asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there is dissatisfaction among the staff at the

I have been asked to reply to this question. The answer is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give information as to the areas to which the standard wages for Indian labourers agreed upon by the Government of India and the authorities in Malaya have not yet been extended?

I have been asked to reply to this question. My noble Friend will ask the High Commissioner to supply him with the information.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs the total number of men, women, and children, respectively, who have left this country for the Dominions during the previous 12 months that were assisted under the Empire Settlement Act?

The numbers of men, women, and children who proceeded to the Dominions with assistance under the Empire Settlement Act during the 12 months ending 31st March, 1930, were as follow:Sheffield office on account of the removal from the acting list of Mr. S. G. Strickland; that this officer has performed satisfactorily all sorting office and counter duties and has had considerable writing-duty experience; that he is regarded by his colleagues as an officer qualified for promotion; and that no specific complaints concerning his performance of acting duty has been offered as justification for his exclusion from the acting list; and whether, in the circumstances, he will have further inquiry made into the removal?

I am aware of the circumstances. The acting list is confined to officers from whom the selection for promotion will normally be made; and Mr. Strickland was excluded because he had shown himself lacking in controlling ability and initiative. Under these circumstances, further inquiry would not serve any useful purpose.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that the statutory regulations governing the acceptance and transmission of telegrams were compiled at a time when telegrams were sent by Morse instruments and not by telephone, and that in the case of code telegrams everything depends upon accuracy, he will reconsider the advisability of revising the Regulations owing to the dissatisfaction that exists regarding the present method of transmission by telephone, especially from small country offices?

Precise instructions are issued to the staff engaged in the dictation and reception of telegrams by telephone in order to prevent errors; and there is no reason to think that the number of errors in telegrams transmitted by telephone is materially greater than in telegrams transmitted by Morse or other telegraph instruments. In these circumstances, I regret that I am unable to see any ground for making a distinction in the statutory regulations such as the hon. and gallant Member suggests.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether the Post Office have succeeded in producing a foolproof stamp machine, and also one which will deal with the question of improper coins which are inserted into it;(2) the extent to which improper coins are inserted into the stamp machines for the purpose of obtaining stamps; and what is the loss to the revenue by this means?

The stamp machines used by the Post Office are considered to be generally satisfactory for their purpose, and are made to reject coins which do not conform to certain standards. The extent to which improper coins, discs, etc., are accepted by the machines is negligible having regard to the use made of the machines. The actual loss to the revenue is estimated at about £200 per annum.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of hours of overtime worked in the three months ended 30th April in the London telephone service by the following classes, respectively, distinguishing between the accounts section, the contracts section, and the traffic section: higher clerical officers, executive officers, clerical officers, writing assistants, typing grades and P-class clerks?

The amount of overtime performed by the classes specified in the London telephone service during the three months ended on 30th April was as follows:

asked the Postmaster-General whether any reductions have taken place in the telegraph staff of the Post Office during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; and can he give particulars of any further reductions that are in contemplation?

The number of authorised posts has been reduced by about 60 during the year ended May, 1930. Future staffing adjustments must depend largely upon the trend of traffic, and it is hardly possible to forecast what changes will be necessary.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what facilities are provided in his unemployment schemes for providing work for women?

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal has nothing to add to the previous replies which he has given on this subject.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons, not in receipt of unemployment benefit but registered at the Devonport and Plymouth Employment Exchanges, have been placed in employment since 1st January, 1930, specifying the number placed by each Exchange and the corresponding figures of those placed who were in receipt of unemployment benefit?

Between 30th December, 1929, and 28th April, 1930, 1,663 persons on the registers of the Devonport Employment Exchange and 1,867 on the registers of the Plymouth Exchange were placed in employment by those Exchanges. Separate statistics distinguishing persons in receipt of benefit from those not in receipt of benefit are not available.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many work schemes have been sanctioned by him in the county of Durham; the total number of men it is estimated they will employ; how many such schemes are already in operation; and how many men are at present employed?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 29th May, 1930, col. 1503; Vol. 239] circulated the following statement:The Unemployment Grants Committee have, since 1st June, 1929, approved for grant 122 schemes of work submitted by local authorities and other public bodies in the County of Durham estimated to cost about £1,460,000 and to provide direct work equivalent to the employment of about 5,700 men for a year. As regards the numbers actually at work on these schemes, the latest returns available relate to the 25th April; at that date 50 of the schemes were in active operation, giving direct employment to 1,429 men. The Ministry of Transport have sanctioned 11 road schemes submitted by local authorities in the County of Durham under the Five Years' Programme. These are estimated to cost about £170,000 and to provide direct work equivalent to the employment of 340 men for a year. According to the April returns, seven of these schemes were in operation giving direct employment to 213 men. Under the Trunk Roads Programme, four schemes estimated to cost about £260,000 and to provide direct work equivalent to the employment of 530 men for a year have been sanctioned. All of these schemes were in operation in April and 731 men were directly employed on them. Under Part I of the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Act, 1929, three schemes estimated to cost about £590,000 have been sanctioned. Two of these schemes are in operation. On the basis described in the White Paper issued in March last, it is estimated that the schemes will provide work equivalent to the employment of about 2,400 men for a year direct and indirect, but no precise statistics are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total number of public, private, licensed, and registered slaughter-houses in Scotland?

According to the latest information of the Department of Health for Scotland, the total number of public and private slaughter-houses licensed by local authorities in Scotland is 703.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total number of cattle, sheep, and pigs killed in public, private, licensed, and registered slaughter-houses in Scotland for 1929, separately.

I regret that the desired information is not available. In connection with their investigation into the marketing of live stock the Department of Agriculture for Scotland is obtaining particulars from all slaughter-houses in Scotland for the year October, 1928, to September, 1929. These particulars will be available in the near future, but it is not possible to state the actual date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received a resolution passed by the Church of Scotland Assembly asking him to introduce legislation for the purpose of prohibiting irregular marriages taking place at Gretna Green which are not registered; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I have not yet received a resolution on this subject, but I am aware of the discussions which took place in the General Assembly. I need not say that any proposals submitted will be carefully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of retired secondary and continuation school teachers on the list of pensioned school teachers in Scotland on 31st March, 1920; the number of retired public teachers other than secondary and continuation school teachers on the same list on the same date; and the amount of money paid in pensions to each category of retired teachers during the year ended on that date?

I understand that the particulars required are those for the year ended on 31st March, 1930. The number of teachers who at that date were in receipt of pensions paid out of the Education (Scotland) Fund was 3,939, and the annual value of their retiring allowances at that date (exclusive of lump sums paid on retirement) was £561,552. As the Department's records do not arrange the beneficiaries according to the type of school in which their pensionable service was given, it is not possible to make the distinction desired by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will state the casualties, Indians and Europeans separately, as a result of disturbances in India, amongst the military, Civil Service, police, and civil population, respectively, during the month of May, as soon as these figures are available?

I am asking the Government of India to supply me with the figures.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the amount of wages paid at Devonport Dockyard during each of the four months ending 30th April, 1929, and the corresponding months of 1930, respectively?

The amounts of wages paid at Devonport Dockyard during the months mentioned in the question are as follow:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the Co-operative Wholesale Society, Limited, were invited to tender, and tendered, for a flour contract for the Admiralty in October, 1929, and that a contract for flour was placed with them; how many other tenders were invited and submitted, and to what extent, if any, the tender of the Co-operative Wholesale Society, Limited, was lower than the others submitted; and the date upon which the first contract was made with the Co-operative Wholesale Society, Limited?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. After a preliminary test of samples, nine firms were invited to tender and eight firms tendered. The Co-operative Wholesale Society's tender was accepted for one-fifth of the total requirements for which portion their quotation was the lowest. This is the only contract for flour which has been entrusted to the society.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will issue a table showing the local authority and number of scholars receiving a daily ration of milk during school hours and the number supplied free?

A list is appended of the local authorities in whose areas some arrangements for the supply of milk to school children are known to be in operation. The authorities which are providing milk free for the children of parents who are unable to pay for it are shown with an asterisk. From the returns received from authorities and the estimates of the National Milk Publicity Council, it appears that upwards of 400,000 children are now receiving milk, but I am not able to give separate figures for each area. During the week ending 24th May approximately 36,000 children received milk free under the arrangements made by local education authorities.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether any decision has been reached as to the rates of wages paid by the employers of the Forestry Commission?

There are no such employers. If the question is intended to refer to the rates of wages paid to the employés of the Forestry Commission, I refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Hereford on 29th April last [OFFICIAL REPORT, column 46].

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether any facilities for long-term credits have been approved by the Advisory Committee on Export Credits; and, if so, for what periods and to what amount?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Up to 31st March last, the following contracts had been entered into with the approval of the Advisory Committee:

asked the Minister of Health the number of beds that are available in this country for cases receiving psycho-therapeutic treatment?

