asked the President of the Board of Education whether, seeing that in the view of teachers all over the country, the speech of children is being corrupted by slang introduced in film sub-titles, and in view of the rapid development of sound and talking films, his Department will cooperate with the Film Board of Censors-in exercising vigilance over film sound and speech?

The Board of Education will, of course, be glad to give any advice or assistance in their power in this matter, but my right hon. Friend must disclaim any competence to exercise an educational censorship, nor does he think that any censorship will be found to provide a remedy for the very real evil to which my hon. Friend calls attention. For a remedy we must rely mainly upon the film industry itself, which will, I hope, give serious attention to the problem.

Will the Noble Lady consider whether the Board of Film Censors are worth consulting; would it not be better to change them completely, seeing that they have failed to stop these horrible films being exhibited?

I am afraid that that question is outside my province.

Is it not the fact that the Chairman of the Board of Film Censors is a respected Member of this House, and a Privy Councillor?

asked the President of the Board of Education how many pupils there are in the schools condemned by His Majesty's inspector as unfit for school use, that is, on black lists A. B and C; and how many of these are in schools in black list A, that is, on premises so defective that recognition ought to be withdrawn?

The number of pupils in schools which are still on the black list is about 560,000; of these about 120,000 are in schools on list A. The hon. Member will understand that only a small minority of these schools can be described as having been condemned and that plans for removing the school from the list have already been approved in a substantial proportion of the remaining cases, especially the cases most urgently requiring treatment.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the representations made to him with regard to the irregularities that have occurred at the Sreatham Cemetery, he will state if it is now proposed to hold an inquiry?

I am in the first instance awaiting the observations of the borough council.

Having regard to the statements made by the grave-diggers at this cemetery does not the right hon. Gentleman think that some action should be taken, and, in the event of his not holding an inquiry, will he receive a deputation of the people who have made these serious statements?

I have taken action. I have called the attention of the borough council to the statements and asked for their observations, and I think it would be proper to await their reply before taking further action.

asked the Minister of Health if he can now state the vaccinal history of the fatal cases of small-pox in the s.s "Tuscania"; and, if not, will he make an official statement on the subject at an early date?

Of the seven deaths from small-pox amongst the passengers and crew of the "Tuscania," three were of persons who had not been vaccinated and four of persons who had been vaccinated only in infancy. Two of the former were vaccinated and three of the latter were re-vaccinated during the incubation period of small-pox. The ages of the persons who had been vaccinated in infancy ranged from 28 to 37 years.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has at any time refused to sanction funds to any public body for payments made to persons who may be small-pox contact cases; and whether he has any information that several municipalities are so doing?

I am advised that in ordinary circumstances it is not necessary for small-pox contacts to refrain from following their occupations, if they are subjected to regular medical supervision during the incubation period of the disease. It is not, therefore, the practice of my Department where my sanction is required to sanction the payment of compensation except in those cases in which it is necessary for the protection of the public health that the contacts should abstain from work. As regards the second part of the question, I am aware that this practice has been adopted in certain boroughs where my sanction is not required.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, in spite of the request of the Cobham Parish Council, the Epsom Rural District Council has refused to build any more houses; and whether, in view of the admitted shortage of houses in the district, he will make inquiries into the matter?

I have not received any representations from the Cobham Parish Council on the subject referred to. According to the latest return furnished by the Epsom Rural District Council, 16 houses are now in course of erection by them, and they have erected or have in course of erection a total number of 522 houses, of which 84 are in the parish of Cobham. I see, therefore, no reason for making special inquiries in the matter.

asked the Minister of Health what was the total number of houses, as for England and Wales, completed with State assistance from 1919 till 1st October, 1927; and the amount of State subsidy paid in respect thereof?

The total number of houses completed in England and Wales with State assistance from 1919 to 1st October, 1927, was 684,748. The amount of the Exchequer contributions paid to the same date was £58,028,513.

Does that statement include steel houses?

Yes.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there is a serious shortage of houses to let in the Sunderland Rural District Council's area besides a large number that are unfit for habitation, and that the council have approached the Ministry for power to erect further houses to meet the needs of the locality, and such appeal has been refused; and on what grounds the Ministry have refused the appeal?

I am aware of the conditions prevailing in the district in question and of the application made by the local authority. I have been unable to accede to this application on account of the financial difficulties of the district at the present time, but I will keep the situation under review and in the event of an improvement would be glad to give further consideration to the matter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman at once give consideration to this matter? There are hundreds and thousands of dwellings not fit for habitation. The council have been pressed by all manner of people to provide houses somewhere.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to the rents charged for houses in the South Shields rural area; and whether, as the rents are beyond the ability of the occupiers to pay without hardship to the feeding and clothing of these people, he will inquire into the matter with a view to a reduction of the rents?

Proposals have been made by the South Shields Rural District Council for the reduction of the rents of houses erected under the Assisted Housing Scheme under the Act of 1919. After careful inquiry I have concurred in the proposal in the case of the houses at Boldon Colliery, but I am advised that there is no sufficient ground for approving a similar reduction at Whitburn.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the people who reside at Boldon are in practically the same position as those at Whitburn, and that their wages will not permit them to pay the rents that they paid in 1919, when their wages were higher? To-day their wages are one-third of what they were in 1919, and they cannot afford to pay the rents. The council would lower the rents if the right hon. Gentleman gave sanction. Will the right hon. Gentleman take the matter into further consideration?

I am advised that the conditions are different in the two places. Whereas in the case of Boldon Colliery practically the whole of the people are miners, that is not the case in the Whitburn district, and there is no difficulty in getting the present rents.

Have there been reductions in other cases similar to this?

No, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the approximate liability at the last convenient date of accrued interest of national savings certificates?

The interest accrued and unpaid on the 31st March last was about £122,000,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any detailed information will in future be available as to the composition of the Government securities held against the note issue?

I would refer the hon. Member to Section 3 (3) of the Currency and Bank Notes Act, 1928. The Bank of England must furnish the Treasury with such information as the latter require but are expressly exempted by that Section from publishing the information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the reduction in Ways and Means advances and the increase in Treasury Bills issued, as reported on 31st March, 1929, are due to the transfer of the note issue into the hands of the Bank of England; and, if so, has the change resulted in increased interest charges to the Treasury, due to the discount rate on the Treasury Bills being more than the interest rate paid on Ways and Means advances?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The substitution of Treasury Bills for Ways and Means was made possible by the change from the Currency Note issue which fluctuated day by day to the present fixed fiduciary issue. In reply to the second part of the question there is a fixed rate of interest on these securities which does not follow market fluctuations. Whatever the rate of interest, 0 or 5 or 20 per cent., it would both be paid by the Exchequer and received back by the Exchequer as profits of the issue. It is simply a matter of book-keeping convenience. Neither the amount of the floating debt nor the interest was in fact-affected by the technical change in the form of the securities held.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the amount of the Sinking Fund would not be affected if the rate on Treasury Bills was higher than the amount of interest which was being paid on Ways and Means advances?

I do not think that has anything to do with the question on the Paper.

Seeing that the total figure for the Sinking Fund and Interest charges is fixed, would not this increased interest charge automatically reduce the amount of money available for the Sinking Fund?

When the interest upon Treasury Bills increases that of course adds to the expenditure on debt and consequently affects the fruitfulness of the £355,000,000 fixed debt charge. In so far as any portion of this interest on the Treasury Bills increased or not increased, is actually received by the Exchequer, there is absolutely no change in the account on either side.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether a national committee for Wales has been appointed in connection with the World's Poultry Congress to be held in London in 1930; and, if so, the names of the members of the committee?

The interests of the Principality are at present represented, on the Finance and General Purposes Committee of the Congress, by the Welsh Secretary to the Ministry. The question of the appointment of a Welsh Committee is under consideration.

Is it a fact that a Committee has been appointed in Northern Ireland, and, in view of the fact that Wales is mainly an agricultural country, is it not desirable that a special Committee should be appointed for Wales?

If there is evidence of a wish that Wales should have a separate Committee, of course we shall gladly consider the proposal. We are examining the matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any evidence that plant diseases are brought into this country by imported bulbs; and what steps are taken to ensure that all imported bulbs are free from disease?

I am aware that bulb diseases and pests have been brought into this country on imported bulbs, but since the coming into operation of the Destructive Insects and Pasts Order of 1922, which requires all imported bulbs to be accompanied by a certificate of health issued by a duly authorised official of the country of origin, there has been an appreciable improvement in the standard of health of imported bulbs.

Where is the inspection made?

We inspect them in this country.

Have steps been taken in recent months in regard to the inspection of bulbs to make quite sure that all possible precautions are observed in order to free bulbs in this country from infection by imported bulbs?

We are taking all the steps that we can to ensure that only healthy bulbs are brought in. I would remind my hon. Friend that there is no question of bringing in fresh disease. If these diseases come in, they are of the same kind as those which are already endemic in this country.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether he is aware that the Forestry Commission have taken over grazing and arable land at Inchnacroe, Kintail, Ross-shire, held by two smallholders, and that these two holders had some time ago been granted security of tenure by the Land Court appointed by Parliament to give such security; and under what powers and by whose authority one Government Department has violated the right granted to these holders under Statute by another Government Department?

The area acquired by the Forestry Commissioners at Kintail includes land at Inchnacroe occupied by two smallholders. Their land-holding rights are unimpaired, and the Commissioners have no intention of disturbing them.

In view of the disquietude in this district, will my hon. and gallant Friend assure me that the pledge given to me last year by his predecessor remains, and will continue to be honoured?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour how many foreign orchestras and bands have been admitted into this country since 1st January, 1928, with the number of persons comprising them; and whether, in view of the unemployment existing among British musicians, he will consider means to discourage foreign orchestras from visiting this country professionally for long periods?

During the period from 1st January, 1928 to 30th April, 1929, permits have been granted for limited periods in respect of seven foreign bands and orchestras, comprising 58 persons. In addition, the band of the Royal Belgian Guards consisting of 81 persons was permitted to give one concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Permits are only granted in cases where my right hon. Friend is satisfied that the interests of British musicians will not be adversely affected. In this connection I would refer the hon. Member to the replies to questions by the hon. Member for Central Hackney (Sir E. Gower) on 31st January and 11th February last in which my right hon. Friend explained at some length the main conditions governing the grant of permits for alien bands.

What does the hon. Gentleman mean by giving permission for a short period?

I would refer the hon baronet to the White Paper which was issued on Tuesday—Command Paper 3118, entitled "Procedure Regulating the Entry of Foreigners for Employment in Great Britain."—which gives all the information on this matter.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that conversion is taking place on the Liberal benches at the present time?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, as far as our bands are concerned, reciprocal treatment is not granted by America and that one very famous English band—Jack Hylton's Band—has been asked not to apply for permission to enter America for the purpose of giving orchestral concerts?

I am not aware of those facts, and I do not understand what the hon. Member means by "our bands."

Does not the hon. Gentleman understand that I mean our eminent British bands, composed of British artists, which are not permitted to appear in America, and I am asking him to make an investigation to see why our British bands are not allowed into America while he gives permission for American bands to come here.

I can give the same answer to the hon. Member as that which I have just given to the hon. baronet the Member for Anglesea (Sir B. Thomas). All the information relative to this matter is contained in the White Paper.

Is the hon. Gentleman not assuming in his answer that there are no British musicians out of employment, and is he aware that a large number of British musicians are out of work?

If the hon. baronet reads the White Paper, he will see to what extent we go in order to safeguard the interests of those who are out of employment in this country.

Does the hon. Gentleman appreciate the point that the Liberal party do not believe in Safeguarding?

They do now, and so do the Labour party.

asked the Minister of Labour what principle is applied in deciding whether dock labourers coming under the terms of Lord Shaw's award are included in the unemployment returns; whether they are shown as unemployed although they may have worked three days in the previous week; and whether, without excessive extra labour, this class could be shown separately in the weekly returns?

In general a casual dock labourer is included in the return of persons unemployed if he is known to have been unemployed on the previous Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. I should mention that in general workers of other classes are only included in the return if they are known to have been unemployed on the Monday to which the return relates. It follows that a dock labourer may be included in the return notwithstanding that he worked on three days of the preceding week other than the first three days. The weekly retains of the Live Register published by my Department already give separate figures for persons normally in casual employment, the majority of whom consist of dock labourers.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider adopting a more satisfactory method of calculating the weekly statistics of unemployment by basing the Return on the numbers unemployed in the previous week and not upon the number signing-on on Monday morning as unemployed, dividing the total figure into two principal categories of persons totally and persons partially unemployed, and further into sub-divisions showing for each category men and women and persons over and under 21 years of age?

The statement issued each week by the Department already gives separate figures for persons wholly unemployed, those temporarily stopped, and those normally in casual employment, and for men and women, boys under 18 and girls under 18. I am doubtful whether it would be an advantage to substitute figures relating to persons under 21 for those relating to per- sons under 18. As regards the numbers unemployed in the previous week, I am not sure what this means, but I should be glad to discuss the point with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether physically unfit, mentally unfit, and partially disabled persons are included in the unemployment Returns; and whether, with a view to obtaining a more accurate representation of the condition of the labour market, he will consider the omission of the figures of such persons in future Returns?

The published totals do not exclude any person on the ground that he or she is of a low degree of employability, and I doubt whether it would be practicable to apply a discrimination of this kind in the figures regularly tabulated. Some idea of the extent to which such persons appear on the registers may be got from an inquiry made in April, 1927, from which it appeared that 2 per cent. of the total were "verging on the unemployable" owing to age, infirmity, or other reasons, while an additional 4.9 per cent., though not verging on the unemployable, were persons "who would not, in normal times, obtain a fair amount of employment."

Does the hon. Gentleman not think that the figures, as shown now, do not give an accurate view of the unemployment situation?

The questions put by the hon. Member are, I know, based on certain resolutions passed the other day by the Associated Chambers of Commerce. I shall be quite ready to discuss, either with them or with the hon. Member, any matter which he, or they, think would make the figures more accurately represent the true state of affairs.

Is it the hon. Gentleman's opinion that if the suggestions contained in these questions were carried out the Conservative Government would be able to show that there is no unemployment at all?

Does the Minister not think that the best way to remove these people from the list would be to provide them with adequate pensions?

It is an insulting question to put on the Paper. The Member who put it should be examined by a medical specialist. Is a Member entitled to insult the unemployed by putting down a question of this kind?

There is no insult to the unemployed in the question.

He is not entitled to put down a question insulting to the unemployed even though his father happens to be a lord. He has no right to do it.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the protest made by the Liskeard Rural District Council meeting on the transfer of miners to that area, seeing that there are a number of local unemployed men awaiting the opportunity to secure work; and whether he will take steps to see that miners are not transferred to localities already burdened with unemployment?

I am not aware of the protest referred to. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on this subject on the 14th March.

In cases like this, where miners are transferred to a district and meet with vigorous protests because they are supposed to be supplanting other unemployed people, and they refuse work under those conditions, can the hon. Gentleman say what happens to them? Are they denied benefit?

I do not think that that arises out of the question on the Paper, but the answer to it, of course, is that it would be a matter in each case for the consideration of the statutory authority.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any transferred miners have been registered as unemployed at the Devonport and Plymouth Employment Exchanges, respectively?

I am having inquiries made and will send the hon. Member such information as is available.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Eye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, if he is aware of the low rates of wages paid to the forestry workers at Drumtochty; and if, in view of the fact that they are only guaranteed work for half the year and that, owing to local conditions, their other means of obtaining an income are very limited, he will consider the possibility of increasing their pay?

The rates of wages paid to the forestry workers at Drumtochty are considered to be satisfactory and no increase is proposed. Those forest workers to whom tenancies of holdings are granted by the Forestry Commission are guaranteed not less than 150 days work annually, but most of the forest workers are employed more than half the year. No complaints have been received from the workers at Drumtochty.

What is the rate of wages paid, and how many people get more than 150 days work in the year?

The average weekly wages paid during the last financial year were 39s. per week which is 2s. more than the local weekly rate. I am informed that the forest workers on holdings can have work for practically the whole of the 12 months in the forest if they so desire.

Are we to understand that the wages in any district are calculated on the wages existing in the district, and that they vary accordingly?

I do not say that they vary accordingly, but certainly local wages would be taken into account.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware of the many requests made by forestry workers in all parts of Great Britain for increases in wages?

