asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that in the Kenya Colony there is a proved shortage of inspectors whose proper task at present is the care of labour on railway work and the inspection of labour in non-native employ; and will he take steps so as to strengthen and increase the number of Europeans serving in this department?

This matter, with the other recommendations of the East Africa Commission, is receiving my attention.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the former Chief Justice of Ceylon, Sir Anton Bertram, advised the Government of Ceylon, prior to his departure, that there should not be more than two Ceylonese on the bench of the Supreme Court of Ceylon; and whether it is the intention of the Government to adopt this recommendation?

I have no record of any such advice by the late Chief Justice, though I am aware that in reporting recent vacancies on the Supreme Court Bench the Governor has asked that the appointments previously filled by Europeans should continue to be so filled. I see no reason at present for altering the existing arrangement under which the Supreme Court Bench is manned by three European and two Ceylonese Judges.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of ex-service men who have had assisted emigration under Government schemes, and under the Empire Settlement Act?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on the 5th March last to a question asked by the hon. Member for Stowbridge (Mr. Pielou).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been the result of the experiment to financially assist the two county migration committees that were started in Kent and Devon and Cornwall; and will he further encourage the formation of these committees in large towns by the provision of a whole-time secretary for such committees?

The experience gained up to date of the working of the two county migration committees referred to is not sufficient to justify the extension suggested by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that on the organisation of railway, post and telegraph workers of Palestine applying for Government recognition of their union the representative of the Government informed them that before the question of recognition could even be discussed the union must furnish a complete and classified list of the names of its members; and if he will arrange to have this union recognised as a legitimate medium through which its members may collectively bring any questions affecting their conditions of employment to the notice of the Government?

I have no information on the subject, but will make inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has taken or proposes to take any action with regard to the resolution he has received from the legislative assembly of Malta referring to the hon. Member for Lancaster (Sir G. Strickland)?

The resolution referred to was sent to me for submission to the King, and will be laid before His Majesty.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it is open to all persons in receipt of pensions in respect of Government service in India to commute any and, if so, what part of their pensions?

As regards military officers, commutation is allowed, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State, up to one-third in the case of commissioned officers and one-sixth in that of warrant officers. As regards civil pensions, under existing rules commutation may be allowed, subject to certain restrictions, up to one-third. Consequent, however, on the recommendations of the Lee Commission, the Secretary of State in Council has recently decided that members of the All-India Services and certain other persons not yet finally determined shall have the right to commute up to one-half of their pension subject to medical examination and to the retention of a minimum uncommuted portion. He also proposes to delegate to the Government of India and local Governments, in respect of persons not covered by the decision just mentioned, power to allow commutation up to one-half, subject to any conditions they think right to impose.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can state when the Administration Report for the year ending 31st March, 1925, is likely to be published?

If the hon. Member is referring to the Administration Report of the Indian Stores Department, the answer to his question is in the negative. I would refer him, however, to the reply given to-day to Question No. 7.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the statement in the Administration Report of the Indian Stores Department for the year ended 31st March, 1924, by the Chief Controller of Stores that the central departments of the Government of India, with the exception of the Army Department and the Public Works Department at Delhi, manifest reluctance to utilise the agencies of the Indian Stores Department in connection with their purchases; and whether he can state the reason for this reluctance and for the delay in the publication of this Report for over a year from the end of the financial year with which it deals?

I have seen the statement referred to, but have no information as to the reasons for which some of the central departments of the Government of India make less use than others of the Indian Stores Department. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to-day to Question No. 7.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India to what countries India exports jute manufactures, and the Volume and amount of these manufactures to each of such countries?

The information asked for in the question, in respect of the calendar years 1922, 1923 and 1924. will be found on pages 102 to 105 of the published Accounts relating to the Seaborne Trade and Navigation of British India for the calendar year 1924, copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India whether he is aware of the discrimination made against warrant officers in the Indian Army in respect of passages home or leave which, in their case, are dependent upon ex gratia grants from the Commander-in-Chief; that no undertaking exists that such warrant officers shall receive free passages back to India upon expiration of leave; and whether arrangements for the granting of free passages, both homeward and return, will be made as a matter of right and not indulgence?

