asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of "P" (probationary) clerks in his Department and the number of such clerks promoted to established posts at the last convenient date?

The number of "P" class (permanent non-pensionable) clerks now employed in the Foreign Office is three, and there are 95 in the Passport Office. There have been no promotions from the "P" class to established posts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of "P" (probationary) clerks in his Department and the number of such clerks promoted to established posts at the last convenient date?

The number of permanent non-pensionable clerks at present in the Departments under my control is 14. The number of such clerks who have been promoted to established posts is two.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, the number of P (probationary) clerks in the Office of Works and the number of such clerks promoted to established posts at the last convenient date?

There is no such class as P (probationary) clerks. The P class are permanent non-pensionable clerks, of whom there are 104 in the Office of Works. No promotions from this grade have been made to established posts.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of P (probationary) clerks in his Department and the number of such clerks promoted to established posts at the last convenient date?

There were 11 "P" Class clerks in my Department on 1st July; four others were recently promoted to established posts.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the number of P (probationary) clerks in his Department and the number of such clerks promoted to established posts at the last convenient date?

There is one permanent non-pensionable (P Class) clerk in the India Office. No such clerks have so far been promoted to established posts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of P (probationary) clerks in his Department and the number of such clerks promoted to established posts at the last convenient date?

There are seven permanent non-pensionable clerks on the Treasury staff at the present time. One permanent non-pensionable clerk has been promoted to an established post.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of P (probationary) clerks in his Department and the number of such clerks promoted to established posts at the last convenient date?

The number of "P" (permanent non-pensionable) class clerks employed by the Air Ministry is 100 at headquarters and 129 at out-stations. Four "P" class clerks have been promoted to the grade of established clerical officer at headquarters, and the question of the establishment of five others at out-stations is under consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of P (probationary) clerks in his Department and the number of such clerks promoted to established posts at the last convenient date?

Presumably the hon. Member refers to permanent unestablished clerks. The number of such clerks employed in the Post Office is 152. Authority has just been given for the promotion to established posts of 10 of these officers, provided that they can obtain the necessary Civil Service certificates.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of P (probationary) clerks in his Department and the number of such clerks promoted to established posts at the last convenient date?

The number of permanent unestablished clerks at present employed in my Department is 33. Five such clerks have been promoted to established clerical posts.

asked the Minister of Transport why the Dagenham canal scheme is not being proceeded with; will he consider the possibility of industrial development by the utilisation of the Dagenham canal reaching from the Thames to Dagenham; and whether he will consider legislation to extend the canal to Romford in order to assist in cheapening transport?

Apart from what is stated by the hon. Member in his question, I have no information in regard to the scheme to which he refers.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will consider whether Instruction 7 in the Second Schedule to the Old Age Pensions Consolidated Regulations, 1922, made by the Lords of the Treasury, can be disclosed to the various old age pensions committees who are called upon to assist in administering the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1924?

The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension. The Regulations referred to are statutory Regulations, and, as such, are published and placed on sale to the public. Moreover, I am informed that in January, 1922, a copy was sent by the Ministry of Health to each Old Age Pension Committee and Sub-Committee with a covering circular in which it was stated that any additional copies which might be required could be obtained on application to the Stationery Office.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, for the purpose of simplification and economy, he will consider the desirability of making arrangements whereby agents appointed under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, may be authorised to perform the same duties under the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, and to act on behalf of any claimant or person entitled to or in receipt of a pension who is, by reason of any mental or other incapacity, unable to act?

The appointment of an agent for an incapacitated claimant or pensioner under the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1924, lies entirely with the local pension committee, except where a committee or quasi-committee of the estate has been appointed. But as an agent is appointed to act for one specified pensioner only, and a pensioner (other than a blind person) cannot receive both a contributory pension under the Act of 1925 and a non-contributory pension under the Acts of 1908 to 1924, it would not appear that the existing arrangements are inadequate.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how the sum of £281,000, the Government's contribution in lieu of rates, is divided among dockyards, naval barracks, armament establishments, store depots, and attached establishments, respectively?

The necessary data for accurate sub-division are not available, but the approximate figures are as follow:

	£
Dockyards	185,000
Naval barracks	22,000
Armament establishments	35,000
Store depots and other attached establishments	39,000

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will inquire into the circumstances attending the refusal of treatment and pension to Mr. A. Spooner, of 72, Great Eastern Road, Stratford, E.15, No. 12/AS/444?

This man's case was considered by the Ministry and, on

Description.	Quantities.	Declared Values.
Vegetables: Raw:	Tons.	?
Potatoes	210,816	2,127,096
Onions	118,568†	1,298,899
Tomatoes	43,765	1,552,322
Other kinds	‡	948,087
Vegetables: Dried*	114	4,593
Vegetables, preserved by canning or bottling, with no sweetening matter:
Tomatoes	12,757	321,294
Other descriptions	2,933	111,198
Peas: not fresh	40,189	929,926
Milk, fresh	2,106	28,202
Milk, cream	2,904	326,904
Milk, condensed, not sweetened:	9,032	499,927
Milk, condensed, sweetened:
Whole	6,068	299,849
Separated or skimmed	39,699	1,396,920
Milk powder, not sweetened	4,320	218,255
Milk powder, sweetened	§	8
Milk preserved, other kinds, not sweetened	1,374	183,874
* Beans, lentils, &c., dried, are not included under this heading.
† Recorded in bushels and converted at the rate of 40 bushels to the ton.
‡ Recorded by value only.
§ 1 cwt. only.

The official classification according to which importers are required to furnish to the Customs Authorities particulars of the goods imported by them does not provide for the separate enumeration of broccoli, table beetroot and the various classes of peas mentioned in the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the tonnage and value of imports into this country from 1st January to 30th June, 1928, or to the most convenient date, of potatoes, onions, tomatoes, broccoli, table beetroot, green peas, packet peas, tinned peas, and other vegetables, also fresh milk, canned milk, and milk powders?

The following table shows the tonnage and declared values of the total imports of the under-mentioned products into Great Britain and Northern Ireland registered during the first five months of 1928. Corresponding figures for the month of June are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will inquire into the refusal of an old age pension, under the contributory scheme, to Mr. Josiah R. Hayes, of 13, Leabon Street, Plaistow, E.13; and will he state the reasons?

The claim of Mr. Hayes for an old age pension was rejected on the ground that it had not been established that he had reached the age of 65. I find that Mr. Hayes has appealed against that decision to the Referees appointed under the Act.

Name of Union.					Amount expended on relief in money and kind administered to persons in their own homes in the under-mentioned Unions during the year ended 31st March, 1927.
					Per pound of Assessable Value.		Per head of Estimated Population.
					s.	d.	s.	d.
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	…	…	…	…	3	10¼	33	5½
Chester-le-Street	…	…	…	…	18	0¼	67	10¼
Auckland	…	…	…	…	13	11¾	50	1¾
West Ham	…	…	…	…	5	8	25	10½
Bedwellty	…	…	…	…	17	3¼	74	6¼
Merthyr Tydfil	…	…	…	…	15	7½	58	2¾
Pontypridd	…	…	…	…	11	3½	43	11

asked the Home Secretary the number of visitors, teachers and lecturers, respectively, who gave voluntary service in His Majesty's local and convict prisons during the 12 months ended on 31st December, 1927?

asked the Minister of Health the amount expended on relief administered to persons in their own homes, during the year ended March, 1927, in the unions of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Chester-le-Street, Bishop's Auckland, West Ham, Bedwellty, Merthyr Tydfil, and Pontypridd, in terms of a rate in the pound and of pence per head of the population?

The following table gives the desired information:

The numbers of visitors, teachers and lecturers who gave voluntary service in prisons during the 12 months ended 31st December, 1927, were:

Visitors	…	…	626
Voluntary teachers	…	…	453
Voluntary lecturers	…	…	1,165