asked the Secretary for Mines the cause of the stoppage which has occurred at the Nine Mile Point Colliery since a settlement was arranged; and if the mine is now working?

A further stoppage occurred on Friday last, 15th February, as the workmen alleged that the owners were employing three or four men in contravention of the agreement reached on 13th February. I understand that the Men referred to have resigned. The hitch is thus disposed of, and the colliery is now at work with as many men as it can at present employ.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of pits that have been reopened in the various mining areas since 1st January, 1929?

The total number is 78 pits, employing 11,138 wage-earners. The following statement gives the details:

NUMBER OF PITS which were closed at the end of December, 1928, and have since re-opened.
District.	Number of pits re-opened.	Number of wage-earners employed at 16th February, 1929.
Durham	5	63
Cumberland and Westmorland.	1	35
South Yorkshire	3	46
West Yorkshire	9	396
Lancashire and Cheshire.	4	374
North Derby	4	38
North Staffordshire	3	24
South Staffordshire and Worcester.	2	16
Warwick	1	5
Forest of Dean	2	10
South Wales and Monmouth.	32	8,781
North Wales	1	2
Fife and Clackmannan.	1	4
Lanark	8	1,114
Ayr and Dumfries	2	230
Total	78*	11,138
* Nineteen of these pits employed 10,078 wage-earners.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a summary showing the quantity of timber imported into the United Kingdom for mining purposes, aggregate loads and sterling value, each separately specified, from Russia, Sweden, Norway, Germany,

Country from which consigned.		1913.		1928.
		Quantity.	Declared Value.	Quantity.	Declared Value.
		Loads.	£	Loads.	£
Russia	…	1,538,714	2,415,086	304,382	657,932
Finland	…	Included with Russia		447,548	1,052,933
Estonia	…			68,323	143,817
Latvia	…			186,865	428,655
Sweden	…	359,988	558,095	334,925	826,477
Norway	…	114,777	200,932	77,154	204,571
Poland (including Dantzig)	…	—	—	31,905	86,997
Germany	…	28,926	53,550	22,122	50,932
France	…	984,331	839,065	1,040,043	1,216,858
Portugal	…	315,538	278,154	69,350	80,501
Spain	…	103,123	90,972	4,118	6,029
Irish Free State	…	—	—	9,799	22,535
Other Countries	…	5,931	9,212	352	843
Total Imports	…	3,451,328	4,445,066	2,596,886	4,779,080
Note.—The figures for 1913 relate to imports into the British Isles, whereas those for 1928 relate to imports into Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary for Mines if any investigation is taking place by his Department as to the working of the mines in Cornwall which are known to possess large reserves of radium-bearing are?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, in view of the findings of the court of inquiry into thefts of petrol at Air Force stations, what additional precautions have been taken to prevent further losses?

The losses and deficiencies which occurred at the particular station to which the court of in-

The following table shows the total quantities and declared values of pit props or pit wood imported into the United Kingdom during the years 1913 and 1928, distinguishing the principal countries from which these imports were consigned.quiry (held in 1926) related were due less to a faulty system than to dishonesty, which has been dealt with in suitable fashion. Already at than time an improved mechanical system of storage and issue of petrol, with the most modern safeguarding devices, petrol gauges and meters, was in course of introduction throughout the Royal Air Force, and this work is now well advanced. The Accounting checks have also been strengthened by the introduction of additional records, which should, it is hoped, preclude similar abuses in future.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the fact that the expectation has not been realised that by the abolition of passenger traffic on the Cranwell Railway freight charges would cover expenses, he proposes to take further steps to reduce the deficit on working?

I have every confidence that the expectation to which my hon. Friend refers will be realised in the coming year It would have been realised in 1927 but for a large decrease in receipts, due to the transfer of the boys' wing from Cranwell to Halton. As it was, expenditure on the railway was reduced from £4,000 in 1926 to £2,000 in 1927. Next autumn the establishment at Cranwell will again be increased, on the transfer of the Electrical and Wireless School from Flowerdown, and the effect of this should be to bring a greater volume of traffic to the railway, with a consequent increase in receipts and the wiping out of the deficit on the working account.

asked (1) the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the boots supplied to the Navy are all of English manufacture; and, if not, whether he will indicate the percentage of foreign manufactured hoots supplied, and the countries of origin;(2) the Secretary of State for Air whether the boots supplied to members of the Air Force are all of English manufacture; and, if not, whether he will indicate the percentage of foreign-manufactured hoots supplied and the countries of manufacture?

I have been asked to reply also to the hon. Member's second question, and will answer both questions together. Boots supplied to the Air Force and Navy are all of British manufacture.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of meals per week at which butter is supplied to chief and petty officers' messes messed wider the general messing system in shore establishments at Portsmouth?

Butter is supplied at breakfast, tea and supper every day.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any cash grant is made to messes which are messed under the general messing system for meals not taken by ratings on short leave, ordinary night leave and half-day leave, other than supper; and, if so, what scale is allowed for breakfast, dinner and tea?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that the Navy week is to become an annual event at Devonport, it can be arranged for the entrance to the South Yard to be brought into use?

The question will be referred to the local authorities for consideration when making the arrangements for Navy week. But I understand that, actually, for the last Navy week every vessel of interest which was open to the public was, to meet their convenience, moved into the North Yard.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the position as to the total rate of pension of a man who is entitled to long service pension and also disablement pension in respect of service in the late War is the same as that of a man entitled to long service pension and disablement pension in respect of a disability contracted in the service but not connected with the late War?

The answer is in the negative. The War and post-War scales of disability pension differ in various particulars.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of men discharged from His Majesty's dockyards and naval establishments, respectively, during the months of November and December, 1928, and January, 1929; and whether further discharges are anticipated in the future?

The following statement gives the information asked for in the first part of the hon. Member's question, together with figures showing the entries of industrial employés in the various establishments during the same period, and is in continuation of the statement given in reply to the hon. Member's question on 22nd of November last [OFFICIAL REPORT, Columns 1931–2]. As regards the second part of the question,

—	Numbers of workpeople discharged on reduction and numbers entered in the several localities.
	November, 1928.		December, 1928.		January, 1929.
	Discharges.	Entries.	Discharges.	Entries.	Discharges.	Entries.
Portsmouth	14	119	5	214	64	28
Devonport	1	50	6	39	38	33
Chatham	2	67	1	66	—	72
Rosyth	12	1	9	26	3	3
Sheerness	34	3	5	3	1	21
Portland	1	4	34	36	60	62
Woolwich	—	—	—	4	—	—
Armament Depot, Crombie	—	3	—	2	—	1
Torpedo Factory, Greenock	29	6	27	9	1	9
Armament Depot, Holton Heath	1	1	6	1	6	2
	94	254	93	400	173	231

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that certain P-class clerks, serving at the Admiralty outports, who were selected in 1926 for permanent employment in the Civil Service, are paid a lower rate of pay than the temporary or hired messenger employed in the same Department; and whether he will take steps to remedy this anomaly?

The comparison made by my hon. Friend is not quite correct. The scale of pay for hired messengers in Admiralty outports is 36s. to 40s., plus 14s. industrial bonus. That for temporary and P-class clerks, Grade III, employed in the provinces is 49s. 11d. to 59s. 11d. inclusive. The former scale of pay, moreover, covers the full industrial working hours of the Yard (47 hours) plus one hour of extra attendance daily if required, whereas the latter, which is common to all Government Department, is for a 44-hour week.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the section of the Superannuation Act, or particulars of any Treasury circular, under which re-established service over the age of 60 cannot be counted for pension?

It is not usual to reemploy pensioners who have retired on attaining the age of 60. If, however, they are re-engaged for a limited period to meet an emergency, it is the regular practice to re-employ them in a temporary capacity only. There is no provision in the Superannuation Acts or Treasury circular on the point. Liability to recall to service under Section 11 of the Act of 1859 only extends to officers retired under 60 years of age.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the League of Nations has approached or has been consulted by the Government of Yugoslavia in regard to the question of an acceptable form of autonomy for Macedonia; and will he state, in view of the constant risk of European complications arising in this region, what is the present position?

