asked the Minister of Labour the number of miners in the county of Durham who are in receipt of unemployment benefit and the number in receipt of transitional benefit?

At 18th May, 1931, the total number of male claimants to benefit in the coal mining industry classification in County Durham was approximately 44,000, but I am unable to separate this figure into ordinary and transitional benefit.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she expects, or will call for, an early interim report from the commission now considering unemployment insurance on the question of an insurance scheme for agricultural workers and domestic servants?

The Royal Commission heard evidence within the last few days on the subject of the inclusion of agricultural workers in the insured classes. This, however, is only one of the questions arising on the future scope of the scheme, and I do not think the commission can reasonably be asked to furnish an interim report on either of the classes of workers to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Labour if she is aware that the percentage of disallowances by courts of referees at Bridgeton Exchange, Glasgow, is much higher than the percentage of disallowances at the Parkhead Exchange, Glasgow; and, as the districts and circumstances of applicants are very-similar, will she have inquiry made as to the suggested reasons for such a discrepancy in the figures?

I find that while the percentage of disallowances at Bridgeton for the period of three months ending May is 68.1, the percentage for Great Britain as a whole is 69.9 and the percentage for Scotland is 65.8. I will, however, make some inquiries at both Bridgeton and Parkhead in order to ascertain if there are any special circumstances at either Exchange.

asked the Minister of Labour the date of the meeting referred to in the Ministry's evidence to the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance of the Glasgow, Bridgeton, women's sub-committee of the local employment committee, and the names of the members present when it was unanimously agreed that amendment of the Acts was necessary in respect of the position of married women in receipt of benefit?

I am having inquiries made, and will let my hon. Friend know the result.

asked the Minister of Labour if, when the officials of her Department gave evidence before the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance on alleged abuses, they were instructed to give evidence only as to the existence of abuses which gave benefit to the workpeople; and the reason why no evidence was given on the existence of abuses which deprive workpeople of benefit?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. My hon. Friend will see from a perusal of the published evidence that the second part of the question is based on a misapprehension.

asked the Minister of Labour how many cases have been refused unemployment insurance benefit by the Court of Referees, at Liverpool, during the past six weeks?

Statistics of disallowances of claims to benefit are ordinarily compiled in respect of specific periods of four or five weeks. During the four weeks 14th April to 11th. May, 1931, 1,049 claims to benefit were disallowed by the Court of Referees at Liverpool, and 1,137 were disallowed during the four weeks 12th May to 8th June.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the approximate amount of unemployment benefit that has been paid to the miners who ceased work at the Bedwas Colliery on 18th November, 1930; and what are the approximate average wages earned by adult miners operating in the neighbourhood of the Bedwas Colliery?

The approximate amount of benefit paid to the miners who ceased work at the Bedwas Colliery in November, 1930, is between £72,000 and £73,000. I am asking my hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines whether the information asked for in the second part of the question is available.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons disallowed benefit since the operation of the present Act excluding those disallowed benefit for six weeks period or under?

The statistics relate to claims and not to separate individuals, and an analysis according to the duration of the disallowance is not available. Out of a total of 584,620 disallowances in the period 13th March, 1930, to 11th May, 1931, 211,117 were on grounds for which a period of disallowance of six weeks or less is prescribed by the Acts. The balance of 373,503 included 28,708 trade dispute cases where the period of disallowance depends on the duration of the stoppage, and in some proportion of the remainder the period during which the claimant continued ineligible for benefit may have been less than six weeks.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she is aware that large numbers of unemployed persons have to wait in the open street in all kinds of weather when attending at the Unemployment Exchange in Westgate Street, Cardiff, to draw their unemployment benefit; and whether she will take steps to improve the accommodation at this Exchange so as to provide shelter for these persons while waiting?

If the men claimants attending the Employment Exchange in Westgate Street, Cardiff, would observe the timing system, there should be no need for them to wait in the street. I am satisfied, after inquiry, that the existing accommodation is sufficient.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the latest figures of the idle tonnage of the British Empire and of Great Britain laid up throughout the world?

Information as to the tonnage of the British Empire and of Great Britain laid up throughout the world is not available. According to the quarterly returns of laid up tonnage issued by the Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom, the tonnage of British shipping reported as laid up in ports of Great Britain and Ireland on 1st April, 1931, was 1,867,000 tons net.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any information to lay before the House as to representations which have been made to the Government of the United States by the Governments of other countries in respect of the effects of the United States tariff?

I have no knowledge of any such representations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will endeavour through the trades concerned to procure a list of all imported products that we have now to obtain from abroad owing to superior inventions, with a view to considering the development of substituted British inventions to be produced in this country?

