asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of persons in receipt of allowances under the Unemployment Assistance Board in Ogmore Vale, Pontycymmer, Maesteg, Aberkenfig, and Bridgend Exchange areas, with the number who are receiving winter allowances, and the total weekly cost?

As regards the first part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a question put by him on 15th December. With regard to the second part, I regret that information relating to Employment Exchange areas is not available. The Excrtanges referred to are, however, all situated within the Bridgend and Maesteg administrative areas of the Unemployment Assistance Board and particulars with regard to winter allowances in these administrative areas were included in the reply given on the 13th December to the hon. Member for Aberdare (Mr. G. Hall), of which I will send the hon. Member a copy. I will also write to him about the total weekly cost.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consult the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee on the advisability of amending the continuity period for unemployment benefit by substituting two days in six for three days in six?

I informed the hon. Member last week that, on present information, I know of no ground for the change suggested. I do not propose to consult the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee on this matter before a prima facie case is made out for my doing so.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can account for the small proportion of persons in receipt of winter allowances under the Unemployment Assistance Board in the Maesteg and Bridgend areas; and what are the methods adopted by the Board in ascertaining the special winter needs of the individual on the Exchange register?

The proportion in receipt of winter allowances in these areas, though lower than in some other areas in South Wales, are not small, being 42 per cent. at Maesteg, and 50 per cent. at Bridgend, the latter being approximately the proportion for the country generally.I am informed by the Board that every case is considered individually in the light of the principles laid down in the instructions relating to winter adjustments, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House. Care is taken to ensure that these instructions are applied on the same basis throughout the country. Variations as between one locality and another in the proportion of cases in which winter additions have been made are principally due to differences in local conditions.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the number of persons in receipt of allowances under the Unemployment Assistance Board in each area in the six North Wales counties, together with the number who are receiving winter allowances, and the total weekly cost; and how this compares with the average winter allowances in the Special Areas?

The following table shows, in respect of each administrative area of the Unemployment Assistance Board in North Wales, in column (a), the number of assessments current on 21st November, 1938, for payment of Unemployment Allowances; in column (b), the number of such assessments which included an additional allowance under the Unemployment Assistance (Winter Adjustments) Regulations, 1938; and in column (c), the average weekly value of those additions. The average weekly value of winter additions in the Special Areas was, on the same date, approximately 2s. 2d.I am writing to the hon. and gallant Member regarding the total weekly cost.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider having the classification of war-disabled pensioners who are registering at Employment Exchanges for employment amended, to show, in addition to the classification of categories A, B, and C, the numbers who have suffered amputation of arm, leg, and those 50 per cent. or more disabled, or whether he will consider the possibility of reserving certain avenues of sheltered employment for those men who are unfit for ordinary competitive employment?

The nature of the disabilities suffered by disabled ex-service men and the percentages of their disability pensions are taken into account when the men are classified in the industrial categories A, B and C (of which details are given below), by Employment Exchanges who consult local King's Roll Committees where appropriate. I understand that the King's Roll National Council are satisfied that these classifications are sufficient for normal purposes.As regards the last part of the question, I think the present method of making grants to a number of voluntary organisations which provide for the employment of severely disabled ex-Service men who are unfit for employment under ordinary conditions is the most practicable one to adopt.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the delays in handling, examining and filing for record, the refugee applications, he will prepare in advance skeleton plans for clerical staffs capable of dealing quickly in an emergency with air raids and civilian defences, so that the marshalling of national services may not fall into confusion when faced with the necessity for rapid official action by the staffs concerned?

I am aware of the needs of the situation and my hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that I am bearing them fully in mind in the development of my plans.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he can now state the policy with regard to bomb-proof shelters which he has recommended to local authorities; and what financial proposals he has made in connection with this policy?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made yesterday.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether any notices were sent by his Department to local authorities, concerning the regulations for air-raid precautions, stating that instruction for air-raid wardens at first-aid classes was not necessary; and whether any alternative is proposed?

No such advice has been issued to local authorities by my Department. It is made clear in the published A.R.P. Handbook on the Duties of Air-Raid Wardens that the training of wardens should include instruction in elementary first aid.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the present average cost of supplying the electric sirens which have been approved as suitable for air-raid warning purposes; and whether, in view of the fact that in many of the industrial areas in the North of England there are ample facilities for giving all such warnings by means of steam-operated sirens at much lower cost, he can say what steps are being taken by his Department to ensure that such steam sirens are used wherever possible?

It has always been impressed on local authorities that existing factory sirens should be used as part of the air-raid warning system wherever they are suitably placed and of adequate power. Electric sirens, the cost of which, including installation, may be estimated at from £60 to £80 each, are intended primarily for areas where suitable steam plants are not available.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he can make a definite statement as to the ownership of the gas masks which have been distributed; and whether, in the case of sale or damage, any action is to be taken against the people who are responsible?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to-day in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Tamworth (Sir J. Mellor).

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is in a position to give any indication of the date by which His Majesty's Government is likely to be able to reach a conclusion upon whether to have the air-raid precautions trenches in the Royal Parks filled in or alternatively drained and revetted with concrete?

My right hon. Friend the First Commissioner of Works has agreed that, with one or two exceptions, the trenches in the Royal Parks may be retained in a reconstructed form; and recommendations for the carrying out of the necessary work have already been issued to the local authorities concerned.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in appointing local national service committees, he intends to ask the advice of civic authorities before making definite appointments; and whether, in any case he proposes to limit membership drastically, especially in view of the fact that the greatest measure of success is never obtained by organisations presided over by cumbersome bodies?

As I have already informed the House, the Chairmen of County Councils, the Lord Mayors or Mayors of County Boroughs and the Lord Provosts or Provosts of the large burghs in Scotland, who have been invited to serve as Chairmen of the local National Service Committees, are being consulted regarding the constitution of those committees. The size of the committees will be determined by local circumstances; but, while it will be necessary to secure that they are broadly representative, it is certainly contemplated that the membership should be kept within reasonable compass.

Jones asked the Home Secretary what conditions have to be satisfied before permission is granted for the working of the two-shift system in the wool textile industry; what conditions are imposed on such permits; and what steps are taken to see that the conditions of the permits are observed?

Before an authorisation to work a shift system is granted under the Employment of Women and Young Persons Act, 1936, the opinion of the workpeople concerned must, except in certain cases of newly-established factories as provided for in Section 1 (2) of the Act, be ascertained by secret ballot in accordance with the Consultation of Workpeople Order, 1936, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member; and the Secretary of State must be satisfied that the majority of the workpeople concerned consent to the granting of the application. The conditions imposed in the authorisations vary according to the circumstances, each case being specially inquired into; but conditions commonly inserted relate to the provision of mess-rooms, the provision of transport facilities if necessary to prevent hardship, and facilities for attendance of young persons at continuation schools. The inspectors have instructions to pay special attention to seeing that the conditions are observed and they would also of course be prepared to investigate any complaints from the workpeople.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the number of applications granted to employers in the wool textile industry in respect to two-shift working, and the average period allowed in respect to such permits; and what number of women, young persons, and men, respectively, have been involved in the permits granted?

The number of such applications granted to employers in the woollen and worsted industry under the Employment of Women and Young Persons Act, 1936, is 14, of which 11 were for limited periods averaging about five months. The Act does not regulate the hours of employment of men but about 120 women and half a dozen young persons were to be employed in the shifts. I am afraid I cannot give the figures for two-shift authorisations granted under the Act of 1920, but practically all of them have since lapsed.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the request addressed to him by the Central Association for Young Wayfarers for an amendment to the Vagrancy Act, 1824, which will enable petty sessional courts, as an alternative to the imposition of sentences of imprisonment on persons convicted of vagrancy offences, to commit suitable cases to instructional training centres under the Ministry of Labour; and whether he can yet state what action it is proposed to take in this matter?

I have seen a copy of a letter sent to my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Health, by the Central Association for Young Wayfarers' Hostels. The Criminal Justice Bill now before Parliament proposes alternative methods to imprisonment for the treatment of young offenders convicted of any offence including offences against the Vagrancy Act, 1824, and I am not satisfied that there is any sufficient reason for providing some special and exceptional form of treatment for persons who may commit one of the many miscellaneous offences covered by that Act.

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether he is aware that the Oaksey Park estate, near Kemble in Wiltshire, is being sold to the Bruderhof movement, who intend to settle 300 German families thereon; that the present tenant-farmers and all their farm hands will be given immediate notice to quit; that this estate is in a rich fanning district, where the standard of living is high and fixed rates of pay and hours are kept, whereas the settlers of the Bruderhof movement, men and women, work for no wages, keep no fixed hours, and live under primitive conditions which will enable them to undercut their neighbours in all markets and so recoup the Bruderhof movement; and whether he will make it a condition of permitting these families to enter this country that the Bruderhof movement should concentrate their activities in pioneer work in less well-developed areas in this country;(2) whether he is aware that Oaksey Park estate, which the Bruderhof movement are purchasing, is surrounded by five aerodromes, some of them of considerable strategic importance, and as it is not advisable to settle 300 German families in their immediate neighbourhood in view of the danger of spies being distributed among them, and the suspicion likely to be roused amongst the local inhabitants, he will prohibit the entry of these German families into this country?

The Bruderhof were allowed to establish themselves in this country on condition that they did not seek or enter employment outside the community. They are a community of agriculturists and craftsmen who are self-supporting. The community now comprises 139 adults and 94 children, of whom 68 adults and 46 children are German and 37 adults and 29 children are British subjects; the remainder are of various foreign nationalities.I am informed that the community is purchasing additional land mainly in order to accommodate a number of British subjects who have joined since its arrival in this country. From inquiries I have made I can find no ground for the suggestion that the Bruderhof undercut prices; and as regards the displacement of agricultural workers, I am informed that there is a shortage of agricultural labour in the neighbourhood, that none of the workers now employed on the estate will have to leave before March, 1939, and that if by this time there are any who have not found other work, the Bruderhof will be prepared to keep them on temporarily until they can secure work.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the number of housebreaking offences reported in the borough of Willesden, and the number of convictions during the years 1935, 1936, 1937, and during the last 10 months?

Before the middle of 1937 the statistics of crimes in the Metropolitan Police District were not subdivided into figures for each of the local government areas: so I cannot give figures for Willesden in respect of earlier years. During the last 12 months there have been in Willesden 190 cases of housebreaking (including burglary) a number of them being trifling crimes committed by juveniles and up to the present the offender has been identified in 16 of these cases.

asked the Home Secretary when it is proposed to issue the report of the Departmental Committee on the Taximeter-cab Industry?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to my hon. Friend the Member for Kensington South (Sir W. Davison) on Monday last.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information in connection with an accident at the Maidstone Corporation electricity works in which a man was killed; and what was the cause of the accident?

I have no information at present about such an accident, but I will have inquiry made.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information with regard to an accident at Ringswood Place, Lee, where a man was killed; and what was the cause of the accident?

I am assuming that the hon. Member is referring to the death of David Houlton, aged 61, at Kingswood Hall, Lee. I understand he was on some staging for the purpose of drilling holes in a window-frame and fell off the staging. At the inquest yesterday a pathologist who had made a post-mortem examination stated that in his opinion the deceased had had a seizure, and the jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information in connection with an accident at the Ipswich Gas Works, where two men were killed; and what was the cause of the accident?

I understand that two days ago two men who were at the top of a gasholder were fatally overcome by gas. The circumstances are being investigated and the inquest opens to-morrow; and I cannot say more at present.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the num-

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what has been the amount received in respect of Entertainment Duty on living entertainments, and other categories, for each month during the current calendar year, together with a total of such sums for each month; and how these totals compare with the totals for the corresponding month in 1934, before the slightly reduced scale for living entertainment was introduced?

The approximate net amount of Entertainments Duty collected during each month of the current calendar year, and the amount collected in the corresponding months of 1934, were as follow: ber of road motor goods vehicles authorised and in possession of the railway companies at 3oth June, 1938, and at the corresponding date in 1937?

The numbers of road motor goods vehicles authorised and in possession of the railway companies at 30th June, 1938 and 3oth June, 1937, were 10,257 and 9,709 respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement regarding the condition of roads in the Isle of Eriskay?

The island of Eriskay is less than four miles long and two miles wide. There is one road for the maintenance of which the county council is responsible. It was constructed with the aid of a grant from the Department of Agriculture, and is 1,000 yards in length and six feet wide.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made in the islands of South Uist and North Uist, respectively, under the five-year road plan of 100 per cent. grants; and whether he will make a financial statement on these works?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to road reconstruction being carried out under the Crofter Counties Scheme. In the island of South Uist including Benbecula the county council have completed a survey of 22 miles of road but I am unable to say when works will be put in hand. In North Uist, resurfacing works are in hand on a length of 28 miles between Lochmaddy and Carnich, and on a length of 7½ miles between Lochmaddy and Clachan. This work is expected to take 30 months and to cost about £58,000.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has now received any representations from the Inverness-shire County Council regarding the need for a road for the districts of Lochportain-Hoebeg and Cheesebay in North Uist Island; and whether he will make a statement?

The county council have intimated that a road is needed to provide access to an estate laid out by the Department of Agriculture, and they have been informed that the Department of Agriculture and the Ministry of Transport are prepared to consider an application for a grant at the usual rates towards the cost of construction.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the total number of motorists convicted in 1938 for disobeying the "Halt" sign near the police station at Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire; how many of these failed to see the "Halt" sign; and whether the word Halt is written on the road?

I have been asked to reply. I am informed that since 1st January, 1938, 35 motorists have been convicted for disobeying the "Halt" sign in question. Eighteen of them, when stopped by the police, stated they had failed to see the sign. The word "Halt" is not written on the road but I am informed that the position of the sign is such that it should be seen by motorists approaching it.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give particulars of classification and the numbers of the convictions registered against the goods road transport industry for the year 1937–38?

Prosecutions for offences under the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, for breaches of conditions of a carrier's licence or for driving without a heavy goods vehicle driver's licence, resulted in convictions during the year ended 31st September, 1938, which may be classified as follow:

	Approximate number of convictions.
Contravention of the law as to hours of driving and rest periods	5,600
Records of hours not kept or improperly kept	10,900
Vehicles not maintained in fit and serviceable condition	5,800
Vehicles used without licence or outside terms of licence	3,000
Vehicles used while under prohibition order	300
Vehicles used without Identity Certificates being displayed	300
Heavy goods vehicles driven by men not licensed to drive them	300
Miscellaneous offences	400
"Speeding" offences	6,000

Approximately 4,000 cases dismissed under the Probation of Offenders Act are included in the number given. Cases in which proceedings were instituted by the police (other than the Metropolitan Police) independently of the licensing authorities, are not included.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received the report asked for last summer from the new Governor of St. Helena upon the conditions in that island; and, if so, whether it contains recommendations for improving its trade, industry, and provisions for education and the relief of poverty and sickness?

I have received a despatch from the Governor of St. Helena outlining his proposals for the rehabilitation of the island. I will arrange for a copy of the despatch to be placed in the Library of the House. Since its receipt more specific recommendations from the Governor have reached me and action has already been taken to give effect to a number of these, including approval for a subsidy to enable the flax mills to reopen, for assistance on a loan basis to small property owners for the repair of houses, for the improvement in wages of Government employes, and for the appointment of a superintendent of education. Various other proposals are under active consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the present depressed condition of industry in St. Helena; whether he proposes to take any action in the near future to assist that colony by aiding, in particular, the hemp industry and the tourist industry; and whether any consideration has been given to the desirability of increasing the present garrison?

