asked the Under-secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, during the discussions with the Italian Government, any suggestion has been made that Jubaland should be held in future under a mandate of the League of Nations; and, if not, whether the advisability of this course will be borne in mind by His Majesty's Government?

The replies to both parts of the question are in the negative

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Portuguese Government have issued a decree instructing their consuls to charge a 4 per cent. ad valorem duty as a consular certificate fee in respect of exports to Portugal; whether it is the established practice in other countries to confine such fees to a charge commensurate with the cost of the work undertaken by the consuls in granting certificates; and what steps he proposes to take to safeguard British exports against this charge?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, except as regards certain important articles of British export which only pay a 2 per cent. ad valorem fee. Although Portugal is the only European country to adopt this system, it is a common practice among Central and South American States. There are no treaty grounds on which a protest against this practice can be based, and as the Portuguese Government have not seen their way to yield to the representations which have been addressed to them on the subject, I fear that no further steps are open to His Majesty's Government.

Is not such a practice in effect collecting the duty in this country?

I am afraid that that is a matter of opinion.

Cannot we put on a reciprocal duty in this country?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the following aircraft carriers, His Majesty's ship "Eagle," His Majesty's ship "Furious," His Majesty's ship "Hermes," His Majesty's ship "Argus," and, when reconstructed, His Majesty's ship "Glorious" and His Majesty's ship "Courageous," can make use of the existing docking accommodation at Singapore if necessary?

His Majesty's ship "Eagle" cannot use the existing docking accommodation at Singapore. The King's Dock can take all the other aircraft carriers mentioned by the Noble Lord, including His Majesty's ships "Glorious" and "Courageous," after they have been reconstructed.

May I apologise to the hon. Gentleman for saying that he made an incorrect statement to the House on the Navy Estimates in this connection? I offer an unreserved apology.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if, in view of the fact that Australia proposes to lay down two new cruisers, he will consider the calling for tenders of three only instead of five cruisers in this country?

No, Sir. Any decision of the Commonwealth Government to build cruisers will be taken into account by the Cabinet Committee which has been set up to consider Cabinet policy in respect of the requirements of the Navy during the next ten years as regards the replacement of units of the Fleet other than capital ships.

Is it not a fact that these two cruisers are in replacement of two 25-knots ships over fifteen years old?

I understand that that is so.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will give the rates of wages as paid to pensioner clerks and timekeepers employed in His Majesty's Dockyards; and the rates paid to second-grade and third-grade clerks in the same Departments?

As the reply is somewhat long, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Would the hon. Gentleman consider whether, in the cases mentioned, they might give evidence before the Southborough Committee?

That is a matter of which my hon. Friend might give special notice.

The reply is as follows:

There are three grades of pensioner clerks employed in His Majesty's Dockyards and Naval Establishments, and they receive salaries on the following scales, all of which carry Civil Service bonus:—

Chief pensioner clerk, £250–15 (annually)—£350.

Senior pensioner clerk, £180–10 (annually)—£230.

Pensioner clerk, if established, £105–7½ (annually)—£160; if unestablished, 37s., by 2s. annually, to 56s. a week.

Timekeepers, if established, receive a daily wage on the scale 5s. 3d., by 4d. annually, to 8s., on the basis of a seven-day week, plus Civil Service bonus; if unestablished, they receive 5s., by 4d. annually, to 7s. 6d. a day, on the basis of a seven-day week, plus Civil Service bonus.

Timekeepers in responsible charge of muster stations receive in addition charge allowance of 1s. a day, provided that not less than 250 workpeople pass through the station.

Second grade clerks and third grade clerks receive annual salaries as follows:—

Second grade clerks, £200–10—£250, plus Civil Service bonus.

Third grade clerks, £52–75 (at 18 years of age)—5—£95–10—£180. Third grade clerks appointed before post-War reorganisation proceed to a personal maximum of £200; plus Civil Service bonus.

It should be pointed out that pensioner clerks are employed in cash and secretarial departments of His Majesty's Dockyards, whereas the higher clerical staff of the other departments is composed of departmental clerical grades (first, second and third grade clerks).

The two categories are not employed together in the same department.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the payment of marriage allowance to officers of the Royal Navy has yet received his consideration; and, if so, whether he is in a position to make any statement?

The matter is under consideration at the present moment, and I regret I am not yet in a position to make any statement.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the intense anxiety of married officers with families at school, who are faced with the possibility of a reduction of 5 per cent. in their pay?

Yes, we are aware of it, and everything will be done to expedite a settlement on the subject.

Should the decision be in the affirmative, will it be retrospective?

