asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the growing anxiety among farmers and farm workers at the serious position of the agricultural industry; and will he consider the special position of the arable farmers of East Anglia?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my remarks during the Debate on 13th July and to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Central Southwark (Mr. Day) on 18th July.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Agricultural Research Council have yet discovered the reason why when certain potato tubers are boiled they turn black?

This problem is being investigated with the aid of funds provided by the Potato Marketing Board, but the results so far obtained are inconclusive.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can provide figures to show the results of the trading operations during the past 12 months of the Milk Marketing Board's creameries after a proper allocation of overhead administrative expenses have been made?

The information which my hon. Friend desires is not in my possession.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the area, the price paid, and the previous rateable value of Middleton Moat Farm, Wisbech Road, Terrington St. Clement, purchased by the Norfolk County Council for purposes of the new Marshaland experimental station; what further expenditure will be required to equip the farm for experimental or demonstration purposes; what revenue is likely to be derived when the whole is in operation; and if the running of the farm involves a charge on county ratepayers what that charge is likely to be?

I have been asked to reply. The area of the farm in question is approximately 60 acres, which were acquired for £5,400, this price including the farmhouse and buildings. I have no information as to the previous rateable value of the property. Its equipment as a demonstration station is estimated to cost £3,640. The anticipated revenue is between £2,500 and £3,000 per annum, which is expected to meet outgoings, exclusive of the loan service charges in respect of the sum required to purchase the farm.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will state the present position with regard to the negotiations for a Franco-Italian pact on the lines of the Anglo-Italian pact; and whether the French Government have made any representations to the British Government on the subject?

I understand that the negotiations between France and Italy have been suspended since the beginning of May. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on Monday last to the hon. Member for Kingswinford (Mr. A. Henderson).

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement concerning the purport of the conversations between Herr Wiedemann and members of His Majesty's Government?

In the course of a recent visit to London Captain Wiedemann had an informal conversation with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Captain Wiedemann did not come prepared to discuss any particular aspect of political affairs, but the conversation enabled him, owing to his contact with authoritative circles in Germany, to renew the assurances already given by the German Government of their desire to achieve a peaceful settlement of outstanding questions.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the League of Nations' recommendation favouring all possible assistance to China compatible with the interests of the Powers, he can state whether there is any way, as far as Great Britain is concerned, in which such help is being offered other than the grant of financial credits?

In conformity with the League resolutions His Majesty's Government, within the limits imposed upon them by existing circumstances, are giving and will continue to give serious and sympathetic consideration to any requests they may receive from the Chinese Government. I cannot attempt to give any detailed definition of what is being done or what may be in contemplation.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of juveniles on the live register as unemployed during each of the last six months?

The numbers of unemployed juveniles, under 18 years of age, on the registers of Employment Exchanges and Juvenile Employment Bureaux in Great Britain at a date in each of the last six months were as follow:

—	Boys.	Girls.	Total.
17th Jan., 1938	52,856	64,049	116,905
14th Feb., 1938	49,241	61,348	110,589
14th March, 1938	42,490	54,816	97,306
4th April, 1938	41,177	51,797	92,974
16th May, 1938	48,072	55,138	103,210
13th June, 1938	44,074	48,874	92,948

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the number of persons registered at Bridgend, Aberkenfig, Maesteg, Ogmore Vale, and Pontycymmer Employment Exchanges in receipt of benefits and allowances, separately, for 1934 and each year to date?

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

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state, as to each district, the number of persons who were in receipt of unemployment allowances in the Bristol, Nottingham, Norwich, Sheffield, Durham, Preston, and Cardiff districts who were also in receipt of winter allowances on the 17th January last, and the average amount paid in each district?

The following table gives the information desired:

Unemployment Assistance Board's Administrative District.	Number of assessments current on 17th January, 1938, which included winter additions.	Average weekly value, of additions shown in Column (2).
(1)	(2)	(3)
		s.	d.
Bristol	5,518	2	1
Nottingham	6,733	2	0
Norwich	2,667	2	0
Sheffield	11,689	2	1
Durham	11,926	2	2
Preston	8,034	1	11
Cardiff	16,475	2	3

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the position of a person who is advised by the Employment Exchange to commence work on a given date and, owing to such person having been unemployed for several years, he is unable to take the job for lack of suitable boots and/or clothing; and whether, in the case of such a person residing a long distance from the Employment Exchange, and so being prevented from making an application for boots and/or clothing before starting work, the claim will be allowed in such circumstances, provided the application is proved, if made within one week from being notified of the job?

It is difficult to give a definite answer upon a hypothetical case, and perhaps the hon. Member will let me have particulars of any specific case he has in mind. He is, no doubt, aware that the question whether a person is entitled to unemployment benefit is a matter not for me, but for the Statutory Authorities, and any question of the grant of unemployment assistance is a matter for the Unemployment Assistance Board. Generally, I can assure the hon. Member that these authorities would deal sympathetically with a case of the kind he describes, and, as regards the position of the Unemployment Assistance Board in relation to the provision of boots and clothing, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him to a question on the subject on the 25th March of last year. I might also mention that, under my Department's Industrial Transference Scheme, suitable boots and clothing can be supplied in necessitous cases, in the case of transfer from a Scheduled Depressed Area.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of registered unemployed males, females, boys and girls, respectively, in Doncaster, Adwick-le-Street, and Bentley at the last available date?

The numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of the Doncaster Employment Exchange at 13th June, 1938, were:

Men aged 18 years and over	4,594
Women aged 18 years and over	546
Boys under 18 years of age	120
Girls under 18 years of age	341
Total	5,601

Separate figures are not available for Adwick-le-Street or Bentley, which are within the area of the Doncaster Employment Exchange.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of recipients of assistance under the Unemployment Assistance Board in Doncaster, Adwick-le-Street, and Bentley, respectively, at the last available date?

At 13th June, 1938, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 1,532 persons on the registers of the Doncaster Employment Exchange with applications authorised for unemployment allowances. Separate figures are not available for Adwick-le-Street or Bentley, which are within the area of the Doncaster Employment Exchange.

asked the Minister of Labour how many branch managers of Employment Exchanges are at the present time paid on a sliding scale depending on the amount of unemployment in their areas; and whether, in view of the fact that this arrangement means that the more employment which the branch manager obtains for those registered at his Exchange the less money he is paid, he will take steps to review the whole matter?

I would refer my right hon. Friend to my reply to-day to his oral question on this subject. The number of branch managers in question is 461.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the rate of wages paid to men employed in the tin mining industry of Cornwall and the china clay industry of Cornwall?

So far as I am aware there is no collective agreement between organisations of employers and work-people in the tin mining industry in Cornwall fixing rates of wages, and I am not in possession of information as to the rates paid by individual employers. In the china clay industry the standard minimum rate for adult time workers fixed by agreement between the British China Clay Producers' Federation, Limited, and the Transport and General Workers' Union is 1s. per hour.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the total number of chargemen in home Admiralty establishments; what is the number receiving benefit from the recent award No. 1689 of the Arbitration Court; and what arrangements are to be made for the extension of this award to cover the case of chargemen of skilled labourers?

There were two identical awards made by the Industrial Court; No. 1689 relating to a difference between the Admiralty and the Chargemen's Association and No. 1688 relating to a similar difference between the official side and the trades union side of the Shipbuilding Trade Joint Council for Government Departments.The number of chargemen serving in Admiralty establishments at home is approximately 1,360 and the number affected by the two awards referred to is 1,136. These awards do not cover charge-men of skilled labourers other than those on the permanent list, and are not being extended to those employés, but negotiations are proceeding on the Shipbuilding Trade Joint Council for Government Departments for the revision of the charge pay of such chargemen in the light of these awards.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the benefits of Award No. 1689 have been extended to chargemen in overseas dockyards; and, if not, for what reason?

The award referred to has been applied to the chargemen of the categories covered by the award who are serving under agreement at His Majesty's Yards abroad and who are in receipt of Home Yard rates of pay and charge pay. At Hong Kong, where the remuneration of all agreement chargemen is fixed on a local currency basis the question of adjusting rates to take account of the provisions of the award is under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the present average period for which a man must serve in the Home dockyards as a chargeman

—		Basic Wage.	Foreign service Allowance.	House Allowance.	Total Basic Wage.	Temporary Increase.	Total Wage.
		($ per week).	($ per week).	($ per week).	($ per week).	Per cent.	($ per week).
1929	…	27	15.75	14.00	56.75	80	102.15
1930	…					100	113.50
1931	…					85	104.99
1932	…					85	104.99
1933	…					85	104.99
1934	…					85	104.99
1935	…					85	104.99
1936	…					85	104.99
1937	…					85	104.99
1938	…					100	113.50

There is no stipulated average period for which a chargeman must serve before he is transferred to the established list. Chargemen are grouped with the general body of workpeople when selections are being made of men for transfer to the established list, though the regulations provide for preference to be given in this respect to certain types of employés, including chargemen of proved capacity and reliability. They further provide for chargemen of trades to be placed on the permanent list and, if unestablished, to be transferred to the established list, on completion of 15 years' reckonable service in that capacity.

The numbers of unestablished charge-men in the Home dockyards with more than five years' and more than 10 years' service respectively as chargemen are 50 and 24.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can provide a table showing how the present effective wages of British employés in His Majesty's dockyard at Hong King compare with the effective rates during each of the past 10 years, taking into account the changed values of the Hong Kong dollar and the changes in the cost of living at Hong Kong?

In view of the varying grades of employés serving at His Majesty's Dockyard, Hong Kong, a typical case has been selected and the particulars in the following table show the actual wages of an employé of the grade of chargeman of shipwrights serving under agreement from a Home dockyard for each of the last 10 years.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can provide figures showing the amount of leave with pay received by all the principal types and grades of employés in His Majesty's naval establishments including, in particular, chargemen of trades, chargemen of skilled labourers, recorders of work, inspectors, and draughtsmen?

The following is a statement showing the authorised allowances of annual leave with pay for the principal types and grades of industrial employés in Admiralty Establishments who are entitled to this privilege. This leave is additional to the five public holidays with pay:

	Days.
Electrical Station Supervisors	12 to 14
Chargemen of Trades, of Titular Grades, and of Skilled Labourers	12
Chargemen of Labourers	9
Leading Hands, Greenock Torpedo Factory	12
Recorders of Work	12
Storehousemen and Laboratory men	10
Mechanics on Survey of Stores	9
Leading Examiners	12
Leading men of Works	12
Mechanics on Overseeing Duties	14
Masters and Engineers of Yard Craft	12
Mates of Yard Craft	9
Telephone Exchange Operators	9

All other workpeople with a minimum of 12 months' service receive six days annual leave with pay.The leave scales of the principal types and grades of non-industrial employés in Admiralty Establishments are as follow:

	Days.
Principal, etc., Officers (including Directing Staff, Secretary's, Store, Cash and Expense Accounts Department). Some are eligible for 48 days after10 or 15 years in a grade eligible for 36 days	36
Laboratory Manager	36
Surveyor of Stores	36
Foreman of Factory	36
Foreman of Yard, and Branches, and Major Trades	36
Senior Foreman of Torpedo Fitters	36
Principal, Senior and Foreman of Storehouses	28

	Days.
Foreman of Trades, Works, Laboratory and Fitters (Torpedo Depots)	28
Superintendent Measurer and Recorder	28
Senior Electrical Station Engineer	28
Inspecting Officer of Central Store Keeping	28
Assistant Foreman of Factory	24
Leading Measurer and Recorder	24
Electrical Station Engineer	24
Inspector of Trades and Storehousemen	21
Assistant Foreman of Laboratory and Storehouses	21
Assistant Inspecting Officer of Central Storekeeping	21
Assistant Costings Officer	21
Senior Draughtsmen	28
First Class Draughtsmen	24
Second Class Draughtsmen (24 after five years)	21
Assistant Draughtsmen (18 Unestablished)	21
Temporary Draughtsmen	18
Departmental Higher Clerical Officer	36
Departmental Clerical Officer	24
"S" Class Clerks	21
Temporary Clerks	18
Clerical Assistants, Typists, etc.	18 to 24
Pensioner Clerks	18 to 30

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the number of officers entered from the mercantile marine into the permanent list of the Navy in the executive and accountant branches; the number of commissions awarded to lower-deck ratings in these branches early in their careers last year; and the numbers so far entered and to be entered this year from the mercantile marine and to be commissioned from the lower deck?

The numbers of executive and accountant officers transferred from the Reserves to the Royal Navy in 1937 were 125 and 30 respectively. The latter figure includes officers from the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Ninety-eight executive officers have been transferred this year and the number under consideration makes it probable that the total will be about 120. No accountant officers are being transferred this year. Thirteen seamen ratings were promoted to acting sub-lieutenant in 1937. Selections for this year have not yet been made.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the number of commissions as engineer officers offered to the universities last year and the number of applications and awards; the numbers so far for 1938; and how many further commissions are to be offered this year?

In reply to the first part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the figures I gave him on 9th February last. The number of applications was seven. In April, 1938, 20 commissions were offered; two candidates applied and one appointment was made. A further 20 commisions will be offered later in the year for appointments in February, 1939.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the number of engineering cadets entered at Dartmouth College and by the special entry schemes last year and the number of apprentices promoted to cadet (E) and artificers to sub-lieutenant (E); the number of cadets entered under each scheme and of apprentices and artificers so far promoted in 1938; and the further entries and promotions to be made this year?

No cadets are entered into the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, specifically for engineering duties, but cadets from the college may volunteer for such duties on passing out from the training cruiser. The number who so volunteered and were selected for engineering in 1937 was five, and this year four. The number of special entry cadets appointed to the engineer branch in 1937 was 50 and up to the present 41 have been appointed this year. In 1937 three artificer apprentices were promoted to cadet (E); two were promoted in January, 1938, and two more have recently been selected for this promotion. For the number of artificers promoted to acting sub-lieutenant (E) in 1937 I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 23rd February last. Seven have been promoted this year. The only further appointments to be made this year in the above-mentioned categories will be from the June special entry examination, from which it is anticipated 20 cadets (E) will be entered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government have determined to ratify the International Labour Office convention relating to the repatriation of seamen, which the British Government adviser at the conference (1926) described as a very useful and a very just one?

His Majesty's Government indicated in Command Paper 3336 of 1929 that they are prepared to reconsider their decision not to ratify this Convention as soon as at least six of the principal maritime powers have registered their ratification with the Secretary-General of the League of Nations. This position has not yet been reached.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education how many townships in Lancashire with a population of 3,000 and over are without senior-school accommodation?

I am not quite clear in what sense the hon. Member uses the word township, but there are within the administrative county of Lancashire 27 boroughs or urban districts, of a population of 3,000 or over, in which there are no senior schools.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether the Board are prepared to consider adopting a more comprehensive range of reference manuals in the elementary and secondary schools throughout the country to enable the pupils to attain a higher standard of efficiency?

It is the Board's policy to leave the choice of books to the discretion of the local education authorities or other authorities responsible for the schools, but the matter is one to which His Majesty's inspectors give considerable attention when visiting schools.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of the hardship in respect of pensions of Post Office servants who retired between 20th March, 1922, and 30th June, 1934; whether he is aware that all pension settlements since 1918 have been to the detriment of this particular class of man; and whether he will consider the possibility of readjusting the amounts they now receive?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 19th July to the hon. Member for Dumbartonshire (Mr. Cassells).

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the contract price for Bren guns manufactured in Canada; and whether any limitation of profit has been imposed on the firm undertaking the manufacture of these guns?

The reply to the second part of the question is, "Yes, Sir," but it would not be in accordance with practice to disclose the contract price.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. R. Pearse, of Reading, an unemployed man, was invited to attend at the Air-Raid Precautions Department, Home Office, on 12th July, to demonstrate a model dug-out to be used as an air-raid shelter, but that he was not offered any refund of his expenses of travelling; and whether provision could be made for payment of reasonable expenses in similar cases, where necessary, in the future?

I am writing to the hon. Member about this case. This gentleman attended for interview at his own request and no question of the payment of travelling expenses arose at the time; but the case is being again examined in the light of the information supplied by the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary how many refugees from Austria have been admitted into this country since 1st January, 1938; for how many months they are allowed to stay; and whether they are allowed to seek and accept employment?

As regards the first part of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mr. Riley) on 23rd June. As regards the last part of the question, a foreigner who is not in possession of a Ministry of Labour permit when admitted to this country is not ordinarily at liberty to seek or take employment without my permission. If it appears that he is unable to return to Austria on political, racial or religious grounds and wishes to take employment, an application would be sympathetically considered in the light of the circumstances of the particular case, provided that no displacement of a British subject is involved.

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of local authorities which provide accommodation for maternity cases in special institutions; and what is the number of local authorities which only provide such accommodation in wards of institutions used also for other purposes?

The numbers are 139 and 88 respectively.

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of local authorities which provide accommodation for maternity cases through or in association with arrangements for public assistance; and what is the number of local authorities which provide accommodation for maternity cases apart from arrangements for public assistance?

The numbers are 95 and 199 respectively.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the age at which an insured male person may become unemployed and be unable to obtain further employment and still be entitled to old age pension on attaining the age of 65?

A man who has been continuously insured for at least ten years at the date when he becomes unemployed is entitled, irrespective of his age at that date, to have his insurance continued until he reaches pension age, provided that he remains throughout available for, but unable to secure employment.

asked the Minister of Health what was the total indebtedness of the local authorities in England and Wales at the end of the year 1937, or at the most recent date when the figures were compiled; and how much of the debt incurred in the two latest years was for money borrowed to purchase land?

The gross outstanding loan debt of all local authorities in England and Wales at the end of 1935–36, the latest year for which I can give figures, was £1,451,306,298. I regret that the information asked for in the latter part of the question is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, with regard to the serving of demolition and clearance orders on rural cottages, many occupants cannot read; and will he take steps to amend the machinery being employed by his Department to enable owners to understand the full implications of the Housing Act, 1936?

Demolition and clearance orders are addressed primarily to the owners and not the occupiers of the houses, and I have no evidence that inability to read notices has caused difficulty in general. The question whether the administrative machinery relating to demolition orders should be altered to assist those concerned, along the lines referred to in the latter part of the question, is at present under consideration by the Central Housing Advisory Committee and I shall give sympathetic consideration to any recommendations which the committee may make.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the comparison, on a population basis, between the number of cases of rheumatism in Lancashire and in the country as a whole?

Except in a few London districts where notification of acute rheumatism in children is being tried experimentally, rheumatism is not a notifiable disease, and I regret therefore that the information required is not available.

asked the Minister of Health what were the ages of the five other fatal cases not included by the Registrar-General in his list of deaths from vaccinia or other sequelæ of vaccination in 1932, as stated by the Minister in his answer on 21st March, 1933?

Three of the deceased were three weeks old, one was two months old, and one ten months old.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of recipients of public assistance in Doncaster, Adwick-le-Street and Bentley, respectively, at the last available date?

On Saturday, 9th July, 1938, the number of persons in receipt of poor relief, exclusive of rate-aided patients in mental hospitals, persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only and casuals, in Doncaster County Borough was 1,434. I am unable to furnish figures for Aidwick-le-Street and Bentley as the returns made to my Department of the numbers of persons in receipt of poor relief relate to counties and county boroughs as a whole.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of old age pensioners in Doncaster, Adwick-le-Street, and Bentley, respectively, and the number in receipt of public assistance?

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the question is not available as the records of old age pensioners are not arranged on a territorial basis. As regards the second part of the question, there were 352 old age pensioners in Doncaster County Borough who were in receipt of poor relief on the 1st January, 1938. I am unable to furnish figures for Adwick-le-Street and Bentley as the returns made to my Department of the numbers of persons in receipt of poor relief relate to counties and county boroughs as a whole.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Sedgefield Plain Parish Council, Durham, has been trying to secure a site for a playing-field near the school; and if he can say what area of land has been obtained and where, what price was agreed upon or paid, and what was the previous rateable value of the land?

I regret that I have no information in this matter.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent the accidents arising out of motor traffic during the month of June in Lancashire compare with the rest of the country per head of the population?

The exact information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available, but during the month of June, 1938, the number of persons killed or injured in all road accidents in Lancashire represented approximately three per ten thousand of the population of that county. The corresponding figure for the rest of Great Britain was approximately five per ten thousand.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the confusion in the minds of pedestrians as to their rights and obligations at controlled crossings as distinct from uncontrolled crossings, he will issue a pamphlet for the enlightenment of the public on this question?

The respective rights and obligations of pedestrians at controlled and uncontrolled crossings are indicated on page 23 of the supplementary notes of the Highway Code, and advice to pedestrians as to the use of controlled crossings is included in paragraphs 96, 98 and 99 of the Code. Over 20,000,000 copies of the Code have been issued, and, while I will bear in mind the hon. Member's suggestion, I am not at present convinced that there is a case for the issue of a pamphlet on the subject.

asked the Minister of Transport what were the total number of accidents, fatal and non-fatal, in 1937, where omnibus and tramcar drivers, lorry divers, taximeter-cab drivers, and private-car drivers were involved separately; and what is the percentage in each case?

Of the 289,311 road vehicles of all descriptions concerned in road accidents involving personal injury during the year 1937:

• 11,879 or 4.1 per cent. were omnibuses and coaches.
• 4,363 or 1.5 per cent. were tramcars.
• 850 or 0.3 per cent. were trackless trolley vehicles.
• 41,078 or 14.2 per cent. were motor vans, lorries, etc.
• 1,987 or 0.7 per cent. were motor cabs.
• 99,827 or 34·5 per cent. were private motor vehicles including private hire cars.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet considered the appeal of the coaching companies plying between London and Glasgow to increase their runnings during the holiday period; and whether he will take into account the desirability of making it possible for working-class people to visit Glasgow and the Empire Exhibition?

I have no appeal before me under the Road Traffic Act concerning increased runnings by coaching companies between London and Glasgow during the holiday period. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a letter which I recently sent to the Booking Agents' Association on the subject of long-distance express carriage services, with particular reference to the conveyance of visitors to and from the Exhibition at Glasgow.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to be in a position to make a final announcement of the action which he proposes to take with regard to the provision of adequate safety measures on that part of Western Avenue passing through Acton; and whether, in view of the feeling which exists on this matter in the locality, he can take steps to expedite action?

I have arranged for the immediate erection of footbridges of a temporary character across the Western Avenue near the Penryn Road and Allan Way junctions. These will remain pending the construction of permanent works.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that all the road frontages approaching London are being steadily overbuilt in spite of the Ribbon Development Act; and whether he will consider introducing legislation forthwith to sterilise land against building for 100 yards on either side of trunk roads so that no private individual shall in future be able to realise an enhanced price for road frontages due to public expenditure on highway improvement?

I am aware that road frontages continue to be developed, but I am satisfied that highway authorities generally are using their powers under the Act to secure that in any schemes of development due regard is paid to the necessity for preserving the traffic value of the roads. As regards the second part of the question I cannot see my way to take action on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Palestine police are armed, normally, only with rifles which are difficult to use in self-defence in such a country if a constable is alone; and whether he will consider issuing each constable with a revolver?

The question of the armament of members of the Palestine Police is primarily one for the High Commissioner and his advisers, who are in the best position to appreciate local requirements. The point raised by my hon. and gallant Friend will be brought to the High Commissioner's notice.

asked the Postmaster-General how the narrow, yellow-coloured bricks used in recent post office construction in country districts compare in price with the ordinary coloured bricks?

I am not aware of any bricks answering to the description having been used for Crown buildings. If the lion. Member will send me instances of particular buildings which he has in mind I will make inquiries.

asked the Secretary for Mines what grants have been made by the miners' welfare schemes towards erecting buildings for mining and technical education in England and Wales, respectively; in what areas grants have been made; and what is the percentage grant paid to these schools by the Board of Education?

The grants allocated from the miners' welfare fund towards the cost of erecting and equipping buildings for senior, advanced and university mining education amount in England to £478,901 and in Wales to £178,214. Particulars of the educational institutions in respect of which grants have been allocated will be found on pages 94 and 95 of the Annual Report on the Miners' Welfare Fund for 1936, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. The list of institutions has not changed since then.

With regard to the last part of the question, in the case of institutions under local education authorities, any additional capital expenditure incurred by the authorities and the cost of maintenance is aided by 50 per cent. grant from the Board of Education.

asked the Attorney-General how many benches of magistrates in England and Wales have women as chairmen?

I regret this information is not available as records are not kept, either in my Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor's Office, or the Home Office, of the names of the Chairmen of the different Petty Sessional Divisions. There are 1,003 Petty Sessional Divisions and I do not think any sufficient advantage would be gained by asking each Petty Sessional Division to give this information.