asked the Minister of Pensions why an order has been issued lengthening the working week at the con- valescent centres of the Ministry of Pensions; and, in view of the fact that the men are suffering from an average disability of 50 per cent., wheher he will have the order rescinded?

I am glad to have the opportunity of removing the misapprehension which apparently exists on this matter. My right hon. Friend is not prepared to rescind the instruction referred to, the object of which was not, as suggested, to lengthen the working week or even to lay down a definite number of hours of training to be performed by each man, but to fix a uniform maximum number of hours for all centres. The maxima had recently varied as between the different centres from 27½to 32½hours a week. They are now fixed at 30 a week with a break each morning of 15 minutes, the actualmaximumbeing thus 28¾hours per week. Within that limit the medical superintendent has full discretion to adjust the number of hours to be worked by any individual man according to his physical capacity and the requirements of his medical treatment.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that, when parents and dependants of fallen soldiers have to fill up the form M.P.I., F.29, to enable them to draw a pension, they are not allowed to get their signature witnessed by a minister of religion as in the case of other pension forms; and whether, in view of the grave inconvenience caused by this regulation to aged pensioners in rural districts, he will make the necessary amendments to this and similar forms?

The form referred to is a special identification form which is only required to be completed once in five years. It is necessary for the purpose in view to limit the possible signatories of this form. My right hon. Friend has had no evidence that inconvenience is caused by the restriction.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the application of Richard A. Tuson, of 2, Havelock Road, Tottenham, for permission to appeal upon the disability of chronic rheumatism has been granted?

The appeal which the man has intimated his intention of making to the tribunal is in respect of hysteria. His appeal in respect of rheumatism has already been heard and disallowed by the tribunal.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the investigation into the whole question of the manufacture of cordage and yarn in the Royal dockyards, undertaken in order that the basis of future manufactures might be determined, has now been completed; if so, what the results of the investigation show; and whether the production of rope in the Royal dockyards for commercial purposes has been considered in order that employment might be found for many Who are now unemployed, both men and women?

The investigation in regard to the manufacture of cordage and yarn in the Royal dockyards has not yet been completed; the matter is one of considerable complexity, and some little time must elapse before decisions can be taken. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise, and so far as the third part is concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question on the 5th May last.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the fact that several subordinate acting officers of the C.Ms., E.Ms., and E.Es. Department of His Majesty's dockyard, Devonport, who have been carrying out duties of acting inspectors of trades for a considerable period, and particularly during the War, are threatened with supersession and reversion to a lower rank, although they all qualified with a good percentage of marks at the 1908 and/or 1912 examinations, and would in the ordinary course have been confirmed in their ranks after five years' acting time, and that these men were compelled to compete again in the 1923 examinations with all entrants above 25 years of age, and to ensure the retention of their appointments they had to attain the topmost position on the new lists; and whether, in view of the Home Dockyard Regulations, Article 412, 1904 edition, which states that the employment of persons in acting situations by virtue of their position on an examination list is not to be affected by the result of any subsequent examination, and when it is required to reduce the number of acting appointments those who were last appointed from the latest examination list are to be first selected to fall back to their established position, unless there be some special reason to the contrary, in which case a Report is to be made to the Admiralty, he will see that no breach of this Regulation takes place in Devon-port dockyard to the prejudice of those who have continuously and faithfully performed their duties?

Now that the post-War complements of foremen and inspectors of the dockyards have been applied, acting appointments in these grades will cease, with the exception of a few special posts and a limited number of cases of officers employed in the place of confirmed foremen and inspectors detached from the dockyards. The selection of acting officers in these posts is now being considered, and the hon. Member may rest assured that all the relevant factors will be taken into account.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether a sergeant of the Royal Marines who transfers to the rating of regulating petty officer would be eligible for promotion to the rank of mate; and, if so, whether a writer petty officer who had also transferred to the rating of regulating petty officer would also be eligible?

Any rating who transfers to the regulating branch is eligible to become a candidate for promotion to mate, provided he satisfies the conditions laid down as regards age, and is able to pass the educational test and seamanship examination. It is, however, very unlikely that a sergeant of the Royal Marines would be of such an age as to allow him to qualify.

