asked the Prime Minister whether he can state the composition of the commission to be sent to France for the purpose of investigating the bombing of civilian populations in Spain; the date of its departure; and whether any requests have yet been made for its services by either party in Spain?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to-day to the hon. Member for the Combined English Universities (Miss Rathbone), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Prime Minister what action has been taken by the Non-Intervention Committee on information that raids on Spanish ports are being carried out by Italian aeroplanes leaving from and returning to Rome?

I understand that the Non-Intervention Committee has not received any information of this nature.

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government has any information, or will make inquiries, as to whether any of the Italian forces operating in Spain are serving members of the royal Italian army or air force?

I have no doubt that some of the Italian forces in question have been members of the Italian army and air force. His Majesty's Government are not, however, aware of the status of such persons while they are in Spain, and are not prepared to make the suggested inquiries.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has received information about the landing of 10,000 Italian troops at Vinaroz on Friday, 15th July; and whether he will make representations to the Italian Government to prevent further intervention?

As I informed the hon. Lady in the course of yesterday's Debate, my Noble Friend has received reliable reports concerning the landing at Vinaroz of certain shipments of local Spanish troops from Majorca. The total numbers in question appear to have been between five and six thousand, of which 1,500 are reported to have landed on the date in question. I have no information which would confirm the hon. Lady's statement about the landing of Italian troops.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has considered making any representations to the Iranian Government as to the restriction of the export of raw opium to China?

As the hon. Member will be aware, a convention is in course of preparation which is designed to limit the cultivation and to restrict the export of raw opium, and this will be open to accession by the Iranian Government. Any approach to the Iranian Government outside the framework of any existing or projected convention would involve the taking into account of a number of matters affecting third parties.

asked the Prime Minister what arrangements have been made about the payment of compensation to any British subjects who have lost their lives during the Sino-Japanese war in cases where their deaths may be attributed to the acts of either belligerent?

In accordance with the agreement referred to in the reply of the late Foreign Secretary, to my hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for Rochester (Captain Plugge) on 2nd February, the Japanese Government at the beginning of March paid to His Majesty's Government the sum of £2,420 as compensation in respect of British naval and military casualties resulting from Japanese action. In the event of the death of any British civilians which might take place in similar circumstances, full consideration will be afforded to any claim submitted on behalf of relatives or dependants of the deceased.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will inquire from the Air attaché to the British Embassy in Rome as to what rewards, promotions, or decorations have been awarded by the Italian Government to officers of the Italian air force who have been concerned in attacks on British shipping in Spanish ports?

No, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what colliery has been chosen for the further investigation of the problem of silicosis in the anthracite coalfield of South Wales; and if he can give any indication as to the date upon which it is expected the investigation will be completed and the report presented?

A second colliery has not yet been selected, although a choice will shortly be made. The investigators are still wholly occupied with examining the data and material collected at Ammanford, but this part of the work is now nearing completion. It is not yet possible to say when the investigation as a whole will be concluded, but the work is being pressed forward without any avoidable delay.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the present inequitable operation of the Income Tax Acts with regard to the assessments in respect of salaried posts as laid down by Sub-sections (4) and (5) of Section 45 of the Finance Act, 1927, whereby it is entirely fortuitous as to whether the assessments over the period of employment are less than, equal to, or greater than the income actually received; and will he consider extending the relief given by Section 26 of the Finance Act, 1935, on a change of office when the employment is a full-time one?

I am not clear as to the circumstances which the hon. Member has in mind, but if he will give me particulars of any case in which he is interested, I shall be happy to look into it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances and under what conditions any deduction from the personal allowance is authorised?

I am not sure what point my hon. Friend has in mind, but if he will let me have further particulars I will have inquiries made and communicate with him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to put a limit to the preponderating portion of money power at present in the hands of the Government, in view of the fact that the Government securities now listed total, approximately, half the securities listed, as compared with less than one-tenth in 1913?

Whether indebtedness can properly be described as "money power" seems to me to be open to doubt, but it may be that I have not correctly understood the purport of my hon. Friend's question. The length of the list of Government securities is chiefly due to war borrowing, and naturally every Chancellor of the Exchequer will share my hon. Friend's regret that indebtedness of this sort bulks so large.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will take steps to ensure that the Government's over-subscription notices in connection with debt issues are correct; and, further, on what authority the 100 million 2¾ per cent. funding loan was stated to have been over-subscribed?

I am not aware that any notices are issued either by the Government, or by the Bank of England as the Issuing House, regarding the oversubscription or otherwise of Government issues. Any statements that may have appeared in the Press to the effect that the 2¾ per cent. Funding Loan was oversubscribed were presumably due to the fact that applications for sums in excess of £5,000 received an allotment of only 88 per cent.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether ordnance maps are supplied to the assessors of Land Tax or to the clerk to the commissioners; and if he regards the arrangements for the assessment of this tax as satisfactory?

Ordnance maps are not supplied to assessors of Land Tax or to Clerks to Commissioners of Land Tax. The arrangements for the assessment of Land Tax work smoothly and I regard them as satisfactory.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the total amount paid to the assessors of Land Tax and the amount paid to clerks to the commissioners; and if there has been any alteration of these amounts since they were fixed some 50 years ago; and if it is possible to form any estimate of the cost of collection of this tax; and what was the cost before collection was centralised?

Appointments as Land Tax Assessors, which are made by the Land Tax Commissioners, are in many cases at the present time held by established civil servants who perform the duties as part of their functions in the Centralised Collection Service and are paid on Civil Service scales appropriate to the character of their duties as a whole.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the objects and principal features of the London Passenger Transport Board's new system of automatic traffic control on the underground railways?

There has been no change in principle in the signalling system in use on the board's railways, which embodies the automatic train stop. My hon. Friend may, however, have in mind the system of control by automatic telephones being installed at Leicester Square Station with the object of facilitating communication generally throughout the system.

asked the Minister of Transport whether arrangements are made by the London Passenger Transport Board when altering omnibus stops to give adequate warning to the public; and whether he will suggest that such warnings should be given in advance at the original stopping places, so as to bring the prospective change more directly to the notice of those concerned?

I am advised by the London Passenger Transport Board that when material alterations to stopping places for their vehicles are made it is the practice to give notice to the travelling public by means of bills posted in and on the vehicles as well as on the stop signs. If the changes are of an extensive character it is usual also to advise the Press. Where changes are introduced at short notice by circumstances outside the board's control and it is not practicable to exhibit notices, officials of the board are placed at the stops to direct and assist passengers generally.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the fact that it is now possible to take out an insurance policy for a few months only and yet be granted a motor-vehicle licence for 12 months; whether he is aware that there is no absolute guarantee to ensure that insurance cover is coterminous with the period of duration for which application for a motor-vehicle licence is made; whether there are any objections to adopting a policy which would afford greater protection to the public; and what is the view of the Ministry on this particular issue?

I am aware of the circumstances referred to, which were considered by the recent Committee on Compulsory Insurance, who reported as follows: "We have closely examined a variety of proposals for synchronising the periods for which the insurance and the car licence run, but they are all subject to serious administrative difficulties and disadvantages, and we have therefore decided not to recommend any of them." (Paragraph 162 of their Report, Cmd. 5528.)Particular difficulty would arise when a vehicle was sold during the currency of an insurance policy relating to its use. The Committee have made recommendations, which are now under consideration, designed to protect third parties in cases of failure to insure.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the total number of road accidents, fatal and otherwise, in the City of Leicester for the first six months of 1938?

During the first six months of 1938 there were 14 fatal accidents and 652 non-fatal accidents involving personal injury on the roads in the City of Leicester.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that accidents occur due to pedestrians failure to observe automatic lights at pedestrian crossings; and will he consider placing smaller automatic lights at eye-level on the same standards to enable the colour of the light to be seen with greater ease by pedestrians?

An additional set of lights is now provided where practicable in all cases where they are warranted in the interests of pedestrians. They are conspicuous and I do not think that accidents occur through failure by pedestrians to see them. Small lights at a lower level have been used both in this country and abroad to give instructions to pedestrians as to when they should or should not cross. Such lights can be used only when all vehicular traffic is periodically stopped, and I am not convinced that they are preferable to the larger lights normally used for the same purpose.

asked the Minister of Transport what schemes of improvements are contemplated in the near future on those portions of the Swansea—Manchester and London—Fishguard trunk roads that run through the county of Carmarthen; and whether he can state the estimated cost of those schemes?

Seven minor improvement schemes, estimated to cost £4,950, on the Swansea—Manchester road and two schemes, estimated to cost £1,150, on the London—Fishguard road in Carmarthenshire will be put in hand as soon as entry has been obtained on the land which is being acquired. Nine major improvement schemes for widenings, by-passes or diversions, estimated to cost £144,000, are also in contemplation, and the routes of these are at present being surveyed by the county council as my agents with a view to the making of the necessary orders under Sub-section (3) of Section 1 of the Trunk Roads Act. The completion of these surveys and the acquisition of the land required will take some months and it is not likely that constructional work on these major improvements can be begun before the next financial year.

asked the Minister of Transport the position of the negotiations for the proposed West Coast road for the South of Cumberland?

