asked the Postmaster-General how many post offices there are on licensed premises in the London area?

I am making inquiries and will communicate the result to the hon. Member. No post offices are situated on premises where an on-licence is held.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has reached any settlement with the Post Office Engineering Union in the matter of their wage claim; and, if so, what is the amount involved?

I am glad to say that I have been able to reach agreement with the Post Office Engineering Union on their claim for a revision of the rates of payment of the rank and file grades in the engineering department of the Post Office. The settlement, besides securing substantial advantages to the skilled staff as a whole, removes a number of anomalies in pay and grading which have come to light since the last revision of pay in 1919, and in my opinion places the wages system of the Post Office Engineering Department upon a greatly improved basis. Although the cost of the revision is substantial, amounting to £189,000 a year, it has given me great pleasure to assent to it, in view of the willing cooperation I have received from all sections of the staff in various improvements in method and organisation which advances in engineering methods have made possible.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the action of certain cinema proprietors in installing upon their premises electric plant which creates an interference in the ether and blots out all broadcast reception in the immediate neighbourhood; and whether he will consider the desirability of obtaining powers to compel such modification of machinery as would abate this inter ference?

Interference with broadcast reception is occasionally caused by the operation of electrical plant at cinemas and certain business premises. When complaints are received by my Department, representations are made to the proprietors, and it is found in nearly all cases that they are willing to make such alterations to their plant as will prevent the annoyance caused to their neighbours. It is not proposed to introduce fresh wireless legislation in the near future; but when the time comes for such legislation the question of obtaining powers to deal with occasional cases of difficulty will be considered.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will amend the regula- tions governing the payment of treatment allowances which enforce the deduction from such allowances of any other payments to which the patient is entitled?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply that I gave to the similar question which he put on 11th December last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the Government intend to bring in a Bill to improve the conditions under which pensions are granted to War pensioners or, in cases of their decease, to their widows?

No, Sir. No such Bill is contemplated.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the result of the League of Nations conference on the treatment of foreigners, held in Paris in December?

A report on the conference was published in the Monthly Summary of the league of Nations for January, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the definite undertaking of the Soviet Government that all forms of debt would be negotiated immediately there was a resumption of diplomatic relations is mutually understood to mean that the Soviet has recognised these debts; and, if so, have any conversations taken place on the subject of debts, and what is the present position?

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs described the present position of the negotiations with the Soviet Government in the course of his reply to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Woolwich (Sir K. Wood) on 27th January. If the hon. Member will refer to that reply he will see that the negotiations with the Soviet Government have not yet reached a point at which any statement on the subject of debts could usefully or properly be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he proposes to reconsider the whole of the existing extradition treaties with foreign Powers so as to enable the courts of justice in this country to deal with foreign subjects who are charged with offences against our law, and who, to avoid punishment, withdraw to their respective countries of origin?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave yesterday in reply to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Sir G. Penny).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the deprivation of American citizenship suffered by Indians in the United States of America as the result of a decision of the United States Courts., he has any information as to whether those Indians who are already in possession are permitted to retain their land?

As my hen. and gallant Friend will be aware, each of the States of the Union has its own laws governing the holding of property, and these vary considerably. So far as California, where the majority of British Indians in the United States reside, is concerned, His Majesty's Government are not aware that proceedings have been taken in any recent cases to deprive British Indians of rights acquired by naturalisation between 1913 and 1923—that is, between the passing of the Californian Alien Land Law and the decision of the United States Supreme Court declaring British Indians ineligible for United States citizenship.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when an announcement may be expected of the result of the review into the whole question of promotion from the lower deck?

