asked the Minister of Transport whether he has now reached any decision and, if so, of what nature in regard to the question of grants to be made from the Road Fund towards the installation and maintenance of signals on the roads?

Highway authorities were informed in January last that in cases where light signals for traffic control are erected with my prior approval, I shall be prepared, as regards areas outside the Metropolitan and City of London Police districts, to contribute 60 per cent. of the approved expenditure incurred on the provision, erection and subsequent maintenance of the signal installation. In the Metropolitan and City of London Police districts, special considerations arise and, where the installation of light signals for the control of traffic in these districts is considered desirable, such grant will be made as the circumstances of the individual case may require.

asked the Home Secretary whether a recent fatal accident following a collision between a motor van and the cabmen's shelter in Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, has been reported to the police; whether the removal of this rank and shelter to a less dangerous spot had been recommended on previous occasions by the police; and by whose decision the rank and shelter are retained in their present position?

Yes, Sir. This accident was duly reported. The appointment of standings and their cancellation are matters for the Commissioner of Police, who has now decided to cancel this particular standing and appoint another elsewhere.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that 23,934 alien seamen were signed on in the United Kingdom during 1929 for service in British ships; and whether, in view of the prevailing unemployment among British seamen, he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I have been asked to reply. Of the 587,679 engagements of seamen for service on foreign-going ships at ports in the United Kingdom during 1929, 13,927, or 2.4 per cent., were engagements of foreign seamen other than Asiatics and Africans, and 15,528, or 2.6 per cent., were engagements of Asiatics and Africans (British and foreign). The remaining 95 per cent. were engagements of British seamen other than Asiatics and Africans. The number of foreign seamen engaged at ports in this country is not large nor is it increasing, and while I am naturally anxious to see British seamen employed, I do not think that there is any action which can usefully be taken by the Board of Trade.

asked the Home Secretary how many local authorities have, during the past 12 months, received sanction to by-laws for the prevention of litter?

By-laws for this purpose have been made and have come into force in 27 counties and 18 boroughs within the period named. In addition, four counties and two boroughs have made by-laws which are not yet in force, the statutory period of 40 days not having expired.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the coalowners of Lanarkshire make it a condition of employment that every man who is employed by them to work underground has to sign a form that he has never been in receipt of compensation for nystagmus; if the man states on the form that he has been on compensation for that disability he is refused employment; if he denies having suffered from nystagmus for the purpose of getting employment and the disability recurs he is then deprived of compensation; and whether, as this is in effect an evasion of the Workmen's Compensation Act, he will take such action as will make the signing of such a form illegal?

I understand that the practice in the Lanarkshire coalfield is generally as described in the question. It would, I think, be unfortunate if all the men who had at any time suffered in any degree from miner's nystagmus should be debarred thereafter from any underground employment, and I propose to consult with my hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines as to the possibility of arriving at some special arrangement with the industry in regard to the application of the Act to such cases.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of persons paying levies, and the total amount collected annually by the South Staffordshire Mines Drainage Board at the present time for work which is no longer being performed?

I am informed that the number of persons or firms assessed for the year ended 30th June, 1930, to the mines drainage rate in the Tipton district of South Staffordshire is 35, and that the total of the assessment is £481.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, at a recent conference of a body called the Joint Council of Qualified Opticians, it was decided to raise the prices of glasses and spectacles supplied by members of that body to insured persons; that the so-called standard charges represent costs higher than those ordinarily charged to private patients; and whether he is prepared to take action to prevent undue profits being made at the expense of insured persons?

