asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the Insurance Unemployment Board, which controls the insurance industry special scheme for unemployment insurance, is charging insurance agents full quarterly contribu- tions as employers if they employ collectors, even for a few days in case of sickness or holidays, if one of the days of employment is the board's quarter day; that Rule 7 of the special scheme provides that weekly contributions for occasional employment be paid on quarter day as they have accrued, while clause 38 of the scheme states that an employer must pay a quarterly contribution for an employé who is employed on a quarter day; and whether he will take steps to compel the board to apply Rule 7 in every such case or indicate how those concerned may obtain redress?

The financial arrangements of the insurance industry scheme are based on the payment of a quarterly contribution to cover the ensuing quarter in respect of persons actually in employment on each quarter day, irrespective of the length of time for which they have been or will be employed. Rule 7 is intended to cover the case of persons who, owing to the casual nature of their employment, would not otherwise be covered under the general arrangements at all, and according to my information the application of that rule would not have any effect in reducing the employer's obligations in the class of case which the hon. Member mentions. In any case I would point out that the application of Rule 7 and also any proposals for modification of the provisions of the scheme are matters which are left to the discretion of the Insurance Industry Board.

Will the right hon. Gentleman meet a small deputation to discuss the effect of this matter, which is operating so unfairly on the insurance agents in the country?

I shall certainly be only too happy to meet the hon. Gentleman and any deputation which he may care to bring.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in Mexborough in January, 1932, and in January, 1933?

The number of unemployed persons on the register of the Mexborough Employment Exchange was 5,044 at 25th January, 1932, and 3,953 at 23rd January, 1933.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the Lancashire County Council has sent out instructions to the public assistance committees in the Leigh area that in determining transitional payments under the Needs Act, 1932, the wounds or disability pension only shall be reduced by one-half and that the allowances for wife and children are not to be treated similarly; and what steps he proposes to take in view of this violation of the provisions of the Transitional Payments (Determination of Need) Act, 1932?

As was made clear in the explanatory circular issued after the passing of the recent Act, the rule relating to disability pensions applies only to the personal disability pension and not to allowances in respect of a wife and children. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the decision in the circular is contrary to the opinions which are held on this side of the House, and will he give an opportunity for a discussion in order to ascertain the opinion of the House on the matter?

The circular states the effect of the Act passed by this House.

In view of the unsatisfactory state in which the matter is left, I give notice that on the Debate on unemployment on the Minister's salary I shall bring this matter forward.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applicants for supplementary benefit under the means test in the county of Durham who have had a personal interview with any of the three commissioners?

Applicants who are dissatisfied with their determinations are referred, in the first instance, to the appropriate area officer. If thereafter they still consider that their circumstances have not been properly dealt with it is open to them to request a personal interview with the commissioners. Only one such request has, so far, been received. This request was granted.

Is the Minister correct in saying that only one request has been received? I can show him a letter showing scores of cases.

That is the information I have received. If my in-formation is wrong, I shall be only too glad to receive information from the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that unemployed miners living at Sunnybrow Colliery, County Durham, who are allowed to occupy colliery houses without paying rent, have had 3s. 3d. and 4s. 3d. per week deducted from their unemployment benefit; and whether he will state on what grounds the commissioners have adopted this principle in dealing with cases of rent-free houses?

This is a matter within the discretion of the commissioners who no doubt are prepared to take all the circumstances into account.

Are we to understand that we must approve of this action? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Prime Minister appealed over the wireless for charity towards the unemployed and that these owners have practised it; and is it right that the Commissioners should take advantage of the position?

No, Sir. We discussed this matter the other night. I am well aware that this is a very difficult question, and it refers to what I believe is known as "double offtake". Therefore, I would suggest to the hon. Gentleman that he should make representations to the Commissioners if all the circumstances, which are very complicated, are not fully taken into account.

Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that Members of this House should make representations to the Commissioners rather than to him?

That is a matter which we discussed the other day. The Commissioners will always receive representations on matters such as this, and it is to them and not to me that they should be made.

