asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider the advisability of recommending to the Empire Marketing Board the display of Empire products by means of motor caravans touring throughout the country?

A scheme on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend is already being considered by the Empire Marketing Board, but I am not yet in a position to say whether it will be adopted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give separately the weights and values of the imports, exports, and re-exports of baths, stoves, ranges, and cast-iron pipes up to six inches for the first four or five months of this year?

The following table shows the quantities and declared values of the total imports, into, and the exports and re-exports from, Great Britain and Northern Ireland of the undermentioned descriptions of iron and steel manufactures registered during the first five months of the year 1928.

Iron and Steel Manufactures.	Quantities.	Declared Values.
Tubes, Pipes and Fittings:	Tons.	£
Cast. Up to 6 in. in diameter:
Total Imports	16,042	188,449
Exports	25,777	348,815
Re-exports	90	3,447
Staves, Grates and Ranges for domestic cooking and heating: for gas and for coal and for other solid fuel:*
Total Imports	258	13,046
Exports	4,557	208,577
Re-exports	9	726
Baths (porcelain enamelled or other finish):
Total imports	2,938	77,053
Exports	1,149	47,081
Re-exports	1	46
* The figures given correspond with those given on 18th June, in answer to a previous question by the hon. Member. In addition, stoves, grates and ranges consuming liquid fuel were registered as follows: Imports, 966 tons (£138,819); Exports, 63 tons (£9,714); Re-exports, 21 tons (£3,087).

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give the list of charities which have benefited from the Naval Prize Fund; the sums that have been given; and whether any claims are reserved as against these sums?

The following charities have benefited from the Naval Prize Fund, namely:

	£
British Legion (Officers' Association)	27,500
Queen Adelaide Naval Fund	2,000
Sir F. Richards' Memorial Fund	2,000
Royal School for Naval and Marine Officers' Daughters, Twickenham	2,000
Lloyd's Patriotic Fund Royal Naval Benevolent Trust	2,000
(Grand Fleet and Kindred Funds)	100,000
Royal Naval Fund	10,000
Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association	3,000

	£
Incorporated Soldiers' and Sailors' Help Society	3,000
Nazareth House, Southsea	400
Royal Naval and Marine Orphan Home, Portsmouth	4,000
Royal Naval and Marine Orphan Home, Gillingham	1,600
Royal United Service Orphan Home for Girls, Devonport	1,600
St. Theresa's Orphanage, Plymouth	400
The Royal Sailors' Orphan Girls' School and Home, Hampstead	1,000
Alexandra Children's Home, Devonport	200
Seamen's Hospital Society	2,000
Royal Hamadryad Seamen's Hospital Cardiff	200
Royal Merchant Seamen's Orphanage, Bearwood	2,000
Royal Liverpool Seamen's Orphan Institution	2,000
Sailors' Orphan Society of Scotland	500
Hull Seamen's and General Orphanage	500
Port of Hull Society's Sailors' Orphan Homes	1,500
Royal Alfred Aged Merchant Seamen's Institution, Belvedere	1,600
Trinity House Special Bounty Fund	500
Royal Alfred Widows' and Samaritan Funds, London	300
Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society, London	2,200
Tyne Mariners' Benevolent Institution	200
Hull Fishermen and Widows' Orphan Relief Fund	250
Aged Merchant Seamen and Widows' Fund, Liverpool	750
Glasgow Aged Seamen's Relief Fund	300
Glasgow Seamen's Friend Society (Ladies' Auxiliary)	200
The Missions to Seamen, London (for charitable purposes)	2,500
Dominion and Colonial Charities	5,000
British Sailors' Society	2,000
Greenwich Hospital (for benefit of Warrant Officers and Dependants)	5,000
Greenwick Hospital (for Warrant Officers, Royal Naval Reserve and dependants)	3,000
King George's Sanatorium, Bramshott	1,100
Haslar Hospital Wireless Fund	100
Portland Hospital Wireless Fund	100
Plymouth Hospital Wireless Fund	100
King George V. Hospital, Malta	812
	£195,412

No claims are reserved against any of the sums mentioned in these cases. In addition to these amounts, a sum of £100,000 has been transferred to Greenwich Hospital from the balance of unclaimed and forfeited shares, subject to refund if necessary for the payment of shares.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will reconsider the case of ex-seaman P. K. Sherman, No. 17, C. (2), now of No. 8, Field Road, Forest Gate, E.7, who has been invalided from His Majesty's Navy and given a gratuity of only £22 10s.; and whether he will have this case revised?

The whole of the circumstances connected with this case have been carefully investigated, and I find no ground upon which any modification of the invaliding award could be justified.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the date of the last examination for foremen, inspectors and draughtsmen in His Majesty's shipyards; whether this list is still operative; whether the procedure of promoting acting inspectors of shipwrights to be established inspectors of shipwrights is still in force; and, if so, why, in view of the large number of men who have passed and who are still on the waiting list, the Admiralty has announced another examination for foremen, inspectors and draughtsmen in December next?

The date of the last examination for foremen and inspectors was May, 1923, and for draughtsmen, June, 1923. The examination lists are still operative where qualified candidates exist. In some grades, e.g., second class draughtsmen (engineering), however, there are no qualified candidates remaining. Confirmed appointments are being made in those grades where the authorised numbers will permit of vacancies being filled, and this obtains in the case of inspectors of shipwrights. The reasons for holding further examinations are (1) the length of time which has elapsed since the last examinations; (2) the desirability of giving the younger men in the yards an opportunity of competing for advancement. A large number of promotions have been made off the current examination lists, and it is considered to be in the interests of the Service to hold further examinations.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has any information as to the working in Germany of the postal cheque system?

The Committee which recently considered the question of introducing a postal cheque system in this country had before it information as to the working of the system in Germany and other countries and the volume of transactions.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can arrange that in country districts where there is not a daily postal delivery one of the deliveries shall be on the Saturday?

In some localities the postman delivers in different directions on alternate days. I could not give a general undertaking, but I will examine any particular case which the horn. Member may have in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the net capital expenditure (excluding annual payments and receipts) on schemes of land settlement for the year 1927–28?

The net capital expenditure (excluding annual payments and receipts) on schemes of land settlement in Scotland during the year 1927–28 was approximately £103,336.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will consider issuing a Return showing the composition of the various British delegations to the Assembly of the League of Nations since the creation of the League?

I will cause the names to be printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT.I take the opportunity of saying that I was mistaken in including substitute delegates as well as delegates in the answer given to the supplementary ques- tions of the hon. Member for West Leicester (Mr. Pethick-Lawrence) on the 9th instant, and expressing my regret for the mistake.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any further statement to make re- specting the proposals of the Government of the United States of America for the renunciation of war?

No, Sir; not at present.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, seeing that two annas per month per soldier are paid by contractors in connection with the canteen arrangements of the British Army in India, he can now say whether this sum is paid over to the headquarters at Simla; if so, what is the amount of money thus realised per annum; and what are the purposes for which it is employed?

From reports just received, I understand that the sums in question are to be paid over to headquarters, that they are expected to realise about Rs.60,000 a year, and that they are to be used to defray management expenses incurred by Government, who propose to employ a managing director on their behalf. The scheme has not been finally introduced, and my Noble Friend has not yet had an opportunity of examining its details.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider introducing legislation to permit an increase in the number of Civil List pensions which are granted by the State, especially in view of the number of deserving claimants?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 25th July, 1927, in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Hurd), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the Forestry Commissioners reported on 30th November, 1927, upon the points of the new afforestation programme due to commence in April next, he is now in a position to state what the Government policy will be?

No, Sir; the matter is under the consideration of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will agree to reopen the case of Mr. Charles Forrest, of Whitburn, who has recently undergone treatment for a disability due to war service; and whether he is aware that Mr. Forrest is unable to resume his former occupation as a miner?

The final award made in this ease was affirmed on appeal by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal and now constitutes a statutory settlement under the War Pensions Act, 1921. The case has been carefully considered in the light of representations made by the hon. Member, but there are no grounds which would warrant a grant of further compensation.

asked the Minister of Transport, with regard to the inquiry which he ordered into the question of the extension of the western limit to which petrol may be brought up the Thames, why his Department has not yet announced his decision, although the inquiry concluded on 22nd February last and the verbatim reports were promptly issued; and whether, in view of the effect on the oil trade of the lower Thames and the importance of this matter to extensive interests, he will expedite the deliberations of his Department?

I hope to be able to announce my decision on this important matter shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the increasing burden imposed upon voluntary hospitals for the treatment of cases arising from motor accidents; and whether he will intro- duce legislation to make the insurance of all drivers of motor cars compulsory and to make the cost of the treatment of motor-accident cases a first charge upon the insurance payment?

The compulsory insurance of all motor vehicles would involve great difficulties, but even if they could be overcome I do not think that it would be practicable to make the cost of treatment and maintenance in voluntary hospitals a first charge on the insurance monies. In order to bring the matter within the scope of a policy of insurance, it would be necessary, in the first place, that the hospital should have an enforceable claim against the patient, and, in the second, that the patient's injury, if he was a third party, should have been due to negligence on the part of the driver of the vehicle.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has recently received any Reports from the Standing Advisory Committee on Rivers Pollution; and whether further measures for the prevention of the pollution of streams and rivers has been advised?

