asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the Mansfield Guardians Area Committee have refused to continue the determination of transitional payments to the unemployed; if he will state the reasons for this refusal; and what steps he has taken to deal with the situation?

Yes, Sir. The Mansfield Guardians Committee of the Nottingham County Council ceased to carry out their statutory duties after illegal determinations given by them had been revised by the public assistance committee of the council. The public assistance committee have now appointed an emergency committee under powers-conferred on them by the Order in Council, to discharge the functions of the guardians committee in relation to transitional payments. No intervention on my part has been necessary.

Why does the Minister say that these determinations are illegal, seeing that they are very sensible ones?

They are illegal, because they do not comply with the law.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is with his knowledge and sanction that public assistance officers, in assessing claims for transitional benefit, take into consideration amounts paid by way of workmen's compensation to members of a family; and whether, in view of the fact that such a practice tends to defeat the objects of the Workmen's Compensation Acts, he will take steps to cause this practice to cease?

It is the duty of public assistance authorities to take into account all sources of income but at the same time to make due allowance in the exercise of their discretion for any special need arising from injury or disability.

Am I to understand that where a public education authority gives free meals to children, the value of that must be taken into account?

That is not the question on the Order Paper. Perhaps the hon. Member will put it down. The question on the Order Paper deals with the work of the public assistance committees in regard to assessment for transitional payments of compensation for accidents.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think it is justifiable that workmen's compensation should be taken into account by the public assistance officer?

That is a question that has often been asked before. When it is said that this must be taken into account, it may well be that an amount may be put on one side, that is the debit side, and an equivalent amount in proper cases may be put on the other side, that is, the credit side.

asked the Minister of Labour the total cost of the courts of referees for the first six months of 1931 and 1932, respectively, and how the amounts are made up as between chairmen's fees, representative or assessor's fees, and other charges?

As the reply contains a table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the practice, in the case of an unemployed man who has found a job and reported it to his Employment Exchange with a request for a green card, of taking away the position from him and giving it to some other unemployed man higher up on the waiting list; and what action does he propose to take to check this practice?

The object of the exchange is to submit to a particular employer the most suitable man for a job. The object of the "Green Card" is to enable the employer to know that the man has been sent by the Exchange. The procedure relating to the issue of the "Green Card" is now under examination, and if my hon. Friend can assist me with particulars of specific cases where the present practice has given rise to misunderstanding, or is alleged to be working unsatisfactorily, I shall be grateful.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of men, boys and girls who have been transferred from distressed areas to work in the London area since 1st January, 1932?

During the period 29th December, 1931, to 30th May, 1932, 1,248 men, 24 boys and 104 girls were transferred through the agency of the Employment Exchange service from depressed areas to employment in the London division.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a great increase in the number of unemployed men in the London area?

It depends on the kind of places. I have not the figures in mind, but, if the hon. Gentleman says that that is so, of course I accept it.

asked the Minister of Labour how many more unemployed there are now than in October, 1931?

At 23rd May, 1932, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 15,214 more persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain than at 26th October, 1931.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the Twickenham Education Committee have opened a training centre for girls for domestic service with free training, board and pocket money; and what portion of the expenses involved, if any, falls upon the national Exchequer?

I am informed that the Twickenham Education Authority have not opened such a centre, and that the statements which have appeared to the contrary effect are based on an entire misapprehension. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Home Secretary how many persons have been killed and injured in the Metropolitan area and the rest of the country, respectively, in road accidents in which heavy road vehicles have been involved between 10th March, 1932, and the latest available date?

For the period 11th March to 31st May, inclusive, the figures for the Metropolitan Police district are 101 killed and 2,618 injured. I regret that figures for the rest of the country are not available.

Is there any evidence to show that the new instructions recently issued to the police have had any effect in reducing the excessive and illegal speed of those vehicles, which is the principle cause of these accidents?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put that question on the Paper?

asked the Minister of Transport what is the reason for the delay in making decisions in respect of appeals by motor coach proprietors serving London and the suburbs; and whether, seeing that the special committee appointed to hear appeals against the decision of the traffic commissioner of the Metropolitan area does not decide the cases but reports to the Minister, the Minister is going to decide in each case?

