asked the Minister of Pensions the number of institutions controlled by the Ministry; the name and place where situated, and for 12 months up to the last convenient date, in respect of each institution, the number of beds available for use; the daily average number of beds occupied; the number of in-patients treated to a conclusion; total cost of in-patients, excluding rent, rates and taxes; average cost per bed occupied; average cost per in-patient; average cost per in-patient per day; average residence per in-patient treated to a conclusion; and the average number of inpatients per bed occupied?

I append a table showing the particulars asked for, as far as they can be given, with regard to each of the hospitals controlled by my Department.It has not been found practicable to base the figures of residence and cost upon the number of in-patients "treated to a conclusion.' This method of cal- culation is only suitable to hospitals with a frequently changing population of a fairly uniform type, which is not the case with most of the Ministry hospitals.The hospitals have been arranged in groups according to the predominant type of case in them, but it will be understood that several of the hospitals provide accommodation for patients of special types (e.g., cases of malaria and dysentery, paraplegics, and observation cases) in addition to their normal occupants.

Hospitals under the Control of the Ministry of Pensions, period 1st February, 1926, TO 31ST JANUARY, 1927.
Hospital.	Number of beds available (average).	Daily average of number occupied.	Total cost of in-patients (excluding rent, rates and taxes) per annum.	Average cost per annum per bed occupied.			Average cost per in-patient per day.
1.	2.	3.	4.	5.			6.
	Hospitals for General Medical and Surgical Cases.
			£	£	s.	d.	s.	d.
Coombe Park, Bath	301	248	44,015	177	9	7	9	9
Beckett Park, Leeds	242	228	43,196	189	9	1	10	4
Bellahouston Glasgow	210	195	42,582	218	7	4	12	0
Blackrock, Dublin	298	285	45,212	158	12	9	8	8
Castle Leazes, Newcastle-on-Tyne	328	294	55,322	188	3	5	10	4
Craigleith, Edinburgh	230	200	43,394	216	19	5	11	11
Chepstow	150	138	24,737	179	5	1	9	10
Grangethorpe, Manchester	227	200	34,416	167	1	4	9	2
Mossley Hill, Liverpool	353	320	44,460	138	18	9	7	7
Rookwood, Llandaff	58	53	7,405	139	14	3	7	9
Leopardstown Patk, Stillorgan, Dublin.	136	122	17,260	141	9	6	7	9
	Hospitals for Neurological Cases.
Cosham, Hants	286	Opened in December, 1926-January, 1927. Statistics not available.
Edenhall, Musselburgh, Edinburgh	100	95	9,433	99	6	0	5	5
Harrowby Camp, Grantham	230	217	23,709	109	6	2	6	0
Orpington, Kent	429	400	51,941	129	17	1	7	1
Saltash, Cornwall	433	406	35,657	87	16	5	4	10
	Hospitals for Epileptics and Certified Mental Cases.
Maghull, Liverpool	300	267	33,706	120	4	9	6	11
*Kirkburton, near Huddersfield	280	272	30,091	110	12	7	6	0
	Hospital for Nurses (General Medical and Surgical).
Holborn Red Cross Hospital, Fernbank, Roehampton, S.W.	12	9½	2,350	247	7	4	13	6
	Hospital for Officers (Neurological).
Latehmere, Ham Common, Surrey.	58	44	10,578	240	8	0	13	3
* This hospital, while under the full medical control of this Ministry is, formally, part of an institution established under the Lunacy Acts by the local authority.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, seeing that surgical opinion is overwhelmingly in favour of light metal limbs, whether for amputations above or below the knee, it is the practice of the Ministry to issue such Tight metal limbs in all cases of amputation below the knee or only in special cases; and if the latter, on what principle is a distinction made?

I am not aware of any authority for the assumption made by my hon. and gallant Friend in the first part of the question, hut I may say that light metal limbs are issued both for above and below knee amputations in every case recommended by the surgeons. In many cases, however, the wooden limb which has now been so far improved that it is actually lighter than the metal limb, is regarded both by the pensioner and the surgeon as more suitable, especially in amputations below the knee.

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the number of sightless children receiving educational training under the various Education Acts on 31st December, 1926?

The number of totally blind children receiving educational training during the year ended 31st December, 1925, the last year for which complete returns are available, was upwards of 1,700 out of a total of 2,000 ascertained by local education authorities in that year. The fact that the remainder are not attending special schools is due, in a very large number of cases, to the unwillingness of the parents to have their children sent to residential schools.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of classes in the elementary schools in Staffordshire where there are more than 40 scholars in the class; and what action is being taken by the Board of Education, the county, and other local education authorities to reduce the number of scholars in all classes in elementary schools to 40 or less?

The number of classes containing more than 40 pupils in the area of the Staffordshire local authority was, on the 31st March, 1926, 632. As regards the second part of the question, the immediate aim of the Board is that stated in Circular 1325, issued by my predecessor in 1924 i.e., the elimination of classes of over 50 children and the reduction to 40 of classes for older pupils. The size of classes depends largely upon the accommodation, and the process of reduction is necessarily gradual; but the number of classes with over 50 children in this area fell from 177 on the 31st March, 1925, to 144 on the 31st March, 1926.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that, although it is nearly three years since the Christchurch and St, Augustine's non-provided elementary schools, Ramsgate, were condemned by the Board, they are still being used for educational purposes; whether he will set a time-limit to such use; and what steps the local education authority are taking to secure adequate accommodation in the event of the managers failing to replace these buildings?

I am aware of the position as regards these two schools. In both cases the managers are taking steps to meet the Board's criticisms by the improvement or replacement of the premises. I am keeping the matter under careful observation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the expert recently commissioned by the Government to inquire into the organisation of the sugar industry in the Punjab has delivered his Report; and, if so, whether he will inform the House of the expert's conclusion?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The matter is one for which the Governor, acting with his Ministers is responsible to his Legislative Council; and as my Noble Friend does not know whether the expert's conclusions have been made public in the Punjab, they cannot be stated here.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India when the Government a India hopes to bring the Trades Union Act into force; and whether the rules under the Act framed by the Provincial Governments have yet been published?

The Act will come into force when Regulations have been duly promulgated by Provincial Governments. Some of the latter have published the draft of their proposed Regulations, as required by the Act, for general information.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if the Convention in the Montagu-Chelmsford Report has been observed which recommended that in Provincial Legislative Councils on subjects transferred to the control of Ministers, official members should abstain from voting and leave the decision of the question to the non-official members of the Council?

As a general rule this suggestion has not been followed. In April, 1921, the Bengal Council negatived without a division a proposal to the effect of that indicated in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Shanghai authorities have refused to recognise the right of trade union combination among Chinese employés in the international concession?

No, Madame.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government is considering with the other Allied Governments the advisability of the withdrawal of all the Allied troops from the Rhineland; and whether this question is being or has been discussed by the Foreign Secretary with the representatives of France and Germany at the meeting at Geneva of the Council of the League of Nations?

In regard to the first part of this question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. W. Thorne) on the 15th December last, to which I have nothing to add. As regards the second part of the question, I shall not be in a position to answer the hon. Member's enquiry until my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has returned from Geneva.

asked the Home Secretary if the balance sheet of a charitable organisation known as the Ancient Order of Froth Blowers, issued in November, shows receipts totalling £16,545 and expenditure amounting to £11,139, leaving a sum of £5,406 for charitable purposes; and whether he proposes to take steps to have the accounts of the organisation mentioned inspected?

I have no information in regard to this charity, and there is no power at present to take any action of the nature suggested. The whole question of the supervision of collecting charities has, however, been under the consideration of a strong committee, whose report I hope to receive in the course of a few days.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to a sentence of six months' imprisonment with hard labour passed by the North London Police Court magistrate upon a labourer, Wright, for cutting off a tress of a girl's hair; whether he is aware that this offence is a well-known sexual aberration; and will he recommend that the sentence be remitted?

The answer to the first two parts of this question is in the affirmative. The answer to the third part is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary how many applications for hackney carriage licences have been refused to applicants for public conveyances for the years 1924, 1925 and 1926 in the County of London?

I understand that there has been no actual refusal of a licence during the years mentioned, though a number of applications for renewal in the case of motor cabs of old design have been withdrawn on account of inability to comply with the Commissioner's requirements.

asked the Home Secretary the number of taximeter cabs at present holding licences in the County of London area?

The number within the County of London is not known. The number licensed for the metropolitan police district on the 28th February, 1927, was 8,356.

asked the Home Secretary the names of places outside the metropolitan area where the licensing justices have agreed to eight-and-a-half hours instead of eight hours; the names of places where this extension has been refused; and whether any of these extensions, and, if so, what, are for seasonal periods only?

I am afraid that, as I told my hon. Friend about a year ago, I am not in possession of the desired information, and I do not think it could be obtained without great labour.

asked the Home Secretary the number of persons convicted for offences committed during the coal dispute under the Emergency Powers Regulations or the Common Law, respectively, who are still in prison; how many are awaiting sentence; and how many are still awaiting trial?

The following figures show the position as it was on 7th March. 81 persons, of whom six were convicted under the Emergency Regulations and 75 under the ordinary law, were still serving sentence on that date for offences arising out of the coal dispute. 151 were awaiting trial at Assizes, of whom 140 Were, on bail and 11 were in prison serving sentence on other charges arising out of the coal dispute. None who were convicted were still awaiting sentence. In addition, and excluding cases which have been adjourned sine die, there are some 27 cases under the ordinary law, and one under the Emergency Regulations, in which proceedings before Courts of Summary Jurisdiction have not yet been concluded.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that 300 or more colliers have been restarted at the Risca collieries, Monmouthshire, without a single timberman or repairer being restarted; that this class of workmen are essential for keeping the roadways in repair and for ensuring reasonable freedom from falls of roof and sides, which accounts for so many accidents; and that a stoppage took place on Monday last, as a protest against these bad repairs and the general unsatisfactory state of the workings; and will he order a special examination of this colliery with a view to having these matters put right?

A complaint in this matter was made to the Divisional Inspector of Mines on Monday last. It was investigated immediately, and such action as was found necessary was taken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total tonnage and the value of coal imported into this country for the 12 months ending 28th February, 1927?

22,242,896 tons of coal, valued at £49,158,698, were imported into the United Kingdom in the twelve months ended 28th February, 1927.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that colliery firemen and examiners are constantly called upon to do work other than that prescribed in the Mines Act; that these men, being in the employ of the colliery company, are under the absolute control of the manager and subject to his orders, and consequently not free to do what in their opinion may be necessary; and whether he will introduce legislation for the purpose of making these men State officials, so that there shall be at least one man in every district free from interference and independent of the management, the same to be paid from national funds which may be recovered from the industry?

The hon. Member's proposal is incompatible with the basic principle of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, which is to vest the control and direction of a mine in one person—the manager—and I am not prepared to adopt it. But if the hon. Member will give me particulars, I shall be glad to have inquiry made into the cases in which he suggests that, in contravention of the Act, firemen and deputies are being prevented from carrying out their statutory duties thoroughly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hours per week were worked by crane men, assistant crane men, locomotive men, engineers and labourers, during the month of February, 1927, at the State subsidised beet-sugar factory at Cupar, Fife?

I am informed that no crane men were employed during February; that one locomotive man was employed 55 hours per week; and that engineers and labourers worked 44 hours per week.

asked the Home Secretary (1) if any steps are taken by his Department to insist upon adequate ventilation and sanitary arrangements in beet-sugar factories;

All the beet sugar factories are regularly visited by the factory inspectors, and the reports received show that compliance with the requirements of the Factory Act has, in general, been amply secured. Temperatures are necessarily somewhat high in this work, but adequate ventilation is provided, and the sanitary arrangements are satisfactory. The requirements of the Act as to meal times, which, as the hon. Member is no doubt aware, apply only in the case of women and young persons, are also observed. The machinery, including belts, is reported, generally speaking, to be well protected. In a few cases, however, the inspector found that further protection was necessary and has taken special steps to secure this.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the estimated saving during the last five years on printing through the Post Office Savings Bank Department?

The estimated saving during the last five years has amounted to £15,524.

asked the, Postmaster-General how many prosecutions have been commenced, and with what result, for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date, against persons who have failed to take out wireless licences?

The number of persons prosecuted for the use of unlicensed wireless apparatus during the 12 months ended on the 28th February, 1927, was 600. In 597 cases convictions were obtained, and the remaining three cases were dismissed.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that during the last five years the maximum amount administered by the overseers in any one year has been £94; and will he state what relief and under what circumstances this relief was given; how many orders were given for medical attendance and how many for workhouse or casual ward; and, in each case, the name and county of the parish and the distance from the relieving officer of the person when receiving from the overseer the relief or order?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the circumstances attending the death of a casual vagrant, Andrew Wilson, at Gloucester Casual Ward; whether he is aware that the deceased admittedly asked to see a medical man 18 hours before his death and was not seen by a medical man; and whether, as this failure to have this man medically inspected was contrary to the terms of a circular recently sent cut to Poor Law institutions by his Department, he will inquire into the matter?

I regret to say that my attention had not previously been called to this case. I have now seen a newspaper report of the coroner's inquest in which the coroner is stated to have said that he could not see there was anything to suggest that the officer in charge of the casual ward in any way failed in his duties. The inspector for the district has reported that the general arrangements for dealing with sick casuals at the institution are satisfactory. But I am calling on the guardians for a detailed report of the case.

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of blind persons in receipt of old age pensions at the end of 1926, in accordance with the provisions of the Blind Persons Act, 1920?

I have been asked to reply. The number of persons in Great Britain and Northern Ireland in receipt of pensions under the Blind Persons Act, 1920, on the last Friday in December, 1926, was 18,446.

asked the Minister a Health if he will state the total number of blind persons in England and Wales on 31st December, 1926?

The last return of blind persons registered in England and Wales was made on the 31st March, 1925, and showed a total of 42,140. A further return will be asked for on the 31st March next.

asked the Minister of Health the total expenditure upon welfare schemes for the blind during 1926?

Figures are not available for the calendar year 1926. In the financial year ended 31st March, 1926, Government Grants-in-Aid of the welfare of the blind amounted to £103,994. The expenditure of local authorities was approximately £136,000. The income from voluntary sources of the voluntary agencies for the blind which are assisted by Government Grant was £420,403.

asked the Minister of Health why, in view of the intention of Parliament in passing the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925, glasshouses used for the growing of early vegetables are not being exempted from three-quarters of the rates on the same principle as farm buildings are exempted?

The Executive Committee of the Central Valuation Committee have expressed the opinion that the definition in the second schedule to the Act covers glasshouses used in connection with market gardening, which the right hon. Gentleman no doubt has in mind. He will, however, appreciate that the relief afforded under the Act does not, come into operation in any rating area until the first new valuation list made under the Act comes into force in that area, that is to say on the 1st April, 1928, or the 1st April, 1929, as the came may be.

asked the Minister of Health the number of factories in England and Wales; and the number of factories that have been visited by his inspectors in the two years ending 31st December, 1926?

The number of factories in England and Wales at end of the year 1926 was 129,695. The number visited in 1925 was 102,111; and in 1926, 101,962. The number not visited either in 1925 or in 1926 was 1,290.

asked the Minister or Health the number of dairies in England and Wales and the number inspected in the 12 months ending 31st December, 1926, by the two milk inspectors?

Information is not available as to the number of dairy farms in England and Wales, but it is estimated to be over 200,000. The number of farms inspected in 1926 by the two milk inspectors of my Department was 220, these being farms for which a licence to sell certified or Grade A (tuberculin tested) milk was held or applied for. The responsibility for the supervision of other farms rests with local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received any protests from any section of dentists against the action of representatives of the profession entering into arrangements with the approved societies in connection with dental benefit under the National Health Insurance Acts; whether there is statutory authority for appointing regional medical officers; and whether any disciplinary action taken by the regional dental officers recently appointed affects in any way the right of dentists to appeal to the High Court of Justice snider the provisions of the Dentists Act?

