asked the Minister of Labour whether she can state the number of boys who have been transferred for employment to the borough of Southwark in the county of London area for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date;and whether grants from the Lord Mayor's Fund in aid of maintenance have been allowed in these cases, and the amount?

During the 12 months ended 31st October, 1929, six boys were transferred from the depressed mining areas to employment in Southwark. Grants from the Lord Mayor's Fund varying from 5s. to 7s. 6d. per week were made in the case of five of these boys. The grants are not payable unless the juvenile in each case is receiving from the employer something in wages each week over and above the proper local rate of wage.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether any negotiations are going on at the present time for the transference of juvenile labour to this district?

I could not say without notice.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she is aware that certain Employment Exchanges in the Liverpool area employ part-time clerks at weekends for the making up of accounts; that these clerks are already holding good positions in private firms; and whether she will cause this practice to cease and give full-time employment to one or more at present unemployed clerks?

This work has to be done on Friday evenings, after the delivery of the weekly pay sheets by the various employers and in readiness for payment on Saturday morning. It is not practicable therefore to deal with it by means of full-time engagement of clerks.

Will the right hon. Lady consider this matter again in view of the serious objections which exist locally with regard to this practice?

I am not sure whether my hon. Friend is aware that this particular arrangement with the dock employers is purely for the convenience of the dockers. The work requires speed and accuracy and must be done by experienced people.

Is it not a fact that the Exchange referred to was specially created to deal with casual labour only, and does not deal with unemployment in other directions?

May I ask whether this practice would be permitted under the Washington Convention?

asked the Minister of Labour if she will give the average annual increase or decrease, as between the first week in June and the first week in December, for the years 1925 to 1928, inclusive, of the unemployment register figures?

As the reply contains a table, I will circulate it, if I may, in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Cannot the right hon. Lady give a summary showing the average for the four years?

I could give the figures—

Circulate!

asked the Minister of Labour (1) the number of unemployed signed on at the following Employment Exchanges, Alfreton and Belper, during October, 1928, and October, 1929;

(2) the number of unemployed signing on at the Employment Exchange at Ripley; and how many reside at Heage and Nether Heage?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed on the unemployment registers in each Employment Exchange area in the county of Durham?

I will circulate statements in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as the information desired can be tabulated.

Can the right hon. Lady give the particulars asked for in question number 21?

asked the Minister of Labour whether she is aware of the inconvenience caused to the unemployed of Beverley by the inadequate accommodation at the Employment Exchange, which has only one small room, with the entrance and exit through one door, with the result that large queues are formed outside in the main street, which is very narrow, and there is considerable congestion of traffic; and will she cause inquiry to be made with a view to providing alternative premises or carrying out alterations to the existing buildings, so that the work may be carried out more expeditiously and provide shelter for those compelled to have recourse to the Employment Exchange?

Inquiry has been made and certain improvements effected in the timing arrangements for applicants. If these do not prove satisfactory, other steps will be taken.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she is now in a position to make any statement with reference to the Macclesfield Employment Exchange?

No, Sir, I have nothing to add to my previous reply.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will call attention to the matter on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she is making any arrangements with the local Employment Exchanges that for the purpose of interviews a special room or rooms should be provided where claimants can be interviewed by officers away from the observation and hearing of others, in accordance with a recommendation of the Morris Report?

It is the policy of the Ministry to provide separate interview rooms for men, women and juveniles, respectively, in all Employment Exchange premises. Such accommodation has been provided in all the new buildings, and also in the existing buildings, as far as the accommodation will permit.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she has received any representations from the Plymouth and District Trades Council supporting the recommendation that Plymouth should be regarded as a distressed area under the unemployment grants scheme; and whether she will favourably consider this request?

I have received the representations referred to, but in view of the need of continuing to concentrate transfer efforts on the severely depressed mining areas, I am not prepared to extend the schedule to cover areas such as Plymouth.

asked the Minister of Labour if her attention has been called to the case of Mr. Albert Farrington, Tyldesley Road, Hindsford, Atherton, whose claim for unemployment benefit was before the court of referees on 28th August and allowed by them; if she is aware that since then he has made repeated applications for payment, but was told the matter was being considered by the chief insurance officer; that on Friday, 29th November, he was told his claim had been disallowed by the chief insurance officer and would have to go before the umpire, no reason being given for the long delay; and will she see that such long periods are avoided?

I regret the delay which has taken place. The case is now before the umpire.

May I ask when the right hon. Lady received the original communication which was forwarded to her Department?

As a matter of fact, I am giving special attention to this particular case in which there have been delays which I am not satisfied should have occurred.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of people at present being refused unemployment benefit on the ground that they are not genuinely seeking work?

I regret that precise statistics are not available regarding the total number of persons at present unemployed whose claims for benefit have been disallowed on the ground "not genuinely seeking work."

asked the Minister of Labour how many men training facilities are available at Brandon; and how many are now under training there?

At the Brandon Training Centre 250 places are available for the training of men in farm work for employment overseas. Three annexes, each with a capacity of 200, are also available as required. The number of men receiving training for employment overseas at the Centre and annexes is now 287. In addition, 60 places are available for the training of men as handymen for employment in this country. The number of men at the Centre receiving handymen training is now 42.

Can the right hon. Lady say why only 287 men are receiving training when apparently 850 are provided for?

The main reason is the difficulty of recruiting in connection with the distressed areas at the present time. The actual number on any given date cannot always be regarded as a measure of what is happening throughout the whole month, because a certain set of men may have finished training, and on the day when they leave it is quite possible that the others cannot be immediately got into their places. A week later there may be a considerable difference in the figures.

Has there been this number of vacancies in the course of the last two months, or is it purely fortuitous?

There has been a much larger number of vacancies than I care to see.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total of places available under her Department for training of men; and how many are now receiving training?

As the reply is somewhat long, I will circulate it, if I may, in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour if she is aware that on 5th December, 1929, a number of men were sent by the Warrington Employment Exchange to the Partington Steel Works, Irlam, for work on the slag heap; that these men had to pay their own train fares; that when they arrived at 8 a.m. they were compelled to wait until 9.20 a.m. before being interviewed, when they were told there were no vacancies; and that the work to which these Warrington men were sent was in dispute, no statement being made to the men by the Employment Exchange regarding the matter, the dispute being settled On the morning the men arrived; and if she will issue instructions to Employment Exchange officials not to send men into areas where there are already unemployed workmen suitable and available for such employ-anent as exists, and also in all cases to give information as to any dispute which may exist?

I am making inquiries, and will let the hon. Member know the result.

asked the Minister of Health the number of unemployed men in receipt of Poor Law relief, and the amount of relief paid to them, in each board of guardians area in the county of Durham?

As the reply contains a number of figures in tabular form I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she will consider calling a conference of business men with a view to finding some better means of utilising the unemployment fund?

No, Sir. The uses to which the Unemployment Fund may be put are prescribed by Statute, and cannot be altered without further legislation, which has to be discussed and decided in Parliament.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that many bicyclists have either no red rear reflectors on their bicycles or else have them placed in a position where they cannot reflect the light; and whether he will take steps to enforce the law in the interests of the bicyclists whose lives are endangered by being invisible?

Yes, Sir: and as I stated in reply to another question recently, I have taken steps by calling the attention of the police to the matter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman also send a letter round to the chief constables of all the counties?

I imagine the communication would in the first instance go to the chief constables.

Will the right hon. Gentleman also point out to the authorities that many of the reflectors cannot be seen at all?

asked the Home Secretary how many prosecutions were instituted by the police for the dangerous driving of motor vehicles in cases where accidents had taken place during the last six months; and how many prosecutions for dangerous driving were instituted in cases where no accident took place during the same period?

Figures for the last six months are not yet available, and the figures that are collected do not indicate in each case of dangerous driving whether an accident had actually resulted.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to an accident which took place on Friday, 29th November, on the occasion of the opening of the Motor Cycle Show at Olympia, when Mr. Kaye Don and Mr. Bobby Howes engaged in a race on motor cycles in a crowded public thoroughfare, namely, Addison Road, the course being covered twice by each competitor; whether he is aware that Mr. Kaye Don, travelling at great speed, was obliged to mount the pavement to avoid a head-on crash with a taximeter cab and only narrowly escaped injuring several other persons as well as himself; whether the police have instituted any proceedings against the individuals involved; and what steps are taken by the police to prevent racing at high speed on motor cycles in London streets or whether it is an offence against the law?

