asked the Minister of Health the number of houses built by private enterprise and by local authorities, respectively, with the aid of subsidies since the War?

Up to the end of February the numbers of subsidised houses built in England and Wales were as follow:

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether his attention has been called to the recent raising of the Indian tariff upon imported railway materials and the consequent loss of employment to workers in this industry in Darlington; and, in view of the fact that Darlington firms could compete successfully if they were assisted with regard to such information as concerns prospective contracts, payment, import duties, and transport arrangements, whether he will consider the organisation of a new system or the reorganisation of the present system whereby such assistance could be rendered?

Information regarding the increases in the Indian Customs duties has been published in the Board of Trade Journal. His Majesty's Trade Commissioners in India regularly forward information regarding prospective contracts, and notices of these are sent to firms on the special register of the Department of Overseas Trade, to chambers of commerce, and to trade associations; publicity is given to them also in the Board of Trade Journal. Further particulars and advice regarding such contracts are furnished to interested United Kingdom firms on application. In these circumstances, I see no need for the introduction of a new system, though I am prepared to consider any suggestions which my hon. Friend may wish to communicate to me.

asked the Secretary of State for India what representations have been received by the Government of India from Indians in India or in Kenya in regard to the dismissal of the appeal made to the Privy Council concerning the action of the Government of Kenya in prohibiting Indians from bidding at a public auction of Government lands intended as residential plots; and what steps the Government of India proposes to take following the dismissal of this appeal?

I have not heard whether any such representations have been received by the Government of India, or whether they contemplate taking any action in the matter.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the extent to which people in this country took part in the Irish Free State sweepstakes, as revealed by the results of the draw, the Government can see their way to introduce legislation to enable similar sweepstakes to be conducted in this country to aid hospitals in need of funds?

Apart from any other consideration, I have yet to learn that the hospital authorities desire such legislation.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will cause an inquiry to be made into the full circumstances of the dismissal of Mr. W. B. Hughes, of Carmarthen, from the Inland Revenue Department; and if he will then say whether Mr. Hughes can be re-engaged in this Department?

The dismissal occurred more than three years ago, and the matter has already more that once been fully inquired into. I regret that I do not see my way to authorise Mr. Hughes' re-engagement.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of hours of paid overtime performed by the established clerical staff of the taxes branches of the Inland Revenue and the P-class and temporary staff, respectively, and the cost in each case, for the year ended 31st December, 1930; and the number of hours of unpaid overtime recorded as having been worked by the established clerical staff of the taxes branch for the same period?

The following statement gives the information required:

asked the Minister of Labour whether she will institute an inquiry into various methods of wage-payment, with a view to determining which methods result in the greatest efficiency?

I have no present intention of making such an inquiry. It is the usual practice to determine the method and rate of payment by negotiations between the representatives of employers and workers and to have regard, in those negotiations, to the circumstances in which the various industries are carried on.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that of 158 registered clerical workers on the Partick Employment Exchange only four such workers have been engaged for work in connection with the forthcoming census; and whether, in view of his Department's request, he will say what steps he proposes to take to secure a greater proportion of suitable unemployed men being engaged?

Of the unemployed clerical workers registered at the Partick Employment Exchange, only 12 made application to the Registrar for appointment as census enumerators. After interview four of these men were offered and accepted appointment, three were placed on the Registrar's reserve list and one was appointed in another district. The remaining four were debarred by age. Of the total number of enumerators appointed by the Registrar of Partick, one-third is composed of men definitely out of work who applied for appointment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now in possession of the report of the commission of inquiry into hire purchase in Scotland; whether he is aware that poor people are still being imprisoned under such contracts; and when he proposes to introduce legislation dealing with the matter?

I have not yet received the report of the Hire Purchase Committee, but I understand it is in draft, and until I have considered it I am unable to give any undertaking as to legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the need for more expert British salesmen abroad able to speak the languages of the different countries to which they are sent, he is satisfied with the arrangements made for teaching languages in the schools under his supervision; and, if not, whether he will investigate the possibility of improvements in the existing system?

I understand that the final report of the Committee on Education for Salesmanship will probably be submitted to me at an early date, and that it will contain the committee's final views on the subject of instruction in modern languages in relation to commercial requirements. I propose, therefore, to defer considering what further action should be taken by the Board in this matter until I have had an opportunity of studying the report.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to the shortage of coal stocks in the possession of coal merchants in Manchester; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

No complaints about the shortage of coal stocks in the possession of coal merchants in Manchester have been received in my Department.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of accidents in the South Wales coalfields, classified into fatal and non-fatal, in the year ended 28th February, 1931; and the percentage these bear to the accidents, fatal and non-fatal, in the coal-mining industry as a whole?

During the year ended 28th February, 1931, 207 persons were killed and 881 seriously injured by accidents at Mines under the Coal Mines Act, 1911, in South Wales and Monmouthshire. These figures represent 21.0 per cent. and 23.8 per cent., respectively, of the corresponding totals for Great Britain. I regret that particulars of persons less seriously injured are not yet available.

asked the Secretary for Mines for a statement showing the number and details of the schemes of amalgamations that have been promoted by the Coal Mines Reorganisation Commission since its establishment?

The Coal Mines Reorganisation Commission is engaged in exploring the ground and in stimulating and assisting the promotion of schemes by colliery owners themselves. It is too early yet to expect the promotion of any schemes by the Commission.