asked the Secretary of State for War whether experiments on living animals are still being carried out at the chemical warfare experimental station at Porton with the object of testing the efficacy of poison gas; and what, if any, action he proposes to take in the matter?

:These experiments with animals have been carried on for many years at the Chemical Warfare Experimental Station, Porton, and I am advised that they are essential in order to obtain the necessary data for ensuring adequate defence against poison gases and for evolving efficient methods of treating human beings who become gas casualties.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether all boots and leather equipment used in the Army are of British manufacture; and, if not, what is the value of orders placed abroad within the last 12 months?

:All contracts for leather equipment and boots, with the exception of india rubber gum boots, are for goods manufactured in Great Britain. The gum boots, which represent less than ½ per cent, of the total quantity of boots purchased, are manufactured in Canada.

asked the Secretary of State for War if there has been recently a distribution of literature of a subversive character by Communist organisations among the troops at Alders hot, Portsmouth, Chatham, Woolwich and Catterick; and, if so, what action has he taken or does he propose to take?

:Yes, Sir; early last May at Aldershot, Woolwich and Catterick. There was not, however, sufficient evidence to enable action to be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) if he will consider the sale of South sea Castle to the Portsmouth City Council for the improvement of the city, seeing that the fort is no longer an effective land battery for local defence;

(2) if he will consider the sale of the obsolete battery known as Lumps Fort, Portsmouth, to the city council?

:These two properties are not at present surplus to military requirements. Should it be possible to dispose of them in the future, I will arrange that the question of offering them to the city council is not overlooked.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the quantities of homemade spirits distilled in England and Scotland, respectively, during the year ended 31st March, 1929?

:The number of proof gallons of home-made spirits distilled in England and Northern Ireland and in Scotland in the year ended 31st March, 1929, is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of brewers for sale and brewers not for sale in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and the net receipts for duty for each country, for the financial year ended 31st March, 1929?

:The particulars are as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the year ended 31st March, 1929, the net receipts in respect of duty on beer, home spirits, foreign and colonial spirits, and wine, distinguishing British wines and liquor licences?

:The net receipts in respect of duty on beer, home-made spirits, foreign and colonial spirits and wine, British wine and liquor licences during the year ended 31st March, 1929. were as follow:

asked the Home Secretary the names of the local education authorities in England and Wales who have not yet in operation by-laws made under Sections 90 and 91 of the Education Act, 1921?

:The local education authorities in whose areas no such bylaws are in force are those of Cambridge- shire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Isle of Wight, Harwich, St. Helens, Hemel Hempsted, Newport (Isle of Wight) and Mossley.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the granting of an extension of free wireless licences to all incurably infirm persons?

:The Broadcasting Committee, 1925, considered the question of the grant of free wireless licences and recommended that this concession be made to blind persons only. Effect was given to the Committee's recommendation by the Wireless Telegraphy (Blind Persons Facilities) Act, 1926. I do not consider that I should be justified in asking Parliament to extend the concession to other classes of the community.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that catalogue pages together with an order form may be sent through the post at postal printed paper rate, he will consider allowing samples of paper accompanied by an inquiry or order to benefit by a similar concession?

:The concession desired would in effect amount to establishing for the benefit of a particular class of trader a sample post which would not be available for the samples of any other trade. The printed paper rate, as its name implies, is intended for the transmission not of samples but of printed matter. It is already un-remunerative and I should not feel justified in extending its scope on the lines of a sample post and thereby increasing the loss.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is in a position to state the result of the inquiries which were promised by his predecessor on 12th December last arising out of representations by the Portadown Chamber of Commerce and the Portadown Urban District Council with regard to the transfer of mail work?

:The further inquiries confirmed the view that the closing of the station sorting office at Portadown would result in financial saving without detriment to the services afforded to the public, and detailed arrangements for the change are being prepared. The position has been fully explained to a deputation of the Chamber of Commerce.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the increase in the importation of cotton yarn from 3,028,000 pounds in the first four months of 1927 to 4,683,520 pounds in the first four months of 1929; and if he will state the countries from which the importation originates?

:The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The following statement gives the latest figures showing the quantities of cotton yarn imported into the United Kingdom from the principal countries concerned during the five months ended 31st May, 1927, and 1929:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that this country is being supplied with timber from Russia and that these supplies are the outcome of forced labour; and whether it is proposed to stop these supplies having regard to the conditions under which they are produced?

:Considerable quantities of timber are being imported from Russia, but I have no information as to the conditions under which the timber is produced. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government intend to introduce an Anti-Profiteering Bill or a similar Measure?

:My right hon. Friend must examine, in the course of the coming weeks, this question in common with other important matters affecting the work of the Board of Trade, and I would ask the hon. Member to await the result of that investigation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the increasing rise in the price of butter; and has he given any instructions to the representatives of his Department to bring this fact to the early notice of the Food Council?

:I am informed that at the beginning of June retail butter prices were lower than they had been for nearly two years. Since then the retail prices of some descriptions have risen by Id. per lb. following seasonal increases in wholesale prices. The Food Council are aware of these facts.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many tin mines in Great Britain and the Isle of Man were in active operation in June, 1929; and the number of workpeople employed in such mines?

:In the latest period for which particulars are available, namely, the quarter ended 31st March, 1929, there were 10 mines at which dressed tin ore was produced, employing 2,193 persons. In addition, there were eight mines, employing 532 persons, at which development work was in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many of the British delegates to the Assembly of the League of Nations since January, 1925, have been Members of Parliament belonging to any party other than that of the Government of the day?

:In every case since January, 1925, British delegates to the Assembly who have been Members of Parliament have belonged to the same party as that of the Government

asked the Attorney-General if a copy of the letter, dated 24th November, 1926, from the Secretary of Commissions to the secretary of the Licensed Victuallers' Defence League has been circulated to the advisory committees; how many licensed victuallers have been appointed to the commission of the peace since that date; and is the policy set out in that letter still operative?

The letter referred to in the hon. Member's question has not been circulated to advisory committees. A copy of the Report of the Royal Commission on the Selection of Justices of the Peace is supplied to all members of advisory committees when they are appointed, and their attention is drawn to the recommendations contained in the Report. The Report referred to the question of the appointment of licence-holders, and recommended that the number of such appointments should be left within the discretion of the Lord Chancellor. The policy laid down in the letter is that recommended by the Royal Commission, and it is still followed by the Lord Chancellor. No special list is kept classifying persons appointed to the Bench according to their occupations.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if he will arrange for the publication of a ground plan of the House of Commons for the informa- tion of Members, and particularly new Members, who are anxious to familiarise themselves with their surroundings?

:Guide books, containing a plan of the Houses of Parliament, are on sale at the Lord Great Chamberlain's stall in the King's Robing Room and at the Speaker's stall in St. Stephen's Porch. Arrangements are being made for the production of a somewhat improved plan as suggested by the hon. Member. I hope this will be on sale very shortly at the price of 2d. per copy.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that during the recent visit of British warships to Oslo Communist leaflets were distributed among the crews urging them to join in demonstrations to be organised in foreign cities on 1st August; and whether he is taking any steps to trace the origin of these leaflets with a view to protesting against their distribution in His Majesty's ships?

:I have seen a statement in the Press concerning the distribution of these leaflets, but, pending a report from the Flag Officer in Command, it is not possible to say what action, if any, will be appropriate or necessary.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will explain the scheme dealing with the making of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service a pension able one; and whether the pension will be retrospective?

:The broad details of the scheme are now settled, and I hope it may be possible to make an announcement before the House rises.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that pensioners of the Royal Marines are being taken on as officers' stewards, third and fourth class, at Whale Island as wardroom officers' servants and if he can extend this service to pensioned officers' steward ratings?

:The answer to the first part of the question is in the 'affirmative. The proposal embodied in the second part will be considered.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether a decision on Item 21 of the 1926 Welfare Conference, which contained a request for better drinking water facilities in His Majesty's ships, and to which consideration was promised, has yet been arrived at?

:As a result of the request in Item 21 of the 1926 Welfare Conference, branches from the freshwater mains each provided with a spring push cock have been fitted at intervals along the mess decks of cruisers building and have been arranged for in later ships. In "Nelson" and "Rodney" drinking facilities are provided in the engine room and boiler rooms. The request of the Welfare Committee in 1926 was based on the older system, and although repeated in 1928 it is evident that it was still based on that system as experience with the newer forms had not then been gained. It has since been decided to provide a small number of drinking sprays for trial in the Fleet.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the Government to continue the construction of the Singapore naval base?

:I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on Monday by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Northampton (OFFICIAL REPORT, columns 499–500).

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the motion pictures of the moon which were taken at Princeton University; and whether any experiments of a similar nature and with what result have been carried out at Greenwich Observatory?

:No photographic work of the moon's surface is undertaken at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. Regular visual observations of its right ascension and declination are made at its passage across the meridian whenever possible. This has been maintained without discontinuity since 1750.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Government propose to carry out the schemes of land drainage recommended by the Royal Commission on Land Drainage; and the number of persons to whom employment could thereby be given?

:I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to a similar question on Thursday last. I am sending him a copy. He will see that the Report of the Royal Commission is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been called to the large increase in the import of condensed skimmed milk; if he is aware of the injury caused to milk producers in the United Kingdom through this importation; and what is the policy of the Government in this matter?

:I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend is aware of the increase referred to by the hon. Member, but so far as the interests of public health are concerned he would not propose to take any special action in the matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if the grants proposed by the late Chancellor of the Exchequer to the relief of overburdened fishing harbours will be given?

:I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to a similar question, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the special grants and debt remission to Scottish fishing harbours proposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the last Budget will be given?

:I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which were given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and myself to questions by the hon. and gallant Member for Banff (Major Wood), of which I am sending copies to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the hardship caused to owners of small houses by unexpected and excessive charges, amounting in some cases to over £200 per house, for paving and making up the road fronting the house; and whether he is prepared to take action to prevent this?

:My right hon. Friend proposes to look into the matter raised by the hon. Member. I may, however, point out that there is an appeal against frontage charges by local authorities and power for local authorities to make a contribution.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the tenants of the Mangravit estate, in Maidstone, have been informed by the borough council that £4,000 is due to them from the Ministry of Health; whether he is aware of the negotiations with the Maidstone Borough Council in regard to this matter; and what is his decision in the matter?

:I am not aware of the nature of any communication made by the Maidstone Borough Council to their tenants, but assume the hon. Member has in mind a question that has arisen in regard to the observance of the conditions laid down in the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924, in determining the rents of houses provided by the Council. This matter has been the subject of considerable discussion between the Maidstone Borough Council and my Department, but it does not appear to me that it will be possible for the council to make any repayment of rent to the tenants.

asked the Minister of Health the reason why an old age pension has been refused to Mrs. Emma J. Whitman, of 11, Ashton Street, Stratford, E.15.

:Mrs. Whitman's claim to a non-contributory old age pension was disallowed by the West Ham Pension Committee on the ground that her means as calculated for old age pension purposes exceeded the statutory limit.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received copies of the resolutions submitted by the South Monmouth Assessment Committee dealing with the subject of payment of expenses of members attending meetings of the assessment committees; and whether, in the event of such resolutions requiring amendments in the existing Bating and Valuation Acts, 1925 and 1928, it is the intention of the present Government to introduce legislation that will incorporate the principle contained in those resolutions?

:My right hon. Friend has received copies of the resolutions referred to. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday to a similar question by the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Hopkin).

asked the Minister of Health when the next report of the appointed guardians at West Ham will be made available to Members of the House?

:My right hon. Friend has no information of any further report from these guardians, beyond what has appeared in the public Press.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether grants from the Road Fund for road construction or relief work will be conditional upon the employment of a percentage of ex-service men; and, if so, what that percentage will be?

On relief works the existing preference for ex-service men will be maintained. As regards road works, I understand that no condition as to the employment of a definite percentage of ex-service men has been attached to any grant from the Road Fund other than those to works included in the Unemployment Programmes initiated between 1920 and 1924. But, in point of fact, a large proportion of men engaged on road works are ex-service men.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is prepared to set up a National Development Board for Wales in order to carry out certain schemes for the provision of employment more effectively?

The interests of Wales will not be overlooked in the consideration of the problem of unemployment, I am not of opinion that the setting up of a National Development Board for Wales would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Minister of Agriculture in view of the large amount of unemployment in the agricultural industry last winter, whether he will take steps to bring agricultural labourers within the scope of the unemployment insurance schemes at such rates as are within their means?

:The question of giving agricultural workers the protection of some form of National Unemployment Insurance is under careful consideration, but my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make an announcement on the subject.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she intends to introduce legislation to secure for the farm-worker insurance against unemployment?

:I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture to a somewhat similar question put to him to-day by the hon. and gallant Member for Buckrose (Major Braithwaite).

asked the Minister of Labour the number of claims for unemployment insurance benefit which were disallowed by the chief insurance officer in 1928; how many of these claims were referred to Courts of Referees; and how many were disallowed benefit by Court of Referees' decision?

During the period 1st January to 10th December, 1928, 500,824 claims to benefit were disallowed by insurance officers in Great Britain. In the same period, 162,251 appeals against such disallowances were considered by Courts of Referees and the disallowance was upheld by the Courts in 103,416 cases. These figures relate to claims to benefit and not to separate individuals.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she is aware that a number of young women from Northampton, formerly employed for many years in the boot and shoe trade and who had drawn benefit for a comparatively short period, were sent to the B.T.H. works at Rugby, being told they could earn £3 a week; that the wages actually were 26s. per week, compared to the minimum wage of 36s., plus supplementary, in the boot trade; that they had to pay 12s. per week for lodgings; that they had to work heavy lathes and other machines unsuitable for women; that on their return to Northampton, after finding the work unsuitable, they were disallowed benefit, and that the chief insurance officer has also endorsed the six weeks' disqualification; and whether she will take steps, by amending the Insurance Acts or by Departmental Regulations or otherwise, to prevent such occurrences?

I am having inquiries made into this matter and will let my hon. Friend know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she is aware that insured workers in certain rural areas are being denied unemployment benefit if they refuse agricultural work; that if they take employment as agricultural workers they forfeit their claim to future benefit; and whether she will inquire into the matter?

I am inquiring into a specific case which my hon. Friend has sent me and I will communicate with him in due course. In the meantime, I may say the position generally is that, while a claimant for benefit must be willing to take suitable employment (and the question whether a particular agricultural job was suitable would have to be determined by the statutory authorities in the individual case), the acceptance of temporary agricultural work is no disqualification for benefit.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps the Government propose to take to ease the position of those men and women who have exhausted their unemployment benefit?

:As my hon. Friend is doubtless aware, the conditions for the receipt of unemployment benefit are statutory and cannot be altered without fresh legislation, which will be proposed in due course on those points on which amendment is thought to be necessary. As regards unemployed persons who fall outside the scope of the Unemployment Insurance Scheme it is not at present possible to make any definite statement.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of cases between the 8th April and the 25th June, 1929, in which unemployment benefit was refused to claimants at the Govan Employment Exchange on the ground that they had not 30 stamps during the previous two years?

:At present the condition requiring the payment of 30 contributions during the previous two years operates only in the case of juveniles under 18 years of age. No claims made at the Govan Employment Exchange have been disallowed on this ground.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she is aware that, in spite of the admitted shortage of employment and of evidence produced as to a search for work, many claims for unemployment benefit have been refused on the ground that the applicant was not genuinely seeking work; and what steps, if any, it is proposed to take to remove the sense of grievance which has been created?

:The conditions for the receipt of benefit and the machinery for dealing with claims are laid down by Statute and could not be altered without legislation. My right hon. Friend is aware that there are a number of complaints on the point to which my hon. Friend refers. She is making careful inquiry in order to satisfy herself whether, or how far, these complaints are well-founded, and her action will be guided by the result of these inquiries.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she proposes to continue the policy of the late Government that foreign workers shall not, save under special circumstances, be allowed to come to this country to fill posts for which there is available suitable and satisfactory British unemployed labour; and, if not, whether she can state the policy of the Government in this matter?

:The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The second part, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Minister of Labour who now performs the functions of chief insurance officer under the Unemployment Insurance Acts; what staff has he; what is the average number of decisions which he has had to make per week during the past 12 months; and whether she will consider taking steps to alter this system in the interests of unemployed persons?

:The chief insurance officer under the Unemployment Insurance Acts is Mr. C. J. Wiley, D.S.O., O.B.E., He is assisted by 57 insurance officers, together with the necessary clerical staff of about 53 persons. Particulars of the numbers of decisions given are being obtained, and I will send them to my hon. Friend as soon as they are ready. The system is established by Statute, and could not be altered without legislation.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she is aware that the wholesale transfer of unemployed miners from South Wales is still taking place; whether benefit is being withheld from those who refuse such transfer; whether in many cases transferred men have been obliged to return home owing to lack of regular employment and absence of housing accommodation; and whether the device known as the speculative transfer scheme is to be discontinued in view of the tendency to vagrancy involved?

:With regard to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Members for Lewisham, East (Sir A. Pownall) and Reading (Dr. Hastings), of which I am sending him a copy. Normally, the operation of the transfer scheme is confined to volunteers, and the question of suspending unemployment benefit does not arise. In a few cases, however, benefit has been disallowed when an offer of suitable employment within the terms of the Unemployment Insurance Acts has been made and refused. I regret that in some instances men are obliged to return home, but these only form a small minority. The Employment Exchanges make arrangements for the payment of the return fare of men who on arrival fail to obtain employment, and these arrangements are sufficient, I think, to obviate any risk of encouraging vagrancy such as my Eon. Friend seems to fear.

asked the Minister, of Labour if she has any information with regard to the number of musicians at present employed in cinema theatres who are threatened with loss of employment through the introduction of talking pictures?

:My right hon. Friend has no information at present which would enable her to reply to the question put by the hon. Member, but she is considering how far it may be possible to obtain reliable information.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the amount of the overdraft due to the Treasury on the Unemployment Insurance Fund?

:The debt of the Unemployment Fund to the Treasury on 29th June was £36,620,000.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent is the live register of unemployment incomplete as a picture of unemployment by reason of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief who are not registered; and the approximate numbers that should be added on this account to the figures of May, 1929, and of November, 1924, respectively?

:Precise statistics of the number of unemployed persons normally engaged in some regular occupation in receipt of Poor Law relief, who are not included in the numbers on the registers of Employment Exchanges, are not available; but it is unlikely that this number is at all considerable. I am unable to estimate the number of such cases at November, 1924, and May, 1929, respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of permits that have been granted by her Department for foreign musicians (instrumentalists) to enter Great Britain for the purpose of accepting engagements for the six months ended to the last convenient date?

:During the period from 1st January to 30th June permits were granted in respect of 208 foreign musicians (instrumentalists). Of this total 44 were in respect of five complete bands or orchestras and eight were for the purpose of augmenting British bands. The remaining 156 permits related to concert musicians. The permits were for limited periods in all cases.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered as unemployed, as at the last convenient date, at the Walworth Road, Borough', Employment Exchange?

:At 1st July, 1929, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 6,219 persons on the registers of the Walworth Road, Borough, Employment Exchange, including 4,938 men, 100 boys, 1,117 women and 64 girls.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered at the Walworth Road, Borough, Employment Exchange who have been accepted as trainees during the past six months, either for home or overseas employment; how many of the latter have sailed for the Dominions; and how many are still in training or have relinquished their training and withdrawn their applications?

32 men registered at the Borough Employment Exchange have been accepted during the past six months for training with a view to employment in the Dominions. Of these three withdrew their applications, one relinquished training, two failed to embark after completion of training, 23 sailed for Canada, and three are still in training.

asked the Minister of Labour the cost of the courts of referees acting under the Unemployment Insurance Act from 1st April, 1928, to 1st April, 1929, or the latest convenient date?

:The cost of courts of referees under the Unemployment Insurance Acts, in respect of remuneration of chairmen, travelling expenses, and allowances (including compensation for loss of earnings) to members and persons required to attend the courts, from 1st April, 1928, to 31st March, 1929, was £54,094, and from 1st April, 1929, to 31st May, 1929, the latest available date, was £13,078.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he intends to take to bring to the notice of the highway authorities the proposed programmes of road work?

A circular to the larger highway authorities is now in course of printing and will be issued on Friday. In this circular the authorities are invited to submit programmes of works on Class I and Class II roads (including the construction of new roads, by-passes, etc.) which they would be prepared to put in hand at an early date and to carry out with the assistance of grants from the Road Fund during, say, the next five years. The rates and conditions of grants are set out in the circular. In addition, a new programme for the reconstruction of about 550 miles of the main trunk roads of the country, at a total cost of about £9,500,000, with the assistance of special grants from the Road Fund, is being launched. This is in extension of a similar programme covering about 500 miles which was initiated by the last Labour Government in 1924 and which is now approaching completion. I have given instructions to the divisional road engineers of my Department to enter into negotiations at once with the local authorities in whose areas these works are to be carried out.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, among the unemployment schemes, he will favourably consider the construction of two roads in the central Highlands of Scotland, a road from Linn of Dee, on Deeside, to Glenfeshie, in Inverness-shire, as recommended by the Rural Transport Committee's Report, 1921, and a road from Cockbridge, in Don-side, to Tomintoul and Speyside, thus providing direct trade and tourist routes between the eastern seaboard at Aberdeen and the western seaboard at Oban and Fort William, and connecting the two networks of roads which exist on either side of the Grampians?

:I have been asked to reply. I have no information with regard to the second road referred to in the question. There have been discussions from time to time with regard to the construction of a road from Linn of Dee to Glenfeshie, but no progress has been made by reason of the fact that the local authorities concerned are apparently unwilling to make any contribution towards the cost, or even to maintain the road after construction. If the local authorities have other proposals to put forward, I shall be happy to consider them.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the unemployment in British stone quarries, he is prepared to make it a condition in giving grants out of the public funds to local authorities that only British road-stone shall be used?

:I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave yesterday to a similar question by the hon. Member for the Bos-worth Division (Sir W. Edge), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of ex-service men clerks who have been dismissed from the Ministry of Labour offices at Kew during the previous two months; and what is the usual amount of notice given to employés so discharged?

:Fifty-five ex-service men clerks have been discharged from the Claims and Record Office, Kew, during the past two months. In normal circumstances, temporary clerks engaged for the general work of this office receive one month's notice of discharge on redundancy, but the whole of the clerks under reference were specially engaged as auxiliary staff on the understanding that their appointments were terminable at one week's notice, and such notice was, in fact, given.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the numbers employed in the executive training grade, the higher executive grade, and the higher ranges of the executive class, during each of the years 1924 to 1928, inclusive; and the numbers of deaths in the respective categories during each of the above years?

:As regards the first part of the question, I regret that particulars for earlier years are not available, but the hon. Member will find particulars for 1927 in the answer given in this House by my predecessor on 14th December, 1927, of which I am sending him a copy. As regards the second part of the question, the information could only be obtained by inquiry involving the expenditure of considerable time and labour.

asked the Minister of Transport if any request has been made to him and, if so, by whom for an inquiry into the regulations made by the county borough council of South Shields for the control of omnibus traffic within that county borough; and, if so, when such inquiry will be held?

:I have received appeals under Section 14 (3) of the Roads Act, 1920, from the following companies against conditions which the county borough council of South Shields propose to attach to the issue to them of licences to ply for hire with omnibuses:—

Jarrow and District Electric Traction Co., Ltd.

Northern General Transport Co., Ltd.

Sunderland District Omnibus Co., Ltd.

These appeals will be heard shortly, but a definite date has not yet been fixed.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received any representations from the town of Salford to consider promoting legislation empowering local authorities to close side streets in crowded areas during certain hours to vehicular traffic in order to provide playgrounds for children?

:Inquiries have been made of my Department, on behalf of the town of Salford, as to whether I could authorise the closing of side streets during certain hours for the purpose mentioned by my hon. Friend, and I caused a reply to be sent to the effect that I had no such powers. So far as I am aware no definite proposals for the introduction of legislation on the subject were put forward.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is in a position to state when the work of reconstructing the tramways on the site of the old Whitechapel hay market will be commenced?

:I understand from the London County Council that it is their intention to start this tramway reconstruction in August.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the defects which have developed in the structure of the arterial roads built under the control of his Department, notably in the case of the Southend section; whether inspectors are appointed by his Department to watch the efficient carrying out of the contracts; and, if no in- spectors are appointed, whether he will see that such supervision is guaranteed in future?

HERBERT MORRISON I am aware of certain defects which have developed in the South end Road. Engineers of the Department watched the works carried out under these contracts, and similar precautions will be taken in regard to any future works of this nature. The road was in many places carried on embankments of considerable height, and defects due to subsequent settlement are liable to develop in such circumstances.

asked the Minister of Transport whether in the financing of schemes of new road construction opportunity will be taken of purchasing land on each side not required for road purposes so that the increased land value may accrue to the public?

:Whenever favourable opportunities present themselves, I shall consider the advisability of exercising such powers as I possess under the Development and Road Improvement Funds Act, 1909, for the purchase of additional land.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the intimation he has given to representatives of the London County Council and the London electric railway companies that the Government could not advise Parliament to pass the London County Council (Co-ordination of Passenger Traffic) Bill, and the London Electric Railway Companies (Co-ordination of Passenger Traffic) Bill, he will inform the House what measures the Government intend to take to deal with the problem of the better regulation of London traffic?

:In present circumstances I cannot add to the statement which I have already made to the effect that the Government are fully alive to the importance and urgency of the problem of London traffic and are ready to explore it further at once with all the interests concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of level crossings on each of the different groups of railway systems in this country?

:I regret that I am not in possession of the information for which my hon. Friend asks.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in any action taken by the Government concerning the construction of a tunnel under the Thames, he will insure that full consideration is given to the economic and strategic advantages which would accrue from the construction of such a tunnel between Gravesend and Tilbury?

:In the event of the county councils concerned agreeing to co-operate with my Department in pursuing the investigation of the tunnel problem, the considerations urged by the hon. Member shall not be overlooked. The preliminary engineering inquiry already made, however, disclosed grave difficulties in the way of constructing a tunnel in the position indicated by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is in a position to state when the work will be started on the Victoria Dock Road improvement scheme?

:I hope it will be possible to start work in connection with re-housing and the construction of the bridge over the River Lea early in the autumn.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the recent serious accident at Lount crossroads, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, in which a motorist named Wed-dell was burnt to death and two others were injured; whether he is aware that previous accidents have taken place at this corner; whether he has seen the recommendations of the coroner's jury in the Weddell case; and whether, in the interests of public safety, he can expedite the removal of the ancient toll house which obstructs the view of motorists who have occasion to use this road?

:My attention has been called to this acci- dent and I have asked to be furnished with a report upon it. I will communicate with my hon. Friend when this report has been received.

asked the Home Secretary the number of accidents reported on the new Great West Road for the three months ended to the last convenient date?

The number of accidents on the Great West Road reported to the Police during the three months ended 30th June, 1929, was:

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that an electricity distributing company in the Midlands which enjoys a statutory monopoly has sold its ordinary shares to an American utility company at a profit of approximately £2,000,000; that several local authorities have passed a resolution of protest on the ground, amongst others, that this transaction will destroy all possibility of cheap electricity; and whether he will hold an inquiry to see if such inflations of capital in this industry can be prevented?

I have seen statements in the Press to the effect that the ordinary shares of an important power company in the Midlands have been acquired on behalf of foreign interests, and I am aware that certain local authorities have, as my hon. Friend states, passed resolutions on the subject. I should like to take this opportunity of making it clear that the control which Parliament and the Electricity Commissioners and myself exercise over electricity undertakings is not affected by transactions of the kind referred to, and that no regard would be paid to them in fixing the maximum prices which may be charged to consumers.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that many electricity distributing companies, which enjoy a statutory monopoly in addition to paying handsome dividends, capitalise their reserves by bonus-share distributions to their shareholders, and that this practice is preventing the supply of cheap electricity to consumers; and whether he will set up an inquiry to investigate the whole matter?

