asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the tonnage and value of nickel, copper, rubber, tin, and oil supplied to Germany, Italy, and Japan from the British Empire and the United States of America, respectively, for the last 12 months up to the latest available date?

The following statement, compiled from the official trade returns of

—		Germany, 1938.		Italy, 1938.		Japan, 1936.
		Quantity.	Value.	Quantity.	Value.	Quantity.	Value.
		Metric tons.	1,000 Reichsmarks.	Metric tons.	1,000 Lire.	Piculs.	1,000 Yen.
Nickel:
From British Empire	…	1,934	3,339	781	11,709	33,226	6,561
From United States	…	949	937	—	—	3,187	715
Copper†:
From British Empire	…	106,718	53,953	7,677	31,540	3,053	103
From United States	…	73,783	43,633	16,396	69,974	810,817	33,459
Rubber*:
From British Empire	…	46,009	37,480	26,161	159,101	656,052	44,915
From United States	…	74	110	55	206	4,082	142
Tin:
From British Empire	…	2,514	5,059	3,134	54,073	57,968	11,490
From United States	…	257	401	—	—	—	—
Mineral Oil:						1,000 litres.
From British Empire	…	18,486	1,224	1,547	926	314,131	9,889
From United States	…	1,183,020	84,415	971,729	342,010	3,056,754	118,584
* Particulars are available in respect of imports into Japan from the British Empire during the twelve months ended October, 1938; these amounted to 336,066 piculs valued at 21,294,000 yen.
† Including alloys in the case of Italy.

NOTES.—Metric ton=2,204.6 lb. avoir.Picul=132.3 lb. avoir.Rates of exchange:

Germany (1938)	…	…	…	12.18 Reichsmarks=£1
Italy (1938)	…	…	…	92.93 Lire=£1
Japan (1936 and 1938)	…	…	…	17.143 Yen=£1

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of materials, capable of being used for war purposes, which have been supplied from all parts of the British Empire to Germany, Italy, and Japan, respectively, up to the latest available date; and the amounts supplied in each of the last 10 years?

I regret that I am unable to furnish the desired information.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the amount of coal exported from this country, and from the port of Liverpool in particular, during the years 1923, 1928, 1933, and 1938?

Following is a statement showing total tonnage of coal exported as cargo from the United Kingdom and from the port of Liverpool during the years specified, the figures for 1938 being provisional.

Year.		Exports from the United Kingdom.	Exports from Liverpool.
		Tons.	Tons.
1923*	…	79,459,469	1,477,185
1928	…	50,051,195	779,174
1933	…	39,067,926	362,440
1938	…	35,860,908	638,031
* These figures do not include coal shipped during the three months ended 31st March, 1923, to the territory which now constitutes Eire.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give an assurance that in redrafting the Milk Industry Bill he will take into consultation not only the producers but consumers and makers of butter, cheese, milk powder, and other milk products with a view to ensuring that a fully co-ordinated scheme of production, distribution and consumption is secured?

As indicated by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 1st December last, the whole milk problem is being re-examined. I am fully aware of the value of consultation with all interests concerned but it is not possible for me to indicate at the present stage how far such consultation may be appropriate in connection with this re-examination.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many smallholding sub-committees of county agricultural committees show a credit for 1937–38 without the grant from the Ministry; and which counties, if any, can show a credit balance on their smallholdings without Government assistance?

The administration of the smallholdings estates established under the Smallholdings and Allotments Acts is in the hands of the county councils and the councils of county boroughs who are not under any statutory obligation to submit copies of their accounts to my Department. I regret, therefore, that the information desired by my hon. and gallant Friend is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the average wholesale price of home-produced eggs at the latest convenient date in 1939; and the average prices of wheat, bran, maize and middlings at the like time?

The following statement shows the average wholesale prices of certain grades of eggs and of feeding-stuffs during the week ended 1st February, 1939.

Description.	Unit.	Week ended 1stFeb., 1939.
		£	s.	d.
Eggs: National Mark Special Weight(a)	120		17	0
Eggs: National Mark Standard Weight(a)	120		16	0
Eggs: 1st quality(b)	Dozen		1	6
Eggs: 2nd quality(b)	Dozen		1	4¼
Wheat(c)	Cwt.		4	4
Bran, British(d)	Ton (2240 lbs.)	6	17	0
Maize, Argentine(d)	Cwt.		6	8
Weatings(d)	Ton (2240 lbs.)	6	4	0
Middlings, fine, imported(e).	Ton (2240 lbs.)	6	8	6

(

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the widespread complaints with regard to the manner in which the allocation of pigs to the various bacon factories has been arranged under the revised Bacon Marketing Scheme, steps can be taken to place at the disposal of the Pigs Marketing Board a few persons with wide experience in the organisation of transport in this country?

The matter to which my hon. Friend refers is primarily for the Pigs Marketing Board, who, I have no doubt, will gladly consider my hon. Friend's suggestion, which my right hon. Friend is conveying to them.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the objections of the local authorities of the Outer Hebrides to any further delay in the Outer Isles steamer service being caused by including in their service additional calls to the Isle of Soay; and what action he is taking to remedy the grievance while still serving the Soay people?

I have received representations on this subject. The Schedule to the new contract provides for a run in winter from Mallaig to Soay and back by the Outer Islands boat after her arrival at Mallaig on Saturday morning. The service to the Outer Islands is therefore not affected. In the event of a proposal being made to substitute for this a call at Soay by the boat on her way to and from the Outer Islands, all the circumstances will be fully considered.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents have

—			Fatal Accidents.		Non-fatal Accidents.
			Number.	Persons killed.	Number.	Persons injured.
Hants County Area	…	…	5	6	71	97
Winchester City Area	…	…	—	—	10	11
			5	6	81	108

The survey of the main road between Basingstoke and Winchester has been completed. A general widening to 120 feet with dual carriageways, cycle tracks and footpaths is envisaged, but I am unable to say at the moment when the scheme is likely to be put in hand.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Easter Day will fall in 1940 on 24th March, within two days of the earliest possible date; and whether, in the interests of national health and public convenience, he will give further consideration to the possibility of issuing an Order in Council fixing Easter Day?

I am afraid it is impossible to bring the Easter Act into force until there is agreement amongst the religious communities, and there appears to be no immediate prospect of such agreement.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the increased number of persons now receiving British nationality, he will consider the desirability of making an additional condition

The numbers of road accidents involving personal injury on the Basingstoke-Winchester main road during 1938, and the numbers of persons killed or injured therein were:that such nationality can only be granted if the applicant can provide a medical certificate to show that he is in reasonably good health and free from hereditary disease?

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend does not think he would be justified in imposing such a condition.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to recent cases of delay in the arrival of air-mails in Egypt from the United Kingdom; whether he is aware that on some occasions second-class mail by the sea route has reached Alexandria earlier than air-mail posted in London on the same day; and whether he will arrange for first-class postal matter to be dispatched by whichever route offers the quicker delivery?

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind delays during the Christmas season and I would refer him to the reply given by my hon. and gallant Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Air on the 22nd of December to a question by the hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Stokes). For the reasons therein explained, and owing to the exceptionally severe weather conditions in this country and in France during the week before Christmas, there were delays in the carriage of first-class mail by air to Egypt and on some occasions the time of transmission unfortunately exceeded that of second-class mail posted at the same time and conveyed by surface route. Normal working on the Empire routes was restored at the beginning of January.As stated by my hon. and gallant Friend, the matter will be carefully reviewed in the light of the experience gained during the recent Christmas period of pressure.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to serious delay in the delivery of business letters posted a few days before Christmas; and whether he will arrange that at Christmas time letters bearing stamps of value three-halfpence or upwards shall have priority over matter bearing stamps of value one penny or less?

All practicable steps are taken to ensure that correspondence posted at Christmas time is dealt with expeditiously and, although some delay as compared with normal delivery is scarcely avoidable, I am not aware that business letters generally suffered serious delay last Christmas. I am satisfied that it would be impracticable to arrange at Christmas time to give priority to letters bearing stamps of the value of three-halfpence or upwards over matter bearing stamps of the value of one penny or less.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can state the number of persons in the city of Liverpool who are depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank and the total amount standing to their credit at the end of the last financial year; stating also how this figure and amount compares with those of the previous year?

The accounts of the Post Office Savings Bank are balanced to the 31st December each year.The numbers of depositors having Savings Bank accounts opened at Post Offices within the area of the Liverpool City Council were at the 31st December, 1936, 146,350, and at the 31st December, 1937, 154,360; the total amounts standing to their credit were £3,898,350 and £4,284,220 respectively.It is not possible to say how many of these depositors are now resident in Liverpool, as a Post Office Savings Bank account is known throughout its life by the name of the office at which it was opened, and transactions continue to be recorded in that account wherever the depositor may reside.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will take steps to have restored the more frequent daily service of pre-war years to the Southern Isles of the Outer Hebrides, while retaining Mallaig, Kyle, and Oban as the mainland connections?

Full use is being made for mail purposes of the existing steamer services to the Southern Isles of the Outer Hebrides. More frequent sailings would not be justified solely on postal grounds.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will make a statement on the position of the postal amenities of the village of Laxay, Lochs, Isle of Lewis, including money order and telephone facilities?

The postal delivery and collection services at Laxay, consisting of one delivery and one despatch provided on each week day, are similar to those obtaining in the remainder of the rural district in Lewis. The extension of money order facilities to Laxay Sub Post Office could not be justified by the very small amount of business likely to be transacted. Telephone call office facilities are provided at Laxay Post Office.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will state the number of sub-postmasters in the isles of Lewis, Harris, Benbecula, North Uist, South Uist, and Barra, respectively, and make a statement regarding their position for purposes of unemployment insurance and pension or superannuation and status?

The numbers of sub-post offices in the islands mentioned are:

Lewis	…	…	32
Harris	…	…	7
Benbecula	…	…	3
North Uist	…	…	10
South Uist	…	…	14
Barra	…	…	5

The holders of these offices are in the same position as other sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses in the United Kingdom. A sub-postmaster is not insurable under the National Health and Unemployment Insurance Schemes, unless he renders on the average 18 or more hours personal service to the Post Office weekly and is mainly dependent for his livelihood on his Post Office earnings. He is not eligible for any award under the Superannuation Acts, but if he is insured under the National Health and Pensions Scheme he is of course eligible for an Old Age Pension at the age of 65.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that whereas in Section 15 of the Housing Act of 1925, dealing with condemned property, the order to the owner is to take down and remove the house or building, in the Housing Act of 1936, Section 13, the corresponding order is to demolish the house; and whether it is intended that under the wording of the Act of 1936 the local authority should insist on the owner taking down the house or building and removing the débris?

I am aware of the difference in the wording of the Sections of the Acts of 1925 and 1936 quoted by the hon. Member. I am advised that, whilst Section 13 of the Housing Act, 1936, does not empower local authorities to insist on the removal of débris where buildings have been demolished, the local authorities have power under the Public Health Acts to proceed in cases of uncleared sites where the condition of the site amounts to a nuisance.

asked the Minister of Health whether the appointed day in respect of the reduction of overcrowding under the Housing Act of 1935 has now been fixed in regard to the entire country; and, if not, whether he will state the places excepted?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and the second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of timber-built schools which have been erected, and the number of timber houses erected by private enterprise and by public authorities, respectively, since 1st January, 1936, and, if possible, the cost per building of each type?

I regret that I have not the information desired by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons in receipt of old age pensions in the administrative county of Staffordshire were compelled to seek public assistance during the year 1938?

The particulars asked for by the hon. Member are not available in my Department, but on the 1st January, 1939, there were 2,347 old age pensioners in the administrative county of Stafford in receipt of poor relief.

asked the Minister of Health how many ex-service men n receipt of disability pensions or their dependants were compelled to make application for public assistance in the county of Staffordshire during the year 1938?

I regret that the information desired by the hon. Member is not available. The returns received in my Department do not distinguish disability pensioners from other recipients of relief.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men have taken advantage of the various reconditioning centres during the last 12 months; how many of these centres are in operation; and whether any new centres are to be opened in the Special Areas in order to enable young men on unemployment relief to fit themselves, if they so wish, to join the services after qualifying for the necessary medical and physical standards?

During the year ended 31st December, 1938, 26,352 men were admitted to training at Ministry of Labour instructional centres, summer camps and local training centres. There were in operation 25 instructional centres, 10 summer camps during the summer, and four local training centres. A fifth local training centre has recently been opened. The local training centres are all situated in Special Areas. It is proposed to open a new local centre at Carfin in the Scottish Special Area. The object of all these centres is to help men, particularly men in the Special Areas and other areas of heavy unemployment, to fit themselves for employment.

asked the Minister of Labour how many ex-service men were registered as wholly unemployed at the last convenient date; and how many of them in employment or unemployed were 50 per cent. or more disabled, or had lost a limb?

As regards ex-service men generally, no figure is available since 9th May, 1938, when the number recorded as wholly unemployed was 267,893. The number of disabled ex-service men registered as wholly unemployed on the latest available date, namely 9th January, 1939, was 27,707.As regards the latter part of the question, statistics are not available on the basis asked for by my hon. and gallant Friend, but of the 27,707 unemployed disabled men 12,183 were persons whose disability would prevent them from returning to their usual occupations but would not preclude them from employment under ordinary industrial or commercial conditions on what might be described as a light job and 244 were persons whose disability rendered it difficult for them to be employed under ordinary industrial or commercial conditions except in some institution specially designed for ex-service men suffering from some very severe occupational disability.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will give a list of those local education authorities which are exercising their powers under Sections 82–84 of the Education Act, 1931, only to the extent of providing free milk for necessitous children?

According to the latest information available 121 local education authorities are exercising their powers under Sections 82–84 of the Education Act, 1921, only to the extent of providing free milk for necessitous children or, in a few cases, milk together with sandwiches, biscuits or other light refreshments, as distinct from ordinary solid meals. I am sending the hon. Member a list of these authorities.During the interval since my reply to the hon. Member's question of 9th November last 13 authorities which did not provide free solid meals or milk have begun to provide free milk, 10 authorities which formerly provided free milk only have begun to provide free dinners, and two authorities have been amalgamated. There is therefore a net increase of two as compared with the figure of 119 which I gave in my previous answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will state the number of occasions during the past two years on which the British Board of Film Censors has communicated with the Air Ministry for information or advice; and whether he will give the names of the films concerned?

I am unable to trace that there has been any communication between the British Board of Film Censors and my Department during the last two years.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will state the number of occasions during the past two years on which the British Board of Film Censors has communicated with the Dominions Office for information or advice; and if he will give the names of the films concerned?

No requests for information or advice have been received in the Dominions Office from the British Board of Film Censors during the past two years.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what proportion of the £1,500,000 allowed in the Empire Settlement Act was expended during the last financial year; and what was the nature of the various schemes assisted, the number of immigrants, and the countries in which they settled?

The total expenditure under the Empire Settlement Acts, 1922 and 1937, during the financial year ended 31st March, 1938, was £21,866; during the nine months to the 31st December, 1938, it amounted to £32,891; and it is estimated that the expenditure for the full 12 months ending 31st March next will be approximately £45,000.Apart from expenditure under the above-mentioned Acts, grants made towards the administrative expenses of certain voluntary societies engaged in migration activities amounted to £6,745 in the year to 3rst March, 1938, and are expected to amount to £10,600 in the present financial year.As regards the second part of the question, it will be convenient to give information relating to the calendar year 1938, as certain assisted passage schemes came into operation during that year.Expenditure incurred in connection with schemes assisted under the Acts during 1938 falls into the following main categories, namely, contributions towards:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the total landings of lobsters in the Clyde and elsewhere on the West of Scotland, respectively, during the last year; and what proposals he has to organise that industry there, in view of the increased costs of gear, and the resultant inability of the fishermen engaged in the industry to make a living thereat?

The following are the quantity and value of lobsters landed during the year 1938 in the regions specified: Firth of Clyde, 20,000, value £1,125; elsewhere on West of Scotland, 337,000, value £24,000.I am not aware of any recent increase in the cost of gear used, which is generally made by the fishermen themselves.The report on the Highlands and Islands recently issued by the Scottish Economic Committee contains suggestions for the development of lobster fishing, which are receiving consideration.