The police know nothing of any such incident and the answers to the first three parts of the question are, therefore, in the negative. Any racing on motor cycles in London streets would, no doubt, involve offences of exceeding the speed limit or driving recklessly or to the danger of the public. It is the duty of the police to take action if any such offences come to their notice, and, in addition to the police employed on ordinary duties officers are specially employed to detect motoring offences.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at least eight daily papers, London and provincial, reported the incident in full in the terms set out in the question, and, further, that numbers of eye witnesses have written to the Press inquiring why a prosecution has not been undertaken?

I can only say that I have satisfied myself that the police had no information.

Were any Members of the House present?

Were not some policemen present, and, if so, why did they not report it to the authorities?

I have no information on the point.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see if he can get sufficient evidence to justify a prosecution?

My answer indicates that complete inquiry was made.

asked the Home Secretary whether, now that the final Report of the Royal Commission on Local Government has been received, it is proposed to proceed with those petitions of incorporation which have been before the Privy Council for some considerable time and held up pending the final Report or whether they will have to await new legislation?

I understand that the question is at present under consideration by my right hon. Friend, the Lord President of the Council.

When may we expect a statement from the Government on the matter?

If, later on, a question is put down, I will do my best to supply an answer.

Next week?

Probably.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will appoint a Departmental Committee on the recruitment of local government officers in accordance with the recommendations of the Final Report of the Royal Commission on Local Government?

This matter is receiving my consideration with other recommendations of the Royal Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Education (1) what steps he proposes to take to secure the additional men teachers who will be required to teach the extra 200,000 boys who will be retained in the elementary schools as a result of the raising of the school age;

(2) whether he is aware that, owing to the large excess of women teachers over men in the elementary schools, numbers of junior boys of ages 11 plus and 12 minus are put under the charge of women teachers; that this is not satisfactory either to the parents or to the boys themselves, especially as far as it affects their sports and games; that the difficulty will be accentuated by the raising of the school age; and whether he will take steps to recruit a supply of men teachers in these schools sufficient to ensure that a master is available for each class of these junior boys?

I am fully alive to the importance of securing an adequate proportion of men among the additional teachers who will be required when the school age is raised. Steps have been taken to secure an increased number of admissions to the training colleges, and it may reassure the hon. Member to know that of the additional students so admitted half are men.

Is not the additional number this quarter as compared with last quarter very small indeed?

No. There is a great increase in the number and the proportion of men is as high as that of women.

Am I not right in saying that the increase is not much more than one or two hundred?

It is much more than that. If the noble Lord puts down a question, I will tell him how many.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many teachers there are in State-aided secondary schools; and how many have undergone a course of training extending over one year or more?

On the 31st March, 1928, there were 20,102 full-time teachers in secondary schools on the grant list, of whom 8,671 are known to have passed through a course of training of at least one year's duration. In addition a considerable proportion of the specialist teachers of art, music, handicraft, domestic subjects and physical training have undergone such a course, though precise statistics in respect of them are not available.

Will my right hon. Friend consider making a regulation whereby the future appointments to secondary schools shall be from those who have undergone a course of training?

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state, in respect of each county, what proportion of children over 14 years of age can be accommodated on the appointed day in reorganised schools in which there are facilities for giving technical instruction and competent teachers for giving such instruction; and what proportion of such children will have to stay on in small rural schools after they attain the age of 14?

I must await the authorities' programmes before I can Form an estimate of the extent to which re-organisation will have been completed by 1st April, 1931. But, as I indicated in the Debate on the Motion of the right hon. Member for North Cornwall (Sir D. Maclean) on the 13th November, there are good reasons for believing that in most counties adequate provision will by then have been made.

Has not the right hon. Gentleman received representations from several county councils asking for the postponement of the appointed day on the ground that they cannot provide the necessary accommodation by the appointed day?

No, I have not received any yet.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether it is proposed to develop a new kind of education in connection with the training of school children in the final years of their tuition when the school-leaving age is raised; and, if so, what this form of instruction will be?

Perhaps I may refer the hon. Member to Circular 1404 (of which I am sending him a copy), which indicates the nature of the instruction which it is my aim to secure for the older children.

asked the President, of the Board of Education if he can now state the estimated increase in elementary school places caused by raising the school-leaving age to 15; what is the estimated increase in the number of teachers; and what is the estimated cost of the necessary new buildings for each of the three years after the raising of the age?

As I have previously explained, I must await the authorities' programmes for the next three years before I can supply the particulars for which the hon. Member asks.

Are we to take it that the Government have launched upon this enormous increase in education without knowing approximately what the cost will be, or what further numbers of teachers and buildings will be wanted?

Certainly not.

Cannot we have an answer.

Answer!

The right hon. Gentleman has answered the question.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he has considered the burden that will be placed upon the managers of all non-provided schools throughout the country by the raising of the school age to 15; and if the Government propose to grant assistance to the managers of these non-provided schools, as well as to the provided schools, in order to enable them to carry out the alterations and improvements to their schools which are necessary in order that they may be able to make satisfactory arrangements for the attendance at school of additional children?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the answer which I gave to a similar question on the 31st October.

asked the President of the Board of Education when the proposed Education Bill will be introduced; and whether it is proposed to submit it for Second Reading before Christmas?

asked the President of the Board of Education when he expects to be able to introduce the Education Bill?

I hope that the Bill will be in the hands of hon. Members next Thursday. It is not proposed to take the Second Reading before Christmas.

Will a Memorandum be published at the same time dealing with the financial aspect of the raising of the school age and also dealing with maintenance allowances?

I have promised to make a statement in answer to a question.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what opportunity he is going to take for making his statement?

I presume I shall answer a question about it.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Board of Education is satisfied that geographical and historical text-books now in use have been brought thoroughly up to date; and whether he is taking any steps to give effect to the suggestion recently emanating from Canada that there should be a conference of publishers of school books in this country and the Dominions?

I am not entirely satisfied on this matter. The recent report of the Board's Consultative Committee on Books in Public Elementary Schools, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, makes several references to the point, and I sincerely hope that the conclusions of that committee are receiving the careful consideration of all those concerned in the production of text- books for schools. With regard to the second part of the question, I do not think that I could convene a conference of publishers of school books, but I shall be glad to use my good offices, if I am invited to do so, to bring the publishers of school books into touch with the representatives of the Dominion Governments.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the number of London County Council junior scholars admitted to Dulwich College has been reduced since the approval of the new scheme for that foundation by the Board of Education; if so, what is the extent of the reduction; and does he propose to make representations to the governors that they should retain free-place admissions at their former level?

The scheme took effect as from the 30th March, 1928. I am informed that in the school year 1927–28, the number of awards at Dulwich College of County Minor Scholarships (comprising Junior, Supplementary and Intermediate Scholarships) was 27, and in the school years 1928–29 and 1929–30 the numbers were 36 and 19, respectively. The total number of these awards held at the college remains considerably above 100, the number below which the Board have informed the governors that they hope it will not be allowed to fall, and therefore I see no occasion yet to make representations to the governors in the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education if it is the policy of the Government at once to develop facilities for free secondary education; if so, will he state to what extent this policy has been put into effect; what schemes have been approved since the Government took office; and what is the estimated cost?

I have nothing at present to add to the reply which I gave on the 31st October to my hon. Friend the Member for South-West Norfolk (Mr. W. B. Taylor), of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

Is this another of the election promises of the Socialist Government?

Certainly not.

asked the President of the Board of Education what proportion of students at present receiving instruction in secondary schools and universities, assisted by grants from his Department, are former elementary school pupil; now holders of free places or in receipt of grants, bursaries, or scholarships?

On the 31st March, 1928, 40.9 per cent. of the full-time pupils in grant-aided secondary schools were free pupils who had attended public elementary schools for at least two years immediately preceding their admission to secondary schools. I have no precise figures as to the number of ex-elementary pupils at universities, but during the years 1924–1928, out of an annual average number of 3,434 pupils proceeding direct from grant-earning secondary schools to universities, 2,150 were ex-elementary school pupils.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of pupils engaged in ordinary daytime occupations who are at present enjoying free training or education in evening schools and institutes assisted by grants from his Department?

I am afraid that the statistics asked for by the hon. Member are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he has received any complaints as to the structural condition of the Sutton and Cheam, Cheam Common, Girls' Church School; and, if so, what action he proposes taking in relation thereto?