asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that in the county of Durham there are more than 6,000 men who have been unemployed for more than five years, and that this long period of unemployment is a serious matter to these people; and what steps are being taken by his Department to provide them with employment?

Date.			Males, aged 14-20(all occupations)	Men, aged 21-64.			Total Males, aged 14-64.
				Craftsmen.*	Craftsmen's and Builder's Labourers.	All other occupations.
1938.
4th April	…	…	647	2,191	2,978	6,192	12,008
16th May	…	…	564	2,012	2,759	6,216	11,551
13th June	…	…	515	2,300	2,737	6,089	11,641
18th July	…	…	608	2,848	2,982	6,010	12,448
15th August	…	…	64I	2,717	2,803	5.845	12,006
12th September	…	…	679	3,448	2,899	5,789	12,815
17th October	…	…	722	4.562	2,881	6,169	14,334
14th November	…	…	835	5,121	3,192	6,003	15,151
12th December	…	…	832	5.735	3.247	6,589	16,403
1939.
16th January	…	…	1,361	10,395	4,474	7,688	23,918
13th February	…	…	981	6,470	3,526	6,727	17.704
13th March	…	…	752	4,125	3,013	6,231	14,121
17th April	…	…	599	2,656	2,760	5.699	11,714
15th May	…	…	521	1,909	2,732	5.223	10.385
* Carpenters, bricklayers, masons, slaters and tilers, plasterers, painters and plumbers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what provision is being made for passengers travelling be- that in addition to the facilities for training and transfer available to the long-term unemployed, Durham benefits through the Special Areas Act and the work of the Special Commissioner. The Government's plans for the shipping and shipbuilding industries have also recently been announced and I hope that this will result in many shipbuilding workers who have been long out of work being placed in employment. The claims of long-term unemployed are constantly brought to the notice of prospective employers by all exchanges.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the number of building trade operatives registering as unemployed in each month from April, 1938, till May, 1939, in Scotland?

The table below shows the numbers of insured males in the building industry recorded as unemployed at Employment Exchanges in Scotland at one day in each month from April, 1938, to May, 1939:tween Glasgow or Ardrossa and Deny; whether he is aware that steamers carrying passengers on this route are generally overcrowded, no sleeping accommodation and in a filthy state; and whether his inspectors will examine these steamers very carefully during the present holiday period and urge that every precaution and protection of passengers should be enforced?

I am informed that there is at present no service between Ardrossan and Londonderry, and that the service between Glasgow and Greenock and Londonderry is being maintained by three steamers belonging to the Burns and Laird Line, Limited. I have no evidence that these steamers carry more than their authorised complements of passengers. Sleeping accommodation is provided for a limited number of passengers and ample seating accommodation for the remainder. The vessels are regularly inspected, and especially before the holiday periods, by Board of Trade surveyors who verify, among other things, that the passenger accommodation is clean and suitable for the purpose.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the terms of reference of the Merchant Ship Reserve Advisory Committee?

The terms of reference of the Committee are as follow:

"To consider the arrangement to be made for the purchase of merchant ships to form a. reserve of tonnage for use in emergency and for the maintenance of such ships while in reserve, and to make recommendations to the Board of Trade on these matters and on other matters concerned with the reserve of tonnage which may be referred to them by the Board of Trade."

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether owners of coasting vessels will be allowed to draw a subsidy in respect of vessels which find a part of their employment in Continental and near trades; and whether any orders for new coastal steamers, to be used for part of the time in these trades, have been placed on the understanding that Government assistance towards the cost of building them will be forthcoming?

