asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the length, width, and depth of the locks on the Suez Canal?

There are no locks on the Suez Canal. The maximum draught recently authorised for vessels making the passage of the canal is 32 feet, at which depth the width is about 147 feet. The depth is being gradually increased.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many unestablished men are now employed in Devon-port dockyard who are eligible for establishment, and who have served in the naval, military, or air services on peace attestations?

The number is 116.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many established men there are in His Majesty's dockyard, Devonport, to-day, and how many of these have served in the naval, military, or air service on peace attestations?

The answer to the first part of the question is 3,857, and to the second part 77.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether dockyard employés who received civil pay while serving with the Forces of the Crown during the great War will receive payment of the war bonus; and whether the decision reached in respect of postal employés will also apply to civil servants in the Admiralty who joined the Forces during the War?

Employés of the Admiralty, whether they were serving at headquarters or at the out ports, come under the same rules as other civil servants as regards payment of bonus while on naval, military, or air force service during the great War. As soon as the necessary approval of Parliament has been obtained steps will be taken to authorise payment in all cases affected by recent legal decision.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many ex-apprentices were discharged in the penultimate Conservative Government; how many have been reinstated under subsequent administrations; and how many are still unemployed?

In the heavy after-War discharges it was necessary to include amongst the men discharged some who had served their apprenticeship in the dockyards; most of these discharges took place before the 23rd October, 1922. It is not possible, without detailed investigations, to give the figures asked for by the hon. and gallant Member, but, as stated in my reply to his question on the 17th December last, workmen who have been apprenticed in the dockyards will be given preference for re-entry when any opportunity arises.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what addition would be made to the average pensions of established men in His Majesty's dockyards if they were allowed to count their hired time towards pension?

I have been asked to reply. Established workmen in His Majesty's dockyards are already allowed to count half of their hired time towards pension. To ascertain with any degree of accuracy the addition which would be made to the average pensions of these men if they were allowed to count the whole of their hired service for this purpose would involve a very large amount of labour, which, in present circumstances, I regret cannot be undertaken. I may state, however, that the average addition to pension would probably be about £14 per annum, but this figure must be regarded as a very approximate estimate only.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, with reference to the claim of the retired naval officers to have their retired pay, which was suspended during the War, repaid to them, whether he will consider appointing a committee of two qualified legal representatives representing the Admiralty and two representing the retired naval officers, respectively, with a neutral chairman, to examine into the legal aspects of this claim, which the recent committee were not empowered to investigate?

The Committee presided over by Mr. Holman Gregory was not specifically debarred by its terms of reference from considering the legal aspects of the case, but came to the conclusion, as stated in paragraph 15 of the Report, that the question of legality did not arise for consideration, because the Law Officers of the Crown had on two occasions expressed the opinion that the practice of suspending retired pay was legal. Further, the Committee pointed out that it -was stated by the hon. and gallant Member for North Portsmouth (Sir B. Falle), who appeared for a large number of officers concerned, that the payment of retired pay during re-employment on active service was not claimed as a legal right. All the arguments put forward on behalf of the officers from a legal point of view have already been carefully considered, and in all the circumstances I do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by appointing another committee as proposed.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is able to give the number of naval and marine officers previously retired, who were made use of during the War; and what would be the cost to the country per annum if these officers were given the retired pay of the rank they served in during the War?

The number of naval and marine officers (including warrant officers) previously retired who were re-employed under the Admiralty during the War was approximately 2,650. I regret that it is not practicable to estimate the cost of giving them retired pay based on higher rank than that actually held on original retirement.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the draught and width of the five new cruisers, and also of the "Hood," "Tiger," and "Repulse"?

The following are particulars for "Hood," "Tiger" and "Repulse":

It would not be in the public interest to publish similar information regarding the five new cruisers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any and, if so, what expenditure has yet taken place on the development of the Singapore base since the present Government took office?

I have been asked to reply. No expenditure on development at the Singapore base has been incurred since the present Government took office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the plan of naval construction by means of loan; and, if so, what decision he has come to on the matter?

To borrow for naval construction at a time when debt is being repaid under statute at £50,000,000 a year would be at the least a contradictory proceeding.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the depth and width of dry docks available for naval purposes at Gibraltar, Malta, Colombo, Singapore and Sydney?

The depth and width of dry docks at Gibraltar, Malta, Colombo, Singapore and Sydney are as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that four temporary ex-service civil servants employed at R (Disposal of Records). War Office, Isleworth, have received notice of dismissal as being redundant, while at the same time three permanent civil servants have been added to the staff on work which is of a temporary character: and why this is being done in view of previous assurances given to the ex-service men on the temporary staff?

Only two temporary clerks at the Record Office, Isleworth, are at present under notice of discharge, though it may shortly become necessary to discharge others in order to retain men who have prior claims on grounds of disability or service, in accordance with the recommendations of the Southborough and Lytton Committees. Only one permanent civil servant has been transferred to the office, the work of which is not wholly temporary. With regard to the last part of the question, I am not aware that these discharges are contrary to any assurance given by the War Office.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has received representations as to the position of the ex-soldier clerks who passed the ex-soldier clerks' examination in July, 1924, and who are still waiting for permanent appointments; whether these men will be gradually absorbed as ex-soldier clerks in the War Office; and whether they will be required to sit for any further examination before receiving permanent appointments?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; to the second, that they will be absorbed up to 1st April, 1926, as vacancies arise; to the last, that, so far as permanent ex-soldier clerkships in the War Office are concerned, no further clerical examination will be required.

asked the Minister of Labour how many firms and local authorities are, or are not, on the King's Roll; and what steps is he taking to bring pressure to bear upon firms and local authorities to join up?

Approximately 28,200 employers, including 1,372 local authorities, are on the King's Roll. The number of firms employing 25 or more workpeople not on the Roll is estimated to be about 20,000, but many of these employ disabled ex-service men. 2,448 local authorities are not on the Roll, of whom 1,607 employ so few men that qualification for enrolment would be difficult With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the Debate in the House on the 17th instant on the Resolution moved by the hon. and gallant Member for Norwich (Captain Fairfax).

asked the Minister of Labour how many ex-service men are now being trained in Government instructional factories; how many are awaiting training; and how many are awaiting improverships?

The number of men in training in Government instructional factories is approximately 3,250. There are approximately 700 men in Great Britain and 1,250 men in Ireland awaiting training. Some of these men are at present under treatment and, therefore, are not available for training. The number of men awaiting improverships is approximately 2,800.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, under the recent agreement entered into with representatives of temporary male ex-service civil servants, men placed in the new P Class will be eligible for employment upon work which would otherwise be performed by staff recruited by open competition: and whether the gratuities to be granted on discharge to P class men will be accompanied by a reversion to the normal one week's notice, or whether the existing two months' notice will remain in force?

The temporary ex-service men who may be selected for permanent non-pensionable employment in Government Departments in accordance with the agreement reached with their representatives will, in general, be employed on duties similar to those now performed by them as temporary graded clerks. The second part of the hon. Member's question appears to be based on a misapprehension of the agreement. Inasmuch as the men in question are to be selected for permanent non-pensionable employment, the question of the period of notice hitherto given on discharge would not appear to arise in their case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a promise was given by his predecessor to afford facilities to discuss the position of ranker officers and their claim for pension; and is he prepared to carry out this promise, and when?

An opportunity to discuss the position of ranker officers will occur on the consideration of the Army Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in cases where a soldier has an illegitimate child and subsequently marries the mother of the child, allowances are issued to the wife in respect of the illegitimate child in addition to those for the legitimate children?

Marriage allowance is issued for any child born to the soldier and his wife before their marriage, subject to the ordinary conditions governing the issue of marriage allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what research is being carried out in the matter of the stalling speed of aeroplanes; and what results have been obtained?

In reply to the first part of the question, the investigation of the factors influencing the stalling speed of aircraft is a duty of a special panel of the Aeronautical Research Committee. This panel consists of eminent authorities and co-ordinates the experimental and theoretical research at the National Physical Laboratory and the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, with the general advances in aerodynamical knowledge with which the subject is fundamentally connected. Full-scale flying tests are also carried out at Farnborough and three special aircraft to be used in the investigation of the problem are being constructed at the request of the Aeronautical Research Committee. With regard to the second part of the question, general advances have been made in our knowledge of the behaviour of aircraft at stalling and lower speeds. Promising tests have been made in flight of a device which automatically warns the pilot that his aircraft is in danger of stalling; an aeroplane of novel type has made gliding tests which may throw much light on the problem; and work is being continued with a method of control which may reduce the danger arising from a stall while an aircraft is turning close to the ground.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether any settlement has yet been reached which will enable the London-Prague service to be put into operation?

I regret to say that the position is still as stated in my reply to my hon. Friend on the 18th December last.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that for practical purposes the flight of British civil aircraft in Europe is confined to France, Belgium, Holland, Italy and Greece; and what steps are being taken to extend the scope of development of British air transport?

Regular services are carried on by British civil aircraft not only to France, Belgium and Holland, but also to Germany (both Cologne and Berlin) and (except in the winter) to Switzerland, while occasional flights are also made to various other countries. The possibility of the opening up of new services is constantly under consideration both by the Air Ministry and by Imperial Airways, Limited, but there is an obstacle to any central European extension at present in the difficulty of making arrangements for flying over German territory.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he has any information as to the number of aeroplanes and seaplanes maintained ready for service by the Government of the French Republic; how many of these are in Europe; how many efficient machines are in reserve; and the corresponding numbers maintained in Great Britain and Ireland?

The combined strength of the French naval, military and Colonial air services, according to the latest information available, is approximately 140 squadrons, of an average of nine machines each. This figure does not include any squadrons now in process of formation, as to which, so far as I am aware, the French Government have not published any particulars. The number of squadrons in Europe is 110. I have no information as to the number of reserve machines in the French service. The number of Royal Air Force squadrons, of 12 machines each on the average, in Great Britain and Ireland is 30, including the equivalent of four and a half squadrons which is the present allotment for the Fleet Air Arm in home waters. It would not be in the public interest to state the number of machines held in reserve for the Royal Air Force.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether records have been compiled of the cost of operating the Cairo-Bagdad air service; and whether details of those costs can be published?

The answer is in the negative. The air service in question is primarily maintained for service reasons and it would be difficult and probably impossible to prepare a statement of the cost on a commercial basis.

asked the President of the Board of Education the comparative cost for education per head of the population in England, giving separate figures for London, and in New Zealand, the United States of America, and France?

It is not possible to extract comparable figures from any published statistics, and the adjustment of published figures so as to afford a reliable basis of comparison would require a very minute investigation of the working of the public system of education and an intimate knowledge of the financial arrangements in each country (and in some cases in each constituent state or province), which cannot be acquired from official reports.

Subject to this reservation, the answer, so far as information is available, is as follows:

England and Wales. —On the basis of the population figures continued in the Census Returns for 1921, and of the expenditure in the financial year 1923–24 out of public funds on education of all grades, so far as it falls within the purview of the Board of Education, the average cost of education per head of the population is £1 17s. 9d. for England and Wales as a whole, and £2 10s. 10d. for London individually. These figures include administration: elementary, secondary and technical education; training of teachers; school medical service and special schools; and superannuation of teachers; but not university education, or industrial or reformatory schools, or agricultural education.

New Zealand. —From the Report of the Minister of Education for 1923, it appears that the total cost to public funds of education per head of the population in 1923–24 was £2 10s 5d. This figure includes administration; elementary, secondary and technical education; training of teachers; university education, native schools; schools for defective children; industrial schools: and teachers' pensions; but it does not include expenditure on the school medical service, which, since 1920, has been a function of the Health Department,

United States of America. —The latest available figures are those contained in Bulletin No. 16 (1923) of the Bureau of Education. The total population of the States on the 1st January, 1920, is given as 105,710,620; and the estimated total expenditure from public funds on public elementary and high schools, normal schools and State universities, excluding all private institutions, is given for 1919–20 as 1,156,639,801 dollars, that is. 1094 dollars per head of population. I have reason to believe that the cost has since increased materially.

It should be observed (i) that these figures are computed from the actual expenditure of 12 only of the 48 States of the Union; and (ii) that they do not include all the expenditure on some items which are wholly included, so far as England and Wales is concerned, in the expenditure of the Board of Education and the local education authorities.

France. —The Budget of the French Ministry of Public Instruction, for 1923, of all the services for which it is responsible was 1,415,280,393 francs. This does not cover any local expenditure. This is equivalent to a charge of approximately 38 francs per head of population. It is to be observed that the items included in this expenditure are not identical with those contained in the English figures. No expenditure on, for instance, teachers' pensions is included, nor does the whole charge for the State provision of higher technological instruction fall upon the Ministry of Public Instruction

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has come to any decision regarding holding further acting teachers' certificate examinations, in addition to that recently held?

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the experience of the appeal tribunals has shown many cases of real hardship owing to the limitation of the right of appeal by pensioners: and will he recommend an alteration of the law so as to give appeal tribunals absolute discretion to waive these objections where they think hardship will result through the refusal of the right to appeal?

I feat I cannot recommend the adoption of the suggestion made by my hon. Friend, which would practically render nugatory the provisions of Sub-section 3 of Section IV of the War Pensions Act, 1921. At the same time I

As I stated on 12th February in a reply to the hon. and gallant Member for North Croydon (Lieut.-Colonel Mason), I regret that I cannot at present add anything to the answer which I gave on 11th December last to the hon. and gallant Members for Ludlow (Lieut.-Colonel Windsor-Clive), Finchley (Mr. Cadogan), and the Bosworth Division of Leicester (Captain Gee), of which I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy.

asked the Attorney-General the number of cases brought before the House of Lords Tribunal, Cardiff, for the years 1923 and 1924: and will he give the result of these cases?

The following statement shows the number of appeals brought before the Pensions Appeal Tribunals sitting at Cardiff for the years 1923 and 1924, and the results of those appeals:

would remind him that practical steps have been taken to enable all cases in which an appellant is shown to have been prevented by unavoidable causes from making his appeal within the time allowed by law, to be heard on their merits by the tribunals.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the total number of final awards granted to date, classified according to the various injuries and diseases?

The net total number of final awards made since January, 1922 (after allowing for the action of the tribunals in those cases in which appeals have been made) is approximately 450,000. I regret that the complete classification of all these cases according to the various injuries and diseases is not available, but I may say that about 46 per cent. of them have been made in respect of injuries and about 54 per cent. in respect of other ailments.

asked the Minister of Health whether arrangements have yet been made for the proposed housing exhibition at Wembley; and whether, with a view to removing all obstacles to the exhibition of approved types of houses, he will grant free space to exhibitors?

The arrangements for demonstrating new methods of house construction at the British Empire Exhibition are in the hands of the exhibition authorities, who have set up a committee to assist them in regard to the matter. The question of space is a matter for those authorities.

asked the Minister of Health the number of schemes 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?

Schemes under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924. have been approved and are being undertaken by 293 local authorities in different parts of the country. The total number of houses for which these approved schemes provide is 29,257. If the hon. Member desires, a list specifying the authorities can be supplied to him.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the desirability of rating empty houses at one-half the usual rate when they have remained unoccupied for a period of four months?

I have considered this suggestion, but I doubt whether it would be practicable to adopt it. Its adoption would involve sub- stantial modifications of the existing law and practice of rating in England and Wales, and it bristles with technical difficulties.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been acquired since the War under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts; and how many of these houses were new houses?

According to returns received from local authorities, the number of houses in respect of which advances had been made since the War up to January last under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act, 1899, is 8,795. Information is not available showing the number of new houses acquired. In addition to the above, local authorities have also given assistance under Section 1 of the Housing, Etc., Act, 1923, in respect of 5,873 new houses.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that building contractors and building companies are not enthusiastic in sinking capital in the erection of houses; and would he be willing to consider the feasibility of offering in some form further encouragement or inducement to industrial concerns to erect houses for their employés, or to induce them to help their employés to provide sufficient capita] to procure their own houses, and so stimulate a more rapid production of houses on an extensive scale?

Considerable facilities are already provided in the way of subsidy loans and guarantees to assist private persons, companies, etc., in the erection of houses and for the encouragement of owner occupiership. These facilities are being widely used, but if the hon. Member has any concrete suggestion to offer for extension of them I should be prepared to consider it.

asked the Minister of Health if, for the purposes of stimulating action and also for public information, he will publish a weekly Return showing the housing action taken by each local authority giving, in the first place, the number of houses for which the subsidy has been granted; in the second, the number for which application has been made but the subsidy refused; and, in the third place, the total number of houses now being built in each district under any sort of subsidy?

I shall be glad to furnish the House from time to time with particulars of progress under the housing scheme, but weekly statements such as the hon. Member suggests appear to me to be scarcely necessary.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the position in which many poor people are placed owing to the rents charged for furnished and unfurnished rooms; and whether he will consider the desirability of further legislation putting in the hands of local authorities power to take proceedings against the landlord in the case of unfurnished rooms where the rent is above that permitted by law and to enable local authorities to fix fair rents in the case of furnished rooms?

I have received complaints as to the rents charged for furnished and unfurnished rooms, and i am considering whether any steps can be taken for a more rigid enforcement of the law, but I doubt whether it would be either practicable or desirable to make the local authorities responsible for enforcing the Rent Restriction Acts in these cases.

asked the Minister of Health, the number of houses in Sheffield which under the 1923 Act have been completed; how many are in course of erection; how many plans have been passed; how many of the completed houses are let at a rent of less than 15s per week; and how many of these have been built by the Corporation and how-many otherwise?

The number of houses in Sheffield completed with the aid of subsidy under the Housing, Etc., Act, 1923, is 668–243 by the local authority and 425 by private enterprise. The number under construction is 909–627 by the local authority and 282 by private enterprise. In addition, contracts have been let by the Corporation for a further 1,288 houses, and certificates issued to private builders for a further 51 houses. In reply to the fourth and fifth parts of the question I have no information which would enable me to answer them.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give figures showing the comparative cost of labour output, in building in ascertained instances of high, mean and low output, respectively, in 1914 and in 1920 and subsequent years?

The information desired is not available for the year 1914, and in regard to the other years mentioned such information as is available applies to very varying conditions and rates of wages and is scarcely such as to enable comparisons of labour output to be fairly based on it. Accordingly I do not think I can meet the wish of the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether any local authorities and, if so, which, are building Weir houses: and what prices are being paid for them?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. So far, the following local authorities have included Weir houses in their housing schemes: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newton Stewart and Stranraer Burghs and the Middle Ward District of Lanarkshire. Up to the end of last week actual erection of the houses had not been commenced, but I understand that a start will soon be made with some of them possibly this week. The prices depend upon the type and number contracted for, and range between £375 and £402 per house, exclusive of the cost of services, fencing, roads and sewers. These prices, however, include for transport within 10 miles of the factory in Glasgow.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state in regard to the 1921 Census the number of buildings used as dwellings which were inhabited, uninhabited, and being built in London, county boroughs, urban districts. and rural districts, respectively, together with the population in each of the four areas?

The precise information asked for cannot be given, since

asked the Minister of Health if he can give statistics as to the number of families in England and Wales having two or more children under 16 years of age living in one and in two rooms?

I regret that the figures asked for are not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the recent judgment of Mr. Justice McCardie in the action of Everett v. Griffiths, in which the learned Judge stated that the relationship of the chairman of the Islington Board of Guardians to the Farmers and Cleveland Dairies Company, Limited, was incompatible with his duty of impartial judgment as a member of the board, as be was a shareholder and manager of the firm and the firm held the milk contract with the board; whether he is aware that, despite the comments of the learned Judge, he has continued to act as chairman of the board and his firm has again been given the milk contract with the board: that the chairman's brother-in-

many buildings contain both dwellings and premises used for other purposes. The following statement gives, however, as nearly as possible, the information which appears to be desired:

law has since been appointed a relieving officer of the board, although contrary to its standing order, i.e., that no near relative of a member can hold any paid office under the board; that, in dealing with the recent audit of the board's accounts, the Ministry commented unfavorably on the board's action in the matter; and, having regard to- the purity of all public Bodies, what action, if any, he proposes to take?

I am aware of the case referred to, and I am sending the hon. Member copies of letters addressed to the board of guardians which deals with the matters mentioned in the question.

asked the Minister of Health the number of children's homes under control of guardians and the annual cost of such homes: and the number of persons employed in connection with such homes in the years 1913 and 1923?

The number of separate establishments for children (excluding hospitals for the sick) under the control of boards of guardians or joint authorities representative of such boards in the year 1922–23 was 331. The expenditure (otherwise than out of loan) in respect of these establishments amounted to £1,850,000 in that year, including the cost of maintenance of the children, the salaries, etc., of officers and attendants, the upkeep of buildings, and the annual loan charges. I regret that particulars showing the corresponding expenditure in 1013-14 and the number of persons employed in connection with the homes in that year and in 1922–23 are not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the number of Poor Law medical officers and the cost of salaries per annum; and the number of deaths in workhouses and the bodies removed for medical and dissection purposes in the years 1914 and 1923?

Information giving the number of Poor Law medical officers is not available, nor is separate information as to their salaries. The approximate total remuneration of Poor Law medical officers, dispensers and nurses in the year 1922–23 was £1,900,000. 59,524 deaths occurred in Poor Law institutions in 1914, 60,911 such deaths in 1923. The number of bodies removed to medical schools in England and Wales for the purposes of anatomical examination and operative surgery was in 1914, 301; and in 1923, 388.

asked the Minister of Health the number of relieving officers, the average salary, and the total amount in salaries in the years 1914 and 1923?

The number of relieving officers in 1913–14 was approximately 1,800. I regret that I cannot give the number in 1923. The total remuneration of relieving officers and other officers employed exclusively in connection with domiciliary relief (excepting medical officers, dispensers, nurses and other persons employed in the treatment and care of the sick) was, in the year 1922–23, £1,063,522. Particulars as to the corresponding expenditure in 1913–14 are unfortunately not available.

asked the Minister of Health the expenditure of the West Derby Board of Guardians for the last financial year; the amount spent on outdoor relief; the amount spent on the in-patients: the amount spent on administration expenses, in detail; and the amount of overdraft, if any?

I am sending the hon. Member a statement containing the information he desires.

asked the Minister of Health the amount received under the national insurance from the State, the workers, and the employers for the year ending 31st December, 1924?

The figures relating to England and Wales for the year ending 31st December, 1924, are as follows:

The total amount received under the National Health Insurance Act in respect of contributions payable by employers and employed persons jointly was approximately £24,400,000, of which, it is estimated, approximately £11,700,000 was paid by the workers and £12,700,000 by the employers. The amount received from the State, representing the amount required for payment of the statutory proportion of the cost, of National Health Insurance benefits and administration, together with cost of central administration, was £6,800,000.

asked the Minister of Health whether the regulations which he proposes to make to give effect to the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on the use of Preservatives and Colouring Matters in Food will deal with the question of the use of aniline dyes and other synthetic organic colours, chiefly of coal-tar origin, in substitution for annatto and similar natural vegetable matter in the preparation of butter, cheese, and other dairy produce?

I would refer the hon. Member to the draft Regulations which have just been published, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he will consider the alteration of existing legislation in relation to the appointment: of superintendent registrars by boards of guardians, who consider that the authority given to appoint without control is unsatisfactory, as they are unable to vary the regulations which in their opinion are anomalous; and whether he has received any communications from boards of guardians on this point:

(2) whether he will consider introducing legislation so as to alter the present law pertaining to the payment of registrars of births and deaths, with a view to such registrars being paid wholly out of national funds and not partly out of local rates and partly out of fees from the public, and any moneys received by the registrars for certificates, etc., being paid into a central fund?

Representations have been received from boards of guardians in the sense indicated in those questions. The reconstruction of the registration service has already been receiving my attention: and I hope to introduce legislation dealing with the subject as soon as circumstances permit.

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to take any steps to arrive at an agreed scale of remuneration for medical officers of health in the public service?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given on the 12th February on this matter to the hon. Member for Stratford (Mr. Groves) and other hon. Members.

asked the Minister of Health if he proposes to call a conference of representatives of local authorities, the British Medical Association, and the Ministry of Health with a view of arriving at an agreed scale of remuneration for medical officers of health in public services?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 12th February on this matter to the hon. Member for Gravesend (Mr. Albery) and other hon. Members.

asked the Minister of Health if he intends introducing a Bill for amending and consolidating the laws relating to smoke abatement?

The Government contemplate the introduction of an amending Bill when a convenient opportunity arises, but I fear it cannot be introduced this year.

asked the Minister of Health if he proposes to introduce a Public Health Acts Amendment Bill on the lines of the Amendment Acts of 1890 and 1907, embodying provisions which have been passed in private Acts by the Local Legislation Committee of this House?

I hope to be able to introduce such a Bill, but I cannot say whether it will be possible to introduce it this Session.

asked the Minister of Health what provision, if any, is made by the State for assistance in any way to crippled children?

Grants are available from the Exchequer towards expenditure incurred by local authorities for the treatment and after-care of crippled children in accordance with arrangements approved by the responsible Department of State, which may be either the Board of Education or the Ministry of Health.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can now issue a Return showing the decisions arrived at by the county committees established under the Agricultural Wages Act, 1924?

I would refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Hurd), on the 16th instant, of which I am sending him a copy. In addition to the rates thereon specified which have been

made effective by Order of the Agricultural Wages Board, I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving particulars of rates of which committees have given notice of proposal to fix and which are awaiting the completion of the further steps necessary before they can be put into operation.

Following is the statement referred to:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether it is intended to reintroduce the Tuberculosis Order of 1914 with regard to cattle, which seeks to eliminate certain classes of diseased animals from a herd?

This matter is now under the consideration of the Government, and I hope to be in a position to make a statement at an early date.

asked the Minister of Agriculture which counties are affected by the foot-and-mouth disease?

Small areas in the counties of Nottingham, Sussex and Northampton are under restrictions on account of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease. I will have particulars circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following are the particulars promised:

Three areas are at present under restrictions on account of foot-and-mouth disease, namely:

(1) An area of about two miles round Nottingham (in respect of an outbreak on 11th January, 1926).

(2) An area of about five miles radius round Rotting dean, Sussex (in respect of four outbreaks, the latest of which occurred on 29th January, 1925), and

(3) An area of about 15 miles radius round Yardley Hastings, Northants (in respect of an outbreak at that place on 13th February, 1925).

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total amount spent annually on defence against sea erosion and floods in Lincolnshire; the amount spent annually on land drainage; and how the expenditure is met in each ease?

I regret that it is not possible to afford the particulars desired by my hon. Friend as regards sea defence works and drainage works as separate items. The returns rendered to my Department by the various drainage authorities in Lincolnshire indicate that, excluding administrative charges, the amount spent by drainage authorities on works of sea defence and land drainage in the County of Lincoln during the year ending 31st March, 1924, was £118,536. This expenditure, in the case of normal work, was met wholly by rates levied on owners and occupiers of land in the areas of the various authorities. It may be added, however, that the Ministry has, in connection with its unemployment relief programme, made considerable grants of public money in aid more especially of sea defence work on the Lincolnshire coast north of Skegness. Altogether, during the seasons 1921–2, 1922–3, 1923–4, no less than £111,250 was advanced in the form of actual non-recoverable grants. During the present season 1924–5 a further Government grant, estimated at £23,750, will be made. Particulars of the expenditure on other (normal) land drainage and sea defence works by individual frontagers personally liable for the upkeep of such works is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received from the Silk Association of Great Britain and Ireland an application for a committee to be set up to investigate a claim for a duty to be imposed on imported silk and silk goods; and, if so, whether he has decided to accede to the request?

I think it is desirable to follow the precedent established before, when Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act was in operation, namely, that information should not be published as to applications made to the Board of Trade unless and until they are referred to committees. If and when an application is so referred, a public announcement to that effect will be made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will instruct the committees to be set up in connection with the Safeguarding of Industry that trades governed by trade boards shall by reason of that fact be regarded as substantial in accordance with the terms of the White Paper?

As indicated in the White Paper, applications will be referred to committees only when made in respect of trades which can reasonably be regarded as of substantial importance on account either of the volume of employment engaged or of the nature of the goods produced. The fact that a trade board has been established in an industry cannot be accepted as conclusive evidence.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the amount of wheat and wheat flour, expressed as wheat, imported into the United Kingdom in 1923 and 1924; and the names of the countries from which the wheat and wheat flour, expressed as

NOTE: From 1st April. 1923, these particulars include Imports into Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the Irish Free State. From the same date, the direct foreign imports into the Irish Free State have been excluded.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any information as to the reasons for deportation from France of Mr. M. N. Roy, a British subject; whether any representations have been subsequently made to the

wheat, was received, and the quantities, expressed in tons, imported from each country?

The following statement shows the quantities of wheat and wheat flour (in equivalent of grain) imported into the United Kingdom during the years 1923 and 1924, distinguishing the principal countries whence consigned:

French Government on the subject of this deportation; and, if so, what are they?

I have not the information required to enable me to state the reason for Roy's deportation from France. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he would address to His Majesty's representatives abroad an inquiry as to the financial procedure of foreign Parliaments, with a view of bringing up to date the information contained in H.C. Papers 378, of 1914?

I am reluctant to tax again the courtesy of foreign Governments, as was done for the preparation of the papers referred to by my hon. Friend, more particularly as I am not clear that the information is likely to be of material assistance to us in regulating our own procedure. But if my hon. Friend will confine his inquiry to two or three countries—especially if he chooses countries whose finance is better regulated than our own—and if he will specify more exactly the points upon which he desires information, I will endeavour to secure what he wants from our missions abroad.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a definite Treaty has in recent weeks been concluded between Japan and Russia; and, if so, whether he can give the House information as to the contents of the Treaty?

A Treaty restoring diplomatic relations between Japan and Russia was signed on the 21st of January. The text has not been received at the Foreign Office but summaries, apparently adequate, have appeared in the Press.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what have been the total expenses of the international labour office established at Geneva under Part XIII of the Treaty of Peace, 1919, since its establishment; what has been the British contribution of cost; and from what sources are the British delegates remunerated?

(a) The total expenses of the International Labour Office from its establishment in 1919 to December, 1924, amounted to about 33,464,188 Swiss francs.

( b ) The British Government's contribution towards these expenses during the same period amounted to about 2,692,000 Swiss francs, or about £117,780 in sterling.

( c ) The salaries of the British Government delegates are borne on the Votes of the Departments to which they are attached. No remuneration is paid to non-Government delegates.

At the annual conferences the expenses of non-Government delegates and of their advisers are paid by the British Government on a scale approved by the Treasury. At meetings of the governing body the non-Government members receive payment of their expenses from the International Labour Office.

asked the Home Secretary what changes, if any, he proposes to make in the present system of preventive detention for habitual criminals?

Rules for convicts in preventive detention are now under consideration. As soon as the draft has been settled a copy will be laid before Parliament.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the question of taking the necessary steps to confer upon His Majesty's Judges the power to inflict the sentence of flogging in grave cases of indecent assault upon women and children?

I do not at present contemplate proposing legislation for this purpose: but I await the Report of the Committee which is considering the whole subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state to the House the offences charged against the Irish prisoners imprisoned in the following prisons: Peterhead 28 prisoners, Leeds 1 prisoner, Dartmoor 1 prisoner, Isle of Wight 1 prisoner, and Maidstone 12 prisoners; whether he will consider the advisability of asking the Northern Government of Ireland to remove these prisoners to their own prisons, in order that they may be allowed the privilege of seeing visitors; and is he aware that Leafan McCurtain, M.P., now in Leeds Prison, is, owing to the solitariness of his confinement, in a precarious state of health?

Peterhead Prison is not within my jurisdiction. The most recent Returns from Dartmoor, Parkhurst and Maidstone Prisons gave the numbers of Northern Ireland prisoners in custody there as 9, 15 and 33 respectively. Unless, therefore, the hon. Member can name the particular cases he has in mind, information with regard to the offences of which these prisoners were convicted cannot be given. There is no prisoner of the name given in the last paragraph of the question in Leeds Prison.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that a prisoner on remand was recently kept in Hastings Prison for nine days in a cell without light, without fresh air, and without being given any exercise; whether these cells are also used for prisoners who have been sentenced; if so, for what length of time do they remain in them; and whether the conditions at Hastings Prison are considered by him to be satisfactory?

I am having inquiry made into this matter, and will let the hon. Member know the result.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of trained teachers now unemployed, and the number of these unemployed teachers who hold university degrees?

I regret that I do not possess the information asked for by the hon. Member, nor could I obtain it without addressing inquiries to all persons who have completed courses of training for the teaching profession at any time in the past.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the latest figures showing the state of the National Unemployment Insurance Fund?

I have been asked to reply. The total indebtedness of the Unemployment Fund to the Treasury on the 14th February, 1925, was £6,240,000.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of insured persons unemployed in Dewsbury and Batley on the 30th of November, 1924, and 31st of January, 1925, respectively?

The number of insured workpeople registered as unemployed at Dewsbury and Batley was 3,719 on 24th November, 1924, and 4,318 on 26th January, 1925. These totals include operatives on short time who were registered at the exchanges.

asked the Minister of Labour if local unemployment committees are empowered to pay the unemployment benefit to insured persons who have no stamps upon their cards, providing the committee is satisfied as to the needs of the case and that the applicant is genuinely unemployed and is making every reasonable effort to obtain employment?

In the case of extended benefit local committees must be satisfied that the applicant fulfils the conditions laid down in Sub-section 3 of Section 1 of the Insurance Act, 1924, subject to the power of waiver in the discretion of the Minister as regards contributions. The exercise of this power of waiver is defined in my answer to the hon. and gallant Member for Bury of 11th February last, and I am supplying the hon. Member with a print which contains a summary of the conditions.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons in each of the boroughs in the County of London area during the past 12 months, have been re fused further unemployment benefit on the ground that, in the opinion of the committees considering the eases, the persons concerned have failed to prove that in normal times insurable employment suitable to their capacities would to likely to be available; how many have been refused because the committees told the applicants that they considered that there was failure to prove that the applicant during the two years immediately preceding the date of application for benefit had been employed in an insurable trade to such an extent as was reasonable, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, and in particular to the opportunities for obtaining insurable employment during that period; and how many have been refused benefit because the committee stated that they considered the applicant had failed to prove that he was making every reasonable effort to secure employment suited to his capacities, and was willing to accept such employment?

I regret that the particulars asked for are not available for the separate boroughs in the County of London. They can be given for the County of London as a whole, and with the hon. Member's permission I will circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

^* NOTE.—No separate figures are available for the manufacture of Galvanised sheets.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of young persons between the ages of 14 and 16 who were unemployed on the 31st

Following are the particulars referred to:

Reasons for rejection of claims for extended benefit in the County of London between 1st August, 1924, and 9th February, 1925:

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give particulars of the average number of unemployed in each of the following industries for the first half and for the second half of last year: manufacture of tinplate, manufacture of galvanised and black shells, and in shipbuilding, and in engineering?

The following table shows the average number unemployed in Great Britain in the industries mentioned in 1924:

December, 1924, and on the corresponding day in 1923?

I have been asked to reply. The number of young persons between the ages of 14 and 18 on the registers of Employment Exchanges and Juvenile Education Bureaux was 65,444 at 20th December, 1924, compared with 71,729 at 31st December, 1923. Statistics of the numbers between the ages of 14 and 16 are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many certificates were granted to alien waiters under the Alien Immigration Regulations in 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, and'1924 respectively?

The number of permits in respect of waiters issued under the Aliens' Order, 1920, during the years 1921, 1922, 1923 and 1924 were 22, 28, 41 and 110, respectively, total 201. Corresponding figures for 1920 are not available. Many of these 201 permits were issued for limited periods only, and, except in seven cases of permits issued in 1921, permission was granted only in the following special circumstances:—