asked the Secretary of State for India what progress has been made by the Government of India in its efforts to extinguish, by agreement, the cultivation of the opium poppy in the Indian States?

; The report of the Committee is still under the consideration of the Government of India.

asked the Secretary of State for India if the Government of India has considered the question of amending the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923, so as to bring within the scope of the Act agricultural workers, domestic servants, and non-manual workers earning more than Rs.300 per annum and to authorise the compensation commissioner to take action in compensation cases, even though no application is made to him under the Act?

The Government of India have asked the Provincial Governments for opinions as to the desirability of amending the Act in a number of directions, and in particular on the questions whether the Act should be extended to any fresh classes of employés, and whether steps should be taken to ensure that dependants entitled to compensation do not lose it though ignorance of their rights. The Government of India will no doubt consider carefully the views of the Provincial Governments in the light of any recommendations that may be made by the Royal Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for India -whether Mr. Sastri's East African Report will be laid upon the Table of the House or otherwise be made available for Members?

Copies will be placed in the Library of the House. I hope that it will be possible to do this before the end of the month.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether -he can supply a table showing the trade done between the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics and India for the period 1922 to 1929?

A table is attached giving the latest figures for the seven financial years ending March, 1929. These figures represent the value of goods consigned by sea from India to Russia and from Russia to India. It is impossible to state the whole value of goods of Indian origin received in Russia or of goods of Russian origin received in India.

asked the Secretary of State for India if any applications have been received by the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research in India since its establishment for grants on behalf of research institutions; and whether it is proposed to recommend the establishment of a provincial research committee in each major province?

I have no information on these points at present, but I expect to receive shortly a Report from the Government of India on the progress made in dealing with the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Agriculture.

asked the Secretary of State for India if any steps have been taken by the Government of India to introduce legislation for the purpose of carrying out in India the recommendations of the International Labour Conference held at Washington in 1919 with reference to the provision of maternity benefits?

At the Washington Conference a resolution was adopted inviting the Government of India to make a study of the question and to report to the next Conference. The inquiries were duly instituted by the Government of India, and a report was supplied to the International Labour Conference which met at Geneva in 1921. This report was published in the Official Bulletin of the International Labour Office, Volume 4, No. 10, dated 7th September, 1921. A later inquiry was undertaken by the Government of India in June, 1924, regarding the extent to which maternity benefit schemes were enforced in India. The results of this inquiry were published in Bulletin No. 32 of the Indian Industries and Labour, a copy of which I will send to my hon. and gallant Friend. A copy will also be placed in the Library. Since 1925 maternity benefit schemes have been introduced by various employers. Legislation has been passed by the Bombay Legislative Council, with effect from 1st July, 1929, providing for the grant of maternity benefit to women employed in factories within that province. A Bill on similar lines is under the consideration of the Central Provinces Legislative Council.

asked the Postmaster-General how many people are employed in the traffic section of the Post Office and the cost per annum for the upkeep and maintenance of this section?

The number of officers employed in the headquarters traffic sections of the Post Office on 31st December, 1929, was 88; of these 16 were employed in the postal traffic section and 72 in the telegraph and telephone traffic section. The expenditure during the year ended 31st December, 1929, in respect of the postal traffic section was £11,132, and in respect of the telegraph and telephone traffic section £33,115.

asked the Postmaster-General the practice as to payment for permanent and temporary staff employed over the Christmas holidays; and whether the same ratio of payment is made to these staffs throughout Great Britain?

It is not clear precisely what information is desired by the hon. Member; but for actual attendance on the two holidays at offices in England and Wales the permanent staff receive extra pay at rate plus a-half for Christmas Day and are granted a day's leave in lieu of Boxing Day. The Christmas temporary staff are paid at rate plus a-half for attendance both on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The arrangements in Scotland are the same so far as Christmas Day is concerned.

asked the Postmaster-General the amount of work engaged upon by his Department during 1929 for the purpose of transferring overhead lines to underground?

About 470,000 miles of wire in underground cables were provided during 1929, at a cost of about £3,900,000, of which about 10 per cent. were in substitution of pre-existing overhead wires, while the balance represents increased capacity.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that complaints are frequently made of the inadequacy of the public postal facilities at Palmers Green, which are said to be practically the same to-day as they were 17 years ago, all public business having to be transacted in two or three comparatively small shops; whether it has been brought to his notice that recently queues of people awaiting attention extended to the public footpaths; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made with a view to the provision of more adequate facilities for this growing suburb with a present population of approximately 47,000 people?

The provision of a Crown office at Palmers Green has been approved, and every effort is being made to secure the necessary accommodation.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has received a representation from the Somerset Education Committee that, in view of the difficulties of reorganisation in the rural counties and of providing new or adapting existing school buildings, it is essential that a Clause should be inserted in the Bill for raising the school age and empowering the Board of Education to fix different dates for bringing the Act into force in different counties or portions of counties; and whether he is prepared to accede and give effect to the terms of such representation?

I have received the representation referred to, but there are serious objections to fixing different dates for bringing the Act into force. I may add that the careful and thorough programme submitted by the Somerset authority encourages me to expect that their preparations are likely to be largely completed by the time that the raising of the school age has taken effect.

asked the President of the Board of Education the governing principles upon which need will be assessed in deciding the eligibility for maintenance of children over 35 years of age under the Bill for raising the school-leaving age?

I am not yet in a position to add anything to the statement which I made in answer to questions on 23rd January, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Education the estimated number of school children over 14 years of age that will be in attendance in April, 1931?

The estimated number of children over 14 years of age who will be in attendance at public elementary schools in England und Wales, on 1st April, 1931, is 157,000?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, while recognising the varying conditions, he will call the attention of local authorities to the difference in the cost of education per child in the different areas; and will he circularise local education authorities indicating for their guidance cases where economy has been possible without loss of efficiency?

A copy of the "Cost per Child" tables, which were sent to the hon. Member on 28th December, has been sent in the usual way to every local authority. It is the regular practice of my Department to discuss with individual authorities items of expenditure which appear to be excessive, and I think this practice is more likely to be effective than the issue of any general Circular.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether His Majesty's inspectors are now required, with a full understanding that counter-instructions issued in 1922 and/or 1923 have been withdrawn, to report in detail upon any defect in structure, lighting, heating, water supply and sanitary arrangements in the course of the normal routine of their inspection of schools; and whether, in this event, he is able to furnish a statistical report under these heads for the year ending April, 1928?

It is one of the functions of His Majesty's inspectors to make such reports. They enable my Department to take action on individual cases; but it would not be possible, without a disproportionate amount of labour, to furnish any statistical information such as is suggested.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty the number of men employed as storehousemen in the service of the Admiralty in January, 1929 and 1930, respectively; and what is the method of recruitment and of promotion in the stores?

On both the dates given the number of storehousemen in establishments at home was 350; the method of recruitment is generally by examination from lower grades; the higher posts available for storehousemen are filled by selection.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when it is proposed to start work on the only cruiser left to be constructed in the 1928–29 and 1929–30 naval programme; and whether, seeing that the construction of the other four cruisers in the programmes for 1928–29 and 1929–30 has been abandoned, he will see that the construction of this one cruiser is given to His Majesty's dockyards?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of the 5th February [OFFICIAL REPORT, Columns 1918–9].

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the men on the aircraft-carrier "Argus" who recently developed cerebro-spinal meningitis had been vaccinated or inoculated in any way; and, if so, will he give the dates of such vaccination or inoculation?

I will let my hon. Friend have this information as soon as it has been obtained.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will place all tubercular-bacillus pension cases on a permanent basis, as the present method of dealing with such cases leads to differential treatment?

