AGRICULTURE (COMMITTEE REPORT).
asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the im-
DEVONPORT EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE. Numbers of persons on the Registers at the beginning of each week in the months of September and October, 1926. Date. Numbers of Persons on the Registers. Men. Boys. Women. Girls. Total 1926. 6th September … … … 1,358 107 142 92 1,699 13th September … … … 1,379 101 140 97 1,717 20th September … … … 1,367 98 150 96 1,711 27th September … … … 1,395 109 157 98 1,759 4th October … … … 1,397 110 154 99 1,760 11th October … … … 1,395 112 143 100 1,750 18th October … … … 1,366 110 158 101 1,735 25th October … … … 1,426 108 160 101 1,795
portance of the Report of the Interdepartmental Committee on agricultural unemployment, completed in August of this year, and issued as a Stationery Office publication but not available in the Vote Office, and since the published price is 6s., which puts the Report beyond the reach of many who should read it, he will consult the Treasury, in order that, if possible, other arrangements may be made
This publication was issued at cost price, in accordance with the general practice governing the pricing of Government publications. The contents of the Report have been given considerable publicity in the Press, and about 100 copies have already been sold. I am nut satisfied, therefore, that there is adequate ground for adopting the very unusual course of now reducing the price. Any hon. Member who is interested in the subject can obtain a copy of the Report on application to the Controller of the Stationery Office
DEVONPORT.
asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons, specifying men, women, boys, and girls, on the Devonport Employment Exchange during the months of September and October?
The following table give, the information desired:
POST OFFICE (MOTOR-CYCLES).
asked the Postmaster-General the number of motor-cycles and combinations in use by his Department on the last convenient date: and whether such motor-cycles and combinations are of British manufacture
On the 1st November, 1926, the number of motor-cycles and motor-cycle combinations owned by the Post Office was 1,190. All the machines are of British manufacture.
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.
asked the Minister of Health how many friendly societies are there registered with the Registrar-General whose membership does not exceed 1,000?
A complete list of registered friendly societies and their respective membership as at the end of 1923 will be found in the Appendix to Part II of the Chief Registrar's Report to Parliament for 1924, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. and gallant Friend.
DEPUTY-CORONERS (CITY AND SOUTHWARK AREAS).
asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the need of a deputy-coroner for the City and Southwark areas, and whether it is intended to deal with this matter?
I have been asked to reply. I am not aware of any obstacle in the way of appointing a deputy coroner. If the reference is to an assistant deputy coroner, the Coroners (Amendment) Bill does not propose to confer the power of appointing an assistant deputy, or any similar power, on any of the franchise coroners. Their franchise coronerships are to be abolished as vacancies occur.
ADOPTION OF CHILDREN ACT (RULES).
asked the Home Secretary whether rules of procedure made pursuant to Section 8 of the Adoption of Children Act, 1926, have yet been published; and, if not, whether they will be issued as soon as possible in order to make the benefits of this Act available to the public?
I understand that the Rules which the Lord Chancellor is required to make under Section 8 of the Adoption of Children Act, 1926, are being drafted, and that they will be issued as soon as possible.
TOBACCO (HOURS OF SALE).
asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to introduce legislation to repeal the prohibition of the sale of tobacco goods in hotels, restaurants, public houses, theatres, music halls, and other places of public resort, after eight o'clock at night, so that persons desirous of being supplied with such goods at convenient times may not be denied the right of purchasing the same?
asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to introduce legislation to repeal the prohibition of the sale of tobacco goods in hotels, restaurants, public houses, theatres, music halls, and other places of public resort, after eight o'clock at night, so that persons desirous of being supplied with such goods at convenient times may not be denied the right of purchasing the same
The matter referred to forms a part of the bigger question of the early closing of shops, and cannot be dealt with separately. I may add that, according to the information before me, the proposal in the two questions would be strongly resented in many quarters; and the Government are not in a position to take up the matter at present.
DEPORTATION ORDER (THEO EGGIERTH, BRISTOL).
asked the Home Secretary whether, with reference to a man named Theo Eggierth, of Bristol, who is to be deported from this country, he will state how many years the man has resided here and what offences have been charged against him during that period; whether his wife is an Englishwoman; and how many children are there at present dependent upon him?
According to his own statements, this alien has been in England for some 20 years, but he evaded registration until June last, since when he has been convicted of two offences against the Aliens Order, 1920. I am informed that his wife is of British birth, and that she has four children, none of whom has recently been supported by him.
WARWICKSHIRE MINERS' ASSOCIATION (LEAFLET).
asked the Home Secretary whether it was on his instructions that the Warwickshire Police prevented the distribution of a cyclostyled leaflet, which was issued by the Warwickshire Miners' Association, on the ground that it was an illegal document, and what were the words in the leaflet held to be illegal?
I am informed that the Warwickshire Police have not prevented the issue of any cyclostyled leaflet issued by the Warwickshire Miners Association, and I know nothing of the contents of the leaflet referred to.