asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in order to stimulate trade in the distressed mining areas, he will make representations to those responsible for the administration of the Lord Mayor's Fund as to the advisability of having goods purchased in the localities instead of having them sent from other centres?

This matter has already been brought to the attention of the Lord Mayor, and he has stated that, as far as possible, all supplies bought from his fund will be obtained locally.

asked the President of the Board of Education if any part of the Lord Mayor's Relief Fund has been or will be available for distressed iron and steel workers and their families throughout the counties of Staffordshire, Lincolnshire, Salop and Yorkshire?

The operation of the Lord Mayor's Fund is confined to distressed mining areas, which include certain areas in the counties of Staffordshire, Salop and Yorkshire. Within those areas assistance from the fund will be available for all distressed families in cases of proved necessity.

In view of the well-known distress existing among this class of workpeople not resident within these areas and the fact that the fund is being contributed to by the taxpayers' money, will the Noble Lord see that all cases of distress equally participate in the available relief?

The answer is that the money was voted by the House for the relief of distressed mining areas and cannot be extended.

Bearing in mind that we have not yet had defined what is a mining area, will the Noble Lord see that the House is supplied with this information?

If the hon. Member refers to an answer I gave to a question two or three days ago, he will see a statement of all the areas to which the fund has now been extended.

asked the President of the Board of Education if there are any women members on the executive committee of the Lord Mayor's distress fund; and, if so, how many?

There are no women serving on the joint executive committee of the Lord Mayor's Fund.

Will the Noble Lord consider the advisability of adding some women to the Committee?

It is entirely a matter for those who appoint the members of the Committee. The voluntary organisation who appoint half the members originally had two women members. They have now changed their representation. I really cannot interfere with their discretion.

Who appoints the other half?

The Lord Mayor.

Is the Noble Lord aware that there is considerable dissatisfaction among the miners themselves and their families with regard to the distribution of relief and the absence of representation of miners themselves?

No, I am not.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that the Abercarn Colliery, Mon-mouthshire, when re-starting after 18 months' stoppage, provided the men with food before going down the colliery owing to their impoverished condition, and intimated that this would be continued until they received their first pay; and whether, seeing that this is typical of the condition of many thousands of persons in the South Wales and other mining areas, he will order the proposed grant from Exchequer funds to the Lord Mayor's Fund to be handed over forthwith, with the request that the fund should be distributed immediately?

As I have already stated, the Government grant is at the Lord Mayor's disposal. The local committees in South Wales have ample funds at their command to finance any relief measures which they consider desirable.

asked the President of the Board of Education what steps he is taking to increase the efficiency of the organisation under Mr. Curtis-Bennett for the distribution and co-ordination of relief to the distressed mining areas and the more expeditious relief of suffering and distress in those areas?

I hope the hon. and gallant Member will not think me meticulous if I remind him that Mr. Curtis-Bennett and his staff do not control the organisation of the Lord Mayor's Fund, but occupy, in relation to the Lord Mayor and his executive committee, the same sort of position as civil servants in relation to Government Departments. I see no reason to question the efficiency of the organisation of the Lord Mayor's Fund, and I think great credit is due to all concerned for the progress made in the last few weeks in the difficult task of building up a complete and properly constituted local organisation to ensure that the fund is administered to the best advantage. As this task is completed, responsibility for distribution falls upon the local committees, who, I think, deserve and should receive the confidence of the public.

The Noble Lord will be aware that I was, of course, not in any way criticising Mr. Curtis-Bennett. I speak of the organisation under him. Is the Noble Lord satisfied with the machinery for distribution—not collection—and is he satisfied that the relief is being given quickly enough?

Does the Noble Lord really think there can be complete administration as long as there is no woman on the Committee?

