asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state, in regard to each of the training farms in East Anglia, the total number of trainees whose course of training has been completed; and the number of those whose instructional course has been terminated summarily for bad timekeeping, unsatisfactory conduct, lack of diligence, and any other cause, respectively?

Up to the 23rd March, 634 men had completed a course of training; 424 at Claydon; 210 at Brandon. The number of men whose instructional course was terminated summarily for unsuitability, unsatisfactory conduct, ill-health, or other cause, was 144; 104 at Claydon and -10 at Brandon.

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the cost for each year since November, 1918, for unemployment benefit, out-of-work donation or relief, Poor Law relief to able-bodied, cost of upkeep, rent, interest, etc., for premises used as Employment Exchanges or offices in connection with such services, cost of staff for the same, and any other costs in connection with unemployment, respectively; and what was the total number of unemployed during these years, giving details of special circumstances in connection with an abnormal number of unemployed in any year?

The information desired, so far as it is available, is hereafter given.

I. Statement showing the approximate amount of 00 Unemployment Benefit; (b) Out-of- Work Donation and (c) Poor Law Relief to able-bodied persons and their Dependants, for each year since 1918.
Year.	Unemployment. Benefit.	Out-of-Work Donation, Ex- Service and Civilian	Poor Law Relief to able-b died persons and their de endants.
	Calendar Year.	Year ending 31st March	Year ending 31st March.
	£	£	£
1918	84,000	—	Not available.*
1919	423,000	13,255,000
1920	2,216,000	86,704,000
1921	58,546,000	11,923,000	500,000
1922	47,932,000	544,000	8,6613,000
1923	39,366,000	21,000	11,717,000
1924	37,874,000	1,000	8,310,000
1925	45,815,000	—	5,459,000
1926	50,187.000	—	7,313,000
* Separate figures for payments to able-bodied persons were not kept for this period, the payments being included in 'be Relief paid to all classes of the Poor, including Sick, Aged, Widows, etc., which from the Armistice to 31st March, 1920, amounted to £33.513,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the regulations respecting the standard of accommodation for seamen on board ship have been revised since October, 1923?

No, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value, respectively, of the imports on the following articles during 1926: Furs, diamonds, and jewels other than diamonds?

The excess of the imports over the le-exports of the commodities specified, so fat as they are separately recorded in the trade returns of the United Kingdom, was as follows in 1926:

	£
Furskins, undressed (all kinds)	4,000
Fur and other skins, dressed	2,739,000
Manufactures of skins and furs:
Clothing (including muffs and similar articles)	199,000
Other sorts (including skinrugs)	1,016,000
Precious and semi-precious stones (unset for jewellery):
Diamonds	201,000
Other sorts	29,000
Jewellery (gem set or not)	10,000

Owing to the fact that a large proportion of the diamonds and jewellery brought into the United Kingdom is conveyed by parcel post, in travellers luggage, etc., the above figures do not represent the total volume of the imports of these goods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the average volume and value of spare parts to motor vehicles of British manufacture exported to the Argentine,. Australia and South Africa, respectively; and, seeing that the reports from those countries indicate that in many eases the British manufacturer fails to sell this product, not on account of the foreign article being either cheaper or better, but because would-be purchasers know from experience that too often spare parts of every sort are not stocked in sufficient quantity by the British agencies, will he take steps to bring these facts to the notice Of exporters?

The approximate total value of the domestic exports of engines and other parts and accessories for touring and commercial motor cars to each of the three countries named, taking an average for the years 1923–4–5, was—to Australia, £179,000; to the Union of South Africa, £52,000; to Argentina, £19,000. The volume represented by these figures cannot be stated. The Department of Overseas Trade is constantly in touch with the motor industry, whose leaders are fully aware of the necessity of maintaining adequate supplies of spare parts in overseas markets.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has received any representations from a Birmingham and Midland Counties Coal Merchants' Association with reference to the question of coal distribution; and if it is intended to introduce legislation to secure the reform suggested?

No, Sir; I have not received any such representations.

asked the Secretary for Mines the average number of shifts worked by coal hewers employed in the South Staffordshire coal district during January, 1927?

I have not the precise information asked for, but on the average, coal was wound at collieries in South Staffordshire on 24 days during January, 1927.

asked the Secretary of Mines the actual average daily wages, after deductions, of coal hewers employed at the coal face in the South Staffordshire coal district?

I regret that this information is not available; and would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to a question by the0 hon. Member for Batley (Mr. Forrest) on the 15th February.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state for each month in the years 1925, 1926, and 1927, the average number of coal-winding days lost and the number of such days due to transport difficulties?

Average Number of Coal-winding Days Lost by the Mines at Work.
Period.	(a) From all causes.	(b) From transport difficulties and want of trade.
1925.
5 weeks ended 31st January	2·93 (New Year holidays)	1·69
4 weeks ended 28th February	1·83	1·66
4 weeks ended 28th March	2·26	2·13
5 weeks ended 2nd May	5·24 (Easter holidays)	2·05
4 weeks ended 30th May	3·31	3·09
4 weeks ended 27th June	6·31 (Whitsun holidays)	3·98
5 weeks ended 1st August	3·83	1·91
4 weeks ended 29th August	5·92 (August Bank Holiday)	3·06
4 weeks ended 26th September	4·97	4·20
5 weeks ended 31st October	4·50	3·91
4 weeks ended 28th November	2·83	2·46
4 weeks ended 26th December.	2·88 (Christm s holidays)	0·88
1926
5 weeks ended 30th January	2·46 (New Year holidays)	0·92
4 weeks ended 27th February	1·49	0·85
4 weeks ended 27th March	1·91	1·48
5 weeks ended 1st May	4·29 (Easter holidays and first day of National stoppage).	0·55
May to November	National stoppage	—
5 weeks ended 1st January (1927)	4·35 (Christmas and New Year holidays).	1·49
1927.
4 weeks ended 29th January	2·95	2·63
4 weeks ended 26th February	2·86	2·72

NOTE.—These particulars refer only to mines which worked during each period and do not take account of those that were closed throughout the whole of it.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of acci-

NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS, involving personal injury reported as having occurred at railway level Crossings between 1st January, 1926, and 26th March, 1927, together with the total number of casualties resulting therefrom.
Public Road Crossings.			Private and Footpath Crossings.			Total.
Number of Accidents.	Killed.	Injured.	Number of Accidents.	Killed.	Injured.	Number of Accidents.	Killed.	Iujured.
34	27*	33*	53	43	14	87	70*	47*
* Including 9 persons killed and 6 injured in accident at Naworth.

I regret that the returns supplied to my Department do not permit of distinction being made between time lost from transport difficulties and that lost from want of trade, but the following are the figures of the time lost from all causes and from these two causes:dents at railway crossings since January, 1926; the number of persons injured; and the number killed?

The following statement gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been drawn to the scheme of roadside first aid that is being introduced by the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John on the important arterial roads; and whether he will consider erecting special kiosks on the roadside to give the society facilities for storing their equipment?

While welcoming any effort that may be made to render assistance to wayfarers, I am not in a position to incur expenditure on the erection of kiosks.

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the top of a Lancashire United double-decker motor omnibus hit a railway bridge at Winton; and if, in view of the fact that the upper deck of the omnibus was demolished and a number of passengers endangered, he will introduce regulations to compel all vehicles to have sufficient clearance to pass under all bridges on any routes they use?

I had not previously heard of this accident. Until I have received the report for which I have called, I am unable to express an opinion on the cause of the occurrence. I have no power to make regulations in the matter, but provision is contained in the Draft Road Traffic Bill for the licensing authority to impose conditions with regard to the types of omnibuses to be used on particular routes.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any action has now been taken by his Department with a view to overcoming the mud splashing nuisance by vehicles; and will he consider regulations having as their object the compulsory fitment of anti-mud splashing devices to all vehicles?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 1st March to my hon. Friend the Member for Ayr Burghs (Lieut.-Colonel Moore) of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any further alterations of wave-lengths is contemplated by the British Broadcasting Corporation for any of the stations under its control?

No application has been received from the British Broadcasting Corporation for permission to make any further alterations in the wave-lengths employed at their stations.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will grant the necessary facilities to the post office situated in that part of Anlaby Parish, near Hull, known as Anlaby Park, where the population is over 2,000 and where the residents are chiefly Hull business people who find it a serious inconvenience to be so far away from full post office facilities, being unable to obtain money orders, licences, or send telegrams at this post office?

I am arranging for the extension of money order and licence facilities to the Anlaby Park Sub Post Office. Having regard, however, to the small number of telegrams likely to be handed in at that office, I regret that I could not at present justify the expense which would be involved in the provision of facilities for handing in telegrams.

asked the Postmaster-General why certain Scottish Territorials in Post Office employment, who were scheduled to go for 14 days' training in May, 1920, but whose training was curtailed to eight days owing to the general strike, were each charged by the Post Office authorities eight days' pay for the period of their absence, although Post Office officials are, by arrangement with the War Office, allowed 14 days' special leave with pay for their Territorial training?

If a Post Office servant who is a member of the Territorial Army attends camp for the annual training for not less than a fortnight, he is allowed ones week's special leave with pay, the remainder of the period of training being taken as annual leave, or if he prefers it as special leave without pay. If the attendance at camp is for less than a fortnight, the whole period must be taken as annual leave or leave without pay; and no special leave with pay can be given. These arrangements are in accordance with regulations which apply to the whole Civil Service, and I regret that I am not in a position to make an exception to these general regulations in the ease of postal servants.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of houses built by local authorities under each of the post-War assisted housing schemes?

The numbers of houses built by local authorities in Scotland under each of the post-War State-assisted housing schemes as at 28th February, 1927, were as follow:

Housing, Town Planning, etc (Scotland) Act, 1919	25,528
Housing, etc., Act, 1923 (including Slum Clearance Schemes)	7,861
Housing (Financial Provisions.) Act, 1924	5,932
Demonstration Houses	17
	39,338

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of applicants for small holdings in the Outer Hebrides; and how many new holdings he proposes to form there during the current year?

The number of applications received by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland for new holdings in the Outer Hebrides which remains undisposed of is 1,225. As I have indicated in recent Replies to Questions by the hon. Member the land suitable for sub-division in the Outer Hebrides is very limited. I cannot at present give any undertaking as to the number of holdings likely to be formed there during the current year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the settlement formed by the Congested Districts Board at Bay, in the parish of Duirnish, Skye, is now without tenants because of the refusal of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland to assist with the necessary fencing of the lands; that there are five complete dwellings and a steading on the settlement; and whether it is proposed to leave them all derelict and to constitute a similar settlement on the adjoining estate of Waternish?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The state of the settlement at Bay is not due to refusal on the part of the Board to assist with fencing. As regards the second part I understand that there are five sets of buildings on the settlement. Three of the five holdings are at present vacant and another will fall vacant at Whitsunday, 1927. Holders to take up the vacant holdings have not been forthcoming, and the question of assisting the proprietor to reconstitute the holdings is at present the subject of correspondence between the proprietor and the Board. Account will be taken of the situation at Bay in considering the proposed scheme of settlement on part of the estate of Waternish.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any research work is being carried out at the present time to endeavour to discover a quick and effective method of determining whether milk is tubercular?

I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Lord President of the Council, as the subject falls within the scope of the Medical Research Council. Various investigations have been promoted during the past few years in the attempt to devise better methods for the purpose. One of these, undertaken jointly by workers at the National Institute for Medical Research and at the National Institute for Research in Dairying, made possible a considerable improvement of pre-existing methods. An account of this was published in 1925, and I can give my hon. Friend the reference. The subject is being kept in view, and further investigations will be made if new means of attacking this difficult problem can be found.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will try to meet the desire of members of the teaching profession to be included in the benefits of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925?

I have been asked to reply. I would point out that the Bill as originally introduced provided for the inclusion of teachers and their subsequent exclusion was in large measure due to representations made on behalf of the vast majority of teachers. While representations have recently been made by a special section of the profession for the inclusion of teachers, there is no indication of any change in the attitude of the profession as a whole.

asked the Minister of Health the number of deaths that have occurred in England for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date and the number of cemeteries in England and Wales, and the amount of profit made by the public cemeteries owned by local authorities for the above period?

The number of deaths in England and Wales for the period 1st April, 1924, to 31st March, 1925, was 451,260. During the same period, the expenditure in respect of burial grounds and cemeteries owned by local authorities in England and Wales exceeded the receipts, other than rates, by £401,225. I have not information showing the total number of burial grounds and cemeteries in England and Wales. There are over 2,000 burial authorities, including about 30 cemetery companies.

asked the Secretary of State for War the full establishment of British troops, both officers and men, at present at Shanghai?

There are now nine infantry battalions with ancillary troops at Shanghai, and an additional battalion is on its way from Hong Kong.

asked the Secretary of State for War what accommodation has been rented for the Shanghai Defence Force in the international settlement; whether any of this accommodation is municipal property; what rent is being paid; and whether any accommodation for troops has been provided by the municipality without charge?

I regret that the information asked for by the hon. and gallant Member is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the withdrawal of the joint adjutant from the Tynemouth and Durham. Heavy Brigades, Royal Artillery, Territorial Army, creates a position of great difficulty for the officers commanding these units; and whether, in view of the additional difficulty caused by the withdrawal of the Territorial Army bounty, he will cancel, or at least postpone, the proposed alterations in the adjutancy of these two units?

I am aware of the facts of the case, and I have decided that the adjutant who at present acts for both the Durham Heavy Brigade and the Tynemouth Heavy Brigade shall be allotted solely to the former, and that a major on the district establishment of the Tyne and Tees defences shall act as adjutant of the latter. These arrangements will be reviewed in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has received a claim from Messrs. Wilkinson, Brothers, of Knightsbridge, in respect of the losses sustained by them in carrying out their contract for the supply of new laid eggs to military hospitals throughout England during the late War; whether he is aware that these losses were incurred owing to the Ministry of Food increasing the price of eggs after the contracts were made, thus rendering it impossible for the contractors to purchase eggs at their scheduled price; and whether, in the circumstances, he will consider the reimbursement of the amount lost by the contractors?

The claim referred to has been fully and sympathetically considered, and ex-gratia payments to the firm amounting to over £10,000 were completed in 1921. I cannot reopen the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the regulation that the widow of an officer, if more than 25 years younger than her husband, is not entitled to full pension was intended to refer to such a case as that of Mrs. Cameron, the widow of a colonel of the Royal Engineers, who was married 30 years before her husband's death, and has been left with seven children, four of them dependent on her, or was intended only to apply to such cases where marriage took place shortly before the husband's death; whether Mrs. Cameron's case will receive special treatment; and whether he will now consider an alteration in the regulation fixing a time limit, say five years, beyond which it should not apply?

This lady has submitted a petition to the King, and, pending the result of that petition, I can make no statement on the case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any grant, bonus, or other payment is made to industrial schools or to any member of the staff of such schools for each boy who, on discharge, joins the Army; and, if so, what the amount of such payment is and the conditions applicable to its receipt?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is prepared to consider or is con- sidering a reduction of the present remount staff at the War Office and at remount establishments, in view of the reduction in the work consequent on the smaller number of mounted units in the Army?

As regards grooms and similar personnel, the arrangements at the remount depots already provide for an automatic variation according to the number of animals. As regards other staff, the effect of any reduction in the establishment of horses is carefully watched.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the interests of economy, he is considering the possibility of reducing the present establishment of generals, lieutenant-generals, major-generals, and full colonels, which, according to the Army List, appear to be in excess of the pre-War figures which dealt with a larger Regular Army?

My hon. and gallant Friend is misinformed. The establishment of generals, lieutenant-generals and major-generals is nine less than before the War.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that musical enterprises are already seriously affected by the competition of broadcasting, he will consider, in framing his next Budget, the lessening of the present tax of 20 per cent. upon the gross receipts of all concerts?

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion, but I can give no undertaking.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what licence duty any person entering the wine and spirit trade has to pay; what restrictions are imposed upon his normal supplies; and whether the Chancellor is ready to consider sympathetically cases where restriction orders act harshly against new traders?

The annual duties on the licences usually required by wine and spirit merchants are as follows:On a licence to deal in spirits (i.e., to sell in quantities of 2 gallons and upwards at a time), £15 15s.On a licence to deal in wines (i.e., to sell in quantities of 2 gallons and upwards at a time), £10 10s.On a licence to retail spirits for consumption "off" the premises (i.e., to sell in quantities not less than one reputed quart bottle and not exceeding 2 gallons at a time), from £10 to £50 according to the annual value of the premises.On a licence to retail wine for consumption "off" the premises (i.e., to sell in quantities not less than one reputed pint bottle and not exceeding 2 gallons at a time), from £2 10s. to £10 according to the annual value of the premises.The duty on the licence to deal is reduced by one-half (subject to certain minimum payments) if the corresponding licence to retail is taken out for the same premises, and a person commencing a new business is charged the proportion of these duties for the period up to the end of the licence year.There is no restricti non the clearances of spirits on payment of duty. Clearances of wine on payment of duty in the period 2nd February to 1st May, 1927, are restricted to one-quarter of the quantities of wine not exceeding 30 degrees or exceeding 30 degrees, respectively, cleared by the same trader in the calendar year 1926, plus 50 per cent. as regards Empire wines exceeding 30 degrees and plus 5 per cent. as regards all other wines.Special arrangements have been made to meet the case of traders who began business in 1926 and therefore cleared wine during a portion only of that year.

asked the Home Secretary what charges are made at His Majesty's Prison, Brixton, for hair-cuts and shaves to prisoners on remand?

Remand prisoners and prisoners awaiting trial at Brixton Prison, may, on application, be shaved, if they do not shave themselves, or may have their hair cut free of charge, by another prisoner. Those who prefer to be shaved by an outside barber are charged 3d. for a shave. 6d. is charged for haircutting. When the barber attends specially before breakfast he charges 1s. for a shave and 1s. for hair-cutting.