asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether he is aware of the fact that miners sent to work under the Forestry Commissioners at Fineshade, near Stamford, Lincolnshire, have found it impossible to keep their families on the wages paid, and have been compelled to return to their homes; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be held into the general conditions of work at this place?

Two ex-miners employed at Fineshade left the Commission's service, one because he considered the place did not suit his children, and the other because he did not get on with his neighbour. The whole question of wages of the Forestry Commission's workers is, however, under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the proposed International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1929, will be submitted to this House, and particularly Article 41, which enforces a change in the custom of the sea for giving helm orders on board ship; whether an Order in Council will be issued in regard to the above and whether it will be laid upon the Table; and if he is aware of the apprehension felt by many British mariners at the proposed change in the custom of giving helm orders?

It is intended in due course to submit to Parliament a Bill dealing with various matters arising out of the Convention in question including helm orders. This will give hon. Members an opportunity of discussing the proposed change in regard to which, my hon. and gallant Friend states, apprehension exists.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the number of meetings held by the Food Council for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The Food Council has met five times in the last 12 months. I would add that since its establishment the Council has held 26 meetings, and the Executive Committee 54.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if, when considering the personnel of the new Consumers' Council, he will take into account the advisability of appointing someone from amongst those employed in retail distribution?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on the 12th November to a question asked by the hon. Member for the Aylesbury Division (Mr. Beaumont).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give careful consideration to the representations sent him by the shipowners' Parliamentary Committee regarding Anglo-American visas, in view of the benefit to trade of the reciprocal abolition of visa fees on passports of non-immigrants?

Yes, Sir. This matter is being considered by the Departments concerned, and it is hoped a decision will be reached shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what instructions have been issued to the Department in charge of the liquidation of ex-enemy private property, in view of the recent settlement reached at the Hague?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government has instructed the British Clearing Office not to proceed with the liquidation of the property of German nationals which does not come within the two reservations or exceptions mentioned in the statement of the Secretary for the Dominions and Colonies on the 29th October last; and, if not, when such instruction will be given?

The British Clearing Office has been given instructions to suspend liquidation of German property, so far as is necessary to enable the Government to carry out their general intentions as described by the Secretary for the Dominions and Colonies on 29th October last. The whole question of reservations from the release of unliquidated property is at present the sub- ject of negotiations between His Majesty's Government and the German Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what countries signatory to the Treaty of Versailles have now released or signified their intention of releasing their holdings of unliquidated German private property or more than 70 per cent. of the proceeds therefrom?

In accordance with the recommendations of the Young Plan, His Majesty's Government are negotiating with the German Government an arrangement for the release, subject to certain conditions, of unliquidated German properties. I understand that similar arrangements have been made, or are in course of negotiation, by the principal signatories to the Treaty of Versailles, but I am unable to state the percentage of the value of German property involved in the various agreements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the case of liquidation of the property of a German national which is the subject of an agreement for sale and cannot be completed by conveyance for many years, the future payments under the agreement or the property itself if the agreement is not completed will be released to the German national?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the unsatisfactory state of employment in the motor-car industry in Wolverhampton; and what steps the Government proposes to take to assist the industry and relieve it of its present burdens?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; with regard to the second part, my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal has for some time been conferring with representatives of the industry as to any steps that can be taken to improve the position, particularly in regard to exports.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many motor cars are supplied by the Govern- ment for the use of British Ambassadors and Ministers abroad; and how many of these are of British make?

Forty-five motor cars are at present supplied by His Majesty's Government for the use of His Majesty's Ambassadors and Ministers abroad. Of these, 39 are of British make.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he can make any statement respecting the progress of his conversations with the manufacturers of motor cars in this country with regard to the production of cars for export?

The discussions are proceeding satisfactorily, but I am not yet in a position to make a further statement on the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if it is his intention to carry out the recommendations contained in the Report of the Standing Committee respecting Asbestos Cement Products, appointed under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926?

These recommendations are embodied in the draft Order in Council which was laid on the Table on the 5th November.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has in his Department any recent statistics of the increase of the investment of private capital in newspaper undertakings?

I regret that the information asked for by the hon. Member is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give the approximate number of foreign nationals serving on board ships on the British register at the last convenient date; and how many of these foreign seamen are of non-European race?

The number of foreigners (other than lascars) employed on 31st March, 1928, in sea-going vessels (except yachts and fishing vessels) registered in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands under Part I of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, was 15,291, or 7.6 per cent. of the total number of seamen employed on that date. The number of lascars (i.e., Asiatics and East Africans, whether of British or foreign nationality, employed under agreements for natives of Asia or East Africa, which open and terminate in Asia) on the same date was 52,445. Information regarding non-European seamen, other than lascars, is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider taking steps to see that British ship-owners engage British seamen, wherever possible, in view of the prevalent unemployment amongst our own seamen?

