asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that in France postal packets are accepted, registered, and forwarded as if in order, and then supplementary payment is demanded on delivery in this country, thus causing annoyance and expense; and will he take steps to notify the French authorities of the Regulations in force in this country and request them to conform therewith or, alternatively, to accept the rating made in France?

The hon. Member no doubt refers to packets which are incorrectly accepted by the French Post Office at the sample rate of postage, although containing articles not transmissible at that rate. The Regulations of the sample post are prescribed by the Universal Postal Union, to which both France and the United Kingdom are parties; and the question of notifying France of the Regulations in force in this country does not therefore arise. Representations are made to the French Post Office when the addressees make application regarding the surcharges in individual cases, and the charges are refunded if the circumstances justify this course.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the unsatisfactory postal deliveries and collections on the new smallholder settlement of Newton, North Uist; and is he now prepared to improve the existing service, and provide a postal and money order sub-office within the new township for the convenience of the new settlers?

The hon. Member probably has in mind an application for improved facilities at Lochportan and Cheese Bay, on the Newton Estate on the east side of North Uist. Arrangements are being made for a delivery and collection of letters on three instead of two days a week and for the erection of a posting box; on present information a sub post office does not appear to be warranted.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of representations made either to his Department or to the British Broadcasting Company with respect to the destruction of racing pigeons by broadcasting wires and how many broadcasting installations with wires there are, on an estimate, in the country?

Ten representations on this subject have been received by the Post Office and one by the British Broadcasting Company. There are about 1,200,000 wireless licences; and the number of outdoor aerials is estimated to be more than a million.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that vacancies for five assistant superintendents and eight overseers were recently filled on the postal side at Belfast, and that a number of senior fully qualified officers in the respective lower grades were passed over; that two overseers who have performed the higher duties for the past six years have, by the promotions, been deprived of advancement to which their service and efficiency entitled them; that 16 sorting clerks and telegraphists have likewise been deprived of due promotion in the service; that individual protests have been lodged against the selections; and whether he will undertake to institute an impartial inquiry into the methods hitherto adopted at. Belfast in selecting officers for advancement?

I am aware of the facts stated in the first part of the hon. Member's question. To secure promotion an officer must be not only fully qualified but the best qualified of the eligible candidates, and I am satisfied that the best qualified men were selected on this occasion. I see no ground for holding such an inquiry as the hon. Member suggests.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of tons of reparation coal supplied by Germany to France, Italy and Belgium for the three months ending 31st January, 1924 and 1925, and the value per ton for the same periods?

This information is not in my possession, but I will see whether I can obtain it.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether any records are kept of the colliery undertakings in this country and their profits or losses; and can he state how the net distributable profits of the year 1924 compare with the average distribution of the three previous years?

The only figures available are those given in the quarterly summaries published by my Department. These are based on the returns made by collieries to the joint accountants for the purposes of the Wages Agreement, and show not the net distributable profits, but the profits before deduction of such items as loan interest and taxation. The figures (making allowance for the fact that the returns do not cover quite the whole of the industry) are about £14,250,000 for 1924, £27,500,000 for 1923, and £11,000,000 for 1922. No comparison can be made with 1921, as in the first quarter of that year the industry was under Government control and in the second the mines were idle.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can furnish figures to show comparison of the actual value of coal exported from this country in 1922, 1923 and 1924, respectively?

The, total value (f.o.b.) of coal exported from this country in 1922 was £72,529,500; in 1923, £99,847,237; and in 1924, £72,079,547. The comparable figures per ton of coal exported are 22s. 7d., 25s. 1½d. and 23s. 4½d., respectively.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he has any figures showing the increased cost of production of coal per ton caused through the introduction of the seven-hours day in Durham and Northumberland, in the other mining areas of Great Britain, or, alternatively, for the whole of the mining areas of Great Britain?

No, Sir; I have no figures in my possession that would enable me to say what increase in the cost of production of coal has been caused by the introduction of the seven-hours day.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that many farmers and smallholders in the North of England fear that the new slaughtering order will prevent killing for their own home requirements; and if he will give a definite assurance that this is not his intention?

