asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will instruct Army medical officers not to press for the vaccination of militiamen in view of the admitted risk of post vaccinal nervous disease as stated in the Ministry of Health Circular 1025, of 19th August, 1929, and of the statements made on page 37 of the report of the chief medical officer of the Ministry of Health on the health of the nation?

Militiamen will not be compulsorily vaccinated, and no pressure will be brought to bear by medical officers.

asked the Minister of Labour what public notice will be given of the proposed calling up of Territorials and militiamen, respectively, in order that those employers who employ a substantial proportion of those concerned may be given requisite time for the necessary re-organisation of their staff; whether it is intended to call up the militiamen in age groups; and, if so, whether advance information will be published as to the dates on which the different groups will be required to report for duty?

On the assumption that the Military Training Bill receives the Royal Assent before Whitsun, registration of all men between the ages of 20 and 21 years who are liable under the Bill will take place on Saturday, 3rd June. Full details as to the method of registration will be given in good time and will be widely published. Medical examination of men registered will commence on Thursday, 8th June, with at least two days' clear notice in each case.

The first group of men to be called up, consisting of between 40,000 and 50,000 will receive their calling-up notices on or about Saturday, 1st July, requiring them to report to their units a fortnight later. Subsequent groups will be called up for training at intervals of two months. Subject to any variations that may be necessary on industrial or other grounds, men will be called up in age order, the oldest first and the youngest last.

My right hon. Friends, the First Lord of the Admiralty, and the Secretaries of State for War and Air, ask me to give the following details of steps that will be taken provided that the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces Bill has become law.

The Admiralty propose to call up into service, to increase the preparedness of the Fleet, the following reservists as from 15th June: (i) Half the Royal Fleet Reserve, Class D (immediate class) for a period of three months from 15th June, and the second half of this class of the Reserve similarly in the middle of September for a like period; (ii) About 750 pensioners for three months from 15th June, followed by a similar number for the three months from the middle of September. Pensioners who have most recently completed their time will be called up for this service; (iii) About 50 wireless and signal ratings of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and the Royal Naval Volunteer (Wireless) Reserve, for three months from 15th June, and a similar number for the subsequent three months; (iv) About 300 men of the Royal Naval Reserve Patrol Service for three months from 15th June, and a like number for the subsequent three months. (v) The necessary number of retired and reserve officers will be called up for a period of six months from 15th June.

In the case of the Army the first group of Territorial anti-aircraft units will be called up to report on nth June, and the first group of reservists on 15th June. A provisional warning is being issued to those affected.

As regards the Royal Air Force it is intended to call up by groups the A.A.F. personnel of the London Squadrons of the Balloon Barrage, and the first group will be called up to report on 11th June.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in connection with the contributory superannuation schemes which have been put into operation by so many commercial undertakings in this country and to which employés aged 20 years are contributors, he will consider introducing the necessary legislation to enable the contributions payable by such employés and their employers to be kept up during the time of their military service in order that the actuarial calculations for the soundness of such schemes may not be disturbed?

The protection of rights under superannuation schemes is one of a number of consequential matters that will arise by reason of the provisions of the Military Training Bill. It is intended that appropriate provision shall be made on all such matters by Orders in Council under Clause 10 of that Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the names and ages of the British National Cadet Association?

The members of the British National Cadet Association are shown in the Cadet List published by the Association. Except in a few cases, information as to the ages of its members is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet received the report by Lord Strathcona on the Cadet Association?

No, Sir, but I am informed by my Noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for War, who is Chairman of the Officers Training Corps and Cadet Force Committee, that the Committee is nearing the end of its labours.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will increase the facilities given for the provision of boots and sports clothing to the children of poor parents for football and other athletic games in the cities of Scotland?

Education Authorities have power to provide children with the equipment necessary for physical training and games under the school system. I have no reason to believe that these powers are inadequate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the numbers in Scotland, at 31st March, 1939. of old age pensions being paid under the Contributory Pensions Act, showing those under and over 70 years of age, respectively; also the number of persons receiving non-contributory pensions under the Old Age Pensions Act; and the number of blind persons under 70 years of age receiving pensions under that Act?

The number of persons in Scotland between the ages of 65 and 70 in receipt of old age pensions under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act at 31st March, 1939, was 86,327. In addition, 133,043 persons over the age of 70 were, by virtue of the Contributory Pensions Act, in receipt of old age pensions under the Old Age Pensions Act. The number of persons over 70 receiving non-contributory Old Age Pensions under the Old Age Pensions Act was 56,109, and the number of blind persons under 70 receiving pensions under that Act was 3,575.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made on the promise of his Department to assist in the provision of an access road to the seaweed manure supply at Luskentyre, Isle of Harris?

The Department offered the holders a contribution of £200 to assist them to construct a cart access for the purpose of securing seaware. The offer, which I consider a very reasonable one, has not so far been accepted, but is still open.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now able to make a statement on the question of constructing a pier at Portnaguran, Isle of Lewis?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to announce a decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can give details of the new dietaries introduced since 1937 in Scottish prisons; and whether further improvements in such dietaries are contemplated?

Improvements in dietaries introduced in 1937 included provision of meat for dinner twice weekly for certain classes of prisoners who had not previously received meat; addition of cheese for supper twice weekly for all classes of prisoners and issue of breadcrumb pudding for dinner for all prisoners twice instead of once weekly.

The following improvements were made in dietaries in Scottish prisons at the beginning of April, 1939: 1. Substitution of whole milk for skimmed milk for all purposes. 2. Issues of cheese for supper made on four days per week instead of two days. 3. Jam issued for supper on three days per week. 4. Twelve-sixteenths ounces of sugar allowed for tea and cocoa instead of nine-sixteenths ounces. 5. Currants, suet and sugar in bread crumb pudding, which is served twice each week, doubled.

The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the report of the governor of Edinburgh Prison on the juvenile-adult section of prisoners for 1938 to the effect that unemployment was one of the factors conducing to crime in the case of most of the youths admitted to the section, he can state if any of these young men had secured any employment at all since leaving school?

As indicated in the report to which the hon. and gallant Member refers, 71 of these juvenile-adult prisoners had occupations and 14 had no occupation. Detailed information as to their actual employment between leaving school and reception in prison is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the number of allotments cultivated in Scotland during each of the last seven years, and the cause or causes inducing the trend of the figures; and what proposals he has to meet the present position with regard to allotments in Scotland?

According to returns furnished by local authorities the numbers of allotments cultivated in Scotland during the last seven years were: 1932 … … … 17,514 1933 … … … 21,417 1934 … … … 22,177 1935 … … … 21,880 1936 … … … 21,682 1937 … … … 20,492 1938 … … … 19,376

It is difficult to explain completely the reasons for the reduction since 1934. The provision of gardens in connection with new housing schemes and increased employment, in some districts have probably been contributing causes.

I am communicating with local authorities on the general question of the provision of allotments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the total number of old age pensioners in Glasgow who are receiving public assistance relief for the years ended March, 1937 and 1938?

Figures for March are not available but the number of old age pensioners in Glasgow receiving public assistance relief on the 15th May, 1937, was 14,054; and on 15th May, 1938, 15,246.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now completed his consideration of the recommendations of the Poor Persons Representation (Scottish) Committee, submitted in 1937, and has he any statement to make?

I regret that I am unable to add to the statement made in reply to the hon. Member's question on this subject on the 14th February last.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can state the total number of persons receiving Poor Law relief, in money or kind, in Scotland, for the years ended March, 1937 and 1938?

The number of persons in receipt of public assistance in Scotland on the 15th March, 1937, was 330,640; and on the 15th March, 1938, 229,455.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that after negotiations the North Berwick Town Council lately acquired from Sir Hugh Dalrymple his former residence, The Lodge, as a potential additional beauty spot, the property and grounds extending to 23¾ acres, and the price being £10,000; if he will say what was the annual rental or rateable value of this property previous to acquisition; and what was the amount of owner's and occupier's rates that were being paid in respect of it?

I am informed by the Town Council that the property referred to was acquired for use as municipal offices, and for public park purposes, housing, road widening and car parking. I understand that the gross and rateable values of the subjects referred to were £193 and £151 respectively, and the owner's and occupier's rates in 1938–39 amounted to £99 9s. 4d.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has given attention to the varying treatment of persons charged with identical motoring offences; and if he will take steps to secure equality of treatment?

I understand that the hon. Member has in mind two particular cases of persons charged with failing to obey "Halt" signs. I am making inquiries into these cases and will write to the hon. Member when those inquiries have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can state the number of workers employed and unemployed in the agricultural industry in Scotland at the end of April, 1909, April, 1919, April, 1929, and April, 1939, respectively?

The numbers of persons employed in agriculture in Scotland, as returned on the 4th June, 1921, 1929 and 1938—the nearest dates to those mentioned in the question for which information is available—were as follow: 1921 … … … 127,000 1929 … … 118,000 1938 … … … 104,300 Comparable figures for 1909 are not available. The return for 4th June, 1908, showed a total of 212,000; but this total included the wives of occupiers of agricultural holdings, who are excluded in the totals for 1921, 1929 and 1938 which I have quoted.

As regards unemployment, returns are not available for the period prior to the inception of the Agricultural Scheme of Unemployment Insurance in May, 1936. The number of persons insured under the scheme who were unemployed was 6,463 at the 13th June, 1938.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the report of the Highland Development League regarding the Government's proposals for the improvement of Scottish agriculture and the report of the Highland Economic Committee calling for revision of afforestation policy as operated in the Highlands; and if he is in a position to say when these reports will be followed by legislation?

The report on the Highlands and Islands, together with the views expressed on it by local authorities and other bodies, including the Highland Development League, is receiving my consideration in consultation with the Departments concerned. I am not yet, however, in a position to make any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the negotiations between the Scottish Department of Health and the County Council of Inverness for creating a special water district at Ardveenish, Isle of Barra?

An agreement has been reached between the County Council of Inverness and the Department of Agri- culture for Scotland under which, in return for an offer of financial assistance, the council are arranging for the formation of a Special Water District including Ardveenish and other townships on the Department's estate in Barra.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that Circular Letter E 5913/10, dated 17th April, 1939, issued by him, provides that, unless special circumstances exist, permission to enlist for the period of hostilities will not normally be given to civil servants who have reached the age of 25 years; that this provision is resented by many young men in the Civil Service who are anxious now to offer themselves voluntarily for enlistment and will seriously adversely affect recruitment; and if he will revise this provision so as to give young men of and above the said age reasonable facilities for voluntary enlistment?

The circular to which the hon. Member refers was issued prior to the recent revision of the peacetime Schedule of Reserved Occupations. The present position is as set out in my answer of the 10th May to the hon. and gallant Member for Hitchin (Sir A. Wilson).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any information is available showing the educational history of successful candidates for the higher branches of the Home Civil Service, the Indian Civil Service, the salaried posts of the Consular Service, and the Foreign Office?

Particulars of the schools and universities of successful candidates for the posts in question are included in the annual report of the Civil Service Commissioners. I am sending the hon. Member a statement containing particulars in respect of the competitions held in 1938.

asked the Home Secretary whether, whilst the specific reasons for expulsion cannot be stated, he will give an assurance that it is the principle of his Department not to expel foreigners from this country save on grounds of misconduct and abuse of hospitality?

The hon. and gallant Member can be assured that this power is exercised only when there are clear and specific reasons in the public interest for terminating the stay of a foreigner in this country.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that in the case of a refugee, particulars of whom have been sent to him, the German authorities have deprived the refugee of his passport during his incarceration; and whether he will authorise the admission of the said refugee to this country without any papers save the British visa which has already been issued to him?

I have made inquiries. No difficulties appear to have arisen in this case. The man produced a passport to the Passport Control Officer and the Passport Control Officer affixed a visa thereto.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government are prepared to arrange with the French Government, and such other Governments as may be willing to co-operate, for the welfare of the Spanish refugees in France, and their equipment for, and transport to, America where they have been assured of a welcome?

His Majesty's Government have for some time been in close co-operation with the French Government in endeavouring to solve the problem presented by the Spanish refugees in France, and they will, of course, welcome the assistance of any other interested Governments. The equipment of the refugees, and the question of their disposal, is being dealt with by private organisation with which His Majesty's Government are cooperating, and to some of which they have made substantial grants.

asked the Secretary for Mines who will perform the duties of Chairman of the Coal Commission during the time the present Chairman is performing other duties?

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind that fact that the Chairman of the Coal Commission has been asked to act in an emergency as one of the Regional Commissioners for the London area. It can be anticipated that in an emergency which made it necessary for the Regional Commissioners to proceed to their districts the work of the Coal Commission would be suspended or, at any rate, very much curtailed. The time which Sir Ernest Gowers is required to give in normal times in anticipation of the duties which he would undertake in an emergency is not sufficient to interfere with his duties as Chairman of the Coal Commission.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, when returns are made to his Department on the number of manshifts worked, attention is given to those which are worked on overtime; and what is the percentage for the year ended 31st

Quantity and percentage proportion of coal cut by machinery in each mining district of Great Britain during the year 1938. District. Quantity of Coal cut by Machinery. Proportion of Total Output of Saleable Coal cut by Machinery. Tons. Per cent. Northumberland 12,143,958 91 Durham 13,183,197 42 Cumberland and Westmorland 1,128,765 72 Lancashire and Cheshire 9,661,499 68 Yorkshire, South 17,211,639 56 Yorkshire, West 6,484,426 55 Nottinghamshire 10,839,245 70 Derbyshire, North 11,419,248 88 Derbyshire, South 772,445 92 Staffordshire, North 6,396,272 92 Cannock Chase 3,072,832 60 Staffordshire, South, and Worcestershire 88,272 6 Leicestershire 2,404,636 84 Warwickshire 3,879,128 69 Shropshire 364,515 56 Forest of Dean 288,195 21 Somersetshire 69,686 9 Bristol 19,884 29 Kent 172,962 10 South Wales and Monmouthshire 9,182,970 26 North Wales 1,881,382 69 Fife and Clackmannan, Kinross and Sutherland 7,450,388 90 Lothians (Mid and East) and Peebles 2,763,683 62 Lanarkshire, West Lothian, Stirling, Renfrew and Dumbarton. 10,957,897 84 Ayrshire, Dumfries and Argyll 3,120,429 69 Great Britain 134,957,553 59

December, 1938, and if this shows a reduction on the figures of 1937?

I regret I am unable to give the information as the particulars of man-shifts worked which are furnished to my Department do not specify separately those man-shifts which are worked on overtime.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the sums paid by British coal mines in rents, royalties and wayleaves for the year 1938?

During the year 1938 the estimated amount paid by colliery owners in Great Britain in royalties and way-leaves (including the rental value of freehold minerals where worked by the proprietor) was £5,109,000.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the quantity and percentage proportion of coal cut by machinery in each mining district of Great Britain during the year 1938?

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can make a statement as to the progress that is being made in the provision of pithead baths; and what is the extent of the building programme for this and the next year?

During 1938 47 new pithead bath installations and six extensions accommodating nearly 56,000 persons were completed, and at the end of that year pithead baths had been provided, or were under construction, for 416,886 persons at 334 collieries, and the available money had been nearly exhausted. The building programmes for 1939 and 1940 will be framed on the basis of the additional money available as the result of the Mining Industry (Welfare Fund) Act, 1939, and provisional arrangements have been made to place contracts in 1939 for 37 new bath installations accommodating 35,548 persons. The contracts to be placed in 1940 have not yet been settled, but it is estimated that they will provide accommodation for 45,000 additional persons.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, before an explosive is placed on the permitted list for use in coal mines, consideration is given to the possible effect of the inhalation of the fumes of such explosive on the lungs of the miner; and whether any research work is being conducted into this problem?

The official tests for permitted explosives do not include a specific test of the gases evolved on firing but manufacturers are aware that explosives which are specially liable to evolve harmful gases will not pass the tests. The nature and concentration of the fumes from shotfiring in actual practice and the possibility of harmful effects on the lungs are among the matters that are being studied in the course of the investigations now in progress in South Wales under the Industrial Pulmonary Diseases Committee of the Medical Research Council.

asked the Minister of Health whether an invitation has been issued by his Department to all local authorities to make up the difference in pay which any of their employés would receive while serving during an emergency in the forces or Civil Defence, and the amount of salary or wages received while serving the council in civil life; and whether, before coming to any conclusion, he will take into consideration the low rate of pay and allowance provided for by the War Office?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Hitchin (Sir A. Wilson) on Thursday last. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the circular then referred to.

asked the Minister of Health whether seven cases of illness which developed after contact with a case of confluent smallpox removed from the steamship "Cathay," in March, 1938, on arrival in the Port of London, were notified as cases of smallpox, and if so, to which hospital were they removed for treatment?

I am making inquiries and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the number of acceptances by parents ready for their children to be evacuated in time of war in the chief Lancashire towns thus affected?

I understand that up to the last week in April acceptances in respect of 116,000 children had been received in Liverpool and in respect of 9,000 in Bootle. Detailed particulars for the other areas in Lancashire are not at present available.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is now able to give particulars of the measures concerning which he has entered into consultation with the local authorities which would be brought into operation on the outbreak of war after passage through Parliament; and whether these include those measures concerning which sealed orders were sent out to local authorities during the crisis in September?

I cannot call to mind any consultations answering the description given in the first part of the question. The only consultations I have had with local authorities regarding measures to be taken on the outbreak of war have been concerned with the scheme of regional organisation of civil defence initiated by me, of which the House has already had particulars.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what price the Government are paying for the standard unit steel shelters the total weight of which is approximately 8½ cwts.?

The arrangements with the steel industry stipulate that the production costs of the various component items shall be subject to cost investigation by the Import Duties Advisory Committee. It is expected that the price, apart from distribution charges, will on the average be approximately £7 per unit shelter.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, by how much the acreage of Great Britain under woodland has been increased as a result of the Forestry Commission's preserves and as a result of Forestry Commission grants to private owners, respectively; and what is the percentage of land in Great Britain now under woodland, as compared with Norway, Sweden, Germany, France, and Belgium?

I have been asked to reply. The area newly planted by the Forestry Commissioners is 350,000 acres and the area for which grants have been paid is 120,000 acres. Data are not available as to what proportion of the latter area represents a net increase of the woodland area. The percentage of the total area of Great Britain now classified as woodland is 6 per cent., as compared with Norway 23 per cent., Sweden 57 per cent., Germany 26 per cent., France 19 per cent., Belgium 18 per cent.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that particulars of changes in the unemployment figures for the month of April were announced in the Press on the morning of 9th May, but by the evening of 10th May the Ministry of Labour Gazette for the month of April was not available in the Library of this House; and whether he will give instructions that Government publications shall be made available to Members prior to, or simultaneously with, an issue of a précis of their contents to the Press?

I assume that in referring to the Ministry of Labour Gazette for the month of April the right hon. Member has in mind the issue for May, which will include statistics of employment and unemployment for a date in April. That issue will be published on 18th May, and I regret that it is not practicable to advance the date of publication so as to coincide with the issue to the Press of the monthly summary statement on employment and unemployment. There is at present an interval of three weeks between the date of the count of the unemployed and the issue of the figures to the Press, and it is considered undesirable to lengthen this interval by holding back the summary Press communiqué until the Gazette, which contains a considerably more detailed analysis, is issued. As regards the second part of the question, it will be appreciated that the Ministry of Labour Gazette, though published by the Stationery Office, is not a Parliamentary Paper.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of persons that have been transferred out of the county of Durham from 1932 up to the latest available date?

The numbers of persons who have been placed in employment directly following transfer from the county of Durham under the Department's Industrial Transference Schemes are as follow: — Men. Women. Boys. Girls. Total. 1932 … … … … 2,341 503 213 576 3,633 1933 … … … … 1,628 987 450 782 3,847 1934 … … … … 1,883 883 585 813 4,164 1935 … … … … 4,072 1,613 1,563 1,225 8,473 1936 … … … … 5,253 2,032 2,041 1,609 10,935 1937 … … … … 4,478 1,804 1,468 1,553 9,303 1938 … … … … 4,253 1,584 637 1,377 7,851

I am not able to state how many of these persons are still resident outside the county, but it is known that a considerable proportion has returned.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of unemployed persons, men, women, and juveniles, signing the register at Wyfold

Date. Men aged 18 and over. Women aged 18 and over. Juveniles aged 14–17. Total aged 14 and over. 1938. 17th January … … … 4,499 1,324 241 6,064 14th February … … … 4,562 1,387 159 6,108 14th March … … … 4,308 1,274 141 5,723 4th April … … … 4,068 1,242 121 5,431 16th May … … … 4,008 1,185 153 5,346 13th June … … … 4,062 1,152 118 5,332 18th July … … … 3,648 1,033 107 4,788 15th August … … … 3,335 1,211 151 4,697 12th September … … … 3,776 1,324 118 5,218 17th October … … … 4,628 1,307 124 6,059 14th November … … … 4,888 1,404 143 6,435 12th December … … … 4,734 1,289 88 6,111 1939. 16th January … … … 4,944 1,739 237 6,920 13th February … … … 4,590 1,813 151 6,554 13th March … … … 4,073 1,733 115 5,921 17th April … … … 3,588 1,607 225 5,420

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that large numbers of baths, equal to 25 per cent. of the British requirements, are being imported into this country from Germany, and that the German Government provides a very heavy subsidy for this purpose; and as short time is being worked in the industry in this country, and that workpeople have been threatened with discharge because of these subsidised imports, he will take powers to regulate their import by the imposition of a quota?

Road Employment Exchange, Fulham, each month from January, 1938, to April, 1939?

The following table shows the numbers of unemployed men, women and juveniles on the registers of the Walham Green Employment Exchange on one day in each month from January, 1938, to April, 1939:

Imports of baths into this country are governed by an international agreement among industries. In recent months, imports from Germany have exceeded the agreed limit; but I am informed that steps are being taken, by agreement between the British and German industries, to correct the position. I have no information regarding any subsidy to German exports. Cast-iron baths imported into this country at present pay a duty of 15 per cent., ad valorem.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now able to state when His Majesty's Government intends to take action to limit the importation of Norwegian herring in competition with herring available from our own industry?

There is at present no prospect of negotiations for amendment of the Trade Agreement with Norway, which contains undertakings regarding Norwegian herring; but, should such negotiations take place at any time, the interests of the United Kingdom industry will certainly be borne in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information as to the results of the recent visit to the Baltic States of trade representatives of the herring industry?

I am informed that the Herring Industry Board are hopeful that improved trade may result from the contacts made by their representatives in the course of their visit to the Baltic States and Finland. The actual results will, however, depend upon a number of factors which cannot be foreseen, such as the price and quality of the herring catch.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the quantity of coal consumed in Great Britain in 1938, and the amount per head of the population?

The quantity of coal available for consumption in Great Britain in the year 1938 was 175,157,000 tons. The estimated consumption of coal per head of population was 76 cwts.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will now sympathetically consider the desirability of introducing legislation to the effect that education authorities shall or may provide boots and clothing for needy school children?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Farnworth (Mr. Tomlinson) on 24th February, 1938, which applies to the provision of clothing as well as of footwear.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will consider relaxing the policy followed by his Department of preventing members of the Royal Air Force Reserve or Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve from being employed as full-time instructors by the Admiralty in order to allow these reservists to obtain full-time employment and pension rights?

It would not be possible to agree to any general relaxation of the obligations of the members of the Reserve of Air Force Officers and the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve without prejudice to the purpose for which these Reserves have been created, which is to supply personnel to the Royal Air Force in emergency. In order, however, to assist the Air Branch of the Royal Navy, nearly 50 selected officers and non-commissioned officers have been released by my Department for whole-time duty with that branch.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the proceedings instituted in the King's Lynn bankruptcy court by the Milk Marketing Board against John Alfred Thomas, diaryman, of Wisbech, in which the latter stated in evidence that for being in default for two days with his weekly payments to the Milk Marketing Board, the board took such action as completely deprived him of his trade and assets; whether he is aware of the severe strictures of the registrar on the conduct of the board, and that his predecessor in office in September last declined to intervene in the matter; whether he will now inquire into the action of the board and its officers in this case, and take such steps as will ensure that Mr. Thomas will be able to reinstate himself in business and earn his livelihood; and whether he will make such representations to the board as will prevent similar action in other cases?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 15th May to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Accrington (Major Procter).