asked the Secretary of State for War whether the explanation has yet been received as to the money spent on furnishing the official residence of the General Officer Commanding the Rhine Army, as referred to in the Comptroller and Auditor-General's Report; and, if so, what is its effect?

This report has now-been received. The case will come shortly before the Committee of Public Accounts, and I would suggest that my noble Friend should await their report regarding it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that the destruction of stores and huts by fire at Shoeburyness in 1927, as quoted in the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General, involved the State in loss, he will say why such Government property is not covered by insurance?

I can trace no reference to this case in the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General, but it is the well-recognised rule that Government-property is not normally insured.

asked the Secretary of State for War what would be the annual total excess and extra excess costs of supplying, to the extent to which expense is at present the only obstacle, all home personnel for one, two, three, four, live, and six days a week, with rations where available solely of fresh home produce, such as milk, cheese, butter, eggs, vegetables, etc., each of these items being given separately, in addition to the total, the question of meat being excluded as already dealt with?

The articles comprising the soldier's rations are supplied in three ways:

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, seeing that Sheffield, after an appeal by the director of civil aviation for co-operation in regard to aviation, has received a request from the Sheffield Flying Club for a flying club subsidy, he will say what answer has been returned; and what encouragement he is showing to those clubs which, like Sheffield, are endeavouring to encourage the promotion of civil aviation?

As regards the first part of the question, the reply addressed by the Air Ministry to an application received from the Sheffield Flying Club for a subsidy similar to that granted to other clubs, was that such a grant could not be made, the number of clubs which could be granted assistance being strictly limited and any addition to this number being now impossible. As regards the last part, clubs which become affiliated to National Flying Services, Limited, will benefit from the support extended to that company, and I understand that the Sheffield Flying Club is already in touch with the company with a view to taking advantage of the benefits which can be secured in this way.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he can give the 1929 Estimates for civil, military, and naval aircraft expenditure, respectively, by the Governments of the United States of America, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Spain, Czechoslovakia, Japan, and Great Britain, respectively?

As regards Great Britain, I would refer the hon. Member to the Air Estimates, 1929, which give the information required. As regards the other countries, the total French and Italian Air Votes for 1929 are 1,821,000,000 francs (exclusive, however, of service pensions) and 700,000,000 lire, respectively. Owing to the classification of the Votes in these countries, it is not possible accurately to separate these totals into expenditure on civil, naval and military aviation. The corresponding total in the case of the United States is approximately 145,000,000 dollars. The other countries referred to in the question do not maintain separate air services, and in their case expenditure for air purposes is to a considerable extent borne upon their main Army and Navy Votes and cannot be segregated from general military and naval expenditure. The hon. Member will find, however, a certain amount of information on the subject in the Armaments Year Book of the League of Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Air under what conditions aircraft apprentices and ex-aircraft apprentices are permitted to purchase their discharge at the present time?

Apprentices, in common with other recruits, have the right to claim their discharge within three months of their enlistment on payment of £20. If they do not claim discharge within that period, they can only obtain it on very strong compassionate grounds, and the same rule applies to ex-apprentices who have not completed two years' service after leaving the training school. Ex-apprentices who have completed their two years since leaving school may be permitted, if it is possible without detriment to the service, to purchase their discharge by paying £100, reducible in certain cases at the discretion of the Air Council. These rules are necessary owing to the heavy expense of training apprentices.

asked the Attorney-General the number of magistrates appointed in the Duchy of Lancaster during each of the last three years and the areas to which they have been allotted?

There were 139 appointments in 1926; 53 in 1927; and 129 in 1928. Magistrates so appointed were allotted to the following areas:

asked the Attorney-General if, in view of the fact that during the last six years only 51 advisory committees of the county areas out of a total of 105 for the selection of justices of the peace, and of 107 advisory committees for borough areas out of a total of 212 for the same period, have been revised, he will ask the Lord Chancellor whether he will consider the expediency of taking immediate steps to expedite the revision of the remainder of these committees instead of allowing the matter to be postponed Indefinitely for years?

The Lord Chancellor fully realises the desirability of the early completion of the re-constitution of these Advisory Committees. The work is being carried out as expeditiously as possible, having regard to the inquiries which must be made as to the suitability of existing members, and of persons recommended for appointment, and also having regard to the need for reviewing the composition of committees already re-constituted at the end of their terms of office. The work has in fact been expedited, as will appear from the fact that during the eleven months ending 28th February, 1929, 50 committees have been re-constituted, as against 22 in the twelve months ending 31st December, 1926, and 25 in the twelve months ending 31st December, 1927.

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the number of new non-provided schools approved by the Board during the years 1925 to 1928; and what is the number of school places supplied by them?

The number of new non-provided public elementary schools approved by the Board from 1st January, 1925, to 31st December, 1928, was 49, providing 14,081 places; the number or secondary schools in the same category was 16, providing 3,445 places.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the continuation class in navigation at Stornoway has 38 pupils; and what is the maximum number of pupils usually allowed to one teacher in such subjects?

The particulars furnished in respect of this class showed an enrolment of 35 pupils at 23rd February, 1929. I have no later information. In terms of Article 7 of the Code of Regulations for Continuation Classes, 1926, the number in habitual attendance must not exceed 40.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will reconsider his proposal to discontinue Dundee as an examination centre for certificates of competency in the Mercantile Marine; and whether he is aware of the financial handicaps this proposal will place in the way of candidates from Angus, Perthshire, and Fifeshire in respect of maintenance and travelling?

Representations have been received regarding the financial hardship to candidates from the counties mentioned if the examinations for masters and mates held at Dundee are discontinued. These representations will be fully considered before a decision is made.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what proportion of His Majesty's Consuls abroad have had a business training; and whether all Consuls upon appointment are given instructions to do their utmost to foster British trade?

As regards the first part of the question, I regret that I have not sufficient data on which to base a reply; general economics is, however, a compulsory subject for the examination for the salaried branch of His Majesty's Consular Service. As regards the second part of the question, all consular officers are instructed to do their utmost to foster British trade, and the efficiency with which commercial duties are performed is an important factor in the consideration of officers for promotion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of the imported joinery retained in the United Kingdom in 1913 and 1919 onwards?

The following table shows the total declared value of the imports of builders' woodwork (window-frames, doors, etc.) retained in the United Kingdom during the years specified:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of foreign slates was imported into this country during the year ending the 31st January, 1929?

During the year ended 31st January, 1929, the total imports of "slates for roofing," consigned from foreign countries, amounted to 44,720 tons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the quantity of foreign cement imported into this country during the year ended 31st January, 1929?

The following table shows the total imports of asphalt and bitumen into the United Kingdom during the years 1926, 1927 and 1928, distinguishing the principal countries from which these imports were consigned:

During the year ended 31st January, 1929, the total imports of calcareous cement, for building and engineering purposes, consigned from foreign countries, amounted to 277,854 tons.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, owing to a recent High Court case, medical men will not run the risk of certifying insane people; and does he propose to introduce legislation to deal with this situation, which is inimical to the best interests of the afflicted persons and the public?

My right hon. Friend's attention has been drawn to this case. He hopes that any legislation which may be introduced to amend the Lunacy Laws will include a provision giving effect to the recommendation on this point of the Royal Commission on Lunacy and Mental Disorder.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the decision of Mr. Justice McCardie in the King's Bench Division in Brown v. Dagenham Urban District Council, which affects the security of tenure of public officials by allowing their dismissal at any time at the pleasure of the body employing them, irrespective of any contract as to notice of termination of appointment; and what action, if any, he proposes to take to secure the position of officers appointed under the Public Health Acts in view of the state of the law revealed by this decision?

My right hon. Friend is aware of this case, and the matter is receiving his consideration.

asked the Minister of Health whether the rural district council of the Isle of Wight have yet furnished the information asked for on 24th January in connection with their administration of the Housing Act, 1925?

No, Sir. The district council have been asked to expedite the supply of the information.

asked the Minister of Pensions what was the average number of days of sick leave per head during each of the last three years in the case of women clerical officers, writing assistants, and members of the established typing grades, respectively, employed in his Department; and what was the average number of days of sick leave per head in the case of each of the grades concerned taken on account of gastric or nervous trouble, respectively?

The average number of days of sick leave per head during the last three years in the case of women clerical officers, writing assistants and members of the established typing grades is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the average specific gravity of beer produced in England and Wales, Scotland, and Great Britain, respectively, during the calendar year 1928?

The average specific gravity of beer produced in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, and Scotland, respectively, and in the United Kingdom (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) as a whole, during the calendar year 1928 was as follows:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the quantities of malt, unmalted grain, rice, maize, etc., sugar, etc., and hops used in brewing in Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the year ended 30th September. 1928, together with the bulk barrels produced?

The quantities of certain materials used in brewing and the number of bulk barrels brewed in Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the year ended 30th September, 1928, are as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the quantities of malt, unmalted grain, molasses and other materials used in distilling in Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the year ended 30th September, 1927, and the number of proof gallons distilled?

The figures for the year ended 30th September, 1927, were given on 1st March, 1928, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Leith (Mr. E. Brown). The corresponding figures for the year ended 30th September, 1928, are as follow:

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the case of 20 miners who had been transferred from Pontypool to Wallingford under the transference scheme; is he aware that the surveyor engaged one man and at the monthly meeting of the town council was instructed to give the man a week's notice and employ one of the Wallingford unemployed to replace him; and whether he will have inquiries made into the matter?

One miner only has been transferred under the transference scheme from Pontypool to Wallingford. This man was engaged by the town council, and I understand he has now been discharged. I am making further inquiry into this matter.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can supply to Members of the House all documents issued recently to his officials marked private and confidential; and, if not, why he cannot do so?

As was stated by my right hon. Friend in reply to a question on 28th November, it has been the invariable practice of his predecessors in office to treat instructions to the staff as confidential; he does not think he ought to alter this practice, which, in his view, conduces to sound administration.

asked the Minister of Labour the weekly expenditure on unemployment benefit at present; the cost of weekly administration; and the total weekly income?

The present weekly expenditure on unemployment benefit is about £1,000,000; the average weekly cost of administration is about £102,000; the average weekly income for the current financial year is about £810,000.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons on the register of the Walworth Road (Borough) Employment Exchange; and the number of persons who have been refused benefit during the previous six months in consequence of their not having paid 30 contributions within two years?

At 4th March, 1929, there were 8,057 persons on the register of the Borough Employment Exchange. The condition that 30 contributions should have been paid in the preceding two years applies at present only to juveniles aged 16 to 18. During the six months ended 11th February, 1929, the claim of one juvenile made at this Ex-change was disallowed on the ground that this condition was not satisfied.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of appeals emanating from the Walworth Road (Borough) Employment Exchange which have been brought before the court of referees during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; and in how many of these cases has the appeal been considered by two persons or more?

I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of slate quarrymen now out of employment in this country?

At 25th February, 1929, there were 1,105 insured men aged 18 to 64 classified as belonging to the slate quarrying and mining industry recorded as unemployed in Great Britain. Of this number 654 were wholly unemployed and 451 were temporarily stopped.

asked the Minister of Labour how many cement workers there are now out of employment in this country?

At 25th February, 1929, there were 2,409 insured persons aged 16 to 64 inclusive classified as belonging to cement, lime, and whiting manufacture recorded as unemployed in Great Britain. Of this number, 1,578 were wholly unemployed and 831 were temporarily stopped.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of workpeople registered

asked the Minister of Labour the number of claims for unemployment benefit made by men, women and young persons, respectively, at the Leek Employment Exchange for the months of October, November and December, 1928, and for January and February, 1929, giving the figures for each month, together with the claims rejected in each case?

The following table gives the information desired up to 11th February, 1929, the latest date for which figures are available.as employed in the lead industry, giving the numbers employed in lead mining and those engaged in the lead manufacturing industry?

Separate figures regarding the numbers of insured workpeople are not available in respect of lead mining or lead manufacturing as, for statistical purposes, each of these industries is included with others to form a single group. The number of insured persons aged 16 to 64 classified as belonging to lead, tin and copper mining at July, 1928, in Great Britain was 5,630. The corresponding figure for the manufacture of brass, copper, tin, zinc, lead, etc., was 37,180.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered as unemployed in the building trades at 15th February, 1929, or nearest date?

At 25th February, 1929, there were 199,330 insured persons classified as belonging to the building industry recorded as unemployed in Great Britain, including 163,747 wholly unemployed and 35,583 temporarily stopped.

asked the Minister of Labour the average number of unemployed registered at the Lincoln Employment Exchange for each month in the years 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, and 1928, respectively?

The following table gives the average number of persons on the registers of the Lincoln Employment Exchange in each month of the years 1921 to 1928 inclusive.