asked the Minister of Labour if she will reconsider her decision not to take the necessary steps to ascertain the number of aliens in receipt of unemployment benefit, seeing that, if such information is not available at the Employment Exchanges, it is impossible to prove that preference in the provision of employment is assured to British as opposed to alien workers?

The Unemployment Insurance Acts do not apply any special conditions to aliens in respect either of the payment of contributions or the receipt of benefit. For the purpose of the administration of the Unemployment Insurance scheme, therefore, it is not necessary to inquire into the question of nationality. As regards offers of employment, it would obviously be impracticable to ascertain the nationality of applicants in all cases; the Exchanges are, however, instructed to do so if there is reason to believe that the applicant is not of British nationality, and where in such cases the applicant is found to be an alien who has resided in the United Kingdom for less than six months he is not to be submitted for any vacancy if suitable British subjects are on the register. The number of such persons on the register could be ascertained with some expenditure of labour, but the figures thus obtained would be incomplete and I do not see that any sufficient advantage would be secured by obtaining them.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed persons, since 31st December, 1929, have been offered training at the Blackpool centre, how many have declined, and the number whose benefit has been stopped consequent upon this refusal?

Candidates for courses of instruction at transfer instructional centres are not offered training at any specific centre. The Blackpool centre has, however, been reserved for some months for men from Scotland and the North-West of England. The issue, in suitable cases, of formal requirements to attend an approved course of instruction as a condition for the continued receipt of benefit did not take place before 5th March, 1930. Between that date and 26th May, 1930, offers of a course of instruction at the Blackpool centre were made to 507 men from Scotland and the North-West of England; in consequence of refusal of such an offer the claims of 58 men were referred to courts of referees and in 31 cases benefit had been disallowed by a court.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is his intention to set up an inquiry into the causes of unemployment in this country; and, if so, whether he can make any statement as to its composition and terms of reference?

A single comprehensive inquiry of the nature suggested in the question is not in contemplation. The last part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Labour the names of the members of the British delegation to the International Labour Conference; and whether women will be included among the technical advisers associated with the delegation?

, pursuant to her reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 5th June, 1930, col. 2406, Vol. 239], supplied the following list:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that the recent alteration of the lower limit of the zone from two to three years causes a further handicap to the lieutenant-commanders (ex-mate) who will not enter the zone until much later than the cadet-entry officers; and whether he will consider the desirability of returning to the previous limits?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply of the 18th June on this subject to the hon. Member for North Portsmouth (Sir B. Falle) [OFFICIAL REPORT, col. 381].

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many lieutenant-commanders (ex-mate) are in the zone for promotion on 30th June next; how many are under 40 years of age; and how many are in fleet appointments, i.e., battleships, battle cruisers, and cruisers in full commission, as distinct from shore establishments and special complement vessels from which promotion is improbable?

Twenty lieutenant-commanders (ex-mate) are in the zone for promotion on 30th June next. Seven are under 40 years of age. Six are serving in seagoing appointments in battleships, battle cruisers, or cruisers. It is, however, incorrect to assume that promotion from other appointments is improbable.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the total number of mates promoted to lieutenants since the revised regulations of 1920, and the number promoted at the minimum age, 23, as the result of being commissioned at 21 and obtaining all first-class certificates, as foreshadowed in Notes on Naval Policy, No. 48, appended to the First Lord's statement explanatory of Navy Estimates, 1920–21; the minimum age at which the Dartmouth and special entry cadets are commissioned as sub-lieutenants; the classes of certificates obtained in the Greenwich course, and the seamanship, navigation, gunnery, and torpedo examinations by each batch of mates since the revised regulations of 1920; and whether he will consider publishing the class of certificate and time gained against each

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether having regard to the large number of persons ordinarily employed on ship-building and ship-repairing work in the district of Chatham, Kent, who are now without work, he will consider the desirability of placing orders for construction and repair work, necessitated by the Government's additional programme, at the Royal Naval Dockyard, Chatham?

