asked the Postmaster-General how many telegraphists and other civil servants elected to transfer to the Imperial and International Communications Company; what was the date of the day of transfer; on what date he caused valedictory letters to be sent to them; how many such letters were sent; and if any acknowledgement of the receipt of such letters has been received and, if so, how many?

152 officers of the Post Office transferred to the Communications Company, 103 on 29th September, and 49 on 2nd December last. A message from myself expressing warm appreciation of the work of the Central Telegraph Office staff in the conduct of the Imperial Cable and Wireless Services was promulgated to the staff as a General Order on 27th September last.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received any protests from business firms with regard to the procedure followed by the Post Office in securing payment of telephone accounts; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

Representations are made from time to time in this matter, but the number of complaints is very small in relation to the number of telephone accounts. I have the matter under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has received a resolution from the Stockport Education Committee urging upon the Board of Education that it is advisable, and indeed a moral obligation, that assistance should be given out of public funds to the non-provided as well as to the provided schools in the carrying out of such alterations as are approved by the local education authority; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

My right hon. Friend has received a copy of the resolution referred to. In regard to the

EXPENDITURE BY LOCAL EDUCATION AUTHORITIES.
Year.		Elementary Education.			Higher Education			Grand Total
		Met from Rates.	Met from Exchequer.	Total.	Met from Rates.	Met from Exchequer.	Total.	Met from Rates.	Met from Exchequer.	Total.
		£ (000).	£ (000).	£ (000).	£ (000).	£ (000).	£(000).	£ (000).	£ (000).	£ (000).
1913–14	…	13,850	11,758	25,608	2,333	2,070	4,403	16,183	14,828	30,011
1919–20	…	20,005	25,245	45,250	4,157	3,323	7,480	24,162	28,568	52,730
1920–21	…	25,371	33,049	58,420	4,819	6,170	10,989	30,190	39,219	69,409
1921–22	…	24,988	35,708	60,696	6,085	6,366	12,451	31,073	42,074	73,147
1922–23	…	25,706	32,718	58,424	5,939	5,716	11,655	31,645	38,434	70,079
1923–24	…	23,843	32,893	56,736	5,331	5,535	10,866	29,174	38,428	67,602
1924–25	…	25,084	32,445	57,529	5,616	5,798	11,414	30,700	38,243	68,943
1925–26	…	26,177	32,198	58,375	5,923	6,112	12,035	32,100	38,310	70,410
1926–27	…	25,613	33,173	58,786	6,330	5,908	12,238	31,943	39,081	71,024
1927–28	…	25,820	32,794	58,614	7,015	6,224	13,239	32,835	39,018	71,853
1928–29	…	27,644	33,828	61,472	7,415	7,114	14,529	35,059	40,942	76,001

Numbers of Children on the Registers.
Year.			Public Elementary Schools.	Secondary Schools.
			(000).	(000).
1913–14	…	…	6,070	187
1919–20	…	…	5,931	308
1920–21	…	…	5,865	337
1921–22	…	…	5,820	355
1922–23	…	…	5,707	354
1923–24	…	…	5,610	349
1924–25	…	…	5,578	353
1925–26	…	…	5,593	360
1926–27	…	…	5,604	371
1927–28	…	…	5,571	378
1928–29	…	…	5,512	394
(Provisional).

asked the President of the Board of Education the amount spent on education by local authorities for 1913 and' for each of the last 10 years, giving separate figures in each case for-funds raised by rates and Exchequer grants, for expenditure on primary and secondary education, and the number of children in each case?

The following statement gives the information for which the hon. Member asks:

asked the President of the Board of Education whether it is the invariable practice of the Board to allow teachers in grant-aided schools, who have been reported to the Board under Section 11 of the Board's regulation of 1926 and refused a pension, to see and hear all the evidence submitted against them and for them to be given an opportunity of rebutting charges brought against them; and, if not, what steps the Board takes to ensure that such teachers have a fair hearing before dismissal?

