asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will authorise a Marine band for service afloat to be added to the complement of all boys' training establishments?

Bands are already provided at Shotley and in His Majesty's Ship "Impregnable."

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if the establishment of warrant writers and other officer ranks from the writer branch has yet been fixed; and, if so, what are the numbers authorised?

The present establishment of warrant writers and above is three paymaster lieutenants promoted from warrant rank, 10 commissioned writers and 31 warrant writers. As I stated in my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend on the 25th February last (OFFICIAL REPORT, Column 728), it should be borne in mind that establishments represent the maximum numbers which may be borne under existing authority, the numbers actually borne, within the limits of the establishment, being decided by the requirements at the time.

asked the Minister of Pensions the amount of the balance of the King's Fund when it was taken over by his Department; what sums have been paid out annually since that date; and what types of beneficiary have received any grants, how much money remains, and who decides on the proprietary of making advances from this fund?

In July, 1920 (the date which the hon. and gallant Member has in mind), the amount standing to the credit of the Minister's Voluntary Fund was £89,350. The annual expenditure from the fund since that date has been as follows:

	£
1st August, 1920, to 31st March, 1921	17,932
1st April, 1921, to 31st March, 1922	19,002
1st April, 1922, to 31st March, 1923	13,188
1st April, 1923, to 31st March, 1924	14,497
1st April, 1924, to 31st March, 1925	24,976
1st April, 1925, to 31st March, 1926	22,833

Grants were made to disabled men of the Navy, Army and Air Force whose disability is attributable to or aggravated by war service, and to widows, children and dependants of men who have died of such disability, in order to assist them in starting in occupations or businesses, and generally to meet applications for special assistance where grants cannot be made from public funds. The balance not already earmarked for specific distribution is approximately £17,000. All grants from the fund are, after investigation of the applications, sanctioned by myself or by the Parliamentary Secretary, acting on my behalf.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can supply particulars of military service of all kinds for the Channel Islands?

The Channel Islands Militia is the only military force raised in the Channel Islands. The establishment of this militia is given on page 62 of the current Army Estimates. I understand that service in the force is, broadly speaking, compulsory on British subjects resident in the islands. In addition to the militia, there are at present two regular infantry battalions stationed in the islands, together with a small number of artillery and other troops.

asked the Secretary of State for War on whose authority recruiting officers were present at the performance of the film Mons al the Super Cinema, Ilford, Essex, during the week ending 13th November, 1926?

in the normal course of their duties recruiting officers were present under the authority of the War Office, and with the concurrence of the management of the cinema.

asked the Secretary of State for War what precautions have been taken with a view to affording troops of the Bombay Brigade protection against malaria?

I have been asked to reply. The general lines of antimalarial precautions for the Army in India are laid down in Appendix XXII to the Regulations for the Medical Services of the Army in India. I have no doubt that the medical authorities of the Bombay district of the Southern Command have taken the necessary measures in accordance with the instructions with special reference to local conditions in Bombay.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons relieved in Greenwich, Bermondsey, Southwark, Camberwell, Lambeth, Stepney, Poplar, Bethnal Green, and Shoreditch who were returned as unemployed; and what percentage these numbers were of the persons receiving out-relief?

The average numbers of persons ordinarily engaged in some regular occupation (and the wives and dependent children of those persons) who were granted out-relief during the five weeks ending 30th October, 1926, by the guardians of the unions and parishes mentioned, and the proportion which these numbers bear to the average numbers of all persons (and their dependants) in receipt of out-relief during that period are shown below. The numbers given in column 2 include an unknown number of persons relieved for some cause other than unemployment, for example, sickness:

Union or Parish.	Persona ordinarily engaged in some regular occupation and wives and children of such persons. Average numbers in receipt of out-relief.	Percentage which the average numbers in Column 2 bear to the average numbers of all persons in the Union or Parish in receipt of out-relief.
1.	2.	3.
Greenwich	8,845	65
Bermondsey	10,773	67
South wark	6,202	61
Camberwell	5,351	46
Lambeth	3,051	45
Stepney	11,632	64
Poplar	21,330	74
Bethnal Green	8,781	79
Shoreditch	5,470	69

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give figures showing the number of persons securing employment in hotels and restaurants in this country through Employment Exchanges and private agencies, respectively?

The only figures readily available as regards these employments are those for women employés placed by Employment Exchanges. These are, for the present year up to 25th October, 14,145 resident servants in hotels and boarding houses, 26,542 non-resident domestic servants of all classes (includ- ing those placed in private dwelling-houses) and 13,040 waitresses in restaurants. No figures are available for placings by private agencies, and in these circumstances I have not thought it necessary to go to the trouble and expense of extracting the figures for placings of men by Employment Ex-changes in corresponding occupations.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will furnish a Return showing, for the last convenient

Highest Rates of Unemployment.					Lowest Rates of Unemployment.
Employment Exchange.				Percentage Unemployed.*	Employment Exchange.				Percentage Unemployed.*
Cleator Moor	…	…	…	64·9	Chelmsford	…	…	…	1·2
Dowlais	…	…	…	61·3	Hendon	…	…	…	1·5
Jarrow	…	…	…	59·3	Braintree	…	…	…	1·5
Morriston	…	…	…	50·1	High Wycombe		…	…	1·8
Port Talbot	…	…	…	48·4	Eastbourne	…	…	…	2·1
Thornaby-on-Tees		…	…	48·0	Guildford	…	…	…	2·1
Middlesbrough	…	…	…	47·0	Harrow	…	…	…	2·4
Alexandria	…	…	…	46·9	Letchworth	…	…	…	2·7
Scunthorpe	…	…	…	46·5	Oxford	…	…	…	2·9
Hartlepoofs	…	…	…	45·4	Slough	…	…	…	3·3
Average for Great Britain 13·4 per cent.
* The term unemployed includes not only persons definitely without a job, but also, poisons suspended, stood off, or on short time and not at work on the day of the count. It should also be noted that it does not necessarily follow that an unemployed person registers at the same Employment Exchange as that from which he obtained his unemployment book, and the percentage of unemployment in any area is therefore subject to qualifications in this respect. The figures are exclusive of persons in the coal mining industry who ceased work on account of the dispute which commenced on 1st May, 1926.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he considers it yet possible to reintroduce the 1d. stamp for receipts instead of the 2d. stamp as heretofore, and will he state the approximate loss to the Revenue if this course were adopted?

I must ask the hon. Member to await the Budget statement. The cost of reducing the duty on receipts to 1d. would not be less than £1,000,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of income derived as stamp duty on properties sold during each of the last five financial years?

The net receipt of Stamp Duty in Great Britain for each

The following Table shows, at 25th October, 1926, the percentages of insured persons recorded as unemployed at the 10 Employment Exchanges in Great Britain where these percentages were highest and at the 10 where they were lowest, together with the average for Great Britain as a whole:of the last five years in respect of Conveyances on Sale of Lands and Houses is as follows:

Year.	…	…	…	£
1921–22	…	…	…	3,071,380
1922–23	…	…	…	2,893,845
1923–24	…	…	…	2,970,035
1924–25	…	…	…	3,258,310
1925–26	…	…	…	3,400,111

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the figures showing the taxation per head of population in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and the United States of America for 1913 and for the years 1919–1925, inclusive?

The following are the figures:

TAXATION PER HEAD.
—			United Kingdom.			France.	Germany.*	Italy.	U.S.A.*
			£	s.	d.	Francs.	Reichmarks.	Lire.	$
1913 or 1913–14	…	…	3	11	4	84·5	31·3	58·8	6·8
1919 or 1919–20	…	…	21	14	5	221·1	—‡	179·3	53·8
1920 or 1920–21	…	…	22	0	8	393·2	—‡	248·7	45·2
1921 or 1921–22	…	…	18	1	10	426·9	—‡	313·9	32·5
1922 or 1922–23	…	…	17	8	1†	467·7	—‡	327·7	28·6
1923 or 1923–24	…	…	16	2	5†	522·7	—‡	373·2	29·7
1924 or 1924–25	…	…	15	9	0†	676·1	117·0	390·2	27·5
1925 or 1925–26	…	…	15	2	6†	702·4	108·4	449·1	29·6
* Excluding taxation raised by States.
† Excluding Irish Free State.
‡ Owing to the depreciation of the paper mark, the annual returns of tax revenue during the period 1919 to 1924 are of no statistical value.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number (including officials on leave) of surveyors of Customs and Excise, of junior pension officers, and of other clerical assistants employed at each of the London old age pension districts of the Board of Customs and Excise on old age and blind

CUSTOMS AND EXCISE OFFICIALS EMPLOYED ON OLD AGE AND BLIND PENSION WORK.
District.		Number of officials actually employed, including officials on leave.						Average number employed per working day during the inclusive period 2nd July, 1926, to 31st October, 1926.
		1st March, 1926.		1st July, 1926.		1st November, 1926
		Surveyors.	Women Pension Officers.	Surveyors.	Women Pension Officers.	Surveyors.	Women Pension Officers.	Surveyors.	Women Pension Officers.
London, East	…	1	12	1	12	1	10	1	10
London, North 1st	…	1	11	1	11	1	10	1	11
London, North 3rd	…	1	12	1	11	1	10	1	10
London, North 4th	…	1	15	1	15	1	15	1	15
London, South 3rd	…	1	10	1	9	1	10	1	9
London, South 4th	…	1	14	1	14	1	12	1	13
London, South 5th	…	1	12	1	10	1	11	1	11
London, South 6th	…	1	16	1	16	1	14	1	15
London, West 1st	…	1	9	1	10	1	8	1	7
London, West 2nd	…	1	12	1	11	1	10	1	10
NOTE.—No Surveyor is engaged solely on Old Age and Blind Pension Work. The extent to which Surveyors are occupied on this work varies in each case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the number and value of hosiery machines imported into this country, respectively, in the years ending April, 1925, and April, 1926; what was the value

The information requested is given in the following table:of the hosiery needles imported for the same periods; whether any Government inquiry held in recent years into the hosiery needle industry has recommended an increase in the safeguarding duty; and, if so, whether the Government propose to take any action in the matter?

The following tables give particulars in reply to the first two parts of the question.The quantity and value of the registered imports of hosiery and knitting machines and of hosiery latch needles, respectively, during the periods in question were as follows:Imports into Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

(a) Hosiery and Knitting Machines.
	Quantity imported.	Declared value thereof.
	Tons.	£
Twelve months ended
30th April, 1925	1,337	571,107
30th April, 1926	1,810	643,563
(b) Hosiery Latch Needles.
	Quantity imported.	Declared value thereof.
	No.	£
Twelve months ended
30th April, 1925	26,274,484	89,460
30th April, 1926	30,936,870	94,145

With reference to the third and last parts of the question, the Committee which reported on 29th March last on the operation of the Key Industry Duties recommended a continuance of a duty on hosiery latch needles and consideration of the question of the desirability of increasing the rate of duty then existing. After careful consideration it was decided to make no change in the rate of duty; and the duty was continued at the rate of 33⅓ per cent. for a period of 10 years by the Finance Act of this year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can say whether, in the case of the British steamship "Eastway," which capsized on 22nd October with the loss of 23 lives, owing to being overloaded, the 200 tons of coal taken on board over the proper loading capacity were part of the original requisition or were due to a subsequent instruction following the ordinary cargo being taken on?

All the circumstances of this casualty will be investigated at the formal inquiry which has been ordered, and it would be undesirable to make a statement on particular points in advance of the inquiry.

asked the Secretary for Mines if permits for coal other than for domestic consumption are granted in a certain order of priority, and, if so, what is that order?

The following is the list of priority consumers of coal;

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that colliery wagons are lying in sidings all over the country and the owners do not know, and have no means of ascertaining, where they are; and whether he will take steps to assist the owners to locate the wagons, and to arrange for the return of them in order to expedite the delivery of coal?

