asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the request of the lower deck inter-port welfare conference at Devonport for larger fitting boots of better quality, and supplies of beds instead of hammocks, at Whale Island and Portsmouth, together with a lesser proportion of fat in the meat supplies, has yet been considered; and whether these requests are likely to be allowed?

These requests will be considered with the other requests of the welfare conferences in due course.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether a cruiser of the E class is in dockyard hands at Malta; if so, what is the nature of her defects; how long is it expected that she will be in dockyard hands; and what is the estimated cost of the work?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. The remainder does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the result of the inquiry into the disaster to the biplane troop carrier at Baghdad on the 26th July last, which resulted in the death of seven airmen?

I am afraid that the result of the inquiry into this most regrettable accident will not be known for some time.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the total number of fatalities to members of the Royal Air Force since 1st January, 1926, indicating the countries in which these fatalities have occurred and the causes, so far as they are known, of the different accidents?

On the assumption that the hon. and gallant Member requires particulars of fatalities in accidents of all kinds, they are as follow, for the period 1st January to 27th July, 1926:

( a ) Deaths due to flying accidents … … … … … … … … 44 Deaths due to other accidents … … … … … … … … 14 Total … … … … 58

( b ) The number of flying accidents was 25 and their causes and the countries in which they occurred were as follows:— — Home. India. Iraq. Egypt and Palestine. Mediterranean. (1) Error of judgment 8 3 2 4 2 (2) Weather 1 — — 1 — (3) Aircraft defect 1 — — — — (4)Cause not yet known or indeterminable. — 1 1 1 —

( c ) Particulars as to the 14 non-flying accidents are as follows:— — Home. India. Iraq. Egypt and Palestine. Mediterranean. (1) Struck by air screw … — — — — 1 (2) Bomb accident … — 1 — — — (3) Motor car and cycle accidents … 12 — — — —

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that. prior to 1924 defensive gas instruction, including the use of box respirators, was stopped in the Air Force; whether such instruction was then resumed, and whether such is now given?

The policy of the Air Ministry in regard to defensive gas instruction is similar to that of the Army, as explained by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War in his reply to the hon. Member on 26th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Air to whom the 502 river craft, formerly in the service of the inland water-transport of Iraq, sold since the 1st January, 1923, have been disposed of?

The information requested by the hon. and gallant Member is not available; the detailed accounts of the sale have not been sent home from Iraq and the names of the purchasers cannot he stated. I am informed, however, by the Surplus Stores, Liquidation Department that the pur- chasers were largely natives of India, and Iraq and a list of their names would not be very informative. I may add that the boats were sold only after extensive advertisement in Iraq and India and throughout the East.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if, in view of the probability of the question being raised in the League of Nations, he can state in what countries in the world is civil aviation under the control of a military administration?

It would not be practicable within the limits of an answer to a question to state the varying methods of provision for the administration of civil aviation in foreign countries. Some information on this subject will be found in the section on aviation in various countries in Part II of the Annual Report on the Progress of Civil Aviation, 1925–26 (Cmd. 2707) and in the previous half-yearly and annual reports, a list of which is contained on page 4 of that publication.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that we do not hold a single record in aviation; and, having regard to our records in other directions of mechanical transport such as shipping, motors, and motor bicycles, and in war-time aviation, if he will have the matter of aviation control impartially inquired into by a public committee?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I fail, however, to see any connection between the winning of records, which ordinarily tall to machines specially designed or modified for racing purposes and not suitable for general use, and the present air policy of His Majesty's Government, which aims at securing an efficient air service and establishing civil aviation on a commercial basis as early as possible. The answer to the second part of the question is therefore in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any legislation exists outside the Punjab and the United Provinces prohibiting the smoking of opium?

Under rules made by local Governments under the Opium Act the sale of prepared opium is prohibited and low limits are fixed to the amount, which may be legally in the possession of an individual at any one time, but the actual smoking of opium by persons legally in possession of it is not prohibited. The provisions of the Punjab Act referred to in the reply given to the hon. Member for Mile End on 29th July have been extended to the North-West Frontier Province and Delhi.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether all the opium cultivated in the Punjab is treated in Government-owned and operated factories; how many such factories there are; and what proportion of the entire crop is dealt with in each?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. There are no such factories in the Punjab. The third part of the question therefore does not arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will inform the House of the number of opium factories in India, where these factories are situated, and how many of them are owned and operated by the Government of India?

There is one opium factory at Ghazipur owned and operated by the Government of India, to deal with all the opium grown in British India, except in a few wild and inhospitable tracts; it also deals with part of the product of the Indian States.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the conference of unofficial representatives of the East African territories, which is announced to take place in September, has any official sanction; and, if so, whether the Government regards itself as in any way bound by the decisions of this conference?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative, but I shall naturally be interested in the conclusions of the conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the amount of pre-War loans raised by the Finnish Government or municipalities from British nationals for purposes of railway construction or other public utility services: and whether interest and sinking-fund payments on these loans have been and are being made by the Finnish Government?

So far as I can ascertain, the pre-War loans raised by the Finnish Government and municipalities from British nationals for railways and other public utility services amount to £4,440,000, of which approximately £4,000,000 is still outstanding. Interest and sinking fund on these loans is being paid by the Finnish Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the concessions which have already been made to the Government of the United States to assist them in enforcing the Prohibition Law, he will consider the desirability of not agreeing to any further modification of international usage without at least some quid pro quo.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the terms of the Liquor Convention with the United States, to the White Paper issued on this subject in May last (Cmd. 2647), and to the statement made in this House on the 27th of July. There has been no further modification of international usage. The Liquor Convention with the United States, signed on the 23rd January, 1924, gives this country a quid pro quo in Article 3.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the decision reached by His Majesty's Government on the suggested arbitration on the differences between Hong Kong and the Canton Government, and the nature of the recommendation thereon made by the British representatives to the recent conference?

As the hon Member for Willesden West (Mr. Viant) was informed yesterday, the question of the appointment of a Commission to inquire into the responsibility for the shooting at Shameen on the 23rd of June, 1925, is at present under consideration. There has been no suggestion of arbitration on differences between Hong Kong and the Canton Government.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty upon what grounds the recommendations of the Reorganisation Committee of the National Whitley Council have not been fully applied to the typing complements of his Department, in so far as the number of superintendents provided does not tally with the ratio of superintendent to basic posts recommended by that committee; and whether he is aware that no other Department employing so large a number of shorthand-typists and typists fails to provide a controllership and one or more chief superintendents?

The working conditions of the Central Copying Branch of the Admiralty are special in that this branch carries out true-to-scale, photo-printing, photostat and photographic work, as well as the ordinary typing and shorthand work of the office. The existing staff of superintendents of typists and acting supervisors is considered adequate for the direct supervision of the typing staff. The post of controller is not necessary having regard to existing staff, but the question of the introduction of the grade of chief superintendent is now under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a pool exists in his Department for the promotion of writing assistants and members of the typing grades to clerical class vacancies. or whether members of these grades have their promotion avenues restricted to vacancies occurring in the particular branch in which they are employed; and what is the actual number of promotions which have been made to clerical class posts from the writing assistant and typing grades, respectively, in his Department during the last three years?

No standing pool exists in the Board of Trade for the promotion of writing assistants and members of the typing grades to clerical class vacancies, but at intervals the staffs in those grades are considered for such promotion, and selected members are given a probationary trial on clerical duties as a preliminary to promotion. Following a survey of all the members of the grades in question which was held in July of last year, two writing assistants were placed on probation and have proved themselves sufficiently qualified for promotion to clerical poets. It is expected that these girls will be promoted in the near future. On the occasion in question candidates were only considered for clerical vacancies which might arise in the Departments in which they were serving and in which they were required to pass their probation. No promotions of writing assistants or ordinary members of the typing grades to clerical posts have been made in the Board of Trade within the last three years, but one superintendent of typists has been made a clerical officer.

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of women clerical officers at present classified A or above average for promotion purposes in his Department?

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of women clerical officers at present classified A or above average for promotion purposes in his Department?

The number of women clerical officers employed in my Department who are at present classified A or above average for promotion purposes is seven.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can give any reason for the low percentage of writing assistants employed by his Department who have been classified as above average as compared with the percentage prevailing throughout the service as a whole; whether he is aware that the average educational standard of the writing assistants concerned is as high as that found in other Departments, and that large numbers of the girls have already proved their fitness for clerical duties in other Departments; and whether, in view of the dissatisfaction arising from the low classification given by his Department, he will have an investigation made into the methods adopted in the Ministry of Health for the classification of writing assistants in connection with promotion?

I am not in a position to compare the percentage of writing assistants classified as above average for promotion in my Department with that in other Departments in the public service. Writing assistants are recruited by examinations common to the whole Service, and the average educational standard is, therefore, presumably uniform throughout the Service. I am glad to say that a number of officers of this grade have received promotion in recent years, and a further number are now on trial on clerical duties. I am not prepared to agree that a low classification has been adopted by the Department, and I have no reason to suppose that there is any ground for dissatisfaction as to the methods pursued.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that no adequate canteen arrangements exist for the large staff employed at Leonard Street by his Department; whether his attention has been drawn to the difficulties experienced by this staff in obtaining adequate lunches sufficiently near to the office in the short luncheon time provided; and whether he will consider either improving luncheon facilities on the premises or extending the time allowed for meals?

The canteen arrangements at Leonard Street consist of a kitchen in which the female staff may have meals prepared and a dining room in which they may partake of the food, and it is understood that the staff are satisfied with these arrangements. There are, in addition, seven men employed by this Ministry in the building who have no special facilities for partaking of food on the premises. I do not consider that at the present time I should be justified in incurring expenditure to make special provision for such a small number or that the circumstances necessitate an extension of the midday meal interval of one hour.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many disabled overseas ex-service men have been given notice to terminate their . service with the Inland Revenue Taxes Department on 14th August, 1926: why such notices have been given in view of the recommendations of the Southborough Committee: and will he take steps to see that these men are given permanent non-pensionable employment?

The number of men concerned is 10. Notice has been given on the ground that these men were not eligible, under the arrangements made for giving effect to the Southborough Committee's recommendations, for permanent non-pensionable employment. Their employment was on a purely temporary footing, and I fear that they must give place to other ex-service men with prior rights under the recommendations in question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when it is intended to hold the first open competition for clerical class appointments in the Civil Service which will be open to boys and girls alike?

In view of the existing arrangements for the absorption of temporary ex-service male clerks into clerical posts, I am not in a position to forecast the date of the first open competition for clerical class appointments which will he open to boys and girls alike.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the size of the staff which the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies has at his disposal for the exclusive purpose of checking the work of trade unions; and if he has any outside staff to see that ballots are properly conducted.?

The Chief Registrar employs no staff for the exclusive purpose of checking the work of trade unions. He has no outside staff for the purpose of seeing that ballots are properly conducted.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what are the duties laid down for copying typists and shorthand typists, respectively, covered by the scales for these classes recommended in the Reorganisation Report of the National Whitley Council in 1920; whether, in the case of copying typists, these duties include any work other than routine copying with the aid of a typewriter, such as would be proper to the writing assistant class were the copying performed by hand; and whether, in the case of shorthand typists, the duties in any case go beyond the taking down of routine dictation in shorthand and the transcription a these shorthand notes with the aid of a typewriter?

The duties of copying typists and shorthand typists are not actually laid down in the Report of the Reorganisation Committee, but they are sufficiently indicated in general terms by the titles of the grades, and correspond generally with the duties set out by the hon. Member.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction prevailing amongst writing assistants and established typing grades in the Civil Service, who have educational qualifications equal to those of the average woman clerical officer recruited by means of open competition, and who have been classified as suitable for early promotion, at the number of women clerical officers who have been called up as the result of the recent open competition, thus prejudicing the promotion prospects of the grades concerned; and whether he will consider the provision of satisfactory promotion outlets for the girls in question before proceeding to recruit further considerable numbers of girls straight from school for clerical class appointments?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Promotion outlets, on a substantial scale, are provided for writing assistants and members of the typing grades, and I should not feel justified in making arrangements for the abandonment of recruitment to the clerical class by the normal method of open competition.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of patronage appointments to the permanent messenger class in the Civil Service by Departments for the periods 1914 to 1918 and 1919 to the latest date available?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT. 28th July, 1926, Col. 2118], supplied the following information showing the number of men certificated for appointment as established messengers in various Departments during 1914–18 inclusive and 1919–25 inclusive:

— 1914–1918. 1919–1925. Admiralty 22 30 Agriculture and Fisheries, Ministry of. 1 4 Agriculture, Scotland, Board of 1 — Air Ministry — 7 Cabinet, Offices of — 3 Civil Service Commission 1 — Colonial Office — 1 Control, Board of 2 2 Customs and Excise Department 10 — Exchequer and Audit Department. 1 1 Foreign Office — 1 Friendly Societies Registry 1 2 Government Actuary's Department. — 1 High Court of Appeal for Ireland. — 1 Home Office 3 4 India Office 5 21 Inland Revenue Department 1 — Labour, Ministry of — 1 Land Registry, England — 4 London Museum — 1 Lords, House of 3 8 Mines Department — 1 Ministry of Health 3 — Mint 1 — National Debt Office 1 1 National Gallery of British Art — 1 Paymaster General's Office — 4 Pensions, Ministry of 2 8 Privy Council Office — 3 Public Prosecutions Department — 1 Public Works Office, Ireland 1 — Register House Departments, Edinburgh. 1 3 Scotland, Office of the Secretary for. — 1 Stationery Office — 4 Trade, Board of 1 — Transport, Ministry of — 4 Treasury — 7 War Office 1 13 Welsh Board of Health — 2 Works, Office of — 2 Total 62 147

All appointments us established messenger are mode on single nomination by the head of the Department concerned or the whom, the right of nomination is vested:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many temporary clerks have been appointed to posts in the permanent unestablished class, and when it is contemplated that the whole of the appointments will be made?

As the actual appointments as permanent, non-pensionable clerks are made by Departments, I could not give the number of appointments made at any given date without circularising all Departments The number of selections for appointments reported to and approved by the Treasury up to date is approximately 5,200. Apart from a small number of appointments held in abeyance for a time to give an opportunity of selection to men who may fail to pass the medical tests for establishment, I anticipate that the whole of the appointments will be complete in the very near future.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if tax will be recoverable against a backer of horses who fails to pay his account to a bookmaker for debts made on horses either on a racecourse or away from same; or whether the bookmaker will be responsible for the payment of this tax even considering the backer does not pay the amount of his original bet;

(2) whether, in the case of a backer of a horse on a racecourse making a credit bet with a bookmaker on which the bookmaker pays the tax on the bet, and the backer, in the case of a loss, does not eventually pay the bookmaker the amount of the bet, the bookmaker can claim a rebate from the Inland Revenue authorities for the tax so paid, or will he introduce legislation to make this amount of tax paid on the backer's behalf recoverable by law;

(3) in the cases of disputed bets in which bookmakers repudiate liability or even do not pay the amount of winnings claimed by a backer on a horse he claims to have backed, if tax will be chargeable against the backer or bookmaker; and if this tax so charged will be recoverable?

The proposals contained in the Finance Bill relating to the Betting Duty follow the precedent of other indirect taxes. Liability for payment of Betting Duty to the Crown rests solely with the bookmaker with whom the bet is made, and duty must be paid by him on every bet made with him irrespective of the subsequent relations between bookmaker and backer. The Finance Bill is not concerned with the means whereby a bookmaker may recoup himself for the duty which he is liable to pay, and no further legislation appears to be called for.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the consumption of wines, spirits and beer in 1913, 1921,

Year. Wine. Spirits. Beer. Quantity retained for Home Consumption Net Receipt Quantity retained for Home Consumption. Net Receipt. Quantity retained for Home Consumption. Net Receipt. Proof Standard Gallons. £ Gallons. £ Barrels. £ 1913 … … … 11,367,549 1,125,246 31,831,072 23,403,205 35,323,630 13,653,824 1920 … … … 15,053,776 2,868,525 22,138,488 71,070,340 26,919,542 112,986,069 1921 … … … 11,175,094 2,725,246 18,541,664 66,300,323 24,371,182 125,976,959 1922 … … … 12,549,419 3,113,095 16,918,815 59,992,925 20,939,746 107,740,804 1923* … … … 13,238,522 3,227,402 14,729,368 52,065,234 20,488,785 85,628,595 1924 … … … 15,334,346 3,689,649 14,725,451 51,862,380 21,926,542 80,294,658 1925 … … … 16,070,636 3,777,350 14,353,743 50,515,600 22,080,469 83,052,260 * As from 1st January, 1923, the figures relate to Great Britain and Northern Ireland only.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the net receipts for liquor licence duties in Great Britain for the year 1925–26 in respect of manufacturers (brewers, distillers and others); dealers; retailers (spirits, on and off; beer, eider, and perry, on and off; passenger vessels and railway restaurant cars; occasional)?

The net receipts from liquor licence duties for the year 1925–26 in Great Britain were as follows:

— England Wales. Scotland Great Britain £ £ £ Manufacturers 243,473 28,824 272,297 Dealers 100,486 15,323 115,809 Retailers 3,653,998 268,690 3,922,688

The net receipts from retailers' licences include £81,792 in respect of wine and sweets on and off licences.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the net receipts of 1922, 1923, 1924 and 1925, and the total revenue obtained from Customs and Excise duties on spirits, wine and beer in 1913, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924 and 1926?

The quantities of wine, spirits and beer retained for home consumption in each of the calendar years 1913, and 1920 to 1925 (inclusive), together with the net amount of revenue derived from the duties on these articles in the same years were as follow:

Customs and Excise for beer, home spirits, foreign and Colonial spirits and wine, liquor licences and monopoly value for the year ended 31st March, 1926?

The net amount of Customs and Excise revenue derived from beer., home-made spirits, imported spirits, wine, liquor licences, and monopoly values during the year ended 31st March,1926, was as follows:

Head of Duty. Net Receipt. £ Beer … 82,403,147 Spirits, home-made … 41,989,706 Spirits, imported … 7,937,939 Wine … 3,745,826 Liquor licences … 4,311,844 Monopoly values … 70,146

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the number of bulk or liquid barrels of beer produced in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, respectively, during the year ended 31st March, 1926, with the average specific gravities?

