asked the Minister of Labour the number of building trade workers who are unemployed; and the total weekly cost of benefit?

At 23rd January, 1933, the number of insured persons in the building industry classifications recorded as unemployed in Great Britain was 315,053. Accounts are not kept of insurance benefit or transitional payments paid in separate trades, but assuming that the average rates for men and boys apply to this trade, the approximate cost of insurance benefit and transitional payments for the above number would be £250,000 a week.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the Glasgow Public Assistance Committee have refused transitional or reduced transitional payments to unemployed young men who have left or been expelled from the home of their parents and are assessing the claim on the income of the parents; and if he will issue a circular to public assist- ance committees recommending a uniform practice in this matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 20th December last to a similar question by the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker) respecting another public assistance authority. I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if any estimate has been formed as to how many of the 1,100 teachers who left training colleges in July last, and who had failed to obtain employment as teachers on 31st December last, will obtain such employment during the next 12 months?

Previous experience shows that the large majority of the students who fail to obtain employment in the first six months after leaving the training colleges succeed in obtaining posts in the following 12 months; but I have no material upon which to base an estimate for this year.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether, in view of the consideration now being given to the probable future demand for teachers in the schools, he will publish figures, in continuation of those prepared by the Government Actuary in 1927, showing the estimated school population for the period 1940 to 1960?

My Noble Friend will gladly arrange for the publication of figures in continuance of those prepared in 1927, but he is informed that particulars beyond 1948 may be too speculative to be of value?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if his attention has been drawn to the proposed closure of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Kenton Lodge training college; and the reasons therefor?

My Noble Friend's attention has been drawn to this proposal, but, after further consideration of the matter in the light of representations made by a deputation from the local education authority and of other considerations, it is not now proposed to proceed with the closure of the college. A notification to this effect was sent to the authority on 14th February.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the memorandum prepared by the health section of the League of Nations on economic depression and public health and to their inquiry into the effects of the crisis on public health; and whether he will institute a comprehensive inquiry on these lines in Great Britain in respect of children of school age, with a view to the publication of the results as soon as may be for the guidance of His Majesty's Government and the information of the health committee of the League?

My Noble Friend is aware of the memorandum and inquiry in question. The effect of the economic depression on the health of school children is being carefully watched by the Board and the local education authorities, as part of the ordinary work of the school medical service, and special measures to safeguard the health of the children are being taken in the areas where the depression is most acute. As stated in the latest Annual Report of the Board's Chief Medical Officer, the depressed state of industry does not appear to have exerted any measurable physical ill-effect upon the child population. In these circumstances my Noble Friend does not think it necessary to institute a comprehensive inquiry on the lines suggested.

asked the Secretary for Mines the average output, in cwts., per man-shift worked in the years 1913, 1920, 1924, 1928 and 1932?

The average output per man-shift worked by all workers employed at coal mines in Great Britain in 1913 is not available, but in June, 1914, it was 20.32 cwts. The corresponding figures for 1920, 1924, 1928 and 1932 were 14.54 cwts., 17.59 cwts., 21.29 cwts. and 21.97 cwts., respectively. The figure for 1932 is provisional.

asked the Secretary for Mines the average earnings per worker per annum in the coal-mining industry for the years 1913, 1920, 1924, 1928 and 1932?

The average cash earnings per worker per annum in the coal-mining industry were as follow:

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will furnish figures showing the number of men discharged from the Army in 1932; the number transferred to the Reserve; the number receiving a course of vocational training; and the number for whom employment was found?

The information for the recruiting year ended 30th September, 1932, is as follows:

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the Army Council, when amending the Royal Warrant in the immediate future, will consider making provision for special compensation in cases where disablement renders impossible the continuance in civil life of the professions for which the disabled persons had been trained?

A soldier's disability pension is a standard rate dependent on the degree to which he is incapacitated as compared with a normal healthy man of the same age. It is not proposed to make any change.

asked the Minister of Health the rates paid to men on relief work in the St. Faith's and Aylsham district of the county of Norfolk; and what is the nature of the work which the men are called upon to do?

I assume that the men referred to are able-bodied men in receipt of relief. They are not in receipt of wages, and the amounts received by them are determined by the ascertained needs of the household in each case. It understood that the work is supplementary work in connection with road repairs and improvements.

asked the Minister of Health the amount disbursed by local authorities in England and Wales on expenses incurred in respect of the promotion of Bills in Parliament in the 12 months ended 31st December, 1932; and whether it is proposed to take early action giving local authorities more control within the area of the authority, and thus avoid the necessity of appeal to Parliament?

I regret that I cannot give the information asked for in the first part of the question, as returns of this expenditure are not made to me. As to the second part, no legislation of the kind is contemplated.

asked the Minister of Health the size, the number of rooms per house, and the number of houses per acre of the council houses provided at Little Brickhill, Buckinghamshire, and to be let at 3s. a week?

The average area of these houses is 760 superficial feet, the number of rooms five, and the density eight per acre.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the inquest held at Liverpool on 20th January upon the body of an infant named Donald Hardy, whose death was attributed by the verdict of the jury to vaccination; and whether his medical officers have any explanation to offer as to why Government lymph, which was used in this case, should have led to this result?

Yes, Sir. I have made inquiries into this case, and I am advised that there is no doubt that this child died from generalised vaccinia, a very rare sequel of vaccination, which is explicable only on the assumption of a peculiar susceptibility of the individual to the vaccine. The same batch of lymph had been used for at least 1,200 other vaccinations without ill effect.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the risks involved by the practice of transferring sick patients from one hospital ambulance to another at the various Metropolitan and other town boundaries throughout the country; if he will issue a circular to Metropolitan and other authorities asking them to discontinue the practice and establish a through service between the hospital and the patient's home; and, if in the absence of compliance with this request, he will introduce a Bill to sanction measures for the enforcement of such a service throughout the country?

The working of ambulance arrangements is a matter for the responsible local and hospital authorities, and such arrangements throughout the country as a whole naturally vary in different districts. I shall be glad to consider any evidence with which my hon. Friend may desire to furnish me as to injurious effects resulting from existing practices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what measures are to be taken to safeguard the water supplies of the natives in the Kakamega area, as reef mining may result in interference with natives' water supplies as well as pollution of rivers and streams?

As I stated on 7th February, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Sir W. Hamilton), the Deputy-Director of Sanitary Services has recently made a tour of the mining district and has furnished the Kenya Government with a report on the prevailing health conditions. I have no doubt that the question whether any measures are necessary or desirable in order to safeguard water supplies will be considered.

asked the First Commissioner of Works the approximate cost of the Government building nearing completion in Lower Corporation Street, Birmingham; and what part of the cost will be borne by the Ministry of Labour both in capital and revenue charges?

The cost of the new building in Corporation Street, Birmingham, is estimated at £72,500, and the ground rent is £752 4s. per annum. The accommodation provided for the Ministry of Labour (Employment Exchange and Divisional Office) is estimated to cost £45,000, and the apportionment of the ground rent will be about £600, which sums will be borne on the Vote for Labour and Health Buildings. Part of the telephone exchange will be occupied, until it is needed for telephone expansion, by divisional office or other Government staffs. The rental value of this portion is estimated roughly at £350 per annum.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the proportion of foreign and home-grown barley used by the brewing trade of Great Britain in the latest 12 months for which figures are available?

I regret that I have no information for any year later than 1924, when, according to a special return obtained by the Board of Trade in connection with the Industrial Census of Production, it was estimated that probably about three-fifths of the malt used in brewing in that year was obtained from home-grown barley.

asked the Minister of Agriculture in view of the alterations made to the by-laws of the Wheat Commission, in how many cases it has been ascertained that farmers have sent in twice the same lot of wheat to be certified as of milling quality, and kept at home the produce of a similar acreage which was of doubtful quality; and whether any prosecution has taken place?

I am informed by the Wheat Commission that in none of the cases they have so far investigated has it been ascertained that any farmer has acted in the manner suggested in my hon. Friend's question. No proceedings accordingly have been necessary.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the quantity of home-grown potatoes marketed during June, July and August for each of the last five years?

I regret that the information desired is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the annual revenue from ground rents on the Crown lands in Regent Street; and whether it is proposed to make a temporary or permanent reduction in the rents; and the reason therefor?

The annual revenue from ground rents in Regent Street is approximately £520,000. The Commissioners of Crown Lands and the Treasury have carefully considered applications from the lessees for reductions of rent, but on the facts so far submitted to them no concession can be justified.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to a case of excessive hours worked by motor drivers, tried at Rotherham on 30th January, in which evidence was given that a lorry driver had been at work continuously for 43 hours and the bench imposed the maximum penalty on the man's employers; whether he is satisfied that the machinery for administering Section 19 of the Road Traffic Act is adqeuate; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take to improve the administration of, or to strengthen, the existing law?

I was already aware of this case. With regard to the enforcement of the section, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on the subject on 8th February to the hon. Member for the Thirsk and Malton Division (Mr. Turton) of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been called to a machine attached to a motor cycle devised to mark white lines on roads; and if, in view of the hazardous nature of the usual employment of men marking white lines, he will bring this machine to the notice of the local authorities and press for its general adoption?

Various mechanical devices for marking "white lines" on roads have been brought to the notice of my Department and of local authorities, but I should not be justified in pressing for the general adoption of one particular apparatus?

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of accidents such as that on 4th February, near Leeds, when four persons were imprisoned in a burning motor car and were only extricated by the doors being hacked to pieces by pickaxes, he will take steps to enforce the carrying of fire extinguishers on all motor vehicles in future so as to lessen the risks of deaths by fire in road accidents?

I am afraid that the carrying of fire extinguishers on all motor vehicles would not effect the purpose which my hon. Friend has in mind. Extinguishers which are suitable for carrying on motor vehicles are useful for localising and putting out small fires, but they could not be expected to cope with a conflagration involving the main reservoir of petrol.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether there is a flat rate for air mail in India; and, if not, whether he will request the Government of India to consider the possibility of introducing such a rate with a view to assisting the business community?

The air fee in respect of inland articles for transmission by air mail in India is at a flat rate of 2 annas per tola (approximately ½ oz.).

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India, in view of the recommendation received from the Indian Economic Conference for an economic survey of India, to be carried out by co-operation between the Governments concerned, commercial bodies, the Indian universities, and the Indian Economic Association, proposes to take any action in the matter?

The Government of India have for some time had under consideration the question of arranging for an economic survey of India when financial conditions permit, but I cannot say how far any action they may be able to take would be on the lines recommended by the Indian Economic Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether it is the intention of the Government of India to secure ratification of the International Labour Convention; and whether they propose to consider the advisability of introducing legislation prohibiting the employment of Indian children under the age of 12 years in unregulated and non-industrial occupations?

The Government of India do not propose to ratify the Draft Convention concerning the age for admission of children to non-industrial employment. As regards the second part of the question, I am not aware that they are considering such legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the attempted murder of a British officer of the 3rd Sappers and Miners at Kirkee was due to discontent owing to an order requiring Sikhs of that regiment to mess with men of lower caste, namely, Mazbi Sikhs, lately drafted in on disbandment of pioneer regiments; and what steps have been taken to allay discontent?

I have no information regarding any order that the Jat Sikhs should mess with the Mazbis, but, as I informed the House on 13th February, the outrage was probably intended as a protest against the transfer of Mazbi Sikhs to the Bombay Sappers and Miners. No further trouble is expected. I may mention that the transfer of Mazbi Sikhs into the Bengal Sappers and Miners has taken place without incident.

asked the Secretary of State for India what it is intended should be the functions and powers of the Committee of Indian Assessors attached to the proposed Joint Committee of both Houses?

I will explain the position in regard to this matter in the course of the Debate on the Resolution which my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Bournemouth (Sir H. Croft) will move next Wednesday.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total number of established civil servants at present exempt from payment of unemployment insurance contributions and who are in receipt of less than £350 per annum inclusive remuneration?

It is estimated that the total number of established civil servants, both industrial and non-industrial, in receipt of less than £350 per annum is about 216,000. As my Noble Friend is aware, there are, in addition, certain unestablished civil servants who are excepted from the Unemployment Insurance Acts. For fuller details, I would refer him to the Memorandum submitted by the Treasury to the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance which is printed on pages 324 to 327 of Part VI of the appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Commission.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the net receipts from the Beer Duty for January, 1933; and the standard barrels produced in that month?

The approximate net receipts from Excise Beer Duty in January, 1933, were £6,196,000, and the number of standard barrels assessed to duty in that month was 855,265.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the estimated yields from the Beer Duty in each of the past 10 years; and what were the actual receipts?

The estimated yields from the Beer Duty (Customs and Excise) and the actual receipts, during each of the last 10 financial years were as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present estimated percentage increase or decrease in the consumption of each of the following articles as compared with 1913: beer, tobacco, coffee, cocoa?

As the available figures of consumption of the articles in question in 1913 and 1932 do not apply to the same area, the former relating to Great Britain and all Ireland, the latter to Great Britain and Northern Ireland only, I regret that it is not possible to furnish the comparison desired by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the numerous cases tried at the Central Criminal Court within the past few months in which dummy revolvers have been employed to effect a hold-up and to the danger to the public involved in the sale of such implements, many of which are easily convertible into lethal weapons; and whether he will introduce legislation to prohibit the possession of dummy revolvers, especially those so convertible, without a licence?

My attention has been drawn to the views expressed by the learned Recorder, and I am considering the possibility of new legislation to provide special penalties for the possession or use of a firearm or a colourable imitation in connection with the commission of crime or for the purpose of avoiding arrest.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the statement in the Workmen's Compensation Statistics, 1931, that the aggregate amount lost between 1927 and 1931 by cases of insolvency in the coal mining industry will be in the neighbourhood of £150,000; and whether, in view of the hardships thus entailed on the sufferers, he will investigate means of preventing any such result in future?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for East Leicester (Mr. Lyons) on 7th instant, and to the statement made by the Under-Secretary of State during the course of the Debate on the Workmen's Compensation Bill on the 10th instant.