The general question whether passages should be provided under rules for warrant officers of the Indian Army is at present under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that warrant officers in the Indian Army were originally only granted marriage allowance as from the 1st January, 1922, compared with the 4th October, 1920, in the case of warrant officers in the British Army, the former thus losing 15 months' allowance; and whether, seeing that this year 15 months' arrears of allowance were sanctioned in the case of non-departmental, but not departmental warrant officers in the Indian Army, departmental warrant officers may be placed on the same footing as non-departmental in this respect?

The facts are as stated by the hon. Member. The whole question has received very careful consideration, and as the result it was decided in the case of the non-departmental warrant officers of the India Unattached List that, as they were serving on the same conditions as regards emoluments as other British personnel in India, they should receive the marriage allowance from the same date—namely, 4th October, 1920. The departmental warrant officers, on the other hand, served under entirely different conditions, and the grant of marriage allowance to them was in the nature of a new concession. It was not, therefore, considered that there were any grounds for ante-dating the concession in their case.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that a state of dissatisfaction exists respecting the pay of record office clerks and pay office clerks employed in Army pay and record offices, and that record office clerks are in receipt of only 28s. to 32s. per week, plus bonus, and pay office clerks from 28s. to 38s. per week, plus bonus, showing therefore a disparity, as the record office clerks rise only by two annual increments of 2s. weekly and the pay office clerks by five such annual increments; whether, as the nature of the work is practically analogous and representation has been made by the various councils and committees, he will arrange to raise the lower-paid clerks to the level of the others; and when the new scales of pay under the grading scheme, sanctioned as with effect from 1st April, 1924, will become operative?

A scheme of reorganisation has been approved which provides uniform grades and scales of pay for pay and record offices. Before the scheme can be put into force, it is necessary to decide the permanent establishment of each office, and this is now being done.

asked the Secretary of State for War who was the owner of the land at Ipswich on which his Department erected a fence at a cost of £330, referred to in the letter from the Treasury, No. 12, on page 163, of the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General on Army Accounts, 1923–24; and whether the owner has made any contribution to the cost of erecting the fence?

As this question arises on the Army Accounts, 1923–24, which at present stand referred to the Committee of Public Accounts, I propose to defer reply until the Committee have reported.

asked the Minister of Pensions what were the numbers of disabled ex-service men undergoing medical and surgical treatment on treatment on the 31st December, 1920, 31st December, 1922, and 31st December, 1924, respectively?

The total number of disabled officers and men in receipt of medical and surgical treatment (including in-patients, out-patients and cases of treatment at home) was, on the 31st December, 1920, 167,800; on the 31st December, 1922, 98,700, and on 31st December, 1924, 53,900. The decline in the aggregate numbers is due mainly to the natural fall in the number of men requiring only out-patient treatment for their disabilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the inquiry which is now being held in Shanghai into the causes of the recent shootings will also investigate the question of time which was allowed to elapse between the warning to the crowd and the giving of orders to shoot; and the powers possessed by the international authorities in dealing with street processions?

It may be assumed that the inquiry will cover the two points mentioned, but instructions are being sent to His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking to make sure that it does so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if any British subject has been killed or wounded in Canton since the recent disturbance?

No British casualties have been reported from Canton since the outbreak of the recent troubles.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what constitutes a ratepayer for election purposes in Shanghai; how many ratepayers there are; of what nationality; and whether each citizen has only one vote?

The only information I have in regard to the first and last parts of the question is contained in the Land Regulations, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. I understand that there are some 2,700 ratepayers of various nationalities, mostly British, American, Japanese, German, Italian, Dutch and Norwegian.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how much of the £500,000 to be recovered from Egypt for the murder of the late Sirdar has been paid; and to what purposes the money has so far been given?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the statement made on the 11th of February by my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and to my reply of the 11th of May to the question asked by the hon. and gallant Member for Leith (Captain W. Benn).

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that many carriages on the Southern Railway, Brighton Railway section, are rendered objectionable by obnoxious gas fumes, due to leaking gas containers under the carriages; and will he make representations to the company, suggesting that in the interests of public safety these carriages be electrically illuminated?

