asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons employed at the Walworth Road (Borough) Exchange and the average salaries paid to such persons; and the gross salaries and yearly cost of maintenance of this Exchange?

The number of officers employed at the Walworth Road (Borough) Employment Exchange on 1st January, 1929, was 61; their average salary (including cost-of-living bonus at the current rate) being £241 15s. per annum. The gross amount of salaries (including overtime) for the year ended 31st December, 1928, for this staff was £13,025. The yearly cost of maintenance, heating, lighting, and cleaning (including cleaners' wages) is on the average about £665.

asked the Minister of Labour, whether any miners have been found work by the Walworth Road (Borough) Exchange under the Transference Board's scheme; and can he give particulars?

Since the beginning of June, 45 men from the depressed areas, most of whom were miners, have been placed in employment by the Borough Employment Exchange under the Industrial Transference scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the juveniles who have been transferred from distressed mining areas to the borough of Southwark have secured employment at which they are working through the medium of the Walworth Road (Borough) Employment Exchange?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Postmaster-General the average amount of the face value of life insurance policies at present in existence that have been issued through the Savings Bank Department?

The amount is approximately £50.

asked the Postmaster-General the gross number of life assurance policies issued by the Savings Bank Department of the Post Office since the inception of the scheme, and the average number of policies issued yearly to date?

The gross number issued from 17th April, 1865, to 31st December, 1928, was 32,383, and the average number issued yearly was 506.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Nationalist Government of China have engaged a number of German military officers to reorganise the Chinese army; and whether this matter has been discussed by the League of Nations?

I have received reports of the arrival of German military instructors in various parts of China, but I am unable to say precisely in what capacity. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any statement to make on the negotiations relating to the Rhineland?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply returned on this subject to the right hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for New-castle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can give the conditions under which pupils are allowed to enter the high schools of the Tonga Islands to receive a general secondary education; and whether girls are admitted as pupils to the Government college?

The information desired is not available in the Colonial Office. Inquiry is being made of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the date when he wrote to the Barnsley county borough council suggesting the building of an aerodrome; and whether any particular area was stated and the dimensions?

As regards the first part of the question, a circular letter was addressed by the Air Council on 29th October last to Barnsley, in common with other corporations, pointing out the desirability of the provision of aerodromes by municipal authorities and suggesting that the corporation should consider the advisability of establishing a municipal aerodrome. The answer to the second part is in the negative, but the circular letter stated that the Air Council would be glad, on hearing from the corporation, to forward information regarding the re- quirements for an aerodrome and to advise as to the selection of a suitable site.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the values of the import of woollen and worsted manufactures (including yarn) into the

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will consider the advisability of giving institutional treatment in a home provided through the Ministry by the State to those ex-service

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 22nd January, 1929, col. 24, Vol. 224] supplied the following statement:men who through war service are now housed in pauper lunatic asylums, providing treatment somewhat on the lines adopted by the British Legion with ex-service men suffering from tuberculosis, with the ultimate object of enabling the to resume their ordinary occupations as far as possible?

All cases (whether of ex-service men or others) whose mental condition requires certification and who may need institutional treatment, are required to be dealt with in the mental hospitals provided for under the Lunacy Acts—institutions the description of which as "pauper lunatic asylums" I deprecate most strongly as both inaccurate and needlessly offensive to patients and their relatives. The hon. Member's suggestion has, however, already been met by the provision of not merely one but two special institutions which, with the assistance of the Board of Control, my right hon. Friend was enabled to set up in 1923, in conjunction with the general mental hospitals. These institutions were specifically designed for those cases in which the Ministry are medically advised that a chance of recovery or improvement is offered by special treatment in the form of occupational training and instruction.