The Board's Regulations for Secondary Schools provide that, before declaring a teacher to be unsuitable for employment on grounds of misconduct or grave professional default, the Board shall use every available means of informing the teacher of the charges against him and of giving him an opportunity for explanation. This provision is invariably complied with.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what amount has been spent in repair and alteration work to the Royal Naval Dockyard at Chatham during the past six months; what proportion of that work has been done by the dockyard staff and private firms, respectively; and whether any firms carrying on business outside the Chatham, Gillingham, and Rochester district have been so employed and, if so, why?

The amount spent in repair and alteration work to the Royal Naval Dockyard during the six months from August, 1929, to February, 1930, was £59,122. Of this amount £51,535 was in respect of work carried out Depart-mentally and £7,587 for work done by contract. Only a small amount of work, which was of a specialist nature costing £l,287, was carried out by firms outside the Chatham, Gillingham, and Rochester district.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what has been the expenditure on the provision of anti-gas apparatus for the personnel of the Royal Navy for each year since 1919; and whether, with a view to the elimination of this expenditure, he will take steps to ascertain whether any foreign navies are equipping their fleets with means for employing poisonous gas as an offensive weapon?

The expenditure on gas-masks for the Fleet has averaged rather more than £30,000 a year over the period mentioned, and is expected to be a little less than £30,000 a year in future. As regards the possibility of eliminating this expenditure, I would refer the hon. Member to the full discussion on the subject which took place at Geneva in April, 1929, and which is published in League Document C.195, M.74, dated 25th May, 1929.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is satisfied with the progress being made in the provision of municipal airports; and whether he proposes to take any steps to give local authorities more practical encouragement to provide them at the earliest possible date?

I am satisfied that municipalities as a whole are keenly alive to the importance of providing aerodromes and the progress which is being made with their actual provision is, I think, encouraging. My Noble Friend regrets that it is not possible to give financial assistance from public funds, but the Air Ministry is always ready to give expert advice and all other help possible to local authorities who are considering schemes for aerodromes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied that adequate steps are being taken by all members of the League of Nations to carry out their obligations under Article 23 (b) of the Covenant to secure just treatment of the native inhabitants of territories under their control?

I shall be in a better position to answer the hon. Member's question when I have been able to examine the results of the inquiry into slavery and forced labour, which will be laid before the Assembly of the League in September next.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps have been taken by this country and the League of Nations to carry out that part of Article 8 of the Covenant which declares that members of the League agree that the manufacture by private enterprise of munitions and implements of war is open to grave objection, and that the Council shall advise how the evil effects attendant upon such manufacture could be prevented; and what is the present position?

A special commission was appointed by the Council of the League of Nations in December, 1926, to frame a draft Convention on the Private Manufacture of Arms. This Commission has since met on several occasions and has drawn up a draft Convention. As I informed the hon. Member on 12th February, there are, however, difficulties in the way of accepting this Convention until agreement has been reached on the question of the general disarmament convention. The last Assembly passed a resolution requesting the Council to consider the desirability, as soon as the Preparatory Commission has concluded its work in connection with the general disarmament problem, of convening a further meeting of the special commission in order to complete the text of the preliminary draft Convention.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received from any British Consuls in any foreign countries, and, if so, what, specific cases of white-slave traffic being carried on in connection with the emigration of young girls from this country under contract for public performances or otherwise?

No specific case of this nature has been reported to me.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the conviction recently obtained at Portsmouth against an owner of dogs for compelling them to perform tricks in such a manner as to cause them suffering; and whether he will consider the desirability of legislation forbidding all such public performances of animals?

My right hon. Friend has seen a newspaper report of the case. The result would appear to indicate that the existing law is adequate to punish cruelty in connection with animal performances. The Select Committee of the House which was appointed to inquire into the subject in 1922 came to the conclusion that the exhibition of performing animals should not be prohibited and the present case does not seem to my right hon. Friend to afford any ground for reconsideration of that decision.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, Middlesex, is a registered place under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876; if so, at what date this registration was first granted; and how many licences and certificates under this Act were granted in 1929 for the performance of experiments on animals at this hospital?

