asked the Minister of Agriculture what number of vocational training centres for agriculture there is in England, Scotland and Wales, giving each country separately; what number attending such centres; ages of trainees; length of training; and whether any facilities are specially offered to men from distressed areas over 40 years of age?

I am assuming that the hon. Member refers to centres of agricultural education coming within the purview of the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself.In England, there are 12 Agricultural Colleges and University Departments of Agriculture, and 13 Farm Institutes; in Scotland three Agricultural Colleges; and in Wales two University Departments of Agriculture and four Farm Institutes.The usual minimum age on entry at Colleges and University Departments is about 18 years, and at Farm Institutes 16. I am unable to give any figures of the actual ages of students in training.The total number of persons taking courses at Colleges and University De- partments in the academic year 1937 –38, was, in England 1,379, in Scotland 642 and in Wales 172. The numbers on the registers of Farm Institutes at 1st November, 1938, were, in England 642 and in Wales 131.No special facilities are provided at these Institutions for men from the Special Areas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the great wastage of fruit which occurs in this country when there is a large crop, he can state what steps are to be taken before the ripening of the next fruit crop to make proper arrangements for the conversion of surplus fruit into fruit-juice and other liquid products?

For many years past the Ministry has grant-aided research work on this subject at the Long Ashton Research Station, and satisfactory methods for conversion of surplus fruit into fruit-juices and other liquid products have been evolved. At the present time

Commodity.	England			Wales.			Scotland
	1925–6.	1936–7	1937–8.	1925–6.	1936–7.	1937–8.	1925–6.	1936–7	1937–8
Beef ('000 cwt.)	7,200	8,719	8,472	(a)	(a)	(a)	3,000	2,993	2,748
Veal ('000 cwt.)	630	775	716				46	44	19
Mutton and Lamb ('000 cwt.)	3,003	3,344	3,417				1,192	1,293	1,200
Pig meat	5,474	7,616	7,083				253	456	483
(b)Milk (million galls.)	1,150	1,314	1,300				170	180	179
Poultry ('000 head)	19,460	23,750	31,250				2,754	2,219	2,775
Eggs (million)	1,632	2,895	2,755				239	389	441
(c) Wheat ('000 tons)	1,343	1,363	1,378	17	15	15	44	8l	95
(c) Barley ('000 tons)	975	644.	558	35	19	18	112	42	66
(c) Oats ('000 tons)	1,278	974	837	101	106	101	285	287	323
(c) Potatoes ('000 tons)	3,078	2,720	3,027	136	94	99	775	842	699
Fruit ('000 cwt.)	10,624	12,617	8,841	(a)	(a)	(a)	170	278	278
(a) Included in England. Separate figures for Wales are not available.
(b) Total production of milk for all purposes other than that fed to livestock,
(c) Total production. A proportion is used for purposes other than human consumption.

As regards the second part of the question, the Government's agricultural policy as a whole, including further measures in prospect, is calculated to improve the productive capacity of the land.

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) whether, in view of the importance of fostering home production at least six factories are in operation producing excellent fruit-juices by means of the processes developed at Long Ashton. My hon. Friend is doubtless aware that at the end of last month a successful open conference was convened at Long Ashton with the object of securing more widespread public recognition of the value of fruit-juices and the desirability of extended production.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what quantity of animal products and crops of human consumption was grown in England, Scotland and Wales, giving each country, separately, for the years 1921,1926, 1937, and 1938; and what steps is he taking to increase home production?

The following statement gives the estimated quantities of the principal animal products and crops for human consumption produced in England, Scotland, and Wales in each of the years 1925 –26, 1936 –37, and 1937 –38. Corresponding particulars for 1921 are not available.of essential foodstuffs, he will state what action he intends to take to make the manufacture of full-cream milk-powder an economic proposition in Great Britain;(2) whether he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to the establishment of a commodity council in. respect of processed milk?

The discussions between the home producers of full-cream milk-powder and other forms of processed milk and the representatives in London of the appropriate overseas interests, which have been proceeding for some time under the auspices of the Government, with a view to restoring stability to the market for these products, have now reached an advanced stage. Endeavours have been made to obtain voluntary agreement covering the next two years on allocations for export to the United Kingdom of all classes of processed milk as a basis for the establishment of a commodity council for such products. It is contemplated that the home producer would in consequence be enabled to secure an adequate share of the market. Complete unanimity has not, however, been secured and the whole question is now receiving further consideration. The importance of an early decision in the matter is fully appreciated.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what number of persons are employed in agriculture in England and Wales, giving each year separately, 1921, 1926, 1930, 1935, 1937, 1938, and up to latest date in 1939, giving England and Wales separately?

The numbers of agricultural workers returned by occupiers as employed on agricultural holdings over one acre in extent in England and Wales on 4th June in each of the years mentioned prior to 1939 are given in the following statement. Particulars are not yet available for any date in 1939.

Agricultural Workers. *
Year.			England (excluding Monmouth).	Wales (including Monmouth).
1921	…	…	806,748	62,435
1926	…	…	732,535	62,364
1930	…	…	678,641	63,055
1936	…	…	620,317	52,886
1937	…	…	584,969	46,688
1938	…	…	549,178	43,945
* Excluding the occupiers of holdings and domestic servants.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the milk equivalent of the milk products imported into this country during the first quarter of 1939; how this gallonage compares with the amount of liquid milk produced in this country during the same period; and whether he is now in a position to state what steps are to be taken to make it feasible for a larger proportion of our requirements of milk products to be produced in this country from British milk?

The milk equivalent of milk products imported into the United Kingdom during the first quarter of 1939 is computed at 686 million gallons. I regret that information is not available of the total quantity of liquid milk produced in this country during the same period, but the liquid milk sold under contract by the Milk Marketing Board together with the milk sold through the three Milk Marketing Boards in Scotland during that period amounts to approximately 229 million gallons. In regard to the last part of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on the 16th February last to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Howden-shire (Major Carver).

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the promised investigation into the allegations against the management of Imperial Airways, Limited, has yet been held?

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the investigation into the allegations against the management of Imperial Airways, Limited, has been held; and, if so, with what result?

On taking up his appointment as chairman of Imperial Airways, Limited, Sir John Reith undertook an examination of the charges made in this House against its management. I have received a copy of his report, and am glad to have this opportunity of informing the House of his conclusions.The company was charged with attempting to victimise individual pilots for being members of the newly-formed British Air Line Pilots' Association. Sir John Reith reports that though certain of the senior officials of the company regretted the formation of this association and made their views on this matter known to pilots, he has found no signs of coercion or victimisation. In this connection, it should be recorded that the aspersions cast on two prominent gentlemen connected with aviation insurance have been repudiated by them, and that their repudiation has been accepted by the British Air Line Pilots' Association.Sir John Reith has also investigated the complaints as to defects in organisation and in the standard of working conditions. He has reported that in a Company developing so rapidly, yet with so many obligations, certain defects were only to be expected. Most have, however, since been eradicated, and improvement is progressive.The allegations against the personal conduct of one of the company's managers overseas have been investigated separately and in great detail, and have not been substantiated.Finally, as regards the characteristics of the D.H. 86 aircraft, Sir John Reith has reported that these machines were unsuitable, as originally delivered to the company, for operation in certain conditions. Suggestions for improvements were put forward by the company's pilots and technical experts and the necessary modifications had in fact been made when the matter was discussed in the House on 31st May.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the approximate price in London in July, 1923, August, 1932, and to-day, of coal answering the following description: untreated bituminous slacks, small and or duff, with a calorific value of about 7,000 calories, moisture content as low as possible, and ash content about 12 per cent. 14 per cent. of the dry coal?

I regret that this information is not available in my Department.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether there is in his Department any accepted definition of the term coal royalty, or whether there is a practical definition for working purposes?

The expression "coal royalty" is not employed in the Mines Acts and no legal definition is therefore available. For the purposes of the statistical tables published by the Mines Department, royalties are taken to mean any payment for the right to work coal, including wayleaves.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is intended to publish the programmes of capital expenditure submitted to the Ministry by local authorities in response to Circular 1687; and, if so, at what date?

The replies of local authorities have not yet all been received. When the returns are complete, my right hon. Friend will consider the question of publication.

asked the Minister of Health how many vaccination officers and public vaccinators, respectively, are now paid by salary, by fees, and by salary and fees, respectively?

According to the information in my possession, there are 14 vaccination districts in England and Wales in which the public vaccinator is paid by salary, 4,285 in which he is paid by fees and none in which he is paid by salary and fees combined. I regret that the corresponding figures for vaccination officers are not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Local Government Law Consolidation Committee is still sitting; of so, upon what branch of local government law it is at present engaged; and when a third interim report may be expected?

The Local Government and Public Health Consolidation Committee published in December, 1937, their third interim report, which deals with the law relating to food and drugs. The committee had intended to deal next with the law relating to streets, but this work has now been merged with the consideration of the law relating to roads and highways generally, and a committee has been appointed jointly by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and my predecessor for this purpose. In the meantime the work of the Local Government and Public Health Consolidation Committee is in abeyance.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give a list of the towns in England and Wales to which children and mothers are to be transferred, in emergency, under the Government scheme of evacuation, together with the names of the towns from which they will be sent, in opposite columns?

No final decision has yet been reached on this point, as I have still to consider the representations made to me by various local authorities on the subject of their classification under the scheme, but if the hon. Member would be interested to see the interim position I should be happy to arrange for him to inspect a map in the offices of my Department.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in order to assist in an effort to reduce heavy unemployment in Liverpool, his Department can bring forward any new works or extensions contemplated in that area during the next five years?

There has been no change in the position since my answer to a similar question by the hon. Member on 1st December last.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the 3.2 per cent. for 1937–1938 as the proportion of football pool business is based on the gross income of the Post Office or on the total operating income only, in view of the fact that for that year the gross income amounted to £105,231,687, and the sum received in respect of football pool business was £3,367,411; and whether this last item includes postage stamps purchased by football pool clients and promoters?

The 3.2 per cent. proportion of football pool business for 1937 –1938 is based on the total gross income figure of £88,260,218. The percentage includes postage on correspondence posted by football pool clients and the promoters; and also the poundage on postal orders sent to and from the promoters.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there is often considerable delay after the necessary application in transferring telephones from one district to another; and whether he will take steps to see that all transfers are carried out with the minimum of delay in view of the inconvenience otherwise caused?

Normally all transfers of telephone service from one district to another are carried out promptly. I am aware, however, that delay has occurred in certain cases where there is a temporary shortage of plant in the locality of the new premises. All possible steps are being taken to avoid such delay by the provision of additional underground cables.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the great amount of electrical interference with wireless broadcasting in Great Britain, he will give particulars of when it is proposed to introduce further legislation in order to give additional powers to the Post Office to remedy same?

I am afraid that there is nothing which I can usefully add to the reply given to the similar question asked by the hon. Member on the 13th March.

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to issue regulations enabling local authorities to impose penalties for the disfigurement of public beauty spots by propagandist slogans?

The placarding or marking of trees, walls, etc., in or abutting on public places without the consent of the owner or occupier can be prohibited by good rule by-laws made under Section 249 of the Local Government Act, 1933. Such by-laws are widely in force. The initiative as regards making them rests with the county or borough council.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the small fines now being imposed on people for stealing motor cars; and whether, in view of the fact that the persons in most cases possess neither driving licences nor third-party insurance, he will take steps to ensure that the penalties should be more severe?

I have no information to suggest that the penalties imposed in these cases are inadequate. In 1938, 645 persons were found guilty by courts of summary jurisdiction of thefts of motor vehicles (including motor cycles), and of these 247 were sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine, and 123 were fined. In cases where the offender has also committed the offences of driving without a licence or without third-party insurance, these offences may be and often are the subject of separate charges.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, in order to assist in reducing existing heavy unemployment in the City of Liverpool, his Department will bring forward any new works, extensions, or improvements contemplated as necessary in that area in the next five years?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar question asked by him on 1st December, 1938. The pressure upon my Department of the Defence works programme, present and prospective, is so heavy that I cannot contemplate any present expansion of the existing civil building programme.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the Khaksar movement and the allegation that it was financed from anti-British European sources; whether inquiries are being made; and what other action is being taken in the matter?

My Noble Friend is aware of the Khaksar movement and that these allegations have been made in India. The allegations are under investigation and I am not at present in a position to make any statement with regard to them.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he can explain the reason for the unfinished condition of the air-raid trenches in Wandsworth, Tooting, and Clapham Commons?

Tenders for the permanent completion of trenches on Wandsworth and Clapham Commons were approved by my Department on the 10th March. I am informed that work commenced on Clapham Common on the 27th March. With regard to Wandsworth Common, work has been held up in consequence of a special drainage problem, but this has now been overcome and work may be expected to start very shortly.Tooting Common has presented a special problem owing to the presence of ground sulphates. Special treatment and designs were therefore necessary and have occasioned some research. The contract for the work has now been placed and work will commence immediately.