asked the Minister of Transport, what is the nature of the road work being undertaken outside St. Pancras Station; and when will this work be completed?

The work is the opening up of the road in connection with the reconstruction of Kings Cross underground station. Owing to the very complicated works involved I regret to say-that it is improbable that the road will be cleared of this obstruction before the end of January.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that during the past few months almost the entire staff of the Dukinfield wagon works coach shop, new and repair, has been dismissed and the works closed down; and whether the railway companies' policy in this respect has been changed since the 8th June this year?

I understand that, under a scheme for the centralisation of their workshops, the company are reorganising their arrangements for the repair of carriages now carried out at Doncaster, York and Dukinfield. About 200 men at Dukinfield have been discharged, but employment will become available at York for between 350 and 400 additional men.The company have a surplus of wagons and their requirements for new wagons are restricted to one or two special types. No new wagon construction will therefore be undertaken at Dukinfield. The forge and smithy will however be retained, and wagon repair work will be continued, certain of the carriage shops being utilised for this purpose.There has been no change in the company's policy since the 8th June this year.

asked the Minister of Transport under what authority local authorities are permitted to fix the fares and charges made for the carriage of passengers on their public service vehicles?

The provisions governing the fixing of fares for the carriage of passengers on public service vehicles, including those operated by local authorities, are found in Section 72 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, from which my hon. and gallant Friend will see that the fares charged have to be approved by the Traffic Commissioners. An appeal from a decision of the Traffic Commissioners can be made to me under Section 81 of the Act.I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the jurisdiction of the Traffic Commissioners in this matter only covers public service vehicles as denned in Section 121 of the Road Traffic Act, but does not extend to tramcars and trolley vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made by his Department on the main roads of the country for which he is responsible; whether he will state the total mileage of roads over which he has control, the mileage for which schemes have been approved; and the mileage of completed work, giving the cost in both cases?

On the 1st April, 1937, the Minister of Transport became highway authority for 4,459 miles of trunk road. At that date schemes for the reconstruction of certain sections had been prepared by the local authorities, and these were adopted by the Minister and in some cases enlarged. The expenditure required to carry to completion these schemes, as enlarged, is estimated at about £4,750,000. The smaller schemes have already been completed and some of the larger ones are nearing completion. I regret that I am not able to give the mileage in each case.Between the 1st April, 1937, and the 31st May, 1939, 204 Orders under Section 1 (3) of the Trunk Roads Act have been made for 298 diversions or bypasses comprising 280 miles of new route to supersede 282 miles of existing road. Schemes estimated to cost approximately £13,000,000 for the improvement or construction of about 250 miles of road have been approved. The schemes are in various stages of preparation and progress. No schemes of magnitude have yet been completed.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can give the approximate cost of land purchases for the improvements to the main highways of the country for which he is responsible?

Since 1st April, 1937, when the Minister of Transport became the highway authority for trunk roads, approximately £660,000 has been spent on land acquisition in connection with their improvement or construction.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider introducing legislation to adopt the recommendations of the Select Committee of the House of Lords on Road Accidents respecting motor road-patrols, on the lines of those already adopted with success in Lancashire?

This matter is under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the amount raised in local rates in England and Wales in the year ended 31st March, 1939, was £13,000,000 more than during the previous 12 months; and, having regard to the heavy demands upon our resources at the present time, will he take steps, in conjunction with the various Departments of State concerned, to bring about a reduced burden of local expenditure?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the latter part, my right hon. Friend views with concern the constant increase in local taxation and would repeat the assurance which he gave to my hon. Friend on the 31st January that all proposals for expenditure which require sanction by a Government Department are carefully examined. As, however, he then pointed out, economy in current administration is to a large extent the responsibility of the elected representatives of the ratepayers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that fines paid by a bookmaker on behalf of a runner convicted for street betting are allowed as legitimate deductions in estimating profits for Income Tax purposes, he will take steps by legislation or otherwise to carry out the principle that a statutory deduction from a non-statutory emolument should be also accepted as a legitimate deduction according to the unanimous recommendation of the committee presided over by Sir Warren Fisher?

