asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what special investigations into markets overseas have been made by the Special Commissioner since his appointment; and what action, if any, has been taken on his report?

Since his appointment in April last as Special Commissioner, Mr. Beale has been engaged in a detailed examination of the position of certain of our trades in overseas markets. His duties, which have necessitated visits to certain industrial centres in this country, have not yet taken him abroad, but it is intended that he should be a member of the proposed mission to the Far East.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of exports of machinery from Great Britain, Germany, the United States and the rest of the world, respectively, for the years 1925 and either 1928 or the latest convenient date?

The following statement shows, for the principal exporting countries, the total value of the domestic exports of (a) machinery (except electrical, but including rail and road locomotives), and (b) electrical machinery and apparatus, during the years 1925 and 1929:

(a) Exports of Machinery (except Electrical).
—	1925.	1929.
Exported from:	£'000.	£'000.
United Kingdom	47,164	48,004
United States	61,128	101,733
Germany*	38,437	71,707
France	9,809	14,854
Switzerland	6,180	8,011
Sweden	5,901	8,082
Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union.	3,041	4,642
Netherlands	2,521	3,499
Austria	2,123	2,746
Italy	1,466	2,383
Canada	3,436	4,942

(b) Exports of Electrical Machinery and Apparatus.
—	1925.	1929.
Exported from;	£'000.	£'000.
United Kingdom	17,369	19,507
United States	17,091	26,975
Germany*	17,759	30,771
France	3,913	3,746
Switzerland	2,407	3,514
Sweden	1,998	3,511
Austria	1,717	2,513
Netherlands	2,647	10,352
Italy	603	999
Canada	602	998
Japan	550	1,179
* Including deliveries on account of Reparations.

NOTES.—The above figures do not, in general, include marine machinery forming part of new ships and boats. The classes of articles included in the totals are, as far as the available information permits, the same in all cases. Parts, as well as eomrplete machines, are included. Motor vehicles are not included.Conversions from the original currencies into sterling have been made at the mean quoted rates of exchange in respect of 1925, and at the approximate par rates for 1929, except that in the case of Japan the conversion for 1929 has been made at the mean quoted rate.The figures for 1929 are provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any answer has been sent to the Japanese Government in reply to their complaint respecting the discriminatory effect on cotton goods of Japanese origin of the new Indian duties; and, if so, whether he will state the nature of the communication?

A note on this subject was recently received from the Japanese Government. The terms of the reply are at present under consideration.

asked the Home Secretary whether a systematic inspection under the Factory and Workshops Act is now taken and within certain definite periods; and has he sufficient staff to ensure that each such place is visited at least once a year?

The standard of inspection now, aimed at is that recommended by the recent Departmental Committee on the Factory Inspectorate, who go very fully into the question in paragraphs 26 to 44 of their report. They considered that the more important works should be visited at least once a year, but that a standard of at least one visit every two years would be sufficient in the case of works in which only a small number of persons are employed, no dangerous or injurious process is carried on, and the conditions generally can be regarded as satisfactory. They recommended further that works coming under certain codes of Regulations should be visited every quarter. This standard cannot be secured with the present staff, but it should be possible to conform to it when the large increase recently sanctioned by the Government has been recruited.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of cases of malaria, dysentery and tuberculosis reported amongst British seamen annually in the mercantile marine in the

Deaths reported to the Board of Trade as having been caused by Malaria, Dysentery and Tuberculosis during each of the years 1925 to 1928 inclusive, among the British members of the crews of vessels (except Fishing Vessels) registered in the United Kingdom under Part I of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894.
Nature of Disease.								1925.	1926.	1927.	1928.
								No.	No.	No.	No.
Malaria	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	11	13	17	9
Dysentery		…	…	…	…	…	…	10	7	5	10
Tuberculosis:
of Respiratory System				…	…	…	…	11	37	42	23
Other		…	…	…	…	…	…	3	4	6	2

The following deaths, included in those shown above, occurred after the discharge of the men from their ships.
Nature of Disease.								1925.	1926.	1927.	1928.
								No.	No.	No.	No.
Malaria	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	—	—	5	4
Dysentery		…	…	…	…	…	…	6	—	2	3
Tuberculosis:
of Respiratory System				…	…	…	…	4	18	26	12
Other		…	…	…	…	…	…	2	4	3	2

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the employment of women in the making of bricks and sanitary pipes at Spring Cottage, near Moira, Leicestershire, and at Gresley, in South Derbyshire; and, seeing that the character of the work is having a deleterious effect upon the women employed, and that several cases of anemia have already resulted, will his Department make a full inquiry into the matter and report upon the nature of this work, its suitability or otherwise for women workers, and the wages paid to them?

The table which follows shows the numbers of deaths of British seamen serving on vessels registered in the United Kingdom which were reported in each of the years 1925 to 1928, as due to malaria, dysentery, or tuberculosis. Particulars of non-fatal cases are not available, and could only be obtained by examining the official log books of all ships for the period.

The chief inspector reports that no complaint has been received as to the conditions of work at Spring Cottage, and that he has no information to show that the workers there are suffering in health. He is arranging for a medical inspector to visit the works, but this inquiry would be greatly assisted if the hon. Member could supply information in regard to any cases of ill-health which may have come to his notice. A complaint regarding the conditions of work at Gresley was received in 1927, and investigated by one of the medical inspectors, but no cases of anæmia were observed and the health of the women did not appear to be otherwise adversely affected. A great deal of attention has been paid to this industry by the medical inspectors, who have visited a large number of works during the last few years and made special inquiries into the effects of the work on the women. The reports show that the work is by nature somewhat rough, dirty and laborious, but they do not indicate that it is unsuitable. Improvements in the welfare arrangements are under consideration, and a meeting has been arranged between the Factory Department and the Joint Industrial Council of the clay industry, which will take place next week, to discuss the matter.

asked the Home Secretary if, in view of the excessive speed and noise from the engine exhaust of many private cars and delivery vans that use such thoroughfares as Queen's Gate and Cromwell Road, where, though these are cross roads, the main road is long and straight, he will give instructions to have this practice put under control?

It is already the practice of the police to pay special attention to these thoroughfares with a view to detecting offences, and I may mention that during the six months ended 30th June last, 31 cases of ineffective silencing and of offences against the Motor Cars (Excessive Noise) Regulations, 1929, were reported from the two thoroughfares in question.

asked the Home Secretary the date of the installation of the systems of ventilation in use in Brixton and Pentonville Prisons respectively; whether the systems installed in Brixton and other prisons negative one another when two or more are in use art the same time?

The system of ventilating the cells by air conduits and flues dates from the time when these prisons were reconstructed—Brixton in 1882 and Pentonville in 1872. Of more recent years the original system of ventilation has been supplemented by putting sliding panes in the windows, but the opening of window panes does not negative the flue system; on the contrary, it improves the ventilation of the cells.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is prepared to order an independent report by an expert upon the ventilation of Brixton Prison?

I understand that some representations on this subject have been made by certain members of the visiting committee of Brixton Prison, and these representations are receiving careful consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has completed his review of the representations made by the Foremen's Association of India; and whether he proposes to take any action in this matter over and above the concessions already granted with regard to free passages?

Yes, Sir; but I am afraid my conclusions will not reach the Government of India for another week. As soon as the correspondence is completed, I hope to be able to say more.

asked the Minister of Labour whether under the boot-repairing trade board systematic inspections are taken throughout the country and within certain definite periods; and has she sufficient inspectors to secure a uniform enforcement of the regulations laid down by the board?

Systematic inspection is made throughout the trade in addition to investigation of all complaints. I have no reason to suppose that the standard of compliance with the requirements of the trade board in this trade are unsatisfactory.

asked the Minister of Labour the annual amount of contributions made to the Unemployment Insurance Fund since its establishment by employers, employés, and the State, respectively; and the annual sum paid in benefit during the same period?

The amounts of contributions made annually to the Unemployment

Year ended						Contributions.			Benefit.
						Employers.*	Employés.*	Exchequer.
						£	£	£	£
July, 1913	…	…	…	…	…	810,000	810,000	380,000	210,000
July, 1914	…	…	…	…	…	910,000	900,000	600,000	530,000
July, 1915	…	…	…	…	…	830,000	820,000	550,000	420,000
July, 1916	…	…	…	…	…	850,000	850,000	540,000	80,000
July, 1917	…	…	…	…	…	1,360,000	1,350,000	750,000	30,000
July, 1918	…	…	…	…	…	1,650,000	1,640,000	1,010,000	90,000
July, 1919	…	…	…	…	…	1,440,000	1,440,000	990,000	150,000
July, 1920	…	…	…	…	…	1,530,000	1,520,000	910,000	1,010,000
July, 1921	…	…	…	…	…	6,340,000	4,970,000	2,170,000	34,120,000
July, 1922	…	…	…	…	…	16,900,000	14,470,000	11,060,000	52,850,000
July, 1923	…	…	…	…	…	18,350,000	16,120,000	12,170,000	41,880,000
July, 1924	…	…	…	…	…	19,610,000	17,410,000	13,180,000	35,970,000
July, 1925	…	…	…	…	…	19,620,000	17,400,000	13,150,000	44,570,000
July, 1926	…	…	…	…	…	18,120,000	15,820,000	12,910,000	43,660,000
March, 1927 (nine months)				…	…	11,110,000	9,490,000	7,950,000	38,690,000
March, 1928	…	…	…	…	…	16,750,000	14,410,000	12,030,000	36,470,000
March, 1929	…	…	…	…	…	16,460,000	14,080,000	11,760,000	46,730,000
March, 1930	…	…	…	…	…	16,690,000	14,270,000	19,500,000	45,920,000
* The allocation of contributions between employers and employés is approximate only.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed British seamen in each period of six months during the last two years, and the numbers whose part periods of work have enabled them actually to claim unemployment benefit?

