asked the Minister of Labour the number of cases of applicants for unemployment benefit which have been before the local rota committee and recommended for benefit by those committees and subsequently disallowed by the divisional controller during the first six months of this year?

I regret that I cannot give this information. I may mention that in the comparatively small number of cases in which the recommendation of rota committees are not accepted, the decision is commonly given by headquarters, or follows decisions in similar cases previously so given.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to state the result of his inquiries respecting the disallowance of unemployed benefit of workers suspended by certain Wednesbury employers during the period of stocktaking?

I find that benefit was disallowed by the insurance officer in the first instance on the ground that the works had closed for a period of customary holiday. The claims of the employés of two of the three firms concerned have now been allowed on appeal. The appeal on behalf of the employés of the third firm is being heard by the Court of Referees this week. I will notify the hon. Member of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of cases dealt with by the Employment Exchange in the Borough of Southwark; what is the number of staff engaged in the office; and the total number of hours of overtime worked in the office during the months of April, May and June, respectively?

I am not clear to what figures the first part of the question refers. The number of persons on the live register at the Exchange at the present time is, approximately, 7,700, while the number of staff is 62. The total number of hours' overtime worked during April, May and June was 34½, 33½ and 31, respectively, an average of, approximately, half an hour per head per month.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Employment Exchange office at John-stone is quite unsuitable for the work transacted there, being unhealthy and dirty: and whether, having regard to the well-being of the staff, he can take any steps with a view to improving the existing conditions?

I am not aware that the existing premises of the Johnstone Exchange are unhealthy or dirty, but they are unsuitable and negotiations for the provision of alternative accommodation are in hand.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Grimsby Employment Exchange has no

Claims to Unemployment Benefit at the Govan Employment Exchange . Months Fresh and Repeat Claims to Benefit. Applications rejected on the ground that Claimants Were not genuinely seeking work. Were not making reasonable efforts to obtain employment. 1925. January … … 1,734 2 112 February … … 2,061 2 230 March … … 2,457 3 63 April … … 1,936 19 253 May … … 2,205 9 121 June … … 2,058 11 133 Total … … 13,351 46 912

washing accommodation for the male staff; and whether he will make inquiries and see whether such accommodation can be provided?

It is not the case that there is no washing accommodation for the male staff; but improved facilities will be provided by means of certain alterations now in process of being made.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applicants for unemployment benefit received at the Govan Employment Exchange in each of the first six months of this year, and the number in each month, respectively, who were refused benefit on the ground that they were not genuinely seeking whole-time employment?

During the six months ended June the number of claims, including repeat claims made by the same individuals, made at the Govan Employment Exchange, was 13,351, while the number of persons refused benefit on the ground that they were not genuinely seeking work was 46. In addition, 912 persons were refused benefit on the ground that they were not making a reasonable effort to obtain employment. I should mention that in acordance with the Act of last year the employment sought need not now be "whole-time," in order to satisfy the condition here refered to. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement showing the details for each month.

Following is the statement referred to:

asked the Home Secretary how many deported men during the last year have been detected as having returned; and whether, in view of the cost of expelling these undesirables and deporting them so frequently, he will consider the introduction of legislation to permit of the levying of heavier fines on their personal effects before they are re-deported?

Three of the 234 aliens deported during the last twelve months have again been found in this country. The Aliens Order provides that any money or property of an alien in respect of whom a deportation order is made may be applied towards the expenses of or incidental to the voyage from the United Kingdom, and this course is adopted wherever possible.

asked the Home Secretary what is the proportion of aliens to the total population in Great Britain: if he can give any figures showing, as nearly as can be ascertained, the corresponding proportion in the case of France; what is the proportion of the unemployed in Great Britain to the total population; and what is, as nearly as can be ascertained, the corresponding figure for France?

The percentage of aliens in the general population of Great Britain was 0'59 according to the 1921 Census and 3.96 in France in the same year. I regret I cannot give any later figures. As regards the proportion of unemployed, I can only suggest that the hon. Member should consult the Minister of Labour.

asked the Home Secretary what were the kinds of employment substituted for stone pounding in prisons where there was only a small amount of garden or ground available?

The kinds of employment substituted for stone pounding are wood chopping and the manufacture of various articles for use by prisons and Government Departments.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he can give the estimated surplus stocks of coal in all the coal-producing countries of Europe?

