asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction that is felt among second-class draughtsmen, constructive department, His Majesty's dockyards, regarding the holding of an examination in December next, seeing that there are no vacancies in that department, but redundancies, some of the men who have already qualified on two previous occasions being still unconfirmed; and whether he will postpone the examination?

The question of holding examinations for second-class draughtsmen was very carefully considered early in the current year and has since been equally carefully reviewed. Considerations to which attention is drawn have not been overlooked, and I regret that it would not be in the public interests to postpone any of these examinations. I would add that since the decision to continue with these examinations was re-affirmed, no representations from the draughtsmen concerned have been received through their accredited associations.

asked the First Lord to the Admiralty why 150 naval ratings were entered into Chatham Dockyard for the purpose of painting cruisers, seeing that, if the work is done by naval ratings, it will be the means of throwing a number of painters out of employment?

I know of no foundation for the statement made in the hon. Member's question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of men discharged from each of His

—	Numbers of workpeople discharged on reduction and numbers entered in the several establishments.
	July.		August.		September.		October.
	Discharges.	Entries.	Discharges.	Entries.	Discharges.	Entries.	Discharges.	Entries.
Portsmouth	26	23	10	44	12	96	19	30
Devonport	4	122	11	70	18	115	9	116
Chatham	84	27	101	110	8	151	10	227
Rosyth	12	—	17	—	1	17	5	1
Sheerness	—	66	20	20	50	18	32	9
Pembroke	1	—	12	3	3	—	—	—
Woolwich	1	2	—	—	—	2	—	19
Armament Depot, Crombie.	2	3	—	2	—	2	—	—
Torpedo Factory, Greenock.	—	19	—	35	—	14	31	31
Cordite Factory, Holton Heath.	6	13	—	23	—	14	—	4
	136	275	171	307	92	429	106	437

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that

The following statement gives the information asked for in the first part of the hon. Member's question, together with figures showing the entries of industrial employés in the various establishments during the same period. As regards the second part of the question, while I should prefer, for the reasons given in the reply to a similar question by the hon. Member on 18th July last. (OFFICIAL REPORT, Columns 394–6) to make no prophecies regarding future entries or discharges as the numbers employed from time to time must depend upon the requirements of the work in hand, efforts are continually being made to obtain the greatest possible degree of steadiness in requirements and numbers, and although small fluctuations may be necessary, dependent on the work in hand at any particular time, no heavy discharges are in prospect so far as can be foreseen.men are being refused employment in Government establishments on the ground that they are over 45 years of age; and whether his Department has issued any instructions to this effect?

The regulation in War Department establishments, which is of long standing, provides that as a general rule employés shall not be taken on above the age of 45, but it allows heads of establishments to make exceptions in suitable cases. I am not aware that any special instruction on this subject has been issued recently by the War Office.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is aware that Nixons collieries, Mountain Ash, have closed down and 55 officials and 5,000 workmen have ceased work indefinitely; if he can state the reasons why work has been stopped; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?

I understand that three pits owned by this company at Mountain Ash were closed last week and that a meeting of the company has been called to consider the question of voluntary liquidation. As I have stated previously, I have no power to interfere with the discretion of mine owners as to whether they will continue to work their pits or not.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Board have approved as a central school the Hamlet of Ratcliff Church of England School, Limehouse;

			1923–24.	1924–25.	1925–26.	1926–27.	1927–28.
England	…	…	1,375	1,197	1,059	930	862
Wales	…	…	35	32	30	32	30
Scotland	…	…	610	431	313	274	254
Total	…	…	2,020	1,660	1,402	1,236	1,146

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the price fixed by the Scottish Land Court at Whitsunday, 1927, for the ewe stock on Waternish, Skye; and, seeing that that stock has

I am advised that the arrangements which are being made for adapting the premises of this school for the purposes of a central school will result in greatly improved conditions. This is a case, not of a new building, but of the recognition of existing premises, and no question of different standards for provided and non-provided schools is involved.

asked the President of the. Board of Education the number of women medical students who have entered for university training for each of the last five years in England, Scotland, and Wales, respectively?

I regret that the information in my possession does not enable me to state the number of entries of women medical students. The returns made to the University Grants, Committee show that the total numbers of full-time women medical students attending University Institutions for the past five years have been as follow:—since been valued by an expert stock auctioneer, what was the price of the auctioneer for ewe and lamb?

The value on acclimatisation basis as fixed by the Land Court at Whitsunday, 1927, was equivalent to £5 5s. 4d. per Cheviot ewe and lamb. The value fixed by auctioneer on the basis of sale ring prices at Whitsunday, 1928, was £2 9s. per ewe and lamb.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether there are any holdings on the Waternish settlements still unlet by the Board of Agriculture; and whether he proposes to charge the new smallholders the prices of stock fixed by the Land Court or whether he is now prepared to charge the holders the price as fixed by an expert?

There are 15 holdings still unlet. Tenants have been provisionally selected for entry to eight of these at Whitsunday, 1929, and the prices for sheep stock to be charged to them and to successful applicants for the remaining holdings will be as fixed by live stock salesmen at Whitsunday, 1928, or, alternatively, if the holders so desire, at Whitsunday, 1929.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Board of Agriculture granted to Lord Macdonald's trustees a lease of the sporting rights of Scorrybreck estate, Skye; that complaints have been received regarding the burning of heather and the taking of rabbits by the settlers; if the interests of the Board's sporting tenants and the Board's agricultural tenants are identical with regard to the right to take rabbits; and whether the agricultural tenants are prohibited from taking rabbits and from burning heather?

It was a condition of the sale to the Board of Scorrybreck that they should grant a lease of the sporting rights to Lord Macdonald's curator bonis. Complaint that heather had been burned maliciously was made last year by the sporting tenant, hut the authors of the damage could not be traced. Complaint was also made that holders were trapping rabbits on the common pasture. The holders and the sporting tenant have concurrent right to take rabbits on the holdings with the exception of the common pasture on which the Board are advised the Ground Game Acts give the holders no right to take rabbits. The conditions of Let restrict heather horning by holders to one-tenth yearly of the heather area under the control of the Board and the sporting tenant.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can give any reason for the recent lowering of efficiency of the telephone service?

There has been no general lowering of efficiency. If the hon. Member has experienced difficulty on any particular circuits, I shall be pleased to make inquiries on receipt of particulars.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused to the inhabitants of Barsby, Leicestershire, owing to the fact that there is no post office in the village; whether he has received a petition on this subject; and whether he is now able to provide the required postal facilities?

The question of establishing a post office at Barsby was carefully considered in connection with the hon. Member's representation last May. The petition has also received due consideration, but my right hon. Friend regrets that the circumstances do not justify the establishment of an office.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that the application of the National Federation of Sub-postmasters for the reference to the Industrial Court of the question of the reduction of their remuneration for payment of Army and Navy allowances and pensions has been refused on the ground that the federation can appeal to the Court after the reduction has been made; and whether he will reconsider the matter with a view to the question being referred before the reduction becomes effective?

As stated in reply to similar questions on the 19th instant, my right hon. Friend proposes to refer the matter in dispute to the Industrial Court. Pending the Court's award, no reduction will take place.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of recent attacks by Alsatian dogs upon persons and animals, particularly at Chertsey and Bristol, he will consider placing restrictions upon the ownership of these animals?

My right hon. Friend has no power to take any action of the nature suggested, and on the information before him he sees no reason to think that the ordinary law as to dogs is riot sufficient for the protection of the public.

asked the Home Secretary whether, seeing that gas poisoning is not included under the Workmen's Compensation Act, he will consider the question of having the Act amended so as to include gas poisoning as an industrial disease?

I am not quite certain to what the hon. Member refers. There are various forms of poisoning by fumes or gas, which are already scheduled. If, however, the hon. Member is referring to poisoning from gases such as carbon monoxide which take effect very rapidly, the circumstances would, so far as I am aware, always be such as to constitute an injury by accident for which compensation can be claimed under the ordinary provisions of the Act.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, under the Employers and Workmen Act, 1875, Magistrates have powers of summary jurisdiction in cases of complaints against illegal withholding of wages up to £10; and whether, seeing that the statute has been so interpreted that only certain classes of manual workers can now apply to a Magistrate, while many other poor persons are compelled to go to the County Courts, pay a plaint fee of 3s. and wait a month for a hearing, he will consider the introduction of amending legislation?

No previous representations on this subject appear to have been received at the Home Office, and I have no evidence before me to show' that a change in the law is required. The hon. Member will not overlook the fact that the provision to which he refers is a general provision dealing with disputes between employers and workers and is equally applicable to claims by employers against their workers for breach of contract as to claims by the workers against their employers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of prosecutions that have been instituted by the Inland Revenue authorities against persons for carrying on the business of bookmakers without having in force the proper certificate, for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The total number of prosecutions instituted by the Customs and Excise Department in the year ended 31st October, 1928, for evasion of the duty on bets or failure to take out a bookmaker's certificate was 1,700. Separate figures for each kind of offence are not readily available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether a married man in receipt of an old age pension under the Widows' Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act is allowed a personal allowance of 199 or £225 when assessed for Income Tax?

Such a person would be given a personal allowance of £225, and his pension would be included in computing his income.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the new silver coinage contains as much silver as the old and whether the weight of the old and new silver coinage is the same?

There has been no change in the fineness of silver coins since the Coinage Act, 1920. All silver coins struck after that date contain 50 per cent, of silver. The weight of the silver coinage has not been altered since 1816.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can hold out any hope of an early settlement of the claims of British subjects against the Government of Turkey for War damage by the Commission appointed in 1923; whether interest on the sums found to be due will be allowed; what proportion of the sums set aside to provide compensation will have been spent on the expenses of the Commission in Paris and the staffs of the Commission at Constantinople and Smyrna; whether he is aware that some of the claimants are dead and many are in poverty and without funds to reorganise their business; and what representations have been made by His Majesty's Government with regard to the delay in the settlement of these claims?

It is hoped that the assessment of claims in respect of damage suffered in Turkey will be completed by the Inter-Allied Commission within the next few months. His Majesty's Government are aware that considerable delay has occurred in assessing the claims and of the hard, hip caused thereby. But it must be remembered that the Commission had some 15,000 claims to assess, some of a very complex nature and many relating to damage in remote districts. The British Delegate on the Inter-Allied Commission is constantly endeavouring to expedite the work, and His Majesty's Government are in close touch with him on the matter. The expenses of the Commission including those incurred in Paris, Constantinople and Smyrna have amounted up to the present day to 1155,705 in all. But it has not been necessary to draw upon the funds set aside to provide compensation in order to meet these expenses, since they have been covered more than four times by the amounts earned by the Commission through the investment of its funds pending their distribution.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what sum has been spent by the Empire Marketing Board during the current financial year on Press advertising; and what sum has been allocated to the same method of publicity for the remainder of the period?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The total expenditure on Press advertising during the current financial year so far brought to account in the books of the Empire Marketing Fund is £52,961 3s. 1Od. A total amount not exceeding £125,000 was set aside for this work during the current year, but whether this sum will be required it is not yet possible to say.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what advertising agencies have been employed by the Empire Marketing Board to place advertisements in the Press during the current financial year; and in what manner and by whom is the selection made of the agencies to be employed?

The agencies employed to place the advertisements of the Empire Marketing Board during the current financial year are:

• The London Press Exchange,
• The Service Advertising Company,
• Messrs. Vernon and Sons,
• Messrs. Barker and Sons.

These agencies were employed upon recommendations made by the Board's Publicity Committee after full consideration of the Board's special requirements. My right hon. Friend gave a list of members of the Publicity Committee in reply to a question which my hon. Friend addressed to him on 3rd July last which is still substantially correct.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs when the decision of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council with regard to the pensions of retired Irish civil servants will be carried into financial effect?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave on Monday last to the hon. and gallant Member for Chelmsford (Colonel Howard-Bury).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies concerning raids by Abyssinian subjects into Kenya Colony, how the compensation of £21,578, of which five-sevenths has already been paid by the Government of Abyssinia, is to be applied; and if he can furnish particulars?

My right hon. Friend has been in correspondence with the Governor of Kenya in this matter, and is awaiting his detailed proposals for the disposal of the sum received.

