asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the repeated appeals from the Teviotdale Farmers' Club and other agricultural bodies, he will consult his experts to ascertain whether free movement of sheep over the rest of the country could be permitted by all local authorities, provided that the areas in the country where sheep scab exists were scheduled, dipping of the sheep therein carried out under competent supervision, and restrictions placed on the movement of sheep from those areas to

—			England (excluding Monmouth).	Wales (including Monmouth).	Scotland.
			No.	No.	No.
Cows and Heifers in milk	…	…	1,706,321	268,225	361,742
Cows in Calf but not in milk	…	…	239,138	29,883	42,132
Heifers in Calf with first Calf	…	…	341,041	30,189	51,489
Total	…	…	2,286,500	328,297	455,363
Other Cattle	…	…	2,746,351	461,844	738,227
Total of Cattle			5,032,851	790,141	1,193,590

In view of the prevalence of sheep scab in as many as 51 counties in England and Wales and 20 in Scotland in 1923, I regret that I do not see my way to withdraw from local authorities the power to make protective regulations conferred on them by the Sheep Scab Order of 1920. Moreover, the new policy for dealing with scab initiated by the Sheep Scab Order of 1923 does not come into full operation until 1st July next, and until the results of that policy can be seen I do not feel justified in making any departure from the existing methods of combating this disease.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of cattle in England, Wales, and Scotland, respectively, in June, 1923; the number of female bovine animals in England, Wales, and Scotland, respectively, in June, 1923; and the number of such animals since slaughtered in each of the said countries on account of being affected with foot-and-mouth disease or exposed to infection; and the number of cows and heifers in milk or in calf in England, Wales, and Scotland, respectively, in June, 1923, and the number of such animals since slaughtered in each of those countries on account of being affected with foot-and-mouth disease or exposed to infection?

The following statement gives particulars of the numbers of cattle and of cows and heifers in milk or in calf in England, Wales and Scotland on 4th June, 1923. The total number of female cattle is not available, as apart from cows and heifers in milk or in calf, female cattle are not separately distinguished in the annual agricultural returns:—

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the fact that many crofters in the Western Isles are unable, owing to unemployment and the failure of crops, to pay cash for the necessary seed potatoes and seed oats; and what proposals he has to make in the matter?

I have received representations that in some cases crofters will be unable to pay cash for seed even at the reduced rates which have now been fixed. I understand that the Executive Committee of the Lord Provosts' Funds are making arrangements under which persons who are unable to pay the reduced rates and who require further assistance may submit applications to the Local Distress Committees which the Executive Committee has established.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that in many localities in the Highlands it is quite impossible for the people to purchase the necessary seed oats and potatoes on the terms offered by the Board of Agriculture; and whether, in view of the great distress and the urgency of the sowing, he can now state what further assistance can be given?

As I announced in the House on Thursday last, it has been decided to increase substantially the amount of assistance originally offered towards the supply of seed oats and seed potatoes.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that certain local authorities are not extending to allotment holders the benefits of the Agricultural Rates Acts, 1896 and 1923; and whether he will consider communicating with rating authorities in order that allotment holders may receive the full benefits to which they are entitled?

The law as to the rating of allotment gardens was explained in circulars issued by my Department to local authorities in August last, and so far as I am aware it is understood and is being followed by the authorities concerned. But if the hon. Member has any information to the contrary, and will send me the necessary particulars, I will certainly make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes, in his housing scheme, to make any stipulation that allotments taken for housing purposes shall be replaced by alternative holdings reasonably adjacent to the residences of the allotment holders?

In the case of land specifically acquired for allotments the consent of the Ministers of Agriculture and Health is ordinarily required before the land can be appropriated for other purposes, and where necessary a condition has been attached to the consent that alternative land should be provided for allotments. Allotment land held under an Inclosure Act can only be taken for housing purposes subject to the conditions laid down in Section 73 of the Housing Act, 1909. As regards land acquired for some other purpose where temporary use for allotments has been permitted, the Allotments Act, 1922, affords protection to the tenants as regards reasonable notice and compensation. In the above circumstances it does not appear that any further action is necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in the interests of the general public, he will institute an inquiry into the desirability of insisting upon searching tests as to the competence and physical ability of the applicant for a driving licence to drive and control a car?

Such an inquiry has been held by the Departmental Committee on the Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles, which includes representatives both of local authorities and of the police, and I would refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 134–141 and 156–168 of their Second Interim Report issued in March, 1922. For the reasons set out in that Report, I do not think it would be practicable to institute any general system of tests for the drivers of motor vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the average fare per mile charged to passengers on omnibuses associated with the London Traffic Combine on routes where municipal tramways are operating, and where municipal tramways are not operating?

My Department has no jurisdiction in regard to the fares charged by the London General Omnibus Company or other omnibus companies operating in London, and I am not in a position to furnish the information desired.

also asked the Home Secretary the number of omnibuses owned by the London Traffic Combine operating in 1913, 1920, and 1923 under licences issued by the Commissioner of Police, and the corresponding figures in respect of non-combine omnibuses; and the number of combine and non-combine omnibuses per route mile in 1913, 1920, and 1923?

The Commissioner informs me that the figures for the three years in question are: Combine, 3,162, 2,983, and 4,472; non-combine, 360, 199, and 645, respectively. The figures asked for in the last part of the question are not available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his Department or the Electricity Commissioners were responsible for the statements which appeared in the Press towards the end of last week to the effect that a new draft. Order of the Electricity Commissioners for a London and Home Counties Joint Authority was soon to be published, and that this, together with the four company Bills now receiving attention in another place would, in due course, lead to falls in the cost of electricity; and whether, in considering the draft Order, the Commissioners are having regard to the desirability, from the point of view of the domestic and industrial consumer, of the public ownership of the electricity supply industry?

The only information given to the Press during the past week was that it was hoped to publish the new draft Order for London in the course of the next two or three weeks. With regard to the second part of the question the new draft Order will provide for the establishment of a joint electricity authority and for the control of the generation of electricity in the London and home counties district in the public interest.

asked the Secretary for Scotland the amount of money contributed by the Treasury towards the improvement of Scottish housing conditions under the various housing schemes since 1919?

The amount contributed and to be contributed by the Treasury up to the 31st March next towards the improvement of Scottish housing conditions including the erection of new houses since 1919 is £2,551,158.

asked the Minister of Labour how many skilled artisans in the building trade have emigrated since 1919?

I have been asked to reply. The classification of emigrants from the United Kingdom according to their occupations was suspended during the War and was not resumed until 1921. According to returns furnished to the Board of Trade, 1,345 skilled artisans in the building trade emigrated from the United Kingdom to non-European countries in 1921, 1,525 in 1922 and 2,062 in the first six months of 1923. These figures relate to British subjects only. The corresponding total for the second six months of 1923 is not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health the amount of money contributed by the Treasury towards the improvement of English housing conditions under the various housing schemes since 1919?

The amounts paid to date from moneys voted by Parliament during the four financial years ending 31st March next in respect of English and Welsh housing schemes, as are follow:

	£
Annual deficits on assisted housing schemes of local authorities, public utility societies, etc.	18,570,000
Grants to private builders	9,498,000
	£28,068,000

asked the Minister of Health the amount of the subsidies already guaranteed under the Housing Acts of 1922 to England, Scotland, and Wales, respectively?

It is assumed that the hon. Member refers to the Housing Act of 1923. The amount of Exchequer subsidy payable annually for 20 years, subject to the erection of the number of houses authorised, in respect of English and Welsh schemes approved to date under that Act is approximately as follows:

	£
England	620,000
Wales	30,000

As regards Scotland, I would suggest that the hon. Member should address a similar question to my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Government intends to treat the question of rural housing as a question which requires different treatment from that of urban housing; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take and when?

I suggest that the hon. and gallant Member should reserve his question until I am in a position to make a complete statement of the Government's housing policy.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to the increase in wages and the raising of prices in the building world, and whether, accordingly, he proposes to modify the existing figure of £500 for houses under his new proposals; and whether the shortage of men and material will affect the numbers of such houses he proposes to construct under his scheme?

I am in communication with the building industry as to the arrangements to be made in order to ensure the supply of labour and materials necessary for the carrying out of an adequate housing programme, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement. The question of price, which is, of course, a very important element in any housing scheme, is also receiving consideration.

asked the Minister of Health the various totals of the applications for the subsidy under the Housing Act, 1923, made by the different local authorities in South Oxfordshire, and give in each case the numbers of such applications which have been approved?

The following proposals have been submitted under the Housing, etc., Act, 1923, by local authorities in South Oxfordshire and approved by my Department:—

	Houses to be erected by the local authority.	Houses to be erected by private enterprise.
Crowmarsh Rural District Council	10	2
Headington Rural District Council	—	30
Henley Rural District Council	—	64
Oxford County Borough	173	100
Thame Urban District Council	6	22

asked the Minister of Health how many houses were under construction under the Housing Act, 1923, by local authorities and private enterprise, respectively, on 1st February, 1923?

On the 1st February last, the following numbers of houses were in various stages of construction under the Housing Act, 1923:

Local authorities' schemes	7,400
Private enterprise schemes	10,526
Total	17,926

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have now submitted schemes under the Housing Act, 1923?

1,144 local authorities have submitted schemes under the Housing, etc., Act, 1923.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total number of houses erected by local authorities and public utility societies under the Housing Act, 1919, up to the end of February, 1924; and what was the total number of houses completed under the same Act by private builders for which a subsidy was given?

The total number of houses erected by local authorities and public utility societies under the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1919, up to the 1st February, which is the latest date for which information is available, was 168,430, and a further 4,634 were under construction at that date. 39,184 houses were completed by private builders with the aid of the subsidy authorised by the Housing (Additional Powers) Act, 1919.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will undertake to circulate with the Votes a monthly statement of progress made under the Housing Act, 1923, showing, in addition to the number of authorisations issued by the Ministry, the number of houses definitely arranged for by local authorities and private enterprise, respectively, and the progress made in actual building?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the conditions under which a number of families, dishoused owing to a building scheme in Westminster, are now living in what was formerly St. George's casual wards; and whether he can consider taking any steps in the matter?

I am in communication with the city council with regard to the condition of these premises, which are now in private ownership, and I will communicate further with the hon. and gallant Member as soon as I am in a position to do.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the serious shortage of houses in the parish of Irchester, in the Parliamentary Division of Wellingborough, and that families of eight persons have to live in two-roomed houses; whether he is satisfied that such dwellings are in a satisfactory sanitary condition; and whether, seeing that the Ministry of Health prevented the rural district council proceeding with the building of houses in December, 1921, after sites had been secured and plans approved, and in view of the failure of private enterprise to erect the necessary houses, he will now enable the rural district council to proceed immediately with the erection of houses?

Representations as to the need for houses in Irchester were made by the Wellingborough Rural District Council in connection with their proposals for assisting the provision of working class houses by private enterprise. These proposals have been approved by my Department. If the council are of opinion that the housing need of their district is not likely to be met by private enterprise I shall be prepared to entertain an application for the erection of houses by the council.

asked the Minister of Health the rent charged by each of the housing authorities in the administrative county of Warwick for each type of house erected under the post-War housing schemes; and the amount of rates charged upon each type of house so erected?

The following table shows the rents agreed between the various housing authorities in the administrative county of Warwick and my Department as constituting the basis for the determination of the amount of Exchequer subsidy payable in connection with the 1919 Housing Act. Information as to rates is not available. I have no

Local Authority.				Living-room, scullery and 3 bedrooms.	Parlour, living-room, scullery and 3 bedrooms.	Parlour, living-room, scullery and 4 bedrooms.
Town Councils:
Nuneaton	…	…	…	7s. 3d.	8s. 6d.	—
Royal Leamington Spa	…	…	…	9s.	11s. and 12s.	—
Stratford-on-Avon	…	…	…	—	9s.	11s.
Sutton Coldfield	…	…	…	8s. 6d.	11s.	—
Warwick	…	…	…	8s.	10s. 3d.	11s. 3d. & 11s. 6d.
Urban District Councils:
Bulkington	…	…	…	7s.	8s. 6d.	—
Kenilworth	…	…	…	7s. 6d. and 8s.	10s.	11s.
Rugby	…	…	…	8s. 6d.	10s. 6d.	—
Rural District Councils:
Alcester	…	…	…	6s. to 8s.	12s. 6d.	—
Atherstone	…	…	…	8s.	10s. 6d.	—
Brailes	…	…	…	4s. 6d.	—	—
Farnborough	…	…	…	6s. 6d.	—	—
Foleshill	…	…	…	7s. and 8s.	10s. 6d.	—
Meriden	…	…	…	7s.	9s.	—
Rugby	…	…	…	8s.	10s.	—
Southam	…	…	…	6s.	—	—
Stratford-on-Avon	…	…	…	6s. 6d. and 7s.	—	—
Warwick	…	…	…	7s. 8d.	—	—

asked the Minister of Health if the experiences of his Department during the last four years has led him to the conclusion that in the erection of cottages concrete can be substituted for brick with advantages in economy and durability; if so, under what circumstances; and, if not, on what grounds?

Cottages can be designed and constructed in concrete so as to be equally as durable as brick. The relative degrees of economy will depend upon various local circumstances, but particularly upon the availability and cost of bricks, suitable aggregate and skilled labour.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state, as a guide to

Subject to the review of the district auditor, it is within the discretion of individual boards of guardians when granting out-door relief to determine the amount of relief that is necessary to remove destitution in any particular case, and I do not think it is desirable to give any directions which would interfere with this discretion. As regards the last part of the question, it is the duty of the guardians to consider all the circumstances of each case, including any refusal to accept work.

asked the Minister of Health whether the scale of relief given by the Holborn Board of Guardians corresponds to the Mond scale?

I understand that this board of guardians has no fixed scale, but deals with each case according to its particular needs. I may at the same time point out that the Mond scale was merely for the purpose of controlling the charges to be borne by the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the guardians of the Poplar parish are very strongly opposed to the dissolution of the Poplar and Stepney Sick Asylum District recently sanctioned by him; whether he will explain why he has agreed to the amalgamation of the Poor Law unions within the Stepney Borough into one union, leaving Poplar as the one parish in the Tower Hamlets outside the scheme; and whether, in view of the fact that the Government is now pledged to deal with the reform of the Poor Law, he will reconsider his decision and postpone the dissolution of the district and the unification of the unions named above until the whole question of the reform of the Poor Law has been dealt with in a comprehensive manner?

I am aware of the facts stated in the first part of the question. The change which I have approved is in the direction of making Poor Law and municipal areas conterminous, and, as my hon. Friend knows, it is not to take effect until the 31st March, 1925. If a scheme of reform is brought into operation before that date this particular question will, no doubt, be merged in the larger issue, but in the meantime I see no need to alter my decision.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received any representations from boards of guardians calling attention to the number of persons insured under the National Insurance Acts who are admitted to Poor Law hospitals and in respect of whom the guardians are precluded from receiving any benefit for the treatment afforded; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

Representations to the effect referred to by the hon. Member have been received, but I would point out that boards of guardians have the ordinary powers of recovery of expenses incurred by them in providing treatment in a Poor Law hospital to a person insured under the National Health Insurance Acts as in the case of all other persons for whom such treatment is provided. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 20th February to the hon. Member for Shoreditch (Mr Thurtle).

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of surcharge made against members of boards of guardians or other local authorities, including county councils, during the past five years have been remitted by him or his predecessors in office; and will he also inform the House in how many cases of surcharge during the same period the persons surcharged have been called upon to pay and have obeyed the order, and the total amount which has been recovered for the benefit of the ratepayers?

Complete figures are not at the moment available. Perhaps the hon. Member will put his question down again this day week.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the London County Council was recently surcharged by the auditor for paying the expenses of school children to attend performances of Shakespeare plays, and on appeal to the Courts by the Council such surcharge was upheld; and will he inform the House whether the persons surcharged, being members of the London County Council, have themselves paid the costs of the auditor and paid into the county funds the amount of such surcharge?

I am aware of the facts of this case, and I understand that my predecessor remitted the surcharge and so relieved the persons surcharged of their personal liability in the matter.

asked the Secretary for Mines who are the members of the health advisory committee attached to the Mines Department; how is that committee constituted; does it issue any reports and, if so, when and to whom; and is he aware that the general inquiry into dangers from dust has been going on for 20 years, during which the general health of the iron-ore miners has depreciated?