The matter continues to engage the attention of the Admiralty, hut it is obviously impossible to proceed actively with this and kindred questions until the result of the Naval Conference and its effect on personnel is known.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether reports from the meteorological stations are available for the use of the Admiralty; and, if so, whether warning of the impending gale was sent to the officers responsible for ordering His Majesty's Tug "St. Genny" to sea on Sunday, 12th January?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, all the weather forecasts issued by the Meteorological Office to ships at sea were received and considered by the Commander-in-Chief, who despatched the "St. Genny" and her consorts from Portland on Saturday, 11th January. By the time the special gale warning was issued shortly after noon on Sunday, 12th January, as stated in my reply of 28th January to the hon. Member for Devon-port [OFFICIAL REPORT, column 880], the vessels were approaching Ushant. They were already in the storm area, and any action to recall them to shelter would have been impossible and dangerous.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any and, if so, what arrangements have been made by his Department to find alternative work for the 119 workmen discharged from His Majesty's Royal dockyard at Chatham during the past two weeks, and for the 180 further workmen who it is anticipated will be discharged during the next month?

No alternative work is available for the men in question. These men are casual entrants who were engaged for certain urgent items of work on the definite understanding that they would be discharged on the completion of those items.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider the desirability of suspending the discharge of 180 workmen who it is anticipated will be discharged from His Majesty's naval dockyard at Chatham during the next month until such time as alternative work has been found for such men?

I regret that the discharge of the men in question cannot be suspended. They are casual entrants who were specifically engaged for certain urgent items of work on the definite understanding that they would be discharged on the completion of the work.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has yet given a reply to the deputation which waited upon him on 7th November last asking for the same basic rate to obtain in Woolwich Arsenal danger buildings as in establishments under the control of the War Office; and whether he has granted this request?

As I informed the hon. Member last Friday [OFFICIAL REPORT, Columns 487–8], the Board are not satisfied that there are adequate grounds for increasing the wages of non-mechanic examiners in the Naval Ordnance Inspection Department at Woolwich and this decision applies also to those employed in the danger area. The trade unions concerned have been informed accordingly. I may add that the pay and allowances of these examiners are not lower than those of similar employés under the War Office.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet received the Report of the Committee considering the question of London refuse disposal?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on the 23rd instant to the hon. and gallant Member for St. Albans (Lieut.-Colonel Fremantle).

asked the Minister of Health the number of children exempted from vaccination on conscientious grounds during 1929?

The number of statutory declarations of conscientious objection received by the vaccination officers in England and Wales during the calendar year 1928 was 277,169. The figure for 1929 is not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health when he hopes to be in a position to give a definite answer to the Lexden and Winstree Rural District Council's application for sanction to borrow £12,600 for a system of water supply for the parish of Abberton and certain adjoining parishes?

Sanction is being given to the borrowing of £750 for experimental borings in connection with this scheme of water supply. If the experimental borings give satisfactory results, I am prepared to sanction the borrowing of the amount required for the complete scheme.

asked the Minister of Health the estimated number of houses in England and Wales per 1,000 of population on 30th September, 1929, and, for comparison, the actual figures at the time of the censuses of 1921 and 1911?

The number of structurally separate dwellings per 1,000 of the population in England and Wales was, at the time of the Census of 1921, 212. Exactly comparable figures for 1911 are not available, but the corresponding figure for that year may be taken to be 215. The figure at 30th September, 1928, must be substantially higher, for more than 1,320,000 houses were erected between 1921 and that date, but complete statistics are not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state, with respect to all or any of the rehousing schemes completed under Section 3 of the Housing, etc., Act, 1923, the amounts of the average annual loss per dwelling incurred or requiring to be met by the joint contributions of the Exchequer and the local authorities?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to her on 3rd December last on this subject. Final figures of average annual loss cannot yet be given.

asked the Minister of Health why he refuses to allow the Willington Rural Council, County Durham, to build working-class houses; and whether he will meet a deputation from the council?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of letters recently addressed to this council. He will see that I promised to consider the reception of a deputation if a statement of the further representations which the council desired to make were submitted. I have now received these representations and I will arrange for a deputation of the council to be received.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a number of houses of recent construction abutting on the arterial road from Finchley Road to Hendon have recently been demolished; whether any Government or other subsidy was granted upon the erection of such houses or any of them; whether such houses, or any of them, were within the limits of rent or rateable value prescribed by the Rent Restriction Acts; and the circumstances of their demolition?

I have no information with regard to this matter, but I will make inquiries and communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has recently been called to the hardships to tenants occasioned by the service of dangerous structure notices by local authorities on certain owners and the subsequent ejection of tenants without any provision being made for them by way of alternative accommodation; and whether he proposes in the forthcoming Housing Bill to make some provision to meet such cases where the owners have failed to keep such premises fit for habitation?

I have received from one area representations of the kind referred to in the first part of the question. As regards the second part, I must ask the hon. Member to await the introduction of the proposed Bill

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Bromley Rural District Council have approved a proposal by the developers of the Park Langley estate, West Wickham, for the scheduling of an area of the estate for the erection of shops; that the house owners and occupiers resident on the estate are, with the exception of a property builder, unanimous in their view that they do not require and do not want shops on the estate; that the proposal, if given effect to, will seriously depreciate the value of the dwelling houses on the estate, which were purchased in reliance on representations that the estate was to be purely residential; and whether he will give effect to the clearly expressed needs and wishes of the whole community affected by withholding approval of this part of the council's town-planning proposals?

I am aware that the Bromley Council have given permission for the erection of some shops in the area in question, and of the objection raised by residents. This particular matter has not been investigated by me and I cannot express any opinion on it. The decision of the council, given no doubt after full consideration of the needs of the district as a whole, is final. I understand, however, that they have suggested to the developers that they should confer with a committee of the local protesting residents.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a petition from the Woodley Vagrancy Protest Committee protesting against his sanctioning the erection of a tramp clearing-house in a picturesque spot in their midst without a public inquiry to hear their objections; whether he is aware that the Wokingham Rural District Council are refusing to permit the erection of this vagrancy ward under a Town Planning Order, 1922; and whether, in view of these and other difficulties which have arisen about water supply, he will now appoint a public inquiry into the whole matter?

The answers to the first two parts of the hon. and gallant Member's question are in the affirmative; as regards the third part of the question, I would refer him to the answer given to his question of 5th December, 1929.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is the intention of the Cabinet Committee charged to inquire into the subject of national insurance and pensions to consider the extending of insurance to persons who, by reason of occupation or income, are excluded from the present schemes of insurance?

The question referred to by the hon. Member will be considered by the Cabinet Committee.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to make it obligatory upon a medical practitioner to view a body after death before giving a death certificate?

This subject was fully discussed during the passage through this House of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1926, and I am not prepared to introduce further legislation in present circumstances.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take the necessary steps to remove the objection which prevents the Crook Rural Council, county Durham, from proceeding with any schemes for the relief of unemployment or whether he will meet a deputation from the council?

I understand that the district council have difficulty in raising loans to finance further capital expenditure, and I will arrange to have the matter discussed with representatives of the council.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed persons registered at the Exchanges of England and Wales on any convenient date in January, 1928, 1929 and 1930, respectively?

At 20th January, 1930, there were 1,292,352 persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in England and Wales, as compared with 1,249,535 at 21st January, 1929, and 1,044,023 at 23rd January, 1928.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons who were disqualified from benefit as not genuinely seeking work for the four months ending September, 1929, and the same figures for 1928?

The total number of disallowances on the ground "not genuinely seeking work" was 95,403 in the four months ended 9th September. 1929, and 62,501 in the, four months ended 10th September, 1928.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons who were disallowed benefit during the last month for which figures are available?

During the four weeks ended 9th December, 1929, 37,841 claims to unemployment benefit made at Employment Exchanges in Great Britain were disallowed by insurance officers and 3,402 claims were recommended for disallowance by Courts of Referees on review after payment of 78 days' benefit.

asked the Minister of Labour how many insured persons aged 16 to 64, inclusive, classified as belonging to the cement, lime and whiting manufacture, were recorded as unem- ployed in Great Britain on 31st May, 1929 and 31st December, 1929, respectively?

