asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he is aware that certain house factors in Glasgow, having obtained decrees of ejectment against tenants, in many cases owing to the absence of the defenders, now threaten to carry out these decrees unless they receive payment of a sum in excess of the amount legally due; and will he consider how, by the introduction of emergency legislation or otherwise, he can assist the committee of a public fund or persons desirous of rendering financial assistance to prevent the tragedy of evictions, to induce such house factors not to carry out the decrees in cases where the sum legally due is tendered by the tenant or on his behalf?

In reply to the first part of the hon. Member's question, I am not aware of cases in which house factors in Glasgow are threatening to carry out decrees of ejection, unless they be paid a sum in excess of the amount legally due. Certain cases, however, have been brought to to my notice by hon. Members, and I am making inquiries into the circumstances of these. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the provisions of Sub-section (2) of Section 5 of the Increase of Rent, etc., Act, 1920, regarding the suspension or discharge in certain circumstances of Orders of the Court which have not been executed.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that there are official shorthand writers attached to the Admiralty Court, to the Divorce Court, and to the Courts of Bankruptcy; that there are no official shorthand writters attached to the Courts of Appeal, to the Chancery Division, to the King's Bench Division, and to the Official Referees Courts; that there is considerable dissatisfaction in the legal profession at the absence of any official shorthand writers in these divisions of the High Court of Justice; and that that dissatisfaction is shared by the actual working shorthand writers employed in taking the shorthand notes of cases in these divisions of the High Court of Justice; and whether he will consider the setting up of a small committee with a view to investigating the economy and efficiency of appointing official shorthand writers to all divisions of the High Court of Justice?

I am not aware that there is any dissatisfaction in the legal profession, or among shorthand reporters, at the absence of official shorthand writers. The employment of official shorthand writers throughout the Courts would involve very considerable expenditure, and would tend to increase the cost of litigation, which is most undesirable at the present time. Special reasons exist for the employment of official shorthand writers in the Divorce Division and in Bankruptcy, which are not applicable in the case of the other business transacted in the High Court or the Court of Appeal.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Agricultural Organisation Society receives a grant from public funds, and, if so, where it appears in the Estimates?

The answer is in the negative. Grants from public funds to the society referred to were given for a number of years, but ceased at the end of last financial year.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has yet received the Report upon the working of the juvenile unemployment centers; and when he can announce his decision upon the question of the continuance of the grant in respect of these centres?

I have received the Report on the working of the juvenile unemployment centres made by Mr. J. McKie Bryce, whom I asked to inquire into the matter. On the question of the continuance of the centres, I can add nothing at present to the reply given yesterday to the Noble Lady the Member for Sutton (Viscountess Astor) and the hon. and gallant Member for Reading (Major Cadogan), of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, when the recruiting Regulation requiring intending recruits to promise to be vaccinated was reintroduced in January, 1919, his Department possessed information as to small-pox in the Army; and, if so, why have repeated requests for such information been refused on the ground that it was not available?

The complete statistics which have been asked for from time to time were not, and are not yet, available, but the Department possessed sufficient information to be satisfied that the reintroduction of the Regulation was desirable from a military point of view.

asked the Minister of Health whether the official employed by the Gloucester medical officer to distemper houses where small-pox has occurred has himself contracted the disease, and when this official was last vaccinated?

I have made inquiries of the local authority and am informed that no official employed to distemper houses where small-pox has recently occurred in Gloucester has since contracted the disease.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of small-pox there have been in Gloucestershire in January, February, March, April and May of this year; and whether any special steps have been taken to cope with the disease in Gloucestershire?

The numbers of cases of small-pox which have been notified in Gloucestershire, including the city of Gloucester, during these months have been as follow:—

have since caused a communication to be sent to the local authority recommending the several special steps which should be taken to deal with the outbreak, and I understand that effect is being given to these recommendations.

asked the Minister of Health whether his Department has received an appeal from the Hayes Urban District Council against the rents fixed for the Council houses on the Botwell Estate which, being beyond the means of many of the tenants, are falling considerably in arrear; and whether this case can be immediately reconsidered by the rents tribunal with a view to suitable reductions being made?

The rents of these houses were the subject of a reference to the appeal tribunal last year, and their decision, given in May, 1922, is final and conclusive as regards the rents charged to the 31st March last. As regards the current year, it is open to the Council to submit to my Department any proposals which they may consider to be in accordance with the Regulations laid down for the determination of rents, and in the event of a disagreement between the Department and the Council, the matter could again be referred to the tribunal.