asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, in November, 1926, the medical officer of health for Mexborough ordered the removal to hospital of Mrs. Roberts, who had been confined six days previously, stating that she was suffering from smallpox; that Mrs. Roberts was fully recovered three weeks later; that it was suggested that a home should be found for the six-days-old baby whilst its mother was in hospital, but at the urgent request of the mother it was taken to hospital with her and vaccinated two days later; is he aware that it died at the age of two months and will he state to what the hospital, doctor certified the death to be due?

I understand that the facts are generally as stated in the question. The death of the child was certified as due to (1) small-pox (2) cellulitis of right leg.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the medical officer of health for Sheffield has stated that, in spite of the utmost precaution on the part of the vaccinators, vaccination during the recent small-pox, scare produced severe reaction, causing temporary illness and a good deal of swelling and pain; whether similar reactions have followed vaccination in other towns; and whether he will stop the issue of vaccine lymph which may cause illness of this kind?

As regards the first two parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answers, given on this subject to the hon. Members for Stratford (Mr. Groves) and Middlesbrough West (Mr. T. Thomson) on the 24th February. As regards the last part, I am advised that the results obtained from the use in Sheffield of the vaccine lymph issued by the Government Lymph Establishment have been uniformly successful, and among the many thousands of vaccinations performed with this lymph no case has been reported to my Department in which a severe reaction has been attributed to the lymph. I have no control at present over proprietary lymphs, but regulations for the standardisation of all vaccine lymphs used in this country will come into force when the Therapeutic Substances Act, 1925, becomes operative.

asked the Minister of Health the number of small-pox cases that have been notified in Great Britain for the three months ended to the last convenient date?

DEATHS FROM INFLUENZA—ENGLAND AND WALKS.—PROVISIONAL FIGURES.
Towns of over 200,000 population.			During the four weeks ended—			Total.
			25th December, 1926.	22nd January, 1927.	19th February, 1927.
105 Great Towns	…	…	249	1,055	3,292	4,596
London	…	…	61	423	754	1,238
Birmingham	…	…	9	20	42	71
Liverpool	…	…	9	16	39	64
Manchester	…	…	11	22	36	69
Sheffield	…	…	5	15	21	41
Leeds	…	…	8	10	23	41
Bristol	…	…	8	15	146	169
West Ham	…	…	3	12	60	75
Hull	…	…	1	5	27	33
Bradford	…	…	2	3	31	36
Newcastle-on-Tyne	…	…	3	5	7	15
Stoke-upon-Trent	…	…	1	2	19	22
Nottingham	…	…	1	1	91	93
Salford	…	…	1	6	16	23
Leicester	…	…	—	4	46	50
Portsmouth	…	…	3	5	24	32
Cardiff	…	…	9	22	52	76

asked the Minister of Health the notifications of diphtheria and scarlet fever, and the deaths registered from these diseases, for each of the years 1911 to 1926, inclusive?

The provisional notifications of diphtheria and scarlet fever in England and Wales for 1926 are as, follows:—diphtheria: notifications,

The number of cases of small-pox notified in England and Wales during the 13 weeks ended on 19th February was 5.465, but this figure is subject to revision.

asked the Minister of Health the number of deaths in Great Britain resulting from influenza for each of the three months ended to the last convenient date, giving the figures for London and each of the principal provincial towns?

The figures asked for, so far as they are available for England and Wales, are contained in the tabular statement below. With regard to Scotland, the hon. Member should address an inquiry to the Secretary of State for Scotland.51,067; deaths, 2,923. Scarlet fever: notifications, 81,670: deaths, 667. The corresponding figures for earlier years will be found in the Statistical Review of the Registrar-General.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give the notificatione of diphtheria and the deaths registered from that disease for each of the years 1911 to 1926 in the following towns, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, Kirkcaldy, Perth, Dundee, Inverness, Greenock, Stirling, St. Andrews, Ayr, Oban, Aberdeen, Arbroath, Dunfermline, Forfar, Haddington, Kirkcudbright, Nairn, Peebles, Saltcoats, and Wigtown, and similar figures, for scarlet fever?

