asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the inequality as between employers and workmen in the mining industry entailed by Section 13 (4) of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887, whereby colliery managers are enabled to apply to a Court of Summary Jurisdiction for the removal of any check weigher appointed by ballot of the workmen to check the weighing of coal on their behalf, he will undertake to introduce legislation to amend this Section, avoiding proceedings against a check weighman except through the Home Secretary, to whom complaints shall be laid, and to provide that where proceedings are undertaken under the Summary Jurisdiction Acts and a Court decides that an offence of the Act has been committed by a check weigher the specified penalties under Section 101 (1) and (3) and Section 102 (5) shall apply to check weighers in the same way as they apply under the said Sections to colliery managers for contravening the Coal Mines Regulation Act?

I am not quite clear what alterations in the law my hon. Friend wishes to make, but, in any case, I am afraid that there is no possibility of such legislation at present. If my hon. Friend would like to discuss the matter, I shall be pleased to do so at any time.

asked the Secretary for Mines the sums paid for the years 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930 in Durham county for mining royalties and the total rates paid for the corresponding period from the mining industry for the whole of the social services, health, education, etc., in Durham?

The estimated amounts paid by colliery owners in Durham, so far as the information is available, are as follow:

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in the drawing up of district coal quota schemes, due regard is being had to the special requirements of those composite undertakings which own factories as well as coal mines; and whether, under any scheme yet approved, it has been made necessary for such a composite undertaking to purchase part of its coal supplies in the open market instead of drawing them from its own pits?

The regulation of output under the district schemes approved under Part I. of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, is being administered by executive boards elected by all the coal owners; and in every district scheme it is provided, in accordance with Section 3 (2, c) of the Act, that in determining standard tonnages the executive boards must have regard to the special circumstances of every mine. I have no information with regard to the second part of the question.

asked the Secretary for Mines the average wage per shift now earned in the coal mines of this country as compared with the average wage similarly earned one year ago and two years ago?

The latest information available relates to the quarter ended September, 1930, when the average cash earnings per man-shift worked was 9s. 3¾d. The corresponding figure in 1929 was 9s. 2½. and in 1928, 9s. 3¼d.

asked the Secretary for Mines the net estimated yield of profit to the collieries of this country in 1928, 1929, and 1930?

In 1928, the net losses of the coal mining industry as a whole were about £10,000,000. In 1929, the net profits amounted to about £4,400,000, and during January to September, 1930 (the latest period available), to about £2,500,000. The figures given are based on the returns furnished in connection with the wages ascertainments, and exclude those items which, by agreement, are inadmissible as charges for the purpose of those ascertainments, such as interest on debentures or other loans, bank charges, amortisation and taxation.

asked the Secretary for Mines the total cost in Durham in the various quarries, limestone, whinstone, etc., that is paid by the industry for royalty rents and the amount per ton for the various classes of stone?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of demonstration smallholdings at present in existence in Scotland?

There are at present 15 demonstration smallholdings in existence in Scotland. Of these one is owned and worked by an agricultural college. The others are worked by the occupiers under the supervision of the agricultural colleges who pay an annual subsidy to the holders. On other 15 holdings there are small areas on which improved methods of cropping and of fruit-growing are demonstrated under similar arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the purchase by the Government of the road from Aberfoyle to the Trossachs, if he will state the cost, the name of the previous owner, and the rateable value of the road on which its owner paid rates, and how many men are likely to be employed on reconstructing the road?

The first part of my hon. Friend's question seems to be based on a misunderstanding. What is proposed is not the purchase of this private road by the Government, but the acquisition of the road and certain accompanying rights by the county council of Perthshire for the purpose of constructing a public road with the aid of grants. Part of the road belongs to the Montrose Estates, Limited, and the remainder to the Earl of Ancaster. The arrangements are not yet complete, and I cannot, therefore, give detailed information at present. I may say, however, that it is expected that the construction of the road will give employment to some hundreds of men for several months.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been directed to the Treasury communication of 31st October, 1919, to the Under-Secretary for Scotland by which the second class clerks of the Department of the Registers and Records of Scotland were granted the same status as the then second division grade; if he is aware that no change has since taken place in the relative educational standards, age of entry, or prior qualifications of the two grades, and that the emoluments at present held by the second-class clerks have brought about a reversal of the position set up by the Treasury in 1919; and if he has any statement to make on the question?

I am aware of the decision of 1919 referred to in the question. As I have already indicated in answer to other hon. Members, the claims of the second class clerks are under consideration, and I have arranged to meet their representatives. Under these circumstances, I feel that it would be undesirable meantime to make any further statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the proposals for the re-grouping of productive units in the various sections of the iron and steel industry which were under discussion in December of last year have yet materialised?

Negotiations are proceeding, but the right hon. Gentleman will appreciate that, as proposals of this nature raise complex issues and affect a large number of interests, the negotiations must necessarily occupy a considerable time.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the increase in unemployment in the lace industry which has followed the removal of the Safeguarding Duty on lace, he will give facilities to the British lace industry to advertise the excellence of British lace by cancellation stamps similar to those advertising the Lancashire cotton industry?

Advertisement of the British Industries Fair by postmark is an established practice; this year the scope of the Fair has been enlarged by the inclusion of a new section on a very large scale, that of cotton textiles, and I have agreed that prominence shall be given to that fact in the postmark advertisements of the Fair. Similar conditions do not apply to the lace industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of alien seamen engaged at the port of North Shields in 1930; how this total compares with the number of British seamen so engaged; and what is the present number of British seamen unemployed at the port in question?