It is a recommendation of my Department that all new or reconstructed passenger stock should be electrically lighted, and the Southern Railway Company have adopted this practice. I have, however, communicated the hon. and gallant Member's question to the company, and they inform me that, although slight faults may occasionally occur in connection with their gas-lighted stock, they are unaware that many carriages are rendered objectionable by obnoxious gas fumes. They add that any such case which may be brought to their notice will receive immediate attention.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his Department raises any objection to local authorities such as the county borough of West Ham exercising, through local bye-laws, power to regulate traffic, to preclude any vehicles overtaking stationary vehicles on the near side; and whether he will make the necessary arrangements with the Home Office to see that the police in the various districts exercise more control in this matter consistent with public safety?

Yes, Sir, in view of the London Traffic Act, I consider that regulations for traffic in the London traffic area are matters that should be dealt with on uniform lines, as it would clearly be undesirable to have different rules in different parts of London. With regard to the specific point, I presume the hon. Member has in mind vehicles passing stationary tramcars on the near side. In my opinion this matter is adequately dealt with by the law relating to dangerous driving, and I see no necessity to make any representations on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether the draft regulations on the lines recommended by the Shipbuilding and Ship-repairing Accidents Committee have been prepared; if so, whether they will be laid upon the Table of the House; and what action, if any, is being taken to give effect to the remaining proposals of the Committee?

Yes, Sir. Draft Regulations have been prepared and will be issued to-morrow. It is not customary to lay such draft Regulations on the Table, but copies will be placed in the Library. I am sending a copy to the hon. Member. As regards the remaining proposals, a provision will be included in the Factories Bill to enable the Regulations to be applied to repairs in harbour and wet dock; and preliminary steps have been taken with a view to give effect to the recommendations in regard to safety first and the application of the Regulations to vessels under 150 feet in length.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether, having regard to the aggravation of the insanitary and overcrowded conditions in the office of His Majesty's Inspector of Taxes, 2nd District, Blackpool, by the continued heat, immediate arrangements can be made to provide accommodation more conducive to the maintenance of the health and efficiency of the staff?

The unsatisfactory conditions which obtained at this office have been relieved by the provision of temporary additional accommodation secured in April last. A building scheme has been prepared providing for an extension of the main premises in Carter Street, which will provide adequate accommodation for the district, and tenders will be invited at an early date for the execution of the work.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether it is intended to carry out the recommendation contained in paragraph 24 of the Final Report of the Southborough Committee, i.e., that all candidates who reach the prescribed qualifying standard should be assured of eventual establishment; and, if so, at what percentage of the possible number of marks has it been decided to fix the qualifying standard in the Southborough examination being held in July?

Subject to the candidates satisfying the usual requirements as to health, age and character, the answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the determination of the qualifying standard in examinations for entry into the Civil Service is a matter for the Civil Service Commissioners, with whose discretion I should not be justified in interfering.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many of the candidates who have entered for the forthcoming examinations for the Indian Civil Service and the administrative grade of the Home Service, respectively, have stated on their application forms, paragraph (14), that they are ex-service men; how many have stated that their mother tongue is an Indian language; and how many of these Indian candidates have entered for both Services alternatively?

Ten ex-service men are entered for the forthcoming examination for the Administrative Class of the Home Civil Service; none for the Indian Civil Service. Fifty-six candidates are entered for the Indian Service whose mother tongue is an Indian language; of these, four are entered for the Home and Indian Services alternatively.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Crown Colony Annual Reports and the Consular Reports will be placed on the free distribution list for Members?

The general position with regard to the supply of non-Parliamentary publications to Members was set out in the reply given by my predecessor to Mr. Sturrock on the 1st April, 1924, a copy of which I am sending to the Noble Lord. Members who desire copies of the Crown Colony Annual Reports and the Consular Reports will be supplied with copies if they apply, as suggested in that reply, to the Controller of the Stationery Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the established practice in all cases for the Estate Duty Office to supply the local inspectors of taxes with extracts from Inland Revenue affidavits for the purpose of comparison of the assets of a deceased person with his, or her, previous Income Tax returns, or, if not in all cases, what is the method of selection and why are only selected cases singled out; whether he is aware that this practice places executors and administrators who have no complete knowledge of the deceased person's private affairs in a very difficult position and might result, owing to their lack of knowledge of essential facts, in their admitting claims for additional tax to which the Treasury is not legally entitled: whether he will give instructions to stop the practice and take such steps as will ensure that returns made during a person's lifetime should be regarded, when accepted for assessment, as final in the event of his, or her, death; whether he is aware that the right to make additional assessments for Income Tax exists within the year of assessment in which a person dies or within three years thereafter, and consequently may force a prudent executor to delay winding up an estate for nearly four years after the death, causing possible hardship to the beneficiaries; whether the Estate Duty Office supplies similar information to other Departments, and, if so, to which and for what purposes; and whether any such claims for additional tax have been made on the Public Trustee?

I would remind the hon. Member that both the Estate Duty and the Income Tax are under the management of the Board of Inland Revenue, who, in the exercise of their statutory duties, pay, and have always paid, regard for Income Tax purposes to any particulars of importance disclosed on Estate Duty affidavits, which are relevant to the Income Tax liabilities of deceased persons. The Public Trustee, acting as an executor, would, of course, be in the same position as any other executor as regards Income Tax liability in respect of the income of a deceased person. I cannot acquiesce in the hon. Member's views in this matter, nor am I aware of any case in which an executor has been faced with the difficulties suggested in the question. If, however, the hon. Member has any specific case in mind, I shall be pleased to look into it if he will furnish me with the necessary particulars.

asked the Secretary for Mines what are the reasons for the recent loss of a large contract for coal for Argentina; and what were the quotations for all the firms which submitted tenders?

I have no information about the contract referred to.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what is the scale of wages paid to the permanent employés on the forestry estates in Scotland, firstly to men, and secondly to strong boys of 18 who have been three or four years engaged in afforestation work?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The wages paid to the employés on the estates of the Forestry Commissioners in Scotland vary locally. Excluding gangers and higher grades, the wages are as follows: Men, day rates from 6s. 2d. to 6s. 8d.; hour rates from 10d. to 1s. Boys, day rates from 5s. to 5s. 10d.; hour rates from 8d. to 9½d.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has considered the question of advising all local education authorities to dispense with the imposition of home work upon scholars of elementary schools; and whether, seeing that such home tasks are usually imposed upon children who are considered below the normal for the standard they are in, he will consider whether better results might be obtained by retaining such scholars for an additional term?

My information is that homework is not imposed upon children in elementary schools, but is undertaken voluntarily and normally only by children rather above the average in ability. The second part of the question does not, therefore, appear to arise.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that, in January, 1902, 17 per cent. of the commanders' list and 44.4 per cent. of the captains' list were gaining experience in command of ships; and whether he can give the comparative figures at the present moment for similar fully-manned ships?

I am not aware of the precise basis on which my hon. and gallant Friend's percentages for January, 1902, were arrived at: they appear to include certain coastguard vessels, etc., which have no counterpart at the present time. The time spent at sea by these vessels was comparatively small, and they were not always full manned. To make the years 1902 and the present time comparable, it would be necessary to include certain ships of the Reserve fleet in which a certain amount of sea-going experience is obtainable, and on this basis the corresponding figures are: 22 per cent. for commanders, 38.5 per cent. for captains.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received further complaints recently of the late early-morning delivery of letters in Hove; and whether arrangements can be made, by means of increased staff or otherwise, to deliver letters before 8.30 a.m., in view of the fact that many residents have to travel by the 8.50 a.m. or earlier trains and do not, in consequence, receive their letters until the evening?

One such complaint appears to have been received by the postmaster of Brighton recently, and in that case the late delivery was due to exceptional circumstances. The first delivery at Hove is normally completed by 9 a.m., which is the time fixed for the completion of this delivery in provincial towns generally. To provide for completion by 8.30 would entail heavy additional expense, and I fear that I should not be justified in authorising exceptional arrangements at Hove.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for the Department of Overseas Trade whether his Department has received any complaints against British houses from whom goods were ordered owing to delay in shipment; and, if so, whether he has made any representations, in the interest of British credit as a whole, to the firms concerned?

The Department of Overseas Trade occasionally receives com-

— Twelve Months ending March, 1924. Twelve Months ending March, 1925. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Tons. £ sterling. Tons. £ sterling. Total Imports … … 289,959 40,219,145 344,847 43,812,265 Of which from— United Kingdom … … 30,839 4,660,505 38,082 5,368,127 British East Indies … … 189,768 26,545,779 225,239 28,226,456 Canada … … 23 3,616 146 15,285

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the annual consumption of cotton in Great Britain, Japan, India, and China in 1914 and 1924, respectively?

