pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 24th September, 1931; col. 1791, Vol. 256] supplies answers to the following questions:

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed persons are registered at South Shields, and how many of these have drawn 26 or more weeks' benefit during the present benefit year, giving the figures for the last week for which both sets are available or for which a reliable estimate can be made.

At 14th September, 1931, there were 14,124 persons on the register of the Employment Exchange at South Shields. This figure includes approximately 2,700 in receipt of transitional benefit. Of those in receipt of benefit other than transitional benefit, 2,629 had received 156 days or more in their current benefit years.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the present recipients of benefit at the Borough Employment Exchange are receiving transitional benefit; and if the whole of such cases are to be remitted to the public assistance committees for examination as to means?

At 24th August, 1931, the latest date for which figures are available, there were on the register of the Borough Employment Exchange 1,638 persons (including 224 women) with claims authorised for transitional benefit. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. R. A. Taylor) on 15th September.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons receiving benefit at the Sheffield and Attercliffe Employment Exchanges respectively at the last available date and the number receiving transitional benefit; and whether he can give any estimate as to the number likely to be referred to the public assistance committee when the proposed change first comes into operation and also three months later?

At 14th September, 1931, the number of persons with claims to benefit admitted or under consideration were 37,706 at Sheffield and 14,676 at Attercliffe. At 24th August, 1931, the latest date for which figures are available, the numbers with claims authorised for transitional benefit were 8,531 at Sheffield and 3,373 at Attercliffe. In addition there were at 14th September, 1931, 5,582 persons at Sheffield and 1,992 at Attercliffe in receipt of benefit other than transitional benefit who had received 156 days or more in their current benefit years. I am unable to make any estimate of the numbers who will be in these classes three months after the proposed changes come into operation.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons in receipt of transitional benefit in Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire separately?

At 24th August, 1931, the latest date for which figures are available, the numbers of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges with claims authorised for transitional benefit were 30,714 in Glamorganshire and 8,241 in Monmouthshire?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in receipt of benefit in the counties of Monmouth and Glamorgan, separately; the average weekly amount paid to each insured person; the number of those in receipt of transitional benefit at present; and the estimated number of those who will have completed their standard benefit and passed to the transitional stage for the months of October, November and December respectively?

The following are such figures as are available:

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed men and women are receiving transitional benefit at Birkenhead Employment Exchange; and whether all those cases will be referred to the public assistance committee for a means test?

At 24th August, 1931, the latest date for which figures are available, there were on the register of the Employment Exchange at Birkenhead 2.164 persons (including 153 women) with claims authorised for transitional benefit. As regards the procedure in these cases, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. R. A. Taylor) on 15th September.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons in the city of Sheffield receiving transitional benefit who will, under the new regulations, be referred to the public assistance committee for assessment of means.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons (men,

At 24th August, 1931, the latest date for which figures are available, there were on the registers of the Employment Exchanges at Sheffield and Attercliffe a total of 11,904 persons (including 1,612 women) with claims authorised for transitional benefit. In addition there were at 14th September, 1931, 7,574 persons (including 1,453 women) in receipt of benefit other than transitional benefit who had received 156 days' benefit or more in their current benefit years.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered at the Employment Exchanges at Pontefract, Castleford and Goole Employment Exchanges at the latest available date; and the number who will be transferred to the public assistance committees for calculation of benefit when the new proposals come into operation.

The following statement gives such figures as are available:women, boys, and girls) registered as unemployed in the city of Leeds to the latest convenenient date, and the number who are at present in receipt of transitional benefit in the same area whose cases will be referred forthwith to the public assistance committee under the National Economy Act.

At 14th September, 1931, there were 27,348 men, 14,250 women, 894 boys and 712 girls on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the county borough of Leeds. At 24th August, 1931, the latest date for which figures are available, there were on the registers in the same area 6,403 men and 1,587 women with claims authorised for transitional benefit.

asked the Minister of Labour the estimated number of unemployed persons in the City of Bristol who will be affected by the Government's proposals for the reduction of unemployment benefit, and the approximate aggregate amount of the reduction?