The Noble Lady quite misunderstands the position. It is the local committees that have to do the distribution and have to be in touch with the distress, and there are women on those committees. With regard to the first question, I am satisfied as to the character of the machinery. I think it is efficient, and it has been set up on the best possible lines. As for speed of distribution, I must not express an opinion until the local committees, many of which have only just been set up, have had time to get to work.

Does the Noble Lord really think the Central Committee which, after all, gives a lead in a way to the local committees, can be complete unless there is a woman on it?

This question arose before the Noble Lady arrived in the House.

Has Mr. Curtis-Bennett ever had an experience of this kind before, and is it not necessary that there should be some people on these Committees who know the sufferings of the people and will be a driving power behind such men who have not had experience?

From the hon. Member's question, I should imagine that he does not understand the organisation of the Fund at all. Mr. Curtis-Bennett has no personal responsibility and no personal connection with the work of the local committees. The local committees consist of people who are in close personal touch with the distress. They have ample funds at their command. They are not hampered for lack of funds, and, I believe, they deserve the confidence of the public. I am very sorry that the hon. Member should spend his time in trying to destroy public confidence and make vague accusations against Mr. Curtis-Bennett.

I think what I said is perfectly true.

rose—

I want to know whether the Minister is satisfied that the Government—

The hon. Member has been long enough in the House to know that he cannot remain standing when I am on my feet. We have already dealt with this question. We have had many supplementary questions.

I have not put a question.

Questions have been put by many hon. Members.

asked the President of the Board of Education why it is that only £2,000 has been allocated to the West Riding of Yorkshire from the Lord Mayor's Fund; whether an organisation has been set up in the area capable of dealing out relief to mitigate the distress in many mining villages; and when they are likely to begin to give relief to mining families in this area?

Good progress has been made with the organisation of local committees in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and it is expected that they will be in a position at a very early date efficiently to undertake the administration of assistance from the Lord Mayor's Fund. It is not the fact that only £2,000 has been allocated to the West Riding. The Lord Mayor announced on 11th January that, pending a closer examination of the relative needs of different areas, the West Riding, like other areas, would receive from the Fund at least double the sums raised locally for the Fund up to the end of January. £2,000 has been paid to the Divisional Committee from the Fund as a first instalment, and further payments will be made as and when required.

Is the Noble Lord aware that in the West Riding of Yorkshire there are nearly 40,000 miners out of work and thousands of children badly shod and insufficiently clad, and is it not time someone wakened up and saw that in areas like that where there is suffering, and when so much is appearing in the Press as to the ghastly conditions in the North through the Prince of Wales's visit, action is taken and relief given in cases of that sort?

Is the Noble Lord aware that in three villages alone, through the stoppage of the Rother Main Colliery, which stopped between two and three thousand hands, there are extreme cases of poverty and privation?

I am aware of those facts and the administration of the assistance that is necessary in the West Riding will depend simply upon the activity of the local committees. I hope the hon. Member will not under-rate the assistance which has already been given to the distress to which he refers. For instance, the distribution of boots to school children has been carried out very thoroughly and on a very large scale in the West Riding already in anticipation of assistance from the Lord Mayor's Fund, and there are no fewer than 10,000 children now being fed in the schools in the West Riding County area alone.

Is the Noble Lord aware that the relief that has been given in the way of boots was in no way connected with the Lord Mayor's Fund, and with no knowledge of the Lord Mayor's Fund, but from private charity in West Riding? How much more money than £2,000 has been sent for such a large area with such a large amount of distress?

Does not the Noble Lord think, if there was a capable woman on the central committee, things would really be better now?

I must point out to the Noble Lady that this has already been dealt with in answer to a previous question.

It is most unsatisfactory.

The hon. Member is not quite correct in his facts. As a matter of fact, a very large amount of the boots now being distributed are being distributed out of money which will be received back from the Lord Mayor's Fund.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that the Hampshire County Education Authority is advertising for an uncertificated woman teacher with salary under Scale 2; and if, notwithstanding there is no violation of the Code, he will take steps to prevent the establishment of such a teaching standard?

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave the hon. Member on 24th January, in reply to a similar question.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received complaints as to the large in- creases recently made in the assessments of voluntary hospitals; and whether, having regard to the benefits conferred on the community by these institutions and the financial difficulties under which many of them are suffering, he will consider the exemption of all voluntary hospitals from local rates?

I have received some representations on this subject. The exemption of hospitals from rating could not be effected without legislation, and, in my opinion, any such proposal cannot be considered apart from the similar claims made on behalf of other charitable and public institutions.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that churches and chapels are relieved altogether from local rates, and does he not consider that voluntary hospitals, which are doing so much good, might be relieved?

I think the answer which I gave covers that point.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one very large hospital has had its assessment increased from £300 to £l,600?

asked the Minister of Health the quantity of radium at present in this country which is not being used, and who are the owners?

I have no means of obtaining full information on this subject. Certain supplies of radium are in the hands of voluntary institutions and private persons; the uses of radium are not restricted to therapeutic purposes; and it rests with those to whom the supplies belong to secure their economical full usage.

In view of the difficulties that are being caused by local authorities and hospitals endeavouring to purchase this radium element, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of taking action in order that these bodies may not compete against each other for the radium?

I have told the hon. Member that this matter is under consideration by a special Committee, whose report I am expecting to receive very shortly.

asked the Minister of Health the result of the communications he recently addressed to the Governments of the countries concerned in the importation of certified carcases of imported mutton which were condemned in this country on account of disease?

I have not yet received any answers to those communications.

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases receiving Poor Law relief in Durham county that are classified as unemployed; and the amount of relief paid to these cases during the last six months for which the figures are available?

The average number of persons classified by the guardians as unemployed and their dependants who were in receipt of Poor Law relief in the union county of Durham in December, 1928, was 45,188, and the amount of relief in money and kind paid to such persons during the six months ending on 29th Dec5mber, 1928, was £309,815.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are large numbers who are neither getting unemployment benefit nor relief in the Chester-le-Street area, which facts have been revealed during the visit of the Prince of Wales during the past few days?

Have the inspectors of the Department, or has the right hon. Gentleman himself, issued instructions that these men shall not have any relief? Is not the consequence to be seen in the pitiable stories which have been published in the newspapers this morning? Is not the right hon. Gentleman and his Department responsible for that?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health why his Department has issued a Circular stating that men engaged on work such as snow clearing must not have their insurance cards stamped, as this work is not recognised as employment for the purpose of health insurance?

No such Circular has been issued by my Department, but the position with regard to national health insurance is similar to the position in regard to unemployment insurance dealt with in the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour in answer to a question yesterday.

Will the right hon. Gentleman communicate with his people at Ipswich and Bolton, in order that they may put a stop to the practice that is now going on?

What practice?

The practice of people connected with the Ministry of Health refusing to accept cards to be stamped, from people who are engaged in the clearing of snow.

If the hon. Member will read the reply of the Minister of Labour, he will see at once why that is done.

Is there anything in an Act of Parliament which permits a Department to impose a condition as debarring these people from having their cards stamped?

It is entirely in accordance with the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can state the total number of teachers in Scotland who have passed all the examinations and training required and yet have not been able to secure employment; and if he is taking any active steps to reduce the size of classes in schools to provide employment?

The reply is in the negative. The Department have no means of estimating the number of qualified teachers in Scotland who are unemployed and who desire employment. With regard to the second part, the hon. Member will be aware that a reduction in the maximum size of classes was made last September, but I do not think that the provision of employment is a factor which by itself can affect the Department's consideration of this matter.

Are statistics kept of the people who pass through training colleges and on whose training the Government spend money? Are there any figures as to the number who are now seeking employment?

