asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what was the number of factories in 1927 subject to the Indian Factories Act; the number of employés, the number of women, and the number of children; the number of factories and percentage maintaining a 48-hour week for men, and similar figures for factories employing women; what are the maximum weekly hours for children; whether any prosecutions were made for breaches of the Indian Factories Act; and, if so, what was the number and the number of convictions?

The latest figures available are for 1926. In that year there were 7,251 factories subject to the Act; the average daily numbers employed were: All employés, 1,518,391; women, 249,669; children, 60,094; the number of factories in which the normal weekly hours were not above 48 was 1,999 (or 27 per cent.) for men and 1,544 (or 32 per cent.) for women; the legal maximum of hours for children is six in any one day and there is a weekly rest day. I am unable to give the number of prosecutions, but the number of convictions was 1,417, the number of persons convicted being 349.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Indian Tariff Board have concluded their inquiry into the supply and manufacture of wagons and locomotives for Indian railways; and, if so, when it is expected that their Report will be published?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Report was published on Saturday. It deals with wagons but not with locomotives.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any agreement was secured at the recent conference called by the Government of India, at New Delhi, of representatives from the Provinces with regard to the establishment of Public Service Commissions in the different Provinces; and in which Provinces such bodies have been proposed by the Provincial Governments and in which the proposal has received the sanction of the Government of India and in which such bodies are already in being?

The conference in question was held for purposes of mutual consultation and discussion only. The question of provincial public service Commissions did not appear on the agenda, but in the course of discussion on other points it appeared that one province at least favoured the institution of such a body. Two local Governments (Madras and Burma) have made proposals in general terms for the setting up of local Commissions. These were approved in 1925, but as neither local government has yet committed itself finally to a definite scheme any further announcement would be premature. No province has yet set up a Commission.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the result of the recent consultations between the Government of India and the provincial Governments regarding the introduction of a Bill providing for the reference of trade disputes in India to joint boards representative of the interests of workers and employers?

The Government of India hope to introduce a Bill either during the present Session or the next autumn Session of the Indian Legislature.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the results of the technical report on a direct wireless communication between London and the Falkland Islands; and when will it be put into operation?

A decision on this proposal has been postponed pending the result of inquiries into the volume of traffic to be anticipated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action has been taken by the Governments of British Guiana, Trinidad, and Barbados, regarding the recommendations of the Report on civil air transport; and when the new services suggested will come into operation?

As far as I am aware, no action has been taken on this Report by the Colonial Governments in question and I regret that I am, consequently, not in a position to add anything to the reply given to my Noble Friend on 5th December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what work is being done officially to survey by aerial photography unmapped or partially-mapped regions in the Colonies and mandated territories?

The Government of Northern Rhodesia is employing the Aircraft Operating Company, Limited, in making an air survey of the Zambesi waterway in Barotseland between Katombora and Barouale, including the Lungwo-Bungu river and the Kabompo river, as far as the Lungu confluence. This company is also supplying the Northern Rhodesia Government with maps made from aerial photographs of the highly mineralised area around N'changa, near the Northern Rhodesia-Congo boundary. In addition, the company is making plans, from aerial surveys, of the three principal townships in Northern Rhodesia; Livingstone, Lusaka, and Broken Hill. I understand that the Air Survey Company, Limited, has recently completed a survey of the Rejang delta in Sarawak, on behalf of the Government of that State, the total area surveyed being 1,800 square miles. This company has also surveyed some 1,700 square miles of territory for the British Malayan Petroleum Company, Limited, in Sarawak and Brunei, with the consent of the respective States. I understand, also, that the Iraq Government have recently concluded a contract with a British firm for an aerial survey of certain lands in Iraq.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give an assurance that the existing rubber restriction scheme will continue unaltered during the current restriction year, which ends on 31st October, whatever the finding of the Committee of Civil Research as to the ultimate fate of the scheme may be?

I am unable to add anything to the reply given on the 20th February by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Streatham (Sir W. Lane Mitchell).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the date upon which the Colonial Office informed the Advisory Committee that the Government had decided to examine the rubber restriction scheme?

The matter was mentioned to members of the Advisory Committee on more than one ocasion. All communications were made in strict confidence, and I do not see that any advantage would be gained by entering into any particulars regarding them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is the custom to pay the passages of wives of civil servants employed in the Crown Colonies; whether these civil servants have full pay on leave and, if so, for how long; whether there is any exception and, if so, what; and how these conditions compare with those in private enterprise in the Colonies concerned?