Like my hon. and gallant Friend, I am anxious to see as many British seamen employed as possible. I must point out, however, that the proportion of foreigners in the British Mercantile Marine is not large, nor is it increasing, and I am afraid I am not aware of any practical steps I could take in the direction suggested.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the amount of Canadian coal imported into this country each year since 1924?

The imports of coal into the United Kingdom registered as consigned from Canada were seven tons in 1925, 24,000 tons in 1926 and 178,000 tons in 1927. No imports of coal from Canada have been registered since 1927.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many tons of coal were exported from the United Kingdom to Italy during 1928; and whether the importation of coal under the agreement at the Hague will be one million tons more than this figure?

The exports of coal from this country to Italy in 1928 amounted to 6,622,000 tons. Under the Hague Agreement, Italy will take for the Italian State Railways one million tons a year for the next three years. As this country has, since the end of the War, been unable to secure any of this trade, I have every hope that our exports will be increased by that amount.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will empower his inspectors of mines to attend mines at the request of the workmen at a mine without notifying the resident colliery manager of their intention to visit the mine, or any particular part of the mine, on any given day or hour?

His Majesty's inspectors are already not only empowered, but strictly instructed, to make their normal visits to mines without notice, and I am satisfied that they do so, whether there is a complaint, even an anonymous one, or not. The only exceptions to this rule are in cases where it is essential that the inspector should see some particular person or persons at the mine on his arrival there—as, for example, when there has been an accident.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in connection with schemes for the reorganisation of the coal industry, he will take steps to urge upon the coalowners that the use of ponies in the pits be brought to an end as speedily as possible?

It has always been the policy of my Department to encourage as much as possible the development of mechanical haulage in substitution for horse haulage, and I will certainly do all I can in furtherance of that policy.

asked the Secretary for Mines what information he has regarding the claim by Captain A. E. Doidge, of Wheal Arthur, Calstock, for the opportunity to work the Sett and Bramble mines; and whether he has been asked to take any action to have these mines in operation?

I have no knowledge of the claim referred to.

asked the Secretary for Mines for what purpose he recently received a deputation from the Miners' Industrial Union?

The purpose for which the deputation desired to see me was to inform me of their views upon the Government's coal proposals.

asked the Secretary or Mines the average length of mining leases in England and Wales?

I have no information later than that which was published by the Coal Industry Commission (1925) in Appendix 18 of their Report.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is now prepared to make a statement with regard to Government policy affecting hours, wages, and conditions in the coalmining industry?

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I have given today to a question on the same subject by the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Remer).

asked the Secretary for Mines if he can make any statement with regard to his negotiations with the coal-owners and the various trade unions representing the miners?

I am afraid I cannot make any statement in anticipation of the legislation which it is hoped to introduce shortly.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he has received the memorandum of the Cornwall chamber of mines revealing the present condition of the tin mines and the advantage to the Cornish mines from nationalisation of minerals; will a Bill be introduced to deal with this question; and will a committee be appointed to investigate the position in the county of Cornwall?

I have not received any memorandum of the nature suggested from the Cornwall chamber of mines. The proposals of the Government in regard to State acquisition of mineral rights relate to coal, and I am not in a position to make any statement as to other minerals.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the increase in production of fabric gloves by approximately 150 per cent., and leather gloves by 50 per cent., since 1925, and the consequent increase in employment, he will consider the desirability of setting up a committee to report on the results of safeguarding in these two industries before any action is taken?

It would not be possible for me to add anything to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member on the 23rd July.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the index number of production for the United Kingdom during the September quarter and, for comparison, the index number for each of the four preceding quarters?

I regret that all the information, on which the calculation of the index of production for the September quarter is based, has not yet been received. As soon as the necessary information is complete, the figures for this quarter will be calculated and published in the Board of Trade Journal.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the requisite number of countries have now ratified the International Convention for the abolition of import and export prohibitions and restrictions; and, if so, on what date did the Convention become operative?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The Convention has, therefore, not yet become operative, but a conference of the signatories is to be held in Paris on 5th December to consider the situation and arrive at a decision whether the Convention can nevertheless be brought into operation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the serious situation which has arisen in the bass and fibre industries of Great Britain consequent upon unfair foreign competition; and, seeing that the foreign markets for the products of these industries have been completely closed to British export by high tariffs, does he contemplate any measures of assistance for these industries?

