asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has any information as to the suggestion of the President of the United States being acted on by holding an international civil aviation conference and exhibition in Washington, D.C., in 1928, on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the first airplane flight; and whether arrangements are in hand in case of such an exhibition being held?

I have heard unofficially that the United States authorities are considering the holding of a civil aviation conference and exhibition at Washington this year, but I have received no detailed particulars as yet, and am awaiting fuller information.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the cases of treatment of disease, using electrical methods as well as X-rays and ultraviolet rays, by unqualified practitioners; if he is aware of the danger of such treatment being given by persons with- out medical training; and if it is proposed to take steps enabling stricter control to be exercised in the interests of the general health of the community?

I am advised that the information at present available is not such as to justify the consideration of further legislation in this regard?

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have adopted the superannuation scheme set up under the Local Government and Other Officers' Superannuation Act, 1922; how many officers are covered under the existing schemes and how many officers are still uncovered by any scheme of superannuation; and what would be the total cost to the local authorities which have not adopted the scheme of bringing it into effect?

The number of authorities in England and Wales who have availed themselves of the provisions of the Local Government and Other Officers' Superannuation Act, 1922, is 524. With regard to the remaining portion of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the observations in paragraphs 9 and 13 of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Superannuation of Local Government Employés, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Government have any interest, direct or indirect, in the site or the building or the equipment of the Cardonald factory that Lord Weir recently offered to the Corporation of Glasgow?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men invalided from the Army in 1927 and denied pensions on the ground of non-attributability appealed to the War Office against the original decision; and in how many cases was the decision modified?

The approximate number of men invalided from the Army during 1927 whose disability was considered as non-attributable who appealed or whose cases were referred to the War Office by the Chelsea Commissioners for further consideration was 200. In 77 of these cases the decision was modified. It is not possible to distinguish between appeals made by the men themselves and cases referred to the War Office by the Chelsea Commissioners.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many men invalided from the Service in 1927 and denied pensions on the ground of non-attributability appealed to the Admiralty against the original decision; and in how many cases was the decision modified?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on the 16th March, 1927 [OFFICIAL REPORT, columns 1988–9], in which it was stated that particulars as to the number of invalided naval ratings who appeal are not recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of men discharged from the Army in 1927 suffering from tuberculosis; and in how many cases was the disability attributable to service and disablement pension awarded?

The number of soldiers discharged from the Army during 1927 on account of pulmonary tuberculosis was 201. Fifty-three cases were regarded as attributable to military service and pensions awarded, and in 88 other cases non-attributable gratuities were granted.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of men discharged from the Navy in 1927 suffering from tuberculosis; and in how many cases was the disability attributable to service and disablement pension awarded?

The numbers are 180 and 18, respectively. Pen- sions were granted on the attributable scale in the 18 cases, and on the non-attributable scale in the other cases where the men had sufficient service to qualify.

asked the Home Secretary the names of the seven combined probation areas and the 17 single areas which have not yet appointed probation officers for their Petty Sessional Courts?

The information will be given in the list of probation officers which is being revised, and which will be issued in the course of a few weeks. I will send the hon. Member a copy when it is ready.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the proposed introduction of a new Bill to extend the franchise to women on equal terms with men, he will take immediate steps for instructions to be given to the. registration officers in all constituencies that, when making the annual survey In April or May next, they shall include in that survey the necessary particulars of the prospective new electors, in order that those particulars may be incorporated in the register of electors which comes into force in October next, thereby avoiding the expenditure and delay of an additional survey for that purpose and expediting publication of the register of electors?

My right hon. Friend has no power to give any instructions of the kind suggested, but the Noble Lady should be satisfied with the statement recently made by the Prime Minister that suitable provision will if necessary be included in the Bill so as to enable the new voters to vote at the next General Election.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that notwithstanding the repeated promises of his Department to undertake the re- vision of the Regulations under Section 5 of the Weights and Measures Act, 1904, for the types of self-indicating pendulum weights, automatic counter scales, at present in use, no such amended Regulations have yet been issued, he can state what progress, if any, has so far been made in the preparation of the Regulations; and whether he can now give a date by which their publication may be expected?

As my hon. Friend was informed on the 1st December by my predecessor, there are certain more urgent questions which must be dealt with before the Department concerned can proceed with the revision of the Regulations. Earlier attention to this matter would only be possible if the staff of the Department were to be increased. The questions which must take precedence have proved to be exceptionally difficult; but I hope it will not be long before the general revision is taken in hand.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any attempt was made in the recent census of industry, and the previous one, to assess the capital value of our home agricultural industry; and, if so, whether he can give the figures and any comparison with an estimate of 60 or more years ago?

In connection with the Agricultural Census of Production of 1925 it was estimated that the capital value of agricultural land in England and Wales was about £815,000,000, while the amount of working capital invested in agriculture was estimated at about £365,000,000, making a total of £1,180,000,000. I am not aware of any estimates available for comparative purposes in respect of earlier years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the position of the agricultural industry, he will consider removing the licence duty on purely agricultural commercial vehicles for the present time?

As my right hop. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated yesterday, the whole field of taxation is always surveyed before every Budget, and I have no statement to make in advance.

asked the Minister of Labour how many boys and girls have taken out unemployment insurance cards for the first time at the Borough Road, Walworth, Employment Exchange, for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The number of new applications for unemployment books made by boys and girls aged 16 and 17 at the Borough Employment Exchange during the 12 months ended 31st December, 1927, was 3,758.

asked the Minister of Labour whether coal miners suffering from nystagmus are granted unemployment benefit?

Coal miners suffering from nystagmus and not in receipt of full compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Acts are in general eligible for unemployment benefit subject to the usual statutory conditions. While I have no statistics on the point, I have no reason to suppose that the proportion of disallowances of claims made by such miners is higher than the average. The receipt of partial compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Acts is not a disqualification for benefit, but those in receipt of full compensation would presumably be incapable of work and therefore ineligible for benefit.

asked the Minister of Labour what juvenile training centres it is proposed to set up during the next six months in Great Britain?

In addition to the 100 Juvenile Unemployment Centres already open, two other centres have been approved and will open in the immediate future. In addition, several education authorities have proposals for Unemployment Centres under discussion. The hon. Member will appreciate that the number of Juvenile Unemployment Centres to be opened during the next six months will depend on the number of proposals which I receive from education authorities. I am always ready to receive proposals and to give them sympathetic consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to a wages difference which has arisen over the refusal of Messrs. Cochrane and Company, of Ormesby Ironworks, Middlesbrough, to apply the advance of 2s. per week conceded by the Engineering Employers' Federation, and that arbitration has been offered by the trades unions concerned but refused by the employers; and whether, having regard to these facts, he will take steps to have this firm removed from the list of Government contractors?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. If it is alleged that there has been a breach of the Fair Wages Clause in any contract with a Government Department I would suggest that the matter should be taken up with the Department concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider introducing legislation to bring into force a luxury tax of a fixed sum per head on people leaving this country for pleasure purposes for more than a given period?

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.