asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the approximate loss to the revenue on the present telegraphic service of Great Britain if the pre-War charges were re-established; and whether it is proposed in the near future to make any reduction in the present inland telegraphic rates?

I have been asked to reply to this question. Reversion to pre-War charges on ordinary inland telegrams, assuming no change in the present volume of traffic, would involve a sacrifice of revenue amounting to about £1,400,000 a year. Any estimate of the probable effect on traffic of such a reduction in charges must be entirely speculative; but, as an appreciably increased traffic could not be handled without additional cost, which would probably exceed the revenue from the additional telegrams at the pre-War rate, the actual nett loss would be more likely to exceed than to fall below the figure just mentioned. The answer to the latter part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Postmaster-General what revenue the Government receives for the dog-racing and whisky advertisements exhibited in the post offices?

The desired information could not be furnished without wholly disproportionate labour and expense, as the accounts of the advertisement contractor do not classify the sums received according to the subject matter of the advertisements.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received further representations from the Portadown Chamber of Trade and the Portadown Urban District Council with regard to the closing down of the Portadown station office and the transfer of the work to the Portadown head office; and what action he proposes to take?

I have received representations as indicated by the hon. Member, and I am pursuing inquiries into the points raised.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of tin mines in Great Britain and the Isle of Man which were in active working in November, 1928, with the number of men employed?

In the latest period for which particulars are available, namely, the quarter ended 30th September, 1928, there were 12 mines at which dressed tin ore was produced, employing 2,425 persons. In addition, there were 10 mines, employing 549 persons, at which development work was in progress.

asked the Secretary for Mines the amount of the grant from public funds allocated to the Greenwich fuel-research department of the South Metropolitan Gas Company?

I presume that the hon. Member is referring to the Fuel Research Station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The only connection between the station and the South Metropolitan Gas Company is that the former is situated at Greenwich on land leased to the Government by the Company. The estimated net expenditure from public funds at the Fuel Research Station during the current financial year is £54,000.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has any statistics that will show the total output of coal from the coalfields in Germany, France, and the United States of America for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; and will he give particulars?

The total output of coal in Germany, France and the United States of America, respectively, during the 12 months ended October, 1928, was as follows:—

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the present state of unemployment in the coal-mining industry, the Government have decided to take immediate steps further to stimulate a scientific revival; whether they propose to encourage in every way possible a working agreement between all the various mining associations of the different coalfields for a combined marketing committee for the sale of British coal overseas, for price regulation, and for a general schedule of output according to requirements; and if the Government have any plans for the guarantee of capital for the development and concentration of all approved systems, now in operation, for extracting the by-products of coal, motor spirit, fuel oil, lubricating oil, smokeless fuel, and gas?

I have been asked to reply. The Government have nothing to add to what has been said in the course of recent discussions in the House about the mining industry on any of the points raised in the question.

asked the Minister of Transport if he can make any statement as to the provision of a free bridge over the Tyne at Wylam, Northumberland?

I am considering an application made to me on 29th November by the Northumberland County Council for a grant towards the cost of acquiring and freeing the toll bridge at Wylam.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider the issue of instructions that, as regards all road works in respect of which grants are given out of the Road Fund or otherwise, it shall be a condition of the grant that, when they are available, British materials alone shall be used?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 28th November to a similar question from the hon. and gallant Member for the Basingstoke Division (Sir A. Holbrook) of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport the estimated cost of a geological survey of the lands through which it has been proposed to cut a Forth and Clyde canal?

No, Sir.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is intended to call a representative conference on the question of forming a special corps of traffic police?

I have had under consideration for some time the question of holding a representative conference for the exploration of this sub- jest. The County Councils' Association and the Association of Municipal Corporations have now, at my invitation, nominated representatives to take part in such a conference, which will be held, I hope, in the New Year, as soon as circumstances will permit.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the fact that the numerous fatal accidents resulting from the increased use of the roads are causing concern to many local authorities and parish councils who are without the use of any mortuary; and that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find suitable accommodation after such fatal accidents; and whether he has consulted with the Home Secretary and the Minister of Health with a view to issuing fresh regulations on this subject or to varying in any way the present instructions?

