asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that persons becoming insured under the National Health Insurance Acts and desiring to join an approved society have no means of knowing the benefits which are granted by the various approved societies; and whether he will cause a list to be published giving the names of all approved societies and the benefits and additional benefits which they grant to their members, so that persons coming into insurance may be able to select a society granting benefits suited to their needs?

I should not feel justified in incurring the considerable expense of publishing such particulars as the hon. Member suggests for the 8,500 approved soceties and branches administering national health insurance. Particulars of benefits and additional benefits can readily be obtained from the societies and branches. As regards additional benefits I may observe that these are liable to vary from time to time and that new entrants are not entitled to participate in the scheme current at the time of their joining a society.

asked the Minister of Health when he proposes to lay before Parliament the draft of the Regulation to reduce the administrative allowance of approved societies; and what opportunity will be afforded of Parliamentary discussion?

The draft Regulation, referred to by the hon. Member, will be published within the next few days, and the Regulation will be made and laid before Parliament as soon as the statutory period of 40 days has elapsed. There will be usual opportunities for Parliamentary discussion under the procedure whereby the Regulation becomes operative unless within 21 sitting days either House signifies its disapproval.

asked the Minister of Health the total sum paid in in-door and out-door relief by the Lewisham Board of Guardians in each of the years 1914 and 1922?

The total sum paid in respect of in-maintenance and out-relief by this board of guardians was in the financial year 1913–14, £22,740, and in the financial year 1921–22, £134,580. These totals exclude expenditure recouped by other Poor Law authorities.

asked the Minister of Health if, in accordance with the statement of the chairman of the Dental Board in the House on the 8th March, 1922, any attempt to lessen the annual fees demanded from dentists registered under the Dentists Act, 1921, is to be made in the year commencing January, 1924?

The undertaking to which the hon. Member refers was an undertaking to reconsider the fee in two years' time, from March, 1922. No undertaking was given that the fee would be reduced. I am informed that the Dental Board will duly consider the matter, in accordance with the undertaking given by their chairman, but they are not yet in a position to come to a decision.

asked the Minister of Health whether it has been brought to his notice that a case brought by the Lea Conservancy Board against the Finchley Urban District Council for pollution was dismissed by the Highgate Bench on the ground that the Conservancy Board were not in law entitled to bring the prosecution, which should, in fact, have been brought by the Middlesex County Council; and whether, seeing that under these circumstances the Lea Conservancy Board have no jurisdiction over the discharge of sewage effluent from Finchley, Hornsey, Friern Barnet, and Edmonton, and that the Hackney Borough Council have some evidence that Finchley and Edmonton have recently been causing pollution by their sewage discharge, he can see his way to make some alteration in the law so as to make the Lea Conservancy Board the sole prosecuting authority for the main river and all its tributaries?

My attention has been drawn to this case. I understand that the Lea Conservancy Board and the Middlesex County Council are considering the advisability of obtaining an amendment of the law in the direction indicated; and that in the meantime, the two authorities are working in co-operation.

asked the Minister of Health what percentage of newly-born children were vaccinated in 1907; what percentage of children were vaccinated in 1922; and what was the total number of exemptions from vaccination granted in 1907, and the total number of exemptions in 1922?

In 1907, 70·9 per cent. of the newly-born children were vaccinated; in 1921, the percentage was 38·3. The total number of exemptions from vaccination was 76,709 in 1907, and 382,155 in 1921. Figures for 1922 are not yet available.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Germany vaccination is compulsory on everybody at birth and every seven years, and that smallpox is unknown; and in view of its occurrence in this country, is he satisfied that his Department has sufficient powers to deal with infectious disease?

I am not aware of the facts in reference to Germany, but I am convinced that vaccination is necessary to keep smallpox out of this country.

May I ask my right hon. Friend—

We cannot have a Debate on vaccination at Question Time.

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to take any action in accordance with the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on Distribution and Prices of Agricultural Produce, recorded in paragraph 142 of their Interim Report on Milk and Milk Products, with the object of stimulating the consumption of liquid milk by infants and children; and whether he will consult other Departments concerned, including the Board of Education, in furtherance of this object?

