asked the President of the Board of Education whether recent experience has modified the attitude of the Board, as expressed in Section 4 of Circular 1350, towards the separate organisation of infants' departments?

The view expressed in paragraph 4 of Circular 1350 was that where the numbers of pupils under 11 were such as to necessitate the provision of two departments, the organisation normally adopted should be either (i) two separate and successive departments for

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will give a list of universities and colleges qualified to take a teacher's certificate course; the number of students that each can accommodate, stating separately any new places made since 1st January, 1925; and the amount of the Government grant in each case?

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of classes over 50 but not over 60, and the number of classes over 60, in Manchester, Liverpool, the West Riding, Birmingham, Sheffield, and London, respectively, in each of the three years 1924–25, 1925–26, and 1926–27, discriminating between classes which contain only pupils under 11 years of age and others?

The following table shows the numbers of classes over 50 in the areas in question. The figures in brackets indicate the number of classes over 60 and are included in the figures relating to classes over 50.

I am afraid that the particulars for which my hon. and gallant Friend asks will take some little time to put together, but I will send him such information as is available as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Education the cost of adjusting the salaries of ex-service men trained under the Ministry of Labour scheme, and now serving as certificated teachers, to the Burnham scale?

I am not clear as to the particular point which the hon. Member has in mind. The salaries of ex-service men trained under the Ministry of Labour scheme are, of course, regulated by the Burnham scales and are the same as those of other certificated teachers of equivalent service.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the Land Registry, Northern Ireland, branch of the Civil Service Clerical Association has asked for arbitration on the starting pay of certain clerical officers appointed to that Department as the result of a limited examination held in 1925; that although the application was made in August the Department has not yet agreed to terms of remit to arbitration; and whether he will see that an answer is furnished without further delay and make arrangements generally so that matters affecting the staff should be dealt with with reasonable promptness?

I am informed that an application has been submitted, as stated in the question, and that proposals have been made by the Department which are now under consideration by the Civil Service Clerical Association.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any information as to the number of Welsh miners

I have no statistics giving the number who have so obtained employment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that more than 100 ex-service temporary clerks, with an average service of more than seven years in Government employ, have been dismissed, and that the Ministry has announced that there are over 500 vacancies and that they propose to allocate a number of these to new entrants who passed the recent open examination; and, in view of the pledge given by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on the 27th July, 1927, whether he will reinstate ex-service men to the fullest possible extent?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to questions on the same subject on 17th February, 1928.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the increase or decrease in exports of the various articles safeguarded under the Safeguarding of Industries Act or under the so-called McKenna Duties, or of silk goods from November, 1924, or from the imposition of a duty to the present date, as also the increase or decrease of imports of such articles during the same period?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 15th February, 1928; col. 871, Vol. 213] supplied the following statement:

asked the Attorney-General how many cases have been reported within the last five years to the Lord Chancellor of magistrates who have ceased to reside in their own areas; how many resignations have been asked for and how many obtained; and whether there is any check upon existing magistrates to see whether they remain in a position to fulfil their responsibilities?

I regret that I cannot undertake to supply this information, which could only be obtained by very laborious and costly inquiries. Amongst the duties of local advisory committees is that of informing the Lord Chancellor from time to time of those magistrates who are no longer able to fulfil their responsibilities, and when this information reaches the Lord Chancellor such action its taken as is appropriate to the particular case.

asked the Attorney-General the number of women magistrates; and how many of these have been appointed on the advice of Labour bodies?

The answer to the first part of the question is 1,892. In answer to the second part of the question, women magistrates equally with men magistrates are appointed on the recommendation of advisory committees which contain representatives of Labour.