asked the Minister of Pensions whether his Department is taking any action to protect the interests of aged persons in receipt of parents' dependants' pension who are eligible for old age pensions under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act; and if these aged parents have been in- formed that they are eligible, if insured persons, to the full 10s. a week old age pension in addition to the parents' dependants' pension?

The hon. Member refers, I presume, to that class of parents' pension which is based on pre-War dependence. Full information as to the conditions applicable to the grant of pension to insured persons under the Act of 1925 has been made widely available by the Ministry of Health and local officers of my Department have been made aware of the source to which persons who may be eligible for benefits under the Act should be referred for information.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of persons who are in receipt of a pension for a son killed who have had that pension reduced or taken entirely away as a result of the granting of an old age or widow's pension?

A record has not been kept of these cases, but I understand that the number is comparatively few. I would point out that, as I indicated in my answer to the hon. Member for the Elland Division of Yorkshire (Mr. Robinson) on the 20th December last, the net result of adjustment of the need pension consequent on the grant of contributory pension under the Act referred to is in the majority of cases an increase of the aggregate pension payable from public funds.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will investigate the circumstances attending the discharge of A. V. French, 22, Station Street, E.15, No. J95600, Port Division, Chatham; whether he is aware that this man was discharged from the Navy with a final gratuity of £30 only, £17 10s. of same being for his disability, pulmonary tuberculosis, and £12 10s. for service; and whether he will have the case reconsidered?

The circumstances of French's case have already been very carefully investigated, but in view of the reports of the Naval medical authorities his disability cannot be accepted as attributable to the conditions of his service. In these circum- stances, and as the man had very short service, he is only eligible under the Regulations for a gratuity of £17 10s. in respect of his invaliding and service. The additional gratuity of £12 10s. granted to him is in respect of an injury sustained on duty in May, 1925, which has resulted in only a small degree of disablement, and was entirely unconnected with the cause of invaliding.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many men invalided from the Air Force in 1927 and denied pension on the ground of non-attributability appealed to the Ministry of Air against the original decision; and in how many cases was the decision modified?

The answer to the first part of the question is that 48 airmen appealed against the original decision, and to the second part that in only one case was the decision modified.

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

The numbers asked for are 23 and four, respectively; in addition to the latter, two cases are still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of hospitals administered by the Ministry, where they are situated, the accommodation available in each institution, and the daily cost per patient for food only, and including staff and maintenance charges, respectively; and the number of voluntary or private hospitals with which the Ministry has arrangements for the admission of service patients, where they are situated, and the charge made per day per patient?

The particulars required by the hon. Member as regards hospitals belonging to the Ministry and those voluntary hospitals with which the Ministry have special and exclusive arrangements are set out fully in the last Annual Report of the Ministry, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. In regard to ordinary civil hospitals, practically all of them take patients from the Ministry under agreed charges as occasion requires. The cost for the maintenance of ex-service patients in them ranges from 4s. 3d. to 11s. a day according to the type of case and the character of the hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for War the terms of Article 1062 of the Royal Warrant for the Pay, etc., of the Army, 1926, as it does not appear on page 284, though given in the index, and Article 1063 heads page 285?

Article 1062 of the Pay Warrant for 1926 was cancelled as obsolete while the volume was in the Press; it was accordingly omitted and its cancellation recorded in the Table at the beginning of the book. A reference in the index, unfortunately, escaped notice at the time.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether imported condensed skimmed milk is supplied to the Army; and whether it is sold in the canteens?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, considerably less than one per cent. of the total quantity of condensed milk sold by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes is imported condensed skimmed milk.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give an estimate of the approximate number of mounted men that Russia can put into the field in case of war on a regular basis and on a voluntary territorial basis, respectively?

I do not think it would: be advisable to give even an approximate estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of civilian employés in the service of the War Department in Malta and Gibraltar in December, 1927, and January, 19281?

Excluding men employed on fluctuating work, such as unloading transports and works services, the numbers of War Department civilian employés on 1st December, 1927,, were, approximately, 330 at Malta and 220 at Gibraltar. There was no material change in these figures between 1st December, 1927, and 1st January, 1928.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that on the 30th September last there were in Devonport Dockyard 26 hired shipwrights with over 23 years' service, whose ages are between 47 and 50 years, and approximately 250 between the ages of 40 and 47, whose service ranges from 18 to 23 years, and that under the one-in-eight rule the majority of these can never hope for establishment; and whether he can see his way to have this rule altered?

