asked the Minister of Labour what steps the Government propose to take to render domestic service more attractive and of higher status so as to cope with the unsatisfied demand in this occupation?

I have nothing to add to the statement of policy which I made in answer to the question which the hon. Member put to me on the 6th November last.

Am I to understand that the Government have no settled policy for dealing with this question?

On the contrary, I said that there is no change of policy.

Can the right hon. Lady say how many training centres are now open for them?

Five.

Cannot my right hon. Friend suggest an alternative name?

I do not think that that question arises.

asked the Minister of Labour whether her Department has any information as to the number of vacancies in resident domestic service and the number of applicants for such work; and, if not, can she have inquiry made of private registry offices as well as Employment Exchanges?

The only statistics available are those relating to the vacancies notified and the applications registered at Exchanges in the appropriate classifications. I have no power to make inquiry of private registry offices as my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) the number of unmarried women in receipt of unemployment benefits at the end of February, 1930, at the end of September, 1930, and also at the latest date at which the figures are available?

(2) the number of married women in receipt of unemployment benefit at the end of February, 1930, at the end of September, 1930, and also at the latest date at which the figures are available?

I will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour what points of difference still prevent an agreement between her Department and the representatives of the quarrying industry with regard to the formulation of a scheme for training kerb-dressers?

I am afraid that I cannot add anything to the reply given to the hon. Member on 11th February. I am awaiting the views of the representatives of the industry.

Has the right hon. Lady any hope of being able to give a satisfactory answer very soon?

I certainly hope so. It rests with the industry and not with me.

asked the Minister of Labour how much help is being provided by her Department towards the running of voluntary employment agencies in Durham; how many officers have been loaned; and at what cost to her Department from January to the last available date?

The only voluntary employment agency in the county of Durham which has been provided with help from the Ministry of Labour is that organised by Mrs. C. M. Headlam, C.B.E. In reply to a question asked by my hon. Friend, I explained on the 4th December last that the assistance formerly given to Mrs. Headlam had been discontinued as from July, 1929. I have, however, recently agreed, in view of the illness of Mrs. Headlam's secretary, who has to undergo an operation, to loan an officer of the Department for a strictly temporary period not to exceed three months, on the understanding that no question of an extension of that period will arise. Apart from the officer's salary, the only expense incurred is a small sum for daily travelling and subsistence.

Can the right hon. Lady say whether or not it is contrary to the whole policy of Government Departments to loan an officer to private individuals when it is quite possible for them to obtain help from the large num- ber of people who are signing on in that very district?

Are not these agencies finding work for those people who require it?

There are a very large number of voluntary agencies which are able to find work for people and which do not get a loan of Government officers.

May I have an answer to my supplementary question?

The answer is that there are occasions when temporary Assistance is granted in supporting enterprises which may be of value to workers or to juveniles, or to any contingent work which bears upon the work of the Exchanges, and that has been done; but it is always of a purely temporary nature and put forward for the purpose of, what one might call, preliminary assistance.

I should like to ask if this agency which is being subsidised is owned by the wife of a Conservative ex-Member of Parliament.

Has not this work been of very great value indeed?

Arising out of the original reply—

Order!

Sir William Wayland.

asked the Minister of Labour what would be the additional weekly levy necessary on the State, employers, and workers in the same proportions as at present to put the Unemployment Insurance Fund on a paying basis, presuming the total number of unemployed persons insured reached a total of 3,000,000?

With an average number of registered unemployed of 3,000,000 the total annual expenditure of the Unemployment Fund would be about £142,000,000, including the cost of benefit at the present rate, administration and interest on outstanding Treasury advances. I have no means of knowing what the cost of transitional benefit would be in such circumstances, but assuming the cost in a year to be £40,000,000, it would be necessary to increase the weekly rates of contribution to about 2½ times their present amount in order to cover the balance of £102,000,000.

Will the right hon. Lady suggest to the Chancellor of the Exchequer that perhaps it might be a means of getting him out of his difficulties if—

Order!

Sir Herbert Cayzer.

asked the Minister of Labour if she will state, to the most convenient date, the total amount of the grants made under the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Act?

Since 1st June, 1929, up to 23rd February last, the estimated total cost of schemes of work for the relief of unemployment approved through the Unemployment Grants Committee was £59,928,000. Under Part I of the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Act, 1929, the estimated total cost of schemes approved up to the same date on the recommendation of the Development (Public Utility) Advisory Committee was £34,669,000.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she is in a position to state the amount of unemployment relief or benefit, expressed in sterling, in France and Germany, payable weekly, to an unemployed man with a wife and three children; and whether there is any limitation in either country upon the total amount payable to any one family?

As the reply is long and contains two tables of figures, I propose to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the numbers of insured persons aged 16 to 64, inclusive, at July, 1929, and July, 1930, and the estimated numbers unemployed at June and October of 1929 and 1930, in the following industries: con-

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons have been transferred from the depressed mining areas of Durham and South Wales during each of the last six months; and to what areas have they been drafted?

As the reply is in the form of a table I will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Statistics giving the numbers transferred from particular areas are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the growth of the population in the area as a result of the completion of six new housing estates during the last three years, she will consider the provision of an Employment Exchange for Erdington, Birmingham, at the earliest possible moment?

I have had this matter under consideration and as at present advised I am not satisfied that the establishment of a separate local office would be justified. I am having a communication sent to my hon. Friend explaining the considerations which have led me to that view.

Is the Minister aware that 100 per cent. of the Trade Unions in the Erdington Division are in favour of this proposal?

Unfortunately, I have to take the percentage of unemployed using the Exchanges.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is intended to offer any Departmental evidence on the question of the inclusion of agricultural workers in an unemployment insurance scheme to the Royal Commission now sitting?

Evidence is to be given jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and by my Department.

asked the Minister of Health the amount of money in hand available for unemployment grants in respect of approved employment schemes; whether he proposes making provision for additional grants of this kind; and what are the intentions of the Government concerning the 100 per cent. grants in this connection?

I presume that the right hon. Member has in mind the 100 per cent. grants. The whole of the money for England and Wales has been allocated, except some £16,000 kept in hand for engineering contingencies. The allocated money is paid as work proceeds and £220,000 has already been so paid. Provision has not been made for grants on the 100 per cent. basis in addition to the money already voted.

Is there any intention to try and get a further sum of money, be- cause the Minister of Health must be aware that some of the distressed areas have received none of this money, while particular distressed areas have received the greater share?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the average period of service which an ordinary policeman has to serve to obtain a pension, assuming that he entered the force at the minimum age; what age would such a man be when he retired; and what pension would he obtain?

As the answer is long and involved, I will circulate it with the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Home Secretary whether shorthand notes are taken of all evidence given against police officers for the Metropolitan Police Disciplinary Board; how many appeals have been made to him on the decisions of this board for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; and in how many cases have the appeals been dismissed?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In 1930 there were three appeals to me by members of the Metropolitan Police who had been dismissed or required to resign. All the appeals were dismissed.

asked the Home Secretary the annual cost of the Metropolitan mounted police now and pre-War?

The present annual cost of the mounted branch of the Metropolitan Police is approximately £100,000. I regret that I cannot give a corresponding statement of pre-War cost because the mounted police were not then, as they are now, organised in a separate establishment.

Does my right hon. Friend expect any future saving, in view of the establishment of the motor cycle patrol?

I will inquire as to what bearing the one may have on the other.

asked the Home Secretary what is the present cost of the special constabulary in the Metropolitan area; how many paid officials are attached to the special constabulary; and what is the annual total of their salaries and emoluments?

The present cost of the Metropolitan Special Constabulary Reserve is approximately £18,000 per annum. Two officers and four clerks at headquarters and 23 clerks in the offices of the local commandants are paid salaries totalling approximately £5,200 per annum.

asked the Home Secretary the number of solo motor cycles and of motor cycle combinations at present in the possession of the Metropolitan motor patrol police; and whether both types have been equally effective?

The number of solo machines is 50 and of combinations six. The combination machines have been found the more generally effective, the solos being less effective in the inner and more congested districts.

Does that mean that the solo machines will be abolished and their place taken by combinations?

I will not say that at the moment, but we shall take into account the greater efficiency of the one compared with the other.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the difference in speed between the two?

Not without notice.

Are not these machines used for the purpose of tracking law breakers, and, if so, have they sufficient power?

Generally, I think so.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the machines with which the police are provided are sufficient for the object they have in view?

That is a technical point, and I should require notice in order to go into it.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give an estimate for equipping all motor cycles used by traffic police in the Metropolitan area with sidecars, and what will be the added cost in respect of materials and personnel?

I understand that the cost of fitting side-cars would be about ££700–£800, and that there would be little, if any, additional cost to the Police Fund for tyres, repairs, etc., by reason of the higher rate of grant which would be received from the Road Fund for combination machines.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of doing this, in view of the corroborative evidence that would result in having two instead of one?

I will consider that point, which is quite new to me.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can make any statement to the House regarding the redistribution and reorganisation of the Metropolitan Police Force?

I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle-on-Tyne (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle) on the 13th November last. The measures referred to in that answer are being carried forward, but I am not yet able to say whether any, and if so, what, augmentation of the Force will be required.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any intention of establishing the police college proposed by Sir Leonard Dunning in his recent report; and what method does he propose to adopt in appointing police students to this college?

Until the police council has met and considered the report of the committee appointed to consider the scheme for the institution of a police college, I regret I cannot say what action I shall take. I hope that it will be possible to arrange for a meeting of the police council for this purpose in the near future.

asked the President of the Board of Education the average period of service which a school teacher has to serve to obtain a pension, assuming that he entered the teaching profession at the minimum age; what age would such a man be when he retired; and what would be the average pension he would obtain?

Under the Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1925, a teacher, in order to become eligible for a superannuation allowance on the ground of age, must normally have served for a minimum period of 30 years, and must have reached the age of 60. Teachers entering the profession at the minimum age, and serving continuously, would serve for a considerably longer period than 30 years before becoming eligible. The amount of the allowances depends not only on the period of service but also on the average salary for the last five years of service. Of the age pensions actually awarded during the year 1929–30, under the Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1925, the average amount was £155 per annum, and, in addition, a lump sum.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether privileges are still allowed to schoolmasters of over 65 years of age to continue to serve in the particular post in which they were serving when they reached 65 years of age?

I must ask for notice of that question.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has any further schemes before his Department at the present time for the purpose of assisting local education authorities to increase the present system of the nursery schools throughout the country?

As my hon. Friend is aware, my right hon. Friend welcomes any proposals for the provision of additional nursery schools, either by local education authorities or by other bodies. Grant is available at the rate of 50 per cent. of the net expenditure involved.

Can the hon. Gentleman give us any figures as to the number of nursery schools that have been established since he went to the Board?

As compared with June, 1928, when there were 28 recognised schools, there are now, I think, 44 schools which are open. There are 14 schools for which plans have already been approved and 14 for which plans are now being considered. In addition, there are 41 for which plans have already been presented to us in connection with the three-year programmes of the local education authorities, which have not yet been considered.

Has the age of entry been reduced below five years in any of the nursery schools?

Not by law, but I believe that in some areas children below the age of five years do in fact attend school.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that the Luton Education Committee is advertising for uncertificated men and women teachers; and if he will consider withholding recognition of such appointments?

The employment of uncertificated teachers is allowed by the Code, and it would not at present be practicable to prohibit their employment.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary take steps to improve these sorry standards?

The hon. Member must be aware that the Code allows the appointment of uncertificated teachers—I do not mean people who have no certificate at all—and I am afraid that in the present circumstances we can do nothing without altering the Code itself.

Will the hon. Member state a time limit beyond which uncertificated teachers will not be recognised?

I must ask for notice of that question.

May I ask whether the Department takes into cognisance the question as to whether there is not an undue proportion of uncertificated teachers being appointed?

That is going beyond the question on the Paper.

asked the Minister of Health the names of the members of the committee engaged in examining town-planning schemes with a view to the building of satellite towns; and whether it has yet made any recommendations?

The members of the committee are the right hon. The Viscount Chelmsford (Chairman), Mr. H. Alexander, Sir Ernest Clark, Mr. W. R. Davidge, Mr. A. Dryland, Sir George Etherton, Mr. W. J. Hadfield, Mr. F. W. Hunt, Mr. T. Alwyn Lloyd, Mr. J. Norval, Captain R. L. Reiss, Mr. J. H. Rothwell, and Mr. Raymond Unwin. The committee have not yet made any recommen- dations. I am sending the right hon. Member a, copy of the terms of reference to the committee, as his question seems to indicate some misunderstanding of its functions.

May I ask how many of these gentlemen are fully-qualified civil engineers?

I cannot say offhand, but, of course, the majority have a practical knowledge of the questions involved.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses were flooded by sewage in Kensington during the years 1929 and 1930; how many of these houses have been supplied with flood-proof floors; and whether any compensation has been made to the tenants?

I have made inquiry and am informed that no houses in Kensington were flooded by sewage in the year 1929. On 17th June, 1930, an exceptionally heavy storm caused flooding of about 178 basement dwellings in that borough. Information is not available as to the number of these dwellings in which flood-proof floors have been provided. The borough council have no power to compel provision. It does not appear that any compensation has been made to the tenants.

Does the Minister of Health consider that the flooding of these houses has some connection with the fact that rheumatism in the northern part of the borough of Kensington—that is the poorer part—is greater than in the southern part by 800 per cent.?

That may be due to the fact that there are more basement dwellings there, unfortunately.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to receive a report from the committee dealing with the Rent Restrictions Acts?

I understand that the committee have already held 20 meetings and heard a considerable volume of evidence, but I am unable at present to give any precise indication of the date when their report may be expected.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how long they have been sitting now?

I think their first meeting was at the beginning of November—shortly after the beginning of the Session.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can supply a summary showing the number of dwellings for which assistance had been provided at 31st January, 1931, by grants and by loans, respectively, under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, in each of the counties in England and Wales?

I am having a statement prepared, and will send it to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in order to allow time for the preparation of plans for reconditioning cottages for agricultural workers, he will now state whether he proposes to continue the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, which is due to expire on 30th September next?

This question is under the consideration of the Government.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he anticipates being able to arrive at a decision in this matter, as it is extremely important that there should be time for the preparation of plans?

I assure the hon. Member that a decision will be taken in ample time to prevent any embarrassment of the local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health whether, seeing that Mrs. E. F. Bailes, 10, Cromwell Road, Shenfield, Essex, was employed as a nurse in an asylum from January, 1919, to 14th August, 1930, during which time she paid full contributions; and, seeing that on her resignation there has only been a refund of her contributions from September, 1928, to 14th August, 1930, although she paid in contributions for the nine years previous, and in view of the terms of Sections 6 and 10 (2) of the Asylum Officers Superanuation Act, 1909, will he look into this question and see whether the contributions can be returned for the full period?

I am aware of the facts of this case and of the provisions of the Superannuation Act, 1909, to which the hon. and gallant Member draws my attention. I am, however, advised that the Act does not enable any further payment to be made to Mrs. Bailes.

Is it not the intention of this Act that contributions which have been paid should be returned. In this case, the lady is deprived of nine years and is only getting the contributions paid for 1½ years.

If the hon. and gallant Member will look at the Act, he will see that we have fulfilled it in the letter and in the spirit.

Not in the spirit.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Somerset County Council has submitted any proposals under the Mental Treatment Act, 1930, to enable suitable cases to be treated without certification?

The local authority are not required to submit proposals for this purpose under the Mental Treatment Act; but admission documents received by the Board of Control indicate that some voluntary patients have already been received into the two mental hospitals belonging to the Somerset County and Bath County Borough Councils.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is making any arrangement to insure the efficacy of the pasteurisation methods used for the milk supply of the country, with a view to reducing the number of cases of paratyphoid fever?

I am advised that the paratyphoid organism is easily destroyed by heat and that any of the methods of treatment by heat in general use, if carried out with proper care, is effective in destroying this organism. Milk is not allowed to be sold as "pasteurised" unless it has been treated by the method prescribed by my Department, and as this method is now being used to an increasing extent, I do not think it is necessary for me to take any special steps to encourage its adoption.

asked the Minister of Health whether the origin of the outbreak of typhoid in Essex has been discovered; how many cases have occurred; how many have proved fatal; and what steps are being taken to prevent a further outbreak?

The inquiries made by a medical officer of my Department, in conjunction with the local medical officers of health, appear to have shown that the origin of this outbreak of paratyphoid was one of the employés at a dairy farm who, unknown to himself, was suffering from the disease. 256 cases, including secondary cases, have occurred up to the present and there have been seven deaths. The preventive measures which were taken included the removal to hospital of the man considered to have been the source of infection, the cleansing and disinfection of the premises, milk utensils, etc., and the employment of a fresh staff of workers at the farm.

asked the Minister of Health if he has considered the suggestion submitted to him that in order to encourage the supply of pure milk the Ministry should abolish the licence fees now demanded from producers who apply for permission to sell certified or grade A milk; and if he will adopt this suggestion?

I am not at present satisfied that the abolition of the licence fees for graded milk would have any appreciable effect upon the supply; but I will consider the matter in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister of Agriculture and also with representatives of local authorities when opportunity occurs for the general revision of the Special Designations Order.

asked the Minister of Health the number of deaths from influenza for each year since the War and for each month from January, 1930; and whether he has any evidence as to the cause of the increase?

As the answer to the first part of the question involves a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I regret that I cannot give the number of deaths for each month but I am giving the number for each quarter of 1930. According to my information the prevalence of influenza has been greater during the present year than during the corresponding period of 1930, but considerably less than during that period of 1929. As my hon. Friend will see from the figures circulated the numbers of deaths vary substantially from year to year and I am advised that it is not possible to ascribe this variation to any particular cause.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make an inquiry into the case of a woman who on 10th July, 1930, was transferred from Brighton Infirmary to Haywards Heath Mental Hospital and deprived of belongings which have not been restored to her on discharge; and will he take steps to secure that in future the public assistance committees, who are in charge of the property of persons so detained, should immediately notify the Master in Lunacy of its value, with a view to the appointment of an appropriate receiver to look after the interests of any person so detained?

If my hon. Friend will inform me of the name of the patient, I will make inquiries and communicate with him.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the conclusion arrived at in the recent report of the Rolleston Committee on Vaccination in regard to the necessity of trying to find some means of protecting against small-pox other than that of the direct introduction of a living virus into the organism, he will introduce a Bill at an early date to suspend the compulsory Clauses of the Vaccination Acts, as has been done in Holland, until the experimental researches now in hand have been completed, particularly in view of the continued occurrence of deaths from post-vaccinal encephalitis after the use of Government lymph?

I have under consideration the whole subject of vaccination, but I cannot in present circumstances undertake to introduce legislation dealing with this question. I may point out that the compulsory requirements of the Vaccination Acts are in effect limited to infants under 12 months of age, and that in this class the occurrence of post-vaccinal encephalitis has been practically negligible, whereas I understand that in Holland the compulsory measure which has been suspended related to the vaccination of children at school age. I may add that since 1st January, 1930, a total of seven cases of post-vaccinal encephalitis have been reported, two of which have proved fatal.

Will the right hon. Gentleman study the experience of Leicester, a non-vaccination town?

asked the Minister of Health the number of children under the public assistance committee of the Somerset County Council who are boarded out and the number boarded in?

The number of Somerset children boarded out in the county is 132; the number of Somerset children boarded out in other areas, 11; the number of children in public assistance children's homes in the county of Somerset, 206. These numbers are exclusive of 62 Somerset children in hospitals or special schools.