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the treatment for Income Tax purposes of the deductions to be made from Members' salaries under the proposals contained in the House of Commons Members' Fund Bill. Opportunity for discussion of the point raised by him will arise during the course of debate on that Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any statement to make upon the position of the Danzig loans issued in the United Kingdom?

On the 4th July the Bank of Danzig suspended until further notice transfers for the service of interest and amortisation of all Danzig external loans. I have no further information beyond what has already appeared in the Press.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government have considered the despatch of an international force to Danzig under the auspices of the League of Nations on the model of the force dispatched to the Saar in 1935; and, if so, with what result?

No, Sir. An international force was despatched to the Saar at the time of the holding of the plebiscite for which provision was made in the Peace Treaty. The circumstances in Danzig are not the same.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government have considered covening a meeting of the League Council on the Danzig question, having regard to the fact that, under Article 102 of the Versailles Treaty, Danzig was placed under the protection of the League and that the League has wide powers to demand information as to alleged violations of the Danzig constitution?

No, Sir. The League Council have appointed a Committee of Three to follow the situation in Danzig. Any developments there are kept under review by this Committee.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in connection with the arrangements being made for the staffing of the Ministry of Supply and the expansion of the Air Ministry, he is aware that in the office of the Crown Agents for the Colonies there exists a staff recruited from the civil service examinations, and possessing experience and qualifications of a type required by His Majesty's Government in work relating to the placing of contracts; and whether, in the national interest, he will give these people the opportunity of transfer to the newly-formed branches?

Arrangements have been made, in view of the need for experienced staff in the Ministry of Supply and other Government Departments, to consider for the time being applications for transfer from the staff of the Crown Agents for the Colonies and certain other public offices which are not part of the civil service.

asked the First Commissioner of Works what was the nature of the contract alterations made to the original tender submitted by the firm of Lindsay, Parkinson and Company, for the Chorley contract?

The original contract was placed in January, 1937, as a result of competitive lump sum tendering. As time did not permit of the preparation of final designs, the tenders were based upon bills of quantities prepared from a tentative lay-out of the factory and typical designs for the buildings.

asked the Prime Minister what part the British Government has played in dealing with the refugees from Spain now on French territory; what financial or other assistance in the matter has been given to the French Government or to any of the voluntary organisations who are assisting in the work; and what information can he give as to the conditions prevailing in the camps round Perpignan and other parts of France?

During the course of the present year His Majesty's Government have made grants totalling £100,000 to the International Commission for the Assistance of Child Refugees in Spain, and have informed the Commission that they would welcome the expenditure of part of these sums for the relief of the destitute and needy, other than men of military age, in the refugee camps on French territory. His Majesty's Government have also made a grant of £50,000 to the British Red Cross Society for the relief of men of military age in the refugee camps in France. According to the information in the possession of His Majesty's Government the conditions prevailing in the camps have recently been greatly improved.

asked the Home Secretary what steps the Government propose to take to safeguard the position of British-born women resident in the United Kingdom but married to non-Britishers, in case of a national emergency?

I assume that the hon. Member's suggestion is that if any special restrictions should be imposed on alien women, such restrictions ought not necessarily to be imposed on British-born women who are married to foreigners. This is a point which will not be overlooked if occasion for special restrictions arises.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many of the militiamen now being called up will be required for service in the Royal Air Force and if those who serve in the Royal Air Force will be able subsequently to embrace the Royal Air Force as a career should they wish to do so?

About 13,000 of the men being called up under the provisions of the Military Training Act during the next 12 months will be taken into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve: they will be selected from among those who have expressed a preference for Air Force service. Applications by these men for transfer to the Regular Air Force will be considered sympathetically within the establishment.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the De Havilland Aircraft Works, Hatfield, are engaged on Government contracts; whether he is aware that work at this factory is very scarce, a number of men having been dismissed and further dismissals being feared; and whether he can give the reason for these dismissals during the present rearmament programme?

I am informed that the discharges from this firm during the last month amount to less than 2 per cent, of the productive labour strength, and have been effected as part of the normal adjustment of labour in works of this kind. I am unable to accept the hon. Member's statement that work at this factory is very scarce; the firm hold contracts from the Air Ministry for three types of aircraft and are at present fully employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that there is a trade dispute between the Steel Barrel Company, Uxbridge, working on contracts with his Department containing fair-wage clauses binding the company to observe trade union rates and conditions, and its employés owing to alleged breaches of the clause; and whether he will make inquiries into the allegations and, if necessary, take steps to enforce the observance of the clause?

My Department has received a complaint in connection with this matter which is at present under investigation.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that whereas the average interval between date of entering an appeal and of its disposal in the Court of Appeal in workmen's compensation cases averaged less than three months in 1938 and 1939 in 53 and 15 cases, respectively, the corresponding period in the case of appeals to the House of Lords was about 8½ months in six cases between January 1937 and May 1939, apart from and in addition to some necessary delay in the presentation of appeals; and whether he will consider by what means delays in the course of appeal cases may be reduced?

My Noble Friend, the Lord Chancellor is most anxious that there should be no avoidable delay in the dispatch by the House of Lords of its judicial business. He has investigated the facts and finds that appeals in Workmen's Compensation cases are disposed of with as much ex- pedition as is consistent with their importance and with the discharge by the House of Lords of the other work which comes before that tribunal. My Noble Friend is of opinion that there is no practicable way of expediting their hearing without prejudice to the interests of other litigants.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will state the number of children in receipt of free meals and free milk in elementary and secondary schools in the county and county borough areas of Wales and the proportion of the full complement on the registers?

In May, 1939, 5,582 children in public elementary schools in Wales and Monmouthshire, including county and county borough areas and boroughs and urban districts which are local education authorities for elementary education, received free solid meals, 5,248 free meals and milk and 60,416 free milk only. 3.1 per cent, of the children on the registers received free meals and 19 per cent, free milk. In the secondary schools free meals and milk are usually given by means of maintenance allowances, but no information is available as to the number of children who receive them in this way.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will give the names of the only two public elementary schools in London which are still on the list of schools with defective premises?

The schools in question are Camberwell, St. Michael and All Angels' Church of England School and Westminster Cathedral (Great Peter Street) Roman Catholic School.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that there is a trade dispute between the Steel Barrel Company, Uxbridge, working on contracts with his Department containing fair-wage clauses binding the company to observe trade union rates and conditions, and its employés owing to alleged breaches of the clause; and whether he will make inquiries into the allegations and, if necessary, take steps to enforce the observance of the clause?

This matter has been brought to the notice of the Admiralty and investigation is being made into the facts of the case.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the time taken for the completion of the principal types of ships for the Navy between 1914 and 1918 and the time allotted in the current programmes for the completion of similar ships?

The times taken for the completion of ships ordered during the War period 1914–18 varied considerably according to the capacity of each of the many shipyards employed, but taken on an average the building periods for the principal types of vessel may be stated thus:

—		Years.	Months.
Capital Ships:
26,500 tons	…	2	4
42,100 tons	…	4	1
Cruisers:
Larger types	…	3	0
Medium types	…	2	0
Smaller types	…	1	8
Destroyers.	…	1	6
Submarines:
Larger types	…	2	0
Smaller types	…	1	8

As regards vessels of current programmes it is undesirable in the public interest to publish details other than those contained in pages 314

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the need at this moment of experienced senior officers, he is prepared to suspend the retirements during the remainder of the present year of senior officers which otherwise would take place under the provisions of the Army Order, published in August, 1938, before the aggravation of the international situation following on the crisis of last September?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, South (Sir H. Williams) on 27th June last.

asked the Secretary of State for War why foreign eggs are supplied to the officers' mess at Trawsfynydd Camp; and why fresh milk is not supplied to the sergeants' mess?

I have no information as to the facts in these cases, but the purchase of eggs and milk by officers' and sergeants' messes is entirely a matter for their discretion.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to make a permanent camp at Trawsfynydd, and whether huts will be erected for the use of Territorials who train there?

There is already a permanent hutted camp at Trawsfynydd which provides accommodation for the personnel who remain there throughout the training season, and includes buildings such as messes, cook-houses and institutes for the troops as a whole. The Regular and Territorial Artillery Regiment which attend the camp for short periods in succession for artillery practice sleep under canvas. There is no proposal to alter these arrangements.

asked the Minister of Health whether sick, infirm or aged persons, or private schools or others who have secured accommodation in the country in case of war, are permitted to make their own arrangements for reaching such accommodation by road in the event of such emergency occurring?

No restrictions are placed on persons or schools wishing to make arrangements for their own transport by road in the event of an emergency, subject of course to such arrangements not conflicting with the Government's general transport requirements.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether his attention has been drawn to complaints that the school for the training of air-raid wardens is shortly to be closed during a period of five weeks; and whether, in view of the urgent necessity of the prompt training of senior wardens, he will reconsider this decision?

There is no central school for training air-raid wardens, and I am not sure what school my hon. Friend has in mind. If, however, he will send me further particulars of the complaints to which he refers, I shall be glad to consider the matter further.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether satisfactory arrangements have been made in the Parliamentary Division of Stalybridge and Hyde in regard to fire-fighting arrangements in any emergency which might arise in the future?

Schemes have been submitted and, while the full complement of personnel has not yet been trained, the emergency measures appear to be well advanced and satisfactory progress is being made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the name of the gentleman selected as the chairman-designate of the County War Agricultural Executive Committee to be constituted for the county of Durham in the event of war?

Yes, Sir. Mr. Frank Nicholson, C.B.E., J.P., of Southill Hall, Nr. Chester-le-Street, Durham.

asked the Minister of Health what is the Registrar-General's estimate of the population of England and Wales in the year 1960, assuming the continuance unchanged of the present birth and death rates, and excluding prospective increases due to immigration from foreign countries or from Eire; and by how much this differs from the present population?

I regret that it would not be possible for estimates to be constructed in accordance with my right hon. Friend's wishes without a far wider range of assumptions than those stated in the question. Estimates of the future population of Great Britain have been recently prepared by the Registrar-General and submitted in evidence to the Royal Commission on the Distribution of the Industrial Population, accompanied by a full statement of the assumptions adopted as relatively most probable. I understand that this evidence will in due course be published, and I am sending, with the consent of the chairman of the Royal Commission, a copy of the evidence to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can supply information on the introduction into the engineering industry of trainees from Government training centres, including the total number introduced, the numbers introduced in the various sections of the industry, including aircraft, and the numbers introduced into the industry in various areas, in each of the last five years?

I am seeing how much of this information is available and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to complaints that in advertising for carpenters firms engaged on Government work are specifying that they must be between the ages of 21 and 40; and whether he will take steps to stop this practice?

I have no power to prevent an employer from attaching such condition if he thinks it necessary to do so, but I am not aware that there is any general practice of this kind, and at the present moment any carpenter over 40 who is able and willing to move to Government work should have no difficulty in obtaining employment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will circulate a statement in tabular form giving the numbers of men in employment over the age of 65 years and who would presumably be entitled to old age pensions, contributory or non-contributory, in yearly age groups, commencing at 65 years of age and the number of young persons, up to and including the age of 21 years, who are in receipt of payments from either the Unemployment Insurance Fund or allow-

Date.		Claims admitted for Insurance Benefit.		Applications authorised for Unemployment Allowances.
		Aged 16 and 17.	Aged 18–20.	Aged 16 and 17.	Aged 18–20.
21st June, 1937	…	19,044	36,282	4,265	12,916
13th June, 1938	…	41,951	81,795	5,011	13,164
12th June, 1939	…	19,857	52,780	4,168	13,313

Separate figures are not available in respect of persons aged 21 or for individual years of age within the groups specified above.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make a statement regarding the present position in Cyprus?

I have nothing to add to the statement which I made in reply to questions on the 5th of July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will issue a White Paper giving extracts from the statements in the Cyprus Press to which exception was taken on the ground that they were calculated to disturb good relations in the Colony?

The Press articles to which I referred in my statement on 5th June were regarded principally as undesirable because they accompanied an agitation for the signing of petitions which, as I described last week, was characterised by intimidation and misrepresentation and calculated to disturb good relations in the Colony. By themselves they would not convey any impression of the situation with which the authorities had to deal, and in the circumstances I would not see any useful purpose in adopting the hon. Member's suggestion.

Statistics of the number of men, aged 65 and over, who are in employment at any particular date are not available.The following table gives the available information in respect of young persons with claims admitted for unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance at a date in June of 1937, 1938 and 1939.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any action with regard to the reclamation scheme in Gambia will be taken before the next rainy season?

No, Sir. I would point out that the next rainy season starts this month. I cannot at present add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, to a question on the 21st of June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the reason for the rapid deterioration in the financial position in the Gambia; what steps are being taken to remedy the situation; and is the legislature pursuing a policy calculated to improve the very low standard of living of the natives?

The principal causes for the deterioration are the low world price for ground nuts, the Colony's principal export crop, and the devaluation of the French franc. These factors have reduced the purchasing power of the community and at the same time diminished its export trade. The Colonial Government, as a result, has been forced to reduce expenditure, although in doing so every effort has been made not to curtail existing social services. The Government is directing its attention to the improvement of agriculture, on which the standard of living of the local population largely depends. For example, supplies of fruit trees have been provided to develop fruit production in suitable areas. Experimental work for the increase of rice production has been carried out. Small-scale irrigation schemes for rice and garden crops have been started. A campaign to secure the immunization of cattle against rinderpest has been in operation during the past few years; and as a result of this work cattle stock has increased.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether (1) he will state the number of children in Kenya who are attending State-aided schools, and how many of them are required to pay a fee;(2) whether he will state, as to the most recent date for which the information is available, the number of children of school age in Kenya; and how many of them were in attendance at schools for which provision is made out of public funds?

The latest year for which figures of school attendance are available is 1937. In that year the numbers of children attending Government and aided schools (elementary, primary, and secondary) were as follow:

—		Government Schools.	Aided Schools.	Total.
European	…	1,097	—	1,097
Indian	…	3,701	3,591	7,292
Arab	…	530	—	530
African	…	4,393	44,251	48,644

Fees are normally payable in all cases, but as regards the payment of fees in the case of African schools I would invite attention to the reply given to a question by the hon. Member for Wentworth on the 21st June. I have no figures as to those who are not required to pay fees.I have no figures to show the total number of children of school age, but I will ask the Governor whether he can furnish an estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state the total amount of taxation raised from the native population of Kenya in the form of hut or poll tax, and the amount allocated from it for educational purposes?

The estimated revenue for 1939 from hut and poll tax in Kenya is £533,000. The estimated expenditure on African education, excluding the expenses of direction and inspection, is £85,054.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has studied the recent report of Dr. Pole-Evans on the problems of soil erosion and the regeneration of grasslands in Kenya; and whether any action will be taken along the lines recommended in the report?

I have seen the report to which my hon. Friend refers, and I am now awaiting the recommendations on it of the Government of Kenya.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give any information about a German ex-soldier who was charged, on 6th July, at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanganyika, with concealing arms and ammunition when landing from Germany; and what amount of arms and ammunition he had concealed in his luggage?

A German national was convicted on the 6th July of smuggling arms into Dar-es-Salaam from a German steamer, and was sentenced to a fine of £40 or imprisonment in lieu. I am not in possession of details, but expect to receive a full report at an early date. In the meantime the Governor has assured me that having regard to the nature of the weapons and other circumstances he is satisfied that no particular significance need be attached to the incident.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is yet in a position to make any further statement about a Jewish settlement in British Guiana?

The Commission's report has been considered by a committee representative of the refugee organisations in this country, which has formulated tentative proposals for a scheme of refugee settlement on an experimental scale in British Guiana. These proposals have been referred to the United States Refugee Committee for their views which are now awaited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many houses have been erected in connection with the Kingston, Jamaica, housing scheme; what progress has been made with the land settlement scheme; how many unemployed persons has it provided work for; has any new industry been started; what amount of relief work has been provided for the unemployed; and how many persons have been found employment on such work?

With regard to the Land Settlement Scheme, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I am giving to another question by the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mr. Riley). I am arranging for a copy of a report on the progress of the scheme to be placed in the Library of the House within a few days.With regard to the rest of the question, I am not at present in a position to furnish the full details asked for, but I am asking the Governor for the latest information, and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as I have received it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state the reasons for the new law recently passed by the Legislative Council of Jamaica giving power to restrict the right of public meeting and processions at the will of the Governor; whether the new law makes the actual congregating into a crime; can anyone who joins a prohibited meeting, even by accident, be fined or imprisoned; and was the Bill passed through all its stages in a single day?

I have been informed by the Governor that on account of a hooligan and criminal element in Jamaica which is always ready to take advantage of any unrest, it is considered essential that the Governor should have power to prohibit street meetings during times of tension. The Public Meetings Law, which was enacted on the 23rd June, gives him these powers. Pending receipt of a copy of the law, which is expected shortly, I am unable to answer the second and third parts of the question. The answer to the fourth part is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the widespread discontent prevalent in Jamaica at the slow progress of the land settlement scheme for unemployed workers decided upon in June, 1938; that up to 17th May, 1939, not one unemployed worker had been provided with an allotment; that the condition of the scheme providing that the applicant must deposit, on application, not less than one-tenth the capital value of the holding is preventing unemployed workers without means submitting applications; and will he urge the government of Jamaica to waive this condition in the case of suitable unemployed applicants who are not in a position to pay the initial deposit?

I am aware that complaints have been made, but do not regard them as justified. It was not possible to raise in this country a loan to provide funds for the scheme until January last; since then matters have been advanced as rapidly as possible.The new scheme is not one for the benefit of unemployed only, and I am unable to say how many of the settlers in the 664 families who have already been settled under the scheme were unemployed when the scheme was launched.The regulations provide that in special cases the payment of the initial deposit of one-tenth of the purchase price may be deferred for a period up to two years. But I am asking the Governor whether he is satisfied that the scheme in practice is benefiting unemployed people as much as is desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered the message from an organisation termed the Youth League in Sierra Leone, which contains a personal attack upon the Governor and demands his recall; and what reply he has sent?

Yes, Sir. I have requested the Governor to inform this organisation that I cannot recognise its apparent claim to speak for the whole of Sierra Leone, and that I deplore the introduction into their message of a totally unjustified personal attack upon the Governor, who has my full support.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state the reason for the expulsion of the director and deputy-director of the official news agency from Jerusalem?

I assume that this question refers to the recent expulsion from Palestine of the director and deputy-director of the German News Agency. In accordance with the usual practice, no reasons were given when the decision to expel these two persons was communicated to the German Government, and I am unable to make any public statement on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that large numbers of Jews have recently entered Palestine illegally; and what action His Majesty's Government intend to take in the matter?

Yes, Sir. As the House knows, His Majesty's Government announced their readiness to facilitate the immigration of Jews into Palestine up to a figure of 75,000 during the five years from 1st April last. We are particularly anxious to help the settlement of Jewish refugees from Central Europe, and special provision was therefore made for the admission of these. But during the last few months there has been an organised attempt to defeat the proper regulation of immigration by a traffic in illegal immigrants; and as many of these illegal immigrants are Jews from Poland and Roumania, the movement even threatens to some extent our effort to help refugees.His Majesty's Government are determined to prevent this attempt to defeat the law of Palestine, an attempt which in any case is perpetuating bitterness in the country. As the House is aware, the numbers of illegal immigrants who remain in Palestine are being deducted from future quotas of legal immigrants. These numbers have been such lately that I have now authorised the High Commissioner to announce that no immigration quota will be issued for the next quota period, that is, for the six months from the 1st October to the 31st March next. Whether there will be a resumption of immigration quotas after that date must depend upon the circumstances then prevailing regarding illegal immigration

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the names of the present chairman, the deputy-chairman, and the members of the Board of Referees, and the annual amount of emoluments payable to each?

The chairman of the Board of Referees is Mr. Francis Edmond Bray, K.C., and the deputy-chairman is Mr. Henry Wynn Parry, K.C. They receive respectively remuneration at the rate of £500 and £100 a year. The other members, who number 63 at the present time, are unpaid. I am sending my hon. Friend a list of their names.