Detailed information of the regulations in each Colony can be supplied to my hon. Friend if he requires it, but the following summary has been prepared to show the general effect of the provisions existing in the Colonial Services:Wives Passages: In the Colonies outside tropical Africa, with one or two minor exceptions, the cost of the passage of a wife of a European officer on his first appointment is paid. In the case of West Africa, half the cost of such a passage is paid, and in East Africa en allowance is paid varying from £30 to £42 according to the Dependency concerned and the grade of the officer. As regards the passages of the wives of officers proceeding on leave from Colonies outside tropical Africa after a full tour of service, conditions vary. In Ceylon, Malaya, Hong Kong and British Guiana free passages are provided; in certain Colonies such as Mauritius and Fiji half the cost or a grant towards the cost is provided. In other Colonies, such as the West Indies, Mediterranean and Seychelles, no grant is made for this purpose. In West Africa a grant of half the cost is made provided that the officer's wife has been with him for not less than six months during his tour of service in the Colony. In East Africa a similar allowance may be paid as in the ease of first appointment.Leave with full salary: In the Eastern Colonies leave with full pay is given and the period of such leave varies according to the regulations in each Colony, and to the officer's wishes as to commuting half-pay leave. A normal period of leave with full pay is eight months after a tour of service of four or 4½ years. In Jamaica, Trinidad and, British Guiana, leave with full pay may be given at the rate of one-eighth of resident service and may he accumulated up to six months. In West Africa leave with full pay is given at the rate of one week for each month of service in the Colony, excluding the time occupied on the voyages to and fro. In East Africa the rate varies from four to seven days for each month's service, according to the Dependency concerned, but if the officer is not returning leave is computed at half this rate. There is no Colonial administration in which provision for leave with full pay does not exist. I have no sufficient information of the very varied leave conditions of employés of private firms in the different Colonies to enable me to answer the last part of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he proposes to hold an inquiry into the recent troubles in the Solomon Islands?

I have decided to appoint a Special Commissioner to inquire into the circumstances of the murders on Malaita and Guedalcanal. It is hoped that the Commissioner will reach the Protectorate during May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a definite decision has been reached in the matter of the proposed bridge over the Lower Zambesi, in view of the fact that the lack of it is seriously impeding the development of Nyasaland?

No definite decision has yet been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any complaints that prospective settlers with capital are deterred from taking up farms in Kenya owing to the operations of land companies who hold out for inflated prices; and whether any considerable area of Crown land suitable far growing coffee, maize, and wheat is still available for alienation?

There is no record of any complaints of the nature referred to in the first part of the question having been addressed to me. I regret that I am not in a position to give any details of the areas of Crown land in Kenya

—		Clerical Classes (Men).	Clerical Classes (Women).	Writing Assistants (Women).	Shorthand Typists and Typists (Women).
Numbers—
1st April, 1923	…	22,829	6,619	3,772	2,740
1st April, 1924	…	24,763	6,831	4,297	2,848
1st April, 1925	…	26,133	6,792	4,120	3,188
1st April, 1926	…	26,221	7,339	4,603	3,378
Deaths in financial years—
l923–4	…	79	11	2	3
1924–5	…	81	6	8	3
1925–6	…	93	6	10	4

These figures relate solely to established officers. The particulars as to clerical posts cover the general and departmental clerical classes and include a number of posts in clerical or departmental

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider the advisability of issuing, in the form of a White Paper, the number of raids, with casualties, made by Abyssinians into Kenya Colony during the last 15 years?

Yes, Sir. It is proposed to issue a White Paper on this, subject, and the necessary material is now being collected.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the numbers employed and the deaths per annum in each of the undermentioned grades for each year 1920 to 1927, inclusive: Treasury clerical class, departmental and unestablished clerical classes, writing assistant class, and typing grades; and the corresponding figures for the corresponding classes for each of the years 1910 to 1914, inclusive?

The only particulars immediately available as to deaths in the grades referred to are as follow:clerical establishments above the basic grades. Owing to change in organization, it would not be possible without undue labour to give corresponding figures for 1910–14.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether he is aware of the lack of uniformity between England and Scotland in the presentation of official statistics and of the confusion that frequently arises; and if he will take steps to secure that all statistics relating to those countries shall in future at least cover similar periods and have similar bases;(2) whether he is aware of the differences in the form and presentation of English and Scottish official Reports, and especially of annual Returns; and if he will take steps to secure that in future there shall be uniformity both as regards extent and form, and that as far as possible English and Scottish Reports or Returns on the same subject shall be issued together in the same volume, with the statistics fully collated?

Complete uniformity in the presentation of official Reports and

—		Number of Pensioners.	Annual Cost.
Navy, Army ami Air Force	…	182,972	£14,849,917
			Pensions.	Additonal Allowances=lump sums.
Civil Service	…	40,561	£5,176,957	£1,090,665
Teachers	…	29,184	£3,269,139	£1,238,073

Great War and disability pensions chargeable to the Ministry of Pensions Vote are excluded from the figures, but disability pensions chargeable to the Service Department Votes cannot be segregated and are included in the Navy, Army and Air Force figures. Gratuities payable on death and expenditure on commutation of pensions are not included.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any information as to the number of persons at all ages, over 60 and over 65, in receipt of a pension from funds or sources other than those relating to the Civil Service, local authorities, police, teachers, old age pensions, and widows' and orphans' pensions?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Health the number of ex-employés of local authorities at all ages over 60 and over 65 in receipt of pension in respect statistical Returns is impossible owing to differences in the legal and administrative systems of the two countries. A permanent Consultative Committee on Official Statistics has been in existence for some time to assist Departments in the co-ordination of their statistical work, and considerable progress has been made towards uniform presentation by corresponding Departments of England and Scotland.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of persons in receipt of pension and the annual cost, respectively, in the case of the Civil Service, the Navy, the Army, and the Air Force, apart from disability or War pensions, and also of teachers?

The following are the figures:of their employment; the cost and from what sources it is met; and whether any estimates are available as to future numbers and cost?

I regret that I am unable to supplement such information as is contained in the recently published Report of the Departmental Committee on the superannuation of local government employés. I may say, however, that the cost of pensions is defrayed from the general income of local authorities except in so far as it is met by contributions from the employés themselves.

asked the Minister of Health the amount expended for the year 1926–27 by the West Ham Board of Guardians on elections, stationery, postages, and luncheons, respectively?

The amounts expended by the West Ham Board of Guardians on the purposes stated, in the years 1926 and 1927 are as follow:

—		Year ended 31st March, 1926.			Period 1st April to 19th July, 1926.
		£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Elections	…	959	12	0	507	14	10
Stationery	…	638	15	1	230	14	10
Postages	…	190	0	0	55	0	0
Luncheons	…	666	13	7½	201	18	2

asked the Minister of Health the amount spent on luncheons by the West Ham elected guardians during the last year they held office?

asked the Minister of Health the total cost charged to the account of the West Ham Union for free lunches supplied to the former members of the West Ham Board of Guardians attending general board and committee meetings for the years ending March, 1924, 1925 and 1926?

I am informed that the amounts expended by the West Ham Board of Guardians on luncheons during the years ended March, 1924, 1925 and 1926, were £282 16s. 6d., £305 15s. 5d., and £666 13s. 7½d., respectively.

asked the Minister of Health the amount of the surcharge made by the Government auditor for luncheons supplied to the members of the deposed West Ham Board of Guardians whilst attending general board and committee meetings, for the financial years ending March, 1924, 1925 and 1926; and whether the amount of the surcharge has been liquidated?

Surcharges of £171 and £110 in respect of luncheons were made in the accounts for the half-years ended March, 1919, and September, 1921. The sums surcharged were not met by the persons surcharged. No surcharges were made in the financial years referred to in the question.

asked the Minister of Health the number of men and women of 65 years of age and over who were receiving sick benefit under the National Health Insurance Act and were entitled to receive old age pensions when that Section of the new Act came into force by which they were disqualified from receiving their sick benefit?

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 if he is aware that the London and North Eastern Railway Company is taking advantage of the pensions paid at 65 years of age under the new Act to reduce by 10s. per week the railway service pensions which retired servants of the company were receiving at the time they became entitled to the State pensions; and if he will consider issuing an appeal to employers not to take to themselves the benefit of the State pension to the detriment of the pensioner for whom it was intended.

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the general question raised in the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the remarks made by my right hon. Friend in the course of the Debate of 22nd instant on the Motion of the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Cove).

asked the Minister of Health the numbers of married men and women, respectively, 60 to 65, 65 to 70, and over 70; and whether any estimates of future numbers are available?

The information asked for could not be made available without very considerable labour, which I do not think I should be justified in imposing on my officials.

asked the Minister of Health the number of widows with and without dependent children under 60, 60 to 65, 65 to 70, and over 70; and whether any estimates for the future widows are available?

The information asked for could not be made available without very considerable labour, which I do not think I should be justified in imposing on my officials.

asked the Minister of Health when the report of the appointed guardians of Chester-le-Street for the last six months of their administration will be published?

I have not yet received a further report, but I understand that the guardians have one in preparation.

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases of small-pox in England and Wales for each quarter of the past year?

The following statement gives the required figures:Notifications of small-pox—England and Wales. (Provisional figures.)

Thirteen weeks ended:
2nd April, 1927	…	6,153
2nd July, 1927	…	3,753
1st October, 1927	…	1,930
31st December, 1927	…	2,928
		14,764

asked the Minister of Health if any advice is given by his Department to local authorities as to their powers in the inspection of offices; and whether his attention has been called to any difficulties placed in the way of local authorities in making inspection?

I advise local authorities, on inquiry, that they have powers to undertake systematic inspection of offices as well as inspection on complaint. I have not had any instance brought to my notice where a local authority has been impeded in such inspection. I may add that few specific complaints have been brought to my notice of office conditions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has secured a site for the new quarantine station in Glasgow; if so, where the site is situated; what is the proposed cost of the building; what period it, will take to erect; what will be the staff required; and if the workers will be subject to the Fair Wages Clause?

A site for a quarantine station at Glasgow at which pedigree stock intended for export will be detained before shipment has not yet been secured, but the necessary inquiries are being pursued. An estimate of the cost of establishing the station has not yet been made, nor has the question of staff yet been Settled. The time occupied in the, erection of the station is not likely to exceed three months. The workers employed in the building of the premises will be subject to the Fair Wages Clause. Although technically the Fair Wages Clause would not be applicable to employés at the quarantine station, I shall take steps to ensure that the wages paid to them are in accordance with the principles contained in the Fair Wages Clause.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the increasing importation of foreign bulbs and flowers into this country and to the effect of such importation upon British growers of bulbs and flowers; and will he consider including growers of bulbs and flowers in the provisions of the proposed agricultural credit scheme?

My attention has been called to this importation, and I have ascertained that there has been a considerable increase recently. The answer to the second part is in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether there has been any substantial increase in the price of meat in the Northern markets since the Ministry of Agriculture's Order prohibiting the landing in Britain of Irish livestock; and the approximate amount of fat cattle or pigs that are consigned weekly to the principal Northern markets from Ireland?

From the limited amount of information at my disposal, it would appear that in the case of one or two markets the prohibition of the landing in this country of fresh livestock has had some effect on the prices of certain classes of livestock, but that generally prices have not been greatly affected. I regret that I have no information as to the second part of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of persons at all ages over 60 and over 65 in receipt of teachers' pensions; the present cost and from what sources it is met; and whether any estimates of future numbers and cost are available?

The number of teacher-pensioners on 31st January last was 25,973. Of these about five-sixths retired on pension at the age of 60 or over, but I could not, without the expenditure of a very considerable amount of time and labour, classify them according to their present ages. The sums payable to pensioners in 1927–28 amount to £4,341,135, and the receipts from teachers' contributions to £2,440,000, leaving a net burden of £1,901,135 to be borne by the Exchequer. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to pages 35–36 of the Memorandum on the Board's Estimates, 1926, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that children entering the elementary schools or when seeking employment can, by filling up a prescribed form, obtain a birth certificate for the sum of 6d.; that in some districts this rule is also applied to children entering county or secondary schools, whilst in others the full fee is charged; and will he take steps to enforce this rule in all cases and have it made uniform?

I have been asked to reply. The special rate of 6d. for the issue of a birth certificate in the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers is applied by Section 135 of the Education Act, 1921, to cases where the age is required to be proved for the purposes of the provisions of the Act relating to elementary education, or for any purpose connected with the elementary education or employment in labour of the child or young person. I am advised that this provision does not extend to purposes relating to or connected with education which is not elementary; and I have no power to extend it. But I am not prepared to express any opinion with regard to any particular cases of doubt which may have arisen.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he will arrange for the insertion of a number in the London Telephone Directory for the British Industries Fair, White City, and so prevent needless and irritating delays in getting into telephonic communication with the exhibitors?

The point raised by the hon. Member is not free from difficulty, as a telephone number inserted in the Telephone Directory would have to be included in the issue of the previous October, and would therefore be misleading in the intervening period prior to the opening of the fair. I will, however, gladly consider, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General, whether a more satisfactory arrangement can be made for next year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the condition of the British granite trade; and, if so, whether he is taking any steps with municipalities to encourage the use of such granite?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister of Transport to the hon. Member for Wimbledon (Sir J. Power) on the 21st February, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give any figures dealing with the exports from this country to Russia, distinguishing agricultural machinery, since the breaking off of diplomatic relations to the last convenient date, and

	Exports of Produce and Manufactures of the U.K. consigned to Russia.		Exports of Imported Merchandise consigned to Russia.
Description.	July to December, 1926.	July to December, 1927.	July to December, 1926.	July to December, 1927.
	£	£	£	£
Total Exports of which—	2,625,068	1,907,005	4,285,567	1,270,334
Agricultural Machinery	14,156	6,359	37,601	—

asked the President of the Board of Trade, for the latest convenient period of 12 months, the quantities of offals imported and exported. specifying the various descriptions?

(Provisional Figures).
					Exports.
Description.				Total Imports.	U.K. Produce.	Imported Produce.
CORN OFFALS.				Tons.	Tons.	Tons.
Bran and pollard	…	…	…	145,818	51,871	1,377
Sharps and middlings	…	…	…	66,507	4,959	626
Rice meal and dust	…	…	…	227,721	228	354
Other sorts	…	…	…	8,844	37,549	9
Total	…	…	…	448,890	94,607	2,366

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the difficulty in accurately gauging imports and exports from and to British Possessions and foreign countries, he will consider the possibility of amending the tables in the Trade and Navigation Returns, so that under the heading Countries the last heading, Other countries, may be subdivided into British and foreign countries?

the following table shows the declared values of the total exports from the United Kingdom, distinguishing agricultural machinery, registered as consigned to Russia in the six months July to December, 1926 and 1927:

The following table shows the total quantities of the undermentioned descriptions of corn offals imported into and exported from Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the year 1927:

To carry out such a separation as is suggested in the question, throughout the whole list of articles shown in the monthly Trade Accounts, would cause a large amount of additional work. Apart from the expense, this would necessarily delay the publication of the Accounts, and I regard the earliest possible publication of the monthly figures of our trade as of great importance. I regret, therefore, that I cannot see my way to adopt the proposal. The position with regard to the details given is, however, reviewed annually, and whenever a change is considered to be advantageous it is made. I would point out that the separation suggested is carried out in the Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom, while quarterly figures of the total value of our trade with each country are published in the monthly Accounts. Moreover, British and foreign countries are already shown separately in the monthly tables in respect of the principal dutiable imports of food, drink and tobacco on which British countries receive a preferential tariff.

asked the Minister of Transport when the new bridge at Glasgow will be opened for use; and if he is satisfied that the contractors are employing every man possible?

If the hon. Member is referring to the Oswald Street Bridge, I am informed that it is now completed and will be opened for traffic to-day (Monday, 27th February).

asked the Minister of Transport what is the mileage of the Glasgow-Edinburgh road finished and ready for use; what is the mileage at present being worked at; what mileage has not been started; and when it is hoped to have the road open for use?

The total length of the route, including sections of existing road embodied therein, is 39½ miles, of which 11½ miles are already completed and in full use. A further 2¼ miles is partly in use, but cannot be fully utilised until other sections now under construction are finished. Another section of 2¼ miles is ready for use as soon as certain bridges are completed. Work is well advanced on another 15 miles of road, the greater part of which is ready for surfacing. The work of improving 8½ miles of existing road embodied in the route has not yet been begun. The route should be completed by the end of 1929, provided no unexpected delay occurs in the negotiations regarding the construction of bridges.

asked the Home secretary the number of escapes and attempted escapes and the number of offences of violence which have taken place 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?

During the eighteen months periods ended 30th June, 1926, and 31st December, 1927, the numbers of escapes or attempts to escape were for Dartmoor Prison nil and one, and for Parkhurst Prison nine and 10. For the same periods the number of offences of violence were as follow: Dartmoor Prison 167 and 163; Parkhurst Prison 134 and 186.

asked the Home Secretary from what sources the mounted section of the Metropolitan police are recruited; and how many come from each individual cavalry regiment?

Members of the mounted branch are taken by selection from the rest of the force. Probably a minority had served in a cavalry regiment before joining the police, but I could not give particulars without an investigation of every man's record.

asked the Home Secretary what is the cost to the Exchequer of fresh meat consumed by the personnel occupying public institutions; what is the quantity for the years 1925, 1926, and 1927; and what proportion of such meat was British, Colonial and foreign, respectively?

The following figures show the quantity and cost of fresh meat consumed in Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum and in Prisons, Borstal Institutions, etc., in 1925, 1926 and 1927. As regards prisons information as to the proportions of supplies from different sources is not available, and as regards Reformatory and Industrial Schools, no information is available.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will, in view of the fatalities taking place in the prize ring, introduce legislation prohibiting organised pugilistic contests?

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend is not aware of any sufficient reasons for such a prohibition.

asked the Home Secretary what is the fee for naturalisation and change of name, respectively; and what were the total sums received for each in 1927?

The fee payable in respect of the grant of a Certificate of Naturalisation is £10 ordinarily, with a reduced fee of 5s. in the case of a woman who lost British nationality by marriage. The fee payable by an alien on obtaining an exemption which enables him to assume a name by which he was not known on the 4th August, 1914, is ten guineas, with power to remit the whole or any part of such fee in special cases. The receipts for the financial year ended 31st March, 1927, were, respectively, £11,632 and £1,748 9s.6d.

asked the Home Secretary at which prisons in England and Wales quarters are being built for prison officials in which convict labour is being employed; whether these houses are two-roomed flats or otherwise; and what is the approximate cost of each house?

Quarters for subordinate prison officers are being built at Parkhurst Convict Prison, at the local prisons at Brixton, Durham, Leeds, Norwich, Nottingham, Wandsworth and Wakefield, and at the Feltham Borstal Institution. In every case use is being made so far as possible of the labour of the convicts, prisoners or Borstal inmates. Some of the quarters are flats and some are cottages. Each contains five rooms and a scullery, and costs approximately £600.

asked the Minister of Labour if the Return of the Registrar of Friendly Societies, showing details of membership, income, expenditure, and funds of registered trade unions in the years 1926 and 1927, similar to Command Paper 2720 of 1926, can now be published?

Arrangements are being made for the publication of a Return showing the details referred to for 1925 and 1926 at an early date. The particulars for 1927 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of music hall artists who were permitted to land in Great Britain for the purpose of fulfilling engagements made with music halls and theatres in Great Britain for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

During the year ended 31st December, 1927, 896 permits were issued to enable aliens to come to this country for employment as music hall and carbaret artists. In addition, in 21 cases the Home Secretary was advised to agree to aliens taking up such employment, after they had been given permission to land for other reasons. All permits were issued for short periods in the first instance, but in some cases where further engagements had been secured I was able to advise the Home Secretary to agree to short extensions of the original period.

*APPLICATIONS for Extended Benefit considered by the Wigan Local Employment Committee.
	Period.
—	4 weeks ended 12th Sept., 1927	4 weeks ended 12th Dec., 1927.	5 weeks ended 16th Jan., 1928.
Applications considered	2,466	2,676	2931
Applications admitted	2,120	2,323	2,622
Applications recommended for disallowance.	346	353	309
Grounds of disallowance—
Not normally insurable and not seeking to obtain a livelihood by means of insurable employment.	11	9	10
Insurable employment not likely to be available.	7	6	7
Not a reasonable period of insurable employment during the preceding two years.	53	82	57
Not making every reasonable effort to obtain suitable employment or not willing to accept suitable employment.	34	39	47
Single persons residing with relatives.	77	86	61
Married women who could look for support from their husbands.	31	25	25
Married men who could look for support from their wives.	10	2	2
Working short time but earning sufficient for maintenance.	92	104	100
Postponed for a definite period	31	—	—
*Statistics regarding the decisions on applications for Standard Benefit are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons receiving unemployment benefit in the borough of Southwark for the month of January in 1925, 1926, 1927, and 1928, respectively, giving particulars of the unemployment benefit paid out for these periods and the respective amounts contributed by the State and by employers of insured persons?

asked the Minister of Labour how many insured persons were refused benefit at the Wigan Employment Exchange in the months of September and December, 1927, and January, 1928, respectively, and the reasons for the disallowances.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 22nd February, 1928, Col. 1592, Vol. 213 supplied the following statement:

Statistics are not available with regard to the number of persons actually in receipt of unemployment benefit. The average number of claims current at the Borough Employment Exchange during the month of January in the years 1925, 1926, 1927 and 1928 was 9,754, 6,145, 6,605 and 5,644 respectively. The amounts paid in, benefit were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give the same facilities for the London school children to witness the Air Pageant at Hendon this year as in former years?

It is proposed to grant the same facilities this year as in former years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the appeals from Scotland for the passing of a Landlord and Tenants Bill, he intends introducing this Session such a Measure to put Scotland in the same position as England regarding the claims of shop tenants for compensation?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for the Camlachie Division (Mr. Stephen) on the 14th February.