asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can present a statement showing the percentage of the total cost of production in the cotton and woollen textile and engineering industries in this country which is made up of Imperial and local taxation, and the corresponding percentages in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Japan respectively?

I regret that I am not in a position to furnish the comparative data desired by the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total wheat and flour, in equivalent wheat cwts., exported from the United States and Canada together; and how much of it is to the United Kingdom?

The average annual quantity of wheat and wheat-flour (expressed in the equivalent of wheat) exported from Canada and the United States together during the years 1926–1928, after excluding the movements of wheat between those two countries so far as the available information permits, amounted to 276 million cwts., the imports of wheat and wheat-flour (expressed in the equivalent of wheat) into the United Kingdom during the same years, registered as consigned from those two countries, amounted on the average to 77 million cwts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give, for purposes of comparison, the United Kingdom's exports in value to the Empire in 1928 and the value those exports would have been if we had still retained the same proportion of the imports of each Dominion and Colony as we held1 in 1913?

The value of the exports of United Kingdom produce and manufactures consigned in 1928 to British countries was £327,668,000, of which £288,740,000 represented exports to countries which were included in 1913 among British Dominions, Colonies and other territories and £35,136,000 were exports to the Irish Free State, the corresponding figure for 1913 not being included in the record of exports. The exports of imported merchandise consigned to British countries in 1928 were valued at £22,779,000, of which £13,032,000 represented exports to the countries included in 1913 among British Dominions, Colonies and other territories, and £9,639,000 exports to the Irish Free State.The following statement shows the value of the total imports into the principal British countries overseas in 1928, the percentage recorded as imported in 1913 from the United Kingdom, and the figure representing that percentage of the total imports in 1928. It is, of course, limited to those countries which formed part of the British Empire in 1913, and our exports in 1928 to the Irish Free State are not included. Detailed

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the percentage of the raw materials and articles, mainly unmanufactured, that we imported in 1928 from our Empire, together with Egypt, and the percentage wholly or mainly manufactured from the same sources?

Of the imports during the year 1928 into Great Britain and Northern Ireland of raw materials and articles mainly unmanufactured. 36 per cent, were registered as consigned from British countries, and of articles wholly or mainly manufactured, 11 per cent. Of the former class of imports 7 per cent, were consigned from Egypt, and of the latter class less than one-tenth of 1 per cent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the number of persons employed in the fabric glove industry in each year

On the 14th November full information was given, in reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Bournemouth (Sir H. Croft) regarding the employment in the fabric glove industry from 1st October, 1925, to 30th June, 1929. The comparable figure of numbers employed in the third quarter of 1929 was 1,279. No later information has been received.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she can state what rates of wages are now paid to the workers in the fabric glove industry in Germany; and what are the wages paid in Great Britain?

I have no information as to the wages of workers in the fabric glove industry in Germany, but I will inquire whether the International Labour Office can supply any particulars and will communicate further with the hon. and gallant Member when a reply has been received. In Great Britain, the minimum time rates of wages agreed upon by the Joint Industrial Council for the Glove Making Industry are as follow: Skilled men, 20 years of age and over, 60s. per week of 47 hours; unskilled men, 51s. 5d. per week of 47 hours; women, 20 years of age and over, 29s. 4d. per week of 44 hours. The minimum rate of wages (based upon the average worker's output) for male piece-workers is 1s. 6d. per hour.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has received protests from any of the Dominions regarding the proposed Argentine agreement; and, if so, what is their nature?

No, Sir.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what special schemes he is sanctioning to deal with the unemployment question in South Devon?

The assistance from the Unemployment Grants Committee and from the Road Fund is given to the appropriate local authorities. If the hon. Member will advise me of the local authority areas in South Devon for which he wishes this information I will supply it.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that the unemployment in Bridgwater and Highbridge, in the county of Somerset, is more serious than for some years past; that the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company and the Southern Railway Company are proposing to close the railway repair shops at High-bridge in the immediate future, which will throw, approximately, 280 men out of work; and whether he proposes to take any and, if so, what steps in this matter?

I am having inquiries made and I will communicate the result to my hon. Friend.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, in sanctioning schemes for the relief of unemployment in Scotland, he will make it a condition of grant that employment shall be limited to persons who have been born in the United Kingdom or who have resided therein for not less than three years?

I do not consider it would be practicable to make this a condition of grant, but it is open to local authorities to lay down conditions with regard to the classes of unemployed men whom they are prepared to receive from the Employment Exchanges for relief works.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what extra cost has been involved up to date on the taxpayer by the condition imposed in connection with development schemes that all materials required for the assisted works must be of British or Empire origin; and how many cases have arisen in which a higher price has been paid for goods than the price of the foreign article available?

I do not accept the hon. Member's suggestion that the condition to which he refers imposes any extra cost upon the taxpayer, and, in this connection, I would invite attention to the reply which I gave on 10th December to the hon. and gallant Member for North Midlothian (Major Colville). I am sending the hon. Member a copy of that reply, from which he will see that the condition that materials required for assisted works shall, so far as practicable, be of United Kingdom origin is subject to such exceptions as may be found to be necessary or desirable in any particular case having regard to all the circumstances, including the comparative price of British and foreign articles.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, taking the assistance given by the Road Fund to the relief of unemployment, as outlined in Command Paper 3449, he can state whether the employment of 100,000 men for a year therein mentioned represents new work; and, if not, what proportion of it would have been carried out in any case without his stimulation of the activities of the Fund?

The whole of the trunk road programme amounting to 9½ million pounds can be regarded as new work. A considerable proportion of the five-year programme of 27½ million pounds represents works expedited for the relief of unemployment, but it is not possible to say what proportion of these works would in any event have been carried out at some time by the highway authorities.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will state the amount involved in the schemes submitted by the Great Western Railway Company and sanction for Government assistance under the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Act; the total value of the orders now placed by this company; and if orders are being placed with British manufacturers only?

The schemes submitted by the Great Western Railway which have been approved for grant under the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Act, 1929, involve a total expenditure of approximately £4,860,000. I understand that the aggregate value of the orders already placed by the company in connection with these schemes is over £300,000 and that additional orders totalling over £250,000 will be placed before the end of this year. As regards the last part of the question, the conditions as to the purchase of British materials in connection with these schemes are set out in the White Paper which I have recently laid before the House.

asked the Minister of Labour if she will state the total number in the following districts of persons in general and building trade workers as a whole, and each craft and labourers separately, who have been transferred into the building industry from distressed areas under the Government's Transference Scheme: Glasgow and West of Scotland, Fifeshire and East of Scotland; Blythe, Tynemouth, South Shields, Sunderland, Gateshead, Newcastle, and Wallsend; Darlington, Stockton Middlesbrough, and the Hartlepools; South and South-East Lancashire; Barnsley, Wakefield, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield; Mansfield, Derby, and Nottingham; Cannock, Lichfield, Walsall, West Bromwich, Smethwick, Birmingham, Dudley, and Wolverhampton; Swansea, the Valleys, and Newport; Preston, Bootle, Liverpool and District, Warrington, Stockport, Manchester, Rochdale, Burnley, and Blackburn?

I regret that these particulars are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour when statistics were last compiled as to the number of ex-service men on the unemployment registers; what was the number at that time; whether it is estimated that the number is now less than at the corresponding period of last year; and whether she will arrange for statistics to be regularly compiled in this respect?

The regular tabulation of statistics regarding the numbers of ex-service men on the registers of Employment Exchanges was discontinued in 1921. On 24th March, 1924, a special analysis was made and it was found that out of 784,165 men on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain there were 274,296 ex-service men unemployed and 11,697 on systematic short time. I regret that I am unable to give comparative statistics for the present time and for a year ago. Statistics are regularly compiled with regard to disabled ex-service men but as regards unemployed ex-service men who are not disabled I do not think I should be justified in resuming the collection of these statistics.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of insurable workpeople in the area of Plymouth Exchange, judging by the number of books exchanged; what is the number of the unemployed on the register; and how many of the books exchanged belong to persons who do not live in the area?

The estimated number of workpeople, aged 16 to 64, insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts in the area of the Plymouth Employment Exchange at July, 1929, as indicated by the number of unemployment books exchanged, was 32,300. The number of persons, insured and uninsured, on the registers of that Exchange at 16th December was 4,416. Statistics are not available showing the number of unemployment books exchanged in this area in respect of persons not living in the area.

asked the Minister of Labour if she will state the number of workpeople registered as unemployed from the artificial silk trade and the number registered as employed in the same trade?

The estimated number of insured persons, aged 16 to 64, classified as belonging to the silk and artificial silk industries in Great Britain at July, 1929, was 73,480. The number of such persons recorded as unemployed at 25th November was 8,730. Separate statistics for the artificial silk industry are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour if she will state the number of workpeople employed in the plain net and lace trade; and the number registered as unemployed from the same trade?

The estimated number of insured workpeople, aged 16 to 64, classified as belonging to the lace industry (including plain net manufacture) in Great Britain at July, 1929, was 16,920. The number of such persons recorded as unemployed at 25th November was 1,649.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of insurable workpeople in the area of the Devonport Exchange, judging by the number of books exchanged; what is the number of the unemployed on the register; and how many of the books exchanged belong to persons who do not live in the area?

The estimated number of workpeople aged 16 to 64, insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts in the Area of the Devonport Employment Exchange at July, 1929, as indicated by the number of unemployment books exchanged, was 14,700. The number of persons, insured and uninsured, on the registers of that Exchange at 16th December was 1,864. Statistics are not available showing the number of unemployment books exchanged in this area in respect of persons not living in the area.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will state the number of employment schemes approved for the counties of Derby and Nottingham; the expenditure involved; and the number and estimated cost of schemes under consideration?

pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 3rd December), supplied the following statement:

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will discuss with the various authorities the desirability of utilising a part of the broadest stretch of pavement on the side of Grosvenor Place that is little used by pedestrians for the purpose of a taxi-meter-cab stand or as a parking place for motors?

I am not aware that there is any demand for a taximeter-cab stand or a parking place for motor cars in the street referred to, but I shall be pleased to refer the suggestion to the London Traffic Advisory Committee for their consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has reinvestigated the possibility of a westward extension of Cromwell Road to link with the proposed new western exits from London, and with what result?

The matter is still under consideration by the London County Council and my Department, but I am not in a position to make a statement at the present moment.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the total strength of the Rhine Army on 31st December, 1928; what will be the additional cost of maintaining, equipping, housing, and arming these forces per annum to the British taxpayer now that the German taxpayer has ceased to pay for them; and whether, now that there is no longer any need to maintain a Rhine garrison, he proposes to reduce the British Army accordingly?

The total strength of the British Army of the Rhine (including the Saar detachment) on 31st December, 1928, was approximately 6,100. The financial effect of the withdrawal of these troops is being considered in connection with next year's Army Estimates and I shall deal with the subject in my speech on the introduction of those Estimates. As regards the last part of the question, the units of the British Army which served on the Rhine were regarded as on the Home Establishment and formed an integral part of the home forces. The question of the numbers of the forces is quite separate from the return of the men from the Rhine and I cannot make a statement of policy at present.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any statistics that will show the number of men who enlisted in His Majesty's Army in Great Britain during 1928 who were unemployed at the time of enlistment?

Information as to the number of recruits who were unemployed at the time of enlistment is only available in respect of the London area, where the number of recruits for the Regular Army finally approved during the recruiting year ended 30th September, 1928, was 4,812, of whom 71 per cent. were stated to be unemployed at the time of enlistment. This percentage was obtained from the statements of the recruits: no independent check was made or was possible.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that numerous and repeated complaints have been made with regard to the Little Waltham telephone exchange; that the switchboard there is a very antiquated one; and that communication with other exchanges is indistinct and difficulty is experienced in obtaining calls; and whether he will look into the matter and give the subscribers a more up-to-date exchange?

The switchboard at the Little Waltham exchange is of standard pattern and is reported to be giving good service. Two written complaints have been received in the past year. There have been interruptions due to storm damage and to injury to a cable in the course of road repairs. I am arranging for the working of this exchange to be kept under special observation for a time.

asked the Postmaster-General how soon he expects telegraphic communication with Islay to be restored; and whether he will consider favourably the installation of wireless telephony in the islands of Islay and Tiree or, failing wireless telephony, wireless telegraphy, in view of the frequent breakdown of telegraphic communication under the present system and plant?

Wireless communication with Islay was established on the 16th instant and telegrams to and from the island will be transmitted by that means until the cable can be repaired. The probable date of repair of the cable cannot yet be stated. Cable communication with Islay has been interrupted eight times in the last 18 years. The cost of installing and maintaining a per- manent wireless service with these islands would be high in relation to the volume of traffic; and it is doubtful whether a more reliable service could be afforded by wireless than by cable.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can state the names of the further automatic telephone exchanges which it is proposed to open in the Metropolitan district during the next 12 months?

It is proposed to open the under-mentioned automatic exchanges within the London telephone area during the next 12 months:

• Primrose Hill.
• Amherst (Hackney)
• Fairfield (Croydon).
• Addiscombe.
• Shepherd's Bush.
• Frobisher (Earls Court).
• Gladstone (Cricklewood).
• Macaulay (Battersea Park).
• Livingstone (Norwood).

asked the Postmaster-General whether the technical officers of his Department have made any recent reports on the television tests of moving images; and can he state when the last report was received?

My technical officers are keeping the experimental transmissions of television under regular observation and are furnishing interim reports from time to time. The last such report was received at the beginning of the present month.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received any recent complaints of the depredations of seals in territorial waters?

No complaints have recently been received as to damage to fisheries by seals in Scottish territorial waters.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will state, in respect of the latest financial year for which particulars are available, what is the total sum paid by the Treasury to each of the cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Dundee by way of grants in aid of local taxation, showing separately the payments for education, poor relief, road construction or repair, mental hospitals, relief of rates on agricultural land, and other purposes?

The following statement contains the desired information:—in the years 1924 to 1929 inclusive. I regret that I am not in a position to furnish similar information with regard to years prior to 1924, or with regard to the passenger traffic between Scottish ports and ports in Northern Ireland. As indicated in the reply given by my predecessor in office to a question on this subject on the 10th May, 1927, deductions can only be drawn from these figures with much reserve.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state what has been the total amount of housing subsidies paid in Scotland since 1918; and if

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can make a statement as to the results of the Agricultural Credits Act, showing how many persons have applied for loans on mortgages of agricultural land; how much money, free of interest, has been advanced to such person; and what expenditure has been devolved upon the Department of Agriculture in connection with the administration of this Act?

As at 20th December the total amount paid in Scotland in Housing Exchequer subsidies was £10,490,683. I regret that the information desired in the latter part of the question is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the total number of convicted prisoners, Borstal inmates, and criminal lunatics in Scotland for the last three years for which figures are available and the number and percentage of these who are natives of the Irish Free State?

The following table gives the information desired for the years 1926, 1927, 1928, so far as available:—

As I have already explained in reply to previous questions which have been addressed to me on this subject, it has not yet been found possible to set up the company which is to be established under Part I of the Act, and to which applications for loans will be made. I am endeavouring to overcome the difficulties. Meantime, as the company is not yet in being, no loans have been made. In reply to the last part of the question, no expenditure has, so far, been incurred by the Department of Agriculture in connection with the administration of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can give a list of the local authorities which have taken advantage of the Allotments Act and state in each case the area of land acquired, the total purchase price or the total rental if leased, the previous rateable value of the land acquired, and the annual contribution made from the local rates to make good any losses on allotment schemes?

I have no definite information as to the action taken by local authorities in acquiring land under the Allotments (Scotland) Acts, 1892–1926, and I am not in a position to furnish the particulars of area, purchase price (or rental) and rateable value, asked for in the question. With regard to the last part of the question, so far as I am aware, no local authority, with the exception of the Corporation of Edinburgh, has levied a rate under Section 1 of the Allotments (Scotland) Act, 1926.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total amount of subsidy paid to each factory in Scotland to date under the provisions of the Sugar Beet (Subsidy) Act, 1925; and will he give a comparative statement showing for 1925 and each subsequent year the subsidy per ton paid to the factories and the contract price per ton paid by the factories to the farmers?

The necessary particulars are being compiled and they will be sent to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number of children of school age who were being supplied with free meals by education authorities, on the last date for which figures are available; and the number of such children who were of Irish Free State birth or parentage?

I am obtaining the necessary information to reply to the first part of the question and will forward the details to the Noble Lady as soon as they are available. The information asked for in the second part of the question could be obtained only by a house to house canvass and I do not think that the imposition of this heavy task on education authorities would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he proposes to initiate legislation, applicable to Scotland, to provide for the regulation of such charities as make an appeal for public support on the lines of the Collecting Charities (Regulation) Bill now before Parliament, and which is applicable to England and Wales only?

I am considering the question of initiating legislation for Scotland on the lines of the Collecting Charities (Regulation) Bill, relating to England and Wales, now before Parliament, but in the present state of Parliamentary business there would, I fear, be little prospect of finding time this Session for any such legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement with regard to the present position in China?

I have nothing further to add to the reply which I gave on the 23rd December to the right hon. Member for Woolwich West (Sir K. Wood). According to my information conditions are peaceful at the principal centres and there is no indication of anti-foreign feeling.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state what proportion of the total naval, military, and air forces used for the protection of life in China during the last three months have been British, French, and American, respectively?

The forces available for the protection of life in China are at present as follow:

asked the Minister of Health what reply he has made to the application of the Poplar Guardians for approval to undertake certain works at the Poplar institution by direct labour?

I have approved the application of the Poplar Guardians in this matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether any applications have been made to him for a loan by the Merthyr Tydvil, Chester-le-Street, or West Ham appointed guardians?

The Merthyr Tydvil Board is an elected and not an appointed board, and I presume that the right hon. Member intended to refer to Bedwellty. None of the present appointed boards has applied for a loan.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the City Council of Plymouth have declined to adopt the principle of co-option in the constitution of the Plymouth Public Assistance Committee, and have excluded from this committee members of the Devonport Board of Guardians, in spite of their request to be associated with the work of which they have great experience; and if he will say whether it is the policy of his Department to encourage the principle of co-option?

I am aware that the scheme to which the hon. Member refers does not provide for the co-option of persons who are not members of the Council and I received a representation from the board of guardians on this point. Under the Act the inclusion of such a provision in a scheme is a matter within the discretion of the local authority, and in approving schemes I have not felt it proper to interfere with that discretion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will state the number of farms and agricultural institutions which are carried on in different parts of the country for which the Government gives a grant, giving in each case their size and location, the amount given for the last year, and the main aim and object of each particular undertaking?

Following is the information desired: