asked the President of the Board of Education what was the total sum spent on education in England and Wales for the last available financial year, giving the amount paid from national revenue and the amount paid from local rates, respectively?

The total expenditure from public funds on educational services within the purview of the Board of Education, in 1926–27, amounted to £75,414,000, of which £43,439,000 was borne by the Exchequer and £31,975,000 by the rates.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many classes there are in the West Riding of Yorkshire with over 70 scholars, and how many with between 51 and 60 scholars?

On the 31st March last there were, in the area of the West Riding Authority, 916 public elementary school classes containing 51 to 60 pupils on the registers. There were no classes of more than 70 pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the rejection of the new Treaty with Egypt, in what manner the relations between Great Britain and Egypt will be carried on?

Yes, Sir. It is clear from the White Paper that until Anglo-Egyptian relations are modified by the establishment of an alliance, or otherwise, they will continue to be governed by His Majesty's Government's declaration of the 28th February, 1922.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make any further statement about the operations in progress against the Wahabis on or near the Transjordania and Iraq, respectively; and whether our forces are operating against tribesmen acknowledging the sovereignty of the Sultan Ibn Saud?

There have been no further Wahabi raids since that of the 19th February, of which details were given in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Warwick and Leamington (Captain Eden) on the 27th February last. It is open to question whether the guilty tribesmen still acknowledge the sovereignty of King Ibn Saud.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty now has a representative at the Court of Ibn Saud; and, if not, whether, in view of recent events and developments, it is proposed to send an accredited representative?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the conditions under which appointments are made to the staff at the Foreign Office; whether they are open to competitive examination; and, if not, whether he will consider the revision of the conditions of appointment to ensure that such positions are open to competition?

The examination for the Foreign Office and Diplomatic Service, which are now amalgamated, is competitive. It is held concurrently with the examination for the administrative class of the Home Civil Service, Indian Civil Service, Eastern Cadetships and the Colonial Services, and is identical with that examination except in so far as a high standard of qualification in certain modern languages is required from candidates for the Foreign Office and Diplomatic Service. Candidates for the Foreign Office and Diplomatic Service are required to appear, previously, before a Board of Selection whose function it is to decide which candidates possess suitable qualifications. In 1919, the property qualification formerly required of candidates for the Diplomatic Service was abolished, in accordance with the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service of 1914.

asked the Minister of Health the number of women originally engaged for the central index-clearing staff, and the number now employed?

The number of women employed on central index work at the date of the transfer to my Department was 161. The number now employed is 108.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether it is the practice of the Treasury to give special allowances to clerical officers when performing work above that grade or other special work?

No clerical officer employed on the Treasury staff is in receipt of an allowance of the nature referred to.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the loss by a civil servant of any specific period of seniority, ordered as a disciplinary measure, affects adversely the prospects of, or title to, promotion; whether all Departments of State are required to observe the principle of preference by seniority; whether a civil servant has the right of appeal to the Treasury; and, if so, whether any appeal against the recent decision of the Minister of Pensions to promote two officials over several others in the same grade has been received and determined?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; and to the second part that there is no such rule as that suggested by the hon. Member, though seniority is one of the factors taken info account in making promotions. The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative, and the fourth part of the question therefore does not arise.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of industrial assurance policies issued by insurance companies which lapsed during 1925, 1926, and 1927; how many of the holders received any refund; and the total amount which was retained by the companies?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Treasury will arrange that the Census records of 1871, 1881, and 1891 be placed at the service of the pensions officers, including the surveyors of Customs and Excise, for the purpose of evidence of the age of claimants under the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1924, and the Blind Persons Act, 1920, in whose cases other evidence establishing their ages is not available; and, if the suggested arrangement is not considered to be advisable, if he will

			Bulk barrels produced.	Bulk barrels on which Rebate of £1 was made.
England and Wales	…	…	23,522,111	23,507,918
Scotland	…	…	1,808,454	1,805,085
Northern Ireland	…	…	9,431	9,431
Great Britain and Northern Ireland	…	…	25,339,996	25,322,434

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue the Betting Duty has yielded each month since it was imposed?

The net revenue derived from betting taxation in each of the months from November, 1926, to January, 1928, inclusive, was approximately as follows:

1926:			£
November	…	…	327,400
December	…	…	132,000

I have further considered this question and, in all the circumstances, I am prepared to arrange that, in the case of claims under the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1924, and the Blind Persons Act, 1920, referred to the Registrar-General for verification, search should be made in the 1871 as well as in earlier Census records. I am satisfied that no advantage commensurate with the work entailed, would result from extending such searches to include also the Census records for 1881 and 1891.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland the number of bulk barrels of beer produced and the number of bulk barrels on which the rebate of £1 per barrel was made during the calendar year 1927?

The number of bulk barrels of beer produced in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and the number of bulk barrels on which rebate of £1 per barrel was made during the calendar year 1927 were as follow:

1927:
January	…	…	88,900
February	…	…	92700
March	…	…	194,200
April	…	…	255,200
May	…	…	289,200
June	…	…	356,800
July	…	…	272,800
August	…	…	268,000
September	…	…	245,700
October	…	…	243,500
November,	…	…	368,300
December	…	…	109,700
1928,
January,	…	…	44,100

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the statutory amounts payable to the Sinking Fund in the years 1925–26 and 1926–27, together with the amounts actually paid, less Budget deficits involving additions to the National Debt?

The statutory amount paid to the Sinking Fund in the year 1925–26 was £50,000,000 and the Budget deficit due to the Coal Subsidy was £14,038,120. The statutory amount for 1926–27 was £60,000,000 and the Budget deficit due to the General Strike and coal stoppage was £36,693,794.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the complaints about the pollution of the River Lochy, at Inverlochy, Inverness-shire; if so, whether he is making inquiries into the complaints; and what action he is prepared to take should the complaints be justified?

Complaints have been received by the Scottish Board of Health regarding the alleged pollution of the River Lochy at Lochyside and the Board recently instituted an inquiry into the matter. I am awaiting a report on the result of the inquiry, and am not at present in a position to make any statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to a new and more efficient type of motor drifter, introduced in Fraserburgh; and whether, with a view to preventing the herring fishing industry from passing to subsidised foreigners, he will consider granting credits to enable drifter owners to modernise their equipment?

I have been asked to reply. So far as I am aware, the vessel referred to in the first part of the question has not yet actually engaged in herring fishing, and data as to results from the vessel under practical working conditions are not therefore available. In the circumstances, any request by the industry for credit facilities for the purpose of providing vessels of this type would clearly be premature.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give an estimate of the number of travelling gipsies in this country; and whether he will consider the advisability, or otherwise, of a system of registration and identity certificates?

I have no figures, and, as far as I know, no reliable estimate is possible. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the remarks of the coroner at a Kensington inquest on Mrs. Ida Mary Gropper, in which he stated that he was strongly of the opinion that legislation should be introduced for the purpose of restricting the import of the French hypnotic drug known as dial; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

Yes, Sir. The question of the need for further restrictions in the case of certain kinds of drugs has been brought before the Inter-departmental Committee which has been examining the law relating to poisons. I will see that the circumstances of the case to which the question refers are brought to the attention of the Committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the quantities of wine cleared for home consumption during each of the years 1926 and 1927 at the several rates of duty in force during those years?

The net quantities of wine cleared for home consumption in each of the years 1926 and 1927 at the several rates of duty in force during those years are shown in the following table:

