asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what arrangements exist for the policing of the fishing coasts of Great Britain and for the protection of the fishermen from illegal trawling?

The policing of sea fisheries is governed mainly by the Convention concluded at Paris on 2nd August, 1839, between Her Majesty and the King of the French; and the International Convention for the purpose of regulating the police of the fisheries in the North Sea outside territorial waters signed in 1882 by the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, France and Holland. The duties are entrusted to the Captain of Fisheries and Minesweeping who has under his orders three sloops and seven gunboats. Vessels are also maintained by the Fishery Board for Scotland and by some of the local fishery district committees.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, seeing that flogging has been abolished in the Navy as a punishment for men, if, and when, it will be abolished as a punishment for youths up to the age of 18?

Flogging in the Navy is entirely prohibited by Admiralty Order. If my hon. and gallant Friend refers to birching, I may say that no case has occurred for more than two years. This punishment is only ordered after court martial and in a particular class of crime, and at present I have no evidence to justify its abolition.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that recently a chief petty officer aboard H.M.S. "Repulse" was found communicating with his Member of Parliament; whether this is contrary to King's Regulations; and, if so, whether he will take steps to allow such facilities to active service ratings?

I am having inquiries made into this matter, and will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as possible.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider the removal of the ten-mile limit for men proceeding on short leave, as laid down in Plymouth Port Orders, in view of present day increased transport facilities?

I am having this matter inquired into, and will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many of the recommendations of the Jerram Report which were not originally approved have since been adopted; and whether it is his intention to adopt any others in the near future?

Of the 60 recommendations in the White Paper, 13 were not approved, and one of these has since been approved in part. Seven others were partly approved at the time, and the remaining part of one of these has since been substantially approved. It is not proposed to take any further action on these recommendations.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the last revising of kit upkeep allowance for naval ratings was made; whether any alterations in the issuing prices of clothing have been made since that date; and what is the nature of these alterations?

The rates of kit upkeep allowance were revised as from the first of this month in connection with the new list of issuing prices of clothing which was brought into force on the same date.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will specifically state what actual steps, if any, he has taken, or proposes to take, to obtain outside work for the Royal dockyards?

I am not in a position to make a statement.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the reason why during the four weeks ended 20th July the number of discharges of workpeople on reduction from the Naval Dockyard at Chatham was 54, whereas at Portsmouth the number was four only and at Devon-port eight only; and whether any further immediate discharges from either of such Naval Dockyards is contemplated?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 8th July (OFFICIAL REPORT, column 501).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total cost of the Singapore Base to the latest available date; and what is the total number of Europeans, Chinese, Malays, and Indians, respectively, employed by the contractors upon the constructional work at this Naval base?

The gross total expenditure on the Base to the latest available date is approximately £2,400,000. The total number of persons employed is 3,618, consisting of 98 Europeans, 1,984 Chinese, 63 Malays, and 1,473 Indians.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is in a position to make a statement to this House respecting the promised inquiry into the cotton industry?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the powers, terms of reference, and personnel of the inquiry which he proposes to make into the cotton industry?

I would refer to the answers given in this House yesterday by the President of the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for the first six months of this year the excess of exports over imports of articles wholly or mainly manufactured, excluding re-exports, in our trade with foreign countries, exclusive of China?

I regret that the information is not available for periods other than calendar years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the excess of exports of manufactured goods over imports, excluding re-exports, in the trade with foreign countries for the United States and Great Britain, respectively, for the year 1928?

In 1928, the exports of United Kingdom goods classed as wholly or mainly manufactured, consigned to foreign countries, amounted to £303,200,000; and total imports of goods similarly classified, consigned from foreign countries, were £283,300,000. I am not yet in a position to say how much of these imports was re-exported; but, in 1927, £269,200,000 out of a corresponding total of 288,900,000 were retained. Similar aggregates are not available in respect of the trade in manufactured goods of the United States with countries outside the British Empire.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of people who emigrated from Great Britain from 1st January, 1904, to 1st January, 1914, and the number of persons who emigrated from Great Britain from 1st January, 1919, to 1st January, 1929?

The outward balance of the movement of passengers of British nationality from United Kingdom ports is the only measure of emigration available for both series of years. The balance outward of passengers of British nationality from the United Kingdom to places outside Europe during the ten years 1904–13 was 1,932,831, and during the ten years 1919–28 was 1,094,181. The latter figure is exclusive of the balance outward of 89,472 passengers from ports in Southern Ireland between 1st April, 1923, and 31st December, 1928.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs the number of persons who have been rejected by the Canadian Government doctors as unfit for emigration between 1st January, 1929, and the last convenient date; and can he give figures for the corresponding period of the previous year?

