asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of houses built in Glasgow during each of the years from 1919 to 1932, respectively, and how many were slum clearance, intermediate and ordinary?

I am sending the hon. Member a statement which gives the information asked for.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland tbe number of unemployed persons who applied to the public assistance committees for rents grants during 1932, and the total amount paid?

So far as I know, special 'arrangements for the payment of rents grants have been made only in Glasgow. I regret that separate figures showing the number of unemployed persons who applied for grants are not available. The total number of applications, however, during 1932 was 8,009, and 5,238 grants, amounting to £8,077 12s. 5d., were made during the same period.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of persons before the Rent Court in Glasgow during 1931 and 1932; the number of cases where evictions were granted; and how many evictions were in slum-clearance houses?

13,973 new cases and 13,181 re-enrolled cases came before the Glasgow Rent Court in 1931. 1,466 decrees of eviction were granted in the former category and 3,001 in the latter. In 1932 the corresponding figures were 15,153 new cases and 16,225 re-enrolments, the decrees of eviction granted being 1,584 and 3,825 respectively. I am informed that the number of eviction orders granted in the case of slum clearance houses was 240 in 1931 and 340 in 1932.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that a letter has been sent to the insurance committee of the burgh of Glasgow, from the Department of Health for Scotland, to the effect that medical practitioners are signing certificates entitling persons to payment of health insurance benefit who are sufficiently recovered from their incapacity to enable them to resume their ordinary employment; whether this letter was issued by his authority; and, if so, will he state the grounds upon which it was sent?

In the ordinary course of administration an annual circular letter on the subject of the issue of certificates of incapacity for work to insured persons was recently sent by the Department of Health for Scotland to each insurance committee in Scotland. With the letter were enclosed statistics showing (1) the extent to which such certificates had been issued during the year ended 30th June, 1932, by each insurance practitioner in the insurance committee's area and (2) the results of re-examinations by the Department's regional medical officers of insured persons to whom certificates of incapacity had been issued. The letter, of which I am sending a copy to the hon. Member, asked insurance committees to inquire into the problems presented by the statistics both as regards their area as a whole and in respect of individual practices, and called attention to the importance of correct certification and to the unfortunate results accruing from laxity in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that regional medical officers in the employment of the Department of Health are in the habit of recommending disallowance of health insurance benefit in cases of persons who have not fully recovered from their illness but who are described as being fit for some form of light employment; and will be state the number of persons whose benefit has been stopped on this ground during the years 1931 and 1932?

It is not the function of the regional medical officers of the Department of Health for Scotland to make any recommendation with regard to the stoppage of National Health Insurance benefit in the case of insured persons who have been examined by them, and in no case do they do so. The duty of these officers is to furnish the insured person's approved society with an opinion as to his capacity for work. The decision as to the continuance or stoppage of benefit rests with the approved society, from whose decision the insured person has a right of appeal. I have no information regarding the matter referred to in the latter part of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the desirability of regional tariff agreements for the lowering of tariffs, His Majesty's Government will propose at the World Economic Conference any modification of the most-favoured-nation Clause?

The question of the most-favoured-nation Clause and possible modifications of it has been included in the draft agenda prepared for the Conference. For their part His Majesty's Government are not contemplating any abandonment of the advantages they enjoy under the Clause.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any estimate has been formed of the quantity of crude oil imported for purposes for which coal may be used and the tonnage of coal displaced by oil produced abroad; and what duty is charged upon such oil on importation?

As regards the first part of the question, the Secretary for Mines during the Debate in this House on the Mines Department Vote on 3rd May last examined in more detail than is possible in reply to a question the extent to which coal has been displaced by oil, and I would refer the hon. Member to that statement. As regards the second part of the question, the only imported petroleum products which actually pay a duty are motor spirit and certain other light hydrocarbon oils.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that assurances were given by the Danish Government, at the time of the Anglo-Danish Exhibition last year, that import licences would be issued in respect of goods ordered at the exhibition, and that special consideration would be given to British manufactures non-competitive with Danish manufactured goods when the import quotas were fixed, and the exchange restrictions were under review; and if he is satisfied that these assur- ances are being implemented by the Danish Government?

I understand that a statement was issued on behalf of the Danish Government that every consideration would be given to orders booked during the exhibition, and I have no reason to suppose that this has not been done.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much foreign manufactured parquetry and wood blocks for flooring entered this country during the last 12 months for which statistics are available; and whether the imports of these materials have increased or decreased since the imposition of the 10 per cent, duty?

I regret that the desired information is not available, as the imports of these materials are not separately recorded in the trade returns of the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much glue was imported from Russia during the last 12 months for which statistics are available; and how the market price of this commodity compares with that of glue manufactured in this country?

The total imports into the United Kingdom of glue and size registered during the 12 months ended 31st January, 1933, as consigned from the Soviet Union, amounted to 47,120 cwts., of a declared value of £48,176. Market quotations for Russian glue, as such, are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the results of the investigations into the affairs of Waring and Gillow, Limited, and to the case of Morris and Jones versus Harman have yet been placed at the disposal of the court or of the Public Prosecutor; and, if not, what other steps it is proposed to take applicable to those cases?

As regards Waring and Gillow, Limited, in liquidation, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Potter) on 16th February. No further steps are possible, in this case until the Official Receiver's investigations have been completed. The action Morris and Jones, Limited, versus Harman is one to which the Board of Trade were not parties and with which they are not concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any investigation has been undertaken into the desirability of tightening up the operation of the film quota Act or whether he will now initiate such an investigation?

I have no reason to suppose that a general inquiry of the kind suggested by my hon. Friend is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government are in receipt of information with regard to locust swarms in the neighbourhood of Bahrein and Muskat; and, if so, whether he will take steps to see that such reports are communicated to the Government of India for the use of the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research?

I have no information on this subject, and do not think that any useful purpose would be served by any action on my part.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the date on which he intends issuing the Army Estimates for 1933–34?

It is hoped to circulate Army Estimates for 1933 on 2nd March.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office in respect of the recruiting years 1919–20 to 1931–32, the total number of applicants for enlistment, the total number of recruits finally approved, the number of recruits finally approved for each 100,000 of the male population, and the percentage of rejec- tion on medical or physical grounds; and the minimum height and weight standards for each year, together with any other changes in the standards?

I will send the hon. Member the figures for which he asks in the first part of the question. As regards the second part of the question, the minimum height and weight standards are varied as occasion requires in order to regulate the inflow of recruits in the several Arms. The lowest figures during the 12 years in question have been 5 feet 2 inches and 112 lbs. No other changes of standard have been made.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what provision has been made for the re-employment of hands dismissed from the Royal Army Clothing Factory who had been in the employ of this factory for a number of years, and who by reason of the special nature of the employment are unable to obtain employment elsewhere?

While the War Office cannot ensure the re-employment of the discharged workers, every effort has been made to achieve this end both by approaching trade firms and other Government Departments, and by cooperation with the Ministry of Labour in putting the discharged hands in touch with suitable vacancies.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the date on which he intends issuing the Air Estimates for 1933–34?

It is anticipated that the Air Estimates, 1933, will be in the hands of hon. Members on the morning of 8th March.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the number of school children in Lancashire who received free milk;. and the quantity of milk dispensed in each of the 12 months ended 31st January, 1933?

The figures are as follow:

asked the Secretary for Mines what is the present cost of production of a ton of best household coal, with wages and other costs shown separately; and the present Belling price in London, showing the items entering into the price under three heads, namely, costs of production, railway charges, and distribution charges?

I have been asked to reply. Particulars of the cost of production of a particular class of coal are not available, but during the year 1932 the average costs of production at the pithead per ton of all coal disposed of commercially were: wages 9s. 1¾ d., and other costs 4s. 8¼d. Railway charges vary according to the district in which the coal is produced, but, on the average, the railway rate, including wagon hire, from the Midlands to London is about 12s. per ton. The only information available regarding distribution charges of particular classes of house coal will be found in Appendix No. 9 to the Report on the Royal Commission on the Coal Industry (1925).

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is aware that the establishment branch of his Department advertised, on 13th January, for a whole-time abstractor and translator, male, at Sheffield for the Mines Research Board at a basic scale salary ranging from £85 to £220 per annum; that the qualifications were a thorough knowledge of French and German, and a good general education, in order to translate scientific publications; and if this rate of remuneration has received the approval of the Whitley Council?

I have been asked to reply. I am aware of this advertisement, but I would point out to the hon. Member that, as stated therein, inclusive of cost of living bonus the limits of the scale are £127 10s. and £294, respectively. The advertisement also makes it clear that according to his qualifications the successful candidate may be allowed to enter the scale above the minimum, but subject to the commencing salary (inclusive) not exceeding £209 per annum. As regards the last part of the question, the appointment does not come within the purview of the Civil Service Whitley Council since the staff of the Safety in Mines Research Board is not paid out of voted moneys.

asked the Secretary for Mines (1) what subsidies are being extended to assist foreign coal producers to market coal in competition with coal offered for sale abroad from Great Britain;(2) whether he will give particulars of restrictions upon the export of British coal to European countries whether in the form of licences, import duties, or prohibition?

I have been asked to reply. The information asked for is in the form of a very long tabular statement, and I therefore propose to send a copy of this statement to the hon. Member. I am also placing copies in the Library of the House for the information of other hon. Members who may be interested.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish in full the statement made by the British representative at the recent meeting of the Preparatory Commission for the World Economic Conference?

In accordance with the general practice of expert committees held under the auspices of the League of Nations, the meetings of the Preparatory Commission for the Monetary and Economic Conference were held in private, and no minutes of the meetings will be published. I do not consider that it would be desirable for His Majesty's Government to propose to the League of Nations that the practice should be departed from.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will point out to the Argentine delegation now visiting this country that the railways in the Argentine which have been capitalised out of British savings under Argentine legislative sanction have been penalised by the policy of the Argentine authorities in running competing lines, in some cases organised by the Argentine Government; and will he obtain assurances of better treatment for the railways in Argentina capitalised by British investors?

The general position in regard to the treatment of British capital in the Argentine is receiving very careful consideration, and all the relevant facts will be borne in mind during the discussions.