In accordance with my statement of 28th March, it is proposed that owners of vessels engaged partly in coasting and partly in non-coasting voyages should be able to obtain subsidy in respect of the latter voyages, if otherwise eligible. The statement also indicated that the scheme of grants for new-ships would not apply to vessels built for the coasting trade, but it is not proposed to exclude vessels engaged partly in coasting trade, provided that such employment is not substantial. The scheme for loans for shipbuilding extends to coasting vessels and I understand that some applications under that scheme are contemplated in respect of coasting vessels.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will inform the House of the present state of development of the autonomous Jewish home in Biro-Bidjan, as the territory set aside is larger than Belgium, and amongst the richest in Russia, and there is room there for millions of Jewish settlers; and will he co-operate with the Soviet authorities with a view to finding in Biro-Bidjan some amelioration of the pressing Jewish refugee problem?

As I informed my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Hitchin (Sir A. Wilson) on the 19th December last, in the absence of British Consular Officers in the region concerned, my Noble Friend has no detailed reports on the development of the autonomous Jewish Province of Biro-Bidjan. In answer to inquiries which were made at the beginning of this year by His Majesty's Embassy in Moscow, the Soviet Government stated that they were prepared to accept refugees, but that each case must be considered individually and on its own merits.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the actions of the Japanese at Tientsin and elsewhere, he will take steps to purchase needed supplies from nations other than Japan, and preferably within the British Empire?

I have at present nothing to add to the Prime Minister's reply to questions yesterday.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what area of land is now held by the Forestry Commissioners in Monmouthshire; the number of men employed thereon; and whether any additional land in that county is to be acquired for the purposes of afforestation?

The Forestry Commissioners now hold 10,118 acres of land in Monmouthshire. The number of persons employed thereon during the last 12 months varied from 83 to 136. Four hundred and fifty-two additional acres are under negotiation.

—					Factories opened.	Factories extended.	Factories closed.
England—
1932	…	…	…	…	606	156	376
1933	…	…	…	…	450	105	383
1934	…	…	…	…	497	145	477
1935	…	…	…	…	487	186	465
1936	…	…	…	…	508	175	376
1937	…	…	…	…	491	173	346
1938	…	…	…	…	372	140	402
Wales (including Monmouth) —
1932	…	…	…	…	10	8	5
1933	…	…	…	…	2	—	2
1934	…	…	…	…	5	2	4
1935	…	…	…	…	4	5	5
1936	…	…	…	…	5	1	3
1937	…	…	…	…	11	3	2
1938	…	…	…	…	23	2	11
Scotland—
1932	…	…	…	…	20	10	37
1933	…	…	…	…	15	4	31
1934	…	…	…	…	18	4	21
1935	…	…	…	…	23	10	15
1936	…	…	…	…	29	9	15
1937	…	…	…	…	20	2	14
1938	…	…	…	…	21	3	19
Notes— Corresponding figures in respect of 1931 are not available. The figures for 1938 are provisional.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many factories have been provided to applicants by the Lancashire Industrial Sites Company?

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths) on the 13th of this month.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when the Government intend to introduce their proposed legislation to make loan facilities more readily

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the number of new factories brought into production in England, Wales and Scotland, respectively, each year from and including 1931?

The following statement shows the desired information, so far as it is available from the particulars received in connection with the annual surveys of industrial development. The surveys take account only of factories in which 25 or more people are or have been employed:available for new undertakings which are not scheduled as Special Areas under the Special Areas Acts, but which are nevertheless suffering from heavy unemployment?

I am not at present in a position to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Llanelly on the 13th June.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the weight and value of all fish imported into the United Kingdom during 1937 and 1938, including fish landed direct from foreign trawlers and fish sent from foreign countries by steamer?

According to the trade returns, total imports into the United Kingdom of fish of all kinds (including shell-fish, canned fish and fish not of British taking landed from deep sea fisheries) were, in 1937, 3,689,000 cwts. valued at £10,097,000; and, in 1938, 3,719,000 cwts. valued at £10,134,000. Details are shown on pages 32 and 33 of the issue of the Monthly Trade Accounts for December last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any decision has been arrived at with regard to the question of introducing legislation that will permit all imported goods now compulsorily marked as foreign to bear the specific name of the country of origin?

The views have now been obtained of most of the organisations which were consulted on the proposal to withdraw the option given under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, to use the word "foreign" as an indication of origin. The matter is being considered as rapidly as possible by the Departments concerned.

asked the Prime Minister whether the invitation issued by the United States to a World Cotton Marketing Conference, to be held at Washington in September, has been accepted on behalf of Great Britain; and whether he can give any indication as to what other countries have accepted invitations to attend this meeting?

His Majesty's Government and the Government of India have indicated to the Government of the United States of America their willingness to participate in the proposed discussions, provided that the other major cotton-producing countries are represented. The Government of the Sudan have also indicated their willingness to send a representative. I understand from a statement issued by the United States Department of Agriculture that invitations were also extended to Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, France, Mexico, Peru and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, but information is not yet available as to whether any and, if so, which of these Governments have accepted.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of persons in receipt of workmen's compensation who are also in receipt of public assistance, giving separate figures for Lancashire?

According to a special Return in respect of the week ended 18th February, 1939, there were 3,685 persons in England and Wales in receipt of weekly payments by way of workmen's compensation who were also in receipt of out-relief in money or in kind from the Poor Law authorities. The corresponding figure for the administrative county of Lancaster together with the seventeen associated county boroughs was 381.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the number of clerical officers, male, S-class clerks, paper keepers and messengers, who are being transferred to the new office at Hayes, Middlesex; the names of the Departments from which such staff is being transferred; and what are the losses in pay which will be sustained by such officers; and whether he will give instructions that, pending investigation into the nature of these transfers, the staff concerned shall continue to receive London rates of pay?

Officers of the grades mentioned are being transferred from London to Hayes, Middlesex, by the Ministry of Pensions and the Board of Inland Revenue, the total numbers being as follow:

Clerical Officers (Male)	…	14
S-class Clerks	…	29
Paper Keepers	…	34
Messengers, etc.	…	7
		74

The arrangements applicable in cases of transfer between scales to which a regu- lated system of provincial differentiation applies, as in the cases in point, are laid down in an Agreement of 12th July, 1935, with the Staff Side of the National Whitley Council. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of this Agreement. In cases where provincial differentiation applies officers on transfer from London to a provincial centre are placed on a provincial scale of pay somewhat lower than the London scale. They retain, however, their London rate, unless it exceeds the provincial maximum, until it is overtaken by their provincial rate. Under this arrangement there will be no immediate loss of pay in 36 of the above cases. Of the remaining officers, whose London rate exceeds the appropriate provincial maximum, 12 are clerical officers and 26 are paper keepers and messengers. The deductions in pay range up to £30 per annum for the former and from is. to 3s. a week for the latter.The arrangements which are being applied are in accordance with the terms of the Agreement to which I have referred, and I regret that I am unable to agree that the officers now in question should be excluded from its provisions. I may add that representations have been made on the subject by the staff interests concerned, with whom the matter in its various aspects is under discussion.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiraltywhat were the approximate numbers of established and hired industrial staff of all grades in the home naval dockyards and all Admiralty establishments at home, respectively, for the years 1913, 1920, 1930, 1935, and 1938?

The approximate numbers of established and hired industrial staff of all grades borne in the Naval dockyards and other Admiralty Industrial Establishments at home at varying dates during the years 1913, 1920, 1930, 1935 and 1938 are as follow:

		Established.	Hired.
1913	…	8,857	46,010
1920	…	17,600	60,082
1930	…	12,324	35,8o1
1935	…	10,189	37,504
1938	…	9,892	60,771

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that parts of Whitehall and Parliament Square are to be re-surfaced this year; what type of surfacing is to be laid down; and whether he will ensure that the new surfaces will be non-skid as in some of the adjacent streets?

The Westminster City Council do not propose to resurface any part of Whitehall this year but the carriageway on the North and East sides of Parliament Square will be repaved during the Parliamentary Recess in August and September. I understand that it is proposed to use woodblock paving as in the adjacent carriageways. No direct grant from the Road Fund is involved as the work will be carried out under the "block grant" provisions of the Local Government Act, 1929.Whilst therefore I have no power to prescribe the precise material for the re-paving of this roadway, I very much hope that full consideration will be given to the vital importance of a non-skid surface.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take steps to remove the ambiguities as to the rights of pedestrians at controlled and uncontrolled crossings?

The rights and obligations of pedestrians at controlled and uncontrolled crossings are indicated on page 23 of the supplementary notes in The Highway Code. Advice to pedestrians as to the use of controlled crossings is included in paragraphs 96, 98 and 99 of the Code. The instructions in the Code seem to me to be clear but I will see whether they can be improved.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will provide a list of the compulsory acquisitions of land for public purposes made in Derbyshire with the authority of his Department during the years 1937 and 1938, together with the area concerned and theprice paid in each instance and, where known, the value as assessed for Schedule A previous to purchase?

I am obtaining the desired information and will send it to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the name and qualifications of the British expert on the Management Committee of the Chinese Currency Stabilisation Fund; and whether he has furnished to His Majesty's Government a full report on the break in the exchange value of the Chinese dollar during the past fortnight?

I would remind the hon. Member that the Management Committee contains five members, namely, a representative of each of the two British Banks, and of each of the two Chinese Banks concerned, together with one member appointed by the Chinese Government with the approval of His Majesty's Treasury. The last named is Mr. Cyril Rogers, who was formerly a member of the staff of the Bank of England and has for some time now acted as technical adviser of the Central Bank of China. Mr. Rogers regularly furnishes His Majesty's Treasury with reports.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has yet decided that any further action is desirable in regard to the sale of miniature air-raid precautions badges; what representations he has received that such sale would result in ridicule to air-raid precautions work; and, if he has not yet come to any decision, whether he will give definite instructions that the ordinary retail sale of these medals should be prohibited?

:Representations on this subject have reached me from various quarters; and proposals designed to remedy the present position will be brought forward for consideration during the remaining stages of the Civil Defence Bill.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will give the number of inspections that have been made by workmen's inspectors, the number of mines so inspected and the number of mines at which no such inspections took place in Nottinghamshire for each of the years 1929 to 1938?

The information is as follows:

Year.		Number of inspections by Workmen's Inspectors.	Number of mines inspected.	Number of mines not inspected.
1929	…	57	19	27
1930	…	75	20	26
1931	…	68	18	30
1932	…	59	24	23
1933	…	47	17	29
1934	…	50	21	25
1935	…	70	28	18
1936	…	102	29	16
1937	…	99	26	20
1938	…	100	20	26

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will give particulars of the proposals for colliery amalgamations recently sent by the Coal Commission to the owners of the coal undertakings in this country?

Yes, Sir. I am sending a copy to the hon. Member and will place some further copies in the Library.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the number of explosions in coal mines attributable to the use of electricity in Scotland and England and Wales, respectively, during the last 10 years; and whether, in view of the danger involved, any consideration has been given to the possibility of abolishing this form of haulage?

In Scotland 13 explosions were due to electricity out of 246 explosions from all causes, and in England and Wales 20 were due to electricity out of 214 from all causes. As regards the second part of the question, I would point out that the use of electricity for haulage purposes is only one of many uses to which electricity is put, and that the whole subject has been considered in all its aspects by the Royal Commission on Safety in Coal Mines.

asked the Home Secretary

(1) whether he will state the number of persons receiving compensation for accidents in the Nottinghamshire mines for each of the years 1929 to 1938, giving in each case the number injured, the number who returned to work in less than two weeks, and the number who were absent for more than two weeks; K

(2) whether he will give the number of miners receiving compensation in respect of industrial diseases and the amount of compensation paid in Nottinghamshire for each of the years 1929 to 1938?

(3) whether he will state the number of persons receiving compensation for

Mines under the Coal Mines Act, 1911, in Nottinghamshire.
Year.		Persons under 16 years of age.			Persons 16 and under 18 years of age.
		Average Number employed.	Number killed.	Number injured and disabled by accidents for more than three days.	Average Number employed.	Number killed.	Number injured and disabled by accidents for more than three days.
1929	…	2,080	2	364	2,598	2	483
1930	…	1,861	3	344	2.743	—	488
1931	…	1,683	—	333	2,768	3	519
1932	…	1,458	2	233	2,421	1	381
1933	…	1,288	2	208	2,106	1	327
1934	…	1,434	—	240	1,805	3	288
1935	…	1,528	—	369	1,68o	—	284
1936	…	1,320	2	242	2,003	3	343
1937	…	1,291	1	210	2,105	—	369
1938	…	1,324	—	219	1,957	3	302

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the total amount of relief of rates as a result of the Derating Act in England and Scotland respectively; and whether, in view of the difficulties experienced by local authorities on account, of derating, he will consider making an additional contribution to local authorities in view of recent legislation and additional burdens placed upon such authorities?

The total amount of relief from rates afforded by the derating miner's nystagmus in Nottinghamshire for each of the years 1929 to 1938, giving, separately, the number of old cases and the number of new cases?

I regret that figures of this kind are not available for Nottinghamshire separately.

asked the Secretary for Mines (1) whether he will give the number of accidents to boys under 16 years of age and youths under 18 years of age in the Nottinghamshire coal mines for each of the years 1929 to 1938;(2) whether he will give the number of boys under 16 years of age and of youths under r8 years of age employed in the Nottinghamshire coal mines for each of the years 1929 to 1938?

The following is the information:provisions of the Local Government Act, 1929, was at that time £22,292,203. The relief in Scotland afforded by the corresponding provisions in the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929, was £3,341,403.The total Exchequer grants to local authorities made under those Acts take account of the losses which fall upon them owing to derating. The distribution of these grants is mainly in accordance with needs for local government services in any area in relation to the ability of the area to meet the cost, and the Acts provide for periodical recalculations of the

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the growing practices of magistrates in petty sessional courts, when putting convicted persons on probation, of imposing the condition that they enlist in the armed forces of the Crown and, in some cases, of offering not to sentence them to imprisonment if they undertake so to enlist; and whether, as these practices tend both to throw an undeserved slur on the armed forces and to discredit the administration of justice, he will consider addressing a circular letter to magistrates on the matter?

Any pressure by courts on offenders to enlist in the armed forces would be open to the strongest objection, and amongst the Home Office circulars to justices there is a circular of 1922 calling attention to the points mentioned by the hon. and learned Member. In several cases where inquiries have been made by my Department about cases reported in the newspapers it has been found that the suggestion of enlistment has come not from the Bench but from some relative or social worker who has urged on behalf of a younger offender that he has good qualities and would do well if allowed to enlist.My right hon. Friend does not think there is any growing tendency of courts to act as suggested in the question, but he has been considering whether a further circular to justices would be useful and he is in consultation with the Service Departments, whose policy of maintaining a high standard of character for recruits would be prejudiced by any such practice.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether his attention has been called to the tax office accommodation of Stratford Third District in Deanery Road, Stratford, London, E.15; is he aware that two years have elapsed since his Department agreed to re-house these premises which are now inadequate to cope with the requirements of the district; and, in view of the fact that the existing staff carries on under extreme difficulty, when he proposes to create an up-to-date and efficient tax office for the area?

My attention has been called to these premises, and I am aware that my Department agreed in 1937 that it was desirable to transfer the Stratford Third District Tax Office to adequate and more conveniently situated accommodation in Woodford. Owing, however, to the: absence of suitable premises in this area, I regret that it has so far proved impossible to effect this removal, but my Department fully realises the merits of the case, and is at present considering the offer of a firm of builders to provide suitable premises.

asked the First Commissioner of Works on what authority were the charges on chairs in St. James's Park increased from 2d. to 1s. on the 22nd and 23rd June; and whether the increase was made with his sanction?

There was no general increase from 2d. in the charge for chairs in St. James's Park on the 22nd and 23rd June, but, in accordance with what has been the practice for many years, the chair licensee was authorised to make a special charge for chairs placed in approved positions along the routes followed by The King and Queen.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will state the number of Government factories and establishments now in course of construction; the location of such establishments and the number employed on each site?

In existing conditions of pressure I regret that I do not feel able to call on the various Departments of Government concerned to tabulate the information desired.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has now been able to give favourable consideration to the representations of the town-planning committee of the Wolverhampton Corporation and to the petition of the residents and property-owners in Albert Road, Wolverhampton, that the drill hall which it is proposed should be there constructed shall be built on one or other of the three sites suggested as alternatives, the Albert Road area being scheduled as wholly residential under the Wolverhampton Town Planning Scheme?

I regret that the alternative sites suggested by the corporation were not suitable for the purpose in view. The drill hall, however, will be constructed to harmonise with surrounding property, and the plans can be submitted to the corporation for consideration if they wish.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the event of a militiaman desiring to make a claim for financial assistance to meet rent or other liabilities, he will state what machinery is available for the purpose; and whether claims can be presented during training?

I would refer the hon. Member to the White Paper recently issued, and the information there given with regard to the Military Service (Special Allowances) Advisory Committee. This committee has been set up to deal with claims of the kind referred to. Claims must be made on a special form which will be available within the next few days on application to the regimental paymaster of the unit to which the militiaman is allotted. Arrangements are being made for forms also to be available at the centres at which militiamen attend for medical examination in future. Claims may be presented before or during training.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether militiamen are relieved of their obligation to maintain their contributions to trade union provident funds, and will any claim to benefit which may arise during such period of service be safeguarded?

The question seems primarily one for adjustment between the Trades Unions and the militiamen concerned. Insofar as there is any contract of insurance on human life binding the trades union, this will be covered by the Orders-in-Council dealing with assurances.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give particulars as to the sources of origin of Army remounts obtained during the past 12 months; to what extent, these remounts were of British origin, from the Irish Free State, or from Poland and other foreign countries, respectively?

A total of 287 horses has been purchased since 1st June, 1938, and, of this number, 96 were bought in Northern Ireland and Eire, and the remainder in England. None of these horses was of foreign breeding.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the number of education committees who provide facilities for physical instruction in their evening-class curriculum; and if such instruction is given by part-time or whole-time instructors?

During the session 1938-39, all Education Authorities in Scotland, 35 in number, provided for physical instruction in evening continuation classes. Many of the physical training instructors employed in evening classes are also employed as full-time physical training instructors during the day.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the number of children in Scottish schools who receive physical exercise, and of that number, those who receive instruction from fully-qualified physical training instructors; and the number of such qualified instructors employed by education committees?

The Day Schools Code provides that all pupils in grant-aided schools shall receive adequate physical exercises. The number of such pupils at 31st July, 1938, was 780,985. It is not possible to separate the number of pupils who are taught directly by specialist physical training instructors from those who are taught by class teachers under the guidance and supervision of specialists, but it is the Department's policy that pupils in post-primary schools should be taught by fully qualified instructors. The number of specialist teachers employed by education authorities at the date mentioned was 603.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider the revision of the salary scales of teachers in Scotland with a view to the abolition of the basic minimum scale for non-graduate teachers and the placing of such teachers on the graduate scale in future after a definite period of service?

The National Joint Council, representative of teachers and education authorities, has recently been set up to consider and to give opinions or make recommendations on all questions capable of general regulation in regard to salaries of teachers in Scotland or matters appertaining thereto, and I shall be ready to give careful consideration to any recommendations concerning the salaries of non-graduate or other teachers which that Council may desire to place before me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can state the number of applications which have been received by the Housing Committee of the Corporation of Glasgow for rehousing from citizens resident in the Camlachie Parliamentary Division for each year during the last 10 years, and the number of people in the division who have been rehoused in each of those years in view of the great overcrowding in this area of the city?

I regret that the information asked for by the hon. Member is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he has considered representations from burghs in Scotland urging that the existing Housing Acts should be extended to enable local authorities to proceed with the erection of houses for persons not covered by existing provisions relating to slum-clearance or overcrowding; and, in particular, to enable local authorities to make provision for the housing of newly-married couples, for which there is a pressing demand; and what action he proposes to lake in the matter;(2) whether he is aware that among the burghs of Scotland there is a strong desire that the existing Housing Acts should be extended to make provision for the reconditioning of existing houses which are regarded by local authorities as suitable for reconditioning; and if he will receive a representative deputation of the Convention of Royal Burghs of Scotland on the subject of housing?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now considered the resolutions from the Convention of Royal Burghs reaffirming their view that grants should be available for reconditioning houses which are suitable for same and also the provision of subsidy for erection of houses for the normal development of the population; and what action does he propose to meet the claims of the convention?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the representations made to him by the town council of Bo'ness with regard to the reconditioning of dwelling-houses and the need for providing for the erection of houses for young married couples, single persons and elderly couples; and whether he has any statement to make?

I would refer the hon. Members to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy Burghs (Mr. Kennedy) on this subject on the 14th June. I have arranged to meet representatives of the Convention of Royal Burghs on the 14th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the report of the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee upon the question of house management in Scotland is likely to be published?

This report is now in my hands and will be published as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will con- sider introducing amending legislation in order to provide for funeral benefits in the widows' and orphans' pensions Acts?

No such legislation is at present in contemplation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the acreage of land used in Scotland for game preserves is affected by the growth of bracken; and whether, owing to the rapid spread of this weed in recent years, he will acquire compulsory powers to compel those owners to have their ground cleared of bracken?

I regret that I am unable to give the particulars desired by the hon. Member. As regards the second part of the question, legislation for the purpose mentioned is not in contemplation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that more than 2,000,000 acres of land in Scotland are now rendered practically useless through the spread of bracken; that much of this land could be put to productive use if cleared; and what steps the Department of Agriculture for Scotland is taking to stop the spread of this weed and assist in clearing the ground?

While I cannot accept the figure quoted by the hon. Member in the first part of the question, I agree that there has been for many years a serious encroachment of bracken on pastoral lands in certain parts of Scotland, and that much of this land could be made useful for grazing purposes. For the purpose of encouraging the cheapest and most efficient methods of destroying bracken the Department of Agriculture for Scotland have for the past three years approved grants amounting to over £4,000 towards the purchase of over 200 bracken cutting machines of approved types.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can state the names of firms in Shettleston Parliamentary area and the total amounts of relief given in local taxation under the Derating Act for each year since it became law?

I regret that the detailed information requested by the hon. Member is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the causes responsible for the delay of 18 months in the publication of the Report on Agricultural Marketing Schemes for the year 1937?

Considerable time is necessarily spent on the preparation of this joint report in the collation of statistical and other information from a variety of sources. I am, however, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture with a view to expediting the publication of future reports.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the principal differences in the evacuation plans issued to education authorities in Scotland and those which apply in England and Wales; and what is their nature?

There are no material differences between the evacuation arrangements communicated by the Scottish Education Department to education authorities in Scotland and those communicated by the Board of Education to local education authorities in England and Wales. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the relevant circulars.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the approximate number of volunteers in Scotland up to date for the Women's Land Army; and what arrangements are to be made to provide for as much training as possible for the members of this army on farms during the current summer?

About 520 members have been enrolled in the Women's Land Army in Scotland. Arrangements are in course of completion which it is hoped will result in facilities for training being available this year for all members who are in a position to take advantage of them. The arrangements are designed to suit members who are in employment and will therefore have only a limited period of holiday. With this in mind the scheme of training is based in the main on fortnightly courses during the three months July to September. In addition to courses in such special subjects as dairy- ing, pig rearing, poultry keeping and tractor driving at the farms of the three Agricultural Colleges, it is anticipated that farmers will co-operate by agreeing to take trainees on their farms for instruction in general agricultural work.