asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will consider the advisability of erecting and utilising under Government ownership and control plant for the carbonisation of coal?

As has already been stated, the whole question of the coalmining industry is receiving careful consideration. I am unable to make any statement at present on particular points.

asked the Secretary for Mines if his attention has been called to the proposed dismantling and closing down of the Ibstock collieries, which are the mainstay of the prosperity of the place; and whether he will make inquiries to see if he can take any helpful steps to avoid such action?

I am informed by the colliery company that it is intended to abandon the collieries in question, but that it is hoped that the men affected will be gradually absorbed by the neighbouring collieries. I understand that the company's decision has been taken after careful consideration of the future possibilities, and I am afraid that there is nothing that I can do in the matter.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has caused, or contemplates, any inquiry or inspection to be made into the gate system connected with the hauling cages as at present used in the mines of the Radstock coalfield?

Inquiry has been made into the accident at Braysdown Colliery and the provision of suitable gates or other rigid fences on pit cages is a statutory requirement which receives constant attention from His Majesty's Inspectors of Mines in the course of their ordinary duties in the Radstock coalfield and elsewhere. My Department is, however, again giving consideration to this question in all its aspects.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that in March of this year the Fuel Research Board made an investigation and tests into the low-temperature carbonisation process carried on by Mr. Charles Turner, at Coalburn, Lanarkshire; when the Report of the Fuel Research Board is likely to be published; and whether, in view of the urgent necessity for the reconstruction of the coal industry in this country, he can do anything to expedite the Report in this case?

It is the case that the tests mentioned were carried out, but it is considered desirable that a second test should be made before publication of the results.

asked the Minister of Health whether an insured worker's previous contributions under the National Health Insurance and Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts are of no further account should be accept non-insurable work through unemployment?

My right hon. Friend cannot agree that the position is as suggested in the question. The previous contributions are required, not only to support the risks to which the funds were liable when the worker was in employment, but also to provide him with benefits during the free period of insurance conferred by the Acts. In addition, they normally entitle him to continue in insurance as a voluntary contributor if he so desires.

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to introduce amending legislation to the existing National Health Insurance Act and the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act to bring within the scope of those Acts persons employed by county sheriffs to carry out the judgments of the Court by acting as casual bailiffs?

Employment of the kind referred to in the question is excluded from compulsory health and pensions insurance as the result of a recent judgment of the High Court, on appeal from a decision of my right hon. Friend's predecessor, and until my right hon. Friend has had time to consider the judgment and its effect upon other classes of employment, he is not in a position to make any statement as to amending legislation. In the meantime, I may point out that the men may be insurable in respect of other employment or entitled to become voluntary contributors by reason of previous insurable employment.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give consideration to the inclusion of smallholders and small traders in any future legislation dealing with Health Insurance and Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts?

I would refer to the reply given to a question asked by the hon. Member for Berwick and Haddington (Mr. Sinkinson) on 18th July.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a communication from the Association of Welsh Insurance Committees of the urgent necessity for better diagnostic facilities to be provided for insured persons; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take with regard to it?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. My right hon. Friend is not in a position to contemplate the introduction of legislation such as would be required to give effect to proposals of this character.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in any amendment of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Pensions Contributory Act, 1925, he will consider the extension of the pensions which are at present payable to or in respect of children so that they may cover adopted children?

I can give no information in anticipation of the introduction of the amending Bill of which I have given notice.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the Disley Rural District Council has made no request of any kind for a decision under the national health insurance as to the employment of John William Close and James Wild, referred to in the Ministry's letter of 18th June; that they have been stamping the cards for many years; and will he cause to be addressed to that council a clear statement as to their duties and the reason for the communication?

As regards the first two parts of the question, the decision originated from a request by the clerk of the council for a decision reversing or confirming a ruling conveyed to him by one of my inspectors, which was to the effect that cards were being stamped in error. As regards the last part, I will have a further letter sent to the council explaining their position as the result of the decision.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that over 2,000 infants die every, year from bovine tuberculosis; that this is mainly conveyed by milk; that the expenditure on treatment, convalescence, and after-care of this disease in infants amounts to over £9,000,000 a year; and if he will consider the advisability of introducing measures to secure that no milk other than that free from tubercle shall be given to infants attending the 3,000 existing infant-welfare centres?

