asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to what extent the venture of the Empire Marketing Board in opening an Empire shop in Birmingham has been attended with success?

I am glad to say that I have every reason to believe that the establishment by the Empire Marketing Board of an Empire shop in Birmingham has been a successful contribution to the object in view, namely, to further the marketing in this country of Empire produce from home and overseas. The Empire Marketing Board leased shop premises at 61, High Street, Birmingham, for a period of approximately six months from the 26th January last and transformed them into an "Empire shop" for the purpose of enabling the Home Departments of Agriculture and the various Empire Governments overseas to make displays and sell samples of their produce. The shop has been occupied in turn for fortnightly periods each by the English Ministry of Agriculture, the Department of Agriculture for Scotland and the Ministry of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, His Majesty's Governments, in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa and the Irish Free State, and the Governments of India and Southern Rhodesia. In addition the English Ministry of Agriculture has had a second tenancy for the purpose of making a special display of National Mark produce. The displays thus staged have attracted continuous public attention in Birmingham and over 200,000 individual samples of Empire foodstuffs have been sold to the public. The Board's shop has received the fullest measure of assistance and co-operation from the wholesale and retail trades. Reports received from trade sources indicate increased inquiries for Empire products from the public and a substantial increase in the sale of a number of Empire foodstuffs.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any beet-sugar factories in Britain which are in receipt of subsidy have purchased their sugar bags from non-British sources; and, if so, what factories have done so?

It would appear from inquiries made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture that none of the beet-sugar factories has purchased bags for use in this year's campaign from other than British sources.

asked the Minister of Labour what the weekly wage6 are of skilled workmen in the chrome-tanned upper-leather industry of France, Germany, Czechslovakia, and England, respectively, and the number of hours worked per week?

I regret that I am not in possession of comparable information on this subject, but I will make inquiries of the International Labour Office and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the question of the pensions of soldiers who have some years of boys' service to their credit but are refused a pension on the ground that the same cannot be considred in connection therewith; whether soldiers with 21 years' service three of which are in respect of boys' service, have to re-engage for a further period of three years in order to qualify for a pension; and whether he can take any action in the matter?

The post-War pension regulations do not provide for the grant of service pension in respect of service before attaining the age of 18, hut no soldier with 21 years' service is refused a pension on the ground that part of that service was boy service. Soldiers with boy service are normally given the option of leaving the colours with a smaller pension after 21 years' total service or of remaining to complete 21 years' pensionable service. I see no reason for further action.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the William James Manufacturing Company, Limited, of Willenhall, is still on the War Office list; and if the firm holds any contracts at the present time?

This firm is not on the War Office list, and holds no contracts from the War Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total payment made for land drainage in Scotland for the year 1930–31?

The grants paid in respect of field and hill drainage during the year 1930–31 amounted to £21,937.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action the Government propose to take, in advance of legislation, on the report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Piers and Harbours on the North-East, North and West Coasts of Scotland; and whether legislation is now being drafted to meet the cases where it is required?

On a survey of the cases dealt with in the report and represented to me from other quarters, I fear that it will be necessary, at all events, to agree the lines of general legislation with the county councils concerned before any major works of improvement can be undertaken. The terms of a Bill are being examined, and as soon as I am in a position to do so I shall communicate with the local authorities.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the inhabitants of the islands of Mull, Islay, Tiree and Coll are without any telephonic communication with each other or with the mainland; whether there is any prospect of this deficiency being remedied; and if he can give any particulars as to the cost of telephonic communication to similar communities in Norway?

A scheme for providing a local telephone service at Tobermory has reached an advanced stage, and consideration is being given to the question of extending this service to other places in Mull as well as to Coll and Tiree. Connection with the mainland would involve considerable expense, but the position is being explored. In the case of Islay, guarantee terms have been quoted, but these have not yet been accepted. Information as to a comparable case in Norway is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a tabulated statement of the sums collected in respect of Estate Duty, Legacy Duty, and Succession Duty during each of the 10 years ended 31st March, 1931; and of the sums which have been applied to the redemption of the National Debt during each of those years?

