asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state for the area of the Barnet Urban District Council the numbers of unemployed navvies, bricklayers, labourers, carpenters, plasterers, plumbers, and painters?

The following table shows the numbers of insured men, aged 18–64, in the undermentioned occupations in the building industry who were recorded as unemployed at 16th January, 1939, at the Barnet Employment Exchange:

Occupation.	Number.
Carpenters	23
Bricklayers	21
Plasterers	11
Painters	62
Plumbers	2
Labourers to above and Builders' Labourers	42
Navvies and General Labourers	48

Corresponding figures are not available for industries other than the building industry.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the representations received in reference to some of the idle sheet steel works in West Wales; and whether, in view of the fact that the men formerly employed at those works have been continuously unemployed for years, he will take steps to secure that some of the Government orders for sheet steel for air-raid precautions purposes are allotted to those works?

My right hon. Friend is in communication with my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal on this question, and will let the hon. Member know whether it would be practicable to arrange for the allocation of any contracts for sheet steel for air-raid shelters to works that are now idle in West Wales.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the complaints as to the ventilation of the Blackburn Employment Exchange; and whether any alteration to the building is contemplated in the near future?

I understand the reference is to outhouse premises in a church schoolroom in Nab Lane, Blackburn. I am not aware of any serious ground of complaint.

asked the Minister of Labour the yearly averages of registered unemployment from the inception of the unemployment insurance law to 1938, inclusive?

The table below shows the average numbers of unemployed persons, aged 14 and over, on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain in each year from 1921 to 1938.

Year.	…	…	…	Number.
1921	…	…	…	1,825,000
1922	…	…	…	1,555,000
1923	…	…	…	1,290,000
1924	…	…	…	1,131,000
1925	…	…	…	1,240,000
1926	…	…	…	1,402,000
1927	…	…	…	1,112,000
1928	…	…	…	1,231,000
1929	…	…	…	1,230,000
1930	…	…	…	1,915,000
1931	…	…	…	2,650,000
1932	…	…	…	2,745,000
1933	…	…	…	2,521,000
1934	…	…	…	2,159,000
1935	…	…	…	2,036,000
1936	…	…	…	1,755,000
1937	…	…	…	1,484,000
1938	…	…	…	1,791,000

NOTES.1. Corresponding figures are not available for any year earlier than 1921.2. Legislative and administrative changes between 1924 and 1938 have affected comparisons between the different years. The information available is insufficient to enable a series of figures to be given on a strictly comparable basis.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that in consequence of the provision that an old age pension shall be payable in advance as from the first Thursday after the applicant reaches the qualifying age, an applicant who has been unemployed and in receipt of unemployment benefit or allowance suffers hardship, in that the benefit or allowance ceases on his birthday, and he may be without any income for the greater part of a week; and whether he will take action to bridge the gap?

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend cannot agree that there is a gap to be bridged. On the existing arrangements for the payment of unemployment insurance benefit, unemployment assistance allowance, and old age pension the position cannot arise that a man may be without any income for the greater part of the week following his 65th birthday.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Indian Trade Agreement has been signed and whether he is in a position to report as to the progress of these negotiations?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what provision is being made to meet the situation which will arise on 31st March next, when the Indo-British Trade Agreement expires?

A new trade agreement with India has not yet been signed, but active negotiations are proceeding between the two Governments. It is hoped that it will be possible to bring them to an early conclusion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the quantities of home-made and imported beer and spirits, respectively, and the estimated quantity of foreign and British wines, respectively, retained for consumption in Northern Ireland during the calendar year 1938, and revenue attributable to each class of liquor?

The estimated quantities of home-made and imported spirits, beer, and wine retained for consumption in Northern Ireland during the calendar year 1938 and the estimated revenue attributable thereto are as follow:

Article.	Quantities retained for consumption.	Revenue attributable to Northern Ireland.
Spirits:	Proof gallons	£
Home-made	170,000	595,000
Imported	65,000	238,000
Beer:
Home-made	Standard barrels 35,000	122,000
	Bulk barrels 47,000
Imported	Standard barrels 123,000	467,000
	Bulk barrels 148,000
	Gallons
Wine, Imported	352,000	99,000
Sweets (British Wine).	406,000	31,000

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether it is the intention of the Government to grant extra payment to those in receipt of old age pensions so that they will be enabled to get an extra week's provisions to meet the emergency that may arise if war breaks out?

—	From local authorities.	From local voluntary organisations.	Total applications.	Total estimated expenditure.	Grant.
				£	£
Applications considered by the Grants Committee.	474	751	1,225	6,897,920	—
	358	599	957	5,502,612	—
Cases in which grants have been made or offered.	253	—	668	2,478,218	838,256
	—	415		1,245,385	480,931
Cases accepted in principle for grant-aid but deferred pending re-examination and the submission of further particulars.	25	18	43	912,423	—
Applications rejected	80	—	246	600,970	—
	—	166		265,616	—

In addition to the grants for capital projects under Section 3 (1) (a) of the Act, grants to an amount of rather less than 160,000 had on 31st January last been offered under Sections 3 (1) (b) and 3 (1) (c) of the Act, towards the training

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has already explained that it is the Government's policy to ensure that adequate supplies of food will be available in time of war for all classes of the population. While, therefore, there is no objection to householders, if they so desire, accumulating small reserves of suitable foodstuffs, there is no obligation on them to do so; and reserves so accumulated might be requisitioned in an emergency. There are other practical objections to the hon. Member's proposal, and the Government see no need to take the steps he suggests.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education as on the latest convenient date the amount of the grants sought from the National Fitness Council by local authorities and voluntary organisations; the amount of the grants offered by the council; and the amounts paid?

Applications received in the office of the National Fitness Council up to and including 31st January last for grant under Section 3 (1) (a) of the Physical Training and Recreation Act, 1937, in aid of the capital cost of local schemes:and supply of teachers and leaders and the development of the work of national voluntary organisations.The amount of grant actually paid during the period ended 31st January was £74,469 as follows:

	£
In aid of the capital cost of local schemes	31,975
In aid of the training and supply of teachers and leaders and the development of the work of national voluntary organisations	42,494
Total	£74,469

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education how many elementary schools in purely rural areas in Wales have been closed during the past five years?

Fifteen public elementary schools in rural areas in Wales have been closed since 1st January, 1934.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether instructions have been issued to education committees regarding provision for children who enter the country as refugees and desire to attend secondary schools and other higher educational institutions; and, if so, whether he will state the nature of the instructions or whether it is proposed to inform education committees of the desire of the Board and the character of the financial arrangements to be made for meeting the cost of the education of such children, including the cost of appointing additional teachers deemed to be necessary?

A statement of the Board's views as to the conditions of admission of refugee children to schools in this country has been communicated to all the associations of local education authorities. The nature of those conditions was indicated in the reply which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Wing-Commander James) on 2nd of this month. Owing to the wide distribution of refugee children over the country, it is anticipated that the number likely to qualify for admission to secondary and other schools of higher education in any particular area will be small, and no special measures for meeting the additional expenditure, if any, would appear to be called for.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (1) whether he has considered the resolution passed by the Liverpool City Council on Wednesday, 1st February, 1939, to the effect that, conditional upon his Department refunding to them the sums which have been withheld by the Board from the education grant payable under the Education Acts, they were prepared to agree to lease to the Roman Catholic school authorities, on terms to be agreed, the schools which they have authorised to be provided to comply with the provisions of the Education Acts; and requesting him to promote any legislation necessary to enable the terms of this proposal to be carried into effect; and can he make a statement;(2) whether he is in a position to give details of the scheme put forward by the Liverpool deputation, on 10th instant, in regard to solution of the problems of the 1936 Education Act; and, if any agreement has been arrived at, will he state the terms?

My Noble Friend received a deputation from the Liverpool City Council last week to consider the resolution referred to, and the proposals embodied in it and their implications were fully discussed. These proposals are now to be discussed by the council with all the interested parties with a view to the preparation of a scheme to which my Noble Friend has undertaken to give careful consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether the £15,000 per month deducted from education grants allocated to Liverpool is a suspense account to be refunded if the Education Act, 1936, be operated in Liverpool; and will his Department refund amounts deducted?

The Board's decision to withhold £15,000 from each of the monthly instalments of substantive grant for elementary education was arrived at for the reasons which I gave to the hon. Member on 24th November last. My Noble Friend has now decided that future instalments shall be paid in full. The question of the disposal of the sums already withheld will be decided before the end of the present financial year, in the light of all the circumstances.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Burgos authorities are acting in conformity with the formula proposed by His Majesty's Government for investigating the bombing of British ships, and for ensuring the immediate payment of compensation to those affected in proved cases of deliberate attack; and will he give details of any findings arrived at or awards made, as the result of the joint inquiry procedure suggested by His Majesty's Government, and accepted by the Burgos authorities?