The number of insured persons, aged 16 to 64, classified as belonging to cement, lime and whiting manufacture recorded as unemployed in Great Britain at 27th May, 1929, was 1,143, as compared with 2,071 at 16th December, 1929.

asked the Minister of Labour how many training centres have been established for unemployed persons in the Tyneside area; where they are situated; and the number of persons attending them during the last week for which figures are available?

There is a Government training centre at Wallsend for the training of unemployed men for employment in this country, at which the number of men in training in the week ending 6th January was 393. For unemployed women and girls there are five home training centres, at Newcastle, Jarrow, Gateshead, Blaydon and South Shields. In the week ending 11th January there were 70 women and 110 girls in attendance. For unemployed juveniles between the ages of 14 and 18 years of age there are six junior instruction centres, four for boys, namely, at Newcastle, Jarrow, Gateshead and South Shields, and two for girls, namely, at Newcastle and Gateshead. The junior instruction centres are conducted by local education authorities with financial assistance from the Ministry of Labour. The average daily attendance during the week ending 22nd January was 466 boys and 179 girls.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any new training centres have been opened during the previous six months; and will she give particulars?

Since June, 1929, the following developments have taken place:Men: Government training centres have been opened at Slough on 26th June, and at Watford on 28th November. The capacity of each of these centres is 400. Transfer instructional centres have been opened at Presteign on 25th June; at Carshalton on 26th August; and at Poole on 1st. October. The capacity of the centre at Presteign is 200, while that of each of the centres at Carshalton and Poole is 250.Women and Girls: Four home training centres have been opened; at Lennox-town on 9th September, with accommodation for 20 women; at Durham on 30th September, with accommodation for 30 girls between 15 and 16 years of age; at Maesteg on 2nd October, with accommodation for 10 girls between 16 and 18 years of age, and 10 girls between 15 and 16 years of age; and at Workington on 16th October, with accommodation for 40 women. A new residential centre for training women and girls for domestic service will open at Leamington, Warwickshire, on 29th January, 1930.

asked the Minister of Labour how many young men from the Welsh and other coalfields are receiving instruction in ladies' hairdressing at the Government's training centres at Birmingham or elsewhere?

The number of men from mining areas at training centres who, on 17th January last, were receiving instruction in ladies' and gentlemen's hairdressing was 63. In no case was the instruction being given in ladies' hairdressing only.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men signing on at the Stanford-le-Hope Employment Exchange during the second week in January, 1930, and the corresponding figure for the first week in October, 1929?

At 13th January, 1930, there were 149 men on the registers of the Stanford-le-Hope Employment Exchange, as compared with 79 at 7th October, 1929.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she has taken, or is prepared to take, special measures to ascertain the amount of unemployment among agricultural labourers in each county in England, Scotland, and Wales?

I have been asked to reply. As stated in my reply to the hon. Members for South Molton (Mr. Lambert) and Grantham (Sir V. Warrender) on 27th January, there is no machinery at present in existence for obtaining statistics of the number of unemployed agricultural workers. The Government do not propose to adopt any special measures for obtaining, at the present time, detailed statistics on the subject, but I am arranging to receive from outdoor officers of the Ministry reports as to the extent of unemployment in their respective areas.

asked the Minister of Labour what information she possesses with regard to the organisation of foremen's councils in factories throughout the country?

I have no information on this subject.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether it is the practice of His Majesty's Stationery Office to purchase any classes of German machinery for the printing works under their control?

The only machines of German manufacture which have been purchased by His Majesty's Stationery Office for the printing works under their control during recent years are automatic feeders for printing machines. I may say that the one machine of similar type made in England is that of an American firm, the cost of which is about double that of the German machine.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of female writing assistants and boy and girl clerical officers appointed to the Claims and Record Office, Kew, from the open competitive examinations held in 1925, 1927, 1928, and 1929 for these grades, showing the total number of appointments to each grade for each of such years; whether it is intended to assign to that Department any further boy and girl candidates from the extended list of successful candidates- at the April, 1929, competi- tion and, if so, what number; and whether it is intended to take similar successful candidates from the open competition held this month and, if so, what number?

The number of appointments made to the Claims and Record Office from the open competitions held in the last five years in respect of posts of clerical officer and writing assistant were as follow:

Year.	Clerical Officer.		Writing Assistant.
	Male.	Female.
1925	—	9*	45
1926	—	—	—
1927	7	21*	19
1928	No examination.		129
1929	—	9†	47
Total	7	39	240‡
*Three of these were already serving as writing assistants in the Claims and Record Office.
† Seven of these were already serving as writing assistants in the Claims and Record Office; the remaining two replaced clerical officers transferred to Headquarters on grounds of residence.
‡ As against this recruitment of 240 writing assistants there has been a wastage of 231 during the same period.

The result of the open competitions of December, 1929, for posts of writing assistant has not yet been announced. It is not anticipated that any of the successful candidates from this examination will be assigned to the Claims and Record Office. It is anticipated, however, that four further candidates from the April, 1929, clerical classes open competition will be assigned to the Ministry, but it is not intended to allocate these candidates to the Claims and Record Office. It is not at present proposed to allocate to the Claims and Record Office successful candidates from the January, 1930, open competition for the clerical classes unless there are assigned to the Ministry successful candidates who are already in post in the Claims and Record Office in other capacities.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of Government clerical staffs at Kew; and what is the number of rooms in the Government offices at Kew?

The total number of the Government staffs employed at Kew is 3,119 and is comprised as follows:

Ministry of Labour	2,706
Ministry of Health	405
Exchequer and Audit Department	8

Of the number 3,119, 2,901 are of the various clerical and subordinate grades, including typists but excluding messengers and cloakroom attendants. The total number of rooms is 126, excluding store rooms, domestic offices, etc. The amount of floor space of the rooms varies greatly from a minimum of 160 to a maximum of 19,450 square feet.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the cost to this country of the recent conferences at The Hague; and what percentage this represents of the estimated total international expenditure on these conferences?

I have been asked to reply. The cost of the British delegation to The Hague conferences of August, 1929, and January, 1930, will amount to £10,200 approximately. With regard to the second part of the question, I have no information as to the expenditure incurred by the other Powers who were represented at these conferences.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount to be disbursed during the current financial year under the De-rating Act in the relief of rates; and what is the estimated income from the petrol tax to meet such expenditure?

The estimates for grants to rating authorities in the current financial year amounted to £13,200,000. This is of course only half a year's expenditure, the scheme having come into force on 1st October, 1929. In addition there is a sum of £2,570,000 charged to the Rating Relief Suspense Account in respect of the acceleration of agricultural de-rating. I see no reason to sup- pose that the expenditure will differ widely from these figures. The estimated revenue, from the Petrol Duty included in the Budget was £15,700,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in drawing up his Budget, he will consider the desirability of putting a tax on works of art exported from this country to other countries?

My hon. Friend's suggestion has been noted.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the constant evasion of the law requiring receipts to be stamped with a 2d. stamp on amounts exceeding £2; and what measures are being taken by his Department to prevent this practice?

Cases where receipts which ought to have been stamped have been given without a stamp are brought from time to time to the notice of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue and suitable action by way of warning, pecuniary penalty or legal proceedings is taken by them in each case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how much of the War Loan 5 per cent., 1929–1947 did the Treasury not recover or receive Income Tax for the financial years ending 31st March, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, and 1929?

I regret that this information is not available. The hon. Member will appreciate that many 5 per cent. War Loan dividends are paid to recipients who, whether because their total incomes are below the exemption limit or because they are charities or because they are not ordinarily resident in this country, are not liable to tax in respect of them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, during each of the past eight years, any payments by way of Income Tax on their trading profits have been made by Arcos, Limited, and other associated companies incorporated and carrying on trade in this country?

