asked the Postmaster-General whether he will take steps to remedy the considerable inconvenience that has been caused by the curtailed number of clearances of letterboxes in the rural districts of the island of Guernsey since the beginning of the air service; and whether he is aware that many of the growers of tomatoes, etc., work till 8 p.m., and that a single clearance per day between 7 and 8 p.m. is too early and causes a lapse of approximately 36 hours before correspondence is delivered in the rural areas of the island and in other Channel Islands?

I have received reports on the subject of the recent alterations, and in view of the representations from growers and others on the island I am arranging for the present collections to be replaced by clearances at 10.30 p.m. or later.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will consider attaching to the outsides of the most-used telephone boxes in the House of Commons small well-lighted desks with the appropriate telephone directories, so that Members may, while waiting, look up the numbers they require?

There is already an attendant on duty, with copies of the telephone directories and a shelf at which they may be consulted, outside the principal telephone boxes near the head of the Members' Entrance stairs. If my hon. Friend will let me know where else he suggests that desks should be provided, I will see whether anything can be done.

asked the Prime Minister whether, since the offer on the 15th April of the President of the United States to initiate discussions for improving international trade proved in acceptable to the rulers of Germany and Italy after their refusal to promise not to attack their neighbours, he will suggest to the United States Government the summoning of a conference to promote the economic ends suggested in the President's message, in which all nations willing to give adequate guarantees of non-aggression may participate for their mutual benefit and prosperity; and whether for this purpose he will propose the immediate formation of a joint Anglo-American committee for preparing the nature and framework of such a conference?

If His Majesty's Government see any useful opportunity of taking the initiative in the sense desired by my hon. Friend they will do so. Meanwhile their attitude in this matter is well known to other Governments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (I) how many women are in receipt of pensions under Government

The information requested in these four questions is given in the following table, which relates to Great Britain:persons as well as the amounts paid by the insured persons themselves.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average annual cost of contributory pensions over the last five years?

The annual cost of pensions paid in Great Britain under and by virtue of the Contributory Pensions Act was approximately £66,400,000 for the year 1934–35. This has increased to £79,900,000 for the year 1938-39. The average annual cost for the five years 1934–39 was £73,200,000. These figures include the costs of administration which were on the average 3 per cent. of the whole.

asked the Minister of Health what proportion of the contribution made by employers, workers, and the State, respectively, towards National Health Insurance is utilised or required to meet the annual incidence of contributory pensions?

None, Sir. The finances of the National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions Schemes are entirely distinct. For convenience of administration the weekly contribution payable by employed persons and their employers is a joint one covering both schemes. The contribution is 8d. for men and is. 2d. for women. Of these amounts IId. in the case of men and 5½d. in the case of women are in respect of contributory pensions, and the balance in respect of National Health Insurance. The Exchequer contribution to the cost of contributory pensions under the Contributory Pensions Act of 1936 is this year £18,000,000.

asked the Paymaster-General, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he will reconsider his intention to appoint a practitioner in the Irish Free State as chairman of the Dental Board of the United Kingdom, in view of the fact that of 14,722 dentists on the British register only 160 practice in the Irish Free State?

No, Sir. As my hon. Friend is aware, Mr. E. L. Sheridan has accepted the Lord President's invitation to succeed the late Sir Francis Acland as chairman of the Dental Board of the United Kingdom. Mr. Sheridan, who has been a member of that board for many years, was last re-elected by qualified dentists practising in Ireland, which expression under the Dentists Acts means the whole of Ireland inclusive of Northern Ireland. At the date of Mr. Sheridan's election, the numbers of qualified dentists on the United Kingdom register practising in Eire and in Northern Ireland were approximately 161 and 285 respectively. I may add that Mr. Sheridan's election was unopposed.

asked the Paymaster-General, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether, inasmuch as the Irish Free State has its own Dental Board, he will reconsider his decision and nominate a British practitioner for the vacant chairmanship of the Dental Board of the United Kingdom?

No, Sir. The existence of a dental board in Eire does not seem to the Lord President to be relevant to the question of the appointment of the chairman of the Dental Board of the United Kingdom, one of the members of which, as I would remind my hon. Friend, must, under the provisions of the Dentists Acts, be elected by qualified dentists practising in Ireland.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can undertake that this House will not be adjourned for the summer holidays before the Moscow negotiations are complete?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will state the total amount paid out in disability pensions to ex-service men, and allowances to dependants, during the past three financial years?

The total amount paid during the past three financial years in disability pensions, and pensions to widows and dependants in respect of casualties among non-commissioned ranks of the Great War was £102,955,738.

asked the Prime Minister whether he expects that the terms of the treaty of mutual assistance with Poland will be decided before the House rises and, if not, when?

My Noble Friend is awaiting the reply of the Polish Government and I cannot yet say when the negotiations will be concluded?

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make any statement as to the determination of the Slovak-Polish frontier; and whether he has any information as to recent movements of German troops in Slovakia?

The Polish-Slovak frontier was settled by a Polish-Slovak Frontier Delimitation Commission which signed a number of protocols at the end of November last year. I have seen a report in the Press that the Frontier Commission will meet again within the next few days in Bratislava but my Noble Friend has no official confirmation.I have no statement to make in reply to the second part of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the total number of empty or derelict factories in Gloucestershire?

I regret that the desired information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the reasons for the fall of British purchases of Greek tobacco from about 1,900,000 kilos in 1919, to an average of about 250,000 kilos in recent years to as low a level as 45,400 kilos in 1936; whether he is aware that the average German purchase of tobacco from Greece is now over 2,000,000 kilos; whether any steps are being taken to increase the quantity bought for British use, in view of the great importance of this Greek export in the economic relations between this country and Greece?

The year 1919, like 1915, was a' wholly exceptional year as regards United Kingdom imports of tobacco from Greece, and in general a survey of the figures relating to imports for the last 30 years shows remarkable fluctuations. German imports of Greek tobacco have for many years been heavier than our own. The question of increased purchases is, as my right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, West (Sir J. Leech) on nth July, under consideration and I am not yet in a position to make any statement.

asked the Minister of Health whether the programmes of capital expenditure prepared for submission to the Ministry by local authorities in response to Circular No. 1687 have now been sent in; and if so, whether he will consider publication?

Returns showing the provisional programmes of capital expenditure have now beep received from 1,816 local authorities. My right hon. Friend is proposing to include observations on this matter, together with statistical information, in the forthcoming annual report of the Ministry.

Davies asked the Minister of Health whether he will state for the years 1928 to 1938, inclusive, the amount of the rateable value for England and Wales provided by dwelling-houses and all other hereditaments, respectively?

I regret that the statistics obtained by my Department do not distinguish the rateable values of dwelling-houses. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the White Paper for 1938–39 on Rates and Rateable Values, which includes figures of the total rateable values for the years mentioned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the total acreage of pastureland in Norfolk which has been passed as qualifying for the £2 per acre grant for re-ploughing to date?

Up to and including 15th July notifications of intention to plough up grassland have been received in respect of 8,021 acres in Norfolk. None of this acreage can be accepted as qualifying for the grant until the land has been ploughed up and the other essential conditions of eligibility for the grant have been satisfied.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the total acreage of land in Wales lying under bracken and poor grasslands, respectively; and whether he is considering taking measures such as those advocated by Professor Stapledon to recover the full use of this land?

I regret that particulars are not available of the acreage of land under bracken and poor grassland but the area of rough grazing land in Wales in 1938 is estimated at approximately 1,812,000 acres. As regards the second part of the question I would remind the hon. Member that poor grassland of potential value for arable cropping can rank for the Government grant of £2 per acre under the proposals contained in the Agricultural Development Bill, provided the conditions attaching to the grant are complied with. I would also add that the results of Sir George Stapledon's work are communicated to farmers through the educational and advisory services aided by the Ministry and through the publications of the Ministry and of other bodies.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Government factories have been set up in the Barnard Castle division since 1934; the location of such factories; and the number of adults and non-adults, respectively, employed in the factories at the present time?

I have been asked to reply. I do not consider it desirable to add to the present heavy burden of the Departments concerned the work involved in obtaining the information for which the hon. Member asks.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can report the result of dental examinations of Militia recruits under the Military Training Act, 1939?

The detailed examination of the teeth is carried out by an Army dental officer after the man has joined his unit. I am accordingly not in a position to give the report asked for.

asked the Minister of Labour what number, if any, of tip-heaps in the distressed areas of South Wales have been removed for the purposes of improving the local amenities; how many have been removed for the purpose of erecting new industries; and will he take steps to remove the tip under the Glyn-corrwg Urban District Council, which is a nuisance and a menace to the Glyn corrwg village, who are deprived of a playing field by the existence of the tip?