The latest available information is as follows:

Germany .— About 10,000,000 (metric) tons were reported to be held at the end of June at collieries in the Ruhr or by the Ruhr Coal Syndicate. Coke formed some part of these stocks.

Belgium .—At the end of May 1.8 million (metric) tons were held at collieries. Since then stocks have increased and probably exceed 2,000,000 tons at the present time.

Czechoslovakia .—In February, 1925, nearly 300,000 (metric) tons of coal were held at the pits.

Russia .—In February, 1925, the stocks of coal at the mines were 2.03 million (metric) tons.

I regret that information about other coalfields is not available.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he can give the consumption of purely domestic coal in this country during each of the last five years?

The normal annual average of consumption of domestic coal, including miners' coal, may be estimated to be about 40,000,000 tons.

asked the Secretary for Mines what action the Government has taken or is taking towards promoting the processes for the extraction of oil from coal?

I have nothing to add to the statements on this subject which have previously been made on behalf of the Government?

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that, owing to scarcity of coke, blast furnaces at Moss Bay have been closed down; and can he give the number of coke ovens not working in Great Britain?

I cannot say what is the number of idle coke-ovens at the present, time, but I do not think there is any general scarcity of metallurgical coke. The shortage in Cumberland appears to be due to local disputes at the coal mines.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed that any miners actually out of employment at the time of the recent settlement, owing to the closing down of the pits wherein they worked, shall secure re-employment as the result of any financial assistance on the part of the Government to the mining industry; and, if so, whether the sums which otherwise would have been paid to these men in the shape of unemployment benefit will be paid by the Fund to the Treasury to form part of such Government aid to the industry in general?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the White Paper issued to-day which deals with this point. As regards the last part of the question, there is no power to make any such payment as is suggested from the Unemployment Fund.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the desirability of raising the money needed for the coal trade subsidy by a tax the yield of which should be earmarked for the purpose, so that those who have to pay it may realise the burden these subsidies throw on other industries?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, in consequence of a small-pox scare at Saltley, Birmingham, in June, the district medical officer required the children of the neighbourhood to be vaccinated or re-vaccinated; whether any of them were vaccinated by the public vaccinator at St. Mark's church room, Washwood Heath; if so, how many; whether he is aware that several of the children suffered severely with swollen and inflamed arms and severe fever, and that Alfred Lowe, of 34, Cranby Street, Saltley, aged 13, has been in Dudley Road hospital for a month and is still suffering from the effects of the operation; that William Hodges, of 2, back of 24, Cranby Street, was dangerously ill after vaccination, and has apparently been mentally affected by the operation; that Florrie Hodges, aged 18, after fever and a bad arm following vaccination, has a rash all over the body, with swelling of the neck, lips and fingers each morning; and that Benjamin Cross, back of 26, Cranby Street, was very ill with fever after the operation was performed; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into these matters?

I have no information as to the cases to which the hon. Member refers, but I am causing inquiry to be made.

asked the Minister of Health the number of new houses erected by the Brierley Hill urban district council, Rowley Regis urban district council, Quarry Bank urban district councill Amblecote urban district council, and Kingswinford rural district council, respectively, and by private enterprise, respectively, since 1st January, 1919, and the estimated number of new houses required to meet the prevailing shortage in each area?

The following table shows the numbers of new houses erected in each of the districts in question since 1st January, 1919: District Number of Houses completed. With state Assistance. By Private Enterprises without state Assistance* By Local Authorities. By Private Enterprise. Brierley Hill U. 185 2 7 Rowley Regis U. 224 58 54 Quarry Bank U. 64 1 6 Amblecote U. 24 7 6 Kingswinford R. 114 25 51 *These particulars are for the 2½ years ended 31st March, 1925.

Information is not available as to the number of houses now required in each of these districts.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what arrangements, if any, were made with regard to rent arrears with the purchasers of the houses on the Abbots-mead estate, Barrow-in-Furness; on what terms were such arrears taken over by the new owners; did they permit of threatened proceedings against unemployed tenants on account of arrears which accumulated under the ownership of the Office of Works; and to whom were these houses sold?

