asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the total cost of the staff of the Admiralty for the years 1914 and 1927, respectively; what is the comparative increase per cent. in the number of staff and their cost for those years; and the decrease per cent. of the personnel of the Navy?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Elland (Mr. Robinson) on the 9th March last [OFFICIAL REPORT, Columns 1214–15, Volume 203] in which particulars are given of the numbers and annual cost of the staff employed at the Admiralty Headquarters Establishment on the 1st January, 1914, and 1st January, 1927, respectively. These figures show that the percentage increases were, respectively, 54.8 and 63.5. There was a decrease of 29.9 per cent. in the personnel of the Navy between the 15th January, 1914, and the 15th January, 1927. I should like to add that the reasons for the increase of Admiralty staff have been fully explained in the First Lord's answer to the hon. Member for Central Nottingham (Mr. Bennett) on the 18th November, 1925 [OFFICIAL REPORT, Columns 358–364, Volume 188], and that the Select Committee on Estimates, of which my hon. and gallant Friend is himself a member, has declared that comparisons between the numbers of staff at the Admiralty and the numbers of naval personnel, in 1914 and at the present time, are misleading.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, with reference to the 130 discharges which have recently taken place from Devonport dockyard, if he will give the years of service of each of the men discharged?

The length of service of the men recently discharged on reduction ranges from four years to 14 years 10 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, as Article III of the Franco-American Pact appears to be open to the construction that it restricts the scope of conciliation provided in the Bryan Treaty, he can give an assurance that no such restriction of the scope of conciliation is contemplated in the Anglo-American Treaty?

I do not suppose that Article III of the Franco-American Draft Treaty is intended to restrict the scope of the Bryan Treaty, but I cannot at present speak confidently as to the true interpretation of the text.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many vocational training centres have now been established; where those centres are situated; and what trades are taught at each?

There are at present three Army vocational training centres, which are situated at Chisledon, Hounslow and Aldershot. The following is a list of the principal trades taught at each of these centres:—List of the principal trades taught at Army Vocational Training Centres.Chisledon:

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons, excluding blind persons, 65 to 70, and over 70 years of age, in receipt of old age pensions; the cost in each group and from what sources it is met; and whether estimates of future numbers and costs are available?

On the latest figures available, the number of persons to whom old age pensions between 65 and 70 have been awarded is 510,540, but this number includes an unknown number of blind persons and of persons who have died since the award was made. On 30th December, 1927, 1,241,104 persons of the age of 70 and upwards, other than blind persons, were in receipt of old age pensions. Pensions to persons in the first group have been payable only since the 5th January, and figures of the actual cost are not yet available. The cost is met partly by the contributions of insured persons and employers and partly by the Exchequer. The actual cost of pensions to persons in the second group for the last complete financial year was £29,984,000. The whole cost of these pensions is borne by the Exchequer. An estimate of the numbers in the first group for selected years will be found in Table III, of the cost of these pensions in Table VI, and of the cost of pensions for persons in the second group in Table V, of the Government Actuary's Report on the Contributory Pensions Bill.

asked the Minister of Health how many women applicants for old age pensions in the Borough of Southwark have been refused owing to the fact of their husbands having reached the age of 70 years prior to 2nd January, 1928?

The information asked for is not available as the claims are not arranged on a territorial basis.

asked the Minister of Health how many women applicants in the Borough of Southwark have been refused old age pensions owing to their husbands not having reached the age of 65 years?

Area.		Estitated Population mid 1926.	Deaths of Infants under one year per 1,000 live births
			1924.	1925.	1926.	1927.
Aspull U.D.	…	7,722	127	94	122	*
Blackrod U.D	…	3,854	35	203	152	*
Hindley U.D.	…	24,820	86	90	138	63 (provisional)
Horwich U.D.	…	16,160	82	52	64	*
Westhoughton U.D.	…	17,420	82	83	90	*
* Figures not yet available.

The information asked for is not available, as the claims are not arranged on a territorial basis.

asked the Minister of Health the number of deaths from smallpox in England and Wales for each quarter of the past year?

The following statement gives the required figures:

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the figures covering infantile mortality rates within the areas covered by the Aspull, Black-rod, Hindley, Horwich, and Westhoughton Urban Councils during the last three years?

The required figures, so far as they are at present available, are given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the amount and value of coal paid over by Germany in 1926–27 under the reparation clauses of the Treaty of Versailles to the various countries concerned in such payment; and when these payments under the Treaty cease?

I regret that this information is not at present available, but if the hon. Member will put down a question to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury next week, I am informed that it will then be possible to give him a full reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, seeing that many films have been exhibited in foreign countries which are derogatory to the British Empire and the British people and calculated to cause ill-feeling between the British Empire and foreign countries, the British Government have ever made any representations to any foreign Government in regard to the undesirability of any film being exhibited in such foreign country?

