asked the Minister of Labour whether any recent instruction has been issued to the local employment committees prescribing the period that is required to satisfy the statutory condition as to a reasonable period of insurable employment during the two years immediately preceding the date of application for State unemployment benefit; if he is aware that persons when they have exhausted their standard benefit are being refused extended benefit on this ground; and if, in view of the continued serious condition of unemployment, he will see that this condition is retained and is not restricted?

The condition is statutory and I have no power to restrict it. No instruction such as that suggested has been issued: the directions for the guidance of committees on this point state that "no definite period of employment can be prescribed" and emphasise that each case must be dealt with on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can present statistics to the House showing the percentages of unemployment in the States of New South Wales, Victoria, Queens land, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania for the years 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, and 1924?

The following are the percentages of members of unions returned as unemployed in each Australian State for each quarter of the years 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, and 1924:

State 1920 1st quarter (Jan. to Mar.). 2nd quarter (Apr. to June). 3rd quarter (July to Sept). 4th quarter (Oct. to Dec). New South Wales 5.5 5.0 5.2 6.9 Victoria 4.5 5.6 5.3 7.3 Queensland 10.5 13.0 13.4 16.3 South Australia 4.4 4.1 5.9 5.1 Western Australia 3.7 3.4 3.2 4.8 Tasmania 3.6 2.4 3.1 3.0 Australia 5.6 6.2 6.2 7.8 1921. New South Wales 13.7 13.5 12.3 11.9 Victoria 8.7 9.8 10.2 5.9 Queensland 15.5 21.8 13.5 11.3 South Australia 7.9 9.1 8.5 6.1 Western Australia 8.9 8.3 9.2 8.0 Tasmania 4.8 10.3 15.7 16.7 Australia 11.4 12.5 11.4 9.5 1922. New South Wales 11.1 11.4 11.9 11.4 Victoria 6.2 7.8 7.4 5.2 Queensland 11.1 7.7 8.6 12.4 South Australia 6.6 6.4 6.6 3.3 Western Australia 8.5 11.4 11.1 8.9 Tasmania 13.7 10.4 6.7 3.9 Australia 9.2 9.6 9.6 8.6 1923. New South Wales 10.2 8.8 9.3 8.4 Victoria 4.4 5.7 6.4 5.2 Queensland 8.0 7.3 6.6 6.3 South Australia 2.7 4.9 4.0 6.1 Western Australia 6.9 6.2 5.8 3.8 Tasmania 4.1 4.9 3.9 2.0 Australia 7.2 7.l 7.4 6.6 1924. New South Wales 10.6 11.9 13.5 14.3 Victoria 5.1 6.4 7.8 9.1 Queensland 10.0 5.5 5.3 4.9 South Australia 3.8 4.4 5.4 4.9 Western Australia 4.8 4.8 6.1 6.1 Tasmania 2.1 5.2 4.2 3.8 Australia 7.6 8.3 9.5 10.3

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the private correspondence of British subjects is being interfered with by the British agency in Tangier; and, if so, for what reason?

If the hon. Member will give me particulars, I will inquire into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the spread of anti-British propaganda in the Far East, particularly in Cochin-China and the Dutch East Indies; and what steps he proposes to take to counteract it?

The propaganda connected with the present anti-British agitation in China has no doubt to some extent affected the Chinese populations outside China, but I have received no information as to any particular manifestations in the regions mentioned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, when the coming International Conference is held in China, more especially as regards the increase of Customs and internal transit, due arrangements will be made to ensure the attachment to the British delegation of some expert able to speak with authority on the Lancashire cotton trade?

I cannot yet say how the British delegation will be composed, but care will be taken to ensure that the views of the British interests concerned are taken into due account in the consideration of the commercial questions which will arise.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Chinese Government has pro- vided the necessary money for the payment of the German issue of the Hukuang Railway Loan, and why, in that case, the British shareholders have not received the interest from the responsible paying-out bank; and whether he will give the name of such bank?

