asked the Minister of Pensions the number of cases where a woman who has lost her son or sons in the Great War and was in receipt of a need pension, having been dependent on them for support, has been deprived of this need pension on becoming eligible for an old age pension from the Ministry of Health?

Need pensions are subject to adjustment in the event of any permanent change in the pensioner's financial circumstances, but no special record is kept of the adjustments resulting from the grant of an old age pension. In the majority of cases, however, the net result of adjustments on this account is, I understand, to increase the aggregate income of the pensioner.

Does the Minister of Pensions take into account the fact that when a mother receives her old age pension it is usually at an age when she is past work; does he give sympathetic consideration to that fact?

That point is covered when the pension is awarded. This question really arises more frequently just now owing to old age pensions being granted at 65 instead of 70. They are therefore dealt with earlier than before.

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman take into consideration that even at 65 an old lady is not so well able to support herself and wants the money more?

Certainly, that is one of the reasons already taken into consideration.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will consider the advisability of amending the Regulations governing pensions given for amputations so as to cover the variation of percentages allowable as to length of stump, etc., in cases where, since the time of fixing the pension, there has been expansion or contraction due to natural causes or where the measurements originally taken vary with the exact measurements shown at subsequent periods?

Any case in which substantial error of fact is proved to have occurred would, under existing arrangements, be considered and adjusted, but I am not prepared to recommend exceptional treatment of one type of disability pension for the purpose either of increase or decrease.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that David J. James, of 2, Rockfield Terrace, Glyn-Neath, reference No. 5/mJ/6023, joined the Army three days after the declaration of War, 7th August, 1914, and was discharged on 5th September, 1916, on account of pulmonary tuberculosis which was admitted to have been aggravated by War service, and that pension was paid until December, 1920, in full; that after that date it was reduced, and in September, 1927, he was awarded a ser-vice-cum-disability pension of 8d. per day for life; and, seeing that he is now unable to follow his employment and is likely to be a cripple for the remainder of his life, and that it is stated by a local medical expert that his present condition is due to his pensionable disability, will he reconsider his decision and grant the full pension during disability?

I am aware of the facts in this case, on which I have already communicated with the hon. Member. The disability from which Mr. James is suffering is osteo-arthritis. I am advised that it is not possible to regard this condition as connected with Mr. James's War service.

asked the Minister of Pensions if his attention has been called to the death of Captain J. W. Dore, of Stainforth, near Doncaster, after having recently been in the Thorne Workhouse for a short period; is he aware that Captain Dore was drafted to France in 1914, was wounded in 1915, and after having several bullets extracted from his right arm and shoulder returned to France the same year, gained a commission for bravery in the field, rose to the rank of captain, and was awarded the M.C. and bar; that after five years' continuous service he was discharged with a pension, which was stopped in 1921; that when he was wounded in 1914 a bullet in the shoulder could not be located and eventually worked into the lung; and that it; is feared that this was in some measure responsible for developing tuberculosis, which eventually caused the death of Captain Dore; and will he state what steps, if any, have been taken with a view to compensating his widow and children?

This officer was granted compensation for gunshot wound, right arm, in 1921, and no more was heard of him by my Department until February of this year, when he represented that, as a result of a wound, pulmonary tuberculosis had developed. The case was under investigation when the officer died, but such evidence as the Ministry had obtained did not support the hon. Member's suggestion as to the cause of the disease. In these circumstances and in the absence also of arty application for a pension from the widow, I am, of course, unable to say anything as to the merits of any claim she may make.

If this matter is taken up by the widow, will the right hon. Gentleman give consideration to it?

The widow's application will certainly be gone into, but I am afraid that a difficulty is that according to our record she married after the man had left the service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, as the statistics in regard to street accidents are unfair to the drivers of taximeter-cabs, who have to pass a test, he will take steps to separate the records between these men and private drivers?

I have decided in consequence of representations I received last June that the Return for 1929 will be altered to show separately the number of street accidents attributed to cabs licensed to ply for hire. As I explained at the time, it was impossible at that stage to alter the basis on which the Return for 1928 was being prepared.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been directed to the omnibus accident which occurred in Shirland Road, Paddington, on the 9th April, in which some 50 persons were injured, nine seriously; and if he has decided to hold an inquiry into this accident?

My power to hold inquiries into road accidents is limited to cases, occurring in the London traffic area, in which it appears to me that the nature and character of the road or road surface or a defect in design or construction of the vehicle or in the materials used in the construction of the road or the vehicle was the sole or contributory cause. From inquiries made by the Commissioner of Police, it does not appear that the accident in Shirland Road was due to any of these causes, but inquiries are still being pursued.

asked the Home Secretary the number of police officers who have appeared before the Scotland Yard disciplinary board for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; and the number who have been reduced in rank or otherwise punished, giving the classifications of the charges made against these officers?

During the 12 months ending on the 16th instant, 138 members of the Metropolitan Police Force appeared before a Discipline Board: of these 130 were punished as follows:

Dismissed 9; Required to resign 48; Reduced in rank 12; Reduced in rate of pay 12; Fined 40; Lesser punishment 9. As the list of charges made against the officers concerned is somewhat long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, send it to him.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the appearances of these men before the Board has been greatly increased since the appointment of the new Chief Commissioner?

I should prefer to have notice of that question, as I am not quite certain about it.

Has any consideration been given to the question of devising other machinery for dealing with these cases?

Not yet.

May I ask whether a reduction in rank seriously affects the pensions of these men?

Of course, it would affect their pensions if they are reduced from one grade to another.

Before putting this question, may I point out that my question, when handed in, did not ask whether any action was contemplated, but whether, if the matter contained in the last part was desirable, legislation would be necessary?

I am afraid that I have prepared an answer to the question on the Paper, which is that I do not think it is a matter for compulsion but one which should be left to the discretion of the local authorities. I have always felt that legislation would be necessary, but I am not quite certain on that point. In any case, I should not like to exercise any powers I have over these great local authorities, which I think would be an infringement of the right of local self-government.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether there are in Wales any entire counties, or any other extensive areas, the education authorities of which provide no dental service in the schools; and, if so, whether he has any statistics of mortality, absenteeism, or other data showing how juvenile health in these counties compares with that prevailing in the counties which have a dental service?

The three education authorities in Wales which at present make no provision for dental treatment are Cardiganshire, Carmarthen Borough and Pembroke Borough. As regards the second part of the question, the hon. Baronet will appreciate that the general health or mortality of school children and their regularity of attendance at school are affected by a variety of causes, not readily separable.

asked the Minister of Health whether in the negotiations with local authorities under the terms of the Local Government Act as to boundaries, he will lay it down as an indispensable condition that all county, district, or parish islands must be abolished?

It would not be proper for me to lay down a condition of this kind as indispensable, but it is one of the objects of the Act to do away with these anomalies, and I hope that proposals for this purpose will be submitted under the Act by the responsible local authorities.

Can there be any legitimate excuse for the existence of these islands?

The excuse is that they are remnants of a state of things which existed a good many years ago.

But that is not now.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a communication from the Oldbury Urban District Council with respect to the compounding of rates under the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925; whether he is aware that, owing to the reduction of the discount in the case of compounded rents, the rents of a large number of working-class houses in the Midlands will be raised by as much as 9d. per week, and in the case of council houses whose assessments have been increased by as much as 1s. per week; and whether, in view of the hardship caused, he will consider modifying this part of the Act?

