asked the President of the Board of Trade in connection with the White Paper (Cmd. 2327) issued in relation to the safeguarding of industries, and the instructional memorandum, dated 5th February, 1925, issued by the Board of Trade, what are the criteria which determine whether an industry is of substantial importance on account of the nature of the goods produced; what is the minimum number of persons to whom an industry must give employment to entitle it to be regarded as of substantial importance on account of the volume of employment; to what extent is it competent for industries to make combined application in order to satisfy the requirements as to the volume of employment; and whether he accepts the fact that an industry is governed by a Trade Board as evidence that the trade is of substantial importance.

The circumstances of each particular ease must be considered, and I do not think anything would be gained by attempting to lay down in advance any absolute criteria by which to determine substantial importance. As I informed my hon. Friend on the 19th February, the fact that a Trade Board has been established in an industry cannot be accepted as conclusive evidence. As regards the third part of the question, I see no reason why industries which in respect of their products are cognate, or so closely related that they can reasonably be regarded as an entity, should not make a combined application.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say who decides whether or not an industry is of substantial importance: has he to decide himself?

In the first place, on aprima facieapplication the Board of Trade decides; in the second place, the Committee; and in the third place, this House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the Committee of Inquiry on Superphosphate will report.

The Committee have not yet completed the hearing of evidence, and, therefore, I cannot say when their report will be received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the Report of the Food Prices Commission will be published?

I am informed that this Report is now complete, and has been signed; the printing is being put in hand at once, and it will be published as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the Report of the Balfour Committee on Trade and Industry will be published I.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Southern Division of Derbyshire (Mr. Grant) on 30th March, a copy of which I am sending him.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the possibility of having a report of one particular trade, without waiting for the whole of the trades to be reported upon?

I think, as I explained on another occasion, it would be impossible to interfere with the general scheme of work that the Balfour Committee have laid down for themselves. They are taking evidence from a large number of trades, many of which are unrelated; they are doing their work as quickly as they can, and I do not think we should interfere with the way they are doing their work.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has reached any conclusion with regard to the reduction of fees. for gentlemen cadets?

I regret I am not in a position to make any statement at present.

Are the War Office considering this question in any way at all?

Oh, yes.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that W. Gould, of 26, Alexander Road, Sebastopol, near Newport, was enlisted into the Army at the age of 16 years, without the knowledge or consent of his father; and whether he will take steps to have this boy released on account of his youth and the desire of his parents to carry out their parental responsibility?

Under the Regulations, a soldier who misstates his age on enlistment is held to serve unless either he is under 17 when the application for his discharge is made or a case is made out for his discharge on compassionate grounds. In the particular -case referred to in the question the soldier was over 17 when application for his discharge was made, and, on inquiry, no grounds for a compassionate discharge were found to exist. I regret, therefore, I cannot do what the hon. Member asks.

Would the right hon. Gentleman take steps to prevent these boys, who are quite irresponsible, from running away from home in order to join the Army, by punishing them for giving their wrong age?

That is a matter for another question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a leaflet, which purports to emanate from the Executive Committee of the Communist party of Great Britain, containing matter prejudicial to discipline and likely to incite to mutiny, has been widely distributed recently amongst the troops of the British Army of the Rhine, and whether he will take steps to have a thorough investigation made into the source of this document and its method of circulation.

The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the British Army of the Rhine has reported that copies of the leaflet in question were found in certain barracks occupied by troops of the Army of Occupation. Investigations are being made.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is common knowledge inVienna-[Interruption.]I will repeat my question if it amuses hon. Member's. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is common knowledge in Vienna—[Interruption.]

rose—

It is not fair?

If the hon. Member will address me, I will see that he is heard.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is common knowledge in Vienna that all kinds of forgeries can be bought, and are bought by all Embassies, with the certain knowledge that 19 out of 20 are forgeries?

No, Sir, I am not aware of that.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware of the primitive accommodation provided for passengers on the Royal Mail Steamship "Cygnet "; that there is only sheltered accommodation for about one dozen persons; and that passengers crossing from the mainland to the island of Barra are exposed to winds, waves, and rain; and, in view of the subsidy of £14,000 provided in the Scottish Estimates for the Hebridean steamer service, what action does ho propose taking with a view to having this out-of-date canal boat service replaced by a suitable passenger service?

I am informed that this vessel holds a passenger certificate issued by the Board of Trade, 66 first-class and 91 third-class passengers. Of this number the first-class passengers all have sheltered accommodation and shelter is available for 24 of the third-class passengers. I am informed that the owners are taking steps to improve the sheltered accommodation for third-class passengers. My right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General and I are at present examining generally the question of the Hebridean steamer services, including representations which have been made as to the vessels employed.

asked the Secretary for Mines what steps the Government are taking to remedy the serious condition of the mining industry?

I cannot add anything to the statements made on this subject by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and myself in the Debate on the 9th April.

Owing to the very unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall repeat this question on the Adjournment to-night.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether any practical proposals are being considered by his Department to put into operation, with the least possible delay, the scientific treatment of coal on a commercial basis to eliminate the smoke in our cities and towns and conserve the valuable byproducts which are wasted to-day?

Yes, Sir; this question is being carefully examined by my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research; but I am not yet in a position to add anything to what I have already said in answer to questions.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman discuss with the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in what manner his Department will expedite this matter?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been drawn to the practice of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company of appointing a station-master to look after two stations, as is evident in that at Bury the stations of Knowsley Street and Bolton Street are now under one station-master; and whether, seeing that this practice is contrary to the public interest, likely to endanger the lives of travellers, and impair the efficiency of railway administration, he will make representations to the company with a view to the appointment ofastationmaster at each station?

The responsibility in this matter rests with the railway company, who inform me that it is not unusual for them to place one stationmaster in charge of two stations, when, as in the case of the two stations to which the hon. Member refers, they are satisfied that this can be arranged without prejudice to the safe and efficient working of the line.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has received from the Shorediteh Borough Council a communica tion drawing attention to the increase in street accidents, and urging that all persons applying for a licence to drive a mechanically-propelled vehicle should be subjected to a test to prove their efficiency; and what action he proposes to take in the matter'?

The answer to he first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the last part, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 18th February to the hon. Member for the Hallam Division, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the increasing practice of altering the engine numbers of second-hand motor vehicles by certain persons, and by the alteration causing a vehicle to appear to be of more recent construction; and whether, as the law protecting the public against frauds of this character is not sufficiently strong, he will take steps to strengthen it?

I have been asked to reply. I cannot see my way to introduce legislation to deal with this special form of fraudulent representation, which can in fact already be dealt with under the common law. It is only one of the ways in which the age of a motor vehicle may be disguised. I may add that if the vendor of a vehicle, in order to obtain official recognition of the altered engine number, knowingly makes a false declaration for the purpose of registering the vehicle, he commits an offence under Section 13 (2) of the Roads Act, 1920, and is liable on conviction to a penalty not exceeding £50 or to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for a term not exceeding six months.

asked the Minister of Trans port whether, in view of the Comptroller and Auditor-General's Report of 17th February, 1925, noting the high rates of total remuneration earned by contractors in certain cases on contracts under Ministry supervision, he will discontinue these forms of contract; and whether he will confer with the local authorities of the districts concerned in future, so that the prices paid to contractors by the Ministry shall not raise the prices generally to the local road authorities in the neighbourhood of these new arterial roads>

The form of contract mentioned in the first part of the hon. and gallant Member's question was discontinued some two years ago in favour of tenders invited in the usual manner. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the Ministry is making grants out of the Road Fund for 1925-26 to other new road schemes in addition to the Mersey road-tunnel scheme; if so, what are they; and what is the estimated amount to be provided by the Road Board Fund?

In the general allocation of the Road Fund for the year 1925-26, the sum available for "new road schemes" is included in the general provision of £850,000 for widenings, diversions, bridge reconstruction, etc. Provision has also been made, under the most recent unemployment programme, for a contribution of £700,000 towards the widening and improvement of Class I and Class II roads and the construction of new roads of classification value. I am unable at this stage to enumerate the specific schemes of new construction which are likely to receive assistance from these general allocations during the year, and I must point out that grants will also he made during that period to a number of other schemes approved under programmes of previous years, but still uncommenced or unfinished.

asked the Postmaster-General at what date the ld. Post Office Guide was issued, and what efforts have been made to inform the public of this issue?

This publication is in course of preparation. I am not yet able to say when it will be published,, nor must it, be assumed that it will be possible to keep the price down to 11, though I hope to achieve this.

Can I have an answer to the last part of my question?

When the guide is published, the appropriate steps will be taken.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, with reference to the two stations at Bodmin and Bridgwater which are to be erected in this country for wireless communication with South Africa, seeing that the South African station will be ready in three months' time, but that communication will be held up because of the delay in selecting one of the sites in Great Britain, he will state what is the cause of this delay; and when it is expected that these British stations will be completed and wireless communication with South Africa established'?

According to information received from the Union Government, the beam station in South Africa is expected to be completed early in September. The corresponding station in this country is due, under the contract, to be completed by the 7th October, and trials between the two stations should not, therefore, be held up for any appreciable period after the completion of the South African station. Some unavoidable delay occurred in the provision of sites in this country owing to the difficulty of securing sites which would satisfy the technical requirements of the contractors.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress is being made with the provision of a new central post office for Tottenham; and when building operations are expected to commence?

The legal negotiations for the acquisition of the proposed site have proved difficult, and are not yet completed. Consequently, no provision for the work has been made in the Revenue Buildings Vote for the current financial year, and it is, therefore, not possible to name a date for the commencement of building operations.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any arrangements have been made for the sale of the special British Empire Exhibition stamps at all past offices throughout the country; and, if not, whether he will consider the desirability of adopting this method of publicity, which has proved so successful in other countries?

I have considered this matter, but I find that the cost of production of the special stamps is approximately 12 times that of an ordinary stamp, and the expense of a general distribution would therefore be prohibitive. The arrangements will accordingly be the same as last year. The stamps will be of the same design, with the necessary alteration of date, and of the same denominations.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of men on home treatment without allowances in the West Ham area at present; how many of the men are totally incapacitated from following their employment; and whether he will issue instructions that men who are certified by their medical practitioner to be unfit for work, as the result of sickness which is clearly due to service disability, shall receive full treatment allowances until certified fit to resume duty?

I regret that I am not in possession of the information asked for in the first part of the question. With regard to the hon. Member's suggestion in the last part of his question, I would refer him to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend on the 25th ultimo on the same subject.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman procure for me the information asked for in the first part of the question?

I will do my best.

Does not the Department bar allowances in cases such as that referred to in the question?

The grounds on which application can be made for a treatment allowance have been explained more than once, and it is not proposed to make any alteration in them.

But is the hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that when ex-service men are certified by their doctor as being unable to perform their employment they do not receive any alowance, although the disability is due to war service?

In a case where treatment is necessary for disability and the actual treatment will debar them from following their occupation, they will be eligible for a treatment allowance.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will have the Royal Warrant so amended that local pensions committees may have the power to authorise the payment of the travelling expenses of any relative, friend, or other person who, in their opinion, should accompany the pensioner when he appears before the appeals tribunal, in order that his claim may be adequately presented?

I would remind the hon. and gallant Member that the procedure of appeal is a matter which is determined by the rules of the Lord Chancellor under the War Pensions Acts and not by the Royal Pension Warrants. Any extension of existing provisions in the direction suggested would, therefore, be a matter for the consideration of the Lord Chancellor.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the average number of new claims submitted weekly; and what is the proportion of claims in respect of disability, widows' and dependants' pensions, respectively?

The average weekly number of new claims received is about 1,000. Of these, 68 per cent. are in respect of disablement, 22 per cent. are made by widows and 10 per cent. by adult dependants.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many medical boards were held in the 12 months ending 31st March, 1925; in how many cases were final awards of life pensions issued; in how many cases were final awards given of final weekly allowances; and what was the average period of same?

