asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the preparatory schools of the 62 candidates for Dartmouth College, and the public schools of the 28 candidates for special entry cadetships, who appeared before the last respective interview committees?

The schools of the 62 candidates, December, 7930, for entry into Dartmouth College, were:

• Seafield Park, near Fareham.
• St. Anthony's, Eastbourne.
• Cordwalles, Camberley.
• Stubbington House, Fareham.
• St. Andrew's, Eastbourne.
• Hawtreys, Westgate.
• Southey Hall, Great Bookham.
• The Old Malthouse, Langton Matravers.
• Homefield, Sutton.
• Crowthorne Towers, Wellington College.
• Horris Hill, Newton, Newbury.
• Sandroyd, Cobham.
• St. Michael's, Uckfield.
• Lockers Park, Hamel Hempstead.
• Bramcote, Scarborough.
• Dragon School, Oxford.
• Furzie Close, Barton-on-Sea.
• Emsworth House, Emsworth.
• Eastmans, Southsea.
• Twyford, Winchester.
• Epsom College.
• Institut Fisher, Switzerland.
• Surbiton County.
• Weymouth College.
• Killcott, Goldalming.
• Furze Court, Dyke Road Avenue, Hove.
• Etonhurst, Weston-super-Mare.
• Durnford, Langton Matravers.
• The New Beacon, Sevenoaks.
• Pilgrims, Westerham.
• Warren Hill, Eastbourne.
• Dumpton House, Broadstairs.
• Ashdown House, Forest Row.
• Rosslyn House, Felixstowe.
• Hurst Grange, Stirling.
• Soberton Towers, near Droxford.
• Fernden, Haslemere.
• King's School Preparatory, Bruton.
• Wykeham House, Worthing.
• St. Peter's, Exmouth.
• Durlston Court, Swanage.
• Yardley Court, Tonbridge.
• Flete House, Westgate.
• Winton House, Winchester.
• Connaught House, Weymouth.
• Glasgow Academy.
• The Abbey School, Beckenham.
• Edinburgh House, Lee-on-Solent.
• St. Bede's, Eastbourne.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider the question of publishing booklets similar to the General Guide to a commission in His Majesty's land forces and Regulations respecting admission to the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, so as to give the list of schools the headmasters of which are permitted to recommend candidates for nomination, with a view to enlarging the field of entry and giving a greater selection for naval cadetships?

Nomination plays no part in the selection of candidates for Naval Cadetships, either by the Dartmouth or Special Entry systems, and candidates from any schools can compete for commissions in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. Entry pamphlets, giving particulars corresponding to the War Office booklet, can be obtained on application to the Secretary of the Admiralty, and fuller information is contained in the Appendix to the Navy List.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why it is necessary to maintain recruiting staff officers outside of the three home ports, Glasgow, and Manchester, in view of the fact that the London office has the final decision of entry?

Recruiting staff officers, Royal Navy and Royal Marines, are stationed at London, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and Southampton in charge of their respective recruiting districts. No recruiting staff officers, Royal Navy and Royal Marines are stationed at the three home ports, or at Glasgow. Owing to the present limited entry and the increasing demands for recruits of better education, it has become necessary—as a temporary measure—for the Director of Naval Recruiting to select the best candidates from those raised by the recruiting staff officers in the various districts. This procedure in no way diminishes the duties of the recruiting staff officers. The final decision as to entry rests with the respective officers commanding the final entry establishments.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many candidates who took the examination for the rating of supply assistant last September qualified and how many were accepted; the cost of advertising the examination to be held in March in the various local and London papers; the number of vacancies to be filled for the rating of supply assistant; why examinations are being held at the-three home ports; and what is the cost involved?

Ninety-seven candidates qualified for supply probationer at the September examination, and 33 were entered. The cost of advertising the examination to be held in March has been £29 7s. The number of vacancies to be filled in March is 14. The three home ports and Rosyth where examinations are held are centres not inconvenient to the candidates and are certainly the most convenient and economical places from the point of view of the Crown. The actual expense of holding the examinations consists of the printing of papers, supply of stationery, etc., but I am afraid that I am not in a position to give an exact estimate.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, for the year 1914, the figure which is comparable with the figure 7,938 which appears in Cmd. 3504 as the civil staff of the Admiralty on 1st January, 1930?

The classification of Admiralty staff into non-industrial category has been subjected to a number of modifications during recent years which have necessitated adjustments in the figures given from time to time in order to make them comparable with one another. The pre-War figure comparable with the figure 7,938, which appears in Cmd. 3504, is 5726, allowing for adjustments which are mainly on account of the transfers of certain classes of staff between the industrial and the non-industrial categories.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what constructional and repair work is now being carried out at Portsmouth Dockyard?

The destroyers "Crusader" and "Comet" and the auxiliary craft "Nightingale" are now under construction at Portsmouth. A leader was ordered on 14th February, and a cruiser will be ordered on 2nd March. The following are in hand for repairs, etc.:

• "Barham" for reconstruction;
• "Hood" for large repair;
• "Emperor of India" for preparation for sale;
• "Concord" for refit;
• 1 destroyer for retubing of boilers and refit.;
• 2 destroyers for refit;
• 3 submarines for repairs and alterations;
• 1 minesweeper for refit; and
• 18 small craft for repairs, etc.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how much imported beef was supplied to the forces situated in Britain during the months of October to March during the past two years?

1,180 tons and 1,210 tons, respectively.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty for what purpose the quarters previously occupied at Eastney by the Royal Naval School of Music are now being used and, if not being used, whether it is the present intention that they shall remain unoccupied?

The quarters previously occupied at Eastney by the Royal Naval School of Music are being converted into accommodation for Royal Marine sergeants and men, and 190 beds are already occupied in one of these blocks. The conversion of the remaining block into cubicles and barrack-rooms is nearing completion, and it is anticipated that these quarters will be available for occupation at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the composition of the British delegation now attending the conference sitting in Paris summoned by the League of Nations Research Committee for European Union to examine the means of disposing of surplus stocks of wheat?

The British delegation consists of His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, assisted by Sir Sidney Chapman, the Economic Adviser to His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the petition presented to the League of Nations by three Macedonians on 14th January, 1930, and examined by the Committee of Three in May, 1930, has been circulated to members of the Council, including His Majesty's Government; and what is the present position with regard to this petition?

This petition was circulated to all the members of the Council in May, 1930, in accordance with the usual practice, and His Majesty's Government were represented on the Committee of Three, which examined it. After careful investigation, the com- mittee decided that the petition could not properly be brought before the Council.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will give information in regard to the personnel and terms of reference of the committee which it is proposed to set up in Burma, under the chairmanship of the general officer commanding the Burma independent district, the appointment of which has been sanctioned by the Government of India?

I understand that the terms of reference to this small informal committee are:

"To consider and report how best a Burma Defence Force can be organised and what the strength and composition of that Force should be."

The personnel of the committee (apart from the chairman) has not been selected.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is yet in a position to make a statement regarding improved transport facilities across the Forth at Queensferry?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave yesterday to a question by the hon. and learned Member for East Fife (Mr. Millar), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the present number of nursery schools established; which of these are open-air schools; and what is the total number of children in attendance; and whether he will publish a list of those authorities who have taken advantage of their powers in providing nursery schools?

There are 44 recognised nursery schools in England and Wales, of which 34 are open-air schools, while nearly all the others have good open-air facilities. My right hon. Friend is unable to state the actual numbers in attendance at these schools, but altogether they provide accommodation for 3,076 children. A new edition will shortly be published of the Board's List 42, which gives the names of recognised nursery schools and shows which of them are provided by local education authorities. I am, in the meantime, sending my hon. Friend a list of those authorities which have taken steps to provide such schools.

asked the Minister of Labour, whether, in view of the abuses to which attention has recently been directed in certain cases of claims for unemployment benefit, she is now prepared to re-introduce the condition that no one not genuinely seeking work should be admitted to any benefits?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour how many workers in the carpet-making industry are registered as being unemployed at the latest available date?

At 26th January, 1931, there were 7,310 insured persons classified as belonging to the carpet-making industry recorded as unemployed in Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Labour when she anticipates the new Employment Exchange at Macclesfield will be ready for occupation?

I regret I cannot at present specify any definite date.

asked the Minister of Labour what reply she has received to the representations made by her with a view to enabling the Unemployment Insurance Commission to sit more frequently quently?

I have made no such representations. As I stated in the House on 18th February, the Royal Com- mission as far as I am able to judge is working with as great a speed as the circumstances of the case permit.

asked the Minister of Labour how many temporary Exchanges have been replaced since May, 1929; how many Exchanges of a temporary character are in existence; and what is the number proposed to be rebuilt or replaced in the coming year?

Since May, 1929, 45 temporary premises have been replaced by permanent buildings. There remain 277 Exchanges housed in temporary premises, of which it is estimated that 30 will be replaced by permanent buildings during the coming financial year.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she is aware of an unsatisfied demand for skilled girl machinists in the tailoring industry in the boroughs of Bethnal Green, Shoreditch, and Stepney; and whether she proposes to take steps to satisfy this demand?

I am aware that there is at present the normal seasonal shortage of skilled women machinists for the tailoring industry. The Employment Exchanges are making every effort to fill the vacancies notified to them by employers.

asked the Minister of Labour the present average cost per head of clerical labour in Employment Exchanges, together with comparable figures for the past five years?

The present average cost per head of the staff in divisional offices and Employment Exchanges below the grade of third-class officer is approximately £179 per annum as compared with £198, £191, £206, £210, and £201, respectively, for each of the past five years.

asked the Postmaster-General what will be the cost of a call from Guernsey to London and Guernsey to Jersey, respectively, when the telephone service to the Channel Islands is in operation?

The charge proposed for a three-minute call between Guernsey and London is 5s. 9d. between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m., 4s. 3d. between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and 3s. between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Service between Guernsey and Jersey is a matter for the island authorities, who carry on the local telephone services under licence. I understand that the inter-island charge is still under discussion between these authorities.

asked the Postmaster-General whether for the carriage of His Majesty's mails to the Far East via Moscow across Soviet Russia the mailbags used are of British manufacture; whether trade union rates of wages and other conditions are observed in their manufacture, or whether these mailbags are manufactured by convict labour; and whether the arrangements now in force differ materially from those in operation under previous postmaster-generals?

The mail-bags used for the conveyance of British mails on this and other routes are made in this country by prison labour, as they have been ever since 1875. There has been no change in the conditions under my administration.

asked the Minister of Labour when the cost-of-living index was last revised; whether she is satisfied that it accurately defines a minimum standard of existence; and whether she contemplates an early revision of the basis of adjusting wages and salaries?

The index number remains on its original basis. It is intended to indicate the average increase in the cost of maintaining unchanged the pre-War standard of living of working-class families, and it does not purport to define a minimum standard of existence.

asked the Minister of Labour by nationalities how the total of 13,396 persons who landed in this country with Ministry of Labour permits for the year ended 31st December, 1930, was made up?

The number of aliens admitted to the country during 1930 under Ministry of Labour permits was

Country.			Entry under Ministry of Labour Permit.	Permission to take employment received after original entry.	Total.
Albania	…	…	—	1	1
Argentine	…	…	23	1	24
Armenia	…	…	1	—	1
Austria	…	…	485	31	516
Belgium	…	…	290	22	312
Brazil	…	…	11	1	12
Bulgaria	…	…	6	1	7
Chile	…	…	6	2	8
China	…	…	30	10	40
Cuba	…	…	2	—	2
Colombia	…	…	—	—	—
Czechoslovakia	…	…	162	21	183
Denmark	…	…	850	83	933
Danzig	…	…	3	—	3
Egypt	…	…	6	1	7
Estonia	…	…	15	8	23
Finland	…	…	26	13	39
France	…	…	1,588	175	1,763
Germany	…	…	2,233	246	2,479
Greece	…	…	18	7	25
Haiti	…	…	1	—	1
Hungary	…	…	177	12	189
Iceland	…	…	6	2	8
Italy	…	…	392	37	429
Japan	…	…	74	2	76
Latvia	…	…	30	2	32
Lithuania	…	…	1	—	1
Luxemburg	…	…	5	1	6
Mexico	…	…	2	—	2
Netherlands	…	…	357	40	397
Norway	…	…	243	60	303
Panama	…	…	1	—	1
Palestine	…	…	7	2	9
Peru	…	…	4	—	4
Poland	…	…	97	8	105
Persia	…	…	2	1	3
Portugal	…	…	16	3	19
Rumania	…	…	46	4	50
Russia	…	…	243	4	247
San Marino	…	…	1	—	1
Spain	…	…	154	11	165
Sweden	…	…	224	63	287
Switzerland	…	…	2,871	147	3,018
Syria	…	…	—	1	1
Turkey	…	…	1	6	7
Venezuela	…	…	1	—	1
Uruguay	…	…	1	—	1
U.S.A.	…	…	974	35	1,009
Yugoslavia	…	…	9	2	11
Stateless	…	…	4	—	4
Total	…	…	11,699	1,066	12,765

asked the Minister of Health approximately how many houses have been completed since the War for letting and for sale, respectively; and how many have been completed under the same headings during the year ended 30th September, 1930?

I am afraid that only an approximate estimate is possible. Allowing a substantial margin for possible error, I should put the proportion, as regards both the 1,600,000 houses built since the Armistice and the 160,000 houses built during the year ended 30th September, 1930, as two-thirds for sale and one-third for letting.

asked the Minister of Health how many slum-clearance scehmes have been submitted to him by the London County Council and the Metropolitan borough councils under Section 16 of the Housing Act, 1930, and the location of these schemes?

According to the programme submitted by the London County Council 28 areas with a population of 30,500 persons are to be dealt with as clearance areas during the next five years by the county council, and further areas comprising a total estimated population of 25,000 persons are to be dealt with by the Metropolitan borough councils. Up to the present I have received from these local authorities copies of resolutions declaring 17 areas comprising a population of 2,084 persons to be clearance areas, namely nine in Bermondsey, two in Kensington, three in Poplar and three in Wandsworth. One of these areas has been declared by the London County Council (in Poplar); the rest have been declared by the borough councils concerned.

asked the Minister of Health the number of municipally-owned houses in this country, subsidised or otherwise, where the tenants are not allowed to choose what form of lighting and heating they will use; the number of local authorities who have prohibited the use of gas for all purposes whatsoever; and whether the Government will, when sanctioning future subsidised hous- ing schemes, insert a clause giving tenants the right to choose what form of lighting or heating they desire?

I have no information as regards the first and second parts of the question. As regards the third part, I would remind my hon. Friend that Parliament declined to accept a Clause moved in the discussion on the Housing Act of last year which would have had the effect of his suggestion, and I could not properly limit by such a condition the powers of management conferred by Parliament on the local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health the number of schemes submitted to him by county councils regarding the housing of the working classes in rural districts under Section 32 of the Housing Act, 1930?

I think the hon. and gallant Member has misconceived the effect of the Section which he cites. The Section does not transfer from the district council to the county council the primary duty of preparing housing schemes. It is directed to giving the county council the duty of keeping in constant review the housing conditions in the rural districts and considering the sufficiency of the steps which the district councils have taken or are proposing to take to remedy unsatisfactory conditions and to provide further accommodation.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the present rate of interest on advances made by the Public Works Loans Board to local authorities for the purposes of housing?

4¾ per cent.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what has been the actual annual relief from rates to transport undertakings under the Local Government Act, 1929;

The Exchequer grants payable under the Local Government Act, 1929, in respect of the year 1930–31 are partly in respect of losses arising from de-rating, partly in respect of discontinued grants, and partly in respect of new money. These grants are not divisible between the several classes of rateable hereditaments. The losses on account of de-rating which have been made good by the new grants amount approximately to £22,500,000 in England and Wales, but I regret that I am not able to give any figures showing the relief which has been enjoyed by the industries referred to.

asked the Minister of Health what has been the gain per head of the population from the working of the combination of block grant and formula for the distribution of the general Exchequer contribution under the Local Government Act, 1929, in Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Tynemouth, Walsall, West Hartlepool, Merthyr Tydvil, Bath, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Hastings, Eastbourne, and Exeter?

The following statement shows, according to the latest available information, based on the figures for the standard year (1928–29), the amounts, per head of estimated population in 1928, of the Exchequer grants payable annually during the first fixed grant period (i.e., the three years beginning on 1st April, 1930), under the Local Government Act, 1929, to the councils of the under-mentioned county boroughs and the sums by which those amounts exceed the losses on account of rates and grants (as adjusted by reason of the alteration in certain cases of Poor Law boundaries) attributable to the operation of that Act.

Name of County Borough.	Amount, per head of estimated population, of annual Exchequer Grants under Act of 1929.			Amount of excess, per head, of such Exchequer Grants over the above-mentioned losses on account of rates and grants per head.
	£	s.	d.	s.	d.
Gateshead	1	0	11	5	7
Middlesbrough	1	0	10	6	5
Tynemouth		18	11	4	11
Walsall		17	3	5	6
West Hartlepool		19	6	6	8
Merthyr Tydvil	1	8	4	1	0
Bath		11	5	1	4
Blackpool		9	0	2	4
Bournemouth		7	5	3	0
Hastings	1	3	1	1	0
Eastbourne		3	11	1	9
Exeter		15	7	1	0

The foregoing figures are subject to revision and do not include any benefit provided for under Section 114 of the Act in respect of the mitigation of liability for loan charges in respect of temporary loans to boards of guardians.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what has been the additional cost to the Treasury during the current year in respect of the general Exchequer contribution under the Local Government Act, 1929?

I would refer the hon. Member to Class X of the Civil Estimates for the current year and to paragraphs 2 to 5 of my Memorandum on the Civil Estimates.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what is the relief to rates in the Isle of Wight under the Local Government Act, 1929; and how is the relief distributed as between industrial and agricultural hereditaments;(2) how the operation of the Local Government Act, 1929, has affected the Isle of Wight as regards the total Exchequer contribution to the local revenues; how the block grant is made up; and what precise formula has been adopted for determining the Exchequer contribution?

According to the latest estimates, based on the figures for the standard year, the operation of the Local Government Act, 1929, in the case of the Isle of Wight, caused a loss on account of rates amounting to £15,140 and a loss on account of grants amounting to £41,140. Against the total of these losses, namely, £56,280, should be set the total of the new Exchequer grants under the Act, namely, £69,711, giving a net gain of £13,431. It is not practicable for me to state how much of this total goes as relief to the occupiers of industrial and agricultural hereditaments. The new Exchequer grants under the Act have been calculated in the manner laid down in Part VI of the Act and the Schedules thereto. The total comprises £42,210, representing 75 per cent. of the losses on account of rates and grants; £25,566 calculated on the basis of weighted population laid down in the Fourth Schedule to the Act; and £1,935 representing supplementary grants under Section 94 of the Act. These figures are approximate and are subject to revision.

asked the Minister of Health for the last year for which figures are available the average weekly cost per head, other than capital and staff charges, in public assistance institutions, apart from hospitals and asylums, for children, men and women, respectively?

The specific information desired by my hon. Friend is not available. Details showing the aver-

Rating Area.			Total poundage of rates levied for the half-year ending—
			31st March, 1928.		31st March, 1930.
			s.	d.	s.	d.
Blackpool County Borough*		…	†3	9	†3	9
Gateshead County Borough	…	…	†11	2½	†9	4
Howden Rural District	…	…	6s. 2½d. to 6s. 11d.		5s. to 6s. 10d.
Pontardawe Rural District	…	…	9s. 4d. to 11s. 4d.		7s. to 8s. 6d.
Brecon Union:
Brecon Borough*	…	…	5	9	5	5
Crickhowell Union:
Brynmawr Urban District	…	…	14	6	13	3
* These boroughs comprise two or more differentially rated areas. The rates shown were levied in the oldest (or moat central portion) of the borough.
† One half of the yearly rate levied.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give a list of the public assistance committees from which he has received resolutions of protest regarding the rule preventing the test work required to be done by a person in receipt of unemployment relief being proportionate to the amount of relief received by such person; and what reply he has made to the committees sending such resolutions?

I am not aware of any formal resolutions dealing with this point, but the question has been raised with a number of local authorities. I have in such cases expressed the view indicated in the reply given to the question of the hon. Member on this subject on 26th January.

asked the Minister of Health the poundage of total rates charged, including poor rate, before April, 1928, and after October, 1929, in Blackpool, Gateshead, Howden, Portardawe, Brecon union, and Crickhowell union?

The statement below gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the desirability, as a measure of public economy and in view of the fall in the public acceptance of vaccination, of abolishing the positions of public vaccinator and vaccination officer and adding these duties to those of district medical officers and registrars of births and deaths, respectively?

Public vaccinators and vaccination officers are statutory officers and their office could not be abolished without fresh legislation. The appointment of these officers has only recently been transferred to the local health authorities, and I do not propose to consider the question of introducing any such legislation until those authorities have had more experience of their new duties. I may add, however, that under present conditions the appointments in question may be held jointly with other offices, such as those mentioned in the question.

asked the Minister of Health when the promised memorandum on human and bovine tuberculosis will be published?

The memorandum is now in proof, and I hope to be in a position to publish it shortly.

asked the Minister of Health the average period of service which a municipal employé has to serve to obtain a pension, assuming that he entered the service at the minimum age; what age would such an employé be when he retired; and what pension would he obtain?

I assume the hon. Member's question relates to areas in which the Local Government and Other Officers' Superannuation Act, 1922, is in force. The materials for a specific reply to his question are not available, but, putting aside the case of retirement on account of ill-health or infirmity, an employé would become entitled to a pension on attaining the age of 65, or at or after the age of 60 on completing 40 years' service, and his pension would be at the rate of 1/60th for each year of service (up to 40) of his average remuneration during the five years immediately preceding his retirement.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in order to avoid any further down-grading of ex-service clerks in the Ministry of Pensions, he will authorise promotions to the established clerical class up to a number not less than the existing total of Grade I and Grade II ex-service male clerks in that Department?

No, Sir; I am not prepared to create additional established posts which would not be justified by the declining work of the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will, in view of the divergence between the pledges given by the Minister of Pensions on 17th December, 1919, and on 10th January, 1920, as to temporary women employed in that Department, and the opinion expressed by the Lytton Committee, in paragraph 18 of their third report, that the Pensions Ministry is peculiarly a Department in which special efforts should be made to employ ex-service men, state the policy adopted in this respect by His Majesty's Government.

I am happy to say that, while the pledges referred to by the right hon. and learned Member in regard to the women who have rendered over 11 years' valuable service have been duly honoured, it has been possible to carry out the recommendation of the committee with regard to the employment of ex-service men to an even greater extent than the committee itself contemplated.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the desirability of publishing a Ministry of Health Journal on the analogy of the Board of Trade Journal and the Ministry of Labour Gazette?

This question has been considered from time to time, but I am not satisfied that the value of such a journal as the hon. Member has in mind would be sufficient to justify at the present time the additional labour and expenditure which it would entail.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount that he anticipates will be saved during the fiscal year 1931–32 by the proposed 10 per cent. cut in the Civil Service salaries; and how much thereof is attributable to savings on salaries and wages of £4 per week and less?

The Government have not proposed a 10 per cent. cut in Civil Service salaries. They have decided that the cost-of-living bonus shall be revised as from 1st March in accordance with the Cost-of-Living Bonus Agreement under which it is paid.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the average period of service which a civil servant has to serve to obtain a pension, assuming that he entered the service at the minimum age; what age would such a man be when he retired; and what is the average pension he would obtain?

Subject to a minimum service of 10 years, a civil servant is eligible under the Superannuation Act, for pension either

(a) on attainment of the age of 60, or

(b) on permanent incapacity through ill-health.

He cannot normally be retained in the Service after the age of 65. The ages of recruitment vary for different classes and still more for individuals specially selected for establishment, while pension is a fixed proportion of the retiring salary for each year served up to a maximum of 40. The form of the hon. Member's inquiry is thus inappropriate to the statutory Civil Service Superannuation system. I may state, however, that the average value of the Civil Service pensions at present in course of payment is about £125 per annum. This does not include the annuity value of lump sums payable on death or retirement.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total number of foreign manufactured motor cars and lorries in use on 31st January, or nearest convenient date, by each individual Government Department?

The present number of foreign manufactured motor cars and lorries owned by Government Departments is 203 out of a total of over 11,000. The great majority of the foreign vehicles were purchased during the War and are now moribund. The details are as follow:

—	Foreign made vehicles in use.	Total vehicles in use.
Admiralty	2	337
War Office	175	5,288
Air Ministry	14	2,581
Post Office	—	3,249
His Majesty's Stationery Office.	—	27
Office of Works	—	28
Crown Lands	5	12
State Management Districts.	—	12
Forestry Commission	—	7
Ministry of Labour	7	64
	203	11,605

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total number of foreign manufactured motor vehicles, if any, purchased during 1930, and to which Departments they were allotted?

Apart from three cars purchased for use overseas as being specially suitable for the purpose, no foreign made vehicles were bought in 1930 for the use of Government Departments. Total purchases numbered about 900.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how much have the tenants of Ireland, including Northern Ireland, repaid by their annuities under the Land Purchase Acts since 1885 up to the present; and what is the estimate of the amount still owing of the £125,000,000 advanced?

The amounts of the advances and repayments under the Irish Land Purchase Acts, 1891 to 1925, are as follow:

	£
Total Advances	121,714,000
Amount Repaid	23,044,000
Amount Outstanding	98,670,000

The above advances include £5,279,229 advanced to local authorities under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts, 1906 and 1911, in respect of which the amount repaid cannot readily be separately ascertained. As regards the Irish Land Purchase Acts, 1885–1888, the total advances amounted to £9,992,536, of which £3,166,563 had been repaid by the 31st March, 1923, leaving £6,825,973 outstanding at that date. The advances under these Acts were made from the Local Loans Fund, and as the outstanding liability for the repayment of advances from this Fund in the Irish Free State, both for Land Purchase and otherwise, has been commuted for a 20-year annuity, of £600,000, it is not possible to give figures of the total amounts repaid and outstanding since 1923.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is prepared to co-operate in any measures for the stabilisation of silver?

If any practicable proposals for the stabilisation of silver were submitted by the interests concerned, I would of course give them careful consideration, but, as I have already said, it seems to me that it would be difficult to deal with silver effectively except as part of the wider problem of price stabilisation generally.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the financial position of the nation, what steps the Government are taking to secure a temporary suspension in schemes of social development?

I still have nothing to add to the statement which I made on 11th February.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade the total value of imports into this country from Russia during January and of our exports to that country during the same period?

During the month of January, 1931, the declared value of the total imports of merchandise into the United Kingdom, registered as consigned from the Soviet Union (Russia) was £2,261,892. During the same period the exports of United Kingdom goods consigned to the Soviet Union amounted to £579,282, and exports of imported merchandise to £206,954.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the rateable value of the Soviet Embassy in Kensington Palace Gardens; and whether the rates are paid by the Soviet or by the British Government?

The rateable value of the Soviet Embassy at No. 13, Kensington Palace Gardens, is £1,247. The rates on this residence are paid by the British Government in the first instance, and, subsequently, under an old-standing arrangement applicable to foreign embassies in London, a proportion of these rates (roughly, 36 per cent.) falls to be refunded by the Soviet Government.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many officers and how many men who were drawing disability pensions died during the year ended 31st March, 1930, as the direct result of their War disabilities; how many widows and how many children were left by these officers and men; how many officers and how many men who were drawing disability pensions died during the same year from causes other than their War disabilities; and how many widows and how many children were left by these officers and men?

During the year ended 31st March, 1930, the Ministry were notified of the deaths of 320 officers and 6,770 other ranks, but the records of my Department do not enable me to give the number of those who died as the direct result of their War disabilities, or to say how many of them left widows or children. I am able to state, however, that during the same period, 79 pensions were awarded to widows of officers and 1,655 to widows or motherless children of non-commissioned officers and men.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will issue a list showing those authorities which have taken advantage of their powers provided under the Wild Birds Protection Act, and a list of those which have not done so?

The powers given by the Wild Birds Protection Acts have been exercised by all the counties in England and Wales, and by all the county boroughs (83 in number) except the following 17:

County Boroughs.
Bolton.	Oxford.
Bury.	Plymouth.
Carlisle.	Preston,
Derby.	Salford.
Doncaster.	Smethwick.
Dudley.	Stoke-on-Trent.
East Ham.	Wolverhampton.
Gloucester.	Worcester.
Great Grimsby.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the exact position with respect to outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease during the past 12 months in Great Britain; and how much money has thus been paid out?

During the 12 months ended 31st January last, there were 10 outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Great Britain distributed between six separate centres. Four of these outbreaks occurred in the West Riding of Yorkshire, two in the North Riding, two in Surrey, one in East Sussex and one in Bedfordshire. A sum of £3,184 was paid in compensation for animals slaughtered in connection with these outbreaks.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, in view of the reduction of wages of farm workers in Suffolk to 28s. a week by the Suffolk agricultural wages board, whether any other county has fixed a wage less than 30s.; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

As stated in my reply on Monday to the hon. Member for Eye (Mr. Granville), the reduced minimum rates proposed by the Suffolk Agricultural Wages Committee cannot be fixed until after the expiration of the statutory period during which objections may be lodged. Apart from special rates for certain classes of workers in the East Riding of Yorkshire, the minimum rates of agricultural wages as fixed at present are in no part of England and Wales less than 30s. per week for whole-time adult male workers employed by the week or longer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that owing to the unfavourable weather conditions or similar reasons unemployed men are delaying in some cases applying for allotment gardens which are available for letting; and whether as time is short if plots are to be planted this season, he will see that publicity is given to the facilities available?

Yes, Sir, and a considerable number of public meetings are being held in the areas most concerned. I would add that it is most desirable that every plotholder who desires to apply should at the earliest possible date submit his application, forms for which are available at Employment Exchanges.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is in a position to give any information as to the progress which has been made by Sir William Waterlow's central allotments committee in carrying out the Government's scheme for supplying seeds, etc., for unemployed persons desiring to cultivate allotments?

I am glad to say that rapid progress is being made by Sir William Waterlow's committee. The committee has been fortunate in securing the voluntary services of all the local administrators who assisted in carrying out the Mansion House Scheme last year, and has also appointed a number of additional administrators in other parts of the country, so that an organisation now exists in all the areas in which there is serious unemployment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that there is still a fear among unemployed men that if they cultivate an allotment garden they may lose the unemployment insurance benefit to which they are entitled; and whether, having regard to the provision made by Supplementary Estimate for the supply of seeds, fertilisers, etc., for such men, he is taking steps to bring the facts to the notice of officials of Employment Exchanges and the local allotment authorities?

Yes, Sir, and in this connection I would refer to the reply given on 29th January by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour, in which he said that it seems to be clear from previous decisions of the Umpire that the cultivation of an allotment garden will be no bar to benefit if the cultivator is available to take suitable employment. Information on the subject has already been communicated to Employment Exchanges and to the local allotment authorities, and I shall welcome any assistance which Members interested can give in the direction of removing doubts on the subject from the minds of the unemployed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the terms of the Land Utilisation Bill and the Agricultural Marketing Bill were considered by his Advisory Committee and the Agricultural Council of England as to their usefulness to agriculture; and, if so, what advice he received from these bodies?

Neither of the Bills to which the hon. and gallant Member refers has been considered by the Agricultural Advisory Committee for England and Wales. The Council of Agriculture for England considered the Agricultural Marketing Bill in its original form at its meeting on 31st October last, and I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of the report on the subject by the Standing Committee, which was then adopted by the council. The amended form of the Bill as introduced to this House has not been formally considered by the council. The Agricultural Land (Utilisation) Bill was the subject of a resolution adopted by the council at its last meeting on 12th February to the effect that the Bill did not afford the agricultural industry the assistance which it now urgently requires and that, if the money to carry out its provisions be available, it should be used for some other purpose more useful to the industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is approximately the average number of men employed upon arable farms in the Eastern Counties per 100 acres; and what is the average remuneration received per man per annum?

It was estimated by the Ministry in the report on the Census of Agricultural Production in 1925 that, on the basis of returns received on 4th June, 1924, from holdings throughout England and Wales, the total number of workers per 1,000 acres on holdings which are mainly arable was 36.6, of whom 27.9 were regular male workers. There is no estimate for the East of England alone nor are there figures available for subsequent years in respect of arable as distinct from other agricultural land. The minimum wage for an ordinary agricultural worker employed regularly throughout the year varies in the Eastern Counties from £78 per annum to £91 per annum. In order to estimate the average earnings per man, some addition would have to be made to these figures in respect of overtime, harvest work, and men paid above the minimum standard.