asked the Minister of Labour the rate of State unemployment benefit or payments now being paid in Germany, France, Russia, Italy, and the United States of America; the rate of contributions payable by the insured per- sons; and, if possible, the number of persons receiving benefit in each country?

As regards the first and second parts of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 26th May, 1932, to a similar question by the hon. Member for Walsall (Mr. Leckie). With regard to the last part of the question, the latest information in my possession is as follows: In Germany at the end of March, 1932, there were 1,578,788 persons in receipt of ordinary unemployment insurance benefit, 1,744,321 persons in receipt of emergency benefit, and 1,944,417 able-bodied unemployed persons in receipt of poor law relief. In Italy, during October, 1931, 173,257 persons received unemployment insurance benefit. In France, during the week ending 28th May, 1932, there were 262,184 unemployed persons in receipt of relief from the public unemployment funds, 23,392 unemployed persons in receipt of poor law relief, and 14,665 persons in receipt of relief in respect of partial unemployment; in addition, under

Applications for Transitional Payments.
12th November, 1931 — 7th May, 1932.
—	Great Britain.	Lancashire (Administrative Country).
Number of applications referred to Public Assistance Authorities:
Initial Applications	1,789,385	113,407
Renewals and Revisions	4,091,344	211,538
Total	5,880,729	324,945
Determinations by Public Assistance Authorities (including Renewals and Revisions):
Payment allowed at maximum benefit rates	3,258,990	60,524
Payment allowed at lower rates	2,107,969	200,268
Needs of applicants held not to justify payment being made.	513,770	64,153

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air by what date it is intended that the Royal Air Force acceptance park at Peterborough will be ready for use; and whether, in view of the large amount of unemployment in the district, the possibility of employing a number of local unemployed on the work involved will be considered?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of cases that have applied for transitional payments; how many have been disallowed altogether; how many received full payments and how many partial payments; and will he give separate figures for the Lancashire County Council?

The following table gives the information desired:

The station in question will probably be opened up in August. I hope that some modest relief to local unemployment will in fact result, and this aspect will be kept continuously in view. I should add, however, that the number to be employed may not exceed 40, and that prior consideration must naturally be given to Air Ministry employés transferred with their work from other stations and to cer- tain others now discharged, such as men previously engaged on airship work at Cardington. My Noble Friend is doubtless aware that the bulk of the labour employed in the construction of the park was drawn from local sources.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons within the Metropolitan area who were unemployed in June, 1931, and on the last available date?

At 22nd June, 1931, there were 174,596 unemployed persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the City and County of London, as compared with 198,797 at 23rd May, 1932.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has any statistics showing the increase in the consumption of electricity which has resulted from the grid scheme; whether he is satisfied with the progress of the arrangements for the distribution of electricity from this grid scheme; and, if not, what action it is proposed to take to improve the arrangements?

The sales of electricity by authorised undertakers have increased from 5,723,000,000 units in 1926 to 9,386,000,000 units in 1931. It is not possible, however, to estimate to what extent the increases during the last two or three years can be attributed to the grid schemes which are progressing satisfactorily.

asked the Minister of Health if he will investigate the reasons why the old age pension has not yet been granted to Mrs. M. M. Foster, of 23, Cedars Road, Stratford, whose husband has qualified, and is in receipt of pension No. 18,374,650, case reference No. 05,376,490?

Mrs. Foster was advised on 3rd June that an old age pension had been awarded to her, and the necessary papers to enable her to obtain payment of her pension, together with the arrears of pension due to her from 28th April, have been issued.

asked the Minister of Health the amount paid in outdoor relief for the administrative County of Durham for January, February, March, April, and May, 1931, and for the corresponding months this year?

The statement below shows the amounts paid in outdoor poor relief in money and kind in the administrative County of Durham during the under-mentioned months.

—			1931.	1932.
			£	£
January	…	…	65,166 (a)	74,071 (a)
February	…	…	53,564 (b)	60,459(b)
March	…	…	55,093 (b)	60,978 (b)
April	…	…	54,005 (b)	78,711 (a)
May	…	…	68,057 (a)	Not yet available
(a) The figures relate to five weeks.
(b) The figures relate to four weeks.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give a statement of the capital cost of the institutions erected or hired or obtained in any other way for the purpose of treating small-pox by public authorities, and the cost of reorganisation and of additional buildings made necessary by reorganisation, and the cost of maintenance whether such buildings are occupied or not?

Complete information on this subject is not available in my Department.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed to take any action to regularise the position with regard to the recent reductions in the salaries of the judiciary; and, if not, whether he will consider the advisability of taking early action in that connection in view of the fact that such action need not necessarily involve the restoration of the cuts imposed?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Lord President of the Council in reply to a question on 25th February last. I see no need for any further action.

asked the President of the Board of Trade from what countries or Colonies lily bulbs were imported, and what were the quantity and value of such imports from each country or Colony, during the years 1930 and 1931?

I regret that particulars of the imports of lily bulbs are not available, as they are not separately recorded in the trade returns of the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the average annual quantity of barley imported during the decennial period 1921–30, and similar statistics for the five preceding decennial periods?

The average annual quantity of barley (grain) imported into the United Kingdom during the undermentioned periods was as follows:

Annual Average.			Million Cwts.
1871–1880	…	…	…	11.5
1881–1890	…	…	…	15.3
1891–1900	…	…	…	21.0
1901–1910	…	…	…	22.0
1911–1920	…	…	…	15.5
1921–1930	…	…	…	15.2

NOTE.—As from 1st April, 1923, the pariculars relate to imports into Great Britain and Northern Ireland: prior to that date, to imports into the British Isles as a whole.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the acreage under wheat cultivation and the number of agricultural workers employed in general agriculture in the county of Northampton during each of the last 10 years?

The following statement shows the acreage under wheat and the number of workers^* employed on agricultural holdings above one acre in extent, as returned on 4th June in each of the undermentioned years, in the county of Northampton (including the Soke of Peterborough):

Year.			Wheat.	Agricultural Workers.
			Acres.	No.
1922	…	…	55,678	†
1923	…	…	48,746	12,906
1924	…	…	43,682	13,219
1925	…	…	41,482	13,271
1926	…	…	45,436	12,908
1927	…	…	45,005	12,333
1928	…	…	37,110	12,160
1929	…	…	35,536	11,859
1930	…	…	37,259	11,015
1931	…	…	30,989	10,438
* Excluding the occupier, his wife and domestic servants.
† Not collected in 1922.