asked the Minister of Labour the number of juveniles who are at present under training at ally of the juvenile training centres and the number that have been placed in employment during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The average number of juveniles at present attending juvenile unemployment centres is? 158. I regret that figures are not available in the form indicated in the second part of the hon. Member's question, but I may say that since 1st April of this year 38,377 juveniles have passed through the centres, most of whom have left to enter employment. Included in this figure are 1,736 boys from the centres in the distressed mining areas who have been placed in work in other parts of the country.

asked the Minister for Labour (1) whether he is aware that the only public works in the town of Lennoxtown, Stirlingshire, is being closed down as a result of reorganisation and concentration by the proprietors; and, in view of the fact that there is no prospect of alternative employment locally and that there will ensue serious unemployment and financial loss to the district, whether he can take any steps to draw the attention of prospective employers to the existence of modern public works and facilities for manufacture with a view to enabling the continuance of employment in the town;(2) whether he has made any Departmental arrangements with a view to the prevention of unemployment whereby the attention of prospective employers may be drawn to lists of vacant and suitable premises for manufacture; and, if not, whether he will get returns from the managers of local Employment Exchanges of such premises and take such steps as are available to him to give the returns widespread publicity?

The situation at Lennoxtown has not been reported to me, though I have no doubt it is known to local officials of the Ministry. It would also no doubt be well known to manufacturers in trades which could be carried on in these premises. In general I may say that prospective employers do sometimes discuss their plans, to some extent, with managers of Employment Exchanges, and they thus acquire useful information, not only as to available labour, but on such points as the hon. Member has in mind. I see a number of difficulties in the proposal to maintain lists of vacant works, but I have every sympathy with the hon. Member's objects and I will bear it in mind.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any scheme has been presented from Cornwall in response to the circular of 9th November, 1928, to deal with the distress among the tin miners of Camborne?

No relief scheme has been submitted to the Unemployment Grants Committee by the Camborne authorities. Three schemes of an estimated; total cost of £126,000 have been put forward by the Redruth Urban District and Rural District Councils.

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?

pursuant to his reply[OFFICIAL REPORT, 19th December, 1928: col. 2998, Vol. 222], supplied the following information:During the period 3rd January, 1928, to 10th December, 1928, 303,058 fresh and renewal claims to unemployment benefit were made at Employment Exchanges in the Glasgow area, and the average number of claims to benefit current was 37,013. The corresponding figures for the period 4th January, 1927, to 12th December, 1927, are 291,985 claims made and 42,435 claims current. Between 19th April, 1928, and 10th December, 1928, 25,423 claims to benefit made at these offices were disallowed by Insurance Officers, and 1,171 claims have been recommended for disallowance by Courts of Referees in cases where?8 days benefit have been received during the preceding six months. Comparable statistics of disallowances of benefit are not available in respect of the period prior to 19th April, 1928.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed on the live register at each of the respective Employment Exchanges in the county of Monmouth on the latest available date, and the number on the corresponding date in the year, 1927?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 19th December, 1928: col. 3047, Vol. 223], supplied the following information:

asked the Secretary for Mines the average amount at which the dual relief to the South Wales coal industry under the de-rating proposals of the Local Government Bill will work out per ton of saleable coal; and what steps the Government are taking to see that this benefit shall accrue to wages as well as to profits in a fair proportion?

The estimated average amount of relief due to the de-rating of colliery property in South Wales is nearly 5½d. per ton on all saleable coal. This estimate is based on the results of the six months ended 31st October, 1928. In addition, South Wales coal for export and foreign bunkers will receive railway freight relief which is estimated at 6½d. per ton on the average. I regret that I cannot give an estimate of the value of railway relief for South Wales coal used by iron and steel works, and in reply to the last part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on Tuesday to the hon. Members for Aberdare (Mr. G. Hall) and Houghton-le-Spring (Mr. R. Richardson).

asked the Minister of Health whether he can give any information as to alterations in rateable values in representative areas under the Valuation Act, 1925?

