asked the Secretary for Mines if, taking Germany and America, he will state the coal in stock at the pitheads, the hours of work, the weekly production of coal per man, and the coal produced per man-hour in each of these two countries?

The information at present in my possession is not sufficiently complete or up-to-date to enable me to make the comparisons asked for, but I am trying to supplement it, and will communicate later with the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will state the coal produced, and the number of man-hours worked, in England, Belgium, and France, respectively?

During the first four months of 1925, 86,236,000 tons of coal were produced in Great Britain, 7,846,000 tons in Belgium, and 19,974,000 tons in France (including the production of the Saar coalfield). I regret that I have not the figures of man-hours worked.

asked the Secretary for Mines on what basis the average output of coal per shift worked as calculated by his department is computed; whether it is an average based on the number of men engaged at the coal face as coal miners or does it include all persons working down the mine; whether workers on the surface are included; if so, what class or section of surface worker; and whether the shopmen, mechanics, and office staff are included?

The calculation is based upon the tonnage of saleable coal raised and the number of man-shifts worked above and below ground (including week-end and overtime shifts) by all workers to whom the National Wages Agreement applies. These include shopmen and mechanics, but not clerks

also asked the Secretary for Mines the total number of persons employed in or about the mines who are included for the purpose of calculating the average output per man per shift, and also give the numbers in separate grades as follows: persons employed as miners at the coal face, persons employed down the mines other than miners employed at the coal face, and persons employed on the surface: and if he will state the average output per man per shift, including only miners engaged at the coal face?

The total was 1,074,079 in the first quarter of 1925. I regret that I cannot give figures for the number of persons employed in the separate grades; but nearly 40 per cent. of the man-shifts worked during that period were at the coal face, and the average output per man-shift at the face was 45⅓ cwts.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many collieries have been thrown idle consequent upon the employers seeking to break through existing agreements; the total number of workpeople affected; and how many, if any, are being paid unemployment benefit?

The reasons for the closing of collieries are reported to me under the heads enumerated in my reply to the hon. Member for Attercliffe (Mr. Cecil Wilson) on June 30th, from which the hon. Member will see that my information does not enable me to answer his question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total exports of coal, not including anthracite, for the first five months of the present year, and the corresponding figure for 1913?

The total export of coal, other than anthracite, for the first five months of this year was 19,911,212 tons. The corresponding figure for 1913 was 28,331,542 tons.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the scheme inaugurated by the Swansea Borough Council, which allows of a discount being paid for prompt payment of rates, has proved highly successful; and will he, as a meant to overcoming the difficulty experienced by many local authorities in collecting rates, recommend the extension of this scheme to other local authorities?

The system inaugurated at Swansea has, I understand, only come into operation during the current half year, and my right hon. Friend has, as yet, no information as to its effect. There is an Amendment on the Paper dealing with this point in connection with the Bating and Valuation Bill, and my right hon. Friend would prefer to postpone any statement on the subject until the Amendment is reached.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the ratio of State contribution towards the national health and widows', orphans' and old age pensions insurance schemes, respectively) based on each £l benefit payable or on any other unit of calculation?

As the hon. Member is aware, the State contribution towards the National Health Insurance system is two-ninths of the expenditure on benefits, exclusive of the cost of central administration; including this item, the State contribution is just over one-quarter. It is estimated that the State contribution to the new pensions system will be equal, on the average, to one-quarter of the expenditure on benefits in the first 10 years of the scheme, and that, after this period, it will be approximately two-fifths of the expenditure.

asked the Minister of Health when the Public Health (Preservatives, Etc., in Food) Regulations are to be laid before Parliament; whether any alterations in the published draft are proposed; and, if so, whether information as to the nature of these alterations can be supplied to Members of this House before the Regulations are finally made and laid before Parliament?

