asked the Minister of Health if he will state, as on the last convenient date, the number of persons in receipt of unemployment benefit who were receiving supplementary relief under the Poor Law in the Borough of Southwark?

I am informed that there were 251 such cases on the 28th May.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the premises in Argyle Street, Birkenhead, at present occupied by the Employment Exchange, are inadequate for their purpose, and that in consequence there is unnecessary inconvenience incurred by those attending; whether he will take steps to obtain more suitable premises in a less prominent position; and whether, in considering such new premises, he will provide shelter and arrange, as far as possible, for the comfort of those who have to attend at the Employment Exchange?

I am aware that the Birkenhead Employment Exchange is inadequately housed, and negotiations for alternative premises are already in hand. It is hoped that the new premises will provide ample accommodation for all applicants.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the provisions of the Casual Poor Relief Order, 1925, which make stone-pounding a prescribed task in all unions and increase the oakum-picking task both for men and women in certain cases, and increase the stone-breaking task for men in certain cases, together with Article 9 ( c ), taking away the power of the guardians, without the approval of the Minister, to permit early discharge of any class or classes of casuals, and the declaration in paragraph 3 ( c ) in the circular accompanying the Order that it is necessary that the Regulations as to detention and tasking of casuals should be strictly observed in every union, are calculated to make the system of the casual ward harder and thereby to deter many destitute wayfarers from applying for relief in them; and whether, in view of the risk that some who might otherwise apply may die of starvation or have their deaths accelerated by privation, he will arrange that the starvation lists should be immediately resumed?

I cannot agree that the issue of this Order will have the effect which the hon. Member suggests. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer him to the reply given to the question put by him on the 19th of last month.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the St. Ermin's Hotel, Westminster, which has been unoccupied for the last four years; whether he is aware that there are about 500 rooms within the hotel; and will he introduce the necessary legislation that this hotel and similarly unoccupied premises should be utilised to reduce the shortage in housing accommodation?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the facts referred to by the hon. Member. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Southwark Central (Colonel Day) on the 12th May, on the general question of the utilisation of unoccupied premises for housing accommodation. I may say that my right hon. Friend is advised that the expenditure necessary to adapt the particular building referred to for working-class occupation would be prohibitive.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether there are any dwelling-houses under the control of his Department that are vacant and being kept empty for the purpose of sale; if so, whether he will offer these for letting; and will he state the number of houses at present vacant under the control of his Department, and if they are in a good state of repair and the rents remanded for same?

The only vacant houses on the estates under the Department's control which are being kept empty for the purpose of sale are four at Queensferry. These will be re-let if satisfactory offers are not received in a very short period. The number of vacant houses is about 136, the majority of which are in a good state of repair and are available for letting, but they are mainly at Invergordon and at coastguard stations. The rents vary from 4s. 6d. to 13s. per week inclusive.

asked the Home Secretary how many lads under the age of 21 years are serving a term of imprisonment under sentence by courts-martial; how many of these are serving sentences of one month or less; what is the maximum sentence that any lad sentenced by courts-martial is serving; and whether he will consider extending the system of probation to the case of lads sentenced by courts-martial?

I have been asked to reply. The information as to persons under the age of 21 years who are serving a term of imprisonment under sentence by courts-martial is as follows:

The majority of these sentences have been awarded for offences against the ordinary criminal law. As regards the last part of the question, sentences awarded by courts-martial are, in all cases, carefully reviewed, and are, in suitable cases, commuted to lesser punishments. I do not think it necessary to consider the extension of the system of probation to these cases.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, owing to the restricted number of the factory inspectorate, it is not possible for the present staff to visit industrial works with the regularity and frequency necessary to secure safety against accidents to life and limb, as well as healthy conditions of employment; and why certain existing vacancies in the staff have remained so long unfilled?

The position in regard to this matter has not changed since last year, when my predecessor in office decided that it would be inadvisable to deal with it pending the passage of the Factories Bill. I agree with that decision.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of a recent decision by a magistrate, when dealing with a charge of street begging, to the effect that the defendant, a street musician, became a beggar immediately he touched his hat, and will he consider introducing legislation to make the practice of travelling musicians permissible?

The statement by the hon. and gallant Member is incorrect. What the magistrate said was that holding out a hand or cap for money was begging, and I see no reason for any action on my part.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the statement made by Lieut.-Colonel Thomas, as representing the Home Office, at the inquest on the three victims of the Faversham powder works explosion, he will at once cause full investigation and inquiry to be made at all works engaged in the manufacture and handling of explosives, with a view to discovering whether the full terms of the Home Office's licences are being carried out?

The hon. and gallant Member has supplied me with an alleged statement by the Government Inspector that some firms are rather lax in carrying out the terms of their licences. No such statement was made. Explosives factories are visited periodically by the Inspectors of Explosives for the purpose of seeing that the conditions of the licences and requirements of the Act are fully complied with. I am informed by the Chief Inspector that a high standard of compliance is maintained.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the expenditure to date on the Singapore naval base; and whether he can now give a revised total estimate for this work?

The reply to the first part of the question is about £73,500, exclusive of cost of preliminary surveys and of engineering staff. With regard to the last part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to a statement I made in introducing Navy Estimates on the 19th March last.

asked the Postmaster-General the views of the Post Office on the introduction of the cash-on-delivery system; whether he has recently sub-

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any information as to the total amount of unclaimed money lying dormant in the banks of Great Britain; and will he consider in-

mitted this question to his advisory committee of business men; and whether he will state their views and inform the House who represents the public in arriving at a decision on an issue of this nature?

As has been already stated, the Government are making inquiries as to the expediency of instituting an inland cash-on-delivery service, but I am not in a position to make ay further statement on the subject as present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the volume and value of the imports into Great Britain of iron and steel from France, Belgium and Germany, respectively, for the first five months of 1925 and 1924?

The following statement shows the quantities and values of iron and steel and manufactures thereof registered during the first four months of each of the years 1925 and 1924 as consigned from the countries specified. Particulars for the month of May, 1925, are not yet available:

troducing legislation to make all such amounts of unclaimed money pass to the possession of the State after a specified period?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.