I have seen a resolution passed by the bass and fibre section of the Hair Manufacturers' Association, which asks for protection against foreign competition. It would be impossible for me to add to the many statements already made on behalf of the Government in this connection. If, however, the industry wishes to place before the Government any suggestions for its improvement, other than proposals for protective duties, their representations will receive careful consideration.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that British hardware is almost entirely unknown in Manchuria, which has 40 million people; whether we have any commercial representatives in this country; if so, how many, where they are situated, and what exactly their duties are; and whether instructions can be sent to them on this subject?

The value of the total imports of hardware into Manchuria is approximately £250,000 per annum, of which by far the largest share conies from Japan, the British share being comparatively small. There are four Consular posts in Manchuria, at Dairen, Mukden, Harbin and Newchwang. One of the most important of the functions of the occupants of these posts is the provision of commercial intelligence, but the question of further strengthening our commercial representation in Manchuria is at present under consideration.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the large potential markets of Russia, China and India, he will say what steps are being taken to stimulate our trade and commerce therewith?

I am fully aware of the importance of these markets. As regards Russia my hon. Friend knows that we have already extended the operation of the Export Credits (Guarantees) Scheme to trade with that country. Further, the appointment of Commercial Secretaries on the staff of His Majesty's Ambassador to Moscow is under consideration. As regards China, we are considering the strengthening of our commercial representation in Manchuria. In India there are three Trade Commissioners, two in Calcutta and one in Bombay. Of these the senior Trade Commissioner is at present paying one of his regular official visits to this country where he is making a tour of the industrial centres for the purpose of stimulating trade with India.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether an agreement has been reached with the Government of the Irish Free State respecting the maintenance of Irish lights; and, if so, whether he can state the terms of settlement?

The negotiations in this matter are proceeding, and I hope that a settlement will soon be reached.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the cost of maintaining Irish lights since the year 1922, and by whom has it been met?

The cost of maintaining Irish lights in recent financial years has been as follows:

The cost has been met out of the General Lighthouse Fund.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the total amount of the exports from the Irish Free State during the past 12 months to Great Britain and to other countries, respectively?

The exports of the produce and manufactures of the Irish Free State during the 12 months ended 30th September, 1929, were consigned as follows: To Great Britain, £37,816,000; to Northern Ireland, £4,898,000; and to other countries, £2,578,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the number of men and women now employed in the Enemy Debts Department; whether investigation has been held as to the competence of those engaged in the Department; what are the qualifications of the men and women appointed; how many have had their services dispensed with during the last six months; and what were the reasons for these employés having to leave the service?

There are 391 men and 26 women now employed in the Enemy Debts Department. The qualifications of the men and women appointed naturally vary with the different qualifications required for different posts, but due care has been taken to ensure that they are competent to undertake the duties assigned to them. The present staff are those who remain out of a staff which numbered over 900 in 1926, and amongst other considerations, full weight has been given to the factor of efficiency in effecting this large reduction. Since the 1st May last, the staff has been reduced by 68, of whom 59 were dispensed with on grounds of redundancy, the majority being transferred to vacancies in other departments, seven resigned or died and two were dismissed.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, in view of the low scale of wages for temporary Grade III clerks, whether he is considering any increase?

The pay of temporary male clerks Grade III is governed by an agreement of the 7th May last with the representative Staff Associations and that of women clerks of the same grade by award of the Industrial Court No. 1327. The rates so determined will come before the Royal Commission on the Civil Service in their inquiry as to the general standards of remuneration and the existing differentiation between the rates for men and women civil servants, and in these circumstances I am not proposing to make any alteration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what number of the 102,682 ex-service men shown, in the statement relating to the employment of ex-service men in Government Departments, to have been holding established positions in the Civil Service on 1st July, 1929, had served in the Navy, Army, or Air Force before joining the Civil Service; and what number were drawing service pensions for qualifying time served in the Navy or Army?

I regret that the particulars desired by my hon. Friend are not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate expenditure of time and labour

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the respective numbers of temporary messengers and record and paper keepers serving in headquarters and ex-headquarters departments of the Civil Service on the 31st December, 1924?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to a similar question by the hon. and gallant Member for Brentford (Colonel Grant-Morden) on the 7th November last, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will take steps to discourage the practice of employing in the public service persons who are in receipt of a pension adequate to maintain them, and thus to increase the opportunities for unemployed persons to secure employment?

The prime duty of Ministers in making selection for the public service is to secure such officers as are in their judgment best qualified to perform the work for which they are engaged. It would not, in my opinion, be in the public interest to require the exclusion from consideration for appointment to the public service of persons in receipt of pensions.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the numbers of auxiliary postmen, auxiliary sorters, part-time sorting clerks and telegraphists, and part-time day telephonists who were employed by the Post Office on 31st March, 1914, 1921, and 1929, respectively?