The fixing of a scale of charges for the supply of optical appliances is a matter for agreement by negotiation between approved societies and opticians. Negotiations have recently been in progress between the Joint Council of Qualified Opticians and representatives of societies which desire to make arrangements with that body for the provision of ophthalmic benefit to their members, and a scale of charges has been agreed upon. I am informed that under this scale a reduction has been made in the charges for appliances for which fixed prices had previously been in force, and that the scale as a whole is considered by the societies to be satisfactory. I am of opinion that societies are fully alive to the importance of protecting their members against unreasonable charges on the part of opticians, and that under the regulations governing the administration of the benefit they have full power to do so.

asked the Minister of Health the number of applications for dental treatment that have been referred to the regional dental officers by the following approved societies during the last 12 months to the most convenient date, namely, the Hearts of Oak Friendly Society, the Ancient Order of Foresters Approved Society, the Order of Druids Approved Society, the Prudential Approved Society, and the National Amalgamated Approved Society; and what proportion of the total applications for treatment such numbers of cases referred to represent?

The material in my possession does not enable me to supply the information desired by my hon. Friend, and in order to do so it would be necessary to communicate with every branch of the societies named in the question which administers dental benefit. The number of such branches is nearly 2,000.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that provisions of the National Health Insurance (Dental Benefit) Regulations, 1930, make provision that, as from 7th July next, a condition for the receipt of dental benefit is that a member of an approved society must, if required by his society, submit himself for examination both before and after treatment, and in consideration of the loss of wages likely to be incurred by members of approved societies in connection with such attendances, he will consider amending such proposed regulations so as to provide for payment of actual loss of wages incurred by applicants who attend for such examinations?

There is no necessity for an insured person to suffer any loss of wages by reason of attendance for examination by a regional dental officer, as arrangements can always be made, if necessary, for his examination outside his working hours. In these circumstances, I do not think that any amendment of the Regulation referred to by my hon. Friend is required.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the sentence of three months' hard labour imposed at Chesterfield on 26th June upon two brothers for absconding from the casual ward before completing their task; and will he have an inquiry made as to the circumstances leading up to this case?

I have no information, but am making inquiry into the circumstances.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that in many cases casual wards are seriously overcrowded, resulting in persons having to sleep on concrete floors without mattresses or bed-boards; what action his Department has taken for the purpose of alleviating the present position; and will he give particulars?

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the report of the committee which I appointed to inquire into the administration of the relief of the casual poor. The report deals with the matters to which he refers, and will be published very shortly.

asked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take with regard to the communication he has received from the Long Thornton and District Improvement Association, Limited, relative to defects in houses erected in Hassocks, Windermere, and Chilmark Roads, Streatham Vale, in respect of which a Government subsidy of £50 per house has been paid and advances under the Small Dwellings (Acquisition) Act have been made by the Mitcham Urban District Council?

I have communicated with the local authority concerned, and am informed that they have taken such steps as are open to them to secure the remedying of the defects by the builder. No further action is open to me.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is the intention of the Government to deal with the anomalies in the Rent Restrictions Act; and, if so, on what lines?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a previous question on this subject by the hon. Member for Gravesend (Mr. Albery), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health the attitude of the Government with respect to the proposal that local authorities should be empowered to acquire land compulsorily for airports?

The hon. Member will observe that power for the compulsory acquisition of land for aerodromes is proposed in the Public Works Facilities Bill (Clause 2 and First Schedule, Part I, 2).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the fact that 973 certificates were issued in 1929 by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland for the export of potatoes from Scotland, of which 809 related to 4,260 tons of seed potatoes and 164 to 29,812 tons of ware potatoes, he will institute inquiries with a view to the further development of the export trade of ware potatoes with the various combines covered by the certificates issued?

I understand that a joint committee of traders, the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society and the National Farmers' Union of Scotland have recently investigated the possibility of extending the foreign markets for Scottish potatoes and that they have secured useful information. While the development of the export trade in potatoes is a matter for the enterprise of traders, the Department of Agriculture for Scotland is always ready to assist in the way of furnishing information as to the regulations imposed by foreign countries in regard to imports. I will consider whether it is possible to give assistance in the development of this trade in any other way.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his attention has been drawn to an advertisement for coal inserted by the education committee of Lanarkshire that stipulates that offers for anthracite coal must come from collieries outside the county, although the miners producing anthracite coal in Lanarkshire are only working three days a week; and what steps does he propose to take in connection with this matter?

