asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give the

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any statement to make in regard to the negotiations for a commercial treaty between this country and the United States of America?

The following table shows the total declared value of merchandise imported into and exported from the United Kingdom during the nine months ended September, 1938, in trade with the undermentioned foreign countries, together with the balance of imports or exports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any statement to make with regard to the progress of the negotiations with the United States of America for a trade agreement?

Since the summer, when agreement was reached over a large part of the field, the negotiations have been concentrated on a limited list of items, some of which have proved intractable. Our delegation have recently defined the United Kingdom's position on these outstanding matters and we expect a reply from the United States very shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what further steps are being taken to secure a fair share for British textiles in overseas markets where British trade has declined?

The interests of the textile industries are being and have been borne in mind in connection with the negotiation of trade agreements and commercial treaties. The countries with which such negotiations are proceeding at the present time include India and Burma, the United States of America, Colombia and Switzerland. Further, a Lancashire mission is now discussing with the Egyptian authorities the difficulties surrounding the export of cotton textiles to Egypt. Officials of the Board of Trade are accompanying this mission in an advisory capacity.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make on the situation in Spain?

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make on the situation in Spain?

Fierce but indecisive fighting has taken place at intervals on the River Ebro. Hostilities are still continuing in this area. On other fronts, with minor exceptions there has been little activity and there have been no important changes in the military situation since the House adjourned.At the recent meeting of the Assembly of the League, the representative of the Spanish Government announced that it had been decided to withdraw all foreign combatants from the territory under the control of his Government. At the same time he invited the League to send an international commission to Spain to verify the fact of this withdrawal. This was agreed to; the Commission was set up by the Council and is now in Barcelona. The Italian Government have also announced that, in agreement with General Franco, it had been decided to withdraw 10,000 Italians who had been in Spain for 18 months or longer. These men have now been withdrawn and have returned to Italy.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the importance of the smooth working of the scheme of evacuation and billeting in war, he will state how the existing scheme has worked to date; and whether it is proposed to obtain by Parliamentary sanction the powers to carry out such billeting?

My hon. Friend will be aware that the scheme improvised in the recent emergency was not put to the test except as regards the evacuation of a relatively small number of children under arrangements made by the London County Council. The preliminary measures, however, disclosed a number of matters of detail which are receiving attention in framing long-term plans. It would, of course, be necessary to obtain Parliamentary sanction for any powers exercised in the billeting of refugees.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will have specifications and plans prepared of the various types of permanent air-raid shelters suitable for erection in connection with dwelling-houses and business premises; and whether he will make these available to the general public in the form of a booklet?

My hon. Friend's suggestion will be considered, but I would point out that an exact specification suitable for all types of building would be difficult. The general principles have been indicated in A.R.P. Handbook No. 6, which is on sale, and so far as possible these will be amplified.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to a levy on inland-consumed coal to be used for the purpose of aiding coal exports?

I presume that the hon. Member refers to certain proposals (which include, inter alia, a scheme for the assistance of the coal export trade) put before the Government by the coal industry in the summer. I cannot at present add anything to the statement which I made to the House on 26th July in reply to questions by the hon. Members for Morpeth (Mr. R. J. Taylor) and Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths).

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the total number of fatal accidents in the mines of this country during the months of January to October, inclusive, for the years 1937 and 1938?

The total number of persons killed by accidents at mines under the Coal Mines Act in Great Britain this year up to the 22nd October, the latest date to which such particulars are available, was 697. The figure for the corresponding period last year was 673.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the number of fatal accidents in the mines of this country to persons under 21 years during the months January to October, inclusive, for the years 1937 and 1938?

The number of persons under 21 years of age killed by accidents at mines under the Coal Mines Act in Great Britain this year up to the 22nd October, the latest date to which such particulars are available, was 59. The figure for the corresponding period of 1937 was 79.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether any steps have been taken to centralise the colliery accident funds detailed in the White Paper issued in 1936 (Cmd. 5167); and, if not, whether he is now prepared to institute an inquiry into the feasibility of having these funds centralised and the steps that would require to be taken to achieve that object?

No, Sir. As was explained in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. R. Davies) on 9th March last, there are a number of difficulties which render impracticable the suggestion to centralise relief funds connected with industrial and other disasters.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give the decision of the Cornwall County Council on the wages of the quarry workers and what those rates are?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a letter I have received form the Cornwall County Council which I think will give him the information for which he asks.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many sea-going craft or vessels of all classes are maintained by the War Office; whether any new seagoing craft of any description are now on order; and whether the Admiralty was consulted on the design and cost of such craft before the orders were placed?

There are 69 seagoing craft. There are nine vessels on order. One of these is of commercial design. In connection with the design and cost of the other eight there has been collaboration with the Admiralty and Air Ministry.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what is the status in Southern Rhodesia of a coloured woman married to a white man; and what pension rights are enjoyed by her and her children in the event of her becoming a widow?

The fact that a coloured woman is married to a white man does not affect her status as a coloured person under the Southern Rhodesia Old Age Pensions Act, and she would retain this status if widowed. There is no scheme in Southern Rhodesia for the payment of pensions to widows as such, or to their dependants.All cases of Government relief to persons under 60, or otherwise not eligible for Old Age Pensions are dealt with under measures for the relief of distress.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what are the respective contributions and qualifications required by white and coloured people in Southern Rhodesia to obtain old age pensions?

The old age pensions scheme in force in Southern Rhodesia is not contributory. Pensions are payable under it to white and to coloured British subjects who have attained the age of 60 and are permanently resident in the Colony. Pensions may be granted up to £48 a year in the case of a white person and up to £24 in the case of a coloured person, subject in each case to a means test.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made towards the summoning of a conference of the local authorities which will be concerned in the schemes for new roads in Greater London suggested in the Report of Sir Charles Bressey?

At present I cannot usefully add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for West Lewisham (Sir P. Dawson) on 20th July, 1938, of which I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is in a position to make a statement with regard to the representations made for changes in the constitution of Ceylon?

I had an opportunity of discussing this question with the Governor of Ceylon during his recent visit to this country, as well as with a number of leading Ceylonese who have been in London in recent weeks. The Governor has now returned and I am communicating with him further, but I am not yet in a position to make any statement in the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what progress has taken place up to date in the further establishment of nursery schools this year; and what is the situation and number of such now recognised by the Board of Education?

During the period from 1st January to 31st October, 1938, the Board have recognised for grant 14 nursery schools with accommodation for 1,050 children. Two nursery schools were closed, making a net increase of 12 nursery schools with accommodation for 954 children. In addition, 14 proposals for new nursery schools were approved in principle, and increased accommodation was provided at four existing schools. I am sending my hon. and learned Friend a copy of the Board's List 42 showing the location of the 106 nursery schools recognised on 31st October, 1938.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will indicate the recent progress made in the reduction of the size of those school classes where the number of pupils exceeded 40 in each class?

On 31st March, 1938, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of classes in public elementary schools in England and Wales with more than 40 children on the roll was 44,582 as compared with 46,193 on 31st March, 1937.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to make any further statement with regard to action which it is intended to take to raise the income limits so far as qualification to participate in unemployment insurance schemes is concerned?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will indicate the course of employment in the city of Leicester by industries, numbers, and percentages for the months of August, September, and October, 1938?

The table below shows, for the area served by the Leicester Employment Exchange and Juvenile Employment Bureau (a) the numbers of insured persons, aged 16–64 years recorded as unemployed in the principal industries at 15th August and 12th September, 1938, and (b) these numbers expressed as percentages of the estimated numbers insured

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the ban on advance booking in railway agencies has been now entirely removed from all air services?

Booking facilities at railway agencies are now available for all existing air services with the exception of those between this country and Eire. The question of booking facilities for the latter services is closely bound up with the general question of future air communications between Great Britain and Eire, on which negotiations are at present proceeding satisfactorily between the parties concerned and will, I hope, result in the removal of this last restriction in the not distant future.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what plans are now in contemplation for the establishment of a central airport for London?

The establishment of a central airport for London is not in contemplation. It is not considered practicable to handle the whole of the existing, and likely future, London air traffic from a single airport. The intention is that this traffic should be handled from main aerodromes on suitable sites in a belt round London and this policy is in accord with the recommendations of the Maybury Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will state the results up-to-date of the appeal for membership in the new Civil Air Guard?

My right hon. Friend's appeal for the Civil Air Guard met with a very gratifying response: 33,886 applications were received by the light aeroplane clubs operating the flying sections up to 15th October. Since that date it has been found necessary to divert applications from the clubs to the Commissioners of the Civil Air Guard, and a further 1,100 applications have been received and recorded by the Commissioners.Statistics indicate that probably about half the total number of applicants will finally be accepted as suitable for flying training. At the present time some 4,000 members have been enrolled for immediate flying, and the Commissioners, in co-operation with my Department, are preparing schemes for ground training for those awaiting flying tuition.Fifty-seven out of 59 subsidised light aeroplane clubs are participating in the scheme while four new clubs have been approved, and consideration is also being given to applications from five other clubs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government, in order to expedite the return of tranquillity in the Far East with the resultant restoration of international trade, will consider the grant of guaranteed credits to China?

I cannot at present add anything to what was said by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in the Debate on 26th July.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the differentiated salaries advertised for men and women in the National Gallery: whether these men and women are doing the same work; and, if so, why the remuneration is not identical?

I presume my hon. Friend has in mind the recent advertisement for the post of Keeper of the National Gallery. This is a single post, open either to a man or a woman. The woman's rate of pay was fixed in accordance with normal Civil Service practice, the measure of differentiation being within the limit laid down in the National Whitley Council Agreement of June, 1937.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will arrange for a table to be issued of all the committees and commissions that have been appointed since 1931 which have not yet reported and concluded their labours, giving in each case the terms of reference, the authority under which the committees or commissions were set up, and the date, the name of the chairman, and the Command Paper reference of any interim report, but not including standing committees of any kind?

The following is a list of commissions and committees (excluding standing, statutory and advisory committees, departmental committees composed exclusively of officials and committees of the Committee of Imperial Defence) which have been appointed since 1931 and are still sitting, with in each case the terms of reference (abridged), the name of the chairman, the date of appointment, the authority by which they were set up, and the reference to any interim report.