asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs the number of emigrants who have migrated to Australia under the Empire Settlement Act, 1922, during the 12 months ended at the last convenient date, together with the corresponding numbers of emigrants who migrated for the corresponding period the previous year?

The following are the numbers of men, women and children who were assisted under the Empire Settlement Act, 1922, to proceed to Australia during the twelve months ending 31st May, 1925, and 31st May, 1926, respectively:

To 31st May, 1926: Men … 8,536 Women … 6,826 Children … 11,036 Total … 26,398

To 31st May, 1925: Men … 10,271 Women … 6,061 Children … 5,681 Total … 22,013

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when it is proposed that the sick-berth staff shall occupy their newly built quarters at the Royal Naval Hospital, Plymouth, which were completed over three months ago?

The new quarters are expected to be occupied very shortly.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the Government decision to give effect to the recommendations of the Committee appointed to consider questions relating to pay and other matters affecting recruitment of officers and nurses to the medical branches of the fighting services, he will state if the sick-berth staff will benefit by these recommendations, seeing that they are a definite part of the nursing section of the Navy?

The Terms of Reference of the Committee did not include consideration of the sick berth ratings and the reply is therefore in the negative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty seeing that warrant officers are now obliged to retire at the age of 50, instead of at 55, and that the justification for this breach of contract, made under Article 1,915, King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions, which specifically states that they will be pensioned at 55 years of age, is that certain officers of all classes were compulsorily retired in 1922, whether he will consider reviewing the position of warrant officers who, as a result of the amendment of this article, will suffer in pay and pension rights, particularly as those officers who were compulsorily retired in 1922 were granted a lump sum as compensation, and seniority in addition, whereas the warrant officers in question will receive no compensation unless the Admiralty can see its way to treat them more generously?

I regret that I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member on the 7th July.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the disadvantages under which married officers of the Navy are placed as compared with married officers of the other Services, and the hardships caused thereby, he will reconsider his decision not to grant marriage allowances before he prepares his Estimates for the coming year?

The decision to which my hon. and gallant Friend alludes is a. decision of the Government, and I can only refer him to the answer given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Devonport (Mr. Hore-Belisha) on the 16th November, 1925 (OFFICIAL REPORT, column 17).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has received, through British delegates sent to Canton, the proposal of the Canton Government to refer to an impartial Commission all questions of dispute between the Hong Kong and the Canton Governments, especially connected with the Shameen shooting and the anti-British boycott; and is it the intention of the British Government to agree to this proposal?

A report to this effect has just been received and is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the estimated loss to date to British trade and/or merchants through the anti-British boycott in China?

I am afraid that it is impracticable to furnish even an approximate estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give the approximate number of those who attended the Air Force display on the 3rd July last, and what sum of money was raised for the Royal Air Force Memorial Fund?

The answer to the first part of the question is that actual admissions to the aerodrome numbered approximately 72,000, and to the second that the sum received was approximately £6,500. Final figures will not, however, be available for about two months.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the eight new holdings and eight enlargements which have been formed on Eriboll farm since it was purchased by the Board of Agriculture are included in the subjects to be sold; whether, if they are so included, the opportunity to purchase has first been offered to the sitting tenants and where any reference can be found to these holdings in the particulars circulated by the direction of the Board of Agriculture; and, if they are not so included, whether it is intended to retain these holdings and enlargements in the possession of the Board?

The new holdings and enlargements referred to by the hon. and gallant Member were included in the subjects of Eriboll Estate which were offered for sale. The holders who, with one exception, only possess shares in a common grazing, were not given the opportunity of purchasing their holdings. Reference to these holdings was made on page 4 of the particulars of the estate, which were available in connection with the proposed sale. In the event of a sale taking place, it is not intended to retain these holdings in the possession of the Board of Agriculture.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of houses rated at £26 a year and under that were completed during the last financial year without any assistance from public funds; and whether any estimate has been made as to the number completed since 1st April of this year?