I have received the communication to which the hon. Member refers, though that communication does not specify the amounts of the increases as stated by the hon. Member, which I have had no opportunity of verifying. Compounding allowances, which are intended to cover the cost of collection and risk of loss to owners, in cases where they are rated in lieu of occupiers, were fixed by the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925, at a figure determined after consultation with the representative associations of local authorities. The amending Act of 1928 authorised the payment of increased allowances with a view to avoiding material increases of inclusive rentals. I would, however, remind the hon. Member that the rate charge falling to be borne in the form of inclusive rents by the tenants of rate-compounded houses depends upon a number of factors, of which the scale of the compounding allowance is only one, and which are for the most part within the control of the local authorities. Where the compounding allowances paid in the past, at the expense of the general body of ratepayers, have been unduly high, the reduction of those allowances, coupled with any increase of the assessments, may result in some unavoidable increase of inclusive rentals. The level of assessment for the properties in question is a matter primarily within the discretion of the local authorities, and I could not contemplate the introduction of further amending legislation to meet these exceptional cases which would have the effect of perpetuating the payment of unjustifiable allowances to owners.

Has the right hon. Gentleman been made aware that no fewer than 15,000 householders in Hull alone are affected adversely and that the Corporation is quite helpless in the matter owing to a legal decision?

I am not aware of those circumstances.

Why does the right hon. Gentleman refuse to receive our deputation on the matter?

I have already explained to the Council of the Corporation of Hull, who know what the situation is, and there is no further object in receiving a deputation when they know all the circumstances and know exactly what I can and what I cannot do.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that since he communicated with them, the Council has unanimously passed a resolution regretting that communication, and especially the Minister's unwillingness to receive a deputation from a large body of taxpayers?

asked the Minister of Health whether, having regard to the fact that local authorities will be submitting, as part of their schemes under the Local Government Act, their proposed arrangements for the care of mentally defective persons, he will take steps to see that the guidance which the Report of the Joint Committee on Menal Deficiency will give to these local authorities shall be made available for them without further delay?

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state his decision in regard to the publication of that part of the Report of the Special Committee on Mental Deficiency which relates to adult defectives?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the decision to publish the children's section, of the Report of the Mental Deficiency Committee; and, in view of the anxiety amongst those interested with regard to the section of the Report dealing with adults, will he state the reason for the postponement of the decision to publish?

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that the sections of the Report of the Joint Committee on Mental Deficiency dealing with children are being published immediately and that the after care of the most helpless of these children must devolve on local authorities under the Mental Deficiency Acts, he will authorise the immediate publication of that section of the Report which deals with adults?

I am not at present in a position to add anything to the previous replies in which I have indicated that I cannot give undertakings as to the publication of any part of this Report other than that which relates to children until I have had an opportunity of giving proper consideration to the matter. I am afraid that other preoccupations have prevented that opportunity from occurring.

In view of the fact that the Conference of Poor Law Associations in connection with this subject is to be held next week, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the publication of the Report, or, if not the Report, the recommendations of the Report?

Clearly, the re-commendations are a vital part of the Report. Until I have had an opportunity of considering this very long Report, I cannot add anything to the answer that I have given.

In view of the fact that this Report was presented in January, cannot the right hon. Gentleman consider it?

I have not had an opportunity of looking at it yet, and I want as long a time as may be necessary for studying it properly.

Is it not a fact that the local authorities have to put part of this into force and to prepare schemes before September, and is it right that the right hon. Gentleman should leave them so little time in which to have this before them?

There is a good deal of time between now and September, and I am not at all sure what effect on the liberty of the subject the Report may have.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say definitely that the Report will be published?

No, I do not say that.

In view of the fact that the President of the Board of Education has published the half of the Report relating to children, cannot the right hon. Gentleman see that it is essential that the full Report, which has been the work of many years, should be published?

The Report is not one. There are two reports, one relating to children and one to adults. The question affecting the children is for the Board of Education; that relating to adults is a much bigger question.

May we take it for granted that my right hon. Friend will carefully study the Report before arriving at a decision as to the schemes submitted by local authorities?

Certainly.

Why is it that the right hon. Gentleman requires so much longer time for considering this Report than was necessary for the President of the Board of Education?

They are not the same reports; they are different reports.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any evidence to show that illness or death have resulted from the use of preservatives in cream?

There is evidence that individuals have suffered from digestive disorders after taking boracised cream, and there are cases on record where a single dose of borax has caused death. But, apart from the general objection to the use of preservatives in food as tending to mask the effects of dirty methods of production, the case against borax is that it is a cumulative and insidious chemical substance, the continued ingestion of which cannot fall to be injurious, in a greater or less degree, to the tissues of the body.

asked the Minister of Health whether his Department has taken any steps to ensure that the manufacture of synthetic cream is carried out under the same conditions of hygiene as are imposed under the Regulations governing the production of natural cream?

I have not received any reports as to the conditions of manufacture of this article, but the provisions of Section 72 of the Public Health Act, 1925, should be sufficient to ensure the observance of all necessary sanitary precautions.

Is my right hon. Friend taking energetic steps to see that the Regulations that he quotes are being carried out?

That is not primarily my duty, but that of the local authorities.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman address a note to the local authorities to ensure that they take the same precautions for safety as they take in the case of ice-cream?

No. I do not think that it is necessary for me to send notices to local authorities asking them to perform what are their duties. They know their duties perfectly well, and, unless I have evidence that they are not carrying out their duties, it would be an insult to send them such a notice.

Will not legislation passed by this House and now being considered in another place, assist by the registration of the machines used in making this substitute for fresh cream?

The original question related to synthetic cream.

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases of small-pox that have occurred to date from the steamship "Tuscania"; the number of these that have occurred since the official statement was issued on 12th April; the number that have died: the vaccination history of those who have died; whether any cases have occurred from contact with passengers or crew; and whether all passengers and crew are under observation and have been offered vaccination?

The number of cases of small-pox which have occurred among the 1,598 persons (passengers and crew) of the steamship "Tuscania" is 45, which is 10 more than the figure of 35 announced on 13th April. There have been seven deaths. The vaccination history of the patients who died, and of the other patients, is not yet available. All the patients notified have been isolated in hospital, and all the contacts are being kept under supervision. I have no information at present that any persons, other than those who were on board this ship, have contracted small-pox from contact with the passengers or crew. I am glad of this opportunity to say that the rigorous action which has been taken in this country to prevent the spread of small-pox from this vessel appears to have proved effectual. As the ship arrived here 17 days ago, any serious risk of a widespread outbreak of the disease should now be at an end, even though it is possible that some secondary cases may arise. It is scarcely necessary for me to add that for the community in general facilities are always available for free vaccination, which is the best safeguard against any risk of infection.

Arising out of the Minister's statement—for which I thank him—may I ask whether the vaccination history of those who have died will be available in due course?

Yes, Sir. I hope to be able to get it, and I shall convey the information to my hon. and gallant Friend.

Will it be circulated?

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases of small-pox that have occurred amongst passengers and crew of the s.s. "Mashobra," shortly due at Southampton from Bombay; what number of passengers landed at Marseilles for England; and what steps are being taken to prevent the introduction of small-pox through them into this country?

It is not yet known whether there has been any smallpox on board this vessel, but all precautions are being taken and she will be closely inspected at Plymouth, her first port of arrival. I am informed that 31 of her passengers were landed at Marseilles.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether a case of small-pox was landed at Marseilles from this ship?

I am advised that that is not yet known.

How many members of the Government have been re-vaccinated?

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that in order to prevent the spread of this infection he should once more introduce compulsory vaccination?

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government have under consideration proposals for international action through the League of Nations for the control of the available supplies of radium and their price; and, if not, whether any other proposals to this end are under consideration?

I have been asked to reply. As was stated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Roy-ton (Dr. V. Davies) last Tuesday, the Government propose to establish an organisation one of whose functions will be to act as an agency for the purchase of radium for medical use in this country or for Dominion or Colonial Governments. Until this organisation has been established and experience has shown how far it meets the needs of the situation, it would be premature to consider international action.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that on Tuesday the Chancellor of the Exchequer, admittedly without having studied the Report closely, said he understood that the matter of international action was dealt with in the Report, and, as it has not been dealt with in the Report, about which I make no complaint, will the right hon. Gentleman communicate with the Foreign Minister to see whether consultations can take place between the Governments concerned to prevent an unholy scramble for the available supply?

I think it would be better to defer action on that point until we have this new organisation set up, which I do not expect will take very long, and then perhaps we shall see.

I do not cavil at what the right hon. Gentleman says, but is he aware that the question of international action is not dealt with at all in the Report of this sub-committee, and is that under the consideration of the Government?

Could my right hon. Friend say whether the Committee considered the question of international action, because I drew the attention of my right hon. Friend last autumn to that question, and to the Belgian monopoly?

So far as I recollect, there is no question of international action mentioned in the Report of the Committee, which, however, is available to all Members of the House, but I think the immediate question for this country is whether we can obtain the supplies that we require for ourselves at a reasonable price, and, as I understand, we have every reason to think that that can be done.

Can my right hon. Friend say if we shall have a chance of discussing this Report before the House rises, particularly as the Government, I understand, propose to spend pound for pound for the supply of this radium?

There will have to be, I suppose, a Supplementary Estimate for the amount contributed by the Government, and I think that would give an opportunity for discussing the matter.

Has the Committee now finished its labours and left any further action to the Government, or is it proposed that the Committee should continue in existence?

No; it has finished.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that unemployed single and married men who have either exhausted the regulation period of unemployed benefit, or have been under the existing regulations refused benefits, who apply for Poor Law relief are instead offered test work; and what conditions and what remuneration for such work he has authorised?

The effect of the regulations in force is to prohibit any general practice of granting unconditional out-door relief to able-bodied men. The test work is performed as a condition of the receipt of the amount of relief deemed necessary to meet the needs of an applicant and his dependants, and remuneration in the ordinary sense of the word is not payable.

Is it the general policy of the Minister to insist on test work?

That is the effect of the regulations which have been in force since the time of Mr. John Burns.

Is it the Minister's policy to insist on boards of guardians carrying it out? Is that his general policy?

It is the general policy of my Department to insist on regulations being carried out as long as they are in force.

Is it not a fact that the provision of test work often results in a waste of public money?

That is a matter of opinion.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of women in insured trades between the ages of 21 years and 30 years earning less than £1 and £2 per week, respectively; and the number of women in the same age group at present unemployed?

As regards the first part of the question, I regret that statistics are not available which would give the information desired. As regards the second part, there has been no analysis by age group more recent than 28th January last, but on the basis of that analysis it may be estimated approximately that 77,000 out of the total of 197,264 insured women recorded as unemployed on 25th March were between the ages of 21 and 30.

Has the hon. Gentleman any information whether there are any women in that group earning less than £1 a week?

No, Sir, I have no information.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Employment Exchange authorities at Stratford, Poplar and Hackney continually and persistently refuse unemployment pay to young women dismissed from employment because of marriage; that such women are told they

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men and women registered as unemployed at Pembroke Dock during the last three months; and what steps have been taken to find employment for the people in this area?

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

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask, in regard to the latter part of the question, what steps have been taken to find employment?

My right hon. Friend made very full inquiries in deference to the question of the hon. Gentleman. The answer came last night; I have not seen it, but my right hon. Friends is communicating it at once to the hon. Gentleman.

The Employment Exchanges do not disallow benefit. Their instructions are to interview the women in these cases and in any case of doubt to refer the matter to the Chief Insurance Officer with a statement of all the relevant facts. My right hon. Friend has given no instructions about these cases to Courts of Referees.

asked the Minister of Labour on what evidence the Court of Referees decided on several occasions that Mrs. Porteous, of Rich Street, Poplar, has been refused unemployment pay since her discharge from employment on the occasion of her marriage 12 months ago; and is he aware that Mrs. Porteous worked without a break for 10 years at one firm in Poplar and paid insurance contributions during the whole period and has never drawn any out-of-work benefit, and that during the past 12 months she has continually registered for work at the Exchange and has on no occasion been offered work by the Exchange officials?

I am having in-quiries made into this case and will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is proposed to offer to the Dominions and Colonies any compensation for the loss of the preference on tea?

No, Sir. Very great increases of preferences have been given in the present Parliament.

What proportion of this tea comes from the British Empire and what proportion is foreign?

The major portion comes from the British Empire.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what proportion, in value and in quantity, of the tea consumed in this country during the years 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, and 1928, was imported from Foreign, and what proportion from Empire, sources?

I have been asked to reply. The answer has been prepared in tabular form; and with my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can furnish details of the increase of £170,000,000 in the savings of small investors, showing how those savings are distributed between the Post Office Savings Bank, trustee savings banks, national savings certificates, railway savings banks, and co-operative, building, provident, friendly, collecting, and industrial assurance companies?

With the hon. Member's permission I will circulate the details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has any statistics that will show the number of female employés employed in all Government Departments as at the last convenient date?

Excluding industrial staffs, the total number of female staff employed in all Government Departments on the 1st January, 1929, was 74,647.

Have any female employés been asked to resign during the last 12 months when they have been married?

That is another question. If the hon. Member puts it down, I will do my best to have it answered.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, the quantities and sources of anthracite purchased for the heating of buildings under the control of His Majesty's Office of Works during the financial years ending 31st March, 1927, 31st March, 1928, and 31st March, 1929?

The quantities of anthracite purchased for the heating of buildings under the control of His Majesty's Office of Works during the last three financial years has been as follows:

	Tons.
Year ended 31st March, 1927	1,430
Year ended 31st March, 1928	2,710
Year ended 31st March, 1929	2,680

Supplies are drawn from South Wales for use in England and Wales, and from Scotland for use in Scotland. The smaller quantity consumed in the year ended 31st March, 1927, was due to the coal stoppage in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to secure a reconsideration of the employment of a messenger for a continuous 24 hours' duty at the Horse Guards on Sundays; and whether he will take steps to arrange for consultation with the messenger staff with a view to a shorter Sunday duty being arranged, mutually acceptable both to the department and the staff concerned?

No representations have been received from the messengers that the present method of allocating Sunday duty, which was their choice, is no longer acceptable to them. I will arrange to have their views ascertained and carefully considered.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the working of the Order under the Merchandise Marks Act for imported rose trees will enable British importers to protect the plants by covering the roots with soil?

The Order in question only requires the marking of rose trees on exposure for sale and on sale, not on importation. There is nothing in the Order to prevent the covering of the roots in the manner suggested.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that cheap safety matches are now being sold in London, with the imprint Luckie Dream Safety Matches, made tin Russia (Union of Soviet Republics), Registered Trade Mark; and whether there is any record of such a trade mark having been actually registered by the Russian Government?

I am informed that a label containing the words "Luckie Dream Safety Matches" is registered in this country as a Trade Mark. The legist ration was not made in the name of the Soviet Government.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman in whose name it was made, and why it is registered in the name of somebody else? They took the trouble to place "Made in Soviet Russia" on these matches, and is this a form of political propaganda, because one knows that these are being sold at a trifle less than corresponding matches? [HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"]

I regret that up to now I have not seen one of the boxes of matches concerned.

Has any Russian gold passed to advertise these matches in the House of Commons?

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has considered the suitability of Holyhead as a marine air port for the Customs clearance of passenger traffic by flying boats between England and Ireland; if so, what conclusions has he formed: and, if not, will he consider this?

I have been asked to reply. The question of making Holyhead a Customs aerodrome for seaplanes has been considered, but it has been thought best to defer any detailed investigation for the present until it can be seen more clearly how air traffic to and from the port is likely to develop and what the practical needs of the traffic will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether there is now agreement between Italy and Greece in regard to the choice of an air port in the latter country to serve aircraft plying on the Croydon-India route; and what is the present position?

I have been asked to reply. Negotiations for a permanent agreement between Italy and Greece are proceeding. Pending the settlement of outstanding questions, arrangements have been made for the use of certain airports during a period of three months.