asked the Minister of Health the rents of non-parlour and parlour houses provided under the 1919. 1923 and 1924 schemes in the chief towns of the country with populations over 160,000?

I regret that complete information as to rents charged by local authorities for houses erected under the various subsidy schemes is not available, but I would refer the hon. Member to the statements for the principal towns of the country which were published in the OFFICIAL REPORT on the 11th November last, in reply to a question on the same subject by the hon. Member for Chislehurst (Mr. Smithers).

asked the Minister of Health whether he has statistics available showing the number of houses erected under the Housing Acts in the years 1924, 1925 and 1926; and also the numbers which have been erected in the same years without subsidy?

The following table gives the information desired by the hon. Member:

		Number of houses erected
Year.		With subsidy under the Housing Acts during the year ended in		Without subsidy during the year ended in September
		December.	September.
1924	…	52,730	36,459	73,032
1925	…	99,497	92,291	66,735
1926	…	144,619	131,895	65,689

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the dividends now paid by certain brickmaking companies, he will investigate the high cost of building materials in the light of such information?

The inter-Departmental Committee on the Prices of Building Materials, which is presided over by my bon. Friend the Member for the Ripon Division (Major Hills), keeps in constant touch with and investigates prices of building materials. In their last Report dated 22nd December, they state that they propose to keep close watch over the movements of prices in the immediate future and to review the position again as soon as a period of stability has been reached.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses built in Gravesend and Northfleet since December, 1924, under the 1923 Act and also under the 1924 Act; and the number of houses condemned but occupied in December, 1924, and also in December, 1926, in the same localities?

Up to the 1st instant, 309 houses had been completed in Gravesend with State assistance under the Housing Act of 1923, and none under the Act of 1924. The corresponding figures in the case of Northfleet are 105 and 16. The information asked for in the last part of the question is not available, but according, to the Reports of the Medical Officers of Health for the year 1924, five houses were reported as unfit for human habitation in Gravesend and 22 in Northfleet.

asked the Minister of Health how many condemned houses in England, Scotland and Wales were occupied in December, 1924, arid December, 1926?

Statistics are not available for England and Wales giving the information desired by the hon. Member. According to the Annual Reports of Medical Officers of Health, 12,722 houses were reported during the year 1924 as unfit for human habitation. Similar information for 1926 is not yet available. As regards Scotland, I would suggest that a similar question should be addressed to the Secretary of State.

asked the Minister of Health whether his Department is at present in communication with M. Spahlinger in regard to his treatment; and, if so, whether he will state the present position of any such negotiations?

I am not at present in communication with M. Spah- linger, but it has been publicly stated on my behalf that the offer made to him to arrange for a scientific investigation in this country of his method of treatment as soon as the necessary materials are forthcoming is still open.

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases of tuberculosis and cancer in the separate rural and urban districts of Lindsey

NOTIFICATIONS OF NEW CASES OF TUBERCULOSIS.
—	52 weeks ended 2nd January, 1926.		52 weeks ended 1st January, 1927.
	Tuberculosis of Respiratory System.	Other Forms.	Tuberculosis of Respiratory System.	Other Forms.
County Boroughs—
Grimsby	145	49	172	43
Lincoln	125	36	125	33
Boroughs and Urban Districts—
Alford	2	2	2	—
Barton-upon-Humber	8	3	17	8
Brigg	10	4	8	7
Cleethorpes	37	24	47	8
Crowle	3	—	1	—
Gainsborough	48	16	43	7
Horncastle	13	5	10	6
Louth	12	9	11	6
Mablethorpe and Sutton	5	1	6	—
Market Rasen	3	1	1	—
Roxby-cum-Risby	1	—	4	3
Scunthorpe and Frodingham	56	24	44	39
Skegness	2	—	4	2
Winterton	2	—	4	1
Woodhall Spa	2	1	—	—
Rural Districts—
Caistor	17	3	9	2
Gainsborough	13	6	13	9
Glanford Brigg	19	19	27	13
Grimsby	28	5	20	8
Horncastle	14	5	9	1
Isle of Axholme	5	1	8	7
Louth	15	4	18	4
Sibsey	1	2	2	1
Spilsby	30	8	32	9
Welton	10	6	12	3

asked the Minister of Health the approximate number of cases of measles that occur annually in London; and what is the annual death rate for the last five years of the patients treated in the Metropolitan Asylums Board hospitals for this complaint?

The following table gives the numbers of notifications of new cases of tuberculosis in these areas during the 52 weeks ended the 1st January, 1927, and during the preceding 52 weeks.As cancer is not a notifiable disease I regret that no information is available as to the numbers of cases.

I am unable to give the information asked for in the first part of the question as measles is not a notifiable disease throughout London. The percentage mortality for the years 1921 to 1925 among cases of measles treated in the hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board was as follows:

					Mortality per cent.
1921	…	…	…	…	8·4
1922	…	…	…	…	9·43
1923	…	…	…	…	7·68
1924	…	…	…	…	9·01
1925	…	…	…	…	7·55

It should be understood that in general only the most severe cases of measles are removed to hospital.

asked the Minister of Health whether, seeing that the West Ham Board of Guardians have only repaid interest charges on the current year, and have not made any of the repayment of capital, the condition on which the loan was granted to the guardians by the Goschen Committee, he has approved such a course?

