asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the figures relating to unemployment in the Cardiff area for the months at January, May and October, 1924, also for the month of May, 1925?

The number of persons on the registers of the Employment Exchanges in the Cardiff area on 25th May, 1925, was 7,304. On 27th October, 1924, the number was 7,234; on 26th May, 1924, 6,164 and on 28th January, 1924, 7,984.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the resolution of the Headmistresses' Association Conference suggesting that lessons in personal and public hygiene should form part of the curriculum of girls' Secondary schools; and will he state whether he is prepared to recommend to local authorities to take such action, so necessary for the interests of the rising generation?

My attention has been called to the resolution referred to. I have no doubt that the matter will be carefully considered by local authorities and governing bodies, and I do not think that any special action upon my part is called for.

asked the Attorney-General the names of the members of the advisory committees for the appointment of justices for the counties of Worcestershire and Staffordshire?

The names and addresses of the advisory committees for Worcestershire and Stafford shire are:

Worcestershire.

The Viscount Cobham ( His Majesty's Lieutenant ), Hagley, Stourbridge.

Sir Henry Urwick, St. Quentin, Tibberton Road, Malvern.

Edward Vashon Wheeler, Esquire. Newnham House, near Tenbury.

John William B. Willis-Bund, Esquire, Wick Episcopi, Worcester.

The Right Hon. J. W. Wilson, Perrycroft, Colwall, Herefordshire.

Robert Levitt Impey, Esquire, J.P., Webbsfield, Barnt Green.

William Smith Rollaston, Esquire, J.P., Joinings Bank, Langley, near Birmingham.

Lady Barbara Smith, J.P., Strensham Court, Worcester;

and one vacancy.

Staffordshire.

The Right Hon. The Earl of Dartmouth, K.C.B. ( His Majesty's Lieutenant ), Patshull House, Wolverhampton.

Lord Hatherton, C.M.G., J.P., Tiddesley Hall, Penkridge.

John Twigg Homer, Esquire, J.P., Dormston, Dudley.

Sir Arthur Nicholson, J.P., Highfield Hall, Leek.

Colonel Joseph Henry Wilkinson, J.P., Ashfurlong Hall, near Sutton Coldfield.

The Lord Charnwood, J.P., Stowe House Lichfield.

Simeon Webb, Esquire, J.P., 37, Burnt Tree, Tipton;

and one vacancy.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he can give the number of fatal accidents which occurred in the mining industry for the 12 months ending 31st May, 1924, and for the 12 months ending 31st May, 1925; and if the inspectorate has been increased during the latter period, and what other, if any, special steps have been taken during the latter period to promote safety in mines?

During the year ending 31st May, 1924, there were 1,165 separate fatal accidents resulting in the death of 1,289 persons. The corresponding figures for the year ending 31st May, 1923, were 1,088 and 1,151 respectively. The inspectorate was increased during the latter period by the addition to the permanent staff of two divisional and ten sub-inspectors, and by the appointment temporarily of a medical inspector. A summary of other official measures to promote safety in mines will be found in the recently published Annual Reports of the Secretary for Mines and Chief Inspector of Mines.

asked the Minister of Health, in reference to the rule in the Education Act, 1921, Section 87 (3), that a local education authority is entitled to make use of a cleansing station belonging to a sanitary authority for the purpose of cleaning verminous children, whether this applies equally to the bulk of the cleansing stations which are owned by boards of guardians at an agreed sum, or, in default of agreement, at a sum fixed by the Minister of Health?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I am advised that a board of guardians is not a sanitary authority, and that, accordingly, the provisions of Section 87 (3) of the Act do not apply to such a case.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of tuberculosis have been notified in Lincolnshire during the past 12 months, showing urban and rural areas separate from boroughs; and how many cases are under 14 years of age?

The following statement shows the number of notified cases of tuberculosis for the boroughs, urban districts and rural districts in Lincolnshire during 1924: Boroughs 465 Urban districts 270 Rural districts 286 No separate figures are available as to the number of cases under 14 years of age, but from returns received from the medical officers of health of the administrative counties and county boroughs in Lincolnshire it appears that a total of 345 new cases of tuberculosis in persons under 15 years of age were brought to the notice of those officers during 1924, either by formal notification or otherwise.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider the desirability of setting up a Committee of investigation, to report at an early date, to inquire into the effect of putting Section 9 of the Housing and Town Planning Act, 1919, into operation, with power to call evidence?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave to a similar question addressed by him to me on the 25th ultimo.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the difficulty being experienced by hospitals and infirmaries under his authority of obtaining the most suitable type of young women as nurses; and whether he will make the necessary suggestion to local authorities, with a view to conditions, hours of labour and remuneration being so improved as to allow nurses and sisters a greater measure of freedom for recreation, untrammelled by rules and regulations, in order that the best type of women may be attracted to this vocation?

