asked the Secretary of State for India the amount and value of the imports of motor ears into India during the past five years from the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States respectively?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 5th December, 1929; col. 2586, Vol. 232] supplied the following statement:present financial circumstances they would not be able to start any new or important project on which work had not begun; and, if so, whether His Majesty's Government are contemplating any action to prevent the suspension of work and the adverse effect on employment in the United Kingdom likely to be caused thereby?

I am aware that the Government of India have found it necessary to curtail for the time being the large capital allotments made in recent Budgets for new projects. The hon. Member no doubt realises that the construction of new railways in India does not necessarily involve at once the expenditure of large capital sums in this country, the bulk of the outlay entailed being on labour and local materials.

asked the Secretary of State for India what stage has been reached in the negotiations for the construction, under the river Hooghly at Calcutta, of a tunnel for the accommodation of cables and electric mains; and the value of the contract and the date at which the work will be begun?

This is not a Government project, and I am unable therefore to supply the hon. Member with the information which he desires.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has any information regarding the proposed construction under the River Hooghly in Calcutta of an electric railway to connect Howrah and the suburbs on the west bank with the city of Calcutta on the east bank; and the probable value of the contract and the date on which operations are likely to commence?

I have no definite information as to this project beyond what has appeared in the Press, from which I gather that the suitability of the subsoil for the construction of a tube railway is still being investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for India as to the present position in regard to the completion of the amended scheme for the reclamation of land in Back Bay, Bombay; and whether that part of the reclaimed area prepared for the Government of India has been taken over by the central Government and the financial transaction involved completed?

The programme of work as at present arranged, excluding development, is expected to be completed by the year 1931–32. The period re- quired for complete development will depend on the rate at which the reclaimed lands can be sold to the public. Of this no accurate estimate can at present be made. Only a small area of reclaimed land has so far been taken over by the Central Government and the financial transactions are not complete.

asked the Secretary of State for India if any representations have been received by the Government of India from Indian industrial and commercial associations in regard to the Report of Mr. G. S. Hardy on the question of substituting a system of specific duties in place of the existing system of ad valorem assessment of cotton goods imported into India; if so, whether he will inform the House of the terms of such representations; and whether it is the intention of the Government of India to adopt the view expressed in Mr. Hardy's Report?

The report was only published on 29th November. I am not aware of any such representations having been made nor have I yet received the Government of India's views.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the sum of £375,000 which represents the estimated cost of subsidies for the operation of trans-India air-mail services during the four years 1929–30 to 1932–33 includes provision for the contemplated extension of the air-mail service not only to Delhi but from Delhi to Calcutta; and if he will inform the House as to when it is hoped that this extension to Calcutta may be in operation?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I am not in a position to make any statement until I have heard from the Government of India the result of the negotiations now in progress, as to which the Government of India hope to be able to make an annuncement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for India the establishment of the reorganised provincial unit and the new urban unit of the Indian Territorial Farce; and for figures showing the expenditure from Indian revenues in 1928–29 and the estimated expenditure in the present year on each of these arms?

The establishment of a company of the Indian Territorial Force both in provincial and urban units is two senior officers, four junior officers and 167 other ranks; and of a battalion 12 senior officers, 19 junior officers and 694 other ranks. The provincial units consist of 18 battalions, and the urban units of one battalion and three separate units of two companies each. The figures available do not show the expenditure on provincial and urban units separately. The total expenditure on the Territorial Force for 1928–29 was Rs.22,64,000, and the estimated expenditure for 1929–30 is Rs.29,55,000. To the latter should be added Rs.7,75,000 expended by Army and engineer services for stores and works expenditure incurred on account of the Force, bringing the total to Rs.37,30,000.

asked the Secretary of State for India how many Indians have been admitted to the commissioned ranks of the Indian Veterinary Corps since that arm of the Indian Army was opened to Indian gentlemen?

No Indian has yet been commissioned in the Indian Army for employment in the Indian Army Veterinary Corps, but one candidate has been selected and is now under training in this country for that purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for India, whether he has now received the report from the Government of India showing the action taken during the last 12 months on the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Agriculture in India?

I have not yet received the report, but I understand that every effort is being made to send it as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether work has begun on the scheme to remove the Central Medical Research Institute to Dehra Dun, and if it is intended to proceed with this scheme, or whether, in view of the pro- tests that have been made by the All-India Medical Association and other medical associations in India against this proposal to move the institute to a centre where there would be an absence of clinical facilities and scientific co-operation available in larger urban centres, it is the intention of the Government of India to hold up work at Dehra Dun pending a reconsideration of the proposed scheme?

I have no information later than that I gave my hon. and gallant, Friend on 31st October.

asked the Secretary of State for India the total mileage of the Indian railways; how much is in private ownership; how much is in State ownership; how much is under State control; and how much is under construction in each of these categories; and whether the Government of India is making arrangements to acquire for the State any railways at present under private ownership?

The total mileage of Indian railways on 31st March, 1928, the latest date up to which complete figures are available, was 39,712. Of this mileage

• 5,955 were privately owned,
• 33,757 were in the ownership of the Government of India, Indian States and District Boards and
• 16,999 were directly managed by the Government of India and Indian States.

The mileage under construction on the same date, divided according to the above categories, was 107, 3,522 and 1,788, respectively. The Government of India have arranged for the purchase of the property of the Southern Punjab Railway Company as from 31st December next.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, seeing that the Meerut prisoners have now been under arrest for eight months, he has been informed how long the preliminary inquiry is likely to last; what is the estimated cost to date of the proceedings in connection with this prosecution; and whether any part of the cost will fall on the British taxpayer?

It is hoped that the magistrate will be in a position to pass orders by 15th December. I cannot say what is the estimated cost of the proceedings up to date. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is in a position to give the House any information as to the recent outbreak of rabies in the Ootacamund district?

I have no information beyond what has appeared in the Indian Press.

asked the President of the Beard of Trade, seeing that the Committee on Commercial and Industrial Policy after the War (1918) reported that in 1913 only 12 per cent. of our imports were wholly or mainly manu- factured and 52 per cent. represented raw materials and articles mainly unmanufactured, whether he will give the comparative percentages for the latest convenient period of 12 months?

The figures quoted by the hon. and gallant Member represent the imports into the United Kingdom during 1913 consigned from British countries (together with Egypt). The distribution of our imports from all countries during 1913 and 1928, between merchandise classed in the trade returns as "Raw materials and articles mainly unmanufactured" and as "Articles wholly or mainly manufactured," was as follows: In 1913—Raw materials, etc., constituted 35 per cent., and Articles wholly or mainly manufactured 26 per cent. of the total imports of all descriptions of merchandise. In 1928—Raw materials, etc., constituted 28 per cent. of the total and Articles wholly or mainly manufactured 261 per cent.; or excluding imports consigned from the Irish Free State—Raw materials, etc., 29 per cent., and Articles wholly or mainly manufactured, 27½ per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate total of the receipts derived from the several safeguarding duties, from the dates of imposition up to the last convenient date, on the following articles: gas mantles, buttons, and domestic hollow-ware, showing separately the amount received in each financial year?

The net receipts from the safeguarding duties upon gas mantles, buttons and domestic hollow-ware from 1st April, 1929, to 30th November, 1929, both dates inclusive, were as follow:

		£
Gas Mantles	…	1,700
Buttons	…	100,000
Domestic Hollow-ware	…	36,600

The annual net receipts from each of these duties from the date of imposition down to 31st March, 1929, may be found in Table 79 (page 101) of the Twentieth Annual Report of the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs and Excise (Command Paper Number 3435).

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of furs imported into this country in 1928; whether he has any information as to the extent to which cruelty is inflicted on the animals before they are killed; and whether he will take powers to prohibit importation where unnecessary cruelty is inflicted?

Description.	Total Imports into United Kingdom.	Imports retained in the United Kingdom (Imports less Re-exports).
Fur Skins, Undressed.	Number.	Number.
Rabbit Skins	51,653,938	13,221,144
Seal Skins	127,957	116,314
Other Sorts	26,256,438	5,542,536
Fur and Other Skins, Dressed (except leather).
Furs, Rabbit Skins, dressed	18,275,860	15,933,899
Furs, Seal Skins, dressed	383	(a) (-) 2,175
Skins and Furs, unenumerated, dressed (not leather)	14,823,595	12,395,447
(a) Re exports in excess of total imports in this year.

I have no information that would enable me to answer the second part of the question. The suggestion made in the last part would not appear to be practicable.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has arranged with the Buckinghamshire County Council for the construction of a section of the Western Avenue in the county of Buckinghamshire; and whether he can make any statement as to the probable date of commencement of the work?

I have agreed with the county council as to the line of the new road, but am unable at this stage to forecast the date of commencement of work.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is prepared to include in the Road Transport Bill powers to deal with dazzling headlights?

I already have power under the Road

The following table shows, in respect of the undermentioned descriptions of fur skins, the total number imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland and also the number retained, during the year 1928. Particulars of the numbers of fur skins included in articles of clothing imported are not available.Transport Lighting Act to deal with this matter by Regulation. It is tot free from difficulty, but I have it under consideration.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that a great many town councils have antiquated by-laws affecting the regulation of traffic; and whether he will suggest to all of them the desirability of bringing them up to date?

No, Sir, I am not aware of this, but if the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of any cases of the kind he mentions, I shall he happy to consider them.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will in future accede to all reasonable representations to remove wires placed over houses; and, if not, what steps can the private person take to get them taken down?

The Telegraph Acts provide for the removal or alteration of wires interfering with building or other alterations to a house; and all bona fide applications for removal of this character are complied with. The interests of the public service would not, however, permit me to forgo the right conferred by the Acts to run wires over houses.

asked the Postmaster-General how many post offices and railway stations in Northern Ireland have not yet been equipped with public telephones; and how many of these it is proposed to equip with public telephones in the course of the next year?

124 public telephones have recently been provided or authorised at rural post offices and railway stations in Northern Ireland. The question whether telephones can be provided at a number of the remaining 280 offices and stations without such facilities is under consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General when the new Bredbury telephone exchange will be established; and if he can give an assurance that this exchange will be on the automatic principle?

An automatic exchange to serve the Bredbury district will be opened towards the end of 1931.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there is no post, telegraph, or telephone office nearer than three miles to the village of Doddington, near Lincoln; and whether, in view of the inconvenience thereby caused to residents in this locality and the fact that a local landowner is willing, if necessary, to build suitable premises, he will consider providing the facilities required?

I am having inquiry made, and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the financial result of the working of the Government training farm at Bulford and Amesbury, in the Salisbury Plain district; the cost of management of this farm; and the number of men who have received training at the farm?

The accounts of the Amesbury Profit-sharing Farm Settlement, which is not correctly described as a training farm, comprise an estate or landlord's account, and a farming or tenant's account. The accumulated loss on the estate account for the 10 years ended 31st March last was £53,139, but this sum includes £36,000 interest on Exchequer advances towards the purchase and equipment of the property; £4,879 for headquarters administration expenses, and £9,095 for depreciation. The farming account showed a loss of £12,255, for the same period, but of this sum 22,135 is due to the distribution, in accordance with the profit-sharing scheme, of profits made in 1919 and 1924. Charges amounting to £16,316 are included in respect of management and interest on Exchequer advances for farming purposes. Excluding these charges the net profit for the period, reckoned according to the ordinary methods of farm accounting, was £6,796, i.e., about £680 a year. The cost of management, including a share of headquarters officers' salaries, is £980 a year. The number of persons permanently employed on the farm is 49, while in addition there are 10 smallholders who are farming independently.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether in view of the comparatively small number of young farmers' clubs in existence in the country and of their educational value, he will consider taking steps, both by increased financial aid and propaganda, to increase the number and membership of such clubs throughout the country?

I appreciate highly the value of the Young Farmers' Club Movement and should be very glad to see an increase in the number and membership of clubs. The National Council of Social Service, who are now primarily responsible for the organisation and development of the Movement, already receive a grant from public funds which amounts to £800 for the current year; and. I am at the present moment considering an application from the Council for increased aid. Apart from financial help, my Department will continue to do everything in its power, in co-operation with local authorities and agricultural colleges, to secure to clubs the technical advice and help which are essential to their success.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is now in a position to state the date of the conference of agricultural interests?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has received a reply from all the parties invited to take part in the conference of the principal agricultural interests; whether, in that case, he will state the names of the delegates who have been appointed and when the conference will be held; and whether it will take into consideration the issue of the position of cereal growers?

I am unable to state the date of the conference, as I have not yet received replies from all the parties invited. The second part of the Noble Lord's question does not, therefore, arise. In reply to the last part, I would refer him to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Eye (Mr. Granville) on 28th November, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the average price of English wheat quoted in the home markets in the years 1926, 1927, 1928, and on 1st December, 1929; and the average retail prices of the 4 lb. loaf in the same years and at the same date in 1929?

The following statement shows for the undermentioned periods the average price of British wheat per cwt. of 112 lbs. in England and Wales as ascertained under the Corn Returns Act, 1882, and the Corn Sales Act, 1921, together with the average retail price of bread^* in the United Kingdom per 4 lb. loaf.

Year.	Average price of British wheat.		Average Retail price of Bread.
	Per cwt.		Per 4 lb. loaf.
	s.	d.	d.
1926	12	5	10
1927	11	6	9¾
1928	10	0	9
Week ending—2nd Nov., 1929	9	5	9†
Week ending—30th Nov., 1929	9	4	‡
* From the "Ministry of Labour Gazette."
† Average price on the 1st November, 1929.
‡ Figure for 1st December, 1929, not yet available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the importance which the Government attach to the development of organisation for the efficient marketing of agricultural produce, he will give special attention to this aspect of marketing reform as well as to the extension of schemes of standardising, grading, and marking?

The answer is in the affirmative. I consider that there is very considerable scope and need for investigation of the organisation aspect of the marketing problem, and I am able to announce that the funds at present at the disposal of the Ministry for marketing investigation work, which amount to £40,000 a year, will be augmented by an additional annual grant of £12,000 which will be used for the purpose of approaching the problems of marketing organisation on the lines already followed so successfully in the sphere of standardising, grading and marking. As an immediate step to encourage the development of co-operative marketing, the Government have decided to ease the conditions under which loans are made to co-operative enterprises, by extending, where necessary, the initial free-of-interest period from two to five years and by introducing terms of repayment which will be less burdensome in the early years of a loan.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress is being made with the grading and marketing of agricultural produce; the number of grading and packing stations; and the agricultural products now handled in this manner?

The provisions of the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1928, have so far been applied to the following products, the chronological order being:

(1) Apples and pears.

(2) Eggs.

(3) Cornish broccoli for export.

(4) Tomatoes and cucumbers.

(5) Wheat flour.

(6) Beef.

(7) Malt products.

While a number of National Mark Schemes have hardly been in existence long enough to allow of final judgment, there is no doubt that some of the earlier schemes are now firmly established in the sphere of agricultural marketing. Definite progress is also being made in the case of the more recent schemes despite initial difficulties which are being gradually overcome. The numbers of packers at present authorised in the existing schemes are:

Apples	…	…	…	70
Pears	…	…	…	9
Eggs	…	…	…	160
Tomatoes	…	…	…	77
Cucumbers	…	…	…	24
Wheat flour	…	…	…	158
Malt products	…	…	…	31

The Broccoli export scheme is seasonal and will come into operation again in January, 1930. Under the Beef scheme, which is still in an experimental stage, the grading is done by the Ministry's officers. Schemes for other home-produced commodities are under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what has been the result of the grading and marketing of eggs under the organisation of the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1928; whether the producers of eggs have received higher prices; and how the import of eggs from other countries has been affected?

The following results may be definitely attributed to the National Mark Scheme for eggs intro- duced under the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1928:

(i) The statutory standards of weight and quality for home-produced eggs are now widely recognised and accepted.

(ii) The level of egg marketing technique has been greatly improved, especially in relation to candling, and methods of grading and packing.

(iii) National Mark eggs have secured the premier position above all other eggs M the large wholesale markets.

(iv) National Mark eggs have secured entry into quarters where previously dependence was largely placed upon imported eggs.

(v) The distributive trades have recognised the advantages of standardised quality and packing, with continuity of supply, now offered by National Mark eggs.

(vi) The production of eggs in this country has been encouraged and the numbers of fowls on farms largely increased, with corresponding benefit to agricultural employment.

I may add that the prices realised by egg producers for most of their output have been rather higher in 1929 than in 1928, while the number of eggs imported during the 10 months ended 31st October fell by more than 200,000,000 (or 8 per cent.) as compared with the same period in 1928.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of county councils which have submitted schemes for small holdings under the Small Holdings Act, 1926; the number of schemes submitted; the number which have been sanctioned; and the number of small holdings which have been provided by approved schemes to date?

Up to the present date 32 county councils have submitted 126 schemes for the acquisition of land under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1926. 29 schemes were withdrawn either before or after approval; two have been refused and one is still under consideration. The remaining 94 approved schemes comprise an area of 8,683 acres of which, however, 1,125 acres is land that was leased under earlier Acts and has now been purchased. The number of additional holdings provided is 333. The figures given are exclusive of acquisitions not involving a loss to the council; these are not submitted for approval but the number is small.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many co-operative bacon factories there are in Great Britain; whether the number is increasing or decreasing; and if any new factories have been established during the past 12 months?

There are now three co-operative bacon factories in England and one in Scotland. In 1924, there were six such factories working in England. None has been started within the last 12 months.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the results obtained in other countries by systematic investigation into the economic side of agriculture, particularly in regard to farm management, he will institute similar investigations in this country?

Year ended 31st March.			Produced in the United Kingdom from Homegrown Beet.	From Imported sources.
				Imported Refined.	Refined in the United Kingdom from Imported Sugar(a).	Total.
			Cwt.	Cwt.	Cwt.	Cwt.
1925	…	…	473,050	13,332,384	16,385,897	29,718,281
1926	…	…	1,000,628	12,068 049	18,304,898	30,372,947
1927	…	…	2,726,603	14,425,431	14,808,429	29,233,860
1928	…	…	3,560,563	9,289,908	18,937,166	28,227,074
1929	…	…	3,678,162	2,981,749	(a)28,200,000	31,181,749

(

I am well aware of the importance of this matter, which has received my close attention. I have made arrangements for the extension of research into the economic problems of agriculture, and my Department is at present engaged in preparing a scheme to enable the Universities and agricultural colleges with State financial assistance to carry out farm management surveys on lines similar to those followed in the United States of America.

asked the Minister of Agriculture for each of the last five years the amount of refined sugar consumed; the respective quantities coming from home-grown and imported sources; the amount of subsidy paid each year upon the former; and the average selling price per cwt.?

