asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that temporary civilian clerks are being employed in commands and that serving soldiers are being withdrawn from these offices for service in the War Office; that these arrangements prejudice the opportunities of time-expired soldiers securing permanent civilian employment and also detracts from the efficiency of the commands; and whether he will take steps to fill the posts concerned at the War Office by the appointment of time-expired soldiers with the requisite educational qualifications?

The few cases that have occurred of the withdrawal of serving soldiers from commands for service in the War Office and their replacement by temporary civilian clerks are not sufficient to have had any material effect on efficiency in commands, nor have the opportunities of ex-soldiers of securing established posts in the War Office been affected. I would refer, in this connection, to the answer which was given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Birkenhead West (Colonel J. S. Allen), and to my hon. Friend the Member for Deritend (Sir J. Smedley Crooke) on 5th April last.

the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the claim for the entitlement to pension of Arthur J. Stent, who was recently retired from the post of chief warder in the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, and has held the rank of assistant foreman since November, 1909, with the supervision of an average staff of 50, at a salary of£170 per annum; and whether he will be prepared to submit the claim on appeal to an independent tribunal for a decision on the merits of the case?

Mr. A. J. Stent did not serve at any time in an established capacity and there is no statutory or other authority under which a pension can be awarded. He has received the gratuity to which he was entitled as an unestablished employé under the Superannuation Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many, and which, Yorkshire units of the Territorial Army have already reached their war establishment under the new scheme recently launched for doubling the Territorial Army?

The 4th Battalion, The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) and the 49th (West Riding) Divisional Signals, Royal Corps of Signals, have reached their war establishments.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many, and which, Kent units of the Territorial Army have already reached their war establishment under the new scheme recently launched for doubling the Territorial Army?

The 4/5th Battalion, The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) has reached its war establishment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the request from the Liverpool, Birkenhead and Wirral Districts Building and Allied Employers' Association that its members should be allowed to tender on all occasions for any building work being undertaken by his Department; and will he state the nature of his reply, having in mind the heavy degree of unemployment in Liverpool and district, and the fact that members of this association have much plant not in use?

A reply has been sent that those members of the association who are already on the War Office list of contractors for building work should get into communication with the local military authorities, and that those members who are not already on the War Office list should apply to be placed on the list. It is the policy to invite local firms to tender for work in the district in all appropriate cases.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that recruits for the Territorial Army at the Royal Fusiliers' Hall, Bloomsbury, are being interviewed by members of the Women's Auxiliary Service; and whether he will take steps to ensure that such practice shall be discontinued?

Officers and members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service are, in a number of cases, assisting with the inquiries and clerical work connected with recruiting at Territorial Army Headquarters and information bureaux. I should like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation of the services they are rendering.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the need for training the large additions to the Territorial Army, he will consider utilising the services of officers who had actual war experience in 1914 to 1918, who have only just recently passed out of the reserve, and who are still physically fit?

Yes Sir. Any such officer who is desirous of joining the Territorial Army should make application to the Territorial Army Association concerned and he will be considered for appointment to a commission in the Territorial Army. A number of such officers have already been gazetted to the Territorial Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many serving soldiers, excluding staff officers are employed at the War Office on clerical duties now, compared with 1934; and how many have been there for 10 years or more, seven years or more, four years or more?

The number of serving soldiers employed on clerical duties at the War Office on 1st April last was 203, as compared with 108 on the corresponding date 1934. Of the number now so employed, 32 have been at the War Office for 10 years or more, eight between seven and ten years, and 32 between four and seven years.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the number of ranker officers, who retired and were pensioned at the conclusion of the 1914 –18 War, alive in 1937, 1938, and now, respectively?

I regret that the required information is not readily available and could not be obtained without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the number of recruits for the Regular Army and the Territorials, respectively, in the 12 months ended 31st March, 1939?

The numbers of recruits finally approved for the Regular Army and Territorial Army during the 12 months ended 31st March, 1939, were 38,911 and 87,915, respectively, as compared with 29,482 and 47,929, respectively, for the corresponding period 1937 –38.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of recent experience in the Middle East and in certain foreign countries, it is now recognised that efficiency and economy have suffered by the mechanisation of so great a part of our mobile forces; and whether the re-horsing of any of our cavalry regiments is being considered?