It is the practice to make final awards in all cases of tuberculosis which are found to be suitable, but having regard to the nature of the disease it would not be in the best interests of the pensioners to make such awards as a matter of course. The present practice is in my view better adapted to preventing differential treatment than that suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of Ernest Edgar Hope, pension No. D.D.U. 1193, in respect of whom a dependant's allowance was granted to his parents; whether he is aware that on the father's death the allowance was withdrawn; and will he take steps to authorise its continuance to the mother?

The first intimation of the father's death in this case was only received on 29th January. The pension, having been granted to the father, necessarily ceased to be issuable at his death, but the application for transfer of the pension to the widow which has now been made is under consideration and will be dealt with promptly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in order to ascertain the views of the smaller burghs on the administrative schemes relating to the transferred services under the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929, which have been framed by the county councils, he will arrange for a copy of these schemes to be forwarded to the town clerks of all the burghs situated within each of the county areas to which the schemes respectively apply?

I propose to ask county councils to supply copies of their schemes to the town councils of small burghs in their areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is prepared to take to assist the Scottish potato growers in the marketing of their produce and in providing further outlets for the exportation of potatoes; and if he can report as to what action the Department of Agriculture for Scotland has taken or proposes to take in the matter?

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Eastern Aberdeenshire (Mr. Boothby) on Tuesday last. Every effort is being made to find new outlets for the exportation of potatoes, but as the hon. and learned Member will appreciate the acceptance or refusal of our exports is a matter for the Governments of the countries concerned. As regards the last part of the question, the Department of Agriculture have recently made regulations under the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act prescribing a grade of size and quality and also a national mark for ware potatoes produced in Scotland, and it is hoped that by the adoption of this scheme growers will be able to secure a better market for potatoes of good quality.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he will set up a committee to investigate and report what alterations, if any, should be made in

I am aware generally of difficulties which frequently arise in connection with the system of hire-purchase, but I am not aware of any special circumstances in regard to the law of hire-purchase which rails for a committee of inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any steps are being taken to make, use, or dispose of the Government farina factory at Monikie, in the county of Angus?

I have been asked to answer this question. His Majesty's Government have no longer any interest in the factory to which my hon. Friend refers. It was sold to a private individual in 1922, on the liquidation of the company to which it originally belonged.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the production per acre in 1929 of British cereals under each category, and the production per acre in 1929 of British potatoes, as compared with each of the five preceding years?

The following statement shows the yield per acre of cereals and potatoes in Great Britain in 1929 and the five preceding years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the latest market price for different grades of home and foreign wheat, barley, oats, and other cereals; and the figures for the same period in each of the five preceding years?

asked the Minister of Agriculture what schemes for standardising, grading, and marketing of agricultural produce his Department now has actually in hand, apart from the marketing of meat and the grading of fruit?

Schemes under the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1928, have already been applied to home-produced apples and pears, eggs, Cornish broccoli for export, tomatoes and cucumbers, wheat flour, malt products and home-killed beef. Schemes relating to dressed poultry, strawberries, cherries, canned fruits and cider are under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the decision on the Agricultural Wages Act, in the ease of

The following statement shows the average prices (per cwt.) of British and imported cereals during the month of January in the years 1925 to 1930, as returned by the Ministry's reporters at Bristol, Hull, Liverpool and London:Pockney v. Atkinson of 16th July, 1929; and if, in view of the effect this will have upon the position of all labourers who hire themselves for a period of months, as is customary in the North of England, he proposes to introduce remedial legislation?

My right hon. Friend has given careful attention to the decision of the High Court in the case mentioned, and he hopes it will not have any adverse effect on the position of agricultural workers engaged on long-term hirings. Should it have, however, such an effect, he will certainly consider, if opportunity offers, the desirability of proposing legislation to remove any difficulties in that respect in the administration of the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, 1924.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount of agricultural land now derelict in each county in England and Wales on the latest available date?

I regret that precise information as to the amount of derelict land in each county is not available, but as a result of inquiries which have been made into this matter, I am satisfied that the total area of such land in the country is insignificant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the amounts of Estate and Succession Duties collected by the Treasury from agricultural lands and estates for the last three years, respectively; and what was the number of owners in each year from whose estates these moneys were collected?

These payments are not specially recorded, but it is estimated that the Estate Duty paid in respect of agricultural land for the years 1926, 1927 and 1928 amounted to £3,400,000, £2,500,000 and £2,600,000, respectively. The annual receipt of Succession Duty in respect of agricultural land is in the neighbourhood of £250,000. I regret I cannot give particulars of the number of such cases year by year.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Metropolitan Police still issue to motorists for minor offences first warnings which do not entail prosecution; whether, in that case, he can state the number of such warnings issued since the system came into operation; and how many of such motorists have been summoned for subsequent offences?

The procedure referred to is still followed and, in all, 24,643 warning letters have been issued, in lieu of prosecution, since July, 1928, when the procedure was introduced. I regret I could not say, without elaborate research, in how many cases persons who have received a warning letter have been subsequently summoned.

asked the Home Secretary the gross amount of fines imposed on motorists in the Metropolitan Area for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The total amount of fines (excluding costs) imposed for motoring offences committed in the Metropolitan Area during the 12 months ended 30th June, 1929, was £56,673 1s. 5d.

asked the Minister of Transport, (1) what progress, if any, has been made in the schemes for bridging the Forth between Queensferry and Stirling; and what percentages of costs have been promised, if any;(2) what approaches, if any, have been made to his Department towards getting part of the capital expenditure for the inauguration of a ferry service between North Queensferry and South Queens-ferry; if any offer of financial assistance has been made; and, if so, to what extent?

These questions can conveniently be dealt with in a single reply. At my suggestion the Edinburgh Corporation are convening in the near future a conference of local authorities who are to consider the whole problem of traffic facilities across the Forth, including the question of improved ferry facilities. No promise of financial assistance has been given.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has in contemplation the prohibition of motor and motor-bicycle reliability trials on Carters Hill, Rooks Hill, and other hills in populous areas of Kent, where such trials are a danger and nuisance to residents?

There is no power under the general law to prohibit a reliability trial for motor cars or motor cycles. If those who participate in the trial break any law with regard to the use of motor vehicles they can be dealt with by the police.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of Electricity Commissioners at the present time and what changes have taken place during the last two years?

The number of Electricity Commissioners employed at the present time is five, of whom one was appointed during the past two years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated revenue from employers' contributions and employés' contributions to the National Health Insurance Fund for the coming year?

I have been asked to reply. The revenue of the National Health Insurance Fund for the coming year, taking Great Britain as a whole, will, it is estimated, be as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the gross and net assessment to Income Tax during the year ended 31st March, 1929, and the estimated numbers of persons assessed and actually paying Income Tax, respectively, in respect of that year?

The gross income brought under review and the actual income assessed to Income Tax in the year 1928–29 are estimated to be about £3,100,000,000 and £2,480,000,000 respectively. The number of persons with assessable incomes above £135 a year is estimated for that year at 5,000,000, of whom 2,150,000 were actually chargeable with tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for each year since the year 1923–24 the number of concerns assessable for Income Tax under Schedule D whose registered offices have been transferred abroad; and what was the total amount of Schedule D assessment made on the profits of such concerns for the last year for which they were liable to Income Tax?

Thirty cases have been noted, the aggregate Schedule D assessment on profits being about £1,250,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of children in respect of whom rebate of Income Tax was allowed in the last year for which figures are available, and the total amount of tax so remitted?

I regret I am unable to give either the numbers of children or the actual amount of tax remitted. The only information available is the aggregate amount of the children allowances made from income in determining liability to tax. For the year 1927–28 these allowances amounted to £39,500,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what salaries are to be paid to the various members of the new Economic Council; and when it is proposed to present the relevant Supplementary Estimate?

The salaries to be paid to the various members of the staff of the Economic Advisory Council have not yet been determined. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer to the reply given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 4th February to the hon. and gallant Member for Maidstone (Commander Bellairs).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that an examination was held in the autumn of 1928 for candidates for the executive group of the Civil Service who were between 18 and 19 years of age on 31st December, 1928, and that the next examination will be held in the spring of this year and will be for candidates who will be between 18 and 19 years of age on 1st March, 1930; whether, seeing that the result is that all persons born during the months of January and February, 1911, have been or will be precluded from sitting for either examination on the ground that they were slightly too young for the first and slightly too old for the second, he will consider, in the interests of those so precluded, the advisability of altering the date of the examination or the date on which candidates have to be between 18 and 19 years of age to one which would allow them to present themselves for examination or of raising, in this instance, the age limit to 19 years and two months?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to a similar question from my hon. Friend the Member for St. Pancras North (Mr. Marley) on 9th December last, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if, in charging and estimating the duty on imported preparations of cocoa under the British tariff, he will state the percentages of the weight of raw cocoa assigned to cleaning, roasting, cocoa husks, cocoa butter, and fat-free powder?

The following percentages are employed in calculating the duty on imported preparations of cocoa:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total net revenue during the calendar year l929 from, the McKenna Silk and Safeguarding Duties?

The approximate net amount of revenue derived from the McKenna Silk, Artificial Silk and Safeguarding Duties during the year ended 31st December, 1929. was £12,529,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the net reduction in the total amount of duty in 1928–29 in respect of each of the imported Empire products resulting from the fact that preferential and not full rates were charged?

The approximate net reduction in duty in respect of imported Empire goods delivered for home consumption at preferential rates of duty during the financial year 1928–29, was as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what foreign manufactured goods on the one hand and what foreign food products on the other are dumped in this country below the cost of production in the countries; and, if he has not these facts, whether he proposes to take steps to ascertain them so as to enable, if necessary, counter action to be taken by this country?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. I fear that it would not be practicable to embark upon an investigation of such great magnitude and difficulty as that suggested in the second part of the question. In this connection, I would like to refer the hon. Member to the statements I have recently made in this House as to the steps which are being taken internationally to raise the standards of labour conditions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity of tons of steel ingots and castings and also that of pig iron produced in Great Britain for the year ended 31st December, 1929?

The output of steel ingots and castings and of pig iron in Great Britain in 1929, as published by the National Federation of Iron and Steel Manufacturers was 9,654,700 and 7,579,500 tons respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, to prevent as far as possible forged share and other security certificates passing into circulation, he will amend the Companies Act, 1929, and make it obligatory for share transfer registers to be audited at monthly or quarterly intervals?

I have noted this suggestion, which shall be investigated when the desirability of introducing amending legislation is being considered.

asked the Minister of Labour the extent to which the cost of clothing, being 110 to 120 per cent. above pre-War, affects the monthly cost-of-living index figure; and what the latter would be were the cost of clothing only to show a similar increase to the average of other commodities?

As expenditure on clothing formed approximately one-eighth of pre-War working-class expenditure on items included in the cost-of-living index number statistics, a movement of eight points in the retail prices of clothing would result in a movement of approximately one point in the cost-of-living index figure. If the retail prices of clothing showed the same increase as the average of other items, the cost-of-living index figure would be lowered by six or seven points.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the extract from the rules of the National Union of Railwaymen given in White Paper No. 3408 was in force in December, 1929?

The extract in question forms part of the present registered rules of the National Union of Railwaymen, in relation to its donation and suspension benefit.

asked the Minister of Labour if she is aware that election posters were exhibited in the Leominster Employment Exchange during the last Election; and what steps she will take to prevent similar occurrences in the future?

Managers of branch employment offices are precluded by the terms of their appointment from allowing the exhibition at branch offices of any political posters, memorials or similar literature, and my information is that no election posters were exhibited at the branch office during the last Election.

asked the Minister of Labour whether her attention has been called to the closing down of the Tinsley Steel, Iron, and Wire Rope Works, Sheffield, in the course of a few days, which will affect 1,000 employés; and whether the men will be paid unemployment benefit?

I am informed that a considerable number of workpeople may lose employment owing to the closing down of certain of the departments of this company. They will be eligible to receive unemployment benefit, subject to the usual conditions.

asked the Minister of Labour if she is aware that 600 men were paid off at Parkhead Forge, Glasgow, on Saturday last, in consequence of the work being transferred to Colville's plants at Motherwell and Glengarnock; and whether the men will be paid unemployment benefit?

I am informed that a considerable number of workpeople may be expected to lose employment with this firm as a result of the transfer of certain work to other districts. They will be entitled to receive unemployment benefit, subject to the usual conditions.

asked the Minister of Labour what addition to the live register it is estimated will be made owing to the present Unemployment Insurance Act in respect of persons who, though previously unemployed, were not on the live register?

It is not possible at present to make a precise estimate of the numbers of persons now unemployed who are likely to be added to the live register when the Unemployment Insurance Bill now before Parliament comes into force. The White Paper, Cmd. 3453, contains in paragraph 7, an estimate of the approximate number of persons now disqualified who would not be disqualified under the Bill. Of the total given it is probable that a number in the neighbourhood of 80,000 are now on the register, leaving a balance of about 70,000 not now on the register who may be expected to renew their claims. In addition, there are the classes referred to in paragraph 8 of the White Paper, which may bring the total up to 100,000, but this must be to a large extent a matter for conjecture.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what is the number of alien musicians now practising their profession in this country;(2) whether, having regard to the number of British musicians now out of employment in this country, she will consider the desirability of cancelling the permits of alien musicians now practising their profession here and of refusing future permits to alien musicians to enter this country for the purpose of practising their profession;(3) the number of alien musicians to whom permits were granted to enter and practise their profession in this country during the six months preceding 30th May, 1929, and 31st January, 1930, respectively?

The lumber of alien musicians in respect of whom permits were issued in the periods in question were:

asked the Minister of Agriculture if the Government have considered the possibility of setting aside a sum of money for the provision of allotments for unemployed workers in the more depressed areas; and whether his advisers have worked out any such scheme showing what amount might be saved thereby in respect of unemployment pay?

No funds are at the disposal of the Ministry for this purpose, but grants for the past season were approved by the Central Committee of the Lord Mayor's Fund for assistance in the cultivation of allotments by unemployed miners, and I understand that the assistance is to be continued for the coming season. As regards the latter part of the question, I am advised by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that the preparation of any such estimate is impracticable at the present stage. A saving to the Unemployment Fund could only result from the men ceasing to be entitled to benefit and a decision on that question could only be decided by the statutory authorities.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether any schemes are at present being discussed with the Canadian Government for the purpose of sending miners to Canada in the autumn of 1930 for the harvesting season; and can he give the House particulars?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what is the number of British musicians registered as being out of employment in this country;(2) what is the number of British waiters now out of employment in this country?

At 30th December, 1929, the latest date for which figures are available, the numbers of musicians aged 18 and over recorded as wholly unemployed in Great Britain were 1,217 men and 295 women; corresponding figures for waiters and waitresses were 5,971 men and 6,972 women. I am unable to state how many of these were of British nationality.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) how many permits she has granted since 1st June, 1929, to aliens to enter this country and be employed as waiters in restaurants, hotels, and similar places here;(2) what is the number of alien waiters now in employment in this country;(3) whether, in view of the unemployment existing in this country, she will consider the desirability of cancelling the permits granted to alien waiters to be employed here and of refusing to grant permits to those alien waiters who, in the future, may apply to her for permission to enter this country in order to carry on their avocations here?

