asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the defective condition of numerous houses in Bedford Cottages, Bedford Terrace, and Upper Manor Street, in the parish of St. Luke's, Chelsea; and whether he has satisfied himself that the requirements of the Housing Acts have been properly carried out with regard to them?

So far as I am aware, no representation has been made to me regarding the sanitary condition of the properties referred to. I have no reason to suppose that the Chelsea Metropolitan Borough Council are not carrying out their duties under the Housing Acts.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the rents charged by the borough council of Chelsea for the houses built, under the Addison Act, at Hortensia Gardens, King's Road, Chelsea; and whether his Department will take steps to reduce them so as to render the houses available for the working classes?

The fixing of rents of houses built under the Housing Act, 1919, is a matter within the discretion of the local authority subject to certain rules laid down in Regulations under the Act. I have to satisfy myself, in determining the amount of Exchequer assistance to be granted in respect of a scheme that the rents are sufficient and this was agreed with the borough council as regards the flats referred to, at the time they were built. Under the Addison Act, the liability of the local authorities in respect of housing is limited to a 1d. rate, any further loss falling on the taxpayer. I know of no reason why in this case the rents should be varied so as to throw a further charge on the Exchequer. In undertaking this scheme the council were catering for the better-paid members of the working class, and the weekly payments in respect of the flats include a charge for certain special amenities.

asked the Minister of Health when a beginning will be made in building working-class houses on the two acres of land recently purchased under the sanction of his Department in the King's Road, Chelsea; will he state what was the price sanctioned per acre; whether the land was frontage land with vacant possession; and whether he has consented to this land being leased on long lease to the Guinness Trust?

My right hon. Friend is not in a position to say when building will commence on the site in question. The area of this site is 1.9 acres, and it was purchased for £19,000. The site has frontages on King's Road, Edith Grove and Tadema Road, and was understood to be subject to certain leases terminable at short notice. The question of leaving this site to the Guinness Trust is at present under consideration by the Chelsea Metropolitan Borough Council, but no application for my right hon. Friend's consent has yet been made.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received representations and complaints concerning the insanitary condition of Little Orford Street, Ives Street, Feltham Mews, Green Street, Francis Street, and Leverett Street, in the near neighbourhood of Cadogan Square, Chelsea; whether he has caused investigation to be made concerning the same; whether he has drawn the attention of the borough council of Chelsea to such complaints; and, if so, what the reply of the council on the matter has been?

So far as I am aware, no representations have been made to my right hon. Friend respecting the sanitary condition of the particular area referred to.

asked the Minister of Health when the decision and Report of his Department upon the slum-clearance scheme recently promoted by the borough council of Chelsea is expected to be published; approximately how many working-class houses will be supplied by it; approximately what subsidies from the Ministry and from the London County Council will be available to relieve the ratepayers of Chelsea; how many pence or farthings per pound on the rates are expected to be incurred in respect of this scheme; and what authority will fix the rents to be charged for these new houses?

My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to say when a decision on this scheme will be given, but the matter is under consideration and a decision will be given as soon as possible. The scheme as submitted would involve the displacement of 379 persons of the working class, and rehousing provision for a like number is proposed. Section 1 (3) of the Housing, etc., Act, 1923, provides for Exchequer contribution in respect of schemes of this kind by way of annual payments not exceeding one-half the estimated average annual loss incurred by the local authority in the execution of the scheme. My right hon. Friend has no information as to any contribution to be made by the London County Council and is not at present in a position to state what amount is likely to fall upon the rates in respect of the scheme. In determining the amount of Exchequer contribution, my right hon. Friend would require to be satisfied as to the sufficiency of the rents, but the fixing of the rents will primarily be a matter for the authority carrying out the scheme.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now received the Report of his inspector respecting the investigation into the housing conditions of Moxley, Wednesbury; and, if so, can he make any statement thereon?

My right hon. Friend has no statement to make in regard to the recent visit of one of his inspectors to Wednesbury, which was for the purpose of conferring with representatives of the Council, and not of reporting on housing conditions.

asked the Minister of Health the approximate number of houses for the working classes in the urban district of Wokingham, and in each of the parishes in the rural districts of Cookham, Easthampstead, Windsor, and Wokingham, in East Berkshire, and in the rural district of Bradfield; how many of those houses were, on 30th November, 1927, actually unfit for habitation; how many were, although not actually unfit, not in all respects reasonably fit for habitation; how many houses for the working classes were rendered fit for habitation in each of the years 1924, 1925, 1926 and 1927 (11 months); how many inspections under Section 8 of the Housing Act, 1925, or the corresponding enactment repealed by that Act, there were in each of those years; how many of those inspections were re-inspections; and what number of houses is now required, in the opinion of the medical officer of health, in that urban district and in each of those parishes in order to provide proper and adequate housing accommodation for persons of the working classes?

The following statement gives as complete information as is available on the questions asked by the hon. Member:

Name of District.	Number of structurally separate dwellings occupied by private families or vacant. (Census 1921.)		Approximate number of working-class houses built since 1st January, 1919, to date.	Number of dwelling-houses reported during the year 1926 as—		Number of dwelling houses rendered fit during each of the years—			Number of houses inspected— (1)Under the public Health Acts and the Housing Act, 1925, or Housing Regulations. (2) Insepected and recorded under the Housing Act, 1925, or Housing Regulations (included under(1)).
	Total.	Containing 1 to 5 rooms.		Unit for habitation.	Not in all respects reasonably fit for habitation.	1924.	1925.	1926.	1924.		1925.	1926.
Wokingham Borough	1,110	728	100	—	48	20	63	44	(1)	48	72	98
									(2)	4	3	7
Cookham Rural District	3,313	2,047	600	—	42	28	48	39	(1)	120	290	152
									(2)	120	43	—
Easthampstead Rural District.	3,566	2,369	430	—	—	30	20	25	(1)	107	58	127
									(2)	11	8	60
Windsor Rural District	1,982	1,382	90	1	97	287	179	87	(1)	293	229	218
									(2)	171	136	207
Wokingham Rural District	4,317	2,647	1,200	6	123	139	144	130	(1)	201	214	194
									(2)	145	133	143
Bradfield Rural District	3,454	2,327	300	15	4	25	42	49	(1)	26	128	19
									(2)	26	128	19

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the inquest at Bury St. Edmunds, on 12th December, on the infant Child of an unemployed labourer, found by the jury to have perished by exposure on the road; and seeing that the coroner declared the death to be due to the absence of accommodation for casuals at Attleborough Workhouse, from which the parents of the child were sent on for a 16-mile walk, during which the child perished, he will inquire into the question?

Yes, Sir. I have already requested the General Inspector for the District to inquire into the matter, and to furnish a Report to me.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the West, Ham Board of Guardians is refusing coal allowances to applicants for relief; and whether, as this practice is causing great hardship to the poor, he will inquire into this matter?

The hon. Member is misinformed. The guardians do give coal allowances to applicants for relief where they think this necessary. I would point out that some misconception is introduced by the reference to coal allowances as distinguished from other allowances of relief. The guardians have to consider the whole need of the case, and it is purely a matter of arrangement whether they choose to call some part of the relief which is given, an allowance for coal or other special objects.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in receipt of out-door relief in the West Ham Poor Law Union on 1st November, 1924 and 1926, and 1st June, 1924 and 1926, and the number of such persons at the present date?

The total numbers of persons in receipt of out-door Poor Law relief in the West Ham Union on 1st November, 1924, and 30th October, 1926, were 67,191 and 49,390, respectively. The corresponding figures for 31st May, 1924, and 29th May, 1926, were 67,520 and 77,973, and for the 10th December, 1927, 28,548. Casuals and persons receiving medical relief only are not included in these figures.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the overcrowding which exists in the casual wards of the Tiverton Poor Law Union; and what steps does he propose to take in the matter?

I have received no recent reports or complaints of overcrowding in these wards, but am making inquiries.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received a communication from the Birmingham Local Old Age Pensions Committee expressing concern with the working of the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1924, and asserting that the restrictions imposed on applicants as to means are a cause of dissatisfaction, which has been intensified by reason of the fact that insured persons of 70 years of age and their wives of that age are now receiving pensions without reference to means and will in January next receive such pensions at 65 years of age, and asking the Government to introduce legislation to provide that uninsured persons at 70 years of age shall have the same privileges as to means as insured persons will have in January next at the age of 65; and what steps does he propose to take in the matter?

I am informed that the Minister of Health has not received a communication from the Birmingham Old Age Pensions Committee in the sense indicated in the first part of the question. In reply to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for the Deritend Division (Mr. Smedley Crooke) on the 1st December.

asked the Minister of Health the amount of contributions to the Health Insurance Fund for the years 1924, 1925, and 1926, with the number of insured persons receiving benefit in each year and the total number of weeks for which benefit has been paid?

The amount of contributions paid into the National Health Insurance Funds in Great Britain for the years specified was in round figures:

				£
1924	…	…	…	27,000,000
1925	…	…	…	28,000,000
1926	…	…	…	24,500,000

Exact particulars are not available as to the number of weeks for which sicknees benefit and disablement benefit were paid, or as to the number of persons in receipt of benefit for any year, as no occasion has arisen for requiring approved societies to keep such statistics. It may, however, be estimated that the total number of weeks of sickness represented by the amounts paid as sickness and disablement benefit in each of the years specified was, on a rough approximation:

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that certain approved societies have set up dental clinics staffed by unqualified dentists; and whether, as this is in contravention of Section 5 of the Dentists Act, 1921, he will say what action he proposes to take?

As indicated in the reply to the hon. Member for Enfield (Colonel Applin) on 10th November, approved societies have no power to set up dental clinics. If it is suggested that bodies indirectly associated with approved societies have contravened Section 5 of the Dentists Act, the matter is one for the Dental Board, having regard to their powers under Section 6 (3) of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there were any shareholders or whether there was any private money of any kind ever invested in the old Navy and Army Canteen Board on the naval or military side?

No, Sir.

asked the Prime Minister when he proposes to announce the decision of the Government regarding the scheme for the reform of the House of Lords, which he promised in his speech at Cardiff to make known before the end of the year?

I had hoped to be able to make a statement on this subject before the House rose, but I am not yet in a position to make an announcement.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the passing of a Bill by the Victoria State Parliament prohibiting betting or wagering upon greyhound racing with electric hares; and whether he proposes to introduce legislation with a similar object?

I have seen a newspaper report to the effect stated. I have nothing to add to what I said to the deputation of Members of this House which I received last evening.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the latest detailed figures for Scotland as to expenditure out of fees, tolls and rents, and other receipts not being grants, Exchequer grants and local rates on education, public libraries, highway and bridges, sewerage and refuse, hospital and medical services, lunacy and mental deficiency, public parks and baths, housing and town planning, poor relief, police, public lighting, fire brigades and miscellaneous and unallocated services?

I am obtaining the information desired by the hon. Member, and I shall communicate with him as soon as it is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of

ear.	14 and under 16 years.		16 and under 21 years.
	Males.	Females.	Males.	Females.
1919	1,606	74	4,017	440
1920	1,605	45	5,309	494
1921	1,485	27	4,804	403
1922	1,511	39	5,520	397
1923	1,531	42	5,099	304
1924	1,690	33	5,427	291
1925	1,667	35	6,778	279
1926	1,871	60	7,016	315
1927 (12 months ending 30th November, 1927).	1,893	41	7,264	334

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what work has been done for the Admiralty in Devonport Dockyard during the years 1924, 1925 and 1926 by outside contractors, and how much money has been paid to them for this purpose?

Various contracts were placed during the financial years in question for the supply and erection of machinery in His Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, including yard machinery and gun mounting and propelling machinery for His Majesty's ships building at the Yard. The manufacture of the machinery was undertaken at the contractors' works, and it is not possible to state what proportion of the contract money is represented by the erection of such items in Devonport Yard.

