asked the Minister of Labour who will represent His Majesty's Government at the forthcoming meeting of the governing body of the International Labour Organisation?

His Majesty's Government's representative on the governing body is Mr. F. W. Leggett, and he will attend the next meeting.

asked the Minister of Health the total outstanding debt of all local authorities in the United Kingdom for 1938; the annual charges for interest and capital redemption; and what percentage do these two items, respectively, represent to the total average rate burden of the local authorities in the United Kingdom for the year 1938?

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

In view of the importance of this matter, may I ask if the right hon. Gentleman will carefully consider appointing a Royal Commission to consider the whole basis of local taxation?

I do not think that arises out of the question.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the need for closer supervision of the work of local authorities in Wales, as recommended in the report of the Committee on Anti-Tuberculosis Services in Wales, he proposes to examine the constitution and powers of the Welsh Board of Health so as to invest it with the authority necessary adequately to fulfil its duties?

The report of the Committee on Anti-Tuberculosis Services in Wales is now receiving consideration.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider it desirable to review the position of the Welsh Board of Health?

Yes, that will be done.

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to consider the revision of the existing local authorities in Wales, including the desirability of creating authorities whose financial resources will be equal to the duties imposed upon them; and whether consideration will be given to this aspect of the problem at the conference he proposes to hold in Wales to consider the report of the anti-tuberculosis services?

This aspect of the matter is one on which the local authorities, whose views on the report are being sought, will doubtless have comments to make, and their views thereon will certainly be considered when a conference is arranged.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are being taken to organise the provision of a medical service for the civilian population in time of emergency?

The emergency hospital service is described in a published memorandum, a copy of which I will send to the hon. Member, and the medical arrangements under the Government evacuation scheme will be dealt with in memoranda to be issued by the Board of Education and my Department. Arrangements for securing the most suitable distribution of the doctors available are being made by the Central Emergency Committee of the British Medical Association.

Is it a fact that the emergency committee on evacuation are considering schemes for voluntary hospitals; and when may we expect action to be taken?

A scheme exists already on paper and it is being improved as consideration is given to it. It can be brought into existence forthwith.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in the Manchester district parents are being asked to decide before 28th April whether they wish their children to be evacuated in the event of war; whether this is being done everywhere; and whether parents who delay reply or reply in the negative will be allowed to reconsider their decision later?

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

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that the rate of delivery of steel shelters by the London and North Eastern Railway Company in areas within the danger zone is only about 50 per cent. of the rate at which it was estimated that they would be delivered; and can he do anything to speed up the rate of delivery?

I am not aware that any official estimate has been given of the appropriate rate of delivery of steel shelters to any particular area. The rate of distribution is governed by a number of factors and has been increased from 15,125 shelters distributed during the week ending the 25th February, to 42,310 last week. Arrangements have been made for a still further acceleration of the weekly rate of distribution.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Walthamstow, when inquiries were made by the local authority, they were told that they might expect 300 a day, and that in fact they have got 150 a day?

Various factors have to be taken into consideration, but we hope in future to arrange for delivery in Walthamstow at the rate of 300 a day.

In view of complaints concerning the delay in the delivery of the shelters, will the right hon. Gentleman look into the question of the steel-sheet works in West Wales, capable of producing shelters, which are not working at all?

All the arrangements are being organised on a mass-production basis, and the rates of delivery that have been secured are, I think, very impressive, and they have certainly been in excess of the estimates originally given. Certainly, I shall take pleasure in going into the possibility of increasing the rate of supply.

May I draw the right hon. Gentleman's attention to the fact that in Walthamstow — and no doubt in other places — men were taken on for the fixing of these shelters, and the men's time is being largely wasted because the shelters are not there?

I will look into that.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether any test of capacity is applied to recruits for service in the various units of Air-Raid Precautions; and what qualifications are required from chief air-wardens to justify their supervision over trained persons?

No specific standards of capacity for recruits to the Air-Raid Precautions Services have been prescribed; but it has been impressed on local authorities in Air-Raid Precautions Memorandum No. 4 that Air-Raid Wardens should be fitted both by temperament and character for the duties which they would be called on to perform, and in particular that the selection of a suitable person for the responsible post of chief warden is a matter of great importance.

Is it not the case that the chief factor, generally speaking, is education, and ought not experience to come first? As an illustration, people who are dealing with fire services are in some cases school masters who have no technical knowledge, and men who are trained engineers are put in a secondary position. Ought not people who have experience to have the chief jobs?