The following statement shows the net quantities of refined sugar retained for home consumption in the United Kingdom during each of the last five financial years, showing the quantities coming from home-grown and imported sources respectively.back. The amount of subsidy paid on homegrown beet sugar in each of the last five financial years and the average selling price per hundredweight were as follow:

Year ended 31st March.		Subsidy paid.			Average price per cwt.
		£	s.	d.	s.	d.
1925	…	465,798	13	9	31	1
1926	…	1,001,067	4	2	26	1½
1927	…	2,998,550	7	11	31	8
1928	…	3,700,199	0	4	27	6
1929	…	2,532,690	16	1	21	10

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that the tax of 4d. per gallon levied on petrol-driven tractors used for arable cultivation really falls on British food production, and that the total incidence of the tax on a 1,000 acre arable farm is more than double the amount of rates payable before the farm was de-rated, he will consider granting a rebate of 3s. to 4s. per acre actually cultivated against receipts for petrol certified by a farmer to have been used for arable cultivation?

The information obtained by my predecessor at the time of the inception of the oil tax showed that with very few exceptions agricultural tractors are run on kerosene, though a little petrol may be used for starting purposes. He decided that in the circumstances there were no adequate grounds for a rebate, and I see no ground for disturbing that decision.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any statistics that will show the total capital, including debentures, invested in the operation of beet sugar factories at the last known date; and can he state the proportion that was believed to be British?

The total capital, including debentures, at present invested in the 19 beet sugar factories in Great Britain, is £7,455,000. Of this amount 78.5 per cent. is believed to be British.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will further consider the question of fixing the dates governing the coming examination for the executive class of the Civil Service in accordance with the spirit of paragraph 77 of the joint committee's report of February, 1920, in view of the fact that the present dates, while allowing a certain latitude, penalise a small section of young persons born between January, 1911, and March, 1911?

The regulations governing the examination to which my hon. Friend refers have already been issued, and I regret that it is not possible so to vary their terms as to include persons born within the two months January and February, 1911.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether the committee which he has appointed to examine the possibility of erecting new Government offices in Whitehall will, before reporting, give special consideration to the desirability of decentralising portions of the staff and housing them elsewhere, on lines similar to those adopted by the Ministries of Pensions and Labour, and in the case of the Post Office Savings Bank; and whether the matters under consideration by the committee include any proposal to vary the building line on the Thames Embankment?

An exhaustive investigation was made by an interdepartmental committee some years ago into the possibility of decentralising departmental staffs from the Whitehall area, and I am satisfied that no further steps can be taken in that direction at the present time. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of male officers who have made application for transfer from the Claims and Record Office of the Ministry of Labour, Kew, to the Ministry of Health?

Eighty-nine "P" Class officers serving in the Claims and Record Office of the Ministry of Labour have put their names forward for transfer to the Ministry of Health, in response to an invitation for applications from those desiring such a transfer.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the coming winter-time and of the fact that the more immediate needs of the unemployed cannot be improved substantially before next March, he will make representations to the guardians of the poor as to the necessity for treating the recipients of poor relief as generously as the limits of the law permit?

In a circular issued by the Local Government Board in 1910 emphasis was laid on the plain duty of the guardians to secure that relief was adequate in amount, and that the recipient was sufficiently fed, clothed, and lodged. This expression of the guardians' duty, which includes the duty of providing for any special needs such as may be occasioned by winter conditions, accords with the present policy of the Department. My right hon. Friend does not think it necessary to issue a, further circular on the subject, but he has instructed his inspectors, where necessary, to bring the matter prominently to the notice of boards of guardians.

asked the Minister of Health if he is prepared to consider area schemes for providing employment in the building of rural cottages and the provision of a system for the supply of drinking water in villages?

My right hon. Friend proposes to give special consideration to the question of rural housing in connection with forthcoming legislation. As regards rural water supplies, my right hon. Friend will be prepared to consider any schemes and I may point out that the Government have recently announced special terms of assistance as part of their unemployment proposals.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what schemes for dealing with the unemployment problem have been settled or are under consideration in respect of the Borough of Wolverhampton and the Urban District Councils of Willenhall, Wednesfield, and Short Heath?

The Unemployment Grants Committee is at present considering applications in respect of seven schemes for roads, sewers and other works submitted by the Wolverhampton Borough Council. The estimated total cost of these schemes is £51,550. An application from the Wednesfield Urban District Council in respect of a sewerage scheme estimated to cost £34,000 was approved for grant by the Committee in July last. The Ministry of Transport have received a list of suggested works from the Borough of Wolverhampton, the principal scheme being the construction of a by-pass road on the east of the borough at an approximate expenditure of £170,000. This scheme is still under consideration by the corporation. Two other schemes of road improvement estimated to cost £9,520 have already been approved for grant, and details of a further scheme estimated to cost £14,000 are being examined. The Staffordshire County Council are preparing a programme of road works for submission to the Ministry of Transport and have invited urban district councils to forward proposals. Apart from this programme three schemes submitted by the Wednesfield Urban District Council estimated to cost £3,000 have already been approved by the Ministry and the grants issued. Schemes submitted by the Short Heath Urban District Council estimated to cost £2,636 are in course of being approved and a scheme from the Willenhall Urban District Council estimated to cost £1,631 is now being examined. The Development (Public Utility) Advisory Committee have recommended for assistance railway schemes in and near Wolverhampton estimated to cost £325,000.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is aware that several big jobs to be undertaken by the Corporation of Birmingham have been passed by a Government inspector; and if he can take any steps to accelerate progress with these jobs?

I understand that my hon. Friend the Minister of Transport notified the Birmingham Corporation on 24th September that 15 road and bridge schemes at an estimated cost of £608,000 were approved in principle for assistance from the Road Fund. Up to the present plans and estimates for five out of these 15 schemes have been submitted by the Corporation to my hon. Friend, who is making every effort to expedite consideration. Eight schemes to the total value of £270,000 have been submitted to the Unemployment Grants Committee since 4th November. Of these, the most important, to the value of £107,000, was only submitted on 27th November. All these schemes are under active examination.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the estimated aggregate sums in the next full financial year based on an average live register of 1,200,000 which will be receivable in unemployment contributions and payable in unemployment benefits and training, respectively, in respect of insured persons in each of the following age classes: 15 years and under 16, 16 and under 17, 17 and under 18, 18 and under 19, 19 and under 20, 20 and under 21, and 21 years of age and over, distinguishing in each class the sums payable to male and female insured persons, respectively?

I will obtain such information as is available, and will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of claims to benefit disallowed by insurance officers which were referred to Courts of Referees for the last available month?

During the period 15th October to 11th November, 1929, the number of benefit appeals considered by Courts of Referees in Great Britain was

Date.			Men.	Boys.	Women.	Girls.	Total.
1929.			Plymouth.
4th November	…	…	3,654	87	550	104	4,395
11th November	…	…	3,792	88	577	108	4,565
18th November	…	…	3,925	95	589	104	4,713
25th November	…	…	3,975	87	594	95	4,751
			Devonport.
4th November	…	…	1,761	68	227	55	2,111
11th November	…	…	1,810	63	255	55	2,183
18th November	…	…	1,764	59	253	56	2,132
25th November	…	…	1,778	55	270	52	2,155

asked the Minister of Labour the number of people unemployed in the vehicle building trade as at 1st November, 1928, and 1st November, 1929?

The following table shows the numbers of insured persons, aged 16 to 64, classified as belonging to the vehicle building industries, recorded as unemployed in Great Britain at 21st October, 1929, and at 22nd October, 1928, the nearest dates for which figures are available:

Industry.	21st Oct., 1929.	22nd Oct., 1928.
Construction and repair of:
Motor vehicles, cycles and aircraft.	19,509	19,220
Carriages, carts, etc.	1,609	1,938
Railway carriages, wagons and tramcars.	5,776	5,459
Total	26,894	26,617

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons, specifying men, women, boys and girls, on the Devonport and Plymouth Employment Exchanges, respectively, for the month of November, 1929?

The figures are as follow:Numbers on Registers of the Employment Exchanges at Plymouth and Devon-port respectively on each Monday in November, 1929:

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of unemployed building-trade workers registered at the Walsall Employment Exchange as unemployed on 29th November last, analysed as to their specific occupations?

The following table gives the numbers of insured persons aged 16 to 64 classified as belonging to the building industry and recorded as unemployed at the Walsall Employment Exchange on 25th November, 1929:

Occupation.		Numbers Unemployed.
Carpenters	…	…	15
Bricklayers	…	…	16
Slaters	…	…	2
Plasterers	…	…	16
Painters	…	…	30
Labourers to above	…	…	155
All other occupations	…	…	102
Total	…	…	336

asked the Minister of Labour if, taking the Tyne-side Employment Exchanges, she will state in each case the number of unemployed receiving benefit, the number of dependants drawing allowances, and the outlay in each case as compared with the corresponding figures for 12 months ago?

