asked the Secretary for Mines what is the amount which has been lost in wages since the commencement of the coal strike; and whether he can give an estimate of the amount which would have accrued to the mineowners during the same period as net profits if the mines had continued working?

No, Sir; this can he a matter of conjecture. All that I can say is, that in the last two months for which figures are available (those of February and March), £25,400,000 was paid in wages to the men, and a net loss of £3,100,000 (apart from subsidy) was incurred by the owners.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in how many instances cargoes of coal have been requisitioned by the Government and compensation paid in respect of the cargoes since 30th April; in how many cases cargoes have been held up without compensation being paid; and what are the factors which determine whether compensation should or should not be paid?

No cargoes of coal have yet been requisitioned, but 263 ships, containing coal cargoes, have been refused clearance or permission to discharge since the stoppage began. All but 19 have now been released. It is only in the case of requisition that compensation is payable.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the resentment caused locally owing to the fact that many members of the extra police force drafted into the Westhoughton district are quartered in the Conservative club premises of the town; and whether he will take the necessary steps to see that they are housed in premises unconnected with any political party?

I am informed that these premises are the only premises in the township affording suitable sanitary and other accommodation, and that detachments of police were quartered there in 1893, 1910, 1912 and 1921. In an emergency the police often get accommodation in clubs of various shades of political opinion. No evidence of local resentment has come to the chief constable's notice, and, in the circumstances, the matter does not appear to call for any intervention on my part.

asked the Secretary for Mines the average price at which foreign imported coal is being sold to the consumer, and the average cost per ton at importation?

I have not the necessary particulars for the calculation of these averages. Even if I could give them, I do not think they would be of any value, as there are so many different kinds of coal, sources of supply and conditions of delivery.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to individual cases of hardship arising out of the instruction that it is not expedient to pay extended unemployment benefit to casual workers where their earnings are half or more than half their normal earnings; and what steps he proposes to take in such cases?

The instructions provide that where the withholding of benefit in the type of case quoted by the hon. Member would lead to hardship, benefit should not he withheld. I do not think the rule requires any modification, but if the hon. Member has any cases where hardship has resulted, I shall be happy to inquire into them, if he will let me have particulars.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men, women, boys, and girls registered at the Borough (Walworth Road) Employment Exchange for the months of January, February, March, April, and May last, respectively.

The following table shows the number of persons on the registers of the Borough Employment

—			Men.	Boys.	Women	Girls	Total.
4th January	…	…	5,868	294	1,552	417	8,131
11th January	…	…	5,982	266	1,573	505	8,326
18th January	…	…	5,994	316	1,521	476	8,307
25th January	…	…	6,122	313	1,560	455	8,450
1st February	…	…	5,876	253	1,594	459	8,182
8th February	…	…	5,934	229	1,627	416	8,206
15th February	…	…	5,995	214	1,588	417	8,214
22nd Febuary	…	…	6,006	190	1,588	371	8,155
1st March	…	…	5,841	151	1,602	343	7,937
8th March	…	…	5,901	145	1,560	314	7,929
15th March	…	…	6,003	138	1,447	305	7,893
22nd March	…	…	5,798	133	1,394	284	7,609
29th March	…	…	5,675	181	1,352	343	7,551
5th April	…	…	4,907	210	1,258	396	6,771
12th April	…	…	5,224	367	1,316	361	7,268
19th April	…	…	5,168	299	1,279	333	7,079
26th April	…	…	5,069	258	1,315	351	6,993
3rd May	…	…	4,901	188	1,168	306	6,563
10th May	…	…	7,519	305	2,428	504	10,756
17th May	…	…	6,495	270	2,521	309	9,595
24th May	…	…	5,643	217	1,647	338	7,845
31st May	…	…	5,820	197	1,556	320	7,893

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of alien seamen employed by British shipowners on 30th April, 1926, as compared with the number employed on 30th April, 1924, together with the number of British seamen employed on foreign vessels on the same dates?

Information as to the number of alien seamen employed in the British Mercantile Marine was contained in an answer given to the hon. Member for Southampton (Lord Apsley) on the 17th December, 1924, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member, with additions to bring the statistics up to date. The only information I have in regard to the number of British seamen employed on foreign ships is contained in the Annual Reports of the Commissioner of Navigation of the United States. These reports relate solely to seamen engaged before Shipping Commissioners for service on American vessels, and show that for the years ended 30th June, 1924 and 1925, the number of British seamen so engaged was 30,911 and 28,871 respectively.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the approximate average age on retirement of persons in receipt of ratings service pensions, and the average duration of such pensions?

The answer to the first part of the question is 43 years and to the second part 23 years.

asked the Secretary of State for War the approximate average age on retirement of persons in receipt of service pensions, and the average duration of such pensions?

would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 30th July last to the hon. Member for Blaydon (Mr. Whiteley). No factors have operated during the last two years which would materially affect the figures given on that date.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many horses were bought in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland for the Army during the last financial year; and whether any were bought on the Continent?

The numbers of horses purchased during the financial year 1925–26 in the countries specified were as follow:

England	1,136
Scotland	21
Wales	25
Ireland	1,928

As regards the second part of the question, apart from two privately-owned horses bought as chargers from British officers on the Rhine, no horses were purchased on the Continent.

asked the Home Secretary the approximate average age on retirement of policemen in receipt of pensions and the average duration of such pensions?

The information asked for by the hon. Member is not available for police forces generally, but in the Metropolitan Police the average age of those who retired during 1925–26 was 46·81 years, and the average duration of pension in the cases of pensioners dying during that year was 19·93 years.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether it has been brought to his notice that the accommodation provided for the Newark tax district is still unsatisfactory; and whether he can see his way to securing that improvements are effected in the near future?

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to my Noble Friend the Member for the Newark Division (Marquess of Titchfield) on the 14th December last. The premises are considered to be in a reasonably satisfactory condition, and no complaints have yet been received from the Inland Revenue Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now in a position to give to the House the names of the British delegates and assistant delegates at the forthcoming assembly of the League of Nations?

The composition of the British delegation has not yet been decided.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons, giving adults and children separately, maintained in the workhouses on 1st January, 1926, or nearest date available?

154,500 adults and 52,000 children under 16 years of age were being maintained in the various classes of Poor Law institutions in England and Wales, on the 1st January last.

asked the Minister of Health the average number of persons maintained in the workhouses during the years 1923–24, 1924–25, and 1925–26, respectively?

The average number of persons maintained in Poor Law institutions in England and Wales was 207,346 in the year 1923–24, and 204,895 in the year 1924–25. The figures for 1925–26 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health the total amount expended in connection with Poor Law institutions during the years 1923–24, 1924–25, and 1925–26, respectively?

The total expenditure in connection with Poor Law institutions in England and Wales was 213,735,923 during the year 1923–24, and £14,494,451 during the year 1924–25. The figures for 1925–26 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health what was the average weekly cost per person maintained in the workhouses during the years 1923–24, 1924–25 and 1925–26, respectively?

The average weekly cost per person maintained in Poor Law institutions in England and Wales was 25s. 5d. in the year 1923–24, and 27s. 1½d. in the year 1924–25. The figures for 1925–26 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the decision of the Tregaron Board of Guardians not to amend their casual ward until they are compelled to do so; and whether he will at once take steps to have carried out the recommendation of his Ministry?

Plans for the improvement of these wards were submitted to me by the guardians on the 8th instant.

asked the Minister of Health, with reference to National Health Insurance the total of the accumulated funds at 31st December, 1925 the total payments made during the year ended 31st December, 1925, by insured persons, employers, and the State, respectively; the number of insured persons, male and female separately; the total benefits paid during the year ended 31st. December, 1925, for sickness benefit, disablement benefit, maternity benefit, medical benefit, and additional benefits, respectively; the total amount allocated to approved societies for additional benefits; the total amount retained by the State which is regarded by the Act as surplus; the number of societies which have disposable surplus for additional benefits; and the number of societies in deficiency?

The particulars asked for with reference to National Health Insurance, so far as available, are given for England and Wales in the following statement:

Total of the accumulated funds at 31st December, 1925

£113,000,000

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, under the provisions of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act of last year, the children of a man who has divorced his wife and been given their custody are not entitled to pension on their father's death as long as their mother remains alive and does not remarry, and subsequently becomes a widow; and whether he will introduce legislation next Session to remedy this defect?

As regards the first part of the question, the statement therein does not accurately represent the position; but, as the matter is rather involved, I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a detailed statement. As regards the second part of the question, I cannot commit myself further than to assure him that the matter will be fully reviewed when amending legislation is in contemplation.

asked the Minister of Health the date on which the present housing subsidy normally expires, and what is the attitude of the Government with regard to its termination or continuance?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given on the 16th instant to a question on this subject addressed to me by the hon. Member for Shipley (Mr. Mackinder).

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the growing practice of selling Dutch half-meats as Cheshire cheese and to the varying standards of the percentage of fat in the dry matter of cheese in different parts of the country; and whether he will consider the desirability of issuing Regulations that imported half-meats shall be labelled as such when exposed for sale by retail anti that the minimum standard for Cheshire cheese should be 45 per cent, of fat in the dry matter or, if necessary, introduce legislation to amend the Food and Drugs Act to establish a legal minimum?

I am not aware that there is any growing practice of selling half-meat cheese, whether imported or home made, as Cheshire. There have been several successful prosecutions under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act against persons who have supplied skimmed milk cheese to purchasers who demanded Cheshire cheese, and the present law appears therefore to be sufficient to deal with this offence. Power to require the marking of imported cheese is provided for in the Merchandise Marks (Imported Goods) Bill at present before Parliament.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the actual amount of subsidy which was paid last year in respect of sugar-beet molasses produced in this country containing 70 per cent. or more of sweetening matter; containing less than 70 per cent. and more than 50 per cent. of sweetening matter; containing not more than 50 per cent. and not less than 45 per cent. of sweetening matter; and containing less than 45 per cent. of sweetening matter?

The amount of subsidy paid to date in respect of molasses produced from sugar-beet during the 1925–26 manufacturing season is as follows:

	£
Containing 70 per cent. or more of sweetening matter	nil
Containing less than 70 per cent. and more than 50 per cent.	70,475
Containing not more than 50 per cent. and not less than 45 per cent	6,694
Containing less than 15 per cent	nil

asked the Minister of Agriculture to whom applications should be addressed with regard to any Government schemes for assisting in the placing of ex-service and other men on the land?

The councils of counties and county boroughs are the statutory authorities for the provision of small holdings in England and Wales, and applications for holdings should be addressed to the clerk of the council concerned. Most councils, however, already have a waiting list, so that they may not be able to deal with new applications immediately. The only estate directly managed by the Ministry in which there are likely to be small holdings available for letting in the near future is at Sutton Bridge, and applications should be addressed to the Director, Estate Office, Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire. Full information in regard to facilities for land settlement in the Dominions can be obtained from the Oversea Settlement Department, Caxton House, Westminister, S.W.I.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of trades unions, friendly societies, and other organisations registered under the Friendly Societies Act, showing the number of members and the accumulated funds, respectively?

At the latest date at present available, the number of registered trade unions was 578, with 4,501,015 members and £11,581,287 funds. The number of friendly societies and other organisations registered under the Friendly Societies Act was 25,527 with 22,679,716 members and £115,231,363 funds.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the approximate average age of civil servants in receipt of pensions, and the average duration of such pensions?

The approximate average age at which civil servants retire on pension is 58: the average duration of pension is 12½ years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any later investigations have caused him to vary his estimate of the loss of three-quarters of a million sterling to the State as the result of the recent general strike?

Later information, as my right hon. Friend anticipated, points to.a figure for the net expenditure by the State due to the general strike somewhat less than the estimate of £750,000 which he gave on 17th May. I think the actual figure will be about £600,000.