There is no present intention of operating the Cairo-Baghdad air route by night, but night flying is carried out as a regular part of the training of the air squadrons in the Middle East generally and in India. Any data derived from the experience of the squadrons in those areas are at the disposal of the Dominion Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for War why, although the work has been authorised by the War Office, the funds are not yet forthcoming to enable certain electrical work to be carried out at Clarence, Colewort and Milldam Barracks, Portsmouth; and whether anything can be done to help to relieve local unemployment?

I assume that the hon. and gallant Member refers to the installation of electric light at these barracks, but no such work has yet been authorised, since the funds at present available for electric lighting are all required for services of prior urgency. The electric lighting of Milldam and Clarence barracks will be undertaken as soon as funds can be provided. Colewort barracks are partially lit by electricity already, and it is not likely that the unlighted portion will be used to accommodate troops.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he proposes to proposes to the eviction of Mr. W. E. Dudley, of Woolwich, an ex-soldier, who is unable to find suitable housing accom- modation for himself, his wife and five children?

Mr. Dudley is at present in irregular occupation of a quarter which a serving soldier has the right to occupy. I do not know whether he proposes to comply with the order for possession recently obtained, and that being so, I cannot yet say what further steps may be necessary.

asked the Minister of Health how many villages in the North Riding of Yorkshire will be eligible to obtain the proposed subsidy of £12 10s. per house per annum under the new Housing Bill?

A statement giving this information will be prepared and sent to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health the parishes in Leicestershire that will not be entitled to receive the full agricultural subsidy under the new Housing Bill?

A statement giving this information will be prepared and sent to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state how many parishes in the County of Somerset will be eligible for the subsidy of £12 10s. per house if erected under the new Housing Bill?

A statement giving this information will be prepared and sent to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health how many parishes in the Administrative County of Chester will be eligible under the proposed Housing Bill to obtain the larger subsidy as agricultural parishes; and which of these are situate in the Parliamentary Division of Wirral?

A statement giving this information will be prepared and sent to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health how many villages in the Administrative County of Suffolk will be able to obtain the subsidy of £12 10s. per house under the new Housing Bill?

A statement giving this information will be prepared and sent to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health the names of the 75 villages in the administrative county of Warwick which will not be treated as agricultural under the new Housing Bill?

A statement giving this information will be prepared and sent to the hon. Member.

s asked the Minister of Health what Government property has been leased by various Government Departments to the municipality for the purpose of relieving the housing shortage in Devonport and Plymouth; whether he will state in respect of each such property exactly what rent and other outgoings have been or are being charged, or are proposed to be charged, to the tenants for whose occupation the property is intended; and, if he is of opinion that in any case the rents charged are excessive, will he take steps to have them reduced?

My right hon. Friend understands that negotiations are proceeding between the War Office and the Plymouth Town Council for the lease to the corporation of Elphinstone Barracks for housing purposes. In the event of the premises being secured the rents to be charged to the tenants will be a matter for the town council and not for determination by my Department.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take into consideration a differentiation between towns that are largely rural in character and those which arc industrial, and have much higher rateable value, with regard to the amount of subsidy to be granted in the new Housing Bill?

This matter was carefully considered by the Government, but the only differentiation which has been found practicable at the present time is that embodied in the Housing Bill.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can supply details of the expenditure on vaccination for the year 1921–22, stated to amount to £172,558; and how many infants were actually vaccinated for this sum, and what the cost per infant vaccinated has been?

The sum of £172,558, included £10,158 paid to public vaccinators out of the Exchequer Contribution Accounts of the local authorities and £162,400 expended by boards of guardians cut of the rates, but I am unable to supply any further details. The number of infants vaccinated by public vaccinators during the year ended 30th September, 1922, was 205,106. It is not possible to state the cost per infant vaccinated, as the expenditure on public vaccination includes also the cost of other vaccinations and re-vaccinations, and the necessary administrative expenditure under the Vaccination Acts.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists among recipents of unemployment insurance benefits owing to the demand of certain employment committees that applicants produce documentary evidence of their various overtures for work; and whether, seeing that there is no obligation on the part of a firm applied to to supply the applicant with the necessary proof that he has personally sought a job, a severe hardship is imposed upon the unemployed person, in future the honour and word of the unemployed person will be accepted by the Committee and the onus of proof rest therewith?

I am aware that in some cases the local employment committees ask for the production of documentary evidence, as they are hound to do if they are not satisfied with the applicant's oral statements regarding his efforts to find employment. The Unemployment Insurance Acts place the burden of proof on the applicant, and I am unable to transfer it by administrative action to the Committee.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed persons in the West Ham area on 1st June giving details of men, women, and young persons; and will he state, if possible, the numbers for the same period last year?

Separate figures are not available for the West Ham area, but the following are the figures for the Employment Exchange areas of Stratford, Canning Town, Leyton and East Ham, each of which contains a part of West Ham:—

Numbers on Registers.
	4th June, 1923.	2nd June, 1924.
Men	24,382	22,801
Women	3,712	3,953
Boys and Girls	3,060	2,309

asked the Minister of Labour the total numbers of unemployed on the Saturday in each of the last four weeks, and the reasons for any increase in the totals?

The number of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain in each of the last four weeks is as follows:—

2nd June	1,002,915
9th June	1,027,515
16th June	1,052,500
23rd June	1,013,500

There is each week a considerable change in the individuals on the registers, and the increase or decrease is ordinarily the net effect of fluctuations in a great many trades and districts. It may be stated, however, that the net increases on 9th and 16th June were largely the result of extended Whitsun holidays.

asked the Minister of Labour when he intends introducing his Eight Hours Bill; and if he is aware that the delegates attending the plenary session of the International Labour Conference at Geneva protested against the non-ratification of the eight hours' law?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to a question on this subject by the Noble Lord the Member for Nottingham South (Lord H. Cavendish-Bentinck).

asked the Minister of Labour when he will introduce the Bill to ratify the Convention of the Washington Conference in respect of the 48 hours' working week?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to a question on this subject by the Noble Lord the Member for Nottingham South (Lord H. Cavendish-Bentinck).

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the large and increasing amount of juvenile unemployment, the Government will take steps to empower local education authorities to raise the ago of compulsory school attendance in respect of children who have not obtained offers of employment, and at the same time make provision for school maintenance bursaries for children over 14 years of age?

I am anxious to receive proposals from local education authorities for the raising of the school age to fifteen, but legislation would be required to enable me to sanction a proposal in the form stated by the hon. Member in the first part of his question I am fully prepared to consider with sympathy proposals for increased provision of maintenance allowances for children over 14 in accordance with the conditions stated in Schedule VII of the Code.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will consider the advisability of instituting an immediate inquiry in industrial areas into the school accommodation now available and the additions which might be required if the school-leaving age were raised to 15?

A general inquiry, such as the hon. Member suggests, would involve too much time and labour; but where any local education authority informs me that it is considering raising the school age, the Board will require to be satisfied that the necessary accommodation will be available if the bye-law becomes operative.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many classes of deaf children are at present in charge of teachers who, prior to their appointment, had received no special training for their work?

I am afraid it would not be possible for me, without great expenditure of time and labour, to procure the figures asked for by my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has now received the Report of the Departmental Committee on the training of teachers; whether he is aware of the anxiety felt by large numbers of uncertificated teachers thoughout the country as to.their future; and whether he can make any statement as to the date of the next examination?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the answer which I gave in the House this afternoon in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaydon (Mr. W. Whiteley).

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Conciliation Committee appointed by the Burnham Committee to deal with the interpretation of the scale have had before them the action of certain local authorities who are endeavouring to force their art teachers to accept a voluntary reduction of five per cent., despite the fact that they received no increase of salary at all under the Burnham scale, and in Many instances have had no advance for a long period of years; whether, if such cases have come before the Committee, he will state what they are; and whether, for the guidance of teachers who are now being pressed by local authorities to accept such reduction, he will issue a notice that the Conciliation Committee referred to is ready to intervene to settle such differences as exist?

The National Society of Art Masters, which is no doubt fully informed as to the salaries of Art Teachers, is a constituent element of the Burnham Committee, and has a representative on the Conciliation Committee. My intervention in the matter is not required.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any undertaking has been given to the Council of State to consider favourably the appointment of an Indian as the leader of the Indian delegation to the League of Nations Assembly; and whether he is yet in a position to state the decision of the Government in the matter?

I am not aware of any such undertaking as that referred to having been given, and no decision by the Government on the question has been invited.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can see his way to press on the Indian Government the desirability of granting the marriage allowances to warrant officers of the unattached list to date earlier than 1st January, 1922, and to place this class of warrant officer on exactly the same footing with regard to retrospective marriage allowances as their colleagues in the British service?

I am afraid that I cannot anticipate the final decision which will, I hope, be arrived at shortly.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state if it is intended to release Mr. Art O'Brien and Mr. Sean McGrath, who were sentenced a year ago to two years' imprisonment on a charge of treason; and, if so, for what reason these prisoners are to be released?

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

asked the Home Secretary whether he can state, for each of the years ending March, 1921, 1922, 1923, and 1924, the number of summonses which have been issued in the City of Sheffield for non-payment of rates, how many of such summonses have been dealt with by the justices, how many committals to prison there have been, and how many distraints have been carried out; and how many summonses have been issued since 31st March, 1924, how many have been dealt with, and how many are now awaiting a hearing?

I regret that I am not in a position to furnish the particulars desired.

asked the Home Secretary if he will give information as to the date when the publication of the criminal statistics for 1922 may be expected, in view of the lapse of time since the Report for 1921 was issued; and whether copies of the criminal statistics will be circulated officially to all benches of magistrates, in addition to the circulation of official copies to all police authorities?

It is hoped that the volume will be issued early next month. Copies are spplied officially to all superior Criminal Courts, including Recorders and Chairmen of Quarter Sessions, but I am afraid it is not possible to make a free issue to all benches of magistrates.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, whether the projectors and other apparatus employed in the cinematograph showy at the British Empire Exhibition have been in every case manufactured mainly within the British Empire; and, if not, whether he will take steps to ensure that any apparatus not so manufactured shall be replaced by British apparatus in accordance with the regulations?

I am informed by the British Empire Exhibition authorities that the regulations relating to the admissibility of exhibits do not apply to projectors and other apparatus which are employed in the cinematograph shows at the Exhibition, but which do not in themselves constitute exhibits. I understand, however, that in practice every effort has been made to ensure that the cinematograph apparatus used shall be wholly or mainly of British manufacture, and if the hon. and gallant Member will be good enough to bring to my notice any instances of the use of foreign-made apparatus of which he may be aware, I shall be glad to bring the matter to the notice of the Exhibition authorities

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if there is any likelihood of a serious deficit on the working expenses of the British Empire Exhibition resulting at the end of the period of the exhibition if the receipts for the remainder of the period are maintained at the same weekly average as for the first two months of the exhibition.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to a statement I made on this subject on the 14th May when the Financial Resolution of the British Empire Exhibition (Guarantee) Bill was before the House. I then indicated I had been advised that past experience of exhibitions shows there is a decided tendency on the part of the public to defer their visits until the latter half of the period during which an exhibition will run. The increased attendances to Wembley during the month of June, as compared with the months of April and May, indicate the correctness of this estimate. I am confident that the hon. and gallant Member will also agree that the prolonged bad weather which prevailed during the opening weeks of the exhibition must have had a serious deterrent effect on would be visitors to the exhibition, and in all the circumstances I do not think I am justified in asking the exhibition authorities to frame an estimate upon the basis suggested.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, in view of the fact that something like 3,000 cases of accidents and illness have been treated by the Red Cross at the British Empire Exhibition, and in order to allay any fears which may exist owing to the magnitude of this figure, he is able to give any information regarding the nature of the cases which have been dealt with by the Red Cross?

Of the 2,899 cases which, as I stated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for the East Division of Bristol (Mr. Baker) on the 30th June, had been treated at the Red Cross station at the British Empire Exhibition, I am informed by the exhibition authorities that 1,922 are classified as minor injuries, such as cuts, scratches, slight bruises, etc., which were not severe enough to warrant the patients being sent home. Of the remainder, I understand the majority consist of digestive troubles and faintness. There are, in addition, a number of miscellaneous cases, the general nature of which does not suggest that they are in any way peculiar to the exhibition or attributable to it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the committee on export trade will be appointed, and what will be its personnel and terms of reference?

My right hon. Friend hopes to be in a position to make a full announcement on this matter at an early date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can now inform the House of the result of the negotiations with the railway companies whose passenger steamers ply on the River Clyde in respect of the hours of labour worked by engineers and stokers upon these steamers; how many unemployed engineers could be absorbed into employment if the railway companies observed a 48-hour working week; and if he is aware of the urgency of this question, in view of the holiday season being already well advanced?

I am sorry I am not yet in a position to give the hon. Member the information for which he asks. As regards the latter part of the question I would refer him to the answer given to him on June 26th.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the frequent and urgent representations made to the Board of Trade in respect of discipline in the merchant service, he will now appoint a small committee representing the different interests concerned to investigate the matter and, if necessary, report to the Board of Trade?

In the debate on the Board of Trade Vote the, Noble Lord, the Member for Battersea (Viscount Curzon) promised to place some definite proposals before me on the subject of discipline in the merchant service. On receipt of these proposals, I will consider whether the matter is one which should be referred to a committee.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he proposes to make any proposals to the House arising out of his investigations into the prices of retail coal?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Ken-worthy) on the 17th June, to which I cannot at present add anything.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will, in view of the increase of motor-car accidents in the streets directly due to bad driving, set up an advisory board, to work in conjunction with the Automobile Association, to restrict the granting of driving licences to persons first proved by the police test fit to drive a car, thereby putting so-called owner drivers in the same position as taxicab drivers?

I am not prepared to agree that there is any appreciable increase in the number of motor-car accidents which can be attributed directly to bad driving. On the question of tests for drivers of motor vehicles, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 5th March to the hon. Member for East Bristol (Mr. Baker), a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of horses over the age of seven years which were exported to Spain and Portugal during the last 12 months; and has he any means of knowing to what uses horses so sent to these countries are put?

Twelve horses have been shipped to Spain and Portugal during the past 12 months. Nine of these were hackneys of the total value of £2,900 exported for breeding purposes. One of these nine was eight years old, and the remainder under seven years. The other three horses consisted of two bay nag geldings exported for riding, and one brown pony mare for military purposes. The ages of these three were not stated.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has received a memorial from the Abercarne branch of the League of Nations Union urging His Majesty's Government to approve the principles of the draft Treaty of Mutual Assistance in order to promote a reduction of armaments together with guarantees of security; and will he use his influence to give effect to the principles embodied in the question?

I have received memorials to the effect mentioned from a number of branches of the union. The general object of security and reduction of armaments is well known to be the aim of His Majesty's Government. I hope to be able to state their views on the draft Treaty shortly.

asked the Attorney-General if he can furnish the names of the Advisory Committee on the appointment of magistrates for the county of Hampshire?

The names and addresses of the Committee responsible for advising the Lord Chancellor with regard to the appointment of Justices of the Peace for the county of Hampshire are as follow:

• Major-General the Rt. Hon. J. E. B. Seely, C.B., C.M.G., M.P., Brooke House, Isle of Wight (His Majesty's Lieutenant).
• The Duke of Wellington, K.G., G.C.V.O., Ewhurst Park, Basing-stoke.
• Harry Merrill Colebrook, Esq., J.P., The Firs, Twyford, Nr. Winchester.
• Sir Woolmer White, Bart., J.P., Southleigh Park, Havant.
• Mrs. Charlotte Lyndon, J.P., Grayshott, Hindhead, Surrey.
• George William Singleton, Esq., J.P., 21, Montague Road, Bishopstoke, Eastleigh.
• Frederick William Tollerton, Esq., J.P., 29, Alexandra Road, Basingstoke.

A separate Advisory Committee acts for the Isle of Wight. The names and addresses of the members are as follow:

• Major-General the Rt. Hon. J. E. B. Seely, C.B., C.M.G., M.P., Brooke House, Isle of Wight (His Majesty's Lieutenant).
• Sir Edgar Chatfield-Clarke, J.P., Oak-field, Wooton, Isle of Wight.
• Sir Godfrey Baring, Nubia House, Baring Road, Cowes.
• William Anthony Glynn, Esq., Seagrove, Seaview, Isle of Wight.
• George Shedden, Esq., Spring Hill, East Cowes.
• Walter Warrior, Esq., J.P., 13, Milton Road, Cowes.