ENGAGEMENT of SEAMEN at MERCANTILE MARINE OFFICES in the United Kingdom during each quarter of the years 1927 and 1928.
Quarter ended.	British other than Asiatics and Africans.		Foreigners other than Asiatics and Africans.		Asiatics and Africans, British and foreign.		Total.
	Number.	Per cent.	Number.	Per cent.	Number.	Per cent.	Number.
31st March, 1927	116,536	93·9	3,421	2·8	4,093	3·3	124,050
30th June, 1927	145,122	95·0	3,725	2·4	3,934	2·6	152,781
80th Sept, 1927	150,151	94·7	3,926	2·5	4,443	2·8	158,520
31st December, 1927	127,142	94·8	3,007	2·2	3,988	3·0	134,137
31st March, 1928	118,773	94·1	3,337	2·6	4,046	3·3	126,156
30th June, 1928	145,961	95·2	3,321	2·2	3,971	2·6	153,253
30th Sept, 1928	157,137	95·0	4,342	2·6	3,872	2·4	165,351

NOTE.—The above figures relate to engagements, and not to individual seamen. If a seaman were engaged twice during the quarter he would be counted twice in the total. The proportion of British subjects among the Asiatics and Africans cannot be stated exactly, but it is probably considerable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any information showing whether an inquiry has yet been held into the circumstances of the death of Edward Crewe, of 313, Borough Road, Middlesbrough, who mysteriously disappeared from the

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number and percentage of foreigners serving in the British mercantile marine at the latest available date?

The Annual Statement of Navigation and Shipping for 1927 contains particulars of the numbers of the persons serving on all vessels over NO tons gross, registered at ports in the United Kingdom, which were engaged in sea-trading at some time during the year 1927. The crews numbered 234,036 persons, of whom 19,042 were foreigners other than lascars and 55,113 were lascars. These figures include crews engaged abroad as well as in this country. So far as the record of crews engaged at ports in this country indicate, the proportion of foreigners shown by these figures, namely 8.1 per cent., has not changed in any important degree up to the present time. The following statement gives particulars of such engagements."Lord Guilford," at Dunkirk, and whose body was found floating in the dock 10 days later; and, if such inquiry has been held, whether he will state the findings?

Edward Crewe disappeared from the steamship "Lord Guilford" at Dundalk on 27th October last, and the master reported that he was missing to the British Vice-Consul and to the French police authorities on the following day. His body was found in the dock at Dunkirk on 8th November. An inquiry was held by the French police authorities, and it was found that death was caused by accidental drowning.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of lifeboat stations using non-self-righting boats of the Liverpool type; the amount allocated yearly by the Government to the Royal Lifeboat Institution; whether the Government is represented on the governing body of the institution; and if he will state whether, in view of the recent disaster at Rye, he intends taking any action to have this type of boat abolished?

I am informed by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution that 23 lifeboats of the Liverpool type are on service on the coasts of the British Isles. No financial contribution is made to the Institution by the Government. The Government do not nominate any representative on the governing body of the Institution, but the Hydrographer of the Navy and the Admiral Commanding Reserves are ex-officio members of the governing body. The Board of Trade have ordered an Inquiry into the circumstances attending the casualty to the Rye lifeboat, and the Inquiry will cover the question whether the casualty was due to the particular type of lifeboat employed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the purchases of British goods per head of the population in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, and other parts of the Empire, and in the United States of America, France, Italy, Germany, and Russia, in 1927?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the President of the Board of Trade to the hon. Member for Wimbledon (Sir J. Power) on 20th March, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the present position of wheat reserves; the amount of wheat now on passage; and the size of the cargoes in which it is coming over?

According to the "Corn Trade News," the port stocks of wheat, including flour in terms of wheat, at 1st November were about 740,000 quarters. In addition, the inland stocks are, of course, heavy at this season of the year. It is reported in the issue of the same paper for 13th November that the quantities of wheat and flour on passage to the United Kingdom were estimated at 1,677,000 quarters, and in addition 993,000 quarters were on passage "for orders." As regards the last part of the question, the sizes of the cargoes vary considerably, and for details I would refer the hon. Member to the issue of the "Corn Trade News" for 14th November.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of meetings held by the Standing Committee appointed under the Merchandise Marks Act; and if he will give particulars as to the number of applications which have been referred to them by his Department with reference to the marking of foreign articles?

The Standing Committee have held 79 meetings for the hearing of evidence. The number of the applications which have been referred to them is 54.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of production of steel in Great Britain for the years 1925, 1926, and 1927, respectively, and the number of tons of pig iron produced for the same periods?

The quantities of steel ingots and castings and of pig iron produced in Great Britain in 1925, 1926, and 1927, as shown in the publications of the National Federation of Iron arid Steel Manufacturers, were:

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if his attention has been called to the fact that it is useless to transfer people from other areas to Dewsbury when there are so many unemployed trained textile operatives, and both men and women specially trained for the rag trade, in this district; and whether the Ministry has had any correspondence with the Dewsbury Exchange with a view to the possible transference of unemployed workers to the Dewsbury area;(2) if his attention has been drawn to a recent report of the secretary of the Dewsbury Employment Exchange to his local committee in which he reported that, although he had visited many employers, he had not been able to receive a single order in response to the Prime Minister's appeal; and what information he has as to the number of persons who have been given employment as a result of the Prime Minister's letter?

I am aware of the unemployment position at Dewsbury and agree that until it improves there will be little scope for transfer to this area. The number of persons transferred from distressed areas through Employment Exchange machinery since the end of August now exceeds 6,000, and there have, in addition, been many persons who have found work through their own efforts.

asked the Minister of Labour the total sum paid to the Unemployment Insurance Fund by the employes, the employers, And the State, respectively, for the first six months of 1918?

The total sums paid to the Unemployment Insurance Fund by the employés, the em- ployers, and the Exchequer, respectively, for the first six months of 1918, were approximately as follow:

				£
Employés	…	…	…	780,000
Employers	…	…	…	780,000
Exchequer	…	…	…	490,000

asked the Minister of Labour the latest figures indicating unemployed persons in the various occupations in the building industry?

The following statement gives the information for which the lion. Member asks:Numbers of insured persons in Great Britain classified as belonging to the building industry recorded as unemployed at 22nd October, 1928:

Occupation.		Number Unemployed.
Carpenters	…	8,963
Bricklayers	…	5,809
Masons	…	1,944
Slaters	…	588
Plasterers	…	2,355
Painters	…	17,984
Plumbers	…	2,563
Labourers	…	35,897
All other occupations	…	27,047
Total	…	103,150

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons who have drawn unemployment benefit during the last 12 months; the total amount of unemployment benefit paid during the last 12 months; and what has been the cost to the State?

Particulars of the number of persons who have drawn unemployment benefit during the last 12 months ended October, 1928, are not available. The total amount paid in unemployment benefit was about £42,400,000, and the amount contributed by the Exchequer to the Unemployment Fund during the same period was about £11,700,000.

asked the Minister of Transport the proportions of the total amount of coal exported from this country which is carried over the public railways and those owned by the colliery companies?

I have been asked to reply. It is estimated that of the coal, coke and patent fuel carried by railways for shipment abroad from this country, about 7¾ per cent. is carried exclusive over private railways and the remaining 92¼ per cent. over public railways. A small proportion of the latter is carried partly over private railways as well.

asked the Minister of Transport the proportions of the total amount of coal exported from Durham and Northumberland which is carried over the public railways and those carried by the colliery companies, respectively?

I have been asked to reply. It is estimated that about 22 per cent. of the coal, coke and patent fuel shipped abroad from Northumberland and Durham is carried exclusively over private railways and the remaining 78 per cent. over public railways entirely or partly over public and partly over private railways.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he will give the total figures of Glamorganshire and Carmarthenshire, respectively, showing the actual population and the weighted population, with the amount of grants to cover loss due to derating in each county;(2) whether he is in a position to show the financial effect of the Government's proposals in regard to derating and reform of local government on rural districts, urban districts, and county boroughs, respectively, in the county of Glamorgan;(3) whether he is in a position to give the figures for each local authority, rural and urban, in the county of Carmarthen, showing the financial effect of the Government's proposals for reform of local government?

