asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether Japan has announced any additions to her future naval programme which are not included in the Return of Fleets presented to Parliament this year, and if these ships represent any addition to programmes before the Government when the present British replacement programme was decided?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Information that the Japanese Government. had definitely authorised the laying down of four of the destroyers, shown as projected on page 63 of the Return of Fleets, was received after His Majesty's Government had reached a decision in regard to the British replacement programme.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the Army Council has come to a decision whether experiments with fully stocked rifles of military pattern, both British and foreign, lead to the attainment of data as useful for military purposes as the more costly experiments with rifles fitted with unsupported barrels and delicate optical sights?

For the purpose of determining the general utility of the rifle for service purposes experiments with fully stocked military rifles are of greatest value. At the same time laboratory experiments are necessary, and are constantly being conducted with unstocked rifles and more delicate sighting apparatus.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that, in issuing schedules for tenders for various linen goods required by the War Office, no patterns for table cloths or table napkins were sent to the chamber of commerce at Dunfermline; whether he is aware that patterns have previously been sent; and will he see that the manufacturers in Dunfermline get a fair chance of tendering for all classes of linen goods required by the War Office?

It is the normal practice of the Department to send to the chamber of commerce, Dunfermline, samples of the articles in which manufacturers of that town are interested. In the present instance I regret that owing to a misunderstanding some delay occurred in the despatch of samples, but these have now been sent and the date for the return of tenders has been extended to the 6th August.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what Lee the conditions which regulate military service in India for Europeans and natives?

Military service in British India is voluntary. The warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the units of the British Army serving in India are attested under the British Army Act, and those of the Indian Army under the Indian Army Act which applies throughout British India. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Indian Act.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to state the intentions of the Government of India regarding the recommendation made by the Reforms Inquiry Committee that. some definite representation of the labouring classes is required in the legislative assembly, in view of the fact that probably for some time any labour legislation on a considerable scale which may be undertaken will be dealt with in the central legislature?

It is not proposed to make provision for this purpose at present. If an addition or additions were made to the number of nominated seats for this purpose—the only possible method —it would be necessary at the same time to increase the number of elected seats, the proportion between the two classes being fixed by law. For this there is no present case. 1 may add that the Assembly debates show that without special representation the labour point of view is in fact vigorously represented.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the employers and landholding classes have 13 special representatives on the Madras Council; and whether, in view of this fact and the Report of the Reforms Inquiry Committee in favour of increased labour representation, he will make representations to the Government of India in favour of an allocation of seats for labour on the Madras Council?

Landholders have six, and commercial bodies five seats on the Madras Council, and if the European and planters' constituencies are counted as employers the hon. Member's total of 13 is correct. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. The total number of factory labourers in the Presidency is only about 120,000, and my Noble Friend agrees with the Madras Government that it is unnecessary to give them special representation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it is the intention of the Government of India to introduce legislation to prevent delays in the payment of wages?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Shoreditch (Mr. Thurtle) on 5th July. My Noble Friend has not yet received a reply to, the inquiry which he addressed to the Government of India.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will give the figures for the last five years relating to the number of companies registered and operating i India?

The following table shows the number of joint stock companies registered and operating in British India during each of the five years ending with the year 1923–24, the last for which figures are available:

1919–20 … … … 3,500 1920–21 … … … 4,283 1921–22 … … … 4,781 1922–23 … … … 4,785 1923–24 … … … 4,821

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to inform the House of the

Year ended. Provision Opium. Excise Opium. Chests. Maunds. Chests. Maunds. 31st October, 1922 … … … … 7,515 = 13,213 5,526 = 10,958 31st October, 1923 … … … … 8,025 = 13,927 5,522 = 10,960 31st October, 1924 … … … … 9,001 = 15,669 5,496 = 10,891 31st October, 1925 … … … … 9,000 = 15,689 5,301 = 10,475 1 Maund = 82 2/7 lbs.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will inform the House of the number of acres of land in the Punjab and the United Provinces under opium last year and the three preceding years; and whether the entire crop from these lands was treated in the Government opium factory at Ghazipur?

The following is the information asked for:

United Provinces. Year ended 31st October, Land actually measured and cultivated, excluding failures. Bighas. Acres. 1922 188,691 = 117,932 1923 225,220 = 140,763 1924 213,592 = 133,495 1925 182,716 = 114,320* * Approximately.

results of the conference held recently between the Government of India, the Controller of Labour of the Ceylon Government, and the Emigration Agent to the Government of India in Ceylon, with reference to labour conditions Ceylon?