The number of persons rejected on medical examination as "prohibited immigrants" under the Canadian Immigration Law was 626 during the first six months of 1928 and 923 during the same period of 1929. In addition during the same periods, 3,014 and 7,088 persons respectively were certified, owing to physical defects, as unsuitable, though not "prohibited," migrants, but of this number approximately 33 per cent. were subsequently permitted to proceed after the Dominion authorities had satisfied themselves that the arrangements for the settlement of these persons in Canada were satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the respective numbers of persons employed in each of the safeguarded industries on 30th April, 1929; and what were the numbers employed in each of such industries immediately prior to the application thereto of the provisions of the Safeguarding of Industries Act?

Separate figures are not available in respect of the specific industries to which the Safeguarding of Industries Act applies, with the exception of lace manufacture. At the beginning of July, 1925, there were approximately 18,540 insured persons aged 16 to 64 classified as belonging to this industry in Great Britain, of whom 3,220 were recorded as unemployed. At July, 1928, the corresponding number of insured persons was 17,070, of whom 1,040 were recorded as unemployed at 22nd April, 1929, and 1,655 at 24th June, 1929.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of persons registering as unemployed attribute their loss of employment to the introduction of labour-saving machinery; and what are the percentages in the chief industries?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will consider the advisability of assisting financially any schemes the local authorities in the Black Country area have under consideration for the clearing, levelling and utilisation of the unsightly and uneven ground in such area, which schemes are at the moment in the possession of the appropriate Department; and if he will consider the advisability of receiving a deputation of Members and, if necessary, of representatives of such local authorities, to place before him supplementary reasons why such schemes should be pushed forward at once?

An application for assistance towards the cost of a scheme of this kind is already under examination, and I understand that an early decision will be reached. In the circumstances, I do not think it will be necessary to trouble Members to bring a deputation.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the effect upon unemployment of increasing the purchasing power of the working classes, he will take steps to ascertain from those concerns with whom he is negotiating whether they have in existence, or intend to promote, profit-sharing schemes of co-partnership?

I note the hon. Member's point.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the recurrent winter floods, with consequent damage to property in the Thames Valley, he will consider the possibility of including in his schemes for unemployment the dredging and other improvement of the River Thames above the Teddington weir?

This matter is already receiving my personal consideration in connection with schemes which have been submitted by the appropriate authorities.

asked the Minister of Health whether, with a view to creating more employment, he will confer with local authorities within the Metropolitan area as to the possibility of constructing more open-air swimming pools?

Local authorities are being urged to submit schemes of all classes and all over the country, not in London only. I doubt whether there is sufficient reason for singling out this one class of scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he proposes to make a grant to the scheme for the bridging of the River Nene and the London and North Eastern Railway level crossing at Peterborough?

The making of a grant to this scheme is now under consideration, and a decision will be communicated to the county council at an early date.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can see his way to secure a grant towards the Cleator Moor by-pass road scheme, in the county of Cumberland, in view of the inability of the locality, through unemployment and high rates, to contribute?

This road, if constructed, will be a classified road, and, in view of the provisions of the Local Government Act, 1929, it would be desirable that the urban district council should approach the county council with a request that this scheme should be included in the proposals to be put forward by them in response to Circular No. 298 (Roads), which I issued on 9th July. I am sending a copy of the circular to my hon. Friend for his information.

asked the Minister of Transport the number and value of wooden sleepers imported during 1928 for use on the railways, and the number and value of wooden sleepers provided for the same purpose by the home timber trade during that period?

261,553 loads of wooden sleepers of all kinds, of a total value of £1,173,773, were imported during 1928, but I Cannot say what proportion of these sleepers is used on the railways. I have no information as to the number or value of home-produced wooden sleepers.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the present danger to users of the new arterial London to Southend road, be will consider the early completion of this road?

If the Essex County Council submit a scheme for the provision of a second carriageway on the London-Southend Road, I am prepared to consider it in accordance with the provisions of the recently issued circular.

asked the Minister of Transport if he can now give any information with regard to the proposed erection of a new bridge at Thorne, near Doncaster; and is he in a position to state when work is likely to commence?

A scheme for the construction of the new bridge to replace the Toll Bar Bridge at Thorne has been approved for a grant from the Road Fund. The county council have accepted a tender, and it is expected that the work will be commenced at an early date. The county council have also completed arrangements for the construction of a bridge on a new site near Thorne to replace the drawbridge which carried the Bawtry-Selby main road over the Dutch River, and the details of this proposal are now under consideration by my Department.

asked the Minister of Labour the total amount agreed between the Ministry of Labour and the trustees of the Lord Mayor's Fund which has been set apart for assisting the transfer of mine workers from the depressed areas; and what proportion of that sum has been used to subsidise the rates of wages paid to such mine workers in districts away from their homes?

The total amount which has been allocated out of the Lord Mayor's Fund to facilitate the transference of juveniles from the depressed mining areas, one of the purposes expressly included among those for which the Fund was raised, is £45,350. The grants made out of this sum are not used to subsidise rates of wages in the sense of enabling the employer to pay less than the normal rates. On the contrary, before a grant is sanctioned, the Department take steps to satisfy themselves that the employer offers the full normal rates, and, indeed, save in a few special cases referred to below, a weekly payment over and above this rate. Since February, 1928, some 3,574 boys have been transferred through the machinery of Employment Exchanges or Juvenile Employment Bureaux from the depressed mining areas to employment in other districts. While the majority of these vacancies are at wages sufficient, with care, to provide adequate maintenance, in about one-third of the number, although the employment offers good prospects of training or progressive work with possibilities of permanency, the normal wages payable are insufficient during the first year or two to enable the boy to maintain himself away from home. Grants from the Lord Mayor's Fund have been awarded in these cases for periods not exceeding two years. It is a condition of such a grant that the employers shall agree to bear some proportion, ordinarily not less than one-half and in no case less than one-quarter, of the difference between the normal weekly rates of wages usually paid for the occupation in question and the amount considered to be necessary for maintenance; in a few special cases this supplemental sum is provided not by the employer but by funds at the disposition of some local organisation. The payments out of the sum allocated from the Lord Mayor's Fund have amounted, up to date, to £6,103. The amount of the further payments to be made cannot yet be stated. Great care has been exercised in selecting vacancies and suitable lodgings. In these matters, as well as in the arrangements for the industrial supervision of the boys who have been transferred, the assistance of juvenile employment committees has been of the greatest value. A full description of the arrangements made, with details of results, districts, occupations and points of interest, is given in a Memorandum, I.T.B. I, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour if she will arrange for local unemployment statistics, issued by the Ministry of Labour, to be available for Members?

I am making arrangements for a copy of the monthly "Local Unemployment Index," containing these statistics, to be available to hon. Members, for reference, in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons in the borough of Oldham who, during the 12 months ended 30th June, 1929, were deprived of unemployment pay as persons not genuinely seeking employment?

During the 12 months ended 8th July, 1929, 1,993 applications for unemployment benefit made at Employment Exchanges in the Oldham area were disallowed by insurance officers on the ground that the applicants were not genuinely seeking work. In addition 343 cases were recommended for disallowance on the same ground by courts of referees on review after payment of 78 days' benefit. The number of fresh and renewal claims to benefit made during this period was 127,628.

asked the Minister of Labour why John Arnold, of 36, Birmingham Street, Dudley, was deprived of unemployment benefit in that borough on 20th June last as not genuinely seeking work when he can prove a daily attendance at the engineers' office of the new local building scheme between that date and the duration of his unemployment benefit.

Mr. John Arnold's claim to benefit was disallowed by the insurance officer on 20th June last on the ground that he was not genuinely seeking work. He appealed to the court of referees and appeared in person before them on 15th July. The court, however, upheld the disallowance.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she is aware that A. Vivian, of 8, Angel Street, Dudley, who was receiving unemployment insurance but decided to open up business on his own account and carried on this business for two years, was refused benefit at the end of that period when his business failed; and if she will explain the grounds for this decision?

It is one of the conditions for the receipt of benefit that a claimant in respect of whom 30 contributions have not been paid during the previous two years must, during that time, have been employed in an insurable employment to such an extent as was reasonable having regard to all the circumstances of the case. Mr. Vivian's claim was disallowed on the ground that he did not satisfy this condition, and the court of referees, on appeal, upheld the disallowance.

asked the Minister of Labour if she will inform the House as to the conditions of opening sub-offices and take into consideration the desirability of extending the service, as many unemployed persons have to walk over three miles to sign the register at an Employment Exchange?

