asked the Minister of Labour how many working days have been lost in this country as a result of reductions of the wage rates of the workers by employers in each year from 1926 to June, 1930, inclusive, including lock-outs and other methods?

, pursuant to her reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 19th June, 1930, col. 596), supplied the following statement:Number of days lost owing to disputes classified as arising out of proposed reductions in wages:

asked the Minister of Labour if she will consider issuing a return for the purpose of ascertaining the total number of registered unemployed who give their occupation as that of an agricultural labourer, showing the figures for each county in England and Wales as on the 31st May last?

The following table gives the number of wholly unemployed men and women registered at Employment Exchanges in each county of England and Wales on 26th May, 1930, as applicants for work in agriculture and horticulture:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state, for the year 1928–29, the amount paid in Scotland for teachers' salaries and the number of teachers included in that figure; and the amount in administrative expenses and the number of administrative officers included in the latter figure?

The expenditure of education authorities in Scotland on salaries of teachers in day schools in the year ended 15th May, 1929, was £7,516,051, the number of full-time teachers employed in day schools on 31st March, 1929, being 26,662. The expenses of administration, including expenses of members, printing, legal costs and all expenses in connection with the up-keep of offices, etc., amounted to £383,721. I am unable to furnish the hon. Member with the information he has asked for concerning the numbers of administrative officers employed by the authorities without calling for a special return which I am of opinion would scarcely justify the labour and expense involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why, in the Annual Reports of the Council of Education for Scotland, there has been omitted since 1926 a table showing exemptions granted to scholars; whether he will now give in tabular form the exemptions granted with and without conditions for the years from 1920 to 1929; and whether he will cause the table of exemptions to be included in future reports?

The number of exemptions now shows little change from year to year and the small variations that occur are without true significance unless their causes are examined in detail. Such examination is made from time to time in the general reports of the chief inspectors. I am supplying the hon. Member with a table giving the figures asked for in the second part of the question. For the reason already stated I do not think that the annual publication of this table is now necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that 5,574 pupils attending primary schools were in 1929 granted exemption from school attendance after reaching 12 years of age; and whether he will cause arrangements to be made by education authorities for continuing educational supervision of exempted pupils and imposing conditions for compulsory attendance by these pupils at continuation classes carried on either by the same or some other authority?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. But it should be noted that, of the total, 2,393 were only temporarily exempted; and that, of the remaining 3,181 who received permanent exemption, a large proportion were over the age of 14 and were merely released from the statutory obligation of continuing at school to the end of the school term. In reply to the second part of the question, I may say that the whole question of exemptions is at present under my consideration in connection with the raising of the school leaving age; but so long as the education authorities retain their present powers of exemption I see no sufficient reason for restricting their discretion in the direction suggested. More than two-thirds of the permanent exemptions granted by education authorities in 1928–29 were in fact subject to conditions as to attendance at continuation classes.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the amount paid in housing subsidies since 30th June, 1923?

The amount paid in housing subsidies since 30th June, 1929, is £11,370,843.

asked the Minister of Health if be will state the total number of houses built by each local authority in Leicestershire since 1918; and how many each authority have now got approved and under construction?

The required particulars are shown in the following statement.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any inquiries have been undertaken to ascertain the relative prices of rubber road-surface material as against other materials now used; what would be the difference in cost of materials and laying per 100 square feet; and whether he will suggest to local authorities that they should ascertain whether, in view of the additional durability of rubber and anti-vibration qualities, it is a practical proposition to use it where they have heavy traffic?

I am informed that the cost of rubber paving blocks very substantially exceeds that of the more expensive types of other suitable paving materials the wearing qualities of which are well known. I explained to the hon. Gentleman on the 17th of June that I do not see my way to urge local authorities to use this particular material.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in considering any scheme for constructing a by-pass road to Selby, including the provision of a new bridge, he will take into consideration the cost of such an undertaking as compared with the cost of acquiring the toll-bridge and, if necessary, reconstructing it; and whether he is aware of the desire of the inhabitants of Selby that the bridge shall remain in its present position as the chief way of traffic across the Ouse?

I am aware of the relevant facts concerning Selby Bridge and will give consideration to the points referred to by the hon. Member in dealing with any proposals which may be put forward by the highway authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that, although application by the Stevenage local authority for a loan for the Hellards Road extension was made in August last year, no definite reply has yet been received from his Department, and that recently an application has been made by the same authority for the widening of Letchmore Road; and whether he will take whatever steps are possible to expedite consideration and settlement of these applications?

So far as the Hellards Road extension is concerned, I understand that the necessary plans were not received until 6th January, and that subsequently as a result of the consideration of the scheme by my officers the plans were amended and the estimate of cost revised. A recommendation in the matter has now been sent by my Department to the Ministry of Health. As regards the widening of Letchmore Road a formal grant from the Road Fund will be issued in the course of a few days. No application for a loan in respect of this scheme has been received in my Department.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that on 25th June a motor car mounted the footway in Mount Street, London, crashed through the shop window and landed completely inside the shop; that the kerb was between two and three inches high above the roadway outside the premises; that the accident took place after the closing hour, which alone prevented probable loss of lives; and whether he will consider approving only those plans for new roads and alterations which show kerbs to be six inches high to prevent cars mounting footpaths under any circumstances?

I have no knowledge of the occurrence mentioned by my hon. Friend, but with respect to the height of kerbs I would refer him generally to the answer which I gave him on the 28th May last.

asked the Minister of Transport if the engineering inquiry into the proposed construction of a bridge across the Tamar has now been completed; and if he is in a position to make a statement?

I have not yet received the report of the engineer, but expect to receive it during the course of this month.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any restrictions are imposed upon motor coaches in respect to entering and departing from London and parking during the periods between journeys; and whether, in view of the traffic congestion in the Metropolis, he will consider the advisability of restricting their entry into central London?

I have no power to restrict the entry into London of motor coaches which do not ply for hire in the Metropolitan Police District, but it will be possible to exercise control over these vehicles if the relevant provisions of the Road Traffic Bill now before the House come into force.