. The council have now entered into a contract to buy the land at the price quoted which has been approved by the district valuer. The land has been de-rated as agricultural land, except for a small part of it which is occupied by some wooden huts and a garage and of which the rateable value is £20 16s.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Longfield Parish Council abandoned a proposal to acquire, for a recreation ground, five acres 16 poles of land at Longfield Hill at a price of £875 plus necessary costs; whether the smaller site has yet been secured on the hill and, if so, at what price; and if he can give any information as to the price paid or agreed upon for eight acres in the centre of the parish which the council are committed to buy, through having it town-planned, for allotments?

I understand that the parish council have abandoned a proposal to acquire the land at Longfield Hill and are endeavouring to find a smaller site. As regards the land for allotments no agreement has been reached with the owner for the purchase.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of Slough Town Council to build 300 houses on the Baylis Court Estate at a cost of £153,000; if he is aware that the council have already decided to give the contract to the Manor Park Construction Company, Limited, without competitive tenders from any other firms; whether he will inquire into the contention of the council that they had no alternative but to give the contract to the Manor Park Construction Company, Limited, who were the owners of the land in question and if he will order an inquiry into the relationship between this company and the town council of Slough?

I am aware of the proposals of the Council referred to in the first two parts of the question. I am already cognisant of the circumstances of this case, but I do not think there is any need for an inquiry of the kind proposed.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the result of the Ministry of Health inquiry at Billericay in January last, concerning the appeal of Mrs. Upson against the refusal of the Billericay Urban District Council to permit the development of land known as Bull Farm Estate, Pitsea; what is the area of the land in question and its present rateable value; and what compensation is payable to the owner for any reason?

The appeal was withdrawn in view of an agreement between the appellant and the district council for the purchase of the appellant's land as a public open space. The area is 18 acres, and the purchase price £1,190. I will make inquiries on the other point mentioned, and will communicate further with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he proposes to take to assist small shopkeepers who are evicted from condemned premises without the offer of alternative accommodation at a comparable rental?

Local authorities have power to pay allowances towards loss due to disturbance of trade arising from slum clearance operations. Complete information as to the number and amount of allowances paid is not available, but up to the 31st March, 1938, 5,818 claims had been received by urban authorities in England and Wales, £216,826 had been paid in respect of 4,560 of these claims, and 298 claims were under consideration at that date.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will represent to the chairman of the inter-departmental committee on the nursing services the importance in the public interest of issuing an interim report before the recess?

The committee are still engaged in the hearing of the large volume of evidence which has been tendered to them, and it will accordingly not be possible for a report to be issued before the Recess. I understand from the chairman that the committee hope to be in a position to make an Interim Report before the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Health what was the rate of mortality from tuberculosis for each of the administrative counties of Wales and Monmouthshire in 1937, and the corresponding rate for England and Scotland, respectively?

The information asked for is as follows:

asked the Minister of Health what was the rate of maternal mortality for each of the administrative counties of Wales and Monmouthshire for the year 1937; and the corresponding rate for England and Scotland, respectively?

The information asked for is as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any information as to the number of grass-drying plants in operation in Great Britain at the present time?

I understand that the number is approximately 100.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will publish the memoranda he has received in connection with the reorganisation of the egg and poultry industry from producers and distributors' organisations?

The only memorandum I have received in recent months is one presented in March last by the Joint Marketing Committee of the National Farmers' Union and the National Poultry Council. The details of the Government's marketing proposals, the general lines of which were indicated in the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Linlithgow on 11th July, are still under consideration, and I do not think, therefore, that any useful purpose would be served by the publication of the document to which I have referred.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of his decision to postpone the introduction of the Wheat Bill, he will consider incorporating therein provisions to encourage the increased use of rural mills on the lines proposed in the Restoration of Mills in Rural Areas Bill?

As at present advised, I am doubtful whether the provisions of the Restoration of Mills in Rural Areas Bill would increase the total amount of wheat offals available in this country, which I understand to be the chief object of the Bill. On the other hand, they would involve a departure from the principle that the Wheat Act should not interfere with the free market for wheat in this country. I cannot, therefore, undertake to include such provisions in the Bill for the amendment of the Wheat Act which I propose to introduce next Session.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the projected closing down of fried fish and chip shops in various parts of the country owing to the excessive prices for potatoes and fish; and whether he will indicate what steps his Department is prepared to take to obviate such action so as to maintain these essential food supplies?

I am aware of the action taken by certain fish fryers associations owing to the temporary shortage and high prices of potatoes in the last few days of June and the early part of July. Supplies of main crop potatoes generally come to an end during the latter part of June. With regard to supplies of new potatoes, the Jersey season was somewhat earlier than usual this year; on the other hand, owing to the drought, the home crop was late in coming forward. Imports of potatoes from foreign countries are regulated by Order under the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1933, and the quantity to be admitted from time to time is determined in the light of prospective supplies. The import quota for the current period was determined on the advice of the Market Supply Committee, having regard to the anticipations that neither home-grown nor Jersey potatoes would be in normal supply at the end of June, but I understand that a considerable proportion of the quota has not yet been taken up. Supplies of home grown new potatoes are now coming forward in good quantity and prices in the last few days have returned to normal levels. I am not aware of any shortage of supplies of fish, and prices to the producer appear to be comparable with those ruling in previous years.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the regulations under which compensation is granted to workmen in the pay of the War Office in respect of injuries arising out of and in the course of their employment?

Compensation is granted to workmen employed by the War Department 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 of compensation framed thereunder) or in accordance with the Treasury Warrants framed under the Superannuation Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the scheme for accelerated promotion of officers will come into force, and when the reduction from four years to three years of lieutenant-colonels' commands will become operative; what inducement by way of increase of pensions or otherwise will be offered to officers below the rank of lieutenant-colonel to resign; and will the scheme effect the promotion of officers now second-in-command of their units?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr. Touche) on 21st June last. He will make the promised announcement as soon as he is in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for War which Territorial units have refused to accept recruits during the last 12 months by reason of the fact that they were already over strength; whether he can state the number of recruits thus refused; and whether he has any information as to how many of them subsequently joined other units?

Territorial Army units are at present allowed to recruit up to 30 per cent. over establishment in the case of yeomanry regiments, and 20 per cent. over establishment in the case of other units, if they apply for authority to do so. I have no information which would enable me to give the precise figures asked for in the question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has now received a further report on the situation in Sikar; and whether His Majesty's Government are making any attempt to mediate between the two parties to the dispute?

Since my reply to a question by the hon. Member on 7th July, the situation in Sikar has improved. The Rao Raja of Sikar has openly declared his desire that all his wellwishers should co-operate with the commission appointed by the Jaipur Government to enquire into the disturbances, and the bulk of the rural population of the Thikana are said to be showing that they are well content to do so. The Crown Representative has, at the request of the Jaipur Government, made available the services of an officer of the Indian Political Service to preside over their commission of enquiry. It is the responsibility of the Jaipur Government to deal with those who are still trying to prevent this commission from functioning.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that, whereas a disabled ex-service man who is unemployed and in receipt of unemployment insurance benefit can be admitted to a Ministry of Pensions hospital and receive full treatment allowances, a disabled ex-service man who is unemployed and in receipt of unemployment assistance benefit is not granted these allowances when admitted into hospital; and whether he will state the reason for this differentiation?

The full allowances provided by the Royal Warrant are designed to compensate for the earnings which the patient has lost in consequence of undergoing a prescribed course of treatment, and may be paid where the man is, at the commencement, found to be no more than temporarily out of employment. In other cases, where this condition is not satisfied and the patient is in receipt of either unemployment benefit or assistance before treatment, supplementary grants are payable which substantially meet the loss of income suffered by their families.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, in the course of the reconstruction of the Tarbert-Ardrishaig road by his Department, several telegraph poles have had to be removed in the village of Tarbert to new positions and that, in its new position, the iron rod supporting the stay of one of the poles is only six inches from the edge of the footpath and forms a dangerous obstruction thereon; and whether he will have this remedied?

