asked the Minister of Health what steps, if any, have been taken to call the attention of panel practitioners to the increase in the claims for sickness and disablement benefits from the funds of approved societies; and what results, if any, have been achieved by way of greater care in the issue of medical certificates?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to a question on this point by my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool (Sir W. de Frece).

asked the Minister of Health whether the results accruing from the appointment of regional dental officers are proving satisfactory; if he will tabulate the results of references to regional dental officers by approved societies; and whether the average claim cost has increased or decreased during the period since they were appointed?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I will inquire how far the particulars asked for in the second and third parts are available, and will communicate further with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction felt and expressed by insured persons who have contributed to the health insurance fund for many years and find themselves at the age of 70 precluded from further participation in the benefits of the fund; and whether he will take steps to enable them to continue to participate, especially in the case of those not eligible for old age pensions.

I am not aware that there is any general dissatisfaction on the part of insured persons on the subject referred to by the hon. Member. An insured person ceases to be entitled to sickness or disablement benefit on attaining the age of 65, at which old age pensions now become payable, but notwithstanding the fact that thereafter he is under no liability to pay any further contributions either for health insurance or pensions, he remains entitled for the rest of his life to all the other benefits under the Health Insurance Scheme, that is to say, to medical benefit, maternity benefit and any additional benefits provided by his approved society in the form of treatment, such as dental, ophthalmic or hospital benefit. I have no power to authorise the continued payment of sickness or disablement benefit after the age of 65.

asked the Minister of Health if, when making the agreement with the Retail Pharmacists Union relating to the National Insurance drug fund, described in the Annual Report of the Ministry of Health, 1927–28, the British Medical Association was consulted; if the approval of that agreement was obtained; and if, in the view of the unanimous condemnation of the agreement as being against public policy recorded by two full sessions 1927 and 1928 of the annual conference of panel committees, he will rescind that agreement.

Before the agreement with the Retail Pharmacists Union was actually concluded, the Insurance Acts Committee of the British Medical Association were made acquainted with its terms by letter, and subsequently a conference took place at the Ministry when various criticisms and suggestions were fully discussed. The approval of the British Medical Association to the agreement as a whole was not invited, and has not therefore been obtained. At the conference of panel committees in 1927 a considerable difference of opinion was manifested although the resolution mentioned in the question was ultimately passed and reaffirmed without discussion in 1928. I am not prepared to rescind the agreement.

asked the Minister of Health whether he contemplates recompensing members of assessment committees for lost time by administrative action, or whether such omission will be rectified in the new Rating Act.

I do not contemplate the introduction of legislation to amend the relevant provisions of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925, with which administrative action must, of course, conform.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the financial burden imposed upon the West Ham county borough in administering the Blind Persons Act, 1920; and whether he is prepared to consider transferring these burdens to the National Exchequer?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on the 12th July last on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health whether and, if so, what steps are being taken towards the formation of regional water committees which will serve the needs of their districts and formulate long-terra programmes?

I have recently issued a booklet on this subject, setting out the reasons why, and the manner in which, regional committees should be formed, and I hope that this will stimulate local authorities to take the necessary action.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements, if any, have been made to secure the co-operation of the voluntary hospitals and the hospitals now under Poor Law administration, as contemplated by the Bill for the reorganisation of local government named in the King's Speech as the principal Measure of this Session; if any estimate has been made of the probable post of the provision at these municipal hospitals of medical and nursing services on the same scale as now obtained at the

		Number of persons in receipt of
Last Saturday in		Institutional relief (including casuals but excluding lunatics in county and borough asylums).		Domiciliary relief (excluding persons in receipt of medical relief only).		Total.
		Parish of Devonport.	Parish of Plymouth.	Parish of Devonport.	Parish of Plymouth.	Parish of Devonport.	Parish of Plymouth.
August, 1928	…	215	676	1,864	2,299	2,079	2,975
September, 1928	…	232	685	2,012	2,451	2,244	3,136
October, 1928	…	245	689	1,939	2,663	2,184	3,352

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses built, at present under construction, or sanctioned under each of the Housing Acts by local authorities and by private enter

The general problem alluded to by the hon. Member in the first part of the question has been actively discussed in many quarters for a very considerable time. Definite local arrangements on the new basis cannot be entered into until the Local Government Bill has become law; and it is impossible in the meantime either to accept the assumptions which appear to underlie the remainder of the question or to base any estimates upon them.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in respect of parish relief in the towns of Devonport and Plymouth, respectively, specifying the various categories during the months of August, September and October, 1928, respectively?

