asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the bridge over the River Ouse at Selby, between the West and East Ridings, and the bridges over the River Derwent at Bubwith and Loftsome, both in the East Riding, are the three last toll-paying bridges in Yorkshire, and are a serious burden, both on local farmers and others, including thousands of West Riding people desirous of constantly going to Filey, Bridlington, Hornsea, and Withernsea, on the east coast, for health reasons; whether he will ascertain the amount of the tolls for the years 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1926; and whether he will allot money out of the Road Fund for freeing these bridges?

I am aware of the facts set forth by my hon. and gallant Friend and am prepared to consider any application which may be formulated by the responsible local authorities for assistance from the Road Fund for the freeing of the bridges in question. It is not in my power to call for returns of the tolls collected at various periods.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the suggested Road Transport Bill is to be introduced during the life of the present Parliament; and, if not, what steps it is proposed to take to deal with the traffic problem at the present time?

I am not in a position to make any statement as to the date of introduction of the proposed Bill to deal with road transport.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the application of the Shops Hours Act to the exhibitors at the National Trades Exhibition, now being held at Bingley Hall, Birmingham; and whether, seeing that this exhibition brings before the public a series of new productions of British manufacture, and that the exhibition opens at two o'clock and closes at half-past nine, with an interval of one and a half hours for tea, so that the assistants employed have a working day of only six hours, he will treat such trade exhibitions as fairs and exempt them by order from the operation of the Shops Hours Act?

My attention has been drawn to this case, but I have no power under the Act to grant any such exemption as my hon. Friend suggests. The question whether any amendment of the law on this point is desirable is one which might be considered by the Departmental Committee now inquiring into the operation of the Act, and I will refer the matter to the Committee accordingly.

asked the Home Secretary the number of proceedings instituted for breaches of the Factory Act during the year preceding the last convenient date, together with information as to the amount of fines inflicted for such breaches of the Act; and the offences for which the convictions were registered?

I would refer the hon. Member to Table 6 on pages 116 and 117, and Table 7 on pages 118 and 119 of the Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories for the year 1925 (Cmd. 2714), which give full particulars as to the number and results of the prosecutions instituted under the Act during that year, and the nature of the offences. Similar tables will be included in the Chief Inspector's Report for 1926 which is now in preparation.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to the considered Report of the Council of the British Medical Association defining tests for drunkenness; and whether his Department is prepared to adopt these tests?

I have seen the Report. There is no question of the adoption by the Home Office of the tests suggested. It is for Courts to decide on what evidence they will or will not convict of drunkenness.

asked the Home Secretary what restrictions are imposed upon French teachers and governesses coming to England and how many permits were granted during the last three years, respectively, for such teachers?

Every alien coming to the United Kingdom has to obtain leave to land, and leave is given or refused under the provisions of Article 1 of the Aliens Order, 1920. Inter alia, Article 1 (3) (b) of that Order provides that if an alien desires to enter the service of an employer in the United Kingdom lie must produce a permit issued by the Minister of Labour. Questions as to the permits issued should be addressed to that Minister.

asked the Minister of Health how many widows' and orphans' pensions have now been granted under the Act of 1925; and how many insured persons of 70 and upwards have since 2nd July, 1926, obtained unrestricted old age pensions?

On the latest figures available for England, Scotland and Wales, the position is as follows:

asked the Minister of Health how many rural district councils have been appointed the authorities to work the Housing (Rural Workers) Act out of the 220 councils which applied to be so appointed; and on what grounds have applications from these councils been granted and refused, respectively?

The great majority of these applications are under consideration by the appropriate county councils with whom I have been consulting, as prescribed by the Act. Applications have been rejected in 49 cases where the county council have made, or are making, a scheme which will cover the whole of the administrative county. Approval is being given in 22 cases where the county council are not themselves at present proposing to carry out a scheme, and are of opinion that the work may properly be entrusted to the district councils concerned.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has sanctioned the application of the Woodhall (Lincs.) Urban District Council to levy a rate, not exceeding 1s. 3d. in the £, for another year for the maintenance of the baths at Woodhall Spa; who are the owners of the baths; and under what Act of Parliament the Ministry of Health sanctioned the levying of a rate in Woodhall last year for the upkeep of these baths?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am informed that the owners of the baths are the Maple Trustees, and that they are under the management of a committee including representatives of the council. The sanction was given under the Local Authorities (Expenses) Act, 1887.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider giving the necessary instructions to the Stationery Office to make available in the Vote Office copies of the Select Committee's Report (1925) on legislation concerning moneylenders, in view of the fact that a Bill based on that Committee's Report is now under consideration of a Committee of this House?

I understand that the Vote Office keep in stock Parliamentary Papers only of the current and preceding Sessions, but that copies of the Report in question can be obtained for any hon. Member who desires one.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give any approximate figures for the last or previous financial year of the amounts payable in respect of death duties on landed estates in England and Wales?

I regret that no separate statistics of the death duties are available in respect of landed estates as such. If my hon. Friend will refer to Table 16 of the 69th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Command Paper No. 2783), he will find that the net capital value of land in England and Wales upon which estate duty was paid in the year 1925–26 amounted to about £18,400,000. It is estimated that the total death duties payable on this property would be in the neighbourhood of £3,000,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many barrels of beer the full taxation of per £5 barrel was levied for the years 1925–26 and 1926–27 and the average specific gravity; and how many bulk barrels were sold on which a rebate of £1 each was allowed?

The following statement shows (1) the number of standard barrels of beer charged with duty at £5 per standard barrel; (2) the number of bulk barrels of beer on which rebate of £1 per bulk barrel was allowed in respect thereof; (3) the average gravity of beer brewed during each of the financial years. 1925–26 and 1926–27, respectively:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total sums represented by the reduction in duty on the goods of each Dominion, India, the Colonies, Protectorates and mandated territories under the preferential duties of this country for the last available year?

The approximate amount of rebate granted upon goods of Empire origin consigned from each British country (including Protectorates) and mandated territory, delivered for home consumption at preferential rates of duty during the year 1925–26, was as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when Lord Meston's Committee on Parliamentary Grants held its last meeting; when it will hold its next; and whether he proposes to dissolve it?

As far as I am aware the last meeting was held in March, 1923. I do not anticipate that any further meeting will be held by the Committee. No formal dissolution of the Committee is necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many un certificated assistants sat in the examination for the Board of Education certificate held last November; how many of them passed; and whether those who failed can be informed of the subjects in which they failed to pass?

The total number of candidates who took the examination was 3,579, of whom 898, or 25.1 per cent., passed. These figures include a very small number of supplementary teachers with long service who were admitted exceptionally to the examination. Candidates at the certificate examination were not required to pass in individual subjects but in each of three groups of subjects and in the examination as a whole. Any candidate who failed may, if he applies, obtain information as to the subjects in which his work was weak.

asked the Minister of Pensions the cost to the nation for the work that is being done at the present in caring for orphans of officers and other ranks who lost their lives through the late War and the number of children, male and female, who are receiving such benefits?

The estimated expenditure of the Ministry in the current year on the maintenance, education and other provision for children of deceased officers and men, including children who are also motherless, will amount to £6,200,000. The total number of children thus provided for will be approximately 248,000.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether letters to relatives and friends in this country from men serving in His Majesty's forces in China are censored?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of aeroplanes or airships that are at present either attached to or under orders to join the Shanghai Defence Force in China, including the personnel attached to same?

The strength of the air units in or on their way to China is the equivalent of five squadrons of aeroplanes, with a personnel of 700 of all ranks.