asked the Minister of Labour whether he can make a Statement as to the Government's proposal for a new scheme of grants to local authorities in aid of works for the relief of unemployment?

No, Sir. The Government have decided that in present circumstances it is not desirable to offer financial inducements to local authorities to embark on a fresh programme of relief works. It is not intended to continue the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Act, 1929, which will expire on 31st August, 1932.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons on the unemployment register at the Employment Exchange at West Ham for the first week in November, 1931, and for the last week for which statistics are available in the current month?

At 2nd November, 1931, there were 22,190 unemployed persons on the registers of Canning Town and Stratford Employment Exchanges and 20,642 at 27th June, 1932.

asked the Minister of Health if he will inquire into the circumstances attending the refusal of an old age pension under the contributory scheme to Mrs. E. C. Mayo, 79, Wix Road, Stratford, E.15, and state the grounds upon which the refusal is based?

I find that the claim made by Mrs. Mayo was not for an old age pension but for a widow's pension under the Contributory Pensions Act, 1929. The application failed because it was not shown that at some time during the last three years of his life the normal occupation of her husband, who died in March, 1919, was employment in respect of which contributions would have been payable under the Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, if it had been in force at that time. Mrs. Mayo has been notified that, if she is dissatisfied with the decision, it is open to her to appeal to the referees appointed under the Act.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received the report of the inquiry conducted by Dr. Eichholz on the problem of the deaf; and whether he can expedite its publication so that it may be available for the teachers of the deaf?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Steps are being taken to publish the report as soon as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any change is contemplated and, if so, what in the appointment of judges, the control of the police, and language teaching in Malta?

In the Bill which has just passed through Parliament it is provided that the subject of the appointment of judges shall be transferred to the sphere reserved to the Imperial authorities under the constitution. Power is also taken to transfer the subject of the police to that sphere in future if necessity arises. As regards language, it was provided by Letters Patent issued on 25th April last that the English language shall be the only language in addition to the Maltese vernacular to be taught in the elementary schools, instead of both English and Italian as heretofore.

asked the Minister of Transport what discrimination is used by employés of railway companies to disregard the use of the communication cord by passengers desiring to stop the train; and what action his Department takes to ensure the safe and efficient working of communication cords in trains throughout the country?

My hon. Friend addressed a previous question to me on this matter arising out of a particular case in which a Member of this House had previously intimated to the railway company's staff that he intended to pull the communication cord in order to secure that the train should stop at a station at which it was not scheduled to stop. I think the House will agree with me in deploring such action, and in thinking that the incident is not one on which we need pursue the general matters to which the question refers.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the total sum borrowed by local authorities for new road construction and improvement, or re-construction of existing roads, since the Road Fund was reconstituted in 1920?

Information is not available as to the sums borrowed by local authorities for the specific purposes mentioned, but the total sums borrowed by local authorities to meet capital expenditure on highways during the years 1920–21 to 1929–30 inclusive were as follow:

		£
England and Wales	…	83,297,677
Scotland	…	8,404,193
Total	…	91,701,870

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether, since August, 1931, sanction has been given by the Ministry to the widening of any roads from the 10-foot standard to the 20-foot standard; and, if so, what is the mileage thereof;(2) whether, since August, 1931, sanction has been given by the Ministry to the widening of any roads from the 20-foot standard to the 30-foot standard; and, if so, what is the mileage thereof;(3) whether, since August, 1931, sanction has been given by the Ministry to any schemes for the construction of arterial roads, widening of existing roads, by-passes, bridging of level crossings, and other similar schemes; and, if so, what is the estimated cost of such schemes?

No new schemes for the construction of arterial roads, by-passes or the bridging of level crossings have been approved for grant since August, 1931. A certain number of widening works and similar schemes have been approved since that date winch involve an estimated total expenditure of £300,000. In the case of each scheme there were circumstances constituting an emergency which demanded that the work should be put in hand forthwith, and the road or bridge affected was of substantial importance to through traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he anticipates that any arrangement will be reached for the freeing of the toll bridge at Selby, on the Bradford-Hull road, by the end of the current year; what is the estimated total cost of the cheapest scheme for this purpose; and to what approximate extent it could be further reduced if tolls were taken by the local authorities for four years after purchase?

The Parliamentary Secretary of my Department is receiving a deputation from the local authorities concerned within the next fortnight, but there is no likelihood of a grant being forthcoming in the near future towards the cost of freeing the toll bridge, of which no official estimate has yet been submitted to me.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any railway or canal: bridges used by ordinary traffic prior to this year in Staffordshire generally have now been closed to the public by the owners of such bridges; if so, for what reason; and if he will state in each case where these bridges are?

I have no information on the points to which my hon. Friend refers, but if he will furnish me with particulars of specific cases I will cause inquiries to be made.

asked the Home Secretary the number of fatal accidents to persons and accidents to property or things on the Kingston by-pass road between Robin Hood Gate, at Kingston, and Littleworth Common, at Esher, within the last three years ending on 31st March last; and the number of non-fatal accidents in the same stretch of road during the same period?

During the three years ended the 31st March, 1932, there were 38 fatal accidents, 473 non-fatal accidents (i.e., involving personal injury) and 603 accidents involving damage to property only. I would add that to supply these figures has involved considerable research in the records of several sub-divisions, and I trust that this answer will not be regarded as a precedent for similar questions relating to other localities.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that a motorist in the Midlands was only fined 20s. for not having a third-party insurance certificate, as a result of which a child knocked down by his car mounting the pavement lost all compensation, he will arrange for a half-yearly return to be made of the fines imposed by magistrates on motorists who are convicted for not having third-party insurances, with a view to further legislation in case the penalties generally imposed for this offence should prove inadequate?

The return of offences relating to motor vehicles which has been presented to Parliament to-day includes a statement of the number of convictions by courts of summary jurisdiction in 1931 for failure to insure against third party risks and of the total fines imposed. I regret that I do not see my way to obtain such particulars at more frequent intervals.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a statement giving particulars of the arms and munitions and naval and military stores, not including sporting arms and munitions, in respect of which he has issued licences to export to Japan and China during May and June, 1932?

The following is a. statement giving particulars of the material in question in respect of June, 1932. The figures for May, 1932, have already been published in reply to a question put by my hon. Friend the Member for Moseley (Mr. Hannon) on 21st June.STATEMENT showing material covered by Export Licences issued for China and Japan, during June, 1932.China:500 H.E. aircraft bombs.Japan:50 7.7 m.m. machine guns.800,000 7.7 m.m. machine-gun cartridges.200 small time-fuses.Spare parts for 40 m.m. anti-aircraft guns.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish for May and for June, 1932, by categories, the declared value of arms and munitions and naval and military stores, not including sporting arms and munitions, of British manufacture licensed by him for export to Japan and to China?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which was given to him on 15th June.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he has any information concerning the results of the 1931 harvest in Soviet Russia and the prospects for the 1932 harvest?

According to the best of my information, the 1931 grain harvest in Soviet Russia yielded approximately 80,000,000 metric tons. The Soviet official estimate of the prospective yield in 1932 is put at 500,000,000 poods, say 8,000,000 metric tons in excess of 1931.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give figures to show the respective quantities of cod oil and other fish oils produced and imported in the United Kingdom in 1932 up to the latest convenient date, and in the years 1929, 1930, and 1931?

The following statement shows the total quantity of unrefined fish (and marine animal) oils imported into the United Kingdom during the periods specified:

Period.	Whale Oil.	Cod Liver Oil.	Other Sorts.
	Tons.	Tons.	Tons.
1929	67,539	3,017	10,591
1930	82,493	2,902	15,102
1931	110,680	3,706	15,307
1932 (Jan. to June)	54,326	1,954	12,678

Similar particulars in respect of the imports of refined fish oils cannot be stated. Such information as is available in regard to the production of these oils in the United Kingdom is contained in the Preliminary Report (No. 5) on the Fourth Census of Production, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will inquire if it is the intention of the Re-organisation Commission on the Pig Industry, presided over by Colonel Lane Fox, to receive evidence from consumers?

I understand that it is the intention of the Commission to receive such evidence.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the amounts of money spent on scientific and economic research in agriculture by each county council and agricultural institution, university departments, agricultural colleges, farm institutes, research institutes, etc., in England and Wales in each of the past three years; how much of the money is provided by the Treasury; and how much is contributed from rates or other private and public sources?

As the answer necessarily involves a very large table of figures, I have arranged to send the Noble Lady a statement giving the information for which she asks.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total acreage which has been absorbed for the enlargement of small holdings, either by way of direct enlargement or amalgamation of holdings?

I regret that the information desired is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the desirability of issuing a weekly statement as to the extent of conversions of the existing War Loan into the new 3½ per cent. stock so as to encourage those who have not taken a similar line to do so without delay?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the oral reply which I gave to questions asked by the hon. Members for Salford South (Mr. Stourton) and Edinburgh East (Mr. Mason) to-day. The number of applications received makes it inevitable that there should be considerable lag in analysing the results, and I cannot undertake either now or at any particular date to give figures in a form that reflects the true extent of the public response to the scheme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of War Loan the public Departments have converted or intend to convert?

The total amount of 5 per cent. War Loan held by all Government Departments is about £36,500,000. Of this, less than £1,000,000 is under the full control of the Departments, and has already been converted. The remainder is held by Departments such as the Charity Commissioners, the Public Trustee and the Accountant-General of the Supreme Court of Judica- ture, acting in a fiduciary character; and before conversion of these holdings can be effected it is necessary to consult the persons or bodies interested. I hope that the great majority will accept the advice that is being given to them to convert. I am glad that my hon. Friend has given me this opportunity to state the facts, as I am aware that greatly exaggerated reports are current, even in usually well-informed quarters, respecting the magnitude of the Government's holdings of the Loan and its consequent ability to control the result of the Conversion operation. On the contrary, the Government is relying on the patriotism of holders and on the sound inducements which their proposals offer for the success of the scheme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the War Loan conversion operation at present proceeding and of the low Bank Rate, together with the recent reduction in the deposit interest of building societies, he will inquire as to whether the Post Office Savings Bank is competing uneconomically with other fields of working-class investment?

No, Sir: I see no necessity for such an inquiry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give any information regarding the measures of financial assistance to Austria which were discussed by a delegation of the League of Nations Financial Committee and by Government experts in Paris last month; and whether it is proposed to take any immediate steps to alleviate the economic and financial difficulties of that country?

The delegation of the League of Nations Financial Committee and the Government experts held a number of further meetings during the session of the Lausanne Conference and have now concluded their work. They have recommended that the British, French, Italian and certain other Governments should guarantee loans to Austria to a total of approximately £9,000,000. The guarantee of His Majesty's Government would, of course, be subject to the opproval of Parliament, and would be limited to an issue on the London market of the equivalent of 100,000,000 Austrian gold schillings, the proceeds of which would be used to repay the advance made by the Bank of England last year in anticipation of the issue of a Loan by Austria. I understand that the question will be dealt with by the Council of the League of Nations within the next day or two, and it is hoped that a decision will then be reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give any particulars regarding the Economic Conference which it is proposed to hold following upon the Lausanne Conference and, in particular, where the Conference will be held; what will be its relation with the League of Nations; and what will be its agenda?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I returned on Monday last to my hon. Friend the Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain P. Macdonald).

asked the Postmaster-General the names of the 60 watering places to which the inland telegraph money order service will be extended on Sundays until September?

I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a list of the watering places to which the payment on Sundays of inland telegraph money orders for amounts not exceeding £5 has been extended until 30th September.

asked the Postmaster-General the number and names of Yorkshire post offices at which in future the inland telegraph money order service will be operative on Sundays?

Inland telegraph money orders for amounts not exceeding £5 are at present payable on Sundays at the following places in Yorkshire: Bradford, Bridlington, Harrogate, Hull, Leeds, Scarborough, Sheffield and Whitby. Telegraph orders may be taken out at all money order offices which transact telegraph business and are open for telegraph business for any period on Sundays.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if he will ensure, following the reorganisation of the Engineering Department of the Houses of Parliament, that no men shall be dismissed and that, in those cases where their services may not be required in the Palace of Westminster, he will arrange for the men to be transferred to another Department?

No reorganisation of the Engineering Division at the Houses of Parliament is contemplated at the moment, and the question raised by the hon. Member does not therefore arise.

asked the hon. Member for Central Leeds, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, what were the total costs for which the Commissioners are liable of the case recently decided in the Bishop of Norwich's Consistory Court against the Rector of Stiffkey?

The bills of costs have not yet been delivered to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and I am therefore unable at present to state the amount.

asked the Secretary for Mines when he expects to receive the report of the committee set up to consider the future working of the Miners' Welfare Fund?

My hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines hopes to receive this report before the end of the year.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is intended to prosecute Elvira Barney for the illegal possession of a firearm; and whether instructions will be given to the police to enforce with the utmost strictness the law relating to firearms?

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that, at the instance of the Attorney-General, he is instituting proceedings in this matter. I have no reason to doubt that chief officers of police are fully alive to the importance of securing compliance with the requirements of the Firearms Act, 1920, and I see no occasion for the issue of any fresh circular in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for India what proportion of those sent to prison for political offences in India during the last six months have been relegated to classes A, B and C, respectively; and, seeing that the proportion now relegated to Class C is substantially greater than when the ordinances were in force in 1930, whether this is due to differences in the nature of the offences or to a change of policy with regard to the treatment of political prisoners?

I regret that I am not in possession of the information asked for in the first part of the question, but I will make inquiries and will communicate the result to the hon. Member. As regards the second part of the question, I would point out that the classification of prisoners is the function of the courts, subject to review by the Local Governments, and the courts are guided by the same rules as were in force in 1930.