The numbers of persons between the ages of 14 and 16, and 16 and 21, convicted in Glasgow during the years mentioned were as follow. Figures showing the numbers convicted between the ages of 16 and 18 are not available.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how much money has been spent in each of His Majesty's dockyards on repairs to ships during the years 1924, 1925 and 1926, stating what items comprise the figures in each case; and how much for similar work has been paid to private firms?

Expenditure on repairs and alterations to His Majesty's ships in His Majesty's dockyards is given in the following statement, and is comprised of labour, of materials used, and of establishment and incidental expenditure.Payments to contractors for similar work amounted to the following sums:

				£
1924–1925	…	…	…	283,524
1925–1926	…	…	…	198,091
1926–1927	…	…	…	232,531

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the total sums spent on ships laid down and completed in Government yards and private yards, respectively, during the years 1924, 1925

The information is given in the following statements. In respect of ships not completed, the expenditure given is up to the end of November, 1927.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) the number registered as unemployed at the various Employment Exchanges in the county of Monmouth at the latest available date;

The following table shows the numbers on the registers at Employment Exchanges and branch offices in the areas mentioned at 12th December.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will furnish a Return showing for the last convenient date the highest and lowest percentage of unemployment by localities corresponding to the statistics given in his answer to a

The following TABLE shows, at 21st November, 1927, the percentage of Insured Persona recorded as Unemployed at the 10 Employment Exchanges* in Great Britain where these percentages were highest and at the 10 where they were lowest, together with the average for Great Britain as a whole.
Highest Rates of Unemployment.				Lowest Rates of Unemployment.
Employment Exchange.			Percentage Unemployed.†	Employment Exchange.			Percentage Unemployed.†
Blaina	…	…	58·3	High Wycombe	…	…	1·1
MerthyrTydfil	…	…	51·6	Newark	…	…	1·2
Abertillery	…	…	43·4	Slough	…	…	1·7
Bishop Auckland	…	…	39·2	Coalville	…	…	1·9
Port Talbot	…	…	37·6	Braintree	…	…	2·0
Newburn	…	…	36·2	Loughborough	…	…	2·2
Dowjais	…	…	32·3	Harrow	…	…	2·4
Crumlin	…	…	31·5	Chelmsford	…	…	2·4
Llanelly	…	…	30·8	Letchworth	…	…	3·2
Pontypridd	…	…	25·8	Wellinborough	…	…	3·3
Average for Great Britain 9·9 per cent.
*The figures relate to Employment Exchanges and exclude Branch Offices.
† The term unemployed includes not only persons definitely without a job, but also persons suspended, stood off, or on short time and not at work on the day of the count. It should also be noted that it does not necessarily follow that an unemployed person registers at the same Employment Exchange as that from which he obtained his unemployment book, and the percentage of unemployment in any area is therefore subject to qualifications in this respect.

asked the Minister of Labour the total amounts paid in out-of-work donation and in unemployment benefit from the date of the Armistice to the present time?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 21st December, 1927, Col. 392], supplied the following statement:

The total sums paid since the date of the Armistice to the 10th December, 1927, by way of out-of-work donation and unemployment benefit are approximately as follow:

		£
Out-of-work donation	…	62,448,000
Unemployment benefit	…	316,870,000

asked the Minister of Labour how many men have passed through the day and residential training establishments organised by his Department; the weekly cost per head, including all charges, in each establishment; how many men have been found regular and permanent employment, and the

TRAINING OF UNEMPLOYED MEN.
Statement of Position at end of November, 1927.
Centre.		Number of men who have completed a course of training.	Number of men to have obtained employment in this country after training.	Number of men who migrated overseas.		Total.	Approximate weekly cost per head.
				Canada.	Australia.
Residential.							s.	d.
Claydon	…	903	279	256	315	850	48	2
Brandon	…	561	49	210	255	514	51	4
Non-Residential.
Birmingham	…	1,915	1,825	—	—	1,825	28	9
Wallsend	…	1,279	1,105	—	—	1,105	25	5
		4,658	3,258	466	570	4,294	—

asked the Minister of Transport whether he proposes in the promised Road Transport Bill to deal with the use of and speed of heavy motor lorries, which cause great damage to houses abutting on the roads traversed and serious inconvenience to their residents; and, if not, whether he will take this grievance into consideration.