The text of the Burgos authorities' reply to our latest proposals on the subject was received in the Foreign Office this morning. It will at once be communicated to the British interests concerned, and if the hon. Member will put a question down, I shall be glad to make a statement.

asked the Prime Minister whether the changed military situation in Spain will affect in any way the decision of His Majesty's Government not to grant belligerent rights to the Spanish insurgent authorities unless foreign troops are withdrawn from Spain as provided in the London Non-Intervention Committee Agreement of July, 1937?

No, Sir. The present military situation in Spain has in no way affected the decision referred to.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has considered the complaint sent to him in connection with the showing, by arrangement with the German Embassy, of an official film of the German Labour Service to the juvenile staffs of the Post Office; and whether he can make a statement?

I have carefully considered the complaint, and I have seen the film in question. I am satisfied that there is no reasonable justification for the complaint.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of damage by sea water which results from time to time from accidents to mail-carrying seaplanes, he will consider the introduction and use of waterproof mail bags for such transit; and whether arrangements can also be made to provide buoyant mail bags for registered mail sent by such craft?

The desirability of using waterproof bags for mails conveyed by air has been carefully considered from time to time, but, having regard to the very large number of mails now conveyed by this means, and to the relative infrequency of damage to the mails by immersion in water, it is not considered necessary to resort to the costly expedient of providing special containers to meet the risks to which any form of transport is unfortunately liable.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will make a statement regarding postal and telephone service in the Island of Scarp, Harris; and whether he has any proposals for improvement, especially regarding telephone facilities?

The postal delivery and collection services in the Island of Scarp, as in the Island of Harris, are provided on four days a week from June to August and on three days a week during the remainder of the year. There is a sub post office on the island. I think that the present facilities are adequate. As regards telephone service, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 20th June, 1938.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will take steps to stop the present trading ring of telephone instrument manufacturers conducting large-scale propaganda in schools throughout the country; and, as it is in the public interest to teach children the use of the telephone, whether he will arrange for this work to be done by the Post Office?

I presume the hon. Member refers to the lectures arranged by the Telephone Development Association for children about to leave the primary schools, which deal with the proper way to make or receive a telephone call. The lectures were prepared by the association in close consultation with the Post Office and exemplify the valuable co-operation afforded to the Department by the British manufacturers of telephone equipment. They cannot be given without the consent of the local education authorities, who would not tolerate any propagandist element; and it is a significant fact that all the lectures to be given during 1939 have been arranged at the request of authorities who have had previous experience of them.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the obstacles preventing an immediate call for tenders for the building of the proposed automatic telephone exchange in Market Street, Greenock; and whether the Works Department, Edinburgh, are contemplating themselves making the erection without calling for tenders?

As I informed the hon. and learned Member on 6th February, plans and quantities have yet to be determined. I am satisfied that the building will be ready by the time the automatic plant is available for installation. The answer to the latter part of the hon. Member's question is in the negative.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the great number of telephone and telegraph lines which were put out of order during the recent storms through the breaking of overhead lines and collapse of poles under the weight of snow and wind; and whether he can state the estimated cost of placing these underground, and the number of men to whom it would give employment?

I am aware of the circumstances. It is the policy of the Post Office to provide telephone service by underground wires in preference to overhead wires wherever financial considerations admit, and about 13,000,000 miles or rather more than 90 per cent. of the total mileage of telephone wire is already in underground cables. A very extensive survey would be necessary in order to ascertain the precise cost of placing the remaining wires underground and the number of men who would be employed, but it is clear that the cost would amount to many millions of pounds and would be prohibitive.

asked the Postmaster-General what action he proposes to take in view of the fact that letters sent from South America to Great Britain by air mail are opened by the Spanish authorities at Seville?

I am not aware that air-mail letters from South America to this country are being opened by the Spanish authorities at Seville, but if the hon. Member will kindly give me particulars, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Postmaster-General why the British Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts in Italian, which were formerly sent out on the 49-metres and 342-metres wave-length, are now only sent out on the 49-metres wavelength?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for Carlisle (Brigadier-General Spears) on 6th February.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can make any statement on the ordering of antiaircraft guns and equipment from the United States?

No anti-aircraft guns have been ordered from the United States, but a number of instruments suitable for use with anti-aircraft units are being obtained from an American manufacturer.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether subalterns of the British Army serving in India have received increases of pay in the same proportion as those given to subalterns of the British Army serving at home?

