asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the differences of opinion in regard to certain of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Indian Currency and Finance, he will give the House an opportunity of discussing the Commission's Report?

Any discussion in Parliament on the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Indian Currency and Finance, if such discussion should be generally desired, would most appropriately follow the Debates which may be expected to take place in the Indian Legislature after the introduction of the projected legislation there.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what action has been taken by the Government of India, with a view to giving effect to the conventions and recommendations passed at the Geneva Conference, to ameliorate the conditions of Indian seamen?

The ninth session of the International Labour Conference, to which the hon. and gallant Member refers, closed on 24th June last, and there has not yet been sufficient time for the Government of India to take any action on the draft conventions and recommendations adopted.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what action has been taken, following the Report of the Punjab Inquiry Committee, relating to charges of corruption against the police?

It is understood that the reference is to the Report of the Punjab Provincial Police Committee appointed in November of last year to examine the question of improving the efficiency and integrity of the police force. The Committee have, I understand, recently made several important recom- mendations, but I have no information as to the action that will be taken by the Provincial Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs how many organisations are there, that have official dealings with his Department or with the Overseas Settlement Committee, engaged in assisting the migration of persons from Great Britain to Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, respectively, indicating the names of those organisations which concentrate only upon a particular Dominion?

With my hon. Friend's permission I will forward to him copies of two publications issued by the Overseas Settlement Committee, which contain information regarding the Voluntary organisations engaged in assisting the migration of persons from Great Britain to the oversea Dominions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Commission appointed by the Governor of Jamaica to inquire into the system of prison administration in that Colony, with special reference to the disturbances which have recently taken place in the Kingston Penitentiary, has yet made a Report; whether such Report will be laid upon the Table of the House, and what action he proposes to take in regard to it; whether prisons in this and other similar Colonies are under the general control of the Secretary of State; and whether he can say how many prisoners at Kingston Penitentiary were flogged during the three months ended 30th September, 1926, and the number during the corresponding period for 1925?

I understand that the Commission to which the hon. Member refers has completed its labours. Copies of its Report have not vet reached me, but when they arrive I shall be prepared to make them available for Members. The Secretary of State does not exercise any direct control over prisons in the Colonies, but it is open to him to give instructions to the Governors within any limitations imposed by law. Figures showing the number of prisoners flogged at the Kingston Penitentiary during the three months ended the 30th September, 1925, are not available separately, but the number flogged in all the prisons during the whole of 1925 was six. Two serious disturbances occurred at the Kingston Penitentiary during the corresponding quarter of 1926, and, although the number of prisoners flogged has not been reported officially, it is understood from unofficial information to be about 160.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider, where there is an existing telephone line to the local constable's house in rural villages, the provision of a public telephone for such village?

I shall be glad to consider any such cases which the hon. Member may have in mind.

asked the Postmaster-General the cost of erection of the Rugby Wireless Station?

The cost of the Rugby Wireless Station, including the site, buildings and plant, was about £480,000.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that sufficient distribution and telephone duties, proper to the lower clerical class, exist in the Post Office Savings Bank Department, Hammersmith, upon which the 43 overseas and disabled ex-service temporary clerks liable for dismissal could be satisfactorily employed; and whether he will arrange for these men to be so employed instead of replacing them by permanent clerical officers at a higher salary?

There are 18 duties of the kind described which are at present performed by temporary clerks, but the duties will be required either for successful Southborough candidates or for "P" men, so that the suggestion in my right hon. Friend's question cannot be adopted.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in connection with the new road scheme at Richmond, he is able to give an undertaking that there shall be no interference with the poppy factory recently installed at Richmond for the employment of maimed ex-service men?

I understand that this question refers to a possible future widening of Petersham Road, which, after due inquiry, was included in the Richmond Town Planning Scheme. The date and manner in which the widening may be effected are matters which are not under the immediate jurisdiction of the Ministry, but I feel sure that the local authority will apply its powers considerately.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that very few of the employés of the War Department stock yard at Tidworth are ex-service men; and whether it is possible to absorb some of the numerous ex-service men in the district now seeking employment?

If my hon. and gallant Friend's question relates to the Royal Army Ordnance Depot, which is the largest War Department establishment at Tidworth, the position is that, of a total of 147 civilians employed, 138 are ex-service men. The remaining nine are either pre-War personnel or of trades of which no ex-service men were available at the local Employment Exchange. It is the recognised practice of this depot, when engaging employés, to give preference to ex-service men, other things being equal, and this practice will he followed as regards any employés it may be necessary to engage in the future.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the number of widows' pensions that have been forfeited owing to alleged immoral conduct; the number of these cases in which the widow was, or became, the mother of an illegitimate child; whether the Ministry of Pensions acts on anonymous communications; if, concurrent with the investigation by members of the War Pensions Committee, the local police are requested to furnish a report; and, if action is taken on anonymous communications, could he state the number of cases in which it was proved that the anonymous allegations were unfounded?

I regret that the records of the Ministry do not enable me to give the information asked for in the first two parts of the question; but I am informed that during the past three years pension has been declared forfeited by the Special Grants Committee in 1,596 cases, whilst in the same period 576 pensions that had previously been forfeited have been restored. Allegations of misconduct made anonymously are acted on to the extent only that they may form the subject of inquiry, but in no case is investigation by the police employed unless and until the War Pensions Committee concerned have had an opportunity of inquiring into and expressing an opinion on the case. I understand that there is no record of the number of cases referred to in the last part of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many fatal accidents there have been in the Air Force this year and how many lives have been lost; what were the corresponding losses last year; the numbers of machines destroyed by accidents this year and last year; can he attribute the crashes of flying machines and loss of life in the Air Service to any general cause; and what steps he is taking to reduce the number of accidents?

The figures requested in the first three parts of the question for the period 1st January to 18th November, 1926, and for the corresponding period in 1925, are as follow:

	1926.	1925.
Fatal accidents	49	36
Deaths	78	50
Aircraft reported by 18th November as written off charge as a result of crashes	230	212

Of the deaths in 1926, 13 have occurred in three accidents, two of which may be regarded as of an exceptional character. I should add that the amount of flying in 1926 to date is materially in excess of that for the corresponding period of 1925. The figures relate to Royal Air Force personnel only, and do not include aircraft written off charge as a result of enemy action. As regards the fourth part, in spite of continuous and careful scrutiny of every individual accident, no general cause can be assigned. Many accidents are the result of a combination of causes. A mechanical failure, containing no element of danger itself, but necessitating a forced landing, may be followed by a crash due to bad ground, or an error of judgment. A slight error of judgment in the air, especially near the ground, may have fatal results, whereas a similar error of judgment on the ground, as when driving a motor car, probably results only in minor material damage. As regards the last part, the steps which are being taken are continuous. All sides of this question are carefully watched, e.g., the number of accidents, the stations at which they occur, the time of the year, the nature of the country, the type of machine, the medical and flying history of the pilot, methods of training, etc., etc. Every serious accident is investigated by an independent inspector reporting to the Secretary of State, as well as by a local court of inquiry. Endeavours are also being made to eVolve more controllable machines, and mechanical devices designed to increase the safety of flying. Parachutes have been generally introduced and have saved several lives this year. It must also be remembered that aircraft are constantly and necessarily improving in performance, and every addition to speed and power tends to make the result of an accident more serious. My right hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that this question is engaging my constant personal attention, and that every possible precaution is and will continue to be taken with a view to safeguarding the lives of our flying personnel by all means in our power.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether there are any naval cookery officers who have not served in sea-going ships since promotion to warrant rank; and, if so, whether such officers will be given an opportunity to serve afloat, in view of the importance of their being fully acquainted with the modern sea-going general messes, in order to instruct cook ratings in this branch of their duties?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part., the appointments of cookery officers are, in common with those of other branches, dependent on the requirements of the Service.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that the regulations governing leave to workmen employed in His Majesty's Dockyard admit of workmen being granted leave of absence to attend courses at political colleges, organise and fight political and municipal contests, and perform other political organising work, and in view of the fact that such men receive remuneration from other sources whilst absent on unpaid leave from the dockyard, he will authorise their places being filled by men who are unemployed, and thus afford temporary relief to unemployment?

Workmen employed in His Majesty's Dockyards are entitled under the Regulations to 14 days' leave of absence per annum without pay, without reference to the purpose for which the leave is required; leave of absence in excess of 14 days per annum is regarded as special, and each application is dealt with on its merits; there is no special provision in the Regulations for leave of absence for the purposes stated in the question. The grant of special leave of absence is always subject to the convenience of the Service; the places of men on leave are already filled where necessary, but it is impossible to identify any particular workmen as substitutes for those on leave of absence.

asked the Minister of Transport the approximate number of fatal and non-fatal street accidents that have been recorded in the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark during the latest 12 months for which figures are available; and the number during the preceding 12 months?

I have been asked to reply. The number of street accidents in the Borough of Southwark involving personal injury have for the periods shown been as follow:

—	Fatal.	Non-Fatal.	Totals.
Twelve months ended 16th November, 1925.	30	1,218	1,248
Twelve months ended 16th November, 1926.	27	1,382	1,409

asked the Home Secretary what are the arrangements he has made in extending shop hours during Christmas; whether those arrangements follow precedent; and, if not, in what respect do they differ from previous concessions in this connection?

It has been customary each year, since the General Early Closing Order fixing evening closing hours for shops came into force, to suspend its operation for a certain number of days at Christmas, and, in accordance with this practice, I have made an Order this year suspending it from Friday, 17th December, to Friday, 24th December, both days inclusive. The actual number of days during which the Early Closing Order has been suspended has varied from five to 10 days, being determined each year according to the particular circumstances; and, in deciding this year on the period above mentioned, I had regard to the views expressed by various important trade associations which approached me on the subject, as well as to the precedents. I would add that this suspension of the General Early Closing Order does not relieve occupiers of shops and others from compliance with the weekly half-holiday or other requirements of the Shops Acts of 1912 and 1913, or any local Orders in force under those Acts.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received an application complaining of an alleged miscarriage of justice in the case of Mrs. Matilda Lavinia Stanley, of Brighton, and of her late husband, the Rev. William Herbert Stanley, and praying for an investigation into the facts; and whether he will accede to the request?

I have received three representations from Mrs. Stanley, who in 1906 was convicted of criminal libel, and other representations had been received by my predecessors. The case has been fully gone into on previous occasions, and there is no reason for any further investigation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what is the average taxation imposed by the Government of Ceylon on British cotton goods, machinery, and iron and steel; and, in view of the preferential treatment given to Ceylon, can he state if any representations have been made as to the absence of any reciprocity on the part of Ceylon?

The rate of import duty levied by Ceylon on cotton piece goods is 5½ per cent. ad valorem,and that on machinery and iron and steel is 21 per cent. ad valorem,and these rates apply equally to British and foreign goods. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the hon. Member for East Toxteth (Mr. Jacob) on the 22nd March last.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department it he can give the value of the imports of foodstuffs, excluding drink and tobacco, for each year since the statistics for the Irish Free State were separated from those of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?

The imports into the United Kingdom in the years 1923–1925 of articles of food and drink, including foodstuffs for animals and excluding alcoholic beverages and tobacco, were valued at £479,246,000 in 1923, at £538,381,000 in 1924, and at £537,370,000 in 1925. The total for 1923 includes the imports from countries outside the British Isles into the Irish Free State during the first quarter of that year, but does not include goods arriving in Great Britain and Northern Ireland during that quarter from Southern Ireland, such movements of goods not being recorded during that period as external trade of the United Kingdom and of the Irish Free State.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the damage done to property by lightning during the past three years; the number of dwelling, houses involved, and the proportion having aerials for wireless reception; and the loss of life involved?

The Board of Trade have no information which would enable me to give the particulars asked for.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that it is claimed that. as the results of tests in the transmutation or liquidisation of coal into oil, and average of from 40 to 70 per cent, of the actual coal weight can be converted into oil; and what progress, if any, is being made by tests and experiments in the scientific treatment of coal in this country?

The Government is aware of the claims referred to, and is in possession of the results of numerous experiments on the subject. The process is not yet in use commercially, but experiments are continuing, both at His Majesty's Fuel Research Station and elsewhere. Progress is being made by tests and experiments in the scientific treatment of coal in this country, and I must refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Enfield (Colonel Applin) on the 22nd June last (a copy of which I am sending him), and to the published Reports of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for further details.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the future policy of the Government towards mandated territories is indicated in the British reply at the last Assembly of the League to the questionnaire drawn up by the Mandates Commission

No, Sir; the inquiries addressed to us did not raise any question of policy in the mandated territories. They referred only to the procedure to be followed by the Mandates Commission and by the Mandatory Government in making their reports to the Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give consideration to the suggestion to approach the Governments of the three Scandinavian countries for the mutual elimination of the visa an passports carried by the nationals of these countries and ours?

Agreements for the mutual abolition of visas were entered into with the three Scandinavian Governments some years ago and became operative from the following dates:

• Sweden, 11th August, 1923.
• Norway, 15th October, 1923.
• Denmark, 1st March, 1924.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether some arrangements can be made with the Yugo-Slavian Government for the reduction in the cost of visas to British subjects visiting their country; whether the cost is reciprocal to Yugo-Slavians visiting this country; and whether there are any reasons for the unusually high charge made?

The following charges are made to British subjects applying for Serb-Croat-Slovene visas:

	Fr. gold.
For a visa available for any number of journeys for six months	10
For a visa available for a single return journey and for three months	5
For a single journey transit visa	1
For a return transit visa	2

As the Passport Conference held in Paris in 1920 recommended that the fee should be 10 francs gold for a visa valid for one year, representations were made to the Serb-Croat-Slovene Government upon the introduction of the Paris scale, with a view to persuading them to extend the period of validity to one year. But the Serb-Croat-Slovene Government were unable to agree, and the fee for a British visa granted to a Serb-Croat-Slovene national and valid for 12 months was therefore fixed at 20 gold francs, this being the exact equivalent of the cost of two Serb-Croat-Slovene visas each valid for six months. Transit visas valid for one year are granted to Serb-Croat-Slovene nationals at. a fee of one franc gold.I will make further efforts to induce the Serb-Croat-Slovene government to adopt the scale recommended by the Paris Conference.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of temporary shorthand typists at present employed in the offices of His Majesty's inspectors of taxes in London, intermediate, and provincial towns, respectively?

The number of temporary shorthand typists at present employed in the offices of His Majesty's inspectors of taxes is 619. Of these 133 are employed in offices in London, 106 in intermediate and 380 in provincial offices.

asked the Minister of Health the amount of overtime worked in his Department by the permanent and temporary grades below the executive grade during the past 12 months, together with the total cost involved in respect of overtime payment?

The amount of overtime worked in my Department by the permanent and temporary grades below the executive grade for the last 12 months was 273,513 hours, and the cost £30,386.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to an application for relief by a man, with a wife and four children, to the Shardlow Board of Guardians whose total income is 31s. per week from unemployment insurance, out of which a weekly rent of 14s. has to be paid; whether he is aware that the guardians refuse to pay relief on the ground that such an income is adequate; and whether, in view of the failure of the guardians to carry out their statutory duties in this case, he will have inquiry made info the circumstances?

My right hon. Friend's attention has not previously been called to this case, but if the hon. Member will give particulars he will make the inquiry suggested.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief in the union area of West Ham during the past three months, showing each month separately; and the amount of money expended upon such relief in these months and the expenditure on relief in the months of April, May and June?

The following statements give so much of the information desired by the hon. Member is available. They do not include particulars as to lunatics in asylums, casuals and persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only.

asked the Minister of Health how many of the houses built during the last three years by private enterprise have been for sale, and how many for letting; and the same information for municipal houses?

During the last three years 35;.065 houses have been built by private enterprise and 108,036 by local authorities Information is not available as to the number of houses which have been built for sale and for letting, but, as the hon. Member is no doubt aware, houses built under the Housing Act of 1924 must be available for letting.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses erected in purely rural areas yearly during the past four years specifying the various Acts under which they have been erected; and how many have been erected in these areas without public assistance?

Apart from houses erected in agricultural parishes with the aid of the increased subsidy authorised by the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924, the statistics obtained from local authorities in connection with the erection of houses do

—	Number of houses completed in Rural Districts during the year ended September.				Total for4 year.
	1923.	1924.	1925.	1926.
1. State-assisted Schemes:—
*(1) Housing, Town Planning Act, 1919.	5,200 (approx.)	983	260	112	6,555 (approx.)
*(2) Housing, etc., Act, 1923	33	8,829	21,438	24,276	54,576
(3) Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924:—
(a) In Agricultural Parishes	—	—	400	1,883	2,283
(b) In Other Parishes	—	—	1,127	3,875	5,002
Totals (State-assisted)	5.233	9,812	23,225	30,146	68,416
*2. Non-subsidy building	19,600 (approx.)	23,632	20,337	19,200 (approx.)	82,769 (approx.)
Totals	24,833 (approx.)	33,444	43,562	49,346	151,185 (approx.)
*Statistics are not available showing the number of houses erected in agricultural parishes under the Acts of 1919 and 1923, or under non-subsidy schemes.

asked the Minister of Health how many completed houses which have received the subsidy under the 1923 Act are for sale and unoccupied; and whether he will amend the Act to ensure that any house which has been helped by subsidy must be occupied and either let or sold within six months of its completion?

Statistics are not available showing the number of houses erected in connection with schemes under the Housing, etc., Act, 1923, which are for sale and unoccupied. With regard to the last part of the question I do not think that legislation on the lines suggested would be likely to effect the objects desired.

asked the Minister of Health how many cottages have been erected since 1919 in rural districts, and how many are being completed?

Since 1919, the total number of houses completed in rural districts under State assisted schemes is 117,006. In the same period, 92,500 houses had been built in rural districts without the aid of subsidies, and of these 70,860 are returned as being of lower rateable value than £26 per annum. On the 1st November 32,000 houses (including 22,452 subsidised houses) were in course of construction in rural districts.

asked the Minister of Health whether encephalo-myelitis was mentioned as a cause of death on the certificates of death in the case of the seven deaths from that disease which occurred shortly after vaccination; whether an inquest was held on any of the cases in question; and whether the lymph used for the vaccinations was issued by his Department?

I assume that the lion. Member is referring to seven cases recently discussed in the medical press, and I am informed that, so far as it has been possible to identify these fatalities, in none of the seven deaths was "encephalo-myelitis" mentioned on the practitioner's certificate as a, cause of death. An inquest was held in one case. In four of the seven cases the lymph used for the vaccination was issued by my Department, and in one instance a proprietary lymph was used, but no information as to the source of the lymph used in the remaining two cases is now available. I may remind the hon. Member that these deaths occurred in 1912, 1922 and 1923.

asked the Minister of Health, in order to obviate the danger of infantile paralysis being spread by reason of boys being withdrawn from infected schools by parents, if he will take steps to prevent any School so infected from being closed down or the boys leaving?

I am not empowered to take the course suggested, but I am always ready to arrange for the medical officers of my Department to confer with the School authorities as to the precautions appropriate to any outbreak of infectious disease.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has drawn the attention of the Committee on Vaccination, which is now sitting, to the eases of death from encephalo-myelitis after vaccination; and whether he will direct the Committee to make an investigation into the whole question of the risk of spreading encephalo-myelitis and other kindred diseases which appear to be associated with the practice of vaccination?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, one of the terms of reference of this Committee is to inquire into and report on the practical methods which are available in the light of modern knowledge to diminish or remove any risks which may result from vaccination.