asked the Minister of Labour (1) the total number of married women who have had their cases reviewed under the Unemployment Insurance (No. 3) Act, 1931, and the total refused benefit;

(2) the total number of seasonal workers who have had their cases reviewed under the Unemployment Insurance (No. 3) Act, 1931, and the total refused benefit;

(3) the total number of persons who have been refused benefit who are classified as persons who work for less than a full week and who are also classified as persons whose normal employment is not for more than two days in a week?

As the reply includes a table of figures I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Up to 9th November, 1931, the Birmingham Court of Referees had considered 2,044 cases (all of which related to married women) under the Anomalies Regulations, and benefit was disallowed in 1939 cases. Cases are referred to this court of referees from the Birmingham and Coles-hill Employment Exchanges.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of cases referred to the court of referees under the Anomalies Act from the areas supervised from Wigan and St. Helens, specifying the number of women, and stating the number denied unemployment benefits up to the latest date for which information is available?

Up to 9th November, 1931, the court of referees at Wigan had considered 261 cases under the Anomalies Regulations, all of which related to women, and had disallowed benefit in 255. During the same period the St. Helens Court of Referees considered 481 cases (all of which related to married women) and disallowed benefit in 469.

Is it not a fact that this Anomalies Act was passed by the Labour Government?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed struck off the registers at Margate and Ramsgate under the new seasonal workers regulations as at 17th November?

Up to 9th November, 1931, the Margate Court of Referees had considered the cases of 105 male and 72 female seasonal workers under the Anomalies Regulations, and had disallowed benefit in the cases of 84 men and 67 women. During the same period the Ramsgate Court of Referees considered the cases of 43 men and 133 women and disallowed benefit in 34 and 111, respectively. The persons affected by the disallowances are not struck off the register unless they cease to attend at the Exchange.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many more cases are to come under the survey of the courts of referees?

No, Sir; I cannot.

Is this Act working, from the right hon. Gentleman's point of view, in the direction of saving money?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of courts held at the Parkhead Employment Exchange in connection with the Anomalies Act; the names of the chairmen of the courts of referees; and the amount of money drawn by each chairman up to 14th November for special work under the Act?

I will ascertain and let the hon. Member know the number of sittings of courts of referees, and the amount of fees paid, which would, of course, be at the ordinary rate. I am not prepared to state the names of chairmen or others who formed the courts cm particular occasions.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state any reason why the chairmen's names should not be published?

This question was considered on many occasions by my predecessor, and she came to the conclusion, with which I agree, that it would not be desirable to publish on particular-occasions the names either of the chairman or the members of; the court,.

It is perfectly true that we plied the late Minister with the same questions, but I want to ask the Minister what is the reason for not divulging the names? We want to know the names and how much money they are getting for this job. 'Some of them are walking away with young fortunes.

With regard to that part of the question, I have already told the hon. Member for Shettleston (Mr. McGovern) that the amounts would be given to him. The hon. Member will get an answer on that point.

What is the reason for withholding the names? Is it regarded as being something dishonourable to form part of this particular branch of the service?

No, Sir. On the contrary, it is considered a highly honourable service—

You mean, well paid.

It is not considered desirable that the names of the chairman and those who form particular courts on particular occasions should be given.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of persons registered at the Employment Exchanges in the administrative area of the Monmouthshire County Council 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?

At 9th November, 1931, there were 24,986 men and women on the registers of Employment Exchanges within the area of the Monmouthshire Administrative County. The number affected by the No. 2 Order in Council on 12th November was about 11,000.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can state the nature of the instructions given to public assistance committees with regard to the application for transitional benefit by any man who owns a house and possesses savings; and whether any cases have yet been brought to his notice where any man applying for such benefit has been required to sell or mortgage his house or encroach on the capital value of his savings?

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in reviewing the needs of an applicant for transitional payment under the Unemployment Insurance Act, the public assistance committee will take into account the capital of the appellant or only the household income?

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the principles governing action by the public assistance committees in assessing means under the new transitional benefit arrangements, especially in respect of houses part-purchased on the instalment system?