I do not dispute the hon. Member's figures, but as about 53 per cent. of the shipwrights at Devonport are now established, I can offer no expectation of a relaxation of the rule referred to.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, with reference to the 130 discharges which have recently taken place from His Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, whether any further discharges are contemplated from Devonport Dockyard in the near future; and, if so, whether he can establish the practice of consulting with the Minister of Labour before discharges are made with a view to finding some other outlet for the services of the men?

I am not in a position to make any announcement as to the possibility of further discharges, but should such discharges become necessary, the dockyard officers will keep in touch with local Employment Exchanges.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether imported condensed skimmed milk is supplied to the Navy; and whether it is sold in the canteens?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. In regard to the second part, imported condensed skimmed milk is not sold in the canteens controlled by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes which cover the bulk of the Navy canteen trading.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether private firms are given the opportunity of tendering for the re-victualling of His Majesty's ships; and whether, in view of the fact that the service towns are suffering from the semi-State trading of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, as shown by the fact that last December His Majesty's Ship "Nelson," on leaving Portsmouth, re-victualled entirely from the, Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, he will issue instructions that private traders are to be invited to compete?

Apart from the articles which are regularly supplied from His Majesty's victualling yards, the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes is the officially recognised organisation for this service, and the Admiralty is not prepared to make any Change in existing arrangements; the latter, however, provide for purchases from private traders in certain circumstances.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the position in which Thompson Island is marked on the Admiralty charts; and whether he will send a warship to locate its position?

The position of Thompson Island, as marked on British Admiralty Chart No. 2203, is Latitude 53° 55' S., Longitude 4° 20' E. It is not considered that the expenditure involved in the withdrawal of a ship from her normal duties to locate Thompson Island would be justified.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India the number of convicts transferred from Indian gaols to the Andaman Islands during the period since March, 1927?

Inquiry has been made by last week's mail as to the figure asked for.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether the Government of India have decided to take any action concerning the scheme received from the Indian Mining Federation to popularise the use of coal in India as a domestic fuel, at the same time discouraging the use of cow manure as a domestic fuel, releasing the latter for use in the cultivation of crops?

I have nothing to add to the reply given on the 5th December to the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mr. Riley).

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether he will inform the House of the conclusions of the committee of experts appointed with the assistance of the Government of India, by the Government of Bihar and Orissa to investigate the causes of the disastrous floods in the province and recommend means that should be adopted to put an end to the recurrence of such floods entailing loss to human life, cattle, and crops over a huge area in the province; and what immediate steps it is proposed to take on the committee's recommendations?

My Noble Friend has no information.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the attention of the Government of India has been specifically called to any cases in any districts of the traffic in girls; and whether the Government of India propose to take any action?

This problem has received the constant attention of all Governments in India, and in particular of late years in connection with the inquiries of the League of Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any instructions have been issued by the Scottish Board of Health to any parish council in Scotland to refuse relief to able-bodied unemployed persons under 40 years of age whose unemployed benefit has been exhausted, but who are still unable to find employment; and, if not, seeing that the Hamilton Parish Council have reached such a decision, whether his Department will recommend the parish council to reconsider its decision?

The Scottish Board of Health have issued no instructions to parish councils to refuse relief to able-bodied persons under 40 years of age in the circumstances stated by the hon. Member. The decision of Hamilton Parish Council in regard to this matter has already been reported to the Board and inquiries are being made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that able-bodied persons over 40 years of age who are living in model lodging houses have had their relief reduced from 10s. to 5s. per week by the Hamilton Parish Council; that this sum being insufficient in amount to pay for their lodgings they are thus rendered destitute; and why, in these circumstances, they are being refused admission to the poor house?

I am aware that Hamilton Parish Council recently decided to reduce their scale of relief for able-bodied unemployed persons over 40 years of age living in model lodging houses to 5s. per week. The amount and nature of relief to be offered to any applicant is in the first place a matter for the parish council, but any applicant who is offered relief in any form and who is dissatisfied with the offer has a right to lodge a statutory complaint with the Scottish Board of Health. Any complaint so lodged will be carefully considered on the merits of the individual case.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the large increase in the Irish Roman Catholic population of Scotland and the decrease in population of native Scotsmen; and whether, in view of the arithmetical implications of this continued progress, he will appoint a commission to examine the question?

I have received representations to the effect mentioned in the first part of this question with regard to the position since the census of 1921. Information extracted from census returns shows that the percentage-of the general population in Scotland of Scottish birth has remained approximately constant at 91 per cent. from 1861 till 1921, while the proportion of Irish birth has fallen in the same period from 6.7 to 3.3 per cent. The latter figures, however, do not include children born in Scotland of Irish parents. I am unable to say how these figures are affected by immigration since 1921. In the circumstances, I am not satisfied that the appointment of a commission to inquire into the matter would be justified.

asked the Home Secretary the number of prosecutions which took place in Scotland by the factory inspectors in 1926 and 1927; the number which resulted in a conviction; and the number which were appealed against in a higher Court?

The figures are, for 1926, 126 cases and 118 convictions, and for 1927, 159 cases and 147 convictions. There was no appeal against any of the convictions.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the number of factory inspectors for Scotland number 21, the same as in 1914; and, seeing that the numbers of workpeople engaged in industry have greatly increased, as also the number of works and the use of dangerous machines, during the last 14 years, particularly in the West of Scotland, and that in big factories which employ large numbers of young female workers a factory inspector is seldom able to visit, will he say whether he proposes to augment the numbers of such inspectors?

I am aware that there has been an increase in the number of factories in Scotland since 1914, but the same is true of England, and I am satisfied that Scotland has a reasonable proportion of the available inspecting staff. On the general question of augmenting the staff of inspectors, I would refer the hon. Member to the statements made by me in the Debate on the Home Office Vote on the 14th July last.

asked tie Prime Minister if the Franchise Bill, foreshadowed in the Speech from the Throne, will be accompanied by any measure of redistribution?

It would be premature to anticipate the provisions of the Franchise Bill.

asked the Home Secretary for particulars of the number of escapes that have taken place from His Majesty's prisons for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date and the number of prisoners who have escaped during this period who still remain at liberty?

During the 12 months ended 31st January, 1928, 16 prisoners and 44 inmates of Borstal Institutions escaped from custody. All of the prisoners and 42 of the Borstallers were recaptured; two Boretallers still remain at large.

asked the Home Secretary if he has received a resolution from the Plymouth and district trades and labour council protesting against the continued imprisonment of the Cramling- ton miners for offences committed during the national dispute of 1926, and calling for His Majesty's Government to arrange for their immediate release; and what action he proposes to take?

Yes, Sir. I received the resolution, but I have no intention of recommending interference with the sentences passed upon these men for the serious offences of which they had been convicted.

asked the Home Secretary the number of convicts punished by close confinement at Dartmoor and Parkhurst convict prisons, respectively, during the period 1st January, 1925, to 30th June, 1926, and during the period 1st July, 1926, to 31st December, 1927?

The numbers during the 18-months' periods to 30th June, 1926, and to 31st December, 1927, were at Dartmoor Prison 128 and 128; and at Parkhurst Prison 173 and 129.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the reform schemes in the prisons, he has considered the question of the additional work placed on the clerical staffs; if he will see that the prison offices are adequately staffed in order to avoid the clerks being overworked; and whether when they work overtime payment for the same is made as is done in other branches of the Civil Service?

All branches of the prison service, including the clerical branch, are subject to frequent review with the object of adjusting the staff to the work to be done; but if the hon. Member has some particular case in mind and will send me details I shall be glad to go into it. The general rule of the prison service is that, so far as work permits, overtime shall be compensated by the grant of time off duty, but payment is authorised by the Prison Commissioners when there is an unusual pressure of work for special reasons.

asked the Home Secretary whether experience by statistics, or otherwise, has shown that the Regulations under the Lead Paint Act, 1926, have, or have not, been completely effective, and that prohibition will, or will not, be necessary?

No, Sir. The Regulations only came into operation on 1st October last, and some time must elapse before it will be possible to form any opinion as to their efficiency.

asked the Home Secretary if the attention of the factory inspectors, has been drawn to the need for special vigilance in the examination of artificial silk factories to safeguard the health of the workers in that industry?

Yes, Sir, the attention of the inspectors has been directed to these works, and will continue to be. There is no evidence of any serious risk to health, but certain precautions are required and these are being enforced.

asked the Minister of Health the proportion of the population in receipt of Poor Law relief, for the last date for which the figures are available, for causes other than unemployment, and the corresponding average for 1913; and the reasons for the increase if an increase has occurred?

Excluding the numbers returned as receiving domiciliary relief on account of unemployment (partly estimated for 1st January, 1913), the proportion of the estimated population in receipt of Poor Law relief on the 1st January, 1927, was 234 per 10,000 as compared with 215 per 10,000 on 1st January, 1913. A great many considerations will have to be taken into account in attempting to determine the causes of this increase, and I am afraid that so complex a matter can hardly be discussed by way of question and answer.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, at a recent meeting of the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Joint Vagrancy Committee, it was decided that casual wards should only be on main roads and at distances of 15 to 20 miles apart; that under this proposal, for instance, the closing of the Woodstock Casual Ward will mean that a man or woman travelling north will have to cover 22 miles to Banbury or in the north-west direction 19 miles to Chipping Norton; and whether the closing of casual wards in accordance with the proposal has received his sanction?

Yes, Sir. I have given general approval to a scheme on these lines, subject to being satisfied as regards any ward which the committee may propose to close that circumstances will admit of its being dispensed with at the time it is intended to close it. The question of approving the closing of the Woodstock or other casual wards under the scheme has not as yet been submitted to me. When it is so submitted each case will be considered on its merits.

asked the Minister of Health if he is prepared to permit of the payment of penalty arrears of genuinely unemployed persons from the unclaimed sums under control of the Minister of Health; and, if so, is he prepared to arrange that the unemployed person should receive a demand certificate from his society giving his position, and that this demand note should be honoured by the Health Department?

I have the question raised by the hon. Member under consideration in connection with the proposed National Health Insurance Bill.

asked the Minister of Health how many claims for sickness benefit were lodged in 1927; and how many of these were made by persons of 65 and upwards?

The information asked for is not available, and to obtain it would involve a special examination of the sickness records of each of the 7,000 approved societies and branches.

asked the Minister of Health whether there are any insured persons over the age of 65 years of age in the Borough of Southwark who have been disallowed sickness benefit owing to their being in receipt of old age pensions; and, if so, whether he will state how-many cases are so affected?

The information asked for is not available, and to obtain it would involve a special examination of the sickness records of each of the 7,000 approved societies and branches.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a communication from the Merthyr Tydvil Board of Guardians expressing grave concern regarding the position emerging from the operation of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act and protesting against its continuance in its present form, on the grounds that it is depriving many unfortunate people of sources of income which, but for its inception, they would still be able to enjoy; and will he so amend the Act as to secure to the needy pensioners the retention of those benefits accruing from the National Health and Unemployment Insurance schemes to which, by virtue of their contributions, they are justly entitled?

I have received this resolution, and I would refer the hon. Member to the remarks made by me in the course of last night's Debate on the Motion of the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Cove).

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that an aged woman entitled to pension under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, has been informed by the pension officer in Birmingham that, as she is in receipt of 6s. a week parents' dependants' pension in respect of a son lost in the War, she is only eligible for an old age contributory pension of 4s. a week; and whether this action is in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry, seeing that Section 24 of the Act provides that a parent may draw the old age pension and a parents' dependants' pension concurrently?

I have no knowledge of the case referred to. If the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars I will look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will secure that each local authority, in any case in London, has the same list as to notifiable diseases?

The large majority of infectious diseases are notifiable throughout the country. There are, however, a few diseases which have been made notifiable in certain areas only both in London and in the provinces. The special reasons for this course do not exist in other areas. Accordingly nothing would be gained by uniformity in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether that part of the guaranteed Ottoman debt of 1855 which is not paid by Cyprus is being paid by Egypt or by the British taxpayer; and, if by the British taxpayer, why not by the French taxpayer also, as France joined us in the guarantee?

The British Government have paid the amounts required to complete the interest on the Ottoman Loan of 1855, in view of the suspension since July, 1924, of the contribution of £72,000 a year due from Egypt. The question of recovering from France the half share of the payments thus made by the British Government is the subject of negotiations with the French Government, which have hitherto prove inconclusive.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of taxation per head of the population in respect of each of the following Services for 1926–27: the Army, Navy, Air Force, education, public health, War pensions, old age pensions and Civil Service administration?

Taxation is imposed for the Budget as a whole and not for particular services. For figures of the expenditure per head of the population in 1926–27, I would refer the hon. Member to the detailed statement given to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Nottingham (Mr. Bennett) on the 28th July last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the method of choosing members of the Malayan Civil Service by examination is to be abolished; and, if so, for what reasons?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; the second part does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of bookmakers' certificates issued from 1st November, 1927, to date, and the figure for the corresponding period of 1926; and the total amount of betting duty collected from 1st November, 1927, down to the latest date for which figures are available?

The number of bookmakers' certificates issued during the three months beginning 1st November last was 10,966, and the figure for the corresponding three months in 1926–27 was 10,998. The net revenue derived from betting taxation from the 1st November, 1927–31st January, 1928, was approximately £522,100.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when the result of the eliminating examination of the open competitive examination for the Civil Service clerical class, which took place on the 29th November last, will be announced; and whether the rest of the papers are to be set in March as previously announced?

The candidates who failed in the eliminating examination of the open competitive examination for the clerical class were so informed on 27th January. The candidates who passed have been notified that the second part of the examination will begin on 13th March.