asked the President of the Board of Trade the names of the 10 officers stated to be required for a further six months by the Food Department of the Board of Trade engaged in the liquidation of the old Ministry of Food transactions, the salaries paid, and the specific duties performed by each of them; how many of this number are ex-service men; and whether any of this staff are members of the permanent service, or, alternatively, whether it is contemplated transferring any of this staff to the permanent service?

The 10 officers are: Messrs. L. Bevan, D. G. Cathro, F. Houghton, V. F. Houston, H. James, H. Nicholls, P. J. Osborne, B. P. A. Wilson, A. O. Winter, and H. Woodhouse. Two arc paid 71s, 6d. a week, two are paid 84s. 10d., a week, one is paid £350 per annum, one is paid £500 per annum, one £600 per annum and one £700 per annum; one is paid £600 per annum for part time and one £700 per annum for part time. Five are employed on the settlement and adjustment of accounts of Bacon Packers; two on the settlement and adjustment of Flour Mills Control accounts; two on the investigation of claims made by the French Government in connection with their share of the Wheat Executive accounts; and one, who has a special knowledge of all the accounts work of the late Ministry of Food, is at persent employed on the accounts of other trading services. Seven officers are ex-service men and three are not. No one of the 10 is at present a member of the permanent staff, but three of them have passed the recent examination and are now waiting certification as clerical officers by the Civil Service Commission. It is not proposed that any of the remainder shall be transferred to the permanent service.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the proportion of unestablished messengers, porters, warders, attendants, and record keepers employed in the Whitehall offices; and what is the number of established men in the same grades?

Assuming that the hon. Member did not intend to limit his inquiry to the small number of offices actually situated in Whitehall, according to the provision made in Estimates for the current financial year, the number of unestablished messengers, porters, warders, attendants, record keepers, etc., employed in headquarter offices in London (excluding the Post Office) is approximately 2,025. The corresponding number of established men on the above basis is slightly over 300, but this figure does not include posts of office keepers, deputy office keepers, principal record keepers, etc., on an established basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (1) whether he will give further details of the mean- ing of the injunction to the Empire Marketing Committee that they must consider home agricultural interests;(2) whether the Government itself has yet decided upon any policy for the expenditure of all or part of the £500,000 to be provided this year for the assistance of Empire Marketing;(3) whether any meetings of the committee charged with the administration of the Empire Marketing Grant have yet been held; whether any schemes have been submitted to the committee; and, if so, what decisions have been taken upon them?

As regards the first two questions, I would refer the right hon. Member to the full statement which I made on this subject on the 31st March. I do not think I can usefully go into further detail at present, but I might explain that it will be for the Empire Marketing Board to consider the best method for giving effect to the direction that home agricultural products should be included in the scope of the grant in connection with the particular schemes brought before it. As regards the third question, no meeting of the Empire Marketing Board has yet been held; the remaining parts of the question do not, therefore, at present arise.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in accordance with the recommendations of the Newton Committee on Smoke Abatement, he will consider the advisability of instructing the Central Housing Authority to reject any housing scheme submitted by a local authority or public utility society which fails to make, where practicable, specific provision in the plans for the adoption of smokeless methods for the supply of heat on the lines laid down in the Committee's interim Report?

Much is being done in providing, smokeless methods of heating in housing schemes, but, with so urgent a need for new houses, I am not prepared to make smokeless methods an essential condition of financial assistance.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses to be built by the London County Council, on account of which subsidies will be paid, to the latest convenient date, together with the amount of rentals authorised to be charged for such houses?

