asked the Home Secretary what was the number of prosecutions in the County of Nottingham for the adulteration of milk during the years 1924, 1925 and 1926, with the penalties imposed?

In the county the figures were: prosecutions, 16, 11, 13; fines, £20 19s. 6d., £17 16s., £22. If the City of Nottingham and the Borough of Newark be included, the following are the additional figures: prosecutions, 17, 4, 10; fines, £12, £15 8s., £9 10s. The figures of fines do not include costs ordered to be paid in addition.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many of these were not first offences?

No; I could not possibly say without notice.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the refusal of the London County Council to license an X-ray massage establishment; and whether he will consider the necessity of introducing legislation which will have for its object the restriction of the use of X-ray treatment by beauty specialists and massage establishments throughout Great Britain?

I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Springburn (Mr. Hardie) on 15th December.

With regard to the first part of the question, if the hon. Gentleman makes inquiries, he will see the importance of it. Is it not a fact that if this apparatus gets into inexperienced hands, there is great danger to the public?

That may very well be so.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think the public need protection, and, if the County Council will not give it, does he not think that other bodies ought to do so?

If the hon. Gentleman will refer to the answer to which I have referred him, he will find that legislation is necessary. I do not think it is at all practicable at present.

asked the Home Secretary on what grounds he recently refused a licence to a dispossessed wholesale wine and spirit merchant resident in the City of Carlisle to enable him to sell wines, spirits, and beer to the trade, and for domestic purposes, upon the same terms as outside firms who now supply large quantities of the beverages named in Carlisle and the district, and who do not in any way con- tribute to the local rates; and whether he is aware that the grant of the licence applied for would not in any way interfere with the legitimate control of public houses and would not create a precedent, as licences have been granted to two clubs which purchase all their supplies from outside sources?

It is a fact that an application was recently made on behalf of a former licensee in the City of Carlisle for permission, in effect, to reestablish in the city the licensed business which was compulsorily acquired from him in 1916 by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) on payment of an agreed sum for compensation. This application was refused. I am satisfied that the facilities already existing for the sale of intoxicating liquor in the City of Carlisle for domestic purposes are adequate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his notice has been drawn to the proposed erection of a greyhound racing track in the East End of London on the garden allotments situate on this site; and whether he will state if any negotiations are pending for the purpose of paying compensation to the holders of these garden allotments?

My attention has been drawn to the proposal to which the hon. Member refers. As the allotments in question are let direct by the owner of the land to the allotment holders, neither the Ministry nor the local allotments authority is in any way concerned in the proposal, and, while I believe the question of compensation is being discussed, I have no definite information on the subject.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the owner in question?

As the hon. Member is aware, compensation is payable under certain conditions during certain seasons, but I am afraid that we have no power to interfere. I understand, however, that negotiations are going on, and I hope that the allotment holders will be treated generously.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has any information as to whether any bounties or subventions are given by the Dominions or by foreign countries in aid of agricultural produce exported to the United Kingdom?

Inquiries have been made into this matter, and information has been received in respect of some 20 countries. No case has been found where any bounty or subvention is given to agricultural commodities which compete with British produce, though cleaned rice exported from Spain received a subvention of 25 pesetas per ton. The countries to which the above statement applies are Canada, India and South Africa, Argentina, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Esthonia, France, Finland, Holland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Rumania, Spain, Switzerland, Uruguay and the United States. Information in regard to New Zealand and Australia is not yet available.

asked the, Minister of Labour the number of people on the live register of the Employment Exchanges for the months ended May and November, 1927, respectively; and the net amount of reduction in wages for the first 11 months of this year?

The number of persons on the registers of the Employment Exchanges in Great Britain at 28th November, 1927, was 1,145,230, as compared with 985,513 at 30th May, 1927. In the industries for which statistics are compiled by the Ministry of Labour, the changes in rates of wages reported during the first 11 months of 1927 resulted in a net reduction of £383,350 in the weekly full-time wages of 1,857,000 workpeople, and in a net increase of £29,850 in those of 276,000, the net effect of all the changes being a reduction of £353,500. These figures relate mainly, though not exclusively, to organised groups of wage-earners, and they do not include the effects of changes in the wages of agricultural labourers, domestic servants, police, shop assistants, clerks or Government employés, as to whom complete statistics are not available.

Do I understand that there were more than 100,000 men and women on the live register at the end of November than there were in May, and, if that be so, what becomes of the recent report that was made by the President of the Board of Trade?

The observations of my right hon. Friend are not in the least inconsistent with the figures that I have given. As is well known to the hon. Member, the figures always increase from seasonal causes in the winter.

Can the hon. Gentleman say why, a week or a fortnight ago, these figures have decreased for the first time in several years, seeing that at this time of year they increase rather than decrease?

The numbers always increase, and always have increased ever since I have had any knowledge of the matter, during the winter months. The peak always comes about April, May or June.

Is it not the fact that, towards the end of November and the beginning of December, owing to seasonal reasons, unemployment usually increases considerably, and why is it that this year, of all years, should show an exception the other way?

No, Sir; I think it is perfectly plain that the numbers of people unemployed usually diminish just before Christmas, as, indeed, they have done this year. They are down by more than 24,000 this week. But, taking the aggregate, it will always be found that the figures are greater in the winter months than they are in, say, May or June.

Has the Ministry of Labour no intention of trying to get a full record of the increases or reductions in the figures at the present time?

If the hon. Member refers to agricultural labourers, domestic servants, and shop assistants, I am afraid that we have not any statistics, and I am not at all sure that we could get them.

I am speaking about those in other large industries, too. Has the Ministry no means of getting a record of reductions and increases, so that we may have something like a real idea of what is taking place?

I think the figures I have given are comprehensive, except that they do not include the limited classes to which I have referred, and with respect to whom we have no available statistics. I think that, with the exception of these limited classes, the figures are comprehensive.

Would it not be true to say that changes in wages at the present time, and particularly reductions, are taking place on a very large scale in industries which are never recorded at all?

As regards the industries which are not recorded, I cannot, of course, answer one way or the other. The reductions to which I have referred are in some cases, as the hon. Member knows, due to agreements which provide for a reduction or increase depending upon the cost of living, and that accounts for some of the changes. In other agreements, the wages depend upon the selling price of the commodities produced, and that may also have a bearing.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what are his intentions in view of the dangerous condition of the Museum of Geology in Jermyn Street?

for the FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS: The Royal Commission on the National Museums and Galleries has represented that the present conditions in Jermyn Street are unsatisfactory from every point of view, and that the transfer of the Geological Museum to an appropriate site in South Kensington should be made at the earliest convenient moment. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and my Noble Friend endorse this view, and hope to give effect to it as soon as financial circumstances permit.

What is expected to be the saving out of this transfer?

The savings will be of various kinds.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects the Report of the Committee which dealt with the marking of pottery?

I am informed that the Committee are considering their Report, but I cannot say when it is likely to be received.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will reconsider his circular to parish councils of 1925 regarding scales of payments, in view of the extreme nature of the cold weather, and advise them to resume their former practice of slightly increased payments?

I would refer to my replies on this subject given to the hon. Member on 8th and 22nd November, to which I have nothing to add.

Is not the extreme cold in Scotland in the past two or three weeks sufficient to cause the right hon. Gentleman to consider the matter? Does he think 29s., the normal scale of relief for three children, father and mother, is sufficient in these cold days to provide warmth as well as food?

I said that we had no evidence before my Board that hardship was being caused, and I invited the hon. Member to bring before me any cases where such hardship has accrued, but I have not received them.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that in these bitter cold days 29s. is not sufficient to maintain five persons in warmth and food?

The hon. Member must also be aware that in the circular issued by the Board of Health a certain latitude is given to parish councils to deal with special circumstances in special cases?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that parish councils are interpreting this as a dead rule of 29s., and will he not make inquiries, particularly in industrial centres, to see if real distress is not occurring generally, and not deal with exceptions?

If there are any complaints that they are not being properly treated, they have their remedy in an application to have their cases considered.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that persons have no appeal against the parish council at all if they are able-bodied, and they have to accept this 29s. for five persons? Could he not reconsider the thing in view of the extreme cold?

This is a matter which is always, of course, before the Board, but they have no evidence, although I have invited evidence.

asked the Prime Minister if his attention has been called to a resolution passed by the County Councils Association asking that some restriction should be observed in legislation which imposes upon local authorities duties involving new and substantial local expenditure; and whether he will consider the desirability of laying down the principle that legislation which has the effect of imposing burdens on local authorities shall receive the direct sanction of Parliament as to the extent of those burdens and not leave it open to the public departments of the State to demand expenditure by local authorities by means of Orders in Council or Departmental Regulations?

I have every sympathy with the object which my hon. and gallant Friend and the County Councils Association have in view, but I am very doubtful as to the practicability of his suggestions. In certain cases in the past Parliament has limited the power of expenditure of local authorities on a new service, but the arrangement has not proved a success, and I do not think it is the best method of securing the necessary economy in local administration. The system, moreover, of Departmental Regulations involving expenditure could only be avoided by throwing a very large amount of extra work upon this already overburdened House. I think that the House full recognises that it is a legislative and not an administrative body and that its control over Departmental administration must rest in the main on the individual and collective responsibility to it of His Majesty's Ministers.

Will the right hon. Gentleman use his influence with Departments of the Government to stop the practice which sometimes prevails of requiring increased expenditure by the local authorities as a condition of paying Government grants?

I will look into that question.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that owing to uncontrolled opposition by motor omnibus owners, subject to no statutory obligations, the Lanarkshire Tramways Company, which has operated for 24 years a tramway system of 28 miles in the County of Lanark under statutory obligations, will soon be forced to close down, thus putting out of work all their tramway employés, whose annual wages now amount to £45,000, and throwing on the ratepayers the annual cost of maintaining the roadway now borne by the company; that the company have in the past been paying to the local authority about £13,000 annually in relief of the rates; and whether the Minister can take any immediate action to protect the company, their employés and the ratepayers?

I have been informed by the company that the severe competition of motor omnibuses may render it necessary for them to cease working the tramways. I have no control over the issue of licences granted to omnibus proprietors, which is a matter for the licensing authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that, in consequence of the Regulations issued by him to prevent noise by motor cyclists, prosecutions are being instituted in cases where it has been shown that the machines were fitted with the most up-to-date silencers and that these prosecutions have failed; and whether he will amend his instructions in order to prevent prosecutions in cases where machines are fitted with such silencers?

The Regulation designed to prohibit the use of noisy exhausts on motor vehicles was issued in 1912 and, in my opinion, is not an unreasonable one. The question of the enforcement of the law is a matter for the police. I cannot see my way to amend the Regulation on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a large batch of prosecutions have recently been taken in the Midlands and all withdrawn owing to the fact that the machines are fitted with these up-to-date silencers?

The Regulations require—I think they are quite reasonable—that the silencer should be suitable and sufficient for reducing, as far as may be reasonable and practicable, the noise which would otherwise be caused by the escape of the said gases, and in my opinion the noise from these machines has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some cycle manufacturers have offered a reward of £10,000 to anyone who can submit to them a silencer which will be fully effective? Does it not seem very hard on motor manufacturers that they should have to close down some of their works, as they will do?

Yes, but my hon. Friend must realise that it is much harder on people who are kept awake at night.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a great deal of this noise making is deliberate on the part of people who think it is rather a fine thing to make it?

asked the Minister of Transport if he has made any inquiry into the representations he has received from interested parties in Glasgow and district regarding the conditions of service of the employés of the various omnibus owners; and if he is prepared to take any action?

I have no jurisdiction in matters relating to the conditions of service of the employés of motor omnibus proprietors.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the conditions of service of many of these omnibus servants are worse than Trade Board conditions, and does he intend to take any action in the matter?

I have no power in the matter. Any representations had better be addressed to the Minister of Labour.

asked the Minister of Labour if he intends to take any action, when Parliament again meets, to give effect to the Washington Eight Hours Convention?

My right hon. Friend hopes to be in a position to make a statement on this subject early in the next Session.

Is it not a fact that if the Washington Convention (Hours of Labour) were put into operation, so far as productive work is concerned, it would affect only 8 per cent. of the population?

I could not possibly give an opinion on that without notice. It involves rather a large question.

If I put down a question when we resume, will the hon. Gentleman be in a position to make a statement?

My right hon. Friend hopes to be in a position to make a statement early in the next Session, but whether quite early I cannot say. Of course, it is open to the hon. Member to put down a question.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received from the Post Office Advisory Council a report on the inquiry into the postal cheque system which was conducted by the postal cheque sub-committee; what is the nature of the report, and what action he proposes to take with regard to the introduction of a postal cheque system; and, in the event of the report not yet having been considered, when he will be able to make an announcement?

The Sub-Committee on postal cheques has not yet presented its Report to the Post Office Advisory Council, and I am not in a position to make a statement at present.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the case of John William Hammond, a head postman employed at Kilburn, who was recently convicted at the Marylebone Police Court for stealing a 10s. note; is he aware that the man was 60 years of age and had 39 years' service in the Post Office; that as a result of his conviction Hammond's wife died from shock; that he was deprived of a gratuity of £390 and a pension of £2 15s. per week; and, seeing that such gratuity and pension were in the nature of deferred pay and should not be withheld on account of the police court proceedings, he will inquire into this case?

This case has been brought to my notice. I am having inquiry made into it, and will communicate further with the hon. Member. He is no doubt aware that the question of the award of pension or gratuity to any civil servant is a matter dealt with by the Treasury in accordance with the general Regulations applicable to the Civil Service under the Superannuation Acts.

Will the Noble Lord submit to the Treasury that if a pension is in the nature of deferred pay, it should be inviolate?

All relevant considerations in this case will be borne in mind.

Will the Noble Lord have a public inquiry, because it interests a large number of other Members besides the hon. Member for Camberwell?

I cannot make a promise of that character.

(by Private Notice) asked the Postmaster-General whether it is the fact that so little use is being made from this country of the new telephone service to New York that unless more business is done a heavy loss to the Post Office will be involved, and what steps are being taken to popularise this service?

No. As my right hon. Friend informed the hon. and gallant Member for Everton (Colonel Woodcock) on the 13th instant, the present revenue from the trans-Atlantic telephone service approximately covers working costs, but not interest, depreciation and amortisation.

Has the Noble Lord considered that if the very high rate charged, which is £5 a minute, were reduced, a great deal more traffic would take place?

Yes, Sir. The traffic is steadily growing, and the Postmaster-General, as at present advised, is not prepared to reduce the rates. He hopes that as business men more and more realise the great advantages which are to be obtained from using this service they will realise how extremely cheap it is.

Has the Postmaster-General considered reducing the rates after certain hours of the day to give people an opportunity?

The Postmaster-General has had all these suggestions before him and as soon as he is advised—and I would remind the hon. Member that it is a matter which has to be arranged not only in this country but in America; it is a matter of agreement between the two administrations—he will vary the rates as soon as he thinks fit.

In view of the last answer, will the right hon. Gentleman use the telephone himself to talk to the Postmaster-General in America and try to arrange it, and at the same time try to set an example to the other subjects?

Have any negotiations taken place with America?

We are in constant touch with America on the whole working of this system.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to certain recent decisions in the King's Bench Division concerning the Rent Restrictions Act, by which at least one million homes are affected; and if he intends taking any action to amend the law in the matter?

It is assumed that the hon. Member is referring to the case of Roe v. Russell. My right hon. Friend's attention has been drawn to this case, and he understands that leave to appeal has now been granted. In the circumstances, my right hon. Friend feels sure that the hon. Member would not wish him to make a statement on the subject.

In the event of the appeal failing, will the Government take action next Session to deal with the matter?

We must await the result of the appeal.

(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Health whether in his special relief schemes are contemplated to help the population in the distressed mining areas of South Wales; whether he is aware that many families are reduced to penury and want, and whether seeing that in many of the villages, where the mines are closed, mining is the sole industry, it would be possible to give some special financial aid to the local authorities concerned, especially as many tradespeople are in such straitened circumstances owing to the expended credit they have to give that they will soon be unable to pay their rates?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the very difficult position prevailing in some parts of South Wales, owing to the condition of the mining industry. He received yesterday a deputation from the local authorities concerned, at which the situation was fully discussed. So far as he is aware the responsible authorities are not failing to meet their obligations in regard to the relief of Institution. He does not think that special action in the way of Exchequer grants would be appropriate. The position in this area will, no doubt, engage the attention of the Industrial Transfer Board in course of being established.

Does the Minister realise that the position is more urgent, almost desperate, that delay is a serious matter, and has he further seen the allegation that the maximum relief given now in some of these milling towns is fixed at 7s.? Is that statement correct?

I think the hon. Gentleman must read my answer. The whole matter was very fully discussed with Members of Parliament chiefly concerned in this matter at the deputation yesterday. The proceedings at the deputation and my right hon. Friend's reply will be made public, and I invite the hon. Gentleman to await the statement as to what was then said.

Would not most of this trouble have been avoided if Mr. Justice Sankey's Report had been adopted?

Perhaps, if the hon. and gallant Member had been in charge it would have been better still.

I would have kept my word.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary give us an assurance that the answer to this deputation will be much more effective than the answer of the Minister to the North Eastern Conference dealing with those areas? Nothing was done though much sympathy was expressed?

It would be unwise to make comparisons between the two deputations, but I would invite the hon. Gentleman to await the statement which will be made, I hope, to-day.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that if these areas were situated abroad, in India, special relief funds would be formed, and can he not see that the people at home are at least as well treated as the people abroad?

That matter does not arise.