asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the output quota of the Holland Colliery of the White Moss Colliery Company, Lancashire, at the time the quota was sold to the Sutton Manor Colliery Company, also the amount paid for the said quota?

I am informed that the annual supply basic tonnage of the White Moss Colliery Company was 122,872 tons at the time of the transaction, but that in the process of transfer it was reduced by the executive board to 114,689 tons. I have no information as to the proportion of this which related to the Holland No. 9 Colliery, or as to the price paid.

asked the Secretary for Mines what progress has been made in the removal of water from the flooded coalfield in south-west Durham?

I have at present nothing to add to the reply which I gave on 25th April to the hon. Member for Houghton-le-Spring (Mr. W. Joseph Stewart) with regard to the promotion of a scheme for draining the waterlogged coal measures in south-west Durham.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the estimated amount paid by colliery owners in Great Britain in royalties and wayleaves, including the rental value of freehold minerals where worked by the proprietors, for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

During the year ended 31st March, 1939, the estimated amount paid by colliery owners in Great Britain in royalties and wayleaves (including the rental value of freehold minerals where worked by the proprietor) was £5,085,000.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the total number of inspections carried out by His Majesty's inspectors; the number of inspections made during the night shift; and the number of mines concerned, in

Inspections made and Number of Mines inspected in Nottinghamshire, 1929–1938.
Year.					By Mines Inspectors.		By Horse Inspectors.	By Electrical Inspectors.	Number of Mines inspected.
					Total.	Night.
1929	…	…	…	…	471	3	72	Not available.	43
1930	…	…	…	…	522	5	88	6	45
1931	…	…	…	…	521	5	64	39	47
1932	…	…	…	…	497	—	86	36	47
1933	…	…	…	…	494	4	85	23	46
1934	…	…	…	…	578	3	82	30	47
1935	…	…	…	…	573	49	85	37	44
1936	…	…	…	…	730	60	92	16	44
1937	…	…	…	…	765	87	89	55	46
1938	…	…	…	…	812	120	85	15	45

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the amount of overtime worked in the Nottinghamshire coal-mines, and the number of mines concerned for each of the years 1929 to 1938?

I regret that the information for which the hon. Member asks is not in my possession. If he can give me information in regard to particular complaints I shall be glad to have inquiries made.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will give the average wages cost per ton of the coal raised in Nottinghamshire for each of the years 1929 to 1938?

The information is as follows:

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE.
Year.	…	…	…	Average wages cost per ton of saleable coal raised. (Exclusive of the value of allowances in kind).*
	…	…	…	s.	d.
1929	…	…	…	8	5½
1930	…	…	…	8	5¼
1931	…	…	…	8	0¾
1932	…	…	…	7	11½
1933	…	…	…	7	8
1934	…	…	…	7	5½
1935	…	…	…	7	4
1936	…	…	…	7	10½
1937	…	…	…	8	10½
1938	…	…	…	9	4¼
* The average value of allowances in kind is not available for Nottinghamshire separately, but for North Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire it was nearly 3d. per ton of saleable coal.

:The following is the information:

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will give the average wages cost per ton of the coal raised in Nottinghamshire for each of the years 1929 to 1938?

The information is as follows:

Average value at the pithead of the average weekly output of coal per wage-earner employed at Coal Mines in Nottinghamshire in the years,1929 to 1938.
Year.		Value.			Year.		Value.
		£	s.	d.			£	S.	d.
1929	…	3	9	8	1934	…	3	13	9
1930	…	9	9	3	1935	…	3	13	10
1931	…	10	10	6	1936	…	4	7	9
1932	…	9	9	8	1937	…	5	3	7
1933	…	3	10	9	1938	…	5	1	7

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will give the number of coal-mines working in Nottinghamshire for each of the last 10 years?

The information is as follows:

Number of Coal Mines at work in Nottinghamshire in the Yean 1929 to 1938.
Year.		Number of Mines.	Year.		Number of Mines.
1929	…	46	1934	…	46
1930	…	46	1935	…	46
1931	…	48	1936	…	45
8932	…	47	1937	…	46
1933	…	46	1938	…	46

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the number of prosecutions commenced during the last 12 months by the Mines Department for breach of regulations in the coal industry; how many were successful; and how many were in connection with the working of overtime, giving separate figures for Lancashire and Cheshire?

