asked the Minister of Labour how many non-residential training centres are at present in existence in Great Britain; and whether it is proposed to open any further ones in the near future?

Five non-residential training centres are at present in existence at Birmingham, Dudley, Wallsend, Bristol, and Glasgow. The question of opening an additional centre is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of new applications for unemployment books made by boys and girls aged 16 and 17 at the Walworth Road (Borough) Employment Exchange during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

During the year ended 31st October, 1928, the number of new unemployment books issued at the-Borough Employment Exchange to boys and girls 16 and 17 years of age was 4,364.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men, women, and young people, respectively, registered at the Walworth Road (Borough) Employment Exchange at the last convenient date, together with the number registered on the corresponding date for the previous year?

The following table shows the numbers of persons on the live register of the Borough Employment

asked the Minister of Labour if he will cause to be issued a suitable Circular showing the conditions and benefits of the Unemployment Insurance Acts to date?

There is already in existence a leaflet explaining the terms under which unemployment benefit is payable, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mr. T. Harold, of 16, Northampton Street, Canonbury, recently claimed unemployment benefit, including dependant's benefit for his wife, who is stated to be 75 years of age, and that the claim was disallowed by the Holloway, or other, Employment Exchange; and whether he will give instructions for the clam to be reconsidered?

This claim was not disallowed. Mr. Harold did not claim dependant's benefit originally in respect of his wife, because he thought he was debarred from doing so by the fact that she was over 65 years of age. Had he inquired at the Exchange he would have

asked ale Minister of Labour the reason for the delay in authorising unemployment benefit to be paid to those entitled to benefit at the Coventry Exchange?

I am not aware that delay is taking place at Coventry in the payment of unemployment benefit, but if the hon. Member cares to give me particulars of any individual cases I shall be glad to inquire into them.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons, specifying men, women, boys, and girls, on the Devonport Employment Exchange for each of the months in 1924 and 1925, respectively, and the corresponding figures for Plymouth?

The following table shows the numbers of persons on the live registers of the Employment Exchanges at Plymouth and Devonport respectively, on the last Monday of each month in 1924 and 1925.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider the advisability of issuing a White Paper showing the old valuation assessments and the new in respect to all municipal corporations, county councils, urban district councils, and rural district councils in England and Wales?

In most of the assessment areas in England and Wales the new valuation lists under the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925, will not come into force until 1st April, 1929. I am not, therefore, at present in a position to issue such a statement, but I will consider the hon. Member's suggestion further when all the new assessment figures are available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a report from the Corporation of Cheltenham in connection with the Valuation Act, 1925; and, if so, whether he is in the position to show the old and new valuation assessments?

I have received from the Cheltenham Assessment Committee, acting for the assessment area comprising the borough of Cheltenham and other rating areas their reports under the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925, for the years to 1st April, 1927 and 1928. The comparable valuations of all properties in the borough of Cheltenham were—assessable value under the Union Assessment Acts on 1st April, 1927,£345,130, and rateable value under the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925, on 1st April, 1928,£394,046.

asked the Minister of Health if he will cause to be issued a suitable circular showing the conditions and benefits of the Old Age Pensions Acts and the connection with the Health Insurance Act?

A leaflet containing the information to which the hon. Member refers has been on issue at Post Offices since May, 1927.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is his intention to introduce, during the lifetime of the present Parliament, legislation amending Section 46 of the Housing Act, 1925, and providing that adequate compensation shall be paid by local authorities to the owners of habitable houses in insanitary areas acquired by such local authorities under slum-clearance schemes?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given yesterday to a similar question which he addressed to the Prime Minister.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that alarm exists in the Borough of Bristol on account of the circumstance that the local authority there is prohibited by Section 46 of the Housing Act, 1925, from

I am aware that the Corporation of Bristol have a scheme under consideration for the clearance of an unhealthy area, but I would point out that any properties included in the scheme otherwise than on account of their sanitary condition or being dangerous or injurious to health will not be subject to compensation on the basis of site value only as laid down by Section 46 (1) of the Housing Act, 1925, but will come within the terms of compensation laid down in sub-section (3) of that Section. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which the Prime Minister gave to a similar question by the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Sir R. Gower) on the 14th instant.

asked the Minister of Health, for each of the last five years, the grants made to voluntary societies in respect of maternity and child welfare, tuberculosis, venereal diseases, welfare of the blind, and mental deficiency?

The Exchequer grants of all kinds paid to voluntary societies in England and Wales in the years, 1923–24 to 1927–28 in respect of the services named are as follow:

asked the Minister of Health the number of people in the borough of Southwark who are at present receiving out-door relief?

The number of persons in receipt of domiciliary Poor Law relief in the Southwark Union (which is co-extensive with the borough), excluding casuals and persons in receipt of medical relief only, on Saturday, 3rd November, 1928, was 8,628.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in receipt of parish relief in Devon port and Plymouth, specifying the various categories, during each of the months of 1924, 1925, and 1926, respectively?

The following statement shows the number of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief on the last Saturday in each month of the years 1924, 1925 and 1926, in the parishes of Devonport and Plymouth: