asked the Home Secretary the number of permits to enter and carry on their profession in this country issued to alien musicians during the last two years; and whether, having regard to the number of British musicians now unemployed, he will consider the desirability of cancelling any such permits as may now be operative and not issuing others?

I have been asked to reply. The number of permits issued in respect of alien musicians (other than concert vocalists and instrumentalists) for the years 1927 and 1928, was as follows:

• 1927—granted 67, refused 15.
• 1928—granted 120, refused 16.

I would add in respect of the permits granted for 1928, that they include an alien band numbering 81 people who were here for a matter of a few days only, giving concert performances. When it is decided to issue permits in respect of alien musicians, conditions are imposed to safeguard the interests of British musicians. I am unaware of any case in which the entry of an alien musician or an alien band has resulted in a British musician becoming unemployed. As a rule alien bands are engaged as temporary attractions in addition to the band normally employed at the particular establishment. They are also permitted to enter the country to accept short engagements at music halls. In these circumstances, I cannot act as suggested in the last part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of juveniles registered as unemployed in the London area in November and December, 1928, and January, 1929?

The following table shows the numbers of boys and girls, aged 14 to 17 inclusive, on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the area of Greater London on each Monday of November and December, 1928, and January, 1929:

Date.	Boys.	Girls.	Total.
1928.
5th November	3,496	2,888	6,384
12th November	3.101	2,525	5,626
19th November	2,820	2,465	5.285
26th November	2,445	2,293	4,738
3rd December	2.33:5	2,229	4,562
10th December	2,074	2,102	4.176
17th December	1,790	1,757	3,547
24th December	No figures available.
31st December	4,303	3,831	8,134
1929.
7th January	4,864	4,793	9,657
14th January	5,204	4,945	10,149
21st January	4,762	4,478	9,240

asked the Minister of Labour whether any steps are being taken to meet the shortage of miners in North Wales by transference from other mining areas?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given yesterday on this subject to the hon. Member for Newton (Mr. E. Young).

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Rotherham county borough council have expressed the opinion that, in view of the heavy burden at present incurred by the council in connection with capital works already executed for the purpose of providing work for the unemployed and of the serious amount of unemployment already existing in their area, it is impossible for them to find special work for the unemployed on the terms set out in the circular of the Unemployment Grants Committee; and whether, in view of the fact that the conditions in Rotherham are typical of those prevailing in many other districts, the circular in question will be reconsidered?

I am afraid I cannot hold cut any prospect of improvement in the financial terms of grant from the Unemployment Grants Committee.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men and women registered as unemployed in the county of Cornwall?

At 21st January, 1929, there were 4,953 men and 439 women on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the county of Cornwall.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in certain cases insured persons who have reached the age of 65, and have been refused an old age pension, have also been refused unemployment pay; and will he look into this matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Members for Central Hull (Lieut.-CommanderKenworthy) and South Tottenham (Mr. Malone), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that on relief test work at Gartloch and Lennox Castle men are paid 35s. per week; and why the Glasgow Corporation rate of £2 15s. per week is not paid, in view of the fact that all the men concerned are married and have families?

As the hon. Member is aware, the matter referred to in this question was recently discussed with me by a deputation and I undertook to make further inquiries. When these are completed, I shall communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements are made for the franking of the National Health Insurance cards of agricultural workers who are unemployed?

Agricultural workers who are unemployed may have their contribution cards franked in the normal course if they register for work at a local office of the Ministry of Labour. If any such worker cannot attend at a local office his approved society will inform him on inquiry what alternative evidence of unemployment they will accept. The matter is explained in the recently issued supplement to the Approved Societies' Handbook, which contains a model form of certificate for use by the insured person in such circumstances. I am forwarding a copy of this book to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour the average hourly late of wages of all workpeople for the years 1918 to 1928, and the hourly rate of real wages for those years, stated as a percentage of 1914?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 30th January, 1929, col. 964: Vol. 224], supplied the following statement:The information in the possesion of the Ministry of Labour is not sufficient to provide a satisfactory basis for precise computations as to the changes in real wages, but the following tables gives (i) such estimates as are available with regard to the average level of rates of wages for a full ordinary week's work at the end of the years 1918–1928 in relation to the corresponding level in July, 1914 (taken as 100); (ii) the average level of working-class cost of living at approximately the same dates; and (iii)

