asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the recent statement of the Maharajah of Patiala, speaking officially on behalf of the Indian princes, in reference to the independence of India; and whether the Indian princes are being invited to the proposed round-table conference in the autumn to consider the question of dominion status?

I have seen a Press report of the statement referred to. It is of course proposed to invite to the conference representatives of the Indian States.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has recently investigated the case of the ex-Maharaja of Nabha; whether any arrangement has been reached regarding the education of the minor Maharaja; and whether, if a satisfactory agreement is arrived at on the question of education, he contemplates relaxing the restrictions placed upon the ex-Maharaja?

I have been in communication with the Government of India for whose consideration these matters are in the first instance. I have not as yet heard that any arrangement has been made regarding the young Maharaja's education, but I hope that satisfactory arrangements may shortly be agreed upon. I cannot say more in reply to the third part of the question than that the matter will receive consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for India if the Report of the inquiry instituted by the Bombay Government in 1927 into the consumption of opium in certain areas in the Presidency has been presented to the Government of India; whether it is now possible to proceed with the proposal of the Government of India to convene a conference and consider the problem of the high consumption of opium in certain parts of India; and if he can indicate when the Government of India hope to be in a position to convene this conference?

The Government of India have invited the local governments concerned to take part in a conference at Simla in the first part of May, for the discussion of the reports of the local committees appointed to investigate this problem.

asked the Secretary of State for India as to the number of members at present sitting as representatives of Labour, employers and landowners, respectively, in the Indian Legislative Assembly, the Council of State, and the provincial legislative councils?

The Indian electoral rules do not provide for the representation of employers as such. I am obtaining from India particulars as to labour and landholders and will inform my hon. and gallant Friend in due course.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the members of the police force in the island of Grenada, British West Indies, who went on strike last year, are being penalised by loss of pay in spite of an official promise of non-victimisation; and why the decision to defer the increase of pay to this year was taken by the Colonial Office against local advice?

My hon. Friend appears to be under a misapprehension. The increases in the pay and strength of the Grenada Police Force which have recently been sanctioned by my Noble Friend are to take effect from the date originally recommended by the Governor, namely, 1st January, 1930. If any impression has become current that the increases were ever intended to take effect from an earlier date it is incorrect. My Noble Friend has, however, on the Governor's recommendation decided to antedate increase of pay to certain members of the force as a mark of appreciation of their fidelity.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a decision and a settled policy has now been arrived at with reference to the external steamship communications of Tobago, British West Indies; whether the recommendations of the Sea Communications Committee have now been accepted; and whether an assured service will be available for this island in the future?

I am not yet in a position to add anything to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend's question on 11th December last, beyond the fact that the Crown Agents are in communication with the Government of Trinidad in regard to the specifications of vessels of which they have furnished estimates for the Government's consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the conditions governing the granting of leave in the Colonial Medical Service; are the conditions fairly uniform in the different Crown Colonies; on what conditions is leave declined; what safeguards are in existence to prevent penalisation of any medical officer through refusal of leave; is there a right of appeal for local refusal; and whether any Regulations govern the question of study leave?

The conditions governing the grant of leave to officers of the Colonial Medical Service are the same as those governing the grant of leave to other Colonial Government officials, and are set out in the Colonial Regulations which are reproduced in the Dominions Office and Colonial Office List, a copy of which is in the Library of this House. The conditions vary considerably in the different Colonies, the main ground of variation being differences of climate. The grant of leave is in all cases at the discretion of the Governor of the Colony concerned, and dependent on the exigencies of the Service, but an officer would only be refused leave for which he was eligible under the Regulations on grounds of the public interest. Medical officers, like other officers, have the right of appeal to the Secretary of State if they are dissatisfied with the decision of the Governor. Special Regulations are in force with regard to study leave for medical officers in various Colonies, but they are too long to be set forth here.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received the resolution passed by the central committee of the Cotton Spinners and Manufacturers Association dealing with the repeal of the duties on silk and artificial silk; and what reply he has made?

Yes, Sir. The resolution has been received and acknowledged. It is not, of course, the first communication I have received on this subject. For example, the Manchester Chamber of Commerce wrote to me on 24th December last expressing gratitude for the statement which I had made on this subject on the previous day. To that statement I am unable to add.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the total value of the imports from this country, from the rest of the British Empire, and from foreign countries, respectively, which entered the various Colonies and Protectorates during 1927 and 1928?

The figures for which the hon. and gallant Member asks are given in the following Table:

RETURN showing Imports of Merchandise into the undermentioned Colonies and Protectorates during 1927 and 1928, distinguishing Imports from United Kingdom, from British Overseas Dominions and Protectorates and from Foreign Countries.
Colony, etc.	1927.				1928.
	From United Kingdom. (1)	From the rest of the British Empire (including India). (2)	From Foreign Countries. (3)	Total.	From United Kingdom. (1)	From the rest of the British Empire (including India). (2)	From Foreign Countries. (3)	Total.
	Thous. £	Thous. £	Thous. £	Thous. £	Thous. £	Thous. £	Thous. £	Thous. £
Kenya Colony and Protectorate and Uganda Protectorate.	3,801	1,987	2,811	8,599	4,485	2,425	3,327	10,237
Northern Rhodesia	942	552	494	1,988	1,091	692	615	2,398
Nyasaland Protectorate	433	211	320	964	376	176	355	907
Somaliland Protectorate	1	388	27	416	3	548	68	619
Zanzibar Protectorate	318	939	513	1,770	305	716	526	1,547
Gambia	385	112	417	914	484	128	523	1,135
Gold Coast	7,724	776	5,042	13,542	5,775	507	5,173	11,455
Nigeria	10,694	652	3,747	15,093	11,647	216	4,241	16,104
Sierra Leone	1,208	80	703	1,991	1,074	50	726	1,850
Cyprus	406	300	880	1,586	462	345	1,033	1,840
Malta	1,109	340	2,816	4,285	1,143	331	2,507	3,997
Ceylon	6,659	15,913	7,886	30,458	6,715	14,613	8,681	30,009
Mauritius	997	1,957	1,239	4,204	860	1,943	964	3,776
Seychelles	38	57	40	135	34	55	34	123
Fiji	317	756	143	1,216	405	664	186	1,455
Western Pacific:—
Gilbert and Ellice Islands	—	—	—	113	—	—	—	150
British Solomon Islands Protectorate.	32	170	63	265	Figures not available.
Tonga	22	124	12	158	35	146	24	205
St. Helena	37	9	4	50	40	7	2	49
Hong Kong	Figures not available.				Figures not available.
British Malaya	15,471	22,690	77,407	117,201	16,205	19,634	64,475	101,225
State of North Borneo	—	—	—	1,045	80	632	271	983
Sarawak	—	—	—	2,629	—	—	—	2,490
Brunei	—	—	—	159	—	—	—	159
Bahamas	438	434	913	18,43	402	486	882	1,829
Barbados	764	860	654	2,278	827	887	624	2,338
Jamaica	1,656	1,624	2,432	5,997	1,853	1,796	2,438	6,374
Turks and Caicos Islands	5	7	36	48	5	4	33	42
Cayman Islands	2	14	22	41	2	14	20	39
Leeward Islands	282	305	259	846	—	—	—	838
Trinidad and Tobago	1,574	1,335	2,051	5,073	1,796	1,382	1,918	5,253
Windward Islands:—
Grenada	126	168	102	396	159	165	101	425
Saint Lucia	68	63	92	229	93	67	74	242
Saint Vincent	56	64	46	172	62	73	55	192
Bermuda	437	296	799	1,532	472	370	745	1,587
British Guiana	1,264	687	519	2,470	1,360	670	439	2,469
British Honduras	142	144	639	925	172	176	568	916
Falkland Islands	468	48	254	770	—	—	—	581
	57,876	54,062	113,382	231,401	58,422	50,118	101,628	215,838
NOTES.—(1) The "Total" figures in some cases include in addition to the imports allocated under columns (1), (2) and (3) imports of which the country of origin is not indicated in the trade returns of the Colonies concerned.
(2) In the above tables the word "imports," includes goods imported for re-export, the quantities of which in some cases (e.g., Malaya) are considerable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of completely-manufactured goods imported into this country during 1929 and the classification of the goods making up this total; an approximate estimate of the number of people employed for 12 months in the manufacture of these goods; and the total value of completely-manufactured goods exported to and imported from Germany during 1929?

The total value of articles classed as wholly or mainly manufactured which were imported into the United Kingdom during 1929 was £334,382,000. This figure does not include non-dutiable articles imported through the parcel post (nearly £8,000,000 in 1929) or manufactured food, drink and tobacco. The issue for December, 1929, of the "Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom "contains specific information regarding a large number of the classes of goods included in the total value named, and further particulars will be published, in due course, in the Annual Statement of Trade for 1929. I am unable to give any estimate of the number of persons employed in the manufacture of these goods. The total value of goods consigned from Germany which were imported into the United Kingdom in 1929 was £68,790,000, the total value of British produce and manufactures exported

Country with which Commercial Treaty is concluded.	Amount of Notice required.	Earliest date on which notice of termination can be given.
Austria	12 months	11th February, 1934.
Estonia	12 months	Now.
Finland	6 months	Now.
France (including Algeria) (Convention of 1882)	3 months	Now.
Germany	12 months	Now.
Greece	12 months	Now.
Honduras	12 months	Now.
Hungary	12 months	26th July, 1936.
Japan (Treaty of Commerce of 1911 as modified by the Supplementary Agreement of 1927).	12 months	29th July, 1931.
Latvia	12 months	Now.
Portugal	12 months	Now
Siam	12 months	30th March, 1935.
Spain (Treaty of Commerce of 1922 as modified by the Convention of 5th April, 1927).	3 months	Now.
Yugoslavia	12 months	9th February, 1932.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether in the interest of the promotion of Empire trade, his Department obtains explanations as to why large contracts, which can be fulfilled here, are often awarded by the Dominions and Colonies to foreign competitors; and, if so, what use is made of the information thus obtained?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of notice that would be required to terminate our commercial treaties with the following countries: Austria, Estonia, Finland, France (including Algeria), Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Japan, Latvia, Portugal, Siam, Spain, and Yugoslavia; and the earliest date by which such notice could be tendered in each case?

The following statement gives the required information:

Yes, Sir, such explanations are frequently obtained by my Department and communicated to the United Kingdom interests concerned for their information and guidance. Where the contracts are recurrent, this action has sometimes enabled United Kingdom firms to compete with success on subsequent occasions.

asked the Home Secretary the number and particulars of the persons and the conferences of the trade unions, respectively, in respect of which he has granted visas for the nationals of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics to enter this country since June last?

Since 1st June, 1929, visas have been authorised to enable the following citizens of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics to proceed to the United Kingdom in order to attend the conferences mentioned:Timothes Osipoff and Gregori Slutzky: To attend the Annual Conference of the United Mineworkers of Scotland.David Finkelstein and Alexis Amosov: To attend the National Minority Movement Conference of Railwaymen.M. Tsikhon and Zikhon: To attend the Annual Conference of the National Minority Movement.

asked the Home Secretary whether permission has been given for the admission to this country of any Russian nationals, apart from members of the Soviet diplomatic staff in London or employés of Arcos; and, if so, how many persons have been permitted to enter and upon what conditions?

Presumably the following information is what the hon. Member desires. Since the resumption of diplomatic relations with the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics, visas have been authorised to enable 39 Soviet citizens to proceed to the United Kingdom for purposes other than to join the Soviet diplomatic staff in London or the staff of Arcos, Limited. Of this number, eight were joining the staffs of Soviet organisations in the United Kingdom and 31 were coming for short periods in connection with Anglo-Soviet trade.

asked the Home Secretary whether the inquiries he was making regarding bringing the case of Mr. Gialdini to the notice of the proper legal authorities in Italy have enabled him to arrive at a decision?

I cannot add anything to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Members for West Woolwich (Sir K. Wood) and East Willesden (Mr. D. G. Somerville) on Thursday last.

asked the Home Secretary the number of cases of shop raids and bag-snatching reported to the police in the Metropolitan area in each of the past five yeas?

Figures for each of the past five years are not separately available. It would involve much labour to obtain them, but the figures for 1925 and 1929 have been specially collected and are as follow: In 1925 135 shop raids and 66 cases of bag-snatching; in 1929, 230 shop raids and 127 cases of bag-snatching.

asked the Home Secretary the proportion of police to the population and to the number of registered motor vehicles in 1910, 1920, and 1930?

I understand that no returns of the number of motor vehicles registered in the years mentioned are available, but the following figures for the years 1912, 1921, and 1929 may be taken as approximately correct:

—	1912.	1921.	1929.
Population per Constable	697	674	692
Motor Vehicles Constable	4	14	34

The figures are for Great Britain.

asked the Home Secretary what were the circumstances which necessitated the provision at Metropolitan Police stations of caution registers; and whether the entry therein of trifling irregularities reported by sergeants and inspectors will affect the prospects of promotion of the constable concerned?

The object was to secure greater continuity of information in cases where officers or men are transferred from one part of the police district to another. The fact that trifling irregularities dealt with by immediate verbal caution are recorded does not mean that their importance is in any way magnified thereby. The whole procedure, moreover, has been adopted experimentally and will be reviewed after a time.

asked the Home Secretary what is the number of foreign-made taximeter-cabs licensed in the London area; and how many are over five years of age?

It would require very considerable research to collect this information, and I regret that I cannot undertake to procure it.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if he is aware that work is not now proceeding at the building of the Exchange in Glasgow; if he can state the reason for this hold-up; and if ho will take steps to see that it is undertaken at once?

I understand that work is proceeding normally on the new Employment Exchange in Glasgow; work on the site was stopped for one day only as the contract for the foundations had to be finished before the contractor for the steelwork could start.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if he is aware that the present building used in Glasgow by the Scottish Board of Health for receiving applicants for all classes of pension and health insurance matters is difficult of access, particularly to aged persons and also widows with young children; that the room provided is inadequate; and if he will take steps to remedy this state of affairs?

The points raised by my hon. Friend will receive consideration in connection with a request which I have received for the provision of alternative accommodation for the staff of the Department of Health for Scotland stationed in Glasgow.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received representations from the Dundee Corporation concerning the delay that has arisen in the exercise of the corporation's recently acquired powers for the joint running of omnibuses in agreement with the Broughty Ferry and Monifieth Tramway Company, through a deadlock created by that company; and, if so, will he expedite the settlement of the matter in the public interest?

I have not received any communication from the Dundee Corporation in this matter.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made with the Inquiry regarding the Mid-Scotland Canal; and when he expects to receive the Committee's Report?

I understand that the Committee have made considerable progress with their investigation, but that they are not yet in a position to say at what date they will report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the numerous cases of illegal trawling which have taken place during recent months in the Moray Firth within the fishery limits from Findhorn to Tarbetness lighthouse; whether he is aware that previous requests have been made for more adequate policing of the area near Nairn; and whether he will undertake to protect the interests of line fishermen in this area by seeing that the law is enforced more strictly?

During the past four months no complaints of illegal trawling have been received by the Fishery-Board from the particular area of the Moray Firth in question. Four complaints of illegal seine net fishing have been promptly investigated, but without any definite evidence being obtained against any particular boat. A recent case in connection with which an allegation of attempted violence is made is now being investigated. The area is receiving close attention, and every effort is being and will be made by the Board to deal with complaints of illegal fishing.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total expenditure, other than out of loans, of all local authorities for the years ended March, 1927, and March, 1928?

I regret that the information asked is not yet available.

—		Land owned by Department of Agriculture for Scotland.	Land owned by War Department.	Land owned by Forestry Commission.	Land owned by Crown in charge of Commissioners of Crown Lands.	Total Acreage.	Land held on Lease.
		Acres.	Acres.	Acres.	Acres.		Acres.
Aberdeen	…	2,221	8	27,468	—	29,697	—
Angus	…	1,528	3,473	1,820	—	6,821	—
Argyll	…	47,191	29	92,084	—	139,304	—
Ayr	…	1,147	11	—	—	1,158	—
Banff	…	3,158	12	554	—	3,724	2,230*
Berwick	…
Bute	…
Caithness	…	11,790	—	—	22,260	34,050	—
Clackmannan	…
Dumbarton	…	—	52	—	—	52	—
Dumfries	…	5,656	33	3,769	—	9,458	—
East Lothian	…	2,296	7	—		2,303	—
Fife	…	2,121	118	6,800	—	9,039	—
Inverness	…	222,368	275	78,987	—	301,630	272*
Kincardine	…	1,558	—	3,951	—	5,509	—
Kinross	…	—	—	608	—	608	—
Kirkcudbright	…	2,386	—	2,915	—	5,301	—
Lanark	…	584	73	—	—	657	—
Midlothian	…	742	1,448	—	12	2,202	—
Moray	…	—	—	11,746	—	11,746	—
Nairn	…
Orkney	…	1,030	11	—	—	1,041	—
Peebles	…	908	—	1,000	—	1,908	—
Perth	…	1,149	54	6,510	1	7,714	—
Renfrew	…	232	48	—	—	280	—
Ross and Cromarty	…	3,980	1	39,456	—	43,437	—
Roxburgh	…	507	3,619	3,547	—	7,673	—
Selkirk	…	—	36	580	338	954	—
Stirling	…
Sutherland	…	86,523	—	—	—	86,523	9,400†
Westlothian	…	686	—	—	—	686	—
Wigtown	…	331	—	—	—	331	—
Zetland	…	4,543	3	—	—	4,546	—
Total	…	404,635	9,311	281,795	22,611	718,352	11,902
* Held by Department of Agriculture for Scotland.
† Lands held by Forestry Commission.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what proportion of

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish a return showing the extent of land owned by the Crown and Government Departments, respectively, in each county in Scotland?