I have been asked to reply. Local authorities under the Public Health Act, 1875, have full powers to provide mortuaries, and where there is need for further accommodation representations should be made to the appropriate local authority. I am not aware that any instructions or regulations have been issued dealing with this matter.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made with the Wessex electricity supply scheme; how much labour is there being employed in the construction of the grid power lines in that area at the present time; and whether it is now possible to purchase from the Stationery Office a map of Great Britain indicating the proposed main and subsidiary lines constructed, in course of construction, or projected which have been approved by the Electricity Board?

I am not clear to what precise scheme the first part of this question refers. A portion of the authorised area of the Wessex Electricity Company is included within the scope of the South East England Electricity Scheme which was adopted by the Central Electricity Board last February. If my hon. and gallant Friend would specify more precisely what information he desires, I will communicate with the Board. With regard to the last part of the question the schemes adopted by the Central Electricity Board under the Act of 1926 have been published by the Stationery Office with maps showing the main transmission lines provided for under the schemes.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in the contract with Sir John Jackson, Limited, for the construction of the Singapore naval base, the Admiralty made any stipulations prohibiting the employment of aliens in connection with this work?

The contract stipulations prohibit the employment of other than British subjects on the contractors' staff, without Admiralty sanction, but this prohibition does not extend to employment of workmen at Singapore.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the American company to whom the contract for four large mechanical excavators for use on the Singapore naval base has been given formed a British company in May of this year with a capital of £1,000; and whether this fact was taken into consideration when the contract was granted?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative as far as the Admiralty are concerned. We did not make the contract for the excavators.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that no warship has visited Tristan da Cunha since 1923; and, seeing that one warship used to call yearly until 1902, will the Government adhere to its undertaking in March, 1925, to send a warship every three or four years to the Island:

The facts are as stated in the first two parts of the question. As regards the third part, I am not aware that any such undertaking was given. To send a warship to the Island involves a considerable expense, and I think that my honourable and gallant Friend will agree that the arrangements which have been made for the Island to be visited by merchant vessels from time to time meet the object which he has in mind. I may remind him that a visit was paid by a vessel of the Harrison Line on 15th March, 1928, and I understand that arrangements are in train for the despatch of mails and supplies early in 1929.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many battleships and cruisers are fitted with submersible pumps of the type in use in His Majesty's Ship "Hood"?

In addition to His Majesty's Ship "Hood," 14 battleships, 3 battle-cruisers and 40 cruisers are fitted with submersible pumps of the type in use in "Hood."

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that naval ratings in considerable numbers are being employed painting and cleaning ships, other than commissioned ships, namely new construction and ships having no nucleus crews aboard: and why, seeing that this practice is contrary to Article 463 of the professional officers' instructions, it has been sanctioned by the Admiralty?

Naval ratings are not being employed painting and cleaning new construction ships. On other ships they are employed on such work, as far as practicable, in accordance with Admiralty Regulations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of War Stock, National War Bonds, Victory Bonds, or other national security that he has received as gifts to the State for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

Gifts in the form of Government securities were received during the 12 months ended 7th December, 1928, to the amount of £40,742. Gifts in cash were also received during the period, including the gift of £521,101 13s. 4d. by Lord Inchcape and his family, in memory of the late Hon. Elsie Mackay, and the anonymous gift of £500,000 to the "National Fund." Both of these gifts were specifically devoted to the foundation of accumulating funds for the reduction of the National Debt.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that it is illegal for a solicitor to disclose his client's affairs without the latter's consent, he will cause to be discontinued the service of notices on solicitors by Income Tax authorities to divulge such information?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given to the hon. and gallant Member for the Everton Division of Liverpool (Colonel Woodcock) on 29th November. I am sending him a copy of that reply. I may add that the hon. Member is under a misapprehension in suggesting that it can be illegal for a solicitor to carry out a duty imposed upon him by Statute.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any arrangement has yet been come to with the French Government as to our joint guarantee and joint liability for the interest on the 1855 Turkish loan; and, if not, whether we are still paying all the interest involved?

No arrangement has yet been come to with the French Government in regard to their liability as co-guarantor of the interest on the 1855 Guaranteed Ottoman Loan; accordingly, the whole of the amounts required to make good the sums due by Egypt, but unpaid, are being advanced by this country.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that British film producers experience undue delay owing to the Customs Regulations in force at the film bonded store in Endell Street, and have to pay dues for the period the films are in the bonded store awaiting the attention of the Customs officials; and whether he will take steps to expedite examination and so reduce the expense to which British producers are put?

I am not aware of the delay to which my hon. Friend refers, but if he will furnish particulars of any case which he has in mind, I will cause inquiry to be made into the matter and let him know the result.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the film bonded store in Endell Street is a Government building; and, if not, to whom does it belong and to whom does the revenue derived from the films stored there accrue?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. I am unable to say to whom the bonded store belongs, but the bonding privileges are held by Bonded Film Stores, Limited, to whom the rent charged for the storage of films accrues.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the legal personal representatives of a person resident in the United Kingdom who died on 5th October, 1928, will be required by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue to pay Super-tax on 1st January, 1929, and Sur-tax on 1st January, 1930; and, if so, under what Statutory provisions will such requirements be made?

If the person dying on 5th October, 1928, was in receipt of an income as computed for Income Tax purposes in excess of £2,000 for the year 1927–28, his personal representatives would be liable to pay Super-tax on 1st January, 1929. The tax so payable would be proportionate to the part of the year which had elapsed before the date of death, one-half of the year's tax. As regards Sur-tax for the year 1928–29, payable on 1st January, 1930, liability would only arise if the income of the deceased between 6th April and 5th October, 1928, was in excess of £2,000. The liability to Super-tax is governed by Section 6 of the Income Tax Act, 1918; liability to Sur-tax is governed by Sections 38 and 42 of the Finance Act, 1927.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of hours overtime worked in his Department in the London area during the three months ended to the last convenient date; and can he give particulars?

Apart from two or three occasions arising from purely casual emergency, it has not been necessary to require members of the clerical and typing grades in the London area to work in excess of their normal hours of attendance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that in July and August, 1927, gangs of girls between the ages of 10 and 16 years were ordered out to collect and carry thatching grass in the North Gem area of Central Kavisondo, which involved some of the girls in a daily journey of 30 miles; that some of the girls did three journeys under compulsion, walking between 80 and 90 miles, and that after months of delay they were paid about 5½d.; and, if so, will he inquire why these orders were given in view of the native authority ordinance?

Having seen statements to this effect in a recent article in the Press, I am sending a copy of the article to the officer administering the Government of Kenya and asking him for a report on the facts.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make inquiries into the circumstances attending the capture recently of the Hull steam trawler "Amethyst" by the Icelandic authorities?

Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Consul at Reykjavik has been instructed to furnish a report on this case.

asked the Home Secretary what factories in North-East London are operating the five-day week; and the number of workpeople so engaged, with the class of work performed?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to his question yesterday.

asked the Home Secretary the number of factories in the Reading area where the five-day week is in operation; and what is the number of men and women employed in such factories, together with the work on which they are engaged?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to his question yesterday.

asked the Home Secretary if he has any information as to the number of hotels and restaurants owned or leased by aliens in London?

This in-formation does not, I think, exist; and could not be got at all completely with-out great labour by special inquiry.

asked the Home Secretary, in view of the fact that, as a result of correspondence between his Department and the Essex Standing Joint Committee, a recommendation has now been made that the salary for the joint appointment of the clerk of the peace and clerk to the county council should be £10,000 per annum, with a personal remuneration of £2,000, leaving the officer concerned responsible for payment of the staff, whether, before giving his sanction to this arrangement, he will satisfy himself that the staff so engaged shall not be precluded from superannuation and other conditions of local government service, including salary scales?

The recommendation was varied as a result of correspondence in order to comply with the law, and has been acted upon; the re-fixing of the salary does not materially affect the staff in any way, and the Superannuation Acts will apply to such staff as if they were in the direct service of the local authority.

asked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether the Commission has received a resolution from the Plymouth Trades and Labour Council calling attention to the large number of acres in Devon and Cornwall which were denuded of trees during the War, pointing out that large tracts of land suitable for forest holdings are available in these two counties, and urging the Commission to consider the inclusion of the western district when preparing their next 10 years' programme; and whether this resolution is receiving consideration?

The Forestry Commissioners have received the resolution referred to, and it is receiving careful consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that constables have been instructed in Paisley to attempt to consume liquors on licensed premises after closing time in order to obtain a conviction against the licence-holder; and whether he will make a Regulation prohibiting this practice?

I have made inquiry, and am informed that no instruction of the nature referred to has been issued, but that recently, in order to obtain evidence of the sale and consumption of excisable liquors in a public-house after permitted hours and behind locked doors, two constables were sent into the bar during permitted hours with instructions to remain inside after the expiry of the permitted hours and to report what took place. On the information before me I see no ground for any action on my part.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the urgency for more beds for treatment for orthopœdic diseases in children from the elementary schools in Hampshire, he will consider payment of a giant on any further expenditure incurred to provide more beds over the 12 beds now allotted for this purpose by local generosity at the Treloar Cripples' Home at Alton?

The Hampshire Education Authority are, I understand, examining the question of extending their arrangements for orthopœdic treatment for school children in their area. I am prepared to consider sympathetically any proposals for such extension which the authority may see fit to formulate. Grant will be payable on expenditure for this purpose approved by the Board in the ordinary way.

asked the Minister of Labour the percentage of women insured workers to the men insured workers in the chief industries in which women are employed?

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 5th December, 1928; col. 1196, Vol. 223], supplied the following statement:

asked the Minister of Labour approximately the total amount contributed by the employers and insured persons in the cotton and woollen industries, respectively, to the Unemployment Insurance Fund for the year 1927–28?

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 28th November, 1928; col. 421, Vol. 223], supplied the following statement:It is estimated that during the year ended 31st March, 1928, the amounts contributed to the Unemployment Insurance Fund in respect of the cotton and wool textile industries were approximately as follow:

asked the Minister of Labour what is the cost of unemployment insurance to the cotton trade?

I assume the hon. Member wishes to know the amount of unemployment, insurance contributions paid. No separate record is kept of contributions and benefit in respect of particular industries. A rough estimate can, however, be made in respect of the year ended 31st March, 1928, on the assumption that the payments of contributions is at the same average per head as for all insured trades taken together, due allowance being made for the rate of unemployment and the proportion of women and juveniles. On this basis it is estimated

asked the Minister of Labour the number of people registered as unemployed in the entertainment or kindred groups of industry for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The following statement gives the information desired by the hon. Member.that during the year ended 31st March, 1928, the contributions to the Unemployment Insurance Fund by employers in the cotton textile industry amounted to approximately £778,000 and by insured persons approximately £671,000.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any instruction has been given to the chairman of the Bournemouth courts of referees to insist that applicants for unemployment insurance benefit must carry a book into which must be entered a record of each place where application was made for work?

The answer is in the negative. In order that there may be no misunderstanding I may add that I believe that some chairmen have suggested to claimants that, in their own interests, they should keep a record of the applications they make for work. This, however, is not upon the instruction or suggestion of the Department.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men and women registered as employed in the engineering trade in November, 1928; and the number of men and women registered as unemployed in the engineering trade for the same month?

Estimates of the number of insured persons in individual industries are made once a year on the basis of the exchange of unemployment books which takes place in July. It is estimated that at July, 1928, there were 813,690 men and 76,470 women classified as belonging to the engineering group of industries. This group includes general engineering with engineers' iron and steel, etc., founding; electrical engineering; marine engineering; constructional engineering; and the construction and repair of motor vehicles, cycles and aircraft. At 26th November, 86,612 men and 3,697 women classified as belonging to this group were recorded as unemployed.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his Department has any statistics that will show the unemployment in the mining industry and the percentage of all the workers employed in this industry in Germany, France, and the United States of America; and will he give such information?

The only available statistics are as follow:—

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is able to say when the case of the employés of the Sankey Sugar Works, Earlstown, remitted to the Umpire, is likely to be considered or, if it has been considered, what the decision is or when it will be made known to those concerned?

The Umpire's decision was received to-day and will be communicated to the representatives of the employés concerned by post to-night. I am sending a copy of the decision to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour the percentage of the total expenses of the International Labour Office which is borne by the British Government, also the percentage which is borne by the whole of the British Dominions?

10.64 per cent. of the International Labour Organisation Budget for 1928 is borne by Great Britain and 26.16 per cent. by the British Empire (including Great Britain).

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Ministry has accepted any contributions for transference of juveniles from the coalfields from the fund raised by the Lord Mayor of London for distress in the mining areas; and, if so, what amount he has received?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to the question asked on Monday by the hon. Member for Bedwellty (Mr. C. Edwards) on the same point.

asked the Minister of Health the total amount of the increased assessments for the various local authorities comprising the West Ham Poor Law Union area, and the amount of the increase in the assessments for Barking and Ilford?