I am advised that the answer to both parts of the question is "No, Sir"

asked the Prime Minister what steps have been taken in the event of war to provide for the conscription of wealth, and, in particular, whether he has considered legislation to prevent persons not engaged in active service from enjoying a higher remuneration or profit than the men in the fighting services; and to ensure that the whole capital increment of companies, corporations and individuals during a war period shall revert to the State?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on the 1st June last in reply to a question by the hon. Member for the Barnard Castle Division of Durham (Mr. Sexton). I am sending a copy of this statement to the hon. Member.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make on the situation in Spain?

On 28th March Madrid surrendered to General Franco's forces. Shortly afterwards all effective resistance ceased elsewhere and the whole of Spanish territory passed under the control of the Spanish Government; His Majesty's Government are about to make the further contribution of£40,000 to the International Commission for the Assistance of Child Refugees in Spain which they promised in the event of the need still existing after 1st April. It is anticipated that a part of this contribution will be used for relief purposes within Spain, where the Commission is doing valuable work in co-operation with the Spanish relief authorities, and part for the relief of Spanish refugees in France and also those recently transported to Oran in merchant vessels. Satisfactory reports have been received of the work being carried on in the internment camps in South-Eastern France by the British Red Cross Society as the result of the grant of£50,000 recently received from His Majesty's Government.In addition to these grants His Majesty's Government have been considering whether there was any further step which they could take to assist the Spanish Government in dealing with the problem with which the latter are faced in providing for the immediate needs of the population in the areas recently occupied by them, and they have now decided to make a gift to the Spanish Government of 500 tons of foodstuffs for the relief of the poor and needy in Madrid. These provisions will be transported from Bilbao to Madrid by a convoy of 25 lorries provided by His Majesty's Government for the purpose and driven by British drivers.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has received from His Majesty's Ambassador in China any official statistics concerning the extent of Japanese occupation; the areas which are under Japanese control; those in which the Chinese Government of Chungking is still in control; and those where it has partial control?

According to the latest official Chinese figures, the Chinese Government claimed to exercise complete administrative control over 61½ per cent. of the nine provinces in which Japanese forces are present, as compared with 7½| per cent. under Japanese control and 31 per cent. partly under Chinese and partly under Japanese control.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the decision that the status quo in the Balkan Peninsula must be maintained, it is intended to guarantee Yugoslavia against aggression?

The fresh commitments already assumed by His Majesty's Government have been announced in this House. I am unable to make any statement as to the possible future development of this policy.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will inquire into the refusal of a visa to Ursula Carola Erber, of Charlottenburgh, a transmigrant to the United States of America whose maintenance and travelling expenses have been guaranteed in this country, unless£100 is first deposited in cash with the application for a visa, because she is between 16 and 18 years of age and comes under the head neither of child nor adult; and further, will he see that all transmigrants 16 to 18 years of age come under the same rule as transmigratory adults, who require only guarantees and not cash deposits?

I have no information about the case to which the right hon. Member refers, but I shall be glad to look into it if he will send me further particulars. The nature of the financial guarantee required for a refugee's maintenance while in this country pending emigration is a matter to be determined by the voluntary refugee organisation concerned.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the age limit for refugee domestics is 18 to 45; and, in view of the special need for getting out of Germany and the demand for domestics here, will he change the age limits to 15 to 45?

It has recently been arranged that girls of 16 may be admitted to take employment as domestic servants, provided they are placed in households where there are trained domestic servants, so that they can receive proper training.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received from Lord Gorell's Committee dealing with child refugees any representation as to the desirability of ending the present obligation to re-emigrate children and young trainees, which is hindering the present scheme by a financial liability which few, however charitable, will undertake?

I have received no such representations from the committee.

asked the Home Secretary concerning the re-emigration of child refugees and the present immediate demand made for£50 or£100 from prospective foster parents for the cost of re-emigration; whether he will see fit to stop this demand in the case of foster parents who undertake to have the children trained after the age of 18 as nurses or for domestice service in this country?

I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a question by the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean (Mr. Price) on 6th April. The general understanding on which these child refugees are admitted to this country is that they should be educated and trained with a view to eventual emigration and not permitted to stay here to engage in employment.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the present rules concerning the issue of visas to German refugees coming to this country as agricultural and industrial trainees; and whether the same rules apply to those between 16 and 18 and those over 18 years of age, in view of the fact that those between 16 and 18 years of age can no longer come in as children?

