asked the Secretary of State for War the last contract price for beef for the Army, and the lowest figure al, which Home-killed meat was available on the same date?

The average price of beef for Home Commands under the contracts commencing on 1st July next is about 4.9d. per lb., delivered to units. The average of the market prices, as given in the Agricultural Market Report for four large towns, namely London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester, at the time tenders were returned was 10.3125d. per lb. undelivered for first quality English beef, and 9.375d. per lb. undelivered for second quality. The latter would not be regarded as complying with the requirements of the War Department specification.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of industrial employés engaged at Woolwich Arsenal, Enfield, and Waltham Abbey in May 1926, 1927, and 1928, respectively?

The numbers of industrial employés at the various departments at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, and at Enfield and Waltham were as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether officers of the Army who are called upon to go up in aircraft are first required to sign a statement renouncing all claim to compensation for their relatives in the event of their death by accident while flying?

No, Sir, not when called upon to do so on duty.

asked the Secretary of State for War seeing that the colonel-commandant of the school of equitation is also inspector of cavalry, what time is spent at the school and what time is spent inspecting the 8,339 officers and other ranks in the cavalry on the establishment of the British Army?

There is no definite allotment of this officer's time between his respective duties, but, as inspector of cavalry, he is required to inspect all regular cavalry regiments in Great Britain and on the Rhine twice annually, to visit each yeomanry regiment during its annual training and to attend the collective training of the cavalry during divisional and Army manoeuvres.

asked the Secretary of State for War, seeing that there has been a large reduction in the number of cavalry in the British Army, if he will close the school of equitation and effect a saving of at least £25,000 a year, after allowing for such increases as may be necessary to provide for the training of cavalry and artillery instructors in equitation and skill at arms at the riding establishment, Royal Artillery?

I am unable to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion or to accept his contention that the closing of the school would effect a saving of £25,000 a year after providing for suitable arrangements elsewhere. But the hon. Member will see from the Estimates of recent years that the reduction of the school is constantly under review in the light of reductions in the cavalry and the increase of mechanisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if his attention has been drawn to the case of Servant-Major T. Reddock, carpenter-rigger, Group I, Royal Air Force, Manston, Kent, who re-engaged to complete 21 years' service for pension, which period of service would have terminated on 15th March, 1929; whether he is aware that the man was discharged in November, 1925, with less than 18 years' qualifying service; and if he can state the reason for this discharge prior to the termination of the period for which the man re-engaged, as Mr. Reddock is practically continuing his duties as civilian instructor at the same camp, his remuneration and pension combined being less that he received as a warrant officer, Class 1?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for the Isle of Thanet (Mr. Harmsworth) on 5th March.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has taken, or proposes to take, any steps in the direction of experimenting with powdered coal as a fuel for naval vessels?

I would refer the hon. Member to my replies of 26th April to the hon. Member for Anglesey (Sir R. Thomas) [OFFICIAL REPORT, Columns 1083–4] and of 17th February to the hon. Member for Aberdare (Mr. G. Hall) [OFFICIAL REPORT, Column 1086].

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can see his way in future to give at least 50 per cent. of the construction of ships to Government dockyards?

It is not possible to undertake in advance to allocate an arbitrary proportion of new construction to the dockyards.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what orders have recently been given for the laying down of ships in the shipbuilding programme of the last two years specifying the names of the ships, the year they appear in the Navy Estimates, and the firms or Royal dock-yards to which they have been allocated?

The orders for the shipbuilding programme of 1928 have not yet been placed. The particu- lars of the placing of the orders for the 1926 and 1927 programmes are as follow:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps were taken under Section 31 of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1925, to ascertain the views of the workmen before the Admiralty scheme of compensation was approved; and whether a ballot was taken of the workmen to whom this scheme is applicable in accordance with Section 31 (i) (c) of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1925?

A ballot was not taken in connection with the current Admiralty scheme of compensation which came into force on 1st January, 1924, and expires on 31st December next. The scheme was, however, certified by the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies under Section 3 of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906, as amended by Section 6 of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923, a ballot having been taken in connection with the scheme of 1913. As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the Act of 1925 to which he allude was merely a consolidating Act.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can see his way when discharges are contemplated from Devonport Dockyard to consult with the Minister of Labour with a view to offering alternative work, if necessary, in other towns to the men displaced?

There are standing instructions that the local officers of the Ministry of Labour are to be informed when discharges are being made, and they no doubt take whatever steps are possible to suggest alternative employment to the men discharged.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can see his way to amend the home dockyard regulations in connection with leave to classes who are not allowed leave with sick pay by deleting the restriction on broken periods of service, so that charge-men and others may have leave with pay after three years' total service?

The three years qualifying service may already include two years made up of broken periods of not less than three months. It is not considered desirable to allow broken periods to be counted to a greater extent.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government propose to take any action in regard to the allegations made by Professor Indra, who was recently released from the gaol at Ferozpur, Punjab, against certain of the gaol authorities?

My Noble Friend has no information on the subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the refusal of the authorities of the central gaol at Yeravada, Bombay Presidency, to grant permission to Subhas Chandra Bose to visit certain detenus detained in gaol; and the reason for this prohibition?

I have no information on this point, but obviously the visitors of these persons must be subject to censorship, and presumably the authorities considered that a meeting between these particular persons was undesirable.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the appointment of Sir Philip Hartog to serve on the subsidiary committee to advise the Simon Commission in regard to the educational progress in British India, and in view of Sir Philip's early departure from India, it is the intention of the Government to appoint a temporary successor to him on the Public Service Commission; and, if so, when the Government expects to be in a position to make an announcement regarding this temporary appointment?

Mr. J. R. Cunningham, Director of Public Instruction in Assam, has been appointed to officiate as a member of the Public Service Commission during Sir Philip Hartog's absence.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, in

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that at a meeting of the sub-inspectors of the police in the Madura district, held at Madura on 6th May last, it was decided to accept an invitation, which had been received from the Governor of Madras, to prepare a memorandum for presentation to the Simon Commission concerning their grievances and other matters, including the question of provincial autonomy, the classification of reserved and transferred subjects, and other political matters; and whether, in view of the statements of the then Secretary of State at the time of the discussion of the Government of India Bill as to the desirability of members of the permanent services discussing political reform, he will inform the House if this invitation had the approval of the Secretary of State, or whether he will give instructions that such memoranda shall be confined to their own grievances?

I am not aware that the Governor issued any invitation of the kind.

asked the Minister of Labour how many miners are unemployed and how many working short time in the city and county of Nottingham?

At 21st May the number of insured persons classified as belonging to the coal mining industry recorded as unemployed in the city and county of Nottingham was 9,552, of whom 4,384 were wholly unemployed and 5,168 temporarily stopped from the service of their employers.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that unem- ployed miners of Stoneyburn, West Lothian, have to sign the register at West Calder, 2½ miles distant; and whether he can arrange, in view of the extent of unemployment in the district, to establish a place for this purpose in Stoneyburn?

Inquiries are being made, and a communication will be sent to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in the county of Monmouth at the latest available date, showing the number on the live register at each Employment Exchange in the county?

The following list shows the number of persons on the live registers of Employment Exchanges in the county of Monmouth on 11th June, 1928:

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that there are a large number of colliery surface workers employed on and near the coal tip screens in South Wales, particularly in the anthracite area, who are suffering from chest diseases caused by the coal dust; and will he take steps to ascertain the conditions?

I have been asked to reply, but am not yet in a position to do so. The matter is being investigated, and I shall be grateful for any specific information which the hon. Member can give me.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that a large number of surface workers are suffering from the effects of coal dust from screens and are not scheduled for compensation purposes; and will he take steps to extend the Workmen's Compensation Act to such cases where the affection arises out of and in course of their employment?

I have no information to this effect, but I understand that an inquiry is to be made by the Mines Department, and I will consider the hon. Member's suggestion when the results of this inquiry are available.

asked the Secretary for Mines the quantity of coal raised in South Staffordshire and North Worcestershire during the first four months of the present year; the average number of men employed and the total wages they received; and the figures for the corresponding period in 1924?

During the first four months of 1928 the output of saleable coal in South Staffordshire and Worcester was 579,200 tons, the average number of wage-earners employed was 5,450 and the estimated total wages bill was £192,400. The corresponding figures for 1924 were 627,800, 6,150 and £239,300, respectively.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of fatal accidents and the number killed in the mines of the United Kingdom for the year 1927; the number killed by falls of roof and sides during this period; and the total number seriously inured by all causes during the year 1927?

During the year 1927 there were 1,028 fatal accidents at mines under the Coal Mines Act, resulting in 1,128 deaths, of which 565 deaths were due to falls of roof and sides. During the same period, the total number of persons seriously injured by accidents at these mines was 4,693.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of accidents, fatal and non-fatal, in the mining industry for the years 1925 and 1927?