During the period referred to 288,000 medical examinations were held by the Ministry. During the same period 48,500 final awards of 20 per cent. assessment and over, and 16,000 final awards of final weekly allowances of an average duration of 104 weeks, were notified.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has reached any conclusion with regard to the reduction of fees for cadets?

The matter is still under consideration.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this question has been under consideration by the last three Governments, and may I ask him when a conclusion will be reached?

I hope very shortly.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the shipbuilding programme; and, if not, when he anticipates that one will be made?

The Cabinet Committee which is inquiring into the naval shipbuilding programme is making steady progress, but I am not yet in a position to announce a definite date on which it will be possible to make a statement on the subject.

Is the Prime Minister aware of the effect that this decision will have upon the unemployed, and is he also aware that the First Lord of the Admiralty in the last Conservative Administration said that the work of 32,000 men depended upon this full programme?

:I am aware of those facts.

asked the Prime Minister when the Report of the Commission appointed in 1922 to inquire into and report upon the working of the State printing works at Harrow is likely to be published?

I understand that the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into Government printing establishments, which was appointed in June, 1923, is in course of preparation.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the overlapping and duplication of duties involved in the independent administration of real property by the Office of Works, the Commissioner of Woods, Forests, and Land Revenues, the Admiralty, and many other Departments, he will investigate the possibility of economy and greater efficiency if all real property owned by the Government were brought under the administration and control of one Ministry of Lands?

I am not aware of any serious overlapping or duplication of duties under existing arrangements. The question of entrusting the management of all Crown property to a single Department has been carefully considered during the last few years, but the practical objections to such a scheme are by no means negligible. The hon. Member may however rest assured that no opportunity will be lost of improving the existing organisation, and the possible advantages of concentration will be kept fully in mind.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons have established claims to repayment of the balances standing to their credit in the Unemployment Insurance Fund; and what is the total amount paid to claimants, showing over 50 years of age and over 60 years of age separately?

The number of persons who, since 7th July, 1924 (which was the date on which Section 9 of the Unemployment Insurance (No. 2) Act., 1924, came into force) have established claims to refunds of contributions or to compensatory payments under that Section is approximately 557,000. It is not possible to state separately the amount paid to claimants over 50 years and over 60 years of age respectively. The amount paid in refunds since the 7th July, 1924, is £529,984, and in compensatory payments £1,228,711. All those in respect of whom refund have been paid were of the age of 60 years or over. Most of those in respect of whom compensatory payments have been made were between 50 and 60, but some were over 60.

asked the Minsiter of Labour whether, in view of the growing desire on the part of working girls to remain with their own parents, he will issue the necessary instructions to all local Employment Exchanges that, in the cases where mistresses apply for domestic servants, efforts will be made by the Exchange staff to impress the necessity of such domestic service being day-time, with a maximum of an eight hours' working day, and the cessation of work at such a reasonable hour that the girls will not be compelled to live in, but be able to return to their own homes; whether his Department will ensure that any such situations offered to girls signing the unemployment register will be within reasonable reach of their homes; and can he state the number of girls who have refused acceptance of domestic service on the ground that they did not desire to live in?

The duty of the Employment Exchanges is to bring available employment to the notice of suitable persons on their registers. I am not satisfied that it is either practicable or desirable that they should attempt to lay down conditions of employment in the manner suggested. I regret that I am unable to give the figure asked for in thy, last part of the question.

Is not a record kept of the number of these cases that have been rejected at the various exchanges in the country, and, if so, cannot the right hon. Gentleman have this information compiled from it?

Perhaps the hon. Member will give me notice of that question. It is not one that I can answer off-hand.

May I draw attention to the fact that that is what is asked in the last part of the question on the Paper? [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer "].

If the Minister cannot answer now, the question must be repeated.

The figures asked for in the last part of the question on the Paper are not available, and cannot be given.

Arising out of the right hon. Gentleman's last reply, is it not the case that every individual claimant who is refused on the ground stated in the last part of the question has her case recorded at the exchange, and, if that be so, why cannot the figure be given to this House?

This is all a' question of tabulation. There is a great deal of information given, and it would be necessary to go through the whole of the cases and tabulate them, and in some cases it is not possible for the Ministry to do so.