asked the Minister of Labour how many Russian subjects hold permits as employés in the Russian Oil Products Company?

I understand that on 1st May, 1931, 63 Soviet citizens were employed by Russian Oil Products Limited, out of a total staff of 1,258.

Is it not a fact that these 63 persons are Communist agents, and why is this sympathetic consideration given to this company at the expense of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company?

I cannot admit either of those hypotheses.

They are true.

asked the Home Secretary whether Messrs. Arcus, Chlenoff, Saratovtseff and Birkenoff have permits to reside in this country; if so, when the dates of those permits expire; and has any application been made for their renewal?

Messrs. Arcus, Chlenoff and Saratovtseff are in this country for the purpose of taking part in the negotiations on Anglo-Soviet debts and claims. Their stay is not subject to any restriction as to time, and depends, obviously, on the progress of the negotiations. Mr. Birkenoff was given leave to land for employment with Arcos, and is at present subject to a condition requiring him to leave the United Kingdom not later than the 21st June, 1931. No application has been received for an extension of this period.

In view of the fact that the negotiations of Sub-committee B have broken down, is the presence of these gentlemen any longer necessary in this country, and will they be sent back as soon as possible?

Is not that rather an indecent question?

Is not the behaviour of these gentlemen indecent?

Withdraw!

asked the Home Secretary on what grounds Mr. Rexach and Mr. Collar, both of Spanish nationality, were deported from this country?

I presume that the hon. Member refers to two Spanish officers about whom questions have previously been asked in this House. They arrived at Liverpool on the 2nd January last in the steamship "Hildebrand" from Lisbon, and were refused leave to land for the reasons already given.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the very strong feeling in Spain resulting from the contrast between the treatment of these Republicans and that of the ex-Monarch of Spain?

There has been no cause for contrast. These officers did not arrive from Spain, and I have no knowledge of any ground or feeling of complaint on account of what has been done.

Is there any way of putting a stop to the asking of these indecent questions?

asked the Minister of Labour whether her attention has been called to the fact that, although the dispute in which the Bristol miners were recently involved was settled on 18th April, the miners for whom no work has been found are still refused their unemployment benefit; and what action she proposes to take in the matter?

My attention has been called to the matter by the hon. Members for Bristol South (Mr. Walkden) and Bristol Central (Mr. Alpass). The questions raised are at present before the Umpire for decision on appeal.

asked the Prime Minister in view of the increasing poverty among the mining classes in the county of Durham owing to short-time working and the continued dismissal of miners, what steps he proposes to take to deal with the situation?

The short-time working and unemployment in the mining industry in Durham, which I deplore, is due to general trade depression which has adversely affected the inland consumption of coal and coke, and also to the diminution in the coal export trade. The Government is fully alive to the situation in the mining industry and is doing everything possible to mitigate the effects of the industrial depression on the coal industry.

When will the Prime Minister be in a position to say what steps the Government propose to take to deal with the situation?

That had better be done by a Vote being put down.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware of the need for urgent action? Is he aware that in his own division in the Northern Press last night there is a report of two children dying from lack of food?

asked the Minister of Labour how many centres for the training of domestic servants have been established, where they are situated, and how many who have been trained have been placed; and whether she is satisfied that the methods in operation are satisfactory and likely to improve the status of domestic servants?

During the week ending 2nd May, 1931, 48 centres, of which five were residential, were in operation, a list of which I am circulating. The number of trainees placed in domestic employment at the conclusion of their course during the year 1930 was 3,524. This represents 89 per cent. of the number who completed the course, and indicates, in my opinion, that the methods in operation are satisfactory. As regards the last part of the question, I think that anything that tends to dissipate the illusion that there is anything derogatory in the occupation of domestic service is of advantage.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that courts of referees are now refusing benefit to insured unemployed women who decline to accept domestic service, she is prepared to include domestic service as an insurable occupation?

I am not prepared to propose any alterations in the scope of the unemployment insurance scheme pending the receipt of the report of the Royal Commission.

In view of the number of totally unemployed workers who are being disallowed benefit because they will not go to domestic service, as that takes them out of insurable employment to which they have always been accustomed, will the right hon. Lady send instructions that in future courts of referees are to act according to the Unemployment Act, and not disallow these women who have been asked to go into an uninsurable occupation?