The number of engagements of seamen at North Shields for service in foreign-going ships during 1930 was 9,156, of which 8,184 or 89 per cent. were those of British seamen other than Asiatics and Africans, 346 or 4 per cent. those of foreigners other than Asiatics and Africans, and 626 or 7 per cent. those of Asiatics and Africans, British and foreign. I am informed that the number of seamen registered as wholly unemployed at North Shields on 29th January was 713, but the number of British seamen included in this total is not available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many men were invalided from the Royal Air Force during the year 1930; the number whose invaliding disability was considered to be attributable to the service; the number of men invalided during the same period suffering from consumption; and the number of cases accepted as being attributable to the service; and the number to whom disability pensions were granted.

During the year 1930, 174 airmen were invalided from the Royal Air Force, and in 16 cases the invaliding disability was considered to be attributable to the conditions of service. During the same period, 22 airmen suffering from consumption were

invalided, of whom nine were accepted as attributable. Sixteen disability pensions were awarded during the year, and pensions in respect of service were awarded in five other disability cases.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many applications for enlistment in the Royal Air Force were made in 1930; and how many men were accepted?

6,922 effective applications were received from men and boys for enlistment in the Royal Air Force during 1930. The numbers attested were 1,798 men and 1,121 boys.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of writing assistants promoted to the clerical officer grade in respect of each Department for each year from 1921 to the present time?

Following is the information desired:—

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of shorthand and copying typists promoted

to the clerical officer grade in respect of each Department for each year from 1921 to the present time?

Following is the information desired:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of promotions of "P" class clerks to the general clerical class and to Departmental clerical classes, department by department, from 1st July, 1930, to 31st December, 1930?

The information desired is as follows:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total average number of non-industrial civil servants employed in Departments other than the Post Office in the years 1914, 1923, and 1929 and 1930?

The information desired is as follows:

asked the Minister of Health if a separate ward is kept for the reception of cases and early treatment at the mental hospital, Carmarthen; and, if not, what procedure is followed on reception of cases?

No, Sir. New cases are admitted in the first instance, according to their mental and physical state, to one of two words, (1) for quiet and sick cases, (2) for excited cases, and are removed, after observation, to wards considered suitable for the proper treatment of their mental condition. The question of the provision of a separate admission block is at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to place imported milk products on the same footing as milk products of Home origin in respect of investigation as to their bacterial content?

No bacterial standard is laid down for milk products as such whether of home production or imported.

asked the Prime Minister the names or official positions of the members of the present Committee of Imperial Defence?

The Committee of Imperial Defence consists theoretically of the Prime Minister and such persons as he chooses to ask to assist in the deliberations of the Committee, but in accordance with the practice of my predecessors I cause the following to be summoned regularly to its meetings:—The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretaries of State for Foreign Affairs, Dominion Affairs, the Colonies, India, War and Air, the First Lord of the Admiralty, the Chiefs of Staff of the three Fighting Services, and the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury as the head of the Civil Service. Other Ministers, officials and experts are summoned ad hoc according to the nature of the business.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is now in a position to announce the composition of the proposed standing commission on museums; and whether representatives of provincial museums will be included on it?

I hope to be able to make an announcement at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the research work, in connection with the forthcoming Economic Conference at Ottawa, is done in conjunction with the High Commissioners of the Dominions; and whether research is being undertaken with regard to the potentialities of tariffs and quotas as well as with regard to the potentialities of import boards?

As regards the first part of the hon. Member's question, the Committee of the Cabinet which is examining the questions involved has not so far had occasion to consult with the High Commissioners for the Dominions, but will certainly do so should circumstances make this desirable. As regards the second part of the question, the research now being undertaken will, of course, cover all matters likely to be discussed at the Ottawa Conference. On this point I would invite the hon. Member's attention to No. 2 of the resolutions adopted by the recent Imperial Conference on the subject which will be found an page 44 of the Summary of Proceedings.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the restrictions placed on the use of motor omnibuses by residents in the parts of the county of Renfrew surrounding Greenock; and what action, if any, he proposes to take to ensure that the convenience of passengers is not interfered with?

I am not aware of the nature of the restrictions to which my hon. Friend refers, but if he will give me particulars I will have inquiries made unto the matter.

asked the Minister of Transport whether it is his intention to adopt the recocmmendation of the final report of the Royal Commission on Transport that a small expert committee should be appointed by the Treasury and the Minister of Transport to investigate the question of the methods of levying taxation on mechanically-propelled vehicles in consultation with the manufacturing interests?

The Government have always expressed their willingness to consider any proposals for alterations in the methods of assessing motor vehicles for licence duty, provided that the proposals did not lead to a loss of revenue and were agreed among the interests concerned. Unless there are any suggestions, consistent with these conditions, which manufacturers and users now wish to bring forward, I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by the Government appointing an expert committee to consider the matter at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for War the date by which it is hoped to complete the reconstruction and new building at Chelsea Barracks to provide for the unit and details now in occupation of Knightsbridge Barracks; and, if no date has been fixed, whether the War Office intend to modify the scheme as originally drawn up?

No reconstruction or building has been undertaken at Chelsea, nor is any scheme at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the numbers of carcases of horses which have been exported for food abroad within the last 12 months, the countries to which they were sent, and the net value of these exports?

As soon as the information desired is received from the Governments of the importing countries, will communicate with the hon. Member.