I am talking about Members of this House. I ask the Minister seriously if he is suggesting that Members of the House should run round to his subordinates putting cases to them?

As I explained the other night, I am expressly precluded from dealing with these cases under Act of Parliament passed by this House.

When does my right hon. Friend expect the report on this matter?

I cannot say.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons unemployed in the mining industry in the years 1930, 1931 and 1932; the number to whom training was given; and the number successfully transferred to other industries?

The average numbers of insured persons in the coal mining industry classification recorded as unemployed in 1930, 1931 and 1932 were 219,230; 297,624 and 355,325 respectively. Statistics are not available regarding the number of coalminers to whom training was given nor the number transferred through the Employment Exchanges to other industries.

Can the right ton. Gentleman give any idea why the figures have increased by 145,000 in the last few years?

I have answered the question on the Order Paper.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that persons whose compensation is suspended under the Workmen's Compensation Act pending the decision of the medical referee are not allowed to sign on at the Employment Exchange, and if the decision of the medical referee is against them they are ruled out of unemployment benefit from the time of suspension until the decision of the medical referee; and will he consider taking steps to meet this situation?

Such persons are not prevented from signing the register by any rule of the Department, but in order to claim benefit they would have to sign a declaration that they are capable of and available for work at a time when they are contending for the purposes of workmen's compensation that they are not capable of work. It has been decided by the Umpire that a person who is contending that he is not capable of work cannot be available for work and is therefore not qualified for benefit.

Does not the Minister see the difficulty in which an applicant is placed? First of all, he thinks that he is not fit for work, and then the medical referee declares him to be fit for work, and that causes the difficulty. Will the right hon. Gentleman, when he brings in legislation, consider this point, so that applicants can get over the difficulty?

Yes, I will consider it, but the hon. Gentleman forgets that he is contending that a man is not capable of work because he is under a disability. If he is making that contention on the one hand, it is almost impossible, I should think, to make the submission that he is fit for work.

The medical referee says that he is.

Is not the Minister aware that there are many cases in which a man is contending that he is not fit for full work but is fit for light work, and the question arising on arbitration is: If he is able to get light work, cannot he enter himself at the Employment Exchange as fit for light work, or is he not to be allowed to do so?

I should like to see the question on the Paper dealing with the facts which the hon. Member has set out.

If a man were to sign on at the Employment Exchange during the period that he was awaiting the report of the chief medical officer, who decided that he was fit for work, would not that fact entitle the man to benefit?

I should think, off hand, that that would be a case for proper consideration by the court of referees.

asked the Minister of Labour how many cases of transitional payments have been dealt with by the public assistance committee in the county borough of Barnsley from the committee's inauguration to 31st October, 1932; in how many cases have full benefits been allowed; how many cases partial benefit;

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that some public assistance committees are deducting the whole of the weekly proportion (5s. 3d.) of the Army reservists' pay from the award made under the means test in transitional unemployment benefit; and will he issue instructions which will guide these committees to ignore entirely the pay of these reservists in arriving at the award to be made?

This is a matter within the discretion of authorities and I have no power to issue instructions to them on the subject.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applications received since 1st December, 1932, for transitional payments in the county of Durham; and the number of cases reduced and the number refused up to the latest available date?

Determinations were given by the Commissioners for the administrative county of Durham on 80,362 applications for transitional payments between 5th December, 1932, and 4th February, 1933. In 18,998 cases payment was allowed at rates lower than

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

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the burden upon the local rates has been intolerably increased by this state of things?

There are no particulars to enable me to say how far the hon. Member's question is correct.

asked the Minister of Labour upon what Vote and Sub-head the salaries of the Commissioners appointed to administer the means test in the county of Durham are borne?

The remuneration and expenses of Commissioners appointed to administer the needs test are borne on the Vote for the Ministry of Labour, and are charged in 1932–33 to a special Sub-head (G.4) opened for that purpose.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not agree that that being the case, the Commissioners have differed most essentially from the Public Assistance Committee who did the work before they were appointed and that their administration is questionable upon that Vote?

The time to raise that point is when such Vote is being discussed.

Has the right hon. Gentleman the right to make a charge upon the Unemployment Insurance Fund for these Commissioners seeing that they are not entrusted with the paying out of the benefit which is chargeable to that fund? Should not the whole cost be borne by the Government, as is the transitional payments to these people?

That is a question which the hon. Member will no doubt develop when we have the Estimates before us. I cannot reply to that point by way of question and answer.

asked the Minister of Labour how many additional persons have been engaged by the Commissioners in the county of Durham since their appointment to assist them in connection with the administration of transitional payments?

Fifty-five additional officers have been engaged temporarily, mainly in connection with the work of investigation. Thirty-seven officers are on loan from my Department.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total number of juveniles between 14 and 18 years of age at present in employment; and what is the number out of work between 14 and 16 and between 16 and 18?

Owing to the fact that insurance against unemployment does not begin until the age of 16, there is no information available on the first part of this question. As regards the latter part, all the information available is published monthly in the Ministry of Labour Gazette.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think it is about time the Government had some informa- tion as to what is happening to the children between 14 and 16 years, both employed and unemployed?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in the Doncaster district on 1st February, 1932, and on 1st February, 1933?

The number of unemployed persons on the register of the Doncaster Employment Exchange was 8,610 at 25th January, 1932, and 9,442 at 23rd January, 1933.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why unemployment has fallen at Mexborough and increased at Doncaster?

No, Sir. If there is a diminution at Mexborough and not at Doncaster, I am not in a position to explain it.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to the volunteer work scheme in Germany, whereby work has been provided for 200,000 youths on schemes of communal service; and if he will consider introducing a similar scheme into this country?

I am aware of the scheme to which the hon. Member refers. The hon. Member will appreciate that a scheme appropriate to one country may not be suitable for another. I am, however, giving the matter careful consideration.

Is it not better to form a scheme appropriate to this country, instead of having no scheme?

Will the right lion. Gentleman notice the recent changes that have taken place in Germany when he is considering this matter?

asked the Prime Minister if he would lay upon the Table a schedule of suggested schemes for the alleviation of unemployment made by Members on the Floor of the House which has been tabulated by the Government for consideration; and if he will have marked with an asterisk those schemes to which the Government are prepared to give further consideration?

The suggestions to which. I referred on Thursday last were those mentioned by hon. Members in the course of the Debate on Unemployment in November. As the Debate is on record, no purpose would be served by my laying upon the Table the schedule to which my hon. Friend refers.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think it would be helpful to all Members of the House if such a paper were laid on the Table, so that we could know definitely which of the schemes, if any, the Government have in mind?

I hope the House will not ask that a precedent should be set for the Government issuing a sort of schedule of schemes that have been referred to in the course of debates, to which every hon. Member can refer if he will turn to the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Does the schedule mentioned in fact exist?

I would remind my hon. Friend that I said it did, and therefore it does.

asked the Minister of Health if he has any information as to the number of cases in any convenient recent period in which unemployment benefit has been supplemented by grants by public assistance authorities?

During the week ending the 4th February, 1933, in England and Wales, 11,101 insured persons in receipt of unemployment benefit and 27,782 insured persons in receipt of transitional payments were also in receipt of outdoor poor relief.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the public assistance committee of the West Riding County Council has decided that all disability pensions shall be taken into account in assessing the needs of applicants for poor relief; and whether he will issue a circular to public assistance committees on this question?

I have seen the regulation to which the hon. Member refers and I am sending him a copy of it and a copy of the circular letter issued by me in relation to this question.

Is it the intention of the right hon. Gentleman to get uniformity by extending the benefit of ex-service pensions to people in receipt of out-door relief, which was the desire of a majority of the House and is in accordance with the Act of Parliament?

I invite the hon. Member's attention to the expressions in the circular, which I am sending him, dealing with the matter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the regulations issued by the West Riding County Council are causing considerable resentment in the West Riding, and will he see that they are amended by the West Riding County Council in such a way as will be acceptable to the people?

