asked the Minister of Transport what measures he has taken, or is prepared to take, to ensure that the small omnibus operators shall not be at a disadvantage as compared with the large operating companies with regard to the expenses of appeal to the Minister against decisions of the traffic commissioners?

It is a matter for the individual operator to decide whether he will be legally represented or appear in person at an appeal inquiry under the Road Traffic Act, 1930. My representatives holding those inquiries always try to help operators who appear in person to state their case. Under the Act I have power to make such order as I may think just as to the payment of the costs which I incur in connection with an inquiry, but I have no power to award costs as between parties.

asked the Minister of Health what was the total cost of health and housing schemes of the Government and local authorities in England and Wales in the financial years 1912–13 and 1930–31 respectively, excluding any sums paid in relief of unemployment.

It is assumed that the health schemes of local authorities referred to by my hon. Friend are those which prior to 1st April, 1930, were assisted by direct Government grants. These grants (except the port sanitary grant) were discontinued by the Local Government Act, 1929, and were merged in the new Exchequer grants which are paid towards local government expenses generally, and cannot be apportioned to individual services. I will send my hon. Friend a statement relating to 1912–13

asked the Minister of Health the amount per annum lost to the rates throughout the country under the derating provisions of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1929, and how many actions have been contested in the courts under these derating provisions?

The estimated losses on account of rates in England and Wales included in the General Exchequer Contribution under Section 86 of the Local Government Act, 1929, amount to £22,340,000. There have been 1,949 appeals from decisions of assessment committees, of which 1,885 did not proceed beyond Quarter Sessions: 1,405 of these were settled out of court.

asked the Minister of Labour if the Unemployment Grants Committee is now functioning; and, if not, whether any expense is still being incurred in respect of the staff it has hitherto employed.

The Committee is not considering any new applications, but a number of questions arise from day to day with regard to schemes already sanctioned and now in operation. The staff has been reduced to the minimum necessary for dealing with current work.