The information is as follows:

Prosecutions instituted on behalf of the Mines Department during the12 months1st June,1938, to 30th May,1939, under the Coal Mines Acts.
—	Great Britain.	Lancashire and Cheshire.
Number of collieries concerned.	10	1
Number of collieries in in respect of which there was a conviction on one or more of the charges.	7	0
Total number of charges laid—
(a) Coal Mines Act, 1911.	95	19†
(b) Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1903 (Overtime).*	24	0
Number of convictions—
(a) Coal Mines Act, 1911.	39	0
(b) Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1908 (Overtime).*	9	0
Number of charges withdrawn or not proven—
(a) Coal Mines Act, 1911.	14	0
(b) Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1908 (Overtime).*	Nil	0
Number of charges dismissed—
(a)Coal Mines Act, 1911.	27	4
(b) Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1908 (Overtime).*	15	0
*In respect of one colliery,?
† Seven of these charges have been hard for four of them have been dismissed and in three cases judgment is suspended pending the hearing of the remaining 12 charges.

asked the Secretary for Mines what was the output per person in the coal-mining industry in tie years 1930 and 1938, respectively; what was the average annual wages per person in the same period; and whether he can express these increases in percentage figures?

The average output of saleable coal per wage-earner was 265 tons in 1930 and 297 tons in 19.58, representing an increase of 12 per cent.: the average annual wages (including the value of allowances in kind) for the same years were £119 and £151., representing an increase of 27 percent.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are being taken to ensure that the food supplied to militiamen will contain all the factors necessary to a balanced diet to maintain and improve nutrition?

Militiamen will have the same ration scale and the same cooking and messing arrangements as the Regular Army.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the standards of physical fitness demanded for the four classes of militiamen when they are medically examined?

The four grades in which men are placed after medical examination are:

Grade I.—Men who, subject only to such minor disabilities as can be remedied or adequately compensated by artificial means, attain the full normal standard of health and strength, and are capable of enduring physical exertion suitable to their age.

Grade II.— Those who, while suffering from disabilities disqualifying them for Grade I, do not suffer from progressive organic disease, have fair hearing and vision, are of moderate muscular development, and are able to undergo a considerable amount of physical exertion not involving severe strain.

Grade III.—Those who present such marked physical disabilities or evidence of past disease that they are not fit for the amount of exertion required for Grade II.

Grade IV.—Those who suffer from progressive organic disease or are for other reasons permanently incapable of the kind or degree of exertion required for Grade III. These men are unfit for any form of service.

asked the Secretary of State for War what disabilities there are affecting serving officers and men in regard to speaking in connection with, or standing at, Parliamentary or municipal elections; and to what extent will the said disabilities affect Members of Parliament who are called for service under the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces Act during the period of service required thereunder?

An officer or man of the Regular Army is not permitted to issue an address to electors, or in any other manner publicly announce himself or allow himself to be announced as a candidate or prospective candidate for Parliament. Similar disabilities attach to officers of the Territorial Army holding certain appointments, such as brigade commander and adjutant, who are engaged to give continuous paid service to the Crown. Furthermore, officers and men of the Regular Army are not permitted to take any active part in the affairs of any political organisation or party whether by speaking in public or in any other manner.An officer of the Regular Army on full pay, or a soldier, may not accept office in any municipal corporation or other local government council, or allow him-self to be nominated for election, without the sanction of the Army Council.These disabilities will apply also to all persons called out for military service under the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces Act, 1939.I am considering what steps are necessary to safeguard the interests of hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the 921 illegal immigrants on the "Liesel" were those who had been on the other four ships that had been turned back; and whether they will now be permitted to remain as legal residents with the rights of other residents or are indefinitely liable to imprisonment and deportation?

I have no information as regards the first part of the question. With regard to the second part, I have nothing to add to my reply to the right hon. and gallant Gentleman on the 13th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which Colonies at the present time employ game wardens for the preservation of wild fauna; and what is the number of staff in each case?

Game wardens are at present employed in Uganda, Kenya, Tanganyika Territory, Northern Rhodesia and the Federated Malay States. In Ceylon, part of the staff of the Forest Department is detailed for duties in respect of the protection of Fauna and Flora.The number of staff employed in each case is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of illegal immigrants, men, women and children, into Palestine which will be deducted from future immigration schedules, and from which category of schedules will the deduction be made; from labour, or from the 25,000 refugee dependants; and whether he has any figures as to the total number of illegal immigrants who have entered during the last six months, as compared with the total number of legal immigrants during the same period, distinguishing men, women and children?

A deduction of 1,300 persons has been made in respect of the immigration quota for the six-monthly period 1st April to 30th September, 1939.This deduction represents the ascertained number of illegal immigrants who succeeded in entering Palestine from the beginning of the period until the latest date on which their numbers were assessed. I am not aware how many of these were men, women and children respectively, but my right hon. Friend is asking the High Commissioner whether this information can be supplied. With regard to future immigration quotas, deductions will be made in respect of any number of illegal immigrants who may have succeeded in entering Palestine during the preceding quota period. It is naturally not possible to predict what deductions may be necessary. The deductions will be applied proportionately to the ordinary and refugee immigration quotas.My right hon. Friend has not the information asked for in the last part of the question, but he is asking the High Commissioner whether it can be supplied.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the inquiry by the recent Commissioner for Public Utilities in Newfoundland about the affairs in that Dominion; whether in view of the fact that economically the Dominion is poorer than in 1932, and that the Commission Government has failed to make any definite progress towards rehabilitation, he will consider the restoration of some more democratic form of government and re-examine the policy being pursued at present?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the recently published book by Mr. Lodge, who was Commis- sioner for Public Utilities in Newfoundland from 1934 to 1937. This book gives the author's personal view of the Newfoundland problem and does not arise from an official inquiry. Owing to adverse trade conditions a set-back has occurred in the island since the spring of 1938, up to which time a definite improvement had taken place in the economic position. This led to a re-examination by the Commission of Government of their general policy, and an extension of their reconstruction programme on the lines of Mr. Gorvin's recent proposals is now in hand. As regards the question of any constitutional change, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 14th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will consider the advisability of sending a co-operative commission to Newfoundland representative of consumer, agricultural and co-partnership forms of co-operation to study the industrial and social conditions prevailing there, and to advise whether the application of co-operative methods could contribute to the restoration of the economic prosperity of Newfoundland?

I will bring the hon. Member's suggestion to the notice of the Commission of Government but I may say that active steps are already being taken to promote the development of co-operative institutions in Newfoundland.A special Co-operative Division of the Department of Rural Reconstruction has been in operation for the last three years under the direction of a Canadian expert, and as will be seen from pages 28–29 of the commission's report for 1938 (Cmd. Paper 6010), there are now in the island some 700 co-operative study groups, 22 co-operative credit societies, 25 co-operative buying clubs and a number of co-operative producer and consumer societies. Further, a new experiment in co-operative development in the fisheries is now to be initiated under the direction of Mr. Gorvin, the Commissioner-Designate for Natural Resources, who, like the retiring Commissioner, has had special experience of co-operative work.

asked the Minister of Health what applications he has received from rural district councils for assistance in the provision of an adequate water supply, and if he contemplates affording financial assistance to areas where the provision of water supply is urgently needed?

Since the exhaustion of the special grant of £1,000,000 for rural water supplies, few applications for assistance have been made by rural district councils. My right hon. Friend can at present hold out no prospect of legislation authorising further grants for these supplies.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the difficulty experienced by local authorities in the area served by the Metropolitan Water Board in determining what action they should take under Section III of the Public Health Act, 1936, to ensure the purity of the water supplied to their districts, in view of the inadequate analytical information on water examination published in the official minutes of the Board, and of the fact that further information has not hitherto been made available; and whether he will take any action to ensure that the necessary information shall in future be forthcoming, and the duties of local authorities in this matter adequately defined?