That will be considered.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if any of the stoker petty officers in charge of His Majesty's ship "Spitfire," of the fourth destroyer flotilla, were recommended for services in action at the battle of Jutland; and, if so, if any special promotions followed?

Inquiries are being made, and if the hon. Member will repeat his question one day next week, I shall then be in a position to give a reply.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that there exists in His Majesty's Dockyard, Portsmouth, a modern and well equipped engine factory and boiler shop; if he is aware of the proved capacity of dockyard officials and workmen; and will he have the engines of the new cruisers built in this dockyard?

The reply to the first two parts of the question is Yes, Sir. But the equipment is for a repair establishment only, and could not economically undertake the construction of the propelling machinery referred to in the last part of the question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will consider the payment of hard-lying money to crews of His Majesty s torpedo boat destroyers when such ships are fitted with anti-submarine detection instructional gear, such gear encroaching on the limited messing and sleeping accommodation to such an extent that real hardship is experienced?

The question will be investigated.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the action taken by the President of the United States in appointing a commission to study the problem of oil fuel for the American navy and for national defence, His Majesty's Government will undertake similar inquiries with the view to making this country independent of foreign oil supplies by developing the production of motor spirit and other oils from British coal?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The question of the production of motor spirit and other oils from British coal is under continuous investigation by the Fuel Research Board, both by means of their own researches at His Majesty's Fuel Research Station, Greenwich, and by a close study of other attempts to solve this important problem both here and abroad.

Have the Fuel Research Board yet arrived at definite and practical results?

There is another question on that subject later.

asked the Home Secretary what has been accomplished by the Fuel Research Board during its several years of existence; and whether this Board has evolved a satisfactory fuel for naval and commercial purposes, or approved of any existing method for producing an efficient fuel to take the place of raw coal?

I have been asked to reply to this question. For the answer to the first part of the question, the hon. Member is referred to the Annual Reports of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and the reports and other publications, 25 in number, already issued by the Fuel Research Board. In answer to the second part of the question, the Board has produced from coal on a large experimental scale both a suitable fuel oil for naval and commercial purposes and an efficient solid fuel to take the place of raw coal. The Board is, however, of the opinion that neither its own work nor that of any outside body has yet proved the economic possibility of such production on a national scale.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say on what size commercial scale the Board is producing this fuel?

I think the hon. Member will find it in the Report.

Is it not a fact that, no matter what is discovered at the Fuel Research Station at Greenwich, this or any other Government does not permit those engaged there to recommend any process to anyone?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the coastguard service in Great Britain is still under the control of his department; if it is proposed to abolish the service, and, if so, when; can he state approximately the number of men at present in the service and who will be affected by any change; and will steps be taken in order to continue these men in any new service that may be established for coast watching?

As regards the first and second parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement on the subject by the late First Lord of the Admiralty on the 12th March last year. The term "coastguard" is now restricted to the Coast Watching Force under the Board of Trade. The only former coastguard personnel retained under the Admiralty are 394 officers and men employed at signal and wireless stations for which the Admiralty is responsible. As regards the third part of the question, no further change in the administration of these services is at present contemplated. The fourth part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Albert Oldland, of 41, Gerrish Avenue, Redfield, Bristol, who is in receipt of a life pension for war injuries, has been refused a period of training on the ground that he is ineligible under the existing regulations; and whether, seeng that Mr. Oldland will never be physically capable of undertaking heavy labour, he will consider the desirability of amending the regulations?

Mr. Oldland's application for training was made more than 18 months after the last date for accepting ordinary applications, and six years after his discharge from the Army, for more than five of which he was employed by his pre-War employer. He left his employment voluntarily and not on account of his disability. There does not appear to be any case for exceptional consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Alexander Glass, of 50, Holm Street, Govan, has been refused a term of training on the ground that his application was too late, and that his explanation of the delay in applying did not conform to the requirements of eligibility for acceptance as a late applicant; that the reason for the delay was that Glass was under medical treatment in Bellahouston hospital; whether to be under treatment in a hospital under the Ministry of Pensions is accepted as a sufficient and satisfactory explanation; and whether he will reconsider this case with a view to Glass receiving the training for which he has applied?

Mr. Glass did not apply for training until nearly two-and-a-half years after the last date for accepting ordinary applications, and over five years after he left the Army. He was in Bellahouston Hospital for only three months. He had ample opportunity for applying in good time, and I am afraid, on the facts submitted, I cannot now accept his application.

asked the Minister of Health which village settle— ments for tuberculous ex-service men have been allotted grants to meet the cost of the erection of cottages and the amounts of such grants; why no grant has been made to the East Lancashire tuberculosis colony at Barrowmore; and will he consider the making of such a grant in the immediate future?

The village settlements in question are at Papworth and Preston Hall, and £10,000 has been allotted to each for this purpose. As regards Barrowmore my right hon. Friend understands that, at the suggestion of one of his predecessors, the Joint Finance Committee of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem have voted the sum of £10,000 to the East Lancashire tuberculosis colony in order that cottages may be provided there for tuberculous ex-service men. My right hon. Friend has called for a report as to the present position at Barrowmore and the need for any further development.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether ex-service and temporary staff, respectively, are represented on the Committee which is now considering the re-establishment of a court of arbitration for the Civil Service; and, if no such representation has been granted, whether he will take immediate steps to remedy this omission in view of the fact that the arbitration court will be called upon to deal with matters affecting temporary and ex-service staff as well as those affecting the permanent and established civil servants?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; the answer to the second part does not therefore arise.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what are the functions of the additional member appointed to the Joint Substitution Board on the recommendation of the Southborough Committee; and, seeing that he merely forms an addition to the official side, will he see that the intention of the Southborough Committee to secure the addition of an impartial and unbiased representative on the board is carried into effect?

As the answer to this question is somewhat long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

I find no suggestion by Lord Southborough's Committee that the functions of the third member, who, they recommended, should be added to the Joint Substitution Board of the Treasury and Ministry of Labour, should have different functions from the existing members of that body, to the value of whose work the Committee testified. The Committee's recommendation has been carried out, with the sole modification that the third member has, in fact, been appointed Chairman of the Board.

The hon. Member's reference to an official side is wholly inaccurate, as he will see from my reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh East (Mr. Hogge) on the 18th March, of which I am sending him a copy.

I very much regret the apparent imputation in the last part of the question of partiality and bias, for which there is no ground whatever.

asked the Minister of Labour what instructions are issued to local employment committees as to the steps they should take to ascertain whether an insured person is or is not genuinely seeking work; and what means they adopt for such purposes?

The directions to local employment committees in this connection are contained in Appendix II to pamphlet L.E.C. 82/2, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. I am sending a copy also to the hon. Member. These directions indicate the action to be taken by committees for this purpose.

asked whether the Minister of Labour was aware that applicants for unemployment benefit who have left their employment of their own accord are being placed upon a six weeks' waiting period; whether he is aware that the Act gives power to reduce this period to not less than one week; and whether he will draw the special attention of the managers of Employment Exchanges and members of unemployment committees to this alternative and thereby enable unemployed people to receive the full benefit of the Act?

The question whether an applicant has voluntarily left his employment without just cause is determined by the machinery of Chief Insurance Officer, Court of Referees, and Umpire, who are fully aware of the discretionary power referred to in the question. Each case is considered on its merits, and a shorter period of disqualification than the maximum of six weeks is imposed when the circumstances warrant it.

In view of the fact that most of the decisions, in fact, all the decisions that are given, are for sax weeks, does the Minister of Labour consider that all these people have left their work voluntarily or have been discharged for misconduct?

I cannot accept the statement that all decisions are for six weeks.

In Glasgow they are.

Glasgow is not the Empire, of course.

Six weeks' waiting period does not apply to the Empire. The Minister of Labour should understand his own Act.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that many peope are being refused unemployment benefit on the ground that no contributions have been paid during an insurance year; that this provision was put into the Act to prevent malingering; that the present abnormal conditions in industry in the country has made it impossible for many people to overcome this provision; and whether he will take steps to suspend, temporarily, at least, a provision which is imposing grave hardship on many deserving citizens?

The provision to which I presume the hon. Member refers is contained in the first part of Section 8 (4) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920. It imposes a disqualification for the receipt of covenanted benefit, but does not apply to uncovenanted benefit. I have no power to alter the provision without legislation, but the point is being considered in connection with the Unemployment Insurance Bill which I hope to introduce immediately.

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the importance and interest of the Report on the investigation into the personal circumstances and industrial history of 10,000 claimants to unemployment benefit, he will have this document issued as a Parliamentary Paper?

To reprint this Report as a Parliamentary Paper would entail considerable expense. I realise, however, the importance of enabling hon. Members to acquaint themselves with its contents, and with this object I am arranging for a number of copies to be sent to the Vote Office.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can arrange that unemployment benefit shall be payable in respect of each day of any continuous period of unemployment after the first day of such unemployment; and whether he will provide for the payment of 2s. 6d. per week for each child in the family instead of 1s. per week as at present?

These changes could not be made without legislation. I will bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind in connection with the Unemployment Insurance Bill, which I hope to be able to introduce in the next few days.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his Department has completed the compilation of the dictionary of occupations; and, if so, when it will be published?

There is a considerable amount of work still to be done in the compilation of the dictionary of occupations, and it is not at present possible to fix the date of publication.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can now say how much of the £7,750,000, which his predecessor announced would be spent on work for the unemployed before the 31st March in making roads, has been actually spent; whether any grants have been made to the Road Fund for roads and bridges from the Exchequer apart from the motor taxes; how much total money has been expended in the first three months of the year from public funds in work for the unemployed; and how many men have been employed in such work?

As the reply is necessarily long, I will, with the right hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the reply:

I assume that the right hon. Member refers to statements by Sir Montague Barlow on 1st August, 1923, and 15th November, 1923, in which the estimated expenditure under various road programmes was given as £7,500,000 (not £7,750,000) for the financial year 1923–24. This included both expenditure from the Road Fund and expenditure by local authorities.

As indicated by the Minister of Transport to the House on 10th March, the actual expenditure, from the Road Fund and by local authorities, during the year in question is not expected to have exceeded £5,500,000. It is not, of course, possible yet to give precise figures. Substantially the difference will fall to be spent in 1924–25 or subsequent years.

Apart from certain grants made in respect of the programme for the years 1920–21 and 1921–22, no grants have been made to the Road Fund for roads and bridges from the Exchequer, apart from the motor taxes.

I am not clear what the right hon. Member means by "expended from public funds"; the payments put of Government moneys during the last three months for the purpose indicated above have been approximately £1,350,000, of which about £750,000 has been paid from the Road Funds. This excludes credit operations and liabilities incurred which will fall on future years, as well as expenditure on acceleration of contracts and expenditure by local authorities.

According to the reports as made to my Department, there were on the 14th March, 72,302 men directly employed on works carried out by local authorities with assistance from the Ministry of Transport, Unemployment Grants Committee, Ministry of Agriculture, and on other works. These reports, however, are inevitably incomplete, and further, do not take account of the number of men indirectly employed in connection with such schemes.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that unemployed miners in the county of Durham are being ordered to go to Doncaster, although there is no housing accommodation when they get there; and if those who have had to return owing to their failure to find housing accommodation will have their railway fares returned to them?

I understand that employment for coal getters is available at Doncaster at the standard conditions of the area, and has been offered to apparently suitable unemployed workers in the county of Durham. The information at present before me is that lodgings are available, but I am having further inquiries made into this point, and will communicate the result to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

If I can give the Minister three cases of men who have gone to Doncaster and have been unable to find lodgings, will the right hon. Gentleman then see that the men's return fares are paid?

If the hon. Member gives me any information of the kind, I will see what can be done within my powers to meet the circumstances of the case.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that a miner named McGuinness, living at Crook, county Durham, has had his unemployed insurance benefit stopped because he was unable to go to Doncaster to work; and if he will order the payment of this man's unemployed insurance benefit?

I am having inquiry made and will communicate the result as soon as possible to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will bring within the scope of the new Unemployment Insurance Bill that he is about to introduce all fishermen who are paid by the share?

No, Sir. I am not aware that there is any general desire among share-fishermen to be included in the unemployment insurance scheme.

Has the right hon. Gentleman taken into account the failure of the fishings of the past two or three years; and will he inquire into these failures, with special regard to some such provision as is indicated in my question?

If the hon. Member supplies me with information, I will consider that information, but share fishermen at present do not appear to have any desire at all to come within the provisions of the Bill.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that whole fleets of vessels have been laid up during the past fishing, in the port which I have the honour to represent, and that there is a special reason why the men should have the benefit of the Bill?

That is the same question.

asked the Minister of Labour whether His Majesty's Government will now give the figures for the number of aliens receiving unemployed pay?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on this subject on 19th March. As I have not so far received any indication that it is the general desire of the House that I should incur the expense of obtaining a return of aliens drawing uncovenanted benefit, I have not done so.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House why it is not possible for the officials of the Employment Exchanges, without any extra cost, to ascertain, when paying out benefit, whether the recipients are aliens or not?

In view of the great expense to the country involved in this matter, is the House not entitled to know what is the cost?

With regard to the first supplementary question it would not be possible without increased cost to get particulars of the millions of people who receive payment in the course of a few months. [HON. MEMBERS: "Millions?"] With regard to the second supplementary question, I do not agree with, and there is no proof to support the assertion that large sums of money are being paid to aliens.

What would the right hon. Gentleman consider to be sufficient representations from this House in order to give the necessary permission for this return?

There are the ordinary channels of communication between the parties.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean it is not possible to give the figures of payment for uncovenanted benefit apart from the covenanted benefit?

I have already given on several occasions full answers to these questions, put the conditions before the House, and supplied the information at my disposal. If, through the usual channels, the desire of the House is signified to spend money to getting the information which is here asked for, I am prepared to spend the money.

If the right hon. Gentleman has no information as to the number of aliens drawing uncovenanted benefit, did he cancel the regulations of his predecessor without information or consideration?

I cancelled the instructions of my predecessor because I had the right to do so, just as much as he had the right to make them and because I believed, and still believe, in the principle that persons subject to the same conditions should have the same treatment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in consideration of the fact that passport restrictions are being modified, he will see his way to place some check upon the number of aliens who may apply for unemployed pay?

I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Home Affairs that there is not any proposal to relax the restrictions on the admission of aliens to this country, as to which I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Home Affairs on 19th March.

While unemployment is so rife in this country, will the right hon. Gentleman consider putting on a quota in regard to the introduction of aliens, as is done in the United States?

That question should be addressed to another Minister.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the great difficulty many local authorities are experiencing in meeting the calls upon their rates by the burden of unemployment charges, he will take steps to secure for them, in the more necessitous cases, a reduction in the rate of interest demanded by the Goschen Committee when making them loans to meet their payments to the able-bodied unemployed?

As the hon. Member is aware, the maximum immediate relief is given in suitable cases to the more necessitous areas by the postponement of the payment of interest on loans advanced by the Ministry. My right hon. Friend is afraid that it would not be possible to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.

Are we to understand that the Government are prepared to do nothing at all?

I have nothing to add to the answer which I have given.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the number of deputations that have waited on the present Minister of Health and on past Ministers of Health on this question, and that we cannot rest satisfied with the answers we are getting?

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the excessive burden borne by local authorities in their schemes for providing work for the unemployed, he will increase the contribution provided by the Government in order to encourage local authorities to start such schemes?

After careful consideration, the Government have not seen their way to modify the existing terms of financial assistance to local authorities in respect of unemployment relief schemes.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Government contribution to the schemes of local authorities works out at nearly 32 per cent. for non-revenue producing schemes, and only 11 per cent. for revenue producing schemes; and can he wonder that local authorities consider that the Government are trying to impose too great a burden upon them? Is he also aware that the Government are going to have a very warm time of it?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether reports have reached him of an alarming increase of piracy in South China waters, and that piratical attacks on merchant vessels are of daily occurrence; whether he is aware that merchant shipmasters and officers consider the piracy regulations of the Hong Kong Government useless as a counter measure to piracy; that a large British shipping company are anxious, as a measure of safeguard, to instal wireless in their ships, but are prevented from doing so by a Government Regulation dealing with the nationality of the operators to be engaged for these ships; and what action does His Majesty's Government propose to take?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. With regard to piracies, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on the 3rd March to the hon. Member for West Woolwich. The Governor will no doubt deal with the question of wireless telegraphy in his Report, and the applicability of the Regulations in question to Hong Kong waters can theft be further considered.

Would the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the fact that the premier British company trading in that part of the world has no fewer than 70 wireless sets ready to be installed, and it cannot get on with the work because of this dispute about the nationality of the operators?

I am also aware of the Report of the Commission on this subject, and that it was not in favour of wireless. I have asked the Governor for a Report, and I will consider the whole question again.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is the proposal of the Government to introduce the Eight-hour Day Bill before Easter; and if he can state the date?

I hope to be in a position to introduce this Bill within a abort time, but I am not yet able to indicate the precise date.

When this Bill is introduced, will France, Belgium and other Continental countries adopt the same hours?

Will the Bill include provision for an eight-hour day for textile workers?

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of delaying the introduction of this Bill until other countries which are in competition with us, bring themselves nearer to our standard in this respect?

With regard to the first supplementary question, the Bill will be introduced whether other countries take steps at the same time or not. With regard to the second supplementary question, textile workers will be included in the Bill. With regard to the third supplementary question, as this Convention was signed by our representatives in 1919, I am not prepared to give further delay.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the compara- tive wages paid to agricultural labourers in France, Germany, Italy, and Russia, and the number of hours worked in a normal week by such labourers?

No statistics of agricultural wages and hours of labour, in a comparable form, are at present available for the countries named in the hon. Member's question. I am sorry, therefore, that I cannot supply comparative figures such as he desires.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received any representations through the Home Office, or direct from County Court judges or benches of magistrates, with regard to the administration of the Rent Restrictions Act, 1923; and, if so, is he able to make any statement as to their purport?