The number of bulk barrels of beer produced, by brewers for sale, in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively, together with the average specific gravities, during the year ended 31st March, 1926, was as follows:

— Bulk Barrels Average specific gravities. England 24,871,187 1,043.34 Scotland 1,884,933 1,041.87 Northern Ireland 9,490 1,036.91 26,765,610 1,043.23

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of brewers in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively, distinguishing in each case brewers for sale from private brewers?

The number of brewers' licences issued in the year ended 31st March, 1926, was as follows:

— England and Wales. Scotland. Northern Ireland. Brewers for sale 1,789 54 1 Private brewers 10,869 618 —* *Private brewers' licences issued in Northern Ireland are controlled by the Northern Ireland Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the bulk quantities manufactured of methylated spirits, under the headings power, industrial and mineralised, during the year ended 31st March, 1926?

The bulk quantities of power, industrial and mineralised methylated spirits manufactured during the year ended 31st March,1926, were as follow:

Bulk gallons. Power … … 91,282 Industrial … … 4,247,347 Mineralised … … 1,446,358

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what action has been taken by his Department in connection with the British Industries Fair, 1927?

The necessary arrangements are being made by the Department of Overseas Trade and by the Birmingham authorities for holding the British Industries Fair in London and Birmingham next year from 21st February to 4th March. The Government have again appropriated the sum of £25,000 for publicity. Forms of application for space have been issued, and already some 700 firms have applied for space.

asked the Attorney-General if his attention has been drawn to the failure of Mr. D. N. Haslewood, a Lancashire coroner, to view the body of George Frederick Margerison, upon whom an inquest was held in accordance with Section 4, Sub-section (1), of the Coroners Act, 1887; and whether the Lord Chancellor has taken any action in the matter?

The Lord Chancellor's attention has been drawn to the case alluded to by the hon. Member. It appears that by an error the Coroner omitted to view the body. Proceedings have been taken in the King's Bench Division, and a proper inquest has been directed to be held. The Lord Chancellor does not propose to take any action in the matter.

asked the Attorney-General when a Report may be expected by the Committee appointed by the Lord Chancellor in 1921 to inquire into the question of the position of the Crown as litigant?

I regret that I am still unable to make any definite statement in this matter, It is hoped that the Committee will report in the autumn.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department have investigated the American invention as to lifeboats which when released under water will reach the surface, and the French invention as to foghorns automatically operated by the presence of fog; whether these inventions have been approved; and, if so, whether the Government will lay it down for them to be used for all suitable purposes?

Neither of these inventions has been submitted to the Board of Trade for approval, and the Department have no information about them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the numbers of persons now employed in those industries which are subject to the safeguarding of industries provisions, giving each industry separately; and what were the corresponding figures of those industries for the years 1920, 1923 and 1925?

I have been asked to reply. The following table gives figures, so far as they are available, for the groups most nearly corresponding to the safeguarded industries. Comparable figures can be given only from July, 1923, to July, 1925. The table shows the number of insured persons in Great Britain classified as belonging to the industries in question at July, 1923, and July, 1925:

Industry July, 1923 July, 1925. Motor vehicles, cycles and aircraft. 193,020 213,210 Clocks, watches, plate, jewellery. 49,600 44,950 Cutlery, hand tools, etc. 30,050 33,790 Silk (including artificial silk). 38,140 46,890 Lace 21,570 19,460 Musicial instruments 19,680 21,590

Certain information regarding the number of workpeople employed at various dates in the safeguarded industries is included in the Reports' of the Committees which inquired into the respective applications.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the continual depression in the cotton industry and the consequent increase in unemployment among the textile workers, he can see his way to set up a special Commission for the purpose of making an exhaustive investigation into the causes of the depression and of making recommendations in regard to the best and most effective means for dealing with such causes?

I have been asked to reply. I am not aware of any general desire on the part of the interests concerned in the cotton industry for an inquiry of the kind suggested, and consequently have nothing to add to the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary on the 28th July to the hon. Member for the Elland Division (Mr. Robinson).

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the desirability of introducing a Measure providing that no person who is in receipt of Poor Law relief shall be entitled to vote, either in Parliamentary or local elections?

;T have been asked to reply. Representaions have been received on this subject and have been under consideration, but I am not in a position to make any statement at present.

asked the Prime Minister if arrangements can be made whereby Annual Reports, issued by Government Departments and other public bodies, can, for convenience of future comparison, be based on each complete year instead of from varying dates in one year to the same date in the next?

