asked the Minister of Labour the number of local authorities which have prepared and presented schemes, for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date, for the approval of the Unemployment Grants Committee; the number of these schemes that have been approved; the number of authorities which have made preliminary inquiry regarding schemes they have under consideration; and has she any statistics that will show the number of men who have been provided with work under these schemes and the number of men transferred from distressed areas?

Since the 1st June, 1929, 934 local authorities have submitted formal applications to the Unemployment Grants Committee for grant from Exchequer Funds in aid of 2,933 schemes of work to relieve unemployment. Of the schemes so submitted 1,947 have been approved for grant. Statistics are not available with regard to preliminary inquiries. On 30th May, 1930, the total number of men employed directly on the schemes approved was 34,983 including 4,613 men from depressed areas.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether every assistance is given to the transference schemes by the local authorities?

There is a difference of opinion.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she is prepared to institute an inquiry into the present operation of the not normally in insurable occupation condition of the Unemployment Insurance Act?

I am keeping a careful watch on the position, but as the new Act has been in force for less than three months a special inquiry into its working would be premature.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that there is a considerable volume of opinion not merely on these benches, but elsewhere, that chairmen of courts of referees are flouting the expressed wish of this House in relation to not genuinely seeking work?

Is the right hon. Lady aware that it is a very common thing to find papers which were last year marked "not genuinely seeking work" are now marked "not normally in an insurable occupation," and does she not think flat that matter calls for inquiry?

asked the Minister of Labour if she is in a position to state what are the figures at the end of the first quarter for 1930, or the last available figures for 1930, of the males and females, separately stated, who are on the unemployed register at the Employment Exchanges, and the figures for the corresponding date in 1929; and will she state the percentages compared with the employed?

At 30th June, 1930, there were 1,403,374 males and 487,201 females on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain as compared with 917,390 males and 224,992 females at 1st July, 1929. At 23rd June, 1930, the percentage rates of unemployment among insured males and females in Great Britain were 15.8 per cent. and 15.1 per cent., respectively, as compared with 10.7 per cent. and 6.5 per cent. at 24th June, 1929.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of females at present registered at the Employment Exchanges in the United Kingdom and the number registered in the year 1913; and what percentage of the working population these represent in each case?

At 30th June, 1930, there were 487,201 females on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain, representing 15.1 per cent. of the number of females insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts at July, 1929. Comparable figures in respect of 1913 are not available.

Can my right hon. Friend say how many of the number were married women?

No.

Is it not possible for the Minister to give figures showing the changes that have taken place since 1914 which have increased or decreased the number of women?

The reply to a previous question gives that information very clearly.

asked the Minister of Labour if she is aware that persons entering unemployment insurance must produce a birth certificate; that a certificate of the registry of birth is insufficient and that they must produce another certified copy of birth, for which the applicant pays sixpence; and will she give consideration to this matter and see that the cost of the certificate does not fall upon the person entering insurance?

As stated by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary in reply to a question yesterday, inquiry is being made into this matter. I will let my hon. Friend know the result.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of claims disallowed at the Birkenhead Employment Exchange on the ground that applicants were not normally in insurable employment in the following periods: 1st January to 1st June, 1927, 1st January to 1st June, 1928, 1st January to 1st June, 1929, and 1st January to 1st June, 1930?

As the reply includes a number of figures, I will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applicants refused benefit, on the ground of not normally in insurable employment, at the Lench Street and Beacon Hill Exchanges in Birmingham during the first three weeks in June, 1930?

Figures are available only in respect of cases dealt with by particular courts of referees. From 13th May to 9th June, 1930 (the latest period for which figures are available), the number of claims for benefit disallowed on the ground "not normally in insurable employment and will not seek to obtain a livelihood by means of insurable employment" were 455 by the Birmingham Court, which includes Lench Street and Coleshill, and 153 by the Aston Court, which includes Beacon Hill and Sutton Coldfield.

Does the Minister not think that this lends colour to the suggestion that "not genuinely seeking work" has now been superseded by the new term?

No, I really cannot accept that view.

Is not the administration at the Lench Street and Beacon Hill Exchanges in Birmingham very efficient indeed, and is not every care taken to see that the rules are observed?

The right hon. Lady said that she was not aware that it has worked out in this way—well, that is what the men who are unemployed think.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of cases heard by the Birmingham Court of Referees for the first three weeks in June, 1930; and the percentage of rejections during that period?

During the four weeks 13th May to 9th June, 1930, the latest period for which figures are available, 960 cases were considered by the Birmingham Court of Referees, of which 762 or 79.4 per cent. were disallowed. It should be noted that, apart from trade dispute cases, Courts of Referees deal only with claims which are not allowed in the first instance.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applicants in England and in Leyton, respectively, who have been considered not normally in insurable occupations?

During the period 13th March to 9th June, 1930, the number of claims to benefit disallowed by Courts of Referees on the ground "not normally insurable and will not seek to obtain a livelihood by means of insurable employment" were 50,300 in England and 104 in the area of the Leyton and Walthamstow Court of Referees.

Does not the right hon. Lady consider that that indicates that there still is a good deal of administrative persecution taking place?

No, Sir, I do not.

Will the right hon. Lady say when it stopped?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of claims for benefit that were refused at the Camberwell Employment Exchange in June, 1929 and 1930, respectively?

During the four weeks ended 10th June, 1929, the total number of claims to benefit made at the Camberwell Employment Exchange which were disallowed by insurance officers or recommended for disallowance by the Court of Referees on 78 day review was 343. During the four weeks ended 9th June, 1930, the number of claims disallowed by the Camberwell Court of Referees was 144; there were no disallowances by insurance officers.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons refused benefit in June, 1929 and 1930, respectively?

During the four weeks ended 10th June, 1929, the total number of claims to benefit disallowed by insurance officers or recommended for disallowance by Courts of Referees on 78 day review in Great Britain was 50,290. During the four weeks ended 9th June, 1930, the number of claims disallowed by Courts of Referees was 40,311; in addition 4,076 claims were disallowed by insurance officers in trade dispute cases.

asked the Minister of Labour if she will cause inquiry to be made as to the reason why a large crowd of women were kept waiting outside in the rain at the Beacon Hill Employment Exchange, Aston, on Monday, 23rd June, and arrange that the large vacant room on the premises shall be used as a shelter on future occasions?

There was a sudden rainstorm lasting for about half an hour on the morning of the 23rd June. During its continuance the women already in the Exchange did not leave and so make room for those outside. A number of the latter were therefore caught in the rain, except so far as they could be accommodated in the men's waiting room, which I understand is the vacant room referred to by my hon. Friend. I should add that I am informed that the congestion in the women's department was mainly due to large numbers arriving in advance of their scheduled times and that the men's department did not meet with the same difficulty.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that these premises are of a very temporary nature, and will she call the attention of the First Commissioner of Works to the desirability of providing a permanent building on this site for the purpose of an Unemployment Exchange?

I am having these matters continually under review.

May I ask whether this kind of question could not be arranged between the right hon. Lady and her friends without wasting Parliamentary time?

On a point of Order. The suggestion has been made by the hon. Member that the question was arranged. I deny any such suggestion, and the hon. Member should withdraw it.

asked the Minister of Labour when the proposed new Employment Exchange at Sutton-in- Ashfield, Notts, is to be commenced; and if she is aware of the unsatisfactory character and situation of the present exchange, with queues standing in the main street of the town and dispersing near a very congested omnibus stopping place?

I am aware of the unsatisfactory character and situation of the present Employment Exchange premises at Sutton-in-Ashfield. A plan of a new exchange has been approved, and the Office of Works will make arrangements for the building to be erected as soon as the necessary preliminary work has been completed.

asked the Minister of Labour how many branch managers of Employment Exchanges provide their own premises; to what uses are such premises also put; and whether there are any restrictions on the use of such premises for other purposes?

