asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in the Thornhill district of Dumfriesshire, the Western district of Stirlingshire, and the Lancaster, Morecambe, and Heysham areas in January and February; and the number transferred from distressed areas to those districts?

There are no local offices of the Ministry of Labour in the Thornhill district of Dumfriesshire or in the Western district of Stirlingshire or at Heysham and separate figures for these areas are therefore not available. The following table shows the numbers of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the other areas mentioned.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the figures of unemployment in the week ending 3rd March, 1929, and for the corresponding week in 1925 for the following trades: coal-mining, iron and steel, blast furnaces, tinplate manufacturing, shipbuilding, textiles and engineering, with the number of men in employment in each case on the dates given?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 13th March, 1929; col. 1114, Vol. 226] supplied the following statement:

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed men and women over 18 years of age on 1st March, 1913, to 1920, and each subsequent year; and the number of unemployed persons between 14 and 18 years on 1st March, 1920, and each subsequent year?

Date.				Men (18 and over)	Women (18 and over)	Juveniles (14 to 17).	Total.
4th March, 1921	…	…	…	904,640	467,268	137,121	1,509,029
6th March, 1922	…	…	…	1,396,138	323,973	108,112	1,828,223
5th March, 1923	…	…	…	1,045,332	214,353	84,040	1,343,725
3rd March, 1924	…	…	…	834,871	229,475	70,396	1,134,742
2nd March, 1925	…	…	…	948,938	220,759	65,921	1,235,618
1st March, 1926	…	…	…	872,055	173,153	61,930	1,107,138
7th March, 1927	…	…	…	926,975	154,852	62,233	1,144,060
5th March, 1928	…	…	…	880,107	149,837	64,508	1,094,452
4th March, 1929	…	…	…	1,114,170	202,609	70,553	1,387,332

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons, specifying men, women, boys, and girls, on the Devonport Employment Exchange for the month of February, 1929,

1929.			Men.	Boys.	Women.	Girls.	Total.
			Plymouth.
4th February	…	…	3,911	120	511	90	4,632
11th February	…	…	3,866	113	495	83	4,557
18th February	…	…	4,004	116	517	75	4,712
25th February	…	…	3,830	109	482	72	4,493
			Devonport.
4th February	…	…	1,886	69	203	66	2,224
11th February	…	…	1,866	71	204	64	2,205
18th February	…	…	1,951	73	214	62	2,300
25th February	…	…	1,821	73	217	63	2,174

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give the figures showing the total number of days for which unemployment benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Acts was paid for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The total number of days of unemployment for which Unemployment Benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Acts was paid during 1928 was approximately 266,000,000.

Comparable statistics of unemployment are not available in respect of the period before 1921. The following table shows the number of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain on the first Monday in March in the years 1921 to 1929 inclusive.and the corresponding figures for Plymouth?

The following table shows the number of persons on the registers of the Employment Exchanges at Plymouth and Devonport, respectively, on each Monday of February, 1929:

asked the Minister of Labour if, when a workman has been in receipt of full compensation and is certified by the company's doctor to be fit for light work, and this is confirmed later by the medical referee, the workman will be entitled to the benefit of the provision made in Form U.I. 221, so as to enable him to have his claim for unemployment insurance benefit accepted as from the date he was first certified or, alternatively, whether he will be allowed to register from that date pending the decision of the medical referee?

Form U.I. 221 would not be appropriate in the circumstances. The workman should register, as the hon. Member suggests, and make a provisional claim to benefit as soon as the company's doctor has declared him fit for light work.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of cinematograph films that are being made at the present time in which either War Office material or troops are being used?

None, Sir.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what have been the total reductions in the permanent staff and the temporary staff, respectively, of the Civil Service since 5th April, 1928?

