asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any members of the board of interviewers of the Civil Service Commissioners have been educated at public elementary schools and/or State-aided secondary schools?

The Civil Service Commissioners are not in possession of the educational history of the members of their various Interview Boards.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what percentage of the successful candidates for the administrative class of the home Civil Service, the Indian Civil Service, the Foreign Office and Diplomatic Service, and for the Consular Service during the years 1936, 1937 and 1938 were State-aided secondary schools?

The following table gives the particulars asked for. These

Statement showing the percentage of successful candidates for the specified Services who had attended State-aided Secondary Schools. Date of Examination. Administrative Class of the Home Civil Service. Indian Civil Service (Exclusive of candidates of Indian descent or domicile). Burma Civil Service (Class I). Foreign Office and Diplomatic Service. Consular Service and Assistant Officer Grade in the Department of Overseas Trade. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. July, 1936 60.7 50.0 — 14.3 15.4 July, 1937 49.0 72.2 50.0 9.1 22.2 July, 1938 50.8 31.2 100.0 14.3 40.0

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give the names of those licensing districts which at the recent licensing sessions were granted an extension to 10.30 p.m. on weekdays, specifying which were for the whole year and which for a lesser period; the names of districts in which last year the permitted terminal hour on week-days was 10.30 p.m. during the summer months, but which have this year reverted to 10 p.m. closing; and also a complete list of licensing districts where the justices have extended permitted hours on weekdays to 10.30 p.m. either for the whole year or part of the year?

I am sending my hon. Friend the particulars asked for; they

Description. Quantity. Declared value. Tons. £ Iron and steel scrap and waste fit only for the recovery of metal. 68,766 207,539 Scrap and old metal fit only for the recovery of metal— Copper 3,022 122,630 Brass and alloys of copper, other than nickel alloys 5,136 150,268 Aluminium and aluminium alloys 1,159 47,547 Nickel and nickel alloys 180 9,986 Other sorts 1,781 43,265

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the quantities of each of the cate- particulars have been compiled by reference to official lists of schools issued by the Board of Education and the Scottish Education Department.

are too lengthy for circulation in the OFFICAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much scrap metal has been exported from the North-East coast, and what was the total amount from this country, to Germany within the last six months?

I regret that particulars of the exports to Germany from individual ports are not available.

The following table shows the quantity and declared value of exports from the United Kingdom of the undermentioned descriptions of scrap metal consigned to Germany, as registered during the six months ended April, 1939:

gories of hydrocarbon oils retained for home consumption during the year ended 31st March, 1939; and what were the net receipts of duty in respect thereof?

The quantities of each category of hydrocarbon oils retained for home consumption during the

— Quantity retained for Home Consumption. Net Receipts. Light Oils: Gallons. £ Petroleum Spirit: Motor Spirit … … 1,359,534,000 50,548,000 Other Spirit … … 24,508,000 915,000 Coal Tar Products: Benzol … … 4,019,000 149,000 Other Sorts … … — — Turpentine … … 4,781,000 179,000 Heavy oils for mixing with light oils … … 6,000 — Other Hydrocarbon Oils … … 20,000 1,000 Oils in Composite Articles … … 175,000 6,000 Total … … 1,393,043,000 51,798,000 Deduct Net Amount paid to Isle of Man* … … 66,000 Net Receipts … … 51,732,000 Heavy Oils: Petroleum Oil: Road Fuel Oil … … 92,054,000 3,427,000 Other Fuel Oil … … 278,491,000 1,160,000 Crude Oil … … 2,690,000 11,000 Kerosene … … 203,440,000 847,000 Lubricating Oil … … 102,897,000 429,000 Gas Oil … … 70,765,000 295,000 Other Sorts … … 3,293,000 14,000 Coal Tar Products … … 43,000 — Other Oils … … 195,000 1,000 Oil in Composite Articles … … 386,000 2,000 Total … … 754,254,000 6,186,000 Grand Total … … 57,918,000 * Estimated difference between amounts collected in, and allocated to, the Isle of Man.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider setting up a field station for veterinary service in Wales to work in conjunction with a suitable university?

If the hon. Member is referring to a field station for research and investigational work a station on a fixed site has not so far been found necessary in Wales. Full field facilities have readily been provided by Welsh farmers for the work of the two Veterinary Investigation Officers for Wales, who are stationed at the University College of North Wales, Bangor, and at the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, Cardiff.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will take steps to set year ended 31st March 1939, and the respective net receipts of duty, were approximately as follow:

up a farm animal clinic in Wales, cause inquiries to be made as to the extent of support such clinic would receive from veterinary surgeons, and consider establishing it in the town of Carmarthen as the most central and most convenient position for such clinic?

It is quite outside the scope of my functions to provide clinics for animals. In the circumstances the latter part of the question does not arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the large quantities of silica washed down by Glenridding beck from the Glenridding leadmines, thereby causing damage to plant and animal life as well as lessening considerably the amenities of this beauty spot, he is prepared to take the necessary action to prohibit this happening in the future?