An estimate for 1914 is not available, but according to the "International Cotton Bulletin," the number of bales used in cotton mills in the countries specified during the years ended 31st August, 1913, and 31st July, 1924, were:

plaints in respect of delays in supplying goods: these cases are investigated by the Department where there is reason to suppose that the complaint may be justified, and, when necessary, representations are made to the firms concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the amount of crude rubber in sterling and tons imported into the United States of America from Great Britain and the Colonies, and also the total imports into the United States, for the 12 months to 30th April, 1925, and for the 12 months to 30th April, 1924?

I regret that figures later than for March, 1925, are not available. The following statement shows the quantity and value of rubber (crude and milk of) imported into the United States during the 12 months ending March, 1924 and 1925, distinguishing imports from the United Kingdom and from British countries overseas, so far as information is available:

Mill Consumption of Cotton. Year ended 31st August, 1913. Year ended 31st July, 1924. Bales. Bales. Great Britain 4,274,000 2,718,000 Japan 1,588,000 2,337,000 India 2,177,000 2,065,000 China ( a ) 1,571,000 ( a ) Comparable figure not available, but in 1913 the quantity of raw cotton consumed in Chinese Mills was calculated to be the equivalent of 560,000 bales of 500 lbs. each.

Note. —There is also a large domestic consumption of home produced cotton in China.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantities of arsenic were imported into the United Kingdom during the months of March, April, and May, 1925, respectively, giving the countries whence consigned?

Description. Countries whence consigned. March, 1925. April, 1925. May, 1925. lbs. lbs. lbs. Arsenic (metal) … … Poland … — — 2,469 Germany … 2,205 — 1,344 Netherlands … 1,480 4,409 — Total … 3,685 4,409 3,813 Arsenic (except metallic):— Tons. Tons. Tons. White … … Norway … — — 3 Belgium … 68 96 45 France … — — — Portugal … 121 127 56 Japan … 113 61 60 U.S. America … 23 — — Brazil … — — 28 Total … 325 284 192 Tons. Tons. Tons. Other arsenic compounds … Germany … 3 — — Netherlands … 3 1 — Belgium … 5 10 5 Total … 11 11 5

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been completed under the Housing Acts during the period 1st January to 31st May; how many of these houses have been constructed in rural areas; how many houses are now being built both in urban and rural areas, respectively; and how many houses have been approved by the Ministry of Health in schemes submitted by urban and rural authorities, respectively, the construction of which has not yet been begun?

The number of houses completed during the period let January to 31st May, 1925, under the Housing Acts was 35,627. Of these 9,096 are in the areas of rural district councils. The numbers of houses under construction on the 1st instant in the areas of boroughs and urban districts, and in rural districts were 47,330 and 13,376 respectively. 93,266 houses in boroughs and urban districts and 24,120 in rural districts have been authorised but not yet commenced.

The following statement gives the quantities of the undermentioned articles registered as imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the several countries of consignment during the months March, April and May, 1925:

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of ex-Service men and their dependants receiving Poor Law relief?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a, previous similar question on this subject. I am sending him a copy of that reply and of the return mentioned in it.

asked the Minister of Health whether the joint deputation of the Society for the Prevention of Venereal Diseases and the National Council for Combating Venereal Diseases which called upon him urged the necessity for immediate legislation to permit of the open sale of preventive material with concise directions for its use, as recommended by the Trevethin Committee; and whether he has made any reply to that deputation and, if so, what that reply was and what action he proposes to take?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, since the deputation was received I have been in communication with the two societies on certain preliminary points which need to be settled before the question of legislation can be considered, and I am now awaiting a reply to a letter which I addressed to them on the 15th May.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received representations from Approved Societies respecting the pooling of National Health Insurance surpluses; and, if so, whether this proposal will receive his careful consideration?

This subject has been dealt with in the evidence given by Approved Societies before the Royal Commission on National Health Insurance, and will receive my consideration when the Commission have made their Report.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will state the amount received annually by lay tithe owners; and, if lay tithe owners could have tithe extinguished under the same conditions as set forth in the Tithe Bill, what would be the cost to the Exchequer?