The place in question was registered on 26th February. One licence with Certificate A is available there.

asked the Home Secretary what moneys have so far been expended on the erection of totalisators or on experiments connected therewith under the authority of the Betting Control Board; and whether any contracts have been entered into for further expenditure to that end?

In accordance with the Racecourse Betting Act the Board will submit to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary a report for the period ended 31st December last, and this report will be presented by him to Parliament. The report has not yet been received, and a little time must necessarily elapse before it is ready. My right hon. Friend has no control over the Board's expenditure, and he would suggest that the hon. Member should await the report.

asked the Home Secretary if he has received a Report showing what has been the expenditure of the Racecourse Betting Control Board on the erection of totalisators since the passing of the Totalisators Act; and how many totalisators have been erected?

I have not yet received the Board's report for the period ended 31st December, 1929. A little time must necessarily elapse before the report is ready.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the increasing amount of damage inflicted on pedestrians by mud which is thrown up from the wheels of motor vehicles; and whether he will cause his Department to investigate devices intended for the protection of pedestrians from this nuisance, with a view to securing their general adoption in the event of a favourable decision by his experts?

I am not aware that the amount of damage inflicted by mud thrown up by motor vehicles is increasing. Technical developments are closely followed by my Department, but no "anti-splash" device has been brought to my notice which has been found sufficiently effective, under practical conditions, to justify me in recommending or enforcing the general adoption of such devices.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will recommend the opening of an underground station, either at Brecknock Road or the Nag's Head, N., in order to give improved transport facilities to a large population in those districts, which now depends solely on omnibuses?

My hon. Friend's suggestion, as I understand it, would involve the construction of a new underground railway. The London Electric Railway Company inform me that neither of the points to which be refers is in an area of such heavy traffic as would, in their opinion, warrant the construction of a new railway.

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been called to the number of fatal accidents and others of a serious nature arising out of motor accidents at the junction of Uxbridge Road and Gunnersbury Avenue, Ealing Common; whether he proposes to take any action in the matter; and whether he has previously drawn the attention of the authorities to this crossing?

My attention has not been drawn to the number of accidents which have occurred at this point, but I am inquiring into the matter and, if necessary, will consult with the local authorities as to the measures which can be taken to improve traffic conditions at the junction of the two roads.

asked the Minister of Transport how many fatalities from motor car traffic have occurred this year; whether his attention has been drawn to the increase in these accidents as shown by the complete figures for 19229; if he intends to investigate the relevance of the human factor in these statistics; whether he will inquire into the desirability of imposing upon drivers of motor vehicles tests on the lines of those advocated by the experts of the National Institute of Industrial Psychology; and whether he is aware of the results that have been achieved by the application of similar principles in the United States?

The figures for which my hon. Friend asks are not yet available, but I am aware of the tendency of motor accidents to increase in number. It is my intention if the Road Traffic Bill becomes law to utilise the powers which it would confer on me in order to investigate and analyse the causes of motor accidents. At present I am not convinced that any substantial proportion of the accidents in this country are due to deficiencies on the part of drivers which would be disclosed by any form of test.

asked the Home Secretary whether any steps have yet been taken in instructing the police as to what constitutes dangerous and careless driving of motor vehicles, respectively, in view of the distinction drawn between these two offences in the Road Traffic Bill?

No, Sir. Any such step would be premature until the Road Traffic Bill has been passed.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet received the Report of his inspector upon the inquiry held on 19th July last upon the special Order promoted by the Dorking Electricity Supply Company, Limited, relating to supplies of electricity in the Dorking urban, Dorking rural, and Reigate rural districts; and when he will be in a position to give his decision thereon?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am not fully satisfied that the proposals of the Order as it stands are in the best interests of the development of the electricity supply in Dorking and neighbouring areas, and I have asked the Electricity Commissioners to discuss the position with the promoters and other parties concerned with a view to making further proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the appeal to him by the pre-1919 retired teachers in respect of superannuation allowances?

The appeal is still under my consideration and I am awaiting a reply to certain inquiries which I have made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the arrangements made for the dredging of the Scottish fishery harbours during the present year; the number of applications received for the use of the dredgers operated by the Fishery Board for Scotland; and the programme of work at present arranged?

The matter is receiving consideration, but the Fishery Board are not yet in a position to formulate a programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of boats operating in the Firth of Forth during the present year which have employed the ring or seine nets for the capture of herrings, the ports to which these boats belonged, and the quantity of herrings captured?

141 boats using the method of fishing referred to have been operating in the Firth of Forth during the current year. Of these 69 belonged to Leith district and 72 to the Firth of Clyde. The quantity of herrings landed by these boats is 15,000 crans.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the sums which have been allocated towards fishery harbour development and improvement schemes in Scotland during the past nine months; giving the figures for each harbour?

I am preparing a detailed statement, which I hope will be ready at an early date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to make any estimate for the balance of trade for the year 1929?

To-morrow's issue of the Board of Trade Journal will contain the usual article dealing with the estimated balance of trade for 1929.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that since 1924 there has been a fall in the level of wholesale prices of over 22 per cent., and that this fall in wholesale prices has naturally been accompanied by a fall in retail prices of slightly over 5 per cent.; and when the Consumers' Council is to be set up to deal with the matter?

I am aware that, as measured by the usual indices, wholesale prices have fallen more than retail prices in recent years. As regards the latter part of the question, I can only refer the hon. Member to the reply given to-day on this subject by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for West Woolwich (Sir K. Wood).

asked the First Commissioner of Works the number of individual free seats provided in Hyde Park; the number of seats for which a charge is made; the annual revenue that accrues to his Department from the contract; and if he will make arrangements for deck chairs being provided?

The number of free seats in Hyde Park is 451, providing accommodation for 2,255 persons. The number of chairs for which a charge is made is approximately 70,000. The Department's revenue from the contract (which covers all the Royal Parks in London) depends on the results over a series of years, but it is estimated at present to amount to about £9,000 a year. Deck chairs are being provided in parts of Regent's Park next summer as an experiment.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if, amongst his other park improvements, he will arrange for the cricket pitches to be well rolled at least once a week?

I am informed that it is already the practice of my Department to do this except in one of the outlying parks where no water supply is available. I am considering whether any arrangements for rolling can be made in the case of this park.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any Super-tax for the years 1922–23 and 1924–25 is still unpaid; and, if so, what is the amount still outstanding for each year?

At 31st December last the amount of Super-tax in assessment but unpaid amounted to £2,400,000 for the year 1922–23 and £800,000 for the year 1924–25. But it must not be understood that revenue of this amount remains to be collected, for the assessments to which these figures relate, particularly the figure for the year 1922–23, are mainly provisional assessments which will be subject to considerable reductions and discharges as soon as the correct liability has been ascertained.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the remarks of Viscount Dunedin in dismissing an appeal in the House of Lords by an inspector of taxes, he can say how many appeals against legal decisions have been unsuccessfully made by officers of the Inland Revalue during the last 12 months; and what is the number of appeals by Inland Revenue officials now outstanding?

Eighty-one appeals against decisions of Commissioners of Income Tax have been determined by the Courts since 1st January, 1929. In 26 of these the Crown was the appellant and in 55 the taxpayer. Judgment was given for the Crown in 50 cases and for the taxpayer in 31. Fifty-eight appeals are outstanding, 28 by the Crown and 30 by the taxpayer.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many industrial policies were lapsed by the various insurance companies dealing in this class of policy in the nine years ending 1927; how many policies were lapsed in 1928; and what sums of money were returned by the insurance companies upon these policies?

I can only repeat the answer given on many previous occasions, and regret that the information is not available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that the Act under which holders of lapsed industrial insurance policies can claim a rebate upon premiums paid under the terms of the Industrial Assurance and Friendly Societies Act, 1927, expires in May of this year, he will take steps to continue the Act?

It is only in regard to certain lapsed policies of industrial insurance that the right to claim a surrender value expires on 10th May. Ample notice has been given of this provision, and I can see no reason for amending the Act as proposed.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. W. H. Bateman, of 32, Mildmay Grove, London, N., in a claim against the Pearl Insurance Company regarding the issue of five policies on the life of a child; and will he submit this ease to the Industrial Assurance Commissioner as a claim for the repayment to Mr. Bateman of the moneys paid?

The case in question was referred to the Industrial Assurance Commissioner by Mr. Bateman himself. The Comissioner heard it, and made his award on 23rd January, 1929.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the inquiries into the catering trade as to the advisability of setting up a trade board in that trade have been completed; and, if so, whether she can inform the House as to the result?

These inquiries are not completed, but they have reached an advanced stage and my right hon. Friend hopes to be in a position to announce her decision in the course of the next few weeks.

asked the Minister of Labour which of those countries that were signatories to the Washington Hours Convention have passed legislation to ratify the Convention?

Nine countries have ratified the Convention, namely, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Czechoslovakia, Greece, India, Luxemburg, Portugal and Rumania. Five countries, Austria, France, Italy, Latvia and Spain, have also registered ratifications, but their ratifications will not come into force until certain other countries have ratified.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the 1,439 clerical posts for which aliens were admitted to this country in 1929 were advertised at the London City (Snow Hill) Employment Exchange to give British subjects registered at or visiting that Exchange an opportunity of offering their services for the employment in question?

My right hon. friend regrets that she has not felt justified in incurring the very considerable expenditure of time and labour which would be involved in preparing a reply to this question.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the 1,439 alien workers admitted to this country in 1929 for clerical occupations were admitted in exchange for young British student employés sent from this country to other countries; and whether the numbers thus exchanged were strictly equal?

There is no arrangement for a direct head for head exchange of clerical workers with any foreign country. Under the arrangement arrived at with France in 1928 (and published as Cmd. 3138) up to a maximum of 500 French student employés covering all employments and professions may be admitted into this country in any year and a like number of British student employés into France. There are also arrangements with certain other countries regarding the admission of student employés into this country. The total number of student employés permitted to take up clerical work in this country in 1929 under arrangements made with foreign countries was 174. It is not possible to state the number of British student employés who have proceeded to take up clerical duties in the countries in question.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, having regard to the difficulty of British linguists obtaining employment, she intends to stem the flow of alien clerical workers into this country and to stop the renewal of the permits of such alien clerical workers as have already been allowed to land for limited periods?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on 20th February last describing the steps which are taken to prevent the displacement of British labour through the admission of aliens to take up employment in this country. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that under these arrangements the entry into this country of alien clerical workers is being limited to the fullest extent which is justifiable.

asked the Minister of Labour the amount, approximately, of the schemes of work for the relief of unemployment in each borough of London, respectively, which have been approved by the Unemployment Grants Committee since June last?

During the period 1st June, 1929, to 28th February, 1930, the Unemployment Grants Committee approved 16 schemes of work estimated to cost £230,522 for the relief of unemployment in the London metropolitan boroughs. The schemes approved in respect of each borough are as follow:

—		Number of Schemes.	Total Estimated Cost.
			£
Bermondsey	…	1	45,141
Bethnal Green	…	2	66,255
Finsbury	…	1	4,800
Hammersmith	…	8	85,926
Poplar	…	4	28,400

In addition, the Committee have approved five schemes estimated to cost £592,140 in respect of work which is being undertaken by the London County Council.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the Empire Marketing Board propose to include in the Board's advertisement campaign a poster or posters advertising home-grown fruit and vegetables; and, if so, will he specify the particular commodities it is proposed to advertise?

At least two poster sets will be issued by the Empire Marketing Board during the next few months drawing attention to home-grown fruit and vegetables. I am not in a position to give a complete list of the numerous varieties of home produce which will thus be advertised, but the right hon. and gallant Member may be assured that a wide range will be covered.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of bankruptcies registered in the agricultural industry for each year from 1923 to 1929, inclusive?

The following statement gives the information desired:

Number of Receiving Orders and Deeds of Arrangement made against Farmers in each of the undermentioned years.
Year.		Receiving Orders.	Deeds of Arrangement.	Total.
		No.	No.	No.
1923	…	317	165	482
1924	…	233	136	369
1925	…	234	135	369
1926	…	224	124	348
1927	…	293	194	487
1928	…	284	184	468
1929	…	206	152	358

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of horses which have been exported from this country to the Continent of Europe for the purpose of being slaughtered for food during the year 1929?

The number of horses exported to Europe for the purpose of immediate slaughter during 1929 was 4,371.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has come to any decision as to the development of research into the cause of animal diseases, particularly swine fever?

The scheme for the development of research into animal diseases generally, in which swine fever would be included, is still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any loss has been incurred by Queen Anne's Bounty in cases where the value of land is not worth the tithe levied upon it; and, if so, how that loss is made good?

I am informed by Queen Anne's Bounty that for the year 1927 the total amount of tithe rentcharge which has proved to be irrecoverable by the Bounty is £9,000, or 5 per cent. of the total amount held. The incomes of the respective incumbents for whom the Bounty held the tithe rentcharge in trust were reduced accordingly. The tithe rentcharge was irrecoverable for various reasons, including remission where the tithe rentcharge exceeded two-thirds of the Schedule B annual value, and cases of land temporarily un-let or unused, such as building estates awaiting development, derelict land, etc., but I have no information as to the amounts falling under the various headings.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Mr. Martin, Noonhaburn Street, Glasgow, has been refused any increase of pension under the Warrants of 1921 and 1925 on the ground that he has not reached 60; that the man's birth lines show that he was 60 at least eight months ago; and, if, in view of this, he will reconsider the case and have the increase granted from the date the man reached 60?

A pensioner's age for the purpose of all awards of pension must be calculated according to the age declared by him on first enlistment into the Army, and it is not possible for me to make an exception, in the case of Mr. Martin Noon, to a regulation which is applicable not only to my Department but also to the Service Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can give information as to what steps are being taken by the local Governments in India to popularise the provisions of the Sarda Act, so as to ensure the effective working of the reform embodied in this legislation?

The local Governments have been asked to take suitable steps to make the provisions of the Child Marriage Restraint Act widely known. My hon. and gallant Friend will realise that the only agency which can secure its effective working is public opinion.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he has received representations of the unfairness of the proposed reduction of the retired pay of Army officers by 7 per cent. as applied to those who have commuted a portion of their pensions, and especially the fact that the reduction is made to bear on the amount of the whole original pension, the commutation of any portion being ignored; and whether in such cases the commutation can be treated as a complete transaction?

One or two representations have been received, but it is regretted that, in fairness to those who have not commuted any part of their retired pay, it is not possible to alter the established practice in the matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any representation from the House of Assembly and Legislative Council of Barbados respecting the condition of the sugar industry in the West Indies and British Guiana; and, if so, what is the nature of the representation and what reply has been sent thereto?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. A summary of the text of the address which was telegraphed to my Noble Friend appeared in the Press on the 1st instant. No reply has as yet been returned.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will provide a tabular statement showing the financial results of colliery working for the year ending 31st December, 1929, comparable with Table 9, page 40, of the Report of the Royal Commission on the Coal Industry (1925), Volume 3?

A tabular statement is being prepared, and I will circulate it in due course with the OFFICIAL REPORT.