asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to inform the House when the Board of Trade investigation into the loss of the "Vestris" will be held; and whether he can state the composition of the full Court?

I am not yet in a position to state when the inquiry into the loss of the "Vestris" will be held. The necessity for obtaining witnesses and much of the evidence from America renders the preparation of the case both slow and difficult, but every possible effort is being made to expedite the hearing. I have already informed the House that Mr. Butler Aspinall has consented to act as Wreck Commissioner. The appointment of assessors will not be made until the date of the inquiry has been fixed.

Will witnesses be brought from the United States?

Every effort will be made to get any witness whose attendance is really valuable for the purposes of the inquiry.

Will the Board of Trade pay the expenses?

The Board of Trade will, of course, be represented at the inquiry.

I mean the expenses of witnesses who may be brought over—will they be defrayed by the Government or the Board of Trade?

I should require notice of that question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many awards were made to officers and men of the British Mercantile Marine by the British Government and Foreign Governments during 1928; and whether it is possible to arrange for greater publicity to be given to these acts of gallantry?

The number of awards to officers and men of the British Mercantile Marine made during 1928 by the Governments of this country and of the Dominions was 32, and the number of awards made by Foreign Governments 68. With regard to the second part of the question, a notice is published in the Gazette of British medals awarded to British seamen, and particulars are sent to the Press of all awards to British seamen, whether British or Foreign, together with an account of the services for which these awards are granted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received any representations from the Robert Gordon's Colleges and the Aberdeen Steam Fishing Vessels Owners' Association relative to the question of the places of examination of officers of the mercantile marine; and what decision he has arrived at?

Representations have been received from the Robert Gordon's Colleges and the Aberdeen Steam Fishing Vessels Owners' Association, and are being carefully considered. A decision will be announced as soon as possible.

Will there be an opportunity for Parliamentary criticism of any decision that is arrived at?

I do not think there can be any Parliamentary criticism before a decision is taken, but certainly every representation will be considered in the ordinary way before any decision is arrived at, and then, if any hon. Member wishes to criticise it, it will be in order for him to do so.

When will the decision be made?

I cannot tell.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he can submit a statement showing the stocks of electrolytic or other copper in this country at the close of the year 1925 and last year respectively; and if he is satisfied that in the event of national emergency arising His Majesty's Government have available adequate supplies of copper:

(2) whether, having regard to the vital importance of copper in the provision of munitions of war and the fact that the production of copper is now completely under foreign control, and seeing that at the instance of this group the price of copper has been increased from £67 per ton to £84 per ton during the past 12 months, whether His Majesty's Government is prepared to encourage firms in this country to undertake the smelting of copper ore and the refining of copper for essential national purposes?

Stocks of copper in public warehouses in the United Kingdom, as recorded by the London Metal Exchange, were 56,047 tons at 30th December, 1925, and 6,801 tons on 29th December, 1928. I have no information as to stocks in private warehouses or in manufacturers' hands. The position with regard to prices and stocks of copper will be watched, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 14th June, 1927, to my right hon. Friend the Member for Aston (Sir E. Cecil), a copy of which I am sending to him.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that the situation in this country in regard to supplies of copper would be very serious if anything were to happen—if, say, a war were to come on; and would he be good enough to answer the last part of Question No. 4, as to whether the Government are prepared to encourage the smelting of copper in this country?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will refer to the answer I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Aston (Sir E. Cecil) when the question was raised before.

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree with the premise in Question No. 4, that the production of copper is now completely under foreign control? Is that a fact?

I have stated in my answer such information as I have; I should not like to answer that particular question without further notice.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman see that he has had notice, and that it is a very serious statement to make? Might we know whether it is true or not? Surely the Board of Trade knows?

Do not these financial ramps prove the necessity for State control?

I do not quite see, if a raw material happens to be largely owned by foreigners in foreign countries outside Great Britain, how a system of nationalisation in this country is going to help.

rose.

We cannot enter into a discussion on that subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the appointment of a departmental committee to inquire into the tendency towards the creation of monopolies which is involved in the realisation of the principle of rationalisation and into the effect of such monopolies upon the price of important commodities in general use?

The general question of the effect of combination is discussed in the report of the Committee on Industry and Trade which has just been published, and I do not think that any further general inquiry is necessary.

If my right hon. Friend cannot see his way to set up a Departmental Committee, could he indicate what can be done to stop the mischievous tendencies that many of us see in rationalisation?

I think it is very unfortunate to make general observations of that kind, and I should be very sorry to endorse the proposition that the rationalisation of industry was a mischievous process.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the rationalisation of the Press is in the interests of the country at the present time?

I do not think that the Press is a productive industry.

Has it not been the policy of this Government to create and encourage monopolies in every sphere?

It has been the policy of the Government to encourage the rationalisation of industry, and it is a very proper policy to follow.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the rationalisation of the electrical industry under Lord Birkenhead?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the exports of Russia in 1928, or the latest period of 12 months for which the figures are available, were consigned to the United Kingdom; and what proportion of the imports into Russia came from the United Kingdom?

It appears from the trade returns published by the Soviet Government that, of the total imports into Russia across her European frontiers in the 12 months ended October, 1928, the proportion imported from the United Kingdom was 5.3 per cent. The corresponding figure for exports to the United Kingdom was 23.3 per cent.

Can my right hon. Friend say if we take more Russian exports than any other country?

I could not answer that question without notice.

Does the right hon. Gentleman regard the figures of the Soviet Government, which he has quoted, as being reasonably accurate?

I do not know; I really cannot say; but they are the only figures which are available. I have no particular reason to suppose that they are inaccurate.

Then, especially as in the past the right hon. Gentleman has declined to accept these figures as accurate, why does he give them in answer to a Parliamentary question?

I do not remember that I have ever said that the figures were inaccurate. I think they lump the exports and re-exports from this country together.

Do not these figures show what a great mistake it was to break off relations with Russia?

Mr. Kelly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of ex- service men discharged from the Enemy Debts Department during the last year who had been in the employ of the Department for seven or more years; and how many of these officers received a gratuity for completing more than seven years' service?

Leaving out of account 39 temporary ex-service men who were re-allocated to further employment in other Departments on the termination of their service in the Enemy Debts Department, the number of ex-service men with seven years' service who were discharged from that Department in the 12 months ended 28th February last was 21. Nine of these men received gratuities on discharge. The hon. Member is probably aware that gratuities are not awarded to persons discharged before 1st September, 1928. The staff of the Clearing Office are treated in the same way in this matter as are the temporary staff in all Government Departments.

Seeing that most of these men had more than seven years' service, and that seven years' service warrants a gratuity, can the right hon. Gentleman say why it was not given?

Yes, Sir. That question was asked of the Financial Secretary to the Treasury some time ago, not with relation to this Department only, but to all the Government Departments. I am not sure on what date it was, but I will send the hon. Gentleman a copy of the Financial Secretary's reply, in which he set out the reasons why the date from which the period of seven years runs is the official date of the termination of the War.

Have the men discharged all been absorbed into other Government Departments,

No, Sir. If the hon. Member will read my answer, he will see that I excluded those whom I know to have been absorbed into other Departments. My answer deals with those who, so far as I am aware, have not been absorbed.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of districts to which branch managers have been appointed but in which no Employment Exchange is established; what rates of wages are paid to such branch managers; and are they allowed to take on extra staff when the volume of work warrants?

There are 745 Branch Employment Offices. The fixed remuneration (which is on a part-time basis and covers the provision of an office) varies from £25 per annum in the smallest places to £200 per annum in the more important, together with cost-of-living bonus. A branch manager is responsible for the whole of the work of his office and engages any assistance he may require. Special payments are made to him on account of abnormal conditions.

Is the special assistance that has to be engaged paid on the same basis as those in the permanent service of the Ministry of Labour?

I think it is, but I am not quite sure. Perhaps the hon. Member will put down a question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if the resignation of Mr. Beare, secretary of the Government Hospitality Committee, has been accepted; and whether he retains or forfeits his pension rights?

The services of the officer referred to were terminated on the 8th January last. He is not eligible for the award of a pension.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether during the coming summer Territorial camps will be held in all areas as in past years and will not be interfered with by the expected General Election?

Arrangements for Territorial camps have been made as usual. I hope the training will not be interfered with.

asked the Secretary of State for War, as representing the War Graves Commission, whether his attention has been called to the removal and destruction of the memorial erected by the family and comrades of the late Corporal Withecombe, of the 1st Royal North Devon Hussars, in the cemetery at Alexandria; whether his family were communicated with before this action was taken; the name of the representative of the War Graves Commission in Egypt on whose authority this action was taken; and whether, in view of the fact that it has distressed the parents and relatives of this deceased soldier, he will give orders that at least the marble scroll erected by his comrades shall be added to the memorial now placed on his grave?

The general policy of the Imperial War Graves Commission, which was explained to, and accepted by, the House in 1920, is to mark all graves with a uniform type of memorial. In Egypt, where a number of private memorials had already been erected during the War, the Commission did not replace them by the uniform type so long as they remained in good condition. But when these memorials, of which Corporal Withecombe's was one, have perished, they have been replaced by the standard headstone. Corporal Withecombe's relatives were informed of the proposed action. In view of the general policy to which I have referred, I regret that it is not possible to comply with the suggestion in the last part of the question.

Can my right hon. Friend give me any authority for the statement he has made that Corporal Withecombe's relatives were communicated with before this memorial was destroyed and another memorial substituted for it, as it seems to be in contradiction of a statement which I have had from the Imperial War Graves Commission?

I, of course, made inquiries of the Imperial War Graves Commission when my hon. Friend's question appealed on the Paper, and my statement is on the authority of the reply they have given me, that the relatives were communicated with. I have seen a copy of the form which was sent to them. With regard to the other statement in my hon. Friend's supplementary question, it is not the fact that this memorial has been destroyed by the Imperial War Graves Commission. It perished because of the salt in the air and the climate, and, after it had perished, it was replaced by a standard headstone.

Is there any reason why, from the point of view of sentiment, the special memorial erected by this man's comrades should not be reproduced from a photograph and placed upon the grave?

I must refer my hon. Friend to the Debate that took place in 1920, when it was undoubtedly the view of the House that uniform memorials should be placed on all graves, and I believe my hon. Friend will find that that is still the general feeling.

asked the Secretary of State for War the respective duties, pay, and conditions of service of male and female viewers employed at the Royal Army Clothing Department?

All viewers at the Royal Army Clothing Department are required to examine and inspect, under the general supervision and instructions of superior officials of the inspection staff, materials, garments and other articles of clothing, necessaries, etc., purchased from contractors before acceptance. But the work of the female viewers is restricted to the inspection of a limited number of articles and is carried out under the direct supervision of an assistant inspector. The wages of male viewers are on a scale of 44s. to 52s., plus a war advance of 23s. for a working week of 48 hours. After two years' service they are eligible for six days' leave with pay and for 12 days after seven years' service. The wages of female viewers are from 38s. to 42s. inclusive, for a working week of 48 hours. All viewers (male and female) are entitled to full pay for certain public holidays and their conditions of service are generally as laid down in the Regulations governing War Department civilian employés.

In view of the fact that the duties of male and female viewers are almost identical, why should there be so great a discrepancy in wages?

It is because they are not identical that there is a difference in wages.

Do the Trade Board rates operate at the Pimlico factory?

I must have notice of that question. I do not know.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made in Scotland in the improvement of labourers' cottages under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act; how many applications have been received and how many approved; and the number of houses on which the work has been completed or is in progress, with the amount of grants promised and of those already paid?

Steady progress is being made in Scotland with the improvement of dwelling accommodation under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act. As at 31st December last, the latest date for which information is available, applications for grants had been received in respect of 1,576 dwellings, of which 1,396 had been approved; work had been completed on 658 dwellings and was in progress on 655; and the amounts of grants promised and paid were £120,787 9s. 10d. and £48,002 5s. 6d. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what Scottish counties are taking most advantage of the Housing (Rural Workers) Act; what rural housing authorities have not framed schemes under the Act; and what action the Government are taking to press these authorities to submit schemes?

