asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of persons employed upon the administrative staff of the Admiralty and the Government dockyards for the years 1913–14 and 1924–25; and the number of officers and men in the Navy and the number of men employed in the Government dockyards for the same years?

The following are the numbers asked for:Administrative staff, admiralty and dockyards and other outport establishments:

1913–14	…	…	…	5,311
1924–25	…	…	…	7,971

Officers and men in the Navy:

1913–14	…	…	…	144,419
1924–25	…	…	…	100,104

Workpeople in the dockyards and other outport establishment:

1913–14	…	…	…	63,417
1924–25	…	…	…	69,888

I would, however, draw my hon. Friend's attention to my reply of the 25th March to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Southwark (Colonel Day).

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether arrangements can be made for a portion of the Fleet to visit Brighton during the summer months of this year?

It did, namely, portion of the Flotilla will call at Brighton for one or two days towards the latter part of may, 1925.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, with regard to his coming visit to Malta, he will say whether this will be an official visit; whether he will use the Admiralty yacht "Enchantress"; and, if not, how he will be accommodated and transported during the visit?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative and to the second part in the negative. As regards the third part, the First Lord will be accommodated in H.M.S. "Bryony," which is a sloop belonging to the Mediterranean Fleet, employed as a special service ves the Commander-in-Chief.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, with reference to the mates scheme, whether he will state the number of men who have been promoted under this scheme in each of the years since its initiation?

The number of ratings who have been promoted to mate and mate (E) since the institution of these ranks is as follows:

			Mate.	Mate (E).
1913	…	…	44	Rank not instituted.
1914	…	…	31	14
1915	…	…	108	28
1916	…	…	52	43
1917	…	…	93	52
1918	…	…	43	24
1919	…	…	Nil	10
1920	…	…	10	6
1921	…	…	4	7
1922	…	…	6	6
1923	…	…	6	5
1924	…	…	6	5

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that there are men in the shipwright branch of the Royal Navy who have passed for the rating of chief shipwright for a period of from nine to ten years, years service as ship- not been promoted to chief shipwright, he will state what proportion of shipwrights below the rating of chief shipwright have been appointed to warrant rank without becoming chief shipwright?

During the last two years, six shipwrights, 1st class, and six shipwrights, 2nd class, have been promoted to warrant shipwright. No chief shipwright has been promoted during this period.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that examiners employed in the Inspection of Naval Ordnance Department at Woolwich Arsenal are being paid at a lower rate than men who are doing similar work in the ordnance ries; that there are further inequalities in regard to sick pay; and will he consider the possibility of bringing the conditions under which men are employed in the inspection of naval ordnance into harmony with those prevailing in the ordnance factories?

The pay and conditions of service of the examiners and other workmen employed under the Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance are based on those prevailing in the Royal Dockyards for similar classes of men. Only some of the men employed in the Inspection Department are serving at Woolwich, and it would lead to serious administrative difficulties elsewhere if their conditions of service were based on those obtaining in the ordnance factories.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of tons and the cost of the coal consumed by the Navy during 1913 and 1924, respectively?

In 1913, 1,810,250 tons were consumed at an inclusive cost of £2,081,800, as compared with 312,750 tons in 1924, at, a cost of £534,500.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the total number of gallons and the cost of the oil consumed by the Navy in 1913 and 1924, respectively?

I regret that it would not be in the public interest to publish any figures as regards naval oil fuel consumption.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of a growing grievance among the married men in the Royal Navy and their families, and among the sons of widows and their mothers, at the amount of foreign service which is now exacted; and, whilst it. is recognised that foreign service is necessary, can he see his way when foreign drafts are required to ask, in the first instance, wherever possible, for volunteers, in order that those who desire foreign service may have the first preference, thus giving men with home ties an opportunity of remaining longer near their homes?

I am afraid this is quite impossible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a number of men employed in the saddlers' shop at the Royal Dockyard, Woolwich, have been discharged; and whether, seeing that there is a quantity of work for them still undone, numbering about 10,000 articles, which would carry them on until housing accommodation could be found for them at Didcot, he will reinstate the men and so avoid the necessity for them being placed on the unemployment State benefit whilst their labour could be utilised in producing work for State requirements?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on the 24th March to the hon. Member for East Woolwich (Mr. Snell). Twenty-eight men of this shop were discharged on 31st March and two others are under notice. There remain at present some 12 men, all of whom are pre-War employés. At the moment the work available is sufficient to provide employment for the latter number, but not more than sufficient; and I fear, therefore, that the hon. Member's suggestion is not one that I am in a position to adopt.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether it is new necessary for the widowed mother, aged 60 or more, who lost a son in the Great War and who is applying for a need pension, to submit a certificate from her private doctor that she is unable to work; and, if so, when the Regulation was altered, and issue instructions that all applications from aged widows for need pensions shall be considered without the applicant being compelled to purchase or pay for a medical certificate?

A private medical certificate would not ordinarily be required to be submitted in such a case. No change in the Regulations has been made in this respect.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the Principal Assistant Secretary has recently been placed in charge of awards; and, if so, what precautions have been taken to avoid erroneous decisions on questions of entitlement by clerical officers in his section who have no knowledge of the work of the awards branch?

The position of the Principal Assistant Secretary in relation to awards has not been changed, but under him the charge of this branch of the Ministry's work has been assigned to an Assistant Secretary who previously held the post of Deputy Director-General of Awards. The responsible work of the branch will remain in experienced hands. Decisions on entitlement never have been and will not be given by officers of the clerical grade.

asked the Secretary for Mines the total amount of money paid into the Welfare Fund by each mining district; the amount paid out to each district; the amount spent by the Central Board; and for what object it has been spent?

The latest date to which the figures have been made up is 28th February. Since then the amount of levy collected for 1924 has much increased. If the hon. Member will be good enough to repeat his question after the Recess I shall be glad to give him the figures to the 31st March.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of mines closed in the county of Durham during the last 12 months; and the number of miners now unemployed?

In the county of Durham 75 pits, formerly employing 22,300 wage earners, have closed since 1st April, 1924. In the same period five pits employing 270 wage earners have been opened or reopened. I am unable to give the number of colliery workers in the county of Durham claiming unemployment benefit, but the Ministry of Labour's latest figure for the whole of the country is 148,248, representing 11.8 per cent. of the total number of insured persons in the coal mining industry.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is prepared to consider doing away with the obligation that miners are not allowed to work more than seven hours a day; and whether he will leave it to the masters and men to come to any arrangement they may deem advisable and satisfactory to both parties?

I am always prepared to consider any proposals for amending the law relating to mines that the colliery owners and the workmen's representatives may deem advisable and satisfactory to both parties, but I have not yet received any representations of the kind indicated by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Health how many schemes for building houses by new methods of construction, other than brick, have so far been sanctioned?

A return, unfortunately incomplete, obtained from local authorities at the beginning of the present month showed that arrangements had been made for the erection by local authorities, or otherwise in subsidised schemes, of more than 9,000 houses in various forms of concrete or other new methods of construction. My right hon. Friend hopes that when the next return is obtained further information will be available as to the numbers of houses to be erected by other methods than brick construction. I may say that local authorities only require my right hon. Friend's specific approval to the adoption of a method, other than the ordinary method of construction, where the method proposed is not one for which a 60 years' loan would normally be allowed.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the definition of an agricultural parish in the Housing Act of 1924 excludes many agricultural parishes, as, for instance, in the home counties, from the encouragement which the Act was supposed to give to house building in such areas; and what steps he proposes to take to give effect to the intentions of Parliament?

The Clause defining agricultural parishes was debated at considerable length during the passage of the 1924 Housing Bill, and Amendments were made which had the effect of considerably widening the scope of the Clause as originally drafted. My right hon. Friend does not think it could be said, therefore, that the Section does not carry out the intentions of Parliament, and he is afraid he cannot at present contemplate introducing further legislation on the subject.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the fact that the life of a stone or brick house will probably be considerably longer than that of a steel house, and that for both types of houses an equal grant is given, and in order to encourage those who prefer to erect the more permanent type of dwelling, whether he would be willing to consider the question of increasing the grant for houses of this nature?

No, Sir. Houses are at present being erected by the ordinary methods of construction up to the full capacity of the house building industry, and an increased subsidy for this type of house would not result in a greater output of houses.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether materials required by the building trade having been classified by the Local Government Board Committee of May, 1917, into uncontrolled, including timber, breeze partition blocks, sundry materials, glue, oil, putty, etc., and minerals, partially controlled, including bricks, lime, gas-pipes and fittings, metal goods, wrought-iron or steel tanks and cisterns, slates, paints, varnish, etc., controlled, including tiles roofing, tiles glazed, and for floors, earthenware pipes, sanitary earthenware, lead pipes, sheet lead, portland cement, iron castings, wallpaper, glass, wrought-iron tubes and boilers, there is any intention to alter this method of classification to be in accord with present-day conditions; what are the alterations, or additions, required to bring the above list up to date; what is the present-day price of each category of materials; and what were the equivalent prices in 1917, 1920, and 1923, respectively;(2) What proportion of the materials used in the construction of State approved types of houses are subject to control by combinations among manufacturers and merchants, and how do these figures compare with the estimate made in 1917, which, for building materials, exclusive of overhead charges and labour, gave the proportions as 24.68 controlled, 33.25 partially controlled, and 42.07 uncontrolled, and for the same house, but including labour and overhead charges, exclusive of cost of site developed, 14.64 controlled, 19.68 partially controlled, 24.94 uncontrolled, and 40.74 for labour and overhead expenses, giving in each case the equivalent figures for the three types of house authorised under the Housing Acts, and showing also the percentage value of the subsidy, and the corresponding figures for 1920 and 1923, respectively?

I presume that my hon. and gallant Friend in these questions is referring to a Report, apparently made in 1917, which was pre- sented to the Committee on Trusts appointed by the Ministry of Reconstruction in 1918 and was printed by that Committee as an addendum to their Report. I am not aware of the data on which the classification and calculations quoted in the questions were based and could not undertake to say what alterations are necessary to bring them up to date. I observe that a footnote to the Report states that it was already out of date when published. The statistics for which my hon. Friend asks are not available, but the Reports of the Committee which I appointed to survey the prices of building materials have published statements recording the prices of a considerable number of building materials at various dates, and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of one of their most recent Reports.

asked the Minister of Health if he can take steps to prevent the continued dumping of London refuse at Little Britain, a few yards on the Middlesex side of the River Colne, in view of the serious danger to the health of the people of Iver?

Bye-laws have recently been adopted by the district council for preventing nuisances from refuse dumps, and proceedings under these bye-laws can be taken by the council or by any aggrieved individual. My right hon. Friend is communicating with the council on the subject.

asked the Minister of Health if an annual grant of money is made to the National Council for combating Venereal Diseases; if so, what is the amount; whether any return is made to the Ministry showing, in detail, how it is expended; and if such return is available for public information?

The reply to the first and third parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the amount of the grant varies from year to year and was £9,183 for the last financial year. As regards the last part of the question, details of the expenditure of the grants are shown in the Annual Reports published by the National Council.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to compel the guardians of unions, where plank beds are at present used as sleeping accommodation for male casuals, to provide other and more suitable forms of sleeping accommodation?

My right hon. Friend has already taken steps to direct the attention of guardians to the consideration of the present provision for casuals and to the improvements which may be required in regard to sleeping provision and other matters and has sent my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the Circular and Order which he has just issued. He does not think that he can take any further action at the moment.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the Rotherham Board of Guardians have issued 1,600 County Court summonses to the recipients of outdoor relief in 1921, due to their inability to repay the guardians; and whether he will take steps to stay the proceedings meantime, owing to the continued abnormal trade depression and consequent destitution in that area since 1921?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the action taken by the Rotherham Board of Guardians, which is entirely within their discretion. He has no power to take the action suggested in the latter part of the question, but is quite sure that the guardians and the Courts concerned would have regard to all relevant circumstances in considering the extent to which repayment is to be required at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received representations from the Yorkshire Council of Grocers' Associations protesting against the proposals of the draft Regulations regarding food preservatives issued by his Department; and whether he will take steps to meet the objections which they raise?

