asked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied that the imposition of small fines on motorists convicted of speeding and dangerous driving on public highways is a sufficient safeguard of traffic interests; and whether any revision of regulations relating to the speed limit is in contemplation?

I have no reason to think that the maximum penalties for the offences referred to are inadequate. It is for the courts to decide in each case in the light of the particular circumstances what is the appropriate penalty within the maxima. As regards the second part of the question, there are no new regulations in contemplation.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that a crossing week was recently organised in Birmingham with the object of emphasising the rights of the pedestrian and the motorist; and whether he will advise local authorities to take similar steps in other districts, particularly in London?

Yes, Sir. I welcome the steps which have been taken in Birmingham to educate the public in the proper use of pedestrian crossings. If, as I hope, this experiment has successful results, I will certainly consider the desirability of drawing the attention of other local authorities, including those in London, to Birmingham's example.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps are taken by the Inland Revenue authorities in connection with the re-weighing of commercial goods-vehicles for the purpose of excise licence duty to ensure the periodical re-weighing of vehicles in order to detect an increase of weight in the case of vehicles which are ordinarily used in a different area from that in which they are registered for the purpose of licence?

Powers with respect to the re-weighing of a vehicle are not exercisable by the Inland Revenue authorities but by the licensing authority with whom the vehicle is registered. If a vehicle is being used in another area it is a normal practice for the original licensing authority to arrange where necessary for the vehicle to be weighed in that area, with the co-operation of the local licensing authority.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take steps to accelerate, by the employment of more men, the completion of the widening of the main London-Brighton road which is now much overdue and causing inconvenient and long delays at the railway crossing at Crawley and at other places on the road?

The Crawley By-pass will probably be opened next month and traffic will then be able to avoid the railway crossing in Crawley.A by-pass at Handcross has been started; the widening of the existing road from the southern end of this by-pass is about half finished; and another widening scheme near Bolney Common is almost completed. In addition, tenders are being invited for widening the road at Redhill.The total estimated cost of these schemes is approximately £500,000, and I am satisfied that the amount of labour employed is adequate and that work on the schemes is proceeding with due regard to efficiency and economy.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered the representations made to him with regard to the seriousness of the increase of fares in the London area by the London Passenger Transport Board; whether he is aware that in some cases the increase is 25 per cent.; and whether he has decided to express any official views to the Board in favour of a revision of certain specially onerous increased fares?

I am now engaged in examining the points put to me by a recent deputation, to whom I promised a considered reply. The alterations in fares entail increases of varying amounts, but, as I have explained in previous answers, I have no power to intervene.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in connection with the application of the Nottingham Corporation under their (Trolley Vehicles) Order, 1934, he will insist on the necessity of trollifying the direct route into the city from the districts of Ripley, Heanor and Langley Mill, thereby assisting to reduce the abnormal length of time of one hour and eight minutes it now takes to travel 14 miles; and if, in view of the fact that workpeople from these and intervening townships are in some instances wholly dependent on trolley vehicles for their travelling facilities to and from their work into the city of Nottingham, he will emphasise the need and urgency of an early consideration of this matter?

The application is now before me and I am communicating with the corporation about the matters raised by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that, after a public inquiry, permission was refused the Derbyshire County Council to widen the road through the Winnats Pass, and that in spite of this decision the council are proceeding to cover the road with tar macadam; and will he, in view of the natural beauty of this pass, consult with the local authority and allow it to remain in its natural state?

The plan submitted to my Department under the Restriction of Ribbon Development Act, 1935, by the Derbyshire County Council for the widening of the road over Winnats was not approved. The county council, as highway authority for the road, are, however, responsible for its maintenance and for carrying out such repairs as they consider necessary. As the road is unclassified such work would not be eligible for a direct grant from the Road Fund.I understand that early this year a thin coat of tar macadam was laid near the junction with A.625 at Castleton to make the surface more suitable for the traffic using this section; and that certain repairs were also carried out near the junction with B.6061. These works were completed in April last and no further works have since been undertaken.

asked the Minister of Transport what were the casualties resulting from road accidents during the last Safety Week, and the corresponding figures for the corresponding weeks in each of the two preceding months; and whether he has any statement to make with regard to the organisation of Safety Week?

