asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the inconvenience, delay, expense, and at times, danger, caused in the handling of passengers, mails, livestock and merchandise, in Shetland, through the lack of piers for steamers and small boats; that steamer piers are needed at Uyeasound, Whalsay and Hills-wick, and small boat piers at Haralds-wick (improvement), Baltasound, Hubie, Gutcher, Ulsta, Mossbank, Melby, Foula (improvement), Billister, Skerries and Grutness; and whether he will arrange for a 100 per cent. grant for the construction of these piers under a five-year plan on the undertaking that the county council would thereafter be responsible for upkeep?

I am prepared to consider applications for assistance towards the provision of piers in the Congested Districts if they are submitted by the appropriate County Council or Harbour Authority and subject to funds being available. I have recently offered grants, which have been accepted, in aid of the construction of piers at Papa Stour and Skerry of Lussetter, Yell.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that there are 59 communities in Orkney, comprising 334 households, that have no access to the road system of the county; that 40 miles of new roads, costing approximately £43,000, are needed; that it is impossible for either the district councils or the county council to meet the cost of construction; that many of these roads have been on the list for over 40 years; and whether he will arrange for a 100 per cent, grant for their construction on the understanding that the county council would thereafter be responsible for upkeep?

I understand that a list of such cases, corresponding approxi-

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the number of acres applied for in the county of Devon to qualify for the£2 per acre ploughing subsidy? mately in number and estimated cost to what is stated in my hon. and gallant Friend's question was submitted to the Highlands and Islands Committee. The Department of Agriculture for Scotland are prepared to offer assistance towards the cost of constructing roads of this type as funds become available, but I cannot give an undertaking that the total cost of such works will be met by the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give, for the latest available year, the totals of foodstuffs, home and imported, consumed in this country, specifying wheat and flour, meat including bacon, poultry, eggs, condensed and dried milk, butter, lard, margarine, cheese, and fruit?

I regret that it is not possible to give the totals of all foodstuffs, home and imported, consumed in this country. The following table, however, shows the estimated consumption in 1937 of the commodities specified: —

Up to and including 26th July notifications of intention to plough up grassland in Devon under the provisions of Part IV of the Agricultural Development Bill have been received in respect of 10,668 acres.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that fields now growing wheat and various crops are being advertised for sale as sites for factories by the side of the North Eastern Railway, and reaching for miles North of London; and whether, in view of the urgent need for preserving our food resources, he can take steps to stop such industrialising of agricultural land?

I have been asked to reply. It is quite customary for owners of land adjoining railways which is at present used for agricultural purposes, to advertise that sites are available for factories, particularly where the railway companies offer facilities for sidings. There is, so far as I am aware, no power to prevent the development of agricultural land in consequence.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, whether he has considered the petition from the honourable Member for Ince, signed by 187 of his constituents, protesting against the restrictions on fish landings; whether he will state the reasons for such restrictions; and whether it is his intention to remove them at an early date?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The restrictions under the Sea Fishing Industry (Restriction of Fishing in Northern Waters) Order were put into operation as a remedy for over-production of distant-water fish resulting in a fall in prices to a level unremunerative to the producer. As the provisions of the Order would not in any case become operative again before June, 1940, I propose to defer a final decision on its renewal until next year, when I shall be able to consider the matter in the light of prevailing circumstances. As I have stated in reply to previous questions, I have no power to intervene in the voluntary scheme of control.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has considered the petition of consumers of fish in Leigh constituency, signed by over 200 persons, protesting against the present restrictions on fish; and will he give favourable consideration to their appeal?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to questions on this subject asked by the hon. Members for Rothwell (Mr. Lunn) Middleton and Prestwich (Sir N. Stewart Sandeman) and Wolverhampton East (Mr. Mander) on 27th July.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, for what reason power has not been given to the Sea Fish Commission to buy and sell white fish; and why similar restrictions are not imposed on the Potato Marketing Board?

Whereas under Section 5 of the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1931, a producers' Marketing Board may be empowered to buy and sell the product regulated by its scheme, the White Fish Commission, which was constituted under the Sea Fish Industry Act, 1938, to keep generally under review matters relating to the white fish industry and to advise and assist the Ministers in such matters, is not a body on which trading powers could appropriately be conferred.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the importance of cheap fish and cheap potatoes in popular food, he will pay special attention to the representations he is receiving on the subject of restrictive and monopolistic proposals affecting these two commodities; and what action he proposes to take?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question on this subject asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Stourbridge (Mr. R. Morgan) on 27th July.

asked the Home Secretary what procedure is adopted by his Department when applications to work the shift system are made by cotton textile employers; are inspectors asked to report; and, if so, what detailed enquiries are they expected to make?

All applications of the kind referred to are specially investigated by an Inspector, who submits a full report on the circumstances, dealing, among other things, with such matters as the grounds for the application, the hours pro- posed, the conduct of the ballot and the wishes of the workpeople concerned, welfare and transport facilities, facilities for attendance at continuation schools, and working conditions at the factory.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the scales of salaries appertaining (to stores and accounts officers in the Air Ministry works directorate; and, in view of the additional work due to expansion which increases the already long working hours without any additional pay being given in compensation, he will consider raising the salary of £475 to a figure commensurate with such responsibilities?

The present scale of £475–£575 was agreed to less than two years ago in place of the previous scale of £456–£515, and I regret that I do not feel justified in re-opening the matter at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can now make an announcement as to the pay and conditions for trained nurses and assistant nurses of the Civil Nursing Reserve in war-time?

Yes, Sir. Trained nurses supplied by the Civil Nursing Reserve will in war-time receive for whole-time service a flat rate of £90 per annum plus board and lodging. The corresponding rate for assistant nurses will be £55. Trained nurses in charge of wards will have an additional allowance of £20 per annum. In certain cases an assistant nurse may receive up to £65 per annum. To these rates will be added free laundry or 3s. 6d. per week in lieu.These rates have been recommended to me by the Central Emergency Committee for the Nursing Profession which includes representatives of the principal organisations concerned with nursing including the General Nursing Council, the Royal College of Nursing, the voluntary hospitals and the local authorities.Where trained nurses or assistant nurses are not provided with board and lodging an additional sum of one guinea per week will be payable.

asked the Minister of Transport whether maps have now been prepared showing in graphic form the density of traffic of roads at the points where the traffic census count of vehicles was taken by his Department last year; and whether copies of these maps are obtainable by the public?

A report on the traffic census taken on Class I roads in August last is being prepared and will be placed on sale to the public in due course. I will consider whether maps can be included showing in graphic form the traffic density on roads in some of the important centres.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the recent damage to the main road between Carlisle and Glasgow caused by a 25-ton lorry carrying a load of 95 tons; whether he can give particulars of this mishap; and whether a claim for the damage has been made against the firm using this heavy vehicle so that the cost does not fall upon the local authorities or the State?

I am informed by the Ministry's Divisional Road Engineer that on the 20th July a vehicle carrying a 95-ton casting on a trailer broke through the surface of the Carlisle-Glasgow Trunk road about seven miles north of Carlisle owing, it is understood, to the uneven distribution of the load; and that the rear wheels of the trailer sank up to the axles. The trailer has not yet been extricated, so that the full extent of the damage to the road cannot be ascertained.Notice of intention to convey the load was given in the usual way to the local highway authority, who are acting as my agents for this Trunk Road. This notice contained the usual indemnity for damage caused by an extraordinary load, as required by the Order under which the vehicle was moved, and I propose to avail myself of the protection which it affords.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, whether he will submit a statement showing the liabilities assumed by his Department for the period 1931–32 to 1938–39 in respect to contracts, policies and guarantees given under the powers conferred by the Overseas Trade Acts, 1920 to 1934, the Export Guarantees Act, 1937, and Section I of the Export Guarantees Act, 1939?

During the period 1st April, 1931, to 31st March, 1939, the Export Credits Guarantee Department, under the powers conferred by the Overseas Trade Acts, 1920–1934, the Export Guarantees Act, 1937, and Section I of the Export Guarantees Act, 1939, assumed liabilities up to a maximum £71,640,408 in respect of contracts, policies and guarantees amounting to £190,615,503.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequor, whether he will now make an explanatory announcement as to time and method of issuing the defence loans for public subscription so as to dispel the impression of secrecy or mystery felt by inexpert private persons anxious to offer their savings for the service of the country, and so that they may arrange their affairs without thinking that earlier information will be given to financial institutions?

I am sure that my hon. Friend will realise on reflection that it is quite impossible for the Government to announce detailed plans for raising loans in advance. If there is any such feeling in any quarter as that suggested in my hon. Friend's Question, I am happy to dispel it. No information ever is given by the Treasury to financial institutions on such matters in advance of a statement to the House or other public announcement. Any loan offer to be made for financing our expenditure on rearmament will be framed with careful regard to the needs and desires of all classes of investors, and private persons anxious to offer their savings for the service of the country will have abundant opportunities to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will ask the League of Nations to publish a statement showing the main changes made in the constitution and practice of the government of the Free State of Danzig since the present government assumed office in 1935, indicating the number of decrees issued restricting the rights and liberties of organisations and peoples, and stating whether all, or any, of these changes have been made after consultation with, and approval by the League of Nations and its representative, the High Commissioner?

My noble Friend will give the hon. Member's suggestion his consideration. But there are many difficulties in the way of making an authoritative statement in the manner proposed.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has considered the resolution passed by the Greenock No. 5 Branch of the Boiler Makers, Iron and Steel Builders Society as to workmen's compensation legislation, a copy of which was forwarded to him by the honourable Member for Greenock; and what reply he has made thereto?

I have been asked to reply. I have received this and similar resolutions but I cannot add anything to my previous answers on this subject.