In most rating areas in England and Wales for which new valuation lists are to be prepared under the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925, the lists will not come into force until 1st April, 1929. In certain areas the first new valuation lists came into force on 1st April, 1928, and the figures in the following statement give particulars for a number of county boroughs and one county. The figures in the statement show the amounts entered in the valuation lists in force on 1st April, 1927 and 1928, respectively, and are subject to any alterations made subsequently on the determination of objections and appeals.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses built to let in the West Riding of Yorkshire in the respective years 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, and the nine months ended September, 1928, and the figures for the same years of houses built to let in England and Wales, with the average approved rents in each year for a two-roomed house, three-roomed house, four-roomed house, five-roomed house, and six-roomed house; and the number of houses suitable for weekly-wage earners that have been built to let without the aid of a subsidy in 12 months to the last convenient date?

The following statements give the information desired by the hon. Member as to the number of houses built in the years in question. I have no information on the remainder of the points mentioned in the question, but it may be assumed that practically all these houses (except those erected by private enterprise other than public utility societies under the Act of 1923) have been built for letting.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give particulars of cases where the standard of equipment of houses has been raised since the reduction of the subsidy on let October, 1927?

As the specification has for some years been entirely a matter for the local authority, no record has been kept of the cases to which the hon. Member refers, but on a number of occasions my Department has been informed at interviews during this period that improvements in specifications have been made by local authorities and such improvements are facilitated by the recent substantial fall in building prices.

asked the Minister of Health, in the case of the recent sale of the Ilford estate of the Corporation of London, to which he gave his consent, if the contract was first put out to tender; if there was any offer made to the sitting tenants at the price subsequently received from Mr. C. H. Lord, of Bradford; and if any protest has been received from any of the tenants?

The Corporation of the City of London received an offer in January, 1927, for the purchase of the Ilford estate and during the following 18 months negotiations took place with several possible purchasers who submitted tenders resulting in the sale in June, 1928. As regards the second part of the question, I am not aware that any such offer was made. I understand the Corporation received certain protests from tenants mainly in regard to their security of tenure, but it had been provided that the interests of existing tenants should be safeguarded in the contract of sale.

asked the Minister of Health the number of wage-earners aged 65 and over, and the proportion which this number bears to the total population aged 65 and over, in the last census year, at the present time, and at the latest convenient date before old age pensions became payable at 65 years of age?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Minister of Health to the hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Rhys Davies) on 3rd December, 1928, and to my reply to the right hon. Member for Bedwellty (Mr. C. Edwards) on 20th November. I regret that the further information desired is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state his attitude towards the request he has recently received from approved societies covering miners asking for assistance to admit of the payment of additional benefits in the form of dental and optical treatment?

Those of the societies referred to by the hon. Member which were found on the last valuation to have a disposable surplus are in a position to provide additional benefits for their members out of that surplus in accordance with a scheme under Section 75 of the National Health Insurance Act, 1924, but I have no power to authorise the provision of additional benefits by a society which had no disposable surplus on the last valuation.

asked the Minister of Health what is the estimated sterling value of the consumption in this country of milk, flour, bread, cheese, eggs, meat, and potatoes, now, and in 1919, 1913, and 1900, in total, per head of population, per adult, and per male adult?

I have been asked to reply. I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the average annual consumption of ware potatoes in this country?

I regret that I am unable at present to furnish an estimate, especially in the very limited time available. I would add, however, that it is hoped to publish at no distant date a report showing the consumption of various foodstuffs in Great Britain.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the case of Mela Ram, of Vehra Ramgarhian, Gwalmandi, Lahore, formerly an inspector in the railway mail service, who was compelled to retire at the age of 53 instead of 55 owing to the date of his birth being mis-stated in the service book as 12th April, 1868, instead of 12th April, 1870; whether he is aware that Mela Ram's requests to have this error corrected and to be permitted to serve for a further period of two years have been refused, and that representations by him to the Governor-General and to the Secretary of State for India have been withheld under the rules laid down for the submission of representations by officers in respect of their position in Government service; and whether the Government of India will reconsider the case?

