asked the Minister of Health how much of the money allocated for the erection of specimen houses has been spent or promised; whether applications are still being considered from local authorities who desire to take advantage of the special subsidy; in what towns the various types of houses have been erected; whether they are occupied; and what has been the total amount of subsidy paid in respect of each of the Beardmore, Weir, Atholl, Steelcon, Wild, Tilson, and any other similar type of house in which steel is used in the construction?

The special subsidy of £200 per house is available only for a limited number of houses of the types specially recommended for demonstration purposes by the Committee on New Methods of House Construction. So far four types have been so re-commended, namely, the Weir, Atholl, Telford, and Wild types. Of the total of £50,000 voted for the purpose of these grants, £34,000 has been provisionally allocated, made up of £10,000 for each of the Weir, Atholl, and Telford types, and £4,000 for the Wild type, but no actual payments of subsidy for these experimental houses have yet been made. Over 50 local authorities are taking part in the experiment. Four of these already have houses completed and open for inspection, and in six other districts the houses are at present under construction. If for any reason any of the selected local authorities should be unwilling to proceed with the experiment, the houses will be offered to other local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in any Bill that he proposes to introduce to facilitate skim clearances, he will consider introducing a clause to assist the repair of existing property that is now becoming unfit for human habitation?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Government is in any way assisting or co-operating with the medical men engaged in work in the National Institute for Medical Research at Hampstead?

The National Institute for Medical Research at Hampstead and the associated field laboratories at Mill Hill are maintained by moneys granted annually by this House to the Medical Research Council, and the members of the scientific staff engaged by the Council there or elsewhere are working in the public service. A Report upon the scientific work supported by the Medical Research Council at the National Institute and elsewhere is laid annually before Parliament and is published by the Stationery Office. The successive Annual Reports of the Council indicate the various directions and modes of co-operation between the Medical Research Council and other Government Departments from time to time.

asked the Minister of Pensions what was the number of cases

—	Scotland	Northern.	N. Western	Midlands	Wales	S. Western and London.	Ireland
Number of Cases Submitted	2,300	5,498	5,258	4,736	2,312	10,006	3,642
Number Recommended for Final Award	365	1,546	913	918	376	1,798	520
20% and over	15·9%	28·1%	17·3%	19·4%	16·3―	17·9―	14·3―
Under 20― and Nil	207	543	513	564	234	839	317
	9·0―	9·9―	9·8―	11·9―	10·―	8·3―	8·7―

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of Robert Craig, 26, West High Street, Kirkintillock, who, on 9th December, 1924, applied for the arrears of pension to which, the award of 6th December, 1924, entitles him; whether he is aware that this man has been repeatedly assured that his claim was still under consideration and regret expressed at the delay; and why seven months have elapsed without a decision?

In the short time available I have not been able to obtain a full report on the facts of this case, but I have ascertained that authority for the payment of arrears to this man has been issued.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has under consideration the amalgamation of any of the area offices in the London district; if so,

The number of cases submitted for consideration for final award and the percentage of such cases in which a final award was recommended (distinguishing cases of 20 per cent, and over and those of less than 20 per cent, assessment) for each region during the three months ended 31st March, 1925, is as follows:what amalgamations are under consideration; and whether the area war pensions committees will be consulted before any change is made in the status of the local offices, hours, and days of opening, etc.?

I have now under consideration the following amalgamations of area staffs in the County of London:

(1) Bermondsey and Southwark with Camberwell;

(2) Hackney and Stoke Newington with Islington.

In both cases, in accordance with the usual practice, the war pensions committees have been consulted in regard to the change contemplated.

asked the Minister of Pensions when the Director of Establishments was appointed; what was the salary payable and the amount of War bonus; what is the present salary and War bonus; and whether, seeing that the number of staff has decreased from 29,937 in 1921 to 16,401 in December, 1924, there has been any diminution in the responsibilities and duties of the Director of Establishments?

The duties of Director of Establishments form part of the duties of one of the Principal Assistant Secretaries of the Ministry, who was appointed to the post in October, 1921, the scale of salary being £l,200, rising by increments to £l,500, with bonus on the minimum salary of £380. There has been no change in the scale of salary. The bonus paid, however, has fallen to £212. The decrease which is taking place in the staff of the Ministry does not involve any diminution in the responsibilities or duties of the post, which require close and constant attention to adjust the organisation to the decreasing volume of work without any loss of efficiency, and with the maximum economy. Under present conditions, indeed, this task becomes increasingly difficult.

asked the Minister of Pensions why in the three years ending December, 1924, there was an increase in the number of permanent officers of the rank of principal clerk and above from 35 to 74, only 14 of whom saw war service, seeing that the number of beneficiaries decreased from 3,004,000 to 2,080,000, and other staff of all grades were reduced from 29,937 to 16,401?

A great part of the apparent increase to which the hon. Member refers involved no addition to the personnel, 29 of the new posts being due to the scheme of regrading of the Civil Service drawn up in 1921, but not applied till 1922. There has been a considerable decrease in the number of temporary poets of similar standing.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, although the Board of Inland Revenue state that interviews with taxpayers in connection with the claims verification procedure are to be conducted in a room suitable for confidential inquiries, in spite of this, interviews are in progress in the office of His Majesty's inspector of taxes, Blackpool 2nd District, in a room containing nine people, and no privacy whatever is afforded to taxpayers being interviewed; and whether he can take any steps for the convenience of the public in this matter?

I have been asked to answer this question. Although, as indicated in replies to previous questions, the accommodation referred to is not ideal, it is of a purely temporary nature, pending the completion of the extension of the main premises, and, as such, has been accepted as reasonably satisfactory by the Board of Inland Revenue.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that certain disabled ex-service men, in temporary posts in the Civil Service, were unable to sit for the recent Civil Service examination on the ground that they had not had six months' temporary service up to the 31st May, 1924; whether he will explain the reason for this condition; and whether, in view of the fact that when the examination took place these men had had over 12 months' temporary service, he will consider the possibility of enabling them to qualify for examination now?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 24th February last to the hon. and learned Member for Rusholme (Mr. Merriman), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the recommendations in the First Report of the Select Committee on Estimates; and whether they will be carried out?

The suggested concentration of office accommodation for the Headquarters of the Ministry in London was dealt with in the reply given on behalf of the First Commissioner of Works to my Noble Friend the Member for Shrewsbury (Viscount Sandon) on the 22nd June, 1925. As regards the question of selection of sites for Employment Exchanges, the Department has the matter under careful consideration in conjunction with the Office of Works and advantage will be taken of any readjustment which would promote economy consistently with public convenience and Departmental efficiency. The suggested amalgamation of the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" and "Board of Trade Journal" is being examined in consultation with the Board of Trade, but in so far as can be seen at present it does not appear probable that such an amalgamation would be advantageous or conducive to economy. The suggested alteration in the number of votes of Great Britain at the International Labour Conference would require an alteration in the Treaty of Versailles by which this matter is regulated.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that a building has been taken in Sunderland on a 10 years' lease, at £500 per annum, for the purpose of being used as more commodious premises for the Employment Exchange; and, although nearly nine years has elapsed since vacant possession of the said premises was given, no use whatever has been made of the said premises, what steps does he propose to take in order to save the paying of rent on two buildings when only one is required?

I think the hon. Member must have been misinformed. Premises in Sunderland were taken six months ago on a 14 years' lease at £450 per annum for Labour Exchange purposes. During the intervening period a scheme of adaptations has been prepared, and when the premises are adapted and occupied the premises vacated will either be disposed of or used for other Government purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the approximate cost of the Air Estimates for 1925-26 if the amount were calculated on the basis of pre-War prices and wages and the cost of non-effective services was deducted?

I regret that I cannot give the figure for which my right hon. and gallant Friend asks. Any such recalculation in terms of pre-War costs as that suggested, unless done in a rough and ready fashion, which would be valueless or misleading, would not only involve a very great amount of detailed work, but would be quite impracticable in so far as a large section of the Air Votes is concerned. The current Estimates include a large provision for aircraft, engines and spares of types which were non-existent in 1914 and which, if one can assume their being manufactured under any circumstances then, would have been manufactured, inspected, tested, etc., under conditions wholly different from those prevailing to-day. The recalculation would necessarily be on such a fictitious or theoretical basis, in so far as it was possible at all, that I hesitate to give instructions for the undertaking of the work involved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Report of the Meston Committee on Treasury Grants may be expected?

I have now heard from Lord Meston that his Report is almost complete in draft, and that he hopes to submit it in September.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give figures showing the external debt of Great Britain at the end of June last, distinguishing the various creditor countries, and also returns up to the same period showing the total original amounts lent to each foreign country, including our Dominions, and the total amounts repaid in reduction of loan and interest to the end of June last?

The figures are as follow:

External Debt of Great Britain as at 30th June, 1925.
United States of America:
	$	£
Government Loan	4,554,000,000	935,753,425
5½% Ten year bonds1929	35,220,900	7,237,17
5½% Twenty year bonds, 1937	143,587,000	29,504,178
6% Central Argentine Railway company,1927	15,000,000	3,082,192
Straits Settlements:
½% Loan, 1928	…	3,341,000
% Loan, 1929	…	4,315,000
Loans from Allied Governments:
France	…	53,500,000
Russia	…	60,000,000
Italy	…	22,200,000
American Anglo-French Loan	…	2,846
Total	…	£1,118,935,812

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the cost of each Government Department for the years 1913–14 and 1924–25, respectively?

I think the hon. Member will find the information he desires in the most convenient form in Command Paper 2428 of this year. It is given in fuller detail for the latest year available in House of Commons Paper No. 99 of 1925, and for 1913–14 for the Civil Service and Revenue Departments on pages 486 to 491 of the Civil Service and Revenue Departments Appropriation Accounts for that year (House of Commons Paper 98 of 1915). The Appropriation Accounts of the Army and Navy for 1913–14 show the actual expenditure on these Services and the charges relating thereto incurred by other Departments (House of Commons Papers Nos. 87 (pages 5 and 124) and 96 (pages 5 and 114) of 1915).

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, having regard to the fact that in connection with certain, work now being carried out on H.M.S. "Vindictive" at Chatham Dockyard, steel bars of foreign origin are being used, he will state the reason for this?

I have been asked to reply to this question, which relates to some special work carried out by the Admiralty on be-half of the Air Ministry. Steel of particular sections was required for the work, which is of an experimental nature, and as British steel is not made up in the sections required and as delay and expense would have been incurred if British steel had been specially made up, it was decided to employ foreign steel, which is already made up in the sections required. The total amount needed was roughly a ton and a half and the cost approximately £25.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the extent to which British-held foreign securities sold during the War have since been replaced by new investments?

I regret that I know of no reliable estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of prosecutions for the non-payment of Income Tax in each of the six months of 1924 and in the first six months of 1925, respectively?

I am not quite certain to what my hon. Friend's question refers. The number of High Court writs issued for recovery of arrears in the periods mentioned were as follow:

1st January to 30th June, 1924	6,497
1st July to 31st December, 1924	8,476
1st January to 30th June, 1925	6,162

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether he has yet received the Report of the officer sent by the Government of India to inquire into the conditions of Indian labour in Mauritius; and whether the Report will be published?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I understand that the Report was published in India on 15th July. It will be possible to obtain copies in due course in this country through the High Commissioner for India.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can make a statement as to the action proposed to be taken by the Government of India in relation to the conditions of service and welfare of the indentured Indian labourers in Fiji?

There are no indentured Indian labourers in Fiji. A Committee appointed by the Government of India last year made representations to the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the subject of the position of the Indian immigrant community in Fiji, and correspondence between His Majesty's Government and the Government of India on the subject is still proceeding.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it is the intention of the Government to publish the Report of the deputation to Fiji in 1922 on the question of indentured labour; and, if so, when the publication may be expected?

The Report referred to was not directly concerned with Indian indentured labour; this was abolished on 2nd January. 1920, and its revival is not contemplated. The question of the publication of the Report has not been finally decided.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has now completed his inquiries into the com- plaint of the English ratings of the Royal Navy who, when undergoing treatment at the Royal Naval Hospital, Simonstown, South Africa, state that they were accommodated in the same ward as Kroomen, and that on several occasions they had to give up their beds to Kroomen when they had been admitted to the hospital for treatment; and whether he will now say if ho has found it possible to arrange that English ratings should have separate wards?

I will let the hon. Member know as soon as the inquiries have been completed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the failure of repeated efforts made at the request of petty officers and men of the lower deck to ascertain the salary paid to the professor of publicity of the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes, he will accord them the rights of part-owners and obtain this information, observing that according to Form No. 1324, dated December, 1924, issued by the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes, the Services own their own canteen service?

As indicated in the reply given by my right hon. Friend- the Secretary of State for War on the 4th March, this is a detail of business administration which the board of management of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes decides. I understand that the objects of the publicity section of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes were explained to a meeting of the lower deck representatives at Portsmouth in March last, and that it is the intention to take similar action at the other ports in the near future.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the inconvenience to the travelling public caused by reason of the removal of the cloak-room or left-luggage room accommodation at Westminster Bridge District Railway station; whether the company intend replacing this room in some part of the booking hall; and, if not, will he use his influence with the company to have such accommodation installed for passengers using this station?

I am communicating with the railway company in this matter, and will let my hon. Friend know the result.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the electric service of trains between Victoria and Norwood Junction is run as a through service only on Sundays and in the late evening; and whether he will make representations to the company with a view to running a through service on week-days?

I am making inquiries into this matter, and will let the hon. Member know the result.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that orderly meetings, which have been held for about seven weeks at the corner of Spelman Street and Pelham, Street, East London, have now been banned by the police; and whether he will state the reason for this action?

The police have not interfered, except to require the meetings to be held in a neighbouring street where they will cause less obstruction to the use of the highway.

asked the Home Secretary what was the number of fatal cases of lead poisoning in the pottery industry last year; what were the ages of the persons who have died and the nature of the process worked; and what was the length of time each of the deceased had been employed on lead processes?

The figures are as follow:

PARTICULARS OF DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING IN THE POTTERY INDUSTRY FOR THE YEAR 1924.
Case No	Sex	Age	Occupation	Duration of employment in Lead Processes
1	M.	46	Glost placer	16 years
2	M.	65	Glost placer	Believed many years, but has not worked since 1912 on account of lead positioning
3	M.	51	Glost placer	29 years
4	M.	51	Glost placer	36 years
5	M.	55	Dipper	38 years
6	M.	50	Oddman	many years
7	M.	59	Glost placer	47 years
8	M.	63	Glost placer	At least 18 years
9	M.	44	Glost placer	many years
10	M.	54	Glost placer	33 years
11	M.	53	Dipper	25–30 years
12	M.	46	Dipper	20 years
13	M.	51	Dipper	42 years
14	M.	54	Glost placer	36 years
15	M.	48	Dipper	32 years
16	F.	50	Ware cleaner	20 years
17	F.	57	Ware cleaner	30 years
18	F.	35	Majolica paintress	14 years

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the desirability of a Select Committee of Lords and Commons being appointed to inquire into and report upon the present solicitation laws?

I have this question under consideration, but am not prepared to make any announcement at present.

asked the Home Secretary whether safety-first organisations have been set up in the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industries in order that the personal safety of each individual employed should be adequately safeguarded, and, if so, the date of such order?

No such organisations have yet been set up, but I understand the matter is being discussed by the industry. The recommendation of the recent Departmental Committee was that these organisations should be established on a voluntary basis through the mutual co-operation of the employers and workers. No Order, therefore, has been, or is intended to be, made, but the Factory Department will do everything in its power to assist the formation of such committees.

asked the Home Secretary if the recommendation of the conference on the prevention of accidents at docks issued last year, pointing out the desirability of safety organisations and a system of self-inspection and a safety bulletin, has been carried into effect; and, if so, has this recommendation proved of service in reducing the number of accidents to workmen at the docks?

I understand that this recommendation has not yet been carried out, but I have reason to hope that the industry will take the matter up very shortly. I shall be glad to give, any assistance when and where it is needed, but it will be much better if the industry itself takes the initiative, and this was also the opinion of the conference.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the Report of the chief inspector of factories and workshops, which points out that the type of mask in use in many aerated water works is unsatisfactory; and whether an order has been made making the use of the type of mask recommended by the chief inspector compulsory?

I am advised that there is no need for any such order. The Regulations require the provision of suitable face guards, and the chief inspector states that this has enabled the inspectors, where an unsatisfactory type of guard was in use, to insist on its replacement by a satisfactory guard. As the Report indicates, there are more than one good type of mask; different workers appear to prefer different types, and it would be undesirable to stereotype a particular form.

asked the Home Secretary whether stone-pounding is or ever has been a prison task or punishment; if it has been and has been discontinued, when and why was it discontinued; and, if ever used as a prison task or punishment, what was the amount and kind of stone used and the size to which it was to be pounded?

Stone-pounding was formerly used to a small extent as a prison task, but was discontinued before the. War in favour of better kinds of employment.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what was the original cost of the stone used in the building of the Palace of Westminster: what has been the total cost of annual repairs carried out on the structure; and whether he will ask for a Report from the Building Research Board to be made available for Members to study before any decision is taken with regard to extensive repairs in the future?

