asked the Minister of Health the number receiving public assistance in the Swansea area at the end of September, 1931, and the number for the latest available date; and the number per 10,000 inhabitants for each of these dates, respectively?

The number of persons in receipt of poor relief in the county borough of Swansea (excluding rate-aided patients in mental hospitals, persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only and casuals) on Saturday, 2Gth September, 1931, was 5,720 and on Saturday, 7th May, 1932, 6,400. These numbers are equivalent to 346 and 392 respectively per 10,000 of the population.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that men disallowed unemployment benefit at Carnarvon are being asked by the public assistance committee to work for four days at road-making for the sum of 12s. 6d., and that other men are being paid for the same work 7s. 3d. a day, and if he can have inquiry made?

The men to whom the hon. Member refers are not employed for wages, but are set to work by the public assistance authority as a condition of the grant of relief, in accordance with the provisions of Article 6 of the Relief Regulation Order, 1930.

asked the Minister of Health if any steps can be taken, in view of the present position of maternal mortality, to warn the public of the danger of using lysol and other disinfectants sold at cheap stores in such a diluted form that when diluted in accordance with usual practice they are useless; and if he will take steps to prevent the sale of such diluted disinfectants?

I propose to await the final report of the Maternal Mortality Committee which will, I understand, include observations on the subject of the use of lysol in midwifery. I have no power under the existing law to take such steps as are suggested in the second part of the question.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the result of a High Court appeal which has brought to light new facts relating to the sale of disinfectants; and whether he will consider the introduction of legislation to revise the existing Poison and Pharmacy Acts?

Yes, Sir, and on the question of fresh legislation to deal with the sale of disinfectants, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Blackburn (Captain Elliston) on 24th March.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to receive the inspector's report of the flooded area in Barnsley?

My inspector will visit Barnsley to-day, and has been instructed to report as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health what were the total sums expended by the Exchequer in respect of tuberculosis in each of the seven years 1924 to 1930; were the sums expended conditional upon proportional expenditure by local authorities; and, if so, what were the proportional terms?

The grants made by my Department for this purpose were as follow:I. Grants towards the expenditure incurred by local authorities on the treatment of tuberculosis.

Year.			£
1923–24	…	…	1,336,741
1924–25	…	…	1,430,407
1925–26	…	…	1,546,828
1926–27	…	…	1,631,169
1927–28	…	…	1,710,248
1928–29	…	…	1,752,112
1929–30	…	…	1,820,144

These grants included (1) a fixed annual grant of £340,788 in lieu of the sums previously available for the treatment of insured persons out of funds provided under the National Health Insurance Acts; (2) a grant equal to 50 per cent. of the approved net expenditure of local authorities on the treatment of tuberculosis after deducting the fixed grant.II. Capital grants in aid of the erection or extension of institutions for the residential treatment of tuberculosis.

Year.				£
1923–24	…	…	…	87,070
1924–25	…	…	…	14,521
1925–26	…	…	…	18,679
1926–27	…	…	…	18,203
1927–28	…	…	…	27,320
1928–29	…	…	…	29,409
1929–30	…	…	…	25,496

These grants were made at the rate of £180 per bed, subject to a limit of three-fifths of the total cost.

asked the Minister of Health what were the total numbers of medical officers in each of the seven years 1924–30 engaged in the State organisation to combat tuberculosis in England and Wales; and what were the numbers concerned, respectively, with prevention and treatment?

The collection of these statistics will take some little time, but I will send my hon. Friend a statement giving the particulars he desires as soon as practicable.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the recent report of the Walsall Borough analyst with regard to imported cream sold in tins, which is stated in such report to contain only 22 per cent. of butter-fat as against the usual 50 per cent. in fresh cream; and whether he will consider the introduction at an early date of regulations to provide that all tinned cream shall bear a label stating the precise butter-fat content of the cream therein?

I am aware of the report referred to. I have no power to make regulations for the purpose suggested, but I have taken note of the matter in connection with other representations which have been made as to the composition and labelling of articles of food.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of houses that will be erected in agricultural parishes under the provisions of the Housing (Rural Authorities) Act, 1931?

It is not yet possible to state the number of houses that will be erected under the Act; consideration of a few applications has been deferred pending the submission of further information. Up to the present it has been decided to entertain applications in respect of 1,904 houses for the agricultural population.

asked the Minister of Health the numbers and names of those borough councils and county councils who do not attach to their forms of tender a clause stating that quotations for Empire produce must be obtained?

I regret that I have not available the desired information.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty where the headquarters of the China Fleet is usually stationed; and by what means the Admiral commanding is able to maintain personal contact with the British Minister at Peking, in Northern China?

Hong Kong is the headquarters of the British Fleet on the China station. The Commander-in-Chief, who proceeds in his flagship or other vessel to the places on the station at which his presence is most required, keeps in close and constant touch with the British Minister by personal interviews, telegrams and letters.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of public telephones in Lancashire, giving separate figures for rural areas, also stating the number erected during the latest 12 months for which figures are available?

There were in Lancashire on 31st March last about 2,880 public telephone call offices, of which about 480 were in rural areas. The total increase in Lancashire during the preceding 12 months is estimated at 180, including 20 in rural areas.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will furnish a statement showing the caste composition of all those units of the Indian Army about to be Indianised and the provinces from which they are recruited?

The classes enlisted for the units about to be Indianised include Hindustani Musalmans, Musalman Rajputs, Rajputs, Jats, Punjabi Musalmans, Sikhs, Dogras, Gujars and Pathans. These classes are enlisted mainly from, the Punjab, the United Provinces, Rajputana and the North-West Frontier Province. The class composition, with approximate percentages, of each regiment or battalion and the provinces from which they are mainly recruited is as follows:

3rd Cavalry:	Per cent.
Hindustani Musalmans	17	Punjab, United Provinces, and Rajputana.
Musalman Rajputs	17
Rajputs	33	United Provinces and Eastern Punjab.
Jats	33	Punjab and United Provinces.
5/2nd Punjab Regiment:
Punjabi Musalmans	50	Punjab.
Sikhs	25
Dogras	25
5/6th Rajputana Rifles:
Punjabi Musalmans	28	Punjab.
Hindu Rajputs	22	Rajputana and Punjab.
Jats	50
5/8th Punjab Regiment:
Punjabi Musalmans	50	Punjab.
Sikhs	25
Gujars	25	Punjab and Rajputana.
5/10th Baluch Regiment:
Punjabi Musalmans	50	Punjab.
Pathans	25	North-West Frontier Province.
Dogras	25	Punjab.
5/11th Sikh Regiment:
Sikhs	60	Punjab
Punjabi Musalmans	40
4/12th Frontier Force Regiment:
Punjabi Musalmans	25	Punjab.
Sikhs	25
Dogras	25
Pathans	25	North-West Frontier Province.
6/13th Frontier Force Rifles:
Punjabi Musalmans	25	Punjab.
Sikhs	25
Dogras	25
Pathaus	25	North West Frontier Province.

asked the Minister of Labour the unemployment figures for the month of October, 1931, and the figures for April, 1932, in the Swansea area?

At 26th October, 1931, there were 16,187 unemployed persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Swansea as compared with 15,323 at 25th April, 1932.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons of both sexes engaged in the brewing, distilling and allied industries added to the unemployment register since the imposition of the extra duty of 31s. in September last?

Insured persons in the drink industries classification recorded as unemployed in Great Britain were as follow:

—	Males.	Females.	Total.
21st Sept., 1931	10,070	5,397	15,467
25th April, 1932	12,143	3,572	15,715

asked the Minister of Labour on what grounds permission to the German circus to land in this country was withdrawn, in view of the fact that all the conditions imposed were complied with?

Strong representations were made to me by organisations representative both of employers and employés concerned with the circus industry that the entry of this German circus would in present circumstances be to the prejudice of the British entertainment industry, and that the amount of employment of British workers provided by the circus would be more than offset by reduction of employment in other branches of the industry. In all the circumstances, I came to the conclusion that it would not be in the general interest to admit the circus.

asked the Minister of Labour the present position with regard to the administration of the means test in the Borough of West Ham?

Between 12th November, 1931, and 7th May, 1932, 11,471 initial applications for transitional payments and 23,436 renewals were referred to the West Ham Public Assistance Authority. Out of the total of 33,907 determinations given, payment was allowed at maximum benefit rates in 28,097, and in 3,396 at lower rates, while in 1,914 the needs of applicants were held not to justify payment being made.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the practice in areas out-with the county of London with regard to the payment of transitional payments for the period between the termination of standard unemployment insurance benefit and the hearing of the case by the public assistance committee?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given orally to-day to his question regarding transitional payments in the county of London area.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can now confirm that work will be found for all those men displaced by the closing of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Works, Newton Heath, Manchester?

As I stated in my reply to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Moss Side (Sir G. Hurst) on the 12th instant, my information is that a considerable number of the men employed on these works will be offered employment elsewhere by the company. I understand, however, that a number of dismissals is inevitable. I should like to repeat the assurance that every effort will be made by the Employment Exchanges to place in suitable employment, either locally or elsewhere, those workpeople who are not absorbed in the company's other establishments.May I take this opportunity of correcting an error into which I fell in replying to a supplementary question on the 12th instant when I attributed to a representative of the railway company a statement that every displaced worker will be offered employment of some kind? I find that this statement was, in fact, reported to have been made by a member of the deputation which interviewed the company on behalf of the workpeople, and I should like to express my regret for any false impression which may have been created.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the damage caused by rooks to crops in many parts of the country; and will he see if anything can be done to minimise the loss sustained by farmers and smallholders?

I am aware that complaints are frequently made concerning the damage caused by rooks, but I have no power to take any action in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been called to the harmful effect on the British jute industry of the Indian export tax on raw jute; whether he will take steps to secure the full discussion of this matter at the forthcoming Ottawa Conference; and whether he will endeavour to secure the abolition of this tax on consignments of raw jute to Great Britain?

I have been asked to reply. I am informed that the export duty on jute in India applies to jute manufactures as well as raw jute. In these circumstances, I doubt whether any useful purpose would be served by raising the matter at the Ottawa Conference, but I will keep it in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value in sterling of Danish imports cleared in Hull during 1931?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which are the Commercial Treaties by which His Majesty's Government are bound not to reduce the Excise Duty on beer brewed from homegrown malting barley and hops without a corresponding reduction in the duty on beer brewed wholly or partially from foreign-grown malting barley and hops; what is the nature of the Treaties; when wore they signed; and for how long are His Majesty's Government bound by them?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there exist Commercial Treaties with foreign nations which prevent His Majesty's Government from giving preference by means of excise to brewers of beer made from British barley and hops; and if he will specify such Treaties, stating the nation with which they have severally been concluded, the dates of their ratification, and the Clause in each Treaty which has this effect?

The following statement gives particulars of the Treaties in question. These Treaties include provisions to the effect that internal duties levied for the benefit of the State or

Country.		Date of Signature.	Date of Ratification.	When terminable.	Relevant Article
Austria	…	May 22nd, 1924	Feb. 11th, 1925	Feb. 11th, 1935 or there after, on 12 months' notice.	8
Estonia	…	Jan. 18th, 1926	May 3rd, 1926	After 1 year's notice	10
Finland	…	Dec. 14th, 1923	July 4th, 1924	After 6 month's notice	9
France	…	Feb. 28th, 1882	May 12th, 1882	After 3 months' notice	4
Germany	…	Dec. 2nd, 1924	Sept. 8th, 1925	After 1 year's notice	14
Greece	…	July 16th, 1926	Dec. 10th, 1926	After 1 year's notice	13
Hungary	…	July 23rd, 1926	July 26th, 1927	July 26th, 1937 or thereafter, on 1 year's notice.	8
Japan	…	April 3rd, 1911	May 5th, 1911	July 29th, 1932 or thereafter, on 12 months' notice.	11
Latvia	…	June 22nd, 1923	Nov. 5th, 1923	After 12 months' notice	9
Persia	…	May 10th, 1928	Not ratified	In force provisionally	3
Portuga	…	Aug. 12th, 1914	May 20th, 1916	After 1 year's notice	9
Rumania	…	Aug. 6th, 1930	May 12th, 1931	May 12th, 1934 or thereafter, on 6 months' notice.	17
Siam	…	July 14th, 1925	Mar. 30th, 1926;	March 30th, 1936 or there-after, on 12 months' notice.	18
Spain	…	Oct. 31st, 1922	April 23rd, 1924	After 3 months' notice	10
Turkey	…	Mar. 1st, 1930	Sept. 3rd, 1930	Sept. 3rd, 1935 or thereafter, on 12 months' notice.	19
Yugo-Slavia	…	May 12th, 1927	Feb. 9th, 1928;	Feb. 9th, 1933 or thereafter, on 1 year's notice.	13

asked the Minister of Transport what was the estimated cost of effecting the standardisation of frequency of electricity supply to be effected under the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1926; what has been the actual cost incurred up to a recent date; which areas have already been dealt with and in which areas the change has yet to be made; what is the estimate of the further cost likely to be (incurred in effecting such standardisation; and what steps he proposes to take for the purpose of reducing the cost?

The figures as to the estimated cost asked for by my hon. Friend are fully set out in the annual report of the Electricity Commissioners for 1930-31. The estimated cost of effecting the standardisation of frequency throughout the country under the Electricity (Supply)

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will include in the travelling vouchers issued to Members of Parliament the right to use them to travel by air to the permitted destinations?

I understand that there are at present no regular air services in this country, and it would be impracticable to authorise the use of Members' travelling vouchers for special hirings. Moreover the arrangement would be contrary to the present terms of the Vote relating to travelling expenses of Members.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the initiation of any further major economies in national expenditure is to be conditional on the revenue from existing taxes falling short of expectation or on the Lausanne Conference involving this country in additional expenditure, or whether such economies are to be planned and carried out in any circumstances?

As I informed my hon. and gallant Friend on 9th May, no opportunities of securing all possible reductions of public expenditure will be overlooked. The question, however, of what is possible must be determined in the light of all aspects of the budgetary position.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in detail, the revenue received from the various duties imposed by the Horticultural Products (Emergency Customs Duties) Act to the latest convenient date?

The information required is as follows:Statement showing the net amount of revenue received from the various duties

imposed by the Horticultural Products (Emergency Customs Duties) Act, 1931, up to 30th April, 1932:

	£
Fresh Fruit:
Grapes (Hothouse)	9,639
Strawberries	22
Fresh Vegetables:
Asparagus	5,919
Green Beans	3,431
Broccoli and Cauliflowers	30,964
Carrots	1,397
Lettuce	25,155
Endive	1,379
Chicory (Salad)	615
Cucumbers	3,861
Mushrooms	2,820
Green Peas	1,919
New Potatoes	54,953
Turnips	63
Flowers, etc.:
Cut Flowers, enumerated	13,922
Plants in flower	694
Foliage (excluding Asparagus foliage)	1,525
Other Cut Flowers	95,589
Flowers attached to Bulbs	12
Asparagus foliage	1,552
Rose Trees	759
Total	£256,190

asked the Home Secretary the number of prisoners, excluding those sentenced for life, that are undergoing concurrently sentences of 20 years' penal servitude or upwards?

Four, including one of the men sentenced at the recent trial at Princetown.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received any response and, if so, of what nature with regard to the Home Office circular, "The. Cinema and the Children," which was issued to each Scottish licensing authority?

My hon. and gallant Friend no doubt refers to a circular bearing the title mentioned which was sent by my predecessor in December, 1929, to the licensing authorities of cinemas in England and Wales. The issue of any circular to Scottish licensing authorities would be a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, and I understand that no such circular has in fact been issued by him.

asked the Home Secretary the number of persons committed to prison during the year 1931 by the county courts of Bury (Lanes), Dews-bury, Doncaster, Dudley, Gillingham, Hendon, and Swindon, respectively?

The only figures which are readily obtainable are those of persons received in the prisons to which the county courts named normally commit. They are as follow: From Bury, 12; from Dewsbury, 17; from Doncaster, 6; from Dudley, 11; from Gillingham, Hendon and Swindon, none. All these were men.