asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of horses exported to the various countries in Europe for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; can he give particulars of the destination of these horses; and whether inquiries are made by the Ministry's port inspectors as to the number that were shipped for immediate slaughter on arrival?

During the 12 months ended 30th June last 9,499 horses were exported to Europe. The countries of destination of these horses were as follow:

Holland	…	…	…	5,582
France	…	…	…	2,343
Belgium	…	…	…	1,237
Denmark	…	…	…	168
Germany	…	…	…	142
Sweden	…	…	…	19
Norway	…	…	…	4
Danzig	…	…	…	4
Total	…	…	…	9,499

From inquiries which were made by the Ministry's port inspectors, it is estimated that 4,582 of these horses were exported for immediate slaughter on arrival, and of this number 4,547 went to Holland and 35 to France.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that large consignments of Russian barley are shortly to be dumped in this country; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent injury to the home growers?

I have no information as to the prospective importation of barley from Russia.

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the shortage of labour in certain districts during the hay harvest, she will say what action she is taking to ensure a sufficient supply of labour for the corn harvest?

As in previous seasons, if farmers will notify their requirements to the Employment Exchanges the latter will bring any such offers of employment to the notice of suitably qualified workers on their registers.

asked the Prime Minister if he can now make a statement regarding the election as a director of the National Co-operative Publishing Society of the hon. Member for East Ham South, one of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury; and whether there has been a change in the normal practice that directorships cannot be held by Ministers?

As the hon. and gallant Member is aware, the Prime Minister is making inquiries into the circumstances of this particular appointment. Pending the completion of these inquiries, I am unable to add to the answer which he gave on 30th July.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give particulars of conditions upon which senior British officials in the Iraq railways are serving; whether he has received communications during the previous 12 months from these officials on their conditions of contract; and will he give particulars?

The majority of the senior British officials in the Iraq railways are still serving upon the conditions embodied in contracts entered into with the Civil Administration of Iraq which preceded the formation of the Iraq Government in 1921. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. As I stated on 23rd of July in reply to the hon. Member for the Orkneys and Shetlands (Sir R. Hamilton) the position of these railway officials is the subject of active negotiations with the Iraq Government.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the number of tenderers for the construction of the Manyoni-Singida railway line in Tanganyika; the amount of the successful tender; the nationality of the tenderer; the amount of the three unsuccessful British tenders approaching nearest to the successful tender; and how many Europeans this scheme of construction is estimated to employ?

No official information has yet been received, but the Governor has reported semi-officially that 25 tenders were received for that part of the construction of the Singida branch which has so far been offered for contract. The work in question consists of the formation and laying of track, erecting bridges and culverts, ballasting, etc., all material being supplied by the Government. The tenders ranged from £236,000, when calculated out on the quantities, to £125,000, the figure quoted by a Greek contractor whose tender has been accepted. Apart from the fact that the offer of one British contractor worked out at £187,000, no information is available as to the unsuccessful tenders, nor as to the number of Europeans whom the project is estimated to employ. The number of man-months employment involved in the manufacture in this country of the material for the branch is estimated at 11,568.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether mates and officers promoted therefrom are eligible for service in fully-commissioned fleet destroyers; and the number of each grade now serving in this class of vessel?

Mates and officers promoted from that rank are eligible for appointment to fully commissioned fleet destroyers. Mates are not normally appointed to these ships in peace time as service in larger ships is considered to provide more valuable experience and none are now so employed. Three officers promoted from mate are at present serving in this class of ship.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether lieutenant-commanders and lieutenants (ex-mate) are eligible to qualify as interpreters; the number now serving who have qualified and whether the question of giving mates instruction in foreign languages in the same manner as sub-lieutenants is to be considered by the departmental committee of inquiry into the mate scheme?

The answer to the first question is in the affirmative; the answer to the second is nil. I will arrange that the point raised in the last question is brought forward for consideration by the departmental committee of enquiry into the mate scheme.

asked the First. Lord of the Admiralty whether he can now state the names of the members serving on the committee of inquiry into the mate scheme; and what are the terms of reference?

