asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will arrange with His Majesty's Stationery Office to publish a cheaper edition of the Report of the Royal Commission on Safety in Coal Mines?

The present system of pricing Government publications is so arranged that the total cost of printing the copies for sale to the public (that is to say exclusive of the cost of compiling the material and the cost of official copies) is recovered from the proceeds of sale without any appreciable profit or loss to the taxpayer. It is not desirable to vary the pricing scale in favour of particular documents and I am afraid that I do not think that departure from the usual practice would be justified in this case.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the opportunity afforded Members of Parliament to study the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Safety in Mines Report during the Christmas recess, it is the intention of the Government to implement those recommendations by the introduction of a Mines Bill at an early date?

asked the Secretary for Mines whether it is his intention to bring in a Bill in this Session of Parliament to give effect to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Safety in Coal Mines as set out in their Report Cmd. 5890?

I would refer both hon. Members to the statement I made yesterday in reply to the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths).

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will arrange for a copy, free of charge, of the Report Cmd. 5890 of the Royal Commission on Safety in Coal Mines to be placed in all the Miners Welfare reading rooms?

I regret that I have no supply of copies from which such a large-scale distribution could be made, nor any funds from which to purchase them for this purpose, but I will consider if there may be any other way of getting it done.

Applications to the Medical Board for certificates under the Various Industries (Silicosis) Schemes from Coalminers.
—	1938.			1937.
	Total.	South Wales.	Anthracite Mines.	Total.	South Wales.	Anthracite Mines.
Disablement or suspension:
Number of applications for certificates.	821	622	301	643	471	230
Number of certificates granted.	434	382	205	286	251	132
Number of certificates refused.	387	240	96	357	220	98
Deaths:
Number of applications for certificates.	94	80	32	99	84	45
Number certified as due to the disease.	59	46	18	72	63	35
Number of certificates refused.	35	34	14	27	21	10

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now make a statement regarding the proposed Cotton Industry Enabling Bill?

I hope that a White Paper containing the Clauses of a Bill together with an explanatory memorandum will be available early next week.I propose immediately thereafter to take a ballot of the firms in the industry on the basis of that document. I am taking this course not because I have any doubt about the manner in which a ballot of the industry has already been taken, but in order to carry out pledges repeatedly given that the interests concerned would have an opportunity of expressing their

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the number of applications received during 1938 for certificates of disablement and for certificates that death was caused by silicosis from coalminers under the Various Industries (Silicosis Scheme), and the number of such applications granted and the number refused, giving separate particulars for the South Wales coalfield and for the anthracite coalfield of South Wales, respectively, and comparative figures for 1937 in each instance?

The following are the figures:opinion on the proposals in a form in which they would be presented to Parliament.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is in a position to make a statement with regard to the resolution passed by the film-producers section of the Federation of British Industries, to the effect that British film producers think an increase in quotas is necessary for the saving of the British film production industry?

I understand that the Cinematograph Films Council are considering representations from the Film Producers Association and others regarding the quotas under the Cinematograph Films Act. Under that Act, the quotas can be varied in certain circumstances after consideration by the Council.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in order to attract tourists, he will consider providing better facilities for the reception of visitors to this country and more attractive accommodation for customs formalities?

The provision of accommodation for the examination of the baggage of visitors to this country is a matter for the appropriate harbour authority or railway company. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind perhaps he will communicate with me.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there is a strong demand to include all persons earning up to £500 a year inside the Unemployment Insurance Scheme; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I have nothing to add at present to previous replies on this subject.

asked the Minister of Labour when he is likely to be able to give a reply to the all-party deputation of Liverpool Members who met him on the 13th December last to discuss unemployment in Liverpool?

As the hon. Member knows, the deputation raised a number of points. As regards the application of the Special Areas Acts to Liverpool, I would refer him to the reply which I have just given to the hon. Member for the Scotland Division (Mr. Logan). As regards the other points, the information with regard to establishments in Liverpool suitable for work under the Defence programme has been brought to the attention of the Departments concerned, and I have written to the hon. and learned Member for West Derby (Mr. Fyfe) regarding the scope of the Unemployment Assistance Scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of representations made to him, he is, when framing new legislation, prepared to abolish the present distinction between the Special Areas and others suffering from unemployment; and, in particular, can he state what he proposes to do for Liverpool?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on Tuesday last to the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths). I cannot, of course, in advance of the legislation mentioned in that reply, say how the position of Liverpool will be affected.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has considered the urgent request of the county council of Durham for the provision of bomb-proof shelters in densely populated areas; and what steps are being proposed to meet this demand?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to-day to a question by the hon. Member for Duddeston (Mr. Simmonds).