The Commissioners of Inland Revenue are precluded from disclosing information as to the Income Tax paid by any particular taxpayer, but the hon. Member may rest assured that Russian trading organisations, such as those to which he refers, have been and will be treated as within the scope of the Income Tax Acts, and that substantial amounts of tax have in fact been paid by them.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that it is the practice in computing the profits of industrial undertakings for the purpose of Income Tax to allow contributions to charities to be deducted as an expense in the case of contributions for the ordinary purposes of a charity, but not in the case of contributions for the extension or other capital purposes of the charity, and in view of the need for the extension of hospital facilities, he will consider the possibility of extending the privilege of deduction to contributions for such purposes?

I regret that I do not see my way to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion. It would conflict with the fundamental principle of the Income Tax code that capital expenditure is not admissable as a deduction in the computation of income.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of dog licences issued in the United Kingdom in the years 1914, 1924 and 1929?

Statistics as to the number of dog licences issued are not available for calendar years. The number of dog licences issued in the United Kingdom for the years ended 31st March, 1914, 1924 and 1929, which are published in the Annual Reports of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise was as follows:—

Year ended 31st March.		England & Wales.	Scotland.	Great Britain.
1914	…	1,844,565	133,875	1,978,440
1924	…	2,346,132	142,491	2,488,623
1929	…	2,781,877	171,141	2,953,018

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider setting up a committee to inquire into the investment of British capital in, and loans of British banks to, industries in countries where wage standards are substantially below those operating in this country?

I have been asked to reply. I do not think that the appointment of a committee on this particular point would serve any useful purpose. General questions relating to the direction of investment will no doubt come under the review of the Macmillan Committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, at the close of their proceedings, he will publish the evidence given before the Governments' Committee set up to- inquire into the banking and credit of the country?

I think that a decision on this question must await the termination of the inquiry.

asked the President of the Board of Education what steps are being taken at the present time to give instruction on the subject of the League of Nations in the schools of this country?

As the hon. Member is doubtless aware, the Board do not themselves prescribe the details of the curriculum in the schools of the country; but I have every reason to believe that both local authorities and teachers are alive to the importance of giving children sound instruction in the principles of the League of Nations, and that this is done in many schools. The subject is dealt with in the latest edition of the Board's "Suggestions to Teachers"; and a joint committee of representatives of the local authorities and the teachers has recently issued a report containing recommendations in regard to the teaching of the aims and achievements of the League

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether he can furnish information as to the extent to which afforestation is being carried on in North Wales; the number of acres which have been planted during the past five years in each of the North Wales counties; and the number of men now employed in connection with the afforestation schemes in each of the North Wales counties?

The Forestry Commission's planting programme this season for North Wales is 2,517 acres. The answers to the remainder of the question are set out in the following table of figures:

County.	Number of acres planted during last five years.	Number of men now employed by the Commission.
Carnarvon	1872	83
Flint	—	—
Merioneth	4192	69
Montgomery	1512	69
Denbigh	—	45

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity and value of Japanese cotton goods imported into Great Britain during the last 12 months; and whether he will supply a table showing the relative wages paid to different categories of British and Japanese cotton operatives?

As regards the first part of the question, I regret that it has not been possible to obtain in time the necessary figures, but I will send them to the hon. Member in the course of a day or two. As regards the second part of the question, I regret that the official information at present available is not sufficient for any satisfactory comparison of the wages in the cotton industry in Japan and in that of this country, and proposals for an inquiry into the wages and other conditions in the textile industries in Japan and other principal industrial countries are under the consideration of the International Labour Office at the present time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is in a position to report a substantial increase in the export of British artificial silk goods to the Argentine as a result of the Anglo-Argentine trade agreement?

As I explained on Tuesday, 21st January, in reply to questions by the hon. Members for Moseley (Mr. Hannon) and Devizes, (Mr. Hurd) the scope of the reductions of duty on goods of or containing artificial silk on importation into the Argentine is still being considered by the Argentine Government, and no reduction has in fact yet been accorded. The question of the effect of such a reduction on the trade concerned does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now make any statement concerning the use of Woolwich Common by the public; and what is the present position of the negotiations between the London County Council and the War Office concerning the matter?

As regards the first part of the question, the public is allowed to use the Common so far as military requirements permit. As regards the second part, no definite proposals have yet been received from the London County Council.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any numbers of units or any equipment under his control have been used for the production of film for commercial purposes during the last six months?

Special facilities have been granted in three cases during the last six months.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware of the fact that 99 per cent. of fires in cinemas originate in the projecting machine whilst the film is being operated, and that the panic which follows is due to the fact that the slightest flame in the projecting machine is magnified ten thousand fold on the screen; whether he is aware of the existence of certain mechanical devices which will when attached to a cinema projector automatically prevent possibility of fire; and if such a device be in existence will he recommend its use to all local licensing authorities?

I am advised that there are several devices which are designed to prevent the film catching fire when the machine stops or the speed is reduced and some of these are in regular use, but it would not be possible for the Home Office to prescribe the adoption of any particular appliance in its regulations. These regulations are specially designed to reduce the risk of fire to a minimum and, as I said in answer to a recent question, if the investigation into the disaster at Paisley shows that they are in any respect inadequate, the question of amending them will be immediately considered. I may add, however, that the fire at Paisley did not originate in or near the operating enclosure.

asked the Home Secretary if he has received protests from local authorities against the inclusion of workmen engaged in the open-air quarrying of stone for road work being included in the Sandstone Industry (Silicosis) Scheme, 1929; and whether he proposes to modify the Statutory Rules so as to exclude such workmen?

No, Sir. I do not appear to have received any such protests, and I find that, although the scheme, before being made, was issued in draft to all the local authorities concerned, numbering nearly 80, only one of them raised any objection. The answer to the latter part of the question is in the negative. As I explained to the right hon. Gentleman in reply to a previous question, oases of silicosis found among quarrymen and others engaged in manipulating sandstone prove that, notwithstanding that the industry is an open-air one, the risk is by no means slight, and, so far as I am aware, there is no evidence at present of any immunity among those employed in the roadstone section.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Sidney Walter Nevard, aged 30, was recently sentenced by the Bromley (Kent) justices to three months' imprisonment with hard labour for sleeping out; that Nevard had never been previously convicted and that he was a homeless gardener; and whether he will have the facts investigated with a view to the remission of the sentence?

I have been looking carefully and sympathetically into the facts of this case. It is fair to say that I understand that the magistrates sentenced the prisoner to the maximum term believing it to be in his own interest to do so, as in their view he was not fit to be at large. He has been under special medical observation while in prison, and I have this morning heard that he has now been pronounced insane. He will immediately be removed to an appropriate institution.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will take steps to have the case of Mr. Gialdini brought to the notice of the proper legal authorities in Italy with a view to the examination of the charges against him arising out of the evidence tendered in the recent trial of Hatry and his associates?

This matter has received consideration, and some necessary preliminary inquiries are now being made.

asked the Home Secretary the number of sexual offences committed against girls under 16 years of age in the County of London for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The figures available, which relate to the Metropolitan Police District and not to the County of London, show that in 1926 seven cases of defilement of girls under 13 and 21 cases of defilement of girls aged from 13 to 16, came to the knowledge of the police.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider calling a further conference of those interested in the construction of the Thames tunnel between Dartford and Purfleet and the shipping companies who use the Port of London; and whether he will inquire from the Port of London Authority whether they are satisfied that this project will not restrict the size of ships able with safety to pass up the river at all times after the tunnel has been built on the plans passed by his Department?

I sent copies of plans to the Port of London Authority on 23rd November last asking for their comments upon the proposal; and although no definite reply has reached me, several meetings have taken place between my technical officers and the staff of the Authority. These negotiations are still proceeding.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that about the end of 1927 or the beginning of 1928 his Department approached the Bromley Rural District Council in connection with a proposed new traffic road from Kingston to Swanley Junction; that his Department suggested that a portion of this road should pass across the Park Langley golf course, West Wickham; whether this suggestion represented the considered opinion of his Department; and whether, seeing that his Department has since then approved of a departure from the route originally suggested, he will say what were the grounds which led to the alteration being sanctioned?,

The line of road referred to in the first part of the hon. Member's question was tentatively suggested on technical grounds by my Department. The amended line was subsequently adopted after discussion and negotiation as constituting a more suitable route.

asked the Home Secretary how many prosecutions have taken place in the Metropolitan police district for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date with reference to the bylaw which has been in force since 12th March, 1914, with regard to slow-moving traffic keeping near the curb; and will he give particulars?

There were no prosecutions under the bylaw referred to. Two persons were reported and dealt with by caution.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what are the latest figures of the export of horses to Belgium and other Continental countries; and if he is satisfied with the position?

With regard to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right bon. Friend gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Central Southwark (Mr. Day), of which I am sending him a copy. With regard to the second part of the question, the whole question of the export of horses was thoroughly investigated by the Departmental Committee appointed in 1925. That Committee was satisfied that no horse which could be described as decrepit was being passed for export, and that the provisions of the Acts which prohibit the shipment of horses unless fit to work and also to travel were being efficiently carried out. This position has since been and is being rigidly maintained. The answer to the latter part of the question is, therefore, in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the increasing gravity of the crisis relating to the disposal and marketing of the potato crop in Lancashire and other parts of the country; on what grounds he refuses issuing certificates for the exportation of potatoes of immune varieties which are grown on clean land and are for consumption; and if he is aware that every day's delay means a loss of trade to shipping and leaving the grower with the crop unsaleable?

My right hon. Friend is fully aware of the gravity of the position to which my hon. Friend refers, and greatly regrets that he does not feel it consistent with his duty to issue certificates as desired. My hon. Friend will of course understand that the refusal to issue certificates applies only to potatoes grown in a wart disease-infected area. In view of the dispersion of the cases of infection that have been known to occur, it is clear that the export of such potatoes must involve some risk of the carriage of infection. My hon. Friend will appreciate the disastrous results to the whole potato export trade of the country which might follow if disease were discovered in, or arose from, a consignment exported with a certificate from my Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the latest figures of prices of agricultural produce and the extent of any change in the last five years and any authoritative available estimate of the costs of production in the same period?

The general index number of prices of agricultural produce in 1929 was 44 per cent. above the level of the base years 1911–13, as compared with 59 per cent. in 1925. A detailed comparison of the general index and of the index for the various agricultural commodities for the past six years is given in the Ministry's Agricultural Market Report for 24th January, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. No general index figure of the costs of production is available, but the position in regard to the cost of fertilisers and feeding stuffs is dealt with in the article referred to. As regards the cost of labour, no statistics are available, but the average minimum wage of ordinary male workers in the summer of 1925, when the Orders made under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, 1924, were in full operation, was 31s. 5d. per week, as compared with 31s. 8d. per week at the present time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the approximate numbers of agricultural workers in the county of Essex who are, respectively, employed and unemployed at the present time?

I have no information as to the number of agricultural workers at present employed in the county of Essex but the number returned as employed on 4th June last was 29,813, that is 25,232 regular workers and 4,581 casual workers. There are no statistics available to show the number of agricultural workers unemployed.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of accidents, fatal and non-fatal, for the year 1929 in the Hilton Main Colliery as compared with the three previous years?

The figures are as follow:

Year.		Persons Killed.	Persons disabled for more than 3 days.
1925	…	3	370
1926	…	2	237
1927	…	4	309
1928	…	—	329
1929	…	7	365

The figures for 1926 were affected by the long stoppage in that year, and those for 1925 have accordingly been added for purposes of comparison.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can give information in respect of the facilities in British Guiana for the training of teachers for the educational institutions in the Colony?

I have no recent information of the nature desired by my hon. and gallant Friend beyond what is contained in Sections 3 and 5 of the report of the Director of Education in British Guiana for 1928, of which I am sending him a copy.