asked the Home Secretary whether he has under review the constitution and procedure of the Metropolitan Police Disciplinary Board, especially with reference to the submission of evidence, the attendances of witnesses, the recording of proceedings, and the representation of the accused?

Yes, Sir. Certain points of procedure are at present under review. I do not contemplate any change in the constitution of the Board.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he proposes to afford the accused an opportunity of being legally represented?

I have said that certain points of procedure are at present under review and subject to a report by the new Commissioner, and until that is supplied I cannot answer the question.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, in connection with the constitution of the Board, he proposes to see that some independent person sits upon it to adjudicate other than a member of the Police Force?

At present I do not contemplate any change. It is very difficult indeed. These disciplinary cases are often quite trivial, and to import an outsider would complicate the proceedings. The hon. Member will remember that in cases of dismissal there is, by the Act which we passed 18 months ago, an appeal to myself.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, in reviewing the procedure, bear in mind the advisability of the police officer being represented by a friend, and that full freedom for the friend should be given—that he should not necessarily be in uniform and therefore in the position of being restricted in this matter?

I will convey that point to the Commissioner and discuss it with him.

asked the Home Secretary who constitute the Metropolitan Police Disciplinary Board?

The Board is constituted of an Assistant Commissioner or a Deputy-Assistant Commissioner, who is President of the Board, with a chief constable and a superintendent who must not be the chief constable of the district or the superintendent of the division to which the defaulter belongs.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that, there is grave danger of the Board being biased if every member of the Board is drawn entirely from the ranks?

I really think not. The hon. Member is making rather a serious accusation against men who have served through the ranks themselves. I think that the superintendents and the chief constable quite know the point of view of the constables in this matter.

Did the right hon. Gentleman riot see what happened in a recent case?

Which recent case?

The recent, case of Jocelyn.

That happened several years ago.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that in order to facilitate the record of these proceedings in the future shorthand writers should be present for the purpose of recording the various questions and answers?

Again, I think, the hon. Gentleman must leave the discretion to the Commissioner. If shorthand writers were employed to report and transcribe every small case that came before the Disciplinary Board, the records would he increased quite unnecessarily.

In view of the fact that it is done in individual cases before they reach the board, would it not be quite simple to do it there?

I do not think that it is necessary. If the hon. Member or any other hon. Member—I have an open mind—can convince me that it is really necessary, I will consider it.

asked the Home Secretary whether any further discovery of bank notes and Treasury notes has been made in connection with the recent bribery charges made against ex-Sergeant Goddard; and can he give particulars?

As certain proceedings are pending in respect of these moneys I should not feel justified in making any statement on the subject at present.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any fresh moneys have come to light other than those already announced?

I should think not. In regard to the moneys in my possession, whatever they are, legal proceedings are pending.

asked the Home Secretary whether any books or other publications have, been seized and confiscated by the officers of his Department during the months of January or February, 1929, and will he give particulars; and is he considering, together with his legal advisers, any further action?

The officers of my Department have no power to seize and confiscate books or other publications. During the period from the 1st January, 1929, to 26th February, 1929, the Postmaster-General, acting in pursuance of warrants issued by me, has intercepted copies of six books and of 10 other publications of an indecent nature. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, before these books are seized, his officials have any expert literary advice as to their nature?

No, Sir. I think the hon. Member will see that I have seized not merely books but photographs and all kinds of matter of a very unpleasant character which are forbidden to come through the post, as I shall show in an answer to another question which I have before me to-day. I would ask the hon. Member to leave his supplementary questions over until I have answered that question.

Are we to infer from the answer that it is possible for the Postmaster-General to open postal communications on the chance that they are undesirable?

I am dealing with that fully in reply to another question, and I do not think that it is right to take up the time of the House at this stage.

Shall we now have the answer to the question, to which the right hon. Gentleman refers, as the hon. Member on this side who has put it down is not at present in the House?

Someone will ask it.

asked the Home Secretary whether he gave instruc- tions to the police for the seizure of copies of the novel, "The Sleeveless Errand"; and on what ground such action was taken?

Can the right hon. Gentleman answer at the same time Question No. 11, which stands in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for East Middlesbrough (Miss Wilkinson), who is prevented from being present by a family bereavement?