Yes, Sir, my right hon. Friend has received similar representations from a number of grocers' associations, and he is arranging for a deputation to be received from the Federation of Grocers' Associations. My right hon. Friend will then consider how far it is possible to meet the objections which they are raising.

asked the Minister of Health when the Report of the Commission on the Extension of County Boundaries may be expected?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I cannot add anything to the reply given on the 5th March to a similar question by the hon. and gallant Member for West Birkenhead (Mr. Nuttall).

asked the Minister of Health if he will investigate the circumstances attending the appeal made by his local officers at West Ham against the old age pension claim allowed by the local pensions committee on 25th March to William Allen, of 23, Forest Side, Forest Gate, E.17, who, 71 years of age, feels too unwell to continue at work owing to the results of an accident sustained whilst at work; and whether he will arrange for the payment of the pension retrospectively in this case?

An appeal made by the pension officer in this case was received by me on the 28th ultimo, and the matter is at present under investigation.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the want of a haven for fishermen in the Sound of Killrannan, he will cause the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to investigate into the conditions of the small harbour in Loch Ranza, and the cost of dredging and clearing out the silt and sand therein, so as to make it available for fishing craft at states of the tide other than only at high water as at present.?

I am making inquiries through the Fishery Board for Scotland as to the circumstances of the harbour, and will communicate with my hon. and learned Friend when I am in possession of further information.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware that No. 2 small holding, on the farm of Ormlie, on the Ulbster estate, Caithness-shire, has been vacant since November, that the applications of several ex-service men for this holding have been rejected, and that the Ulbster estate put forward an applicant who had two holdings on the Glengolly farm, with a view of the said applicant leaving those holdings so as to allow the farm of Glengolly to be sold to a man who has already 50 acres; and what steps the Board of Agriculture has taken in the matter?

I understand that the holding in question will not fall vacant till Whit-Sunday next. My information does not enable me to answer the second and third parts of the question. As regards the last part, I am informed that the estate have now agreed to let the holding to an applicant to be suggested by the Board of Agriculture.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many children between the ages of 14 and 15 left the elementary day schools at the leaving period, and how many were assisted or advised to take sutuations by joint industrial committees; and has any record been kept as to the number who entered situations, employment in which is expected to lead on to permanent employment?

in the year ended the 31st March, 1923, the number of public elementary school leavers between the ages of 14 and 15 was 470,877. There are no statistics in my possession or in that of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour showing the proportion of these leavers who received the information and advice provided by juvenile employment sub-committee of local education authorities, or juvenile advisory committees of the Ministry of Labour. In London, however, all children are advised at school conferences in which the secretaries of the local juvenile advisory committees take an active part, whilst in other areas similar arrangements result in a high proportion of these children receiving advice from committees on leaving school. Such records as are kept locally of the prospects of employment in the situations in which young persons are placed are not at present susceptible of tabulation, but I have already sent the hon. Member certain relevant figures relating to two particular areas, and the question whether it is practicable to obtain statistics which would enable the placings to be classified in the manner suggested is engaging the attention of my right hon. Friend and myself.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is now in a position to state when the condemned London County Council elementary day school in High Road, Bromley, will be closed and a, new school erected in its place?

I am unable to state the exact date by which the erection of the new school to take the place of the Bromley, High Street, school will be completed. The provision of the school is, however, included in the County Council's programme of work for the three years ending 31st March, 1928, and I understand that the Council will press on with its erection as soon as certain difficulties, which have arisen in connection with the rehousing of the tenants at present occupying part of the new site, have been overcome.

asked the Home Secretary how many probation officers are attached to the London Police Courts and West Ham Court; how many are males and how many are females; whether any are specially attached to the Children's Courts; if the cost of these officers is borne by the police funds; and the Department responsible for the appointment of such officers?

There are 53 probation officers (22 men and 31 women) attached to the Police Courts in the Metropolitan Police Court District. Twelve of the women are specially attached to the Juvenile Courts. They are all appointed by the Secretary of State and paid out of the Metropolitan Police Fund, but in the case of the officers attached to the adult Courts, a proportion of the salaries and expenses is paid by the London Police Court Mission and other societies to which they belong. I am informed that there are two probation officers—one man and one woman—attached to the West Ham Police Court. The former supervises men and boys over 10 and the latter women and girls, and boys under 10. They are appointed by the Justices and paid out of the West Ham Borough Fund.

asked the Home Secretary the nature of the Regulations controlling the writing or receiving of letters by prisoners; and whether for short-term prisoners he will consider a re-arrangement of the conditions governing visits by relatives and friends, so that the interview behind bars will be abolished and that conversations can take place in a room specially provided?

The Regulations as to writing and receiving letters are contained in the Statutory Rules 72, 75 and 76 for local prisons. All prisoners are allowed to write a letter in the first week of their imprisonment. The periods at which subsequent letters in and out are allowed, depend on the classification of the prisoner and the stage which he has reached in the Progressive Stage System. At most prisons, the greater number of visits now take place in an ordinary room. At certain large prisons, owing to the number of visits and the comparative smallness of the staff, the old-fashioned visiting boxes still have to be used; and at all prisons there are from time to time individuals whose visits require special precautions. The hon. Member will find information on this subject in the Prison Commissioners' Annual Reports for 192122, page 16; and 1922–23, page 23.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that during the year ending 31st December, 1924, 19 children, of whom three were stillborn, were born in prison during that period, the Government will consider the advisability of allowing these children to be born outside of prison?

Legislation would be necessary and my right hon. Friend does not see his way to make any proposals in this direction.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware that Mr. T. W. Bishop, until recently employed for 15 years at the Tower of London, Has been refused the usual gratuity, earned by his years of service, on a technicality connected with the circumstances of his retirement; and whether he will reconsider this decision?

The First Commissioner has given instructions for the circumstances of Mr. Bishop's retirement to be reconsidered in order to see whether a recommendation can be made to the Treasury for the grant of a gratuity.

asked the Prime Minister if, prior to the fixing of 3rd June for the celebration of the King's Birthday, he received any representations to fix the day in any week other than one in which there would be a bank holiday; and what are the reasons for departing from the practice, which obtained in Queen Victoria's reign, of celebrating the King's Birthday on a Saturday?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. With regard to the remainder, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on the 26th March to a question on this subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Sir F. Nelson).

asked the Prime Minister the intentions of the Government in regard to the Merchandise Marks Bill, for which there is a great demand by the agricultural community?

I hope to introduce a Bill on this subject after the Easter Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has with regard to the military and political situation in Spanish Morocco; and is it anticipated that a new conference will be held of interested Powers to consider the situation in the light of recent events?

(Separate particulars are shown for England and Wales where they are available).
—	Agricultural.	Skilled Trades.	General Labourers.
Male passengers to non-European countries of 12 years of age and upwards:—
1895—from the United Kingdom	9,144	18,322	24,683
1905—from the United Kingdom	21,778	28,858	41,568
Male emigrants of 18 years of age and upwards:—
*1913—from the United Kingdom	33,815	51,413	29,484
from England and Wales	23,237	38,163	17,740
1923—from the United Kingdom	26,223	52,533	19,017
from England and Wales	14,527	23,170	8,437
†1924 (9 months Jan.-Sept.),—
from the United Kingdom	10,297	14,385	4,461
from England and Wales	6,141	9,945	3,191
*The classification by occupations of British emigrants in 1915 was not carried out.
† Particulars for the year 1924 are not yet available. The "United Kingdom" figures for January-September, 1924, relate to Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what date in 1924 and 1.925, respectively, were the claims for payment of Super-tax and the claims as per agreed returns for the payment of Super-tax issued.

The situation in the Spanish zone of Morocco has received wide publicity, and I have no information beyond what has appeared in the Press. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department how many agricultural workers left England and Wales during the years 1895, 1905, 1915, and 1924; and how many skilled and unskilled industrial workers left during the same period?

The number of British subjects among passengers from the United Kingdom to non-European countries, by sea direct, who were recorded as having followed "agricultural," "skilled" and "unskilled" occupations, are shown in the following table:

For each of the years 1923–24 and 1924–25, the main issue of the notices of assessment to Super-tax, which are also applications for payment, was made as usual during the period from October to March in the year of assessment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amounts of Income Tax, Super-tax, and Death Duties, respectively, paid for each year since the Armistice?

The following are the figures:

INCOME TAX, SUPER-TAX AND DEATH DUTIES
Exchequer Receipt. 1918–19 to 1924–25.
Year.	Exchequer Receipt.
	Income Tax.	Super-tax.	Death Duties.
	£000.	£000.	£000.
1918–19	255,591	35,595	30,262
1919–20	316,926	42,173	40,904
1920–21	338,865	55,281	47,729
1921–22	337,027	61,730	52,191
1922–23	314,836	64,209	56,871
1923–24	269,331	60,640	57,800
1924–25	273,836	62,680	59,450

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of interest paid on the National Debt for the years 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, and 1924;the amount of reduction of the National Debt during those periods; and the total amount of the debt on 31st March, 1925?

The information asked for will be found in the National Debt Return—House of Commons Paper 140 of 1924, except as regards 1924–25. Particulars for that year will be given in the Financial Statement laid before the House on Budget night.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the long time during which the tyre-making works at Alperton and Brentford have been closed down, he is prepared to recommend protection for this industry?

I have been asked to reply. I would draw my hon. Friend's attention to the Safeguarding of Industries procedure, under which it is open to the industry to make application for the imposition of a duty.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the nature of the proposals made by the manufacturers of superphosphates regarding the regulation of the prices of their products?

As the Committee specially appointed by the Board of Trade is still engaged in hearing an application by the superphosphate manufacturers under the Safeguarding of Industries, it would not be desirable for me to make any statement at this stage.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of acres of land in England and Wales at present under cultivation and the number under cultivation in 1919, 1915, 1905 and 1895, and the number of agricultural workers employed in England and Wales at the same periods?

As particulars of the number of agricultural workers were not collected by the Ministry prior to 1908 or in some of the subsequent years specified in the hon. Member's question, I regret that I am unable to give the exact information required. The following statement gives such information as is available.The acreage under crops and permanent grass and the number of agricultural workers returned as employed on agricultural holdings in England and Wales on 4th June in each of the undermentioned years were as follow:

Year.			Acreage under Crops and Permanent Grass.	Total Number of Agricultural Workers.
			Acres.	No.
1895	…	…	27,683,047	*
1905	…	…	27,405,847	*
1908	…	…	27,347,913	722,000
1913	…	…	27,129,382	651,000
1915	…	…	27,053,100	*
1919	…	…	26,747,953	*
1921	…	…	26,144,071	869,000
1924	…	…	25,876,797	806,000
* Not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any information

I. GERMANY.
—		Area.			Production.
		1920.	1922.	1924.*	1920.	1922.	1924*
		Acres.	Acres.	Acres.	Tons.	Tons.	Tons.
Wheat	…	3,397,240	3,393,765	3,621,773	2,211,430	1,926,063	2,388,616
Spelt (Winter)	…	392,241	313,085	302,565	175,989	111,582	114,585
Rye	…	10,584,244	10,231,375	10,521,108	4,855,058	5,149,429	5,637,781
Barley (Summer)	…	2,948,083	2,844,820	3,306,626	1,764,035	1,581,517	2,152,217
Oats	…	7,937,073	7,908,056	8,705,918	4,748,561	3,950,625	5,563,135
Potatoes	…	5,983,543	6,721,480	6,818,351	27,429,164	40,007,093	35,817,205
Sugar Beet	…	804,583	1,030,459	974,284	7,808,960	10,616,106	10,101,587
Roots (Runkel-Ruben)	…	†	1,938,031	1,807,981	†	24,354,153	22,874,215
* Figures for 1924 are subject to correction.
† Figures of Roots (Runkel-Ruben) are not available prior to 1921.

II. GREAT BRITAIN.
—		Acreage.			Production.
		1920.	1922.	1924.	1920.	1922.	1924.
		Acres.	Acres.	Acres.	Tons.	Tons.	Tons.
Wheat	…	1,928,944	2,032,117	1,594,213	1,515,000	1,742,000	1,412,000
Barley	…	1,841,329	1,520,772	1,465,614	1,391,000	1,096,000	1,143,000
Oats	…	3,297,822	3,145,534	2,992,632	2,215,000	1,932,000	2,200,000
Rye	…	102,404	91,276	65,277	*	*	*
Potatoes	…	707,092	718,581	590,523	4,388,000	5,203,000	3,541,000
Sugar Beet‡	…	3,017	8,409	22,441	*	55,000†	180,000†
Turnips and Swedes	…	1,413,706	1,223,798	1,236,588	21,885,000	17,788,000	18,290,000
Mangold	…	386,046	423,396	389,364	7,336,000	8,595,000	7,846,000
* Not available.
† Washed and topped roots.
‡ England and Wales only. The acreage of Sugar Beet in Scotland was, in 1920, 28 acres; in 1922, 4 acres; and in 1924, 196 acres.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the hours worked by agricultural labourers in Anglesey and Carnarvonshire are 58 per week; and, as these hours are considerably in excess of the general hours of labour in this industry in the other

The area and production of the undermentioned crops in Germany and Great Britain in 1920, 1922 and 1924 were as follow:counties of England and Wales, will his Department take action with a view to reducing these hours?

I have been asked to reply. I have no precise information as to the average hours actually worked by agricultural labourers, but the minimum rates fixed by the Anglesey and Carnarvon Agricultural Wages Committee to apply throughout the year are at present on the basis of a 50-hour week for ordinary workers and a 58-hour week for horsemen, cowmen, shepherds and bailiffs. So far as I am aware these hours are not in excess of those worked by the corresponding classes of workers in other parts of England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will issue a summarised return showing the building and repairing operations carried out in connection with Crown lands in 1913, 1923, and 1924, respectively; and the estimated totals for 1925?

The greater part of the expenditure on building operations on the Crown estate is incurred by lessees pursuant to building agreements entered into by them, which stipulate for a minimum outlay. No record of the total actual outlay made is available. Repairs are also, to a large extent, carried out by and at the expense of lessees. The amounts expended by the Commissioners of Woods (now the Commissioners of Crown Lands) in connection with Crown lands (excluding Windsor and forestal lands), as shown in the Commissioners' Annual Reports to Parliament for the years in question are as follow:

	£	s.	d.
Year to 31st March, 1913	29,310	3	0
Year to 31st March, 1923	46,287	12	1
Year to 31st March, 1924	44,623	14	8

The completed accounts for the year to 31st March, 1925, are not yet available, and it is not possible to make in advance an annual estimate with regard to outlay of the kind in question, which is made from time to time as necessity arises.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the fishery districts in England that have obtained an order to impose a rod tax under the provisions of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act of 1923; the amount of this tax; and the number of licences sold in each district during the year 1924?

I presume that my hon. Friend's question refers to a rod tax for fishing for freshwater fish leviable under an Order obtained under Section 65 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act, 1923. Such Orders have been made in the case of the Fishery Boards constituted for the Trent; the Rother; and the Avon, Brue and Parret, Fishery Districts respectively. The amounts of the licence duties are as follow:

Trent Fishery Board.
	s.	d.
For a year:
Persons over 16	1	0
Persons under 16	0	6
For four days:
Saturday to Tuesday	0	6
Rother Fishery Board.
For a year or any part thereof	0	6
Avon, Brue and Parret Fishery Board.
For a year or any part thereof:
Persons over 16	1	0
Persons under 16	0	6

The number of licences issued by the Trent Fishery Board from the date of confirmation of the Order (24th July, 1924), to 31st December, 1924, was 6,053. No licences were issued during 1924 by the other two Fishery Boards, the Orders only coming into force in 1925.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount spent on land drainage and coast erosion for England, Scotland and Wales respectively, for each of the last five years, showing separately the amount spent by the rates and by the Exchequer in unemployed or other grants?

I am unable to state the amount spent during the last five years on land drainage and coast erosion out of the rates of the various drainage, harbour, urban or other local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales, but the appended statement shows the amounts spent out of the rates of drainage authorities, and by the Exchequer, respectively, on works of unemployment relief assisted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries during the last four years:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that men living in Central London (e.g., in Bermondsey) are employed on relief works constructing the new by-pass road between Bexley and Crayford, that these men have in many cases to leave home at 4.30 a.m. in order to catch the only trains available to enable them to reach their work in time, that they cannot return to their homes until between 7.30 and 8 p.m., and that they are now being required to work overtime; and whether, under these circumstances, he will give instructions that these men are not to be penalised if they refuse to do overtime, in view of the fact that they will be away from their families for between 17 and 18 hours per day?

I have been asked to reply. I am unable to accept the statements contained in the first part of the hon. Member's question, which are not in accordance with the information at my disposal. As regards the last part, I am informed that overtime, for which provision is made under the terms of the contract, has been limited to a very small number of men—approximately 30—and I understand that in no case has there been a refusal to work the additional hour.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether a person holding a position as a male clerk on the permanent staff of a county education authority, on transfer to a similar position under a county education authority in another part, of the country, is entitled to urge that a certificate of exemption in respect of unemployment contributions may be taken into account in that authority, provided there has been no break or change in employment, and that it is recognised that such transfer is, in effect, as one from one branch of the local government service to another, and not the commencement of work under new and different conditions?