Much has already been done by co-operation between His Majesty's Government and various industries in the organisation of research and the encouragement of invention. The research associations for particular industries naturally direct their attention to matters in which British methods of production appear capable of improvement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that in certain cases inventions have been made and work kept in this country by prizes being offered by individuals and corporations for inventions of British design embodying the latest requirements, he will consult the research branch of the Imperial Economic Committee as to setting aside a sum of money to supplement cases where a substantial amount is provided by private means?

As regards the general question of the encouragement of invention in this country, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to-day to his other question on the subject. As regards the particular suggestion he makes here, however, it must be pointed out that the Imperial Economic Committee only inquires into matters referred to it with the consent of all the Governments of the Empire, and that it has, in fact, no research branch, and no funds at its disposal.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the fall in value of imports into the United Kingdom from Soviet Russia during the early months of 1931 represents a fall in volume, or whether it is accounted for by a lower level of declared values?

There was an increase in the value of imports from the Soviet Union during the first four months of this year as compared with the corresponding period of 1930, but a decline as compared with the last four months of 1930, and it is to this decline that the hon. Member's question presumably relates. While all the principal commodities imported from the Soviet Union show a fall in average values, the main cause of the decline is a seasonal and heavy fall in the quantities of some of the principal commodities imported. Among these may be mentioned wheat, timber, and butter, which together account for over 70 per cent. of the total fall in value of £10,299,000.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he can give any information as to the prices at which, oil, furs, matches, textiles, soap, boots, shoes, goloshes, wheat-flour, oat-flour, barley-meal, butter, eggs, raspberries, and any other foodstuffs are being sold in Russia, both at controlled prices and at uncontrolled ones?

Information as to prices charged for several kinds of foodstuffs in the Soviet Union is contained in the answer which I returned on 26th January last to the right hon. Member for Ealing (Sir H. Nield), of which I am sending the Noble Lady a copy. I have no information regarding the prices of the other goods mentioned by the Noble Lady.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the value of the credits extended for trade with Russia under the Export Credits Scheme, to the last date for which figures are available?

Up to 13th June, 1931, the Export Credits Guarantee Department had entered into contracts with British exporters covering credits totalling £7,649,424 in respect of exports to Russia.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the names of the various trade associations of the textile industries which requested his Department to arrange for Exhibition Organisers, Limited, to organise the textile section of the British Industries Fair, and if any firm other than Exhibition Organisers, Limited, have applied to him for an opportunity of undertaking this work?

The Department of Overseas Trade has deputed Exhibition Organisers, Limited, to undertake certain work in connection with the organisation of the textile section of the forthcoming British Industries Fair as the result of a recommendation agreed to at a meeting of the British Textile Exhibition Committee at which the following associations and bodies were represented:

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether any proposals are under consideration at the present time for the setting up of further research associations in industry; and what steps are being taken generally to stimulate development in this direction?

I am advised that there are no definite proposals before the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research at the present moment for the setting up of new research associations in industry; certain tentative suggestions have been put forward with this end in view, but have either not yet materialised into definite schemes or are likely to be dealt with in some other way than by the formation of a research association. The offer of State grants to research associations under the policy outlined in the Department's Annual Report for 1927–28 (Cmd. 3258) was, and still is, within the financial resources available, intended to encourage the formation of new research associations in the comparatively few industries of importance where they do not already exist, and to stimulate the expansion of existing associations.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the complaints that the wages paid to and the conditions of employment of persons employed by holders of road-service licences in South Wales are not in accordance with the requirements of Section 93 (1) of the Road Traffic Act, 1930; and, if so, what action, if any, has been taken thereon?

No complaints of this nature have reached me from South Wales. The Act provides that representations on such matters may be made to the traffic commissioners by any organisation representative of the persons engaged in the road transport industry and that if the matter in dispute is not otherwise disposed of, it shall be referred by the Minister of Labour to the Industrial Court for settlement.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the difficulty in the northern area which the owners of small omnibus companies are experiencing to obtain licences for the running of their omnibuses, although they have been in existence for five and nine years, respectively; and will he inquire into the matter?

I am afraid I do not appreciate the precise nature of the difficulty to which my hon. Friend refers. Under the Public Service Vehicles (Transitory Provisions) Order provision is made for the continuance of existing services pending the grant or refusal of a road service licence. In the event of the refusal of a road service licence there is an appeal to me under Section 81 of the Road Traffic Act.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that about 200 young men, 18 years of age, have been thrown out of work in the northern area owing to the Road Traffic Act, which prevents them continuing as drivers of motor omnibuses until they are 21 years of age; and whether he will consider some way whereby these young men can continue their employment?