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether his attention has been called to the prosecution of a person named Herbert Ward or Jones at the Chesterfield Police Court on Monday, 30th January, for the mutilation of a gas mask or respirator; and in view of the fact that an official handbook has been published stating that the Government were providing respirators free to the civilian population, will he make it plain to all local and police authorities that all respirators so issued are the property of the public?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made yesterday in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Tamworth (Sir J. Mellor).

asked the Postmaster-General what overtime was worked in 1938, by hours, in the London telephone service by the following sections, respectively: higher, clerical, executive and clerical officers, and writing and typewriting assistants, distinguishing each main branch?

The Department formerly known as the London Telephone Service was absorbed in April, 1938, into the newly created London Telecommunications Region and the work was rearranged on an entirely different basis.Records of overtime related to the functions of the former London Telephone Service are not available in respect of the whole of 1938 but the figures for three months prior to the reorganisation were as follow:

By Grades.
			Hours.
Clerical Officers	…	…	22,142
Clerical Assistants	…	…	12,896
Typing grades	…	…	2,000
			37,038

By Branches.
		Hours.
Accounts Branch	…	31,897
Sales Branch	…	3,698
Traffic Branch	…	317
Staff and Buildings Branch	…	1,126
		37,038

During the nine months from April to December, 1938, overtime as shown below was incurred in the region, of which 3,000 hours were incurred in respect of urgent work arising out of the September crisis:

By Grades.
			Hours.
Clerical Officers	…	…	117,310
Clerical Assistants	…	…	57,072
Typing grades	…	…	9,933
			184,315

By Branches, etc.
		Hours.
Accounts Branch	…	98,022
Telephone Branch	…	2,834
Engineering Branch	…	10,102
Staff and Buildings Branch	…	4,887
Telephone Managers' Offices	…	26,682
Area Offices	…	41,788
		184,315

This overtime was spread over a staff about 50 per cent. greater than that of the former London Telephone Service.The new arrangements necessarily involved a great upheaval of the work and of the staffing, and the recruitment of a large number of additional staff, which unfortunately had to include a heavy proportion of untrained staff. Resort to overtime on an abnormal scale was unavoidable.During the whole year approximately 3,500 hours overtime were performed by executive officers and 12,900 by higher clerical officers but these figures represent for the most part extra attendance performed voluntarily to meet the extra work arising out of the setting up of the regional organisation.These figures of overtime represent an average over the year of less than 20 minutes a day per officer on all the grades combined.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that concessions for wireless licences are granted to persons living in aged miners' homes, he will give further consideration to the request of local authorities that token wireless licences should be provided for aged persons resident in homes erected for this class of citizen, in view of the fact that their Economic standards may be no better, and even worse by nature of their rent charges, than those living in aged miners' homes?

The present regulations provide that a single wireless licence may be allowed to cover a number of wireless sets used by the inmates of a charitable institution. I regret that it would not be justifiable to extend this concession to the occupants of groups of houses which are erected by local authorities and let on rental terms.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many men and boats employed in the herring industry were mobilised or given notice of mobilisation for Admiralty service during the September crisis; and how many men and boats are now scheduled for service in time of emergency?

During the recent crisis it was only necessary to take up three drifters with crews totalling 27 men. In addition some 550 members of the Royal Naval Reserve Patrol Service registered at the ports connected with herring fishery were mobilised. I regret that it would not be in the public interest to give the information required in the second part of the question.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will direct that the model of the proposed King George V Memorial be made available for the inspection of Members of this House either in the Tea Room or some other convenient place?

As has already been announced in the public Press, a model of the proposed statue to King George V, prepared in collaboration between Sir William Reid Dick and Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, has been approved by the Executive Committee of the Lord Mayor's Memorial Fund, and the carrying out of the design has been authorised by the committee. If it were the general wish of the House, I should be prepared to ask the chairman of the Executive Committee whether they would be agreeable to lend the model for inspection by hon. Members here, as proposed; or it might be possible to arrange for any individual hon. Member interested to see it at the sculptor's studio.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been drawn to the withdrawal from the service of Imperial Airways, Limited, of a number of fast-flying aeroplanes, with the result that the existing service of that company is far inferior to many other British and foreign competing companies; and will he reconsider, in these circumstances, the continuation of the subsidy which is granted to this company alone, to the exclusion of others?

Yes, Sir. I am aware that Ensign aircraft have been withdrawn from service on the London-Paris route and that the Frobisher aircraft were withdrawn for a few days recently. The service from London to Paris is at present run partly by Frobisher aircraft and partly by older types, and that from London to Frankfurt via Brussels is operated solely by Frobisher aircraft. As the Frobisher aircraft is the fastest and the most modern aircraft in service on these routes I am unable to accept the suggestion that the service of the company is inferior to other British and foreign companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what Scottish firms were asked to tender for contracts relating to the establishment of balloon-barrage systems in the North of England and Scotland?

Contracts for work in connection with the establishment of the provincial balloon barrage system have been placed with firms considered most suitable, irrespective of the location of such firms in relation to the centres. The hon. Member may, however, be interested to know that part of the steelwork for the buildings is being manufactured by a Glasgow firm, and approximately 25 per cent. of the balloon sheds required are to be supplied by Scottish tenderers. In addition, a number of items in connection with mechanical transport requirements, and the bulk of the tyre equipment for the trailers, will come from Scottish firms.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that the lord mayors of London, York, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast are entitled to be called the right honourable, he will recommend His Majesty to grant the same privilege to Cardiff as the largest city and virtual capital of the Principality?

I regret that I should not be justified consistently with established practice in making any such recommendation.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the demonstration which took place at a performance at the Royalty Theatre, Chester, of a play entitled Waiting for Lefty as part of the Chester drama festival; was the play licensed; and, in view of the likelihood of further breaches of the peace occurring if the play is again performed, what steps he is taking to prevent this?

I understand that this play was licensed by the Lord Chamberlain subject to the deletion of certain passages, one of which, however, was not omitted when the play was performed. In consequence, the persons responsible were prosecuted and bound over on payment of costs. No actual breach of the peace appears to have occurred, and I have no reason to anticipate that a breach will occur if the play is performed in accordance with the licensed script.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he will be able to announce his decision with regard to which of the proposed amendments of the Potato Marketing Scheme he intends to submit for the approval of this House?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is able to make a statement with regard to the proposed amendments to the Potato Marketing Scheme recently put forward by the Potato Marketing Board?

It has been necessary to consider very carefully the objections to certain of the proposed amendments to the Potato Marketing Scheme and the report of the Commissioner who inquired into these objections, but I hope to be able, at an early date, to notify the Potato Marketing Board, as required by the provisions of the Agricultural Marketing Acts, of any modifications proposed to be made by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, and myself.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can make any statement with regard to the Government's agricultural policy?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions to the hon. Member for Barnstaple (Mr. Acland) on 31st January, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Government will provide, during peace time, facilities for training in farm-work for those who enrol in the Women's Land Army?

The question of peace-time training for volunteer women land workers is one of the matters which I propose to consider in the light of the response to the National Service appeal.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the high transport costs for pigs, in some cases reaching 12s. per pig, which have arisen from the actions of the Pigs Marketing Board in re-allocating nominated contracts; and what action he proposes to take to prevent such anomalies arising in the future?

As the hon. Member wil appreciate, a certain amount of long-distance travelling of pigs to bacon factories is inevitable, but there is no evidence, so far as I am aware, which would suggest that the cost of transporting pigs has increased this year compared with previous years. As to the last part of the question, the matter is one for the industry. I have no power to intervene.

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) whether the recommendations of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Veterinary Education have yet been considered; whether the Government propose to adopt the recommendations; and whether the necessary legislation will be introduced during the current Session;(2) whether he has considered the means suggested by the Inter-Departmental Committee on Veterinary Education for bringing veterinary education into closer connection with the universities; and whether it is proposed to facilitate the necessary steps to implement the policy suggested?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Hitchin (Sir A. Wilson) on 1st February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress is being made with regard to holidays with pay for farm workers by the various agricultural wages committees?

Orders have been made by the Agricultural Wages Board in the case of five Agricultural Wages Committees providing for holidays with pay for agricultural workers. Eleven other committees have issued, or are issuing this week, statutory notices of proposals in this respect and five others have decided on the issue of such notices. The majority of the remaining 26 committees have the question of granting holidays with pay under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can make any statement as to the date of introduction of the promised Poultry Bill; and whether he is aware of the anxiety among poultry breeders over the coming glut on the egg market and the need for remedial action?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, to the question put by the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Mathers) on 31st January.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that the absence of a breakwater in St. Ives Bay makes it impossible to launch an adequate lifeboat, endangers the lives of fishermen, and deprives a long and important coast line of a harbour of refuge, he will immediately set up a committee, representative of all the Government Departments concerned, to consider the possibility of so improving the harbourage facilities at St. Ives that an adequate lifeboat could be utilised and fishermen and shipping generally be protected, particularly in view of the greater use likely to be made of our western ports in war time?

I have read with much concern of the disaster to the St. Ives lifeboat and should like to express my deep sympathy with the relatives of the gallant men who have lost their lives. While I do not think that it is necessary for a special committee to be set up to consider the possibility of improving the harbour, I can assure my hon. Friend that this question is already under examination and that the Departments concerned will certainly consult together on the various aspects of the question to which he has called attention.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of diphtheria and deaths from that disease have occurred in South Shields in each of the years 1935, 1936, 1937 and 1938; at what date was immunisation against diphtheria introduced; how many children have been immunised and at what ages; and whether any of the cases of diphtheria or deaths from that disease have occurred in immunised children?

I am making inquiries from the local authority and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether, with a view to raising the health standards of the population, he has considered the necessity of instituting a national campaign against the widespread disease of rheumatism?

In view of the activity of the Empire Rheumatism Council and other bodies, I am not satisfied that the present time is opportune for a campaign of the kind suggested.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is proposed to make any alteration in the Census form in order that accurate returns will be made to show the number of persons resident in the United Kingdom of overseas extraction, whether from the British Empire or foreign countries, and also the number of persons who belong to various religious denominations?

The programme of inquiries to be included in the 1941 Census has not as yet been taken into consideration. The necessary procedure of obtaining and examining proposals from all sources with a view to the ultimate selection of the final programme is, according to experience, more usefully carried out at a time closer to the actual Census date.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the number of one-roomed flatlets suitable either for the working class or middle classes which have been built with State subsidy in the last five years?

In the five years ended 31st December last, the erection of some 27,000 subsidised small dwelling-houses, having only one bedroom, was approved. The statistics do not in every case specify the type of dwelling, but it is known that at least 5,600 are flats.

asked the Paymaster-General, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he will consider legislation for the supersession of the General Medical Council and its replacement by a new body possessing the same powers but containing at least one-half of directly elected medical practitioners and with an age limit for its members of 65 years; and whether he will take the requisite steps to set up a committee representative of all interests to consider and report upon the necessary steps to be taken to this end?

Certain representations with regard to the General Medical Council have recently been made and are at present under consideration, but I am not yet able to make any statement on the subject?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the report of the Morrison Committee is not available for Members at the Vote Office; and whether he will make

Size of classes in Public Elementary Schools in Liverpool on 31st March, 1938.
Total number of classes.	Number of classes with over 40 but not over 50 on the roll.	Number of classes with over 50 but not over 60 on the roll.	Number of classes with over 60 on the roll.
3,243	1,389*	284	9
* Of these 1,389 classes, 288 contained 50 per cent, or more pupils aged 11 years and over. The Board's limits for the maximum size of classes are 40 for classes wholly or mainly for children aged 11 years and over, and 50 for classes for children aged under 11 years.

I understand that the Vote Office is obtaining a further supply of copies of the report referred to.

asked the Minister of Transport why the application of Gidea Park Coaches, Limited, to operate a service of express coaches to Margate and Ramsgate from Brentwood and Romford, was refused, in view of the large and growing population in Romford and the fact that the nearest service to these sea-coast towns is run from Ilford, some six miles away; and why it was that an application was subsequently granted for extra vehicle journeys to one of the objectors to this application?

I am not aware of the application to which the hon Member refers. Parliament has entrusted the responsibility for considering applications for road service licences to the Traffic Commissioners and I have no jurisdiction unless an appeal is made to me by a party entitled to appeal under Section 81 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education, how many school classes in the city of Liverpool are listed as being overcrowded to the following extent: over 40, over 50, and over 60 children per class?

Following is the answer: