asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of old age pensioners in the county of Linlithgow; how many of these were given public assistance during 1938; and the cost of this assistance?

As old age pension records are not kept on a geographical basis I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the question is not available. With regard to the second and third parts, the county council inform me that during the week ended 15th May, 1938, the most recent date for which information is available, 703 old age pensioners were afforded outdoor assistance at a cost of £172 8s. 9d. for that week.

Does the right hon. Gentleman take any lesson from those figures, and does he propose to recommend the Government to do anything about it?

That is another question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the city of Edinburgh has accepted the offer made on 20th February last by the National Trust for the preservation of Tailors' Hall buildings, and also the offer of HeriotWatt College to use them for library and other purposes?

I am informed that the corporation have decided not to accept the offers referred to by the hon. Member.

Were the terms of the offer fully set out to the committee by the Town Clerk of Edinburgh?

That is a matter on which I can hardly pronounce, but I understand that the terms were fully known by the corporation.

Is it known that the National Trust is very much dissatisfied?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps it is proposed to take to determine the financial responsibility of the Town Clerk of Dalbeattie to his council in respect of defalcations by an employé of the Town Clerk; whether he is aware that the council has refused to submit the matter to him; whether the council has obtained counsel's opinion; and what action he proposes to have the whole matter cleared up satisfactorily?

I am informed that the town council have considered how to meet the deficiency in question, and have decided to charge it to the rating account. I am not aware of the terms of any opinion by counsel on the matter. The propriety of any method adopted by a local authority for dealing with a deficiency is a matter which falls to be considered by the auditor, and I have no authority to disallow any item which he decides to allow. The public audit of the accounts of the burgh was held on the 9th instant, and I have to-day received a report from the auditor that he has considered the defalcations and has decided to allow them as an item of expenditure.

Does the right hon. Gentleman accept that opinion? Does he not think that some action is called for from him in respect of this matter?

I have no power to do other than accept the opinion put to me by the auditor under the appropriate Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether inquiries have now been made in the Island of Rum regarding billeting arrangements for children and mothers to be evacuated from the vulnerable areas in the event of war; and whether the local authority was afforded reasonable facilities of access for its investigators?

It was decided to exclude from the evacuation survey the whole of the island districts of Inverness-shire, and accordingly the county council were not asked to make inquiries in the Island of Rum.

Why should this island, a close preserve of one proprietor, have been exempted from these billeting arrangements?

It was not confined to this island. The islands of Eigg, Muck and Canna, which are adjacent, were not examined for the reason I stated in my answer.

Is it not a fact that these three islands are also close preserves of a single proprietor, and what good reason exists at the Scottish Office why the particular preserves of a few proprietors should be exempted?

The question of ownership was not a determining factor. It is a question of the remoteness of the islands. I am considering the results of the survey which I have received, and if it should be necessary to consider evacuation to these islands, I shall not hesitate to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent delay would have been caused in making avail able for housing an acre of land in Castle bay, Barra, by contesting the demand by the owner for a feu duty of £12, deemed to be excessive by the Department of Health?

I am informed that as a result of negotiation an agreement has recently been reached between the county council and the owner for the payment of a feu duty of £8.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the part of my question with regard to delay?

It is impossible to do so with any certainty. The time required for the compulsory acquisition procedure varies from case to case, and three to four months may be regarded generally as the minimum. I understand that an amicable settlement has now been reached.

In view of the location of this housing site, does the sum of £8 seem reasonable?

That is the figure agreed between the two parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) why he is delaying consideration of the report of the Scottish Development Council on Scotland's industrial future;

(2) what steps he is taking to carry out the findings of the Scottish Development Council that Scotland's essential need at present is more consumers goods industries?

The report of the Economic Committee of the Scottish Development Council on Scotland's Industrial Future, which I think the hon. Member has in mind, was issued on 6th February last and is being carefully studied by the Departments and interests concerned. I have had discussions with the chairman of the committee, and I understand that the committee have submitted evidence to the Royal Commission on the Geographical Distribution of the Population. In the meantime, as the hon. Member is aware, efforts are being made in a variety of directions to promote the development of industry in Scotland, and, as has already been announced, legislation will be proposed to facilitate the provision of loans for new industrial undertakings in certain areas of heavy unemployment.

Has the right hon. Gentleman taken any steps to urge the Government to expedite the report of the Commission on the Location of Industries?

The hon. Member refers now not to the Scottish report, but to the United Kingdom Commission, which is rather a different question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has con- sidered the findings of the jury recorded at Linlithgow Sheriff Court on 28th February upon the circumstances attending the death, in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, of William Gilmour Girvan, after his arrest and detention at Bo'ness police office, on 2nd January; and whether he proposes to take action, in accordance with the jury's recommendations, as to this particular case, and generally?

A verbatim report of the evidence led at this inquiry is being obtained with a view to determining whether any action is called for on the part of the criminal authorities. Until Crown counsel have completed their examination I am not in a position to make any statement.

When will the Lord Advocate be in a position to make a further statement? May I ask him, also, to draw the attention of the Secretary of State to the last recommendation of the jury, which was to the effect that a person in the condition of this unfortunate man should not be left in a cell.

I expect that the examination of the question will be completed in a few days, and as soon as the legal authorities have disposed of the case, the matter will be passed to my right hon. Friend from the point of view of police administration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of Government contracts placed with the iron and steel industry of Scotland for the years 1936, 1937 and 1938, respectively?

I have made inquiries, but there would be great difficulty in getting out these figures, for a large part of the iron and steel supply drawn from Scotland is in the form of material used in contracts placed in England.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in recent reports it was indicated that along with the increase of profits in this industry because of war contracts, unemployment has increased in the industry?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of insurance and assurance companies now operating in Scotland?

Two hundred and sixty-eight companies carrying on business within the United Kingdom made returns to the Board of Trade during the year 1938 in pursuance of the provisions of the Assurance Companies Act, 1909. I have no information as to the number of these companies which carried on insurance business in Scotland.

asked the Secretary for Mines the total output of oil from coal in this country from low temperature carbonisation and by hydrogenation, respectively, during the years 1936, 1937, and 1938, and the average cost per gallon?

asked the Secretary for Mines the amount of oil from coal extracted during the years 1936, 1937, and 1938, respectively, with the total market value in each year?

The available information for the years 1936 and 1937 is given on pages 18 to 21 of my annual report for 1937. Particulars for 1938 are not yet available. I have no information as to the cost per gallon or the market value of these products.

As the country largely depends for oil supplies on imports from abroad, is it the intention of the Government at an early date to set up oil-producing plant in this country so as to make us somewhat independent of foreign imports?

That has nothing to do with this question.

The Minister says he has not the figures for 1938. As he has been asked before for that information, and as there are so few plants, when does he expect to have the figures?

I cannot say offhand.

Is not the Minister trying to get the figures of output?

The hon. Member must realise that it is not so easy as he imagines. These figures are called for at regular periods and are incorporated in my annual report.

Have we to wait until the Minister issues his annual report before we get the figures?

Not necessarily.

In view of the advantage in the matter of defence, and of the benefits in the matter of employment, does not the Minister intend to prosecute this form of production?

That is quite another question.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that an experimental plant for getting oil from coal is working at Bedley, near Glasgow; will he inquire whether it is satisfactory; and will he try such experiment in the South Wales depressed coal field?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 28th February to the hon. Member for East Middlesbrough (Mr. Edwards). The question of the erection of any further plants is a matter for the commercial interests concerned.

asked the Secretary for Mines the result of the latest experiments taken by his Department, or any other concern, in extracting oil from coal; whether it is now a commercial proposition; and will he take steps to establish new plants in the South Wales area, where there is an increasing number of miners being rendered idle through the closing down of collieries?

I would refer the hon. Member to the annual report of the Fuel Research Board for the latest results of the Government's research work on oil from coal, and to the report of the Falmouth Committee for a statement of the economic issues. As to the third part of the question, the principal recommendation of the Falmouth Committee was that Government assistance to oil from coal should take the form of a continuation of the guaranteed preference, and effect to this was given in the Finance Act, 1938. The Government do not grant direct financial assistance to oil from coal schemes, apart from assistance for which such schemes might qualify under the Special Areas Acts, and I would remind the hon. Member that a plant will shortly be completed in South Wales which has been partly financed under those Acts.

asked the Secretary for Mines the reasons for the reduction of 30 per cent. in our exports of anthracite coal to France in 1938 as compared with the previous year; and what steps are being taken to restore this trade to its normal level?

The decline in United Kingdom anthracite exports to France in 1938, like the corresponding decline in exports of other United Kingdom coal to this market, was mainly due to the heavy fall in the French demand for coal. It was also partly due to difficulties under the French quota system, and in respect of these I have every confidence that the position will be improved by the new arrangements to which I referred in the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 16th December last.

In view of the fact that in recent weeks there has been a continuing decline in the demand from France, is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman satisfied that during the coming summer there will be an increase in that demand?

I cannot forecast trade during the whole year, but I hope that the difficulties to which I referred in December will have been cleared up by the arrangements since made.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the progress made in the Anglo-German negotiations for an agreement on the export of coal?

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can inform the House of the terms of the agreement reached between the British and the German coal industries?

No, Sir, I have nothing to add at present to the replies I gave last week to the hon. Members for the Bassetlaw Division of Nottingham (Mr. Bellenger) and Pontypridd (Mr. Pearson).

asked the Secretary for Mines the age at which boys are allowed to begin work in the Dutch coal mines?

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

asked the Secretary for Mines the rate of fatal accidents per 1,000 men employed or per 100,000 shifts worked, in the Dutch coal mines for the years 1937 and 1938?

The fatal accident rate in the Dutch coal mines for the year 1937 was 0.17 per 100,000 manshifts worked. Information in regard to the year 1938 is not yet available.

Can the Minister say how that figure compares with the accident rate in this country?

It is better, if that is the right term to use.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the existence among mine workers in the Durham coalfield of many cases of asthma, alleged to be due to the reek from shot-firing; and whether he will make an investigation into this matter?

No, Sir; but as I said in reply to the hon. Member on 21st February, if he will furnish me with any reliable information at his disposal, I shall be glad to study it.

Does the Minister not think that that is an unreasonable request to make to the hon. Member for Consett? I am giving him a general statement; this disease undoubtedly prevails. Will the Minister not look into the matter with a view to remedying it?

I asked the hon. Member, as long ago as 21st February, to send me any evidence he had and said that I should be glad to examine it, and as I have not received any evidence from him I presume that he could not find any.

Is the Minister aware that in the mines of Africa it was agreed by the experts that silicosis was the highest single cause of death?

No, Sir, I am not aware of that of my own knowledge, and, anyhow, this question deals with coal mines in Durham and with asthma, and not silicosis.

Much the same thing.

Is the Minister not aware that from time to time this form of disease has been mixed up with silicosis by his Department, and that they have denied that it was silicosis? There really have been cases of this disease.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to the side warrick control method of stopping runaway trucks, as described in page 424 of the Transactions of the Institute of Mining Engineers, volume 93, part VI, and used by the several Lancashire collieries; and whether he is satisfied that this is generally satisfactory?

I am advised that the automatic side control warrick referred to is in use at four collieries in Lancashire and that when kept in proper adjustment it is an effective device for stopping runaways. Drop-warricks and tub arresters of various types are extensively used in all the coalfields, and His Majesty's inspectors of mines take every opportunity of advocating the use of such safety devices and getting them applied where they think necessary.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has considered the adequacy of dry lime-stone and sand- stemming plugs as described in the Trans actions of the Institution of Mining Engineers, volume 94, part V, page 424; and whether these are considered generally satisfactory?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the report of the Commission on the natural resources of Southern Rhodesia has yet been published; and whether he will make it available to Members of this House?

I understand that no report has yet been published. I shall be glad to arrange for copies to be placed in the Library of the House as soon as they are available.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he expects that it will be published?

No, Sir, I have no information at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs the number of natives in Southern Rhodesia who have been convicted under pass laws during the years 1936 and 1937?

According to the reports of the Southern Rhodesia Department of Justice for the years in question, the figures are:

Up to 1937 there had been a gradual increase. Has the Minister received any report to show why there were so many convictions up to that date?

I am happy to say that in 1937 there was a very substantial decrease in the number of convictions.

Can the Minister say whether there has been some alteration in the law, or whether some of the laws have been cut out?

There has been no alteration of the law which would account for this result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the present duties of the 18 Divisional Food Officers to whom annual retaining fees amounting to a total of 1,600 guineas per annum are being paid; and the amount of time at present being devoted by them weekly to those duties?

The main duties of Divisional Food Officers are to act as advisers to the Department on food control matters arising in their divisions; to help with the selection of the personnel of the local organisation; to give advice as to the plans for food control in time of war to those engaged in the wholesale and retail distribution of food and related materials; to assist in the formation of road food transport groups; and to maintain contact with the various special organisations of the food trades in their areas. The amount of time devoted to these duties varies in the different areas and at different times, but on the average over the last four months it may be broadly stated as equivalent to one-third to one-half of full-time service.

Will they be required to live somewhere in the areas for which they are responsible?

I think they are all living either inside their areas or just outside.

On what principle have the Government decided to pay a retaining fee for this form of National Service while expecting large numbers of other persons to give National Service free?

For the simple reason that the Board of Trade have no provincial organisation at all, and that it is essential that they should have in each area somebody upon whose services they have first call. Of course, they get an immense amount of voluntary work free in people's spare time, but in the case of these food officers they have the first call upon them, and can issue instructions.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say for how long these retaining fees will be paid?

They have been paid for a number of years.

Then may it be taken that if it is necessary for the Government to have first call upon the services of anybody, high or low, he shall be paid a retaining fee pending the outbreak of an emergency?

That is a hypothetical question. The greater part of the work is done as voluntary work, for which we are grateful, but this has, in the ordinary course of events, to take second place to a man's ordinary work.

Is not this a very small price to pay for a great service?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in the last War it was often difficult for the lowly-paid workers to obtain food; and whether his plans for rationing food in an emergency include plans for ensuring that the unemployed and lowly-paid workers will be able to obtain food as easily as their richer fellow-citizens?

The plans provide for the control of the prices of all important foodstuffs as one element in the control of supplies and distribution. The rationing scheme is designed to make available to all persons equally at authorised prices prescribed amounts of the rationed commodities.

In the event of the price of food rising, will the incomes of the unemployed and of the lower-paid workers rise in comparison?

That is rather a different question. The plan is to control prices as well as amounts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether additional storage has been constructed, under the powers given by the Essential Commodities Act, for the purpose of taking the food supplies which the Government has bought and intends to buy, or whether, in any case, existing storage has been used in such a way as to have an adverse effect upon private imports?

Additional storage has been constructed for some of the Government food reserves. Where use has been made of existing storage it has not had, so far, any adverse effect upon commercial imports. Representations were, however, made to me regarding the prospective shortage of storage space at Liverpool for private imports of grain, and steps have already been taken by my Department to relieve the situation. The matter is receiving further consideration in consultation with representatives of the grain trade.

Could the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he is constructing or acquiring otherwise than by withdrawal from the trade adequate accommodation for all actual and prospective Government purchases?

No, Sir; I could not give that assurance. If I believe that there is in any case storage which is not likely to be used in any way by the trade, I should be prepared to use that for Government purchases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the policy of the Government is to replace the existing wheat security reserves by some of the wheat now arriving in the United Kingdom?

Wheat in the Government reserves is replaced when this becomes necessary to avoid risk of deterioration. Some of the wheat now arriving in the United Kingdom represents such replacements.

Have the Government's emergency stocks of wheat been created and maintained at the expense of merchant stocks, and can it be said that they are in any way additional to the merchant stocks? Is not the whole matter involved in an unnecessary air of mystery? In view of the fact that I have had no answer, I propose to raise the whole matter on the Adjournment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade approximately how the volume of industrial production in 1938 compared with that in 1931?

The volume of industrial production, as measured by the Board of Trade index, was between 35 and 40 per cent. greater in 1938 than in 1931.

Has the armaments production of the present Government affected this figure considerably as compared with 1931?

I should like notice of that question.

How does the right hon. Gentleman explain the effect of the volume of industrial production between 1931 and 1938, in view of the unemployment figures?

If the hon. Member would take the figures in relation not to the unemployed but to the employed he would get a better comparison.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the imports of machinery in 1938 amounted to 124,278 tons as compared with 93,145 tons in 1931; what proportion of the increase is attributable to machinery not obtainable in the United Kingdom which is required for the rearmament programme; and what steps it is proposed to take to restrict the importation of competitive machinery from overseas, by quota or otherwise, having regard to the fact that in January there were 220,000 persons unemployed in the engineering and other metal-using industries?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. About 27 per cent., by value, of the machinery imported during 1938 was licensed for duty-free importation on the ground that similar machinery was not for the time being procurable in the United Kingdom, but I am unable to say how much of this machinery was required in connection with the rearmament programme. As regards the last part of the question, it is open to the engineering industry to apply to the Import Duties Advisory Committee for increased protection if it is claimed that the industry is suffering from foreign competition in the home market.

Will the engineering industry be able to count upon the support of the right hon. Gentleman?

The application has to be made to an independent tribunal.

Will the industry have the right hon. Gentleman's support?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the large amount of foreign-made hosiery merchandise imported into this country during the last six months; and whether he can estimate the approximate amount of employment that would have arisen in this country by the manufacture here of that amount of merchandise?

The aggregate declared value of imports of hosiery in the six months ended 31st January, 1939, was £1,258,000, as compared with £1,319,000 in the corresponding period a year earlier.

As has been previously explained to my hon. and learned Friend, I am unable to give an estimate of the amount of employment that would be provided by the manufacture here of the hosiery that is imported.

In view of the large demand and of the danger of the home trade and employment being displaced, can my right hon. Friend say what steps he is prepared to take to relieve the conditions of emergency in this very large industry?

If my hon. and learned Friend has followed this matter he will be aware that this question of hosiery has been or is to be discussed between the industrialists of this country and those of Germany.

Will my right hon. Friend receive a deputation from this country to see how it can be helped by means of the existing machinery?

Certainly, but one of the things which the industry itself is now inquiring into is how far conversations with the German manufacturers can help to improve the situation.

In view of the fact that, in that one country, conditions of—

rose—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the fact that representations by the National Federation of Hosiery Manufacturers for increased duties on foreign-made hosiery merchandise were made in July, 1938, to the Import Duties Advisory Committee; and whether he can state the reasons for the delay and when a decision may be expected?

It is the practice of the Committee not to disclose what applications are under consideration until it becomes necessary to advertise them in the usual way. No advertisement has been issued up to the present in respect of the goods to which my hon. and learned Friend refers, and I regret that I am therefore not in a position to give answers to his questions.

In view of the position would my right hon. Friend consider asking the committee to expedite the hearing of this application?

I do not know that I can undertake to do that, but I am sure the matter has not been overlooked.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the difficulty of obtaining a detailed analysis of the rise in the cost of ship building, and the necessity for the proper presentation of the facts, he will obtain such particulars for the last 10 years for all classes of tonnage and publish them in a White Paper?

Changes which are continually being made in the type and equipment of ships make it impossible to give exact comparisons of the prices of new ships of all kinds over a period of years. A general indication of the position is, however, given by a record which has been maintained by the journal "Fairplay" for a number of years of the fluctuations in the price of a 7,500–ton (deadweight) cargo steamer. This shows that the price of such a steamer remained fairly steady at about £9 a ton between 1926 and 1935; it then rose to £14 8s. in the early part of 1938 and fell again to £12 13s. 4d. a ton in December, 1938. There has, I understand, been some further decrease since then.

Do the figures cover the alleged increase in the price of auxiliary machinery and other parts?

Yes, I think so.

Could the information be made available to the House?

Could the right hon. Gentleman give the comparison for foreign ships with the same improvements?

I will certainly get any information I can in respect of foreign shipping, because it is subject to the same difficulties as I have explained for British shipping.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the reasons for the decline in our exports of steel and galvanised sheets and tin plates from 820,000 tons in 1937 to 530,000 tons in 1938; and what steps he is taking to recover this trade, and thus to reduce the heavy unemployment in these industries?

The decline in world demand is the main cause of the fall in our exports of these goods. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 15th March last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to make any decision or statement upon the proposals submitted to him in the summer of last year for the marketing of salted herring from Britain in the West Indies and in return marketing of an equivalent value of citrus fruits from the West Indies to this country?

I understand that the Herring Industry Board are now actively considering this question and are in communication with Jamaica in the matter. A report has recently been received from the Governor of Jamaica and I am proposing to inform the right hon. Gentleman as soon as possible of the substance of the Governor's observations, which are also being communicated to the Herring Industry Board.

Will the right hon. Gentleman do his best to expedite the inquiries into this matter, and is he not aware that it is very disheartening to anyone who offers a reasonable suggestion for the relief of unemployment and the betterment of trade that it should take nine months to get a reply?

The right hon. Gentleman knows that I have been pressing things as far as I can and that it does not depend upon me. I think he also knows the reason for the delay.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that tin whistles used in Christmas crackers are coming in from Japan at 1s. 8½d. per gross; and is he prepared to prohibit the importation of these whistles in the interest of firms who manufacture them in this country, and who are paying trade board wages?

Imports of tin whistles are not separately distinguished in the trade returns, but I am aware that substantial quantities of cheap metal toys are imported from Japan. I have no power to-prohibit the importation of these goods.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the trade balance between this country and Japan is one of the worst, so far as this country is concerned?

asked the President of the Board of Trade particulars of the number of cinema exhibitors and/or renters who, during the previous three" years, have failed to comply with the quota provisions of the Cinematograph Films Acts, 1927 and 1938; and the number of these persons who have been prosecuted, and with what results?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any estimate of the amount of trade debts owing to Great Britain by Spain; and what arrangements are being made for their liquidation?

The amount of trade debts due to United Kingdom creditors from Spain in respect of which peseta deposits have been made with the Banco Exterior de Espana for ultimate transfer under the provisions of the Anglo-Spanish Payments Agreement is approximately £4,500,000. In addition, particulars have been furnished to my Department of other outstanding trade debts amounting to about £500,000. It is the intention of His Majesty's Government to endeavour to

I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate this information in the Official Report.

Are the figures increasing, and does that not prove that these Acts are making it more difficult for the trade to continue?

I think they are decreasing, so the second part of the Supplementary does not arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that bulbs from Holland may be imported into Eire free of duty and that cut flowers from these bulbs may then be imported free of duty from Eire into Northern Ireland, whereas Dutch bulbs imported into Northern Ireland and cut flowers imported into Eire from Northern Ireland are subject to duties; that the continuance of these conditions is likely to increase unemployment in Northern Ireland; and whether he will take action with a view to removing the Northern Ireland duties so that bulbs of foreign origin may be imported into that country on the same terms as into Eire?

I am aware of the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers. Any question of the removal of the duty imposed on bulbs imported into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a matter for consideration, in the first instance, by the Import Duties Advisory Committee.

Does that mean that representations can be made to the committee, seeing that they can do nothing with the Northern Ireland Government?

If the object is to remove existing duties on bulbs coming into this country and Northern Ireland, application can be made to the Import Duties Advisory Committee to have them removed.

By whom?

By any party with an interest.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that dirty conditions are frequently found in forecastles in which the lighting is deficient, and especially in those lit by oil lamps; and whether any action is taken to improve the lighting in forecastles in which in sanitary conditions have to be remedied?

If the lighting of the crew's accommodation on any ship was, in the opinion of a Board of Trade surveyor, inadequate, he would take steps to secure improvement.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that oil lighting is inadequate in these days, and, if so, will he tell us how many ships are so lighted and what action he proposes to take to remedy that state of affairs?

I could not say the number of ships, but, with regard to old ships, oil lighting is not considered unacceptable. It would be unreasonable and impracticable to require other methods of lighting.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make comparisons as to health, and is he not aware that insanitary conditions are always located where they have this oil-lighting, and will he take some steps to deal with the matter?

No, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the large number of defects in crews' accommodation which arise through lack of care and sanitary supervision; and whether any action is being taken by his Department, apart from the issue of the new instructions as to the survey of masters' and crews' spaces, to promote a greater interest in and knowledge of hygiene in crews' accommodation?

The question of promoting interest in, and knowledge of, hygiene in crews' accommodation is one for the owners, officers and crews. As the hon. Member is aware, the Shipping Federation and the National Union of Seamen set up a joint committee last year to consider methods of improving the standard of cleanliness and comfort in crews' quarters.

Has the committee yet issued any report?

I understand not.

When is the Department of the right hon. Gentleman going to take an interest in this matter?

That is a most unfair imputation, because for some time now the Board of Trade has taken a most active interest in the matter and, as a matter of fact, the formation of the joint committee to which I referred in my answer was the result of suggestions made by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, who was then Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade.

When may we expect any result from the working of this committee?

It is clear that this question must depend to a large extent upon action taken by the captains, officers and crews of the ships themselves, and it is to that end that this committee has been set up.

Is it not a condition precedent that the ship when originally built should be healthily built, and not as now? They never were constructed so that they could be kept healthy.

The hon. Member, no doubt, knows the tribute which has been paid by the National Union of Seamen to the new regulations that have been laid down, as a tremendous advance.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that thousands of the defects in crews' accommodation reported by port medical officers year by year come under the heading of dirty and verminous conditions, and other conditions prejudicial to health; and whether he will cause a report to be prepared on the number and nature of these nuisances, so that the extent of the problem may be revealed?

Port health authorities have been requested to give special attention to cleanliness and tidiness in crews' accommodation, and port medical officers of health are required to state in their annual reports the number of defects in crews' quarters of the kind to which the hon. Member refers which have been reported during the "ear. The information supplied by the medical officers of health at present does not enable me to state the number and nature of these nuisances separately, but my right hon. Friend is considering whether it would be practicable to revise Table J so as to give further information of the kind which the hon. Member has in mind.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary undertake that when reports are made at British ports the ships shall be subject to a survey?

I should like notice of that question.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this matter is causing grave concern among all sections, and will he take some steps to deal with it?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that during a gale last Wednesday, the Crosby lightship, which guides shipping into the Mersey, broke adrift from its moorings, and drifted for more than half a mile before it was anchored near Formby; and whether he will have inquiry made into the matter with a view to ensuring that all possible precautions will be taken against the recurrence of such an incident, having regard to the safety of the lightship's crew, and the protection of shipping?

I am informed that the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board have held an inquiry. The breaking adrift of the Crosby light vessel in the strong westerly gale of 8th March was due to the working out of the locking pin in the nut of the swivel pin in the chain cable which moored the vessel; this has never been known to happen before in connection with any of their lightships. Additional precautions are being taken to prevent a recurrence of such an accident.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this lightship has no motive power of its own, and that the men on board were powerless; and is he taking any action, in view of the possibility of further accident, to see that the vessel has proper motive power?

That is quite a different point. The action taken is to see that this particular breaking loose does not recur.

I understand that inquiries have been made and that an investigation has taken place, and I want to know what precautionary measures are being taken in order, in the event of an accident occurring again, as it very well may, to protect the seamen who have to manage the vessel.

The hon. Member will realise that it is not under the authority of the Board of Trade. It is indirectly under the control of Trinity House, and I will certainly make inquiries of them as to the point he has raised.

Surely the Board of Trade must accept responsibility for the fixing of mooring swivels? If a mooring swivel fails, it endangers not only the ship but the lives of the crew in the ship. Will the right hon. Gentleman take some action to see that any defect is remedied?

I do not think that at Question Time I could explain the exact relationship of my Department to the various lighthouse commissioners, but, as the hon. Gentleman knows, it is really confined to passing their annual budgets. I will certainly take this matter up with them.

May I call the right hon. Gentleman's attention to the fact that this lightship is a guide to the western ocean, and that, if it is not there, there is likely to be danger to the Port of Liverpool?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to state whether a decision has been reached with regard to the desirability of permitting British mercantile marine vessels to fly the Union Jack?

No decision has yet been reached.

When are we going to ensure that none but British seamen go on British ships?