A White Paper will shortly be issued giving estimated illustrative figures for 1926–27 for a number of counties in which Glamorganshire and Carmarthenshire will be included.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will supply figures showing the financial effect of urban districts in Glamorgan of the derating proposals at the initiation of the scheme and when the whole of the national pool is distributed under the formula?

Estimated figures for the county of Glamorgan based on the year 1926–27 will shortly be published. It would not be possible to give estimated figures for the year 1945, when the whole of the General Exchequer Contribution will be distributed under the formula. If, however, the whole of the money available were so distributed at the outset, it is estimated that the position of the ratepayers of Glamorgan would be about the same as on the distribution for the first quinquennium.

asked the Minister of Health, with regard to the memorandum, which he has sent to the West Ham Poor Law Commissioners extending the period of the repayment of their loans after 1930, what amount per annum they are expected to pay, including principal and interest; whether, in the event of the Local Government Act not being passed during the present Session, the principles contained in the memorandum will be carried out; and whether he will have the memorandum printed and put in the Vote Office?

Under the terms which have been arranged for the repayment of the loans raised by the West Ham guardians, a payment of £151,000 in respect of interest and principal is due to be paid each half-year until 31st March, 1936, and a final payment of £147,989 is due on 20th July, 1936. If the proposals in the Local Government Bill for the mitigation of the liability in respect of loans raised by Poor Law authorities which apply to West Ham are not adopted the terms referred to, which, of course, are much less favourable to West Ham, will be carried out. The terms of repayment are embodied in the ordinary way in a deed of mortgage but I do not think any useful purpose would be served by circulating a copy of the deed.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give figures showing the financial effect on urban and rural districts in Carnarvonshire of the de-rating proposals at the initiation of the scheme and when the whole of the national pool is distributed under the formula?

The estimated effects of the scheme as a whole in the several rating areas of Carnarvonshire are shown in pages 56 and 57 of Cmd. 3134. It would not be possible to give an estimate of the position in the county when the whole of the General Exchequer contribution is distributed under the formula in 15 years' time. If, however, the whole of the money available were distributed under the formula at the outset, the gain to the county as a whole would be greater than that shown for the first quinquennium.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses reconditioned under the Rural Housing Act to the latest available date?

The number of dwellings which had been reconditioned up to 30th September last in connection with schemes under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, was 343. Work was in progress at that date on a further 518 dwellings.

asked the Minister of Health the average rents of non-parlour and parlour houses of two, three, and four rooms provided under the 1919, 1923, 1924, and 1926 Acts in the chief towns of the country with populations of over 160,000?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Chislehurst (Mr. Smithers) on 11th November, 1926, of which I will send the hon. Member a copy. I have no later information as to the general position.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of houses, whether subsidised or not, built in each year since the Armistice to the latest available date, in England and Wales?

The following statement gives the information desired by the hon. Member.

Year ended 30th September.			Number of houses built.
			Under subsidy schemes.	Without subsidy.	Total.
1919	…	…	—	30,000	210,237
1920	…	…	6,127
1921	…	…	67,945
1922	…	…	106,165
1923	…	…	25,989	52,749	78,738
1924	…	…	36,459	73,032	109,491
1925	…	…	92,291	66,735	159,026
1926	…	…	131,895	65,689	197,584
1927	…	…	212,916	60,313	273,229
1928	…	…	101,791	64,624	166,415

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received from the Melton Mowbray Board of Guardians a request urging him at once to make drastic reductions in the comforts of vagrants; and, if so, what action he has taken in the matter?

Yes, Sir, I am informing the guardians that I do not contemplate any revision of the Regulations in force in the direction suggested by 'their resolution.

asked the Minister of Health what are the new schemes of detention and dietary now in force in the Epping Casual Ward; and what were the schemes which they superseded?