I have been asked to reply. No delay is being incurred. The committee presented their first report, dealing with two matters of general policy which had been referred to them on 18th June, and are still engaged in hearing individual appeals. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can supply information as to the arrangements made by the various county councils in regard to fees or salaries paid to vaccination officers; whether any county councils have incorporated the post of vaccination officer with other posts such as relieving officer; and what financial arrangements have been made in such cases?

I understand that, generally speaking, the county councils have continued the arrangements formerly made by boards of guardians for the remuneration of vaccination officers, and in some cases the vaccination officer still holds other posts, such as that of relieving officer. The financial arrangements made in these cases usually provide for the payment of suitable remuneration in respect of each separate office.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a copy of a book, entitled The Nomenclature of Diseases, has been sent gratis to every qualified medical man; that the price of the book is marked 5s. net and the postage cost 6d.; that the only use of the book is that of a reference book in a library; and will he, in the interests of national economy, stop this practice of sending unwanted books and publications gratis to people at the public cost?

The answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. The cost of postage is 5d., not 6d. As regards the third part, the book is of regular and practical use to the medical profession. Successive editions have been recognised since 1869 as indispensable to accurate certification of sickness and of the causes of death. It was for this reason that steps were taken to secure that the latest edition (which supersedes an edition published in 1917) should reach the hands of every registered medical practitioner. My hon. Friend will perhaps accept my assurance that no such practice as is described in the last part of the question exists.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the cost of sending these books and publications amounted to over £9,500, and that such action is against the considered policy of His Majesty's Government of reducing unproductive expenditure?

Mr. Edward Williams.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to the evidence submitted to the Ministry last year of certified cases of pulmonary and other forms of tuberculosis which were speedily cured by the Stevens treatment; and if he will take steps to examine the evidence and verify the cures with a view to officially adopting this treatment for the benefit of sufferers of tuberculosis?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on this subject to the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) on the 11th March last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health seeing that on 16th June he communicated with the Metropolitan mayors on the question of the collection and disposal of refuse, and that on 13th June Lord Jessel, President of the London Municipal Society, explained the Minister's proposals to a meeting of Municipal Reform party leaders, in addition to certain questions affecting the proposed transfer of powers from the London County Council to the Metropolitan Borough Councils, whether the Minister communicated his policy to the London Municipal Society or Lord Jessel before officially communicating with the local authorities or with the London Labour party; and, if so, for what reason?

What I have done is to request all the Metropolitan mayors to meet me in Conference on the question of London refuse, as a preliminary to the formation of a common policy. In these circumstances, the question raised by the hon. Member does not seem to me to arise.

Do I understand, from the right hon. Gentleman's answer, that the statement was not available prior to the meeting of the Metropolitan mayors?

I do not know to what statement the hon. Member is referring.

I am referring to a statement made by Lord Jessel.

I have no responsibility for any statement made by Lord Jessel.

I am sorry to trouble the right hon. Gentleman, but is he aware that this statement was officially communicated to a meeting on the 13th, three days prior to the meeting of the Metropolitan mayors?

I am not aware of that circumstance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to reflate and expand the currency?

Movements of currency are indicated in the weekly return of the Bank of England, to which I would refer the hon. Member.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the article by Sir Arthur Salter in to-day's "Times" detailing practical measures to bring this about, and will he act on it?

The Government could not act on instructions and advice contained in any portion of a newspaper.

Are the Government taking no steps at all?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the action of the Government at the present time is being directed to preventing sterling from rising or to prevent it from falling?

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has on several occasions submitted to the House his decided view which I think met with general approval that no useful purpose would be served but that on the contrary harm might be done by Parliamentary statements upon the day to day policy pursued with regard to the sterling exchange. For the general trend of Government policy I would refer the hon. Member to the statements which have been made in the House on behalf of His Majesty's Government as to the objectives which they have in mind.

Is the Bank responsible for purchases and sales of sterling or is the Treasury still responsible?

