asked the Home Secretary whether he is satisfied that he possesses powers over the local police forces sufficient to enable them to act, under all contingencies, in the public interest?

In the existing police system of this country there is a combination of central and local responsibility which seems rather complicated, but it is well understood by those most concerned and, in practice, gives satisfactory results on the whole. The large number of separate police forces, some of them very small, undoubtedly introduces an element of weakness, and it would be an advantage if their number were reduced. But, apart from this, I do not consider it necessary for me to ask for further powers.

Has the right hon. Gentleman taken any steps to recommend the merging of some of these smaller forces?

I have no power to do that without the sanction of Parliament, but I have advised on various occasions that very small forces should be merged. Naturally, however, there is the greatest reluctance on the part of local authorities to lose control of their own police.

Does the Home Secretary accept the suggestion in this question that the police do not act in the public interest?

I have not noticed that suggestion in the question.

Then read it again.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has made any new regulations, and, if so, what are they, to differentiate between the powers of a constable and a special constable?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to three serious cases of lead poisoning in one factory in the potteries during 1926 affecting young women aged 19, 23, and 24, respectively, one proving fatal; and what steps does he propose taking with regard to the use of lead in this factory in future?

The three cases referred to occurred in a factory in which until this year no case of lead poisoning had been reported since 1913, about which time the factory was reconstructed; but it appears that recently the system of exhaust ventilation has not been maintained in an efficient state, and the matter has been actively taken up by my Department.

Does that mean that the right hon. Gentleman will see to it that the Regulations in the factories will be enforced?

Undoubtedly. This case is a bad one and it is being very carefully dealt with by my Department.

Will the Home Secretary see to it that, before anyone makes any alteration in the ventilation where such a business is carried on, he has an assurance from his inspectors that the system which is going to be adopted is an efficient one?

I think I had better only say that the inspectors are very careful, but if the hon. Gentleman likes to put down a definite question on that point as to whether they have power to interfere beforehand, I will give him a definite answer.

asked the Home Secretary if he can now state the aggregate sum of money which has been received from Russia for the relief of the miners?

According to the latest information in my possession, the total is £1,087,000.

Can the Home Secretary say from what source this money is derived.

It is derived from Russia.

Is it a levy on the miners of Russia, or is it provided by the Russian Government?

It is very difficult to say definitely, but the best information I have is that it was a levy which in certain circumstances is compulsory.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the authority upon which he makes that statement?

It is made on information supplied to me, and it is certainly not usual to give the source of information supplied to Government Departments.

Is it customary for Ministers to make statements without being able to give the authority in regard to the affairs of any Government?

It is customary for Ministers to answer questions which are put to them to the best of their power and information.

May I ask what percentage of this money ever gets to the miners or their families?

Is the Home Secretary not aware that a good deal of money comes from other countries, and has there been the same objection to money coming from other countries as from Russia? [HON. MEMBERS: "From America?"] Yes, and from Germany, France and Belgium.

I have not taken any steps to prevent any of this money coming in from whatever source.

Is it not a fact that the miners in Russia are working much longer hours than the miners in this country, and does the right hon. Gentleman think it advisable that blackleg money should come to this country to help the miners?

That is argument.

asked the Home Secretary whether, apart from the pledge given by him recently on behalf of the Government that miners wishing to work will be protected from violence and intimidation, it is the intention of the Government to take such steps as will ensure that all men now at work shall be safeguarded in any settlement that may be come to from future victimisation of any kind?

I have been asked to reply. The Government will certainly take every action possible to prevent victimisation on either side after the termination of the coal dispute.

Are we to understand that the Government have altered their policy since the Prime Minister stated that, the Government did not believe in interfering in industry, and now they are proposing to interfere in industry after the settlement?

I am unable to answer that supplementary question, but I would ask the hon. Member not to read into the answer anything more than is contained in it.

asked the Home Secretary if he will say for what reason two meetings to be held at Houghton-le-Spring and Herrington Burn, to be addressed by Mr. T. Mann and Mr. W. Gallaher, respectively, were banned?

asked the Home Secretary if it was on his instructions that a meeting of miners at Clown, Derbyshire, to be addressed by Mr. Thomas Mullins, on Sunday, 7th November, was banned; and for what reason?