As far as I know the League has not been consulted by Yugoslavia on this matter. By Articles 27 and 37 of the Treaty of Neuilly full and complete sovereignty is vested in the Serb-Croat-Slovene State over that part of the territory called Macedonia of which Serbia became possessed as the result of the Treaty of Bucharest of 10th August, 1913. The form of Government to be applied in this territory is therefore a matter solely for the Yugo-Slav Government to decide.

asked the Home Secretary the present strength of the Metropolitan Police Force, giving the figures separately for the Criminal Investigation Department; and the number of constables that have been enrolled during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The actual strength of the Metropolitan Police Force on 16th December, 1928, was:

Uniform Branch	18,863
Criminal Investigation Department	912
Total	19,775

The number of constables who joined the Force during the twelve months ended 17th December, 1928, was 929 (including two constables who rejoined the Force).

asked the Home Secretary whether the two libel actions, Collins v. New Outlook Company and others and Clark v. New Outlook Company and others, which the former Commissioner of Police authorised these police officers to institute, are being proceeded with; and, if not, will he state for what reason?

No, Sir. Upon writs being issued, the company ceased publication and went into liquidation.

asked the Home Secretary the total number of registered clubs in England and Wales and how many of them are proprietary clubs?

On 1st January, 1927, the number was 12,481. The figures for 1928 are in course of preparation and will probably show 12,775 for 1st January, 1928. I have no information as to how many of the clubs could properly be called proprietary.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the performance given at the New Cross Empire by a troupe known as the Coney Island Freaks; and whether he will make inquiries as to the desirability of preventing any further exhibitions of this character?

Yes, Sir. I understand that the exhibition has now been withdrawn, but I am in communication with the London County Council who are the licensing authority for the music hall concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport if his Department contemplates taking any action to alter the size of motor-cycle number plates?

I am examining, in consultation with the Home Secretary, the advisability of amending the Regulations relating to the size of motor-cycle number plates, and have recently had the advantage of hearing the views of the manufacturing and motoring community which we shall take into careful consideration before any decision is reached.

asked the Minister of Labour what number of persons have been transferred from distressed areas into Wednesbury and Tipton, respectively, since the operation of the transference scheme?

Since the end of August three men have been transferred from the depressed areas to Wednesbury and one man to Tipton under the industrial transference scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons, and the average age, transferred from the Elland Division of Yorkshire under the transference scheme: the towns to which they have been transferred; and the provision made to provide them with suitable accommodation in those towns?

No transfers have been made from the Elland Division under the industrial transference scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated expenditure by local authorities and the number of workers likely to be employed on the 109 schemes approved under the Circular of 9th November, 1928?

The number of "transference" schemes submitted up to date is 150, of an estimated cost of £2,753,000, and providing 120,000 man-months of employment. 44 have so far been approved of at an estimated cost of £874,800 and providing 34,800 man-months of employment. 155 other schemes have been submitted, of an estimated cost of £2,718,000 and providing 112,000 man-months of employment; of these, 82 have been approved, of an estimated cost of £858,000 and providing 44.000 man-months of employment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a decision has been reached respecting the provision of a new Employment Exchange at Wednesbury?

It has been decided to provide a new building, if a suitable site can be obtained.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there is a shortage of juvenile labour in the cotton trade, which may become serious when the industry resumes full-time working; whether any juveniles are now being trained in Government centres for the cotton industry; and how many juveniles, if any, have been placed in cotton factories from these centres and by transference from depressed areas, respectively?

I have consulted the Advisory Committees for Juvenile Employment in the cotton districts, and am advised by them that there is at the present time a demand for juvenile workers in certain branches of the cotton industry, and that if normal prosperity should return to the trade there would be probably a considerable demand for such workers. The Committees, however, are mostly of opinion that such demand could be satisfied without importing boys and girls into the district from other parts of the country. Juvenile unemployment centres do not train juveniles for any specified occupations, and no juveniles are therefore being trained for the cotton industry, but a few boys have been transferred from the depressed areas to employment in cotton mills during the last 12 months.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the total amount paid to boards of guardians during the past year in refunding relief in money and kind advanced to applicants for unemployment insurance benefit pending their claims being met; whether he is aware that as a result of the delay many applicants have to continue signing at the Employment Exchange week by week and then have to go to the relieving officer to get their money; what is the total amount that the collector of the unions has received in commission on the amounts paid over by him: and whether such commission is charged to the insurance fond or to the poor rate?

The amount repaid to Poor Law authorities in respect of unemployment benefit during the calendar year 1928 was, approximately, £160,000. Every effort is made to avoid delay in paying benefit. In the small minority of cases where there is some delay, it is usually due to the fact that the claimant's title to benefit is in doubt. As regards the last two parts of the question, the whole amount was paid to the Poor Law authorities, and I do not know whether any commission was paid to the officials of those authorities.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registering at the Neath, Pontardawe, and Clydach Exchanges for the month ending June, 1928, December, 1928, and for the last four weeks?

The following statement gives the information for which the hon. Member asks:

asked the Minister of Labour if he can give the total amount paid into the Unemployment Fund by Government, employers, and workpeople since the commencement; how much has been paid out in benefit and spent in cost of administration, and what is the amount of unclaimed benefit; what is done with sums received on sale of stamps which, in result, are not used for stamping cards; who audits the accounts of the Fund; and has any money ever been paid from it for any other purposes except unemployment?

From the commencement of the Unemployment Insurance scheme on 15th July, 1912, to 2nd February, 1929, the total contributions paid into the Unemployment Fund amount approximately to:

	£
Employers	145,800,000
Employed Persons	131,300,000
Exchequer (including contributions from Service Departments)	104,700,000
	£381,800,000

Unemployment benefit has been paid since 15th January, 1913. From that date to 2nd February, 1929, the total payments of unemployment benefit amount to £370,000,000. In addition, the cost of administration for the whole period from 15th July, 1912, to 2nd February, 1929, amounts to £46,500,000, of which such £39,200,000 was met out of the Unemployment Fund and £7,300,000 by the Exchequer. The excess of benefit and other payments from the fund over receipts has been defrayed out of advances from the Treasury. The amount of loan outstanding on 2nd February, 1929, was £33,460,000. The amount of unclaimed benefit cannot be ascertained; it is not thought, however, to be a substantial amount. All sums received from the sale of unemployment insurance stamps are paid into the Unemployment Fund. The accounts of the Unemployment Fund are, in accordance with Section 14 of the Unemployment Insurance (No. 2) Act, 1924 (amending Section 14 (2) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920), examined by the Comptroller and Auditor-General, and are, together with his report, laid before Parliament. In addition to unemployment benefit and administrative expenses, the payments which have been made out of the Unemployment Fund under the authority of the various Unemployment Insurance Acts consist mainly of refunds of contributions and interest in Treasury advances to the Unemployment Fund. Payments are also made out of the Unemployment Fund (a) in respect of part of the fares of insured contribu- tors travelling to take up employment in certain cases (Section 30 of the Unemployment Insurance Act of 1920 as amended by Section 15 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1927) and (b) towards the expenses incurred in respect of the attendances at approved courses of instruction of persons between 16 and 18 years of age (Section 8 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1927).

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons in Devonport who are at present unemployed, but who are not in receipt of unemployment benefit?

At 11th February, 1929, there were 2,205 persons on the registers of the Devonport Employment Exchange, and of this number 628 had no claims to benefit admitted or under consideration. Statistics of the numbers on the register who were actually in receipt of benefit are not available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total amount of the deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank and the Trustee Savings Bank at the latest available date?

The amount due to depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank was approximately £288,600,000 at 31st December last, and to depositors in the Trustee Savings Banks £81,658,000 on 20th November last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the differences of opinion existing between His Majesty's Government and the Government of Iraq in regard to the payment of the cost of the British Army in Iraq and the payment of the higher commands in the Iraq army have been settled; and whether any other matters of difficulty remain outstanding between the two Governments?

The differences of opinion that have arisen with the Iraq Government do not relate to the payment of the cost either of the British forces in Iraq or of the higher commands in the Iraq army. As I stated on 28th January, I do not think that it would be in the public interest to make any statement at the present stage as to the actual points at issue.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can now inform the House as to the terms of the agreement which has been concluded with ex-British civil servants in the Irish Free State, pursuant to the recent judgment, of the Privy Council in the case of Wigg and Cochrane; and whether, in view of the prolonged delay in paying the compensation to which these civil servants have been held to be entitled, interest will be payable on the amount of the compensation awarded from the date of their retirement?

An agreement has been reached between His Majesty's Governments in the United Kingdom and in the Irish Free State that as soon as the necessary detailed arrangements for the purpose can be made, His Majesty's Government in the Irish Free State shall pay to all transferred Civil Servants who before 1st March next have either already been awarded compensation under the provisions of Article X of the Articles of Agreement or have given notice of intention to retire under the provisions of that Article, compensation on the basis laid down in Article X as interpreted by the Judicial Committee in Wigg and Cochrane's case, together with any arrears of compensation which may be due on that basis, and that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom shall recoup to His Majesty's Government in the Irish Free State the difference between the amount so paid and the amount which would have been paid but for the decision of the Judicial Committee.I am informed that a further agreement has been reached between His Majesty's Government in the Irish Free State and representatives of the transferred officers still serving in the Irish Free State under which such officers as may give notice of retirement under Article X on or after 1st March, 1929, will be entitled to compensation on the basis of the terms set out in the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, together with the Treasury Minute of 30th March, 1922; compensation in such cases will be assessed finally by a special statutory tribunal, the membership of which will provide for representation of the transferred officers; and certain statutory safeguards will be provided for the position of transferred officers in respect of such matters as conditions of service, etc. To enable effect to be given to this agreement concurrent legislation will be required here and in the Irish Free State and His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have undertaken to introduce the necessary legislation here. The answer to the last part of my hon. Friend's question is in the negative.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that it is the practice of the telephone department to demand from subscribers making increased use of the telephone service a larger deposit; and whether he will consider a cessation of this demand in view of its effect in discouraging subscribers from making additional use of the service?

Prior to the revision of the telephone tariff in 1921 local calls were paid for in advance arid trunk calls, against which a deposit was held, monthly in arrear. The present system, which is more liberal to subscribers, provides for both local and trunk calls being paid for quarterly in arrear, a deposit being held to cover the extended period of credit of which the subscriber gets the benefit. The deposit is calculated at approximately two-thirds of the quarterly charges for calls and is therefore subject to increase when greater use is made of the service. Deposits are required partly as security against loss but mainly to help in financing the service during the period of credit, and I regret I am unable to recommend a reduction.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, the total number of men engaged in afforestation in Yorkshire, specifying the number of supervisors, foremen, and labourers; and the salaries or wages paid to each class?

87 men are employed by the Forestry Commission in Yorkshire. These include three foresters at £123, £132, and £165 per annum respectively, eight foremen at 42s. per week, five gangers at 35s. per week, and 71 men at 33s. per week.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many prosecutions have been made this year for failure promptly to report an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease; and what has been the maximum fine imposed?

No prosecutions for failing to report an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease have been recorded during the present year, but proceedings are being instituted in respect of a recent outbreak in the North Riding of Yorkshire. The case will probably be heard next week.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what acreage has been bought or leased by the county councils of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Devon, and Cornwall, respectively, for small holdings under the Small Holdings Act, 1908, up to 1928, and what are the similar figures under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act of 1926?

More than one-half of the lard which has been acquired by local authorities for small holdings purposes was purchased or taken on lease during the period 1919–26 under the Land Settlement (Facilities) Act, 1919. The following statement therefore shows separately the area acquired for each of the counties mentioned by the right hon. Gentleman at the end of each of the years 1918, 1926 and 1928.