I am happy to give the assurance desired. The Public Health (Meat) Regulations, 1924, do not impose any limitation as to the persons who may slaughter animals or as to the places at which animals may be slaughtered, but require notice to be given of the slaughter of animals for sale for human consumption.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has received a letter from the Monmouthshire Chamber of Agriculture in favour of stimulating Home-grown corn and other products and the setting up of national storage granaries, and stating that an organised system of purchase and storage of what foreign corn is necessary; and will he state what the intentions of the Government are on this matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The matters referred to in the second and last parts of the question have been under review by the Royal Commission on Food Prices, and pending their report I am not prepared to make any statement.

asked the Minister for Health whether his attention has been drawn to the suggestion for timber-framed houses in the Report of the Technical Committee of the National Housing and Town Planning Council; and whether he would consider the giving of the subsidy to timber-made houses of approved types for rural areas?

My right hon. Friend has seen the Report in question. Local authorities have already been informed that his Department will be prepared in suitable circumstances to entertain applications in respect of wooden houses, and my right hon. Friend would be prepared to authorise the payment of subsidy under the Housing Acts for such proposals as were of a satisfactory type.

asked the Minister of Health what steps his Department is taking to facilitate the appointment of local committees, as suggested in the Building Trade Committee's Report of last year, in order to encourage the recruitment of labour into the building trade?

The local committees to which the hon. Member refers are committees representative of the employers and operatives of the building industry. Through the Central Building Industry Committee arrangements have already been made for the constitution of these local committees, and my right hon. Friend understands that upwards of 200 are already in existence.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health the number of schemes in Scotland now approved for building of houses under the 1924 Act, the names of the authorities whose schemes have been approved, and the number of houses in each scheme?

Under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924, the Scottish Board of Health had as at 14th February, 1925, approved of schemes submitted by 21 local authorities. The names of the authorities and the number of houses to be erected are as follow:

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that milk dealers in Paris are compelled to put coloured labels on receptacles in use indicating what quality of milk the receptacles contain; and whether he will favourably consider providing similar safeguards in this country?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the practice to which the hon. Member refers and will consider the ques- tion of the use of coloured labels in connection with any revision of the Milk (Special Designations) Order, 1923.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that in Monmouthshire last year 196 samples of milk were taken, out of which 16 were deficient in fat, the deficiency ranging from 4 per cent. to as high as 36 per cent., there being no evidence of added water; that under the law as it stands it is difficult to secure a conviction, and that consequently this form of adulteration is increasing; and will he take steps to alter the law in relation to prosecutions for selling milk deficient in fat?

My attention had not previously been directed to these figures, but if there was no evidence of added water they cannot necessarily be regarded as proof of adulteration. I am not aware of any evidence for the suggestion that defects in the existing law are leading to an increase in the practice of adulterating milk, and I cannot undertake to introduce legislation on the subject.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the advisability of calling a conference, comprising representatives of local authorities, the British Medical Association, and the Ministry of Health, with the view of arriving at an agreed scale of remuneration for Medical Officers of Health in the public service?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given to the hon. Member for Stratford (Mr. Groves) and other hon. Members on the 12th inst.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to the Lewisham District Council appointing a 20-year old girl as the junior library assistant at the rate of 18s. per week; and if he has sanctioned or intends to sanction this appointment?

My right hon. Friend's attention had not been called to this, but appointments on the library staff of a local authority do not require sanction by any central authority.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the high death rate in North Kensington in the poorer parts of the district; that the infantile death rate in North Kensington is 86 per thousand as against 37 per thousand in South Kensington; that in the Golborne Ward, in North Kensington, where overcrowding is worst, the rate was 107 per thousand, and among the mews' dwellers it was as high as 237 per thousand; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?

There is unfortunately a high infant mortality rate in North Kensington. Many efforts are, however, being made by the maternity and child welfare organisations in the district to reduce it. There are seven infant welfare centres in the district, in addition to a baby clinic and hospital, to which my Department makes the appropriate Exchequer contribution. Special arrangements are also made by the borough council, through the Nursing Association, for nursing infectious diseases in young children. A new scheme has recently been sanctioned for investigation and treatment of certain children's diseases.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he is now in a position to give a precise date for the introduction of legislation to carry out the recommendations of the Lee Commission?

The legislation to which my hon. Friend refers will be introduced as early as possible during the present Session, but I am unable at present to give a precise date.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the older Register House clerks in Scotland are to enjoy the benefits of the arrangements recently come to as to retiral gratuities for the older men of the County Court staff in England, namely, that they should receive the usual gratuity plus 100 per cent.; and, if not, will he state the reason?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given on the 17th December last, to the terms of which I have nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has under consideration the application of physical tests in connection with the grant of motor-driving licences; and, if so, whether he is taking steps to secure the co-operation of ex-service and other associations representing disabled persons in formulating proposals?

As I stated on 18th. December in reply to the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Wardlaw Milne), I am disposed to agree with the conclusion arrived at by the Departmental Committee on the Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles, as stated in their Second Interim Report, that it would not be practicable to institute any general system of tests for drivers of motor vehicles.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction, caused amongst the inspectors and other station officers in the Metropolitan police by the change in duty hours; why the branch boards were not consulted; and whether the representations since made by the station officers will result in a return to the former hours, which were satisfactory?

The change was made for the purpose of effecting certain improvements in supervision which were necessary. The Commissioner of Police did not consider there was any occasion for previous consultation with the branch boards, but he is considering certain representations which have been received.

asked the Home Secretary whether arrangements can be made throughout the Metropolitan police so that constables, when changing from day to night duty, shall perform early duty on the day the change-over takes place, in order that adequate rest may be taken?

The instructions in force already provide for this, as far as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether it is intended to continue, and, if possible, improve upon, the extensive display of flowers in the public parks in the East End as well as in the West for the forthcoming summer?

I can only answer for the Royal Parks, which are in the charge of the Office of Works. It is intended to continue, and it is hoped to improve upon, the display of flowers in these parks next summer. There is no Royal Park in the East End, with the exception of Greenwich Park.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number' of recruits so far obtained for the Army Supplementary Reserve; the trades from which they are drawn; and what groups of employers have been approached with a view to assisting the recruiting for this reserve?

The number of recruits obtained for the Supplementary Reserve up to the 7th February last are as follow:

sending the hon. Member a copy. The only groups of employers which have been approached by the War Office with a view to assisting recruiting for this branch of the Reserve are the four railway companies of Great Britain and certain engineering firms and transport companies.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of British troops now in occupation of German territory and the cost, excluding accommodation and other services provided free by the German Government during the year 1924?

The number of troops serving with the British Army of Occupation in Germany on the 1st February was 8,811 all ranks. The estimated cost of the British troops in occupation of German territory for the year 1924, exclusive of accommodation and other services hitherto provided without charge by the German Government, is £1,550,000. As from 1st September, 1924, the cost of accommodation, etc., provided by the German Government win be a charge against the Dawes annuity, and as such will fall to be paid for in the first instance from Army funds, but it is not yet possible to state what this charge will amount to.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the approximate amount of taxation payable in Great Britain, France, Germany and the United States of America by persons with incomes of £1,000, £3,000, £5,000 and £10,000 per annum, respectively?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to income taxation and taxation of an allied nature. Income taxation in the countries named is levied upon different bases. In Great Britain, there is one general Income Tax (including the Super-tax); in France, there are various schedular taxes applicable to defined sources of income, as well as a general Income Tax; in the United States, account must be taken of the State taxes as well as of the Federal Income Tax; in Germany, the present structure of the Income Tax is of a temporary nature. For these and other reasons, I am afraid I cannot attempt the calculation which I am asked to make.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has any information as to the extent of dollar loans, including short-term loans, granted by American financiers to German companies recently?

No, Sir. I have no special sources of information as to the extent of private American credits to private. German institutions.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that naval officers who are serving in ships afloat and whose families reside on shore on Colonial stations are compelled to pay the full tax on their incomes in this country as well as the indirect taxation in the Colony; and whether he will consider legislation to relieve them of this double taxation by granting a Colonial allowance, as is now granted to Army officers serving abroad, or by some other means?

I am aware that, generally speaking, such officers are liable to British Income Tax, though if technically non-resident they are entitled to relief therefrom in respect of any dividends on foreign and Colonial securities or on those British Government securities issued with the condition that the dividends shall not be liable to tax so long as the securities are in the beneficial ownership of a person not ordinarily resident in this country. They would, however, be liable to indirect taxation if they were resident in this country, and I am unable to adopt the suggestion contained in the latter part of the question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether there is any rule precluding the issue of free railway passes on furlough to boys under the age of 18 apprenticed to the Royal Navy at Devonport; and, if so, whether he will consider the desirability of giving such boys, whose homes are in the North of England, equally cheap facilities to travel to their homes as those enjoyed by boys whose families live near Devonport?

Under the present arrangements boys in the training establishments are granted return tickets by the railway companies at reduced rates, namely:—Boys over 16 years of age at 1⅓ of the ordinary single fare, and boys under 16 years of age at two-thirds of the ordinary single fare. When the reduced fare amounts to more than 50s, the excess is borne by the Admiralty in respect of one leave journey per annum. I fear I can hold out no hope of free travelling warrants being granted for leave journeys.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if if he is aware that a number of Naval Reserve stokers are being deprived of their bonus owing to their not being allowed to re-enrol at the end of their 10-year period on account of being unemployed; and if he will consider the present procedure with a view to allowing them to enrol or, failing that, to draw a bonus proportionate to their length of service?

In order to reduce the large surplus of stokers in the Royal Naval Reserve, it was decided in December, 1922, that until further notice stokers completing their second period of five years' service in the Reserve should not be re-enrolled. This decision remained in force until the 1st November, 1924, when the re-enrolment of stokers for a third period was resumed. The decision had no reference to unemployment. With regard to the second part of the question, it would unfortunately be impossible to offer re-enrolment to men who were refused it under the operation of this decision, without re-creating the surplus which the action was taken in order to reduce. Re-enrolment of Royal Naval Reservists is in all cases conditional upon their services being required, and no claim to compensation therefore exists in the case of men who do not complete the full qualifying service of 20 years.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what the estimated cost would be to give to the men who retired from His Majesty's Dockyard prior to the 1st of March, 1920, and who only received 40 per cent. War bonus addition to their gratuities, the benefit of the 75 per cent. increase concession how many men are involved; and what additional sum on an average each man would receive?

I regret that it is impossible, without exhaustive research, to state with any degree of accuracy the number of men who would be involved or the cost which would fall on Navy Votes if the benefits of the 75 per cent. increase concession were extended to those men who retired from His Majesty's dockyards prior to the 1st March, 1920, and who received only the 40 per cent. concession. It is considered, however, that the cost to the Admiralty would probably be not less than £25,000 and that approximately 2,500 men would be concerned. Other Government Departments would also be affected if the arrangements suggested were adopted.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that hired men who retired from His Majesty's dockyard after the 1st of March, 1920, received a 75 per cent. war bonus increase on their gratuities, whereas those men who came out immediately prior to that date received only 40 per cent., and thus, although there was but a short interval between the retirement of one set of men and the retirement of another set of men after identical service to the State, there was a heavy penalty placed upon those men who had reached the age of 60 before the date of the said increase; and whether he can see his way to remove such inequalities in the treatment of ex-State servants?

The increase in the gratuities of hired workmen who retired prior to the 1st March, 1920, was based on 40 per cent. of the pay and not of the bonus as in the case of the 75 per cent. concession, and in some instances the former arrangement is to the advantage of the men. While anomalies are bound to arise at the inception of a new system, it must be recognised it is essential to fix a date from which the new arrangement applies. Hired workmen definitely sever all connection with the State on their retirement and there are no special reasons for giving retrospective effect to revised regulations affecting their gratuities. I regret, therefore, to be unable to recommend any modification of the arrangements already made which the hon. Member will realise apply to all ex-Government employés.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the stagnation in promotion in the stoker branch, and in view of the disappointment felt by many mechanician candidates through not being able to qualify for the latter branch before confirmation in leading rate, he can see his way to allow confirmed leading stokers, who are so desirous and who have exceptional ability, to qualify for the mechanician branch?

The stagnation in promotion referred to by the hon. Member is now coming to an end and the flow of promotion will shortly return to the normal rate. It is, therefore, not considered desirable for the present to depart from the Regulations for advancement to mechanician.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that the provisions of paragraph 31 of Admiralty Statement D. 30,925/14 of 23rd February, 1915, that all first-class engineers are to be borne on the established list, are not always observed; and, in view of the pledge given in reply to the 1914 dockyard petitions, if he will have the matter inquired into?

All first-class engineers of yard craft who are eligible under the Regulations, and who are employed in authorised permanent situations, are borne on the established list in accordance with the reply to petitions referred to.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, in reference to the Works Department in His Majesty's Dockyard at Devonport, whether he will state the percentage of men employed in this department who were on the established list at the outbreak of War and at the present date, respectively?

The percentage of men employed in the Works Department, His Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, who were on the established list at the outbreak of War was 11·7. The percentage at present is 15·5.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, seeing that the responsibility for ex-service mental cases has been taken over by the Government since April, 1924, he will consider extending the responsibility so as to cover the charges incurred in respect of such patients during the period 1st October, 1922, to 31st March, 1924?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for the Abertillery Division (Mr. Barker) on the 8th October last.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will have inquiries made into the case of Isaac S. Constable, of 11, Matilda Place, Crabtree Road, Brookfields, Birmingham, late No. 346,634, L.A.C., Royal Air Force, who contracted tuberculosis on the 20th June, 1923, whilst serving in the Royal Air Force, and who was eventually discharged in September, 1923, but to whom pension has been refused by the Air Ministry and whether he will see that this man is given the right of appeal to an independent tribunal?

The disability for which the ex-airman referred to was invalided was not directly attributable to the conditions of his post-War service, and, as he had not as much as 14 years' qualifying service, he was, therefore, not entitled to a disability pension under the Royal Air Force Regulations. His claim was fully and sympathetically considered at the Air Ministry, but could not be allowed. The case was afterwards referred to the Ministry of Pensions for consideration under Great War Warrants in view of the fact that the ex-airman, in appealing against the Air Ministry decision, suggested that his disability was caused by service during the War; but that Department did not so regard it, and this decision was upheld on appeal by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that at a coroner's inquest upon No. 42,137, Lance-Corporal Wiliam Turner, 2/10th battalion London Regiment, a verdict was returned that he committed suicide during temporary insanity due to War wounds; if he is aware that the deceased was in receipt of a pension of 11s. 6d. per week, and that his widow is now left unprovided for; and what are the regulations, if any, regarding pensions for widows of those who have committed suicide while suffering from insanity due directly to War wounds?

The Ministry are empowered under the Pension Warrants to admit a claim for pension only where, after investigation of all the facts, medical and other, they are satisfied that death was due to War service. In the case referred to the man's death could not, I regret, be so certified, but the widow has a right of appeal to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, and she has been so informed.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will take steps to relax the rule laid down in. the Royal Warrant, published with Army Order 289 of the year 1920, that all applications for the conversion of flat-rate pensions of officers' widows into alternative pensions have to be made within a year of the grant of the flat-rate pension or within a year of the date of the Warrant?

I regret that I do not see my way to adopting this suggestion. The conditions of the Warrants as regards alternative pension (which apply equally to both officers and men, have not only been extensively advertised by means of notices in the Press and by posters, but, in addition, a leaflet is always sent to each pensioner concerned informing them of the conditions.

asked the Minister of Pensions if his attention has been called to the long periods of waiting in the waiting-rooms to which officers and men are subjected when attending medical boards for reboarding; and whether steps will be taken to arrange the times of appointment so that unreasonable delay will be avoided, particularly in the interests of those in employment who may suffer financially by absence from work?

My right hon. Friend is not aware of any general complaint of the nature indicated. The arrangements for summoning pensioners for medical boarding are such that, if they attend punctually, there should be no unreasonable delay in having the examination made. Where working time is lost owing to medical examination compensation is paid. If my hon. and gallant Friend has had complaint in regard to any particular boarding centre, my right hon. Friend would be glad to have an opportunity of looking into the matter.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is in a position to state the number of appeals made for pensions by ex-service men who are suffering from tuberculosis during the year 1924; and the number of such appeals granted and disallowed?

It is regretted that the records of the Pensions Appeal Tribunals are not kept in such a form as to enable this information to be given without incurring a very considerable amount of additional work, involving the examination of many thousand individual cases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, as recom- mended by the Estimates Committee in their first Report of 1924, a further distribution of not less than 5s. in the £ has, since 31st May, 1924, been made by the British Clearing Office Enemy Debts Department on all established claims for compensation under Article 297(e) of the Treaty of Versailles?

A further dividend of 7s. 6d. in the £ was paid by the Clearing Office on the 8th July last on awards under Article 297 (e) of the Treaty of Versailles.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can inform the House whether judgment has been given in the United States courts in favour of the British Clearing Office for Enemy Debts for several million sterling; and, if so, when it is proposed by the Clearing Office to make a further distribution in respect of the accepted claims of British creditors?

On the 26th January last the United States Supreme Court decided in favour of the British Custodian in two test suits brought to determine the title of the Custodian to certain stocks in American Corporations, the certificates of which were seized by him during the War. The actual suits only related to stocks of a comparatively small amount, but it bad been agreed that the result of these two test suits should govern the title to further stocks whose value is considerable. These stocks are, in many cases, subject to third party claims, and the process of realising them and allocating the proceeds to their respective owners must necessarily take time, but the Controller of the Clearing Office will make a further distribution to claimants who have obtained awards from the Mixed Arbitral Tribunal at the earliest possible date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of the staff employed by the British Clearing Office for Enemy Debts to-day, as compared with the number employed on 1st July, 1924?

The staff employed by the Clearing Office (Enemy Debts), including the Departments for the Administration of Austrian, Bulgarian and Hungarian Property, and the accredited representatives in Berlin, Vienna, Budapest and China, numbered 776 on 1st July, 1924. The transfer to the Clearing Office of the Trading with the Enemy Branch from the Public Trustee Department, added 360 persons on 1st January of this year, and the total staff to-day is 1,110.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is in accordance with the Regulations of his Department that an applicant for unemployment benefit may be required to obtain 20 signatures of people to whom he has made application for work; and, if so, seeing that this is an unnecessarily hard burden upon such individuals, whether he can see his way to modify the Regulations?

There is no Regulation or instruction to this effect, and if the Noble Lord will supply me with particulars of any case where such a stipulation has been made, I will have inquiry made into it. What the committees have to do is to satisfy themselves by such evidence as they think necessary and appropriate that the applicant for benefit is making every reasonable effort to obtain work.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the percentage of unemployed at 21st December, 1923, and at 22nd December, 1924, was, in steel melting and iron puddling furnaces and iron and steel rolling mills, 17·0 and 27·6, and that in iron and steel tube making it was 14·8 and 20·1, and that, in these industries, the total number of unemployed has increased from 40,401 to 62,661, or 55 per cent.; that, in Sheffield, large numbers of men, with long years of service in the iron and steel trades, have been refused benefit on the grounds, firstly, that they are not genuinely seeking employment, and, secondly, that for two years they have not been employed; what schemes the Government have in view for relieving unemployment in these industries; when such schemes will he communicated to the House; and what amount of reduction in unemployment it is estimated that such, schemes will effect during the next 12 months?

The figures of unemployment quoted in the first part of the question are substantially as stated by the hon. Member. Of nearly 39,000 cases of claims for benefit referred to committees at Sheffield, only 2·2 per cent. were rejected for the reason that the applicants were not making reasonable efforts to obtain suitable employment or not willing to accept suitable employment, and 4·5 were rejected on the ground that they had not had a reasonable period of insurable employment during the preceding two years. The hon. Member will appreciate the difficulty of finding relief schemes which will directly affect the iron and steel industries, but the value in this connection of schemes guaranteed under the Trade Facilities Act, as well as the bridges programme of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, has already been often explained to the House.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that if an unemployed person obtains by his own effort work in another area from that in which he is registered the Employment Exchange does not advance his railway fare to the new job, but that if the work is obtained through the Employment Exchange the fare is advanced; and what is the reason for this difference which penalises the person's own effort?

The powers of the Minister of Labour to make advances of fares are limited by an express provision of the Labour Exchanges Act, 1909, to cases in which employment has been found through an Employment Exchange.

asked the Minister of Labour when he will he in a position to state the Government's proposals for dealing with unemployment?

There will, I understand, be an opportunity to discuss this matter on the Vote on Account, which is to be taken early next month.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that applicants for unemployed benefit who are approximately 60 years of age are informed by the local employment committees that they are not eligible for benefit unless they can prove that under normal conditions they would be likely to be employed, and, failing to prove this, are automatically removed from the benefits of the Unemployed Insurance Act?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply (of which I am sending him a copy) given yesterday to the hon. Member for Trades-ton (Mr. T. Henderson) on this subject.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the number of unemployed in the Middlesbrough district is to-day 20 per cent. greater than six months ago and 33 per cent. greater than 12 months ago; and what further steps the Government propose to take to meet this additional burden on local rates and local industries?

I very much regret the increase of unemployment in Middlesbrough. If there is any general improvement in trade I trust that the iron and steel trades will get their fair share and that there will consequently be an improvement at Middlesbrough. In the meantime, if the local authority can put forward suggestions for any practicable schemes in the area, the extent to which the Government could make financial contribution will be sympathetically and carefully considered.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any men on the unemployment register drawing unemployment pay are doing work of public utility; if so, what is the nature of such work; and whether, in view of the need for additional labour on grazing farms during a wet winter to dig out the ditches, drain meadows, and trim fences, any steps can be taken to utilise unemployed labourers under Government or county council schemes?

Unemployment benefit is not paid to any person concurrently with employment, whether on public relief works or otherwise. Provision is already made for assistance to agricultural committees and other local bodies for schemes of land drainage to be put in hand to give employment to men who would otherwise be unemployed. 500 schemes have already been approved as part of the winter's programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any representations were made to the French Government in order to secure the expulsion from France of Mr. M. N. Roy; and, if so, what was the nature of such representations?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, seeing that the presidency of the Saar Valley Governing Commission has, so far, been held by the French member for five out of the 15 years for which the Commission is expected to exist, and in view of the importance of emphasising the League's neutrality in this matter, the British representative, et the next League Council meeting, will endeavour to secure that the office be now allocated to another member of the Commission?

I am unable to comply with the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion. In selecting the President of the Commission, personal qualifications must necessarily play a determining part.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the duty pay of the door-keepers in his Department has been stopped; that doorkeepers in other Departments are paid extra money because of their duties as door-keepers; and whether he will inquire into this matter with a view to the duty pay of these particular men being returned to them, in view of the fact that there has been no change in the duties they perform?

The withdrawal of the duty pay of door-keepers was consequent upon the reorganisation of the messenger establishment and the creation of a number of established posts for messengers, and followed the general practice of Government offices in this matter. I am aware that in some other Departments exceptions to this rule have been made, but only in certain special circumstances which do not apply to the Air Ministry door-keepers. The position of the Air Ministry door-keepers has been very fully considered, but it has not been found possible to include them in the list of exceptions.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why the Estimate for the Naval Air Arm are being placed on the Navy Vote, in view of the terms of the Report of the Committee of Imperial Defence, which was accepted by the Government in 1923?

Provision for the Fleet Air Arm continues to be taken in the gross of Air Estimates as heretofore. An Appropriation-in-Aid is also taken, however, representing a grant from the Admiralty in respect of its cost. This hater sum will be voted in Navy Estimates. This procedure was decided upon by the Treasury, with Admiralty and Air Ministry assent, in accordance with the suggestion in the fourth recommendation of the Sub-Committee of 'the Committee of Imperial Defence upon the Relations of the Navy and the Air Force (Cmd. 1938).

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the price paid to contractors for 3-inch shells; whether the Fair Wages Clause is in operation in all cases; and what are the maximum and minimum earnings per hour in each of the separate operations involved?

I have been asked to reply. It is not in the public interest to disclose contract prices, which are invariably treated as confidential. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, I am not in possession of information as to the wages paid by the contractor, but if the hon. Member has any evidence that the Fair Wages Clause is being infringed, and will communicate it to me, I will investigate the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if any families have so far been settled in Canada under the Empire Settlement Act, 1922; and, if so, how many, and in what Provinces?

A scheme for the settlement of 3,000 British families on the land in Canada comes into operation this spring. Up to the present about 320 families have been selected under this scheme. Hitherto there has been no scheme for the settlement of families in Canada, although families nominated by friends or relatives in the Dominion have received financial help towards their passages.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if arrangements have been completed for the Imperial Wireless Conference; and whether he is able to state the date and the place of the assembly of the Conference?

The form of my hon. Friend's question implies that it has been decided to hold an Imperial Wireless Conference. This, however, is not the case. No proposal for such a Conference has, so far as I know, been put forward on behalf of His Majesty's. Government.