asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that John Tarbert, c/o Macdonald, 23, Crosslee Road, Govan, has been refused benefit; that his record of employment since November, 1924, to date has been three years in employment as follows: 25th November, 1924, to 27th November, 1925, Cardonald Housing Scheme, Glasgow Corporation; from 24th December, 1925 to 23rd May, 1927, employed as temporary postman, dismissed to make room for an ex-service man; from 7th July to October, 1927, employed with Simon Andrew, farmer, Crookston; 19th March, 1928 to 4th June, 1928, Shanks and McEwan, Shieldhall Docks; that Tarbert received only six weeks' benefit during the periods of unemployment, namely, in 1927; and whether he will recommend the reconsideration of this man's claim for benefit?

I am having inquiries made, and will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Lord Advocate the number of cases of alleged reckless driving by omnibus drivers reported by the Glasgow police to the sheriff's fiscal during 1928 in which no proceedings were taken; the number of those cases where fatalities occurred and the number of fatalities; the number of those cases where non-fatal injuries occurred and the number of people injured; and the reasons why the fiscal took no proceedings?

The number of cases referred to in the first part of the hon. Member's question is 175; in 37 cases fatalities occurred, and the number of fatalities was 37; in 138 cases no fatal injuries occurred, and the number of people injured in these cases was 136. In each case the reason why no proceedings were taken was that in the view of Crown Counsel in cases submitted to them, and of the Procurator Fiscal in the other cases, the evidence did not justify proceedings.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the number of members on the Special Grants Committee; what are the names of the present members, what organisations do they represent, and by whom is the committee appointed; what was the date of the last meeting of the full committee; how often does the committee meet; and whether decisions as to the continuance or suspension of widows' pensions are made by the committee as a whole on by the clerical staff of the committee?

The number of members of the Special Grants Committee is at the present moment 10. The members are under statute appointed by the Minister of Pensions and they are selected on account of their qualifications for the duties which the Committee have to perform, not as representatives of particular organisations. Forfeiture of pension, as well as the continuance of pension previously forfeited, is only declared on the authority of the appropriate Sub-Committee acting within the powers delegated to it by the full Committee. The full Committee deals with questions of principle and meets as often as is necessary for this purpose, the last meeting taking place in December last. The work of the Committee which now consists mainly of decisions on individual cases, is carried on by Sub-Committees on principles laid down by the full Committee, and these Sub-Committees meet usually once a fortnight.The Committee consists at present of the following members:Lieut.-Colonel The Right Hon. G. F. Stanley, C.M.G., M.P. (Chairman).Mr. R. F. Cholmeley, C.B.E., M.A. (Vice-Chairman), late Headmaster, Dame Alice Owen School, Finsbury.Mr. A. Cunnison, Assistant Secretary, Awards Division, Ministry of Pensions.Admiral Cresswell Eyres, D.S.O., late Member of Chatham War Pensions Committee.Miss C Keeling, M.B.E., J.P., Westminster War Pensions Committee.Mr. C. W. Maudslay, Assistant Secretary, Board of Education.Mrs. B. Ross-Smyth. O.B.E., J.P., Perth War Pensions Committee.Mr. B. J. Saunders, C.B.E., J.P., Chairman, Brighton War Pensions Committee.Lieut.-Colonel V. Vivian, C.M.G., M.V.O., D.S.O.Mr. A. G. Webb, Chief Officer, Pensions Department, British Legion.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in the case of pensioned widows, their sons, though attaining the age of 16, can receive assistance in respect of apprenticeship training from any funds available for Ministerial disposal and on what terms?

Allowances for children normally cease at the age of 16, but in the case of a child who, on reaching that age, is an apprentice in receipt of norminal wages only, the allowance may, under the provisions of the Royal Warrants, be extended for a period. In exceptional cases I am also able to give assistance from small voluntary funds at my disposal for the same object.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether a pensions committee has been set up in the Isle of Man; and the number of men and women on the island who are in receipt of pensions?

A body discharging the functions of a War Pensions Committee was constituted in the Isle of Man under the authority of the Order in Council dated 27th June, 1916, made under the Isle of Man (War Legislation) Act, 1914. I have no record of the number of pensioners in the Island.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he proposes to take with regard to the letter written to him on 25th March from the East Ham Borough Council asking him to receive a deputation further than the acknowledgement of receipt which has been sent?