The numbers for 1921 are not available. The numbers employed in Great Britain on the 31st March, 1914 and 1929 are as follow:

The 1914 figure for auxiliary postmen includes the number of part-time assistant postmen then employed. The class has since been abolished.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what action he can, and will, take regarding firms that evade the Fair Wages Clause in contracts for the printing of electors' lists?

Allegations of evasion of the Fair Wages Clause are investigated by the Department concerned. If the allegation is proved to be correct and the contractor refuses to comply with the requirements of the clause, the contract is terminated and the contractor struck off the list of firms invited to tender.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he can state the total value of reparations from Germany in kind under the headings coal, coke, iron manufactures, machinery, and chemical products for the current year?

The values for the period 1st January to 31st October, 1929, of the reparation deliveries of the commodities specified are approximately as follow:

No details are available for deliveries of iron manufactures and machinery.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the failure of the Eastern Reparations Conference, charged by the adjourned Hague Conference with the task of settling the reparation schedules of Austria, Hungary, and Bulgaria, the guarantee of the Italian Government to pay the British Government £450,000 a year, offered on the expectation of liberation debts receipts, still remains valid?

The guarantee in question was given without reserve.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of the excess paid by the United Kingdom to the United States of America over the amount received from Allied debts and reparations up to the end of the last financial year?

The excess of the British payments to the United States Government over our aggregate receipts from Allied debts and reparations up to 31st March, 1929, was £145,925,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will submit a statement showing the number of taxpayers who have been dealt with during the past four years by the Board of Inland Revenue, under the terms set out in the statement made to this House on the 19th July, 1925, regarding fraud and evasion in connection with direct taxation (Parliamentary-Debates, Vol. 166, No. 100, column 2,518), together with the respective total amounts for Income Tax, Super-tax, Excess Profits Duty, and penalties included in the pecuniary settlements therein referred to?

I regret I am unable to supply this information. The statement to which my hon. Friend refers explained the practice of the Board of Inland Revenue in cases in which fraudulent taxpayers, whose fraud might become the subject of criminal proceedings, voluntarily disclosed all information relating to their fraud. In addition, however, to cases of that sort there is a much larger number of cases in which the loss of duty in past years has arisen in circumstances in which there would be no question of criminal proceedings. It is impracticable to draw a hard and fast line that would distinguish the one type of case from the other.

asked the Minister of Health, seeing that he is unaware of the conditions under which test work is carried on, whether he will institute an inquiry?

My right hon. Friend sees no reason for any general inquiry but he will be glad to inquire into any particular complaint which is brought to his notice.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has made any representations to boards of guardians that men on relief should not be put on stone breaking or stone shifting work; and, if not, whether he will do so in order to abolish this kind of test work?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. My right hon. Friend does not think that there is need for any such action on his part as the hon. Member suggests, but he would be prepared to consider any representations that the form of test work adopted in a particular union was open to objection.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of county councils who have submitted schemes under Part I of the Local Government Act, 1929; the number of such schemes approved by the Minister; the number still under consideration; and the number of approved schemes which provide for more than one guardians' committee?

The councils of the 62 administrative counties in England and Wales have submitted schemes under Part I of the Local Government Act, 1929. Fifty-eight of these have so far been approved by my right hon. Friend, of which 50 provide for the setting up of more than one guardians' committee. The remaining four schemes are still under his consideration.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made with the joint scheme for the provision of a home for mental defectives for the county of Lincoln; and whether, in view of the urgency of this matter and the continued delay on the part of one of the authorities concerned, he will take steps to ensure that a scheme is adopted immediately?

My right hon. Friend is informed that the Lincolnshire Joint Board has not yet succeeded in acquiring a property for the development of a colony for mental defectives; but a conference between the Joint Board and the Board of Control on this subject is to take place on the 28th of this month.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the registered accommodation in English public mental hospitals for male and female mental patients, respectively, and the actual number who are resident?

Fallowing are the figures:

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the danger to the health of the community through the importation of secondhand clothing from abroad; and whether he will take steps to stop its entry?

My right hon. Friend is advised that there is no evidence of any such danger to the health of the community from the importation of second-hand clothing into this country as would justify the imposition of restrictions such as the hon. and gallant Member suggests.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of and deaths from post-vaccinal encephalitis have been reported to his Department since 31st December last?

34 cases in which symptoms suggestive of disease of the central nervous system following within a month of vaccination have been brought to the notice of my Department as having occurred in the 10 months ended the 31st October, 1929. Of these cases, 18 were fatal. All cases of this character are reported to the Committee on Vaccination, and I am not in a position to say how-many of the 34 cases are regarded by the Committee as cases of encephalitis following vaccination.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will inquire, with a view to taking appropriate action, into the practice of exposing for sale in bakers' and confectioners' shops unwrapped bread, cakes and pastries on open stands and counters where they are exposed to dust, frequent handling, and other sources of contamination, the practice of sweeping out dust from shops and dwelling-houses into the streets, and that of placing vegetables and fruit outside shops at such a level that they are liable to be defiled by dogs?