The agents designated by the Chinese Government for the service of the German issue are the Bank of China and the Bank of Communications, who should remit the necessary funds for distribution here to the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in London.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that 50 men and women employed at the Birmingham General Post Office have received notice of dismissal, to take effect on the 1st August; that a number served as full-time sorting clerks during the period of the War, and have acted as part-time evening sorters since; and will he cause the practice of overtime working to cease at this post office with a view to retaining the services of the whole or part of those on notice?

It is the policy of the Department to restrict the employment of part-time labour as far as possible and, though the conditions at Birmingham have made it necessary to employ a number of part-time officers for some years past, a recent rearrangement of the work has made it possible to abolish the part-time posts. It is impossible entirely to avoid the performance of overtime against intermittent pressure, unexpected absences, etc., but, under the rearrangement, it is not anticipated that any appreciable amount of regular over time will be required at Birmingham, and the retention of the part-time officers in order to reduce overtime would not be justified. So far as possible, however, employment in other branches of the Post Office is being offered to them.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the accident to a char-a- banc which occurred near Bristol on 26th July; whether he is aware that four passengers were killed and many injured; and whether he will authorise an inquiry as to the causes of the accident, and to ascertain whether the vehicle was examined and overhauled prior to the journey?

My attention has already been drawn to this regrettable accident, and I have instructed one of my officers to attend the inquest which is being held to-day.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that much delay to vehicular and pedestrian traffic is caused at Manor Way, North Woolwich, owing to the Port of London Authority using man-power to haul water-borne traffic through the cuttings at Manor Way and King George's Dock; and whether he will make representations to the Port of London Authority to use the more up-to-date method of power haulage to lessen these delays?

I will make inquiries into the point which the hon. Member raises, and let him know the result.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements have been made by His Majesty's Government for valuing property in Ireland and else where abroad belonging to claimants, under the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1924, resident in Great Britain at or after the dates of their claims in cases where such valuation is necessary, under the Acts, for the purposes of ascertaining the claimant's yearly means and assessing the rate, if any, of the pension to which he is entitled; whether such arrangements are working expeditiously and satisfactorily and, in particular, adequately protect the taxpayers of Great Britain and the claimants against the possibility of faulty valuations and the consequent under-assessment or over-assessment of the rate of pension; and, if the existing arrangements require im- provement in any respect, whether he will give his attention to the matter with a view to the best practical arrangements being made as soon as possible?

The responsibility for satisfying the pension authorities that the yearly means, as calculated under the Old Age Pensions Acts, do not exceed the statutory limit, rests with the claimant, but in order to assist claimants in completing their claims information is obtained from the District Valuer of Inland Revenue as to the capital value of any interest they may have in houses, buildings, or land owned, but not personally occupied. Claims for old age pensions are rarely received from per sons possessing property outside Great Britain. When such cases arise steps are taken to obtain the necessary information from the competent authority in the country in which the property is situated. I have no reason to believe that in the rare cases in which it is necessary to make these inquiries the resulting in formation is not satisfactory. I would, however, point out that, owing to geographical considerations, such cases cannot always be determined with the expedition that is possible when the cases arise in Great Britain.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that there is an increasing demand for facilities for evening lectures in the museums and art galleries in London by people who have to earn their own living and who are debarred from attending such lectures in the daytime; and whether, seeing that such facilities have been granted in the past on the basis of the whole of the expenses being borne by the audiences, and that the cost of such lectures, including all expenses incidental to the opening of the buildings in the evening, has been heavier than is desirable, he will consider whether relief can be granted in the form of some reduction of the overhead charges such as would enable such lectures to be given at a cost of not more than 2s. per head for each lecture?

I have communicated with the various museums and art galleries in London, and find that the only lectures for which a charge has been made were those arranged at the British Museum for the staffs of certain banks. The charge, which was to defray the cost of all expenses, including light, staff, etc., came to a little over 2s. a head. There was a considerable falling off in attendance in the second season, and the lectures have now been discontinued. I am not aware that there is an increasing demand for evening lectures, and such evidence as I have been able to collect appears to show that such demand as there is comes from a very limited class. If definite proposals for evening lectures were again put forward they could only be agreed to on the distinct understanding that the fees should cover all expenses, i.e., that no expense should fall on the taxpayer at large.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he can state what, after having taken into account the present and pre-War value of money, are the respective sums paid in salaries, wages, office rent, and other strictly administrative expenses for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Services, Customs, Excise and Inland Revenue Departments, and the Post Office services, respectively, for the financial years ending 31st March, 1914 and 1925; what was the total administrative staff employed in each service for the same years; and what do these figures for each of these services represent as to the proportion of the total number of persons employed in each of the services?

With regard to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Darwen (Sir F, Sanderson) on the subject of Government Departments (Supply Ser vices, Cost) on the 28th May last. The administrative expenses given in that reply do not include office accommodation, rates and stationery and printing: the expenses of those services attributable to administration are not separately recorded, and could not be ascertained without considerable labour. For a comparison of administration expenses in 1914–15 (pre-War) and 1924–25, taking into account the change in the value of money, the figures for 1914–15 should be increased by 75 per cent. With regard to the second part of the question, I would explain that, except for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Post Office, the whole of the persons employed, with rare exceptions, are engaged on duties of administration. The hon. and gallant Member will, I think, find the information he wants in Table II of the Memorandum on Present and Pre-War Expenditure (Command Paper 2428).

asked the Minister of Health whether a civil servant with remuneration not exceeding £250 per year, who is compulsorily insured in respect of widows' and old age pensions, will be entitled to become also a voluntary contributor in respect of health insurance; and, if so, what voluntary contribution will he pay?

The comparatively few civil servants in the position referred to by the- hon. Member will be entitled to become voluntary contributor in respect of health insurance if they have previously been insured or exempt persons under the Health Insurance scheme for some period of at least two years. Should they become voluntary contributors under health insurance, arrangements will be made under which their voluntary contribution will in no case exceed the normal health insurance contribution of 9d. a week for men and 8½d. for women.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider taking joint action with the Ministry of Labour and the various local authorities in order to secure that in industrial areas, such as West Ham, a survey be made of the streets which to-day are treeless, and in the approaching season arrange for the systematic planting of trees, thereby giving employment and making the streets more cheerful?

I regret that I cannot promise to undertake action of the kind suggested, in view of the present financial position of such authorities as West Ham.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the remarks made by the Buckingham-shire Coroner at a recent inquest, suggesting that boats and canoes let out for hire should be provided with some form of life-buoy, in view of the number of recent accidents; and will he consider the advisability of making the provision of such apparatus compulsory?

I have seen a Press report of the inquest. Local authorities have power to make bye-laws for the regulation of pleasure boats and vessels, and the bye-laws can provide for the carrying of proper life-saving appliances. Similar bye-laws for the Thames, which are confirmed by the Board of Trade, not by me, can be made by the Conservancy. It is usual for local authorities to require lifebuoys to be carried on boats propelled otherwise than by oars, but not on other boats except in special cases. I doubt, on present information, whether it would be reasonable to make the provision of life-buoys compulsory in all these cases.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that discontent exists among engine-room artificers at the treatment received by those detailed for duty on the coastal motor-boats during manœuvres held at Portland in June; whether he will explain why no proper messing, bathing and sleeping accommodation was provided for men engaged on these duties; and can he state why more adequate arrangements for the same purposes are not made on the "Vulcan," the parent ship for submarine ratings?

The answer to the first part of the question is that no complaints have been made; to the second part that the coastal motor boats were working under war routine and that every care was taken to minimise discomfort as much as possible; and to the third part, that additional messes, bath rooms, recreation spaces and sleeping accommodation are being provided in "Vulcan" during her present refit.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number and categories of men who have been discharged from the Navy suffering from tuberculosis during 1922, 1923, and 1924, respectively; and whether he will state what scale of compensation is awarded?

The numbers of men discharged invalided from the Royal Navy suffering from tuberculosis during the year 1922 and 1923 were as follow: From service afloat. Categories. 1922. 1923. Seaman ratings … 84 58 Boys … 13 4 E.R.A. apprentices … 1 2 Engine-room ratings … 48 37 Marines … 10 13 Officers' domestics … 4 4 Sick berth staff … 5 2 Regulating branch … 1 — Writers … 3 2 Victualling ratings … 4 1 Ships' cooks … 1 1 Armourers … 1 1* Electrical artificers … 1 — Ordnance artificers … — 1 Shipwrights … 1 1 Joiners … 1 — Telegraphists … 7 13 Painters … — 1 Seedies … 1 — Maltese officer's cook … 1 — * Mate.

From Marine Headquarters. Categories. 1922. 1923. Marines … … … 4 7 Band boys … … … — 1

From, Coast Guard Service. Categories. 1922. 1923. Coast guards … … 1 — Totals … … 192 149

The number discharged invalided for tuberculosis in 1924 was 155. Categories in respect of this number are not yet available.

The compensation awarded depends upon the rating and length of service of the individual. The scale and details are laid down in full in Statutory Rules and Orders No. 132 of 1922.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can give particulars of the foreign steel sections used in connection with certain work now being carried out on His Majesty's Ship "Vindictive," at Chatham Dockyard; whether British steel manufacturers were asked to supply the material; and can he give an assurance, having regard to the depressed state of the steel and iron industry, that during the life of the Government only British steel will be used in His Majesty's dockyards?

I can assure the hon. Member that we use only British steel in work executed for the Admiralty whether by contractors or in the dockyards. As the hon. Member was informed on the 23rd July by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air, the steel sections were required for some special work carried out by the Admiralty on behalf of the Air Ministry. I will circulate particulars of the section sizes in the OFFICIAL REPORT, but I may say that Carnegie section 6teel was considered essential by the Air Ministry 'because of its high tensile capacity, special design of flange and web and lighter weight than possible alternatives. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

The particulars are as follow:

The steel was of Carnegie section channels of following sizes: 6 in. by 1.92 in. weighing 8 lbs. per foot. 9 in. by 2.43 in. weighing 13.25 lbs. per foot. 12 in. by 2.94 in. weighing 20.50 lbs. per foot. 15 in. by 3.40 in. weighing 33 lbs. per foot.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that char-a-banc parties from the Torquay district are being taken off the main road and conveyed through the Princeton prison grounds, with the object of passengers obtaining a view of convicts at work; and, in view of the probable effects of this upon the convicts, will ho consider making an order prohibiting it?

Sightseers are not allowed in the prison grounds, and the prison authorities do all they can to prevent such persons watching convicts at work, but I cannot prohibit traffic on the public high roads.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to the deaths of four men engaged in boiler scaling at Hawarden Bridge, Shotton. Cheshire, on 19th July, owing to steam being turned into the boiler accidentally; and if he will consider the desirability of making an order requiring that men engaged in this dangerous work shall be safeguarded by the provision of an attendant during the time they are engaged inside boilers?

I have received a report from the Factory Department on this most unfortunate accident. Accidents of this kind are happily very rare, as adequate precautions are usually taken while such work is being done, but I will certainly consult with my advisers as to what steps can be taken to prevent the recurrence of such accidents. I am inclined to think the best course will be to include a provision in the new Factory Bill with the other provisions for securing the safe working of boilers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of all products and manufactures, whether wholly or partially manufactured, consigned to this country from the United States, Germany, France and the Dominions, respectively, for the years ended 31st December, 1923 and 1924; and the total amount of British products and manufactures consigned to the above countries covering the same periods?

The following statement shows the declared values of the total imports consigned from, and the total exports consigned to, the countries specified: — 1923. 1924. 1,000 £ 1,000 £ ( a ) Imports into the United Kingdom: Consigned from: United States 210,724 241,991 Germany 34,994 36,897 France 58,462 66,532 Canada 53,380 66,063 Union of South Africa. 15,354 18,049 Australia 49,005 59,234 Now Zealand 42,966 47,021 Irish Free State 32,728* 51,239 ( b ) Exports of the Produce and Manufacture of the United Kingdom: Consigned to: United States 59,700 53,192 Germany 42,624 42,645 France 49,258 41,778 Canada 27,558 28,150 Union of South Africa. 27,844 30,266 Australia 57,700 60,760 New Zealand 20,696 20,319 Irish Free State 24,639* 42,372 * For 9 months from 1st April, 1923, only.

