asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any information as to the extent to which public assistance committees, engaged in determining transitional payments, take into account old age pensions and widows' pensions?

Comprehensive information on these points is not available, but I have no reason to think that in considering income from such sources authorities generally do not make proper allowance for the circumstances of the individual case.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number who have lost benefit and all transitional payment since the beginning of November; and the total number of married women who have lost either unemployment benefit or transitional payment during the same period?

The information, so far as available, is given below:—

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed persons registered at the Oldham Employment Exchange on 1st January, 1931, 15th September, 1931, 6th December, 1931, and the latest available figure?

The number of unemployed persons on the register of Oldham Employment Exchange was 21,124 at 5th January, 1931; 21,133 at 14th September, 1931; 14,130 at 7th December, 1931; and 14,214 at 22nd February, 1932.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in the county of Carnarvon; the number of unemployed under 21 years of age; the number of unemployed who have been without work for over three months; the number of unemployed whose benefit has been completely stopped under the new Act; and the number of unemployed who are receiving grants from the public assistance committee and how many of these are under 21 years of age?

The following table gives the information desired so far as it is available:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a seasonal worker who has been in work of a seasonal nature for one or two seasons and has never had two off-seasons and is thus unable to comply with paragraph 2 (1) (a) of the Anomalies Regulations Act, 1931, is debarred from benefit during the off-season; and whether he will amend the regulation to provide for these cases?

I am not aware that any decision has been given to the effect that a claimant who has been in seasonal work for one or two seasons only cannot comply with the requirement referred to if he has, in fact, been employed in insurable employment to a substantial extent during the off-seasons of what has since become his normal employment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the umpire under the Anomalies Regulations, 1931, has held that in order to comply with the requirements of subparagraph 2 (1) (a) of these regulations a claimant has to work 25 per cent. of the period comprised in the off-season; and whether, in view of the difficulty in certain places of complying with this, he will by regulations define the meaning of substantial extent in the sub-paragraph by fixing a reduced percentage of 12½ per cent.?

I do not understand that the umpire has laid down a rule of the kind indicated for application in every case without regard to circum- stances, but my right hon. Friend will watch the working of the regulation with a view to any necessary amendment.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has now received information that a mistake was made in the arrest of Dr. Paton, a Christian medical missionary, in Madras; and whether disciplinary action has been taken against the police officer who was responsible for beating Dr. Paton in public and lodging an unfounded charge against him?

The mistake was due to a genuine misunderstanding, and as I have full confidence in the Government of Madras, I have not thought it necessary to make further inquiries as to whether disciplinary action has been taken.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the proposed withdrawal of the postal and telephone services now available in the village of Great Durnford, Salisbury: and whether he will take steps to maintain these services as at present?

I am aware that the sub postmistress at Durnford has resigned hey appointment. Steps are being taken with a view to filling the vacancy, and it is hoped to maintain the present services.

asked the Minister of Transport if he can now state the names of the members of the conference to consider the proper functions of rail and road?

The following representatives have been appointed:Representative of Railways:

asked the Minister of Health if he will expedite inquiries into the case of George Smith, 19, Oxford Road, Stratford, whose claim for an old age pension has not yet been admitted?

Mr. Smith applied for an old age pension in April, 1929, declaring that he was born in February, 1864, but no evidence in substantiation of that date could be obtained. The 1881 Census, however, showed him as then of the age of 12, and on this basis he will not attain the age of 65 until 1934. His claim was rejected accordingly on 13th November, 1929. Mr. Smith has produced no evidence to suggest that his age as deduced from the 1881 Census is incorrect.

asked the Home Secretary the reasons why Mr. Kumbleben was refused admission into this country at Newhaven on 23rd January, 1932?

Leave to land was refused by the immigration officer in the exercise of the discretion vested in him by Article 1 of the Aliens Order, 1920.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that musical competition festivals are being charged with Entertainments Duty if any class contains only one entry or if, of several entrants, only one in the class competes; and, in view of the fact that this does not affect the educational purpose of these competitions, will he undertake that in future Entertainments Duty is not charged on the above grounds?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to my Noble Friend the Member for. Perth (Lord Scone) on 23rd February, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the net receipts of Beer Duty in respect of home-made beer brewed between 1st January and 11th September and between 12th September and 31st December in the year 1931 and, if available, in the year 1930?

The increase in the Beer Duty took effect as regards beer brewed on and after 11th September, 1931. The receipts for the year 1931 before and after the increase were:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the statement of the Japanese delegate that Japan regarded favourably the establishment of Manchuria's independence, and welcomed hopefully the new autonomous regime is taken from the verbatim record or the corrected report upon which the printed minutes are based; whether there is any difference between the verbatim report, issued by the League of Nations Secretariat, and the corrected printed minutes; and, if so, the nature of the difference?

The words quoted by the hon. Member are contained in the printed verbatim record. Any other version would have been an uncorrected draft record, and I cannot say what corrections, if any, may have been made in any such draft record.