I am aware that the conditions under which bread and other foods are exposed for sale sometimes leave a good deal to be desired. Some of the grounds of criticism could be removed by action of the competent local authorities under Section 72 of the Public Health Act, 1925. What is really needed is the creation of sounder public opinion in such matters, and they will continue to receive my attention.

asked the Minister of Health where he can introduce legislation amending Section 22 (1) ( d ) of the Eating and Valuation Act, 1925, providing for net annual values and rateable values to a maximum of, say, £12 calculated to fractions of not less than 10s., the present system being that of calculating net annual values and rateable values to the nearest pound, thus inflicting hardship on the poorest classes of ratepayers?

The object of the provision to which my hon. Friend refers is to facilitate the making of rates by-avoiding calculations involving fractions of a pound. While my right hon. Friend has received representations from a few authorities in favour of the suggested amendment, he has no evidence at present that it would be welcomed by local authorities generally, and he cannot at the present time give any promise to introduce amending legislation. My right hon. Friend is informed by the Central Valuation Committee that the matter has been considered by them, but that they have made no recommendation upon it; they are of opinion that it should be further considered when more information and experience of the problem involved have been obtained.

asked the First Commissioner of Works the cost of removing the railings around Hyde Park?

No estimate of the cost of removing the railings around Hyde Park has been prepared. As stated in my reply to a question in the House on the 13th instant, I am, as at present advised, not prepared to take any action in the matter of removing these railings.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that the Royal College of Art, which was only erected as a temporary structure 75 years ago, is at present overcrowded by students; and whether it is intended to proceed with the building of a new Royal College of Art in the near future under the scheme which was approved prior to the late War?

The Royal College of Art is housed partly in permanent, and partly in temporary, buildings. The Royal Commission on National Museums and Galleries have recommended the erection of a new building, and I am at present considering this recommendation in consultation with my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Education.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will state the number of occasions during the year ended 31st July, 1929 when unpaid commissioners of assize have sat at the request of His Majesty's judges of assize to try cases on circuit; the length of their respective sittings, distinguishing between criminal and civil business; and the reasons for such sittings?

I am informed by the Lord Chancellor that the statistics furnished with reference to sittings and trials on circuit do not furnish the information for which the hon. Member asks. The Lord Chancellor will communicate with the Clerks of Assize with a view to ascertaining whether they possess the information, and, if not, will consider whether and in what way information on the subject should be recorded for the future.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will have an inquiry made into the present state of the law relating to the recovery or restitution of property, money, valuable securities stolen, or embezzled, or otherwise fraudulently dealt with or destroyed, and bring in a Bill at an early date so as to enable a person to sue for and recover in a civil court any such property, money, valuable securities, or damages from and against a person convicted by a criminal court of an offence connected therewith, notwithstanding that criminal proceedings are pending, or are being or have been taken?

The Government is unable to undertake any such inquiry at the present moment.

asked the Attorney-General whether he proposes to consult the local authorities or their principal associations before the introduction of the Trade Disputes Bill?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the hon. Member for Houghton-le-Spring as representing the Charity Commissioners what has been the income and expenditure from the Wolsingham Town Hall and market fees for the years 1925, 1926, 1927 and 1928, respectively; and will he seek to have the trustees for the said town hall and market to issue an audited balance sheet each year and issue the same to the Wolsingham Parish Council as the representative elected body for the parish of Wolsingham, which includes the greater part of the manor of Wolsingham, being the area covered by the trust deed for the said town hall and market tolls?

The Wolsingham Town Hall is a charity separate and distinct from the Market Tolls Charity, but both are under the same management, and the accounts rendered to the Charity Commissioners do not distinguish them as regards the expenditure. The accounts for 1925 have not been so rendered. In the three following years the receipts in respect of the town hall were £19 2s. 6d. in 1926, £62 12s. 6d. in 1927 and £26 10s. in 1928, and in respect of the market tolls were £16 10s. in 1926, £16 9s. 6d. in 1927, and £23 16s. in 1928. The joint expenditure was £13 12s. 5d. in 1926, £25 16s. 2d. in 1927, and £26 5s. 9d. in 1928. The town hall is not a parochial charity within the meaning of the Local Government Act, 1894, and there is no statutory obligation on the trustees to furnish accounts to the parish meeting or the parish council. The Market Tolls Charity on the contrary is a parochial charity and Section 14 (6) of the said Act applies to it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, whether, seeing that the importation of potatoes from Great Britain is forbidden both by Canada and the United States of America, the Government has made or proposes to make any representations to these countries with a view to having the embargo removed?