The names of the Members to form the committee and the terms of reference are still under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, now that the establishment in the dockyards has been increased to one in six, provision can be made for a fuller promotion of second-class masters serving in tugs under the captain of Devonport Dockyard to first-class masters?

The answer is in the negative. Second-class masters of tugs in the Department of the Captain of the Dockyard at Devonport are already an established grade, and the question of the promotion of established employés is not affected by the transfer of hired men to the established list.

asked the Minister of Health what amount of fruit has been condemned recently on arrival from abroad in consequence of heating; and if he can give the proportion for Holland and bow much was condemned at Hull?

I am making inquiries, and will communicate the result in due course to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet sanctioned the purchase of Brandesburton Hall by the East Riding (Yorks.) County Council as a home for mental defectives; and, if not, before so doing, will he take into consideration the unsatisfactory situation of this hall and the fact that the site is only 11 feet above sea level?

I have already Oven provisional approval to the proposal made jointly by the East Riding County Council and York City Council to purchase Brandesburton Hall and 98 acres of land for mental deficiency purposes. The estate was inspected, on behalf of the Board of Control, who are satisfied that it is suitable for the purpose in view. Such inquiry as I have been able to make in the time available does not support the statements in the latter part of the question.

asked the Minister of Health the number of Houses erected by the various councils in the Metropolitan area during June, 1930; and the number of houses provided with State assistance in the Metropolitan area for the quarter ended June, 1930?

During June, 1930, 23 houses were completed by the Metropolitan Borough Council of Poplar in the Metropolitan area. Figures are not available to show the number built in that area by the London County Council. During the quarter ended June, 1930, 198 State-aided houses were completed in that area by the London County Council, 51 by Metropolitan borough councils and 173 by private enterprise.

asked the Minister of Health the composition of the body over which Sir W. H. Hadow is to preside which is to inquire into the status, promotion, and appointment of local government officials; the terms of reference of this inquiry; and whether asylum workers will be included in the scope of its investigations?

I am not yet in a position to state the composition of the committee, but hope to announce it and the terms of reference at an early date. The investigations of the committee will be directed to the local government service generally, not to any particular branch of it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount paid in royalties during 1927, 1928, and 1929 by British subjects for copying Admiralty charts, and the amount paid by foreigners for coyping the same charts?

The amounts paid in the years in question were as follow:

				£	s.	d.
1927–28	…	…	…	8	15	8
1928–29	…	…	…	6	0	6
1929–30	…	…	…	10	3	0

These sums were all paid by British subjects.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why a charge is made for copying Admiralty charts for the use of fishermen; and whether he will arrange for these cheap charts, issued by Mr. Albert Close, which are largely copies of Admiralty charts, to be exempted from paying any royalty?

Admiralty charts are Crown copyright. A small charge is therefore made for copying them. I have looked into the matter and see no reason for making an exception in this case.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is prepared to arrange for ex-service men temporarily employed in the reserved services in Southern Ireland who become redundant to be transferred to positions in the Irish Land Trust?

Appointments to positions under the Irish Land Trust rest with the trustees, but I understand that it is their settled policy to employ ex-service men, subject of course to the possession of the necessary skill and experience, whenever possible, and that transfers will be considered in the event of positions being vacant in the Trust.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of persons employed in the office of the Land Trust, Dublin; how many of them are in receipt of pensions for previous civilian service; and how many of them served with the armed forces during the War?

The number of male staff employed by the Trust in the Dublin office is 29, of whom four are in receipt of pensions for previous civilian service. Twenty-four served with the armed forces during the War.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what are the annual holidays granted to the various grades of the Civil Service; what is the maximum number of days allowed off per annum in connection with special requests; what are the hours of work per diem in the various grades; and, in the case of overtime work, what is the basis of computation for extra payment?

The hon. and gallant Member will, I think, find all the information he requires in the Introductory Memoranda relating to the Civil Service submitted by the Treasury to the Royal Commission on the Civil Service (1929), a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual sum received from Patent Medicine Duties; is he aware that the Board of Customs and Excise has granted exemption from such duty to proprietors of patent medicines in cases where the formula is disclosed and no proprietary right to the preparation is claimed, notwithstanding the fact that such proprietors have in the past advertised and are still advertising that their preparations prevent or cure illness; and will he state the loss of revenue due to this exemption?

The net amount of Medicine Stamp Duty received in the year ended 31st March, 1930, was approximately £1,234,200. Figures for the previous 10 financial years may be found in Table 3, page 11, of the Twentieth Report of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise (Command Paper 3435). As regards the second part of the question, there is a, statutory exemption from the duty in favour of "Known, admitted and approved" remedies, when sold by duly qualified doctors, chemists or druggists, in which no proprietary right is claimed, and claims for such exemption are admitted provided that a definite and complete statement of the actual ingredients (i.e., the full formula with proportions) and a statement that no proprietary rights are claimed in the preparation of the medicine are printed in a legible and conspicuous manner on all labels, cartons, etc. Following the decision of the Courts in the case of Farmer v. Glyn Jones in 1903, exemption has not been refused on the ground that known, admitted and approved remedies have been recommended for the prevention or cure of illness. The cost of this exemption cannot be stated.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if his attention has been called to cases in which would-be Scottish emigrants to Canada have sold up all they possess, been passed as fit by medical men in this country, have been rejected at the port of arrival, and returned to Scotland in a state of destitution; and whether he will consider, in conjunction with the Canadian authorities, some better system of supervision and control, in which there should be a medical authority on this side who has the definite responsibility of saying whether a person is or is not fit to emigrate?

In order to prevent as far as possible the occurrence of cases of the description referred to by the noble Lord, all migrants from the United Kingdom to Canada are medically examined in this country, prior to their departure, by a medical officer, appointed by the Canadian Government. Under the Canadian Immigration Law a final medical inspection necessarily takes place on the arrival of a migrant in Canada, and in the very great majority of cases the preliminary medical examination is confirmed. In a few exceptional cases, however, generally through changes which have taken place since the preliminary medical examination, migrants are refused admission into Canada as a result of this final medical examination; but I am satisfied that the Canadian authorities take all possible steps to prevent the occurrence of cases of this description.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can give particulars of the present position of life or endowment insurance policies that are in existence originally taken out through the Post Office Savings Bank?

As announced in the press at the time, contracts already in existence when the Post Office ceased to receive proposals for Savings Bank insurances were not affected by this cessation.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of telephonists who have been displaced in the Metropolitan area for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date through the introduction of the automatic telephone service?

No telephonists have been discharged as a result of the introduction of automatic working in the London telephone area, though a certain number of transfers from one exchange to another have been necessary.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has any statistics and can state the net weight of letter mails to and from New Zealand and the United Kingdom for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; whether this shows any increase since 1923; and whether he has received any reports of statistics that will show the success obtained by the New Zealand Government in establishing the penny post from New Zealand to the remainder of the Empire?

The estimated annual net weights of letters and postcards exchanged between the United Kingdom and New Zealand were as follow:

Year.			To New Zealand.	From New Zealand.
			lb.	lb.
1923	…	…	183,000	70,500
1929	…	…	242,000	116,500

It is not possible to say what proportion of the increase in New Zealand's despatches is due to the re-establishment of the penny post and what proportion to ordinary growth of traffic or other causes.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will endeavour to expedite the provision of a telephone at Kielder station, Northumberland?

In view of the very heavy costs which would be involved in providing the necessary circuit, I regret that I am unable to authorise a telephone call office at Kielder Station.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of days' sick leave taken by London telephonists during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; the number of these days that were attributed to various nervous complaints; the normal maximum continuous period of duty that telephonists work during busy hours of the day; and the average number of lines allocated to any one operator?

The average sick leave of London telephonists during 1929 was 15.4 days. Particulars are not available of the amount of sick leave due to nervous complaints. The normal maximum continuous period of duty of telephonists during the busy hours of the day is 3½ hours. The number of lines allotted to an operator is dependent on the volume of traffic passing over them and varies within wide limits.

asked the Postmaster-General, if, with regard to the communications he has received from the National Union of Manufacturers protesting against the prominence given on the front cover of the Post Office Guide for July to an advertisement for Russian oil, he is prepared to take action to ensure that British rather than foreign goods receive prominence in the advertisements appearing in the official publications of his department?

It is the practice of the Post Office to try to arrange as far as possible for British rather than foreign goods to receive prominence in the advertisements appearing in its official publications, but I do not feel justified in refusing an advertisement of a foreign product, offered in the usual way through the official advertising agents, to appear in a space which might otherwise have to be left blank or used unremuneratively.

asked the Postmaster-General the normal average time which should be taken by a subscriber, firstly in obtaining the tolls exchange, and secondly by being put through to a subscriber on the tolls system, assuming that the latter is not engaged at the time?

The average time taken for a London telephone subscriber on a manual exchange to obtain toll exchange is 23.2 seconds; and the average further time occupied in recording the particulars of the call and completing the connection to a subscriber's telephone within the London toll area is 33.6 seconds; making a total of 56.8 seconds. After this, on the average 33 seconds elapse before the distant subscriber's telephone (excluding the cases where it is engaged) is answered.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, having regard to the increase in the population at Eltham, he can take steps to improve the postal facilities in the area?

A revision of the postal arrangements at Eltham is now in hand, under which the services will be brought into line with those in similar sub-districts of London. An additional sub-post office was opened in the district in the early part of this year.

asked the Postmaster-General the numbers of women sorters appointed in the years 1882, 1883, and 1884, respectively, and the percentages of those numbers who were promoted, who left to be married, who left for reasons of ill-health, and who left on pension after full service?

Women sorters were not employed before the year 1883. In that year 20 were appointed; in 1884 the number was 11. I regret that the other information asked for by the hon. Member is not available.

asked the Postmaster-General the averages of sick leave by serving, sorting assistants and supervisors of sorting assistants combined after 10 years', 15 years, 20 years', 25 years', and 30 years' service, respectively?

I am obtaining the information desired by the hon. Member, and will send him a written reply.

asked the Minister of Labour the average weekly amount paid in benefit to those who qualify for it because of having 30 contributions and the average weekly amount paid to the rest of those on the unemployed list by the Exchequer?

The average weekly amount paid in unemployment benefit during the quarter ended 30th June, 1930, was about £1,062,500 in the case of persons who had 30 qualifying contributions and about £330,100 in the case of persons who could satisfy only the transitional conditions. The latter amount is a charge on the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of Labour if, taking the last number of unemployed, she will give the total of those on the live file, on the two-months' file, and on the dead file; and how many cases on the dead file have, as a result of the Unemployment Insurance (No. 2) Act, been taken out of the dead file and brought back into the live file?

At 23rd June, 1930, 1,850,781 insured persons were recorded as unemployed in Great Britain and this figure includes 1,756,042 unemployment books in the live files and 94,739 in the two months' file. At the same date there were 378,687 books in the dead files and these relate in the main to persons who by reason of death or other causes have passed out of unemployment insurance. It is estimated that up to 23rd June, as a result of the operation of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1930, approximately 35,000 books had been transferred from the dead file to the live file.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, during title recess, she will investigate the dissatisfaction of many local authorities with their treatment by the Unemployment Grants Committee?

I am unaware that local authorities generally are dissatisfied with their treatment by the Unemployment Grants Committee, but I will certainly undertake to investigate any particular cases within the knowledge of the hon. and gallant Member which he cares to bring to my notice.

asked the Minister of Labour how often the Unemployment Grants Committee meets; and how many attendances out of those possible have been recorded in the case of each member during the last six months?

The Unemployment Grants Committee meets as often as its work requires. At the moment, it is meeting once a week. During the six months ended 31st July, 1930, it has met on 18 occasions, the attendance of the members being as follows:

The Right Hon. Viscount St. Davids, G. B. E., Chairman	18
The Hon. Member for Twickenham (Sir John Ferguson, K. B. E.)	11
Sir Reginald MacLeod, K. C. B.	10
Sir William Plender, Bart., G. B. E.	Nil.
The Hon. Member for Harwich (P. J. Pybus, Esq., C. B. E.)	10
Miss K. T. Wallas, L. C. C.	17

asked the Minister of Labour whether the decisions of the Un- employment Grants Committee are reached by its members independently or with the aid of permanent officials; and, if the latter is the case, how many permanent officials give such assistance, and who they are?