The following table gives the average number of wholly unemployed seamen of all nationalities on the Registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain in each period of six months during the last two years.

Period.	Number.
July-December, 1928	16,119
January-June, 1929	16,504
July-December, 1929	17,397
January-June, 1930	22,037

Separate statistics are not available in respect of seamen of British nationality, nor am I able to give the numbers whose part periods of work have enabled them to claim unemployment benefit.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the latest available unemployment figures for Germany?

The latest information in my possession relates to 31st May, at which date the total number of persons recorded by the German public Employment Exchanges as available for work and seeking work was 2,690,898, of whom 2,634,718 were recorded as unemployed.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Government will consider and grant financial assistance to the proposed Institute of Medical Psychology in extension of the work of the Tavistock Square clinic?

I cannot undertake to suggest the provision of financial assistance for this purpose. Under the Mental Treatment Act it will be open to any local authority to arrange with this Institute for the treatment of suitable cakes if they think fit.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will state the cost of administering the Blind Persons Act, 1920, in England and Wales to 31st March, 1930; the total number of registered blind persons in England and Wales on 31st March, 1930; the total number of blind persons between the ages of 50 and 70 years, and the number who are in receipt of blind old age pensions, stating the reason why the remainder are not being granted pensions; the total number of blind old age pensioners over 70 years of age; the number of blind persons in England and Wales under the various age groups; 0 to 5 years, 5 to 16 years, 16 to 21 years, 21 to 30 years, 30 to 40 years, and 40 to 50 years the total cost of pensions paid to persons under the Blind Persons Act, 1930; and the number of blind persons who are in receipt of Poor Law relief, and the average amount paid per person?

I have been asked to reply. Complete figures are not available of the total cost of administering the Blind Persons Act, 1920, up to the 31st March last. The total number of registered blind persons in England and Wales was 52,727 on the 31st March, 1929, the latest date for which figures are at present available. Of that number 20,149 were between the ages of 50 and 70, and 17,516 were in receipt of blind old age pensions. The remainder were not in receipt of pensions either because they had not applied for a pension or because they did not comply with the statutory conditions for a pension. The number of blind old age pensioners over the age of 70 is not known, because after attaining that age blind pensioners rank as ordinary old age pensioners, "blindness" ceasing to be a statutory condition for a pension. The following table gives the number of blind persons in England and Wales on 31st March, 1929 under the age groups mentioned in the question:

Ages.	Number.
0–5	258
5–16	2,438
16–21	1,623
21–30	3,288
30–40	4,716
40–50	5,897

The total cost of pensions paid to persons in England and Wales under the Blind Persons Act, 1920, for the year ended 31st March, 1930, was £475,000 and the estimated cost of administration for that year was £12,000. The information asked for in the last part of the question is not available.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he can state the reply given to the Parliamentary representations made to him on behalf of the British Legion for the total abandonment of the seven years' limit?

I received in May last certain representations on this subject from a committee of the Parliamentary Branch of the British Legion. To these representations, which were not, as the hon. Member supposes, in support of the "total abandonment of the seven years' limit" but for an extension of it, I have given a reasoned reply. This, with my concurrence, is being published, and the hon. Member will doubtless be able to obtain a copy in due course.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what amount of sugar has been produced in this country for each year from 1924–25 due to the subsidy on beet sugar?

The quantity of sugar produced from home-grown beet in each manufacturing season from 1924–5 to 1929–30 was as follows:

	Sugar produced.
Year	Cwts.
1924–5	478,308
1925–6	1,035,672
1926–7	3,068,530
1927–8	3,802,189
1928–9	3,904,172
1929–30 (to 5th July)	5,840,736

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of cases of foot-and-mouth disease for the periods July-September, 1929, and January-March, 1930, in France, Belgium, Denmark, Holland and Great Britain, respectively?

The numbers of out breaks of foot-and-mouth disease during

Period.		France.	Belgium.	Denmark.	Holland.	Great Britain.
July-September, 1929	…	7,544	36	—	55	4
January-March, 1930	…	2,224	77	73	27	—

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of pupils receiving instruction in woodwork, gardening, cookery and laundry work, respectively, in public elementary schools in England and Wales?

I regret that I am unable to give the numbers for which the Noble Lady asks. Information as to the number of departments making provision for the various forms of practical

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs when he will be in a position to make a statement respecting the agenda of the Imperial Conference?

I cannot at present add anything to the reply given by the Prime Minister on 30th June to my hon. Friend the Member for Smethwick (Sir O. Mosley).