I am aware that, owing to the stoppage of the mines, empty colliery wagons for which accommodation was not available on the owners' sidings have had to be stored by the railway companies. I understand that the railway companies are using every endeavour to bring these idle wagons back into traffic, at the same time advising the owners of their where abouts, so that forwarding instructions may be given. From inquiries which I have already made, I understand that considerable progress has been made in the return of wagons to their owners,

NUMBER OF CASES notified and Deaths recorded from Acute Poliomyelitis and Polioencephalitis in England and Wales and certain European Countries in six-monthly periods 1925–26.
Country.	First six mouths of 1925.				Second six months of 1925.				First six months of 1926.
	Total cases notified.	Deaths.	Proportion per million mid-year population.		Total cases notified.	Deaths.	Proportion per million mid-year population.		Total cases notified.	Deaths.	Proportion per million mid-year population.
			Cases.	Deaths.			Cases.	Deaths.			Cases.	Deaths.
England and Wales.	132	79	3	2	290	77	7	2	136	57	3	1
Austria (see Note (2) below).	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	5	?	1	?
Denmark	31	?	9	?	84	?	25	?	12	?	4	?
Finland	14	?	4	?	14	?	4	?	8	?	2	?
France	80	?	2	?	142	?	4	?	70	?	2	?
Germany	131	?	2	?	255	?	4	?	115	?	2	?
Holland	12	4	2	1	20	5	3	1	8	?	1	?
Italy	217	?	5	?	383	?	10	?	97	?	2	?
Norway (Towns only).	17	0	21	0	70	8	88	10	5	1	6	1
Sweden	105	?	17	?	400	?	66	?	86	?	14	?
Switzerland	24	?	6	?	69	?	18	?	9	?	2	?
NOTES.—(1) The number of cases notified in England and Wales during the 19 weeks ended 13th November, 1926, was 891 (23 per million population). The number of deaths in this period in England and Wales and corresponding figures for cases and deaths in other European Countries are not at present available.
(2) The figures for Austria in 1925 cannot be ascertained in half-yearly periods. The totals for the year are cases 15 and deaths 4.
(3) The figures for the several European Countries are taken from the Annual and Monthly and Epidemiofogical Reports of the Health Section of the League of Nations.

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to introduce legislation to repeal the prohibition of the sale of tobacco goods in hotels,

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases, fatal and otherwise, of infantile paralysis, or pofiomyelitis, which have occurred in this country in each of the last three periods of six months; and how these cases, proportionately to the population, compare with similar cases in other European countries?

The required particulars, as far as they are available, are given in the following table:restaurants, public houses, theatres, music halls and other places of public resort after 8 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?

I would refer to the reply I gave on the 12th instant to questions by the hon. and gallant Member for North Croydon (Lieut.-Colonel Mason) and the hon. Member for East Islington (Major Tasker).

asked the Postmaster-General the amount of overtime worked in the Money Order 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 overtime worked by clerical force below the executive grade during the year ended 31st October, 1926, amounted to 72,100 hours, and cost £6,480.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that children attending some secondary schools are frequently required to devote the entire evening to the preparation of homework; if he will, on behalf of the Board, express an opinion as to how far this practice may be safely encouraged; whether his Board considers homework to be indispensable to the educational progress of children; and if he is prepared to impress upon education authori- ties the desirability of exercising some supervision over the quantity imposed by the teachers in their schools?

I think everyone agrees that some homework is desirable for secondary School pupils. Like everything else, it can be overdone, but I am sure that both local authorities and teachers are fully alive to the dangers of excessive work of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the drainage labourers engaged on the Sandy Hills housing scheme, Tollcross, by the Second Scottish National Housing Company, have had their wages reduced from 1s. 3½d. per hour to 1s. 1d. per hour; and whether in view of the Government's responsibility for the operations of this company, he will draw attention in the appropriate quarters to the Fair Wages Clause in Government contracts?

I have made inquiry, and find that the redaction of wages referred to by the hon. Member affects only some of the men employed and was made because it was found that certain men engaged on unskilled surface work were being paid at the higher rate applicable to more skilled labour. I am satisfied that the standard rates of wages are being paid on the work.