asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that the problems relating to water supply and drainage have been adequately considered in connection with both summer and evacuation camps?

Yes, Sir. These matters are fully considered by the National Camps Corporation in consultation with my Department, and the layout plans for each camp are also referred to the appropriate local authorities for their observations. A piped water supply is regarded as essential, and drainage will be connected either to a main sewer or, where that is not possible, to a properly constructed independent sewage disposal unit.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will take steps to remove any difficulties now holding up the acquisition of land essential for the civil defence of Willesden?

I am aware of certain legal difficulties which have arisen in connection with a proposal by the Borough of Willesden to use for Civil Defence purposes a public park belonging to another local authority. Amendments introduced during the consideration of the Civil Defence Bill will, I hope, have removed those difficulties, and I am informed that the matter is now under consideration by the local authority to which the park belongs.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether approval can be given to local authorities, who consider it desirable to do so, to aggregate the payments for travelling expenses, which they are authorised to make to Civil Defence volunteers, to a fund from which light refreshments can, on suitable occasions, be provided for these volunteers?

I regret that I could not approve this proposal, which would be entirely contrary to the principle that any payments in respect of travelling must be limited to the repayment of expenditure actually incurred on travelling.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what steps are taken to bring to public notice for guidance and improvement of working conditions the results of collective training exercises and blackouts now being held in the country; and whether he can make any statement on the whole subject?

Wherever practicable, important exercises held by a local authority are attended by an officer of my Department. In addition, local authorities have been asked to bring to the notice of the Department any points arising out of such exercises which are likely to be of general interest. These will be circulated to other authorities from time to time for their guidance.

asked the Minister of Health what is the approximate population of the 3,161 parishes in England which are without a proper water supply; and what is the population of the no parishes in Leicestershire that are included in this total?

The approximate population of the 3,161 parishes referred to is 865,150, and the population of the no parishes in Leicestershire is 31,511.

asked the Secretary of Mines whether he will state the number of inspections made by His Majesty's inspectors last year and this year in Warwickshire, and the number of such inspections made during the afternoon and night shifts, respectively?

The number of inspections made by His Majesty's Inspectors (including the Electrical and Horse Inspectors) at mines in Warwickshire, under the Coal Mines Act, 1911, was 471 in 1938, of which 31 were made during the afternoon and 54 during the night shift; and 248 in the first six months of 1939, of which 18 were made during the afternoon and 41 during the night shift. In addition 163 quarry inspections were made in Warwickshire during 1938 and 119 during the first six months of 1939.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why, in connection with the post of assistant-botanist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, recruiting is not to the grade of botanists on a scale of £337 to £738 per annum, in view of the fact that this is the officially recognised recruiting grade for persons professing the qualifications required; and whether he will give an assurance that appointment will be made to this grade?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that advertisements have recently appeared inviting applicants for the post of assistant botanist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, at a commencing salary of £155 per annum; whether he is satisfied that such emoluments will attract properly-qualified botanists who are university graduates and have done research work for at least two years in systematic botany; and whether he will give particulars of scales of salaries paid to scientists in the employ of the Ministry at the Royal Botanic Gardens?

I am giving further consideration to the qualifications required for the post of Assistant Botanist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and, in the meantime, I am taking no further steps to fill the vacancy.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that the recent fatal fire in Queen Victoria Street, on non-factory premises of Messrs. Schenker, was caused primarily by an unprotected open lift-shaft, of a design which would not have complied with the Factories Act; and whether he will initiate legislation in communication with the Ministry of Health and the British Standards Institution, with a view to introducing minimum compulsory standards of security in the construction and maintenance of lifts and hoists for passengers and goods on non-factory and residential premises?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the facts mentioned by my hon. Friend, but he is advised that so far as concerns London the London Building Acts already contain powers enabling the County Council to deal with this class of case. As regards the last part of the Question I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to his Question on 13th July.

asked the Minister of Transport, how many houses there are in Stalybridge, Hyde, Dukinfield, and the Longdendale Valley not yet supplied with electric light and power?

I am informed that the number of houses not supplied in Stalybridge Borough is 2,435 (out of 7,245), in Hyde Borough 2,285 (out of 9,972), in Dukinfield Borough 1,590 (out of 5,727), in Longdendale Urban District 370 (out of 1,621), and in Tintwistle Rural District 243 (out of 399).

asked the Minister of Transport, whether a cheap and abundant supply of electricity is available to farmers living in the Longdendale Valley, Cheshire; and how many farms have and have not a supply?

I am informed that 23 farms in the valley have a supply of electricity and 26 farms have not. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the tariff at which supplies are given.

asked the Postmaster-General, whether he can now give the House the decision of the Government with regard to the establishment of television services for the provinces by the British Broadcasting Corporation?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to announce the Government's decision on this subject.