I presume that the hon. and learned Member is referring to a Safety Week held under the auspices of the National Safety First Association throughout Scotland during the week beginning the nth June. Returns of road accidents are rendered monthly and do not show the number of accidents week by week. I regret that I am, therefore, unable to give the hon. and learned Member the information he requires.As regards the last part of the question, I welcome the action of the Scottish Safety First Council, in co-operation with the local authorities, in organising this Safety Week. If the hon. and learned Member has any particular point on which he desires detailed information, I shall be glad to see if I can obtain it for him.

asked the Minister of Transport in how many accidents in which motor vehicles were involved in the Metropolitan Area for the year ended 31st December, 1938, one or more of the vehicles involved came to rest" partially or wholly on a public footpath; and whether he is taking or will take, any further steps to reduce this kind of risk to pedestrians?

Records of accidents in the Metropolitan Police Division are kept by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, who tells me that the information asked for by the hon. Member is not available, and that there are no sources from which it could be compiled with any degree of accuracy. I do not know what further practicable steps could be taken to reduce this risk to pedestrians, but if the hon. Member has any suggestions to make, I shall be glad to consider them.

asked the Minister of Transport how many and which public commons will be intersected by the proposed new south orbital arterial road running from Egham, in Surrey, to Kent; whether such proposed road will also intersect the green-belt scheme of the London County Council and other public bodies; and whether he will place in the Tea Room a map showing the course of the proposed new road?

The route of the proposed South Orbital Road is still under consideration and will not be determined until after a Public Inquiry has been held. I cannot, therefore, give my hon. Friend the information asked for in this question.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the London and North Eastern Railway Company propose that carriage-repair work at present undertaken at Dukinfield shall be distributed between Doncaster and York carriage shops; that about 200 men with short service have already been dismissed at Dukinfield, whilst about 400 others will be offered an opportunity of accepting work at York at wages of from 5s. to 10s. per week less; and whether, in view of the unemployment now prevailing in the Dukinfield district, he will make representations to the company to reconsider this matter?

I am in communication with the London and North Eastern Railway Company and will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the approximate compensation paid during the past 10 years to owners of land secured for the purpose of widening or improving existing or of constructing new main roadways or by-pass roads?

As regards the trunk roads which came under the direct control of the Ministry of Transport just over two years ago, the sum of £617,155 had been spent on land acquisition up to the end of last month. As regards the remainder of the road system and the trunk roads before they came under the control of the Ministry, it would be necessary to make individual reference to all highway authorities, as the records of expenditure on road works kept at headquarters do not include separate figures snowing the cost of acquiring the necessary land. I hope, therefore, that the hon. Member will not press his request.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the date on which the last requests for improved conditions on the lower deck were received under the 1936 review of service conditions; the total number of requests received; the number for which replies have been announced in Admiralty Fleet Orders; and, as this was to be a more expeditious method of dealing with requests than the biennial welfare conferences, which it replaced, when the remainder of the replies are to be announced, and the final Admiralty Fleet Order issued recapitulating the whole of the decisions?

Some 5,000 requests were received, including many repetitions of the same request from different commands. The bulk of these requests have been dealt with by the 1,423 replies which have so far been made. I cannot yet say when the few remaining replies will be issued. The last requests were received in March, 1937. In view of the method of issuing the Admiralty Fleet Orders containing the replies, the issue of an omnibus order is not necessary.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, with a view both to permitting the best use being made of agricultural land in the production of foodstuffs and to expediting the choice of suitable sites, he will consult with county councils and their agricultural advisory staffs before acquiring agricultural land for Admiralty purposes?

It is already the standard practice of the Admiralty to consult county councils and their agricultural advisory staff before acquiring agricultural land for Admiralty purposes, and this practice will be continued.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the written report of the inquiry into the excessive punishments of the crew of the New Zealand surveying ship His Majesty's Ship "Endeavour" has been received; what is the nature of the report; on what date the new captain and executive officer are due to join the ship; whether they will assume duties before the ship is recommissioned; whether the present officers are being relieved as the result of the inquiry; and what other steps are being taken to improve the conditions of service in this ship, and to prevent such a large number of punishments in the future?

