asked the Minister of Health what is the amount of capitation fee now to be paid to panel doctors per panel persons; what is the increase, if any, agreed upon; and from what fund will this money be drawn?

Payments to insurance practitioners for the current year in respect of medical treatment given to insured persons will be based upon a capitation fee at the rate of 9s. per annum in respect of each person entitled to medical benefit. The corresponding capitation fee for the years 1922 and 1923 was 9s. 6d. In reply to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Member for the Western Division of Woolwich (Sir K. Wood).

asked the Minister of Health the total contributions paid by the Westminster, Kensington, Paddington, Chelsea, and Hampstead Borough Councils, respectively, towards the payment of outdoor relief in the poorer London boroughs through the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund for the years 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923 and 1924?

Outdoor relief was first charged to the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund for the half-year ended 31st March, 1922. Claims upon the fund in respect of the half-years subsequent to 31st March, 1923, have not yet been received. The total net contributions to the fund by the guardians of the union and parishes mentioned below, in respect of outdoor relief for the three half-years ended 31st March, 1923, were:

asked the Minister of Health whether the Law Officers of the Crown have advised that existing nurses may, until July, 1925, apply for registration under the Nurses' Registration (Amendment) Act, 1919, passed by Parliament on 7th July, 1923; and, if so, whether this right will extend to all other applicants qualified under Section 3 of the Act if they can comply with the conditions set out in the Amendment referred to?

I am consulting the Law Officers of the Crown, but have not yet received their opinion.

asked the Minister of Health if, in order to efficiently protect the public against flour adulteration, he will immediately seek further legislative powers should the existing law not be sufficient for the purpose?

I will consider the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of houses of all kinds which were built during 1923; and how many does he estimate will be built during 1924?

Complete statistics are not available as to the total number of houses of all kinds erected during the year referred to, but it is estimated that during the year ended 30th September, 1923, some 77,000 houses were erected. I am not at present prepared to make an estimate for the year 1924.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he has taken to induce local authorities to undertake housing and re-housing work where overcrowding is known to exist; whether his Department relies solely on their initiative in the matter, or whether it makes representations to such local authorities to take up schemes or to extend those which they already have in hand; and, if this is not his policy, whether he will consider adopting it?

The responsibility of initiating housing and re-housing schemes has been placed by Parliament on the local authorities. If I found it necessary I should, of course, be prepared to make representations as has been done in some cases in the past.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses needed in rural and agricultural areas in the County of Cheshire, as estimated by the D 89 Returns made under the Addison building scheme?

According to the Returns in question, which were obtained from local authorities in 1919, 2,292 houses were stated to be required during the three subsequent years in the areas of rural district councils in the County of Chester to meet unsatisfied demands.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses built in the rural and agricultural areas in the county of Chester under the Addison Act and the number now sanctioned under the Housing, Etc., Act, 1923?

Under the Housing, Town Planning, Etc., Act, 1919, 308 houses were erected in the areas of rural district councils in the County of Chester by local authorities and 831 by private builders under the Housing (Additional Powers) Act, 1919. Five hundred and sixty-eight houses are included in schemes of rural district councils in the county in question which have been authorised to date under the Housing, Etc., Act, 1923.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state, for the information of the House, the cheapest terms upon which any local authorities are arranging to build subsidised houses and dispose of them by sale to intending residents; and whether he will, in addition, lay upon the Table of the House a complete statement showing the terms upon which all local authorities throughout the country are thus proposing to build and sell houses?

I understand the hon. and gallant Member to refer to cases where the local authority does not itself build but subsidises some other person to build for it under the Act of 1923. Statistics showing prices obtained in such cases are not available.

asked the Minister of Health how many weddings have taken place in the township of Mexborough between the years 1914 and 1924; what is the actual increase in population for the same period; how many births have been registered; and how many houses the urban district council have erected to meet the needs of the increase in population?

Statistics of the number of marriages are not available save for the registration district of which Mexborough Urban District forms part. The number of births registered in the district during the years 1914 to 1923, inclusive, is 4,235; and the increase of population in that period, on balance of births, deaths and migration, may be estimated at 800. The ascertained increase in population between the censuses of 1911 and 1921 is 1,004, or 7 per cent., while the number of inhabited dwellings enumerated showed an increase of 201, or about 7·4 per cent. Fifty-six houses were completed by the local authority under the Housing, Town Planning, Etc., Act, 1919, and 94 houses have been authorised under the Housing, Etc., Act, 1923.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that an ex-service man, Mr. Horan, is at present an inmate of the mental institution of the Dartford Poor Law authorities, and that his aged father is being compelled to help the local ratepayers to the extent of 7s. 6d. per week for his maintenance; and will he call for the particulars of this case?

My attention has not previously been called to this case, but I am making inquiries.

asked the Minister of Health the number of children of civil widows who are in attendance at the Poor Law schools in the London area?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Ramsgate local education authority propose to replace Christchurch School, which has been condemned as unfit; and whether, arising out of the Report on the Ramsgate non-provided elementary schools, he can state why sanction is given for two and three classes to be taught in those schools in single rooms when such sanction is withheld in the case of provided schools?

"no classroom or main room can be recognised as accommodating such a number of children as requires two adult teachers, unless it is divided by a partition reaching to the ceiling"

applies both to provided and non-provided schools, but its application is limited to new schools.

asked the President of the Board of Education what number of education committees now refuse to employ married women teachers; what number employ such teachers; what authority, if any, the Board of Education has in these appointments; and what is the objection of the Board to securing uniformity of appointments in all areas?

I regret that I have no official statistics on this point. The only information at my disposal is that which has appeared from time to time in the newspapers, from which I gather that in some 105 areas the Education Committee has recommended that married women teachers should not be employed or should cease to be employed. These resolutions, however, are usually subject to exceptions and qualifications. The matter lies within the discretion of local education authorities, and I see no occasion for intervention on my part.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has looked into the Pearson Committee's Report recommending the adaptation of the Gretna factory to industrial purposes of general utility; and whether he has come to any conclusion in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I see no reason for differing from the conclusion arrived at by previous Governments, more particularly as the factory has been in the hands of the Disposal and Liquidation Commission for sale since the 1st September, 1921, and is now partly dismantled.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many persons were appointed to permanent posts in the Civil Service without examination during each of the years 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917 and 1918?

I would refer to the answer which I gave on the 24th March to the hon. Member for Bristol East (Mr. Baker).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of persons employed in the Civil Service on 1st August, 1914, less temporaries and Irish Departments; and what were the corresponding figures for 1st January, 1924?

I would refer to the answer which I gave on the 6th March to the hon. and learned Member for Norwood (Mr. Greaves-Lord).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the women clerks of the Taxes Branch of the Board of Inland Revenue who are now under notice of dismissal will be eligible for gratuity on completing not less than five years' approved service?

I regret that I could not agree to this suggestion, even if it were legally in my power, to grant gratuities for less than seven years' service. The cases of these women cannot be differentiated from those referred to in my reply to the hon. Member for Louth (Mrs. Wintringham) on the 26th February.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. R. P. Leechman, of 11, Inglemere Road, Rock Ferry, Cheshire, who retired without pension in September, 1923, after 52 years' service as a tax clerk; and whether, in view of his exceptionally long service and present circumstances, his claim for a retiring allowance may be reconsidered?

Mr. Leechman was awarded a gratuity and additional allowance on the termination of his pensionable service, and I regret that the facts in his case are not such as to enable a pension under the Superannuation Acts to be granted.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, under the terms of the appointment, the post of Chief Labour Adviser will shortly become vacant; and, if so, whether it is his intention to extend the period of that official's services?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; the second part, accordingly, does not arise.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that, owing to the limited established number of chief shipwrights and the method of considering some of these ratings as not available for draft, two or three of these men suffer in the matter of foreign service; and will he have the question investigated?

If further particulars can be given, I shall be glad to have the matter investigated.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that there are naval cookery officers who have not been to sea for over 14 years, and have little knowledge of the requirements for general messing afloat; and, seeing that this is not in the best interests of the Royal Navy in general and the cook branch in particular, will be change the system?