I am afraid that the hon. Member has given information rather than asked a question. I am most anxious that the right people should be selected.

Is it not a fact that the qualifications necessary for air-raid wardens are rather organisational than otherwise, and is it not better that those who have been in the service from the first should be given the first opportunity of higher posts?

I think that personality is one of the most important things.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what standard of quality is required from the suppliers of clothing and equipment for the Auxiliary Fire Service units?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the specifications.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has held experiments to test the safety of deep bomb-proof shelters, and, if so, with what result?

The factors involved in the design of such structures have been for some time past the subject of exhaustive investigation, both experimental and theoretical. I would ask the hon. Member to await the statement which I expect to be in a position to make shortly after the Easter Recess on the whole subject of heavily protected shelter.

May I ask whether those investigations also include investigations into the engineering difficulties of constructing such shelters, particularly in water-bearing strata as exist in many parts of the Metropolis?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many Lancashire local authorities still remain to be issued fully with Air-Raid Precautions trainee equipment, including service respirators and protective clothing?

All applications for training equipment received from Lancashire have been met, with the exception of minor instructional items which are being issued as supplies become available. Instalments of mobilisation stocks of personal protective equipment, such as respirators and protective clothing, which are also available for training, are issued from time to time as supplies are received from contractors.

asked the Lord Privy Seal the number of Air-Raid Precautions volunteers needed in each category in Widness, Prescot, Huyton, and the rest of the Widnes area, respectively; and how many volunteers have already been enrolled?

As the answer involves a tabular statement, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I regret that it is not possible to furnish information with

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he, in the interests of national security, will consider the advisability of cancelling permits to reside in this country of members of the German secret police, the Gestapo, and other Nazi organisations?

As has regard to the district described by my hon. Friend as "the rest of the Widnes area."

May I take it that the Home Secretary will continue to watch closely the activities of these persons and take such action as may be necessary from time to time?

Yes, certainly.

Is there any reason to believe that there are still members of the Gestapo residing in this country?

That is a different question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that is the question on the Paper?

May I ask in what capacity —

May I have an answer to my question?

The hon. Member asks whether there are members of this organisation still residing in this country, and the question on the Paper is whether the Home Secretary will consider the advisability of cancelling permits?

It is impossible, I submit, to consider the question of cancelling permits unless these people do reside here. Can we have any information on that matter?

I have answered the question on the Paper with, I gathered, the general assent and approval of the House.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information in connection with the case that was referred to him on Tuesday by the Thames Police Court stipendiary about the Gestapo agents and the Nazi factory owners; and what action he intends taking about the matter?

My attention has been drawn to the case and I am calling for a report.

Have any of these Gestapo agents diplomatic immunity in this country?

The answer is "no."

Will the right hon. hon. Gentleman be willing to close down the headquarters of the Gestapo in Belgrave Square?

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give particulars of the number of members of the Metropolitan Police force who were suspended, dismissed, or required to resign as an alternative to dismissal during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

During the period 1st April, 1938, to 31st March, 1939, 68 officers were suspended; 16 officers were dismissed and 18 officers were required to resign as an alternative to dismissal.

Has the Minister any record of the number of appeals made to him under the Police Appeals Act, 1927?

I have not got the figures here.

Has the right hon. Gentleman got the number of appeals dismissed by him?

asked the Home Secretary how many prosecutions were undertaken in the borough of Ealing under those provisions of the Shops Acts which relate to hours of employment and meal intervals for assistants during the years 1935, 1936, 1937, and 1938?

I am informed that no prosecutions were undertaken in the borough of Ealing under the provisions referred to in 1935 or 1936; the number in 1937 was three, and in 1938, one.

Does that information justify the House in assuming that these powers are not being used sufficiently by local authorities, including the local authority referred to in the question?

No, Sir. I would not draw that conclusion from the figures. I have had no complaints from the neighhourhood on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will reconsider the case of Mr. and Mrs. Jacques Hofer, of Vienna, applied for by Captain Battle Hancock as domestic servants, which application was granted by the Home Office and the visa authorised, but the consular authorities at Vienna refused the visa on the ground that the couple were over 50 years of age, a fact already known to the Home Office when they granted the application?

As the result of representations made to me by Mr. Hofer's son-in-law, I have caused further inquiries to be made, and I am informed that a visa has now been granted.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the police court proceedings at Bridgend, where a milk vendor was fined for being in possession of milk bottles bearing a false trade description, in which the Co-operative Wholesale Society's foreman at Llanharan testified to the loss of 180,000 bottles last year; and whether he will take steps to prevent this traffic in stolen bottles?

My attention had not previously been drawn to this case, but I have no doubt that the police are on the look-out for offences of this nature and will take appropriate action in cases which come to their notice.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that the staffs of banks in Scotland have received no indication from their employers as to whether their enrolment in Territorial or Air-Raid Precautions service is encouraged; that, as a result, considerable misunderstanding exists among such staffs and recruiting is handicapped; and whether he will consult with the head quarters of the various banks with a view to securing a clear ruling on the matter?

I have made inquiries into this matter, and I cannot find any grounds for thinking that such misunderstanding exists. None of the Scottish banks has placed any obstacle in the way of any of their staff volunteering for National Service, and I am advised that in the case of one bank, for example, there are to-day seven times as many members of their staff in the Territorials as there were 12 months ago. Appeals for recruits have in some instances been received from the Commanding Officers of Territorial Units, and these have been circulated to the appropriate branches of the banks, and where meetings of the staff have been suggested, every facility has been given.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that within the last few days the facts set out in my letter have been confirmed to me by bank clerks and local branch managers of banks in Scotland, and that it is at their direct request that I have asked this question?

The information I have just given was supplied by the Treasurer of the Bank of Scotland, who acts as chairman of the monthly meeting of managers of Scottish banks. I will see that what my hon. Friend has just said is brought to his notice.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what are the comparative numbers where the numbers are seven times what they were a year ago?

I cannot reply to that question without notice.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether civil engineers, being members of a reserved occupation, will be allowed, in the event of war, to apply for admission to the non-commissioned or commissioned ranks of the Royal Engineers?

The provisional schedule of reserved occupations which has been published relates solely to peacetime recruitment. I am unable to make any statement about the application of such a schedule to recruitment in time of war.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what rate the Government were able to borrow on both long and short terms in the years 1932, 1935, 1937, and 1938; and further, is it the policy of the Government in the future to maintain cheap money rates?

As the answer to the first part of the question contains a number of figures I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. In reply to the second part of the question, no change in policy is in contemplation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he now has any further statement to make on behalf of the Government relative to the insurance on a national basis of property against the risks of air bombardment; and when it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation to deal with this subject?

In reply to the first part of the question, I have nothing to add to the statements which I have already made on this subject. As regards legislation, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury gave on my behalf to my hon. Friend the Member for South-West St. Pancras (Sir G. Mitcheson) on 13th March, 1939.

Is the Minister aware that the Government's inaction is causing very detrimental effects upon transactions in property?

If the statement which I made is carefully looked into, it will be found to state the position clearly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether arrangements have been or will be made for securing the use of the unexpended portion of the £8,000,000 grant in aid of refugees from Czecho-Slovakia for the temporary maintenance as well as the ultimate migration of those refugees for whom the voluntary funds are unable to take full responsibility?

A statement on this subject will be made during the course of to-day's Debate, and I would ask the hon. Member to await this statement.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is arranging for the primary responsibility for policy as to food reserves to be assigned to a Minister in charge of a department dealing with the subject in the same way that a primary responsibility for the number of battleships, aeroplanes, or units of the Army is assigned to Departmental Ministers?

While I do not altogether accept the analogy suggested in the latter half of the hon. Member's question, I have reached the conclusion that primary responsibility for policy as to food reserves should rest with the Minister in charge of the Department which carries out that policy. I propose to take the opportunity to relieve in some measure the very heavy burden which now rests on my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, and to make arrangements whereby responsibility for the Food (Defence Plans) Department will be taken over by another Minister. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has agreed to take over this duty.

Does that statement mean that the plans for the distribution of food, now under the control of the Board of Trade, will be taken over by the new Minister?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Financed Secretary to the Treasury whether the committee appointed to consider the question of spinsters pensions have yet presented their report; and, if not, whether he will ask the committee to expedite their labours with a view to the publication of the report without further delay?

Yes, Sir. The committee have now presented their report and I hope to arrange for its publication at an early date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any information in connection with the application to the Board of Trade of the West Yorkshire Gas-Grid Company to purchase the Morley municipal gas works for £80,000; what is the area of the gas-grid system and the population coming within its scope before and after the agreement; and whether any compensation is proposed to be paid to the workpeople who will be put out of work?