So far as I am aware, it is not the practice of Government Departments to vary the periods of their Annual Reports. If my Noble Friend will tell me of any particular case which he has in mind, I shall be pleased to inquire into it.

asked the Prime Minister whether, with a view to encouraging the British film industry, he will consider the imposition of an import tax on the cost of production of foreign films instead of the present ineffective tax on the negative; and whether he will consider the setting up of an impartial censorship, independent of all trade interest and support, so as to prevent the exhibition in this country of films which are opposed to British sentiment and character?

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has noted the suggestion made in the first part of my bon. and gallant Friend's question. The question of censorship is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, and be informs me that on the information at present before him he doubts whether there is sufficient reason for proposing any change in the existing arrangements.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that local authorities in colliery districts have withheld the payment of agreed subsidies for houses on the grounds that tenants are not immediately available; and whether he will take steps to communicate with local authorities in developing colliery districts on the matter?

I am not aware of the difficulties to which the hon. Member refers, but if he has in mind any particular cases, and will furnish me with particulars, I shall be happy to make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will inform the House as to the amount of subsidy paid to private builders for building working-class houses during the years 1923, 1924, and 1925, and the number of houses built during the same period; the amount paid to local authorities; and the number built by them during the same period?

The amount of grants payable to private builders under the Acts of 1923 and 1924 is determined by the local authorities, and I am unable to state the total amount paid. The subsidy paid from the Exchequer in respect of houses erected by private builders amounted to £10,715 in 1924 and £172,955 in 1925 (no subsidy being payable in 1923), and the number of subsidised houses built by private builders was 1,508 in 1923, 35,455 in 1924 and 62,137 in 1925. Grants amounting to £9,060 in all were made from the Exchequer during 1923 in respect of 38 further houses built under the Housing (Additional Powers) Act, 1919. The amount of Exchequer subsidy paid in respect of houses erected by local authorities during the years concerned and previous years under the Acts of 1919, 1923 and 1924 amounted to £7,910,146 in 1923, £7,597,428 in 1924, and £7,360,444 in 1925. The number of houses erected by the authorities were 17,545 in 1923, 17,269 in 1924 and 37,360 in 1925.

asked the Minister of Health the highest and the lowest economic rent charged for subsidised houses built by any local authorities; whether he is aware that at Hastings some of the council houses require a weekly economic rent of 19s. 7d.; and why the figure is so high?

It is presumed that, by economic rent, the hon. Member means the rent which may be charged by a local authority for houses erected under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924, if the contribution by the local authority be restricted to £4 10s. per annum for 40 years. I regret that the general information for which the hon. Member asks is not available, but I will make inquiry into the particular case to which he refers, and communicate with him.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of unrecognised cases of smallpox admitted into Poor Law institutions during the 12 months preceding the last convenient date, together with the names of such institutions?

The information at my disposal does not enable me to answer this question.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that certain members of parish councils have been disqualified because their wives accepted poor relief, in some cases upon loan only; whether all such parish councillors were required to declare their seats vacant; and whether it is proposed to introduce amending legislation to deal with the general question?

No recent cases of disqualification of members of parish councils in the circumstances referred to have been brought to my notice. I am, however, aware of the legal position, and I am not prepared to introduce legislation to alter it.

asked the Vice-Chamberlain of the Household, as representing the Lord President of the Council, upon what advice, if any, he makes his selection of persons whom he may recommend for appointment by His Majesty in Council to serve upon the senate of the University of London?

My Noble Friend the Lord President regrets that he is unable to comply with the request of the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that certain firms of caterers are now opening their shops on Sundays, and that they are seeking to compel their employés to take their share in Sunday labour, in disregard of the objections on conscientious grounds which many of the young women have to work on Sunday, whereby such persons are liable to dismissal; and whether, consequent on his action, he will take steps to secure that no employé shall suffer as a result of a refusal to take her share in Sunday labour?

The Home Office does not appear to have received any representations on this subject. The Home Secretary sympathises with the view expressed by my hon. and learned Friend, but if, as I understand, no contravention of the law is involved, I do not see how it would be possible to take any steps in the direction suggested.

asked the Home Secretary if he will inquire as to whether Mr. Joseph Womack, of Nethergate, Stannington, who was arrested and released on 19th July by a local constable, had this action taken against him under the Emergency Powers Act?

Mr. Womack was not arrested. He offered to accompany to the police station a constable who suspected him of street betting. No charge was preferred. There was no question of any contravention of Emergency Regulations.

asked the Home Secretary, whether he proposes to give effect to the recommendations of the Mackenzie Report respecting the prison strikers?

