asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now state the number of factories that were opened in Greater London and the North-eastern areas, respectively, during 1938?

The following table gives the desired information, together with particulars of the employment provided by the factories opened, for which the hon. Member asked on the 25th May. These are provisional figures compiled from the returns received in connection with the Annual Survey of Industrial Development which takes account only of factories in which 25 or more workpeople are or have been employed:

Year, 1938.	Greater London.	Northumberland, Durham and North Riding of Yorkshire.
Number of Factories:
Opened	168	28
Extended	44	8
Closed	192	7
Employment provided by factories opened.	18,750	2,450

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the large importations of Japanese underwear and hosiery into this country, he is satisfied that the markings of origin are sufficiently clear to be understood by retail purchasers; and, if not, whether he will issue regulations for clearer markings?

The Merchandise Marks (Imported Goods) No. 5 Order, 1929, made under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, provides for the marking with an indication of origin of knitted hose and other knitted articles of apparel made: of cotton, wool, silk, artificial silk or mixtures. Under the Act, any required indication of origin must be conspicuous. If my hon. Friend would care to furnish my right hon. Friend with particulars of any casein which the marking is not regarded as satisfactory, he will certainly consider what action can be taken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the quantities of canned salmon, canned crab and canned pilchards imported into this country from Japan, Russia and British Empire countries, respectively, in each of the last three years, for which the information is available; and what distinguishing marks are required to be placed upon this produce to indicate to retail purchasers the country of origin?

The following table shows the quantity of the under mentioned descriptions of the fish imported into the United Kingdom during each of the years

Description		Countries from which consigned.		1936	1937	1938 (provisional).
Canned—				Cwts.	Cwts.	Cwts.
Salmon	…	British countries	…	166,180	174,421	155,721
		Japan (including Formosa)	…	267,173	454,000	395,180
		Soviet Union	…	281,147	293,810	300,608
Crab	…	British countries	…	—	36	—
		Japan (including Formosa)	…	51,084	38,987	33,268
		Soviet Union	…	28,406	31,157	34,420
Pilchards	…	British countries	…	—	—	44
		Japan (including Formosa)	…	16,848	24,016	24,162
		Soviet Union	…	—	—	—

In connection with the above figures, it should be noted that a large proportion of the imports of canned salmon consigned from the Soviet Union consists of fish from Japanese canneries situated in Soviet territory.With regard to the second part of the question, I understand that imported tinned fish is usually sold under names or trade marks which require to be qualified by an indication of origin under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926; but I have no information whether that indication usually consists of the word "foreign" or "Empire," as the case may be, or a definite indication of the country of origin. Under the provisions of the Act, either alternative is open to the person applying the indication of origin.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the representations from the North of Scotland and Orkney and Shetland Steam Navigation Company, Limited, as to the difficulty and danger experienced at Uyeasound in landing passengers, mails, livestock and merchandise in small open boats; and what action he proposes to take?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. While the funds at the disposal of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland for the current year are fully earmarked, I shall be prepared to consider any request for assistance in the provision of landing facilities which may be submitted by the county council at a later date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can inform the House how many head of deer there are in Scotland; and what is the acreage of land given up to them?

I regret that the information requested in the first part of the question is not available. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for St. Rollox (Mr. Leonard) on the 23rd May.

the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the number of applications for smallholdings and enlargements in the Highlands and Islands at present on the books; and the number in either case that have been settled within the past 12 months?

During 1938 the number of applications received from the Highlands and Islands for new holdings and for enlargements was 98 and 8 respectively; and the numbers settled 39 and 4 respectively. At 31st December last the numbers of applicants recorded in the Department's books as desiring new holdings or enlargements in the Highlands and Islands were 3,009 and 2,980 respectively. Of these applications, however, a high proportion is known to be ineffective.

asked the Minister of Health, what proposals he contemplates placing before the conference of Welsh local authorities convened to consider the Report on Anti-tuberculosis Services in Wales; and if it is his intention to offer increased financial assistance to enable the authorities to carry out the measures advocated in the report?

Until I have further information as to the result of the consideration now being given to this subject by the Welsh local authorities it would not be possible for me to say what specific proposals can usefully be discussed at the conference.

asked the Minister of Health, what was the maternal mortality rate for each county, respectively, in Wales in 1938, and the corresponding rate for the previous year; whether he is satisfied that the existing maternity services in Wales are adequate; and, if not, what steps are being taken to improve them?

I am sending the hon. Member a statement giving the information asked for in the first part of the question. As regards the remaining parts of the question, maternity services in Wales are in process of improvement though there are still some areas in which it cannot yet be said that they are fully adequate.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the increasing difficulties of local authorities in proceeding with their housing programmes owing to the increased rate of interest on housing loans and the increase in the cost of building; what is the average increase in the cost per house due to these two factors, respectively, in recent years; and what steps he is taking to assist local authorities in overcoming these difficulties?

I am not aware of the difficulties referred to in the first part of the question. As regards the second part, the average building costs of the ordinary non-parlour type house were £ 364 for the year ended 31st March, 1938, and £ 370 for the year ended 31st March, 1939. The rate of interest on loans from the Local Loans Fund has increased by ⅜ per cent. since the beginning of 1937. It may be taken that an increase of £6 in building costs is equivalent to an additional rent of 1d. per week, and that an increase of ⅜ per cent. in interest is equivalent in the case of a house costing £450 to an additional rent of 6½. per week. With regard to the last part of the question, 101,424 houses were built by local authorities during the year ended 31st March, 1939, a number higher than during any year since that ended 31st March, 1928. I do not, therefore, think further steps necessary.

asked the Minister of Health how many rural houses in the West Riding of Yorkshire have been condemned as unfit for human habitation; and how many have been demolished during the years 1937 and 1938?

I am unable to state the number of houses condemned, but the numbers demolished in the rural districts concerned are 497 and 426 respectively.

asked the Minister of Health how many rural houses in the West Riding of Yorkshire have been reconditioned during the years 1937 and 1938?

The numbers of houses reconditioned under the Housing (Rural Workers) Acts in the years 1937 and 1938 are 37 and 46 respectively. 953 houses during 1937 and 801 houses during 1938 were made fit as the result of action taken by the rural district councils under the Housing Act, 1936.

asked the Minister of Health whether the detailed proposals for the building of 100 houses for aged persons and 220 houses in relief of overcrowding, the principle of which was agreed by him last February, have yet been received from the Wallsend local authority?

I have not yet received these proposals.

asked the Minister of Health whether, with a view to obtaining more information on the subject, he will consider the appointment of a Royal Commission on the whole problem of infant mortality and the birth rate?

On the problem of infantile mortality, the development and improvement of the maternity and child welfare service is a matter which engages the constant attention of my Department, and my hon. Friend will be aware of the fall in mortality which the statistics for recent years have revealed. On the problem of the birth rate, I think that, as I stated in reply to a previous question, we must await the accumulation of the information which is now beginning to be available under the Population (Statistics) Act, 1938.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the serious incidence of rheumatism among insured persons, he will cause treatment at recognised British spas, given under medical recommendation, to rank for payment in whole or in part by approved societies where such are able to give additional benefit, No. 16, payment to approved charitable institutions in respect of any treatment of members required for the prevention or cure of disease provided under the Third Schedule of the National Health Insurance Act, 1936?

I am prepared to consider the granting of approval for the purposes of additional benefit No. 16 to any charitable institution which satisfies me that it has available diagnostic and other facilities of a high standard for the treatment of rheumatism. I am not, however, at present satisfied that there is a sufficient case for the extension of the benefit to cover treatment at a spa otherwise than in an approved charitable institution.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the number of non-industrial workers employed in various Departments of the State whose wages, excluding emoluments, do not average for men 30s. per week, and women 24s. per week?

On 1st April, 1938, which is the latest date for which, figures are available, there were approximately 10,000 whole-time and 23,750 part-time male officers and 5,200 whole-time and 9,850 part-time female officers in receipt of wages within the limits referred to. These figures include juveniles.

asked the Minister of Labour when he anticipates that he will publish the result of the investigations of his Department on the cost of living?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 22nd June to the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. T. Smith).

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take action to avoid the closing of the cement works at Hartlepool?

Some time ago local interests drew the attention of the Commissioner for the Special Areas to the probability that the Warren Cement Works would cease operating. Careful and sympathetic consideration was given to the position, but I regret that no means could be found by which the Government could effectively intervene.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what action the Board proposes to take to stimulate the provision of meals and milk by local authorities, in view of the inadequacy of the arrangements in many areas as revealed in the report of the Board published recently?

The action taken by the Board to stimulate the provision of meals and milk by local education authorities is described in paragraphs 25 and 26 on page 44 of the Report to which the Noble Lady refers. As a result of the survey mentioned in paragraph 25 the Board have already communicated with about 130 local education authorities making suggestions for the improvement of their arrangements, and in a number of cases these suggestions have already been adopted by the authorities.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will supply statistics

Date	Average Attendance	Medical Staff.			Nursing Staff.*
		Number Employed.	Equivalent in Whole-time Service.	Number per 1,000 children in Average Attendance.	Number Employed.	Equivalent in Whole-time Service.	Number per 1,000 children in Average Attendance.
(a) ENGLAND AND WALES.
31st March, 1937.†	4,748,453 (1935–36).	1,458	706	0.15	3,733	2,574	0.54
31st December, 1937.	4,588,298 (1936–37).	1,492	712	0.16	3,849	2,650	0.58
31st December, 1938.	4,526,701(1937–38).	1,518	728	0.16	4,031	2,798	0.62
(b) DURHAM COUNTY.
31st March, 1937.†	112,459 (1935–36).	15	14.10	0.13	106	20.05	0.19
31st December,1937.	106,283 (1936–37).	15	14.10	0.13;	107	26.20	0.25
31st December, 1938.	101,960 (1937–38).	17	16.10	0.16	117	41.50	0 41
*Includes dental attendants, some of whom are not qualified nurses. Certain Local Education Authorities have the part-time services of over 2,000 district nurses in addition to school nurses, the extent of which cannot be estimated. Durham County have the services of one district nurse.
† Owing to a change in the date for which these statistics are compiled, corresponding figures are not available for 31st December, 1936.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what steps he proposes to take with a view to providing nursery schools in districts which do not yet have them; and whether he is aware that in certain distressed areas, having a special need for such schools, the financial position is such that they cannot be provided under existing arrangements?

In Circular 1444 issued in January, 1936, the Board asked all authorities to survey the needs of their areas for nursery school provision. The Board are fully aware of the financial difficulties of certain authorities, but among the schools recently established or now being provided are several in the Special Areas.

Following is the information:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India how many cases of smallpox, and how many deaths there from, occurred in the Indian Army in 1934 and in 1937?

During 1934 there were 23 cases of smallpox in the Indian Army, two of which were fatal. In 1936, there were 20 cases but no deaths. I regret that figures for 1937 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether local authorities have been asked to store additional quantities of petrol in order to ensure adequate supplies for the use of ambulance and fire brigade services in war time?

Arrangements are being made which are designed to secure the maintenance of supplies of petrol for ambulance, fire brigade and other essential local services.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can give the numbers of young men between the ages of 20 and 21 years in the respective mining districts of the British coalfields?

The following is the information:

Approximate Number of Males in the Mining Industry attaining the age of 21 during the period 1st April, 1939, to 31st March, 1940.
Inspection Division.	No.
Scotland	1,965
Northern	3,299
Yorkshire	2,520
North Midland	1,551
North Western	1,526
Cardiff and Forest of Dean	1,839
Swansea	887
Midland and Southern	713
All Divisions	14,300

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents to miners employed in the coal mines of Warwickshire during each of the last 10 years, and state the causes of such accidents?

In view of the size of the statistical statement involved I will send a, copy to the hon. Member and place a further copy in the Library.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the credit balance on the current account of the Unemployment Insurance Fund; and the amount of the funded debt?

At 24th June, 1939, the total balance of the Unemployment Fund was about £ 47,169,000, including investments at cost. The amount of the debt now outstanding is about £ 77,798,000.

asked the Minister of Labour on what grounds unemployment assistance has been disallowed to Mr. Edward Cross, 99, Victoria Road, Bentley, Doncaster?

I understand from the Unemployment Assistance Board that Mr. Cross had a substantial sum in the bank on which he was drawing at an average rate of over £3 10s. a week and in these circumstances they took the view that he was using the money to meet his current needs. They therefore decided that he was not in need of an allowance from public funds. Mr. Cross appealed on the 17th May, and the Tribunal came to the same conclusion as the Board.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that at Glasgow Southside Exchange, two men, namely, a Mr. Moore and a Mr. McAinch, were refused statutory benefit on the grounds that they were working as night telephonists, that their earnings were less than 3s. 4d. per night as allowed by Statute, that the reason given was that, as both men were last employed for seven years with His Majesty's forces as soldiers and had been discharged with good characters, they could not qualify for benefit under the conditions that applied to almost all other persons; and what steps he is taking to have this reviewed?

As the hon. Member is, I think, aware, the question at issue in these cases is shortly to be decided by the Umpire.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men in receipt of Unemployment Assistance Board allowances are estimated to be unable to obtain work owing to remediable physical defects; and, as treatment of eyes and teeth frequently cannot be obtained through existing medical services, he will take immediate steps, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, to extend the public health services in this direction?

I regret that more precise information than that given in pages 46–47 of the Board's annual report for 1938 is not available. I am already in communication with the Minister of Health on the matter raised in the second part of the question.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, at the public works for the construction of a balloon barrage on the outskirts of Glasgow, workers are being imported from Sheffield and Ireland; and whether there are insufficient unemployed men in the area capable of performing the work required?

I am informed that the contractors found it necessary to transfer a number of their "key" men from Sheffield but that no men were transferred from Ireland. It is not anticipated that any difficulty will rise in meeting from local sources any likely demands for other men to be employed on this work.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will obtain information as to the numbers of girls and women under 20 years of age, included and registered each month as unemployed, who have refused training and transfer to permanent and seasonal employment, with satisfactory wages and conditions as domestic workers in private residences and in residential hotels and boarding houses?

Whilst opportunities for training and employment as domestic workers in private residences and in residential hotels and boarding houses are regularly brought to the notice of all suitable unemployed female applicants, the available statistics do not show how many have refused to avail themselves of such opportunities.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will arrange to give the unemployed viewpoint a hearing, through the British Broadcasting Corporation, by inviting a representative of the National Unemployed Workers' Movement to broadcast a statement of the aims and objectives of that organisation in connection with the problem of unemployment?

The compilation of broadcast programmes is a responsibility of the Governors of the British Broadcasting Corporation and following the usual practice I will bring the hon. Member's suggestion to their notice.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he, in conjunction with the other appropriate Government Departments, intends to establish local committees to assist the Military Service (Special Allowance) Advisory Committee in dealing with applications for special monetary assistance?

I have been asked to reply. Claims will be dealt with centrally, but machinery has been set up for any local investigation that may be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any information to indicate the number or percentage of militiamen who will take advantage of the draft Order in Council recently approved by the House?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the decision that men called to the colours under the Military Training Act are to be allowed to retain their membership of their appropriate trade unions, will also apply to civil servants who are given permission by the Department which employs them to accept appointments in such capacities as permanent staff instructors in the Territorial Army for a period of three years, or the period of the emergency whichever is the less?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any, and, if so, what allowances will be paid to men called up for Militia training who, apart from widows' pensions, are the sole support of their widowed mothers?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the White Paper (Cmd. 6043) on this subject which was recently issued.

asked the Secretary of State for War upon what basis compensa- tion will be paid to the dependants of a militiaman in the event of his being fatally injured in the course of his service; whether such compensation will be assessed upon the loss sustained by the dependants in being deprived of his pre-service earnings and if the loss of prospectively increased earnings will be taken into account?

In the event of a militiaman dying from causes attributable to his service, his dependants will be eligible for pensions at the rates and under the conditions applicable to the dependants of soldiers of all branches of the Army. These pensions are assessed independently of the loss sustained by the dependants in being deprived of pre-service earnings, and of the loss of prospectively increased earnings.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any special steps will be taken to remedy admitted physical defects in militiamen, accepted for other grades than grade I, while undergoing their period of military service?

Medical and surgical treatment will be available as for regular soldiers. Minor physical defects will be noted on medical examination, and by staff instructors in physical training. Those requiring remedial treatment by physical training methods will be divided into groups according to their defects, and remedial treatment will be carried out under the supervision of staff instructors.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the recent decision to reduce to 21 years the age at which soldiers can receive marriage allowances, he can state when it will be possible to reduce the present age of 30 at which Army officers are entitled to receive marriage allowances?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for the South-Western Division of Norfolk (Mr. De Chair) on 7th June last.

asked the Secretary of State for War with regard to the Government's agreement with the Timber Development Association for the construction by its members of militia huts for a basic price of £243 each, whether they will be built for less than £350 each; and what steps the Government are taking to check profiteering out of the urgent need for militia huts?

The Department is not in contractual relationship with the Timber Development Association, but is in negotiation with them to regulate the price at which huts obtained through the association by the Department's contractors for militia camps shall be supplied. No agreement on price has been reached up to the present, but the prices to be paid for these huts will be determined only after investigation of costs by the Department.I am not yet, therefore, in a position to say what will be the final cost of the huts, but it is not expected to exceed £350 for a living hut 60 feet by 20 feet, including erection on site.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he proposes to take on the Report of the Retail Distributive Trades Conference on wages, hours and conditions of employment?

I have this report under consideration and am not yet in a position to say what action will be taken on it.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state how many men were enlisted under the Military Training Act in the cuonty borough of Stockport; and how many registered as conscientious objectors?

Approximately 746 men have registered under the Act at Stock-port, and of these 12 have been provisionally registered as conscientious objectors.

asked the Minister of Labour at what period of the year it is proposed, under the Military Training Act, to call up tractor-drivers engaged in agriculture?

Tractor-drivers employed in agriculture will be called up in November with other agricultural workers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has received any assurances from mineowners that any miners called up under the Military Training Act will not, as a consequence, suffer with respect to the amount of holiday pay that they would otherwise have received?

I have been asked to reply. No, Sir; I would point out that the provision of holidays with pay in the mining industry is regulated by collective agreements made between the organisations of mineowners and mine workers in the various districts.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that according to the Tenth Annual Report of the Racecourse Betting Control Board, allocations from the totalisator fund included £158,850 for the improvement of racecourses and racing and only £16,150 for the improvement of all breeds of horses; and whether, in view of the fact that his approval is necessary for all allocations from the totalisator fund, he can state why approximately ten times as much is allocated to the improvement of racecourses and racing, as to the improvement of horse-breeding?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on the 22nd June to questions by the hon. and gallant Member for Howdenshire (Major Carver) and the hon. Member for Henley (Sir G. Fox).

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, according to the tenth annual report of the Racecourse Betting Control Board, allocations from the totalisator fund included £ 158,850 for the improvement of racecourses and racing, and only £ 16,150 for the improvement of all breeds of horses; if he can indicate how much of this latter amount was allocated to the improvement of horse-breeding in Scotland; and whether he can ensure that in future more generous allocations are made for this purpose, and in particular to encourage the breeding of Clydesdale draught-horses?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I have just given to question No. 72.As regards the second part, the board have supplied my right hon. Friend with the following information:The grants made by the board from the surplus in the Totalisator Fund at the 31st December, 1938, towards the improvement of horse-breeding and the advancement and encouragement of veterinary science and education in Scotland are as follows:

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the persistence of the Irish Republican Army outrages, he will now consider deporting Irish Republican Army suspects who are also Irish citizens, and treating would-be immigrants from Eire as in the Dominions?

I would refer the right hon. and gallant Gentleman to the answer given on the 2nd February in reply to questions by himself and my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport (Sir A. Gridley).

asked the Home Secretary whether in view of the continued outrages by the so-called Irish Republican Army, involving considerable injuries to British citizens and damage to property, he will institute a system of compulsory permits or passports to be carried by all citizens of Eire while in this country, together with provisions compelling them to register with, or notify the police at suitable intervals?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given on the 9th May in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Abingdon (Sir R. Glyn).

asked the Home Secretary whether in the interests of public order and safety, steps will be taken to prevent permission being granted in future for demonstrations such as that of Sunday, 25th June, in Trafalgar Square, when Friends of the Irish Republic, with anti-British banners, attacked the methods of the British police, seeing that it is likely to lead to grave breaches of the peace when provocative demonstrations of this kind are allowed on the part of sympathisers with the Irish republicans following upon the serious damage to persons and property by bombs in the same quarter of London on the night of Saturday, 24th June?

I am fully in sympathy with my hon. Friend, but at the meeting in question no disturbance occurred and the police had no power therefore to intervene to stop the meeting. A careful watch will be kept on any similar meetings and if it is found necessary appropriate action will be taken.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to recent cases where magistrates have refused to allow female witnesses to give evidence on the ground that they were not wearing hats; and, in view of the fact that this restriction is not applied in all courts, will he give instructions in order that uniformity may be achieved?

My right hon. Friend has no power to give any instructions in this matter, and as I explained in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Lich-field (Mr. Poole) on the 25th May, my right hon. Friend does not think it necessary or desirable to issue to courts any advice on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary how many of the Metropolitan police were born in Eire, and whether he can obtain similar figures for the police forces in Manchester and Liverpool?

The numbers are 130 in the Metropolitan police, 14 in the Manchester City police force and 41 in the Liverpool City police.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the resolutions which have been sent to him urging the granting of provisional medical certificates only for the employment of juveniles under 15 years of age after 1st September, 1939; and whether he will make a statement?

My right hon. Friend has received one such resolution, but the pro- visions on this subject in Section 99 of the Factories Act only authorise the issue of provisional certificates in cases where, after examining the young person, the surgeon requires further information or further time for consideration before deciding whether to issue a certificate of fitness or as to the conditions to be attached to it. It would, therefore, be inconsistent with the statutory provisions to lay down any general rule that this procedure is to be followed in the case of all young persons below a certain age.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will issue a visa to Ernst Josef Adler, Vienna, transmigrant to the United States of America, and guaranteed by Mrs. I. Gandey, of Craven Arms, Shropshire, in view of the fact that the relative papers were sent to the German Jewish Aid Committee on 17th April and nothing has been heard since?

Inquiry is being made into this case and a communication will be sent to the right hon. and gallant Gentleman as soon as possible.

asked the Home Secretary how many experiments were performed at the Bradford Bacteriological Laboratory during the years 1937 and 1938; for what purposes the experiments were performed; and what kinds of animals were used in the experiments?

The number of experiments on living animals performed at the Bradford Bacteriological Laboratory was 1,750 in 1937 and 1,690 in 1938. The experiments, which all consisted of simple inoculations, were performed for the diagnosis of disease, the detection of the tubercle bacillus in milk and the anthrax bacillus in wool and hair, and (in two cases) for the purposes of a coroner's inquest. The animals used were rabbits, guinea pigs and mice.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Home Office or local councils are deemed, for the purpose of complying with the conditions attached to Exchequer grants, to decide what is necessary for the efficient maintenance of local police services?

Payment of the Exchequer grant in aid of police expenditure is subject to the condition that the Secretary of State is satisfied that the police service is fully and properly administered. Parliament has placed on the Secretary of State the duty of arranging for the inspection of Police Forces by His Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary appointed under Section 15 of the County and Borough Police Act, 1856.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has imposed any liability on wardens and other subordinates in air raid precautions services to be at their posts in time of war, in order that controllers may have power and authority to carry out their responsibilities which necessitates wardens having similar liabilities imposed on them as are, for example, accepted by special constables?

All persons enrolled for whole-time or part-time service in war in any of the air-raid precautions services are required to sign an undertaking that when called upon in an emergency they will present themselves for the service for which they have been enrolled and will act as required under the directions of the local authority or of its responsible officers. I believe that people who have come forward voluntarily and accepted these obligations would not fail in an emergency to honour their undertakings.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of the Government to ratify the following three international conventions, International Act Concerning Intellectual Co-operation, the Declaration Regarding the Teaching of History, and procés verbal adopted by the Conference on the application of the Convention of 11th October, 1933, for facilitating the International Circulation of Films of an Educational Character?

His Majesty's Government are not a party to the International Act Concerning Intellectual Co-operation. On the Declaration regarding the teaching of history, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Barnstaple (Sir R. Acland) by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign. Affairs on 20th November, 1936, stating that, while His Majesty's Government were in full sympathy with the aims of the Declaration, there were various reasons which made it impossible to adopt the measures provided for therein.The question of the ratification of the Convention for Facilitating the International Circulation of Films of an Educational Character is at present under consideration, and it is expected that the necessary legislation will be ready at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there has been, on the part of the administration in Cyprus, any restriction of the publication in Cyprus of references to that Colony in this House, and more particularly, to those made in the Debate of 7th June?

There has been no such specific restriction on the part of the Cyprus Government. I understand that an editor asked the Commissioner of Nicosia regarding the publication of certain passages in the Debate of 7th June. His reply was that he could give no instructions on the point, but that as he had been asked for his advice, his personal opinion was that publication would not be advisable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made with the Milk Products Marketing Scheme, and when arrangements will be made to bring the scheme into force?

In accordance with the provisions of the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1931, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have recently given to the persons nominated for this purpose notice of our proposed modifications to the draft Milk Products Marketing Scheme. We cannot take any further action in the matter unless we are notified that more than half these persons assent to the modifications.