The members of my health advisory committee are:—Dr. J. S. Haldane, Sir Walter Fletcher, Sir Kenneth Goadby and Professor E. L. Collis. The committee was constituted

"to advise as to the action to be taken to lessen occupational disease among the workers in mines."

It reports to me from time to time. I am aware that there have been various inquiries as to particular aspects of the danger from dust. The latest general statistics available—those relating to the years 1910–1912—do not bear out my hon. Friend's suggestion that the mortality of ironstone miners from this cause has increased; on the contrary, they show an improvement on the figures of 10 years previously. The figures for 1920–22 are not yet available. But I shall be glad to consider the evidence on which my hon. Friend bases his statement if he will furnish me with it.

asked the Minister of Health whether Clause 16 of the Trevethin Report, dealing with the expenditure of money for reducing venereal disease, has yet been considered by the Government; whether the question of Government financial assistance to the work of voluntary organisations has been decided; and whether, in view of the fact that the Society for the Prevention of Venereal Disease and the National Council for Combating Venereal Diseases have both unconditionally accepted the Trevethin Report, and have met in conference and have determined on joint action for giving effect to its recommendations, he will cause the maximum grant, which is to be made by the Government, to be divided in an equitable proportion between the two organisations?

I have now under consideration the recommendations in the Trevethin Report, including the question of financial assistance from the Exchequer to the work of voluntary organisations, but I am not yet in a position to say how any Government grant for this purpose will be allocated.

asked the Minister of Health if the Schick's diphtherine reaction test is still permitted by him; and is it still permitted to experiment with this test upon children?

I am not aware that any permission on my part is required in this matter. Local authorities have been advised by my Department that the consent of the parents or guardians should be obtained before the test is applied to children.

asked the Minister of Health whether there has recently been an increase of sleepy sickness (encephalitis lethargica) in various districts; to what is this increase attributed; and what are the conclusions of the medical experts who have been dealing with the situation?

The notification returns show that encephalitis lethargica has increased in prevalence during the past four weeks, but that this increase has occurred almost entirely in Lancashire. The disease is one which shows notable seasonal variations, both general and local, but the cause of these variations is at present obscure.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Mr. and Mrs. John Wright, of 29, Portland Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, applied to the local vaccination officer for a form of declaration of objection to vaccination and were refused; that Mr. Wright then stated he would secure one from the National Anti-Vaccination League, or some such body, and was told by the officer that if he received one of these forms he would tear it up, and that on receipt of a letter from Mr. Arthur Trobridge the officer sent Mr. Wright a form, and on getting a communication from the clerk of the guardians denied that he acted as Mr. Wright stated; and whether he will make inquiry into this matter?

My attention has already been called to the statements in the first part of the question, and I am having inquiries made into the matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many messengers are employed at the headquarters of the Ministry; how many of the men so employed will be placed on the establishment list; and is there any reason why the whole number should not be placed on the permanent list?

The answer to the first part of the question is 103. As regards the second part, there will be 10 established posts in the revised messenger establishment, and eventually 14, to be filled. As regards the last part of the question, it is the practice throughout Government Departments to perform general messenger work by unestablished messengers, established posts being allowed only where the duties are of a supervisory or specially responsible nature.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in the Civil Service of the Mother Country or of any of the Dominions, any difference is made for the purposes of recruitment between the citizens of any co-equal nation of the British commonwealth of nations; and, if so, whether he will specify such difference in respect of treatment?

I have been asked to reply. As regards the home Civil Service the only such difference is that, except by special permission of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affaire, only persons actually born within the United Kingdom, or in one of the self-governing Dominions, of parents also born within those territories, are eligible for appointment to the Foreign Office or the Department of Overseas Trade. As regard the Dominions, inquiries will be made.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons are employed on duties of inspection under the Ministry of Health, and at what annual cost, classified in each case according to the purpose of the inspection?

The number of officers of the Ministry of Health at present engaged on duties of inspection is 499, their annual salaries for 1923–24, including bonus, amounting to £231,174. Classified according to the nature of the work on which they are engaged the figures are as follows:—

	No.	Salaries, including Bonus.
		£
*Insurance Inspectorate	407	157,882
Poor Law and General Inspectors	23	20,580
Engineering	17	18,891
Inspection of alkali, etc., works	8	6,558
Housing and town planning	32	20,526
Maternity and child welfare work	5	1,738
Inspection of institutions for the blind	2	1,923
Inspection of canal boats	1	796
Inspection of public cleansing and salvage	1	764
Inspection of work of vaccination officers	1	816
Grading and certification of milk	2	700
Total	499	231,174
* This includes 73 officers employed on unemployment insurance work, which the Ministry of Health has undertaken as agents for the Ministry of Labour.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in order to put an end to the continual discharge of women, ex-service men, and other employés from various Government Departments, he will consider the advisability of reducing the hours of labour in all Government Departments, especially for workers in what are known as the lower grades, so as to ensure the continual employment of as many persons as possible?

The question of the pay and hours of duty of temporary clerical staffs is at present under consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is in a position to make any statement as to the question of the relation of men's to women's rates in the Civil Service; and whether it is proposed to institute an inquiry into the whole matter?

This question is at present governed generally by the Resolutions of this House of the 5th August, 1921, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give the total numbers of conscientious objectors employed in various Government Departments; and whether he will issue orders to Departmental heads for their replacement by ex-service officers and men, preference being given to disabled men provided the nature of disablement is not such as to handicap efficient discharge of work?

The number of conscientious objectors re-instated in the Civil Service in 1920 was estimated at under 230; the number now serving cannot be greater, and may be less. As regards the latter part of the question, I would refer to the answer given yesterday to the hon. Member for Barrow-in-Furness (Mr. D. Somerville).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of redundant executive officers at present employed in the Treasury departments or under notice of dismissal; and the number of promotions which have been made since the signing of the Armistice?

The number of permanent officers of Treasury classes paid on the scale of the executive class, but not absorbed into substantive executive or equivalent posts, has not been exactly ascertained, but is approximately 900. These officers fill clerical class posts, and, with the exception of any who may be due to retire under the age rules, I am not aware that any are under notice. Figures are not available in regard to the latter part of the question and could not be obtained without unjustifiable labour.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the case of certain employés in the Central Stores Department of the Disposal and Liquidation Commission who desire to obtain permanent Civil Service posts; and what action he is taking in the matter?

I have received a deputation on behalf of these and other members of the staff of the Disposal and Liquidation Commission. I am unable to take any action with regard to permanent appointments, pending the report of the Southborough Committee.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if he will state, in the examination recently held for eight posts as technical officers in the Supplies Division (Furniture), how many of the successful eight are ex-service men; whether, regarding those ex-service men who were debarred by the age clause from competing in this examination, and who have satisfactorily carried out the duties in a temporary capacity for periods up to six years, any recommendation is to be put forward for their inclusion on the establishment under Clause 7 of Training Regulations; and, if not, how is it proposed to deal with them?

The final selection of candidates for the eight posts has not yet been made, but, as 20 of the 24 who remain to be interviewed by the final selection board are ex-service men, the probability is that the proportion of the ex-service men selected to fill the posts will be high. Of the seven ex-service men referred to in the second part of the question, none has the qualifications necessary for the grade of Assistant Technical Officer, nor have any of them been performing the full duties or carrying the responsibilities of that grade. They have, therefore, no claim to be given the status. Should the requirements of the work allow, they will be retained in the less responsible grade of Temporary Technical Assistant, to which they now belong.

asked the Minister of Health if he will collect and prepare for early presentation to the House figures with regard to the number of ex-service men, with their dependants, receiving out-relief; the number of resident in workhouses; and the number charged to local rates who are in mental institutions?

As at present advised it does not appear to me that I should be justified in imposing upon Poor Law authorities the considerable trouble and expense involved in the preparation of this return, which, if made, would, so far as I can see, serve no useful purpose.

asked the Minister of Health the number of ex-service men and their dependants receiving out-door poor relief or resident in workhouses; and whether, if such figures are not available, he will order a return of the same?

I regret that the information asked for by the hon. Member is not available. As regards the last part of the question, I do not think, as at present advised, that I should be justified in imposing upon boards of guardians the considerable trouble and expense involved in the preparation of a Return of this nature, which, so far as I can see, would serve no useful purpose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the recent assurances given that no writing assistant should be appointed involving the discharge of an ex-service man, he will give instructions that the recruitment of writing assistants shall immediately cease, since further recruitment of writing assistants at the present time incidentally results in the redundancy and discharge of competent ex-service clerks?

In accordance with standing instructions, temporary ex- service men are not discharged to make room for writing assistants. I understand that the assignment of writing assistants from the October, 1923, competition is practically complete. I am unable to make any announcement as to future recruitment pending the Report of the Southborough Committee, but I cannot accept the implication in the last sentence of the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the desirability of supplying the public libraries in the largest towns and cities with all important Parliamentary documents free of charge, as is at present done with certain papers published by His Majesty's Patent Office?

I would refer to the reply given to the hon. Members for the Withington (Mr. Simon) and South Tottenham Divisions (Mr. Alden) yesterday.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if holders of the common stock of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, resident in Great Britain, are allowed any relief from British Income Tax in respect of the payment of Canadian Income Tax by the company?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give information as to the average retail price per pint of beer most largely consumed by the working classes in the cities of London, Paris, Berlin, Brussels, the Hague, and Copenhagen, or any of them, and the percentage of those prices which is absorbed by taxation of those beverages?

Inquiries are being made, and I will inform the hon. Member of the result in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the quantities of beer (standard and bulk barrels), spirits, and wine retained for consumption during the first nine months of the present financial year in Northern Ireland, and the estimated revenue attributable thereto?

The estimated figures are as follow:—

Article.	Approximate Quantity.	Estimated Attributable Revenue.
		£
Beer	Standard Barrels.	609,000
	159,000
	Bulk Barrels.
	197,000
	Proof Gallons.
Spirits	353,000	1,278,000
	Gallons.
Wine	139,000	35,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to introduce a Bill for augmenting increases given to small pensions under the Superannuation Act of 1887?

If the hon. Member is referring to the Pensions (Increase) Bill, I would refer him to the answer given in the House on the 19th February to the hon. Members for East Birkenhead (Mr. G. White) and Chester City (Sir C. Cayzer).

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the negotiations with regard to the recognition of Mexico are making satisfactory progress; and if recognition is likely to be granted?

His Majesty's Government are favourable in principle to the resumption of diplomatic relations with Mexico, but action is difficult owing to present political conditions of the country.

asked the Home Secretary if the law in relation to the provision for legal assistance to poor persons is different in England as compared with Scotland; and what action, if any, he proposes to take to give equal facilities in England for legal assistance being provided for poor people who desire the same?

If the hon. Member has any definite proposals in mind and will send them to me, they will be given careful consideration, but I would point out that the position is much simpler in Scotland where all prosecutions are undertaken by the State.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is any record of or control over private cinematograph theatres; and whether any and, if so, what steps are taken to prevent the introduction into this country of undesirable films?

