asked the Home Secretary how many pedestrians have been killed and how many injured by motor accidents on the highways of this country during 1931; and what are the comparative figures for 1930?

The numbers of persons killed and injured in street accidents in England and Wales other than persons on any vehicle or horse involved are as follow:—In 1330, there were 3,091 killed and 53,604 injured, and in 1931 there were 2,923 killed and 62,308 injured. The figures for 1931 are subject to correction. The figures for Scotland are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether it is now intended to make some concession to motorists by amending the licensing period for motor cars due to commence on 25th March, 1932, to 23rd or 24th March, 1932, on the payment of a small additional tax, and so enable motorists to take advantage of the Easter holiday?

The suggested extension of the second licensing quarter was embodied in the Road Vehicles (Part Year Licensing) Order, 1932, dated 2nd February. I am sending the hon. Member copies both of the Order and of a Notice that was issued to the Press on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in formulating new measures for dealing with convicts of a specially dangerous type, he will take into consideration the danger to which warders may be subjected by such things as the presence of heaps of stones on the exercising ground during Sunday parades, as was the case during the recent disturbances at Dartmoor?

The point to which the hon. and gallant Member calls attention has not been overlooked.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will introduce legislation to legalise sweepstakes for the purpose of raising money for objects of general public interest and welfare, such as to provide funds for the building of the new Cunarder at Clydebank?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the increasing number of motor snatch-and-grab raids which are taking place all over the country, more especially in London, he will take any more effective measures than exist to-day for having them forestalled and dealt with?

The police are fully alive to the necessity for taking all possible measures to deal with this serious class of crime. In the Metropolitan police district the number of raids in 1931 showed a decrease on 1930. As I informed the House recently, the Commissioner of Police is very much concerned about this matter, and is giving it his close personal attention.

asked the Home Secretary what restrictions, if any, are placed upon the obtaining of employment by wives of members of the Metropolitan police?

The restrictions are laid down in Regulation 8 of the Police Regulations which apply to all forces in England and Wales. I will send the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Home Secretary whether, considering that the alteration of areas about to be made by the county councils under the Local Government Act, 1929, will have the effect of making nugatory the elections for urban district councils and rural district councils due by law to be held before 2nd April next, and of requiring fresh elections for these councils to be at once held, thus causing a waste of money, he will take steps to cause the coming elections to be postponed as was done in the case of the guardians?

Any Order altering district boundaries made under the Local Government Act, 1929, which will come into force on 1st April next, will provide that any election which would otherwise be held in April next shall be held in March for the area as altered by the Order. There will be no need for holding a further election for the area under the Order, and there is therefore no necessity for any action on my part.

asked the Home Secretary whether there has been an in- crease or a decrease in the number of cases of dermatitis, in the last three years for which compensation has been paid; and whether any steps are taken by his Department to encourage the wearing of gloves or mittens in appropriate cases?

The Workmen's Compensation Statistics for 1928, 1929, and 1930 (which is the last year for which figures are available) show an increase in the number of cases. There were 1,170 cases in 1928, 1,405 in 1929, and 1,499 in 1930. Various steps have been taken by the Department to enforce or encourage the wearing of gloves as a precaution against dermatitis. For example, gloves are required, for persons employed in various processes under the Chemical Works Regulations of 1922, and the Chromium Plating Regulations of 1931, and under the Welfare Order of 1918 for use of hi-chromate potassium or sodium in dyeing, the Hollow-ware and Galvanising Welfare Order of 1921, and the Tanning Welfare Order of 1930. Further, a general leaflet providing information as to the causes of dermatitis and recommending precautions, including the use of gloves, has been prepared and widely distributed among occupiers of works likely to be affected, and, with a view to securing the co-operation of the workers, a form of cautionary notice which can be exhibited in the workrooms has been issued and put on sale through the Stationery Office. Reference is also made to the value of gloves in certain special memoranda dealing with the prevention of dermatitis in particular processes, Finally, I may draw attention to the collection of different kinds of gloves suitable for the purpose which is on exhibition in the special Dermatitis Section at the Home Office Industrial Museum in Horseferry Road, Westminster.

asked the Home Secretary the number of occasions on which since the year 1922 sentence of death has been pronounced upon persons between the ages of 16 and 21; and in how many cases capital punishment has been executed in the said period upon such persons?

During the 10 years from 1922 to 1931 inclusive the figures were 18 and four. I would add that the executions took place in the years 1922, 1923, 1925 and 1926 and that the ages were between 18 ¼ years and 20 ½ years.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will give information as to the location and accommodation of the military training college for Indian commissioned officers which it is intended to open in India during the present year?

The Indian military college will be located at Dehra Dun and is intended eventually to provide accommodation for 150 cadets, excluding Indian State Forces cadets.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of hewn timber imported into this country in 1930 and 1931, respectively, and which were the principal countries of origin; and what was the value of imports into this country of manufactured timber goods, such as doors, windows, floorings and machined parts, in 1930 and 1931, respectively, and which were the principal countries of origin?

The total value of hewn timber imported into the United Kingdom was £2,635,000 in 1930, and £1,738,000 in 1931. The principal countries from which the imports were consigned in 1930 were the Soviet Union, the United States, Norway, Poland, Canada, and British West Africa. The total value of the imports of floorings and builders' woodwork was £3,441,000 in 1930 and £2,974,000 in 1931, the principal countries from which the imports were consigned in 1930 being Sweden, the United States, Norway and Finland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the proportion of United Kingdom exports to world exports in the years 1913, 1929, and 1931, respectively?

According to particulars published by the League of Nations, the proportion of domestic exports of the United Kingdom to world's exports was 13.94 per cent in 1913, and 10.76 per cent in 1929. The figure for 1931 is not yet available, but for 1930 the corresponding proportion was 10.51 per cent. The trade of the Netherlands was excluded from the aggregate world's trade in 1013, and changes have been effected in international boundaries and new States have been created since the termination of the War; the figure for 1913 is, therefore, not comparable with those of post-War years.

asked the Minister of Pensions (1) how many War pensions have been awarded to ex-service men on account of disability due to psoriasis;(2) how many applications for War pensions by ex-service men, on account of disability due to psoriasis, have been refused; and for what reason?

The statistical records of the Ministry do not show separately the number of claims admitted and rejected in respect of this complaint.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Government intend this year to withdraw the opera subsidy?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the increasing use of electricity in place of manure in hot-beds in market gardening in Sweden and Germany; and whether his Department has any information regarding the benefits which it is claimed have been derived therefrom, as by this means it is possible to raise early vegetables which hitherto have had to be imported from the South of France?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Experiments in the use of electricity for heating the soil in glasshouses have been in progress for some time at research stations aided by the Ministry, but it is not yet possible to draw definite conclusions as to the application of this method to commercial glasshouses in this country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount of grant that will be available for heavy horse societies this season?

I have made provision in the Estimates for a sum of £9,800 for the purpose mentioned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what would have been the extra cost entailed to this country if the amounts of mutton and lamb that were imported from foreign countries during 1931 had been imported from the Empire or purchased in Great Britain, respectively?

I regret I am not in a position to supply the information asked for by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health on what date he intends to introduce the Rent Bill?

I cannot at present say when the proposed Bill will be introduced.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the need for a further supply of cottages in rural areas, the Government propose to introduce legislation to deal with this question?

No, Sir. Adequate facilities and subsidies are already available for improving housing conditions in rural areas and I do not consider that any further legislation is necessary.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been approved under the Housing (Rural Authorities) Act, 1931; and what steps he took to press upon rural housing authorities the advantages provided by the Act?

The committee appointed under the Act have informed 110 authorities that they are prepared to entertain applications to the extent of 1,733 houses for the agricultural population. As regards the second part of the question, I am sending the hon. Member copies of circulars which were issued on the passing of the Act.

asked the Minister of Health from the passing of the Housing Act, 1930, the number of schemes for the improvement of unhealthy areas submitted to the Ministry and the number confirmed; how many schemes have been undertaken by local authorities and the number completed; the total amount paid on account by the State towards slum clearance; and the ultimate State liability in respect of schemes approved, in continuation of the information given on 12th February, 1931?

Up to 31st January last I had received resolutions declaring 377 areas in England and Wales to be clearance areas, and 10 areas to be improvement areas under the Housing Act, 1930. These resolutions do not require confirmation by me. Complete returns have not yet been received, but at least 308 houses had been demolished in the areas in question by 31st December last. The amount paid on account by the State towards slum clearance during the year 1931 was £83,672 and the ultimate annual State liability is roughly estimated at £280,000.

asked the Minister of Health if he will furnish a statement for England and Wales, bringing up to date the statement sent to the hon. Member for Pontypool (Mr. T. Griffiths) on 12th February, 1931, regarding the number of houses built, etc.?

I will send to the hon. Member a statement of the detailed information which he desires, so far as it is available.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average size of the houses approved by him under the Housing Acts during the past three months?

Excluding flats and small houses for aged persons, the average size of houses included in contracts during this period was 756 square feet.

asked the Minister of Health the number of State-aided houses completed in England during each of the past 12 months?

The following statement shows the number of State-aided houses completed in England and Wales during each of the 13 months ended 31st January last.

MONTH and NUMBER of State-aided houses completed during the month.
January, 1931	…	4,143
February, 1931	…	4,163
March, 1931	…	5,049
April, 1931	…	4,905
May, 1931	…	5,482
June, 1931	…	6,118
July, 1931	…	5,765
August, 1931	…	5,256
September, 1931	…	5,662
October, 1931	…	6,477
November, 1931	…	5,951
December, 1932	…	5,757
January, 1932	…	6,218

asked the Minister of Health what local authorities have within the past five months reduced their housing programmes, and to what extent?

