asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the changes of Poor Law relief now adopted by the West Ham Union Commissioners; if he is aware that the Commissioners have decided that the children of the parents must pay a good deal more to the family income, and that the Commissioners' latest decision is that, instead of deducting 75 per cent. of any sum above 40s., the whole amount over the first 20s. will be deemed as available for the general purposes of the family when the weekly income amounts to £4; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?

I have seen reports in the newspapers of a decision of the West Ham Board of Guardians upon the general lines indicated in the second part of the question. I do not see that any action on my part is required.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the West Ham Poor Law Area Commissioners have refused Poor Law relief to seven single men because they refused work offered them by the Commissioners in a sand-pit at the rate of 28s. per week; that this class of work is classified by trade unions as excavating work, and the trade union rate for that work is 1s. 4d. per hour for a 47-hour week; and that the organised workers in the West Ham Union area have protested against the Commissioners cutting away the men's relief because they refused to work at a rate of pay less than trade union rates; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?

I have seen reports in the Press of applications for relief made by single men for whom work was available at wages substan- tially in excess of the relief which they had been receiving, and of the refusal of relief in these circumstances by the guardians. I do not think that any action on my part is called for.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the West Ham Union Commissioners have stopped the relief that has been given to George Billings, 13, Avons Road, Plaistow, who has an income of 15s., 5s. per week from the Port of London Authority and 10s. old age pension; that he has an invalid wife to support and 13s. rent to pay; if he can state whether instructions have been given to take into consideration superannuation or old age pension when a person is seeking Poor Law relief; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?

My attention has not previously been called to this case. Subject to certain statutory exceptions which are not relevant to the particular case it is the duty of a board of guardians in considering an application for relief to take into their consideration all means available for the maintenance of the applicant. No special instructions on this paint have been issued to the West Ham Guardians and, as at present advised, I see no reason for my intervention.

asked the Minister of Health whether the dependants of an insured member detained in an asylum, who are ordinarily entitled to sickness benefits under the Health Insurance Act whilst the insured is in an asylum, are deprived of further benefits after the insured reaches 65 years of age, when becoming entitled to contributory old age pensions, after 2nd January, 1928, or on the 5th July, 1928, if they were 70 years of age on or after that date?

The payments to the dependants of an insured person in an asylum are made out of the sum which would ordinarily be payable to the insured person himself by way of sickness or disablement benefit. As an insured person's title to these benefits ceases on his attaining the age of 70, or, after 2nd January, 1928, the age of 65, the payments to the dependants must also cease at the same time.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has taken into consideration the establishment of a home or a colony for persons suffering from encephalitis lethargica with a view to securing expert medical treatment for such persons and a more careful study of the disease; and, if so, what conclusions have been reached.

The provision of suitable accommodation for persons suffering from the after-effects of encephalitis lethargica is receiving my careful attention. An experimental unit for the treatment of 100 cases has already been opened by the Metropolitan Asylums Board at Winchmore Hill. A certain number of persons certified under the Lunacy Acts are suffering from the aftereffects of encephalitis lethargica: and arrangements have been made by the London County Council to provide for the treatment of London cases at the West Park Mental Hospital, so that the study of the problem may be concentrated. A Measure has also been introduced into Parliament to amend the Mental Deficiency Act so as to facilitate the admission into mental deficiency institutions of cases suitable for treatment therein.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in the administration of the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, payment of old age pension is withheld from the dependants of an insured person who is detained in an asylum within the meaning of the Lunacy Acts; and will he take steps to see that this benefit is paid to dependants, as is now the case with National Health Insurance benefits?

As regards the first part of the question, I would point out that under sub-section (2) of Sec- tion 21 of the Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, a person is disqualified for receiving a pension under the Act while he is detained in any asylum within the meaning of the Lunacy Acts, 1890 to 1922. As regards the second part of the question, legislation would be necessary to give effect to the proposal of the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will cause an inquiry into the operation of the two-shift system for women and young persons with a view to finding out the views of both employers and workpeople on the subject and in order to determine whether it may be necessary to continue the Act of 1921 in the Schedule of the next Expiring Laws Continuance Bill?

The operation of the two-shift system has ever since its inception been carefully watched by the Factory Department, and it has been one of the duties of the Women Deputy Superintending Inspectors in particular to make a special study of this Question. The results of these investigations are embodied in special sections of the Reports of the Chief Inspector of Factories for the years 1921 to 1924—see particularly pages 53 and 54 of the Report for 1924, which contain a summary of the views expressed by employers and workers. Those views of course vary, but on the whole they are favourable to the system and provision has been made for its continuance in Clause 74 of the Factories Bill. I do not think that any further inquiry is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place under the ordinary law since 1st May in connection with the industrial dispute, and how many of these prosecutions succeeded?

The figures shown by police reports up to the 21st August, 1920, are as follow: Prosecutions of individual persons 1,989 Convicted 1,332 Pending 187 Dealt with under Probation of Offenders Act 283 Dismissed or withdrawn 187

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total amount of coal imported since the beginning of May and the country of origin; and whether he can state the average price per ton and any conditions of a special nature laid down in the contracts for the delivery of the coal?

The quantity of foreign coal which arrived in Great Britain from the beginning of May to 28th August was 7,600,000 tons. I regret that I am unable to furnish the further information asked for.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether the average price per cwt. of coal now being charged by the retailer to the consumer; whether he has had any complaints on this matter; and, if so, how many?

I am not able to give an average figure. The price varies considerably between one district and another according to the kind of coal, the source of supply and local conditions. Having regard to the difficulties of the present situation the number of complaints has been remarkably small.