asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the technicalities of the White Paper are responsible for the rejection of the applications of both the hosiery and granite trades; and, in view of the position of both these trades, will he consider amending the White Paper?

The Committees which considered the applications for a

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total amounts of tobacco imported into this country from each of different parts of the Empire for the last three years, and the values of same?

The following table shows the total quantities and declared values of the imports of unmanufactured tobacco into Great Britain and Northern Ireland, registered as consigned from the undermentioned British countries during each of the years 1925 to 1927:

asked the Postmaster-General the number of incoming and outgoing calls that, have been passed between Canada and Great Britain in the Transatlantic telephone service for the three months ended to the last convenient date?

The number of telephone calls between this country and Canada during the three months ended the 19th April were 68 outgoing and 57 incoming; a total of 125.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of insured workpeople in the lace industry who were in employment at July 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926 and 1927, respectively, taking into account the estimated number of workpeople insured in the industry and

asked the Minister of Labour when pamphlets will

The following statement shows the estimated number of insured persons classified as belonging to the lace industry in Great Britain at 1st July of each of the years 1923–1927, and the number of such persons recorded as unemployed at the end of June in each of those years.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons on the live registers for the month of January last for the following areas; Northeastern, North-western, South-eastern, South-western, Midland, Scotland, and Wales?

The following table shows the number of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in January, 1928, in the respective divisions into which Great Britain is divided for the purpose of the administration of the Unemployment Insurance Acts.be circulated putting forward the new conditions under which men employed in insured trades can take up temporary work in agriculture?

A leaflet U.I.L. 30 has been prepared and is available at local offices of the Ministry in agricultural areas. I am sending one to my hon. and gallant Friend for his information.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of boys and girls registered as unemployed in the London area in March and April, 1928?

The following table shows the numbers of boys and girls under 18 years of age on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the London area^* during March and April, 1928.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any steps are taken by his Department to secure employment for the men discharged from the various dockyards, seeing that notification is

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the time limit of

I have to refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right. hon. Friend on the 15th February to a question asked by the hon. Member for Devonport (Mr. Hore-Belisha), of which I am sending him a copy. The closest co-operation is maintained between the Employment Exchanges and the dockyard authorities, and every possible effort is made to find employment for men discharged from the dockyards.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of first-class, second-class and third-class officers there are in the Employment Exchanges in the following areas: North-Eastern, South-Eastern, North-Western, South-Western, Midlands, Scotland, and Wales; the number of staff employed, permanent and temporary, under these officers; and the number of divisional controllers and deputy controllers in each of the areas?

The latest figures available are set out below in tabular form. I ought to add that the numbers given are subject to variation, owing to the coming into operation of the Unemployment Insurance Act of last Session, and also on account of fluctuations in the number and distribution of unemployed persons.The exemption from the provisions of the Markets and Fairs (Weighing of Cattle) Acts, 1887 to 1926, granted to the Brid- port Town Council in respect of the Bridport market; whether the exemption was granted before or after consultation with the organised agricultural community of the district; and whether he can undertake under no conditions further to prolong the present exemption period?

I have been asked to reply. The exemption in question, which was merely a continuation of a previous one granted last year, expires in March, 1929, but can be revoked at any time if necessary. The previous exemption was granted at the wish of the local farming community, and as the reasons which justified the granting of the exemption at that time were even stronger when the further exemption was granted in March last, the local farming community were not again consulted. My right hon. Friend will be happy, however, to reconsider the matter in the light of any proposals for dealing with the position that may be submitted, but he can give no guarantee that the present exemption will under no circumstances be continued.