When the rupee rates in India for British Service officers were last revised in 1924–5 they were constructed on the sterling rates at that time in force in such a way as to give the officer in India a substantial advantage by higher rate of pay. Since that date there has been no reduction in Indian rates of pay, whereas the sterling rates of pay at home have been subjected to successive reductions. In the circumstances my Noble Friend decided that no increase was necessary in the Indian rates for a second lieutenant and lieutenant on promotion.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many complaints have been received from members of the drawing office staff of the Air Ministry Directorate of Works that applications for increments and promotions have not been forwarded to the responsible authorities, despite assurances to the contrary?

As the hon. and gallant Member will be aware, there are recognised channels through which members of the staff are enabled, either individually or through representative bodies, to make representations. I am not aware, however, that any complaints of the nature indicated have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many individuals have been recruited from outside for Grade II of the drawing office staff of the Air Ministry Directorate of Works although Grade III assistants due for promotion have been told no Grade II vacancies existed?

During the last four years 160 assistants from outside the department have been recruited for the drawing office of the Directorate of Works in the Air Ministry at salaries within the Grade II range. It has been necessary in all departments of the Air Ministry to recruit from outside directly into higher grades, in order to obtain staff in sufficient numbers and with the requisite experience to meet the urgent demands of the expansion programme. Under these abnormal conditions, difficulties were inevitable, but every effort has been made to keep in mind the interests of the existing staff of the drawing office. As a result of a recent review a number of promotions from Grade III to Grade II will shortly be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what length of service in the drawing offices of the Air Ministry Directorate of Works qualifies transfer from temporary to permanent staff; how many members of the temporary staff have served longer than this qualifying period; and for what reason they have not been transferred to the permanent staff?

No officer is entitled to be transferred to the permanent establish- ment on the sole ground of the length of his service. Such transfer depends also upon conduct and efficiency, as well as upon the incidence of vacancies. The second and third parts of the question do not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Air for what reason the Professional Staff Association of the Air Ministry Directorate declines to admit to membership persons entered on purely temporary appointments for a fixed period, thereby depriving the temporary staff of the benefits of negotiations which the association carries on through the appropriate Whitley Council or by negotiation with the Establishment Board of the Air Ministry?

The eligibility of officers for membership of a particular staff association is a matter for that association, and while it is open to any group of officers to form their own association and apply for official recognition, steps in that direction can only be taken by the staff, and it is not a matter in which I can intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give an assurance that all the aeroplanes ordered for the Royal Air Force from North American factories will be transported in British merchant vessels?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that separated milk possesses high dietetic value; and whether, in view of the under consumption of milk by working-class families, he will take steps to secure that separated milk is marked for food consumption purposes only, part from the requirements of stock-rearing?

I have no power to take the action suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give an assurance that in reconsidering the legislation necessary to increase the efficiency of milk production in this country he will have regard to the necessity of providing more effective means for arbitration between the producing and distributing sides of the industry and for avoiding the delays and expense which have occurred under the existing system?

While I can assure my hon. Friend that all relevant matters will be taken into consideration in connection with the re-examination of the milk problem that is now proceeding, I am not in a position to give any assurance on particular points of policy such as that to which he refers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the number of gallons of milk sold for manufacturing purposes during January, 1937, 1938 and 1939?

The following are the quantities of milk sold for manufacturing purposes under the Milk Marketing Scheme:

			Gallons.
January, 1937	…	…	16,358,000
January, 1938	…	…	15,538,000
January, 1939	…	…	14,572,000

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the number of acres of wheat grown in this country in 1914 and 1938?

The area of wheat grown on holdings over one acre in England and Wales was 1,807,498 acres in 1914 and 1,830,272 acres in 1938.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any information concerning the production of maize in Germany; and whether, in view of the high food value of this cereal, he has under consideration any plans to encourage farmers to grow this crop in this country?

The acreage of maize in Germany has increased steadily from about 5,000 acres in 1932 to 147,000 acres in 1938, and I understand that, in the main maize is grown as a grain crop. The production of grain in 1938 was approximately 165,000 tons.As regards the second part of the question, a considerable amount of preliminary research work has already been undertaken in this country in respect of certain varieties of this farm crop as a cereal in distinction from its use when cut green. Workers at Rothamsted and Cambridge express the view that by a prolonged course of breeding and selection of suitable parents there is a strong possibility of the development of varieties and strains of maize that may ultimately become fairly well acclimatised to the variability of our English climate. I am keeping these developments under review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) what were the monthly variations in the price of the standard ration for pigs as calculated under Section 27 of the Bacon Industry Act, 1938, and the total payments made to the Treasury by pig producers since the Act came into operation;(2) the monthly variations of the ascertained bacon prices as calculated under Section 28 of the Bacon Industry Act, 1938; and the total sums paid or received by the Treasury under the same section since the Act came into operation?

The prices of the standard ration for pigs during the first three months of the current contract period are as follow:

			s.	d.
December, 1938	…	…	8	4
January, 1939	…	…	8	1
February, 1939	…	…	8	2

No amount is payable by or to the Exchequer in respect of rises or falls in the cost of feeding stuffs or in respect of variations in the ascertained bacon price unless bacon is made from the pigs. An amendment of the Bacon Industry Act to facilitate the proof by curers of the quantity of bacon made from pigs is now before the House. In the meantime the formal ascertainment of bacon prices and the assessment of the sums due to or by the Exchequer is being deferred.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will obtain from those organisations in this country who have Spanish children from Bilbao and elsewhere in their charge, a formal guarantee that in no circumstances will they be sent to any other country than Spain?

When these children were admitted to this country the committee responsible for bringing them here said their intention was that the children should return to Spain when circumstances permitted, and my right hon. Friend has heard of no suggestion that there is any change in this plan.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the views expressed by the Lord Chief Justice, on 19th January, as to the loose and obscure wording of parts of the Sunday Trading Restriction Act; and whether he will consider the appointment of a committee to amend and consolidate the whole of the existing enactments on this subject, some of which date from the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods?

I have seen reports of the High Court case to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. Any question of amending and consolidating the law relating to Sunday Trading must be deferred until further experience has been gained of the working of the recent Sunday Trading Restriction Act.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can state the number of police inspectors, superintendents and/or officers of similar rank who are now serving terms of imprisonment in consequence of misappropriation of police funds; and whether he is fully satisfied that the methods for dealing with such funds in all police services are thoroughly satisfactory; and, if not, whether he will take steps to see that they are placed upon a thoroughly satisfactory footing?

I regret to say that three officers are serving terms of imprisonment for offences in connection with benevolent funds maintained by various police forces in England and Wales; but it would be a mistake to infer from these cases that there is any general failure to exercise proper care in the management of these funds. It is, of course, important in connection with all benevolent funds, whether organised by the police or by any other bodies of workers, that there shall be a proper check and methods of audit, but my information is that the funds organised by police forces are generally speaking very well managed.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the number of German subjects in this country on 1st January, 1937, 1st January, 1938, 1st July, 1938, and on the latest date for which statistics are available?

The number of German subjects registered with the police in the United Kingdom on the nearest available dates are as follow:

May, 1937	…	…	20,986
May, 1938	…	…	21,871

The figures of Austrians registered at the same dates are:

May, 1937	…	…	11,849
May, 1938	…	…	16,006

Similar figures for 1939 will be collected at an early date.

asked the Minister of Health what are the latest figures showing the number of old age pensioners, widow pensioners, and war pensioners, who are in receipt of public assistance?

On the 1st January, 1938. the latest date for which complete figures for England and Wales are available, there were 230,652 old age pensioners and 59,733 widow pensioners in receipt of poor relief. Information as to the number of war pensioners in receipt of poor relief is not available as the returns received in my Department do not distinguish war pensioners from other recipients of relief.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the statistics supplied to his Department by local authorities of the sums paid by them, respectively, by way of public assistance in supplement of old age pensions?

I regret that I am unable to give this information, as the statistics supplied to my Department by public assistance authorities do not distinguish the cost of relief to old age pensioners.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will receive a deputation of the opponents of compulsory pasteurisation of milk, who will be prepared to deal with the statements made by the medical representatives at the deputation he received on 8th February?

If and when my right hon. Friend receives a request for such a deputation he will, of course, consider it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider supplying, in a Parliamentary Paper, the information in the possession of his Department as to the extent to which advertisements offering to treat persons for cancer are inserted in the public Press, and cases of cancer are receiving treatment by irregular practitioners of medicine?

The information in the possession of my Department is that advertisements offering to treat persons for cancer are now seldom or never inserted in the public Press. My right hon. Friend has no detailed information as to the extent to which cases of cancer are receiving treatment by irregular practitioners.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the case of Smith versus Pearl Assurance Company, Limited, on 12th January, 1939, and in particular to the views expressed by Mr. Justice Clauson as to the need for amending the third parties rights against the Insurers Act, 1930, so as to free persons who had the advantage of the poor persons rules from the position of being driven into arbitration; and what action he contemplates taking to prevent a recurrence of the injustice suffered by poor persons in this and similar cases?

I understand from my Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor that his attention has been called to the case mentioned by the hon. Member, and that he is in consultation with the Minister of Transport with a view to seeing what steps can be taken to deal with the situation disclosed in the judgment.