Yes, Sir. The depressed condition of industry in St. Helena is receiving my constant attention and I have recently approved a subsidy to enable the flax mills to reopen. As regards tourist traffic, I am glad to be able to say that the Union Castle Steamship Company are arranging for their ships always to call at St. Helena during the day-time so as to enable tourists to proceed on shore and to visit places of interest in the island. The reply to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the position with regard to the report of the Gold Coast Cocoa Commission; and whether he proposes to adopt its recommendations, or whether he has decided that the present situation with regard to the organisation of the buyers and of the growers, respectively, is satisfactory and should continue?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) on the 30th November, to which I have nothing at present to add.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India in which of the Indian States measures of democratisation have taken place or have been promised; and whether, in view of the Viceroy's statement that His Majesty's Government would not initiate constitutional advance in the States, he will follow up this statement by recommending such advance to the Provinces, in suitable cases, in order to meet the objection felt by Congress leaders to the Federation of British India with autocratic States?

With regard to the first part of the question my Noble Friend is not in a position to supply complete information. In many States representative institutions have existed for some time. The recent grant or further development of such institutions has been announced in others.With regard to the second part, the hon. Member has apparently seen an inaccurate report of the Viceroy's speech. What His Excellency said was that the Paramount Power will not obstruct proposals for constitutional advance initiated by the Rulers. With regard to the policy of His Majesty's Government in this matter I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on Friday, 16th December, to my hon. Friend the Member for the Kidderminster Division of Worcestershire (Sir J. Wardlaw-Milne).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the representations from the Humber District Timber Trade Association, in relation to the Anglo-American trade agreement and the adverse effect such agreement will have upon the timber trade of this country; and whether he has any statement to make?

I have considered these representations and have also discussed the matter fully with a deputation representing the Timber Trades Federation of the United Kingdom. Many of the difficulties of the timber trade relate to Customs procedure and these are at present under discussion between the trade and the Board of Customs and Excise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give the quantities and values of molasses imported from foreign countries during each of the last five years; how these amounts were distributed among the principal supplying countries; and the amounts

Port.	Quantity.					Declared Value.
	1933.	1934.	1935.	1936.	1937.	1933.	1934.	1935.	1936.	1937.
	Thousand cwts.					£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000
Bristol (including Avonmouth, Portishead and Weston-super-Mare)	141	149	332	412	423	16	12	33	41	42
Hull (including Keadby)	1975	1,927	2,455	2,127	2,220	258	253	326	404	370
Liverpool (including Birkenhead and Garston)	825	2,311	2,686	2,910	3,975	111	294	382	436	566
London (including Leigh, Queenborough and Rochford)	1,026	1,316	2,108	1,647	1,949	153	176	276	280	350
Greenock (including Islay, Oban, Port Glasgow and Tobermory)	698	601	1,114	464	991	87	75	146	81	164

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the number of mills in operation in the tinplate, steel sheet, and galvanised sheet works in South Wales for each year from 1929 to 1938, and the number of work-people employed at those mills in each year?

Information as to the number of tinplate and steel sheet mills working at the end of each month is published, for each of the years up to 1936, in a table on page 321 of the latest issue of the Statistical Abstract for the United Kingdom, to which I would refer the hon. Member. For 1937 the yearly mean number of mills working at establishments for which particulars were obtained was 478, and the mean for the first II months of 1938 was 323. A new edition of the Statistical Abstract, which will include the figures for 1937, will be published early in January. This information is not, however, necessarily complete and it applies to the whole country and not to South Wales alone.

As regards the first and second parts of the question the desired particulars are set out on page 67 of Volume 11 of the "Annual Statement of Trade of the United Kingdom" for 1937. The following statement shows the total quantity and declared value of the imports of molasses and invert sugar landed at the principal ports of the United Kingdom during each of the last rive years.With regard to the second part of the question, the number of insured persons aged 16 to 64 employed in the tinplate industry in Wales and Monmouthshire (including ancillary workers) about the middle of each year is estimated to have been approximately as follow:

1929	…	…	…	22,000
1930	…	…	…	20,700
1931	…	…	…	16,900
1932	…	…	…	14,100
1933	…	…	…	19,900
1934	…	…	…	17,800
1935	…	…	…	16,300
1936	…	…	…	17,400
1937	…	…	…	23,000
1938	…	…	…	10,700

I regret that corresponding information for steel sheet works is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the lighthouses in Scotland that are equipped with radio-transmitting installations; and in what lighthouses in Scotland it is proposed to instal such equipment?

The following isolated light stations under the management of the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses have been equipped with radiotelephony installations:

Chickens Rock.	Sule Skerry.
Ailsa Craig.	Auskerry.
Dhuheartach.	Copinsay.
Skerryvore.	Pentland Skerries.
Hyskeir.	Bell Rock.
Barra Head.	North Carr Light Vessel.
Monach.
Flannan Islands.	Isle of May.
Rona.	Bass Rock.

In addition, the Muckle Flugga and Fidra lighthouses are being equipped with this installation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the number of keepers employed by Trinity House at rock stations and at land stations, respectively?

I am informed by the Trinity House that there are 110 keepers employed at rock stations and 69 keepers at land stations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the cost entailed in taking up the "Aquitania" during the recent mobilisation; and whether consideration has been given to the desirability of keeping the "Berengaria" in reserve for such contingencies during the next few years;(2) whether in view of the marked decline since the war in merchant shipping tonnage in proportion to the population of Great Britain, he has satisfied himself that it is a provident measure to allow the fast 50,000 ton vessel "Berengaria" to be scrapped during the present years of tension?