My right hon. Friend hopes that the Regulations will be laid before Parliament adjourns. Considerable modifications have been made in the original draft as a result of full discussion between my right hon. Friend's officers and the interests involved. The actual coming into force of the Regulations will be postponed to enable necessary adjustments to be made by the trades concerned, and during that period my right hon. Friend would hope that a discussion might be arranged in this House if there is a general desire for it.

asked the Minister of Health what would be the cost to the Treasury of providing benefits similar to those given under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Pensions Bill on a non-contributory basis?

If under a non-contributory system the pensions and other benefits provided by the Bill could be limited to the classes within the scope of National Health Insurance, the cost would be the sum of the amounts shown in columns 5 and 8 of Table VI of the Report of the Government Actuary upon the financial provisions of the Bill. The charge would rise from £13,000,000 in 1926–27 to £45,000,000 in 1936–37, and to nearly £60,000,000 in 1946–47. My hon. and gallant Friend will realise, however, that if the title to benefit were not derived from contributions, difficult questions would arise as to the classes to be included, and it is probable that these figures would be considerably exceeded.

asked the Minister of Health the percentage increase in cases of sleepy sickness in this country for last year over that of the preceding year; and whether the Bland-Sutton Institute has made any Report as to any discovery of the cause and cure of this complaint?

The increase in the number of notified cases of sleepy sickness in England and Wales for 1924 over the number for 1923 was 392 per cent., the numbers notified in 1923 and 1924 being, respectively, 1,025 and 5,039. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative, but investigations on the subject of sleepy sickness are being pursued at the institute mentioned and at other pathological laboratories.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he will inquire into the circumstances under which the Oban Town Council refused and continue to refuse a grant for the building of a workman's house in Oban, which Mr. William Milne, ice manufacturer, is prepared to build in accordance with the Board of Health requirements; and whether, in the event of a town council or other public body arbitrarily refusing to grant a subsidy, he will take steps to compel the authority to make the grant?

I have made inquiry and am advised that the application for subsidy by Mr. Milne was refused by the Oban Town Council, as they were satisfied that in the circumstances no subsidy was necessary to enable him to provide this house. It lies in the discretion of the town council to grant or withhold subsidy in respect of applications received by them, and I have no power to compel them to give it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total number of houses built, or in course of construction, in connection with housing schemes promoted by colliery companies throughout Great Britain for which financial assistance has been made or is being made out of public funds

Name of Company to whom guarantee is given.	Amount of Guarantee.	Approximate total cost of scheme.	Name of Colliery Company pormoting scheme.	Number of Houses or Cottages.	Local Authority.
	£	£
Llantrisant and Rhymney Valley Housing Company, Limited.	100,000	133,000	Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company, Limited.	300	28	Llantwit and Bardre.
					90	Gelligaer.
					114	Cowbridge.
					68	Bedwelty.
						300
Butterley Housing Company, Limited.	90,000	120,000	Butterley Colliery Company, Limited.	204	100	Kirkby-in-Ashfield.
					50	Heanor.
					54	Southwell.

In the case of many of the schemes, referred to in the reply given to a question by the hon. Member on the 17th June by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, loans have been made by the Public Works Loan Commissioners. The number of houses to be erected under schemes in respect of which such loans are being made is 6,493; the estimated cost of the schemes is £3,337,518, and the amount of loans granted £2,546,817.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is in a position to state the terms upon which manufacturers may apply, under the Trade Facilities Act, for guarantees of loans to be expended in replacing obsolete or inefficient plant by more modern types of machinery; whether, in the case of such loans, both principal and

Under the Trade Facilities Acts the Treasury, on the recommendation of the Trade Facilities Act Advisory Committee, have guaranteed loans to the following companies for the erection of houses or cottages:interest on money received will be guaranteed; and the security which will be required?

Applications for guarantees of loans, to be expended in replacing obsolete or inefficient plant by mow modern types of machinery, should be addressed to the Trade Facilities Act Advisory Committee in the same manner as other applications under the Trade Facilities Acts. In cases where recommendations are made by the Committee, the Treasury is prepared to guarantee both principal and interest. No general statement can be made as to the security which is required; this is a question which is decided according to the circumstances of each particular case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the revenue from Income Tax is derived from earned income and what proportion from unearned income; and what would be the effect on tie total revenue if the basic rate for earned income were assessed at 2s. and on unearned income at 4s. in the £?

