asked the Minister of Pensions if he will cause a life pension to be granted to Mr. R. Strand, of 79, Cleaver Street, Blackburn, who was discharged with 100 per cent. pension in June, 1916, was from 10th November, 1918, to January, 1925, either in hospital or undergoing out-patient treatment, and now, after nearly 12 years, is in receipt of a conditional pension assessed at 70 per cent. for 12 months and until further instructions?

The hon. Member may be assured that a final award will be made as soon as I am medically advised that such an award will be compatible with the man's condition. This has not hitherto been found to be the case.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the multiplicity of forms which war pensioners are required to fill up, his Department will devise methods of procedure which will allow as many as possible of them to be dispensed with?

The hon. Member has, I think, been misinformed. A pensioner is not required, for the purpose of drawing his pension, to fill up more than two forms in a year, with one extra form once in five years, and these forms are solely for the purpose of establishing his continued existence and identity as the recipient of a grant from public funds.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware from his own experience that the men who have to fill up these forms are bewildered by them?

No, I aware that any man, if he has a bona fide right to a pension, would be bewildered by them.

Will the right hon. Gentleman allow me to send him some examples?

Certainly, but the hon. Member must not forget that it was at the express desire of the Public Accounts Committee of this House, and in order to secure the public funds, that these very necessary forms were sent out. They are so designed as to offer no difficulty to anybody except the dishonest person.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Mr. W. Henderson enlisted in His Majesty's Navy during the War and was classed A1 on his entry; that he was discharged as suffering from tuberculosis and advised by his doctor to go to Canada for his health, which he did; that he was compelled to return because of the disease and is now in a sanatorium; and that a pension has been refused to him on the grounds of the seven years' limit; and if he will have this case reconsidered?

The hon. Member is mistaken in suggesting that Mr. Henderson was discharged suffering from tuberculosis, and as he has already been informed, the case has been very fully considered on its merits by the Ministry in the light of all the available evidence. I regret, however, that, apart altogether from the date of Mr. Henderson's first application, the circumstances were not found to be such as to justify a grant from public funds.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has in contemplation any changes in the method of paying war pensions; what those changes are and when they will be introduced; what classes of pensioners will be affected; what objects he hopes to achieve by the changes; and whether the ex-service men's associations have been consulted?

An important change in the method of payment of war pensions will come into operation next week. The pensioners affected will be all those whose pensions are paid weekly through the Post Office, namely, those of disabled men, their widows and dependants. The central feature of the new system of payment will be the discontinuance of identity certificates, or ring papers. These documents will be surrendered to the Postmaster for cancellation and withdrawal, and the pensioner will receive instead a book of orders on presentation of which payment will thenceforth be made each week at the appropriate post office. The new system will be essentially the same as that already in use for old age pensions and for widows' contributory pensions. It is estimated that a substantial reduction in administrative costs will be secured by the extension of this system to war pensions, but, while the object in view has been uniformity and economy in administration, I am satisfied that pensioners will find the new arrangements simple and convenient. The ex-service representatives on the standing joint committee, and a representative of St. Dunstan's have been consulted on this aspect of the matter and have expressed their approval of the change. No change is at present contemplated in the arrangements for paying the pensions of officers or nurses or of officers' widows or dependants.

How many men and widows are affected?

All the beneficiaries of the Ministry—who number about 1,250,000—are affected, except officers and nurses, so that the number would be one approaching 1,250,000.

In what way would it be uneconomical to decentralise the issue?

It would be uneconomical to decentralise the issue, because it would mean having 47 offices doing the work which is at present done by one office, because it would mean a serious increase in overhead charges, and, because it would mean a triangular correspondence between a central office, 46 local offices, and 21,000 post-offices. Therefore, from every point of view, including that of the pensioner, the suggestion which has been made from the other side of the House is undesirable.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say how many of the ex-service men's associations have been consulted?

Members of the British Legion are on the standing joint committee and were consulted in this matter, and they are entirely in favour of the change.

Would not the decentralisation of the issue mean the dispersal of the staff at Acton, which would involve great hardship to those concerned?

It would undoubtedly mean hardship to the staff at Acton.

Apart from the publicity which the Minister's present announcement will have, are steps being taken to make known this change?

I am much obliged to the hon. Member for his question, which gives me the opportunity of stating that we are sending full particulars of the change to the Press; and I have also arranged with the British Broadcasting Company for an announcement to be made on Friday and Saturday nights of this week. The new method comes into force next Monday.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Mrs. Devlin, 55, Sandyfaulds Street, Glasgow, had a pension granted to her for the death of her son on active service in 1917 of 15s. 6d. a week, based on the weekly income earned by the late soldier of 26s. a week; that over six years afterwards the pension was reduced from 15s. 6d. to 4s. 10d. a week, as it was thought that the wage was only 16s. 6d.; that the parents on oath deny the last-named estimate; that no proof has so far been given of the lesser wage; that the reason now given has been altered to one of a mistake in calculating the value of the wage; and if he will take steps to have the original pension restored?

The pension originally granted in this case was based upon an unverified statement by the soldier that his weekly earnings were 25s. When the case was reviewed, a certificate, under statutory authority, was obtained from the employers showing that the man's earnings averaged 16s. 7d. a week. For the purpose of assessing pre-War dependence, regard had necessarily to be paid to the average value of the benefit regularly received by the parent from the son's payments over a reasonably long period. There has been no alteration in the grounds upon which the Ministry had to act when reviewing the pension, which has had throughout to be based upon the wages earned by the son and the value of support received by the parent. On the information before me, I should have no justification for increasing the present rate of pre-War dependence pension.

Even assuming that the wage of 26s. a week was incorrect, what justification is there for decreasing this pension from 15s. 6d. to 4s. 10d. a week?

Of course, if a question of need arises, the case can be reconsidered: but, on the point raised by the hon. Member, it is not possible to contend that the late soldier, out of an average earnings of 16s. 7d., would have contributed 15s. 6d. in support of his parents.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that all that the officials of the Ministry have done is to consult the employers six years after the pension was originally fixed, that the parents still think they should receive the original sum, and that the Ministry have no right to cast aspersions on their estimate of the late soldier's earnings?

Inquiries were fully made into this matter, and it was ascertained that the average earnings were 16s. 7d. a week, and the calculation is based on that.

What justification or what evidence is there for assuming that the young man earning that amount did not contribute it to his parents?

Here is a man whose wages are estimated at 16s. 7d.—

No.

and it is obvious that such a man could not contribute 15s. 6d. beyond his own keep for the upkeep of his parents. As a matter of fact, there is no doubt that we are in general in these cases—and rightly so—allowing more than the sons would have been able to contribute.

If this boy had lived for a few more years, would he not have been earning a much bigger wage?

It is the case that there are five surviving brothers, and their contributions to the support of their parents are almost negligible.

The right hon. Gentleman is smart, but is something not due in fairness to this dead soldier, he having stated that his wage was 25s. 7d. a week, and his mother being prepared to state, on oath, that she has never been consulted in the matter? Is it not the case that all that has been done is, six years afterwards, to consult the books of this firm, though it might be any Devlin who earned this sum and not this boy at all?

If the hon. Member can produce any evidence, I shall be very happy to consider it. If it be a question of need, then, on the ground of need, it might be possible to give more, but, on actual wages earned, that is the information which we have, and until we have any evidence to the contrary we cannot alter the pension.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is prepared to consider that, instead of increasing the number of women police, he will recommend the employment of women to act as vigilance officers, not wearing police uniform, as a better means to effect the duties required of them?

:I am considering all practicable methods of working and do not wish to arrive at a final decision without the fullest consideration.

Has the attention of my right hon. Friend been drawn to the evidence given by the Secretary of the National Vigilance Association to the Committee appointed by himself, in which he said that the work of prevention was carried on far better by women who are not in uniform than by uniformed policemen?

Yes, I have had my attention called to that evidence, and it is being considered along with the other facts accordingly.

asked the Home Secretary what is the practice obtaining in the payment of police pensions in London and the provinces so that in a leap year the pensioner shall not lose one day's pension; whether he has made any rule or regulation or issued a Home Office circular covering this point; and, if not, whether he will consider advising a uniform practice of payment of either an extra day's pension once every four years or 365¼ days' pension each year?

Under the Police Pensions Act, 1921, pensions are calculated as fractions of annual pay, and annual pay is defined by the Act for the purpose as 52 times weekly pay in the case of police paid weekly. There is therefore no power to increase a pension in leap year. In the case, however, of those officers who elected in 1921 to retain the scale of ordinary pensions under the Police Act, 1890, it is the practice to allow the leap year fraction, and in 1923 my predecessor recommended county and borough police authorities to take the same course in similar cases in their forces.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are cases of county and borough police forces where that rule is not being observed?

If the hon. Member will send me any cases, I will see into them, but it will depend rather whether the officers elected to come under the Act of 1921.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that local authorities are doing little to avail themselves of the powers conferred upon them during the life of the present Parliament to check the progressive disfigurement of the countryside by advertisements, petrol stations, etc.; and whether he will issue a circular to local authorities about this matter?

I think the hon. Member does the local authorities some injustice. Forty-one out of 63 county councils have made byelaws under the Advertisements Regulation Act, 1925, which is a very satisfactory proportion. I do not consider that any circular is required. As regards the disfigurement of the countryside by petrol stations, I do not know of any powers which have been given either by this or by any previous Parliament for dealing with the matter, but I believe there is a private Bill before the House at the present time.

Will the right hon. Gentleman support that private Bill?

:I must wait and hear what the arguments are.

Is it not a fact that these petrol stations serve a very useful purpose for a very large section of the community?

Yes, but they are more useful than ornamental.

rose—

This is a matter of opinion, and we cannot take up Question Time with hearing opinions.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that, whilst the total sum which can be awarded to a widow and her young children as compensation for the death of the husband and father under the Workmen's Compensation Act is £600, the Courts are awarding injured workmen much larger sums in settlement of claims for partial disablement; and whether he will take steps to amend the Act so as to secure a fairer provision for the widow and young children where the breadwinner is killed?

I am aware that in certain cases of disablement the workman has received a lump sum exceeding the maximum of £600 payable in cases of death, but this does not show that the maximum is unfair or afford any ground for raising it. I cannot hold out any expectation of amending legislation.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the workman involved in the Yorkshire Coal-owners' Industry Company v. Lovett case was seriously prejudiced as a result of the now admitted irregularity of notice as per Section 14 of the Compensation Act, 1923, and that compensation was withheld from 11th November, 1926, until October, 1927; and will he state whether adequate reparation has been made to the workman?

I am informed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who investigated the case, that from 20th November, 1926, up to 26th October, 1927, the workman had his weekly payment reduced from 30s. to 15s., but that this was rectified on the latter date, when the Judge directed that the weekly payment should be made up to 30s. over the whole of that period.

Did the company make any reparation to this man, who was deprived of his compensation for a lengthy period, and who, incidentally, was prejudiced from obtaining employment which otherwise was possible?

Reparation has been paid in full. Beyond that, it is entirely a question between the company and the workman.

Since the withholding of compensation for eight months was due to an irregularity on the part of the indemnity company, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that they ought to have made some more reparation than the legal claim to which he was entitled?

I do not think so. It is merely an instance of anybody who is damnified not being paid at the time he ought to be paid, and there is no compensation in law recoverable for non-payment.

asked the Home Secretary whether paragraph 5 of Statutory Rules and Orders, 1928, No. 84, which requires the provision of adequate means of escape in case of fire from buildings in which stripping or drying cinematograph film is done, is enforced by inspectors of factories; and, if so, whether he will consider the question of making the regulation applicable to all places by deleting the sub-paragraph exempting premises within the administrative county of London?