The recommendation was that the Prison Commission should be given discretion to make ex-gratia payments to prison warders who were strikers. The position of the prison warders who make no payments towards their pensions is different from that of the police who are subject to rateable deductions, and my right hon. Friend decided—with regret—that he could not justify the making of ex-gratia, payments to men dismissed for refusing duty.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that an official of his Department has informed the officials of the Civil Service Clerical Association that under no circumstances will women be appointed as dispensers to the Post Office; and whether, in view of the Sex Disqualification Act, he will make arrangements for suitable candidates of either sex to be considered when vacancies next arise in the dispenser grade?

I am not aware that such information has been given to the Civil Service Clerical Association, which is not recognised as representing the Post Office dispensing staff. The dispensing work in the Post Office is physically exacting, and although women have been employed temporarily, it is considered more suitable for men.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will issue a more suitable uniform for telegraph boys in the summer than what is adopted for winter wear?

The uniform supplied to boy messengers is of medium weight, and with the addition of an overcoat in the winter months is considered to be suitable for use all the year round. Various questions concerning the supply of uniform are, however, at present under discussion with the Staff Association concerned, and the point raised by my Noble Friend will be considered in this connection.

asked the Postmaster-General if his intention has been called to the fact that at a recent fire at Cookham the police were unable to get into telephonic communication with the Maidenhead Fire Brigade, owing to the bell which should ring when a call was made to the Bourne End Exchange being out of order; whether he has made an inquiry into the matter; and whether the inefficiency of the connection had been reported?

Inquiries were at once instituted into this occurrence and show that a wire serving the night bell at the Bourne End Telephone Exchange became accidentally disconnected in the evening before the fire. This was not discovered until about 2.20 a.m., when the caretaker operator answered the call. The bell should have been tested before the switchroom was left for the night, and I am taking suitable notice of this omission.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of women clerical officers in the Post Office Savings Bank, Money Order Department, London Telephone Service, and Accountant-General's Department, respectively, who have been classified A or above average for promotion purposes

asked the Postmaster-General what is the number of women clerical officers in the Post Office Savings Bank, Money Order Department, London Telephone Service, and Accountant-General's Department, respectively, who have been classified A or above average for promotion purposes?

The numbers of women clerical officers in the Departments mentioned reported upon were 486, 150, 60 and 183, respectively, and of these, 73, 6, 3 and 6, respectively, were graded " A," i.e., " eminently fitted for early and special promotion."

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the injury done to Mrs. Turquand, late of Stratford Place, in consequence of the non-delivery of two registered letters on 6th February, which injury has been admitted by his Department; and, in view of the statement on page 31 of the Post Office Guide that the final decision upon all questions of compensation rests with him, whether he will consider the making of some grant in this case?

The case had already been brought to my notice. Under the published Statutory Regulations, I have no authority to pay compensation for less or damage con- sequential upon— i.e ., indirectly arising from—the delay of any article sent by post; and, although I regret the loss suffered by Mrs. Turquand, I have no fund out of which I could make a compassionate grant to her.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what practical evidence he possesses that scab in sheep can be more certainly cured when double-dipped at an interval of seven to 10 days, compared with the interval of 14 days which has been the practice throughout the world for the last 80 years?

The Sheep Scab Order of 1920 requires that sheep shall be dipped at least twice within an interval of not less than seven and not more than 14 days. This interval was fixed as a result of experimental work into the life history of the sheep scab parasite. Eggs which the first dipping fails to kill may subsequently batch out, and practical experiments have shown that the young parasite is killed by the second dip if an interval of seven to 14 days is allowed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of Small Holdings Commissioners set up under the Small Holdings Act of 1908 and the approximate annual cost of these Commissioners.

The number of outdoor and technical officers of the Ministry who are mainly, but not entirely, engaged in England and Wales on business which was previously undertaken by Small Holdings Commissioners is 15. The salaries and travelling expenses of these officers amount approximately to £17,000 per annum.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that on the average the price of pork has materially receded in Smithfield Market from the figure to which it jumped on the imposition of the embargo on Dutch meat at. the end of last May; what was the number of breeding sows in Great Britain in June, 1925, and the number in June, 1926, or, failing the actual statistics, if there was a decline or increase in the 12 months; whether he can supply any statistics showing the price of store pigs before the embargo and since; and whether he will, in the Recess, meet the representatives of the Dutch Government and endeavour to come to an arrangement whereby the export of pork from Holland to the London market may be resumed?

The average price of pork at Smithfield Market in the week ending 3rd August was slightly lower than in the week immediately following the imposition of the embargo on Continental meat. The number of pigs in the country on 4th June last will be available and published in a few days, and until then I am unable to reply to the second part of the question. As regards the third part of the question, the average price of all classes of store pigs in the week ending 28th July was 54s. 7d., as against 54s. ld. in the week ending 26th May. With regard to the last part, my Department is always ready to listen to representations from the Dutch Government, but I would point out that the number of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Holland has been on the increase since the beginning of the year, and there were no less than 3,600 outbreaks in that country during the month of June.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs how many migrants from Scotland have been accepted under the new cheap assisted passage scheme to the latest available dates; how many of these are experienced farm workers; and how many are domestic servants.