The approximate cost of taking up the "Aquitania" during the recent emergency was £70,000. The desirability of keeping the "Berengaria" has been carefully considered and I am satisfied that such a step cannot be justified.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has yet received any report from the British Broadcasting Corporation or the Central Council for School Broadcasting upon the suggestions made by Mr. J. Howard Whitehouse, a former Member of this House, for the extension of educational broadcasting, which were contained in a book entitled Broadcasting and Education?

No, Sir. The suggestions contained in the book in question related to matters which fall within the responsibility of the Governors of the British Broadcasting Corporation and I am therefore asking them to communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the conflicting opinions which are still expressed with regard to the value of pasteurisation, he will cause a judicial inquiry to be made into this matter at the earliest opportunity so that a final and considered decision can be given?

I am advised that the facts with regard to pasteurisation are well known. The conflict is, as the hon. Member indicates, a matter of opinion. I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by taking the course suggested.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will suggest to local authorities, in connection with slum-clearance work, especially in the rural areas, the desirability of calling in architects to advise on possible reconditioning before any demolition order is sanctioned?

The Central Housing Advisory Committee have recently considered the administration of the statutory provisions relating to the demolition of unfit houses and have made various suggestions for changes in procedure to ensure that the possibilities of reconditioning are fully explored before an order for demolition becomes operative. I will send my hon. Friend a copy of the circular on the subject which I hope shortly to issue to local authorities. I have, moreover, impressed on local authorities the importance of securing skilled technical advice not only in connection with the preparation and execution of their own building schemes but also in the consideration of schemes of reconditioning with assistance under the Housing (Rural Workers) Acts, and have pointed out in circulars and pamphlets I have issued that architects' fees may be included by owners in the cost of the works for which assistance is claimed. The Rural Housing Manual which I published a few months ago contains a large section devoted entirely to reconditioning.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is possible separately to allocate both in number of individuals and money value, the deaths, illnesses, or material damage caused or aggravated by the pollution of the atmosphere due to the consumption of soft coals in inefficient industrial furnaces and domestic grates; and, as an incentive to the public, whether appropriate statistics could be published by his Department at regular intervals?

The effect of atmospheric pollution on health and property has been the subject of a large amount of investigation and research, but it is not possible to express any conclusions with the precision suggested in the question.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider introducing legislation having for its object the equalisation of rates, in relation to public assistance, as between all local authorities?

I am not prepared to introduce legislation on the lines suggested.

asked the Minister of Health what is the amount of superannuation contributions which, under the existing scheme, a member of the female staff of the Durham County Mental Hospital is entitled to have refunded on marriage?

Under the Asylum Officers' Superannuation Act, 1909, which applies to all mental hospitals, the visiting committee may repay to any female officer or servant leaving to be married after not less than three years' service, the amount of the contributions paid by her to them under the Act.

asked the Minister of Health whether the cures of cancer by Mr. Rees Evans have been brought to his notice; and whether, in drawing up his plan for a cancer service, he has considered any of the unorthodox treatments which are claimed to have numerous successes?

Mr. Rees Evans' claims have been brought to my notice, but so far as I am aware he has never disclosed the nature of his remedy. The Cancer Bill does not specify methods of treatment; its purpose is to provide a framework within which it will be possible for local authorities to make arrangements under which every person requiring treatment for cancer will be able to receive the treatment most appropriate to his case.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can state the numbers of brick-built council houses constructed, or under construction, in the last 12 months in Scotland and the percentage of bricks used in connection with them made from colliery waste material?

The number of local authority houses of brick construction completed during the year ended 30th November, 1938, was approximately 17,700. The number of such houses under construction at that date was approximately 24,500. It is estimated that 70 per cent. of the bricks used are made from colliery waste material.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of the Scottish Milk Marketing Board that the butter-fat standard for all milks shall be not less than 3.5 for months August to January inclusive, and not less than 3.4 per cent. for the months February to July inclusive, with the result that any Scottish producer whose milk is below these percentages will be penalised by a ¼d. per gallon in respect of each percentage below standard, whereas English producers may provide milk with a butter-fat percentage of three without infringement of regulations; and whether he will state the number of Scottish producers who have so far been penalised for supplying milk below standard since 30th September?

I am aware of the decision of the Scottish Milk Marketing Board referred to which has the effect of reducing payments to producers, at the rate of Id. per gallon for each one-tenth of r per cent. of the deficiency in butter-fat, in respect of milk supplied by them. I am informed by the Board that payments to five producers in October and to nine producers in November were reduced in accordance with this decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is in a position to state when he intends to introduce legislation for Scotland on the lines of the Criminal Justice Reform Bill?

As will be seen from Clause 79, many of the provisions of the Criminal Justice Bill apply to Scotland. As regards the provisions which are not so applied, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement by my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate during the Debate on the Second Reading of the Bill.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether he has any statement to make regarding any programme of defence works or ordnance factories in Glasgow or its vicinity?

I regret that at the moment I am unable to make any statement on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement regarding the supply of free meals and milk to school children by the local county councils of Ross and Cromarty and Inverness-shire, on the mainland and in the islands?

Education Authorities in Scotland have power under the conditions laid down in Section 6 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, to supply free meals to necessitous children attending schools in their areas, and under the Education (Scotland) Act, 1930, they have power to supply milk to school children. The number of children provided by the Education Authority with free meals in the year ended 31st July, 1938, was 606 in Ross and Cromarty and 1,581 in Inverness-shire, and the number supplied with free milk was 48 and 1,148 respectively. The information in my possession does not enable me to alllocate these figures between the mainland and the islands, but I am making inquiry of the Education Authorities concerned and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War what has been the practice of granting leave to locally-entered full-time industrial employés of his Department engaged at various stations outside this country?

Locally entered industrial employés of the War Department at stations abroad are eligible, subject to a qualifying period of service, for eight holidays with pay, including the King's Birthday, Christmas Day and Good Friday.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the cut and texture of the trousers of the Territorial Army uniforms compare unfavourably in appearance and comfort with the lower garments worn by troops in totalitarian countries; and whether he will take steps to rectify this?

A new pattern of trouser has been approved. There are, however, considerable stocks of the old pattern.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he anticipates that the report of the departmental committee examining the allegations with regard to the excessive powers of marketing boards to impose penalties will be available in time for its recommendations to be incorporated, if thought fit, in the Milk Industry Bill; and whether he will endeavour to arrange that this shall be ensured?

I anticipate that the recommendations of the Committee will be of general application and will not be confined to the powers of milk marketing boards. If, as a result of these recommendations, legislation appears to be desirable, it will accordingly be more appropriate that such legislation also should be of a general character.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the method of costing the production which he adopted in arriving at the sum of an extra contribution by the Government of 10s. upon barley?

The additional assistance to be offered to barley growers in respect of this year's crop was determined in the light of the anticipated average return per acre, having regard to the estimated average price this season and the appreciably higher yield per acre, in comparison with the average return per acre in recent years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what sums of money have been expended on advertising and promoting the sale of British milk products since the establishment of the Milk Marketing Board?

I regret that I have not the information which would enable me to state even an approximate figure.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that during 1937 the fresh milk equivalent of milk products imported into this country was, approximately, 2,850,000,000 gallons, whilst the total volume of milk sold during the same year under milk marketing schemes was no more than 1,000,000,000 gallons, he can state what steps are under contemplation to increase the milk output of Great Britain by stimulating and assisting the marketing of milk products made from British milk?

I am not yet able to add anything to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, on 1st December with regard to the milk industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what proportion of the frozen or chilled pork imported during the first 11 months of this year was turned into bacon?

The approximate proportion of gross imports of frozen and chilled pork during the first 11 months of this year that was stated at the time of importation to be intended for conversion into bacon was 48.5 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many acres of agricultural land are farmed by Government Departments, local authorities, or co-operative societies; and how many acres, owned by these bodies respectively, are let to tenants for agricultural purposes?

The following is the information relating to Government

—	Land Farmed.	Land Let.
	Acres.	Acres.
Local Authorities—
County Councils and County Borough Councils:
(a) For purposes of small holdings (at 31st December, 1937)	—	411,180*
(b) For purposes of agricultural education	6,800	—
For purposes of allotments:
Urban Areas (at 31st December, 1937)	—	21,790
Rural Areas (at 31st December, 1934)	—	8,516
Admiralty	—	2,266
Air Ministry	—	6,000
Board of Control	139	140
Commissioners of Crown Lands (at 31st March, 1938)	7,700†	104,250
Commissioner for the Special Areas	—	652‡
Forestry Commission	2,900	30,000
Home Office	1,822	9
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries	—	8,846
War Office	—	58,150§
* Includes any small areas of land "in hand" which Councils may be farming temporarily.
†Represents the area of agricultural land "in hand" including grazing land.
‡Eventually to be farmed by a Co-operative Society.
§Does not include lettings of grazing rights subject to military user.

asked the Prime Minister who will represent His Majesty's Government at the forthcoming meeting of the Council of the League of Nations?

The representatives of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom will be my Noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will specify the terms of any peace offers which have been made by Herr Hitler to His Majesty's Government for the purpose of settling any outstanding question between the two countries; and the nature of the replies made by His Majesty's Government?

I am not aware of any such offers since the reply given to the hon. Member on 14th November last. As regards any offers which may have been made in the past, the essential documents have been laid before the House.

asked the Prime Minister whether, as the landing of munitions at Cadiz by the German military transport "August Schultz" and at Laroche by four German merchant ships is a violation of the policy of non-intervention in Spain, which it is the object of the Non-Intervention Committee, of which Germany is a member, to secure, any protest will be addressed to the German Government?

His Majesty's Government have no evidence of the incidents referred to. The question does not therefore arise.

asked the Prime Minister what reply it is proposed to send to the Note of the Spanish Ambassador appealing to the traditional public uprightness of the British Government and asking that Government to use its influence to stop the continued bombing of the Spanish civil population by General Franco's airmen?

As the reply to the Spanish Ambassador's Note has not yet been despatched I am unable to make a statement.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is on account of any proved instances of inhumanity in the exercise of aerial warfare that the British Government has addressed a note to the Spanish Government urging humanity in the use of the air weapon?

No such appeal on this score has been made to the Spanish Government during the course of this year.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will inform the House of all the proposals made to the Inter-Governmental Committee on Refugees, either by His Majesty's Government, other members of the committee, or the director for the settlement of refugees from Germany?

In accordance with the recommendations of the Evian Meeting, the Governments represented on the Inter-Governmental Committee communicate their proposals regarding the settlement of refugees to the Committee for its strictly confidential information. It is therefore not possible for me to inform the House of the proposals made to the Committee, but the attitude of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom has been made clear in the statements made by my right hon. Friends the Home Secretary and the Prime Minister on 21st November.

asked the Prime Minister whether the proposals made by the South African Minister for Defence for an international loan for refugee settlement have been submitted to the Inter-Governmental Committee, or are under consideration by His Majesty's Government; and whether the British representative on the Inter-Governmental Committee will be instructed to give serious consideration to these proposals?