On the basis of the number of dwellings approved for grant, the Scottish Counties taking most advantage of the Housing (Rural Workers) Act are Haddington, Aberdeen, Roxburgh, Ross, Perth and Berwick. I am forwarding to the hon. Member a list of the county local authorities in Scotland that have not framed schemes under the Act. As regards the last part of the question, the Department of Health for Scotland are in regular communication with those county local authorities that have not yet decided whether or not to adopt a scheme, and have brought to their notice the advantages of the Act.

asked the Minister of Health how many slum-clearance schemes have been approved since January, 1925; in what areas are they situated; what is the amount of expenditure involved: and what is the number of people affected?

Since 1st January, 1925, 58 slum clearance schemes have been confirmed by my Department. Reliable estimates as to the amount of expenditure involved are not available. The number of persons required to be rehoused under these schemes is 34,396. As the list of areas in which the schemes are situated is rather a long one, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Are we to understand that in any or all of these schemes the work has been started?

I was asked what schemes have been approved, and I have referred to what has been confirmed in the Department.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many of these schemes have been carried out?

I must ask for notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps it is proposed to take regarding the insurability under the National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions Acts of share fishermen over the age of 65?

It has been decided to exclude from the scope of compulsory insurance for health and pension purposes share fishermen over the age of 65 who were not insured persons on the date when they attained that age or on the 1st January, 1929, whichever is the later, and a special Order to this effect is being made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that there is no polling station in the island of Colonsay, and that the electors, in order to exercise their franchise rights, are compelled to make a sea voyage of 15 miles to Portaskaig; that, with the existing steamer service, this means an absence from home for three or four days; and that there is no accommodation at Portaskaig; and whether, as the electors have made a petition for a polling station in Colonsay, he can take any steps to ensure that the electors' rights to the franchise are made effective?

The sheriff, as returning officer, is responsible under statute for appointing polling places for parliamentary elections so as to give electors such reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable in the circumstances; and, if the arrangements made by the returning officer are not considered satisfactory, it is open to a local authority, or not less than thirty electors, to represent this to the Lord Advocate. I understand that, with a view to remedying the inconvenience referred to by the hon. Member, the question of providing a polling place on the island of Colonsay has been sympathetically considered by successive sheriffs and Lord Advocates. Under the Representation of the People Act, 1918, however, the date for the poll at a General Election is in all cases the ninth day after the date for the nomination of candidates, and the conditions make it uncertain, and in stormy weather improbable, that the ballot box and voting papers would reach the island before the day of the poll. In these circumstances it has not been found possible to appoint a polling place on the island.

Under these circumstances, will not the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of making every elector in Colonsay a postal voter?

Of course that would require fresh legislation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the sheriffs have power now to put on the list of postal voters those electors who comply with the requisite qualifications in other respects?

I will look into it, but I hardly think it will be possible under the circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what number of new holdings and enlargements, respectively, were constituted in Scotland during the years 1927 and 1928; and what number of new holdings and enlargements, respectively, he proposes to constitute during the coming year?

During the two year period ended 31st December, 1928, the Board of Agriculture for Scotland provided, and gave applicants entry to, 146 new holdings and 63 enlargements of existing holdings. Arrangements in progress are designed to provide about 138 new holdings and 56 enlargements of existing holdings during the present year.

Have two of these holdings been granted to McDonald and McClellan, who were sent to prison for land raiding?

That is quite a separate matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applicants have been settled on schemes of land settlement initiated since the present Government came into power; and how many of these applicants received holdings fully equipped with house and steading?

267 applicants have been settled on land settlement schemes initiated during the period referred to. Of these, seven were settled in vacated holdings, and 41 in enlargements. On the 219 new holdings, 125 dwelling houses and 110 steadings are completed, 26 houses and 28 steadings are under construction, 35 houses and 17 steadings are not yet begun, whilst in the other cases, buildings are not required on the holdings.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that serious complaint is being made by householders at Smailholm, Kelso, that burials are now taking place in a hitherto unused portion of the local churchyard which is close to dwelling-houses; that, owing to the comparative levels of the churchyard and the houses, there is a danger to health if this practice is continued; and if, in view of the refusal of the parish council to reconsider this matter, the Department of Health will take whatever steps are necessary or desirable in the interests of public health?

In connection with a complaint made in 1927, the Medical Officer of Health for Kelso District advised that no nuisance within the meaning of the Public Health Act then existed at the Smailholm Burial Ground, and the Scottish Board of Health could therefore find no reason to interfere with the decision of the parish council to use the ground in question for burials. No subsequent complain has been received, but I am having further inquiries made and shall communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary for Mines, if he is aware that after due notice the steamship "Cydonia," of the Stag Line, arrived at Blyth on charter on the morning of 12th January to load 4,700 tons of coal, the owners having been informed that the coal would be put on board in 168 hours, starting on the 14th January; that after lying in port for 17 days waiting for the coal none of it had been put on board; and what steps he is taking to prevent delays of this kind at the ports owing to the artificial restrictions on output put in force by the coalowners?

I am aware of the delay in loading this vessel. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on 7th February to the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson) of which I am sending him a copy.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman satisfied that since that date supplies of coal are more plentiful for bunkers and export?

Yes. I stated in my reply that steps are being taken in Northumberland and Durham to meet the unexpected demand. There are no artificial restrictions on output in Northumberland and Durham.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that there are artificial restrictions in Northumberland and Durham and in the five county scheme, and that the same conditions that obtain at Hull are obtaining elsewhere?

I am not referring to the five county scheme or to the Humber ports. I am referring to Northumberland and Durham.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that there are restrictions in the five county area and in Northumberland and Durham as well?

No, I am not aware that any Yorkshire or five county coal is shipped at Blyth.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that Grimsby trawler owners who are unable to obtain coal from other Yorkshire collieries are obliged to apply to Northumberland?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the £80,000,000 of revenue estimated to be lost through the general strike and the coal stoppage includes the Government's subsidy of £23,000,000?

Yes, Sir.

Are we to understand from the reply that the Government regard the Prime Minister's gift to the coalowners as a loss?

Does the hon. Member mean that when the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his speech repeatedly named £80,000,000, he included the voluntary gift of £23,000,000?

asked the Secretary for Mines approximately the present retail prices of petrol per gallon in this country and the leading European countries, and the amount of taxation in each case?

The retail price of first grade petrol in London is 1s. 7d. per imperial gallon, in Paris, Madrid and Brussels, 1s. 8d., and in Berlin, 1s. 6d. With regard to taxation the only information available respecting petrol relates to the duty on petrol imported direct as such into certain countries. This duty in Germany is about 2½d. per gallon. In France it is about 4d. per gallon plus various surtaxes, including an ad valorem duty of 2 per cent. of the imported price. In Spain it is understood that no duty is paid by the Government monopoly although an Import Duty of 5d. per gallon still remains in the tariff.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that in France the Government have control of certain refineries, and will he inquire as to whether this accounts for the low price in France?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman has not listened to my answer. I have stated that the price in Paris is 1s. 8d. as against 1s. 7d. in this country.

Perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman will also say that the tax is higher in France and the Import Duty is higher?

Excluding the Import Duty and the additional taxation, are not the prices generally higher in this country than in foreign countries?

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman give any answer as to the quality or the grade of the petrol in the various countries that he quotes?

No, Sir. I based the reply on the first grade petrol as being the same grade in each country.

asked the Prime Minister whether, when investigating the reasons for the rise in price of petrol, he intends to inquire into the reasons for the simultaneous advance in the price of benzol?

As I indicated in my reply of the 7th March, the Government's request for information was confined to oil products. The price of other kinds of motor fuel must obviously be related to the price of petrol, especially when as in the case of benzol it is ordinarily sold in admixtures of which petrol is the main constituent. In these circumstances, the Government, as at present advised, do not propose to extend the field of inquiry.

Does that mean that the price of benzol will not be inquired into?

It means exactly what I have said.

In spite of the fact that benzol is not taxed and that it moved up in price with petrol when the latter was taxed, and also in connection with the recent rise?

Will the inquiry cover the retail price charged for paraffin?. Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to the fact that retailers are, in many instances, charging cottagers 2d. per gallon more for paraffin?

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to publish any statement as to the result of these inquiries?

I cannot at this period say.

If the right hon. Gentleman does publish a statement, will it include some statement as to the effect of this rise in price on the motor industry?

May I ask for a reply to my question?

