asked the Minister of Labour the amount promised in grants to Liverpool during the past five years, and the amount actually paid, for various schemes calculated to give employment?

During the past five years, 37 schemes submitted by the Liverpool Corporation, of a total estimated cost of £788,000, and three schemes submitted by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, of a total estimated cost of £2,191,000, have been approved for grant by the Unemployment Grants Committee. Thirty schemes for works of new construction and improvement on classified roads, of a total estimated cost of £1,054,000, have been approved for grant from the Road Fund. In addition, a grant has been made towards the Mersey Tunnel Scheme, estimated to cost £4,628,000, carried out jointly by the Liverpool and Birkenhead Corporations. The amount of the grant varies according to the nature of the scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour how many coal miners were in receipt of unemployment benefit at 30th January of each of the following years: 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, and 1930?

Statistics of the numbers actually in receipt of benefit are not available. The following table gives the numbers, of unemployed insured persons in the coal mining industry classification who had claims to benefit current in Great Britain towards the end of January in each of the years 1924 to 1931, inclusive. Comparable figures are not available for the years 1920 to 1923, inclusive.

Date.			Number of claimants for benefit.
Aged 16 and over.
28th January, 1924	…	…	55,825
26th January, 1925	…	…	97,085
25th January, 1926	…	…	120,161
24th January, 1927	…	…	193,682
Aged 16 to 64.
23rd January, 1928	…	…	204,078
21st January, 1929	…	…	201,799
27th January, 1930	…	…	127,798
26th January, 1931	…	…	202,912

asked the Minister of Labour the amount promised in grants to Glasgow during the past five years, and the amounts actually paid, for various schemes calculated to give employment?

During the past five years, 31 scheme submitted by the Glasgow Corporation, of a total estimated cost of £552,000, have been ap- proved for grant by the Unemployment Grants Committee. Twenty-eight schemes for works of new construction and improvement on classified roads of a total estimated cost of £672,000 have been approved for grant from the Road Fund. The amount of the grant varies according to the nature of the scheme.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he has any information as to the success of the initial flight of a Dutch mail-carrying aeroplane from Batavia to Australia this month; and whether it is, to his knowledge, proposed by the Netherlands authorities to institute a regular service between the Dutch East Indies and Australia?

As regards the first part of the question, I have no information beyond the fact that the first Dutch mail-carrying aeroplane safely reached Windham, Australia, on 14th May last. As regards the second part, I understand that the flight was undertaken with a view to investigating the possibility of an eventual regular service between the Dutch East Indies and Australia.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is now in a position to state the result of the analysis of the alleged helium gas in Trinidad, British West Indies; whether any helium gas has been found; and whether any further investigations are being undertaken?

It has been suggested from time to time that helium might be found in the natural gases from the Trinidad oil fields, but my information is that nothing more than a trace of helium has so far been identified. Further investigations into the possibility of helium being found in quantity are in progress. The Air Ministry is, of course, closely watching developments.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that a Civil Service examination is held every two years for the position of store-houseman in the dockyard establishments, that the entrance fee is 5s., that men up to the age of 45 are permitted to sit for this examination, whereas most of the men over 35 have only a remote chance of passing, he can see his way to remit the 5s. fee in respect of the older men?

I cannot agree that most of these men have only a remote chance of passing the examination, and in any case there could be no ground for remitting the examination fee seeing that no man is compelled to take the examination.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty to what expense the officers of His Majesty's Ships "Nelson" and "Rodney" were put in entertaining the United States fleet during their recent visit to the Panama Canal zone?

I regret that the information asked for is not available. In accordance with the usual practice, however, grants from public funds were made to the Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet, towards the cost of official entertainment to be given during the cruise in the course of which the visit mentioned was paid.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider amending the regulation which enjoins that naval shipwright apprentices must effect a transfer with a dockyard shipwright apprentice in order to take the examination which qualifies for a cadetship at Greenwich, so that it will be possible for all naval shipwright apprentices who wish to take this examination to do so without first securing a transfer with a dockyard shipwright apprentice?

The regulations governing the service of naval shipwright apprentices are distinct from those for dockyard shipwright apprentices, and there is no system of exchange such as indicated in the question. The purpose for which naval shipwright apprentices are trained is generally to provide efficient shipwrights for employment under seagoing conditions, and the cadetships at Greenwich are for the instruction of dockyard apprentices.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what are the numbers of commissioned writers, warrant writers, commissioned supply officers, warrant supply officers, commissioned instructors in cookery, and warrant instructors in cookery contained in the figures shown for subordinate accountant officers and warrant accountant officers on page 35 of the Navy Estimates for 1931; and whether in future this information can be shown separately in the statements of numbers provided under Sub-head A of Vote 1?

The 25 commissioned writers, commissioned supply officers and commissioned instructors in cookery are included on page 35 of the Navy Estimates for 1931 under the heading of "Commissioned Officers, Accountant Officers" and the 81 warrant officers of these branches under the heading of "Warrant Officers, Accountant Officers," none being included under "Subordinate Officers, Accountant Officers." It is not considered necessary or desirable to alter this arrangement.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, seeing that the number of commissioned supply officers and commissioned engineers allowed is one to every three of warrant supply officers and warrant engineers, when the necessary promotions will be made to complete the number of commissioned supply officers and commissioned engineers?

This matter is under consideration, and I will inform the hon. Member as soon as a decision has been reached.

asked the President of the Board of Education what was the total income of the Central Welsh Board for the last financial year, giving separately the amounts derived from rates, grants, fees, endowments and any other source; what was the expenditure

The following are the particulars for the year 1929–30:
										£	s.	d.
Total income	…	…	…							14,295	4	0
The income falls under the following heads:—
				£	s.	d.
Rates: Levy on rateable value.	…	…	…	3,822	17	11
Levy on Endowments.	…	…	…	754	4	2	£	s.	d.
							4,577	2	1
Exchequer Grants	…	…	…				6,916	3	1
Charges and Fees	…	…	…				2,680	8	11
Miscellaneous receipts	…	…	…				121	9	11
										14,295	4	0
Total expenditure	…	…	…							16,467	3	8
The expenditure falls under the following heads:—
Inspection	…	…	…				3,653	3	4
Examination	…	…	…				8,033	19	6
Administration	…	…	…				4,780	0	10
	…	…	…							16,467	3	8

asked the Postmaster-General if the recommendations of the committee that was appointed in his predecessor's time to examine the question of whether additional means of providing protection of mails in transit have been adopted; the cost necessary for it; and has the adoption of these recommendations involved any delay to the mails?

The recommendations made by the committee with the object of affording additional protection to mails in transit have been adopted at a cost of about £6,700 a year. There has been no delay to the mails as a result of the adoption of those recommendations.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of recent cases of the private sale overseas of books, manuscripts and works of art of national importance, in some of which the title of the vendor to dispose of the article was not clear, he of the said Board; and how distributed as between inspection, examination and administration?

The accounts of the Central Welsh Board for the year ended 31st March, 1931, will not be available until they have been submited to the half-yearly meeting of that Board on the 29th of this month.will take into consideration the introduction of legislation securing the right of the State to prohibit the sale of such articles unless they have been previously submitted for purchase by the nation?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 27th April last on this subject to the hon. Member for East Willesden (Mr. D. G. Somerville).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the reduction in total quantity issued of £l and 10s. notes between 1919 and the reintroduction of the gold standard; what further reduction in £l and 10s. notes took place after the introduction of the gold standard up to the time the note issue was taken over by the Bank of England; and whether any further reduction has taken place since the note issue was handed over to the Bank of England?

The circulation of £l and 10s. Currency notes was as follows on the dates mentioned:

		Millions.
2nd April, 1919	…	298.3
22nd April, 1925	…	269.6
21st November, 1928	…	266.6

These figures do not include Currency note certificates of large denominations; the latter amounted on the dates mentioned to £33.8 millions, £20.8 millions, and £18.9 millions, respectively. Since 21st November, 1928, the note circulation has consisted of Bank of England notes of 10s., £l, £5 and higher values and separate statistics are not available of the different denominations. The total circulation of Currency notes and certificates and of Bank of England notes of all denominations (excluding notes in reserve) was on 21st November, 1928, immediately before the amalgamation of the note issues, £362,100,000. The total circulation since that date is given in the weekly returns of the Bank of England, but it must be borne in mind that the figures are not properly comparable, owing to the establishment of a separate note issue by the Government of the Irish Free State.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state how many generating stations have been closed in consequence of the operation of the Electricity Supply Act, 1926; and how many remain?

The number of generating stations of authorised undertakers in operation at 1st April, 1927, was 459 and at 31st December, 1930, 473. During the period 1st April, 1927, to 31st December, 1930, 86 stations have been shut down. As my hon. Friend will appreciate, the effect of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1926, in regard to the shutting down of stations can only be realised when the schemes for the various areas under the National Scheme have commenced actively to operate. At the present time only one such scheme has come into active operation. The passage of the Act of 1926 has, however, already had the effect of limiting extensions to stations other than those required for the purposes of the National Scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that officials of his Department have been visiting county councils, or interviewing their clerks, with a view to securing the election of members of a certain political party on the agricultural committees of the councils; whether he has given any instructions in the matter; and, if so, on what grounds?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on Monday last to questions on this subject put by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for South Molton (Mr. Lambert) and the hon. Member for Lancaster (Mr. Ramsbotham), from which he will see that there is not a word of truth in the statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total number of smallholdings owned by local authorities in England and Wales in the latest year for which information is available, together with the acreage, the rent-roll, and the amount of rent due in that year which fell into arrear?

On 31st December, 1930, local authorities in England and Wales were in possession of an area of 445,954 acres of land acquired for the purposes of smallholdings, 373,878 acres having been purchased and 72,076 acres being held on lease by the authorities. The total number of smallholdings was 27,461, and the rent-roll £958,807. Information as to the amount of rent in arrear is not available.

asked the Minister of Health what steps, if any, he proposes to take to deal with infection by milk, in view of the new departmental memorandum on bovine tuberculosis in man?

I am considering this question in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that the mouth of the Southwold-Walberswick harbour is silting up and is impeding the fishing boats and other river-sea traffic: and will he make inquiries with a view to having the matter dealt with?

I understand that the Southwold Corporation propose to undertake responsibility for the Southwold harbour, and that the steps necessary to that end are being taken.

(A) GOVERNMENT AND ASSISTED PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
(a) Colony.
Description.			Number of Schools.	Boys.	Enrolment. Girls.	Total.
Government, Urban	…	…	1	272	93	365
Protestant Schools, Urban	…	…	15	1,362	857	2,219
Roman Catholic Schools, Urban	…	…	5	759	448	1,207
Mohammedan Schools, Urban	…	…	3	309	89	398
Protestant Schools, Rural	…	…	25	1,231	987	2,218
(b) Protectorate.
Government	…	…	9	383	—	383
Church of England	…	…	15	565	262	827
Wesleyan Methodist	…	…	16	628	140	768
Roman Catholic	…	…	11	830	91	921
United Brethren-in-Christ	…	…	20	1,140	257	1,397
United Methodist Church	…	…	5	194	70	264
American Methodist Episcopal	…	…	2	183	62	245
United Brethren in Africa	…	…	2	75	9	84
Society for the Propagation of the Gospel	…	…	1	68	14	82
Countess of Huntingdon	…	…	1	36	—	36
Moyamba Amalgamated	…	…	1	53	21	74
Magburaka Congregational	…	…	1	43	32	75
American Wesleyan Methodist	…	…	1	38	—	38

(B) SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
Boys.		Controlling Authority.			Total Roll.
Prince of Wales	…	Government	…	…	80
Albert Academy	…	United Brethren-in-Christ	…	…	92
Seminary	…	American Methodist Episcopal	…	…	92
St. Edward's	…	Roman Catholic	…	…	58
Wesleyan Boys' High	…	Wesleyan	…	…	156
Grammar School	…	Church of England	…	…	236
Girls.
St. Joseph's Convent	…	Roman Catholic	…	…	191
Wesleyan Girls' High	…	Wesleyan	…	…	47
Freetown Secondary	…	Private	…	…	170
Annie Walsh	…	Church of England	…	…	233
Girls Vocational	…	Private	…	…	56
Protectorate.
Controlling Authority.					Roll.
United Brethren-in-Christ	…	Moyamba (Girls)	…	…	133
Roman Catholic	…	Moyamba (Girls)	…	…	67
Roman Catholic	…	Bonthe (Girls)	…	…	103
United Brethren-in-Africa	…	Bonthe (Girls)	…	…	40
American Wesleyan Methodist	…	Masumbu (Girls)	…	…	37
American Wesleyan Methodist	…	Binkolo (Boys)	…	…	45

(C) GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS—SECONDARY AND PRIMARY.
				Boys.	Girls.	Total.
Model School	…	…	…	272	93	365
Protectorate Central College	…	…	…	136	—	136
Bo School	…	…	…	161	—	161

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can give a list of the schools of each kind in Sierra Leone for the latest available year, together with the numbers of children attending, distinguishing boys and girls, and the total number of children receiving education?

No figures are available for the year 1930, but the following figures refer to 1929:

(D) ASSISTED INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.
(a) Colony.
American Methodist Episcopal	…	…	…	Girls' Literary and Industrial	…	85
Church of England	…	…	…	Diocesan Technical Institute	…	34
(b) Protectorate.
Roman Catholic	…	…	…	Mobe	…	49

(E) OTHER SCHOOLS.
Fourah Bay College—Boys	…	…	…	…	…	29
There are thus 158 schools with a total enrolment of 14,306 students.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of houses built in the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell during the last 10 years by the local borough council, the London County Council, and private enterprise, respectively?

Apart from a number of flats built in replacement of houses demolished under improvement schemes, the numbers are 300, 89 and 800, respectively.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the representations made to him concerning the dispute between the London County Council and the Camberwell Borough Council as to the compounding of rates and the weekly concomitant collection of rates and rents; and whether, in view of the hardship to tenants in London County Council houses, tenements, and flats in Camberwell consequent on a failure of agreement, he will consider the advisability of amending legislation so as to provide machinery for agreement or for arbitration on such questions?

I am aware of the situation to which my hon. Friend refers, but I do not consider that amending legislation on the lines suggested would to practicable.

asked the Minister of Health the present position of the town planning scheme (No. 2), Eltham, administrative county of London?

I have under consideration an application from the London County Council for approval of a preliminary statement of proposals for development in connection with this scheme. The numerous and important interests, including the Crown, affected, have involved long negotiations for the settlement of the proposals. I am not yet in a position to give a decision, but I will decide the matter as expeditiously as possible.