This matter is under consideration. I may, however, remind the hon. Member that a circular and pamphlet were issued by my Department in October, 1920, in regard to the use of milk, in which advice was given as to the best means of disseminating information on the special value of milk as a food, the desirability of largely increasing the consumption per head of the population, and the need for an adequate supply of fresh and pure milk.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information as to the result of experiments at Birmingham on these lines?

I should like notice of that question.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is proposed to constitute

asked the Minister of Health if he can give figures showing the number of small-pox cases and suspected cases notified during 1921, 1922, and for the first three months of 1923?

With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I have been asked to reply. The Report of the Departmental Committee is at present under consideration and I am not yet in a position to make any announcement as to the intentions of the Government with regard to the recommendation in question.

asked the Minister of Health whether the increase of rent allowed under the Rent Restriction Act was permitted largely in consideration of the increased cost of maintenance of buildings, etc.; and, if so, whether increased rent, in so far as it represents the increased cost of maintenance, will be exempted from an increase of assessment?

I have been asked by my right hon. Friend to answer this question. As I have stated in reply to other hon. Members, the present re-assessment for Income Tax purposes records, as on previous occasions, the annual value of property, or, broadly speaking, the annual rent which is paid under an ordinary tenancy, and the law makes provision whereby the owner can obtain allowance (apart from the flat-rate deductions for repairs), in respect of expenditure on repairs and maintenance upon a five-year average, so that in the result he will bear tax solely on the income which he enjoys.

asked the Attorney-General (1) whether he is aware that the University of Oxford possesses powers over markets, weights and measures, theatres, and travellers by train, ousting or in competition with authorities set up by this House, and not confined in their operation to Oxford or the members of the University of Oxford; whether he will initiate legislation to revoke such powers;

(2) whether he is aware that the University of Oxford enjoys and exercises a jurisdiction in criminal matters not connected with or related to the powers of the vice-chancellor as a magistrate whether he is aware that such criminal jurisdiction extends to the whole of England and is not confined to students of the University; whether he will initiate legislation to repeal such jurisdiction;

(3) whether he is aware that the University of Oxford possesses and exercises a civil jurisdiction (ousting, saving on appeal to the High Court of Justice) in respect of contract (saving specific performance) and tort arising anywhere in England unlimited in amount if one party only is a senior or junior member of the University; and whether he will initiate legislation to remove such jurisdiction?

I am aware that the University of Oxford possesses certain civil and criminal jurisdiction which was originally conferred by charter and subsequently confirmed by Statute. I have no reason to believe that this jurisdiction is abused, and I know of no grounds for taking measures to remove it. I am not sure that I understand the first part of the third question, but so far as I do understand it, it is, I think, covered by my answer.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that recently, and on many previous occasions, this has been the subject of serious conflict? Will he answer that part of Question No. 98 which deals with an administrative authority in competition with the ordinary civil authorities?

As far as I understood the hon. Member's question, I did answer it. The question is:

"To ask the Attorney-General whether he is aware that the University of Oxford possesses and exercises a civil jurisdiction (ousting, saving on appeal to the High Court of Justice) in respect of contract (saving specific performance) and tort arising anywhere in England unlimited in amount if one party only is a senior or junior member of the University."

Unfortunately, I was neither a senior nor a junior member of the University, and the question beat me.

I doubt very much whether—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"] Would the right hon. Gentleman have been so modest yesterday as to have asked my advice as to the meaning of a question? The question is based on a text book which should be well known to the Attorney-General.

Does the right hon. Gentleman regard the word "oust" as properly used to define anything conferred by mediæval charters, and confirmed by Acts of Parliament, and can they be said in any way to oust the authority set up by this House?

We had better get back to plain language.

asked the Attorney-General when the Bill to consolidate the law relating to real property is to be introduced?

I regret that I do not think it will be possible to deal with this matter this Session.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that an assurance was given by the Solicitor-General in the last Government that a Consolidating Bill would be introduced very soon? Is he also aware that, if there is no Consolidating Bill dealing with real property passed this Session, very great difficulty will be caused to the profession in view of the Law of Property Act coming into force next year?

I am aware that it will be necessary to introduce a Consolidating Bill. The Parliamentary draftsmen are engaged upon the Bill. They inform me that it is a matter of considerable difficulty. There is a great deal of work still to be done, and in the circumstances I do not think that it will be possible to introduce a Bill this Session.