asked the Minister of Labour the estimated number of insured persons at present in employment and the corresponding figure for the end of October, 1924?

It is estimated that, after making allowance for the numbers unemployed and the numbers directly involved in trade disputes together with a deduction of 3½ per cent. in respect of sickness and other forms of unrecorded non-employment other than temporary holidays, there were 10,114,200 insured persons aged 16 to 64 in employment at 25th March, 1929, as compared with 9,523,000 at 27th October, 1924.

asked the Secretary of State for War how the maximum authorised establishment of the personnel of the Territorial Army compares with the effective strength on the latest date for which Returns have been made?

On 1st April, 1929, the establishment of the Territorial Army as given on page 66 of Army Estimates was 8,079 officers and 170,347 other ranks, and the strength 6,906 officers and 130,998 other ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what subsidies are to be paid to air transport services during the financial year 1929–30; to what particular services are they to be paid; and what, amounts are to be paid to each service?

The maximum amount which can be earned in 1929–30 is £335,000, of which £125,000 is in respect of the European services and £100,000 and £110,000 in respect of the London-Egypt and Egypt Karachi services, respectively, of Imperial Airways Limited. In addition, provision to the extent of £5,000 has been made for preliminary expenses in connection with the proposed air service to South Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what instalments have been paid to Imperial Airways, Limited, on account of subsidy in respect of Eastern services since September, 1926; on what dates were they paid; and what sums representing unearned subsidy were held by Imperial Airways, Limited, on 31st March, 1925, and on 31st March of the years 1926, 1927, 1928, and 1929 in respect of Eastern services and in respect of European services, respectively?

The following tables give the information requested:

asked the Secretary of State for Air what subsidies were paid to air-transport services during the financial year 1928–29; for what particular services were they paid; and what were the amounts actually earned on each service?

The amount actually earned was £230,600, of which £137,000 was in respect of the European and £93,600 in respect of the Eastern services of Imperial Airways, Limited. The amount paid was the same but included adjustments at the beginning and end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the approximate cost to the State on account of subsidy for each mile flown by Imperial Airways, Limited, for the years 1926, 1927, and 1928, in respect of European services and Eastern services, respectively?

The following table gives the information required:

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the approximate cost to the State on account of subsidy for each ton-mile operated by Imperial Airways, Limited, for the years 1926, 1927, and 1928, in respect of European services and Eastern services, respectively?

The following table gives the information required:

asked the President of the Board of Education whether any Regulation has been issued giving a local medical officer of health the right to exclude unvaccinated healthy children from school; and, if so, will he quote the Regulation giving this power?

No Regulation, such as the hon. Member refers to, has been issued.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the dissatisfaction which exists amongst claimants for widows' and old age pensions due to the delay in settlement of their claims, which in many cases extends over nearly 12 months; and, in view of the needy circumstances of the majority of the claimants, if he will expedite the work of his Department in order that these cases may be dealt with more speedily?

My right hon. Friend is not aware of any general dissatisfaction regarding delays in the settlement of pension claims. The average time taken by the Department in deciding claims for widows' pensions is 31 days, and 40 days in the case of claims for old age pensions. As every case requires investigation on a number of points it will be recognised that a reasonable time must be allowed, but every effort is being made to expedite the settlement of claims.