The arrears were sold at two-thirds of their value, and the purchasers of course have the usual landlord's rights to recover them. The estate was sold to the Provincial Garden Cities, Ltd.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, in view of the unemployment prevailing in engineering and machine construction industries, he will reconsider the advisability of granting export credits to those British firms who are willing to undertake contracts with the Soviet Government of Russia for the supply of machinery of various descriptions?

I can add nothing to the answer which was given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for the Western Isles (Mr. Livingstone) on the. 1st April on the subject of trade with Russia.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received from the Barnsley chamber of trade a communication registering the chamber's protest against the introduction of the cash-on-delivery scheme; and whether the Government contemplate legislation thereon?

My right hon. Friend has received the communica- tion to which the hon. Member refers. The question of introducing a cash-on-delivery scheme is still under inquiry by the Government, and I cannot at present add anything to the statement on the subject which my right hon. Friend made in this House on the 20th of July.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the value of the present stock of hops held by the Hop Control; the value of the stock it is estimated will be held when the control terminates; and how he proposes to deal with that stock?

I am informed that the stock of hops at present held by the Hop Controller was originally valued at, approximately, £700,000. The hops have depreciated in store, to some extent, and it would be difficult to give an estimate of their present value until the effects of the removal of control have been seen. With regard to the latter part of the question, I have invited the Hop Controller to maintain an organisation to dispose of these hops, with the advice of a small committee representative of the growers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the increased rents, which are being demanded by the Crown as a result of the rebuilding of Regent Street, are paid into the Exchequer?

The whole of the net revenue of the Crown estates, which includes the rents of Regent Street property, is paid into the Exchequer, in relief of taxation. I desire to add, in order to remove a misconception which exists in some minds, that the Sovereign has no personal interest in the administration of the Crown estates, the revenue of which has been collected on the public account since 1 Geo. 3, cap. 1, by which Act His Majesty surrendered the land revenues of the Crown, other than those of the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that in Lancaster certain non-provided schools, erected with private funds and under ecclesiastical control, received notice, dated the 24th February, that the recognition of the Board of Education ought to be withdrawn in the absence of required structural alterations, the nature of which has not been disclosed; and whether he will grant facilities to the managers of such schools to study the Reports indicating the structural defects which have caused action to be taken in the direction of threatening a withdrawal of recognition of their schools?

Statements indicating the structural defects in the schools referred to are being forwarded to the local education authority. I may, however, remind my hon. Friend that the Board's letter of 24th February last was not intended to convey their final decision upon these schools; its object was to place before the authority, with a view to full discussion with them and the managers, the cases of schools which appeared to the Board, on the information before them, to be in varying degrees unsuitable for their present purposes.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is yet in a position to give particulars of the speed and armament of the cruiser minelayer "Adventure"?

In accordance with the general practice, the design particulars of this vessel will be given in the Estimates for the year in which she is expected to complete, viz., 1926–27.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state what is the weight of shell thrown by the 7.75-inch guns of the "Effingham" and the 6.8-inch guns of the "Furulata," respectively?

The weight of shell that can be thrown from the seven 7.5 guns of H.M.S. "Effingham" is 1,400 lbs. As, however, she can only fire six guns on each broadside, the weight of her broadside is 1,200 lbs. According to my present information, the weight of the broadside of H.I.J.M.S. "Furulata" is 1,560 lbs.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, besides the three cruisers now under construction, we have 48 cruisers in commission, as stated by him, or 49, as shown in the Fleet Return for 1925 issued some months ago?

The number of effective cruisers of the British Empire (not all of which are in commission) is 48. The number 49 shown in the Fleet Return for 1925 included the Royal Canadian Ship "Aurora," which has been partly dismantled.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether His Majesty's Ships "Worcester," "Wren," and "Whitehall," which have been ordered to Gibraltar, will be engaged on patrol duties off the coast of Morocco?

By Article 4 of the Tangier Convention of 1923, patrol of the territorial waters in the Tangier zone to prevent smuggling of arms will be carried out jointly by the naval forces of Great Britain, Spain and France. It has now been agreed between the three Powers that a patrol should be set up for this purpose and the details are being discussed in Paris. The three vessels referred to, together with His Majesty's Ship "Witch," have been ordered to Gibraltar and will form a force from which the patrolling vessels will be drawn. They will not patrol off other parts of the Moroccan coasts.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many requests were submitted to the Welfare Committee on behalf of the lower deck, and how many of these were granted; what was the nature of the requests granted and what will be the cost to the State; and will he place in the Library, for the information of Members, the whole of the 1924 welfare requests and the Admiralty reply?

The total number of requests put forward at the Welfare Conference, 1924, was 286. Some of the requests were approved outright and some only partially; in other cases action had already been taken independently at the Admiralty, and in some instances the request merely required an explanation, which was given. In the circumstances it is hardly practicable to answer the second part of the question, but I will with pleasure have a copy of the requests and of the Admiralty replies placed in the Library for the information of Members-The cost to the State cannot be calculated with any exactness, but may be taken roughly at about £500 a year.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether His Majesty's Government has received any application from the Soviet Government with reference to the funds in British banks, which were formerly the property of the late Imperial and Provisional Governments of Russia; and whether ho proposes to take any steps in the matter?

RETURN showing the Exports of British and Irish Spirits from the United Kingdom to each Country of Destination included under "Other Foreign Countries," in Annual Statement of Trade, during the years 1922,1923 and 1924. Country of Destination. Year 1922. Year 1923. Year 1924. Proof Gallons. Proof Gallons. Proof Gallons. Russia … 230 751 487 Finland … 538 3,242 3,329 Esthonia … 103 69 54 Latvia … 63 109 873 Lithuania … 2 9 15 Iceland … 67 117 226 Poland (including Danzig) … 2,144 1,282 668 Dutch Borneo … 252 111 659 Dutch New Guinea … 15 — — Other Dutch Possessions in Indian Seas … 6,838 6,573 8,862 Dutch West India Islands … 11,802 55,124 20,872 Dutch Guiana … 2,476 1,543 276 Luxemburg … 6 1 8 Algeria … 951 5,403 3,872 Tunis … 2 97 192 French Somaliland … 1,146 921 215 Madagascar … 15 1,391 614 Reunion … — 1,089 — Syria … 3,028 801 3,133

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and accordingly the second part does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has taken steps to deal with the German reply; and whether he has any information to give to the House on the subject?

The German Note of the 20th of July is at present the subject of discussion between the Allied Powers concerned. Pending the result of these discussions, my right hon. Friend is not in a position to make a statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in regard to British and Irish spirits exported to other foreign countries to the extent of 775,082 proof gallons in 1923 as against 289,864 in 1922, he can state the foreign countries to which the increased quantity has been exported; and what is the quantity exported in 1924?

The information requested is given in the following table: Country of Destination. Year 1922. Year 1923. Year 1924. Proof Gallons. Proof Gallons. Proof Gallons. French Possessions in India … 37 16 — French Indo-China … 61 12,790 102 French Possessions in Pacific … 520 426 964 St. Pierre and Miquelon … 118,880 499,797 409,966 French West India Islands … 76 — — Switzerland … 7,221 15,012 11,849 Portugal … 3,309 3,439 1,411 Azores … 259 480 671 Madeira … 2,074 1,892 3,051 Portuguese West Africa … 3,545 2,323 2,050 Portuguese Possessions in India … 1,046 742 1,083 Canary Islands … 5,987 6,356 8,523 Spanish Ports in North Africa … 288 239 236 Spanish West Africa … 335 184 446 Italy … 11,488 10,832 15,477 Tripoli … 129 7 38 Italian East Africa … 137 187 219 Fiume … 5 15 — Austria … 714 1,243 2,249 Hungary … 27 60 77 Czechoslovakia … 496 1,500 1,589 Serb-Croat-Slovene State … 155 366 333 Greece … 3,403 2,253 2,924 Crete … — 2 1 Albania … — 3 1 Bulgaria … 5 85 77 Smyrna … 594 — — Rumania … 169 95 131 Armenia … — 8 — Liberia … 1,502 2,094 1,427 Abyssinia … — 297 505 Arabia Muscat Territory and Trurial Oman … 1,066 1,451 935 Arabia Other Native States … — 3 8 Persia … 6,206 10,948 11,473 Afghanistan … — 16 — Korea … 2,156 895 876 Islands in Pacific (not elsewhere specified) … — 65 177 Hayti … 5,581 9,261 6,001 St. Domingo … 13,037 4,560 6,951 Guatemala … 8,098 12,162 86,090 Honduras (not British) … 11,619 15,516 161,185 San Salvador … 2,715 3,203 19,093 Nicaragua … 6,496 23,222 65,402 Costa Rica … 3,679 3,033 34,904 Panama … 19,476 23,132 24,785 Venezuela … 7,966 11,382 9,842 Ecuador … 2,425 4,715 4,992 Bolivia … 7,098 10,115 5,536 Paraguay … 100 101 — Whale Fisheries—Southern … — — 8 289,864 775,082 948,013 NOTE.—From 1st April, 1923, the direct foreign trade of the Irish Free State has been excluded from this Return.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in regard to British and Irish spirits exported to other British Possessions to the extent of 423,124 gallons in 1923 as against 202,652 in 1922, he can state the other

