asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that in the Edinburgh area there is an increasing number of cases of disabled ex-service men who are being refused treatment by the Deputy-Commissioner of Medical Services and are being referred by him to their panel doctors who find them unfit for work and entitled to the National Health Insurance allowances; and will he see that more sympathetic consideration is given to these cases and hospital treatment with allowances given where deterioration has taken place?

It is the duty of the Deputy-Commissioner of Medical Services to prescribe whatever form of treatment he may consider necessary in a particular case. In a case where no specialist treatment is called for, but attention from the general medical practitioner is all that is required, the pensioner is advised to consult the practitioner whose services are available to him under the Health Insurance Acts. I should not be justified in requiring, as the hon. Member suggests in the last part of his question, the provision of hospital treatment in all cases of deterioration, regardless of the medical view as to whether such treatment in a hospital were necessary or not. With regard to the grant of allowances under Article 6 of the Warrant, I would remind the hon. Member that the conditions governing the matter are not identical with those which determine sickness benefits under the National Health Insurance Acts.

Does he right hon. Gentleman agree that if an ex-service man is sufficiently disabled to be unable to work, he should be entitled to treatment by the Ministry?

The test by which we decide this matter is the medical opinion of those who are acting for the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he has issued instructions that when the condition and circumstances of need pensioners are being revised they are to be called up for medical examination by the Ministry, or is the certificate of a qualified medical practitioner still accepted as valid evidence?

No general instruction to the effect suggested has been issued. A certificate from the pensioner's own doctor is taken as evidence in support of a claim, but if, as necessarily happens in some cases, this evidence is not sufficient to enable the Ministry to determine the claim, an examination by a medical officer of the Ministry is directed.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Rifleman T. F. Lind, No. 3,234,052, late Cameronian Scottish Rifles, has been awarded a temporary allowance of 3s. 6d. per week; that this man completed seven years' service with the colours, and was discharged as unfit for any form of military service, although fit for employment in civil life; that he suffers from recurring epileptic fits which the commissioners deny is attributable to his military service; and whether, in view of the fact that this man served seven years, he will have this case reconsidered?

I have been asked to reply. As the disability in respect of which Mr. Lind was invalided from the Army was not attributable to his military service, the temporary pension awarded to him by the Chelsea Commissioners is the appropriate award in his case. His service is insufficient for a separate award of service pension.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Mrs. Annie Marshall, 87, Kerse Road, Grangemouth, Scotland, widow of T. W. Marshall, sapper, WR/267,622, Royal Engineers, has been refused a pension on the ground that her husband did not die within seven years of the termination of his active service; that Marshall was discharged from the Army suffering from lymphadenoma and received a pension of 40 per cent. for the same, which fact is certified as the cause of his death; and that, on 15th November, 1921, the doctor in the hospital reported that his disability might later become worse; and whether, in view of the circumstances, he is prepared to review the case or allow the Widow a passion?

The disease (lymphadenoma) for which Mr. Marshall was pensioned, and of which he subsequently died, was constitutional in origin, and I am advised that, while aggravation of the disease by his war service was admitted, it cannot be held that the effects of this aggravation either caused or materially hastened his death seven and a half years after his discharge. In these circumstances, it is regretted that his widow is not eligible for pension. I may add that an appeal to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal was disallowed on the 10th December last.

If a man died within seven years of this disease, does the widow receive a pension?

If there be any dispute between a widow and the Ministry in a case like this, the final decision would rest with the tribunal who have decided against the applicant.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider it right and proper that a woman who has been drawing an allowance while her husband was getting a pension for services rendered for incapacity due to his service, if her husband dies of the incapacity for which he is receiving a pension, the woman's allowance should also be cut off?

The pension necessarily ceases with the death of the man, and the claim of the widow in this case fell to be determined by the tribunal which decided adversely to the applicant.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Private J. J. Welsh, late No. 383,325, Highland Light Infantry, of 71, Hamilton Street, Govan, has been offered a lump sum payment in lieu of pension; that the decision of the final board in the joint assessment of his pensionable injuries is over 20 per cent.; whether he is aware that one of his claims was for injury to head and arm caused by the butt of a rifle when a prisoner of war in Germany; that the medical referee on 23rd May, 1919, estimated his incapacity from this disablement at 100 per cent., and that on 31st July, 1925, the Pensions (Entitlement) Appeals Tribunal decided that the injury to head was neither attributable to, nor aggravated by, war service; and whether, in view of these contradictions, he will have this man's case further reviewed?

