asked the President of the Board of Trade how many British vessels had been lost with all hands during each of the last three years; how many of these vessels, respectively, had no certificated officers; and what are the corresponding figures for non-British ships?

The numbers of vessels on the United Kingdom Register which were lost with all hands during each of the years 1936, 1937 and 1938, were 10, 9 and 12, respectively. Of these, three, four and two, respectively, had no certificated deck officers on board at the time of loss. I regret that I am unable to furnish corresponding figures for non-British ships.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the annual report of the Port of London medical officer of health 1937, in which reference is made to unhygienic accommodation, inadequate provision for the storage of food, cramped living quarters, excessive hours of work, and other unsatisfactory conditions, on vessels engaged in the coasting trade; and whether, in the interests of health and hygiene, he proposes to initiate remedial action?

I have seen this report. The general conditions of service in the coasting trade, as in other parts of the Mercantile Marine, are primarily matters for the National Maritime Board, on which employers and employed are represented. As regards crew accommodation, a very satisfactory standard for new ships was established by the revised Instructions of 1937. Every effort is being made to bring the older ships as far as practicable up to a similar standard. Close contact in this matter is maintained between the Board of Trade surveyors and the port health officers, and steady progress is being made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the lack of proper cooking facilities on coasting vessels revealed in the report of the medical officer of health of the Port of London for 1937; and, in view of the fact that 546 officers and 765 men, when interrogated by a Port of London Health Committee inspector were overwhelmingly in favour of the employment of an experienced cook for all hands on individual coasting vessels, he will obtain the views of shipowners and those of the trade unions representing officers and men on the matter?

I have seen the report to which the hon. Member refers. The question whether cooks should be carried on coasting vessels is primarily one for the National Maritime Board which is fully representative of all sections of the industry, and which deals with all matters relating to the conditions of employment in the Mercantile Marine.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Dagenham factory of Ismay Cables, Limited, has recently been closed; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made as to the amount of capital which was first sunk in the recent construction of the factory, and then lost as a result of an amalgamation?

I am aware that this factory was closed recently. It was stated in the Annual Report of Ismay Industries, Limited, for 1937, that their cable factory at Dagenham had been built at a cost of over £100,000; in the company's report issued yesterday, it is stated that the sale of the factory shows a substantial loss on the original investment but that the sale avoids the need of providing further money for a business that was not a profit-making concern.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which countries at the present time importing British textiles have adopted the spun, woven, and finished criterion of origin for tariff purposes; and what steps are being taken to make the acceptance of this criterion more general?

No country has introduced such a regulation for tariff purposes. In Empire countries there are, however, regulations laying down the amount of Empire labour and materials required before goods can secure admission at the preferential rates of duty accorded to British goods.For the purpose of the quotas which are in operation in certain Colonies, cotton and rayon piece-goods exported from the United Kingdom must have been spun, woven and finished in the British Empire, in order to secure recognition as British for quota purposes.As regards foreign countries, His Majesty's Government endeavour to secure, in those cases where a reserved share of the market is in some way guaranteed to United Kingdom goods, that the benefit shall accrue only to such textiles as are spun, woven and finished in the United Kingdom. Such requirements are in operation in connection with exports to Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania and Uruguay; the possibility of securing the adoption of a simliar requirement for Argentina is under discussion with the Argentine Government at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from organisations of manufacturers in this country with regard to the recent barter arrangements between the Lancashire Cotton Corporation and Germany; and whether he has given his approval to these arrangements?

I have received no representations from organisations of manufacturers regarding any arrangements of the kind referred to, which in any case would not require my approval.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the recommendation of the Films Council as to the quotas to be imposed for British films during 1940 and 1941; and whether he is yet in a position to state what action he proposes to take in the light of this recommendation?

I have only recently communicated with the Cinematograph Films Council in the matter and some time must necessarily elapse before they can give me their considered opinion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the concern felt by certain British exporters of paints and putty to New Zealand arising from the operation of the system of import licences in that Dominion; whether he has considered representations from the National Federation of Paint Manufacturers to the effect that certain of the measures taken are contrary to the Ottawa Agreement; and whether he can give any definite assurances to the interests concerned?

I have received a number of representations on the subject of the licensing system in New Zealand from exporters in this country, including the National Association of Paint Manufacturers. These representations are being considered, but I regret that I am not yet in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the quantities of oil, tea and rubber, respectively, exported from the British Empire to Germany and Italy, respectively, during each of the last five years?

The following statement, compiled from the official trade returns of Germany and Italy, shows the recorded imports into those countries of the under-mentioned commodities from the British Empire during the years specified.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the number of old age pensioners in Portsmouth; and how many of them are in receipt of public assistance?

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the question is not available as the records of old age pensioners are not kept on a territorial basis. On the 1st January, 1939, there were 1,121 old age pensioners in Portsmouth in receipt of poor relief.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the number of applications received in Portsmouth for admission to the new voluntary pensions scheme?

I regret that the information asked for by my hon. Friend is not available as the records of applicants for

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the amount of coal cut by machinery in each mining district of this country during the years 1937 and 1938?

Information regarding the year 1937 will be found on page 185 of the Secretary for Mines' last annual report. Particulars for 1938 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the numbers of persons employed in the coal mines of this country during January, 1937, and January, 1938; and also the numbers killed and injured for the years 1937 and 1938?

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the total output of coal in this country for the years 1937 and 1938 and the amounts exported during the same years?

It is estimated that 228,214,000 tons of saleable coal were produced in Great Britain in 1938, of which 46,350,000 tons were exported either as cargo or bunkers. The corresponding figures for 1937 are 240,409,000 tons and 52,041,000 tons respectively.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in the forthcoming statement explanatory of the Navy Estimates, the First Lord of the Admiralty will return to the former practice of giving the probable dates of completion of the various new ships authorised, a feature which in recent years has gradually dropped out?

The general practice followed in recent years, to which it is proposed to adhere, is to indicate in the explanatory statement accompanying the Navy Estimates, the new ships which are expected to complete in the forthcoming year, probable dates or periods of the year being given where these can be reliably forecast. The information afforded in this way, read in conjunction with that appearing against individual ships in the programme pages of the Estimates will, I trust, meet the hon. Member's requirements.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the date on which the present 42 rating candidates for sub-lieutenant were selected; the ships in which they have since been trained, for what periods, and the reasons for the changes; the number of instructor-officers appointed for their training; what steps have been taken to improve the educational tuition of these candidates, observing that in the previous class only eight out of 16 passed the educational test; and whether, in the nine months' course they only receive practice in working previous examination papers, or a proper course of tuition in the several subjects in which they have to qualify?

The 42 ratings in question were selected by fleet selection boards at various dates between May and September according to the station.Arrangements were made for them to be drafted to two ships of the Home Fleet in September, but owing to the Fleet being temporarily placed on a war footing this became impracticable. Orders were subsequently issued for them to be collected at Portsmouth, where they commenced their special course, and later on they were drafted to His Majesty's ship "Resolution" and His Majesty's ship "Royal Sovereign." No special steps have been considered necessary to improve the educational tuition of the candidates, but in each of the ships mentioned there is a lieutenant-commander and an instructor-officer whose duty it is to supervise this instruction. The candidates receive a proper course of tuition in these ships.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve divisions or detachments have been formed or are in process of formation in Lancashire; and whether he will give details?

There is one division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in Lancashire; this is the division situated at Liverpool. No other units of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve are in process of formation in Lancashire.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the present shortage of personnel in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, he will consider the establishment of a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Division at Cardiff?

Consideration is being given to the establishment of a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Division at Cardiff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has now ascertained to what extent the Palestine Government has been able to sanction the plans of the corporation of Tel-Aviv to raise money to proceed with certain urgent public works; and whether he can give an assurance that this long outstanding matter can now be settled with reasonable expedition?

The past history of this matter was summarised by my predecessor in a statement made by him on the 16th March, 1938, in reply to a. question by the hon. Member. The difficulties have not yet been overcome. The most immediate and pressing need of Tel-Aviv is the provision of a new drainage system, and discussions are now proceeding between the Palestine Government and the Municipal Corporation as to the possibility of raising a loan, mostly in Palestine, to cover the cost of this work. The High Commissioner has still to satisfy himself as to the details of the scheme and as to the capacity of the Corporation to meet the obligations arising from a loan of the magnitude required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Colonial Marketing Board have under consideration any scheme for increasing the sales of fresh limes by advertising or other methods; and, if so, when it is likely to be commenced?

The Colonial Empire Marketing Board is at present engaged on a comprehensive survey of the trade in limes and lime products from the Colonial Empire, particularly the West Indies. I expect to receive their report very shortly. The initiation of any scheme for improved marketing of limes must, however, await consideration of this report by the Colonial Governments concerned. I may add that the Governor of Jamaica has recently appointed a Marketing Officer in the United Kingdom for fruits and vegetables (including limes).

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has been in communication with the Governments of Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, respecting the settlement of refugees; and what is the total number of refugees those Governments have intimated they are willing to accept?

The question of the admission of refugees into the Dominions is entirely a matter for the respective Dominion Governments. His Majesty's Governments in Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand are themselves represented on the Inter-Governmental Committee which has under consideration the question of the settlement of refugees overseas.As regards the last part of the question, as my predecessor stated in reply to a question on the 6th December, the Commonwealth Government have announced their willingness to accept 15,000 refugees over a term of three years. The other two Governments have not, so far as I am aware, made any announcement, but statements by Canadian and New Zealand statesmen indicate that they are fully alive to the importance and urgency of the question.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether he will develop the supply of edible-tuber aestivum in calcareous areas controlled by the Commissioners with a view to giving employment in cultivating a high-priced food for imports of which there is considerable demand?