Section 77 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, provides that a person shall be disqualified from obtaining a licence to drive a public service vehicle unless he is over the age of 21, or unless he shows to the satisfaction of the traffic commissioners that he was, during the six months immediately preceding 1st January, 1930, regularly employed as a driver of a public service vehicle. I have no power to waive or modify these provisions.

asked the Minister of Transport, as indicated by the last census of traffic, what were the figures of traffic using the new roads of major importance opened during the last three years in Great Britain; and whether there has been an increase or decrease since that date?

The last census of traffic on Class I roads was taken in August, 1928. The next census will be taken in August of this year, when figures of traffic using important new roads opened during the last three years will be recorded for the first time. I shall be unable, therefore, to supply the information for which the hon. Member asks until the census results have been tabulated.

asked the Minister of Transport the reduction in the number of motor-driving licences that has taken place in the county of Gloucestershire between 1st December, 1930, and 31st March, 1931, as a result of the Circular Letter R.F. 225, dated 14th November, 1930; and what is the financial loss involved?

The number of drivers' licences issued by the Gloucestershire County Council from 1st December, 1930, to 31st March, 1931, was 6,943, compared with 8,045 for the corresponding period of the previous year. The financial loss was £275 10s. I have no information as to the cause of the decrease in the number of licences issued. The circular to which the hon. Member refers merely gave effect to the requirements attaching to the issue of a driver's licence, such as those relating to physical fitness, laid down by Parliament in the Road Traffic Act, 1930.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will consider issuing a White Paper, showing exactly what progress has been made in India with the examination of provincial and other questions arising out of the last meeting of the Round Table Conference, for the information of Members of this House?

I am circulating the text of an announcement issued by the Government of India on 13th June which gives the information desired by the hon. Member.STATEMENT issued by the Government of India on 13th June, indicating their plans to cover the ground mapped out by the Round Table Conference for intermediate expert exploration pending the resumption of the Conference negotiations, and the progress already made with expert investigation upon the specific recommendations of the Conference.As regards the North-West Frontier Province, a single mixed committee of officials and non-officials is investigating the precise discrimination of subjects between the Centre and the Frontier and the allocation of expenditure between Central and Provincial heads, to supply a basis from which the financial subvention from the Central (or Federal) revenues may be calculated. The report of this committee is expected to be ready about the middle of June.Regarding Sind, the Government of India hope shortly to announce the setting up of a committee to examine carefully the probable revenue and expenditure of separated Sind and the security of the debt on the Sukkur Barrage. This committee will in no way be concerned with the merits of the separation of Sind. Its task will be strictly limited to an unbiassed and expert investigation into the financial aspects of separation. It will not be required even to report how any deficit should be met.As regards Orissa, the Government of India have decided to set up, with the least possible delay, a committee to examine the whole question of separation. They are at present in communication with the local Governments concerned regarding the terms of reference, personnel and other matters relevant to the appointment of this Committee, and hope it will be possible to start work at an early date.As for the expert Franchise Commission, there are obvious obstacles in the way of its immediate appointment. Political considerations will enter largely into its work. It would, no doubt, desire to have a clearer indication of the probable nature and method of return of the Federal Legislature and, both as regards Federal and Provincial Legislatures, it is clearly desirable that such matters as the arrangement of constituencies should be dealt with by the same body as is concerned with the franchise. In accordance with what is understood to be the view held widely both inside and outside the Conference, the Secretary of State has agreed that it would be useless for the franchise inquiry to be initiated at present before a communal settlement has been reached. These considerations point to the postponement of the inquiry at least till the autumn. The present intention is that the inquiry, when taken up, will be initiated by His Majesty's Government, and it is anticipated that probably not less than six months will be required for the committee to complete its work.In regard to the establishment of a Statutory Railway Authority, arrangements are being made to ensure that a full memorandum on the issues to be considered shall be available to the Federal Structure Committee.The Indian Sandhurst Committee is at work and other matters covered by the report of the Defence sub-committee are being examined.As regards the expert administrative examination of incidental points affecting all departments, the Government of India undertook a scrutiny of the administrative aspects of the classification of subjects provisionally approved by the Structure Committee, and this work will be completed by the end of the current month.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether formal invitations have yet been issued for the further meeting of the Federal Structure Committee and the Round Table Conference; what definite date has been decided upon in each case; whether the Government intend to prepare an agenda for the Conference; and whether they intend to publish the same before the meetings begin?