This matter has always been fully under consideration,

The total number of mates promoted to lieutenant since the inception of the 1920 scheme is 31. None was promoted to lieutenant at 23 as the result of gaining five first-class certificates. (Note—Only one ex-mate since the 1920 scheme has gained five firsts and he was promoted lieutenant at 25).The minimum age at which ex-Dartmouth officers are commissioned as sub-lieutenants is 21 years 4 months.The minimum age at which ex-special entry officers are commissioned as sub-lieutenants is 22 years 3 months.The classes of certificates gained by each batch since the revised regulations are as follow:and decisions have already been taken by the Government in accordance with my statements in this House.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what proportion of the work necessitated by the Government's additional naval policy for the current year will be executed at the Royal Naval Dockyard at Chatham?

I would refer the hon. Member to my other reply on this subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can now make any communication to the House relative to the consultations between the Prime Minister of Malta and His Majesty's Ministers?

The hon. Member will have heard the statement which the Prime Minister made yesterday in the House in regard to Malta. I have nothing to add to it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken in British West Africa to carry out our obligation to prohibit trade spirits in these regions?

The importation of trade spirits has been prohibited in the West African Colonies since 1919, but some difficulty arose as to what exactly was included in the term "trade spirits." The definition first adopted was "Spirits imported or of a kind previously imported for sale to the natives which are not generally consumed by Europeans." In 1923 the policy was altered and all spirits were considered to be trade spirits except those falling within the definitions which will be found in the ordinances regulating the importation of spirits. The definitions now adopted are intended to ensure that spirits of the kind formerly included under the term "trade spirits" are not admitted.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the existence of Red propaganda in the British Colonies in the West Indies; whether he is aware that one of the propagandists held credentials from Moscow; and whether he will investigate the facts in the interests of tranquility in the islands?

Apart from certain statements in newspapers, I have no information on the subject. If anything should arise requiring action, it would be promptly brought to my notice by the Governments concerned, and any necessary measures would be taken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received any intimation of the decision of the Government of Poland not to ratify the Convention on import and export prohibitions; what States have made their ratification conditional on ratification by Poland; and whether the decision of the Polish Government affects the attitude of the Government towards the ratification of the Convention?

As regards the first and last parts of this question, I would refer the hon. Baronet to the answer given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to the right hon. Member for Aldershot (Viscount Wolmer), of which I am sending him a copy. As regards the second part of the question, the States which made their ratification conditional on ratification by Poland were Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Rumania and Yugoslavia. Of these countries, I understand that Denmark has now consented to waive the condition, and to be bound by the Convention under the same conditions as His Majesty's Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government propose to introduce early legislation for the purpose of abolishing the present restrictions upon the manufacture of gas; and can he give particulars?

Certain representations made by the gas industry are under consideration, but I am not in a position to promise early legislation on this subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the imports of merchandise, by classes, into the British Colonies and Protectorates during 1927 and 1928, respectively, from the United Kingdom, from the British Overseas Dominions and Protectorates, and from foreign countries?

The information asked for is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received representations from the Nationalist Government in China respecting the installation of Mr. Lenox Simpson as commissioner of customs at Tientsin; and, if so, whether he can say what is the position at Tientsin in respect of the collection of customs?

Yes, Sir. Representations have been received from the Nanking Government, and are now being considered. According to my latest information, the customs machinery at Tientsin has again been set in motion by the Shansi authorities, despite the protests of the Nanking Government. British subjects who seek advice are being recommended, for the present, to pay duties to the de facto organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will publish a list of all papers in India that have been requested to make deposits, and the amounts in each case, since the Press Ordinance Act has been applied this year?

Deposit of security has been demanded under the Press Ordinance from 70 newspapers and 97 presses. I am not in possession of detailed information as to the names of the newspapers or the amounts of the deposits.

asked the Secretary of State for India under what legislative authority the police in India are treating the boycott of British cloth as illegal?

I am not aware that the boycott of British cloth has anywhere been treated as illegal, but it has been declared illegal under the recent Ordinance to resort to methods of intimidation in furtherance of the boycott.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is proposed to consider any reduction in the charges of postal fees made for the cash-on-delivery system?

The charges, according to present estimates, are not more than sufficient to cover the costs of the service, and no reduction in the scale of fees is at present contemplated.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made during the previous 12 months for the replacement of main traffic and other cable telephone lines, respectively; and can he give the circuit miles of wire so provided?

During the financial year 1929–1930 approximately 426,000 miles of wire were provided in underground cables for the purposes of general development and diversion of overhead circuits. It is not practicable to say what proportion was provided for each of these items.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of sorting assitants who have passed into the writing assistants and clerical grades in each of the last three years?

The number of sorting assistants who have passed into the writing assistant and clerical grades in each of the last three calendar years is as follows:

asked the Postmaster-General what were the surpluses in mail services and telephones, respectively, and the deficit in telegraphs for the year ended 31st March, 1930?

Final figures for the year ended 31st March, 1930, are not yet available. The provisional figures are:

asked the Prime Minister whether any communications with the French Government, and, if so, of what nature, have taken place as a result of the consideration by the Government of the scheme for the construction of the Channel Tunnel?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative: the second part, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Minister of Health the conditions he has laid down in respect to the erection of an infant welfare clinic at Grange Road, West Ham, by direct labour at an estimated cost of £3,050?

I will send my hon. Friend a copy of a memorandum which was forwarded to the local authority when this loan was sanctioned, setting out the main conditions which I consider should be observed when works are carried out by direct labour.

asked the Minister of Health the number of slum-clearance

asked the Minister of Health how many buildings have been taken possession of by local authorities, including those taken only for the purposes of making schemes efficient under improvement or reconstruction schemes, since June, 1929, or the latest convenient date?

The only available information relates to the number of buildings acquired by local authorities in connection with approved slum clearance schemes. For the period between 30th June, 1929, and 31st March, 1930, that number was approximately 700.

asked the Minister of Health the number of town-planning schemes approved and in operation since June, 1929, and the number, respectively, up to June, 1928, and June, 1929, or the nearest convenient dates?

The number of town-planning schemes finally approved and put into force since the beginning of June, 1929, is four, the number approved between June, 1928, and June, 1929, was four, and the number approved prior to June, 1928, was 26. The number of preliminary statements of town-planning proposals approved during the same periods were 34, 22 and 129, respectively.

The last complete year in respect of which figures are available on the subject is that ended 31st March, 1930. The following statement accordingly gives the desired information, so far as it is available, for that and the two preceding years.

asked the Minister of Health the total amount paid on housing subsidies since 1918 and the amounts paid for the 12 months from June, 1927, and up to June, 1928, and 1929, respectively, or the nearest convenient date?

The total amount paid in housing subsidies from 1918 to the present date is £86,954,799. The amounts paid in the 12 months up to the 30th June, 1928, and the 30th June, 1929, were £9,810,454 and £10,781,252, respectively.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses since June, 1929, up to the latest convenient date each month on which work has been finished or in progress under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act by local authorities, and similar information up to June, 1928 and 1929, respectively, or the nearest convenient dates?

Returns showing progress under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, are rendered quarterly, and it is therefore not possible to give monthly figures. The following statement shows the number of dwellings on which work was finished during each quarter since that ended 30th June, 1927, and the number on which work was in progress at the end of each such quarter.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the overcrowded condition of many tenements; whether he has received any reports relating specifically to the verminous condition of the same; and does he propose to seek further powers in addition to those given to him under Section 46 of the Public Health Act, 1925, for the purpose of securing the cleansing of verminous houses?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative. As regards the third part, I am not aware that local authorities generally have found their powers under Section 46 of the Public Health Act, 1925, inadequate, or that there is any general

asked the Minister of Health the average price for parlour and non-parlour houses each month erected since June, 1929, and similar information each month since June, 1928, and June, 1929, respectively, or the nearest convenient dates?

The following statement shows the average price of non-parlour and parlour houses, respectively, included in contracts let by, or in direct labour schemes of, local authorities in England and Wales, during each month since June, 1928.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses erected by the various councils in the Metropolitan area since June, 1929, and similar information up to June, 1928, and 1929,

The following statement shows the desired information so far as it is available:

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses completed and under construction each month, respectively, since June, 1929, up to the last convenient date under the respective Housing Acts, including assisted private enterprise, and the number of houses completed and under construction, respectively, for the same period by private enterprise without State assistance; and similar particulars for the same period up to June, 1928, and up to June, 1929?