Year (end of).					Rates of Wages on the basis of a normal working week.	Cost of Living.	Real Wages, i.e., rates of wages and cost of living combined.
July, 1914.					100	100	100
1918	…	…	…	…	195–200	220	89–91
1919	…	…	…	…	215–220	225	96–98
1920	…	…	…	…	270–280	265	102–106
1921	…	…	…	…	210–215	192	109–112
1922	…	…	…	…	170–175	178	96–98
1923	…	…	…	…	165–170	177	93–96
1924	…	…	…	…	170–175	180	94–97
1925	…	…	…	…	175	175	100
1926	…	…	…	…	175	175	100
1927	…	…	…	…	170–175	168	101–104
1928	…	…	…	…	170–175	167	102–105

The figures as to wages represent only approximate estimates arrived at after consideration of such data as are available, relating almost wholly to those industries, or sections of industries, in which organised arrangements exist for the negotiation of changes in wage rates on a collective basis. The cost-of-living figures are those regularly calculated by the Ministry of Labour as to the average changes in the cost of maintaining the pre-War standard of living of working-class families. In view of the incompleteness of the data on which the estimates as to changes in wages rates are based, and of the fact that these estimates represent averages of conditions varying widely among different classes of workpeople, the figures given in the final column should not be regarded as affording more than a very general indication of the average movement of real wages on the assumption of a full week's work. The increase in hourly wages, as compared with 1914, would be greater than that in weekly wages. It is not practicable to make any precise calculation as to the rise in hourly wages, but it seems probable that in 1928 the average level of hourly rates was between 190 and 200 per cent. of that of July, 1914.It is important to note that the figures given for wages relate to rates of wages and not to earnings. For workpeople in employment, earnings have increased in

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Employment Exchange officials have been canvassing men to return to work at Nine Mile Point Colliery, Monmouthshire; that on the note presented to each man no terms for piece-workers were specified; that neither the miners' agent nor lodge officials had any intimation from the colliery company that they intended reopening the colliery; whether this is part of the duty of these Exchange officials; and, if not, will he take steps to prevent it in future?

I am having inquiries made into the points raised by the hon. Member, and will communicate the result to him as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of Mines the total number of miners em- ployed in Durham in October, 1924, and in January, 1929, respectively; and the amount of wages paid weekly for the same periods?

In October, 1924, there were 158,700 wage-earners employed in Durham coal mines, and in January, 1929, 129,000. The estimated total weekly wage bill was £378,000 in October, 1924, and £248,000 in November, 1928, the latest month for which particulars are available.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether it is the intention of the Government to assist in starting any byproduct works in the county of Durham whereby oil and other commodities may be extracted from coal under the low carbonisation system, and thereby find work for unemployed miners?

The steps which the Government are taking to assist and encourage the development of the more scientific utilisation of coal, the extraction of its by-products and the supply of British liquid fuel have already been stated in this House. I have no new measures to announce, either for Durham or for any other part of the country.

asked the Secretary for Mines if his attention has been drawn to the developments in the liquefaction of coal reported to the Frankfurt Chamber of Commerce by the Inter-nazional Gesellschaft Dye Trust, in which the initial difficulites which were to be expected in the liquefaction of coal have now been overcome; and whether he can give the House any information on these developments?

I am advised that, from information derived from experiments at the Government Fuel Research Station and elsewhere, the initial technical difficulties in the liquefaction of coal have apparently been overcome. There remains, however, the serious difficulty of making the process commercially feasible. This, according to my information, has not been achieved either in this country or elsewhere, at any rate as regards bituminous coals.

asked the Secretary for Mines the total tonnage of reparation coal supplied under the provisions of the Versailles Treaty to Belgium and France, respectively; and what is the average price per ton the Governments of these countries receive for the reparation coal?

The total quantities of reparation coal, including coke in terms of coal, and lignite briquettes delivered to Belgium, and to France and French Possessions up to and including November, 1928, amounted to 20,423,907 metric tons and 88,393,745 metric tons, respectively. These tonnages include deliveries under Annex 5 of Part VIII of the Treaty of Versailles and deliveries effected under the system of commercial contracts provided by the London Agreement of August, 1924. I have no information to show the amounts paid to the Governments of these countries by their nationals in respect of these deliveries.

asked the Postmaster-General by what process postcards and halfpenny postage matter are separated from the ordinary three-halfpenny matter before delivery; whether it is the practice to withhold any proportion of the halfpenny postage matter from speedy delivery, even in times when postage work is not excessive; and whether there is any obstacle to restoring the pre-War practice, under which postcards and some other halfpenny matter were delivered as promptly as other letters and not held in the post for 48 hours or more?

Halfpenny packets are thrown out during the preliminary process of facing, i.e. before they are date-stamped or sorted. It is frequently necessary to put them on one side in this way, even when the work on hand is not excessive, in order to relieve the forwarding offices through which they subsequently have to pass. The arrangement does not apply to postcards, nor to halfpenny packets posted before about four or five o'clock according to locality. To endeavour to deal at all times with halfpenny matter as promptly as with letters would undoubtedly endanger the punctual dispatch of the letter mails. It must be quite exceptional for any inland halfpenny packet to be in the post as long as 48 hours, excepting at the week-end.

asked the Postmaster-General how many Ford motor mail-vans are in use or are at present on order for the Post Office; and how many of these are of American manufacture?

The Post Office owns 961 Ford motor mail vans. In four of these, which were recently purchased for experimental purposes, the chassis are of American manufacture, but the bodies were built in this country. The remainder are almost entirely of British manufacture. There are no Ford vans on order.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of automatic stamp machines at present in use in the Post Office; and how many of these are in the Metropolitan area?

The Post Office has installed automatic stamp-vending machines at about 1,500 offices, 200 of which are in the London postal area.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, having regard to the high cost of telegraphy as compared to telephony in this country, he will consider the desirability of increasing the number of words which can be sent for the minimum charge of one shilling?

I am not aware of any ground for the suggestion that the cost of telegraphy in this country is high as compared with that of telephony. In any case, however, there is already a substantial loss on the inland telegraph service, and I could not agree to a rate concession which would lead to a considerable increase in the cost of the operation combined with a probable sacrifice of revenue.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether an arrangement has been arrived at whereby the Co-operative Union Fund for miners' relief will be pooled with the Lord Mayor's Fund in order to obtain the Government grant; and whether it is intended that the amount so obtained is to be available for general use or is to be limited to the issue of vouchers on local co-operative societies only in the distressed areas?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The amount actually contributed by the Co-operative Union to the Lord Mayor's Fund will be applied through the fund organisation to the purchase of vouchers for use at local co-operative societies in the distressed areas, or, alternatively, where so desired, with the tradesmen with whom the recipients are accustomed to deal. The equivalent Government grant will, of course, not be subject to this arrangement, but will form part of the fund available for general purposes.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what has been the reduction in the staff of the Admiralty since April, 1922, distinguishing between permanent and temporary staff, respectively?

The numbers of civilian staff, including messengers, cleaners and porters, at the Admiralty on 1st April, 1922, were as follow:

Permanent	2,283
Temporary	1,445
Total	3,728

On 1st January, 1929, the numbers were:

Established	2,109
Unestablished	782
Total	2,891

There has thus been a total decrease since 1st April, 1922, of 837. I may add that owing to variations in method of record, the figures for temporary and unestablished staff are not entirely comparable.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that an order for crushing machinery amounting to, approximately, £11,000, required for the construction of the Singapore Naval Base, has recently been placed by the Government contractors; if so, whether he can state that the order has been placed with British manufacturers; and where the machinery will be constructed?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The contractors inform us that the company with whom the order has been placed is an English registered company and that 55 per cent. of the value will be manufactured in Belgium, 25 per cent. in the United States of America, and 20 per cent. in this country.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the work in connection with the two new sloops to be built at His Majesty's dockyard, Devon-port, is to be begun?

The work will be commenced early next financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the conditions as to pay, allowances, leave, and leave allowances of white personnel in the British West Indian agricultural service?

The Noble Lord is no doubt aware that no unified agricultural service exists in the West Indies, and that the emoluments of agricultural officers in each Colony are determined by the local Government. I am sending him a print (Miscellaneous No. 280) which contains the information asked for.

asked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take with regard to the communication re- ceived from the clerk of the Abersychan Urban Distric Council, intimating that on account of the grave depression in the coal-mining industry in this district arrears of rents amounting to £9,000 are due to the council from the tenants, and that the members of the council were unanimously of opinion that the whole problem could only be satisfactorily dealt with by a substantial reduction being made in the rents of the council houses under the various schemes?

The Abersychan Urban District Council are being informed that a proposal will be considered to admit for the purpose of subsidy for the present financial year such portion of the arrears of rents of houses erected under the 1919 Act as can now properly be regarded as irrecoverable. It would not appear from the information before me that such a reduction in the general level of rents as the council contemplate could properly be made, but it is of course open to the council, if they so desire, to ask that the question of rents for houses erected under the 1919 Act should be considered by the tribunal appointed for the purpose of that Act. As regards houses erected under later Acts, the rents fixed by the council do not require my approval.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the plans for clearance and rebuilding in the neighbourhood of East Street, King and Queen Street, and Browning Street, Southwark; whether he is satisfied that adequate arrangements are being made for the temporary accommodation of the families to be displaced pending the completion of the new houses; and whether he will take steps to secure that families now living in the district shall have preference as tenants of the new houses?

No scheme has yet been submitted to me for dealing with the area mentioned.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that public utility undertakings, when prosecuting appeals against the new assessments, are at a disadvantage owing to the difficulty they have in ascertaining the basis on which the new valuations have been made, and that such disadvantage is emphasised by the special principles for ascertaining the annual value which apply to such undertakings, and is particularly marked where an undertaking extends into the area of more than one rating authority; and will he take steps to ensure that the basis of any particular valuation is supplied to any public utility undertaking desiring to ascertain it or is otherwise made available for information?

I have no power to give any directions in regard to the matter to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Health with reference to Clause 12 of the Local Government Bill, who, in the future, will appoint the delegates on the assessment committees now appointed by the guardians?

Clause 12 does not contemplate that in the future Poor Law authorities shall be represented as such on assessment committees. Provision is made, however, that existing members appointed by boards of guardians shall continue to be members of assessment committees for the remainder of the term of office for which they were appointed.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to certain statements made by medical officers of health in South Yorkshire when they discouraged the use of pasteurised milk; and, if so, seeing that such statements are contrary to the policy of his Department, what action has been taken to ensure that such speeches will not be repeated?

My attention has not been called to the statements re- ferred to and without knowing the exact words used I could not express any opinion upon them.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of small-pox were were notified in the second half of the year 1928; how many deaths were registered as due to small-pox during that period; what were the ages of persons whose deaths were registered as due to small-pox during the year 1928; and how many deaths from chicken-pox were registered during the year 1928?

The number of notifications of smallpox in England and Wales (including port sanitary districts) in the 26 weeks ended 29th December, 1928, was 3,765. The number of deaths classified as due to smallpox during the six months ended 31st December, 1928, was 3. The corresponding figure for the whole of 1928 was 53, the ages of the deceased persons being as follow:

• 1 at 1 week
• 2 at 3 weeks
• 1 at 28 days
• 1 at 1 month
• 1 at 6 years
• 1 at 9 years
• 1 at 10 years
• 1 at 13 years
• 1 at 24 years
• 1 at 31 years
• 1 at 32 years
• 1 at 36 years
• 1 at 45 years
• 1 at 46 years
• 1 at 51 years
• 1 at 53 years
• 2 at 54 years
• 1 at 55 years
• 1 at 58 years
• 1 at 59 years
• 1 at 62 years
• 1 at 64 years
• 1 at 65 years
• 1 at 66 years
• 3 at 67 years
• 1 at 68 years
• 2 at 71 years
• 3 at 72 years
• 2 at 73 years
• 2 at 74 years
• 4 at 75 years
• 4 at 77 years
• 2 at 78 years
• 1 at 79 years
• 1 at 82 years
• 1 at 84 years
• 1 at 89 years

There were 49 deaths from chicken-pox during the first three-quarters of the year 1928, but no further figures are as yet available. These figures are provisional.

asked the Minister of Health whether any schemes providing for the payment of pensions of less than 20s, a week have- been approved for ex- empted occupations under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925; and whether the payment of 4½d. per week by a person in an exempted occupation provides for an old age pension at 65 years of age for the wife of a contributor, in addition to making provision for the granting of pension in the event of the death of the husband?

On the assumption that the hon. Member is referring to employment which may be excepted from old age pensions insurance under proviso (c) to Section 9 (1) of the Act, the answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware that the percentage of United Kingdom imports of canned salmon from Canada has decreased from 19.25 in 1924 to 17.45 in 1928; and whether it is the intention of the Empire Marketing Board to increase its propaganda in this country in respect of this Empire product?

I have been asked to answer this question. My right hon. Friend is aware that imports of Canadian tinned salmon into the United Kingdom have decreased between 1924 and 1928. This fact has already been brought to the notice of the Empire Marketing Board and arrangements have been made to give further publicity to this commodity.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his atten-

Class.			Number.	Gross tonnage.	Sale price.	Average sale price per ton.
					£	£
Passenger	…	…	52	571,815	6,397,591	11·2
Cargo	…	…	348	1,377,802	14,175,613	10·3
Trawlers	…	…	29	6,650	70,250	10·0
Sailing vessels	…	…	18	38,915	61,349	1·6
Tankers	…	…	6	30,067	288532	9·6
Total	…	…	453	2,025,249	20,993,335	10·3

I have seen references in the Press to the offer to which my hon. Friend refers. I feel sure that British housewives will release? that the best way to help British workers is to buy British goods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total tonnage of reparation ships and classes of ships received by Great Britain under the provisions of the Versailles Treaty; whether the ships have been sold to British citizens; and, if they have, what is the average price per ton received by the Exchequer?

The total tonnage of the reparation ships of all classes delivered to Great. Britain was 2,047,122. Four vessels, aggregating 21,873 gross tons, were lost prior to being sold and the great majority of the remaining vessels were disposed of to British buyers. The total amount realised by the sale of the vessels was £20.993,335, representing an average price of £10.3 per gross ton over the whole transaction, and this amount, less expenses, has been paid over to the Exchequer, except certain instalments of purchase money which have not yet become due.The following table shows the classes:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now state the date upon which he expects to present to Parliament the Company Law Consolidation Bill?

I would refer my hon, and gallant Friend to the reply given yesterday to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for Hillsborough (Mr. A. V. Alexander) of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the difficulties experienced by several farmers in the Tickhill area during the present winter due to lack of drainage; that a considerable area of land has been waterlogged and is impossible to cultivate; and, as this land extends into two administrative counties whether it is included in any large drainage scheme at present under consideration?

I am unable to trace the receipt of any representations regarding drainage conditions in the Tickhill area. Lands in this vicinity are, however, included in what is generally known as the Doncaster area, in respect of which I am about to introduce a Bill based on the recommendations of the Special Commission which reported last year. In the meantime, I will bring the matter to the notice of the two county councils, concerned.