Statistics of the numbers on the register at a given date

Employment Exchange.	Number of claims admitted or under consideration.		Claims authorised for Dependants Benefit.						Amount of Unemployment Benefit paid at the Exchange.
			Number of cases.		Number of adults for whom benefit was authorised.		Number of children for whom benefit was authorised.
	26th NOV., 1928.	25th Nov., 1929.	19th Nov., 1928.	18th Nov., 1929.	19th Nov., 1928.	18th Nov., 1929.	19th Nov., 1928.	18th Nov., 1929.	Week ended 23rd Nov., 1928.	Week ended 22nd Nov., 1929.
									£	£
Blaydon	1,930	1,269	946	576	919	623	1,664	909	2,030	1,170
Dupston	723	539	362	243	359	236	668	482	683	565
Elswick	3,369	3,011	1,553	1,429	1,476	1,318	2,192	2,172	2,895	2,687
Felling	1,254	846	734	528	703	516	1,264	935	1,229	879
Gateshead	6,185	5,302	2,793	2,591	2,701	2,457	4,096	3,808	5,485	4,533
Heaton	5,230	3,988	2,632	1,928	2,556	1,840	4,192	2,870	4,482	3,322
Hebburn	1,889	889	969	473	938	445	1,733	922	1,933	879
Jarrow	3,324	1,773	2,003	1,114	1,934	1,061	3,501	2,104	3,211	1,863
Newburn	829	759	586	454	569	440	914	595	1,019	774
Newcastle-on-Tyne.	5,680	5,237	2,355	2,267	2,240	2,160	4,081	3,350	4,922	4,674
North Shields	3,747	2,787	1,916	1,437	1,769	1,398	2,372	2,106	3,253	2,509
South Shields	8,643	6,523	5,786	4,189	5,566	4,041	7,695	5,498	7,582	5,480
Walker	1,435	824	852	442	837	440	1,260	857	1,538	828
Wallsend	2,454	1,548	1,307	662	1,271	646	1,957	927	2,093	1,067
Willington Quay.	1,073	505	590	268	581	259	955	507	1,038	524
Total	47,765	35,800	25,384	18,601	24,419	17,880	38,544	28,042	43,393	31,754

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether his attention has been drawn to the large restaurants which are established in the Bois de Boulogne in Paris and also in the principal parks in many other large Continental cities; and will he consider granting facilities for the erection of like establishments in Hyde Park?

Existing arrangements will come under review on the termination of present contracts, and such improvements as are considered necessary will be made.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he has arrived at any further decision with reference to additional lighting for Hyde Park and the other Royal parks?

I have arrived at certain conclusions as to the need for extra lighting in Hyde Park, and I hope shortly to be in a position to put my proposals into effect. The question of providing additional lighting for the other Royal parks does not arise to the same extent.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether his attention has been called to the excessive number of fatal and other accidents which have occurred in Hyde Park during the last two years; and what steps he proposes to take, either by the provision of more lighting or the establishment of a speed limit, in order to make the park safe for pedestrian and vehicular traffic?

My attention has been called to these accidents, and I have referred the whole question of the safety of the roads in Hyde Park for pedestrian and vehicular traffic to the Traffic Advisory Committee for London and the Home Counties. Meanwhile, I am considering improving the lighting of one stretch of road, in advance of any recommendations made by the committee.

asked the President of the Board of Education the estimated total number of children on the register of public elementary schools on 31st March of each of the 10 years from 1930 to 1939; and the estimated number of children who will leave the public elementary schools and receive no further general education in the course of each of the same years, assuming that the rate of variation of numbers of available places in secondary schools remain unaltered during that period?

The estimated numbers of children aged five and over on the registers of public elementary schools at 31st March in the years 1930 to 1939 are as follow:

On 31st March, 1930	…	5,353,000
On 31st March, 1931	…	5,342,000
On 31st March, 1932	…	5,771,600
On 31st March, 1933	…	5,769,000
On 31st March, 1934	…	5,772,000
On 31st March, 1935	…	5,662,000
On 31st March, 1936	…	5,487,000
On 31st March, 1937	…	5,335,000
On 31st March, 1938	…	5,241,000
On 31st March, 1939	…	5,170,000

The second part of the question involves actuarial calculations which I am afraid could not be undertaken without an undue expenditure of labour, and the results of which must be largely conjectural. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a Circular (No. 1395) which contains a report by the Government Actuary on the future numbers of children in public elementary schools.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has any estimate of the number of children of van-dwellers and similar persons who regularly evade or ignore the legal requirement of minimum attendances at public elementary schools?

I am afraid that there is no material available on which such an estimate could be based.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many non-provided elementary schools are at present on the black list and what prospects are there of their satisfying the Board's requirements in the immediate future?

1,348 voluntary schools, out of an original total of 2,113, remain on the black list. Plans have been approved which will result in the removal of a further 229 schools from the list.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many Ringrose firedamp indicators are now in use in mines since their approval for general use in mines under the Coal Mines Act, 1911, was made; whether any other firedamp indicators have been approved, and, if so, to what extent in use; and how many indicators would be necessary in the industry before they could be classed as in general use?

I have not got a precise figure, but according to my information Ringrose firedamp indicators, which are the only approved indicators which are entirely automatic, are, or have been, in use in small numbers at about a dozen collieries, chiefly in Yorkshire. In addition to ordinary flame safety lamps and types of flame safety lamp specially designed for gas testing, two other firedamp indicators have been approved—one is known as the "Gulliford" detector and the other is a combined flame and electric safety lamp. These two types of indicator are being used and tried out at a few collieries—again I cannot state exactly in what numbers. There are several other types of indicator in course of development which have not yet been definitely approved, but experimental trials of which have been made below ground with my sanction. The last part of the question is hypothetical and does not at present arise.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in considering legislation for the coal mines, be has obtained information as to whether the organisation of the German Coal Kartells, as described in the appendix to the Report of the Departmental Committee on Cooperative Selling in the Coal Mining Industry, 1926, still continues unchanged; and, if not, what changes there have been?

