asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the Government to make any reduction in the naval establishment at Bermuda?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 10th July to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (OFFICIAL REPORT, columns 857–8).

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps he has taken, or proposes to take, to obtain outside work for the Royal Dockyards?

The importance of providing adequate work for the Royal Dockyards receives constant attention, and will continue to do so.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what number of workmen have been discharged from each of the Royal Dockyards, respectively, during the past month?

The numbers of workpeople discharged for all causes in all the Departments at each of the dockyard ports during the four weeks ended 20th July are: Portsmouth, 30; Devon-port, 35; Chatham, 76; Sheerness, 7. The discharges on reduction included in the foregoing are: Portsmouth, 4; Devonport, 8; Chatham, 54; Sheerness, none.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the price of bread has increased by one halfpenny per quartern loaf since Monday last; that a further increase is expected; and if he will refer the matter to the Food Council?

Yes, Sir. The matter is already before the Food Council, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the President of the Board of Trade to the hon. Member for East Willesden (Mr. D. G. Somerville) on 9th July, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the present taxation on foreign flour in Germany; and what are the wholesale prices for the same quantity of flour in Berlin and London, respectively?

The duty on flour imported into Germany was raised on. 10th July last from 14s. 4d. to 18s. 1d. per 280 lbs. According to the June Bulletin of the International Institute of Statistics, the price of flour during May in London and Berlin was as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade, for the latest year for which the statistics are available, the value of the imports of United Kingdom goods into each Dominion in respect of which preferential rates of duty were charged; and what was the aggregate reduction of duty in the case of each Dominion resulting from the duties being charged at the preferential rate instead of at the full rate?

The year 1925 is the latest for which complete particulars have been estimated. The approximate value of the imports from the United Kingdom of goods subject to preference and the aggregate amount of the rebate on the duties chargeable on like imports from foreign countries are as follow:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any assurances have been given to the Dominion Governments that action with regard to the modification of the present system of Imperial Preferences will be postponed until the Government have had full opportunity of conferring with representatives of the Dominions on the subject and considering their views?

The position of the Government as regards Imperial Preferences was explained in the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Debate on the address on 9th July. As regards discussion with the Dominions, there is nothing which I can add at present to the reply which I gave on 10th July to the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Hurd).

asked the President of the Board of Education how many additional teachers will be required annually when the school-leaving age is raised to 15; how many trained teachers come annually from the training colleges and the university training departments; and how many of these teachers are provided by the denominational training colleges?

The number of teachers required will depend upon a variety of factors, of which the most important are the schemes of reorganisation which are now in course of preparation, and until these schemes are further advanced it would be unsafe to give an estimate of the additional number who will be required annually when the leaving age is raised. In 1927–28, 6,742 teachers completed satisfactorily a course of training in the training colleges and university training departments; of this number 2,286 came from the denominational colleges.

asked the President of the Board of Education the estimated number of children of either sex aged between 13 and 14 years who will be in attendance in primary schools during each of the five years ending 3lst March, 1937; and what is the estimated number of children of either sex aged between 14 and 15 who would be in attendance in such schools during each of those years in the event of the school-leaving age being raised to 15?

The number of children aged 13–14 estimated to be on the registers of public elementary schools is:

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that nearly 1,000 boys have this year found it impossible to enter a training college although they wish to do so and have passed the admission tests; whether he will explain the apparent lack of college accommodation and state what steps, if any, the Government propose to take to remedy this matter; and whether he can give the number of training colleges for men and for women students, respectively, with their aggregate accommodation?

I am aware that not all the applicants for entrance to the men's training colleges have succeeded in securing admission, but I am doubtful whether the number was as high as the hon. Member suggests. In view of the figures published last year regarding the number of teachers obtaining employment on leaving the training college, the amount of the available college accommodation appears to have been sufficient up to the present. To meet the increased demands which will result from the raising of the school leaving age, I have in- vited the training colleges to make proposals for increasing the number of their students for the next two years. The number of recognised training colleges with the number of students in training in the current year is as follows:

• 17 men's colleges with 2,252 students.
• 64 women's colleges with 7,953 students.
• 27 colleges for men and women with 3,275 men and 4,044 women students.

asked the Minister of Health if he can now give any information as to any Report received from the board of guardians in reference to the case of a woman who was stated to be suffering from extreme hunger and who was summoned for the non-attendance at school of one of her children at Blackwood, Monmouthsire, on 5th July last?

