asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, seeing that the present Rumanian Government has offered to distribute its foreign orders for engineering products and other materials in proportion to the participation by foreign countries in the proposed new Rumanian loan, any steps are being taken to secure a fair share of these orders for this country?

I have been asked to reply. His Majesty's Government have no precise knowledge as to the present state of the Rumanian loan negotiations. They are, however, fully alive to the desirability of British industries receiving a share of any orders for railway and other materials proportional to the amount of the London issue, in the event of the flotation of a portion of any loan on the London market.

Are there any communications passing with our representative at Bucharest?

I must have notice of that question.

Will the hon. Member find out, as this is a most urgent matter?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the British firm of Babcock, Wilcox and Company, who are on the Admiralty list of contractors, have been found guilty of a charge of bribery and corruption by a court in Sydney, New South Wales; and whether he is prepared to remove the firm of Babcock, Wilcox and Company from the Admiralty list?

I have no information beyond that which has appeared in the public Press from time to time on this subject. In the absence of full details, and having regard to the fact that the firm's counsel is reported to have applied for a stay of proceedings, it would be premature for me to take any action as regards the firm's eligibility to tender for Admiralty contracts.

Is there any doubt as to the money passing between the two, and will that in any way be affected by an appeal?

Is it not a fact that Messrs. Babcock, Wilcox and Company have made a public statement that they had no knowledge whatever of this transaction, which took place in Australia?

Is it not a fact that Messrs. Babcock, Wilcox and Company's quotation was the lowest one for this particular job, and so this was really more in the nature of blackmail on the part of the officials concerned than bribery and corruption on the part of the company?

I am not in a position to reply to my hon. Friend who spoke last. In regard to what my hon. Friend the Member for Moseley (Mr. Hannon) said, this incident occurred 2½ years ago. My reply to the hon. Member for Springburn (Mr. Hardie) is that it would be obviously impossible for us to come to a decision while the matter is sub judice.

Before the Parliamentary Secretary comes to any decision to strike this firm off, will he consider the point that, if he does so, he will not punish the firm but the workmen on the Clyde?

Everything will be taken into consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that under Section 98a (2) of the Naval Discipline Act, which provides that 14s. a week is the maximum allotment that can be compulsorily deducted from a man's pay, and that where a wife obtains a Magistrate's order for maintenance against her husband for more than 14s. a week a husband can claim protection under the Naval Discipline Act and escape enforcement of the order as made in the civil Courts, he will take steps to remove this anomaly?

The sum mentioned is the maximum that can be compulsorily stopped from the pay of a naval rating below the rating of petty officer. It is under consideration at the present time to raise the rates which may be thus stopped for each grade of naval rating, but any change will require legislation.

Will the Board of Admiralty consider the abolition of the present system under which a woman may be deserted by her husband, and, just because he is in the Navy, he can refuse to maintain her on the scale fixed by the magistrate who inquires into the justice of the case?

I have told the hon. Member that the whole question is under consideration.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary consider abolishing it altogether?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether any alterations have been made to Article 1600, King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions, 1926; and, if so, will he state the nature of these alterations and the date when made?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Minister of Labour when last the officials at the Thorne or Hatfield collieries applied to the Employment Exchange at Doncaster or elsewhere for skilled mine workers; how many were sent; and how many were found employment?

Only one vacancy for a skilled miner has recently been notified by these collieries to the Doncaster Employment Exchange, but I understand that a considerable number of men from other districts have offered themselves direct to collieries in this district and have secured work.

I take it that, although a man of the same name is mentioned in the question, the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. W. Thorne) has no interest in this colliery?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons on the live register at Stainforth, near Doncaster, on the last date for which figures are available?

There is not a local office of the Ministry of Labour at Stainforth and separate figures of the numbers unemployed in that area are therefore not available.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are more than 300 miners unemployed in this district and that men are losing their benefit in various parts of Durham because they refuse to accept employment in this area?

That question does not immediately arise out of the question on the Paper. If the hon. Member has any information on that particular matter, perhaps he will send it to me.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any miners have been found work in Doncaster and district under the transference board scheme; and, if so, how many?

I am having inquiries made and will let the hon. Member know the result.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed registered at the Doncaster Employment Exchange during each of the last six months?

As the reply includes a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are being taken to give women training in Glasgow and also the rest of Scotland, and the same facts as regards men and the numbers affected?

asked the Minister of Labour how many training centres exist in Scotland to which adult unemployed can be sent; how many such persons are undergoing training; and for what purpose?

Home training centres accommodating 155 women and girls at a time have been established at Glasgow, Cowdenbeath, Hamilton, Motherwell, Shotts, and Wishaw, and arrangements are being made to provide a further 205 training places. 164 men are now in training at the Springburn Training Centre for home employment. At the Carstairs Centre, which will be ready early in the new year, accommodation will be provided for 120 intending oversea settlers and 30 others.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make an explanatory statement as to the changes, if any, which take effect from the issue of the new regulations, Unemployment Insurance (Associations), laid on 3rd December?

I am sending to the hon. Member a copy of an explanatory memorandum which has been issued to all the associations which, so far as is known, propose to have arrangements for the administration of State benefit, in operation from 1st January onwards.

Can that information be generally supplied?

It is not information which it is necessary to circulate to all hon. Members, but, if any hon. Member wishes to have it, I shall be glad to provide it.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of miners registered as unemployed in the first week of each month since October, 1926?

Statistics of unemployment in particular industries are only available in respect of a date towards the end of each month. I

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that mineowners are imposing, and seeking further to impose, reductions of district wage rates, in some cases 20 per cent., below the rates agreed upon at the beginning of this year; and if he will take steps to see that miners who refuse to accept the reduced rates and who are consequently thrown out of work are not refused unemployment benefit?

The matters raised in the first part of the

Was it not possible for the right hon. Gentleman to answer this question by consulting the Mines Department, as this is the last day for questions before the House rises? With regard to the second part of his answer, is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that large numbers of miners have been deprived of their unemployment benefit because they refuse to accept lower rates of wages than the agreed rates set down in the wages agreements?

As regards the first supplementary question, I communicated with the Mines Department to see whether I could get the answer. I understood that the Secretary for Mines did not recognise any reduction such as was stated in the question, and that, therefore, if I were to attempt to give an answer it might mean going into details which were not in my possession. As to the second question, I am unaware of the facts mentioned, and, in any case, they do not come within my jurisdiction.

Are we to understand that a man is regarded as not "genuinely seeking work" if he refuses to accept a starvation wage?

rose—

I must ask hon. Members to assist me in making progress with the questions on the Paper.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that men and women who have no dependants are questioned in detail regarding their family income; that information is in many cases sent to the Court of Referees; if this information is taken into account by the chief insurance officer when deciding cases; and if he will take steps to have this practice discontinued?

As I told the hon. Member in reply to a supplementary question last week, the amount of the family income may be a material factor in certain cases quite apart from the question of dependant's benefit and for that reason I cannot have the practice discontinued.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say where he gets his authority for his action? Under what authority does the right hon. Gentleman's Department question a man about his family income?

The interviewing officer on behalf of the chief insurance officer has to satisfy himself, so far as is possible, whether the conditions for benefit are observed, and it is for that purpose that he has the right to put these questions.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer my question? Under what authority does he get the right to challenge a man's income other than his own? From where does he derive his authority?

From the Unemployment Insurance Acts of 1920 to 1927.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the last Act passed deliberately excluded inquiry into family income, and will he state in what part of any of the Acts he has authority to challenge a man's private affairs?

If the hon. Member will put down a further question on the Paper, I shall be glad to give him an answer.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state whether it is not the case that he is acting quite illegally and contrary to the Act?

No, Sir, I am not.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of claims for unemployment benefit in Glasgow during the past year and the number of refusals, and the figures for last year?

I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving such particulars as I can, as soon as they have been tabulated.

asked the Minister of Labour why Mr. Henry Cruskall, of 92, High Street, Poplar, was given Form U 188 from the Exchange far training at the British Legion school at Peckham for taximeter-cab driving and was paid unemployment benefit for about four weeks, and then was stopped and had to go before the Court of Referees, who have informed him that he is only an apprentice and not entitled to benefit, and yet a number of others there who signed as he did are receiving benefit; and, seeing that he has been following up the training for about 12 weeks with no pay, can he say what can be done for this man?

I am having inquiry made into this case, and I will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour the percentage of unemployment in Great Britain as at the end of November of the present year, and give at the same time the corresponding percentages for France, Germany, Italy, Czechoslovakia, and Belgium?

At 26th November, the percentages unemployed among workpeople insured against unemployment were 12.1 in Great Britain and 12.2 in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Owing to differences in the bases of the unemployment statistics for overseas countries, I am unable to give corresponding figures for the continental countries specified, but I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the December issue of the "Ministry of Labour Gazette," published to-day, on pages 461 and 462 of which the latest statistics regarding employment and unemployment in these and other overseas countries are summarised.

Would my right hon. Friend say whether it is not due to the fiscal policy of those countries that there is a much lower percentage of unemployment there than there is in this country?

When the right hon. Gentleman says that the unemployment is a certain percentage, does he not mean that the registered unemployment is that percentage? He does not refer to the actual unemployment?

With regard to the first supplementary question, that is a matter of opinion and argument. My own opinion is that fiscal policy has a good deal to do with it. In reply to the second supplementary question, I can never pretend that the figure I give includes every single person who is unemployed, but it does give an increasingly accurate and comprehensive figure of unemployment, and has done for the last few years.

asked the Minister of Labour the cost of administration of the unemployment insurance scheme for the last six months for which particulars are available and for the corresponding period of each year since 1924?

As the reply contains a table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed persons, male and female, in West Lothian; and how many have been sent to other districts for employment under the Government transference scheme?

At 10th December there were 2,435 males and 328 females on the Registers of Employment Exchanges in West Lothian. This is not one of the areas to which the special transference scheme applies.

Is there no transference scheme applicable to this county, and why is the county excluded?

There has to be some limit with regard to the areas specially brought under the transference scheme. We are prepared to send a person from this area as well as others. Special endeavours are made in scheduled areas, and that is not one of them.

Is it not a distressed area if there are more than 5,000 unemployed persons?

The figures I gave were less than 3,000. The percentage is much smaller than that of most of the distressed areas.

Is the Minister aware that last night's "Glasgow Times," a Tory paper, contained an article with the headline "Midlothian Miner's being Crucified." Surely it is time the Minister was doing something for them?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department as representing the First Commissioner of Works the amount expended on Employment Exchanges (including. divisional offices) in respect of new works, alterations, additions, and purchases for the years 1926–27 and 1927–28, respectively, and the estimated amount for the year 1928–29?

The figures are as follow:

asked the Minister of Labour the number of insured persons estimated to be in employment in the month of July, 1924, and 1928, respectively, under the following classifications: coal mining, building, other productive industries, and all other industries?

The statistics of employment and unemployment among insured persons in particular industries in 1928 relate only to persons aged 16 to 64, inclusive, and corresponding figures for 1924 are not available. In that year the statistics relating to insured persons included those aged 65 and over. It was found from an inquiry in 1926 that persons aged 65 and over represented approximately 3.2 per cent. of the total insured population at that time, but this ratio varied between different industries. Corresponding figures showing the rate of unemployment among such persons are not available in respect of the dates in question for particular industries. I will, however, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table giving such information as is available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of insured persons estimated to be in employment in all manufacturing industries other than motor vehicles, lace, silk, artificial silk, and musical instruments, in July, 1925, and July, 1928, respectively?

The statistics of employment and unemployment among insured persons in particular industries in 1928 relate only to persons aged 16 to 64, inclusive, and corresponding figures for 1925 are not available. In that year the statistics relating to insured persons included those aged 65 and over. It is estimated, however, that in the group of industries referred to by my hon. Friend, the number of insured persons aged 16 to 64 in employment at July, 1925, was approximately 4,856,000 as compared with 4,972,574 at July, 1928.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of wage earners, aged 60 to 64, inclusive, in the following industries, respectively, coal mining, shipbuilding, engineering, iron and steel, and cotton, and the corresponding figures for wage earners, aged 65 and over, in each of those industries?

I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.

Is it not possible, in view of the reply which the right hon. Gentleman gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Bedwellty (Mr. C. Edwards) on 20th November, to subdivide the aggregate so as to show separate figures for each industry?