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that Ewan Maclennan and Neil Macdonald have again be re-arrested and sent to Inverness prison; and why the arrests were made, in view of their previous liberation?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The arrests were made on a warrant issued by the Sheriff Substitute at Lochmaddy in obedience to a remit contained in an Interlocutor of the Court of Session dismissing an appeal by the men referred to.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the warrant issued on 27th March, when they re-arrested these men, does not state what time is to be served nor who is to decide what time is to be served, and since the original date of the expiration of the term was at first contained in the sentence of the 14th June last, who is to say what term they are to serve now and who is the deciding factor in that matter, which is not contained in the warrant?

The answer is that they will serve the period which is un-expired.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that now that this decision has been come to it would be advisable, before the General Election, that he should extend clemency to these two men and release them, in view of the fact that there will be another Government after the election?

This is not a matter over which I or my office has any jurisdiction.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any precedent, where liberation has taken place and such an amount of time has elapsed between liberation and re-arrest, of a re-arrest without giving the reasons for it?

Can the right hon. Gentleman state how long they have served, and what is the sentence?

No, I cannot without notice.

asked the Postmaster-General what definite arrangements have been made concerning licences for portable wireless sets, both as regards one licence only being necessary and the temporary removal of a portable wireless set from one place to another?

The answer is rather long, and I will, with the permission of the hon. and gallant Member, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Have any changes been made in these regulations?

No, not beyond what has appeared in the Press.

asked the Postmaster-General the approximate number of new call-offices which will be established at railway stations and in villages in Devonshire under the new scheme for telephone development?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply on the 22nd April to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool (Sir W. de Frece).

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many miles were flown by commercial aeroplanes in 1928 by the following countries: Germany, France, and Great Britain?

The mileage flown on regular routes in 1928 by commercial aeroplanes was as follows: Germany, 6,750,000; France and French Colonies. etc., 4,500,000; British Empire, approximately 1,750,000. The two former figures are estimates.

Does my right hon. Friend expect that this year we shall increase our commercial route mileage very considerably?

Yes. The opening of the India route will add a very large number of miles.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what consideration, if any, is at present being given to the establishment of a seaplane service between the Yorkshire coast and the Continent and also between Liverpool and Ireland?

It will doubtless be within my hon. Friend's knowledge that an experimental service between Liverpool and Belfast was operated for a short time last year, but no concrete proposals for a permanent service over either the Irish or the North Sea have, so far as I am aware, as yet been formulated.

Can my right hon. Friend hold out any hope in regard to this important matter?

I have received no definite proposals on the subject, but, if we do receive any, we will certainly consider them.

Is it not part of the right hon. Gentleman's business to make proposals himself?

No. I think that in a case of this kind, of a service between England and Ireland, some proposals ought to come from the Irish side.

Cannot my right hon. Friend do something to stir up Hull?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that steps have been taken both for a seaplane base and for a land plane base in Hull, in face of very great discouragement from the Ministry?

Very likely after the General Election we may see changes.

asked the Secretary of State for Air at what date, respectively, the two airships now nearing completion are expected to be ready for trial, and to what point each is to make its maiden voyage?

As regards the first part of the question, R. 100 is expected to be ready for shed trials about the end of May, and R. 101 about the end of June. As regards the second part, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave the hon. and gallant Member for South Hackney (Captain Garro-Jones) on the 16th April.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether these two airships will bear names before their first trial voyage, or will they continue to bear numbers?

I gave an answer on that subject two or three days ago.

Will my right hon. Friend accept a name if I send it to him?

I will certainly consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is in a position to make any further statement as regards contributions by the various African Administrations concerned towards the cost of the projected air service between England and South Africa?

I am glad to be able to announce that the Government of Southern Rhodesia have just intimated their willingness to arrange for a contribution of £10,000 a year for a period of five years. In addition, as I stated some weeks since, the Union Government have undertaken to provide a very substantial proportion of the requisite subsidy, whilst definite offers to contribute have also been received from the Administrations of the Sudan, Kenya, Tanganyika, and Uganda. The House will, I am sure, be gratified to know that, as a result of this ready co-operation on the part of the various Administrations mentioned, the finance of the service is now assured.