I think there is some reason to hope that vibration caused by heavy traffic will decrease in the future owing to the improvements which are continually being made in road surfaces and in the design and construction of heavy motor vehicles. The proposals as to the regulation of motor vehicles are contained in the draft Road Traffic Bill, and as regards the driving

A statement giving the desired information is given below. Particulars of the nature of the employment found by men after training were given on the 23rd November in reply to a question by the hon. Member for West Willesden (Mr. Viant). I am unable to say to what extent such employment is regular or permanent.

asked the Minister of Transport for the latest available year, the expenditure out of the Road Fund and by local authorities on Class 1, Class 2, and unclassified roads, respectively?

I am unable to furnish the hon. Member with the information desired as to the expenditure by local authorities, but a summary of expenditure out of the Road Fund will be found on page 34 of the Report on the Road Fund for the year 1926–27. The total expenditure of local authorities on the maintenance, improvement, cleansing and construction of highways, bridges and ferries is given up to the year 1924–25 (the last year for which returns are available) in Appendix 13 to the Annual Report on the Administration of the Road Fund for the year 1926–27.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the latest invention by the United States Naval Department of a new diving bomb, he can say if this country is as well equipped in that respect?

It would not be in the public interest to make any statement upon this subject.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the names of the films that have been made by Government assistance; how much money has accrued to the Treasury in respect of each one; and what profits have been made to date by the companies concerned in respect of each one?

As the list of the films in question is rather long, and as I have not yet been able to confirm all the items, perhaps the hon. Member will allow me to send the list to him as soon as possible. As regards the second part of the question, I have already informed the hon. Member, in reply to his question on 12th December, that it would not be in the public interest for me to give details of the receipts. Nor am I able to give the information requested in the third part of the question.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will inquire into the case of Mr. Frank Colman, of Sarum, St. Mildred's Avenue, Broadstairs, whose claims are that he applied for alternative retired pay in the prescribed manner; that he also applied for a supplementary allowance for his child in the manner required by Royal Warrant (Command 2013), Article 3; and that in regard to the former claim it was not belated, having been made in 1922, and as to which the Ministry sent down a representative to see him?

I am inquiring further into this case, and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Pensions the nature and effect of any action taken by his Department in the case of Leonard Baker, late private, 25,287, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, either on application by the pensioner or in consequence of medical reports since the promulgation of the appeal tribunal's decision in January, 1924?

The case to which the hon. Member refers was represented as one in which the final award was seriously erroneous inasmuch as the condition due to war service was seriously and permanently worse than was represented by the final award of less than 20 per cent. disablement. A further grant at pension rate was accordingly made with special sanction in February, 1925. The condition, however, steadily improved, and in September, 1926, it was found on medical examination that the condition no longer justified the maintenance of the grant, which was accordingly discontinued. In these circumstances, it was clear that the earlier view as to the existence of error was mistaken.

asked the Postmaster-General when it is intended to open the next automatic telephone exchange within the London area; and can he state which exchanges will be converted to the automatic system during the forthcoming 12 months?

Bishopsgate is the next automatic telephone exchange to be opened in the London area; and Sloane, Western, Monument, Bermondsey and Maida Vale are expected to be brought into use during 1928.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is the policy of his Department that the words in the charter of the British Broadcasting Corporation prohibiting the broadcasting of politically controversial matter should be extended to works of literature dealing imaginatively with industrial life; whether in so interpreting those provisions the corporation has acted in consultation with his Department or as a result of directions from his Department and whether he can see his way to attain what is desired without the imposition of a literary censorship foreign to the traditions of this country and harmful to the development of broadcasting?

Under the terms of the licence granted to the British Broadcasting Corporation a notice has been served on the Corporation directing them to refrain from broadcasting (a) statements expressing the opinion of the Corporation on matters of public policy, and (b) speeches or lectures containing statements on topics of political, religious or industrial controversy. It is left to the discretion of the Corporation to carry out these instructions.