asked the Minister of Health in respect of the years 1922 to 1930, the number of houses built by the Bradford City Council; the amount of subsidy paid from the local rates; the rate per pound levied each year in regard to such houses; the rate per pound of the local subsidy; and the amount received in rates from such houses?

The following statement gives the information desired so far as it is available.

The numbers of houses completed in the City of Plymouth which includes the parish of Devonport) during the 12 months ended 31st March, 1931, are as follow:

Houses completed with State, assistance by the local authority

61

Houses completed without State assistance by private enterprise with a rateable value not exceeding £78

261

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses that have been built during the 12 months

—				With State Assistance.	Without State Assistance.*	Totals.
By local authorities	…	…	…	52,514	3,360	55,874
By private enterprise	…	…	…	2,565	125,368	127,933
Totals	…	…	…	55,079	128,728	183,807
* Houses having a rateable value exceeding £78 (or £105 in the Metropolitan area) are excluded.
The figures shown above do not include houses erected by local authorities in replacement of houses demolished under improvement and reconstruction schemes confirmed prior to the Act of 1930.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief in the city of Plymouth, specifying categories, for the month of April, 1931?

The following statement shows the number of persons in receipt of poor relief in the City of Plymouth on Saturday, 25th April, 1931.

Institutional Relief (including casuals but excluding rate-aided patients in Mental Hospitals)	571
Domiciliary Relief (excluding persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only)	5,472
Total	6,043

Bradford County Borough.
Date or financial year.		Valuation for Rating purposes.		Rate in £ actually levied in the central area during year.		Amount of rates collected during year.
		£		s.	d.	£
1st April, 1928–1928–29	…	(a) 2,532,155	…	14	2	1,637,893.
1st April, 1929–1929–30	…	(b) 2,667,324	…	14	2	(d) 1,738,163.
1st April, 1930–1930–31	…	(c) 2,286,322	…	14	6	(e) 1,494,481.
(a) Prior to first valuation under Rating and Valuation Act, 1925.
(b) First valuation under Act of 1925, before de-rating under Local Government Act, 1929.
(c) After de-rating under Act of 1929. Including £24,952, the rateable value of the Clayton Urban District, which was added to Bradford on 1st April, 1930.
(d) Including £138,009 grants under the Agricultural Rates Act. 1929, and Section 112 of the Local Government Act, 1929, to make good loss of rates in that year due to de-rating.
(e) Estimated.

The following statement contains the de-sired particulars for England and Wales:

asked the Minister of Health what was the rateable value of the county borough of Bradford and the annual income to the borough prior to the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925; what was the amount of increase in the rateable value under the operation of the Rating and Valuation Act and the annual amount realised on the present basis of rates under the increase; and the amount of the annual block grants from the Exchequer in respect of derated premises.

The following is the answer:

asked the Minister of Health what was the rateable value of the borough of Woolwich and the annual income to the borough prior to the Eating and Valuation Act, 1925; what was the amount of increase in the rateable value under the operation of the Rating and Valuation Act and the annual amount realised on the present basis of rates under the increase; and the amount of the annual block grants from the Exchequer in respect of derated premises?

The borough of Woolwich as a Metropolitan borough is not subject to the provisions of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925. According to the latest estimates based on the figures for the standard year (1928–29) the losses on account of rates of the borough, provisionally ascertained for the purpose of the calculation of the Exchequer grants payable under the Local Government Act, 1929, amount to £80,961.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will issue a statement showing each item of food entering from the Empire upon which taxation exists at the present moment, and the amount of revenue per annum that is raised from it in the last financial year for which figures are available.

The last financial year for which figures are at present available is 1929–30, and I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to Table 6 of the 21st report of the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs and Excise for that year (Command Paper No. 3651), which shows for all articles (including foodstuffs) liable to duty the quantities or values consigned from the Empire and delivered for home consumption at the preferential rate of duty during 1929–30 and the net amount of duty received therefrom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the present position of the Reparation Commission; and when it is proposed that it should be wound up.

The Reparation Commission held its last meeting on 13th April, and has now been dissolved. This question affords me an opportunity of expressing His Majesty's Government's cordial appreciation of the very valuable services rendered by Lord Blanesburgh, the British Delegate on the Commission.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that the United States of America and Belgium are developing methods of protecting their cities, by smoke screens, from air attack; and to what extent similar methods have been considered and adopted by the Air Ministry.

I am aware that experiments of the kind referred to by the hon. Member have been made in other countries. Similar experiments have been conducted from time to time in this country, but it would not be in the public interest to give any detailed information regarding them.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Unemployment Grants Committee is still prepared to consider applications for grants in aid of the erection of town halls.

The grants which have been available under limited conditions for the erection of town halls have recently been under consideration, and it has been decided that further applications for such grants should not be entertained.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of prosecutions for fraud on the Unemployment Fund for each year, 1913 to 1930, showing separately

Statement showing the total numbers of prosecutions and convictions for fraud on the unemployment Fund for each of the years 1928, 1929 and 1930, differentiating between direct claimants and claimants through associations.
Year.		Number of Prosecutions.			Number of Convictions.
		Direct Claimants.	Claimants through Associations.	Total.	Direct Claimants.	Claimants through Associations.	Total.
1928	…	1,227	6	1,233	1,150	6	1,156
1929	…	940	9	949	886	9	895
1930	…	908	6	914	866	6	872
Total	…	3,075	21	3,096	2,902	21	2,923

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons, specifying men, women, "boys and girls, on the Employment Exchanges of Devonport

Number of Persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges at Plymouth and Devonport on each Monday in April, 1931.
Date.				Men.	Boys.*	Women.	Girls.*	Total.
				Plymouth.
6th April, 1931	…	…	…	Easter Bank Holiday—no figures available.
13th April, 1931	…	…	…	4,498	1214	920	161	5,793
20th April, 1931	…	…	…	4,494	209	904	182	5,789
27th April, 1931	…	…	…	4,603	196	910	185	5,894
				Devonport.
6th April, 1931	…	…	…	Easter Bank Holiday—no figures available.
13th April, 1931	…	…	…	2,353	—	455	—	2,808
20th April, 1931	…	…	…	2,332	—	460	—	2,792
27th April, 1931	…	…	…	2,427	—	465	—	2,892
* Juveniles resident at Devonport are included in the Plymouth figures.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) the number of men employed on the Midsomer Norton relief scheme (sewage disposal) at the latest convenient date; and for what number the scheme was intended to provide; (2) the number

This information is not available for the period prior to 1928. Particulars for the years 1928–30 are given in the following table:and Plymouth, respectively, for the month of April, 1931?

The following table gives the information desired:of men employed on the Keynsham sewage relief scheme on the latest convenient date; and for what number the scheme was intended to provide.

When submitting an application for grant the local authority is required to estimate the weekly average number of men to be employed on the site of the works. In the case of the Keynsham sewage scheme the estimate was 100 men for 12 months, and in the case of the Midsomer Norton sewage disposal scheme the estimate was 30 men for 18 months. On 24th April last, the date of the most recent count, the numbers of men actually employed on these schemes were 53 and 38, respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour the approximate cost of unemployment benefit in respect of coal miners during each of the past 10 years?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a statement submitted to the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance which gives the information for which he asks for the years 1925–6, 1927–8, 1928–9 and 1929–30. The figures for other years cannot be furnished without considerable labour, and for several of the years comparable data are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now report on the result of his investigation into the shooting of four British subjects while serving in the Foreign Legion?

His Majesty's Embassy in Paris have received an official report from the French Ministry of War to the effect that no British subject serving in the French Foreign Legion has been shot during the last few years.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the reasons for which the Turkish Government have withdrawn its member of the Mixed Arbitral Tribunal constituted under Article 92 of the Treaty of Lausanne; what steps, if any, are being taken to have the tribunal reconstituted; whether he is aware that claims have been pending before the tribunal since 1926 and have not had a hearing; whether he will take steps to have the hearing of claims expedited; whether the Turkish Government have undertaken to implement the judgments of this tribunal by restoring properties to the persons held to be entitled thereto; and, if so, by what process are the judgments executed?

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend is unaware of the reasons for which the Turkish Government withdrew their member from the Anglo-Turkish Mixed Arbitral Tribunal as from 1st April. The work of the tribunal was not, however, appreciably delayed thereby, since a successor was appointed almost immediately. The second part of the Question, therefore, does not arise. Out of 558 claims origin ally lodged with the tribunal, only 87 now remain to be decided. The delay in most of these cases is due to the fact that it has been necessary to ask for further information from the claimants. Every effort is, however, being made to expedite the hearing of the claims which remain unheard. The Turkish Government have undertaken, in Article 94 of the Treaty of Lausanne, to regard the decisions of the Tribunal as final and conclusive, to render them binding upon their nationals, and to secure their enforcement in Turkey. Copies of the rules of procedure governing the execution of the Tribunal's judgments in Turkey are now being circulated to successful British claimants by the British Agent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any subsidies, direct or indirect, are granted by the governments of the United States of America, Germany, and France to the shipbuilding industry in those countries; and, if so, the nature and amounts of such subsidies in each case?

Assistance in some form or other to the shipbuilding industry is given by the Governments of the United States of America, Germany, and France. I hope shortly to be in a position to send the hon. Member further information.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the export of cotton manufactures from the United Kingdom during the first four months of this year and during the similar period of last year, in square yards, to China, including Hong Kong, and to India, and the increase or decrease in each case?

Description.	United Kingdom Exports consigned to
	China (including Hong Kong).			British India.
	January to April, 1930.	January to April, 1931.	Increase ( + ) or decrease (−), 1931 compared with 1930.	January to April, 1930.	January to April, 1931.	Increase (+) or decrease (−),1931 compared with 1930.
	In thousand square yards.
Cotton manufactures:
Piece goods of cotton:
Grey, unbleached	1,809	1,574	(-) 235	203,033	23,560	(-) 179,473
White, bleached	16,883	14,545	(-) 2,338	185,568	84,415	(-) 101,153
Printed:
Flags, handkerchiefs and shawls in the piece	1	151	(+) 150	37	32	(-) 5
Other sorts	2,979	1,790	(-) 1,189	39,748	14,778	(-) 24,970
Dyed in the piece	12,521	17,492	(+) 4,971	42,758	15,683	(-) 27,075
Manufactured wholly or in part of dyed yarn	2,127	6,732	(+) 4,605	4,940	1,026	(-) 3,914
Total of cotton piece goods	36,320	42,284	(+) 5,964	476,084	139,494	(-) 336,590
Flags, handkerchiefs and shawls, wholly of cotton, not in the piece:
Printed	173	35	(-) 138	1,486	101	(-) 1,385
Other sorts	124	82	(-) 42	402	94	(-) 308
Net	274	486	(+) 212	390	228	(-) 162
Total of the above	36,891	42,887	( + ) 5,996	478,362	139,917	(-) 338,445

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of men's silk elastic and artificial silk elastic braces have been imported during the past 12 months, or some other similar and convenient period, from Italy; the value thereof; and the amount of duty paid thereon?

The figures asked for are not available, as the particular articles referred to are not separately distinguished in the statistics of imports.

The following table shows, in respect of all descriptions of cotton goods recorded in square yards, the total quantities of the domestic exports from the United Kingdom registered during the first four months of 1930 and 1931 as consigned to China (including Hong Kong) and British India, respectively, together with the increase or decrease in 1931 compared with 1930.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that in regard to British firms establishing themselves in foreign countries there has been considerable victimisation through threatened proceedings; and whether he will have the matter considered of appointing legal attachés in certain countries where the presence of such assistance will give confidence?

If the hon. and gallant Member will furnish me with the details of any particular cases he has in mind, they shall be examined. With regard to the second part of the question, His Majesty's Missions abroad are generally able to obtain without difficulty all such legal advice as is necessary for the legitimate protection of British interests. The suggested appointment of legal attachés does not appear to be either practicable or necessary.

asked the Home Secretary the number of clubs that have been raided by the Metropolitan police during the previous 12 months?

Particulars as to clubs raided and other information are given year by year in the Commissioner's Annual Report. The figure for 1930 is 47. The report for 1930 will be published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider what can be done either to prevent or to compensate for the loss of time and money suffered by those householders of Millport, in the island of Cum brae, who are called for service as jurors in the sheriff court of Rothesay, on the adjacent island of Bute, during the months when the summer communication between those islands is not available.

My inquiries on the subject are not yet complete, but if the hon. and gallant Member will repeat his question after the Recess, I hope then to be in a position to answer it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the names of the present members of the Advisory Council advising the Department on education in Scotland; how often during the year 1930–31 the committee met, and whether in London or Edinburgh; whether the Advisory Committee makes an annual report to the Secretary of State for Scotland; and whether it has any part in or responsibility for the annual report of the Committee of Council on Education.

The Advisory Council as at present constituted consists of the following persons:

• Dr. J. B. Clark.
• Dr. P. Comrie.
• Mr. James Doonan.
• Mr. George Duncan.
• Mr. Joseph F. Duncan.
• Mr. William Elger, J.P.
• The Rev. Dr. Frew.
• Sir Henry S. Keith, LL.D.
• Miss A. B. Muir.
• Mr. R. Robertson, M.Inst.C.E.
• Principal J. C. Smail, O.B.E.
• Mrs. E. Watson,

The Council has met seven times during the year 1930–31, in each case in Edinburgh. It makes no annual report to the Secretary of State, but from time to time it reports to the Department on subjects referred to it for consideration. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of revenue raised by the Exchequer from Scotland by taxation during the past financial year, and the total expenditure authorised by the Exchequer to be made in Scotland during that year, and the approximate amounts under each heading of such receipts and expenditure.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Midlothian Northern (Major Colville) on 21st May.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will include in the terms of reference to the committee proposed to be set up in regard to local government and self government for Scotland an inquiry into the revenues collected by the Imperial Exchequer by taxation from Scotland and the expenditure authorised by the Treasury in Scotland; or, if not, whether he will appoint a special commission of inquiry into the matter, similar to the committee of investigation into the taxation of and expenditure in Ireland.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh West (Mr. Mathers) on 11th May.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that troops are stationed at Mingaladon, 13 miles from Rangoon, where barracks and a cinema theatre are provided, but no church for any denomination; and whether he will take steps with a view to the necessary facilities being provided for religious worship.

I am making inquiries, and will let the hon. and gallant Member know the result.

asked the Secretary of State for India the number of persons killed and injured in riots and rebellions in India between May, 1927, and May, 1929, and between Hay, 1929, and May, 1931?

As I promised the hon. Member for Torquay (Mr. C. Williams) on 27th April, I have asked the Government of India for certain similar figures desired by him provided they can be supplied without the expenditure of undue labour. These figures, if they prove to be available, will answer in the main the hon. Gentleman's question.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the conditions in Indian factories, he will take steps to see that every Provincial Government shall strengthen the staff of factory inspectors and render an annual report as to conditions in Indian factories?

Each Provincial Government already publishes an annual report on the working of the Indian Factories Act, which contains information as to conditions in the factories. As regards the remainder of the Question, I shall be in a better position to consider whether I can usefully address the Government of India when the report of the Royal Commission on Labour in India becomes available, which is expected to be towards the end of June.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the result of the experimental air mail from this country to Australia; whether any regular air mail is to be instituted; what was the loss, if any, on the experimental service referred to; and on what lines is it reckoned that such an air mail can become self-supporting?

As regards the first and third parts of the question, the experimental flights are not yet complete, and it would be premature at present to attempt to assess their financial result. As regards the second and last parts, as the House is already aware, proposals for a regular air mail service, which, of course, entail the payment of a subsidy, are under consideration by the Governments concerned. It can be assumed that a regular service could not be organised on a self-supporting basis for some time to come, since the postal rates entailed would be prohibitive.

asked the Secretary for Mines what has been the total expenditure on the fuel research station, Greenwich, both in equipment and costs of experiments; what is the annual cost of running the fuel research division; what amount of money was spent on the Richmond low-temperature plant designed by the fuel research staff; and what is the estimated cost of removing the Richmond plant and clearing the site.

The total net expenditure on the Fuel Research Station, Greenwich, including all capital and maintenance costs, from its inception in 1917 up to 31st March, 1931, amounted to £796,633. The estimated net expenditure of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research on fuel research during the current financial year, plus the cost Of allied services provided by other Government Departments, is £95,738. This sum includes not only the expenditure of the Fuel Research Station, but also the cost of other research work on fuel, especially on the Physical and Chemical Survey of the National Coal Resources. This estimate does not include the additional expenditure referred to in the statement made by my hon. Friend the member for Bedwellty (Mr. G. Edwards) on my behalf on 5th May. As regards Richmond, the amount of the Government guaranteed loan was £100,000. The accounts have not yet been closed and the removal of the plant is under negotiation.

asked the First Commissioner of Works the pithead price, the

Description of Coal		Approximate quantity purchased for London.	Average pit-head price.		Average delivered cost in London
		Tons.	s.	d.	s.	d.
Welsh Smokeless Steam	…	20,000	17	4	36	6
House	…	20,000	14	0	32	0
Hard Steam	…	8,000	13	6	31	6
Small Steam Nuts	…	18,000	Seaborne.		23	8

The figures given for delivered cost in London do not include any amounts for headquarters' overhead charges.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether any of the schools under his control have the use of portable sound-film machines for the exhibition of educational films?

My right hon. Friend is not aware that any of the schools referred to have the regular use of portable sound-film machines, but some schools in Middlesex have recently had the use of such machines for a limited period solely for experimental purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs from which particular minorities, respectively, in Yugoslavia the 10 petitions presented to the League of Nations in 1930 emanated; and what action was taken thereon?

Of the 10 petitions emanating from Yugoslavia in 1930, which were held to be receivable, one related to the situation of persons of Albanian origin in Yugoslavia, five to the treatment of persons of Hungarian origin, one concerned the situation of the

The information desired by my hon. Friend is as follows:German association Deutsches Haus at Celje, in Yugoslavia, and two the position of the Bulgarian-speaking population in Serb Macedonia. The remaining petition arose from the refusal of the Yugoslav Government to renew the passports of the signatories of the two last-named petitions. All these petitions were examined and dismissed by a committee of three appointed by the Council of the League of Nations. The existing procedure does not provide for the publication of the reasons for which petitions are dismissed.

asked the Minister of Labour whether her attention has been drawn to the hours and conditions under which certain cinema employés work; that in some cinemas commissionaires are called upon to work from 9 a.m. until 10.40 p.m., with 1½ hours free for dinner and an hour for tea and one night off weekly from 9 p.m., with pay of £2 per week, less insurance; and whether she proposes to take any action in the matter?

An inquiry into wages and hours at cinemas is being undertaken.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, in view of the low prices now being received by the milk producers of the country for liquid milk and the fact that marketing machinery cannot be created in readiness for the periods when contracts are made, what steps he proposes to take to prevent further depression of prices in this industry?

I can add nothing to the reply given to my hon. Friend on 4th May.