I am not aware from what source the hon. and gallant Member obtained the figures mentioned in the first part of the question. My right hon. Friend is advised that it is not possible to ascertain precisely how many infants die each year from bovine tuberculosis, but such evidence as is available suggests that the number is less than that given in the question. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. I am not aware of any information to support the figure of £9,000,000 a year mentioned in the third part of the question. As regards the last part, dried milk is supplied at the majority of infant welfare centres, and this is recommended by my Department in any case in which the ordinary milk supply is of doubtful quality. A few local authorities supply tuberculin tested milk, but it would not be practicable to require such a supply in every case nor would such a requirement be justified having regard to the many available supplies of dried milk of reliable brands.

asked the Minister of Health whether with a view to greater efficiency and economy, he will consider a scheme for the co-ordination of the health services of the country, particularly in reference to the national, municipal, Poor Law, voluntary, and private and other hospitals?

The coming into force of the Local Government Act, 1929, and particularly the transfer of the work of the guardians to the larger public health authorities, will afford an opportunity for securing better co-ordination of the health services of the country, and my right hon. Friend proposes to watch the effect of this Measure before considering further schemes having that object in view.

asked the Minister of Health whether his Department has full information as to the success of measures for the sterilisation of mental deficients in Switzerland, the United States of America, and other countries; and, if not, whether he will appoint a Committee to investigate the matter and the increase of this class throughout the country?

The Department has certain information regarding the sterilization of mental defectives in other countries; but the measures in some countries have been introduced so recently, or applied on so limited a scale, that the data at present available do not warrant any deductions from them. I am not in a position to indicate at present whether it will be practicable to initiate an investigation on the question to which the hon. and gallant Member refers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of companies, public or private, that were registered in England for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

For the 12 months ended 30th June, 1929, the numbers of companies registered in England were: public, 838; private, 8,222.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether his attention has been called to the statement in the Report for 1927–28 of the British commercial secretary at Oslo, wherein he remarks on the unwillingness of British manufacturers to conform to the requirements of the Norwegian market in respect of textiles, and notably fancy cotton goods; and whether he will consider the advisability of instructing all British trade agents to send home, for exhibition in the British industrial districts immediately affected, specimens of goods for which there is a good market, which our competitors supply and which our manufacturers do not?

I am aware of the published statements made by the commercial secretary, His Majesty's Legation, Oslo, to which the hon. Member directs attention. My Department has for some years past been carrying out the method of trade promotion described in the question. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the commercial secretary's Report and a leaflet describing the foreign samples service of the Department of Overseas Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the recommendations of the Select Committee on Estimates last year that, for the year ending 31st March and thereafter the Department of Export Credits should issue commercial accounts showing the actual results of the year's trading after making proper provisions for estimated losses and outstanding business, calculating interest at Bank rate, he will give the amount of premiums received, the amount of losses paid in respect to such annual premiums, the amount of salvage received in respect to such losses, and the total expenses of all sorts, including office expenses, claims expenses, etc.?

The recommendations of the Select Committee on Estimates in regard to the Export Credits Guarantee Department were referred by my predecessor to a Committee presided over by Sir Otto Niemeyer. That Committee has produced an interim Report dealing with the form of the accounts of the Department which I am now considering. The Committee has not yet drawn up its final Report, and I am not yet in a position to give the figures for which the hon. Member asks.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she has any information from trade unions or employers in the motor car trade as to the effect on employment in that industry of a repeal of the McKenna Duty; if so, what is the general purport of such information; and, if not, whether she will cause a questionnaire to be circulated to trade unions and employers with the object of ascertaining from first-hand sources the effect of the repeal of the existing duty?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the last part of the question, I do not think the suggested method of inquiry would be likely to produce reliable results.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she is aware that imported cotton yarns have increased from 4,463,944 pounds in the first six months of 1927 to 7,210,924 pounds in the corresponding period of 1929, and that the bulk of the imports comes from Belgium; and will she state the rates of wages paid and hours worked in the Belgian cotton-spinning mills?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The most recent information I have with regard to wages in Belgian cotton-spinning mills relates to the year 1926; if this is of use to the hon. Member I will send it to him. As regards working hours, I would' refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to his question of 11th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the estimated number of widows of insured persons in Scotland who were over 50 years of age on 2nd January, 1926, or have since reached that age; how many such widows are in receipt of pensions; and the estimated cost of including the remainder?

I regret that the information desired is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if any estimate has been made of the number of widows in Scotland at present in need but not in receipt of pensions; and, if so, what is the total, together with the estimated cost of including them in the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act?

No estimate of the nature referred to in the first part of the question has been made, and I accordingly regret that the information desired in the second part is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the estimated number of widows in Scotland on 30th June, 1929; the number of such who were under 65 years of age; and how many widows between 65 and 70 years of age are in receipt of pensions under the 1925 Act?

I regret that the information desired is not available. According to the 1921 Census, the number of women in Scotland described as widows was 202,565, of whom 113,546 were shown as being under 65 years of age.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received an application from, or on behalf of, George Ross and his brother to be reinstated in North Cluanie, Ross-shire, as smallholders; and what action he proposes to take?

I do not find that Messrs. Ross were previously landholders at North Cluanie. Their applications for small holdings there have been received, and though it will be impracticable to proceed with a scheme having for its object their installation at North Cluanie, the applications will be taken into consideration if it should prove possible to develop a scheme in the neighbourhood.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that several of the inmates of Barnhill Poorhouse, Glasgow, are manufacturing golf clubs, which are supplied to a firm for sale; and whether he will make inquiries on this matter?

I am informed that at the most three youths, certified as mental defectives, are engaged under the supervision of instructors in making golf clubs in Barnhill Poorhouse, and that during the year ended 15th May last the sales amounted only to £40. As the primary object is to afford suitable employment to the inmates referred to, I see no reason to interfere in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what result has attended the experiments which have been made in the establishment of communication by wireless telephony between islands in the Channel Island group; and whether, in view of the need, particularly on the ground of public health, for the improvement of communication between the Island of Stroma and the mainland, he will consider the extension of this system to Stroma?

I am communicating with ray hon. Friend the Postmaster-General in regard to the experiments mentioned, and shall advise the hon. and gallant Member later as to the result, and whether it is considered practicable to take any steps in the direction indicated with respect to the Island of Stroma.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of children under 16 ascertained to be educable and ineducable, respectively; and the number of children in either category attending day schools, residential institutions, or occupation centres, or receiving home training from approved visitors or instructors?

According to a return made by education authorities in 1921, the number of children between five and 16 years of age in Scotland who were ascertained by their education authorities to be mentally defective was then 4,910, of whom 3,993 were ascertained to be educable, and 917 to be ineducable. General statistics as to ascertainment of later date are not at present available. The number of such children attending the schools, institutions and centres referred to in the question is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many instances have education authorities withdrawn assistance to play-centres since May, 1919; and to how many such centres which have been opened since then are they now giving assistance?

I regret that the information desired is not immediately available. Steps have been taken to obtain a special return from education authorities, and I will communicate the result to the Noble Lady in due course.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give instructions that the harbour at Ardrishaig should be dredged, seeing that it has not been dredged for over 50 years and that fishing boats ground there except at high water; that the canal autho-thorities refrain from dredging the said harbour so as to compel the fishermen to use the canal basin and pay a charge for so doing; and, if the harbour is not to be dredged, will he take steps to reduce the charge for the use of the canal basin by fishermen by at least 50 per cent.?

As the hon. Member is aware, the question of dredging this harbour has been recently considered, and it was decided that the expenditure involved would not be justified as the dredging is not required in the general interests of the Lochfyne fisheries, but would only benefit a few individuals. I do not see any sufficient grounds for altering this decision or for reducing the dues, which do not appear to be excessive.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation for the purpose of vesting the requisite authority in local authorities to enable them to purchase land compulsorily for aerodrome purposes?

No general legislation for this purpose is contemplated. The hon. and gallant Member is no doubt aware that one or two corporations have included provision for the acquisition of lands for aerodromes in special Bills which they have promoted.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been called to the difficulties of the Wolverhampton Provisional Light Aeroplane Club, in view of the uncertainty as to the continuance of a subsidy; and will he take the matter into consideration?

This club appears to have been projected since the list of subsidised clubs was completed. I am not aware what difficulties may have arisen in connection with its formation, but in any case the money voted by the House this year does not admit of an increase in the number of subsidised clubs, as I explained in reply to the hon. Member for Hallam (Mr. Louis Smith) on 17th July.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the estimated cost of the aircraft assembly station to be erected in Peterborough; and how many men it is anticipated that the station will employ?

As regards the first part of the question, the estimated cost of erection is £119,000. As regards the second part, about 100 men, on the average, will be employed on the erection. When the station is ready, approximately 190 civilians will be employed there.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, the number of small holdings that have been constituted on land acquired by the Forestry Commissioners in Scotland; and how far it is intended, in the immediate future, to extend the policy of providing forest-holdings for those engaged in forestry work in Scotland?

I have been asked to reply. The Forestry Commissioners have completed 176 forest workers' holdings on land acquired by them in Scotland. An additional 30 are in progress, and recently directions were given for a further 23 to be proceeded with at once.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, the result of inquiries by the Forest Products Research Board as to the resistance powers of Canadian and Australian, as compared with United States and Scandinavian, timber under the assaults of the death-watch beetle; and whether steps will be taken to stop wood imports in which fungus, whether alive or dead, is detected?

So far as is at present known, the death-watch beetle only attacks timber of considerable age (e.g. roof-timbers in old buildings); there are therefore no means of quickly determining the relative resistance of timbers of different origin. The Forest Products Research Laboratory is, however, making investigations to determine the conditions which render timber liable to attack. It is not at present proposed that any steps should be taken to stop imports in the manner suggested.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has considered inviting employers of labour voluntarily to reduce hours of work without reduction of wages, and take other steps to provide work for a larger number of men at once?

I doubt whether my hon. Friend's suggestion would have practical results, but I shall try to arrange that on work assisted from Government funds employers engage additional labour instead of resorting to overtime.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, seeing that the coasting trade was not included in the de-rating scheme, he will, in the event of giving further assistance to railway companies, consider the claims of the coasting trade that it should be granted an equivalent concession?

I am aware of the point raised by the hon. Member, and I will certainly bear the position of the coastal shipping trade in mind in carrying out my policy.

asked the Minister of Labour what method is adopted by her Department in granting permits for foreign musicians to enter Great Britain for the purpose of accepting engagements?

For full particulars of the procedure regulating the entry of foreigners for employment in Great Britain, I would refer the hon. Member to Command Paper 3318 published in April last.

asked the Minister of Labour whether in view of the hardship caused by the attempted transference of married men from Dudley to Luton to take up work, she will see that in future only single men be called upon for such transfer schemes as this does not entail accommodation for the man's family, in order to prevent married men from being deprived of unemployment benefit owing to their refusal to undertake such work, the pay for which is insufficient to keep two homes going?

I presume my hon. Friend refers to certain vacancies in Luton received at the Cradley Heath Employment Exchange on 3rd July, for which the employer, a Willenhall contractor, was desirous of obtaining men from the Cradley area, there being no available and suitable men in Luton. The work was offered to men who seemed industrially best qualified. The number who accepted was 12, of whom half are married. They are understood still to be in the employment of the contractor. There were also 12 men who refused the work of whom eight are married, and in their case the Insurance Officer imposed a disallowance of benefit. They have a right of appeal to the Court of Referees, and so far three of them have exercised it. Their appeals will shortly be heard.

asked the Minister of Labour for the latest date available, the

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men employed in the building, contracting, and allied trades at the end of each quarter from the beginning of 1924?

The following statement shows the numbers of persons insured and uninsured on the registers of the Boston and Spalding Employment Exchanges and those numbers expressed as a percentage of the insured population.

The following Table shows the estimated number of insured males aged 16 to 64, classified as belonging to the industries in question in Great Britain, at certain quarterly dates, together with the numbers recorded as unemployed:

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of applications for unemployment benefit in the city of Leeds to the latest available date, and the number of claims rejected and upon what grounds?

The following Table shows the number of disallowances of claims to benefit made at Employment Exchanges in the county Borough of Leeds during the period 11th June, 1929, to 8th July:—(

asked the Minister of Labour if her attention has been called to the employment of John William Close and James Wild as lamplighters and cleaners by the Disley rural district council; if she is aware that, for two years or more, the council have been pressing for a decision as to whether they were employed in an insurable occupation; and if she can explain why one of these men, since the decision of her Department on 18th June, has received his arrears of unemployment pay and the other has not?

I regret the delay which took place in deciding the question of insurability in this case. A formal decision to the effect that the employment of these mea as lamplighters was not insurable was sent to the Council on 18th June. This decision did not necessarily mean that the men are not entitled to unemployment benefit, and the Chief Insurance Officer on further consideration has allowed the claims in both cases.

asked the Minister of Labour if she will reconsider the practice of refusing unemployment benefit to an unemployed insured worker who declines uninsurable employment?

