asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can report any progress in transferring the unemployed coal miners of this country to other districts in this country or to other parts of the Empire or in finding them other employment?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on Tuesday last to similar questions by the hon. Members for Devonport (Mr. Hore-Belisha) and Spennymoor (Mr. Batey).

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the number of destitute boys and youths who frequent the streets of London, particularly the Embankment; and whether he can devise some means, other then the casual wards, of assisting this class, with a view to preventing them from sinking into a state of chronic vagrancy?

No, Sir; my attention has not been called to the situation alleged by the hon. Member, and I should be glad to know on what evidence he bases his allegation. I may point out that in co-operation with the local education authorities the Ministry have opened juvenile unemployment centres in London and many other places, and have made arrangements under which boys and girls leaving school are given advice and guidance with regard to opportunities for employment.

asked the Secretary for Mines if his attention has been called to the dispute at Boldon colliery, in the county of Durham; and will he cause inquiries to be made with a view to a settlement being arrived at?

I am aware that there is a dispute at the colliery referred to, but this is not a matter in which I can intervene.

asked the Secretary for Mines the cost in wages per ton of coal in the British coalfield for 1913 and the last available full year of working, and the costs other than wages per ton of coal for the same period; and whether his Department publishes any figures relative to these costs periodically?

In 1913 the average wages cost per ton of coal disposable commercially was 6s. 10½d., and the average costs other than wages, 2s. 5½d. In 1927 the corresponding figures were about 10s. 7½d. and 5s. 1d. respectively. Figures relative to these costs are contained in quarterly Summaries presented to the House and published, the last being the Summary for the quarter ended 30th September, 1927, Command Paper No. 3011.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will consider the advisability of issuing, in the form of a single White Paper, a full account of the efforts made in, Burma for the release of slaves?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Memorandum prepared for the League of Nations, which was circulated with the OFFICIAL REPORT of the 16th June last. I am also placing in the Library of the House copy of Papers relating to Mr. Barnard's expedition to the area known as the "Triangle" during the season 1926–27. A further expedition under Mr. Barnard is now operating in the same area to finish the work of emancipation of the slaves and to establish the position of those already emancipated. I hope that these Papers, which have been fully noticed in the public Press, will meet the object which the hon. Member has in view.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the statement of the Public Health Commissioner in India that in the year 1925 the infantile death rate was 188.6 per thousand and that in Poona the death rate of infants was 611 per thousand; and whether, in view of the circumstances revealed, the Secretary of State will cause an inquiry to be made into the whole question of the infant mortality in India?

The infantile death rate for 1925 was 174 per thousand; 188.6 is the figure for 1924. The figure for Poona is as stated. My Noble Friend doubts whether any useful purpose would be served by the suggested inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received the Report upon the expen- diture of the proceeds of the sale of the Masai cattle, and when this Report will be published?

The proceeds of the sale of the Masai cattle amounted to £4,638. I should be glad to supply the hon. Member with the information furnished to me by the Governor.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, having regard to the success which has attended the establishment, under the Empire Settlement Act, 1922, of the residential centre for the training of young women for settlement in Australia, a further extension of such training facilities is being considered for the Commonwealth of Australia; and whether similar training centres are in contemplation for the settlement of women in any other Dominion?

The scheme for training young women for settlement in Australia, the cost of which is shared between His Majesty's Government in Great Britain and the Commonwealth of Australia, is in the nature of an experiment, which is being carefully watched by both Governments. No proposals have yet been received from the other Dominions for the establishment of similar centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any communications from the German Government in connection with the Nurse Cavell picture entitled "Dawn"; and can he state what action, if any, he has taken in the matter?

