asked the Minister of Labour what number of persons in the service of the railway companies will be affected by the reductions of pay recently proposed by the companies?

I am not in possession of the data necessary for calculating this figure.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the total number of persons holding debenture stock and shares of the railway companies in Great Britain; and whether it is possible to give the average amount of stock held by such shareholders?

The information asked for by the hon. Member is not available. He may, however, care to consult the table showing the approximate number of holdings of loans, debenture stock, share capital and stock in the four amalgamated railway companies, printed on page 129 of Part I of the report of the Committee on Industry and Trade.

asked the Minister of Transport whether in view of the number of railwaymen who have recently been dismissed and the demand made by the railway companies for reductions in wages he will consider the advisability of setting up a committee to inquire fully into the management and commercial side of the railway undertakings in this country?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him last Thursday on this matter.

asked the Minister of Labour in respect of the year 1928–29 the total amount of the grants paid to local authorities in England and Wales for each of the following services, namely, juvenile unemployment centres and wages grants towards works of public utility undertaken to relieve unemployment?

The total amounts paid to local authorities in England and Wales during the year 1928–29 in respect of (a) juvenile unemployment centres and (b) wages grants towards works of utility to relieve unemployment were;£68.585 and £5,350, respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour the present conditions under which foreigners are admitted to this country for the avowed purpose of taking positions as waiters; and the total number of aliens so admitted for the nine months ending 30th September last?

Apart from a very few exceptional cases, the only foreigners who were allowed to enter this country to take up employment as waiters are student employés, that is, persons who come to learn the English language and to complete their training. The arrangements for these admissions provide also for enabling British student employés to go to other countries for the purpose of training. The number of permissions issued during the nine months ended September, 1930, is 207, of which 260 were for student employés.

asked the Minister of Labour, if, from statistics now available, she can indicate what is the increased financial burden on the Unemployment Insurance Fund as a result of the Act of this year, taking the figures of February of this year, and the number of persons unemployed drawing benefit, showing extended benefit as a separate item, and giving; also the equivalent figures for October of this year?

The average weekly number of persons in receipt of Unemployment Benefit in February, 1930, was 1,243,000 and the average weekly payment of Unemployment Benefit was £1,083,000, of which approximately £160,000 was transitional benefit. For October, 1930, the average weekly number of persons in receipt. of benefit was 1,993,000 and the weekly average payment of benefit was 21,803,000 which includes approximately £380,000 for transitional benefit. There is no information available which would enable me to say with any degree of exactitude how much of this increased cost was due to increased unemployment and how much to the amendments in the conditions for the receipt of benefit, and the increased rates of benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1930.

asked the Prime Minister whether he proposes to refer the question of bringing the agricultural worker under an unemployed insurance scheme to the Royal Commission On Unemployment Insurance?

I must ask the hon. and gallant Member to await the announcement of the terms of reference of the Royal Commission which I hope shortly to be able to make.

asked the Minister of Transport, the number of schemes approved for grants in the county of Fife since June, /929; how many have been commenced; the number of men employed; and the estimated cost of the schemes?

I am not in a position to give particulars as re-cards all road works in the county of Fife.

asked the Minister of Transport if he can make any statement as to the new arrangement for the limitation of activities of motor coaches in the busy parts of London; whether this applies to chars-a-banes containing tourists; and whether, in any case, he has consulted those organisations which specialise in providing transport facilities to foreign visitors to this country?

I have under consideration the question of the limitation of motor coach services in the central area of London, but I am unable at this stage to make any statement on the subject. In the event of it being decided to make any regulations dealing with the matter, due notice would be given, before the regulations become operative, so as to allow the parties affected to make any representations they may consider necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much unsterilised cream has been imported into this country since 1st January, 1930, and from what countries did it come?

During the 10 months ended 31st October, 1930, the total quantity of cream imported into this country amounted to 116,733 cwts., of which nearly 99 per cent. was consigned from the Irish Free State, Denmark, the Netherlands and Switzerland. I am unable to state what proportion of this Dream was unsterilised, but in this connection I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to him on 13th November by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity of eggs imported into this country during each of the last three years, together with the average wholesale and retail prices charged for them?

The following table shows the total quantities of eggs, in shell and not in shell imported into this country during each of the years 1927 to 1029 and the first 10 months of 1930.

Period.	Eggs in Shell.	Eggs not in Shell.
	Great Hundreds.	Cwts.
1927	24,340,350	678,066
1928	26,466,490	682,973
1929	24,964.393	781,714
1930 (January to October).	22,359.276	702,674

Detailed information as to the countries from which the imported eggs were consigned and the declared value of the quantities imported from each country for the years to 1929 is given on page 22 of the Second Volume of the Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom for 1929. The countries sending the largest quantities are the Irish

Description of eggs.	Average price in shillings per 120.
	1927.	1928.	1929.	Jan.-Oct., 1930.
Irish (1st quality) at Liverpool. (Prices in transactions between wholesalers and retailers, as published in "The Agricultural Market Report.")	17˙58	17˙58	18˙48	14˙02
Danish (average) at London. (Cash prices in bulk on the market, as published in "The Grocer.")	17˙04	17˙10	18˙84	13˙16

As regards retail prices, I can only refer the hon. Member to the last sentence of the reply given to him on 19th November by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of all the imports of lace and embroidery which were subject to Safeguarding Duties for each of the months of June,

Month.				Cotton lace and net.	Silk Lace.	Artificial Silk Lace.	Lace of other materials.	Embroidery on net or dissoluble fabric.
1929.				£	£	£	£	£
June	…	…	…	27,649	14,042	5,802	890	1,487
July	…	…	…	36,290	19,248	8,356	717	1,412
August	…	…	…	39,457	17,397	7,418	666	2,610
September	…	…	…	35,666	20,088	6,082	981	2,620
October	…	…	…	31,332	18,163	7,230	1,288	2,486
1930.
June	…	…	…	7,219	6,643	3,161	332	1,093
July	…	…	…	28,304	19,676	10,013	938	290
August	…	…	…	15,041	20,556	9,008	25	262
September	…	…	…	26,320	22,927	7,452	1,476	682
October	…	…	…	22,455	16,463	8,107	443	593
NOTES.—As from 1st July, 1930, the imports by parcel post of Lace and Embroidery, other than of silk and artificial silk, are excluded from the above particulars.
Except in the case of goods transhipped under bond, goods passing in transit through the United Kingdom are included in the records of imports.
The above figures exclude throughout lace and embroidery forming part of made up articles.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to create an institute, somewhat on the Free State and Denmark, and the following statement as to wholesale prices relates to Irish and Danish eggs.July, August, September, and October, 1929, and the like figures for the imports of similar goods in the same months of 1930?

The following table shows the total declared value of lace embroidery, of descriptions that were liable to Safeguarding or Silk and Artificial Silk Duties, imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland registered during each month June to October, 1929 and 1930.lines of the institute established in he United States of America by Mr. Mellon the Secretary to the Treasury, with the object of bridging the gulf between science and industry, and to provide a means of testing out new inventions with a view to their being utilised in the development of existing industries and in the establishment of new industries?

Research organisations have already been established in this country for the very purpose which the right hon. Gentleman has in view. With the help of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, 27 research associations have been set up to meet the needs of individual industries and the published records of the Department afford sufficient proof of the value of their work in bringing science and industry into effective contact. It has been represented that the existing organisation needs to be supplemented in certain directions and these representations are now under consideration.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he has any information concerning the recent purchase by a British company from Arcos, Limited, of a quantity of timber from Soviet Russia for delivery in this country in 1930 and 1931; and the price paid for this timber?

Certain information was recently published in the Press concerning an agreement between the Central Softwood Buying Corporation of the United Kingdom and the Central Soviet Timber Export Organisation for the purchase of Soviet timber for the 1931 season. I regret that I have no further information beyond the fact that this agreement was signed on 20th November.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is yet in a position to inform the House what are the exceptional cases in which British firms may by special permission sell direst to wholesalers and retailers in the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics'?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 24th November, 1930, col. 866; Vol 245] supplied the following statement:The exceptions to the general monopoly of foreign trade to which I referred in my answer to the hon. Member on 17th November were not intended to re- late necessarily to British as opposed to other non-Soviet goods. I am not in possession of exhaustive particulars, but such exceptions have hitherto usually taken the form of concessions:—(1) To foreign (i.e., non-Soviet) firms to manufacture within the U.S.S.R. under licence from the Chief Concessions Committee, certain articles for resale to wholesale State and co-operative organisations. Examples of the type are:Allmänna Svenska Elektnska Aktiebolaget (A.S.E.A.) (Swedish) for the manufacture of electric heating appliances.Skefko Ball Bearing Co. ("SKF"). (Swedish), manufacture of ball-bearings.Gas Accumulator (Swedish) for the manufacture of lamps and heating apparatus.Stock & Co. (German) for the manufacture of fancy goods.Raabe (German) manufacture of wooden nails and buttons.Berger & Wirt (German) manufacture of printers' ink.(2) To mining companies permitting the import of certain articles for sale to their employés. Examples of (2) are:Tetiuhe Mining Corporation (British) for mining lead and zinc in Eastern Siberia.An Italo-Belgian company for producing oil in the Shirak Steppe; andCertain minor Japanese coal and oil concessions on the island of Sakhalin.(3) To foreign firms to form in conjunction with a Soviet Government Department a "Mixed Company" for the purpose of carrying on import and export operations on Soviet territory. Examples of this are:Russo-Austrian Trading Company (Russaystorg).Russo-Polish Company (Sovpoltorg).Russo-Persian Company (Shark).It is believed that the number of this type of trading organisation is decreasing.Mention should be made of the fact that it is possible for foreign exhibitors at exhibitions of productive goods held in the Soviet Union to dispose of their exhibits on the spot after the exhibition concerned is over. As an example of this may be mentioned the permanent machinery exhibition held in Moscow by "Technoproinimport." The Department has been informed that on the average 90 per cent, of the goods exhibited at this exhibition have been sold.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the value of the imports of the mandated territory of South-West Africa from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany, respectively, in the years 1928 and 1929; and if he will indicate any special measures adopted by His Majesty's Government to extend the trade of Great Britain in that territory

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 24th November, 1930; col. 865, Vol. 245], supplied the following statementThe value of imports into the mandated territory of South-West Africa was:From the United Kingdom in 1928, £161,295—in 1929, £225,287.From the United States of America in 1928, £145,706—in 1929, £176,584.From Germany in 1928, £556,293—in 1929, £664,546.His Majesty's Government in this country, as a special measure to assist exporters in the United Kingdom, arranged in 1929 for His Majesty's Senior Trade Commissioner in the Union of South Africa to visit the mandated territory and prepare a report. It proved necessary, however, to postpone that visit, because of the more pressing need of sending one of the officers on the Senior Trade Commissioner's staff to report upon the trade of British West Africa early this year, and subsequently the two Trade Commissioners in the Union were largely occupied in connection with the Trade Mission which recently visited the Union and the two Rhodesias, under the leadership of Lord Kirkley. I hope that, with the opening of an additional Trade Commissioner post in Durban, it will be possible next year to give effect to the proposal that the Senior Trade Commissioner should visit the mandated territory.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of public and private companies registered in England for the 12 months ending to the last convenient date?

In the 12 months ended 31st October, 1930, the number of companies registered in England was:

Private	7,801
Other having a share capital	226
Other not having a share capital	100
Total	8,127

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of foreign road stone, curb and setts, have been imported to this country during the past 12 months and what is its value?

During the 12 months ended 31st October last, 244,000 tons of granite (other than setts and pavement curbs and monumental and architectural granite), of a declared value of £188,000; and 109,000 tons of granite setts and pavement curbs, valued at £304,000, were imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland registered s consigned from foreign countries. I am unable to state the amount of foreign road stone, as such, that was imported into this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many tons of wheat were imported from France during 1929 and 1930; what was the amount of bounty paid per ton; and whether the sale price of such wheat in this country was less than production cost?

The total quantity of wheat (grain) imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland, registered during the year 1929 and the first 10 months of 1930 as consigned from France was 1,214 tons and 205,361 tons, respectively. The rate of the duty refund varied from time to time but was always less than the import duty. I have no definite information regarding the cost of production of the wheat imported from France.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the advisability of appointing a committee to consider how far the present incidence of taxation can be altered so as to remove, as far as possible, the burden at present placed on enterprise, re-equipment, and development?

No, Sir. The general question of the effect of taxation on trade and industry was considered by Lord Colwyn's Committee on National Debt and Taxation, and I do not propose to set up another committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total income of the ordinary life assurance societies and companies; what is the total amount of their invested funds; what is the amount invested in Government and in local government funds; and in railways and transport, including shipping?

The revenue accounts of the ordinary life assurance business of companies established in Great Britain show a total income of £107,471,619 for the year 1928, which is the latest year in respect of which complete figures are available. The balance sheets of these companies at the end of 1928 showed investments, including mortgages and loans, totalling £1,051,813,169. I cannot state particulars of the investments in the form asked for in the ques

—		British Government Securities.	British Municipal Securities.	Indian and Colonial Government Municipal and Provincial.	Foreign Government and Municipal.	British and Foreign Railways.
		£	£	£	£	£
Five Companies	…	31,544,487	16,219,912	9,069,840	9,354,764	53,529,141
Collecting Societies	…	3,586,241	27,211,252	‡	‡	‡
° Excludes £564,409 income of Funds of collecting societies other than their Industrial Assurance Funds.
† Includes Benefit Funds other than industrial £2 761,788.
‡ Not separated from Miscellaneous Investments (other than Mortgages and Land and House Property) amounting, to £2,326,293.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when the report of the committee that was set tion, but the hon. Member will find such detailed information as is available on pages 564–5 of the latest issue of the Annual Volume of Assurance Companies Returns prepared by the Board of Trade and presented to Parliament.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total income of the various industrial life assurance companies and societies; what is the total amount of their invested funds; and what is the amount invested in Government and in local government funds, and in railways and transport, including shipping?

The total industrial assurance income of industrial life assurance companies and collecting societies during the year ended 31st December, 1929, was £65,149,319.^* The invested funds of collecting societies amounted to 47,268,681 † at the end of the year. Industrial assurance companies are required to keep a separate account of their industrial assurance fund, but are not required to separate the investments representing the fund. Only five industrial assurance companies separate their investments, and in these cases the investments representing the industrial assurance funds amounted to £153,087,930. No figures are available for investments in transport undertakings other than "railways," but the investments of collecting societies and the five companies classified under the other headings set out in the question were as follow:up to inquire into the question of a national park is expected; if he is aware that large areas of land suitable for preservation for the use of the general public are being encroached upon; and whether he is in a position to announce the Government's intentions on this matter?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave to a similar question from the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean (Mr. Vaughan) on Thursday last, of which I am sending him a copy. I cannot make any announcement on this subject until the Committee's report is available and has been considered.

STATEMENT of numbers of new smallholdings and cottage holdings provided under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1926.
—		1927.	1928.	1929.	1930.*	Total.
England.
Bedfordshire	…	—	—	1	—	—
Bershire	…	1	—	—	—	1
Bucks	…	1	4	1	1	7
Cambs	…	3	1	1	—	5
Cheshire	…	10	7	5	42	64
Cornwall	…	—	—	7	—	7
Cumberland	…	—	—	—	—	—
Derby	…	—	2	—	—	2
Devon	…	—	6	3	12	21
Dorset	…	—	—	5	—	5
Durham	…	—	—	—	—	—
Essex	…	1	3	3	3	10
Gloucester	…	—	11	—	1	12
Hants	…	—	—	4	—	4
Hereford	…	9	—	3	—	12
Hertford	…	—	—	1	—	1
Hunts	…	—	5	—	—	5
Isle of Ely	…	—	4	—	—	4
Isle of Wight	…	—	7	—	—	7
Kent	…	—	9	2	—	11
Lancashire	…	—	35	—	4	39
Leicester	…	—	1	—	3	4
Lincs (Holland)	…	—	—	1	—	1
Lincs Kesteven	…	—	3	5	—	8
Lines (Lindsey)	…	—	—	—	—	—
Middlesex	…	—	—	—	12	12
Norfolk	…	3	19	12	35	69
Northampton	…	—	—	—	—	—
Northumberland	…	—	—	—	3	3
Notts	…	—	—	—	—	—
Oxford	…	—	—	—	—	—
Rutland	…	—	—	—	—	—
Salop	…	6	7	7	15	35
Soke of Pertborough	…	—	—	—	—	—
Somerset	…	2	—	—	8	10
Staffs	…	8	8	1	9	27
Suffolk East	…	—	—	2	—	2
Suffolk West	…	—	3	—	9	12
Surrey	…	—	—	1	3	4
Sussex East	…	—	—	—	—	—
Sussex West	…	—	—	—	—	—
Warwick	…	—	—	10	6	16
Westmorland	…	—	—	—	—	—
Wilts	…	2	1	1	6	10
Worcester	…	51	7	29	17	104
Yorks, East Riding	…	4	—	13	4	21
Yorks, North Riding	…	—	—	—	—	—
Yorks, West Riding	…	10	—	8	17	35
TOTAL ENGLAND	…	111	144	126	210	591

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of new smallholdings and cottage holdings which have been provided by each county in England and Wales in each year under the Smallholdings and Allotments Act, 1926?

The information which my hon. Friend requires is contained in the following statement:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is prepared to advise a reduction in rents of Government steel houses at, Sandyhills, Shettleston, Glasgow, due to the inconvenience suffered by tenants by continual alterations and the lack of comfort in these houses?

I am informed that the alterations referred to will result in safer and more comfortable houses, and that the tenants affected are being allowed compensation for disturbance and inconvenience.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the annual rents of Government steel houses of a similar character at Tarbothie (Shotts), Blantyre, and Shettleston?