The Commissioners consider that it is not within their province to undertake the cultivation of truffles, but they hope that the hardwoods which they are planting on calcareous soils may in due course increase the indigenous supply of that esculent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the bad condition of the main road in Bernera, Isle of Harris; and what proportion of the cost for its reconstruction will be granted by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, but I understand that the ratepayers of Bernera have petitioned the county council for the reconstruction of certain roads in the island. In the event of the county council deciding to undertake the work the Department of Agriculture for Scotland would be prepared to consider the possibility of making a grant not exceeding 75 per cent, of the cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement regarding the condition of the pier at Northbay, Isle of Barra; and what steps he, or the county council of Inverness, is taking to have it reconstructed and brought into use under public ownership?

I am aware that representations have been made from time to time in favour of a pier at Northbay in place of the present boatslip, which is situated on land belonging to the Department of Agriculture for Scotland. I am not satisfied, however, that there is a case for a second steamer pier in the island of Barra. Inquiries are being made into the condition of the existing boatslip.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, what quantity of alcohol was produced in Scotland during each of the last three years; how much, in each case, was produced as power alcohol; and what steps are taken to prevent the diversion of the latter to purposes other than the operation of internal combustion engines?

I assume that the hon. and learned Member has in mind industrial and power alcohol. To answer the first and second parts of the question would involve disclosing the business of a single distillery, which would be contrary to established practice. With regard to the third part, steps to prevent such diversion are unnecessary, as power alcohol is charged with duty under Section 3 of the Finance Act, 1938, whereas industrial alcohol bears no duty.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any steps are being taken or contemplated and, if so, of what nature to popularise the consumption of fish in this country?

Propaganda to popularise the consumption of fish is a matter primarily for the industry itself, but provision is made in the Herring Industry Acts for State assistance for a limited period to schemes undertaken by the Herring Industry Board to promote the sale of herring. The board have recently applied for a grant under these provisions towards the cost of continuing and extending, during the coming year, publicity work on lines similar to those that have been adopted in previous years.As regards white fish, I understand that representatives of trawler owners have recently been considering the initiation of an extensive advertising campaign.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the scheme of repudiation of debt service by the Chilean Government compels British holders of Chilean loans themselves to repay, for the benefit of Chile, part of the Chilean debt; and will he, in order to ascertain the advantage accrued, on balance, to British investors, from lending to Chile between 1885 to 1929, and, as a guide to those now considering our future foreign lending policy in general, institute an inquiry by the Government actuaries to estimate how much of the total interest and sinking funds on all Chilean public loans floated in London betwen 1885 and 1929 has been provided by fresh Chilean loans raised here and now in default?

The terms of the arrangements made by Chile with regard to her foreign debt are explained in a communiqué published by the Council of Foreign Bondholders on the 7th June, 1935, and are reproduced on pages 27–32 of the Council's Annual Report for that year.The latest Decree regulating the Chilean Debt Law is published in the Council of Foreign Bondholders' Report for 1938. Although the terms were and are open to objection in many respects—which was the reason for which the Council did not feel that they could recommend the offer to holders—I do not think the law can fairly be described as a scheme of repudiation.I do not think that the inquiry suggested in the second part of the question would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the total amount of refund by drawback paid to sugar-refining exporters from 1928 to the present time; to how many firms this has been paid; and the total amount paid to the largest recipient?

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give the daily average cost per head of victualling the personnel of the Army for the 12 months ended the last convenient date, giving the comparable figures for the same period during the year 1913–14?

The daily average cost of the soldier's ration at home for the year ended 31st March, 1938, was 13.72d., and for the year ended 31st March, 1914, 7.8d.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, in making contracts for engineering machinery at Bishopton factory, the lowest tenders are always accepted; whether the cost of transport from the engineering works to the factory is borne by the contractor or by his Department; whether, in making the contract, consideration is always given to the cost of repair and maintenance; how many such contracts have gone to engineering firms in the neighbourhood of Bishopton; and whether, in view of the depressed condition of these works, he will consider giving preference to local firms in future engineering contracts for the Bishopton factory?

It is the practice in my Department to accept the lowest satisfactory tender for any contract. Tenderers for plant for ordnance factories are usually asked to quote prices which include the cost of delivery to the site. The cost of maintenance is taken into account in assessing the relative values of products offered in cases where it is not possible to frame an exact specification. Of the 66 most important contracts for engineering equipment for the Bishopton factory, 10 have been awarded to firms hi the neighbourhood and three to other Scottish firms. It is the policy of my Department to give preference, other considerations being equal, to firms in the Special Areas.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the composition of the Home Office Films Advisory Committee?

The composition of the committee is as follows:The Right Honourable Viscount Stonehaven, G.C.M.G., D.S.O., Chairman.Nominated by the County Councils' Association:

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been drawn to the inapplicability to present-day conditions of the qualifications for jurors contained in the Juries Act, 1825, and in particular to the 15-window qualification; and whether he will refer the matter to the Law Revision Committee, or to an ad hoc committee, with a view to an amending Act?

I have been asked to reply. The question of an inquiry into the law relating to the qualifications for jury service has been noted as one of the matters which should be taken up as soon as an opportunity can be found; but the pressure of public business at the present time is such that I regret I am unable to give this subject priority over other claims.