Yes, Sir; on some half dozen occasions, at least, His Majesty's representatives have approached the competent authorities in several countries with the object of securing excisions or modifications in films which appeared to be derogatory to British prestige.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what date he first approached the hon. Member for the Scotland Division of Liverpool (Mr. T. P. O'Connor) with reference to the exhibition of the film entitled "Dawn"; and can be inform the House of the nature of this communication?

The only occasion on which I saw the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the Scotland Division of Liverpool (Mr. T. P. O'Connor) was on the 18th January. I then read to him the account of the execution as given by Mr. Wilcox to Mr. Foxen Cooper, and asked the right hon. Gentleman to examine the film carefully if it was submitted to the Board of Censors.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what extended time the Government have decided to give in which claims from Irish loyalists for injuries inflicted on them between 11th July, 1921, and 12th May, 1923, can be sent in to the Irish Grants Committee?

As I informed the House on Thursday last, the 23rd February, any claims sent in to the Irish Grants Committee up to the end of the present month will be accepted for consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the names and duties of the staff now employed at the Amani Institute?

The European staff at present appointed to the East African Agricultural Research Institute at Amani is as follows:

• Mr. W. Nowell, Director of the Institute.
• Mr. C. B. Williams, Entomologist.
• Mr. H. H. Storey, Senior Mycologist.
• Mr. G. F. Clay, Plant Geneticist.
• Mr. F. J. Nutman, Plant Physiologist.
• Mr. P. J. Greenway, Systematic Botanist.
• Mr. R. E. Moreau, Secretary and Librarian.
• Mr. F. M. Rogers, Superintendent of Plantations.
• Mr. K. E. Toms, Assistant Superintendent of Plantations.
• Captain E. M. Nicholl, Manager, Kwamkoro Estate (a coffee plantation owned by the Institute).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when it is proposed to commence the construction of a bridge over the Zambesi river?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Anglesey (Sir R. Thomas) on Monday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government have made any representation to Ibn Saud in regard to recent tribal raids on Iraq and Kowheit; and, if so, what was the nature of the communication?

Yes, Sir. Repeated representations have been made to King Ibn Saud requesting His Majesty to do his utmost to punish the guilty tribesmen and prevent further raids. The result has hitherto been ineffectual. It appears that the marauding tribes are temporarily out of control.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of controllers and deputy-controllers on the staff of the Treasury; and whether any of these offices have been abolished since the Estimates for 1927–28 were framed?

There are now two con- controllers and two deputy-controllers on the staff of the Treasury. Since the Estimates for 1927 were framed, one post of controller and one post of deputy-controller have been abolished.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of bookmakers who took out a licence for the last 12 months of which he has record; and what is the amount for such licences received by the Treasury?

The number of bookmakers' certificates issued for the year 1st November, 1926, to 31st October, 1927, was 15,194 and the net amount of Revenue derived therefrom was approximately £151,700. The figures for any later period of 12 months would necessarily include a large number of renewals for the year beginning the 1st November, 1927, which are not separately recorded.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of Betting Duty received by the Treasury for the last 12 calendar months of which he has record; and how much of this was received from street bookmakers?

The net amount of Revenue derived from betting taxation during the year ended the 31st January, 1928, was approximately £2,740,000. As regards the last part of the question, there is no information available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will arrange to make available for Members of this House the Report of the Company Law Amendment Committee, Cmd. 2657, of 1926?

Arrangements have been made, and I understand that copies are now available in the Vote Office.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity and value of handkerchiefs, linen sheets and towels, and cotton sheets and towels imported into the United Kingdom for the years ended 31st December, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926 and 1927; and the figures for the month of January?

The following table shows the total quantities and declared values of linen handkerchiefs, not in the piece, and of cotton flags, handkerchiefs and shawls imported into the United Kingdom in each of the years 1922 to 1927, together with the imports registered in the month of January, 1928. Handkerchiefs made of materials other than linen are not separately recorded in the trade returns of the United Kingdom, but the items comprised in the headings, Flags, Handkerchiefs and Shawls of Cotton are believed to consist mainly of handkerchiefs. Information is not available as to the imports of sheets and towels of linen and cotton.

asked the Home Secretary the number of persons who were found dead, and the number who remain unidentified, in the Metropolitan police area for the last 12 months to the last convenient date?