No reports have yet been received, but I understand that an interim report will be presented at an early date.

asked the Minister of Health the nature of the grants known as the assigned revenue grants, and the amounts granted to local authorities in England and Wales for the last available year?

The grants known as the assigned revenue grants comprise the proceeds of the Local Taxation Licence Duties, the Probate Duty (now Estate Duty) grant, and the Local Taxation Customs and Excise Duties, or the equivalents thereof, which, with certain other moneys, were assigned to local authorities by the Local Government Act, 1888, the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1890, and the Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Act, 1890, as amended by subsequent legislation. In- formation as to these grants is given in the Annual Reports of the Ministry of Health under the head of the "Local Taxation Account." For the amount for the year 1926–27 I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 5th July to a question asked by the hon. Member for Newcastle North (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle).

asked the Minister of Health if he will state for the last available year, the amounts of the grants to local authorities in England and Wales for he training of midwives and health visitors?

These grants are paid to the institutions which provide the training, and in most cases these institutions are under voluntary management. The total amount of the grants paid during the last financial year for the training of midwives was £15,208, of which £1,280 was paid to local authorities, and for the training of health visitors £979, of which £36 was paid to one local authority.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that since the passing of the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, which granted pensions of 10s. a week for certain persons who reached the age of 65 a growing number of employers, including Government Departments, municipal corporations, railway companies, and others have decided to discharge such persons or reduce wages in accordance with the pension paid, and that such persons are debarred from unemployment pay for which they have, in some cases, paid during a long period of years; and whether, in view of the hardship which the policy enforced by employers has imposed on many men and women, he will bring in legislation increasing the pensions to an amount that will secure a decent standard of life?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on these subjects in the course of the Debate en 22nd February last on the Motion of the hon. Member for Welling-borough (Mr. Cove). As at present advised, I have nothing to add to that statement.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a communication from the Operative Plumbers' Approved Society, No. 329A, complaining that the insurance cards of certain members of that society have not been delivered to them duly stamped by their employers although deductions had been duly made from their wages for the purpose; and, if so, what action does he propose taking to prevent workmen being called upon to pay their health insurance contributions twice over through the neglect of their employers?

I have been unable to trace the cases to which the hon. Member refers, but I have asked him to supply me with further information to enable any necessary inquiry to be made.

asked the Home Secretary how many inspections have been made of premises coming under the Factories and Workshops Act in Workington and district during the six months ending 30th June, 1928?

I am sending the hon. Member a table giving the information he asks for, together with certain other particulars.

asked the Home Secretary whether any definite lines of policy were agreed upon as a result of the conference held under his auspices on 2nd July to consider the best means of assisting and protecting girls who come to London from the provinces to work; and will he issue a report on the conference?

Yes, Sir, the conference approved the establishment of a Central Information Bureau to supply information to girls coming to London, and the distribution of information in the provinces as to facilities available in London for the welfare of girls coming up to work. At the request of the conference I am nominating a committee to carry out these proposals, utilising in so doing existing organisations. As the above reply embodies the decisions of the conference, I do not think it is necessary to issue a report.

asked the Minister of Labour, for each county borough and administrative county, the number of insured men unemployed in each month of the years 1922 to 1927, inclusive?

To get out the whole of this information would, I am afraid, involve a very great amount of clerical labour, and in any case, the details are no longer available for a complete year earlier than 1924. I am, however, having a table prepared, which I trust will suffice for the hon. Member's purposes, showing the annual averages, based on quarterly figures, for the years 1924–27, and will circulate this in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as it is completed.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the terms of the Umpire's decision that miners who enter a mine in expectation of work on any given working day or days, and are subsequently told by the mine management that there is no work for them on the said day or days, are not entitled to record the said day or days for the purpose of unemployment benefit; will he make representations to the employers to notify the miners, by pithead notices or other means, that work is not available for them on the said day or days before they enter the mine; and, if this course does not prove effective, will be undertake to have the law rectified in this particular?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Umpire's decision given on 23rd May last, which deals with this matter at some length. As regards the remainder of the question, I have arranged for my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to have a discussion with the hon. Member and other hon. Members later on this afternoon.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men and women registered as unemployed from the artificial silk trade in June, 1928?

Separate figures in respect of the artificial silk industry are not available, but at 25th June, 1938, there were 1,179 insured males and 2,227 insured females classified as belonging to the silk and artificial silk industries recorded as unemployed in Great Britain. Of these numbers, 516 males and 1,380 females were temporarily stopped from the service of their employers.