asked the Minister of Health what was the number of persons authorised to give relief to destitute persons, whether in the workhouse, casual ward, or otherwise, before the passing of the Overseers Act, and what, is the number now; whether he has received appeals from boards of guardians to authorise individual guardians of parishes or the chairman of the parish council or meeting to give relief, not in money, in certain cases of emergency; and, if so, what was the number of appeals?

I regret that the information sought in the first part of the question is not available. As my hon. Friend is aware, overseers, who had power to grant relief and in very rare instances indeed exercised that power, ceased to exist on the operation of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925. As regards the remainder of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a similar question put by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Tiverton (Lieut.-Colonel AclandTroyte) on the 7th instant, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether at any time he has had private or public conversation or other form of communication, either separately or jointly, with any representative for West Ham, which resulted in an agreement to the retention of the Commissioners of the West Ham Board of Guardians?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement as to the result of recent investigations into the comparative value of fresh and preserved foods?

This subject forms part of an investigation which is-being conducted by the Medical Research Council, and reports on various aspects of the question are issued from time to time. Summary references appear also in the Annual Reports of the Medical Research Council.

asked the Minister of Health if any provision has been made in the Local Government Bill, or in any other way, to pass on the benefits of de-rating to the actual producer where he is under lease for premises with what is commonly called room and power; and whether, although the landlord may be protected in such lease against an excessive advance in the price of coal and the advance of rates above a given figure, the tenant will be freed to the amount of relief given by the Bill?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to Clause 66 of the Local Government Bill, which is designed to secure that the benefit of rate relief enures to the tenant in such cases.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the chief tuberculosis medical officer of Middlesbrough has reported that the dispensary staffs repeatedly came across

asked the Minister of Labour the number of women granted benefit last year at each of the Glasgow Exchanges, the number refused, and similar figures for men?

This information is being prepared, and will be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I have seen a newspaper report on this subject, and I observe that the medical officer has suggested that what is required is some closer co-operation with the guardians. On my present information, I see no reason to contemplate such an inquiry as is suggested.

asked the Minister of Labour the amounts of grants given out of Government funds to municipal or other public bodies in connection with unemployment schemes for 1926–27 and 1927–28?

The following table shows the amount of grants made out of Government Funds to municipal and other public bodies in connection with schemes for the relief of unemployment during 1926–27 and 1927–28:

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the cost for 1927 and 1928, respectively, for unemployment benefits, out-of-work donation, or relief, and also the total number of unemployed for 1927 and 1928, respectively, giving details in connection with an abnormal number of unemployed in each year?

This information is being prepared, and will be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour the cost for the year 1928, in connection with employment exchanges and unemployment services, of salaries, travelling expenses, and other administrative expenses, payments to associations and local education authorities for administration of employment insurance, stationery, printing, etc., premises, rent and capital expenditure, rates, and services rendered by other Government Departments, superannuation accruing liabilities, and any other expenditure?

The latest available figures relate to the year ended 31st March, 1928. The total cost of the Employment Exchange and Unemployment Insurance service was £5,002,990. of which £4,913,570 was in respect of the cost of administration of Unemployment Insurance, and was recovered from the Unemployment Fund.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the additional import duties announced during the last six months by the Irish Free State?

So far as my right hon. Friend is aware, the only new or increased import duties imposed by the Irish Free State during the period mentioned are those which took effect on 21st February, namely, the new duty on woollen and worsted piece goods of 25 per cent, ad valorem, with a preferential rate of 20 per cent. ad valorem on such goods when of Empire origin, and the increased duty of 20 per cent. ad valorem, as compared with the former rate of 15 per cent., on woollen or worsted wearing apparel. Fuller details respecting these duties are given in to-day's issue of the Board of Trade Journal.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the sum of money received for the year ended 31st December, 1928, for duty on goods that come under the heading of the Key Industries, the McKenna, and the Safeguarding Duties?

The approximate net receipts in respect of Key Industry, McKenna, and Safeguarding Duties for the year ended 31st December, 1928, were £5,815,000.

asked (1) the Secretary of State for War what would be the estimated extra cost if only British, including Irish Free State, meat were supplied to the Army for one day a week, two days a week, and three days a week, respectively;(2)the Secretary of State for Air what would be the estimated extra cost if only British, including Irish Free State, meat were supplied to the Royal Air Force for one day a week, two days a week, and three days a week, respectively?

It is estimated that the extra cost of providing the Army and Royal Air Force at home, including the troops in the South Irish Coast Defences, with fresh meat on one day a week would be roughly £70,000 a year. The increased cost for two or more days would, it is estimated, be proportionately greater.

asked (1) the Secretary of State for War what percentage of the annual meat supply to the Army is represented, according to the last available figures, by meat of British origin, including Irish Free State, Empire origin, and foreign origin respectively, stating what percentage is represented by fresh, chilled, frozen, and preserved, and giving the cost in each case;(2) the Secretary of State for Air what percentage of the annual meat supply to the Air Force is represented, according to the last available figures, by meat of British origin, including Irish Free State, Empire origin, and foreign origin respectively, stating what percentage is represented by fresh, chilled, frozen, and preserved, and giving the cost in each case?

The figures for 1928 for the meat bought in this country by the War Department (including the requirements of the Royal Air Force and also of frozen meat for the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean) are as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for War the total number of Army pre-War pensioners on the rolls to-day and the number receiving the benefits of the Pensions Increase Acts, 1920 to 1924, and comparative figures when the Pensions Increase Acts, 1920 to 1924, came into force?

Of approximately 35,000 pre-War soldier pensioners, some 11,300 are drawing increases under the Pensions Increase Warrants of 1920 and 1924. The corresponding figures in 1924 (after the introduction of the Increase Warrant of 1924) were 44,000 and 12,800 respectively, and in 1920, 55,000 and 14,000 respectively. The majority of the men who are not in receipt of increases under the Pensions Increase Warrants have had their pensions re-assessed on the more favourable post-War scales because of further service rendered in the Great War.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been called to the development of civil aviation in Germany; and whether he has considered the situation arising from the facility with which civil aircraft can be used for war purposes?

My hon. Friend can rest assured that the development of civil aviation in Germany as in all other countries, and the situation arising from such developments, are matters which engage my constant attention.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that supplementary clerks whose appointments were delayed owing to service with His Majesty's forces in the War are, through no fault of their own, placed in a position junior to members of subordinate classes who did not serve during the War, and in view of the dissatisfaction amongst these officers on this matter, he will be good enough to receive a deputation on the subject?

I will make enquiries in the matter and communicate with the hon. Member. In this connection, however, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to-day to the hon. Member for North Camberwell (Mr. Ammon).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the total number of temporary clerks now employed; what is their average length of service; whether any of them have no record of War service; what is now the total number of "P" Class civil servants; how many have been promoted from this grade to the established grades in the last 12 months; and how many boys and girls from schools have been appointed to positions as writing assistants and other clerical grades in the same period?

Excluding War Office and Air Ministry Outstations, the numbers of male temporary clerical staff and "P" Class clerks at present employed are 8,700 and 7,300 respectively. The detailed information requested in the second and third parts of the question is not available, but, as my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, preference in these appointments is given in all cases to ex-service men. The number of promotions from the "P" Class to the established clerical grades during the year ended 31st December, 1928, was 572. As regards the last part of the question, the details desired by my hon. and gallant Friend are as follow:Number certificated as writing assistants (girls), 1928, 695.Number certificated as clerical officers, 1928:(

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has received any communication from the Stone, West Dartford, Kent, Parish Council regarding the inadequate school accommodation in that area, and the necessity of providing a council school to meet the increased requirements in the east ward of the parish; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I have received a letter from a member of the Stone Parish Council about this question, and I am communicating with the local education authority.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty in what particulars the War and post-War of disability pension differ?

The War and post-War Pension Regulations differ in so

asked the President of the Board of Education the amount of the educational grant to the borough of West Ham for the new educational year commencing 1st April next?

The calculation of the grant for the year ending 31st March, 1930, depends upon a number of factors which are not known in advance. In the absence of information on such matters as the expenditure incurred by the local authority during the year, the average attendance of children in the elementary schools during the year, and the rateable value as on 1st April, 1929, I am unable to state the amount of the educational grant for the year beginning on that date.

asked the President of the Board of Education the total number of elementary teacher pre-War pensioners on the rolls to-day and the number receiving the benefits of the Pensions Increase Acts, 1920 to 1924, and comparative figures when the Pensions Increase Acts, 1920 to 1924, came into force?

The following table gives the information asked for:many respects as to render it impracticable to explain them concisely in the form of question and answer. The full regulations in each case are, however, public and readily available for comparison. So far as the Navy post-War Regulations are concerned, they may be found in Statutory Rules and Orders No. 132 of 1922, and on pages 169 to 172 of the current Appendix to the Navy List.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the mean cost at, approximately, £2,180,000 of the 10,000-ton cruiser of the A class and the mean cost at, approximately, £1,800,000 of the B type, at present under construction or on order, are the estimates for dockyard construction or for construction by private firms?

The estimates are the mean costs of the dockyard and contract cruisers under construction taken together. The figures relate to direct charges only, and include armament stores.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any action has been taken by the Government of India to implement the recommendations of the trade mission sent out by the Indian tariff board to investigate and make proposals with a view to increasing the foreign market for Indian goods; and whether the Government are taking steps to appoint Indian trade commissioners at Alexandria, Mombasa, and Durban in accordance with the trade mission's recommendation?

My Noble Friend has no information, but will ask for a report.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed to make provision in the next financial year for the erection of a new physics building at the National Physical Laboratory in accordance with the recommendations of the Civil Research Committee?

I have been asked to reply. Funds were voted for this purpose for expenditure during the current financial year, and work was actually begun last month.

asked the Minister of Transport, whether he has received any representation concerning the condition of the road at Norton, near Askern; and, if so, will he state the nature of his reply?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the occupation road about which I wrote to him on 9th October last. I have no further information available, but am causing inquiries to be made as to whether it has been found possible to secure an improvement in its condition.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of motor-vehicle licences at present in existence in England and Wales?

The number of motor vehicle licences current on 31st January last in England and Wales was 1,359,314.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of driving licences at present held in England and Wales?

I am unable to give the number of driving licences held at any particular date, but the number issued in England and Wales during the 12 months to 30th November, 1928, was 2.309,207.