No. That would be creating a very bad precedent. If an hon. Member is not present, the question cannot be asked, except when time permits, and questions are gone over for the second time.

I will explain the position fully to the House in order that they may understand that I do not in any sense exercise a literary censorship. The Obscene Publications Act makes it lawful for any Metropolitan Police Magistrate, or for any two Justices of the Peace, on sworn information, to issue a search warrant to search for and, seize any indecent or obscene book, picture, writing or article, and there is a Common Law duty upon the police to secure the prevention of crimes of this or of any other character. Accordingly when information was conveyed to me that the book referred to in the question was about to be published, I handed the matter over to the Director of Public Prosecutions, and under the provisions of the above-mentioned Act he applied for and ob- tained a search warrant at Bow Street, in the execution of which a large number of copies were seized and are now in the possession of the police, by virtue of the Magistrate's directions.

The procedure directed under the Act referred to is being followed with a view to obtaining from the Magistrate an Order of Destruction and a Summons to the publisher is now pending at Bow Street. In view of this circumstance it would be impossible for me to make any observation on the character of the book in question. The question whether it comes within the Statute is a matter for the Magistrate's decision.

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered whether the present position of the law in this matter is the best way of dealing with clearly obscene publications, without imposing upon the police and magistrates a duty which they should not have—a literary censorship or a moral censorship?

I hope that the hon. Member does net want to impose that duty upon myself. At present, I have the magistrates to fall back upon, as it were, in a very difficult duty. While there are Acts of Parliament passed by this House, my only duty is to see, as far as I can, that they are carried out.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that his action, in the first instance, is taken as if it were a censorship? If we are to have a censorship, would it not be very much better that the whole matter should be discussed in this House, and a censorship formally appointed, than, in effect, bring about a censorship by this indirect means?

When my Estimates are put down, I should be only too glad if my hon. Friend wishes, to raise a Debate on the whole question. At present, there is no censorship. It is not until a book or any other obscene document is brought to my notice that I exercise my position. A censorship would imply that every book should be read by the body of censors, which would be an impossible position.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make it quite clear whose responsibility it is to put the law into operation?

Undoubtedly, the police, but I do not want to shed any of my own responsibility for my own action. In this particular case, the book was sent direct to me by a friend. I thought that it was a proper case to send to the Director of Public Prosecutions, which I did. There my responsibility ceases.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman see that, when he sets the law in motion, he is, in fact, exercising a censorship, whether he calls it by that name or not?

Really, the hon. Member must see that my action or the action of the police in dealing—I am asuming for the moment that it is indecent—with an indecent publication, is exactly the same as dealing with an indecent act which may be committed to the detriment of the public weal. The law has decided that these indecent publications should not be permitted, and I have to carry out the law.

rose—

Further discussion must be deferred until the Home Office Vote.

(for Miss WILKINSON) asked the home Secretary whether he gave instructions for a manuscript of poems sent by Mr. D. H. Lawrence to his literary agent to be seized before any question of publication arose; if he will give the names and official positions of the persons on whose advice he causes books and manuscripts to be seized and banned; what are the qualifications of such persons for literary censorship; and whether, to assist authors and publishers, he will state what are the rules and regulations the contravention of which causes a book to be seized and banned by his Department?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. I will explain to the House exactly what has happened. Under the Post Office Act of 1908 the duty is laid upon the Postmaster-General to refuse to take part in the conveyance of any indecent matter, and the Postal Union Convention of Stockholm, 1924, also prohibits the transmission through the post of indecent matter. In this case the typescripts were sent through the open book post from abroad and were detected in the course of the examination to which a proportion of such packets are subjected for the purpose of detecting whether letters or other matter not conveyed at that rate are contained in the packet. The typescripts were sent to the Home Office and by my directions were then forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions. I am advised that there is no possible doubt whatever that these contain indecent matter and, as such, are liable to seizure. I have, however, given instructions that they shall be detained for two months to enable the author to establish the contrary if he desires to do so.

As regards the remaining parts of the question, I have explained in reply to the question by my hon. Friend and Member for Great Yarmouth (Sir F. Meyer) that there is nothing which can properly be described as a literary censorship in this country. It is a misdemeanour to publish any indecent or obscene book, and the Obscene Publications Act provides machinery by which the publication of an indecent or obscene book may be prevented or stopped if a competent Court so decides. I have no authority to discriminate between offences of this character and offences against any other part of the criminal law, and it is my normal practice, when information reaches me with respect to the publication or intended publication of an alleged indecent or obscene book, to refer the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who takes action in the ordinary course of his duty where the facts seem to warrant it. The publication of a book cannot in any circumstances be prevented except by decision of the Courts.

