asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that 31 employés, principally ex-soldiers, have received a week's notice of dismissal from the Roads and Communications Department of the Southern Command; and whether, in view of his undertaking to Parliament that the position of these men would be safeguarded, he will say what action he is taking in this matter?

The reductions which are now taking place are in accordance with the answer which I gave on 26th February to my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. H. Morrison). As I then stated, the reductions will be spread over the next four months, and every endeavour will be made in any contracts for road work which may be placed to secure that contractors shall give preference to those who have been working under the War Department on such work.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men transferred from the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich to Didcot have suffered any reduction in wages or salaries; what sum has been deducted from their pay for doing the same work at Didcot as they were doing at Woolwich; how many persons were thus affected and what grades in the service they occupy; and whether any definite promise was given to these individuals when removed from Woolwich to Didcot that such transfer would not involve any reduction in pay?

The information is taking some time to collect, but I will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as I am able to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that Ernest Victor Gallagher, 17 years of age, offered himself for enlistment in the Army at the drill hall, 5th battalion Sherwood Foresters, Beckett's Well Lane, Derby, on 26th January, and was accepted as a recruit on 28th January, notwithstanding the fact that between 26th and 28th January the boy's father telegraphed to the responsible officer pointing out that the boy was under age, and informing this officer that he objected to the boy's enlistment; and will he lake the necessary steps for releasing the boy?

I am having inquiries made regarding this case, and I will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantities of grey unbleached cotton yarns and bleached and dyed cotton yarns exported to foreign countries and British possessions, respectively, for the year 1928?

The total weight of grey unbleached cotton yarns of United Kingdom manufacture exported from this country during the year 1928 and consigned to foreign countries amounted to 130,000,000 lbs., and that to British countries to 20,000,000 lbs. The exports of bleached and dyed cotton yarns consigned to foreign countries during the same period amounted to 6,000,000 lbs. and to British countries to 13,000,000 lbs.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what British Dominions or mandated territories are growing cotton; the acreage in each case and the crop at the last convenient date; the names of companies, and where situated, who have received assistance from the Government either in cash or credit facilities; and if the local or British Government are taking action to increase transport facilities, as recommended by the Balfour Committee, in the Dominions or Colonies, and to what extent?

As regards the first two parts of the question, the following is a list of the Dominions, Colonies, Protectorates and mandated territories which are growing cotton, together with the latest available figures of the crops grown in the season 1927–8:

Country.		In bales of 400 lbs.
1.	Gold Coast	215*
2.	Nigeria	20,930
3.	Uganda	138,486
4.	Kenya	1,241*
5.	Nyasaland	4,300
6.	Northern Rhodesia	32†
7.	Southern Rhodesia	125*
8.	Tanganyika	24,040*
9.	Union of South Africa and Swaziland	11,013
10.	West Indies	5,909†
11.	Queensland	10,266
12.	Cyprus	2,110†
13.	Malta	541
14.	Fiji	200*
15.	Ceylon	280*

The figures for Iraq and the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan are as follow:

Iraq	4,000*
Sudan	126,115
* Estimates only.
† Figures for 1926–7.

Statistics of acreages are not available, as in most cases such figures can only be approximations. As regards the third part of the question, so far as I am aware, no companies in the Dominions and Colonies have received assistance from the British or local Governments in the way of cash or credit facilities. As regards the last part of the question, the various Governments are taking all possible steps commensurate with available finance to increase transport facilities. I may instance the linking up of the Namasagali-Jinja Railway with the main Uganda-Kenya Railway. A line is also being built between Kampala and Jinja. In Nigeria the line from Zaria to Sokoto is in course of construction. In Tanganyika territory the railway from Tabora to Lake Victoria has been completed. In South Africa a line from Matubatuba to the Swaziland border was opened for traffic in July, 1927. As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, I have recently appointed an Oversea Mechanical Transport Committee to study every aspect of mechanical transport likely to further the economic development of the oversea Empire. It is contemplated that the expenses of this Committee shall be shared equally between the Empire Marketing Board and the various oversea Governments who take part in the work.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs the amount of preference on British goods given by each of our Dominions and Colonies?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Department of Oveaseas Trade to my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton (Lord Apsley) on 11th February.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will set out the basic rate of pension of a man who completed full service in the Royal Navy before the War, showing the increase under the 1920 and 1924 Acts, respectively, and of a man retiring to-day on a post-War pension?

The basic rate of full service element of pension before the War was 10d. a day for the seaman (22 years) and 8d. a day for the Royal Marine (21 years). To these rates were added allowances for badges, good conduct medal and character (4d. a day maximum for the seaman and 7d. a day for the Royal Marine), and rank additions according to grades and length of service in each grade. Under Orders in Council extending the benefits of the Pensions (Increase) Acts to Navy pensioners, the total pre-War pension, including the rank additions, was increased by 50, 40 or 30 per cent. (Act of 1920) according to the rate of the pension, and by 70, 65 or 50 per cent. (Act of 1924, subject to an overriding maximum equivalent to the post-War pension). Under the post-War Regulations the basic rate for seamen is 2s. 9d. a day, and for Royal Marines 2s. 7½d. a day, with badge, medal and character additions to the maximum of 6d. a day. Rank additions are substantially the same as under pre-War Regulations.

asked the Home Secretary if he will urge local authorities to speed up the preparation of the new register of electors; and if he can give the earliest day when the register will be obtainable in the West Riding of Yorkshire?

As to the first part of the question, I may refer to my right hon. Friend's reply on the 13th instant to the hon. Member for North Tottenham (Mr. R. Morrison); as to the last part, my right hon. Friend is pressing everyone concerned to be ready as soon as possible.

asked the Home Secretary the number of prosecutions instituted against motorists in England and Wales for driving to the common danger during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The information available relates only to the six months ended 31st December, 1928, during which period the number of offences of driving recklessly, negligently or at a speed or in a manner dangerous to the public, which were dealt with by prosecution was 12,351.

asked the Home Secretary the number of prosecutions instituted under the Motor Car Acts in which motorists were fined, and give the gross amount of the fines imposed for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The information available concerns England and Wales and the six months ended 31st December, 1928, and relates to all offences in connection with motoring (e.g. drunkenness offences) and not only to offences under the Motor Car Acts. The number of offences for which fines were imposed was 88,549, and the total amount of fines imposed was £97,603 15s. 6d.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any statistics that will show the number of prosecutions that were instituted in Great Britain against motorists for the year ended 31st December, 1928; and how many of these prosecutions were for exceeding the speed limit?

The information available, which is for the six months ended 31st December, 1928, and relates only to England and Wales, shows that the number of prosecutions was 105,050, and of these 9910 were for exceeding the speed limit.

asked the Home Secretary whether any representations have been made to the Commissioner of Police by the council of the Borough of Acton, Middlesex, for the removal of street traders from Crown Street; and whether the Metropolitan Police have had occasion at any time to take action against street traders in Crown Street for nuisance or obstruction?

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the Acton Borough Council have been in communication with him regarding these street traders. The matter is one between the street traders and the council, and the police, if their intervention is necessary, will be concerned only with the maintenance of order. Since August, 1919, there have been 32 prosecutions against street traders in Crown Street for obstruction, but none for nuisance.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if his attention has been called to the cabinet which has been placed in the Chess Room to accommodate the challenge cup presented by Mr. Bonar Law; and will he provide a more suitable case in which the cup can be seen to greater advantage?

The challenge cup was recovered for the House by the efforts of a private Member, and he, and a number of other Members interested in chess, agreed to defray the cost of a cabinet to hold it. The cabinet was erected with the consent of Mr. Speaker and the First Commissioner of Works at no cost to the public. There is no authority for spending public funds for such a purpose. I will, however, consult with those who are concerned as to whether any modification in the design can be made.

asked the Home Secretary if he will set out the basic rate of pension of a man who completed full service in the police force before the War, showing the increase under the 1920 and 1924 Acts, respectively, and of a man retiring to-day on a post-War pension?

Before the War the rates of pay and pension varied as between one force and another. In the Metropolitan Police the full pension for a constable was £65 4s. 6d. per annum. In most other forces it was less. The maximum increase of pension in the Metropolitan Police under the Acts of 1920 and 1924 for a married man were £26 1s. 10d. and £32 12s. 3d. respectively, giving a total pension of £97 16s. 9d. The full pension of a constable retiring to-day, allowing for the long service increments of pay, which are subject to good conduct, is £165 4s. 8d. per annum.

asked the Home Secretary how many women police officers attached to the Metropolitan police force are detailed for plain clothes work; and whether it is intended to organise a special branch for this work?

Two women police officers are employed permanently in plain clothes, whilst others are occasionally so employed from time to time. The whole question of women

Date.			Men.	Women.	Juveniles.	Total.
21st January, 1929	…	…	4,110	4,474	470	9,054
25th February, 1929	…	…	3,898	4,243	422	8,563

asked the Minister of Labour what number of local men are now unemployed in Slough; and how many workers from depressed districts have been imported since 1st March?

At 18th March, 1929, there were 195 men on the registers of the Employment Exchange at Slough. This figure represents 3.1 per cent. of the number of insured men in the area. During the fortnight ended 15th March, nine men from depressed areas have been transferred to Slough.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed and part-time workers in the cotton industry; and whether it is proposed to hold an inquiry into the cause of the depression in the cotton industry?

At 25th February, 1929, there were 66,001 insured persons classified as belonging to the cotton textile industry recorded as unemployed, including 27,071 wholly unemployed and 38,930 temporarily stopped. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men and women registered as unemployed from the artificial silk trade in January, February, and March, 1929?

Separate statistics of unemployment among insured persons are not available in respect of the artificial silk industry, but the following table shows the numbers classified as belonging to silk and artificial silk recorded as unemployed at 21st January and 25th February, 1929, in Great Britain. Figures in respect of March are not yet available.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the increasing public interest in broadcasting, consultations have taken place this year with the leaders of the Opposition parties of the House with a view to broadcasting the forthcoming Budget speech?

I have no reason to think, since the question was last raised, that there is any change in the general feeling of the House that the broadcasting of its proceedings is undesirable.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has yet considered the application which has been made for a broadcasting licence in the island of Jamaica; whether He is aware of the interest regarding broadcasting which is felt in the island; and whether, if he intends to grant the application, he can state what wave-length and strength will be allotted?

I have received no such application. The grant of a licence for broadcasting in the island of Jamaica is mot a matter which would fall within the province of my Department.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total annual expenditure, other than out of loans, of all local authorities in England and Wales in 1927?

The expenditure, other than out of loans, of all local authorities in England and Wales for the year ended in March, 1927, was £402,280,000.

asked the Minister of Health what is the estimated amount of rates per head of the population collected by all local authorities in England and Wales in the financial year ending 31st March, 1929?

The estimated amount of rates per head of population collected by all local authorities in England and Wales in the financial year ending 31st March, 1929, is £4 4s. 3d.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Ministry of Health has information as to the working of the system by which many American cities have appointed managers to conduct their affairs; and whether he has had any applications from local authorities on similar lines?

The answer to the first question is in the affirmative. The answer to the second is that I have not received any such application, and that it is for each local authority, subject to statutory provisions, to decide its administrative organisation.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount of money that has been loaned by the Public Works Loan Board to the smaller local authorities for the purpose of the various Housing Acts since 1st April, 1920?

The loans advanced since 1st April, 1920, by the Public Works Loan Board to local authorities under the Housing Acts amount to £172,275,000 and under the Small Dwellings (Acquisition) Acts to £27,498,000. It is not possible without considerable labour to classify these loans according to the rateable values of the local authorities concerned, but by far the greater part of the loans—probably over 90 per cent.—was granted to authorities with a rateable value of less than £200,000 in England and Wales, or £250,000 in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Health whether, with regard to the communication which he has received from the Farnworth Urban District Council of Lancashire in connection with his decision quashing Closing Orders which had been issued against certain property owners in the district, he can make a statement to the House as to the reasons which led him to quash the decision of the council?

The Closing Orders to which the hon. Member refers were quashed on the ground that the dwelling-houses in question, although in several respects not complying with modern requirements, were not in a state so dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for human habitation.

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases in which a widow's pension has been discontinued owing to the youngest child of the widow concerned having reached the age of 14; and in how many cases the pension is now being continued on account of children remaining at school between the ages of 14 and 16?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 21st March, 1929, to a question by the hon. Member for Blaydon (Mr. Whiteley) on this subject.

asked the Secretary for Mines the tonnage of coal exported and the average f.o.b. price in February, 1929?

3,890,030 tons of coal were exported during February, 1929; the average declared value per ton, f.o.b., was 15s. 8d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the loans of Colonial Governments are eligible as trustee securities in spite of the fact that the budgets of such Governments may not have balanced for three consecutive years, that revenue surpluses are not applied to the reduction of debt, and that an adequate sinking fund may not be maintained; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I have on previous occasions expressed the view that the provision of a sinking fund and the inclusion in the prospectus of detailed information as to the financial position of the borrower and the purpose for which the loan is required are desirable both in the interests of the investor and of the borrowing Government; and I believe there has been an improvement in these respects in recent years. I am not at present advised that there is power to compel borrowing Governments to comply with such conditions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the proved results of the Betting Duty, he is prepared to consider its modification or repeal?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer which I gave on the subject of the Betting Duty to the hon. Member for Deritend (Mr. Smedley Crooke) on 19th February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, of the 94,676 persons stated to pay Super-tax in 1926–27, husband and wife are always counted as one person?

Yes. Normally the assessment upon the husband includes the income of both husband and wife. Where husband and wife elect to be assessed separately, the two assessments are brought together for statistical purposes and appear as one item in the Super-tax statistics relating to incomes assessed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the rates of Customs and Excise Duty on beer, stout, cider, and perry, respectively, for each of the years 1913 and 1928, inclusive?

My hon. Friend will find the different rates at which the Excise Duty on beer (which includes stout) has stood between the outbreak of War and 1927 in Table 127 (page 142) of the Nineteenth Report of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise (Command Paper 3172). The duty in 1913 was the same as on the outbreak of War, and in 1928 the same as in 1927. The Customs Duty exceeded the Excise Duty by 6d. until August, 1925, and thereafter by 1s. 4d. The same Table (page 145) shows the history of the duties on cider and perry, for which the customs and the excise rates were the same.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the amount of the National Debt on 31st March, 1914, and 31st March last?

The nominal amount of the National Debt on 31st March, 1914, was £649,770,091, and on 31st March, 1928, £7,527,816,878.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of men in England and Wales who, having retired or been superannuated from their previous occupations, are now doing paid work under various Government Departments; and what is the aggregate amount of their salaries?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the present total amount of the Exchequer liability in respect of loans guaranteed under the Trade Facilities Acts; the total amount guaranteed since the passing of the Trade Facilities Acts; and the loss to date?

The present total amount of the Exchequer liability in respect of loans guaranteed under the Trade Facilities Acts is £66,714,241. The total amount guaranteed at the expiration of the Acts on 31st March, 1927, was £74,251,780. The Treasury has so far paid in fulfilment of these guarantees a net sum of £287,755 principal and £52,989 interest making a total of £340,744, of which some part may be recoverable.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of ex- service men who are still in hospital and have been in hospital ever since their admittance due to wounds sustained in the great War; and what form or forms their pensions take?

I regret that the records of the Ministry do not enable the numbers required to be stated but they would, I believe, be comparatively few. Special allowances for men and their families under the terms of the Royal Warrants, and not pension, would ordinarily be issued in these cases.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Mrs. E. Lawson of 57, Waddington Road, E. 15, was in receipt of a need pension of 9s. 2d. per week in respect to the loss of her son William, who was a stoker in the Royal Navy, No. 13,408, and that this pension has been reduced because Mrs. Lawson has another son living who is considered by the awards branch of his Department to be capable of assisting to maintain his mother; and whether, in view of the fact that the living son is a labourer with wages under £3 weekly and has a wife and four children to keep, he will investigate the circumstances and reinstate the full pension which has now been reduced to 7s. 2d. per week?

I am inquiring into the facts of this case, and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what agricultural produce grown in this country has been advertised out of the sums allocated to the Empire Marketing Board?

I cannot give a complete list of all the home agricultural products which have been commended during the last three years through the various channels of the Empire Marketing Board's publicity. The Board have consistently urged that home produce has the first claim upon buyers in this country, and they have at different times commended individually practically every home agricultural product that is obtainable in substantial supply.