I have now given full consideration to this letter, and I propose to receive the suggested deputation.

asked the Minister of Health if it is proposed to amend the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts, so that the wives of insured men who were 70 on 2nd January, 1928, may receive the old age pension if between the ages of 65 and 70; and if he can state the number of the 45,000 women ineligible for pension owing to the age of their husbands who have qualified for pension on reaching the age of 70 since January, 1928?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of, and deaths from, small-pox have been reported in this country in connection with the recent outbreak of small-pox on the s.s. "Tuscania"; whether all the cases in question had been vaccinated at or after leaving Marseilles; how many of them had been previously vaccinated or re-vaccinated; and what was the vaccinal condition of the members of the crew who died from the disease after being landed at Marseilles?

I would refer the lion. Member to the answer which I have given to-day to a question on this subject by the hon. and gallant Member for St. Albans (Lieut.-Colonel Fremantle).

asked the Minister of Transport the reason for the delay in constructing bridges on the Edinburgh-Glasgow road near the Broxburn district; and whether he will take steps to expedite the progress of the work?

Negotiations with the railway company concerned have been protracted, but agreement is expected at an early date, and the work will then be put in hand. The bridge tenders are now under the consideration of the local authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the average percentage in the cost of road construction per mile in the United Kingdom in salaries and wages and materials, respectively; what is the percentage value of foreign materials used; and what is the average cost of salaries and wages and average cost of materials percentage per mile in the counties of Perth, Angus, and Inverness?

For an answer to the first part of his question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a somewhat similar inquiry from the hon. Member for Shoreditch (Mr. Thurtle) on 20th March last. There are no statistics available as to the value of foreign materials used on road construction, nor am I in possession of the particulars asked for in respect of individual counties.

asked the Home Secretary the percentage of increase in the cost of the police forces in the country which may be taken as due to the growth of motor traffic; and how much per head of the population this increase represents?

I estimate the present cost of police on traffic duty in the Metropolis to be about £400,000, but I have no comparable figures for the rest of the country. I regret I cannot state to what extent this figure represents an increased charge on the Police Fund on this account.

asked the Minister of Labour whether clerks employed in branch offices of the Employment Exchanges are employed by branch managers or by the Ministry of Labour; whether he is aware that in the case of branch offices the number of claims dealt with per clerk and the hours worked are higher than those obtaining in the Exchange offices; and, in view of other conditions of service being inferior in respect of the former class of clerk, will he take steps to level up this disparity where the duties are comparable?

Each manager of the 744 branch employment offices employed by the Ministry of Labour is required to provide an office and to arrange for the performance of the duties of his post. The duties are discharged either by the branch manager personally or by persons employed by him for the purpose, and the only stipulation by the Ministry is that the remuneration and conditions of service of persons employed shall be the usual conditions and terms of employment followed by good employers in the district. The hon. Member will accordingly realise that, beyond the general stipulation, it is not possible for the Ministry of Labour to lay down conditions of employment which must vary with the circumstances of the particular case.

asked the Postmaster-General the length of service of Sidney Upham, postman, upon whom an inquest was held at Taunton and who had died from a throat wound; his rate of pay; if it had been reduced; and, if so, the reason for the reduction?

I am having inquiry made, and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the establishment of the air mail to India, he proposes to publish for public guidance information showing the railway and shipping connections which exist for carrying letters reaching Karachi to other parts of the Near and Mid East?

As has already been announced, the saving in time offered by the air service as compared with the ordinary route is approximately four days to Bombay. So far as other important centres in India are concerned, I am awaiting information from the Indian Post Office based on the experience with the first two flights, and an announcement will be made as soon as possible. No appreciable advantage can at present be guaranteed by the air service to letters for places beyond India.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of men and women in the postal service in the Isle of Man?

The number of staff of all grades normally employed by the Post Office in the Isle of Man is about 260, but temporary additions are necessary in the holiday season.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in one of the outbuildings of the Mount Pleasant sorting office members of the staff had narrow escapes from injury owing to the fall of a portion of the glass roof during the gale which raged on 16th November last, and that as a result the staff was immediately transferred to the main building and the assistant controller promised that they would not be again employed in the building until it had been certified as structurally safe; whether he is aware that on 21st November the staff were informed that repairs had been completed and the building rendered safe, and they again took up their duties therein, and on 23rd November another portion of the roof fell in, several postmen having narrow escapes from injury; and will instructions be given that the staff are not to be employed in buildings which are structurally unsafe, and with particular reference to this building?

