asked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the proposed reduction of examination centres for masters and mates in Scotland and the elimination of Leith from the number of existing examination centres, if he has received the protest of the Midlothian County Council against any reduction; and, if so, what further action does he propose in view of such protest?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Parliamentary Secretary yesterday to the hon. and gallant Member for North-West Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy), a copy of which I am sending him.

I am sorry that I did not hear the reply which was given yesterday. Am I to understand that the Board of Trade are withdrawing the proposal for limiting the number of examination centres?

I will read the answer which was given yesterday by the Parliamentary Secretary:

"In order to give effect to the recommendations of the Committee on the Examinations of Masters and Mates, it has been decided that in future all papers shall be set and corrected at headquarters; but, in order to avoid any hardship to candidates, it has been decided to retain the present places of examination and the present frequency of examinations, subject of course to the right to review should circumstances change in the future."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 25th March, 1929; cols. 2069–70, Vol. 226.]

Thank you.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether an inquiry is to be held into the sinking of the Downs lights vessel which had temporarily taken the place of the "Gull" lights vessel and which resulted in loss of the life of the master?

Preliminary inquiries are being made into this case and some depositions from the survivors of the lightship and from the "City of York" have been received. Further depositions are being obtained. I am not yet able to say whether a formal investigation will be necessary.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make that fact known? I would certainly like to have the knowledge whether an investigation is to take place.

Yes, Sir. There is always a formal announcement of an investigation, if there is to be one.

I want to represent the master, and I would like to have the information sent on to me if the Board of Trade decide upon an investigation.

I will make a note of that. I do not know in the least whether it will be necessary to have an investigation, but, if an investigation should be decided upon and the hon. Member will give my secretary notice as to where he will be during the holidays, I will have a reply sent to him.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is proposed to ratify the international convention of 1926 on seamen's articles of agreement; and, if not, will he state the reason?

A White Paper stating the action proposed by His Majesty's Government in regard to this Draft Convention will be laid before Parliament in due course.

Is further consideration being given to the ratification of this Convention?

I have already said that a White Paper will be laid before Parliament. The hon. Member had better wait until that is done.

asked the Minister of Transport what municipalities have obtained powers to abolish or reduce their tramway systems, and which have extended them, during the last five years, giving the aggregate mileage of reduction or increase; what authorities have replaced them with trackless trolleys during the same period; and what authorities have applied for powers to do so during 1929?

Particulars showing the extent to which municipal authorities have extended or reduced their tramway and trolley vehicle systems are contained in the Annual Returns of Tramways and Light Railways (Street and Roads) and Trackless Trolley Undertakings, from which the hon. Member will see that the mileage of tramways and trolley vehicle undertakings operated by local authorities has, during the five years ended 31st March, 1928, increased by 63 miles and 64 miles respectively. So far as applications to Parliament in the present Session are concerned, I would refer him to the Nottingham Corporation Bill and the Pontypridd Urban District Council Bill.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the number of outrages committed upon women in non-corridor trains; and will he make representations to the railway companies that all passenger trains should have corridor carriages only?

So far as my information goes, deplorable incidents such as those to which the hon. Member refers are of rare occurrence. I am not prepared to press railway companies to discontinue entirely the use of non-corridor stock, but I will call their attention to the hon. Member's suggestion.

Has the Minister's attention been drawn to the fact that another murder has been committed in a train with non-corridor carriages, and is it not desirable that non-corridor carriages should be abolished?

Will my right hon. Friend consider recommending to the railway companies that in non-corridor carriages there should be a window or grating between the compartments?

I think that the best thing to rely upon is a communication cord which can be reached, or, in the case of ladies, special carriages.

asked the Minister of Transport, if he is aware that the Clackmannan County Council is the only local authority in Scotland which has specified foreign bitumen for its road requirements over the ensuing season and has expressly stipulated that British tar products will not be considered; that the counties of Stirling, Perth, Kinross, and Fife, which adjoin the county of Clackmannan, are all of them using large quantities of British tar for road purposes with satisfactory results; that the price of foreign bitumen is almost double that of British tar at the present time; and whether it is the policy of the Ministry of Transport to make grants from the Road Fund to local authorities which use foreign bitumen and do not invite quotations for British tar?

The selection of a material for a particular purpose depends upon other factors as well as first cost, and I understand that the Clackmannan County Council consider that the specification they have adopted is best suited to their local requirements. I am not disposed unduly to hamper the discretion of local authorities in this respect, but where British supplies of any material are available, it is my policy that British firms should be given an opportunity of tendering.

Is there any difference between the requirements of this county and the requirements of adjoining counties; and is the Minister able to give the House any information on the question of the price of this foreign material?

The Clackmannan County Council consider that bitumen is best suited for their local needs, especially in view of the character of much of their subsoil. As to prices, I have no information.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of detective and police staff employed by the Post Office?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle, North (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle) on 7th February.

Is it intended to increase the detective staff employed by the Post Office?

Not immediately.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think, in view of the many robberies that have taken place, that the mails should receive more protection?

I have said that the whole matter is under consideration by His Majesty's Government.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of machines used for the obliteration of postage stamps that are used by the Post Office; and can he state the number which are made by Norwegian and/or American firms?

The total number of stamp-obliterating machines in use by the Department, including a small number on order, is 636. Of this number, 301 were manufactured by a Norwegian firm, and the remainder by American firms.

Cannot machines of British make be purchased?

No; that is the reason why no British machines are ordered. In spite of repeated efforts that I have made to interest British firms in this branch of work, through the Federation of British Industries, no British machines so far have been forthcoming.

What is the matter with private enterprise?

asked the Postmaster-General in how many, and what towns in Wales telephone kiosks of the standard pattern have been installed; what is the total number of kiosks; and what percentage of increase, if any, has there been in the number of calls made since their installation?

On the 28th February, 1929, there were 173 telephone kiosks in 49 towns in Wales. I will write to the hon. Member giving a list of the towns in which kiosks have been installed. I am sorry that details are not available to enable me to reply to the last part of the question.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many of these telephone kiosks would be required to conquer unemployment?

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the application of Mr. Rowlands, of Anstruther, Fife, for re-employment in the Post Office; whether he is aware that this man was in the service until he enlisted during the War; that he has been kept on a waiting list for the past three years and that when be applied he was 37 years of age; that he was asked to supply references and give detailed particulars and, after exhaustive inquiries were made, was asked to produce his birth certificate, which shows him now to be over 40 years of age, and is now declared ineligible on age grounds for employment; and whether he can take steps to see that applicants for employment are not in future put to hardship, trouble and delay of this nature?

I am aware of the case referred to by the hon. Member. There is no record that Mr. Rowlands served in the Post Office prior to his enlistment, and, if he was so employed, it must have been a temporary engagement which would give him no claim to further employment. Ex-service candidates for Post Office employment are recruited through the Employment Exchanges, who put forward applicants in a recognised order of priority. Mr. Rowlands has at no time been put forward for Post Office employment, but certain inquiries were made regarding his case, following complaints sent by him direct to the Post Office. In the course of these inquiries, discrepancies as regards his age were observed; and it was deemed advisable to see his birth certificate, which showed him to be ineligible by age for a permanent appointment.

Does the right hon. Gentleman seriously justify asking a man for his birth certificate three years after he made his application, when it is discovered that he is now over age?

I have pointed out in my answer that in any case his application was not properly made, and should not have been considered.

Would the right hon. Gentleman mind answering my question? Does he seriously justify asking for a man's birth certificate, not at the time of his application, but three years afterwards, when he has been found to be too old for employment?

Certainly; the age which is taken into consideration is the age at which the man is taken into the Service.

Would the right hon. Gentleman oblige me by answering my question? Does he justify asking for a birth certificate, not at the date of the application, but three years afterwards?

It is not necessary for me to justify it. I have already said that the application was not properly made.

asked the Postmaster-General for what reason the Post Office Regulations authorise the employment of telegraph messengers under 14 years of age, whether exempted from the obligation to attend school or not?

As I have already explained to the hon. Member, in reply to his question of the 5th February last, the Regulations provide that no candidate for appointment as boy messenger in the Post Office can be accepted until he is legally exempt from further full-time attendance at school, i.e., normally, at the end of the term in which he attains the age of 14. If the hon. Member knows of any instances in which boys have been accepted when under 14 years of age, and will let me have particulars, I will have inquiry made.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at Errol, in Perth- shire, in November, 1927, a boy was employed by the Post Office who was under 14 years of age, and had to make the necessary application to the education authority for exemption?

I have just said that I am not aware of any such cases. If the hon. Member directs my attention to that particular case, I will have inquiry made.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the central schools in England pupils have to give a guarantee that they will go on till they are 15 years of age, and that consequently there is no possibility of their being enlisted in the service of the Post Office under these Regulations, since 14½ is the maximum age; and will he take these facts into consideration with a view to amending the Regulations and giving equal opportunity of employment?

I do not think that the hon. Member has accurately stated the facts.

asked the Postmaster-General what becomes of the deposit moneys paid by individuals and business firms for telephone service; what did these deposits amount to last year; and what is the amount of interest that would accrue to the Post Office if these deposits were invested in Government securities?

The amount standing in the books as subscribers' deposits is about £2,600,000. It forms in the first instance part of the general balance of the Post Office out of which, after providing the necessary working balances, payments are made to the Exchequer on account of Post Office revenue earned and in hand. Accounts for telephone call fees are rendered at a considerable interval after the services have been performed, and the amounts in question, although standing in the books as deposits, are balanced by the accrued liabilities of subscribers for which accounts have not yet been rendered. No question of investing the amounts therefore arises.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state the estimated duration of the inquiry of the Government Committee on Education for Salesmanship; and whether an interim Report will be issued within a shorter period?

It is not yet possible to estimate the duration of the Inquiry. Information is being collected from a large number of sources, not only at home but also overseas, and material has already been obtained which will probably justify the issue of one or more interim Reports within the next few months.

Is evidence being taken from the Commercial Travellers' Association?

I do not know whether the Committee has done so, but I will inquire.

Do any of our British Consuls abroad get a course of training in salesmanship?

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that certain municipal colleges, among others Portsmouth, have technical classes; that such classes are assisted by funds from the Education Department and that such classes for the training of hairdressers are not open to men of the Royal Navy undergoing vocational training who desire to take this course and who wish to start in the hairdressing business after serving their time in the Royal Navy; and if he can make any statement on the subject?

It is a common practice for technical colleges to arrange classes at the special request of, and in close co-operation with, local employers, and admission to such classes is frequently restricted to those actually employed in the trade concerned. The hairdressing class at the Portsmouth Technical College is a class of this kind. The question raised by my hon. Friend is not free from difficulty. I think the real point is that, if we want to use our technical colleges to revive or strengthen the system of apprenticeship in suitable trades, it is inevitable that some of the classes in such colleges should be confined to apprentices.

Is the Noble Lord aware that these men, some of whom have spent their lives in the Service, cannot join a trade union until they are discharged from the Service? Why should he assist trade unions in this instance in injuring a very deserving class of men?

I am not assisting a trade union. I am assisting both employers and workers in a particular trade to carry out a system of apprenticeship. I agree that many difficult questions arise when one is doing that, but I do not think, for the reasons I have stated, that the practice can be condemned.

At what age can a man or boy commence apprenticeship? Why should not he commence at thirty or forty?

It varies from trade to trade. If my hon. Friend wants information as to apprenticeship ages in various trades, he must give me notice.

Is it the case that there is no room for these naval men to attend the classes? If there is room, why should they not?

It is rather a question, if there is a considerable number of men who want to be trained for employment after they leave the Service, whether special classes should not be started for them.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state the nature of the work on which female staff are employed who have recently been recruited to his Department; on what basis are they remunerated; and whether such work could have been given to redundant temporary ex-service clerks?

Ten women clerks are being temporarily employed on work connected with the returns of employment under the Factory Acts. They receive the rates of remuneration fixed for temporary women clerks, according to the grade in which they are placed. The nature of the work is such that it would be given to women writing assistants if of a permanent character, and it is the usual practice to employ temporary women clerks on writing assistants' work if of a temporary character.

asked the Minister of Health the number of the staff employed by the Ministry of Health on work resultant from the operation of the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, stating the increase of the staff as a result of the introduction of the Act and the cost thereof?

The number of staff employed by my Department on work resultant from the operation of the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act is 1,490, and this number represents the increase of the staff as the result of the introduction of the Act. The estimated cost of the salaries of this staff for the year ending 31st March, 1929, is £340,000.

Does the right hon. Gentleman regard this satisfactory in view of the long delay before the settlement of these cases?

That is another matter altogether. This question is simply a request for information.

The subject matter of this question has already been satisfactorily dealt with.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will give an assurance that the appointment of new entrants to the Civil Service from the approaching open competitive examination for appointment to the clerical classes of the Civil Service shall not be allowed to prejudice the promotion prospects of P-class clerks; and if he will ensure that the entry into those classes of such entrants from outside shall in no way be the means of the discharge of any temporary ex-service clerks?

I give the assurance for which my right hon. and learned Friend asks, namely, the appointment of new entrants from the forthcoming examination in question will not be allowed in any way to prejudice the promotion prospects of "P" class clerks or to result in the discharge from the Government service of any efficient ex-service temporary clerk in order to make room for a successful candidate from that examination.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of insurance officers who are engaged on the work of deciding the claims made for unemployment insurance benefit; and whether all cases of disputed benefit are referred to the chief insurance officer before reference to a court of referees?

The chief insurance officer at the Claims and Record Office, Kew, has a staff of 56 insurance officers. All claims to benefit, having the minimum contribution qualification, which are not allowed forthwith at the local office, are referred to the chief insurance officer and his staff at Kew for allowance or disallowance. All such claims which go on appeal to a court of referees must first have been disallowed by an insurance officer at Kew.

Is it the fact then that cases which are being referred to a court of referees have first to be placed before the chief insurance officer?

Yes, Sir.

What is the reason for employing these 56 officers in the districts if all cases of dispute which are to go to a court of referees have to be sent to Kew?

As I explained in my answer, the chief insurance officer at Kew has a staff of 56 insurance officers. If the hon. Gentleman is referring to the officers in the districts, they have no power to disallow except in cases where it is a matter of calculating the contributions for qualification.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the universal discontent caused by the long delay which takes place in examining these claims at Kew?

I am not aware of that fact. We do our utmost to expedite matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the agenda for the forthcoming meeting of the Preparatory Disarmament Commission has yet been issued; and whether the question of naval disarmament is included?

The agenda has not yet been issued.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any date has yet been fixed for the first meeting of the committee of three set up by the recent Council meeting of the League of Nations to prepare a Report on the subject of minorities; and, if so, what is the date?

The Committee held one meeting before leaving Geneva. The 29th of April is the date fixed for meeting again.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the right conferred by Article 12 of the Minorities Treaties upon any member of the Council of the League of Nations to bring to the attention of the Council any infraction or any danger of infraction of the obligations incurred by these treaties, and in view of the treatment of the White Russian and Ukranian minorities in Poland by the Polish authorities, which constitutes an infraction of the treaties, he is prepared to call the attention of the League Council to this infraction and so assist in the more effective carrying out of the minorities treaties?

I am not prepared to endorse the hon. Member's contention that the treatment of these minorities calls for intervention under Article 12 of the Minorities Treaties, but I will consider any information which he may desire to lay before me in support of his view.

Is it not a fact that the German and Hungarian minorities are very ably watched by the German and Hungarian Governments while the Ukranian and White Russian minorities have no great power to protect them, and would if be possible before this conference is called to call for a Report from the British representative in Warsaw?

I see no reason for taking action at present. If the hon. Member wishes to put any facts before me, and they are facts which tend to define the position, I shall be glad to consider them.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in 1926 two members of this House saw more than 30 of these Ukranians being tried in a language which they did not understand and that they received life sentences?

asked the Minister of Health whether he will introduce immediate legislation to amend the law so as to ensure that every purchaser of milk shall be supplied with milk containing not less than a legal standard of milk fat and milk solids, other than milk fat, relating to services for the treatment of tuberculosis, maternity, and child welfare, etc., administered by public authorities under the Public Health Acts?

Apart from any question as to the practicability of the proposal, my right hon. Friend could not undertake to introduce legislation on the subject at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health the reasons for delaying the publication of that section of the Report of the Mental Deficiency Committee dealing with adults, which was presented on 24th January, 1929; and whether, in view of the conference on the subject to be held next month, he will expedite the issue of the Report?

asked the Minister of Health whether, having regard to the increasing anxiety caused by the delay in the publication of the section in the Report of the Departmental Committee on Mental Deficiency which relates to adults, he will see his way to authorise publication at an early date?

My right hon. Friend will not be in a position to decide whether or not this part of the Report of the Departmental Committee will be published until he has had the opportunity of considering it fully.

Seeing that this Report was presented on 24th January, can the right hon. Gentleman say when his right hon. Friend will have had sufficient time to consider it?

As the hon. Gentleman knows, my right hon. Friend has been very much occupied, but I have no doubt that he will give this matter his early consideration.

In view of the conference which is to be held some time next week, is it not desirable that this Report should be published as soon as possible?

I am sorry if the conference should be inconvenienced.

Do I understand from the indefinite answer to this question that it is still in doubt whether the Report will be published at all, and, in view of the great importance of this question should not the Report be published?

My right hon. Friend is considering it personally.

Is the delay in connection with the provisions of the Local Government Bill?

I could not undertake to answer what was in my right hon. Friend's mind. I stated that he is otherwise occupied.

Is this the same committee as is considering the question of mental deficiency?

asked the Minister of Labour in what trades the distressed miners who have been transferred to Devonport and Plymouth are now engaged; and whether all of those who have been transferred have been found work?

As I stated in a written reply on the 19th March to the hon. Member, the work to which these men were transferred was generally of an unskilled nature, but the labour involved in ascertaining the precise occupation which each of them is now following would not be justified.

Is it the case that the Ministry of Labour do not know into what trades these miners have gone, or is it that they do not care?

I have already told the hon. Gentleman that the work to which they have gone refers generally to unskilled work.

Can the hon. Gentleman give any indication whatever into which trades these miners have gone? Surely, he can give some rough idea?

Cannot the hon. Gentleman suggest to the hon. Member for Devonport (Mr. Hore-Belisha) that he will find this out if he asks in Devon-port, as I have done?

Will my hon. Friend consider the building of a wall round Devonport in order to keep out everybody?

Will the hon. Gentleman make some inquiry in view of the importance of this matter to the unemployed of Devonport, and let me know roughly where he has placed these men in order that we can see whether Devonport men are being kept out of jobs?

I am unable to give the hon. Gentleman any further information than that I have given in answer to the question.

Do I understand that the Minister of Labour positively declines to give any information as to the work given to unemployed miners?

No, Sir. I have already said that these men were transferred to work generally of an unskilled nature, and beyond that I am not able to say anything.

Is it not the fact that, when Employment Exchanges were first originated, they were expected to keep statistics as to the movements of men from one trade to another? Will he now inform us whether he intends to take steps to fulfil the functions of the Employment Exchanges?

This is really quite another point. The hon. Member is asking me to trace the jobs that these particular men—57 of them—have had from time to time during the last three or four months, and the labour involved, in the opinion of my right hon. Friend, would be quite unjustified.

Before these men were transferred from the mining areas, was inquiry made as to the jobs that were vacant in Devonport?

Yes, Sir.

What jobs were vacant?

It was ascertained that jobs were vacant.

These questions ought to be put upon the Order Paper.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give a figure of unemployment in 1913 which can be compared with the volume of unemployment to-day?

The only available statistics of unemployment in 1913 are the percentage of unemployment among members of certain trade unions, which was 2.1 per cent., and the percentage of unemployment in the trades then insured, which was 3.6 per cent. There is, however, I am afraid, not sufficient information available for converting these figures into a number of persons unemployed which would be on a comparable basis with the number so recorded at the present time.

Has the hon. Gentleman any definition of what is normal unemployment since 1913?

I cannot give any. I have said in the answer that the only information which we have got consists of the returns of certain trade unions, the result of which I have just given.

Then will the hon. Gentleman ask the Liberal party?

Did not the Debate of yesterday show that the really sound suggestions for the relief of unemployment are now being carried out by His Majesty's Government?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mr. John Allen Bentley, of 8, West View, Paddock, Huddersfield, was denied dependant's benefit for his wife on the grounds that she was engaged in an occupation ordinarily carried on for profit; that this profit was said to be the 3s. which she made by having her husband's brother as boarder in the house; and what are the grounds of the withdrawal of 7s. benefit on account of the wife?

The ground was the statutory ground stated by the hon. Member, namely, that the wife was engaged in an occupation ordinarily carried on for profit. A decision to this effect was given by the umpire in Mr. Bentley's case and this decision is final.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in this case the umpire's decision was taken in connection with a former decision in which he held that 22 shillings was to be the figure by which this profit was to be computed; that only three shillings profit was made, and that the person in question lost seven shillings benefit; and does the hon. Gentleman agree that the umpire should be left unimpeded to carry on injustice of that sort?

The umpire's decision is final under the Act of Parliament of 1927.

But is the hon. Gentleman not aware that he has power to make recommendations of a general character which might guide the umpire in his decisions?