asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Committee on West Highland Piers and Harbours has reported; and what action is to follow thereon?

I have received the first report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Piers and Harbours on the North-East, North and West Coasts of Scotland and in the Western Isles. I am considering the course of action to be taken thereon, but am not yet in a position to make any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he will consider the calling of a housing conference in Lanarkshire similar to those already held in other parts of the country to stimulate a keener interest in the legislation dealing with slum clearance?

Information received by the Department of Health for Scotland shows that practically all the local authorities in Lanarkshire are taking steps to provide houses with assistance under the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1930, and that they are familiar with the provisions of the Act. But if the local authorities express a desire to have a conference for the purpose of a further explanation of the Act, the Under-Secretary of State will be pleased to attend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the quantity of fruit produced in Scotland during the past three seasons and the quantity imported, under each principal category; the prices obtained; and the proportion of homegrown fruit to the total supply?

The information asked for is not at present available, but inquiries are being made, and I will communicate the result to the hon. and learned Member.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies particulars of the difficulties which have arisen recently in dealing with the Wangoni tribe in Tanganyika territory?

No information has been received with regard to any difficulties with native tribes in Tanganyika.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what education tax is imposed in Basutoland; and the proportion of the total tax which is expended on Government schools and on subsidies to mission schools, respectively?

There is a special education levy in Basutoland of 3s. per head of adult male natives which, together with one quarter of the revenue derived from the native tax, is paid into an education fund. In respect of the current year the total income of the education fund from these two sources is estimated at £49,000, of which about £46,000 is distributed to the three principal missions according to average attendance, and £2,300 spent on Government schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any report will be published of the inquiry recently made into labour and labour conditions in Basutoland?

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to a circular despatch sent some months ago by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to a number of Colonial Dependencies asking that the existing local labour conditions might be examined and reviewed. A copy of this despatch was sent by me to the High Commissioner for South Africa for his consideration as regards Basutoland, the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland. The replies to the circular despatch in question are at present incomplete, and the question of publication has not been considered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of British officials who sailed from East African ports on leave during the past year; the total cost to the public of the railway and steamer return passages for them; the total amount paid to British steamship lines for Government passages to and from East Africa in 1930 and the amount paid to foreign steamship lines; and what is the term of an ordinary tour of duty of an official appointed to Tanganyika?

Approximately 1,150 European officials proceeded on leave from East African Dependencies in 1930. Information is not available as to the exact cost of their railway and steamer return passages; approximately £260,000 was provided in the Estimates of the Dependencies concerned for the cost of the passages of officers and their families, but this total includes provision for the passages of the large Asiatic staff, members of which take leave to India. De tailed figures are not available for a reply to the third question raised by the hon. and gallant Member, but the total amount paid to foreign steamship lines was certainly less than 10 per cent. of that paid to British steamship lines. The normal tour of service of officers in Tanganyika is for a period of between 20 and 30 months.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will recommend to public assistance authorities that the two nights' detention should not be enforced where there are reasonable grounds for believing that a casual is genuinely seeking work, although he may not be in possession of the necessary evidence of such from an Employment Exchange, and until such time as there is no overcrowding of the present accommodation?

My right hon. Friend is considering this as well as other points which have been raised on the draft Order which has been published.

Year ended 30th September			Total number of houses completed.	Number of houses included in column 2 completed with State assistance under:		Number of houses included in column 2 completed without State assistance.*
				Housing, etc., Act, 1923.	Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924.
1.			2.	3.	4.	5.
1924	…	…	109,491	30,934	—	73,032
1925	…	…	159,026	78,409	12,385	66,735
1926	…	…	197,584	84,431	46,489	65,689
1927	…	…	273,229	115,073	97,316	60,313
1928	…	…	166,415	47,969	53,792	64,624
1929	…	…	203,443	78,826	53,516	71,083
1930	…	…	161,699	—	51,310	110,375
* Houses having a rateable value exceeding £78 (or £105 in the Metropolitan Area) are excluded.
These figures do not include houses erected by local authorities in replacement of houses demolished under improvement and reconstruction schemes.

asked the Minister of Health whether any of the valuation results of approved societies recently issued have disclosed such deficiencies as will make it difficult for such societies to meet claims for statutory benefits; if so, how many societies fall into that category and the membership covered by them; and whether they are to be subsidised from any health insurance central funds to make up the amount of statutory benefit payments?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the other parts, I regret that I am not able to give the information desired by my hon. Friend until the valuation is completed, and the position of these societies in the matter of relief from the central fund has been determined.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of houses completed in each year ended 30th September from 1924 to 1930, sub-dividing the totals of each year into the number completed under the Housing, etc., Act, 1923, the Housing Act, 1924, and the number completed without State assistance?

The following statement shows the desired particulars for England and Wales:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of imports subject to duty into the United Kingdom during 1930?

This information is not readily available. A statement is being prepared and, with the permission of my hon. and gallant Friend, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

—			Wheat (Grain).	Wheat Meal and Flour.	Bran and Pollard.	Sharps and Middlings.
			Tons.	Tons.	Tons.	Tons.
Total Imports—
1913	…	…	5,293,905	598,908	13,921	16,204
1930	…	…	5,250,343	586,926	86,364	67,323
Domestic Exports—
1913	…	…	9,746	81,568	159,460	7,450
1930	…	…	1,560	201,141*	32,407	2,999
Re-exports—
1913	…	…	22,224	12,295	771	100
1930	…	…	58,242	9,408	500	525
* Of this amount, 129,758 tons were consigned to the Irish Free State.
NOTE.—The figures for 1913 relate to the trade of the British Isles as a whole, while those for 1930 relate to the trade of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she can furnish any figures showing the state of employment in the fabric and leather glove industry for the past 12 months to the latest date available?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 10th February by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain P. Macdonald).

asked the President of the Board of Trade with how many countries commercial treaties embodying a most-favoured-nation clause are in operation; what is the period, in each case, for which such treaties are in force or, where such period is indefinite, what notice must be given in each case to effect their denunciation?

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the total weight of wheat, wheat flour, and of wheat offals, in each case, imported in 1913 and 1930, respectively; and the total weight of each such article exported in the same years?

I have been asked to reply. The following table shows the total tonnage of wheat (grain), wheat meal and flour, bran and pollard, and sharps and middlings imported into and exported from the United Kingdom during the years 1913 and 1930.

The answer to the first part of the question is 43. A list of the Treaties and arrangements with particulars of the conditions under which they could he denounced was printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT in reply to a question on 2nd June last by the hon. and gallant Member for Western Dorset (Major Colfox) and a copy is being sent to the hon. Member. The following amendments should be made in the list to bring it up-to-date:—

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Trade Facilities Advisory Committee is still in existence; if so, who is its chairman: who is its secretary; who are the members of it; where is it located; and how often does it sit?

The Advisory Committee appointed under the Trade Facilities Acts, 1921–26 concluded its statutory functions of advising upon the grant of guarantees on the expiration of those Acts in 1927.

• The Committee then consisted of:
• The Rt. Hon. Lord Plender, G.B.E.,
• Mr. H. J. Morland,
• Mr. W. K. Whigham, with
• Mr. E. St. J. Bamford of the Treasury as Secretary.

After their statutory duties were concluded these gentlemen consented to the committee remaining in being to assist

Index Numbers of Retail Prices—Cost of Living.
Country.				Base Period = 100.	January
					1929.	1930.	1931.
United Kingdom	…	…	…	July, 1914	165	164	152
France	…	…	…	1914	555*	565*	†
Germany	…	…	…	1913–14	153	152	140
United States	…	…	…	July, 1914	161	160	†
Denmark	…	…	…	July, 1914	173	170	159
Belgium	…	…	…	1921	216	226	†
Australia	…	…	…	November, 1914	149*	146*	†
* Average for March quarter.					† Not yet available.

Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices.
Country.				Base Period = 100.	January
					1929.	1930.	1931.
United Kingdom	…	…	…	1913	138	131	107
France	…	…	…	July, 1914	644	576	*
Germany	…	…	…	1913	139	132	115
United States	…	…	…	1926	97	93	*
Denmark	…	…	…	1913	151	143	118
Belgium	…	…	…	April, 1914	867	808	*
Australia	…	…	…	1911	179	172	*
* Not yet available.
NOTE.—Owing to differences in the numbers and descriptions of commodities used in the compilation of the above index numbers, and also to the differences in price levels in the base years, the indices do not afford a comparison between the price levels in the respective countries at the dates shown.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the cost-of-living index and the wholesale prices index in Great Britain, France, Germany, the United States, Denmark, Belgium and Australia for January, 1929, 1930 and 1931, the indices being based on pre-War price-levels where possible?