The matters to which my right hon. Friend refers are entirely within the discretion of the Government of India.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has any statistics that will show the number of factories in British India, the number of factory inspectors employed, the number of factories that were inspected for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date, and the number of factories at which no complete inspection was made during the same period?

For the calendar year 1926, which is the latest period for which full statistics are available, the figures required are:—

Factories in British India	7,251
Factories in British India inspected	6,399
Factories in British India not inspected	852

The number of inspectors including part-time inspectors on 1st January, 1927, was 49.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that in London and elsewhere authorities are approaching or have already reached the financial limits imposed by the Board on the provision of allowances for maintenance, namely, 9s. per head of the elementary school population as regards pupils in secondary schools and 1s. per head of the elementary school population as regards pupils in elementary schools; and whether the Board proposes to enforce these restrictions if the effect is to hinder the development of schemes of advanced education on the lines proposed by the Hadow Committee for the education of children up to the age of 15 where the parents are unable to keep such children at school after attaining the age of 14?

So far as maintenance allowances for higher education are concerned, no authority except Bradford, whose expenditure exceeds the 9s. limit by a few pence, has reached or is approaching that limit. As regards maintenance allowances for pupils attending elementary schools, I may remind the hon. Member that the shilling limit relates only to the expenditure on which grant is payable at the special rate of 50 per cent. and that expenditure in excess of that limit attracts grant at the rate of 20 per cent. The limit does not apply to London, which receives 50 per cent. of all its expenditure. I have no reason at present for thinking that the limit operates to hinder the development of schemes of advanced education on the lines proposed by the Hadow Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Education if an application has been received by the Board from Miss M. I. Ives, of the Hindhead Council School, Surrey, for a disablement allowance under the Teachers' Superannuation Acts; and, if so, when a decision will be reached?

Yes, Sir; notification of Miss Ives' award will be issued to her as soon as possible after her employment ceases.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether local relief funds will be entitled to expect, if their needs justify it, contributions from the Mansion House Fund?

Local relief funds which are raised for the same purposes as the Lord Mayor's Fund will, I hope, be closely co-ordinated with that Fund, but the form in which the central and local funds can best co-operate will vary according to the circumstances. Inquiries on such points from those responsible for local funds should be addressed to the Coalfields Distress Funds Organisation. The Lord Mayor's Fund cannot, of course, be extended to purposes other than those for which contributions have been invited.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether moneys sent to the Mansion House Fund can be earmarked for a special town or district; and whether, in that case, such sums will receive the added value from the State?

I should be glad if my hon. Friend will await to-day's Debate, when I hope to be able to deal with this point more satisfactorily than is possible in an answer to a question.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the depressed textile districts of Lancashire will benefit by the State assistance given to the Mansion House Fund?

I dealt with the general question of the scope of the Fund in the answer which I gave yesterday to questions by the hon. Members for King's Norton (Mr. Dennison) and Cleveland (Sir P. Goff), of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. I hope to be able to deal with the point more fully during the Debate.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Government have considered the financial plight in which the local private traders and co-operative societies in the distressed areas are placed; and whether the Government will take this into account when the Government grants are being disbursed for the purchase of food and other necessaries in connection with the co-ordinated schemes of national relief?

I will certainly bear this point in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there is a periodical inspection of the light vessels and steamboats at Trinity House; if so, by whom is the inspection conducted and at what periods is this work done; and whether investigation is made into the water supplied for drinking purposes, particularly into the method of storing the water in clean tanks or other vessels?

