asked the President of the Board of Education if local education authorities compile complete records of the careers of children after leaving school who have been segregated for education purposes in schools for the mentally defective?

The Board urge all local education authorities which provide schools for mentally defective children to compile records of the after careers of children who have left, so far as they are able, and nearly all authorities do so; but they are not in a position to ensure that these records shall be complete. An analysis of the records for seven areas will be found in paragraph 88 of the report of the Board's Chief Medical Officer for 1925.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he can give the percentage increase in the number of children in attendance at elementary schools who were between the ages of 9 and 11 years of age on 31st March, 1930, over the number of children of similar age on 31st March, 1928, and the percentage increase in the number of free places in secondary schools available on 1st September,]928, and 1st September, 1930, respectively?

The number of pupils between the ages of 9 and 11 in public elementary schools maintained by local education authorities, as on 31st March, 1930, represents an increase of 41.8 per cent. over the corresponding number as on 31st March, 1928. The number of free places in secondary schools awarded at the beginning of the school year 1930–31 represents an increase of 20.8 per cent. over the corresponding number awarded at the beginning of the school year 1928–29.

Will my hon. Friend draw the attention of the local education authorities to the effect on this matter of what is known as the bulge, and urge the local authorities to make additional provision?

I will bear that suggestion in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he has any figures to show how many extra persons will be employed (such as carpenters, bricklayers, slaters, teachers, etc.) under the Education (School Attendance) Bill?

My right hon. Friend has estimated that by the time the full additional age group is in the schools, some 8,000 additional teachers will be required in 1932–33 as a result of raising the school-leaving age; but he has not formed any estimate of the number of other persons who will be employed as a result of the provision to be made for educating the 'additional children.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary not think it is time that some estimate was formed of the additional charge in view of the Bill now before the House?

That is not the function of the Board of Education.

Why not?

Is it not an Education Bill?

asked the Minister of Labour how many aliens are registered as unemployed at Employment Exchanges in this country?

I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.

Is there any possibility of getting this information by any further application?

I am afraid not. As a matter of fact, the only interest which the Ministry of Labour has in these matters is as to whether the person is insurable and whether he is insured.

asked the Minister of Health how many aliens were in receipt of Poor Law relief on the last available date?

My right hon. Friend regrets that this information is not available.

Could the hon. Lady state whether any aliens are drawing unemployment relief in this country?

I am afraid I cannot say. I have answered the question on the Paper.

asked the Home Secretary whether a record is kept of the names, addresses and occupations of all aliens registered with the police in this country; and whether he will consider the desirability of publishing in tabulated form the number of aliens now engaged in each occupation, respectively, and the number of those unemployed?

The particulars specified in the first paragraph are among those with which aliens must provide the Registration Officer when registering under Article 6 of the Aliens Order. The records are not tabulated so as to show occupations, and no purpose commensurate with the expense would be served by making a change in this respect. My right hon. Friend regrets he is unable to take the course suggested in the last part of the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, on country estates, each owning many Schedule A income tax assessments, a large amount of tithe is being redeemed on an annuity basis; that it has been the practice of owners paying, under Board of Agriculture orders, such a consolidated tithe to agree with inspectors that such tithe he set off in each parish against one sufficiently large Schedule A assessment., thus saving the adjustment of many small sums of tithe, and that this system has worked well in the past; and why, in connection with the revaluation now pending, instructions have recently been issued to inspectors forbidding them to enter into such agreed arrangements, having in view the amount of clerical work thereby involved on the part of tax inspectors and landowners?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the practice referred to by the hon. Member. He is advised, however, that it gives rise to considerable practical difficulties, and, while it had certain advantages in the past, these advantages largely disappeared with the stabilisation of the tithe rent charge.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this new instruction will increase the staff in the Department very materially; and, as this House is anxious for economy, will he reconsider the matter?

This is a very highly technical and complicated matter, and, if the hon. Member wishes to pursue it, perhaps he would like to take it up with the Inland Revenue Department. In that case, I shall be happy to make arrangements.

Have these instructions, in fact, been given in consequence of the pending re-valuation?

I have nothing to add to what I have said.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost per head of population of social services in Great Britain, Germany, France, Belgium, and Italy, respectively, in 1929?

With regard to this country the usual annual return will be available shortly. I regret that I cannot give the particulars far foreign countries.

Would it not be very desirable that the Treasury should ascertain these figures?

The answer is that these figures cannot be obtained.

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that Standing Committee "B" is to sit to morrow morning to consider the Agricultural Land (Utilisation) Bill, which applies to Scotland, and that the Scottish Grand Committee is also to meet to-morrow morning to consider the Small Landholders and Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Bill; and whether, seeing that a considerable number of Members are on both Committees, he will communicate with the Chairmen of the two Committees to see whether they can make arrangements to ensure that the Committees do not sit at the same time?

1 am aware of the circumstances mentioned by the right hon. Gentleman, and, with the approval of the Chairman, I have arranged that the sitting of the Scottish Grand Committee fixed for to-morrow shall be postponed to Wednesday morning at eleven o'clock.