The proposals to which the hon. Member refers have not been submitted to the Inter-Governmental Committee. As regards the attitude of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to the question of an international refugee loan, I have nothing to add to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for the English Universities (Mr. E. Harvey) on the 24th November, and to the hon. and learned Member for Greenock (Mr. R. Gibson) yesterday.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will ascertain if the Intergovernmental Committee has any information showing how many refugees from Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia have found refuge in the Soviet Union; whether the Soviets have made any offers to accept such refugees; and whether any responsible organisation has expressed to the committee a desire that refugees should be admitted into Russia?

I understand that the Intergovernmental Committee has no information to show how many refugees from Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia have entered the Soviet Union. The answer to the second and third parts of the question is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the number of refugees admitted from Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia to this country since 1st January last; the proportion of these that were women; how many were in each of the following age-groups: under 16, between 16 and 30, between 30 and 50, and over 50; and what proportion of them had private incomes, enabling them to live in this country without seeking employment?

At a later date I propose to publish certain statistical information about the number and classes of persons admitted, but I am not in a position at present to give the information asked for.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the hardships confronting refugees waiting for British visas, he can give an assurance that the staff of the aliens department is now sufficient to enable work in that connection to be continued without any undue delay during the Christmas season?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to a reply given to-day to a question by the hon. Member for Henley (Sir G. Fox). I am satisfied that the arrangements made in the Aliens Division are such that the work will be continued without any undue delay during the Christmas season.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the course of his interview at Munich with Herr Hitler, he received an assurance that Germany had no territorial claims in the territory of Memel?

Herr Hitler informed me not at Munich but at Berchtesgaden that he was glad to leave the Memelland as it was so long as the Memel Statute was observed by the Lithuanian Government.

asked the Prime Minister what was the staff of the British passport office at the date of Captain Kendrik's expulsion by the German authorities and what it is now; whether the present staff is considered adequate for the performance of its increased duties; and, if not, what steps are being taken to strengthen it?

At the time of Captain Kendrik's departure 17 persons were employed at the Passport Control Office at Vienna. The present normal staff consists of 25 persons, but this is augmented to deal with emergencies and to afford the requisite relief to the staff, subject always to trained officers for the purpose being available. My Noble Friend is satisfied with these arrangements.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now make a statement as to the manner in which Majesty's consul-general at Tangier has been carrying out his duties?

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now make a statement on the manner in which His Majesty's consul-general at Tangier has been carrying out his duties?

On 10th November the hon. Member for Bridgeton submitted to the House certain statements made regarding His Majesty's Consul-General at Tangier. It was not possible for me in the time or with the material at my disposal on that occasion to give more than an interim reply. My Noble Friend has now been able to make full inquiries into the matters at issue.

did not "fly back to Franco's headquarters in Morocco in a Franco 'plane." He travelled in one of the ordinary commercial aeroplanes on the thrice weekly service Vittoria-Burgos-Seville-Tetuan. Tetuan, which is a short distance by motor from Tangier, is the normal terminus of this air service and there was no question of Mr. Keeling visiting any military headquarters there.On his return to Tangier Mr. Keeling reported that he had found everything quiet, though there had been some alarm among certain of the foreign communities. The British colony, however, apart from their natural apprehensions about the international situation, did not seem to have been unduly alarmed.The rumour that "most of the British business houses in Tangier were wiring London urging the dangers of the situation" is very exaggerated. Only one such telegram was communicated to the Foreign Office. According to Mr. Keeling none of the firms represented on the local British Chamber of Commerce sent any such telegrams nor did the local branch of the Bank of British West Africa. Mr. Keeling's report on this point has been spontaneously confirmed from an independent source.It is an equal exaggeration to say that "as the late crisis came to a head things in the zone looked black." Not only Mr. Keeling but other responsible members of the British community are emphatic on this point.It is thus clear that Mr. Keeling only left Tangier with the approval of the Foreign Office, that he returned to his post as soon as he could when he heard of the deterioration in the international situation and that during his absence nothing very disquieting took place in Tangier.There still remain a few points in the letter quoted by the hon. Member. It is alleged that on his return to Tangier Mr. Keeling "gave a large party to various Fascist leaders, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese." My Noble Friend is informed by Mr. Keeling that this party was intended primarily to celebrate the conclusion of the Munich Agreement and that the guests included members of the local Diplomatic Corps, among them the American and French Ministers, local British officials and prominent members of the British community. It was in no sense a Fascist celebration. This has been spontaneously confirmed from other sources.My Noble Friend has no information to confirm the allegation that the "Italians were planning a coup in Tangier" in September and this suggestion appears irresponsible.It is further alleged that on Mr. Keeling's appointment, he announced that he was a Fascist that he made no secret of the fact that his political views were Fascist and that he publicly gave the Fascist salute. Mr. Keeling categorically denies these accusations and states that they are untrue. This is fully confirmed by an entirely reliable and independent source in Tangier.Mr. Keeling equally denies the insinuation that his guests at the Consulate-General have been predominantly Fascist in sympathy and states that his guests have habitually included persons of many nationalities, as well as local British personalities. This, too, has been confirmed from other sources.There remains the more general allegation that the Consul-General has allowed his Italian connections to influence him unduly in the conduct of his official duties. It is quite true that Mr. Keeling is married to a lady who, though not of Italian birth herself, was formerly married to an Italian subject and that one—not two—of his stepsons is serving in Spain. But it by no means follows that because Mr. Keeling has these family ties with Italy he allows them to affect his judgment. Mr. Keeling himself indignantly denies any such accusation, which is equally repudiated by my noble Friend. On the contrary Mr. Keeling has been active in supporting British interests in Tangier and in carrying out the instructions of His Majesty's Government in this respect. It has been thought desirable to make further inquiries into this aspect of the matter. Three senior naval officers who have recently been stationed in the Mediterranean have all stated that they never had any reason to suspect Mr. Keeling of unduly pro-Italian views or to find fault with the way in which he carried out his duties, and the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Station, has stated that in his various dealings with the Consul-General he has always found him most anxious to maintain British interests and prestige.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the total number of Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves who were called up from the Outer Hebrides for the recent mobilisation of the Fleet; and how many from each of the islands?

No Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves are resident in these Islands. A number of officers and ratings of the Royal Naval Reserve were called up and despatched to Royal Naval depots leaving Stornoway on 29th September, 1938, as follows:

Patrol Service.
Skippers	…	…	…	2
Second Hands	…	…	…	2
Leading Seamen		…	…	7
Seamen	…	…	…	99
Stoker	…	…	…	1
Enginemen	…	…	…	1
				112
General Service.
Petty Officers	…	…	…	1
Leading Seamen	…	…	…	7
Seamen	…	…	…	219
				227

I regret that in the time available I have been unable to obtain details of their places of residence. No personnel of the Royal Naval Reserve were despatched after 29th September as orders had by then been received that despatches were to cease.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is within his knowledge that the recent fatal accident to the Calpurnia on Lake Habbaniyeh is reputed to be due to absence of adequate lighting apparatus on the lake; and whether he has caused, or will cause, an inquiry to be made into the adequacy of the organisation at that station?

An investigation into the recent fatal accident to the Calpurnia on Lake Habbaniyeh has been conducted by an Air Ministry Inspector of Accidents, who is at present on his way back. Until his report is received I am unable to accept any suggestion as to the cause of the accident, or say whether any further inquiry may be considered desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the dislocation at this period of the year caused to business in the Near and Middle East due to the inadequate air-mail services; and whether he will take such steps as to prevent a repetition of the congestion at Christmas next year either by insistence on the provision of a greater supply of freight-bearing aeroplanes or by reversion to two classes of mail, thereby enabling ordinary Christmas mail to be carried by sea?

As I explained in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Sir S. Reed) on 8th December, a temporary departure from the ordinary arrangements for the carriage of first-class air mail to the East has been necessary this year. None the less all the mail for the Near and Middle East has been cleared each week. I hope that in future the increased fleet of aircraft available will prevent even such temporary rearrangement of the mail despatches as occurred this year. In these circumstances the expedients proposed by the hon. Member are not at present contemplated, but the matter will receive careful review in the light of experience this Christmas and of circumstances next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what steps are taken to secure publicity, in the public interest, of the exact nature of the new air services in the country for which licences are being sought from the air transport licensing authority; and whether he will indicate what routes the existing applications affect?

The Air Navigation (Licensing of Public Transport) Order, 1938, provides in Article VI for publicity to be given to all applications for licences for air transport services. The regulations made under that Order (Statutory Rules and Orders No. 1106, 1938) lay down that this publicity is to be effected by the insertion of an advertisement in a newspaper or newspapers selected by the licensing authorities (Regulation 23) and such advertisements have been appearing in two weekly journals dealing with aviation. The exact particulars to be published are set out in Appendix B of the Regulations. I understand that the existing applications affect all existing routes and a number of proposed routes—about 55 in all.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the Iraq Petroleum Company at one time offered to erect and maintain at their own cost beacons along the whole length of the Iraq pipe-line; and on what grounds this offer was refused?

I cannot trace within the Air Ministry any record of an offer having been made by the Iraq Petroleum Company to erect and maintain at their own cost beacons along the whole length of the Iraq pipe-line. If the hon. Member cares to send me any details I shall be glad to look into these.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can make any statement regarding his programme of work; and whether he has yet decided what class and nature of work he intends to place either with firms in Glasgow or in Government factories in that area?

As I explained to the hon. Member for East Fife (Mr. Henderson Stewart) on 30th November and to the hon. Member for Maryhill (Mr. Davidson) on 14th December, a scheme is being developed under which suitable firms whose capacity cannot be utilised for sub-contract work will be invited to submit proposals for the manufacture of aircraft components under direct contracts. Arrangements are being made for the local exhibition of patterns as a first step, and the Director-General of Production has visited Glasgow within the last few days to go into the whole question on the spot. I regret that until I have received and considered his report I am unable to give the hon. Member any further information.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in any geographical survey of facilities for carrying out Air Ministry contracts, an investigation has been made of the unused facilities available in Aberdeen; and whether he can undertake that careful consideration will be given to facilities in this large industrial town?

As the hon. Member is aware, I am giving special consideration to the facilities available in Scotland for work in connection with aircraft production, and am in consultation with the Scottish Development Council on this matter. The committee have prepared lists of firms who might be suitable for this work in various parts of Scotland, including Aberdeen; and these lists are now being considered in my Department.