In order to avoid any further borrowing by the West Ham Board of Guardians, I have on the recommendation of the Goschen Committee postponed for the present the payment of the instalment of principal due on 30th September last.

asked the Minister of Health the number of boys under 18 recruited for the Army from Poor Law schools during the past year?

I regret that this information is not in my possession.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can give the personnel and state the objects of the delegation of four persons which the British Government, in conjunction with the Australian Government, is sending out to Australia to devise a scheme for co-operative migration development?

The conversations on this subject initiated by the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia when he was in London last year did not proceed beyond the general principle of a mission being sent to Australia. The actual terms of reference which could be given to a mission of this kind have not as yet been determined nor has the personnel been selected.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in accordance with the promise made by him some time ago, he has yet considered the regulations governing the grant of education allowances to the children of deceased ex-service men, with a view to instructing the special grants committee to sanction such grants in all cases where a child shows exceptional ability, regardless of the ability or otherwise of the deceased parent to provide a secondary education had he lived?

The essential principle on which grants are made from State Funds under the Warrants and Regulations which I administer is that they should provide, within prescribed limits, compensation for loss due to service in the Great War. It would be contrary to that principle to pay for an education of which the child has not been deprived by its father's death, and I regret that after the most careful consideration I do not feel able to recommend a departure from the principle. I would add, however, that a specially deserving case of the kind referred to by the hon. and gallant. Member would be considered for a grant from the voluntary funds at my disposal.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, whether, in view of the dissatisfaction which exists among various civil servants as to the allocation of departmental marks in connection with the Southborough examination, more especially when these markings are used for the purpose of P class appointments, he will consider the desirability of furnishing, on the request of any candidate concerned, a detailed statement as to how these markings were allocated in respect of knowledge of duties, performance of duties during the last 12 months, and official conduct, respectively?

I am not prepared to communicate to candidates at the Southborough examination any details of the allocation of the marks awarded by the Civil Service Commissioners on the basis of reports furnished by Departments.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the P class of civil servants are liable to pay unemployment contributions although they never can receive benefit; whether he will consider the desirability of exempting them from this burden; and, if he has not the power, whether he will undertake to include this anomaly in the earliest legislation remedying the various defects in the Unemployment Insurance Act?

I would refer the hon. Member to the oral reply given to-day to the hon. Member for Stockport (Mr. Townend).

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the Government's intention to retain in its present form the Ministry of Transport; and, if so, whether it is proposed to fill the vacant post of Parliamentary Secretary?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative and to the second in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of certificates taken out by bookmakers or commission agents to the last convenient date?

The number of bookmakers' certificates issued up to the 29th January, 1927, was 10,990.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of rebates claimed to the last convenient date in respect to the Betting Duty, either for betting taking place on a racecourse or office betting; and whether such rebates have been claimed by persons carrying on business as turf accountants, commission agents, or licensed bookmakers?

The total amount of rebate paid up to the 31st January last was approximately £19,000. No payment was made except to persons holding bookmaker's certificates.

asked the Home Secretary when he proposes to publish the findings of the Southborough Committee which has been investigating disinterested management

The Committee has not yet settled its Report, and they cannot at present say when it will be in my hands.

asked the Home Secretary the personnel and terms of reference of the Departmental Committee which is to inquire into what, if any, alterations should be made in regard to the Regulations for the closing of shops?

The terms of reference to this Committee will be as follows:

"To inquire into the working of the Shops (Early Closing) Acts, 1920 and 1921, and to consider and report whether it is desirable that those Acts should or should not be made permanent, and, if made permanent, whether with or without modification."

Sir William Warrender Mackenzie, G.B.E., K.C., formerly President of the Industrial Court, will be Chairman of the Committee, but I am not in a position at present to give the names of the other members.

asked the Home Secretary the number of boys under 18 recruited for the Army from industrial schools during the past year?

The figures for 1926 are not yet available. The number of boys under 18 recruited for the Army from industrial schools during 1925 was 84, including 61 sent to Army bands.

asked the Postmaster-General whether a broadcasting reception licence is required for each receiving set in use, or for each room in which a loudspeaker is installed, or for each separate building supplied by one receiving set; and the rules governing the number and class of receiving instruments permitted by a single licence?

A wireless receiving licence entitles the licensee to use wireless apparatus in the premises occupied by him. One licence will cover any number of sets installed in the same premises for the use of the licensee, his family, or his servants, but any other person occupying a portion of the same house under a separate tenancy and desiring to instal wireless receiving apparatus must take out a separate licence. When a licensee runs telephone leads from his set to the house of a neighbour or to any premises other than those in his own occupation for the purpose of conveying broadcast programmes there, a separate wireless licence is necessary for such premises.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he will be in a position to disclose the Government's proposals with regard to long-term credit for agriculture?

Negotiations are being resumed, but I regret that I cannot yet say when I shall be in a position to make an announcement en this subject.

asked the Prime Minister if the Government intend to introduce a Bill, and pass it into law during the present Session, giving votes to women on the same terms as are now possessed by men?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to-day in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. Taylor).