asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give the figures of the death rate percentage for the years 1922, 1923 and 1924, in Singapore and Penang, attributable to tuberculosis; whether bad housing is in any way responsible; and what steps are being taken to prevent overcrowding and to deal with the disease generally?

The death rates per 1,000 for the years 1922, 1923 and 1924 in Singapore and Penang, attributable to tuberculosis, were as follow:

			Singapore	Penang.
1922	…	…	3·77	3·81
1923	…	…	3·16	3·57
1924	…	…	2·36	3·89

There can be no doubt that overcrowding plays an important part in the spread of this disease. In Singapore, as far as Europeans are concerned, the housing situation shows a steady improvement. In a recent despatch the Officer Administering the Government reported that, as a result of the action taken by the Government, the Municipality, the Harbour Board and, on a smaller scale, by the mercantile firms for housing their officers, the housing difficulty may be considered solved for Europeans.The prevention of overcrowding among the general population presents a much more difficult problem.A general scheme for the relief of overcrowding in congested areas has, however, been prepared. Steps have been taken to acquire large areas of land for building sites, and the Colonial Government proposes to set aside a sum. of $10,000,000 to finance these operations.A draft Town Improvement Bill is also at present under consideration by the Municipal Commissioners.I regret that I am not in possession of any recent information in regard to housing conditions in Penang, or in regard to any special steps being taken to deal with this particular disease, other than the housing measures referred to above.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet considered the proposal made to him by a deputation from the General Council of the Trades Union Congress on 13th May that arrangements should be made by which old age pensions could be paid to settlers leaving this country to join their families in British overseas territories; and, if so, whether any such arrangements can be made?

This matter will be considered by the Inter-Departmental Committee which has been appointed to consider how far the existing provisions for old age pensions and for National Health and Unemployment Insurance tend to discourage migration from this country to the oversea Dominions and in what manner any adverse effect can best be counteracted.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in calculating the means, for old age pension purposes, of a person with in- vestments of £500 and over, the actual income accruing from investments is taken; or whether it is the practice of his Department to charge the first £350 at 5 per cent. and the remainder at 10 per cent.?

The method of calculating means from invested capital or other property not personally used or enjoyed is prescribed by Section 4 (1) (a) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1919. Under that enactment the first £25 of the capital value of such property is excluded from the calculation; the yearly value of the next £375 is calculated at 5 per cent.; and the yearly value of the remainder is calculated at 10 per cent. of the capital value. The means so calculated are now subject to a material reduction under the Old Age Pensions Act, 1924, which provides for a deduction not exceeding £39 to be made from such part of a person's means as is not derived from earnings.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether ho can give any figures showing what expenditure on Government contracts is made with Scottish firms, or with firms employing Scottish labour?

I have consulted the principal Government Departments and am informed that the figures are not available, and could be obtained only by dot-ailed investigation of large numbers of contracts. I regret I do not feel justified in authorising the expenditure of the considerable amount of time, and labour which would be required for the collection of the information sought by the hon. and gallant Gentleman.

asked the President of the Hoard of Education how many elementary schools in this country now in use have been condemned as unfit for the purposes of education; how many such schools have been replaced during the present year; and whether be has any plans for improving the existing elementary school equipment of the country?

The number of cases in which the Board's recognition of the premises of public elementary schools in their present condition has been limited to a definite period is 42. One replacement of such premises took place during the present year. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my statement on this subject on the 23rd July last in Committee: of Supply on the Board's Vote.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many public residential schools have been condemned as unfit for the purpose of education?

So far as I know, none.

asked the Home Secretary the number of British nationals who emigrated from this country to places other than the British Dominions during the nine months ending 30th September, 1925?

I have been asked to reply. The number of British subjects who were recorded as leaving permanent residence in the United Kingdom to take up permanent residence in non-European countries outside the British Empire during the nine months ended 30th September, 1925, was 27,061.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has been in communication with the Dominions in the last few months regarding the subject of the nationality of British women who marry aliens; generally, what the position in regard to this matter now is; and whether the Government proposes any legislation on the subject?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The present position is that the views of the Governments of some of the Self-Governing Dominions on certain outstanding points have not yet been ascertained. When the replies to the communications which have been sent to the Dominions are complete, the various proposals for the alteration of the law relating to the nationality of married women will be fully considered, with a view to an early decision as to any legislation that may be thought necessary.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider legislation with a view to preventing the activities of bogus auctioneers who open auction rooms with a view to selling cheap jewellery at extortionate prices?

I am afraid that I cannot hold out any hope that the Government will be able to introduce legislation on this subject at present.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Home Department as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether any steps have been taken to alleviate the conditions under which the staff of the City 26th Tax District, Salisbury House, London Wall, E.C.2, are still working; and whether he is aware that the complaints recently made have been aggravated by staff increase?

The first Commissioner is aware that the condition under which the staff in question are working is unsatisfactory and that they have been aggravated by staff increase. It has been considered inadvisable to effect a re-allocation of staff in Salisbury House pending consideration of a grouping scheme, but in view of the delay in reaching a decision stops will be taken to improve the conditions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, the equipment of foreign origin or manufacture, with their quantities and values, under orders outstanding on 1st November, 1924, and under orders placed subsequently for the Office of Works: and if he will state in respect of each of such orders the circumstances which necessitated a foreign source of supply?

The following statement is a summary of equipment of foreign origin or manufacture purchased by the Office of Works since 1st November, 1924, including orders outstanding on that date:

	£	s.	d.
1. Tools, and miscellaneous small items	1,151	5	7
2. Carpets, rugs, etc	1,533	19	9
3. Material or training factories	1,146	3	0
4. Glassware	515	12	0
5. Engineering equipment	1,470	0	0
6. Miscellaneous	583	5	4
	6,400	5	8

These purchases, which represent a very inconsiderable proportion of the total purchases of the Department, have been made generally in cases where satisfactory articles of English manufacture could not be obtained. In a small number of cases the difference in cost has been so considerable as to be decisive. Effective preference is given to British products, and all cases of purchase of foreign goods are subject to special review. The above statement does not include purchases made by contractors, in formation as to which cannot be obtained, but British materials are specified unless in exceptional circumstances. Certain materials, such as timber and asphalte, are, of course, normally imported.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware of the continued delay in improving the temporary additional accommodation provided for the staff of the Blackpool Second Tax District, which is inconvenient to the public, in addition to being insanitary, dirty and overcrowded; and whether tenders for the rebulding have actually been received?

The First Commissioner regret the delay in commencing the extension of the main building in which the Blackpool Second Tax District is housed. No tender was received in response to advertisements inserted in the Press in August last, but tenders, obtained by invitation, are now under consideration.

asked the Minister of Pensions what provision for further employment has been made for the temporary staff of the North-Western and Midland regions, following the closing of the regions and the transfer of the papers to London?

The temporary ex-service staff at the North-Western Regional Headquarters number 205, and at the Midlands Headquarters, 187. Of the former, 148 (72 per cent.) and of the latter 143 (76 per cent.) have been transferred to London with their work, to other offices of the Ministry, or to other Government Departments. As regards the remainder, who either refused to accept transfer or whose claims to retention were inferior, particulars have been supplied to the appropriate Divisional Selection Committees of the Ministry of Labour for consideration in connection with any suitable vacancies which may occur in other Departments.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can give the number of valuers in the Land Valuation Department and the salaries received by them, and the number of clerks, temporary and permanent, and the salaries received by the same?

The number of valuers in the Valuation Office is 354 and their salaries amount to £254,000, inclusive of bonus. The corresponding figures for clerks, established and temporary, are respectively 59 and £16,000 and 306 and £66,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to state the total amount of British capital invested in the Russian oil wells; whether the oil wells were purchased by the companies owning them or whether the companies were given concessions by the Czarist Government; and whether any price was paid for the concessions either in a lump sum or yearly?

No official information is available as to the amount of British capital invested in the Russian oil industry. Oil wells originally are not usually purchased in any country as going concerns. The normal method of development in Russia under the Czarist régime was for a grant of a right to work the wells over an area subject to a rent or royalty. In most cases large sums of British money have been used to discover, sink and equip the wells before any oil was obtained.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the view expressed at a meeting of the joint industrial council of the boot and shoe industry regarding the use of compressed brown paper in the manufacture of footwear; and will he consider legislation with a view to all footwear appearing with the registered brand of the manufacturer, setting forth the component parts of the boot or shoe?

I understand that a resolution to this effect was passed at the meeting, and I will see that the suggestion is considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he proposes to make it a statutory offence to use misleading price tickets on food, fruit, and vegetables on which the right weight or measure is concealed?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave on 25th November to the hon. Member for Southwark Central (Colonel Day), a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can tell the House how many new iron barges have been purchased in this country which have been made abroad, and from what countries, during the last four years; the number for each year; and the tonnage and price per ton paid for the same respectively?

Iron barges are not separately recorded in the Trade Returns of the United Kingdom, but are included under the general heading of "Iron or steel boats and vessels without means of propulsion other than oars."

Year and Country whence Consigned.						Total Imports
						Number of Vessels.	Tonnage (Gross).	Declared Value thereof.	Average Value per ton (Gross).
Total Imports Consigned from All Countries—								£	£
1921	…	…	…	…	…	7	892	9,235	10·3
1922	…	…	…	…	…	31	4,479	41,575	9·3
1923	…	…	…	…	…	103	10,088	95,766	9·5
1924	…	…	…	…	…	105	6,937	93,858	13·5
Consigned from the Netherlands (included above)—
1921	…	…	…	…	…	5	892	9,200	10·3
1922	…	…	…	…	…	30	4,249	38,075	9·0
1923	…	…	…	…	…	89	9,234	86,369	9·4
1924	…	…	…	…	…	105	6,937	93,858	13·5
Consigned from Other Countries (included above)—
1921:	Belgium	…	…	…	…	2	Insignificant	35	Cannot be given.
1922:	Poland	…	…	…	…	1	230	3,500	15·2
1923:	Norway	…	…	…	…	2	4	120	30·0
	Germany	…	…	…	…	8	550	4,277	7·8
	France	…	…	…	…	4	300	5,000	16·7
Total, Other Countries, 1923						14	854	9,397	11·0
1924	…	…	…	…	…	—	—	—	—

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is encouraging visits to France by Territorial officers; and what arrangements are made by his Department for their guidance and instruction whilst travelling over former battlefields?

Permission has been given for three parties of Territorial officers to visit the battlefields in France and Flanders during the past training season. Each party has been under the guidance and instruction of the general officer commanding the Territorial Division or other senior officer.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India whether he

My Noble Friend the Secretary of State has seen the comments from certain quarters in India to which the hon. Member refers in the first part of his question. The Royal Commission includes four Indian members. Its constitution received most careful consideration, and my Noble Friend is not prepared to recommend any addition to its personnel.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India if he will give the monthly figures showing the purchase of Council drafts and reverse Council drafts during each month of 1924 and 1925?

The figures relating to remittances from India are

Month.			Sales of Bills and Telegraphic Transfers in London.	Purchases in London of proceeds of loans raised in London by Indian public bodies.	Purchases of Sterling in India.
1924			£	£	£
January	…	…	011,588	—	590,000
February	…	…	10,645	—	950,000
March	…	…	—	—	625,000
April	…	…	—	—	5,130,000
May	…	…	—	—	800,000
June	…	…	—	—	2,185,000
July	…	…	—	700,000	3,705,000
August	…	…	—	—	1,295,000
September	…	…	370,626	—	5,195,000
October	…	…	2,058,780	—	9,250,000
November	…	…	224,883	—	850,000
December	…	…	2,273,363	—	4,136,000
Total	…	…	5,549,885	700,000	34,711,000
1925.
January	…	…	562,760	—	645,000
February	…	…	1,308,750	—	—
March	…	…	780,000	—	—
April	…	…	—	—	—
May	…	…	—	—	885,000
June	…	…	—	—	7,566,000
July	…	…	—	—	1,475,000
August	…	…	—	—	3,945,000
September	…	…	—	—	6,677,500
October	…	…	—	—	4,653,000
November	…	…	—	—	4,075,000
Total	…	…	2,651,510	—	29,921,500

asked the Minister of Transport the total number of licences to drive road vehicles issued during the current year; the income derived therefrom; and similar figures for 1924?

The approximate number of drivers' licences issued during the twelve months ending 30th November, 1924 (which is in effect the calendar year for this purpose) was 1,644,000, and the approximate amount received in respect of these licences was £411,000. The figures for the 11 months ending 31st October, 1925, are 1,810,000 and £452,000 respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider regu-

I have had under consideration for some time the issue of an official book or pamphlet on the subject. In the meantime I am drawing the attention of licensing authorities to a booklet published by the National "Safety First" Association entitled "Safe Motoring" and have suggested that they should consider the desirability of distributing a copy of this booklet with each driving licence issued. The Association have been good enough to offer to supply copies to licensing authorities, for the time being, free of cost for the purpose. The booklet contains much useful information with regard to the rules and courtesies of the road, and I hope that its wide distribution will have beneficial results.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the volume and the

Country Whence Imported, etc.	1913.	1923.		1924.		1925. (Jan.-Oct.).
	(i) Quantity Imported.
	Total.	Returned by Quantity.	Total	Returned by quantity.	Total.	Returned by quantity.	Total.
Imports from—	Cwt.	Doz.		Doz.		Doz.
Germany	6,731	1,888,275	—	1,695,525	—	1,580,820	—
Switzerland	4	14,346	—	49,233	—	7,932	—
U.S.A	985	751,419	—	403,979	—	494,088	—
Total Imports	8,441	4,098,724	—	2,398,154	—	2,484,041	—
Re-Exports	1,266	842,211	—	656,464	—	296,173	—
Net Imports	7,175	3,256,513	—	1,741,690	—	2,187,868	—
Exports (United Kingdom Manufacture)	50,344	1,192,544	—	1,447,296	—	1,224,464	—
	(ii) Declared Value thereof.
Imports from—	£	£	£(a)	£	£(a)	£	£(a)
Germany	113,247	227,121	252,317	218,830	239,276	203,796	238,659
Switzerland	190	883	1,322	4,139	4,708	519	722
U.S.A	27,787	82,807	107,167	141,221	199,380	104,797	115,961
Total Imports	153,940	423,857	479,559	389,912	475,366	367,658	418,232
Re-Exports	51,433	120,620	121,855	101,866	107,537	55,832	65,227
Net Imports	102,507	303,237	357,704	288,046	367,829	311,826	353,005
Exports (United Kingdom Manufacture)	836,129	826,366	959,375	912,866	1,025,126	790,435	890,036
NOTE.—From 1st April, 1923, the figures include the trade of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with the Irish Free State. From the same date the direct foreign trade of the Irish Free State is excluded.
(a)Including the value of small amounts of "Other Cutlers' Wares" for which quantity particulars are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the volume and the value of the imparts and exports of aluminium hollow-ware and of enam-

The following statement gives the desired information so far as the particulars are available:elled hollow-ware, respectively, in 1913, 1923, 1924, and in the first 10 months of 1925, showing German and Swiss imports separately?

The figures are as follow:

also asked the President of the Board of Trade the volume and the value of the imports and exports of wrapping and packing paper in 1913, 1923, and 1924, and the first 10 months

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF PACKING AND WRAPPING PAPER, 1913 AND 1923–5.
Branch of Trade, etc.			1913. (a)	1923.	1924.	1925.(Jan.-Oct.)
			(i) Quantities.
Imports-			Cwts.	Cwts.	Cwts.	Cwts.
From Canada	…	…	992	106,461	122,778	94,128
From Norway	…	…	1,059,005	624,074	653,181	720,300
From Sweden	…	…	1,366,507	1,241,381	1,616,341	1,358,325
From Germany	…	…	892,483	1,163,391	981,108	740,271
From Other Countries	…	…	771,309	610,942	772,055	624,582
Total Imports	…	…	4,090,296	3,752,249	4,145,163	3,537,606
Re-exports	…	…	74,925	10,609	14,570	25,213
Net Imports	…	…	4,015,371	3,741,640	4,130,893	3,512,393
United Kingdom Exports	…	…	905,452	574,309	687,453	179,117
			(ii) Declared Values thereof.
Imports—			£	£	£	£
From Canada	…	…	664	136,468	143,323	110,968
From Norway	…	…	645,531	743,556	747,931	825,636
From Sweden	…	…	875,885	1,484,150	1,889,998	1,565,946
From Germany	…	…	745,510	1,292,764	1,098,988	869,142
From Other Countries	…	…	569,648	822,129	964,254	764,149
Total Imports	…	…	2,837,238	4,479,067	4,844,494	4,135,841
Re-exports	…	…	54,447	16,938	22,676	34,546
Net Imports	…	…	2,782,791	4,462,129	4,821,818	4,101,295
United Kingdom Exports	…	…	379,682	480,887	578,799	332,968
(a) The figures for this year unavoidably include some tissue paper.
NOTE: As from 1st April, 1923, these figures include the trade of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with the Irish Free State. From the same date the direct foreign trade of the Irish Free State has been excluded.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, in circumstances where adults are persuaded to be vaccinated or re-vaccinated and unexpected results ensue necessitating abstention from work, no provision is made for compensation for loss of wages other than the National Health Insurance

The figures are as follow:scheme; and whether, as many workers are not covered by such scheme, he will consider a scheme for compensation in the cases referred to?

As regards the first part of the question, I may say that there is no statutory provision for the payment of compensation for loss of wages in the circumstances mentioned by the hon. Member. As regards the second part, I do not think it necessary, as at present advised, to consider any general scheme for compensation in such cases.

asked the Minister of Health if he will furnish statistics showing the number of public vaccinations and re-vaccinations, respectively, carried out

Year.			Number of successful vaccinations and re-vaccinations performed by Public Vaccinators at the cost of the rates.		Approximate Expenditure incurred in respect of public vaccination.
			Vaccinations.	Re-Vaccinations.	Expenditure out of Local Rates.	Expenditure out of Exchequer Funds.
1.			2.	3.	4.	5.
1914–1915	…	…	—	—	144,000	26,000
1915–1910	…	…	—	—	138,000	12,000
1916–1917	…	…	—	—	129,000	16,000
1917–1918	…	…	199,013	33,635	116,000	21,000
1918–1919	…	…	186,861	16,052	110,000	20,000
1919–1920	…	…	258,996	12,898	124,000	18,000
1920–1921	…	…	245,154	26,775	175,000	15,000
1921–1922	…	…	223,838	12,887	162,000	22,000
1922–1923	…	…	415,549	316,641	181,000	20,000
1923–1924	…	…	331,522	89,600	—	—
The figures in Columns 2 and 3 relate to the years ended the 30th September; those for the years 1914–1915, 1915–1916, 1916–1917 are not available. The figures in Columns 4 and 5 relate in each case to the year ended 31st March; those for 1923–1924 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that it is still the practice of many medical practitioners to employ the arm-to-arm method of vaccination in private practice; and whether, in view of the serious risks attending such practice, he will consider the desirability of making representation to the medical profession on the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. My information is that comparatively few medical practitioners now employ this method of vaccination, and I scarcely think it necessary to make representations to the medical profession on the matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can present statistics showing the total number of small-pox cases notified by the various boroughs and urban districts from 1891 to 1924 and the percentage of births vaccinated for each of these years?

Statistics showing the total number of small-pox cases notified in the various boroughs and urban districts in England and Wales will be

The information asked for by the hon. Member is as follows:found in the annual volumes of "Statistics of the Incidence of Notifiable Infectious Diseases in each Sanitary District in England and Wales," which were published by the Local Government Board and the Ministry of Health for the years 1911 to 1920, and in the Registrar-General's Statistical Review for the years 1921 onward. Similar statistics are not available for the years prior to 1911, and no figures are available as to the percentage of births vaccinated in boroughs or urban districts.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Eaton Bray Rural District Council, at their meeting on the 12th September last, decided to allow the carcass of a cow, deemed to be suffering from tuberculosis, to be boiled; and will he consider legislation with a view to the destruction of all condemned carcasses?

I am aware of the decision of the rural district council, but I have no reason to suppose that the boiled meat was sold for human consumption. Having regard to the economic value of unsound meat for such industrial purposes as soap boiling or pig or poultry feeding, I should not be prepared to introduce legislation requiring the destruction of all condemned carcasses.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons who died in England and Wales from tuberculosis during the years 1914 to 1924?

The figures asked for are as follow:

Year.			Deaths from Tuberculosis (all forms) in England and Wales.
1914	…	…	50,208
1915	…	…	54,205
1916	…	…	53,858
1017	…	…	55,934
1918	…	…	58,073
1919	…	…	46,312
1920	…	…	42,545
1921	…	…	42,678
1922	…	…	42,777
1923	…	…	40,788
1924	…	…	41,103
Total	…	…	528,661

asked the Minister of Health what was the rate of infant mortality per 1,000 births for Market Drayton (Salop) for the first three quarters of 1925, or, if these figures are not yet available, for the first half-year of 1925?

In the first two quarters of 1925 there were in the Market Drayton Urban District 52 births and 5 deaths of infants under one year of age, equivalent to a rate of 96 per 1,000 births. Figures for the third quarter are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is contemplated appealing to hospitals and Poor Law institutions to supply a corps of trained nurses from the trained staff of such hospitals and institutions which could be used in case of national emergency?

No, Sir. Steps are, however, being taken to secure that the additional nursing staff required on mobilisation by the combatant Services should be obtained with a minimum of disturbance of the voluntary and Poor Law hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received representations from the Southwark Borough Council asking that a conference of the City Corporation, the London County Council, and the Southwark Borough Council be convened by the Ministry, in order that the question of the Moss Alley housing site and its recent letting for commercial purposes be considered; and whether, in view of the gravity of the housing situation in Southwark, this proposed conference will be convened forthwith?

Yes, Sir. I am communicating with the authorities concerned, and shall be glad to arrange a conference if so desired.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons refused unemployment benefit in the Birmingham Employment Exchange area since 1st October to date; and the number of vacancies filled by the Birmingham Employment Exchange for the same period?

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 25th November, 1925, Cols. 1354–5], supplied the following information:The number of applications for extended benefit refused by local employment committees in the Birmingham area during the period 13th October to 16th November was 1,313. I am unable to state the number of applications for standard benefit refused. The number of vacancies filled by Employment Exchanges in this area during the period 29th September to 16th November was 4,519.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applications for extended benefits have been made within the area covered by the Wigan Employment Exchange during the months of this year, respectively; how many have been rejected; and how many applications made by disabled ex-service men have been rejected?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 25th November, 1925, Cols. 1354–5], supplied the following table, giving the number of applications for extended benefit considered and refused at Wigan in 1925:

Period covered.	Cases considered.	Cases refused.
13th Jan. to 9th Feb	1,124	117
10th Feb. to 9th March	1,158	139
10th March to 13th April	1,308	127
14th April to 11th May	1,173	175
12th May to 8th June	1,152	139
9th June to 13th July	1,733	200
14th July to 24th Aug	2,976	342
25th Aug. to 14th Sept.	964	172
15th Sept, to 12th Oct.	2,039	355
13th Oct. to 16th Nov.	2,581	385
Total	16,208	2,151

Separate statistics are not available in respect of the rejection of the claims for extended benefit of disabled ex-service men.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons that applied for extended benefit in each month of the present year at the East Ham Employment Exchange; and the number and percentage of cases in which benefit was refused?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL HEPOKT, 25th November, 1925, Cols. 1354–5], supplied the following table:

asked the Minister of Labour the number of single girls disqualified from benefit at the East Ham Employment Exchange during the present year on the grounds that they were not genuinely seeking employment?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 25th November, 1925, Cols. 1354–5], supplied the following information:Figures are available only in respect of applications for extended benefit, and separate figures for married and single women cannot be given. During the period 13th January, 1925, to 16th November, 46 applications from women were refused by the East Ham Local Employment Committee on the ground that the applicants were not making reasonable efforts to secure employment.