asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that a protest was lodged with the League of Nations by the Albanian Government against the Italian invasion of Albania on Good Friday; and whether the protest was received by M. Avenol, the Secretary-General, but not accepted?

I understand that the Albanian Chargéd'Affaires at Paris addressed to the Secretary-General of the League a communication dated 8th April, but apparently posted on 11th April, asking for an immediate meeting of the Council. The Secretary-General replied that on 8th April the Albanian Government could have made this communication either direct or through then-representative at Geneva and that in the circumstances the letter from the Chargéd'Affaires could not be regarded as constituting an appeal in virtue of the Covenant.

asked the Prime Minister how many countries are now members of the League of Nations; how many countries have left the League since 1931; and how many nations have given notice to leave the League?

Fifty-four States are now members of the League of Nations. The following countries have left the League since 1931: Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Nicaragua and Paraguay. The following countries have given notice to leave the League: Albania, Chile, Hungary, Italy, Peru, Salvador and Venezuela.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can state the number of Italian troops now located in Libya; and whether they exceed the number agreed to under the Anglo-Italian Agreement?

I would refer to the reply given to the hon. Member for Central Southwark (Mr. Day) on the 8th March. Count Ciano in his note of 16th April, 1938, did not specify any particular number as the strength of the Italian forces in Libya.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any information concerning the arrangements made by General Franco for the use of Spain's Atlantic ports in the event of war; and, if not, whether he will ask His Majesty's Ambassador to obtain such information?

If, as I assume, the hon. Member is referring to the case of a war in which Spain was a neutral Power, the use of Spanish ports by the ships of the belligerent Powers would be regulated by the rules of international law. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give a list of those countries which have now recognised the present Spanish Nationalist Government?

The following countries have recognised the present Spanish Government as the de jure Government of Spain:

asked the Prime Minister whether a specific guarantee is intended of the independence of Jugoslavia?

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Parker) on 18th April.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the President of the Board of Trade is a director of Prescot Proprietary, Limited; and whether he will take steps to ensure compliance with the rule that Ministers of the Crown should not hold company directorships?

Prescot Proprietary, Limited; is a private company and is not subject to the rule to which the hon. Member refers. In any case I am informed that my right hon. Friend is not a director of the company, although he has power to act for one of the directors in the event of that director being abroad. He has no interest in the profits of the company, and has in fact never been called upon to act as a director.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will state the number of occasions during the past two years on which communications have passed between the British Board of Film Censors and himself with reference to requests for information or guidance?

I have no knowledge of any such communications.

asked the Lord Privy Seal who was responsible for digging the trenches in Lincoln's Inn Fields; and what action is contemplated to deal with the trenches?

These trenches were dug by the Borough of Holborn during the crisis last September, with the consent of the London County Council, to whom this open space belongs. My final approval of the borough's plans for making the trenches permanent was given on 15th April.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the number of air-raid protection schemes submitted by Scottish local authorities to the last convenient date; the number of these schemes that have been accepted in full by the national authorities and the number rejected; and in how many cases has the rejection been due to financial reasons?

With a view to expediting progress with schemes, authorities were recommended in August last to proceed by way of submitting, and securing informal approval to, parts of schemes rather than complete schemes. This system has been generally adopted by the Scottish authorities and has worked satisfactorily. In a certain number of cases it has been found necessary to reject on financial or other grounds individual items arising on parts of schemes submitted, but such rejection has not entailed rejection of a scheme or part of a scheme as a whole.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many auxiliary firemen and special constables have been enrolled for air-raid precautions services in the city of Liverpool; how such numbers compare with estimated requirements during an emergency; and to what extent have uniforms and fire-fighting equipment been supplied to these air-raid precautions services?

I am informed that 2,738 auxiliary firemen and 1,604 special constables have been enrolled out of estimated requirements in time of emergency of 10,000 and 2,100 respectively. 500 sets of uniform have been issued to auxiliary firemen and further deliveries are now awaited from the contractors; the Watch Committee of the city decided on Tuesday last to order 1,000 uniforms immediately for special constables. A total of 89 pumps, including six heavy, 18 large and 65 light pumps, have so far been delivered to Liverpool.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has considered the letter, dated the 13th April, from the town clerk of Liverpool asking him to state his Department's policy in regard to the provision of complete shelter protection for the civilian population remaining in the city during an emergency, particularly as to shelters for the occupants of tenements and houses unsuited for the use of steel shelters now being distributed; what answer he has given; and will he also state his Department's attitude towards the Liverpool proposals to provide additional shelter in some areas by the covering in of narrow streets?

I have had the letter under consideration. I shall be issuing a circular next week to local authorities in vulnerable areas regarding a comprehensive programme of shelter accommodation. The assistance of the professional institutions has been obtained for conducting with the utmost speed a detailed survey in the course of which consideration will be given to the practicability of such expedients as that referred to in the last part of the question.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he can now say what alternative accommodation he proposes for deep bomb-proof shelters for those industrial populations who, during war emergency, must remain at or near their employment, and householders whose homes do not permit of the use of steel shelters or of basement protection?

An alternative form of shelter for use where the special steel shelter cannot be used and there is no basement capable of being strengthened has been designed, and it is hoped that details will be in the hands of local authorities this month.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he can state the progress made with the construction of air-raid shelters in the county of Durham?

As the hon. Member will appreciate, the provision of public shelter is primarily the responsibility of the local authority. Proposals submitted by the County Boroughs of Sunderland and South Shields and the Borough of Hartlepool are under consideration. The County Borough of Gateshead also made certain proposals, but I was not able to agree to the scale of shelter accommodation proposed. I have not received any other proposals for communal shelter, other than trench construction, from the county of Durham.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether any elephant shelters are being supplied, under the Government air-raid precautions schemes, for overground blast-proof protection; and whether any tests have been made with the said shelters?

The answer to the first part of this question is in the negative. The second part does not therefore arise.

Adams asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, and with what result, a survey has been made of the disused mines, quarries, coaldrifts, and of natural land formations likely to be of use as shelters in war emergency?

The provision of communal shelter against air attack is primarily a matter for the local authorities, who should properly have regard to the possibilities afforded by natural features and disused industrial workings. In a number of instances shelter schemes taking advantage of natural features have been submitted to me and have been approved or agreed to in principle.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now state the amounts paid in Income Tax by local authorities in Great Britain during the financial years 1930–31, and the latest year for which figures are available; and the amounts paid by trading and non-trading departments, separately, for the same two years?

I promised the hon. Member that I would make inquiries, and I find that the figures for which he asks could not be ascertained without detailed investigation and analysis which would have to be made specially in regard to the separate local authorities all over the country. In view of the time and labour which would be involved, I cannot undertake to furnish them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, before finally deciding on his Budget proposals, he will consider favourably making permissible, for Income Tax assessment, deductions in respect of medical expenses, nursing home costs, and surgeon's fees, which have been necessarily incurred to enable a wage-earner to continue earning an income from which Income Tax is leviable; and whether he has any statement to make on the subject?

I regret that I cannot see my way to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider an adjustment of the law, in view of the fact that married persons have their total income assessed as one, which makes them become liable to considerably heavier taxation than two single persons having the same total income?

My hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate my Budget statement. I may point out, however, that the assumption on which his question is based is not generally true, for in the case of smaller incomes, and especially where the wife has no income of her own, the treatment of husband and wife as two single persons would in many cases increase the amount of tax which they would have to bear.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to stimulating recruitment for the Territorial Army, he will, irrespective of the Budget, give consideration to a proposal to relieve employers from payment of an amount of Income Tax equivalent to the wages of each employé for a fortnight who has completed in any given year his fortnight's Territorial camp training, and thus encourage both the employer and the employé to respond to the national appeal?

My hon. Friend invites me to consider his proposal "irrespective of the Budget" but if the general tax- payer is to pay these wages, the financial effect has to be considered, and I am afraid that I cannot entertain the suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will enter into negotiations with the British Dominions overseas, which do not already do so, for arrangements under which they will grant any balance of relief required to eliminate the lower of the two rates of Income Tax?

The granting by Dominions of the complementary relief to which my hon. Friend refers was recommended in the scheme for relief from double Income Tax within the Empire put forward by the Royal Commission on the Income Tax in 1920, which is implemented, so far as relief from United Kingdom tax is concerned, by the provisions of Section 27 of the Finance Act, 1920. The question of reviewing the scheme has been raised with the Dominions on more than one occasion since then, and I am afraid that it would not serve any useful purpose to reopen the matter with them at the present moment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the Civil Defence Bill provides for certain grants in respect of air-raid precautions expenditure which are approximately equivalent to the allowance of capital expenditure for Income Tax purposes, he will make it clear in the approaching Finance Bill, or in some other manner, that such part of air-raid precautions expenditure as is not refunded by a grant under the Civil Defence Bill will be regarded as an allowable deduction for Income Tax purposes and not disallowed on the grounds that it is capital or has been, for the purposes of a grant, claimed to be capital expenditure?

No, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to increasing the number of shelters against air-raids in all parts of the country, he will consider as to whether some relief from direct taxation might be afforded to those private individuals who, at their own expense, proceed forthwith to construct shelters for the protection of their families and dependants, such relief to be proportionate to the number of persons that the shelters could accommodate?

No, Sir. I would, however, refer my hon. Friend to the provisions contained in Section 17 of the Finance Act, 1938, for relief from Income Tax, Schedule A, in respect of additions or alterations to buildings which are made solely for the purpose of affording protection in the event of air raids.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is informed of the stimulation of export trade in neighbouring countries by means of export subsidies and remission of taxes; and whether it is the intention of the Government to assist British traders to meet this competition by relieving them of the handicap of paying taxes in two countries?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he is aware of the terms of the agreement which has recently been signed between Sweden and the United States of America to avoid double taxation on profits on businesses and investments owned or conducted jointly in Sweden and America; whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to initiate negotiations with the United States of America for a similar agreement;(2) whether he is aware that a treaty for the avoidance of double taxation between Germany and France was ratified on 22nd January last; and whether he is in a position to state whether he intends to try to achieve a treaty with similar objects between Great Britain and France?

I would point out that our law provides for arrangements on a reciprocal basis with foreign countries for relieving from double Income Tax shipping and air transport profits and profits derived from business carried on through certain agencies. A number of arrangements have been made under these provisions with foreign countries, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Greece, Switzerland, the United States and Japan. The position of His Majesty's Government in regard to the extension of the scope of such arrangements to other kinds of business profits was stated by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in the course of the Finance Bill of 1937 on an amendment moved by my hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Peat), and as at present advised I have nothing to add to that statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, observing the present heavy burden of taxation on the industry and earnings of the people, and the special sales tax upon musical and dramatic art, he will consider the imposition of a tax upon betting; and whether, in order to make such taxation effective, equitable and easy, he will recommend to His Majesty's Government a reform of the betting laws on the lines of the Royal Commission on Lotteries and Betting, and the Betting and Bookmakers Bill, 1938?

The suggestion made in the first part of the question has been noted; but I am not prepared to make the recommendation suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any moneys, other than those provided by the general taxpayer, are used to finance the Old Age Pensions Act of 1908; and, if so, from what sources are such moneys provided?

The answer is in the negative. The whole of the money required to provide pensions over 70 is provided by the Exchequer under the Old Age Pension Vote (Class V, Vote 6).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to facilitate the financing of the armament expenditure, he is proposing to take steps to prevent or control the export of British capital for the purchase of foreign securities?

As the House has been informed on several occasions the purchase of foreign securities for resale is already regulated for the Foreign Transactions Advisory Committee and I am glad of this opportunity of expressing my hope that no such purchases will be made for investment either. I am sure that the good sense of investors will indicate to them that the export of capital at the present time when the requirements for national defence are so great would be deleterious to the national interests.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to take steps to prevent speculative dealings in British currency, or forward purchases, or sales, except for normal trading purposes?

I would remind my hon. Friend that I addressed a letter, which was published, to the Bank of England on this subject on the 2nd January last, and that a very effective system of control has been established by the market authorities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that in the event of war the pay of men serving with the armed forces together with the allowances paid to their dependants will be at least equivalent to the wages of men working in munition factories or engaged in other forms of non-combatant service?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 18th April by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, East (Mr. A. Edwards). I am sending a copy of this reply and of the statement to which it refers to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, in view of the fact that Parliament votes moneys to assist the British Council and the Travel and Industrial Development Association of Great Britain and Ireland, he will ask Parliament to vote moneys for the purpose of securing publicity overseas for the industries of this country?

Yes, Sir. Parliament is being asked to vote a sum in respect of the present financial year, in order to secure further publicity overseas in regard to the industrial achievement, enterprise and capacity of this country. The work will be entrusted to my Department and will be in the nature of national, rather 1han sectional, publicity.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will state the approximate division, as estimated by his Inland Revenue advisers, as between British Dominion and foreign sources, respectively, of the income from abroad in columns 4, 5 and 6 of Table 50 of the Eighty-First Inland Revenue Report [Cmd. 5865] for the years 1933–34, 1935–36. and 1936–37;(2)whether he will state the approximate division, as estimated by his Inland Revenue advisers, as between British Dominion and foreign sources, respectively, of the total estimated actual income of £70,000,000 for 1933–34, £ £77,000,000 for 1935–36, and £82,000,000 for 1936–37, stated in paragraph 43 on page 59 of the Eighty-First Inland Revenue Report [Cmd. 5865]?

I regret that I am not in a position to furnish the apportioned figures requested by my hon. Friend in these questions.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the number of established shorthand typists employed in Government Departments as at 1st April, 1939, and how many of these officers were employed in tax offices of the Board of Inland Revenue?

The latest figure available for the total number of established shorthand typists employed in Government Departments is that relating to 1st April, 1938, which I gave to the hon. Member in reply to a question on the 6th February last. There were then 4,482 established shorthand typists employed; of these 1,417 were employed in tax offices of the Inland Revenue Department. The number employed in tax offices at 1st April, 1939, was 1,459.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the number of superintendents and chief superintendents of typing staff, respectively, in post in each Government Department as at 1st April, 1939?

I regret that the precise information asked for is not available. The total numbers of posts of chief superintendent of typists and superintendent of typists provided for in Departmental Estimates for 1939 are 57 and 382, respectively. Particulars of the numbers of posts in individual Departments are to be found in the printed Estimates.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the number of established clerical assistants, Grade 1, employed in Government Departments as at 1st April, 1938, and how many of them fell within each of the following age groups; under 21 years, 21 to 25, 26 to 30, 31 to 35, 36 to 40, 41 to 45, 46 to 50, over 50 years?

12,606 established clerical assistants, Grade 1, were employed in Government Departments on 1st April, 1938, and their age groups on that date were as follow:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of the considerable delay that takes place from the time of application and final determination as to loans facilities from the Public Works Loans Board to Welsh local government authorities for housing purposes; and if he will take steps to prevent such delay or refusal of such loans, in view of the fact that a recent Government inquiry has strongly condemned many houses in Welsh districts?

I am not aware of any unreasonable delay between a local authority's application for a loan and the final decision of the Public Works Loan Board upon it. In a few cases, which are not confined to Wales, additional time is required for inquiries which the board consider necessary. It would not be proper for me to interfere with the Public Works Loan Board in the discharge of the duties laid upon them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the action and decision of Glasgow Licensing Authority in issuing, as a condition of granting a licence to public-houses, that they shall prohibit the game known as darts; under what authority they have banned such games of skill; and will he make representations to them to withdraw this order, or himself take the necessary measures to safeguard the freedom of Glasgow citizens by limiting the power of the said authority?

I understand that the licensing court have indicated that they do not favour the playing of games in public-houses, but that this has not been made a condition of obtaining a licence. I have no jurisdiction over the magistrates sitting as a licensing court.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what local authorities in Scotland have submitted air-raid fire-precautions schemes under the Air-Raid Precautions Act, 1937; and which of these have been sanctioned?

Following is the answer:

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has considered the letter, of date 13th April, 1939, addressed to him by the Joint Advisory Committee of Scottish Institutions for the Blind regarding the impossibility of these Scottish institutions providing air-raid shelters for their employé's as required under the Civil Defence Bill; and what steps he will take in the matter?

I have had the Joint Advisory Committee's letter under consideration and I am examining the issues which it raises in consultation with Departments concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will state the total monetary value of the orders placed in Scotland by the Navy, Army, and Air Force since the commencement of the rearmament programme?

I fear that the collection of the information desired by the hon. Member would mean imposing on the Departments a great deal of additional work which is very undesirable under existing conditions of pressure.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is now in a position to announce any revision in the Schedule of Reserved Occupations [Cmd. 5926]?

I can assure the House that my colleagues and I are making every effort to expedite a final decision and I hope to be in a position to make a statement not later than Thursday next.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is in a position to state the remuneration to be paid to the regional commissioners and deputy regional commissioners in connection with the Civil Defence regional organisation?

No question of remuneration will arise in peace time but it is proposed that in war regional commissioners and deputy regional commissioners should be eligible to receive such salary, not exceeding £2,500 per annum and £1,000 per annum respectively, as may be decided in each case.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in what circumstances Lieutenant-Colonel Cripps has been appointed to a post in his Department; what salary the post carries; what are the duties involved, and what special qualifications Lieutenant-Colonel Cripps possesses for their discharge; and whether he is satisfied that the post could not have been filled from amongst civil servants already serving either in the Department or elsewhere?

The staff of the Food (Defence Plans) Department has been considerably expanded recently in order to accelerate the preparation of arrangements necessary for the supply, control and distribution of food in time of war. Though the expansion has been effected in many cases by the promotion of officers in the Civil Service, it has been found necessary to supplement the staff drawn from the permanent Service with a number of temporary officers. In accordance with this arrangement, Lieutenant-Colonel Cripps, who had had previous experience of administrative work, was appointed as a temporary assistant in the Meat and Live Stock Branch of the Department on the 16th January, 1939, at a salary of £500 a year. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been built by the Blackwell Rural District Council in each of the last three years; what separate subsidies have been paid to the council in connection with them; and by what amount the subsidies paid to the Black-well Rural District Council have been adversely affected by the fact that some of the houses were not completed before 31st December, 1938?

The council built 78 houses in 1936, 61 in 1937 and 113 in 1938. The Exchequer grants received by the council in these three years were £276, £579 and £1,111, respectively. On present information I am unable to say how far, if at all, the subsidies payable to the council may be effected by their failure to complete some of the houses by the end of last year, and my right hon. Friend proposes to take up the matter with them.

asked the Attorney-General whether he can yet state what action is proposed to deal with the situation disclosed in the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the case of Smith v. Pearl Assurance Company, Limited, on 12th January, 1939?

This matter is still under consideration.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the practice of using foreign-made patrol cars in some parts of the country, he will institute inquiries as to the suitability of patrol cars of British manufacture with a view to recommending their purchase to all police authorities?

I am not aware of any such practice. It is a condition of the payment of the Government grant in respect of motor patrol cars that the cars used must be of British manufacture; cars of foreign manufacture may occasionally be used on other classes of police work, but only in quite exceptional circumstances where a particular type of car might be needed.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that a considerable portion of the costs of administering the criminal law in this country is paid by fees collected from civil litigants; and whether he will consider an amendment of Section 4 of the Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1938, so as to remunerate qualified chairmen of quarter sessions out of such fees and not put the expense upon the county rates?

I cannot accept the suggestion that part of the cost of administering the criminal law is paid by fees collected by civil litigants. The second part of the question does not therefore arise, but in any event the amendment suggested would be neither practicable nor fair.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has considered the report of the Departmental Committee on the Imposition of Penalties by Marketing Boards and other similar bodies; and what action, if any, he proposes to take to give effect to the committee's recommendations?

The recommendations of the Departmental Committee on the Imposition of Penalties by marketing boards and other similar bodies are receiving careful consideration. I am not yet able to make any statement on this matter.

asked the Minister of Agritulture how many persons are engaged in agriculture as tractor drivers; and how many are above the age of 25?

I regret that information is not available regarding the numbers of persons engaged as tractor drivers in agriculture but an inquiry carried out in September, 1937, indicated that there were at that time about 43,000 tractors on farms in England and Wales. It is reasonable to infer, therefore, that there were then at least that number of persons on farms who devoted some part of their time to driving tractors, but no information is available to indicate what proportion might be above 25 years of age.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether farmers have yet been told what they should do to increase the supply of home-grown food to meet a national emergency?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is in a position to make a statement concerning the arrangements he has made, after consultation with county representatives, of the plans for increasing the production of home-grown produce?

As was indicated in this House by my predecessor, the precise manner in which the campaign for increased home food production in time of war, which forms one part of the Government's plans for food defence, would be carried out, depends on a number of factors, including the time of year when a war broke out and the nature of the struggle in which the country was involved. The Government's plans have, therefore, been prepared in a form which could readily be finally adopted in the light of the circumstances which might exist when war broke out. It would, however, be necessary in any event to increase the area under arable cultivation, and consultations have already taken place with those who will be entrusted with the organisation of the campaign.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many women have been registered for the land army; what bodies are responsible for arranging their training; and how many are already receiving training?

Up to 17th April 5,981 women had been enrolled in the Women's Land Army. It is not the present intention to arrange, during peacetime, courses of training for women volunteers, but the Women's Farm and Garden Association, which is making arrangements for women on its own register to obtain training on payment of their own expenses, has agreed to offer the same facilities, so far as possible, to new volunteers, and it is understood that some 150 women have taken or are taking short courses of instruction.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the reasons why the number of slaughtered cattle under the Tuberculosis Order in Brecon and Radnor in the year ended 31st March, 1939, was only nine and two, respectively; and whether the frequency of inspection visits of cattle by the Department's veterinary staff for the purposes of the Tuberculosis Order is relatively equal in each of the Welsh counties?

The reason for the small number of cattle slaughtered under the Tuberculosis Order in Brecon and Radnor is the low incidence of the disease in those two counties. With regard to the last part of the hon. Member's question, I would point out that visits of inspection are not made under the Tuberculosis Order, and that animals are dealt with under that Order as a result of inspections for other purposes, of reports from farmers and others and of reports from Medical Officers of Health as to the existence of tubercle bacilli in milk.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he expects to receive the report of the Bacon Development Board's investigation into the working of the scheme under the Bacon Industry Act; and whether, in view of the steady decline in the number of pigs, he will expedite it?

Lord Portal, the Chairman of the Bacon Development Board, has, at my request, appointed a Committee of the Board to inquire into difficulties which the bacon industry has experienced during the past few months. I am unable to state when the Committee will report to the Board, but I have no doubt they will do so at the earliest possible date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he anticipates the Report of the Royal Commission on the West Indies will be available; and whether it will be possible for such recommendations as it may make for the development of the West Indian sugar industry to be available to the Government in time to enable consideration to be given to any action which may be necessary in connection with the Budget or the subsequent Finance Bill?

I understand that the earliest date at which the Report of the Commission might be available is in three or four months' time. The answer to the second part of the question is therefore in the negative.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has now received the Report of the Transport Advisory Council on the matter of the proposed agreement between the railway companies and the shipping and road transport interests?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he proposes to give effect to the main recommendations of the Report of the Select Committee of the House of Lords on the Prevention of Road Accidents, issued March, 1939; and, in particular, those which require no new legislation?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers which I gave yesterday and on Tuesday on the subject of the recommendations made in this Report.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in consultation with the Home Secretary, he can devise some method whereby the insurance cards of Irish workers normally resident in Eire can be marked, in order to provide some check upon the growing habit of Irish workers obtaining employment in the United Kingdom and holding the position long enough to qualify for benefit and then surrendering their work to another Irishman who, in turn, acts in the same manner; and whether there are any statistics under the existing system to indicate the number of Irish workers drawing benefit?

I have no evidence of the practice referred to by my hon. Friend nor am I clear as to the check he has in mind. A person is disqualified for receiving benefit if he leaves his employ-

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the strike of painters in Glasgow Corporation housing direct labour service; whether he can state the number of men on strike and the number who are still working; whether the men who are working are members of the Painters' Union; what are the reasons for the dis-

asked the Minister of Labour what number of men from each of the exchanges, Ferndale, Porth, Tonypandy and Treorchy, within the last six months have been invited to accept work at the Government undertaking at Corsham, near Bath; how many accepted the invitation; how many refused and have since suffered a suspension of benefit or allowance; and how many have actually been sent forward to work?

Following is the answer:pute; and whether he intends to take action with a view to ending the dispute?

I am aware of this stoppage of work by painters in the employment of Glasgow Corporation. I understand that about 200 men are on strike and that about 40 have remained at work, of whom a considerable majority are members of the Scottish Painters' Society. I am informed that the stoppage is by way of protest against the employment of labourers on the scraping and red-leading of railings. Negotiations with a view to ending the dispute are proceeding under the auspices of the Scottish Trades Union Congress.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the number of textile operatives totally unemployed, and on short time, respectively, in the Dewsbury Exchange area for the months of March in 1937, 1938 and 1939?

The available statistics relate to persons aged 16 to 64 wholly unemployed (i.e., out of a situation) or temporarily stopped (i.e., temporarily suspended from work on the understanding that they are shortly to return to their former employment). Short-time workers not at work on the day of the count are included in the latter category, but are not separately distinguished in the statistics.The table below shows the numbers of insured persons, aged 16 –64, recorded as unemployed in the textile industries at Dewsbury at one date in March of each of the years 1937, 1938 and 1939, distinguishing those wholly unemployed and those temporarily stopped.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in addition to canvas clothing, he will consider issuing to Reservists who rejoin the Colours for a period of training a suit of service dress which could be returned to store on the completion of their training?

Provision has been made for the full scale of clothing (including service dress) to be issued during training to those Reservists who are to attend manoeuvres, but, in cases where Reservists will be in barracks, the issue of service dress (in addition to two suits of canvas clothing) is not necessary and would be wasteful.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give any information in connection with the explosion at Shoeburyness, Essex, on Thursday, 13th April, when a sergeant was killed and two gunners were injured; and what was the cause of the explosion?

The explosion was apparently due to the accidental ignition of the charge while a gun was being loaded. The two injured men are progressing favourably and are now off the "seriously ill" list. An inquest on the deceased sergeant was held on Monday last, and a verdict of "accidental death" was recorded. A court of inquiry is being held. I should like to take this opportunity to express sympathy with the relatives of the soldier who lost his life, and also with the injured men.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can state, by way of estimate or otherwise, the proportion of postal orders for each of the last five years issued for the purposes of football pools and associated business?

The proportion is estimated to be about 30 per cent. for the year 1934–35 and a little over 40 per cent. for each of the succeeding four years.