asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in connection with the proposed tarnsfer of workmen from the Royal Dockyard at Woolwich, he has satisfied himself that there is ample housing accommodation for them in the districts to which they are to be transferred?

The housing difficulties to which the hon. Member refers exist principally at Didcot, and a Committee, which includes a representative of the Ministry of Health, is now, under the Chairmanship of my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State, engaged in examining proposals for their solution.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, in making arrangements for the evacuation of the Royal Dockyard at Woolwich, men of between 50 and 60 years of age and of upwards of 40 years' continuous service have been notified that they must move to Tidworth or Didcot; and that this enforced transfer of their homes and families from the district in which they have resided all their lives is felt to be a great hardship; and will he consider whether the transfer of such men can be obviated?

The policy of transferring certain stores from Woolwich necessarily involves some re-distribution of labour. The employés referred to are pre-War and pivotal men (only one of whom has 40 years' service) who have been moved from Woolwich, where their services are not required, to stations where work is available for them. I, naturally, sympathise with the personal difficulties which these moves unavoidably involve, but if the men in question are to be kept in employment, I see no alternative to their transfer.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that young men who were employed in the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich at the time the War broke out in 1914 are being informed that they are ineligible for the bonus on civil pay; that those who volunteered in the early days of the War are regarded as having discharged themselves from their work; that others are disqualified because they enlisted under the Military Service Act, and a third class because they arrived at enlistment age during the progress of the War; and will he have this matter inquired into and instructions issued which will end the present confusion stating precisely who are and who are not entitled to receive the bonus?

The decision of the Government, approved by this House, does not operate now to extend balance of civil pay to classes not formerly eligible, but merely involves a re-assessment so as to include war bonus in the case of certain single men (being volunteers) where not already included. A Notice, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, indicating the classes of employés eligible under the Government decision for re-assessment of balance of civil pay-so as to include war bonus, was promulgated at the ordnance factories on 12th February. I am not clear that there is need for any further instructions. Should any individual whose claim has been rejected not understand the reason, he can, of course, obtain an explanation on applying in the usual manner to the factory officials.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in order to stimulate recruiting for the Territorial Army, he will consider the grant of separation allowance during annual training to all married men instead of merely to those over 26 years of age?

This question has already been very carefully considered, but I regret that I cannot see my way to adopt the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in order to stimulate applications for promotion to non-commissioned rank in the Territorial artillery, he will consider amending the Territorial Force Act so that lance-bombardier and lance-sergeant may become paid ranks?

The question of granting extra pay on promotion to lance ranks in the Territorial Army is under consideration, but I regret that I am not yet in a position to make any announcement. It is a question of amending the regulations, not the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the papers transferred to the Ministry by the Ministry of National Service giving particulars of recruits under the Compulsory Service and Enlistment Acts during the War have been destroyed; and, if not, what purpose is served by retaining the papers?

The only documents relating to individual men transferred from the Ministry of National Service to the Ministry were those of men who did not in fact serve during the great War. These documents have already been destroyed.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Major F.J. Harvey, late of the Devonshire Regiment, Ministry reference O.A. 171,590, who is certified as having lost his appointment as instructor in physical training to the University of Exeter as the result of hernia and neurasthenia, two disabilities accepted by the Ministry as due to war service; and why this officer is refused pension under the Royal Warrant for 1914, as his earning capacity is seriously affected and it would appear that an award at the 1914 rate would be more beneficial than his present retired pay?

In the case referred to it has not been certified (as required by the Royal Warrant) by the regulated medical authority that the disability has seriously affected the earning capacity in civil life of this officer, who is, I understand, still carrying on his pre-War occupation. In this connection I may point out that the effect of any other conditions than those set up by the disabilities caused by military service cannot be taken into account. The question whether there is such loss of earning capacity, if any, as would justify the award of pension on the alternative pension scale will, however, be further considered.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in every case where a man is examined by a special board with reference to an erroneous award, and is found suffering from an assessable disability due to War service by the board, a pension is issued?

In such a case a grant could only be made if the Ministry were fully satisfied that serious error had occurred, or, in other words, that the minor injury or ailment if any had not already been correctly compensated in accordance with the provisions of the Royal Pension Warrants and Regulations for Final Awards.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the regulations still permit ex-service men suffering from wartime disabilities to receive special diet or allowances for such; whether any such concession applies to those in receipt of 100 per cent. pensions; and, if not, when such concession ceased to operate?

Cases of pulmonary tuberculosis and of diabetes mellitus may still receive under the Regulations, if the circumstances require it, additional allowances in the form of special diet provided that the pension in each case is not at the maximum rate. The present Regulations governing the grant of this allowance, which is not provided for by the Royal Warrant, have been in force for the last three years.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of life and conditional pensions, respectively, in issue in each of the original 11 regions?

It is not possible to give exact information as regards each of the 11 regions as originally constituted, but the following approximate figures have been estimated for each as at the present time:

—		Final Awards of Life Pensions.	Conditional Pensions.
Scotland	…	23,500	23,350
Northern	…	16,000	16,900
North Western	…	35,500	37,400
Yorkshire	…	21,700	22,900
Wales	…	11,250	18,150
East Midland	…	18,600	17,800
West Midland	…	17,800	17,100
London	…	75,900	74,500
South Western	…	13,850	13,600
Ulster	…	4,600	7,500
South Ireland	…	9,100	15,000
TOTALS	…	247,800	264,200

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will give information to date as to the number of final awards made under Section 4 of the War Pensions Act, 1921, or made statutory under that Act; the number of appeals made in these cases; the percentage of successful appeals; the total number of cases in each year since 1921 where the final award has been set aside: the number of cases of final awards which have been referred to the regions or to headquarters for review as a result of examination by treatment boards under Circular 30 to War Pensions Committees; and the number of such cases subsequently dealt with under the dispensing warrant?

The gross number of final awards declared up to the end of February is, for both officers and men, 478,098; the total number made statutorily final by Section 4 (4) of the War Pensions Act, 1921, is not known. Appeals have been made in 129,833 cases, of which up to date, 30,661 have been made against awards made statutorily final by the Act and 99,172 against awards declared final by the Ministry since the passing of the Act. Of the appeals made, the Ministry have information up to date as to the decisions given by the tribunals in 112,378 cases. In 51,090 of these, or 45·4 per cent., the appeals were disallowed (including a few cases in which the final award of the Ministry was reduced by the tribunal). In 32,685 cases, or 29 per cent., the appeal succeeded to the extent that the amount of the final award was increased. In 28,603 cases, or 25·4 per cent., the appeal was successful to the extent only that the tribunal decided that the case was not yet suitable for final award, and "set aside" the award for the time being. The number of cases "set aside" by tribunals in each of the years since 1921 is as follows:

Year.		No.
1922	…	2,554
1923	…	14,897
1924	…	10,599
1925 (two months)	…	553

The number of cases which have been represented by War Pensions Committees under the Circular referred to is not separately recorded from the general body of cases of the class referred to, which arise for consideration in connection with medical treatment and observation. Up to date, however, about 900 cases have been considered by the Ministry and 416 of these have been dealt with on the ground of serious error of diagnosis or prognosis by a further award under special sanction.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, seeing that the Departmental Committee of Inquiry into the machinery of administration of the Ministry of Pensions reported in January, 1921, that the question of the decentralisation of the issue of pensions to local area offices should be carefully considered by the Minister when the new arrangements are in efficient working order, he is taking any action to transfer the issue of pensions from the Pensions Issue Office to the local offices?

The suggestion referred to has received most careful consideration by my right hon. Friend, but he has come to the conclusion that the arrangement indicated would not- in the present circumstances make for economy or efficiency of working.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is now prepared to adopt the recommendations of the Departmental Committee of Inquiry, contained in their Report of 21st June, 1921, relative to the establishment of pension officers; and will he also take steps to secure for the present temporary officials permanent, not pensionable, posts consistent with their present status?

The position of the temporary officials in the Ministry of Pensions, and in Government Departments generally, in the matter of obtaining established appointments or being given permanent non-pensionable posts is covered by the settlement recently negotiated. My right hon. Friend is now considering proposals for submission to the Treasury for placing on a permanent non-pensionable basis such number of the temporary officials employed in the Ministry of Pensions as may appear to be justified.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, seeing that in the year 1923–24 the War Office made provision for a payment of £3,800 to the Ministry of Pensions for the compilation of statistics and that no provision is made for any payment during the ensuing year, it is proposed to reduce the staff in the statistical branch, and what are the duties of the director of statistics; and whether, having regard to the diminution of the volume of work in the Ministry, it is proposed to make the statistical branch a subordinate section of the administration branch?

The special work for which the provision referred to in the first part of the question was made has practically ceased, and since the 1st January, 1924, the staff of the statistical section has been reduced by 53 officers, and additional numbers are already under notice. The hon. Member may rest assured that the staff will be adjusted to the work as circumstances may from time to time indicate. Administrative control of the highly specialised and complex organisation of the Ministry would be impossible without regular statistical information as to the working of the various sections of it, and the director of statistics, as his title implies, has the responsibility of the collection and production of this information. The section is already subordinate to the general administration section of the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the total staff in the Pensions Issue Office; and how many of these are graded above the rank of Grade I clerk?

The total staff at Pension Issue Office on the 1st March, 1925, was 2,940, of whom 107 ranked above Grade I temporary clerk.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the number of the staff employed by his Department in the issue office at Acton compared with the number previously employed this time last year?

The staff of Pension Issue Office, Acton, numbered 2,940 on the 1st March, 1925, as compared with 3,373 on the corresponding date last year.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of temporary ex-service civil servants at the present time?

The number of ex-service men temporarily employed in the Civil Service on the 1st January last, as shown in Command Paper 2356, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, was 33,411. A Command Paper showing the numbers employed on the 1st February, 1925, will be available in the course of a few days.

asked the President of the Board of Education the approximate time it will take to purchase land, prepare plans, secure the sanction of his Department, and finally erect an elementary school capable of holding 1,000 pupils?

I am afraid that the circumstances of particular cases are so different that it is scarcely possible to give even an approximate estimate of the time required. If the requirements of Section 18 (1) of the Education Act, 1921, with regard to the issue of notices are taken into account, perhaps 18 months or two years might reasonably be taken as the period likely to elapse between the inception of a building scheme and the occupation of the buildings; but, of course, at the present time, the difficulty of securing suitable sites and of getting labour and materials exactly as and when they are required is likely to upset any calculations made. So far as administrative arrangements are concerned, I shall do my best to simplify and expedite procedure.

asked the President of the Board of Education the accommodation for elementary school children in non-provided and in provided schools, respectively, for the years 1904–5 and 1921–22, respectively?

I regret that the figures for the year 1904–5 are not available, but the following figures taken from

Number and Accommodation of Public Elementary Schools, Council and Voluntary, 1903 and 1922: England and Wales
The figures for 1922 represent the schools and accommodation on 31st March,1922, while those for 1903 represent the conditions prevailing at the time the Education Act,1902, came into force.
Year.		Council Schools.		Voluntary Schools.		Total.
		No.	Accommodation.	No.	Accommodation.	No.	Accommodation.
1903	…	5,975	3,065,169*	14,238	3,722,317*	20,213	6,787,486*
1922	…	8,880	4,400,612†	12,059	2,696,921†	20,939	7,097,533†
*Before reassessment on the basis of 10 square feet per head for older children and 9 square feet for younger children.
† After reassessment.

asked the President of the Board of Education what was the number of public elementary schools recognised by the Board on each of the following dates, 31st March, 1922, 31st March, 1923, and 31st March, 1924; and how many central schools, on each of these dates respectively, were included in the total?

The figures are as follow:

England and Wales
Number of public elementary schools on:
31st March, 1922	…	…	20,940
31st March, 1923	…	…	20,821
31st March, 1924	…	…	20,788

As regards the second part of the question, the Board have no special regulations for central schools, and I am, therefore, unable to give reliable figures under this heading.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has any information that, at the end of their period of training in technical schools, the former holders of trade scholarships find any employment in the trade in which they have been trained; and, if so, for what period they usually retain it?

I have reason to think that, except where abnormal conditions in particular trades intervene, the pupils of technical schools which give pre

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will supply a list of technical schools in the county at which trade scholarships are tenable, classifying these scholarships under different trade headings and showing, in relation to each, the period for which each scholarship is tenable and its annual value, and the cost of each such scholarship to the local authority and to the Board of Education?

I have not the information necessary to answer this question, and I am very doubtful whether, were I to attempt to obtain it specially from local authorities, they would be able to furnish it, since in most cases, I believe, their existing arrangements for the award of such scholarships do not confine them to particular trades.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will furnish figures showing the number of children in each county of England and Wales who were in receipt of free secondary school education in January, 1914, and January, 1925, respectively?

As far as England and Wales are concerned the figures, accord- ing to the latest complete returns available, are as under. The figures for county boroughs have been included in those of the counties in which they are severally situated, and the information given in the table includes not only pupils who have been awarded free places in accordance with Article 20 of the Regulations for Secondary Schools, but also other pupils admitted free, together with pupils whose fees were remitted after they had entered the schools:

ENGLAND AND WALES.
Free Pupils in Secondary Schools on the Grant List, January, 1914, and March. 1923.
Area.	Free Pupils.
	31st January, 1914.	31st March, 1923.
Bedfordshire	203	837
Berkshire	337	825
Buckinghamshire	342	638
Cambridgeshire and Ely	416	688
Cheshire	1,471	3,467
Cornwall	602	1,171
Cumberland	537	1,069
Derbyshire	897	1,950
Devonshire	1,056	2,795
Dorsetshire	459	843
Durham	2,284	4,414
Essex	1914	3,944
Gloucestershire	1,422	3,454
Hampshire—Isle of Wight.	1,405	2,666
Herefordshire	138	402
Hertfordshire	954	1,483
Huntingdonshire	165	276
Kent	1,589	3,744
Lancashire	7,428	16,516
Leicestershire	987	2,386
Lincolnshire	976	2,281
London	9,654	13,210
Middlesex	1,896	4,638
Norfolk	733	1,355
Northants and Peterborough.	338	1,143
Northumberland	1,173	2,120
Nottinghamshire	1,250	2,045
Oxfordshire	182	532
Rutland	22	28
Shropshire	521	1,210
Somerset	638	1,263
Staffordshire	1,610	3,170
Suffolk	611	1,353
Surrey	1,356	2,946
Sussex	887	1,725
Warwickshire	2,114	3,679
Westmorland	216	320
Wiltshire	656	1,789
Worcestershire	849	1,695
Yorkshire	9,246	20,410

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received any representations expressing dissatisfaction with the high rate of interest payable by the Welsh Church Commissioners on the loan of £2,350,000 granted to them by the National Debt Commissioners; and whether, in the interests of the University of Wales and the Welsh County Councils, he will take into consideration the possibility, of amending the terms of the loan?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The answer to the latter part of the question is that there is no possibility of amending the terms of the loan, which were the subject of definite agreement at the time the loan was made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the cost entailed on the State by the existence of health and un- employment funds, by Old Age Pensions and by unemployment grants, taking the last 12 months as a basis; and whether the State accumulated in the period mentioned any reserves from either of the two Insurance Funds; and, if so, of what amount?

The cost, partly estimated, which will fall on the State for the year ending the 31st March, including cost of administration, is as follows:

	£
Health Insurance Scheme	8,045,700
Unemployment Insurance Scheme	13,202,000
Old Age Pensions	25,810,000
Unemployment Grants	6,761,100
	£53,818,800

In addition, loans totalling £1,417,000 were made to local and Poor Law authorities in connection with unemployment relief. The total of the outstanding loans made by the State to the Unemployment Insurance Fund stood at £10,350,000 on the 1st April, 1924, and, it is estimated, will have been reduced to approximately £8,000,000 on the 31st March. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Health the amounts paid for unemployment relief during each of the years 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923 and 1924?

The amount of domiciliary Poor Law relief in money or kind given in England and Wales to persons ordinarily engaged in some regular occupation and their dependants was:

Year ended December:		£
1920 (estimated)	…	450,000
1921 (estimated)	…	5,800,000
1922 (approx.)	…	10,900,000
1923	…	7,465,096
1924	…	5,359,953

These sums include all domiciliary Poor Law relief in money or kind given to the persons mentioned, whether granted on account of unemployment or for some other reasons, such as, for example, sickness.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that co-operative societies have hitherto escaped the same liability for payment of Income Tax as ordinary commercial concerns on the ground that their busi- ness was restricted to their own registered members, he will consider putting them on the same basis as other trading firms in the forthcoming Budget, in view of the fact that they are now throughout the country inviting the support of the general public and offering to them as an inducement to purchase goods from cooperative stores a free coupon for a £10,000 competition with every bar of soap sold?

The fact that a co-operative society, registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act, 1893, sells to non-members does not deprive it of the exemption from Income Tax under Schedules C and D, conferred by Section 39 (4) of the Income Tax Act, 1918, unless at the same time the number of the society's shares is limited by its rules or practice. I would, however, remind my hon. Friend that co-operative societies do not enjoy any general exemption from Income Tax. As is evidenced by the Report of the Royal Commission on the Income Tax (Command Paper 615 of 1920), the tax paid by the societies and their members under the legal provisions which govern their case does not greatly differ from that which would be payable under the ordinary Income Tax law.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Customs Duties and what Excise Duties, if any, were levied upon perfumery and spirits for the manufacture of perfumery in each year from 1913 onwards; and what were, in each of the years, the total Exchequer receipts from the Customs and Excise Duties on these commodities?

The rates of Customs Duty on imported perfumed spirits and the net yield of such duties from 1913 onwards, together with the net yield of duty on imported perfumery containing spirits from 1920, are shown below. Perfumed spirits for home consumption are made in this country with duty-paid spirits, and as such spirits pass out of Revenue charge on payment of the duty, no official information is available as to the quantities used for making perfumery. The rates of duty on home-made spirits for the years in question are included below.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason Thomas Chitty, of 5, New Road, Tottenham, who entered the North Middlesex Hospital on 12th January last, has received no payment of his old age pension since 27th February?

I understand that Mr. Chitty's pension order book expired on the 27th February. He had been in the North Middlesex Hospital since the 12th January, and owing to a misunderstanding arising from this fact, there was some delay in the delivery to him of a new pension order book due on the 6th March. But there has been no break in the continuity of his pension, and a new book containing orders payable as from the 6th March has been delivered to him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue has been received from public money invested in Home Grown Sugar, Limited?

In accordance with the terms of the original Government guarantee, no dividend is payable on the shares held by His Majesty's Government in this company (£62,500) till after 31st March, 1930. Interest due and received to date on the mortgage held by His Majesty's Government, as from 12th August, 1921, amounts to £23,088 65. 7d.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount of land acquired by the county councils in England and Wales for small holdings since 1919; the number of smallholders settled upon the land; if any small holdings acquired by the county councils have since been given up; and, if so, the number of such holdings?

255,707 acres have been acquired for small holdings by county councils and the councils of county boroughs since the Armistice. The number of men settled on this acreage at the present time is 16,338, but an additional 2,364 have been since 1918 provided with holdings on land acquired before that date. 18,624 acres of land acquired since 1919 have been disposed of, but practically the whole of this represents portions of large estates which were unsuitable for small holdings and have never been used for that purpose.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the additional security proposed to be given to allotment holders under the Allotments Bill and the Government's expressed sympathy with this Measure, he will take such steps as are necessary to ensure that persons now holding allotments in Ken Wood and Parliament Hill Fields are not dispossessed of their allotments before the Bill can have an opportunity of becoming law unless suitable alternative land is provided?

I am not in a position to take any steps in the direction indicated by my hon. and gallant Friend, as neither the London County Council nor any other authority has power to let public open spaces for use as allotments. According to my information, there are now no allotments in Parliament Hill Fields.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give figures showing the area acreage of land belonging to the Crown, the War Office, Duchy of Lancaster, county councils, and various municipal bodies, respectively?

The amount of land owned by the Crown, exclusive of copy-holds held by the Crown, foreshores and areas in which the Crown owns the minerals but not the surface, is about 218,000 acres. The area of land belonging to the Duchy of Lancaster (exclusive of town properties, commons and copy-holds of manors and lands of which the surface is not, but the underlying miners are, owned by the Duchy) extends to approximately 25,000 acres. The War Office owns 213,500 acres. There is no recent return of the total area of land belonging to county councils in England and Wales, but there are returns which show that county councils and councils of county boroughs own 358,102 acres under the Small Holdings Acts 1908–1919 as well as 4,069 acres for the purpose of agricultural education. No return is available of the acreage of land owned by municipal authorities.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for North-East Leeds, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, the area acreage of land belonging to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners?

The Ecclesiastical Commissioners own or manage 240,000 acres of agricultural land—all in England.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he will give particulars of the total of the present export of manufactured goods from Germany and similar figures for 1913, the percentages which these figures bear to the total world export trade, and also to Germany's internal trade for both years?

The following statement shows the proportion borne by the value of the manufactured goods exported from Germany in 1913 and in 1923 to the estimated aggregate value of exports from all countries in those years:

Year.	Estimated Value of Exports from all Countries. (1)	Value of Manufactured Goods exported from Germany. (2)	Percentage proportion of Column (2) to Column (1).
	Million £.	Million £.
1913	4,035	333	8·3
1923	5,400	271	5·0

The value of manufactured goods exported from Germany in 1924 was £281,400,000; the value of the aggregate exports of the world in that year cannot, at present, be estimated. The German figures for 1913 relate to the trade of pre-War German territory together with Luxemburg. For 1923 the figures relate to the trade of Germany, as now constituted. Information regarding the value of the internal trade of Germany in these years is not available.

Dominion.					1903.	1904.
					£	£
Canada	…	…	…	…	11,112,577	10,624,221
Newfoundland and Labrador	…	…	…	…	391,986	488,376
Australia	…	…	…	…	16,144,438	17,336,470
New Zealand	…	…	…	…	6,361,390	6,315,090
Union of South Africa	…	…	…	…	25,287,611*	17,818,663*
					59,298,002	52,582,820
British India	…	…	…	…	34,477,099	40,641,277
Other British Possessions, Colonies and Protectorates					17,371,763	19,199,621
*The Union of South Africa was not constituted until 1909. The particulars for 1903 and 1904 represent the Exports of United Kingdom produce and manufactures to the countries subsequently included in the Union, viz.:—Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Orange River Colony and Transvaal.

Dominion.					1923.	1924.
					£	£
Canada	…	…	…	…	27,557,591	28,149,694
Newfoundland and Labrador	…	…	…	…	676,365	1,963,492
Australia	…	…	…	…	57,699,700	60,759,656
New Zealand	…	…	…	…	20,695,679	20,319,020
Union of South Africa	…	…	…	…	27,844,195	30,265,918
					134,473,530	141,457,780
British India	…	…	…	…	86,246,488	90,578,314
Other British Possessions, Colonies and Protectorates					55,243,366*	58,128,476*
*Trade with the Irish Free State was not separately recorded prior to 1st April, 1923. The exports to the Irish Free State—not included above—were valued at £24,639,242 in 1923 (April-December only), and at £42,371,682 in 1924.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department (1) the value of exports of British manufacture from this country to the five self-governing Dominions in 1903 and 1904, and in 1923 and 1924; and the cash value for each of the years mentioned of the preference given to those exports in the tariffs of the Dominions;(2) the value of exports of British manufacture from this country to the Crown Colonies in 1903 and 1904, and in 1923 and 1924; and the cash value for each of the years mentioned of the preference given to these exports in the tariffs of the Crown Colonies?

The following statement gives the particulars of the exports of United Kingdom produce and manufactures to the self-governing Dominions and to other British Possessions in the years named.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the attention of the Government has been called to the probability of the prolongation of the present preference under which French textile goods are allowed to enter Germany; and whether, in view of the serious effect this would have on British manufactures, he is taking steps to make representations against any such policy?

It is common knowledge that proposals of this kind have been discussed, and steps have already been taken to make it clear to the French and German Governments that the claim of His Majesty's Government to equal treatment in this respect for British textiles will be insisted upon should the case arise.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the estimated number of new houses required to meet the shortage prevailing in the borough of Wednesbury?

No recent estimate of the shortage of houses is available. According to an estimate made by the local authority in 1919 the number of houses required during the subsequent three years to meet unsatisfied demands was 720. Since the 1st January, 1919, 358 houses have been erected with State assistance under the Housing Acts by the corporation and 28 by private enterprise. Complete statistics are not available as to the total number of houses erected during the same period by private enterprise without State aid, but during the two years ended 30th September, 1924, the number so erected was 30. The corporation have been authorised to make grants in respect of a further 29 private enterprise houses, and I understand they have in course of preparation a scheme for the erection of 150 additional houses themselves and 50 by private enterprise.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether, having regard to the insanitary conditions and overcrowding existing in the Borough of Wednesbury, he will hold an inquiry relative thereto and the failure of the town council to adequately exercise its powers under the various Housing and Public Health Acts;(2) whether he will call upon the Medical Officer of Health for Wednesbury, or the County Medical Officer of Health, to investigate and prepare a Report upon the insanitary conditions and lack of adequate housing prevailing in the Borough of Wednesbury?

I do not think it is necessary to hold an inquiry or to call for the special Reports suggested. I am well aware of the conditions and special difficulties of this particular area. I have been in communication with the local authority and I am satisfied that they realise the importance of taking every practicable step to secure improvement: the council have undertaken that they will use every endeavour within their statutory powers to remedy such defects as exist in the borough, and they are endeavouring to arrange for sites for the erection of further houses.

asked the Minister of Health if he will issue a statement detailing the provisions in any of the Housing Acts enabling loans to be granted to owners for enlarging, improving, and reconstructing houses of the cottage class in agricultural areas, and stating the amount of the loans which can be made in respect of any given house?

Housing authorities, including rural district councils, are empowered by Section 22 of the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1919, to lend money to owners proposing to carry out works for the reconstruction, enlargement or improvement of houses: under this Section the loan may not exceed one-half the estimated value of the property mortgaged unless some additional or collateral security is given. Under Section 5 of the Housing Act of 1923, loans may be made to persons proposing to alter existing houses; and the advances may be made up to 90 per cent. of the value of the property. The powers of this Section may be exercised not only by the housing authority but also by the county council. The amount of loan which can be made in respect of any given house, must of course depend on the circumstances of the particular premises.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been decontrolled under the operations of the Housing Act, 1923?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet come to a decision regarding the periodical publication of particulars of the number of houses built by new methods and materials?

In connection with future returns as to progress of houses under the Housing Acts, I am asking local authorities to give me information in respect of houses built of concrete and of other special methods of construction in addition to those built by ordinary methods.

asked the Minister of Health what progress is being made with the apprenticeship scheme in the building industry?

I will send the hon. Member a copy of a pamphlet issued by the Building Industry Committee which sets out the steps which have been taken by this Committee towards augmenting the supply of skilled labour in the building industry. Statistical information is not yet available as to the additional number of apprentices obtained under the scheme.

asked the Minister of Health the total amount paid in premiums to industrial assurance companies for the years 1922, 1923 and 1924; and what amounts have been paid out in death claims to policy-holders during the same year?

The amount paid in premiums was £31,580,117 in 1922 and was £33,212,837 in 1923. Separate figures of the amount paid in death claims are not available, but the amount paid in claims of all kinds (including death claims and claims paid on the maturity of endowment assurances) was £10,573,131 in 1922 and £10,800,279 in 1923. Figures for 1924 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has in contemplation the introduction of legislation to enable local authorities to town-plan parts of towns already built; and whether he will include any measure of recovering from owners of adjacent land, by means of a special rate, the value given to their land by the features in such town-planning schemes which develop landed property?

I hope to introduce legislation dealing with the town planning of built-up areas when a favourable opportunity occurs. The existing Acts already contain a provision as to betterment, and I will consider whether any further provision is required.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made as regards the establishment of new maternity and child welfare centres since the issue of the Circular of 8th February, 1924, by the late Government?

Since the issue of the Circular of 8th February, 1924, the number of maternity and child welfare centres in England known to my Department has increased from 1,986 to 2,112, and proposals for about 30 additional centres are under consideration. Additional sessions for infant consultations, ante-natal work, massage, etc., have also been provided at 96 existing centres.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in considering reforms of the rating system, any consideration will be given to systems of taxation in operation in New South Wales, Queensland, and other parts of the Empire, where machinery and improvements are exempt from taxation?

As intimated in the replies recently given to hon. Members, the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Rating of Machinery, together with other suggestions which have been made on the Draft Rating and Valuation Bill, is at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health when the Report of the Royal Commission on Mental Disorders may be expected?

It is not possible at this stage to state when this Report may be expected, but I understand that the Royal Commission hope to be in a position to present their Report early next year.

asked the Minister of Labour what countries have not yet adopted legislation establishing an eight-hours working day or its equivalent; and whether he has any information indicating that the longer hours worked in these countries injuriously affect British trade?

I regret that owing to the varying scope of legislation in different countries and the many modifications and exceptions of detail to which it is subject, it is not possible to answer the first part of this question within the limits of a Parliamentary reply, I am, however, circulating with the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the countries belonging to the International Labour Organisation which have not so far ratified the Hours Convention. The second part of the question depends on so many uncertain considerations that I cannot venture to express any definite opinion with regard to it.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has yet decided the policy to be adopted by the Government delegates who will attend the next International Labour Conference at Geneva on the draft conventions which will be submitted to a final vote of the delegates; and, if so, will he make a statement on that policy?

The documents in connection with the forthcoming International Labour Conference have only recently been received from Geneva and are still under consideration by the Departments concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is possible to modify the recent Circular in reference to unemployment benefit, with a view to giving local unemployment committees the power to judge on their merits applications for continued benefit?

I presume that the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the Circular regarding the payment of eight contributions in the last two insurance years, or 30 contributions in all. The question has been fully debated in the House and, as I have already stated, I do not feel that it is possible to relax these requirements.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men over 60 have been refused unemployment benefit on the ground that they are unlikely to find insurable employment in normal times; and how many of these were ex-service men?

No statistics are available giving the information desired by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the delays that occur in the payment of benefit which has been granted by local employment committees, the ground of the delay being the necessity for reference to the central office in London; and whether he will take steps to obviate such delays?

In general there is no reference to headquarters and no delay in paying benefit in cases where local committees recommend allowance of the claims. Some recommendations, however, are not in accord with the instruc- tions and have to be referred by the local officer to headquarters. In such cases, which form a very small proportion of the total, some delay is inevitable, but every effort is and will be made to reduce it to a minimum.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the fish workers registered at Penzance Exchange have been in the past refused permission to sign on because they have been regarded as seasonal workers, and not, therefore, entitled to unemployment benefit; whether, in view of the fact that they are now regarded as general workers and the previous disqualification removed, any cases have arisen in which retrospective pay has been granted; whether it is intended to make all cases retrospective; and, if so, from what date?

I cannot find that any fish workers have been refused permission to sign the unemployed register at the local office. It appears that five fish workers claimed extended benefit, and that their claims were provisionally disallowed on the ground that they were seasonal workers. Further information showed that they could not properly be regarded as seasonal workers and the previous decision was accordingly revised. One of the live men had continued to sign the register after his claim was disallowed, and he has been paid benefit retrospectively. The other four ceased signing when their claims were disallowed, but benefit will be paid as from the date of disallowance if they can furnish alternative proof of unemployment and can show that they fulfil the remaining conditions for the receipt of benefit.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, at a hearing of a claim before the Court of Referees, in Manchester (E.D. 5,451/1925), the claimant had no knowledge or notice of the representations on which the court refused the claim, and thus no opportunity of challenging their accuracy; whether this practice has the sanction of the Ministry; and, if not, whether he will take steps to secure that this claim shall be reheard on lines more in accordance with recognised legal procedure?

Benefit was disallowed in this case by the insurance officer on the ground that the applicant left her employment voluntarily without just cause. In addition to a formal notification to this effect she was given, in accordance with the usual procedure, a copy of the employer's statement on which the disallowance was based. A further statement made by the employer prior to the Court of Referees hearing was read out in full to the applicant at the hearing. In these circumstances I do not think there is any ground for the allegation that the applicant had no knowledge or notice of the representations on which the court refused the claim. If she has any fresh evidence to bring forward, it will be referred to the court with a view to a further hearing.

asked the Postmaster-General what were the total receipts of the Post Office for the year ending 31st December, 1924, on account of wireless licences, etc.; and what was the expenditure, giving, separately the amounts expended in administration and paid to the British Broadcasting Company?

The total receipts during the year ended the 31st December, 1924, on account of wireless receiving licences were £613,309, of which £472,102 was payable to the British Broadcasting Company by monthly instalments in arrear. The amount of the expenditure by the Post Office in administration during the same year is not at present available.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has yet completed his inquiries into the case of the prosecution of the rector of Stiffkey, Norfolk, for non-payment of rates, based on income from tithes which have not yet been paid to the rector; and, if so, will he consider the necessity for introducing legislation to deal with such cases?

I understand that an appeal in this case will shortly come before Quarter Sessions, and, pending their decision, I cannot express any opinion upon it.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the cases of lead poisoning in the Potteries have been rising since 1921; whether his attention has been attracted to the fact that among these cases are those of young girls aged 20, 19, and 17 years of ago; whether he can account for severe cases occurring among persons who have only worked under the conditions safeguarded by the Regulations of 1913; and will he inquire in which firms the incidence is greatest?

There has been a small increase each year, the figures for the four years 1921 to 1924 being 35, 42, 44 and 47. Out of the total of 168 cases, five were cases of girls of 20 years of age or under, but only one of these was severe, and during the years in question there were only four severe cases altogether among workers who had not been employed in the potteries before the present Regulations came into force. It is not possible to account with certainty for these isolated cases, but I am advised that they were probably due to a peculiar susceptibility on the part of the worker. The cases were widely distributed. Out of 112 firms concerned, five had four cases, nine had three cases, 23 had two cases and 75 had one case each.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the refusal of certain magistrates to witness statutory declarations under the Vaccination Act, 1907; and will he, following the precedent of one of his predecessors in office, address a circular to all magistrates calling their attention to the legal obligations upon them to witness statutory declarations when sitting in open Court and pointing out to them that they are neither required nor authorised to cross-examine applicants as to the reason of their objection to vaccination?

Yes, Sir; on the 17th instant I received a deputation from the National Anti-Vaccination League, which made representations to me on the subject. I will consider the question of issuing a circular when I have received and examined certain particulars which I asked the deputation to furnish.

asked the Home Secretary whether there have been recently any cases of Italians landing in this country without duly certified visas or passports, but who have been allowed to land after consultation with the Italian Embassy or on receipt of papers from that Embassy or from the Italian Consulate?

I know of no such case, but if the right hon. and gallant Member has any case in mind and will give me all available particulars, I will inquire into it.

asked the Home Secretary if he can give figures showing the amounts of beer and spirits, respectively, on which duty was paid for consumption in the United Kingdom for the years 1913, 1918, 1920 and 1923; and also for the same years the number of persons proceeded against for attempted suicide and the number of persons proceeded against summarily for aggravated assault and assaults on constables?

The figures are as follow:The respective quantities of beer and spirits on which duty was paid for consumption in the United Kingdom (including what is now the Irish Free State) in each of the years ended 31st December, 1913, 1918 and 1920, were:

Beer:
				Standard barrels.
1913	…	…	…	35,323,630
1918	…	…	…	12,790,705
1920	…	…	…	26,919,542

Spirits:
				Gallons.
1913	…	…	…	31,831,072
1918	…	…	…	15,115,062
1920	…	…	…	22,138,488

The figures for the year ended 31st December, 1923, are for Great

Britain and Northern Ireland (excluding the Irish Free State), and are:

				Standard barrels.
Beer	…	…	…	20,488,793
				Gallons.
Spirits	…	…	…	14,754,599

The numbers of persons proceeded against for attempted suicide in England and Wales were:

1913	…	…	…	2,426
1918	…	…	…	666
1920	…	…	…	1,449
1923	…	…	…	676

As regards the other offences, the numbers of persons proceeded against summarily in England and Wales were:Aggravated assault:

1913	…	…	…	738
1918	…	…	…	253
1920	…	…	…	607
1923	…	…	…	471

Assaults on constables:

1913	…	…	…	8,789
1918	…	…	…	1,828
1920	…	…	…	6,625
1923	…	…	…	3,983

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the objections to the theatre queue system for the cheaper seats, and of the hardship and inconvenience caused thereby; and whether he will take steps to introduce legislation to make all theatre seats equally bookable?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary for Mines what were the rates levied upon the output of the Lyon Colliery and the Hetton Colliery, Durham, for the years 1922, 1923 and 1924?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I will make inquiries into the matter, and inform the hon. Member of the result

asked the Minister of Transport how many acres of land have been acquired for the making of the Glasgow to Edinburgh road; and what was its rateable value and the price paid?

I am making inquiries, and will furnish the hon. Member as soon as possible with whatever information is available on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the new arrangements for prospecting for oil in Iraq involve any payment to the Iraq Government or in any other way will relieve the charges on the British Treasury in respect of Iraq?

The Turkish Petroleum Company will pay royalties based on output to the Iraq Government, but it is not contemplated that any direct relief will thus be afforded to the Imperial Exchequer.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, taking into consideration the fact that a large number of ratings have their wives and families in Malta, he could see his way to extend to the petty officers and men of the Mediterranean Fleet the privilege of wearing plain clothes when on shore in Malta, under the same conditions as at present laid down for home ports, particularly in view of the fact that the question of insufficient space on board ship would not arise, as this clothing would remain on shore for the whole of the commission?

I will have inquiries made into this matter, and let the hon. Member know the result in due course.

asked the-First Lord of the Admiralty whether the crew of His Majesty's ship "Hermes" is turning over to the "Furious," when the former ship returns home in May; whether, seeing that the present crew of the "Hermes," who are going to the "Furious," will have done over 15 months' sea service upon paying off, and that, according to the Regulations, they are not eligible for harbour service, he will consider if it is necessary that the ship's company of His Majesty's ship "Hermes" should go to the "Furious," and whether he will state that the last 15 months will be taken into consideration for determining the length of their next commission?

His Majesty's ship "Furious" will be attached to the Atlantic Fleet, and as it is in contemplation that the combined sea service of the present crew of His Majesty's ship "Hermes" in that ship and in His Majesty's ship "Furious" should not exceed the normal 2½ years, no reason is seen for modifying the present arrangement.