I have no power to take such action as my hon. Friend suggests. The responsibility for the prevention of pollution lies with local sanitary authorities, fishery boards (where they exist), and riparian owners whose interests are affected. There is at present no fishery board with jurisdiction over the area in question, but I understand that the local authorities are well aware of the position, and a certificate under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act, 1923, has been issued by my Department to a riparian owner which will enable him to institute proceedings if he thinks fit.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education how many schools of various types are now provided with adequate cinematograph projectors; to what extent have the Board been able to influence local education authorities to include this equipment in all new schools and which are the counties in order of merit; and how many have established educational film libraries?

According to information supplied by the British Film Institute, 1,259 film projectors are available for schools in England and Wales. Of these 716 are in elementary or preparatory schools, 277 in secondary schools, 145 in technical or university institutions, and 121 are provided by local education authorities for general use. The Board have no figures relating to the provision of projectors in new schools, but it is now usual for the plans of new senior elementary, secondary and technical schools to include arrangements designed to facilitate the showing of films.

According to the most recent information in the possession of the British Film Institute, seven local education authorities in England and Wales have established educational film libraries.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education how many separate educational films are there available for circulation amongst the schools for which local education authorities are responsible; to what extent does the Board encourage the use of films as part of the school curriculum; to what extent are films of Dominion and Colonial interest included; and how far is there any interchange of such films between this country and the schools in the Dominions and Colonies?

According to the most recent information in the possession of the British Film Institute, the total supply of educational films of all kinds and qualities in the United Kingdom is about 2,400, of which nearly 300 are on Dominion and Colonial subjects.

The Board are anxious to see an extension of the use of films in schools; the Handbook of Suggestions for Teachers draws attention to their educational possibilities, and the pamphlet "Optical Aids" conveys information and suggestions on the technical aspects of projection. Expenditure by local education authorities on the provision of projectors is eligible for grant at the rate of 50 per cent.

The Empire and General Post Office Film Library attached to the Imperial Institute contains over 2,000 prints of 560 documentary or educational films of United Kingdom, "all-Empire," Dominion, Indian or Colonial subjects. Most of those in the four last named categories have been contributed by oversea Governments. These prints are circulated from the library without charge to some 3,500 schools, educational institutions and societies in this country which are registered as borrowers. Educational film libraries have been or are being created by educational and other authorities and bodies in the Dominions, India and some of the Colonies, and consideration is now being given to the question whether some form of organised system of interchange between the United Kingdom and these countries of films for school use can be arranged.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) how much money was paid by his Department to the French and German air lines, respectively, in respect of mails carried over the South Atlantic during the year 1938;

(2) whether he can state, approximately, how much he expects to pay to the French and German air lines, respectively, for carrying mails over the South. Atlantic during 1939?

The amounts paid by the United Kingdom Post Office to the French and German Post Offices for the air conveyance of mails over the South Atlantic during the year 1938 were £56,000 and £47,500 respectively. It is estimated that the payments during the year 1939 will be approximately £63,000 and £55,000 respectively, unless, of course, other air services become available over the route before the end of the year.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will consider allowing air-raid wardens to make free calls at telephone kiosks when carrying out their duties so that these kiosks may be used in the same way as for fire and ambulance calls?

I do not think that I can properly press my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General to extend to calls made by air-raid wardens during exercises the special facilities afforded for dealing with emergency fire and ambulance calls. Other arrangements would, of course, be made in war.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he can state the total quantity of orders for steel sheets for air-raid shelters placed in South Wales and Monmouthshire, and for the remainder of the country, respectively?

The orders so far placed in South Wales and Monmouthshire amount to 271,000 tons, and in the remainder of the country to 199,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Health how many new houses have been built; how many persons have been re-housed; and when the schemes will be completed in the county division of Stalybridge and Hyde?

A total of 1,078 houses accommodating 5,196 persons have been provided for the re-housing of persons displaced from unfit and overcrowded houses and proposals have been approved for a further 194 houses accommodating 873 persons. In addition, since January, 1919, 1,592 houses have been built by the local authorities in the division and 2,285 by private enterprise.

The slum clearance programmes of these authorities comprised in all 1,529 unfit houses, of which 1,411 were in clearance areas and 118 were individual houses. Of these, 1,268 have been included in clearance areas declared and 75 have been demolished as the result of individual action. The number of overcrowded houses disclosed at the survey was 781, and by the end of 1937 abatement had been secured in 321 of these.

It is not possible to say precisely when the necessary action will be completed, especially as slum clearance programmes are subject to extensions from time to time, but the satisfactory progress already made suggests that no undue delay is likely.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the fact that at a recent meeting of the Redditch Urban District Council a resolution was passed that the Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company be informed that the council takes a serious view of their frequent failures to supply electricity in their area; and whether, in view of the fact that this company is neglecting to supply current for electric lighting in the rural areas in their district, he will take steps to compel the company to act up to their undertaking or give way to other undertakers who will meet requirements?

No, Sir; but if my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of any specific cases where difficulty is being experienced in obtaining a supply of electricity, I shall be pleased to ask the Electricity Commissioners to investigate them.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will expedite the publication of the report of the Departmental Committee on Courts Martial in order that the requisite amendments may be made to the Army (Annual) Act, having regard to the importance which will attach to its recommendations when the Military Training Bill becomes law?

Consideration of the report is not yet completed, but every effort will be made to reach a decision as early as practicable.