Is it not clear from the right hon. Gentleman's answer that some person or persons came to a preliminary decision that this book is of an indecent character? The question which my hon. Friend wishes to put is: Who are these persons who are entitled to give this provisional opinion, and what qualifications have they to make a literary discrimination of this kind?

In the first place, in this ease the Postmaster- General makes the first determination that this is primá facie a case of indecency. He then sends it to me, and, if I agree, I send it on to the Director of Public Prosecutions. It is not a question of literary merit at all, and, if the hon. Member has any doubt, I will show him this book in question. It contains grossly indecent matter.

Is it to be understood by the House that in endeavouring to discover these publications the Postmaster-General does not violate any sealed packet or anything sent by the letter post?

I think it would be better to put a question to the Postmaster-General on that point, but it is clear that the Act of Parliament and the International Convention both direct the Postmaster-General not knowingly to carry indecent matter of any kind. That applies to other things besides letters, and, if he finds indecent matter in the post, it is his duty, by law and by International Convention, not to deliver it.

Is it not understood that under the Berne International Convention sealed letters cannot be opened unless by direct order by a Secretary of State? I am trying to elucidate that this sort of thing is not arrived at by a violation of that order, but simply by examination of open packets, which are always liable to inspection. I understand from the Postmaster-General that that is so.

It is quite clear that nobody, no official of the State, can open a sealed packet without the direct warrant of the Secretary of State.

asked the Home Secretary whether in view of the increase in the electorate, he has taken steps to satisfy himself that returning officers are making adequate provision at polling booths for the greater number of voters at the next General Election?

Yes, Sir, the attention of the local authorities and the Returning Officers has been specially drawn to the matter and I have good reason to believe that the Returning Officers are fully alive to their responsibilities.

asked the Home Secretary how many alien deportation orders have been made since 1st January, 1929?

The number from 1st January to 25th February is 27.

asked the Home Secretary how many cases of death from exposure or starvation have been reported by the police each month during the past year up to the latest available date?

No such returns are made by the police. The hon. Member will find some information on this subject in the Judicial Statistics, Table XXIV, Verdicts Returned, column 11. In 1927 there were verdicts of death from want, exposure, etc., in the case of 76 men and 24 women. Later statistics are not yet available.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the medical evidence submitted at the inquest in Leeds on Mrs. Lily Hemsley, who, up to four years ago, was employed at the asbestos factory of Messrs. Roberts, of Armley, and who died of fibrosis of the lungs, this being the fourth case of its kind; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the conditions under which this work is performed with a view to the adoption of more effective safeguards against infection?

Yes, Sir. I have seen a report by the medical inspector who attended the inquest. It appears from the medical evidence that the deceased died from fibrosis of the lungs due to the effects of asbestos dust. As I stated in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. W. Thorne) on the 4th instant, the effects of this dust are already the subject of a comprehensive inquiry by the medical inspectors, one of the main objects of which is to determine the precautions necessary for the prevention of the disease.

asked the Home Secretary whether there has been any increase in the number of factory inspectors during the last six months; and is there to be a further addition during this financial year?

The number of factory inspectors actually employed is slightly larger now than six months ago owing to vacancies having been filled. I would remind the hon. Member that the question of increasing the factory inspectorate is now being considered by a Departmental Committee under the chairmanship of my hon. Friend the Member for Bootle (Sir V. Henderson).

Are we to have a report from the Committee or a statement from the right hon. Gentleman?

Yes.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether there is available in the office of the collector of customs and excise at Chester an official who is able to deal with correspondence in the Welsh language; and, if not, whether he will arrange for the attachment to that office of an official with a thorough knowledge of the Welsh language?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part of the question, there are already available in the Chester area the services of Welsh-speaking officers of the Customs and Excise Department. On the occasions on which applicants with no knowledge of English correspond with the collector's office, no difficulty has been experienced in dealing with the matter without undue delay.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that applicants for relief from Entertainment Duty at concerts and other similar events, when they make applications in Welsh, receive a letter from that office stating that they must make the application in English, and, in view of that fact, will the hon. Gentleman take steps to have someone in that office who can deal with correspondence in Welsh?

I was not ware of that fact. If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will give me the details, I will look into them.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether having regard to the objections which many parents have, for one reason and another, to sending their children to public elementary schools, his attention has been directed to a proposal for giving to the parents of every child of school age an education grant, and allowing them to send the child on it to any school of an approved standard that they choose; and will he give this suggestion his consideration?

Suggestions of this kind have been made on various occasions but, in the form in which the hon. Member now puts it forward, it would apparently involve the conversion of all grants in aid of elementary education into capitation grants. It may be worth while to point out that parents who pay Income Tax already receive from the Exchequer a relief which is approximately equal to the cost of elementary education in respect of each child.

Does not the Noble Lord think that this suggestion savours of subsidising snobbery?

Does not the Noble Lord think that all children should go to elementary schools?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the closing of elementary schools at Dover in consequence of the inability to keep class-rooms up to the required temperature; whether this is due to lack of technical knowledge or to the expense involved; and whether he will take steps to have the matter remedied?

I am aware of the closing of elementary schools in Dover, and I am informed that this was due partly to inability to keep the classrooms up to the necessary temperature, and partly to epidemic sickness. I have no reason to think that the inability to maintain a suitable temperature in the schools was due either to a lack of technical knowledge or to a desire to avoid the expense involved. I understand that the weather at Dover was exceptionally severe.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Canada and the United States, where 40 degrees below zero is quite a normal winter temperature, they have no difficulty in maintaining rooms fully heated?

Yes, Sir, but it is obvious that, while the schools in Canada and the United States are constructed to meet the normal temperature of the country, the schools in this country are built to meet the normal temperature of this country.

Is it fair to allow the statement to go out that the normal temperature of Canada is 40 below zero?

Have His Majesty's inspectors made any report upon this matter?

Of course, His Majesty's inspectors have made reports as to schools, but I cannot say whether the information that I have given to the House is based upon reports by His Majesty's inspectors, or not.

Is the Noble Lord aware that there are very few country schools which have central heating that do suffer in this way, and is not that an argument for having central heating installed in the schools?

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of full-time teachers in the ele- mentary schools on 31st March, 1928; how many were trained teachers; and how many were uncertificated and supplementary?

The total number of teachers employed in, or in connection with, public elementary schools maintained by local authorities on the 31st March, 1928, was 167,948. Included in this figure were 122,664 certificated teachers (of whom 95,906 were college trained), 32,775 uncertificated teachers and 8,303 supplementary teachers.

asked the President of the Board of Education if his attention has been called to the proposed closing of the local education authority secondary school at Warminster, Wiltshire; and if he is satisfied that adequate arrangements are being made to enable the pupils now there to continue their secondary education elsewhere, and that the area will not in future be deprived of an opportunity of secondary education for those children who can benefit from it?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whither the scheme prepared by the education authority of West Lothian for the reorganisation of education in Linlithgow has been considered by him; and whether he can state the attitude of the Scottish Office in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The. Education Department have consented to receive a deputation from objectors to the scheme and, after the representations of this deputation have been considered, a decision will be given.

Is it not the case that the education authority merely proposes to exercise its statutory rights in the matter?

Yes, Sir, but I am sure the hon. Member will realise that among the statutory rights are the right to lay representations against the scheme and the right of the Department, to consider such representations.

asked the President of the Board of Education if his attention has been drawn to the regulations of the committee appointed in the West Riding of Yorkshire for administering relief from the Lord Mayor's Fund to families in need in mining districts; if he is aware that no relief is to be given to families where the income has been more than 21s. a week, plus rent, for the last four weeks for a man, wife, and one child; that a form with 27 questions has to he filled in by the applicant before any case can be considered; and that vouchers for 5s. or 2s. 6d. are the full amounts to be given in any case; and will he say whether these regulations are in accordance with instructions from those administering the Lord Mayor's Fund in London?

I understand that the income standard prescribed by the West Riding Divisional Committee for the guidance of local committees is as stated in the question. I have no information as to the precise form used for applications. The vouchers are printed in denominations of 2s. 6d. and 5s., but neither figure represents the maximum amount which may be distributed in any particular case. The details of administration within their respective areas are laid clown by the Divisional Committees, subject to the guidance of the Central Joint Committee, where necessary, on general questions of principle, but no income standard for relief has been laid down by the Joint Committee.

Is the Noble Lord aware that many of these local people who have to visit homes of the needy are protesting against these regulations; and can he tell me how a small tradesman, who has given as much credit as he can, is to supply a pair of boots at 5s. for a boy of 14 years of age?

These vouchers have nothing to do with the supply of boots.

Oh, yes, they have.

No, nothing at all. These vouchers are concerned with the supply of food. If the hon. Member has any complaints of this kind, I have received none. I wish he would put himself in communication with the local people and talk the matter over with them, because these matters have to he settled locally.

On the point that these vouchers have nothing to do with boots. Food cannot be supplied by the Lord Mayor's Fund, which is used largely for the provision of boots, and a voucher for 5s. will not buy a pair of boots for a big boy.

Has the Noble Lord made any inquiry as to whether these applicants have to answer 27 questions?

Here they are.

I have no information as to the printed form, that is a matter for local circumstances, and it would be very undesirable and improper in matters of this kind to attempt to establish central control in London over the proceedings of local committees. As regards the supplementary question, I do not think the hon. Member heard my answer. I said that the vouchers were printed in two denominations, but that that did not mean that any article had to be purchased within that limit. You may have two vouchers, or one and a half vouchers.

Is it in accordance with the instructions of the executive Committee of the Lord Mayor's Fund that applicants should have to answer 27 questions?

If the hon. Member would listen to my answer he would know that I have said that it is not in accordance with instructions, because the central committee does not issue any instructions.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that his Department has approved of the use of proper water-heating apparatus for bathrooms in the City of Bristol, he will recommend other local authorities to give special attention to this matter, so as to lessen the dangers of death from carbon-monoxide poisoning?

The hon. Member is evidently referring to my approval of by-laws submitted by the Bristol Corporation under powers conferred on that corporation by a local Act. Other local authorities have not at present power to make by-laws of this kind.

asked the Minister of Health how many day nurseries there are in England recognised by the Ministry of Health and not yet recognised; and has he made inquiries as to whether adequate funds are being expended by local authorities for the increase and improvement of these nurseries?

There are 98 day nurseries in England recognised by my Department at the present time. I have no information as to any day nurseries which are not so recognised. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative, but I have under consideration the general question of the extension and improvement of these nurseries.

Are we to understand that it is the policy of the Department to encourage these day nurseries?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will issue an Order or introduce legislation to amend Section 42 of the Public Health Act, 1875, to permit of scavenging and cleaning over limited areas of rural parishes and to charge the expenses to that area, and thereby control the growing heaps of insanitary household rubbish which now disfigure so many villages?

I have no power to issue an Order for this purpose. The matter has been noted for consideration when an opportunity for legislation arises. I doubt, however, whether legislation would be the most effective cure, and it is likely that improvements would be effected if local authorities would use more freely their influence and their powers.

Is it within the recollection of the right hon. Gentle man that it is more than a year ago since I asked a similar question, and can he hold out any hope of something being done to ameliorate this really horrible nuisance all over the country?

Perhaps we may be able to do something in the latter part of the year.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, owing to the pollution of the River Darenth, the local authority has directed that a dairy farm in the vicinity of Shoreham is to discontinue using river water and to make use of company water, thus causing the owner unnecessary expense; will he represent to the local authority that steps can and should be taken to abate the pollution; and will he state what is the cause of the pollution?

I am aware of the case, but the facts are not clear, and I am communicating further with the district council and am also asking the district council and the county council to consider whether serious pollution exists, and, if so, what measures can be taken by them to abate it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the pollution of this river started about 12 years ago and that the Ministry of Transport made an inquiry and ascertained that it was not due to the road? As the cause is now known, cannot the pollution be stopped?

I have stated in my answer that the facts in this case are not quite clear, and I am making inquiries.

Is it in order for any local dairy to use water?

asked the Minister of Health whether he will obtain the opinion given by Sir William Willcox upon the addition of silicate of soda to domestic water; and will he publish it?

I am not aware that Sir William Willcox has expressed an opinion on the subject. If the hon. Member will inform me what he has in mind, I shall be glad to consider the matter further.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the danger to the health of the public and the inconvenience caused by frozen water and gas pipes during spells of cold weather, such as are now being experienced, he will take steps to see that all new houses that are erected have their piping installed in such a way as not to be subject to weather conditions, as is the practice in countries which have every winter to meet such conditions?

I am advised that the adoption of the suggestion made by my hon. Friend would add appreciably to the cost of building small houses, and I doubt if this disadvantage would be counter-balanced by the advantage secured.

Do not these exceptional incidents go to show that in this country we enjoy the most equable climate in the world?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in Durham Place, Middlesbrough, one water tap serves 85 people; that cases are reported of 24 people living in four rooms and eight children sleeping in one bed; and whether, in view of the burdens already borne by the ratepayers of this town, he will consider increasing rather than decreasing the housing subsidy in such case?

I have made inquiries in regard to the matters referred to by the hon. Member. I understand that there are 17 houses in Durham Place occupied by 71 persons, that one house has a separate water supply and that there are three other taps available for the use of the remaining houses, no tap being more than 45 feet from any house. With regard to the second part of the question, the corporation are aware of a house containing seven rooms occupied by 24 persons, including a couple with eight children. It is understood that, although two rooms are at the disposal of this family, they live together in one room, but that they are only in occupation of this room until they can secure more suitable accommodation. As regards the last part of the question, it would not be practicable to grant an increased subsidy in any particular case.

asked the Minister of Health how the formula differentiates between two areas alike in all respects except that, whilst in one there are no unemployed persons receiving Poor Law relief, in the other there are a considerable number?

On the hon. Member's hypothesis, I do not think that the general characteristics of the two areas, of which account is taken in the formula, could possibly be alike in all respects.

If they are alike, what differentiation is there?

I do not think they could be alike.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether workshops on the premises of bespoke tailors will be entitled to the 75 per cent. rate relief under the provisions of the Local Government Bill;

(2) whether factories or workshops situate apart from retail shops, but used solely for the purpose of making garments which are sold by the owner of the factory or workshop through their own retail shops will be entitled to the 75 per cent. rate relief under the provisions of the Local Government Bill?

Premises which fall within the definition of industrial hereditament in the Rating and Valuation (Apportionment) Act will be entitled to rate relief so far as they are used for industrial purposes. Whether any particular premises are eligible to be so classified is a question to be decided on the facts of the case. The decision is a matter for the local assessment authorities and the revenue officer and is not one in which I am empowered to intervene.

Does not the Minister of Health realise that the de-rating scheme operates most unfairly as between the small trader who has the producing part of his business over his retail shop and the trader who can keep it at a distance and away from his retail shop?

That question was debated at some length, and the House decided to pass the Bill in its present form.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a leading counsel on rating matters has written a book on the 1928 Act upon which local officers seem to be basing their practice, and that in consequence there is likely to be a great deal more litigation than the right hon. Gentleman contemplated when the Bill was going through the House?

When the hon. Member suggests that there will be more litigation as the direct consequence of this eminent counsel having written a book, it is not a matter over which I have any control.

May I ask whether the Department has power to enforce the same decisions throughout the whole country, or will each assessment committee decide for itself?

The Ministry of Health has no power to decide questions which come before an assessment committee.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of making an order giving local authorities an opportunity of dealing with cases like this?

Local authorities have the opportunity.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to an account of an inquest at the Court of the City Coroner, held on 18th February last, on a man found by a police constable starved and ill on the pavement outside Holborn Viaduct station; whether he is anti ire that the man was taken to St. Bartholomew's Hospital because there was an arrangement not to send cases to the City of London Poor Law Hospital after 9 p.m., and that the man was refused admission and taken elsewhere and there refused and then brought back to St. Bartholomew's, and then put into an isolated room and found dead on the floor at about 1.30 a.m.; can he state by what Poor Law authority this arrangement was made and when, and whether it was known to the Poor Law inspector or at the Ministry of Health; whether any similar arrangement exists elsewhere and, if so, where: whether he will inform the superintendents or masters of all Poor Law hospitals that they must admit all cases of starvation and exposure brought by police officers without any order from the relieving officer and whether he will revive the list of starvation cases which were published from about 1870 till 1918?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In reply to the second part there is not, and could not legally, be any arrangement preventing the admission of cases to the Poor Law infirmary of the City of London Union or any other infirmary during prescribed hours of the night. The arrangement made between the guardians and St. Bartholomew's Hospital is that where a bed is available at the hospital cases shall not be sent on to the infirmary during the night but shall be kept until the morning and then removed, and this arrangement seems to me a very proper one. If the patient had been sent to the infirmary he would have been admitted, as in fact I am informed that many other persons are admitted both by day and by night. As regards the last part of the question I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by a revival of the returns.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received any request from the Clutton Board of Guardians for permission to alter the dietary for casuals; what were the alterations suggested; and what was his reply?

Yes, Sir. I am sending the hon. Member copies of the letter from the guardians and of my reply.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total claim by Southern Irish loyalists in respect to damage and loss sustained by them arising out of civil or military disturbances in Ireland; how much were the claims now settled reduced by inquiry or examined and accepted in settlement by persons making claims; and how many claims have been settled under £5,000, £10,000, £20,000, £30,000, and over, respectively?

I have been asked to reply. As regards the first two parts of my hon. Friend's question, which I assume is directed to the work of the Irish Grants Committee, I am afraid that, as I indicated in a reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) on the 30th May, 1927, I could not give details of the total amount of the claims submitted to the committee, since a considerable proportion of the claims did not specify any particular sum. As regards the third part, the recommendations so far made by the Irish Grants Committee are as follow:

Over £30,000	…	1
Between £20,000 and £30,000	…	2
Between £10,000 and £20,000	…	6
Between £5,000 and £10,000	…	43
Under £5,000	…	1,802
Total	…	1,654

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will grant a return showing for each of the unsatisfied claims of the Southern Irish loyalists the date of lodging the claims and the nature of the damage; the amount originally claimed; the amount recommended by the Wood-Renton Committee; and the amount actually paid?

I have been asked to take this question. I have now considered both the particular suggestion made in the hon. Member's question and the more general inquiries made in the supplementary questions addressed to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House on 26th February. There is, I conceive, no ground on which any distinction could properly be made, so far as publication is concerned, between cases in which payment has been made in full and cases in which a balance will be payable under the decision announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on the 22nd of February. In the case both of the Compensation (Ireland) Commission and the Sumner Commission no such general list was published, and, in the absence of very strong reasons, His Majesty's Government would not be disposed to publish a list in the present case. No such reasons have been adduced, whilst, on the other hand, publication might very possibly be prejudicial to many of the persons concerned.

Are we to take it that the information which convinced the Government that these claims were bad is to be withheld, because the Government decided that they must grant the claims?

No, on the contrary, the Government have never assumed that they were bad. The Government allotted a certain amount towards the satisfaction of all claims to be distributed among them, but never had the view that the claims themselves were bad.

Was the Chancellor of the Exchequer in possession of information of this character when he made his speech in the House last week?

I have throughout been in possession of all the information that has been enjoyed by my right hon. Friend.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think it right that he should withhold from the House information which was in his possession and which led him to take a certain decision?

The hon. Gentleman is now repeating the question which has already been answered by my right hon. Friend.

Is it not reasonable to suggest that if people are to have money from taxation we should know who they are?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the advisability of issuing this year, and also in future, a memorandum explanatory of the Civil Estimates and Estimates for Revenue Departments (Vote on Account) similar to those issued with the Army, Navy, and Air Force Estimates?

It is, as my hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware, the practice to issue a full memorandum as part of the volume of Civil Estimates; but owing to the fact that it is necessary to take the Vote on Account before this volume appears, the Estimate for this Vote is issued without any explanation of the variations from the previous year. I will therefore lay before the House a brief preliminary memorandum on the Civil Estimates for 1929.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of money collected for duty on silk and artificial silk for the year ending 31st December, 1928?

As I stated in answer to a question on the 5th February, the approximate amount of revenue derived from the silk and artificial silk duties during the 12 months ended 31st December, 1928, was £6,215,000.

asked the Prime Minister if he is yet in a position to make a statement as to the nature of the inquiry into the Channel Tunnel project; and as to when this inquiry will commence?

My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement shortly.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the delay in this matter is not due to any lack of co-operation on the part of the Leaders of the two Opposition parties?

Will the Terms of Reference be sufficiently wide to take into account other projects, such as a train ferry?

I think we had better wait until the Prime Minister can make a general announcement on the subject, which will be at the earliest convenient opportunity.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the first question?

I am answering for the Prime Minister, but I have no reason to suppose that the Leaders of the two other parties would put any obstacle in the way of a fair and searching inquiry into a project of such great interest and importance.

Then we may assume that whatever delay has occurred is due to the Government?

It is much fairer to say that it is due to the care with which the study of a matter of this consequence should be approached.

Has my right hon. Friend seen a French proposal to make a canal across the Channel?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total membership of all trade unions in Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the latest date for which the figures are available, as compared with the end of 1920?

I have been asked to reply. The total membership of all trade unions in Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the end of 1927—the latest date for which figures are available—was about 4,908,000 as compared with about 8,337,000 at the end of 1920.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that there is still a large number of trade unionists left, in spite of all the Government have done in trying to destroy them?

asked the Minister of Agriculture what are the average rents per acre which are changed by county councils for their small holdings in Berkshire and West Sussex; and what is the number and average size of the holdings in each of those counties?

The Berkshire County Council have provided 161 small holdings with an average area of 30 acres; the average rent is 34s. 7d. per acre. The figures for West Sussex are 122 small holdings with an average area of 17 acres and an average rent of 63s. 6d. per acre. Practically all the small holdings in West Sussex are situated in the south-west part of the county on soil of an exceptionally productive character. Although the area of the holdings is in some cases only from 2 to 5 acres, the majority comprise both cottage and buildings which has the effect of increasing considerably their rental value when expressed in terms of "per acre."

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give any particulars as to the number of farmers who have availed themselves of the facilities afforded for short-time credits under Part II of the Agricultural Credits Act, 1928, and as to the nominal amount covered by the charges given?

The number of farmers who have created agricultural charges under Part II of the Act amounts to 985 up to 27th February. I have no information as to the nominal amount covered by these charges.

Has any right hon. Friend had any complaints as to the very high cost of valuations of properties acting as a deterrent to people who might want to take up charges?

I think I have had some representations on the matter, but it is very difficult for me to form an opinion. It is a matter between the borrower and the hank and does not really arise on these agricultural charges. The complaints about valuation is more in connection with long-term credits.

Has my right hon. Friend any evidence as to the restriction of other credit arising from the operation of short-term credit?

No, I have not had any information.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that the Ministry, the co-operative interest, and the wholesale and retail federations all agreed to a grading scheme for marketing potatoes under the national mark, he will state what were the obstacles preventing its fruition?

The scheme to which my Noble Friend refers was deferred on account of the difficulty experienced in reconciling, within the short time available, the divergent views of the growers who are, of course, chiefly concerned, on various points both of principle and detail. I may add that discussions have been resumed between the National Farmers' Union and the -Ministry's officers, and there is every hope of an agreed scheme maturing for next season's crop.

Is it not a fact that the growers as represented by the National Farmers' Union agreed in the first place to these recommendations?

The growers m certain parts of the country were in favour of the scheme, but in other districts they raised objections. It was impossible to bring the scheme into effect unless the growers as a whole were content with its provisions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the fishermen's credit scheme, inaugurated before the War for Cornwall, is still in operation; what total sum in credit was provided; and how much of this has been repaid?

The last loans granted under the scheme were in respect of applications made in 1920. The total sum advanced under the scheme amounted to £14,828 18s. 6d., and the total sum received in repayment of principal up to the 31st December, 1927, the last date for which figures are available, was £11,857 19s. 7d.

Was interest charged as well? Has the right hon. Gentleman got the figures?

I am not sure. I think interest was outside this, but I will let the hon. and gallant Gentleman know.

asked the Minister of Transport approximately at how many points in England and Wales Class A roads cross railways on the level; what sum has been allocated from the Road Fund towards the elimination of such crossings by bridging during 1929; and how many level crossings will be so eliminated?

No comprehensive record is available, but it is estimated that on Class I roads in Great Britain there are about 250 level crossings of more than ordinary importance. During the current financial year, I have indicated grants, totalling £58,125, towards expenditure estimated at £77,500, in respect of schemes which provide for the elimination of four level crossings on important roads. I do not know what schemes may be submitted to me during the next financial year.