My right hon. Friend has made inquiry into this matter and understands that the education committee have now arranged that contractors may quote for any suitable fuel from collieries in Lanarkshire or elsewhere.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received any representations regarding the inadequate postal arrangements in Tynemouth; whether he is aware of the inconvenience to business people because of the late hour at which the first post is being delivered; and whether he will take steps to improve the service?

I ant having inquiry made, and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many of the two-year and three-year trained teachers, respectively, who finished their training in the summer of 1929 were unemployed on 31st March, 1930?

Of the training college students who finished their training in the summer of 1929, 404 were reported to the college authorities as not having obtained teaching posts by the end of that year. I regret that the figures for March, 1930, are not available, and that I have no figures distinguishing the students according to the length of the course which they followed. The above figures do not cover university training departments, which do not normally provide two-year or three-year courses.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the importance of ascertaining the position in regard to the law of school attendance and its administration in counties where the school age has been raised above 14, he will reconsider his decision and instruct his office of special inquiries and reports to prepare an up-to-date memorandum on the subject for presentation to Parliament?

I still think that the time and expense needed for any inquiry into the administration of the law of school attendance in the counties concerned would be very great, but I will see what can be done to prepare a statement following as far as practicable the lines suggested by the Noble Lady.

asked the President of the Board of Education the present estimated number of children over 14. and under 15 years of age of parents whose income is sufficiently low to secure exemption from the operation of the Income Tax proposals?

I have not sufficient information to enable me to form any reliable estimate.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of local authorities that are at present providing meals and other nourishment for necessitous children; and what arrangements have been made for the purpose of securing co-operation between the education and Poor Law authorities?

One hundred and thirty-five local education authorities provided meals for school children during the week ended 21st June. With regard to the second part of the question, arrangements are generally made for securing co-operation by means of mutual exchange of information.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will obtain the names of those foreign firms employed to carry out contracts of any kind for the Tanganyika railways for which any moneys or financial help have been supplied by the British taxpayers under the Colonial Development Scheme or any other within the last six months?

The Governor of Tanganyika Territory is being asked for the information.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much anthracite coal was exported from Russia during each of the last six months for which figures are available, and approximately at what price per ton; to what countries it was exported; how much was exported to each of such countries; and whether such coal receives, directly or indirectly, any and, if so, what subsidy or bounty?

Information relating to export of anthracite from Russia is contained in the Foreign Trade Accounts of the Soviet Union, which do not, however, include separate particulars as to destination of this class of coal. Prior to July, 1929, exports over the Asiatic borders were excluded and the figures therefore are not comparable with those for subsequent months. Particulars of exports during the five months July to November, 1929 (the latest month for which information is at present available), are given below. As regards the

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether steps are to be taken to secure land for afforestation in the Western Valley, Monmouthshire?

Efforts have been, and will be, made by the Forestry Commissioners to secure land for afforestation in the Western Valley, Monmouthshire, but up to the present they have been unable to secure any area suitable in extent and otherwise.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that many widows just after the War accepted lump sums in settlement of applications for assistance in respect of the death of their sons on active service; that such widows now find themselves unable to obtain further help; and whether his Department will undertake to investigate sympathetically all such claims to see if some additional help can be given, at all events in cases where the original grant was of a trifling character?

The hon. and gallant Member has, I think, been misinformed. It was not the practice after the War to pay a lump sum by way of composition of a claim to pension to

asked the President of the Board of Trade the highest and the lowest retail price now, or at the latest possible date, charged in England for the 4-lb. loaf; and what is the average retail cost of the same quantity of bread of similar quality in France, Germany, and Italy?

I have been asked to reply. At 31st May the bread prices quoted on returns collected from over 500 towns in Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the purpose of the official cost of living index number varied from 7d. to 1s. per 4 lbs., the general average being 8¾d. Comparable averages are not available for continental countries, but in January last the average retail prices of white bread in certain of the principal towns in Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy, according to the latest figures published by the International Labour Office, were equivalent to 9¼d., 7¼d., 1s. 5¼d. and 9¼d. respectively per 4 lbs. The figures are defined as relating to prices of white bread, but there is no further indication of the precise qualities to which they severally relate.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the num-

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the number of P-class clerks promoted to the clerical class

Following is the information desired:in each Department between 1st January and 30th June, 1930?

Following is the information desired:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the latest available year, the receipts from and the payments to Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State, respectively, together with the payment in respect of land purchase annuities?

Payments made by His Majesty's Government in the Irish Free State during the financial year 1929 in respect of their liability to His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom for Royal Irish Constabulary and other pensions, etc., for repayment of various advances, and for compensation for damage to property amounted to about £2,250,000. Similar payments from the Government of Northern Ireland for Royal Irish Constabulary and other pensions, etc., and for repayment of advances were effected by deduction from the Residuary Share of Reserved Taxes and amounted to rather more than £450,000. In addition, His Majesty's Government in the Irish Free State paid during the same period a sum of approximately £3,000,000 into the Irish Land Purchase Fund, together with a sum of £134,500 in respect of interest and sinking fund on bonus and excess stock issued under the Irish Land Acts. Payment by the Government of Northern Ireland into the Irish Land Purchase Fund of the annuities arising out of sales of land made prior to the "appointed day" has been remitted by Section 26 of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920. As regards land purchase in Northern Ireland since the "appointed day," while this remains a "Reserved Service" under the Government of Ireland Act, the cost is wholly met from Northern Ireland funds, by means of deductions from the Residuary Share of Reserved Taxes, and gives rise to no inter-Governmental payments. The Northern Ireland contribution towards Imperial Expenditure for the financial year 1929 has been provisionally fixed at £600,000. The payments to Northern Ireland for the financial year 1929 were as follow:

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of insured lace workers who were employed and unemployed, respectively, on the first day of each month from 1st July, 1929, until 1st July, 1930, both dates included?

The following table gives the information desired so far as available:

asked the Minister of Labour the names of the members of the central committee on women's training and employment, and also of any committee of the kind which exists in Scotland?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed on the live register of Employment Exchanges on 26th June, 1930, and on 26th June, 1929, and the number of unemployed on the live register at Dundee Employment Exchange on 26th June, 1930, and on 26th June, 1929, showing separately the numbers of men, women, boys and girls; a percentage statement of the insured workers unemployed in Dundee on 26th June, 1929, and 26th June, 1930; the number of jute workers in Dundee unemployed on 26th June, 1929, and 26th June, 1930, including part-time workers; and a percentage statement of insured jute workers unemployed in Dundee on 26th June, 1929, and 26th June, 1930?

The following Table gives the information desired:

The members of the central committee on women's training and employment and of the committee which deals with Scottish matters, are as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour whether the 140 additional places provided in the home-training centres of the Central Committee on Women's Training and Employment between June, 1929, and July, 1930, include places provided in Scotland and, if so, how many; and whether the 150 additional places in contemplation include places in Scotland and, if so, how many?

Twenty additional places were provided in the Home Training Centres of the Central Committee on Women's Training and Employment in Scotland between June, 1929, and July, 1930; and of the additional places in contemplation, 20 are in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of claims for benefit at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Employment Exchanges which have been disallowed on the ground that the applicants were not normally in insurable employment in the period 1st January to 1st June in the years 1928, 1929 and 1930, respectively?

Statistics of the disallowance of claims to benefit made at individual Employment Exchanges are not now available in respect of dates prior to 19th April, 1928. The figures for the periods in question since that date, so far as available, are as follow:Disallowance on the ground "not normally insurable and will not normally seek to obtain a livelihood by means of insurable employment" in respect of claims to benefit made at Employment Exchanges in the Newcastle-on-Tyne area (including Newcastle-on-Tyne, Hexham, Elswick, Heaton and Newburn).

asked the Minister of Labour whether she is aware that certain claimants for unemployment benefit in the town of Belper are summoned to appear before the board of referees at Belper, and, if their claims are admitted, they are then summoned to go to another board of referees at Derby; and if she will state the reason for this procedure?

