asked the Minister of Pensions whether he can see his way clear to have reviewed the pension of 8s. per week, plus 2s., paid to the wife of Ernest Gillett, late sapper, residing at 10, St. George's Road, Barnsley; whether he is aware that Gillett enlisted for the Great War, passed A 1, was drafted to Ireland, where he sustained injury on 24th June, 1916; that he was granted a pension, reviewed by medical boards, as follows: Sheffield, 13s. 9d., Lancaster, 19s. 3d., again reviewed and raised to 28s., Liverpool, reduced to 25s. and 15s., followed by final award of 10s. for himself and wife; and that he is totally disabled, cannot walk and has to be wheeled in a bath chair, his wife continuously in attendance, and has to be found shelter by his father and mother and principally maintained by them? Lieut.-Colonel STANLEY: This case has already been very carefully considered. My right hon. Friend is, however, advised that there is no ground for regarding the pension now in payment to Mr. Gillett as inadequate to the disablement caused by his accepted disability as arising from his War service, namely, chronic arthritis of the right knee. As the hon. Member has already been informed, the major part of Mr. Gillett's present disablement arises from another condition.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the provisions of Articles 1136 (f) and 1163, Pay Warrant, 1914, he will inquire into the circumstances under which a service pension has not been awarded to Mr. Fred Cundell, late lance-corporal, No. 7443, Northamptonshire Regiment, seeing that this ex-soldier served continuously from 12th December, 1898, until 19th February, 1916, inclusive of Colour, Reserve and Great War service, a total of 17 years and 70 days, and was discharged as being no longer physically fit for war service?

Mr. Cundell claimed his discharge under Section 87 of the Army Act on the termination of his engagement, and was dealt with accordingly. He was not, in fact, discharged as physically unfit for war service. The fact that the certificate of discharge was, for subsequent reasons which had no bearing on pension, altered some three years later, in 1919, to one of discharge on account of physical unfitness, does not of itself confer on him a title to pension under the Warrant provisions referred to, for which the actual circumstances of his discharge did not qualify him. I am, however, looking further into the merits of the particular case, in which there are some special features, and will communicate later with the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a telephone subscriber who requires a minor adjustment to his telephone instrument cannot obtain this service without using the post, and whether in the interests of celerity and efficiency he will so alter the existing Regulations as to permit this service being arranged directly over the telephone?

Necessary maintenance adjustments receive attention as soon as practicable whether reported by telephone or otherwise. Alterations of a kind involving payment of cost by the subscriber are normally required to be notified in writing in order to avoid risk of misunderstanding as to the change desired or the relative charge. A printed form for use in this connection is supplied with every copy of the Telephone Directory, and the notice can be sent post free. In case of urgency, special consideration is given to a telephonic request. I do not think the existing procedure could be modified with advantage.

asked the Postmaster-General the estimated cost to his Department of damage to telegraph and telephone lines by gales in 1928?

Including indirect charges, the expenditure was nearly £400,000. This is somewhat above the average, owing to exceptionally severe weather in 1928.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the average time from the beginning of a telephone call until the telephonist answered was 6.3 seconds in 1928, as compared with 5.5 in 1927 and 5.2 in 1921; what is the reason for the slower service; and whether any action is being taken to reduce the length of the interval?

The increase from 5.5 seconds in 1927 to 6.3 seconds in 1928 was due in part to sudden expansion of traffic in the early part of the year, and was also influenced by difficulties arising out of the widespread damage to telephone circuits caused by the Embankment Subway fire, by floods and by other exceptional conditions. Steps have been taken to decrease the interval so far as it depends upon circumstances which can be controlled.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the German telephone authorities initiated at the beginning of the present year a new plan of telephone service by instalments, which was designed to popularise the telephone amongst small shopkeepers and in the private homes of persons of moderate means; and that already 25,000 applications have been made under this scheme, including 5,000 in Berlin; and whether he will consider the inauguration of a similar scheme in this country?

My hon. and gallant Friend's question is evidently based on a misapprehension. Under the German system a telephone subscriber, in addition to the normal rental charge, is also required to make an initial payment of £4 plus an installation charge which varies with the cost of providing his service. It is to this installation charge that the concession of payment by instalments applies; but, as no such charge is levied in this country, the question does not arise.

asked the Postmaster-General the payment, if any, by the Foreign Office for its wireless news messages from Rugby; and by the Wireless Press, Limited, 139, Fleet Street, E.C.4, for its wireless daily service from Rugby for reception by ships whose owners subscribe to the company's service?

The total payment by the Foreign Office for the official news messages transmitted from the Rugby Wireless Station during the 12 months ended 31st December, 1928, was £8,974. The payment by the Wireless Press, Limited, was higher, but it is contrary to practice to disclose the sums disbursed by private users of Post Office services.

asked the Postmaster-General how many miles of telephone and telegraph lines were relaid underground in 1928 and at what cost; and whether he is making any arrangements with electricity supply companies with a view to securing their co-operation where new electric cables are being laid in the same district?

Ducts and cables containing approximately 600,000 miles of wire, were laid underground during 1928 at a cost of £4,230,000. About 40,000 miles of this represents diversion of overhead wire. Arrangements have been in operation for some time past for the exchange of information between the Post Office and other undertakers, including electricity supply companies, in regard to projected underground works, and every endeavour is made to secure co-ordination in this respect; but as I have already explained it is undesirable to lay telephone or telegraph lines in very close contiguity to power circuits.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the regulations of the Post Office permit the employment of boys as telegraph messengers under the age of 14 years; and, if so, whether, in view of the fact that the legal age for leaving school is the first prescribed date succeeding a child's 14th birthday, the regulation will be amended so as to prohibit the employment of boys under that age?

The Regulations provide that candidates for appointment as boy messengers in the Post Office must be under 14½ years of age, except in localities where a higher school-leaving age is in force, and that no candidate should be accepted until he is legally exempt from further full-time attendance at school, i.e., normally at the end of the term in which he attains the age of 14.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has taken into consideration the desirability of establishing penny post for letters throughout the Empire; and what is the estimated cost of the change?

The proposal is one to be considered only in conjunction with the suggested reduction at a cost of some £6,000,000 in the rate of inland postage. The separate cost to this country of establishing penny post to the Empire overseas would be about £200,000 a year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of British produce and manufactures consigned to China for the three months ended 31st December, 1927?

The exports of United Kingdom produce and manufactures consigned to China (including Hong Kong, but excluding Macao and leased territories) during the three months ended 31st December, 1927, amounted to £3,529,000.

asked the Secretary for Mines what quantity of coal was exported from this country to Sweden during the years 1925, 1927, and 1928, respectively?

The total quantity of coal exported from the United Kingdom to Sweden during the years 1925, 1927 and 1928 amounted to 2,726,638 tons, 2,182,192 tons and 1,539,753 tons, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the Dominions are being pressed by foreign countries to enter into commercial agreements with them, he will state what action is being taken by the Government to consolidate our position by commercial agreements before similar agreements are entered into with foreign countries?

No action has so far been taken by the Government here in the sense indicated in my hon. Friend's question. Our policy of Imperial preference has been common to the whole Empire and has not depended on individual agreements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to announce the decision of the Government as to the introduction of a Bill to consolidate the law relating to joint stock companies?

I hope that it will be possible to introduce this Bill in a week's time.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether he is aware that a number of men employed on the forest of Borgie have recently been discharged by the Forestry Commission; whether there has been any alteration in the scope of operations at Borgie; and whether, in view of the amount of unemployment in the North at the present time, it would be possible to enlarge operations at Borgie so as to continue to give these men employment?

The number employed at Borgie has been reduced from seven to four. Last season 44 acres were planted at this centre. This season 20 acres are being planted. It is regretted that the operations cannot be enlarged.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether it is proposed to provide facilities for the resumption by the Food Investigation Board of active work upon the preservation of fish and the manufacture of fish by-products?

With assistance from the Empire Marketing Fund, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has secured the lease of a site at Aberdeen suitable for a fish research station. Two buildings already in existence on the site are being adapted by His Majesty's Office of Works for use as laboratories for research on the preservation of fish and of fish by-products until experience has shown the requirements of a permanent building. Plans for the necessary cold store and other adjuncts are being made in consultation with His Majesty's Office of Works and with due regard to later developments.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the production of strawberries in France by the use of artificial sunlight; whether he can give particulars; and whether such experiments are being carried out in this country?

I have been asked to reply. The experiments formed, I understand, the subject of a very recent report to the French Academie des Sciences, but no published information beyond that which has appeared in the Press has yet been received at the Ministry. The fact that plants can be grown to maturity solely with artificial light is well known and has been often demonstrated. At the present stage such experiments appear to be solely of academic interest. My right hon. Friend has no information of precisely similar experiments in this country, but many research workers have investigated the effect of artificial light upon plant growth.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the discomfort and annoyance caused to residents living in houses bordering upon roads in even remote country districts when reliability motor-bicycle trial runs are organised over extensive routes in such a manner that throughout the night in frequent succession these motor-bicycles proceed at high speed and with considerable noise through the towns and villages on the circuit; and whether, in view of the nuisance created, the Home Office will take any action to mitigate this growing practice?

I am afraid I have no power to deal with the special circumstances to which my hon. and gallant Friend calls attention short of wholesale prosecutions for exceeding the speed limit.

asked the Minister of Transport if local authorities generally are carrying out the recommendations contained in the Circular issued by him, on or about 4th June, 1925, that all roads, no matter of what surface, should be tarred and coaled with hard stone chip-pings; and whether, having regard to the circumstance that a large number of secondary roads throughout the country are still in a slippery condition and dangerous to horses, he will consider the desirability of issuing a further Circular?

Although the recommendations contained in the Circular Letter of 4th June, 1925, to county surveyors have been widely adopted, I am issuing a further letter to all highway authorities on the subject of slippery roads.

asked the Minister of Transport whether arty pressure is brought by his Department upon the different road authorities in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire to make them tar their minor roads; whether he is aware that many minor roads are now being tarred, and are so slippery that farmers cannot market their produce and neither farm horses nor cattle can keep their feet upon them; and what steps his Department has taken and is taking in the matter?

Where roads cannot be efficiently and economically maintained without being given an impervious surface, my officers would probably advise the application of tar or other similar material suitably "gritted," and if this process is properly carried out, there is no reason why danger should result to horses and cattle. As to the steps now in contemplation, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I am giving to-day to the hon. and gallant Member for the St. Albans Division of Hertford-shore (Lieut.-Colonel Fremantle), and of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of persons killed at public and private level crossings in Great Britain during 192V; and whether a warning bell is now provided at all level crossings?

The figures for which the hon. Member asks are given on page 12 of the Report on Railway Accidents for the year to which he refers (Cmd. 3181). A warning bell is not provided at all level crossings.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the increasing overcrowding, which is becoming dangerous, on the underground railways in the rush hours; and will he take steps to make the companies concerned provide better travelling facilities for the public?

I have no information which indicates that dangerous overcrowding occurs, but if the hon. Member will furnish me with any specific information in this matter, I will consider what action I could usefully take.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the increasing need of escalators in a great many of the more central underground stations; how many and which stations are to be fitted with escalators in the near future: and are now in process of being installed?

I am informed by the railway company that escalators are about to be installed at Highgate Station and are being installed at Camden Town Station; that a scheme coming before Parliament in the present Session will comprise their installation at Leicester Square Station; and that the possibility of installing escalators at other stations is being considered.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, as a result of the Report by Colonel Sir John Pringle on the Darlington disaster of 27th June, 1928, he proposes to make any recommendations or draw up any regulations regarding the best type of carriages or the best design of couplings for use on fast passenger trains, with a view to avoiding the danger of telescoping in the event of a collision?

I am in communication with all the railway companies on the general subject of the best measures to be taken to construct and equip coaching stock so that liability to risk of telescoping in the event of accident may be reduced. I have no power to draw up regulations.

asked the Home Secretary the number of cases of injury to workpeople in artificial silk factories which were reported in 1928. and the number of cases of injury to eves?

I regret that the figures asked for are not available. So far as accidents are concerned, artificial silk works are grouped in the statistics with a number of other textile industries. and it would not be possible without the expenditure of much time and trouble to separate the artificial silk figures. As regards conjunctivitis. the great majority of these cases are slight in character and not reportable as accidents under the Act, and although a number of firms notify their cases voluntarily, it is not possible to give any complete figures.

asked the Home Secretary the price paid by the State control for the public-house at Carlisle which was afterwards closed down and let to the local Labour party as their headquarters; and what rent is now being paid under the tenancy?

This question relates to a matter which originated at least as long ago as 1917, and my predecessor answered a question as to it in 1924. The facts have not altered in the meantime. With my hon. and gallant Friend's leave I will send him a copy of that answer.

asked the Home Secretary the number of cases of disablement from silicosis which were reported during 1928; how many were partially disabled; the number permanently disabled; and the number of deaths from this disease?

This disease is not notifiable, and I regret that the only figures I can give are those of cases dealt with under the Refractories Industries Scheme. The new cases arising under that Scheme in 1928 included 27 cases of partial and 5 cases of total disablement, and 4 deaths. In addition there were 3 deaths of workmen who had previously been in receipt of compensation.

asked the Home Secretary if he can furnish particulars of the proposed special scheme under Section 47 of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1925, providing for compensation for silicosis for workmen in the sandstone industry; and if he can indicate the chief areas of the country, with the number of workmen involved?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Draft Scheme together with a, copy of an explanatory letter issued to employers affected. I am also enclosing a copy of a Report, which has been published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, of a Medical Inquiry recently carried out for the Home Office and Mines Department into the occurrence of silicosis in the sandstone industry. The chief areas concerned are West Riding of Yorkshire, Lancashire, North Derbyshire, and Durham and Northumberland. It is impossible to give accurate figures as to the number of workmen affected, but it is estimated roughly that the number will be not less than 11,000.

asked the Home Secretary if in view of the large number of new electors on the Parliamentary Register, he will, in order to remove any misconception which may exist, cause notices to be put up in post offices and other public buildings making it clear that the ballot is absolutely secret?

The secrecy of the ballot is so well known that I see no reason for such notices.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the present state of the law in regard to betting gives rise to class inequalities and anomalies, thereby creating a situation in which the police find great difficulty in preventing breaches of the law; and whether, in the circumstances, the Government propose to introduce any legislation with a view to removing existing inequalities and anomalies?

I am aware that for various reasons the police find great difficulty in preventing breaches of the law in relation to betting, but I fear that time cannot be found at present for dealing with this highly contentious subject by fresh legislation.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the weekly pension of Mrs. Emma Jane Smallwood, widow, residing at 42, Eldon Street North, Barnsley, Yorkshire, is assessed at 8s. per week; and how such amount of pension was arrived at, having regard to her being a housekeeper, in receipt of lodging and maintenance value 5s. per week, the Government's value in assessing unemployment pay, plus 5s. per week, paid as wages, out of which sum she has to purchase medicines as medically advised for asthma?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part of the question, careful consideration was given to the assessment of Mrs. Smallwood's earn- ings, and there is no legal authority for the making of an allowance in respect of so much of her income as is applied for the purchase of medicines.

asked the Minister of Health when the new committee to deal with the Lascar Fund pensions under the Health Insurance Act, 1928, is to be appointed; how many members will there be on this committee; who will appoint them; and who will appoint the members representing the fishing industry?

The preparation of a scheme for the constitution of the governing body of the Seamen's Pension Fund in accordance with the provisions of the National Health Insurance Act, 1928, is at present under the consideration of the National Health Insurance Joint Committee in consultation with the Board of Trade. No decision has yet been arrived at on the various points raised in the question.

asked the Minister for Health if he can give the figures at the end of five-year periods, beginning with 1900, of the annual deaths of mothers from puerperal fever in Great Britain, Germany, Sweden and France?

The most recent figures available showing the rates of mortality from puerperal sepsis in England and Wales for a series of five-yearly periods will be found in Table LV of the Text Volume of the Registrar-General's Statistical Review for 1926. With regard to the figures for Scotland, the hon. Member should address an inquiry to the Secretary of State for Scotland. With regard to the other countries mentioned, I am advised that the published information available is not such as to enable a comparable statement to be furnished.

asked the Minister of Health the number of claims referred to the referees during 1928 under the Widows,' Orphans' and Old Age (Contributory) Pensions Act?

The number of claims referred to the referees during 1928 was 9,794.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total number of old age pensions, contributory and non-contributory, being paid to-day in England and Wales; how many widows are drawing widows' pensions under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act; and the number of blind persons drawing pensions?

The latest date for which the figures are available is 31st December, 1928, when 1,640,504 persons were drawing old age pensions, contributory or non-contributory, 207,351 widows were drawing widows' pensions and 17,337 blind persons were drawing blind persons' pensions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount received in respect of the Petrol Duty up to the last convenient date?

Up to 31st December, the aggregate yield of the tax was in round figures £9,863,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of revenue secured by the silk duties for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The approximate net amount of revenue derived from the silk and artificial silk duties during the 12 months ended 31st December, 1928, was as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated accrued interest liability on National Savings Certificates at the last convenient date?

The interest accrued and unpaid on 31st March last was £121,000,000.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of persons receiving £500 a year or more, excluding War bonus, employed at the War Office, and the number receiving £500 or more employed at the War Office in January, 1914; the number in each case receiving retired pay or other emoluments from the State in addition to salary and the amount of such emoluments; and whether action is being taken to reduce the numbers of executive officers to that existing in January, 1914?

I would refer the hon. Member to pages 88 to 99 of Army Estimates for 1913–14, and to pages 221 to 254 of the current Army Estimates. As regards the last part of the question, the staff of the War Office is constantly under review with the object of effecting all possible reductions consistent with the performance of the duties with which the Department is charged.

asked the Secretary of State for War the acreage of land in the Northern Command administered by the Lands Branch of the War Office, the number of agricultural holdings, and the number of dwelling-houses, exclusive of hutments, not let with agricultural holdings?

The total acreage of War Department land in the Northern Command is approximately 37,000, of which some 33,300 acres are subject either to tenancies or to grazing and other rights that are exercised jointly with military user. The answer to the second part of the question is 124, and to the third part 29.