These meetings were prohibited by the Chief Constables of Durham and Derbyshire respectively under authority given by me in pursuance of No. 22 of the Emergency Regulations.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Mann spoke at Houghton-le-Spring only a few days before, and no disaffection or disturbance was caused by him being there; has his attention been called to the remarks made by Mr. Justice Finlay at the Assizes now being held in which he said that no case either directly or indirectly could be traced to the dispute; and has the right hon. Gentleman read the remarks made by the Chief Constable who said that Mr. Justice Finlay's remarks represented the spirit of Durham County.

Up to the present I have not had time to read the remarks of Mr. Justice Finlay, but as my attention has been called to them by the hon. Member, of course, I will read them.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these men and other Communists have spoken continually during the coal dispute in the Durham coalfield, and no case of disturbance has arisen; and in these circumstances why not trust to the judgment of the people in the county?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the person referred to in question No. 15 is not a Communist, and will he be good enough to state why his meetings are banned?

Is the Home Secretary aware that it has been the deliberate policy in Derbyshire to arrange meetings and lectures, whist drives and dances every day; that in this particular welfare hall meetings have been held every day since the dispute began and does he think it is good policy to keep these people out of these welfare halls and turn them into the street where disaffection may be caused, when it has been the deliberate policy of the authorities in Derbyshire to see that these people cause no trouble?

I am not objecting to whist drives, concerts, or anything of that kind. If the hon. Member will look at the question he will see that only two meetings have been stopped there, and he has just informed us that hundreds of meetings have been held. I am very pleased that they should continue to be held.

Arising from the right hon. Gentleman's reply to Question No. 15, I would like to ask if he is aware that a summons has been issued to me from this district, because I was there last week, and on the summons it states that I delivered a speech which was calculated to restrict the supply of fuel—that is all. I have written asking—[HON.MEMBERS: "Speech!"] Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have written to the superintendent of police there for the purport of the speech which is complained of, so that I may be in a position to defend myself when I go to the Court on Monday, and that he has replied as follows: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant concerning the summons received by you, and to say I have forwarded the same to the Chief Constable to be dealt with. That is because I was informed by a legal luminary of the law of this country—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"]—that is more than some of you can make—that, unless they intended to be very nasty with me, they would forward to me, as a matter of courtesy—

On a point of Order—[ Interruption .]

The hon. Member appears to be entering on another question entirely. I cannot see the connection of what he is asking with the question on the Paper.

If I cannot get satisfaction now, I am going to move the Adjournment, and raise it to-night.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to the police baton charge at Pemberton, Wigan, on 15th October, 1926, when the Chief Constable ordered the constables to charge the crowd and use their batons after he had told the crowd that he would give them five minutes to clear; if he is aware that after one minute the charge was ordered; that men, women and children were struck and knocked down indiscriminately; that, after the crowd had dispersed, the constables went through the village and struck people who had not been within half a mile of the place when the charge was ordered; and whether he will order an inquiry to be made into the circumstances under which the Chief Constable ordered the charge and the conduct of some of the constables who took part in the charge?

The hon. Member, I presume, refers to incidents which occurred on the 13th October, as to which I have received full reports. The police were compelled to charge because the crowd, instead of taking advantage of the Chief Constable's warning, made a rush at the police. No women and children were struck, but some, no doubt, were knocked down in the rush. A portion of the crowd collected again in a disorderly manner at a point about half a mile away, and were dispersed by the police, but batons were not used or drawn on this occasion. I see no ground for further action on my part.

May I call the attention of the right hon. Gentleman to the fact that the men did not wish the police to deliver the charge while the women and children were there, but that a charge was deliberately ordered by the Chief Constable, and that women and children were struck down, that one girl 11 years of age was struck down.—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"] May I call the right hon. Gentleman's attention to the fact.—[HON. MEMBERS: "No!"]

The hon. Member can only ask a question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one man was struck down and was deliberately kicked by a police constable on the leg while he was down; that in another case a woman vas struck down, and that a man of 60 was struck across the back by a constable with a baton?