Psycho-therapeutic treatment is available in the normal course at many institutions under the jurisdiction of the Board of Control, for such patients as are likely in the opinion of the medical staff to benefit from it. But beds are not specially set aside for such cases in these institutions.

asked the Minister of Transport the cost per foot of concrete arterial road building and the approximate cost of upkeep of such roadways?

Circumstances affecting the cost of road construction vary so widely in different parts of the country that no reliable figures regarding concrete roads could be quoted for general application, more especially as the cost both of construction and upkeep must largely depend upon the volume and weight of traffic using the road.

asked the Minister of Transport the maximum permissible measurements and weight of motor vehicles now allowed on the roads; and what, steps are taken by his Department to ensure that the regulations are complied with?

I assume that the hon. Member refers only Lo motor cars and heavy motor cars as distinct from locomotives. The maximum limits of length, width and weight for such vehicles are prescribed under the various Orders governing the construction and use of motor cars which have been made from time to time under the Motor Car Acts, and I am sending him a short statement of their principal requirements. The enforcement of the regulations is a matter for the police authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the number of accidents resulting in serious injury that have occurred at Cartwright's Corner, Haslington, Crewe, during recent months; and whether, having regard to the increasing danger to pedestrians and vehicular traffic at this junction, he will take steps to ensure that adequate warning signs or other improvements are instituted?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I made on 2nd June to a similar question by him.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the Northumberland County Council has refused his offer to arbitrate as to the price to be paid for Wylam Bridge; and if it is his intention to use compulsory powers of arbitration in this case as soon as the Road Traffic Bill becomes law?

I am aware that the Northumberland County Council are unwilling that this matter should be referred to arbitration. Though there are provisions in the Road Traffic Bill in its present form for compulsory arbitration, the provisions of the Bill do not confer upon the Minister any powers in the matter.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the proposed work on the Hexham-Newcastle road does not include that portion, west of Corbridge, where several dangerous corners exist; and, in view of

The Northumberland County Council propose to carry out improvement works on certain sections of the road between Hexham and Corbridge, but without further information as to the exact location of the corners referred to in the hon. and gallant Member's question, I am unable to state whether these are included in the present proposals. I will, of course, ask the county council to consider any suggestions he may wish to make.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the amount spent upon roads in Great Britain in each of the last 10 years, and the total, distinguishing between construction and maintenance; and how much of these sums was derived from the Road Fund and how much from local revenues?

The latest information available relates to expenditure on roads between the years 1910 and 1927, and will be found in Appendix 13 of the Report on the Administration of the Road Fund for the year 1928–29. The returns of highway authorities are not rendered in a form which enables me to apportion the expenditure between construction and maintenance, or to say how much of the expenditure shown was derived from the Road Fund and how much from local revenues. Appended, however, is a statement showing the total payments under grants from the Road Fund during each of the past 10 years, distinguishing as far as possible between "maintenance" and other works.

asked the Home Secretary the number of vehicles passing the points set out below within the usual statistical hours for the years 1924 and 1929: Elephant and Castle, Hyde Park Corner, Bank, Piccadilly Circus, Marble

The following figures relate to a traffic census of 20 of the busiest points taken within the Metropolitan Police district and the City of London between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on a given day in the years 1924 and 1929:

asked the Home Secretary the number of registered agreements in settlement of claims under the Workmen's Compensation Act for the last complete year?

The total number of memoranda of agreements registered under the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1925, in Great Britain during the year ended 31st December, 1928, was 33,307. This number was made up as follows:

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the desirability of extending or varying the hours of the Lost Property Office of the Metropolitan Police so as to meet the convenience of people in search of property lost in public vehicles who are unable to visit the office between the present hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.?

This question has been considered on several occasions, but I regret that it is not possible to extend the hours of opening without giving rise to difficulties of staffing and consequent expense. The hours have to be restricted to enable the staff before opening to classify and record the articles handed in at police stations on the previous day, so that they may be in a position to deal at once with claimants who may call, and after closing they have much to do by way of completing their day's records. I would add that every effort is made to effect identification of property by means of correspondence, if the loser is unable to call personally.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the approximate total cost of wages and salaries paid by the State to its employés during the latest convenient period of 12 months?

The remuneration for the year ended 31st March, 1929, of the Judiciary, the Civil Service, the Navy, the Army, and the Air Force amounted approximately to £120,000,000. The Civil Service includes Post Office staffs and all the industrial, manipulative and part-time employés of the State.