asked the Minister of Health how many persons were in receipt of institutional and outdoor relief in the Isle of Wight on 1st January, 1928, and 1st January, 1931?

The total number of persons in receipt of institutional and domiciliary poor relief in the Isle of Wight administrative county (excluding rate-aided patients in mental hospitals), on the night of 1st January, 1928, was 371 and 1,042 respectively. The corresponding figures for 1st January, 1931, were 360 and 662.

asked the Minister of Health the number of local authorities that have, in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act, 1929, assigned to their public health committees the domiciliary treatment of the sick poor?

Provision to this effect has been made in the administrative schemes of eight local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have taken advantage of the Town Planning Act and how many have not done so; and whether, in view of the results so far achieved, he intends to take similar action with regard to country planning in rural and county areas?

The number of town planning authorities in England and Wales is 1,764. The number of town planning authorities who have prepared schemes which have already been approved or are preparing schemes for approval for areas in their own districts is 493, and schemes have been approved or are being prepared for areas in 214 other districts by neighbouring authorities or joint committees. In addition, approximately 360 other town planning authorities are represented on advisory joint town planning committees. In reply to the latter part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Town and Country Planning Bill introduced in this House last Friday.

asked the Minister of Health if the Town and Country Planning Bill has been submitted to the different local authorities of the country for their comments; and whether the private interests affected will be afforded an opportunity of expressing their views by the grant of adequate time before the Measure is submitted to the House in its later stages?

The Bill has not been submitted formally to all the local authorities for their comments, but it was drafted after prolonged conference with persons familiar with the problems, including persons experienced in local government. There will he plenty of opportunity for interested bodies to express their views, and my right hon. Friend may say that he will be very glad to arrange for conferences with representative bodies.

asked the Minister of Health if he will direct the attention of local authorities to the desirability of using British steel window-frames in their houses in preference to those of imported timber, in view of their greater durability and consequent ultimate economy?

The local authorities are generally well aware through other channels of the advantages claimed for steel window-frames, and my right hon. Friend does not think that any useful purpose could be served by his calling their attention specially to the matter

asked the Minister of Health how many housing and slum-clearance schemes were in progress in the Isle of Wight on 1st January, 1928, and 1st January, 1931; the amount of money involved at each date; and the number of workpeople employed on such work in the island?

At the 1st January, 1928, 16 houses were being erected by two local authorities. The expenditure was £5,930. In addition 50 houses were in course of erection by private enterprise under the subsidy schemes of six local authorities. At 1st January, 1931, 30 houses were being erected by three local authorities. The expenditure involved was £12,679. Information as to the amount of building by private enterprise at this date is not available, nor am I informed of the number of workpeople employed at any time. No slum-clearance scheme was in progress at either of the dates mentioned.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state for the years 1929 and 1930 the amount credited to the unclaimed stamps sales account; the manner in which such sums have been utilised; and the amount still standing to the credit of the account at the end of 1930?

My right hon. Friend regrets that this information cannot yet be given as many of the claims in respect of the sale of stamps are not received until long after the actual sales. Any balance remaining after these claims have been met is available to make good lost contributions due to unemployment.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the existence of a nuisance caused to the residents over a large part of South Hampshire by fumes from the Agwi petroleum refinery near Southampton; whether he has taken any action in the matter; what steps, if any, he proposes to take; and whether the inspectors of the Ministry of Health have reported that the fumes are such as can be prevented by proper plant?

My right hon. Friend has had complaints. The works have received, and will continue to receive, the close attention of inspectors of my Department under the Alkali &c. Works Regulation Act, 1906. They have made a number of suggestions for minimising the odours. The suggestions have been readily adopted by the company, and some improvement has resulted. My right hon. Friend is advised, however, that no plant or device is known which will entirely prevent or eliminate the odours.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the cost incurred by promoting unsuccessful Bills for the extension of the boundaries of county boroughs and other local government units, what attitude his Department proposes to take towards such suggested extensions in future?

Local authorities have a right to approach Parliament when they consider it necessary and, under the Local Government (County Boroughs and Adjustments) Act, 1926, proposals for the extension of county boroughs must be by way of Private Bill unless the authorities concerned agree to proceed otherwise. I should not be justified in taking steps to limit or control the exercise of this right. But I am glad to observe that in many recent cases the parties concerned have succeeded in coming to an agreement, and costly proceedings have thereby been avoided. I do all that is possible to encourage friendly settlement, and I hope that the review of county districts now proceeding under the Local Government Act, 1929, will reduce the number of cases where it is necessary to proceed by Bill.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the convenience of the system of the payment of rates in rent both for tenants and local authorities in times of industrial depression, he will recommend to local authorities generally the extension of this practice?

The Rating and Valuation Acts give a discretion in this matter to the rating authorities who, from their knowledge of local conditions, are best fitted to decide which system is most suitable to the circumstances of their respective areas, and I could not undertake to issue any general recommendation.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many elementary school pupils in the Isle of Wight voluntarily remained at school until the age of 15 during the most recent school year for which figures are available; and in respect of how many such pupils maintenance grants were paid?

In the Isle of Wight, including the borough of Newport, 44 pupils remained voluntarily in public elementary schools up to the age of 15 during the year ended 31st March, 1930. No maintenance allowances were paid in respect of any of these children.

asked the President of the Board of Education for the years 1904, 1909, 1914, and 1919, the estimate for elementary and higher education, respectively, in the case of local education authorities and non-local education authorities?

In the years 1914–15 and 1919–20 the Board's expenditure on grants out of the Vote for the Board of Education was:

Similar figures for 1904–5 and 1909–10 are not available. The grants may be divided between Elementary and Higher Education, as follows:

The grants to bodies other than local education authorities are, in the case of elementary education, confined to a small number of schools for defective children, or schools attached to institutions such as Dr. Barnardo's Homes; whereas in the case of higher education the field is much wider, as a large number of training colleges, secondary schools, and technical colleges and schools are under the management of bodies other than the local education authority, and receive direct aid from the Board.

asked the Minister of Labour if she is taking any action to expedite a settlement of the strike of electricians in London?

My Department have been in touch with the parties throughout the dispute. I understand that a meeting between them is taking place to-day.

asked the Minister of Labour when permission was granted to Messrs. Brettle and Company, Limited, Belper, to engage a German subject as an engineer; and what are the conditions attached to his engagement?

This permit was issued in February in order to enable the firm to employ a German engineer who is an expert in the construction of a type of machine not previously made in this country, thereby giving employment to a number of British workmen. The permit is valid for 12 months, and is subject to the condition that steps are taken to train British subjects in the work.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that one of the London General Omnibus Company's stopping places in the village of Ewell is at present fixed on a dangerous corner; and whether he will give instructions to the Traffic Commissioner for the Metropolitan traffic area to have this stopping place changed?

I shall be happy to have inquiries made if the hon. and gallant Member will furnish me with particulars of the stopping places he has in mind.

asked the Home Secretary whether labour from prisons and prison camps is permitted in any way to be employed on direct works of construction, road making, or otherwise, in competition with free labour; and on what terms?

Prisoners are employed in constructional work and in road-making or road-repairing undertaken by the Prison Commissioners for the upkeep of prisons and prison farms or grounds; but no prisoners are hired out for any kind of work to any outside contractor or public authority.

asked the Home Secretary what restrictions are placed on the sale of prison-made goods in Great Britain; and what is the practice in regard to fixing prices for the sale of such goods?

Almost all the goods made in prisons are goods utilised by the Prison Department or by other Government Departments. The prices charged to other Government Departments are calculated by adding to the cost of the materials a percentage addition for the cost of machinery, tools, etc.

asked the Home Secretary whether the 50 more policewomen to be appointed in the Metropolitan area are in addition to the increase of 50 announced on 13th February, 1930?

No, Sir. The increase contemplated in my earlier reply has not been made, for administrative reasons which I have explained more than once to the House. My hope is that it will now be possible to make it effective at no distant date.

asked the Home Secretary how many Russian subjects are employed by Russian Oil Products, Limited; and whether their residence in this country is conditional on their employment by this company?

I am informed that 65 persons described as Soviet citizens are employed by Russian Oil Products. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of cases since June, 1929, to the last convenient date in which he has instituted proceedings for possession and ejectment; and whether he has in any cases secured alternative housing accommodation for the soldiers and their families who have been affected?

The number of cases since June, 1929, in which the War Department has taken proceedings for possession or eviction is 79, and orders have been granted by the Court in 46 cases. Of the remaining 33 cases, 27 of the defendants vacated their accommodation before the hearing of the case, and six are pending hearing by the Court, The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what is the actual cost per unit of electric light supplied to Chatham barracks; and what is the actual charge per unit in the married officers' quarters?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave on 18th March to the hon. Member for Gillingham (Sir R. Gower), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether hon. Members desiring to travel third-class with railway vouchers are permitted to alter the vouchers by substituting the word "third" for "first," notwithstanding the note forbidding alterations to the voucher; and, if so, whether he will cause the next reprint of vouchers to be amended accordingly?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the hon. and learned Member's suggestion will be taken into account.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what conclusions he has arrived at in connection with his inquiry into the advisability of modifying the present travel facilities for Members?

This matter is still under consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has considered requests submitted by old age pension committees asking that the deduction of £39 allowed to old age pensioners in respect to any sum derived from any source other than earnings, should apply to earned income also; and what action he proposes to take concerning this proposal?

In the present state of the national finances, I am afraid that my right hon. Friend cannot entertain this proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the proposed Austro-German Customs union would involve any breach of international agreements to which Great Britain is a party?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to a number of questions on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the legal questions in dispute between Lithuania and Memel discussed at the last meeting of the Council of the League of Nations have been submitted to the Permanent Court of International Justice, or what procedure for settlement is being adopted?

The procedure for the settlement of these questions is now under consideration. If no agreement is reached before the next session of the Council of the League of Nations, the questions at issue should, in the view of His Majesty's Government, be submitted to the Permanent Court of International Justice.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Lithuanian Government has now taken steps to modify the regulations covering transit on the Niemen as a result of the discussion that took place at the last meeting of the Council of the League of Nations?

At the last session of the Council, my right hon. Friend, in his capacity as president, said that the Council would have learnt with pleasure that the regulations for timber-floating on the Niemen, which had been criticised in certain matters of detail by the Transit Committee, were not regarded by the Lithuanian Government as in any sense final. It might be hoped, therefore, that such modifications would be made in them as might be necessary to facilitate the resumption of traffic. So far as my right hon. Friend is aware, no further steps have been taken by the Lithuanian Government to modify these regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what countries have signed the Convention on Financial Assistance; and whether any, and, if so, what, reservations have been made?

The following 30 States have signed the Convention on Financial Assistance, subject, in the case of Austria and Sweden, to the reservations stated:

Abyssinia.

Albania.

Australia.

Austria (subject to the reservation that this signature shall only take effect when an agreement with the States concerned has removed the obstacles which still stand in the way of the application of the Convention as regards Austria, i.e., the supervision of credit exercised by the Committee of Control and the general lien belonging to the States which have granted reconstruction credits).

Belgium.

Bolivia.

Great Britain and Northern Ireland and all parts of the British Empire which are not separate members of the League of Nations.

Bulgaria.

Cuba.

Czechoslovakia.

Denmark.

Estonia.

Finland.

France.

Germany.

Greece.

Irish Free State.

Italy.

Latvia.

Lithuania.

The Netherlands, including Netherlands Indies, Surinam and Curacao.

Norway.

Persia.

Peru.

Poland.

Portugal.

Rumania.

Spain.

Sweden. (In virtue of the constitutional laws of Sweden, loan operations are entrusted to a special authority (Riksgaldskontoret) appointed direct by Parliament.)

Yugoslavia.

asked the Minister of Labour what action she proposes to take with reference to the recommendation of the Unemployment Committee of the International Labour Office with regard to the carrying out of joint public works through the League of Nations?

The report of the Unemployment Committee of the International Labour Office has been brought to the notice of those Departments of the Government who might be concerned. So far as I know, the joint public works contemplated affect in the main nations with contiguous frontiers. The only work of the kind in which it has been suggested that this country might be interested is the Channel Tunnel, which, as the hon. Member will be aware, hap been the subject of consideration by His Majesty's Government.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that in certain cases widows of ex-service men in receipt of a pension who may be sent to an institution for medical attention have had their Army pension book taken away and not returned until some time has elapsed since their return home from the institution; and whether he will consider some different method, in view of the fact that such a pensioner if solely dependent upon herself would be left without any money on which to carry on?

The arrangements made by the Ministry in such cases, which have been in operation for many years, are calculated ordinarily to avoid any delay such as that referred to, and no representations as to their failure to work have been made to me. If the hon. and gallant Member has, however, a particular case in mind in which there has been delay and will be good enough to furnish me with details of it, I shall be happy to see if there was any possible cause of delay which can be removed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any other European country has instituted egg grading on similar lines to the English National Mark scheme; and what grades are employed?

Yes, Sir. In Germany, which like this country is a large importer of eggs, a voluntary grading and marking scheme, designed broadly on the lines of the National Mark scheme for England and Wales, was introduced early in 1930. A comparison of the grades in the two schemes is as follows: