asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that 122 soldiers invaded the Ukamba territory in Kenya recently for the purpose of forcibly collecting cattle; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

On 7th July 2,500 head of cattle were collected from a small sub-district of the Ukamba Reserve for the purpose of branding those which were to be permitted to graze in the area in accordance with the allotted quota. This action was taken because the natives concerned had adopted an attitude of passive resistance, but I am assured by the Governor that it was carried out in a quiet arid orderly manner by Administrative Officers with the assistance of native police. No soldiers were employed. The cattle were detained, but, as a result of a meeting between the District Officer and the responsible elders on 10th July, it was hoped that the owners of the cattle would be persuaded to acquiesce in the policy of the Government and to take back their allotted quota.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reports he has received of malnutrition owing to milk shortage in the Ukamba territory following forced sales of cattle and of consequent unrest; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a Question on 20th July by the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mr. Riley).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Bill for Preservation of the Land and Water Resources of Kenya Colony, which was drafted last December, will be published without delay with a view to immediate discussion and early action?

I am unaware of the present position in regard to this Bill, but I will bring the hon. Member's suggestion to the notice of the Governor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why a Kikuyu Native school at Mukui has been closed down and three teachers fined?

As regards the reason for the closing of this school I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given on the 20th and 21st July to questions by the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mr. Riley) and the hon. Member for the Isle of Ely (Mr. de Rothschild).I have now received a further report from the Governor of Kenya from which it appears that although orders had been given for the closing of the school it remained open until November, 1937, when the Director of Education ordered its closure under Section 34 of the Education Ordinance. The head teacher was subsequently fined £25 for continuing to conduct the school. In June this year the school was again re-opened and the same head teacher was sentenced to a fine of £50 and two assistant head teachers to fines of £25 each. Notice of appeal has been lodged.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in Mauritius since the publication of the report of the inquiry into the disturbances of last year; and whether further consideration has been given to political reform?

Considerable progress has been made with measures to implement the report of the Commission of Inquiry in the riots. A new Labour Department has been established, and an experienced officer from Malaya has been appointed in charge of it. Steps are being taken to select two further officers in the Colonial Service to assist him in creating the new organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any further arrangements or agreements have been made or are in contemplation for the recruitment of native labour from Nyasaland for work on the Rand; and whether representations have been made to the Union of South Africa on the subject of travelling costs and the ratification of the International Labour Office convention in respect to recruitment?

The only arrangement in force is that under which the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association is being permitted to recruit up to 8,500 natives in Nyasaland for an experimental period of one year's employment. It is possible that an arrangement for the further recruiting of Nyasaland natives will be concluded, provided that I am fully satisfied with their conditions of health while employed on the Rand. The Transvaal Chamber of Mines have agreed to meet the cost of transporting the natives recruited from Nyasaland to Johannesburg and to conform to all the articles of the International Convention dealing with the recruiting of indigenous workers, so far as recruiting for that territory is concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken in Palestine to enlist Jewish volunteers in the police force and as auxiliaries to the Regular Army; and whether he will consider the advisability of raising a special Jewish corps to defend those districts which will, after partition has taken place, certainly be part of the Jewish state?

Apart from 758 Jews serving in the Regular Police Force, there are at present 3,040 Jewish Supernumerary Police in Palestine, with an additional reserve force of 2,400. The suggestion contained in the second part of the question is not, in my opinion, practicable at present or necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been called to the new section added as No. 32B to the Income Tax Act of the Canadian Parliament, which subjects capital appreciation to income tax and is retro-active to 1936; and whether, in view of the harmful effect upon British investments in Canada of this enactment and the serious consequences of a wider application of its principle, he will make friendly representations to the Canadian Government on the subject?

My attention had not previously been drawn to this matter. I am making inquiries.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the strength of the personnel of the "Majestic," at Rosyth, and the cost per head?

The total numbers borne in His Majesty's Ship "Caledonia" (ex "Majestic") are 846 staff and 1,788 boys and apprentices under training. The estimated cost of training, based on these numbers, is approximately £131 per head per annum.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that the recent appointment of two additional magistrates in the Consett urban area, making a total of four, is still insufficient to meet the requirements of that extensive area; and whether it is intended to increase the number and to appoint direct representatives of the workers?

My Noble Friend, the Lord Chancellor, has recently approved the appointment of three additional magistrates to the Lanchester, Con-sett and Stanley Petty Sessional Division, two of whom, I believe reside in this area. It is not intended immediately to make further appointments to the Commission, but the requirements of this area will receive the consideration of the Advisory Committee when further appointments are recommended.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give any information in connection with the firing from the experimental station at Blackknow fort, West Bay, Dorset; and will he take steps to safeguard the lives and livelihood of the fishermen

If the hon. Gentleman has any particular incident in mind, I shall be glad to have particulars.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what compensation was paid to the woman artiste who was stabbed by a prisoner after giving a performance at Perth prison on 14th October, 1937; what expenses were incurred by this woman; whether they were met by the prison authorities; and whether the prisoner who struck the blow had ever been involved in stabbing cases before?

An ex-gratia payment of £16212s. was paid by the Prisons Department for Scotland in full discharge of all claims. The assault was committed by an inmate of the Criminal Lunatic Department and every precaution has been taken to prevent the recurrence of a similar incident. The answer to the last part of the Question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that prisoners at Birlinnie prison who have been ordered medicine have it given them out of the same spoon, which is wiped on a cloth by the orderly between the doses; and will he take steps to end this practice?

I am informed that when a prisoner is given medicine while in his cell his own spoon is used. If medicine is given to a prisoner in the surgery or workshed the spoon used is washed and dried with a towel on each occasion. Prisoners with infectious diseases are all isolated and their own spoon used and then sterilised.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, on how many of the agricultural tenants of the Department of Agriculture has been conferred the right to destroy deer on their holdings; what is the total acreage covered by such right; what is the total acreage held by such tenants from the Department of Agriculture; whether any return of deer so destroyed is made by such tenants; and, if so, how many deer were so destroyed during each of the last three years?

The rights to kill deer on their holdings have been conferred upon 24 of the Department's tenants over an area extending to 6,049 acres. The total area of the holdings of these tenants amounts to 7,226 acres. With regard to the last two parts of the Question the Department do not receive any returns of deer so destroyed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the names of the owners of the vessels represented by the 248,827 and 202,356 tonnage registered at Greenock on 31st December, 1913 and 1925, respectively; and what was the tonnage of each vessel?

There were 195 and 196 vessels on the register at Greenock on the 31st December, 1913, and 1925, respectively. I do not think that the labour involved in extracting the further information desired is justified.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied with the progress of the Government's slum-clearance schemes in the division of Stalybridge and Hyde; and how many new houses have been built under these schemes?

Yes, Sir. The local authorities in the division are, I think, making satisfactory progress with their slum clearance schemes. They have so far built 486 houses for the re-housing of persons displaced from unfit houses and have had plans approved for a further 534 houses. The number of unfit houses in the schemes is 1,529 of which 1,268 have up to date been included in clearance orders made by the Councils.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the number of insured persons referred by approved societies to the regional medical officers for incapacity and consultative references during 1937, and the results of these submissions; also the total cost to approved societies of these submissions, including allowances for travelling expenses paid to refund members attending for examination?

The number of incapacity and consultation references made by Approved Societies during 1937 to the Regional Medical Staff in England and Wales was 459,606. During the year 128,621 insured persons received "declaring off" certificates before the date fixed for examination, while 91,305 did not attend for examination. 237,828 insured persons were examined and, in the opinion of the examining officers, 175,212 were incapable of work and 62,616 were not incapable of work.The total cost of these references was approximately £182,000, inclusive of payments for travelling expenses. Of this sum, about £32,500, being Is. 5d. per reference, was met from the allowance for the costs of administration by Approved Societies and the balance was met from the sums made available to me under Section 118 (2) of the National Health Insurance Act, 1936, for the administration of benefits.

asked the Minister of Health, whether he is aware that much scarlet-fever and diphtheria prevails in the Whickham area, and is thought to be due to the lack of milk owing to the increased summer prices; and whether he will have inquiries made with a view to a reduction in the price of milk and thus make it possible for the people to secure the necessary supply?

I am not aware that the incidence of these diseases in this district is high in comparison with the remainder of the administrative county. I think that the suggestion as to the cause of these diseases is rather contrary to general opinion.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, whether he is aware that the difficulty in reaching reconsideration of the Vernon case is that, while the National Staff side believe they can produce evidence of fact which justifies its reopening, they are faced with the consideration that other people are involved, and they, are not prepared to risk the careers of such persons unless they have assurance that the evidence will be considered on its merits and that such persons concerned will not be unduly penalised; and whether he can waive his refusal to receive a deputation?

I have nothing to add to the replies which were given on this subject to the hon. Members for West Fife (Mr. Gallacher) and for Ogmore (Mr. E. J. Williams), respectively, on 18th July and to the hon. Member for Ogmore on 27th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether his experts have examined and reported on the new French method of removing ice from the wings of aeroplanes by the application of an electric current; and will he state the result of such examination?

Tests of this system are being undertaken at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, but I am not at present in a position to state the results of the investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what was the price per acre paid for the land at Tyburn, Birmingham, on which Lord Nuffield proposes to erect an aircraft factory; what charge per acre has been made for the removal of the restriction on the land; and by whom has this charge been made?

The negotiations for the purchase of the land referred to were undertaken by Morris Motors Limited on behalf of my Department. The price which it has been agreed to pay is £1,000 an acre in addition to certain planning expenses incurred by the Birmingham Corporation in connection with their housing scheme. This price includes £650 an acre to be paid to the Dunlop Rubber Company for the removal of a restrictive covenant subject to the company granting certain easements and siding rights over land in their possession which adjoins the site.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that a civil aircraft was approaching Croydon airport on the direct course from Dungeness at 11.10 a.m. on 26th July at 3,400 feet, and when this machine was between three and four miles south of Croydon airport a Gloster single-seater fighter looped directly in front of the civil aircraft; and whether, with the object of preventing a possible aerial collision to an air-liner, he will issue instructions to all Air Force stations to avoid the international airway between Croydon airport and the coast as far as possible?

No information has been received by the Air Ministry regarding the alleged incident from the pilot of the civil aircraft referred to. If my hon. Friend will supply me with further particulars inquiry will be made. Detailed orders are already in existence to obviate the risk of collision on air-traffic routes and my right hon. Friend does not consider that further instructions are required.

asked the Home Secretary how many police houses for married men in the Metropolitan police district have been condemned as unfit for habitation,-and how many have been similarly condemned in the provinces; and what steps he is taking in the matter?

No houses owned by the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District as houses for married men have been condemned by a housing authority. As regards accommodation provided by County and Borough Police Authorities I can only say that these authorities generally are alive to the importance of a proper standard in accordance with modern requirements and of recent years many authorities have been active in this matter. The question is one of the matters to which His Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary give attention.

asked the Home Secretary how many times the headmaster of Wigmore approved school, West Bromwich, used corporal punishment during the last 12 months for which statistics are available; for what offences; how many boys were concerned; how many boys were there altogether in the school; and how many cases of corporal punishment which he administered when the boys were in camp were recorded in the punishment book?

The School referred to accommodates 140 boys and 35 of them were caned (seven of them twice and one boy three times) during the year ending 30th June, 1938. In 15 cases the punishment was for absconding; in the remaining cases for repeated misbehaviour. At camp in 1937 two boys were caned and the punishment recorded. There were no cases at camp this year.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will publish the reasons which prevent the adoption of any scheme for the augmentation of health insurance benefit payable to men disabled by inhaling dust in cardrooms?

I have been asked to reply. A Departmental Committee have been investigating the question whether an equitable and workable scheme can be devised for providing compensation in the case of cardroom workers disabled by respiratory illness; and they are now, I understand, considering their report. Until it is received it would be premature to express any opinion on the subject.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will state the number of debates that have taken place and the number of questions that have been asked concerning Foreign affairs from the commencement of the present session to the present date?

During the present session there have been 30 debates and 1,533 questions (excluding supplementary questions) on foreign affairs.

asked the Prime Minister, whether further representations have been made to the Japanese Government with reference to the attack on the British ships "Tatung" and "Tuckwo," which were attacked on 5th December, 1937; and will His Majesty's Government insist on a prompt and full settlement of all claims arising out of this attack?

Claims have been submitted at different times for all British losses suffered on the Yangtse on the 5th, 11th and 12th December. The Japanese Government requested certain supplementary details. It was not possible immediately to comply with this request, but it is hoped that the desired particulars will be available shortly for communication to them. My Noble Friend feels confident that the Japanese Government appreciate the great importance which His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom attach to a prompt and full settlement.

asked the Prime Minister, whether, in view of the official German statement with reference to the interview between himself and Dr. von Dirksen, that the Prime Minister would do his best to influence the Czechoslovak Government, he will give particulars of the nature of the influence being exercised in response to this German request?

I would refer the hon. Member to my statement in the debate on 26th July, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any of the schemes advocated by the Commissioner for Special Areas for England could be adapted to provide work for those who are now unemployed due to the closing down of cotton mills?

There is power under Sections 5 and 6 of the Special Areas Amendment Act, 1937, to give assistance to encourage the establishment of new industrial undertakings in certain areas of heavy unemployment. A site company has been found under Section 5 of the Act to operate in those parts of the county of Lancashire and of neighbouring parts of adjacent counties to which that section may be applied. I have issued directions applying the section to an area of which the Borough of Stalybridge forms a part.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of land settlement schemes in operation in Northeast Cheshire, and give favourable consideration to the extension of such schemes, with a view to assisting unemployed persons?

So far as I am aware there are no schemes of land settlement in operation with Government assistance in North-east Cheshire. The Commissioner for the Special Areas (England and Wales) is carrying out an extensive experiment of settling unemployed industrial workers from the Special Areas on the land, and he has appointed an independent committee to review the progress which has been made. The question of extending schemes of this kind cannot profitably be considered until that Committee has reported.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the hardship caused in many cases in Lancashire by reason of the fact that under existing rules a girl, normally earning less than 30s. per week and living with a widowed mother in receipt of an old age pension of 10s. a week cannot, when out of work, obtain any benefit in respect of her mother, because it is held that she is not wholly or mainly maintaining her; and whether arrangements can be made to modify existing rules in this respect?

The provisions in respect of this matter are those contained in the Unemployment Insurance Act, as interpreted in the Umpire's decisions. They could not be altered without legislation.