I fear that the hon. Member has been misinformed as to the facts in this case. It is not a fact that Mr. Welsh has been offered a lump sum payment in lieu of pension. The lump sum paid to him is the terminal gratuity following on a period of allowance awarded in accordance with the decision of the Ministry and of the Appeal Tribunal. Nor is it the case that the decision of the final board in the joint assessment of his pensionable disability was ever 20 per cent. The fact is that Mr. Welsh has claimed for a variety of injuries and ailments since his discharge in 1919, each of which has been dealt with fully by the Ministry and by the Appeal Tribunals. As the history of the case is a long one, I propose to communicate the full particulars to the hon. Member in writing. I may add that I am not aware of any grounds on which I could adopt the course suggested in the last part of the question.

I want to thank the right hon. Gentleman for his promise to send me the history of the case. I have also the history of the case, and is it not a fact that these items are put down as having been decided by the various tribunals and committees before which this man appeared?

If all the questions -which have been raised by the hon. Member have been decided by the tribunal, it is obvious that I cannot take any further action. I shall, however, go carefully into the points raised by the hon. Member, and I will communicate with him.

Are not these items as to what the man has suffered and the assessments which have been made in the history of the case

The points where the hon. Member has fallen into error in his original question are set out in the reply which I have given.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total sum paid in war pensions since the conclusion of the Armistice?

The total sum expended on war pensions (including medical treatment but excluding administration) from the Armistice to 31at March, 1927, is estimated at £647,000,000.

asked the Minister of Pensions what was his reply to the Gates-head Board of Guardians as to the propriety of taking into consideration naval and military pensions when fixing Poor Law relief; and whether he has been consulted by any other boards of guardians?

The hon. Member refers, I presume, to a reply which was addressed to the board of guardians referred to on the 5th October last, in response to an inquiry from the board as to a supposed discrepancy between statements made by my Department and those given by the Minister of Health, with respect to the manner in which children's pensions or allowances payable under the Warrant should be regarded in connection with the administration of poor relief. The board were informed that a pension awarded to a child was intended for the entire maintenance of the child, but that it was not for my Department to advise guardians how the income of individual members of a household should be regarded for purposes of relief. No similar communication from any other board of guardians can be traced.

Does that mean that pensions are to be regarded in the consideration of Poor Law relief, or not?

It means that the matter is not one for my Department, but for the Ministry of Health.

Does it mean that pensions are a subject to be taken into consideration by the guardians or not?

That is another question.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the increasing practice of admitting road casualties into Poor Law institutions, with the resulting cost of maintenance being thrown upon local funds; and will he consider legislation defining the powers of boards of guardians in respect of the maintenance of patients admitted to such Poor Law institutions after road accidents?

I have received certain representations on this matter, which are now under consideration.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether these patients are asked to recoup the cost of their maintenance?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put that question down.

asked the Minister of Health whether stone-pounding has been abolished in all Poor Law unions; and, if not, in which unions this form of work is given to casual tramps?

I am sending the hon. Member a list of the unions in which a task of stone-pounding was imposed in May, 1925, when the last return was made to the Department. In the great majority of cases this task was imposed only for a very small number of the cases admitted.

asked the Minister of Health whether the arrangement for allowing to casuals necessary and reasonable time for repairing and cleaning their own clothing, as well as cleaning and general labouring, to be counted as part of their task time in the casual wards under the Metropolitan Asylums Board, has been found in practice to give satisfactory results; and, if so, whether he will issue a circular recommending those responsible for the conduct of other casual wards to adopt the same arrangement?

Arrangements on the lines indicated by the hon. Member have been made by the Metropolitan Asylums Board as an experiment. These arrangements are now under review by the Managers. I am not yet able to say whether the results are such as to make it desirable to adopt the course he suggests.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Edmonton casual words are sometimes being used for nearly four times their capacity; and what steps it is proposed to take in the matter?

I am aware that the accommodation in these wards is being found inadequate. A scheme for the provision of further accommodation is in an advanced stage.

asked the Minister of Health what was the total number of persons in the casual wards of the Poor Law unions in England and Wales on the 31st January last; what number of these were males; and how many of them were ex-service men who had fought or served during the Great War?

The total number of casuals in receipt of relief in England and Wales on the night of Friday, the 28th January, 1927, was 10,610. No information is available as to the number of males or as to the number of ex-service men included in this figure. On the 1st January in each of the years 1924, 1925 and 1926, 94 per cent. of the casuals were men, but separate figures of sex are not available for the date now taken, and I cannot say bow many of the casuals were ex-service men who had fought or served during the War.

In view of the interest taken in homes for heroes, will the Minister endeavour to ascertain how many of these casuals are ex-service men?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Andover Board of Guardians have publicly stated that their casual ward accommodation is inadequate to enable them to carry out the orders of the Ministry; whether this applies to other boards of guardians; and whether any, and, if so, what steps are proposed to be taken in the matter?

I am not aware of any public statement of the Andover Guardians to the effect indicated, but I will make further inquiries. On the second and third parts of the hon. Member's question, I would refer him to the answer I gave to the bon. Member for Bristol East on the 2nd December last, a copy of which I am forwarding to him.

asked the Home Secretary the cost incurred in the administration of the Metropolitan Police Lost Property Office during the year ending the last convenient date?

Approximately £9,700, or, including the pensions of retired members of the staff, £12,000.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what will be the increased cost of the new Lost Property Office?

I am afraid that, much as it may be against the hon. Member's wish, I must ask him to put down another question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman considering the feasibility of making a small charge to meet the loss, as was recommended by the Committee?

That has been considered, but it has always been a delight to the police to do as much as they can for the public.

asked the Home Secretary whether any county council has applied to him for permission to establish an amateur police force; whether permission has been given; if so, will he say wherein this amateur police force will differ from special con- stables; what will be their number, duties, equipment and pay; and what annual expenditure is estimated as necessary to maintain this force by the county council or county councils concerned?

I know of no such proposal apart from normal developments in connection with the special constabulary, e.g., the provision of uniforms in certain cases.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a report appeared in certain newspapers stating that the Hertfordshire County Council had applied for such powers?

I must confess I had not seen the report. The question gave no notification that it was in the hon. Gentleman's mind, but I will hove it looked up.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any objection to the Police Federation nominating representatives to sit on the board of the Police Fund recently established by Royal Charter?

The constitution of the advisory council is a matter for the decision of the trustees of the fund, but, speaking strictly in my capacity as Home Secretary, I am in sympathy with the suggestion in the question, and shall be prepared in due course to make representations to myself as chairman of the trustees.

asked the Home Secretary what steps he has taken to secure payment of the cost-of-living bonus due to the Isle of Wight constabulary; for how long these payments have been outstanding; and whether individual officers may proceed by way of civil process to recover wages due?

The police authority granted and paid the bonus for the six months September, 1920, to March, 1921, but did not grant it for the re mainder of the full period to September, 1921, for which the Bonus Committee's scheme provided. Representations have been made to the police authority and a deduction has been made from the Exchequer grant. I cannot undertake to advise the hon. Member on the last part of the question.

In the event of an individual officer applying for permission, will the officer make any objection to his suing in a civil Court?

I think that must wait, if an application be made, it will be properly considered and dealt with.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of Police-constable James Leake, No. 95,536, M Division, Metropolitan Police, who, whilst in pursuit of a man suspected of having committed a felony, sustained injuries resulting in the loss of one eye, on account of which he was invalided from the service and awarded a pension on the scale he would have received under ordinary circumstances; and whether he will reconsider the ease with a view to an injury-on-duty non-accidental pension being granted?

I have considered the circumstances of this ease, which clearly do not permit of the grant of a pension on the "non-accidental" scale. An ordinary pension was granted instead of a special pension on the "accidental" scale, because the former was higher in amount in this particular case.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will lay upon the Table of the House copies of all correspondence which has passed between him and a Russian citizen named Sabline, in reference to anti-Bolshevik propaganda and the part played by Russian subjects during the general strike in securing the defeat of the workers on strike during last summer?

Among the many letters sent to the Home Office or to me at the time of the General Strike was one, and only one, from a Mr. Sabline, which was acknowledged in terms that have been quoted in the Press. The letter is not of sufficient importance to justify printing it, but the hon. Member is welcome to see it.

Is it the policy of His Majesty's Government to encourage the subjects of other nations to take part in putting down strikes or lock-outs in this country?

If the hon. Member has read the letter, which has been published in a paper, I Chink, called the "Daily Herald," he will have seen that a very proper reply was given, with an acknowledgment of thanks.

Is it the Government policy to approve of the interference of friends from other countries in the internal affairs of this country on the side of the Government's own policy against the workers?

The question on the Paper asked for information, and I have given the information. I do not think the hon. Member's supplementary question arises out of it.

asked the Home Secretary on how many occasions he has interviewed Mr. Sabline since taking office; and whether these interviews related to the affairs of Russia or of Great Britain?

I once met Mr. Sabline in a private house. He has, I believe, once seen one of my Secretaries at the Home Office, but the conversation in neither case was of the character or importance suggested by the hon. Member's question.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that it is proper to receive a Russian who, in the words of the Trade Agreement, is fomenting rebellion against the Government of Russia?

It is a long tradition of the Home Office to be courteous, and I always receive, as far as time permits, those who desire to see me.

Was not the right hon. Gentleman aware that this could well be construed as an infringement of the Trade Agreement?

I have not heard of any complaint that it was such an infringement.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Russian subject is boasting that he has the right hon. Gentleman under his thumb?

I have not seen that.

Many people say that sort of thing.

asked the Home Secretary how many Russians gave their services to the Government in the industrial struggle of May last, for which he despatched a letter of thanks to Mr. Sabline; and whether lie will state the nature of these services?

The hon. Member is mistaken. I did not thank Mr. Sabline for services given by Russians to the Government, and I know of no such services. Mr. Sabline wrote to inform me that a number of his compatriots had responded to the general call for assistance in the maintenance of essential services and a courteous acknowledgment was sent to him on my behalf. As I have just informed the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley, the correspondence is open to inspection.

Did the right hon. Gentleman then give thanks for these services without having the least knowledge of what they were?

It was a general expression of thanks to this gentleman and some of his compatriots who had rendered this country service and one of my secretaries, in the usual courteous manner of the Home Office, thanked him for his letter.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman find out what the services were before he despatched the letter of thanks?

I do not want to take refuge in ignorance, but this matter was just after the general strike, when I was very busy, and I am bound to confess that I did not see the letter. It was opened by my secretary in the usual way, and he courteously thanked him.

asked the Home Secretary how many Russian subjects were naturalised in Great Britain during each of the following years: 1923, 1924, and 1925; the various trades or callings in which these persons were engaged at the time of naturalisation; and the length of residence in each case before naturalisation was granted?

As shown by the annual returns presented to Parliament, the figures asked for in the first part of the question are—in 1923, 375; in 1924, 365; in 1925, 352. I cannot undertake to give the other information asked for, but the hon. Member will find some of it in the monthly Gazette notices.

asked the Home Secretary how many Russian subjects have been arrested and imprisoned in this country without trial; and the shortest and longest term of imprisonment such prisoners have undergone before deportation or release?

I have some difficulty in guessing what information the hon. Member seeks in this question. The best answer I can give is, I think, the number of deportation orders made and enforced against aliens of Russian extraction without recommendation from the convicting Court, namely, since the War to the present time, 57. None of these Russians deported during my term of office has been detained in prison in these circumstances.

Would it be possible for the right hon. Gentleman to tell the House the period of detention without trial which Tchitcherin, Litvinoff and Borodin underwent in this country?

It was, of course, before my time, but, if the hon. Member presses for it, and puts a question down, I will do my best to give him an answer.

Will the right hon. Gentleman enlighten the House as to how many Socialists have been put in prison without trial by the Soviet Government, and probably are still there?

That is a question of which notice should be given.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can make any statement as to the proposed Government pension scheme for private schoolmasters; whether he has received any protests; whether he can publish the Government actuary's Report on the terms; and to what age the recipient would have to live before he had received back the sums he had originally contributed?

The scheme in question was published in draft on 5th July and sealed on 11th October last. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a Memorandum on the effect of the scheme. Up to the present, applications have been received from 127 schools (of which 73 are privately owned and 54 conducted by governing bodies), and 39 have been formally approved. I have received criticisms of the scheme on the ground that its conditions were in some respects different from those under the Act, but these differences were necessary in order to observe the statutory requirement that the contributions to be paid might be expected to be equal in value to the benefits payable. I have no formal report upon the scheme by the Government Actuary, but it was, of course, framed in consultation with him, as required by the Act. The answer to the last part of the question depends on the circumstances of each particular case.

Is it not a fact that better terms can be obtained outside?

If these gentlemen can get better terms elsewhere, they will doubtless take them.

asked the President of the Board of Education how Many local education authorities have made complete provision for the number of mentally defective children under their jurisdiction; how many have made partial provision; and how many have not yet made any provision?

In the case of about 33 local education authorities the provision for the education in special schools of mentally defective children was fairly complete in 1925, the latest period for which returns are available; partial provision was made by some 175 authorities, and 110 authorities had made no provision. In addition, about 50 authorities, including some of those who had made no special school provision, had arranged for the supervision of mentally defective children in their areas.

Is it not about time some action was taken with these 110 authorities, who have not made any provision to fulfil their legal obligations?

I agree some action should be taken to see that authorities fulfil their statutory obligations, but it must be remembered that many of these 110 authorities are very small Part III authorities who will probably have such a small number of children in their area that special school accommodation is impossible.

Will the Noble Lord consider making representations to these authorities drawing attention to the fact that they are not fulfilling their statutory obligations?

I assure the hon. Member that the Board are constantly in communication with these and other authorities.

Has the Noble Lord done anything to discourage these authorities from making effective provision?

Would it be possible for some of these small authorities which are contiguous to have joint authorities?

Yes, that would be possible, and it is possible for them to contribute to sending their children to privately-owned schools.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will give the present estimated number of mentally-defective children who might benefit by admission to special schools; how many o these children are at present in special schools; how many are in public elementary schools; how many in other institutions; and how many are not attending any school?

It is not possible to estimate the number of mentally-defective children who might benefit by admission to special schools; but of about 33,000 mentally-defective children classed as educable, in England and Wales, in 1925, 15,773 were attending special schools; 12,470 were at public elementary schools; 860 were at other institutions; and 3,872 were not attending any school. The accommodation in mentally - defective schools on 31st March, 1925, was 16,746 and on 31st March, 1926, 17,154.

Does the Noble Lord not think, seeing that there are 15,000 mentally-defective children attending ordinary schools, that that is a state of affairs which is not fair, either to the teachers who have to teach the children or to the ether children in the schools?

The actual figure is 12,000, not 15,000. Tie answer to the hon. Member's question depends to a very great extent upon the degree of the mental defect. I agree that those children who are so backward that they cannot be dealt with in the ordinary elementary schools, ought to have special provision made for them.

asked the President of the Board of Education what was the annual expenditure incurred during the past three years for the medical inspection of children attending the London County Council schools; whether that expenditure covered the provision of towels for the use of the scholars; and whether he can say how many towels were provided, and for what number of children?

The net expenditure on the medical inspection and treatment of children attending public elementary schools under the London County Council was as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Education what items are included under the headings administration (elementary) and other expenses elementary) in Circular 1388?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by me on 17th February to the right hon. Member for Central Newcastle (Mr. Trevelyan), a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the President of the Board of Education the average expenditure per pupil in elementary schools upon books, stationery, and apparatus, respectively, for the years 1920 to 1925, respectively?

The amounts do not show the net, but only the gross, expenditure on these items, and they group stationery with books, and apparatus with furniture and equipment. For details I would refer the hon. Member to pages 22 to 25 of the Memorandum on the Board of Education Estimates, 1926 [Cmd. 2688].

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the Report of Dr. Henry Whitehead concerning the Wigan schools, in which he states that the majority of the schools were built prior to 1880, that their heating, lighting, and ventilation are generally bad, that some of the sanitary conveniences constitute definite nuisances, that there are no open-air schools in the town, no school baths, nor any provision for blind, deaf, or physically and mentally defective children; whether the officers of the Board of Education have inquired into this condition of affairs; and what action if any, the Board of Education proposes to take?

I am aware of the report in question. Prior to its publication 14 schools in the area of this authority had been placed upon the "black list," and I have already received substantial proposals for dealing with 11 of them.

asked the President of the Board of Education the reason why, in his recent Circular to the local education authorities, the limit of 3s. per head to expenditure on administration, higher education, has been based upon the average attendance in public elementary schools?

Average attendance in public elementary schools has been in continuous use for the last seven years as a factor in calculating the recognisable expenditure of authorities on maintenance allowances for higher education and it does not appear to be an unsuitable basis for the standard now proposed.

Does not the Noble Lord agree that in fixing the limit on this basis it tends to increase the burden on those who mast require assistance?

I should say certainly not. I do not know why the hon. Member should say that. I should be prepared to discuss the matter with the hon. Member.

Does not this Regulation tend to penalise those authorities who make a more liberal provision for secondary education, and who have a greater percentage of children in secondary schools?

I cannot admit that administration costs of an authority necessarily rise in proportion to the number of children in secondary schools, but if the standard is; not fixed high enough it might in certain cases have a penalising effect. I think it has been fixed high enough. However, that is a matter for discussion.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the primary day school at Burston, Norfolk, known as the Burston Strike School, receives any financial support from the education grant or from the rates?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the curriculum of teaching at the Burston Strike School includes trades unionism and Socialism as school subjects, and that the ninth anniversary of the Russian revolution was celebrated by speeches from the children and the singing of the International and the Red Flag; whether such education is accepted as a substitute for the education provided in the council school; and, if not, whether he will call the attention of the local education authority to the matter?

With my hon. Friend's permission, I will answer these questions together. The so-called "strike" school at Burston receives no aid from public funds. I understand that it has been provided and supported largely out of funds supplied by certain Labour organisations, and that it is run as a private venture by two teachers who were dismissed by the local authority from the council school in 1914. I have no information as to the nature of the curriculum or the manner in which the school is conducted. The local authority, who are primarily responsible for the administration of the law of school attendance, are fully acquainted with the facts of the case, and I do not think that I can usefully intervene in the matter.

May I have the pleasure of sending to the Noble Lord the information upon which my second question is based, taken from the official monthly organ of the Teachers Labour League?

Has the Noble Lord ever read the song entitled "The Red Flag," and, if so, has he any objection to it?

I should be very glad to receive from my hon. Friend the Member for Barnstaple (Sir B. Peto) any information which he can send to me. With regard to the second supplementary question, I may say that I have the strongest objection to the "Red Flag" on artistic and other grounds.

Has the local education authority ever sent a complaint regarding this school?

I do not think the hon. Gentleman can be acquainted with the history of the whole incident. It is a very long story, but I will explain matters to the hon. Member, if he likes to see me afterwards.

Is it not possible to answer my question?

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been completed to date under the various Housing Acts, and how many are at present under construction, giving separate figures for municipal and private enterprise?

Up to the 1st instant, the number of houses completed in England and Wales with State assistance under the various Housing Acts were 294,515 by local authorities, and 224,929 by private enterprise. The numbers uncles construction under the Housing Acts on the 1st instant were 60,369 by local authorities, and 42,494 by private enterprise.

asked the Minister of Health how many towns have begun to formulate town planning schemes; and how many towns with a population of 10,000 or more have done nothing in the matter?

Two hundred and ninety-four urban authorities have prepared or are preparing town planning schemes, a number of which extend to portions of other urban areas. The number of urban authorities with a population of 10,000 or over in whose areas formal steps have not, so far as I am aware, been taken in the preparation of town planning schemes is 276.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what steps he proposes to take to stimulate these local authorities?

Pressure is being continually put upon them by my Department.