asked the Home Secretary how many Reports were submitted by the Metropolitan police in the matter of emission of smoke from steam tractors during the 12 months ending 30th June, 1927; and in how many cases action has been taken by the police?

During the period in question three Reports were submitted, but owing to the qualification in Section 1 (1) of the Locomotives on Highways Act, 1896, as to the emission of smoke or visible vapour from a temporary or accidental cause it was not possible to take proceedings in these cases. This qualification also accounts for the small number of cases reported. The police have, however, in the same period instituted proceedings under a London County Council by-law for the prevention of smoke and noxious vapour in Blackwall and Rotherhithe Tunnels in 180 cases, 29 of which are still pending, and secured convictions in practically every case.

Does not part of this difficulty arise owing to the fact that it is necessary for the police to take action under the London County Council bylaws?

There is a difficulty in dealing with the accidental emission of smoke.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these steam Juggernauts, with their ironrimmed wheels, do thousands of pounds' worth of damage to the roads on hot days?

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the resolution passed by the justices of the Essex Quarter Sessions to the effect that, in view of the increase in motor traffic, the maximum fine of 5s. imposed on owners for cattle straying on the highway is inadequate; and whether any action is being taken by his Department?

My attention has been drawn to this resolution, and I agree that the maximum penalties for this offence are not heavy. I should be prepared to consider their increase in connection with any Bill to amend and consolidate the general law relating to highways, but I do not think that a provision dealing with this subject could be included in the draft Road Traffic Bill, which deals mainly with the amendment of the law relating to vehicles.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say if he had any further complaints from other authorities on the subject, and, if so, will he take the necessary action?

What action can I take with the law as it is? I have not had any other representations as far as I know.

Before the right hon. Gentleman proceeds with higher penalties, will he remember that somebody should be allowed to remain out of gaol other than motorists?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether any Report is available of the proceedings at the Conference of Local Education Authorities on League of Nations teaching in schools; and the main conclusions of the conference and any steps that are being taken or contemplated as a result of those decisions?

I am sending the right hon. Member a copy of the Report of the proceedings of the Conference, which will, I think, supply the information which he desires. This Report has been circulated to local authorities and communicated to the Press.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the school at Langtree, in Devonshire, has been condemned by the Board as insanitary; and whether steps are being taken to replace it?

This school has been placed on the list of schools with defective premises. The managers have submitted proposals for the improvement of the premises, and according to the latest information in my possession, the question of replacement is under consideration between them and the local authority.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many permanent open-air recovery school places are necessary to meet the needs of the children in attendance in public elementary schools who are suffering from latent tuberculosis, malnutrition, and anæmia?

I cannot supply the information asked for, since the number of additional places required would depend upon the length of time for which each child would need to attend an open-air school. In this connection I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by me on the 17th February last to the hon. Member for Abertillery (Mr. Barker), a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he can state the amount spent on feeding necessitous schoolchildren in Darlington, Stockton, and Middlesbrough for the last two years, respectively, to the nearest convenient date?

As the reply to this Question consists of figures, I will with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the hardship experienced by owners of small houses in Watergate Street, Deptford, and other parts of Great Britain who have been served with notices under Section 46 of the Housing Act of 1925 that their property is required for reconstruction or other improvement schemes, and that they will only be compensated for the value at the time the valuation is made of the land as the site is cleared of the buildings, he will consider the introduction of amending legislation so that small property owners can be reasonably recompensed for the loss of their property?

As I have previously stated in reply to similar questions on this subject, I hope to be able to introduce legislation, but I am unable at present to give any indication of the date of its introduction.

As this involves great hardship to many small owners who will have the whole of their worldly wealth taken away, cannot the right hon. Gentleman facilitate legislation to protect them?

No, Sir, I do not know that I can.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received an application from the Hull Corporation asking for an extension of the time limit fixed under the Housing Acts (Revision of Contributions) Order, 1926, in respect of certain houses which will not be completed by 1st October, 1927; and if he will grant such a request?

I have not received the application to which my hon. Friend refers. The Order approved by the House limits the existing subsidy to houses completed before the 1st October, and I have no power to vary this Order.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in connection with the renewal of the Rent Restrictions Act, he will consider the desirability of obtaining from the chief local authorities their views on the policy of gradual decontrol and its effect on the housing problem in their respective areas?

asked the Minister of Health whether, in the forthcoming Rent Restrictions Bill, he intends to make it easier for people to obtain possession of their own houses for their own occupation?

:The present proposal of the Government is that the Rent Restriction Acts should be extended for one year by means of the Expiring Laws Continuance Act, and if this is done no Amendments such as those contemplated by my hon. Friends will be practicable.

asked the Minister of Health if he has any information as to whether the Rating and Valuation Act has caused an increase or a decrease in the number of whole-time officials and an increase or a decrease in the number of part-time officials employed by local authorities; and whether the net result has been an increase or a decrease in expenditure?

:No, Sir. The staffing arrangements of the rating and assessment authorities are within their discretion and not subject to my approval.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries from the local authorities in one or two cases?

I think it is too early yet to make inquiries. Later on, I hope to get some information.

asked the Minister of Health if he will explain the cause of the delay in settling claims for widows' pensions under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925; and why in some cases several months elapse before a decision is reached?

I am not aware that there is undue delay in settling claims for pensions. In individual cases where delay arises it is generally due to the inability of claimants to furnish the information necessary for a decision. The hon. Member will appreciate that the number of rejections would be materially increased if it were not the practice of the Department, to render the fullest assistance to claimants in obtaining the information necessary to establish title.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are cases current at the present moment, in which applications have been made and the forms filled up and signed at least three months ago; and can he not facilitate the settlement of claims of that kind?

Perhaps if the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, he will send to me particulars of it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount guaranteed under the Trade Facilities Act since its inception; the amount outstanding at present; and the amount of loss involved so far through the various transactions under the Act?

The total amount guaranteed under the Trade Facilities Acts was £74,251,780 and the amount outstanding on 30th June, 1927 (including loans not yet completed) was £71,976,150. The total payments made by the Treasury in fulfilment of guarantees amount to date to £41,699, subject to any possible recoveries later.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the amount of the loans not yet completed to which he has just referred?

No, I could not do so off-hand.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the estimated total cost for the completion of the project of the Newfoundland Power and Paper Company's plant at Corner-brook, upon which estimate of Armstrong, Whitworth, and Company, the Trade Facilities Board recommended the Government to guarantee £2,000,000; what was the actual cost of the completed project, including the debentures already issued amounting to £8,394,000; whether the British Government sent out engineers to supervise the work and officials to regulate expenditure in conformity with the estimates; and, if so, whether there was an understanding between the two Governments that the work of these officials also safeguarded the Newfoundland Government as to their guarantee of £2,000,000?

:The estimated total cost of the Corner Brook scheme, on which the recommendation of the Trade Facilities Committee was based, was, approximately, £4,000,000, which covered the lump sum price for which the contractors agreed to carry out this scheme to a certain specification. The plans were approved and the expenditure of the guaranteed money was supervised and certified in accordance with the construction contract by technical advisers appointed jointly by the British and Newfoundland Governments, and responsible to both Governments. The actual cost of the completed project including additional works not contemplated by the contract is in the neighbourhood of £9,000,000. My Noble Friend will appreciate that while His Majesty's Government have guaranteed £2,000,000 of the securities issued by the company, they are in no way responsible for the conduct of the company's affairs.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if there is any truth in the report in the "Times" to-day that this property has been sold to the International Paper Company?

I have no information to that effect.

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform the House whether there is likely to be any loss upon this guarantee, and, if so, how much?

No, there has been no loss on it.

I am asking if there is likely to be any loss.

That is speculation. I cannot say that.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether officials and engineers were sent out to supervise this transaction, as is asked in the question, and, if so, how many?

I could not say without notice.

:The notice is in the question. The right hon. Gentleman is asked specifically if any officials or engineers were sent out.

I cannot give any further answer than I have already given.

Seeing that the sale is now nearing completion, cannot the Government say whether they anticipate any loss, and, if so, what that loss would be?

No. Sir, because there are negotiations going on in reference to the future of the whole of this enterprise, and nothing can be said as to whether there will be a loss or not. There may be a gain.

In cases where large sums have been advanced under the Trade Facilities Act, do the Government watch the proceedings when any company is likely to dispose of its property?

In answer to a previous question, I have already shown that the actual loss over the whole field of the Trade Facilities Act is a very small proportion of the whole.

May I ask one other Question, and that is whether the Treasury have been consulted about these negotiations now going on with the International Paper Company?

I would not like to answer that question offhand.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman how it is possible to give him notice apart from the notice given in the body of the main question, which asks whether the British Government sent out engineers or officials to supervise the work? How is it possible to give him further notice than that, if he cannot answer that now?

I have said already in the main answer that:

"The plans were approved and the expenditure of the guaranteed money was supervised and certified in accordance with the construction contract by technical advisers appointed jointly by the British and Newfoundland Governments, and responsible to both Governments."

Will the Government take steps to see, if the sale takes place, that the raw material is not allowed to be exported, but that it shall be manufactured on the spot?

No, Sir, I cannot give any pledge of that sort.

When advances or guarantees are made under the Trade Facilities Act, do not the Government consider very carefully the projects that are entered into, and what the money is guaranteed for, and how is that in this case things have been allowed to go so far that there may be a very considerable loss to the Government?

Before the Trade Facilities Committee are willing to guarantee a loan of this sort they satisfy themselves that the security is good. They took those steps in the present case, and I have no reason to suppose that they were wrong.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give a list of the debentures, and the total amount of debentures, of the Newfoundland Paper and Power Company; and whether the A debentures guaranteed by the British taxpayer are a first charge on the property?

I will circulate the figures as regards the first part of the question. As regards the second the A debentures guaranteed by His Majesty's Government are secured by a charge on all the assets of the company, subject only to a prior lien in respect of £1,000,000 6 per cent. first mortgage debentures. I regret that in a Supplementary Answer on the 6th July I may have misled my hon. Friend on this point, but the priorities are shown in the published accounts and in the ordinary books of reference.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate stocks of gold in Great Britain, France, Germany, United States, Italy, and Russia in 1927?

With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate a statement; in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount credited to the revenue account of Great Britain by Northern Ireland for 1926–27 after all deductions have been made, and the estimate for 1927–28.

The final figures for 1926–27 are not yet available. The provisional figures were stated in my reply to a question by the hon. Member for Rotherhithe (Mr. B. Smith) on the 4th April last, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. For 1927–28 the Northern Ireland contribution to Imperial expenditure has been provisionally fixed at £1,400,000 and the statutory payments in respect of land purchase annuities, provision of buildings, and equalisation of the burden of unemployment insurance are estimated at £1,486,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the volume of our trade in 1913, the amount of money brought under the review of the Income Tax Commissioners in that year, and the corresponding figures for 1925–26.

I would refer the hon. Member to page 281 of the Statistical Abstract of the United Kingdom (Command Paper 2849) and to page 88 of the 67th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Command Paper 2227) and to page 79 of their 69th Report (Command Paper 2783).

If it was possible, when I last put down a Question of this kind, to get the answer in the proper way why should I be given to-day a reply by reference?

If the hon. Member will make use of the reference I have given him, I think he will get the full st information on the subject.

But I have seen these pages in the various documents to which I have been referred, and they do not give the answer to my question. If I put down the Question next week, will the right hon. Gentleman try to get me the answer as he did before?

:I am afraid if these pages do not give the hon. Member the information for which he is seeking I shall not be able to get it. It is the fullest information on the subject.

How is it that the last time a Question was put, word for word with this, a proper answer was given? Why has that been departed from? Why cannot the right hon. Gentleman give an answer as he did before to this same Question—I mean the same Question in relation to last year?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amounts brought under the survey of the Income Tax Commissioners for 1919 and 1926; the total amounts collected under the headings Income Tax, Super-tax, Death Duties, and Excess Profits Duty for the same years; and the amounts left in the hands of those subjected to those duties?

If the hon. Member will refer to the tables on page 79 of the 69th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Command Paper No. 2783), he will find particulars of the gross income brought under review and the actual income assessed for the year 1919–20, and estimates of the same for the year 1925–26 (the latest year for which figures are available). Details of the net receipt of Income Tax, Super-tax, Death Duties, and Excess Profits Duty for those years are shown in Table 4 on page 9 of that Report.

Yes, and you will get some more questions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts, if any, have been paid by the Yugoslavian Government on account of war debt owing by it to this country; and what the present indebtedness of that Government to this country in respect of such war debt now is?

The Jugo-Slav war debt to this country, after deducting all counter-claims, has been agreed at a net total of £25,317,808 as at 1st January, 1927. My right hon. Friend regrets that no payment has been made by the Jugo-Slav Government in respect of this or its other debts to this country; but negotiations are at present proceeding. His Majesty's Government have offered to fund the war debt on similar terms to those which were agreed upon in regard to the analogous debts of Rumania, Portugal and Greece; and my right hon. Friend trusts that the Jugo-Slav Government will accept this proposal, and thus take a step to re-establish the credit of their country which can only be prejudiced by the long delay in the settlement of this question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in consideration of the fact that Argentina and Belgium are both now free from foot-and-mouth disease, and also in view of the formation of a combine which may raise the price of meat, he will, for the benefit of the poorer class of consumers, withdraw the embargo on the importation into this country of fresh meat from Argentine cattle slaughtered at Zeebrugge?

According to the latest information in my possession, neither Argentina nor Belgium is free from foot-and-mouth disease, and I cannot therefore accede to the hon Baronet's request.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the scientific difference between a carcase of Argentine meat slaughtered at and exported from the abattoir at Zeebrugge and a carcase of Argentine meat slaughtered in and exported from South America?

We have had serious experience of the risk from foot-and-mouth disease breaking out in this country when we bring cargoes of live animals across from the Argentine, and it was because of the serious results of that traffic that we had to put an embargo on live stock being brought from the Argentine many years ago.

But is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this chilled meat is coming continually from South America? His answer hardly answers my question.

There is no evidence whatever that infection has been brought in by chilled meat, but we have had evidence of infection being brought in from the Continent, and this Zeebrugge abattoir is close by and not free from the danger of infection from the various outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease which takes place abroad.

Will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that his Department will take every possible step to secure that the country is not infected with foot-and-mouth disease, and run no risks whatever?

Certainly I shall not be inclined to run any kind of risk in this matter for the particular purpose of enabling Argentine meat to come in indistinguishable from our home-killed meat and getting a price which the consumer pays in the expectation of getting home-killed meat.

:Will the right hon. Gentleman not admit right away that he is going in for a system of protection?

Protection against disease.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the imports of Dutch black currants into this country; and whether, in view of the danger of big bud, which is prevalent in Holland, he will, for the sake of maintaining healthy home-grown crops, consider the advisability of prohibiting the import of these foreign black currants?

I am advised that the risk of the conveyance of the black currant mite through the medium of black currants imported from Holland is negligible. The answer to the latter part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question is, therefore, in the negative.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the numerous complaints with regard to mildewed Dutch gooseberries being imported into this country and the danger of contaminating the mildew-free bushes of this country, he will prohibit the import of this fruit?

Imported gooseberries are required to be accompanied by an official certificate of freedom from disease. If any unhealthy consignments were found by the Ministry's inspectors their destruction or re-export would be ordered, but in no case has it been necessary to take this action in respect of Dutch gooseberries this season, and no complaints have been made to the Ministry on this subject. In these circumstances I do not see my way to take the action suggested.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his agricultural friends will be very disappointed if any kind of foreign fruit is allowed to come into this country?

I think there is no foundation for that suggestion.

It was cherries first; now it is gooseberries.

The cases are not in any way to be compared, because in this country we are absolutely free from the cherry maggot, whereas, unfortunately, we are not free from gooseberry mildew.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the quality of this fruit, although it may not be mildewed fruit in every case, is infinitely lower than that of British fruit?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will again consider the possibility of summoning a representative conference of all parties interested in agriculture, with a view to arriving at an agreed policy by which arable acreage may be maintained and regular employment and adequate wages secured to the agricultural worker?

Invitations to a conference were sent to the three parties interested in agriculture, namely, landowners, farmers and farm workers, on the 28th of November,1924. This attempt to secure a representative conference failed, and I do not think that the revival of the proposal would serve any useful purpose at the present time

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, with a view to assisting agriculture, he will consider classifying the land and providing a bonus on output based on increased production?

I am afraid that my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion is impracticable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the individual cost of the survey of four parishes in Kincardine which was made in 1926?

The estimated cost in respect of salary and travelling expenses of the two officers engaged on this service is £530, composed of £340 salaries and £190 travelling expenses. Strictly speaking, however, only the sum of £190 can be regarded as additional cost to the State, as the duties of the seconded officers were performed without the employment of additional staff. I regret that it is not possible to give the cost for each parish separately.

Can the Under-Secretary assure the House that the Government will not proceed to waste any more money in this perfectly inane manner?

Oh, oh!

Arising out of the original answer, may I ask if the Under-Secretary is aware that all sections of this House regard that expenditure as most valuable?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many acres are at the present time under deer forests in Scotland; what proportion of that area is suitable for afforestation and small holdings, respectively; and whether the Government intends to carry out any of the recommendations and, if so, which recommendations of the Departmental Committee on Deer Forests,1922, and of the Scottish Conference on Agricultural Policy, 1925?

The total area of deer forests, according to the Returns as obtained by the Board of Agriculture in 1926 under the provisions of the Agricultural Returns Act, 1925, is 3,113,465 acres. I am not in a position to give the proportions asked for in the second part of the question because no recent survey has been made. With regard to the last part of the question, the recommendation with respect to heather burning has been dealt with by the Heather Burning (Scotland) Act, 1926. Effect has been given to another recommendation by a provision in the Agricultural Returns Act, 1925, empowering the Board of Agriculture for Scotland to obtain for the first time Returns of stock carried on deer forests. Other recommendations are receiving consideration but the result of the examination of the Returns of stock will, of course, have an important bearing on any conclusion that may be reached.

Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman propose to carry out a survey of the deer forest area corresponding to the survey he is now carrying out in the other parts of the Lowlands of Scotland?

The first thing is to get a Return of the stock carried in these areas, and that is in process of being collected.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why, seeing that grants amounting to £38,573 were applied for under the Board of Agriculture drainage scheme for the year 1926–27, only £13,551 was granted, whereas funds amounting in the financial year 1926–27 to pound20,625 were stated to be available for this purpose?

Under the 1926–27 scheme, £20,625, the amount available for the purpose, was offered in grants. At the end of the financial year claims to the value of £13,551 had been paid and a number of claims under the scheme were still outstanding. I may explain that many farmers curtailed, or even abandoned their proposals, and, in spite of the Board's request, failed to intimate the fact in time to allow of the grants being offered elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can give any figures similar to those which appeared in the recent Report on Agricultural Output in England and Wales, showing the area of land requiring draining in Scotland; whether he proposes to appoint a committee or commission to inquire into the question on the lines of the recently appointed Royal Commission on Land Drainage in England and Wales: and whether he proposes to introduce legislation, as recommended by the Scottish Conference on Agricultural Policy, 1925, on the lines of the Land Drainage Acts, enabling drainage areas to be delineated and drainage boards to be constituted?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the negative. The Secretary of State has under consideration at present proposals for legislation dealing with land drainage in Scotland.

Why cannot we have in Scotland an inquiry into this very important question of land drainage, which the Government's own Committee said was the most important thing to help Scottish agriculture?

As I say, my right hon. Friend has, at this moment, under his consideration proposals for legislation dealing with Scotland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of purchases by Russia in this country since the rupture of relations between the two countries, and the corresponding figure for the same period during the preceding two years?

I have no figures relating to purchases, but I have already undertaken to circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures as to our imports from and exports to Russia during last June, as soon as they are ready.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the manner in which the benefits resulting from the Stevenson restriction scheme are being curtailed by the smuggling of native rubber for export; and if he will take steps to stop it?

As far as can be judged, rubber smuggling is not carried out to such an extent as seriously to affect the working of the restriction scheme, though its complete elimination is, I fear, somewhat difficult, every effort has been and is being made by the Malayan Governments to repress it by vigorous preventive measures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) the number of prisoners who were killed or wounded during the disturbances which took place at the general penitentiary in Jamaica during the three months ending 30th September, 1926, the number of prisoners on whom corporal punishment was inflicted, and the average population of the penitentiary during this period;

The number of prisoners killed or subsequently dying of wounds inflicted during these disturbances was 5; of wounded, 14; and of corporal punishments, 152. I have no exact information as to the population of the general penitentiary during these months, but the estimated population for the year was 900. I will send the hon. Member a statement of the action taken or being taken on the Report of the Commission, as it would be too long for oral reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is yet in a position to make any statement as to the policy to be adopted regarding the East African Dependencies?

Yes, Sir; as the statement is of some length I am arranging for a White Paper, which will be circulated with to-day's Votes.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when it is contemplated that the Commission will go out?

At the end of the present year or the beginning of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give the estimated cost and the actual cost of the new harbour at Takoradi, Gold Coast, and the changes which have been made in the control of the construction works since the inception of the original scheme?

The harbour is not yet completed, but the cost was recently estimated at £3,392,000 (including various buildings and works in the harbour area) against an approximate estimate of £2,500,000 furnished three years ago. In 1924, the original engineers having retired, the system of employing the same firm as consulting and constructional engineers was reconsidered and it was decided to complete the work by contract, a consulting engineer being appointed. I may add that this decision has been fully justified by results. The progress of the works has been rapid and they are now approaching completion.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information as to when the new harbour will be thoroughly completed?

I think it will be completed early in the year.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has received representations from the Bristol and District Unemployment Committee begging him to expedite as much as possible the provision of adequate accommodation for the Bristol Employment Exchange, in order to minimise the hardship and inconvenience which is at present caused to the large number of persons unemployed and all others concerned; and what action he proposes to take?

The need for improved Employment Exchange accommodation for Bristol is recognised. A site for a new building has been acquired and plans are in course of preparation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that queues of men have to stand outside this Exchange in the main thoroughfare at Bristol in all weathers?

What we have done ought to reduce the inconvenience to a minimum in any case. As I have already said, the accommodation is not good, and we hope to improve it soon.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the demand for economy by his own supporters has kept this Employment Exchange from being built?

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that several hundred unemployed miners have been struck off extended benefit on the Nantyglo and Blaina Employment Exchange; that upwards of 400 of these men are ex-service men and that they have been refused Poor Law relief; and will he have benefit restored without delay to these unemployed miners?

I am having inquiries made into the matter raised by the hon. Member, and will let him know the result as soon as possible.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the fact that collieries in Monmouthshire are closing almost every day, and that it is almost impossible for these unemployed miners to get employment?

I will make inquiries at once.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed registering at the Darlington, Stockton, and Middlesbrough Employment Exchanges for the last weeks of June, 1926 and 1927, respectively?

The number on the registers of these Exchanges at 27th June, 1927, was 12,735, as compared with 27,931 at 28th June, 1926. I am circulating a detailed statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons that applied for extended benefit in each month of the present year at the Tonypandy, Treorohy, Ferndale, and Porth Exchanges, and the number of cases in which benefit was refused?

Between 14th December, 1926, and 13th June, 1927, the number of applications for extended benefit considered by the local committees for the Employment Exchanges at Tonypandy, Treorchy, Ferndale and Porth

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applications for extended benefit dealt with by the local employment committees in the Rhondda

Between 14th December, 1926, and 13th June, 1927, the number of applications for extended benefit considered by the local committees for Employment Exchanges in the Rhondda Valley was 33,961, of which 32,711 were recommended for allowance and 1,250 for disallowance.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applications for extended benefit during each month of the present year at the Treorchy and Tonypandy Employment Exchanges in which benefit was recommended by the local committees but subsequently refused?

Between 14th December, 1926, and 13th June, 1927, out of 13,792 applications for extended benefit recommended for allowance by the local committees for the Treorchy and Tonypandy Employment Exchanges, 410 or a little under 3 per cent. were subsequently refused.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of miners unemployed in each district for the last week of June, 1924, 1925, and 1927

As the reply includes a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate

Can the Minister tell us the totals for June, 1924, and June, 1927?

The totals for all districts in Great Britain are 59,728 in June, 1924; 314,639 in June, 1925, and 233,000 in June, 1927.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that during the mining Debate on Tuesday the Secretary for Mines and the President of the Board of Trade gave figures supplied by his Department showing only the numbers employed in 1925 and 1927. Why did the Department not supply the figures for 1924, which showed that only 59,000 were unemployed as against over 200,000?

I have no doubt that my right hon. Friend can supply reasons for any statement he made.

Was it not rather misleading the House to give those figures without the figures for 1924?

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the figures for 1927

asked the Secretary for Mines the total amount paid in miners' wages for the last week in March, 1921 and 1927, respectively?

Particulars of wages paid, which are available only for monthly periods, amounted in March, 1921, when the cost of living figure was 141 and the number of men employed in the industry was appreciably larger than to-day, to £21,250,000. The corresponding figure for March, 1927, when the cost of living figure was 71, was just over £12,000,000, the latter figure being an estimate.

As the right hon. Gentleman mentions that the number of unemployed was high in 1921, could he give the figure for 1921?

Yes, Sir, if the hon. Member will put down a question.

Do I rightly understand that the difference between the two sets of figures is approximately £9,000,000?

Yes. If the hon. Member will look into other industries, he will find a similar result in the two years.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the reduction in the rate of wages has contributed largely to the unemployment problem?

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of collieries stopped, with the number of miners thrown out of work, since the beginning of January, 1927?

368 collieries which resumed work after the dispute have since stopped, and on 2nd July the total number of wage-earners on colliery books showed a reduction of 26,600 from the maximum reached since the general resumption of work.

Are the Government taking any steps to interview the owners in these cases, and see if they can get these collieries re-started?