Such representations would not ordinarily be addressed to my right hon. Friend as he has no responsibility for the actual administration of the Rent Restriction Acts. My right hon. Friend has, however, received a representation from the justices of the city of Bristol advocating the abolition of the special concessions secured by last year's Act to landlords who became landlords before the 30th June, 1922.

Are we to understand that before preparing the legislation which is to be introduced this afternoon, the Minister of Health consulted no County Court judges and none of the benches of magistrates of the country? [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer."]

As far as I understand, that question does not arise in any way out of the question on the Paper.

asked the Minister of Health the average prices per acre paid for land purchased by county boroughs, other boroughs, and urban districts and rural districts, respectively, for purposes of the State-assisted housing schemes in the years 1922 and 1923?

As the reply involves a tabular statement, I will, with the permission of the hon. Member, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the statement:

Information is not available as to the average price per acre paid for land in 1922–23, but the average capital cost of all land purchased by local authorities for the purposes of their assisted housing schemes under the Housing, Town Planning, Etc., Act, 1919, was as follows:

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that many tenants of post-War houses on the White Hart Lane Estate, Tottenham, are compelled to deprive themselves and their families of the necessaries of life in order to pay the rents demanded by the London County Council, which are considerably in excess of those charged for similar houses built at the same time and in the same district; that the rents upon this estate are based upon the rents charged upon the Old Oak Estate, Hammersmith, instead of upon the rents obtaining in the locality; and whether, in view of the fact that 40 local authorities in London and Greater London have received permission to reduce their rents, he will give consent to the London County Council making a reduction?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is "No." As regards the last part of the question, my right hon. Friend will be prepared to give full consideration to any representations by the London County Council if they are of opinion that the rents at present charged should be reduced having regard to the rules for the determination of rents laid down in the housing regulations.

In view of the previous answer given by the hon. Gentleman, when his Department admitted that the rents were 3s. in excess of those for similar houses in the same district, built at the same time, will he give favourable consideration, in the event of the London County Council asking for a reduction, to such a request?

We should, of course, give very full and careful consideration to representations made by the London County Council.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is prepared to depart from the policy laid down in Section 12 of Circular 388A issued by the Ministry, dated 14th August, 1923, and to permit contribution in rural areas in respect of conversion of stone barns, army huts, or similar buildings, and in respect of any house which can be constructed by the conversion or adaptation of an existing building in approved cases?

I would suggest that the hon. and gallant Member should reserve his point until my right hon. Friend is in a position to place before the House the proposals of the Government in regard to housing.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can now inform this House as to the number of applications made for orders for possession of houses and the number of such orders granted since August, 1923; the number of warrants for evictions granted and the number of ejectments actually made since August, 1923; and, if so, what proportions were for possession, for non-payment of rent, and for other causes, respectively?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on Thursday last to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Mills).

Cannot we get some more definite reply than that? Is not the Minister aware that this information is urgent for the purposes, not only of this House to-day, but of the Committee upstairs, at whatever trouble and expense?

I would point out that the question of obtaining this information is not a matter entirely within the control of the Minister of Health, and that he is consulting the Lord Chancellor in the matter.

Will the hon. Gentle man expedite this matter?

We will do our best.

Are we to understand that the Minister is without the possession of any of these very material facts for the Bill this afternoon?

Will the hon. Gentleman give a pledge to take into consultation the Ministers concerned, in order that this very vital information may be obtained?

My hon. Friend is now engaged in consultation with the Lord Chancellor.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that in certain County Courts advantage is not taken of their powers to suspend the execution of orders to pay costs payable by a tenant against whom an order for possession is made; and will he take steps to remind them of their powers in order that hardships incurred by the prompt execution of these orders may be mitigated?

I have no such information as would lead me to suppose that County Court Judges are not aware of their powers in this respect, and do not take advantage of them in suitable cases. The question in each case is one for the discretion of the Judge, and I do not think that it would be proper to make suggestions to Judges as to the way in which their discretion should be exercised.

Can the Attorney-General state from his own experience and knowledge whether, in fact, County Court Judges are not administering these matters with great sympathy and consideration for the tenants?

I have no doubt that is so, but I have no personal knowledge of this matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will furnish a Return showing the number of evictions and the number of persons evicted, in each county in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, since the operation of the amended Rent Restrictions Act, 1923, up to the end of February, 1924; and whether he will state the total number of evictions in each month and the number of eviction orders that have been issued but not yet enforced?

I am consulting the Departments affected as to the possibility of furnishing the Return referred to in the question.

If the hon. Gentleman does publish these figures, will he also give the numbers of evictions in 1913 and 1914?

Can the hon. Gentleman see his way to including in the Return the number of orders at present applied for?

Yes, I will take note of that.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many additional men are estimated to be needed in each section of the building trade to make it possible to build 200,000 houses per annum without interfering seriously with other building work;

(2) what is the estimated average number of bricks to be laid each day by a bricklayer on which he bases his estimate as to the number of bricklayers required to build 200,000 houses per annum, and what he estimates the average number laid by each bricklayer engaged on working-class house-building to have been during the years 1903, 1913, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, and 1923, respectively?

The question of the number of men required to build various total numbers of houses a year has been under consideration by the Committee of Representatives of the Building Industry, and my right hon. Friend hopes shortly to be able to make a statement on the subject. Figures are not available on which any reliable estimate could be given in reply to the second question.

Have the trade unions be-en approached to allow ex-service men and sailors to help in this work?

asked the Minister of Health how many men in each of the sections of building-trade labour are estimated to be required to build 200,000 A 3 houses per annum; how many men there were in each section at the end of the years 1903, 1913, and 1923, respectively; how many working-class houses were built in each of those years; and what proportion of the total labour in each section is estimated to have been engaged in building working-class houses in each year?

As the answer involves a tabular statement I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The tabular statement is as follows:

The point referred to in the first part of the question has been under consideration by the Committee of Representatives of the Building Industry, and I hope shortly to be able to make a statement on the subject.

Information is not available as to the number of men in each section of the building trade in 1903 and 1913, but the following table gives particulars for 1901, 1911, and 1923:—

According to the Inland Revenue Returns as to inhabited house duty, the net increase in the number of houses under £20 annual value in 1901 and 1911 was 76,469 and 79,167, respectively. Corresponding figures for 1923 are not available, but estimates based on returns obtained from local authorities show that some 39,000 houses of a rateable value up to £26 (£35 in London) were erected during the year ended 30th September, 1923, by private enterprise without State assistance, and a further 25,289 were built during the same period by local authorities with State aid.

With regard to the last part of the question materials are not available for framing a reliable estimate on the point referred to.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give the number of houses needed in rural and agricultural areas in the county of Northumberland, or 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, 1,556 houses were stated to be required during the three subsequent years in the areas of rural district councils in the county of Northumberland to meet unsatisfied demands.

asked the Minister of Health in how many cases the subsidy under the Housing Act, 1923, has been refused, firstly, to requests by local authorities in respect of their own buildings and; secondly, to applications from private builders put forward through those local authorities?

So far as local authorities' schemes for building houses themselves are concerned, it has been found necessary in a number of cases, in view of the amount of work in hand or the lack of essential skilled labour in the locality, to limit immediate approvals to an instalment of the proposals, the principle being to get houses actually built and occupied as quickly as possible. In the case of private enterprise individual applications for subsidy are dealt with by the local authorities and when my right hon. Friend has approved a general scheme he does not receive details of the approvals or disapprovals in particular cases. On the 1st March local authorities had issued certificates of approval under the scheme covering 41,060 houses.

Can the hon. Gentleman not give us more definite figures—seeing his reply is a very general one—as to how many applications have been refused to the local authorities?

I have no information upon that point.

We are continually asking for information on this side of the House and continually being put off with generalities. Can we not have something more definite?

What I have said here is that where the local authorities' scheme has been proposed, it is for the local authorities to approve or disapprove of proposals put before them by private builders. The local authorities do not supply the Minister with details of such refusals or approval.

Cannot the hon. Gentleman give some more detailed information—I do not ask for it now—but perhaps he could circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT? The first part of the question deals with the subsidy under the Housing Act of 1923 in relation to local authorities. How many such cases are there; in how many of these cases is the refusal by the Government due to a deficiency of labour; and what were the number of houses involved?

I will put that point to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can give the number of houses for the working classes built by private enterprise in the County of London and Greater London during the last three years?

During the years 1921, 1922 and 1923, the numbers of working-class houses erected by private enterprise with State assistance were 1,027 in the County of London, and 6,630 in Greater London (including the County). Statistics are not available showing the numbers erected during this period without State aid, but during the year ended 30th September last the numbers of houses erected by private enterprise of a rateable value not exceeding £35 were, in the County of London 994, and in Greater London 6,794.

Is it not a fact that many more working-class houses could have been erected if skilled labour had been available?

No.

Does that reply include all the houses on lines put forward by building societies?

Is it not the case that most of the skilled labour was employed upon luxury buildings during that period?