The Government of India and Ceylon are still in correspondence. As I understand that incomplete accounts of the proposed settlement have been published, I would add that statements appearing in the Press must not he accepted as necessarily authentic.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether lie will inform the House of the amount of provision and excise opium manufactured in the Government factory at Ghazipur during the last four years?

The following are the amounts for the four years ended October, 1925:

Punjab

The latest figures available are:

Year. Total area under cultivation. Acres. 1921–22 … … … 1,334 1922–23 … … … 1,992 1923–24 … … … 1,711 1924–25 … … … 1,607

The entire crop from the United Provinces but not the Punjab was treated at the Government opium factory at Ghazipur.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India propose to introduce further legislation against opium smoking in clubs and dens?

This is a provincial subject. The Legislative Councils of the Punjab and of the United Provinces have passed Acts prohibiting opium-smoking assemblies of three or more persons and of two or more persons, respectively. The Government of Assam contemplate introducing similar legislation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it is the intention of the Government of India to establish coroners' courts in the principal cities of India similar to that established in Bombay, and to cease the conducting of inquests by the police authority?

There is a coroner also in Calcutta. In other parts of India an inquest is not necessarily held by a police officer. Magistrates of certain classes have power to hold inquests and do hold them. The law is contained in Sections 174 to 176 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898. I know of no proposal to change it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what provision has been made in Palestine for assistance to British women connected with the public service in maternity cases; and has any provision been made independent of doctors in constant contact with ordinary cases of infection?

I am in communication with the High Commissioner regarding a proposal that a medical officer should be appointed by the Palestine Government whose principal duty will be to attend upon officers of the Government and their families. The hon. Member will appreciate that, considering the small number of British officers and their families in Palestine, it is impossible to appoint an officer whose sole duty would he to deal with cases of the nature referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Flying Officer F. M. Denny and Aircraftsman Hirst have been prisoners of Sheikh Mahmud, in Persian territory, for over six months; and what steps are being taken by the Foreign Office for the release of these British prisoners?

I have been asked to reply. The two airmen, to whom the hon. Member refers, were captured by Sheikh Mahmud on the 14th of June, and are believed to be now in Persian territory. Every effort has been made, and is still being made, by His Majesty's High Commissioner at Baghdad and by His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Tehran to secure their early release. The Persian Government have expressed their determination to assist His Majesty's Government in every possible manner, and they are taking active steps with that object.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received from the British Ambassador in Brussels any Report on the recent transfer by the Belgian Government of the Belgian railway, telephone, and telegraph systems from State to company ownership and management; and whether he can make such Report available to the House of Commons?

A copy of the new Belgian railway law will be laid in the Library of the House. I have no information respecting the proposed transfer to private management of the Belgian telephone and telegraph systems.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a recommendation will be made by His Majesty's Government that the subcommittee of the preparatory Commission appointed by the League of Nations to draw up plans for a disarmament conference should hold their meetings in public?

The point is one which affects the procedure of the sub-committee on which it is difficult for anyone not taking part in its deliberations to form an opinion. His Majesty's Government do not propose to give any instructions on the point to the British representatives.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the attitude of Poland and China respecting their request for a permanent or non-permanent seat on the Council; and whether Germany has expressed any fresh views as a condition of her accession to the League on the actual number of permanent seats on the Council?

It would not be appropriate for me to make a statement on the attitude of foreign Governments towards matters which are still under deliberation. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the attitude of the British Government on the subject of increasing the number of permanent seats on the Council of the League of Nations; whether the Committee on the composition of the League will meet again before the next Assembly, and, if so, when; and whether the Report to which it recently agreed will then be adopted merely as a matter of form or whether it will be capable of variation?

The attitude of His Majesty's Government towards proposals for an increase in the number of permanent seats on the Council is unchanged since it was last defined in this House. I understand that the Committee to which the hon. Member refers will meet before the next Assembly, but no definite date has been fixed. I cannot predict the course of its proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now make further representations to the United States Government for a remission of the sentence passed upon William Rutherford in California some time ago for having in his possession a membership card of' the I.W.W.?

No, Sir. Further intervention by this Government would be neither proper nor useful.

asked the Prime Minister if he is now able to make a statement about the date of the Imperia' Conference?