A statistical table giving the information desired by the hon. Member is being prepared and will be communicated to him when it is completed.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet received any Reports as to the working of the Preservatives in Food Regulations, which became operative on 1st January?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he can give the names of the members of the rota committees in the Employment Exchange areas within the county of Stirling; the number of rota committee meetings that have been held during 1926 and the month of January, 1927, in each of these exchange areas; and the number of times each individual member of the rota committee has been summoned to attend;(2) whether he can give the names of the members of the rota committee in the Hamilton Employment Exchange area; whether all the members are summoned to attend in turn; and, if so, will he state the number of meetings held during 1926, and the month of January, 1927, with the number of times each individual member was summoned to attend?

The information desired is not available at the Headquarters of the Ministry, but I am making inquiry locally. It is not the usual practice to state the names of members of the rota committees, and in any ease, I cannot do this without the concurrence of the local employment committee.

asked the Minister of Labour if, taking the number of aliens who have been allowed to land in this country, he will give the trades in connection with which they have been permitted to enter and the numbers in each case absorbed by such trades?

By Article 1 (3) (b) of the Aliens Order, 1920, an alien is not permitted to land in Great Britain and Northern Ireland unless, if desirous of entering the services of an employer, he produces a permit in writing for his engagement issued to the employer by the Minister of Labour.The following table (I) gives the number of permits granted and refused for the year 1926 and the trades and occupations for which the aliens were required.

(I).
Trades and occupations.	Granted.	Refused.
Domestic Servants (note a)	1,872	473
Musicians, including soloists (note b[)	318	34
Theatrical, vaudeville and concert artistes (note b)	1,453	78
Foreign correspondents, clerks, volunteer business trainees, etc.	606	101
Telegraph operators (transfers from foreign stations)	9	—
Mosaic, terrazzo and marble workers, etc.	2	11
Engineers to erect and repair imported machinery (note b)	218	16
Sugar beet industry (machinery erectors and specialist workers)	173	—
Seine net fishers, cod splitters, whale fishing, etc. (seasonal employment)	50	6
Hotel and restaurant employés (mainly in exchange for British employés proceeding abroad for experience)	133	39
Teachers of foreign languages	338	5
Nurses (mainly probationers for training)	45	—
Miscellaneous	323	231
Totals	5,540	994
Notes.—(a) Permits almost wholly for females.
(b) Permits all for short periods.

If an alien is allowed to land for purposes other than employment, e.g., as a visitor or student, and subsequently desires to take up employment, the Minister of Labour is consulted by the Home Office before permission is given. The following table (II) shows the number of aliens who, after having landed as visitors, etc., were permitted to take up work or in respect of whom permission was refused for the year 1926, and the trades and occupations fur which the aliens were required.

(II).
	Granted.	Refused.
Domestic servants (note a)	305	51
Musicians including soloists (note b)	18	2
Theatrical, vaudeville and concert artistes (note b)	14	10
Foreign correspondents, clerks, volunteer business trainees, etc.	282	61
Engineers to erect and repair imported machinery (note b)	38	6
Mosaic, terrazzo and marble workers, etc.	—	2
Sugar beet industry, including machinery erectors and specialists	5	—
Hotel and restaurant employés mainly in exchange for British employés proceeding abroad for experience	10	25
Teachers of foreign languages	53	2
Nurses (mainly probationers for training)	13	—
Miscellaneous	98	69
	836	228
Notes.—(a) Permissions almost wholly for females.
(b) Permissions all for short periods.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has at any time within the last two years exercised the powers he possesses of deporting without trial aliens who have fraudulently or irregularly entered this country; and what is the longest time that such person has been detained in prison before deportation?

I observe the rule that aliens who have entered this country irregularly must go out again; and in some cases I have made Deportation Orders with any necessary custody to ensure their departure. I cannot answer the last part of the question, but I am willing to look into any specific case which the hon. Member may bring before me.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. William Andrews, 118, Third Avenue, Manor Park, who enlisted in the 12th battalion County of London Regiment in 1915, and who contracted pneumonia and malaria during service on the Palestine front between 1917 and 1918, being discharged in February, 1919; and whether, seeing that the medical attendant of this man has sent in a certificate to the effect that he has developed tuberculosis, which in his opinion is due to lowered resistance caused through pneumonia and malaria contracted whilst on active service, he will reconsider his application for a pension?

This case has been carefully considered in the light of the statement referred to in the last part of the question, but as I have already informed the hon. Member the evidence as to the facts in the case are not, I regret, such as to enable ace to take further action in regard to it.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether any hospitals are to be closed during the financial year 1927–28; and, if so, where are they situated?

No arrangements have at present been made for the closure of any hospital during the next financial year. The hon. Member will, however, realise that the requirements of the Ministry in regard t3 hospital accommodation can only be determined from time to time by experience of the demand for this form of treatment.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he can give the percentage decrease of coal exports from Hull during December and January last compared with those for the coresponding pre-stoppage period; and the same figures for the Tyne ports during the same period?

For Hull the decrease was 27 per cent., and for the Tyne ports 12 per cent., but I would remind my hon. Friend that the figures for last December were abnormal; exports were restricted under the Emergency Regulations during part of that month. If the month of January alone is taken, there was an increase of 29 per cent. for Hull and of 27 per cent. for the Tyne ports.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that the fishing industry at Hull is being severely handicapped by the high prices demanded now for South Yorkshire hard coal; whether he is aware that South Yorkshire coal is now 5s. per ton higher than pre-stoppage prices, whereas Northumberland and Durham coal has only risen by about 1s. 6d.; and whether the present shortage of coal, which may be the cause of present high prices in Yorkshire, is consequent on a shortage of wagons for rail transport or upon the periodical closing of pits?

I have received no complaints from the fishing industry at Hull that it is being handicapped either by high coal prices or by a shortage of coal. Nor has my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, whom I have consulted on the point. As regards the rest of the question, such information as is in my possession does not bear out what my hon. Friend says about the comparative price movements of South Yorkshire and Northumberland and Durham coals.

asked the Minister of Transport the grounds on which he has refused consent to the application of the Stockton-on-Tees Corporation, under the Stockton-on-Tees Corporation Act, 1919, to run omnibuses on a route from Port Clarence to Seaton Carew and West Hartlepool along the main road constructed some time ago by the Tees Conservancy Commissioners; and if he will reconsider the decision arrived at on this point?

I caused a public inquiry to be held at Stockton-on-Tees, and after consideration of the Report of the Inspector and of the representations made at the inquiry, I was not satisfied that the corporation had made out a sufficiently good case to justify the giving of my consent in respect of this particular route, though my consent was given as regards other routes. As regards the last part of the question, I can see no reason to modify the decision which I have already given.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, seeing that in the proposed widening of Kensington High Street a private firm is surrendering about 10,000 square feet of land and acquiring about 30,000 square feet of public street, in addition to a payment from public revenues, he will make it one of the terms of this expenditure of public money that the said firm shall provide a parking place for the cars of its customers, and thereby relieve the public thoroughfares?

The figure of 10,000 square feet given in my hon. Friend's question is inaccurate. The correct figure is 16,270 square feet. Apart from this I understand that the agreement- under which this improvement will be carried into effect will provide for the larger area of what are now two streets being kept unbuilt upon, and for the remaining area to be re-arranged to form loading bays. I have not yet had an opportunity of considering the proposed agreement, but when doing so I will take into consideration my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated a-mount of petrol consumed by motor vehicles in Great Britain and Northern Ireland last year?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 24th February to the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. Taylor), of which I am sending him a copy. Official statistics do not exist which would show the amount of motor spirit consumed by motor vehicles in Great Britain.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give the House, in tabular form, the number of summonses issued against motorists by the Metropolitan Police for alleged offences committed

CHARGES OF MOTOR OFFENCES IN SUTTON 1925 AND 1926.
—	1925.					1926.
	Summonses.	Convictions.	Fines.			Summonses.	Convictions.	Fines.
			£	s.	d.			£	s.	d.
Exceeding 10 mile speed limit.	1,874	1,865	4,922	0	0	1,546	1,536	3,851	0	0
Dangerous Driving etc.	21	16	52	0	0	21	15	49	0	0
Other Charges	139	119	71	13	0	181	161	121	6	0
Total	2,034	2,000	5,045	13	0	1,748	1,712	4,021	6	0

asked the President of the Board of Education (1) what was the total number of children attending the Tipton elementary schools at the end of January, 1927;(2) what was the total number of children attending elementary schools in Darlaston at the end of January, 1927;(3) what was the total number of school children attending the elementary schools under the Wednesbury Education Committee at the end of January, 1927?

For the quarter ended the 31st December last, the latest date for which figures are available, the total average attendance at public elementary schools in Tipton was 6,698 and in Wednesbury 5,159. The Urban District Council of Darlaston is not a local education authority, the area being part of the area of the local education authority for Staffordshire. During the year ended the 31st March, 1926, the total average attendance at public elementary schools in Darlaston was 3,316.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether

The figures are as follow:he has yet received copies of the address of the Governor of Nigeria, in which he announced a change in the land policy of Nigeria?

I have received the address and am having a copy placed in the Library. The Governor did not announce a change in the land policy of Nigeria.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that an official body in Kenya has recommended that, under the proposed compulsory Military Service Bill, soldiers shall be exempted from the oath of allegiance to the Crown; and whether he proposes to give his consent to such a Bill?

I presume the hon. Member refers to the recommendation made by a Select Committee, consisting of six unofficial and two official members of the Legislative Council. The inquiry in the latter part of the question is hypothetical, and I am unable to add anything to the replies which I gave on the 14th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that a large delegation of American legionaries are visiting France this year, and that the charge for the visa has been waived in their ease; and whether, in order to induce them to visit this country, he proposes to afford them similar facilities?

Yes, Sir; a decision to the effect that these facilities would be granted by His Majesty's Government was communicated to the United States Ambassador on the 4th of October last.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the special Commission for considering the preliminary draft Convention on the private manufacture of arms has yet met; and who is the British representative on this Commission?

No, Sir. The Commission will meet on the 14th instant. The British 'representative will be the Viscount Cecil of Chelwood.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when he intends to lay the White Paper specifying the breaches of the Trade Agreement with Russia?

His Majesty's Government's Note to the Soviet Government of 23rd February, which dealt with this subject at length, will be published in a White Paper, together with the Soviet Government's reply, as soon as the authentic text of the latter document is received from His Majesty's representative at Moscow.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any information showing what were the causes of the action of Latvia and Mauri- tius in withdrawing from the International Conventions and Agreements, as stated ia Cmd. 2804?

His Majesty's Government have no information regarding the reasons for the denunciation by Latvia of the agreement for the prevention of false indications of origin on goods. The Government of Mauritius withdrew from the Convention for the International Institute of Agriculture, because they considered that the benefits accruing from the Convention were not commensurate with the expense, entailed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has received any representations from the United States Government with reference to the despatch of a British cruiser to Nicaragua; and, if so, if he can make a statement thereon?

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

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when it is hoped to complete the "Rodney" and "Nelson"; how long they will have been under construction from the date of the laying of the keels; and what is the latest estimate of their final cost, inclusive of armaments?

His Majesty's ship "Rodney" is expected to be completed in September next, the period of construction being 4 years 9 months, and the total cost including guns on board £6,566,884. His Majesty's ship "Nelson" is expected to be completed in July next, the period of construction being 4 years 7 months, and the cost £6,483,879. If armament is to include ammunition and reserves, £921,390 would be added for each ship.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty in what Dominions marriage allowance is paid to the wives of naval officers?

Marriage allowance is paid, subject to certain restrictions, to warrant officers and commissioned officers from warrant rank of the Royal Australian Navy and also to the same ranks serving in the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, with reference to the' £250,000 subscribed by Hong Kong to the Singapore base, whether he will State how the balance of the money not yet expended has been put?

There is no balance of money unspent.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a rating who recently met with an accident in H.M.S. "Carysfort," at Devonport, had to wait nearly two hours for the arrival of a doctor to attend him, and, although all medical stores were on board, there was no qualified person who could open the medical chest and render first aid; and whether, seeing that this ship has more than 200 ratings aboard, he will take steps to see that either a medical officer or sick-berth rating is borne?

The accident in question was the upsetting of a kettle of hot water on a man's foot. First aid was efficiently rendered at once and had the services of a doctor been urgently required he could have been summoned by boat in a short time. When the doctor arrived an hour and ten minutes afterwards he found the foot very well dressed and the patient comfortable, having eaten a good supper. It is not considered necessary to appoint medical staff to ships in reserve at the home ports other than ships of the senior officers of the reserve.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he was consulted by the Chancellor of the Exchequer as to the use of official documents commenting on the battle of Jutland, quoted in the extracts from his forthcoming book, the World Crisis, extracts from which have been published in the Press?

I am informed by my advisers that the author referred to has quoted no official documents relating to the Battle of Jutland except such as have previously appeared in the volume of official despatches presented to Parliament in 1920 (Cmd. 1068), in the Admiralty narrative published in 1924, or in the volumes of the History of Naval Operations already published under the authority of the Committee of Imperial Defence. In these circumstances, it was not necessary for the author to consult me as to their use.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of gunboats in the projected Japanese programme?

The projected programme now includes two river gunboats, not three as I stated in my reply of the 23rd February to my hon. and gallant Friend (OFFICIAL REPORT, Column 1766).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state, in view of the cost of the still undisbanded Ministry of Food being £5,018 for the year 1926–27, what is the amount recovered by this Ministry in the liquidation of accounts during the years 1925 and 1926?

The amounts recovered in 1925 and 1926 were £35,000 and £78,000 respectively, to which should be added the savings effected in the settlement of claims against the Department, which amounted to £635,000 in the two years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Hull Corporation telephones committee has recently accepted a tender of £896 for German-made cables, whereas the lowest British tender was £1,312; and whether there are any special circumstances which explain the disparity in these figures?

I have been asked to reply. I have no knowledge of this tender or of any circumstances which would explain the disparity.

asked the President on the Board of Trade whether he can give the figures for 1925 and 1926, respectively, of British trade with France, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden under the following heads, export, re-export, and imports?

Branch of Trade.			1911.	1912.	1913.
			£	£	£
Imports consigned from Russia	…	…	43,154,000	40,539,000	40,271,000
Exports consigned to Russia:
(i) United Kingdom merchandise		…	13,512,000	13,738,000	18,103,000
(ii) Imported merchandise	…	…	8,805,000	8,003,000	9,591,000
Total Exports	…	…	22,317,000	21,741,000	27,694,000

I regret that the available statistics afford no sufficient basis for apportioning this trade between the territory of the present Russia (U.S.S.R.) and that of the new Baltic States.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is prepared to publish a Return showing the number of new holders registered on lands acquired by negotiations initiated since the present Government came into power, and the acreage, cost, and annual rent of each holding formed on land thus acquired?

The preparation of a Return such as the hon. and gallant Member suggests would involve an expenditure of time out of all proportion to the value of the information, having regard in particular to the difficulty of allocating the expenses of any one scheme to the

The figures are given on pages 163, 168 and 173 of the January, 1927, issue of the monthly Accounts relating to the Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the figures of British trade with Russia for the years 1911, 1912, and 1913, distinguishing, if possible, between Russia as at present constituted and the Baltic States?

The following statement shows the value of the trade of the United Kingdom with Russia during the years specified.individual holdings comprised in it and to the fact that the net cost of each scheme can at present only be estimated.

asked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether, in view of the proposal by the Forestry Commissioners to purchase the estate of Achtertyre, Ross-shire, and seeing that local applicants are anxious to extend their holdings or acquire new ones on the estate, the Commissioners will give sympathetic consideration to these applications, in view of the fact that the applicants are ex-service men and suitable?

If the estate is acquired, the Forestry Commissioners, in consultation with the Board of Agriculture, will, so far as the establishment of an economic forest unit permits, give sympathetic consideration to the applications referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number and names of the local authorities who have submitted schemes under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act; the number and names of the local authorities in the Highlands who have submitted schemes; and the schemes which have been approved in each case?

As I informed the hon. Member in ray reply on the 1st instant, the number of local authorities on whose behalf draft schemes have been submitted to the Scottish Board of Health is 11. They are as follow:In Dumfries County, the District Committees of Annan, Dumfries, Lang-holm, Lockerbie and Thornhill Districts;In Roxburgh County, the District Committees of Hawick, Jedburgh, Kelso, Liddesdale and Melrose Districts; andIn Haddington County, the District Committee of the Western District.No scheme has yet been submitted by any Highland local authority, and no schemes have yet been approved in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether houses known as black houses are eligible for assistance under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, provided the local authority takes advantage of the Act and gives its approval?

I would refer the hon. Member to Section 2 (2) (e) of the Act, from which he will observe that no assistance can be given under the Act unless the local authority are satisfied that the dwelling will, after the completion of the works, be in all respects fit for habitation as a dwelling by persons of the working class. I cannot, therefore, undertake to express any opinion as to whether any particular class of house will or will not be eligible for subsidy under the Act, as the Statute leaves it to the discretion of the local authority.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the loss sustained in the telegraph service of his Department, he will consider the discontinuance of transmission of Press telegrams at the existing rate; and whether he is satisfied that the Press as a, whole is desirous of retaining this form of subsidy?

I beg to refer the hon. Baronet to the Postmaster-General's answer to a question put by the hon. Member for Everton (Co'onel Woodcock) on the 15th of February. So far as my information goes, the Press as a whole would not favour the abolition of a separate rate for Press telegrams.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that open sedition is being advocated by Communist speakers in the industrial areas; that a Communist speaker at a large open-air demonstration in Newcastle, which was attended by soldiers in khaki recently, addressing the soldiers, directly exhorted them, if they were sent to China, not to use their rifles against the Chinese, but to join the strikers against the cut-throat capitalists; what instructions are issued from the Home Office in regard to such speeches; and what number of prosecutions in such cases have taken place during the last three months?

As a part of their ordinary duty the police keep careful observation with a view to action being taken in regard to any such speeches. As regards the meeting at Newcastle-on-Tyne, I have made inquiry and find that neither of the constables present heard the alleged incitements or saw any soldiers present in the audience. If evidence of that kind is available the local police authorities should be placed in possession of it. I am not aware of any case during the past three months in which proceedings for incitement to mutiny have been practicable.

asked the Home Secretary when the Report of the Commission on Juvenile Delinquency will be available?

I understand that the Committee is likely to present its Report towards the end of this month.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the whole cost of the sending of the Indian troops to China will be a charge on the Imperial revenue?

This question has not yet been discussed with the Government of India, and I can therefore make no statement at present.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give an analysis of the sick-leave figures quoted by him on 15th December, 1926, showing the departments from which the figures were taken, and giving the average sick-leave absence in days for writing assistants, and women and men clerical officers respectively?

The statistics to which my hon. Friend refers were based upon returns furnished in respect of the headquarters staffs of the Admiralty, Air Ministry and War Office, the Ministry of Pensions (including staff employed at Acton) and the Department of Inland Revenue, and also in respect of the headquarters and ex-headquarters staffs of the Department of Customs and Excise, and the Ministries of Agriculture and Fisheries, Health and Labour. These returns relate to the average amount of sick-leave absence in days of all grades of established civil servants represented on the staffs in question for each of the years 1922, 1923, 1924 and 1925, but I regret that the information available in the returns is not in a form which would enable me to give my hon. Friend the separate details which he desires in regard to the particular grades of established employès referred to in the latter part of the question.