During the year 1925, there were 1,050 fatal and 177,609 non-fatal accidents at mines under the Coal Mines Act, resulting in 1,136 deaths and disablement for more than three days to 178,060 persons. In 1927, 1,028 fatal accidents caused 1,128 deaths and 172,883 non-fatal accidents caused injuries to 173,449 persons.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of amalgamations which have taken place under the Mining Industry Act, 1926; and whether he is now in a position to state the result of any amalgamations which have been effected?

Since the passing of the Act, twelve amalgamations have been effected, involving 88 collieries employing approximately 81,000 people. Of these, three have been confirmed under the procedure provided in the Act. These figures do not include amalgamations not finally completed, even when the details have been made public. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the increasing prevalence of smallpox among casuals, he will consider the enforcement of a standstill order in respect of all vagrants?

The number of cases of smallpox among casuals has recently shown a tendency to decrease, but, apart from this, I am satisfied that my hon. Friend's proposal, which I have already considered, would not have the effect desired.

asked the Minister of Health whether any steps have yet been taken towards setting up experimental and ophthalmic clinics under the provisions of the National Health Insurance Bill recently passed through this House; and, if so, what has been done in this connection?

The reply is in the negative. I would remind the hon. Member that the Bill has not yet passed through all its stages, and is not to be brought into operation until January next.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received any report regarding the death of John Flanaghan, of Keighley, aged 10, who was vaccinated as a condition of going to a boys' camp by Dr. Villey on 12th May, became very ill on 26th May, was unconscious on 27th May, and died on 29th May from meningitis; whether any inquiry was held into the death of this boy, who was perfectly healthy when vaccinated; and, if so, what was the result?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. So far as I am aware, no inquiry was held into the death of this boy, but my Department have been in communication with the certifying practitioner. I am informed that no postmortem examination was held and that the certified causes of death were: I (a) Acute meningitis; (b) Tonsolitis; II. Vaccination.

asked the Minister of Health the number of existing centres for artificial sunlight treatment in Wales and Monmouthshire, distinguishing those established by local authorities directly, those of voluntary agencies, and school clinic light centres, respectively?

I am informed that two local authorities in Wales and Monmouthshire have established centres for artificial light treatment, and one other local authority is about to do so. Four such centres have been established by the Welsh National Memorial Association and three by other voluntary bodies, one of which is utilised by six local authorities in North Wales. One of the centres established by a local authority is used for the treatment of school children, as well as for children under school age.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated shortage of housing accommodation in Scotland?

The latest estimate of the shortage of housing accommodation in Scotland was compiled as at the end of 1925 principally from the annual reports of medical officers of health for that year. This estimate showed a shortage of 118,327 houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the estimates of rates paid by various properties in Scotland will be available to Members of this House?

I hope that it will be possible to publish information regarding the rates levied by local authorities in Scotland by Wednesday or Thursday of next week.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has recently received a deputation of fish curers and fish salesmen regarding the conditions of the fishing industry in the Firth of Clyde; the nature of the representations made by the deputation; whether he is now in a position to reply; and, if so, what are the terms of his reply?

The Deputy-Chairman of the Fishery Board for Scotland recently received a deputation from the Glasgow and District Herring Merchants' Association. The deputation represented that the capture of large quantities of small herring such as occurred in Loch Striven during last winter was detrimental to the future of the herring fishing in the Firth of Clyde generally, and they suggested that herring fishing, at least by the seine net, should be prohibited in the upper waters of the Firth, including the Kyles of Bute and Loch Striven. The matter is under the consideration of the Fishery Board.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is prepared to consider the time spent in attending day classes at a recognised university for a degree by a school teacher who leaves school for that purpose, as counting as service towards superannuation?

Provision is made in Section 11 of the Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1925, to meet the case of a teacher whose employment in contributory service in the United Kingdom is discontinued for a period not exceeding one year.

asked the President of the Board of Education if the supply of male entrants to the teaching profession is sufficient to satisfy the necessity of having male teachers for classes of boys of five years and over?

I do not think that local authorities would accept the hon. Member's assumption that it is necessary to employ male teachers for classes of very young boys.

asked the Minister of Transport when the Colnbrook by-pass road will be open to traffic; what was the date when this scheme was agreed on; what was the date when work commenced; what was the cost of the scheme; and were the contractors placed under any penalty clause, either for unsatisfactory work or undue delay in completion of the scheme?

