asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated amount required to provide for the additional expenditure through the raising of the school age in Scotland; how many additional teachers and how many additional school places will require to be provided in each year up to the peak year of the birth rate; and the figures showing the reduction in the number of school teachers and in the school places in the years immediately following?

The information as to numbers and costs which I have sought from the new education authorities is not yet complete. In the circumstances, I propose to defer a statement as to these matters until I introduce the Bill providing for maintenance allowances in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of children between the ages of 11 and 15 years whom he estimates will be retained in school on 31st March in every year from 1933 to 1938, inclusive?

The following are the figures asked for. Allowance has been made for the number of children to be retained as a result of the raising of the school-leaving age to 15 years on 1st September, 1932.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is yet in a position to put before the House definite information regarding the scheme by which it is proposed to operate the Agricultural Credits (Scotland) Act, which has now been in force since 1st April, 1929; and, if not, by what date he expects to be able to supply this information?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to make a statement as to the arrangements made for bringing into operation Part 1 of the Agricultural Credits (Scotland) Act?

I had a meeting in Edinburgh on 22nd November with representatives of the Scottish banks, when detailed proposals for operating Part I of the Agricultural Credits (Scotland) Act were considered. I am having a further meeting with representatives of the banks concerned, next week, and I cannot at the moment say when a decision will be reached or what it will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of houses in the Deer and Turriff districts of Aberdeenshire which have been improved under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, and the number on which work is now in progress?

I am informed that the numbers of houses in the former Deer and Turriff districts of Aberdeenshire which have been improved to date under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, are 236 and 57 respectively, and that the numbers of those on which work is now in progress under that Act are 29 and 33 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of employment schemes in respect of which applications for grants have been made from Scotland during the past 12 months; the aggregate expenditure involved in these schemes; the number of such schemes which have been sanctioned; and the amount of expenditure which will be thereby incurred?

It is difficult to give information in the precise form required by my hon. Friend, but I have ascertained, from records which are readily available, that on 31st October there were in operation in Scotland, with assistance from various grant-making Departments, 289 schemes, the total cost of which was estimated at about £7,400,000 employing 9,214 men. In addition, 185 schemes, the total cost of which is estimated at about £1,510,000, have been approved but are not in operation.

asked the Minister of Labour if she is aware that the Singer Sewing Machine Works at Clydebank are to be closed from 18th December until 5th January; and whether the workers laid off will receive unemployment benefit during the period the works are closed, as New Year's Day is the only official holiday at the period recognised by Statute?

I am informed that these works will be closed for the 14 working days from 19th December to 3rd January, inclusive, and that the customary holiday comprises the seven working days from 27th December to 3rd January inclusive, Any question as to which of these days are in fact to be treated as holidays and which may count for benefit must be settled by the statutory authorities. The decision must depend to some extent on the unemployment experience of individual workers.

asked the Minister of Transport what restrictions on motor traffic exist on the road between Callander and the Trossachs; and if it is proposed to have the same restrictions on the proposed road between the Trossachs and Aberfoyle?

As regards the road between Callander and the Trossachs, an Order was made under the provisions of the Motor Car Act, 1903, under which the driving on this road of motor cars exceeding 6 feet in width or 2¾ tons in weight unladen was prohibited; but I am advised that if the county council desire such a restriction to be in force, it will be necessary for them to apply for an Order under Section 46 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930. I do not contemplate that any such restriction will be required on the proposed new road between Aberfoyle and the Trossachs.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed and numbers on short time in the hollow-ware trade at the beginning of June, or near date, and the number of unemployed at the latest available date?

Separate statistics of unemployment in respect of the hollow-ware industry are not available. For statistical purposes this industry is separated into two groups, both of which include a number of other industries.

asked the Minister of Labour if she will take steps to ascertain whether there is a shortage in this country of any of the goods required to satisfy

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of unemployed registered at the Cardiff Exchanges on 1st December, and on what date previous to this year the number was approximately the same, and giving the number then registered?

the needs and comforts of the entire population, with a view to the unemployed workers being organised for the production of such goods; and will she consider, should investigation reveal that there is no shortage but, on the contrary, abundance, how the system of distribution, particularly among the working classes of this country, can be improved so that it may keep pace with production?

I am afraid the investigation suggested by my hon. Friend does not fall within the scope of my Department.

asked the Minister of Labour the percentage of unemployment in the shipbuilding and ship repairing industries in Birkenhead, Liverpool and the other shipbuilding and ship repairing centres of Great Britain on the 24th November last, and on the corresponding date last year?

