the Minister of Health whether, in view of the international situation, he will suggest to the local authorities concerned the desirability of carrying out test transferences of school children from their respective assembling places to the different railway stations at which they would have to take train?

:One or two tests have already been made with my approval, and no doubt local authorities in areas to be evacuated will wish to carry out further tests of the same kind. The matter is one which I think could be left to the discretion of the local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities are objecting to their localities being treated as receiving areas in the event of emergency; and which areas are under reconsideration for that reason?

:Representations in regard to the use of their areas as receiving areas were received from 234 authorities in all. As indicated in the reply which I gave in the House on 18th May, I have decided that 10 of these districts should not be used as receiving areas. In considering these representations generally, I have felt obliged to base my decision on the consideration whether children would not have a much better chance of safety in the areas marked as receiving areas than in the crowded cities and I believe this aspect of the matter is now fully understood by the authorities for those receiving areas who originally made representations on the point.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can give particulars of the genera] evacuation scheme which is applicable to voluntary hospitals in the London area?

I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the initial clearance of the London hospitals which would be carried out in the event of a national emergency in order to free beds for the reception of casualties. Particulars of this are included in the White Paper on the Emergency Hospital Scheme which the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are laying to-day.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will state the total. amount of expenditure on air-raid precautions work, equipment, etc., up to the most recent date in the administrative county of Durham and the five county boroughs?

The latest available figures of expenditure in these areas relate to the period 1st January, 1937, to 31st March, 1939. During that period the estimated expenditure, both capital and revenue, of the local authorities concerned on air-raid general precautions and air-raid fire precautions was, according to the authorities' returns, as follows:

		£
County Durham	…	35,408
Darlington C.B.	…	8,163
Gateshead C.B.	…	14,258
South Shields C.B.	…	18,169
Sunderland C.B.	…	33,712
W. Hartlepool C.B.	…	10,783

Towards this expenditure grants on a 75 per cent. basis (in the case of Darlington 65 per cent.) are payable. Where, after payment of these grants, the expenditure to be met from local rates exceeds the produce of Id. rate the approriate rates of grant on the excess expenditure are 85 per cent. and 75 per cent. respectively.The above figures do not take any account of the substantial expenditure incurred by the Government in the free supply of equipment, appliances and civilian respirators to the local authorities in question.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will cause all local authorities to provide adequate seating accommodation in their air-raid precautions trenches?

This is a matter which will be taken up at a later stage, when further progress has been made towards the completion of the shelter programme as a whole.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will consider providing, or arranging with local authorities to provide, offices where householders over the income limit entitling them to free air-raid shelters could obtain expert advice as to the most suitable form of air-raid protection for their dwellings and some guidance as to the cost?

In view of the heavy pressure of work which is already falling on my Department and the local authorities in connection with the execution of the Government's shelter policy, I do not think it would be practicable to adopt the hon. Lady's suggestion. Publications have, however, been issued by my Department giving particulars of types of shelter and methods of construction, for the guidance of architects, builders and others by whom private shelters would be constructed.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he proposes, in the case of each self-contained district, to issue weekly statistics showing the extent to which purely local response is made to the appeal for air-raid precautions, auxiliary fire and auxiliary police services; and whether there is any local authority which is in arrears in meeting this national need?

Statistics showing the number of volunteers enrolled in each area in the services to which my hon. Friend refers are supplied to the Ministry of Labour at regular intervals by the courtesy of local authorities, and will in future be so supplied early in each month. I do not think that I could impose on local authorities the burden of supplying such statistics at weekly intervals. Considerable publicity is given locally to these statistics, and the extent of the outstanding need for recruits in a number of areas is, I think, well known to the communities concerned. The campaign to fill these gaps continues. I may add that in general the response of Civil Defence volunteers has been excellent, resulting in the enrolment of over 790,000 men and women in the air-raid precautions, auxiliary fire and auxiliary police services between 25th January and 24th June.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, since the original distribution, there has been a complete re-survey of the condition of gas masks in public possession; whether he can give any figures of the percentages of those in good condition, those which have been damaged and those which have deteriorated; and what steps have been taken to make good deficiencies?

Local authorities were asked in October last to arrange for respirators distributed to the public to be inspected at regular intervals, by the air raid wardens. I have no reason to doubt that this is being done, but I intend to issue shortly another circular reminding local authorities of their responsibilities in this matter. Meanwhile, any respirators reported by local authorities to have become unserviceable have been replaced. Deterioration, as distinct from damage, was not expected, and is not known to have occurred.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he can state the total number of gas masks supplied to Monmouthshire and the number distributed to the people?

301,250 civilian respirators have been issued to the county of Monmouth, but the county council decided, with my concurrence, not to distribute these to the public. Suitable arrangements have been made for issue should occasion arise.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Wolverhampton Town Council have now acquired 25,071 square yards in Cannock Road and Underhill Road for an open space; what price was paid; for what purpose had the land previously been used; and what was its rateable value previous to acquisition?

The land has been acquired by the corporation for£3,100 17s. 6d. The land was agricultural and, therefore, derated.

asked the Minister of Health whether consent has been given to the Middlesex County Council to buy the freehold of the 91-acre course of the Enfield Golf Club for£32,500; whether the site has been acquired; and what was the rateable value previous to acquisition?

The purchase of this land by the Middlesex County Council and other local authorities for£52,000 has been approved, but the purchase has not yet been completed. The rateable value prior to purchase was£618.

asked the Minister of Health whether the 61½acres of land adjoining the Thames between Bourne End and Marlow have now been acquired by the local authorities co-operating; if so, what price was paid; for what purpose is the land to be used; what was it previously used for; and what was its rateable value prior to acquisition?

I understand that the land has not yet been acquired. The object of its proposed purchase is the preservation of the Thames riverside. The land is agricultural and, therefore, derated.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has sanctioned the acquisition by the Blackpool Corporation of 14 acres of land near the site of the Marton gas-works for a refuse disposal works; what was the price paid; for what purpose was the land used before; and what was its rateable value previous to acquisition?

Loans amounting to£7,879 have been sanctioned for the acquisition of the land referred to. The land was agricultural and, therefore, derated.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has sanctioned the acquisition by the Lancashire County Council under compulsory powers of the triangular plot of land at the junction of Church Street and Gisburn Road, Barrowford, known as Hill Top; what is the area and what price was paid; for what purpose was this land used formerly and for what purpose has it been acquired; and what was the rateable value previous to acquisition?

I have been asked to reply. The land in question was required by the Lancashire County Council for the purpose of widening and improving the Class I Road A.682. Its acquisition was sanctioned under compulsory powers on 28th February, 1938. The area is in square yards, and the compensation paid, which was determined after arbitration, was£291.I understand that the land was unoccupied when acquired, and that no rateable value had been fixed, the buildings previously standing on it having been demolished under a Clearance Order.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the conflicting views prevailing as to the maintenance of inconvertible paper money in this country, he will take steps to appoint a committee to investigate the problem and to report?

No, Sir. I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by appointing such a committee at the present time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has now considered the desirability of ending British participation in lie Bank for International Settlements?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question by the right hon. Member for East Edinburgh (Mr. Pethick-Lawrence) on 8th June last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken in order to bring about a settlement of claims against Czech assets now held in this country; and whether he can give an assurance that a settlement will be made before the summer Recess?

The intention is to draw up a scheme for dealing with the assets subject to the Czecho-Slovakia (Restriction on Banking Accounts, etc.), Act and for using those assets as a set-off against British claims. This scheme will be submitted to the House for its approval as soon as may be after it reassembles. The scheme will provide for the repayment to the Treasury of the amount of£6,000,000, advanced to the former Czecho-SIovak Government and for the use, for the benefit of Czech refugees, of the unexpended balance of the free gift of£4,000,000. It will also provide for dealing with the claims of British holders.It is clear that there would be practical advantages in the detailed administrative arrangements (more particularly as regards handling the refugee problem) being worked out in conjunction with the Central Bank and the Refugee Institute at Prague, and this matter will be taken up with the German Government. It is not at present possible to say whether further legislation will be required, but in any event the arrangements will, as I have stated, be subject to confirmation by this House before they are operative.In order to enable the work for the Czech refugees to be carried on without interruption, a Supplementary Estimate will be laid before the House, but the provision made thereby will in due course be recovered from the unexpended balance of the free gift.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the cost to the State of non-contributory old age pensions for the year 1938-39 and the number of persons receiving such pensions for the same period?

The cost of non-contributory old age pensions (including blind pensions) for the financial year 1938–39 is calculated at approximately£15,650,000. The number of non-contributory pensions in payment on 31st March, 1938, was 597,147 and on 31st March, 1939, was 576,072.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will favourably consider increasing the grant to local authorities who undertake demolition of unfit houses to alleviate overcrowding in their areas?

The rates of Exchequer subsidy for these purposes were fixed by Parliament as recently as last year in the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, which provided increased subsidies for houses built to abate overcrowding. I have no reason to suppose that these rates are inadequate.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will give the average annual output of coal for each of the coal-fields in the United Kingdom, with the

Numbers of persons killed and injured (disabled for more than 3days) per 1,000 persons employed at mines under the Coal Mines Act. 1911 (except the stratified Ironstone Mines in Cleveland, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire) in the years 1936, 1937 and 1938, classified according to age.
Year.		Under 16 years of age.		16 and under 18 years of age.		18 and under 20 years of age.		20 years of age and over.		All ages.
		Killed.	Injured.	Killed.	Injured	Killed.	Injured.	Killed.	Injured.	Killed.	Injured.
1936	…	1.00	205	0.62	197	0.83	173	1.05	175	1.01	175
1937	…	1.00	204	0.84	196	0.72	165	1.10	173	1.06	175
1938	…	0.65	183	0.70	189	0.51	160	1.14	162	1.07	164

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education, whether his attention has been drawn to the statement in the current report of the Unemployment Assistance Board that, according to a representative sample taken by the Board, only 5 per cent. of the children of men in receipt of Unemployment Assistance Board allowances receive free food at schools and that only 24 per cent. receive free milk; and whether, as these percentages reveal the failure of the Board's arrangements to cater for the nutritive needs of the most necessitous children, he will institute co-operation with the Unemployment Assistance Board with a view to remedying this state of affairs?

As the reply is in the form of a very lengthy statistical statement, I propose with the hon. Member's permission to send him a copy.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the fatal and non-fatal accident rate per 1,000 in the following age groups, 14 to 16, 16 to 18, 18 to 21, and 21 and onwards, employed in the British coalfields for the years 1936, 1937, and 1938?

The following is the information available:

My attention has been drawn to the passage in question, which also state that 8 per cent. of the children receive free milk and food, making a total of 37 per cent. who receive either free milk or free food or both. I am unable to accept the deduction that these percentages reveal the failure of the arrangements made by local education authorities for dealing with under nourishment among school children. As shown by Circular 1443, of which I am sending a copy to the hon. Member, the purpose of the provision of free meals or milk by local education authorities is to meet the special needs of children who are unable, by reason of lack of food, to take full advantage of their education, and not to supplement from educational funds allowances which are designed to meet the normal needs of the families of unemployed men.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will supply particulars as to the number of elementary school-children attending school in structures of corrugated iron or other temporary materials, with the number of such schools in use and the length of time for which they have been used for this purpose?

I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available and to obtain them would involve a disproportionate amount of labour.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education how many schools in Wales are now in Class A, B, and C, respectively; and whether he will give the names of these schools in each county separately?

The number of public elementary schools in Wales and Monmouthshire on the Black List has now been reduced to no, of which 22 are in Category A, 67 in Category B, 16 in Category C, and five are not classified. I am sending to the hon. Member a list giving the names of these schools.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he can state the number of new schools that have been sanctioned and full approval given by the Board of Edu-

—	England and Wales	Essex.
(a) Total expenditure under the Physical Training and Recreation Act falling upon the Vote of the Board of Education to June 30th, 1939.	£312,572*	†
(b) Total capital grants offered to local authorities and local voluntary organisations.	£1,892,625	£56,765
(c) Expenditure on administration and publicity	£168,296	£3,560
(d) Percentage of (c) to (a)	54	†
(e) Percentage of (c) to(b)	8·8	6·2
*Includes£82,715 which is also included(b).	†Not available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the cost of education per child in the elementary schools in Merthyr Tydfil in 1937-38 was£20 9s. 10d., as cation for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; and in how many of these cases has work actually commenced?

During the 12 months ended 30th June, 1939, final plans were approved by the Board for 246 new public elementary schools and for 27 new buildings to replace existing schools. Comparable figures for secondary schools were one and 13 respectively. I regret that I have no information as to the number of cases in which work has actually commenced.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (1) what is the total sum so far spent on the National Fitness Campaign; what percentage of this has come from the Government, the local authorities, and other sources, respectively; and if he will give similar figures for the county of Essex;(2) what percentage of the sums spent on the National Fitness Campaign has been spent on the National Fitness Council and its branches in salaries and expenses and what percentage has been used to help clubs and organisations catering for sport, recreation and fitness; and if he will give similar figures for the county of Essex?

I am unable to give particulars of the expenditure on the National Fitness Campaign from rates and other sources. Following are the figures and percentages for which the hon. Member asks so far as they are available:compared with an average for the county boroughs of England and Wales of£15 6s. 2d.; and why the expenditure in this distressed area was so high?

I am aware of the high cost per child of elementary education in Merthyr Tydfil as compared with the average for county boroughs. The difference is due to two items, teachers salaries and rates. The number of children in the schools in this area has fallen considerably in the last few years, and it has not been possible to make a proportionate reduction in the teaching staff without the dismissal of teachers, a course which the Board would deprecate. Owing to the very small number of new appointments in the last few years, the proportion of teachers on or near the maximum of their scales is higher than normal.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he can state the number of schools equipped with radio sets; how many have been supplied at Government expense, and how many provided by teachers and scholars; and whether the cost of providing licences to use sets is a charge on public funds or paid for out of private funds?

I am informed by the Central Council for School Broadcasting that the number of schools in England and Wales registered on 30th June as listening schools was 9,953. I am unable to say how many school sets are provided by teachers and scholars, but I understand that a majority of local education authorities give financial assistance towards the cost of equipment in schools under their control, and that the authorities generally pay for the licences. Their expenditure ranks for grant from the Board.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education how many children are being educated in the 797 schools at present on the black list?

The number of pupils on the registers on 31st March, 1939, in the 797 schools concerned was as follows:

Category.			Total.
A.	B.	C.
26,455	107,925	39,176	173,556

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware of the overcrowding in the Hurst infant and junior schools, Bexley, and that in the infant school there are 50 pupils over the stipulated number and in the junior school 100 pupils; and whether he will press the Kent county education authority to proceed with the proposed new school in the vicinity in order to overcome the existing difficulties?

:I am aware of the over-crowding referred to by the hon. Member and I understand that the local education authority are preparing detailed plans for the proposed new school. Mean-while, the Board have approved the erection of temporary classrooms at the Hurst School to relieve the overcrowding.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that British subjects who have become resident in the Bolzano district, Italian Tyrol, have been ordered to leave the area within 48 hours; and whether His Majesty's Government has informed, or is considering informing, the Italian Government that unless the notice is withdrawn they will take retaliatory measures by ordering Italians to leave Britain?

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make any statement regarding the expulsion of British nationals from the Italian Tyrol; how many British nationals are affected; and if he has any information as to whether they are to be permitted to bring away their movable property and to be compensated for their unmovable property?

The position appears to be that the Prefect of the Province of Bolzano has issued an order, applicable only to that Province, under which permission for foreigners to reside in the district is withdrawn. This order applies to all foreigners regardless of nationality and is not technically an order of expulsion in the ordinary sense of the word. The measure is said to be due to political and military considerations.His Majesty's Ambassador in Rome has been informed that foreign tourists are required to leave the Province within 48 hours, but that the cases of other foreigners normally established in the Province will be examined individually on their merits and that the Prefect has been instructed to allow a reasonable delay; this applies particularly in the case of invalids or persons undergoing medical treatment. My Noble Friend has not yet been able to ascertain whether resident British subjects will have to liquidate their property in the Province. It is believed that about 15 British subjects are established there.His Majesty's Ambassador at Rome has, on instructions, already raised the question with the Italian Government and has fully reserved the rights of British subjects. He has in particular drawn the attention of the authorities to the question of the transfer abroad of the proceeds of any liquidation of British property that may become necessary as a result of this order; it appears that the Italian authorities are prepared to give sympathetic consideration to this question. He has also drawn attention to the fact that certain British property owners who may be affected may not have representatives on the spot to take care of their interests and he has asked that every effort should be made to minimise the inconvenience to British subjects.Since the measure applies to all foreigners and does not discriminate against British subjects, my Noble Friend does not consider that retaliatory action is called for provided that the above points are satisfactorily dealt with.His Majesty's Ambassador at Rome and His Majesty's Consul-General at Milan will of course do whatever is possible to protect the interests of British subjects.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has been officially informed that Colonel Spear is to be tried by a Japanese military tribunal; and whether as Colonel Spear has now been held a prisoner for over six weeks and as Japan has no jurisdiction in China not having declared war, His Majesty's Government will demand his immediate release?

The answer to the first part is in the negative. In reply to the second, I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Derby (Mr. Noel-Baker) yesterday.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any information regarding the firing upon the British tug-boat "Saxon" at Tientsin, on Monday, by Japanese soldiers; and whether he will take steps to inform the Japanese authorities that these incidents must cease?

My Noble Friend's reports do not indicate that any British tug-boat has been fired on. He has, however, seen a report that on 10th July shots fired by a Japanese soldier struck certain lighters belonging to the British-owned Taku Tug and Lighter Company. Three Chinese were wounded. The firing appears to have been caused by a native boat which had been under detention by the Japanese making its escape and tying up to one of the lighters.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the plight of numerous refugees from Czecho-Slovakia who have crossed the frontier into Poland, many of whom have been compelled by the local Polish authorities to return to conditions of danger; whether any instructions have been recently given to the British Consul at Katowice as regards refugees desirous of receiving a British visa; and what steps he is taking to ensure that these refugees should be enabled to come to this country instead of being compelled to return to Czecho-Slovakia?

The situation of the refugees from Czecho-Slovakia now in Poland is receiving the close attention of the Departments of His Majesty's Government concerned. No special instructions have been sent to His Majesty's Consul at Katowice, who is acting under general instructions regarding refugee applications. His Majesty's Government will continue to consider sympathetically all applications for visas submitted by the British Committee for Refugees from Czecho-Slovakia on behalf of refugees already in Poland who may wish to come to this country, and permission has recently been given for the admission to the United Kingdom of a further 120 families. But it will be appreciated that it is not possible for the committee, having regard to their limited resources, to bind themselves to undertake responsibility for all refugees from Czechoslovakia who may enter Poland, and that His Majesty's Government must consider the suitability of applicants for visas for the United Kingdom.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will authorise the issue of visas to Adolf and Herbert Neiss, of Vienna, guaranteed for on 5th May by Mr. Beadle, of Cambridge, in view of the fact that they are in grave danger?

A visa was authorised for Adolf Neiss and his minor son Herbert on 10th July.

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether, before permission is granted for the admission of any more refugees, he will satisfy himself that facilities for re-emigration are, or will shortly become, available; and that the organisations which have assumed responsibility for them will be able to maintain the refugees now here during their stay in this country;(2) whether he is aware that over 30,000 refugees from Germany and Central Europe have been admitted or have been granted visas for admission to this country since 1933, of whom only about 10 per cent. have re-emigrated; and why a general assurance was given that such persons would not be a burden upon the British taxpayer, in view of the fact that though the Departments concerned have declined to state the numbers availing themselves, it has since emerged that refugees are in fact entitled to poor relief, State education, and other social facilities?

As regards emigration, the greater number of refugees now in this country have arrived during recent months, and in many cases of recent arrivals there has not yet been time to complete arrangements for emigration. If there is a prospect of emigration within a reasonable time and arrangements can be made for a refugee to be maintained in this country from voluntary sources while awaiting emigration, the general policy is that temporary asylum in this country ought not to be refused to such refugees.Apart from the fact that education is being provided for some refugee children and that in some rare cases refugees who have fallen ill have been admitted to local authority hospitals, I know of no ground for the suggestion that the admission of refugees is resulting in charges on public funds. On the contrary, I think appreciation should be expressed of the charity shown by large numbers of private people in this country and of the way in which the voluntary organisations are faithfully discharging their undertaking that refugees should not become a charge on public funds.

asked the Home Secretary what were the nationalities of the two refugees from Spain who were recently deported from Cardiff; and to what country were they sent?

I know of no recent case in which any refugees from Spain have been deported. If the hon. Member will send me particulars of the case he has in mind I shall be glad to have inquiries made.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the accidental death of Albert Vernon, age 19, by falling down the lift shaft of the De Vere Hotel, in Kensington, and to numerous other fatal accidents in connection with lifts on non-factory premises in the last six months; and whether he can make any further pronouncement on this subject?

In the case referred to by the hon. and gallant Member, it appears from the evidence given at the inquest that the deceased fell down a light well and not a lift well. In reply to the latter part of the question, I would refer to the reply given to-day to the hon. and gallant Member's question on the subject of the accident on the premises of the Bank of Scotland.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fatal accident to a lift attendant on the premises of the Bank of Scotland on 9th July, being the third accident in connection with lifts and hoists on non-factory premises within a week in the London area; and whether he will now consider the desirability of setting up a committee of inquiry, on which lift manufacturers, builders and architects will be represented, to prepare specifications for safety in lifts and to suggest means for enforcing their adoption within a reasonable period?

In one of the three cases to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers the deceased fell down a light well and not a lift well; but I am aware that there have been a number of accidents in connection with lifts on premises which are not subject to the Factory Act. In a Bill which is at present before the House the London County Council are seeking powers to control such lifts in their area, and as stated in reply to a previous question any question of general legislation must await the result of this proposal.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that present police methods have failed to stop the Irish Republican Army outrages, he will now consider whether a change in the law should be made as regards the free entry into this country of Irish citizens?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 6th instant to questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Stretford (Mr. Crossley) and Clitheroe (Sir W. Brass).

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Government of South Africa have declared that any person who operates or allows the use of pin-tables or gaming machines shall be deemed to conduct a lottery; and will he consider instructing police authorities in this country to take action against owners and exhibitors of these machines?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the Noble Lady to the answers which I gave to her question on the 4th May, and the question by the hon. Member for the South-East Division of Southwark (Mr. Naylor) on the nth July. The possibility of taking action in respect of these machines under our law depends primarily on whether the person using the machine has a chance of winning a prize, but when the prize offered is small the element of gaming may be trivial. I believe that the police generally are fully alive to the importance of enforcing the law on this subject, but I am arranging to confer with chief constables on the question whether more can be done to secure active steps being taken in all districts in accordance with a uniform policy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that barometers of foreign manufacture are sold in this country as British made, and why a distinction is made between aneroid barometers, which need not be marked foreign, whilst mercurial barometers must be so marked; and can he further state the quantity and value of each kind imported in the 12 months to the latest available date?

My attention has not previously been drawn to imported barometers being sold as British, but if the hon. Member would care to furnish me with particulars of any case where this is happening, I will certainly consider what action can be taken in the matter. Imported mercury-in-glass barometers are required to bear an indication of origin under the Merchandise Marks (Imported Goods) No. 5 Order, 1929, relating to scientific glassware. Aneroid barometers are not covered by this or any other Order made under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, but it is open to the manufacturers of this class of goods to make application to the Board of Trade for such an Order.I regret that the information asked for in the last part of the question is not available, as imports of barometers are not separately recorded in the United Kingdom trade returns.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what is the extent of the credits to China which have actually, under the recent Export Credits Act, been paid over at the present time?

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he will state the amount of export credits given to the Chinese Government since the 1st January, 1939; and to what extent the Chinese Government have availed themselves of such credits?

I would refer to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade to a somewhat similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for Stour-bridge (Mr. R. Morgan) on the 6th March.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of hairdressers registered at the Holloway Road Employment Exchange and how many of such persons are aliens; and whether he is satisfied that aliens, with or without permits, are not displacing British labour?

At 6th July, 1939, there were seven men and six women registered at the Holloway Employment Exchange as applicants for work as hairdressers. None of these was an alien. It is not the practice to give permission to aliens to take employment which would lead to the displacement of British labour. No permits for hairdressers have been issued so far this year.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the principles to be applied in deciding whether a lump-sum payment made by the Unemployment Assistance Board in relation to a specific need is or is not of a kind which the applicant might reasonably be expected to provide for out of his normal income and which, therefore, the Unemployment Assistance Board can ask the applicant to repay by deductions made from his subsequent weekly allowances under Clause IV 2 of the statutory Regulations?

The circumstances of different cases vary so widely that it is not possible to give any precise definition of the principles governing the selection of cases to which the procedure referred to by the hon. Member may be applied. Usually, however, they are cases in which the applicant, having been given a grant in the past, has been put in a position in which he can reasonably be expected to make provision for himself thereafter but has not in fact done so.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of persons in the Maesteg, Ogmore Vale, Pontycymmer, Aberkenfig, and Bridgend exchange areas who have been deprived of benefits or assistance on attaining the age of 65 years for 1932, and each year to date?

I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the estimated number of men on the Employment Exchange covering the constituency of South Islington originally liable for Militia service, and the number becoming liable each month; and whether he will give particulars respecting the number registered, their classification, the number rejected, the number already serving in His Majesty's forces and in the Territorial Army, the number of applications to hardship courts and the postponements and rejection, and the number of conscientious objectors?

One thousand nine hundred and twenty-nine men have registered at the Holloway and King's Cross Employment Exchanges of whom 37 have been provisionally registered as conscientious objectors; 41 applications for postponement have been referred to the Military Training (Hardship) Committee of which 14 have been granted and 27 refused. Statistics are not available to answer the remaining parts of the question.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that unemployed militiamen who have been registered, have passed their medical examination, and have been posted by their respective Employment Exchange to their appropriate military unit have been informed that they will not be called up for their six months' service for some months; that they are unable to obtain employment in the meantime; and will he issue the necessary instructions that unemployed militiamen are to be called up for their training as soon as they have passed their medical examination?

The dates on which men are called up for training must depend upon the requirements of the Army. Subject to this, arrangements are in operation for unemployed men to be called up as early as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he proposes to increase the strength of the trade board inspectorate in order to ensure the adequate observance of the various directions for holidays with pay already issued by trade boards?

There has recently been an increase in the strength of the trade boards inspectorate and the hon. Member may rest assured that the measures necessary for ensuring observance of the determinations of the trade boards (which include directions for holidays with pay) arc under constant review.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what grounds it has been decided that it is not in the public interest to state which firms have contracts for guns, bearing in mind that the Air Ministry have already made public a list of firms who manufacture aircraft for the Air Ministry?

It is undesirable to disclose information which a potential enemy might use to our disadvantage unless the information is such as can be ascertained without difficulty from other sources.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a contract, No. Works 9298, for work at Lark-hill Barracks was let on the 22nd April, 1938, by his Department to Messrs. E. D. Winn, a firm which for the past two years has been known to be financially unsound; how it was that such an important contract came to be let to a firm on the verge of bankruptcy; what steps he proposes to take to guard against a repetition; whether he proposes to compensate in any way the sub-contractors who took on work in connection with this contract believing it to be in the public interest; and whether he will have a full investigation and public inquiry made into all the circumstances?

Inquiries as to the financial standing of Messrs. E. D. Winn and Company, Limited, had been made in the usual quarters. At the time the contract was let, the War Office had no reason to believe that the firm was financially unsound, and, in fact, it did not go into liquidation until some twelve months later. There is no proposal to compensate, from public funds, subcontractors who have suffered through the firm's failure.The circumstances have been fully investigated, and I am satisfied that no further inquiry is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is yet in a position to state the situation of the munitions factory to be established near Leeds; the total area of land to be occupied; the price of the land, and the number of persons it is estimated will be employed; and the nature of the work which will be carried out in such factory?

It is proposed to establish a new Royal Ordnance Factory near Leeds for gun manufacture. Negotiations for the purchase of a site of approximately 30 acres are in hand. The hon. Member will appreciate that it would be most undesirable to disclose the rest of the information for which he asks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that an order has been given by the chief secretary of the Palestinian Government to members of the Abyssinian community in Jerusalem to hand over to representatives of the Italian Government the Abyssinian Building the income from which is used for the maintenance of over 200 Abyssinian refugees; and whether he will take action to prevent such transfer?

No orders have been given by the Chief Secretary in this matter. But he informed the representative of the Ethiopian community that, in the view of His Majesty's Government, the Ethiopian Consulate building and its contents which were the property of the former Ethiopian State were now the property of the Italian Government which is recognised by His Majesty's Government as de jure Government of Ethiopia. No orders of any sort were given, but in view of the decision of the United Kingdom Court of Appeal in the case of the ex-Emperor versus Cable and Wireless, Limited, it was considered desirable to give the Ethiopian community in Jerusalem a friendly intimation of the position as viewed by His Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the so-called Ethiopian consulate in Jerusalem has been ordered to be handed over to the Italian Government; that this building is a block of flats, the rents of which constitute a trust for Ethiopian refugees and for the Ethiopian convent and that it is registered in the name of the late queen, daughter of Menelik; that if it comes under Italian control 1,000 refugees and 80 priests will be rendered destitute; and will he take steps to see that the ownership of this building remains in the hands of the Ethiopian trust?

:I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply which I am giving to-day to the hon. Member for Stafford (Mr. Thorneycroft).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what amount has been expended on development and research in the Colonies and Protectorates during the last five years?

:Expenditure by His Majesty's Government from the Colonial Development Fund on development and research in the Colonies and Protectorates during the five years to March, 1939, amounted to£2,589,648. In addition grants for similar purposes amounting to£366,000 approximately were made from the Vote for Colonial and Middle Eastern Services (Class II, Vote 8).As regards expenditure incurred by the Governments of the individual Colonies and Protectorates on research and development it would be very difficult to separate and abstract such expenditure from the financial returns, but this also involves considerable sums of money.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the article in the "Times" of 11th July on the Gold Coast, written by an official of his Department, was published with his permission; and whether this will be considered as a precedent in future?

The writer of the article is an official of the Gold Coast Government and not of the Colonial Office, and my permission for publication was not sought. Officers of the Colonial Service are allowed to publish in their own name matter relating to subjects of general interest, but permission is required before they may publish matter of a political or administrative nature.

l asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which Colonies have received grants in aid from the Imperial Exchequer during the last five years; and what was the aggregate amount?

Full details of these grants, showing the territories concerned and the amounts granted, are given in the Annual Estimates of the Vote for Colonial and Middle Eastern Services (Class II, Vote 5). I am having a statement made out, which I shall be glad to send my hon. Friend, giving the information for which he asks in a concise form.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the serious effect of low West African prices for raw products on Lancashire export trade in textiles, he can state whether any further steps are being taken to improve the raw produce market for the benefit of West African Natives?

The depressed state of the markets for certain West African raw products is engaging the close attention of the Governors of the Colonies concerned and of myself. My hon. Friend will appreciate, however, that the state of these markets depends ultimately on world conditions, over which I have no control.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will state the number of new cases of blindness by mustard-gas which have been accepted by his Department during the last three years; and the number of claims in respect of such disability which have been rejected?

Seventy-eight cases of impaired vision, including blindness, due to injury from mustard gas have been accepted (for pension) during the last three years; this figure includes 57 cases in which there has been a previous award for another disability or other effects of gas. No claims which have been established as resulting from mustard gas have been rejected.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can estimate what proportion of the money received as State subsidies by the agricultural industry has been passed on to the workers in the industry in the form of increased rates of wages?

I regret that the information available is insufficient to enable me to make the estimate desired by the hon. Member. I would point out, however, that during the past five years the average minimum rate of wages for adult male agricultural workers has increased by 4s. per week.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he cars state the number of workers employed in agriculture in Scotland, England, and Wales at the end of May, 1931, May, 1935, and May, 1939, respectively?

Following is the statement:

asked the Minister of Agriculture what action is in contemplation by the Government to bring the agricultural industry to its full productive capacity, in view of the possibility of a national shortage of foodstuffs?

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the statement made in reply to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. T. Williams) on 3rd May last. Since then considerable progress has been made with regard to the ploughing up of grassland and the acquisition of a reserve of tractors and other necessary agricultural machinery for which provision is made in the Agricultural Development Bill now before Parliament. Other provisions of that Bill are also calculated to improve the productive capacity of the agricultural industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture on what grounds the price of milk was increased from 6d. to 7d. per quart on the 1st July this year; and whether it is now the policy of the Milk Marketing Board to confine summer prices to the months of May and June?

Minimum retail prices are prescribed by the Milk Marketing Board in consultation with the Central Milk Distributive Committee, representing purchasers of milk by wholesale. The Government takes no part in the settlement of the prices. The increase referred to by the hon. Member relates only to milk retailed outside the south-eastern region in an urban district or borough having a population exceeding 25,000, and is in accordance with the schedule of minimum retail prices prescribed by the Milk Marketing Board for the contract year beginning on 1st October, 1938. I understand that the increase in the minimum retail price was consequential upon a corresponding increase in the prescribed wholesale price. As regards the last part of the question the hon. Member will appreciate that, although in the districts I have mentioned the lower price operates only in May and June, in districts with a population between 10,000 and 25,000 the minimum price is 6d. from 1st April to 31st August and in districts with a population under 10,000 and in rural districts the lower price is in operation from 1st February to 30th September and also applied to October, 1938.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what Treasury payments have been made to cattle owners for the purpose of eradicating tuberculosis under Part 4 of the Agriculture Act, 1937?

In the 15 months since 1st April, 1938, when Part IV of the Agriculture Act, 1937, came into operation, payments to cattle owners under the Tuberculosis (Attested Herds) Scheme for the purpose of eradicating tuberculosis amounted to approximately£380,500 made up as follows: assistance towards the cost of tuberculin tests,£62,500; milk bonus at the rate of 1d. per gallon, including an estimate in respect of payments of bonus by milk marketing boards for which no claim for recovery has yet been made,£280,000; and capitation bonus, at the rate of 10s. in respect of each animal in the herd, which was introduced as an alternative to milk bonus on 1st July, 1938, and is payable each half-year,£38,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that, since the approval of the Processed Milk Import Order, certain firms who have hitherto imported processed milk into this country have applied to the Milk Marketing Board to make milk supplies available to condenseries which they propose to establish in this country; and whether, as such supplies would divert milk from existing factories, he proposes to take action to discourage such developments?

The question of the supply of milk for manufacture, involving the grant of rebates from the wholesale prices, is a matter for the Milk Marketing Board and I have no power to intervene.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he can state, with respect to the 3,060 acres of land in Cumberland which have been acquired by the Defence Departments during the last three years, where in the county these acres are situate; what price was paid for them; and what was their rateable value previous to acquisition?

The acreage referred to in the question is sited in the following localities:

• Broughton Moor,
• Carlisle,
• Kirkbride,
• Silloth, and
• Longtown.

The purchase price of the land at Long-town is at present subject to arbitration. The price of the remaining land is£109,200.In answer to the last part of the question, I regret that I have no information on this matter.