724 branch managers provide their own premises, which are subject to the approval of the Ministry. Such premises may be used for other purposes also, provided that no activity is carried on which conflicts with the work or interests of the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Labour the terms of engagement of part-time branch managers of Employment Exchanges?

This information includes a great amount of detail which can hardly be given within the limits of a Parliamentary reply. I am sending the hon. Member a statement and relevant documents.

asked the Minister of Labour the number and kind of relief schemes approved by the Unemployed Grants Committee in respect of Birmingham for each of the last three years, with the estimated cost of and number of persons employed on each scheme?

As the answer contains a number of figures, I propose to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour if she will state the figures, by categories, of those registered as unemployed at the Finnieston Employment Exchange, Glasgow, and the central Employment Exchange, Glasgow, for the most recent date available; and what are the corresponding figures for the corresponding date in 1929?

As the reply includes a table of figures, I will circulate a Statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour by what means junior instruction centres and junior instruction classes are endeavouring to help the young people who attend them to adapt themselves to Changes of occupation; and whether any figures can be given showing the changes of occupation these centres and classes have been able to bring about?

Details of the curricula at junior instruction centres and classes are within the discretion of the local education authorities concerned and differ widely, but the general principles follow those laid down in Appendix I of the First Report of the National Advisory Council for Juvenile Employment (England and Wales). The instruction given is not aimed at preparing juveniles to enter particular occupations. Since February, 1928, however, over 5,000 boys have been transferred from the depressed mining areas to employment in other parts of the country in circumstances which have ordinarily involved a change of occupation. The great majority of these had been in attendance at junior instruction centres prior to their transfer.

Can the right hon. Lady say if instructions are given to those in charge of junior instruction centres and classes that they should press upon the young people the desirability of being adaptable to enter new occupations which she herself has said is so desirable?

That is done.

I hope it is not a question of training the young people of my class as servants for duchesses.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she is aware that there are employers of labour who on making application for young men to be supplied as workers from the Motherwell training centre stipulate that they shall be of a certain religious persuasion; and whether, seeing that the training centre is a national institution, she will instruct the agents of the Ministry, in making selections for these appointments, not to have regard to such considerations but only to the question of merit and practical suitability for the vacant positions?

Stipulations of this kind are sometimes made by employers and obviously make difficulties for the placing agency, the primary aim of which is to submit the applicants who are best fitted industrially. Nothing would be gained, however, by disregard- ing the stipulations, since the employer will not engage persons whom he regards as unsuitable, and the result would only be to cause friction and unpleasantness for the applicants. The matter is, in my opinion, one in which any attempt at official control would do much more harm than good.

Does not the Minister of Labour consider that this is a very invidious distinction and will she not issue regulations which will put this matter on a more equal basis so that employers shall not be able to insist on applicants being of a certain religious persuasion?

I think it is highly desirable that these matters should be kept entirely apart from the placing agencies, but if employers stipulate that the applicant must be a Protestant or a Catholic, it certainly should be taken into account.

Does not this mean that if this line is taken on religious questions employers may start taking the same line on political questions?

I am afraid that that is not unknown in the labour world.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in connection with the different schemes for the relief of unemployment, she can state the approximate number of men who have been engaged to do work similar to that on which they are normally employed; and how many have been engaged on work dissimilar to that to which they are accustomed?

I regret that statistics giving this information are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour why her Department was not informed of the dates during which the Singer Sewing Machine works at Clydebank were to be closed down, seeing that these dates have been posted in the works for some time; what machinery exists for keeping his Department informed of the temporary closing of works which involves loss of employ- ment to workers; and what steps are being taken to decide the question whether the employés of the Singer Sewing Machine works are eligible for unemployment benefit?

On making further inquiries, I find that the local officers of the Department have been aware of the dates fixed for closing. Workers at the establishment referred to are resident over a wide area in the neighbourhood of Glasgow, and arrangements have been made at all the local offices of the Department likely to be affected to deal as expeditiously as possible with the claims for benefit, which will no doubt be made in due course by the workers. Decisions will be given as to the amount of benefit payable in each case when the claims are made.

Would it not be much more to the point if the right hon. Lady took steps to keep these works open?

Is this to apply to other towns, like Dundee, as well as to Glasgow where the same position arises?

Yes. Wherever we know that large works are liable to be closed down, we take special steps to meet the situation.

Are special steps being taken in Nottingham in view of the lapsing of the Safeguarding Duties?

asked the Prime Minister how many meetings, if any, have taken place between representatives of the Government and any section of the Opposition on the unemployment question; and whether any consultative machinery is to be set up?

I cannot say how many, as they have been both formal and informal. No special consultative machinery has been set up.

Is it not important that this matter should be dealt with as early as possible, in order to give the Council of State—after yesterday—an opportunity of helping us?

Is it intended that these proposals, if any proposals are made, shall be published?

Will the Prime Minister say whether, after the events of yesterday, any further meetings will take place?

Yes, I hope so—between the three parties.

asked the Home Secretary how many inspectors and sub-inspectors of factories there are in Wales and Monmouthshire, and how many of them have a knowledge of the Welsh language?

There are nine inspectors stationed in Wales and Monmouthshire, of whom five have a knowledge of the Welsh language.

asked the Home Secretary if he is now in a position to say whether he intends to take proceedings against the Dutchman named Hauser, who was guilty of inducing two civil servants to practise corruption?

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer on 14th April, 1930, to which I cannot add anything.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it is about six months since I started asking questions on this point? How long have I to wait for a definite decision on this matter?

I appreciate the fact that there has been delay in this and other matters, and I can only repeat my previous offer to my hon. Friend, and that is, personally, to give him such information as I have supplementing my replies.

asked the Home Secretary how many nationals of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics have received permits to enter this country in the present year, and for what purposes?

During this year 248 visas have been authorised for Soviet citizens desirous of travelling to the United Kingdom. The majority were coming on temporary visits in connection with trade, the remainder were coming to join the staffs of Soviet organisations in this country, or in a few instances for scientific or technical work or for purely private reasons.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many of those who have not come here to join the staff are still in the country?

I could not without further notice give a more minute classification of these groups.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that many thousands of people have availed themselves of the facilities for a tour in Russia which are advertised in Cockspur Street and West London?

asked the Home Secretary when M. Moses Roisenman, chief of the foreign section of the Soviet secret police, landed in this country; and whether he is enjoying diplomatic immunity while he resides here or whether he is subject to the ordinary restrictions applying to aliens entering Great Britain on passport?

I am not aware that M. Moses Roisenman is in this country.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, considering the importance of the position which this gentleman holds, whether he will make inquiries through his Department; and, if he undertakes to do so, I will take care to put down a question next week?

We have no information or knowledge whatever of the presence of this Russian subject. If my hon. and gallant Friend has information, I will be glad to hear it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this gentleman has joined the Empire Crusade?

asked the Home Secretary what is the nature of the simplified procedure which he proposes to initiate respecting the naturalisation of aliens; and from what date such changes will be effective?

The principal point is that, instead of at least eight documents being necessary, all the information required in the first instance can be given on one form. I think that many applicants should be able to complete this for themselves. The alien will be required to make a statutory declaration in support of his application, and to obtain the signatures of four British sponsors: there are spaces on the form for both these purposes. The requirement of public advertisement of an application in the Press will be maintained, and every application will, as hitherto, be subjected to searching inquiry before a decision is reached. I hope that the new arrangements will enable a larger number of applications to be brought to a decision more speedily than has been possible in recent years. The forms and instructions for applicants are in the Press, and will, I believe, be on sale to-morrow.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Metropolitan police intend, after the passage of the Road Traffic Bill, to continue the system of first warnings to motorists for all minor offences without immediately proceeding to prosecution.

Under the present system, the warning, as an alternative to prosecution for minor offences, is not given automatically, but each case is considered on its merits. There is no intention at present to alter the system.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has received any application from the Hampshire county council towards the construction of a by-pass road from the New Forest into Bournemouth and district, in view of the conditions attending pedestrian and vehicular traffic over Iford bridge and its approaches; and, if so, what action he is taking in the matter.

I presume my hon. Friend refers to a new bridge and approaches at Iford which it is proposed to construct over the River Stour on the Bournemouth-Southampton Road, with the aid of a grant from the Road Fund. Certain of the plans have been approved by my department and the contract details are in course of preparation by the Southampton County Council.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the resolution unanimously adopted at the 12th Congress of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire, recently held at the Guildhall, recommending an interchange of text-books dealing with the Empire between the various education departments within the Empire; if his department has promoted any scheme for the extension of teaching on subjects relating to the Empire in schools in England and Wales; and if he can indicate the extent to which the Empire text-book, The British Empire since 1783, has been adopted for use by education authorities in this country?

On a point of Order. Would not this Question be better dealt with by correspondence, instead of wasting the time of the House?

That is not a matter for me to decide. It is a matter for the hon. Member who puts down the Question.

On that point of Order. May I respectfully submit that this is a question of wide public importance?

As I have said, these are matters to be decided by the hon. Member who puts down the Question.

My attention has been called to the resolution mentioned. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Board's handbook of "Suggestions for Teachers," and their recently published pamphlet on the "Teaching of Empire Geography," of which I am sending him a copy. I have no information on the last part of the question.

While expressing my gratitude to the right hon. Gentleman for sending me a copy of the handbook—which I already possess—may I ask him whether he, as President of the Board of Education, is giving serious attention to the importance of spreading information about the British Empire in the elementary schools of this country?

Information about The Empire is already an important part of education.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether a textbook on Empire Free Trade has been circulated down in Norfolk?

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the desire expressed in this question to corrupt the minds of the children, by biased historical teaching, is to be deprecated?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has sanctioned the scheme for the provision of a new council school at Shirehampton, Bristol?

Plans for the provision of a new junior school to serve the Shirehampton district were approved in January last, and further plans for a new senior school in May. I am fully alive to the urgency of the need for the provision of additional accommodation in this district, and I have recently communicated with the local education authority emphasising the need for expedition in dealing with the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many elementary school scholars were enabled to pass to secondary schools through scholarships in 1929?

During the year ended the 31st July, 1929, 36,651 pupils from public elementary schools were admitted as free pupils to grant-earning secondary schools in England and Wales.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he has received a copy of the resolution passed by the executive committee of the London Municipal Society on 3rd July, 1930, protesting against the issue of Circular 1404 by the Board in September, 1929, and expressing the opinion that such action was unconstitutional and subversive of the authority of Parliament and the rights of local education authorities, inasmuch as it pressed local education authorities to make their plans and to embark upon expenditure in anticipation of the Education Bill, which has since been withdrawn; and does he propose to indemnify such local education authorities for any unnecessary expense they have been forced to incur?

I have received a copy of the resolution referred to, which seems to have been passed under a misapprehension. I am not aware that any local education authorities have been forced to incur any unnecessary expense by reason of the issue of the circular, and the last part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

Supposing it comes to the knowledge of the right hon. Gentleman that certain local education authorities have been compelled to incur expenditure in this respect, what will be their position?

Is it not a fact that when a circular of this sort is issued, local authorities act upon it and that they do incur expense in that way; and if these circulars are not to be implemented, then what is the position of the local authorities in this matter?

asked the President of the Board of Education what proportion of local education authorities require women teachers to resign on marriage?

I regret that I have no information showing how many local education authorities have regulations requiring women teachers to resign on marriage.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it would be worth while to have investigations made and to obtain the information asked for in this question?

I should not think so.

Is it not the business of the President of the Board of Education to know what is going on among local education authorities?

I do not see any particular advantage in getting this particular statistic.

In view of the fact that the President of the Board of Trade suggested the employment of married teachers as the way to fill up—

That does not arise out of the question.

asked the Prime Minister if he is now in a position to set up a committee to inquire into the question of Scottish local administration and national Government; and if he will indicate the nature of the committee and scope of the inquiry to be undertaken?

I think that the time to do this has not yet come.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will define the terms control examination, qualifying examination, and qualifying stage, which are used in annual reports of the Committee of Council on Education and reports of His Majesty's inspectors of schools, and explain the relation of the respective terms to primary classes, advanced division classes, and secondary schools?

The expression "qualifying examination" was originally applied to the examination which His Majesty's inspectors of schools conducted under former Codes in order to determine whether pupils were fitted for promotion from the senior division to the more advanced classes of a primary school or to a higher grade or secondary department. The official examination disappeared when the Code of Regulations for Day Schools, 1923, came into operation, but the expression is still commonly applied to any test which may be imposed to determine whether pupils who have completed the work of the senior division are suitable for promotion to advanced divisions or secondary courses. The term "control examination" has no definite official significance. Where, however, it is used it would normally be understood to mean a separate or additional test, e.g., for the purpose of distinguishing pupils whose educational attainments fit them to proceed to the full secondary course of five years leading to the leaving certificate. Pupils are said to be at the qualifying stage when they have completed or are about to complete the work proper to the senior division—a stage normally reached at or about the age of 12.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a good deal of misconception with regard to the subject matter of this question in Scotland among education authorities, and even among the headmasters of some schools; and will he give us the terms issued by the Department controlling the passing of pupils from the primary schools to the advanced schools?

I am afraid that I could not do so without notice, but, if there be any misconception in the matter, I trust that this question and answer may assist in dispelling it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total circulation in 1929 of the annual report of the Committee of Council on Education and the general reports of His Majesty's chief inspectors of schools, respectively; how many of the former at 1s. each were purchased last year; how many of the latter at 1s. 6d. each were purchased; whether copies of either or both were sent gratis to each member of the education authorities for their consideration; and, if not, whether he would be prepared to instruct this to be done this year and in future years?

The figures asked for in the first part of the question are 890 and 681, respectively; in the second 439; in the third 507. Copies of these publications were not sent gratis to members of education authorities, and, having regard to the cost involved, my right hon. Friend does not feel prepared to accept the suggestion made in the last part of the question.

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied at finding that so few copies of this important document have reached the parties responsible for education in Scotland? Will he consider sending gratis copies to those men and women who are giving their services to education without remuneration of any kind?

It is really a matter for the Stationery Office in the first instance, but I will pass on the suggestion to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that, in a property situated at Bedford Lane, Glasgow, 14 tenants have been ordered to remove forthwith; that the tenants have not been able to secure other homes; and, seeing that this is a slum-clearance scheme, if he will take steps to see that the Glasgow Corporation provide houses for the displaced families?

The property to which the hon. Member refers has been acquired by the Corporation of Glasgow for the purpose of street widening, and not in connection with a slum-clearance scheme. The matter is solely within the jurisdiction of the corporation, but I have made inquiries as to the position, and I am informed that the proposed street widening works have not yet been begun, and that no notice requiring the tenants of the property to remove forthwith has been issued. The corporation inform me that they have no intention of displacing the tenants until alternative accommodation has been provided for them.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state precisely what relaxation of the requirements of the London Building Acts the London County Council have recently offered, in connection with subsidised housing schemes, in respect of wall fillings and floor loads for the purpose of facilitating the submission of tenders for steel-frame buildings?

I am informed that no recent application has been made to the London County Council for the relaxation of these requirements of the London Building Acts in connection with subsidised housing schemes. In 1926 the Council obtained tenders for the erection of two blocks of dwellings embodying relaxations to the extent of a reduction of floor load from 70 to 40 lbs. per square foot, and of wall thickness (below the upper 20 feet of wall) from 14 to 8½ inches. I may add that I understand that the tenders obtained compared unfavourably with tenders for ordinary brick construction and that steel framed buildings were not in fact erected.