:The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The exemption referred to in the second part applies only to factories or workshops forming part of a building from all parts of which means of escape can be required under the London Building Acts (Amendment) Act of 1905. The Factory Inspectors will, of course, co-operate with the council by notifying any cases within the council's jurisdiction where they find that the means of escape are inadequate or are not maintained in proper condition.

In view of the fact that the majority of this stripping is done in London, does the right hon. Gentleman consider the Order adequate, in dealing with many parts of the country, and leaving London in this unsatisfactory state?

I think it is all right. I have not found any fire which could have been avoided by the Regulations, or any fire in which the Regulations have not been carried out, but, if the hon. Member has any further information, I shall be very glad to consider it.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Home Office has received any Reports as to the conditions of health of workpeople employed in artificial silk factories; and, if so, will he make known to the House his decision on these Reports?

I have received reports by the medical and other Inspectors of Factories who have been visiting these works. It appears from those reports that the conditions generally are satisfactory but cases of conjunctivitis have occurred at one or two works, and there have also been some cases of dermatitis. Suitable precautions are being taken in each case and the hon. Member may be assured that the conditions will continue to receive the special attention of the medical staff.

Have the reports been received as affecting Messrs. Courtaulds, the Spondon Factory of British Celanese, and the Belfast Factory?

Before I answer on definite cases, the hon. Member must give me notice.

asked the Home Secretary the total number of prosecutions which have taken place on the instruction of the factory inspector in Glasgow and district during the past year; the number in which a conviction was secured; and the number in which appeal was made to a higher Court?

The number of prosecutions taken by the factory inspectors in the Glasgow and Lanarkshire factory districts—in which the City of Glasgow is comprised—was 64; in 55 of these cases a conviction was obtained. In no case was there any appeal.

asked the Home Secretary if he will give the number of proceedings for drunkenness and convictions for drunkenness, male and female, in the Metropolitan police district and the City of London for the calendar years 1918 to 1927, inclusive?

All available figures in this connection are published annually in the Volumes of Licensing Statistics, the latest of which is for the year 1926. As several columns of figures are involved, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the following cases: at Sheffield Police Court on the 20th February, 1928, when a youth, 19 years of age, previously convicted

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the figures show an increase or a decrease in convictions?

Perhaps the hon. Member will look at the reply tomorrow morning.

Has there been any decrease since the right hon. Gentleman came into office?

The figures will show the hon. and gallant Member what he wants to know.

I replied to a question by the hon. Member only yesterday that legislation would be necessary to effect any change in the law regarding firearms. I can only add that I will consider the whole question seriously.

While appreciating what the right hon. Gentleman has done in this matter, does he not think that a suitable, friendly word to the wise in the trade might be of great help in restricting the sale of these weapons to people who are converting them into lethal weapons?

I have no doubt the trade will see the hon. Member's observation, but the difficulty is that, if I give advice to the trade, the hon. Member or his colleagues may call me over the coals for acting beyond my authority.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the trade may sell weapons in London, which may be bought by perfectly innocent persons, who may, on arrival in Liverpool, owing to the good sense of the stipendiary magistrate there, be arrested for possessing firearms?

Yes, I suppose that is the case.

asked the Home Secretary the arrangements of which he has approved whereby police or other authorities utilise the services of road scouts of automobile organisations in substitution for those of local police in directing traffic; whether such arrangements provide for the reimbursement in whole or in part of the cost incurred; and, if so, whether the pay and conditions of service have been reviewed by his Department before sanctioning such arrangements?

Under the arrangement to which the hon. Member refers, the Royal Automobile Club provide uniformed men to direct traffic within specified hours and are paid by the police authority at a fixed rate, I think £150 per annum for each man. Where the arrangement has been approved this payment ranks as police expenditure for purposes of the Exchequer Grant. I do not review the conditions of service of the men who are so employed.

Is the whole of the money which is paid for the maintenance of this service given to the men employed in it; and are the men responsible to the police authorities or to their own organisation?

The arrangement is one between the local authorities and the Royal Automobile Club; as I understand it, a sum of money is paid to the club itself. The men are not under police jurisdiction, but under the jurisdiction of the club. This has only been done in a very few cases as an experiment, and it is at present being very carefully watched.

Is the arrangement made subject to the 50 per cent. Exchequer grant?

Would my right hon. Friend consider using the police for regulating traffic, instead of using them to work police traps?

My hon. and gallant Friend needs so much regulation. If he will give me his personal undertaking to abide by the regulations and the law, I will see if I can avoid them.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have a clean licence over many years?

I congratulate my hon. and gallant Friend.

Why should only the Royal Automobile Club's servants be used, and not the scouts of the Automobile Association?

I understand that the Royal Automobile Club is the only one of the two bodies that have offered to make these arrangements.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that he never exceeds 20 miles per hour?

Yes, I can give that assurance absolutely, as my duties are so heavy that I have long ceased to drive personally.

asked the President of the Board of Education what number of new schools were erected under the sanction of his Department for the years 1925 to 1927, inclusive, and the approximate total cost of them?

The number of new schools and institutions which, according to the information available at the Board, were completed during the three calendar years in question were 75, 98, and 137, and the approximate cost, including that of the sites, was £845,089, £1,780,708, and £2,842,972 in the three years, respectively. In addition, there were completed during this period 51 schools, the cost of which was met by voluntary funds and cannot be stated.

How does this compare with the four previous years?

I must have notice of that question.

Is this in addition to the large extensions that have been carried out in many schools?

I think so, but I should like to have notice of that question.

asked the President of the Board of Education the total number of schools now listed by his Department as unsatisfactory for educational purposes; and the number for which plans have been approved for remodelling or rebuilding?

The number of schools in the category referred to by the hon. Member has now been reduced from 679 (the number listed in 1925) to 544. Plans for dealing with 117 of these have been already approved, and in a number of other cases plans have been received and are under consideration.

Will the noble Lord try to facilitate the modernising of those schools where it is now overdue?

I think that I am giving all the assistance and employing all the pressure in my power.

Does the advancement made during the last three years show a greater progress as compared with the previous three years?

Yes, certainly.

Is the President satisfied with the progress?

We cannot have a general question like that.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of certificated and uncertificated teachers, respectively, employed during 1927?

On the 31st March, 1927, the numbers of certificated and uncertificated teachers employed in public elementary schools in England and Wales were 119,859 and 33,485, respectively.

Does that show an increase or a decrease over the previous year?

An increase.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he has any available information as to the number of trained certificated teachers who were unable to find posts during 1927?

As the answer to this question can be most conveniently given in statistical form, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the attempt to raise the school age due to the fact that there are a large number of surplus teachers?

That question does not arise here.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the fact that the school children at South Woodham, in Essex, have to cross the River Crouch by boat, and have to wait about in all weathers for a boat to take them across to the school at Hockley, he will expedite the building of a school in South Woodham?

I understand that the local authority are already negotiating for the purchase of a site for a new school at South Woodham, and I shall be glad to do anything I can to assist them in the matter. I am sending them a copy of my hon. and gallant Friend's question and my reply.

Would the Noble Lord do his best to expedite the building of this school before next winter?

I am doing everything in my power, but it is for the local authority to do it, and they are moving.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of elementary school children, 14 years of age, who left school during 1926 and 1927, respectively?

Excluding those pupils who proceeded to secondary schools or other institutions for further full-time education, the number of pupils who left public elementary schools maintained by local authorities at 14 years of age and over (including pupils who left at the end of the term preceding the holiday period during which they became 14) during the years 1926 and 1927 were 549,866 and 510,542, respectively. Of these, about 61,000 in 1925–26 and about 64,000 in 1926–27 had remained at school for a period after reaching the normal age of exemption.

asked the President of the Board of Education what, for each educational area, is the percentage of ex-public elementary school pupils in 1925–26 and, if possible, 1926–27 proceeding to secondary schools, central schools, junior technical and trade schools, and other full-time courses in other technical institutes and polytechnics, respectively, to the number of pupils in public elementary schools of the ages of 10 to 11 years?

The particulars asked for will take some little time to put together, but I will send the hon. Member as soon as possible such information as can be given.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the recent conviction of Henry Smith by the Tower Division Petty Sessions for letting his son, aged 15 years, continue in a situation instead of compelling him to go to a special school; and whether he will have the boy's alleged mental deficiency further investigated?

This case has not come before my Department and I am not acquainted with the details. Under the provisions of Section 56 (5) of the Education Act, 1921, the parent can claim to have the boy examined by the local authority with a view to ascertaining if he is still mentally defective, provided that he has not been so examined during the previous six months.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that it is infinitely better both in mind and body for this boy to be mixing with normal people and earning his living than to be mixed up with other sub-normal boys? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware also that this boy was paying his mother 12s. a week out of his wages, and is it not a great hardship that a father with 10 children should be deprived of assistance from this source?

The answer is that I have no information, except such as I have seen in the Press. I think my hon. and learned Friend has got his information from the same source. I do not know whether those facts are correct.

asked the President of the Board of Education, if he will give the latest results of tests of feeding school-children upon full cream liquid milk?

Perhaps I may refer my hon. Friend to the Reports of the Board's Chief Medical Officer for 1923 (pages 119–120), 1924 (pages 132–133), and 1925 (pages 116–118). The last of these gives the results of the investigations conducted by Dr. Corry Mann at the suggestion of the Ministry of Health and the Medical Research Council.

Have there not been later invest igations?

No. I believe an investigation is being carried out now by the Scottish Education Department, but not, so far as I know, by education authorities in England.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that for the quarter ending December, 1927, the infantile mortality rate in the urban district of Houghton-le-Spring reached the figure of 210 per thousand births; that in the month of October it was over 300 per thousand, and for January of the present year it was 210; is he aware that the medical officer of health and the district council are satisfied that such is due to insufficient nourishment for mothers and babies due to their impoverished condition; and what, if any, proposals he has made to remedy this state of affairs?

No, Sir. The official figures supplied by the Registrar-General show that for the quarter ended December, 1927, the infant mortality rate for the urban district of Houghtonle-Spring was 152. There are no official figures for this district for separate months, and I would point out that in a district with such a small population very slight variations in the numbers of births or infantile deaths result in such substantial differences in the monthly infant mortality rate as to render them of little value for purposes of comparison. As regards the last two parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday on this subject to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Sedge-field (Major Ropner).

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the medical officer of health has given the, figures from October until February and that there is little or no diminution, that he says it is the highest death-rate that has ever been recorded in Houghton-le-Spring, and that he is certain it is because of the under-feeding of mothers and children?

I think that is merely a repetition of the question, but I would point out to the hon. Member that in an area with so small a population as this the addition of one death means an addition of 50 per 1,000 in the mortality rate.

Why should there be this one death?

asked the Minister of Health if he will issue a circular to all local authorities pointing out that, in view of the difficulty of diagnosing diphtheria and the desirability of immediate treatment, it is advisable for medical practitioners to notify suspicious cases without waiting for the results of bacteriological examination, even though, as a consequence of this practice, a percentage of cases eventually prove to be non-diphtheritic?

The difficulty in giving effect to the suggestion of my hon. Friend is that the obligation on medical practitioners under the Infectious Disease (Notification) Acts is to notify patients actually suffering from infectious diseases. I could not accordingly issue such a circular as he suggests without an alteration of the law.

asked the Minister of Health whether he now has in contemplation legislative or other means whereby local authorities can levy a partial rate for the purpose of dealing with the growing nuisance of rubbish of all kinds which at present in most country districts remains untended and unburied?

