asked the Minister of Pensions whether any ex-service men are admitted to the Ministry's hospitals without receiving treatment allowances on the ground that they have been out of employment?

In no case are the special allowances referred to refused by reason of the mere fact of unemployment at the time treatment is provided. They are payable in such circumstances provided that the man is shown to be ordinarily engaged in a remunerative occupation yielding support for himself and his family, for the loss of which during, and in consequence of, the treatment, the allowances are intended as compensation.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will reconsider the case of Cyril Wastall, who is now suffering from post-vaccinal encephalitis, and whose condition appears to have been caused by vaccination after enlistment in the Royal Corps of Signals in the year 1921; whether he is aware that Wastall was in perfect health when he enlisted and was appointed switchboard operator; that after vaccination he had double vision for a short time; that consequently his mental powers deteriorated, necessitating transfer to the Highland Light Infantry and discharge at the end of two years as unlikely to make an efficient soldier; whether he is aware that severe shock subsequently brought into activity the symptoms of encephalitis, for which he was treated at a Glasgow hospital for 18 months, and later at Fulham Hospital, and which caused his transfer to an asylum for two years, from which he was discharged in September, 1929; whether he is aware that the medical staff at the Homoeopathic Hospital diagnosed the disease from which Wastall is still suffering as post-vaccinal encephalitis and that this diagnosis was confirmed by a medical officer from the Ministry of Pensions; and whether, seeing that Wastall's mental condition began to deteriorate soon after vaccination in the Army, and is apparently due to that operation, he will have a thorough investigation made of the case, with a view to giving this man a pension?

As my hon. Friend has already been informed, the fullest consideration has been given to all the circumstances of this case. Reports have been obtained from various hospitals in which the man was treated after his discharge and a full medical examination has been carried out. I am advised, however, that the evidence does not establish the view that the onset and progress of the man's disability is connected with any incident of military service, and I am, therefore, unable on the evidence before me to take further action in the case. If, however, my hon. Friend can furnish further material evidence, I shall be glad to consider the same.

asked the Minister of Pensions the names of the doctors employed by his Department in Glasgow; and whether any instructions have been given to them to refuse to give their names to men who have been summoned for examination by a medical board?

Three whole-time medical officers are employed by my Department in Glasgow, namely, Drs. Richardson, Ross and Leslie Lyall. In addition some 17 medical practitioners, who are in private practice, are on occasion and from time to time employed as medical officers by the Department. With regard to the last part of the question, medical men discharging duties as members of a medical board or otherwise on behalf of the Ministry are acting in an official, not private, capacity, and as such their names are, under standing instructions of the Ministry, not liable to be disclosed. Any other course would clearly be contrary both to the interests of impartial administration as well as to those of the medical profession, and would not be of any advantage to pensioners or claimants.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of applications that have been made for pension outwith the seven years' limit since the present Government assumed office from England, Scotland and Wales respectively, with the number for each country separately that have been admitted or referred for consideration to the pension appeals tribunal?

The information desired is, I regret, not available as the records of the Ministry are not kept on a geographical basis.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the following particulars, for the year ended 31st March, 1930, with regard to pensions paid under the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908–1924, namely: the total amount of pensions paid; the cost of administra- tion; the total number of pensions in force, men and women separately; the numbers at 10s., 9s., 8s., 7s., 6s., 5s., 4s., 3s., 2s., and ls.; the number of applications for pensions; the number of applications rejected, giving various causes of rejection, i.e., age, poor relief, means, other causes; the number of pensioners whose death notice has reached pension officers; the number of paupers over 70 years of age in England, Scotland and Wales in institutions, with an average cost per head per annum; the number of persons over 70 years of age in receipt of outdoor relief, with an average cost per head per annum, men and women separately in both cases; the number of old age pensioners in receipt of outdoor relief and institutional relief, respectively, and the total amount so expended; the number of old age pensions paid to persons over 70 years of age under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, i.e., without means test, men and women separately; cost per head per week of a convict in penal servitude and the prisoner in local prisons; how many persons over 70 years of age are in prison and penal servitude; the number of old age pensioners who have been proceeded against for the violation of any of the provisions of the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1903–1924; and the number of pensioners, men and women separately, who are in receipt of old age pensions, without being subject to the means test, under the provisions of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts?

The particulars desired by the hon. Member, so far as they are available, are as follow:OLD AGE PENSIONS UNDER THE OLD AGE PENSIONS ACTS, 1908 TO 1924.(The figures are for Great Britain and for the year ended 31st March, 1930.)(1) Total amount paid to pensioners out of the Old Age Pensions Vote, approximately £34,940,000.NOTE.—This figure includes noncontributory pensions to persons over 70, contributory pensions to persons over 70 paid by virtue of the Acts of 1925 and 1929, and blind pensions to persons between the age of 50 and 70.(2) Total cost of administration:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of the delay on the part of the Stationery Office in supplying copies of Church Assembly Measures after they have received the Royal Assent; and whether he will take the necessary steps to remedy this state of affairs?

I have received no complaints of delay in supplying copies of Church Assembly Measures after they have received the Royal Assent, but if the hon. and gallant Member will furnish particulars of any Measures which he considers have been seriously delayed, I shall be pleased to have them investigated.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the amount of overtime which is being worked by clerks in many customs and excise offices, particularly in Penywern Road, Earls Court; and whether, in view of the number of clerks who are at present un- employed, he will give directions to local officials that where there is pressure of work extra staff shall be engaged?

I am having inquiry made, and will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the amount of unpaid overtime which is being worked by clerks in many Customs and Excise offices, particularly in Penywern Road, Earls Court; and whether, in view of the number of clerks who are at present unemployed, he will have directions issued to local officials with a view to ensuring that the hours agreement in operation for the clerks is rigidly enforced, and that where there is pressure of work extra staff shall be engaged?

I am having inquiry made, and will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Postmaster-General the average weekly number of wireless telephone calls to Australia; whether the number is increasing; and if he regards the results so far as satisfactory?

The average weekly number of wireless telephone calls to or from Australia since the opening of the service about 12 weeks ago is 47. The number fluctuates considerably from week to week, but the general level of traffic is considered satisfactory for a new service.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the reduction in Transatlantic telephone charges has led to an increase of traffic; and, if so, to what extent?

The recent reduction in Transatlantic telephone charges has resulted in an increase in traffic. The figures up to date are about 12 per cent. higher than those for the corresponding period last year.

asked the Postmaster-General the origin of the telegraph and telephone poles used by his Department?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 17th instant to the hon. Member for Middleton and Prestwich (Sir N. Stewart Sandeman).

asked the Post-master-General if exceptional clearances of letter boxes are always clearly indicated on the plates; and, if not, whether he will take steps to see that this is done?

It is not always practicable to indicate exceptional arrangements for clearing letter boxes, especially at Christmas. If the hon. Member will give me particulars of any difficulty which has arisen I will have inquiry made.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can give information respecting the likelihood of the establishment of additional postal facilities, including new post offices, in Leyton; and whether he has received representations concerning such from local individuals and societies?

Representations were made a short time ago by the Leyton Borough Council, and the Chamber of Commerce, regarding the local postal facilities. I regret that the establishment of additional post offices in the borough is not at present warranted, but the question of improving the facilities available on the early closing day is receiving consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to stop the practice of downgrading recently prevalent in the postal service?

Changes in the allocation of work are frequently made in order to meet changed conditions or to adjust the grade of staff employed more closely to the value of the work to be performed; but these changes are not by any means all in a downward direction and there is no general practice of downgrading.

asked the Postmaster-General how many overhead inland telegraph or telephone cables have been placed underground during the last 12 months; and whether this work is undertaken or accelerated with any reference to the provision of work for the unemployed?

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer on the 25th June to a question on the same subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Central Southwark (Mr. Day).

asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements are made for unemployed boys and girls in Woolwich to attend a junior instruction centre; and what is the number now attending from Woolwich at such centre?

At the present time there are no such arrangements, but I am in consultation with the education authority on the subject and, if conditions remain as at present, arrangements will, I hope, be made after the school holidays to provide courses of instruction for unemployed boys and girls resident in the Woolwich area.

asked the Minister of Labour the names of the members of the Unemployment Grants Committee; whether any of them are representative of the trade and industry of the country; if so, which trade and industry do they represent; and whether any member representative of Scottish trade and industry is included in the number?