All these houses assisted by building societies were with a rateable value not exceeding £35.

Whether they take the subsidy or not—even if they do not take the subsidy.

No, no! That is not in the question. Look at it.

asked the Minister of Health why he has refused his consent to the construction of an improved public-house, and the letting of a site for such a purpose on the new London County Council Housing Estate at Becontree; and whether he approves of the action of the London County Council in endeavouring to supply modern refreshment houses on any of their housing estates?

My right hon. Friend has not refused consent to the erection of an improved public-house or the letting of a site for this purpose at Becontree. On the contrary, in support of the policy of supplying modern refreshment houses on the Council's housing estates, he has agreed to the provision of a building which he is advised would give full effect to the policy the Council have in view and which would involve a considerable contribution by the Exchequer for the purpose. My right hon. Friend understands that the Council desire to carry out a more extensive proposal, and it is open to them to do so and accept the liability for any additional cost.

Is it the fact that the Ministry of Health insisted upon an increased rent being paid by the increased sale of alcohol, while the original scheme put forward by the County Council would mean social amenities, the provision of a proper hall, and a model public-house?

I do not think that is the case.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that incorporated building societies have within the past five years advanced, approximately, £111,000,000 for the erection of over 290,000 single dwelling-houses; and whether it is intended in the proposed Housing Bill to encourage this form of private enterprise and thrift?

My right hon. Friend is aware that building societies have advanced considerable sums during the last five years in connection with the purchase and erection of houses. Provision is made in the Housing, Etc., Act, 1923, for guarantees to such societies in connection with advances made by them for the acquisition and erection of new houses, and as at present advised my right hon. Friend would not propose modification of that provision.

Then, as a result of that, he will allow evictions to take place for non-payment of rent in those cases?

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to make a statement in connection with the Government housing proposals before the Easter Recess?

My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to do so.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health if he can state the number of houses authorised by the Scottish Board of Health under the Housing Act, 1923, for erection by local authorities and private enterprise, respectively; the number of houses in progress; and the number of houses completed to date under each head?

According to the latest information available, the Scottish Board of Health have approved, under the Housing, Etc., Act, 1923, the erection by local authorities of 6,820 houses, for 1,943 of which tenders have been accepted; 611 are under construction, and eight have been completed. As regards private enterprise, the number of houses for which certificates "A" have been issued is 1,779; 865 are under construction, and 29 have been completed.

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many of the Addison houses are still under construction in Scotland by local authorities?

I cannot speak with accuracy, but so far as I can remember something like 6,000 are now under construction, but I would ask the Noble Lord not to accept that as official, because I am speaking entirely from memory.

Is it not a fact that the very slow progress under the Act of 1923 is partly due to the fact that local authorities have so many of the old Addison houses still on hand?

Is it not the case that nearly all the houses under the Addison scheme are nearing completion?

Is it not a fact that the majority of the Addison houses are under repair?

Have not some of these houses already been pulled down?

Is it not a fact that some of them have not yet been started?

asked the Undersecretary to the Scottish Board of Health the number of workmen employed on local authority housing schemes in March, 1922, March, 1923, and March, 1924, respectively?

The number of workmen employed on local authorities' housing schemes in Scotland during the month of March, 1922, was 12,701; and during March, 1923, 4,438. The figure for March, 1924, is not yet available, but for February, 1924 the figure was 4,403.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what is the reason why there are 7,000 fewer men employed on these houses to-day than in 1922?

asked the Minister of Health what interests are represented by the various members of the joint committee appointed to advise on matters concerning the production, handling, and distribution of milk and dairy produce?

The bodies represented on the Committee are the National Farmers' Union, the National Federation of Dairymen's Associations, the Parliamentary Committee of the Co-operative Congress, the National Association of Creamery Proprietors and Wholesale Dairymen, the National Clean Milk Society and the London and Provincial Master Dairymen's Association.

Does the Minister not consider that the interests of the consumer are inadequately represented, taking into account the fact that the use of milk is such an important factor in every household?

Another question appears on the Paper raising that question, and the matter is now being considered by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received representations as to the constitution of the milk advisory committee jointly appointed by himself and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries; and whether he will consider the desirability of adding to the committee representatives of the workers in the dairying industry and of consumers' interests?

Yes, Sir; my right hon. Friend has received representations and he will consider the hon. Member's suggestion in consultation with the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

asked the Prime Minister whether his Majesty's Government has yet decided to adhere to Article 36 of the Protocol of the International Court of Justice; and, if not, whether an announcement will be made at an early date?

The matter is occupying our attention, but I cannot say when an announcement will be possible.