asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that children are housed in St. Ives Poor Law institution; if he can say how many and of what ages; whether he is aware that they are permitted to associate with mental deficients; and if he will inquire into the arrangements at this institution?

Yes, Sir. The number of children between the ages of three and 16 housed in other than sick wards was 10 on 12th July. They have a semi-detached building and a separate yard. I am advised that they do not associate with mental deficients in the technical sense, though they may have come in contact with some senile cases transferred to the institution in the process of re-arranging the public assistance accommodation in the county under the Local Government Act, 1929. I am already in communication with the county council as to the provision of a separate home for children.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief in Woolwich, specifying the various categories, for the month of June, 1930?

The information desired by the right hon. Member is not available, as the figures concerning Poor Law relief in London now furnished to my Department relate to the Administrative County of London as a whole.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a number of men, because of a prolonged period of unemployment, have been notified by their approved societies that the ordinary free period of insurance for health benefit has expired, that therefore their membership normally ceases, and that they are no longer entitled to further health benefits; and whether he proposes to take any action with the view of extending the period of free insurance?

I am not aware that there have been any cases in which insurance has been terminated by reason of continuous and prolonged unemployment, but I appreciate that there are a number of such cases in which, in accordance with the provisions of the Acts, insurance will be due to terminate at the end of the present year unless before that date further contributions are paid. The whole position is, however, at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health how many applications have been received during the present year from persons resident in the British Dominions or Colonies, either for pensions or for the right to remain contributors under the Pensions Acts, respectively; and whether any difficulty has been experienced in dealing with these applications?

The number of applications which have been received to date for the payment under Section 3 of the Contributory Pensions Act, 1929, of pensions in the British Dominions, including the Colonies, is 1,062. The number of applications made by persons in the Dominions for the right to remain contributors is 285. The creation of the necessary machinery for payment of these pensions has involved a certain amount of delay in the first payments, but, apart from this, no special difficulty has been experienced.

asked the Minister of Health the number of buildings that have been acquired and demolished for slum clearance schemes since 1st April, 1925; how many new dwellings have been erected in connection with slum clearance schemes over the same period; an approximate estimate of the number of persons who have been rehoused in these new dwellings; and have any statistics been got out by his Department of the number of persons who are still living in slum habitations?

The number of buildings acquired by local authorities in England and Wales since 1st April, 1925, in connection with approved slum clearance schemes is approximately 10,700, and the number demolished approximately 9,000. The number of new dwellings erected since the same date in connection with such schemes is rather more than 9,700, and it is estimated that some 48,000 persons occupy these new dwellings. Statistics on the point raised in the last part of the question are not available.

asked the Minister of Health the number of centres that have been approved by his Department for the purpose of artificial sun-ray treatment; and how many applications have been made to his Department by local authorities during the previous 12 months for the approval of similar centres?

Two hundred and sixty five such centres had been approved by my Department up to 1st April last. During the previous 12 months, 14 applications were received from local authorities for approval of similar centres.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any of the low-temperature carbonisation and hydrogenation companies have published any balance-sheets showing whether any of the undertakings have proved profitable?

I understand that some 10 or 11 companies engaged in working low-temperature carbonisation processes on a commercial or semi-commercial scale have issued accounts, but so far as I am aware none of these has paid a dividend on ordinary share capital. I would, however, remind my hon. Friend that it is only in recent times that these processes have begun to be worked on a commercial scale, and in this connection I would refer him to pages 36 and 37 of the last annual report of the Fuel Research Board, a copy of which is in the Library. In regard to hydrogenation no company, so far as I am aware, is yet working this process on a commercial scale.

asked the Secretary for Mines the total quantity of coal produced, and the total quantity consumed, in Great Britain for the years 1913 and 1920 to 1929, respectively?

The information is as follows:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the effect of the present price of raw rubber upon the industry, he will say what steps he proposes to take, having regard to the fact that no definite steps can be taken by the industry without Government support?

My Noble Friend is already in communication with the Rubber Growers' Association, and any representations which the industry may make to His Majesty's Government will receive due consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any estimate as to the rate of increase of total productivity of industry and of output per head during recent years in Great Britain, the United States and Germany, respectively?

The index of manufacturing production for the United Kingdom, prepared by the Board of Trade, shows an increase from 1927, when it was first compiled, to 1929, of 4.9 per cent. For the corresponding period the index of manufacturing production prepared by the Federal Reserve Board for the United States shows an increase of 12.5 per cent., and that prepared by the Institut fur Konjunkturforschung for Germany (including coal mining) an increase of 1.6 per cent. No recent comparable information is available as to the output per head in the countries in question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the official statistics of United States exports of manufactured goods include refined petroleum and other petroleum products; if so, what was the value of those products exported from the United States in 1929; what were the corresponding figures for 1880 and for 1913; and what were the exports of manufactured articles, per head of the population, from the United States in 1929, including and excluding petroleum and its products.

The figure furnished on 8th July to the right hon. Gentleman in respect of exports in 1929 of manufactured goods from the United States (£670,100,000) included refined petroleum and other manufactured petroleum products, the total value of which amounted to £107,537,000. For 1880 and 1913 the corresponding value of such exports was £7,144,000 and £29,030,000 respectively. The value of exports of manufactures from the United States in 1929 per head of the population stated as £5 10s. 5d. would be reduced to £4 12s. 8d. by the exclusion of refined petroleum and products.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the increase or decrease in the values of the import and the export trade of the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the United States in the first six months of 1930 compared with the corresponding period of 1929; and, in the case of German exports, the value of reparations in kind included?

The following statement shows the imports into and exports from the undermentioned countries during the first six months of 1929 and 1930, so far as the particulars are available. In the case of Germany, the data relating to the month of June have not yet been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now make any statement as to the disappearance of Mr. Lee, the acting British Consul-General at Marseilles?

The French police authorities are actively pursuing their inquiries, but I am not in a position to make any statement on the matter as the facts of Mr. Lee's disappearance have not yet been cleared up.

asked the Secretary of State for India when it is proposed to redeem the 3½ per cent. India Stock?

The stock is redeemable at par on or after 5th January, 1931, at the option of the Secretary of State for India in Council, upon one year's previous notice having been given in the "London Gazette." No such notice has yet been given, and it is not possible to say when the stock is likely to be redeemed.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has any figures showing the reduction in British imports and exports to and from India during June?

Figures are available for the month of June which cover commodities representing about 70 per cent. of the total volume of trade. On these figures there is a reduction of 13 per cent. in the value of imports from India into the United Kingdom and a reduction of 30 per cent. in the value of exports from the United Kingdom to India as compared with the month of June, 1929.

asked the President of the Board of Education what are the arrangements made in London for the instruction of school children on traffic dangers; how frequently the lessons are given; and the nature of the instruction?

Head teachers in London schools have instructions to advise Children from time to time in regard to traffic dangers and the ways of avoiding them. The matter is referred to daily in the infants' departments and, as opportunity offers, with the older children. In addition posters are displayed in the schools, instructions are printed on the covers of the exercise books used by the children, and facilities are given to the Safety First Council to organise an essay competition in the schools.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many teachers who finished training in the university training departments in September, 1929, were unemployed on 31st December following?

Of the teachers who finished training in university training departments in the summer of 1929, 300 were reported as not having obtained teaching posts by 31st December.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has considered the proposal that girls who are still at school should be informed of the attractions offered by domestic service as a career; and, if so, whether he proposes to recommend the suggestion both to the appropriate Government Departments and to the local authorities concerned?

I have been asked to reply. I may say that, with the approval of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education, local education authorities are increasingly providing for the teaching of domestic subjects in girls' schools. Conferences held at the schools, and juvenile committee rotas at the exchanges and bureaux, to advise children about to leave school on the selection of a career, recommend the adoption of a domestic vocation in the case of all girls for whom such occupation is considered most appropriate; the facilities provided by the home training centres are also made known in suitable instances. In the interests of the girl of secondary school education, the Headmistresses' Association, in conjunction with my Department, is on the point of publishing a pamphlet within the "Choice of Career" series on opportunities open to domestic science trained candidates.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what are the reasons for the recent reduction in the pensions of ex-naval officers?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 12th November last [OFFICIAL REPORT, column 1716] by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. and gallant Member for Epsom (Commander Southby). The reply applies to all rates of pay, including retired pay, of officers of the Navy, Army, and Air Force.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if any instructions have been issued under which casual fitters in the Chatham Dockyard must be discharged on reaching the age of 60?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has taken any action with the object of drawing the attention of magistrates to the illegality of combining the punishment of children by birching with the placing of them on probation?

I have no authority to express an opinion as to the legality of ordering a child to be birched and also to be put on probation, but, as stated last year in reply to a question put by my hon. Friend, I have no doubt that it is contrary to the intention of the Probation of Offenders Act. The Young Offenders' Committee made a definite recommendation (with which I entirely agree) that whipping should not be associated with any other form of treatment, and in a circular issued in September, 1927, the recommendations of this committee were brought to the notice of all courts. The Home Office has expressed the same view in correspondence with clerks to justices and at conferences with magistrates. I am calling the attention of magistrates to the matter in a further circular letter which will be issued shortly.

asked the Home Secretary to what extent delinquents under the age of 20 who are in prison are subjected to rules of silence?

