asked the Minister of Labour the average weekly payment made to those temporarily and permanently unemployed and included in the 1,800,000 registered unemployed when the records were taken in February?

In the week ended 18th February, 1939, the average weekly pay- ment of unemployment benefit under the general scheme was 18s. 2d. and of unemployment allowances 24s. 4d. Separate figures are not available as to persons unemployed for short and persons unemployed for long periods, but in the main the recipients of unemployment assistance are included among the latter.

Can the Minister say how many are in receipt of weekly payments and how many in receipt of no payment at all?

If the hon. Member will put the question down I will try to get the information.

asked the Minister of Labour what his Department is doing, by means of a more vigorous policy, to transfer unemployed men and women to meet the periodical demand for indoor labour in holiday resorts; and whether he is experimenting in the Special Areas by means of local personal recruitment to obtain volunteers for indoor employment, and particularly among unemployed persons unsuited for the heavy trades?

Active steps are taken by the Employment Exchanges to make known the opportunities of seasonal work available, and to bring vacancies to the notice of suitable persons who have had previous experience of the work or appear to possess the qualifications required. Publicity is sought by the exhibition of posters, the distribution of leaflets, the exhibition of cinema slides and the insertion of notices in the Press. Areas where there is a demand for such labour are linked up with areas, including the Special Areas, in which workers are likely to be available. Close co-operation is maintained with employers, with a view to securing early notification of their labour requirements. In order to encourage workers to accept employment available in other districts welfare arrangements are undertaken in co-operation with recognised organisations, chiefly for the benefit of women and girls who are employed away from home for the first time. Courses of training for hotel work are available.

Are the exhibitions of slides being made by arrangement with the various entertainment associations?

Yes, and we also make arrangements with employers' associations and with individual employers.

Are arrangements made with the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association?

I cannot say without notice.

Apart from this publicity inviting the employés to take these jobs, are the wages and the conditions of work also notified?

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there is plenty of well-paid and well-treated domestic employment awaiting women and girls all over the country; whether he has taken further steps to secure that some of the 400,000 unemployed women and girls may be induced to accept employment awaiting them; and, as training centres and Employment Exchanges have failed to supply the demand by drawing on these unemployed women and girls, whether he will ask trade union leaders to help him to find a remedy?

I am aware of this problem, the essential difficulties of which are widely recognised and are not confined to this country. I am anxious to consider suggestions for a solution from whatever source. As regards the suggestion at the end of the question, my hon. Friend should know that I recently received a deputation from the Trades Union Congress on this subject at which they made a proposal for an inquiry into the conditions of domestic service. I did not, however, feel that such an inquiry at the present time would really serve a useful purpose. I would add that opportunities for domestic employment and training are brought to the notice of all apparently suitable applicants on the register of the Employment Exchanges.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider setting up a national women's service board to be run on pretty much the same lines as the Milk Marketing Board in order to produce grade A women?

Will the right hon. Gentleman request the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. Liddall) to use his influence with potential employers to support the Domestic Servants' Union so that domestic servants can be protected against the cheap-minded and inconsiderate employer?

I am obliged to the hon. Member for raising that issue. It is an interesting fact in the light of the question that for the first time the Trades Union Congress has accepted responsibility for forming this union in order to help domestic servants.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed persons in the county of Fife who have received training at training centres and the number placed in employment each year since 1935?

I regret that the only information which I have relates to the numbers of men from the county of Fife who were admitted to instructional centres. The numbers were: 80 in 1936, 73 in 1937, and 76 in 1938.

Have any of these men found employment?

I cannot say without making inquiries about each man.

Is no register kept of those who get employment after they come out of the training centres?

It can only be done by a complete searching of the whole records.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mr. Jack Smith, aged 19, of School Lane, Emley, who was employed at Messrs. Firth Brothers, Limited, Scissett, Huddersfield, on work of national urgency as an apprentice engineer for 5½ years at £1 per week, was discharged from his employment because he asked for an improvement in his wages, and objected to being paid 6½d. for 1½ hours overtime, and to working 5¾hours without a break for a meal; that the court of referees at Huddersfield, who had these facts before them, disallowed his claim for benefit; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent the occurrence of similar cases?

I am having inquiry made into this case and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible. I am obliged to him for the information which he sent to me yesterday.

Is it not a fact that firms which engage on work of national importance should pay trade union wages and observe trade union conditions, and will not the right hon. Gentleman withdraw the possibility of firms such as this having Government contracts?

I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as I have had full inquiries made.

If these facts are as stated, have not the court of referees been badly instructed?

I should not care to give a final judgment until I have all the facts.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that young girls of 19 and 20 years of age have had their insurance benefit stopped at Burnley because they would not accept work at a chocolate factory at Norwich, 170 miles away; and will he take steps to restore payment pending full inquiries as to the suitability of the employment and the desirability of breaking up the family life of these young persons?

I am having inquiry made in this matter, and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Will the right hon. Gentleman kindly see that benefit does not cease while inquiries are going on? Is he not aware of the strong attachment to home among British folk, and does he think he is doing a good service either to these lasses or their employers by driving them, under the threat of starvation, to seek work so far away from home? Would it not be better to bring work to the people?

The hon. Member is prejudging the case. I will await the evidence, and then perhaps he will care to pursue the matter further.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it was the willingness of British people to go out and search for work that built up the civilisation and the strength of Britain, and is it realised that it would be a great dis-service to the spirit of the people and to the country to suggest that people are not to look for work?

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Unemployment Assistance Board contemplate modifying the household means test in the near future?

No, Sir.

Is the Minister aware that there is a tremendous amount of hardship in some of these homes where there has been long-term unemployment and where there is a son working, and will he advise the Board to modify their regulations?

I was asked a specific question and I have answered it. Perhaps the hon. Member will wait until I have received the report of the Board.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that his reply is the best advertisement against any form of National Service?

No, I should not say that at all.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say what would be the cost of abolishing the household means test?

Not without notice.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons at present unemployed in Scotland?

At 13th March, 1939, there were 255,026 unemployed persons, aged 14 and over, on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Scotland.

Is the Minister aware that at the moment there are over 100,000 men, women and boys working in Scotland upon the requirements of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, that everyone is desirous of peace, and that in the event of that desirable aim, peace, being maintained, those 100,000 will in the end be thrown out of work? What provision are the Government making for that situation when it arises?

I cannot answer that at Question Time.

You are not looking ahead.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered staff representations regarding the need for providing anti-aircraft shelter for staff and applicants at the different Employment Exchanges; whether such shelter has been provided in any cases, and, if so, at which exchanges; and what further action he intends to take at the non-provided exchanges to give effect to the protective shelter policy which is being recommended to private employers of labour?

The question of air-raid precautions at Employment Exchanges has been discussed with the staff side of the Departmental Whitley Council on various occasions, and close touch with them is being maintained. A survey by the Office of Works of all exchanges in vulnerable areas is in active progress and work is well in hand in a number of places. The work of providing protection at all exchanges in vulnerable areas will be pushed forward as rapidly as possible.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is in a position to state the number of householders eligible to receive an Anderson shelter whose premises do not permit of the erection of such a shelter; and what alternative accommodation he proposes to provide?

I am not in a position to give the information asked for in the first part of the question. As regards other forms of householder's shelter, directions for the strengthening of basements are about to be issued, and designs for surface shelters in connection with private houses are in an advanced state of preparation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of the difficulties of recruiting for Civil Defence is that millions of people in this country are being offered no possibility of security at all?

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that in the Boldon urban district, County Durham, in connection with air-raid precautions, there is no mobilisation equipment; and what is being done to meet the situation?

Mobilisation equipment for county districts cannot be issued until the county council have notified my Department of the depots to which it is to be sent for storage, and in respect of Durham this information was not furnished until quite recently. Considerable quantities of equipment have already been issued to the county for training purposes, and now that the storage arrangements are known further supplies towards mobilisation stocks will be sent immediately.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is in a position to make any further statement with regard to the policy of His Majesty's Government in relation to deep air-raid shelters?

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he can now make a statement concerning the policy he proposes to adopt for providing deep shelter for the population of vulnerable areas?

The Government are now in a position to announce their policy in regard to the provision of heavily protected shelters against air attack; but, before stating the conclusions arrived at, I should like to summarise the various stages in the development of the Government's shelter policy so that the matter may be viewed as a whole and in proper perspective.

The House may recollect that on 3rd November last my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary indicated that it would be the policy of the Government to provide protection against splinter, blast and the fall of debris for all in vulnerable areas who could not fairly be expected to provide it for themselves. A fortnight later, after certain preliminary work had been carried out Departmentally, I called to my aid in settling the details of this policy three engineers of great eminence recommended for this purpose at my request by the President of the Institution of Civil Engineers. These engineers, working in conjunction with the technical advisers of my Department, presented their report on 20th December; and before the House rose for the Christmas Recess I made a detailed statement of the means by which effect was to be given to that policy and of the special Exchequer assistance to be made available.

It will be recalled that the policy involved the adoption of a variety of expedients according to the varying conditions under which protection had to be provided. As the House knows, the first item in that policy comprised the distribution on a very large scale of a simple type of portable steel shelter suitable for erection in the gardens or yards of two-storey dwelling-houses. The distribution of these shelters began on the 20th February and has proceeded at a rate substantially in excess of the estimates originally made by the engineers. Already over 300,000 unit shelters capable of sheltering up to 1,500,000 people have been distributed; and distribution will for the future proceed at an accelerated rate.

The next item consisted in the strengthening of suitable basements. It had been hoped that the execution of this part of the policy would proceed with equal expedition: but it soon became clear that grave doubts were entertained in certain quarters—doubts based partly on an interpretation or misinterpretation of experience in Spain and partly on considerations of a more technical character —whether basements could in fact, be made reasonably safe by the methods proposed. I felt, therefore, that before proceeding to action on a large scale it was essential that these doubts should be cleared up by further investigation and practical tests. The necessary experiments were at once taken in hand under the guidance of the three engineers already referred to. They have necessarily taken time, as the results of each test had to be studied and interpreted before the next could be arranged. The last test was completed only a fortnight ago. The result has been to demonstrate the soundness of the strengthening device proposed.

Accordingly, steps were taken on 4th April to place the first orders for material; which had necessarily been held in abeyance pending the results of these tests, and simultaneously, with the collaboration of the professional institutions and of the trades concerned in building and civil engineering work, an organisation has been created to assist the local authorities in carrying out as speedily as possible the surveys and subsequent structural work, not only for the strutting of suitable basements but for the execution of the various alternative courses recommended in the engineer's report in cases in which neither the portable shelter nor the strutted basement could provide a satisfactory solution. There remained the question of the deep or heavily protected shelter, which as I have explained to the House on previous occasions—would be in addition to, and not in substitution for, any part of the policy of lighter protection on which the Government have already determined.

When my Department came to grips with that problem it speedily became clear that both technical and non-technical considerations of great complexity were involved and that, while certain broad conclusions could be formulated at once, further technical investigations of a fundamental character would be essential before a final judgment could be put forward with any confidence as the basis of a practical policy. For example, the data available in this country or from sources abroad were markedly deficient in regard to such matters as the physical characteristics of what is known as blast and its physiological effects and the effect of concussion on structures buried or partly buried in the earth. The resources of an enlarged and strengthened research department were brought to bear on these problems, and at the same time various projects which had been submitted for my consideration, including what is known as the Finsbury scheme, and certain proposals for car park shelters, were submitted for examination and advice to independent experts of the highest standing. Taking advantage of the time which these investigations would inevitably occupy I thought it desirable to convene a special conference to assist me by bringing under independent review all the considerations, non-technical as well as technical, which bear upon the problem.

That conference—which met under the chairmanship of Lord Hailey and included the Hon. Member for East Woolwich (Mr. Hicks), for whose ready collaboration I am very grateful—has now submitted a most comprehensive and valuable report. This has been laid before Parliament, and copies will be available in the Vote Office this afternoon. Hon. Members will find in the report itself a full statement of the considerations which the conference took into account, and I need only state the decisions which the Government have reached after considering the report and the results so far available of the various technical investigations to which I have referred. These are as follow:

"First, no grounds are shown for departing from the policy of blast and splinter proof protection already announced and summarised earlier in this statement, and the Government will accordingly make every effort to assure its being carried out as speedily as possible in vulnerable areas.

Second, an attempt to provide bomb-proof shelters on any general scale would prove impossible in practice, and would be a mistaken policy.

Third, there is a case for providing heavily protected shelter for certain key points and certain vital services.

Fourth, technical advice will be afforded as speedily as possible to industrialists and others as to the form or forms which such shelters might take."

These are the governing decisions which have been taken in this matter. Broadly, the Government have accepted the principles of the report of the Hailey Conference, though there remain a number of points on which further consideration is required. In particular, it will rest with the Government to indicate, through the appropriate Departments, in what cases more heavily protected shelter is considered desirable in the interests of all concerned. This will present a difficult problem of selection, but it is hoped that by proceeding first with the most obvious and urgent cases a solution representing a fair balance of considerations will be worked out. In the meantime, the Government earnestly hope that all concerned will proceed as rapidly as possible, with the provision of shelter proof against blast, splinter and the fall of debris, for all people in areas exposed to risk whether at their work, in their homes or in the streets.

May I ask whether the powers proposed in the Bill at present under consideration will be sufficient to enable this policy to be carried out?

Yes, Sir. Everything I have described in the statement will be within the terms either of the Air-Raid Precautions Act, 1937, or of the Bill now before the House.

As the right hon. Gentleman has now decided to rely on protection against blasts and splinters, will be tell the House when he proposes to expedite the completion of trenches in the public parks? May I ask whether he recalls a statement which he made in this House several weeks ago that this work was in progress, and can he explain why the work still remains unfinished? When is he going to get a move on?

These questions are rather outside the scope of the statement I have made. As to the first point, I think I shall carry the House with me when I say that I have at all times been most careful to avoid holding out any expectation that the ultimate decision would be other than that which I have announced.

Will the right hon. Gentleman now say whether he proposes to expedite the work in relation to trenches? What is his view now?

There was a question on the Paper which I was quite prepared to answer in regard to trenches, and I will circulate the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT if. it is so desired.

This is a most important matter, and, in view of the statement made many weeks ago by the right hon. Gentleman that this work was in progress, and that he now says he has decided to abandon the long-term policy, may I ask what protection is being afforded in the public parks?

I have not said anything in the statement bearing on the question of trenches. I have said that such delays as have occurred in the completion of trenches were, to a very large extent, due to causes outside the control of the Department. Perhaps hon. Members will await the statement.

May I ask whether in connection with the more heavily protected shelters there will be an increased rate of Government grant to local authorities and to employers?

No, Sir. The approved expenditure in this case will rank for grant on the terms laid down in the Air-Raid Precautions Act, 1937, in the case of local governments, and as proposed in the Civil Defence Bill in the case of employers.

May I ask when the pamphlet which my right hon. Friend promised to publish after Easter giving advice to large householders who propose to provide basement protection at their own expense, will be issued?

I hope at the beginning of next week.

Are we to gather from the statement that at certain special points deep shelters are to be provided that it means that local authorities will be encouraged to provide them, or are they to be ruled out altogether?

What I said towards the end of the statement, the third decision, is that there is a case for providing heavily protected shelter for certain key points and certain vital services.

If there is a case for providing heavily protected deep shelters for key points, is there not an equal case for providing them for the civilian population? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his statement will cause considerable apprehension? Is it intended that facilities will be given f or a Debate on this subject?

The statement I have made is intended to be read with the report which is being made this afternoon, and which will be available to hon. Members at once.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the very balanced policy which he has announced of providing varying degrees of protection according to the varying degrees of danger in different areas, will meet with widespread approval?

Is that a correct description of the policy? Has not the right hon. Gentleman told us that it was not in accordance with the degree of danger to which the civil population is exposed that shelters are to be provided, but in accordance with the importance of the service which has to be safeguarded?

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will be good enough to wait for the White Paper.

Are there special reasons for excluding the civil population in vulnerable areas from having the heavily protected shelters which he proposes to provide for key services? Is it merely a question of finance?

It is certainly not a question of finance, as the hon. Member will see from the report.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education which Lancashire local authorities are supplying to school children one pint of milk a day; and also which authorities deliver the milk to the homes concerned during the holidays?

I understand that in the Lancashire county area and in Wigan the amount of free milk supplied to necessitous undernourished children who do not also receive free dinners is usually one pint a day. In the other Lancashire areas where free milk is given the usual amount is either one-third or two-thirds of a pint, though some children receive a pmt a day. Where arrangements are made for the supply to be continued during the holidays the children attend centres where the milk is distributed; so far as I am aware the milk is not in any case delivered by the local education authority to the homes of the children, but if a child is prevented by illness from attending the centre the parents can arrange for the milk to be taken to the child's home.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think it will be better to raise the amount of milk given in ail cases to a pint, as a certain amount of distress is felt in those areas where the two systems are working side by side?

We urge that at least two-thirds of a pint should be given, but it is up to the local education authorities.

Is it really the case that there are people in this country, not refugees, who axe so hard up that we have to come to this House and beg for them to be given a pint of milk a day? Is that the case?

No, Sir.

What percentage of local authorities supply milk during the holidays?

I could not say without notice. I shall be pleased to let the hon. Member know.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what action he proposes to take to deal with the unsatisfactory school feeding arrangements in the city of Cardiff as revealed in a recent investigation by his officers?

The Board wrote to the Cardiff local education authority in January last setting out the defects in the feeding arrangements revealed by the investigation of their officers and invited the authority to send representatives to discuss the matter. An interview has now been arranged for next Thursday.

asked the Minister of Health the number of vacant dwellings, houses and flats, and their rateable value in Manchester and Liverpool on the latest date these records were last taken, and at the same date what number of dwellings were owned by these authorities, and further, what number at the same date were in construction and contemplated under the slum clearance and overcrowding schemes, respectively?

I understand that on 1st April, 1938, there were in Manchester 4,406 vacant dwellings of a rateable value of about £80,000. At that date the corporation owned 28,398 dwellings and had 4,427 under construction or in contemplation for slum clearance or for the abatement of overcrowding. No figures are available of the number of vacant dwellings in Liverpool. The corporation of Liverpool own about 39,000 dwellings and have about 15,500 under construction or in contemplation, of which about 5,000 are for the abatement of overcrowding, and the remainder for slum clearance.

Will the Ministry of Health consider the desirability of relieving local authorities of their statutory obligations in the matter of slum clearance and overcrowding where there are an adequate number of empty houses in the district?

Four-fifths of the house building is done by private enterprise, and it is, therefore, for private enterprise to study the market.

Am I to understand that the hon. Gentleman thinks that private enterprise will see that local authorities carry out their statutory obligations?

I did not say that.

Is it not realised that several thousands of empty houses would be needed if people are to move from one to the other?

Does not the hon. Gentleman think that the moral to be drawn from the question is that this House should sanction the rating of empty property, so as to bring empty dwellings into use?

How can the rating of empty properties solve the problem?

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been directed to the indiscriminate apportionment by local authorities according to frontage of the cost of construction of roads flanking premises of property owners whether deriving advantage or the reverse therefrom; and what steps he proposes to abate the injustice occasioned?

The law relating to private street works is at present under review by the Highway Law Consolidation Committee, and the particular problem to which my hon. Friend refers is receiving their attention.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I raised this matter in the House some years ago, and how long does he think it will be before this injustice is removed?

I could not anticipate the findings of the committee or say when its deliberations will be concluded.

Is the committee likely to recommend any modifications in the law seeing that it is a consolidating committee?

We shall have to await the report of the committee.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there are many instances of owner-occupiers of small houses who are called upon to pay large sums for road development, and will he make some representations to local authorities in the matter?

All these questions are being examined by the committee, and we are awaiting its report.

Is it not the duty of an occupier to find out whether the road has been made up or not?

asked the Minister of Health what steps he has taken to advise local authorities concerning the keeping of poultry on their housing estates?

My right hon. Friend is referring this matter to the Central Housing Advisory Committee for consideration and report.

asked the Minister of Health whether he considers that he will be in a position to sanction modifications of the model building by-laws issued by his Department, in connection with the Public Health Act, 1936, before 31st July, when all other building by-laws will cease to have effect, or will he allow existing by-laws to remain in force until he has arrived at a decision on such modifications?

Building by-laws already submitted are being considered with all possible expedition and my right hon. Friend has urged all local authorities who have not yet submitted such by-laws, to do so at the earliest possible moment; but he has found it necessary to indicate that, owing to the shortness of time available, he cannot now undertake to examine any proposals for new by-laws which involve modifications of the model series unless these suggestions are of a minor character and are fully justified by local circumstances. My right hon. Friend is not at present in a position to say what steps it may be necessary or desirable to take under powers available to him in relation to any areas where, for any reason, new by-laws may not have been submitted and confirmed by 31st July next.

asked the Minister of Health whether the plans for the new maternity unit at Whiston county hospital have yet been passed; and when building is to begin?

No proposals have yet been submitted to my right hon. Friend, but he is communicating with the county council in the matter.

As the area which these hospitals serve has had a fourfold increase in population in recent years, will the hon. Gentleman expedite this matter, which is very urgent?

Yes, Sir, I will do what I can.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can now state what hospitals in the city of Liverpool are equipped with the apparatus known as iron lungs?

I am making inquiries from the local authority, and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health the percentage of water content in the bread sold in England and in the United States, respectively?

I have no recent information as to the average water content of bread sold in this country. In the United States, as I understand, certain kinds of bread are defined as having a maximum of 38 per cent. of moisture one hour or more after baking, but I have no further information.

Will my hon. Friend take steps to find out this information, which can be obtained, and is it not very desirable in the interests of the country that those figures should be obtained?

I will see what can be done.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that I really mean that I want the information?

I bore that in mind in giving my answer.

Is there no standard for water in bread as there is for water in milk?

No, Sir, there is none.

Is it not a fact that there is about 98 per cent. of water in an individual?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the proposal of the Monmouth Town Council to establish a refuse tip in a thickly populated area has aroused intense local opposition because of the health and amenity dangers involved, and the close proximity of two dairies and two schools; whether he has considered a petition of protest from local residents; and whether he will take steps to satisfy himself regarding the wisdom or otherwise of the proposal?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the proposal and has received a petition of protest. He understands that an order for the compulsory purchase of the proposed site is to be submitted to him by the town council for confirmation. He would, in that case, direct the holding of a public local inquiry into the matter.

asked the Minister of Health on what date the last inspection was made of the burning pit- heap at the Garswood Hall Collieries Company, Limited, Bryn, near Wigan; whether he is aware that it is as big a nuisance as ever; and whether he will have immediate steps taken to bring about an abatement of this nuisance?

The last inspection was made on 29th March. Works are under construction to enable the heap to be attacked with water which should produce good results.