The Exchequer receipt of Death Duties (Estate Duty, Legacy Duty, Succession Duty, and some minor duties) in the last 10 years was as follows:—

				£
1921–22	…	…	…	52,191,000
1922–23	…	…	…	56,871,000
1923–24	…	…	…	57,800,000
1924–25	…	…	…	59,450,000
1925–26	…	…	…	61,200,000
1926–27	…	…	…	67,320,000
1927–28	…	…	…	77,310,000
1928–29	…	…	…	80,570,000
1929–30	…	…	…	79,770,000
1930–31	…	…	…	82,610,000

The cash applied to debt redemption in each year down to 31st March, 1930, is set out on page 9 of Command Paper 3821; the figure for the year ended 31st March, 1931, is approximately £53,440,000.

asked the Minister of Labour when the Government propose to introduce legislation bringing the rates of unemployment insurance benefit up to the amount asked for by the representatives of the Trade Union Congress and the Labour party before the Blanesburgh Commission?

I ask the hon. Member to be good enough to await the statement which will be made on the whole situation.

asked the Minister of Labour what action is taken by her Department in the case of an applicant for unemployment benefit who, in consequence of trade depression, left this country for the Dominions and returned home after 13 months, employment being unobtainable?

The decision whether benefit shall be allowed in such a case rests with the statutory authorities to whom the claim is referred. I will send my hon. Friend copies of some decisions of the umpire on claims of persons who have returned from abroad.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she has approved for grant the scheme submitted to her by the Gainsborough Urban District Council for new street works in alleviation of unemployment in that town?

This application, which is dated 12th May, 1931, is still under consideration by the Unemployment Grants Committee.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of cotton textile operatives registered as unemployed at the commencement of May, 1929, and at the corresponding date in 1931?

At 27th April, 1931, there were 215,488 insured persons in the cotton industry classification recorded as unemployed in Great Britain. The corresponding figure at 22nd April, 1929, was 76,070.

asked the Minister of Labour the names of the residential centres at present in existence for the training of domestic servants; and what others it is contemplated opening in the near future?

The residential centres administered by the Central Committee on Women's Training and Employment, at which training in domestic work is given are as follow:Newbold Beeches, Leamington Spa.Appleton Hall, Stockton Heath, Cheshire.The Elms, Market Harborough, Leicestershire.Harden, Long Benton, Newcastle-on-Tyne.Millersneuk, Lenzie, Scotland.A residential centre will be opened in London as soon as the necessary arrange- ments can be made. Consideration will be given to the question of establishing further centres as and when an increase in the demand for such facilities becomes apparent.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she can now state what action she proposes to take following the interim report of the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance?

As will be seen from the Order Paper, I propose to ask to-day for the First Reading of a Bill dealing with certain of the matters mentioned in the report.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the difficulty experienced by ex-Royal Air Force mechanics and artisans in obtaining civilian employment; how many men of this class have returned to civilian life from the Royal Air Force during the past two years; and how many of these have failed to secure employment?

My information does not suggest that ex-Royal Air Force mechanics and artisans have any difficulty special to the Royal Air Force in obtaining civil employment. But the Air Ministry fully appreciates the general difficulty and does everything in its power to help. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Guide to Civil Employment which is given to every airman on discharge. The number of discharges to civil life during the last two years is 3,615: but there are no available statistics showing how many of these men have failed to secure employment. Tests applied to certain groups show figures of unemployment ranging from 15 per cent. for those discharged over a year ago to 36 per cent. in the case of those recently discharged.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, in determining the details of provincial constitutions, it is proposed to hold conferences of the interests affected in each province separately?

It is not proposed to hold provincial conferences at the present stage, but when the time comes to settle details relating to the franchise and constituencies, the committee appointed for this purpose will no doubt have to hold separate inquiries in each province.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the representations made to him on 10th June, 1931, by the Manchester and Salford Better Housing Council as to profiteering in furnished rooms; and if he proposes to deal with the abuses therein referred to by legislative or other action?

I am referring these representations to the inter-Departmental Committee which is at present inquiring into the working of the Rent Restrictions Acts. Any legislative or other action must await the consideration of the committee's report.

asked the Minister of Health the present position of the Town Planning No. 8 scheme, particularly in relation to the scheduling of the frontage land to Shooters Hill as a public open space and the scheduling of the vacant land on the western side of Plum Lane at the corners of Nithdale and Dullen Roads as an open space?

Before proceeding with the approval of the preliminary statement for the scheme in question, I am awaiting the completion of negotiations between the London County Council, Woolwich Metropolitan Borough Council, and the landowners concerned for an equitable settlement which would justify the reservation of the land as public open space.

asked the Minister of Health the number of widows who have ceased to draw pensions under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, during the year ended 31st March, 1931, on account of the youngest child having reached the age of 14, or 16 in cases where the child remained at school until 16 years of age; and the number of pensioners of whose death notice has reached the Ministry of Health during such year, giving the numbers, respectively, of widows, children, orphans, and aged persons?

I would point out that as the result of an amendment embodied in the Contributory Pensions Act, 1929, a widow whose title to a pension was dependent on there being a child under the age of 14 does not cease to be entitled to a pension before her youngest child attains 16. The number of such widows whose pensions ceased during the year ended 31st March, 1931, was 10,342; the number of beneficiaries whose deaths were notified during the year comprised 10,275 widows, 838 children and 63,232 aged persons. It is not possible to divide the figure for children between those for whom allowances and those for whom orphans' pensions were payable.

asked the Minister of Health the number of applications for widows', children's and orphans' pensions, respectively, disallowed under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, during the year ended 31st March, 1931, and the principal reasons for disallowance; the number of widows in receipt of pensions whose widowhood commenced before 4th January, 1926; and the number of children and orphans, respectively, in respect of whom allowances are paid whose qualifications were previous to 4th January, 1926?

During the year ended 31st March, 1931, 20,251 claims for widows' pensions and 331 claims for orphans' pensions were rejected. The number of children included in the rejected claims for widows' pensions cannot be stated. The principal reasons for disallowance were failure to satisfy the insurance and contribution conditions. On 31st March, 1931, 343,427 widows were in receipt of pensions, allowances were being paid in respect of 104,304 children, and orphans' pensions in respect of 8,436 orphans, whose qualifications were based on the insurance or employment of persons who died before 4th January, 1926.

asked the Minister of Health the number of appeals during the year ended 31st March, 1931, under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, by applicants for or recipients of old age pensions, widows' pensions, children's allowances, and orphans' pensions, respectively, stating the number of successful appeals, respectively, and also the number of pensioners under the Act who are in receipt of outdoor relief and institutional relief, respectively, and the amount expended in such relief?

The number of appeals made during the year ended 31st March, 1931, under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory

—	Number persons in receipt of pensions or allowances who, on the 1st January, 1931, were also in receipt of—
	Institutional Relief.	Domiciliary Relief.	Poor Relief (i.e. totals of preceding columns).
Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts, 1925 and 1929.
Widows in receipt of widows' pensions	1,208	44,232	45,440
Children in respect of whom children's allowances were paid.	343	34,626	34,969
Orphans in receipt of orphans' pensions	331	486	817
	1,882	79,344	81,226
Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1924, and the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts, 1925 and 1929.*
Persons over 65 years of age, in receipt of widows' or old age pensions.	15,610	125,642	†141,252
* The number of old age pensioners under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts, 1925 and 1929, who are in receipt of relief have not been separately ascertained.
† Including 9,995 widows over 65 years of age accounted for in the figure of 45,440 above.

asked the Minister of Health the number of applications for widows', children's, and orphans' pensions, respectively, under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, made during the year ended 31st March, 1931; the number of such pensions, respectively, paid; and the amounts, respectively, paid during such year?

The number of applications for widows' and orphans' pensions under the. Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, made during the year ended 31st March, 1931, was 92,133 and 4,059 respectively, but it is not possible to give the number of children for whom

asked the Minister of Health the estimated number of insured persons under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925; the number of men and women, respectively, who are voluntary contributors; how many of these became voluntary contributors during the year ended 31st March, 1931; and the cost of administration of pensions under the Act by Post Offices and the Ministry of Health, respectively?

The estimated number of insured persons under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, is 17,413,500. The number of voluntary contributors is 339,500 men and 51,900 women. Figures are not available of the number who became voluntary contributors during the year ended 31st March, 1931. The estimated costs by public departments to be incurred in the year 1931–32 in respect of the administration of the Contributory Pensions Acts, 1925 and 1929, are as follow:

	£
General Post Office	565,000
Ministry of Health and Department of Health for Scotland	586,000
Other Departments	76,450

asked the Minister of Health the price per pound paid for meat which is consumed by the patients at the Mental Hospital, Carmarthen; and what is the weight of meat to be supplied under the present contract for this half-year?

I understand that the prices fixed in the present contracts for the supply of meat for the six months ending September next and the estimated quantities are as follow:

—		Price.		Estimated Quantity (6 months).
		per lb.
		s.	d.	lbs.
Beef (Welsh)	…	0	6½	25,000
Pork (Welsh)	…	1	0	500
Veal (Welsh)	…	0	11½	400
Mutton (Welsh)	…	0	6½	6,000

In addition, pork is supplied direct by the Mental Hospital farm, and the quantity so supplied for the year ended 31st March last was 6,486 lbs.

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases of tuberculosis in this country which in the last 12 months were assumed to be directly attributable to infected milk?

I am advised that there is no information available on which to base any reliable estimate of the number of cases of tuberculosis attributable to infected milk.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction felt in many Surrey parishes in consequence of the inadequate opportunities being afforded to their representatives of obtaining consideration of their objections to being absorbed in other towns under the Local Government Act, 1929; and whether he is prepared to investigate any case which may be brought to his notice?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that certain parishes in Surrey which it has been proposed to absorb into other urban districts or boroughs have not been given, by means of a departmental inquiry, the opportunities allowed under the Local Government Act, 1929, to express their views with regard to such changes; and, in view of the complaints which have been made with regard to this matter, will he institute such inquiries as have not already been held?

I have not yet received the county council's proposals. I am aware that much consultation has already taken place in regard to them. When they are submitted to me, six weeks will be allowed for representations to be made to me by any local authorities, bodies or persons interested. An inquiry will thereupon be held at which those interested can attend and be heard.

asked the Minister of Health if he is now able to remove or modify the import prohibition on parrots and kindred birds; and, if not, what change of circumstances will be necessary to enable him to do so in the near future?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, before considering the question of removing the prohibition on the importation of birds of the parrot species I must be satisfied that the risk of the spread of psittacosis through the importation of these birds has disappeared, or has diminished to such an extent as to render it safe to rescind or modify the regulations issued in 1930. I may add that all relevant facts, including the collection of data from the foreign countries concerned, are receiving the attention of my Department.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that old age pension officers are refused access to the Census Returns for the purpose of verifying the ages of claimants; and whether he will make inquiry into the delays which occur in the Registrar-General's Department in replying to inquiries in respect of information contained in the Census Returns from 1881 onwards?

Searches are conducted in the General Register Office on behalf of the old age pension authorities in the Census Records up to the year 1871. No advantage, commensurate with the work entailed, would result from extending generally such searches to include Census records of a later date, as it is only in very exceptional circumstances that searches are made in later years. The hon. Member is doubtless aware that the later records were obtained under a promise of confidence. The actual searching is performed by skilled searchers, and it would certainly not be conducive to expeditious or successful results if it were entrusted to individual pension officers.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how the per capita figure for the cost of maintenance of inmates in Poor Law institutions under the public assistance committees compares with that under the board of guardians;(2) what relation the cost of maintenance of inmates of Poor Law institutions during the past 18 months bears to the reduction in the cost of living during the same period?

The desired information is not yet available. Particulars as to the cost of maintenance of inmates of Poor Law establishments during the year ended 31st March last are now being received from Poor Law authorities.

asked the Minister of Health the number of the staff employed by the Ministry on work connected with the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, and the cost thereof?

The approximate number of staff at present employed in my Department and in the Department of Health for Scotland, on work connected with the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts of 1925 and 1929 is 2,170, and the estimated cost is £540,000 for the year 1931–32.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) the combined number of temporary and auxiliary male Grade III clerks serving in the Civil Service on 31st March of each year from 1924 to 1931;(2) the number of P-class Grade III clerks serving in the Civil Service on 31st March, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, and 1931?

The information desired is as follows:

—	"P" Class Clerks, Grade III. Approximate No.	Temporary and auxiliary Male Clerks, Grade III. Approximate No.
31st March, 1930.	5,000	6,750
31st March, 1931.	4,700	11,000

Information regarding the numbers serving in Grade III at the corresponding date in the years prior to 1930 is not available, and could not be obtained without disproportionate expense of time and labour.

asked the Minister of Transport whether in view of the increasing congestion of traffic in certain London streets, he will consider, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Police and the London County Council, the construction of light overhead bridges to cross areas where pedestrians run considerable risk and where no subway can be provided?

My right hon. Friend is advised by the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee that overhead bridges in London streets would tend to obscure the vision of drivers and would be unsightly, and that their construction is not recommended. Such bridges would, moreover, have to be erected at a height of not less than 16 feet, which would render their use irksome to pedestrians. My right hon. Friend concurs in the view of the Advisory Committee and does not, therefore, propose to approach the highway authorities in the matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will have general instructions given to the police officers on point duty in the Metropolitan area to accelerate the releases and shorten the holding-up times of traffic at congested points, in order that the flow in each direction may be as continuous as possible?

The police have directions that the periods for which they hold up traffic are to be restricted to the utmost possible extent consistent with safety and efficient control, and my right hon. Friend is not aware of any reason for believing that these instructions are not generally observed by officers on point duty, or that further guidance is necessary.

asked the Home Secretary how many persons of foreign extraction have landed at British ports since 1st April holding passports making the necessary declaration that they are visiting this country as tourists; and how does this figure compare with 1930, 1929, and 1928, for the same period?

All available information as regards aliens is given in the annual returns under the Aliens Order, 1920, e.g., for 1930, Cmd. 3840, from which it appears that for the years 1928, 1929 and 1930 the figures of alien passengers landed as visitors on holiday, tourists, etc., were 224,815, 238,391, and 245,865. Figures are also published quarterly (see Cmd. 3877), and in the first quarter of the present year some 20,209 visitors, etc., were landed.

asked the Secretary for Mines the total quantity of Scottish coal imported into the Bristol Channel ports in the years 1929, 1930, and 1931?

During 1929, 52,115 tons of coal were shipped as cargo from Scottish ports to Bristol Channel ports. The corresponding figure for 1930 was 40,880 tons, and for the four months, January to April, 1931, 13,480 tons.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether the executive board for Scotland have fixed minimum prices in accordance with the terms of their scheme and of the Coal Mines Act, 1930?

I am informed that the Scottish Executive Board have this matter under consideration. No minimum prices are, however, yet operative for this district.

asked the Postmaster-General what decision, if any, has now been reached in regard to the sale of picture postcards at local post offices?

As I stated in reply to previous questions, I have arranged to receive a deputation from interests concerned, and until I have seen them no decision will be made.