I have not received any protests of the nature referred to by the hon. Member. The regional dental officers have been appointed by me by virtue of the powers conferred by Section 6 of the Ministry of Health Act, 1919. They are not empowered to take any disciplinary action, nor could any administrative action affect the statutory powers and duties of the Dental Board or deprive the dental profession of any rights which are given them by the Dentists Act.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Food Council has considered the desirability of publishing every week the wholesale prices of the chief articles of food, so that the consumer, wherever he may be, may be able to compare with them the retail prices which he has to pay?

I have brought the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion to the notice of the Food Council, who will consider it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the London Master Bakers' Society are charging 9d. per quartern loaf for bread, while many shops throughout the London area are only charging 8éd. per quartern loaf; and will he say what, if any, action is contemplated?

The price recommended by the society to its members is not in excess of the Food Council's scale, and no action is contemplated.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, in view of the existing shortage of agricultural labour in this country and the number of men who have been in industrial employment and are anxious to take up an agricultural life, either overseas or at home, if adequate training facilities can be provided, he will reconsider the present decision of the Government, and in consultation with the Dominion Gov-eminent of Canada include those British migrants who have had an industrial occupation but who have now every intention of settling on the land?

I have every sympathy with the desire of my hon. and gallant Friend that assistance towards overseas settlement should be available to suitable persons in this country who are without agricultural experience, but wish to settle upon the land overseas. I cannot hold out hopes that in the absence of contribution from the Dominion Governments the training facilities now provided in this country can be largely extended, but I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend is aware that these facilities are exclusively for inexperienced persons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in order to allay native suspicion, he will arrange to have at least one educated native on the Kenya Native Lands Trust?

The question of native representation on the suggested Advisory

	1913–14.		1924–25.		1925–26 (Estimates).
Schedule.	Gross Income.	Actual Income.	Gross Income.	Actual Income.	Gross Income.	Actual Income.
	£	£	£	£	£	£
A	282,262,109	175,661,668	362,649,031	224,579,077	375,000,000	231,000,000
B	17,500,213	5,373,061	49,000,000	29,355,846	49,000,000	29,000,000
C	51,168,329	47,775,979	151,929,791	135,533,262	156,000,000	140,000,000
D	670,633,544	584,345,743	1,323,502,885	1,016,394,902	1,370,000,000	1,065,000,000
E (Manual Wage Earners).	—	—	371,256,818	343,491,295	300,000,000	270,000,000
E (Other Assessments).	145,620,034	137,884,036	712,112,750	651,370,974	700,000,000	640,000,000
Total	1,167,184,229	951,040,487	2,970,451,275	2,400,725,356	2,950,000,000	2,375,000,000

Actual income means the statutory income of taxpayers, estimated in accordance with the provisions of the Income Tax Acts, excluding the income of individuals with a total income not exceeding the exemption limit. For the years in question the respective exemption limits were

—	1913–14.	1924–25.	1925–26.
	£	£	£
For earned income	160	150	162
For investment income.	160	135	135

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the gross and actual amount of Income Tax brought under review under the various schedules, respectively, for the latest available year and 1913–14?

It is assumed that particulars of income brought under review are desired, and the figures are as follow:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of bondholders or organisations holding the National Debt of the country?

I regret that the information asked for is not available. The number of stock accounts, excluding savings certificates and ordinary deposits in the Post Office and Trustee Savings Banks, is 5,150,000, but one account may be in the name of many holders and, conversely, a holder may have more than one account. In the second Annual Report of the National War Savings Committee (Command Paper 9112) it was esti- mated that at the end of the year 1917 Government Securities had been distributed amongst 16,000,000 people, including 10,000,000 holders of Savings Certificates.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the number and total acreage of small holdings above one acre and under 50 acres in the county of Shropshire; what number and acreage belong to the county council; how many approved applicants for holdings there are; and how many applicants are still awaiting interview?

The number of agricultural holdings above one acre and not exceeding 50 acres in the county of Shropshire, as recorded in the Agricultural Returns for 1924, was 7,472 and the area 100,809 acres. The number of such holdings provided by the county council at the end of 1924 was 208, with an area of 4,277 acres, and these figures were practically unchanged on the 31st March, 1926, on which date the council had 63 approved applicants on their waiting list and a further 178 awaiting interview.