asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can make a statement showing the difference between the number of officials employed and the cost of administration of the Central and Provincial Governments in India before the introduction of the reforms effected by the Government of India Act, 1919, and at the commencement of the present year?

The statement supplied to me by the Government of India is as follows:

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware of the case of Mrs. E. Finnerty, of 11, Napier Street, Mountain Ash, South Wales; that this woman lost her husband and son in the late War; that she received a pension of £1 18s. 7d. per week for the loss of husband and son; that the pension has been cut down to 15s. 6d. per week by the pensions officer because this woman gave birth to a child, the father of the child having promised marriage but not keeping his word; and will his Department give this woman some consideration under the circumstances?

The Special Grants Committee, to whom this case was referred for a decision under the provisions of Section 3 of the Naval and Military War Pensions, etc,, Act, 1915, came to the conclusion that the facts called for the forfeiture of the pension granted to this woman in respect of her deceased husband. I understand, however, that the Committee propose to review the case at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what progress has been made in the experiments on the helicoptic system of flight, and whether the reward for any successful invention on this system is still offered by the Department?

The answer to the first question is that satisfactory progress is being made with the experiments; to the second, that it is still intended to offer u prize for a successful helicopter, but that it has been necessary to settle points of detail in connection with the conditions of the competition. I hope, however, that a formal announcement Brill be made before very long.

asked the Secretary for Mines (on Monday, 29th. May) (1) whether, in view of his statement that it is important that the House should realise that there are many other factors in the cost of household coal besides the wages of the miners and the profits of the owners, such as the cost of carriage, railway rates, and the cost of distribution, he will give some idea of the percentage of cost which must be added in respect of each contributory factor to the pithead price of cottage coal sold, for instance, 50 miles from the colliery producing it;(2) whether, seeing that the high price of cottage coal diminishes its consumption, and that it would benefit the millers to increase consumption by efforts to ascertain and remove the causes of the high prices, which, according to authentic statements, are not due to the colliery owners or workers, an inquiry could be instituted to ascertain information as to these causes, if it is not at present available?

has furnished the following particulars:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, owing to the necessity for sending certain forms from the local Employment Exchanges to London, delays of five or six weeks occur in payment of unemployment benefits to applicants; and whether, if such forms are returned stating that nothing stands to the applicant's credit, any appeal from this decision is possible?

Delays of the extent suggested are altogether an exception. The form in question is in the great majority of cases returned in time for the authorisation of any benefit payable to the claimant on the first pay day on which it would be due. Further, the authorisation of uneovenanted benefit (which is the benefit payable to the large majority of claimants) does not depend on this form, but may proceed independently. Unavoidable delay takes place in certain eases, for example, where the particulars supplied by the claimant do not agree with the particulars originally furnished on his entry into insurance, or where he has not returned an expired unemployment book. I will, however, have in- quiries made in any particular case brought to my notice. In regard to the latter part of the question, if benefit is refused on the ground that nothing stands to his credit, the applicant has the usual right of appeal to a Court of Referees.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the scale of relief now being granted by the Southwark Board of Guardians is from 6s. to 10s. below the scale approved by him; and whether he will make representations to the Board in question with a view to the scale being raised to a proper level?

I am informed that while the Southwark Board of Guardians look to this scale for guidance, they have not themselves adopted any fixed scale. They consider each case on its merits, and where they are satisfied that a lower amount than the Common Poor Fund scale is adequate, such lower amount is quite properly given. It is no part of my duty, and I certainly have no intention, of making representations to a board of guardians who are not exceeding the scale I have laid down.