The existing Employment Exchange facilities are considered to be adequate for normal requirements and have been adapted to meet the prevailing abnormal conditions; but my right hon. Friend is willing to examine, on merits, the claim of any particular district for increased facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the average monthly rate of increase in the number of widows drawing pensions in Scotland; and the total number in receipt of pensions on 30th June, 1929?

During the past 12 months the average increase in the number of women to whom widows' pensions are in payment under the Contributory Pensions Act in Scotland has been approximately 400 per month. As regards the second part of the question, the number is 28,511.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many widows have ceased to draw pensions in Scotland on account of their youngest children having reached the age-limit under the Act, and the estimated cost of reinstating them?

As regards the first part of the question, the number of women in Scotland whose widows' pensions had ceased, as at the 27th June last, in the circumstances mentioned was 4,914. I regret that the information desired in the second part is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that there is no suitable pier in the Melvaig district of Gairloch, in Ross-shire; and will he, in the course of his proposed investigation into the general question of piers in Scotland, consider the establishment of a pier in this district to satisfy the needs of a large community?

I understand that the boatslip which was constructed by the county council of Ross and Cromarty at Melvaig in 1895 with the aid of a Government grant is now in poor condition. The matter is one for the local authority in the first instance, but I have noted it for consideration in my general review.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what education authorities are assisted by voluntary care committees in the following up of children ascertained to have medical defects and in the after-care of children who have left school?

The following-up of children ascertained to have medical defects is undertaken by school nurses with the co-operation, in the case of children at school, of the teachers. The after-care of children who have left school is not a responsibility of education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the fact that girls employed in the dairies of Glasgow are working 71 hours per week; and if he will take steps to inquire into this practice?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. If, however, the hon. Member will supply me with particulars of the cases which he has in mind I shall be glad to consider the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reduction of dues will be made in each Scottish harbour as the result of the proposals in the last Budget?

I am not yet in a position to add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 9th instant in reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Banff (Major Wood).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what amount of debt it is proposed to remit under the last Budget proposals in the case of each fishing harbour in Scotland?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for East Fife (Mr. Millar) last Thursday.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if his attention has been called to the project of securing for the nation in perpetuity some area in the Cairngorm range or elsewhere in Scotland for the free and unfettered use of the public and as a sanctuary for birds and animals; if he is aware of the public interest evinced towards such a proposal by all classes of the community and particularly by town dwellers; and will the Government take steps similar to those taken by the Dominions to secure national parks in their territories to ensure the success of the project?

My attention has been drawn to the project to which the hon. Member refers. I am aware of the public interest taken in this and other similar projects. I understand that the Forestry Commission, who own a tract of land in the Cairngorms, are prepared to co-operate, and that the matter is now under consideration by the Association for the Preservation of Rural Scotland. More than this I cannot for the moment say.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the number of motor accidents between Condorrat and Cumbernault, on the Glasgow and Stirling road; whether he is taking any steps to secure greater safety; and, if so, what action is proposed?

My attention has been drawn to motor accidents which have taken place on this road, and I have instructed my divisional road engineer to consult with the highway authority with a view to ascertaining what steps, if any, can be taken to secure improvement.

asked the President of the Board of Education (1) how many local education authorities have already submitted schemes for educating all children from 11 to 15 in central schools, higher tops, or senior classes, in accordance with the report of the Hadow Committee;(2) how many schemes for the education of children between the ages of 11 and 15 will be completed by April, 1931?(3) how many children between the age of 11 and 15 will be provided for under schemes completed by April, 1931?

Practically every authority has plans for re-organisation under consideration, if not already in operation; and nearly 2,000 Departments have been affected by schemes of re-organisation during the last two years. The number of such schemes which are likely to be completed by 1st April, 1931, cannot be estimated until the local authorities' programmes for 1930–33 are received.

asked the President of the Board of Education what was the total amount spent during the last financial year in maintenance allowance for children in secondary and central schools in England and Wales; and what proportion came from the rates and taxes, respectively?

The total amount spent during the financial year 1927–28 (the latest year for which particulars are available) on maintenance allowances in secondary schools was £512, 898, and in public elementary schools £39,677. Separate returns are not made for central schools, which are classed under the general heading of public elementary schools. The expenditure was borne in approximately equal proportions by rates and taxes.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a number of labourers attached to his engineering Department and employed as wire-men have been discharged recently, and that lines consequently are falling into disrepair; and if, having regard to this aggravation of the unemployment problem, he will re-employ these men and thereby prevent his Department creating unemployment?

The amount of work for certain classes of labour has been diminishing for about the last two years as a result of the catching up of arrears of main construction work and other causes. It is not the case that lines are falling into disrepair through employment of insufficient staff.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the new telephone service at Romiley was promised in six months' time by his predecessor on 2nd May; and will he give a definite date for this service to be in operation?

The underground cables necessary before service to Romiley subscribers can be given from the new exchange are being provided as quickly as possible, and it is hoped that it will be possible to open the exchange early in November.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the average cost to a working farmer or smallholder for the installation of telephonic facilities on his occupation in rural Britain; and how does this compare in price with similar provision in rural Germany?

The rental payable by subscribers in rural areas depends on a number of factors, such as whether a party line or an exclusive line is required, the distance to the nearest exchange and, in some cases, the number of subscribers on that exchange. It is impossible therefore to give any average figure. Comparison with Germany is scarcely practicable, as an initial subscription has to be paid by the subscriber as well as an installation charge based on the cost of the work, in addition to rental and a minimum charge for calls.

asked the Postmaster-General the amount and length of cable work which was placed underground in 1928, under the scheme of transferring overhead telephone wires to underground?

About 600,000 miles of wire in underground cables were provided during 1928, at a cost of about £4,300,000.

asked the Postmaster-General the cost to the British Government of working the Transatlantic telephone service from Great Britain for the three months ended to the last convenient date?

The British costs for the two circuits working during the three months up to 31st May, 1929, so far as they can be estimated for such a short period, were about £25,000.

asked the Minister of Health whether, having regard to the great importance to the community of the prevention and cure of mental deficiency, he will consider the desirability of appointing a Royal Commission or other suitable body to inquire into, inter alia, the causes of mental deficiency, its relationship to other abnormal mental conditions and social problems, and the question of its prevention and cure?

I will in due course give this matter the full and careful consideration which its importance demands.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that certain local authorities in England and Wales are granting financial assistance to unemployable blind people varying from 5s. to 27s. 6d. per week; whether he is aware that this lays undue obligations upon highly-rated areas; and whether, under the circumstances, he will consider making the grant to the unemployable blind a national charge instead of a local one?

I am aware that a number of local authorities grant financial assistance to unemployable blind persons, but this class of the blind is also materially assisted by the payment of old age pensions at the age of 50, the whole cost of which is borne by the National Exchequer. I am awaiting the receipt of a report on the subject of the unemployable blind from the Advisory Committee on the Welfare of the Blind, before considering whether further action is called for.

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to take any action with regard to the representations made to him concerning the poor and inadequate water supply in the Bromley Green district of the county of Kent?

I am in communication with the rural district council on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, with regard to the proposal to evict certain allotment holders and smallholders from their holdings in Ewshott, Hampshire, on 27th September, he will state the number of persons on whom notices have been served; the reasons for the proposed eviction; and whether he proposes to provide alternative holdings for the evicted tenants?

It is proposed to terminate two tenancies of certain War Department land at Ewshott which is required for military training. No formal notice has as yet been given, but it is understood that the Crookham Parish Council, which is one of the tenants, has issued anticipatory warning notices to its sub-tenants. The War Department has no information as to the number of such sub-tenants, nor has it received any request for alternative sites, but any such request would receive careful consideration.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consider an amendment to the Order in Council governing the issuing of widows' pensions whereby a sailor's widow's pension, which is discontinued on re-marriage, may be restored to the widow in the event of her second husband pre-deceasing her?

I fear that I could not recommend the amendment suggested, which, as I may point out, could not be enacted for the benefit of the sea service only, but would clearly have to be considered in connection with the Royal Warrants and Orders affecting the land and air forces, and which, moreover, would involve the pension provisions administered by the Service Departments for the pre-War and post-War forces as well as those which apply to the forces engaged in the Great War.

asked the Minister of Pensions when the Government intend introducing legislation to delete Section 5 of the War Pensions Act, 1921, in order to provide that the limit of seven years be removed?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Members for Middlesbrough West (Mr. Griffith) and Bristol East (Mr. W. Baker) on the 9th instant, of which I am sending him a copy. I regret that I am not yet in a position to add anything to that answer.