asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that, under the Regulations governing the payment of unemployment benefit to workers affected by a trade dispute, benefit is

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that an official of the Employment Bureau attended at Campbeltown recently and deprived about 40 unemployed of their unemployment benefit, and that this proceeding has given dissatisfaction to the town of Campbeltown by throwing an additional burden on the rates; and whether he will favourably consider the establishment of a quota committee in Campbeltown to deal with unemployment benefit, as it is not practicable that Campbeltown cases should be adequately considered by a committee in the town of Greenock, which is distant

The general effect of the existing law, as laid down in the Act of 1924, is as stated in the first part, of the question. No change could be made without legislation, but the Report of Lord Blanes-burgh's Committee contains a recommendation on the point which is being considered.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain to the last convenient date, together with comparable figures for the same period last year?

The following table gives the information desired:from Campbeltown half a day's sailing by fast turbine steamer?

I am having inquiries made regarding this matter, and will let my hon and learned Friend know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now state his decision on the views expressed by the Association of Joint Industrial Councils and Interim Industrial Reconstruction Committees with reference to the points raised by them with regard to the boot and shoe trade; and whether he is prepared to give effect to the views they expressed on the subject of compulsory extension of Joint Industrial Council decisions?

As the hon. and gallant Member is probably aware, the association is not representative of all Joint Industrial Councils. It seemed to me, having regard to the importance of the issues involved, that it was necessary to afford all Joint Industrial Councils an opportunity of stating their views on the proposals, and I have, therefore, addressed a communication to all the councils asking for their observations on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the irregularity of the borough of East Ham under the Weights and Measures (Amendment) Act, 1926, inasmuch as they are not charging the statutory fee as per Section 3 of the Act upon rejected glass measures; and what action he is taking to bring the borough of East Ham into line with all other local authorities?

:I am aware of the action referred to, and am in correspondence with the local authority upon the matter.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) at what date the practice was adopted of deducting Income Tax from the awards granted by the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors before payment to the claimant; what has been the practice in regard to the numerous and substantial awards granted previous to such date; whether in the payment of such taxes the costs were allowed by way of abatement or exemption from tax; and the total amount to date of the awards by the Royal Commission, and the percentage of this sum paid to claimants cum-tax and ex-tax, respectively;

From the time when the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors was set up, Income Tax has in proper cases been deducted from payments made on their recommendation in so far as such payments represent emoluments of offices or sums paid in respect of the user of patents. The tax so deducted has been computed by reference to the full amount of the emoluments or royalties without allowance for any legal costs which may have been incurred in connection with proceedings before the tribunal. The total amount of the awards recommended by the Royal Commission is £1,261,863, but the other information asked for by my hon. And gallant Friend is not available. In no case has a refund of costs incurred by a claimant in obtaining an award been ordered by the Commission.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the general practice of the Income Tax authorities to refuse to allow contributions towards the cost of an application for safeguarding under the Board of Trade White Paper to be deducted as trade expenses on Income Tax statements; and, if so, whether he can state the grounds for such refusal?

The Inland Revenue authorities are advised that the expenditure to which my hon. Friend refers is of the nature of capital outlay, and therefore not admissible as a deduction for Income Tax purposes.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the irregular attendance of several members of the board of visitors for Parkhurst Convict Prison, he will reconstitute that board?

No, Sir. I am satisfied that the membership of the board, as at present constituted, is large enough to secure, and does in fact secure, an adequate attendance of members at each meeting of the board.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, the number of huts in Tyler Street, Petre Street, and Tinsley districts of the city of Sheffield, now the property of His Majesty's Office of Works; what number of tenants at present reside in them; what average rent is charged; what aggregate sum is received for each district, respectively; what sum of money annually is devoted to upkeep and repair; and how long it is estimated that these wooden huts, temporarily erected for War emergency purposes, can be expected to last as adequate dwelling-houses?

The number of huts and tenants on each estate is as follows: Tyler Street 366, Petre Street 187, and Tinsley 167, making a total of 720. The average number of occupants per hut is probably about four or five, and the average rent charged is about 8s. per week, inclusive of rates and water. The aggregate annual rent receivable for each estate is as follows: Tyler Street £7,634, Petre Street £3,914, Tinsley £3,332. The average annual cost of maintenance of the 720 huts is about £3,700. With adequate maintenance, the dwellings would probably last another 10 years.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the Strachur pier is still closed and that the farmers in the district are unable to find any way of taking their stock to market, as it is impracticable to drive sheep or cattle on the main road, which is fully occupied with motor transport, and that the whole district of Strachur is suffering severely through the continued closing of the pier; and will he take steps to get the pier opened and made available to the district?

I have carefully considered the circumstances, but regret that I have no special powers that would enable me to compel the owner to re-open this pier to traffic.

asked the Prime Minister whether any steps have been taken or are proposed to carry out the proposal contained in paragraph 31 of the Report of the Royal Commission on Honours, of 1922, with regard to those who act as touts for the sale of honours?

Yes, Sir. The Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act of 1925 gives effect to this recommendation.

asked the Prime Minister who constitute the Committee of the Privy Council to whom the names of proposed recipients for honours on account of political services are submitted before the Prime Minister recommends them to His Majesty?

The following members of the Privy Council constitute, for the period of the duration of office of the present Government, the Committee in question: The Viscount Novar, K.T., G.C.M.G. (Chairman); the Lord Merrivale, and Colonel the Rt. Hon. William Graham Nicholson, M.P.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the captain of the steamer "Ninian" has been imprisoned in Venezuela, following upon an accident, to his ship which resulted in the death of a Venezuelan; and whether, with regard to the fact that the accident was beyond the control of this officer, he will make representations to the proper quarter that the severity of the punishment be mitigated?

The matter has been brought to my notice, and His Majesty's Minister at Caracas is following it closely. As regards Captain Brining's imprisonment, the facts are as follows: After investigation by the local authorities into the circumstances of the accident, the Judge ordered a criminal prosecution of Captain Brining. Under Venezuelan law, bail is not permissible in cases of homicide, but Captain Brining was allowed, as a, special privilege, to remain in the British Vice-Consul's house. This concession has now been withdrawn, and he has been put in prison. His imprisonment is, therefore, not the result of his trial, which has not yet taken place, but is due to, and in accordance with, the provisions of Venezuelan law in such cases. His Majesty's Minister at Caracas has satified himelf that the action taken by the Venezuelan authorities in this case has been in accordance with law, and there are at present no grounds for any protest. He is, however, taking such unofficial action as he properly can to assist Captain Brining, and to expedite a hearing of his case.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it has been decided to dispatch to China any Fairey-Napier aeroplanes; and, if so, if he will state the number of machines, together with the personnel that are under orders for this destination?

No further air units are at present under orders to proceed to China, but of those already there, five flights are equipped with Fairey-Napier aeroplanes.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many ex-service men employed as technical officers with the directorate of works and buildings recommended for establishment have been refused permanency on the grounds of disability; whether it is proposed to dispense with their services; and, if not, seeing that they have been recommended as technically competent and so will be retained, what objection there is to giving them a definite assurance of security of tenure?

As regards the first part of the question, two officers were definitely rejected for establishment on medical grounds, whilst the establishment of two others has been deferred pending further medical reports as to their physical fitness to undertake the duties required.As regards the remaining parts of the question, those officers definitely rejected for establishment will be retained against temporary posts on the establishment. They are physically fit to discharge only some of the duties assigned to officers of their rank, and this renders it impracticable in the interests of the public service to give them a definite assurance of security of tenure.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that in a limited competition recently held at the Air Ministry, to select permanent staff for the works and buildings directorate, temporary technical officers with strong ex-service claims who have served the directorate satisfactorily since its formation have not been established though still serving satisfactorily, while other officers with only nominal ex-service qualifications have been established; and why the declared policy of the Government, as stated in paragraph 45 of the Lytton Report, has not been pursued?

I have informed myself in detail as to the ex-service qualifications of those who were recommended for establishment by the Selection Board referred to by the hon. Member. I find that over 85 per cent. of those recommended were men with overseas service; the remainder were home-service men. Technical qualifications and relative efficiency had, of course, to be taken into account as well as ex-service qualifications. Those who were not recommended for establishment by the Board were reported to be unsuitable for establishment. Paragraph 45 of the Lytton Report requires that men recommended shall be fully competent to perform all the duties likely to be required of them, and gives no preference to one category of ex-service men over another as regards selection for establishment.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why overseas ex-service temporary stores and accounts officers, who have served for several years in the directorate of works and buildings, and who have received regular increments as evidence of satisfactory service, have been refused establishment; whether he is aware that their places have been and are being filled by the promotion of permanent officials; that details of the qualifications required stated that certain special reference experience of a semi-technical nature was necessary; and that the permanent officials selected had first to be posted for instruction in the duties required; and why, seeing that certain experience admittedly not possessed normally by permanent servants was required, paragraph 45 of the Lytton Report was not complied with?

The answer is as follows:Under the approved scheme for the reorganisation of the Works and Buildings Department, the Stores and Accounts posts were graded as clerical and,

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the shortage of playing fields in many of the cities and towns of the country; and whether, in the interests of public health, he will consider legislation to impose on local authorities the duty of making good this shortage?

I am aware that more playing fields are required, although a good deal has been done by local authorities in recent years. They were given additional powers by the Public Health Act, 1925, and further legislation is not proposed.

asked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, the place of origin of the red tiles used to roof the various buildings erected by the Forestry Commissioners on the Benmore Estate, near the Kilmun-Strachur Road?

The place of origin of the tiles used in these buildings, which were erected by contract, was Courtrai, in Belgium.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of British naval vessels that have been fired on by Chinese forts near Chinkiang; whether there have been any casualties; and what damage has been done to these vessels?

The following instances of firing by Chinese forts near Chinkiang on British naval vessels have taken place recently:8th April.— His Majesty's Ship "Veteran" was fired at with field guns and rifles near Chinkiang and was hit by bullets and shrapnel. There were no casualties.12th April.— His Majesty's Ship "Woodcock" was fired at by Southern troops below Chinkiang. No casualties.26th April.— His Majesty's Ship "Cockchafer" was fired at above Chinkiang. No casualties.2nd May.— His Majesty's Ship "Kiawo" and convoy were fired at near Chinkiang on two occasions. "Kiawo" had four wounded— all flesh wounds, not serious.So far as is known, no appreciable damage has been done to any of His Majesty's ships.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what price per gallon is payable by the Admiralty for pure malt vinegar under the contract recently placed?

It would be contrary to the public interest to disclose the contract price.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the determining factors governing the order in which chief petty officer writers are placed on the roster for promotion to warrant rank?

Chief petty officer writers are placed on the roster for promotion to warrant rank in order of seniority as chief petty officer writer.