Except when given in a private dwelling-house to which the public are not admitted, exhibitions of cinematograph films are subject to the control of the local authorities under the Cinematograph Act of 1909. In addition to this safeguard, a careful watch is kept by the police and the Customs to prevent the importation into the country of films which are contrary to public morals.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the Cumberland County Gaol, Carlisle, was purchased by the Home Office from the then county authority on the understanding that the first refusal, when it was for sale, should be given to the county authority at the same purchase figure; if he is aware that the gaol is now being offered for sale; and whether the offer will be to the county council or to the standing joint committee?

The answer to the first question is in the affirmative. Carlisle Prison has not yet been formally discontinued as a prison. If that is done, the Cumberland County Council will have the right to buy it back at the statutory price and the offer will be made to that body.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he contemplates the revision of relief work up to the minimum trade union rates on direct labour relief schemes, in view of the present burdens which have to be borne by Poor Law authorities as a subsidy of such wages?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on the 27th February to a similar question by the hon. Member for Hackney South (Mr. H. Morrison).

asked the Minister of Labour if he can give the number in the seven largest industries coming under the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Acts for which insurance books have been taken out; and if he can give any information as to the rates of wages that obtained in these industries for the year 1913, and the rates of wages for similar classes that obtained in the year 1923?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" for February, which contains a Table showing the estimated number of insured persons in each of 100 of the principal industry groups covered by the Unemployment Insurance Acts, and a copy of the Gazette for October last,

Dockyards.		1906. Sept.	1907. Jan.	1908. July.	1909. April.	1910. April.	1911. April.	1912. April.	1913. April.	1914. April.	1915. April.	1916. April.
Portsmouth	…	8,421	8,398	9,521	9,824	10,471	11,706	11,319	12,005	13,117	14,261	14,182
Devonport	…	7,381	7,520	8,307	8,524	9,443	10,351	10,699	11,825	12,290	14,163	14,035
Chatham	…	6,796	6,765	7,988	8,623	8,303	8,732	8,786	10,044	10,003	12,145	10,473
Pembroke Dk.	…	1,929	2,026	2,001	1,991	2,043	2,157	2,192	2,165	2,478	2,462	3,348
Rosyth	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2,944

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether all the claims have been settled with the owners of the "Kenilworth," which collided with and sank H.M.S. "Bittern"; if not all, how many have been settled and how many are outstanding; and the amounts paid and the ratings of the men for whom the payments have been made?

All the life claims have been settled with the exception of two, namely:

(1) The claim of Mr. James G. Morrison for the loss of his son, C. A. Morrison (Signalman, R.N.V.R.).

(2) The claim of the infant child of Mrs. Veal for the loss of its father, H. P. Veal (Ordinary Seaman). Mrs. Veal declines at present to put forward a claim on behalf of the child.

I am sending my hon. Friend the particulars requested in the last part of the question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of men in employment in the Royal Dockyards of Devonport, Portsmouth, Chatham, Pembroke and Rosyth, respectively, in each of the years 1906 to 1918, inclusive, and for each quarter of each of the succeeding years to December, 1923?

The numbers are as follow:—

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty when he proposes to issue the specifications for public tender in connection with the programme of cruiser construction; and whether he will expedite such issue so as to relieve unemployment at the earliest possible moment?

The invitations to tender for the proposed cruisers have already been issued.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether any part of the Navy Estimates is due to the requirements of naval aviation; and if he can state the amount in the Estimates for 1923–24?

Apart from the expenditure connected with the naval aircraft carriers and the cost of the air section of the naval staff, which are presumably not in mind, no part of the net total of Navy Estimates is due to the requirements of naval aviation. A small amount of expenditure is incurred by the Admiralty on behalf of the Air Ministry, but this is recovered from the Air Ministry and credited to Appropriations-in-Aid.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the scale of pension awarded to the dependants of officers, petty officers, and men who lost their lives in the recent disaster to Submarine L 24; whether this scale is commensurate with that awarded to the dependants of those who lost their lives upon active service during the War; and, if not, whether, seeing that the risks undergone are equally great, he can see his way to increase the scale to a war basis for those who lose their lives in any service operation?

The scale of pensions applicable to the dependants of the officers, petty officers, and men who lost their lives in Submarine L 24 is that laid down for cases arising after the termination of the War and is on a lower basis than that operative in cases arising out of the War when a considerable portion of the civil population was mobilised. The scale is in force for the Army and the Air Force as well as for the Navy, and was adopted only after the fullest consideration by the three Service Departments. It is regretted that it is not possible to revise the new scale.

asked the Par-whether pensions have been awarded to all the dependants of those officers, petty officers, and men who lost their lives in Submarine L 24, or only to those dependants to whom the deceased themselves made allotments through the Admiralty?

Provided the conditions laid down in the Regulations are fulfilled, pensions are awarded irrespective of whether allotments have been made through official channels. There are a few cases arising out of the loss of Submarine L 24 which it has not yet been possible to obtain certain necessary information, but pensions have been awarded in the case of all the widows, and children under the age of 16, in respect of whom the necessary particulars of relationship have been furnished, and also in the case of those dependants in which the condition as to age, relationship, dependency and present need are fulfilled. Every effort is being made to expedite the inquiries in the outstanding cases, but if the hon. Member has any specific case in mind in which there appears to be undue delay and will give me the necessary particulars, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the second postal delivery on Saturdays at West Mersea can be continued, if necessary, by an auxiliary postman, in order to avoid the inconvenience of a gap of 48 hours without a postal delivery?

The house-to-house delivery has been suspended, with the concurrence of the parish council, in order to afford the postmen a weekly half holiday. There is, however, a delivery to callers at the post office on Saturday afternoon. A half holiday to postmen is not granted if it involves expense, and I am unable therefore to agree to the employment of a substitute postman to make a house-to-house delivery.

asked the Secretary of State for War what amount of grants are paid by the Board for the maintenance of officers' training corps in public schools; what qualifications schools must show to be able to earn such grants; whether schools must show any percentage of pupils who ultimately pass into the Army; and whether the grants from Government have been accompanied by an increase in the number of officers' training corps in the public schools?

I assume that the Board referred to by the hon. Member is the Army Council. The amount payable in grants to the junior division of the officers' training corps for the current financial year will be about £30,000. A grant of £1 6s. 8d. per cadet over 15 years of age (or over 16 in the case of State-aided schools) is paid from public funds. In order to qualify for the grant a cadet must be returned as efficient for the year, and no school can earn its full grant unless 50 per cent. of the efficient cadets attend the annual training in camp. In addition to the capitation grant, a grant, of £1 is given for each cadet who obtains certificate "A." No percentage is laid down regarding the number of ex-pupils who must join the Regular Army. The number of school contingents in the officers' training corps at its inception was 120 and is now 165. A grant from public funds has been payable since the formation of the corps.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that it is the intention of the Russian Government not to order any thrashing machinery from this country for the harvest of 1924; and, if so, whether, in view of the forthcoming negotiations with the Russian Government, he will urge upon the Russian representatives the desirability of the modification of such policy?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, I do not think it would be advisable in existing circumstances to take the action suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government have given any guarantee under the Trade Facilities Acts or the Overseas Credits Acts in connection with the promotion of trade with Russia; and, if so, of what nature?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the import taxes imposed by the French authorities in the occupied territories are rendering the import of raw materials from Britain virtually impossible; that export firms in the Cologne area doing a considerable export business with Britain and America are compelled, in order to obtain a reduction in the export and import taxes imposed by the French authorities upon goods entering and leaving that area, to grant to the French mission of control, for the exploitation of the Ruhr and Rhine pledges, concessions that, in practice, amount to trade espionage; and if representations will be made in the proper quarters to remedy a state of affairs prejudicial to British commercial interests?

I have been asked to reply. The import duties on raw materials levied in the occupied territory of Germany by the Franco-Belgian authorities are in most cases identical with those levied by the German Government in the rest of Germany, and I am not aware that they are such as to render importation from this country impossible. As regards the second part of the question, I am aware that, in order to secure concessions in respect of import and export duties, certain groups of manufacturers in Germany have concluded special agreements with the Franco-Belgian authorities. I shall be glad to learn of any cases in which it can be shown that these agreements have proved directly prejudicial to British interests, with a view to considering what action can usefully be taken in the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total import of apples into this country in each of the years 1920 to 1923, inclusive; what proportion is from the British Empire, what was the total output of all the Colonics during these years; and what proportion of the total came to Great Britain?

The quantities of raw apples imported into the United Kingdom in the years 1920 to 1923 were as follow:

Year.	Consigned from British Countries.	Consigned from all Countries.
	cwts.	cwts.
1920	1,784,910	4,620,329
1921	1,906,328	4,001,134
1922	2,555,502	4,471,839
1923	2,884,147	6,473,457

The quantities of apples recorded as produced in Canada, Australia and New Zealand were:Produced in Canada:

Year.	Barrels.	Bushels at 3½ bushels to the barrel.
1920	3,404,340	11,915,190
1921	4,046,813	14,163,845
1922	3,838,852	13,435,982
1923	3,376,000	11,816,000

Produced in:

Year.	Australia. Bushels.	New Zealand. Bushels.
1919–20	6,247,659	1,123,858
1920–21	5,870,471	988,968
1921–22	6,546,134	989,614
1922–23	Not available	1,469,243

Practically the whole of the apples imported during 1920–23 into the United Kingdom from British countries were consigned from the three Dominions named.It would, accordingly, appear from these figures that nearly one-third of the apple crops of Canada, Australia and New Zealand were received in this country during the four years specified.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total import of canned fish into this country in each of the years 1920 to 1923, inclusive; what proportion is from the British Empire; what was the total output of canned fish during those years in the Empire; and what proportion of the total output came to Great Britain?

The imports of canned fish into the United Kingdom in the years 1920 to 1923 were as follow:

	Consigned from British Countries.	Consigned from all Countries.
Year.	cwts.	cwts.
1920	218,799	1,068,419
1921	228,304	793,794
1922	123,067	882,890
1923	161,884	738,758

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the decision of the House of Lords, on Monday last, in the case of Samuel v. Dumas; whether he is aware that the effect of that judgment is that the trader whose goods are lost, in consequence of the destruction of the carrying vessel, with the connivance of the owner, is deprived of all right to recover under the ordinary form of marine insurance policy in the Schedule to the Marine Insurance Act, and that the mortgagee, whose security is destroyed in the same circumstances, is also deprived of all right to recover under that policy; and whether, in the circumstances, he is prepared to introduce an Amendment to the Marine Insurance Act, 1906?

My attention has been called to this judgment, and I have no doubt that the interests concerned are considering, or will consider, what is the best business method of dealing with the position. I doubt whether the question of legislation will arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of brickfields working in July, 1914, with the approximate output, and the corresponding figures for July, 1923?

I regret that I do not possess the information desired by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give the House figures showing the output of iron and steel in Great Britain, France, Belgium, and Germany in 1913 and in 1922?