I have been supplied by the Trinity House with the following information:Each light vessel and steam vessel is inspected every year by a Committee of Elder Brethren. In addition to the annual inspection by the Elder Brethren each light vessel is inspected every six months by the superintendent of the district in which the vessel is situated. The steam vessels, which are stationed at one or other of the Trinity House depots, are under the constant supervision of the superintendent. At their inspections the Elder Brethren personally investigate the question of the water supplied for drinking purposes and inquiry is made as to whether the crew have any complaints to make on this or any other subject. The Elder Brethren have recently inquired into the question of the water supplied to all the light vessels belonging to Trinity House, and as a result it is found there have been very few complaints in regard to the water. These have been immediately investigated and the matter rectified and no ill effects have resulted. Great care is taken to ensure the supply of clean water to light vessels. As regards the cleaning of the tanks, with the exception of a few of the older light vessels the tanks are fitted so that they can be cleaned out whilst the vessel is on station, and this is done from time to time as necessary. In a few instances where the tanks are not accessible to be readily cleaned out the water is replenished frequently and there is no instance within the knowledge of the Trinity House of a man's health having suffered through the water supply.The tanks on the steamers are thoroughly cleansed once a year and at intervals as necessary. The fresh water tanks on the steam vessels are situated in the hold: in the light vessels they are situated below the lower deck. The fresh water tanks on the steam vessels are replenished frequently with water direct from the water main at the various Trinity House depots, and the water in the tanks is continually in circulation. The tanks on the light vessels are replenished at the monthly relief and oftener if required from the tanks on board the steam vessels. There is no definite regulation as to the periodical cleaning of light vessel water tanks, but it is recognised to be part of the duty of the master of the light vessel, who is responsible for the cleanliness and efficiency of the vessel, to clean them as often as he considers necessary; if he found anything wrong it would be his duty to report to the superintendent of the district.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that on the voyage of the steamship "Portwood," arriving at Derwenthaugh, Newcastle, on or about 3rd December last, it was discovered that no Maritime Board clauses appeared on the articles; and will he renew instructions to ensure that the proper agreements of the crews in the coastwise services are strictly administered?

I am informed that the agreement with the crew of the steamship "Portwood" does not contain any of the additional clauses recommended by the National Maritime Board. The question whether such clauses shall be included in the agreement with the crew of a ship is a matter to be settled between the parties to the agreement. Board of Trade superintendents have standing instructions to this effect.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of motor cars imported into this country during the previous three months, and the country of origin of these cars?

The following table shows the total number of motor vehicles (touring cars, commercial vehicles and complete chassis therefor) registered as imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the three months September to November, 1928, distinguishing the principal countries from which these imports were consigned. These countries are not necessarily the countries in which the vehicles were constructed, particulars of which are not recorded:Countries from which consigned:

		Number.
France	…	688
Italy	…	408
United States of America	…	4,942
Canada	…	2,208
Other Countries	…	177
Total Imports	…	8,423

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total quantity of hops imported into Great Britain from 1st January to this date; what is the average price of foreign hops compared to English; and what proportion of foreign to British hops is annually used in the breweries of Great Britain?

The total quantity of hops registered during the 11 months January to November, 1928, as imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 61,373 cwts. The exports of imported hops during this period amounted to 10,330 cwts. I am not able to state the average prices of foreign and British hops, since they are quoted by grades and the quantities in each grade are not known. The following quotations of prices from the "London Corn Circular" of 10th December may, however, serve to indicate the present relations between the prices of the different kinds of hops; the prices of imported hops are quoted duty paid.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons engaged in the manufacture of perfume and jewellery (real and artificial), respectively?

I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available, as each of these industries is combined for statistical purposes with others to form a single group, the figures for which cannot be considered as representative of those for the industries named.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will supply all available detailed information regarding the values of foreign trade, home production, home consumption, and home prices in 1924 and 1927, or at any later date of manufactures of silk and artificial silk, respectively; and of all classes of articles subject to the following import duties: Key Industry Duties, new Import Duties and Safeguarding Duties?

As regards our external trade in these articles, I am sending the right hon. Gentleman a copy of answers given by the Parliamentary Secretary on 13th March and 3rd August last to the hon. Members for West Walthamstow (Mr. Crawfurd) and Nelson (Mr. A. Greenwood), respectively; and with reference to the wholesale prices of home-produced articles of these kinds I am sending him a copy of an answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Peckham (Mr. Dalton) on 11th December. As regards home production, three answers, given to the hon. and gallant Member for Maidstone (Commander Bellairs) on 8th November, the hon. Member for Wimbledon (Sir J. Power) on 20th November, and the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Kelly) on 10th December, are being sent to the right hon. Gentleman. I am endeavouring to secure more comprehensive particulars of home production than have hitherto been available for certain trades, and I will consider in due course whether sufficient is obtained to justify publication. I have no direct information as to home consumption.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the issue of quarterly returns showing the value of the foreign trade of the country in each class of manufactured goods subject to import duties on which there is no countervailing excise?

All the more important figures are, as far as practicable, published monthly in the "Accounts relating to the Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom." As regards the Key Industry Duties, full details of imports and exports have not been separately compiled, but a table is published quarterly in these "Accounts" showing the value of the goods liable to these duties entered for home consumption.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the sterling value of the consumption in this country of tobacco, beer, spirits, tea and sugar now, and in 1919, 1913 and 1900, in total, and per head, per adult, and per male adult population, giving also in each case the value, exclusive of that part of it which is caused by duties payable to the State?

I regret that no official information of the kind asked for is available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state for each of the years 1925, 1926 and 1927 what is the amount of the deposits, if any, furnished in accordance with Schedule 8 B and C 2 (3) of the Assurance Companies Act, 1909, by Lloyd's underwriters as security for the due fulfilment of their fire and accident insurance contracts; the amount of the security furnished in the form of guarantees; whether any of the guarantees which may be furnished as an alternative to a deposit are given by persons who are not members of Lloyd's Underwriters' Association, and, if so, to what extent; and whether any alteration has been made in the terms of either the underwriters' agreement or trust deed during

Year.				Deposits.	Guarantees given by Members of Lloyd's.	Guarantees given by persons other than Members of Lloyd's.
				£	£
1925	…	…	…	1,923,520	11,664,242	Nil.
1926	…	…	…	2,059,675	11,003,092	Nil.
1927	…	…	…	2,230,151	10,376,679	Nil.

The alterations made during the years 1925–26–27 in the underwriters' agreements were merely technical and were made for the purpose of securing uniformity of wording in the various forms in use, and I am sending a copy of each of the forms in question to the hon. Member with the amendments underlined in red ink. The Trust Deed approved by the Board of Trade under the Eighth Schedule (B) and (C) 2 (a) has not been altered during the period in question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any statement is supplied to the Board of Trade of the number of Lloyd's underwriters who are unable to meet their engagements; if so, if any were in this position during the years 1925–26 and 1927; how many Lloyd's underwriters have complied with the requirement laid down in Schedule 8, paragraphs B and C (1) (b), of the Assurance Companies Act, as regards the furnishing to the Board of Trade of a statement showing the extent and character of the business effected by him; and how many Lloyd's underwriters during the same period, in lieu of complying with paragraph B (1) (a) and (b), have elected to comply with paragraphs B and C (2) of the schedule and supply to the Board of Trade an auditor's certificate in lieu of a full statement showing the extent and character of the business transacted?

