asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the number of mines that were at work in the coal-producing counties of England and Wales for the years 1924 and 1938, respectively; and the number of miners employed in each county during the same period?

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the amount per week charged to the men for the maintenance

asked the Secretary for Mines what steps either he or the National Welfare Commission have taken to seek to have a uniform charge of not more than 6d. per week charged to the miner for the maintenance of pithead baths?

The Miners' Welfare Committee, when offering to provide baths, make it a condition that the colliery owners shall make arrangements with the workmen for meeting the maintenance costs, and in every case the committee ask the colliery owners to co-operate with them to secure wherever possible that the men's subscription shall not exceed 6d. a week. I would remind the hon. Member that the Miners' Welfare Committee has no statutory power as regards the of baths, giving the districts and the actual cost to the miners in each district?

Following is the information: costs of maintenance of pithead baths, and the details of these arrangements are a matter for agreement between the employers and the employed.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many mines were equipped with pithead baths up to the end of June, 1939; the districts covered; and the number of men and boys provided for in these baths?

287 pithead baths with accommodation for 361,732 men and boys and 750 women had been completed up to the end of last month. They are distributed equitably amongst all the coalfield districts, as shown in the published List of Pithead Baths (1939 edition) a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary for Mines what was the number of miners between the ages of 16 and 18, and below the age of 16, employed in Yorkshire during each of the last three years?

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary for Mines what was the number of wage-earners on colliery books in Yorkshire at the latest date for which figures are available; and how this compares with the figure for the previous year?

On 15th July, 1939, the number of wage-earners on colliery books in Yorkshire was 141,400, as compared with 141,100 on the corresponding date in 1938.

asked the Secretary for Mines what was the average weekly wage of workmen employed in the coalmines in the West Riding of Yorkshire during each of the last three years?

Following is the available information:

asked the Secretary for Mines whether it is intended to include in the new safety in mines legislation, which is now in preparation, a provision to raise the age of the entry to mines of boys; and, if so, can he state what age he proposes to fix?

I am not yet in a position to say what provision on this point will be included in forthcoming legislation.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make inquiries concerning the destination of the steamship "Dora" which has left Flushing tinder the Panama flag with Jewish refugees on board?

My Noble Friend is making inquiries.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will approach the German Government to make it clear to them that it is in the interests of civilisation and mutual understanding that exchanges of legitimate information and ideas should be encouraged with a view to securing facilities for wider exchanges of such a character as the news-letters whose publication in Germany has recently been brought to his notice; and whether he is aware of the circulation of similar communications sent from Germany to this country?

The attitude of the German Government towards the circulation of foreign news-letters and similar communications, as indicated in recent statements, leads my Noble Friend to consider that no useful purpose would be served by any approach on the lines suggested. His Majesty's Government are well aware of the circulation which similar communications from German sources are. receiving in this country.

asked the Prime Minister whether member States concerned with the Permanent Mandates Commission were officially notified of the negotiations between the Turkish and French Governments that have led up to the transfer to Turkey of the Sanjak of Alexandretta from the administration of France, under the terms of the mandate for Syria; whether, before a mandatory territory can be transferred it is necessary to obtain the consent of all member States concerned; and whether any notification has been received from the Italian Government on this matter?

My hon. Friend will appreciate that the recent developments regarding Alexandretta are the concern of the League of Nations as a whole, and not that of individual States which are members of the League.His Majesty's Government have received officially a copy of the note which the Italian Government addressed to the French Government on 10th July and published in the Press on 12th July.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the income from dividends and interest on overseas investments for the years 1929, 1934 and 1938?

As estimated by Sir Robert Kindersley, the receipts by United Kingdom residents from investments outside the British Isles amounted in 1929 to £231,000,000, and in 1934 to £159,000,000. The corresponding figure for 1938 is not yet available, but that for 1937 is £198,000,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has acceded to the request of the statutory percentage of shareholders in the Great Boulder Proprietary Gold Mines, Limited, for the appointment of an inspector to investigate the affairs of this company: and whether he is appointing an inspector to inquire into the affairs of the other companies in the Bernales group?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative. I have appointed Sir William McLintock of Messrs. Thomson, McLintock and Company, to act as inspector under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 1929, in the case of all the companies in question.

; asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consult with the Dominions concerned with a view to taking steps to protect the interests of the wheat producers in both Canada and Australia, since the milling combines are able to purchase American, Kansas, wheat, duty free and with the subsidy off, at a rate 5s., approximately, per quarter cheaper than the Canadian, Manitoban?

I see no present necessity for such consultation. The two wheats to which my hon. Friend refers are not comparable in quality and Manitoba wheat normally secures a higher price than Kansas wheat.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any information concerning the recent agreement between France and Japan relating to the problem of Franco-Japanese trade?

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind an Agreement signed on 26th June. The Agreement has not been published, so far as I am aware; but I understand that it is intended to ensure the proper working of the Exchange of Notes which took place last year. These Notes contained provisions relating to quota restrictions on imports from Japan into France on the one hand, and to the issue of import licences and exchange permits in respect of imports from France into Japan on the other hand.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the imports of bacon and ham for the years 1938 and 1931; and what was the British home-output of these products for the same years?

During the year 1938, imports of bacon and hams (other than tinned, canned, etc.) into the United Kingdom amounted in the aggregate to 7,533,000 cwt., the corresponding figure for 1931 being 11,965,000 cwt. The estimated production of bacon and hams, including cured and salted pork other than offals, by registered curers in the United Kingdom during 1938 was 3,236,000 cwt. Comparable particulars for 1931 are not available, but the output of bacon and hams during 1930, as returned in connection with the Census of Production for that year by firms employing more than 10 persons on the average, was 1,646,000 cwt.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, what duty has to be paid on semi-manufactured silk and artificial silk hose and half-hose imported into this country; and what ratio such duty bears to the duty on imported fully-manufactured silk and artificial silk hose and half-hose which are imported?

The expression "semi-manufactured silk and artificial silk hose and half-hose" does not appear in the Customs Tariff. If by it are meant silk and artificial silk stockings and socks which require only minor operations in order to complete them, the rates of duty are the same as for the completed articles, namely, in the case of silk articles 43⅓ per cent, ad valorem or 12s. the lb., whichever is the greater, subject to a maximum of 10s. per dozen pairs, and in the case of artificial silk articles 43⅓per cent, ad valorem or 5s. the 1b. In the case of goods entitled to preference lower rates of duty apply.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will submit a statement showing the total amount and form of assistance given to shipping from Exchequer funds under legislation, in operation or contemplated, for the years 1931-32 and 1938-39?

No such assistance was given in the financial years 1931 or 1932. In 1938 and 1939, there has been to date issued to the Cunard White Star, Limited, under the North Atlantic Shipping Act, 1934, sums amounting to £3,102,455 as repayable advances. Assistance to shipping from Exchequer funds is, of course, contemplated under the British Shipping (Assistance) Bill now before Parliament, but it is not possible to estimate what amounts will be paid during the present financial year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the issue of a badge to ex-officers of the Merchant Navy Reserve who have volunteered for service in the event of war?

This matter has already been under consideration and I hope that the issue of a badge to those officers and men who have joined the Merchant Navy Reserve will begin in about three weeks' time.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered representations from the East Plumstead Residents Association in regard to subsidence in the Woolwich and Bexley areas; whether he can grant the request for a public inquiry; and, if so, indicate when it is likely to be opened?

My right hon. Friend has given careful consideration to the representations from the East Plumstead Residents Association in regard to the subsidences in the Woolwich and Bexley areas, and in particular to their request that he should institute a public inquiry. My right hon. Friend has reached the conclusion, however, that the matter is not one in which a public inquiry could serve any useful purpose and he has informed the association accordingly.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give the names of the boroughs which are not divided into wards for the purpose of local elections?

The Home Office records show that there are 73 such boroughs. I am sending the hon. Member a list of the names of these boroughs.

asked the Minister of Health how many men were in receipt of contributory pensions in Great Britain on the 30th June, 1939; and to how many of these contributory pensions were awarded during the year 1939?

The number of men in receipt of contributory pensions in Great Britain on the 30th June, 1939, was approximately 1,132,100. The number of contributory pensions awarded to men during the half-year which ended on that date was approximately 66,000.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that many magistrates' courts are disregarding the discretionary power given them by Parliament in relation to the endorsement of licences for technical motoring offences, such as exceeding the speed limit, and are making endorsement automatic, even in cases where there has never before been an offence during many years of driving; also that some of these courts appear to misinterpret the law by assuming that endorsement must take place in every case; and whether he will consider drawing the attention of all courts to their discretionary power in this matter and the advisability of using it?

As regards certain offences under the Road Traffic Acts, including the offence of exceeding the speed limit, it is the clear intention of Parliament that endorsement of the offender's licence shall be the normal consequence of conviction. In such cases the Act directs that particulars of the conviction shall be endorsed on the licence unless for any special reason the court thinks fit to order otherwise. As regards offences for which the Act gives no such direction, my right hon. Friend knows of no ground for the suggestion that courts fail to exercise the discretion given to them by the Act. The information published in Table I of the Offences relating to Motor Vehicles appears to negative such a suggestion.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many disabled ex-service men have received treatment by the Ministry of Pensions during the last 12 months; and of these how many received special full treatment allowances, as laid down in Article 6 of the Royal Warrant?

The number of disabled ex-service men who received treatment at one time or another in the course of the 12 months ended 30th June, 1939, was 13,013, including 5,635 cases in mental hospitals. The records of my Department do not enable me to give the precise information asked for in the latter part of the question, but it may be taken that in the great majority of cases full treatment allowances were payable.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he has any information as to the establishment of the new naval bases on the coast of Spain, three in the North and two between Seville and Malaga; and whether these establishments, together with those in the Canary Islands and the Azores, are available for use by His Majesty's ships in the same way that existing Spanish naval ports are used?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second part, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether naval ratings in submarines are employed only in those vessels attached to their own home ports or in vessels belonging to a home port other than their own; and, if the latter, what is the approximate number of ratings employed in submarines attached to other home ports than their own?

Submarines are not allocated to port divisions for manning purposes. Ratings from all port divisions who volunteer for or are allocated to the submarine branch undergo their training at the headquarters of that branch at Portsmouth. The crew of a submarine on service may consist of ratings of all three port divisions but on home service men who so desire are drafted to submarines based on the port to which they are attached so far as practicable.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether arrangements can be made to recommend would-be recruits for the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, for whom there are no vacancies, to join particular units in other Services which are not up to strength?

Such men are encouraged to consult the local office of the Ministry of Labour concerning the possibility of other National Service for which they might enrol. It would be undesirable that the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve authorities should attempt to recommend particular units.

asked the Minister of Transport whether there is any growing practice amongst trading firms to utilise vehicles having C licences for the movement of traffic in bulk loads over considerable distances and to make return journeys unladen; and whether he will consider the introduction of legislation to confer powers upon licensing authorities to attach further conditions?

The licensing authorities have not called my attention to any increase in the practice to which my hon. and learned Friend refers, and, in the circumstances, I do not think that any action on my part is necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the respective numbers of authorised C or limited carriers' licences on the 30th September, 1938, and on 30th June, 1938, and the numbers of A licences authorised on each of those dates?

No figures are available for the 30th September, 1938. The figures at the 30th June, 1938, were:

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is proposed to take advantage of the large surplus in the Unemployment Insurance Fund to improve benefits, especially for dependent children?

The total balance of the Unemployment Fund is now about £50,000,000, but in view of the necessity for keeping large reserves this cannot properly be described as a surplus. It will be for the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee to decide whether there is a disposable surplus when they next consider the financial condition of the fund and to make recommendations for the application of any such surplus as they may declare.

asked the Minister of Labour when it is proposed to raise the income limit to bring all those earning up to £500 a year inside the Unemployment Insurance Scheme?

There is nothing I can add at present to my previous replies on this subject.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a strike has been proceeding for the last few weeks in the Torridge Vale Dairy, Torrington, Devon; that thousands of gallons of milk are being wasted each day as a consequence; and whether the officers of his Department are taking any steps to bring the parties together?

My officers have been in touch with the parties throughout the dispute but no settlement appears possible at the moment. The good offices of my Department remain available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the number of young men who were in employment in coalmines who have been called up for military training at the Employment Exchanges of Blaenavon, Pontypool, and Pontnewydd; and the total number called up who were registered at those Employment Exchanges?

The answer to the first part of the question is 3, 8 and nil, respectively, and to the second part, 9, 28 and 10, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has yet received any report from the licensing authority?

No, Sir. The licensing authority is required to make an annual report on the exercise of its functions. The authority will not have completed a year's work until September next.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is in a position to make any statement regarding the proposed London airport committee?

Yes, Sir. A London Civil Airports Joint Committee has now been appointed representative of the Air Ministry and the Corporation of London, as the two parties owning terminal airports in the London area. The chairman will be the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Air and each of the parties will appoint three members. The committee will hold its first meeting tomorrow.The following are the terms of reference and names of members of the committee:

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can make a full statement on the consultations and negotiations that have been held between representatives of the Government, Mr. Walter Nash, and the Bank of England; what has been the Government's policy in this matter; and what action has been or will be taken?

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has any further statement to make respecting financial negotiations between New Zealand and this country?

The recent discussions between Mr. Nash and United Kingdom Ministers were concerned partly with New Zealand's financial requirements in this country and partly with the trade position between the two countries.As regards the former subject, His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have agreed in principle that the facilities of the Export Credits Guarantee Department will be made available to assist in the financing of United Kingdom imports into New Zealand. Under this arrangement, credits up to £5,000,000 sterling will be made available on approved conditions for purchases by the New Zealand Government for defence and other purposes. Short-term export credit facilities up to an amount of £4,000,000 will also be made available under suitable conditions to cover exports from the United Kingdom to importers in New Zealand other than the New Zealand Government.As regards the trade discussions, I would refer to the memorandum embodying the conclusions reached which was presented to Parliament on 20th July as Command Paper 6059.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will give particulars of the latest information he has received as to the average weekly and/or monthly wages paid for native labour in Southern Rhodesia; and can he say whether Southern Rhodesia has any compensation Acts, applicable to native labourers, similar to Acts in this country?

According to information received from the Government of Southern Rhodesia last year, the average monthly wages paid for native labour in that Colony range from 22s. 9,d. in the case of mining to 12s. 6d. in the case of farming, together with free food and housing in all cases. I understand that more recently wages paid for farm labour have shown a tendency to increase. The payment of compensation in respect of the injury or death of native labourers in the course of their employment is provided for in the Native Labourers' Compensation Ordinance, 1922, as amended by later legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any persons have been prosecuted in connection with the stealing of the 2,000 sticks of gelignite near Falkirk; and whether any further thefts of that nature have occurred?

Of the seven persons implicated in the Falkirk case, one has so far evaded arrest, and six have been prosecuted and have received sentences ranging up to 10 years' penal servitude. In one instance the conviction was subsequently quashed by the Court of Criminal Appeal on the ground of insufficiency of evidence.As regards the latter part of the question, a further alleged theft of a similar nature will be the subject of prosecution in the High Court on 8th August. So far as I am aware, no other cases of this nature have occurred for several months.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in connection with the proposed amendment of the Potato Marketing Scheme, which will give the Potato Marketing Board wide powers of purchase, sale, and forward dealings in potatoes, he proposes to introduce any protective Measure to ensure that these powers are not used in such a way that they will dislocate the normal channels of distribution, or result in potato prices being forced up to an undesirable level?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 24th July to the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for South-West St. Pancras (Sir G. Mitcheson). I know of no reason for supposing that the amendment of the Potato Marketing Scheme in the way proposed might lead to the dislocation of the normal channels of distribution or to an undesirable rise in the level of potato prices.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made with the building of the Crown post offices in Hornchurch and Upminster?

Negotiations are in hand for the lease of existing premises at Upminster, but considerable alterations will be necessary. At Hornchurch negotiations are in hand for the lease of one of a number of shop premises which are to be built by a lessor.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the number of regular lieutenant-colonels and majors retired solely on account of age during the last six months; how many of those expressed a wish for further employment in the Regular Army; and in how many cases has re-employment been offered?

The answer to the first part of the question is two lieutenant-colonels and five majors. Of these, three majors have been re-employed, and one major is registered for re-employment. The others have not applied for re-employment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that, on 18th July, the London County Council reaffirmed its previous decision not to allow cadet corps to be organised in the council's maintained secondary schools; and whether he will make representations to the London County Council as to the desirability of re-establishing these cadet corps?

Yes, Sir, but, though I regret the decision, I do not think it would serve any useful purpose if I were to make representations as suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Miss Foster was not granted the Territorial prize for shooting on the ground that the Auxiliary Territorial Service was not part of the Territorial Army; whether this decision was referred to him before being promulgated; and how he proposes to deal with the unfortunate impression that this decision has made on members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service?

To have awarded the King's Medal to Miss Foster would have been a departure from the rules laid down by the Territorial Army Rifle Association. I am inquiring as to the possibility of an alteration in these rules in future.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any provision will be made for militiamen to be exempted from vaccination, especially for those who have not previously been vaccinated?

It is laid down in the Regulations for the Militia that militiamen will not be compulsorily vaccinated.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the valuable work rendered by Army horses, he will take steps to prevent the sale of those horses no longer fit for active service to manufacturing chemists to be used for the purpose of producing anti-toxin?

The production of anti-toxic sera is a work of the utmost national importance, and I am advised that cast army animals are, for technical reasons, the most suitable for this purpose, and the process involves no cruelty to the animals.