No, Sir. It is difficult to give an answer offhand. The statistics are not so kept that they can be differentiated. I think there was a special inquiry in 1926, but of such a kind that the result would no longer be of use. If the hon. Member will talk to me about the matter, I will look into it.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men, women, boys and girls, respectively, employed on work for the relief of unemployment as a result of the circular of 9th November, 1928?

The new terms of State aid, in respect of relief works, were only announced to local authorities five weeks ago. A number of schemes are in preparation, and special steps have been taken to deal with them rapidly. It is hoped that some will commence early in the New Year. I ought to add that schemes of public work, such as the authorities were invited to submit, do not in general find employment for women, boys and girls.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say for how many men these schemes will provide work?

Not until I know what the schemes are.

I understood the right hon. Gentleman to say that a number of schemes have been submitted already—I was referring to those.

They are being submitted to Lord St. Davids Committee, but I cannot give the hon. Member the figure of the exact amount of work they will provide.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is a condition of these schemes being accepted that a local authority must undertake to draw 75 per cent. of the labour from the South Wales district?

No, Sir. 50 per cent. from distressed areas. The exact terms are available in the Vote Office.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in a case in my own constituency, where a scheme involving an expenditure of £14,000—

The hon. Member is giving information. The question on the Paper is quite definite and has been answered.

Is not the Minister of Labour aware that in the case of many of these schemes the Ministry's making a condition that 50 per cent. of the labour is to be taken from South Wales?

The 50 per cent. is from distressed areas.

On a point of Order. Will you kindly consider, Mr. Speaker, that there are 94 Questions on the Paper and ask hon. Members to curtail the number of supplementary questions?

I have been trying to point that out to hon. Members for the last 20 minutes.

Is it, not the fact that the Department refuses to allow a local authority in a distressed area to promote schemes to absorb some of the unemployed. For instance, the Dowlais Rural District Council—

That does not arise out of the question.

asked the Minister of Labour the percentage of unemployment before a, district is classed as a depressed area; and whether this percentage is greater than that used for the classification of a distressed area?

Neither of these terms, so far as I am aware, is used in a precise statistical sense, so that the question can hardly arise of there being any difference in figures between them.

asked the Minister of Labour if, in regard to the unemployment grants scheme, he will, on account of housing and other difficulties, consider reducing the number of workers to be transferred from outside districts from 50 per cent. to 35 per cent. on condition that the balance of 15 per cent. be employed on the recommendation of the guardians in the areas concerned?

No, Sir. In view of the special terms of grant, I do not think the percentage should be reduced below 50.

asked the Minister of Labour how many schemes have been submitted to the unemployment grants committee since the issue of the circular in November last; how many have been approved; and how many rejected?

One hundred and three applications for grants have been made since the issue of the circular on 9th November. Fifty-four of these are for grants on the new terms which include the condition about the transfer of labour. In addition about 100 preliminary inquiries have been addressed to the Unemployment Grants Committee. Eight of the 103 schemes have been approved, four rejected, and the remainder are under consideration.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say why some of these schemes are rejected? In at least one case, that of Hemsworth, which is one of the most distressed areas in Yorkshire, they had a scheme rejected without any good reason being given.

If the hon. Member will provide me with particulars of any particular scheme I will go into the matter, and I will see whether I can give she local authority help with regard to it, if it can be brought into a form that could be considered.

Is the right bon. Gentleman aware that the only reason given so far is that that happens to be a distressed area, and that the Minister suggests that they ought not to spend money in this direction?

asked the Prime Minister whether in view of the persistence of the situation in South Wales and the impossibility of securing any immediate appreciable improvement in the coal industry, he will consider the appointment of a small temporary development commission endowed with necessary funds for the purpose of surveying the possibilities of the whole of Wales, with particular reference to South Wales, for large-scale schemes of afforestation, land reclamation, and arterial road construction, and other works of a national character?

The possibilities of development to which the hon. and gallant Member refers are constantly under examination by the Government not only from the point of view of South Wales, but from that of the country as a whole, and I do not think any useful purpose would be served by the appointment of a body such as the hon. and gallant Member suggests.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, as things are at present, a sum of £100,000 per week is spent in South Wales alone, on relief; and would it not be better to employ that money in carrying out schemes of national development in those areas where they are so badly needed?

And is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Liberal party opposed the Bill of the Labour party which had that object in view?