I am having a statement prepared, and will send it to the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Health whether Mr. E. A. Sandford Fawcett, late chief engineer and inspector at the Ministry of Health, who retired from the Ministry, has since been employed by the Ministry of Health in any capacity?

Mr. Sandford Fawcett retired from the position of chief engineer in my Department on the 1st May last. He has not been employed by me since his retirement, except that I have asked him to continue for a time to represent the Department in an honorary capacity on the Building Research Board of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider the recommendations of the National Health Insurance Commission, 1926, with a view of translating into law those not already adopted, as requested by the recent annual conference of the National Association of Trade Union Approved Societies?

I have not received any request from the annual conference of the National Association of Trade Union Approved Societies.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount of revenue derived from the duty on motor spirit and white spirit, respectively, for the financial years ending 31st March, 1929 and 1930, respectively?

The figures required cannot be given in respect of the year ended 31st March, 1929, as a large part of the revenue in that year was derived from the Excise duty on stocks of petroleum oils on 25th April, 1928, which was not divided into categories. With regard to the year ended 31st March, 1930, a separate figure for white spirit alone is not available, but the revenue from "motor spirit" was approximately £14,675,000 and that from "petroleum spirit other than motor spirit" approximately £274,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any figures, and can he give an estimate, of the yearly expenditure payable to members of the county councils in Scotland with reference to their attendances?

The statutory provision authorising the grant of allowances to county councillors in respect of travelling and other personal expenses came into operation on 16th May, and I have no information as to the amount of expenses incurred since that date. The data at present available are not sufficient to permit a reliable estimate to be given for a year.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the increase in the number of fatal accidents that have taken place in London during the previous 12 months, what action his Department or the London Traffic Advisory Committee are taking for the purpose of preventing the increase of such accidents in the future; and has he received any recent reports from the London Traffic Advisory Committee on the subject?

My Department, as well as the London Traffic Advisory Committee, are continuously engaged on the consideration of proposals designed to improve the condition of the streets in London from the point of view of safety, and I am always prepared to consider any such proposals which may be submitted by the local authorities. Two reports of the committee were issued last year on this subject, and were discussed with representatives of all local authorities in the area and with the associations and societies interested. I hope to be in a position to publish the conclusions reached at that conference at an early date.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the lack of co-operation between local authorities and gas, light and water companies in London, and of the inconvenience and annoyance caused to the ratepayers by the laying down of streets and the tearing up of them at short intervals; and if he will take steps to introduce co-ordination in this matter?

There is already a measure of co-ordination under the London Traffic Act, 1924, between local authorities and statutory undertakers having power to break up streets. Substantial works of road maintenance and improvement in streets prescribed under Section 4 of that Act, which include the main traffic routes in the London traffic area, may only be carried out in such order and at such times as may be determined in a scheme to be drawn up by me. The undertakers concerned are advised of the dates of such road works so that any works they may propose can be carried out at the same time, and upon the completion of the road works it is unlawful for such undertakers to break up the street within the ensuing 12 months, except with my consent or in case of emergency.

asked the Minister of Transport what by-pass roads in the London area are still considered as necessary to be built and when it is expected that the work of widening Putney Bridge will be taken in hand?

I am not in a position to add anything to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 28th May last.

asked the Minister of Transport whether it is proposed to introduce in the near future in the Metropolitan area any further roundabout systems of traffic; and can he give particulars?

Regulations are about to be made under the London Traffic Act, 1924, with a view to the introduction of "roundabout" and "one-way" traffic schemes as follow:

"Roundabout" Systems:

1. In Mill Hill, at the junction of Watford Way, Daws Lane and The Broadway.

2. In Beckenham, at the junction of High Street, Beckenham Road and Croydon Road.

"One-way" Traffic Schemes:

1. In Church Street and part of Green Street, Sunbury-on-Thames.

2. In parts of White Hart Road and Broom Hill, Orpington.

3. In part of Simpsons Road, Bromley.

4. Along the duplicate carriageway of Gunnersbury Lane, Chiswick.