The decision is given by the special authorities appointed under the Act, and I have no discretion in the matter. Benefit is not refused unless the employment offered is regarded as suitable for the applicant.

asked the Minister of Labour the average number of workers who were in receipt of unemployment benefit during the year 1928; and the total sum paid for unemployment benefit in that year?

During the year 1928 the average weekly number of persons to whom payment of unemployment benefit was made was about 954,000 and the total amount of benefit paid was £44,260,606.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of injured persons at work in the musical instrument industry at the end of May, 1929, and the end of June, 1925, respectively?

The estimated numbers of insured persons, aged 16 to 64, classified as belonging to the industry group "musical instrument manufacture" in Great Britain, less the numbers recorded as unemployed, were 19,700 at the end of June, 1925; and 24,100 at the end of June, 1929. These figures include persons not at work owing to sickness, etc.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in Cornwall in May and June of this year?

The numbers of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the county of Cornwall were 3,325 on 13th May, 1929, and 4,744 on 17th June.

asked the Minister of Labour the approximate rate of contribution to the Unemployment Insurance Fund which would be sufficient to cover the risk of unemployment in the case of agricultural workers?

Under the Unemployment Insurance Acts, the rates of contribution for men and women are uniform for all occupations, and there is no assessment of special rates for particular occupations.

asked the Minister of Labour if there are any regulations which authorise officials at Employment Exchanges to advance railway fares to unemployed persons who are instructed to apply for positions at distances over three miles from their residence?

If, as I assume, the question relates to persons applying for work and not to those travelling to take up work, the answer is that the Regulations do not provide for the advance of fares in such cases.

asked the Minister of Transport whether it is proposed to include in the Government schemes for finding work for the unemployed the extension of the Piccadilly railway to Manor House and Southgate, and the extension of the Highgate Tube to East Finchley; and the number of persons to whom employment would thereby be given?

The Government do not propose to exclude from their consideration any useful scheme in regard to which assistance can be shown to be necessary. I have no information as to the number of men who would be employed on the particular projects to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of road schemes which have been held up pending indication of grants from his Department; and what is the aggregate value of such schemes?

I have under consideration a very large number of schemes in respect of which applications for grants have been made. These schemes are in various stages of preparation and for many of them no estimates of cost have yet been submitted. I am therefore unable to answer the hon. Member's question in precise terms. Grants from the Road Fund are available on the terms set out in the circular which I caused to be issued to all the larger highway authorities on 9th July. I see no reason why there should be any delay in putting in hand useful schemes which highway authorities have in readiness, provided that they are prepared to contribute towards the cost in accordance with the terms of the circular.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consider the construction of a tunnel under or, alternatively, a bridge over the River Itchen between Southampton and Woolston in place of the present floating bridge as one of the schemes for the increase of employment and development of national resources?

The responsibility for the initiation of works of this nature rests primarily upon the local authorities concerned. If a well-considered scheme is submitted to me, I will certainly give it careful consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is prepared to consider a scheme, now being discussed by the local authority concerned, of a better means of transportation across the Manchester Ship Canal at Barton, Eccles, with the view of including it in his schemes for dealing with the relief of unemployment?

I am prepared to consider any well considered scheme put forward by the local authority or the local authorities concerned; but until some concrete proposals are before me I cannot commit myself to any opinion in the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour at what figure on the live register the income and expenditure of the Unemployment Insurance Fund will balance?

With the contributions at present in operation the annual income and expenditure of the Unemployment Fund balance when the live register averages about 1,000,000. The additional contribution from the Exchequer proposed in the Bill now under consideration will raise the balancing point to about 1,090,000.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has in contemplation the introduction of legislation to regulate the hours of work of juveniles in occupations in which such hours of work are at present unregulated?

My right hon. Friend has been looking into this matter, and he hopes to bring proposals before Parliament, but is not able to make a more definite statement at present.

asked the Minister of Labour whether statistics are available of the number of children of either sex now in employment in industry as a whole and in separate industries, respectively?

Estimates of the numbers of children of various ages likely to be "occupied" based on the assumption that the ratios of "occupied" juveniles to total juveniles are the same as in 1921, will be found on pages 150 and 151 of the section of the Report of the Committee on Industry and Trade, which deals with factors in industrial and commercial efficiency. These figures, how-over, include juveniles who are unemployed. Statistics of the numbers in employment in the various industries are

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his Department will consider establishing a welfare organisation for the Army similar to that existing in the Navy?