The Colnbrook by-pass was opened to traffic on the 17th instant. The scheme was approved by my Department on 3rd September, 1925. Construction began in October, 1925. The approved estimates for the scheme amount to £246,400; the exact cost is not yet ascertained. The usual penalty clauses regarding unsatisfactory work and undue delay were included in all contracts relating to the scheme.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that under the Royal Automobile Club's free legal defence scheme summonses have been defended for dangerous driving 24.3 per cent., speed limit 23.8 per cent., obstruction 16.4 per cent., and defective lighting 14.6 per cent.; and whether, in view of these figures and in order to diminish fatal and other accidents, he will consider the desirability of making legislative provision for the substitution of imprisonment in place of the imposition of fines?

I have no reason to think that the penalties at present provided by law for offences of this character are inadequate. Proceedings involving the penalty of imprisonment can always be taken if criminal negligence on the part of a motorist causes injury or death.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his promised Road Transport Bill provides for the necessity of motor vehicles licensed to carry passengers being fitted with first-aid outfits; and, if not, whether he will consider the desirability of making it compulsory for such outfits to be installed in all such vehicles in the interests of public safety?

The draft Road Traffic Bill which I circulated last year would empower me to prescribe the conditions with which the equipment of motor omnibuses and motor coaches would have to comply, but I doubt whether it would be considered reasonable to make the carrying of first-aid outfits by all public service vehicles compulsory.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, seeing that contracting firms engaged in road making have been able to reduce their costs during the last five years, he has received any representations from contractors that certain work could be done for less price if the terms of the tender could be reopened and improved methods of construction effected; and whether, owing to the length of time intervening between schemes being authorised and work actually being commenced, there have been cases where the work has been carried out at unnecessary cost to the public?

I am not aware that any general representations of the character mentioned have been made, or what cases my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind in the second part of the question.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the total amount of money authorised to date from the Road Fund for the purpose of constructing arterial roads and by-passes; what, is the average cost per mile of these roads; and how does this figure compare with the cost in 1922?

There is no precise definition of an arterial road, and I fear that there is no basis upon which a return could be readily prepared. The Annual Report upon the Administration of the Road Fund gives a general survey of the more important works carried out during the year.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the amount of damage done on the railways to fragile goods by the use of couplings which allow of violent jerks in shunting, any progress is being made toward.4 the more general adoption on goods trains of couplings which obviate this?

The use of screw couplings on railways is being gradually extended in connection with the ruining of fast goods trains, but I am advised that for ordinary purposes loose couplings, which can be more readily and more safely coupled or uncoupled, have certain advantages.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the difficulty travellers between Leyton and Bloomsbury have in getting accommodation on the omnibuses on the No. 38 group of services; and whether he will consider giving sanction for an increase in these services?

Application was made in April last by operators on this route to increase their existing omnibus services on Saturdays. I referred the matter to the London Traffic Advisory Committee, and alter considering their advice I decided that the combined tram and omnibus facilities between these points were fully adequate, and declined to accede to the application.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, having regard to injuries caused by broken glass to persons involved in motor accidents, he will, in the interests of passengers and drivers, recommend proprietors of public motor vehicles to fit some form of safety glass?

I understand that some omnibus undertakings are at present experimenting with the use of unsplinterable glass. The chief obstacle to the more widespread adoption of the material is its cost, which increased production and improved methods of manufacture will no doubt tend to reduce.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is proposed to complete that section of the Barnet By-pass road between Mill Hill and Barnet Gate?

I hope that the entire length of the Barnet By-pass will be available for traffic by the end of this summer.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, seeing that he has, under the Road Transport Lighting Act, 1927, and Draft Road Vehicles Regulations, 1928, granted exemption regulations in respect of certain areas in the Liverpool district for slow-moving horse-drawn vehicles conveying loads of cotton, he will now be prepared to grant such exemption in the matter of modified lighting conditions for jute loads as carried in Dundee?

The exemption regulations for the Liverpool district are re-enactments of similar regulations which automatically expired when the Lights on Vehicles Act, 1907, was repealed. I am advised that there is not the same technical justification for the making of similar regulations in respect of jute-carrying vehicles and jute storage areas.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the addition to the slipperiness of smooth-surfaced roads, both in urban and in rural areas, by oil and grease dropping from motor vehicles,, he will institute inquiries into the best type of undertray to catch such leakages, with a view to standardising it?

Though some old types of vehicle may drop more oil than is desirable, I am advised that with the modern methods of construction of motor vehicles the amount of oil dropped from them is too small to have an appreciable effect on the slipperiness of roads.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that during the rush hours upon the District Railway, owing to the crowded carriages and the last carriage often remaining partly in the tunnel during the stoppage, there is a danger of passengers not knowing when they have reached their destination; and will he consult with the company concerned to inaugurate some system of informing passengers what station the train is stopping at?

I understand that where part of the train cannot pull right into the platform owing to its length being too great for this purpose, illuminated name plates are provided upon the tunnel walls immediately ad- jacent to the station, and that in addition, a guard, from whom information can be obtained, is provided upon the rear car of the train and this is the car which may in part remain in the tunnel.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received an appeal from the Metropolitan Electric Tramways Company against the decision of the Middlesex County Council in refusing permission to the tramway company to increase its fares; and what action he proposes to take?

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

asked the Minister of Transport the result of the inquiry into the application for permission to provide, by means of overhead lines, electricity to Clifton Hampden and the neighbourhood?

As I informed my hon. and gallant Friend last month, the electricity undertakers were notified of the conditions upon which I was prepared to give my consent to the lines referred to.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has taken any action in regard to the petitions he has received from consumers in the Sandbanks, Canford Cliffs, and Parkstone districts of the area covered by the Bournemouth and Poole Electricity Supply Company, Ltd.?

The Electricity Commissioners have communicated with the company, and so soon as the company's reply has been received I will consider what further action should be taken in the matter.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received any complaints relative to the charges for electrical energy made by the Electrical Distribution of North Wales and District, Limited, in the Haslington area of Cheshire whether he is aware that such existing scale of charges inflicts hardship on those unable to pay the subscription terms laid down by the existing Order; and whether he will take action to secure a revision of the present charges and conditions upon the expiration of such existing Order?

I have received one such complaint. The existing scales of maximum charges are prescribed by an Order approved by Parliament in December, 1926, and I have no power to entertain applications for the revision of these charges until December, 1929. The question whether the present maximum charges should then be revised must depend upon the circumstances of the time.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a fire occurred in the morning of 5th June on the farm of Mr. E. Skinner, of Sutton St. James, Wisbech, and that at 1.25 a.m. Mr. Skinner's son endeavoured to call the Holbeach fire brigade from the house of the nearest telephone subscriber who had paid for the right of night calls, namely, Mr. F. Musk, of Sutton St. James, but that at 2.35 a.m. he had to abandon the attempt to get the exchange; that as a result of this failure Mr. Skinner, junior, had to cycle to Holbeach to call the brigade with the result that 1½ hours were lost, during which period the whole of Mr. Skinner's yard was burnt out, including produce, implements, stock, and all the buildings except one: that a similar occurence took place a few months ago in connection with a previous fire the village when unavailing attempts were made to put a call through to the fire brigade from the premises of Mr. R. W. Rose, of Sutton St. James, who also pays for night service, and a delay of over an hour was caused by the failure in this case; if he will state whether the staff at the exchange concerned are paid on a weekly basis, on an hourly basis, or by the number of effective cells handled; whether he is aware that a telegram addressed, at, 8.10 a.m., to the Mr. Skinner referred to in the first part of this question at an address 35 miles away by road from his farm was not delivered until 10.55 a.m., so that when Mr. Skinner arrived at his farm the assessor had partly completed his work and Mr. Skinner was involved in direct financial loss in consequence; and what steps he proposes to take in regard to these matters in view of the public concern in the district?

The reports on this matter show that the party-line night circuit from Sutton St. James to Wisbech was tested at 8 p.m. on the night of the fire and found to be in good order. About 9.40 p.m. a permanent signal was received at Wisbech, the effect of which was to prevent receipt of calling signals from individual Sutton St. James subscribers. The fault may have been due to any one of a number of causes, e.g. branches being blown into contact with the circuit, or a subscriber leaving his receiver off the rest. The fault still existed at 6.30 a.m. on the 5th instant, but no definite cause could be found by the engineers called in to deal with the trouble, which, for no evident reason, abated and has not since recurred. There is no record of a previous similar occurrence. The remuneration of the operator doing the night work at Wisbech is based partly on hours of service and partly on calls dealt with. I am having inquiries made regarding the treatment of the telegram referred to, and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that it has been found necessary, owing to the introduction of machinery into the women's branches of the Savings Bank Department, to work a double shift in the machine sections and to require some of the women staff to attend from 12 to 7 p.m., and in view of the excessive pressure of work which has been imposed on the women staff in the Savings Bank during the last two years owing to the introduction of machinery, he will obtain a sufficiently large number of machines to obviate the attendance of clerks during the summer evenings?

Except on four days in May, no late shifts have been necessary since January, and it is not expected that any more will be necessary until November. The pressure in May and November, which is due to payment of dividends on War Stock, is of short duration, and the provision of additional machines, which would be idle for the greater part of the year, would not be justified.