The total number of aliens admitted to this country to take up employment as waiters during the period 1st June, 1929, to 31st January, 11130, was 197. Except in 10 cases all of these aliens were admitted for short periods under reciprocal arrangements for the interchange of young British and foreign hotel employés who desire to obtain experience in countries other than their own. Apart from cases of this nature the issue of permits in respect of alien waiters is closely restricted, and permits are granted only in exceptional circumstances. I am satisfied that it would not be practicable to adopt the suggestion of the hon. Member that all future applications for permits should be refused. I regret that I have no information as to the total number of aliens employed in this country as waiters.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons on the registers of the Woolwich Employment Exchange on each Monday from 28th October last to the last convenient date?

The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed men are now upon the register of the Southall Employment Exchange; and whether any, and, if so, how many, of these are men transferred to this area under the Government transference scheme?

At 27th January, 1930, there were 841 men on the register of the Southall Employment Exchange. I regret I am unable to say whether this number includes any men transferred from depressed areas under the industrial transference scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour the estimated revenue from employers' contributions and employés' contributions to the Unemployment Insurance Fund for the coming year?

The estimated revenue from employers' and employés' contributions to the Unemployment Fund for the financial year 1939–31 is £32,000,000.

asked the Under-Secretary of State, for Air if he will give particulars of the proposed reduction in the pay of the Royal Air Force officers which are to come into operation in July next?

The standard rates of pay and retired pay for officers of the Royal Air Force were fixed with reference to the index figure of the cost of living as assessed for July, 1919, and are subject to periodical revision as that figure rises and falls. The last revision took effect from 1st July, 1927, and another is due on 1st July, 1930. The standard rates would then be subject to a reduction of 8 per cent., instead of the current reduction of 6 per cent., if the rule regarding variation were strictly applied. It has been decided, however, that the reduction shall be limited to approximately 7 per cent., for a period of 12 months, after which the matter will be further considered.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the manner in which Dartmoor Prison and prisoners are made the object of sight-seeking tourists: and whether he will take steps to prevent this during the coming holiday season?

I have no power, of course, to prevent parties of tourists arriving by motor vehicles and otherwise from visiting Princetown and passing the prison, but the police render assistance to prevent loitering by vehicles containing sightseers, and steps have been taken to screen, as far as possible, those portions of the road from which parties of prisoners may be seen.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will authorise all present and past officials, who may be required or invited to give evidence before the Select Committee on Capital Punishment, to speak freely to the Committee concerning all relevant matters and considerations within their knowledge and experience; and whether he will make it clear that the Department will not construe the Official Secrete Act in such a way as to prevent this?

Yes, Sir. It is my desire that all past and present officials of my Department who may be summoned to give evidence before the Select Committee should attend as free agents to reply frankly according to their individual knowledge and judgment to the questions put to them.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to make a statement as to the desirability of a public inquiry into the question of vaccination; whether such inquiry, if granted, will be based on the model of the Royal Commission on Licensing; and whether the terms of reference will be wide enough to allow the whole question to be examined?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the remaining parts do not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Health if, with a view to effective co-ordination of effort to prevent the spread of bovine tuberculosis from cattle to man and to promote the consumption of milk, he will issue, for the guidance of the public, a review of the main facts, experience, and conclusions on which action should be based?

I have given instructions for the preparation of a report summarising the existing information on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health what steps his Department take to ascertain whether the various forms of preserved milk which are imported into this country are produced under hygienic conditions and to determine whether they contain anything which renders them undesirable as a form of food?