The number of houses erected or authorised to be erected under the various Housing Acts by the London County Council with financial assistance from the State is 22,363. Approval for purposes of State grant has also been given to shim clearance schemes involving the provision of rehousing accommodation for about 16,500 persons. The rents of houses erected under the subsidy schemes now in force are not submitted to me for approval, but I understand from the County Council that some typical rents recently fixed by them range from 8s. 6d. per week to 14s. 6d. per week, exclusive of rates, according to the accommodation provided.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the Annual Report of the medical officer of health for Wigton, Cumberland, for the year 1924, in which it is stated that there were 80 houses unfit for human habitation in the urban district; and, seeing that this amounted to about 10 per cent. of all the houses in that district, that those 80 houses had been condemned by a succession of medical officers, and that the Reports of the medical officer of health for Cumberland show that, for each of the years 1922, 1923, and 1924, the Wigton Urban District had the second highest death rate of all the 14 urban districts of Cumberland, whether he will, if he has not already done so, now send a medical inspector to report?

I am aware of the report made by the medical officer to which my lion. Friend draws attention. The urban district council have the matter under consideration and a special inspection of the district is being made. I have asked that a copy of the report on this investigation may be submitted to me. In the circumstances I think it desirable to await the receipt of this report.

asked the Minister of Health whether he intends to promote legislation in pursuance of which the Government will be enabled to contribute to the cost of providing houses for persons displaced in pursuance of an order made under Part II of the Housing Act, 1925, relating to unhealthy areas, on the same basis as in the case of contributions made under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924; and, if so, when such legislation will be introduced?

The subsidy 'provided by the Housing Act of 1923 in connection with schemes for the clearance of unhealthy areas (including the provision of rehousing accommodation) takes the form of an Exchequer contribution up to one half of the approved loss arising from the execution of the schemes. This contribution is payable during the whole period for which a loss is incurred, which would normally be about 60 years, and there is no statutory provision for the review of this subsidy as in the case of schemes under the Housing Act, 1924. The conditions of Exchequer assistance in respect of schemes for the clearance of unhealthy areas and the consequential rehousing accommodation were fixed by Parliament as recently as 1923, and I am not aware of any circumstances which have arisen since that time which would justify me in asking the House to vary the basis of assistance.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the general rate to be levied in many of the London boroughs is at a higher rate in the than the rate for the past half-year, although the new rate will be levied on a greatly increased assessment; and whether the Government will take steps to limit the spending powers of local authorities to the amounts raised in 1925 while Imperial taxation is so burdensome?

According to the latest information furnished to my Department, the rate in the pound of the general rate for the present half-year will be less than the rate in the pound for the past half-year in 15 Metropolitan boroughs, will be the same in two boroughs and will be greater in 12 boroughs. As regards the last part of the question, I have every sympathy with the object of my hon. Friend, but I am afraid that legislation for this purpose would not be practicable.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to a Report of the Committee of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, which was adopted by that Board in July last, recommending that, subject to his sanction, the inmates of the casual wards be allowed two hours of the allotted task time each day to do their own washing and mending; whether he has given his sanction; and whether he has or would give his sanction to like encouragement to cleanliness in casual wards outside the Metropolis?

I am aware of the recommendation to which my hon. Friend refers, and I understand that the Managers of the Asylums Board are making tentative and experimental arrangements with a view to testing the proposal. Pending the receipt of a report upon these tentative arrangements, I am not prepared to consider any formal approval of the proposals. Facilities for washing and mending clothes are generally afforded to the casual paupers under existing arrangements.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that when men are being taken on at the Lochaber water-power scheme the firm compel the men to accept the firm's doctor as their panel doctor, by supplying medical insurance forms already filled up by the firm, which the men are given to sign; and whether he will take steps to ensure that the right of free selection is given the men under the Health Insurance Acts?

I am not aware that the practice of the contractors is as stated, but if the hon. Member will furnish me with any specific instances which he has in mind, I will have inquiry made.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the deputy officer for health for the district in which the Lochaber water-power scheme is being constructed is doctor far the contractor responsible for this scheme and that he also holds the following additional appointments: panel doctor, medical referee under the Compensation Acts, medical officer to the burgh of Fort William, medical officer to the parish of Kilmallie, and medical practitioner in charge of Belford hospital, where all serious accidents on the Lochaber waterpower scheme are treated; whether he is aware that the hospital accommodation is insufficient to meet the requirements of the number of men employed on work involving considerable risk; and whether he will take steps to see that the accommodation is adequate to meet the circumstances of the case?

