asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the danger to the travelling public likely to ensue as the consequence of the dismissals recently imposed upon the lower paid railway workers of all grades; whether he has yet considered the request to set up a commission of inquiry into the administration and management of the railways; and what action he intends to take in the matter?

I am not aware of any case where danger to the travelling public has been caused as a result of the circumstances to which my hon. Friend refers, and I do not propose to set up an inquiry into the administration and management of the railways.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that during the first nine months of this year over 172,000 tons of broken stone have been imported, chiefly from Belgium, he will represent to all those making roads the desirability of obtaining this material, which is available, from borne quarries, and not from foreign ones?

It must not be assumed that the whole of the imported roadstone is used for works over which my Department can exercise any control, and in considering the figure quoted of 172,000 tons, it should be recalled that the total tonnage of roadstone conveyed over the railways in Great Britain during the year 1929 was little short of 9,000,000 tons, to which must be added materials conveyed by other means of transport. Constant pressure is exerted by my Department in favour of the use of British materials, as is shown by the circular letter which I addressed to all highway authorities on 20th February, 1930, and of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has received any representations for the construction of a riverside road south of the Thames starting from Plumstead Bridge in the Woolwich area and continuing through the areas of Abbey Wood, Belvedere, Erith, Crayford, and Dartford; and, if not, will he cause inquiries to be made into its practical value as a main line of communication?

I have not received any official application in respect of the construction of a riverside road south of the River Thames, as described by my hon. Friend. I am, however, aware that the West Kent Regional Town Planning Committee suggested such a. road in their report, and the question of providing for its ultimate construction will doubtless be considered in connection with any townplanning schemes which may be prepared by the local authorities through whose areas the road would pass. I am advised that at present it could not be regarded as a main line of communication.

asked the Home Secretary the number of prosecutions that have been instituted in the Metropolitan police district against motorists for the three months ended on the last convenient date for the offence -of exceeding the speed limit?

During the three months ended 31st October, 1930, 1,450 prosecutions were instituted in the Metropolitan police district against drivers of mechanically propelled vehicles for the offence of exceeding the speed limit.

asked the President of the Board of Education, (1) what amount of money has been spent on playing fields for the following schools: Long Row, Church of England, Pottery, and Fleet schools, Belper, during the years 1927, 1928, 1929, and up to September, 1930;

I am in communication with the local education authority, and will give my hon. Friend the information as soon as I obtain it.

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the present position with regard to providing children with milk daily whilst they are attending school?

An increasing number of local education authorities and teachers are coming to recognise the value of a daily ration of milk to chil

England and Wales.
Secondary Schools on the Grant List.
Number of Full-time Pupils on 31st March, 1929, who were under 11 years of age on that date.
Age.		Free-Pupils			Fee-paying Pupils.	Total
		Article 15 Free Places.	Others.	Total.
3– 4	…	—	—	—	5	5
4– 5	…	—	—	—	100	100
5– 6	…	—	3	3	978	981
6– 7	…	2	3	5	2,113	2,118
7– 8	…	1	5	6	2,963	2,969
8– 9	…	6	17	23	5,460	5,483
9–10	…	56	33	89	7,642	7,731
10–11	…	804	101	905	10,072	10,977
Total under 11	…	869	162	1,031	29,333	30,364

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will give a table showing for council schools, Church of England schools, Roman Catholic schools, and other voluntary schools, respectively, the number of new schools and their recognised accommodation in respect of which he has given his approval during 1930, and similar information in respect of the Section 18 notices which are now running?

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will give a table showing how many children there are in rate- and state-aided secondary schools in each year of life before the age of 11 years; and how many of these are free-placers?

The following table gives the information:

The numbers of school buildings for which plans have been approved by the Board during the year 1930 are as follow:148 Council Schools, providing 83,096 places; 3 Church of England Schools, providing 1,232 places; 13 Roman Catholic Schools, providing 2,298 places.The number of schools in respect of which notices have been issued under Section 18 of the Education Act, 1921, but have not yet expired, is:

asked the President of the Board of Education the names of the 58 education authorities whose programmes for 1930–33 have not yet received the Boards approval, with the number of children on the roll of the elementary and secondary schools, respectively, under the authority's jurisdiction, distinguishing between those authorities whose programmes are under consideration and those whose programmes have not been received?

Since I gave the figure of 58 local education authorities, one programme has been approved and one has been received. There are 23 authorities whose programmes have been received and are under consideration:

Name of Authority.	Number of Pupils.
	Elementary.	Secondary.
Chepping Wycombe	3,207	—
Falmouth	1,603	—
Buxton	1,624	—
South Shields	21,206	744
West Hartlepool	11,81 L	778
Chelmsford	3,172	—
Harwich	1,979	—
Huntingdonshire	7,963	808
Rochester	4,287	—
Middleton*	3,551	—
Mossley,	1,649	—
Lincs. (Kesteven)†	15,202	1,525
Peterborough (Boro')	5,712	—
Bury St Edmunds	2.006	—
Gnildford	3.254	—
Bexhill	1,498	—
Kendal	1,905	—
Pudsey	1,730	—
Sheffield†	76.325	4;297
Wakefield	8,451	1,478
Anglesey	7,312	773
Rhondda	29,824	2,103
Monmouthshire	51,933	3,944
Abertillery	6,284	—
Montgomeryshire	7,142	740
Total	280,839	17,190
* This Authority provides a secondary school containing 258 pupils.
† Programme approved in respect of higher education.

asked the Minister of Agriculture with regard to the telegram addressed by his Department to the hon. Member for South-West Norfolk with reference to the results of compulsory marketing in the Dominions and pub- lished on 1st November, whether he will give the figures on which the statements in the telegram were based, and say whether the marketing schemes in question cover domestic as well as export trade; and if he has made inquiries as to whether any bounty or subsidy is or has been payable from any source in connection with the exportation and transportation of the produce to which the statements in the telegram relate?

Imports and Values of Butter. (Year ending June 30th).
—		Quantity (Tons).			London Wholesale Prices (per cwt.)
		1914.	1926–29	% Increase.	1914			1926–29.
					s.	d.	Index.	s.	d.	Index.
Australia	…	26,076	36,843	41	111	9	89.2	169	10	91.04
Denmark	…	88,935	98,258	10.5	125	2	100	184	6	100

Imports into the United Kingdom of South African Fruit.
					Yearly averages for the periods
					1921–23	1926–28
Grapes	…	…	…	…	16,812	41,724
Grape-fruit	…	…	…	…	5,177	16,505
Oranges	…	…	…	…	172,678	469,505
Peaches	…	…	…	…	5,767	13,111
Pears	…	…	…	…	25,309	65,911
Plums	…	…	…	…	4,343	13,504

Of the marketing schemes mentioned in the telegram, those under the Australian Dairy Export Control Act and the South African Fruit Control Act 1925 refer to export trade only but the Queensland schemes cover both domestic and export trade and primarily the former. So far as I am aware, no Government bounty or subsidy has been payable in connection with any of the schemes referred to.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the quantity and value of pulped Dutch black currants imported this year to the latest convenient date, and similar figures for the same period of the year 1929?

Imports of black currant pulp into the United Kingdom are not separately distinguished in the Trade Returns. From the official monthly trade returns of the Netherlands, how

The figures in the telegram referred to, which illustrate trade development under regulated marketing conditions in Australia and South Africa, were derived from the following sources:Weddell's Annual Review of Imported Dairy Produce.Trade and Navigation Returns, United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total quantities of fruit pulp imported from foreign countries during the years 1928, 1929, and the first 10 months of 1030, respectively?

The total quantities of fruit pulp in syrup imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and consigned from foreign countries, amounted during the years 1928 and 1929 to 4,797 cwts. and 6,813 cwts., respectively, and during the 10 months ended 31st October, 1930, to 980 cwts. Separate particulars in respect of fruit pulp imported otherwise than in syrup are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total quantities of soft fruit imported from foreign countries during the years 1928, 1929, and the first 10 months of the year 1930, respectively?

The only soft fruits for which separate particulars of imports are available from the official trade returns are raw currants, gooseberries and strawberries, and the following table shows the total quantities of these fruits imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland and registered during the years 1928 and 1929, and the first 10 months of 1930, as consigned from foreign countries.

Description.	1928.	1929.	Jan. to Oct., 1930.
	Cwts.	Cwts.	Cwts.
Raw currants	109,090	141,061	122,568
Raw gooseberries	31.080	14,785	28,196
Raw strawberries	78,490	79,472	67,667

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now able to state the intentions of the Government with regard to making Cannock Chase a national park; and whether, in the meantime, instructions have been given for the planting of further areas by the Forestry Commission to cease?

The Departmental Committee on National Parks has not yet reported. As regards the second part of the question, no such instructions have been given.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the total number of male and female staff of all ranks of the naval side of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes; the number of disabled naval ranks and ratings; the number of nondisabled ex-naval ranks and ratings; and the number of sons and daughters of exnaval ranks and ratings?

The employés of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes are not paid from public funds, and I have no information regarding details of the staff employed which is a matter for the board of management.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that from 24 to 28 Grade 4 women clerks on an average wage of 27s. per week, inclusive, are employed in the pay rooms at Portsmouth Dockyard; that they work in pairs with male clerks where there are such available, but that where men are not available the women are paired together; that the senior woman is held responsible for the correctness of wages placed in envelopes for from 500 to 1,000 men, representing a weekly total of about £2,300; and whether he regards this kind of work as appropriate to girl clerks on such a wage?

I am unable to agree with the view taken in this question of the responsibilities laid upon the male and female clerks employed in the pay room at Portsmouth. Each pair of clerks receives from the members of the directing staff, three in number, who remain responsible throughout the proceedings, a sum of money made up of the exact number of notes and coins of the several denominations necessary to make up the wages of the individuals— about 50 in number—shown in one pay roll at a time. They are, therefore, only responsible for distributing a given number of notes and coins in specified sums among a given number of envelopes, and they never have more than about £200 in their custody at any moment. They are held responsible for the careful carrying out of the details of the procedure, but they are not held responsible for the money, nor for the correctness of the wages entered in the pay rolls. The clerk with the greater experience and capability is regarded as the leader of each pair, but. no undue responsibility is laid upon her, and I am advised that the work is regarded in large commercial firms operating similar accounting systems as appropriate to women clerks. The scale of pay of the female clerks employed extends to 41s. and the present average pay is only as low as it is because the system has so recently been started.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is prepared to make representations to the Treasury in regard to the low rates of pay prevailing amongst machine operators in Portsmouth Dockyard with a view to these rates being increased?

The rates of pay to which my hon. Friend presumably refers are those paid to two girls entered as learners at 15 years of age. Their pay will automatically increase with age, and at the age of 18, subject to satisfactory service, they will enter a grade rising from 26s. 3d. to 41s. per week. In these circumstances, the answer to the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that the capital of the proposed Kenya Land Bank, which is limited to £240,000, is adequate; and, having regard to the economic conditions in that colony and the fact that local opinion is in favour of a larger capital, will he state why this opinion has been disregarded?

I have been asked to reply to this question. My Noble Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies has agreed to a capital of £240,000, which is the amount provided in the Kenya loan schedule for the purpose. If a case is presented by the Kenya Government at a later date for increasing that capital, my Noble Friend will give careful consideration to the representations made, but he has not felt justified in holding out any hope in present circumstances that increased capital will be approved.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Iraq Treaty will be submitted to the House before ratification?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 23rd July last to the hon. Member for North Bristol (Mr. Ayles).

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that when a licence was granted for a hotel on the beach at Suva, Fiji, there was a clause in the title of the land that on any breach of the Liquor Ordinance the licence would be cancelled, and that the then Acting Governor was asked and refused to delete this clause, he will say why the clause has since been deleted and by whose authority?

I have been. asked to answer this question. I assume that my hon. Friend refers to the recent grant of a licence in respect of premises in Princes Street, Suva. The lease of these premises originally contained a clause, usually inserted in leases of land in that area of the town, rendering the lease void if any breach of the Liquor Ordinance, 1911, were committed upon the premises. The lease had, however, been issued in exchange for the surrender of a freehold title to a much larger area to which no such restrictive covenant applied; and my Noble Friend was advised that, in the special circumstances, the insertion in it of such a restrictive covenant was improper, and the Acting Governor was so informed. The Liquor Ordinance itself provides heavy penalties for offences under it, including forfeiture of licence for a second offence, and the rigorous enforcement of its provisions should be an adequate safeguard against offences.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if any protest has been received from Uganda against the removal of the headquarters of the agricultural department from Kampala to Entebbe: and what action has been taken?

I have been asked to reply to this question. Yes, Sir; protests have been received from the Uganda Chamber of Commerce and other bodies in Uganda. I would refer the hon. Member to the full reply which was given on this matter to the hon. Member for West Derby (Sir J. Sandeman Allen) on 10th November.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any petition or application from an African Native Association requesting that the natives of Africa should be represented before the Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament and requesting the Tanganyika. Government to make the necessary arrangements; and whether steps will be taken to that effect?

I have been asked to reply to this question. My Noble Friend has read in the Press of a suggestion made by the African Native Association of Dar-es-Salaam that the natives of Africa should be represented before the proposed Joint. Committee, but he has not yet. received the Governor's views on the proposal. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies to the right hon. Member for Stafford (Mr. Ormsby-Gore) on 30th July and to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) on 1st August.

asked the Minister of Health the number of children who have succumbed during the last three years to diseases directly attributable to impure milk?

I am advised that there is no information available on which to base a reliable estimate of this number.

asked the Minister of Health the number of deaths attributed to the disease called psittacosis during the last three years?

The number of deaths registered in England and Wales during the period 1st January-30th September, 1930, in respect of which psittacosis appeared on the medical certificate as a cause of death was 15. There were no deaths recorded from this cause in 1927 or 1928, but there was one death in 1929 registered as being due to broncho-pneumonia and septicæmia, which, as the result of the inquiry made in accordance with the usual practice of the Registrar-General, was attributed to psittacosis.

asked the Minister of Health whether, seeing that no precautions are taken to see that cream imported into this country is free from tuberculosis, he will take steps to see that it is subjected to similar examination for tubercle as milk is under the Imported Milk Regulations?

I will consider the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion. I understand, however, that most of the cream imported from the Continent is sterilised, and I am advised that the danger of the presence of tubercle bacilli in such cream is practically negligible.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet been informed of the proposal of the Hammersmith Borough Council to dispose of refuse at Mucking, in the rural district of Orsett; and what action he. proposes to take in the matter?

I am informed by the borough council that they have recently entered into a new contract for the disposal of the refuse of the borough at Mucking by adequate layering in accordance with any regulations in force relating to the deposit of refuse on the land. It is within the discretion of the council to enter into such a, contract and, as matters stand, I have no power to intervene.

asked the Minister of Health if he will furnish a return for the latest possible date of the numbers and beds, on the lines of the return given in the House of Commons on 12th December, 1929, for hospitals provided by local authorities, with separate figures of institutions formerly provided by the Poor Law authorities, voluntary hospitals aided by local authorities, and unaided voluntary hospitals, giving if possible expenditure in each class?

I will circulate· in the OFFICIAL REPORT in due course such information as is available on these points.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that Miss Clark, of Syria, Stanley Road, Broadstairs, was recommended by the tuberculosis officer for the area, four weeks ago, for sanatorium treatment as an urgent case, and that to date no steps have been taken to secure her admission; and whether he will urge on the authorities concerned the necessity for early action?

I have no information as to the case mentioned in the question, but I am making inquiries and will communicate the result to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a copy of the proposal of the British Medical Association for a general medical service for the nation; and what action, if any, he proposes to take in the matter?

I have received a copy of these proposals, and the principles on which they are based would, of course, receive careful consideration in relation to any further public provision of medical services which might be contemplated in future.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of vacant buildings in the County of London and county boroughs on 31st March, 1914, 1921, 1929 and 1930, respectively, distinguishing, if possible, between dwelling-houses and other buildings?

According to the Census of 1921 there were in the administrative County of London 18,969, and in county boroughs 57,389, structurally separate dwellings vacant on Census night, including those vacant by reason of the temporary absence of the usual occupier. No information is available as to the number vacant in the other years mentioned.

asked the Minister of Health how many councils have adjusted rents of working-class houses built under the Act of 1919 to approximate to existing rents paid for houses built under the Act of 1924; is he aware that, owing to the re-assessment of many of the older houses of the 1919 to 1920 period, they are paying greatly increased rents; and what steps are being taken to secure stabilisation?

The rents of houses provided by local authorities under the 1919 Act are fixed by the authorities in accordance with regulations made under the Housing Act, 1919. The rent income so fixed is subject to the approval of the Minister, and in the event of any difference of opinion arising between the Minister and the authority, it may be referred for decision to the tribunal appointed for the purpose under the regulations. Reductions in rents have been made in the case of 66 authorities since 1st April, 1929, but the fact that the rents of houses provided under the 1924 Act are in any area lower than those for houses provided under the 1919 Act is not in itself a ground for reduction of rents of the 1919 Act houses.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has had any proposals submitted to him for slum clearance in the Gravesend area?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of dwellings completed with State assistance under the Housing Act, 1924, in England and Wales during each month from October, 1929, to September, 1930, inclusive, and the total number of dwellings now under construction under the same Act?

The following statement gives the information asked for in the first part of the question:

Month and number of houses completed during the month in England and Wales under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924.
1929:
October	…	…	…	6,278
November	…	…	…	4,555
December	…	…	…	3,674

asked the Minister of Health, if, in the different town-planning schemes submitted to him, he is giving full consideration to the objections, properly formulated, of residents who consider that the proposals affect the amenities of the district in which they live; and whether an inquiry is held in all such cases?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative. The permission of development while a town-planning scheme is in course of preparation, however, rests with the local authority concerned, and there is no appeal to me against the granting of such permission. I have recommended local authorities to ascertain and consider the representations of persons likely to be seriously affected by any proposed development before granting permission for it, and I believe that local authorities generally observe the spirit of my recommendation.

asked the Minister of Health whether the four casual wards which were reported last year as having no provision for warming the ward in the winter months have since then been compelled to introduce a heating system; and, if not, what are the names of any where this improvement has not been made?

The reply to the first part of the question is that heating arrangements have been provided in the three cases in question, and the second part does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief in Newcastle-upon-Tyne at the last available date, and the number of such persons on 13th March, 1930?

The number of persons in receipt of poor relief in the county borough of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (excluding persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only) was 13,055 on Saturday, 1st November, 1930. The corresponding figures for March, 1930, cannot be given as prior to 1st April the figures relate to Poor Law unions the boundaries of which were not coterminous with those of the county borough.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief in Great Britain at the last available date, and the number of such persons on 13th March, 1930?

The number of persons in receipt of poor relief in England and Wales (excluding persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only) was 1,107,125 on Saturday, the 15th March, 1930, and 946,008 on Saturday, 25th October, 1930. These numbers do not include rate-aided patients in mental hospitals, who are not now deemed to be in receipt of poor relief. As regards the figures for Scotland, I would refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the fact that the city of Sheffield printing department is undertaking ordinary printing work; and whether he will consider the desirability of taking steps to stop such trading by local authorities?

I have not detailed information of the printing work done by the corporation, and have no jurisdiction in the matter.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the hardship caused by the necessity of old age pensioners who reside in the Isle of Man having to travel to the mainland in order to receive their pensions; and, if so, will he seek to relieve such pensioners of the loss which is incurred by the frequent trips to the mainland?

I am aware that persons who have been awarded pensions under the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908–1924, in the United Kingdom, and who now reside in the Isle of Man, cannot, under the existing law, obtain payment of their pensions unless they attend to cash the orders in this country at intervals of not more than three months. As my hon Friend is no doubt aware, the general question of reciprocity in old age pensions between the various parts of the Empire is at present under consideration by the Imperial Conference, and the suggestion made in the second part of my hon. Friend's question will be borne in mind in connection with any recommendations that may be made as a result of this consideration.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will issue instructions to his independent medical advisers to make a medical examination of the patient before reaching a decision in every case which he submits to them?