There are certain figures as to the number of people who pass in certain years, and I shall give the hon. Member those figures. The number of Scottish students who completed training during and at the end of session 1927–1928 is 1,585, and of these, 912 had received appointments up to 1st November, 1928—that is about three months after completing training. The percentage is 57.5. In the previous period the percentage was 84.2, but this figure refers to the number who obtained appointments 15 months after completing training.

asked the Minister of Health the number of subsidy houses built in England and Wales during 1928 and the number built by private enter prise?

The number of subsidy houses built in England and Wales during the year ended 31st December, 1928, was 104,335, of which 46,628 were built by private enterprise. In addition there were 64,62–1 houses built by private enterprise without State assistance during the twelve months ended 30th September.

Are; these figures in accordance with the official anticipation, or not?

I did not know that there was any official anticipation.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any of the houses built by private enterprise were houses to let?

I could not say without notice.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of epileptics in general Poor Law infirmaries and Poor Law institutions, respectively?

I regret that this information is not in my possession.

If I put a question later, will the right hon. Gentleman give me an answer?

I do not think the information could be obtained without a special investigation in each district, but I will look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Health if, seeing that on the passing of the Local Government Bill the duties of poor law authorities are transferred to another body, he will consider the advisability of taking some action to avoid a guardians' election this year?

I would point out to my hon. and gallant Friend that the appointed day for the transfer of poor law functions to the councils of counties and county boroughs is not, as he assumes, the date of the passing of the Act but the 1st April, 1930. With regard to the election of boards of guardians, paragraph 2 of the 9th Schedule to the Bill provides that no election shall be held after the passing of the Act and I hope that the Act will be passed in time to avoid a guardians' election this year.

In view of the fact that one-third of the guardians retire on the 1st of April this year, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to continue the work of the board of guardians for one year until the new Act operates? Otherwise, there will be difficulty.

If the hon. Member will look at the Ninth Schedule, paragraph 2, he will see that that is provided for.

Are not boards of guardians elected for a certain period? Can the right hon. Gentleman nullify an Act of Parliament?

One Act of Parliament can modify another Act.

The Act only comes into operation in 1930. Has not the right hon. Gentleman to make provision for the election of boards of guardians before the Act comes into operation?

Although the Act does not come into operation until then, it begins before then. If the hon. Member will look at the Schedule which I have mentioned, he will see that that matter is covered.

Am I to understand that the right hon. Gentleman will issue a Circular, to the effect that the present guardians who have been elected will function until the new Act operates?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Schedule.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Berks, Bucks, and Oxford Vagrancy Committee have passed a resolution to close the Newport Pagnell casual wards; that the Newport Pagnell Board of Guardians is strongly opposed; that if this proposal is carried out it will involve a journey 30 miles on the one road between casual wards and on the other road 27 miles; and whether he will use his influence with the Bucks, Berks, and Oxford Vagrancy Committee to prevent this ward being closed down?

I have received representations on this matter from the Newport Pagnell Board of Guardians, but as yet have no application from the Vagrancy Committee in regard to it. I shall give careful consideration to all relevant matters before deciding upon any application that may be made to me.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, at the Brentford casual ward, the casuals were served with skilly on Christmas Day and that some of them were afterwards put on to stone-breaking; and will he issue regulations to prevent such practices in future?

My Noble Friend appears to have been misinformed. I have made inquiries and find that while gruel was served to these casuals at breakfast on Christmas Day, a special Christmas dinner was provided for them and no task of stone-breaking was imposed.

asked the Minister of Health the approximate number of boards of guardians which at the time he took office were in the habit of giving outdoor relief to able-bodied men?

Returns based on the classification of able-bodied are not obtained. In December, 1924, 483 boards of guardians were giving out-door relief to one or more men ordinarily engaged in some regular occupation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this was done mostly by those boards of guardians which had a Tory majority, and out of sheer necessity; and that his regime is causing great hardship?

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to Leaflet W.P.4 (revised), which has been issued from local post offices to claimants for widows' and orphans' pensions, the wording of which in paragraph 1 is quite unintelligible: and, in view of the fact that 150,000 of them have been printed, will he take steps to have this leaflet withdrawn?

The facts are that a printer's error was made in part of the copies when this circular was being finally printed off. Most of the incorrect copies were destroyed but a small number, probably not more than 20,000, got into circulation. All practicable steps have been taken to recall them.

In view of the fact that this document was headed "Leaflet W.P.4 (revised)," will the right hon. Gentleman say who is responsible for the revision?

Perhaps my hon. Friend did not attend to my answer. It was not in the revision that the error occurred, but it was an error in printing.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. James Arthur Pritchard, who was a self-employed iron bedstead maker and continuously insured as a voluntary contributor from July, 1912 to July, 1926, since which date, through failure of business, he has been unable to keep up his voluntary contributions; whether he is aware that this man attained the age of 65 on the 11th August, 1928, and has been refused an old age pension on the grounds that he had not been continuously insured for five years immediately prior to that date; and whether, observing that this man paid contributions for 13 years, he will inquire whether some steps can be taken to grant him a pension?

Mr. Pritchard, having failed to pay any contributions after 6th July, 1925, ceased to be an insured person for the purposes of the Contributory Pensions Act on 30th June, 1927, and accordingly on 11th August, 3928, when he reached the age of 65, he did not satisfy the conditions of Section 7 (1) (b) and Section 8 (a) and his claim was rejected. The Referees upheld the rejection of his claim on appeal and as their decision is, by the Act, made final and conclusive I have no power to take any action in the matter.

asked the Minister of Health why the administrative county of Northamptonshire was omitted from the tables of estimated grants and deficits contained in Command Papers 3134 and 3227; whether his Department has worked out the figures for Northamptonshire; and, if so, will he publish them?

Northamptonshire was one of the counties for which the calculations had not been completed when the last Command Paper was issued. The estimates for this county will be included in the next Command Paper which it is hoped will be issued shortly.

Are we to understand that the Government did not work out the figures for every county, before producing a Measure of this magnitude?

Yes, the hon. Member may understand it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any arrangement has been made between the British Government and the Government of the Irish Free State to take back British coins at present in circulation in the Irish Free State at their face value; what proposals have been made by the Free State Government on the matter; and what is the estimated loss to the British Exchequer, having regard to the intrinsic value of the coins in question and to the profit which would be made were such coins to be minted by the Royal Mint?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if payment was made by the Irish Free State for the British coinage hitherto used in the Free State; and, if so, what was the amount of payment;

(2) what amount of coinage in face value will be returned to the Treasury by the Irish Free State Government; and what sum in sterling value has been agreed to be paid by the British Government to the Irish Free State?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether it is proposed to take back British coins in circulation in the Irish Free State at their face value or at their worth as bullion?

This question is under discussion with His Majesty's Government in the Irish Free State and I expect to be able to make a statement upon the subject before the end of February.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why there is always this tremendous delay in getting information about any matters which are under discussion with the Free State when we can get prompt information in regard to matters relating to New Zealand, Australia, and other Dominions?

It is a question of co-ordination of answers between the two Parliaments.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind in the negotiations which are proceeding that a substantial profit of £600,000 is to be made if these coins were minted in the Royal Mint, and that he has informed the House that there is not sufficient money to pay in full the claims awarded by a British Commission to Irish Loyalists for personal injury and loss of property?

Odd as it may seem, all these considerations will be borne in mind.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the first part of Question 37?

I think that point is covered by my answer.

Are we to understand that the Mint makes a profit as suggested by the hon. Member for Kensington South (Sir W. Davison).

I should like to have notice of that question.

Will the Chancellor of the Exchequer take into consideration the judgment in the Wigg and Cochrane case?

All questions which are relevant will be taken into consideration, but that is only remotely relevant to the subject on the Paper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has received any representations concerning the desirability of reverting to penny postage; and, if so, what action he intends to take?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on this subject last Tuesday.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the tremendous advantage which the United States of America possess in having a penny postage over the whole of her territory, a large portion of the British Empire and foreign countries?

In view of the terms of the answer and the statements which have appeared in the public Press on the subject of the National Health Insurance, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can give an assurance that any loss incurred in the establishment of a penny postage will not be made good by revenues derived from the disposal of National Health Insurance to private interests?

I am not in a position at the moment to make a reply on any of these subjects, but we shall consider the whole field of revenue before the Budget statement, and when that statement is made any proposals for relief or additional taxation will be laid before the House.

In view of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall put a Private Notice question to the right hon. Gentleman to-morrow in regard to the relation of the two points of National Health Insurance and penny postage.

I do not want there to be any misunderstanding on the subject. It is a mare's nest. I have never heard any suggestion that National Health Insurance should be made to pay for penny postage. No such suggestion has ever been brought before me until this afternoon by the right hon. Gentleman, and I can give him my full assurance that such an idea has never been entertained.

In that event, there would be no need to put the question tomorrow.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any information as to the effect upon the Revenue of the introduction of the penny post in Canada; and, if not, whether he will cause inquiries to be made?

I have been asked to answer this question. The Postmaster-General has asked the Canadian Post Office for the information desired by my hon. Friend, but has not yet received a reply. It may be some little time before exact information as to the effects on revenue and traffic is available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the late Mr. James White, financier, of Foxhill, Swindon, died having paid no Income Tax or Super-tax from 1921 till the time of his death in 1927, and that the amounts due to the Crown were approximately £1,700,000; whether it is a common practice to allow a man to avoid all payment of taxes for six years; and, if not, why Mr. James white was so allowed?

My Noble Friend has been misinformed. It is true that large assessments—though not so large as he suggests—were outstanding at the time of Mr. James White's death, but they were merely in estimated amounts in the absence of a return and were under appeal; and Mr. White made a substantial payment on account shortly before his death. My Noble Friend will of course realise that exceptional difficulty attends the collection of tax from people who make and lose great fortunes in quick succession and keep no accounts, and he must not draw any general inferences. Even in this case I am informed that the interests of the Revenue have been substantially safeguarded.

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been drawn to the remarks of Mr. Justice Rowlatt in a case brought before him last week, an appeal for Income Tax, when it was shown that the case had been going on for eight years. His remarks were these—

That does not arise out of the answer.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the second part of the question; whether it is the practice to allow a man to get away and avoid all payment of Income Tax for six years?

The utmost energy is displayed by officials of the Department in collecting all moneys due to the State, but, of course, there are great facilities for litigation and legal processes at the disposal of taxpayers who choose in some circumstances to use them.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that as far as the Labour party are concerned, we always pay as soon as we get our demand note?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what reason there is for the difference in treatment as regards compensation between dockyardsmen who are injured abroad on the one hand and seamen and crews of aircraft on the other; and whether, in view of the fact that seamen and crews of aircraft who are injured abroad come under the Workmen's Compensation Acts, he will see that equally favourable treatment in terms of compensation is given to dockyardsmen injured abroad?

I have been asked to reply. As was explained in the reply to the hon. Member of 19th December last, the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1925, does not apply to workmen serving abroad with the special exception of merchant seamen and civilian crews of aircraft. Section 33 of the Act provides that it shall not apply to persons in the Naval or Military or Air service of the Crown, but otherwise shall apply to workmen employed by or under the Crown to whom the Act would apply if the employer were a private person. Consequently it is not possible to bring dockyardsmen or other workmen employed by or under the Crown while serving abroad under the Workmen's Compensation Act or any scheme framed thereunder. They are however dealt with, as has already been explained, under the Warrant framed under Section 1 of the Superannuation Act, 1887.

Will the hon. and gallant Member draw the attention of his right hon. Friend to the fact that I am aware that the difference does exist and that it is about time it was remedied? There is no justification for it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has considered the claims put forward by the P-class of ex-service civil servants as regards their pay and prospects; and whether he is able to make any announcement as to the decision made?

I have been asked to reply. The representations recently submitted on behalf of the P-class of civil servants are under examination, but I am not yet in a position to make any pronouncement.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the Government Departments to which for the first time women have been appointed within the last year; and whether, in view of the success of women candidates in the examinations, he will give further consideration to the adoption of the, principle of equal pay for equal work, irrespective of sex, in the Civil Service?

Within the 12 months preceding the 28th January, 1929, women have been appointed from open competitive examinations for the first time in the capacities stated to the following Departments:

• Ministry of Transport—Junior Administrative Officer.
• Customs and Excise—Executive Officer.
• Inland Revenue—Executive Officer.
• Ministry of Labour—Executive Officer.
• Estate Duty Office—Assistant Examiner.
• Exchequer and Audit Office—Assistant Auditor.

With regard to the last part of the question, His Majesty's Government have given renewed consideration to this matter in view of representations recently made on the subject. They have, however, found it impossible to depart from the decision already announced both by this and by the late Government that the present state of the country's finances will not admit of the great increase of expenditure involved in the application of the principle of equal pay for men and women in the Civil Service.

Does that statement really carry out the sex equality which this Government passed—the Bill for sex equality? Is that fair or just?

It really represents the decision and policy of His Majesty's Government and the decision and policy of their predecessors.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that because his predecessors made a mistake, or were unjust, he has any right to carry on the injustice?

I should be perfectly prepared, on a suitable occasion, to argue the matter with the Noble Lady, but this is not the occasion.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in a case where an ex-service man was employed by the Minister of Labour and was unable to go on because he was disabled, his wife had to take on the job at exactly £l a week less?

Would the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to engage in a debate on the wireless with the Noble Lady?

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) the amount and worth of retained imports of

asked the Prime Minister whether he can give the House any information as to the proposed

With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving particulars of the imports of canned and bottled vegetables and fruits for the year 1927. I regret that, except in the case of tomatoes and pineapples, the available statistics do not show separately the imports of the various vegetables or fruits. Tomatoes are, of course, extensively grown in this country, but pineapples cannot be produced here on a commercial scale.

In these statistics, would my right hon. Friend give the Empire figures separately?

The figures are to be circulated this afternoon, but I will see whether that information is available.

On the recommendation of the Government of India it has been decided to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the conditions of labour in India. Until the Terms of Reference and personnel have been settled, and both matters are now under consideration, I can make no statement beyond saying that Indian labour will be represented on the Commission.

Why do we get this information from the Press first instead of in this House? Will steps be taken to avoid the unfortunate misapprehension which occurred in connection with the Simon Commission?

I am afraid that I have no knowledge about the latter question. With regard to the first question, there is nothing unusual in a statement of this kind, which affects India so directly, being made by the Viceroy.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the appointment of one or more British trade union leaders?

That question had better be put to the India Office.

asked the hon. And gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what is the maximum acreage for which the Commissioners could provide or procure transplants for afforestation during each of the next six years; and how long it would take to provide transplants for planting a programme of 100,000 acres a year?

It is estimated that the maximum acreage for which the Forestry Commission could provide or procure transplants for afforestation during each of the next three seasons would be 30,000 acres. Thereafter transplants for a planting programme of 100,000 acres per year could be provided if funds were available this year for the additional nursery ground, etc.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, if he is aware that the Reconstruction Committee recommended a planting programme of 1,180,000 acres for the first 40 years; that, according to the present programme, less than one-third of the recommended programme will have been carried out at the end of 20 years; and whether, in view of the suitability of miners for this work, the Forestry Commissioners propose to apply for an increased programme as a means of finding useful work for unemployed miners, whose idleness is costing the country£60 per man per year?