I am aware that the local medical officer of health for the district holds the appointments referred to in the first part of the question. I am also aware that additional hospital accommodation would be of advantage in the district, and I have been in communication with the District Committee and the contractors in regard to steps which are being taken to provide this further accommodation.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that all men starting on the Lochaber water-power scheme have to submit to a private examination by the contractors' medical officer; that at Ferset Camp, which has been occupied at times by 140 men during the last 11 months, there are no washing or drying facilities for the workmen employed; that at Ferset Camp the men have not had a change of bedding since November, 1925, and that men starting on this job have issued to them beds and bedding previously issued to other men, and not in a fit state for further use; whether he has received any report from the medical officer of health concerned as to the sanitary and feeding arrangements at this camp; and whether he is satisfied with such report?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In regard to the second part, I am informed that at Ferset Camp, at which the average number of men resident during the last six mouths was 68 per day, there are washing facilities with hot and cold water, that a shower bath has been installed, and that there is a drying shed at the working shaft close to the camp. In reply to the third part, I am informed that beds and bedding are changed regularly and that all new arrivals are supplied with clean blankets and bedding from store. All beds and bedding are subject to daily inspection, and there is suitable apparatus for disinfection if necessary. The Scottish Board of Health receive weekly reports from the local medical officer of health on the conditions at the various camps, and the Board's own officers visit from time to time. The Board are satisfied from these reports as to the sanitary conditions or catering arrangements of the camps.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the firm conducting the Lochaber water-power scheme are conducting a sweepstake as an additional inducement to the men employed on this scheme to increase their output in blasting operations when using liquid oxygen as an explosive; and

County.		Above 1 and not exceeding 50 acres.		Above 50 exceeding not 100 acres.		Above 100 and not exceeding 150 acres.		Above 150 acres.
		Owned or mainly owned.	Rented or mainly rented.	Owned or mainly owned.	Rented or mainly rented.	Owned or mainly owned.	Rented or mainly rented.	Owned or mainly owned.	Rented or mainly rented.
Anglesey	…	377	3,142	60	408	33	139	35	124
Brecon	…	170	1,043	132	563	57	291	67	199
Cardigan	…	803	3,436	254	854	98	354	34	185
Carmarthen	…	877	4,496	368	1,649	170	601	60	280
Carnarvon	…	571	4,430	71	490	24	156	10	125
Denbigh	…	594	3,407	187	818	69	342	49	237
Flint	…	445	2,161	97	329	41	144	26	107
Glamorgan	…	304	2,998	96	839	25	299	17	228
Merioneth	…	212	1,742	70	539	24	180	14	120
Monmouth	…	614	2,103	159	571	83	240	87	259
Montgomery	…	612	2,895	253	787	108	332	73	249
Pembroke	…	745	3,175	213	726	129	362	100	314
Radnor	…	214	958	91	381	64	207	65	228

The returns are not tabulated so as to give the number of holdings of 100 to 200 acres and above 200 respectively. Information as to the acreage occupied by owners was not collected in 1925.

I am informed that there is no foundation for the statement that the firm are conducting a sweepstake. A sweepstake was got up by the men, but the firm had nothing to do with it. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what are the numbers of owners and tenants, respectively, who cultivate holdings under 50 acres, between 50 and 100 acres, between 100 and 200 acres, and over 200 acres in each of the Welsh counties?

The number of agricultural holdings of various sizes, owned or mainly owned and rented or mainly rented respectively, in each Welsh county, according to the returns furnished by occupiers in 1924, was as follows:

asked the Minister of Health what is the gross rateable value of all land in England and Wales assessed as agricultural for purposes of local rates; and what is the total amount of local rates paid in respect of that land, respectively, in the years 1913–14 and 1924–25?