In 1927, 707 dead bodies were found in the Metropolitan police district, 77 bodies of newly-born infants and 74 other bodies remain unidentified.

asked the Home Secretary whether steps are taken to prevent an alien assuming a name other than his original one, the one he bore when he arrived in this country, without notification to the proper authorities, and later, when he applies for naturalisation, taking the assumed name for his own without payment of the fee for change of name?

An alien is not at liberty, whether with or without notification, to use a name other than that by which he was ordinarily known on 4th August, 1914, without exemption from the provisions of Section 7 of the Aliens Restriction (Amendment) Act, 1919, and due steps are taken to enforce the law. As regards the second part of the question, the use of any name other than that under which an alien applies is one of the points which is investigated in the course of the usual inquiries into applications for naturalisation and the result is taken into account in the decision as to whether a certificate should be granted or refused. If a certificate is granted the applicant becomes a British subject and is not bound by the law applicable to aliens.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of houses built by local authorities and by private enterprise with State assistance and by private enterprise without State assistance for each of the years ended 31st March, 1919, to 1927?

For statistics available with respect to the number of houses completed by local authorities and by private enterprise in Scotland with State assistance for each of the years ended 31st December from 1919 to 1927 inclusive, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 14th instant to the hon. Member for Dumbarton Burghs (Mr. Kirkwood), a copy of which I am sending him. The following table shows the numbers of houses built by private enterprise in Scotland without State assistance during the same period:

1919	5,195*
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924	1,553
1925	1,852
1926	1,812
1927	2,008
	12,420

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the average cost of houses built under the Housing Acts for each month since January, 1924, distinguishing between parlour and non-parlour houses?

In Scotland a distinction as between parlour and non-parlour houses is unusual. On the basis that the former comprise all houses having more than four habitable apartments, and the latter all houses having four or fewer habitable apartments, a statement has been prepared showing the average tender prices in schemes carried out by local authorities under the Housing Acts during each month from January, 1924, to January, 1928, and I am sending a copy to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of accidents which occur daily throughout Great Britain in consequence of the use of mechanically-propelled vehicles upon the roads; and whether he proposes to take any steps to see that suitable footpaths are provided for pedestrians in the rural districts?

No general record is kept tabulating every accident that occurs in consequence of the use of mechanically - propelled vehicles upon roads. With regard to the provision of footways, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which was made to the hon. and gallant Member for the Hitchin Division (Major Kindersley) on the 20th February, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his Department has issued any instructions to the managers of Employment Exchanges to the effect that trade union branch secretaries are not to be paid unemployment benefit, as they are in receipt of pay for their services as secretaries?

If a branch secretary receiving as such a net rate of remuneration exceding 3s. 4d. a day loses his main employment, he is ineligible for benefit under the statutory rule applying generally to subsidiary occupations; but, subject to this, he is entitled to benefit, provided, of course, that he is otherwise qualified.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of unemployed workers in the various branches of the building trade on 1st February, 1926, 1st February, 1927, and 1st February 1928?

Building Industry, Great Britain.
Analysis by Occupations of the Numbers of Insured Workers recorded as Unemployed.
Occupation.				25th January, 1926.	24th January, 1927.	23rd January,*1928.
Carpenters	…	…	…	7,525	10,038	16,889
Bricklayers	…	…	…	2,953	4,807	9,027
Masons	…	…	…	2,331	2,691	3,129
Slaters	…	…	…	537	574	610
Plasterers	…	…	…	553	874	4,026
Painters	…	…	…	32,012	32,647	32,768
Plumbers	…	…	…	2,167	2,894	2,480
Labourers to above	…	…	…	34,496	37,116	41,276
All other occupations	…	…	…	24,837	24,966	27,196
Totals	…	…	…	107,411	116,607	137,401
*Figures relate to persons aged 16 to 64 inclusive.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of Persons on the unemployment register in each of the urban council areas of areas of Aspull, Blackrod,

NUMBERS ON REGISTERS of certain Employment Exchanges and Juvenile Employment Bureaux about the end of January, 1926, 1927 and 1928.
Employment Exchange Area.					Men.	Boys.	Women.	Girls.	Total.
					30th January, 1928.
Hindley	…	…	…	…	1,260	15	311	10	1,596
Horwich*	…	…	…	…	656	22	129	23	830
Westhoughton	…	…	…	…	824	15	69	1	909
Wigan†	…	…	…	…	5,661	167	1,997	118	7,943
					31st January, 1927.
Hindley	…	…	…	…	620	19	431	21	1,091
Horwich*	…	…	…	…	407	12	204	20	643
Westhoughton	…	…	…	…	752	43	205	9	1,009
Wigan†	…	…	…	…	5,119	138	2,173	191	7,621
					1st February. 1926.
Hindley	…	…	…	…	354	15	392	63	824
Horwich*	…	…	…	…	274	13	80	14	381
Westhoughton	…	…	…	…	287	7	48	3	345
Wigan†	…	…	…	…	4,493	139	2,240	199	7,071
* Includes Blackrod.					†Includes Aspull.

The following is the information asked for:Hindley, Horwich and Westhoughton, at any date in January of each of last three years, respectively?

The following Table gives the available information:

asked the Minister of Labour the four counties in which insured persons registered as unemployed at Employment Exchanges are the highest; and whether he will give particulars of them?

I have been asked to reply. The four counties in which the number of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges at 13th February expressed as a percentage of the insured population was highest were Carmarthenshire (31.5), Monmouthshire (26.3), Glamorganshire (25.4), and Durham (20.2).

asked the Minister of Labour whether he hopes to publish shortly any general Report based on the inquiry into earnings and hours of labour carried out in respect of the year 1924?

The main results of this inquiry were published, industry by industry, in the issues of the Ministry of Labour Gazette for June, 1926, to March, 1927, and an article summarising the figures for all the industries covered appeared in the Gazette for July, 1927. Further articles giving supplementary details for some of the more important industries are in preparation and will be published in the Gazette during the course of the next few months. It is not proposed to re-issue the articles in volume form.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the relative stability of the cost of living during the last three years, he proposes at an early date to institute an inquiry with a view to establishing a new basis for the index number; and whether such an investigation will include an inquiry into the cost of living of higher paid employés as well as into that of manual workers?

The question of an inquiry with a view to the establishment of a new basis for the cost-of-living index-number was exhaustively considered last year, in consultation with the National Confederation of Employers' Organisations and the Trades Union Congress General Council, and I do not think the time has come to alter the decision which was then reached, to postpone the revision of the basis.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the damage caused to the sea walls on the Essex coast during the recent floods; to the fact that it will cost upwards of £30,000 to repair such damage; and to the fact that, unless such walls are repaired, a large area of agricultural land will revert permanently to the sea; and if it is the intention of the Government to assist in saving this area of agricultural land by granting financial assistance?

I am fully aware of the situation, but I am afraid that I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Maldon (Lieut.-Colonel Ruggles-Brise), on 9th February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the quantity of milk produced and available for consumption in 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, and 1927, and the quantity or approximate percentage that was surplus to normal requirements during those years?

The estimated production of milk (excusive of milk fed to calves and pigs) in England and Wales in the undermentioned years was as follows:—

Years 1st June to 31st may.	Million gallons,
1923–1924	1,100
1924–1925	1,117
1925–1926	1,135
1926–1927	1,150

As a result of the special inquiries made in connection with the last Census of Production it was estimated that the amount consumed as liquid milk in 1924–1925 was about 765 million gallons. With regard to the latter part of the question, I regret that I have no information.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Government's proposals in respect of long-term agricultural credits will be laid before the House of Commons before the Easter Recess; and, if not, whether they will be available before the Whitsuntide Recess?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to name a date for the introduction of the Agricultural Credit Bill.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the large percentage of diseased bulbs imported into this country from abroad for cultivation here and that such bulbs infect the ground in which they are planted for two or three years; and will he take steps to prohibit the importation of bulbs unless previously sterilised?

The importation of bulbs for planting is governed by the Destructive Insects and Pests Order of 1922 which requires that each consignment shall be accompanied by a certificate, issued after inspection by a duly authorised official of the country whence the bulbs are exported, to the effect that they have been found to be healthy. I have received very few complaints this season of the presence of disease in imported bulbs, and on the evidence at present before me I do not see my way to prohibit the importation of bulbs which have not been sterilised by the hot water treatment, especially as this process is effective only against such pests as eelworms and Narcissus Fly. No method of sterilising bulbs has so far been discovered which is effective against fungus pests.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the reduction in the cost of sending messages to and from the Dominions as a result of the introduction of the beam system, and that proposals have been made by cable company interests to take over the control of the beam system; and whether, in view of the importance of cheap communication facilities within the Empire, he will afford the House time for discussion of any such proposals submitted to the Empire Conference on Cable and Wireless Communication?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second and third parts of the question, until the Imperial Wireless and Cable Conference have submitted their recommendations for consideration by the Governments concerned I am unable to make any statement.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the desire to give effect this year to the Government's decision to precede the discussions on the Estimates of the three fighting Services Departments by a discussion on the subject of defence treated as a whole, he will arrange for the Navy, Army and Air Force Estimates to be issued prior to such discussion?

I sympathise with the suggestion of my hon. and gallant Friend that the Estimates for the fighting Services should be published simultaneously. In practice, however, this is very difficult, but I will endeavour to arrange that they will be produced in future at a more uniform date.