The amounts of the deposits and guarantees furnished by Lloyd's underwriters in accordance with the Eighth Schedule (B) and (C) 2 (b) as security for claims in connection with fire, accident and other non-marine insurance business were as follow:—

I am informed by the Committee of Lloyd's that no members of Lloyd's were in the position during the years 1925–26–27 of being unable to meet their engagements. No Lloyd's underwriters have furnished the Board of Trade with a statement showing the extent and character of the business effected by them under the Eighth Schedule (B) and (C) 1 (b) during the years 1925–26–27. In lieu of providing this statement, 1,186 underwriters in 1925, 1,210 underwriters in 1926 and 1,256 underwriters in 1927 elected to comply with the alternative requirements contained in the Eighth Schedule (B) and (C) 2, and furnished the Board with auditors' certificates.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the number of cases of anthrax in the United Kingdom and the number of fatal cases; the number of cases of anthrax traceable to wool in the United Kingdom and the number of fatal cases; and the number of cases of anthrax in the United Kingdom traceable to East Indian wool and the number of fatal cases?

The numbers of cases of anthrax in human beings reported to the Factory Department as having occurred in factories and work- shops in Great Britain are as follow the four years 1924–1927:

1927	…	…	…	…	312
1926	…	…	…	…	383
1925	…	…	…	…	459
1924	…	…	…	…	434

Of these, the cases attributed to wool and hair (other than horsehair) are

1927	…	…	…	…	181
1926	…	…	…	…	152
1925	…	…	…	…	254
1924	…	…	…	…	191

The raised figures relate to deaths and are included in the principal figures. Out of the 18 cases notified as due to wool in 1927, the senior medical inspector reports (see page 93 of the Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories for 1927, Cmd. 3144) that in 14 the

—			1925.		1926.
			Estimated Production.	Average Yield per acre.	Estimated Production.	Average Yield per acre.
			Tons.	Tons.	Tons.	Tons.
England and Wales	…	…	3,214,000	6·5	2,763,000	5·5
Scotland	…	…	995,000	7·0	899,000	6·3
Great Britain	…	…	4,209,000	6·6	3,662,000	5·7
			1927.		1928.
England and Wales	…	…	3,055,000	5·9	3,513,000	7·2
Scotland	…	…	799,000	5·4	1,032,000	7·2
Great Britain	…	…	3,854,000	5·8	4,545,000	7·2

In addition it was estimated that the quantity of potatoes grown on allotments in England and Wales was as follows:

				…	Tons.
1925	…	…	…	…	550,000
1926	…	…	…	…	450,000
1927	…	…	…	…	461,000
1928	…	…	…	…	571,000

These figures do not include the yield of potatoes grown in gardens, the amount of which there is no means of ascertaining, although in the aggregate it represents, no doubt, a substantial addition to the total supply grown on farms and allotments.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the estimated cost

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total production of potatoes cropped in this country, -with the average yield per acre for each of the past four years?

The following table shows the estimated production and the yield per acre of potatoes grown on holdings exceeding one acre in Great Britain during the years 1925–28:of production for the last cropping season for ware potatoes; and what is the current selling price per ton?

I have no information which would enable me to answer the first part of the question. As regards the second part, the average price per ton of potatoes (first and second quality King Edward and Arran Chief) at certain wholesale markets in the month of November was 108s. 6d.

asked the Minister of Health the conditions under which grants are to be made to local authorities for land drainage work?

The main conditions on which grants will be made from the Ministry's funds towards schemes of land drainage are as follow:1. Schemes may be submitted by statutory drainage authorities (Commissions of sewers, drainage boards and other like bodies having statutory functions in relation to land drainage) and also by county councils who have similar statutory powers under general or local Acts.2. Schemes must be designed to confer a benefit on agricultural land, and may include works of maintenance and also works which the authority may be under obligation to carry out, where the Ministry is satisfied that special circumstances exist which would justify a Government grant, and that the execution of the works would thereby be accelerated. Minor maintenance works, however, such as weed cutting, will not be eligible.3. The main object of the grants is to facilitate the transfer of miners from certain depressed areas, and it is therefore not intended to make grants towards schemes in such areas.4. Not less than 50 per cent. of all labour employed on the scheme must be obtained through the Employment Exchanges from certain depressed areas selected by the Ministry of Labour.5. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will require to be satisfied that suitable accommodation already exists for the men to be so transferred, or that such accommodation will be provided.6. The grant will be 50 per cent. of the final net cost of this scheme. Advances will be made from time to time as required during the carrying out of the scheme, and the authority promoting the scheme will have to find their share of the cost concurrently with the Ministry's advances.7. During the progress of the work it will be subject to inspection by and approval of the Ministry.8. Where the authority proposes to raise its quota of the cost by means of a loan, the scheme, if approved by the Ministry, will be forwarded to the Unemployment Grants Committee, and any grant made will be made by that Committee and on the basis of the Committee's conditions applicable to such grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs the name of the federations of cheese farmers who are receiving a grant from the Empire Marketing Board, together with the amount in each case?

The Cheshire Cheese Federation and the English Cheddar Cheesemakers' Federation are each receiving a grant of £500 towards the expenses of their second years of working.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the construction of a shore road between Bo'ness and South Queensferry has been considered by his Department?

Six years ago the town council of South Queensferry applied to my Department for a grant towards the cost of forming a new road along the foreshore of the Firth of Forth on the north side of the Burgh. A 50 per cent. grant was offered from the Road Fund, but was not accepted by the town council. Since then I have heard no more of the project.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Palestinian emigrants are being afforded diplomatic and consular protection; and, if not, will he state the reasons for such withdrawal of protection?

British protection is accorded to all persons who have acquired Palestinian citizenship under the provisions of the Palestinian Citizenship Order-in-Council, 1925.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the inconvenience experienced by British subjects through the long waiting periods that they have at the Egyptian consul's office in London when attending that office for the purpose of obtaining a visa for Egypt; and will he make representations to the Egyptian authorities requesting them to facilitate matters so as to enable British subjects to be dealt with more promptly on such occasions?

No complaints have reached me on this subject, but if the hon. Member will inform me of any that have come to his notice, I will endeavour to have any causes for complaint removed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will obtain from His Britannic Majesty's Minister in Budapest information as to the likelihood of the reimposition of thenumeras clausus as against Jewish students?

I have re-received no information indicating any likelihood such as that referred to, but I am quite ready to ask for a report from His Majesty's Minister at Budapest.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the successful experiment, both technically and as to saving in price,

(a) HIGHER CLERICAL GRADE—NUMBERS AUTHORISED AND NUMBERS EMPLOYED, 1ST APRIL, 1928.
(b) JUNIOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS—NUMBERS AUTHORISED AND NUMBERS EMPLOYED, 1ST APRIL, 1928.
Department.	Higher Clerical Grade.			Junior Executive Grade.
	Number Authorised.	Number employed.		Number Authorised.	Number employed.
	Men and Women.	Men.	Women.	Men and Women.	Men.	Women.
Admiralty	116	113	—	180	140	—
Agriculture and Fisheries	57	55	2	—	14*	—
Air Ministry	70	71*	—	48	46*	—
British Museum	18	18	—	—	—	—
Charity Commission	8	8	—	—	—	—
Civil Service Commission	7	8*	—	5	4†	—
Colonial and Dominions Offices	27	27	—	3	3	—
Control, Board of	1	1	—	3	3	—
County Courts Department	2	2	—	—	—	—
Crown Lands Department	2	2	—	7	7	—
Customs and Excise	71	67	4	118	115	—
Board of Education	104	100	4	20	16	4
Exchequer and Audit	—	—	—	46‡	40‡	—
Foreign Office	17	11	6	11	11	—

I have no official information regarding the experiment to which my Noble Friend refers. I understand, however, that maize is only grown in this country for green fodder and ensilage and does not grow to maturity.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of men and women of higher clerical officers and executive officers, respectively, authorised and employed as and on 1st April, 1920, and 1st April, 1928, respectively, in each of the departments and the main sub-departments of the larger departments in which such posts exist?

The following information relates only to the position as at 1st April, 1928. Similar information for the corresponding date in 1920 is not available.