—	1926.						1927.
	Full Rate.			Preferential Rate.			Full Rate.			Preferential Rate.
	Rate of Duty.		Net Quantity cleared for Home Consumption.	Rate of Duty.		Net Quantity cleared for Home Consumption.	Rate of Duty.		Net Quantity cleared for Home Consumption.	Rate of Duty.		Net Quantity cleared for Home Consumption.
Wine in Cask.	s.	d.	Gallons.	s.	d.	Gallons.	s.	d.	Gallons.	s.	d.	Gallons.
Not exceeding 30°	2	6	7,277,244	1	6	689,630	2	6*	3,282,009	1	6*	329,311
Not exceeding 25°	—		—	—		—	3	0†	2,367,473	—		—
Not exceeding 27°	—		—	—		—	—		—	2	0†	351,077
Exceeding 25° and not exceeding 30° in bond on 24th April, 1927, and delivered after 24th July, 1927.	—		—	—		—	5	0†	666,633	—		—
Exceeding 30° and not exceeding 42°	6	0	6,527,247	2	0	846,313	6	0*	2,633,826	2	0*	627,438
Exceeding 42° and not exceeding 45°	7	6	73	—		—	—		—	—		—
Exceeding 42° and not exceeding 46°	8	0	112	—		—	—		—	—		—
Exceeding 25° and not exceeding 42°	—		—	—		—	8	0†	4,078,758	—		—
Exceeding 42° and not exceeding 43°	—		—	—		—	8	8†	44	—		—
Exceeding 27° and not exceeding 42°	—		—	—		—	—		—	4	0†	1,153,899
Still Wine in Bottle.
Not exceeding 30°	4	6	349,901	2	6	1,917	4	6*	102,426	2	6*	323
Not exceeding 25°	—		—	—		—	5	0†	218,718	—		—
Not exceeding 27°	—		—	—		—	—		—	3	0†	1,071
Exceeding 25° and not exceeding 30° in bond on 24th April, 1927, and delivered after 24th July, 1927.	—		—	—		—	7	0†	1,140	—		—
Exceeding 30° and not exceeding 42°	8	0	121,333	3	0	1,036	8	0*	43,545	3	0*	242
Exceeding 25° and not exceeding 42°	—		—	—		—	10	0†	110,122	—		—
Exceeding 27° and not exceeding 42°	—		—	—		—	—		—	5	0†	737
Sparking Wine.
Not exceeding, 30°	15	0	991,336	7	9	491	15	0*	406,326	7	9*	110
Not exceeding 25°	—		—	—		—	15	6†	551,177	—		—
Not exceeding 27°	—		—	—		—	—		—	8	3†	285
Exceeding 25° and not exceeding 30° in bond on 24th April, 1927 and delivered after 24th July, 1927.	—		—	—		—	17	6†	14	—		—
Exceeding 30° and not exceeding 42°	18	6	25	8	3	5	18	6*	105	8	3*	2
Exceeding 25° and not exceeding 42°	—		—	—		—	20	6†	140	—		—
Exceeding 27° and not exceeding 42°	—		—	—		—	—		—	10	3†	3
*Rates in force 1st January, 1927 to 24th April, 1927.
† Rates in force from 25th April, 1927 to 31th December, 1927.
† Rates in force from 25th July, 1927 to 31st December, 1927.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Lancashire County Council proposes to purchase land for the purposes of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1926; that the land was valued by the Inland Revenue land valuer; that three other independent vauations were made, and that the council decided to purchase for £14,000, which was within the four valuation figures; and on what grounds the Ministry has taken objection to the price?

I am not aware that there was more than one valuation supporting the figure proposed to be paid by the Lancashire County Council for the land referred to. That valuation was made in October, 1926. My reason for not approving the purchase at £14,000 was that the Ministry's professional officers advised that the property ought to be acquired for a substantially lower sum. This has now been arranged, with a consequent saving both to the Exchequer and the local ratepayers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many cases of alleged reduction of wages by farmers of labourers who have qualified for the old age pension at 65 have been brought to his notice; how many such cases have been investigated by his officials; and what action, if any, has been taken by his Department with regard to such cases?

Seven particular cases have been reported to me, of which five have so far been investigated by inspectors of the Ministry. In four of the cases investigated it appears that the complaint arose out of a misunderstanding, but in a fifth case proceedings were taken against the employer, who has been convicted, fined, and ordered to pay the arrears.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is able to state how the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the neighbourhood of Horncastle at the end of February originated?

Extensive inquiries have been made by the Ministry, but have failed to reveal how the disease originated in this case.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Government scheme of agricultural credits is yet complete; and, if so, the date upon which it will be published?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave on the 29th February to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Sir F. Nelson), a copy of which I am sending to him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can bring the Return printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT for 10th May, 1927, up-to-date, including pottery, which has since been subjected to safeguarding duties?

I would refer the hon. Member to the table circulated yesterday in the OFFICIAL REPORT in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Southport (Sir G. Dalrymple-White) which supplies (subject to certain small adjustments) the information desired, apart from figures of customs revenue, and a copy of which I am, sending him.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what action is being taken by his Department, in association with the Foreign Office and the Board of Trade, to increase the sale of British-made textile goods in the Dominions overseas and in foreign countries, particularly those situate in South America?

In all overseas markets, whether Empire or foreign, the officers of my Department study and report upon general and special topics affecting market opportunities for British textile exports. Investigations of a more searching character are occasionally undertaken in particular markets, not only in regard to the possibility of increased sales but also into special problems such as the effect of tariff changes and competitive conditions. Information and advice on these subjects are always at the disposal of British firms and others directly interested in our textile industry. My Department maintains close contact both with individual firms and with the representative organisations of the trades in question. I am glad to be able to add that an appreciable number of firms in the textile industry has taken advantage of the facilities provided by the Export Credits Guarantee scheme.

—			British caught			Foreign caught—landed direct from the fishing grounds.
			Demersal.	Pelagic.	Total.	Demersal.	Pelagic.	Total.
			cwts.	cwts.	cwts.	cwts.	cwts	cwts.
Grimsby	…	1926	2,883,236	143,248	3,026,484	425,970	506	426,476
		1927	3,145,041	114,807	3,259,848	304,819	459	305,278
Hull	…	1926	2,351,885	2,583	2,354,468	177,188	—	177,188
		1927	2,602,355	5,775	2,608,130	196,072	—	196,072
Yarmouth	…	1926	29,249	1,482,989	1,512,238	24	—	24
		1927	17,996	1,535,845	1,553,841	3	—	3
Lowestoft	…	1926	288,916	1,088,655	1,377,571	15,272	66	15,338
		1927	285,119	1,097,906	1,383,025	8,763	3	8,766
Fleetwood	…	1926	871,698	28,361	900,059	23,757	33,293	57,050
		1927	1,050,569	54,864	1,105,433	77,233	63,001	140,234
Milford	…	1926	543,035	87,212	630,247	8,897	11,979	20,876
		1927	603,041	118,273	721,314	23,530	26,216	49,746
North Shields	…	1926	295,131	213,038	508,169	—	—	—
		1927	347,404	184,324	531,728	—	150	150

The quantities of foreign-caught fresh sea fish previously landed abroad and subsequently imported to this country were, in the year 1926, as follows:

			Cwts.
Demersal	…	…	626,395
Pelagic	…	…	732,201
Total	…	…	1,358,596

The figures for 1927 are not yet available. I am not in a position to state at what ports these quantities were landed. For Scottish figures, I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been

asked the Minister of Agriculture the quantities of British- and foreign-caught fish, respectively, landed at the port of Grimsby during 1926–27, and similar information for other British ports?

The following table gives the quantities of British- and foreign-caught fish landed in the principal ports of England and Wales in 1926 and 1927. It includes practically all foreign-caught fish landed direct from the fishing grounds at English ports.called to the number of orders for electrical plant which have been and are being placed by municipalities abroad owing to the lower wages, longer hours, and lower taxation obtaining abroad; and whether, in view of the effect on unemployment, any steps will be taken to call the attention of the local authorities to, this aspect of the question?

Loans for plant for electricity undertakings are not subject to my sanction. I may say, however, that circulars have been issued on a number of occasions to local authorities urging the use of British goods and materials wherever reasonably practicable.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider abolishing the nomenclature of the grades of milk, Certified, Grade A, T.T., etc., and substituting Standard, Super-standard, and Special, or other clearly-understood terms in their place?

The alterations suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend would require legislation, and, apart from any question of merits, I could not undertake to introduce legislation on this subject at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health the number, names and salaries of the members of the Board of Control?

The particulars asked for by the right hon. Member are as follow:

1	Chairman (£1,800 per annum):
	Sir F. J. Willis, K.B.E., C.B.
3	Commissioners (unpaid):
	Sir Leolin Forestier-Walker, K.B.E., M.P.
	Sir Marriott Cooke, K.B..E., M.B. Miss R. Darwin.
3	Commissioners (£1,500 per annum):
	Mr. S. J. Fraser Macleod, K.C.
	Lieut.-Colonel B. T. Hodgson, C.M.G.
	Mr. C. H. Bond, C.B.E., D.Sc., M.D., F.R.C.P.
3	Commissioners (on scale £1,200 to £1,500 per annum):
	Mr. A. Rotherham, M.B.
	Hon. H. A. Bailey.
	Mrs. E. F. Pinsent, C.B.E.
1	Commissioner (temporary) (£1,200 per annum):
	Mr. R. Cunyngham Brown, C.B.E., M.D.
11

Civil Service Bonus on the usual scale is payable in addition to the salaries as above stated.

asked the Minister of Health what steps, if any, have been taken to encourage research into the causes and remedial treatment of sleeping sickness of the type now being met with in this country?

"Sleeping sickness" does not occur in this country, but if the hon. Member is referring to encephalitis lethargica, I may say that numerous steps have been taken to encourage and undertake research into this disease, both by my Department and the Medical Research Council, and special arrangements have been made by the Metropolitan Asylums Board with the approval of my Department for the provision of treatment for young persons suffering from the after-effects of encephalitis lethargica with a view to research into appropriate methods of treatment. I shall be happy to send the hon. Member a list of the publications in which these measures are described.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a resolution passed by the Boston Guardians requesting his Department to hold an inquiry into the conditions of the infirmary wards under the control of these guardians; and what action has been taken?

Yes, Sir. I am, however, informing the guardians that their difficulty is one which they should deal with themselves, and that I do not at present see advantage in the holding of any formal inquiry by my officers.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the complaints made by vagrancy committees in different parts of the country that their accommodation and means are inadequate to deal with the increasing number of vagrants, he will introduce legislation for the placing of the vagrancy question under a central authority with powers to deal with it on a national basis?

I have received from one vagrancy committee a resolution suggesting that the accommodation available for the relief of vagrants is inadequate. I am not satisfied that any good case has been made out for legislation establishing a central authority for the relief of vagrants, or for adopting the committee's suggestion that I should abstain from requiring the guardians, where the accommodation is inadequate, to make the necessary extensions or improvements.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received any correspondence from the parochial electors of the parish of Cobham, Surrey, regarding housing, the need for a public inquiry, and the rents charged by the rural district council of Epsom; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I have received a copy of a resolution passed at a meeting of the parochial electors held on the 20th February with regard to these matters. I see no reason for altering the view expressed in the reply given to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Kelly) on the 19th December, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member, and I do not propose to take any action in this matter.

asked the Minister of Health how many of the houses built in Birmingham with a floor area of 620 square feet have no back-boilers for water-heating purposes; how many with a floor area of 820 square feet have back-boilers fitted for the same purpose; and the rent charged for the two types of houses?

I am taking steps to obtain this information, and will inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Minister of Labour the trades and callings of the 1,160,000 persons who have been found employment during the last five years, showing the number for each trade or calling?

I presume the hon. Member is referring to the estimated increase in the number of insured persons in employment between July, 1922, and July, 1927. Owing to changes in classification, I cannot carry an analysis further back than July, 1923, but I will send to the hon. Member a statement showing how the changes since that date are distributed over the principal industries.

asked the Minister of Pensions what was the number of first awards of pension during the financial years 1925–26 and 1926–27; and the total cost of administration, headquarters and local, excluding the cost of medical services,, during the same periods?

The total number of first awards of all kinds made in the two years referred to was 11,380 in 1925–26, and 6,642 in 1926–27. The total cost of administration, central and local, excluding the cost of medical services, was £1,937,331 in the former year, and £1,517,595 in the latter year, a saving in administrative costs of £419,736.

asked the Prime Minister whether any application has been made to the Government by the British Broadcasting Corporation for the purpose of broadcasting the forthcoming Budget speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer; and whether any decision has been arrived at?

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