asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of persons within the area of the Liverpool Employment Exchanges who are in receipt of unemployment benefit, the number who have drawn 26 weeks' benefit, the number on transitional benefit, and the number who, under the Government's proposal, will be referred to the public assistance committee for the calculation of their rate of benefit?

At 21st September, 1931, there were 85,584 persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Liverpool, with claims to benefit admitted or under consideration. This total includes 18,632 men and 3,026 women with claims authorised for transitional benefit. At 14th September, 1931, there were 13,219 men and 2,708 women receiving benefit other than transitional benefit who had received 156 days or more in their current benefit years.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number in receipt of unemployment benefit in the Cinderford, Coleford, Lydney and Newnham Exchanges; the average weekly amount paid to each insured person; the number of them in receipt of transitional benefit; the estimated number of those who will have completed their standard benefit and passed to the transitional stage: and the number of those with claims authorised for benefit other than transitional benefit?

asked the Minister of Labour at what dale the present borrowing powers of the Unemployment Insurance Fund would be exhausted on the assumptions that unemployment continues at its present level and that the measures proposed under the National Economy Bill were not yet in operation?

If unemployment continued at its present level and if no changes were made in the Unemployment Insurance scheme, the present borrowing powers of the Unemployment Fund would be exhausted by about the end of November next.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any steps are being taken to provide a system of unemployment insurance for farm workers?

The report of the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance on this matter must be awaited.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can state the number of persons registered at the Employment Exchanges at Maltby, Dennington, Swinton, Woodhouse, Thurcroft and Kiveton Park at the latest available date, and the number who will be transferred to the public

Following is the statement:assistance committees for calculation of benefit when the new proposals come into operation?

The only place mentioned in the question at which there is an Employment Exchange, is Maltby. The total number of persons on the registers of the Maltby Exchange at 21st September, 1931, was 1,151. This figure included 183 persons with claims authorised for transitional benefit, and 46 persons in receipt of benefit other than transitional benefit who had received 156 days or more in their current benefit years.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he will state the number, respectively, of men, women, young men, young women, boys and girls registered as unemployed at the Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, Exchange, on 11th September and also on 18th September;(2) the total amount of benefit paid through the Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, Exchange, during the weeks ending 11th and 18th September and the total number of adult recipients;(3) the number of dependants for whom benefit was paid at the Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, Employment Exchange during the weeks ending 11th and 18th September; the total amount paid; and the total number who received this benefit on behalf of their dependants?

Following is the statement:

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of persons on the unemployment register for Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley, the number in receipt of transitional benefit

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that many unemployed men in the north-eastern area are considering giving up their allotments because they cannot purchase the necessary seeds for the coming year; and, in view of the distress in this area and the lower unemployment benefits to be

The following table gives the information desired:paid, will he consider making some special provisions for any person whose need can be vouched for by the National Allotments Society or other suitable organizations?

I am afraid I have nothing to add to my full statement on this subject in the Debate on the Adjournment on the 22nd September.

asked the Secretary of State for India if the report of the Indian Tariff Board on the chemical industry has now been published; and, if so, whether he will state the terms of the committee's recommendations and what action the Government proposes to take thereon?

The reports were published in India on 5th September, accompanied by resolutions of the Government of India in which the recommendations of the Board and the decision of the Government were stated as concisely as possible. I will send the hon. and gallant Member a copy of these resolutions, to which effect has been given substantially by legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will state the total number of male and female voters on the electoral registers for the Legislative Assembly and Council of State and for the provincial legislative councils in India?

The hon. and gallant. Member will find the information he desires in the Return showing the results of the elections in India in 1929 and 1930, which was presented as a White Paper in July. Women are not entitled to vote in the elections to the Council of State.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will inform the House of the reasons which led to the refusal of a passport to Mr. B. J. Deorurkhker to allow him to proceed to London to place facts concerning his community before the delegates to the Round Table Conference?

I have no information.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that it has been decided that the pensions of retired officers shall be reduced by 11 per cent., and that an officer who retired on a pension of £800 a year, and who commuted £300 of that pension, has been notified that the 11 per cent. is to be deducted on the original £800 and not only on the £500 he is receiving at the present time; and whether he can state why the reduction is made on the original amount and not on the reduced pension now being paid?

As stated in Command Paper No. 3952, the deduction on the retired pay of officers from let October, 1931, will be 11 per cent. instead of the 8 per cent. formerly in force. I am aware that this deduction is calculated on the pension as originally assessed and not only on the uncommitted portion, but, in fairness to those officers who have not commuted any part of their retired pay, I regret that it is not possible to alter the established practice in the matter.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will consider revising the regulations for entry to Army examinations so as to permit youths whose entry thereto has, through inadvertence or accident, not been made in time to have their names entered under a delay penalty or similar easement of the present conditions?

Under the regulations referred to in the question, the announcement of the dates for application is undertaken by the Civil Service Commissioners, who are being asked to consider the hon. and learned Member's suggestion.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will state the total number of women employed in military canteens in Great Britain and Northern Ireland?

The employés of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes are not paid from public funds, and I have no information regarding details of the staff employed, which is a matter for the Board of Management.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider revising the regulations for entry to Navy examinations so as to permit youths whose entry thereto has, through inadvertence or accident, not been made in time to have their names entered under a delay penalty or similar easement of the present conditions?

Under the regulations referred to in the question the announcement of closing dates for applications is undertaken by the Civil Service Commissioners, who are being asked to consider my hon. and learned Friend's suggestion.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the 10 per cent. reduction in basic pay only, announced in Admiralty message to the Navy (1322, 22nd September), means that the pensions of naval ratings are to remain at the old rates?

I would ask the hon. Member to refer to the reply which I gave yesterday (OFFICIAL REPORT, 30th September, 1931; col. 339; Vol. 257) to the hon. Member for Newton (Sir Robert Young).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government has come to any decision, and, if so, what, in respect of the recommendations of the departmental committee of inquiry into the efficiency and adequacy of the coast-watching organisation of His Majesty's Coastguard?

Active consideration is being given to the various recommendations contained in the report, and it is hoped to arrive at a decision shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies upon what date the present director of education in Kenya was appointed to that position?

The appointment took effect from the 10th November, 1928.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give facilities to Miss E. B. Rayley, temporary typist in the London postal service, who has been rejected for appointment in the Civil Service on medical grounds, in spite of the production of medical evidence that she is perfectly fit, to be further examined by another medical authority?

No, Sir. This lady was medically rejected after special examination by a referee physician appointed by the Civil Service Commissioners.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that there are employed by the collector of customs and excise, at 184, Deansgate, Manchester, a number of women cleaners who work 30 hours per week for a basic wage of 13s., plus a cost-of-living bonus of 6s. 6d., bringing their total weekly wage to 19s. 6d.; whether he is aware that the association to which these women belong, namely, the Government Minor Grades Association, has been notified that the Commissioners of Customs and Excise regret they cannot see their way to increase that rate; and, seeing that a total wage of 19s. 6d. per week is insufficient for work of this nature or even to obtain the necessities of life, whether he will take steps to remedy this position?

I am looking into this matter.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the total indebtedness to this country which was cancelled as a result of the policy underlying the Balfour Note, with the amounts foregone to each country separately?

The net amount of the Allied War debts due to Great Britain at the dates of funding was about £1,250 millions (excluding the War debt of Belgium for which liability was assumed by Germany under the Treaty of Versailles, and the War debt of Russia in regard to which no settlement has been reached). The present value as at the dates of funding of the annuities payable under the various Funding Agreements, calculated on a 5 per cent. basis, amounted to about £333½ millions. On this basis, the settlements made represent a remission of about 65 per cent. of the debts other than the Italian War Debt; in that case the remission was equivalent to about 86 per cent. of the debt.

asked the Home Secretary how many Italians (not naturalised) are resident in Great Britain; and can he state their occupations?

There are about 27,000 Italians registered in Great Britain. Information which would enable me to give their various occupations is not available.

asked the Secretary for Mines when the Geneva Conference for the simultaneous ratification of the convention on hours of labour in mines is to be held?

As indicated by my predecessor in office, arrangements are being made for an informal discussion between the principal nations interested in this convention, and it is hoped this will take place at Geneva in the latter part of this month.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that certain potteries in North Staffordshire have had to close down by reason of the limitation of the output from the Wolstanton colliery; and whether steps can be taken to make the normal supplies of coal available locally?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply to a similar question by him on the 23rd September, to which, as the Committee of Investigation has not completed its inquiry, I cannot at present add anything.

asked the Minister of Pensions why Mr. W. E. Harvey, of 69, New Road East, Portsmouth, was refused treatment allowances in March, 1931, although he had to relinquish work and income whilst suffering from a recurrence of illness due to his war disability?

Treatment allowances are, in the terms of the Royal Warrant, only payable where a man is prevented from working in consequence of having to undergo a prescribed course of treatment certified by the Ministry to be necessary for a war disablement. No such course of treatment was found to be necessary in Mr. Harvey's case, and allowances were not, therefore, payable.