The following figures have been extracted from the Statistical Bulletin for November, 1923, of the National Federation of Iron and Steel Manufacturers:—

Production of Pig Iron.
	1913. Tons.	1922. Tons.
United Kingdom	10,260,300	4,902,300
France	5,126,000	5,146,900
Belgium	2,445,600	1,588,000
Germany	16,492,000	6,750,000*

Production of Steel.
	1913. Tons.	1922. Tons.
United Kingdom	7,663,900	5,880,600
France	4,614,000	4,463,600
Belgium	2,427,600	1,540,700
Germany	17,349,000	9,000,000*
* Estimated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantities of jute yarn and cloth imported into Great Britain from Germany during the years 1921, 1922, and 1923, respectively?

The following statement shows the quantities of jute yarn and jute piece goods imported into the United Kingdom during the years 1921, 1922 and 1923 and registered as consigned from Germany:—

Year.	Jute Yarn.	Jute Piece Goods.
	Lbs.	Square yards.	Cwts.
1921	42,435	6,628,127	=39,961
1922	56,993	13,939,448	=85,799
1923	1,705,225	35,017,317	=197,962

From the 1st April, 1923, direct imports into the Irish Free State from Germany have been excluded from the accounts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of duty collected by his Department under the Safeguarding of Industries Act on photo graphic cameras, and can he give the number of cameras imported during the years 1920 and 1923; and what number was of German origin?

The total duty collected in respect of photographic cameras from the 1st October, 1921, when the Safeguarding of Industries Act came into force, to the 31st December, 1923, amounted to £26,664. During the years 1920 and 1923 respectively, 456,735 and 396,973 cameras were imported, of which 907 and 28,304 respectively were consigned from Germany.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of imports of illuminated glassware from Germany and Czechoslovakia for the years 1922 and 1923?

The declared values of the illuminating glassware imported into the United Kingdom during the years 1922

In Thousands of £'s.
—	1921.	1922.	1923.
Class III.—Articles wholly or mainly manufactured.
A. Coke and Manufactured Fuel	—	3	1
B. Earthenware, Glass, Abrasives, etc.	1,272	1,292	1,541
C. Iron and Steel and Manufactures thereof	2,600	1,951	1,819
D. Non-ferrous Metals and Manufactures thereof	1,489	898	838
E. Cutlery, Hardware, Implements and Instruments	1,200	1,744	1,792
F. Electrical Goods and Apparatus	254	379	736
G. Machinery	1,049	1,138	1,233
H. Manufactures of Wood and Timber	286	306	371
I. Cotton Manufactures	447	817	1,371
J. Woollen and Worste I Manufactures	240	261	658
K. Silk and Silk Manufactures	413	1,141	1,134
L. Manufactures of Other Textile Materials	529	1,052	2,297
M. Apparel	1,145	2,776	4,103
N. Chemicals, Drugs, Dyes and Colours	2,122	2,399	2,558
O. Oils, Fats and Resins, Manufactured	25	125	237
P. Leather and Manufactures thereof	623	1,060	1,522
Q. Paper and Cardboard	872	1,154	2,513
R. Vehicles, including Locomotives, Ships, etc.	317	311	395
S. Rubber Manufactures	139	426	482
T. Miscellaneous Articles wholly or mainly manufactured.	3,429	5,334	6,135
TOTAL	18,451	24,567	31,736

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a list of manufactured goods imported into Great Britain from Germany in 1921, 1922 and 1923?

, pursuant to his answer [OFFICIAL REPORT, 3rd March, 1924, col. 1,008, Volume 170], furnishes the following statement, showing the declared value of articles classed as wholly or mainly manufactured imported into the United Kingdom, and registered as consigned from Germany during the years 1921, 1922 and 1923:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that ships' apprentices are being increasingly and regularly employed as wireless watchers and the terms of the indentures are not being carried out, the Marine Department will now officially inform shipowners that the whole time served under indentures is accepted, subject to certain conditions, as qualifying sea-service will apply in all cases except where employment as a wireless watcher has prevented the apprentice from obtaining the necessary experience of the duties of a seaman; and, seeing that the indentures are endorsed by the Board of Trade, will his Department share the responsibility with the owners to ensure that the contract is enforced regarding the training of these youths to enable them to obtain their second-mate's certificate?

The employment of apprentices as wireless watchers is not a matter in which the Board of Trade can usefully intervene, and I regret that I am unable to accept either of the suggestions contained in the question.

asked the Attorney-General whether the whole or any part of the damages awarded against the defendants in a case of wrongful detention in an asylum tried in the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice last week is to be paid by the Crown?

I have been asked to reply. An appeal is being entered against the judgment in this case. Under the judgment, the sum of £5,000 is to be paid to the plaintiff by the defendant, Dr. Bond, on or before Friday next. In accordance with the principle always observed when a public servant is sued in respect of actions taken in performance of his duty and the Crown undertakes the defence, this sum will be paid from public funds. An advance of £5,000 is accordingly being made from the Civil Contingencies Fund, and the House will be asked to vote this sum and any further sum that may be found necessary by a Supplementary Vote on the Board of Control Estimates. As the appeal case is sub judice, it would not, I think, be possible to debate the case in the House pending the result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can furnish statistics showing the nature and volume of Gorman goods imported into this country in each month from January, 1923, until October, 1923, and similar figures for each month from November, 1923, when the German Government ceased payments to German exporters under the Reparations Recovery Act, until the latest date for which information is available?

The following statement shows the declared value of merchandise classed as wholly or mainly manufactured imported into the United Kingdom and registered as consigned from Germany for each month from January, 1923, to January, 1924, classified according to the system adopted for the Trade Returns of the United Kingdom:—Although the German Government ceased on 17th November last to repay to their exporters the amount of the British levy on goods forming the subject of new contracts, they continued to repay in bonds the amount collected on goods sent to this country in pursuance of contracts made before that date.