In reply to the question, I must point out that the effect of the regulations in question is not accurately stated in the question. The discretionary power in granting outdoor relief and of applying rules contained in the Determination of Need Act, is excluded from the discretion of guardian committees and reserved for determination by public assistance committees, who consider each case on its merits.

What is there for publicly-elected persons who sit on guardians committees to do if they have no power whatever to give assistance to the people who come before them?

The hon. Member is now trying to have it both ways. My reply to the supplementary shows that there is no substance in some of the apprehensions that are felt.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are take by his department to ensure that, in the administration of test work, care should be taken that other men are not thereby deprived of regular work and that the grant made bears some reasonable relation to the standard rate of wages for such work?

I make it a condition of my approval that test work shall not be of such a nature as to displace regular wage-earners. The mount of relief paid in any case is governed by the needs of the applicant's household, and bears no necessary relation to the rates of wages paid for ordinary employment.

If I bring a complaint which I have received on this point before the right hon. Gentleman, will he be good enough to give it careful consideration?

Certainly. I will give careful consideration to any such matter the hon. Member brings to my attention.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated expenditure for the current financial year in terms of the wholesale price level of 1920?

In view of the numerous different elements of which the Budget expenditure is composed I do not think it would be possible to make any useful calculation of the kind suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage increase or decrease in the taxation of tea in 1931–32 as compared with 1913–14?

The rate of duty on tea in the year 1913–1914 was 5d. per lb. The Tea Duty was repealed as from the 22nd April, 1929, and no duty was in force on tea in the year 1931–1932. The present duty of 4d. per lb. on non-Empire tea and 2d. per lb. on Empire tea was imposed in the current financial year under the Finance Act, 1932.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the great disparity between the taxation of tea and other stimulants?

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that people do not do ridiculous things and go to prison for drinking tea?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of gold purchased by this country in America since the payment of the last instalment of the American debt, and the purpose of such purchases?

If the hon. Member has in mind recent purchases of gold by the Issue Department of the Bank of England, I may refer him to the published statements of the Bank. As he is aware, particulars of the dealings of the Exchange Equalisation Account are not published. It is, of course, common knowledge that for various reasons large amounts of foreign money have been coming here recently which are bad money in the sense that we cannot rely on retaining them. If no precautions were taken, these capital movements would result in a sharp rise in sterling to be followed later on by a sharp fall. I do not think anyone doubts that such fluctuations which are very harmful to trade should be limited as far as possible, but it is not in the general interest to state what particular methods may be adopted to check them.

Is it not a fact that these recent additions of gold are to be regarded as merely flexible additions to the Bank's gold, and that it would be improper to regard them as a permanent addition to the gold reserve which might be used in future for external payments?

Yes, that is so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many standard barrels of beer were charged for duty in 1914, 1930, and 1932, respectively; and what was the duty levied upon beer in those three years?

The numbers of standard barrels of beer charged with Excise Duty in the three calendar years 1914, 1930, and 1932 were respectively 34,745,000, 18,839,000, and 13,248,000. The amounts of Excise Duty charged thereon were £15,591,000, £71,961,000, and £70,339,000. The figure for 1914 includes the whole of Ireland, while the figures for 1930 and 1932 include Great Britain and Northern Ireland only. The rates of duty in the respective years were 7s. 9d., 103s., and 134s. per standard barrel, subject as regards 1930 and 1932 to a rebate of 20s. per bulk barrel.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether the brewers still pay from 5 per cent, to 55 per cent. dividends?

asked the Prime Minister if he proposes to set up any machinery for the purpose of supervising the working of the Ottawa Agreements in the interests of British industry and commerce?

The working of the Ottawa Agreements, in relation to the interests of the industry and commerce of this country, is continuously under review by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs. I see no reason, therefore, for setting up any special machinery.

Does my right hon. Friend not think that the existing Government Departments are sufficiently occupied with their statutory duties, and in view of the great importance of developing Empire trade, does he not think it wise to appoint a special authority to deal with this matter?

Yes, but for the wider question now raised, as my hon. Friend knows, there is a specially appointed committee which is still sitting and has not finished its work.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can indicate when the work of the Government will turn, as promised, from contraction to scientific expansion; and whether he will further indicate the manner and methods of that expansion?

My right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister of Health, and I myself, stated in the Debates on unemployment last week the principles which are guiding the Government in the examination of new schemes designed to promote the expansion of trade or the extension of works which may be justified on merits and also the steps which have already been taken in pursuance of those principles.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the large and important body of opinion inside this House and outside which is prepared to support a bold policy of expansion internally without regard to what is happening in the rest of the world?

If that is so, it will be found that the Government is very much interested and prepared to do what is possible on those lines.

In considering this question, will my right hon. Friend give special attention to the necessitous areas, especially on the north-east coast?

They are never out of our mind.

In thinking over the matter will the right hon. Gentleman remember the dictum of a previous Minister of the Crown, that you cannot take rabbits out of a hat?

At the moment I am not quite so confident of that.

When may we expect a report from this sub-committee showing what schemes they are proposing to develop?

asked the Prime Minister if his attention has been called to the interviews recently granted by the Minister of Agriculture and the Secretary of State for War to the Danish newspaper "Berlingske Tidende," stating that they are doubtful of the continued utility of the most-favoured-nation clause; and whether these views represent the policy of the Government?

My attention had not been previously called to the interviews in question, but I am now informed that neither my Noble Friend the Secretary of State for War, nor my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, gave any view as to the utility or otherwise of the mostfavoured-nation clause. The second part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

Is it not really beyond doubt that no far-reaching results can be obtained unless the most-favourednation clause be amended?

That has nothing whatever to do with the question on the Paper, as to whether that view was given. I say that the view was not given.

It was published in the "Times."

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what proportion of Empire labour content is demanded by the respective signatories in respect of preferences given under the Ottawa Agreements?

With the hon. Member's permission I will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT giving the information for which he asks in regard to the Dominions which were signatories of the Ottawa Agreements, and Southern Rhodesia. I have arranged with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for India to supply the hon. Member with similar information in regard to India.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the arbitrary figure of 50 per cent. Empire labour content accepted by the Government is doing considerable hardship to this country by permitting foreign goods to come through a Dominion corridor and defeat the intention of the Import Duties Act?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will first see the statement. I may say that the agreement and the decision were based on experience and were made after consultation with the industries concerned. If he has any specific point to raise and will put down a question, I will endeavour to answer it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some industries in this country disagree entirely with the Board of Trade's decision in accepting 50 per cent.?

That is quite true, but, if you consult different interests, you must determine on balance, and the majority think the other way.

I do not agree.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress is being made in connection with experiments in home-grown flax; and if he is in a position to give any information as to the (possibilities of flax-growing in Great Britain on a paying basis?

I understand that the Linen Industry Research Association is proposing to sow this year, in Norfolk, about 110 acres of pedigree flax, which will subsequently be processed at the association's research station at Lambeg, Northern Ireland. The method of the processing introduces certain new features devised at Lambeg which, on an experimental scale, has given promising results. As regards the latter part of the question, it is doubtful whether, at present prices for seed and fibre, flax could be grown or manufactured in Great Britain on an economic basis, unless soine new process can be introduced which will materially cheapen the cost of production of fibre. The purpose of the enterprise in Norfolk is to ascertain how far progress is possible on these lines.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that during the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease round Reading travellers from various firms visited farms to sell their disinfectants or other wares, no steps being taken to stop them spreading infection from one farm to another; and whether, in any future outbreaks, notices at all infected farms will be put up forbidding any traders on the premises?

I am aware that complaints have been made to the effect stated in the first part of the question. Under the provisions of Section 13 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, if an occupier in an infected area has affixed a notice to his premises forbidding entry therein without permission, any person not having by law a right of entry and entering without such permission is guilty of an offence against the Act. These provisions have been brought to the notice of the Berkshire branch of the National Fanners' Union. As regards the last part of the question, a rule made under the Foot-and-Mouth Order, 1928, prohibits under penalty the entry into an infected place of any persons other than an inspector of the Ministry without the prior written authority of the inspector, and posters warning the public to this effect are exhibited at the entrance to all infected places.