Does not this permission for a very large reduction of the floor load show that the London County Council building regulations are entirely out of date?

No. I think the moral is that it does not prove that this is cheaper than brick construction.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give wider publicity to these relaxations so that other authorities may take advantage of it?

I think the hon. Member will find that they have been well advertised.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that excessive rents are being charged for decontrolled houses and to sub-tenants of furnished and unfurnished rooms; and if he will state what action he proposes taking to remedy this state of affairs?

These matters will receive consideration in connection with any legislation amending the Rent Restriction Acts; but as I have intimated in reply to recent questions, it will not be practicable to introduce further legislation for this purpose in the near future.

Will the Minister of Health be able to put this first on the list for next Session?

If I follow what the late Government did, I shall not put it on the list at all.

asked the Minister of Health whether the investigation which he is conducting into the paving charges on owner-occupiers of new houses has reached a stage at which definite results can be announced; and, if not, when does he expect to be in a position to make such an announcement?

Investigations are still proceeding, but, owing to the intricacies of the subject and the pressure of other business, I am sorry that I cannot promise an early announcement.

asked the Minister of Health if he has now considered the representations made to him by those engaged in the production and distribution of cream as to the effect of the Order prohibiting the use of preservatives in cream upon the industry; and if he is now prepared to suspend or modify the Order?

I have carefully considered these representations, but I am not prepared to suspend or modify the regulations.

Is the Minister not prepared to lay before the House such evidence as he has as to the effect of this Order on the cream industry? Is it sufficient to warrant the destruction of an industry?

My information is that a large number of efficient firms have adapted themselves to the new regulations, and that it is quite possible to do so.

asked the Minister of Health whether the establishment of a State medical service comes within the terms of reference of the Cabinet committee at present engaged on a general survey of the existing insurance and pension legislation; and when a report is expected from this committee?

I am not in a position to bind the committee, but I should doubt whether they will see any necessity to extend the wide scope of their labours by considering the difficult question raised by my hon. Friend. As regards the second part of the question, it is not possible to make any statement at present.

What are the objections to it being included?

I have already said that because of the very wide scope of the present inquiry it would be inadvisable to extend it.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware of the very great demand for a State medical service?

asked the Minister of Health when the report of the departmental committee inquiring into the causes of maternal mortality will be published?

It is hoped that an interim report from this committee will be published before the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Health the result of the recent inquiries made by Mr. A. E. Marshall, one of the Ministry of Health's engineering inspectors, on 25th June, concerning the Northampton waterworks scheme, and on 27th June concerning the new Northampton sewerage scheme?

No waterworks scheme has been submitted by the Northampton Town Council. Mr. Marshall's visit was for the purpose of discussing certain proposals outlined by the council's waterworks engineer for supplying Northampton and other towns in the Midlands with water from Wales. The scheme of sewerage and sewage disposal which formed the subject of Mr. Marshall's inquiry on the 27th ultimo requires a good deal of further consideration, but no time will be lost in dealing with it.

asked the Minister of whether he proposes to take action on the lines recommended by the Committee on the Public Cleansing of London, and especially to press Metropolitan sanitary authorities to discontinue the insanitary dumping of refuse outside their areas?

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to take early action in respect of the recommendations of the committee which considered the Dawes Report on public cleansing in London, in view of the menace to health from refuse dumps?

All I can say at the moment is that I have the report under immediate consideration.

asked the Minister of Health if the Government intend to take any practical steps and, if so, what to safeguard the playing fields of the poorer classes which are threatened with extinction owing to high assessments and increased rates?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 5th June, and would add that the Central Valuation Committee have the matter under consideration.

Is the Minister not aware that in view of the increased taxation many of these playing grounds, especially in London, are threatened with extinction, and that the position is very serious indeed so far as the poorer children in London are concerned?

Only to-day I have been discussing the matter with the representatives of the National Playing Fields Association.