I can add nothing to the replies to the question and supplementary question put to me yesterday by the hon. Member for the Isle of Ely, of which I am sending the Noble Lord a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the recommendations of the Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom for the improvement of the port of Lancaster suggest the incidental reclamation of 5,000 to 6,000 acres of land; and whether, in view of the effect this scheme of port improvement would have in introducing employment in the area, he will take steps to make an arrangement for financial assistance from the interests which will benefit from the probable reclamation of land?

I am aware of the recent recommendations of the Chamber of Shipping for the improvement of harbours though I have not yet been able to examine them in detail. The question of the adoption of any proposals affecting the port of Lancaster would be a matter for the local Harbour Commissioners in the first place, who would no doubt consider the possibility of obtaining contributions from persons or bodies likely to benefit from the proposed works.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the floods in the Garstang area caused by the overflowing of the River Wyre; whether he is aware of the loss and distress caused in the district of these floods; and whether inundations of this nature will be provided for under the promised Ministerial Bill for land drainage?

I am aware that the area referred to is liable to be flooded, and that considerable damage may result from this flooding. The River Wyre is included in the list of catchment areas for which the Royal Commission on Land Drainage recommended that catchment area authorities should be constituted, and it will come within the scope of the general Land Drainage Bill which, as I have already announced, the Government propose to introduce.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have ever been traced to the itinerant sellers of onions who visit this country from the North of France during the autumn; and, if not, will he direct an investigation to be made, not only as to the stock that these men sell, but their clothing and the ships in which they bring their stock to this country?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The Departmental Committee on Foot-and-Mouth Disease which reported in 1925 fully investigated the possibility of infection being introduced into Britain by foreign vegetables, and the Boiling of Animal Foodstuffs and the Packing Materials Orders were the result. The Ministry has also made a special inquiry into the possibility of French vegetables, including onions, introducing disease. The inquiry indicated that few animals were kept and little animal manure used in the vegetable growing districts of France, and that there was only a remote possibility that French vegetables would convey the disease to this country. In these circumstances, and as the probable origin of every outbreak of disease is most thoroughly inquired into, I do not think that a special investigation as suggested by the hon. and gallant Member is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider the grant of a special pension, under Article 1,092 of the Army Pay Warrant, to Frederick Charles Sawyer, late No. 3,557, private, 5th Dragoon Guards, in view of the fact that his combined service of upwards of 20 years included 15½ years with the colours, of which period 10½ years were spent overseas, in the course of which he served in three campaigns and earned seven medals, including the Meritorious Service Medal for consistent good work and devotion to duty, as well as a character assessed as very good?

The Regulation to which the hon. and gallant Member refers is designed to meet altogether exceptional cases and I much regret that, having regard to other cases, the circumstances of Mr. Sawyer's case would not justify a special award under the Regulation in question. He may however possibly qualify, under the Regulations governing the award of special campaign pensions, of which I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy, for a special campaign pension when he is 65 years of age according to the age he gave on enlistment, and he should apply direct to the Commissioners of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, shortly before that date.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider the award of a special pension under Article 1,092 of the Army Pay Warrant to Gordon Warren, late Private, No. 70,225, Royal Defence Corps, previously of the South Wales Borderers and Royal Welch Fusiliers, in view of the fact that he served twice in France during the War, being finally invalided and certified to be a good and well-conducted man, with continuous service, colour and reserved combined, totalling 14 years 57 days to his credit, with a shortage of 16 days only in his pensionable or qualifying service, and that owing to permanent disablement due to war service he has been unable to work for seven years?

The Regulation to which the hon. and gallant Member refers is designed to meet altogether exceptional cases, and I much regret that, having regard to other cases, the circumstances of Mr. Warren's case would not justify a special award under the Regulation in question.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is prepared to consider the award of a disablement pension to Ernest Henry Martin, late Sergeant, No. 11,405, the Worcestershire Regiment, in view of the fact that he was wounded three times and gassed twice in the War, and is prevented from performing regular work to support his wife and six children in consequence of heart trouble caused by a severe gunshot wound under the heart?

This case has already been brought to my notice and arrangements have been made for the man to be medically examined. On completion of the necessary investigations the case will be further considered.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Gunner George Stevens, Royal Field Artillery, No. 11,199, enlisted in the Army in 1895; suffered from a gunshot wound in 1900; was discharged in France in 1914, suffering from phlebitis; that after a long period of treatment his leg was amputated in 1921; that he had four subsequent operations in the same year followed by continuous treatment, a further operation in 1923, three operations in 1925, and after this continuous treatment an abscess formed which burst in December, 1928, and he died of broncho-pneumonia in March, 1929, after a few hours' illness; that he was also suffering from obesity which developed owing to his being in bed so long, and he was treated with thyroid which affected the heart; that he received a pension up to the date of his death, and that his widow has now been refused a pension; and whether, in view of the probability of this period of suffering and treatment having contributed to his susceptibility to pneumonia and lessened his resisting power to that disease, he will reconsider the case with a view to granting the widow a pension?

I am well aware of the facts of the case referred to, which have been most carefully considered, and in regard to which I have been in communication with the hon. Member. I am advised, however, that the circumstances of Mr. Stevens' death do not enable the case to be certified as rendering the widow eligible for pension under the Royal Warrant.

asked the Minister of Labour if she can state the number of claims to unemployment benefit at the Bridgeton, Springburn, Maryhill, Park-head, and Southside Exchanges, Glasgow, respectively, in which the 30 stamps' qualification was satisfied, and the number in which claims were made under the transitional arrangements; and the number of refusals of benefit in each case for the four weeks ended 7th October, 1929?

I will, if I may, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving such information as is available as soon as it can be tabulated.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it has been brought to her notice that a resident of King's Lynn recently offered to make a free gift to the unemployed of that town of all the available firewood lying in his orchard provided the men themselves came to fetch it away, but that the men in question were forbidden by the manager of the local Employment Exchange to accept this offer despite the promise that the necessary horses and carts were to be lent free of charge; whether these instructions are in accordance with the policy of the Ministry; and, if so, what are the reasons for it?

I am informed that the offer was made by a local landowner who desired to have certain ground cleared of trees. The offer to the unemployed men was to cut down and root up the trees in consideration of being allowed to take away the wood. No wages were to be paid. So far from local unemployed men being forbidden to undertake the work, it was brought to their notice and some of them went to the place where it was to be done. They were, however, not satisfied with the terms of the offer and did not accept it.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the sea wall at Littleston-on-Sea is being built under Government contract; whether there is any obligation upon the contractors to use British material; and will she inform the House where the steel shields used in the sea wall were manufactured?

I assume the hon. Member refers to the scheme undertaken by the Commissioners for the Level of New Romney, towards which a grant was made by the Unemployment Grants Committee in March last. The usual condition was attached to the grant requiring all contracts in connection with the scheme to be placed in this country.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she will state for each of the months of August, September, October and November, 1929, the number of persons unemployed in Bethnal Green, showing men, women and juveniles separately?

The following table shows the numbers of persons resident in the Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green who were on the registers of Employment Exchanges at about the middle of August, September, October and November, 1929, respectively:

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has under consideration plans for the utilisation of the labour of persons in receipt of unemployment benefit by encouraging industry to give them employment at rates of pay which, together with the statutory rate of benefit, would make up the standard wages?

No, Sir. The suggestion has been made several times, but for reasons which have been explained its adoption was not considered to be either advisable or practicable.

asked the Minister of Labour what have been the respective figures of unemployment in January,

asked the Minister of Labour whether she can give the weekly totals of the unemployed on the live register at the Hackney Employment Exchange from 3rd June to the present day, together with the corresponding figures of the preceding year?

The following table shows the numbers of persons on the registers of the Hackney Employment Exchange on Monday of each week in the period 3rd June, 1929, to 11th November, together with figures for the corresponding period of 1928:

June, and November in 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, and in this year?

The following table shows the numbers of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain at the dates given:

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has had any representations from industrial and commercial organisations respecting the effect upon employment of the cost of the Government's schemes for the extension of social services?

I cannot trace any such representations to me.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if it is his intention to introduce a measure giving adequate pensions to aged workers who voluntarily retire from industry as part of his policy for the relief of unemployment?

I am not yet in a position to add anything to the reply given on the 29th October by my hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines to the hon. and gallant Member for Heywood and Radcliffe (Colonel England) in which it was stated that the general question of the provision of retirement pensions for industrial workers is still under consideration.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what applications he has received from the Nottingham area for assistance in carrying out works for the relief of unemployment; what grants have been approved; and what measure of relief he anticipates will result from these works?