The estimated amount of tithe rent-charge owned by lay tithe owners is approximately one million pounds, of which the greater part is owned by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, the Welsh Church Commissioners, colleges and charities. The conditions under which incumbents' tithe rent-charge is to be extinguished under the Tithe Bill are inappropriate to the extinguishment of lay tithe rent-charge on account of the material difference in the rateability of the two rent-charges. They could only be applied to lay tithe rent-charge with considerable modification, and the cost to the Exchequer could only be estimated when such modifications had been decided.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of ex-service disabled men registered as unemployed?

The number of men on the special registers for disabled ex-service men in Great Britain on 4th May, 1925, the latest date available, was 35,757.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will have the decision not to give benefit reviewed in the case of Mr. T. W. Cox, of 15, Adding-ton Street, Ramsgate, a disabled ex-service man, in view of the fact that he has over 30 stamps on his card, that he has never been offered a position during the three years he has been registered at the Ramsgate Employment Exchange, and of the evidence which he submitted of having been genuinely seeking work?

The case of Mr. T. W. Cox has been considered by the local employment committee on three occasions this year. He was unable to satisfy the committee that he complies with the statutory condition, requiring a claimant to show that he is making every reasonable effort to obtain employment. I am not aware of anything which would justify me in allowing further benefit in the face of the committee's recommendation that it should not be granted.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered as unemployed on 13th June, and the corresponding numbers last year; and can he state in what employments a less number of persons are employed?

in pursuance of his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 16th June, 1925, cols. 295–6], supplied the following return:

UNEMPLOYMENT IN INSURED INDUSTRIES. Comparison by Industry Groups between the Number and Percentages Unemployed in May, 1924, and May, 1925. Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Industry. Number Unemployed at 26th May, 1924. Number Unemployed at 25th May, 1925. Percentage Rate of Unemployment at 26th May, 1924. Percentage Rate of Unemployment at 25th May, 1925. Percentage Increase (+) or Decrease (-) in May, 1925 as compared with May, 1924. Fishing 3,104 3,662 12.9 14.2 + 1.3 Mining. Coal Mining 38,094 199,249 3.0 15.8 + 12.8 Iron Ore and Ironstone Mining and Quarrying. 4,298 3,596 21.8 21.0 - 0.8 Lead, Tin and Copper Mining 766 786 15.1 15.7 + 0.6 Stone Quarrying and Mining 1,394 1,891 4.3 5.2 + 0.9 Slate Quarrying and Mining 113 301 1.4 3.0 + 1.6 Other Mining and Quarrying 1,247 1,551 4.7 7.0 + 2.3 Clay, Sand, Gravel and Chalk Pit Digging. 577 525 4.5 3.9 - 0.6 Non- Metalliferous Mining Products: Coke Ovens and By- Products Works 1,056 1,632 6.9 12.1 + 5.2 Artificial Stone and Concrete Manufacture. 1,640 1,672 15.3 14.2 - 1.1 Cement Limekilns and Whiting Works. 1,129 742 6.8 4.6 - 2.2 Brick, Tile, etc., Making 3,859 4,634 6.2 6.6 + 0.4 Pottery, Earthenware, etc 8,451 10,984 11.7 15.0 + 3.3 Glass Trades: Glass (excluding Bottles, Optical and Scientific Glass) Manufacture. 3,471 3,281 12.5 12.2 - 0.3 Glass Bottle Making 2,677 3,484 16.1 19.3 + 3.2 Ammunition, Explosives, Chemicals, etc.: Chemicals Manufacture 9,263 8,763 8.8 9.0 + 0.2 Explosives Manufacture 1,940 1,431 10.2 7.4 - 2.8 Paint, Varnish, Japan, Red and White Lead Manufacture. 693 878 5.0 5.3 + 0.3 Oil, Grease, Glue, Soap, Ink, Match, etc., Manufacture. 5,712 6,134 7.2 7.7 + 0.5 Metal Manufacture and Secondary Processes: Pig Iron Manufacture (Blast Furnaces). 4,092 5,343 13.8 17.7 + 3.9 Steel Melting and Iron Puddling Furnaces, Iron and Steel Rolling Mills and Forges. 35,996 48,955 16.8 23.6 + 6.8 Manufacture of Brass, Copper, Zinc, Tin, Lead, etc. 4,930 4,965 11.6 12.4 + 0.8 Manufacture of tin plates 878 6,639 2.9 22.7 + 19.8 Iron and Steel Tube Making 3,289 4,768 13.0 17.5 + 4.5 Wire, Wire Netting, Wire Rope Manufacture 2,356 3,469 9.6 14.2 + 4.6 Engineering etc.: Engineering; Engineers' Iron and Steel Founding. 98,646 77,118 14.6 12.3 - 2.3 Electrical Engineering 3,254 4,072 5.2 5.7 + 0.5 Marine Engineering etc. 10,484 12,293 15.7 18.6 + 2.9 Constructional Engineering 2,919 3,262 12.3 13.6 + 1.3