The Commissioner for the Special Areas has examined very carefully the best method of dealing with tip-heaps in certain districts in South Wales and, having regard to practical and financial considerations, has made it known to local authorities that he is prepared to entertain applications for planting heaps with trees or shrubs with a view to the improvement of local amenities. The Commissioner has also assisted a number of voluntary amenity schemes which have included levelling on a small scale and the provision of football fields and playgrounds.In the case of the tip-heap referred to by the hon. Member, the Commissioner is not satisfied that expenditure on levelling would be justified.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that experience in Leicestershire has shown that smaller horse-power motor cars, and more especially those of eight horse-power, are not sufficiently large to carry 'first-aid parties; and whether, since in many villages the motor cars are all small, he will consider evolving some system of horse-power rebate acceptable to the Treasury to induce at least one motor car owner per village to keep a higher powered motor car so as to ensure the transport to central hospitals of victims of enemy air attack?

I have not previously received any representations from Leicestershire on this matter. In the air-raid precautions schemes for rural areas it is not considered necessary to provide every village with its own first-aid party and ambulance: the normal arrangement is that the depots of the parties and of the ambulances are located at populous and convenient centres, usually country towns, from which they can proceed to the villages in the neighbouring district when the need arises. For arrangements of this kind it is not essential to find large vehicles in villages.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the results and the certificates obtained in the educational and seamanship examinations by the 42 lower-deck candidates for commissions who have taken the special course for sub-lieutenant; the number of candidates recommended by the final selection board; and the number of commissions to be awarded this year?

Forty-one candidates completed the special course—one rating was discharged during the course as unsuitable.The educational examination was taken by 29 of these candidates, 12 having already passed educationally under the old regulations. In accordance with the revised regulations no classes were given and no "pass" standard laid down, but the marks obtained were available for the information of the final selection board.Forty candidates took the seamanship examination, one having already obtained a first class certificate under the old regulations:3 obtained 1st class certificates.26 obtained 2nd class certificates.8 obtained 3rd class certificates.3 failed.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that no women have yet been appointed as recorders or stipendiary magistrates, although women with the necessary statutory qualifications have been available for over 10 years, he will implement his undertaking to select the candidate who appears to possess the best qualifications, irrespective of the sex of the candidate?

I have every intention of implementing my undertaking when I am satisfied that a woman candidate possesses the best qualifications.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will provide a list of the compulsory acquisitions of land for public purposes made in Glamorgan with the authority of his Department during the years 1934, 193.5, 1936, 1937, and 1938, together with the area concerned and the price paid in each instance, and, where known, the values as assessed for Schedule A previous to purchase; will he also state the price per acre paid for land acquired by negotiation, the number of acres, and where situated?

I am having inquiries made and will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many horses exported during the first five months of 1939 were British Army horses no longer required for Army service?

I regret that the desired information is not available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that in future maintenance allowances to necessitous children attending an intermediate, selective central, school will only rank for Government grant if children have reached the age of 15 years before the beginning of the term in which the allowance becomes payable; and whether, in view of the great hardship this will entail, he will reconsider the matter with a view to continuing the present arrangement under which Government grant is payable in such circumstances in respect of pupils who have reached the age of 14 years at the commencement of the term for which the allowance becomes payable?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The question of the payment of maintenance allowances to children while still under the obligation to attend school was decided by this House in the negative, after a full Debate on 12th February, 1936, and my Noble Friend sees no reason for reconsidering the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether the education committees have all completed their lists of industries which are regarded as non-beneficial for the purposes of school exemption; and whether he can give a list of such industries?

I have little information on this matter beyond what has appeared in the public Press. I would remind the hon. Member that each application for an employment certificate must be considered on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what has been the price per acre his Department has paid for land in Glamorgan; what is the price paid by negotiation with landowners; and if compulsory acquisition has been resorted to what was the price paid for the years 1935 to latest available date and the amount of land acquired?

Two sites have been acquired by my Department in Glamorgan and both were taken under compulsory powers. In one case 895 acres were required and terms were settled by negotiation for 886½acres. The average cost, including tenant right compensation for immediate possession, the acquisition of certain buildings, and fees, was £65 per acre. It has not been possible to agree terms for the remaining 8½ acres, and the matter is being referred to arbitration.In the other case terms have been agreed with the owners and possession has been obtained of an area of 239 acres. Certain negotiations have, however, yet to be completed with tenants. It is estimated that the cost will be approximately £70 per acre.