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend has received information regarding this case from the Newport Union. No application for relief has been made during the past year by this woman or her husband, who is in full employment. The subscriptions received by the police as the result of the appearance of the newspaper report on the case were returned by the police on the ground that the case was not one of destitution.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, following the result of the official inquiry granted in consequence of the Bardoli agitation, it is proposed to take any steps in implementing the recommendation of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, made 10 years ago, that the process of revising land revenue assessment ought to be brought under closer regulation by statute?

Legislation in accordance with the recommendations of the Joint Select Committee has now been passed in three Provinces, the United Provinces, the Central Provinces and the Punjab. A Bill in accordance with those recommendations was prepared by the Government of Bombay in 1928, but a resolution was carried in the Legislative Council recommending the withdrawal of the Bill and the drafting of a fresh one in consultation with non-official members of the Council. The question of preparing a revised Bill is now under the consideration of the Government of Bombay.

asked the Secretary of State for India, in regard to the mill strike in Bombay, whether it is the intention of the Government to promulgate an ordinance affecting the rights of picketing and making intimidation a criminal offence?

No, Sir.

asked the hon. Member for the Gorton Division, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, if his attention has been called to the increasing volume of

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will make arrangements to press forward at once with the erection of the new telephone exchange at Wolverhampton in view of the urgency of finding work of national importance for the unemployed?

Arrangements have already been made for the building work to start as soon as practicable, but I am afraid that it will not be possible to commence actual building operations until early next year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the loss to the revenue if the penny postage for letters and halfpenny postage for postcards were reintroduced?

Any estimate must necessarily be of a speculative character, but the loss to the Exchequer will probably fall between £6,500,000 and £6,750,000.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he will include in the inland postal printed paper rate samples of paper or similar material accompanying an inquiry or order, in the same way that a page from a catalogue may be enclosed with an order;(2) whether he will include in the inland postal printed paper rate offers of paper printed on the actual sample?

For the reasons given in my reply of 10th July to a question on this subject by the hon. and gallant Member for Howdenshire (Major Carver), I regret that I cannot grant the desired concessions.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give a list of the places where telephone boxes have been installed or are in contemplation in the rural parts of Lincolnshire since 15th April?

I will write to the hon. Member on this matter.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can now provide for public telephone facilities at the village of Minions, in the parish of Linkinhorne, Cornwall?

The question of providing public telephone facilities at Minions is receiving consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General how many £l stamps of the special issue have been sold; and whether the issue has proved, up to date, a profitable undertaking?

Accurate figures as to sales are not yet available. The reply to the last paragraph is in the affirmative.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of full-time Post Office employés, established and unestablished, clercial, industrial, and manipulative, in receipt of inclusive remuneration of £2 a week or less, £2 10s. a week or less, and £3 10s. a week or less, respectively?

The total number of full-time Post Office employés is approximately 180,000. Of this number approximately 81,000 or 45 per cent. are in receipt of inclusive remuneration exceeding £2 10s. but not exceeding £3 10s. a week; 21,000 or 12 per cent. are in receipt of inclusive remuneration exceeding £2 but not exceeding £2 10s. a week; 18,000 or 10 per cent. are in receipt of inclusive remuneration not exceeding £2 a week. The third of these categories consists largely of juvenile grades. The rest of this category consists almost exclusively, and the second includes a large proportion, of persons who by reason of age and shortness of service have not yet earned a sufficient number of annual increments in their wages scale to bring their total remuneration over £2 or £2 10s. a week, as the case may be.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will inquire into the working conditions of the telephonists at the London wall exchange, and take steps to reduce the high sickness rate?

I will have inquiry made and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General what were the gross and net annual receipts of the Post Office Beam services during the whole period of their operation by the Post Office?

Up to 31st March, 1929, the Beam services had earned gross receipts amounting to £813,100 at a cost of £538,850, leaving a net surplus of £274,250. Since 1st April, 1928, the services have been worked by the Post Office as agent for Imperial and International Communications Limited.

asked the Home Secretary whether, seeing that a chief inspector has been dismissed from the Metropolitan Police recently in connection with breaches of discipline for which a station sergeant was sentenced to a term of imprisonment, he can state the reason for the differential treatment?

Both officers were dismissed. The circumstances, however, were not by any means the same, and that accounts for the fact that prosecution followed in the one case and not in the other.

asked the Home Secretary, with regard to the inspector of the public carriage branch inspecting staff, Metropolitan Police, who has been suspended from duty and dealt with by a disciplinary board, what was the nature of the offence and what was the punishment; and whether other officers in the public carriage branch have been informed of the facts?