It is provisionally estimated that, of the net produce of Income Tax for the current year, 29 per cent. will be derived from earned income and 71 per cent. from investment income. As regards the second part of the question, I do not think that my hon. and gallant Friend's proposal could be grafted on to the existing system of differentiation and graduation without other major changes. I am, therefore, unable to forecast its effect on the Revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Commissioners of Inland Revenue are in the habit of refusing to refund Income Tax which has been deducted at the source at a rate greater than the rate allowed by the Finance Act for the time: being in force; and whether he will issue instructions to refund all tax paid in excess of that authorised by Parliament?

My hon. and gallant Friend appears to have overlooked Section 29 of the Finance Act, 1924, which provides that repayments of Income Tax for any year of assessment in respect of personal allowances, etc., are to be made by reference to the standard rate of tax in force for that year. I may add that under the proviso to the Section, a taxpayer who has no taxable income and is, therefore, exempt from Income Tax, is repaid the whole amount of the tax paid by him, whether by deduction or otherwise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of agricultural machinery imported in 1924 as compared with the year 1913?

The value of agricultural machinery imported into Great Britain and Ireland during 1913 amounted to £776,000. In 1924, imports of agricultural machinery into Great Britain and Northern Ireland amounted to £430,000, including imports from the Irish Free State valued at £32,000. The imports into the Irish Free State direct from countries outside the British Isles in 1924, were valued at £9,500.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether application has been made for the export of machine guns to any country in the last eight months; and, if so, what was the nature of the application, and whether it was granted?

A number of applications have been made in the period in question. The registers are now being examined, and I hope to be in a position to furnish the hon. Member with a detailed return shortly.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state which Department of State is charged with the study of the situation as regards the production and sale, especially abroad, of British cinematograph films?

The Board of Trade, together with the Department of Overseas Trade, is primarily concerned with questions relating to the production and sale of British manufactures including cinematograph films.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of cinematograph theatres in Great Britain and Northen Ireland; and what is the approximate seating capacity?

I have been asked to reply. I am informed by the Incorporated Association of Kinematograph Manufacturers that there are some 3,000 cinematograph theatres in the United Kingdom, and that the seating capacity is estimated as being rather less than 1,000,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the present state of the law, it is proposed to re-introduce the Sale of Bread Bill and the Weights and Measures (Measuring Instruments) Bill, two Measures which failed to pass finally into law owing to the dissolution of Parliament on two occasions?

In view of the state of Parliamentary business I do not think it would be practicable to re-introduce either of these Bills at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the economic Clauses of the Treaty of Peace, concluded at Lausanne between the Allied Governments on the one part and the Turkish Government on the other part, which overrule any enactment or measures carried into effect prior to such Treaty or relating to the control and liquidation of Turkish property, and by which Turkish nationals are entitled to the immediate restoration of their property, it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to settle the claims by Turkish nationals in accordance with the spirit and intention of the said Treaty of Peace without undue delay?

I have been asked to reply. It is, of course, the policy of His Majesty's Government to settle the claims by Turkish nationals tinder the Treaty of Lausanne in accordance with the spirit and intention of that Treaty, and without undue delay, and I understand that the restoration of the property in this country belonging to Turkish nationals is practically complete. I ought to add, however, that I do not altogether accept the views put forward by the hon. and gallant Member as to what is the exact intention of the Treaty in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the delays in compensating British nationals who have incurred losses in Turkey and cannot obtain restitution of their property, except as provided by the Treaty of Lausanne, is a matter which in any way affects the rights conferred on Turkish subjects by the said treaty of peace to recover their property; and whether instructions will be given, or have been given, to the department responsible for the carrying out of the clearing-office administration that rights of restitution of pre-War property belonging to Turkish nationals shall not be delayed?

