asked the Minister of Health how many deaths from small-pox occurred in the year 1929; the ages of the cases; and the vaccinal condition of each case?

During the 52 weeks ended 28th December, 1929, 39 deaths occurred in England and Wales which were classified to small-pox. The ages and vaccinal condition of these cases are shown in the following table:

Age.			Vaccinal condition.
3 days	…	…	Unvaccinated.
14 days	…	…	Unvaccinated.
3 weeks	(2 cases)		Unvaccinated.
1 month	…	…	Unvaccinated.
2 months	…	…	Unvaccinated.
8 months	(2 cases)		Unvaccinated.
16 months	…	…	Unvaccinated.
2 years	…	…	Unvaccinated.
9 years	…	…	Unvaccinated.
13 years	…	…	Unvaccinated.
14 years	…	…	Vaccinated.
16 years	…	…	Unvaccinated.
17 years	…	…	Unvaccinated.
20 years	…	…	Vaccinated.
24 years	…	…	Unvaccinated.
25 years	…	…	Unvaccinated.
28 years	…	…	Vaccinated.
29 years	…	…	Vaccinated.
34 years	(2 cases)		One unvaccinated. One vaccinated.
36 years	(2 cases)		One unvaccinated. One vaccinated.
37 years	…	…	Unvaccinated.
42 years	…	…	Vaccinated.
43 years	…	…	Vaccinated.
44 years	…	…	Unvaccinated.
45 years	(2 cases)		Vaccinated.
59 years	…	…	Vaccinated.
61 years	…	…	Vaccinated.
63 years	…	…	Unvaccinated.
64 years	…	…	Unvaccinated.
65 years	(2 cases)		One vaccinated. One doubtful.
66 years	…	…	No information available.
74 years	…	…	Doubtful.
75 years	…	…	Vaccinated.

I may add that all the vaccinated persons had been vaccinated in infancy only, and as the table shows they were aged 14 years and upwards at the date of death.

asked the Minister of Health the latest available figures of persons who were undergoing residential treatment for tuberculosis from the local authorities in England and Wales; and the number of persons who were awaiting admission to sanatoria at the same date?

The number of patients receiving residential treatment for tuberculosis under the approved schemes of local authorities in England and Wales on 1st July, 1930, was 22,575. The number who on the same date had been awaiting admission to residential institutions for more than 10 days was 3,232.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses completed by local authorities in the Tyneside area under all State-assisted schemes during the period from 1st January 1930 to the latest available date; and the number completed in the corresponding period in 1929?

The annexed statement contains the information required by the hon. Member.

STATEMENT showing the number of houses completed by local authorities with State Assistance in the Tyneside Area between 1st January, 1930 and 1st July 1930, and also between 1st January, 1929, and 1st July, 1929.
Local Authority.	Number of houses completed between
	1st Jan., 1930 and 1st July, 1930.	1st Jan., 1929 and 1st July, 1929.
Gateshead C.B.	40	66
Newcastle-upon-Tyne C.B.	207	58
South Shields C.B.	—	—
Tynemouth C.B	—	—
Blyth M.B.	—	50
Jarrow M.B.	16	32
Wallsend M.B.	—	—
Blaydon U.D.	24	20
Cramlington U.D.	—	—
Earsdon U.D.	—	—
Felling U.D.	35	46
Gosforth U.D.	—	—
Hebburn U.D.	16	—
Longbenton U.D.	—	—
Newburn U.D.	—	28
Ryton U.D.	—	—
Seaton Delaval U.D.	—	—
Seghill U.D.	—	—
Weetslade U.D.	—	—
Whickham U.D.	—	—
Whitley and Monkseaton U.D.	—	—
Castle Ward E.D.	—	—
South Shields R.D.	—	—
Totals	338	300

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses for the working classes at present under construction in the Tyneside area according to his latest returns under all categories; and the number under similar categories for the corresponding date last year?

The annexed statement contains the information required

STATEMENT showing the number of Houses under Construction with State Assistance at 1st July, 1930, and 1st July, 1929.
Local Authority.						Number of houses under construction at—
						1st July, 1930.	1st July, 1929.
						By Local Authority.	By Local Authority.	By Private Enterprise.
Gateshead C.B.		…	…	…	…	42	34	114
Newcastle-upon-Tyne C.B.				…	…	—	929	70
South Shields C.B.		…	…	…	…	11	—	8
Tynemouth C.B.		…	…	…	…	18	—	55
Blyth M.B.	…	…	…	…	…	—	82	7
Jarrow M.B.		…	…	…	…	64	20	2
Wallsend M.B.		…	…	…	…	16	—	46
Blaydon U.D.		…	…	…	…	88	22	5
Cramlington U.D.		…	…	…	…	—	—	1
Earsdon U.D.		…	…	…	…	—	—	16
Felling U.D.		…	…	…	…	16	56	17
Gosforth U.D.		…	…	…	…	16	—	—
Hebburn U.D.		…	…	…	…	40	—	4
Longbenton U.D.		…	…	…	…	—	—	3
Newborn U.D.		…	…	…	…	10	40	12
Seaton Delaval U.D.			…	…	…	—	—	3
Weetslade U.D.		…	…	…	…	—	—	11
Whickham U.D.		…	…	…	…	—	20	9
Whitley and Monkseaton U.D.				…	…	—	—	89
Castle Ward R.D.		…	…	…	…	—	—	31
South Shields R.D.			…	…	…	42	—	—
Totals		…	…	…	…	363	1,203	503

The houses under construction on 1st July, 1929, by private enterprise and by the Newburn Urban District Council were being constructed under the Housing, etc., Act, 1923. The remainder of the houses under construction by local authorities on that date and on 1st July, 1930, were being constructed under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses that were built in Devonport and Plymouth during the 12 months ended

The numbers of houses completed in the City of Plymouth (which includes the Parish of Devonport) during the 12 months ended 31st March, 1930, are as follow:

Houses completed with State Assistance			Houses completed without State Assistance by Private Enterprise.
By the Local Authority.	By Private Enterprise.	Total.
287	82	369	390

asked the hon. Member for the Gorton Division, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, the total expenditure on alcoholic liquors in the House of Commons for each of the years 1924 to 1929?

In reply to the hon. Member, I regret that we cannot give the expenditure on alcoholic liquors only, as all sales of alcoholic and nonalcoholic liquors are recorded in our accounts under one heading. The total expenditure on these is as follows:

	£	s.	d.
1924	14,554	12	1
1925	15,034	2	1
1926	14,590	4	5
1927	14,604	10	2
1928	14,424	10	4
1929	11,557	1	2

These amounts include, not only sales to Members and their guests, but to officials, Press, police, staff and all persons attending the House.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that there are still a large number of widows who, in their later lives, are finding their financial position difficult, but who, though they lost sons in the War, did not then think it necessary to apply for need pensions; and whether such widows are now debarred from making claims either by the seven years' limit or by other regulation?

Parents whose sons were killed in the War may claim, and, subject to the Warrants and Regulations governing the matter, be awarded a pension at any time if they become incapable of self-support owing to age or infirmity and are in pecuniary need.

asked the Minister of Pensions what number of final awards of pension cases resulting from the Great War were reviewed for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; whether any further grants were made in such cases under special sanction; and will he give particulars?

During the 12 months ended June last, some 1,800 cases of final award were reviewed and further grants made under special sanction to the officers and men concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present establishment of His Majesty's Embassy at Moscow; and whether it is at full strength?

The present establishment actually serving at His Majesty's Embassy at Moscow comprises:

• His Majesty's Ambassador,
• A First Secretary,
• A Second Secretary,
• A Commercial Secretary (First Grade),
• A Commercial Secretary (Third Grade), and
• 5 Clerical staff.

There is a vacancy in the post of Acting Counsellor, which is being filled this week.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of collections and deliveries of letters in the London area at the present time and before the War; and the times of letter deliveries in the Willesden district now and in 1913?

The number of collections and deliveries of letters in the London area has always varied in different head and sub-districts.The position may be summarised as follows:

Collections.	1913.	1930.
Head Districts	15 to 18	12 to 14
Sub-districts	11 (average)	8 generally.
Deliveries.
Head Districts	11 or 12	6 or 7
Sub-districts	7 (average)	4 generally

The times of the letter deliveries in the Willesden sub-district now and in 1913 are as follow:

1930.	1913.
7.15 a.m.	7.25 a.m.
10.35 a.m.	11.35 a.m.
3.45 p.m.	1.40 p.m.
8.45 p.m.	3.30 p.m.
	4.55 p.m.
	6.15 p.m
	8.45 p.m.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that a telephone subscriber is charged a reconnecting fee of 5s. in the event of his account not being settled in time, he will state whether the Post Office will consider the desirability of similarly reimbursing the subscriber when his telephone exchange is out of order through reasons over which he has no control and over which the Post Office has?

In view of the complexity of telephone equipment, immunity from faults cannot be ensured, and the most that the Post Office can undertake is to restore communication as promptly as possible when interruption or difficulty is reported. I regret that I am unable to modify the existing practice.

asked the Minister of Labour if she will cause inquiry to be made in the case of the Deptford Referee Court into the complaints of unemployed persons at the treatment received, and particularly in the case of Mr. A. Richardson, A. M. 835, as to being refused a hearing and also being refused representation by his trade union?

I have received no complaints regarding the treatment of unemployed persons by the Court of Referees at Deptford. Mr. Richardson was heard personally by the court on 10th July. His trade union representative was, in accordance with the usual practice, notified of the hearing but he failed to attend. I am informed that Mr. Richardson was offered an adjournment until his representation could attend, but preferred to have his case dealt with at the time.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the latest figure of unemployment in Germany; and what is the total number of persons estimated to be occupied in Germany in the trades which in this country are insured against unemployment?

The number of persons recorded by the German Public Employment Exchanges as available for and seeking work was 2,690,898 at the end of May, and the number of persons recorded as unemployed on the same date was 2,634,718. The number insured against unemployment in Germany is about 17,250,000, but this total includes a number of persons (e.g., in agriculture and domestic service) who would not be insured in Great Britain, and the available information does not enable a figure of insured persons at all closely comparable with that in Great Britain to be given.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of days lost for each year due to unemployment since the inception of the Unemployment Insurance Fund; and the number of days lost for each year because of strikes and lockouts during the same period?

The following statement shows, for the years 1921–9, the estimated number of days of work, exclusive of Sundays and public holidays, lost through unemployment by workpeople insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts and the number of days lost owing to disputes by all workpeople in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Year.	Days of work lost through unemployment.	Days lost owing to disputes.
1921	602,000,000*	85,870,000
1922	501,000,000	19,850,000
1923	413,000,000	10,670,000
1924	371,000,000	8,420,000
1925	411,000,000	7,950,000
1926	462,000,000	162,230,000
1927	362,000,000	1,170,000
1928	396,000,000	1,390,000
1929	388,000,000	8,290,000
* This figure for the year 1921 includes the whole of Ireland. Separate figures for Northern Ireland are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for India the total amount of the applications received from the Provincial Governments for advances from the Provincial Loans Fund during the year 1928–29; and what part of the amount so applied for was advanced from the fund?

The amount advanced to Provincial Governments from the fund during 1928–29 was Rs.13,07,25,000. I do not know whether the applications for advances exceeded this figure.

asked the Secretary of State for India the names of the Indian political leaders who are being allowed to visit Gandhi in gaol in the hope of promoting peace; whether one visit only or more visits are contemplated; and if any other negotiations of a similar nature are in progress?

I can add nothing to what has appeared in the Press.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has any report to make on the consultation between the Viceroy and the non-official members of the Indian Legislative Assembly which met at Lahore on Friday last?

I have no further information than has appeared in the Government of India's communiqué published in the Press.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what grants have been made for research work for those engaged in producing oil from British substances; and what funds are available for the purpose?

I have been asked to reply. Grants for industrial research are made from the funds voted for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The net sum included in the Parliamentary Estimates of that Department for the current year for fuel research is £86,803. The average net annual expenditure of the Department on fuel research during the last five years was £83,000. Most of the investigations carried out are of more or less direct interest to those engaged in producing oil from coal. It is impossible to separate the costs of the various items on the programme, as these interlock, but large sums have been spent on research and experiments dealing with the low temperature carbonisation of coal, and in testing commercial plants. The results have been made available in the fuel research reports isued by the Department. In addition, the Government have guaranteed the principal and interest on a loan of £100,000 for an experiment on a low temperature carbonisation process on a commercial scale at Richmond by a subsidiary of the Gas Light and Coke Company. As regards hydrogenation, the technical possibility of converting coal to oil by the Bergius process has been proved, and, partly as a result of financial assistance rendered by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the results of much of the work done by Dr. Bergius have been made available to this country. Work is continuing at the fuel research station, and a small grant is also being made to the British Colliery Owners' Research Association to meet half the cost of a programme of research which the association is undertaking. Grants amounting to £7,500 have in the past been made to the Scottish Shale Oil Scientific and Industrial Research Association.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many open-air classes have been conducted with the London schools during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; whether he has any particulars as to the records of attendances for these open-air classes; and whether the children are reported to have gained in health and mental alertness through the holding of such schools?

One hundred and ninety-five open-air classes have been conducted in connection with London public elementary schools during the year which will end on the 31st of the present month. No separate records of attendance are available, but I am informed that children in these classes continue to improve in health and mental alertness.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is proposed to carry into effect the report of the committee under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, on the subject of the marking of wall and ceiling papers, as printed in Command Paper 3549, or whether alterations have been introduced since the publication of the report; and if he is aware of the anxiety in the trades affected by any contemplated variation?

A draft Order in Council was laid before Parliament on 25th June, to give effect to the recommendations of the Standing Committee on the marking of imported wall and ceiling decorations. Apart from a short extension of the period before the Order comes into force designed to meet the custom of the trade in regard to pattern books, the only departure from the committee's recommendations is an alternative form of marking for papers of special widths. An association of decorators has expressed some concern at this variation of the committee's recommendations, but I am satisfied that it is necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the aggregate tonnage of British shipping now laid up as a result of depressed trade, and how this figure compares proportionately with the similar figures of the other chief maritime nations?

According to the quarterly returns of laid-up tonnage issued by the Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom, the net tonnage of British shipping reported as laid up on 1st July, 1930, in ports of the United Kingdom was 926,232, the corresponding figure for 1st April, 1930, being 884,104. These totals represent 7.4 per cent. and 7.1 per cent., respectively, of the total net tonnage of vessels registered under Part I of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, at ports of the United Kingdom. According to the quarterly return issued by the United States Shipping Board, United States vessels exceeding 1,000 tons gross which were laid up on 1st April, 1930, represented an aggregate tonnage of 1,992,419 tons gross or 20.5 per cent. of all United States vessels of 1,000 tons gross or over (not including lake or river tonnage). Other information available regarding vessels laid up in foreign countries is, except in the case of Italy, unofficial, and shows that the gross tonnage of vessels, whether national or other, laid up on 1st April, 1930, in the ports of the countries named below compared as follows with the tonnage shown in the 1929–30 edition of Lloyd's Register Book as owned in those countries:

—	Gross tons laid up.	Percentage of total national tonnage.
Norway	302,730	9·4
Italy	290,987	8·9
France (15th April)	204,682	6·1
Sweden	97,013	6·4
Denmark	68,126	6·5

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what number of women and girls are training at present at the Market Harborough training centre for domestic service in Australia; and what is the cost per head to the centre of each trained person?

In view of the fact that His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia no longer contribute towards the cost of the centre at Market Harborough for training women in household work, the centre is no longer confined to the training of women who intend to settle in Australia, but is available also for women desiring to settle in Canada or New Zealand. The number of women at present in training is 16, of whom eight intend to settle in Australia. The estimated cost of training is 30s. a week per trainee, and the total average cost of training during the year ended 31st March last was £18 per head.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received representations from the Scottish National Council of Juvenile Organisations urging the Government to inquire into the question of film censorships; and, if so, what answer has been returned?

I recently received from the Scottish National Council of Juvenile Organisations a representation recommending the appointment of a Departmental Committee to consider (among other matters) the question of film censorship in its relation to children and young people under 18 years of age. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the reply which was sent to the Secretary of the Council.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that ex-Constable Allsopp, Metropolitan Police, was reported as a defaulter by his sub-divisional inspector for being insubordinate by word when sub-divisional Inspector Fisher was representing himself to be Police Constable Piggott in a conversation over the telephone with the above police constable; that Allsopp was punished; what punishment was he awarded; and what the exact words were that Allsopp used which caused his sub-divisional inspector to report him for the offence?

Yes, Sir. I am aware of the fact that ex-Constable Allsopp was reported for insubordinate language to his sub-divisional inspector, and of the exact words which he used: but it is clear that Allsopp knew at the time to whom he was speaking, and this, moreover, was not the only charge against him. The decision of the Discipline Board was that he should be required to resign, but on appeal the Commissioner, in his discretion, acceded to the defaulter's request that he might be allowed to resign forthwith.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the total weight of hops grown in Great Britain for the 12 months ending 1st April?

The total production of hops last year in England was estimated at 359,100 cwt. Hops are not grown in Wales or in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of separate premises on which foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; and whether any new sources of infection have been discovered during this period?

Fifteen outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, involving seven new centres, were confirmed during the 12 months ended 30th June, 1930. Particulars are as follow:

(1) Glasgow.—4 outbreaks—7th, 12th, 13th and 19th September.

(2) Devon (Axminster).—1 outbreak—10th October.

(3) Kent (Canterbury).—1 outbreak—21st October.

(4) East Sussex (Hassocks and Lewes).—6 outbreaks—27th, 29th, 31st October, 3rd and 8th November (2).

(5) Glasgow.—1 outbreak — 23rd November.

(6) Stirling (Avonbridge). — 1 outbreak—17th December.

(7) West Sussex (Goring-by-Sea).—1 outbreak—23rd December.

No fresh sources of infection have been discovered.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of acres under sugar-beet cultivation in Shropshire in each of the last five years?

The acreage of sugar beet in the county of Salop in each of the last five years was as follows:

Year.	Acres.
1925	554
1926	2,289
1927	10,007
1928	9,321
1929	10,894