I am aware that during the exceptional gales on the dates mentioned some masonry was blown off a chimney and fell through a glass roof at Mount Pleasant. The outbuildings in question will be evacuated next week to make room for the new sorting office to be erected on the site. Every precaution possible is taken to ensure the safety of staff in Post Office buildings.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what restrictions are at present in operation upon emigration to New Zealand; whether he is aware that difficulties are being placed in the way of the migration of an unemployed man, having a wife and four children, for whom work in New Zealand is available; and whether he is prepared to make representations to the High Commissioner in this case?

There are no restrictions on the migration to New Zealand of British subjects who pay their own passages, but the only classes of persons who are at present accepted by the New Zealand authorities for the grant of assisted passages are domestic servants, youths for farm work, and women (with their children) joining their husbands already settled in employment in New Zealand. The New Zealand Government are unable to accept for assistance other classes of settlers owing to present conditions in the Dominion. It is understood that the above restrictions are of a temporary character and that, in view of the present prosperous season in New Zealand, the matter of removing the restrictions will be shortly reviewed.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the new voters' lists contain names of individuals under the age of 21 and that in certain cases householders, with no intent to deceive, included in their returns the names of members of their household under 21, which were not detected by the revision court; and whether he will introduce legislation to prevent individuals in such circumstances exercising the vote in future elections?

It is possible that the names of some persons under the age of 21 years will appear on the new register, but any such person is prohibited by statute from voting, and if he votes, knowing that he is prohibited, he, or any person inducing him to vote, is liable to a heavy penalty. The attention of returning officers has been drawn to these provisions, and I will consider whether further publicity should be given to them.

asked the Home Secretary the number of persons who are civil debtors and are at present serving sentences in prison; and particulars of those who have been committed by either County Court Judges or magistrates and the different categories under which they have been sent to prison?

On 1st April, 1929, there were in prison 32 County Court debtors and two High Court debtors. There were also 713 persons committed by Courts of Summary Jurisdiction in default of payment of certain arrears (i.e. 391 wife maintenance, 235 affiliation orders, three industrial school contributions) or of certain other payments (i.e. of rates 68, Income Tax two; sums due under the Poor Law 14).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the cost of collecting the Land Tax and its percentage of the yield; and whether he has considered the abolition of this form of taxation?

It is not possible to distinguish the cost of collection of Land Tax from the cost of the duties of the Inland Revenue Department generally. The administration of the tax is inseparably bound up with that of other taxes. The amount of fiscal machinery maintained for the special purpose of the Land Tax and involving expenditure, is, however, very small. In view of the history and nature of the tax I am unable to recommend its abolition.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why some of the rooms in the National Portrait Gallery are closed to the public; and when they are to be re-opened?

To facilitate public inspection and appreciation of national portraits, the more important portraits are now grouped together in rooms through which visitors can most readily circulate. A special room, convenient for easy access and circulation, has been set aside for new acquisitions. This room has met with general appreciation. Portraits of secondary importance, which are mainly of interest for reference purposes, are grouped together in reference rooms. As these rooms, pending the erection of the new building which is to be provided by the generosity of Sir J. Duveen, are overcrowded with portraits, they are reserved for the use of visitors who apply to an attendant to be allowed to inspect portraits which are hung there. These arrangements have been made for the convenience of the public. It is hoped that they will be found generally satisfactory, having regard to all the circumstances.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has information as to the date when the Report will be made on the work of the Commission on Municipal Banking?

The Report of the Committee on Municipal Savings Banks appointed in September, 1926, under the chairmanship of Lord Bradbury was presented to Parliament in January, 1928, and issued as Command Paper No. 3014. The subject is not further under inquiry at the present time by any Government Committee or Commission.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the approximate cost to the Exchequer of a bounty on home-milled flour of a sufficient extent, based on to-day's prices, to make it profitable for English millers to reopen their mills and thus make available to the farmer a larger and cheaper supply of offals

I regret that I am unable to furnish any estimate on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether British military attaches have been attached to the forces on either side in recent years in the wars in China, Mexico, and elsewhere as spectators to gain experience?

The British Military Attaché at Madrid was attached to the Headquarters of the Spanish Army in Morocco during the operations there in 1025 and 1926, and the British Military Attaché at Rome was attached to the Headquarters of the Italian forces during the operations in Libya in January and February, 1928.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there is a general feeling among members of the Territorial Army that it would be a gracious act if, in commemoration of the 21st, anniversary of the establishment of the Force, the General Service Medal issued to Territorials who served overseas during the War were also given to all the survivors of those who joined this Force previous to August, 1914; and will he give the matter his consideration?

I am not aware of any such general feeling among members of the Territorial Army, and I see no ground for altering the conditions governing the award of the Territorial Force War Medal.