As the result of a request received from the Canadian Government for a short postponement of the opening date of the Imperial Conference, in consequence of the impending General Election, it has now been agreed between all the Governments concerned that the opening date shall be 19th October instead of 5th October.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many second and higher grade established clerkships are held by ex-second and higher grade temporary clerks, who passed the Southborough examination, at a salary which is less than the salary they received as temporary clerks; what salary the Lytton Committee recommended should equitably be given to these clerks upon establishment; and whether third grade ex-temporary clerks received upon establishment a salary of smaller amount than they received as temporary clerks?

I am afraid I do not understand my bon. Friend's reference to second and higher grade established clerkships inasmuch as successful candidates at the Southborough examination are assigned to posts in the general clerical and Departmental clerical classes. Successful candidates at the examination receive on assignment the salaries recommended by the Lytton and Southborough Committees. It is not possible to make a comprehensive statement as to the effect of these terms in all eases in view of differences of hours and differences of London and provincial rates both for temporary clerks and for established officers. A grade III temporary clerk working 42 hours a week in London, assigned to the general clerical class in London, enters that class with a slight increase of emoluments, while, speaking generally, the rates of salary authorised for temporary clerks appointed to the established clerical classes from higher grades than grade III are somewhat less at the start than the rates payable to them as temporary clerks.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many claims were lodged with the Inland Revenue Department for repayment or allowance in the district of His Majesty's Inspector of Taxes, Hackney, for the fiscal year 1924–25, under Schedule A, No. V, Rule 8 (1–6); how many of the above claimants were not entitled to repayment or relief; and what was the aggregate difference between 1924–25 rents over the Income Tax assessments to Schedule A for the same year in respect of disallowed claims?

Detailed information of this character relating to a particular tax district could only be obtained by an expenditure of date and labour out of all proportion to the value of the information, and could only be justified by special circumstances in exceptional cases.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he has considered a proposal by the Marylebone Borough Council to construct an open-air swimming bath on Primrose Hill; and, if so, whether plans will be exhibited in the tea room before his consent is finally given?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Home Secretary the number of persons suffering from lead poisoning in the Potteries in 1925 and in the first half of 1926: how many were men and how many women; and how many of these cases were among workers who should have been covered by the special Regulations of 1913 designed to protect them against lead poisoning?

The number of cases for 1925 was 47 of which 24 were male, and 23 female workers. For the first half of 1926 there were 28 cases-14 of either sex. All these workers were employed in processes to which the Regulations of 1913 apply?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount and value of tea imported into this country from India and Ceylon during the last year to the most convenient date?

I would refer the hon. Member to the official Monthly Trade Accounts, in particular to page 27 of the issues for December, 1925, and June, 1926.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if. taking the purchases of the Soviet Government in this country since the beginning of the current year, he can state how payment is being effected or has been effected?

No, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total import, quantities and values of tobacco in Great Britain in 1900, 1913 and 1925; the import of tobacco from the United States in the same years; the import of tobacco from the Empire in the same years and the chief sources of supply; and the acreage and production of tobacco in the British Empire in 1913?

The following statement gives the in formation as far as the particulars are available:

(A). IMPORTS OF TOBACCO INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM. Description and Source of Supply. Quantity Imported. Declared Value thereof. 1900. 1913. 1925. 1900. 1913. 1925. 1,000 lbs. 1,000 lbs. 1,000 lbs. 1,000 £. 1,000 £. 1,000 £. Total Imports of Tobacco: ( a ) Unmanufactured 98,348 162,366 188,981 2,935 6,709 15,477 ( b ) Manufactured 6,362 3,588 1,857 1,865 1,323 1,566 Total 104,710 165,954 190,838 4,800 8,032 17,043 Of which— ( a ) Unmanufactured Tobacco. Imported from: United States 88,805 142,043 162,719 2,477 5,658 13,431 British Empire Overseas: Of which— Irish Free State — — 261 — — 19 Nyasaland * 1,902 7,070 * 55 490 Rhodesia * 163 1,031 * 4 86 Union of South Africa * 45 24 * 2 2 British India — 7 7,785 — 0.2 310 British North Borneo * 42 830 * 2 156 Canada 29 42 1,859 1 2 143 British West Indies 12 42 13 1 2 1 Australia 181 42 48 5 2 4 Other Parts 7 42 48 1 2 4 Total British Empire Overseas. 229 2,159 18,921 8 63 1,211 ( b ) Manufactured Tobacco. Imported from: United States 4,693 1,162 598 1,367 60 64 British Empire Overseas: Of which— Irish Free State — — 126 — — 0.4 Channel Islands 15 12 1 8 7 0.4 Gibraltar 1 26 1 0.1 2 0.3 Malta and Gozo 3 7 3 1 2 0.9 Cyprus * 7 3 * 2 0.5 Union of South Africa 1 16 13 1 2 3 British India 135 116 71 29 24 18 British West Indies 5 11 10 4 7 8 Canada 5 3 3 1 1 1 Hong Kong 107 13 18 16 4 6 Ceylon 91 13 18 17 4 6 Other Parts 18 13 18 6 4 6 Total British Empire Overseas. 381 211 249 83 51 38 * Not separately recorded in this year.

The particulars for 1900 relate to the countries whence the goods were shipped, and those for 1913 and 1925 to the countries whence the goods were consigned to the United Kingdom.

The particulars for 1900 and 1913 relate to imports into the British Isles as 11 whole, those for 1925 into Great Britain and Northern Ireland only.

(B) ACREAGE AND PRODUCTION OF TOBACCO IN THE BRITISH EMPIRE, 1913. The aggregate production of tobacco in the British Empire cannot be stated for any year. The following statement gives the available information for 1913. Country. Area under Tobacco in 1913. Production of Tobacco in 1913. Acres. Lbs. United Kingdom (1913-14) … No returns. 38,735 British India (excluding Native States) 1913-14 … 1,001,710 No returns Ceylon … 12,968 No returns Mauritius … 15 14,475 British North Borneo … 1,900 1,840,000 (approximate) (approximate) Australia (1913–14) … 3,007 2,827,552 Papua … 65 20,000 Fiji … 114 81,312 Union of South Africa … 20,000 15,000,000 (approximate) (approximate) Southern Rhodesia … 5,000 3,000,000 Nyasaland (1913–14) … 9,534* 3,841,600* Canada … 11,000 12,500,000 Jamaica (1913–14) … 1,144 No returns * European cultivation only.

asked the Home Secretary if the Committee to consider as to the supervision of charities has yet made any report on the subject?

I understand that the Committee has finished taking evidence, and is now considering its report.

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to exercise -any control over the conditions of employment by voluntary societies of agents who receive a portion of their salary from public funds as probation officers, either as regards religious tests or the amount of duties which they may be required to perform?

The Criminal Justice Act and the Probation Rules made under it give the fullest powers to the appointing authority both in the selection and control of probation officers, including the matters mentioned by the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the advisability of requiring that any voluntary societies in receipt of public funds on account of the performance by their agents of the duties of probation officers, whether whole or part time, should publish their accounts in such a manner that, the probation account, both as to receipts and expenditure, is distinct from temperance propaganda or other religious or charitable work, and that the salaries paid to probation officers are shown distinct from those paid to other officials?

I will bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind, but I may say that the largest societies such as the London Police Court Mission make a practice of publishing full accounts of the cost of their probation work and the amounts received from public and private sources.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give the number of persons now in prison for failure to pay taxes?

Two, Sir.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any statistics as to the number of infants in the United Kingdom, or in England, killed by criminal and intentional action, at birth or within the first few days; and whether he proposes taking any action, legislatively or administratively, to meet this situation?

The numbers of inquests in England and Wales on children not more than 24 hours old at which verdicts of murder, manslaughter or infanticide were returned in 1923, 1924 and 1925 were 42, 41 and 44. I am afraid I do not understand what action it is suggested should be taken.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the lift accident at Messrs. Rudge-Whitworth's, Birmingham, in which two employés lost their lives owing to the lift ropes being very much worn; and will he consider the advisability of making it compulsory that in future periodical examinations shall be made of all lift apparatus in factories and warehouses by responsible officials?

Yes, Sir, I have received a report on this accident, which appears to have been due to failure on the part of the occupier to exercise proper supervision over the condition of the lift. I agree that there ought to be periodic examinations of lifts by competent persons, and my hon. Friend will find that a provision to this effect has been included in the Factories Bill.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to the sentence of three years' imprisonment passed at the Worcester Quarte. Sessions, on the 5th July, on Michael Williams, aged 20 years, who pleaded guilty to office-breaking and stealing an article valued 2d.; and will he cause such sentence to be reconsidered with a view to clemency?