I have been asked to reply. The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, no instructions of the nature suggested are necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, before deciding to break off diplomatic relations or to cancel the trading agreements at present existing between the governments of Russia and Great Britain, this House will be given an opportunity of discussing and deciding this question?

If His Majesty's Government should be forced by the course of events to take any such decision it would certainly he communicated at once to the House if Parliament were in session.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will lay upon the Table of the House copies of all despatches or other evidence in his possession which has enabled him to decide that the representatives or agents of the Russian Government are responsible for the industrial disturbances which have recently broken out in China?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given yesterday to a similar question from the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received information from the Acting Governor of Kenya upon the proposal to evict 600 natives, other than the Masai, from the Loldaika Hills, in Kenya Colony?

No, Sir. As the right hon. and gallant Member was informed on 16th March, there appears to be no likelihood of premature action on this point.

asked the Post master-General how many motor vans are employed by his Department; and what number of these were manufactured by British firms?

The number of motor vans owned by the Post Office is 928. Of these 120 are wholly of British manufacture, and 14 are Canadian. The remaining 794 vans are supplied by the Ford Motor Company (England) Limited; and I am informed that about 90 per cent. of the labour and material employed in their manufacture is British.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Italian Government telephone service has just been transferred to a private company; and if he will consider taking similar action in the case of the Post Office telephone service in this country?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War, with reference to the interim decision arrived at to relieve the temporary block in promotion amongst Royal Artillery artificers by making a number of abnormal promotions, whether he will state if these promotions will be supernumerary to the establishment, thus causing a further block in promotion; whether he can see his way to give substantive promotion from the date of promotion to acting rank to those artificers promoted to acting rank after 1st March, 1922; whether he can see his way to give accelerated promotion to artificers holding charge grade certificates, Class 1, Royal Artillery, artificer certificates, and first-class education certificates, granting them substantive rank on the award of these certificates; whether he will throw open the rank of warrant officer, Class 1, and district officer's commission to Royal Artillery artificers; whether, in view of the period taken for an artificer to be promoted to artificer-bombardier and the abolition of the rank of artificer-corporal, he will issue a Regulation whereby artificers on promotion should be artificer-lance-sergeants; and if he will extend the existing Regulations governing the promotion of Royal Artillery clerks to Royal Artillery artificers whereby they will, if qualified, receive promotion by time, the time dating from their first appointment to artificer-gunner?

The abnormal promotions recently made will be regarded as outside the existing provisional establishment and further promotions will be limited to vacancies upon that establishment. The measures recently taken were to meet special circumstances pending an examination of the whole question of promotion of artificers in the Royal Artillery and other arms of the Service. Pending the result of such examination, I regret that I am unable to go into the detailed questions raised by the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the scheme of the Teachers (Superannuation) Rill includes the class of teachers known as supplementary teachers; if so, whether there is any differentiation between those whoso services date from 1914 and those who have been employed since before 1914; in case this class are excluded from the scheme, how many supplementary teachers, approximately, are so excluded; and under how many education authorities are they at present employed?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative and the second part, therefore, does not arise. The number of supplementary teachers (women) in public elementary schools (maintained by local education authorities) in England and Wales on the 31st March, 1925, was 9,963. They were employed in the areas of 284 authorities.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he proposes to carry into immediate effect all the recommendations of the Scottish Conference on Agricultural Policy; whether he proposes to give a subsidy for the improvement of existing houses in rural districts; and whether, in view of the importance attached by the conference to land drainage schemes, he will now state the Government's policy in this connection?

The Report of the conference, which I recently received, will have my full and careful consideration, but I am not in a position at present to say what action will be taken with regard to its recommendations. Perhaps I may be allowed to take this opportunity of expressing appreciation of the valuable 'work done by the conference.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the Reports of the successful experiments conducted by the Institute of Agricultural Engineering on the farm of Snadford, near Oxford, in the artificial drying of hay and corn harvests; whether Reports on these experiments are being circulated among farmers in Scotland; and whether similar experiments will be undertaken by the Board of Agriculture in Scotland this year?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Report on the experiments referred to has been distributed by the Board of Agriculture to the three Scottish agricultural colleges, who have arranged for demonstrations of artificial crop-drying to be held in their respective areas during the present season. The results of those demonstrations will be made known to farmers. I think that these measures will suitably meet the situation so far as Scottish agriculture is concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the fact that the June issue of the "Labour Gazette," pages 189 and 208, gives the total number of unemployed upon insurance registers as 1,253,000, and the number of unemployed in insured industries, pages 206 and 207, as 1,294,265, if he will explain how the difference is accounted for?