Perhaps I had better read a portion of the report which I have received from the Chief Constable: I beg to inform yon that there is no truth in the statement that men, women, and children were struck and knocked down by the police. No women or children were struck, but, as there were many women present, a number of them certainly got knocked down in the rush. The police did all they could to assist the women out of the way.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that only one minute was given for the crowd to disperse? The police manœuvred the people into a kind of cul de sac where they could neither move one way or the other. The Chief Constable gave them five minutes to clear, but in less than one minute a baton charge was ordered. Women were struck while standing in their own doorways, and others were also struck by the police. One man working on the local railway—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"]. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a man returning from his work on the railway was struck down by the police, that people going on their ordinary business were met by the police and struck, and that in one case a man coming from behind a house was met by two policemen —[ Interruption .]

That is entirely out of order.

asked the Minister of Health the total sum paid in outdoor relief up to date to the dependants of miners in the coal stoppage, and how this sum compares with the proceeds of the levy on the Russian workers?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the reply given to a somewhat similar question on Tuesday, from which he will see that the cost of outdoor relief in areas directly affected by the dispute increased in the period from, the beginning of May to October last by approximately £5,800,000 as compared with the rate of expenditure in April, 1926. I am informed that sums amounting to £1,087,000 have been sent from Russia.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that the large sums sent by Russia and other countries have been the means of saving ratepayers a good deal of money?

Is it not a fact that much of the money advanced in relief is advanced on loan and those who receive it are expected to pay it back? Further, does the hon. Gentleman consider there is any moral turpitude in the sending of money by Russian workers in relief of the distress of British workers?

Has there ever been an account published as to how the money from Russia has been distributed.

That does not come within the province of the Minister of Health.

Is it not the case that if the Home Secretary had the courage of his convictions, he would have stopped that money coming into the country?

May I have an answer to my first, supplementary question?

A great deal of the money has been advanced on loan, and I hope, as in the case of previous disputes, it will be repaid.

Does the hon. Gentleman consider it fair that willing workers should be taxed in order to support the dependants of the miners?

26. The hon. Member also asked the Minister the average weekly relief paid by Poor Law guardians to the wives and children of miners during the coal stoppage; and how these amounts compare with the relief granted in former trade disputes?

The exact figures sought by my hon. Friend are not available, but it is estimated that in areas directly affected by the dispute in the coal-mining industry, the expenditure on outdoor relief increased from May to October by an amount equal to an average weekly expenditure of £223,000. In the same areas during the dispute of 1921 the average additional weekly expenditure is estimated to have been £65,400.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that prior to the dispute it was calculated that for every £10 paid by miners to poor relief they only received £1 back?

No, Sir.

That is the truth.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has been informed of any cases where relieving officers have refused to receive applications for emergency relief, and, if so, in what areas; and whether he will immediately draw the attention of boards of guardians and relieving officers to the statutory duty of such officers to relieve urgent cases of necessity?

My right hon. Friend has not been informed of any such cases. As regards the last part of the question, I am sending the hon. Member copies of circular letters recently issued dealing with the position of boards of guardians and of relieving officers.

Is the hon. Member not aware that in the Doncaster area where relieving officers have been appealed to by 259 women, the relieving officers state that the action of the Minister and the resolutions of the guardians have restricted them in carrying out their statutory duty? Will the Minister intimate to the relieving officers that their statutory duties stand, whatever resolutions may be adopted?

I have no information of any such statement. Full instructions have been given to the relieving officers of the country, and I have no reason to think that they are not adequately and properly carrying out their duties.

Are we to understand from the hon. Member's answer that the statutory duties of the relieving officers still remain with them, notwithstanding any resolution which boards of guardians may have passed?

I should have thought that it was obvious that any statutory duty would remain.

asked the Minister of Health what boards of guardians have suspended out-relief to miners' dependants; and what provision these authorities have made to relieve destitution?

There are 24 cases in which boards of guardians have resolved that out-relief shall not ordinarily be given to the dependants of miners. I am sending the hon. Member a list of the names of these unions. Where such a decision is reached by a board of guardians the relief of destitution is carried out either in institutions or, in sudden or urgent cases, by the grant by the relieving officers of relief in kind.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Doncaster Board of Guardians propose to cease the payment of all out-relief this week; and whether he will make representations to the board to continue out-relief, in view of the insufficient indoor accommodation in the area under the control of the board?