The sentence was one, not of imprisonment, but of detention in a Borstal institution. Such a sentence is only passed if the Court be satisfied that a young offender requires training on account of his criminal habits or tendencies, or his association with persons of bad character. Williams is not only reported to have marked criminal tendencies; he has committed a number of previous offences, for which he has been placed on probation or fined, or sent to prison for short terms. Borstal training was designed for such cases.

asked the Home Secretary how many offences have been committed under the Emergency Regulations since they were last sanctioned by the House of Commons?

I am afraid that I have not yet received the figures, but I hope to have some in time for to-morrow's Debate.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the suffering and economic loss caused by the stoppage in the mining industry, if he will now utilise the Government's powers under the Emergency Regulations to take over the coal mines and produce and sell coal at. the cost of production and distribution?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health what is the maximum scale of out-relief now in force for emergency cases (latest weeks available), and the weekly relief granted to the wife and to each child of the coal miners in each of the Poor Law unions in each of the following counties in England and Wales; Northumberland, Durham, West Riding (Yorks), Lancashire, Cumberland. Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Flint, Glamorgan, Monmouthshire, and Carrnarthenshire?

I am obtaining the information which the hon. Member desires, and will communicate with him as soon as it is available.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total sum sanctioned to date as loans for each of the Poor Law unions in each of the following counties in England and Wales: Northumberland, Durham, West Riding of Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumberland, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Flintshire, Glamorganshire, Monmouthshire, and Carmarthenshire; and which, if any, of these unions have failed to secure further loans to meet the cost of the extraordinary out-door relief arising out of the coal stoppage?

The following statement shows the total amount of loans and overdrafts authorised since 1st May, 1926, in respect of current expenses for the unions in the counties mentioned:

County and Union. Total of loans and current overdrafts sanctioned. Northumberland. £ Castle Ward 15,000 Morpeth 25,000 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 200,000 Tynemouth 114,000 Durham. Auckland 70,000 Chester-le-Street 109,000 Durham 55,000 Easington 35,000 Gateshead 135,000 Hartlepool 10,000 Hougton-le-Spring 63,000 Lanchester 50,000 Sedgefield 15,000 South Shields 30,000 Stockton Nil. Sunderland 40,000 Yorks, West Riding. Barnsley 65,000 Hemsworth 61,000 Penistone 500 Pontefract 10,000 Sheffield 370,000 Thorne 8,000 Wortley 10,000 Lancashire. Barrow - in - Furness 15,000 Prescott 20,000 Salford Nil. West Derby 750,000 Wigan 90,000 Cumberland. Cockermouth Nil. Whitehaven 30,000

County and Union. Total of loans and current overdrafts sanctioned. Derbyshire. £ Chesterfield 28,000 Nottinghamshire. Basford 30,000 Mansfield 50,000 Nottingham 50,000 Southwell 2,500 Worksop 20,000 Flintshire. Hawarden 5,000 Glamorganshire. Bridgend and Cow-bridge 55,000 Gower 4,000 Merthyr Tydfil 235,000 Neath 40,000 Pontardawe 10,000 Pontypridd 155,000 Swansea 20,000 Monmouthshire. Abergavenny 4,800 Bedwellty 210,000 Monmouth 4,000 Newport 50,000 Pontypool 5,000 Carmarthenshire. Llanelly 35,000 Total £3,408,800

There is no case in which borrowing powers necessary to meet the current expenditure on relief have been withheld.

asked the Minister of Health what allowance is being paid to the dependants of miners by the Penistone Board of Guardians; and whether deductions are being made in respect of any income accruing to the miner, and, if so, what amount?

I am obtaining this information, and will communicate with the hon. Member when it is available.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses erected for sale and for letting purposes in the Borough of East Ham since the War under the various Housing Acts, together with the total amount of the subsidies paid or payable on those built, building or passed by the council under the

Act. Houses Authorised. Houses Completed. By Local Authority or Private Enterprise. State Subsidy paid or payable. Housing, Town Planning, etc, Act, 1919. 36 36 Local Authority No subsidy payable as the estimated annual deficit is covered by the produce of a 1d. rate. Housing (Additional Powers) Act, 1919. 7 7 Private Enterprise £1,760 (capital payment). Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924. 60 — Local Authority £540 annually for 40 years. Housing, etc., Act, 1923 1,273 1,065 Private Enterprise £638 annually for 20 years.

I have no information as to the extent to which the houses provided by private enterprise have been let. The houses built, or in course of erection by the local authority are let, or for letting purposes.

The number of houses in respect of which the town council had made advances under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act. up to the 1st instant was 1,045.

asked the Minister of Health the number of single apartment and two-apartment houses which have been erected in England since December, 1919

There is no record of any one-roomed tenements having been approved by my Department during the past six years in connection with State-aided schemes. There may have been instances where local authorities have provided a small number of two-roomed tenements in connection with slum clearance proposals; no statistics are available, but the hon. Member may take it that the number of such tenements is negligible.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Cowes Urban District Council and the Isle of Wight Rural District Council have yet furnished him with the information that he asked for relating to the housing in Cowes and the

respective Acts; and the number purchased under the Small Dwelling Acquisition Act?

The figures are as follows:

rural district, respectively; and, if not, whether he will require them to do so without further delay?

I will send the hon. Member a statement giving the information asked for with regard to the rural district. I have not yet received a reply from the urban district but I have asked for the reply to be expedited and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether he takes at any time, any action to stimulate local authorities who possess statutory powers fur the purpose of ensuring the provision of suitable playing fields for their respective communities?

The statutory powers in this matter are not confined to particular local authorities, and the policy indicated in the reply given to the hon. Member for Acton (Sir H. Brittain) on the 9th June to which I have previously referred the hon. and gallant Gentleman is applied to local authorities generally.

asked the Minister of Health if he will circulate to Members a copy of the Regulations made in connection with the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, and a few examples of peculiar cases dealt with under this Act?

I am arranging for copies of the Regulations to be made available in the Vote Office. It is proposed to prepare and publish a précis of the more important cases decided by the referees on appeal but in view of the continued pressure on the staff it has not yet been possible to undertake this work.

asked the Minister of Health the number of widows who have qualified for widows' pensions, the number of children for additional allowance, the number of orphans, and the number of persons whose claims have been allowed for old age pension under the scheme that came into operation in July?

On the latest figures available the number of widows to whom pensions have been awarded is 152,466. The number of children included in these awards is estimated at 278,500 but the exact fifigure is not yet available. Awards have been made in 10,658 orphans' claims, which it is estimated cover, approximately, 13,800 orphans. 35,833 old age pensions have been awarded under the scheme which came into operation on 2nd July last.

asked the Minister of Health the amount of money expended during the last three years, from public funds, in connection with cancer research work?

The expenditure from public funds directly assignable to cancer research during the three years ending 31st March, 1926, amounted to, approximately, £20,000, in addition to the use of a stock of radum worth £50,000, which is the property of the Government. This figure does not include any portion of the salaries of permanent officers of the Ministry of Health who are engaged in this work, nor does it take account of the cost, not readily estimated separately, of the work upon cancer undertaken by the scientific staff of the Medical Research Council at the National Institute for Medical Research. The Council's expenditure upon research in the more primary parts of the medical sciences, which is as necessary for the solution of the cancer problem as the direct study of the disease itself, has also materially advanced the knowledge of the subject.

asked the Minister of Health whether, seeing that when the workhouse is full it is the duty of the guardians to grant out-relief to destitute persons, he can state the number of persons which have been considered the maxima allowed for the workhouses at Bolton and Lichfield, respectively; and when these standards were laid down?

I am not aware than any standard of maximum accommodation has been laid down for these institutions, but I will ask the clerks to the guardians to supply the information which the hon. Member desires.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many salaried sheriffs substitute there are at the present time; how many of these were advocates at the time of their appointment; and how many were solicitors?

The figures asked for are, respectively, 47, 45 and 2.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his Department keeps records of all serious motor accidents; and, if not, whether, in the public interest, arrangements can be made for such lists to be regularly compiled and kept up to date?

A Return is compiled by the Home Office, and presented annually to Parliament, showing the number of accidents resulting in death or personal injury caused by vehicles of various classes in streets, roads or public places in Great Britain. In addition, the divi sional officers of my Department make inquiries into the more serious road accidents which come to their notice in their respective areas, and an analysis of the results of these inquiries is given in the Annual Report on the Administration of the Road Fund. As regards the London traffic area, reports on road accidents are received, as provided in Section 2 of the London Traffic Act, 1924, and a summary of the results of the investigation of these reports will he issued with the Annual Report of the London Traffic Advisory Committee.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many factories for the manufacture of sugar from beet have been put up in this country; how many have been working this year; how many will be in working order next year; are there any more factories to be put up; and, if so, in what areas and by what date?

Ten beet-sugar factories are erected, of which nine were working during the last season and 14 factories in all are expected to be ready for the 1926–27 season. Of the five new factories that at Spalding is already completed, and the remainder are being built at Peterborough, Felstead in Essex, Poppleton near York and Cupar, Fife. One or two further factories are contemplated for erection at a later date but definite information is not yet available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how much capital has now been subscribed to sugar-beet factory companies in Great Britain; what is the total cost of all the factories so far constructed complete with machinery; how many acres were there under beet in 1925 and how many in 1920; and what steps it is proposed to take to ensure that promises of factories being put up to serve certain districts will be carried out, in view of the fact that on such promises many farmers have made their arrangements?

The subscribed capital of the 10 factories already erected amounts to £2,500,507. The toal cost of these factories including machinery was £3,800,000. The area under beet in 1925 was 56,200 acres. The figures of the 1926 acreage will be available shortly, but from information supplied by the factory companies the acreage is estimated to be about 128,500 acres. With regard to the latter part of the question, I understand that in areas where factories have been proposed but are not yet being erected, any beets grown under contract will be worked in existing factories.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total acreage of land acquired by county and county borough councils under the Small Holdings Act of 1908, from the commencement of the Act down to July, 1914; the total cost of such land; and the amount spent upon equipping the land for small holdings, including the provision of houses and other buildings?

I am unable to give the figures for the exact period stated by the hon. Member. The total area acquired under the Act of 1908 down to the 31st December, 1914, was 198.288 acres, of which 139,478 acres were purchased for £4,601,692, and 58,810 acres were leased for rents amounting to£74,186. The total amount of loans sanctioned for equipment and adaptation during the same period was £911,859, The actual expenditure cannot be stated, but the difference would be very small.

asked the Minister Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the ruling by the Judge in the King's Bench Divisional Court in regard to a sheep scab case near Barnard Castle and what steps he proposes to take in order to remedy the hardship which the Court stated undoubtedly to be created?

Yes, Sir; my attention has been drawn to the case in question. Veterinary inspectors of the local Authority and of the Ministry are highly qualified and have exceptional opportunities for becoming skilful in diagnosing the scheduled diseases. Their diagnoses are so rarely called in question that, while I deplore the hardship involved in this case, I do not think any modification of the existing procedure is rendered necessary. It is essential that prompt action should be taken in combating animal diseases if the spread of infection is to be arrested, and to this end the decision of the veterinary inspector must continue to be regarded as final.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will cause arrangements to be made so that the warders employed in the museums may be enabled to take their casual leave during the summer months of the year; and, if this is impossible with the present staff will he arrange that extra staff shall he engaged to enable this to be done?

Arrangements are made to enable warders at the museums to take 12 of their 15 days' annual leave in one period outside the winter season. Other leave due to them has to be taken as opportunity offers. It is a condition underlying all leave privileges in the service, that the grant of annual leave should be subject to the exigencies of the public service, and I cannot undertake to adopt the suggestion made in the second part of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that in Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent, where school children have been receiving one meal on five days of the week at 3d. per meal, the education committee have now decided not to provide meals for children of families where the weekly income amounts to 4s. per head; and whether, in view of the hardship which will be inflicted if this decision is carried out, he will make inquiries into the matter?

I have no information as to the action stated to have been taken. The matter is one for the decision of the local authority, and I do not think that I could properly interfere with their discretion.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of local authorities who have put into operation the feeding of necessitous school children how many have commenced since the coal-mining dispute started; and haw many children are being fed under this scheme at present?

During the week ended 17th July, 1926, the latest date for which complete returns are available, 157 authorities were exercising their powers to provide meals, and 258,670 children were being fed. Forty authorities have started to provide meals since the stoppage began.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he can indicate what is the advice issued by his Department from time to time to teachers in respect of instruction concerning the League of Nations?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 17th June last. The matter is primarily, one for the local authorities and governing bodies of schools, but the Board propose to include a reference to it in the next revision of their "Suggestions to Teachers," now in course of preparation.