asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the approximate number of members of the established shorthand-typist and typist grades who have left the service on marriage or other grounds during the first five years or have been appointed to other classes within the service during the same period?

The number of members of these grades who left the service or were appointed to other classes within the service during the financial years 1923–24 to 1925–26, inclusive, is 643. Particulars covering the whole of the last five years are not available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the number of temporary typists and shorthand-typists, and of open recruits, respectively, appointed for each examination for copying-typist appointments since 1923; what was the number of established copying-typists and temporary shorthand-typists, respectively, appointed from each of the shorthand-typist examinations since 1923; and whether, in the case of each copying-typist and shorthand-typist examination, respectively, all qualified candidates were eventually appointed?

The particulars asked for are given below:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Committee on trade and industry state, in regard to short-time and underemployment, that the available data are very scanty; and whether any attempt is being made to render them more complete?

I am aware of the statement referred to. Since the Committee reported, statistics have been compiled and published in the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" showing the hours actually worked, and the extent of short-time working, in each of four weeks of 1924, in the principal manufacturing industries. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the current issue of the "Ministry of Labour Gazette," in which the figures for each of the main industry groups are summarised on pages 251–252. I may add that arrangements are under consideration for keeping this information up-to-date by means of a limited inquiry conducted each year.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed young persons of each sex who are attending educational classes in Sheffield; what the hours of the classes are; how many of such young persons are attending classes two, three, and four miles from their homes; whether any provision is made of suitable places for meals; and whether, in the case of those travelling long distances, any arrangements exist for reduced rail or tramway fares?

At the present time, 161 boys and 221 girls are attending the Sheffield Juvenile Unemployment Centres. The boys normally attend from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and from 2 p.m. to 4.30 p.m., and the girls from 9.30 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Of the boys, 151 live two miles or less from the Centre, and 10 between two and four miles. Of the girls, 152 live two miles or less from the Centre and 69 between two and four miles. Boys and girls who live more than two miles from the Centre attend on three days a week, the remainder on five days a week. In the case both of boys and girls a classroom is set aside in which meals may be taken. No special arrangements are in force for reduced rail or tramway fares.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount set aside for loans in Scotland under the Agricultural Credits Act., 1923; and what sums have been advanced to Scottish farmers under this Act?

The sum of £5,000,000 has been approved by the Treasury as the aggregate amount which may be advanced by the Public Works Loan Commissioners under Section 1 of the Act. There is no specific allocation this amount as between Scotland and England. The loans granted to Scottish farmers under Section 1 of the Act up to 31st March, 1927, amounted to £544,064. A sum of £60,000 was paid to the Agricultural Credits (Scotland) Account for the making of advances under Section 2 of the Act to agricultural credit societies in Scotland. Only one society took advantage of this provision and the advances made during the period of operation of that section amounted to £1,247 10s.

asked the Minister of Health the amount of money expended outdoor relief in Durham county during the first six months in 1925 and 1927?

The total expenditure of guardians of unions in the union county of Durham on out-relief in money and kind (other than medical relief only and relief to casuals) in each month from January to June in the years 1925 and 1927 is given in the following table:

asked the Minister of Health whether he can supply the number of persons in receipt of out-door relief in the County of Durham during the first six months in 1925 and 1927?

The average number of persons in receipt of out-door Poor Law relief in the union, County of Durham (other than persons in receipt of medical relief only and casuals), in each month from January to June in the years 1925 and 1927, is given in the following table:

asked the Minister of Health whether, in the case of a disabled man in receipt of a War pension plus allowance for wife who is an insured person eligible for pension in January, 1928, any deduction would be made from the pension of the wife in respect of the allowance, the wife being an insured person and the husband not insured?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the fact that the Indian Army is not getting as many officers as it requires to maintain the establishment, he will say why applicants who have served as officers in that Army and have desired to be reinstated after temporary absence have been informed that their applications cannot be entertained; and whether, in order to meet the admitted shortage, these officers will be permitted, upon repayment of the gratuity paid on retirement or upon some other like terms, to be restored to the service?

It has been the general policy of the Government of India to refuse reinstatement to officers of the Indian Army who retired under the Surplus Officers' Scheme, and my Noble Friend considers that this policy has been in the best interests of the Indian Army. But the Government of India have recently been given an opportunity of reconsidering their policy.

asked the Postmaster-General the approximate number of telegrams despatched from racecourses for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

I regret that the information desired by the hon. Member is not available, and no estimate could be obtained without considerable trouble and expense.

asked the Home Secretary if he is now prepared to make a statement as to the Government's attitude with reference to the licensing laws?

As was stated last week, it is not yet possible to make an announcement on this subject. My hon. Friend would seem to have been mistaken when he said last week that the Prime Minister had stated he would give an answer to this question as soon as the Southborough Committee had reported. What the Prime Minister in his letter of 3rd March said was—" When that Report is received it will be necessary to consider not only the question of disinterested management, but also various other aspects of the licensing problem." The Government have not yet had an opportunity to give these matters the careful consideration which is required before any statement can be made as to future action.