asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of men at present undergoing instruction at the various Army vocational centres; and the number of vacancies which exist at these centres at the present time?

As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the work of Army vocational training has been taken over "by the Ministry of Labour. On 4th May there were 4,367 soldiers in training at Ministry of Labour training centres. At present there are no vacant places, and it will be possible, in view of the numbers leaving the centres on completion of training, to give training to all soldiers coming forward in the near future.

asked the Prime Minister whether special care will be taken, when young men of 20 to 21 years of age are called up for military service, to ensure that the assistance they have given to their families is maintained at its normal standard?

I have been asked to reply, and would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 4th May last.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the growing number of protests in the House of Commons against the sale of British materials to Germany for the purpose of armament manufacture, he will now specifically refer this question to the Committee of Imperial Defence with a view to finding the best method of limiting such sales and obtaining the co-operation of the Dominions?

No, Sir. Careful consideration has already been given to this matter, which has formed the subject of numerous answers in this House. I do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by referring the question to the Committee of Imperial Defence.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, in view of the fact that many sections of the public are still uncertain as to how they can best co-operate in the matter of food storage, he will take early steps to make it clear that all householders who can afford to do so should increase their stocks of food to the maximum possible; that they should buy British goods as opposed to foreign wherever possible; and that the stores should be used and replenished at frequent intervals?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Stourbridge (Mr. R. Morgan) on 18th April. I am satisfied the Government's attitude and the list of suitable foods and instructions as to the best methods of storage, prepared by the Food (Defence Plans) Department, have received considerable publicity.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what is the amount contributed by each of the Dominions towards the defence forces of the Empire?

For the most recent figures of expenditure I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Southwark, Central (Mr. Day) on 28th March. The Armaments Year Book of the League of Nations contains particulars of the defence forces of each of the Dominions.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he can announce any further revision of the Schedule of Reserved Occupations?

No, Sir, but a revised edition of the provisional Schedule of Reserved Occupations, incorporating the changes which have been made since it was first issued, will I hope be published at the end of this week.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has taken any special steps to draw the attention of all spending Departments, both of Government and of local authorities, to the fact that new internal projects for major additions to expenditure are not in the present circumstances possible?

I think my hon. Friend may rest assured that all Government Departments are well aware of the statement which I made in my Budget Speech. As regards local authorities, I would repeat the assurance, which I gave in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for South-West St. Pancras (Sir G. Mitcheson) on 31st January, that all proposals for expenditure which require sanction by a Government Department are carefully examined; but, as I then pointed out, economy in current administration is to a large extent the responsibility of the elected representatives of the ratepayers.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will now cancel or modify Treasury Circular E/1206/4, of 10th September, 1929, which cancelled a previous undertaking that conscientious objectors in the Civil Service who have refused to serve in the Territorial or Regular Army would not be promoted over the heads of civil servants who had served or were then serving in the Army?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my predecessor's reply to his question of 13th July last.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that the lead mines at Rookhope, in the county of Durham, have been closed, thus causing 100 per cent. unemployment in this small community; and whether the Government is prepared to assist production of lead in these mines by insisting on the use of home-produced lead in Government con- tracts thereby ensuring a supply of lead for armament manufacture in the event of war?

I regret that the Stotsfield Burn and Boltsburn Lead Mines, Rookhope, both owned by the Weardale Lead Company Limited, at which 15 and 57 men respectively were employed, have closed down this year, the latter within the last few days. I am informed that 80 per cent. of the insured population of this community are now registered as unemployed, but I understand that the second mine may be re-opened if the market improves. As regards the second part of the question I do not think the suggested solution would be effective, as I am informed that the company has no difficulty in disposing of its output at current prices.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the experience of his Department, he will confer with all other Departments concerned with a view to a more generous scale of pensions, and the provision of improved methods for dealing with cases arising out of another war?

The hon. Member may rest assured that all Departments concerned have been and will continue to be consulted in regard to the provision to be made for the casualties of another major war.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is in a position to state what steps he proposes to take to prevent persons landing at British ports whom the police of Eire and this country suspect of being associated with those who are concerned with bomb or other outrages in the United Kingdom?

I am in entire agreement with my hon. and gallant Friend as to the importance of doing everything that is practicable to prevent persons coming into this country for criminal purposes; but the information I have been able to obtain shows that the main difficulty lies in identifying such persons rather than in any lack of powers to deal with any who can be identified. If anyone is identified on arrival as being concerned in criminal activities, there is no failure on the part of the police to take appropriate action.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, in view of the depressing conditions and recurrent depression and retrogression in economic and social matters in Newfoundland as recorded in the 1938 Report, he will reconsider whether the Dominion should be called on to find the sixth of the extra capital cost for the Newfoundland air base and one-half the net cost of maintenance on completion?

I do not feel able to adopt this suggestion. The hon. Member will appreciate that the liability of the Newfoundland Government in respect of capital cost is, in effect, met from the annual grant-in-aid to Newfoundland from the United Kingdom Exchequer. As regards maintenance costs, the agreed arrangements between the Newfoundland Government and the Air Ministry will not come into effect until the construction of the airport is completed. The basis of allocation will be subject to review after five years in the. light of actual experience of the working of the airport.

asked the Minister of Labour what is being done on the Team Valley Trading Estate, County Durham, by way of air-raid precautions to safeguard the lives of those employed in the factories on the estate in the event of war?

Under the Civil Defence Bill at present before Parliament the occupiers of factories and the owners of commercial buildings on the Team Valley Trading Estate will be under the same obligations as other persons in similar circumstances.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any, and, if so, how many of the persons holding the office of chairman of a Court of Referees under the Unemployment Insurance Act were women, at the latest date for which the information is available?

The number of women holding the office of chairmen of Courts of Referees at the present time is six.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether he is now able to make a statement about the possibility of granting holidays with pay to the Commission's employés?

The Forestry Commission's forest workers are now allowed nine paid holidays per annum.

asked the Lord Privy Seal upon what principle or principles he has determined the demarcation of evacuation, neutral and reception areas?

I should find it difficult to give a complete exposition within the limits of an answer to a Parliamentary Question, but it may perhaps suffice for the hon. Member's purpose if I explain that the provisional demarcation adopted for the purpose of the evacuation schemes now being worked out in detail was arrived at by stages. The first criterion to be applied was a combination of the factors of vulnerability and density of population. Then, taking into account the additional factor of available accommodation as disclosed by housing statistics, the country was broadly divided into three categories of evacuation, neutral and reception areas, the establishment of which was found to be essential to the working out of a practical scheme. After various adjustments had been made to secure a fair allocation of accommodation as between different evacuation areas, a demarcation was arrived at which it was realised might require further adjustment but which it was decided to adopt as a working basis for the preparation as a matter of urgency of detailed plans for the evacuation of the priority classes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that during the Great War much of the effectiveness of so-called dazzle camouflage was lost owing to the failure to appreciate the importance of the biological principle of compensative shading; and whether he will give this House the assurance that, in future application of camouflage to those details of ships which are made use of by enemy observers in forming their judgment as to the character and course of the vessel, care will be taken to obtain the guidance of such scientists as are recognised specialists in the particular branch of biology concerned?

It is necessary to be clear that the purpose of camouflage is to lessen the visibility of an object or to render it more difficult to observe, while the purpose of dazzle is not to make vessels less visible but to make it more difficult to estimate their course and

— Number of recruits entered into Royal Navy and Royal Marines. Number of recruits entered from Durham. Number of recruits entered from Northumberland. 1937 … … … … 14,186 603 336 1938 … … … … 15,472 791 362 1939 (1st January to 31st March). 4,846 168 77

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in consultation with the Institute of Chartered Accountants, he will consider amendments of the Companies Act, 1929, to ensure that auditors or accountants of a company shall in future be given better opportunities of discovering transactions such as those of the Itas Company which have been brought to his notice?

I am informed that no record of the transactions to which I understand my hon. Friend refers appeared in the official books of this company, and that account of them was withheld from the auditors. I do not think that it would be possible by an amendment of the Companies Act, 1929, to en- speed. The value of the principle of compensative shading was fully recognised in the last War, but both experience and numerous experiments have shown that no matter how carefully compensative shading is applied, it is not possible to devise a system of application which will effectively decrease the visibility of vessels at sea. But my hon. Friend can rest assured that the Admiralty when necessary consult all specialists who may be able to assist, including scientists who are specialists in biological camouflage.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the number of persons who have enlisted in the Royal Navy in the whole country and in each of the counties of Durham and Northumberland during the years 1937, 1938 and 1939, respectively?

Following is the information:

sure that auditors should be given better opportunities of discovering such transactions, but the point has been noted for consideration when the amendment of the Companies Act is under review.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that grave apprehension is felt concerning the crowded state of industry in certain parts of the country and the need of distributing new works over a wider area; and whether the Government have any proposals to make on the matter?

The matter raised by the hon. Member falls within the terms of reference of the Royal Commission on the Geographical Distribution of the Industrial Population, who are now considering their report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has notified the managers of fixed and/or unit trusts that they will be required to conform to Section 16 of the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act, designed to render the trustees independent of the management; and whether he proposes that such adjustment shall be achieved by reorganisation of the businesses concerned or by modification of the trust deeds?

The attention of unit trust interests has been drawn to the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act. The nature of the adjustment of existing arrangements which may be necessary in order that the Board of Trade may be satisfied that the particular condition to which my hon. Friend refers is fulfilled will be considered in each case as it arises, but in general I should not regard any change which may be required in this respect as being satisfactorily achieved by means of modification of trust deeds.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is yet in a position to make any statement with regard to the progress of the Anglo-Rumanian trade discussions?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply to other questions on this subject to-day.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the number and total tonnage of the ships sold to go abroad during 1938, and to the latest available date in 1939, together with names of the owners at the time of such sale?