The rateable value of agricultural land in England and Wales assessed to the local rates was at the beginning of the financial year 1913–14, £23,992,600; and at the beginning of the financial year 1924–25, £25,923,167. It is estimated that the rates collected on agricultural land amounted to £3,300,000 in 1913–14 and to £3,830,000 in 1924–25.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the establishment of the Artillery College at Woolwich on 1st January, 1926, and on 1st January, 1914: and what was the cost of the college for the financial year 1913–14 and the financial year 1925–26?

The establishment of the Artillery College, Woolwich, for the years in question was as follows:

	1913–14.	1925–26.
Military staff (excluding subordinates)	15	28
Civilian staff (excluding subordinates)	4	19
Subordinate military staff	74	177
Subordinate civilian staff	102	122

As regards the second part of the question, the account for the financial year 1925–26 is not yet complete. The comparable cash estimate figures for the two years in question are:

				£
1913–14	…	…	…	26,610
1925–26	…	…	…	85,500

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a date has been fixed for the inauguration of the British War Memorial in Macedonia?

It has not yet been possible to fix a definite date for this ceremony, which it is hoped to hold some time in the autumn. An announcement will be made as soon as a definite date has been decided upon.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the cost per head to the nation of keeping each officer, each petty officer, and each rating in His Majesty's Navy?

The average cost of pay and allowances of each officer, each petty officer, and each rating is approximately £475, £194, and £101, respectively. Other charges, such as victualling, medical, travelling, etc., average approximately £60 in each case: The figures given do not cover liability in respect of retired pay and pension, and as the bulk of the officers and men normally live in His Majesty's ships, nothing is included for accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the cost per head to the nation of keeping each officer, each non-commissioned officer, and each airman in His Majesty's Air Force?

To quote a flat rate of cost per officer, per non-commissioned officer and per airman would be difficult and misleading. The cost varies not only with the particular rank or grading within each of these classes, but also with other factors, such as whether the individual is serving at home or abroad, whether he is married or single, and whether he draws cash allowances or is provided with quarters, rations, etc. in kind. The hon. and gallant Member will find in Appendix 3 to the current Air Estimates details of the daily and yearly rates of pay of officers, non-commissioned officers and airmen serving at home, and I hope that these will be sufficient for his purpose.

asked the President of the Board of Education when the Committee appointed to inquire into, and advise upon, the public system of education in England and Wales in relation to the requirements of trade and industry is expected to issue its Report?

I have nothing to add to the reply given by me on 8th February to the hon. Member for Batley and Morley (Mr. Forrest), a copy of which I am sending the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of cases which have been refused extended benefits at the Wigan Employment Exchange during the months of January, February and

Period.	Applications Considered.		Applications Allowed.		Applications Disallowed.
	Males.	Females.	Males.	Females.	Males.	Females.
15th December, 1925, to 11thJanuary, 1926.	1,417	661	1,257	564	160	97
12th January to 8th February	1,004	929	901	786	103	143
9th February to 8th March	858	1,260	723	1,063	135	197
9th March to 12th April	1,199	1,250	1,075	1,053	124	197
Total	4.478	4,100	3,956	3,466	522	634

asked the Minister of Labour what manufacturing processes and what materials, if any, other than pure silk, are involved in the industry described as the silk industry for the purposes of the statistical classification under the Unemployment Insurance Act?

The following is the list of processes included under the heading "silk industry" for the purpose of statistical classification under the Unemployment Insurance Acts:

• Artificial silk spinning.
• Artificial silk yarn manufacture.
• Cellulose acetate manufacture.
• Chenille manufacture.
• Crepe (silk) manufacture.
• Damask (silk) manufacture.
• Plush (silk) manufacture.
• Pongee manufacture.
• Poplin (silk) manufacture.
• Reeled silk spinning.
• Ribbon silk manufacture.
• Silk cording.
• Silk combing.
• Silk dressing.
• Silk noil spinning.
• Silk printing.
• Silk reeling.
• Silk smallware manufacture.
• Silk spinning.
• Silk spinning (artificial).
• Silk thread manufacture.
• Silk throwing.

The following Table shows the number of applications for extended benefit considered, admitted and recommended for disallowance by the Wigan Local Employment Committee during the period 15th December, 1925, to 12th April, 1626:

• Silk twisting.
• Silk twist manufacture.
• Silk warping.
• Silk waste spinning.
• Silk weaving.
• Silk winding.
• Tapestry (silk) manufacture.
• Tie silk manufacture (weaving).
• Veiling (silk) manufacture.
• Velvet (silk) manufacture.
• Viscose manufacture.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has available the figures as to the number of firms on the King's National Roll compared to the figures of January, 1925, of 28,500, and the numbers of disabled ex-service men then unemployed compared to 30,202 registered at the end of 1924?

As explained in my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Norwich (Captain Fairfax) on 14th April, there has been no substantial change in the figures of firms on the King's National Roll during the last 12 months. The latest returns indicate that approximately 28,000 firms are on the Roll. There have, of course, been changes in the actual firms on the Roll during this period, newly enrolled firms taking the place of firms who for various reasons have been unable to continue their enrolment. I should add that the number of disabled ex-service men employed by enrolled firms is now approximately 370,000 as compared with 350,000 in January, 1925. The latest returns for March, 1926, show that 29,404 disabled ex-service men are registered as unemployed as compared with 36,202 in December, 1924.

asked the Minister of Transport what amount has been paid out of the Road Fund in connection with experiments in road construction under the Roads Improvement Act; what amount it is estimated will be spent annually on such purpose; and whether estimates of such expenditure will be submitted to Parliament?

No payments have yet been made, but consideration is now being given to a programme of experimental work which it is hoped to carry out during the present financial year The particulars, however, are not yet settled. Full information on the subject will be embodied in the Report upon the Administration of the Road Fund, which is presented annually to Parliament.

asked the Minister of Pensions the reason why a pension has been refused to John Porter, 35, Gibson Street, Glasgow, now an inmate of Hawk-head Mental Hospital; if he is aware that Dr. McDonald, of that institution and a leading mental expert, has stated very definitely that John Porter's mental trouble is a direct result of the War; and, if in view of this, he can have the case again inquired into or will he state if the decision given by him is final?

I find that in this case the man, who was already in receipt of pension on other grounds, made a claim in respect of mental affection for the first time in 1924, five and a half years after his demobilisation. The circumstances of the case were very carefully considered by the Ministry, but it could not be found that his condition was due to war service, and on appeal by the claimant, the independent appeal tribunal confirmed the Ministry's decision. I would add that the appeal tribunal not only had all the facts of the case before it, but, before giving their decision, obtained a special report from the medical superintendent of the mental hospital referred to in the question. I have had the representations made to me regarding the case most carefully considered, but I can find no grounds for taking further action in regard to it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give a table showing the amount of taxation per head of the population of Great Britain divided up proportionately under the headings of each Vote of each class of the new Estimates?

My Noble Friend will learn from the Budget statement what proportion of the expenditure of the United Kingdom is to be met from taxation. But with the exception of certain minor receipts appropriated in aid of Votes, the whole of our revenue, tax and non-tax, is paid into the Exchequer, and the whole of our annual expenditure is met out of the Exchequer. It is impossible, and I think undesirable, to apportion particular items of revenue to particular heads of expenditure, and, accordingly, no precise answer to the question is possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of the British Debt to America at the end of the financial year 1918–19; and what was the total amount of the British loans to our European Allies from the date of America's entry into the War to the end of the financial year 1918–19?

The debt of the British Government to the United Statees Government at the end of the financial year 1918–19 was $4,092,000,000 (£840,822,000 at par). The loans made by the British Government to our European Allies from the date of America's entry into the War to the end of the financial year 1918–19 amounted to £742,000,000, and further loans of over £98 millions were made to the Allies on account of the War during the financial year 1919–20.