The estimated number of persons in the City of Bristol who are claimants for unemployment benefit and who will be affected by the Government's proposal for the reduction of benefit is 19,500. No estimate can be formed of the aggregate amount of the reduction of the payments to these persons as this will depend upon the assessment of needs in certain cases by the public assistance authorities of the Bristol County Borough.

asked the Prime Minister whether all the members of the Government who hold offices as directors of companies have now resigned these positions?

The effect of the rule which has obtained during previous administrations will be observed, though for the time being, having regard to the exceptional circumstances under which this administration holds office, I should not be disposed to insist on the literal application of the rule. In the meantime no fees will be accepted, and no time given to companies barred by the rule.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what abatement will be made under the present economy proposals from the salaries of Judges and members of the four Crown services whose present rate of remuneration lies between £4,000 and £5,000 a year; and what steps will be taken to maintain an appropriate relativity between civil servants on £2,000 a year, whose remuneration is to be abated by 10 per cent., and other civil servants who are at present in receipt of remuneration amounting to £1,800 a year and upward inclusive of bonus?

With regard to the first part of the question, it is intended that the salary of a Judge or Crown Servant who is now in receipt of remuneration between £4,000 and £5,000 a year shall be abated so that his remuneration after the abatement is made will not exceed £4,000 a year, that being the amount to which remuneration of £5,000 a year would fall by reason of an abatement of 20 per cent. With regard to the second part of the question, it has been decided that for so long as the abatement of 10 per cent. is made from the salary of civil servants in receipt of £2,000 a year bonus will not be payable in respect of any salary of £1,800 or upwards or so as to bring total remuneration inclusive of bonus above that figure.

asked the Attorney-General what salary and expenses are paid to marshals of judges on circuit; and whether, in the interests of economy, he has considered the reduction of this salary?

Marshals of judges on circuit are paid fees of two guineas per day. The question whether these fees should be reduced is under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number and ages of the lower-deck ratings who appeared be- fore the last annual selections boards for the commissioned rank of mate (E), and the number selected?

32 candidates appeared before the last Fleet Selection Boards for consideration for promotion to the rank of mate (E). Their ages on 1st July, 1931, were:

• 2 between the age of 23 and 24.
• 10 between the age of 24 and 25.
• 7 between the age of 25 and 26.
• 4 between the age of 26 and 27.
• 3 between the age of 27 and 28.
• 5 between the age of 28 and 29.
• 1 between the age of 30 and 31.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if arrangements can be made for established men employed in His Majesty's Dockyard, Portsmouth, to be allowed to take their discharge with accrued bonus and pension?

I regret that this concession, which was withdrawn in July, 1930, cannot be re-instituted at present.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why, in view of the fact that it is the duty of the Committee of Three to submit to the Council of the League of Nations such

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in supposing that the meeting of the Committee of Three was postponed until after the session of the Council of the League of Nations. The meeting was postponed until 18th September in order to give time for the Polish Government to furnish further information, and the application of the committee, decided upon at its meeting on that date, for the inclusion of the question in the agenda of the Council, was received by the Council while in session on 19th September. The decision that the Rapporteur for Minorities questions should defer his report until January was taken by the Council itself.

asked the Minister of Health the amount paid out by public assistance committees in Wales and in the counties of Brecon and Radnor, separately, for the last known year and each of the preceeding three years, and the number of persons concerned in each case?

The following statement gives the desired information for the year ended on 31st March, 1931:be given, as a number of the unions in Wales and in the two counties extended into England or into other counties.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he can give an estimate of the average weekly cost to the State of an airman?

The average cost of an airman depends on a number of factors, many of which are subject to frequent variation, such as the proportion of men in the various countries overseas and in each of the various ranks and trade groups. It would not, accordingly, be practicable to give an accurate estimate without detailed calculations, which would involve a disproportionate amount of labour. The average total remuneration of an airman is, however, given in paragraph 99 of the report of the Committee on National Expenditure.