The Bank act as expert managers on behalf of the Treasury.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the amount of money paid by the Government in each of the post-War years in commission to bankers, brokers, and other agents, respectively, for transactions in Government stocks, and, if possible, the names of the firms to whom such moneys have been paid and the amount in each case?

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Would it be possible for the Treasury to transact this business on their own account without handing money over to third parties?

I do not think that arises out of the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of standard barrels of beer brewed in May, 1931, and 1932, and the total amount of duty collected to 31st May, 1932, from the extra 31s per standard barrel of beer imposed in September, 1931?

The figures asked for in the first part of the question are 1,498,000 standard barrels for May, 1931, and 1,247,000 for May, 1932. As regards the second part, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 7th June to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Wycombe, namely, that it is not possible to state what addition the increased duty has produced, since this depends on what the consumption would have been had there been no increase.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the amount of revenue received as Import Duty from the entry of typewriters into this country for the month of May, 1932?

The approximate amount of duty on imported typewriters and parts received during the (month of May, 1932, was £1,600.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give me any idea of the percentage of Import Duties received in respect of machines entering from Canada?

I am afraid I should require notice of that question.

Were a large number of typewriters placed in bond?

I should require notice of that question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that cane used for the manufacture of baskets, furniture, and other articles is now subject to Import Duty at the same rate, namely, 20 per cent., as the baskets, furniture, etc., manufactured therefrom; and whether, in view of the fact that cane cannot be grown here or within the Empire, he will represent to the Tariff Committee that they should consider whether in the national interest the said duties require revision?

I am aware that a duty of 20 per cent. ad valorem is charged on certain cane used for basket and furniture making. I understand that representations on the subject have already been made to the Import Duties Advisory Committee on behalf of the trade concerned and are now under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he will now make a statement upon the recent trading agreement between Canada and Germany, and give its terms and its effect upon this country?

I have no information on the subject other than that which has appeared in the Press.

In view of the seriousness of what that agreement might mean at the present time, will my right hon. Friend take steps to stop the circulation of any statement suggesting such an agreement before the Ottawa Conference?

It is not for me to take any steps to stop a treaty entered into between a Dominion and another country. It is for me to see what application the treaty may have to our interests, and that I am doing.

May we have an assurance from my right hon. Friend that the reports about this matter are entirely unfounded?

I do not know whether they are unfounded or not. If the hon. Gentleman will convey any information to me I will have it inquired into. I have only seen, as I have said a Press statement, and, if I merely inquired into every Press statement. I should never be finished.

Is not that one more instance of the great importance of the Ottawa Conference?

Certainly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that Germany has not fulfilled undertakings which she gave regarding British coal imports and that referring this matter to arbitration will entail delay and continued loss to the British coal industry, he will immediately utilise the machinery at his disposal for dealing with such matters by imposing retaliatory duties under the Import Duties Act?

I have nothing at present to add to the reply given to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain P. Macdonald) on Tuesday last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information as to the number of British ships sent to foreign shipyards for repairs; and whether he will consider the advisability of making representations in British shipowners urging the need for repairs to be done in British ports, in view of the high percentage of unemployed boilermakers and ship-repairers?

As the hon. Member for Tyne-mouth (Mr. West Russell) was informed on the 23rd February, the information asked for in the first part of the question is not available. As regards the second part, British shipowners are, I am sure, fully alive to the desirability, wherever this may be economically possible, of having their repair work done at home, and I understand that in recent months the tendency to have ship repairs carried out here has increased to a marked extent.

With a view to seeing whether it is possible to assist this very hard hit industry, will the Parliamentary Secretary institute inquiries in two directions, firstly, as to the extent to which foreign countries compel their shipowners to have their repairs executed in the yards of their own nationals, and, secondly, as to the extent—

The hon. Member's question is too long.

Surely, Mr. Speaker, it is a fair question?

It is much too long as a supplementary.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the tendency of British ships being sent to foreign ports to be repaired is on the upgrade or the downgrade?

Will the Parliamentary Secretary inquire to what extent it would help this hard hit industry if trade union restrictions in regard to overtime were removed?

