asked the Secretary of State for Air what proportion of the flying machines in use are of pre-1917 design?

Out of a total of 22 types of machine (excluding experimental machines) in use by the Royal Air Force to-day, there are only two which were designed prior to 1917—one a service and one a training type. The number of machines of these types at the present time represents approximately 36 per cent. of the total -number of machines.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the result of the tests of the new type of self-propelled parachute, by Lieut. Freri, of the Italian Air Force, at Stag Lane Aerodrome?

The trials of the new Italian parachute at Stag Lane were a private demonstration, in the course of which a successful descent was made from 1,200 feet by Lieut. Freri. Representatives of the Air Ministry attended by invitation, and the result of the test was considered to be sufficiently satisfactory to warrant further experiments.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he can conveniently state the proportion of flying accidents incurred by officer pilots and by airmen pilots, respectively, relative to their numbers and boars flown?

Airmen pilots have not been in existence sufficiently long or in sufficiently large numbers to afford a comparison of any value. Broadly speaking, the death-rate among airmen pilots has been higher than among officer pilots; but it must be remembered that the number of the former is about a tenth the number of the latter, and that one accident makes a considerable difference in the average in so far as the airmen pilots are concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can report any progress in regard to the theories of weather on which the Norwegian meteorologist has been working in the Air Ministry during the past year?

Yes, Sir; I am glad to shat the visit of the meteorologist in question, Dr. J. Bjerknes of Bergen, has had most satisfactory results. He came to London at the invitation of the Air Ministry in October, 1925, and remained until last March. During that time daily conferences took place between him and members of the Meteorofogical Office, and at these meetings certain new principles introduced into weather forecasting by Norwegian meteorofogists, as the result of recent research on the structure of the atmosphere, were demonstrated and discussed. The new ideas have proved of practical value, especially in forecasting the rapid weather changes which are of vital importance to aviation.

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been drawn to the evidence given at the inquest at Doncaster, on the 29th November, relative to the death of Private Robert Arthur, King's Own Scottish Borderers, who was found dead on the railway; and will he state the reason why the military authorities, who were notified of the death on Wednesday, 24th November, made no attempt to deal with the preliminaries of burial, and were not represented at the inquest?

I have seen a report of the remarks made by the coroner; he seems to have been incompletely informed of the facts. As regards the funeral arrangements, the following are the facts: On receipt of the news of Private Arthur's death on 24th November, his unit, which was stationed at Aldershot, at once telegraphed to the railway authorities at York asking for full particulars of the case, and also telegraphed to Private Arthur's relatives. On 26th November, after hearing from the relatives that they desired the funeral to be at Stirling, the unit requested the railway authorities at York to arrange for the conveyance of the body to Stirling, a warrant for the purpose being forwarded. At the same time the military authorities at Stirling were asked to arrange for a military funeral, should it be desired. Full particulars from York did not reach the unit till 27th November, and since it was then clear that other local arrangements for a colfin were not being made, the unit telegraphed to the railway authorities to make arrangements, and to send the account to Aldershot. From these facts it will be seen that steps were taken at once by the unit, and that the time required to complete the funeral arrangements was due to the distance at which the various parties concerned were from each other. A military funeral took place on 1st December at Stirling, a wreath being placed upon the grave on behalf of all ranks of the company to which Private Arthur belonged.As regards attendance at the inquest, there was a misunderstanding on the part of the unit. It was expected that a formal coroner's "summons" would have been sent had the coroner considered the Adjutant's attendance essential. But it is evident that the coroner was only giving the unit the "opportunity" to attend which is extended to relatives and others interested in a case, if they cannot give any direct evidence as regards the death. As it was not clear that the attendance of a representative from the unit, would serve any useful purpose, it was not considered necessary to send an officer the long journey involved.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether His Majesty's Ship "Vindictive" makes use of the catapult apparatus installed for launching aeroplanes?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the numbers, as published in the "London Gazette," of-trades in which annual leave with pay is granted; and whether, in order to set an example to other employers, he will consider a similar grant of leave with pay to dockyard established men?

The whole of the workmen in the Royal Dockyards are allowed four paid holidays a year, and the general practice in corresponding commercial industry is not more favourable to the employés. The Board of -Admiralty are not prepared to adopt the suggestion in the last paragraph of the hon. Member's question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty at what times the welfare meetings for the selection of representatives to the 1926 Welfare Conference took place at Devonport, Chatham, and Portsmouth, respectively; and if the time for the meeting at Portsmouth was arranged for an hour when men would be on leave, seeing that only 13 seamen out of 4,915 and one stoker out of 1,826 were available to attend?

With regard to the first part of the question, the meetings were held for the Chatham and Devon-port Port Divisions on various days, and at times varying from 9 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. At Portsmouth the meetings were held on Monday, 29th March, at 5 p.m. As regards the second part of the question, every opportunity was given at Portsmouth for the men to attend the meetings, and the numbers of seamen and stokers who were available to attend, had they so desired, were 4,915 and 1,826, respectively, and not 13 and one respectively, as suggested in the question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, when voting takes place for the election of delegates to the welfare conference, he can so arrange matters in all the three ports, Devonport, Chatham and Portsmouth, that voters should be allowed to poll during certain fixed hours of the day, and particularly during service working hours, in order that there may be as effective a representation as possible?

The arrangements for the elections are made by the Commanders-in-chief at the home ports, and the Admiralty are satisfied that reasonable opportunities are given for the men to take part in the elections if they so wish. It is not proposed to make any change.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in refusing to recognise as an expenditure ranking for grant payments to the former secretary of the Willesden local education authority of compensation upon abolition of his office, he is aware that the authority in abolishing the office were acting in the best interests of education in the area and were actuated by motives of economy; and whether he will state the reasons for disallowing such expendi- ture from ranking for Parliamentary grant under the Board's Regulations, No. 1, Substantive Grant?

I have no reason to suppose that the local authority's reasons for abolishing the office of secretary in this case were other than those suggested in the question. It is, however, the settled practice of the Board not to recognise for grant expenditure of local education authorities in granting pensions to their officers, and I do not consider that the payment of an annuity by way of compensation to the officer referred to is expenditure in aid of which grant should be paid.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, seeing that a circular has been issued by the Scottish Board of Health stating that no licence should be granted for a slaughter-house where this is within 100 feet of dwelling-houses, he will say whether this regulation is still in force; and why it was not carried out in the case of a licence granted by the Wigtownshire County Council for a slaughterhouse at Fort William within 45 feet of dwelling-houses and shops?

I am having inquiry made, and I will write to the hon. Member when I have ascertained the facts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the statement made at the annual meeting of the Educational Institute that the minimum scale paid to Scottish teachers is less than that paid to teachers in England; if this statement be correct, can he state the reason; and will he take steps to remove this anomaly?

I am aware of the suggestion that the terms of the Scottish minimum national scales ought to be assimilated to those of the Burnham scales, which apply to England and Wales, and I am glad that the hon. Member has given me an opportunity of explaining the position. No comparison can fairly be made between the two. The Burnham scales fix the actual salaries to be paid, while the Scottish minimum national scales are merely minimum scales in the strictest sense of the term. In point of fact, there is no Scottish education authority which is not paying at least some of its teachers at a rate in excess of the national minimum, and there are areas where the majority of the teachers are in receipt of salaries considerably beyond it. Careful investigation of the figures shows that a very large number of Scottish teachers, possibly as many as 10,000, would suffer a more or less serious reduction in their emofuments if their salaries were to be based on the Burnham scales appropriate to their areas. The price to be paid for the removal of what the hon. Member describes as an "anomaly" would thus be very high, and, in the circumstances, it does not seem desirable, either on educational or on any other grounds, to impose upon Scottish authorities and Scottish teachers the rigidity of the Burnham scales in substitution for the liberty which they at present enjoy of making terms for themselves above the datum line.

asked the Home Secretary the number of proceedings instituted in Glamorganshire under the Emergency Powers Act,; and in how many of these cases was evidence given by officers of imported police forces?

In the County of Glamorgan and the cities and boroughs therein 256 persons were prosecuted under the Emergency Regulations and 433 under the ordinary law for offences connected with the emergency. The number of cases was smaller. In 150 cases evidence was given by members of the police force of the district and in 15 cases by members of other forces.

asked the Home Secretary what action has been taken by the Metropolitan Police authorities with a view to dealing with cases of obstruction, due to the practice of touting for customers outside ladies' clothing shops in various parts of the Metropolis?

The police are taking all possible steps to check this practice where it gives rise to obstruction. Proceedings are taken in a large number of cases, but the efforts of the police would be assisted if persons who are annoyed were more ready to come forward as witnesses at- the police court.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the activities of a certain firm advertising home employment in the "situations vacant" columns of various newspapers; and, in view of the complaints received from those who have sent money in reply to the advertisements, whether he proposes to take any action?

It is understood that the question refers to matters in respect of which legal proceedings are threatened or pending, and in those circumstances an answer cannot be given.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will furnish a Return showing the apparent causes of the murders committed by the convicted murderers in England and Wales since the publication of the last such Return in the Criminal Statistics for 1906?

I could not undertake that a Return would be furnished. As regards the notes in the Introduction to the Criminal Statistics, which in 1905 gave some particulars, I can only say that the question whether the matter should be dealt with again will be considered. A great deal of labour would be involved.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware of the defects in the register in certain constituencies whereby electors at Parliamentary and municipal by-elections find themselves deprived of their votes whether Regulations exist for making up the registers; and, if so, if he is satisfied that these are complied with?

I presume that the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the registers for constituencies in the Borough of Kingston-upon-Hull, concerning which he has addressed a letter to my right hon. Friend. I have made inquiry of the Registration Officer in regard to the allegations contained in the hon. and gallant Member's letter, and have received from him in reply a' statement which shows that adequate steps are taken for the proper preparation of the registers in accordance with the Regulations contained in the Statute.

asked the Home Secretary how many aliens were admitted into this country in 1925 and 1926 to take up employment as domestic servants?

I have been asked to reply. The number of permits issued under Article 1 (3) (b) of the Aliens' Order, 1920, in respect of alien domestic servants was 1,497 in 1925, and 1,733 for the eleven months ended 30th November, 1926. In addition, of the aliens allowed to land as visitors, students, etc., 313 in 1925 and 269 during 1926 were subsequently permitted to take up work as domestic servants.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that certificates have been issued to bookmakers carrying on an illegal business, he will introduce legislation to make street betting legal?

I have been asked to reply to this question. Section 15 of the Finance Act, 1926, expressly provides that nothing in that Act should legalise any unlawful betting, and the Act empowers the Courts to withdraw the certificates of bookmakers convicted of offences in connection with betting. It is not proposed to introduce legislation to make "street betting" lawful.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that bookmakers holding certificates have been fined and their certificates forfeited; and whether in such cases he is prepared to refund the amount paid by the bookmaker for his certificate?

I am aware that in addition to imposing fines the Courts in some cases have exercised the power conferred upon them by Section 17 (3) of the Finance Act, 1926, and have disqualified the bookmakers concerned for holding a bookmaker's certificate for certain periods. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total yield derived by the Treasury front betting taxation for the month of November?

The approximate total amount of revenue from the betting taxation for the month of November was £327,000, to which the duty on certificates contributed 171,000 and the betting duty £156.000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of proceedings instituted against bookmakers, to the last convenient date, for attempting to avoid or refusing to pay the Betting Duty?

Up to the 4th December inclusive, there were 15 cases of prosecution for failure to pay the Betting Duty, and proceedings had been instituted but not yet heard in six further cases. In eight of the former cases and in all the latter cases concurrent proceedings were instituted for carrying on business as a bookmaker without having in force a proper certificate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the Government's intentions in regard to the Betting Overseas (Prohibition) Bill?

The Government have every intention of passing this Bill into law next Session, and it will be re-introduced as soon as possible after the House re-assembles.

asked the Financial Secretary to the. Treasury the number of temporary non-service female staff employed in a temporary clerical capacity and the number of temporary non-service female staff holding writing assistant posts?

The total number of women employed on temporary clerical and writing assistant duties is estimated at about 2,900. I regret that I am not in a position to give the more detailed particulars asked for in my hon. and gallant, Friend's question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the approximate numbers of civil servants to whom the normal sick-leave pay Regulations for established officers apply, and the number of unestablished civil servants to whom other arrangements for pay during sick leave apply?

The number of non-industrial civil servants who are eligible for paying during sick leave under the terms of the Order in Council of 10th January, 1910, applicable to established civil servants is approximately 186,000. The number of other non-industrial whole-time civil servants serving under other conditions as to sick leave is approximately 62,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total number of sick-leave absences and their average duration amongst male and female established civil servants outside the Post Office during each of the last five convenient years?

No complete particulars are available as regards the total number of sick-leave absences and their average duration amongst male and female established civil servants in all Departments of State, other than the Post Office, during each of the last five years. The following statement, which has been compiled from the records for the last four years of nine principal Departments other than the Post Office, may, however, be of interest to my hon. Friend:

Average amount of sick-leave absence in days of established civil servants employed in nine principal Departments of State (exclusive in some cases of ex-headquarters staff
—		Men.		Women.
		Disabled.	Others.
1922	…	9·6	7·4	12·8
1923	…	9·9	7·1	13·9
1024	…	10·0	7·7	14·1
1925	…	10·5	7·7	14·2

For 1925 the figures are inclusive of Sundays occurring within a period of sick leave; in the earlier years the figures for some Departments were for working days only.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the approximate numbers of established civil servants covered by the Workmen's Compensation Acts; unestablished civil servants covered by the Workmen's Compensation Acts; established civil servants not so covered; unestablished civil servants not so covered; the approximate number of cases of injury in the discharge of duty amongst those in these classes, respectively, during each of the last five covenient years; and the approximate total amounts paid in each of those years in respect of such cases amongst these classes, respectively, divided, if possible., as between the approximate total of lump-sum payments to the injured officers and the approximate total amounts paid in fatal cases to the next-of-kin?

The statistics for which the hon. Member asks are not available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in what posts in the Civil Service, if any, a married woman may be appointed in an established capacity or a woman civil servant, already established, may be allowed to remain after marriage?

Under the regulations made, under the Order in Council of 22nd July, 1920, with regard to the admission of married women to, and the employment of married women in, established situations, all women candidates for any established situation in any His Majesty's civil establishments must be unmarried or widows, and women appointed to or holding any established situation in any of His Majesty's civil establishments are required to resiga their appointments on marriage. Exceptions to the above regulations may be made on the recommendation of the head of the Department if the Civil Service Commissioners and the Treasury ģin cases of recruitment) and the Treasury (in case of an officer already holding an established position) are satisfied that it is in the interests of the public service that such exception shall be made. Every such exception is published in the "London Gazette."

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that on 28th.April the representative of the attendants at Somerset House agreed with that office to a settlement of their pay for night duty, and whether he will take steps to ensure that this arrangement is not departed from in any way?

I assume that in the last part of his question the hon. Member refers to proposals for transfer of work on night duty from staff of the Inland Revenue to staff of the Office of Works. It had been made clear before April to the representative of the men that such proposals were under consideration, and the settlement concluded was arrived at without prejudice to such proposals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what amount the estimated saving of £2,740,000 per annum by the cut in the cost of living bonus in the Civil Service would be reduced if the super cut on bonus in the ease of the salaries of the senior civil servants were removed?

The cost of removing the super-cut on the bonus pay—able to civil servants with basic salaries in excess of £500 per annum is estimated at not less than £250,000 per annum at the present time.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether excise officers attending coursing meetings are subject to the payment of Entertainment Duty?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he can give an estimate of the cost incurred through the Government Bills which have been abandoned this Session in respect of the printing of the Bills, Amendments, and Reports of Debates, and also expenses incurred in keeping the House sitting during the time occupied by the consideration of these Bills?

I very much doubt if it would be possible to obtain any reliable figures in answer to my Noble Friend's question, and in any case the attempt to do so would entail an expenditure of time and labour which would not be justified by the very problematical usefulness of the result.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can state in convenient categories the manlier of occupiers of agricultural holdings that own their holdings; and how many of these are small holdings?

The number of occupiers of agricultural holdings exceeding one acre in England and Wales who stated that they owned the whole or the greater part of their holdings in 1924 was 94,236. The following table shows the number of such holdings in various size groups:

Size Group.	No.
Above 1 acre and not exceeding 5 acres	16,995
Above 5 acres and not exceeding 20 acres	25,245

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will furnish a Return showing the preferential tariffs now in force for British-made wire and wire goods imported into Australia and New Zealand?

The following statement gives the information desired by the hon. Member, as far as concerns iron and steel wire and manufactures thereof. If the hon. Member desires particulars for wire and wire goods of other metals, and will specify exactly what further information he requires, I shall be happy to furnish him with a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that in a case of the infringement of a British trade mark by a certain Turkish national, where, due to protracted legislation, the British firm concerned has been unable to obtain redress for over 18 months, the Court of Eski Chehir has found in favour of the offending Turk; and, seeing that this judgment is a breach of the Industrial Property Convention to which Turkey has formally adhered, what steps he proposes to take to protect British commercial interests?

As regards the first part of the question, I regret that I cannot add anything to the reply which was given to the hon. Member on the 24th of February last. I have not received any information of a final decision in this case. As regards the second part of the question, strong representations on the subject were made to the Turkish Government by His Majesty's Ambassador in Turkey some months ago. I am now addressing His Excellency again on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the annual public consumption in Great Britain, averaged over the last five years, of bacon, ham, butter, lard, suet, and margarine;(2) the annual public consumption in Great Britain, averaged over the last five years, of flour of wheat, rye, maize, pea, or bean, including self-raising flour and cake flour, cornflour, oatmeal, rolled oats, rice, sago, tapioca, sugar, dried beans, dried currants, dried raisins, and dried sultanas?

Prior to 1st April, 1923, the Irish Free State was included in the United Kingdom for purposes of trade statistics, and, consequently, it is not possible to give separate particulars for Great Britain and Northern Ireland before that date. During the three years from 1st April, 1923, to 31st March, 1926, the average quantity of rice imported into and retained in Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 2,406,083 cwts. annually. During the same period there were entered for home consumption, as a yearly average, 31,598,305 cwts. of raw and refined sugar, 1,207,380 cwts. of dried currants, and 1,107,090 cwts. of raisins and sultanas. The quantity of sugar produced from home-grown beet and retained in Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1925 was 1,027,422 cwts.The remaining articles enumerated in the questions are in part produced in this country and in part imported. I regret that I am unable to furnish particulars of the home production during the last five years, but I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for the Don Valley (Mr. T. William) on 26th April, in which it was estimated that the production of margarine in Great Britain in 1925 was 140,000 tons. The following statement shows, as an average of the three years ended 31st March, 1926, the net imports and the domestic exports of the goods referred to:

—	Net Imports Retained.	Domestic Exports.
	cwts.	cwts.
Bacon	7,202,000	29,000
Hams	1,565,000	17,000
Butter	5,228,000	18,000
Lard	2,358,000	10,000
Margarine	1,317,000	43,000
Wheat, meal and flour	9,787,000	5,857,000
Other descriptions of meal and flour (including rofled oats) and farinaceous substances (including sago and tapioca).	4,590,000	†1,513,000
Dried beans	1,177,000	†65,000
† Average of the two calendar years 1924 and 1925.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the retail price in Great Britain, averaged over the last five years, of bacon, ham, butter, lard, suet, and margarine?

I have been asked to reply. The yearly averages of the retail prices (per lb.) at the beginning of each month, in Great Britain, based on returns collected by the Ministry of Labour, were as hereafter given. The averages include quotations from Ireland in 1921 and 1922 and from Northern Ireland in 1923–6. Correspond- ing figures for ham, lard and suet are not available:

Year.		Bacon.*		Butter, Fresh.		Butter, Salt.		Margarine.
		s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	d.
1921	…	2	3½	2	7¼	2	6¼	10
1922	…	1	9½	2	0	1	10½	7
1923	…	1	6¼	1	11¾	1	10¼	16¾
1924	…	1	4½	2	1¼	2	0	6¾
1925	…	1	7	2	1½	2	0	7½
1926	…	1	7¾	1	11¼	1	10	8¼
* The returns q tote prices for "streaky" bacon, unless that kind is seldom dealt with in a locality, in which case, prices are quoted for another kind locally representative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the retail price in Great Britain, averaged over the last five years, of flour of wheat, rye, maize, pea, or bean, including self-raising flour and cake flour, cornflour, oatmeal, rofled oats, rice, sago, tapioca, sugar, dried beans, dried currants, dried raisins, and dried sultanas?

I have been asked to reply. The yearly averages of the retail prices of flour (wheaten) and sugar (granulated) at the beginning of each month in Great Britain, based on returns collected by the Ministry of Labour, were as given below. The averages include quotations from Ireland in 1921 and 1922 and from Northern Ireland in 1923 to 1926:

			Flour (wheaten) per 7 lbs.		Sugar (granulated) per lb.
	…	…	s.	d.	d.
1921	…	…	2	0½	7½
1922	…	…	1	5¼	5¾
1923	…	…	1	3½	6¾
1924	…	…	l	4	5½
1925	…	…	l	6¾	3¾
1926	…	…	l	6¼	3½

I regret that corresponding average prices for the other commodities specified in the question could not be given without considerable labour in extracting the detailed particulars, which moreover are not available for all the commodities or for the whole period.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he will obtain from the Trade Commissioners in the Dominions figures showing the taxation per head of the

Taxation per Head.
—		1913–14.			1919–20.			1925–26.
Australia—
Commonwealth		£3	8s.	1d.	£7	17s.	10d.	£9	1s.	6d.
States	…	£1	5s.	11d.	£2	14s.	0d.	Not available (in 1924–5 £3 13s. 9d.).
Canada*	…	$16·6			$34·0			$33·8
South Africa*†	…	£6	15s.	4d.	£12	9s.	2d.	£11	17s.	2d.
New Zealand	…	£6	3s.	0d.	£13	11s.	1d.	£14	0s.	9d.
Newfoundland	…	$12·7			$36·5			$32·5 (1924–25).
* Exclusive of Taxation Revenue of Provinces.
† The figures are calculated on the basis of the population of European origin. If the population of other than European origin is included, the rates per head would be:—

							£	s.	d.
1913–14	…	…	…	…	…	…	1	9	0
1919–20	…	…	…	…	…	…	2	14	8
1925–26	…	…	…	…	…	…	2	14	7

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he will obtain Reports from the Trade Commissioners giving the figures showing the total burden of the National

National Debt.
—			Date.	Total Net Debt.	Per Head.
Australia—
Commonwealth			30th June, 1926	£338,841,500	£56	6s.	3d.	£154	18s.	6d.
States	…	…		£584,703,000	£98	12s.	3d.
Canada*	…	…	31st March, 1926	$2,395,000,000	$254·8
South Africa†	…	…	31st March, 1926	£223,407,000	£138 15s. 7d.
New Zealand	…	…	31st March, 1926	£242,954,000	169 15s. 7d.
Newfoundland	…	…	30th June, 1925	$61,117,000	$232·4
* Exclusive of Public Debts of Provinces.
† The figures are calculated on the basis of the population of European origin. If the population of other than European origin is included, the rate per head is approximately £31 18s. 4d. Debts of the Provinces are included.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information about a case in which Miss Mitchell, an English governess in Athens, was arrested some three months ago on a charge of stealing jewels from her employers, M. and Mme. Loverdo, a Greek banker and his wife?

I have not yet received any information on the matter, but have instructed His

The figures are as follow:Debt and the amount per capita in Australia, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, and Newfoundland, respectively?

The information desired is as follows:Majesty's Consul at Athens to furnish a report.

asked the Minister of Health whether local authorities are encouraged to make use of the Spahlinger treatment for tuberculosis; whether this is one of the special benefits on which insurance societies can apply their surpluses; and whether any estimate can be given of the sum of money needed to introduce the system of treatment on an extended scale in this country?

The answer to all three parts of the question is in the negative. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for North Lambeth (Mr. Briant) on the 27th April. So far as my right hon. Friend is aware the position in regard to this treatment has not changed since that date, and the materials necessary for a scientific investigation of the treatment in this country have not been forthcoming.

asked the Minister of Health whether brynite is a permitted preservative under the new Preservative Order; whether his Department has received any complaints of the effect of this preservative on human beings; whether he is aware that animals have succumbed after eating meat so treated; and whether he is satisfied that in no circumstances can brynite be regarded as dangerous to public health when used in connection with meat?

The article mentioned is a proprietary preservative, and according to the information as to its composition which has been given to my Department by the proprietors, its use will be permissible in sausages and sausage meat, which are the only meat preparations in which any kind of preservatives will be allowed when the new Regulations become operative. The Departmental Committee on Preservatives in Food reported that the use of preservatives generally is un-

Name of Housing Act.	Number of Local Authorities.		Number of Houses completed.
	Who are themselves carrying out housing schemes.	Of district where private enterprise schemes have been approved.	In Borough and Urban Districts.		In Rural Districts.		Total completed.
			By Local Authorities.	By Private Enterprise.	By Local Authorities.	By Private Enterprise.
1.	2.	3.	4.	5.	6.	7.	8.
Housing, Town Planning etc. Act, 1919.	1,289	74	135,285	2,914	34,340	1,631	174,170
Housing (Additional Powers) Act, 1919.	—	1,451	—	23,207	—	15,979	39,166
Housing etc. Act, 1923	589	1,578	39,565	111,617	5,096	54,232	210,510
Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924.	810	120	59,223	873	8,390	333	68,819
	—	—	234,073	138,611	47,826	72,175	492,685

asked the Minister of Health whether he has been advised as to the exact legal position under the Venereal Diseases Act with regard to chemists selling material for prevention, together with printed or written directions for the use of the same?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health the numbers of houses completed under the various Housing Acts; the numbers authorised but not completed; the numbers built by local authorities and by private enterprise, respectively; the numbers of local authorities and private enterprise concerned; the numbers built for sale and to let, respectively; the division as between urban and rural areas; and if he will state the particulars for each of the Housing Acts separately?

The following table gives the information desired by the hon. Member as far as it is available. Information is not available as to the total number of houses which have been built for letting and for sale, 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 whether, in view of the Resolutions he has received from various municipal authorities protesting against the continual increases in the price of bricks and other building materials, he will say what steps, if any, he proposes to take to combat such increases?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given on the 8th instant to a similar question addressed to my right hon. Friend by the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mr. Riley).

asked the Minister of Health what sum would represent the capitalised value of prospective benefits under the National Health Insurance Acts for an insured man aged 20?

The National Health Insurance Acts do not require the capitalised value of the benefits at any age to be obtained for any administrative purpose and I regret, therefore, that I am unable to give the information desired. I would point out that in any case the capitalised value of the prospective benefits must be taken in conjunction with the capitalised value of the future contributions necessary to secure them, and that so far as relates to the proportion of the benefits payable from the funds of approved societies the difference between the two amounts is represented approximately by the transfer value. In the case of an insured man this value at the age of 20 is £2 8s. under the present regulations.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of the delay at the London Custom House in deciding as to the question of granting a rebate on card material sent abroad (reference 72977/26); and if he will take steps to have such decision expedited?

I am having inquiries made, and will communicate with my hon. and learned Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the approximate figures showing how many persons there are between the ages of 60 and 70 years who are insured under the Unemployment Acts?

From a recent investigation into the employment and insurance history of a sample of persons insured against unemployment in Great Britain it is estimated that the number of such persons, aged 60 to 69 years, inclusive, is between 600,000 and 650,000 out of a total of 11,650,000 insured persons.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that, after unemployment benefit had been granted to Mr. Daniel Toal, of 43, Eskside, Musselburgh, by a Court of Referees, his claim was referred to the Umpire, who finally turned it down and will he state the reason for this decision and give facilities for the reopening of the case?

I understand that the insurance officer did not agree with the Court of Referees' recommendation, and accordingly referred the case to the Umpire, as he was legally bound to do. The Umpire disallowed benefit on the ground that Mr. Toal had lost employment on 30th April through a stoppage of work due to a trade dispute at the premises at which he was employed, and that his subsequent illness did not remove the disqualification, which lasts as long as the stoppage of work continues. The Umpire is the final authority in such a case, and I have no power to intervene in the matter. The Umpire can revise hip decision on new facts being brought to his knowledge.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed registered at the Borough (Walworth Road) Employment Exchange, men, women, and young persons, respectively, on the last convenient date, together with the figures for the corresponding date last year?

The number of persons registered at the Borough Employment Exchange at 6th December, 1926, and 7th December, 1925, are as under:

	6th December, 1926.	7th December, 1925.
Men	5,783	5,600
Women	1,465	1,460
Juveniles	402	294
Total	7,650	7,354

asked the Minister of Labour what sum would represent the capitalised value of prospective benefits under the Unemployment Insurance Acts for an insured man aged 20?

I regret that I am unable to furnish the information desired. It is a question which does not arise in the administration of the Unemployment Insurance scheme. I am, however, advised that in the case of a person of the age of 20 the capitalised value of the future benefits cannot be much, if any, in excess of the corresponding value of the combined contributions which have to be paid to qualify for these benefits.

asked the Minister of Labour what action has been taken by his Department with a view to absorbing into employment female workers at Rosyth now unemployed owing to the removal of the Rosyth naval base?

I am informed that seven women workers were displaced directly by the closing of the base. Of these four have found other work, one has gone overseas, and the other two are not now registered at the Employment Exchange.

asked the Prime Minister when it is proposed to take the Wild Birds Protection Bill?

I regret that it has not been possible to find time for this Bill this Session.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied that the contractors engaged on the reconstruction of the Wootton Bassett section of the County of Wiltshire main road for which the Government's supplementary grant has been made are adequately complying with the conditions implied in the Fair Wages Clause; and, if not, whether he will cause inquiry to be made in the matter?

I am informed that, in the opinion of the County Council, the contractors employed by them on the Wootton Bassett section of the main road are duly complying with the conditions of the Fair Wages Clause.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that a supplementary Report on the accident that occurred at St. Margaret's, Edinburgh, on the 10th May last, is open to the interpretation that an official of the railway company misled the inspecting officer by giving untruthful evidence with regard to an alleged refusal of the emnlry4s of the railway company on strike to help in rescuing the passengers after the accident; and whether he can give any further information with regard to this matter?

I have carefully perused the Reports of the Inquiry into this accident, and can only say that in my opinion any such interpretation of the Reports is entirely unwarranted and was, I understand, not intended. The object of the Inquiry was to ascertain the causes of the accident, and the Inspecting Officer, quite rightly in my view, declined to express any opinion on the question whether any such refusal to rescue passengers had or had not taken place.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of miners working on the latest available date in England, Scotland, and Wales; and the number working on 26th April last?

On 4th December there were 522,978 miners at work in England, 122,530 in Wales (including Monmouthshire), and 84,617 in Scotland. The corresponding figures for the 26th April, 1926, were 747,458, 234,077, and 124,646, respectively.

asked the Postmaster-General the estimated cost per mile for the construction of air lines in rural areas in connection with the telephone service; and what is the average length of time occupied in constructing an air line, in average rural country where no undue difficulties exist, over a distance of five miles, employing the usual number of men of the engineers' department of the General Post Office as is customary?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given on the 18th ultimo to the questions asked by the hon. and gallant Member for the Richmond Division of Yorkshire (Mr. Murrough Wilson).

asked the Postmaster-General whether the construction of air lines, especially in rural areas, are ever put out to tender in the same manner as buried cable routes; and, if not, why has this course not been adopted, in view of the importance of constructing telephone lines at the cheapest possible cost if the system of rural telephones is to be extended at cost within the means of the agricultural industry?

Air lines in rural parts generally comprise somewhat small scattered works which are much less suitable for execution under contract than duct-laying operations which employ a large proportion of unskilled labour. Accordingly the procedure suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend has not so far been followed. I propose, however, to examine this question.