No Government steel houses have been built at Blantyre. At Tarbothie only the bungalow type of three apartments has been built, and the annual rent is £15. At Shettleston, flatted and cottage types have been built, and the annual rents are—for flats of three apartments, £27 10s., and for cottages of three and four apartments, £28 and £34, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will have in- quiry made into the sentence of 14 days' hard labour passed on Mr. Martin at Glasgow Marine Court on Saturday, 15th November, by a Glasgow magistrate for contempt of court, with a view to remission of this sentence?

A sentence of 14 days' imprisonment was passed on a man named Robert Morton at the River Bailie Court, Glasgow, on the 15th instant for breach of the peace aggravated by three recent previous convictions. He received no sentence for contempt of court, and was not sentenced to hard labour. I am not prepared to advise any interference with the sentence.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is proposed in the near future to introduce legislation amending the Children Act, 1908, in respect of Scotland?

I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department has under consideration the question of introducing legislation to amend the Children Act, 1908. That Act applies to Scotland, and the present intention is that any amending Bill will also apply to Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received any representations from the edu- cation committees of the cities and county councils in Scotland on the subject of the postponement of the raising of the school age in Scotland; and the names of the authorities which have submitted representations and the date they have proposed for the coming into operation of the change?

Representations on the subject of the postponement of the raising of the school-leaving age in Scotland have been received from the education committees of Perth and Kinross, Angus, Edinburgh and West Lothian, and from the county councils of Moray and Nairn, Wigtown and Renfrew. In two cases only, Edinburgh and Renfrew, was a date suggested, the year in each case being 1934.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any of the experiments now being undertaken under the direction of the Chemical Warfare Committee have reference to the offensive possibilities of poisonous or asphyxiating gases in warfare?

The research and experiments now being conducted have solely defensive measures in view.

asked the Secretary of State for War What other information is available of the comparative effects of the result of poison-gas on living animals and human beings beyond that obtained during or prior to the late War?

The comparative effects are studied both in the laboratories and by practical tests.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of men offering themselves for enlistment in the Army during each of the four weeks from 6th May to 1st June, 1929, and during each of the four weeks from 4th to 30th November, 1929?

The following tables show (a) the number of recruits finally approved during each of the weeks in question; (b) the number of men served with notice papers and the number finally approved during the quarters ended 30th June, 1929, and 31st December, 1929. Figures are not available in the War Office to show the number offering themselves for enlistment week by week.

(a) Number of recruits finally approved.
Week ended			Numbers of recruits finally approved.
1929
11th May	…	…	455
18th May	…	…	381
25th May	…	…	358
1st June	…	…	525
Total	…	…	1,719
1929	…	…
9th November	…	…	440
16th November	…	…	462
23rd November	…	…	462
30th November	…	…	470
Total	…	…	1,834

(b) Number of men served with Notice Paper, and the number finally approved during the quarters ended 30th June and 31st December, 1929.
Quarter ended.	Number served with Notice Papers.	Number finally Approved.
1929.
30th June	15,696	6,130
31st December	15,176	5,525

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of civilian employés, male and female, discharged from the War Department establishments at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, between 1st January, 1930, and 8th November, 1930, other than those discharged on reaching age limits, on medical grounds or cases of transfer from one War Department establishment at Woolwich to other Government establishments at Woolwich or elsewhere

The number of discharges in question are: Non-industrials, 31; industrials, 199. These figures include discharges for misconduct and unsuitability, discharges of casual labour and deaths, but exclude resignations.

asked the Chancellor of the. Exchequer whether, in view of the doubts as to the decisions come to at the Imperial Conference with regard to the continuation of the existing Imperial Preferences and the anxiety caused by such uncertainty in the cutlery, gloving, and gas-mantle trades, he is willing to make a statement as to the intentions of the Government with regard to existing Safeguarding Duties?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by me on Thursday last in answer to ques