My attention was first called to this film on the 16th December, after my return from Geneva, when I had before me an account of certain incidents of the film as described by Mr. Wilcox to one of our officials. In view of the character of the film as thus described by its producer, I called upon the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the Scotland Division of Liverpool (Mr. T. P. O'Connor) a couple of days later and begged him to pay particular atten- tion to the character of the film if it should come before the Board of Censors. His Majesty's Government have, as explained by the Home Secretary, no powers of censorship, and my action, as I made clear to the right hon. Gentleman, was entirely personal and unofficial. A week later the German Ambassador spoke to me on the subject, and I told him what I had done. There had been some previous conversations on the subject between members of the German Embassy and officials at the Foreign Office. My personal feelings have since been expressed in my letter to Mr. Wilcox which was published in the Press.

asked the Home Secretary whether in forthcoming factory legislation he will take note of the remarks of the Judge in the case of the celluloid film factory fire last autumn as to the inadequate provision of penalties for breach of regulations?

Yes, Sir. The observations of the learned magistrate have been noted and will be borne in mind in connection with the Bill.

asked the Home Secretary whether any action has been taken by his Department for the purpose of introducing legislation to give effect to the remarks made by the Judge who had before him the case of the celluloid film factory fire which occurred last year; and whether his Department proposes to issue fresh regulations to govern these emergencies?

If the reference in the first part of the question is to the magistrate's remarks as to the inadequacy of the penalties, that is a point to be considered on the Factories Bill. In answer to the latter part, I have just made two fresh sets of Regulations introducing a number of new and important requirements in regard to the manufacture of cinematograph film, and the processes of stripping and drying of waste film. Both codes will be issued immediately and will take effect from the 1st March next.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the practice of selling meat on Sundays is increasing and that the associations representing employers and employés in the meat industry are unable to effectively reduce this Sunday sale of meat; and whether he is prepared to initiate legislation to make such trading illegal?

I have received certain representations that this practice is increasing, but I have no precise information. The question forms part of the general question of Sunday closing and I am afraid I am not in a position at present to promise any legislation.

asked the Home Secretary on what grounds extracts from the Reports of the governors, chaplains, and medical officers of the several convict and local prisons have been excluded from the Report of the Prison Commissioners for the year 1926; and whether it is intended to include such extracts in future Reports?

The recently-published Report was the first to be published under the new arrangement by which these Reports, like various other Reports, are to be made in respect of the calendar instead of the financial year. Consequently it covered a period of nine months only, and it was decided that it should be kept as short as possible. No decision has been taken as regards the contents of future Reports, but economy has always to be kept in mind.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the large number of children killed and injured by motor accidents in London; whether he can furnish information showing in how many cases during the latest ascertainable period the motor vehicles concerned were private cars, taxi-meter cabs, and trade vehicles; the extent to which definite negligence or excessive speed was indicated as the cause of the accident; and the number of cases in which the children killed or injured were playing in the streets?

I am aware that the number of children killed and injured in motor accidents in London is still regrettably high. In 1926 the motor vehicles occasioning the fatalities were as follow: Motor cabs 6, motor omnibuses 22, private motor cars 63, motor cycles 4, trade and commercial vehicles 119—total 214; horse-drawn vehicles 18 and pedal cycles 1, bringing the total fatal accidents to 233. In two leases an open verdict was returned; in one case a driver was censured by the Coroner; in two cases a verdict of manslaughter was returned, and in two cases negligence, not criminal, was alleged. In one case a driver was summoned by the police for negligent driving. In the remaining case a verdict of accidental death was returned. In 24 cases children are recorded as having been killed while playing in the roadway.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that his promise of 1st December, 1927, with regard to the traffic officer and the warning notice opposite Streatham Hill station has not been fulfilled; and whether he will look into the matter again?

I am assured by the Commissioner of Police that the arrangement for setting back the stopping point for south-bound tramcars at its junction has worked satisfactorily, and that the traffic is adequately controlled by one constable. The question of erecting a warning notice was taken up with the responsible local authority in December, and I understand that a sign was erected on the 13th instant.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the Airship Guarantee Company are negotiating for the repurchase of Airship R.100; and, if so, will he give assurances that the Airship Guarantee Company will be held rigidly to the terms of the 1924 contract?

