asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the representations of the Trainees' National Guild, Birtley Branch, with reference to the further training and allowances to disabled ex-service men; and whether the Government is prepared to deal with the points raised as urgent questions?

I have arranged to receive a deputation from the Trainees' National Guild, when these questions will doubtless be raised.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the fact that practically all the ex-service Grade 3 clerks employed at certain regional head-quarters have received notice terminating their employment, he will issue instructions for the suspension of such notices pending the Report of the Southborough Committee?

The hon. Member would appear to have been misinformed. The number of ex-service temporary clerks now under notice of discharge in consequence of redundancy from regional offices represents only 9·6 per cent. of the number of such officers. With regard to the suggestion that the notices of discharge should be suspended, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Chertsey on the 6th instant, and to my reply of the 13th instant to the question put by the hon. and gallant Member for the Hulme Division of Manchester. I regret that I should not be justified in retaining staff for whom there was not work.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of coastguard stations under his Department; the number of such stations at which a station officer is in charge, and the rank and remuneration of such officer; the number of such stations at which there is no station officer in charge, and the rank and remuneration of the person who is in charge; if there is any difference of either work or responsibility or remuneration between the first category and the second, in what the difference consists; and, if there is no difference in work or responsibility but a difference in remuneration, whether he will take steps to see that the pay and allowances of those doing similar work in charge of the stations is equiparated?

There are 296 coastguard stations under the Board of Trade, and at 185 of these there are station officers. At 111 stations there is either a district officer in residence or a senior coastguard; there are 14 stations in the former class and 97 in the latter class, but at the whole 111 a charge allowance is given to the senior coastguard. The present inclusive remuneration of a senior coastguard is 49s. 8d. a week, including 1s. charge allowance; that of a station officer is 59s. 5d. a week; in each case with free residence and uniform. In general, the work and responsibility of the station officers is greater than that of the senior coastguard in charge of a station, but there are cases where the difference is slight, and the Board of Trade are now looking into the matter to see whether the number of station officers should be reduced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state what was the maximum production and export, respectively, of dried figs, raisins, plums, raw apples, and dried currants from the Colonies and Dominions during the last five years?

I have been asked to reply. The following statement shows, for the fruits specified, the quantities produced in and exported from British Dominions and Colonies in the four years 1919 to 1922, so far as particulars are given in Official Returns issued by those countries.

DOMINION OF CANADA.
(a) Production:		1919.	1920.	1921.	1922.
Apples	Barrels	3,334,660	3,404,340	4,046,813	*5,048,405
Plums, Canned	Cases	Not stated	68,122	8,801	45,732
Plums, Preserved	Cases		788	397	Not stated.
(b) Exports of Domestic Produce:		1919–20.	1920–21.	1921–22.	1922–23.
Apples, green or ripe	Barrels	873,882	1,358,499	1,845,955	l,460,656
* Estimated.

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.
(a) Production:		1919–20.	1920–21.	1921–22.	1922–23.
Apples	Bushels	6,247,659	5,870,471	6,546,134	Not available.
Plums	Bushels	682,666	773,836	666,730
Dried Figs	Cwts.	417	361	513
Dried Plums and Prunes	Cwts.	5,313	7,234	7,228
Dried Raisins	Cwts.	280,452	168,177	270,020
Dried Currants	Cwts.	142,833	136,481	162,136
(b) Exports of Domestic Produce:
Fresh Apples	Cwts.	352,858	373,863	748,670	Not available.
Dried Raisins	Cwts.	78,924	105,500	117,804
Dried Currants	Cwts.	70,963	53,521	97,689

DOMINION OF NEW ZEALAND.
(a) Production:		1919–20.	1920–21.	1921–22.	1922–23.
Apples	Bushels	1,123,858	988,968	989,614	1,469,243
Plums	Bushels	66,362	68,364	67,189	65,553
(b) Exports of Domestic Produce:		1919.	1920.	1921.	1922.
Fresh Apples	Cwts.	118	12,168	17,656	40,174
Fresh Plums, Peaches, Apricots.	Cwts.	10	1	1	—

UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA.
(a) Production (on Farms):		1919–20.	1920–21.	1921–22.	1922–23.
Dried Currants	Cwts.	615	692	1,058	Not available.
Dried Raisins	Cwts.	46,179	74,946	139,655
Dried Figs	Cwts.	1,223	1,180	2,050
Dried Prunes	Cwts.	5,279	6,088	17,375
Dried Plums	Cwts.	Not stated	537
(b) Exports of Domestic Produce:		1919.	1920.	1921.	1922.
Fresh Apples	Boxes	8,403	8,658	7,016	13,532
Fresh Plums	Cwts.	2,630	52,402	53,835	106,075
Dried Currants	Cwts.	28	44	41	9
Dried Raisins	Cwts.	35,761	27,058	62,353	106,057
Dried Prunes	Cwts.	2,580	498	723	4,044
Note.—Exclusive of Exports to S. and N. Rhodesia.

CYPRUS.
Exports of Domestic Produce:		1919.	1920.	1921.	1922.
Raisins	Cwts.	84,741	36,311	35,409	36,071

asked the Prime Minister whether anything has been done in Government factories in the direction of converting machinery and the like formerly used for war purposes into purposes of a peaceful and productive character?

It is not possible within the limits of a Parliamentary answer to say more in reply to so general a question than that experience has shown that such conversion is not practicable to any considerable extent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why difficulties are being placed in the way of Devon store cattle being sent out of the county to other parts of the country where they are required, the said county of Devon being free from foot-and-mouth disease, while at the same time it is permitted for cattle to be imported into and moved about the country from Ireland?

No restrictions have been placed by the Ministry upon the movement of cattle from Devonshire to other parts of Great Britain except that a licence is required from the local authority of the receiving district if movement into a foot-and-mouth disease-infected area is concerned. The restrictions to which the hon. Member apparently alludes are those which have been imposed by local authorities of other counties upon the movement of cattle into their districts in the exercise of their powers under the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Order to prohibit or regulate the movement of animals from other counties for the purpose of preventing the introduction or spread of foot-and-mouth disease. Local authorities also have power to prohibit the movement of Irish animals into their districts, and have in a large number of counties exercised such powers. There is, therefore, no distinction, so far as these local regulations are concerned, between cattle from Devonshire and cattle from Ireland. It is the fact that Devonshire has been free from foot-and-mouth disease for some months, but in view of the serious position of this country during the past few months as regards foot-and-mouth disease, the Ministry has not considered it expedient to interfere with the exercise by local authorities of their powers to make regulations affecting movement of stock into their district as a protection against the introduction of disease from without.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that medical practitioners continue to receive their panel fees in full when insured persons are admitted to hospitals under the control of boards of guardians; and whether it is the intention in the future to have a reduction made in the panel fees when medical attendance cannot be given in accordance with contract?

I have nothing to add to my reply on the 20th February to a similar question by the hon. Member for Shoreditch (Mr. Thurtle).

asked the Minister of Health what was the total of the contributions paid into the National Health Insurance Fund in 1922; what proportion was paid by employers, employés, and the State, respectively; how much was paid out in sickness, disablement, and maternity benefits, respectively; how much was paid to panel practitioners; and what is the total balance in the insurance funds?

The figures relating to England and Wales for 1922 are as follow:The total of the contributions by employers and employés paid into the National Health Insurance Fund was £22,384,000 of which approximately £11,742,000 was paid by employers and £10,642,000 by employés. The State contribution which takes the form of payment of the statutory proportion of the cost of National Health Insurance benefits and administration, together with sundry grants-in-aid and cost of central administration, was £7,429,000.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the number of houses built in the county of Glamorgan under the Addison Act; and the number now sanctioned under the Housing Act, 1923?

The following was the position on the 1st instant as regards houses authorised under the Housing, Town Planning, Etc., Act, 1919, in the county of Glamorgan (including the county boroughs):

Number of houses completed	6,072
Number of houses under construction	314
Number of houses in approved tenders but not yet commenced	78
	6,464

1,119 houses were erected by private builders with the aid of the grant under the Housing (Additional Powers) Act, 1919. The number of houses in schemes authorised under the Housing, Etc., Act, 1923, is 3,539, of which 1,431 are to be erected by local authorities, and 2,108 by private enterprise.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that many complaints are being made at Hull in consequence of there being a shortage of wagons for carrying timber and other merchandise; if he is aware that, in consequence of there being a shortage of wagons, many of the deal carriers and the men who handle pit-props for mining timber have to lose a good deal of time; and if he is prepared to take action in the matter?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer, of which I am sending him a copy, to a question on this subject asked on Wednesday last by the hon. Member for North-West. Hull (Lieut.-Colonel Lambert Ward).

asked the Minister of Transport what was the amount of the reserve fund of the various railway companies in Great Britain at the end of 1913 and at the latest available date?