The inspector in question was dealt with by a disciplinary board who found him guilty of the following offence, for which he was severely reprimanded: Corrupt practice, that is, accepting as a gratuity or present, without the sanction of the Commissioner, a Bank of England Note, value 10s. No official notification of the case was issued to the public carriage branch, but the officers of that branch are no doubt aware of the facts.

asked the Home Secretary the number of police officers and men who were employed at Epsom during the race meeting held in June last; whether the whole of the expenses or this police force was paid fey the promoters of the races; and whether the employment of these men involved any extra charge to the police fund?

The number varied from day to day, the maximum number employed on the course being 491. Their cost was borne wholly by the racecourse authorities, no part of it falling on the Metropolitan Police Fund. The figure I have given does not, of course include constables engaged in regulating traffic to and from the course.

asked the Home Secretary what progress has been made towards the setting up of the promised Royal Commission on the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor; whether the terms of reference have been settled; and who will be the chairman and members of the Royal Commission?

My right hon. Friend regrets that he is not yet in a position to make any statement on this subject.

asked the Home Secretary the number of persons employed in the city of Carlisle under the State management scheme; the nature of the employment of such persons; their hours of work; the number who are employed in full-time occupation in the service of the State; whether any and, if so, how many are established civil servants; and whether there is any reason why all full-time servants employed by the State management scheme should not be placed upon the permanent establishment?

The number of persons employed in the city of Carlisle under the State management scheme is 573, of whom 425 are in full-time occupation. They are employed on the various duties incidental to the control and conduct of the brewery and the public-houses under State management. Their hours of work are the usual hours and vary according to the nature of their employment. One of these employés—the general manager-is an established civil servant. The hours of the clerical staff are about 45 per week. As at present advised, I do not contemplate making these employés civil servants in the full sense of the word, if that is the meaning of the last sentence of the question.

asked the Home Secretary whether with a view to minimising the number of fatal and other accidents to persons using London tramway services, he will consider the desirability of issuing regulations prohibiting motor cars and other vehicles from passing on the near side of tramcars from which passengers are alighting?

My right hon. Friend has no power to make regulations of this kind.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether he proposes to initiate legislation making it compulsory for the railway companies to print on the face of the ticket the fact that cheap excursion tickets are issued under conditions absolving the companies from all liability for injuries or death caused to a passenger through the companies' negligence;(2) whether he will consider the desirability of initiating legislation to prevent the railway companies from issuing cheap tickets subject to the condition that the dependants of a passenger holding such a ticket where death has been caused through the company's negligence shall forfeit their right to maintain an action against the company?

Railway companies are, as the hon. Member is aware, at present liable, under common law and otherwise, to pay compensation for injuries to passengers due to negligence of the company or their servants. It is, however, open to passengers to enter into special contracts by which the companies' liabilities are lessened, but I do not at present feel prepared to recommend Parliament to consider legislation on the matter. I will, however, bring the bon. Member's suggestions to the notice of the Royal Commission on Transport.

asked the Minister of Transport, whether he has received a communication from residents in St. Albans Road, Kensington, drawing his attention to the fact that large and heavy road coaches plying between Victoria Station and Aldershot have recently adopted as their route to and from London the narrow and congested streets leading from Kensington Square through St. Albans Road and Victoria Grove to Queen's Gate, whereby serious danger is being caused to residents and the public generally by the use of such streets by unsuitable traffic; and what action he is taking in the matter?

I have received a petition from residents in St. Albans Road, Kensington, and adjoining thoroughfares in regard to this matter asking me to prohibit the use of these roads by motor coaches under Section 7 of the London Traffic Act, 1924. In reply I have pointed out that my powers under this section relate only to omnibuses which are licensed to ply for hire in the Metropolitan Police District, and that it appears that the vehicles in question are not so licensed. I understand that the attention of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has been called to the complaint.

asked the Financial Treasury to the Treasury whether the personnel of the Ministries or Departments has been increased or decreased since the accession of the present Government; and, if it has been increased, by how many and the annual cost of this increase?

A statement of the civil staffs employed in Government Departments is presented to Parliament quarterly. The return relating to 1st July will be available shortly, and I will send a copy to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that at a recent competition held by the Civil Service Commission for assistant surveyorships in the Civil Engineer-in-Chief's Department, Admiralty, and the directorate of works and buildings, Air Ministry, persons who did not possess the minimum qualfications laid down in the Regulations governing these appointments were called before the Selection Board; and whether he will give an assurance that such persons will in no event be appointed and that steps will be taken to prevent similar irregularities in the future?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the latter part, the two persons referred to by my hon. Friend, who have been employed in the public service as temporary assistant surveyors for some three years past, were not in competition for the appointments now to be made on the recommendation of the Selection Board, and I can assure him that there is no question of their being appointed to the permanent establishment before they acquire the requisite professional qualification.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a number of officials employed as excisemen experience great difficulty in obtaining suitable accommodation at the stations to which they are assigned; and whether he will consider such an alteration of their terms of engagement as would ensure that they were properly housed while they are in the public service?

It is not clear to what officials the hon. and gallant Member refers, but if he will furnish me with particulars of any individual cases, I shall be happy to have inquiries made, and to inform him of the result.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of farms in England, Wales, and Scotland which are owned by their occupiers; and the proportion the acreage of such farms bears to the total cultivated acreage of the country?

The following statement shows the number and acreage of agricultural holdings owned or mainly owned by the occupiers in England, Wales, and Scotland in 1927, and the proportion of the total area under crops and grass represented by such holdings.

asked the Minister of Health whether, before considering the desirability or otherwise of issuing a circular to those local authorities who have not adopted by-laws making the use of the mechanical killer compulsory for the slaughter of cattle and other animals, recommending them to consider the desirability of so doing, he will, having regard to the controversy as to the effect of mechanical implements for the stunning of cattle and other animals prior to slaughter, cause an impartial scientific inquiry to be made into the whole question of the effect of the use of such implements upon the subsequent bleeding and keeping qualities of meat and bacon?

I will take all considerations into account, but do not consider an inquiry necessary.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the acreage planted with sugar-beet this year, and how it compares with last year?

The acreage officially returned as planted with sugar beet in 1928 was 178,049 acres. The official figures for 1929 are not expected to be available until the first part of August, but preliminary figures supplied by the beet sugar factories of the acreage covered by their contracts indicate that about 234,000 acres have been planted in 1929.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will reconsider his decision not to supply the forces at home with British meat and bread, in view of the extra employment and better wages which this policy would give to farm labourers?

The Government are unable to reconsider their decision on this matter, which was only reached after a full examination of all the circumstances.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has considered if the Unemployment Insurance Acts can also be applied to agricultural and farm workers?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to a similar question on 10th July, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether the proposals submitted by the Wednesfield Urban District Council for the new sewerage scheme, involving an expenditure of £34,000, have been approved by the Ministry and the Unemployment Grants Committee; and, if not, whether he will hasten a decision with a view to providing the employment as soon as possible for those who will be affected?

A letter generally approving the proposals has been sent to the council; some details will need further consideration with them. I am communicating with the Unemployment Grants Committee.

asked the Minister of Transport whether in the road construction programme of the Government preference will be given to English road metal?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 9th July to a similar question by the hon. Member for the Bosworth Division (Sir W. Edge), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of tin miners registered as unemployed in Cornwall during the last three months?

Separate figures for tin miners are not available, but the numbers of insured persons, aged 16 to 64, classified as belonging to tin, lead and copper mining, recorded as unemployed in Cornwall were:

asked the Minister of Labour how many decisions by insurance officers in the Chatham and Gillingham (Kent) district disallowing claims to unemployment benefit were reversed on appeal to courts of referees during the period 14th May to 10th June, 1929?

During the period 14th May, 1929, to 10th June, 1929, 62 appeals by applicants for benefit against the decisions of insurance officers were considered by courts of referees in the Chatham and Gillingham district, of which 10 were recommended for allowance, and 52 for disallowance.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that refrigerators are in use in this country using methyl chloride; and, in view of the danger to life, if any action is to be taken to prevent its use?

I have been asked the reply. I am aware that methyl chloride is used in a number of these machines, but I have no evidence at present in my possession which would justify interference with its use. I understand that it is the practice of the makers to issue instructions with these machines, and so far as I have been able to ascertain these instructions have proved sufficient. If, however, the hon. and gallant Member has any information to the contrary, my right hon. Friend will be glad to consider it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a representative request from the National Council of Women and other societies for the publication of the Report of the Committee into the management, etc., of the London Lock Hospital appointed by the Minister of Health in 1928; and whether he will comply with this request?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. My hon. Friend will be aware that the Papers recently presented to Parliament give particulars of the recommendations of the Committee, and of the action taken and contemplated by the governing body of the hospital to give effect to them. It is clear that this action has improved the administration of the hospital, and that further improvements are in prospect. The statement which my right hon. Friend has received from the governing body, and published, has led him to the view that the best interest of the future of this voluntary hospital would not he served by reviving any discussion of former unsatisfactory conditions which the governing body have altered or propose to alter. It is accordingly not my right hon. Friend's intention to publish the Committee's Reports.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the continued pollution of the River Gipping at Stowmarket; and will he take steps immediately to prevent further pollution, in view of the nuisance to those who live on the river's banks between Stowmarket and Ipswich and to those whose daily work is in the mills on the river, and of the consequences that affect those farmers whose stock waters from the river?

I have received further complaints. An action touching the state of this river is pending in the High Court and, while this is so, it would not be proper for me to take further steps in the matter under the Rivers Pollution Prevention Act.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any statistics that will show the proportion of children under 14 years of age who are at present suffering from tuberculosis or glandular affections?

My Department have no complete statistics on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the growing shortage of water and the need for conserving the national water supplies, he will have a survey made of the actual and potential supplies of the country as a whole, with a view to their effective organisation and use?

A survey of potential supplies would involve a great amount of detailed investigation and would by itself be of doubtful value. The most practical course is the formation of more Advisory Regional Water Committees on the lines advocated in the booklet isuesd by my Department last October. By means of these committees not only the available supplies, but also the needs, of all the districts in the region can be ascertained and a definite policy recommended for meeting requirements over a long period. The findings of these committees can then be co-ordinated in the general interests and a national policy formulated.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in many villages in Buckinghamshire there is difficulty in securing adequate water supplies; that in some parts of the parish of Seer Green the difficulty is especially acute and the waterworks company appears to be not only unwilling to provide an effective supply but makes heavy charges to persons who, unable to secure sufficient water on their own premises, are compelled to fetch water from their neighbours; and whether he will take all possible steps to secure an alleviation of the difficulties?

I have received a complaint as to the difficulty of obtaining an adequate supply of water for certain houses in the parish of Seer Green, and am inquiring into the matter.

asked the Minister of Health what complaints have been received by his Department as to injury to the health of people residing in the neighbourhood of artificial silk factories?

I have received a number of complaints. I would refer my hon. Friend to the report by the Chief Alkali Inspector of my Department on the emission of fumes from artificial silk works which was published in January last, and of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has noted that in Sunderland since 26th May last 111 cases of overcharge of rents have been proved; that in a large number of cases the overcharge was as much as 1s. a week; and whether, seeing that these illegalities were discovered as the result of the activities of a special committee on slum property appointed by the Sunderland Borough Council, he will take powers by legislation to require other authorities to establish similar committees?

My right hon. Friend is not aware of the facts referred to by my hon. Friend, but he will cause inquiries to be made.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is in a position to state the difference in rent for houses built under the Housing Act, 1924, and the houses built under the Housing Act, 1923?

The rents charged for houses provided under the Acts in question are not subject to my hon. Friend's specific approval, and particulars of the rents actually charged are not available in my Department, Some information as to the rents charged in a number of districts was, however, specially obtained in 1926, and tables were circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT of 11th November, 1926. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of these tables.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a report from professional surveyors, dated 9th June, 1929, on housing conditions in the Borough of Finsbury, dealing with the condition of property belonging to well-known public institutions; and what steps are being taken to remedy the conditions therein described?

I received, marked "private and confidential," a copy of a report on a private investigation in the borough referred to, which I returned to the sender with the suggestion that he would no doubt consider whether he should bring the report to the notice of the local authority responsible in regard to housing conditions in the district and of the institutions concerned. I understand that the local authority have received a copy of the report and have the matter under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of houses that have been erected since the Armistice by local authorities in England and Wales under the various subsidy schemes?

Up to 1st July 1929, the total number of houses that had been erected since the Armistice by local authorities in England and Wales under the various schemes of State assistance was 481,724.

asked the Minister of Health for each quarter since January, 1924, the number of persons in receipt of outdoor relief, distinguishing those persons who are normally in employment and the ordinary outdoor poor?

The following statement shows for one month in each

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to amend the present Act so that Poor Law relief shall not be stopped in the case of a recipient who is awarded some financial compensation on account of personal injury received in an accident?

The special case to which the hon. Member refers is only one of many which would have to be considered in the event of the introduction of amending Poor Law legislation, and I am not at present in a position to undertake that any such legislation will be introduced.