Formal invitations for the further meeting of the Federal Structure Committee have not yet been issued, but the general plans as to the date of meeting were set out in the Government communique of 30th May, and I am not at present in a position to add any more definite information. The basis on which the discussions will be resumed was described in paragraph 2 of the note of the Irwin-Gandhi conversations. No doubt an agenda of work will be laid before the Federal Structure Committee and the Conference by the chairmen of those bodies; but I cannot say whether it will be published in advance.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the recent murderous assaults on landowners in the United Provinces have been almost exclusively upon Moslem landowners and have in all cases been traced to local Congress organisations; and what action is proposed by the Provincial Government to cope with this aspect of the communal question?

Since 22nd March, three cases of murderous assault on landowners have occurred. One of these, which took place in March, is believed to have been an outcome of the no-rent agitation, but the other two cases seem to have arisen out of local quarrels. The United Provinces Government reports that on the evidence available these three outbreaks cannot be regarded as primarily of communal origin. The local government has taken action under the ordinary law against the offenders, and in one case additional police have been imposed on the village concerned. Reserves of armed police have been strengthened in the disturbed areas.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, in respect of the attempt of the Government of India to deal with the question of the consumption of opium in certain areas in British India, what is the present position following the special local inquiries carried out at the instance of the Government of India into the causes and the possibility of reducing the high consumption of opium in these areas?

I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the report of the proceedings of a conference of local governments which considered the reports of these inquiries. Following upon the deliberations of this conference, the Government of India have recommended all local governments to make an analysis of the figures of consumption in districts where it is known to be high; to obtain more exact information as to the extent to which opium is given to children; to experiment with rationing and registration of consumers; to attempt to equalise the sale price of opium on inter-provincial boundaries; and to consider the possibility of propaganda and welfare work in connection with the administration of opium to children.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many steel houses are held by the Second Scottish National Housing Trust; the number of inspectors employed; the salaries paid to them; and the names of the said inspectors?

The number of steel houses held by the Second Scottish National Housing Company (Housing Trust) Limited, is 2,538. Four inspectors are employed, two of them whole-time and two of them part-time. The names of the whole-time inspectors are Messrs. Scott and Young, who each receive a salary of £312 per annum. The names of the part-time inspectors are Messrs. Kennet and Archibald. Mr. Bennet is the chief inspector, and the proportion of his salary payable by the company is £450 per annum. The proportion of Mr. Archibald's salary so payable is £196 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the numbers of smallholders who have been in arrear with their rent for one year, two years, three years, four years, five years, or more respectively; and the number of smallholders who have received loans and who have been in arrear with the payment of interest on their loans for the same periods?

The numbers of smallholders on estates belonging to the Department of Agriculture for Scotland in arrear with rent at 31st March, 1931, for one year, two years, three years, four years and five years or more, were 153, 51, 21,13 and 29, respectively. The numbers of smallholders—on privately owned estates as well as on the Department's properties—who have received loans for buildings and who were in arrear with payment of annuities at 31st March, 1931, for the same periods, were 125, 29, 17, 12 and 60, respectively.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of telephone exchanges in Great Britain; how many have been converted into automatic exchanges; and how many workers were displaced by that change?

There are 4,754 telephone exchanges in Great Britain, of which 612 are of the automatic type. It is not the practice to discharge regular operators on the introduction of automatic working; the position is met by restricting recruitment some time before the change.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can make arrangements for a second delivery of letters at Swannington, in Leicestershire?

I am making arrangements for the provision of a second delivery of letters at Swannington at an early date.

asked the Postmaster-General the aggregate amounts paid in wages, including bonus, to the Post Office staff for the years between 1921 and 1930, inclusive?

The desired information is as follows:

asked the Postmaster-General the number of postal workers who have been convicted for theft of postal packets from 1st May, 1928, to 1st May, 1931, and the average wages of these persons?

585 postal workers were convicted for theft of postal packets during the period in question. I regret that it would not be possible to give the average wage as desired by my hon. Friend, without elaborate inquiry.

asked the President of the Board of Education the approximate number of members of the National Association of Schoolmasters who are also members of the National Union of Teachers?

My right hon. Friend is informed by the National Association of Schoolmasters that none of the members of that association are also members of the National Union of Teachers.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that certain societies are providing fresh milk to school children, and the result of these experiments?

My right hon. Friend has been asked to reply. He assumes that the hon. Member is referring to the arrangements for the provision of milk to school children organised by the National Milk Publicity Council with the co-operation of the board and the local education authorities. There is no doubt of the benefit to the health of school children which results from the addition of a supplementary ration of fresh milk to the normal diet, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the report of an experiment recently conducted in Lanarkshire. The results of similar experiments in England and Wales are described on pages 114–116 of the report of the chief medical officer of the Board of Education for 1929.