asked the Minister of Labour the number of

During the past six months the umpire allowed benefit in 3,118 cases, and disallowed benefit in 8,123 cases, a total of 11,241. The form in which the statistics are obtained does not enable me to give the further details asked for.

Does that show that the present constitution of the courts is not very satisfactory?

I should say not.

asked the Minister of Labour the districts and the industries which are responsible for the recent increase of the numbers on the unemployment register?

As the reply includes a statistical table, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the increase due to the mines quota?

I should be glad if the hon. Gentleman would study the tables.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she has considered the representations recently addressed to her as to the conditions under which alien musicians are permitted to remain in this country; and whether, having regard to the unemployment amongst British musicians, she proposes to revise such conditions?

I am not sure what representations the right hon. Gentleman has in mind, but the matter is one that is receiving constant attention. In my view the present practice adequately safeguards the interests of British musicians.

Is it a fact that an increasing number of British musicians are out of employment, and cannot the right hon. Lady do something?

But there is a great decrease in the numbers of foreign musicians.

Has the right hon. Lady any statistics of those granted very long extensions?

No alien musicians have been granted long extensions.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons directly employed engaged on work on all schemes approved on or after the 1st June, 1929, at the last convenient date; and the estimated cost of works on which such persons are employed?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to him yesterday relating to the number of men employed on schemes in operation on 30th January. The estimated cost of these schemes is £92,000,000.

Does that mean that it has cost £92,000,000 to put 8,000 people into work?

No, the right hon. Gentleman's conclusion from the figures is entirely wrong.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were employed, directly and indirectly, on State- assisted schemes other than those financed out of the Road Fund on 29th June, 1929, and on the latest convenient date?

Of the total of about 200,000 estimated to be employed directly and indirectly at the end of December last on works for the relief of unemployment, the number attributable to schemes, other than those financed out of the Road Fund, may be estimated at 135,000. The corresponding figure for the end of June, 1929, was in the neighbourhood of 20,000.

How many of these were directly and how many indirectly employed, and how does the right hon. Lady define the words "directly" and "indirectly"?

That was clearly explained by the late Lord Privy Seal in a statement which he made to the House when he quoted the 200,000.

How many were directly employed?

My right hon. Friend said at the time that the proportion was about 50–50.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons who have been transferred from the depressed centres to the borough of Southwark, and who have secured employment through the Walworth Road Exchange for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The number of persons from depressed areas who have been placed in employment by the Walworth Road Employment Exchange during the 12 months ending 9th March last was 39.

Can the right hon. Lady say how many of the 39 are still in the employment to which they were transferred?

I regret that I cannot say.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of those who are in insurable occupations who have contracted out on each basis for which contracting out is recognised?

I am not quite sure what my hon. friend means by "contracting out." At the latest dates available there were about 137,000 persons covered by the two special schemes for insurance and banking, respectively; about 28,000 persons were covered by exemption certificates, and about 524,000 were covered by certificates of exception.

asked the Minister of Labour what additional number of employés would be added to those insured for unemployment if those in uninsured occupations were included or if the income level was raised to £350 a year respectively?

Precise figures are not available, but it may be estimated that if all manual workers and all non-manual workers earning not more than £250 a year, aged 16 to 64 inclusive, employed under a contract of service, were included in the scheme of unemployment insurance, the numbers insured would be increased by about 3,500,000. I am unable to say how many would be added if the income limit for non-manual workers were raised to £350 a year.

asked the Minister of Labour the conditions as to remuneration laid down for the employment of Employment Exchange managers?

As the reply includes a number of figures, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour if she has any information as to the number of clerical workers, now unemployed, whose re- muneration when employed is in excess of £250?

Statistics giving the information desired are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed clerical workers registered at Partick Employment Exchange; and the number, if any, who have been engaged through the said Exchange for work in connection with the forthcoming census?

I am making inquiries, and will let my hon. Friend know as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of cases of alleged fraud in connection with claims for unemployment benefit submitted to the Ministry of Labour for the sanction of the Department to the institution of legal proceedings in each of the six years ended 31st December, 1930; and the number of cases in each of these years in which prosecution proceedings were sanctioned?

I will circulate a table giving the information available.

Will the right hon. Lady give me the figures for 1925 and 1930?

In 1925 the number of cases reported by the local offices was 11,413 and the number of cases in which criminal proceedings were taken was 2,034. In 1930 the figures were 11,765 and 914.

Can the right hon. Lady say why the number of prosecutions has gone down by more than half during the period?

Is not one of the objects of prosecution to deter people from doing wrong?

There must be some reason; can the right hon. Lady tell me why?

No I cannot without going into every individual case.

Does it not lead one to believe that the Government are not paying the attention that they should d to this matter?

It certainly does not.

asked the First Commissioner of Works the number of men engaged in the construction of the new Employment Exchange at Crewe that have been engaged through the Crewe Employment Exchange; what proportion of the total so employed this represents; and whether it is a condition of contract that the labour to be recruited locally shall be engaged through the Employment Exchange?

Twenty-two men are at present engaged in building the new Employment Exchange at Crewe, of whom nine, or approximately 40 per cent. of the total number, were engaged through the Crewe Employment Exchange. It is not a condition of contract that the labour to be recruited locally shall be engaged through the Employment Exchange.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the present number of women police in the Metropolitan area engaged in outdoor work; how this figure compares with that of 12 months ago; and whether it is his intention to still further increase the number?

The present number is 46, there being four vacancies. The number employed a year ago was 47, the vacancies then being three. It is proposed to increase the strength by approximately 50.

asked the Home Secretary whether experience as prison governor is treated as police experience, as required by the Regulations governing the appointment of chief officers of police?

No, Sir, but a candidate's qualifications and experience may clearly justify his appointment consistently with the terms of the Regulation on the subject. As my hon. Friend appears to be unfamiliar with the terms of the Regulation, I am sending him a copy.

Has the right hon. Gentleman recently sanctioned any appointment of chief constable without other police experience?

Yes, but my hon. Friend will see on reading the Regulation that the sanction has been given in conformity with the practice and the terms of the Regulation.

Was there a considerable number of applications from people who had been a long time in the police service, and who were evidently qualified for this particular post?

It is not part of my duty to enter into details of that kind. My function is limited to sanctioning after the proper authority has dealt with the appointment.

Before the right hon. Gentleman sanctions any further appointments, will he seriously consider the general principle involved and its reaction on the police force?

The general principle is that covered by the Regulation, and I have acted quite within the terms of the Regulation.

asked the Home Secretary how many police forces in England and Wales applied for an increase in the num- ber of their recognised establishment during 1930; what was the total by which they asked that their establishments might be increased; how many such applications were granted in whole or in part; and by how many men were the forces increased in cases where an additional establishment was sanctioned?

As the answer is long and contains a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he has made inquiries into the strike of school children in operation in the Eaton area; and what action he proposes to take to try and effect a settlement of this dispute?

My attention has been called to the unfortunate situation which has arisen in connection with the reorganisation of schools in the Eston district, and I am keeping myself informed of developments.

Is not the best way of dealing with school children who go on strike merely to whip them?

asked the President of the Board of Education (1) if, in view of the policy of allowing to each elementary education authority an establishment of teachers, he will say in how many cases since 1st June, 1929, has an authority been called upon to reduce the number of teachers in its employment, either as a whole or in respect of teachers of a particular grade of professional qualification;

(2) if he will give the number of education authorities for elementary education who have been requested since 1st June, 1929, to strengthen the staff of teachers in their employment, distinguishing between those cases in which the total establishment has been the cause of the representation and those in which the staffing of individual schools has been concerned?

It will be understood that the establishments of teachers which have been considered by the Board since let June, 1929, are those for the year ending 31st March, 1931. In three cases the Board suggested to the authorities that the establishment might be slightly reduced. In one case the Board approved the proposed establishment on condition that there should be a reduction in the number of supplementary teachers. In three cases the Board have suggested that the proposed establishments should be increased. I could not ascertain without very great labour in how many cases representations have been made either by the Board or by His Majesty's Inspectors as to the strengthening of the staff of individual schools. The results of these representations are normally reflected in the authorities' proposals for their teaching establishments. The establishments approved for the year 1930–31 represent a total increase of 2,000 teachers as compared with the previous year.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can state the total number of children needing medical and dental treatment, separately, on entering school at five years; and the percentage in each case for the last known year?

In 1929, of the children who were medically examined on entering school, 128,000, or 20.3 per cent., were found to require some form of medical treatment. There is no universal dental examination of children entering the schools, and I am therefore unable to give corresponding figures as regards dental treatment.

Do not those figures show that a high proportion of these children require treatment, and does the right hon. Gentleman contemplate taking any action to remedy that state of affairs?

The hon. Member will realise that the position is that these children require treatment before they come within the purview of the Board of Education, and the remedy is at the Ministry of Health. As a result of the action of the Ministry of Health, the proportion is far smaller than it was before the War.

Has the right hon. Gentleman taken any action to deal with children before they reach the age of 5?

That is a different matter.

Does not the Minister think that, if these children were put into nursery schools where they would get medical attention, it would reduce that figure very considerably?

Well, yes; but the whole question of nursery schools is at present under investigation by a committee of the Department.

asked the Minister of Health whether the committee under the chairmanship of Lord Chelmsford has yet made any recommendations?

It is presumed that the right hon. Gentleman refers to the committee which is examining the reports of Regional Planning Committees. That committee has not yet made any recommendations.

Will the right hon. Gentleman kindly inquire whether this committee has yet considered the Liberal proposal for the formation of a National Housing Board?

Oh, yes.

asked the Minister of Health what requirements the Ministry has laid down in connection with the payment of Government grants to local authorities for housing schemes with respect to the observance of fair conditions of labour as regards the materials used in the provision of housing accommodation; and whether such conditions apply to goods imported from abroad as well as to those produced in this country?

I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of the Fair Wages Clause which local authorities are required to insert in all contracts for the building of subsidised houses.

Will the right hon. Gentleman reply to the last part of the question?

I think the hon. and gallant Member will find, if he will consult the Fair Wages Clause, that that point is covered. I will discuss it with the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the case of Frederick Norris, 38, Emes Road, Erith, who, with his wife and four children, is obliged to live in two rooms, although he is the owner or a six-roomed house of which he cannot get possession; and whether the Government have any present intention of introducing legislation to amend the Rent Restriction Acts in the interests of owners of small houses which they require for their own occupation?

This case has not been brought to my attention, but I understand that it is one which the hon. Member has himself submitted to the Inter-departmental Committee on the Rent Restriction Acts. As regards the second part of the question, I must of course await the report of the committee.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the unskilled labourer with a family is normally unable to pay the rents which are being charged for the new subsidised municipal houses, and that the subsidies are to a great extent being given to persons who could reasonable afford to live in an unsubsidised house; and whether he is prepared to in- quire into the extent of this misdirection of the subsidy with a view to the possibility of preventing it by legislation or otherwise?

I am aware that in some cases the rents of houses provided under the Housing Act of 1924 are more than the lowest paid workers are able to afford but, as the hon. Member is aware, the financial arrangements of the Housing Act of 1930 will enable local authorities to let a substantial proportion of the houses provided by them under that Act at rents within the means of these workers. I am not aware that local authorities who are responsible for the management of the houses provided under the Housing Acts are letting them to persons for whom they are not intended—nor am I aware of any general misdirection of subsidy such as the hon. Member suggests. If he is in a position to give me any information on the subject I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the cost incurred by the issue of bound volumes of Parliamentary Debates to Members during the last three years?

The face value, on the basis of the selling price to the general public, of the bound volumes of Parliamentary Debates issued to Members of the House of Commons during the last three years, was:

Will the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, the need for economy being so stringent, consider setting the highest example to the nation by charging Members at cost price for these volumes?

The practice is—I think hon. Members know—to ask Members not to have the bound volumes unless they wish to have them, but I think, if an hon. Member wishes to have the record of the Debates for Parliamentary purposes, he should be allowed to have them.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that an offer has been made by Members to pay for the bound volumes of the OFFICIAL REPORT and no notice has been taken of such offer?

asked the hon. Member for the Gorton Division, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, the total receipts for, respectively, Imperial and British alcoholic liquor, cigars, and cigarettes sold in the House of Commons during 1928 and 1930?

As the Kitchen Committee do not keep separate records of the receipts for. Imperial and British acoholic liquor, etc., it will, I regret, be impossible for me to supply the hon. Member with the numerous statistical details mentioned in his question.

Would it be possible for the hon. Gentleman to provide information, on the one hand, as to the amounts of foreign liquor, cigars and cigarettes consumed, and a statement of the total amount sold?

The Kitchen Committee is a feeding, and not a statistical, Department.

Does the hon. Gentleman keep accounts in connection with his Department; and, if so, would it not be possible for him to discover just what proportion of these goods manufactured in this country or in our Empire are consumed by Members of the Conservative party?

The accounts are audited, and it would be possible for us to get out the details, but I have decided that the expense involved would net be justified.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, (1) whether, in view of the necessity for removing the deadlock in sugar-beet cultivation caused by the refusal of four beet-sugar factories in East Anglia to pay the price agreed upon in the national settlement, he will say what action is contemplated to give the growers the opportunity to cultivate that crop at the national price in the present season;

(2) what steps he proposes to take to bring the Anglo-Dutch combine up to the terms of the national settlement agreed to by the Government, the National Farmers' Union, and the majority of the beet-sugar factories in relation to beet-sugar prices, thereby enabling growers in East Anglia to proceed with these contracts and cropping in the present season?

I can assure my hon. Friend that I have used all the influence at my command to induce the Anglo-Dutch Group of factories to make an offer to beet growers of the same kind as the offer made by the majority of factories. The Group has not seen its way to do so, and I regret to say that I have no power to compel them to do so.

Has my right hon. Friend received representations from the National Farmers' Union with regard to the emergency of this case?

Yes, Sir, I have received quite a large number.

Will the Minister of Agriculture consider coming to this House for powers to deal with the situation if he is unable to find any other way out of this dangerous deadlock?

That question is being examined.

Is the right bon. Gentleman aware that the Anglo-Dutch factories are proposing to cut large quantities of Dutch grown beet, and that they are only able to do so because of the subsidy paid to them in the past from the taxpayers' money, and will he see that these Dutch factories do not use money paid by the British taxpayer to further a foreign industry.

With regard to those companies the position is most unsatisfactory and I can only say that we are examining the possibilities very closely.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the total number of farms inspected for the purpose of the administration of the Agricultural Wages Act; the total number of prosecutions; the total number of infringements; the total number of claims for arrears; and the total amount recovered during each year since the passing of the Act?

As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Do these figures not indicate that there has been very wide evasion of this Act in the past?