asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will submit a statement showing the amount and form of assistance given from Exchequer funds to the Bacon, Potato and Fish Boards?

A loan of £144,000, for initial working expenses, was made to the Bacon Marketing Board from the Agricultural Marketing Fund on 26th June, 1934, and was repaid with interest at 3½ per cent. on 30th January, 1935.No assistance from Exchequer funds has been given by my Department to the Potato Marketing Board or to a Fish Board.The Herring Industry Board have received the following amounts as grants-in-aid through the Scottish Office:(A) During the period 14th March, I935 to 31st March, 1938, under the Herring Industry Act, 1935:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the average number of agricultural workers employed in the industry for the past year; and the total wages received?

I regret that particulars are not available to enable me to furnish the desired information.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he anticipates that the provisions of the Agricultural Development Bill to provide cheap milk for young mothers and children will begin to operate?

I anticipate that a scheme for the provision of milk to local authorities at reduced prices for consumption by expectant and nursing mothers and children under the age of five in England and Wales will be submitted to me very shortly by the Milk Marketing Board under the Milk Acts, 1934 to 1938. When approval has been given to the scheme the initiative will then rest with local authorities, and I cannot at present say how soon it may be possible to bring the arrangements into operation in any given district.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can now make any statement with regard to the proposed new Poultry Bill in order to reassure those connected with the industry?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 19th July as to the programme of Parliamentary business.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give an assurance that every effort will be made to bring the Milk Products Marketing Scheme into force before the Summer Recess?

As my hon. and gallant Friend will be aware, a resolution for the approval of the draft Milk Products Marketing Scheme has been placed on the Order Paper in the hope that it may be possible for it to receive early consideration. My hon. and gallant Friend will, however, realise from the statement made on 19th July by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, that the congested state of the Parliamentary programme does not permit of any assurance being given that time will be available for the consideration of the Resolution before the Summer Recess.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that the wholesale and retail distributors of potatoes in this country are of the opinion that the proposed amendments to the Potato Marketing Scheme will result in the complete dislocation of the distribution of potatoes throughout the country and in preventing a regular supply at reasonable prices being available to consumers, he will arrange to leave these amendments over for further consideration until the autumn so that there may be the fullest opportunity for considering their effect and implications?

I see no reason to suppose that the effect of the draft amendments to the Potato Marketing Scheme would be to bring about the undesirable state of affairs that my hon. Friend has in mind. At the same time, as my hon. Friend will realise from the statement made on 19th July by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, pressure of business may prevent the draft amendments being considered by the House before the Summer Recess.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will state the number of firms in the county of Norfolk who are at present working under Government contracts; and the total value of orders thus placed?

To extract from the records of the Departments concerned the information required by my hon. Friend would involve an additional amount of work which must be recognised as undesirable under existing conditions of pressure.I would add that the extent to which the sub-contracting system is employed by many firms holding main Government contracts would render any such information, which would necessarily relate only to direct contracts, entirely unrepresentative of the actual position in a particular locality.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is proposed to billet civilian refugees in the village of East Stonham, Suffolk, in the event of war; and, if so, what will be the maximum number of additional persons billeted there?

It has been left to the local authority to distribute between the various villages in any local government area the number of evacuated persons allocated by my Department to the areas as a whole. In making this distribution the local authority will no doubt take into account the amount of available accommodation in each village revealed by the survey carried out early this year.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that it is intended to evacuate children from Faircross Special School, Barking, to suburbs of Lowestoft which were bombarded in the last War; and whether he will reconsider this decision and find safer and more suitable places to send them?

I am aware of the proposal referred to by the hon. Member. For the reason given in the reply to the hon. Member for Everton (Mr. Kirby) on 18th May, my right hon. Friend cannot rule out this borough as unsuitable for the reception of evacuated persons. We cannot escape from the fact that in this small and industrialised country absolute safety for the large numbers to be transferred is unattainable; the main consideration on which decisions must be based is whether the receiving areas do not offer a much better chance of safety than the districts in which the children now live.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what arrangements are being made for the supply of air-raid shelters to those householders not eligible to receive them free of charge?

I am anxious to make this position clear before the House rises; and I should be grateful if the hon. Member would be good enough to put his question down again one day next week, when I shall be in a position to make a definite statement.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Walsall Town Council have completed the acquisition of an area of land at Birchills for a new public works depot; if so, what was the exact area and what price was paid; to what purpose had the land previously been put; and what was the rateable value previous to acquisition?

The land, comprising 25 acres 3 roods 19 poles 29 square yards, has been acquired by the corporation for £5,000. At the time of purchase it was not in beneficial occupation and therefore not assessed to rates.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many retirement pension or superannuation schemes are now in existence financed either by joint contributions from employers and employés or by employers on their own account; whether he will give a classification of these schemes and include also the schemes applicable to civil servants, local government employés, and the employés of other public or public utility bodies; and whether he will give the number of employés covered for retirement pensions and the ages at which they qualify for pension under the different headings of his classification?

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it will be permissible in future for Income Tax payers to deduct from their Income Tax returns premiums paid to insurance companies and friendly societies in respect of sickness and disablement benefits?

The only provision for the allowance of relief from Income Tax in respect of the payment of premiums is that contained in Section 32 of the Income Tax Act, 1918, which relates to premiums paid in respect of insurance on life or a contract for a deferred annuity. It would not appear that the premiums referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend fall within the terms of that Section.

asked the Secretary for Mines what number of men in the Warwickshire coalfield were certified as suffering from silicosis during each of the years 1935 to date?

During the years 1935 to 1938 no coal miners in Warwickshire were certified under the Various Industries (Silicosis) Schemes. One case of disablement was certified during the period 1st January-10th June, 1939.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the average annual output of coal for each of the coalfields in the United Kingdom, with the average output per man employed, together with the average annual wage of the workers in each of the coalfields for the years 1913, 1920 and each year from 1928 to 1938, inclusive?

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 and also to place copies in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has received any information recently as to the construction of fortification works on either side of the Straits of Gibraltar and within 10 miles of that place; and whether the Governor of Gibraltar has made a report on the present situation?

This matter is the subject of continual attention, and we are in close touch with the Governor of Gibraltar in regard to it.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the fence belonging to Mr. Howard, of 97, Baddow Road, Chelmsford, Essex, which was smashed by an Army six-wheeler lorry on 2nd April, will be repaired?

Agreement has been reached with the owner of the property (Mr. Howard is the tenant) as to the cost of the necessary repairs, and the owner will, no doubt, make arrangements for the repairs to be effected at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the area of land acquired for training purposes at Park Hall camp, Oswestry; what price was paid for the acquisition of that land; and what was its rateable value before acquisition?

An area of 203 acres was acquired at a cost of £13,850. As the land was agricultural, the question of rates did not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is intended that militiamen shall be subjected to inoculation and/or vaccination; and whether they will be given the option of refusing without penalty?

Militiamen will not be compulsorily inoculated or vaccinated.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men of 20 years of age have so far been called up in Norfolk to serve in the Militia; and what is the anticipated total from the county during 1939?

433 men of 20 years of age have so far been called up in Norfolk for military training; the total to be called up in the county during 1939 is not available but 1,844 additional men remain liable, subject to fitness, to be called up before June 1940.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the copy of a resolution recently passed by the council of the Portsmouth and District Free Church Council urging the need for an increase in the number of Free Church chaplains in the Army; and whether he proposes to take any action to bring about the increase desired?

An increase in the establishment of Free Church chaplains has recently been effected.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements have been made to recompense commercial travellers paid on commission for loss of income when called up for a month's service with the Territorial Army?

A Territorial called up under the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces Act is given protection in regard to civil liabilities by the Orders in Council made under the Act, and he may be granted leave. In cases not adequately met in this way, application may be made for monetary assistance, and the claim would come before the Military Service (Special Allowances) Advisory Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the attitude and interest of his Department in the proposed causeway or viaduct at the Sound of Earshader and Bernera Island, Isle of Lewis?

No such proposal has yet been submitted to the Board of Trade, who are the managers of the Crown foreshore and bed which would be occupied by any such causeway, and are the Department in charge of the interests of navigation. Until plans are submitted to the Board, I am not in a position to make any statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will inquire if, under the terms of the Danish/ German non-aggression Pact of 31st May 1939, exports of foodstuffs from Denmark to the United Kingdom in time of war would be restricted?

The Protocol annexed to the Treaty stipulates that the continuance of the normal exchange and transit of goods between either of the contracting parties not taking part in a conflict and third powers will not be regarded as contrary to the Treaty.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now reconsider the question of providing the telephone for the people of the Island of Scarp, Harris, in view of the fact that many smaller communities have long been served by telephone elsewhere?

On present information I cannot add anything to my reply to the hon. Member on the 20th June, 1938, on this subject. If the hon. Member will give me some details as to the smaller communities to which he refers, I shall be glad to look into the matter further.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will make a statement regarding the request of the people of Aridhabruaigh, Isle of Lewis, for the provision of telephone facilities?

The Lewis District Council recently applied for the erection of a telephone call office kiosk at Aridhabruaigh. The anticipated takings would be very small and an offer was made to erect a kiosk on the standard condition applicable in all such cases, namely, that the district council would make a payment of £4 a year for five years. The district council has not yet replied to this offer.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will state the number of calls made to the speaking clock since its inception, the number of centres served, and the prospect of extending the facility to other parts of the whole country?

Approximately 54,000,000 calls have been made to the speaking clock since the inception of the TIM service on the 24th July, 1936. The total weekly number of calls now being made is about 545,000. The service is available to subscribers in London and Edinburgh and 10 large provincial centres. Arrangements are in hand to extend it to other centres.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has any statement to make concerning expenditure on propaganda by Nazi agents to provoke anti-British intrigue in India?

My noble Friend has no statement to make in regard to expenditure of this kind. The hon. and gallant Member will no doubt appreciate that it is not always practicable to make public detailed information which may come to hand on this subject. But I can assure him that the most careful watch is kept on foreign propaganda activities in India.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is in a position to make a statement with regard to the disturbance which took place in the Dhami State on 17th July?

Dhami is a small State close to Simla. I understand that on 16th July a deputation from the Himalaya Riyasati Praja Mandal went to the State in order to demand certain concessions from the Ruler. The Ruler issued an order prohibiting the entry into the State of the deputation's leader who is not a subject of the State. The leader defied this order and was arrested. A crowd of about 2,000 then collected and attacked a party of six State police guarding the road to the jail who were forced to fire two rounds each. One man was killed and about 40 were injured. I understand that the situation is now quiet.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India in view of the fact that large numbers of Indian labourers are to be repatriated from Ceylon, what measures are contemplated by the Government of India to safeguard the interests of Indian nationals in that country?

The Government of India have made representations to the Government of Ceylon and the matter is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men proceeded from Government instructional centres during the last complete year to semi-skilled employment; what trades this employment was found in; and how many of the trades gave trade union conditions?

During 1938, 2,580 men proceeded from Instructional Centres to employment. The men at these Centres undergo a reconditioning course and the great majority of those placed are labourers. It is not possible to say how many found semi-skilled employment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the standard of workshop training has now been so raised that applicants stand a reasonable chance of obtaining permanent occupations at standard rates of pay and under normal trade union conditions?

The object aimed at is to give unemployed men and women a training which will afford them a new opportunity of obtaining employment under normal conditions. The standard of training during the limited period allowed is high and I should be very glad to arrange for the hon. Member to see the character of the training given at the centres and to form his own view about it.

asked the Minister of Labour what nature of general education is given to applicants at Government instructional centres, and by whom; and how many teachers holding teachers' certificates are employed at the 25 instructional centres functioning during 1938?

The education given at Instructional Centres is of the most elementary and practical nature and is designed to stimulate the men's general interest and intelligence. The post of Education and Welfare Officer at the centres has a dual function and the holder therefore needs the necessary qualities for recreation and welfare work. Three of these officers holding teaching certificates, eight are University graduates and five have passed Intermediate University examinations.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any new establishments have been set up in the Parliamentary Division of Stalybridge and Hyde since 1932; and what reduction in unemployment has been effected over this period?

Since 1932 five new establishments employing 25 or more workpeople have been set up in Hyde, seven in Stalybridge and two in Dukinfield. Over the same period the numbers of insured workers registered as unemployed at the Hyde and Stalybridge Employment Exchanges have fallen from 9,256 to 3,712 and while it is not possible to ascertain the numbers placed in the new establishments, these establishments have no doubt contributed to the improvement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies by what ordinance is labour on the Cameroons plantations and in the timber concessions of Nigeria governed and what are the chief points in the ordinance for the protection of native labour?

The Nigerian Labour Code applies both to the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria and to the Cameroons under British Mandate. Among the subjects covered by the Code are the formation and interpretation of contracts, minimum wages, the regulation and control of recruiting of native labour for foreign service, employment of women, children and young persons, apprenticeship contracts, breach of contract and disputes between employers and employed.As this Ordinance is too long to summarise I am sending the hon. Member a copy for his information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent has enlisted labour been used in Nigeria during the past 12 months; on what work has such labour been engaged; and what were the hours worked and wages paid?

According to the latest information available at the Colonial Office all labour in Nigeria is voluntary and no special recruiting is necessary. I am ascertaining from the Governor whether there has been any change in the position.

asked the Secretary of State or the Colonies whether he will state the number of Europeans and natives, respectively, employed in the timber concessions in Nigeria; how is the native labour recruited; what are the rates of wages paid in money and in kind, respectively; when are the wages paid to the labourers; and whether it is the practice for the contractor to withhold wages over a period of months, and meanwhile to advance money for the purchase of food and other necessities?

I am requesting the Governor of Nigeria to supply the information asked for by the hon. Member in the first, third and fourth parts of the question, and I will communicate with him when I have received the Governor's reply.With regard to the concluding part, the regulations made under the Nigerian Labour Code prescribe that wages payable under a contract of service, not being a contract to perform some specific work without reference to time or a contract under which wages are payable for piece work, shall be payable at a daily, weekly or monthly rate, and that, in the absence of any written agreement to the contrary, such payment shall be made not later than eight days after they become due at such intervals not being longer than one month as may be agreed between the employer and the servant. The second part of the question is dealt with in my reply to the hon. Member's Question No. 16, regarding the recruitment of native labour.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in what industries in Nigeria is Ordinance No. 17, of 1932, of the Labour Ordinances operated; and what were the minimum rates of wages fixed?

The Government of Nigeria have not so far found it necessary to exercise the powers for fixing minimum rates of wages conferred by the Labour Code in which Ordinance No. 17 of 1932 has been incorporated. A permanent Labour Board has been set up in Lagos which, though it only deals with the rates of pay of Government employés, has a marked effect on the minimum wage figure offered by outside employers, as Government is the largest employer of labour. Steps have also been taken to establish similar boards in every province. The question of fixing a minimum wage for certain classes of labour other than Government employés is, however, at present under consideration by the Government of Nigeria.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what trade unions have been formed as a result of the passing of the Trade Union Ordinance of 1938?

The Nigeria Trade Union Ordinance, 1938, was brought into effect on 1st April, 1939. Two organisations of railway workers and three of motor transport workers have applied for registration as trade unions. These applications are now under consideration.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will state the number of persons engaged on the north and south sites, respectively, of the Bridgend Royal Arsenal; and the percentage of local labour employed?

The number of men employed on the north site at Bridgend is 1,010 and on the south site 3,740; 77 per cent. of the former and 80 per cent. of the latter were recruited from residents within approximately 20 miles of the site.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the substitution of the phrase father or legal guardian, for the phrase parent or guardian, on passport application forms for minors, is contrary to the spirit of the Guardianship of Infants Act, and is an unnecessary and undesirable change; and will he have the matter rectified immediately?

No, Sir. As I informed the hon. Member for the English Universities (Miss Rathbone) on the 28th June, no instances have been brought to the notice of my Noble Friend of serious inconvenience having been caused by the operation of this requirement. If in any case there are difficulties in the way of obtaining the father's consent and the circumstances are explained to the Passport Office, the matter can always be arranged and no amendment of the instructions seems to be called for.

asked the Minister of Supply whether his attention has been called to the reports that posts are being filled by pensioned ex-policemen instead of by unpensioned ex-service men or unemployed men; and whether he will see that the posts of messengers in his new Department are allocated to unpensioned ex-service men or unemployed men, rather than to pensioned ex-policemen or other pensioned men if their abilities are equivalent and whose need is greater?

With regard to the first part of the question, the answer is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for the Deritend Division of Birmingham (Sir J. Smedley Crooke) of the 20th July.