The Unemployment Grants Committee is composed of the following members:The Right Hon. Viscount St. Davids, G.B.E., Chairman.The hon. Member for Twickenham (Sir John Ferguson, K.B.E.).Sir Reginald MacLeod, K.C.B.Sir William Plender, Bart., G.B.E.The hon. Member for Harwich (P. J. Pybus, Esq., C.B.E.).Miss K. T. Wallas, L.G.C.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed persons registered at the Employment Exchanges in the Plymouth area over 60 years of age, and the number under the age of 21?

At 21st July there were 793 persons under 21 years of age on the registers of the Plymouth and Devonport Employment Exchanges. Particulars of the number over 60 years of age are not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a copy of the resolution passed by the local unemployment committee for the borough of Chatham, Kent, recommending that, with a view to the reduction of unemployment in this country, local authorities shall insert in their public works and housing construction contracts a clause that only home-made materials shall be used where available; and whether he will consider the desirability of issuing a circular to local authorities urging them to insert such a clause in any such contracts entered into by them in the future?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, I issued a circular to local authorities in December last urging on them the desirability of making use to the utmost extent practicable of goods and materials of home production, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that the Skoda works in Czechoslovakia have recently offered material for sale in Belfast at prices under the cost of production in Great Britain, she can state the wages paid and the hours worked in the Czechslovakian steel industry by comparison with British conditions of labour in the same industry?

In the report, recently published, of the delegation on the industrial conditions in the iron and steel industry in certain countries on the Continent, the average weekly earnings of workpeople in the iron and steel industry in Czechoslovakia at the beginning of this year are estimated at 250 kronen, equivalent to 30s. 5d., and the normal weekly hours of labour in steel-smelting shops and rolling-mills are shown as 48. In Great Britain the average weekly earnings of workpeople in the iron and steel industry, in the first four months of this year, according to statistics issued by the National Federation of Iron and Steel Manufacturers, were 60s. 10d. in January, 63s. 1d. in February, 62s. 4d. in March, and 58s. 8d. in April. The normal weekly hours of labour in steel smelting shops, iron and steel rolling mills, etc., in Great Britain at October, 1924, the latest date for which comprehensive statistics have been collected by the Ministry of Labour, averaged 44.2.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information respecting the proposed amended Customs tariff for Palestine; and, if so, whether it is intended to increase the duties on foodstuffs entering that country?

In view of the financial stringency, the Government of Palestine has increased the present specific duty on wheat to the equivalent of 33⅓ per cent. ad valorem, and in the case of flour to the same rate on its wheat equivalent. An import duty of 3 mils per kilo is to be imposed on sesame seeds. In all the circumstances, my Noble Friend has not seen his way to withhold approval of this temporary measure.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity of nitrogen produced and exported in the past 12 months, and in particular to France, Russia and Italy?

The output in Great Britain in 1929 of ammonia products, in terms of ammonium sulphate, amounted to 912,259 tons, of which, according to the figures compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, 828,832 tons was ammonium sulphate. Of this latter total, 587,476 tons were recorded as exported in 1929, of which 10 tons were consigned to France, 7,217 tons to the Soviet Union, and 5,123 tons to Italy. In furnishing these figures, I am assuming that my hon. Friend's question is concerned with nitrogen in combination, so as to be available for fertiliser and other purposes, the chief production of such compounds in this country being in the form of ammonium sulphate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the United States of America have withdrawn their regulations for the compulsory disinfection and certification of all straw packing used in shipments to that country, the Government will consider the desirability of making representations to other countries, particularly the Dominions, with a view to their taking similar action?

I understand that the United States of America Department of Agriculture issued a declaration on 17th May, 1930, to the effect that Great Britain is free from foot-and-mouth disease, and that as a consequence no certification of disinfection is now required for hay and straw when used as packing material. As regards the second part of the hon. Member's question, I am considering what action, if any, can properly be taken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information respecting the proposed amendments to the New Zealand tariff; and, if so, in what way encouragement is given to British trade?

The principal changes made in the New Zealand Customs tariff as from 23rd July are summarised in a notice published in the Board of Trade Journal for 24th July, copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. Increased duties have been imposed on a few classes of goods, both British and foreign, but for the most part the increased duties apply to foreign goods only, with the result that an increased measure of tariff preference, amounting in most cases to 5 per cent. ad valorem, has been accorded to many classes of imports of British origin. Apart from this, the primage duty of 2 per cent. ad valorem formerly levied on nearly all British and foreign imports, whether the goods are subject to Customs duty or not, has been superseded by a percentage surtax on the import duties. This change will be to the benefit of such British goods as are free of Customs duty. Whilst the new surtax will involve in the case of some dutiable goods a higher charge than the old 2 per cent. ad valorem primage, it will have the effect of increasing the amount of tariff preference to dutiable British goods in general.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Food Council are still investigating any alleged overcharging of the public; and, if so, of what nature?

The Food Council are continuing their general work of watching the supplies and prices of the staple foodstuffs, and are making special inquiries regarding bread and flour prices in particular areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total number of British subjects recorded as leaving their permanent residence in the United Kingdom, for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date, to take up their residence outside Europe, giving separately the number of males, females, and children under 12; and whether he has any statistics that will show the number of these persons who were emigrants?

The total number of passengers who left ports in the United Kingdom for places out of Europe during the 12 months ended 31st May, 1930, in respect of whom the lists of passengers showed that the persons concerned were leaving permanent residence in the United Kingdom and intending to take up permanent residence overseas (i.e., were emigrants) was 127,165. This total included 17,558 children under 12 years of age and 56,688 males and 52,919 females of 12 years of age or more.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, in view of the value of foreign tourist traffic to this country during the current holiday season when, owing to economic stringency at home, many seaside places and other resorts are suffering considerably, he will take steps to see what further aid can be given towards stimulating this influx of visitors?

The Travel Association of Great Britain and Ireland has within the limits of the funds at its disposal been carrying out publicity work abroad with the object of increasing the number of visitors to this country. The increased number of visas applied for this year as compared with 1929 would seem to indicate that the efforts of the Association are bearing fruit. As regards this present year, it is difficult to see what further action can be taken at this late date which is likely to bring more visitors to this country.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can state in the most convenient form the number of men employed on the construction of a cruiser, of a destroyer, and of a sloop, respectively, in His Majesty's dockyards?

The numbers are, for a cruiser 500 to 550, for a destroyer 130, for a sloop 180. These numbers refer exclusively to Admiralty employés in the dockyard, and represent an average taken over the whole period of construction.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the present position with regard to medical officers in the Navy; if there are any signs of more satisfactory recruitment to this service; and, if not, the reasons for the present position?

I regret that the shortage of Naval medical officers still continues and that there are no signs of more satisfactory recruitment. The question is under consideration by the Admiralty.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if his attention has been called to the recent act of piracy committed upon the British steamer "Helikon" in Chinese waters; whether this ship was protected by guards; and if, in view of this and similar recent incidents, His Majesty's Government will reconsider its decision that the cost of protection against piracy must be borne by the shipping industry?

My attention has been called to the recent act of piracy on board the Chinese-owned steamship "Helikon" when a gang of Chinese who had been embarked as passengers seized the ship. This ship was not protected by grilles and carried no guards, although Indian guards are provided by the Hong Kong police if a ship applies for them, neither was the ship included in the anti-piracy special system of inter-communication. No resistance was offered, no casualties occurred on board and no damage was done to the ship. I do not consider that this incident provides any grounds for His Majesty's Government reconsidering its decision in respect of the protection of shipping against this form of piracy.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that certain members of the Colonial services have been called upon to undergo courses of instruction during their leave periods at home; and if, in view of the fact that the conditions of the Colonial services include provision for generous leave, he will take such steps as may be necessary to see that this practice is discontinued and the personnel concerned granted extra leave to make up their full leave periods in England?

Yes, Sir. Generally speaking, extra leave is granted by Colonial Governments if an officer is called upon to undergo a course of instruction which makes any serious inroad on his ordinary leave. It is, however, not possible to lay down any general rule because of the very different conditions obtaining in the various parts of the Colonial Empire.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs why it is the policy of the Empire Marketing Board not to make use of the ordinary hoardings for their advertising campaign?

The Board have from time to time employed the ordinary hoardings for the display of posters on special occasions. They are, however, satisfied that their own poster frames are better suited than the public hoardings to the special requirements of their main poster publicity campaign.

asked the Minister of Transport how many motor omnibuses belonging to the long-distance services, other than those hired for private purposes, enter the centre of London daily; and whether any Regulations exist limiting their size and numbers and the streets in which they are permitted to circulate?

I assume that this question relates to motor coaches as distinct from motor omnibuses plying for hire within the Metropolitan Police district. There is no information available as to the number of motor coaches which enter the centre of London daily. As regards size, motor coaches are subject to the statutory restrictions applicable to all heavy motor cars, but there is no direct control of these vehicles when in the Metropolitan Police district as regards either their number or the streets which they may traverse. They will, however, be controlled in these respects when the provisions of the Road Traffic Bill now before Parliament relating to public service vehicles in the metropolitan area come into force.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the success of the semaphore system of control, instituted in Brighton in 1928, and since improved so that only one policeman is now necessary to control seven roads converging on to one centre, he will encourage its adoption in other parts of the country?

I have nothing to add to the answer which was given to a question on the same subject asked by the hon. Member on the 24th instant.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the automatic coloured-light system of traffic control in Piccadilly has proved inefficient; and why it is being repeated in Ludgate Circus, supplemented by manual control exercised by a policeman on point duty?

These two systems of signalling are intended to serve different purposes. In the one case the light signals convey information to the police as to what is happening at the various points at which they are installed; in the other case the light signals directly control the traffic; in neither case are the signals automatic. I am informed that both systems are regarded as efficient and satisfactory for their respective purposes.

asked the Home Secretary approximately how many motor omnibuses were plying for hire in the Metropolitan area on 1st January, 1913, 1920, and 1930, respectively?

The number of omnibuses actually plying for hire on these particular dates cannot be given, but the numbers of omnibus licences in force on 1st January, 1913 and 1920, were 2,908 and 3,299, respectively, and the number of omnibuses scheduled to ply for hire under the London Traffic Act, 1924, on 1st January, 1930, was 4,877.

asked the Secretary of State for War the present disposition of British troops in Egypt; whether, in view of the recent riots, there have been any changes; and whether he is satisfied that the British and Egyptian forces are adequate?

The British troops in Egypt are stationed at Cairo, Ismailia, Alexandria and Port Said. Appended is a list of the troops at these stations. There have been no recent changes in the disposition of these troops. The British forces are considered adequate to meet their liabilities. My right hon. Friend has, of course, no responsibility for the Egyptian forces.The disposition of British troops in Egypt on 1st July, 1930, was as follows:Cairo:

asked the Secretary of State for War what evidence he has, if any, and how it was obtained since 1918, that experiments conducted at Porton and elsewhere of poison gases on living animals show that these gases have the same effects on human beings?

My right hon. Friend is definitely advised by his expert advisers that the results of the experiments are such as to leave no doubt that the methods of curative treatment of the effects of gas which those experiments suggest are applicable to human beings.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he proposes to extend the practice whereby Territorial officers are attached to regular units during the annual exercises; and, if so, what means he intends to adopt to bring about an increase in the number of Territorial officers making such attendance?

Every encouragement is given for the attachment of Territorial officers to Regular units during the annual exercises of those units, but up to the present there has not been a sufficient number of Territorial officers available to make full use of the facilities offered.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received any appeal from the Swanscombe Council, of Kent, in respect of rents being paid under the Housing Acts of 1919, 1923, and 1924, respectively; and, if so, can he help to stabilise the varying rents?

Discussions took place a year ago between the Swanscombe Urban District Council and my Department on questions relating to the rents of houses provided under the Acts referred to, but nothing further has been heard from the council on the subject. As regards the second part of the question, there is no power to pool the rents of houses provided under the various Acts with a view to their equalisation.

asked the Minister of Health the number of local authorities which have secured powers for slum clearance since December, 1924, to December, 1928; how many authorities were granted powers, and the amount of financial aid given by the Ministry of Health?

57 slum clearance schemes submitted by 45 local authorities were confirmed between 31st December, 1924, and 31st December, 1928. The financial aid from the Exchequer will be one-half of the estimated average annual loss incurred by the authority in carrying out the scheme; payments on account made to date amount to £64,575.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider the provisions of a satellite village for retired and pensioned people, providing accommodation for one or two people respectively, in order to ease the housing problems in large cities?

My right hon. Friend would prefer to deal with this matter by means of the provision in the Housing (No. 2) Bill which will enable local authorities, with his consent, to erect small houses for aged persons, whether married or single.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the difficulty of measuring the overcrowding throughout the country owing to the lack of information as to the number of bedrooms in houses; and whether he will cause such information to be given in the 1931 Census?