The following table gives the information desired:

At 1st December, 1930, there were 17,288 persons on the I registers of the Cardiff, Bute Docks and Penarth Employment Exchanges, including 14,138 men, 478 boys, 2,171 women and 501 girls. The date, previous to this r year, at which the number on the registers approached this total was 22nd November, 1926, when the figure was 15,884, including 13,970 men, 356 boys, 1,164 women and 394 girls.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any representations have been, or are being, made by the Government to the Bank of England in regard to the effect on employment of the credit policy of the Bank; and, if so, what?

No such representations are requisite.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed women attached to the Warrington Employment Exchange who have been offered training for domestic service, and the number who have accepted domestic employment?

It has been made known generally to the women on the live register of the Warrington Exchange that domestic training can be provided for all suitable unemployed women who desire it. So far, 49 women have been approached individually to ascertain whether they wish to enter training. Since the beginning of 1930, 167 women have been placed in domestic employment by the Warrington Exchange.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the breakdown in the telegraph communication to Storn-away and the Outer Hebrides; and what has been done to get an early resumption of the usual facilities?

The interruption of communication was reported at about 6 p.m. on Sunday, 30th November, and a service by wireless was opened soon after noon on the 3rd instant. The wireless service will be maintained until the cable can be repaired.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the failure of many local and suburban post offices to deal with modern developments in their services; and whether he contemplates taking any action to bring them up to date?

I am not aware of any general failure such as the hon. Member refers to, but if he will furnish particulars of any cases which he has in mind, I shall be glad to inquire into them.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the crisis in the jute industry, the Government of India will consider whether it can assist the Government of Bengal in taking such steps as may be considered necessary or advisable to put the industry on a sound basis?

I believe that the Government of India have had the matter under their consideration, and I have no doubt that they will take any practicable measures to assist the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will give information in regard to the terms of the financial arrangement between the post and telegraphs department in India and the authority responsible for the carrying of the air mails from Karachi to Delhi, and the arrangement it is proposed to make with the same authority for the carrying of the air mails on from Delhi to Calcutta when that service is open?

The Government of India have entrusted the commercial management of the Karachi-Delhi section of the Indian State Air Service to the Posts and Telegraphs Department as a temporary measure until 1st April, 1931, and I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend an extract from the proceedings of the Standing Finance Committee of the Indian Legislative Assembly which sets out the detailed arrangements. I have no information as to the procedure contemplated when the service is extended to Calcutta.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the con- tinually increasing congestion of pedestrian and vehicular traffic on the 15-feet-wide main arterial road which runs between the Bath Road and Uxbridge Road and over the Great Western Railway bridge at Hayes in Middlesex, and where, in addition to the 24,000 local population, some 12,000 employ és of the adjoining factories at periods pour into this roadway, on which two laden motor vehicles have scarcely room to pass; if so, what steps have been taken to provide for the widening of this bridge and road since the deputation from the Hayes Urban District Council waited upon his Department on 11th July, 1929; and when the work is expected to commence?

I am aware of the congestion of traffic at this point. The Middlesex County Council entered into negotiations with the Great Western Railway Company, who agreed to prepare plans for the widening of the bridge. Owing, however, to pressure of work, the railway company have been unable to proceed with the plans, and it has now been arranged that the county council should prepare them. Negotiations with regard to the scope of the work are in progress between the county council and the railway company, but I am unable to say when it is likely to be started.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of reparation payments by Germany for the year ended 31st August,. 1930 showing each separate payment applicable to the British Empire, reparation recovery, cash transfers, and the Army of occupation?

The receipts of the British Empire in respect of German reparation for the period ended 31st August, 1930, were as follow:

Sums received in sterling .

To this total must be added:

This sum was disposed of as follow:

In addition the British Empire share of the proceeds of the German Government 5 ½ per cent. International Loan issued in June, 1930, amounted to £10,359,592, of which the share of the United Kingdom was £9,057,248.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the nature of the communications which have passed between the Government, or Treasury officials, and the Government of Australia or the Commonwealth Bank, with reference to any of the questions discussed between Sir Otto Niemeyer and the Federal Government?

No such communications have passed.

asked the Secretary for Mines what number of collieries are now working in the South Wales coalfield; what number have closed down during the last two years, 1929 and 1930, to date; and the total number of men working underground, the number on the surface, and the number of boys under 16 years of age underground for the same period?

At the 29th November, 1930, 419 pits in South Wales and Monmouth were working. Since 1st January, 1929, 138 pits, employing 18,300

NOTE.—Owing to the national stoppage of work at the mines in 1926, only small quantities of coal were exported during this period.

asked the Secretary for Mines what districts have made application to the Board of Trade for an order varying the hours of work in accordance with the proviso to Subsection (1) of Section 14 of the Coal Mines Act, 1930; whether this application has been made in each case with the approval of the Mining Association and the Miners' Federation, respectively; whether these orders have been granted and, if so, for how long each of them is in force; and what, in each case, are the hours of work agreed upon?

No orders under the proviso referred to have yet been made,

wage-earners, have closed and not reopened; 84 of these pits were small, employing less than 20 men each. During 1929, the average number of wage-earners employed underground was 150,800, including 7,100 boys under 16 years of age, and the number employed on the surface was 25,000. Similar details are not yet available for 1930, but the estimated average number of wage-earners employed below and above-ground to date is 171,500.

asked the Secretary for Mines the price charged for Welsh export coal f.o.b. in each month during 1913 and the prices charged in 1925, 1926, 1929 and 1930 to date?

The information, so far as it is available, is as follows:

because no application has yet been made with the approval of the Miners' Federation which under the Act is necessary in order to make an application effective. The matter is still under consideration by the Miners' Federation.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether the Goal Mines Reorganisation Commission has yet been appointed; if so, who its members are and what progress has been made with its labours?

An announcement about the appointment of the Commission will be made in the course of a few days.

asked the Secretary for Mines what number of inspectors there are for South Wales and Monmouthshire, giving each class separately, chief inspectors, deputy chief inspectors, and sub-inspectors; and what number are able to speak Welsh?

In South Wales and Monmouthshire there are employed two divisional inspectors, three senior inspectors, seven junior inspectors, seven sub-inspectors of mines and quarries, and two horse inspectors. In addition one junior electrical inspector spends part of his time in South Wales and Monmouthshire. Of these 22 inspectors, 11 have a thorough knowledge and eight others some knowledge of the Welsh language.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has data showing what effect Part III. of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, will have upon wages and upon employment, respectively?

No, Sir; the answer to this question depends upon the results of future negotiations between the owners and the workmen and upon the future state of trade. On this occasion I can only say that the view of the Government has always been that with proper organisation of the industry the provisions of Part III. of the Act should have no adverse effect upon either wages or employment.

asked the Minister of Health the annual mortality from smallpox per 1,000,000 children, living, at ages under 15 years, during the following periods: 1851 to 1860, 1861 to 1870, 1871 to 1880, 1881 to 1893, 1891 to 1900, 1901 to 1910, 1911 to 1920, and 1921 to 1930, or the latest figures available?

The particulars asked for are not available for the periods 1851 to 1860 and 1881 to 1893, but the figures for the remaining periods mentioned are given in the following table, the year 1890 being substituted for 1893:

asked the Minister of Health what was the vaccinal condition of the 10 cases of smallpox which were notified in port sanitary districts during the year 1929?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will supply the names of the sanitary districts having a population of not less than 150,000 in which cases of smallpox occurred in 1929 (as mentioned in the table on page 70 of the last annual report of the chief medical officer of his Department), and state the number of cases which occurred in each district?

The particulars asked for are as follow:

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any reason to believe that the mild form of smallpox which has been prevalent in certain districts of this country during the past eight years has shown any greater incidence in those counties in which vaccination has been largely neglected as compared with those counties in which the practice has been more largely observed; and, if so, will he supply statistical data in support of his view?

I have no specific evidence that the incidence in any area of the type of smallpox at present prevalent in this country bears any close relation to the percentage of infants vaccinated in that area. The incidence of the disease is, however, almost entirely limited to unvaccinated persons or persons who have not been successfully vaccinated within recent years.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has information regarding the towns in which Schick testing and diphtheria immunisation are being practised; and whether he can state the number of children in those towns that have been Schick tested and have received one, two, or three immunisation inoculations for each year separately?

I have sanctioned the provision of facilities for Schick testing and immunisation against diphtheria in 38 districts in England and two in Wales, and I have information that these facilities are also provided in other areas. The information asked for in the second part of the question is not available.

asked the Minister of Health the proportion of cases treated in dispensaries for the prevention of tuberculosis in which the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis was confirmed by X-ray examination?

The number of X-ray examinations made in 1929 for every hundred new cases and contacts who were examined in tuberculosis dispensaries in England and Wales was slightly over 25. I have no information as to how many of these examinations resulted in the confirmation of a diagnosis.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent facilities for the X-ray examination of the chest are at the service of medical officers in charge of dispensaries for the prevention of tuberculosis?

Definite arrangements for X-ray examination have been made by 122 out of 140 tuberculosis authorities in England and Wales, and by all the Metropolitan borough councils. Other tuberculosis authorities have from time to time provided X-ray examinations for particular cases.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of post-vaccinal encephalitis were brought to the notice of his Department during the 12 months 1st October, 1929, to 30th September, 1930; how many of them proved fatal; and which of the cases, if any, were vaccinated with Government lymph?

14 cases in which symptoms suggestive of disease of the central nervous system following within a month of vaccination have been brought to the notice of my Department as having occurred during the 12 months ended 30th September, 1930. I am advised that eight of these cases, four of which proved fatal, may be regarded as cases of postvaccinal encephalitis. Of these eight cases, seven were vaccinated with Government lymph, and in one case there is no information as to the lymph used.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the case of James Bush, William Johnson, and James Smithers, labourers, who were sentenced to 14 days' hard labour for refusing to do their allotted task in the Wisbech Poor Law Institution on 4th November on the ground that they had brought a note from a gang master the night before asking the master to allow them to go early the next morning as he had work for them; and whether he will take steps to advise the public assistance committees that the regulations in regard to the detention of casuals should be administered in such a way as to ensure in the future that men are not compelled to spend their time in prison rather than at the work they have sought and found?

My right hon. Friend has seen newspaper reports of this case. He is making inquiries in regard to it, and will take them into consideration in framing the new Order regulating the relief of casuals, which, following the report of the recent Departmental Committee, he has in preparation.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the pain caused, he will arrange for an an æsthetic to be administered to the calves used at the Hendon Vaccine Institute for the production of glycerinated calf lymph during the process of extracting the lymph from the vesicles raised on the body of the calf?

My hon. Friend's suggestion has been previously considered, but was not adopted as the administration of an an æsthetic to a calf is associated with some distress to the animal. The present procedure, which has been in operation for more than 30 years with satisfactory results, is not attended by evidence of undue suffering to the animals, and I see no ground, therefore, for the modification of practice suggested.

asked the Minister of Health how many calves were used at the Government station at Hendon for the production of lymph for vaccination during each of the last three years; whether the method employed in the production of lymph was substantially similar to that described in the Government Report on Glycerinated Calf Lymph issued in 1897; and how many of the animals used, if any, were under the influence of an an æsthetic while the lymph was extracted?

The number of calves used at the Government lymph establishment for the production of vaccine lymph was 418 in 1927, 438 in 1928, and 278 in 1929. The answer to the second part of the question is "Yes," and to the last part "None."

asked the Minister of Health the number and value of bricks imported into this country for the 12 months ending 31st October, 1930; and whether any of these bricks, and, if so, to what extent, have been utilised for schemes in connection with which grants from the Ministry of Health have been given to local authorities?

207,041,000 bricks were imported into this country during the year ended 31st October, 1930, which may be taken to be approximately 5 per cent. of the annual production of bricks in this country. The total c.i.f. value of these imported bricks is recorded as £500,088. My right hon. Friend has no information of the extent to which these bricks have been used for State-assisted housing schemes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any statistics or other information showing the fall in world prices of any of the principal necessities in the chief countries since the War?

Statistics regarding the movements of wholesale prices of important groups of commodities in some of the principal countries of the world are published quarterly in the Board of Trade Journal, and corresponding information regarding wholesale prices in the United Kingdom is also published periodically in the Journal, the latest figures being contained in the issues for 20th November and 13th November respectively. Detailed particulars regarding individual commodities are contained in the monthly publications of the International Institute of Statistics, copies of which I shall be glad to place at the disposal of my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the value and nature of the merchandise sent by Turkey to the Irish Free State and by the Irish Free State to Turkey during the past 12 months?

According to the trade returns of the Irish Free State, the total value of the imports into that country recorded as consigned from Turkey during 1929 was £2,532 and of exports consigned from the Irish Free State to Turkey £10,219. The nature of the merchandise is not published in the returns.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade as representing the Forestry Commissioners whether the reafforestation of Dartmoor, which is being undertaken, merely affects the land enclosed already by the Duchy of Cornwall?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the delay in the payment of compensation claims to injured workpeople in the case of employers who go into liquidation and have not previously insured their workpeople for compensation purposes; and whether he is prepared to take the necessary steps to reduce the delay?

My right hon. Friend is well aware of the hardship which workmen have suffered in the way mentioned, but he regrets that it does not seem possible to remedy the situation except by legislation. Inquiries have shown that liquidators generally are alive to the position and make payments whenever possible, but sometimes the funds at their disposal are quite insufficient. As already stated in reply to recent questions, the Government have the matter under serious consideration, but my right hon. Friend is not in a position at present to make any announcement.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give a return of the suicides for the past 10 years, showing the numbers in age groups up to 20 years, 20 to 40 years, 40 to 65 years and over 65 years, showing males and females separately?

I have been asked to reply. Of the deaths registered in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years, the numbers classified to suicide are given in the following table by sex and age.

asked the hon. Member for Carlisle, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, whether the Commissioners own any property in North Kensington?

The Commissioners' Paddington Estate includes some 36 houses on the eastern boundary of the borough of Kensington, near Kensington Gardens. If the North Kensington Postal District be meant, the Commissioners own therein some houses, etc., in Kilburn Lane, and nearby.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what recommendations of the interim and final reports of the Royal Commission on Museums have not been put into operation; and whether a decision will be given on these points in the near future?

I would refer to my reply of 29th. May last to a question of ray hon. Friend. Since then, as he is no doubt aware, it has been decided to set up a Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries, and we have also amongst other things introduced legislation effecting an alteration in the control of the British Museum and the Natural History Museum, and facilitating loans abroad. The extent to which other recommendations of the Royal Commission are being implemented cannot be adequately explained in a reply to a Parliamentary question.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps he has taken, and proposes to take, to increase the proportion of commissions, other than those of quartermasters, granted from the ranks to the total number of commissions?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given him on 4th November by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary.

asked the Secretary of State for War what animals are used in connection with experiments made with poisonous gases at the chemical warfare experimental station at Porton; and, if so, how many of each kind?

The figures for the year 31st October, 1929, to 31st October, 1930, were circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 3rd November last, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the particulars of the handing over of a number of old horses to the Hampshire research station on Salisbury Plain for experiments of poison gas; and if he will take steps to stop this practice?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Ayr Burghs (Lieut.-Colonel Moore) on 3rd November last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the relative peace strength in respect of heavy guns, light guns, and machine guns of the armies of Great Britain and Soviet Russia, respectively?

I would refer the hon. Member to the information regarding the peace strength of the Army of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics in respect of armament which is contained in the Armaments Year Book published by the League of Nations. As he will see, it does not lend itself to the comparison for which he asks.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will issue a list of schools to which grants are now paid under the officers' training corps facilities; the amounts paid to each in 1914, 1920 and 1929; and the number of boys at each year of age who participate?

The schools to which grants are paid in respect of officers' training corps contingents are given on pages 839–854 of the current Monthly Army List. The particulars asked for in the second part of the question would involve a considerable amount of labour and inquiry, and it is probable that in any case the figures for the two earlier years would not now be available. As regards the last part of the question, grants are paid only in respect of cadets aged 15 years or over, or, in the case of State-aided schools, 16 years or over, who are efficient. The number of efficient cadets in 1929 was 27,208, of whom 2,383 were in State-aided schools.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state, according to the latest figures available for each age separately, the number of boys enrolled in officers' training corps?

The figures on 1st October, 1930, for the junior division of the officers' training corps were:

asked the Secretary of State for War what number of horses has been purchased annually from Ireland by the War Office during the years 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, and 1930 to date?

The numbers are as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether pre-War pensioners of the Army who were commissioned during the years 1914 to 1918 and subsequently pensioned received any different treatment according as they were gazetted to Regular or Territorial units, or whether the pension is the same in either case?

Pre-War Army pensioners who were commisioned during the War drew their soldiers' pensions throughout their war service, and received the same treatment whether they were gazetted to Regular or Territorial units?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether pre-War pensioners of the Royal Marine who were commissioned as regular officers of the Army during the years 1914 to 1918 were treated on discharge as Army or naval officers; and what difference in their subsequent pensions was involved?

As regards the first part of the question, these officers were treated under naval regulations. As regards the second part, the hon. and gallant Member will find full information in the report of the Barnes Committee (Cmd. 2124) which was adopted by the House of Commons after debate in 1925.

asked the Secretary of State for War the total number of Army officers on half-pay, showing the number of officers of each rank, respectively, on half-pay; the rate of half-pay received by officers of each rank; the total amount of half-pay received by all the officers of each rank, respectively; and the aggregate amount received by all the officers on half-pay for the last completed year for which returns are available?

I would refer my hon. Friend to pages 258 and 261 of the current Army Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that smoke screens, which may be as injurious and harmful as any other form of poison gas, are allowed under the Gas Protocol without being defined or limited, what action he is taking to secure their prohibition by the League of Nations?

In identifying smoke screens with poison gas, my hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. In so far as they do not contain poisonous elements, smoke screens are not within the scope of the Gas Protocol. In so far as they do contain such elements, they are already prohibited. No steps are being taken, therefore, to secure their general prohibition by the League of Nations.