I regret that the information desired is not available. According to returns received by the Scottish Board of Health the number of houses containing five apartments and less completed during 1925 without any assistance from public funds was 1,236. If this figure is taken as the approximate annual number of such houses, the number completed since 1st April last would be about 400.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, with regard to the findings of the Scottish Departmental Committee on Trawling and Policing of Scottish Sea Fisheries, whether the question of the closure of the Moray Firth was considered at the last meeting of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea; if so, what decision was reached on the question and what action the Government proposes to take; whether the fifth and sixth recommendations of this Committee, prohibiting the carrying of otter boards on small vessels and requiring trawlers when in closed waters to have their trawling gear stowed away, have been adopted by the Government, and whether the necessary legislation will he introduced; whether it is now proposed to increase the number of fast auxiliary vessels to five, as recommended by the Committee; whether sufficient experience has yet been obtained of the wireless installation placed on board one of the cruisers to enable a definite conclusion to be drawn as to its value, and, if so, whether it is proposed to equip other cruisers with wireless; whether it has been decided to institute a superannuation scheme for the officers and crews of the cruisers in accordance with the recommendation of the Committee; and whether it is proposed to introduce legislation to give effect to recommendations 8 and 9 of the Committee with regard to increased penalties for illegal depredations by trawlers and the codification and simplification of the Acts relating to Scottish fisheries?

The question of the closure of the Moray Firth was considered at the last meeting of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, and the matter is under investigation by a committee appointed by the Council for the purpose. Recommendations five and six of the Departmental Committee will be kept in view in connection with any proposed legislation dealing with trawling operations. It is not proposed to add at present to the number of fast auxiliary vessels nor to equip other cruisers with wireless installations pending further experience. With regard to superannuation I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the replies which T gave to the hon. Member for Dundee (Mr. Johnston) on 20th April and to the hon. Member for East Edinburgh (Dr. Shiels) on the 1st instant. I am considering the possibility of introducing legislation next Session dealing with the question of trawling. I cannot give any undertaking at present with regard to codification of the existing sea fishery laws.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to supply Members with a copy of the Report of the Scottish Board of Agriculture upon the results of cooperation among poultry farmers in the Orkney Islands?

A statement regarding agricultural co-operation in Orkney has been prepared by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland in accordance with the promise which I gave in my reply on the 20th of April. The statement has not been printed but a supply of neostyled copies is available, and I should be glad to furnish one to any hon. Member whose desire to have one is notified to me at my office.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been called to the case of R. Evett, of 110, Walmer Road, North Kensington, chief engineer at Verrey's Restaurant, who has been expelled from his membership of the Electrical Trades Union because he continued at work during the general strike; and whether he will take steps to prevent such victimization?

This case has not been reported to my Department, and I am informed that neither the Executive nor the London District Committee have heard of it. I understand that under the rules of the Electrical Trades Union an aggrieved member may appeal to the Executive Council against a decision of the branch, and, further, that the Executive Council have instructed their branches that no action of the kind here alleged is to be taken and that any proposal must be referred to the general office.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the movement initiated by the Manchester Chamber of Commerce for the promotion of a league of industrial peace; and whether he will consider what assistance his Department can give in promoting the aims and objects of such a movement?

I do not know of any such movement initiated by the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. I shall, of course, be glad to consider very carefully any proposals to promote industrial peace which are supported by the parties to industry and which provide a method for dealing with the practical difficulties to be encountered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a bet made by a person by wire who does not frequent the racecourse but sends the wire to a bookmaker on the course to back a horse running at the meeting at which the bookmaker is attending will be taxed on the higher or lower scale?