There has not been for many years any absolute rule of silence. I would refer the hon. Member to the circular on the subject of conversation in prisons issued by the Prison Commissioners on 3rd March, 1922, and published as Appendix 10 to their Annual Report for 1921–22. The directions in this circular are applicable to all prisoners.

asked the Home Secretary whether the regulations under revision exclude from the factory inspectorate candidates of British birth and education, however otherwise well qualified, who are not the sons of British subjects; and whether he will consider the advisability of dealing with such applications on their individual merits?

The general rule is that every candidate for a factory inspectorship must be a natural-born British subject and the child of a person who is or was at the time of death a British subject, but the Regulations, of which I recently sent the hon. Member a copy, set forth various cases in which exception may be made. The rule in question applies generally to appointments in the Civil Service, and, so far as I am aware, it is not under revision.

asked the Home Secretary whether any changes have taken place during the last 12 months in the organisation of the Metropolitan Police force for the purpose of dealing with night clubs, gaming, and other disorderly houses; and whether these changes have necessitated any increase in the strength of the uniform branch of the Criminal Investigation Department?

There has been no change in organisation and no increase of strength in the Criminal Investigation Department in connection with this work. There is no uniform branch of the department.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will draw the attention of the police to the speed of the motor traffic on Chelsea Embankment, with a view to restrictions being put upon a state of affairs that is both detrimental to the neighbourhood and dangerous to human life?

The Commissioner of Police tells me that this matter is already receiving the attention of the police and that during the year ended 30th June last 93 cases of exceeding the speed limit and 31 of dangerous driving on the Embankment were reported, besides a large number of other offences connected with the use of motor cars.

asked the Home Secretary the number of taximeter cabs licensed by the Metropolitan police during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; the number which were rejected for various defects and failure to pass the necessary efficiency test on presentation for licences; and has he any figures that will show the number of licensed taximeter cabs which are at present licensed for hire in the Metropolitan Police area?

7,917 taximeter cabs were licensed by the Metropolitan Police during the 12 months ended 30th June last. 2,633 were rejected on presentation for licensing on account of various defects, or of failure to pass the necessary efficiency tests. All but two of these were subsequently licensed after the defects had been remedied. The number of taximeter cabs actually licensed to ply for hire on 30th June last was 7,660.

asked the Minister of Labour what decision has been reached as to the question of the period for which an insured man who is now unemployed can take such work at agricultural employment without losing his right to unemployment pay in respect of his own trade as soon as his agricultural work ceases?

A claimant who satisfies the first statutory condition does not become ineligible for benefit owing to having previously been in uninsured work such as agriculture. To satisfy this condition ht must have paid 30 contributions in a past period which is normally two years, but may be extended up to a maximum of four years by including periods of sickness or of employment in uninsured work. The effect of this is that a person who has paid 30 contributions in the past two years may thereafter be employed in agriculture or any other uninsured work for as long as two years and still continue to satisfy the first statutory condition. Claimants who do not satisfy the first statutory condition have to show that they are normally engaged in insurable employment and will normally seek their livelihood by means of insurable employment. The satisfaction of this condition turns mainly on the individual claimant's past record of employment, and on whether the circumstances in which the claimant took agricultural work indicate that he definitely abandoned insurable employment; and no general rule as to the duration of the agricultural work can be laid down. I am sending the hon. Member copies of a number of umpire's decisions on the subject.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were employed in the shipbuilding industry in Great Britain on the latest convenient date; what was the corresponding number on the same date last year; and whether these figures include Government employés?

The estimated number of insured persons, aged 16 to 64, classified as belonging to the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industry in Great Britain at July, 1929, the latest date for which figures are available, was 192,480. The numbers of insured persons recorded as unemployed were 60,013 at 23rd June, 1930, and 42,824 at 24th June, 1929. The figures include insured workpeople from Government shipyards.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, in respect of the proposed new Employment Exchange in Walsall, he will state the date upon which building will be begun; the name of the firm to whom the contract has been assigned; and the price of the contract?

Tenders for the new building have been invited but have not yet been received. It is hoped that the work will commence within the next two months.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that many parts of Walsall are quite inadequately supplied with facilities for stamp purchase; and whether he will in such parts establish stamp machines as soon as possible?

I am having inquiry made in the matter, and will write to the hon. Member.