asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the names and addresses of existing organisations formed for the purpose of promoting agricultural co-operation in Scotland?

The Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society, Limited, 5, Saint Andrew Square, Edinburgh, is the organisation in Scotland which has for its sole object the encouragement and development of agricultural co-operation. Its activities are conducted as an educational and propagandist body, and 128 agricultural co-operative societies in Scotland, representing practically all such societies, are affiliated to it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will issue a list of products and commodities for which a National Mark is now provided; and what others are under consideration?

Full particulars of the products for which a grade designation mark is now provided under the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1928, are contained in the Ministry's National Mark Booklet, of which I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend. These products are at present homegrown apples, pears, tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, cherries, Cornish broccoli (for export), canned fruits, peas and beans, hen and cluck eggs, dressed poultry, all-English wheat flour, malt flour and malt extract; also home-killed beef. A National Mark scheme for cider has recently been introduced and cider under the National Mark will be on sale for the first time this summer. Consideration is being given to the early extension in various directions of the National Mark scheme for canned fruits and vegetables and to the preparation of schemes for the application of the National Mark to fresh plums, bottled fruits and vegetables, mutton, lamb, cheese and honey. Eventually, it is hoped to extend the standardisation policy of the Mark to the whole range of home agricultural products of commercial significance.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the average cost per ton of railway freightage on sugar-beet from the Isle of Wight to the nearest sugar-beet factory and the average frieght per ton similarly calculated for the counties of Hampshire, Sussex, and Kent?

I am informed that the average carriage rate, including shipping and rail charges, for the transport of sugar-beet from Newport, Isle of Wight, to the nearest beet-sugar factory, namely, Felstead in Essex, is 18s. per ton. The present average railway rates for sugar-beet from Hampshire, Sussex and Kent to Felstead are approximately 8s. 8d. per ton.

asked the Minister of Health whether any code of building bylaws relating to the level, width, and construction of new streets has been presented under Section 12 (1) of the Housing Act, 1923; and, if so, how many local authorities have passed a resolution adopting such code?

No, Sir, but the hon. Member will be glad to know that almost every local authority which had in force in 1923 by-laws with respect to new streets has now brought them up-to-date by the ordinary procedure of itself adopting proposals upon modern lines. This has been found more convenient than procedure under the Housing Act, 1923.

asked the Minister of Health whether the investigations which he is conducting into the paving charges on owner-occupiers of new houses has reached a stage at which definite results can be announced; and, if not, when does he expect to be in a position to make such an announcement?

These investigations are being actively pursued, but I regret that I am not yet in a position to announce definite results.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses completed in agricultural parishes in England and Wales under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924, each month since September, 1930?

The numbers are as follow:

October, 1930	…	…	332
November, 1930	…	…	319
December, 1930	…	…	318
January, 1931	…	…	234

asked the Minister of Health why the committee on vaccination is dissolved and why its final report did not include reference to the cases of post-vaccinal encephalitis brought to its notice during the period 1st October, 1929, to 30th September, 1930?

As regards the first part of the question, it was considered that with the presentation of its second report this committee had sufficiently discharged its terms of reference after sitting for four and a-half years. As regards the second part, I understand that as the investigations into cases of post-vaccinal encephalitis necessarily occupy much time, it was considered desirable to fix a date beyond which cases occurring subsequently would not be investigated for the purposes of the second report. My information is that during the period 1st October, 1929, to 30th September, 1930, only eight of these cases occurred.

asked the Minister of Health the number of children under the age of 12 months who died in Great Britain during the year 1930?

The provisional number of deaths registered in England and Wales in the year 1930 of infants under one year of age was 38,790. As regards the corresponding Scottish figures, my hon. Friend should address an inquiry to the Secretary of State.

asked the Postmaster-General the total cost of the costing administration of the engineering department in the last financial year?

The work represents an integral part of the engineering accounting system. I am afraid that the cost could not be ascertained without extensive inquiry.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of male and female clerks, postmen, sorters and other civil servants in his Department, over 21 years of age, earning less than 40s. per week, those earning between 40s. and 50s. per week, those earning between 50s. and 60s. per week, and those earning between 60s. and 70s. per week?

The numbers of full-time Post Office employés 21 years of age and over in the various groups mentioned are approximately:

Not exceeding 40s. a week	2,900
Exceeding 40s. but not exceeding 50s. a week	25,800
Exceeding 50s. but, not exceeding 60s. a week	44,900
Exceeding 60s. but not exceeding 70s. a week	34,700

The first and second of the above categories consist largely, and the third includes a considerable proportion, of persons who by reason of age and shortness of service have not yet earned a sufficient number of increments on their wages scale to bring their total remuneration over 40s., 50s. or 60s. a week, as the case may be.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the comparative value of the maximum benefit which an unemployed man with a wife and three children can now receive compared with the benefit which he could receive in 1920, taking 1520 equals 100, and taking into consideration the fall in the cost-of-living index?

The maximum weekly rate of unemployment benefit now payable to a man with a wife and three children is 32s. (of which 17s. is the basic rate and 15s. is dependant's benefit). In 1920, dependant's benefit was not payable and he would have received the same weekly rate of benefit as a single man, namely, 15s. The cost-of-living index in 1920 (on average) was 249 and at present is 150. Accordingly, if the 1920 figures are equated to 100, the present figures are equivalent to 188 if the basic rate of benefit only is taken into account and to 354 if dependant's benefit (not payable in 1920) is included.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the North Riding County Council of Yorkshire does not seek, by public advertisement, tenders in the open market, for castings that are required for carrying out grant-aided schemes, from firms who manufacture them; and whether he will take steps to require all such requirements of local authorities to be tendered for in the open market?

I have no knowledge of the circumstances, but if my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any schemes affecting my Department which he has in mind, I will cause inquiries to be made.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that the offices occupied by His Majestys inspectors of taxes and their staffs at Bristol Rural South, 3, Unity Street, Bristol, are unhealthy and overcrowded; and whether he will arrange to take over additional rooms in the present building which are now vacant?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and in regard to the second part arrangements have already been made under which three rooms previously occupied by the Rural North District will be allotted to this district. These rooms are being redecorated, and will be ready for occupation within the next fortnight.

asked the Attorney-General the numbers of the staff in the various grades in the district probate registries on 28th February, 1931; the number of clerks over 70 years of age in the district probate registries who had immediately to retire on the scheme of establishment being put into operation on 1st January,

District Probate Registries.
(A) Numbers and grades of Staff on 28th February, 1931.
Chief or Staff Clerks.	Senior Clerks.	Clerks.	Clerk-Typists.	Copying Clerks.	Temporary Typists.	Temporary Clerks.
19	30	72	32	2	12	17

(B) Number of Clerks over 70 compulsorily retired on 1st January, 1929	…	…	…	9
Total of Gratuities paid to them	…	…	…	£5,042

(C) Number of non-pensionable clerks who retired after the Scheme came into force, up to 28th February, 1931, on attaining the age of 65 or over	6
Total of compensation paid to them	£2,881