Casuals are now detained in accordance with the Regulations except on three days of the week on which casuals are discharged at 11 o'clock on the day after admission. Until recently, casuals were not detained beyond the night of admission has been no change in dietary beyond the substitution of gruel for tea.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, acting on the advice of the master, the Horncastle Board of Guardians have reduced the number of blankets issued to casuals from three to two as a deterrent to casuals applying for admission there; and whether he will take steps to prevent such action in the interest of the men and of other guardians who treat their casuals humanely?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. On seeing a newspaper report to the effect suggested, I at once communicated with the guardians and was informed that, instead of the number of blankets for each casual being reduced, an additional supply of blankets had been ordered.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the complaint that the St. Columb Board of Guardians in September forwarded a resolution they had passed in favour of giving a meat meal to casuals to the Ministry of Health and that six weeks after, in spite of a reminder, they had still received no reply; and whether he will take steps to secure prompt attention to such communications in future?

Yes, Sir. I was aware that a reply to this letter was delayed longer than would have been the case in the ordinary course on account of the necessity for very careful consideration of the issues arising on the letter. Every effort is made to secure that there shall be no avoidable delay in dealing with correspondence in the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the guardians of Bedwellty refuse permission to friends and relatives to visit inmates of the workhouse; and whether he will take the necessary steps to have this prohibition withdrawn?

My attention has not previously been called to any com- plaint of this kind, but I will make inquiries and communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health if he will ask selected local authorities in depressed areas for a return of up-to-date and comparative statistics relating to infantile mortality rates in order to see whether those rates are adversely affected by the continued depression in those areas; and, if so, will he then publish the figures giving the general infantile mortality rates in the same statement?

Such figures relating to infant mortality rates during the present year in the depressed areas as I have seen appear to indicate some improvement over the preceding years, but I am advised that any statistics applying only to a portion of the year must be taken as provisional only, and would not necessarily reflect the true average infant mortality for the year as a whole. I do not, therefore, consider that any useful purpose would be served by the publication of figures until statistics are available for the whole year. The statistics for previous years in these areas and for the country as a whole have already been published by the Registrar-General.

asked the Minister of Health how many deaths of children under 15 have taken place in this country during the past 10 years from small-pox and chicken pox, respectively?

The numbers of children under 15 in England arid Wales during the past 10 years classified to small-pox and chicken pox in the Registrar-General's Annual Reports and Statistical Reviews were 70 and 563, respectively.

asked the Minister of Health the number of men and women officers, respectively, of execu- tive grading employed in the headquarters offices of the Ministry, showing the numbers in the executive, higher executive and super-executive grades?

The number of men and women officers, respectively, of executive grading, employed in the headquarters offices of my Department is as follows:

		Men.	Women.
Junior Executive	…	123	15
Higher Executive	…	87	10
Super Executive	…	41	2

asked the Minister of Labour the number of hours of unpayable overtime worked by temporary typists at the divisional office of the Ministry at Bristol for the four weeks ended 19th October last?

The staff in question receive remuuneration which covers any necessary extra attendance. The extra attendance (beyond 44 hours) in the period under review amounted to 94 hours—spread over a staff of 13.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the Prime Minister's letter to employers, it is proposed to persist in the intention to reduce the Civil Service during the next five years; and, if so, whether any steps are contemplated for the purpose of obtaining alternative employment for the civil servants who are dismissed as the result of the policy of reduction?

His Majesty's Government have no intention of suspending the scheme now in operation for the reduction, in the interests of public economy, of the staffs of Civil Departments by approximately 11,000 over the period of five years from 1st April, 1927. There is nothing in the terms of the Prime Minister's letter to employers inconsistent with the carrying out of this programme. It is anticipated that the reduction will be affected, to a considerable extent, by the restriction of new entrants and the suppression of posts as they fall vacant. In so far, however, as it may be found necessary to dispense with the services of temporary staffs, when the work on which they are engaged comes to an end, every effort will be made, through the medium of existing special machinery, to provide them with alternative further employment.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of men and women officers, respectively, of executive grading employed in the headquarters offices of the Ministry, showing the numbers in the executive, higher executive and super-executive grades?

The figures required are as follows:

	Men.	Women.
Executive Officers	88	3
Higher Executive Officers	76	3*
Officers above Higher Executive	51	—*
* In addition there are 6 women staff officers on scales equal to or higher than those of Higher Executive Officers.