I regret that the information asked for in the first two parts of the question is not available. As regards the last part, my Department is working in close touch with the Building Research Board, and I have already promised that the House shall be fully informed before any extensive repairs to the stonework are carried out.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state what was the total wage bill in 1924 and the estimated wage bill in export trade for the same year; and the corresponding figures for 1913?

I have been asked to reply. I regret that statistics are not available which would enable trustworthy comparisons to be made of the total wages bill in 1913 and in 1924, either in industry as a whole or in the export trade. An inquiry is now, however, being made by the Ministry of Labour into the earnings of workpeople in the principal industries in 1924, which when completed may enable some estimate to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government will make representations to the signatories of the Chinese Arms Embargo Treaty, 1919, in favour of joint action in strictly enforcing the provisions of this Treaty?

His Majesty's Government have been in frequent communication with the other Governments which are parties to the Embargo Agreement, with the object of securing uniformity in the effective observance of the China Arms Embargo Agreement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that Continental cherries are being sold in London which are largely infested with maggots; and what inspection is made of soft fruit coming into the London markets from abroad?

My attention has been drawn to the fact mentioned, and I am considering what steps can be taken to obviate the risk of introducing new pests into English orchards by this means. Representations have already been made to the French Government on the subject. With regard to the last part, it has not been necessary hitherto to require the inspection of imported consignments of soft fruit other than gooseberries by officers of the Ministry under the Destructive Insects and Pests Acts, but I am having the position carefully examined.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the ratio of home-grown and foreign imported barley, oats and wheat during the last three years; and the average yearly price in each case?

The following statement shows the United Kingdom production

—	Home Production.	Net Imports.	Total Supply.	Percentage of total supply.		Average price per cwt.
				Home produced.	Imported.	Home produced.∗		Imported.†
	Thousand	Thousand	Thousand
1922.	tons.	tons.	tons.	Percent.	Percent.	s.	d.	s.	d.
Wheat (including imports of flouras wheat)	1,780	5,576	7,356	24·2	75·8	11	2	12	2
Barley	1,250	631	1,881	66·5	33·5	11	2	9	7
Oats	2,812	453	3,265	86·1	13·9	10	5	9	4
1923.
Wheat	1,592	5,51	7,107	22·4	77·6	9	10	10	8
Barley	1,101	902	2,003	55·0	45·0	9	5	8	8
Oats	2,300	481	2,781	82·7	17·3	9	7	8	6
1924.‡
Wheat	1,416	6,175	7,591	18·7	81·3	11	6	11	9
Barley	1,145	1,085	2,230	51·3	48·7	13	1	11	2
Oats	2,468	508	2,976	82·9	17·1	9	9	8	5
The figures of production in 1923 and 1924 exclude the production in the Irish Free State. Similarly the figures of net imports exclude, from 1st April, 1923, the direct, foreign trade of the Irish Free State, but include the trade of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with the Irish Free State.
✶"Gazette" average price of British corn in England and Wales.
† Average declared value of imported wheat, barley and oats.
‡ Figures of net imports subject to revision.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the latest number of boys and girls, respectively, between the ages of 14 and 16, registered as unemployed at Preston; and the numbers of the same on the corresponding date in 1924?

At 13th July, there were 93 boys and 155 girls between the ages of 14 and 18 on the registers at Preston, as compared with 67 boys and 66 girls at 14th July, 1924. It is not possible to give separate figures for juveniles between the ages of 14 and 16.

asked the Minister of Labour how many ex-apprentices qualified for various trades in the dockyard are registered on the Devonport Employment Exchange; and

I am having inquiries made as regards the matters mentioned in the question, but I am afraid that, for the reasons indicated in the reply given to the hon. Member on 12th May on the same subject, it may prove to be impossible to obtain the information without a disproportionate amount of labour.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can supply the number of unemployed, by occupation, on 1st July last in each of the Durham county and municipal boroughs, urban districts, and rural districts, respectively?

It is not possible without much labour to give an analysis by occupations, but the following table gives the available information.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his investigations into the conditions of work in the catering trade are now completed; and, if so, whether he proposes to set up a trade board for that trade?

With regard to the first part of the question I would refer my Noble Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for East Middlesbrough (Miss Wilkinson) on 1st July. As regards the second part of the question, I am not yet in a position to make a statement.