The following statement shows the number of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief on the last Saturday in the months of August, September and October, 1928, in the parishes of Devonport and Plymouth:prise, distinguishing between urban and rural areas, to the latest possible date?

The following statement shows the number of State-assisted houses completed between 1st January, 1919, and 30th September, 1928, the number under construction and

	Houses in Rural Areas.			Houses in Urban Areas.
Name of Housing Act.	Completed.	Under construction.	Authorised but not started.	Completed.	Under construction.	Authorised but not started.
1.	2.	3.	4.	5.	6.	7.
Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1919.
By Local Authorities	34,284	—	—	135,774	—	34
By Private Enterprise	1,631	—	—	2,914	—	—
Housing (Additional Powers) Act, 1919.
By Private Enterprise	15,979	—	—	23,207	—	—
Housing, etc., Act, 1923.
By Local Authorities	7,696	536	1,266	58,555	3,248	2,961
By Private Enterprise	92,472	6,571	15,866	199,084	17,300	34,851
Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924.
By Local Authorities	26,623	2,304	3,102	179,968	26,533	21,565
By Private Enterprise	743	37	1,048	2,648	144	956
Totals	179,428	9,448	21,282	602,150	47,225	60,367

asked the Home Secretary if he will consider the desirability, for the convenience of all concerned, of printing the registers of towns containing 5,000 or more voters in street instead of alphabetical order and in all registers of indicating married women voters by an asterisk?

As to the first point, it rests with the County Council to decide whether the register for any area in their county should be prepared in street instead of alphabetical order, and I have no power to interfere with their discretion. As to the latter part of the question, I am afraid it is not practicable to adopt the suggestion.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Government intend to introduce legislation during the coming Session to give effect to the recommendations of the Commission on London Squares?

I have been asked to reply. I am sorry that, owing to the pressure of other business, it will not be practicable for the Government to introduce legislation on this subject this Session.

asked the Home Secretary what the respective pay and allowances of men and women up to, and including, the ranks of superintendents of the Metropolitan police force are; whether they are supplied with quarters or whether they are supplied with lodging allowances; whether the women police receive full uniform allowance, including boots, or whether they receive a uniform allowance, including boots; and whether, when uniformed women police are employed on detective duty, they draw plain clothes allowance?

The information asked for is given in the following tables:

Pay and Allowances of MeiropaliUui Police (Men).
—	Pay.	Rent aid (maximum) if quarters not provided.†	Allowances.
	(According to length of service.)		In lien of boots.	Detective (C.I.D. only).	Plain clothes (C.I.D. only).‡
	Weekly.	Weekly.	Weekly.	Weekly.	Weekly.
Constables (Uniform and C.I.D.).*	£3 10s. to £4 10s.	15s. 6d.	1s.	5s.	5s.
Sergeants (Uniform and 2nd class (C.I.D.).	£5 to £5 12s. 6d.	18s. 0d.	1s.	7s. 6d.	5s.
Station Sergeants (Uniform and 1st class C.I.D.)	£5 15s. to £6.	18s. 0d.	1s.	7s. 6d.	5s.
Inspectors (Uniform and 2nd class C.I.D.).	£6 5s. to £7 5s.	23s. 0d.	1s.	10s. 0d.	6s. 2d.
Sub-Divisional Inspectors (Uniform and Divisional and 1st class C.I.D.).	£7 10s. to £8 2s.	23s. 0d.	1s.	10s. 0d.	6s. 2d.
Chief Inspectors (Uniform and C.I.D).	£8 9s. to £9 13.	23s. 0d.	1s.	12s 6d.	6s. 2d.
	Annually.	Annually.			Annually.
Superintendents (Uniform and C.I.D.).	£550 to £700.	£90.	—	15s. 0d.	£18
* Additional increments of 2s. 6d. weekly may be granted subject to good conduct and efficiency after 17 and 22 years' service.
† All ranks are supplied with quarters or an allowance in lieu equal to the actual amount paid in rent and rates up to the maximum stated.
‡ Uniform Constables, Sergeants and Inspectors receive similar allowances if employed in plain clothes, while Uniform Superintendents receive an annual allowance of £20 for purchase of uniform.

Pay and Allowances of Metropolitan Police (Women).
					Pay, weekly, according to length of service.
Constables*	…	…	…	…	£3 to £4
Sergeants	…	…	…	…	£4 10s. to £5
Inspectors	…	…	…	…	£5 4s. to £5 16.
* Additional increments of 2s. 6d. weekly may be granted after subject to good conduct and efficiency 17 and 22 years' service.

Women Police are not supplied with quarters or an allowance in lieu; they receive uniform (including boots). Those employed on detective duty receive the same plain clothes allowance as men and Is a week in lieu of boots.