asked the Minister of Labour whether, seeing that free travelling warrants are issued to boys under the age of 18 on being transferred from distressed areas to industrial and domestic employment, whereas girls receive free railway vouchers from the Lord Mayor's Fund on being transferred to industrial employment, but not when they are going to domestic service, she will consider placing the girls on the same footing as the boys; and whether she has received representations from the Birmingham Juvenile Welfare Subcommittee asking her to end this anomaly?

Representations on this point have been made by the Birmingham Juvenile Welfare Sub-Committee. I have given careful consideration to the matter, but I see no reason for transferring to public funds the responsibility for the cost of travelling expenses which by long-standing custom has been paid or advanced by the employer. The experience of my Department is that there is no difficulty about the railway fare of any woman or girl travelling to a distance to take up resident domestic service.

asked the Minister of Labour if she is receiving assistance from both organisations of employers and trades unions in her efforts to widen and increase the usefulness of the transfer of labour scheme?

The industrial transference scheme has been carried out by the ordinary placing machinery of the Employment Exchanges, with which committees representative of employers and workpeople are associated, and it has not been found necessary to make any general approach in the matter to employers' organisations or trade unions.

Is the right hon. Lady having sympathetic help from associations both of employers and employed in this matter?

I have no complaint to make about the general attitude of the organisations.

Are they enthusiastic about it?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons in the county of Denbigh, in the Colwyn Bay Urban District, who were refused unemployment benefit on the grounds of not genuinely seeking work for the six months ending 31st December, 1929?

During the period 9th July, 1929, to 13th January, 1930, 24 applications for benefit made at the Colwyn Bay Employment Exchange were disallowed by insurance officers on the ground "not genuinely seeking work," and 14 cases were recommended for disallowance on the same ground by courts of referees on review after payment of 78 days' benefit.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons refused benefit for any reason during the four months ended 10th January, 1930, and the same figures for the same period 12 months before?

During the four months ended 13th January, 1930, 169,399 applications for benefit made at Employment Exchanges in Great Britain were disallowed by insurance officers, and 16,468 cases were recommended for disallowance by courts of referees on review after payment of 78 days' benefit. The corresponding figures for the four months ended 14th January, 1929, were 231,090 disallowances by insurance officers and 26,807 by courts of referees.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of claims for unemployment benefit which have been refused on the ground that the claimant does not satisfy the statutory condition, unable to obtain suitable employment, for each month since September, 1929, to the end of January, 1930, and the corresponding figures for the previous years?

As the reply includes a number of figures I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of trainees now in training for settlement on the land or for industrial occupations in Great Britain?

Men are trained by the Ministry of Labour for industrial occupations in Great Britain at transfer instructional centres and Government training centres, 1,047 men were in training at transfer instructional centres on 11th February, and 2,967 men at Government training centres on 14th February. At overseas training centres men are trained for settlement on the land in the Dominions. At these centres 996 men were in training on 19th February.

Will the right hon. Lady read the eloquent speeches of the First Commissioner of Works, and she will see what we were led to expect in this direction?

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of building trade workers now out of work and the same figures a year ago?

At 27th January, 1930, the number of insured persons, aged 16 to 64, classified as belonging to the building industry, recorded as unemployed in Great Britain was 149,403 as compared with 159,219 at 21st January, 1929.

Will the right hon. Lady consider the advisability of sending out a circular to local authorities in view of the continuing housing shortage, asking them to do all in their power to absorb these unemployed building trade workers?

That question should be addressed to the Minister of Health.

Cannot the right hon. Lady ask her colleague to get on with the Slum Clearance Bill at once?

asked the Minister of Labour what instructions are being issued to the various officials of her Department as to the new procedure to be followed under the new Unemployment Insurance Act; what steps are being taken to let applicants for benefit know their rights and when to make a claim under the new Act; and on what date any new procedure will begin to operate?

Instructions detailing the changes made by the new Act and the procedure to be adopted to bring them into operation are now being issued to the local officers of the Department. All applicants who are signing the register and whose claims were disallowed under the old provisions will be personally informed of the changes made by the new Act, and will be given an opportunity to make a new claim. Posters will also be exhibited calling attention to the revised conditions. The Act will come generally into force on 13th March. I had hoped to bring certain of the provisions into operation by 1st February or shortly afterwards, in accordance with the discretionary power given by Section 19. I regret, however, that this is not possible owing to the delay in passing the Act, which did not become law until 6th February.

While thanking the right hon. Lady for her answer, may I ask her if, in addition, she will see that all necessary new Regulations are posted prominently in the Exchanges?

That is the intention.

Will the right hon. Lady send copies of the instructions to Members of the House, so that they can become familiar with them?

I am afraid that hon. Members would find them pages and pages of very dull matter.

We should like to have that dull matter.

Will the right hon. Lady put copies in the Library?

I will do that.

If we make application to the right hon. Lady, cannot we have them?

The simplest plan would be to put them in the Library, where anybody can see them.

If hon. Members would find it difficult to understand them, how can other people be expected to understand them?

asked the Minister of Labour whether her attention has been directed to the queues at the Rochdale Exchange; and whether action will be taken to prevent the hardship and suffering consequent on the long periods of standing in the street during the recent bad weather?

The accommodation provided at the Rochdale Employment Exchange is normally adequate, but I am aware that, owing to the sudden closing down of certain mills of which the Exchange authorities had no warning, there was considerable congestion at the Exchange at the end of January. The position has since been eased by the institution of mill schemes, which will reduce the numbers of persons requiring to attend at the Exchange, and I am considering what other remedial action is necessary.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of signing-on days for males and females, respectively, at the following Exchanges: Aspull, Bolton, Blackrod, Hindley, Horwich, Leigh, Westhoughton and Wigan; and if there is a variation in the number will she state the reason why?

I am having inquiries made and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps she is taking to provide adequate facilities at the Adlington (Lancashire) Employment Exchange to deal with the increase in unemployment consequent upon the closing of a large cotton mill in that township?

I have communicated with the right hon. Gentleman explaining in detail the steps which have been taken to improve the arrangements at Adlington Employment Exchange?

Is the right hon. Lady aware that there is still dissatisfaction in Adlington, and will she look into the matter again?

Yes, certainly.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of male and female claims, respectively, allowed and disallowed through the Westhoughton Employment Exchange during each of the five years ended December, 1929; and whether the percentage allowed and disallowed compares favourably or otherwise with the whole of the country for the same periods?

Comparable statistics of the number of claims made at particular Exchanges which were disallowed,

asked the Minister of Labour if she is aware that an applicant for benefit who had appealed to the court of referees in Glasgow, on refusing to have her case heard by a, court that was not fully constituted on 27th January, had her ease deferred till 30th January, and had again to refuse that day to have her case decided by a court that was not fully constituted; and whether she will take steps to secure that when an applicant has once intimated refusal to be judged by an incomplete court on the next occasion that applicant is asked to appear a fully constituted court shall be present to deal with the claim?

Every effort is made to secure a full court on every occasion, but if a member who has been summoned does not give notice that he is unable to attend, or gives short notice, it is not always possible to obtain a substitute in time.

Will the right hon. Lady make inquiries of the Glasgow Court of Referees and suggest that an applicant should not have to attend twice?

As a matter of fact, I am following up that suggestion.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that in certain districts they find a difficulty in getting some of the workers' representatives to attend, in case they have to give a decision against the workers?

I wish that were true.

It is true.

asked the Minister of Labour in what industries and in what districts the increase in the unemployment figures as compared with this time last year occurs?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Ministry of Labour Gazette for February, which contains a detailed comparison of the percentages unemployed at 27th January, 1930, and a year previously in each of 100 industry groups. The principal industries in which there were increases are cotton, wool and the distributive trades. The Divisions showing increases were the North Western and to a lesser extent the London and South Eastern.

Is it correct to say that there has been no increase of unemployment in safeguarded industries?

asked the Minister of Labour how long it will take before the limit to the borrowing powers of the Unemployment Insurance Fund is reached if the unemployment figure exceeds the present total by 100,000?

If the live register were 100,000 higher than it is at present and remained at that figure, it is estimated that the limit of borrowing powers would be reached towards the end of April. I should mention that, apart from other uncertain factors, this estimate is based on the assumption that only a small part of the additional benefit would be "transitional benefit," the cost of which is reimbursed to the Fund by the Exchequer, and would not therefore add to the total of the debt.

Can the right hon. Lady say whether this takes into account the changes that will come into effect on 13th March?

Yes.

asked the Minister of Labour if she is aware that persons receiving employment from local authorities, by arrangement with a Poor Law authority, are being ruled out as employed persons within the meaning of the Insurance Act; and if she will state, in view of Section 47, Sub-section (1), paragraph (b), Unemployment Insurance Act, 1927, on what grounds this ruling is made?

Section 47 (1) (b) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, as amended by the Fourth Schedule to the Act of 1927, only relates to work provided by a local authority where a contribution towards the employed person's remuneration is made by a Poor Law authority. Moreover, it does not affect the position of any persons who have previously been in receipt of unemployment benefit and are employed in full-time work provided by the authority. If my hon. Friend cares to let me have details of any cases in which he is interested I will have inquiries made into the question of insurability.

asked the Minister of Labour if she is aware of the dissatisfaction felt by musicians at the present state of the law as to unemployment insurance; and if she can arrange for an amendment of the law so that their total annual earnings should be the basis of eligibility for unemployment pay instead of, as at present, at the rate of £250 per annum?