The hon. Baronet's supplementary question does not arise from the original question or from the Prime Minister's answer.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the serious congestion of traffic in the London streets, he will consider making regulations that will prohibit horse-drawn vehicles using certain streets during busy hours of the day?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 11th March to a similar question by the hon. Member for the Maidstone Division (Commander Bellairs), of which I am sending him a copy.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware of the great success that has been attained where these regulations have been introduced in America?

It does not follow that what is good for America is good for us. This matter on three occasions, I think, has been thoroughly investigated, and on the whole those who investigated it came to the conclusion that we should not be justified in excluding horse traffic.

Can my right hon. and gallant Friend not fix a time limit in years in order to enable the railway companies and brewery companies possibly to adapt themselves?

No, because in some cases it is distinctly better to use horses.

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not think that in some of the very narrow streets experiments might be tried?

That has been considered, but on the whole that project has been turned down.

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not think that in narrow streets it is slow traffic which should be allowed and not fast traffic?

asked the Minister of Transport what was the estimated number of men for whom it was proposed to find employment in the making of the Forth and Clyde ship canal in the scheme which his Department has considered; and for what period these men could have been employed?

The employment involved in carrying out a scheme of the magnitude of a ship canal between the Forth and the Clyde would no doubt be substantial, but I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given him on the 26th November last when I stated that the various estimates of the cost of constructing such a canal could not be satisfactorily tested until a detailed geological survey of the route had been carried out. In these circumstances, no reliable estimate of the employment likely to be afforded can be arrived at.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that in a previous answer he stated that a considerable loss would be incurred in the scheme, and may I ask him how it is possible for him to estimate whether or not there will be a loss if he cannot give an estimate of the numbers of men who will be employed?

I do not accept the statement of the hon. Gentleman. It is impossible to ascertain what number of people would be employed on this project until a geological survey has been carried out. The Government consider that the onus of undertaking a geological survey to show a satisfactory result rests upon the promoters and not with the Government.

Can my right hon. and gallant Friend say whether the shipping companies have ever been consulted as to whether they will use the canal if it is actually built?

Has my hon. and gallant Friend seen what the Balfour Report says about canals?

This is hardly a canal. It is almost a Suez Canal, if I may put it in that way. As regards the shipping companies, I do not know whether the Committee on Reconstruction in 1918 consulted shipping companies. I do not think that they did.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that the shipping companies were originally consulted and that many favoured this scheme?

I do not think so.

asked the Minister of Labour the number registered in Redruth as unemployed during the last two months and the labour transferred to Redruth from depressed areas during the same period?

As the reply includes a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of claimants to unemployment benefit who would be unable to satisfy the condition requiring payment of 30 contributions in the previous two years, if this condition were allowed to operate from next April onwards?

asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish, as a White Paper, the results of the sample investigation recently made as to the probable effect of the introduction of the 30 contribution condition laid down by the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1927?

A sample analysis was made on 29th January, 1929, of the persons aged 18 years and over, numbering 1,092,000 in all, with claims authorised for benefit at that date. From this analysis it is estimated that the number of such persons who had paid less than 30 contributions in the two years preceding that date, was about 120,000. This represents approximately the number who would have been disqualified by the 30 contribution rule if it had been fully in operation when the analysis was made. As regards making an estimate for the future, however, there are so many uncertain factors that no precise figure can be given. Moreover, under the existing law, the disqualifications under the 30-contribution rule would not take place all at once, but would be spread over the 12 months beginning on 19th April next. As regards the details of the sample analysis, I will circulate tables in the OFFICIAL REPORT, giving the figures for the seven administrative divisions and for certain industries with large numbers of unemployed persons.

In view of the importance of the answer, may I ask the hon. Member to give us the figures of the actual number of unemployed, apart from those on the live register, or, if he is unable to do that, to give some analysis or some estimate to the House as to the real number of people unemployed in the country?

I will consider that point.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has any statistics that will show the number of portable wireless receiving sets in use in Great Britain; and will he give particulars?

No, Sir. No such statistics are available.

Is there any way in which the Post Office can tell whether licences have been taken cut for these sets?

Yes, Sir; we have a number of ways, but I am not prepared to tell the hon. Gentleman.

Can the Noble Lord tell me whether any prosecutions of portable wireless set holders have taken place for not having a licence?