It is already an instruction that the independent medical advisers are free to examine personally, or to obtain an independent medical examination of, any officer or man whose claim may be referred to them, whenever they consider this is necessary. Nothing therefore would be gained by adopting the course suggested by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Minister of Pensions (1) when the present lease of Bellahouston Hospital, Glasgow, at present leased by his Department, expires; and what steps have been taken to provide alternative accommodation within the City of Glasgow for ex-service patients still requiring treatment for War disabilities;

The premises and site of Bellahouston Hospital are not held on lease but by agreement with the Scottish Red Cross and the Corporation of the City of Glasgow. As I stated in my answer to the hon. Member for Camlachie (Mr. Stephen) on 10th November, I do not consider that present requirements justify continuance of the hospital beyond January next. I have arranged with the committee of Erskine House, as I stated on the same occasion, to increase the number of Ministry patients treated at Erskine House, while providing for any outpatients at the Ministry clinic in Sauchiehall Street and for cases requiring urgent medical or surgical treatment, at the Royal Infirmary. These arrangements in no way prejudice the interests of limbless men or the purpose for which Erskine House was founded, they merely extend the constant practice of the last 11 years and are in entire concurrence with repeated representations made to my predecessor and myself in favour of increasing the number of patients treated there. During the many years use of the hospital no complaints have been received that the hospital is difficult of access, nor have I any grounds for thinking that such complaint would be well founded.

asked the Minister of Labour of the 2,161,700 persons registered in September as unemployed, how many of these and of which sex were registered in the territory surrounding Liverpool, Manchester, Warrington, and Bolton, and from there extending towards Leeds, and in Glasgow and the South-Western area of Scotland, respectively?

Numbers of persons on the Registers of Employment Exchanges in certain areas at 29th September, 1930.
Area.	Men.	Boys.	Women.	Girls.	Total.
All Employment Exchanges within the area bounded on the North by a line drawn from Liverpool through Wigan and Bolton and thence to Leeds, and on the South by a line drawn from Liverpool to Warrington, Manchester and Leeds.	277,488	12,403	145,467	11,394	1446,752
Glasgow area (including Bridgeton, Finnieston, Glasgow, Glasgow South Side, Govan, Kinning Park, Kirkintillock, Maryhill, Parkhead, Partick, Rutherglen and Springburn Employment Exchanges).	65,721	2,817	17,236	2,285	88,059
South-Western area of Scotland (including the Counties of Lanark (excluding Glasgow area), Renfrew, Ayr, Dumfries, Kirkcudbright and Wigtown).	61,969	2,271	11,435	1,771	67,436

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered as being unemployed in the following industries: artificial silk, motor cars, cutlery, and glove-making for the months of October, 1929 and 1930, respectively?

Separate statistics of unemployment among insured persons are not available in respect of the cutlery and glove industries. At 27th October, 1930, there were recorded as unemployed in Great Britain 19,078 insured persons classified as belonging to the silk and artificial silk industry and 38,577 classified as belonging to the construction and repair of motor vehicles, cycles and aircraft, as compared with 6,899 and 19,509 respectively at 21st October, 1929.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons, and of which sex, have obtained benefits as the result of the Unemployment Act, 1930, who were not eligible for such benefits prior to March of this year?

I regret that there are no statistics enabling me to say with any precision how many persons now drawing benefit would have been ineligible for benefit under the law prior to the passing of the Act of 1930.

asked the Minister of Labour how many young

The following table gives the particulars required:people of the ages 16 to 18 who have had their benefit cancelled are still on the register of the unemployed?

At 27th October, 1930, there were on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain 7,655 boys and 6,267 girls aged 16 and 17 who had had claims for benefit disallowed on the ground that they had not paid 30 contributions, and 287 boys and 148 girls with claims disallowed on other grounds.

asked the Minister of Labour what increase has taken place in the number of unemployed persons signing at the Tottenham Employment Exchange during the three months ended on 31st October, 1930?

The following table gives the information required.

Numbers of persons on the Registers of the Tottenham Employment Exchange at 28th July. 1930, and 27th October. 1930.
—		28th July, 1930.	27th October, 1930.	Increase (+) or Decrease (—).
Men	…	3,512	4,314	+ 802
Boys	…	192	175	- 17
Women	…	809	673	- 136
Girls	…	110	122	+ 12
Total	…	4,623	5,284	+ 661

asked the Minister of Labour how many schemes for the relief of unemployment have been received from the Tottenham Urban District Council; and how many have qualified for grant from the Unemployment Grants Committee?

On 30th July, 1930, the Tottenham Urban District Council made formal application to the Unemployment Grants Committee for a grant from Exchequer funds in aid of 17 schemes of work for the relief of unemployment, estimated to cost £111,411. Of these, two schemes, estimated to cost £12,083, have been approved for grant, while eight schemes, estimated to cost £42,802, were held not to fulfil the requirements. The remainder are still under consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will consider the issue of instructions to the various Government Departments that where Government contracts are placed with private contractors there should be a clause in the contract to ensure that all unskilled labour required must be drawn, as far as possible, from the Employment Exchange in the locality where the work is being carried out?

It is not practicable to make this requirement a condition of the acceptance of Government contracts, but the contracting Departments have adopted arrangements for bringing to the notice of each contractor whose contract is accepted, the facilities provided by the Employment Exchange service for the engagement of workpeople. I am informed that Government contractors do, in fact, make considerable use of the Employment Exchanges, and I hope that this practice will be increasingly followed both by them and by employers generally.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the usual composition of juvenile advisory committees in Scotland prior to the announcement of the recent changes; what were the powers and duties allotted by her Department to those committees; in which areas the proposed new committees are to be set up; and in which of these areas it is proposed to appoint district committees?

I would refer the Noble Lady to the written reply which I gave to her two questions on this subject on 11th November.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men, women, and boys are at present undergoing training in the Woolwich area?

No training centre for unemployed adults is conducted by or on behalf of my Department in the Woolwich area, and no persons resident in Woolwich are at present being trained at any of the adult training centres. The education authority are, however, considering the possibility of establishing junior instruction centre-s for both boys and girls in the area, and hope it may be possible to get them established in the near future.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men ordinarily employed in shipbuilding, ship repairing, or dockyard work, registered at the Employment Exchange at Chatham, Kent-, as being unemployed on 31st October, 1928, and 31st October, 1930, respectively?

At 27th October, 1930, there were 233 persons, classified as belonging to the shipbuilding and ship repairing industry, recorded as unemployed at the Chatham Employment Exchange, as compared with 365 at 22nd October, 1928.

asked the Minister of Labour how many boys leaving elementary schools during the last 12 months for which statistics are available were unemployed on the last date for which statistics are available?

An analysis of the boys on the registers of Employment Exchanges, according to the date of leaving school, is not available for any recent date.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she has yet completed her inquiries into the sweated wages and unhealthy conditions of labour among many outworkers in East London, particularly in the boot and shoe industry, and whether she proposes to take steps, by means of a trade board or otherwise, to improve the conditions.

The inquiries to which the hon. and gallant Member refers have been completed, and a summary of the results will be published in the November issue of the Ministry of Labour Gazette. The results of the inquiry are being brought to the notice of a joint committee of the employers' and workers' organisations in the boot and shoe trade, and I shall await their observations before deciding whether further action is required.

asked the Minister of Labour how the difference of £26,000 arises in the total political fund income of registered trade unions and the contributions of members in 1929?

The difference of £26,000 is accounted for in part by the inclusion in income for statistical purposes of £12,255 transferred from one union to another on amalgamation, in part by an item of £922 "Election expenses returned," and as to the balance almost exclusively by interest on invested funds.

asked the Minister of Labour the initial salary of a temporary clerk taken on by the Ministry of Labour in connection with the payment of unemployment benefit?

The minimum initial salary of an adult temporary clerk, Grade III, newly appointed at an Employment Exchange varies from 48s. 1d. to 54s. 10d. per week in the case of men and from 35s. 5d. to 42s. 3d, in the case of women, according to the town in which the clerk is employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make any statement concerning the progress of the limitation of armament discussions at Geneva; what is the policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to the question of trained reserves; and what instructions have been given to Lord Cecil?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply returned yesterday to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy).

asked the Secretary of State for India which of the delegates from India to the Round-Table Conference were chosen as representing rural interests; and what is the proportion of the rural population to the whole?

While the rural population of India is probably about 75 per cent. of the whole, the hon. Member will appreciate the fact that in the majority of cases delegates were invited who might be representative of as many interests as possible. In many cases, therefore, delegates who might be held more particularly to represent rural interests, represent other interests as well and vice versa. Speaking generally, in inviting the delegates full consideration was had to the necessity of securing as full a measure of representation as the numbers permitted of those who could speak for the agricultural classes in the different Provinces.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is yet able to state the composition of the panel of consumers' representatives for Kent?

The consumers' representatives on the Committee of Investigation appointed under Section 5 of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, for the Kent district are Mr. W. Howell and Mr. Robert B. Miller.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what sums have been paid by the Air Ministry to National Flying Services, Limited, and in respect of what services have these sums been paid?

The total payments made to the company amount to £3,172 16s. Of this sum, £2,770 represents the payments referred to in my reply to the hon. Member for Altrincham (Mr. Atkinson) on 5th November. The balance, £402 16s., is for hire of air taxis used for official purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of complaints by the residents of Finchley and the surrounding districts as to the noise of machine-gun fire at Mill Hill on Sundays, he has made any representations to the officer commanding on the subject?

I am informed that firing does not take place at Mill Hill on Sundays. If the hon. and gallant Member will furnish me with information to enable me to identify the cause for complaint, I shall be happy to make inquiries.

asked the Postmaster-General if any arrangements have been made for the provision of non-stop night-flying air-mail services to Continental capitals?

I have been asked to reply. The necessary ground organisation for night flying has been provided on the routes connecting London and many of the Continental capitals. The question of establishing non-stop night-flying services over these routes is, however, primarily one for decision by the operating companies concerned. I would add that a conference, at which the air and postal administrations of 10 European States were represented, was held last month in Brussels for the preliminary consideration of various questions connected with night air-mail services, and will be followed by another conference next spring.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the report of the Committee on Finance and Industry will shortly be printed; and will it be made available to Members?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave on 30th October to questions on this subject by the hon. Members for Southampton (Mr. Morley), North-East Bethnal Green (Major Nathan), and Birkenhead, East (Mr. White). The report will be made available to Members in the ordinary course.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much timber has been imported into the United Kingdom as part of the trade agreement with the Soviet Union; and if any representations have been received from any Dominion or foreign Government to the effect that this quantity has in any way curtailed or reduced the price of timber from other countries.

Figures of imports into this country of timber from Soviet Russia were given on 30th October in the reply to a question by the lion. and gallant Member for Newbury (Brigadier-General Brown), a copy of which I am sending to the hon. and gallant Member. The temporary Commercial Agreement between this country and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is a most-favoured nation agreement on the usual lines, and contains no provision of the kind implied in the first part of the question. The reply to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the total number of administrative officers employed in his Department; how many of these officers entered the service through the Class I examination; how many entered the administrative grade by promotion or transfer from other grades; and how many officers were appointed to the junior administrative grade direct from the Class I examination or by transfer or promotion from other departments during the years 1926, 1927, 1928 and 1929, respectively?

The assistant principals, principals and higher officers employed in the Treasury at the present time number 66. Of these, 48 were appointed through the open competition for the administrative class. The remainder (18) previously served in some other grade. One appointment has been made to the junior administrative grade in the Treasury during the years mentioned. This appointment was made in 1926 from the open competitive examination list.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the figures showing taxation per head of the population in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the United States of America, Belgium and Sweden, for the latest available year?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the Noble Lady the Member for Kinross and West Perthshire (Duchess of Atholl) on 4th November. The taxation per head in Sweden, which was not given in that answer, is estimated at 94.25 kronor for the year 1930–31.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will give an estimate of the annual cost of the department of the Chief Industrial Adviser to His Majesty's Government?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister earlier this afternoon.