Thirteen schemes have been submitted to the Unemployment Grants Committee, to a total capital value of £811,000. Of these four schemes, totalling £700,000, have been approved and grants authorised. The Nottingham City Council have also submitted to my hon. Friend, the Minister of Transport, a £790,000 programme of work on classified roads and bridges, and I understand that the council will be notified at an early date as to the schemes which can be approved for grants from the Road Fund. Trunk road works in the county, estimated to cost £250,000, have been approved in principle for grants of 80 per cent. from the Road Fund, and a five-year programme of work on classified roads and bridges has recently been submitted by the county council. Until decisions have been taken on all outstanding points I shall not be in a position to estimate the exact measure of relief of unemployment which will result.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he has had brought to his notice the Turner scheme for treating coal; if he is aware that, according to certain official authorities, work could be found by this method of finding employment for 300,000 men; and whether the scheme is being further inquired into?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative. With regard to the third part of the question, a test of the existing Turner plant has been carried out by the Director of Fuel Research under the published schemes for testing such plants, and a report is now being printed for publication. Arrangements are being made for a further test of a special feature of this plant.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will state the number of schemes submitted by the Leeds City Council for the relief of unemployment in response to his appeal and the total amount of those schemes; and how many schemes were approved up to and including 24th October and the total amount of the schemes approved of?

Nine schemes, to a value of £171,000, have been submitted to the Unemployment Grants Committee and are under examination. These schemes were, I am informed, only submitted towards the end of last month. The Leeds City Council have submitted a five-year programme of works of improvement and new construction on classified roads and bridges covering 18 schemes estimated to cost £413,000. This programme, which has only recently been received in final form, is now under examination, and I hope it will be possible at an early date to indicate the terms on which assistance can be given to the schemes from the Road Fund.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will take steps to accelerate the granting of the request from the Durham County Water Board for a loan for the suggested reservoir in Weardale, County Durham, in order to provide an efficient water supply and also useful employment?

I am glad to inform the hon. Member that the Unemployment Grants Committee yesterday approved a grant towards the construction of a water reservoir at Burnhope at a cost of just under £1,000,000. This is presumably the scheme the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will state, with regard to the application made by the Burnley Town Council for a grant from State funds towards the cost of public works undertaken for the relief of local unemployment, what is the character and estimated cost of the work proposed; and to what extent grants have been approved?

Twenty-one schemes, to a total value of £153,000, have been before the Unemployment Grants Committee, and grants have been approved in the case of five schemes, totalling £25,000. The others are still under examination. A five-year programme of works of improvement and new construction on classified roads and bridges, estimated to cost £480,000, is receiving consideration from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, who, I understand, has approved in principle of grants being made at the appropriate rate from the Road Fund.

asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) the total amount of any loans for which His Majesty's Government has become responsible through the various schemes sanctioned by his Department since June last;

(2) The total amount of any guarantees for which His Majesty's Government has become responsible through the various schemes sanctioned by his Department since 1st June last;

(3) The total amount of any subsidies for which His Majesty's Government has become responsible through the various schemes sanctioned by his Department since June last?

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave the hon. Member to a similar question on the 12th November.

asked the Minister of Labour if she will give a list of the treaties, conventions, etc., arranged by the international labour organisation of the League of Nations which the Government have decided to sign and ratify; those which they have decided not to sign or ratify; and those which are still under consideration?

Since the present Government took office, two draft international labour conventions have been ratified, namely, those dealing with seamen's articles of agreement and minimum wage-fixing machinery. The Government is preparing legislation in respect of the Hours Convention, and, as has been already announced, is awaiting certain changes of legislation in Northern Ireland which are required before ratification of the Sickness Insurance Conventions can be effected. The following draft conventions are still under consideration:

Maternity.

Employment for Seamen.

Minimum Age (Agriculture).

White Lead.

Weekly Rest (Industry).

Workmen's Compensation (Accidents).

Night Work in Bakeries.

Repatriation of Seamen.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she can state the number of workers employed in the manufacture of gramophones and gramophone records in July, 1929, compared to July, 1925?

I regret that separate statistics for this industry are not available. For statistical purposes gramophones and gramophone records are included in the industry group which includes all musical instruments.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she can state the number of hours worked in the lace trade in 1924 and 1928, respectively?

The normal full-time hours in the lace industry, exclusive of mealtimes, averaged approximately 48 per week, both in 1924 and in 1928. According to returns supplied by firms employing 6,560 workpeople, the amount of short time averaged about 5.5 hours per head of all workpeople employed in the week ended 18th October, 1924, and about 1.6 hours in the week ended 27th October, 1928. Comparable figures as to short time are not available for other dates in 1924 and 1928.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Government propose to introduce any fresh schemes, apart from those already in operation before 1st June of this year, to provide civil employment for time-expired men on leaving the Army; and, if so, what is the nature of such schemes?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given to him on the 16th July and 5th November last, of which I am sending him copies. Good progress is, I understand, being made with the arrangements referred to in the answer of the 16th July for securing opportunities of employment of ex-regular soldiers in Government Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the desirability of disbanding or re-arming those sections of the Army whose weapons have been proved of no value under conditions of modern warfare and are only of use for ceremonial purposes?

I am not aware of any such units.