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether his attention has been called to the administration of the means test for unemployed persons in certain parts of Lancashire; and whether he will issue an order making it quite clear to the public assistance committees that only the income of the assets held shall be taken into account and that the realisation of such assets is not necessary before unemployment benefit can be granted;

(2) whether he will consider issuing special instructions to the public assistance committees who are to assess unemployment benefit under the means test with the object of impressing upon them that disability pensions were granted for disabilities, and that the disabled unemployed who is in greater need as a result of his disablement shall not have his pension taken into account when assessing the amount of the benefit to be paid him?

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the difficulties encountered by public assistance committees in applying the means test to persons whose savings have not, been invested in interest-bearing securities; and will he take steps to see that a ruling is given governing these cases in such a way that thrift is not penalised?

I have no authority under the Order-in-Council governing transitional payments to give instructions to local authorities as to the manner in which the resources of an applicant for transitional payments should be taken into account. I have, however, in consultation with my right hon. Friends, the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for Scotland, issued to all authorities a circular drawing their attention to certain considerations which may be properly borne in mind in determining the needs of applicants who are in possession of assets such as house property, or invested savings or are in receipt of certain classes of income such as disability pensions. The circular, amongst other things, says:

"There is no authority for the statement that public assistance committees are obliged to bring into account the whole amount of an ex-service pension or disability pension;"

and again,

"It should, however, be remembered that where certain classes of income are con- cerned, such, for example, as disability pensions or blind pensions, the disability in respect of which the pension has been awarded may be such as to call for a greater measure of assistance than would normally be appropriate."

I have sent copies of this circular to my hon. Friends and have placed a substantial supply in the Vote Office.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the circular to which he refers, No. L.A. 3, is not definite on this point at all? The circular merely states that under certain conditions certain things can arise. Could my right hon. Friend not be much more definite in that circular about assets, about the selling of property, and about only the income being taken into calculation?

In the very long reply I have just given I have done my best to make it clear that it is the desire of the Government that public assistance committees should deal sympathetically with these cases, and should regard these as cases in which full weight should be given to the special circumstances of the particular applicant.

Is it not still true that fundamentally the old means test, the destitution test, as far as public assistance committees are concerned, is applied?

No; the circular to which I have referred was a circular issued by Mr. Greenwood, who was, of course, a member of the same Government as the hon. Gentleman. That circular, I think, dealt both humanely and sympathetically with this question, and I have no desire to alter it.

Yes, but is it not still true that the law lays it down, and the inspectors may insist on it, that, as far as the public assistance committees are concerned, they are simply the old Poor Law, and that the destitution test still holds good?

I do not at all accept that as a true interpretation.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give a guarantee that the Ministry of Health inspectors will not enforce that?

That question should be addressed, not to me, but to the Minister of Health. I have given the fullest reply to the question, and I have dealt very fairly with the matter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give ah undertaking that no hardships will arise as a result of this means test?

Clearly, that is a question which I cannot possibly answer. But I have shown by my answer that the Government are most anxious that these cases should not be dealt with unsympathetically by the public assistance committees.

In connection with disability pensions, will the right hon. Gentleman regard it as illegal from his point of view if public assistance committees do not take disability pensions into consideration?

No. I am not in the position and have no power to give instructions to public assistance committees. What I have done has been to call attention to the desire of the Government that these cases should not be considered unsympathetically.

Is it not a fact that the Poor Law authorities can, if they care, take into account the full disability pension, and that the right hon. Gentleman has no power to intervene?

I have no reason to suppose that any public assistance committee would act in that way.

asked the Minister of Labour the increased cost involved by the appointment of investigators consequent upon the operation of the means test?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on this subject on 12th November to the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson).

asked the Minister of Labour if he will issue regulations concerning the means test, in order that uniformity may be ensured in connection with disability pensions and scales of allowances?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday on this subject to the hon. Lady, the Member for the English Universities (Miss Rathbone).

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of transition cases, inclusive of those who have received more than 26 weeks' benefit, for each of the divisions in the United Kingdom, with the total number of unemployed for each division?

asked the Minister of Labour if he can give the number of transition cases, inclusive of those who have received more than 26 weeks' benefit, which will have to be dealt with by each public assistance committee in Great Britain; and the total for the whole country?

Statistics giving the number of cases to be dealt with by each public assistance committee are not available. I will send the hon. Member a statement giving the latest available figures for each Employment Exchange in the various county boroughs and administrative counties.

asked the Minister of Health whether there has been any increase in the number of inspectors who attend the meetings of public assistance committees as the result of the operation of transition cases under the Order-in-Council; and, if so, whether he can give the number?

The answer to the first

Figures are not available for any date later than 26th October, when the new provisions as to transitional payments had not come into operation. I will, however, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT giving such figures as are available for 26th October.

Will that include the 26 weeks people?

Yes.

asked the Minister of Labour what public schemes are at present in operation with the view of providing work for persons who would otherwise be unemployed; whether it is proposed to submit other schemes in the near future; and, if not, what steps it is proposed to adopt to deal with the unemployed during the financial year ending 31st March, 1932?

On 25th September there were altogether 2,700 schemes in operation, providing direct employment on that date for about 111,700 men, and, it is estimated, indirect employment for about the same number of persons. A few further schemes giving work in the coming winter will probably be sanctioned by the Unemployment Grants Committee. Allowing for the completion of some schemes and the commencement of others, the number em- ployed in the coming winter will probably remain about the same as the figure I have given.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is in a position to state the anticipated saving to the Un employment Insurance Fund consequent on the operation of Section 1 (1, b) of the Unemployment Insurance (National Economy (No. 2) Order, 1931, No. 853?

I am afraid I am not in a position to give any reliable estimate for the saving under Section 1 (1, b) of the Order taken separately.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Section 1 (1, b) of the Unemployment Insurance (No. 2) Order, 1931, will deprive of benefit those workers who satisfy the first statutory condition, namely, those who have 30 or more stamps to their credit in the preceding two years, and who, under this Order, after 26 weeks' benefit in any one year, are not allowed again standard benefit until 10 additional stamps are affixed?

The hon. Gentleman has asked rather a complicated question, and I would like to see it on the Paper before giving a definite answer.

asked the Home Secretary the number of Income Tax defaulters in gaol at the present time and during each month of the current year?

The information for which the hon. Member asks is not available in the form which he desires, but I understand that the number of persons known to have been committed to prison in default of payment of Income Tax during the present year up to date is 77. I cannot say how many are now in prison or were received during each month without inquiry at each prison, but I will obtain this information if the hon. Member wishes.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the smallest amount for which a defaulter can be inprisoned?

Will the hon. Member be good enough to give me notice of that question?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will at once take steps to initiate a special form of Income Tax or levy on the incomes derived by foreign actors and actresses when performing in this country?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps in respect of the earnings of foreign musicians in this country to adopt the American system, whereby foreign performers must declare the amount earned in that country and cannot leave until the appropriate Income Tax has been paid?

Proposals relating to foreign artists who earn money on short visits to this country have been considered several times in recent years. The whole question of the collection of tax from such persons is a difficult one, while the amount of tax at stake is relatively small. I will, however, give the matter my consideration.

Could not the deduction of taxes be made at the source?

asked the Chancellor the Exchequer whether the machinery of the Inland Revenue Department will be sufficient to ensure within the current financial year the issue of assessments to all the 4,000,000 Income Tax payers brought in under the last Budget; and, if not, whether this will affect the balancing of the Budget?

I have every expectation that practically the whole of the Income Tax charge for the current financial year will have been assessed in time for payment to be made within the year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to state what arrangements will be made in the collection of Income Tax due on the 1st January, to carry out the promise of his predecessor in regard to any cases of hardship arising from the payment of the increased instalment of three-quarters of the tax?

My predecessor undertook that consideration would be shown m any case of hardship arising from the payment of the increased instalment of three-quarters. The Board of Inland Revenue are accordingly authorising collectors of taxes in such cases to accept a substantial payment on account in January, provided that the taxpayer promises to pay the balance without further application not later than the first week in March. Any taxpayer, who is liable to pay an instalment of three-quarters on the 1st of January, but finds it impossible to pay the whole sum on that date, can arrange accordingly with his collector of taxes.

I must, however, make it quite clear that this arrangement is to apply only to cases of hardship where the taxpayer cannot find the whole sum immediately. Taxpayers who can meet their liabilities should make a special effort this year to pay their Income Tax when it falls due. It is of great importance to the national finances that we should get early payment of the Income Tax and realise the Budget Estimates for the year, and, in order that the individual taxpayer should have this brought to his notice, I have authorised the Commissioners of Inland Revenue to issue with the In- come Tax demand notes a copy of the appeal for early payment that was made by my predecessor during the passage of the second Finance Act.

If everyone paid his Income Tax when it became due would it not save a great deal of money through the Government not having to issue Treasury Bills?

Obviously, if taxes are paid when they are due it would save a great deal of money.

Seeing that the Chancellor of the Exchequer is prepared to give consideration to Income Tax payers, will he also give consideration to the poor members of the working-class who are not able to pay rent at the moment and are faced with eviction? Will he set somebody aside to look into that matter?

I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman what machinery he proposes to set up to investigate the cases of hardship in connection with Income Tax?

I do not think it will be necessary to set up any machinery. My experience is that persons who suffer hardship are always quite ready to provide the machinery themselves.

Is it only the hardship of the rich which is to be considered, and not the hardship of the poor?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state what steps the Government intend taking with regard to the discontinuance of the expenditure on the valuation of land under the terms of Part III of the Finance Act, 1931; and, if a decision has not yet been arrived at, whether he will undertake to make a definite statement on the subject before the House rises for the Christmas vacation?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement as to the policy of the Government in respect of land valuation under the Land Tax proposals in the Finance Act of 1931 before the House adjourns for the Christmas Recess?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to make a pronouncement as to the future of Part III (Land Taxation Duties) of the Finance Act, 1931, before the House rises for the Christmas Recess?

I hope to be able to make a statement on this subject before the House rises for the Christmas Recess.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that there is an overwhelming majority in this House in favour of repealing this Measure?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that there is no statutory provision to prevent the discharge of valuers at present engaged on land valuation under Part III of the Finance Act, 1931, he will take steps to discharge this staff as soon as possible?

Until the Government as a whole have reached a final conclusion as to the future of the provisions of Part III of the Finance Act, 1931, I do not think that it is possible to take any action on the lines suggested by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount in sterling of recent British borrowing in France and America; and whether any portion of these loans has been repaid?

The two Treasury credits were for the approximate equivalent of £40,000,000 each in francs and dollars. As regards the credits granted to the Bank of England by the Bank of France and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which has already been published, and of which I am sending him a copy.

Could the right hon. Gentleman give me an answer to the last part of the question, and say whether any portion of these loans has been repaid?

I think my hon. Friend will find that information in the answer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is able to make any statement as to the prospects of realising the extra revenue anticipated from, the increase of duty on beer as imposed in the September Budget?

No, Sir. It would be premature to draw any conclusions yet.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the total amount of the payments to the United States Government on account of the British War Debt, and the total amount received by this country on account of Allied War Debts to date?

The total amount of the payments to the United States Government on account of the British War Debt to date is £326,200,000, and the total amount received by this country on account of Allied War Debts to date is £71,275,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he can state the net savings effected by departmental economies carried out since the introduction of the last Budget; and whether such economies have been in any way affected and, if so, how, by any estimated rise in prices in the coming year?

I am not quite certain that I have correctly appreciated the point to which my hon. Friend refers. If he has in mind the progress of the economies outlined in the White Paper (Command Paper 3952), I have every reason to hope that the estimates will be substantially realised, though it would be premature to attempt to give any exact figures. As regards the last part of the question, direct expenditure on stores, material and foodstuffs is not a large part of the Budget and the effect of any probable rise in prices is unlikely seriously to disturb the estimates.

asked the Prime Minister when the Bill dealing with agriculture is to be introduced; and if it will be passed through all its stages before the House rises for the Recess?

I regret that it is impossible to say when a Bill dealing with agriculture will be introduced. The whole subject of agriculture is under active consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the urgency of the question, particularly as respects arable farming? If I put a question down on Monday, will the right hon. Gentleman be able to give me an answer?

I am afraid that on Monday I can only repeat what I have said but we are aware of the urgency of the question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a cargo of Russian butter arrived in Cork Harbour, and the Irish Parliament put a heavy duty on it the same day? Can he not take a leaf out of their book?

We can only envy the rapidity of action which is possible to the Irish Parliament but is not possible to us.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that farmers in East Kent are unable to sell malting barley owing to brewers suffering from loss of trade due to increased beer taxation; and if the Government will consider securing the use of a greater proportion of home-produced malting barley by means of a tax on foreign whole barley or a compulsory quota of English produce for malting purposes?

I regret I have no information to enable me to say whether the position is as indicated in the first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question. The suggestions put forward in the second part will certainly come under review in connection with the consideration of the Government's agricultural policy which is now taking place.

May I take it that if I give the right hon. and gallant Gentleman information with regard to 5,000 unsold quarters of malting barley he will take due note of it?

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Health what is the present position regarding the housing schemes of the Corporation of Manchester; and whether his Department will continue to require the city council to build only the types of houses for which the greatest demand exists?

The Corporation of Manchester have recently submitted pro- posals for the building of over 2,000 houses, many of which are of a larger size than I think is required. The corporation have been asked to revise their proposals so that the bulk of the houses to be provided can be let at a lower rent than has been usual in the city for corporation houses, and I am in communication with them on the subject.

May I now assume that the Manchester City Council are now permitted to proceed with their scheme providing they comply with the Ministry's regulations?

I am in communication with the corporation on the subject at the present time, and the answer to that question will have to await the result of those communications.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that unemployment among building trade workers in Manchester increased by over 660 within the last week as a result of this controversy between the Manchester City Council and the Ministry of Health; and will he speed up the negotiations?

I am in touch with the various aspects of the question, and my information is not to the effect conveyed by the hon. Member.

Is it not a fact that, had the corporation agreed to the Ministry's proposals some weeks ago, there need not have been any delay in the matter at all?

There are aspects of the situation which will have to be considered.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the proposals of the Corporation of Manchester to demolish a large area of property in the district of Hulme without any provision for alternative accommodation in the immediate vicinity; that previous schemes have resulted in only 25 per cent. of the dispossessed population moving to new housing estates, whilst 75 per cent. have remained in overcrowded conditions in the vicinity of the demolition area; and will he review existing legislation on this matter at an early date?

I understand that the question of rehousing accommodation to be provided by the Corporation of Man- Chester in connection with the proposed clearance referred to is still under consideration by the corporation. As regards the only other area which has been cleared by the corporation since the War, my information is that 75 per cent. of the persons displaced were in fact rehoused by the corporation. I do not think that any amendment of existing legislation on this matter is required.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire whether the figures stated in my question were not in fact published by the medical officer of Manchester, and will he check the discrepency between the figures supplied by the medical officer and those in his Department?

Certainly; the figures I have given were not given without careful inquiry, but I will check them further in view of what the hon. Member has said.

asked the Minister of Health the number of local authorities which have suspended all advances under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts; and whether such action has received his sanction?

I am aware of only two decisions of this kind by local authorities. My sanction is not required.

asked the Minister of Health the number of housing schemes which have been suspended or retarded following the suggestions to local authorities that all expenditure should be reduced to a minimum; and if he can state the number of persons who would have been employed had the various housing schemes been continued?

I have been informed of only nine cases covering quite a small number of houses in which any definite action has been taken by the local authority to curtail or suspend their housing programme. The hon. Member will see from a copy of a circular which I am sending to him that he is under a misapprehension in stating that it has been suggested to local authorities that all expenditure should be reduced to a minimum irrespective of its character or purpose.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the hardship imposed upon the tenants of the London County Council at the Wakefield and Primrose tenement houses by the method by which the payment of rates is enforced, a protest against which led to disturbance on 12th November, he will inquire whether some preferable system could be adopted?

The matter referred to is solely one for settlement between the London County Council and the Camberwell Borough Council, and I understand that it is under immediate discussion by these bodies.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a meeting took place this morning between representatives of the London County Council and the Camberwell Borough Council, and that no arrangement was come to; and can he inquire into it and see that there is some agreement between these bodies so as to remove an undoubted cause of hardship on the tenants of these houses?

The Noble Lord may rest assured that I am keeping in touch with the situation. Perhaps I may take this opportunity of expressing the very clear opinion that it is most desirable that some arrangement should be come to between these two bodies on this subject.