It is assumed that the hon. Member refers to the assessments in the lists in course of preparation under the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925. My right hon. Friend is unable to supply the information as the lists have not yet been finally approved by the assessment committees.

asked the Minister of Health if consideration has been given to the fact that the instructions, issued under the Rating Act for the revision of assessments, to the effect that the revision of hereditaments of £40 annual value and above are to be carried out by professional assessors, whose remuneration is a percentage of the revised assessment, will result in offering a financial inducement to the fixing of high assessments; and what is the scale of such remuneration?

I have not issued, and am not empowered to issue, instructions in the matter to which my hon. Friend refers. I understand that, in a number of areas, arrangements have been made by the local authorities concerned for the valuation of certain classes of hereditament by expert valuers who are remunerated on a percentage basis. In such cases the valuers are usually required, without extra remuneration, to defend their valuations, if challenged, before the assessment committees and the Courts. The percentage is a percentage on the valuation which is sustained on objection or appeal, and I see no good ground for the assumption that the arrangement, which has long been commonly adopted, will have the result suggested. I am informed that the scale of remuneration varies according to circumstances, but that anything from 1 per cent. to 2 per cent. is not uncommonly adopted as the basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he, has now investigated the case of Holmhead Farm, Lesmahagow, in relation to the increased expenditure on petrol being greater than the proposed rating relief and what he proposes to do in such cases?

I have not felt called upon to make inquiries into this specific case.

asked the Minister of Health what amount the Poor Law authorities have spent for each of the last three years for which figures are available on such treatment of the sick as will be transferred to the public health authorities under the Local Government Bill?

I am afraid that exact figures are not available, but the approximate expenditure of Poor Law authorities on the services mentioned in the question was £9,150,000, £9,530,000 and £10,160,000 in the years 1924–25, 1925–26 and 1926–27, respectively. These figures include expenditure on the maintenance of persons in Poor Law institutions, for persons suffering from disease of body or mind and in the sick and infirm wards of other Poor Law institutions, and on domiciliary medical relief.

asked the Minister of Health the total amount expended during each of the last seven years in the Lincoln Poor Law union on special unemployment relief and Poor Law purposes other than special unemployment relief; and whether he can show separately the amount for each purpose spent in that part of the union which consists of areas other than the county borough of Lincoln?

The following statement gives the information asked for by the hon. Member so far as it is available:

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has yet received any request for a ruling as to whether any particular works fall within the terms of the definition of iron and steel works as set out in Part II. of the Second Schedule to the Railway Rates Rebate Anticipation Scheme; and, if so, of what nature?

I have been asked to reply. I have not received a formal application to determine any question arising on the definition to which my hon. Friend refers, but a few firms have asked me whether their works are within the definition. In some instances the information furnished is insufficient to show the nature of the works and in such cases I am having inquiries made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of resolutions he has received from various organisations, protesting against brewers and distillers receiving relief under the De-rating Clause of the Local Government Bill?

I have received resolutions of the character referred to from several organisations, and a num- ber of resolutions in similar terms from individual branches of the same organisations. As I have repeatedly stated, the de-rating provisions now before Parliament are based not on any examination of the political merits or economic necessities of particular trades, but on the broad general principle that the tools and instruments of production and employment ought not to be taxed in a burdensome manner.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that instructions have been issued to the Inland Revenue officers with lists of subjects to be de-rated; and whether, to facilitate the claims for de-rating and the preparation of the valuation rolls, he will cause the lists of subjects and instructions to be made public?

Instructions have been issued by the Board of Inland Revenue to the revenue officers as to their duties in Scotland under the Rating and Valuation Apportionment Act, 1928, but no lists of subjects to be de-rated have been supplied to them. The Board are not prepared to authorise the publication of the instructions. The revenue officers are in close touch with the Lands Valuation Assessors, and have been instructed to afford them any assistance in their power.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses reconstructed or improved in Hampshire under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, and the names of the local authorities in Hampshire that have made applications under that Act for assistance.

Assistance has been promised under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, in respect of 66 houses, and work has been completed on 16 houses under the scheme of the county council who are the local authority for the purposes of the Act for the whole county. Information is not available as to the persons or bodies from whom the applications for assistance were received.