District.	Underground Workers.					Quarter ended June, 1930.
	Average Daily Hours.*		General Practice with regard to shorter hours on Saturday.	Average Time Spent Under-ground in a Full Week.		Average Cash Earnings per manshift worked.†		Average number of Shifts ‡ worked per week per person employed.	Average weekly Cash Earnings per person employed.†
	Hrs.	Mins.		Hrs.	Mins.	s.	d.		s.	d.
Scotland	8	26	Some pits work 11 days per fortnight, but the practice is not general.	48	53	9	2·32	5·46	50	2
Northumberland—
(a) Hewers	7	52	11 days worked per fortnight.	43	14	7	7·81	4·47	34	3
(b) Others	8	22		45	59
Durham—
(a) Hewers	7	57	See note below.?	44	19	8	1·03	4·68	37	10
(a) Others	8	27		47	17
Yorkshire	7	59	½hour less	45	33	10	1·40	4·11	41	6
Lancashire and Cheshire	8	34	2 hours less	49	14	9	2·24	4·36	40	0
Nottingham and Derby	8	8	2 hours less	49	14	9	2·24	4·36	41	0
South Derby	8	32	2 hours less	49	2	9	7·71	3·77	36	4
Leicester	8	30	2¾hours less	47	58
Cannock Chase	8	30	2½hours less	48	28	9	1·60	3·90	35	7
Warwick	8	29	2½hours less	48	13	10	7·61	4·52	48	1
South Wales and Monmouth.	8	30	1 hour less	49	29	9	5·94	4·93	46	10
Forest of Dean	8	36	1 hour less	49	1	8	6·88	4·78	41	0
Somerset	8	31	1 hour less	50	0	8	0·74	4·44	35	10
North Wales	8	38	1½ hours less	49	51	8	3·39	4·80	39	9
Bristol	8	25	1 hour less	49	80	8	6·21	5·09	43	4
North Staffordshire	8	31	2 hours less	48	11	9	0·35	4·35	39	3
South Staffordshire	8	19	2 hours less	47	54	8	0·06	5·44	43	6
Salop	8	28	2 hours less	48	48	8	2·77	5·07	41	9
Cumberland	8	23	1½ hour less	46	11	9	2·04	4·92	45	2
Kent	7	53	1 hour less	44	13	11	2·92	4·90	55	2
NOTE: It should be noted that the particulars of cash earnings shown above do not include the value of allowances in kind which varied from about 5s. 3d. per week in Northumberland and Durham to about 2½. per week in Scotland and in Lancashire, Cheshire and North Staffordshire.
* The average time below ground includes one winding time.
† These particulars relate to workers employed above and below ground and to boys.
‡ Including week-end and overtime shifts.
§ At one third of the collieries 6½ hours bank to bank are worked by hewers on every Saturday and 7½ hours plus one winding time by other underground labour. At two thirds 7¼ hours bank to bank are worked by the workmen on alternate Saturdays.

asked the Secretary for Mines what, at the latest date for which figures are available, were the average hours worked per week by, and the average weekly earnings of, coal miners in each district in the United Kingdom?

The information required, so far as it is available, is given in the following table:

asked the Secretary for Mines how many districts have made application to the Board of Trade for an order authorising a spread over of working hours in accordance with the provisions of Section 14 of the Coal Mines Act, 1930?

No such application has yet been made.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many boys under 16 and under 18 are now working in mines; how many boys at each age were killed and injured during last year; and whether he intends to follow the example of Germany and other countries and prohibit the employment of boys underground in mines?

Fourteen is the minimum age adopted in the International Convention dealing with this subject, to which effect was given in the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act, 1920, and I am not aware that other countries have fixed a higher statutory minimum age.

asked the Secretary for Mines what numbers of district schemes have been approved by him under Section 1 of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, and for what districts?

Sixteen district schemes have been approved under Part I of the Coal Mines Act, 1930. These schemes cover all districts except Scotland, for which a scheme has been made by my Department. Following is a list of the districts:

1. Cannock Chase.

2. Bristol.

3. Cumberland.

4. Durham.

5. Forest of Dean.

6. Kent.

7. Lancashire and Cheshire.

8. Midland (Amalgamated), which includes Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire (North and South).

9. North Staffordshire.

10. Northumberland.

11. North Wales.

12. Shropshire.

13. Somerset.

14. South Staffordshire (exclusive of Cannock Chase) and Worcestershire.

15. South Wales (including Monmouthshire).

16. Warwickshire.

17. Scotland.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is now able to state what progress has been made towards bringing to an end the power of the South Staffordshire Mines Drainage Board to levy rates for work which they are no longer performing?

I am still awaiting a communication from the mineowners concerned. I suggested a further meeting between them, and I understand that they are meeting to consider the matter this week.

asked the Secretary for Mines the wholesale and retail prices of coal produced in the Radstock coalfield governing the winter months for 1928, 1929, and 1930?

I regret that this information is not available in my Department.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of collieries working in the County of Fife, and the number of miners and other workers at present employed in them, and the comparable figures for the same period last year?

At 15th November, 1930, 45 coal mines, employing 21,350 wage-earners, were working in the County of Fife. At the same date in 1929, the comparable figures were 43 and 22,100.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents in and about the coal mines of this country for the year 1930 up to date; and if the numbers have decreased or increased upon the figures given by the Chief Inspector of Mines in his report for 1929?

During the first 10 months of 1930, there were 831 deaths from accidents at mines under the Coal Mines Act and 3,119 persons seriously injured. The death rate per 1,000 persons employed was 0.86 and the serious injury rate 3.25, as compared with 0.93 and 3.59, respectively, for the first 10 months of 1929.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether be is aware that Canadian importers of Soviet coal have undertaken to purchase no more this winter; and will he consider bringing this to the notice of coal exporters in this country with a view to developing Empire trade?

I understand that Canadian importers, at the request of the Dominion Government, gave an undertaking some weeks ago not to import anthracite from Russia during this autumn and winter, and that British coal exporters were fully aware of the position. As the hon. and learned Member will appreciate, the import of coal into Canada by sea between the closing and opening of the St. Lawrence is negligible.

asked the Secretary far Mines whether he is aware that the owners of most of the Goal mines in the Lancashire division have adopted mechanical means of haulage underground to the total exclusion of horse and pony haulage; and whether he will consider the desirability of issuing a special circular urging colliery owners in other divisions to act in a similar way?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In the Lancashire coalfield the high inclination of the seams specially lends itself to the use of combined gravity and mechanical haulage, and in fact makes the employment of horses for the most part impossible. In most other parts of the country there are methods of work and conditions which lend themselves to horse haulage; and in some cases, indeed, the only alternative to it is man-haulage. In these circumstances, the answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. It is, however, the considered policy of my Department to give every possible encouragement to the substitution of mechanical for horse haulage wherever working conditions permit.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will furnish a return of the number of colliery companies, together with their capital and output, which have failed since 1926 in the South Wales coalfields?

As far as I am aware, the number of colliery undertakings in South Wales and Monmouthshire which have gone into liquidation since 1926 is 54, controlling 97 pits. I have not sufficient information to enable me to give the capital involved. Twenty-three of the pits, with a previous annual output of 580,000 tons, have been abandoned; 18, with a previous annual output of 868,000 tons, are closed but not abandoned; and 56, with an annual output of 5,300,000, are still working.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the committee set up by him to report on the sale of surplus Government property has yet reported; and whether any action has been taken under it as to the sale of Government property?

The committee has not yet reported.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has received the report of inquiry held by Professor Louis into the gold-mining industry of Merionethshire; and whether he proposes to publish it?

I have received Professor Louis' report and hope to publish it early in December.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if the British Government accept any responsibility for those British subjects who, under approved terms of the Overseas Settlement Act, proceed to one Dominion or another to settle on the land, in so far as to assure them that the promised terms of settlement will be strictly carried out; and if he is aware of cases where the conditions of settlement include the investment of part of their capital in Dominion stocks associated with land development schemes?

Migrants proceeding to the Dominions under land settlement schemes arranged to pursuance of the Empire Settlement Act, 1922, are selected by the respective Oversea Governments, and it is the latter who are responsible for all arrangements made for their reception and settlement. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative: but if the hon. and gallant Member is aware of any such cases, I should be glad if he would let me have particulars.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that letters addressed to Mrs. Mary Knight, of Manchester, the mother of Hugh Hutchison, one of the defendants in the Meerut trial, have been opened in the course of transit through the post; and on what grounds such action has been taken?

My right hon. Friend knows nothing of any such action or of any ground for the suggestion, and the second part of the question therefore does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will define the legal position in respect to the fiscal position of India?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a memorandum on the subject which was circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT of 24th March.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has received representations regarding the disadvantage London traders experience through packets bearing a, halfpenny stamp, and posted after 4.30 p.m., not being delivered until the afternoon of the following day, whereas in the provinces similar packets are apparently delivered the following morning; and whether he will consider the desirability of removing this anomaly?

The arrangements by which packets bearing a halfpenny stamp and posted in London after 4.30 p.m., whether for London or provincial addresses, are held over to be dealt with the following morning; by relieving the sorting work at the period of heaviest pressure, enable the night mails to be cleared punctually, besides effecting considerable economies and improvements in staffing, and I cannot see my way to modify them. Similar arrangements are in force at a number of provincial towns. Printed papers prepaid a penny receive the same treatment as ordinary letters. I have received a letter on the subject from my right hon. Friend, to which I am sending a reply in writing.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in the interests of accurate accountancy, he will issue special 2d, stamps for receipt purposes and only credit the Inland Revenue with the receipts from sales of these special stamps

The estimates of the value of postage stamps used for Inland Revenue purposes are reasonably accurate, and as a reversion to the use of special receipt stamps would cause great inconvenience to the public, I regret that I am unable to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Postmaster-General whether telephonic communication has yet been established with the Channel Islands; and, if not, when this service will be available?

The work involved in providing telephonic communication with Jersey and Guernsey is being pressed on, and I hope that the service will be available to the public early next year.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent the rental obtained for the advertisement space for foreign bacon in postal-stamp books exceeded the rent which could have been obtained for an advertisement of British or Dominion produce?

The advertisement was limited to a single issue of the book of stamps and was the only one obtainable for that issue. No question of relative rentals therefore arose.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made with the construction of the new Elm-bridge telephone exchange; when it will be in operation; and whether he is aware that hundreds of subscribers formerly on the Kingston exchange have for several months been paying double the former cost of calls because they have been transferred to Elmbridge in theory but not in fact?

The site has been acquired, building operations will start early in the New Year, and the new exchange is expected to be available in about two years. The telephone rentals charged to Elmbridge subscribers are lower than those payable by Kingston subscribers; while some call fees are lower and others higher for Elmbridge subscribers than the corresponding fees for Kingston subscribers. A large proportion of the Elmbridge subscribers pay less for their telephone service by reason of the transfer.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the bulk system of handling registered letters recently introduced into the service with Sweden is to be extended to other services between this country and foreign countries; to what extent the bulk system is in use in the services between foreign countries; whether he is satisfied that the bulk system offers adequate security for articles sent by the registered post; and whether he is satisfied that the bulk system offers effective safeguards for the staff?

The system of advising registered letters in bulk in the service with Sweden was adopted experimentally in June last on the suggestion of the Swedish Post Office. Any extension of the arrangement to other services will depend upon the results of the experiment. I have no knowledge of the extent to which the system is in use between foreign postal administrations; but I understand that it has been in force for some years between Sweden and other countries. The results of the experiment to date have given no reason for supposing that the system is detrimental to the security of the registered letters or to the interests of the staff dealing with them.

asked the Postmaster-General the results of the experiments that have been conducted in this country for the purpose of establishing telephonic communication with moving trains; and is it proposed to establish an experimental service on any of the main lines in the near future?

Experiments have shown that telephonic communication with moving trains is practicable; but at present the demand for such communication does not seem likely to be sufficient to justify the expense involved to the railway companies in the provision of facilities.

asked the Postmaster-General whether His Majesty's Government are prepared to hand over the administration of the telephone and telegraphic services to a public corporation independent of political control?

The reply is in the negative.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of villages in Leicestershire in which no public telephone is installed; and the correspond-ing figure for a year ago?

The numbers are 20 and 40, respectively.

asked the Postmaster-General the approximate number of letters that have been held up or stopped by the postal authorities in Great Britain from being forwarded to the secretary of the hospital fund sweepstake at Dublin; and whether these letters have now been returned to the original senders?

As stated in the reply of the 19th instant to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hacking), the approximate number of letters which have been stopped is over 9,000. With the exception of seven letters which did not contain the senders names and addresses, all the letters containing remittances have been returned to the senders.

asked the Postmaster-General what, at the latest date for which figures are available, was the number of telephones per 1,000 population in this country; and how do the figures compare with the number of telephones per 1,000 population in the United States of America, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, and Germany, respectively?

The figures on 1st January last were 42, 169, 144, 94, 83, 65, and 50, respectively.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. Sidney Hill, 40, Percy Street, Greenfields, Shrewsbury; and whether in view of the difference of opinion contained in the medical evidence, he will consider giving the claimant the benefit of the doubt?

The facts of this case have, as the hon. Member has been informed, been most fully and sympathetically considered, but I am advised that the disease from which Mr. Hill is suffering cannot be certified to be the result of his War service. In these circumstances, I regret that I am unable to take further action.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether it is the practice in Income Tax appeal cases to print and supply special copies of the Income Tax Acts for official use in such cases; how many copies have been printed and supplied for such purposes during the past 12 months; and what has been the cost?

All appellants to the House of Lords are expressly required by its Rules to furnish for its use 15 printed and bound volumes of the documents in the case and to include in them all material sections of any Act of Parliament intended to be referred to at the hearing. They are permitted however, to include King's Printers copies of the Acts, instead of printing the material sections, if this is more economical. In Income Tax appeals to the House of Lords it is much more economical to supply King's Printers copies of the Income Tax Act, 1918, than to print the material sections. The Crown has been appellant in six Income Tax cases in the past 12 months, and has therefore had to supply 90 copies of the Income Tax Act, 1918. They were not specially printed, and cost £18 in all.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of cases in which unemployment relief grants had been sanctioned which are affected by the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the Seaham Harbour Dock Company v. Crook; in how many of these cases the Income Tax assessments had been appealed against and were under review; and in how many cases the assessments had become final and conclusive before the date of the judgment?

I regret that this information is not available.