asked the Minister of Labour the number of non-residential training centres at present in existence; and whether the question of opening any further additional centres is at present under consideration?

There are eight non-residential training centres and three non-residential transfer instructional centres for men. The corresponding numbers of residential centres are one and seven respectively. There are 28 non-residential and one residential training centres for women and girls conducted on behalf of the Ministry by the Central Committee on Women's Training and Employment. Two additional non-residential training centres for men and four for women will shortly be opened.

Is it intended to open any more training centres in the near future in view of the great need for the relief of unemployment?

I have just informed the hon. Member.

It is not true that in all these centres there are less than 1,000 women being trained at the moment, and, as there are over 200,000 more women unemployed than there were when the Government took office, will the right hon. Lady bear in mind this point when she deals with unemployment, because in all schemes for men there is not one single woman who has received employment?

Can the right hon. Lady say how many of these training centres give training for domestic service?

All of the women's training centres.

Can the right hon. Lady say to what extent Chisledon is now being used?

I should like notice of that question.

asked the Minister of Labour what number of disabled ex-service men were unemployed on 1st June, 1930; and what is the proportion of unemployment among disabled ex-service men by comparison with that of the general insured population?

At 26th May, 1930, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 30,043 disabled ex-service men on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain, This is 7.3 per cent. of the estimated number of men in receipt of disability pensions and disability allowances. The percentage rate of unemployment among all insured men in Great Britain on the same date was 16.1 per cent.

What steps has the right hon. Lady taken to see that disabled ex-service men are found work?

I think that there is another question on ale Paper dealing with that matter.

asked the Minister of Labour what number of juveniles have been transferred from distressed mining areas during the present year; to what districts have they been transferred; for what occupations; and what number have obtained permanent employment in the areas to which they have been transferred?

I am having this information compiled and will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the right hon. Lady let us know in that information if there are any girls among those who have been transferred?

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people are being employed on schemes put forward by the Newcastle City Council in the way of relief work; also as to whether special consideration is given to those people who have been unemployed for long periods; and whether any preference is given to them?

The number of men at present employed on schemes put forward by the Newcastle City Council for the relief of unemployment is 155. In selecting men from the unemployed register for these works special preference, by arrangement with the City Council, is given to married men and single men with dependants according to the length of their unemployment.

asked the Minister of Labour by how much the debt on the Unemployment Insurance Fund has been increased during the lifetime of the present Government; and by how much it was increased during the lifetime of their predecessors?

The debt of the Unemployment Fund from 1st June, 1929, to 21st June, 1930, increased by £5,640,000. Under the previous Government, i.e., between 4th November, 1924, and 1st June, 1929, the debt increased by £32,118,686.

Does the right hon. Lady think that these figures give any true indication of the present increase of unemployment during the lifetime of the present Government?

I was merely asked to give the figures.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she has any information as to a general disinclination of women and girls to go into domestice service; and what steps is she taking to overcome this disinclination?

I am aware that some women and girls whose whole experience has been in industry are disinclined to change their occupation and enter domestic service. Where considered desirable, domestic vacancies are brought to the notice of persons attending Employment Exchanges, and where preliminary training is required, the Central Committee on Women's Training and Employment are prepared to provide it.

The right hon. Lady has answered the question about women who are already engaged in industry. Can she say what she is doing to try and persuade young girls who have not had any industrial training to take up domestic service?

These are being trained in the 28 centres.

Does my right hon. Friend propose to give any training to mistresses?

And to masters.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the regulations issued enable unemployed women who are trained and experienced in some branch of shop or factory work to decline offers of domestic service without thereby jeopardising their rights to unemployment benefit?

There are no regulations on this matter. It is for the statutory authorities to determine whether an occupation other than that previously followed is suitable in a particular case. In deciding this question they have regard to the claimant's skill and experience in her usual occupation, and the extent of the change of occupation involved.

Is the Minister aware that there are many women in Lanarkshire who feel that they must accept that domestic service, whatever their previous training may have been, and will she see that they are not cut off from benefit?

I cannot give an assurance which it does not rest within my power to enforce.

asked the Minister of Labour if she is aware that large numbers of miners are being discharged in the county of Durham; and whether she has made any inquiry to ascertain if the dismissals are due to economic causes?

I am aware that a considerable number of discharges have taken place which my inquiries indicate to be due generally to shortage of orders or other economic causes.

asked the Minister of Labour how many vacancies have been notified to the Employment Exchanges since the beginning of the year; how many of these vacancies have been filled by the Exchanges; and what proportion those filled bear to the total number of labour engagements in the country?

asked the Minister of Labour if she is aware that cases have arisen where claims for benefit of persons who have been unemployed for periods of

As the reply is necessarily long, and includes a tabular statement, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Length of unemployment is not in itself a disqualification for benefit, but is one of the considerations taken into account by the statutory authorities in deciding individual claims. I have no power to issue instructions to those authorities, and the last part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

Is it a fact that something like 400,000 are covered?

asked the Minister of Labour whether she is aware that certain men on relief work in the Dudley area who pay unemployment insurance contributions during that employment are refused benefit when their work ceases; and what is the reason for such refusal?

I am making inquiries and will communicate the result to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour the total loan commitments of the different local authorities of the country which have been incurred in connection with schemes for the relief of unemployment and for which State assistance has been received?

Since 1st June, 1929, loans have been sanctioned by the Ministry of Health in respect of expenditure on approved schemes of work for the relief of unemployment to the total of £31,190,968. In addition schemes have been approved by the Unemployment Grants Committee of an estimated total cost of £1,155,960, the loan sanctions in respect of which have still to be determined.

Can the Minister say, roughly, what resources have been found available by the local authorities?

Not without notice.

How does the Minister account for the fact that, in spite of this enormous programme, the number of unemployed has gone up by nearly 700,000?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men and women, respectively, unemployed in the cotton industry in Lancashire on the latest available date?

As the reply includes a number of figures, I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I will, however, read the totals only, namely:

Has the Minister any information to suggest that this unemployment has been accentuated because of the delay in connection with the cotton inquiry report?

The hon. Member knows that active steps are being taken to deal with that matter.

Is the Minister aware of the fact that some of these women will never get back into the cotton industry, and will she take steps to find them some alternative work?

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the unemployment in the steel trades, he will cause to be revised the loan periods for steel pipes with a view to establishing an equality with iron pipes?

This subject has been fully considered on several occasions. I am anxious to do what I can to help the steel trade, but the evidence available does not indicate that the life of steel pipes for the works of local authorities would generally be so long as that of cast-iron pipes, and the same loan periods would, therefore, not be justified. I am quite prepared to consider any further definite evidence.

I understood the right hon. Gentleman to say that he was anxious to consider the position of the steel trade. Will he take into account the fact that 93,000,000 tons of iron and steel were imported from abroad last year?

asked the Minister of Labour in which areas in Scotland the number of persons unemployed has decreased since the present Government took office?

In the following areas in Scotland, the number of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges was lower at 16th June, 1930, than at the corresponding date last year, namely: Arbroath, Kirkintilloch, Wick, Auchtermuchty, Broxburn, Cullen, Gran-town-on-Spey, Kinross, Loanhead, Musselburgh and Troon.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief who are also drawing unemployment benefit on the last date upon which he has information?

Returns containing the specific information asked for by the hon. Member have not been obtained by my Department since the 23rd March, 1929. On that date 7,785 persons in receipt of Poor Law relief were also drawing unemployment benefit.

Can the right hon. Gentleman get a later return?

I am prepared to consider that, but, owing to the heavy responsibilities of local authorities, I am rather reluctant at the moment.

asked the Minister of Labour how many aliens were permitted to enter this country during each of the first six months of this year for the purpose of taking up clerical employment?

The number of aliens admitted to this country in each of the first five months of 1930 for clerical occupations of all kinds, including those admitted as students, visitors, etc., but subsequently permitted to accept such employment, was as follows:

Is the right hon. Lady satisfied that she has the requisite means at her disposal to prevent unnecessary competition in an already overstaffed profesion?

Has my right hon. Friend any figures concerning the number of Britishers who have gone to other countries during that period?

I was going to say that this is a double-edged weapon. We take all reasonable steps to prevent unfair competition.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she has any record of the number of foreign domestic servants employed in this country; and, if so, what is the number and what are the nationalities of such servants?

No, Sir. Such figures are only obtainable from the Census, the latest of which, of course, relate to 1921.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the Regulations under which foreign girls are admitted to this country for the purpose of engaging in domestic service; and for what period of time are they allowed to remain?

In reply to the first part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to Command Paper 3318, which sets out the procedure regulating the entry of foreigners for employment, including domestic service, in Great Britain. Permits are not usually issued for a longer period than 12 months, but they may be renewed at the end of that period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) the total number of certificates of British naturalisation issued by him to aliens from all European countries during the past 12 months;

I would refer the right hon. Member to the last annual published Return which relates to the year 1929 and shows on page 54 that 804 certificates were issued to aliens from European countries of whom 422 were from Russia.

When will the hon. Member have more recent data?

Perhaps the right hon. Member will put that question on the Order Paper.

Can the hon. Member say in what way these people will find work?

No one can take employment in this country without the permission of the Minister of Labour.

If they are British subjects, they can.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of inspectors under the Trade Boards Act; the number added since the present Government took office; and to what extent arrears in the investigation of complaints exist at the present time?

The number of inspectors now is 78 of whom 12 have been appointed since the present Government took office. The number of complaints outstanding at the end of April last was 248, but these do not constitute arrears.

Does the right hon. Lady consider that there is now a sufficient number of inspectors to deal with all the work?

Yes, for the time being.

asked the Minister of Labour if she will give particulars as to the number of persons likely to be covered by the proposed trade board in the catering trade; and if she will state the present position and when the board is likely to be formed and commence operations?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement upon these matters made by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry in reply to him in the debate of the 18th June. I am not in a position to add to this statement at present.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of children in England and Wales under the age of 14 for whom, owing to their blindnes or other physical disability, no educational provision is at present being made?