The Drighlington and Gildersome Gaslight Company which, it is understood, is controlled by the West Yorkshire Gas Distribution Company, have applied to the Board of Trade for a Special Order under the Gas Under-takings Acts, 1920 to 1934, to authorise ,inter alia, the transfer to the first-mentioned company of the gas undertaking of the Morley Corporation. This application has not yet been fully considered by the board, but it is noted that the proposed consideration for the transfer is £87,000, together with an undertaking that subordinate employees of the Morley Corporation employed in the undertaking on the transfer day shall be taken over by the company on their existing terms and conditions of service and remuneration and that the company will continue to pay the gratuities now paid by the corporation to former employeés of the undertaking. It is also noted that provision is made for compensation in the event of pecuniary losses by employés taken over. The districts in which the West Yorkshire Gas Distribution Company are authorised to supply gas are set out in the Schedule to the West Yorkshire Gas Distribution Act, 1938, and these will not be affected by the proposed Order. I am not aware of the area or population of these districts.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his Department has yet received, through the International Union or otherwise, a listing catalogue showing the new stamps of Greater Germany and, including as such, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Memel, and Danzig; and what was the date of issue of such catalogue?

Information was contained in a circular letter dated 20th April, 1938, from the International Bureau of the Postal Union at Berne, regarding a stamp stated to have been issued by Germany on the occasion of the plebiscite of 10th April on the union of Austria and Germany; and in a further circular letter dated 22nd December, 1938, regarding two stamps stated to have been issued by Germany in commemoration of the in-corporation of Sudeten German territory. The notifications in each case were issued some time after the events to which the-stamps relate. No further information has been received.

Is there any foundation for the statement that Germany has issued stamps showing Danzig incorporated in the Reich?

I have had no information whatever to that effect, but clearly that does not arise from the question.

Will matters of this kind be taken into account as an indication of Germany's intentions in the future and be given recognition by the Government?

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the report on the workings of the British North America Act recently tabled in the Canadian Senate, which recommends that the British Parliament should pass an interpretative statute declaring the true intent of the Act, and what action His Majesty's Government propose to take.

I have seen a statement in the Press that the report in question was tabled in the Canadian Senate on 28th March. So far as I am aware, the report has not yet been considered by the Canadian Government or Parliament and pending such consideration no question arises of action on the part of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the large number of unemployed in some of the Colonies, including Kenya; and whether an effort is being made to induce these men to volunteer to form permanent defence units on lines similar to the Territorial Army in Great Britain?

As regards the first part of the question, I am aware that certain Colonial Dependencies are faced with difficulties owing to unemployment, but I understand that there is no appreciable unemployment at present in Kenya. As regards the second part of the question, there are volunteer forces in most Colonial Dependencies, and every effort is made to keep their establishments at full strength.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will inquire how many Jews are at present held in detention in Palestine under the prevention of crime ordinance, or in connection with political offences for which they have not yet been tried; how many of the total are Communists; how many Revisionists; and how many of no political denomination?

The number of Jews detained in Palestine under the Defence Regulations on 4th April was 54. I have no knowledge of any detentions under the Crime (Prevention) Ordinance. I am asking the High Com-missioner to report on this point and on the political affiliation of those detained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make inquiries as to the sentences passed on 17 illegal refugee immigrants into Palestine, about a month ago; whether he is aware that the judge expressed his regret at having to sentence them to three months imprisonment and deportation; whether the law allows any lighter sentence; will they actually be deported, and, if so, to what country; also, how many were men, and how many women?

The High Commissioner for Palestine has informed me that 17 illegal Jewish immigrants who were arrested on 5th February were sentenced on 22nd March to three months' imprisonment and were recommended for deportation. No minimum penalty is prescribed for illegal entry. On completion of their sentence, these persons will be deported, if possible, to their countries of origin, but I understand that it is the practice to defer execution of the deportation order for a reasonable period when a deportee is making efforts to find another country of asylum. I have no official information regarding the other parts of the question, but I am asking the High Commissioner for a further report.

What is the use of postponing sentence to allow these people to find another country of asylum?

A great many people in many parts of the world are trying to find asylum for these refugees, and we are all trying to help.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me any country in the world which will take them?

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Shanghai-Nanking Railway, at present controlled by the Japanese, is now in complete working order and carrying a full load of passengers daily; and what steps he has taken to secure the payment of interest to British bondholders?