asked the Minister of Labour whether, when men are sent from the Employment Exchanges to the Post Office for temporary employment, it is the practice of his officials to inform the applicants for work of the number of hours' employment which is being offered; whether he is aware that in many cases the hours range from 21 to 4i per day, with the result that the wages paid are insufficient to keep the worker and his family, whilst at the same time he is prevented from returning to the Exchange in the hope of securing a full-time position; and whether he will issue instructions that full particulars as to the number of hours' work offered must be given to every applicant?

It is the practice of the Employment Exchanges to give applicants all the information in their possession regarding wages and conditions of employment; and the Post Office Regulations provide that particulars of opportunities of temporary employment should, wherever possible, include a reference to the hours to be worked each day. Exceptions do arise, however, in connection with casual and Christmas vacancies which normally offer only part-time employment, as in these cases it is not always possible to say definitely how many hours' work will be available. If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any case in which he thinks fuller information might have been given I shall be glad to inquire into it.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, after receiving 90 days' covenanted unemployment benefit, an insured person, if still unemployed, is entitled to uncovenanted benefit?

The Unemployment Insurance Act, 1922, provides for a maximum of 90 days' benefit, whether covenanted or uncovenanted, in the present special period which ends on the 1st November next. Further benefit—up to a maximum in certain circumstances of 22 weeks—becomes payable in the period from 2nd November next to 1st July, 1923.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of workers in 1991 and since the beginning of this year that have had their wages reduced; what the weekly reductions amount to; and if he can give approximately the total wage reduction for 1921 and up to the end of May, 1922?

In the industries for which statistics are compiled by the Ministry of Labour, the total number of workpeople whose wages were reduced between the beginning of 1921 and the end of May, 1922, so far as reported to the Department, was approximately 7,400,000. The aggregate reduction in the weekly full-time rates of wages of these workpeople during that period was approximately £8,300,000, of which about £6,000,000 took effect in 1921 and £2,300,000 in the first five months of 1922. The figures relate mainly, though not exclusively, to organised groups of wage earners, and they do not include agricultural labourers, domestic servants, police, shop assistants, clerks, or Government employees, as to whom complete statistics are not available. I am sending my hon. Friend copies of the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" for January and June, 1922, on pages 4 and 265 of which the figures are given in greater detail.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the event of the Merchandise Marks Bill becoming Law in its present form, his Department will have full powers to issue orders requiring the labelling of imported foodstuffs?

Under the Bill in its present form the Board are given power to make an Order in respect of any class or description of imported goods (including foodstuffs), but before doing so they would have to be satisfied that a false impression as to the origin of such goods is likely to arise by reason of their form, get-up, style or finish, or otherwise.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give a reason for the continued delay in the settlement of the pay and status of the established ex-soldier clerks in the War Office?

The delay in reaching a decision has been due partly to differences of opinion on the Staff side of the War Office Administrative Whitley Council and partly to pressure of work in connection with the re-organisation of all the clerical establishments of the War Office. I hope it will be possible shortly to effect a settlement of this question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been directed to the case of George Elsley, a labourer, of Feltham, charged at Bow Street police court with smashing a window at the War Office; whether he is aware that the defendant stated in evidence that he had unsuccessfully petitioned the War Office to cause inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of his son while serving in the Army; whether the allegations of the defendant have been under consideration; and, if so, with what result?

I have seen in the public Press a report of Mr. Elsley's action. His son died in May, 1920, of pneumonia subsequent to breaking his leg whilst in detention barracks. The circumstances formed, at the time, the subject of a coroner's inquest and of an exhaustive military inquiry which Mr. Elsley attended. In the result he was informed, on 25th October, 1920, that it had not been established that his son was subjected to any improper treatment and that the available evidence tended to show that his son's injuries were accidental. Much correspondence with Mr. Elsley has followed, and he has also been interviewed at length, and I am not aware of any new circumstances which would justify the re-opening of the case.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that, while free travelling facilities by rail are provided for workmen employed at Rosyth for whom no local housing accommodation is available if they reside at Edinburgh, similar facilities are not provided for workmen residing at Dysart, Kirkcaldy, Kinghorn, Burntisland, Aberdorn, and Inverkeithing; if he can state the reason for this discrimination; and if any action can be taken to establish uniform treatment to the men concerned?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The free train service from and to Edinburgh is necessary for the present on account of the large number of employés who are still compelled to live there, but the intention is to withdraw it as soon as circumstances permit.

asked the Secretary for Mines if his attention has been called to the Douglas patent shield for the use of miners; is he aware that this safety shield has been seen and approved by the members of the guild of Pontypridd mining students; and will he have the shield given a trial with a view to its adoption in mines?

Yes, Sir, my attention has been drawn to this device, and I have received a copy of the resolution passed by the guild of Pontypridd mining students with reference to it. The shield is being tried in a South Wales mine, and the result of the trial will be watched.