The company have indicated that they anticipate that it will be desired to exercise the option to purchase the R.100 given them in the original contract. The company have not suggested, and I have no intention of accepting, any modification of the purchase price fixed by that contract.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is in a position to state whether the Airship Guarantee Company have received any private capital beyond the original £5,000 upon which it was founded in 1923; and whether he can state the amount, if any, so subscribed?

I understand that the authorised capital of the company has been increased to £100,000, of which £60,000 has been subscribed.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is now in a position to state approximately the actual pay loads which Airships R.100 and R.101 will be capable of carrying if and when completed for service?

According to the latest figures furnished me by the Airship Guarantee Company, the substantial accuracy of which I have no reason to question, the R.100 should be capable of carrying out a non-stop voyage from England to Egypt, which will be the first stage of a normal service to the East, with a paying load of approximately 100 passengers with luggage, and, in addition, 10 tons of mails and freight. In the case of the R.101, with a view to securing the maximum technical advance in design, certain special features are being incorporated which will involve some sacrifice in paying load, and, though it is clear that there will be a satisfactory margin available for passengers, freight, etc., I am not prepared to give any corresponding estimate until her construction is further advanced.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether men and officers in receipt of wound and disability pensions for wars prior to 1914 have had their scale of pensions raised to and are receiving the equivalent pensions to similar cases resulting from the War of 1914–18?

By Royal Warrants ox 1919 and 1920 the disability retired pay and pensions of officers and men in payment on the 1st April, 1919, for disablement due directly and wholly to service in a former war were increased to the rates payable under the Great War Warrants, subject to the express provisions of Article 1 (1) of the Warrant of 1920. The rates of wound pensions have in general remained the same for former wars as for the Great War.

asked the Minister of Pensions the total number of cases from Scotland treated at the Ministry hospitals at Bellahouston, Craigleith, and Edenhall during 1926; whether there is any intention of closing any of these hospitals; and whether he will give an assurance that a Ministry of Pensions hospital will be maintained in Scotland so long as the number of cases requiring treatment is not less than the number treated at the smallest similar hospital in England and Wales?

The total number of cases treated at the three Ministry hospitals in Scotland, namely, Bellahouston, Craigleith and Edenhall, in the course of the year 1926 was 3,362. There has been a considerable fall in the number of pensioners requiring treatment since that year, the number of in-patients on February 10th last having been only 226 as compared with 557 on the corresponding date in 1926, a decline of more than one half. In these circumstances the hospital accommodation in Scotland has had to be considered and arrangements have been made to close one of the three hospitals, namely, Craigleith, at an early date. With regard to the last part of the question, my hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that we shall maintain hospital accommodation in Scotland of the best quality that can be got, and under our own control for as long as it is needed.

asked the Minister of Pensions the amount paid per head to the Glasgow Parish Council for ex-service men suffering from neurasthenia and undergoing mental treatment in the local authority institution?

Cases of neurasthenia for which the Ministry are responsible are not sent for treatment by the Ministry to institutions belonging to the parish council. Where in any other circumstances the parish council charge for maintenance of a pensioner the average charge is, I am informed, 25s. 9d. per week.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the East Ham Borough Council has passed a resolution that, in view of the many difficulties experienced by disabled ex-service men in obtaining employment owing to their disability, His Majesty's Government be urgently requested to increase the pensions of disabled ex-service men who have married since the War so as to include allowances for their wives and dependants, and that a copy of this resolution be sent to every county borough council with a request that they will support it; and whether he proposes to take any action in that direction?

I have seen the resolution referred to. It is a long-established principle of the British pension system, approved by successive Parliaments, that the liability of the State in respect of pension is limited to the man's family obligations as existing at the date of contraction of the war disability. This principle is a normal feature of schemes of compensation generally, and I should not be justified in recommending a departure from it.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is contrary to Regulations to insert a letter inside parcels for home or abroad; and, if so, whether he will display the fact prominently in all post offices?

The inclusion of a letter for the addressee in a parcel sent by parcel post is permitted in the inland service, and in the services with certain Colonies, but is forbidden in the services for the Dominions and foreign countries generally. But the irregular inclusion of a letter in a packet prepaid at the printed paper rate would render the packet liable to surcharge at double the deficient postage at the letter rate. Full particulars of all the relative Regulations are given in the Post Office Guide, which may be inspected at any post office. The limited space available in post offices for the display of public notices is already fully occupied, and I am afraid that I cannot accept my Noble Friend's suggestion.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of appointed boy messengers in the Post Office service in the year 1913, and in the years 1920 to 1928, respectively?

The number of regular boy messengers employed in the Post Office on the 30th June, 1913, was 13,118. The numbers employed on the 31st March in each year from 1920 to 1927 inclusive were as follow:

The figures for the later years are not properly comparable with those for the earlier years as the figures up to 1921 include boys in the area now administered by the Irish Free State. Moreover, during the few years after the War the number of boy messengers was affected by the fact that temporary girl messengers, who had been engaged during the War, were still employed to some extent on the delivery of telegrams. The figures for the year 1928 are not yet available.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, when more than one wireless set is installed in a house, a separate licence for each set is required; and whether additional licences are required if sets are moved temporarily to another address?

A single licence for a private house covers the use in that house of any number of wireless receiving sets (with or without separate aerials) by the licensee, his family and his servants. A separate licence is, however, required for a set used by a lodge-keeper or other servant residing in a separate house, or for a set used by the holder of a separate tenancy in the same house, for example, the tenant of a flat or of rented apartments. If a licensee takes his wireless set with him for a temporary stay at another address, he need not take out an additional licence, provided that no wireless set is being used at his home address during his absence. Any permanent change of address should be communicated at once to the head postmaster of the district in which the licensee resides. If this is done, no fresh licence need be taken out for the new address until the expiration of the licence issued in respect of the old address.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount invested in National War Saving Certificates to date and the amounts invested in and the withdrawals from National War Saving Certificates for the years 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926 and 1927, respectively?

The total amount invested in Savings Certificates up to 31st January, 1928, was approximately £659,900,000 and the amount outstanding at that date was £366,000,000, exclusive of interest.

The figures for the calendar years named were as follow:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether it is proposed to promote any P-class clerks serving in the Customs and Excise Department to the established clerical class; and, if so, when such promotions are likely to take place and the number of P-class clerks it is proposed to promote in the first batch?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative; as regards the last two parts I am not yet in a position to make any statement.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of Customs and Excise Departmental clerks (higher grade), Customs and Excise Departmental clerks (basis grade) (men), Customs and Excise Departmental clerks (basic grade) (women), P-class clerks, and temporary and/or casual clerks employed in the Customs and Excise De-

partment as at the 1st January, 1928, and the allocation of such clerks to each office or sub-office in London and in the provinces?

The particulars requested are given in the following table:

Customs and Excise Department.

Clerks, higher grade, Departmental class, clerks,, Departmental class, male and female, "P" class clerks and temporary clerks other than those employed at headquarters on 1st January, 1928, showing the office or sub-office in which employed.

Notes. —(1) A number of posts of clerk, higher grade, Departmental class, are blocked by officers of Customs and Excise and the numbers shown in the second column are exclusive of these officers.

(2) No casual clerks were employed on 1st January, 1928.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many new entrants from the examinations for boys and girls it is proposed to appoint to the general and Departmental clerical classes?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bradford East (Mr. Fenby) on the 14th February, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the area and annual value of land assessed to Schedule B of the Income Tax on which the taxpayer is assessed at one-third of the annual rent?

No statistics are collected of the Income Tax Schedule B assessments in question, but it is roughly estimated that the aggregate annual value of lands assessed on the basis of one-third of their annual value is in the region of £2,000,000. I am unable to give any estimate of the acreage.

asked the Minister of Health why he sent a commission of persons to inquire into the sanitary conditions in which tinned milk imported into this country from Holland and Denmark is produced; and why he has not instituted similar inquiries into the milk products being imported from Switzerland and the United States of America?

I sent the commission to Holland and Denmark to ascertain what foundation there might be for allegations which had been made that in those countries the sanitary conditions of milk production were inferior to those obtaining here, and the Regulations less stringent. About 75 per cent, of the total imports of condensed milk (including about 95 per cent. of the imports of condensed skimmed milk) come from those countries. A considerable amount of information is in the possession of my Department as to the conditions of production in the United States of America as a result of visits which have been paid to that country on other occasions by officers of this Department. The quantities of condensed milk imported from Switzerland at the present time are relatively insignificant.

asked the Minister of Health which casual wards, if any, have been closed in Kent; which, if any, casual wards in that county are now under consideration of the Ministry of Health or the vagrancy committee for closure; and, if the rule is carried out of closing all wards outside the main routes and all those on the main routes except those which are within 15 or 20 miles of each other, which wards will be closed?

The East Ashford, Dartford, Hollingbourne, Hoo, Maidstone, Romney Marsh, Strood and Tenterden casual wards are at present closed, and a proposal for the closure of the Isle of Sheppey ward is under consideration. No further proposals in this regard are before me, and I have not laid down or accepted any such rules as are suggested in the question.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of voluntary contributors under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925?

The total number of voluntary contributors under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, and the National Health Insurance Act, 1924, is, estimated to be 225,000.

asked the Minister of Health the average costs of houses built under the Housing Acts for each month since January, 1924, distinguishing between parlour and non-parlour houses?

The following statement shows the average prices of houses included in contracts let by, or direct labour schemes of, local authorities during each month from January, 1924, to January, 1928, inclusive.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the medical inspectors of the Board, at their inspection of the schools and continuation classes of the Wingfield Orthopædic Hospital, Headington, Oxford, on 7th April, 1927, reported directly to the house committee of the hospital without previously sending their report through the Board of Education, and reported adversely on the characters and abilities of the secretary of the hospital and of the manager of the workshops, without giving those officers an opportunity of making representations in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act; and whether it was with his authority that the inspectors reported on the officers mentioned, seeing that they were concerned with the lay administration of the hospital and not directly or indirectly with teaching?

The circumstances of this case are not quite correctly stated in the question. No report was made to the house committee, but, on the completion of their inspection of the hospital on 7th April last the Board's medical officers conferred with the committee, at the request of that body, and in the course of the discussion commented adversely on the efficiency and suitability of the officers in question. The inspection was conducted under the provisions of Section 63 (1) ( c ) of the Education Act and, in accordance with the usual practice, covered the whole of the activities of the institution so far as it is under the Board's jurisdiction. The action subsequently taken by the managers was taken entirely at their own discretion.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will issue a Return showing the details submitted on Form 883 F as filled in for the last complete year for all local education authorities; the local educational authorities who receive the deficiency grant (Elementary Education, Article 6); the local education authorities who receive the grant to highly rated areas (Elementary Education); and what are their elementary education rates, respectively?

The last year for which the grants payable to local education authorities have been finally adjusted in all cases is 1924–25, and I do not think that a detailed return of the kind suggested by the hon. Member in respect of that year would justify the time, labour and cost involved in its preparation. I shall be happy, however, to send the hon. Member such information as is readily available upon the matters referred to in his question.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many infants' departments were discontinued or amalgamated with other departments in the year ending 31st March, 1927; and how many new infants' departments were opened in the same period?

During the year ended 31st March last, 34 infants' departments were discontinued and 79 amalgamated with other departments. Thirty-three new infants' departments were opened during that period.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the average expenditure incurred, per outbreak, by Government Departments and also by local authorities in dealing with confirmed, and also in connection with suspected, outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease?

The average expenditure incurred by the Ministry per confirmed outbreak in recent years is between £1,000 and £1,100. This includes the expenditure not separately recorded, incurred by the Ministry in dealing with reported cases which were not subsequently confirmed. I have no information as to the expenditure of local authorities in connection with foot-and-mouth disease.