asked the Secretary of State for Air, whether he will make a statement as to the provision of balloon barrages or other aerial defensive measures for the industrial populations of the north-east coast?

It would not be in the public interest to give particulars of the Defence arrangements for any particular part of the country, but protection for the north-east coast is being provided by both general and local defences. As announced in my speech during the Debate on the Address on 10th November, balloon barrage units are being formed at Newcastle and Hull.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, whether ranks of the Royal Air Force at present serving under a four-years' engagement who have already completed an engagement of seven years will be allowed to re-engage to complete time for pension if recommended and if their character standard is very good?

I assume my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the ex-airmen who have been re-enlisted from 1935 onwards to meet expansion requirements on special four-year engagements with substantial gratuities varying from £75 to £150. It was indicated to such men on re-enlistment that they would have no claim to be re-engaged, but the question of inviting them to extend their service for a further period is now under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, whether he is aware that the annual German output of all types of aircraft is in the neighbourhood of 5,000, with their existing factories working for one shift of eight hours, and can consequently be increased at any moment to 15,000 aircraft a year; and what steps he is taking to obtain a comparable output in this country?

I gave in the House on 10th November as full an account as possible of the plans for increasing the strength of the Royal Air Force and its reserves, and of the measures being taken with a view to obtaining still greater increases in output than have hitherto been achieved.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that practically all the cloth required for Army and Territorial officers' uniforms during the crisis was cornered by one or two firms with the intention of re-selling to the War Office at an extortionate price; and whether he knows the names of the firms and is prepared to take steps to prevent such profiteering in the future?

Under present arrangements the War Office does pot provide officers' uniforms or the cloth from which they are made. The officer provides his own uniform and purchases it from a tailor of his own choice. The question of cloth being re-sold to the War Office does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, in the recent mobilisation of the Territorial force, antiquated and ill-found vehicles which broke down were in some cases supplied by the contractors to the War Office; that in some cases prices were charged largely in excess of the usual rates charged; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this state of affairs?

The contracts in question were mostly made locally. I understand that, generally speaking, contractors provided vehicles which gave efficient service, and no case of unreasonable charges has yet been brought to notice.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many cemeteries of British troops abroad unconnected with the Great War are now looked after by any agency in this country?

In addition to military cemeteries at stations abroad that are maintained by the local military authorities, there are 20 cemeteries overseas containing graves of sailors, soldiers or airmen who died before or after the Great War, which are administered by the Imperial War Graves Commission, from funds provided for the purpose by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. No other agency in this country is concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for War what preparations were made, prior to the recent crisis, for the defence of the city of Leeds; whether he is satisfied that in the event these preparations proved to be effective; if not, in what way they were defective; and what steps have been taken to remedy the defects?

The answer to the first part is that the 66th Anti-Aircraft Brigade, R.A., Territorial Army, was allotted to the defence of the Leeds area; to the second part is Yes, consistent with the stage reached by our programme; and to the third and fourth parts that such development as has yet to take place will be achieved as the programme proceeds.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether he is aware of the discontent which is being caused in the grain trade as a result of the present methods which are being followed for the purchase of reserve stocks of wheat on behalf of the Government; and whether arrangements can be made for these purchases to be undertaken in co-operation with the trade with a view to avoiding present difficulties?

A deputation representative of the grain trade put their views on these matters before the Food (Defence Plans) Department on the 15th November, and I will give their representations my very careful consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the estimated annual carrying capacity of oil tankers under the British flag; and whether he is satisfied that this capacity is sufficient for our war-time requirements?.

The estimated capacity of oil tankers under the British flag is 3,700,000 tons. Its annual carrying capacity depends on many varying circumstances, but it is considered to be sufficient to carry the oil estimated to be needed here in war. To meet estimated total requirements, elsewhere as well as in this country, on present forecasts, the services of other tankers will be needed to some extent.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence (1) what percentage of the total cold-storage space in this country is situated within 20 miles of London;(2) whether any review has been made of the coal-storage facilities throughout the country; and on what date such a review was last made;(3) what proportion of increase or decrease in cold-storage space available throughout the country has taken place, comparing the last convenient date with the corresponding figures for 1918; and whether he is satisfied that such facilities as at present existing are enough for the country's needs in any time of emergency?

I have been asked to reply. It is estimated that at the end of 1918 there were 40 million cubic feet of cold-storage accommodation in this country. As regards the other matters raised, I regret I am not in a position to add anything to the reply given on 14th November to my hon. and learned Friend, and Member for Cardiff East (Mr. T. Morris).

asked the Home Secretary what is the number of ex-service men who have joined the Metropolitan and other police forces, respectively, since May, 1937; and what percentage these are of both the short-term and long-term recruits in that period?