asked the Minister of Labour what was the total number of men and women workers employed in the tinplate industry in South Wales and Monmouthshire for the week ending 27th February, 1926, and for the week ending 26th February, 1927?

The estimated number of insured workpeople in the tinplate industry of South Wales and Monmouthshire at July, 1925, was 24,680 as compared with 28,630 at July, 1926. At 22nd February, 1926, 2,52.1 insured persons were recorded as unemployed as compared with 1,798 at 21st February, 1927. Statistics regarding the number of insured persons in this industry at February of each year are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the total number of workers employed in the iron and steel industry in South Wales and Monmouthshire for the week ending 27th February, 1926, and for the week ending 26th February, 1927?

The estimated number of insured workpeople in the iron and steel industry of South Wales and Monmouthshire at July, 1925, was 29,710 as compared with 29,760 at July, 1926. At 22nd February, 1926, 5,383 insured persons were recorded as unemployed as compared with 6,257 at 21st February, 1927. Statistics regarding the number of insured persons in this industry at February of each year are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has any information regarding the increase in the number of people employed in motor manufacture since July, 1925?

At July, 1925, the number of insured workpeople classified as belonging to the industry group "construction and repair of motor vehicles, cycles and aircraft" was 213,210 as compared with 222,280 at July, 1926, giving an increase of 9,070. I regret that separate figures for motor manufacture alone are not available, and that figures cannot be given for later dates.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of registered unemployed persons in the Ilkeston division, which includes Ilkeston, Heanor, and Ripley, in the month of January in the years 1925, 1926, and 1927, respectively.

The figures are as follow:NUMBER OF PERSONS on the Registers of Employment Exchanges at Ilkeston, Heanor and Ripley.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed receiving extended benefit at the Walworth Road (Borough) Employment Exchange at the present time; and the corresponding figures for a year ago?

I regret that statistics are not available giving the information desired.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a representative of his Department was present officially at the recent demonstration in London of the vacuum cleaner for grooming horses; whether this process is regarded as satisfactory and will be utilised in the Army; and, if so, whether it will afford any economy in personnel?

The War Department had no knowledge of the demonstration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Government have definitely decided to abolish the bounty to Territorials; if he is aware that a number of Territorial officers have suggested an all-round bounty of 30s. as an alternative to the bounty of £3 per annum to trained soldiers and £2 10s. to recruits, which was in operation up to 28th February, 1927; and if he intends taking action in the matter?

I am aware of the suggestion referred to but I cannot make any statement at present.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why the effective age of a cruiser was taken at 15 years in the 1925 Return of Fleets, Cmd. 2349, and why last year and this year it has been taken at 20 years in Cmd. 2809; and what is the reason for this change?

The change in the assumed life of cruisers was adopted in 1925 as a measure of economy in the hope that it may be found possible to maintain the bulk of the ships of this type in active service or in reserve for that period of time.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the qualification for warrant writer mentioned in Article 318, paragraph 3, of the King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions are in order of priority; if so, whether the last promotion made to this rank was the first on the roster under the provisions of the Regulation quoted; and how many chief petty officer writers had passed both educationally and professionally before the man last promoted?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative and therefore the, second part of the question does not arise. No chief petty officer writer had passed both educationally and professionally before the man last promoted.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that at Haslar Royal Naval Hospital all breakages are charged for whether occurring by accident or through carelessness; that, as a result of this method, it is difficult to trace the persons responsible for breakages with the result that articles broken are not reported, and the value is then charged against the ward masters, who cannot exercise supervision to ascertain the persons against whom the charge should be made; and whether he will inquire into the matter?

Breakages by accident at Haslar Royal Naval Hospital are not charged for, but if an article is carelessly or wilfully broken the offender is charged with the value of the article. Each case is investigated, not only by the senior medical officer of the section at the time of the occurrence but afterwards by the medical officer in charge of the establishment.

asked the President of the Board of Education the reasons for which the Board of Education have rejected important parts of the programme submitted by the East Ham Education Authority?

The only important part of this authority's programme which the Board have rejected appears to be the proposal to convert a central school into a secondary school. This proposal was rejected purely on educational grounds. The only proposal for which approval has been withheld on grounds of economy appears to be one for installing central heating in an elementary school, which it was thought might be postponed in view of the authority's financial position. The Board have approved in principle the reorganisation of 10 elementary schools which formed the main immediate feature of the programme.

asked the President of the Board of Education what are the figures for the eight largest cities in England and Wales, and for the rest of the country, indicating the number of boys and girls, respectively, reaching the age of 14 years; what are the anticipated figures based on census returns for such year up to and including 1931; what were the corresponding figures for the past five years; and what is the average number of boys and girls who continue at school until they reach 16 years of age?

I am afraid that I am unable to supply the information for which my hon. and gallant Friend asks. He will find, however, on pages 108 and 109 of the recent Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Education and Industry some figures, prepared by that Committee, intended to forecast, for England and Wales as a whole, the numbers of children attaining given ages over a series of years. Local variations in mortality and migration would, I understand, make it impossible to prepare similar figures for particular areas. As regards the last part of the question, figures showing the number of pupils in the age group 15–16 in attendance at various types of grant-aided schools and institutions will be found in Table 2 of the Board's Volume of Statistics for 1924–25.

asked the President of the Board of Education the duties of the official in the Science Museum who is in receipt of a pension of £425 per annum;. and what is the salary borne on the Board of Education Vote, including the cost-of-living bonus?

The officer in question is guide lecturer on the staff of the Science Museum and is in receipt of an inclusive yearly salary of £320 (exclusive of fees for extra lectures).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the delay in fulfilling the promises of the Government to provide small holdings to ex-service men and others in the Highlands of Scotland is driving many of those men to take possession of land; that, when in possession, they are subjected to summonses for breach of interdict; whether a number of men have been placed in small holdings after they have taken such action; and whether he will cause steps to be taken which will expedite the formation of small holdings, and give those people the benefits to which they are entitled under the Small Landholders Act?

I am not aware that there have been any recent instances of illegal seizure of land apart from the case referred to in my reply to the hon. Member's question yesterday. Any persons who take part in such acts render themselves as a master of course liable to legal proceedings. I understand that in some cases in the past men who had taken part in illegal seizures subsequently obtained holdings, but in the statement to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member's question yesterday I made I, clear that I would not entertain the claims of any men who raid. With regard to the last part of the question I am not to be taken as agreeing with the implication that there has been undue delay. As I have previously stated in the House the process of land settlement will proceed in suitable areas as the available means permit.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the resolutions received from representative bodies requesting that letters posted before 4.30 in the afternoon should be charged the postal rate 1d. instead of 1½d., he will say whether he is favourably considering this recommendation?

Similar suggestions have been made from time to time and have been carefully considered; but, apart from the loss of revenue, there are serious practical difficulties which preclude the adoption of any such arrangement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, without detriment to the public interest, he can state what is the strength of the military and naval forces now at Shanghai belonging to Great Britain and to each of the principal foreign countries?

The British military forces at Shanghai consist of eight regular battalions of infantry, together with the necessary ancillary troops. The only other foreign Power which has despatched troops, as distinct from naval forces, to Shanghai is France. The following is a statement of the naval forces now at Shanghai, including those at Woosung:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the draft Convention on the private manufacture of arms has been published; what are the views of His Majesty's Government concerning it; and what amendments His Majesty's representative is to propose in the committee on the private manufacture of arms now meeting at Geneva?

Yes, Sir. As regards the second and third parts of the question a Committee of the Council is now examining the draft Convention at Geneva and I am not prepared to make public the views of His Majesty's Government at this early stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any approaches were made to the Italian Government by His Majesty's Government with a view to inducing the former to ratify the Treaty of Paris of 1920 relative to Bessarabia?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by whom the cost of the proposed railway defence force in the Saer territory will be borne?

The plan accepted by the Council contemplates that the small force required will be supplied and paid by the Occupying Powers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of vessels that have met with accidents entering or leaving the eastern entrance of Dover Harbour for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

During the year ended 28th February, 1927, the only casualty occurring to vessels entering or leaving the eastern entrance of Dover Harbour was that to the small sailing Vessel "Katharina" on 30th March, 1926. During the same period there were three casualties at the western entrance, two to the "Maid of Kent" on 19th March, 1926, and 13th February, 1927, and one to the yacht "Norada" on 2nd July, 1926.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the length of the Cranwell Railway; what it is chiefly used for; what is the approximate tonnage carried; how much does it work out per ton per mile; and what are the annual deficits for the last three years?

As regards the first part of the question, the length of the main line is 5 miles 14 chains and in addition there are 2 miles 32 chains of sidings. The answer to the second part is that the line has been used entirely for goods traffic since November last; to the third, that approximately 13,500 tons are carried each year on the average. As regards the fourth part, the cost per ton mile during the last three years works out at 3'07d. As regards the last part, the excess of expenditure over receipts for each of the last three years, during which the line was also being used for passenger traffic, was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, seeing that the wives of officers in the Royal Air Force who are stationed at Iraq are not allowed to live with their husbands in that country, of even to visit them, he will, in view of the hardship involved, relax this Regulation?

I regret that I cannot undertake to relax the Regulation referred to by my hon. Friend, but the question of possible relaxation will be kept periodically under review.