asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of civil chaplains appointed to the Royal Air Force, the religions represented, and the average amount of capitulation fee now being paid each grade?

There are 85 civilian officiating clergymen giving part-time services to Air Force personnel at home and abroad. They comprise the following denominations: Church of England, Presbyterian, Wesleyan, United Board and Roman Catholic. The rate of payment varies from 6s. a week to £3 a week according to the number of personnel ministered to, and the average yearly emolument amounts to about £70.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what has been the cost of the recent reorganisation in the Air Force; what will be the cost of the provision of command headquarters at Hillingdon; and whether any new buildings have been erected for the officers and other ranks at Hillingdon?

I assume that the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the recent changes of headquarters due to the assumption of control of all home defence units by the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Air Defences of Great Britain. The headquarters of this new command and also of that of the fighting area, which is subordinate to it, are being located at Hillingdon House, Uxbridge, hitherto occupied by the Inland Area, and, it has in consequence, been necessary to acquire new headquarters for the Inland Area, at Bentley Priory, Stan-more. As regards the cost of this new accommodation, I would refer to the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Dulwich (Sir F. Hall) on 9th December last. The change involves no additional cost at Hillingdon House. Certain increases of establishment of personnel and therefore annual cost are also involved, but these are only a part of the general expansion scheme for the creation of a Home Defence Force of 52 squadrons and cannot be separated from it.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the amount and value of the discrepancies found as a result of the stocktaking of heavy stocks of tentage, hangars, etc., at No. 3 Stores Depot, Milton; and what action has been taken, in view of such stocktaking being three years overdue?

As regards the first part of the question, the value of the deficiencies and surpluses found as a result of the stocktaking referred to was £10 8s. 8d. and £4,587 11s. 10d. respectively; to state the amounts of the various discrepancies would involve reproduction of many pages of the ledgers. As regards the second part, the stocks of tentage, hangars, etc., held at the depot consisted mainly of component parts, which were returned from theatres of war and from home aerodromes dismantled after the Armistice. The work of detailed verification, survey, re-conditioning and re-arrangement could only have been completed within a shorter period if extra staff had been specially engaged. It was, therefore, considered preferable to spread the stocktaking over some years and to utilise the services of the ordinary staff of the depot. No risk of misappropriation arose, in view of the weight and bulk of the stock. In the circumstances, I con- sider that the most economical course was adopted, and do not think that any action is necessary.

asked the Minister of Labour what his Department proposes to do with regard to the future of the Patrington Farm settlement, which is being closed on Lady Day, 1927; and whether he will make any offer of it to any substantial co-operative agricultural enterprise?

I have been asked to reply. Negotiations are proceeding for the surrender of the lease of this property as from Lady Day, 1927, after which date the land will be let by the Commissioners of Crown Lands in accordance with the provisions of the Crown Lands Acts. Any application from a co-operative society addressed to the Commissioners will receive consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) whether he is aware of any large acreage of land in this country suitable for improvement, and whether he can give estimates of the amount of labour which could be employed on any such scheme, and tae net loss to the State of undertaking it;(2) whether he can give any estimate of reclaimable or improvable land in Great Britain under the following heads: land reclaimable on the foreshore; land reclaimable by drainage; and land, now waste, reclaimable by clearance?

I am afraid it is impossible, without a special survey, to give even an approximate estimate of the land in this country that is capable of reclamation, or of being improved fir agricultural purposes except by drainage, which is dealt with below. Towards the end of the War a rough survey was carried out which revealed considerable areas in different parts of the country which were either littoral tracts reclaimable from the sea by embankment, or inland areas of hog or heathland, at present derelict or practically derelict, and reclaimable by drainage or clearing operations. The question of dealing with such areas has been exhaustively considered from time to time, chiefly in connection with unemployment relief, and actual work was started and finished at Wainfleet in Lincolnshire, where, in 1919, a small area was reclaimed from the seashore. The original intention to enclose a much larger area was abandoned in the interests of national economy owing to the excessive cost of reclamation. More recently schemes of land reclamation have been undertaken at Meathop Marsh in Morecambe Bay and at Wingland on the Wash, near King's Lynn. The results of these three schemes do not permit of a satisfactory estimate of the net loss to the State of reclamation generally, but I have come to the conclusion that at the present time reclamation in every sense of the word is uneconomic for agricultural purposes on a profit and loss basis.With regard to the area in this country which is capable of improvement by arterial drainage, followed up where necessary by the usual field drainage, the Ministry has recently collected information on this subject from which it is clear that some 1,200,000 acres are in urgent need of drainage, while nearly 500,000 further acres are capable of improvement. I hope that a considerable, amount of improvement will be effected during the next five years in connection with the Ministry's scheme for State aided drainage works which has already been announced.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give a list of schemes of land reclamation undertaken since 1920 in Great Britain, giving a profit-and-loss account on the more important schemes; the number of men employed: the average reclaimed; and the method of its disposal?

Only two schemes of land reclamation have been undertaken since 1920. In the first. place an area of approximately 465 acres was enclosed at Meathop Marsh in Morecambe Bay as part of a drainage scheme carried out for the relief of unemployment. As this scheme was part and parcel of a drainage scheme; I am afraid it is impossible to afford the precise information required as regards the number of men employed. The approximate cost, however, of the reclamation portion of the scheme was £34,000, and from a reclamation point of view this may be regarded as an entirely favourable scheme owing to the depth of land reclaimed by the length of sea bank. The owners of the land in question will remain in possession of it, as they will be charged with their share of the cost of reclaiming, apart from the Government's contribution.The other scheme was one undertaken by the Commissioners of Crown Lands and now approaching completion at Wingland on the shores of the Wash in the vicinity of King's Lynn. In this case the area reclaimed amounts to 350 acres, the cost of reclaiming will amount to approximately £18,000, and the number of men employed has varied between 20 and 50. The land remains in possession of the Crown and will be let to agricultural tenants. Further expenditure estimated at£8,000 will have to be incurred on equipment, water supply and under draining.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how it came about that 72,497 cwts. of hops in 1924 and 83,411 cwts. in 1925 were imported from the United States of America; and how much of this importation was subjected to duty?

Brewers need to use a certain proportion of foreign hops, and hops from the Pacific slope are particularly suitable for this purpose. Prior to and during the early years of the Hop Control this proportion of foreign hops amounted to about one-third of brewers' total requirements, but for the last two years of the control this proportion was reduced to one-sixth. The importation of hops on a reasonable scale was, therefore, licensed by the Hop Controller. Foreign hops were only allowed to enter the country when there appeared to be an expectation that they would be taken into consumption at an early date, in conformity with the Hop Controller's Regulations.Of the 83,411 cwts. of hops imported in 1925, 16,164 cwts. came in after the termination of the control, of which 13,335 cwts. had borne duty by the 31st December, 1925. Hops imported before the termination of the control were not liable to duty.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the average quantities of wheat imported and flour, imported for the five years ending 1913, and for the five years ending 1925, inclusive; and, if the figures are available, the average quantity of flour milled in this country for each of the two periods?

The average quantities of wheat and flour imported annually into the United Kingdom in the five years ending 1913 and in the five years ending 1925 were as follow:

—		Wheat	Meal and Flour.
		Cwts.	Cwts.
Average 1909–13	…	103,319,098	10,649,158
Average 1921–25	…	98,495,844	12,240,392

No data are available of the quantity of flour produced in this country, but It may be estimated that the annual average in the two periods, assuming a rate of extraction of 72 per cent. was, approximately, 894 million cwts. in 1909–13 and 86½ million cwts. in 1921–25. The Irish Free State is excluded from the United Kingdom as from 1st April, 1923, as the requisite particulars are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any

Period.(1)		Emigrants from British Isles during the U.S.fiscal year(2)	Immigrants from British Isles admissible fiscal year.(3)	Number admitted and chargeable to quota during the fiscal year.(4)
Year ended 30th June, 1919	…	6,275	—	—
Year ended 30th June, 1920	…	47,984	—	—
Year ended 30th June, 1921	…	82,021	—	—
Year ended 30th June, 1922	…	39,363	77,342	42,670
Year ended 30th June, 1923	…	75,027	77,342	77,342
Year ended 30th June, 1924	…	62,561	77,342	77,342
Year ended 30th June, 1925	…	31,916*	34,007*	30,461*
		25,499†	28,567†	27,112†
* Relates to Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
†Relates to the Irish Free State.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quota

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) on the 26th instant.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will give the figures of British emigration to the United States from 1919 onwards; and whether the full quota allowed to this country by the United States emigration laws has in every year been filled?

The numbers of British subjects recorded as leaving permanent residence in the British Isles to take up permanent residence in the United States during the United States fiscal years ended 30th June, 1919 to 1925, are shown in column (2) of the following table. The figures shown in column (3) represent the total numbers of British immigrants admissible into the United States under the Acts of 19th May, 1921, and 26th May, 1924, during these fiscal years. Column (4) shows the number admitted and chargeable to quota during these years, according to the "Reports of the United States Commissioner-General of Immigration":fixed by the United States of America for British immigrants for 1926?

The official quota of British immigrants from Great Britain and Northern Ireland to be admitted into the United States during the year ending 30th Tune, 1926, is 34,007. That from the Irish Free State is 28,567.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the figures of emigration from Great Britain to the United States of America for the years 1922–23 and for the years 1924 and 1925, and any reason for the decline during the latter period?

I would refer my lion Friend to the answer I gave him to the same question on the 16th April, a copy of which I am sending him.

First three months of				Australia.	Canada.	Rest of British Empire Overseas.	Total British Empire Overseas.
1923*	…	…	…	10,192	10,220	6,003	26,415
1924	…	…	…	10,159	10,998	6,167	27,324
1925	…	…	…	9,035	5,865	7,588	22,488
1926	…	…	…	12,160	8,250	8,483	28,893
* The figures for the first quarter of 1923 cover the emigrants from Great Britain and the whole of Ireland.

asked the Minister of Labour how many agricultural training centres exist in this country; the number of men in training in such centres; how many have gone overseas; and how many have settled on the land at home?

The existing scheme for agricultural training is intended for overseas settlers. There are at present two centres at which this training is given. 178 men are now in training and 43 have already proceeded overseas after training.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mrs. Talbot, of Golborne, Lancashire, had been continuously employed for 18 months for which insurance contributions have been paid; what amount of benefit for such contributions was she entitled to; whether he is aware that she has been refused benefit on the ground that she had failed to prove that for the two years

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs how many migrants have left this country for Australia, Canada, and for the rest of the Empire overseas during the first three months of 1926; and the numbers for the same three months in 1923, 1924, and 1925?

The numbers of British subjects recorded as leaving permanent residence in Great Britain and Northern Ireland to take up permanent residence in Australia, Canada, and in the rest of the British Empire overseas, during the first three months of 1923, 1924, 1925 and 1926, are shown in the following table:preceding her application for benefit she had been employed in an insurable employment to such an extent as was reasonable; and whether he will say how many months' employment in this case is considered reasonable?

My information is that the only employment Mrs. Talbot, has had since her marriage in 1920 was for a period of about 12 months in 1924–25 as a corridor maid. She has paid 74 unemployment insurance contributions in all, and has drawn the full amount of standard benefit due on these contributions, namely, 74 days. Her claim to extended benefit was twice rejected by the local Employment Exchange, in January and March last. It was down to be again considered yesterday, and I will let the hon. Member know the result.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, having regard to the large number of claimants to unemployment insurance benefit whose claims have been rejected by local employment committees on the grounds of no reasonable period of unemployment and not making reasonable effort to obtain employment, he will state what period of employment is considered necessary, after being refused benefit, to secure a further hearing by a local employment committee; and, after benefit has been refused, what evidence is necessary to secure a rehearing of the appeal for benefit by the local employment committee?

Where a claim to extended benefit has been disallowed on the grounds indicated, a fresh application is not, as a rule, entertained until the claimant can show either that he has had eight weeks' employment or that he has been making reasonable efforts to obtain employment over a period of six months. But committees are empowered to reconsider cases at any time if an applicant can produce fresh facts which were not before the committee when they made their recommendation for disallowance.

asked the Minister of Labour why Miss F. Cook, book No. local office, Shoreditch, serial No. 59,094, was refused unemployment benefit at the Mansell Street Exchange, on the ground of not genuinely seeking work, considering that she had applied for every job to which the Employment Exchange officials had sent her, and had been informed that there were no vacancies?

I am having inquiries made, and will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in connection with the dissolution of the Grocery and Provisions Trade Board, lie will now state the date on which he will make the special Order required under Section 1 (3) of the Trade Boards Act, 1918, to withdraw for the present the grocery and provisions trade from the application of the Trade Boards Acts?

As at present advised, my right hon. Friend does not propose to make a special Order for the purpose indicated in the question.

asked Vile Minister of Labour what were the quartiles and medians of the wages of male and female workers of the ages of 14 years, 18 years, 21 years, and 25 years and over respectively, as shown by the investigation made into wages in the grocery trade in 1919–20?

No detailed investigation of wages in the grocery trade was made in 1919–20. It is therefore not possible to give the information which the hon. and gallant Member desires.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the 1,839 firms visited in the course of the investigation into wages and conditions in the drapery and allied trades, but not supplying wages information, were in a position to supply such information but unwilling to do so?

Information was refused in about 400 cases, or between 6 or 7 per cent. of the cases visited. In about. 1,200 cases no workers were employed. In the remaining cases information for various reasons was not available at the time of the visit, and it was not thought worth while to repeat the visit.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can arrange to publish in the Labour Gazette monthly Reports on the following industries; motor car, silk, artificial silk, lace, and musical instruments, similar to those now published relating to the cotton and other industries?

For reasons of economy, the special reports in the Ministry of Labour Gazette on the state of employment have to he limited to certain of the largest groups of industries. I am afraid it would not be possible to include special reports on the industries specified by the hon. Member, but, as far as practicable, reference will be made to them, as is now clone, under the appropriate headings. As the hon. Member is doubtless aware, it is the practice to publish in the general tables such unemployment statistics as may be available separately for these industries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many proof gallons of homemade spirits were, during the year ending 31st March, 1926, distilled in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, re-warehoused on re-importation, retained for consumption in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, exported, exported as medical preparations, used for ships' stores, fortifying wines, etc., used in arts and manufactures, methylated, and allowed as deficiencies, respectively; the number of proof gallons of home-made spirits remaining in bond on the 1st April 1926; the number of proof gallons of imported spirits duty paid and retained for consumption during the year ended 31st March 1926, namely, brandy, rum, geneva, and other unenumerated spirits, tested, not tested, and perfumed; and the number of proof gallons of imported spirits used during the year ended 31st March 1926, for methylation and for arts and manufactures, respectively?

The figures asked for will not he available until early in June, when perhaps my hon. Friend will be good enough to repeat his question.

asked the Minister of Health the number of pension awards granted under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act?

On the latest figures available, the number of pension awards made in England, Wales and Scotland is 141,764.

asked the Minister of Heath whether he is aware that the local board of guardians is paying relief at the rate of 6s. per day provided that the recipients are prepared to work at digging trenches for new gas mains for the Kingswood (Bristol) Council; that the trade union rate paid by the Bristol Corporation and the Bristol Gas Company for similar work is 1s.1¼ per hour; and if he will take steps to see that this board of guardians pays the locally recognised standard rate of wages?

My right hon. Friend is not aware of the facts in this case, but is making inquiries, and will communicate further with the hon. Member.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what so far is the total figure of the turnover of the export credit scheme?

The following statement contains the information asked for by my hon. and gallant Friend:

(i) Advances Scheme.
Under this scheme, which is no longer in operation, advances have been made amounting to—
	£
	1,752,150
(ii) Guarantees Scheme.
Under this scheme guarantees have been given amounting to—
	18,553,270*
Total	20,305,420
*Includes guarantees of renewal bills.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the ever-increasing number of road vehicles and the danger in many accidents caused by broken glass, together with the comparatively high price of a form of glass which does not splinter, he can inform the House whether anything is being done to encourage the production of an article of the latter type at a lower price?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I am afraid there is no action which I could take that would be likely to hasten the production of unsplinterable glass at a lower price than that at present prevailing.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consider the question of the percentage grant hitherto made of the actual expenditure on Class 1 and Class 2 roads; whether he is aware of the growing local demand that any road, whatever its classification, should receive a grant of not less than 50 per cent. of the expenditure involved in its maintenance; and whether he will take action accordingly?

I am aware of general demands for increases and extensions of grant percentages, and although I cannot hold out hopes of such far-reaching concessions as my hon. Friend suggests, I would point out that there is a progressive increase in the length of highways benefiting from Road Fund grants, and that this policy of gradual expansion will be pursued.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the Central Advisory Committee is now constituted; who are the members and when the first meeting will be held; and what subjects will be considered at the meeting?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave on the 18th ultimo to the hon. and gallant Member for Hexham (Colonel Clifton Brown), in which I stated in detail the membership of the Central Advisory Committee, which has been appointed for the current year. The first meeting of the Committee has been summoned for the 30th instant. The principal topic to be considered will be certain matters connected with the welfare of children.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the orphan children of a man who died as the result of a war disability more than seven years after discharge are granted pension; and, if not, whether he will amend the Royal Warrant of January, 1924, so that the orphan children may have the same benefit as regards pension as is given to the children when the wife survives the husband?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the provision made for this class of case in Articles 17A (2) and 17B (2) of the Royal Warrant of January, 1924.