asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has any information as to the number of schools in North Wales where the accommodation available is insufficient for the number of scholars attending; and in how many cases are the buildings in such an unsatisfactory condition as to require rebuilding in the near future?

The average attendance for the year 1926–27 exceeded the recognised accommodation in the case of 13 public elementary schools in the six counties of North Wales. None of these are included in Schedule A of the Black List.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the action of the local education authority in Monmouthshire in distributing a four-page leaflet, printed and published by an insurance company, advocating vaccination in the local schools; and whether, in view of the fact that propaganda on controversial subjects has not been allowed by the Board to be introduced into the schools which receive Government grants, he will instruct the local authority to refrain from circulating leaflets of this nature?

I am in communication with the local authority in regard to this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the number of temporary staff employed as Grade I shorthand typists, Grade II shorthand typists, Grade I copying typists, and Grade II copying typists, respectively, in each of the following offices under his control: Board of Education headquarters and provincial centres, respectively, British Museum, Imperial War Museum, London Museum, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery and Wallace Collection?

The numbers employed at the offices of the Board are as follow:

Temporary shorthand typist:
Grade I	…	…	…	…	1
Grade II	…	…	…	…	—
Temporary copying typists:
Grade I	…	…	…	…	29
Grade II	…	…	…	…	12

One temporary shorthand typist, Grade I, is employed outside London. None of the other offices referred to by the hon. Member are under the control of my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for War why, in view of the terms of appointment of supervisors and technical assistants in the Royal Ordnance factories, Woolwich, whereby engagements are dependent on obtaining a permanent appointment within a certain period of years, this condition was not enforced in the case of Mr. Bremner, who, although employed in a temporary managerial capacity for over two years, while serving in the grade of technical assistant was discharged prior to an employé who had longer service in the technical assitant grade?

The terms of appointment to the grade of technical assistant, which superseded the grade of supervisor, mention the period of tenure as normally four years. This has not, however, been applied as a rigid rule, and retention for a longer period does not of itself imply subsequent promotion to the managerial ranks. The discharge of technical assistants not selected for such posts does not necessarily take place in order of length service, but each case is considered on its merits and I regret that there are no grounds for altering the decision reached in Mr. Bremner's case. I am advised that Mr. Bremner has at no time discharged full managerial duties in the factories.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the first date upon which a woman clerical officer received her appointment as a result of the Lytton limited competition of 1920; and what was the first date upon which a woman clerical officer was appointed from this examination in the Post Office?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Miss Bondfield) on the 31st May.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, while there are 18,000 unemployed in Bristol, only 544 men are being employed on relief works; and whether he will urge the Unemployment Grants Committee and the Ministry of Transport to consider the possibility of further grants to enable the City of Bristol to extend its relief schemes?

On the 20th June, 1927, 10,862 men were registered as unemployed at the Exchanges in Bristol, including Avoamouth, Kingswood and Eastville, while on the 28th May, 1927 (the latest date for which returns are available), 945 men were engaged on State assisted relief schemes in the area. The initiation of further relief schemes is a matter for the local authorities concerned, who are fully aware of the conditions under which State grants may be obtained.

asked the Minister of Labour whether there are any Regulations governing the case of an unemployed man who is otherwise entitled to unemployment benefit, but, travelling by road to secure promised employment, is compelled by destitution to have recourse for one night to a casual ward; whether in these circumstances the man becomes disqualified for benefit; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of an amendment of the Regulations?

In ordinary circumstances an unemployed man who is otherwise entitled to unemployment benefit is not disqualified by the statutory authorities merely on the ground that he had recourse for one night to a casual ward. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, I should be glad to have inquiries made.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether all the potatoes, other vegetables, and fruit served to the Air Force are grown in this country; and, if not, whether he can estimate what proportion of them is home-grown?

Practically all the potatoes, vegetables and fruit consumed by Air Force units at home are homegrown, the main exceptions being those kinds of fruit which cannot be obtained in this country. The home-grown proportion of the whole would be very greatly preponderant, bur I cannot give an exact percentage.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses built in the six counties of North Wales during the period January, 1926, to 31st March, 1927; and what is the approximate average rent per house?

The number of houses completed with State assistance in North Wales during the period 1st January, 1926, to 31st March, 1927, was 1,546. Statistics of the number of houses completed without State assistance are obtained half-yearly, and the number completed in North Wales during the period of 18 months ended 31st March, 1927, was 1,634. I have no information about the rentals of these houses.

asked the Minister of Health what information he has regarding the present, stage of development of the Kent coalfield; to what extent it will be possible to avoid the nuisance of industrial smoke in this area; and whether there are in force such stipulations regarding town-planning as will prevent the creation of housing conditions similar to those prevailing in the older coalfields?

My information is that three mines are working and one being sunk. I understand that electricity is likely to be extensively used in the working of the mines, and that the risk of smoke nuisance will thus be much reduced. Provision is being made to ensure that the housing and other development is in accordance with town-planning conditions.

asked the Home Secretary what provision has been made with a view to finding suitable housing accommodation for married police officers who have been transferred to suburban areas for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The funds available for the provison of housing accommodation for the Metropolitan Police are necessarily reserved for the Central Divisions where the need is greatest. In the residential suburbs the men are left to make their own arrangements apart from a few sets of quarters at new stations.

asked the Home Secretary the number of married police officers at present occupying married quarters in the Metropolitan Police area; and whether, in view of the shortage of housing accommodation for married officers with families, it is intended in the near future to erect more up-to-date and modern homes for them?

There are 937 married officers housed in officially provided married quarters within the Metropolitan Police district. A building is in course of erection in Lambeth which will provide 96 additional sets of quarters with up-to-date accommodation and conveniences; and the erection of another building in Clerkenwell will be commenced next autumn to contain a further 96 sets of similar married quarters.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of, and deaths from, encephalitis lethargica and other forms of encephalitis, or sleepy sickness, or variations of these diseases, have occurred during each of the last five years, the ages of each, and the period which has elapsed between vaccination and death?

A statement giving these particulars is shown below. As regards the last part of the question, medical practitioners are not required to report the vaccinal condition of persons certified to be suffering from, or to have died from, any of these diseases. Information as to the period which has elapsed between vaccination and death is accordingly available only in regard to the cases which have been brought to the notice of the Committee on Vaccination, in which vaccination has preceded the onset of symptoms of acute disease of the central nervous system within a period of a few weeks.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the grave congestion of traffic at the junction of Hart Street and Shaftesbury Avenue with New Oxford Street; and, in view of the convenient arrangement of bye-streets at this point, will he cause an experiment to be made with one-way traffic?

The proposal has already been considered by the London Traffic Advisory Committee, and I understand their view to be that the bye-streets at this point are not in fact convenient for the trial of a "one-way" traffic scheme. Traffic conditions from the Marble Arch through Oxford Street, Holborn and High Holborn are receiving constant investigation, and I trust that ultimately it will be found practicable to effect improvements.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether it is the intention of the Government, in removing restrictions, to make it possible to convey duty-free spirit, unmethylated, but to be used for industrial purposes, in tank wagons and by pipe line?

Clause 12 of the Finance Bill will make it possible to allow under suitable Regulations spirits made or intended to be made into any kind of methylated spirits to be conveyed by tank wagon or pipe line. There is, however, no provision in the Bill under which such methods of conveyance of spirits which are neither methylated nor intended for methylation could be permitted.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the yield in the last financial year of the Stamp Duties on foreign State and company issues of capital on the London money market?

The yield of Stamp Duty on marketable securities liable to duty at the rate of 40s. per cent. amounted in 1926–27 to £675,000. I have no information to show how much of this duty related to securities issued on the raising of new capital in this country by foreign States and companies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a large number of shopkeepers are refraining from giving receipts for amounts over £2; and what steps he is proposing to take in this matter to prevent defrauding of the Revenue?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question asked by the hon. and gallant Member for the Southwark Central Division (Colonel Day) on the 11th November, 1926. I am sending him a copy of that reply.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it is the policy of the Government of India and of His Majesty's Government to throw open the Andaman Islands for free colonisation by Indians; and whether there are any restrictions as to the number taking up residence there?

The general policy of the Government of India, as explained in their published Resolution of the 27th February, 1926, was one of readiness to receive applications for land in the Andamans from suitable persons. Under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Amendment) Regulation, 1927, permits for landing in the Andamans are no longer required, though the Chief. Commissioner may prohibit such landing, and licences to reside for periods longer than one month are still, with certain exceptions, required. No limitation has been laid down, so far as I am aware, as to the number of persons who may be allowed to reside in the islands.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can give any information as to the proposed changes in prospect for the paper manufacturing works at Cornerbrook, Newfoundland; what is the offer which has been made by an American firm; and what is the attitude of His Majesty's Government as one of the guarantors?

Negotiations on this subject are in progress in Newfoundland, and it is not possible at present to make any statement in the matter.

asked the Prime Minister if he will arrange for the issue as a White Paper of a comparison of the outline proposals of the Government for the reconstitution of the House of Lords and the proposals with this object in view which were formulated in 1921 by the Government then responsible?

The proposals of 1922 for the reconstitution of the House of Lords have already been presented to Parliament as Command Paper 1715 of 1922. I think it would be premature at this stage to issue another White Paper.

asked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether he will place in the Library of this House papers in further explication of the statement in the latest Report of the Commissioners that large areas hitherto considered unplantable can now be afforested with success ; and whether he can say how many acres of molinia peat lands there are in England and Scotland, respectively, suitable for afforestation?

The statement is based on various experiments and investigations into growing woods; these data have not yet been collated for publication, but it is hoped to issue a bulletin on the afforestation of difficult sites. The areas of molinia peat land in England and Scotland have not been surveyed, but they include many thousands of acres on both sides of the border.