The amount of the reserves and depreciation funds of the railway companies in Great Britain, as shown in the published balance sheets, was, in round figures, £121,000,000 at the 31st December, 1923, and £21,0000,000 at the same date in 1913.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the exceptional difficulties of road-making and maintenance in the very extensive and sparsely populated county of Argyll, the admittedly excessive burden of the road rates on the local ratepayers, the many complaints last year from users of the roads as to their bad condition, and the increasing use of these roads by traffic from other districts, he can see his way to increase the Government grants or, at least, order a full inquiry into the present position?

I am well aware of the difficulties peculiar to many of the more sparsely populated districts in Scotland. Assistance in excess of the normal scale has been afforded from the Road Fund during the past three years, and will be again during 1924–25. The county of Argyll has benefited considerably from these special grants. Continual observation is kept on the problem of highway administration in these areas, and should it appear necessary to hold a special inquiry into the circumstances in Argyll, an investigation of the facts will be duly made.

asked the Home Secretary what is the present pay and rates of pension of the various grades of officers in the police force; and what was the pay and rates of pension of similar officers who left the force on the 31st August, 1918?

1918.
—				Pay.	Annual Pension.
					After 25 years' service.			Maximum.
				Per Year.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Chief Constables	…	…	…	£600—£800	496	0	0	533	6	8
Superintendents	…	…	…	£355—£475	294	10	0	316	13	4
				Per Week.
Chief Inspectors	…	…	…	£4 18s.—£5 14s.	184	8	1	198	5	8
Inspectors	…	…	…	£3 6s.—£3 14s.	119	14	0	128	14	2
Section Sergeants	…	…	…	£2 3s.—£2 7s.	76	0	6	81	15	0
Constables	…	…	…	£1 10s.—£1 18s.*	64	14	1	69	11	6
* Additional increment of 1s. after 15 years' service, and a further increment of 1s. after 20 years' service.
War Bonus: Chief Constables, 3s. per week; other ranks, 12s. per week.

1924.
—				Pay.	Annual Pension.
					After 25 years' service.			Maximum.
				Per Year.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Chief Constables	…	…	…	£800—£1,000	620	0	0	666	13	4
Superintendents	…	…	…	£550—£700	434	0	0	466	13	4
				Per Week.
Chief Inspectors	…	…	…	£8 9s.—£9 13s.	312	3	9	335	13	8
Inspectors	…	…	…	£6 5s.—£7 5s.	234	10	11	252	4	0
Section Sergeants	…	…	…	£5—£5 12s. 6d.	181	10	7	195	13	6
Constables	…	…	…	£3 10s.—£4 10s.*	153	13	5	165	4	8
* Additional increments—subject to good conduct and efficiency—of 2s. 6d. after 17 years' service, and a further 2s. 6d. five years after the grant of the first 2s. 6d.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is decided that the police authorities will undertake the whole of the police arrangements in and around the Wembley Stadium on the occasion of the Football Cup Final, and not leave the recommendation as to the number of police required to the Stadium authorities, so that there may be no danger of a repetition of last year's unfortunate incidents?

In 1918 the rates of pay and pension varied from force to force, and it is impossible to give full details within the limits of the reply. The sub-joined table gives the information asked for in the cases of certain typical ranks of the Metropolitan Police:

The police arrangements outside the Exhibition grounds will, of course, be wholly in the hands of the police authorities. The primary responsibility for the arrangements within the grounds must rest with the Exhibition authorities, but the number of police to be employed will be settled in conjunction with the Commissioner of Police, and care will be taken to make all possible provision to secure proper control of the crowds.

asked the Home Secretary whether the medical officer's duties at Parkhurst Prison are wholly or in part subject to the control or direction of the governor, or whether the medical officer is directly responsible to the Prison Commissioners?

The governor of Parkhurst Convict Prison is the chief officer to whom the other officers are subordinate, but the medical officer has entire responsibility to the Commissioners, through the governor, for the medical treatment of the convicts.