A return, limited to lands owned by the Crown and the Government Departments specified, is appended:the civil employés working at the Royal Air Force depot at Milton are accommodated in houses the property of the Government; whether it is intended to increase the number of men engaged at the depot in the near future; and, if so, what steps the Government propose to take to relieve the local authority and local ratepayers of meeting the financial obligations for providing houses for Government workers?

The answer to the first part of the question is approximately 12 per cent., but it must be pointed out that approximately 80 per cent. of the present employés were already residing within five miles of the depot when they were first engaged. As regards the second part, no appreciable increase in the number of employés is contemplated in the near future, and the last part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there is any intention to reduce the pay of retired officers as from July next; if so, for what reason, since the cost-of-living figure has risen, thus increasing the pay of civil servants and others whose salaries are in fixed ratio to the cost of living; and, if so, why is it proposed to make this distinction between retired officers of the Army and Navy and other servants of the State?

As regards the first two parts of the question, I would refer to my answer on 28th January last, of which I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy. As regards the remainder of the question, the hon. and gallant Member seems to be under a misapprehension. The rates of pay and retired pay of Army officers were fixed for a period of three years from July, 1927, on the basis of a cost-of-living figure of 74. On the normal basis of calculation, Army officers' pay and retired pay should have been fixed from 1st July next in relation to a cost-of-living figure of 65, but in view of the decision to retain the Civil Service bonus for the six months ending 31st March next on the basis of a cost-of-living figure of 70, it has been specially decided to use the same basis of 70 in the revision of Army officers' pay and retired pay. The question will be further considered at the end of 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of men and women employed in the War Department establishments at Enfield, Waltham Abbey and Woolwich, giving the number of those who are pensionable?

The number of employés of industrial and non-industrial grades at the Royal Small Arms Factory and Inspection Department, Enfield, the Royal Gunpowder Factory, Waltham Abbey, and the various establishments in Woolwich Arsenal remains approximately 12,900, as given in the reply to my hon. Friend's question of 23rd December, the approximate number of established employés being 1,040.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give any figures to show what proportion of Income Tax which is collected from business concerns is derived from the tax upon shareholders' dividends and what proportion falls to be met by the concern out of its profits?

I regret that this information is not available. But certain statistics relating to the undistributed income of companies for the year 1923–24 were obtained specially for the Committee on National Debt and Taxation and the noble Lord will find them published on page 18 of the Committee's Report (Command Paper 2800 of 1927).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give any estimate as to how long it would take to determine the site value of all land in England and Wales?

No, Sir; it is impracticable to make any estimate except on the basis of a definite scheme laying down the manner in which site value is to be determined.

asked the Secretary for Mines if it is still the policy of his Department to discourage the employment in the coal mines of this country of all new workers; and if he will give the number of adults who have been employed in the mines of this country in each of the last five years without any prior experience?

In accordance with Section 18 of the Mining Industry Act, 1926, it is the general policy to restrict the engagement of new entrants aged 18 or over into coal mining. For the period from August, 1927, when the restrictions came into force to the end of 1929, the returns furnished by colliery undertakings show that about 500 such new entrants have been engaged. Particulars of their previous experience are not available, but it is not to be assumed that all these persons were without previous experience in coal mining.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been called to the fact that not only has the condition of agriculture deteriorated in the arable parts of Great Britain since May, 1929, but also that in the last few weeks bankruptcies among farmers have been increasing; and is he prepared to take steps, even of a temporary nature, to relieve the threatened distress?

As regards the last part of the question, I have nothing to add to previous statements on the subject. The number of bankruptcies among farmers for the last quarter of the year ended 31st December, 1929, were 89 as compared with 102 for the corresponding quarter of 1928. The figures for the whole of the year 1929 were 358 as compared with 468 for the previous year. The figures for 1927 were also higher than those for 1929.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in the case of instructions being given by his Department to destroy cattle suffering from foot-and-mouth disease, compensation is paid to the owner; if so, to what amount and the basis of determining such payments; and whether the same principle of compensation applies to the destruction by disinfecting processes of the personal property of slaughtermen engaged in the destruction of such cattle?

Compensation is paid by the Ministry for cattle destroyed on its instructions in connection with outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease. The amount of the compensation is governed by Section 15 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, and is as follows:

(i) Where the animal slaughtered was affected with foot-and-mouth disease the compensation shall be the value of the animal immediately before it became so affected:

(ii) In every other case the compensation shall be the value of the animal immediately before it was slaughtered.

The valuation is determined by a valuer appointed by the Ministry. If the valuation is not accepted by the owner, and he gives written notice to this effect, the question stands referred to the arbitration of a single arbitrator (Article 13 of the Animals (Miscellaneous Provisions) Order of 1927). Under Article 9 (4) of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Order of 1928, disinfection in outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (including disinfection of the personal property of slaughtermen if likely to have been contaminated by the disease) may be at the expense of the Ministry or at the expense of the occupier of the premises, as the Ministry may determine. If in the course of a disinfection carried out at the Ministry's expense it were necessary, for the purpose of preventing the spread of infection, to destroy personal property, or if such personal property were rendered useless by the process of disinfection, compensation representing the value of the articles so destroyed would be paid by the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Health how many deaths from small-pox have occurred in London during the years 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, and 1929, respectively?

As regards the years 1923 to 1928, my hon. Friend will find the particulars required in Table 17 of Part I of the Registrar-General's Statistical Review for each of the years in question. As regards the year 1929, six deaths were certified as due to small-pox among persons whose usual place of residence was in the administrative County of London. This figure is provisional.

STATEMENT showing, for the various Local Authorities in the Tyneside Area, the number of houses built during the years ended 31st December, 1928 and 1929, under the Housing Acts of 1923 and 1924, and the number of houses authorised but not completed at the end of those years.
Local Authority.	Year ended 31st December, 1928.				Year ended 31st December, 1929.
	Housing, etc., Act, 1923.*		Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924.		Housing, etc., Act, 1923*	Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924.
	Completed.	Authorised but not completed.	Completed.	Authorised but not completed.	Completed.	Completed.	Authorised but not completed.
Gateshead C. B.	114	122	—	68	197	68	82
Newcastle-upon-Tyne C. B.	99	153	377	920	169	893	222
South Shields C. B.	18	52	—	—	35	—	11
Tynemouth C. B.	249	134	—	—	125	—	—
Blyth M. B	12	85	—	50	13	132	—
Jarrow M. B	—	29	50	32	—	48	30
Wallsend M. B.	13	28	20	98	51	—	50
Blaydon U. D.	16	100	74	42	17	42	75
Cramlington U. D.	10	—	—	—	1	—	—
Earsdon U. D.	62	103	14	—	67	—	—
Felling U. D.	4	20	39	61	15	103	46
Gosforth U. D.	22	10	—	—	12	—	—
Hebburn U. D.	4	43	—	—	8	—	56
Longbenton U. D.	—	30	—	—	3	—	—
Newburn U. D.	23	86	—	—	100	—	—
Ryton U. D.	—	21	—	—	3	—	—
Seaton Delaval U. D.	6	31	—	—	5	—	—
Seghill U. D.	—	75	15	—	—	—	—
Weetslade U. D.	13	—	—	50	23	—	50
Whickham U. D.	1	63	—	—	16	26	64
Whitley and Monkseaton U. D.	218	216	—	—	188	—	—
Castle Ward R. D.	25	52	—	—	58	—	—
South Shields R. D.	30	11	—	—	5	—	42
Totals	939	1,464	589	1,321	1,111	1,312	728
*Note.—(1) The great bulk of these houses under the Act of 1923 were built by private enterprise with the aid of subsidy from the local authorities.
(2) The subsidy under this Act came to an end on 30th September, 1929.

asked the Minister of Health the total expenditure other than out of loans of all local authorities in England

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses built during 1928 and the number built in 1929, under the Housing Acts of 1923 and 1924, by the various Tyneside local authorities; and the number of houses authorised but not completed for the same years, respectively, by these authorities?

The following statement gives the particulars desired:and Wales for the years ended March, 1927, and March, 1928?

The total expenditure other than out of loans of all local authorities in England and Wales for the years ended 31st March, 1927, and 1928, was approximately £402,219,445 and £402,640,000 respectively.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any information and can state how many hospitals under his control are now fitted with wireless apparatus?

I regret that this information is not available, and I do not think that it would have sufficient value to justify the labour involved in the special return which would be necessary to obtain it.

asked the Minister of Health the subject matter of the appeals raising important questions which have been decided to date under the Rating and Valuation (Apportionment) Act, together with a summary of the decisions relating thereto?

The decisions on appeals under the Rating and Valuation (Apportionment) Act, being appeals with reference to individual hereditaments, do not lend themselves to classification by reference to subject matter, and it would not be practicable to summarise them as suggested by the right hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. B. Hammond, Aldham Road, Hadleigh, whose medical attendant, at the special request of the Ministry, gave a report upon the condition of this man and certified that his disability was caused through War service; and whether, seeing that the Ministry has since been informed that unless something is done for the man the question of a pension may be solved by the man's death, he will cause immediate action to be taken with a view to avoiding this probability?

Special steps have been taken to secure the necessary evidence to enable a decision to be given as quickly as possible. The case has been one of peculiar difficulty, no representations having been made by the man for more than 10 years after he was demobilised.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation to abolish the seven-years' limit within which applications can be made in respect of war injuries?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Hexham on 26th November, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that many men with pre-War campaigning service to their credit, who re-enlisted to serve again in the Great War and who continued so serving until finally discharged as no longer physically fit for war service, have since been pensioned at the rate of 8d. a day under Article 1,163 of the 1914 Pay Warrant; and whether, in view of the hardships involved in many cases, he will consider an amendment to the warrant so as to give the benefit of pension assessment at the rate of l½d. per day per year of qualifying service, as instituted in September, 1919, to all such veterans who served for not less than 14 years and whose disability is directly attributable to the Great War?

The awards under Article 1,163 of the 1914 Pay Warrant, to which the hon. and gallant Member refers, are restricted to cases of invaliding in which either (a) the disablement resulting from war service is of a minor degree only, assessed at less than 20 per cent., or (b) the disability is not connected with service. The compensation payable in such cases under Ministry Warrants is normally an allowance for a limited period only or a gratuity, but where by reason of pre-War service as a regular soldier in addition to War service a total of 14 years' service has been given, the award of a small life pension under the 1914 Warrant, in lieu of the temporary allowance or gratuity, is permissible. The pension scheme which no doubt the hon. and gallant Member has in mind in the last part of his question was intended solely for the benefit of soldiers with 14 years' service and over who served with the intention of completing time for long service pension, but were prevented from doing so through being invalided during the Great War. I am not prepared to recommend the extension of the scheme to soldiers who would not in any event have completed time for service pension.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many and what cases have arisen in the purchase of materials for assisted works in connection with development schemes where home goods have been purchased at a higher price than that of the foreign article available?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on the subject on the 24th December: to that reply I would add that no cases have yet been brought under my notice in connection with assisted works in which a higher price has been paid for home goods than the price of available foreign goods.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has any statement to make with reference to his policy for dealing with over-capitalisation in the textile industry?

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for Pudsey and Otley (Mr. Gibson) on 28th January.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has received any Report from the Committee appointed to investigate and report upon the feasibility of the Severn barrage scheme; and what the present position is?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a question on this subject on 21st January by the hon. and gallant Member for Maidstone (Commander Bellairs), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons refused unemployment benefit as not genuinely seeking work during the four months ended 10th January, 1930; and the same figures for the four months ended 10th January, 1929?

The total number of disallowances of benefit in Great Britain on the ground "not genuinely seeking work" was 56,935 in the four months ended 13th January, 1930, and 143,523 in the four months ended 14th January, 1929.

asked the Minister of Labour the number now being trained at the Weeting centre, near Brandon; and for how many pupils are accommodation and staff there provided?

At Weeting Hall, Brandon, accommodation and staff are available for 250 men in training for employment overseas and for 50 men in training for employment in this country. On 5th February, the number of overseas trainees was 249 and the number of home trainees 40. At the annexes, which are administered from Weeting Hall, namely Cranwich, High Lodge and West Tofts, there is accommodation for 600 overseas trainees. On 5th February the number of men in training was 368. The staff engaged is adjusted as far as possible to the number of men actually in training.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed who have been transferred to date through the machinery of the industrial transference scheme from distressed to other areas?

Between 19th August, 1928, and 20th January, 1930, about 43,900 persons from depressed areas had been transferred under the industrial transference scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of people, specifying men, women, boys and girls, on the Employment Exchanges of Devonport and Plymouth, respectively, for the months of December, 1929, and January, 1930?

The following table shows the numbers of persons on the registers of the Employment Exchanges

Date.				Men.	Boys.	Women.	Girls.	Total.
Plymouth.
2nd December 1929	…	…	…	4,129	75	581	88	4,873
9th December 1929	…	…	…	3,921	73	576	80	4,650
16th December 1929	…	…	…	3,712	79	565	60	4,416
23rd December 1929	…	…	…	No figures available.
30th December 1929	…	…	…	3,812	106	645	86	4,649
6th January, 1930	…	…	…	3,973	125	694	115	4,907
13th January, 1930	…	…	…	4,086	136	702	105	5,029
20th January, 1930	…	…	…	4,111	127	708	113	5,059
27th January, 1930	…	…	…	4,080	121	705	111	5,017
Devonport.
2nd December, 1929	…	…	…	1,809	60	261	50	2,180
9th December, 1929	…	…	…	1,669	59	259	43	2,030
16th December, 1929	…	…	…	1,531	57	234	42	1,864
23rd December, 1929	…	…	…	No figures available.
30th December, 1929	…	…	…	1,570	61	242	49	1,922
6th January, 1930	…	…	…	1,633	86	275	71	2,065
13th January, 1930	…	…	…	1,787	81	254	69	2,191
20th January, 1930	…	…	…	1,883	84	277	70	2,314
27th January, 1930	…	…	…	1,892	84	294	70	2,340

asked the Minister of Labour if she will give a Return of the number of unemployed in Carmarthenshire for each month for the last six months?

The following table shows the numbers of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Carmarthenshire in each month of the period August, 1929, to January, 1930, inclusive:

Date.	Men.	Women.	Juveniles.*	Total.
1929.
12th Aug.	8,055	436	393	8,884
16th Sept.	5,772	332	358	6,462
14th Oct.	4,828	254	294	5,376
11th Nov.	5,221	255	248	5,724
16th Dec. 1930.	6,139	336	278	6,753
13th Jan.	6,193	305	292	6,790
* Aged 14 and under 18.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons, specifying the occupations they ordinarily follow, on the Employment Exchanges of

At 27th January, 1930, there were 4,022 persons, insured and uninsured, on the registers of the Chatham, Rochester and Gillingham Employment Exchanges, as compared with 2,608 at 24th June, 1929. The following table shows the industries in which the greatest numbers of insured persons were recorded as unemployed:

Industry.	27th Jan., 1930.	24th June,1929.
Distributive trades	473	263
Building	337	102
Shipbuilding and Ship repairing	282	179
Cement, Limekilns and Whiting Works.	272	61
Public Works Contracting, etc.	270	274
Dock Harbour, River and Canal Service.	212	189
General Engineering, etc.	170	137
Shipping Service	117	87
Hotel, Boarding House, Club Service.	106	68
Construction and Repair of Motor Vehicles, Cycles and Aircraft.	85	82

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men and women registered as engaged in the chemical trade in 1928 and 1929; and the number unemployed in December, 1920, and January, 1930?

In July, 1928, the estimated number of insured workpeople, aged 16–64, classified as belonging to the chemical industry in Great Britain was 99,750, of whom 77,450 were males and 22,300 were females. The corresponding total for July, 1929, was 105,340, of whom 81,410 were males and 23,930 were females The number of such persons recorded as unemployed at 16th December, 1929, was

Month.			1923.	1924.	1925.	1926.	1927.	1928.	1929.	1930.
Louth.
January	…	…	203	184	161	104	177	141	213	196
February	…	…	186	180	134	100	152	142	283	—
March	…	…	127	153	102	67	115	134	213	—
April	…	…	106	107	61	67	87	106	162	—
May	…	…	87	91	49	90	69	86	130	—
June	…	…	95	73	47	75	65	78	130	—
July	…	…	107	63	61	107	62	79	123
August	…	…	105	66	71	101	45	92	120	—
September	…	…	124	87	72	100	57	91	136	—
October	…	…	171	102	77	111	86	119	125	—
November	…	…	199	119	72	115	88	130	145	—
December	…	…	187	141	116	153	98	151	158	—
Market Rasen.
January	…	…	63	37	38	46	34	36	45	75
February	…	…	54	24	39	37	31	32	51	—
March	…	…	49	22	30	28	28	29	37	—
April	…	…	39	23	20	30	23	20	30	—
May	…	…	28	26	21	33	18	20	31	—
June	…	…	32	26	17	25	15	13	24	—
July	…	…	19	11	14	23	15	13	26	—
August	…	…	16	13	19	23	9	21	35	—
September	…	…	18	17	23	19	10	16	35	—
October	…	…	21	13	17	14	5	11	29	—
November	…	…	23	16	20	18	9	17	27	—
December	…	…	37	30	48	26	21	32	52	—
Separate statistics are not available in respect of Mablethorpe, Caistor, Ludford and Binbrook as there are no Employment Exchanges at these places.

asked the Minister of Labour how soon the building of the new Exchange at Brighouse may be expected to begin?

asked the Minister of Labour the total average monthly unemployed for the towns of Louth, Mabletborpe, Market Rasen, Caistor, Ludford, and Binbrook, respectively, for each year from 1923 to the present date?

The following table shows the average monthly numbers of persons on the registers of the Employment Exchanges at Louth and Market Rasen from January, 1923, to January, 1930, inclusive:

I have been asked to take this question. It is hoped to begin work on the site in about four months time.