asked the Minister of Labour what number of juveniles is in attendance at the centres for unemployed juveniles; and whether it is the intention of the Government to renew the grant for their continuance after the 31st May?

On the 18th April, 1923—the latest date for which figures are available—8,358 juveniles were in attendance at juvenile unemployment centres. The scheme for the revival of centres was designed to prevent the deterioration of unemployed juveniles during the winter months. I propose, however, to extend the period during which grants will be payable in the case of all centres up to the 30th June next, and in those cases in which centres have only recently been opened for such further period, not beyond the 21st July next, as shall complete a period of three months.

Why does the right hon. Gentleman propose to terminate the grants on 30th June?

The scheme was designed for the winter period and the suggested limit of the training courses was three months. The large majority have come to an end before that period.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that unemployment still continues on a large scale, his Department is in possession of sufficient funds to promote whatever relief works may be necessary; and, if not, whether the Government proposes to ask the House for further allocations for this purpose in anticipation of the need which it is now clear roust exist for some time?

The funds set aside for providing Government assistance towards relief works are not administered by my Department. The question whether Parliament should be asked to place further sums at the disposal of the grant-making Departments is under consideration by the Government.

Is it not a fact that the Ministry of Labour is responsible for 150,000 men on out-relief works?

No, that is not the fact. The Departments concerned are the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Health. There is no direct responsibility on my Department for the administration of these funds, though naturally we are very closely concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in the week ending 7th April, 1923, the Sheffield and Ecclesall guardians granted £8,216 in unemployment relief, and that in the following week, owing to the gap, this was increased to £13,077; and whether he proposes to arrange for any relief for this and other necessitous areas towards bearing this added burden?

There are no funds at my disposal out of which I can make any grants for the purpose suggested. As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the Unemployment Insurance Act recently passed made a substantial increase in the grant of unemployment benefit and reduced the gap in benefit to a fortnight, thereby giving great assistance to the ratepayers throughout the country. I would point out further that the figures quoted by the hon. Member illustrate forcibly the extent to which during the last 2½ years the unemployment insurance scheme has assisted in bearing a burden which would otherwise have fallen upon the local ratepayers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman still of opinion that the gap of a fortnight has not meant a considerable burden on local ratepayers, as he stated in Committee, and if he has no funds will he make representations to the Government that they should assist necessitous areas out of other grants from the Treasury?

As to the first part of the answer we had the matter under full discussion when the recent Insurance Act went through the House. With regard to necessitous areas I do not think that really arises out of the question, nor should it be addressed to me.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that some Unemployment Exchanges are declining to grant out-of-work pay to young men over the age of 21 years and compelling parents of 60 years of age and over to maintain these adult sons; and whether this is in accordance with the Regulations?

Uncovenanted benefit is only payable if, in the opinion of the Minister, payment is expedient in the public interest. It is the rule that such benefit shall not be paid to single persons living with relatives who can reasonably be expected to support them. Each case is dealt with on its merits by the local committee, who are directed not to refuse benefit on this ground if the refusal would cause real hardship. I should add that, as I promised during the Debate on the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1923, I am considering whether in present circumstances this and other rules ought to be modified in any way—and I hope to deal with this point to-morrow in the discussion on the Estimates.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in one case a man of 60 who is a joiner and carpenter has been called upon to maintain two sons of 25 and 30?

I was not aware, but I hope in the discussion which will arise to-morrow that sort of point may be dealt with.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of unemployed persons in the Newcastleon-Tyne area at present; how this number compares with the last three, six, and 12 months, respectively; and what diminution, if any, is attributable to the order recently given for the building of a battleship on the Tyne?

The number of persons registered at Employment Exchanges in the Newcastle area at 16th April, 1923, was 20,142, as compared with 21,447 on 1st January, 1923, 19,250 on 2nd October, 1922 and 17,904 on 3rd April, 1922. It is not possible to say what part of the recent decrease is due to the contract referred to.

What stage of the building of the battleship was reached, and what was the number of men employed?

I do not want to shirk the issue, but that question really ought to be addressed to the Admiralty.

asked the Minister of Labour what amount of unemployment benefit was paid to women discharged from Government Departments in 1917 and 1918; and what, if any, facilities were available for such women at that time which were provided at the expense of the taxpayer and not by voluntary funds placed at the disposal of the Central Committee on Women's Training and Employment?

Prior to November, 3920, temporary Government employés, other than those in certain industrial establishments, did not come under the Unemployment Insurance scheme. Moreover, up to November, 1918, the war-time demand for labour was such that very little benefit was paid to those insured. At the end of November, 1918, the out-of-work donation scheme came into operation, and applied to civilian workers up to November, 1919, but it is not possible to say how much donation was paid to women discharged from Government Departments. So far as I am aware the State did not, prior to 1919, provide facilities for training women.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the amount of unemployment benefit and facilities of training for professional careers for temporary women clerks demobilised from the Civil Service since 1921 has been greater or less than those provided for similar women demobilised in 1917 and 1918?

Temporary women clerks discharged from Government service have since 1920 been entitled to unemployment benefit in proportion to contributions paid, and may also be granted uncovenanted benefit. Previously they were not insured against unemployment, and the only provision of this kind made for them was the out-of-work donation scheme, which applied to all civilian workers from November, 1918, to November, 1919. So far as I am aware the State did not provide facilities for training women prior to 1919.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can inform the House as to the results of the special appeal which has been made to those local authorities who have hitherto failed to place themselves on the King's Roll; and when he intends to publish the names of those authorities who have still failed to undertake this national duty?

The King's Roll National Council have not yet received all the replies to their appeal to local authorities not on the King's National Roll, and I am not, therefore, in a position to acid anything to my previous replies on this subject.

When may I put down a question to which the right hon. Gentleman will give a reply?

I do not think that there is any undue delay. The matter is necessarily in the hands of the King's Roll National Council. They are discovering, as I discovered, that there are difficulties in the matter. I would suggest that the hon. Gentleman should put himself in touch with the Vice-Chairman of the King's Roll National Council, who is a Member of this House, and then the matter might be accelerated.

What are the difficulties?

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the uncovenanted benefit of L. R. Briggs, of 9, South Street, Egremont, Cumberland, has been suspended by the manager of the Cleator Moor Employment Exchange on the ground that he is residing with relatives to whom he can reasonably look for support; that the average earnings of this man's father are 30s. per week; that he has seven children and a wife dependent upon him; and that he has had nearly two years of unemployment; and, in view of the situation of his family, will he have Briggs's case reconsidered?

I am having immediate inquiries made into this case and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that amongst unemployed women clerks resident in Richmond there is a feeling that they cannot expect fair treatment in future through the Richmond Exchange, having regard to the attacks recently made on the employment of women as clerks by the local employment committee; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this state of affairs?

I have not been made aware of any feeling on the part of women clerks resident in Richmond that their treatment at the Richmond Employment Exchange would be otherwise than impartial. I may add that I am asking the local employment committee to consider whether, having regard to the industrial circumstances of the district, it is desirable that further representation on the committee should be accorded to organisations of women workers.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give details of wages paid to employés in the nine principal industries of the country in 1913, and to date; and if he will state what action he is taking to adjust the wages in those industries where the increase has not been in keeping with the cost of living, and where the numerical strength of their trade unions nor the Trade Wages Board have been able to give such proper protection to the relativity of their wages?

A special article giving comparative information, so far as available, as to the rates of wages paid in the principal industries at the beginning of August, 1914, and at the end of March, 1923, is published in the current issue of the "Ministry of Labour Gazette," a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. With regard to the second part of the question, I have no authority to take action of the kind referred to by the hon. Member. Except in the case of trades the conditions in which make it necessary to establish Trade Boards for the purpose of fixing minimum rates of wages, the policy of the Government is to leave employers and workers free themselves to settle the conditions in their industries.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the serious overlapping occurring in the provision of the various health and public welfare services, he will appoint a Committee of Inquiry in order that by means of better co-ordination more satisfactory services can be secured in return for the expenditure incurred by the Ministries of Health, Pensions, and Labour, the Boards of Education and Trade, and the Home Office, in these matters?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Lincoln on the 7th March last.

Can the hon. Gentleman call the Prime Minister's attention to the fact that this matter has been deferred for some years now, and is it not possible to expedite a decision?

The hon. Member must be aware that there is a Committee sitting at the present time.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will, when submitting their proposals for the relief of agriculture, provide that the farm labourer shall in no case be paid a rate of wages less than that of the terms arrived at in the recent settlement in Norfolk?

I have been asked to reply. It is proposed to introduce a Bill to amend Section 4 of the Corn Production Acts (Repeal) Act, 1921, which deals with the formation of conciliation committees in agriculture with a view to making compulsory the registration of agreements arrived at by conciliation committees. These agreements are, however, of a voluntary nature, and the Government cannot impose a condition such as is suggested by the hon. Member.

Are we to understand that the Government do not consider it necessary to inquire into the wages paid to farm labourers while they are inquiring into the agricultural position?

That was not my statement.

Will this Section apply to Scotland?

I should like notice of that question.

asked the Prime Minister if an import duty was charged by the French Government during the War on munitions sent from Great Britain to France for the use of British troops in France; if so, what was the amount of the duty and what was the total sum paid in such duties; and if the British Government were charged the cost of transporting these munitions over the French railways, and, if so, what was the sum paid?

I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second part, therefore, does not arise. As regards the third part, the British Government were charged the cost in question as part of the general French claim for transportation services, but details showing the amount included on account of the transportation of munitions are not available. The question of the general settlement with the French Government for transportation services is still under consideration.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the contractor stated in a Conservative newspaper last Saturday that an ad valorem duty of 10 per cent. was charged on munitions imported into France?

That is quite without foundation.

Is it not a fact that the French Government gave reduced fares to the military who were travelling?

asked the Prime Minister if any offer was made by British Ministers to cancel Allied debts; whether such cancellation was contingent on reparations being received by Great Britain from Germany; what share under this suggested offer would Great Britain receive; and how would such sum compare with the British debt to America?

If the right hon. Member has in mind the conference at Paris in January, the answer to the first part of his question is in the affirmative, subject to the point that it was the net Allied Debts we were prepared to cancel; the answer to the second part is in the affirmative; the answer to the third and fourth parts is that we estimated at Paris that we should receive approximately 18 milliard gold marks against a debt, to America of 20 milliards, say 900 million pounds as against 1,000 million pounds. Fuller information on all these points will be found in Command Paper 1812

Does that mean that we shall have to pay, supposing the proposals of His Majesty's Government were accepted, £100,000 more than we receive?

asked the Prime Minister if any responsible offer has been made to pay reasonable War reparation by the German Government; if so, what sum was offered; and what is the sum His Majesty's Government consider it is within Germany's capacity to pay?

Is not the word "reasonable" in this question controversial, as to what is reasonable, and would it not be better to leave it out of the question?

In asking this question may I say that "reasonable" is not a stunt word?

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is not aware of any offer which is not already public property. He sees no use in considering whether the offers in March and April, 1921, were responsible and reasonable at the time they were made. They are two years old and subject to conditions, e.g., as regards Silesia which cannot now be fulfilled. The German tentative plan of December, 1922, and his reply that it could not be considered satisfactory have been published (Command Paper 1812, pages 57 to 60). In the same Paper, page 68, and in his reply to the hon. Member for East Dorset on the 19th March last, my right hon. Friend has given all the information he has about the German overture at Paris which did not become an offer for the reasons he has repeatedly stated. As regards the third part of the question, the sum which we considered in January to be within Germany's capacity to pay was £2,500,000,000. Whether subsequent events have reduced that capacity is a matter which my right hon. Friend would want thoroughly examined by experts before coming to any conclusion.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that large numbers of people from the Western Highlands of Scotland have recently emigrated; whether the Government have received a memorial from the Highland and Islands Committee of the Free Church in relation thereto, embodying their views regarding the agricultural and industrial development of the High lands; and whether the Government propose to take action in the matter?

I have been asked to reply. I understand that a considerable number of people have recently gone to Canada from the Western Islands. The reply to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. My Noble Friend has agreed to receive a deputation next month from the Highlands and Islands Committee of the Free Church on the subject of the memorial.

Does not the serious de-population of the Western Highlands and the driving away of the best of Scottish manhood from that part of the country call for the special consideration and immediate attention of the Government?

This Committee asked my right hon. Friend if he would receive them, and he has fully met their request.

Is it not the case that arrangements have been made for the continuance of this stream of emigration, and is it not desirable under the circumstances to take immediate steps to deal with it?

The hon. Member must put that question on the Paper.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the visit of an English bishop to Bucharest in January for the purpose of promoting the suggested union between the Anglican and Eastern Churches was regarded by Rumanian opinion as an attempt by His Majesty's Government to influence political and economic conditions in Eastern Europe; that a number of protests were published; and Whether His Majesty's Government have given any support or approval to the efforts of English ecclesiastics for the union of the Anglican and Rumanian Churches?

I understand that the Bishop of Gibraltar, in the exercise of his diocesan duties, visited certain Balkan States in the autumn of last year, and that some ill-informed and mischievous comments have since been made on the visit in one or two Rumanian newspapers, alleging the existence of a plan for a union between the Anglican and the Orthodox Churches. The idea that the Bishop was acting in any way whatever on behalf of His Majesty's Government, or that the latter attempted through him to exercise influence of any sort in Eastern Europe, is not only untrue, but is too absurd to have imposed upon any persons not wholly ignorant both of the Anglican Church and of the methods of the British Government.

Does the diocese of the Bishop of Gibraltar extend as far as the Balkan States? [HON. MEMBERS: "Yes."]

Is it not a fact that the Anglican Church does not, and never has interfered in any shape or form in international politics?

Is it not desirable that when these events give rise to such unfounded rumours as have been spreading through Rumania recently, that they should be expressly denied by His Majesty's Government?

Certainly, and I am grateful to the hon. and gallant Member for giving me an opportunity to do so.

Are we to understand that there is no connection between His Majesty's Foreign Office and the Anglican Church?

asked the Minister of Health how many women physicians are at present acting as panel doctors?

The total number of women medical practitioners engaged in insurance work in England and Wales is 215.