asked the Undersecretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether early steps are contemplated to remedy the overcrowding at the Charing Cross Tax District Office, 13, Grosvenor Gardens, S.W. 1, where the staffs are housed in dirty, draughty, and badly-heated premises, and to provide premises more acceptable to taxpayers, who at present have to climb either four or six flights of stairs to interview the officers dealing with their case, and who, as no rooms are provided for confidential interviews, have to deal with private affairs before other officers of the Department, and frequently other members of the public?

It is proposed to remedy the conditions at 13, Grosvenor Gardens by removing elsewhere at an early date the Piccadilly Tax District Office from that building, and re-allocating the accommodation of the two remaining district offices.

asked the Minister of Labour what, if any, steps have been taken to provide a more suitable Employment Exchange for Birkenhead?

A site for a new building has been approved and plans are now in preparation.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what machinery exists for the promotion of established shorthand-typists to superintendent vacancies when they are employed in offices whose complements do not include superintendent posts; and what machinery exists for the consideration of established shorthand-typists with many years' service in the grade and without immediate prospects of promotion to superintendentships within their own Department in connection with superintendent vacancies arising in Departments where the average seniority of shorthand-typists is very much lees?

No central and general machinery exists for the promotion of established shorthand-typists to posts as superintendent when they are employed in offices whose complements do not include superintendent posts. Arrangements vary between Departments. No special arrangement has been made for the purpose mentioned in the latter part of the question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether his attention has been drawn to certain charges of corruption against the British Vice-Consul at San Remo; whether any inquiries have been made; and, if so, what was the result?

Yes, my attention has been drawn to the matter referred to, and I am making inquiries.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any difficulties are placed in the way of the functioning of Whitleyism in the Public Trustee Office, London; how many times the Departmental Whitley Council in the Public Trustee Office has met during the last 18 months; what sub-committees exist; on how many occasions the latter have met during the same period; and upon what grounds promotion has been refused to shorthand-typists in his Department during the last few years?

The answer to the first question is in the negative. The Departmental Whitley Council has met twice during the last 18 months. It has one sub-committee. The sub-committee has met once during the same period. There has been no such refusal to shorthand-typists as a class.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the last three full years during which advertisements for intoxicants were accepted by previous Governments in official publications; and what the revenue from such advertisements was during each of those years?

The last three full years during which advertisements of alcoholic liquors were accepted prior to the entry into office of the present Government were 1921–22, 1922–23, and 1923–24. I regret that it is not possible to state what part of the total revenue from all classes of advertisements accepted for display in official publications, etc., was in respect of advertisements of liquor containing alcohol.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the number of British subjects who escape paying Income Tax and Super-tax on the ground that they spend more than six months a year out of Great Britain; and what amount the Treasury loses through this remission?

A British subject, who has been ordinarily resident here, would not be regarded as ceasing to be chargeable to British Income Tax and Super-tax as a person resident in this country, merely because he spends more than six months of the Income Tax year abroad. The question of a loss of revenue, to which my noble Friend refers, does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of dog licences issued during the present year; and whether, having regard to the large number of complaints against dogs and their owners which are reported, he will consider the advisability of increasing the tax on all dogs which are kept as pets?

The number of dog licences issued during the financial year ended the 31st March last was 2,647,309. My right hon. Friend has noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the. Attorney-General the number of poor persons, in matrimonial cases proceeding under the Poor Persons Rules, in each of the years 1922 and 1924 whose cases were decided by the Courts; and the number of such poor persons for each of such years who received back or wore repaid any portion of the deposit paid pursuant to the Poor Persons Rules?

The numbers of persons admitted to sue as poor persons in matrimonial causes under the Rules which came into operation in 1922, to whom decrees were granted in that year, was 291. 253 of these persons received back the whole or a part of the deposit paid by them under those Rules. The number of persons so admitted to whom decrees were granted in 1924 was 499. Of these, 431 received back the whole or a part of the deposit paid pursuant to the Rules. These figures in both cases are as near as can be ascertained.

asked the Attorney-General whether he can give the number of poor persons admitted to institute, defend, or be parties to civil proceedings in the Supreme Court under the Poor Persons Rules, and whose cases or applications have been favourably reported on by the reporting solicitors or some other authority, but which have not yet been brought before the Courts because no conducting solicitor, whose out-of-pocket expenses have been reduced since 1919 by some 50 per cent. , is willing to take up such cases, or for some other and, if so, what reason; and giving the date when the earliest of such poor persons was admitted to proceed under the Rules?

No, Sir. The information is not available, nor have I the means of obtaining it.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that as the cases of nullity proceedings by poor persons under the 1914 or 1925 Rules amount to at least £20 for an average case, and that as a poor man proceeding under such Rules, though he may be able to provide his own personal out-of-pocket expenses, in most cases cannot also provide his wife's costs and out-of-pocket expenses; and whether as any poor person as to all types of cases under the Poor Persons Rules may require to have service effected and evidence obtained abroad, where the cost in an average case amounts to at least £25, he will recommend or cause recommendations to be made in the proper quarters to secure provision of the payment of expenses to poor persons so situated, and who are entirely without means and destitute?

The answer to this question is in the negative.

asked the Attorney-General whether, seeing that the Report of the first Committee, presided over by Mr. Justice P. O. Lawrence [Command 430], when considering decentralised administration, came to the conclusion that decentralisation, even as to travelling expenses, would not in all cases reduce the expenses of poor persons, and expressed the opinion that only officials of the Court should deal with matrimonial cases in their preliminary stages as, if local people became acquainted with the facts, it would no doubt lead to publicity of the proceedings in the locality prior to the hearing, which the Report stated would be most undesirable; and whether, as the Report of the second Committee, presided over by Mr. Justice P. O. Lawrence [Command 2858], recommended decentralised administration in connection with Poor Persons Rules, and suggested that a clerk or librarian should examine any application made by a poor person, and then send for the applicant for a personal interview at which the facts were to be disclosed, and having regard to the Report of the first Committee of Mr. Justice P. O. Lawrence, and to that part of the Report of the second Committee of Mr. Justice P. O. Lawrence which emphasised the importance of the relationship between the legal agent and the poor person which is dependent upon the skill and honesty of such agent and involves complete trust and independence, he will consider whether, and if thought desirable make recommendations, a proper bureau or law office be established by each law society in its district where applications from poor persons can be considered by a trained lawyer, and where also the committee of solicitors can adjudicate upon such applications?

I do not propose to make any recommendations for any change in the system proposed to be set up under Mr. Justice Lawrence's second Report until that system has had a fair trial. The system proposed is substantially that which the hon. Member appears to desire

risked the Secretary for Scotland, whether his attention has been called to the trial of John Keen and others in the High Court of Justiciary in Glasgow, when the jury brought in a verdict of guilty on the charge of murder against Keen with a strong recommendation to mercy; whether he is aware that after the Judge had pronounced sentence of death Keen was allowed to make a statement in which he declared that it had been his desire to go into the witness box to clear himself, that he had asked that privilege, and that it had not been granted; and whether steps will be taken, by legislation if necessary, to secure that in future such a statement shall be made and dealt with before the trial has concluded and not after sentence has been pronounced?

I am aware of the circumstances of this case and of the incident referred to in the question. As the law stands an accused person has the right to give evidence if he so elects, a matter on which he will usually be guided by his legal advisers. In these circumstances, I see no reason for taking action on the lines suggested in the last part of the question.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India, whether the Bawla case is to be followed up by any action by the Government of India to discover and punish those who were behind the assassins?

I cannot at present add anything to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Ken-worthy) on the 11th June.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that the pensions to the widows of the men who lost their lives in the Submarine M 1 are only 10s. 6d. per week for the widow without children and 17s. 6d. per week for the widow with children, plus rank allowance, and that the maximum pension, apart from the children's allowances, is 22s. a week, he will approach the Treasury for approval of a Supplementary Estimate to be submitted to the House, which would permit of the pensions being increased to the rates payable to the widows of men who lost their lives during the War, that is, 20s. for the widow without children and 26s. 8d. for the widow with children, apart from the rank allowance?

The pensions awarded to the widows of the men lost in His Majesty's Submarine M.1 are on the scale which was laid down for cases arising after the termination of the War. The scale is in force for the Army and the Air Force as well as for the Navy, and was adopted only after the fullest consideration by the three Service Departments. In the circumstances, I regret that I am not prepared to take action in the direction suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will investigate the circumstances attending the refusal of unemployment benefit to Mrs. T. N. Henderson, 20, Odessa Road, Forest Gate, No. 18,456, who was stood off from a local firm on account of slackness of work, and has submitted documentary evidence of her application for employment at many local firms; and whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the evidence, the applicant has been refused benefit on the ground of not genuinely seeking work?

The decision in cases of this kind rests with the insurance office, court of referees and umpire, in accordance with the statutory provisions. Mrs. Henderson made a claim to benefit on the 2nd June last, and from that date until the 17th November, the evidence submitted to these authorities of her search for employment did not satisfy them that she fulfilled the statutory condition which requires an applicant to be genuinely seeking work. I have no power to interfere with these decisions. I understand that the claim was allowed from the 17th November last, and benefit has since been paid to Mrs. Henderson.

asked the Minister of Labour why Miss A. L. Jeffrey was refused unemployment benefit by the Hackney Employment Exchange on the 11th November, on the ground that she was not genuinely seeking work, seeing that no evidence was placed before her by the officer who communicated the decision; and will he state the number of years Miss Jeffrey has paid into the fund, the amount of unemployment pay she has received from the fund, the date she last fell out of work and signed on, the date the authorities decided that she was not genuinely eeking work, and the evidence on which their decision was based?.

, pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 9th December, 1925, Col. 437), supplied the following information:

has been an insured contributor since August, 1917, and paid contributions equivalent to about four years. She has received benefit in respect of 219 days during this period. Mrs. Jeffrey last fell out of employment on the 6th November; she claimed benefit on the 11th and her claim was disallowed as from the date on which it was made.

asked the Minister of Labour why Miss E. W. Edwards was refused her claim to unemployment benefit on 13th August, 10th October and 21st November on the ground that at the time of each application she was not genuinely seeking employment; what was the evidence laid before the Stepney Committee which led them to arrive at their decisions; and the number of years Miss Edwards has paid into the fund, and the total amount of unemployment benefit she has been paid during that periods?

, pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 9th December, 1925, Col. 436), supplied the following information:This claim was for standard benefit and was dealt with by the insurance officer and Court of Referees and not by the local employment committee. The evidence before the insurance officer when he disallowed the claims on the three dates given by the hon. Member was that she had made little effort to obtain employment; that, in the three months to the 20th August, she had made only two applications for employment, and that from that date to the 21st November she had made no personal applications whatever. Miss Edwards appealed against the disallowances by the insurance officer operating from the 13th and 29th August, and the case was heard by the Court of Referees at the Poplar Exchange on the 29th September. Miss Edwards admitted to the Court of Referees that in the previous week she had made no calls on employers whatever and that she had declined employment in Aldgate on the ground that the district was too rough, although she was prepared to accept employment in Poplar. The court upheld the insurance officer's decisions. Miss Edwards has been paying contributions since November, 1920, and has paid the equivalent of nearly four years' contributions. She has received benefit in respect of 262 days, but as benefit paid prior to 18th October, 1923, does not exhaust contributions, she has still 40 unexhausted contributions to her credit.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed persons resident in the Elland Division of Yorkshire have been refused extended benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Act; and what is the number who have been refused benefit because they are living with their parents, because the wife is working, and because the husband is working, respectively?

The number of claims to extended benefit recommended for disallowance by the Brighouse Local Employment Committee, which includes Elland and Greetland, was 320 during the period 25th August to 16th November, 1925. Of these 36 were in respect of single persons living with relatives, 30 in respect of married women living with husbands to whom they could look for support, and one in respect of a married man who could look to his wife for support. Separate figures for other parts of the Elland Division cannot be given, as they are included in the figures relating to the work of the local committees at Bradford, Halifax and Huddersfield.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men and women who claimed unemployment benefit during the last three months; and the number of claims disallowed on the various statutory grounds, respectively?

During the period 25th August to 16th November, 1,875,232 claims to benefit were made by men and 493,581 by women at

asked the Minister of Labour (l) how many of the 183 vacancies filled by the Cradley Heath Employment Exchange during the period 29th September to 16th November were attributable to relief work;(2) how many of the 121 vacancies filled by the Brierley Hill Employment Exchange during the period 29th September to 16th November were attributable to relief work?

The number of vacancies filled, attributable to relief work, were 26 at Cradley Heath and 64 at Brierley Hill.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has now instructed local Employment Committees that ordinary relief work on local authorities unemployment schemes is to be considered as employment for all purposes under the Regulations governing the issue of unemployed benefit?

Yes. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the direction issued to local Employment Committees to this effect.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has received any communication from the Haydock Urban District Council regarding the inconvenience and expense caused to unemployed persons in that township having to travel to Ashton-in-Makerfield, Earlestown and St. Helens Employment Exchanges; and whether he proposes to take steps to open an exchange of a permanent or temporary character to meet the requirements of the district referred to?

Yes, Sir. I understand that the Haydock claimants number at present about 160 and that they are resident not more than 2½ miles from one or other of the three exchanges mentioned. In the circumstances, I do not consider that the expense of opening an office in the Haydock district would be justified.

asked the Minister of Labour where training centres for youths between 18 and 25 years of age are being established; what is the character of the training; and for what length of time it will be given?

Training centres for unemployed young men between 19 and 25 years of age (up to 29 for ex-service men) have been established at Birmingham and at Claydon, near Ipswich. Another centre will shortly be opened at Wallsend-on-Tyne, and negotiations are proceeding with a view to the acquisition of premises for a fourth centre. I am sending the hon. Member leaflets setting forth the general conditions of training under this schema.

further asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state, in regard to insured industries appearing in the Ministry of Labour Gazette under the following headings: metal manufactures, engineering, construction and repairing of vehicles, metal trades, textile trades, leather and leather goods, and clothing trades, how many sub-headings are now used by the Employment Exchanges in addition to those appearing in the Ministry of Labour Gazette?

The 100 industrial groups under which the insurance statistics of unemployment appear monthly in the Ministry of Labour Gazette are not subdivided at any stage in the computation of the figures. Besides the industrial classification referred to, there is in use in Employment Exchanges a classification of workpeople according to the occupations for which they are registered for employment, but these occupational figures cannot be used as sub-divisions of the industrial grouping since they are compiled on a different basis.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) the number of men and women, respectively, who have been placed in employment through Employment Exchanges during the last three months; and the number of people registered as unemployed during the same period;(2), the number of applications for unemployment benefit extended and standard at the Motherwell Employment Exchange during each week from 1st September to 14th October, respectively, and the number of male employés at the Exchange during each of the weeks mentioned;(3), the number of men and women, respectively, who have claimed unemployment benefit during each of the last three months at Bridgeton Employment Exchange, Parkhead Employment Exchange, Southside Employment Exchange, and the Sauchiehall Street Employment Exchange, Glasgow, respectively; and the number of claims disallowed in each case?

It has not been practicable in the time since these questions appeared on the Paper to prepare the detailed information required in each case. The information is being extracted from the official records, and as soon as this has been completed I will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour what efforts, if any, have been made by his Department to bring about a settlement of the wireless operators' wages dispute; whether he is, or has been, in touch with either or both parties; what exactly is, or has been, the nature of the negotiations between his Department and either or both parties to the dispute; and what progress has been made towards an early settlement?

Officers of my Department have been in personal communication with both parties to the dispute, and had a further meeting yesterday with the Association of Wireless and Cable Telegraphists. The Department is in communication with the employers.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has reached any agreement with other Governments concerning the simultaneous ratification of the International Convention limiting the hours of work in industrial undertakings to eight in the day and 48 in the week?

I am still awaiting replies to letters that I have addressed to certain Governments with regard to the possibility of a meeting to discuss the question of regulating the hours' position by some international agreement. I shall not be in a position to make any further announcement until all the replies have been received and considered.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can give a list of the countries which have ratified the International Convention respecting the 48-hour week, and the date of such ratification?

The following are the countries which have ratified the Hours of Convention together with the dates of ratification:

• Bulgaria, 14th February, 1922.
• Chile, 15th September, 1925.
• Czechoslovakia, 24th August, 1921
• Greece, 19th November, 1920.
• India, 14th July, 1921.
• Roumania, 13th June, 1921.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can give a list of the countries which have submitted to their respective Parliaments proposals in favour of ratification of the International Convention respecting the 48-hour week?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Report made to the last Conference by the director of the International Labour Office, which gives the latest information available as to the ratification and application of conventions. That Report also indicates such preliminary legislative steps as have been taken by various countries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what decision, if any, has been come to with regard to the Crown lands of Palestine?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to my reply to the hon and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Ken-worthy) on the 14th instant. I have nothing to add to it.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that the ratio of exemptions from vaccination is progressively increasing and the ratio of small-pox deaths correspondingly decreasing, he will consider legislation to amend the obligatory vaccination laws and put them in such a way that persons who themselves desire or desire their children to be vaccinated should apply for such publicly assisted service, not, as at present, that those who desire to be exempt must apply?

I am not prepared at present to consider the question of legislation on the lines suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is still the practice to pay public vaccinators twice over for their work, firstly in the ordinary course, and secondly a special award under Section 6 of the Vaccination Act, 1867?

Awards are still payable to public vaccinators in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of the Vaccination Act, 1867, on reports made to my Department with regard to the number and quality of the vaccinations performed, and it is provided in the Section that any payments so awarded shall be in addition to the payments received by public vaccinators from the guardians.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will present figures showing the total amount of public money spent in England and Wales upon the services of public vaccinators?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on the 30th November showing,inter alia, the approximate expenditure incurred out of public funds in recent years in respect of public vaccination. I regret that separate figures are not available showing the amounts spent upon the services of public vaccinators.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the fact that for the year 1921 in England and Wales, with a population of 37,886,000 and births in the year 848,814, the total deaths from small-pox were five only?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health the rules and conditions governing the special payments to public vaccinators under Section 5 of the Vaccination Act, 1867, and what were the average amounts of these special awards per child vaccinated during each of the past six years?

I will send the hon. Member a statement of the rules and conditions governing these payments. The following statement shows approximately the average amount of these awards per child vaccinated, as certified for payment during each of the past six years ending on the 30th September:

asked the Minister of Health the proportion of vaccinated to unvaccinated children up to the age of 10 years, and whether there has been any progressive change in this proportion for the past 10 years?

I regret that no statistics are available on this subject.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now introduce legislation to make the Food Council a more effective body by conferring statutory powers upon it?

I do not think that legislation would necessarily make the Food Council a more effective body, and I do not propose to introduce any such legislation until it is shown to be desirable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that certain prosecutions of organists and other musicians have taken place on the grounds that certain musical works have been played at organ recitals and concerts before the necessary fees have been paid to the publishers of such musical works; whether he is aware there is usually nothing to indicate on the cover of the musical piece or its title page that such fees have to be paid or prosecution's will follow; and whether he will consider the need of amending the Copyright Act so that all music publishers shall state clearly what fees have to be paid before the work is publicly played?

The answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, I am not prepared, as at present advised, to introduce an amending Bill on the lines suggested,

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of the assets which the British Delegation of the Commission for the assessment of damage suffered in Turkey have in order to meet claims; whether certain of the larger claimants have already been given something on account; and when it is proposed that the smaller claimants shall be dealt with?

The reparation fund to be distributed by the Inter-Allied Commission for the assessment of damage suffered in Turkey amounts to approximately £5,000,000; the fund is, under Article 7 of the Convention of the 23rd November, 1923, to be distributed by the Commission as a whole to British, French, Italian and Japanese nationals in proportion to the damage suffered by each claimant. There are no assets at the disposal of the British Delegation as apart from the Commission as a whole. The Inter-Allied Commission have made no payments on account up to the present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he is aware that the Mexican Senate has adopted the principle set out in the Petro- leum Bill which seeks to make it compulsory on alien holders of land to either become naturalised Mexican citizens or in default to relinquish their holdings; and, in view of the serious consequences such legislation would have on British subjects, will he take such steps as may be possible to safeguard British interests?

I have not yet received information that the Bill which the hon. Member no doubt has in mind has been finally passed by the Mexican Senate. With the possible exception of agricultural holdings in certain frontier zones, it is not proposed, so far as I am aware, that foreigners, in order to acquire holdings of land, should become naturalised Mexican citizens, but merely that they should waive their rights to diplomatic protection in regard to such holdings. His Majesty's Government would not recognise unilateral waivers of this nature as being valid if made by British subjects. His Majesty's Charge d'Affaires has been assured, however, by the Mexican Government that in any case no waiver of this kind would be required from existing owners of holdings in companies operating in Mexico. The position of foreign agricultural companies under the new Bill is, however, not yet clear. I hope that here also it may be possible to provide satisfactorily in one form or another for the protection of existing British interests. His Majesty's Government are in close touch with His Majesty's Charge d'Affaires at Mexico City in regard to this question, and have already taken all steps that seem desirable to safeguard existing British interests affected by the proposed legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, now that the Locarno Treasy has been signed, if he will make representations to the several authorities for the discontinuance of the necessity for passports?

The immigration regulations in force in practically all countries in the world, including Great Britain, make it essential that all travellers arriving at the ports or frontiers should be, in possession of docu- ments establishing their identity and nationality. A passport is the most satisfactory document of this character, and its possession is therefore in the interests of the traveller in order to facilitate his journeys.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to state what economies he has effected in the administration of his Department; and whether such economies will result in decreased estimates for the coming year?

I can assure the how. Member that every effort is being made to reduce expenditure where it is at all practicable. The Estimates for the forthcoming financial year are still under discussion with the Treasury.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any estimate has been made as to what, if any, saving in salaries and establishment charges would be effected if the Ministry of Transport should cease as a separate Ministry and its functions be transferred to the Board of Trade, the Department of Overseas Trade should cease as a separate Department, and the necessary duties in London be undertaken by the Board of Trade, and the Mines Department should cease as a separate Department and its functions revert to Departments originally responsible for them?

Estimates of such savings were made by the Geddes Committee, but the amounts were not given separately in the Committee's Report. No later figures are available. It should not be assumed in any case that measures such as those suggested can be taker without detriment to public interests.

asked the Secretary of State for War what the saving to the State in the last financial year has been owing to the deficiency in the Territorial Army as to its full peace strength, and what it is estimated to be in the present year?

The provision made in Estimates is for the-estimated strength, not for the full establishment of the Territorial Army. If the establishment had been full, the extra cost both last year and this year would have been about £400,000.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what proportions of the various amounts described in the White Paper, of 9th December, 1925, referring to Pembroke and Rosyth Dockyards, as savings, distributed over the heads of expenditure therein set forth, are savings that will be made at Pembroke; and will he supply the details showing how these amounts are arrived at?

The savings relating to Pembroke Dockyard amount to £91,300. I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the particulars which I regret I cannot undertake to furnish in any greater detail. The particulars are as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for Air the numbers and the cost of the Air Force and the numbers in Egypt in 1014 and in 1925, respectively?

The strength of the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Flying Corps (the Royal Air Force was not, of course, created until 1918) at the outbreak of war in 1914 was 197 officers and 1,647 other ranks; there were then no air forces in Egypt. The strength of the Royal Air Force on 1st December, 1925, was 3,382 officers, 103 cadets and 30,566 airmen. The average strength in Egypt during 1925 has been 272 officers and 1,820 airmen. The combined cost of the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Flying Corps in 1913–14 was stated by the Financial Secretary of the Treasury, in a reply given on the 29th April last, to be £1,375,700, of which amount £605,700 was charged to Navy Votes and £770,000 to Army Votes. The gross total of Air Estimates for 1925–26 is £21,319,300. The figure given for 1913–14 is the only one available, but is not, of couruse, in any way comparable with that for 1925–26, as quite apart from expenditure on civil aviation and the Meteorological Office, Air Estimates to-day include provision for numerous services which in 1913–14 were not regarded as air expenditure, but as falling naturally under the ordinary heads of Navy and Army Votes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that a number of agricultural workers have lost their employment through the slaughtering of cattle under the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Regulations; and whether he will introduce legislation to enable these men to be granted compensation, on the same scale as that paid as benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Act, until the farm where they were employed is allowed to be restocked?

I am not aware that any appreciable number of agricultural workers have lost their employment as suggested, but if my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any cases which have come to his notice, I shall be glad to have inquiries made with a view to ascertaining whether other work is available. With regard to the latter part of the question, the Departmental Committee, which considered the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease which occurred in 1923-24, made a recommendation on this subject, and I propose to refer the matter to the Inter-Departmental Committee, which is now considering the question of the application of unemployment insurance to agriculture.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the standstill Order has been effective in reducing the number of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease; and whether he can give the number of outbreaks since the Order came into force, and for a corresponding period immediately before that date?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In the 30 days preceding the introduction of the Order on the 17th November, 157 outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease occurred, compared with 61 in the corresponding period since that date. Moreover, in the past three weeks the number of outbreaks have progressively declined.

asked the Home Secretary whether, with a view to enabling local authorities to more easily carry out the Foot-and-Month Disease Regulations, he will make an extra grant to those counties where the disease exists to enable them to obtain additional police assistance?

I have been asked to reply. Section 43 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, requires the police officers of each police area to execute and enforce the Act and every Order of the Ministry of Agriculture thereunder. It is not proposed to make an extra grant to counties where the disease exists to enable them to carry out the Foot-and-Month Disease Regulations.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is prepared to give the figures of the number of local authorities that allow children under five years of age to go to school?

On the 31st March, 1925, there were 262 local authorities in whose areas there were children under five on the register? of public elementary schools. Twenty-two of these areas had 12 or fewer such children on the registers, six having only two children and four only one child.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that the Hebburn. County Durham, local authority has decided to abandon its proposed new school as a result of his Circular 1371; and whether he was consulted before this decision was reached?

No such decision on the part of the authority has so far been brought to my notice.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to the evidence given at the inquest on the victims of the Dolgarrog Dam disaster, especially in regard to the allegations as to the defective concrete foundations, and the recommendation of the jury in this regard; and will he state what steps are proposed to be taken in this matter?

My right hon. Friend cannot add anything to what he has previously said on this subject, but if the hon. Member will put a question down for Monday next, he hopes to be able to give a full reply.

asked the Home Secretary when he hopes to arrive at a decision with respect to appeal tribunals for the police service; and whether appeals will lie in respect of all punishments affecting the future prospects of an officer?

My right hon. Friend has been giving consideration to this matter, which involves a question of legislation, and he hopes that it may be possible to come to a decision early next Session if not before. Meantime I can make no statement on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can state the percentage value of wages for superannuation purposes of police officers in London and Liverpool on 31st December, 1918, and on 1st April, 1919, respectively?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 1st instant to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for North Camberwell (Mr. Ammon). Separate figures for London and Liverpool are not available.

asked the Homo Secretary how many prosecutions against omnibus proprietors have taken place under the London Traffic Act since its inception?

49 prosecutions against licensed proprietors have taken place under the London Traffic Act, Sections 6 and 7, since its inception.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that during the recent foggy weather the ferry service from Gravesend to Tilbury was again suspended; and if he will again make representations to the railway company concerned as to the importance of putting in force the proposed new measures which were to make the continuance of this service in foggy weather possible?

I am making inquiries in regard to this matter, and will, in duo course, let my hon. Friend know the result.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the railway postal mail vans running on His Majesty's service are built at the expense of the Post Office Department; and whether, when delivered to the railway companies, these vans become the property of the railway companies without payment?

Rail-way vans used for sorting purposes are built at the expense of the railway company concerned, and an animal sum in respect of their provision, maintenance and haulage, calculated on a mileage basis for the journeys actually performed by the carriages, is included in the comprehensive contract payment for the conveyance of letter trails.

asked the Postmaster-General whether since 1919 any improvements have been made in the gear connected with the collection and delivery of wayside mails; and whether when a mail van is attached to a passenger train this van is always in front of the passenger coaches?

No alteration has been made since 1919 in the apparatus itself, but certain minor improvements have been effected in the wayside nets into which bags are received from trains in motion. It is the normal practice for sorting carriages attached to passenger trains to be marshalled in front of the passenger coaches, but in a few instances this arrangement is departed from, for the convenience of the railway company concerned.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he proposes to take any action to stop the sending of moneylenders' circulars by post?

Under existing legislation I am not in a position to stop such circulars in the post. A Bill for amending the law so as to prohibit the sending of unsolicited circulars of the kind has been before the House.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the cost of building the new post office in Abertillery; the terms and conditions upon which the site has been obtained; whether the site is leasehold or freehold; and what is the cost of the site?

It is impracticable at the present time to state the precise cost of the building in question, but the estimated cost was £7,708 and the sum paid for the site, which is held on a 999 years' lease at a peppercorn rent, was £3,265.

asked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been directed to the case of Miss Agnes Imlay, of 5, Gloucester Place, Greenwich Park, S.E.10, who was asked to pay a deposit of £5 for telephone calls instead of the usual £l, because she was an actress, it not being held by the telephone authorities that there was anything against her except the fact that she was an actress; and is there any Post Office regulation which authorises officials to differentiate between actors and actresses and citizens following any other calling or profession?

I have made inquiry in this case and I find that a deposit of £5 was originally asked for under a misapprehension, but an agreement subject to a deposit of £l has since been accepted. The reply to the second part of the question is in the negative.