asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the amount realised by the Inspector-General of the Bankruptcy Department in the sale of the three leases which were the property of Mr. S. Rosenberg, of 53, Hogarth Road, South Kensington, and to whom such sums were paid?

Of the three leases held by Mr. S. Rosenberg at the date of his bankruptcy, that due to commence in September, 1931, was sold for £50, the money being paid to the Official Receiver for the benefit of the creditors. The other leases proved unsaleable and were disclaimed by the Official Receiver.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, taking the American quota of permitted British emigrants as 65,000, he will state the number of emigrants to America from this country in each of the last six months?

The number of British subjects who were recorded as leaving permanent residence in the United Kingdom to take up permanent residence in the United States in each month from May to October, 1929, was as follows:

May	…	…	…	2,345
June	…	…	…	1,329
July	…	…	…	1,562
August	…	…	…	3,221
September	…	…	…	3,647
October	…	…	…	4,131

The figure for November is not yet available. It may be added that the quota for Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which is 65,721 for the year ending 30th June, 1930, covers all persons born in those countries entering the United States no matter from what country,and that in fact the movement of such persons from Canada is considerable and may exceed the direct movement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the avoidance of responsibility by foreign financiers connected with British firms when the affairs of these firms are under official examination; and whether he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation, either independently or by collective action through the League of Nations, to check this type of operation by foreign financiers?

If the hon. Member has in mind the extradition arrangements with foreign countries, he should address his inquiries to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what grants are being made from Admiralty funds for the purpose of training civilians; and the names of the associations or bodies concerned?

If the hon. Member has in mind the expenses of training and maintaining the various reserve forces, I would refer him to pages 126 to 140 of the Navy Estimates, in which the provision made for this service is explained in detail. In addition, a sum of about £200 is provided for the training of members of the voluntary aid detachments and is referred to on page 60 of the Estimates. Grants of £100 and £540 respectively to the Central Joint Council administering the voluntary aid detachments and to the central associations or committees administering officially recognised sea cadets corps units (including the boys corps attached to Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve divisions and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Cadets Corps attached to Royal Naval shore establishments) are also provided for in the current year's Estimates.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the village of Langworth, near Lincoln, has only one delivery of letters a day; and whether, seeing its size, importance, and proximity to Lincoln, he is prepared to consider granting it a second delivery?

I have arranged for a delivery to callers at the sub-post office. I regret that the additional cost of a delivery by postmen would not be warranted.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that ex-policemen with substantial post-War pensions are being employed as warders in the museums; and, seeing that these posts should be reserved for ex-Military, Naval or ex-Service men, or pre-War pensioners generally, whether he will take steps to ensure that in future all vacancies on the warding staffs are filled by recruitment of men from these classes?

At the Victoria and Albert Museum no police pensioners are employed on the warding staff. A number are employed as doorkeepers, their previous training and experience having been found of special value for these posts. At the Science Museum the warding staff has normally been recruited from police pensioners. I am prepared to make inquiries as to how far this method of recruitment is necessitated by the requirements of the Museum.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount of grant made to voluntary agencies for the training of African women as midwives for the years 1921 to 1928, inclusive, in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika, respectively?

Both the Kenya and Uganda Governments have for some years made annual grants to voluntary agencies (usually missions) for native medical training or for the maintenance of midwifery centres and midwives. There are, however, no figures available in the Colonial Office showing what proportion of the grants was spent for the specific purpose of training African women as midwives, but if the Noble Lady wishes, the Governors of Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika will be asked whether they can supply the figures.

—	Three months ended November
	1927.			1928.			1929.
	Quantity.	Average declared value per ton f.o.b.		Quantity.	Average declared value per ton f.o.b.		Quantity.	Average declared value per ton f.o.b.
	Tons.	s.	d.	Tons.	s.	d.	Tons.	s.	d.
Exports:
Coal	12,510,197	16	9	12,851,978	15	6	16,360,450	16	5
Coke:
Gas	368,842	20	1	371,950	20	10	408,019	20	10
Other sorts	305,665	20	3	564,174	19	6	448,682	21	6
Manufactured Fuel	290,936	23	6	232,486	20	0	341,915	20	2
Coal shipped for the use of steamers engaged in the Foreign Trade.	4,386,500	Not available.		4,364,635	Not available.		4,136,146	Not available.
Total shipments (in terms of coal).	18,168,032	—		18,817,642	—		22,083,412	—

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information as to the date when the International Exhibition at Barcelona will close?

The International Exhibition at Barcelona will be closed on 15th January next.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs under what treaty or instrument the existence of the Mixed Courts Tribunals in Egypt depend; whether, under its terms or under the terms of any other instrument or agreement, it is provided that the

asked the Secretary for Mines what was the tonnage of coal exported from Great Britain, including bunker coal and coke and manufactured fuel at their coal equivalent, during the last three months for which figures are available, and the tonnage exported during the corresponding three months of 1928 and 1927, respectively; and the average value per ton in each case?

The information is as follows:Egyptian Government can denounce such treaty or instrument; and, if so, at what delay?

The Mixed Courts in Egypt were set up in 1876 after the conclusion of separate agreements between Egypt and certain foreign Powers. The agreement with this country was signed at Alexandria on 31st July, 1875; an annex was added on 10th February, 1876. The original agreements stipulated that no change should take place for five years, and that after that period the Powers might either return to the former order of things or consider other combinations in agreement with the Egyptian Government. The provisions of these agreements were extended successively up to October, 1921, when, as the result of an agreement reached between the Egyptian Government and the Powers concerned, a decree was published by the Egyptian Government extending the powers of the Mixed Courts for an indefinite period, the date of the expiration of their powers to he fixed by a decree published in the Official Journal at least a year before the appointed date.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the high cost of pork, regard is given to this factor when compiling the cost-of-living index figures for the months of September to March?

The selection of representative commodities included in the cost-of-living index number statistics does not include pork.

asked the Minister of Labour what will be the extra cost to the taxes involved in the alteration of Clause 4 of the Unemployment Insurance Bill?

This matter is dealt with in the further Memorandum on the Unemployment Insurance (No. 2) Bill, which was laid on the Table yesterday. (Cmd. 3453.)

asked the Minister of Health if he has considered, in relation to the recommendations of the Royal

The recommendations of the Royal Commission are now under my consideration. I do not think that a special statement to local authorities on the matter is required at the present time. I will send the hon. Member a memorandum on the present position.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the evidence in the trial at the Manchester Assizes last week (3rd and 4th December) of the chief cashier of the city of Salford for falsification of accounts, regarding borrowing from the money of the corporation by responsible officials, and, as alleged, by one of the then councillors, and to the statement by Mr. Justice Macnaghten, in passing sentence of one year's imprisonment in the second division, that he took into account the laxity of the council's audit; and whether he proposes to consult with and/or advise the city council as to the necessity of fuller investigation of all the circumstances and of audit in accordance with the requirements of the Department?

My attention has been drawn to the case referred to. I understand that the falsifications in question occurred in the accounts which are audited in the manner provided for in the Municipal Corporations Act, 1882, that is to say, by the mayor's auditor and the elective auditors, and by the professional auditors appointed under the Salford Corporation Act, 1920, and not in any of the accounts of the corporation which are subject to district audit. In the circumstances I have no authority to intervene in the matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether an inquiry is taking place into the general conditions of the deaf and dumb and deafened and the difficulties they have in securing and retaining employment?

As I have already informed my hon. Friend, I am of the opinion that, before the case for considering the appointment of a special committee of inquiry can be regarded as being established, it is necessary to obtain fuller information than is at present available, and steps are being taken to obtain that information.

asked the Minister of Health the number of pensioners prior to the Act of 1924; the increase on the passing of that Act; the increase on the passing of the Act of 1925; and the estimated increase under the present Bill?

The number of old age pensions under the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1919, in payment on 30th June, 1924, was 928,000. 47,000 new pensions were awarded in 1924 as a result of the Act of that year. In September, 1929, pensions were in payment as follow:

Widows' pensions	271,000,1	Payable under or by virtue of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925.
Orphans' pensions	16,000
Old age pensions:
to persons 65 to 70	558,500
to persons over 70	403,500
Old age pensions:
to persons over 70	921,000	Payable under the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1924 irrespective of insurance.
Total	2,170,000

Under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1929, it is estimated that the following new pensions will become payable for the first time on or before 1st January, 1931:

Widows pensions	…	…	297,000
Old age pensions
to persons 65 to 70	…	…	42,000
to persons over 70	…	…	12,000
Total	…	…	351,000

In addition, about 10,000 persons at present disqualified from receiving pensions because they are in lunatic asylums or Poor Law infirmaries will cease to be disqualified from receiving pensions, while about 200,000 widows of men who died before 4th January, 1926, who will be under 55 years of age on 1st January, 1931, will become entitled to widows pensions on attaining the age of 55.These figures refer to Great Britain.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount raised by Entertainments Duty in the months of April, May, June, and July this year, respectively?

The net amount of revenue from Entertainments Duty in each of the months April, May, June and July, 1929, was as follows:

				£
April	…	…	…	557,221
May	…	…	…	525,539
June	…	…	…	400,835
July	…	…	…	440,087

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has received any representations from the dry cleaning industry regarding the tax which falls on the spirit used solely for dry cleaning on the ground that it cannot be differentiated from motor spirit; and if he proposes to adjust this matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. With regard to the second part, I would remind the hon. and gallant Member that it was an integral part of the plan of the tax, as introduced by my predecessor, that it should apply to all uses of hydrocarbon oils of a specified standard, whether for road purposes or otherwise, and I know of no reason for making a special exception in this instance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, to meet the convenience of the public for increased postal and other facilities, he will consider the issue of 5s. Treasury notes?

No, Sir. I do not think that there is any substantial public demand for such small notes, and the Treasury has no legal power to issue them.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total amount of awards which have been made in connection with inventions which were of service in the prosecution of the great War; and how many of these claims have still to be decided?

The amount of the awards made by the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors since their appointment in March, 1919, is approximately £1,334,000. I cannot without undue labour ascertain the total sum awarded by the Treasury before that date, nor is it possible to distinguish between payments for inventions which were of service in the War and other payments. As regards the last part of the question, it is understood that seven claims remain to be decided.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of industrial assurance policies which lapsed in 1927 and 1928?

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the remarks of the magistrate at Old Street, E.C., in which he stated that the Christmas share-out or loan clubs were becoming an ever-increasing Christmas scandal, and that it was imperative that there should be some means of looking after them; and will he consider the appointment of a Departmental committee for the purpose of investigating the methods adopted by various clubs, and further consider the introduction of legislation which will have as its object their registration and regulation?

After looking into this matter, I am afraid that I am driven to the same conclusion as my predecessors, namely, that any attempt at State control of these clubs would be ineffective.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to an inquest held at the Ilford town hall on an employé of an asbestos firm at Barking who died from asbestos poisoning; if he is aware that asbestosis is prevalent in asbestos factories, especially at Barking; and whether he is prepared to schedule this disease under the Dangerous Diseases Act?

I have received a report from the Factory Department on the case referred to by my hon. Friend. As I stated in reply to a question on the 11th November, a comprehensive investigation has been recently made by one of the medical inspectors of factories into the occurrence of this disease among asbestos workers generally, and the report of this inquiry has just reached me. This report is receiving my careful consideration both as regards the preventive measures to be taken and as regards the question of bringing the disease under the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Act. I should add that the investigation did not disclose any special incidence of the disease at the Barking works where the exhaust ventilation (which is the chief means of prevention) is quite up to the general standard and is being constantly improved.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the summoning of householders who may be unemployed, or on short time, to serve on petty juries at long distances from their homes is causing financial distress to those summoned; and whether he will consider introducing legislation to allow the out-of-pocket travelling expenses of juries to be repaid in a similar manner to the travelling expenses of witnesses?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer I gave on 25th July last to the hon. Member for the Bodmin Division (Mr. Foot).

asked the Home Secretary whether it has been seen fit to increase the number of Metropolitan Police engaged on traffic duty during the previous 12 months; the average number engaged from day to day and the average annual cost per man, including pension and other charges; and whether there is any definite rule laid down in the. Metropolitan Police that picked men are arranged for this point duty at special points?

During the 12 months ending 27th November, 1929, the number of police authorised to be employed permanently on traffic duty has been increased by 30. The average daily number of police employed on permanent and temporary traffic duty during the week 18th to 24th November was 1,423. The average annual cost per constable (including pension and other charges) is, as stated in reply to previous questions by the hon. Member, £320, without making any allowance for relief for sickness, etc. There is no definite rule in the Metropolitant Police that traffic duty at special points is to be performed by picked men.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider introducing legislation which will give film companies the same powers to present films privately in the same manner that theatrical companies or societies are allowed to present privately unlicensed plays?

The conditions under which cinetamograph films may be exhibited are determined by the local licensing authorities, and I do not think that any further legislation is required.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is proposed to start work to widen the narrow bridge and approaches to the canal at Ferry Lane on the way to Southend?

The Middlesex County Council have submitted certain of the plans of these new bridges to my Department. Further details are awaited; but it is hoped that the county council will be in a position to invite tenders for the work early in the New Year.