The question raised by my hon. and gallant Friend has been noted for consideration in connection with possible amendment of the Public Health Acts.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this nuisance is very serious indeed, seeing how large a part of the food of the people is contained in tins or in bottles?

I am aware that this is a matter requiring attention, but I think both district councils and parish councils might do something by using their influence to secure the removal of this nuisance.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what powers parish councils have?

The power to use their influence—and that depends on the members.

asked the Minister of Health where the calves are procured which are used in connection with the production of lymph at the Hendon factory; and how are they disposed of after they have been inoculated?

The calves used at the Government Lymph Establishment in connection with the production of vaccine lymph are hired from a contractor. As regards the rest of the question. I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on the 24th November, 1927.

asked the Minister of Health whether, since 16th June, 1927, it has been found possible to bring the statistics of insanity up to date; and whether he can now give the number of married inmates of lunatic asylums who have been certified for more than five years, and of those who have been in asylums for 10 years and upwards?

The Report of the Board of Control issued annually contains comprehensive and up-to-date statistics in great variety. But as I explained to the hon. Member in my reply of the 16th June, 1927, the preparation of the particular return to which he refers would involve an examination of the registers of all the public mental hospitals, and I did not feel justified in calling for this. The statistics referred to in the second part of the question are not, therefore, available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has been informed of a resolution passed on 28th February, at a meeting of 600 representatives of local authorities and voluntary societies in touch with the problem of maternal mortality, at which attention was called to the urgent need for medical inquiry into all deaths due to childbirth, further training and experience in midwifery as a preliminary to general practice in medicine, the appointment of an official committee to advise upon the whole question of the training and employment of midwives, action to induce local authorities to make their maternity services adequate, the readjustment and extension of national health insurance so that medical and midwifery services should be available for mothers both for ante-natal care and during and after confinement; and whether, in view of the fact that 3,000 mothers die in childbirth annually and many are injured, he can see his way to taking immediate action on the lines suggested by the conference?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I had already had these matters under consideration in connection with the recent Report issued by my Department on the "Protection of Motherhood," and I am taking the necessary action to give effect to the recommendations contained in that Report on the first four points mentioned in the question. As regards the health insurance point, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday on this subject to the hon. Member for Anglesey (Sir R. Thomas).

asked the Minister of Health how many distress committees under the Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905, are now functioning?

According to the latest information in my possession, two distress committees are now functioning in the sense that they are active in the provision of work for the unemployed. One other committee incurred a small expenditure for this purpose in 1926–27. Three incurred during the year 1926–27 some expenditure (usually of small amount) in assisting emigration, and one other committee is understood to be commencing work of this nature.

Are those figures confined to England, or do they include Sootland?

I think these figures are for England only.

Can the Minister say in which two districts these distress committees are operating?

Yes, the two functioning are in Bournemouth and Leicester; the one which incurred expenditure is in Norwich; the three which assisted emigration are Smethwick, Wallasey and Birmingham; and the one which is understood to be commencing the work of emigration is Manchester.

Did I understand the Minister to say Bournemouth?

Yes.

Can the Minister say whether the Central Unemployed Body for London is functioning?

It is not on my list.

But is it functioning? I did not ask whether it was on the list.

Will the hon. Member give me notice of that question?

asked the Minister of Health how many approved societies have been compelled to abandon their schemes of additional benefits through lack of funds, temporarily or otherwise, since the results of the last valuation were declared; and the approximate number of insured persons covered by those societies?

No approved society has been compelled through lack of funds to abandon its whole scheme of additional benefits, but about 100 societies (covering a total membership of between three and four million insured persons) which have included dental and ophthalmic benefits in their schemes, have found that the demand for those benefits amongst their members has so far exceeded the expectation that the amounts allocated to the benefits for a particular year have been exhausted before the end of the year, and they have consequently been obliged to defer the authorisation of claims until the beginning of the following year, when further money became available. In nearly every case the authorisation of claims for the benefits has now been resumed.