Industry. Number Unemployed at 26th May, 1924. Number Unemployed at 25th May, 1925. Percentage Rate of Unemployment at 26th May, 1924. Percentage Rate of Unemployment at 25th May, 1925. Percentage Increase (+) or Decrease (-) in May, 1925 as compared with May, 1924. Construction and Repair of Vehicles: Construction and Repair of Motor Vehicles, Cycles and Aircraft. 13,760 11,929 7.1 5.9 - 1.2 Construction and Repair of Carriages, Carts, etc. 2,709 2,356 9.7 9.6 - 0.1 Railway Carriage, Wagon and Tramcar Building. 2,196 3,542 4.2 6.8 + 2.6 Shipbuilding and Ship Repairing 75,482 80,424 27.7 31.5 + 3.8 Metal Trades: Stove, Grate, Pipe, etc., and General Iron Founding. 9,476 8,880 11.0 10.8 - 0.2 Electrical Wiring and Contracting 1,633 1,146 13.8 8.9 - 4.9 Electrical Cable, Wire and Electric Lamp Manufacture. 5,585 5,879 7.7 7.8 + 0.1 Hand Tool, Cutlery, Saw, File Making. 4,184 3,948 13.9 12.5 - 1.4 Bolts, Nuts, Screws, Rivets, Nails, ete., Manufacture. 3,641 3,805 12.0 13.8 + 1.8 Brass and Allied Metal- Wares Manufacture. 5,162 3,702 15.9 12.4 - 3.5 Heating and Ventilating Apparatus 327 347 5.7 6.0 + 0.3 Watches, Clocks, Plate, Jewellery, etc., Manufacture. 6,669 5,253 13.4 11.1 - 2.3 Other Metal Industries 18,242 17,669 10.9 10.1 - 0.8 Textile Trades: Cotton 90,176 42,744 15.6 7.6 - 8.0 Woollen and Worsted 12,873 46,423 4.7 17.8 + 13.1 Silk 1,725 3,016 4.5 7.2 + 2.7 Linen 8,179 33,309 10.0 40.1 + 30.1 Jute 4,319 5,445 10.4 13.2 + 2.8 Hemp Spinning and Weaving, Rope, Cord, Twine, etc., Making. 3,005 2,895 14.9 14.1 - 0.8 Hosiery 4,568 8,883 5.0 9.5 + 4.5 Lace 3,723 3,590 17.3 17.7 + 0.4 Carpet Manufacture 1,281 2,144 5.0 8.0 + 3.0 Other Textile Industries 4,792 5,110 11.0 11.6 + 0.6 Textile Bleaching, Printing, Dyeing, etc. 14,802 13,814 12.7 11.8 - 0.9 Leather and Leather Goods: Tanning, Currying and Leather Dressing. 4,350 5,273 10.4 12.4 + 2.0 Saddlery, Harness and Other Leather Goods Manufacture. 2,890 2,928 9.8 10.5 + 0.7 Clothing Trades: Tailoring 8,589 8,574 4.6 4.5 - 0.1 Dress and Mantle Making and Millinery. 5,333 5,262 4.6 4.9 + 0.3 Hat and Cap (including Straw Plait) Manufacture. 1,873 1,957 5.4 5.8 + 0.4 Blouse and Shirts, Collars, Under- clothing, etc., Making. 5,378 4,691 8.0 6.5 - 1.5 Other Dress Industries 2,684 2,606 8.1 8.8 + 0.7 Boot, Shoe, Slipper and Clog Trades 11,935 14,334 8.3 10.1 + 1.8 Food, Drink and Tobacco: Bread, Biscuit, Cake, etc., Making 14,801 13,180 9.3 9.1 - 0.2 Grain Milling 1,807 1,570 6.1 5.0 - 1.1 Cocoa, Chocolate and Sugar Confectionery. 7,097 7,090 10.0 9.8 - 0.2 Other Food Industries 11,322 12,368 11.5 11.4 - 0.1 Drink Industries 6,770 7,063 6.6 6.5 - 0.1 Tobacco, Cigar, Cigarette and Snuff Manufacture. 3,959 3,447 8.7 7.9 - 0.8

Industry Number Unemployed at 26th May, 1924. Number Unemployed at 25th May, 1925. Percentage Rate of Unemployment at 26th May, 1924. Percentage Rate of Unemployment at 25th May, 1925. Percentage Increase (+) or Decrease (-) in May, 1925 as compared with May, 1924. Sawmilling, Furniture and Woodwork: Sawmilling and Machined Wood- work. 5,754 5,591 9.9 9.7 - 0.2 Wood Box and Packing Case Making 1,769 1,889 13.9 15.1 + 1.2 Furniture Making, Upholstering, etc. 6,090 5,591 6.5 5.8 - 0.7 Other Woodworking 2,860 2,821 10.4 10.6 + 0.2 Printing and Paper Trades: Paper and Paper Board Making 4,560 4,028 8.1 7.4 - 0.7 Cardboard Boxes, Paper Bags and Stationery. 4,130 3,514 7.4 6.4 - 1.0 Wall Paper Making and Paper Staining. 222 226 4.6 4.1 - 0.5 Stationery and Typewriting Requisites (not Paper) 277 312 5.8 7.0 + 1.2 Printing, Publishing and Book- binding. 12,269 12,367 5.3 5.1 - 0.2 Building and Construction of Works: Building 59,278 53,936 8.3 7.5 - 0.8 Public Works Contracting, etc 20,730 21,599 16.2 16.0 - 0.2 Other Manufacturing Industries: Rubber Manufacture 6,441 5,243 11.1 9.0 - 2.1 Oilcloth, Linoleum, etc., Manufacture 966 664 7.8 4.7 - 3.1 Brush and Broom Making 720 986 8.0 10.1 + 2.1 Scientific and Photographic Instrument and Apparatus Manufacture. 813 833 4.6 4.2 - 0.4 Musical Instrument Making 2,439 1,386 12.3 7.0 - 5.3 Toys, Games and Sports Requisites Manufacture. 1,226 987 10.0 8.9 - 1.1 Gas, Water and Electricity Supply Industries. 10,384 10,456 5.9 6.1 + 0.2 Transport and Communication: Railway Service 9,395 10,479 4.9 6.0 + 1.1 Tramway and Omnibus Service 3,337 3,887 3.0 3.3 + 0.3 Other Road Transport 22,205 20,858 15.1 13.9 - 1.2 Shipping Service 19,763 24,783 16.8 20.8 + 4.0 Canal, River, Dock and Harbour Service. 48,956 63,774 25.3 32.6 + 7.3 Other Transport and Communication and Storage. 4,313 3,600 16.4 15.5 - 0.9 Distributive Trades 81,519 90,018 6.5 6.7 + 0.2 Commercial, Banking, Insurance and Finance. 6,477 5,470 4.5 5.4 + 0.9 Miscellaneous Trades and Services: National Government 16,562 12,394 9.1 7.7 - 1.4 Local Government 15,176 19,633 6.2 8.1 + 1.9 Professional Services 4,272 3,839 4.0 3.5 - 0.5 Entertainment and Sports 7,771 7,827 13.1 11.9 - 1.2 Hotel, Boarding House and Club Services. 28,153 29,244 11.1 10.1 - 1.0 Laundries, Dyeing and Dry Cleaning 6,065 6,571 5.7 5.8 + 0.1 Other Industries and Services 29,401 27,483 27.5 24.1 - 3.4 Total 1,087,918 1,294,965 9.5 11.2 + 1.7

asked the Minister of Labour the average number of unemployed in each classification and total during the quarter ended 31st March, 1925, together with the comparative figures for the March quarters in 1920 to 1924, inclusive?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the "Ministry of Labour Gazette," which is published about the middle of each month, and contains a table showing for each of 100 industry groups the numbers and percentages of persons insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts who are recorded on the registers of Employment Exchanges.