I think it would be useless to send instructions of that kind, because that is the present practice.

Is it not the case that the Umpire himself has already given a decision upon that question which has been circulated to the courts of referees, and will that be stopped or withdrawn?

That cannot be done by me.

rose—

We cannot carry the matter any further.

On a point of Order. May I remind you, Mr. Speaker, that, if we put down a question with regard to the Umpire's decision, we are told that it is a matter of law, and we cannot get it passed the Table. This is a matter in which I think the Umpire is not acting according to the Unemployment Insurance Act, and he is going beyond the conditions laid down, with the result that we cannot raise the question in the House.

asked the Minister of Labour if she will state the number of counter hands employed at the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institute, York; the number of vacancies which have arisen during the course of the present year; the number and description of Employment Exchanges asked to fill these vacancies; and the number of girls supplied by each of these Exchanges?

I am not in a position to give information about the number of staff employed by the institute or the vacancies which arise. Two general orders for staff, including counter hands, have been received this year from the institute at York. These orders were circulated to the group of 26 surrounding Exchanges which normally deal with vacancies at this institute. The Exchange at Halifax, which is in the group, placed a counter hand, and another counter hand, engaged by the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes through the Middlesbrough Exchange, which is outside the group, was drafted to York.

Will the right hon. Lady satisfy herself that in the York area there is not a sufficiency of girls unemployed to occupy these positions without using this canteen for the purpose of doing unemployed people out of their unemployment pay?

I dissent from the conclusion reached by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether her Department has considered the policy of abolishing Ministry of Labour branch offices on the ground that they do not permit of efficient service to the public in all cases; and, if not, whether it will do so?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour if she will state the number of men and women placed, respectively, in employment last year by the different Employment Exchanges; and the six highest totals of these placings according to industries?

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

asked the Minister of Labour whether her attention has been called to the annual report of the Newcastle Public Assistance Committee; and whether she will bring this report to the notice of the Royal Commission on Un-employment?

I have not seen this report. If it concerns the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance, I presume the public assistance committee will send it to them.

In view of the fact that the report contained evidence of some abuses—it may be legal abuses—will the right hon. Lady see that this and similar reports are brought to the notice of the Royal Commission?

I do not quite understand how that can be put in evidence.

Is it not a fact that these people have already given evidence before the Royal Commission?

I believe that is so.

asked the Minister of Labour whether her attention has been called to the case of Mr. J. Williams, Upper House, Llyswen, near Brecon, who has been refused unemployment benefit since 25th February, 1931, on account of his having at that date reached the age of 65 and thus become eligible for an old age pension; and, seeing that this man's application for an old age pension has been refused on account of his being in a non-insurable occupation, whether she will arrange for his case to be reviewed to enable him to claim unemployment benefit from the date it was stopped?

The right to unemployment benefit ceases when a person attains the age of 65. I have no power to authorise the payment of benefit to persons beyond the age limit.

Is the Minister of Labour aware that this means hardship to a person who has been drawing unemployment pay up to the age of 65, and is then denied it without any opportunity of obtaining an old age pension?

That may be so, but it is not a matter for my Department.

Will the right hon. Lady consider the desirability of taking powers to get rid of this anomaly?

No, Sir; I do not think the Unemployment Fund should be treated as an Old Age Pension Fund.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the average total number estimated to be on transitional benefit for the first six and second six months, respectively, of the financial year who are included in the estimate of £30,000,000?

The weekly total number of persons estimated to be on transitional benefit during the financial year 1931–32, in respect of whom an estimate of £30,000,000 was submitted, is approximately 550,000 for the first six months and 480,000 for the second six months of the year.

Can the Minister of Labour say why there is a decrease of some 14,000 in the estimate during the second part of the year?

Obviously, because it begins to tail off.

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the effect on the numbers of persons claiming benefit of the instructions issued by her Department, following upon the abolition of the genuinely-seeking-work principle, that while an insurance officer remains able to allow any claim for benefit if he thinks fit a claim can only be disallowed by a court of referees?

The change in procedure to which the hon. and gallant Member refers was introduced, not by Departmental instructions, but by the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1930. I am not aware what, if any, effect the change has had upon the number of persons claiming benefit.

Surely it must have had a very marked effect on the question of the unemployed, because they can easily go on the unemployment register by not saying that they have tried to find work. Is it not a fact that there has been a considerable increase in the number in consequence of that?

The hon. and gallant Member is mistaken.

Do I understand that there has been no increase in consequence of that? Does the right hon. Lady mean to tell the House that, in consequence of that alteration, there has been no increase in unemployment? Surely I am entitled to an answer to that question.

That is a matter for debate.

On a point of Order. May I remind you, Mr. Speaker, that I asked the right hon. Lady a perfectly plain question, and am I not entitled to an answer to my question as to whether there has been any increase or not?

I have answered the question that appeared on the Order Paper.

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We cannot take the matter any further.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the latest official figure of unemployment in Germany and the approximate number of agricutlural and other persons included in that figure who in England would not be insured against unemployment?

At 31st March, 1931, the revised number of persons recorded as unemployed by the German public Employment Exchanges was 4,743,931. Information is not available which would enable me to state the number of persons included in this figure who would not be insured against unemployment in this country; but the total comprises 362,272 persons who are normally employed in agriculture, horticulture, cattle-breeding, forestry, fishery and domestic service.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated amount of industrial unemployment in Italy?

Figures showing the amount of industrial unemployment in Italy are not available. At 31st March, 1931, the total number of persons recorded as unemployed was 707,486. This total includes a number of persons normally employed in agriculture.

asked the Minister of Labour how many schemes for the relief of unemployment have been submitted to the Unemployment Grants Committee by the following Lancashire councils: Mossley Denton Urban District Council, Failsworth Urban District Council, and Audenshaw Urban District Council, the combined cost in each area, the amount of the Government contribution, and the number of persons found employment by these schemes in each area from 1st June, 1929, to the latest available date?

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

asked the Home Secretary whether in view of the fact that the mobile police have been involved in 120 accidents since their inauguration, any members of this force have been prosecuted for any offences under the Motor Car Acts?

There have been no such prosecutions. A large proportion of these accidents were trivial, as I have already stated, and involved no other person or vehicle.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any special instructions have been issued that some of these drivers, who are a positive danger to other road users, should be prosecuted?

I have heard of no reason for issuing special instructions, but I shall be glad to have any information which would enable me to consider the matter.

asked the Prime Minister when he proposes to introduce legislation to nationalise the means of transport in this Country?

The Third Report of the Royal Commission on Transport, which deals with the whole question of the further co-ordination and organisation of transport, is under the consideration of the Government, and I am not in a position to say more.

How many years have we to wait for this legislation?

asked the President of the Board of Education how many sites acquired by local education authorities for elementary school purposes during the past year exceeded five acres in extent; and what proportion of the total acquired those were?

During the year ended 31st March last, local education authorities, in England and Wales, acquired 161 sites exceeding five acres in extent for elementary school purposes. This represents 29 per cent. of the sites thus acquired during the year.

asked the President of the Board of Education what steps the Board takes to ensure that wherever the land is available new elementary schools shall be equipped with playing fields for the playing of organised games on grass pitches?

Local education authorities are well aware that the Board regard it as of the greatest importance that playing fields should be provided for new elementary schools, particularly those for older children. A pamphlet on the matter was prepared rather over a year ago with the help of the National Playing Fields Association, and specially circulated to each local education authority. In frequent cases where the Board has thought that the local education authority might be doing more, their attention has been called to the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many schools have now organised a voluntary milk club; how many scholars do they include; and the proportion to the total number of schools and scholars?

I regret that no information is available as to the number of schools which have organised milk clubs; but I understand that the National Milk Publicity Council's scheme extends to upwards of 600,000 school children, or approximately 13 per cent. of the school population.

In view of the importance of this matter, would my right hon. Friend get this information as to the number of schools having these clubs?

These clubs are organised by the National Milk Publicity Council, and they are unable to get the information. They act through the milk distributors, and not directly through the schools.

asked the President of the Board of Education (1) what facilities there are in England and Wales for training men in physical culture, art, and handicraft; and whether there is a sufficient supply of teachers to meet the demand in the schools;

(2) what grants are being made towards the training of teachers in domestic science, physical training, handicraft, and art?

Physical training is included in the course of every ordinary student at a two-year training college, and of a large and increasing number of graduates who take a one-year course of training. Art and handicraft are both subjects of the ordinary course of training; and at two training colleges in England the whole course is planned for students taking handicraft to an advanced stage. In the past some local education authorities have found difficulty in obtaining a sufficient supply of suitable teachers of these subjects for the different types of school; but steps have been taken to increase the supply. For teachers of domestic subjects there are 10 training colleges in England and one in Wales. All the training colleges referred to are aided by grant.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many and what percentage of children who did not win scholarships remained in State-aided schools after the age of 14 years in 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930, respectively?

I am afraid that I am not able to give the precise figures for which the hon. Member asks; but, if he will look at tables 7 and 8 in the reports of the Board for the years 1926–29, he will, I think, find substantially the information which he requires. Corresponding figures for 1930 will be available in the Board's report for that year, which will be published very shortly.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman in a position to give the House, as nearly as he can, an estimate of the figures?

Did you win a scholarship at school?

I think that the estimate for 1929–30 is 82,500.

asked the President of the Board of Education what accommodation in public institutions is available for epileptic children in England; and what accommodation is available in Kent?

There are six residential special schools for epileptic children certified by the Board of Education, providing altogether accommodation for 609 children. None of these schools is situated in Kent, but most of them admit children from any area. Provision is also made, in certain institutions for mentally defective children, for cases in which mental defect is combined with epilepsy.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a considerable shortage in accommodation and a very long waiting list of patients, and can anything be done to remedy this state of affairs?

I have made inquiries, and I find that that is the case. At present the Board offers a grant of 50 per cent. to any local authority or voluntary association establishing these schools, and I hope that the result of that grant will be an increase in accommodation.

Will the right hon. Gentleman draw the attention of some of the local authorities to this provision?

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he can state the price paid by the London County Council for the land used for the Becontree housing estate, and the capital and/or rateable value of the same land prior to the negotiations for its purchase by the London County Council;

(2) the price paid by the London County Council for the land used for the Hornsey Rise housing estate, and the capital and/or rateable value of the same land prior to the negotiations for its purchase;

(3) the price paid by the London County Council for the land used for the Morden housing estate, and the capital and/or rateable value of the same land prior to the negotiations for its purchase?

I am informed that the costs of the acquisition—including compensation and legal costs—of all interests in the lands acquired by the London County Council at Becontree, Hornsey Rise and Morden for housing purposes are £580,158, £11,447 and £360,231, respectively, and that the rateable values of the properties before the acquisition were £7,120, £1,125 and £2,130, respectively.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the rents of these houses are very high and that large numbers of prospective tenants cannot pay them and cannot therefore go there? Does he think that is in any way due to the high price paid for the land?

Is it not a fact that the cost of the site per house would not exceed £25 in the case of all these houses?

I could not say without notice. Hornsey, for example, is in a built up area.

Is it not a fact that the price is high because it has a very high market value?

Could the right hon. Gentleman answer my question?

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses built during 1929 and 1930 by district councils in Middlesex, Kent, and Essex, respectively?

The numbers are 4,399, 2,870 and 3,242 respectively.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of houses proposed to be built by district councils in Middlesex, Kent, and Essex for the next five years?

So far as regards urban authorities over 20,000 population who have submitted programmes to me in pursuance of Section 25 of the Housing Act, 1930, the numbers are 7,427, 5,029 and 4,184 for the three counties named.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that these authorities are progressing satisfactorily to the standard he desires?

No, I am not, except that they are an improvement on the immediate past year.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any new proposals to make to the House in relation to rural housing?

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the right hon. Member's question of a week ago.

Does the right hon. Gentleman anticipate that he will be able to make a statement shortly.

If any statement is necessary I will make it at the earliest possible date.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied with the progress made by slum clearance schemes or whether he is considering methods of speeding up these schemes?

70 authorities have declared 205 clearance areas containing some 7,500 houses and a population of approximately 39,000. It is much too soon definitely to express either satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the progress made.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how long it will be before he will be able to give the information?

asked the Minister of Health whether, seeing that there are over 100 local authorities in Greater London who are concerned with the improvement of the existing, and the provision of new, housing accommodation for the working-classes, he will consider the advisability of setting up a Departmental Committee for the purpose of examining this question with the object of introducing legislation for the creation of a central authority to deal with all housing matters on a comprehensive scale in Greater London?

While I have much sympathy with the idea which underlies my hon. Friend's question, I do not think there would be advantage at the present time in the appointment of a committee for this purpose.

Is it not a fact that under the present system of divided control between the county and the local authorities the working-classes are unable to procure good and sufficient houses?

That is a very large question which touches the whole structure of local housing in London.

Is it not a fact that the London County Council and other local authorities say that overcrowding is increasing more and more every day?

They have the remedy in their own hands.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are boroughs in greater London, where all the available land has been used and where there is great overcrowding, whose citizens cannot obtain houses on the London County Council estates?

Greater London is an area over which the London County-Council has no control. If they are within the area of the London County Council it is their responsibility.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many inspectors of horses in mines there are in the Northern Division; how many mines they have to visit; and the number of horses in use at these mines?

At the 30th June, 1930, the latest date for which information is available, there were 274 mines in the Northern Division at which horses were employed, the total number of horses being 18,419. There are two inspectors who give their whole time to horse inspections at these mines, and attention to the matter is also given by the other inspectors of the division—12 in number—in the course of their general duties.

Is the Secretary for Mines aware that there is widespread dissatisfaction at the somewhat perfunctory examination made by these inspectors and that the public feel that it is utterly impossible for so few inspectors to make an adequate inspection over such a wide area?

I am not aware of the widespread dissatisfaction. Indeed, recently I was able to convince the deputation which waited upon me that these matters were being dealt with properly.

Is the hon. Member going to take any action in regard to the suggestions he made to the deputation?

Yes, I am taking action. Certain specific representations have been made to me, and I propose to acquaint the members of the deputation at once.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed to call further meetings of the Round Table Conference or of the Federal Structure Committee before a settlement has been made of the Moslem-Hindu differences?

I am not yet in a position to make any statement about the arrangements for re-assembling the Federal Structure Committee and the Round Table Conference.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that members of his own Administration, the Princes, the leaders of the Moslems and Mr. Gandhi have said it is useless to hold any further meetings of the Round Table Conference until those conditions are settled, and when will he be in a position to make a statement?

asked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware of the damage being caused to the metal trades in the Midlands by the boycott against British goods in India: and what steps are being taken to improve the situation?

If the hon. Gentleman will inform me of specific cases in which the metal trades are being boycotted, I will have inquiry made.

I will do so, but is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Lancashire is not the only county very badly hit by this boycott?

Do we understand that the Government's policy of drift is still to continue?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the frequent cases of fraud and defalcation by secretaries of sharing-out clubs and of the comments made recently in the courts upon the case of which particulars have been sent to him, he will consider giving facilities this Session to the Sharing-Out Clubs Bill?

As my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury showed on the Second Heading of the Bill on 24th April, the Measure in its present form is not wholly adequate to secure its objects and in view of the great pressure on Parliamentary time I am afraid it is not possible for special facilities to be provided for the necessary amendment of the Bill.

asked the Minister of Health if he will arrange for the Ministry of Health Memorandum on Bovine Tuberculosis in Man to be issued as a Parliamentary publication and included in the Pink Paper?

This Memorandum has already been published as a non-Parliamentary Paper, and it is available to hon. Members on application to the Stationery Office on the usual green form.

asked the Minister of Health which three London Metropolitan boroughs have the highest infant mortality rates?

According to the most recent available returns (1926–1930) Paddington, Stepney and Shoreditch are the Metropolitan boroughs with the highest infant mortality rates.

asked the Minister of Health what tests are carried out for determining the quality of imported dried and condensed milk; and will he consider introducing legislation to make it compulsory for such milk to be sold in containers bearing a clear indication whether there is any deficiency of fats or other nourishing substances?

Samples of imported dried and condensed milks are taken both at the time of importation and at the time of exposure for sale and are examined by the Government chemist and the public analysts in order to ascertain whether the requirements of the relative regulations as to composition and labelling are complied with. I see no need for legislation as the regulations—of which I am sending copies to the hon. and gallant Member—require, inter alia, that if fat has been removed from the milk from which the dried or condensed milk is made the fact must be clearly declared on the label. If any constituent of natural milk—other than water or fat—were removed, the product would not fall within the definition of dried or condensed milk.

Will the Minister say whether there is any substantial reason whatever from the point of view of the Ministry of Health why those article should be imported into this country at all?

rose—