:I am aware that certain electricity distributing companies have capitalised part of their reserves by bonus-share distributions to their shareholders. As regards the last part of the question, I would remind my hon. Friend that in cases where the local authority concerned or the consumers are of the opinion that the company's profits are excessive it is open to them to apply to the Minister for a reduction in the maximum charges authorised by the Act or Order relating to the particular undertaking, and that circumstances such as bonus distribution of shares could be taken into consideration in connection with any such application.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has had an application for his consent to an electric power line from Penrith to Whitehaven, via Bassenthwaite and Wythrop Valley and Cockermouth; whether, before giving his consent, he will take into consideration the objections raised by persons interested in the preservation of the amenities of the district to the erection of overhead cables on certain sections of the line; and whether he will consider representations made by local authorities or other persons interested as to the sections where it would be desirable that the line should be placed underground?

I have not yet received an application for consent to the overhead line referred to. In the event of an application being received the local authorities and other parties concerned will, in accordance with the provisions of the Electricity Supply Acts, be given an opportunity of being heard before my decision is given.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can give any Information regarding the progress of the electricity scheme as it affects the county of Warwick?

The county of Warwickshire forms part of the Central England Electricity Scheme which was adopted by the Central Electricity Board last year. I am informed by the Board that contracts have been placed for the primary transmission lines in connection with this scheme, and for part of the secondary lines, and that standardisation of frequency is being carried out in accordance with a programme agreed with the undertakings concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport how many schemes have been sanctioned under the Electricity Supply Act, 1926; whether any of the schemes have been completed; and, if so, in what areas?

:Five schemes, namely, those for Central Scotland, South-east England, Central England,, North-west England and Mid-east England, have been adopted by the Central Electricity Board. A sixth scheme, namely, that for North-east England, was recently transmitted by the Electricity Commissioners to the Board and has been published. The schemes are not of a kind which can become fully operative for a number of years.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that difficulties have arisen in certain rural areas in obtaining suitable sites for small kiosks required for the distribution of electricity, and that existing procedure by way of special order is both costly and slow; and whether, in the pubfic interest, he will provide less costly and more expeditious machinery to overcome this difficulty?

:Representations in the sense of the hon. Member's question have been made by the electricity undertakers in one or two instances. I am inclined to agree with him that the promotion of a Special Order for the purpose of the acquisition of small sites for purposes such as that to which he refers would not be altogether appropriate, and the point has been noted for consideration in connection with any future general legislation with regard to electricity.

asked the Minister of Transport whether it is the intention of the Government to continue the rebate on coal for the use of fishing vessels as laid down in the White Paper, Railway Freight Rebates (Anticipation) [Cmd. 3215], presented by the Minister of Transport in November, 1928?

The scheme set out in the White Paper will remain in operation until 30th September next. It will then be superseded by a scheme to be settled by the Railway Rates Tribunal in pursuance of the Eleventh Schedule to the Local Government Act, 1929, which provides for the allowance of rebates from the railway carriage charges on coal shipped as bunkers for fishing vessels.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of adult industrial Government employés in receipt of wages of 50s. or less per week in June, 1929?

It is estimated that in June, 1929, on the basis of a cost-of-living figure of 70, approximately 26,000 industrial employés, including women, were in receipt of £2 10s. a week or less.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that an officer in the county police constabulary who has been reduced in rank by the chief constable of a county police force has no right of appeal, he will consider introducing legislation which will give county police officers this opportunity?

:I think the Police (Appeals) Act goes as far as it would be right to go, and I do not contemplate any extension in the sense suggested.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received a Report as to the necessity for providing women police on Hampstead Heath; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

:The Commissioner of Police, after full consideration, has decided that the circumstances would not justify him in transferring women police to Hampstead Heath from other parts of London, but when the establishment is increased he will consider the desirability of allotting some women police for duty there.