The report has not yet been received. The new captain and commander are leaving England on the 20th July to recommission "Endeavour," when the officers they are relieving will have performed a normal tour of service in that ship. A new crew will also leave England on the 20th July. The rest of the hon. Member's questions must await the report and its consideration by the Admiralty.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will arrange for at least one training ship to be sent to Newfoundland in order to provide opportunities for young Newfoundlanders to serve in the Royal Navy or the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve?

All men who are entered in the Royal Navy on stations abroad are brought to the United Kingdom for training and in fact a certain number of Newfoundlanders are at present in the country for training. It would not be practicable to start a naval training establishment in Newfoundland.I regret that the Admiralty are unable to establish a training ship in Newfoundland for the purpose of setting up a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Division there.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will make a statement concerning the number of shifts per day being worked on the various classes of naval construction?

In the shipyards and dockyards the one shift system is generally in force. For components such as gun mountings and armour a two or three shifts system is employed as necessary to give the maximum possible output. Machinery and electrical sub-contractors are to a large extent using two shifts.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will give the amount of fuel and other oils produced in this country purchased by the Admiralty for each year from 1930, together with the amount to be purchased under contract this year?

Following is the information asked for:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the United States of America Navy Department has placed at the disposal of the French Admiralty plans of diving bells similar to the type employed for the rescue of sailors from the "Squalus"; that the French Government intends to construct five of these diving bells and to fit their submarines for the purpose of using them; and whether he can now say whether the Admiralty has made any decision in the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given to him by my hon. Friend on the 21st June, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the value and weight of National Mark beef supplied to the Navy during the years 1936, 1937 and 1938, respectively?

Occasional purchases of fresh beef are made by ships cruising in home waters; the weight of these purchases averages only between two and three tons a year, and their value approximately £210 a year. In addition about 60 tons of home-killed beef, of

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether His Majesty's Government will consider the diversion to the Far East of British naval vessels engaged in patrolling the coasts of Palestine, with the object of capturing ships carrying Jewish refugees to that country?

No, Sir

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the gross receipts and expenditure at each port for Navy Week, 1937 and 1938, respectively, and the totals; the amounts spent on salaries; the amounts allocated to charities each year; and when the accounts in greater detail than the summaries so far promulgated, as promised last year, will be available for last year's Navy Week?

The information asked for in the first part of the question is as follows:available to the Press, giving the financial results of Navy Week, 1938, is now in preparation and will be issued shortly.

asked the hon. Member for Dulwich, as Chairman of the Kitchen and Refreshment Room Committee, whether he is aware that, between 1st January, 1939, and 21st June, 1939, 906 lbs. of Scotch salmon were sold in the House; and whether, in view of the superior qualities of Severn salmon, he will give the House an opportunity of eating Severn salmon?

I am fully aware of the quantity of Scotch salmon which has been sold in the House this year. The figures quoted by the hon. Member are correct and are those given to him in my written reply of 21st June. I cannot trace that there has been any particular demand for Severn salmon, and cannot agree that it is superior to Scotch salmon.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the renewed outburst of offensive comment in the Italian Press concerning Great Britain; and whether, as such comment is not compatible with the terms of the Anglo-Italian Treaty, he proposes to raise the matter with the Italian Government?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to similar questions by the hon. Members for Kingswinford (Mr. A. Henderson) and Nuneaton (Lieut.-Commander Fletcher) on Monday.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the disappointment felt by many officers in the Royal Air Force who have only received short-service commissions although they have passed the qualifying examination for Cranwell but have not been appointed owing to the small number of vacancies; and whether he will consider granting permanent commissions to such officers?

Candidates who are unsuccessful in the entrance examination for the Royal Air Force College at Cranwell and are subsequently granted short- service commissions are considered on their merits with other short-service officers for permanent commissions. There would seem to be no justification for according them preferential treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can make any statement regarding the circumstances in which Headley Newton Vincent lost his life in the accident to the flying-boat "Connemara" on 19th June?

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether any experiments have been carried out at Farnborough to ascertain if there is any danger of electricity being generated by the rapid discharge of petrol through a pipe when refuelling flying-boats if the pipe is not properly earthed; whether the cause of the recent loss of the 24-ton flying-boat "Connemara" by fire at Hythe has been ascertained; and whether any loss of life occurred in this unfortunate accident?

Experiments at Farnborough and elsewhere have shown that electricity can be generated by the flow of petrol through a pipe and Royal Air Force regulations prescribe precautions which are to be taken to avoid the risk of fire when aircraft are being refuelled. Similar precautions are taken when Empire flying-boats are being refuelled.The accident occurred when the flying-boat "Connemara" was being refuelled from a petrol barge. As the barge was subject to the provisions of the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act, 1928, an Inspector of the Home Office has been working in conjunction with an Inspector of Accidents of the Air Ministry in investigating the cause. So far as the aircraft is concerned, a report is now being prepared and I will see that a further statement is published as soon as possible. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sympathy with the relatives of Mr. Vincent.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether consideration has been given to the establishment of a regular air service to Rumania; and with what result?

Yes, Sir. I am hopeful that it may be possible next year to extend to Bucharest the air service which at present terminates at Budapest.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give any explanation as to the reasons why the average payment of unemployment assistance allowances during 12 selected weeks in 1938 was on the average about 2s. 6d. per week lower in Scotland than in Wales and about is. per week lower in Scotland than in England?

The amount of the Board's allowances depends on a variety of factors, including the status of the applicant, the size and composition of the household, the amount of rent and the extent of the household resources, all of which may vary from place to place. It is not, therefore, possible to specify any particular reason for a higher average payment in one part of the country as compared with another. I should mention that the difference between the English and Scottish average is 8d. and not 1s.

asked the Attorney-General what are the respective numbers of county court judges and sheriffs, and of registrars and sheriff substitutes in the United Kingdom; and at how many different places do county court judges and sheriffs hold courts?

There are 58 county court judges, 221 registrars, 484 county courts, 14 sheriffs principal, 49 sheriff substitutes, and 54 sheriff courts in the United Kingdom.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to two advertisements in current issues of 5s. books of stamps, one headed trusses abolished, and the other claiming immediate results from an advertised remedy for bladder and other complaints; and whether he will take action to prevent Government publications from being used as a medium for such advertisements?

The policy of the Post Office is to exclude advertisements of medicines covered by paragraph 58 (2) of the report of the Select Committee on Patent Medicines, 1914. The two advertisements referred to by my hon. Friend do not contravene the terms of this paragraph. My right hon. Friend is looking further into the policy of the Post Office in this matter.

asked the Attorney-General when the Lord Chancellor proposes to set up a committee to consider problems of legal aid in civil litigation outside the jurisdiction covered by the Poor Persons Procedure?

There are at present a number of committees engaged in the consideration of points of legal procedure including, as the hon. Gentleman knows, a committee considering the administration and working of the Poor Persons Rules. The reports of these committees when made will require consideration and may require legislation. My Noble Friend is not proposing at present to set up a further committee on the lines suggested. The matter will, however, be kept in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether the estimates of requirements of sugar by consuming countries for any quota year ending 31st August, made by the Statistical Committee of the International Sugar Council are estimates of the quantity of sugar required to arrive in consuming countries within that year; and whether the export quotas fixed by that council mean the quantity of sugar which may be exported from the countries of production during the same year for the purpose of filling those requirements;(2) how an increase of export quotas can remedy the present situation in which towards the end of a quota year the estimated requirements of sugar-consuming countries are found to be too low, if producers need not and possibly cannot ship their sugar until, say, July or August, especially if some of the available sugar from Java, Mauritius, Australia and Fiji is from six to eight weeks distant from the country requiring it?

The estimates of requirements made by the International Sugar Council relate to requirements for arrival in the quota year, while the quotas relate to amounts for shipment in the quota year. My hon. and gallant Friend will realise that, taking any quota year by itself, there will always be at the beginning an overlap of supplies from the previous year and at the end a balance of estimated requirements, supplies for which are still on the water.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will revert to the past practice in issuing trade returns; and will he particularise shipments of china as is done with earthenware?