The membership of the Committee does not include any permanent officials; it reaches its own conclusions on the facts of each application. It has a staff consisting of a secretary, assistant secretary, and other officials.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in Woolwich for whom work has been provided by work schemes financially assisted by the unemployment grants scheme since June of last year?

The number of Woolwich men placed on State-aided schemes since 1st June last year is 165.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of juveniles registered as unemployed at the Woolwich Employment Exchange at the last convenient date?

At 28th July, 1930, there were 127 boys and 135 girls, aged 14 and under 18, on the registers of the Woolwich Employment Exchange.

asked the Minister of Labour the total amount of money sanctioned for schemes to relieve unemployment during the past year and also for the two preceding years, respectively?

I would refer the hon. Member to the White Paper (Cmd. 3519), published in March, 1930, and to the interim reports of the Unemployment Grants Committee and the annual reports of the Road Fund, which give the information he desires. Copies of the interim reports of the committee and the reports of the Road Fund are filed in the Library.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if she will give, for the last 12 months for which statistics are available, the amount of contributions re- ceived from employers and employées in the cotton trade, the amount of benefits paid, and the extent to which the workers in employment are paying for those unemployed;(2) the number of unemployed in the cotton industry for each month from June, 1929, showing the number of men, married women, and single women, the monthly average of unemployment pay

Date.			Men.	Boys.	Women.	Girls.	Total.
1929.
24th June	…	…	23,680	998	49,874	1,492	76,044
22nd July	…	…	24,782	876	52,954	1,517	80,129
26th August	…	…	26,157	932	53,791	1,460	82,340
23rd September	…	…	21,392	546	47,063	1,153	70,154
21st October	…	…	21,610	642	44,210	1,164	67,626
25th November	…	…	23,320	671	48,316	1,268	73,575
16th December	…	…	24,925	901	52,240	1,566	79,632
1930.
27th January	…	…	34,977	1,357	71,601	2,807	110,742
24th February	…	…	42,415	1,893	86,543	3,453	134,304
24th March	…	…	46,200	2,094	98,446	3,475	150,215
28th April	…	…	50,829	2,132	113,145	4,305	170,411
26th May	…	…	64,372	3,009	143,787	5,862	217,030
23rd June	…	…	70,237	3,026	154,669	6,256	234,188

Separate figures in respect of married and single women are not available for each month, but it is estimated that at 7th July, 1930, there were approximately 80,000 insured married women classified as belonging to the cotton industry recorded as unemployed. Statistics of benefit and contributions are not kept in respect of separate industries. As regards the state of what is described in the question as the transitional benefit fund, I should explain that there is no separate fund for this purpose. Transitional benefit is paid out of the Unemployment Fund, and the amount so paid is made good to the Fund by the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of Labour if her department has compiled any estimate to show the amount of actual expenditure which is required by industry to put a man in work?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, seeing that men on granted from the insurance fund and from the transitional benefit fund respectively, to these people, and the present state of the transitional benefit fund?

The following table shows the numbers of insured persons aged 16 to 64, classified as belonging to the cotton industry, recorded as unemployed in Great Britain in each month from June, 1929 to June, 1930, inclusive:relief work at Dudley are not entitled to unemployment insurance benefit when they cease, owing to that employment not being of an insurable character, she will inquire as to whether they are paying unemployment insurance whilst on this work; and, if so, will she inform the authority concerned that such weekly payments should not be deducted from their wages?

I think there is a misunderstanding. Of a number of men who recently claimed benefit on the termination of employment on the work in question the majority had their claims allowed. In the other cases the disallowance was not imposed on the ground that this work is not insurable.

asked the Minister of Labour whether her attention has been drawn to the fact that persons who have no family dependants are being questioned by the interviewing officer on behalf of the chief insurance officer as to the amount of family income that is received; and will she consider having this practice discontinued.

I should be glad to have particulars of any specific cases of the kind which have come to my hon. Friend's notice.

asked the Minister of Labour the approximate periods that have been granted to alien dance and restaurant musicians to remain in this country; whether she proposes to continue the permits that are at present in force; what is the number of British musicians who are at present unemployed; and whether any special steps are being taken to mitigate unemployment in this profession?

Permits to employ alien musicians in this country may be granted for periods varying from a few days up to twelve months; extensions of such permission may be given if a case is made out for such extension; in the case of alien dance and restaurant band musicians a permit or an extension of a permit is not in general granted for more than six months at a time, and as a rule the permission is for a shorter period than this. The number of musicians here on permit at the moment is about 60. I am unable to say whether extensions of permission will be granted to any of them until the question is referred to me in any individual case by the Home Office, to which Department applications for extensions of permission must be addressed. At the 23rd June, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of musicians aged 18 and over recorded as wholly unemployed in Great Britain was 2,166 men and 674 women. Separate statistics for those of British nationality are not available. In reply to the last part of the question, the officers of Employment Exchanges, make every effort to place in employment, unemployed musicians who make application to them.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applicants in the county of Durham who have been refused unemployment benefit since the passing of the 1929 Act on the grounds that they were not normally employed in insurable employment?

pursuant to her reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 31st July, 1930, Col. 673, Vol. 242] supplied the following statement:During the period 13th March to 14th July, 1930, out of 168,532 fresh and renewal claims to benefit made at Employment Exchanges in the County of Durham the claims of 2,888 men and 1,609 women were disallowed by Courts of Referees on the ground "not normally insurable and will not normally seek to obtain livelihood by means of insurable employment." The disallowances include claims made at Northallerton, Richmond, Thirsk and Prudhoe which are outside County Durham but are within the area served by Courts of Referees in that County. Statistics of disallowances are only kept for the areas covered by Courts of Referees, and generally these are not coterminous with the areas of boroughs or counties.

asked the Minister of Labour if she will give the list of the treaties, agreements, conventions, etc., of the International Labour Office which have been signed or ratified since the present Government took office, those which it is intended to sign and ratify, and those on which no action is contemplated.

Since the present Government took office, ratifications of the Conventions concerning Seamen's Articles of Agreement and Minimum Wage-fixing Machinery have been registered with the Secretariat of the League of Nations. It is intended to ratify the Hours Convention when the Hours of Industrial Employment Bill becomes law. The Conventions dealing with the Minimum Age (Agriculture), Sickness Insurance (Industry), Sickness Insurance (Agriculture), Weight of Packages transported by Vessels and Prevention of Accidents (Dockers) are receiving consideration by the Departments concerned with a view to ratification. The authentic text of the Conventions concerning Forced Labour and Hours of Work of Salaried Employés have not yet been received from the International Labour Office. The position of the remaining Conventions will be reviewed.

asked the Minister of Labour if she can give a table of comparative remuneration, as paid in 1919 in the form of wages and in 1929 in the form of wages and bonus, to car drivers, car conductors, labourers (overhead), car cleaners, permanent-way labourers, general labourers, lamplighters, baths attendants, and park gardeners and labourers?

The following Table shows the unweighted averages of the rates of wages, at the end of 1919 and the end of 1929, of tramcar drivers and conductors in 52 large towns of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of labourers employed in the non-trading departments of local authorities in 28 large towns of Great Britain. Corresponding particulars are not available for the other occupations specified:

Occupation	Average weekly rates of wages at
	End of 1919.		End of 1929.
	s.	d.	s.	d.
Tramway drivers	64	7	60	0
Tramway conductors	61	2	56	6
Labourers employed in the non - trading services of local authorities	62	6	52	5

The figures given include general bonuses (for example, cost-of-living bonuses), but not bonuses granted to individuals in respect of good conduct, freedom from accidents, etc.

asked the Minister of Labour if she has considered the question of making an inquiry into wages, hours, and working conditions in cinemas in London and the provinces; and whether she is now in a position to arrange for such an inquiry?

As a result of inquiries which have already been made of the principal employers' and workers' organisations, I find that only a very limited amount of information is available with regard to wages and hours in this industry. I propose, therefore, to arrange for a comprehensive investigation in the near future.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons engaged in the manufacture of coir yarns, matting, and mats in this country in the years 1913 and 1928, respectively?

I regret that I am not in possession of exact statistics as to the numbers of workpeople engaged in this industry in 1913 and 1928, but I understand, from such information as is available, that there was a considerable reduction in the total number between these two dates.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress has been made with the setting up of the Trade Board in the catering trades; the numbers likely to be affected thereby; and whether any further applications for trade boards have been received?

I expect to issue a Notice of Intention to apply the Trade Boards Acts to the catering trade at a very early date. I am now considering the scope of the proposed Special Order. I cannot give an estimate of the numbers likely to be affected in advance of the publication of the Notice. In reply to the last part of the question, I have before me a request to apply the Trade Boards Acts to the fustian cutting industry.

asked the Minister of Labour the latest estimate of the increase in money wages and in real wages per adult man earned in 1929 as compared with 1913?

It is estimated, on the basis of such information as is available, that weekly full-time rates of wages for similar classes of workers were between 70 and 75 per cent. higher on average, in 1929, than in July, 1914. The official cost-of-living index number, which indicates the average increase in the cost of maintaining unchanged the pre-War standard of living of working-class families, showed an average increase of 64 per cent. over the same period. On this basis it would appear that, on average, real wages far a full week were about 5 per cent. higher in 1929 than in July, 1914. Separate figures for adult men are not available. The working week in 1929 was shorter than in 1914. Comparable information is not available as to actual earnings (as distinct from rates of wages for similar classes of workers) in 1913 or 1914 and 1929.

asked the Home Secretary the exact nature of the request made by the Commissioner of the Metropolitan police that plans of large buildings should be submitted to him before they are passed by the London County Council; whether this indicates a new change in building law in London; and to what causes this new policy is to be ascribed?

The Commissioner's suggestion to the London County Council was that legislation should be proposed to require plans of large buildings such as places of public resort or large retail stores, where serious congestion of traffic was likely to be caused by vehicles picking up or setting clown passengers or loading or unloading goods, to be submitted to him, and that the council and any other licensing authority should be empowered to take his representation into consideration. The suggestion was made on account of the increasing difficulties experienced by the police in the regulation of traffic in the vicinity of establishments of the class in question. The whole matter has been under consideration by the London County Council, who have decided to seek powers from Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state whether the policy of the Government with regard to the question of minorities at the forthcoming meetings of the Assembly of the League of Nations has now been decided; and whether any member of the delegation is specially appointed to place an item on the agenda appointing a commission of inquiry into the working of the minority treaties or a permanent minorities commission?

The important and difficult question of minorities has been very carefully considered by His Majesty's Government, and the suggestions to which my hon. Friend refers in the second part of his question have not been overlooked. But it is not customary nor, I think, desirable for His Majesty's Government to make a public announcement of the course which will be adopted by the Delegation at the forthcoming Assembly of the League of Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there has been within the last six months any development in the adjustment of our relations affecting extraterritoriality and similar matters with China; what negotiations are planned for the immediate future; and whether, in the interests of trade and good relations, he can in any way clear up some of the outstanding problems?

As a result of negotiations with the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs in January and February last, Sir Miles Lampson prepared detailed proposals with regard to the proposed modification of foreign extra-territorial rights in China. His Majesty's Government have now nearly completed their consideration of these proposals, and hope to communicate them to the Chinese Government shortly. An agreement with regard to Wei-hai-wei was signed on 18th April, and negotiations in regard to the Boxer indemnity have made good progress.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the prices of a four-pound loaf of bread at the present time in the chief countries of the world?

The latest figures available on a comparable basis are those compiled by the International Labour Office relating generally to January, 1930, and published in the "International Labour Review" for April, 1930. The averages of the prices given for those towns, in each country, which are covered

Country.				Number of Towns covered.	Average Price per kilo.		Equivalent Price, in sterling, per 4 lb.
							s.	d.
Great Britain	…	…	…	7	5·1	pence	0	9¼
Australia	…	…	…	2	6·1	pence	0	11
Austria	…	…	…	3	1·65	sch.	1	8¾
Canada	…	…	…	6	17·0	cents	1	3
Czechoslovakia	…	…	…	3	2·55	kr.	0	7
Denmark	…	…	…	1	0·83	kr.	1	7¾
Estouia	…	…	…	2	0·53	E. kr.	1	0¾
France	…	…	…	4	2·06	frs.	0	7¼
Germany	…	…	…	6	0·81	R. mk.	1	5¼
Irish Free State	…	…	…	3	6·1	pence	0	11
Italy	…	…	…	7	1·99	lire	0	9¼
Netherlands	…	…	…	4	0·28	fl.	0	10
Norway	…	…	…	1	0·84	kr.	1	8
Poland	…	…	…	4	0·98	zloty	0	9¾
Spain	…	…	…	4	0·66	pta.	0	8
Sweden	…	…	…	3	0·80	kr.	1	7¼
United States	…	…	…	10	19·2	cents	1	5¼
* Except for Australia (September, 1929), the United States and Poland (December, 1929).

asked the Home Secretary, with regard to the case of ex-Constable Allsopp, if he is aware that Allsopp was charged with drunkenness when off duty; that at the time he was suggested to be drunk his sub-divisional inspector reported him clean and sober; that he was suspended from duty without a doctor's certificate; and that before such suspension he was sent out for another tour of duty; if a definite charge of drunkenness was made against Allsopp and, if so, was he found guilty of that charge; is he aware that the words used to Inspector Fisher when he represented himself on the telephone as P.C. Piggott were "Thanks very much"; and if, in view of the nature of the evidence against Allsopp, he will direct an inquiry into the facts, with a view to Allsopp's reinstatement in the Force?

I am aware that one of the charges against ex-Police Constable Allsopp was drunkenness when off duty, and that his sub-divisional inspector reported him as clean and sober when he saw him, but this was some hours after by the statistics, are shown below with the equivalent prices per 4 lb. loaf in sterling, converted at the rates of exchange current in January, 1930. The figures are defined as relating to prices of white bread, but there is no further indication of the precise qualities to which they severally relate.he had been originally reported drunk, and in view of the lapse of time examination by a doctor would have served no useful purpose. He performed only three hours of a tour of duty on the following day before the decision that he was suspended, and was then withdrawn from duty. He was not found guilty of the charge of drunkenness. I am aware that his remarks to Inspector Fisher included the words "Thanks very much" made in a sarcastic manner after receipt of a verbal order from the inspector. I think it only right to add that the further charges to which I referred in reply to a previous question included the use of grossly obscene language to a telephone operator, and I propose to send to my hon. Friend a copy of the report dealing with this charge. The case has already been very carefully considered, and I am satisfied that there is no occasion for any further inquiry into it.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will inquire into the case of an educated women, aged 59, arrested on 21st May on a non-criminal charge, who, while in Holloway Prison on three days' remand, had her finger prints taken by force, in spite of her refusal to have her finger prints taken, and who also, although she made several applications at the proper times for permission to petition the Home Office, was not allowed facilities to do so?

I have ascertained that on the 21st May a woman was received into Holloway Prison on a three days' remand, with a request that her finger prints should be taken. As she refused to have the prints taken voluntarily, the Governor, after obtaining the authorisation required by the Statutory Regulations, directed that the prints be taken by force. This was done by a woman officer in the presence of a woman medical officer. I am informed that this prisoner made no application to the Governor to be allowed to petition the Secretary of State.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can now state the full personnel of the Trade Mission to the Far East?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Mossley (Mr. Gibson) on Wednesday, 30th July.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the British Trade Mission to the Far East will be advised to study the effect upon our trade with China of our retention of extra-territoriality and other privileges and, simultaneously, the effect upon German trade of the abandonment by Germany of such privileges; and, if not, whether he will consider the desirability of giving such advice?

No, sir. Extraterritoriality is primarily a political question, on which His Majesty's Government have already declared their policy. The British Trade Mission is concerned with commercial questions only, though, subject to this general limitation, it will have liberty to examine and report upon all considerations relevant to British trade in China.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is now able to give a decision with regard to the case of C. O. E. Whaley, late No. 1,816, private, Bedfordshire Yeomanry, which has been under consideration since November, 1929?

I have informed the hon. Member of the present position of this case about which, for the reasons I have given him, it is not yet possible to give a final reply.