The following tables show the index numbers for January, 1929, 1930 and 1931, so far as they are available:

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any proposals have yet been agreed upon by his Department for discussion at the forthcoming Imperial Conference at Ottawa; and, if so, what those proposals are?

As I have indicated in answer to previous questions, preparations for the conference are in active progress so far as His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are concerned. I am not in a position to say more at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any date has been fixed for the assembling in Ottawa of the Imperial Economic Conference; and if it is certain that Australia will be there represented?

No date has yet been fixed for the opening of the adjourned meeting of the economic section of the Imperial Conference which it is proposed, in accordance with the resolution of the conference, to hold at Ottawa this year. I have no reason to suppose that the Commonwealth of Australia will not he represented at the meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he has anything new to report as regards the proposed conference at Ottawa; and whether, in particular, the work of elaborating its agenda is in active preparation?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part of the question, preparations for the Conference are in active progress so far as His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what steps are in contemplation to carry into effect the decision of the recent Imperial Conference that the functions of the Empire Marketing Board should be extended to include publicity for United Kingdom products in the overseas parts of the Empire; and what sum of money it is proposed to allocate for this purpose?

The effect of the resolutions of the Imperial Conference on this subject is being carefully considered, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement. In the meantime, it is proposed to make the necessary alterations in the vote for Empire Marketing for 1931–32.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has considered the representations made by workpeople employed by colliery companies in South Wales that they are being deprived of the privilege of obtaining cheap coal owing to the Coal Mines Act; and whether he will inquire into the matter?

I have received representations with regard to the proposed cessation of supplies of coal at cheap rates to workers at steel works in South Wales allied to coal mines. I have replied that in my view it is possible for the coal-owners, under the provisions of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, and the schemes in force thereunder, to make arrangements which would enable the supply of cheap coal to these workpeople to be continued, but I have no power to compel employers to do so.

asked the Secretary for Mines the amount paid in royalties and wayleaves by the mining industry in Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire during 1930 or a similar convenient period, and the corresponding amount paid by the industry for local rates over the same period?

The estimated total amount payable by colliery owners in South Wales and Monmouth as royalties and wayleaves, including the rental value of freehold minerals where worked by the proprietors, during the year ended 31st October, 1930, was £1,463,600, and as local rates £258,700. Figures for Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire only are not available.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he can give figures of the coal production from the Northumberland coal mines for the first month's working under the quota system as compared with the production of the previous month; and whether there has been any, and how much, increase in the cost of production under the Coal Mines Act?

The estimated quantity of saleable coal raised in Northumberland during January, 1931, was 1,100,000, as compared with 1,188,000 tons in the previous month. As the quantity produced in January is less than one-third of the quarterly allocation, the fall in production is presumably due to reduced demand and has not been affected by the quota. I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the question is not yet available.

asked the Secretary for Mines what orders have now been received for the export of United Kingdom coal to Scandinavia as a direct or indirect result of the recent visit to Scandinavia of the British delegation of which he was a member?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Wycombe (Sir A. Knox) on 16th December last.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, as a result of his recent meeting with coalowners and exporters, preparatory to a meeting with the railway companies, any orders for the export of British coal to Scandinavia have been secured?

The meetings referred to arose out of one of the delegation's recommendations which dealt with coal loading equipment and anti-breakage appliances. As a result of the meetings the coalowners, coal exporters, railway companies and dock authorities are setting up for each coal exporting district joint committees of experts to determine what type of anti-breakage appliance would most effectively meet the requirements of the ports in the various districts, and to consider what steps could be taken for the installation of such equipment at the earliest possible date.

asked the Secretary for Mines what is the average weekly amount paid by the mine workers towards the upkeep of pit-head baths; and how many pit-head baths are in use and the average number of workers using them?

I regret that I have not sufficient information to enable me to quote an average figure, but the highest amount of weekly contribution by the workmen which has come to my notice is sixpence and the amount is usually between that figure and three-pence. The number of pit-head baths in use, excluding those provided for officials only, is 75. The total accommodation available in these baths is for 76,275 men and 62 women. I have no reason to suppose that any substantial part of this accommodation is not occupied, but I cannot say what the average number of actual users is.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of persons employed in the mining industry of Great Britain at the end of 1920 and at the end of 1930, giving separate figures for Lancashire and Cheshire?

The number of persons, including clerks and salaried persons, employed in the coal mining industry in Great Britain during 1920 was 1,226,900 and at the end of 1930, 903,100. The corresponding figures for Lancashire and Cheshire were 116,600 and 75,200, respectively.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the figures showing the tonnage of coal produced, the tonnage exported, average pit-head price, wages cost per ton produced, aggregate wages paid, number of persons employed, number of fatal accidents and of persons killed, number of non-fatal accidents, number of persons unemployed, and rate per ton and total of royalties and wayleaves paid for 192S, 1929, and 1930 in the United Kingdom and in the districts of South Wales and Scotland, respectively?

The information, so far as available, is as follows. The figures for 1930 are partly estimated and are subject to revision. Items (3), (4) and (8) relate only to the first nine months of the year.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of coal miners displaced from employment by the operation of the quota provisions of the Coal Mines Act, 1930?

The figures collected by the Mines Department are general figures, and information is not available to enable me to show either the number of men displaced or the numbers who have secured employment by the operation of the quota system. I should like to add that in my opinion the total output of coal permitted during the current quarter is at least equal to the amount which is likely to be sold, and that the quota provisions of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, cannot therefore be held responsible for any reduction of employment.

asked the Secretary for Mines the average weekly wage of the workers employed in the mines in the Somerset coalfield for 1920 and 1930?

The average weekly cash earnings of all workers employed in the coal mines in the Somerset coalfield during the nine months ended September, 1920, was £3 13s. 8d., and during the nine months ended September, 1930, £1 18s. 5d.

asked the Secretary for Mines the average number of days worked in the coal mines of Somerset for 1920 and 1930, respectively, together with the output per man per shift for the two periods?

In 1920, practically six days per week were worked in the coal mining industry in Somerset, excluding periods affected by holidays and disputes, and 12.22 cwts. of coal were produced per man-shift worked. The corresponding figures for 1930 were 5.15 days and 16.74 cwts.

asked the Secretary of State for War the numbers of cases and of deaths in the recent outbreak of cerebro-spinal meningitis at Aldershot; whether the cause of the outbreak has been ascertained; and on what date each sufferer had last been vaccinated or inoculated?

Up to 23rd February the number of eases at Aldershot during the present outbreak of cerebro-spinal meningitis has been 13 (including a civilian nursing sister) of which I regret to say eight have proved fatal. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. As regards the last part, 12 of the patients had been vaccinated, one within a week, one within a month, and the remainder from seven months upwards. Only one patient had been inoculated, and that over three years ago.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that an increasing number of horses under the light-horse breeding schemes are being turned down by the buyers on behalf of the War Office without any evidence provided that the quality of the horses has deteriorated in recent years; whether he intends to restrict the number of light horses purchased for the Army in future; and, if so, whether he will inform the farmers' organisations in the country of their intentions?

I am not aware that the suggestion contained in the first part of the question is the case. As regards the remainder of the question, the purchase of light horses for the Army must necessarily be governed by requirements, but I have no reason to believe that there will be any diminution of such purchases in the immediate future.

asked the Home Secretary by what date it is anticipated the report of the Royal Commission on Licensing will be ready for issue; and what has been the cost to date of this body?

In reply to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question on the 9th instant on this subject. I understand that the expenditure to date in respect of the Royal Commission on Licensing (England and Wales) is £13,000.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of automatic stamp machines that are at present in use in the London postal area; and at what periods these machines are inspected?

Automatic stamp-vending machines are in use at about 600 sites in the London postal area. The machines are under constant supervision.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any estimate has recently been formed of the annual loss of revenue that would accrue from a restoration of the penny post?

The annual loss of revenue that would accrue from a restoration of penny post is estimated to be of the order of £6,250,000.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of telephone call boxes attached to cab ranks put in position during 1930 in the Royal Borough of Kensington?

One new cab rank telephone line was provided during 1930, bringing the total number for the borough up to 20.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of telephones and call boxes in each of the metropolitan boroughs; and the number of inhabitants to each instrument in the several boroughs?

The particulars for exchanges in the administrative County of London are:

• Number of subscribers' telephones, 504,635.
• Number of public call offices, 3,995.
• Number of inhabitants per instrument, 8.8.

The preparation of separate information in respect of each of the metropolitan boroughs would involve a considerable amount of labour, as the figures are not readily available. If the hon. and gallant Member specially desires the figures for any particular borough, I will obtain them.

asked the Postmaster-General whether provision under Sub-head P of the Post Office Vote for the payment of the subsidy for grand opera by means of a revision of the percentage scale agreed between the Post Office and the British Broadcasting Corporation will entail a reduction of the amount receivable into the Exchequer under the terms of the existing agreement, Cmd. 2756, of 1926?

The direct effect will be as indicated by the hon. Member, but the Exchequer may gain in other ways.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give details of any schemes for grants sanctioned for classified roads in the counties of Brecon and Radnor since 1st June, 1929; and whether there are any applications outstanding?

Since 1st June, 1929, grants have been made towards 25 schemes for the improvement of classified roads in the county of Brecon, estimated to cost approximately £189,000, and for 17 schemes in the county of Radnor, estimated to cost approximately £13,000. Three further schemes, estimated to cost approximately £66,000 are under consideration in the case of Brecon and 16 schemes estimated to cost approximately £130,000 in the case of Radnor.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the discontent aroused by the proposed cuts in wages in the Civil Service, he will appoint a committee to inquire into the method of arriving at the cost-of-living figures in order to make them a truer index of the actual cost of living?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 3rd February to a question put by the hon. Member for Willesden East (Mr. D. G. Somerville).

—	Audited Expenditure.			Appn. A/c.
	1913–14.	1924–25.	1928–29.	1929–30.
		£ millions.
Ordinary Expenditure	151·0	673·3	675·0	692·4
Revenue applied to Debt Reemption	7·7	48·7	57·5	33·2
Self Balancing Expenditure (Post Office and Road Fund).	24·0	65·7	77·4	79·7
Total	182·7	787·7	809·9	805·3

In addition to the figures shown,in 1913–s14 a sum of £654,804 was expended on the purchase of Anglo-Persian Oil Shares,in 1928–29 a sum of £18,394,000 raised by taxation was transferred from the Exchequer to the Rating Relief Suspense Account,in 1929–30 a sum of £2,570,000 was expended out of the Rating Relief Suspense Account, relieving the Exchequer to that extent, while a sum of £4,819,000, part of the cost of Savings Certificates interest, was met by borrowing.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to fresh smuggling activities that have taken place either on the Essex or Sussex coasts; can he give particulars; and whether the necessary preventive action has now been taken by his Department?

From time to time attention is drawn to alleged smuggling activities on our coasts

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total expenditure for the years ended 31st March, 1914, 1925, 1929 and 1930 upon a comparable basis?

There are so many complications in comparing pre-War with post-War Budgets that the following table must be taken as only approximately accurate. So far as practicable all expenditure on Irish Services, whether concerned with the Free State or Northern Ireland, has been excluded throughout.and such action is taken as is deemed necessary for the protection of the Revenue. It would not be in the public interest to give particulars of such cases.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in view of the fact that a letter was written by the Royal Mint on 29th December, 1930, asking firms manufacturing coins to furnish a list of any coinages which were struck by these firms during 1930, and that the Royal Mint are competing for orders with these private firms, if he will take steps in future to prevent any repetition of such action on the part of the Royal Mint?

The information obtained in reply to these letters, which are sent out annually, is required (as the letters clearly state) for inclusion in the annual reports of the Mint, an appendix to which shows the coins struck each year and the name of the firm striking them. If any of the firms to whom the letters are addressed object to receiving what I should have supposed to be valuable publicity in the form of a world-wide advertisement of their activities, they are under no compulsion to supply the information.

asked the Minister of Labour how many schemes of work for the relief of unemployment have been put forward by the West Riding County Council during the last 12 months: how many have been approved and their total capital value; and how many are still under consideration and the present position with regard to them?

pursuant to her reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 19th February, 1931; col. 1425, Vol. 248] supplied the following information.Since 1st February, 1930, 49 schemes have been submitted by the West Riding County Council of which 28, estimated to cost £194,831, have been approved. 20 schemes, estimated to cost £213,525, are still under consideration.