In cases of refugees recommended by the voluntary refugee organisations for admission to this country for training purposes with a view to eventual emigration, the same facilities are afforded to refugees between the ages of 16 and 18 as to those over 18 years of age.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that many refugee girls, often earning£1 a week in domestic service, are anxious to save their parents, anxious to support them here instead of in Germany, willing to give a guarantee out of the wages countersigned by their employers, and that visas are refused in all such cases to the loss of this country in man-power and in the money sent out at present to feed their parents; and will he give instructions that some such guarantees be accepted in future?

The question whether a refugee's maintenance here is assured is a matter for the investigation of the voluntary refugee organisation concerned. For this purpose I understand the organisations take into account any money which would be available for the parents' support from the daughter's earnings; but they cannot regard a girl earning 1 a week as in a position on her earnings alone to ensure her parents' maintenance in this country.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, in the case of transmigrants to the United States of America, applications for visas to this country have to be supported by photo stat copies of the American affidavit, but such affidavits are sent direct to the United States' Consuls, and great delay is caused before the American guarantor sends copies at the request of the visa applicant; and will he therefore accept as adequate evidence a letter from the United States' Consul announcing the receipt of the affidavit?

Before facilities can be afforded for refugees to proceed to the United Kingdom temporarily with a view to emigration to the United States of America, it is necessary to be satisfied that their eventual entry to that country is reasonably assured. The voluntary refugee organisations who accept responsibility for the refugee's emigration must, in order to satisfy themselves in this respect, examine the affidavit, as it is only from the particulars therein that they are able to form an opinion as to the possibilities of emigration.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the circumstances under which refugees are arriving at Croydon and being refused admission; and what action is taken with regard to carrying companies which bring over aliens without proper credentials?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of the 6th April to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, East (Mr. Boothby) which explains the position with regard to the Czech refugees who arrived at Croydon. As I explained then, in view of the recent visa requirement in respect of holders of Czech passports it is unlikely that any similar cases will recur. Under the Aliens Order carrying companies are responsible for the removal of any alien to whom leave to land is refused, and consequently they take pre- cautions before accepting passengers, but there are exceptional cases where the carrying company is not in a position to know in advance whether a particular foreigner will be given leave to land.

asked the Home Secretary what representations he has received from the managers of the Lord Baldwin Fund for refugees or others in respect of the call for a£50 guarantee for re-emigration expenses in respect of each child brought into this country after the 28th February, 1939; and will he give an assurance that the conditions under which children of German nationality have been admitted into this country will be strictly enforced?

I have received no such representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has considered the request from the Liverpool, Birkenhead, and Wirral districts Building and Allied Employers' Association that its members should be allowed to tender on all occasions for any building work being undertaken by his Department; and will he state the nature of his reply, having in mind the heavy degree of unemployment in Liverpool and district, and the fact that members of this association have much plant not in use?

The communication from the Liverpool, Birkenhead and Wirral Districts Building and Allied Trades Employers' Association, to which the hon. Member refers, has been considered and a reply was sent on 5th April setting out the practice in regard to works contracts. A list of approved firms, classified according to their capabilities, is maintained in my Department and when building work is required to be carried out, invitations to tender are issued to a number of firms selected from that list, having regard to the nature and magnitude of the work and the capabilities of the firms. Suitable local firms are considered when the list of firms to be invited to tender for any particular work is being prepared. As the association has been informed, my Department would be willing to consider applications for inclusion in the Air Ministry list from firms not already included.

asked the Minister of Health for what reason certain coast towns in the county of Kent have been selected to provide accommodation for children in the event of emergency; if he is aware that these towns were subject to attack from the air in the Great War, that the local authorities in Kent are already under the necessity of providing air-raid shelters for the resident population, and that the decision to transfer the children to these exposed areas is causing anxiety to the parents and teachers of the children affected; and whether, in these circumstances, he will consider making these transfers to towns in the safer western areas?

The amount of accommodation available in the western part of the country is insufficient for the numbers of children and mothers who are to be provided for under the Government scheme. These persons would undoubtedly, however, be relatively safer dispersed in areas on the eastern side of the country and on the coast, than left in the congested districts in the centres of the large towns. On this view the Government scheme contemplates the use of certain of these areas for reception.

asked the Minister of Health what payment it is proposed to make to male and female assistants, other than teachers, who are to accompany the first and second priority groups as full-time employés in the event of evacuation of these groups?

I am not yet able to give this information, but I can assure the hon. Member that the matter is not being overlooked.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can furnish an estimate of the number of houses in England and Wales which are more than 50 years old?

The census of 1891 showed that there were then about 5,824,000 houses or buildings used for human habitation in England and Wales, but no data are available regarding the number of these which have since been demolished or converted to other uses.

asked the Secretary for Mines what quantity of slack and small coal is now held unsold in stock by the collieries of Great Britain; how many collieries are engaged in crushing large coal to make slack; and whether the central selling organisation takes any steps to reduce the crushing of large coal when the stock of slack and smalls is increasing?

The information furnished to the Mines Department regarding stocks of unsold coal held by collieries in Great Britain does not differentiate between size. Coal breaking or crushing plant was used at 376 collieries during the whole or part of the year ended 30th June, 1938, the latest period for which information is available. I have no information with regard to the last part of the question, but since crushing large coal adds to the cost of production I think it can be assumed that when the normal production of slack and smalls is more than adequate to meet demands, the collieries would, as a matter of commercial practice, cease to crash large coal.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that in 1937 and 1938 a sum of£1,330,380 was retained by local authorities in England and Wales in respect of local taxation licence duties, he can say if a similar sum was retained by Scottish local authorities; if not, what equivalent contribution was made to Scotland; what such contribution amounted to; and how it was arrived at?

The difference between the position in England and Wales and that in Scotland is mainly a difference of method, and has the following historical origins. Before 1908 the Local Taxation Licence Duties in question were collected by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue and the proceeds were distributed among local authorities. The method of distribution, however, was different in the two countries. In England and Wales each county and county borough subject to certain adjustments received the amount collected within its area; in Scotland a lump sum was paid into the Local Taxation Account and distributed for various purposes among various local authorities.By an Order in Council made under Section 6 of the Finance Act, 1908, the task of collecting the duties was handed over in England and Wales to the councils of counties and county boroughs. In Scotland, as individual local authorities had no similar direct interest in the amounts collected, the duties continued to be collected as before and are still collected by His Majesty's Customs and Excise.The general result of the different history of the duties in the two countries is that in Scotland this element of local revenue has been merged in the General Exchequer Contribution to Local Revenues whereas in England and Wales that has not taken place.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will ask his economic advisers to examine a method by which the large excess of British purchases from Argentina over purchases of British manufactured goods by Argentina may be liquidated by a barter or compensation system similar to that known as the Aski method?

I do not consider that a scheme of the kind suggested by my hon. Friend is necessary or desirable. I would remind my hon. Friend that under the existing Trade Agreement the Argentine Government make available sterling exchange, for the purpose of remittances to the United Kingdom, up to the value of Argentine exports to this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can inform the House as to the number of British tramp ships lying in harbour in the Argentine for the last three months or more unable to get a cargo and the reason for this; and the number of ships of other countries and their nationalities who have taken cargoes of wheat from the Argentine during the same period; and whether he has any information as to the amount of wheat bought by Germany from the Argentine in that period and what ships are carrying the cargo?

So far as can be ascertained about 10 British tramp ships have been waiting in the Argentine for cargo for three months or more. I am informed that six of these have now secured cargoes. Delays in the Argentine have not been confined to British ships, the tonnage there having been considerably in excess of requirements.Between 1st January and 15th March last some 45British ships and 70 foreign ships (mainly Greek, Dutch, Norwegian and Belgian) have taken cargoes from the Argentine to the United Kingdom and Continent. I regret that the rest of the information asked for is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement regarding the proposed negotiations with the United States Government, with a view to bartering surplus cotton in exchange for rubber and tin?

No proposals relating to the barter of raw cotton and wheat for rubber and tin have been received from the United States Government. From a statement made by the State Department to the United States Press, it would seem that they have not yet completed their examination of the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the gross tonnage and the carrying capacity, respectively, of the 143 British ships of 100 tons gross and over transferred to foreign flags and foreign owners in 1936; and what were the corresponding facts for the 222 ships and 149 ships similarly transferred in 1937 and 1938, respectively?

The total gross tonnage of the ships of100 tons gross and over registered at ports in the United Kingdom which were transferred to foreign flags on sale to foreign owners during 1936 was 422,000 tons; the corresponding figures for the years 1937 and 1938 were 666,500 tons and 395,000 tons, respectively. I regret that information regarding the total deadweight capacity of these ships is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state approximately what proportion of seaborne trade between the United Kingdom and the Baltic countries is carried in British shipping?

During the year 1937, 57 per cent, by value of United Kingdom trade in merchandise with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania was carried in British vessels; if trade with Finland were included, the proportion would be reduced to 24 per cent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can make any statement on the negotiations concerning hours and conditions of seamen now in progress between the National Union of Seamen and the shipowners?

I understand that representatives of the shipowners and of the seamen discussed certain questions regarding the hours and conditions of seamen at a recent meeting of the appropriate Panels of the National Maritime Board. The meeting was adjourned.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that supplies of British raw materials essential to our own rearmament are being regularly sold to countries adopting a hostile attitude; and what steps he is taking to prevent such countries being furnished with materials which may in certain eventualities be used against ourselves?

I have been asked to reply. I could not accept as accurate the implication conveyed in the first part of the question. As regards the second part, I would refer to the answer given on the 5th April by my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, East (Mr. Mander).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the increasing importance of the African members on the staff, both in regard to efficiency and numbers, recorded in the recent Report of the Department of Public Works of Nigeria, he can state whether a development in this direction is taking place in other West African dependencies?

Yes, Sir. Although, owing to financial reasons, the staffs of the Public Works Departments in the Gold Coast and Sierra Leone have decreased in actual numbers, the proportions of African to European officials have shown a tendency to increase in recent years. Schemes are in course of preparation in these Dependencies for the training of Africans to fill higher posts in the technical departments.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his estimate of£700,000 for the total cost of the Selby by-pass scheme includes the expenditure necessary for the freeing of the existing Selby toll-bridge; and, if not, whether he is now in a position to state what steps he proposes to take to free this toll-bridge in view of the fact that the facilities which it provides for crossing the River Ouse within the township of Selby will still be necessary after the construction of the by-pass?

The estimate of£700,000 for the construction of the Selby By-pass does not include any expenditure in connection with the freeing of the existing toll bridge. My offer to acquire the tolls and rebuild the existing bridge, if the local authorities concerned contribute 40 per cent. of the cost of the tolls and 25 per cent. of the cost of the new bridge, remains open, but the County Council of the West Riding of Yorkshire have so far not seen their way to offer any contribution.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can make a statement as to what action the Government intends to take on the different recommendations of the Alness Report on the Prevention of Road Accidents; and whether these recommendations will be brought into operation before the rush of heavy traffic on the roads with the advent of spring?

This report covers an immense field, makes very numerous recommendations and is receiving the study which it deserves. It is obviously not yet possible for me to go into details.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Burma whether he has any report to make on the Burma-Yunnan road; its condition and its availability for general traffic and heavy transport; its supply of petrol stations; and whether any protection against aircraft has been made?

The Burma section of this road is now open to all vehicles not exceeding five tons gross weight. It is anticipated that improvements now being made will keep it open for this traffic during the rains. An adequate supply of petrol is available at Lashio and at three other points between there and the frontier. No special protection against aircraft exists on the Burma section of the road.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he has considered recommending to the different local authorities the floodlighting of playgrounds, particularly in the winter, with the object of giving children somewhere to play in comfort and safety?

Recommendations for the opening of school playgrounds outside school hours in congested districts, including suggestions as to the possibilities of floodlighting, were made in the report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Road Safety among School Children. The Board informed local education authorities in Circular 1449 of 24th April, 1936, that reasonable expenditure incurred by them for the purpose would be recognised for grant and attention was again drawn to the recommendations of the Inter-Departmental Committee generally in Circular 1455 of 14th June, 1937. Detailed advice on the floodlighting of playgrounds has been given in the recently issued pamphlet of the National Fitness Council for England and Wales of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland at what date notices of marriages began to be exhibited at registrars' offices in Scotland; how many objections to marriages so notified have been intimated since that date; how many such objections have been intimated during the last 15 years; and how such objections have been disposed of?

Provision for the publication of notice of marriage at registrars' offices was made in the Marriage Notice (Scotland) Act, 1878, which came into operation on 1st January, 1879. I regret that the further information desired is not in the possession of the Registrar-General for Scotland and could be obtained only by calling for a special return which would involve a very considerable amount of labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many objections to intentions to marry so proclaimed have been intimated since the proclamation of banns of marriage in Scotland was given legal recognition; how many such objections have been intimated during the last 15 years; and how such objections have been disposed of?

I am informed by the Church of Scotland authorities that the information desired by the hon. and learned Member is not available.