I will certainly obtain for my hon. Friend any information which he may desire and which may be in our possession. In reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Dumbarton Burghs (Mr. Kirkwood), the tendency to have ships repaired abroad is diminishing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the wholesale prices of English, Jersey, Dutch, and Canary tomatoes for the weeks ending 27th June, 1931, and 25th June, 1932?

I will, if I may, circulate these prices in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can give any further information as to the presence of musk rats in Surrey and as to the steps which have been taken to exterminate them?

Since I replied to the question put to me by my hon. Friend on 20th June on this matter, no further musk rats have been seen in this neighbourhood, although a careful watch has been kept in the locality. This would seem to indicate that this infestation is, fortunately, not of a serious character.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that 90 tons of foreign potatoes were dumped by barge on 16th June on a dust shoot at Wennington; will he inquire as to whether these have been taken away by the inhabitants; and, in view of the local fear that the Colorado beetle may thus be introduced into the district, will he make inquiries to see whether there is any risk of infection of any sort to existing potato crops?

I am aware of the dumping referred to and on inquiry I find that some of the potatoes were taken away from the dump by the inhabitants. Steps have been taken to ensure that the remainder of the potatoes will be so treated as to guard against the risk of the conveyance of infection to potato crops in the district. I am satisfied that there is no risk of the introduction of the Colorado beetle through the medium of these potatoes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many of the smallholdings provided under the Land Settlement Act, 1919, have since been abandoned and disposed of; and what has been the average loss incurred on each holding and the maximum loss in any one case?

Separate figures are not available relating to holdings provided under the Land Settlement (Facilities) Act, 1919. During the period 31st December, 1926, to 31st December, 1931, the total area of land acquired by councils for smallholdings prior to the passing of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1926, and still retained by them, declined by 16,083 acres, and the number of tenants by 1,841. This decrease is mainly due to holdings being sold to the tenants, and to councils' leases expiring and not being renewed. In the latter case the smallholdings do not necessarily disappear. It is not possible to give further details without circularising all the councils concerned and I do not see my way to do this.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any of the smallholdings provided under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1926, have been abandoned on account of the holders proving unsuitable or failing to fulfil the terms of their agreements; and what has been the loss involved in each case where such holdings have been disposed of?

I am not aware of any case where land acquired under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1926, has been given up for the reasons stated, though there have no doubt been changes of tenancy owing to the unsuitability of individual tenants. Any such changes are not notified to my Department, the holdings being provided and managed by county councils or councils of county boroughs.

asked the Minister of Agricuture if he is aware that a number of Irishmen are offering themselves for employment in Norfolk, to the detriment of local agricultural labourers; and whether he will take steps to see that preference is given to local wage earners?

I understand that a certain number of Irish workers are being employed by farmers in Norfolk for seasonal work. Every effort has been made by my Department in conjunction with the Ministry of Labour and with the full co-operation of the National Farmers' Union, to call the attention of farmers to the facilities offered by the Employment Exchanges for the supply from their registers of any seasonal labour required.

Has the right hon. Gentleman made any inquiry why farmers, in spite of his efforts, are still prepared to use Irish labour?

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will state the areas in which the disease of cattle known as nervous syndrome is prevalent; and what steps are being taken to ascertain the cause, nature, and cure of this disease?

I presume that the Noble Lord refers to the disease of dairy cows to which reference has been made recently in the Press. Attention has been directed to its existence in the districts around Lechlade and in Berkshire, but it is common in many parts of the country and abroad. As regards the second part of the question, this disease condition formed the subject of a question by the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. T. Williams) on 21st June, and I would refer the Noble Lord to the reply given thereto, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can give any information regarding the standard of wages paid in industries affected by the Horticultural Products Act, and if the increased prices received for the products have been reflected in increased wages paid in the industries?

Workers employed in England and Wales in the production of the commodities set out in the Schedule of the Horticultural Products Act are entitled to be paid wages at not less than the minimum rates prescribed in Orders made under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act. I am, however, unable to say what are the standard wages actually paid. In reply to the last part of the hon. Member's question, the information which reaches me indicates that the effect of the Act of last year has been to stimulate considerably horticultural production and, therefore, employment in Great Britain.

Is it true to say that the piece prices received for the productions have been reflected in increased wages and not in the increase of the labour?

All I can say is that these wages are under proper regulation and can be adjusted.

Is it not a fact that large numbers of workers in this industry were being dismissed every day until the duties were imposed?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the five farms comprising the Patrington farm settlement are now all let to farmers by the Commissioners of Crown Lands; if not, whether the Crown is farming any of them itself; and what is the amount of any accumulated loss in the accounts of this settlement since 31st March, 1926, when it amounted to £100,457?

The final loss on the Patrington Farm Settlement up to 5th April, 1927, when the Ministry's lease was surrendered to the Commissioners of Crown Lands, was, excluding net capital loss on property handed back to the Commissioners, £121,574. Of the five farms surrendered fay the Ministry to the Commissioners, three have been let and the remaining two have been since the date mentioned, and are still, farmed by the Crown. Subject to final examination of the accounts for 1932 the loss on the working of these two farms from 5th April, 1927, to 31st March, 1932, amounted to £21,039.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that in any negotiations with the Dominions and Colonies at Ottawa with reference to imports of timber, including soft woods, into this country, due regard will be had to developing and maintaining the production of our home-grown timber; and whether the producers and users of homegrown timber will have equal representation with timber merchants on the delegation going to Ottawa?

As regards the first part of the question, the interests to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers will certainly be kept in mind. As re- gards the second part, it is, I think, for the producers and users of home-grown timber to decide themselves, in consultation with the Industrial Advisers who will accompany the United Kingdom delegation, whether they should be specially represented at Ottawa.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the representatives of the timber merchants who are going over are largely interested in the Russian and Scandinavian trade and that their interests must be antagonistic to Dominion and Home trade, and that the Forestry Commissioners wish to put their point of view on behalf of British producers and British users of homegrown timber?

Yes, sir, that is the case I believe, and it is all the more reason why those who are directly interested in the home timber trade and the forms of timber referred to in the question should take the steps which I suggest.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Government has formulated a definite Colonial trade policy for submission to the Ottawa Conference; and if he is prepared to make a statement before the Recess?

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies has already said, in his answer of the 27th April to the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain P. Macdonald), of which I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy, that he has been in consultation with all the Colonial Governments and with representatives in this country of the various Colonial trade interests. As a result of these discussions a number of proposals have already been submitted to the Dominion Governments regarding the grant of preference to the Colonial Empire, and at the same time the Dominion Governments have been invited to state what adjustments of Colonial Customs tariffs would be of real value to them.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether the Forestry Commissioners have acquired sheep grazings and also arable lands in Scotland on condition that the subjects are to be used for afforestation purposes only, or whether the Government propose to create holdings under the Small Landholders Acts on the grazing and other lands so acquired by the Commissioners?

The Forestry Commissioners have acquired sheep grazings and arable lands in Scotland. The grazings are used partly for afforestation and partly for sheep. Arable land has been used for the formation of 298 forest workers' holdings. The Commissioners cannot create holdings under the Small Landowners Acts, but areas suitable for this purpose are offered to and sometimes accepted by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye as representing the Forestry Commissioners the number of sheep of all classes on lands in Scotland acquired for afforestation; the total sum paid by the State for sheep taken over in Scotland by the Forestry Commissioners; the total amount realised by the Commissioners from all sales of such sheep stock; and the approximate value of the sheep stock still unsold?

The Forestry Commissioners have taken over 26,756 sheep in Scotland for £88,171. £47,828 has been realised from sales of sheep and the approximate value of the sheep stock in hand is £21,000. On land owned and let to tenants by the Commissioners there are approximately 25,000 sheep.

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman state the loss to the taxpayer arising from those transactions?

No, Sir. I should require notice of that question.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, with regard to the acquisition by the Forestry Commissioners of part of the lands of Kirk-ton, Balquidder, Perthshire, for afforestation purposes, and the purchase of ewe hoggs from the outgoing tenant of the farm of Kirkton at £4 6s. per head, which subsequently realised in the market only 27s. 3d. per head, whether he can state the total loss involved in that matter and how much of the loss is borne by the Government?