asked the Minister of Health if he will make inquiries as to whether the urban district councils are prepared to take over the operation of the Acts providing for the reconditioning of rural houses; and whether he will by legislation take power to call for annual returns of all work of this nature undertaken or contemplated?

The Housing (Rural Workers) Acts, 1926 and 1931, apply only to cottages occupied by agricultural workers or persons of substantially the same economic condition. They are already in operation in urban as well as in rural districts, and where the circumstances warrant this, urban district councils are or can be made local authorities for the purposes of these Acts. Quarterly returns of progress made under the Acts are already furnished to my Department, and no further statutory powers than those at present existing are necessary for the purpose of calling for such returns.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses, other than houses built under slum-clearance schemes, were erected in Scotland during the 12 months ended 28th February, 1933; how many of these were let at rents of less than £30 per annum, excluding occupier's rates; how many at less than £25 per annum; how many at less than £17; and how many of the houses in each of these categories were built with the help of subsidies provided under the Housing Act, 1923; how many under the Act of 1924; how many under other Acts; how many without the aid of any subsidies; and how many by private enterprise, with the assistance of the £9 subsidy, under the Housing Act, 1924?

The number of assisted houses other than houses built under slum clearance schemes erected in Scotland during the 12 months ended 31st January, 1933 (the latest period for which statistics are available) was 10,651, of which 6,553 were erected by local authorities and 4,098 by private enterprise, 3,262 of the latter being under the Act of 1923 and the remaining 836 being under the Act of 1924. The number of unassisted houses erected during the 12 months ended 31st December last (the latest period for which statistics are available) was 1,726, all of which were erected by private enterprise. Particulars of rents are available only for houses erected by local authorities. As regards the above 6,553 houses all of which were erected by local authorities under the Act of 1924, complete particulars of the rents are not yet available but it is known that the rents of 5,515 of these houses fall within the rental catgories (exclusive of occupiers' rates) mentioned in the question, namely:—Annual rent under £30 but not less than £25–1,454 houses.Annual rent under £25 but not less than £17–3,083 houses.Annual rent under £17–978 houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of slum-

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of houses under construction in Scotland on 1st October, 1930, 1931 and 1932, and the number on the 1st day of each month since October, 1932; and the number of houses approved but not begun on the same dates, distinguishing in the case of houses approved since 15th December between those which are to receive a £3

The numbers of slum clearance houses in course of construction and approved under the Housing Acts of 1923 and 1930 respectively at the dates in question were as follow:subsidy and those which are to receive higher subsidies?

All the houses approved for erection in Scotland since 15th December, 1932, being covered by proposals submitted prior to that date, will qualify for the higher subsidies at present available. The numbers of assisted houses under construction and the numbers approved but not begun at the dates mentioned are as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses were constructed in Scotland under the Rural Housing Act, 1931; the total amount of subsidies paid or to be paid in respect of these houses; and the highest and the lowest subsidy paid or to be paid in respect of any house constructed under this Act?

No houses have yet been completed and therefore no State subsidy has yet been paid under the Housing (Rural Authorities) Act, 1931. The Department of Health for Scotland, up to date, have promised subsidies amounting, with those payable under the

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of county councils in Scotland who were operating the Housing (Rural Workers) Act on 1st March, 1932, and 1st March, 1933, distinguishing in each case between those operating it in whole and those which have revised their schemes since they were first framed, with a view to limiting their financial liabilities?

So far as I am aware, all the county councils in Scotland, with the exception of those shown below, were, at the dates mentioned, operating their schemes under the Housing (Rural Workers) Acts, 1926 and 1931, as originally framed. The exceptions referred to are:Act of 1924, to £6,954 per annum for 40 years and have approved tenders for the erection of 360 houses under the Act. As regards the last part of the question, the highest annual State subsidy promised is £24 10s. per house and the lowest at £14 15s. In both cases these amounts include the subsidy of £12 10s. under the Act of 1924.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in respect of how many houses in Scotland certificates have been granted approving assistance by way of loan and how many approving assistance by way of grant under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, in each of the last eight months?2

The returns furnished by local authorities under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act are quarterly, and I regret that I am therefore not in a position to give the information desired for each of the last eight months. Following, however, are the numbers of houses in respect of which loans and grants were approved during each of the three latest quarters for which information is available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can make any statement relating to imports of dairy produce from Australia and New Zealand?

The position with regard to this matter remains as indicated in the reply I gave on 6th March to a question by my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is prepared to take action at an early date upon the report of the joint committee of local authorities and Tyne Fishery Board?