The bet in question would be taxed at 3½ per cent.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is now in a position to furnish the following desired particulars as to old age pensions, namely: particulars as to the year ended 31st March, 1926 the total amount paid in pensions; the total cost of administration the total number of pensions actually payable on the first Friday in March, 1926, stating those for men and those for women separately in both cases; the number of pensions paid at the varying rates of 10s., 9s., 8s., 7s., 6s., 5s., 4s., 3s., 2s. and 1s.; the number of applications for pensions; the number of applications rejected, giving various causes of rejection, age, poor relief, means. and other causes; the number of pensioners of whose deaths notifications have reached the office of the pension officers during the year ended as above: the number of paupers over 70 years of age in England, Scotland and Wales in institutions, stating the average cost per head per annum; the number of paupers over 70 years of age in receipt of outdoor relief, stating the average cost per head per annum of men and women separately in both cases: the average weekly cost of a convict in penal servitude and a prisoner in ordinary prisons for the year ended as above; and the number of persons over 70 years of age in prisons and in penal servitude during the year ended as above?

The particulars desired by the hon. Member, as far as they are available, are as follow:

OLD AGE PENSIONS.

(The figures are for Great Britain and for the year ended 31st March, 1926.)

£ (1) Total amount paid in pensions (approximately) 27,020,000 (2) Total cost of administration: Expenses of Pension Committees (approximately) 56,800 Expenses of administration by Government Departments concerned (estimated at) 803,811

( See Note to Estimates, Civil Service, Class VI, Vote 3, 1925–6.)

(3) Total number of pensions actually payable on the last Friday in March, 1926: Men … 398,945 Women … 672,148 Total … 1,071,093

(4) Number of pensions payable at the various rates on last Friday in March, 1926:

1,041,100 at 10s. rate. 8,696 at 8s. rate. 7,731 at 6s. rate. 35 at 5s. rate. 7,582 at 4s. rate. 3 at 3s. rate. 4,652 at 2s. rate. 1,294 at 1s. rate. Total 1,071,093

(5) Number of applications for pensions, 225,099.

(6) Number of applications rejected.—The only figures available are the combined figures of claims rejected and pensions revoked, which are as follows: Age … … 7,905 Poor relief … … 14,053 Means … … 22,263 Other causes … … 2,278

(7) Number of pensioners of whose death information reached the pension officers, 105,740.

(8) and (9) Paupers in Institutions and in Receipt of Outdoor Relief. (a) England and Wales. Number of persons (other than lunatics in asylums) in receipt of poor law relief in England and Wales on the 1st January, 1926: — Institutional Relief. Domiciliary Relief. Totals. (i) Total number of persons (all ages) I 230,218 1,113,078 1,343,296 (ii) Number of persons over 70 years of age (included in (i) above). 45,706 55,832 101,538 (iii) Number of old age pensioners (included in (ii) above). 3,877 53,624 57,501

Average weekly cost of Poor Law relief in England and Wales in the financial year 1024–25:

s. d. (i) Average cost of institutional relief (other than relief to lunatics in asylums) per person in receipt of such relief 27 3¾ (ii) Average cost of domiciliary relief per person in receipt of such relief 6 4¼

These averages cover the same items and are subject to the same qualification as those previously furnished for the year 1918–19 and earlier years, and set out on page 148 of Part III of the First Annual Report of the Minister of Health (Command Paper 932), except that, in

— Males. Females. Dependants. Totals. Sane poor:— In Poorhouses:— Ordinary 6,945 4,138 585 11,668 Destitute able-bodied unemployed 265 35 97 397 Outdoor:— Ordinary 15,255 33,160 52,870 101,285 Destitute able-bodied unemployed 19,001 2,687 54,174 75,862 Other than sane poor:— In Licensed Wards of Poorhouses, Greenock Parochial Asylum and in certified Institutions for Mental Defectives. 680 635 — 1,315 In Asylums 6,955 6,901 — 13,856 In Private Dwellings and Mental Defectives boarded with Governors of Poorhouses. 1,218 1,471 — 2,689

The average weekly cost of all sane paupers and dependants for 1924–25, on the basis of the number chargeable (other than destitute able-bodied) at 15th May, 1925, was: £ s. d. Indoor … … … 1 0 2 Outdoor … … … 0 6 10

view of relief instead of on a mean of the numbers on two dates (1st July and 1st January). It has not been found practicable to state the average cost per head for men and women separately.

(b) Scotland.

No figures are available for Scotland as to the number of persons admitted to poorhouses who were in receipt of old age pensions whilst inmates thereof, nor of those who were in receipt of old age pensions up to the date of admission.

The number of paupers and dependants of all classes in Scotland at 15th May, 1925, was:

These average costs are exclusive of general administrative charges. Indoor cost includes cost of maintenance, management, debt charges, etc., of poorhouse. Outdoor cost includes aliment, additional aliment ( e.g., clothing, boots, fuel, etc.), removals, interments, and medical charges.

The number of sane paupers and dependants in Scotland over 70 at 15th

— Males. Females. Dependants. Total. 15th September, 1925— In Poorhouses … … … 1,339 1,221 8 2,568 Outdoor … … … 2,168 4,117 518 6,803 15th January, 1926— In Poorhouses … … … 1,327 1,076 13 2,416 Outdoor … … … 2,387 4,157 577 7,121

These outdoor poor include Old Age Pensioners as follows:— — Males. Females. Dependants. Total. At 15th September, 1925 … … … 1,616 3,199 367 5,182 At 15th January, 1926 … … … 1,836 3,310 445 5,591

There were also lunatic poor of 70 years of age and upwards who cannot be allocated between Indoor and Outdoor:— — Males. Females. Total. At 15th September, 1925 … … … … 480 783 1,263 At 15th January, 1926 … … … … 465 762 1,227

(10) Cost of maintenance of convicts and local prisoners.

(a) England and Wales.

The latest available figures are for the year 1924–25 and are as follows:

Convicts: Per Head per Week. £ s. d. Gross cost 2 1 0 Net cost, after deducting value of labour and incidental receipts 1 6 4 Local Prisoners: Gross cost 1 11 8 Net cost, after deducting value of labour and incidental receipts 1 1 6

(b) Scotland.

The latest available figures are for the year ended 31st December, 1925, and are as follows:

Per Head per Week. £ s. d. Convicts … … … 1 16 2 Local Prisoners … … … 1 8 8

September, 1925, and 15th January, 1926, was:

(11) Persons over 70 years of age in prison.

(a) England and Wales.

The total number of convicted persons received into prisons (including those sentenced to penal servitude) who were 70 years of age and over, during the year ended 31st March, 1925, was 285 men and 49 women. There is no information readily available showing how many of these were sentenced to penal servitude.

(b) Scotland.

During the year ended 3Ist March, 1926, 52 persons (40 males and 12 females) over 70 years of age were confined to prisons, of whom 36 males and 12 females were convicted; four males were untried and one male was in penal servitude.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the falling off of the export trade in the textile industry, cotton and woollen, he will propose the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry, whose duties shall be to investigate the cause of this decline and to propose such measures as seem advisable to enable the industry to overcome its difficulties and prevent so much short time, especially in the cotton trade?

A Committee, under the Chairmanship of Sir Arthur Balfour, is at present investigating the conditions and prospects of British industry and commerce, with special reference to the export trade, and I do not think any useful purpose would be served by setting up a special Committee for the purpose suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to recent accidents that have taken place near the Angel, Islington; and whether he will consider if it is possible to divert some of the traffic down the side streets?

My attention has been called to the accidents referred to by the hon. Member. I have already asked the London Traffic Advisory Committee to consider and advise whether any steps can be taken to lessen the risk of accidents at this point.

asked the Home Secretary whether any and, if so, what decision has been arrived at as to holding an inquiry into the law relating to solicitation for immoral purposes in streets and public places?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member, for Exeter (Sir R. Newman) on 25th March, and can only say it has not yet been practicable to proceed with this matter.