I am having inquiry made, and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons employed and unemployed, respectively, in the building and allied trades at the end of May each year from 1924 to 1930, inclusive?

The following table gives the information desired so far as available:

asked the Minister of Labour whether she has in contemplation the extension of training-centre facilities to unemployed not in receipt of unemployment benefit?

At present, facilities are available to admit to training, under certain conditions, men who are insured contributors but not in receipt of benefit; the possibility of an extension of these facilities is being considered.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of those en- gaged in agriculture who, according to the estimate of the Ministry of Labour, are now unemployed?

I regret I have no statistics sufficiently comprehensive to enable such an estimate to be made.

asked the Minister of Labour the present indebtedness to the Treasury of the Unemployment Insurance Fund?

The debt to the Treasury of the Unemployment Fund on 5th July, 1930, was £42,980,000.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of seasonal workers who have taken advantage of the Unemployment Insurance Act of last year to resume or take up their insurance?

I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the present estimate of her Department of the cost for the present year of the transitional provisions in the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1930?

The cost of the transitional provisions in the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1930, for the first quarter of the present financial year has been about £4,500,000, or at the rate of £18,000,000 in a full year.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed registered in Manchester to the last available date?

At 30th June, 1930, there were 46,256 persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the Manchester area.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that the rate of wages paid to casual workers employed on a State-assisted scheme at Rogerstone is 1s. per hour, whereas the recognised rate for such work under a local authority in the same area is 1s. 3d. per hour; and whether he proposes to take steps to enforce payment of the recognised rate?

I have been asked to reply. I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the extension of the Marshalling Yard which is being assisted under Part I of the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Act, 1929. This work is being carried out by the Great Western Railway Company and not by a local authority. I am informed by the railway company that the rate of wages paid to the men employed on the scheme is equivalent to that paid to railway employés engaged on similar classes of work, and that the conditions of service are those normally applicable in the case of casual labour.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the highest figure that has been shown on the unemployment register; and when was this figure reached?

The number of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain was at the highest point on 3rd June, 1921, when the total was 2,580,429.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that certain patrol duties which have hitherto been the work of petty officers, other than engine-room artificers, are now being imposed upon petty-officer engine-room artificers in the Mediterranean Fleet; and whether these duties are night duties in addition to the night duties in the engine-room department and, as such, deprive engine-room artificers of their clear week-end leave?

Inquiries are being made and I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is with his sanction that the Royal Society of St. George were permitted to have a flag day in the Royal Navy, and the proceeds of the collection used to provide prizes for artificer apprentices; what is to be the nature of the awards and for what are they to be awarded; and if he is aware that the solicitation of charitable aid for such a purpose is causing resentment amongst engine-room artificers?

I am inquiring into this matter, and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any information as to the number of notices to quit following investigations under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act by employers who have refused to pay the legal minimum wage to farm workers in Breconshire and Radnorshire during the past 12 months?

I have no complete information as to the number of workers in Brecon and Radnor who have received notice to leave their employers' service during the period in question consequent upon investigations by inspectors under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, but judging by the few such cases which have been brought to my notice it would appear that little difficulty has arisen in that respect.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department possesses a list of bulb-growers in this country which it is ready to supply on application to intending British bulb purchasers; whether he is aware of the difficulty experienced in obtaining such information from his Department; and whether he will investigate the methods of foreign representatives of competing trade nations in this country?

Intending purchasers of British bulbs are supplied on application to my Department with the name of a growers' association and are also referred to certain county education authorities whose horticultural officers are acquainted with the particular varieties of bulbs raised by the growers in their districts. I am not aware that this practice has given rise to any difficulty, and I do not consider that the special investigation suggested in the last part of the question is required.