I am afraid that I cannot hold out any hope of introducing legislation on this subject at present.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps she is taking to make information available with regard to the professions and occupations suitable for boys and girls leaving the public secondary schools?

As the answer is rather long I propose, with my hon. Friend's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT; but may I say that I hope my hon. Friend and other hon. Members will take the opportunity of reading the pamphlets which are referred to in the reply.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) how many aliens were given permission to land in this country during the year 1929 for the purpose of taking up clerical employment; and what was the number for each month of that year;

(2) what opportunity is given to British subjects to obtain positions in respect of which requests are received for the importation of alien clerical workers and for the renewal of permits of alien clerical workers already in this country?

With the hon. Member's permission, I will answer these questions together, and as the reply is necessarily somewhat long I will circulate it, if I may, in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour how the cost-of-living index figure issued by her Department is arrived at; and whether she is satisfied that it provides a correct indication of the facts?

I am sending my hon. Friend an extract from the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" for February, 1921, containing a detailed account of the method of compilation of the cost-of-living index figure. As stated in that article, the object of the figure is to provide a measure of "the average increase in the cost of maintaining unchanged the pre-War standard of living of the working classes." I know of no reason for thinking that on this basis the figures do not provide a correct indication of the facts.

Have any representations been made to the right hon. Lady by organised bodies as to the methods of ascertainment of this figure, and have any deputations been received?

No, they have not made any representations.

asked the Minister of Labour when she proposes to introduce legislation dealing with the Washington Hours Convention?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Prune Minister's reply to a similar question on 3rd February.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she will make a statement as to the steps which have been taken by the present Government to secure the establishment and enforcement of international labour standards, particularly in regard to wages?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply on this subject given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on the 21st January, and to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Gravesend (Mr. Albery) on the 6th February. Since these replies were given the Governing Body of the International Labour Office has decided to place on the agenda of the International Labour Conference in June next the question of an international arrangement in respect of the regulation of hours in coal mining, and further progress has been made in respect of the inquiry into conditions in the textile trades. It is the policy of the Government to promote effective action by the International Labour Organisation in the establishment of international standards of working conditions.

Would it not be most effective and practicable to impose an embargo on goods produced under sweated conditions abroad?

That is not a matter for my Department.

asked the Minister of Labour if she has any information with regard to the hours of labour and the wages of operators in cinema theatres in London and the provinces?

With my hon. Friend's permission I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a tabular statement

asked the Home Secretary whether the reports from his inspectors show an increase in the injuries to men and women engaged in the artificial silk industry during the last six months?

I am glad to state that as regards cases of inflammation of the eyes among workers employed in the spinning rooms, which has been the special trouble in this industry, the reports received show that on the whole there has been a marked improvement. This is no doubt due to the steps taken to secure efficient ventilation which it is agreed is the remedy for the mischief.

asked the Home Secretary when he proposes to publish the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Factory Inspectorate; and whether action on its findings is being taken by his Department?

I hope to be able to issue the Report and to announce the decisions taken by the Government on the Committee's recommendations very shortly.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the abuse of weekend tickets for the Continent by which anyone can enter this country without a passport; and whether he is taking any steps to prevent this abuse of a privilege?

I have seen a recent article in the Press in which it is alleged that there is abuse of the special arrangements whereby passports may be dispensed with in connection with cross-channel excursion traffic. The arrangements are under close and continual supervision, and I am satisfied that the utmost vigilance is exercised by experienced officers at the ports to secure that the facilities granted to excursionists are not abused.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how it is possible if a person who takes a return ticket and gets rid of it to someone who goes to Paris to check the person who comes back with the original ticket which has been issued?

I can only say that I personally have watched and inspected the process of the incoming excursionists, and I am satisfied that every precaution is taken to see that the law is complied with.

asked the Home Secretary when he anticipates introducing the projected Factories Bill?

I regret that in the present state of public business I am unable to say when this Bill can be introduced.

With a view to shortening and facilitating discussion when the Government proposals are ready, will the Home Secretary take into consideration the desirability of introducing a consolidation Measure in the usual way?

It will be very largely a consolidating Measure.

Is, the right hon. Gentleman aware that consolidation Measures are of no value to the workers at all?

The Measure will be in the direction of simplifying the law.

asked the Home Secretary if he has made recent inquiries into the vigilance with which local authorities discharge their duties in supervising the requirements designed to promote public safety in buildings used as cinemas, theatres, and for similar purposes; and if he will issue a circular calling their attention to their duties in this respect?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The responsibility for enforcing the Safety Regulations and generally for ensuring the public safety at places of entertainment rests with the local authorities and I have no reason to believe that local authorities generally are not fully aware of their responsibility. If my hon. Friend has the Paisley disaster in mind, I would refer him to the last paragraph of the reply which I gave on the 23rd January to my hon. Friend the Member for Western Renfrew. I will send him a copy.

Has the Home Secretary in his Department any information as to the number of authorities who have full time inspectors discharging these duties?

I shall be glad to have notice of that question.

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider legislation conferring powers on municipal corporations enabling them to establish municipal savings banks similar to the Birmingham Corporation Bank now in operation; and, if so, can he indicate how soon?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received a copy of a resolution passed by the Association of Municipal Corporations, that His Majesty's Government be urged to promote legislation authorising the establishment of savings' banks by municipal authorities; and whether he will consider the desirability of providing facilities for the passage of the necessary legislation to give effect to the resolution?

I have received the resolution referred to and similar resolutions from various municipal authorities. In the present state of Parliamentary business there is no possibility of general legislation.

asked the Prime Minister if he will afford an opportunity to the House of Commons to discuss the convention respecting the Bank for International Settlements?

The convention in regard to the Bank for International Settlements is included among the agreements' reached at The Hague Conference which have been presented to Parliament (Cmd. 3484). The pressure upon Parliamentary time for urgent business is so great that I am not in a position to encourage the discussion asked for, unless one of the ordinary opportunities is taken.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the Government's requests to chambers of commerce, trade associations and local authorities, as expressed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister of Health, to buy British goods, Cabinet instructions will be given to the First Lord of the Admiralty, the Secretary of State for War, and the Secretary of State for Air to purchase British meat and wheat for the future requirements of the Navy, Army, and Air Force?

Regarding the use of flour, I would refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture on the 10th instant. As regards meat, I am unable to add to previous statements which have been made on this subject.

Is it not desirable that the Government should make an exception to their usual rule and carry out in practice what they preach?

I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that our usual rule is a very sound one.

Are we to understand that it is the desire of the two right hon. Gentlemen who are mentioned in the question that British foodstuffs should foe excluded from the diet of these Services?

No, that is a profound mistake.

Can the Prime Minister say whether there is any difference in policy in this respect between the present Government and the last Government which gave similar advice?

asked the Prime Minister whether the Economic Advisory Council has met; and, if so, whether it intends from time to time to make any announcement regarding the subjects it has under consideration?

The Economic Advisory Council has met. Its proceedings are private, and its conclusions will be treated as confidential, except in such circumstances as the Government may decide otherwise.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think, in view of the questions which have been put to him already to-day, that this is a very suitable matter on which to have a Debate in this House as soon as possible?

The opportunity will very soon arise, and we shall welcome the Debate.

asked the Prime Minister if he will have a White Paper prepared giving the clauses of treaties that stand in the way of dealing with the dumping of bounty-provided wheat, oats and barley into this country?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I would refer to the answers which my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade gave to a question by the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Beaumont) on 5th February, and to that by the hon. Member for Finchley (Mr. Cadogan) on 28th January, of which I am sending him copies.

Can we have an assurance that none of these treaties have been negotiated by the present Government?

My impression certainly is that none of them have.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us whether there is anything in these treaties to prevent countervailing duties being imposed tomorrow, with the sanction of Parliament?

Yes, Sir, I understand that there is.

asked the Home Secretary if he is now in a position to make a further statement regarding the case in which a man was convicted of placing a bomb in the British Museum; and whether anyone of Indian nationality was involved in the case?

The case was fully reported in the public Press. It was a mischievous hoax, and no person of Indian origin was involved.

asked the Home Secretary how many complaints were made in 1928 and 1929 of offensive behaviour or victimisation against officers attached to the Vine Street and Bow Street divisions?

The figures for the years 1928 and 1929 were respectively, for C Division, 28 and 28; and for E Division, 13 and 16.

In view of the considerable number of complaints—and very few people take the trouble to make a complaint—is the right hon. Gentleman quite satisfied that the conduct of these two divisions is all that it should be?

In view of the population in the divisions, and the number of men concerned, the number of complaints is not considerable.

Is it the fact that frequently members of the public are very offensive to the police?

Yes, that is so.

I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House at the first opportunity.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say how many of these complaints were substantiated? Were they all substantiated?

Without notice I could not say.

asked the Home Secretary what action, if any, has been taken in respect of complaints received during 1928 or 1929 of officers attached to the Bow Street or Vine Street divisions soliciting or accepting bribes?

In the divisions referred to, in 1928, one officer was dismissed, two required to resign, and one transferred, and in 1929, four officers were dismissed, as a result of complaints of soliciting or accepting bribes.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these two divisions are becoming a by-word for this kind of thing, and cannot he have an inquiry into the whole matter?

I am not aware of any such impression, except in the mind of the hon. Member.