asked the Minister of Labour the total number of unemployment books on deposit at the Walworth Road Employment Exchange on the 15th January, 1926; the number of persons signing the live register on the same date and receiving unemployment benefit; and the number of persons whose books remained on deposit on the 15th January, 1926, but who are not signing the live register or receiving benefit?

The total number of persons insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts recorded as unemployed at the Borough (Walworth Road) Employment Exchange on 15th January, was 8,940. Of these, 7,325 had current claims to benefit, but I am unable to say how many of them were actually in receipt of benefit at that date. The balance of 1,615 consisted of lodged unemployment books relating to 360 persons who were maintaining registration but were not claiming benefit and 1,255 others who were not maintaining registration.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons unemployed in the cotton industry of the United Kingdom; and the number working on short time?

The number of persons recorded as unemployed in the cotton industry in Great Britain on 25th January was 47,339. This figure includes 31,543 persons who are returned as being "temporarily stopped" from the service of their employers.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the cost of administering the Walworth Road Employment Exchange for the months of November and December, 1925, respectively; and the salaries of the two chief officials for the same periods?

The cost of administering the Employment Exchange to which the hon. and gallant Member refers for the months of November and December, 1925, was £21,274 and £1,252, respectively, excluding the cost of premises amounting to £380 per annum, and other charges not borne on the Ministry of Labour Vote. The two chief officials are on scales of salary of £550–£700 and £200–£400 per annum, respectively, with the usual cost-of-living bonus in addition.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether women are eligible for all higher posts in the Public Trustee Office; if so, whether women higher clerical officers have been allowed to deputise in higher posts now filled by men so as to prove their eligibility for consideration when vacancies occur; and, if not, how it is proposed to give these women higher clerical officers equality of opportunity?

There is no discrimination on the ground of sex, but eligibility for higher posts in the Public Trustee Office depends almost entirely on outside professional qualification or training. Arrangements for providing deputies for officers during absence are of an informal nature, depending on the particular circumstances of each individual case, and do not give a prior claim to consideration for promotion. The last part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of machines taken on charge during the year 1924–25, and of that number how many machines were from reserve and how many were new; of the number of machines written off during the year 1924–25 how many were new machines taken on charge during that year, and how many of the machines were more than one year old; how many of the machines remaining on charge at the end of the year 1924–25 were new machines of that year purchased and paid for during that year; and how many machines were on reserve at the beginning of the year 1925–26?

It would not be in the public interest to give this information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if His Majesty's Government have yet been able to give such financial assistance to the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture that will allow for the provision of a hostel for the students?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply to the question of the hon. Member for Bradford North (Mr. Ramsden) on the 9th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the causes which led to the strike and boycott which recently took place in Sierra Leone; whether the trouble is now over and ordinary law restored; what was the reason which led to the suspension of ordinary law and the placing of the Colony under martial law; whether this followed disturbances; and, if so, have any arrests been made or destruction of property or violence taken place?

The strike in question is on the part of certain sections of the native staff of the Sierra Leone Government Railway. As to its cause, it appears that in November last a newly constituted railway workers' union petitioned the general manager for more pensionable appointments and the adoption of a system of regular annual increments of wages for the artisans. The general manager's reply, dated 22nd December, was unfavourable, but was conciliatory in tone, and promised further consideration of the conditions of service generally. Without any notice the artisans, joined by certain other sections of the railway staff, struck work on the 14th of January. As it would be impracticable to keep the railway workshops open for the few men ready to work, they have been closed for the time being. According to the latest information received from the Governor, the strike is still continuing. There has been no proclamation of martial law or suspension of the ordinary law, but the troops have been called out in aid of the civil power and are being used to guard the line and preserve order. It appears from the Governor's Report that this step was taken after various acts of sabotage had been committed outside Freetown, though in the city itself there has been no disorder. I have no information that any arrests have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can publish for the information of Parliament the terms of the trade agreement between Australia and Canada?

The terms of the tariff changes effected in Canada and Australia under the recent Canada-Australia trade agreement were published in this country in the Board of Trade Journal of the 15th October, 1925 (pages 429–430).

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the reported increase in cases of small-pox, his Department intends to take any special steps to call the attention of the public to the means by which vaccination is accessible to all who desire it?

As at present advised I do not think any special steps are necessary in the direction suggested by my hon. Friend. In areas invaded by small-pox it is the usual practice for the local sanitary authorities and boards of guardians to give public notice of the facilities available for vaccination free of cost to all who desire it.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that inquiries have been made for some time past into the connection between vaccination and encephalitis lethargica, he can explain why no record is available of the vaccinal condition of the cases of encephalitis lethargica notified in recent months?

The routine investigation of cases of encephalitis lethargica is made by the local medical officers of health, but they are not required to record the vaccinal condition of these patients. The question whether such records are desirable will no doubt be considered by the Committee on Vaccination which I appointed on the 4th instant, in conjunction with my Noble Friend, the Lord President of the Council.

asked the Minister of Health the number of poor people who have received relief per 10,000 of the population in October, 1924; and the number who received relief in October, 1925?

The average number of persons per 10,000 of population in receipt of Poor LLaw relief in England and Wales during October, 1924, and October, 1925, was 269 and 321, respectively. Lunatics in asylums, persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only and casuals have been excluded in arriving at the above figures.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that Mr. S. W. A. Goss, Burnley, has been passed over for a supervising post although he is the senior qualified officer and has never been adversely criticised; that Mr. Goss is the only officer in that office holding a technical certificate; that he has substituted on the duty in question; and that he has acted as overseer and supervising sorting clerk and telegraphist for five years; and whether he will take steps to secure that the application of Mr. Goss for a supervising post shall be favourably reconsidered?

I am aware of the circumstances referred to by the hon. Member. Mr. Goss was passed over for promotion to a post as supervising sorting clerk and telegraphist in December, 1924, and I am satisfied that he was not so well qualified for the post as the officer who was selected. On the occurrence of further vacancies, the qualifications of Mr. Goss will be duly considered with those of other eligible officers, in accordance with the promotion procedure laid down by the Departmental Whitley Council, but I am not in a position to give any assurance that he will be selected.

asked the Postmaster-General the percentage of Post Office employés who become superannuated at the normal age limits; and the percentages of employés who fail to reach the normal age limit because of ill-health, death, resignation, etc.?

I regret I am not able to give the general percentages asked for in this question; but the following statistics in regard to the retirements and deaths which actually occurred among the established Post Office staff employed in the year 1924 may be of interest to the hon. Member. Of the total established male staff, 1·22 per cent. retired by reason of age; ·54 per cent. for ill-health; ·26 per cent. resigned; and ·49 per cent. died. Of the total established female staff, ·2 per cent. retired by reason of age; ·44 per cent. for ill-health; 5·52 per cent. resigned; and ·1 per cent. died.

asked the Postmaster-General how many temporary part-time workers in the General Post Office have been recently discharged; whether, in order to carry on the work formerly performed by these men, regular men are now working overtime; and how much overtime is being worked in the London district?

Fourteen temporary part-time workers in the London postal service were recently discharged as a consequence of the employment of additional established force. There are no regular officers now employed on overtime to dispose of the work formerly performed by the staff which has been discharged. I will send the hon. Member information as to the amount of overtime now being worked in London.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the sums of money deducted from the wages of part-time employés of the London telephone service in respect of unemployment and national health insurance, the benefits of which they are ineligible to participate in, have yet been refunded; and, if so, to what amount?

I will have inquiry made, and will write to the hon. Member.