asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed men and women in the Borough of Southwark have been refused extended benefit since 1st August, 1925; and what is the number of men and women who have been refused standard benefit on the ground that they were living with their parents and/or that the husband or the wife were in receipt of wages?

The number of applications for extended benefit which were recommended for disallowance by the borough local employment committee between 25th August, 1925, and 8th February, 1926, was 2,346 in respect of men and 966 in respect of women. Statistics are not available showing the number of separate individuals included in these figures. No cases were refused standard benefit for the reasons stated in the second part of the question as those reasons are applicable as a cause for disallowance in the case of extended benefit only

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that for the year 1924 the industrial assurance companies and societies collected from the people about 46 millions of money, and in return only gave back in benefits something like 15¼ millions; that in addition to a balance of over £30,000,000 out of the premiums collected they had an income of over £10,000,000 as interest and dividends on investments; that during the last five years they had collected about £135,000 per day and have returned only £42,000 per day, thus retaining for themselves £ 3,000 for every working day during these years; that out of the money thus obtained the shareholders of one company divided 17,000 per cent. on the capital actually paid in, and several other companies paid dividends on the capital paid in from 300 per cent. to 500 per cent.; and that during 1924 for every working day 23,000 policies lapsed, the holders of which lost every penny paid in premiums, although many of these holders paid premiums for anything up to 30 or 40 years; and whether the Government will cause an inquiry to be held into the system of industrial assurance methods in this country?

In the year 1924, according to the returns furnished by the industrial assurance companies and collecting societies their premium income was, in round figures, £42,000,000 and their income from investments £8,000,000. They paid in benefits £16,000,000, and their expenses were £16,000,000. The hon. Member appears to regard everything which was not paid out in benefits as retained for the concerns themselves, but he forgets that every insurance concern has to accumulate a reserve to meet future claims—this is the essence of insurance—and the sum so accumulated during the year was £16,500,000. The balance therefore remaining amounted to £1,500,000. No materials are available for estimating what percentage this represents on "capital actually paid in," if by that the hon. Member means capital subscribed in cash. As to the remainder of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. and learned Member for South-West Hull (Mr. Grotrian) on the 18th February.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the speech broadcast by the President of the Board of Trade, when inaugurating the British shopping week at Birmingham, which speech was of a contentious political nature; and whether such speech was reviewed or censored by the British Broadcasting Company before broadcasting?

I understand that the speech on British Shopping Weeks which my right hon. Friend made on the 8th December (and not on 1st December, when he inaugurated the Birmingham British Shopping Week) was broadcast by the British Broadcasting Company from their London Studio. In accordance with the usual practice, a draft was submitted in advance to the company. The company did not consider that it contained anything to which objection could be taken, and they agreed to the broadcasting of the speech as a matter of general national interest. I am surprised to learn that any section of political opinion would desire to controvert the proposition enunciated by my right hon. Friend, namely that increased purchases of British goods, wherever circumstances permit this to be done, stimulate British industry and assist in relieving unemployment.

asked the Postmaster-General the amount spent in advertising in the public Press the facilities afforded by the installation and use of the telephone; the number of applications made to the Telephone Development Association in respect of such advertisements; and the number of installations completed through the medium of the said association/

No expenditure has been incurred by the Post Office in advertising in the public Press the facilities afforded by the installation and use of the telephone. I have no statistics as to the number of applications made to the Telephone Development Association in respect of such advertisements, but during the past two or three months several hundreds of agreements for telephone service have been signed by applicants who asked for information respecting the telephone service through the medium of postcards included in a booklet issued by the association.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of employés engaged at the Royal Aircraft Factory at Farnborough in January, 1924, January, 1925, and January, 1926, respectively?

The figures are as follow for the experimental and research and industrial staff: 1st January,1924 … … 979 1st January,1925 … … 1,002 1st January,1926 … … 1,064

The technical staff located at Farnborough for airworthiness investigations, etc., are not included in these figures; nor are the drawing office staffs, clerks, typists, etc., who perform common services for the whole staff. The increase is due to greater concentration on scientific research and additional requirements in connection with the expansion of the Royal Air Force for home defence.

asked the Minister of Health what was the amount paid in outdoor relief by the Southwark Guardians in the first week of August, 1925, and the first' week of January, 1926, respectively; and whether the board of guardians have made any representations to the Ministry of Health as to the reason for any increased disbursements on out-door relief?

The amount paid in out-door relief by the Southwark Guardians in the week ending the 8th August, 1925, was £3,188 9s. 2d. and in the week ending the 9th January, 1926, £3,972 15s. 3d. I have not received any representations such as are suggested in the last part of the question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture in how many cases advantage has been taken under the Agricultural Credits Act by farmers' societies to obtain loans for working lime kilns?

In no case have loans been obtained under the Agricultural Credits Act for working lime kilns, which are scarcely appropriate for assistance under that Act. The Ministry proposed a scheme for assisting the distribution of lime to farmers by means of a credit society formed under the Agricultural Credits Act, but so far no advantage has been taken of it.