Naval cookery officers are mainly employed in large shore establishments on the supervision and training of the cooks. Considerations of accommodation prevent their being employed afloat to any extent. The system of general messing, both ashore and afloat, is carried out by officers of the accountant branch specially trained for the purpose. It is not proposed to make any change.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the military authorities responsible are satisfied that Germany has complied with the disarmament conditions of the Treaty of Versailles?

At the time when the control was suspended in January, 1923, the military authorities responsible were satisfied that Germany had been effectively disarmed. Germany has not yet fully complied with the disarmament conditions of the Treaty in such matters as the surrender of documents relating to war material, the promulgation of relevant legal texts, and the organisation of the police, but steps are being taken to secure compliance with these requirements as a primary condition of any modification in the form of control.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether, among the number of aerodromes which were first erected at great expense, and then after the War pulled down at a great expense, there remain any foundations or sites which can be utilised for the aerodromes now required for the proposed extension of the Air Force; and where such sites are situated?

In answer to the first part of the question, it has been decided to re-acquire for the expanded Air Force a number of War-time aerodromes in which the aerodrome buildings are still standing, and the re-acquisition of others is under consideration. The existence of such aerodromes, with buildings or foundations, though an important consideration, is not, however, the most important one, which is the suitability of location in regard to defence requirements. I could only name at present a few re-acquired sites, such as Tangmere and Filton. The remainder had better not be named while negotiations for purchase or lease are still proceeding.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the German Export Committee sitting in Berlin is still in existence?

I understand that the hon. Member has in mind the old system under which nearly all German exports to any foreign country required a licence which was given by the Foreign Trade Offices ( Aussenhandelstellen ). By a decree dated 17th September, 1923, the requirement of export licences was abolished except for a limited category of goods (certain foodstuffs, raw materials, and semi-manufactured products), representing less than 10 per cent. of the total exports, and most of the Aussenhandelstellen have been disbanded. The list of goods requiring licences was further reduced by a decree of the 30th January.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the Post Office at Cleator Moor does not open for public business until about 9 a.m., which is an inconvenience to business people; and will he now cause further inquiry to be made with the view of accelerating the morning delivery of letters in that area, seeing that the train service has been accelerated?

The smaller post offices such as that at Cleator Moor, do not normally open before 9 a.m., and I can find no ground for making an exception in this particular case. The morning delivery of letters in the Cleator Moor area has been expedited to correspond with the improvement in the train services, and now commences half an hour earlier than formerly. I fear that no further appreciable acceleration is at present feasible, but the position is being further considered.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the people at Bowthorn Road end of Cleator Moor have almost a mile to go in order to purchase a postage stamp, postal order, or post a parcel; and, having regard to the inconvenience caused to business people and the residents generally, and the hardship imposed upon old age pensioners and Army pensioners in having to travel this distance in all weathers, he will arrange for the opening of a sub-office to meet the requirements of the people referred to?

I am having inquiry made, and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that many farmers and others living in the Sand-with area of Whitehaven are only receiving their letters and postal packages twice, or at most three times a week; and if he will have arrangements made to meet the requirements of the inhabitants of this area by giving them the same postal facilities as is being given now to similarly situated villages, i.e., two deliveries each day?

Arrangements have been made for a delivery of letters each weekday at the only two places in the Sandwith district not hitherto served every day. I regret that the cost of a second daily delivery would not be justified.

asked the Postmaster-General if he proposes to expropriate the patents of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company for the use of the Post Office; and if he proposes to levy a royalty on the company's existing business?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The terms upon which patents may be used in the service of the Crown are laid down in Section 8 of the Patents and Designs Act, 1919. As regards the second part of the question, the Imperial Wireless Telegraphy Committee recommended that in the case of any Anglo-Continental wireless services established by private enterprise, suitable terms should be arranged for the payment of royalties or otherwise in view of the competition between such services and the State-owned cable. The Report is still under the consideration of the Government.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Hop Controller has made an effort to sell any part of the English 1923 crop abroad, in view of the high prices prevailing upon the Continent?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade whether any Returns in the possession of his De-

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the date of the existing regulations under which the Ministry prescribe the method of disinfection of cattle trucks on the railways; and whether he has taken any recent action to make these regulations more stringent?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday to the hon. and gallant Member for Ashford (Major Steel) in reply to a similar question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is

partment disclose the profits and losses of agricultural enterprises conducted by co-operative societies; and, if so, whether he will enumerate the figures, together with the names of the societies concerned, in respect to the latest year for which such figures are available?

I have been asked to reply as the societies in question furnish Returns to the Registrar of Friendly Societies and not to the Board of Trade. To state the profit or loss made by each of these societies would prove too large a task to be dealt with by way of question and answer. Aggregate figures for 1922 for each of the main groups of these societies are as follow:

satisfied with the methods of disinfecting cattle trucks, loading docks, pens, etc., on the railways at present in force, in view of the fact that Irish cattle which arrive from Ireland free from foot-and-mouth disease become in many cases infected on their journey from the port of landing; and if he is contemplating any new method of meeting this cause of the spread of the disease?

In view of the suspicion that cattle have become infected with foot-and-mouth disease while in transit on railways, my right hon. Friend is considering at the present time the issue of a new Order dealing with the disinfection of cattle trucks, loading docks and pens at railway sidings, and he has been in communication with the railway companies as to what more effective methods of disinfection might be used at depots and also what new methods of applying disinfectant could be devised which would enable even a country porter to carry out satisfactory disinfection. I may add that certain inspectors have now been detailed to assist the railway companies in securing the thorough disinfection of all trucks and premises used in the cattle trade.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the reasons for the decision of the Government to adopt, for the purpose of limiting the amount to be withdrawn from the local taxation account during the current financial year, in respect of the cost of the present outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, the method of stereotyping the amount payable out of that account to local authorities instead of that of prescribing a maximum amount to be withdrawn from the account for diseases of animals purposes; whether he is aware that the procedure thus proposed to be adopted by the Government is greatly deprecated by the county authorities as involving the objectionable practice of stereotyping grants and thereby preventing the local authorities from receiving the benefit of the growing produce of that part of the estate duty which is payable into the local taxation account; that, on the occasion of the previous serious outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease two years ago, the Government of the day did not adopt the procedure to which objection is now taken; and whether, in these circumstances, he is prepared to revert to what would appear to have been the original intention of his Department in this matter, namely, to limit the contribution from the local taxation account during the current financial year towards the cost of diseases of animals to the sum of £250,000?

The financial arrangements to which the hon. Member refers are extremely favourable to local authorities in that they have had the effect of transferring from local funds to public funds by far the larger portion of the burden of expenditure incurred in combating the present epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease. It would not be possible to alter these financial arrangements without the sanction of Parliament, and my right hon. Friend does not see his way to make proposals for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give any further information regarding the epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease in the southern counties, and of the measures taken by the Ministry to deal with the disease?

There has been nothing in the nature of an epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease in the southern counties ( i.e., south of the Thames), but if the hon. Member will inform me more particularly of the district he has in mind I shall be pleased to inform him of the action the Ministry has taken in the matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he proposes to engage skilled men to conduct propaganda on behalf of his co-operative farming policy; and, if so, on which Vote will the estimate for such State publicity arise?

I am proposing, subject to the consent of the Treasury and of the Development Commission, to appoint some officers mainly for the purpose of investigating methods of marketing agricultural produce in this country. Any expenditure incurred in this connection will be borne on the Vote of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the estimated consumption of wheat, barley, oats, beef, mutton, pig meat, poultry, butter, cheese, and eggs for the latest available year, giving also the proportions imported from overseas and produced at home, respectively?

Since the 1st April last, the monthly accounts of trade and navigation include the trade of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with the Irish Free State and exclude the direct foreign trade of the Irish Free State, and consequently the figures available of the imports of foodstuffs during the whole of the year 1923 are not comparable throughout the year. Endeavour is being made, in consultation with the other Departments concerned, to obtain further information.

asked the Prime Minister whether the agenda of business of the political and economic sections of the forthcoming Anglo-Russian Conference in London has been considered by His Majesty's Government; whether the limits of the forthcoming discussions have been denned, and what direction is it intended these discussions shall take; whether the question of the present state of transport, railway, and other matters, in Russia will be considered; and, if so, will decisions of a binding character be made between Great Britain and Russia in regard to transport or other matters where agreement is reached, with or without reference to this House?

The agenda of the Conference has for some time past been under investigation by the Departments concerned, and will in due course be settled by His Majesty's Government. The economic situation of the Soviet Union will undoubtedly be taken into account in the discussions of the appropriate section of the Conference. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer, which I gave on the 12th February, to an interjection from the hon. Member for the Drake Division of Plymouth (Sir A. Shirley Benn).

asked the Prime Minister whether the right of the subject to petition the Crown for the redress of grievances, asserted by Resolution of this House and conceded in 1628 by King Charles I, is considered by His Majesty's Government to be of continuing validity, and whether, having regard thereto and to the necessity for rigidly adhering to the Constitutional rule that taxation can only be effected after Parliamentary sanction, His Majesty's Government purposes to reintroduce the War Charges (Validity) Bill recently withdrawn?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that British holders of the smaller of the two issues of Chinese 8 per cent. sterling Treasury notes, known as the Marconi Loan, have received no interest since August, 1921; and whether he will bring pressure to bear upon the Chinese Government, with a view to ending the default as speedily as possible, and also to guaranteeing that the first drawing on the Marconi notes will duly take place in August next, as originally undertaken by that Government?

I am aware of this default, which has been the subject of repeated representations to the Chinese Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, having obtained the consent of the Dominions and India to a five-years British passport, he will inform the House with how many foreign countries he is communicating as a matter of courtesy; and whether he can now give an approximate date for the introduction of this additional facility for the travelling public?

A circular despatch has been sent to His Majesty's representatives in about 52 countries. It is not yet possible to fix a date for the introduction of the change.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is proposed to appoint a British Ambassador to the Soviet Republic of Russia; and what is the reason for delay in making such appointment?

I have fully explained the position in the answers given to the hon. and gallant Members for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) and Dulwich (Sir F. Hall) on the 27th of February and the 5th of March.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a Commercial Treaty has recently been signed between Great Britain and Poland; why it has not been ratified; and whether it will in due course be ratified?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer which I gave on the 10th instant to the right hon. Member for Chelsea (Sir S. Hoare), to which I have nothing at this moment to add.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of accidents which took place under the Workmen's Compensation Act for the years 1922 and 1923 for which compensation was paid; the number of cases which did not last four weeks; the number of accidents under the Coal Mines Act; and the percentages as compared with other industries?

The figures for 1923 are not yet available. In 1922, as the Home Office statistics for that year show, the total number of workmen's compensation cases in the seven groups of industries which are required to make returns was 379,590. Of these, 171,721 were disablement cases lasting less than four weeks (excluding cases where lump sums were paid). The number of cases in mines under the Coal Mines Act was 201,832. The percentage of cases in each industry to the total was as follows: Mines under the Coal Mines Act, 53·17; metalliferous mines, 0·16; quarries, 1·03; shipping, 1·31; factories, 36·67; docks, 2·62; constructional work, 1·28; and railways, 3·76.

asked the Home Secretary whether his notice has been drawn to the diverse decisions given by registration officers as to the correct interpretation of the Representation of the People Act, 1918 (Schedule 1, paragraph 16); and whether he will consider the desirability of introducing a Bill to secure greater uniformity of rulings in such cases as those of long-distance railway guards, engine drivers and stokers, and of commercial travellers?

I am not aware that there exists any important divergence of opinion as to the interpretation of paragraph 16. Obviously the application of that paragraph must depend on the facts of the particular case, and I doubt if it would be possible to lay down any more precise directions than are contained in the paragraph.

asked the Home Secretary what is the approximate number of aliens in Great Britain to-day as compared with the end of 1918; and what is the approximate number of aliens drawing poor relief or unemployment benefit?

I would refer the hon. Baronet to the answer which was given on Wednesday last to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison).

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the unhealthy conditions of employment operating at Woolworth's Stores, Swansea, where, within four years, nine girls have contracted tuberculosis and three of whom have died; and will he cause, the Factory Department to conduct an immediate investigation into the circumstances?

The matter has not been brought to my notice. It does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Factory Department, and as things stand at present I am afraid I have no power to intervene. I will call the attention of the local authority to the complaint with a view to their taking any action under their public health powers that may appear necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of toll-bars and toll-bridges in the West Riding of Yorks and in Great Britain?

The information asked for is not at present available, but I have already made arrangements to collect particulars of toll-roads and toll-bridges for the whole of Great Britain. I will communicate this to my hon. Friend when it is available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet had time to inquire into the scheme for converting the disused railway bridge over the Solway Firth, near Annan, into a motor-traffic bridge?

No proposals for converting this railway bridge into a road bridge are before me at present, but any concrete suggestions which are made will receive consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the expenditure of the West Riding County Council upon classified roads during the year ending March, 1923, was £962,000, while the sum received from the Ministry of Transport as their share of the Road Fund was £401,340; whether he is aware that a very large proportion of the traffic to which the heavy expenditure in repair of roads is due comes from the county boroughs who do not contribute directly to any of this expenditure; and can he in fairness to the ratepayers of the county area readjust the burden?

The grants from the Road Fund during the year in question amounted to £403,210, towards an expenditure of £830,089 on the part of the West Riding County Council, on the maintenance and improvement of Class I and Class II main roads and county bridges. I have no reason to doubt that a certain proportion of the traffic originates in county boroughs, but the hon. Member will realise that the large grants made to highway authorities from the Road Fund imply a recognition of the fact that much of the traffic on Class I and Class II roads is through traffic as distinguished from local traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the state of many of the roads in Buckinghamshire, and in particular the county road between Bourne End and Wooburn; and whether he will consider the possibility of relieving some of the present unemployment by putting this road in proper repair?

I am aware that the main road between Bourne End and Wooburn is in poor condition. I understand that provision has been made by the County Council for extensive works of improvement on Class I roads in their area, and that the work on the particular section of road referred to is to be put in hand very shortly. Contributions are being made from the Road Fund towards the cost of these works.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the increase of street accidents, he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation compelling all motor-vehicle drivers to pass a driving test before a licence is granted?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 5th March to the Member for East Bristol (Mr. Baker), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, having regard to the fact that the present transport strike inflicts great physical hardship upon members of the public who are forced by business to come up to the centre of London each day from the outer suburbs, he will, for reasons of the health and well-being of those members of the community so affected, consider arrangements for temporary means of transport during this stoppage of omnibuses and tramcars?

I understand that a private notice question is being addressed to the Prime Minister on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in the preparation of a scheme to relieve the abnormal burden of rates in necessitous areas; and when it is proposed to apply such a scheme?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question put on this subject on the 18th instant by the hon. Member for West Middlesbrough (Mr. T. Thomson).

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that unemployment is caused in the silk industry through the continued importation of foreign-manufactured silk; and what action he proposes to take in regard to the Safeguarding of Industries Act?

I am aware of the position of the silk industry, which was the subject of inquiry by a special Committee set up by the late Government—a Committee which, I would remind the hon. and gallant Member, was not unanimous in its opinion of the cause of unemployment in this industry. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer him to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Remer) on Monday, to which I can at present add nothing.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make arrangements for men and women who live in and around the village of Burham, in Kent, to draw their unemployment benefit without having to cross the River Medway by ferry to Snodland, for which they have to pay, or, alternatively, will he arrange for this ferry payment to be refunded?

I am inquiring whether alternative arrangements can be made, and I will communicate the result to the hon. and gallant Member, but I may say at once that I have no funds out of which travelling expenses could be refunded.