The returns furnished by local authorities show that, on the 31st December, 1929, the number of blind children in England and Wales, under the age of 16, not attending any school or institution was 557, that the corresponding number of deaf children was 305, and of cripples 5,461. The returns do not show how many of these children were under the age of 14. It must not be inferred that there is a need for further special school provision to the extent indicated by these figures, as they include some children under the age of compulsory school attendance and some children prevented by temporary difficulties from attending special schools.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satsified that the number of these children deprived of education is being satisfactorily reduced year by year?

I am satisfied tha the position is getting better and that there is no special need for increased accommodation.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many free places in municipal secondary and technical schools available from the ages of 11 or 12 or earlier have been won by children attending Catholic non-provided elementary schools during the last five years?

I regret that I cannot give the desired information as the Board's records do not distinguish between the various types of public elementary schools attended by pupils to whom free places have been awarded.

May I ask the President of the Board of Education whether he will circularise local authorities who do possess this information and who would in response to his invitation give it to him?

I doubt very much whether it would be worth while.

May I ask that the information might be obtained. I look upon it as very important. It bears upon a matter of public policy.

I will consider the matter and see whether it is possible to circularise one or two local authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many rate-aided secondary schools have a Church of England, Roman Catholic, other denominational, and undenominational foundation, respectively?

I feel some doubt as to the precise nature of the information which any hon. Friend desires, and I am, therefore, communicating with him on the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education the total additional expenditure on elementary education contemplated by the 201 local education authorities who have sent in their complete programmes for the years 1930 to 1931; and the total capital or loan-charge expenditure contemplated by their programmes on the provision or improvement of elementary school accommodation for purposes of reorganisation?

I assume that the Noble Lady refers to the programmes for the three years 1930–33. I am having a table prepared on the basis of the programmes which have already been received, and shall be glad to send it to the Noble Lady as soon as it is available. I am afraid it will not be practicable to analyse the expenditure incurred on educational developments and improvements in such a way as to show what proportion is attributable to reorganisation.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his estimate of £2,500,000 as the cost of schooling the new age group of children over 14 includes a share of the total cost of reorganisation proportionate to the number of these children and to their special needs; and, if not, whether he will state the cost of such a proportionate share?

The estimate of £2,500,000 includes provision for the accommodation and equipment suitable for older children but, subject to this, it is not possible to relate this estimate to the total cost of reorganisation.

asked the President of the Board of Education to which areas the figures of additional teachers estimated to be required after 1st April, 1931, refer?

The estimates of the number of teachers likely to be required after 1st April, 1931, which I gave in my speech on the Second Reading of the Education Bill, were for the country as a whole.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in order to reduce the present housing shortage, he is prepared to consider the question of extending the present housing subsidy to owners of small plots of ground in order to enable them to build houses thereon for their own occupation?

The suggestion made by my hon. Friend is one which would require legislation, and I am afraid that I cannot see my way to introduce such legislation.

Could not the right hon. Gentleman find time to tack it on to his present Housing Bill?

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses in respect of whose construction the subsidy has been granted during the last 12 months, and the corresponding total for the previous 12 months?

During the 12 months ended 31st May, 1930, the number of completed houses ranking for subsidy was 99,124. The corresponding number during the previous 12 months was 107,439. The hon. Member is, of course, aware that subsidy under the Act of 1923 was payable only in respect of houses completed during the first four months of the first-named period.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the great extent to which housing is being held up owing to the delay in producing his scheme?

I hope there will be no delay in completing the present Housing Bill. Indeed, we are continuing the discussion upon it this afternoon.

Why was there nine months' delay in introducing it?

May I ask if the right hon. Gentleman promised this reduction in his election address?

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the town-planning scheme of the borough of Harwich, designed to deal with local unemployment, has failed to receive the ap- proval of the Essex County Council; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

The town-planning scheme of the town council does not as such require the approval of the county council. My hon. Friend may have in mind some particular proposal in correction with the scheme, and I am making inquiries.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the question is the result of a circular letter of a party interested in the land in the district, and, in making inquiries, will he consult the Member for the district, who might give him some information?

I shall be very glad to consult the hon. Member or anyone else.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what would be the rent if owners' rates are added to and included in the rental of a house which otherwise would be let at £20 in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Govan, Hamilton, and Blantyre, respectively?

As the answer contains a number of figures, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the hon. Member for Carlisle as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, whether his attention has been drawn to the conditions of insanitation and overcrowding as revealed by the reports of the medical officer of the borough of Paddington, in certain properties in that borough owned by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners; and whether the Commissioners are taking any steps to put their property into the same condition of repair as some other properties under their direct control?

The Ecclesiastical Commissioners have not been notified of any report of the Medical Officer of the Borough of Paddington. If they receive notification, they will carefully consider what obligations may be imposed upon them by the facts disclosed.

In view of the fact that the Ecclesiastical Commissioners are exempted from Income Tax on the ground that their work is of a charitable nature, will the hon. Member say if they consider that the properties in question are in a satisfactory condition?

I do not think that that question arises out of the answer which I have just given, but, if the hon. Lady puts down another question, I will do my best to get the information.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this property is notorious in Paddington?

Will my hon. Friend say if the Ecclesiastical Commissioners put sanitary conditions before profits?