My right hon. Friend is not clear what exactly the hon. Member has in mind, but if the hon. Member will communicate with him, he will be glad to consider any proposal for improvement in the form and scope of the official trade returns.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered the representations that the policy of reserving the Highlands in Kenya exclusively for European land settlement is contrary to the Congo Basin treaty; and what reply has been sent thereto?

Yes, Sir. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Stafford, Kings-winford (Mr. A. Henderson) on the 13th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state the average number of labourers employed in the tin mines on the Bauchi Plateau in the Northern provinces of Nigeria, and the hours worked per day and the rates of wages paid?

I am informed by the Governor that the average number of workers employed in the tin mines on the Bauchi Plateau during 1938 was 32,593 and that the average hours of work were 45–50 hours a week. The average rates of pay were 3s. 6d. per week for regular company labour, and 3s. 9d. per week for tributers, who are engaged in collecting loads of pay-dirt. In addition, casual labour is provided by pagans, who are mainly agriculturists and who seek work only during the time they are not engaged in farming; they are paid at the rate of 2s. 8d. per week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will obtain information from Palestine as to the number of Jews held in prison or detention camps untried at the present time, either Communists, Revisionists or others?

I am informed by the High Commissioner for Palestine that 95 Jews are at present detained in prison and detention camps under the Emergency Regulations. These include 74 Revisionists, 18 Communists and three others.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he proposes to develop the wallaba wood-pulp industry of British Guiana; and whether he has, in that connection, initiated steps to improve river transport, and to make surveys for the Egerton scheme of railway facilities from the Atlantic coast to the Amazon?

The British Guiana Government has granted an option over an area of wallaba forest in British Guiana with a view to the establishment of a wood pulp industry, and I understand that efforts are being made to raise the necessary capital for the project. The question of providing communications in connection with any wood pulp industry that may be established does not arise at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the evidence of his predecessor before the Mandates Commission of the League of Nations stating that there was room immediately for 100,000 families in Trans-Jordan; and whether he will consider increasing the number of legal immigrants accordingly?

I am aware of the statement to which my hon. Friend refers, but would point out that the possibilities of development and settlement in Trans-Jordan have subsequently been closely examined by the Palestine Partition Commission, who stated in their report that —"the additional agricultural population which the land can support is small."The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that there is every prospect of a glut of plums and other fruit; whether he will consider the advisability of taking immediate advantage of the situation to secure large quantities of these fruits for preserving for the use of the armed forces, while prices are low and the crop available, and thereby aid growers to avoid the hardship of the impending break in prices, bearing in mind that a collapse in prices this year following on the disaster of last year will mean ruin for many growers?

I have been asked to reply. As regards the position of plum growers at the present time, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture to a question on this subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère) on 16th June.In answer to the second part of the question, purchases by direct contract of fruit jams and tinned fruit for His Majesty's Forces are governed by the scale of reserves and the necessities of turnover. The quantities purchased are calculated to provide for the maintenance of adequate reserves and it is not considered practicable to increase them. Contact is maintained by the Service Departments with the trade with a view to inviting tenders at appropriate times when the fruit is available.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, with a view to assisting the fruit-growers in the Evesham fruit-growing district and other districts throughout the country, he will consider a plan whereby the Food Defence Plans Department make known to all the canners of fruit, makers of jam and pulp-plums, that they should replenish and maintain their stocks in 1939 as far as possible owing to the depletion of stocks which took place in 1938 as a result of the poor crop of plums and other fruits?

I have no doubt that should there be a heavy crop of fruit, canners and jam manufacturers will do their best, in the ordinary course of business, to replenish their stocks. Nevertheless, I should like to take this opportunity of emphasising that anything that jam manufacturers and fruit preservers can do to increase the stocks of jam and preserved fruit in the country at the present time will be in the national interest.

asked the Minister of Transport when the canvass of householders who are potential consumers of electricity, in the village and district of Fintry, Stirlingshire, is likely to be completed?

I am informed that the company have completed a further canvass of this village as far as practicable and see no reason to alter their view that the ultimate potential revenue is not likely to exceed £195 per annum. The company add that they would be happy to arrange for the general manager to meet the right hon. Gentleman at Fintry to discuss the matter in detail.