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the civil staff reduction programme over the years 1927–32 set out in House of Commons Paper No. 63 of 1928. Excluding the Ministry of Labour the net reduction

Promotion of (I) Clerical Officers (£60–250 per annum (Basic)) and (II) Higher Clerical Officers (£300–400 per annum (Basic)) to Posts on the Scale £400–500 (Basic) per annum in the period 1920–1928.*
TABLE (I) (Clerical Officers).
Department.			Men or Women	Promotions to Posts on the Scale £400–500 per annum (basic).
				Year ended 1st April.
				1921.	1922.	1923.	1924.	1925.	1926.	1927.	1928.
Admiralty	…	…	Men	—	1	—	—	—	3	—	—
Trade, Board of	…	…	Women	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	—
Totals of Table (I)	…	…		—	1	1	—	—	3	—	—
* Including officers on the corresponding women's or provincial scales and, in some cases, the promotion of officers of analogous grades on the scale £300–400 per annum.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of men and women, lower and higher clerical officers, respectively, appointed to the higher executive class under paragraph 39 of the Reorganisation Report of 1920 in each year since 1920 in each of the Departments in which the higher executive class is employed?

The following tables give the information desired:

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of shorthand-typists and typists, respectively, employed by his Department in each town outside the London area where such staffs are employed?

The particulars required are as follow:

—	Shorthand-typists.	Typists.
Aberdeen	2	1
Belfast	3	2
Birmingham	10	4
Blackburn	1	1
Bolton	2	1
Brighton	4	1
Bristol	4	1
Cambridge	3	1
Cardiff	3	1
Cork	3	1
Dublin	10	4
Edinburgh	6	1
Exeter	3	1
Gateshead-on-Tyne	1	—
Glasgow	9	2
Ham Common, Surrey	1	—
Hull	2	—
Leeds	8	2
Leicester	2	—
Liverpool	7	2
Manchester	6	2
Middlesbrough	2	2
Newcastle-on-Tyne	5	5
Newport, Mon.	2	—
Northampton	2	1
Norwich	2	—
Nottingham	3	2
Orpington, Kent	2	—
Oxford	2	1
Plymouth	1	1
Portsmouth	5	1
Preston, Lancs.	2	1
Rochester, Kent	2	2
Sheffield	2	1
Southampton	2	1
Stoke-on-Trent	1	1
Surbiton, Surrey	2	1
Swansea	1	1
Wrexham	2	1

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why temporary female clerical staffs are being newly appointed to departments of the Civil Service, in view of the Government's policy of preference for ex-service men in respect of such employment in the Civil Service?

I am not aware that temporary female clerical staffs are being newly appointed to departments of the Civil Service, but if my hon. and learned Friend will furnish details of any cases which he has in mind, I will cause inquiry to be made.

asked the Minister of Transport 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 each of the last three years in the case of writing assistants and members of the established typing grades in the Ministry of Transport were as follow:—

Writing Assistants:
1926	2.53
1927	3.83
1928	3.35
Established Typing Staff:
1926	10.65
1927	11.36
1928	13.58

Only one woman clerical officer was employed during this period, her sick leave being in 1926–32 days; in 1927–6 days; and in 1928–60 days. I regret that the information asked for in the last part of the question is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will suggest to the other Powers concerned the desirability of raising the embargo on the importation of arms into China, on the ground that an embargo is both derogatory to the newly constituted national government and restrictive of employment in this country?

The question of the termination of the China Arms Embargo Agreement of 1919 is at present under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether a request has been put forward on behalf of the Chinese Government for the loan of British naval officers to help in the reconstitution of the Chinese Navy; and what reply has been given and for what reason?

No formal request on behalf of the Chinese Government for the loan of British naval officers has been put forward, but in reply to informal inquiries which have been received we have replied that so long as the China Arms Embargo Agreement is in force we cannot give such assistance. We shall, however, be only too pleased to render such assistance as soon as the restrictions are removed.

Belgium.
Herrings, fresh or frozen	Free.
Herrings, simply dried, smoked or salted, imported otherwise than in boxes, jars, crusts and other similar packing.	Free.
Herrings preserved other than simply dried, smoked or salted, imported otherwise than in boxes, jars, crusts or other similar packing.	20 francs per 100 kilogs. gross.
Herrings, preserved in any manner, imported in boxes, jars, crusts and other similiar packing.	40 francs per 100 kilogs. net

Note.—A "Taxe de Transmission" is levied in each case at the time of import. This is fixed at 2 per cent. calculated on the landed value, including the amount of duty, if any.

Germany.
Herrings, fresh or frozen	Free.
Herrings, salted, not cut open:
(a) In whole, half, quarter or half-quarter casks	3 marks per cask.
(b) In other packing, also salted herring roe and herring pickle.	2 marks per 100 kilogs. net.
Herrings, prepared except as above, and not in hermetically sealed containers:
(a) Dried, salted or otherwise simply prepared without vinegar, oil or spices.	3 marks per 100 kilogs. net.
(b) Simply prepared with vinegar, oil or spices.	12 marks per 100 kilogs. net.

Netherlands.
Fish, fresh or cured, except in tins, bottles, etc., containing 1,200 grammes or less.	Free.

Italy.
Herrings, fresh or frozen	Free.
Herrings, dried, salted or smoked	Free.
Herrings, marinated, in oil or otherwise prepared:
1. In tins of a weight up to ½ kilogram (including the receptacle).	36 gold lire per 100 kilogs. gross.
2. In tins of a weight of more than ½ kilogram up to 20 kilograms (including the receptacle).	25 gold lire per 100 kilogs. gross.
3. In other containers	25 gold lire per 100 kilogs. gross.

Notes:

1. One gold lire equals 3.67 paper lire.

2. A statistical tax of 0.30 lire per case, barrel, etc., is also imposed.

Sweden.
Herrings generally	Free.

Poland.
Herrings, fresh and frozen	2 zloty per 100 Kilogs.
Herrings, marinated, preserved in oil, stuffed or otherwise prepared, not in airtight receptacles.	584.80 zloty par 100 kilogs. (including weight of immediate receptacle).
*Herrings, salted	15 zloty per 100 kilogs.
Herrings, smoked	26 zloty per 100 kilogs.
Herrings, slightly cooked, red herring	65 zloty per 100 kilogs.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the present tariff rates charged on British herring, fresh and cured, in the various countries which import them?

The following statement shows the duties imposed on fresh herrings and on cured or salted herrings, not canned, in the countries to which the United Kingdom exported such herrings to the value of £10,000 or over in 1927.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of the wood and timber, all kinds, imported into Great Britain from Russia for the years 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, and 1928?

The following table shows the total declared value of the imports into Great Britain and Northern Ireland of wood and timber and of manufactures of wood and timber, consigned from Russia, during each of the years 1924 to 1928.

Year.	Wood and Timber.	Manufactures of Wood and Timber.
	£	£
1924	6,141,060	51,086
1925	5,756,658	103,370
1926	3,857,230	78,957
1927	6,470,932	136,675
1928	6,893,986	185,424

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total exports to Russia from Great Britain, Germany, France, and the United States of America, respectively, for the years 1925 and 1926?

The following statement abstracted from the Soviet Trade returns, shows the recorded value of merchandise imported into Russia from the United Kingdom, Germany, France and the United States, respectively, during the 12 months ended September, 1925 and 1926.

—	Twelve months ended September.
	1925.	1926.
Imports into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from:—	Thousand £.	Thousand £.
United Kingdom	11,655	13,296
Germany	10,984	18,262
United States	21,523	12,713
France	982	2,019

asked the Postmaster-General what percentage of the number of vans purchased by the Post Office during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date were of British manufacture and consisted wholly of British-made parts?

During the last 12 months the Post Office has purchased 674 vans, of which 670 were wholly British. The remaining four had British bodies on American-made chassis of the new Ford model, bought for experimental purposes. The figure desired by the hon. Member is therefore 99.4 per cent.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how much money has accrued to date from unclaimed bank balances in the Post Office Savings Bank?

As I informed the hon. Member on 1st May last, deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank are not at any stage regarded as unclaimed. Experience has shown that transactions often take place on accounts after a long period of inactivity. In these circumstances it is impossible to say that a particular deposit will not eventually be claimed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the number of officers and men of the Indian Army serving outside the boundaries of British India?

The number of officers and men of the Indian Army serving outside India is approximately 1,700, of whom about 100 are officers. I cannot, without entailing a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour, give the number of Indian Army troops serving in the Indian Empire outside the boundaries of British territory.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the number of persons still detained under Regulation III of 1818; whether the Government have sought assurances from these persons as to their future conduct; and whether, in the event of no such assurances being forthcoming, it is proposed to keep these persons under arrest indefinitely without trial?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Shoreditch (Mr. Thurtle) on 3rd December last, of which I will send him a copy. The number of persons detained is still six. The case of the three Sikhs is now under the consideration of the Government of India.

asked the Home Secretary whether the circular issued to registration officers has been sent to every registration officer in all parliamentary divisions; and whether he intends to issue a copy to each Member of Parliament?

The circular was sent to every Registration Officer in England and Wales. Copies were supplied to the Press, and also to the Central Offices of the three political parties, whose practice I believe is to notify the local registration agents of the contents of such circulars. I do not think it necessary to send a copy to each Member of Parliament, but I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in considering the question of a rebate on beer brewed from home-grown barley and hops, he has made, or will make, inquiry into the effect of legislation on these lines adopted by the Argentine Republic?

All relevant information is duly taken into account in considering this, as any other fiscal suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, respectively, the number of bulk barrels of beer produced and the number of bulk barrels on which the rebate of £1 per barrel was made during the calendar year 1928?

The number of bulk barrels of beer produced in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and the number of bulk barrels on which rebate of £1 per barrel was made during the calendar year 1928 were as follow:

—	Bulk Barrels produced.	Bulk Barrels on which rebate of £1 was made.
England and Wales and Northern Ireland.	23,276,744	23,262,175
Scotland	1,796,015	1,792,312
United Kingdom	25,072,759	25,054,487

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the assessment of woodlands for Income Tax purposes has usually followed the assessment for local rates, the basis of which is laid down in Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Rating Act, 1874, which are now to be repealed under Part V of Schedule 12, paragraph (1) of the Local Government Bill; and whether, in view of these circumstances, he will consider the advisability of re-enacting in the Finance Bill the provisions of Section 4 of the Rating Act, 1874, in respect of the assessment of woodlands for the purpose of Income Tax, Schedule A?

The provisions for determining the annual value of woodlands, or of other lands and hereditaments, for the purposes of Schedule A are contained in the Income Tax Act, 1918, and not in the rating Act to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers; and in these circumstances I do not consider that any amendment of the law is necessary.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of revenue tickets in connection with Betting Duty that have been issued by his Department for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The total number of Betting Duty tickets sold in the 12 months ended 31st December, 1928, was 21,285,450.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what acreage has been bought or leased by the County Council of Dorset for small holdings under the Small Holdings Act, 1908, up to 1928; and what are the similar figures under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1926?

About two-thirds of the land which has been acquired by the Dorset County Council for small holdings purposes was purchased or taken on lease during the period 1919–26 under the Land Settlement (Facilities) Act, 1919. The following statement therefore shows separately the area acquired by the council at the end of each of the years 1918, 1926 and 1928:

	Area acquired. Acres.
I.—Acquired from 1908 to 1918 under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908:
Purchased	504
Hired	3,063
Total	3,567
II.—Area acquired prior to the passing of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1926, and still retained at 31st December, 1928:
Purchased	5,494
Hired	4,926
Total	10,420
III.—Area acquired in 1927 and 1928 under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1926:
Purchased	⅓
Hired	—
Total	⅓

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of instances in which applications for the old age pension have been refused because the applicant was unable to produce satisfactory evidence of age; and whether any official assistance is given to infirm or illiterate applicants to enable them to secure such evidence?

No record is kept of claims to non-contributory pensions under the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1924, rejected merely because the applicant cannot produce satisfactory evidence of age, but such cases are believed to be very few. Every possible assistance is given by pension officers to all claimants, the official birth and census records being searched gratuitously.