The number of ships of 100 tons gross and over registered in the United Kingdom reported to the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen as having had their registers closed on sale to foreign buyers was 149 in 1938 and 65 during the four months January to April, 1939, inclusive. The aggregate gross tonnages of the ships were 395,000 tons and 144,000 tons, respectively. The information requested in the last part of the question could be extracted only at the expense of considerable time and labour which I do not feel the results would justify.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the number of ships owned by or under charter to the various firms who are members of the Association of British Shipowners trading with Spain which are still engaged in the Spanish trade as compared with the peak period in 1938?

I have not the information for which my hon. Friend asks; but I understand that very few, if any, of the ships which were engaged in regular trade with ports in the hands of the then existing Spanish Government during 1938 are now engaged in the Spanish trade.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will state or circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the terms of any circulars recently issued defining the position of the staff of the Foreign Office under the National Service scheme; and whether he will consider the desirability in the public interest of encouraging as large a proportion as possible of the Foreign Office staff to be trained for and to serve with embodied units of the armed Forces of the Crown and with local Defence services, and replacing them temporarily by retired civil servants with similar experience?

At the time of the issue of the National Service guide the male staff of the Foreign Office under 25 years of age were notified that they would be permitted, if application were made by them, to volunteer for any of the Services set out on the National Service guide open to persons under that age. Any members of the Foreign Office who volunteered under these conditions would be released from service in the Foreign Office in an emergency. At the same time, members of the Diplomatic staff of the Foreign Office were notified that they would have to make it clear when volunteering that they would be obliged to resign from their units if they were posted abroad.

The modification of the Schedule of Reserved Occupations issued on 27th April has necessarily affected this circular. The question is at present under review, and the considerations to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers will be borne carefully in mind. It will, however, be appreciated that the burden on the Foreign Office in the initial stages of an emergency will be a heavy one, and that any undue release of trained personnel would not be in the general interest.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will state the position of German-Polish negotiations with regard to Danzig and the relation of the British guarantee thereto?

The hon. Member will have noted the statement made by the Polish Foreign Minister in his speech on 5th May. In reply to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question on 18th April, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will state the nature of the proposals made by the Russian Government to the British Government; and the reasons why they have not been accepted?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister's reply to questions yesterday, to which I have at present nothing to add.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make on the further expulsion of British subjects from Germany by order of the German Government?

The German Government have stated that this action has been taken in reprisal for the expulsion of six German nationals from this country, of which the House was informed by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 4th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many deaf-born children in Scotland began school life during 1938 above the age of three years; how many schools for the deaf there are in Scotland and where they are situated; and what further steps he proposes to take to secure compliance with Section 3 of the Education (Scotland) Act which requires provision for the efficient education of such children from the age of three years?

The returns furnished by managers of schools do not contain the information asked for in the first part of the question, but I am making inquiries and will communicate the results to the hon. and learned Member. There are at present in Scotland six residential schools for deaf children, situated in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow (two) and Lanarkshire, four day schools situated in Dundee, Glasgow and Renfrewshire (two), and three special classes attached to ordinary schools in Glasgow, Dunbartonshire and Lanarkshire. In regard to the third part of the question, I am not aware that education authorities are failing to fulfil the duty laid upon them by Section 3 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1890, as amended by Section 6 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1936.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the minimum age at which boys are permitted to work in mines in France, Belgium and Holland?

The minimum age at which boys are permitted to work in mines in France and Belgium is 14, and in Holland is 14 for surface work and 16 for underground work.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the establishment of a clinic for the treatment of rheumatism among mineworkers at Horden collieries; and in view of the prevalence of this affliction among miners he will give special attention to this experiment, with a view to its general extension in the coalfields?

Yes, Sir. I am aware that discussions are in progress for building and equipping a clinic at the Horden Colliery Baths by means of grants from the Miners' Welfare Fund. This experiment will be the first of its kind and I shall watch the results with close interest.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will state the names of the present members of the Middlesex Advisory Committee for the Appointment of Justices; the date of appointment; and whether any revision of membership is contemplated?

The following persons are the present members of this Committee, and were appointed on the 1st April, 1936. In accordance with the conditions of membership whereby half the members of the Committee retire by rotation every three years, certain mem- bers retired on the 1st April, 1939, and the Committee is, at present, undergoing revision by my Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor: The Lord Rochdale. Sir William Barber. Sir Gilfrid G. Craig, Kt. Sir Howard Button. James Sydney Hogg, Esq. W. Garrod, Esq. Mrs. E. Tudor Rhys. G. F. Cutting, Esq. Albert John Lynch, Esq. F. Kershaw, Esq. St. John G. Micklethwaite, Esq., K.C.