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that Milngavie Town Council refuse to co-operate with Dumbarton County Council in the latter's general air-raid precautions scheme; and what steps is he prepared to take in the matter?

I understand that there are certain difficulties at present between the town council of Milngavie and the county council, but I do not anticipate that the town council will decline to carry out their statutory duties when the scheme which is being prepared by the county council is referred to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions have been given by his Department to judges presiding in the inferior courts of Scotland quoad the examination of juvenile delinquents by psycho-analysts prior to sentence being imposed?

No instructions are issued by my right hon. Friend to courts in Scotland. It has, however, been recommended to all courts that on every occasion when there is any suspicion of defect or abnormality a medical and mental examination should be conducted by the most skilful specialist available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total indebtedness of local authorities in Scotland for the years 1913, 1923 and 1936, respectively; and what was the total amount raised in local rates in the same periods?

The total indebtedness of local authorities in Scotland at the close of the local financial years 1913–14, 1923–24 and 1933–34, the last year for which figures are available, and the total amounts raised in local rates in the same years were:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the anxiety felt by local authorities who have agreed to erect timber houses about the proper deafening of these houses; and can he say whether any experiments have been made to secure privacy and what materials are recommended for this purpose?

Timber houses are being deafened in the same way as brick or stone houses and in particular the dividing walls between houses are being constructed of brick or concrete. I am advised that these precautions will give normal sound insulation from ordinary noise in each house and from adjoining houses. Timber construction in Scotland is still in the experimental stage and I have instructed the technical officers of the Department of Health to keep in touch with the experience gained from the actual occupation of the houses and to pay particular regard to this point.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the sentence of £3 or 14 days each passed at the Sheriff Court, Renfrew, on 5th July on James Holmes, 246, Main Street, Paisley, and Ian Holmes, 6, Knox Street, Paisley, for failing to dismount at a halt sign at the junction of Glenpatrick Road and Beith Road, Elderslie; whether he is aware that both boys are only 18 years of age and first offenders; and whether he will inquire into this case with a view to its reduction?

The attention of my right hon. Friend had not previously been drawn to these cases, but he is making inquiries and will communicate with the hon. Member at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Kenya Government are considering the alienation of land for Jewish settlements in Kenya; and whether he can give any indication as to which parts of Kenya will be assigned for this purpose?

The Government of Kenya have this matter under consideration. There can be no question of any mass settlement of Jews in Kenya, nor of disturbing the lands allotted for native occupation. What is being examined is the possibility of the settlement of a number of Jewish families on individual holdings or in small groups elsewhere. I am not yet in a position to make a more particular statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information about the affair at Tulkarm on 4th July, when an Arab band surrounded the police station, disarmed 22 policemen, and got a machine-gun and other arms?

The High Commissioner for Palestine informs me that it is not the case that an Arab band surrounded the Tulkarm police station and disarmed any police. On the 1st July a number of Arab supernumerary police tendered their resignation at Tulkarm police station and handed in their arms and ammunition. That night the shed containing the arms and ammunition was burgled and 22 rifles and 1,250 rounds of small-arm ammunition were stolen. A Court of Inquiry has been assembled to investigate the affair.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the advisability of distributing through the post to every householder one copy of a pamphlet giving information concerning the essential points of air-raid precautions?

Yes, Sir: the householders' handbook is at present being reconsidered in the light of observations received from local authorities. These observations relate both to the contents of the handbook and to the manner of distribution.

asked the hon. Member for Central Leeds as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners whether the site of the demolished All Hallows Church, in Lombard Street, E.C., has yet been sold and, if so, at what price; and what is the area of the site?

The site has not yet been sold and negotiations are still proceeding. The area is 6,723 square feet.