I am aware that some question has been raised as to the scope of the analytical information supplied by the board to local authorities, and as to the action which the local authorities should take under Section 111 of the Act of 1936. It is for the local authorities themselves to decided what action, if any, it is necessary for them to take under the section. The board publish periodically summaries of the results of their regular examination of the water passing into their mains from their various sources and these summaries indicate the quality of the water supplied to the consumers. I understand that the board regard it as impracticable to furnish further details to the individual local authorities, and as no question arises as to the purity of the board's supplies it does not appear that any action on my part is required

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received information indicating that sufficient expert assistance is available properly to carry on the maternity services in Wales; and, if not, whether he will make a statement on the present position?

I am sending my hon. and learned Friend a statement relating to maternity services in Wales, which indicates that the development of the principal services providing expert assistance in maternity is in general proceeding satisfactorily. The second part of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that unsuitable material for screening purposes is being sold in different parts of the country; and whether he will endeavour to popularise the qualities which such materials should possess to be of real use for the object required?

My attention has not previously been called to the sale of unsuitable materials for screening purposes. The qualities required of such materials are described in general terms in a pamphlet recently issued by my Department on "War-time Lighting Restrictions for Industrial and Commercial Premises." I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. A similar description is also included in a leaflet which is shortly to be distributed to all householders throughout the country.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is satisfied with the progress of air-raid precautions, in general, in the Parliamentary Division of Stalybridge and Hyde?

Yes, Sir. The latest reports show satisfactory progress in that area.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether there is available for immediate use in case of emergency an adequate supply of magnetos, hosiery needles, carbolic crystals, and chinchona bark; and whether arrangements have been made for an increase of reserve production of chinchona bark within British territory?

I am advised that no difficulty is anticipated in regard to the supply in emergency of the supplies referred to by my hon. Friend, but the supply position is, of course, kept under constant review. As regards the last part of the question experiments are being carried on under Government control both in East Africa and British Malaya.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the approximate number of occupational railway crossings in Leicestershire and the proportion of them which is provided with gates?

There are 252 occupation level crossings on the London Midland and Scottish and the London and North Eastern Railways in Leicestershire; all are provided with gates.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any decision has been reached regarding the threatened demolition of the bridge of Glenshee?

The Glenshee Bridge is scheduled as an Ancient Monument and could not therefore be demolished without the consent of the Office of Works which, I understand, has not been given. In any case, a proposal to rebuild the bridge on its present site would not, in my opinion, provide a satisfactory road alignment.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the postponement of a measure for the reorganisation of electricity supplies, and the growing dissatisfaction of consumers generally at present conditions of supply, he will consult with the Electricity Commissioners with a view to directing the attention of the supply interests to the urgent necessity for a greater standardisation of tariffs, charges, and voltages, and for the wider application of the two-part tariff system of charging, so that such tariff may be available at a reasonable price for consumers everywhere?

The possibility of securing greater standardisation of tariffs, charges and voltages is continually under review by the Electricity Commissioners. With regard to the concluding part of the question I am informed that a two part tariff for domestic supplies is already available in the areas of the large majority of undertakings.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the Scottish Education Department's Circular No. M.136, dated April 1939, provides for payment of grants up to 50 per cent. of the approved expenditure incurred by education authorities on the construction of trenches or other suitable shelter accommodation and the provision of materials and equipment, including first-aid equipment, required for the purpose of protection; and will he take steps to secure that in place of the 50 per cent. grant for this purpose there will be substituted a grant at the rates provided for by the Air-Raid Precautions Act. 1937, and that such grants are payable out of the funds of the Lord Privy Seal and not as part of the Education (Scotland) Fund?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given on 25th May and 8th June last by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal, to questions on the same subject asked by the hon. Members for Farnworth (Mr. Tomlinson) and for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many old age pensioners there are in the county of Ayr; how many of them are receiving supplementary relief from the public assistance committees; and what effect this relief has on the rates of the large burghs, Ayr and Kilmarnock, and on the landward and small burghs?

As old age pension records are not kept on a geographical basis I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the question is not available. With regard to the remainder of the question my right hon. Friend circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT on the 6th April, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Stirling and Fal-

The following statement shows (i) the number of old age pensioners in receipt of outdoor poor relief during the week ended nth March, 1939, (ii) the number of dependants of those persons, (iii) the total cost of outdoor relief in money and kind granted to those old age pensioners and their dependants during that week and (iv) certain other particular
Counties.	Week ending 11th March 1939.			Estimated annual cost of outdoor relief in money or in kind to old age pensioners and their dependants falling to be met out of' rates and the Block Grants.
	Number of old age pensioners to whom outdoor relief in money and kind was granted during the week.	Number of dependants of persons in Col. 1 other than those ' who are themselves in receipt of old age pensions.	Total cost of outdoor relief in money or in kind granted td persons accounted for in Cols. 2 and 3.	Amount	Equivalent rate in the pound.
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)
			£	£	Pence.
Aberdeen	247	145	93	4,849	1.8
Angus	265	41	80	4,171	2.1
Argyll	320	50	91	4,745	2.7
Ayr	1,701	232	535	27,896	4.9
Banff	150	64	45	2,346	2.9
Berwick	73	13	29	1,512	2.8
Bute	83	6	23	1,199	1.4
Caithness	146	38	53	2,764	71
Clackmannan	65	14	17	886	1.0
Dumfries	157	71	55	2,868	2.2
Dunbarton	722	161	269	14,026	47
East Lothian	323	46	92	4,797	30
Fife	1,187	223	283	14,756	2.7
Inverness	245	106	70	3.650	3.3
Kincardine	37	29	12	626	1.0
Kirkcudbright	107	25	29	1,512	1.9
Lanark	3.053	660	1.234	64,344	8.3
Midlothian	606	93	145	7,561	3.1
Moray and Nairn	210	71	71	3,702	3.0
Orkney	53	4	12	626	2.9
Peebles	36	4	11	574	0.9
Perth and Kinross	271	39	65	3,389	1.1
Renfrew	648	74	195	10,168	2.2
Ross and Cromarty	182	59	42	2,190	2.4
Roxburgh	127	15	39	2,034	1.6
Selkirk	87	9	25	1,304	1.8
Stirling	806	126	221	11,524	3.7
Sutherland	67	10	18	939	3.1
West Lothian	738	97	190	9,907	5.2
Wigtown	130	19	39	2,034	3.6
Zetland	30	5	11	574	2.9
County Totals	12,872	2,549	4,094	213,473	3.7
Burgh Totals	27,608	3,768	11,204	584,212	5.3
Grand Total	40,480	6,317	15,298	797,685	4.7

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can state the average cost of four-roomed timber kirk (Mr. Westwood) a statement as to the cost of public assistance to old age pensioners in the respective public assistance areas in Scotland. I regret that it has now been found that in calculating the figures for the equivalent rate in counties given in column 6 of that table a systematic error was made.and poured-concrete houses, respectively, for which State subsidy is paid; and the average cost of a four-roomed brick-built house also under subsidised conditions?

The average cost of four-roomed houses of timber, poured concrete, and brick construction approved for subsidy purposes during the 12 months ended 31st May, 1939, was £458, £515 and £466, respectively. The hon. Member will be aware that sufficient experience has not yet been gained of timber and poured concrete construction to enable a reliable comparison between the cost of building by those methods and the cost of building by the normal methods. With a more extensive use of alternative methods, it may be expected that the cost of building by those methods will be reduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can state what number of timber and poured-concrete working-class houses, for which State subsidy is paid, have been erected in Scotland by local authorities or development councils during the period from April, 1938 to April, 1939, and plans approved of, and estimates accepted, since April, 1939?

During the year to 30th April, 1939, 218 timber houses and 50 poured-concrete houses were completed under subsidy schemes. There were also at that date 1,720 timber and 1,082 poured-concrete houses under construction, while tenders had been approved by the Department of Health for 369 timber and 2,764 poured-concrete houses the construction of which had not begun. Since the 30th April last the Department of Health have approved tenders for 886 timber houses, and plans for 1,030 poured-concrete houses not yet tendered for.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it has been found possible to expedite the building of the houses in the Borrowfield Scheme in the Camlachie Parliamentary Division of Glasgow, in view of the great over-crowding and bad housing conditions in this area?

I am informed by the corporation that difficulties which were encountered in securing proper foundations for the houses have been overcome and the corporation expect to make good progress from now on. The Scheme has recently been increased to provide a total of 614 houses, of which 216 are under construction. The corporation assure me that they will take every possible step to expedite the completion of the houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will cause to be placed in the Library the reports of the inquiry under the Scottish Milk Marketing Scheme of 1933 into the relative nutritional value of raw and pasteurised milk as disclosed in the experiments in certain Renfrewshire schools?

I am placing in the Library a copy of the interim report, published last year by the Milk Nutrition Committee on the Effects of Dietary Supplements of Pasteurised and Raw Milk on the Growth and Health of School Children. This describes experiments carried out in areas in England and Scotland including Renfrewshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the decision given on the 11th May by the High Court of Justice, King's Bench Division, on a claim for a widow's pension by a Mrs. Donovan, allowing the appeal; and whether it is the intention of the Department of Health to operate the decision given, and, if so, to review any claims which have been refused in the past?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the decision in the Divisional Court in the case of Donovan versus National Amalgamated Approved Society, what steps he intends to take to have all cases reviewed where pension has been refused under circumstances similar to that of Mrs. Donovan, with a view to the granting of pension in all such cases?

The attention of my right hon. Friend has been drawn to the decision to which the hon. Members refer, and he is advising approved societies that the decision should be treated as affecting Scottish insured persons. It is his intention to review all cases which have been noted or which may be brought to light in which, having regard to this decision, a claim might now succeed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can state the result of the recent inquiries by the master of works and chief constable into the question of dart-board games in licensed premises in the Glasgow area; whether he will advise the Glasgow magistrates to rescind their recent decision banning the playing of such games; and if he is aware that members of this licensing authority, owing to their prohibition views, are penalising these licence-holders?

I am informed that after consideration of reports by the officials referred to, the licensing court, by a majority adhere to their previous view that they did not favour the playing of darts on licensed premises. I understand, however, that the court have not made it a condition of obtaining a licence that darts should not be played. My right hon. Friend has no jurisdiction over the magistrates sitting as a licensing court.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the proposal of the Glasgow Education Committee to amalgamate schools which are large enough to demand the full attention of the headmaster; and that, under this scheme of amalgamation, it is proposed to amalgamate for a temporary period Whitehall school, which has about 1,750 pupils, with Onslow Drive school, which has over 800 pupils; what educational progress it is hoped to secure by such methods; and whether such amalgamation has secured his approval?

The proposal referred to has been submitted by the Glasgow Education Authority for approval. The authority represent that the arrangement is designed to secure for the pupils, until the new secondary school at Whitehill is completed, a wider choice of secondary courses that would otherwise be available. My right hon. Friend will consider the proposal in all its bearings, before deciding whether approval should be given.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether agreement has now been reached between the interested parties with regard to safety precautions at the Timber Basin, Forth and Clyde Canal, Glasgow?

I am informed that the London Midland and Scottish Railway Company have erected a six-strand barbed wire fence: at both ends of the Timber Basin at Firhill and on the towing path side of the Basin.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how long have the recommendations of the Poor Persons' Representation (Scotland) Committee been under consideration and whether action on the main lines of the recommendations is contemplated in the near future?

The recommendations of the committee, which reported on the 25th March, 1937, have been carefully considered, but for the reasons stated in the reply to the hon. Member's question on the subject on the 14th February I can see no prospect of early legislation.

asked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to the recent trial of Mr. Turkington, debt collector, Gallowgate, Glasgow, who was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, and the revelations of fraudulent practices; whether he is aware that a number of complaints were placed in the hands of the authorities during the past six years and that no complete evidence could be obtained to justify an arrest and trial; and whether he will now introduce legislation to place the supervision of debt collectors in the hands of a local licensing authority where complaints could be inquired into?