My right hon. Friend understands that the guardians have reconsidered their decision, and will continue to make payments of outdoor relief. I may say that my right hon. Friend is not aware that the institutional accommodation available to the guardians is insufficient for their needs.

In case an application is made by any woman who feels that the 6s. allowed is insufficient to maintain her, can the Minister say whether or not the relieving officer will be obliged to deal with a case of that description?

I think we had better await until such a case arises.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is in a position to state the loss which has been incurred by the national revenue as presented in the Estimates of the current financial year consequent upon the general strike and the coal stoppage which began simultaneously last May?

I fear that it is not possible at present to make any reliable estimate of the outturn of the Budget year.

asked the Secretary for Mines what the average screenings of foreign coal have been per ton screened?

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. and gallant Friend regrets that he has no information on this subject.

The last time I put this question to the Secretary for Mines he said he thought it was about 50 per cent., and he promised to get an answer. Cannot I have the answer now, seeing that I have waited a long time?

The hon. Member had better put it on the Paper again.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will arrange for all imported coals to go to public authorities, gas, electricity, and railway companies, and confine home-produced coals to domestic use at a fixed price?

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. and gallant Friend will carefully consider my hon. Friend's suggestion, but he sees great practical difficulties in its application

( by Private Notice ) asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the action of the Castle Ward Guardians in prosecuting and securing a conviction under the Vagrancy Act against John Maddison, a miner concerned in the present dispute, for neglecting to maintain his wife and child by refusing to go to work; whether the prosecution was instituted as the result of any advice from his Department; and if not, whether in view of the present exceptional circumstances, he will consider the desirability of taking immediate steps to discourage any further prosecutions of a like nature?

My right hon. Friend has seen a newspaper report of this case. The prosecution referred to has not arisen out of any advice given by my right hon. Friend's Department, but the guardians do not appear to have exceeded their powers. It is not in my right, hon. Friend's power to direct that proceedings of this kind shall, or shall not, be taken by a board of guardians.

In view of the fact that this involves the possibility of hundreds of thousands of miners, a great mass of them ex-service men, being declared vagrants and criminals, will the hon. Gentleman's Department not take steps to discourage the guardians from taking any action, particularly in view of the fact that the guardian on whose advice this course was taken is the appointed guardian for Chester-le-Street, as appointed by the Minister himself?

I have no knowledge of the latter circumstances. Each board of guardians must carry out the law to the best of its ability, and it is for the Court to decide in each case whether there is any justification for the prosecution.

The Act under which action has been taken is over 100 years old. In view of the difficult circumstances which precipitated this action, will the Department not take some steps to deal with the matter?

No, Sir.

I beg to give notice that, in view of the answer of the Minister, I wish to move the adjournment of the House for the consideration of this matter.

This is not the time.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware of the number of societies or associations, not registered as building societies, which are advertising for and obtaining the money of would-be purchasers of houses, many of whom are ex-service men, and which fail to carry out the promises made; and if he will consider the desirabiity of compelling the registration under the Building Societies Act of all organisations which promise to secure the purchase of houses under a system of instalments?

I am advised that registration under the Building Societies Acts would not be appropriate to most of the concerns to which the question refers. I understand, however, that the Board of Trade Departmental Committee on the Assurance Companies Act, 1909, is considering the position of these societies.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the cases of fraudulent employment agencies; and if he intends to take any action to prevent their operations?

Yes, Sir, my attention is called from time to time to such cases. Certain powers are already given to local authorities by the Public Health Act of 1907 in regard to registries for female domestic servants, and in particular to make by-laws for the prevention of fraud in the conduct of such registries. The matter is one therefore for the consideration of the local authorities in the first instance, and the proper course is for any complaints to be submitted to the local authority concerned. As most of us are aware, the whole subject is beset with difficulties; and I do not see what further the Government can usefully do in the matter.

Is it not a fact that a number of these societies advertise in the big newspapers, and could not some action be taken to induce those newspapers not to publish their advertisements?

That is very difficult, because I should have to decide at once whether they were or were not fraudulent.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses built with State aid, by municipalities, and by private enterprise during the six months ended 30th September, 1926, and during the corresponding periods in 1925 and 1924, respectively?

The numbers of houses erected with State assistance during the six months ended 30th September in the years mentioned were, in 1926, 36,732 by local authorities and 38,631 by private enterprise; in 1925, 19,548 by local authorities and 30,907 by private enterprise; in 1924, 8,082 by local authorities and 17,751 by private enterprise.

Will the hon. Gentleman inform the House how many houses built by private enterprise were built for sale, and how many for letting?

The hon. Member had better put a question down.

Can my hon. Friend say how many of these houses were Weir houses?

No, Sir, I cannot.

May I ask whether a house built for letting accommodates more human beings than one built for sale?

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been completed to date under the various Housing Acts and how many are at present under construction, giving separate figures for municipal and private enterprise?

Up to the 1st ultimo, the latest date for which figures are available, the numbers of houses which had been completed in England and Wales with State assistance under the various Housing Acts were 270,406 by local authorities and 196,465 by private enterprise. The numbers under construction under the Housing Acts on 1st October were 58,294 and 45,217, respectively.

Are the houses built by private enterprise under the same restrictions as those built by municipalities?

I think that question will take some time to answer. The hon. Member had better put it down.

also asked the Minister of Health the total number of houses sanctioned for erection under the Housing Acts at the present time, and the corresponding number a year ago?

The number of houses authorised for erection under the various Housing Acts (including houses completed and under construction) is 706,699 as compared with 543,284 a year ago.

asked the Minister of Health the number of new old age pensions awarded and the number of old age pensions increased, respectively, under the provisions of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act?

On the latest figures available, the number of new old age pensions awarded in England, Scotland and Wales is 108,421, and the number of old age pensions increased is 14,679.

asked the Minister of health the number of pensions and allowances which have been awarded to widows and orphans to the latest available date, and how this figure compares with the actuarial estimate?

On the latest information available, the following pensions have been awarded: To pre-Act Widows 130,870 as against an actuarial estimate of 196,000 To pre-Act orphans 13,763 No actuarial figures are available in this case.

With regard to post-Act pensions, the numbers awarded are Widows … … 36,448 Orphans … … 1,260 It is not possible at present to compare these latter figures with the actuarial estimates, which cover longer periods than that which has elapsed.

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many widows and orphans have been refused pensions under the last Act?

If the hon. Member will put a question down, I will endeavour to give an answer.

asked the Minister of Health if he has any further statement to make on the progress recorded in dealing with the recent outbreaks of infantile paralysis in this country?

My right hon. Friend is glad to say that the number of cases of infantile paralysis notified in Broadstairs and Leicester during the past two weeks was only 15, as compared with 54 in the previous fortnight. There were no fresh cases in Broadstairs last week. He would like to take this opportunity of stating that infantile paralysis is a disease which has been prevalent in this country for many years. It is one of a group of epidemic nervous diseases of which our knowledge is still very imperfect, but research is being prosecuted, and it is hoped that means will be discovered which will lead to the exercise of more effective control over its spread. His Department has closely watched the outbreaks and a specially skilled member of his staff has visited the areas most affected to assist the local authority in providing for the supervision and control of the outbreaks.

How many deaths have occurred in all in this outbreak?

I do not think a large number if my hon. and gallant Friend will put a question down I will endeavour to answer it.

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases of infantile paralysis that have occurred each month since May last and whether he has any further information regarding the causes of the disease?

As regards the first part of the question, with my hon. Friend's permission I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT. As regards the second part, I would refer him to the answer which I have given to-day on this subject to a question asked by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Norwich.

Following are the figures promised:

The number of cases of infantile paralysis (acute poliomyelitis and acute polio-encephalitis) notified in England and Wales each month since May last is as follows: Notifications of 1926 Acute Poliomyelitis. Acute Polio-encephalitis. May … 18 3 June … 29 3 July … 56 7 August … 148 16 September … 215 7 October … 319 54

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, in the last six months, many of the London boroughs have been called upon to find considerable additional sums of money, over and above the normal, for the relief of destitution; and if, in these circumstances, he will take steps to have the payments due to these boroughs from the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund expedited or, alternatively, if he will be prepared to consider favourably applications from such boroughs for authority to borrow on account of the money already due to them from this fund?

My right hon. Friend is not aware that the expenditure on poor relief in London has been greater during the last six months than during the preceding half-year. Even if it were so, it would not necessarily follow that larger payments were to be expected from the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund. In these circumstances, he sees no reason to vary the existing practice by an increase of the resort to borrowing for current expenditure. The hon. Member is no doubt aware that the interval before payments can be made from the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund has already been materially shortened and my right hon. Friend regrets that no further revision of practice in this respect is possible.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that these payments may still be in arrear for something like 12 months, and will he be prepared to consider sympathetically a request from the Shoreditch Board of Guardians for a loan?

I am afraid I cannot hold out any hope of revision, but I have gone into the matter myself to-day, and if the hon. Member would like to see me about it, I will gladly go through it with him again.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the increased charges on the surplus funds of approved societies consequent upon the new agreement covering dental benefit; whether he is aware that a number of approved societies decline to operate the agreement because of those increased charges; and whether he will take steps with a view to removing the present impasse?

The new agreement as to the scale of charges and conditions of service for the dental treatment of members of approved societies was arrived at by direct negotiation between representatives of the societies and of the dental profession with a view to securing a thoroughly satisfactory service. The new scale does involve some increased charge on the surplus funds of societies above that which would have arisen under the scale previously in operation, but the great majority of societies take the view that the additional advantages to be secured under the new arrangement justify the extra cost. My right hon. Friend is aware that a few societies, representing a very small fraction of the total insured population, have not yet decided to adopt the new scale, but he does not think that the position calls for any special action on his part at the present time.

If the opposition to this new agreement grows, as is likely to be the case, will the Ministry call the parties together again with a view to securing new terms?

No; I have no reason to apprehend for a moment that the other societies—about 80 per cent. of the total—are likely to alter the existing arrangements to which their representatives have agreed.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that dentists are following in the footsteps of the doctors, and unless some steps are taken they may in very many cases obtain remuneration out of proportion to the services they render?

In this arrangement approved societies and members of the dental profession both think they have made a bad bargain. In these circumstances I am rather inclined to think this is a fair arrangement.

asked the Minister of Health the number of Post Office contributors there are to the National Health Insurance; whether there are any surplus funds; and whether any special benefits are being provided to the contributors?

The number of deposit contributors in England, Scotland and Wales at the present time is about 271,000. The Deposit Contributors Fund is made up of the sums standing to the credit of the individual deposit contributors, and there are, therefore, no surplus moneys in the fund. The benefits to which a deposit contributor is entitled are the ordinary benefits under the National Health Insurance Acts so far as the balance to the credit of the contributor is sufficient to cover the cost of the provision of such benefits.

May we take it that there are no funds available to provide the Post Office contributors with the special benefits now being provided by many societies?

No, Sir. The system is different. A certain number of people who belong to this class could secure these benefits if they would only join an approved society.

The point of my question is whether there is any difference in administration which puts the Post Office contributor in a worse position than those who are contributing to approved societies.

Yes, Sir; a very considerable difference.

Why should that be?

Because a large number of contributors will not take the trouble to join approved societies.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to the announcement that the Bethnal Green Board of Guardians has decided that no boy under its charge shall now, or in the future, be allowed to enter the Army or Navy; whether he is aware that boys under its control wish to enter the Services; and whether he can take any action to ensure that these children are given a chance of following the career they desire?

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the decision of the Bethnal Green Board of Guardians to the effect that no boys under their care will be permitted to join the Army and Navy; if a board of guardians are empowered to deprive such boys of their freedom of choice of occupation; and, if not, what steps, if any, he proposes to take?

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the decision of the Bethnal Green Board of Guardians not to allow any boys under their control to join any of His Majesty's Forces; and if he will state what steps he proposes to take to prevent authorities entrusted with the expenditure of public money adopting such a policy?

My right hon. Friend's attention has not previously been drawn to such a decision on the part of this board of guardians, but he will inquire into the matter.

If we put down a question again this day week, will my hon. Friend be in a position to give a reply, in view of the important question this raises?

In view of the wretched condition of many discharged soldiers and sailors, does the hon. Member not think that the Bethnal Green Board of Guardians are justified in what they are doing?

May we take it that the facts are as stated in the question, and that the Minister will take immediate steps to stop national funds going to bodies whose whole object is to strike at the nation?

When the hon. Member is making inquiries into this matter, will he also inquire whether this board of guardians or other boards of guardians will make provision for boys or girls under their charge receiving the necessary facilities to give them a university education?

I beg to give notice that I will repeat the question this day week.

Will the hon. Member, in making inquiries, inquire how many boys are involved, and whether a board of guardians has any jurisdiction over boys whose parents are alive?

I can assure the House that my right hon. Friend will make the earliest possible inquiry into this matter, the gravity of which he fully appreciates. I will endeavour to get a reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Dulwich (Sir F. Hall) on the day mentioned.

Several other hon. Members having risen —

We cannot debate the matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware, that the Milk and Dairies Order, 1926, is causing many small milk producers in country villages expense which they cannot afford, and that they must close down businesses which in some eases they have carried on without any complaint from sanitary authority for 30 years; and whether he will empower the local authorities in such cases to pay some compensation or grant an extension of time in which they must comply with the new Orders?

My right hon. Friend has not heard of any such complaints, and he thinks that the producers to whom my hon. and gallant Friend refers must be under some misapprehension as to the terms of the Order. Article 1 of the Order allows a considerable period of time to elapse before any of the provisions which involve any financial outlay become operative.

Is the hon. Member aware that the Ministry have recently sent to local authorities at Hereford, in answer to their question, a letter stating that cow keepers with one or two cows who provide butter and milk for the village, need not come under this Order? Will he look into the matter and disseminate that information and give some instruction to local authorities, so that they will not operate these regulations so harshly as at present on small men in country villages?

I will certainly look into the case mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend.

Is it not a fact that producers and distributors had 12 months' notice before this Act came into operation?

Is it not a fact that the better milk we have, the greater the demand will be, and that this Act will in the end help the farmers themselves?

We cannot have a Debate on agriculture on this question.

asked the Minister of Health how many county councils adopted the suggested rules for the supervision and regulation of hop fields; and in what districts were they in force during the last hop season?

The "suggested rules" to which the hon. Member refers are, presumably, the revised model by-laws issued early this year. These by-laws are made, not by county councils, but by district councils. Five district councils have made new by-laws this year, and several are known to be considering them, but it should be added that 40 other districts, covering most of the hop-picking areas, already had similar by-laws in force.

Have the inspectors of the hon. Member's Department visited the hop fields during the last season, and, if so, have they made reports, and can those reports be issued to the public?

That is a totally different matter from the question which the hon. Member has raised.

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to take any action to put an end to the practice of dumping refuse in the Lower Thames area, particularly as regards the dumps now existing at Purfleet and Tilbury and the new dump at Purfleet now in course of construction?

As I have informed my hon. Friend, these dumps have recently been inspected, and the inspection did not disclose that they are a menace to health. At the same time, I may say that the general question of the collection and disposal of London refuse and the practicability of making improvements is the subject of detailed investigation at the present time, and in connection with the investigation the dumps referred to are being kept under observation.

Is the hon. Member aware that there is a dust heap at Tilbury, immediately behind the town, into which all the refuse and deposit from London boroughs is placed, and that numbers of people of all ages and sexes rummage daily in this refuse; and does he think that that state of things is consistent with the prevention of the spread of epidemic disease?

I am sorry to hear the information which the hon. Member has given, and I will forward to the investigator the facts.

Cannot we have this refuse destroyed by destructors?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will present to the House a full statement of the total amounts guaranteed as on 31st October, 1926, under the Trade Facilities Act and the Export Credits Guarantee Scheme, and the total losses, if any, which the Treasury has sustained through such guarantees?

A detailed statement of the guarantees which the Treasury have stated their willingness to give under the Trade Facilities Acts is presented to the House every quarter, the latest being House of Commons Paper No. 139 of 1926, giving the figures up to the 30th September, 1926. The total amount guaranteed under those Acts up to the 31st October, 1926, is £68,950,780; and the total losses which the Treasury has so far sustained are £29,174 4s. 11d.

The total amount guaranteed under the Export Credits Guarantee Schemes up to the 31st October, 1926, was £6,213,079. The total amount which so far has been written off as irrecoverable in connection with these guarantees is £20,412.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say in which countries this loss has been incurred?

I cannot say that without notice, and I cannot promise that I can get the information.

Is it the fact that when this grant of £5,000,000 is exhausted, it is the intention of the Government to discontinue it?

That question has already been answered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that many of the big department stores in the West End of London make it a custom to accept payment for goods for the value of £2 and over and issue a receipt without putting a 2d. stamp on same; and will he take the necessary steps to compel such department stores to comply with the statutory Regulations?

The attention of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue is constantly being called to cases where receipts which ought to have been stamped have been given without a stamp, and suitable action is taken by them in each case. The document commonly given in the larger shops when goods are sold and paid for over the counter is a form of voucher which does not constitute a receipt for the purposes of the Stamp Act, being more in the nature of an accounting convenience to the shop, and which, consequently, is not liable to duty. I would, however, remind the hon. and gallant Member that a stamped receipt must be given to any customer who asks for it if the amount of the payment is £2 or more.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I myself purchased goods to the extent of £16, paid my account at the cashier's desk and demanded a stamp to be put on the receipt, and was informed that if I wanted a stamp on the receipt I should have to take it to the secretary's office and get it stamped there?

I have no knowledge of the hon. Member's transactions.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries and see that people who require stamps on their receipts are treated in big department stores in the same way as they are treated in the small shops.

May I ask whether too many Regulations do not add to the cost.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that two musical plays appearing in the West End of London have, during the past 12 months, paid royalties to the American holders of the rights of the same to the extent of over £100,000; will he state what steps, if any, are taken by the Treasury to see that Income Tax is paid on the same; and will he consider the introduction of legislation to see that, in future, these amounts are taxed at their source?

As the hon. and gallant Member will appreciate, I am not in a position to furnish information with regard to particular cases of Income Tax liability. On the general question raised in regard to legislation my right hon. Friend is not prepared to make any statement at present.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at the present time 14 theatres in London are producing American plays, and royalties to the extent of between £300,000 and £400,000 are going to American authors without being subject to Income Tax?

I am very sorry to hear it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that American and foreign authors and dramatists producing plays in Britain escape payment of Income Tax, except when they remain in Britain six months, whereas British dramatists are taxed when producing plays in America, he is considering the imposing of Income Tax on all foreign dramatists producing plays and artistes and musicians performing in Great Britain; and whether he has estimated the amount likely to be raised in this manner?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. Tax is legally chargeable on these sources of income irrespective of the question whether the taxpayer visits this country or of the length of his stay. The problem is that of the machinery for collection of the duty in certain cases. I cannot say more than that this matter is engaging the attention of my right hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number and present value of the shares held by the Treasury in the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, together with the sum received in dividends during the past year, as compared with the price obtainable when the Government proposed to sell this block of shares in 1923?

With the hon. Member's permission, I propose to circulate a reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

His Majesty's Government hold the following shares in the Anglo-Persian Oil Company: 5,000,000 Ordinary Shares of £1 (fully paid). 1,000 8 per cent. 1st Preference Shares of £1 (fully paid). £199,000 5 per cent. Debenture Stock.

The approximate market quotations for the various classes of shares on the 9th November were: Ordinary Shares … £6 5s. 0d. 1st Preference Shares … £1 6s. 6d. Debentures … 96½

At the end of November, 1923, the approximate market quotations for the same classes of shares were: Ordinary Shares … £2 10s. 0d. 1st Preference Shares … £1 3s. 1d. Debentures … 91½

The total amount received in dividends on all classes of shares since 1st November, 1925, is £885,030.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is able to inform the House as to the probable date when His Majesty's Government will introduce legislation affecting the law relating to trade unions?

The Government propose to deal with this question next Session.

May I ask whether the Government propose to deal with this question, although they did not get a mandate from the electors at the last election?