The following is the number of migrants from Scotland who have been granted reduced passages to Canada under the new agreement up to 31st July, 1926:

Farmworkers 1,184 Members of Farmworkers' Families 1,986 Women Household Workers 900 Total 4,070

Approximately 80 per cent. of the men accepted as farmworkers were experienced agricultural workers.

asked the. Minister of Labour (1) if he is aware that 10 months' employment annually in the last five years is being applied as a test for the payment of unemployment benefit to women engaged in the fishing industry; if he is aware that in the present state of the industry this test operates unfairly on the women concerned; and if he can take any steps to remedy this hardship;

(2) if he is aware that a number of women engaged in the fishing industry, classed as packers and gutters, are being refused unemployment benefit on the ground that they are seasonal workers; that the women in question at Buckie, Lossiemouth, Fraserburgh, Peterhead, and other North-East and Moray Firth centres are not, as a matter of fact, casual workers but are solely dependent on this skilled work in the fishing industry for a livelihood; that their periods of unemployment are due to depression in the industry through loss of markets; and if he will now see that their claims to unemployment benefit are reconsidered and met?

A special investigation was made last year in a number of centres where this industry is carried on, and an opportunity was given to those concerned to make their representations. As a result, I am satisfied that the treatment accorded to the cases in question is justified by the facts. I shall, however, be happy to consider any evidence in support of the hon. Member's contentions, if he will furnish it. The Committee on Unemployment Insurance, under the Chairmanship of Lord Blanesburgh, is directing its attention to the position of these workers.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of single women and widows engaged in the herring-fishing industry who have claimed and received a certificate of exemption relieving them from the payment of unemployment contributions; if he is aware that the grounds upon which such certificate of exemption can be granted are that the claimant must have a pension or income not dependent on her personal exertions of over £26 a year, or that she is dependent on her husband or some other relative, or that she has some other occupation, such as a shop or business of her own; and whether, in view of the impossibility of such conditions being fulfilled by young women and widows working in this industry, he will review these grounds of exemption?

Since the beginning of 1926, 154 applications for certificates of exemption have been received from poisons employed in the Scottish herring-fishing industry; 74 have been granted and the remainder are awaiting the result of investigation. I have no separate figures for single women and widows. The conditions of exemption, as stated in the second part of the question, are statutory, and I have no power to alter them.

asked the Minister of Labour how many female claimants for unemployment benefit have been refused in Glasgow since the 1st January, 1926?

Between 12th January, 1926, and 14th July, the number of applications from females for extended benefit considered by the local employment committees in the Glasgow area was 18,499, of which 12,969 were recommended for allowance and 5,530 for disallowance. Figures are not available regarding the number of disallowances otherwise than by local employment committees.

asked the Minister of Labour if any new instructions have been issued by him recently dealing with the conditions governing the granting of extended claims to benefit; and if the right of an Exchange manager to grant benefit to a claimant after a committee has granted same has been taken away from the manager and given to the divisional officer?

The answer to both points of the question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of safety men now at work in the Fifeshire coalfield; whether the number employed has been reduced during the progress of the stoppage; if so, whether the safety men who have thus become unemployed are receiving unemployment benefit; and if members of the Colliery Firemen and Shotfiring Association who are unemployed, and who are not directly interested in the stoppage, are receiving benefit?

I understand that the number of firemen employed underground before the stoppage in Fifeshire was 750; the number at present is 333, but these are not all employed full-time. The answer to the third and fourth parts of the question is in the negative. Benefit has been disallowed by the Umpire in similar cases from other districts, but an appeal may be made to the Court of Referees and the Umpire on behalf of the Fifeshire men by the Colliery Firemen's and Shotfirers' Association.

asked the Secretary for Mines what is the ratio between the numbers of pits closed and new pits opened in each post-War year and the numbers of employés affected thereby?

The information is not readily available in the precise form in which the Noble Lord has asked for it, but the numbers of mines under the Coal Mines Act at work and the numbers of persons employed during each of the post-War years were as follow:

Number of Mines at Number of Persons Year Work Employed. 1919 … … 2,843 1,191,313 1920 … … 2,851 1,248,224 1921 … … 3,045 1,144,311 1922 … … 2,911 1,162,754 1923 … … 2,902 1,220,431 1924 … … 2,855 1,230,248 1925 … … 2,721 1,117,828

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of tons of coal now being imported weekly into this country?

The present weekly rate of arrival of imported coal in Great Britain is about 600,000 tons.