After personal examination on the site I have decided that the Cumberland County Council's scheme for improving road communications between South Cumberland and Lancashire by diversions involving a viaduct over the Duddon Estuary is one that I cannot approve for grant. The estimated cost is in excess of £2,000,000. Consideration is now being given to the betterment, with the assistance of grants from the Road Fund, of road facilities in the south and west of Cumberland, by means of the improvement of existing roads and the elimination of difficult features.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the recent demonstration by local inhabitants on the Western Avenue with the intention of emphasising the danger arising from the absence of a speed limit on that thoroughfare; whether he is aware that five children in a neighbouring school have had their mothers killed by motor cars; and whether he intends to take action to meet the local demand of residents to minimise the danger of excessive speed?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 21st July to the hon. Member for Acton (Mr. Duggan) intimating that as a temporary measure and pending the construction of permanent works, footbridges are to be provided at once across Western Avenue near the junctions with Perryn Road and Allan Way. I am unable to identify the five fatalities referred to in the second part of the question. I am taking the action which, in my judgment, is best calculated to provide for the safety of pedestrians wishing to cross this road.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered the resolution passed by the Metropolitan borough of Deptford at the instance of the Deptford children's safety-first committee, urging the desirability of making regulations requiring the fitting of safety guards on all motor lorries and similar vehicles; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

This matter was recently reported on by the Transport Advisory Council who considered that on the information available such a requirement would not be justified. No additional information has reached me which would justify a further reference to the Council.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will provide a list of the compulsory acquisitions of land for public purposes made with the authority of his Department during the years 1934, 1935, 1936, and 1937, together with the area concerned and the price paid in each instance and, where known, the rateable value previous to purchase?

The number of compulsory purchase orders made by local authorities and confirmed by the Minister of Transport during each of the years 1934 to 1937 was 48, 100, 178 and 205 respectively. The number of separate pieces of land and of interests affected runs into some thousands, and the compilation of a complete list would involve a very considerable expenditure of time and money. I have no information as to the prices paid or the rateable values, nor am I in a position to state the area of land concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any proposals are under consideration to ease traffic congestion over the river bridge at Lancaster, and what is the present position?

Yes, Sir. Consulting engineers have been appointed to prepare plans and estimates for widening Skerton Bridge to 80 feet.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has reconsidered the proposal to build a road-bridge over the Tay; and whether he has any further announcement to make on this subject?

I am afraid that I cannot hold out any prospect of a grant being made from the Road Fund towards the building of a road-bridge over the Firth of Tay.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the estimates regarding the cost of a motorway between Birmingham and London recently given by an official of the Ministry included the cost of elevated or other special forms of road within the cities of London and Birmingham; and what is the estimated cost per mile of a typical motor-road in open country, irrespective of fly-over junctions?

It is thought that the cost of a motorway between Birmingham and London, exclusive of special roads within those cities, might be from £6,000,000 to £7,000,000. The cost per mile of a typical motorway in open country (irrespective of elaborate fly-over junctions) may vary from£50,000 to £60,000 according to the number of rail, road and other crossings which may be encountered.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the north-south motor-road scheme recently submitted by the Lancashire County Council is receiving his sympathetic consideration; and what is the estimated cost and mileage?

The proposal for the construction of the north-south road submitted by the Lancashire County Council is being considered. The estimated cost is upwards of £5,000,000 and the mileage 62.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated cost of improving the present A 6 road in Lancashire to a standard suitable for modern motor traffic?

The Lancashire County Council have estimated that the cost of by-passing the sections of this road in built-up areas in that county and of widening the remainder is £3,935,000. This sum would provide for a road 120 feet wide with dual carriageways, cycle tracks and footways.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will ask the London Midland and Scottish Railway Company, who are reconstructing Euston Station with money guaranteed by this House, to comply with any recommendations made by the Royal Fine Art Commission as to the preservation and re-erection of the Doric gateway, which is of beauty and historic interest?

I am not prepared to anticipate the outcome of the consideration at present being given to this matter by the various parties concerned or to urge upon the London Midland and Scottish Railway Company the adoption of a certain course regardless of other important considerations, including the provision of adequate traffic arrangements.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether there has been any instance when the Treasury has refused to publish the evidence of any departmental or inter-departmental committee when that course has been recommended by the chairman?

I am unaware of any instance of a refusal to publish the evidence given before a departmental or inter-departmental committee when the chairman of the committee has recommended that course.

asked the Minister of Transport how many authorised undertakers are at present receiving direct supplies from the grid system as supplied by the Central Electricity Board and are in turn distributing same; and will he give particulars of any estimate his Department has made of the number of houses and farms in England and Wales that are without electricity and power, respectively?

213 separate authorised undertakers were receiving direct supplies from the grid system at the end of June, 1938. The returns rendered to the Electricity Commissioners by authorised undertakers show that in England and Wales approximately 3·7 million domestic premises and approximately 96,000 farms and horticultural premises had not been connected to the public supply system at the end of 1936–37, the latest date for which official statistics are available.

asked the Minister of Transport under what statutory authority an electricity company now operating in Sussex is proposing to increase its charges by 10 per cent., notice of which has recently been given?

Electricity undertakers do not require specific authority to vary their charges provided they do not exceed their authorised maxima.