asked the Minister of Health if he will explain his reasons for repealing Section 107 (6) (except so far as it relates to Scotland) of the National Health Insurance Act, 1924, in page 154 of the Local Government Bill?

The repeal of the enactment to which the hon. Member refers is consequential on the winding up of the Local Taxation Account for which provision is made in Clause 68 (3) of the Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of new houses built in Scotland under the various Housing Acts since 1021 up to the latest date for which returns are available?

The following Return shows the number of houses completed under the various Housing Acts during the years 1921–1928 inclusive.

asked the Minister of Health whether in consequence of the increased assessments in the Borough of West Ham, which will take effect from 1st April, 1929, the product of a penny rate will be greater; whether the Government grant for elementary education will be reduced; and whether it is intended to revise the Board of Education formula?

I have been asked to reply. If the assessments are increased, the produce of a penny rate will be greater and the grant payable in respect of elementary education will be propor- tionately less. Although I do not propose to alter the formula so far as it relates to the produce of a sevenpenny rate in the year 1929–30, I do propose to alter the regulations in order to provide that, approximately, the same amount of money as at present will be distributed in necessitous area grant for the coming financial year.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the amount of new construction in the year 1912–13, in the year 1924–25, and in the year 1927–28, and the tonnage built, in each of the respective years in private yards, and the tonnage in national yards, of all vessels built for Admiralty service?

The figures required are as follow:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will set out what has been the cost of each of the four cruisers and two submarines, respectively, allocated to the Royal Dockyards for the period March, 1025, to March, 1928; the cost of each of the four cruisers, 10 submarines, nine destroyers, a repair ship, a depot ship, two minesweepers, and four gunboats, respectively, built by private firms during the same period; and whether he will set out the heads under which the expenditure is divided in respect of labour, materials, etc.?

With the exception of the four gunboats of the 1925 programme, the ships mentioned have not yet been completed, and their actual cost cannot, therefore, be stated. Their estimated cost, in so far as the information is complete and available for publication, is set out under the respective heads in the Programme of Shipbuilding appended to the current Navy Estimates.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can see his way to grant an increased messing allowance to the Navy on account of the high mess bills paid monthly by the men in those ships where the standard ration and messing allowance system is in force, and on account of the inability of accountant officers to provide a menu satisfactory to the ship's company where the general mess system is in force, whilst he has to work according to the present money allowance?

The answer is in the negative. The present messing allowance combined with the Service standard ration, is considered sufficient to provide a reasonable standard of dietary; and experience under the general mess system goes to show that the menus are satisfactory.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, during the recent gales, any naval seaplanes have broken away from their moorings at Portland Harbour and been wrecked: and can be state the loss entailed?

I have been asked to reply. The aircraft damaged at Portland in the gale of 23rd November were three Royal Air Force flying boats. One of these, a wooden-hulled boat, parted from her moorings, was wrecked against the breakwater and is, I fear, a complete loss except for the engines, which have been salved and are being repaired. The other two, which are metal-hulled boats, collided with one another and sank, but their hulls and engines have been salved and are now also undergoing repair.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if his attention has been drawn to the dirty paint or wash on the windows of the door leading to the terrace at the foot of the red staircase; and if he will make provision for the replacing of the present glass in the door by stained glass in accordance with the decorations of the staircase and waiting lobby?

As the hon. Member is doubtless aware, the door in question forms the external door of the Lobby which contains Professor Tristram's fine reproductions of old paintings in St. Stephen's Chapel. In order to tone down the glare on the paintings, the lower portions of the glass panels of the door were coated with frosting varnish. This, however, has been affected by changes of temperature, and it is proposed to substitute suitable tinted glass. It is not considered advisable to insert stained glass, as the colours would compete with those of the pictures.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received a Report on the incident in which Miss Grace Muriel Mann, a woman missionary, was attacked by Chinese bandits and shot while on her way from Tiayuanfu to Hsin Chow, in the province of Shansi, and can be give the House particulars; how many other missionaries, either women or men, have been captured by Chinese bandits during the last three years; and how many of them have been eventually released?

As regards Miss Mann, I can add nothing to the reply given on 28th November to the hon. Member for Anglesey (Sir R. Thomas) and to the reports in the Press, except that Sir M. Lampson has urged Marshal Yen Hsi-shan to call for a report of the circumstances of the lady's death and to have every effort made to bring the criminals to justice. I have not complete particulars of non-British missionaries captured by brigands. In the reply already referred to, particulars were given of three British missionaries who have been killed; in addition, during the past three years the number of British missionaries or members of their families captured by brigands is six men, 11 women and one child, all of whom were released after shorter or longer periods of captivity.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if His Majesty's Government have any understanding with any other Government as to joint action in China; and, if so, whether he will use his best offices to ensure at the earliest possible date a mutual settlement on a friendly basis with the Nationalist Government of China of all outstanding urgent questions?

As regards the first part of his question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Penistone (Mr. Rennie Smith) on 28th November. I am always anxious to do all in my power to promote a friendly settlement of outstanding questions, and shall certainly continue my efforts in this direction whenever an opportunity presents itself.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in preparing and revising the latest list of persons who can claim diplomatic immunity, he has taken any steps to tighten up the conditions and to scrutinise carefully the occupations of those whose names are submitted?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him in reply to two other questions on this subject. on the 3rd instant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider setting up a further Departmental Committee for the purpose of inquiring into the simplification of Income Tax forms so as to render these forms readily comprehensible?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 16th November, 1926, of which I am sending him a copy, and to which I have nothing to add.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether there are any certified day open-air schools for children in Hampshire, and, if so, where are they?

If the hon. Member's question refers to the Administrative County of Hampshire, the reply is that there are no certified day open-air schools in the area; there is one such school in Portsmouth.