A few years ago my Department sent a special Commission to Holland and Denmark to ascertain the conditions under which the preserved milk imported from those countries is produced. Information has also been obtained on the occasion of visits, and otherwise, as to the conditions of production in other countries. Imported preserved milks are sampled by Customs officers and by officers of local authorities and are analysed by the Government chemist and the public analysts.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has, in connection with the draft scheme for Woolwich under Section 101 (6) of the Local Government Act, 1929, providing for maternity and child welfare service", received the observations and objections of the Woolwich Borough Council asking him not to approve such scheme: whether it is his intention to proceed with such scheme; what action he has taken in regard thereto; and whether he proposes to ensure the performance of the statutory duties of the borough council in connection therewith?

I assume that the right hon. Member is referring to the scheme which has to be made by me under Section 101 (6) of the Act as respects the County of London. I have received the observations of the Woolwich and other borough councils on the proposed scheme, and these observations are now under consideration. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Health what was the estimate showing the number of houses built by 100 men in a year, published by the Building Research Board in April, 1922; and what is their estimate for the output of the building trade operatives in 1929?

The results contained in the Report referred to were based on an estimate that 1.45 men were

asked the Minister of Health the number of applications he has received, both in respect of urban and rural housing, since the increase of the housing subsidy; and how this total compares with the applications received for each of the six preceding periods?

The level of the housing subsidy has riot been increased

asked the Minister of Health the names of the local authorities required to build one house per annum, or 100 men per 69 houses. This estimate was derived from a special investigation of certain schemes. No comparable data relating to recent schemes are, available.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses completed under all Housing Acts during the last quarters of 1928 and 1929, respectively?

The following statement gives the desired particulars:since August, 1924. I am not clear, therefore, for what periods the figures mentioned in the latter part of the question are desired. The number of houses authorised in England and Wales, under the Acts of 1923 and 1924 during the half year ended the 31st December last and the six preceding half years are shown in the following table:which have appointed up to date whole-time and salaried women house-property managers?

I have no complete record of the authorities who have made such appointments, but I will have inquiries made and will communicate further with the Noble Lady.

asked the Minister of Health the total amount paid by Exchequer subsidy towards the cost of slum clearance since May last?

The amount of Exchequer subsidy paid by my Department in connection with slum clearance schemes since 1st June last to the present date is £54,845.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that loans applied for by local authorities for the purpose of the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, have recently been charged an extra half per cent.; what is the reason for this increase in interest; and whether it applies to all loans from Government to local authorities?

Interest upon loans to local authorities for the purposes of the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, is charged at the minimum rate obtaining for loans from the Local Loans Fund. The rate was raised by one-quarter—not one-half—per cent. as a consequence of the cost of the Local Loans Stock set up in October last.

asked the Minister of Health whether he was aware when he sanctiond the plans of the Reading Board of Guardians for the erection of a tramp clearing-house at Bulmarshe Park, Woodley, that it was scheduled as a residential area under the provisions of the Town Planning (General Interim Development) Order, 1922; and whether he has yet informed the Wokingham Rural District Council if they must revise their plan and alter their assessments for this area?

The hon. and gallant Member is under a misapprehension. The Town Planning (General Interim Development) Order, 1922, does not provide for the scheduling of residential areas; and, so far as I am aware, no preliminary statement of proposals for development has been adopted by the council under the Town Planning Regulations in respect of the area in which it is proposed to erect the casual ward. The last part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in order to ascertain the number of unemployed agricultural labourers, he will make inquiries from the different guardians in the rural districts as to the occupation of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief?

I do not think that the suggested inquiry would provide any reliable information. I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 3rd February by the Minister of Agriculture to the hon. Member for (South West Norfolk (Mr. W. Taylor).

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the increase of motor traffic which is making the streets more dangerous, he will consider the desirability of issuing a memorandum to local authorities suggesting the need for the greater provision of children's playgrounds?

The matter has already been brought to the notice of authorities in the London Traffic Area, I will consider whether anything further is required.

asked the First Commissioner of Works when it is proposed to begin building the new Employment Exchange at Walsall?

It is hoped to begin building in five or six months' time.