All the foregoing figures, together with corresponding figures of imports from and exports to further countries, are given in Tables VIII and IX of the Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom for January last (H. C. 13)

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give Returns showing the total number, tonnage, and nationality of foreign vessels cleared from the coaling ports of Great Britain during the year 1913 and 1924, respectively?

The following statement shows the number, net tonnage, and nationality of foreign vessels that departed with cargo in the foreign trade from ports of Great Britain, where coal is a principal export, during each of the years 1913 and 1924:

Nationality of Vessels. 1913. 1924. No. Net Tons. No. Net Tons. Swedish … 3,510 2,706,767 2,436 1,745,984 Norwegian … 6,112 4,032,343 3,633 2,595,130 Danish … 3,211 2,277,243 2,289 1,840,324 Germany … 3,497 3,100,022 2,226 1,707,195 Dutch … 1,476 1,113,350 1,624 1,395,018 Belgian … 236 179,518 572 476,469 French … 2,125 1,390,485 2,868 3,059,245 Spanish … 1,030 1,432,612 770 1,278,575 Italian … 467 921,500 331 808,677 Greek … 556 1,045,325 418 796,358 U.S.A. … 1 3,324 62 210,799 Japanese … 2 5,144 30 127,178 Other Foreign Nationalities … 1,225 1,614,141 801 1,014,873 Total … 23,448 19,821,774 18,060 17,055,825 NOTE.—The figures for 1924 are subject to slight amendment.

The following have been taken as ports of Great Britain where coal is a principal export:—

Berwick W. Hartlepool Alloa Blyth Hull Ayr Boston King's Lynn Bo'ness Cardiff Llanelly Burntisland Gloucester Newport Grangemouth Goole Port Talbot Granton Grimsby (including Immingham) Preston Kirkcaldy Sunderland Leith Swansea Methil Tyne Ports Troon

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, as there are to-day no British firms producing and selling oxalic acid, he can state the reason for the continued duty of 33 per cent. on imports of this commodity from abroad?

Oxalic acid is included in the lists issued under Section 1 (5) of the Safeguarding of Industries Act as a fine chemical and a synthetic organic chemical. There is no power to exempt from liability to duty any commodity falling under any of the general headings in the Schedule to the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which Department is the responsible one for advising him whether Colonial railways should be constructed by his Department or by private enterprise; is the opinion of the Crown Agents for the Colonies consulted; how many times during the last five years the Crown Agents have been consulted; and what was the advice given by them?

Responsibility for advising the Secretary of State on such questions rests primarily with the Colonial Government concerned. In appropriate cases the Crown Agents for the Colonies would also be consulted. During the last five years only one reference to the Crown Agents on this specific point has been made. In that instance, the Crown Agents recommended that the work should be carried out by contract, as the territory did not possess an organised railway construction department.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of men and their rank who have been discharged from the Army suffering from tuberculosis for 1922, 1923, and 1924; and what degree of compensation is awarded?

The following is a statement of the total number of men discharged on account of tubercular diseases in each of the years named; the figures cannot be given by ranks: Number discharged on account of tubercular diseases. 1922 … … … 277 1923 … … … 256 1924 … … … 199

As regards the question of compensation, pension would be granted in cases where the disease is attributable to military service, the amount depending on the degree of disability and the man's rank and service. I would refer the hon. Member to Articles 1030 and 1031 of the Pay Warrant, 1922, for particulars.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the cost of maintenance of Air Services for 1924 in Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States?

As regards Great Britain, I would refer the hon. Member to the Air Estimates for 1924–25. As regards the other countries named, Germany is forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles to maintain any military or naval air forces, and no information is available as to the Russian expenditure. As regards France and the United States, for the reasons which I gave in my reply of 23rd February last to the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley (Mr. Lansbury) in regard to France, and which apply also to the United States, it is impossible to segregate the expenditure of these countries upon their Air Services from their general naval and military expenditure.