The figure 1,253,000 is the number of persons, insured and uninsured, who on 25th May, 1925, were maintaining registration at Employment Exchanges, Branch Employment Offices and Juvenile Employment Bureaux. The figure 1,294,965 is the number of unemployment books recorded on 25th May, 1925, as remaining lodged at these offices. Both figures relate to Great Britain and Northern Ireland. An unemployment book is ordinarily deposited at one of these offices when the insured person to whom it belongs claims benefit. The book remains in the custody of the office until the insured person again obtains work at an insured trade. A book is recorded as lodged until the insured person obtains employment, insured or uninsured, falls sick, emigrates, dies, etc., or, if the office is without information on this point, until two months have elapsed since he was last known to be unemployed. The figure 1,294,265 which relates only to insured person is higher than the figure 1,253,000 which relates both to insured and uninsured persons, because the former figure includes a number of persons who after lodging their unemployment books fail for various reasons to maintain registration. Some of those who fail to maintain registration are no doubt in employment or for other reasons are not properly to be counted as "unemployed," but the number in this position is not known: on the other hand, some may remain unemployed after their books; have ceased to be recorded as lodged.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the street repair works adjoining the approaches to Waterloo Bridge, which were not commenced till after the bridge had been reopened; and will he take steps to secure that in future there shall be better co-ordination in this respect between the authorities concerned?

The question of street repair works in the Strand was carefully considered by my Department, and it was decided, after very full consultation with the police and highway authorities concerned, that the minimum of inconvenience would be occasioned to traffic if these works were postponed until after Waterloo Bridge was opened for vehicular traffic. Close co-ordination is being continuously maintained between my Department and the other authorities concerned with regard to street works generally, and I am satisfied that the results have already proved to be of considerable benefit to traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will use his good offices with the Southern Railway Company with a view to the reopening of the Old Kent Road, Brockley Lane, Blackheath Hill, Greenwich Park, Deptford, Lewisham Road and Southwark Park stations, thereby meeting the convenience of the travelling public as well as decreasing unemployment among railway men; and if he will also press upon the company the need for improving the booking office and staircase facilities for passengers using the New Cross and New Cross Gate stations?

The railway company have informed me that they propose next year to reopen Deptford Station in connection with the introduction of electrical services. As regards the remaining closed stations, the question of reopening them has, as the right hon. Member is aware, been carefully considered on previous occasions, and in all the circumstances I do not feel that I can press the railway company to alter their decision. As regards the last part of the question, I understand that the railway company propose to carry out improvements at New Cross costing about £9,000; and, although in consequence of the numerous works already in hand they have been obliged to postpone consideration of effecting improvements at New Cross Gate, sight will not be lost of the desirability of carrying out such improvements.

asked the Minister of Transport how much of the charge for eight miles of the new west road which was recently opened, at a cost of £143,000 a mile, was borne by the Road Fund?

The eight miles mentioned by the hon. and gallant Gentleman include the three miles of the extension from the Bath Road to the Staines Road. The Road Fund is contributing 75 per cent., or roughly £750,000 of the cost of constructing the five and one-eighth miles constituting the Great West Road proper; and 50 per cent., or roughly £70,000, of the cost of the Staines extension.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any spare land bought for purposes of construction of new roads by the Government is now for sale alongside these roads; and, if so, whether he. will consider letting or selling this for allotments wherever suitable?

Small parcels of surplus land have occasionally to be bought and are subsequently sold. This land is generally more valuable for building purposes than any other.