asked the Minister of Health the number of houses reconditioned or improved under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, the total cost of the work done, and the amount contributed through local authorities by way of grants and loans, respectively, up to the latest date for which the information is available?

I. State Assisted Houses.
—	By Local Authorities.	By Private Enterprise.	By Public Utility Societies receiving subsidy direct from the Minister.
Completed—
During Year ended 30th September, 1930	49,052	1,578	694
During Year ended 30th September, 1931	60,169	1,364	502
Under Construction—
At 30th September, 1930	36,341	765	253
At 30th September, 1931	44,004	1,101	268
Not started but included in definite arrangements for construction—
At 30th September, 1930	16,765	500	131
At 30th September, 1931	13,776	656	28

The figures shown above do not include houses erected by local authorities in replacement of houses demolished under improvement and reconstruction schemes confirmed prior to the passing of the Housing Act, 1930.

II. Houses erected without State Assistance.
—			By Local Authorities.	By Private Enterprise.
Completed—
During Year ended 30th September, 1930	…	…	2,965	107,410
During Year ended 30th September, 1931	…	…	3,119	129,790

The figures shown above exclude houses with a rateable value exceeding £78 (£105 in the Metropolitan area).

Up to 30th September last, 4,047 dwellings had been re-conditioned or improved in England and Wales under the Act in question, and work was in progress at that date on a further 770 dwellings. The cost of the works cannot be stated, but the grants and loans promised by local authorities amounted to £407,077 and £13,688, respectively, of which sums, £311,924 and £4,836 had actually been paid by that date.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses completed during the years ended 30th September, 1930, and 1931, respectively, under local authorities, private enterprise, and public utility societies; the number of houses under construction on those dates; and the number not started, but for which definite arrangements for construction had been made?

The following statements give the required information for England and Wales so far as it is available:

asked the Minister of Health if he will investigate the circumstances attending the non-payment of an old age pension to Mr. Joseph Jenkins, 38, Stanley Road, Stratford, E.15?

The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension. Mr. Jenkins was awarded an old age pension under the Contributory Pensions Acts as from 2nd January, 1928, and has been in receipt of this pension continuously since that date.

asked the Minister of Health the number of insured persons under the National Health Insurance Act on 31st December, 1913, and also on the latest date when the information is available, specifying the number of women in each case?

13,383,000 persons, 3,961,000 of whom were women, were insured for National Health Insurance purposes on 31st December, 1913. On 31st December, 1930, there were 17,012,000 persons insured for National Health Insurance purposes, of whom 5,757,000 were women. I would point out that in December, 1913, employed persons remained in insurance and entitled to the ordinary National Health Insurance benefits until they attained the age of 70, but as from 2nd January, 1928, this limiting age was reduced to 65, as a result of the introduc-

—		Hosiery (latch) needles.		Other needles.
		Quantity.	Declared Value.	Quantity.	Declared Value.
Total Imports—		lbs.	£	lbs.	£
January to October, 1928	…	48,798	126,866	122,388	13,469
January to October, 1929	…	39,708	114,278	76,260	8,991
January to October, 1930	…	36,929	104,903	81,057	12,902
January to October, 1931	…	35,697	95,798	95,388	11,621
Domestic Exports—
January to October, 1928	…	1,329	2,900	439,456	224,161
January to October, 1929	…	963	1,778	427,385	226,275
January to October, 1930	…	473	643	325,387	177,255
January to October, 1931	…	388	420	284,119	158,524

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what reason it has been decided to close the training college for teachers at Forest Side, in Mauritius?

I understand that the Financial Commissioners, who are now on their way back from Mauritius, proposed to recommend the closing of the Training College, but I have not received their full views, and no final decision has yet been taken in the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the figures of the imports and exports of needles, fish-hooks, and latch-needles, respectively, for the first 10 months of this year and for corresponding periods of the previous three years?

The following table shows, in respect of hosiery (latch) needles and other needles, respectively, the quantity and declared value of the total imports into and domestic exports from the United Kingdom during the first 10 months of 1928, 1929, 1930 and 1931. Similar particulars in respect of fish-hooks are not available, as these goods are not separately recorded in the trade returns of the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the tonnage and value of iron and steel imports during the first 10 days and, separately, the second 10 days, of November; and the average tonnage and value of these imports per month during the months of January to October, inclusive, of the present year?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on Tuesday last to my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Mr. Herbert) and, as regards the second, to the monthly "Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom" for October last (pp. 47–9).