I am aware of the prosecution and of the complaints referred to by the hon. Member. A test case dealing with the methods used by one firm of debt collectors will shortly be heard by the High Court of Justiciary, and the question of amending legislation does not therefore arise in the meantime.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions, if any, he has giver to his engineers in charge of the Kelvin Valley Drainage Scheme to preserve any relics of the Roman wall and occupation which may be uncovered during the operations?

The chief engineer of the Department of Agriculture has general instructions to report the discovery of any relics of national interest uncovered during operations for which he is responsible. In the case of the Kelvin scheme my right hon. Friend has instructed that special care should be taken in the direction indicated by the right hon. Gentleman in consultation with recognised authorities on the subject.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, how much of the land which the Forestry Commission is in course of acquiring for afforestation purposes on the estates of Knockdow and of Ardlamont on the Firth of Clyde is at present used for farming?

Apart from 187 acres of arable land, the estate of Knockdow, comprising 5,674 acres, has been lightly stocked with sheep. It is understood that the present proprietor had intended to give up sheep farming and clear the entire stock. The Forestry Commission and the Department of Agriculture for Scotland are in consultation on the subject of the utilisation of the estate in the event of its acquisition by the Commission. The Forestry Commission are not negotiating for Ardlamont estate.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the total profits of building societies in Great Britain for the years 1930, 1934 and 1938; and whether he can now take steps to reduce the 4½per cent. that is charged by building societies?

The estimated profits of building societies in Great Britain (in the sense of the interest paid on shares plus the additions to profit and reserve) were as follow:

—	1930.	1934	1938.
	£	£	£
Interest on shares.	12,852,000	15,592,000	17,981,000
Additions to profit and reserve.	1,914,000	3,164,000	3,537,000
£	14,766,000	18,756,000	21,518,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied that in all cases where the Birmingham City Council Housing Department receive amounts of rent exceeding £2 they are paying the necessary Receipt Stamp Duty; and, if not, what action he proposes to take?

I have no reason to suppose that the Birmingham City Council is unaware of its obligations in the matter of Receipt Stamp Duty. If, however, the hon. Member will send me the particulars of any specific case in which it is suggested that the requirements of the law have not been complied with I will have it looked into.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider preventing Shipbuilding Securities, Limited, from closing down any further shipyards in view of the urgent need for keeping open every shipbuilding yard and engineering company in view of the Government's rearmament needs?

I do not think I can usefully add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Jarrow (Miss Wilkinson) on the 2nd May, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister whether he proposes to continue the broadcasts in Spanish and Portuguese; and, if so, on what Vote the cost of these broadcasts are borne?

I understand that the B.B.C. have no intention of stopping their recently started news bulletins in Spanish for Spain and Portuguese for Portugual. The services in Spanish and Portuguese for Latin America are being extended as from 3rd July. The cost is met out of the grant to the B.B.C., paid from the Vote for broadcasting Class IV, 12, which has been increased for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement showing the comparison in the increase in wages and the increase in productivity per employé in the period 1931 to 1938?

I am informed by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade that no information on the subject of productivity per employéis available in respect of the period referred to in the question. This subject can only be dealt with comprehensively for years in which a Census of Production has been taken, and the final volume on the Census of Production for 1935 will, it is expected, contain a comparison between that year and 1930.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the setting up of an inquiry to consider the question of accelerating the process of establishing new and lighter industries in North-east Cheshire, to re-absorb into industry former cotton operatives and other workers now without work?

After careful inquiry by the advisory committee appointed under Section 5 (2) of the Special Areas (Amendment) Act, 1937, I directed that Section 5 of the Act should apply to areas of which the following form part:

• The Borough of Dukinfield
• The Borough of Stalybridge
• The Urban District of Longdendale.
• The Rural District of Tintwistle.

The Lancashire Industrial Sites Company, Limited, is ready to provide factories for new industrial undertakings to be established in these areas and the persons carrying on such undertakings which occupy factories provided are eligible for consideration for financial assistance by way of loan from the Treasury.In view of the action already taken I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by a further inquiry such as is suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the names of the persons comprising the hardship committees for the London area under the provisions of the Military Training Act, 1939?

The members of the hardship committees for the London area will be the present chairman of the Courts of Referees and the members of the panels so far as they are willing to serve.