My Department has very full information regarding the Rhenish-Westphalian Syndicate, and, so far as I am aware, there has been no fundamental change in the organisation of the syndicate since the issue of the Report to which the right hon. Gentleman refers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is yet in a position to announce the final decision of the Government with regard to their contribution towards the voluntary fund for the benefit of sufferers from the recent fishing disaster?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my previous replies on this subject.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether arrangements have been made to employ directly by His Majesty's Office of Works those tradesmen in Edinburgh who are fully employed in the work of his Department but have been engaged previously through contractors, or whether other arrangements have been made to put those workers on the same footing as other State employés who are given an annual holiday with pay?

The question of substituting direct labour in place of the present contract system is under consideration by the chief officers of the Department. If it is finally decided to change the system some time will necessarily elapse before the change can take place. The grant of holidays with pay cannot be arranged under the contract system, as I am satisfied that it would be improper to call upon contractors to grant such holidays unless it is the general practice of good employers in the trade concerned to do so.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the figures for the total number of Jewish immigrants into Palestine between 1919 and 1920; and whether any of the Jewish colonies formed there are yet self-supporting?

I have no figures for 1919 and the early part of 1920. From 1st September, 1920, the date on which the Immigration and Travel Department of the Palestine Government was established, until 30th September, 1929, approximately 95,700 Jewish immigrants entered Palestine. I regret that I have not the necessary information to enable me to reply to the second part of the hon. and gallant Member's question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of Jews and Arabs that have been sentenced to death in Palestine since the recent riots and for what offences; and how many have appealed and with what result?

One Jew and eight Arabs have been sentenced to death. I am unable to furnish details of the various charges. The law provides for an appeal in all cases. Four appeals were down for hearing last week. I have seen a Press report to the effect that one appeal was dismissed; but I have received no report from the High Commissioner on the subject.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received any communication from the Woolwich Borough Council concerning the draft scheme for the transfer to the London County Council of the functions relating to Poor Law; what representations have been made by the Council; what have been his replies thereto; and whether the scheme has now been finally approved by him?

—	Number of persons in receipt of		Total.
	Institutional Relief (including casuals, but excluding lunatics in county and borough asylums).	Domiciliary Relief (excluding persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only).
1. Parish of Devonport	255	1,929	2,184
2. Parish of Plymouth	614	2,681	3,295
3. Parish of East Storehouse	69	457	526

asked the Minister of Health the latest figures for each of the Tyneside poor Law unions,

The borough council made a representation to me under Section 8 of the Local Government Act, 1929, in a letter of which I am sending the right hon. Member a copy, together with a copy of my reply. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that certain boards of guardians remunerate the collectors employed by them on a commission basis according to the amount collected; and whether he will take steps to prevent this practice?

The answer to the first part of the hon. and gallant Member's question is in the affirmative. My right hon. Friend is not aware of any substantial ground for his intervention. In any case, as my right hon. Friend informed the hon. and gallant Member on 5th November, the appointments and remuneration of collectors to boards of guardians are not subject to his sanction.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in receipt of parish relief in the parishes of Devonport, Plymouth, and Stonehouse, respectively, specifying the various categories for the month of November, 1929?

The following statement shows the number of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief on Saturday, 23rd November, 1929, in the parishes of Devonport, Plymouth and East Stone-house:showing the institutional costs in each case, the number of inmates, the number in receipt of out-door relief, and the weekly amounts of money disbursed as compared with the respective figures of 12 months ago?

—	Tynemouth Union.		Newcastle-upon Tyne Parish.		Castle Ward Union.		Gateshead Union.		South Shields Union.
	1929.	1928.	1929.	1928.	1929.	1928.	1929.	1928.	1929.	1928.
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Total cost of Institutional Relief (excluding coat of Lunatics in Asylums) during the year ended 31st March.	60,268	55,814	108,316	107,457	4,595	4,964	59,472	59,542	63,451	60,698
Number of persons in receipt of Institutional Poor Law Relief (excluding Lunatics in Asylums) on the fourth Saturday in November in each year.	1,048	1,065	1,749	1,814	105	112	1,117	1,151	1,043	1,083
Average weekly number of persons in receipt of Out door relief (other than Medical Relief only) during the month of October in each year.	7,140	7,605	16,412	17,627	1,996	2,033	16,216	19,424	10,456	12,469
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Average weekly cost of Out-relief in money and kind (other than medical relief only) during the month of October in each year.	1,784	1,933	5,247	5,676	519	463	4,767	5,749	2,675	3,199