It does not seem to my right hon. Friend that the difficulty to which the hon. Member refers would be mitigated by the obtaining of the information he mentions, and my right hon. Friend does not think it desirable to act upon the suggestion made in the last part of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what counties have not put into operation the Rural Housing Act?

The counties of Orkney, Renfrew, and Sutherland have no schemes in operation under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926. In the counties of Argyll, Bute, Inverness and Ross and Cromarty schemes are in operation for part of the county only.

asked the Minister of Health the number of police prosecutions by the guardians of casuals from the Kingston casual ward for each of the past 10 years?

My right hon. Friend is taking steps to obtain the information desired by my hon. Friend which he understands to be in respect of Kingston-on-Thames, and will communicate with him as soon as it has been obtained.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the practice in some areas to issue rent vouchers with out-relief in order to guarantee the payment of rent to landlords; and whether this is done with his sanction?

My right hon. Friend is not aware of the existence of this practice, which would appear to contravene the Relief Regulation Order, 1930. If my hon. Friend will furnish evidence of its existence, my right hon. Friend will make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, owing to the shortage of accommodation and treatment for persons suffering from functional nervous disorders, a large number of persons will have to be admitted to asylums and become chargeable to the State; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I am unable to agree that the shortage of the facilities to which the hon. Member refers is such as to result in the admission of a large number of persons to mental hospitals. I have already explained to the hon. Member that under the Mental Treatment Act, local authorities (with whom, and not with the State, rests the financial responsibility for these patients), are given extensive powers to provide for the preventive treatment of incipient mental illness. The position under the Act has been fully explored in a two days' conference with visiting committees, and I do not think that any further action could usefully be taken at present.

asked the Minister of Health whether any other cause of death appeared on the death certificates of the 39 deaths classified as due to small-pox in 1929; and, if so, in which of these deaths was some other cause of death given on the certificate of death?

In 19 of the 39 deaths registered in England and Wales during 1929 and classified to small-pox, some cause of death in addition to small-pox appeared on the death certificate. These 19 deaths are those of the persons shown in the table contained in the reply given to my hon. Friend's question of the 21st July as aged, respectively:

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the dissatisfaction caused by the fact that while one contributor who had been a member of his friendly society, which became his approved society on the initiation of the health insurance scheme, for 42 years was denied dental benefit a fellow workman who had only been three years in an approved society was granted the same benefit without question; and if he can take steps to remove this and similar anomalies connected with the additional benefits available under the National Health Insurance scheme?

I am aware that dissatisfaction has been expressed at the denial of dental benefit in the case in question. The position is that the branch of an approved society, of which the contributor is a member, decided to apply its surplus funds for the provision of additional benefits other than dental benefit, and is accordingly not in a position to make any grant towards the cost of dental treatment. As the selection of the additional benefits to he adopted is entirely a matter for the members of the society or branch concerned, I am unable to take any action in regard thereto.

asked the Attorney-General the questions concerning the Official Secrets Act he proposes to discuss with representatives of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association and others; and when this interview will take place?

I am not in a position to state what matters will be discussed until after the meeting takes place in October next.

asked the Home Secretary whether the communication recently issued by him to the police, with the approval of the judges, involves any alteration or amendment in existing practice, particularly as regards the limitation of the right of the police to question persons suspected of crime; and whether any additional authority is given to the police in conection therewith?

No, Sir. I would invite the attention of the right hon. Gentleman to the terms of the Circular, copies of Which have been placed in the Vote Office and the Library. The Royal Commission called attention in their report to difficulties which according to the evidence had been experienced by the police in the interpretation of the Judges rules and suggested that the matter should be brought to the notice of His Majesty's Judges for any action which they might deem desirable. This suggestion has been carried out and the Circular has been issued in terms approved by the Judges for the purpose of removing any possibility of misunderstanding in the future. The Circular involves no change in the practice of police forces that have correctly interpreted the rules in the past. The last part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if the supply of medical officers for this service is satisfactory; and if any difficulty is experienced in recruiting officers for this service?

There is still some difficulty in obtaining the numbers of medical officers required. The question is one which is constantly engaging the attention of the medical authorities at the Air Ministry and of the Air Council.