I have consulted my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and, if a representative conference of local authorities is arranged as suggested in the report, we are prepared to instruct officials of our respective Departments to attend as therein recommended.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any applications for a reduction of rents have been made by any Crown tenants of urban property; and, if so, what decision has been reached?

As regards ground rents in Regent Street, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 16th February last to a question by the hon. Member for Walthamstow West (Mr. McEntee). In the last year applications for reduction of rent have been received from 10 lessees of premises in other parts of London held on leases for seven years or more, and in six of these cases temporary abatements have been allowed with Treasury authority. In 11 cases short tenancies of business premises have been renewed at reduced rents. Reductions have been made in the rents of working-class houses and tenements let on weekly tenancies on the Cumberland Market Estate, but I regret that I cannot give the exact number of cases.

asked the Minister of Labour the principal trade categories of persons registered as unemployed at the Employment Exchanges at Redhill and Dorking, respectively?

The following table gives an industrial analysis of the numbers of insured persons recorded as unemployed at the Redhill and Dorking Employment Exchanges at 20th February, 1933.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has considered the particulars of the scheme submitted to him which has been initiated by Sir Harold Bowden with a view to providing work on a national basis in relief of unemployment; and whether, in view of the urgency of the matter, he will say what action he proposes to take?

This scheme is one of a number which have been suggested with the object of using unemployment pay as a subsidy to wages. The danger of such an arrangement is that by placing a premium on the employment of persons carrying the subsidy and thereby discouraging engagements at ordinary wages, it may tend to increase rather than reduce the burden of unemployment. For this reason schemes of this kind have been rejected in the past, but, in view of the general interest which is being taken in the matter, I am having the whole matter again examined, in order

asked the Minister of Labour (1) the number of employed persons in the mining industry in 1921, 1931 and 1932 in Carmarthenshire, Glamorgan, Monmouthshire and Breconshire, respectively;(2) the number of employed persons in the iron and steel industry in South Wales for the years 1921, 1931 and 1932, respectively;(3) the number of employed persons in the tinplate industry in South Wales for the years 1921, 1931 and 1932 respectively?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 9th March, 1933; col. 1928, Vol. 275], supplied the following statement:

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India propose to recruit non-martial classes to the Indian artillery forming part of the Indianised division of the Army in India; and, if so, from what Provinces it is proposed to draw recruits?

I have not yet seen the Government of India's plans. If the hon. Member wishes, I will bring his question and my reply to their notice.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India intend to ensure that the composition of the reserve contemplated by the Indian Army Marine Act Amendment Act shall be mainly Indian?

I have seen it stated in the Press that an assurance was given in the Indian Legislature that the reserve would be predominantly Indian.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the number of ex-service P-class, PU-class and S-class clerks whose promotion to the general and Departmental clerical classes has been authorised during the period from 17th February, 1932, to 28th February, 1933?

In the interests of economy, statistics of this character are now compiled in respect of the period of 12 months ending on 31st March of each year. As soon as figures are available I will forward the hon. Member information as to the number of "P," "PU" and "S" clerks, whose promotion to the general and Departmental clerical classes was authorised during the 12 months ending on 31st March, 1933.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if, by reason of their comparatively advanced age on entry to Civil Service employment, he will consider making provision for all ex-service men who have entered the Civil Service post-War being retained until reaching the age of 65, subject to good health and efficiency?

The head of any Department may call upon any officer of his Department to retire at any time after reaching the age of 60, and it would not be possible to make provision of the kind suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider allowing the previous temporary service of ex-service men at present serving in the Civil Service to count for pension rights in such a way that on completion of not less than 10 years' total service all such men, not at present eligible, shall be admitted to pensionable status?

A very large number of ex-service men who were originally temporarily engaged have been or are being placed on the pensionable establishment under arrangements recently made after discussion with the staff associations concerned. I should not be justified in reopening those arrangements in the manner suggested.

asked the Postmaster-General the amount that has been spent in laying underground telephone cables during 1932; and the estimated sum that is to be spent during 1933?

It is estimated that by the end of the present financial year £2,457,000 will have been spent, and that £2,515,000 will be spent during the financial year 1933–34.

asked the Home Secretary the number of persons of French nationality domiciled, respectively, in Great Britain and in the county of London?

The latest figures of French citizens registered with the police are 15,403 in Great Britain and 9,165 in the City and Metropolitan Police Districts.