British Possessions to which the increased quantity has been exported; and what is the quantity exported in 1924?

The information requested is given in the following table:

RETURN showing the Exports of British and Irish Spirits from the United Kingdom to each Country of Destination included under "Other British Possessions" in Annual Statement of Trade, during the Tears 1922, 1923 and 1924. Country of Destination. Year 1922. Year 1923. Year 1924. Proof Gallons. Proof Gallons. Proof Gallons. Gibraltar … … 12,005 9,817 9,471 Cyprus … … 1,392 1,538 1,033 Palestine … … 11,005 4,157 4,445 Ascension … … 608 807 1,320 St. Helena … … 644 708 646 Protectorate of South West, Africa … … 1,402 2,508 2,560 Orange Free State … … 809 495 882 Rhodesia … … 16,771 19,659 23,165 Bechuanaland and Protectorate … … 38 152 228 Somaliland Protectorate … … 98 111 17 Anglo-Egyptian Sudan … … 16,800 18,073 17,497 Mauritius and Dependencies … … 6,157 8,457 9,838 Seychelles … … 890 1,312 1,115 Aden and Dependencies … … 5,819 5,102 4,054 Iraq … … 27,772 29,00 23,320 British North Borneo … … 5,503 5,806 5,114 Brunei … … — 16 10 Sarawak … … 1,507 1,979 1,311 Wei-hai-wei … … 113 52 — Territory of Papua … … 1,279 2,264 2,943 Nauru and British Samoa … … — 3 24 Fiji Islands … … 8,178 9,317 12,232 Other Islands in the Pacific (British) … … 562 495 665 Newfoundland and Coast of Labrador … … 11,748 32,179 157,350 Bermudas … … 41,124 224,468 95,378 British Honduras … … 12,576 20,500 7,538 British Guiana … … 16,292 22,131 14,354 Falkland Islands … … 1,561 2,009 4,906 202,652 423,124 402,622 NOTE.—From 1st April, 1923, the direct foreign trade of the Irish Free State has been excluded from this Return.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the aggregates of the valuations of landed properties brought under review for purposes of Income Tax under Schedule A; what were the total receipts of Income Tax under that Schedule in England and Wales and in Scotland, respectively, for the financial year 1924–25, apart from personal allowances and other deductions which are applicable to Income Tax as a whole: and what are the estimated corresponding receipts under that Schedule at the present rate of Income Tax in these countries, respectively, for the present financial year?

The approximate gross annual values of all properties brought under review for the purposes of Income Tax Schedule A for the year 1923–24 were as follows: £ England and Wales … 319,800,000 Scotland … 36,500,000 Great Britain … 356,300,000

Corresponding figures for the year 1924–25 are not yet available.

I regret that, under the present system of graduation and differentiation of the Income Tax, with personal allowances, deductions, and relief appurtenant, not to the various sources of income charged under each Schedule, but to the total income of the taxpayer, the total yield cannot be divided between the respective Schedules.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that in assessing Income Tax it is the practice to make deductions from the £25 relief allowance in respect of maintenance of a dependent relative; and on what grounds is this relief granted by Act of Parliament not allowed wholly, but only in part?

I think that the cases to which the hon. Member refers are probably cases which fall within Subsection (2) of Section 22 of the Finance Act, 1920. The effect of this Sub-section is that where a dependent relative is jointly maintained by two or more persons, the deduction of £25 is to be apportioned between such persons in proportion to the amount of value of their respective contributions towards the maintenance. If, however, the cases which the hon. Member has in mind are not of this nature, I shall be happy to look into the matter if he will give me particulars of specific cases.