asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the number of certificates of naturalisation granted during each of the last 10 years to the latest available date; and if he can give an assurance that there is no intention of increasing the number granted above the average figure?

The figures are: 1929, 1,149; 1930, 1,409; 1931, 2,186; 1932, 1,741; 1933, 1,504; 1934, 1,363; 1935, 1,902; 1936, 2,267; 1937, 1,804; 1938, 2,158; 1939 (first quarter), 783.The variations are not due to any raising or lowering of the standard, but are due principally to fluctuation in the number of applicants who have the necessary qualifications. Careful inquiry is always made to ensure that certificates are only granted to persons who, in addition to possessing the qualifications prescribed by Statute, are likely to prove loyal citizens worthy of the privilege of British nationality. The Statute empowers me to grant or withhold a certificate as I think most conducive to the public good, and for this purpose I have to take into consideration many matters. But I should not consider myself justified in making it my aim to restrict the number of certificates granted to a uniform level.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give any estimate of the number of employed persons who are covered by the Workmen's Compensation Acts but not by the National Health Insurance Acts?

The number of employed persons who are covered by the Workmen's Compensation Acts but are not compulsorily insured under the National Health Insurance Acts cannot be precisely estimated but is thought to be approximately 900,000. Probably some 250,000 of this total are voluntary contributors, leaving about 650,000 not covered by National Health Insurance. Of this latter number very roughly 300,000 would be non-manual workers earning between £250 and £350 a year and the remainder would be employed persons earning under £250 a year who are excepted from National Health Insurance owing to the terms of their employment.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the evidence recently given to the Royal Commission on Workmen's Compensation, Clauses 554 and 555, as to need for legislation on the lines of the Departmental Committee's Report on Coroners in connection with claims for compensation for industrial diseases; and whether it is intended to give legislative effect to the recommendations of this committee?

I am aware that legislation is needed to give effect to the Committee's recommendations on this subject, but I regret I am not in a position to promise legislation this Session.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to ensure that no ex-service temporary clerk in the Civil Service shall be displaced from his employment either directly or indirectly by an incoming entrant from open competition so long as his services remain in all respects satisfactory?

The present practice, which has been agreed with the Staff Associations concerned, is to restrict the employment of temporary clerks in the Civil Service to a minimum, and to consider for retention on a permanent basis those temporary clerks who were first recruited before 1st April, 1937. Such clerks, if they fulfil the conditions for eventual establishment, will not as a rule be discharged before securing establishment unless their retention would lead to redundancy. Temporary clerks recruited since 1st April, 1937, are, generally speaking, engaged on a definitely casual basis with no expectation of retention beyond a limited period, and no undertaking of permanent retention can be given in their case.