I am aware that difficulties of this kind have been experienced, but I understand that the position is better than it was, and that the conditions of employment have generally been substantially improved. I see no advantage in my intervention in the manner suggested.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps have been taken, and what decisions have been arrived at, with regard to international action for the suppression of foot-and-mouth disease; and whether the Research Committee is collaborating effectively with research organisation in other countries.

An International Veterinary Bureau, with headquarters at Paris, was set up a few years ago, and to this Bureau the British Government has just become an adherent. The purpose for which the Bureau has been established is to explore what measures are practicable against foot-and-mouth disease and other animal plagues. It is understood that the Bureau will endeavour to organise and recommend such combined action against animal diseases as may be called for from time to time in consequence of the progress of science. With regard to the second part of the Question the Research Committee on Foot-and-Mouth Disease is in close touch with research organisations in other countries which are investigating foot-and-mouth disease.

asked the Home Secretary if he will give the statistics he may have regarding the number of murders committed in the United States of America and the different countries of Europe; the number of executions where capital punishment exists; and the resulting effect of the abolition of capital punishment where it has been abolished during the last 30 years?

Complete information as to murders, executions, and abolition of capital punishment in the United States and Europe is not available, and could not be collected. For these reasons I am unable to give the statistics asked for.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the estimated yield in a full year of the Customs Duty on raw silk as included in the Finance Bill?

The estimated yield in a full year of the Customs Duty on "raw silk," described as such in the trade accounts of the United Kingdom, is approximately £105,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will define more precisely what persons with no settled residence will be affected by the new procedure on claims for repayment of Income Tax, and how soon the new arrangements will be brought into force?

In reply to the first part of the question, the persons affected are those not identifiable as householders or voters, who cannot be otherwise identified by the Department. So far as possible the special procedure will be limited to persons who reside in boarding houses or hotels or have only a temporary address. There will of necessity be cases such as those of persons who have just changed their residence or of persons living in the houses of relatives whose identity cannot be established from books of reference or otherwise, but care will be taken to see that any request for a personal call or for a certificate from a solicitor, etc., having custody of the relevant documents is not asked for in such cases if the necessity can be avoided. In reply to the second part of the question, an instruction will in the first days of next week be given to all officers concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is possible for Mr. G. Jenkins, formerly No. 14,475, T.W.O., Class 1, Royal Garrison Artillery, to have his discharge post-dated to cover a period of 166 days' leave to which he was entitled because of his service on the West Coast of Africa, from October, 1913, to February, 1915, and which leave was not granted owing to the outbreak of the great War?

Mr. Jenkins was discharged on the 8th February, 1919, on completion of the period of his engagement. It would not have been permissible to prolong his service beyond this date in order to give him the leave which he was prevented from taking during the War. Leave is an indulgence, and is only granted subject to the requirements of the Service. I regret, therefore, that the discharge cannot be post-dated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what the acreage under the cultivation of cotton was in the various cotton-growing Protectorates and Colonies in Africa for the years 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, and 1924, with the approximate yield per acre?

I regret that figures of the acreage under cotton cultivation are not available in respect of all the Colonies and Protectorates in Africa for the years in question. The subjoined table gives such particulars as are available, without reference to the Governments concerned. In some cases, as in Nigeria, where cotton is grown in innumerable small patches by the natives, no accurate statistics could be supplied: — Acres. Approximate yield per acre (in centals of 100 lbs). Uganda. Ginned cotton. 1919 163,846 .98 1920 270,091 1.27 1921 170,891 1.20 1922 345,000 1.13 1923 418,609 1.02 1924 518,000 1.23 1925 — 1.29 Northern Rhodesia. 1919 589 .51 1920 57 .49 1921 295 1.08 1922 — — 1923 2,331 .81 1924 — — Nyasaland (European cultivation only. No figures for native acreage). 1919 12,658 — 1920 18,274 .63 1921 26,259 .60 1922 27,750 .69 1923 20,948 .47 1924 — —