I regret that no returns are made to me on which such a statement could be based.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to implement the recommendations of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Casual Poor?

I am sending the hon. Member copies of the circulars addressed to local authorities responsible for the administration of the relief of the casual poor since the publi- cation of the report of the Departmental Committee, together with a copy of the Public Assistance (Casual Poor) Order, 1931. These authorities were informed, through their representative associations, that the present financial stringency did, not justify the postponement of expenditure necessary to bring casual ward accommodation up to a reasonably satisfactory standard, due regard being paid to economical methods of construction.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons

—				Persons in receipt of		Total
				Institutional relief (excluding casuals).	Domiciliary relief. (excluding persons in receipt of medical relief only).
1931.
10th January	…	…	…	28,146	117,749	145,895
17th January	…	…	…	28,426	115,564	143,990
24th January	…	…	…	28,687	113,155	141,842
31st January	…	…	…	28,614	114,076	142,690
1932.
9th January	…	…	…	27,433	150,286	177,719
16th January	…	…	…	27,573	149,986	177,559
23rd January	…	…	…	27,556	148,658	176,214
30th January	…	…	…	27,411	148,894	176,305

The statistics obtained in my Department do not show the amount of out-relief granted in money and kind during each week, but the average weekly amount paid in the county in January, 1931, was £33,407. The corresponding figure for January, 1932, is not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the practice whereby a claim to widows' pensions or contributory old age pensions is disallowed owing to the failure of an employer to stamp the cards at the prescribed dates, and notwithstanding that the employer is liable for the whole of the arrears of contributions in due course; and whether. in such cases, following the payment of the full amount of arrears, he will authorise a grant of pension?

The following statement shows the number of persons in receipt of poor relief (excluding casuals and persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only) in the county of Lancashire (including the 17 county boroughs) on certain days in January, 1932, and on the corresponding days in January, 1931:

As regards the first part of the question, the statutory conditions for pensions under the Contributory Pensions Acts require that a specified number of contributions should have been paid before the date on which title to pension arises. As regards the second part, Regulations made under the Acts provide that contributions due in respect of a period of from 12 to 18 month before the pension date shall rank as valid contributions, although they were not paid until after that date, and in certain circumstances late paid contributions due in respect of the preceding 12 months ate also made valid. I am afraid that I cannot adopt the suggestion of my hon. Friend, for any further extension of this concession might have a very adverse effect on the income of the Pensions Fund, as it would offer some inducement to employers to refrain from paying contributions until they were actually required to make good a pensions claim.

asked the Minister of Health the names of the clerk to the council and the county council in all cases where the salary and emoluments exceed £3,000, and set out details of emoluments and money accruing there from?

The only salaries of clerks to county councils which require my approval are those of clerks appointed after the passing of the Local Government (Clerks) Act, 1931. Only three such appointments have yet been made, and in no case does the salary, inclusive of emoluments, exceed £3,000.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any grants to cover early emergencies have been made to the widows of those who lost their lives in Submarine M 2 from the fund at his disposal to deal with special cases?

So far as the widows of officers are concerned, the necessary steps have been taken for the award of pensions on the attributable scale and of children's allowances, but no question has arisen of any special grant in addition to cover early emergencies. For the widows of ratings, the Regulations provide for the continued payment of marriage allowance, together with allotment at the minimum rate necessary to qualify for marriage allowance, for a period of 28 days after the death of their husbands. Pensions have been awarded to the majority of the widows, and it is anticipated that the investigations of the claims in the remaining eases will be completed in time to enable the awards to be made before the period of 28 days expires. Three widows were not entitled to marriage allowance—their husbands being under the qualifying age—and pensions have been awarded to them, and are in course of payment.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what naval disaster funds are in existence and by whom they are administered?

There are no permanent funds in existence as far as I am aware that are designed exclusively to meet such emergencies. In addition to funds specially raised, as for instance that of the Lady Mayoress of London for the dependants of those lost in the M.2, various naval charities make grants in these cases. It the present instance the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust will receive donations specially collected in the Fleet, and will administer the funds raised by the appeal of the Lady Mayoress of London, except that part intended for the dependants of officers, which will be administered through the Admiralty.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of registered unemployed in Ayr Burghs in August, 1931, and at the latest available date?

The number of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the Parliamentary Division of Ayr Burghs was 14,933 at 31st August, 1931, and 13,606 at 25th January, 1932.

asked the hon. Member for the Rye Division, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, why the forestry holdings are put on the lightest and more sandy soils in the Thetford, Norfolk, area, and the better land reserved for the Commissioners' planting areas?

The actual procedure is the reverse of that stated by the hon. Member; in general the best land is devoted to holdings and the poorer (generally the lightest and most sandy soils) is planted with trees.