I have been asked to reply to this question, which I assume relates to certificates of exception and not to exemption from Unemployment Insurance on the ground of private income or pension. Certificates of exception granted to education authorities under Part II (d) as amended, of the First Schedule to the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, apply only to employés who have completed three years' service in their permanent employment under the particular authority to which the certificate of exception has been granted. Under the Statute, service under other authorities cannot be reckoned towards the satisfaction of this condition as to completion of three years' service, unless the service under the, other authorities is aggregated with service under the present authority for the purposes of superannuation, under statutory provision. In those employments in which service is not so aggregated the employé must serve for three years before he can become excepted, whatever his previous employment may have been.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will investigate the circumstances attending the issue of fresh instructions by the Canning Town Exchange requesting the men engaged in the boiler-making and shipbuilding trades to sign the unemployment register daily, at varying times between 9.30 and 11 a.m.; whether he is aware that the scope for employment in these trades at the dock extends from Tilbury to Teddington Lock and therefore such daily attendance at that hour in the morning seriously interferes with the opportunity of the men to obtain employment; and whether he can arrange to open another Employment Exchange in Barking Road, Canning Town?

Under existing arrangements, which were settled after consultation with representatives of the Trade Union concerned, there men are allowed to sign at any time between 9.30 and 11 a.m. Men seeking work at a distance can obtain a vacant ticket which enables them to sign at another office. I am advised that these arrangements are necessary for the proper administration of benefit and do not interfere with the men's search for work. I cannot undertake to open a new Exchange, but it has been decided to extend the existing premises considerably.

asked the Minister of Labour how many schemes of work assisted by Government grants have been completed during the four months from 1st December to 31st March, and the number of men discharged as a result of the completion of such work; how many new schemes of work have been put in hand during the same period: the num- ber of men employed; the period of their employment; the total number of men at present employed on relief schemes of all kinds; and the number employed on the same date a year ago?

Notification of the commencement and termination of schemes of work for the relief of unemployment is not received from local authorities, nor are figures available of the number of men employed on individual schemes of work, consequently, I am afraid the greater part of the information requested is not available. The total of men directly employed on State-aided schemes for relief of unemployment was 95,619 on the 29th February, 1924, and 117,963 on the 28th February, 1925, the latest date for which full figures are yet available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has further considered the effect of the Order issued by his Department in February in connection with the mining industry; and if he is now willing to allow unemployed miners who have not 30 stamps on their cards to resume their Unemployment Insurance benefit?

I have given careful consideration to the effect in the mining industry of the recent instruction regarding waiver of the first statutory condition for unemployment benefit, but for the reasons explained in the Debate of 9th March, I am afraid I cannot relax the waiver condition regarding contributions in the case of any one class of worker.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of coal miners unemployed in each district in the months of March, 1924, and March, 1925?

A table, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, giving the monthly figures to the end of February last, was issued on 6th April, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for the Ogmore Division. No later figures are as yet available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has under consideration any schemes for providing work for the large number of middle-aged and elderly men who are being refused unemployment benefit on the ground that they have no reasonable prospect of obtaining employment in an insurable trade?

It is not part of the functions of the Ministry to provide relief work, but as the hon. Member is no doubt aware, Government grants are made to local authorities providing such works. If local authorities have any schemes of work which will provide employment for the men in question, I feel sure that the grant-making Departments will sympathetically consider application for State assistance.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can arrange at six-monthly intervals to publish in the "Labour Gazette" a table in continuation of that published in October, 1924, giving the weekly figures of persons registered as unemployed at the Employment Exchanges?

As the hon. Member is perhaps aware, there is always great pressure on the available space in the "Labour Gazette," but an endeavour will be made to find room for the table he suggests.

also asked the Minister of Labour what was the estimated number of occupied persons in Great Britain on 31st March, 1925; how many of these were estimated to be unemployed; and what were the corresponding figures for the same date in 1914?

The latest statistics of occupied persons relate to the year 1921, when, according to the Census of Population, 19,357,300 persons aged 12 years and upwards in Great Britain were returned as occupied (including employers and those working on their own account); the corresponding figure from the Census of 1911 was 18,351,366. As regards unemployment, the available statistics relate only to persons over 16 years of age in insured trades who number about 11¼ millions. At 23rd February, 1925, the latest date for which figures are available, 1,277,030 were registered as unemployed or 11.3 per cent. of the total number insured. Owing to the great difference in the scope of the Unemployment Insurance Acts in operation in 1914 and 1925, comparable statistics for February, 1914, are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the exact date when the payment of uncovenanted benefit was first instituted, and the total amount of payments to date of such uncovenanted benefit?

Grants of benefit of the kind which came to be known as "uncovenanted" were first instituted under the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1921, which took effect on 3rd March, 1921. In August last, under the Unemployment Insurance (No. 2) Act, 1924, extended benefit took the place of uncovenanted benefit. No separate records are kept of the amounts of uncovenanted or extended benefit paid.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of operatives engaged in the hosiery industry in the United Kingdom during the year 1924, and the percentage of unemployment in the industry during the same year; and whether these figures include operatives engaged in the underwear manufacture, which is largely carried on in factories making hosiery?

The estimated number of insured workpeople in the hosiery industry of Great Britain was 92,660 at the end of 1924. The mean annual percentage unemployed during 1924 was 6.1. These figures include operatives engaged in the manufacture of underwear carried on in factories making hosiery.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has any figures showing in which industry the lowest wages are paid; what that rate of wages is for men and women; and will he furnish particulars and say whether or no he will appoint a Trade Board to fix a minimum wage?

The information available as to wages in different industries, occupations and districts is not sufficient to enable me to state in which industry the lowest wages are paid. The Government's policy regarding the application of the Trade Boards Acts to new trades was described in a reply to a question by the hon. Member for the Drake Division of Plymouth (Sir A. Shirley Benn) on 16th December last, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour whether rates of wages have been fixed for other Trade Boards established at the same time, or subsequent to, the establishment of the Grocery Trade Board (England and Wales) in 1920; whether he will declare the present policy of the Government in relation to Trade Boards; and to what extent, if any, the setting up of the Cave Committee of Inquiry has delayed the confirmation of rates of wages fixed by Trade Boards other than the Grocery Trade Board?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the present policy of the Government in respect of trade boards, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made in reply to a question by the hon. Gentleman the Member for the Drake Division (Sir A. Shirley Benn) on the 16th December last. With regard to the last part of the question, the confirmation of minimum rates of wages was not

Country.	Legal Maximum Hours.	Remarks.
France	48	Overtime on account of exceptional pressure of work is permitted up to 150 hours per annum; the daily hours may in no case exceed 10.
Germany	48	A decree of 21st December, 1923, permits exceptional extension of the hours of labour, by agreement between employers and workpeople, up to 10 hours per diem. In November, 1924, an Inquiry by the German General Confederation of Trade Unions showed that 66 per cent. of the textile workers covered by the Inquiry worked over 48 hours per week.
Italy	48	Extensions of the hours shown are possibly permissible in certain circumstances, but information upon this point is not available.
Russia
Czecbslovakia
Spain
Belgium
Netherlands
Austria
Switzerland
Sweden
Portugal
Finland
Denmark
Norway
Poland	46	Extensions of the hours shown are possibly permissible in certain circumstances, but information upon this point is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the wage changes in the years

asked the Minister of Labour the hours of labour per week in the cotton industry in the various countries of Europe where cotton-spinning and manufacturing is carried on?

The normal full-time weekly hours of labour in the cotton industry in Great Britain, agreed upon by the employers' and workers' organisations, are 48, but organised short time is being worked in the section of the industry engaged in spinning American cotton, and the weekly hours actually worked in that section are generally 35 at the present time. As regards other European countries the information available as to the legal maximum hours in this industry is summarised below. Information is not available as to the extent to which short time is being worked at present in these countries.1921, 1922, 1923, and 1924, showing the number of persons affected and the loss or increase in weekly wages in each year?

Such statistics as are available are published in the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" for January, 1925, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now give the result of his inquiries as to the conditions under which alien seamen were engaged on the s.s. "River Tyne," which opened articles in Palermo in October last year?

I find upon inquiry that the crew were engaged at rates varying from £4 to £5 below the National Maritime Board rates. The consular officers concerned are being instructed to inform masters that the standard rates must be paid, and the situation will be closely watched.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the jute imports and exports, imports of piece goods (square yards), from Germany in 1924, to end of June, and from July to end of December, respectively; imports of yarn (lbs.) from Germany for 1922, 1923 and 1924, respectively; imports of piece goods from India (square yards) for 1922, 1923, and 1924, respectively; exports of piece goods (square yards) to Germany for 1922, 1923, and 1924, respectively; and exports of jute sacks to Germany for 1922, 1923, and 1924, respectively?

The particulars asked for are as follow:

(a) Imports of Jute Piece Goods consigned from Germany:
		Square Yards.
January-June, 1924	…	8,885,258
July-December, 1924	…	5,573,874

(b) Imports of Jute Yarn consigned from Germany:
			Lbs.
Year 1922	…	…	56,993
Year 1923	…	…	1,705,225
Year 1924	…	…	139,595

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the rates quoted in November, 1924, from Germany to Bilbao and Barcelona, were 17s. 6d. per 1,000 kilos for steel, wire or tools; whether the English rate per 1,016 kilos to the two places named for steel was 25s. and 30s., respectively, for wire 40s. and 50s., respectively, and for tools 60s. and 70s., respectively; that the German rate to Musel and Vigo was 19s. per 1,000 kilos and the English rate per 1,016 kilos was 25s., 40s. and 60e., respectively; the reason for the differences; and whether any steps are being taken towards the removal of such serious handicaps to British trade?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave yesterday to the two oral questions he addressed to me.

asked the Postmaster-General whether there has been any change of policy in assessing charges for telephones in farmhouses which are occupied as private residences only; if not, why are some farmers, as, for instance, in the Marlborough area, who have been regarded as private users since 1907, now being called upon to pay at the higher business rate; and whether he will discontinue demands which are calculated to thwart the desire of the Post Office to encourage telephone business in agricultural areas?

Farmers, like subscribers engaged in other businesses, are charged at the trade rate, but persons who occupy farm houses as private residences and are not engaged in farming or other business are provided with service at the residential rate. There has been no change of policy in this matter. If my hon. Friend will let me know the cases he has in mind I will have inquiry made.

asked the Postmaster-General why vacancies for 17 boys at the Post Office repair factories under the Controller, Stores Department, are to be filled by girls at a Cheaper rate of pay: will he take steps to see that the usual male labour is employed in future; and will he give an assurance that this encroachment on the male labour staff will not lead to further utilisation of female labour on work proper to males at the factories?

The object of the change is to reduce the number of boys in the Stores Department, where difficulty is experienced in absorbing the existing number as they reach adult age. No other change of the kind is at present in contemplation. The work which is being transferred is suitable for girls and has no educational value for boys. It is not proposed to employ female labour except on work which is appropriate to females.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will issue a list of the tolls remaining on public highways; what annual revenue is derived from them; and what is the Ministry's estimate of the cost of freeing these tolls under the Roads Improvement Bill now before the House?

A complete tabular statement of tolls in England and Wales is available for general inspection in my Department, but owing to its bulk the document is hardly suitable for circulation. I shall be happy to give the hon. Member facilities for consulting it. As the tolls are usually imposed 'by private undertakings, I have no information as to the annual revenue derived from them, nor can I form any estimate of the cost of freeing the tolls. Each case will need to be considered on its merits, as and when the local authorities avail themselves of the provisions of the Roads Improvement Bill now before the House.

asked the Minister of Transport if his Department has under consideration any scheme for the development, improvement, and increased utilisation of the canal system of the country?

I do not at present contemplate the introduction of any general legislation with regard to canals. The Government has, however, given assistance, and is still prepared to give assistance, through the Unemployment Grants Committee to practicable schemes for the improvement of canals.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the Oldham Corporation are anxious to relieve the congestion of traffic on Ashton Road by improving the transport facilities over the railway to Kings Road; and will he take this matter up for consideration?

I am making inquiries regarding this matter and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, seeing that he has inadequate powers to control passenger fares on the railways other than ordinary fares, he will consider the advisability of extending the existing powers by legislation?

The Railway Rates Tribunal constituted in accordance with the provisions of the Railways Act, 1921, has power to settle the standard charges to be made for the conveyance of passengers and their luggage by rail, and I am not aware of a need for further legislation on the subject.

asked the Minister of Transport whether representations have been made from any source to his Department of the danger to the public of understaffing underground railway trains fitted with automatic doors; whether, since these doors have been in operation, there have been any accidents reported and, if so, how many?

The Ministry's officers have had the pneumatically-operated doors referred to under close observation during the three or four years they have been in use on the underground railways, and they are satisfied that safety requirements are fully met. I am informed by the railway company that the use of these doors has been free from accident and has proved in other respects satisfactory, particularly in allowing considerably improved door-way accommodation to be afforded, and thereby reducing congestion when passengers enter and leave the trains. The company state further that the action of the doors is fully safeguarded, and that the staff employed is, in their opinion, quite adequate.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that the proposal of the London County Council to construct a communicating tramway between Bromley Road and Eltham, for the purpose of serving three large working-class housing estates of the council and the Woolwich Borough Council, has been rejected as the result of the opposition of the London General Omnibus Company, who were the only opponents of a proposal supported by both the local borough councils concerned and, seeing that the London General Omnibus Company do not run the early workmen's services at cheap fares which are in force on the council's tramways and are im- portant to give satisfactory travelling facilities to the class of persons who will reside on these estates, will he consider the desirability of requiring the company to run similar cheap frequent early morning services?

I have no powers which would enable me to take the action suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Home Secretary the number of street accidents, fatal and non-fatal, that occurred in Leeds during the year 1924?

The figures required will be found in the Return of Street Accidents for 1924 (H.C. 53) issued on 2nd instant. They are, for Leeds,

Fatal accidents	…	…	33
Non-fatal	…	…	918
Total	…	…	951

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that in the case of the promotions appeals in the Inland Revenue Department by Messrs. Mole, Pagden and Ayers, the reports made by Mr. G. W. Gordin, in his capacity as inspecting officer, were considered by a panel of four persons of whom Mr. Gordin himself was one, he will in future make arrangements, since the panel is composed of 21 persons, that an officer who has been responsible for estimating the fitness for advancement of subordinate officers should not sit on a panel for the purpose of adjudicating upon the reports which he has rendered?

In conformity with representations made through Departmental Whitley channels, arrangements have been made for constituting the appeal panel suitably to the merits of any ease in which similar objection is taken in future. I do not consider it necessary, or really practicable, to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount per head of the population expended in respect of each of the public services

STATEMENT showing the net amount expended by the State in respect of each of the public services undertaken or contributed to by the State in 1913–14 and 1923–24 respectively, and the same divided by the total population.
(See notes below).
—	1913–14.				1923–24.
	Net Expenditure	Per head of population.			Net Expenditure	Per head of population.
	£ millions.	£	s.	d.	£ millions.	£	s.	d.
Consolidated Fund Services.
1. National Debt Services	24,500		10	8½	347,309	8	0	4¼
2. Payments for Northern Ireland Residuary Share, etc.	—	—			3,967		1	10
3. Road Fund	1,395			7½	14,090		6	6
4. Payments to Local Taxation Accounts	9,734		4	3	13,663		6	3¾
5. Land Settlement	—	—			1,209		0	6¾
6. Other Consolidated Fund Services	884			4¾	1,939		0	10¾
Total Consolidated Fund Services	36,513		15	11¾	382,177	8	16	5½
Fighting Services.
7. Army	32,812		14	4¼	47,002	1	1	8½
8. Navy	49,149	1	1	6	54,849	1	5	3¾
9. Air	—	—			10,773		4	11¾
Total Fighting Services	81,961	1	15	10¼	112,624	2	12	0
Civil Services.
10. Education	19,499		8	6¼	47,494	1	1	11
11. Old Age Pensions	12,869		5	7½	24,013		11	1
12. Unemployment Insurance and Unemployment Grants (excluding grants from the Road Fund).	602			3¼	15,563		7	2¼
13. Health (including Health Insurance) and Housing.	5,203		2	3¼	19,749		9	1½
14. Police	1,626			8½	6,407		2	11½
15. Foreign and Colonial Services (excluding Mandated Territories—in item 19—and overseas settlement in item 22).	1,648			8¾	7,579		3	6
16. Agriculture, including Development Fund.	722			3¾	3,558		1	7¾
17. Services in connection with Ireland (1923–24).	—	—			8,519		3	11¼
18. War Pensions	—	—			73,834	1	14	1
19. Mandated Territories and Middle East.	—	—			7,836		3	7½
20. Training, Education and Resettlement of Ex-Service men, including losses on Land Settlement.					5,222		2	5
21. Other Services arising out of the War	—	—			3,459		1	7¼
22. Other new services since 1913–14	—	—			2,259		1	0½
23. General Civil Services	7,276		3	2¼	8,208		3	9½
Total Civil Services	49,445	1	1	7½	233,700	5	7	11

, in pursuance of his answer [OFFICIAL REPORT, 7th April, 1925, col. 2062] supplied the following tables: